Latest news with #Blackpool
BBC News
12 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Gossip: Honeyman heading to Blackpool?
Blackpool are interested in signing Millwall midfielder George Honeyman, 30, who has made more than 100 Championship appearances for the Lions since arriving at The Den in 2022. (Blackpool Gazette), external Read Friday's full gossip column for more EFL transfer rumoursFollow the gossip column on BBC Sport
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
'Suicide prevention baton made me feel less alone'
A woman who lost her husband to suicide has said carrying a symbolic baton representing mental wellbeing helped her to feel less isolated. Samantha Southern, from Blackpool, who took part in the Baton of Hope tour in 2023, said it was the first time in years she had not felt alone and the event had brought her "connection". Organised by the suicide prevention charity, bereaved families are preparing to carry the baton through 20 locations in the UK again in a bid to challenge stigma and campaign for practical change. The 2025 tour begins in Blackpool in September. The baton is carried like an Olympic torch, passed from person to person, being held by 100 local people who each have a direct connection to suicide. Baton-bearers will walk through Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. They will pass local services that can offer support for mental and physical health. They will then tour the country, including visiting Leeds, London, Bournemouth and Jersey. Mike McCarthy, co-founder of The Baton Of Hope, said: "The idea is that people who have been bereaved by suicide or survived a suicide attempt find some comfort by being involved." Suicide is the biggest killer of men under the age of 50 in the UK, according to the Samaritans. Mr McCarthy said he believed a change in strategy was needed. "Suicide is preventable, he said. "Whatever we have been doing over the last twenty years hasn't worked." He said he was motivated to start the charity after his son Ross took his own life. "He wrote a long goodbye letter and one of the things that he said in that letter was please fight for mental health, the support is just not there," he said. "If he could look down and see what we are trying to do in his name, and the name of all of the people we have lost to suicide, I'm sure he would think 'I'm proud of what you are trying to do'." The campaign is being supported by the Blackpool-based Empowerment Charity, where Ms Southern is the Solace Suicide Prevention and Bereavement Manager. Her husband Glen died in 2020 and she walked with the baton during the Baton of Hope tour in 2023. "It was the first time in two-to-three years that I hadn't felt as alone," she said. "Being with a community of people who just understood and got me. I think it brings connection." Blackpool Councillor Jo Farrell, said: "It is an honour for Blackpool to host the launch of the Baton of Hope 2025 tour. "This powerful movement shines a vital light on suicide awareness and reminds us that behind every statistic is a real person." The 2025 tour sets off from the Village Hotel in Blackpool on Monday 1 September at 08.00 BST. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story you can visit BBC Action Line. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. Suicide prevention tour to return for second year Suicide baton relay participant wants to show hope Suicide baton relay to inspire 'open conversations'
BBC News
17 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
Blackpool: 'Carrying Baton of Hope made me feel less alone'
A woman who lost her husband to suicide has said carrying a symbolic baton representing mental wellbeing helped her to feel less isolated. Samantha Southern, from Blackpool, who took part in the Baton of Hope tour in 2023, said it was the first time in years she had not felt alone and the event had brought her "connection". Organised by the suicide prevention charity, bereaved families are preparing to carry the baton through 20 locations in the UK again in a bid to challenge stigma and campaign for practical 2025 tour begins in Blackpool in September. The baton is carried like an Olympic torch, passed from person to person, being held by 100 local people who each have a direct connection to suicide. Baton-bearers will walk through Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. They will pass local services that can offer support for mental and physical will then tour the country, including visiting Leeds, London, Bournemouth and McCarthy, co-founder of The Baton Of Hope, said: "The idea is that people who have been bereaved by suicide or survived a suicide attempt find some comfort by being involved." Suicide is the biggest killer of men under the age of 50 in the UK, according to the McCarthy said he believed a change in strategy was needed."Suicide is preventable, he said. "Whatever we have been doing over the last twenty years hasn't worked."He said he was motivated to start the charity after his son Ross took his own life. "He wrote a long goodbye letter and one of the things that he said in that letter was please fight for mental health, the support is just not there," he said."If he could look down and see what we are trying to do in his name, and the name of all of the people we have lost to suicide, I'm sure he would think 'I'm proud of what you are trying to do'." The campaign is being supported by the Blackpool-based Empowerment Charity, where Ms Southern is the Solace Suicide Prevention and Bereavement husband Glen died in 2020 and she walked with the baton during the Baton of Hope tour in 2023."It was the first time in two-to-three years that I hadn't felt as alone," she said. "Being with a community of people who just understood and got me. I think it brings connection."Blackpool Councillor Jo Farrell, said: "It is an honour for Blackpool to host the launch of the Baton of Hope 2025 tour. "This powerful movement shines a vital light on suicide awareness and reminds us that behind every statistic is a real person."The 2025 tour sets off from the Village Hotel in Blackpool on Monday 1 September at 08.00 BST. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story you can visit BBC Action Line. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Hospital surgeon tells sexual assault trial he was 'only flirting'
A senior heart surgeon who denies sexually assaulting other hospital workers and has been accused of having a "god complex" told police he was "only flirting".The jury in the trial of Amal Bose has retired to consider its verdicts on the 14 charges he faces relating to six women at Blackpool Victoria 55-year-old has been accused by the prosecution of committing the offences while he "felt untouchable in his role".Defending, Tom Price KC, told Preston Crown Court some of the allegations which include pulling on a work colleague's bra strap "simply cannot amount to sexual assault". The court heard the surgeon from Thurnham near Lancaster, was the hospital's head of the cardiovascular surgery one incident, he is accused of pulling on a work colleague's bra strap and waist band. He told the court it was immature and stupid but denied it was sexual assault and described the actions to police as being part of a "banterous relationship". 'Horrible' The court heard Dr Bose told police on his arrest that it was only flirting and at interview he was "sorry for everything". When asked in court what he was sorry for, he replied: "I was sorry for the situation".At the trial, the prosecution accused Dr Bose of having a 'God-complex', and said he committed the offences 'because you were in a position of power to get away with it'. Mr Bose replied: "I deny having ever done them."Prosecution counsel Huw Edwards said Dr Bose was "a man who felt untouchable in his role, while touching up female members of staff – believing himself to be beyond reproach"."He was in his mind, so invaluable that he could do whatever he wanted", Mr Edwards accused Dr Bose of saying "horrible, misogynistic, sexualised things to women in lower positions".Mr Price said the evidence given by one of the complainants was "inconsistent, unreliable and unsupported".The jury are out to consider their verdicts after hearing two weeks of evidence. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Blackpool pupils line the streets for beloved teacher's funeral
Pupils, parents and staff have lined the streets outside a school to pay their respects to a "much-loved" teacher who died last Burns, a lead student mentor at Armfield Academy on Lytham Road in South Shore, Blackpool, was said to have had a "huge heart" and enjoyed a great rapport with and respect from pupils and Burns, an ex-paratrooper who wore a prosthetic leg, died on 21 May aged 38 after contracting an infection in his leg, the Local Democracy Reporting Service gathered on both Arnold Avenue and Lytham Road when his funeral cortege passed the school on its way to Carleton Crematorium. One mum, who has two children at the school, said the death of Mr Burns was a "massive loss".She added: "They all had the day off because it was Mr Burns' funeral. "They could have gone anywhere and just enjoyed themselves."Instead, so many of them turned up at the school - some with their parents - to pay respects. "And they all wore their full school uniform for him. That's a massive thing for children of that age to do."Mr Burns had time for everyone, he used to chat to my boys about football and rugby. No-one had a bad word to say about him." 'Giant of a man' After his death, a huge number of floral tributes were left outside the Academy's head teacher Mark Kilmurray described the "deep sadness" of everyone at the said: "Mr Burns made an indelible mark on our school community and really made a difference to the lives of so many of our young people and their families. "The students of Armfield Academy expressed a desire to pay their respects by lining either side of Arnold Avenue as the funeral cortege passed; each in their own way paying their respects, in silence and in support of the wider Burns family, remembering their former mentor with great affection."Mr Burns was a highly valued colleague and friend to many of us. His dedication, kindness and positive impact on our school community will never be forgotten."Mr Kilmurray added: "His unique personal journey [and] service to his country was hugely inspirational for the students and staff around him."Members of the Burns family added their own tributes on a fundraising than £1,400 has so far been raised for BLESMA, a charity which supports veterans who have lost said: "Pat was a giant of a man, a brilliant Paratrooper, loving father, son, brother and friend."We can't begin to explain how gutted we all feel. "After all his battles he has been snatched from us in this cruel way at such a young age. "Anyone who met Pat will know what a huge heart and personality he had and he is going to leave a massive hole in our lives." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
