Latest news with #MullOfKintyre
The Independent
2 days ago
- The Independent
Simon Calder's top 11 UK beaches to head to for summer sun
After months of rain and miserable weather, it's finally here: the Great British heatwave. With reports that temperatures could reach as high as 33C, it's all systems go to make the most of the sun, and what better way to do that than by visiting one of the many beaches we Brits have been blessed with? With nearly 8,000 miles of coastline (some estimates even say 11,000), there are many places to enjoy the heat in peace and quiet – so no need to squeeze yourself into a sun lounger on Brighton beach... From picturesque shores along the Scottish coast to vibrant spots stretching from Durham to Scilly, these are some of best areas to pay a visit. So don that sun hat, fire up the disposable BBQ and slap on that sun screen: it's time to hit the beach. To be alone and at one with the elements, aim for the beach at Luskentyre on the Isle of Harris. The outer shore of the Outer Hebrides is the raw edge of Britain, where the soundtrack rumbles with the weary roar of an ocean at the end of a 3,000-mile journey. You'll find turquoise water of implausible clarity and ice-white sand, sculpted into unworldly shapes by the west wind. Ballycastle, County Antrim This is a broad beach with a view. The hills of County Antrim subside into the sea, and beyond the tumbling cliffs, through the mist, stands the Mull of Kintyre, that bulky punctuation at the end of Scotland's Argyll Peninsula. And at the end of the day, if you wish, you can sail across to Campbeltown on the 4.30pm ferry – watching Northern Ireland retreat in your wake. St Agnes, Scilly I count this fickle stretch of sand as the southernmost in Britain – and given the difficulty in reaching this corner of the kingdom, you can expect to enjoy the place in relative solitude. If you don't have your own yacht, take a boat from Penzance or a plane from one of several southwest airports to St Mary's – then a local boat across to St Agnes. Paignton, Devon The morning sun brings Torbay to life, with Paignton shining brightest. A traditional resort with the benefit of an interesting hinterland: fishing-village Brixham to the south, post-Fawlty Torquay to the north, and the gorgeous River Dart just southwest. Ryde, Isle of Wight Two retro transport options earn the otherwise unremarkable beach at Ryde its place: Britain's last surviving hovercraft roars off to Southsea several times an hour, while an ancient former Tube train rattles down the pier, the opposite end of the railway spectrum from the Trans-Siberian. Rhossili, Gower Peninsula The Welsh mainland has a ridiculous number of excellent beaches, but this is my favourite: the sweep of sand that bookends the Gower Peninsula, with a wild, western aspect that makes it ideal at the end of a warm summer afternoon. Aldeburgh Bay, Suffolk For sheer diversity, head to England's easternmost county. On the 'Suffolk Heritage Coast' between Aldeburgh and Southwold, you find rich flora and birdlife; the Sizewell B nuclear plant; the artists' colony of Walberswick; Alain de Botton's 'balancing barn', a short way inland; and miles and miles of beaches that face the dawn. Blackpool, Lancashire For many of us, the beach is just an excuse for a collection of indulgences – and Blackpool vies with Brighton for the crown of Britain's most hedonistic resort. The Lancashire town wins thanks to having proper sand, not shingle, as well as the Tower and the Pleasure Beach. Seaham, County Durham Lord Byron married Annabella Milbanke at Seaham Hall two centuries ago, and the cliff-top residence is now an elegant spa hotel. In the intervening years, Seaham was the heart of the coal industry, with shafts extending deep beneath the North Sea and a hinterland desecrated by development. Now, nature is reclaiming the shore. Knoydart, Scotland Want a sweep of shoreline to yourself? Find your way on foot or by sea to the Knoydart Peninsula, Britain's last great wilderness. Western Scotland has more appealing sands (notably in the Outer Hebrides), but while Knoydart is part of the mainland, it offers even more isolation. Tynemouth The name describes the location: where the river through Newcastle reaches the North Sea. The setting is spectacular, with a rugged, crumbling castle marking the end of a handsome town with great places to eat. None is more rewarding than Riley's Fish Shack, down on the sand with deckchair dining. The beach curves gracefully north, inviting a swim regardless of the chilly North Sea.
BBC News
5 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Mull of Kintyre Chinook crash children 'demand answers' from MoD
Children of those killed in an RAF Chinook helicopter crash in 1994 on the Mull of Kintyre have said they are "determined to get answers" from the Ministry of Defence about how their parents Major Gary Sparks, whose family is based in Hampshire, was among 29 people killed in the crash. His daughter Lucy Sparks, 33, said: "We need to get to the bottom of what happened."Campaigners want a public inquiry and documents sealed by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for 100 years to be MoD said: "The Mull of Kintyre crash was a tragic accident and our thoughts and sympathies remain with the families, friends and colleagues of all those who died." Lucy Sparks was two years old when her father, who was serving with the the Royal Artillery, died in the crash. "I have no first hand memories of him," she said."Family photos are a treasure, through them and anecdotes from my older sister and mother I have been able to build up a picture of my dad." "Missing out on your dad being there for all those events in childhood and into adulthood is really hard, the grief will never go away." The crash on 2 June 1994 remains one of the RAF's worst peacetime losses of life. The helicopter was carrying leading security personnel from RAF Aldergrove in Northern Ireland to a conference at Fort George near Inverness, pilots accused of negligence over the disaster were exonerated 17 years year a BBC documentary highlighted safety concerns about the aircraft and revealed that documents relating to the crash would not be released until 2094. The solicitor representing the Chinook Justice Campaign, Mark Stephens, claimed there was enough evidence to convince the families that there was "a failure by the MoD to apply appropriate safeguards in order to protect the passengers and crew".He added: "That is why we are seeking a judicial review into the government's failure to hold a public inquiry - which the families have sought for more than a year."Lucy's sister, Esme Sparks, who was seven at the time of the crash, said: "We are furious that the government and the MoD is [sic] refusing to listen or to meet us." Speaking from her home in Preston Candover, near Basingstoke, Maj Sparks widow, Sue Angus, said: "I want openness and accountability. I want to know exactly what happened that night and I want to know why."The MoD said the closed records held at the National Archives contained personal information relating to third party individuals and the early release of that information would breach their data protection said it "takes the safety of all personnel extremely seriously, to ensure that our equipment operates at the highest standards we put safety right at the heart of our procurement activities".A spokesperson added: ""We have received a pre-action protocol letter from the Chinook Justice Campaign and are considering our response. "Therefore, it would be inappropriate to comment further."
The Independent
02-06-2025
- General
- The Independent
Families sue MoD for answers over 1994 Chinook crash that killed 29
Families of the 29 people killed in the 1994 Chinook helicopter crash on the Mull of Kintyre are launching legal action against the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for not ordering a public inquiry. The families, united as the Chinook Justice Campaign, believe a High Court judge should review previously unexamined information that could shed light on the helicopter's airworthiness, alleging the government is breaching human rights obligations by failing to order an inquiry. Solicitor Mark Stephens, representing the families, asserts the MoD failed to apply appropriate safeguards, putting passengers and crew on a known dangerous aircraft, leading to the call for a judicial review into the government's failure to hold a public inquiry. Following the crash, the Chinook's pilots were initially accused of gross negligence, but this verdict was overturned 17 years later; a subsequent review highlighted concerns about the Chinook Mk2 helicopters' airworthiness prior to the crash. The families want answers about the circumstances of the crash, questioning who made the decision to allow the helicopter to take off and what information is being hidden, while the MoD claims early release of sealed documents would breach data protection rights.
The Independent
02-06-2025
- General
- The Independent
Families of Chinook crash victims to launch legal action against MoD
The families of those killed in a Chinook helicopter crash on the Mull of Kintyre in 1994 have said they are beginning legal action against the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for not ordering a public inquiry. They want a High Court judge to be able to review information which they say was not included in previous investigations, and which they believe will shed new light on the airworthiness of the helicopter. RAF Chinook ZD576 was carrying 25 British intelligence personnel from RAF Aldergrove in Northern Ireland to a conference at Fort George near Inverness when it crashed in foggy weather on June 2, 1994. All 25 passengers – made up of personnel from MI5, the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the British Army – were killed, along with the helicopter's four crew members. The families of the victims, who have coalesced into the Chinook Justice Campaign, said failing to order a public inquiry is a breach of the UK Government's human rights obligations. In a letter to the Government 31 years after the crash, the group said: 'The investigations conducted to date, whether considered individually or in combination, have failed to discharge the investigative duty.' They have also called for the release of documents that were sealed at the time of the crash for 100 years, something revealed in a BBC documentary last year. Solicitor Mark Stephens, who is representing the families, said: 'In this case, the families of those who were killed have seen more than enough evidence to convince them, and us, that there was a failure by the MoD to apply appropriate safeguards in order to protect the passengers and crew. 'In fact, they were put on board an aircraft that was known to be positively dangerous and should never have taken off. 'That is why we are seeking a judicial review into the Government's failure to hold a public inquiry – which the families have sought for more than a year.' Following the crash, the Chinook's pilots, Flight Lieutenants Richard Cook and Jonathan Tapper, were accused of gross negligence, but this verdict was overturned by the UK Government 17 years later, following a campaign by the families. A subsequent review by Lord Philip set out 'numerous concerns' raised by those who worked on the Chinooks, with the MoD's testing centre at Boscombe Down in Wiltshire declaring the Chinook Mk2 helicopters 'unairworthy' prior to the crash. Esme Sparks, who was seven years old when her father Major Gary Sparks was killed in the crash, said: 'We don't want to have to take legal action against the Government and MoD but we do want and need answers surrounding the circumstance of this crash. 'We want to know who or what is being protected? Who made the decision to let this helicopter take off? What is being hidden? In our view, a public inquiry is key.' Andy Tobias, who was eight when his father, Lt Col John Tobias, 41, was killed, said: 'It's clear to me that a complete lack of duty of care was given to those passengers because they got on a Chinook that wasn't fit for flight. 'And really, the government need to show their duty of candour and really be open and transparent about what's in those documents and give us the opportunity to really understand anything that's in them that could give us more answers about what happened.' The MoD said that records held in The National Archives contain personal information and early release of those documents would breach their data protection rights. An MoD spokesperson said: 'The Mull of Kintyre crash was a tragic accident and our thoughts and sympathies remain with the families, friends and colleagues of all those who died.'
Telegraph
02-06-2025
- General
- Telegraph
MoD facing human rights lawsuit over Chinook crash
The Ministry of Defence is facing a human rights lawsuit over the Chinook helicopter crash on the Mull of Kintyre 30 years ago that killed 29 people. The families of those who died have said they are beginning legal action against the MoD for not ordering a public inquiry. They want a High Court judge to review information which they say was not included in previous investigations, and which they believe will shed new light on the airworthiness of the helicopter. RAF Chinook ZD576 was carrying 25 British intelligence personnel from RAF Aldergrove in Northern Ireland to a conference at Fort George near Inverness when it crashed in foggy weather on June 2 1994. All 25 passengers – made up of personnel from MI5, the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the British Army – were killed, along with four crew members. The families of the victims, who have formed the Chinook Justice Campaign, said failing to order a public inquiry was a breach of the Government's human rights obligations. In a letter to the Government 31 years after the crash, the group said: 'The investigations conducted to date, whether considered individually or in combination, have failed to discharge the investigative duty.' They have also called for the release of documents that were sealed at the time of the crash for 100 years, something revealed in a BBC documentary last year. Mark Stephens, the solicitor representing the families, said: 'In this case, the families of those who were killed have seen more than enough evidence to convince them, and us, that there was a failure by the MoD to apply appropriate safeguards in order to protect the passengers and crew. 'In fact, they were put on board an aircraft that was known to be positively dangerous and should never have taken off. 'That is why we are seeking a judicial review into the Government's failure to hold a public inquiry – which the families have sought for more than a year.' Following the crash, the Chinook's pilots, Flt Lt Richard Cook and Flt Lt Jonathan Tapper, were accused of gross negligence, but this verdict was overturned by the government 17 years later, following a campaign by the families. A subsequent review by Lord Philip set out 'numerous concerns' raised by those who worked on the Chinooks, with the MoD's testing centre at Boscombe Down in Wiltshire declaring the Chinook Mk2 helicopters 'unairworthy' prior to the crash. In 2010, it was reported that faulty computer software could have led to the crash. Esme Sparks, who was seven when her father Maj Gary Sparks was killed in the crash, said: 'We don't want to have to take legal action against the Government and MoD but we do want and need answers surrounding the circumstance of this crash. 'We want to know who or what is being protected? Who made the decision to let this helicopter take off? What is being hidden? In our view, a public inquiry is key.' The MoD said that records held in the National Archives contain personal information and early release of those documents would breach their data protection rights. An MoD spokesman said: 'The Mull of Kintyre crash was a tragic accident and our thoughts and sympathies remain with the families, friends and colleagues of all those who died.'
