Latest news with #Shirley
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Andy Murray ditches granny's shortbread to become brand ambassador for rival
The Scots tennis icon has been announced as the first-ever brand ambassador for Walker's Shortbread - despite his gran being famous for her own sweet treats Sir Andy Murray could be in a spot of bother with his own granny – after he was named as brand ambassador for a shortbread firm, despite her own famous version of the biscuits. The Dunblane tennis icon has been announced as the first-ever brand ambassador for Walker's Shortbread. But the Wimbledon champ's own gran, Shirley Erskine, has often hit the headlines herself with her legendary shortbread. Her recipe has even featured in a special's Mother's Day recipe book created in support of Scottish charity Mary's Meals. The sweet treat was also a big hit with fellow contestants, pro dancers and judges when Shirley's daughter – Andy's mum Judy Murray – took part in 'Strictly Come Dancing'. Shirley even took along a tin when invited on to Mrs Brown's Saturday night chat show and made a tin which went all the way to Wimbledon in exchange for a £100 donation to the local Dunblane Centre. Shirley has even been known to serve up a baking masterclass to local schoolchildren to teach them how to make the traditional Scottish biscuit. Announcing the new partnership, Walker's Shortbread said the former Olympic champ had penned a multi-year partnership with the Moray-based firm. On the deal, Andy said: 'I'm proudly Scottish, and partnering with Walker's, a brand that has been representing Scotland around the world for well over a century, felt like a great fit for me. 'I come from a small tight-knit community and when I look back at where I have come from, I am proud of what I've achieved, which is something I share with Walker's. 'It's a real honour to be part of this next chapter for such a well-loved Scottish brand.' With 46 tour titles under his belt and three Grand Slam victories – the two-time Olympic Gold Medal winner, and self-proclaimed shortbread superfan, added: 'I've been eating shortbread since I was a kid – my gran would make it all the time for us. We even celebrated my Wimbledon win with shortbread. 'Shortbread is one of my simple pleasures. No matter where I am in the world, a piece of Walker's Shortbread always transports me back home.' The partnership also pays homage to Walker's own history with tennis. Winne Walker, mother of the late Joe, Marjorie and Sir Jim Walker, was a passionate tennis enthusiast who played a pivotal role in the local tennis community. Inspired by her love for the sport, which began during her university years, Winnie was instrumental in establishing the first tennis courts at Aberlour Tennis Club. Nicky Walker, Managing Director, Walker's Shortbread: 'We are incredibly excited to welcome Andy Murray as our very first brand ambassador. We've always admired Andy's achievements, his dedication and his cautious charisma as well as his very obvious close relationship with his own family. These are qualities that resonate deeply with our own values at Walker's Shortbread. We are genuinely honoured that Andy and his team have acknowledged Walker's as a suitable partner, and we are looking forward to this exciting new venture as we continue to promote 'Scotland at its Finest'.' The deal will see Andy featured in the firm's latest advertising campaign – where his image will appear at train stations across the UK.
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Jeremy Clarkson's parents made a fortune by designing very famous toy
Jeremy Clarkson's mum always believed her son would not have had the TV career he did without Paddington Bear after the family played a big part in creating the ironic character TV star Jeremy Clarkson owes his career to Paddington Bear after his parents made mega money by designing the much-loved stuffed toy. Shirley and Eddie Clarkson's small design company led them to make the first-ever prototype of the character in 1972, which they gifted to their son Jeremy and daughter Joana for Christmas. Friends were quick to admire the toys so they started selling them in local shops in the 70s and the Clarkson couple modified Paddington's design to include his now-famous yellow wellington boots. However, issues soon came to the fore when the author of the Paddington series, Michael Bond, got wind of the couple selling the stuffed toy without copyright rights. The author asked his legal team to take action against the Clarksons, but one meeting between the Bond and the couple changed the trajectory of Paddington Bear forever. As legal actions boiled to a head, Eddie and Shirley travelled to London to meet with the authors' solicitors and happened to meet Bond in a lift. The author of the hit franchise quickly became pals with the couple and tensions around copyright soon melted away. "I got in the lift with Shirley and Eddie," Bond told The Sunday Times."They were terribly nice and pretended it had all been a mistake - and we were friends by the time we got out of the lift. I gave them a licence." That moment of kindness in the lift changed the Clarksons' lives, as the family went on to sell millions of bears and Paddington-themed products across the globe. After a huge success, the Clarkson couple eventually sold the stuffed bear rights to toy stalwart Hamleys. Shirley told AutoTrader in 2010 that he would not have had the TV career he did without Paddington Bear. The millionaire broadcaster also attended two private schools thanks to his parent's entrepreneurial success - Hill House School in Doncaster and Repton School in Derbyshire. The Paddington Bear website says: 'The very first Paddington bear soft toy was designed in the UK by a lady called Shirley Clarkson. She made it as a Christmas present for her children, Joanna and Jeremy Clarkson (who was to go on to become a world famous motoring journalist). "So many people admired Shirley's Paddington that she started to make some more until her company, Gabrielle Designs and was granted an official licence to sell them in the UK in 1972." When Paddington author passed away in 2017, the TV presenter wrote an emotional statement on Twitter to honour his family's relationship with him. He wrote: "Very sad to hear Michael Bond has died. I knew him for 45 years and rarely met anyone kinder or more gentle."
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Police chase stolen BMW used in multiple burglaries and make discovery
Police were involved in a pursuit of a stolen car which had been used in multiple burglaries. The cloned BMW 140 was spotted in Shirley. Officers from the roads policing team stung the car and then pursued it. READ MORE: Police probing Birmingham pub attack issue picture of man officers want to trace READ MORE: Birmingham school's incredible turnaround in 12 months revealed in Ofsted inspection READ MORE: 'Health hazard' at Sutton Coldfield school after bins not collected for 9 weeks READ MORE: Robbery hotspots revealed - including Birmingham area where someone is mugged 'every 31 hours' READ MORE: Birmingham Wetherspoon's horror sees car crash into beer garden drinkers Both occupants were arrested after they fled the car. Police said the driver was found to be wanted in connection with over six serious alleged offences. Inside the car officers said they found a large amount of drugs and cash. Police inquiries are ongoing. Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp, click the link to join WMP Traffic posted on X today, Monday, June 16: "RoadCrimeTeam saw this cloned & stolen BMW 140 in Shirley after it was used in multiple burglaries. "It was stung then pursued before both occupants were arrested following a decamp. "Inside was a large amount of drugs & cash plus the driver was wanted x6 for serious offences."
Scotsman
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Shirley Manson interview: Rock icon on Garbage and her ‘wild years' in Edinburgh band
Shirley Manson, Garbage's iconic frontwoman, speaks to the Evening News about her incredible career and the alt-rock veterans' eighth album, Let All That We Imagine Be The Light. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, 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... The band were formed in 1994, when Edinburgh-born Shirley met American bandmates Butch Vig, Duke Erikson and Steve Marker. They would go on to become one of the biggest musical acts of the '90s, selling over 15 million albums worldwide. Their best known songs include Stupid Girl, Only Happy When It Rains and the theme to the 1999 James Bond film, The World Is Not Enough. Before finding world stardom with Garbage, Stockbridge-raised Shirley sang with Edinburgh indie stalwarts Goodbye Mr Mackenzie. So how much of a debt, if any, does Shirley owe to her former band? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad I have a huge debt to Goodbye Mr Mackenzie. Without them I wouldn't have been prepared for the insane rise of Garbage that I enjoyed. I have a lot of love in my heart for them, and it's wonderful to see them get the kind of praise they deserve. I follow them on Instagram and to see them getting rave reviews, five out of five stars, and entering the Scottish charts is really gratifying. They are insanely talented, and yeah, I'm really proud of them. It's glorious. They are lovely, special people. And they are great artists. You've said in the past it was a wild and decadent time that gave you a 'spectacular education in the world of rock and roll'. It was fantastic. EVERY. SINGLE. DEBAUCHED. GLORIOUS. MOMENT. It was a wild, wild ride. And I have zero regret. We were disobedient, untameable... and hey, that's what you're supposed to do when you're young, right? It was a riot. It was the first time I'd ever been outside of Scotland when Goodbye Mr Macknzie played on the continent and it was glorious. To see the world for the first time while in a rock and roll band - it doesn't get better than that! You famously took a call from Garbage and jumped on a plane to America to audition for the band. What would have happened if you hadn't taken that flight? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The great tragedy of Goodbye Mr Mackenzie is that we were severely mismanaged. It caused a lot of financial duress, and basically destroyed the band. And we had stopped functioning as Goodbye Mr Mackenzie by the time I got the phone call from the Garbage boys. I still think it's terrible... what I call the Swiss cheese effect... when certain things go wrong and you're involved with the wrong kind of people at the wrong time and the wrong place. And that basically hampered Goodbye Mr Mackenzie's momentum. We had run into the rocks basically. And I got this phone call... I don't know where I'd be if I hadn't. I probably would have had to go and get a job. I had no money, I was on the dole. I had no qualifications. And I didn't really know what I would do, so I got the call, and I jumped really cos I didn't have any other option. And I had no idea what I was jumping into. I literally just jumped into the void and it all paid off for me in the end. But I had no idea at the time that it would. I was like, 'ok, this is something to do. I'm gonna do it and I'll get to go to America'. And that's what happened. Did it surprise you how big Garbage became - and how many records you guys sold? Even if you'd talked to me after the success of the first three records, I would not have thought that we'd be enjoying a 30-year career. That's still astounding to me. Even today I'm still reeling from the fact I get to put new records out on a major label and be speaking to journalists like yourself.... that's still kinda wild to me. It just seems like the kinda thing that happens to others, so I don't take it for granted. And I certainly did not see it coming when I jumped on that after making the first record... I was proud of the record we'd made, but I didn't think it had any legs, at all. I was really caught off guard. And then when we released the second one, and we sold as many copies as the first album, that shocked me. So yeah, it's just bizarre. How much do you think the music industry has changed for female artists since your trailblazing early days with Garbage? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad I think social media has encouraged the new generation of young women to speak out. I see that in the pop world. All these young women who are pop stars are now massively outspoken about things that they believe in - whether it's Olivia Rodrigo or Lady Gaga or Billie Eilish. They all have causes that they will speak out on - and in a forthright manner. They are way more switched on than my generation was. I was an anomaly really amongst female artists - and I'm not saying I'm the only one cos there were a lot of women in the 90s who were outspoken and talking about taboos. But as outspoken as our generation was, and as outspoken as my peers were, it's nothing compared to how women are now. And I'm so excited by it - it's thrilling to me. What are your proudest moments as an artist? Opening the Scottish Parliament. Absolutely. You have no idea what it feels like to be called up by your management and asked if you want to play at the opening of the first Scottish Parliament in 234 years - or however long it was. It was momentous. It was such a glorious evening and to sing in this spectacular setting underneath our ancient castle... it's etched in my memory and is something I am immensely grateful to have been a part of. How much has Edinburgh changed since you were a teenager? And have the changes been for better or worse? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It's changed. Of course it has. You would want it to change. Nothing stays the same. The city has its own evolution, just like a human being does. Sometimes you lose some beautiful things, and sometimes you gain a lot by change. So I do see that. I personally enjoy a lot of the changes I've seen in Edinburgh - and also I'm a little heartbroken at the death of that amazing moment in time when Edinburgh just had a burgeoning club scene. My favourite was the Hoochie Coochie club. All these kinda places where all the outsiders - the freaks and the geeks - would meet... that seems to have been eroded across the whole globe. There are different clubs that now exist, but I feel like the global communities are much more homogenised than they were when we were young. And I miss that. I miss everybody dressing differently and expressing themselves through their style in wilder, more provocative ways. I miss all the punks and rockabillies and the rockers, etc etc. They used to congregate outside Bruce's Records and places like that. And those record stores disappeared for a while. But old school record stores are coming back, and I think that's wonderful. It's exciting. The new album, Let All That We Imagine Be The Light, features a more optimistic tone compared to Garbage's previous work - would that be fair to say? Going into making this record, I was determined to find a more hopeful, uplifting world to immerse myself in. The title of the album, Let All That We Imagine Be The Light is the perfect descriptor for this new record as a whole. When things feel dark it feels imperative to seek out forces that are light, positive and beautiful in the world. It almost feels like a matter of life and death. A strategy for survival. Our last album was extremely forthright. Born out of frustration and outrage – it had a kind of scorched earth, pissed off quality to it. With this new record however, I felt a compulsion to reach for a different kind of energy. A more constructive one. I had this vision of us coming up out of the underground with searchlights as we moved towards the future. Searching for life, searching for love, searching for all the good things in the world that seem so thin on the ground right now. That was the overriding idea during the making of this record for me - that when things feel dark, its best to try to seek out that which is light, that which feels loving and good. When I was young, I tended towards the destruction of things. Now that I'm older I believe it's vitally important to build and to create things instead. I still entertain very old romantic ideals about community, society and the world. I don't want to walk through the world creating havoc, damaging the land and people. I want to do good. I want to do no harm. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad You've said in other interviews that you were 'completely cut off' from Garbage during the writing process for this new album, following hip surgery you underwent in 2023. Tell us about that. I was in Los Angeles recovering from surgery and I had a lot of brain fog going on because I was on a lot of pain medication. And I was literally learning how to walk again. So I didn't have the fortitude to go into the studio with the band. I just didn't have it in me. So for the first time in 30 years, we were forced into a different way of working. Retrospectively it was actually a gift to be able to disrupt all these old habits of ours. It was actually amazing. It was magical. I wouldn't want to do it again, but I think it really worked for us at that moment. One of the standout tracks on the album is the final track, The Day That I Met God. Tell us about that - did you meet the big man? The idea came to me when I was recovering from major surgery and I felt so raw, vulnerable and scared. I was on the treadmill for the first time following an operation when I suddenly felt this powerful sensation of healing love around me - it was a moment that uplifted me. It took me out from what had felt like hell. The vocal you hear is the writing demo, the first take. Just me sitting on the edge of my bed, in recovery, singing into a handheld microphone. I was feeling so vulnerable and I think that's what lends the song added poignancy. It's really a song about mortality but it's also an expression of gratitude. Gratitude for getting older, gratitude for the longevity of our band, for good health, for the great mystery and for the ongoing, creative adventure of life'. Garbage's new album, Let All That We Imagine Be The Light, is out now.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
‘It's out of control': Shop owner hits out at vandals after window was smashed
A shop owner has said a group of youths are out of control after his store was vandalised on Shirley Road, causing approximately £1,000 worth of damage. Sandeep Kumar has owned News and Photos in Shirley for a little over a year but said the past two months is the worst he has ever known it, with a group of youths repeatedly targeting the store, as well as other businesses on the high street. Speaking to the Echo he said: 'In two months, the shop has had its window broken, I've had alcohol stolen, boxes of chocolates taken, the sign directly outside the entrance has been taken and moved further up the road. 'Before the last couple of months everything was fine but then all of a sudden something bad is happening in Shirley every day, it's out of control. 'Poundland have had many problems, other shops in the precinct have been targeted, Subway also had their window kicked, I've not known anything like it.' READ MORE: After refusing to let a group of teenagers but alcohol from his convenience store two weeks ago, Sandeep watched on as his shop window was kicked and then hit with a broomstick, causing in the region of £750 to £1,000 of damage. 'I think more needs to be done to prevent this kind of bad behaviour happening in the future,' Sandeep added. 'The police are aware of the issues we've been having, and I think they know what's happened to other businesses too. 'We're good people here and we really like the community and try and look after our customers. 'It's difficult when a group of people that are so young are causing damage and causing stress for people. 'It's hard enough sometimes running a business; nobody needs extra hassle. It's something you think about because you wonder when it's going to stop. 'I shouldn't have to worry about people coming in and stealing things. 'Even if the items are small, it all ads up and £20 worth of stock can disappear just like that. "There's only so much you're able to do. Day to day it is getting worse and worse."
