Latest news with #Inspiration
The Independent
16 hours ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Starmer tells Lionesses they inspired his daughter to start playing football
Sir Keir Starmer told the Lionesses that they have inspired his daughter to start playing football. The prime minister visited St George's Park in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, on Thursday (19 June), where he told the England team that they have 'inspired so many girls' across the country. Speaking of his own 14-year-old daughter, Starmer said: 'The moment she saw women playing football she was almost physically drawn towards the pitch, it really excited her interest in doing sport.' He said 'that's just a small example', believing there are 'so many girls in that same position'. The prime minister wished them luck ahead of the Uefa Women's Euro 2025 tournament, and later received a personalised England football shirt with the number 10 on it.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The south east London dads who deserve a mention this Father's Day
From heart-wrenching tributes to viral fame and record-breaking feats, this Father's Day we're looking back at the inspiring, emotional, and often uplifting stories of the incredible dads we've spoken to over the past year. Each of them, in their own way, shows the strength, love, and dedication that defines fatherhood. TikTok stardom for Dartford dad and daughter duo From tragedy to joy, Dartford dad Jed Storey and his daughter Chloe have been lighting up screens on TikTok with their heartwarming and hilarious videos. The duo's account, @dadandcloshow, has gained nearly 200,000 followers thanks to their brilliant bond and fun content. Jed told us: 'We never expected it to take off so quickly… it's been an amazing way to connect.' Jed and Chloe Storey (Image: Jed Storey/@dadandcloshow) A chicken-shaped walk for a local legend In one of our quirkiest stories, Stephen Sangster, a dad from Orpington, walked over 11km in the shape of a chicken to celebrate the 130th anniversary of the Orpington Buff breed. 'It was an eggs-ercise in both fitness and creativity,' he joked, proving that even poultry-themed passion projects can be powered by pride, community, and a sense of humour. Stephen Sangster completed the walk in two hours (Image: Stephen Sangster) A father's grief turned into a call for change One of the most emotional stories came from Bora Bicakcim, the father of nine-year-old Ada, who tragically died after being hit by a bus in Bexleyheath. In the face of unimaginable pain, Bora shared his heartbreak with the News Shopper, describing the moment his world 'fractured beyond repair'. He told us: 'This tragedy happened on my watch, a father's ultimate failure… We will honour your name with acts of magnitude. You will never be forgotten.' Bora has since turned his grief into purpose, vowing to fight for change and raise awareness about the dangers of drug-driving. We think of Bora on his first Father's Day without Ada. Ada Bicakci was just nine-years-old when she was killed (Image: Family of Ada Bicacki) Beckenham dad goes the distance for a friend's daughter When Sam Wheeler from Beckenham heard his friend's daughter had been diagnosed with leukaemia, he didn't hesitate. The devoted dad will cycle more than 400km to Cornwall this August to raise money for Momentum Children's Charity – the same charity that's been supporting little Isla and her family since her diagnosis. Sam said the diagnosis came just a day after Isla had been at his house. Now, he's turning heartbreak into action. Sam is raising funds for Momentum Children's Charity (Image: Sam Wheeler) 500 miles across London – on foot Dave Thomas, a 64-year-old dad and retired NHS worker, took on a monumental challenge – running the entire London transport network. That's 12 Tube lines, the Overground, trams, DLR, and even the cable car – clocking up nearly 500 miles in just four months. Armed with selfies from every station and support from TfL, Dave is now waiting to hear if Guinness World Records will confirm his achievement. Dave Thomas (Image: SWNS) 35 years of community cuts and connections And finally, a special mention goes to Graham Norman, who has run The Crop Shop in Erith for 35 years with his wife Sharon and their five children. More than just a barber, Graham has been part of the local fabric since 1990 – cutting hair, making friends, and raising a family while keeping Erith looking sharp. Graham said: 'It's not just a barbers – it's part of the community. We've had generations of families come through the door.' The Crop Shop (Image: The Crop Shop) Happy Father's Day from all of us at the News Shopper.
Glasgow Times
7 days ago
- Glasgow Times
Free exhibition train to visit Glasgow Central Station
The exhibition train, named Inspiration, is part of a national celebration marking 200 years of the modern railway, aptly called Railway 200. It is set to visit 60 locations, with Glasgow Central Station being the 16th stop on its busy schedule. Tickets to explore the train for free can be booked online from now until August 17 at Inspiration is the sole exhibition train on the rail network, curated in partnership with the National Railway Museum. The four-carriage train is designed to offer an engaging journey through rail's history, highlighting landmark moments in rails development, pioneering engineering feats and future roles in the railway industry. Train carriages are currently being fitted out, supported by a £250k grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The exhibition is also set to feature a 'Wonderlab on Wheels' which will allow visitors to test their own engineering skills through hands-on exhibits. Read more: First Bus to change timetables for services across Greater Glasgow (Image: Network Rail) Emma Roberts, Railway 200's programme manager, said: "This special exhibition train is set to become a new, national visitor attraction, providing an unforgettable experience for hundreds of thousands of people across Britain, including many schoolchildren. "It will excite, enlighten, entertain, and inspire them to take a fresh look at the railway, as part of its anniversary celebrations." The interactive exhibition is expected to attract more than 200,000 visitors, including schoolchildren, by prior booking. Alan Ross, engineering and asset management director at Network Rail Scotland, added: "The railway has been a vital lifeline for two centuries, connecting places and people to deliver critical services and boost economic growth. "It's also a symbol of transport innovation, continually evolving to meet the needs of modern life. "The exhibition train honours this incredible achievement while looking forward to the exciting journey ahead. "I encourage everyone to visit the train at your nearest stop this October to celebrate its rich history, recognise its connections to your own community, and get an exclusive glimpse of the future of rail travel." Booked visits start at 10am, with the last entry at 4pm. The train will close at 5pm, and visits are expected to last up to an hour. Read more: ScotRail named among best train operators in Britain for customer satisfaction For those unable to visit in person, a virtual tour of the exhibition experience is planned. No passengers will be carried on the train as it travels to its exhibition sites. To book tickets and find out more information on the Inspiration exhibition train, visit the Railway 200 website.
Scotsman
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Scotsman
Scottish dates announced for 'unforgettable' exhibition train to celebrate major rail anniversary
Network Rail/Railway 200 Railway 200 showcase to visit five Scottish stations in October Sign up for the latest news and analysis about Scottish transport Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A special exhibition train is to tour Scotland in October as part of celebrations to mark the 200th anniversary of the modern railway. The four-carriage display will feature landmarks in the network's development, interactive engineering challenges and a showcase of the range of rail jobs available to encourage more young people to join the industry. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad How the exhibition's "Railway Firsts" carriage will look | Network Rail/Railway 200 Entry to the Railway 200 show called Inspiration will be free but by pre-booked ticket, with visitors able to register interest in seeing the exhibition so they can be notified when bookings for the Scottish dates open. It will be at Glasgow Central station on October 11-12, the Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway on October 13-14, Strathspey Railway on October 16-17, Aberdeen station on October 19-20 and Edinburgh Waverley station from October 22-23. Free tickets are already available for the first three weeks of the tour, which starts on June 27 on the Severn Valley Railway at Kidderminster in Worcestershire. It will then visit Birmingham, Euston and Waterloo stations in London before touring the rest of Britain until December with further dates next year. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The exhibition, devised with the National Railway Museum, comprises a 'Railway Firsts' coach, 'Wonderlab on Wheels', enabling visitors to test their engineering skills, and a 'Your Railway Future' carriage, showcasing some lesser-known industry jobs to encourage interest in railway careers. The fourth coach, known as the 'Partner Zone', will offer free, flexible exhibition space. More than 200,000 people are expected to visit the train, which will be open from 10am to 5pm with visits expected to last up to an hour. A virtual online tour of the exhibition is also planned. Alan Ross, engineering and asset management director at Network Rail Scotland, said: 'The railway has been a vital lifeline for two centuries, connecting places and people to deliver critical services and boost economic growth. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It's also a symbol of transport innovation, continually evolving to meet the needs of modern life. 'The exhibition train honours this incredible achievement while looking forward to the exciting journey ahead. 'I encourage everyone to visit the train at your nearest stop this October to celebrate its rich history, recognise its connections to your own community, and get an exclusive glimpse of the future of rail travel.' Railway 200 programme manager Emma Roberts said: 'This special exhibition train is set to become a new, national visitor attraction, providing an unforgettable experience for hundreds of thousands of people across Britain, including many schoolchildren.
Time of India
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Dune Awakening Swordmaster guide- Builds, best abilities, tips, tricks, and more
(Image via Funcom) The Swordmaster class in Dune: Awakening is the melee powerhouse. He excels in close-quarters combat with deadly precision. The Swordmaster can turn players into a whirlwind of precision steel. It is perfect for those who thrive in battle's heart and prefer resilient survivability or aggressive dueling. The guide here covers the best Swordmaster builds, essential abilities, and some tips and tricks to dominate Arrakis sands and become an unstoppable force. Dune Awakening Swordmaster optimal build Balanced Swordmaster will thrive on the mix of defense and offense. For raw aggression, give priority to The Blade tree for the raw damage. Boost Long Blade Damage (15% boost at the max rank) and Blade Damage for maximized strikes. Then unlock the Dance of Blades (50% damage can increase after the kills) for chaining the skills into the carnage. Pair it with Foil to have extra survivability during the duels. Foil is the parry counter, which has the enemy damage for 10 seconds. It's essential for the duels. Tip: Pair raw aggression with The Will for better survivability. INSANE SWORDMASTER TROOPER BUILD GUIDE - Dune Awakening If endurance is important, blend The Way and The Will. Deflection, the dart-blocking stance, can block the ranged threats, while the Reckless Lunge (post-lunge 50% damage reduction) helps cut the incoming damage. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New York: Gov Will Cover Your Cost To Install Solar If You Live In These Zips SunValue Learn More Undo Additionally, sustain with the Disciplined Breathing and Field Medicine. You will outlast the foes via attrition. Equip Adept Rapier, the high single-target damage, or the Kaleff's Drinker (faster strikes) for the melee. Keep Karpov 38 as the ranged backdrop. For armors, Hollower Stillsuit will offer hydration management and solid protection without any mobility penalties. Best abilities for Swordmaster in Dune Awakening Knee Charge is the fight opener. It can close gaps and stagger the enemies—325 damage and 10s cooldown for free hits at max level. It can be used defensively and aggressively. Retaliate, on the other hand, punishes the attackers with bleed stacks and auto-parries. It's ideal for trading blows. Dune: Awakening — Schools of the Imperium | The Swordmaster Crippling Strike can cripple mobility and drain the enemies' stamina for crowd control. Against the groups. Eye of the Storm against groups unleashes devastating AoE spins (at max rank, yields 140 damage). Ensure to keep Inspiration (35% melee buff teamwide for 23s duration) ready. The teamwide damage of Inspiration can damage buffs and can turn the raids into routs. Some passives like Prescient Strike can double the hits after abilities. Thrive on Danger, on the other hand, offers bonus healing at a low HP. It further enhances Swordmaster's endurance and lethality. Dune Awakening tips and tricks for Swordmaster build and combat Parry timing is an important key. Master Foil and Deflection to punish the enemy attacks. Watch for the telegraphed strikes. Stamina management is necessary. Use Optimized Hydration (25% extra stamina) and Disciplined Breathing (20% faster regen) to stay mobile. Use Desert Conditioning for reduced dehydration penalties and choose General Conditioning to expand the pool. Do not exhaust. Disengage with the dashes if you feel overwhelmed. Kite using Knee Charge. Bait the enemies and then dash in for the stagger. Then, follow up Eye of the Storm for a burst damage. Medkits will be lifesavers. Field Medicine offering 20% extra healing ensures stability within prolonged fights. Master timing blocks to ensure triggering Retaliate. It's not just for button-mashing. Use it against the ranged foes. Use cover for close distance and then knee charge into the melee range. Essential weapons and Armor for Swordmaster For the weapons, Adept Rapier, the Long Blade excels within reach and damage. Pack the Karpov 38 pistols for distant threats. Make sure to switch when the enemies start to kite you. For armor, choose a Hollower Stillsuit. It is non-negotiable. Its lightweight balances mobility and defense while hydrating players in the middle of the fight. Farm the schematics at the Dewgap Gateway. Survive on Arrakis sands mastering Swordmaster Always carry the medkits apart from the sidearm like Karpov 38. Field Medicine can boost healing by 20%. Also, use the Optimized Hydration to stretch the water further. Swordmaster stamina can win duels with ease. Engage with 1 enemy at a time. Swordmaster can definitely shred the solo targets, but the class struggles with the mobs. So, lure stragglers with a pistol. Then, eliminate them in the melee. Note: For the early-game gear, the Scavenger Set is a viable alternative till you can unlock Hollower Stillsuit. Swordmaster rewards aggression and precision. Build the class as per your playstyle—relentless survivor or glass cannon. Leverage parries and use Inspiration for amplified team damage. But do not neglect positioning or stamina. With some simple tactics and the right build, you will carve legends into the Arrakis' dunes like a true Ginaz warrior. Once you do, claim victories with ease onto the sands.
