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[
"Rob Brezsny"
] | 2016-08-26T20:52:38 | null | 2016-08-24T06:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rcreader.com%2Flifestyle%2F132-astrology%2F44968-free-will-astrology-082416.json | http://www.rcreader.com/ | en | null | Free Will Astrology: August 24, 2016 | null | null | www.rcreader.com | ARIES (March 21-April 19): In the coming weeks, I hope you won't scream curses at the rain, demanding that it stop falling on you. Similarly, I suggest you refrain from punching walls that seem to be hemming you in, and I beg you not to spit into the wind when it's blowing in your face. Here's an oracle about how to avoid counterproductive behavior like that: The near future will bring you useful challenges and uncanny blessings if you're willing to consider the possibility that everything coming your way will in some sense be an opportunity.
Rob Brezsny
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Oh how I wish you might receive the grace of being pampered and nurtured and entertained and prayed for. I'd love for you to assemble a throng of no-strings-attached caretakers who would devote themselves to stoking your healing and delight. Maybe they'd sing to you as they gave you a manicure and massaged your feet and paid your bills. Or perhaps they would cook you a gourmet meal and clean your house as they told you stories about how beautiful you are and all the great things you're going to do in the future. Is it possible to arrange something like that even on a modest scale, Taurus? You're in a phase of your astrological cycle when you most need this kind of doting attention – and when you have the greatest power to make it happen.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): I invite you to dream about your true home … your sweet, energizing, love-strong home … the home where you can be high and deep, robust and tender, flexible and rigorous … the home where you are the person that you promised yourself you could be. To stimulate and enhance your brainstorms about your true home, experiment with the following activities: Feed your roots … do maintenance work on your power spot … cherish and foster your sources … and refine the magic that makes you feel free. Can you handle one more set of tasks designed to enhance your domestic bliss? Tend to your web of close allies … take care of what takes care of you … and adore the intimate connections that serve as your foundation.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): It'll be one of those rapid-fire, adjust-on-the-fly, think-on-your-feet, go-with-your-gut times for you – a head-spinning, endorphin-generating, eye-pleasing, intelligence-boosting phase when you will have opportunities to relinquish your attachments to status quos that don't serve you. Got all that, Cancerian? There'll be a lot of stimuli to absorb and integrate – and luckily for you, absorbing and integrating a lot of stimuli will be your specialty. I'm confident of your ability to get the most of upcoming encounters with cute provocations, pleasant agitation, and useful unpredictability. One more tip: Be vigilant and amused as you follow the ever-shifting sweet spot.
LEO (July 23-August 22): At the risk of asking too much and pushing too hard, my Guerrilla Prayer Warriors have been begging God to send you some major financial mojo. These fierce supplicants have even gone so far as to suggest to the Supreme Being that maybe She could help you win the lottery or find a roll of big bills lying in the gutter or be granted a magic wish by an unexpected benefactor. "Whatever works!" is their mantra. Looking at the astrological omens, I'm not sure that the Prayer Warriors' extreme attempts will be effective. But the possibility that they will be is definitely greater than usual. To boost your odds, I suggest you get more organized and better educated about your money matters. Set a clear intention about the changes you'd like to put in motion during the next ten months.
VIRGO (August 23-September 22): Suggested experiments: (1) Take a vow that from now on you won't hide your beauty. (2) Strike a deal with your inner king or inner queen, guaranteeing that this regal part of gets regular free expression. (3) Converse with your Future Self about how the two of you might collaborate to fully unleash the refined potency of your emotional intelligence. (4) In meditations and dreams, ask your ancestors how you can more completely access and activate your dormant potentials.
LIBRA (September 23-October 22): I hope you are not forlorn, shivery, puzzled, or obsessive right now – unless being in such a state will mobilize you to instigate the overdue transformations you have been evading. If that's the case, I hope you are forlorn, shivery, puzzled, and obsessive. Feelings like those may be the perfect fuel – the high-octane motivation that will launch your personal renaissance. I don't often offer this counsel, Libra, so I advise you to take full advantage: Now is one of the rare times when your so-called negative emotions can catalyze redemption.
SCORPIO (October 23-November 21): From what I can tell, your vigor is peaking. In recent weeks, you have been sturdy, hearty, stout, and substantial. I expect this surge of strength to intensify in the near future – even as it becomes more fluid and supple. In fact, I expect that your waxing power will teach you new secrets about how to wield your power intelligently. You may break your previous records for compassionate courage and sensitive toughness. Here's the best news of all: You're likely to be dynamic about bestowing practical love on the people and animal and things that are important to you.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21): The odds are higher than usual that you will be offered a boost or promotion in the coming weeks. This development is especially likely to occur in the job you're doing or the career plans you've been pursuing. It could also be a factor at work in your spiritual life. You may discover a new teacher or teaching that could lift you to the next phase of your inner quest. There's even a chance that you'll get an upgrade on both fronts. So it's probably a good time to check on whether you're harboring any obstacles to success. If you find that you are, DESTROY THOSE RANCID OLD MENTAL BLOCKS WITH A BOLT OF PSYCHIC LIGHTNING.
CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19): The cosmos seems to be warming up to your charms. The stinginess it displayed toward you for a while is giving way to a more generous approach. To take advantage of this welcome development, you should shed any fear-based beliefs you may have adopted during the recent shrinkage. For instance, it's possible you've begun to entertain the theory that the game of life is rigged against you, or that it is inherently hard to play. Get rid of those ideas. They're not true, and clinging to them would limit the game of life's power to bring you new invitations. Open yourself up wherever you have closed down.
AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18): Are any of your allies acting like they've forgotten their true purpose? If so, you have the power to gently awaken them from their trances and help them re-focus. Is it possible you have become a bit too susceptible to the influences of people whose opinions shouldn't really matter that much to you? If so, now is a good time to correct that aberration. Are you aware of having fallen under the sway of trendy ideas or faddish emotions that are distorting your relationship with your primal sources? If so, you are hereby authorized to free yourself from their hold on you.
PISCES (February 19-March 20): Now would be a favorable time to reveal that you are in fact a gay socialist witch who believes good poetry provides a more reliable way to understand reality than the opinions of media pundits – unless, of course, you are not a gay socialist witch, etc., in which case you shouldn't say you are. But I do advise you to consider disclosing as much as possible of your true nature to anyone with whom you plan to be intimately linked in the future and who is missing important information about you. It's high time to experiment with being more completely yourself.
Homework: What would the people who love you best say is the most important thing for you to learn? Testify at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and visit FreeWillAstrology.com. | http://www.rcreader.com/lifestyle/132-astrology/44968-free-will-astrology-082416 | en | 2016-08-24T00:00:00 | www.rcreader.com/3b57bc1d660663269b6858ccf8b0d849a61fb4abf55ac76f94a738597640e941.json |
[
"Victoria Navarro"
] | 2016-08-29T16:52:48 | null | 2016-08-29T10:08:14 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rcreader.com%2F64-reader-articles%2Ftheatre%2Ftheatre-reviews%2F45012-jack-this-side-up.json | http://www.rcreader.com/images/stories/2016/916/916_This_Side_Up_theatre_review_1170.jpg | en | null | Jack and His Bean Talk: “This Side Up,” at the Village Theatre through September 4 | null | null | www.rcreader.com | Whenever I see a box marked with an arrow and the phrase “This Side Up,” the words strike me as almost poetic in their simple and straightforward instruction. If only life came with such clear signage! It would sure make living easy. But if that box was heavy and turned topsy-turvy with seemingly no way to right it … . What then?
This is the allegory pursued in New Ground Theatre’s latest production aptly titled This Side Up, whose world premiere I attended on August 26. University of Iowa graduate Kit Grassi, who wrote the work, told our opening-night audience that he drew inspiration from his own experiences and those of some friends but then “blew them up 200 percent,” and that having previously written short stories, this is was first produced play.
Austin Winters and Alexa Florence in This Side Up
Under Chris Jansen’s adroit direction, This Side Up explores the mind of the soon-to-be 13-year-old Jack, and Grassi's script and the actors adeptly visualize the forces inside the head of this creative, imaginative, and troubled boy. Austin Winters, who is a college student, is totally believable as our pre-teen hero, at times humorous and silly, and at other times scared, confused, and angry. Jack's outlet is writing adventure stories, and although the bullied kid has no friends, he fills that void with not one but six imaginary ones, all of whom the audience can see and hear. Five of them are playfully portrayed by Craig Cohoon, Mary Dammad, Donna Diggs, Beau Gusaas, and Josh Wielenga, who suggest a Greek chorus in Jack’s head – sometimes comforting, sometimes baffling, but mostly amusing.
Jack's sixth and best friend, Brutus, is played brilliantly by Jordan Smith as a smart-alecky, adventurous, adult-hating, gleam-in-his-eye pal. In contrast to Winter, whose character is shy and introverted, Smith demonstrates intense energy as the alpha-male Brutus, a quality showcased at its finest when he emotionally debates Jack in Shakespearean prose.
Our angst-ridden tween’s mother seeks psychological help for her son, and Mischa Hooker, as Jack's therapist, delivers his lines in a calm, steady, non-confrontational tone, perfectly befitting the character. Meanwhile, Alexa Florence, as Jack's mother, is a natural. (The performer does have two sons of her own.) Working several jobs, Mom struggles to make ends meet, and although she cares for Jack, she is unsure how to help him. But thinking that a new neighbor’s daughter, Sydney, may befriend her son, Mom decides to invite the girl over. Jack's imaginary friends immediately dislike her. Sydney, however, is no shrinking violet.
Jordan Smith and Austin Winters in This Side Up
One of the more powerful scenes in the play occurs when Sydney comes for a second visit, and Jack proposes that they play house. Vasquez, an Augustana College graduate, is wonderful as Sydney, and in this sequence, she and Winters skillfully stay in childlike character while the kids simultaneously mimic their unstable parents. Taking a page from Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, the house-playing builds in tension as the youths' anger escalates and the “pretending” reveals some ugly truths.
With This Side Up's sparse playing area composed of a small dinette set, a few chairs, a bed, and a small desk, designers Jansen, Cohoon, and Smith put the focus on the actors and the usually spirited action (although the bed is cleverly employed for one of the play's funnier moments). As the actors wear their own streets clothes, there's no costume designer listed in the program, but props designer Anne Petrie deserves credit for her creative use of cardboard.
I must clarify that This Side Up is not a simple play. It blends humor and pathos to tell a tale about trauma – about how life sometimes makes us feel like we're in a box that has been turned on its side, and it's up to us to right it. Yet it's also a play with relatable figures, well-written and well-acted. On opening night, Grassi stated that his characters “say things I’m afraid to say myself.” How lucky for us that he had the courage to write them down and share them.
This Side Up runs at the Village Theatre (2113 East 11th Street, Davenport) through September 4, and more information and tickets are available by calling (563)326-7529 or visiting New Ground Theatre's Facebook page. | http://www.rcreader.com/64-reader-articles/theatre/theatre-reviews/45012-jack-this-side-up | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.rcreader.com/fbded5044997e8cd43fb35daf8db6bd2825b5366cb61c7584c6eea1a49c8e069.json |
[
"Max Cannon"
] | 2016-08-26T20:53:53 | null | 2016-08-18T08:23:59 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rcreader.com%2Flifestyle%2F149-red-meat%2F44976-red-meat-august-18-2016.json | http://www.rcreader.com/images/stories/2016/915/meat20160818.jpg | en | null | Red Meat: August 18, 2016 | null | null | www.rcreader.com | null | http://www.rcreader.com/lifestyle/149-red-meat/44976-red-meat-august-18-2016 | en | 2016-08-18T00:00:00 | www.rcreader.com/d7062682d91bc9977785a63bc2ae38124d23b6031168857952495d3f9cbcc4fc.json |
[
"Brent Tubbs"
] | 2016-08-26T20:53:30 | null | 2016-08-15T10:50:29 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rcreader.com%2F64-reader-articles%2Ftheatre%2Ftheatre-reviews%2F44967-pushing-together.json | http://www.rcreader.com/images/stories/2016/915/fantasticks1170.jpg | en | null | Pushing Together by Pulling Apart: "The Fantasticks," at the Richmond Hill Barn Theatre through August 21 | null | null | www.rcreader.com | The Fantasticks, the 1960 musical with a score by Harvey Schmidt and lyrics and book by Tom Jones, is a love story with a twist, and the Richmond Hill Barn Theatre production that I saw on August 11 offered some sweet moments propped against a score I did not particularly care for. Its central idea and story, however, I loved.
The show begins as your typical Romeo-and-Juliet tale, with two fathers trying to keep their son and daughter away from each other by building a wall between their houses. But little do the children know that the fathers actually want them to be together, which they reveal in a cute song ("Never Say No") that describes how, as a parent, the only surefire way to get your children to do something is to tell them not to do it.
Victor Angelo plays the young, star-crossed lover Matt, and I was blown away to find out that Angelo is a real-life father of three, as I fully believed he was the 17-year-old that Matt was. Grace Burmahl portrays his girlfriend-over-the-wall Luisa, who, at the top of the show, wants nothing more than to be special, even praying, “Please, don’t let me be normal.” Burmahl delivers some fine, emotional acting, and her singing on Thursday was powerful, if a little too loud, at times, for the intimate space.
Ray Rogers, Mike Skiles, and Grace Burmahl in The Fantasticks
Matt's and Luisa's fathers Hucklebee (John VanDeWoestyne) and Bellomy (Bruce Carmen) want desperately for their children to get married – so much so that they stage an abduction of Bellomy’s daughter by the show's narrator El Gallo (Joe LoGiudice). Their idea is that Matt can jump into the fray, rescue Luisa, and the youths will fall in love and live happily ever after, which is exactly what happens … at the end of the first act.
Carmen offers an expressive, quite vaudevillian performance, and VanDeWoestyne owns every second of his stage time and has a wonderful tone to his voice. LoGiudice keeps the pace moving along nicely, although at times it was a little difficult to hear him when he started singing (possibly because several of his songs' low notes were beyond LoGiudice's vocal range). And his fellow storyteller, simply called “The Mute,” is played by Diane Greenwood, and it was a pleasure to watch her facial expressions throughout the entire production. Even when not directly involved in the action, Greenwood viewed the proceedings from the sides of the playing area, and always suggested that she was witnessing events for the very first time.
Two others who offer help filling characters as needed are Henry, a self-proclaimed “brilliant” actor, and Mortimer, who it's said can “die better than anyone.” These two misfits are played by the very funny Ray Rogers and Michael Skiles, and one particular highlight found the latter enacting an incredibly dramatic, incredibly long death from a mimed bow and arrow.
John VanDeWoestyne, Diane Greenwood, and Bruce Carmen in The Fantasticks
Structurally, The Fantasticks is loose, and really asks the audience to stretch their imaginations – a concept I appreciate (and, as an occasional improv comedian, am familiar with). Using broom handles for swords, and sprinkling confetti to symbolize snow and rain, the cast members also sometimes just mime their props, and I especially enjoyed the show for creating a sense that this “band of players” just threw this together using whatever was backstage.
Nancy Green does a splendid job as the production's accompanist, seen in full view of the audience and occasionally even allowed to interact with the actors. Director John Donald O’Shea, meanwhile, made strong use of the space, utilizing the entire playing area for Richmond Hill's theatre-in-the-round seating, and designer Jennifer Kingry contributed beautifully lit moments when characters were bathed in moonlight.
Overall, The Fantasticks was a fun story to watch, even though most of the music wasn't to my taste – all but two or three of the tunes are of a slow tempo with unmemorable melodies – and a few cast members seemed to struggle a bit with pitch. But if you’ve never before seen it, Schmidt and Jones do offer a new spin on an old story. Or rather, an old spin on an old story. Regardless, it does provide an intriguing look at what happens after “happily ever after.”
The Fantasticks runs at the Richmond Hill Barn Theatre (600 Robinson Drive, Geneseo) through August 21, and more information and tickets are available by calling (309)944-2244 or visiting RHPlayers.com. | http://www.rcreader.com/64-reader-articles/theatre/theatre-reviews/44967-pushing-together | en | 2016-08-15T00:00:00 | www.rcreader.com/9efa61ca627c3c35b485c21b26ce1e900661459d80080062ae83a06ad27be711.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T20:52:21 | null | 2016-08-24T10:36:15 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rcreader.com%2F67-reader-articles%2Fnews-features%2Fliterature%2F44990-2016-fiction-contest-announcement.json | http://www.rcreader.com/images/stories/2016/915online/fiction-contest.jpg | en | null | Enter the 2016 Short-Fiction Contest! | null | null | www.rcreader.com | Our 2016 short-fiction contest – presented in partnership with the Bettendorf Public Library – features 10 prompts from first and last lines of novels and stories by Iowa author Ethan Canin.
The deadline for entries is 5 p.m. Central Daylight Time on Monday, October 10.
We’ll publish winners in the November 10 issue of the River Cities’ Reader.
In addition, Canin will select his favorite stories from among the finalists, and the authors of those stories will be invited to read them at Canin’s presentation at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 9, at the Bettendorf Public Library. The event is presented by the Bettendorf Public Library Foundation.
Canin, a former physician, is the author of the collections Emperor of the Air (1985) and The Palace Thief (1994) and the novels Blue River (1992), For Kings & Planets (1999), Carry Me Across the Water (2001), America America (2009), and A Doubter’s Almanac (2016). He is the F. Wendell Miller Professor of English at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop.
The rules
A) Entries, including titles, must be 300 words or fewer – not counting the passage required in Rule H. We recommend being careful or leaving some breathing room.
B) Entries must be typed.
C) Entries must include the author’s name, city and state of residence, and daytime phone number.
D) Entries must be previously unpublished.
E) Entries must be received by 5 p.m. Central Daylight Time on Monday, October 10, 2016. We will accept submissions only by e-mail (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ). Please do not request confirmation of receipt.
F) Entries may be pasted into the body of the e-mail, or they may be attached in a common text-document format (.doc, .docx, .rtf, .odt).
G) People may submit as many as five entries, but no more than one for any given prompt.
H) All stories must include one of the 10 passages below. Outside of using a given passage within the story, no fidelity or relationship to the source is required.
Prompts
Ethan Canin.
A few hours later, in a high midmorning of light, she gave birth to their son, a slippery, angelic creature who came out into the world crying. – For Kings & Planets
The plane roared and tilted, in his chest the lightness of escape, then lift. – Carry Me Across the Water
I am an accountant, that calling of exactitude and scruple, and my crime was small. – “Accountant”
I tell this story not for my own honor, for there is little of that here, and not as a warning, for a man of my calling learns quickly that all warnings are in vain. – “The Palace Thief”
The summer I turned eighteen I disappointed both my parents for the first time. – “Star Food”
The day after Thanksgiving my mother was arrested outside the doors of J.C. Penney’s, Los Angeles, and when I went to get her I considered leaving her at the security desk. – “Pitch Memory”
We were silent, standing in his darkening apartment, and I tried to imagine what the world was like for him. – “American Beauty”
My hand finds her fingers and grips them, bone and tendon, fragile things. – “We Are Nighttime Travelers”
When you’ve been involved in something like this, no matter how long ago it happened, no matter how long it’s been absent from the news, you’re fated, nonetheless, to search it out. – America, America
What my father said was, “You pays your dime, you takes you choice,” which, if you don’t understand it, boils down to him saying one thing to me: Get out. – “Lies” | http://www.rcreader.com/67-reader-articles/news-features/literature/44990-2016-fiction-contest-announcement | en | 2016-08-24T00:00:00 | www.rcreader.com/c3f5335ce593304579beb4581e9ef7239b2956264b11220fdbb2aa93bf4980a1.json |
[
"Ted Rall"
] | 2016-08-26T20:52:02 | null | 2016-08-26T08:25:02 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rcreader.com%2Flifestyle%2F159-ted-rall%2F44996-ted-rall-august-26-2016.json | http://www.rcreader.com/images/stories/ted_rall/tr_c160826.jpg | en | null | Ted Rall: If We Did Other Things the Way We Vote | null | null | www.rcreader.com | null | http://www.rcreader.com/lifestyle/159-ted-rall/44996-ted-rall-august-26-2016 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.rcreader.com/6eb2732216edbccf3653c0cfab21a719c3dfab90f52f51e900cb4e0309568fae.json |
[
"Jeff Ashcraft"
] | 2016-08-26T20:50:58 | null | 2016-08-15T09:14:06 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rcreader.com%2F64-reader-articles%2Ftheatre%2Ftheatre-reviews%2F44966-you-dont-know-gaslight.json | http://www.rcreader.com/images/stories/2016/915/Gaslight1170.jpg | en | null | You Don't Know Jack: "Gaslight," at the Timber Lake Playhouse through August 21 | null | null | www.rcreader.com | It was a dark and stormy night … . No, seriously – it really was a dark and stormy night on August 11, which, fortunately, enhanced the eeriness and prolonged the tension of the opening night for the Timber Lake Playhouse's final production of its summer season.
The psychological thriller Gaslight, written by Patrick Hamilton, first premiered in London in December of 1938, and then enjoyed a long run on Broadway, beginning in 1941, under the title Angel Street. Its story centers on Jack and Bella Manningham, an upper-middle-class married couple who have recently moved into a new home in the Pimlico district of London circa 1880. As the show begins, it's apparent that this is not a very harmonious relationship, as Bella is quite clearly on the verge of some type of emotional breakdown. Her cognitive distortions appear to be the result of her overbearing husband, who is controlling, demanding, and torturous in his teasing, dangling emotional carrots in front of Bella and then cruelly pulling them away. (All the while, he overtly flirts with the female hired help.) Every evening, Jack leaves the residence, and sends Bella to her bedroom, where she hears strange noises on the floor above her room, and the gaslights that illuminate the home dim shortly after Jack leaves, always glowing brighter 10 minutes before his return. Yet everything Bella sees, hears, and experiences, according to Jack, are only figments of her inner madness. All she needs, he tells her, is to take the medicine he provides, and trust in him to know what's best.
Portraying the emotionally broken Bella, the center of Gaslight's plot, is Melissa Weyn, who appears to do everything she can to keep from coming totally unhinged. Weyn has mastered the employment of her fingers and hands for nervous flicks and tics, illustrating the overwrought inner struggle that Bella is fighting, and her hollow yet manic gaze supplies the audience with enough anxiety to make one's neck hair stand at complete attention. As Jack, Kieran McCabe plays the role rather coldly, and even aloofly. He might be more effective if he'd give the character more gears in his motivational gearbox; by offering more nuance within Jack's teasing, flirting, and desperation, McCabe may have brought a more disturbed character to life.
From the outset of the play, the audience is well aware that Jack is our villain. (Where does Jack go at night? Why is he so harsh toward Bella?) But they're also aware that something supernatural appears to be taking place. (How do books seemingly fly off the shelf? What's up with the gaslights flaring up and dimming down?) Enter Ken Singleton as Sergeant Rough, a London detective who has been on a 15-year mission to solve a murder that happened in the very home the Manninghams now occupy. Singleton shines a very bright light on the storyline, and on the stage. His detective is at times comical, but also calculating, as he slowly unveils key plot points answering question after question, and signals to Bella (and the audience) that she'll eventually be freed from the grips of this Victorian thriller.
In the supporting roles of housemaids Nancy and Elizabeth, Olivia Kaufmann and Shaina Schrooten are calculating as they play two very distinct sides to each of their servants. Kaufmann's Nancy is shrewd and sensual as she toys with Jack as a potential accomplice, and inserts herself right in the middle of the Manninghams' marital bubble. Schrooten, meanwhile, made a fool out of me, as I was surprised to learn that Elizabeth was more than the stereotypical dowdy Brit I thought she was.
Gaslight's entire story takes place in the main sitting room of the couple's home, a set designed by Tucker Topel with lighting by Riley Wood and sound by Kevin Johnson. Topel, Wood, and Johnson must have worked together very closely to create an environment that was beautifully Victorian in its look, but that kept the audience on edge with its shadowy and haunting feel.
Director Cody Jolly guides Gaslight to a quick pace that boasts just enough surprises; some audience members, on Thursday, actually gasped at several well-timed points throughout the evening. And the fun part about the show is that it's quite smart without becoming a typical horror story – it's truly about the thrill, with no horror needed. An intelligent thriller, Gaslight is destined to leave you on the edge of your seat as you try and follow the sick, tortured path of this play through its own very dark and stormy night.
Gaslight runs at the Timber Lake Playhouse (8215 Black Oak Road, Mt. Carroll) through August 21, and more information and tickets are available by calling (815)244-2035 or visiting TimberLakePlayhouse.org. | http://www.rcreader.com/64-reader-articles/theatre/theatre-reviews/44966-you-dont-know-gaslight | en | 2016-08-15T00:00:00 | www.rcreader.com/10a5a8a90153e26ff57d9a299a5bc270120f27e22f6c457b5ca3131f03a38bf6.json |
[
"Mike Schulz"
] | 2016-08-26T20:52:14 | null | 2016-08-21T18:09:24 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rcreader.com%2F13-reader-articles%2Fmovies%2Fmovie-reviews%2F44980-chariots-affair-ben-hur.json | http://www.rcreader.com/images/stories/2016/915online/benhur1170.jpg | en | null | Chariots Affair: “Ben-Hur,” “War Dogs,” and “Kubo & the Two Strings” | null | null | www.rcreader.com | BEN-HUR
The first words heard in the new remake of Ben-Hur are delivered in voice-over by – wouldn’t ya know it? – Morgan Freeman, meaning that the quality of director Timur Bekmambetov’s biblically themed epic is up in the air from the start. Will this be another Shawshank Redemption? A Million Dollar Baby? A March of the Penguins? A War of the Worlds? A Love Guru? A Hillary Clinton DNC bio-video?
So it shouldn’t be surprising that the movie, like Freeman’s vocal-track record, is similarly all over the place – sometimes lugubrious and laughable, sometimes powerful and exhilarating, sometimes merely blah. It’s hardly a threat to the legacy of 1959’s Ben-Hur and its record-setting 11 Oscar wins. But on the rare occasions that Bekmambetov’s unnecessary outing works, it works thunderously well, and either way we’re spared the monolithic orating of Charlton Heston, which is a plus right there.
In the documentary The Celluloid Closet, Gore Vidal (an uncredited contributing writer on the 1959 version) described Ben-Hur’s plot thusly: “Ben-Hur and Messala – one Jewish, one Roman – had known each other from youth, they disagree over politics, and now they hate each other for the next three hours.” That’s about as succinct a synopsis as you could ask for, and it’s fitting for this 2016 adaptation as well, but with one major and blessed difference: Here, they only hate each other for the next 100 minutes. As with many modern togas-and-sandals offerings, it’s easy to chuckle at the stiff, affected performances, and at the alternately pious and anachronistic dialogue. (My favorite howler in Keith R. Clarke’s and John Ridley’s script was the encouragement that Freeman’s Ilderim shouts toward Jack Huston’s Judah Ben-Hur: “Good move, Judah! Good move!” As taken from the Book of Matthew, no doubt.) Yet you can’t accuse the screenwriters or Bekmambetov of not trimming the fat from 1959’s three-and-a-half hour version, and I was grateful for their combined abilities to get down to business and keep things moving. Hell, even though it’s only a teaser for a longer sequence to come, this is a Ben-Hur that starts with the freakin’ chariot race.
Toby Kebbell in Ben-Hur
Ah, the chariot race – probably the only thing many of us vividly remember from 1959’s endless Oscar champ. Viewed today, it’s easy to see why director William Wyler’s masterfully shot and edited action climax became legendary, and if it were in a better film – a much better film – Bekmambetov’s updated staging might also have been talked about for generations. I, for one, didn’t much care about the leading dullards competing in the horse-drawn melee, which significantly diminished the scene’s risk. (While Huston is a vacantly handsome cipher as Ben-Hur, Toby Kebbell is unremittingly, one-dimensionally pouty and petulant as Messala – a real casting disaster.) But on a purely visceral level, good God is this thing exciting. Dust flies, wheels fall off, men and horses tumble to the ground with bone-snapping force, the camera spins upside-down, and it’s all joyously, intensely thrilling. Much has been made in the press about the ridiculousness of both remaking Ben-Hur at all and remaking it with a $100-million-plus price tag. Bekmambetov’s brilliantly conceived chariot race, though, at least indicates what financiers might have imagined they were investing in – a true biblical roller coaster. (Some of that same electricity and technical showmanship is on display in a harrowing sequence involving warring ships at sea, which is a brutal gasp-inducer that somehow manages to suggest Titanic, Master & Commander, The Poseidon Adventure, and Amistad all at once.)
It’s too bad, though, that Bekmambetov doesn’t show a similar gift for, or interest in, the handling of people. Perhaps that’s too much to ask from the director of Wanted and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, but what ultimately ruins this Ben-Hur is our emotional disconnect from those on-screen. The brotherly love between Judah and Messala, which sets the whole plot in motion, is more stated than felt from the very beginning, but every relationship here – even the narratively essential romantic ardor between Judah and his wife Esther (Nazanin Boniadi) – comes off as perfunctory. (Bekmambetov may as well be saying, “Don’t worry, folks, I’ll speed us through this boring exposition as fast as I can.”) As probably should have been expected, this Ben-Hur, with its energies all seemingly saved for the action-flick money shots, has more in common with modern blockbusters than with any biblical epics of the past, and for an entertainment being sold as “pro-faith,” it’s remarkably cavalier about its religious leanings. (I never imagined that the first appearance of Jesus Christ in a movie could ever be treated as a throwaway; Rodrigo Santoro’s introduction as Jesus finds him offhandedly addressing Ben-Hur while blithely finishing up a carpentry project.) Regardless of its being a big, fat slab of film history, I don’t know anyone whose interest in 1959’s Ben-Hur extends beyond the chariots. If it’s lucky, the same may be said of the 2016 version in 57 years. Or, you know, in one.
Miles Teller and Jonah Hill in War Dogs
WAR DOGS
Lots of things can be well-faked in movies: specific time periods; alien invasions; Tom Cruise’s actual height. But one thing that absolutely can’t is screen chemistry, a fact I was reminded of repeatedly during director Todd Phillips’ War Dogs. Inspired by a Rolling Stone article documenting the exploits of twentysomething arms suppliers David Packouz and Efraim Diveroli, this shame-based dark comedy follows the best friends from childhood as they and their purportedly “reputable” company con their way into transactions with the U.S. military and the selling of embargoed Chinese ammunition, in Albania, during the second term of George W. Bush. It’s one of those narratives so preposterous that we don’t need the requisite opening title card to know it must be based on a true story, and the key to its success has to lie in how much we believe in the leads – Miles Teller plays Packouz, Jonah Hill plays Diveroli – and their enabling, bros-before-CEOs relationship. But therein lies my problem with the film: Not only did I not buy Packouz and Diveroli as buds who loved one another; I didn’t buy that Teller and Hill, as actors, even much liked one another.
It’s doubtful that matters would have greatly improved had Teller and Hill displayed the combined presence of Hope and Crosby – or even the Tatum and Hill of the Jump Streets. True to life or not, the movie takes a chicken’s approach to Packouz’s involvement in the operation by making him an easily gullible dupe who barely questions the ethically shady Diveroli’s motives, and for added “relatability” he’s given a dimensionless sweetheart (Ana de Armas) whom he loves unconditionally and who is bearing his child, to boot. (Poor de Armas is stuck in one of the most insulting “It’s not that you’re a criminal; it’s that you lied to me” spousal roles that movies have offered in many a moon.) And Phillips’ film really pushes the boundaries of where homage ends and plagiarism begins, seeing as it’s overflowing with directorial tricks – freeze-frames, voice-over narration, incessant pop-music cues – borrowed from GoodFellas, and DePalma’s Scarface is visually and verbally referenced enough to make that 1983 movie a legitimate contender for SAG-ensemble consideration. (It can only be the time period, and maybe Hill’s involvement, keeping our douchebag protagonists from continually citing Scarface instead of Wolf of Wall Street, which, in this movie’s context, would’ve made a lot more sense.)
But War Dogs’ considerable failings might have been ignored, or at least more readily glossed over, if Teller and Hill – both of whom are quite fine individually – had exuded a modicum of rapport. Unfortunately, they don’t, and it winds up feeling kind of weird that they don’t. Teller is earnest as all-get-out, and Hill snorts coke and laughs in a high-pitched tenor, and not for a moment do you believe that these two are the lifelong compadres the movie keeps trying to sell them as; both performers seem to be in their own individual movie, and mildly annoyed when the other interrupts it. (If you see the film, notice how few scenes find Teller and Hill sharing the same frame at the same time, and how their dialogue doesn’t sound like conversation so much as “You’re done talking now, so it’s obviously my turn to speak.”) For all I know, in real life, Teller and Hill may be the closest of pals. On-screen here, they seem barely to have been introduced.
Kubo & the Two Strings
KUBO & THE TWO STRINGS
At the start of the animated adventure Kubo & the Two Strings, the film’s titular youth, speaking in voice-over, tells us, “If you must blink, do it now,” and insists, “If you fidget, if you forget any part of our tale even for an instant, our hero will surely perish.” Damn, that’s a lot of pressure on a kid! Not since the clap-or-she-dies threat of Tinkerbell’s demise has a family entertainment demanded such acquiescence. Yet while a few fellow patrons did fidget at times, and expressed occasional confusion about the narrative, my guess it that it’ll be hard for them to forget Kubo considering how rife it is with happy-nightmare imagery – the sorts of visual shockers reminiscent (for my generation) of the banshee in Darby O’Gill & the Little People, or the chicken decapitation during Willy Wonka’s boat ride. The crux of this heavily plotted tale rests with Kubo (voiced by Art Parkinson), a Japanese boy on a quest for three magical pieces of armor that will allow him to defeat the Moon King, a supernaturally powerful being who (a) is Kubo’s grandfather, (b) previously plucked out Kubo’s left eye, and (c) is now on the hunt for eyeball number two. If you think that’s a pretty grim setup, you’re not wrong, and parents of the easily squeamish (or easily squeamish parents) should be warned that director Travis Knight and his screenwriters deliver even more in the potentially-upsetting department: a malevolent skeleton with swords in his skull suggesting Hellraiser’s Pinhead; an underwater encounter with a cadre of enormous, unblinking eyeballs; a pair of floating samurai – Kubo’s aunts, naturally – whom Rooney Mara voices with hypnotic “Come play with us, Danny” eeriness.
Yet as realized via the traditionally arresting stop-motion-animation of Laika Entertainment – the studio responsible for Coraline, The Boxtrolls, and the magnificent ParaNorman – Kubo isn’t just a freak-out for the under-10 set. In truth, it’s hard to think of another 2016 release that has offered quite this much variety in terms of emotional tone and effect. There’s gravely moving melancholy in the scenes of Kubo tending to his damaged, nearly catatonic mother, and Kubo’s attempts to communicate with his deceased father through an un-illuminated paper lantern. There’s charming, frequently hilarious road-trip slapstick in Kubo’s countrywide trek with traveling companions Monkey (a smashingly deadpan Charlize Theron) and Beetle (a goofy, deliriously dippy Matthew McConaughey). There’s tension and excitement in the numerous battle sequences involving Mara’s witches and Ralph Fiennes’ Moon King, primarily because, in a summertime rarity, it feels as if there’s actually something at stake in their outcomes. And through all the high drama and low comedy (some of it provided, delightfully, by the great, baritone-voiced Brenda Vaccaro), there are beautiful meditations on family, duty, and youthful self-sufficiency, plus a heartrending finale to make you shed tears of sadness and joy. Kubo & the Two Strings is an unusual, all but unclassifiable thrill, and more-than-sufficient added evidence that when it comes to being the standard-bearer in animated innovation and cleverness, Pixar should really be watching its back. Me Laika.
Follow Mike on Twitter at Twitter.com/MikeSchulzNow. | http://www.rcreader.com/13-reader-articles/movies/movie-reviews/44980-chariots-affair-ben-hur | en | 2016-08-21T00:00:00 | www.rcreader.com/347925e838fd678812098b367272313f93358e2b6b6dd65df98feda60e26a173.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T20:53:45 | null | 2016-08-23T06:38:26 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rcreader.com%2Flifestyle%2F148-crosswords%2F44988-crossword-august-23-2016.json | http://www.rcreader.com/ | en | null | Crossword Puzzle: August 23, 2016 | null | null | www.rcreader.com | To download a PDF of the puzzle, click here.
For the answers, check back on Tuesday, August 30.
For the answers to last week’s puzzle, click here. | http://www.rcreader.com/lifestyle/148-crosswords/44988-crossword-august-23-2016 | en | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | www.rcreader.com/4614d92f6f6b3cff1decb3b4e2da9cbe320dacaaff78e82e85d435fd5fd513be.json |
[
"Amy Alkon"
] | 2016-08-26T20:53:17 | null | 2016-08-25T07:45:16 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rcreader.com%2Flifestyle%2F129-advice%2F44975-advice-goddess-082516.json | http://www.rcreader.com/ | en | null | Ask the Advice Goddess: August 25, 2016 | null | null | www.rcreader.com | Shaggedy Ann
When I was in my 20s, watching Sex & the City, I saw the Samantha Jones character as a sexual role model – thinking I could have love-'em-and-leave-'em sex like her. However, even when I only wanted sex, I always had a sense of loss when one-nighters didn’t evolve into something more. I reflected on this while reading your recent column about how women often wake up after casual sex wanting more from a guy – even a guy they don’t want. But I personally know two women who prefer casual sex. They have it often and don’t get attached. Why can they do this?
– Not Teflon
There are those women who, in bringing some himbo home for a hookup, really go that extra mile – taking a lot of turns on the way so he’ll never again find his way back to their apartment.
So, no: Sex & the City’s Samantha isn’t a completely fictional character in how, after sex, she brushes men off herself like large, penis-equipped crumbs. However, in that column you mention, I referenced research from anthropologist John Marshall Townsend, who discovered that Samantha’s post-sex detachment is pretty atypical – that many women who intend to use and lose a guy often find themselves going all clingy-pants the next morning.
Understanding what allows the Samantha type to escape this takes separating the women who have casual sex from those who feel okay about it afterward.
Women have casual sex for various reasons. For some, it seems the feminist thing to do – to prove they can do anything a man can do, whether it’s working on an oil rig or dragging home strangers for a little nail-and-bail. Townsend notes that women hook up because they aren’t ready for a relationship, because they’re trying to punch up their sex skills, or – as with rock groupies – to get some small piece of a guy they know is out of their league. Other women see hookups as the “Free candy!” they can use to lure some unsuspecting man into the relationship van.
There’s a widespread belief, even held by some researchers, that higher testosterone levels in women mean a higher libido, but testosterone’s role in female desire is like that Facebook relationship status: “It’s complicated.” Research by clinical psychologist Nora Charles, among others, suggests that “factors other than ... hormones” are behind which women become the Princess Shag-a-lots.
Personality seems to be one of those factors. In looking at what’s called “sociosexuality” – what sort of person has casual sex – psychologist Jeffrey A. Simpson finds that extraversion (being outgoing, exhibitionistic, and adventure-seeking), aggressiveness, and impulsivity are associated with greater willingness to have an uncommitted tumble.
However, once again, all the reasons a woman’s more likely to have casual sex don’t stop her from getting tangled up in feelings afterward. The deciding factor seems to be where she falls on what the late British psychiatrist John Bowlby called our “attachment system.” According to Bowlby, how you relate in close relationships – “securely,” “anxiously,” or “avoidantly” – appears to stem from how well your mother (or other primary caregiver) sussed out and responded to your needs and freak-outs as an infant.
If she was consistently responsive (but not overprotective), you’re probably “securely attached,” meaning you have a solid emotional base and feel you can count on others to be there for you. This allows you to be both independent and interdependent.
Being “anxiously attached” comes out of having a caregiver who was inconsistently there for you (perhaps because they were worn thin) or who was overprotective. This leads to fear and clinginess in relationships (the human barnacle approach to love).
And finally, being “avoidantly attached” is a response to a cold, rejecting caregiver – one who just wasn’t all that interested in showing up for you. Not surprisingly, perhaps to avoid risking all-out rejection by being too demanding, the avoidantly attached tend to adapt by becoming people who push other people away.
It’s avoidantly attached women who social psychologist Phillip Shaver and his colleagues find can have casual sex without emotional intimacy – and, in fact, tend to see their “discard after using” attitude as a point of pride. (It sounds better to be a “sexual shopaholic” than a person with unresolved psychological problems.)
Other women – those who didn’t have a really chilly caregiver – are likely to have that “sense of loss” you feel after casual sex. As Townsend notes, female emotions evolved to act as an “alarm system” to push women to go for male “investment” – that guy who’ll go to the ends of the earth for you … and actually come back afterward instead of growing a beard, getting a passport in a fake name, and starting a new life in some remote Japanese fishing village.
Got a problem? Write Amy Alkon: 171 Pier Ave, #280, Santa Monica, CA, 90405. E-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , visit AdviceGoddess.com, and listen to Amy's weekly radio show at BlogTalkRadio.com/amyalkon.
Order Amy Alkon's book Good Manners for Nice People Who Sometimes Say F--- (St. Martin’s Press, June 3, 2014). | http://www.rcreader.com/lifestyle/129-advice/44975-advice-goddess-082516 | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | www.rcreader.com/ebffd9a958efe3780c774a20ac2c16a342e42cc682139b5fc3569e0e5a101867.json |
[
"Hannah Bates"
] | 2016-08-26T20:52:59 | null | 2016-08-19T08:27:06 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rcreader.com%2F14-reader-articles%2Fmusic%2Fmusic-feature-stories%2F44977-fuller-version-of-myself-kait-berreckman.json | http://www.rcreader.com/images/stories/2016/915/kait-berreckman.jpg | en | null | “A Fuller Version of Myself”: Kait Berreckman, August 31 at Rozz-Tox | null | null | www.rcreader.com | A few years ago, Kait Berreckman was ready to give up on music. But moving back to Nebraska and surrounding herself with the right influences brought her back to it.
Berreckman, who will play a show at Rozz-Tox on August 31, is an Omaha-based singer/songwriter who occupies a space between folk and power pop. Her disillusionment with her career prospects in music, she said in a recent phone interview, started when she was living in Austin, Texas.
She began work there on her debut album Conservation, and decided to move to the city after graduating from college in 2011. She finished the album in Austin and played some shows while working service jobs, but she still felt a lack of direction with her music.
“I didn’t know where to start and so I just gave up,” Berreckman said. “It sucks to admit that, but that’s kind of all there is to it. Sure, I had a relationship I wasn’t happy with and I was not making much money, but I could get shows and I could’ve had a band and I could’ve gone for it, but I didn’t. I let my own insecurities win out and convince me I wasn’t good enough.”
But moving back to her home state in 2013 was exactly what she needed.
“I think it was a combination of family support, and meeting the right combination of people who encouraged me to go to some open mics and meet some other people in the local scene there that just helped give me that push,” she said.
The tight-knit Omaha music scene helped inspire Berreckman to put together her new full-length album, Battle Scenes.
“When I set out to make this new album, I promised myself I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t have a plan,” she said. “Twenty-four-year-old me would’ve quit on this album probably six times by now. Living in Austin showed me what it looked like to be persistent, and I think living in Omaha has really taught me how.”
The record, which will be released on August 24, deals with some of the things that held Berreckman back. “I think my goal with this album was just to represent a rebirth, and fighting through self-doubt and dealing with a lot of personal stuff to just keep doing what I know I love doing,” she said.
The songs clearly lay out her personal struggles, such as moving past failed relationships in “Keep It Up” and coming to terms with introverted tendencies in “Control.” “I want to be in control and out of control at the same time,” Berreckman sings in the latter’s chorus, articulating the everyday anxiety of not being able to relax and have a good time at a party.
With the sound of the album, Battle Scenes showcases what Berreckman considers two sides of her personality. “When we were recording and I heard everything side-by-side, it felt like it was me,” she said. “If I separated that kind of alt-country style from the more rock and power-pop style that I do, it felt like there was only one part of me being shown. I’d rather have a fuller version of myself out there.”
Berreckman considers two songs from the upcoming album – the poppy “Control” and the blues-inspired “Night Owl” – perfect examples of the two genres in which she likes to work. “Control” opens the album with its melodic guitar-pop sound, driven by only electric guitar and drums. “Night Owl,” in the middle of the album, opens with twinkling piano and blues riffs on the guitar. If it weren’t for Berreckman’s voice slipping in and out of higher registers (as she often does), the two songs wouldn’t even sound like the same artist.
That happens a lot on the record. “Grace” features only a soft acoustic guitar with Berreckman singing about how she can’t give someone her love. It runs right into the energetic electric-guitar introduction to the catchy “Keep It Up.” The album’s sound is best described as power-pop instrumentation with Berreckman’s country- and folk-inspired vocals.
She recorded Battle Scenes with her live band, and the time they spent honing the songs is evident based on her 2014 release First Drafts – which includes an early version of “Night Owl.” In two years of live performance, the song has been transformed from Nilsson-esque with low brass and finger snaps to its currently bluesy incarnation.
Although Rozz-Tox is a stop on Berreckman’s first tour, her new album demonstrates a seasoned singer/songwriter who’s spent the past decade developing her sound and finding her voice.
Kait Berreckman will perform on Wednesday, August 31, at Rozz-Tox (2108 Third Avenue, Rock Island; RozzTox.com). The 8 p.m. all-ages show also includes Erin Moore. Cover is $5.
For more information on Kait Berreckman, visit KaitBerreckmanMusic.com.
Hannah Bates is a recent St. Ambrose University graduate who likes music more than she likes most other things. She can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . | http://www.rcreader.com/14-reader-articles/music/music-feature-stories/44977-fuller-version-of-myself-kait-berreckman | en | 2016-08-19T00:00:00 | www.rcreader.com/3e32a7f801453ae2642d33368088ae5c563ed22870999ec020d5779f98302ed8.json |
[
"Mike Schulz"
] | 2016-08-26T20:52:47 | null | 2016-08-14T18:12:56 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rcreader.com%2F13-reader-articles%2Fmovies%2Fmovie-reviews%2F44965-streep-throat-florence-jenkins.json | http://www.rcreader.com/images/stories/2016/915/florence1170.jpg | en | null | Streep Throat: "Florence Foster Jenkins," "Pete's Dragon," "Anthropoid," and "Sausage Party" | null | null | www.rcreader.com | FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS
For more than 30 years, Meryl Streep has been singing on-screen in movies ranging from 1983’s Silkwood to last year’s Ricki & the Flash, with musical pitstops in a half-dozen outings in between. But not until the new bio-comedy Florence Foster Jenkins has the star ever sung quite this badly. Streep being Streep, of course, she sings badly brilliantly.
Playing the titular socialite who, at age 76, performed a legendarily god-awful recital at Carnegie Hall, Streep is about as much fun here as she’s been all decade. Any vocalist worth her salt will tell you there are few things more difficult than singing intentionally off-key, and Streep’s flat and rhythmless caterwauling – particularly while butchering Mozart’s “Queen of the Night” aria from The Magic Flute – is riotously, gloriously wretched. Yet miraculously, you don’t laugh at Florence. Streep, director Stephen Frears, and screenwriter Nicholas Martin have conceived the role with such vivid empathy, and make Florence’s lifelong love of music so palpable, that you can’t help but adore this shrill no-talent performing with such radiant pride and joy. Frears’ entire movie, in truth, is a similar sort of happy delight. Beyond the physicalized bear hug of Streep’s portrayal, Hugh Grant is masculine and tender as Florence’s devoted husband (albeit one with a girlfriend on the side), and Nina Arianda is a consistent hoot as a floozy whose early shock at Florence’s ineptitude morphs into genuine respect. There are brief, sharp turns by Brid Brennan, Christian McKay, and John Kavanagh; the mid-1940s décor and costuming are impeccable without being aggressively showy. And Simon Helberg, as Florence’s accompanist, delivers pricelessly aghast reaction shots, his understated panic suggesting a nervous breakdown dressed in a tweed suit and bow tie. Low-key and formulaic though it is, Florence Foster Jenkins is a minor marvel. Your ears may bleed, but your heart will swell.
Oakes Fegley in Pete's Dragon
PETE’S DRAGON
As far as I know, my nine-year-old niece and seven-year-old nephew don’t read my reviews, so I feel only moderate guilt in admitting that I wasn’t a fan of Disney’s original Pete’s Dragon even when I was a nine-year-old myself. (The kids saw it on video recently and lo-o-o-oved it.) But I am a fan, and a pretty major one, of writer/director David Lowery’s new Pete’s Dragon, and not just because we’re blessedly spared a braying-hillbilly Shelley Winters and “Candle on the Water.” Defying all expectation regarding 21st Century reboots, Lowery and co-screenwriter Toby Halbrooks have concocted a family adventure that’s actually quieter, graver, and considerably more thoughtful than its forebear – an enchanted tale closer in spirit to E.T., or Spielberg’s recent The BFG, than 1977’s musical fantasy. You’re clued in to Lowery’s seriousness of intent in his sad, artful staging of an early car crash and the subsequent threat of a wolf attack, and time and again the movie boasts a tricky blend of naturalism and awe: the lovable dragon Elliott silently soaring over a lush forest expanse; the orphaned wild child Pete (played, as a 10-year-old, by a marvelous Oakes Fegley) growing slowly re-accustomed to family life; the eyes of Robert Redford as a 70-year belief is proved a reality. Inevitably, of course, the mandates of modern Hollywood blockbusters rear their ugly heads, and we’re stuck with the requisite action-packed chase scenes and bridge peril, plus a stern-faced Karl Urban shouting, “Follow that dragon!” But for roughly 80 percent of its length, Pete’s Dragon is overflowing with intelligence and true wonder, and while the movie’s children (including Oona Laurence and the big-eyed Levi Alexander) give the most honest portrayals, the overall atmosphere is so relaxed that even the usually tense Bryce Dallas Howard emerges as genial and touching. The last time she faced an enormous green creature on-screen, Howard was teetering on laughably high heels in Jurassic World. Glad to see she’s discovered the benefits of flats.
Jamie Dornan and Cillian Murphy in Anthropoid
ANTHROPOID
About 15 minutes into director/co-writer/cinematographer Sean Ellis’ new dramatic thriller, a character finally asks what audience members, myself included, were also likely asking about this World War II saga: “What is ‘anthropoid’?!” (Those entering the movie blind might easily imagine some kind of sci-fi/horror monstrosity with the face of Alicia Vikander and the legs of an octopus.) The answer, it turns out, is that it’s the name of a secret operation to assassinate Final Solution engineer Reinhard Heydrich, the Nazi commonly known as “the Butcher of Prague.” Ellis’ Anthropoid, meanwhile, is a mostly first-rate, at times unbearably brutal exploration of events surrounding those plans – a grim, sober, eventually transfixing account of an unimaginably dangerous and heroic assignment. Although it tells the real-life story of parachutists and potential assassins Josef Gabcik (Cillian Murphy) and Jan Kubis (Fifty Shades of Grey’s Jamie Dornan), you can feel the film, despite the exceptional production design, struggling a bit with veracity. During the movie’s relatively pokey opening third, the men seem too conveniently matched with a pair of beautiful Czech allies (Charlotte Le Bon and Anna Geislerová, both performing valiantly in underwritten roles), and a few too many genre clichés pop up; was it necessary for the operation’s chief turncoat to be telegraphed by his being the only male redhead in the cast? Yet once the plans for Heydrich’s killing are underway, Anthropoid becomes a rather shattering emotional experience. The assassination attempt itself is filmed with alacrity and no small amount of terror, Robin Foster’s subtly menacing score working our nerves as readily as the razor-sharp editing and anxious hand-held photography. After that scene, however, there’s nearly an hour of movie to go, and the ramifications of the parachutists’ actions make for ceaselessly engaging, frequently harrowing viewing, with a climactic assault on a church a masterpiece of finely choreographed battle frenzy. Given the inherently fascinating story, Ellis’ filmmaking skills, and the devastating portrayals by Murphy and Dornan (the latter of whom pulls off some exquisitely modulated panic attacks), Anthropoid is certainly in the top tier of recent World War II movies, and the first one in ages in which the violence, and not the melodrama, made me cry – even the off-screen beatings and bullets to the head are shattering. If you’ve been at all concerned that cinematic spectacle has made you inured to real-life savagery, check out Ellis’ film. You may not be as desensitized as you think.
Sausage Party
SAUSAGE PARTY
I laughed, and laughed often, at directors Greg Tiernan’s and Conrad Vernon’s Sausage Party, a computer-animated, proudly R-rated comedy that may as well have been titled The Secret Life of Foodstuff. But I’m really, really hoping that it marks the end of vocal star/co-screenwriter Seth Rogen’s cinematic stoner slapsticks, because I’m not sure the results can get more Seth Rogen-y than they are here – and I’m not sure I want to see them if they do. Visually, this superbly animated endeavor is clever as hell; there are brilliant nods to Gulliver’s Travels and Terminator II, and in a few scenes – the supermarket melee shot like Saving Private Ryan, the suppertime kitchen massacre – the movie hits almost unbelievable peaks of inventiveness and hilarity. Yet while Rogen, as our hot-dog hero Frank, sounds just like his prototypical, weed-smoking self (sarcastic, growly, every third word profane), nearly every other character, even the ones that shouldn’t, sounds like him, too; I may now have officially heard the word “f---” more times in 90 minutes than I’ve ever said it in my life. Still, see it for the occasional bursts of more varied comic personality courtesy of Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, Michael Cera, Jonah Hill, Craig Robinson, Salma Hayek, and numerous others. See it for the squabbling lavash and bagel, voiced by David Krumholtz and Edward Norton (doing a pretty great Woody Allen impression). See it for the surprisingly unpredictable narrative and trenchant discourse on religion, and for the shockingly crude opening number by famed Disney composer Alan Menken. But whatever you do, do not see Sausage Party with your kids. If you think it’s tough getting them to eat their veggies now ... .
Follow Mike on Twitter at Twitter.com/MikeSchulzNow. | http://www.rcreader.com/13-reader-articles/movies/movie-reviews/44965-streep-throat-florence-jenkins | en | 2016-08-14T00:00:00 | www.rcreader.com/db4c06fe8b3189e7c9d1aeaa94e89c56c9f7228f1047cd172cf46ed8faef5e22.json |
[
"Jeff Ignatius"
] | 2016-08-26T20:53:04 | null | 2016-08-18T08:01:11 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rcreader.com%2F14-reader-articles%2Fmusic%2Fmusic-feature-stories%2F44974-chrash-things-my-friends-say-review.json | http://www.rcreader.com/images/stories/2016/915/chrash.jpg | en | null | On Their Own Time: Chrash, “Things My Friends Say” | null | null | www.rcreader.com | Six seconds into Chrash’s “Midwest Sky” is a throw-away sound that illustrates the band’s method for Things My Friends Say: the light ping of a coin being flipped.
The summer release from Chrash on the Cartouche label, said singer/songwriter/guitarist Chris Bernat, was in the works for three years. “It’s a long time coming,” he said last week. “We decided that it would be nice to have the luxury of time, which can work for you or against you.”
So instead of being on the clock at a studio, Things My Friends Say was recorded in the basement of drummer Paul Blomquist. On the work-against-you side of things, recording equipment failed near the beginning of tracking, and Bernat said that “we couldn’t figure it out. ... That took months.”
But for the most part, he said, time worked for the Quad Cities band, as the trio used it to find the right sounds and methods for capturing them: “We really enjoy being creative in the studio, and ... we were able to try things that we’ve never done on record before. Because usually ... we’re on someone else’s time. So we were able to get experimental ... .”
In the past, he said, the band – which has often worked with Pat Stolley in the studio – would record quickly. “With this,” he said, “we might ... scrap it and start over. That’s a luxury you don’t have when you’re paying somebody by the hour in the studio. ...
“This is the first one we’ve done pretty much on our own,” he added. “I like the homemade feel of it, but it’s not lo-fi.”
The coin flip is just one example. There’s microphone placement in a washing machine and at the top of stairs, the use of an Omnichord on several songs, a sample recorded off KUNI radio announcing a Chrash song. (That last one is buried deep in the mix to the point that it only registers as a radio-tuning knob finding mostly noise.) Bernat said he couldn’t recall all of the tricks the band employed, “just trying anything to get a different, new, exciting sound for us.”
That process has its perils. Over-thought records can feel precious and sterile, but – like Spoon – Chrash manages to make rigor and attention to detail sound casual and natural. Over its 11 tracks, Things My Friends Say has a broad but comfortable indie-rock palette.
The first three tracks chug along, but with different engines – piano and Kim Murray’s bass on the opening title track, and pulsing guitars on “Grace Comes from Lightening” and “T.V. Fun Lights.” Before that gets tiresome, “Midwest Sky” has an airy sound that reflects its title, and then “Local Scene” obliterates all preconceptions with opening synths that would be at home in a horror or sci-fi movie from the 1980s.
The brief, gently urgent instrumental “Too White to Fail” is an additional palate-cleanser leading into the back half of the record, where Things My Friends Say really sings. “Crucial Conversations” is a sterling example of rock-trio songcraft, arrangement, and tone – simple, taut, disciplined, and most of all vibrant, thoughtful, and alive in every component and in its progression.
“Just Asking” is punchy and agreeably snotty in its attitude, and lyrically it takes its cue from the title of the earlier instrumental. With all that going on, it should be insufferably arch, but nestled within are serious and earnest questions about race and change: “Are we too white to fail? / And if so / then what the hell / are we to do about the way it is?”
“I’m Acting,” meanwhile, has the hushed, soft warmth of seduction undermined by sharp observations on delicate artifice: “You’re acting like you like me right now / ’Cause you, you’re not acting like yourself tonight.”
Closing the album, “Didn’t We Have History Together” is a sprightly sprint to the finish, straightforward rock characterized by galloping guitar and drums that’s augmented by Omnichord, percussion, and distorted-bass flourishes. It’s an effective summary the entire album: dynamic, skillful, tight, and free. | http://www.rcreader.com/14-reader-articles/music/music-feature-stories/44974-chrash-things-my-friends-say-review | en | 2016-08-18T00:00:00 | www.rcreader.com/b892d7b2d72ebee4203cecf14223ab974627aaf7b7daacc274fefcdee5e3fd16.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T20:51:16 | null | 2016-08-05T10:49:52 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rcreader.com%2F143-reader-articles%2Fart%2Fphotography%2F44912-august-2016-photo-feature.json | http://www.rcreader.com/images/stories/2016/914online/august-2016-photo-feature.jpg | en | null | Featured Image from the Quad Cities Photography Club | null | null | www.rcreader.com | This summer has brought its share of thunderstorms to our area, and many photographers enjoy trying to capture the lightning strikes. In late July, as one of theses storms was passing through the Geneseo area, Luke Clendenin was impressed by the intense lightning and felt that it presented an excellent photo opportunity. Luke explains: “After the storm passed, I set up in my backyard to photograph the lightning as the storm moved to the southeast over Geneseo. The photograph is a composite of five images taken over a period of about two minutes.” Luke used a Canon Rebel T5i with an 18-55-millimeter lens. Each photo was shot at 18 millimeters, f/8.0, 20 seconds, and ISO 100. He used a sturdy tripod with a remote shutter release. Luke continued: “The knowledge of camera settings, post-processing techniques, and composition I have gained from participating in the Quad Cities Photography Club have helped me to produce this image and many others.”
The Quad Cities Photography Club welcomes visitors and new members. The club sponsors numerous activities encompassing many types and aspects of photography. It holds digital and print competitions most months. At its meetings, members discuss the images, help each other to improve, and socialize. The club also holds special learning workshops and small groups that meet on specific photography topics, and occasionally offers interesting shooting opportunities. The club meets at 6:30 p.m. the first Thursday of the month September through June at the Butterworth Center, 1105 Eighth Street in Moline.
For more information on the club, visit QCPhotoClub.com. | http://www.rcreader.com/143-reader-articles/art/photography/44912-august-2016-photo-feature | en | 2016-08-05T00:00:00 | www.rcreader.com/2d13dc8c68917c036eff9661062da5441f2d078d04173310c6f3dde470d0e37e.json |
[
"Damien Lucas",
"Damien.Lucas Jpress.Co.Uk"
] | 2016-08-26T14:49:11 | null | 2016-08-26T13:59:15 | A popular pub-restaurant chain has pledged to donate the full net price of every pizza or pasta dish they sell for three days to raise money towards the Italian relief effort in the wake of the Amatrice earthquake. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fpopular-restaurant-chain-s-brilliant-gesture-in-wake-of-italian-earthquake-1-7546407.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7546372.1472217114!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Popular restaurant chain’s brilliant gesture in wake of Italian earthquake | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | A popular pub-restaurant chain has pledged to donate the full net price of every pizza or pasta dish they sell for three days to raise money towards the Italian relief effort in the wake of the Amatrice earthquake.
As the horrors of the Amatrice earthquake continue to unfurl, and the scale of the devastation and the need for assistance becomes ever more apparent, Oakman Inns & Restaurants has pledged to help by donating every penny they get from the sale of all their pizzas and pasta dishes from Tuesday August 30 to Thursday September 1 to the Italian Red Cross.
Oakman Inns chief executive Peter Borg-Neal
The company, which operates The Globe in Warwick and the Four Alls in Welford-on-Avon, has decided to raise funds to help the Italian relief effort. As a result, every one of its 17-strong collection will be telling all customers over the next 48 hours and urging everyone to get on board the social media campaign to #EatForItaly.
CEO, Peter Borg-Neal, said the idea came due to the chain’s strong connections with Italy.
“Much of our menu is inspired by Italy and their traditional cuisine - and we therefore have a huge number of colleagues who are Italian,” he said.
“We have decided that we want to do something really meaningful to help the victims of this disaster. As a result, we will donate the full net price of every pizza or pasta dish sold next week for three days between Tuesday 30th August and Thursday 1st September to the Italian Red Cross. to help provide relief. If we sold our normal amount of dishes we would be sending a cheque for around £20,000 to Italy. I am hoping we will have to write a much bigger cheque.”
If we sold our normal amount of dishes we would be sending a cheque for around £20,000 to Italy. I am hoping we will have to write a much bigger cheque. Peter Borg-Neal, Oakman Inns CE0
Over the past two years, all Oakman Inns have been adding authentic wood-fired Pizza Ovens into their pubs and Peter insists on training his principal Pizza chefs in Italy. “One of our restaurant teams only recently came back from training in Naples, and on Tuesday night, only a few hours before this terrible event, we were holding an internal competition to discover our best Pizzaiolo.”
The 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck at 3:36am on Wednesday morning and devastated the towns of Amatrice, Accumoli and the village of Arquata del Tronto in the northern Lazio region of Italy. The Italian Red Cross and many other Italian and European emergency forces plus thousands of volunteers are providing rescue services and relief efforts for the survivors many of whom have lost everything in the space of a few minutes.
Hopes are dwindling of finding more survivors alive as aftershocks are continuing to hamper rescue efforts, and the number of people killed could yet surpass the last major earthquake to strike Italy in L’Aquilla in 2009 when more than 300 people died.
The mayor of Amatrice, Sergio Pirozzi, said: “Our heart is broken but will be resurrected”, while Italy’s prime minister, Matteo Renzi, added: “Today is a day for tears, tomorrow we can talk of reconstruction.” | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/popular-restaurant-chain-s-brilliant-gesture-in-wake-of-italian-earthquake-1-7546407 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/dffd7c7df2ce3dde34d4fee43ad95b792147bafc07a4978acdcaae83712c1bb0.json |
[
"Damien Lucas",
"Damien.Lucas Jpress.Co.Uk"
] | 2016-08-26T13:09:17 | null | 2016-08-20T06:00:00 | Video game escapism in its purest form. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fwhat-s-on%2Farts-culture%2Fconsole-corner-no-man-s-sky-review-1-7528920.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7528918.1471347532!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Console Corner: No Man’s Sky review | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Video game escapism in its purest form.
No Man’s Sky in undeniably a work of art, but have you got time to look around the whole gallery?
No Man’s Sky launched last week after much hype and billed as quite literally the biggest video game ever made.
The self-perpetuating game, which promises to be potentially endless, was four years in the making by a tiny team in game production terms. And you can tell as it will instantly take your breath away.
Make no mistake there has never been anything like this before. As you fly ever deeper into the universe, new planets and solar systems roll silently into view – some will have been seen before, others discovered for the very first time. And you have 18 quintillion of them to choose from...
Each has its own set of flora, fauna and inhabitants. By exploring, players gain information about the planets that they can submit to The Atlas, a universal database that can be shared with other players of the game and for which they are rewarded in currency each time.
Each planet is a work of art you could spend hours studying, analysing and dissecting. These works of art are housed in an endless gallery and for art connoisseurs it will be Manna from heaven.
However, most people’s playing time will be finite.... unless you’re at university and can afford to miss the odd class here and there to squeeze in just one more exploration of a peculiar alien planet.
And that is where one of the game’s key sticking points comes in. As much as No Man’s Sky takes us to Infinity and leaves us wondering what waits beyond, there is also an almost irresistible itch which you can’t scratch because you can never truly “complete” this game in the traditional sense.
But that is very much a personal take on NMS, many people might enjoy jumping on for a couple of hours here and there, discovering lots of different things and logging it to the Atlas, if anything it could be cathartic but many people like a beginning, a middle and an end to their games.
No Mans Sky is undeniably a work of art
The care, thought, time and brilliance that has gone into this utterly original video game is mindblowing and deserves to be experienced by PlayStation gamers.
It is the purest form of video game escapism we have ever seen and should be celebrated as such.
But it will more likely go down as a cult classic than the blockbuster success it’s craft deserves. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/what-s-on/arts-culture/console-corner-no-man-s-sky-review-1-7528920 | en | 2016-08-20T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/c55283be7cdabb1fb956fc99859bfb091f110ccb80b5614b6e3b46625eb6c80b.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:05:39 | null | 2016-08-22T14:08:54 | Walking football sessions are on their way to Kenilworth after organisers received enough interest from residents. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fwalking-football-sessions-in-kenilworth-confirmed-1-7538139.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7494733.1471871324!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Walking football sessions in Kenilworth confirmed | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Walking football sessions are on their way to Kenilworth after organisers received enough interest from residents.
The slower, non-contact version of the sport aimed at over-50s is being organised by football coach Darren Wheeler, who has already set up successful clubs in Daventry, Rugby and Lutterworth.
He said: “About a year ago I set up a walking football club at Daventry Leisure Centre, which has gone from strength to strength.
“I felt people were missing out in Kenilworth and Leamington.
“It’s surprising how energetic it really is - if you came to watch you’d see the guys come off sweating buckets. It’s really good for them.
“It’s also about getting people out as well - the social side is a big part of it.
“All players need is a pair of comfortable shoes, fitness clothes and a bottle of water.”
The sessions will start at Castle Farm Recreation Centre on Thursday September 29 from 12 to 1pm. They will run every week and will cost £3 to attend.
Although aimed at over-50s, the age rule is fairly relaxed at the sessions. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/walking-football-sessions-in-kenilworth-confirmed-1-7538139 | en | 2016-08-22T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/6fcab0cb20b74a278e79c56dbc6c3ffc0ef04c79861eab76cf6b673b77a57e63.json |
[] | 2016-08-31T14:51:44 | null | 2016-08-31T15:34:14 | Warwick Arts Centre’s autumn programme promises big names and something for everyone over the coming months. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fwhat-s-on%2Flocal-listings%2Fbig-names-on-their-way-to-arts-centre-1-7554570.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7554568.1472654035!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Big names on their way to arts centre | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Warwick Arts Centre’s autumn programme promises big names and something for everyone over the coming months.
Comedian Catherine Tate, singer/songwriter Billy Bragg and actors Imogen Stubbs and Natalie Casey lead the way, with a range of acclaimed theatre and dance companies also heading to the venue.
Things I Know to be True, presented by Frantic Assembly and The State Theatre Company of South Australia, tells the story of a family and marriage through the eyes of four grown siblings struggling to define themselves beyond their parents’ love and expectations. It features the all-star cast of Matthew Barker, Natalie Casey, Richard Mylan, Kirsty Oswald, Ewan Stewart and Imogen Stubbs and includes Frantic Assembly’s signature physical energy.
Terence Rattigan’s classic 1936 comedy, French Without Tears, is brought to the stage by English Touring Theatre and follows the activities and calamities of a group of young men who fall for the charms of a beautiful visitor to their French Summer school.
The exuberant Kneehigh return with a music and dance bonanza, retelling Michael Morpurgo’s story of war prejudice and love – 946: The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips.
Comedy this season comes in the form of household names and comedy circuit greats, including Catherine Tate, Romesh Ranganathan, Nina Conti, Seann Walsh and Ross Noble. Folk favourites Kate Rusby, Billy Bragg and Seth Lakeman and rock ‘n’ roll royalty, Queen’s Brian May, lead the music programme.
Family shows include The Very Hungry Caterpillar and the tale of Molly’s Marvellous Moustache.
Julia Donaldson’s ever popular Stick Man arrives for Christmas.
Orchestral visitors include The Hallé and the mammoth soundscape of the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra
The Mead Gallery’s stunning exhibition, The Human Document showcases the captivating photography of persuasion from 1930s America alongside photography from world renowned contemporary artists.
The dance programme has an international feel and features some of the most celebrated artists in the world.
The Aditi Mangaldas Company’s Inter_rupted combines the ancient art of Kathak with a 21st- century sound, rhythm and light and is presented by Dance Umbrella, and East Midlands based Aakash Odedra Compnay choreographs sublime dance and spoken word in the piece I Imagine.
Programme director Julia Carruthers said: “Our autumn season has something for everyone – it’s a perfect recipe for the most enjoyable of times.
“We will, as always, welcome back old friends of ours with open arms, and if you have never visited us before then I think autumn 2016 is the perfect time to do so.”
Visit www.warwickarts centre.co.uk or call 024 7652 4524 for more information. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/what-s-on/local-listings/big-names-on-their-way-to-arts-centre-1-7554570 | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/8fcb410d133cc54b3927f97e15b0f89739a0f670f9b1f5a6f3c625db18d11446.json |
[] | 2016-08-29T06:50:42 | null | 2016-08-29T06:00:00 | Are you a drill sergeant, a worshipper, a skipper or a teammate? Experts have identified four types of parent when it comes to teaching their children how to DRIVE. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fwhat-type-of-teacher-parent-are-you-1-7540354.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7540353.1471965972!/image/image.jpg | en | null | What type of teacher-parent are you? | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | The types of cookies we, our ad network and technology partners use are listed below:
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Add This ► Add This provides the social networking widget found in many of our pages. This widget gives you the tools to bookmark our websites, blog, share, tweet and email our content to a friend. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/what-type-of-teacher-parent-are-you-1-7540354 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/958b892bfc674ab892260564278a7c319956195ed5c82baab8c3c1c086d967d5.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:12:04 | null | 2016-08-26T11:52:17 | The importance of Leamington’s creative industry to the national economy has been identified in a key national report. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fleamington-s-creative-companies-praised-in-report-1-7546065.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7546064.1472208721!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Leamington’s creative companies praised in report | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | The importance of Leamington’s creative industry to the national economy has been identified in a key national report.
The ‘Geography of Creativity in the UK’ report has found Leamington is home to more than 1,500 creative businesses which employ over 7,000 people - making the town one of 47 creative clusters in the UK.
Around half of the creative industries in Leamington are software and digital companies, with the other half made up primarily of design, music, performing arts and advertising businesses, along with some TV, radio and architecture companies.
The Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) has identified Leamington’s creative industry as major driver of the local and regional economy.
Sarah Windrum, a member of the CWLEP board, said: “The growth of the creative industries in Leamington has a substantial economic benefit to the whole Coventry and Warwickshire region.
“The Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership is working with the cluster and the wider business community to encourage the sharing of best practice across all sectors to create a culture of innovation.
“This will benefit us all as creativity is one of the key drivers for economic growth and productivity.
“I am pleased the report highlights the strong foundation we have to build on which is all thanks to the hard work of our creative businesses.”
The report, which was carried out by innovation charity Nesta in partnership with Creative England, used latest data to map creative industries in the UK to demonstrate the economic significance of the creative industries across the country.
The report identified that creative companies are continuing to grow more rapidly than most other sectors nationally, with design, software and advertising sectors performing particularly well.
The growth is mainly due to an increase in small start-ups employing an average of three people.
In the recent Culture White Paper, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport identified that the creative industries contribute £81.4 billion to the economy.
The sector employs 1.9 million people and is growing twice as fast as the UK economy as a whole.
To view the full report visit nesta.org.uk/publications | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/leamington-s-creative-companies-praised-in-report-1-7546065 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/1f58e873fc9dbbd864c456be2c36b6ab17b3d3e8e8c2723c476cc2a88ad944ac.json |
[] | 2016-08-30T16:51:33 | null | 2016-08-30T16:43:22 | Fans of comic books and other popular fiction will be spoilt for choice when shopping in Leamington from now on. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fcomic-fans-now-spoilt-for-choice-1-7551125.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7551121.1472571777!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Comic fans now spoilt for choice | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Fans of comic books and other popular fiction will be spoilt for choice when shopping in Leamington from now on.
Starting off in March as an online store, Collectors Assemble, which specialises in comic book merchandise and memorabilia, has now opened a shop in Regent Street.
Spa Town Comics
The business is a joint venture between store manager Karl Williams - an avid collector of “all things geeky” from Marvel and DC to Game of Thrones, Pokemon, Disney and more - and finance manager Jamie Skidmore who says his main role is to “stop Karl from geeking out too much”.
They said: “We decided the next step was to find a store in a place we know and love and that’s when we came across this empty little store on Regent Street.
“As soon as we stepped through the door we saw our dreams become a reality.
“After working day and night, while holding our full-time jobs, we opened the store on August 20.
“The response was even better than we had expected, with people saying “this is exactly what Leamington needs’ and ‘I think I just found my new favourite store’.”
Comic fans will also be able to shop at the 12-month pop-up comic shop at the Royal Priors from tomorrow (Saturday).
Spa Town Comics, which will be run by Leamington Comic Con founders Dan Mallier and Lisa-Marie Nelson, will sell comics and trade paperbacks premier publishers like DC and Marvel, while hoping to introduce fans to new material from independent publishers.
Dan said: “We can’t wait to give local comic fans the opportunity to buy the comics and collectibles they love in their own town.
If we get the same heroic support for our pop-up as we do for our convention, we’re positive Spa Town Comics can become a permanent fixture in Leamington.”
Comic fans can sign-up for subscriptions to order their favourite weekly comics, or purchase back issues.
The team will also use their experience and contacts gained from running Leam Comic Con to champion creativity within the industry and support the community through projects and events.
Lisa-Marie said: “We’ve already got an action-packed agenda of events for comic enthusiasts and families. Launch day will be a real celebration of comics, closely followed by a Batman Day on the 17th where we’ll be encouraging people to come have their photo taken with Leamington’s professional Batman.”
For more about either of the stores visit https://collectors-assemble.co.uk/ or find Spa Town Comics on Facebook. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/comic-fans-now-spoilt-for-choice-1-7551125 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/5821a8b236f1d1dd1d84fb31b9a08df278f84bfc623b0f3c7addae206dda1265.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:10:56 | null | 2016-08-16T10:40:54 | Top new acts and some familiar faces are on their way to Leamington for this year’s Hobgoblin Comedy Festival. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fwhat-s-on%2Flocal-listings%2Fbig-names-lined-up-for-leamington-comedy-festival-1-7528620.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7528615.1471340388!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Big names lined up for Leamington Comedy Festival | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Top new acts and some familiar faces are on their way to Leamington for this year’s Hobgoblin Comedy Festival.
Acts coming to the Spa Centre include Russell Kane, Katherine Ryan and Shappi Khorsandi, known to millions through their work on television and radio.
Jonathan Pie
They will be joined by the multi-award-winning Mark Watson, politically concerned comic Ahir Shah, silent comedian Tapeface and satirist Jonathan Pie, who made his name through broadcasts on TV station Russia Today.
Russell Kane unleashes another award-winning stand-up performance about growing up and growing down. He performs on Friday October 7.
Tom Walker plays Jonathan Pie, a respected news reporter for a respected news broadcaster - but who hates the news. His show on Saturday October 8 aims to reveals the truth behind recent news events both home and abroad.
Ahir Shah wants to believe in a future where democracy flourishes and technology liberates us from work. But he’s also feeling powerless to enact change, alienated from his fellow lefties, and increasingly anxious about the state of the world after getting caught up in the Paris attacks. He’s got a lot of concern. Fortunately, they’re funny, as audiences will find out on Friday October 14.
Shappi Khorsandi
Shappi Khorsandi’s whip-crack jokes cover a vast array of subjects with a sharp wit, softened only by her mischievous delivery. She performs on Tuesday October 11.
Mark Watson, the multi-award-winning star of BBC’s We Need Answers, Live At The Apollo, Mock The Week and Have I Got News For You and his own cult Radio 4 series Mark Watson Makes The World Substantially Better and Mark Watson Talks A Bit About Life, returns with the follow-up show to his celebrated and successful Flaws on Thursday October 13.
The festival concludes with a grand finale of acts headlined by Katherine Ryan, fast becoming one of the most recognisable face on British TV with appearances on BBC 1’s Live At The Apollo, Let’s Dance for Comic Relief, BBC 2’s Mock The Week, QI, Nevermind The Buzzcocks, C4’s 8 Out of 10 Cats and many more.
For tickets and more information about the festival, which runs from October 7 to 15 and includes a number of other acts, visit leamingtonspacomedyfestival.squarespace.com or call 334418. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/what-s-on/local-listings/big-names-lined-up-for-leamington-comedy-festival-1-7528620 | en | 2016-08-16T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/33ccc93748af4117849fa551baf92330ccbaf25fab6f9ab29a329b61c2f0b12b.json |
[
"Damien Lucas",
"Damien.Lucas Jpress.Co.Uk"
] | 2016-08-27T06:49:33 | null | 2016-08-27T06:00:00 | Deus Ex has you spoilt for choice. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fwhat-s-on%2Farts-culture%2Fconsole-corner-deus-ex-mankind-divided-review-1-7540408.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7540407.1471967403!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Console Corner: Deus Ex Mankind Divided review | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Deus Ex has you spoilt for choice.
Mankind Divided and so am I when it comes to reviewing the latest Deus Ex game after its launch last week.
There is so much to rave about in DEMD and I’m still enjoying it now over a week into the game.
But there are a number of elements which do not quite sit right with me.
Let’s start with the positives, though, and there are plenty of them.
There is layer upon layer in this game all expertly crafted together and beautifully designed.
The gameplay stands up to the high standards set by previous Deus Ex games and goes beyond them in many respects.
This is a game that will suit all types of gamers too.
Looking for a quick blast for an hour, you can jump on and get enough done to enjoy the experience, looking for longer, more involved sessions on your console then the gameplay rewards your patience, curiosity and creativity.
You play augmented human Jensen who is essentially the most deadly Power Ranger on the planet. I mean this guy has everything and would even give Superman a run for his money.
There are so many options to negotiate each scenario
And this is where my first problem lies with DEMD.
Sometimes, dare I say it, there are so many options available to you, so many ways to deal with scenarios and enemies and so much in your arsenal, it actually feels a bit ... easy.
‘Ramp up the difficulty setting!’ I hear you cry.
Well yes there’s that but my point is no matter what level you are playing at, Jensen just has too much at his disposal for his enemies to trouble him.
Sometimes, dare I say it, there are so many options available to you, so many ways to deal with scenarios and enemies and so much in your arsenal, it actually feels a bit ... easy. Damien Lucas, gaming columnist
But don’t get me wrong it’s still great fun entering a room littered with foes and walking out past a pile of them without breaking a sweat.
Another thing that doesn’t quite land for me is the Apartheid type references between the humans (naturals) and the augmented race. It is a poor attempt to give the storyline resonance with real life - for example there are posters dotted around saying things like ‘Augmented Lives Matter’ and it just feels a little frivolous.
I’m being hyper critical, though, and Deus Ex will go down as one of the games of the year of that there is no doubt.
Rating: 8.5/10 | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/what-s-on/arts-culture/console-corner-deus-ex-mankind-divided-review-1-7540408 | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/ac7e964861dbb21200e248cd3bf945660c5a5ab17b54990eb51f7c35eb6e58f9.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T12:59:51 | null | 2016-08-25T13:50:42 | Kenilworth Runners won the ladies’ team prize in the annual Race the Train at Tywyn, Mid Wales for the second successive year. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fsport%2Fathletics%2Ffive-runners-are-able-to-reminisce-about-the-day-they-caught-the-train-1-7544072.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7544071.1472129428!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Five Runners are able to reminisce about the day they caught the train | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Kenilworth Runners won the ladies’ team prize in the annual Race the Train at Tywyn, Mid Wales for the second successive year.
Runners had to cope with galeforce winds, driving rain and very slippery conditions on the 14-mile off-road route, with the official train time eventually recorded as 1hr 48min.
However, despite the elements conspiring against the runners, there were some fine Kenilworth Runners performances, with Kev Hope finishing tenth overall in 1:34:23.
He was one of five Kenilworth athletes to beat the train, along with Martin Dorill (51st in 1:41:09), Marc Curtis (59th in 1:41:57) and Neil Sheward (75th in 1:43:42).
Matt Dyer (1:47:12) was the final Kenilworth athlete to beat the cut-off time.
Louise Andrews (223rd in 1:56:06), Claire Murphy (1251st in 1:58:08) and Rachel Miller (411th in 2:09:45) made up the victorious ladies’ team.
Phil Gould was first home for Leamington, successfully beating the train in a time of 1:37:34.
Jenny Jeeves (1:54:02) and Ros Brooks (2:12:06) managed personal bests despite the harsh conditions with Jack Gammon (2:07:06) making his first appearance at the event and Laura Gould (2:23:22) making up the team.
Spa Striders’ Gethyn Friswell finished in 1:58:04 while Helen Tudge came home in 2:50:43.
The race was won by Paul Green of Sale Harriers in 1:28:14 and there were 834 finishers.
Selected others (Kenilworth Runners unless stated): 155, Mick Williams (1:50:34); 177, Stuart Underhill (1:52:03); 383, Tom Williams (2:06:59).
Leamington C&AC duo Jimmy Atkins and Sara Habib took part in the 10k Quarry Challenge, where runners had to contend with a hard climb at the start before racing through mud and trails back to town.
Atkins clocked 58:11 for 106th, with Habib five places and 46 seconds back.
Kenilworth Runners’ Debbie Streets was 97th in 57:44.
C&AC’s Bridget Urch and Tony Foster made their debut in the 3.5-mile Tynllwynhen Challenge, coming home in 33:10 and 33:12, respectively.
Not to be outdone by the adults, youngsters Mel and James Gould also raced in the Challenge, with Mel continuing her fine form to finish fifth overall and first girl in 22:17 and her brother 19 seconds back in eighth. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/sport/athletics/five-runners-are-able-to-reminisce-about-the-day-they-caught-the-train-1-7544072 | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/c538729e285205351a895dc363b9dba1bc186df77cd484227fb72474407cbd7e.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:12:33 | null | 2016-08-26T08:03:17 | Lillington Juniors FC have shown that football can be a “godsend” by rallying round after the sister of one of the club’s young players died. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Flillington-juniors-rally-round-in-memory-of-baby-freya-1-7545548.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7545546.1472194972!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Lillington Juniors rally round in memory of baby Freya | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Lillington Juniors FC have shown that football can be a “godsend” by rallying round after the sister of one of the club’s young players died.
Under-11s Colts midfielder Blake Roberts’ baby sister Freya was born with down’s syndrome and had been treated at Birmingham Children’s Hospital for problems with her heart before she died unexpectedly on June 26 aged just 16 months old.
Cyclists Richard Jones, Matt Howroyd and Ryan Cranton of Lillington Juniors FC
Since then the club has shown support for Blake and his family and have organised a fundraising cycle ride for the hospital in Freya’s memory.
Blake’s father Adam Betteridge, who recently raised £3,000 for the Down’s Syndrome Association through a charity sky dive, said: “Football has been a godsend for us since Freya passed away.
“Blake’s coaches Mark Edwards and Chris Lee have been terrific and the support from the club has been fantastic.
“The hospital helps so many children with illnesses and disabilities and it’s important to raise awareness of this and put it in people’s thoughts and this cycle will help to do that.”
A seven-strong group of coaches and parents from the club will start the cycle ride at Newcastle Utd’s ground St James’ Park next Saturday morning and ride for 260 miles, stopping overnight in Wakefield and arriving at the Rugby Tavern in Cubbington the next day.
There will be a welcoming party at the pub and people can follow the group’s progress on the club’s Facebook and twitter accounts.
All donations will go to the children’s hospital and club funds, with more than £2,500 being raised already.
Ryan Cranton, the club’s head coach and director, said: “When we set up this club we wanted it to be about more than what takes place on the pitch and we wanted to create a real community off of it.
“When we heard one of our player’s siblings had died it was devastating and we wanted to do anything we could to help. If we can support our players and their families in any way we’re more than happy to do that.”
www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ljfc | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/lillington-juniors-rally-round-in-memory-of-baby-freya-1-7545548 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/feee80402ef82b0ada59d3940753f099ea8146d541e484a00e692b832512ea9c.json |
[
"Elizabeth Anderson"
] | 2016-08-30T10:51:22 | null | 2016-08-30T10:47:08 | A recruitment firm has been named the best company in the UK for work-life balance. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Frevealed-the-top-uk-companies-for-work-life-balance-1-7550178.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7550177.1472550409!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Revealed: The top UK companies for work-life balance | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | A recruitment firm has been named the best company in the UK for work-life balance.
Financial recruiter Goodman Masson took first place in the list by jobs site Glassdoor, based on reviews submitted to its website by current and former staff.
The company, which is based in London and also has offices in Dusseldorf, was praised by staff for its “huge investment” in staff benefits and “great” parties twice a year.
“The attention paid to the wellbeing of staff is at a level rarely matched elsewhere,” said an anonymous employee working in the London office.
In second place was technology firm Cisco Systems, and in third place was insurer HomeServe.
West Midlands-based HomeServe, which employs 1,200 people at its headquarters in Walsall and has 2.1 million customers in the UK, was commended for its attitude towards the treatment of its staff.
“The salary is very competitive and you are rewarded very generously for your hard work and just for carrying out your role. The company has a great framework for career progression and is always looking to promote people internally for job roles,” said a water supply engineer working at the firm.
Greg Reed, chief marketing officer at HomeServe, said: “We believe if you take care of your people, they will take care of your customers. This means creating a culture where people genuinely enjoy coming to work every day because they feel what they do really makes a difference in our customers’ lives.”
Temping firm LOLA and Screwfix completed the top five. Other companies in the top 20 included Apple, American Express Lloyds Banking Group, Unilever and John Lewis.
Google is known for its plush offices, but doesn’t make the top 20 companies for work-life balance. Its new London office has sleep pods so workers can take a nap, although perhaps this is an indication of long hours.
For a company to have been considered, at least 50 work-life balance ratings must have been submitted by UK-based employees in the past year.
The top 20 companies for work-life balance:
1. Goodman Masson
2. Cisco Systems
3. HomeServe UK
4. LOLA Staffing
5. Screwfix
6. American Express
7. BP
8. Peninsula Business Services
9. ARM Holdings
10. Unilever
11.Thomson Reuters
12. Kantar Worldpanel
13. Atkins
14. Téléfonica
15. Credit Suisse
16. Rolls-Royce
17. John Lewis
18. Waitrose
19. Lloyds Banking Group
20. Apple | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/revealed-the-top-uk-companies-for-work-life-balance-1-7550178 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/1bd519be70059758d4fa42f8829d36e928080649d8995618a6230b23a332fbd9.json |
[
"Staff Reporter",
"News Leamingtoncourier.Co.Uk"
] | 2016-08-26T13:13:22 | null | 2016-08-22T15:33:11 | The A429 has now been re-opened in both directions between Wellesbourne and Ettington following a single vehicle collision that happened earlier this morning (Monday). | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fwellesbourne-crash-update-police-appeal-for-witnesses-1-7538383.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7482801.1471876377!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Wellesbourne crash update: police appeal for witnesses | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | The A429 has now been re-opened in both directions between Wellesbourne and Ettington following a single vehicle collision that happened earlier this morning (Monday).
Police were called shortly before 7:30am to a report that a blue Mitsubishi estate had left the road and collided with a tree.
The car was travelling in the Ettington direction.
The driver sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to hospital.
The fire service also attended.
Police would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the collision.
Call 101 quoting incident reference 53 of Monday 22 August. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/wellesbourne-crash-update-police-appeal-for-witnesses-1-7538383 | en | 2016-08-22T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/27351f149086334c5f565a6b9a4584283397fbce641631de8edb2dac15a0e19d.json |
[] | 2016-08-31T08:51:50 | null | 2016-08-31T09:38:58 | A Kenilworth fish and chip shop will be donating its profits over two days to Myton Hospices after the charity looked after the manager’s mother. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fkenilworth-chippy-s-profits-going-to-myton-over-two-days-1-7553624.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7553623.1472632716!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Kenilworth chippy’s profits going to Myton over two days | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | A Kenilworth fish and chip shop will be donating its profits over two days to Myton Hospices after the charity looked after the manager’s mother.
Whitemoor Road Chippy will be selling its food at half price on Monday September 19 and Tuesday September 20 to encourage people to come and raise money for the charity.
Manager Soulla Mairoudis explained why she wanted to raise money for Myton Hospices.
She said: “My mum had cancer for 10 years, and she was looked after for six months by Myton.
“It’s the closest charity to me and I just appreciate everything they did for my mum and my immediate family - it really meant a lot to me.” | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/kenilworth-chippy-s-profits-going-to-myton-over-two-days-1-7553624 | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/6e034a09a6db30e3722c5efbae3febafa00e2762adc68bbaa7adb2af6cd819d7.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:07:50 | null | 2016-08-15T15:47:21 | Magnificent birds of prey will be on display this Sunday in Jephson Gardens at the Hive of Activity event. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Ffalcons-and-minibeasts-come-to-gardens-1-7527681.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7527680.1471272392!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Falcons and minibeasts come to gardens | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Magnificent birds of prey will be on display this Sunday in Jephson Gardens at the Hive of Activity event.
Organised by the green spaces team at Warwick District Council, the event will also feature bees and mini-beasts and takes place from 11am to 4pm.
Visitors can learn about honeybees and do some bees-wax candle rolling with the Warwick and Leamington beekeepers.
They can also meet local falconer Bob Edwards and his birds and take part in some craft activities. There will be a minibeast roadshow with snakes, spiders, lizards and creepy crawlies as well as ferret racing and falconry displays (11.30am and 2pm) and live beekeeping demonstrations (12.30pm and 3pm).
David Shilton, district councillor for parks and gardens said: “This is a very popular free event and we are delighted families can come along and enjoy the entertainment and learn about the importance of wildlife at the same time.” | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/falcons-and-minibeasts-come-to-gardens-1-7527681 | en | 2016-08-15T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/50ac608a45591f235711dc42d646a341449ceec02adbbe580f6399726178288d.json |
[] | 2016-08-28T06:50:06 | null | 2016-08-28T06:00:00 | A study has found that half of parents with children under the age of 14 allow them to drink alcohol at home. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fdo-you-think-it-s-okay-to-allow-children-to-drink-some-alcohol-at-home-1-7540293.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7540292.1471965034!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Do you think it’s okay to allow children to drink some alcohol at home? | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | A study has found that half of parents with children under the age of 14 allow them to drink alcohol at home.
And, perhaps more worryingly, one in 10 respondents to the Churchill Home Insurance survey allow children between the ages of five and seven to drink alcohol.
While it is not illegal for a child between the age of five and 16 to drink alcohol on private premises, it flies in the face of advice from the Chief Medical Officer whose official advice warns: “Children and their parents or carers are advised that an alcohol-free childhood is the healthiest and best option. However, if children drink alcohol underage, it should not be until at least the age of 15 years.
“Parents and young people should be aware that drinking, even at age 15 or older, can be hazardous to health and that not drinking is the healthiest option for young people.” | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/do-you-think-it-s-okay-to-allow-children-to-drink-some-alcohol-at-home-1-7540293 | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/0accb5e38e1fa22cd71d1ace90ec673700a67a6c71872bd106ec39b8e7eb7734.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:13:39 | null | 2016-08-23T10:34:00 | DIY retailer B&Q has issued a recall notice after testS showed a power tool could fail, spitting metal shards at its user. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fb-q-recalls-power-tool-over-spitting-metal-safety-fears-1-7539430.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7493078.1471945423!/image/image.jpg | en | null | B&Q recalls power tool over spitting metal safety fears | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | DIY retailer B&Q has issued a recall notice after testS showed a power tool could fail, spitting metal shards at its user.
The internal metal fan of the PP 400W random orbital sander can fail, ejecting fragments of metal through its plastic casing.
The power tool being recalled
The hardware retailer has asked anyone who has purchased the sander - which was sold in its stores between July 2006 and January 2011 - to return it to their nearest store as soon as possible. A full refund will be given.
The affected item is a PP 400W Random Orbit Sander, NLH401ROS - barcode: 05106769. No other products are affected.
Customers who are unsure if they have an affected product or who require further information can contact B&Q’s helpline on: UK: 0300 3034482 ROI: 1800 946327. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/b-q-recalls-power-tool-over-spitting-metal-safety-fears-1-7539430 | en | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/9d65081fb695051fa93f1ff0a1cab8aece9a74d13f0fc097462427a66b9533c0.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T12:59:05 | null | 2016-08-19T11:24:28 | Stockton got their Coventry Alliance Premier Division campaign under way with two victories in four days. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fsport%2Ffootball%2Ftwo-wins-from-two-for-newly-promoted-stockton-1-7532576.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7532575.1471515971!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Two wins from two for newly-promoted Stockton | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Stockton got their Coventry Alliance Premier Division campaign under way with two victories in four days.
Newly promoted Stockton made hard work of an opening-day win at home to Ambleside, with two late Ross Briscoe goals eventually securing them a 3-1 success in a game they controlled for large parts.
A 22-yard strike from George Sweeney gave the home side a deserved advantage but a defensive error allowed Ambleside to restore parity mid-way through the second period.
Stockton wasted a host of chances to go back in front before Briscoe’s clever lob made it 2-1 with ten minutes remaining.
Briscoe added his second to make the points safe, tapping in after good work from the Josh Cole to leave manager Scott Easterlow a relieved man.
“In the first game of season you just want three points no matter which way they come,” he said.
“I said to lads after the game that we become frustrated too quickly and it encouraged the opposition.
“We need to be patient and just keep plugging away and we’ll get our rewards 99.9 per cent of the time.”
They followed it up on Tuesday night with a 1-0 win at Jet Blades.
A clinical Tom Callaghan finish put the visitors ahead in the 15th minute but they again struggled to close out the game, hitting the bar and post twice and missing other good opportunities.
“One-nil doesn’t tell the true story but we never looked in danger and although it’s not ideal, as long as we creating chances I’m sure sooner or later we will get the conversion rate right.” | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/sport/football/two-wins-from-two-for-newly-promoted-stockton-1-7532576 | en | 2016-08-19T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/d528ad1be68362f8b0312669784ae56f0eca2a7286940521be70782990a8f8ba.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:01:20 | null | 2016-08-26T11:22:33 | Stockton’s 100 per cent start to the Coventry Alliance Premier Division season was ended on Tuesday evening when they were held to a 2-2 draw at Town Piece by Whitnash. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fsport%2Ffootball%2Fstockton-drop-their-first-points-in-derby-encounter-1-7543935.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7543934.1472127957!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Stockton drop their first points in derby encounter | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Stockton’s 100 per cent start to the Coventry Alliance Premier Division season was ended on Tuesday evening when they were held to a 2-2 draw at Town Piece by Whitnash.
The home side had better of the opening exchanges and went in front through Tom Callaghan but were unable to build on their lead and Lee Scott pounced on a loose ball in the box to restore parity.
Whitnash were buoyed by the goal and went in front ten minutes into the second period when Craig Watkin slotted home from the spot after the lively Rich Powell was adjudged to have been pushed in the box.
The goal roused Stockton and they got back on level terms with a penalty of their own, Henry Leaver stepping up to send goalkeeper Neil Stacey the wrong way after a foul on Tom Shanley.
Stockton pressed for a winner as Town tired in the closing stages and they were denied a second penalty when Ross Briscoe appeared to be tripped in the box, leaving manager Scott Easterlow a frustrated man.
“On the scale of chances a draw was probably about right,” he said.
“I felt after we went one up we had them on the back foot for 15 minutes and should have really forced the issue but we let them off the hook and they came back into it well.
“I hate blaming refs as it’s done far too often and is an easy way out but for me he ruined the game.
“He gave a penalty for each side when I didn’t think either was, then right at the death when there looked a blatant penalty to us, he’s done nothing.”
On Saturday, Stockton made it three wins from three with a 3-1 success at Brinklow in what Easterlow described as their “best defensive display so far”.
Leaver scored twice for Stockton, once from the penalty spot, with Briscoe also on target.
Whitnash Town went down to a 2-1 defeat at Coventry Colliery. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/sport/football/stockton-drop-their-first-points-in-derby-encounter-1-7543935 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/661aadb0b41797643305efa2b8b0eaeca0333b94c894dee52783e1e7508c2d4f.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:02:47 | null | 2016-08-25T13:33:30 | A superb partnership between Basit Zaman and Blake Maher provided the backbone to Kenilworth Wardens 49-run Harlequin Logistics Floodlit T20 Cup final win over Knowle & Dorridge. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fsport%2Fcricket%2Fzaman-and-maher-blitz-knowle-in-t20-cup-final-1-7543970.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7543969.1472128394!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Zaman and Maher blitz Knowle in T20 Cup final | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | A superb partnership between Basit Zaman and Blake Maher provided the backbone to Kenilworth Wardens 49-run Harlequin Logistics Floodlit T20 Cup final win over Knowle & Dorridge.
The second-wicket pair added 174 as Wardens racked up 285 for eight before restricting their Birmingham Premier League rivals to 236 for seven in response.
It meant hosts Wardens, who have already won the Coventry Knock Out this season, lifted the trophy for a third time since the competition’s inception in 2012.
After despatching the opening delivery of the night from Warwickshire 2nd XI seamer Ben Brookes back over his head for six, Zaman, who was named man-of-the-match, smashed 93 from only 25 balls with 11 sixes.
Aussie import Maher who was named Archway Bathrooms player of the tournament, matched him stroke for stroke, clearing the ropes nine times in a 28-ball 85.
But after they were dismissed, K&D’s Sam Reddish (3-35) and Dan Wright (3-44) found some success with the ball, and despite skipper Scott Stenning’s breezy 37, Wardens fell 30 runs short of what seemed likely at the innings’ midpoint.
While Beau Webster (29) and skipper Alex Phillips were in residence, a successful run chase then looked a distinct possibility, but once Phillips was well caught in the deep for a 30-ball 70, Wardens were always likely winners.
Nathan Roberts provided late defiance, hitting five sixes in a 28-ball half-century, but Maher (1-30) and Zaman (2-30) kept things tight to ensure the cup returned to Kenilworth after a 12-month absence.
Wardens had previously beaten Knowle & Dorridge by 24-runs in a fine match during the competition’s round-robin stage.
Nathan Edwards (103) and Martin Donald (68 not out) enabled the hosts to recover from a sticky start to post 298 for six against their final opponents but, when openers Dom Harding (112) and Phillips (103) passed 200 without being parted, Wardens still looked to be heading for defeat before fine spells from Maher and Brinder Phagura swung the game their way in the latter stages.
The hosts had previously disposed of Berkswell and Leamington more comfortably after twice setting new scoring records for the five-year-old competition.
Wardens posted 333 for seven against the defending champions thanks to Maher’s 34-ball 116, before rattling through Spa’s batting line-up for 136.
Berkswell were then despatched for 355 for five as Maher smashed 17 maximums in a 44-ball 151 and Basit added a 26-ball 79, to which the Birmingham Premier League champions-elect responded with 248 for eight.
Dominic Ostler’s team had previously slipped to a 98-run defeat at the hands of K&D who racked up 314 for four thanks to Aussie star Beau Webster’s 41-ball unbeaten 101.
However, Berkswell did manage to win the closest match of the week when they overcame Leamington by three runs in a thrilling finale.
Former Warwickshire and Glamorgan all-rounder Nick James smashed 171 and Amir Sidiqkhil added 89 as Berkswell posted 334 for four, but while Tom Warner (114 from 34 balls) was at the crease Spa seemed certain winners.
However, Liam Gateley claimed three wickets in an excellent final over which produced only six of the nine runs required.
K&D qualified for the final on net run rate after also claiming one win in the round-robin competition after losing their contest with Leamington by six wickets.
Phillips made 102 and Chris Kenny an unbeaten 79 for the Solihull-based team before Max Webber (61) led Leam’s quest for 252 which was clinched by Warner hitting 32 from an over. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/sport/cricket/zaman-and-maher-blitz-knowle-in-t20-cup-final-1-7543970 | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/925a2b2ee076ca88f00f653550d809598123d77e930bef419b0573b35a108ed4.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:12:44 | null | 2016-08-23T15:59:52 | Three siblings have set up a heartfelt appeal to help their father look after their mother who was paralysed after a brain haemorrhage. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fdaughters-set-up-fundraising-page-to-help-their-dad-always-be-by-their-paralysed-mother-s-side-1-7540262.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7540424.1471967780!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Daughters set up fundraising page to help their dad always be by their paralysed mother’s side | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Three siblings have set up a heartfelt appeal to help their father look after their mother who was paralysed after a brain haemorrhage.
Caz Dickson spent some time at Castel Froma in Leamington when in 2009 she suddenly collapsed at her home in Coventry and was rushed to hospital where her family were given the terrible news that she had suffered a grade 4 brain haemorrhage which had led to a massive stroke.
Mrs Dickson, who was 43 at the time, and her husband Mick had been inseparable up to this point but she had fallen into a coma and had suffered severe brain damage.
The devoted couple have now been reunited and Mr Dickson, who had also been made redundant shortly after the incident, has become his wife’s full-time carer.
But the family are struggling to cope with mounting financial pressures and so their daughters Rachel, Rebecca and Jodie have now set up a very special GoFundMe page.
The daughters, who were 24, 17, and eight years old when Mrs Dickson suffered the haemorrhage, said: “Our dad was devastated, he wasn’t prepared to give up on her and spent as much time as he could by her bedside. It was a struggle to get him to go home. He wanted them to be together but unfortunately, the family home, just wasn’t suitable for mum’s requirements. She needed 24-hour round-the-clock care and medical support.
“Dad, who is a hardworking and proud man, started to feel the pressure and sadly despite working all the hours he could, we lost our family home in 2013. My dad’s heart broke all over again and we all started to wonder how much more one person could take. He had always tried to be strong for us but this devastated him and he felt he had let us and mum down.
“Eventually he found a rental property that had a downstairs bedroom and a wet room and decided to go for it in the hope that Mum would be able to come home. He just wasn’t the same person without her by his side and so the whole family were overjoyed when mum was finally allowed to come home in June.
“To say it was emotional was an understatement, after a long and hard seven-and-a-half years away, she was home. To see the love and bond they share despite their battle is beautiful and that is why we want to do all we can to keep them together.
“Although mum still hasn’t regained any movement from her neck downwards and still requires 24 hour around the clock care, she is the happiest she has been since she became ill. Our dad is now retired and is my mum’s full time carer and is doing a sterling job. She lights up whenever he comes into the room.
The daughters have said that despite the reunion their parents have not had not yet found a ‘happy ending’ to their problems.
They said: “Our dad has not received any income for the last ten months and we have discovered that without having Court of Protection, they are not entitled to PIP allowance. If you don’t receive this , you can’t receive carer’s allowance and without this income our mum, dad and younger sister cannot survive.
“There is so much red tape it is impossible to know what the correct information is but we know we need to keep them together and that’s why we have set up the GoFundMe page.”
The sisters have so far raised £1,705.
For more information or to make a donation go online.
www.gofundme.com/CazandMick | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/daughters-set-up-fundraising-page-to-help-their-dad-always-be-by-their-paralysed-mother-s-side-1-7540262 | en | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/4a05029a2513b8d3ed839dd05f086e5cf9d1803cdfe3dfbeda1576e6557e7de4.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:01:46 | null | 2016-08-26T13:34:14 | Blake Maher ripped through Walsall’s batting to clinch a 38-run Birmingham Premier League home win for Kenilworth Wardens. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fsport%2Fcricket%2Fmaher-s-five-wicket-haul-keeps-wardens-on-the-trail-of-second-1-7543981.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7543979.1472128571!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Maher’s five-wicket haul keeps Wardens on the trail of second | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Blake Maher ripped through Walsall’s batting to clinch a 38-run Birmingham Premier League home win for Kenilworth Wardens.
The tall seamer grabbed five for 36 as the visitors were dismissed for 109 in 26.1 overs in response to the hosts’ 147 all out.
Wardens’ Aussie import topped off a week in which he scored more than 300 runs in four floodlit T20 innings with his best bowling spell of the season, and as a result kept his club’s runners-up hopes alive.
With the help of some reliable catching, Maher and regular new-ball partner Brinder Phagura (2-24) took advantage of a damp Glasshouse Park pitch and gloomy conditions to reduce Walsall to 40 for eight.
Only Ed Denham (13) made it into double figures until spinner Paul Byrne and veteran seamer Paul Wicker provided some stern ninth-wicket resistance.
The experienced pair added 66 and brought the prospect of an unlikely away win into sight until the introduction of Basit Zaman’s leg-spin brought Wardens a vital breakthrough. He induced Byrne to edge into Nick Sale’s secure gloves for a battling 43-ball 39, after which older brother Junead cleaned up last-man Jonathan Moore, leaving Wicker with an unbeaten 23 and Wardens victorious.
Earlier, Moore (3-13) and Tim Maxfield (3-22) had also wreaked havoc with the new ball, reducing the hosts to 23 for five after they had elected to bat first.
However, Wardens were able to regroup to reasonable effect around a fine knock from Nathan Edwards, who made a mature 71-ball 42.
His efforts were continued by ninth pair Sale (23) and Dan Mousley (21 not out) who added the 39 vital runs which took Wardens to a score which proved competitive enough in bowler-friendly conditions.
Wardens 2nds were on the right side of thrilling Division One match against Walsall 2nds, winning by 17 runs.
Having won the toss and elected to bat, Wardens lost opener Dan Phillips early on thanks to a good piece of bowling from Daniel Bowker (2-39).
Two more wickets soon fell but opener Robin De Regt was holding the innings together before he was run out for 47.
Ben Rex played a composed innings, sharing in a 49-run stand with Mark Pidgeon before he was also run out for 48.
An impressive spell from Luke Stynes (3-15) then reaped dividends as Wardens lost their last four wickets for eight runs.
Pidgeon was left undefeated on 22 as Wardens closed on 176, with Samuel Mills having claimed two for 23.
Wardens started off very well with the new ball as openers Tom Brammer (2-41) and Tommy Rex (2-18) reduced the home side to 59 for four.
Opener Ben Ladd-Gibbon top-scored with 37 for Walsall but once he was removed thanks to the bowling of Ben Rex (1-29) a Wardens victory never looked in doubt.
Wickets then continued to fall, with all six bowlers used claiming a scalp and despite a stubborn last-wicket stand of 36 between Bowker (20 not out) and Michael Lockett (14) Walsall were eventually dismissed for 159 in the 43rd over. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/sport/cricket/maher-s-five-wicket-haul-keeps-wardens-on-the-trail-of-second-1-7543981 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/0800c5ecf2326986114d984f284fb8e29bc1e812347d1ddc33aa8f4cb4443937.json |
[] | 2016-08-29T12:50:44 | null | 2016-08-29T12:17:14 | The heavens opened in the first half and the shots rained in in the second but Biggleswade’s water-tight defences were breached just once to deny Brakes a deserved three points on Saturday, writes Paul Okey. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fsport%2Ffootball%2Fbiggleswade-and-brown-rain-on-brakes-parade-1-7548775.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7548774.1472469415!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Biggleswade and Brown rain on Brakes’ parade | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | The heavens opened in the first half and the shots rained in in the second but Biggleswade’s water-tight defences were breached just once to deny Brakes a deserved three points on Saturday, writes Paul Okey.
After Ahmed Obeng cancelled out Inih Effiong’s 15th-minute opener shortly before the break, Biggleswade were indebted to resilient defending and an inspired display of keeping from Ian Brown to earn a share of the spoils.
The fact that so many openings were created on a wretched afternoon was credit to the home side, who grew into the game after initially struggling to get to grips with Town’s burly frontman Effiong.
The striker had already given early notice of his threat by rounding Lewis Gwilliams, deputising for the suspended Tony Breeden and then taking the ball past a covering defender. However, instead of going for goal he tried to pick out a supporting player and the chance was lost.
He was to be more clinical in the 15th minute, turning James Mace inside out before firing a low shot across Gwilliams and into the far cornet of the net.
A superb last-ditch block from Jamie Hood prevented what looked like a certain second for Effiong but as the rain turned from torrential to biblical it was now Brakes’ turn to ask questions.
Ryan Rowe and Obeng were unable to force the ball home inside the six-yard box after a superb pass with the outside of his right foot from Gudger, while Darren Pond’s well-struck effort was charged down by a visiting defender.
An Obeng run from deep took him to the edge of the Waders box but he failed to get decent purchase on his shot and it was comfortable for Brown.
He needed much less power for his next effort, however, tapping home Jack Edwards’ cross-shot at the far post to bring it back to 1-1.
The goal came three minutes before the break but Brakes were not done and could have easily been ahead going into the interval.
Gudger found Obeng on the corner of the six-yard box and after the wide man had made a hash of his initial effort, he skewed his second shot across the face of goal when it looked easier to hit the target.
Another direct run from Obeng then set up Rowe but his tame effort was straight at Brown.
A George cutback presented Edwards with the first opportunity of the second half, but with Brown motionless, his shot whistled by the post.
Courtney Baker-Richardson departed in the 56th minute after picking up a knock and his replacement, Lee Moore, was quickly into the action, bringing down a half-clearance and flashing a shot just wide of the far post.
With Effiong well-marshalled, it was one-way traffic and Moore was again unlucky not to put the hosts in front, taking advantage of defensive uncertainty to nip in between Lucas Perry and Brown and lob the keeper. However, Town skipper Russell Short raced back to clear the ball off the line.
Mace stabbed an effort straight into the arms of Brown after a dangerous ball into the box had ricocheted his way, while Gudger was narrowly wide of the mark after wriggling past two challenges on the edge of the box.
Obeng looked to be away only for a superb last-ditch challenge from Short to divert the ball behind his own goal, with Brown then producing a miraculous save at the far post to somehow keep out Hood from close range after the defender had muscled his way on to the end of Rob Thompson-Brown’s corner.
Short was again there to cut out an Edwards pull-back and Biggleswade’s goal continued to lead a charmed life as the ball pinged around the box from the resultant corner, with both Edwards and Rowe unable to get a telling touch.
Obeng drew a smart stop from Brown at his near post and Mace was inches wide of the far post with a glancing header from a Thompson-Brown free-kick before sloppy play at the back almost allowed Robbie Parker to carry out a smash and grab for the visitors but Hood put his body on the line to block the shot.
Tom James was introduced for Brakes in injury time and nearly made his short cameo count, crossing for Moore, whose first-time effort on the stretch produced a fine fingertip save from the excellent Brown.
It earned the keeper the acclaim of both sets of fans at the final whistle but that such an entertaining game took place at all in conditions bordering on farcical was also worthy of applause.
BRAKES: Lewis Gwilliams, Ben George, Connor Gudger, Darren Pond, Jamie Hood, James Mace, Courtney Baker-Richardson (Lee Moore, 56), Jack Edwards, Ryan Rowe (Joe Magunda, 84), Rob Thompson-Brown (Tom James, 90), Ahmed Obeng. Subs not used: Rob Elvins, Ryan Quinn.
Biggleswade: Ian Brown, Callum Lewis, Lucas Perry, Russell Short, Gavin Hoyte, Evan Key (Connor Hall, 46), Connor Vincent (Daniel Clifton, 36), Robbie Parker, Inih Effiong, Tony Burnett, Mark Coulson. Subs not used: Sam Donkin, Harry Norman, Chris Marsh. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/sport/football/biggleswade-and-brown-rain-on-brakes-parade-1-7548775 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/63e780b584401178ca657b90b309ee6c3722e0895773da25266d5c1556071a38.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:08:17 | null | 2016-08-16T17:01:00 | A pastor and a Rolls-Royce aerospace engineer are among the 12 hopefuls competing to win the 2016 series of The Great British Bake Off. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fwhat-s-on%2Fgreat-british-bake-off-contestants-rolls-royce-engineer-and-pastor-join-2016-lineup-1-7529495.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7528522.1471363213!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Great British Bake Off contestants: Rolls-Royce engineer and pastor join 2016 lineup | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | A pastor and a Rolls-Royce aerospace engineer are among the 12 hopefuls competing to win the 2016 series of The Great British Bake Off.
The amateur bakers, competing to follow in the footsteps of last year’s champion Nadiya Hussain, will again seek the approval of judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood.
However the seventh series could be the last on the BBC. Its three-year deal with producers Love Productions expires at the end of this run and ITV is bidding to poach the format.
Ms Berry, 81, hinted at tensions behind the scenes between the new batch of contestants donning their aprons. She said: “They know the standard that it is, which is now pretty high. And I think they were slower to bond this year than they were in the past.”
The bakers include Andrew, 25, originally from Northern Ireland, he now lives in Derby and works as an aerospace engineer for Rolls-Royce. A Cambridge University graduate, Andrew has set his heart on designing a baguette concorde.
The oldest contestant in this year’s lineup will be Lee, a 67-year-old who has worked in various pastoral ministries for the past 30 years – most recently as the pastor of his local church in Bolton. A former builder, he had a complete change of direction in the mid 1980s, when he turned to theology and took up baking.
The youngest baker is Michael, a 20-year-old from London who is studying politics and economics in Durham. He enjoys making “big grand cakes” and making Greek pastries inspired by his Cypriot heritage.
Teaching Assistant, Benjamina, 23, who started baking aged 14 just for fun, recently graduated with a 1st in Economics & lives in south London.
The contestants also include 66-year-old former primary school head teacher Val, and 31-year-old secondary school PE teacher Candice. Mother of two Kate, 37, is a farmer’s daughter from Norfolk, is a qualified nurse and works on an acute respiratory ward. Candice, 31, from Bedfordshire, was taught to bake by her beloved Nan, and strives to emulate her bakes aiming to be “even half the lady she was.”
Hollywood said Nadiya’s success – she is judging a junior version of the series and is presenting a documentary on her culinary inspirations – had raised the bar for this year’s batch.
“Nadiya went to a whole new level, and because of that I think it put the pressure on them more, and I think we felt that in the tents as well,” the judge said. “But actually they came out tops.
They started quite nervously but once they settled down they got into it. Then the baking started to flow and the standard got really really good.”
The Great British Bake Off launches on August 24 on BBC One at 8pm. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/what-s-on/great-british-bake-off-contestants-rolls-royce-engineer-and-pastor-join-2016-lineup-1-7529495 | en | 2016-08-16T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/795bc7915ad18ca30adc8c2f9e1ef3856bb4fd53efe0917cc93f61ce24150cb2.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:03:16 | null | 2016-08-19T10:03:21 | Avenue’s Hannah Smith had a fine run to the last four of the Sutton Winson Trophy at Victoria Park. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fsport%2Fbowls%2Fsmith-s-stunning-nationals-run-ends-in-the-semi-finals-1-7532764.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7532762.1471518302!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Smith’s stunning Nationals run ends in the semi-finals | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Avenue’s Hannah Smith had a fine run to the last four of the Sutton Winson Trophy at Victoria Park.
The competition, for under-18 players, was played as part of the Nationals and Smith cruised through her opening round with a 3-0 win over James Powell (Kent).
She squeezed past Somerset’s Fraser Ham 3-2 in the second round before edging out Lois Woodward (Northants) 2½-1½ in the third round.
A 3-1 win over Jack Bunting (Hertfordshire) took her into the last eight, where she beat Buckinghamshire’s Jamie Seymour 3-2.
However, she lost 2½-1 ½ in the semi-final to Liam Harris (Suffolk), who had earlier beaten her brother Mark 3-1 in the second round.
Harris went on to beat Hampshire’s Nicole Rogers 3-1 in the final.
In her opening women’s national triples match, Whitnash’s Helen Slimm went down 30-13 to Bolton BC’s S Kitson.
Royal Leamington Spa’s Dawn Horne also bowed out at the first hurdle after suffering a 16-11 defeat to Julie Marsh (Richmond BC, Yorkshire) in the women’s two-wood singles.
Meanwhile, Whitnash’s men came out on top by 115 shots to 97 in their home encounter against Royal Leamington Spa last week.
While there were three rink wins apiece, the Whitnash victory owed much to resounding wins for M McGuire, Ken Dolby and Harry Billington over Spa’s John Rheams (30-11) and Kevin Bly, Les Clarkson and Graham Cluff who beat Malcolm Wickens 25-13.
It was a particularly impressive performance from Billington’s trio who won nine of the final ten ends to emphatically turn around an 8-5 deficit.
In a much closer game, Chris Lea beat Jerry Horne 21-18 to secure Whitnash’s other rink win.
For Spa, Alan Taylor, Bill Griffin and Dick Williams overcame Fred Sawyer 17-10 and there were also wins for Dick Allibon over Hamish Crawford (19-14) and Mike Wallace over Keith Glenn (19-15).
Spa’s ladies were edged out 45-43 in a three-rink triples clash at Rugby.
Club captain Jenny Wickens skipped Mavis Dale and Karen Rheams to a convincing 18-11 win, but a 16-9 defeat for Cynthia Briggs left the match evenly balanced.
On the deciding rink, it was a particularly topsy-turvy game as Spa’s Wyn Jackson trailed 12-2 after 11 ends.
She recovered superbly, taking 14 unanswered shots to lead 16-12 with just three ends remaining.
However, six dropped shots saw Jackson eventually go down 18-16 and Spa just edged out by two shots.
Avenue were also edged out by two shots in their mixed derby match at home to Lillington.
Avenue’s highest winning rink went to John Hughes (skip), Steve Franklin, Bernadette O’Donnell and Keith Orme who held the lead throughout their match to win 20-15.
Their other winning rink featured Mike Kelly (skip), Richard Muir, Bill Biddle and Hazel Higgins who were level at ten ends and went on to win 16-13.
The highest of Lillington’s three winning rinks was skipped by Ted Rheams, supported by Grace Gallagher, Pippa Mace and Alan Harbour, who picked up a four on the final end to beat John Harris 22-18.
The other winning rinks were skipped by ladies’ captain Val Joyce (3 shots) and John Buggins (3 shots) to give Lillington a 93-91 win.
Lillington had began the week with a fine win in their rearranged three-rink triples match at Warwick Boat Club.
They had two winning rinks on their way to a 52-43 victory, the highest of which was skipped by Rheams, supported by Paul E Smith and Mike Calvert, with a seven-shot margin.
The other rink was skipped by Malcolm Welch who oversaw a five-shot success. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/sport/bowls/smith-s-stunning-nationals-run-ends-in-the-semi-finals-1-7532764 | en | 2016-08-19T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/fe61ef16db5b3575eb9cb505a041806179ba2347f2ca053cc3c1fd7bc79c1f48.json |
[
"Staff Reporter",
"News Leamingtoncourier.Co.Uk"
] | 2016-08-26T13:13:35 | null | 2016-08-24T15:04:42 | Warwickshire Police are appealing to the public for help to locate a Leamington man who is wanted on recall to prison. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fleamington-burglar-wanted-on-recall-to-prison-1-7541858.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7541857.1472047468!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Leamington burglar wanted on recall to prison | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Warwickshire Police are appealing to the public for help to locate a Leamington man who is wanted on recall to prison.
Liam Timms, 22, was released from HMP Oakwood Prison in Featherstone, Wolverhampton in June 2016 after serving a sentence for burglary.
Daniel Murphy, 30, of Leamington, has now been located.
He has since breached his licence conditions and is now wanted on prison recall.
Timms is described as a slim black man with short cropped black hair.
He is believed to have connections to Leamington and Birmingham.
If you have seen Timms or a man matching his description, please call Warwickshire Police on 101.
Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online via their website.
No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.
**** Following a media appeal released last Friday, a Leamington man who was wanted for breaching a court order has now been located.
Daniel Murphy, 30, attended a police station this morning (Wednesday).
He will appear at Leamington Magistrates Court today. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/leamington-burglar-wanted-on-recall-to-prison-1-7541858 | en | 2016-08-24T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/ce51526fba73afde354f205eb95284795478bf92b416c2ab8d219e9d4e9d45d0.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:13:26 | null | 2016-08-24T17:11:03 | Warwickshire’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community was out in force to celebrate diversity at the Pump Room Gardens in Leamington last Saturday. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fwarwickshire-pride-celebrates-diversity-for-fourth-year-1-7542335.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7542328.1472057931!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Warwickshire Pride celebrates diversity for fourth year | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Warwickshire’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community was out in force to celebrate diversity at the Pump Room Gardens in Leamington last Saturday.
Despite the wind and rain on the day those who attended got into the Pride spirit and enjoyed a range of stalls, street food, bars and live performances on stage. With headline acts including Jordan Gray and Vangelis from BBC1’s The Voice, and the first Warwickshire Pride Dog Show taking place, festival goers had plenty to keep them entertained.
Warwickshire Pride Festival MHLC-20-08-16 Warwickshire Pride NNL-160820-205947009
Daniel Browne, director of Warwickshire Pride, said: “Warwickshire Pride 2016 is one that will be remembered for a variety of reasons.
It was a very challenging day, particularly with the weather being a bit wet and windy, but even though the weather decided to shower us with kisses, people appeared to have a good time and the feedback from people has been hugely positive & supportive so far.
It’s the luck of the draw when holding an event in British summer time, but a bit of bad weather isn’t enough to stop the Pride celebrations and it certainly didn’t stop all of the people who attended.
I’d like to say thank you to those people as the festival is only what it is because of the support that people show.
Warwickshire Pride Festival MHLC-20-08-16 Warwickshire Pride NNL-160820-205934009
I’d also like to thank all of the stallholders who braved the elements and of course the team of fantastic volunteers who had to deal with some difficult situations on the day in order for the festival to go ahead and be successful.
Volunteers are the backbone of any charity organisation and I must pay tribute to the amazing people from our community who helped it all to happen.
Warwickshire Pride will return in 2017 and I’ll ask the sun to put in an appearance.”
The first Warwickshire Pride took place on Saturday 31st August 2013 and was the first event of its kind in Warwickshire.
Warwickshire Pride Festival MHLC-20-08-16 Warwickshire Pride NNL-160820-205922009
Mr Browne launched the event because he felt the county was lagging behind in when it came to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender representation
Warwickshire Pride will take place again in 2017 and organisers are currently putting together a steering group to help with the organisation. Anyone wishing to help can email warwickshirepride@live.co.uk for further information.
Warwickshire Pride Festival Kyle Crompton. MHLC-20-08-16 Warwickshire Pride NNL-160820-205909009
Warwickshire Pride Festival Tiarna 6 and Deontae 4 at the sweet stall. MHLC-20-08-16 Warwickshire Pride NNL-160820-205855009 | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/warwickshire-pride-celebrates-diversity-for-fourth-year-1-7542335 | en | 2016-08-24T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/64881f26fb57ceb1c09d5dec1e91f231d8ed6d1e4e945c8715a6305afbb56eeb.json |
[
"Diane King"
] | 2016-08-26T13:10:08 | null | 2016-08-16T10:51:09 | More than half of the UK’s grandparents are planning to look after their grandchildren over the next few weeks, according to a recent survey. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fgrandparents-to-the-rescue-over-school-summer-holidays-1-7528657.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7528656.1471341022!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Grandparents to the rescue over school summer holidays | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | More than half of the UK’s grandparents are planning to look after their grandchildren over the next few weeks, according to a recent survey.
A poll of more than 8,000 over-50s shows that one in eight grandparents will look after grandchildren once a week over the school summer holidays, with a further one in eight will be on childminding duties twice per week.
However, one in twenty grandparents say they will be hosting their grandchildren three days a week while school is out for the summer, according to the research by Saga Car Insurance.
And it’s not just their time that will be donated - one in five say they will spend well over £200 keeping the children occupied. Days out to the beach (77 per cent) and on shopping trips (35 per cent) are the most popular distractions, although some grandparents are even taking their grandchildren on a holiday either in the UK (14 per cent) or abroad (5 per cent).
Grandparents in the North East are the most likely to babysit grandchildren over the school summer holidays, while those in the East Midlands are least likely to.
The Scots are most likely to spend big on their grandkids, with one in four expecting to spend more than £200 during the school holiday period.
Sue Green, Head of Saga Car Insurance, commented: “It looks as though children are in for an action-packed summer which is full of adventure if nan and granddad are in charge over the next couple of weeks. Grandparents really are generous giving up their time and money to help with childcare over the summer holidays and I’m sure they are really looking forward to spending some quality time with their grandchildren.” | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/grandparents-to-the-rescue-over-school-summer-holidays-1-7528657 | en | 2016-08-16T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/b59f08519ca2b6944cbeca5c62028b19bb214194fff23443773508194f8fd86e.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:11:53 | null | 2016-08-14T06:00:00 | A fresh warning has been issued by Action Fraud, the national fraud reporting body, over iTunes gift card scams. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Ffresh-warning-over-itunes-gift-card-scam-1-7521955.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7521954.1470911138!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Fresh warning over iTunes gift card scam | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | A fresh warning has been issued by Action Fraud, the national fraud reporting body, over iTunes gift card scams.
The iTunes scams first came to light in May this year and, to date, victims have reported almost £520,000 lost to fraudsters.
Apple’s iTunes store sells music, movies and other media via digital download and the vouchers, which can be bought online and are widely available in supermarkets and high street stores across the UK, serve as a popular gift in an era where CDs and DVDs have been surpassed by digital download as the format of choice for many.
Fraudsters have sought to confuse people unfamiliar with Apple’s contactless payment system Apple Pay and trick them into using iTunes gift cards to pay for goods or services over the phone or online.
The criminals don’t need the physical card to redeem the value, and they trick victims into reading out the code over the phone or sending via email. Once they have the code, fraudsters can steal the balance of the card.
Action Fraud has received multiple reports of this approach being used across a variety of scams including loan scams, fake mis-sold PPI scams and schemes urging victims to take action against banking errors.
One victim reported losing £46,000 to scammers via iTunes cards.
A spokesperson for Apple said: “iTunes Gift Cards are solely for the purchase of goods and services on the iTunes Store and App Store. Should you receive a request for payment using iTunes Gift Cards outside of iTunes and the App Store please report it to Action Fraud”.
If you have been a victim of fraud, report it to Action Fraud using their online fraud reporting tool. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/fresh-warning-over-itunes-gift-card-scam-1-7521955 | en | 2016-08-14T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/352c76330f946a0887e19cfa5960eeb8700b4ce523b5b0053193585ca88b31ac.json |
[
"Sam Jackson"
] | 2016-08-26T13:08:41 | null | 2016-08-19T11:19:04 | A free open-air event incorporating music, theatre and workshops is coming to Abbey Fields at the end of the inaugural Kenilworth Arts Festival. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Ffiesta-coming-to-abbey-fields-at-end-of-kenilworth-arts-festival-1-7535018.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7535013.1471601915!/image/image.jpg | en | null | ‘Fiesta’ coming to Abbey Fields at end of Kenilworth Arts Festival | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | A free open-air event incorporating music, theatre and workshops is coming to Abbey Fields at the end of the inaugural Kenilworth Arts Festival.
The event, entitled Fiesta, takes place on Sunday September 18 from 11.30am to 6pm in the open space.
The music maze
It will feature live music from a variety of groups, including folk-rockers Winter Mountain, indie group New Desert Blues, jazz from Swing From Paris, Leamington singer-songwriter Shanade and the Coventry-based Mustard & Blood Collective.
Also appearing during the day will be theatre company The Fabularium, which is made up of acrobats, storytellers, musicians and puppeteers.
The group will be performing a new piece of outdoor theatre for family audiences called ‘Reynard the Fox’, which will be performed upon a traditional wooden cart.
Alongside the musical and theatrical acts will be interactive workshops for people of all ages.
Leamington singer-songwriter Shanade
Amongst these will be a storytelling den inside a bell tent held by Kenilworth Books.
There will also be a ‘music maze’, improvised theatre workshops, dance workshops, the popular ‘Poetry Jukebox’, a baby sensory area and a collection of stalls offering free craft-based activities.
Warwick Arts Centre will be offering a number of family-friendly craft activities inspired by The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show and Stick Man, which visit the Arts Centre in October and December.
Compton Verney Art Gallery will be offering a series of light-based activities, including kaleidoscope making.
The New Desert Blues
Also hosting activities will be groups such as Woodland Beasties, Brambles Explorers, Little Sunflowers, Mini Mandarins and Ginger.
Plenty of food and drink will be available on the day, including street food, local produce, real ales, prosecco and wine. Arts and crafts will also be on sale.
Sarah McCaffrey, one of the organisers of Fiesta, said: “As a mum and someone with a keen interest in the arts, I am delighted that with the help of the artists and companies we have been able to make all activities free and accessible to all.”
Fiesta is the final event of the festival, which runs from Monday September 12 to Sunday September 18 at various locations in Kenilworth.
The Fabularium performing 'Reynard the Fox'
The programme includes music, poetry readings, talks and workshops featuring award-winning artists.
Anyone wishing to purchase tickets for the earlier events should visit kenilworthartsfestival.co.uk, or into Kenilworth Books or Ginger Property in Balsall Common. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/fiesta-coming-to-abbey-fields-at-end-of-kenilworth-arts-festival-1-7535018 | en | 2016-08-19T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/ba59e60a0953cc5731276b9c39680bc37a48284a0dc7bbc30af3900708a18596.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:05:18 | null | 2016-08-23T13:24:42 | Warwickshire Bears have strengthened their squad by signing two Great Britain internationals. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fsport%2Fother-sports%2Fnewly-promoted-bears-swoop-for-great-britain-duo-1-7539855.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7539854.1471955066!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Newly promoted Bears swoop for Great Britain duo | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Warwickshire Bears have strengthened their squad by signing two Great Britain internationals.
Jacob Robinson and Siobhan Fitzpatrick, who have known Bears coach Tom Masterson for a number of years, will join up with the newly promoted side ahead of their debut campaign in Division One of the National League.
“I’ve known Tom for ages,” said 18-year-old Fitzpatrick. “I’ve trained with him on and off and I promised I would come and play for Bears when they got promoted to Division One so, once they did, I had to keep my promise.”
Robinson and Fitzpatrick have played for London Titans for several seasons.
Robinson, who is 20 and is studying law and criminology at university, began playing wheelchair basketball when he was 11.
He became a full junior international in his teens and represented Great Britain in the Under-23 European Championships.
He also played in the Champions’ Cup in Japan last November, helping GB to the gold medal.
He has since decided to retire from international basketball to concentrate on his studies.
“I want to get back to club basketball and hopefully helping Bears win the Division One title next season,” he said. “I had a good time with GB but I think it is time to focus on my career.”
Fitzpatrick, however, has set her sights on reaching the Tokyo Olympics. She is currently on standby for Rio as a reserve and is determined to make the full squad in 2020.
“I’m hoping to go to university in Worcester in September,” said Fitzpatrick, who has travelled the world with the GB women’s team this year, starting with a training camp in Lanzarote and then heading for Japan, Canada, Germany and Holland.
She captained the team to gold in the European Championships in July where GB beat defending champions Germany. And all this while studying biology and psychology A-levels.
“The teachers were phenomenal,” said Fitzpatrick, who left Cardinal Newman School in Coventry in July. “They emailed and Skyped me and were really accommodating. I think I was probably only at school for about a month in total.”
Providing she gets her grades, Fitzpatrick will take up a sports scholarship in autumn at Worcester University which is where the GB women’s training centre is based. She currently drives there up to five times a week from her home in Coventry.
“It will be great to have everything on hand,” she said. “And I’m looking forward to helping Bears in their bid for promotion to the Premier Division.
“It is quite a big step-up from Division Two to Division One so it may take a couple of seasons but I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
Bears welcome experienced players and complete beginners to their training sessions at Warwickshire College sports hall in Henley on Tuesday evenings.
Contact coach Tom Masterson on 07946 518354 for details. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/sport/other-sports/newly-promoted-bears-swoop-for-great-britain-duo-1-7539855 | en | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/6170692099f94e82ea7ec8f2233fbfbbdfeb61eeffcdfd9c59f904b12b0c4f47.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:13:18 | null | 2016-08-24T12:10:03 | British Transport Police have issued a warning after a gang placed wooden planks across a railway line and watched a train smash into them. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fbritish-transport-police-issue-warning-after-train-jumps-in-the-air-1-7541374.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7541251.1472200741!/image/image.jpg | en | null | British Transport Police issue warning after train ‘jumps in the air’ | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | British Transport Police have issued a warning after a gang placed wooden planks across a railway line and watched a train smash into them.
The gang are currently being hunted by police after the incident in Buckinghamshire on August 11, where a group were caught on camera putting large wooden planks across railway tracks.
A member of the public called 999 but before anything could be done, a train crashed into the planks.
The train was badly damaged but not derailed and there were no injuries. However, passengers said they felt the carriage ‘jump in the air’.
Investigating officer PC Jay Townsend used the incident as an opportunity to fire out a nationwide warning.
“This was an incredibly stupid thing to do and it beggars belief that someone would think this was a funny thing to do,” he said.
“Not only is trespassing on the railway extremely dangerous – with trains travelling well in excess of 100mph – but this could have caused the train to derail, and who knows what might have happened.
“We were lucky this time but acts like this can easily have fatal consequences.”
PC Townsend is now hoping to catch the culprits and bring them to justice.
“Although these images are grainy, we are releasing them in the hope that someone comes forward with information,” he added.
“Do you know who might have done this? Have you seen someone bragging about this on social media, or maybe uploading a video of themselves on the tracks?
“If you have any information, please get in touch.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 or text 61016, quoting 505 of 11/8. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/british-transport-police-issue-warning-after-train-jumps-in-the-air-1-7541374 | en | 2016-08-24T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/7b0f7628a831ccc262e2519b057271e6fda5e890f5f7480e3a184d0d9e2c6532.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:04:55 | null | 2016-08-25T13:30:47 | After two frustrating draws, Racing Club Warwick beat Chelmsley Town 3-1 on Tuesday evening to gain their first home win of the Midland League Division One campaign. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fsport%2Ffootball%2Fsmith-brace-gives-racing-club-first-home-win-of-the-season-1-7543956.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7543955.1472128233!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Smith brace gives Racing Club first home win of the season | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | After two frustrating draws, Racing Club Warwick beat Chelmsley Town 3-1 on Tuesday evening to gain their first home win of the Midland League Division One campaign.
Racing Club, who were without centre backs Tommy Reynolds and Ash Buswell, opened the scoring in the fourth minute courtesy of a fine strike from the in-form Jamie Smith.
Chelmsley equalised in the 13th minutes but the hosts were back in front seven minutes later when Smith chipped the advancing Town keeper.
Smith was denied a hat-trick by a good block by the visiting keeper but despite bossing possession they had to wait until the 66th minute to extend their advantage.
Substitute Jordon McKenzie got their third, taking the ball off the toes of Smith and firing in a curling effort into the top corner.
Conal Dowling made a fine last save but Racing Club were worthy winners to maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign.
On Saturday Racing Club were held to a 2-2 draw by Cadbury Athletic in a bad-tempered affair at Townsend Meadow.
Racers twice came back from a goal down thanks to an own goal and a Martin Slevin penalty, with Slevin having seen an earlier spot-kick saved.
Toby Checketts received a straight red for the home side for a second-half trip, while Cadbury finished the game with nine men after two sending-offs.
Racing travel to Hinckley on Saturday before a trip to Pershore on Bank Holiday Monday. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/sport/football/smith-brace-gives-racing-club-first-home-win-of-the-season-1-7543956 | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/5c6e5d802225d532ac564ca1cb07004b76f98a9c4f5b7e8ed0a2d5cc06811384.json |
[
"Staff Reporter",
"News Leamingtoncourier.Co.Uk"
] | 2016-08-28T18:50:23 | null | 2016-08-28T18:26:50 | Warwickshire police have charged Daniel William Bourke, 45, of Newland Road, Leamington, with attempted murder after an incident in the town on Friday. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fleamington-murder-attempt-update-man-charged-and-named-1-7548216.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7535214.1472405190!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Leamington murder attempt update: man charged and named | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Warwickshire police have charged Daniel William Bourke, 45, of Newland Road, Leamington, with attempted murder after an incident in the town on Friday.
Police were called to the incident at 5.52pm where they discovered a woman in her 30s with stab wounds to her neck, back and abdomen.
The woman, who is also from Leamington, was taken to hospital where her condition is critical but stable.
Mr Bourke will appear at Warwickshire Magistrates Court tomorrow (Monday 29 August). | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/leamington-murder-attempt-update-man-charged-and-named-1-7548216 | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/86cec408ad7db1bbae98448a1db6d10e08a7b15da4b63323b61798035d75e1df.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:08:04 | null | 2016-08-16T10:02:39 | World-class music from internationally renowned musicians is coming to Warwick Arts Centre in the next few months. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fwhat-s-on%2Flocal-listings%2Fworld-greats-come-to-warwick-arts-centre-for-new-season-of-music-1-7528526.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7528524.1471338111!/image/image.jpg | en | null | World greats come to Warwick Arts Centre for new season of music | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | World-class music from internationally renowned musicians is coming to Warwick Arts Centre in the next few months.
Manchester’s Hallé Orchestra marks the opening of the 2016/17 series on Satuday October 8 with a programme of Dvorak, Liszt and Beethoven. With a history steeped in the Russian way of music-making, Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra visit on Wednesday October 19, and the Czech National Symphony Orchestra visit on Saturday November 12.
The Philharmonia Orchestra, ‘the UK’s national orchestra’, returns on Friday December 2 with some of the best-loved highlights of Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, just in time for the festive season.
Violin phenomenon Nicola Benedetti will ensure the New Year starts with a bang as she headlines a captivating Evening of Chamber Music on Friday January 27. The European Union Chamber Orchestra return on Thursday February 9 with a programme framed by Mozart’s most personal symphony – the tragic 40th – and the rarely-heard Symphony No.57 from Haydn. The ever popular City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra return on Friday March 17 with guest conductor Robert Trevino and on Sunday March 26 the Armonico Consort & Orchestra perform Bach’s powerful St Matthew Passion.
The summer concerts are performed by ‘the nation’s favourite orchestra’, the Royal Philharmonic, on Wednesday May 3 with conductor, Christoph Koenig and violinist Tamsin Little.
And celebrated music director Yuri Simonov conjures up a beautiful evening with the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra on Wednesday May 24.
As ever, there’s also a programme of more intimate chamber concerts from The Coull Quartet, Artists in Residence at the University of Warwick.
Audiences will also be able to enjoy the best live opera and live ballet at Warwick Arts Centre cinema. New York’s Metropolitan Opera marks its 50th Anniversary of its home at the Lincoln Center and 40 years under the musical leadership of James Levine, with a host of powerful productions, and the Royal Opera House celebrates its 2016/17 with a series of popular and enchanting dance performances.
Visit www.warwickartscentre.co.uk for more information and to book tickets. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/what-s-on/local-listings/world-greats-come-to-warwick-arts-centre-for-new-season-of-music-1-7528526 | en | 2016-08-16T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/8ac70574936605e824ff1e0ec10b44ca6b8434814edc020c8afbda30b406ae5d.json |
[] | 2016-08-30T14:51:27 | null | 2016-08-30T14:25:44 | Leamington cruised to a 2-0 win at the DCS Stadium, with two first-half Ryan Rowe goals settling a low-key derby, writes Paul Okey. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fsport%2Ffootball%2Fclinical-rowe-goes-to-town-on-stratford-1-7550771.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7550769.1472563520!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Clinical Rowe goes to town on Stratford | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Leamington cruised to a 2-0 win at the DCS Stadium, with two first-half Ryan Rowe goals settling a low-key derby, writes Paul Okey.
On a warm bank holiday afternoon and coming just 48 hours after both sides had played the slow tempo was not surprising, particularly on a lush surface.
However, with so many former Brakes in the Stratford ranks, including coach Liam O’Neill, the visitors might have expected a more troublesome afternoon.
As it was, despite a second-half improvement from Town, there were few moments of alarm for Paul Holleran’s side after Rowe had bagged his fourth and fifth goals of the campaign.
There were early signs of encouragement for the home side with good interplay down the left allowing Jamie Sheldon to whip in a cross which Guy Clark headed just past the angle.
Joe Magunda picked up an early booking for an ungly lunge on Daniel Summerfield and Tony Breeden, on his return from a one-match suspension, had to be bravely off his line to deny Kieren Westwood after he had benefited from a lucky ricochet when challenging Ben George.
Ryan Rowe celebrates the first of his Stratford double.
Summerfield slid a shot well wide after patient build-up play from the home side but that was to be the end of their first-half threat as Brakes took control.
Running away from goal, Rob Thompson-Brown skewed a shot well wide, while Niall Cooper made a confident claim from an inviting George cross.
George was again the source for Brakes’ 23rd-minute opener.
His right-wing cross was slightly behind Rowe who had plenty of company 12 yards out but he used the pace of the ball well, guiding his header just inside the post and past the despairing dive of Cooper.
There was little in the way of a response from Stratford as Brakes flooded the midfield and they were restricted to aimless punts forward, much to the frustration of the home fans in a crowd of 523.
Jack Edwards showed good strength to hold off Clark and get a shot away but it was always rising over the bar, while Thompson-Brown flashed an effort across the face of goal as play was confined to the Stratford half.
The killer blow was landed a minute before the break and it was again courtesy of a deadly piece of finishing from Rowe.
The striker picked up Edwards’ flick-on with his back to goal on the corner of the six-yard box and after initially struggling to get the ball out of his feet he earned himself a yard of space and turned to crash the ball into the roof of the net.
If Stratford were to get back into the game they needed an early goal after the break and there was certainly more intent about their play following the resumption.
However, the sting was taken out of the game by a series of niggly fouls and bookings.
A Summerfield cross whistled across the six-yard box with no one there to apply the finish and at the other end Ahmed Obeng injected pace into a patient Brakes move but after space opened up he could only drag his shot wide of the near post.
Will Grocott went down in the box to elicit penalty appeals from the home players but referee Robbie Dadley was unmoved and Breeden stood tall to deflect an Edwin Ahenkorah strike over the bar as Stratford tried to work up a head of steam.
Sheldon whistled a cross-shot over the heads of a crowded box from the resultant corner and was similarly off-target with a free-kick from a central position.
The points were already safely pouched by Brakes but substitute Lee Moore was unable to add the gloss in the closing stages, heading horribly over from less than six yards after being picked out by a cute ball from Obeng.
TOWN: Niall Cooper, Daniel Summerfield, Kieren Westwood, Guy Clark (Simeon Tulloch, 83), Jordan Cullinane-Liburd, Warren Brooks, Barry Fitzharris (Edji Mbunga, 54), James Fry, Edwin Ahenkorah, Will Grocutt, Jamie Sheldon. Subs not used: Richard Gregory, Liam Francis, Emmitt Defouneso.
BRAKES: Tony Breeden, Ben George, Connor Gudger, Joe Magunda (Rob Elvins, 73), Jamie Hood, James Mace, Rob Thompson-Brown, Darren Pond, Jack Edwards, Ryan Rowe (Lee Moore, 69), Ahmed Obeng (Tom James, 88). Subs not used: Ryan Quinn, Lewis Gwilliams. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/sport/football/clinical-rowe-goes-to-town-on-stratford-1-7550771 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/3438aa3303bedeb649900886646d0e9a892d3cb8b2e9cb4daa16f05844ad27e2.json |
[
"Sam Jackson"
] | 2016-08-26T13:11:32 | null | 2016-08-22T12:18:20 | Kenilworth Castle is gearing up for a re-enactment of the Siege of Kenilworth this weekend as part of the siege’s 750th anniversary. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fkenilworth-castle-reveals-details-of-siege-weekend-1-7537913.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7537912.1471864689!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Kenilworth Castle reveals details of siege weekend | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Kenilworth Castle is gearing up for a re-enactment of the Siege of Kenilworth this weekend as part of the siege’s 750th anniversary.
A 30-foot siege tower will be among the highlights of the battle, which will be held twice on Sunday August 28 and Monday August 29.
The event will follow the free siege commemoration in Abbey Fields on Saturday August 27, which will see a procession of soldiers march towards the castle in anticipation of the battle.
Property manager Holly Woodward said: “The great siege of 1266 is one of the most dramatic events in the castle’s history.
“We’re marking the anniversary with our biggest event of the year, and bringing some of medieval England’s most impressive siege weapons to the castle.
“Seeing a siege tower advancing towards the castle, a catapult taking aim at the walls, and a barrage of arrows firing from the ramparts is going to be quite a spectacle.
“Defending the castle for six long months was a testament to the strength of the castle, and a real feat of determination from the people of Kenilworth.
“This is a big anniversary for the whole town – it’s great to be starting our celebrations with the procession on Saturday.”
There will be plenty of other activities in the castle grounds taking place alongside the re-enactment.
Visitors will be able to explore the rebel and royal encampments, see how Kenilworth’s inhabitants survived in times of siege, and hear stories about the siege from cast of medieval characters.
Throughout the weekend there will be music and dancing, gruesome goings-on from the medieval surgeon, and the chance to see the knights prepare for battle.
And would-be young rebels can try archery, junior jousting and the Kids’ castle siege.
The Siege of Kenilworth was one of the longest in British history.
It began in June 1266 when King Henry III’s forces marched on surviving rebels who had retreated to Kenilworth Castle following their defeat at the Battle of Evesham.
The rebels were able to repel attacks inside the castle’s walls until December 1266, by which time disease and starvation were beginning to take hold. They were forced to surrender and had to accept the terms of the Dictum of Kenilworth.
Activities will take place on each day from 11am to 5pm. Tickets can be booked in advance by calling 0370 333 1183 or by clicking here. They can also be bought on the door. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/kenilworth-castle-reveals-details-of-siege-weekend-1-7537913 | en | 2016-08-22T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/d8f2fb7ef73dca258a2d79f60a88878a278779c8e10d217821c3c20d13187b59.json |
[] | 2016-08-31T10:51:54 | null | 2016-08-31T11:37:02 | Tributes have been paid to an international showjumping course designer who “left behind a huge legacy for the sport”. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flong-itchington-man-left-a-huge-legacy-in-showjumping-1-7553922.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7553920.1472639798!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Long Itchington man left a ‘huge legacy’ in showjumping | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Tributes have been paid to an international showjumping course designer who “left behind a huge legacy for the sport”.
Alan Ball, 84, of Long Itchington, died on Monday August 22 leaving his wife Patricia, daughter Tracey, son Mark and granddaughter Dale.
Copy Images - Alan Ball NNL-160830-190551009
During his life he became senior head course designer for British Showjumping and worked in an officiating role for the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) overseeing rules and safety at the Seoul Olympic Games in 1988.
Assisting those wishing to pursue a career in course design was an area that Alan took great pride in and International course designer Bob Ellis, who designed the London 2012 course, paid tribute to Alan by saying “I consider myself extremely fortunate to have worked alongside Alan for 15 years.
“He played an instrumental role in my career, he was a brilliant course designer and a great man.
“I am deeply saddened to hear of his passing; he leaves behind a huge legacy for the sport”
Born in Lancashire in 1932, Alan left school to work in the family building business in Southport during which time he also helped with the team of heavy horses that his grandparents used within their haulage business.
The horses were shown at Liverpool Show and it was at one of these shows, where Alan used to help prepare the horses, that he met Bill Lucy who was a British Showjumping representative.
This chance meeting was set to change the course of Alan’s life as he was then introduced to John Gross and Jack Talbot-Ponsonby who built across the country at the time and it wasn’t long until Alan was spending his weekends assisting them.
This continued through the late 1950’s and 1960’s with him course-designing at the weekends as a hobby whilst still working within the family business.
But it was in 1972 that Alan made the life-chaging decision to accept the invitation to join British Showjumping in the senior role and he moved his young family to be near the organisations offices at Stoneleigh Park.
Alan left British Showjumping in the 1990s but cotinued to work independently across many of the major national and international events until he retired in his early 70s.
Alan’s funeral will take place at Oakley Wood Crematorium on Monday from 11.30am. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/long-itchington-man-left-a-huge-legacy-in-showjumping-1-7553922 | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/90e6273427e6c111a5f9c724524e6598713eb7a18f371c28ad5609c2175ac4d1.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:09:45 | null | 2016-08-22T10:17:33 | Matt Adcock reviews David Brent: Life On The Road (15) | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fwhat-s-on%2Flocal-listings%2Freview-cringeworthy-david-brent-brings-tragedy-to-comedy-1-7537648.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7537647.1471857440!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Review: Cringeworthy David Brent brings tragedy to comedy | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Matt Adcock reviews David Brent: Life On The Road (15)
“I’m gonna roll you over, and rock you stupid, and leave you there just humming...”
David Brent is back. I never thought I’d write those words but here is the middle-aged master loser – on the big screen as a documentary team follow his dream of a ‘rock tour’ to save him from life as a sanitary products sales rep.
The Office was incredible TV, that made you wince and laugh in equal measure, the likes of which we haven’t fully seen since.
David Brent: Life On The Road picks up the potent unfulfilled dreams of Slough’s favourite office manager and presents the full horror of what happens when Brent cashes in his life savings and pensions to finance a tour for his band Foregone Conclusion. The good news is that this the best Gervais has been in years – capturing the brilliant comedy/pathos at the heart of The Office and delivering big time both in the laughs and the cringe inducing awfulness of Brent’s socially awkward overdrive.
This isn’t for those who are easily offended or just after some gentle humour – Life On The Road is a comedy-tragic-em-up that will rip your heart out even while you’re spitting popcorn.
This older Brent is a lonelier than ever, his hired bandmates won’t socialise with him or even let him on the expensive tour bus he’s shelled out for; he even has to pay them to have an after show drink with him at one point.
The expected adoring crowds don’t exactly turn up and the record company scouts are more interested in the genuinely talented aspiring rapper Dom Johnson (Doc Brown) who Brent has guest rap on some of his songs in an effort to make them both ethically friendly and youthful.
The excellent Tom ‘Love & Friendship’ Bennett is great as Brent’s one Lavichem office pal and Diane ‘Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe’ Morgan has a fun cameo as a PR tasked with the impossible job of making Brent ‘cool’.
Doc Brown, though, steals all his scenes with looks to camera of such sheer uncomfortableness that I’d love to see him get his own spin-off movie.
Life On The Road takes mid-life desperation and blows the door off it in fine comic style.
You’ll laugh, you might even cry but be warned you might also very well hurt yourself due to the unsafe levels of cringe. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/what-s-on/local-listings/review-cringeworthy-david-brent-brings-tragedy-to-comedy-1-7537648 | en | 2016-08-22T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/66d4993bb62e16e8f0ef0b8a61cb6a61442ac23fc4e5fb9b22ecd1474e8bb320.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:11:48 | null | 2016-08-21T06:00:00 | Pokemon GO players who are found to be cheating will have a permanent ban slapped on them, it has been announced. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Flife-ban-for-pokemon-go-cheats-1-7530984.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7530983.1471438432!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Life ban for Pokemon GO cheats | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Pokemon GO players who are found to be cheating will have a permanent ban slapped on them, it has been announced.
The game’s developer, Niantic, has altered the terms and conditions to include the condition that a life ban will ensue for anyone caught using trickery to bag Pokemon.
The new clause prohibits: “Falsifying your location, using emulators, modified or unofficial software and/or accessing Pokemon GO clients or backends in an unauthorized manner including through the use of third party software.”
It has been reported that some users have managed to fool the app into thinking they were at a different location. Some Pokemon are region-specific, although taken to extremes, a player could play the game without leaving their home.
“Our goal is to provide a fair, fun and legitimate game experience for everyone,” Niantic said:
“We will continue to work with all of you to improve the quality of the gameplay, including ongoing optimization and fine tuning of our anti-cheat system.”
Anyone believing that have been unfairly banned can access an appeals system. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/life-ban-for-pokemon-go-cheats-1-7530984 | en | 2016-08-21T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/032f86d1814d177bd620c227724500eedf7dc80af62620dbaeac6781218da677.json |
[] | 2016-08-28T06:50:16 | null | 2016-08-28T06:00:00 | House plants can suck dangerous toxic chemicals out of the air - leaving it cleaner to breathe, according to new research. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fvideo-house-plants-can-suck-dangerous-toxic-chemicals-out-of-the-air-1-7542204.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7542199.1472053947!/image/image.jpg | en | null | VIDEO: House plants can suck dangerous toxic chemicals out of the air | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Sorry, we're having problems with our video player at the moment, but are working to fix it as soon as we can
House plants can suck dangerous toxic chemicals out of the air - leaving it cleaner to breathe, according to new research.
The study shows certain species act like natural air fresheners - removing harmful chemicals from the air we breathe.
House plants can suck dangerous toxic chemicals out of the air - leaving it cleaner to breathe, according to new research
Research has shown the air in offices and family homes often contains pollutants leading to ‘sick building syndrome’ where people suffer a range of symptoms including headaches, fatigue, difficulties in concentrating and respiratory problems.
It has been estimated to blight the lives of up to three in 10 office workers. A study earlier this year estimates that annually nearly 100,000 people die from the effects of indoor air pollution.
Now new research has found the Scarlet Star (Guzmania lingulata), from South America and a member of the bromeliad family of plants, got rid of more than 80 percent of illness causing compounds.
That performed the best out of five plants tested, although the Dracaena Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans massangeana) soaked up virtually all of a particularly pungent chemical common in nail salons.
House plants can suck dangerous toxic chemicals out of the air - leaving it cleaner to breathe, according to new research
Native throughout tropical Africa, it is grown in many homes and offices within the UK, US and Europe.
Scientists say their findings show picking the right houseplant can clear the air of dangerous pollutants in homes and offices.
Printers and cleaning products give off potentially harmful chemicals known as VOCs (volatile organic compounds).
Dr Vadoud Niri, of the State University of New York, said: “Buildings, whether new or old, can have high levels of VOCs in them, sometimes so high you can smell them.”
House plants can suck dangerous toxic chemicals out of the air - leaving it cleaner to breathe, according to new research
VOCs are compounds like acetone, benzene and formaldehyde that are emitted as gases and can cause short and long term health effects when inhaled. They can come from paints, furniture, copiers and printers, cleaning supplies and even dry cleaned clothes.
Explained Dr Niri: “Inhaling large amounts of VOCs can lead some people to develop sick building syndrome, which reduces productivity and can even cause dizziness, asthma or allergies. We must do something about VOCs in indoor air.”
The most common solution is to install ventilation systems that cycle in air from outside or methods using adsorption, condensation and chemical reactions.
But using plants to remove chemicals from indoor air, known as biofiltration or phytoremediation, is much simpler - and cheaper.
House plants can suck dangerous toxic chemicals out of the air - leaving it cleaner to breathe, according to new research
In addition to carbon dioxide plants can take up gases such as benzene, toluene and other VOCs.
NASA began studying this option in 1984 and found that plants could absorb these airborne compounds via their leaves and roots.
Since then, other studies have looked at how plants phytoremediate specific compounds, such as the cancer causing chemical formaldehyde, in a closed space.
Most of these studies focused on the removal of single VOCs by individual plants from the ambient air.
But Dr Niri wanted to compare the efficiency and the rate of simultaneous removal of several VOCs by various plants.
So his researchers built a sealed chamber containing specific concentrations of several VOCs and monitored the VOC concentrations over several hours with and without a different type of plant in the chamber.
For each plant type, they noted which VOCs the plants took up, how quickly they removed them from the air, and how much was ultimately removed by the end of the experiment.
The researchers tested five common house plants and eight common VOCs, and they found that certain plants were better at absorbing specific compounds.
For example, all five could remove acetone, the pungent chemical abundant at nail salons, but the dracaena plant took up the most, around 94 percent of the chemical.
Dr Niri said: “Based on our results, we can recommend what plants are good for certain types of VOCs and for specific locations.
“To illustrate, the bromeliad plant was very good at removing six out of eight studied VOCs - it was able to take up more than 80 percent of each of those compounds - over the twelve hour sampling period. So it could be a good plant to have sitting around in the household or workplace.”
Dr Niri says the next step in the research is to test these plants’ abilities in a real room, not just a sealed chamber.
He would eventually like to put plants in a nail salon over the course of several months to see whether they can reduce the levels of acetone that workers are exposed to.
The other three plants studied were Jade plant (Crassula argentea), the Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) and the Caribbean Tree Cactus (Consolea falcata.) | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/video-house-plants-can-suck-dangerous-toxic-chemicals-out-of-the-air-1-7542204 | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/5e747ede34ac85053e494121a5f7dbd84270e960ac0d7ac2f29b46d6c85750f7.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:06:34 | null | 2016-08-22T14:20:19 | Brakes’ 100 per cent start bit the dust despite the visitors, having lost Tony Breeden to two yellow cards, producing a battling second-half display at Hardenhuish Park, writes Paul Edwards. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fsport%2Ffootball%2Fbattling-brakes-lose-breeden-and-their-100-per-cent-start-to-the-season-at-chippenham-1-7538190.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7538188.1471872001!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Battling Brakes lose Breeden and their 100 per cent start to the season at Chippenham | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Brakes’ 100 per cent start bit the dust despite the visitors, having lost Tony Breeden to two yellow cards, producing a battling second-half display at Hardenhuish Park, writes Paul Edwards.
The three points saw the hosts edge ahead of Leamington at the top of the Southern Premier Division table and it clearly meant a great deal to their manager Mark Collier who celebrated rather enthusiastically at the final whistle.
Substitute keeper Rob Elvins comes up for a late dead ball. Pictures Sally Ellis
There had been precious little to record at either end prior to David Pratt’s solitary strike in the 33rd minute, but Chippenham had began to build up a head of steam and would have gone in at half-time hopeful of adding more to their tally as they were kicking down the slope in the second half.
However, it was a measure of Leamington’s collective spirit that they rolled their sleeves up and restricted their hosts to only one clearcut chance to extend their lead right at the death, while coming close to levelling things up on more than one occasion.
Rob Thompson-Brown saw an early free-kick blocked along with his follow-up shot, while a dangerous low left-wing centre from the same player bounced off Ahmed Obeng as he tried to control the ball.
Breeden received an unnecessary yellow card for kicking the ball away, with Brakes angry about the award of a free-kick 20 yards from goal.
Andy Sandell stepped up to curl in the dead ball which Breeden flung himself to his right to push over the bar.
The danger remained from the corner and Pratt capitalised, firing a low drive inside the post to hand his side the lead.
Alex Ferguson screwed a shot well wide as the Bluebirds looked to build on their advantage and they were handed a further boost minutes before half-time when Breeden raced from his goal to try and beat Pratt to the ball close to the corner flag.
The Chippenham striker did not need a second invitation to go down under the challenge from the Brakes skipper and the referee immediately went for his top pocket, leaving the visitors a man light.
Lee Moore was the man sacrificed and, with no replacement goalkeeper on the bench, Rob Elvins came on and donned the gloves.
He was not called into action before half-time but Chippenham came very close to a second when James Guthrie sent an angled drive whistling across goal and just past the far post.
There was some concern among the travelling support during the interval that the goals could stack up if the home side bagged an early second but they need not have worried as their team rolled their sleeves up and protected Elvins to such an extent that his involvement in the game was minimal until injury time.
Sandell almost created an opening for himself inside the penalty area but was unable to dig the ball out from under his feet and the shot was blocked.
Leamington began to grow in belief and started to put their hosts under sustained pressure for the first time in the game.
Obeng won a free-kick on the left from which Thompson-Brown’s delivery was glanced behind his own goal by Pratt.
Thompson-Brown then had two powerful efforts blocked on the edge of the box and Taundry crashed a well-struck long-range drive into the arms of Kent Kauppinen.
A free-kick looped into the box from Thompson-Brown dropped just past the far post and Leamington were agonisingly close to an equaliser when substitute Courtney Baker-Richardson flicked Thompson-Brown’s low right-wing cross past Kauppinen but inches wide of the far post.
The Bluebirds keeper then scrambled across his goal, only just keeping the ball from squeezing under his crossbar as Obeng’s cross ricocheted off defender Michael Pook, Alan Griffin hacking the ball clear as it was fired into the penalty area once more.
Substitute Matt Jones preserved Chippenham’s advantage when he was in the right place to clear a thundering header from Jamie Hood off the line and Pratt was very close to adding a late, late second, nipping in behind the Leamington defence to go in on goal. Elvins did well to advance from his line and narrow his angles and as Pratt lifted the ball over him Hood was on hand to clear.
Chippenham Town: Kent Kauppinen, Connor McCormack (Mark Preece, 80), Nuno Felix, Michael Pook, Greg Tindle, Will Richards, Alex Ferguson, Matt Smith, David Pratt, Andy Sandell (Alan Griffin, 75), James Guthrie (Matt Jones, 79). Subs not used: Chris Allen, Andy Jenkinson.
BRAKES: Tony Breeden, Ben George (Courtney Baker-Richardson, 77), Richard Taundry, Darren Pond, Jamie Hood, James Mace, Lee Moore (Rob Elvins, 40), Jack Edwards, Ryan Rowe (Tom James, 76), Rob Thompson-Brown, Ahmed Obeng. Subs not used: Joe Magunda, Ryan Quinn. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/sport/football/battling-brakes-lose-breeden-and-their-100-per-cent-start-to-the-season-at-chippenham-1-7538190 | en | 2016-08-22T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/fb98633d708f1d24b2f012d3987e4019a8f77d13f50bf00c1a49c9333bde638b.json |
[
"Sam Jackson"
] | 2016-08-31T10:51:57 | null | 2016-08-31T10:23:02 | Kenilworth celebrated the 750th anniversary of the Siege of Kenilworth in true mediaeval style over the Bank Holiday weekend. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fkenilworth-celebrates-siege-anniversary-in-style-1-7553705.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7553704.1472635852!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Kenilworth celebrates siege anniversary in style | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Kenilworth celebrated the 750th anniversary of the Siege of Kenilworth in true mediaeval style over the Bank Holiday weekend.
Abbey Fields was full of siege-themed attractions and stalls on Saturday August 27, while Kenilworth Castle played host to two separate re-enactments of the siege on Sunday August 28 and Monday August 29.
Castle bosses said the weekend was its busiest in seven years.
The weather remained kind for the most part, although a heavy downpour blighted Abbey Fields briefly on Saturday afternoon just before the soldier’s procession.
Business support and events officer at Warwick District Council Paul Garrison thought the Saturday went ‘really well’.
He added: “It was a really successful day, and the weekend as a whole went fantastically.
“Saturday was really well attended until about 2.30pm when the heavens opened, but we had a surprising amount of people stay out until 3pm for the soldiers’ procession.
“A lot of time and effort’s gone in from a lot of people. The town council and Kenilworth History and Archaeology Society have been a great help.
“Perhaps in 50 years’ time people will still be talking about it - I’d like to think we’ve raised the bar.”
The Sunday and Monday attracted 5,000 people to Kenilworth Castle to watch the re-enactment of the siege, which originally took place in 1266.
Rebels took up their positions within the castle’s walls, and King Henry III’s forces assembled outside ready to launch their assault.
The attacking forces had a variety of siege weapons at their disposal, including a 30-foot flaming siege tower.
English Heritage events manager Jenny Davie described how the re-enactment went on both days.
She said: “Kenilworth Castle’s rebel garrison put up a brave defence, with smoking tar barrels briefly driving back King Henry’s army, but eventually the royalist forces were victorious.
“This was the castle’s busiest weekend in seven years, with over 5,000 visitors, and English Heritage is grateful to over a hundred re-enactors who made the castle their home for the weekend.
“Their hails of arrows, battering ram and flaming siege tower certainly helped to add to the drama, and mark this important anniversary in style.”
Although the weekend was the centerpiece of the siege anniversary, the commemorations of the historic battle are not over yet.
The annual bonfire at Kenilworth Castle will incorporate a siege theme, although exactly what this will involve is to be confirmed.
And the traditional Christmas lights switch-on on Friday December 2 will also have a siege twist to it. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/kenilworth-celebrates-siege-anniversary-in-style-1-7553705 | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/cd1a3088b6916776c8b06ff1b209aa245f3b3358985248c9c6b26e2ed6301975.json |
[
"Staff Reporter",
"News Leamingtoncourier.Co.Uk"
] | 2016-08-27T18:50:07 | null | 2016-08-27T18:25:19 | A 45-year-old man from Leamington has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following an incident in the town yesterday (Friday0 evening. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fattempted-murder-arrest-after-woman-was-stabbed-in-leamington-1-7547598.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7517048.1472318700!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Attempted murder arrest after woman was stabbed in Leamington | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | A 45-year-old man from Leamington has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following an incident in the town yesterday (Friday0 evening.
Police were called to the incident at a house in Newland Road at 5.52pm where they discovered a woman in her 30s with stab wounds to her neck, back and abdomen.
She was taken to hospital where her condition is critical but stable.
Det Insp Jon Belcher said: “At this time we believe the suspect and victim were known to each other and there was no risk to the wider public. We will be continuing our enquiries at the house throughout the day.”
The man was arrested at the house and he remains in police custody while investigations continue. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/attempted-murder-arrest-after-woman-was-stabbed-in-leamington-1-7547598 | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/e46e5c2cf176003c626a02ee933d0b46d4329f94275ac0727fc569db0d78eb26.json |
[
"Diane King"
] | 2016-08-26T13:09:57 | null | 2016-08-24T11:27:46 | The Cola-Cola glass bottle has been voted as the most iconic packaging on the UK’s shelves. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fcoca-cola-bottle-most-iconic-packaging-1-7541247.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7541245.1472034454!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Coca-Cola bottle ‘most iconic packaging’ | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | The Cola-Cola glass bottle has been voted as the most iconic packaging on the UK’s shelves.
A study of 1,500 Brits exploring the influence of packaging and branding on shopping habits found that one in six people thought the Coca-Cola bottle was the most identifiable in terms of packaging.
Indeed, it was deemed to be just as recognisable without its logo or the product itself.
The research, commissioned by Easyfairs, organisers of Packing Innovations and Luxury Packaging London, found the Toblerone triangular chocolate bar finished as a close runner up, with Marmite’s glass jar rated as third-best-loved product packaging.
Beauty brands, such as the Tiffany Box and the Chanel No.5 Bottle just missed out on the top ten.
Coke’s success has been attributed to its targeting younger audience, with one in five Millennials selecting the bottle as the most recognisable pack product.Pringles’ iconic cylinder tube, fourth on the overall list, was the Millennial’s second favourite.
The study also revealed barcodes as the greatest packaging invention, ahead of more traditional items such as the cardboard box (21 per cent) - although the younger generation, 18-34 years, voted for 3D printing and re-sealable zips as its top two.
Gerry Sherwood, Event Director for the Easyfairs’ Packaging Portfolio, who commissioned the survey, said: “Millennials have officially passed Baby Boomers as the largest generation in history, and are more personally connected to their favourite brands than ever before. It is therefore not surprising to see 3D printing come out top in our poll for this age group.”
Top Ten Most Recognisable Brand’s Packaging
1. Coca-Cola Bottle
2. Toblerone Triangle
3. Marmite Jar
4. Pringles Tube
5. KFC Bucket
6. Heinz Ketchup Bottle
7. Fairy Liquid Bottle
8. Apple’s iPhone Box
9. Walkers Crisp Packet
10. Amazon Box | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/coca-cola-bottle-most-iconic-packaging-1-7541247 | en | 2016-08-24T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/b0c42f18651b22db71794ef9257fcc4787b739427835f5528d559bf9dbe5ab2b.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:12:17 | null | 2016-08-26T13:10:52 | The most popular pet name in the UK is Charlie, according to new research into the names we choose for our animals by Pets at Home. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Frevealed-most-popular-pet-names-1-7546273.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7546272.1472213435!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Revealed: Most popular pet names | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | The most popular pet name in the UK is Charlie, according to new research into the names we choose for our animals by Pets at Home.
Pets at Home surveyed more than 800,000 pet owners through its My VIP club and has found the top 50 most popular names for each pet type. Whether the pet is a bird, cat, dog, fish, horse, reptile or small animal, Charlie was the clear winner with almost 34,000 of British pet owners choosing this name for their animal friend, topping the list of most common names for birds, cats and horses.
Poppy also proved to be a popular choice for many pets, particularly canines and felines, ranking at number one for dogs and number two for cats. Other common selections include Alfie, Bella, Billy and Molly.
George also ranked highly across all species with almost 10,000 of those taking part choosing this name within the top 50, again regardless of pet type, suggesting the young Prince’s influence may not end with toddler fashion and toys.
The world of entertainment, particularly children’s cartoons, appear to have had an effect on the names owners select. Bird based film Rio saw the film’s title rank in 10th place for birds, while classic cartoon character name Tweety came in at number 32.
Bestselling book A Cat Called Alfie may have inspired cat owners, with Alfie being the eighth most popular name for cats. Winnie the Pooh fans are meanwhile drawn to Tigger, which ranked at 11 in cat names. Demonstrating that classic films can still influence our decisions, Thumper, who appeared in the 1942 film Bambi, is still the seventh most chosen name for rabbits. Nemo, is the second most popular name for the nation’s fish following Goldie in first.
Gavin Hawthorn, Group CRM Director, said: “It’s interesting to see that just as popular culture and famous faces influence what we name our children, likewise, these trends can help the nation’s pet owners select a name for their animals. It seems likely that children being allowed to name their first animal friend forms a big part of the naming process, particularly among the film and TV inspired monikers.
“However, it also seems that books and even the Royal family are also helping Brits to decide on what to call their pet. Meanwhile Charlie and Poppy scored highly across species, suggesting that cute, traditional names will always appeal when it comes to naming our pets.”
Top 10 names for British pets by species
Top 10 names for dogs
1. Poppy
2. Alfie
3. Bella
4. Charlie
5. Molly
6. Max
7. Daisy
8. Bailey
9. Ruby
10. Lola
Top 10 names for cats
1. Charlie
2. Poppy
3. Molly
4. Bella
5. Oscar
6. Daisy
7. Tilly
8. Alfie
9. Millie
10. Smudge
Top 10 names for small animals
1. Daisy
2. Fudge
3. Nibbles
4. Poppy
5. Rosie
6. Charlie
7. Thumper
8. Fluffy
9. George
10. Harry
Top 10 names for reptiles
1. Spike
2. George
3. Rex
4. Charlie
5. Sid
6. Monty
7. Bob
8. Leo
9. Rango
10. Sheldon
Top 10 names for fish
1. Goldie
2. Nemo
3. Bob
4. Bubbles
5. Fishy
6. George
7. Fred
8. Jaws
9. Dave
10. Tom
Top 10 names for horses
1. Charlie
2. Jack
3. Rosie
4. Molly
5. Harry
6. Alfie
7. Billy
8. Poppy
9. Murphy
10. Lady
Top 10 names for birds
1. Charlie
2. Joey
3. Billy
4. Bobby
5. George
6. Blue
7. Alfie
8. Rosie
9. Sky
10. Rio | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/revealed-most-popular-pet-names-1-7546273 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/9b5537455696c2e0f82ebacaad768213314e1eeac40ddedc3a68f18ccddfe93a.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T14:49:35 | null | 2016-08-26T14:28:15 | Police are appealing for witnesses after a car was found on fire in Leamington this week. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fwitnesses-needed-after-car-fire-in-leamington-1-7546524.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7419226.1472218080!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Witnesses needed after car fire in Leamington | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Police are appealing for witnesses after a car was found on fire in Leamington this week.
At approximately 1.25am on Tuesday August 16, a grey Peugeot was set on fire on a driveway in Stirling Avenue.
A Toyota Landcruiser parked next to the Peugeot also sustained fire damage and a smashed rear window.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or who has any information should call Warwickshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 13 of 16 August 2016. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/witnesses-needed-after-car-fire-in-leamington-1-7546524 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/a11a8bb61786fb7225106359374744881bf904c35bfe4a6ffbdd13c9a43f5317.json |
[
"Steve Mills"
] | 2016-08-31T06:51:37 | null | 2016-08-31T06:00:45 | A children’s novel, Shakespeare, Wilde and a murder will be the four shows put on by the same company in Leamington Spa. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fwhat-s-on%2Ftheatre%2Ffour-different-plays-coming-to-the-loft-in-leamington-1-7551188.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7551187.1472573421!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Four different plays coming to The Loft in Leamington | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | A children’s novel, Shakespeare, Wilde and a murder will be the four shows put on by the same company in Leamington Spa.
Heartbreak Productions presents Ratburger, The Tempest, The Importance of Being Earnest and Murder on the Terrace from Wednesday September 7 to Saturday September 10.
Based on the David Walliams’ book, Ratburger is suitable for the enitre family with Zoe having lost her pet hamster but her lazy stepmother Sheila doesn’t care.
The Tempest is the group’s tribute to Shakespeare and harness the humour and theatricality of the play.
The Importance of Being Earnest is transposed from the end of the nineteenth century to the eve of the Great Depression performed by a party of Bright Young Things with plenty of pace that lets Wilde’s conversational wit shine.
Murder on the Terrace – a brand new play, written by David Kerby-Kendall. It is a tongue in cheek, al fresco spoof of a whodunit with plenty of stylish audience interaction and witty repartee drawing on Agatha Christie and Downton Abbey for inspiration.
For more details or to book tickets visit www.loft-theatre.co.uk or by calling the box office on 0844 493 4938. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/what-s-on/theatre/four-different-plays-coming-to-the-loft-in-leamington-1-7551188 | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/5c6601db5dc34df894816e38c6e33680a04f12d289bff22c2abf3b657c549e75.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:13:30 | null | 2016-08-23T10:49:34 | All Saints’ Parish church’s newly repaired roof will be rededicated by the Bishop of Coventry at a special service on Sunday September 4. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fbishop-to-rededicate-repaired-roof-at-all-saints-church-in-leamington-1-7539482.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7539477.1471945760!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Bishop to rededicate repaired roof at All Saints’ church in Leamington | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | All Saints’ Parish church’s newly repaired roof will be rededicated by the Bishop of Coventry at a special service on Sunday September 4.
The South Aisle of the Leamington church has undergone extensive work and been re-slated, at a cost of £157,000.
To celebrate this and to rededicate the roof, the Rt Revd Dr Christopher Cocksworth, during a special parish communion, will preside over the service and preach.
The roof had been in a serious condition, with damaged and slipped slates and poor rainwater disposal, resulting in frequent water entry into the church which causes significant amounts of damage internally.
In addition to this, some of the roof timbers had been attacked by dry rot.
The Listed Place of Worship Roof Repair Fund donated £110,000, with additional finance being donated by the Garfield Weston Foundation, Warwickshire & Coventry Historic.
Churches Trust, All churches Trust, and kind individual gifts and loans.
Leamington Mayor, Cllr Ann Morrison, will be in attendance and towns people, friends of the church, and visitors are warmly invited to attend.
The Vicar, Fr Christopher Wilson, said: “We are delighted that this part of our lovely historic church has been repaired.
“I’d like to place on record our thanks to the Listed Places of Worship Roof Repair Fund and other donors.
“Please join with us on September 4 to celebrate this milestone - we’d love to see
you - and keep on coming for worship and the many other activities which take place here.
“Now that this project is complete, we shall begin work on a major grant application for further repairs.
“We are also working, with the Friends of All Saints’ Parish Church and other groups and individuals, on a number of other projects.
“These include the repair of the clock, the regeneration of the churchyard, the refurbishment of the beautiful Lady Chapel, and the repair of historic textiles. We’re most grateful to all the individuals and organisations which make this possible through gifts, legacies, and grants.” | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/bishop-to-rededicate-repaired-roof-at-all-saints-church-in-leamington-1-7539482 | en | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/b561f50ad9ff23ff9e342d65caab10ff939460adcd0fa533ccba0f9e6cd391b4.json |
[] | 2016-08-29T06:50:43 | null | 2016-08-29T06:00:00 | Minding your manners, avoiding emotional Facebook rants and knowing what cutlery to use are the modern day signs of class, according to new research. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fquiz-are-you-classy-or-not-1-7541893.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7541892.1472048444!/image/image.jpg | en | null | QUIZ: Are you classy or not? | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Minding your manners, avoiding emotional Facebook rants and knowing what cutlery to use are the modern day signs of class, according to new research.
A study of 2,000 Britons for fashion brand Peter Hahn identified the markers that separate the classy from the hoi polloi and they also include not showing too much cleavage, holding the door for others and speaking more than one language.
So how classy are you? Take our quiz to find out. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/quiz-are-you-classy-or-not-1-7541893 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/bad8bd9f8e97ac7a74a153df1e0bb45fae0575ba8aedba87b19f5041c3403277.json |
[] | 2016-08-30T08:51:15 | null | 2016-08-30T08:58:33 | A crash involving two cars yesterday afternoon (Monday September 30) near Barford left three young boys and two women needing treatment after one overturned. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fthree-boys-and-two-women-injured-after-car-crash-near-barford-1-7549974.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7463129.1472543892!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Three boys and two women injured after car crash near Barford | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | A crash involving two cars yesterday afternoon (Monday September 30) near Barford left three young boys and two women needing treatment after one overturned.
The five victims managed to remove themselves from the cars before ambulances and fire crews arrived.
A spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: “We were called at 3.30pm to the A429 near Westham Lane.
“One of the cars had overturned, and from that car we treated a woman in her 40s for chest injuries, and three boys.
“One boys had brusing to his neck and shoulder, and the two who were in child seats only had slight brusing to their necks.
“All four injuries were not serious but were taken to University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire as a precaution.
“The driver of the second car was a woman in her twenties who suffered minor whiplash injuries.”
Firefighters assisted with first aid and made sure the vehicles were safe. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/three-boys-and-two-women-injured-after-car-crash-near-barford-1-7549974 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/d37dade274a409530ab5fc9a206d1b73daaa253faae395522df210808cf441f5.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:03:34 | null | 2016-08-19T11:48:54 | A brilliant unbeaten 154 from Kidderminster’s Mike Hill thwarted Kenilworth Wardens’ charge to Birmingham Premier League victory, writes Paul Smith. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fsport%2Fcricket%2Fhill-provides-stubborn-obstacle-as-wardens-settle-for-a-draw-1-7532693.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7532691.1471517474!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Hill provides stubborn obstacle as Wardens settle for a draw | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | A brilliant unbeaten 154 from Kidderminster’s Mike Hill thwarted Kenilworth Wardens’ charge to Birmingham Premier League victory, writes Paul Smith.
The Staffordshire left-hander’s superb knock enabled his team to salvage a draw despite at one stage being 32 for six in response to Wardens’ 279 for eight.
The hosts eventually closed on 213 for seven as Wardens’ six-man attack was only able to claim one scalp in the closing 40 overs on a typically flat Chester Road pitch.
Nonetheless, there were plenty of reasons for visiting skipper Martin Donald to be upbeat about his team’s 17-point return which keeps them firmly in the race for the runners-up spot behind champions-elect Berkswell.
Hill arrived at the crease after Brinder Phagura’s two new-ball victims included the prize wicket of home skipper and former Worcestershire opener Matt Pardoe.
An injury to Blake Maher then saw Junead Zaman enter the attack in the seventh over and his lively outswing quickly demolished the hosts’ middle order.
However, Hill immediately launched a superb counter-attack, which took him to an even-time ton and kept Kiddy’s win hopes flickering.
He added 67 for the seventh wicket with Ryan Field (10), before eventually settling for a more sedate approach and a share of the points while building an unbroken 113-run alliance with Tom Kimberlin.
Kidderminster’s keeper, who batted two hours and 100 balls for his unbeaten 30, proved a resolute partner.
Meanwhile Hill’s superb 150-ball knock - during which he offered only one difficult caught-and-bowled chance - included 19 fours and five sixes.
Zaman (3-68) was the pick of Wardens’ attack, while Phagura claimed three for 49.
Earlier, Donald’s 87 headlined a consistent Wardens batting performance which took them to a par score on a ground with the square boundaries pulled in.
Opener Nick Seager’s recent rich vein of form continued with a powerful 43, during which he coped well with a prolonged spell of ‘chin music’ from home left-armer Richard Kimberlin.
Maher also looked set for a big innings before falling for the same score, made from 48 balls, but Wardens were faltering at 143 for four when Nathan Edwards joined his skipper.
The all-rounder reprised his excellent knock at Berkswell three weeks previously by contributing a mature 45 to a 96-run fifth-wicket partnership.
Zaman then provided excellent late impetus by thrashing 16 from seven balls, while Donald accelerated sharply in the closing stages, before being caught in the deep from the final ball of Wardens’ allowance after stroking ten fours and a six in his 116-ball knock.
Pardoe’s tidy 17-over spell of slow left-arm caught the eye, but it was seamer Liam Weston (4-54) who finished with the best return for the hosts.
Kenilworth Wardens 2nds came up well short in their Birmingham League Division One match at home to Attock 2nds.
Having won the toss and elected to bowl, Wardens made a double breakthrough early on as openers Alistair Wilkinson (1-37) and Joe Jordan (1-28) shared a wicket apiece.
Two more wickets fell for cheap scores as seamer Paul Henderson (1-27) and spinner Mark Pidgeon (1-66) also claimed a wicket each.
Paul Henderson ran out top-scorer Mohammed Harodn for 54 and Kieran Holland picked up a couple of wickets (2-63) but late-order hitting from Usman Hussain (33), Usama Khan (31 not out) and Daanyal Mirza (18 not out) lifted the visitors to a competitive yet reachable 232 for seven.
Wardens’ task was made more difficult when they lost opener Ben Rex with the score on 33.
A second-wicket partnership of 40 between Arjun Bath (37) and Robin De Regt (37) threatened a Wardens revival but, once Bath was removed, Attock dominated as wickets continued to fall and the runs dried up.
Impressive bowling performances from Daanyal Mirza (2-36), Imran Hamid (10-2-28-2) and Aarib Khan (2-17) helped put their side in a very strong position and Wardens eventually closed on 164 for eight. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/sport/cricket/hill-provides-stubborn-obstacle-as-wardens-settle-for-a-draw-1-7532693 | en | 2016-08-19T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/8bb116853f19abb746db7e8d2230c4d808025735fcd2ac9fff9cc02329c68bbe.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:05:58 | null | 2016-08-26T10:42:13 | Avenue’s Adam Smith bowed out in the third round of the men’s national junior singles championship at Victoria Park. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fsport%2Fbowls%2Favenue-duo-fail-to-reach-latter-stages-of-singles-1-7544038.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7544035.1472129028!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Avenue duo fail to reach latter stages of singles | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Avenue’s Adam Smith bowed out in the third round of the men’s national junior singles championship at Victoria Park.
Smith edged past St Neots bowler Adam Barker in the first round and then had a much more comfortable passage in the second round against Barry Hopkins (Darlington Railway Athletic).
However, he suffered a crushing 21-3 defeat to Freethorpe’s David Smith to end his interest in the competition.
Clubmate Matt Wordingham beat James Park (Workington) 21-6 in his opening encounter before bowing out 21-6 to eventual champion Jamie Walker (Northampton West End).
Hannah Smith (Avenue) and Rugby Thornfield’s Ashley Ward exited the junior pairs in the second round to Somerset’s Laura Holden (20-12), while Lillington’s Jacqui Cook and Margaret Grosvenor went down 27-18 to Lincolnshire’s Amy Gowshall in the first round of the women’s pairs.
Meanwhile, Royal Leamington Spa’s ladies continued their excellent season with another two victories.
Playing at home to Southam in a four-triples encounter, three of the rinks ended in ties.
However, a superb performance by the Spa threesome of Dawn Horne, Lyn Williams and skip Jenny Wickens, who trounced Heather Tredgold 28-7, sealed the win for Spa by 71 shots to 50.
It could have been very different for Spa, though, as both Janice White (9-0) and Donna Kerr (11-4) trailed at the halfway stage.
Both recovered well to finish 13-13 and 15-15, respectively, while Cynthia Briggs also ended tied at 15-15 in a closely fought tussle.
It was a much more one-sided affair when Spa’s ladies visited near-neighbours Whitnash for a three-triples match.
The Spa trio of Chris Brayne, Horne and Wyn Jackson stormed to a 13-1 lead against Barbara Robinson in the first six ends and never looked back, eventually running out winners by 28 shots to 12.
Elizabeth Glynne-Jones was almost as dominant in her game against Joan Vince.
Leading from the start, she eventually secured another comfortable win for Spa by 24 shots to ten.
On the other rink, Wickens completed the whitewash with a 19-12 success over Ann Markham to secure an emphatic 71-34 win for Spa.
There was also double success for Spa’s men.
They looked to be heading for a comfortable victory when they led on four of the five rinks with just three ends of their triples match at Stratford remaining.
However, with the evening light fading, there were some nervy moments as Stratford picked up 12 unanswered shots in the final three ends of their match against Dave Gardner to take that game 19-10, while another six shots for Stratford in the last two ends meant John Rheams’ winning margin was reduced to just 20-11.
With Chris Tarrant suffering a 23-9 reverse, it was down to Maurice Leyland, Rex Fox and Malcolm Wickens (20-9) and Ray White (22-12) to steady the ship and ensure overall victory by 81 shots to 74.
On Saturday, Spa’s men were comfortable 99-76 winners in a five-rink match at Coventry Avenue.
With Jim Tighe, Mike Wallace and Dave Gardner each building commanding leads for Spa on their rinks, the outcome of the match was never really in doubt.
Skipping Colin Palmer, Dave Wigman and Rheams to a 28-13 win, Wallace eventually proved the pick of the rinks for Spa, closely followed by Tighe (22-10) and Gardner (19-8).
Dick Williams succumbed to a narrow last-end defeat (18-17), while there was a 27-13 reverse for Dick Allibon. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/sport/bowls/avenue-duo-fail-to-reach-latter-stages-of-singles-1-7544038 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/cc302969e54fa5c745740ef32e32c68d5091fba8f53e6ca986b717620cd8d480.json |
[] | 2016-08-27T06:49:54 | null | 2016-08-27T06:00:00 | Motorists now change their car more often than they switch their mattress or even their mobile phone, suggests new research. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fmotorists-change-their-car-more-often-than-their-mobile-phone-1-7540214.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7540213.1471963421!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Motorists change their car more often than their mobile phone | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Motorists now change their car more often than they switch their mattress or even their mobile phone, suggests new research.
The length of time motorists keep a car has plummeted from around five years to two years or less, reveal latest figures.
The data produced by automotive experts, cap hpi, shows that some car makers now see average returns of vehicles in 24 months, and there is evidence of a growing number of 18-month leases in the market.
Mattresses should be changed every seven or eight years to ensure a good and healthy night’s sleep, according to chiropractors, while mobile phone contracts are on average between 18 and 24 months.
Expert say car manufacturers are managing volumes in the used market by varying contract lengths by model and remarketing channels.
Philip Nothard, retail and consumer specialist at cap hpi, said: “What we are seeing is the ‘iphonification’ of the car industry as consumers increasingly pay to drive rather than pay to own their vehicles.
“It’s the same model as the mobile phone industry where people are comfortable paying a monthly fee - only they are now doing this with their vehicles as well as their mobiles.”
He said the growth of personal contract purchase (PCP) and other finance options is having a “profound” effect on the car industry.
Personal Contract Hire (PCH) is also increasing, as motorists increasingly look towards usership rather than ownership.
Around four out five new car sales (80 per cent) are now on finance, according to estimates by cap hpi.
Mr Nothard added: “Not so long ago it was fairly common for motorists to have their cars for a minimum of five years or longer, but that has now changed dramatically and dropped to just two years for millions of motorists.
“After buying a house, the car was usually the biggest outlay for most consumers but now they are far more likely to change their car more often than their mattress.
“Consumer demand remains strong in the used car market and there are lots of used bargains waiting to be snapped up.
“As PCP becomes more popular and accessible in the used market, motor dealers expect its use to double in the future so we’re going to see people changing their cars with increasing regularity.” | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/motorists-change-their-car-more-often-than-their-mobile-phone-1-7540214 | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/647a8b647bd971aba2f1cd1e09a67644cc4592b3ac4a75c6f9ecee4694dcdf75.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:12:59 | null | 2016-08-24T10:51:04 | Historic document the Dictum of Kenilworth will be making an appearance at Saturday’s free siege event in Abbey Fields. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fthe-dictum-of-kenilworth-is-coming-home-1-7541161.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7541160.1472032251!/image/image.jpg | en | null | The Dictum of Kenilworth is coming home | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Historic document the Dictum of Kenilworth will be making an appearance at Saturday’s free siege event in Abbey Fields.
The Dictum, the terms of surrender, was drawn up and read out to the rebels in the castle in October 1266.
It allowed them to leave the castle unharmed and allow the rebellious Barons to buy back their lands, albeit at a very high price.
Although they did not surrender right away, the rebels were forced to in December after disease set in.
The copy, obtained from the National Archives, is planned to be taken round primary and secondary schools in Kenilworth and then displayed in Kenilworth Library. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/the-dictum-of-kenilworth-is-coming-home-1-7541161 | en | 2016-08-24T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/2a64057702c0a8ad9f6e1f38c68e0f023a01fe7fa363f8dc14cf6d50c4e44808.json |
[
"Sam Jackson"
] | 2016-08-26T13:12:11 | null | 2016-08-25T12:37:19 | Tributes have been paid to a two-time mayor of Warwick who served as a town and county councillor for decades. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Ftributes-paid-to-former-mayor-and-council-stalwart-1-7543668.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7543664.1472125958!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Tributes paid to former mayor and council stalwart | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Tributes have been paid to a two-time mayor of Warwick who served as a town and county councillor for decades.
Marion Haywood, a Conservative town councillor who first got a seat on the authority in the 1970s, died peacefully at the age of 85 after suffering with dementia in her later years.
Fellow town councillor Gerry Guest knew her for 25 years and spoke fondly of their time working together.
He said: “Marion was kind, friendly and hard-working.
“She would do anything for people in Warwick - you could go to her with any kind of complaint or issue whether you supported her or not.
“When it came to some of the smaller organisations’ issues she always went into them very strongly to find out the state of everything.
“She didn’t just talk off the top of her head about things - she went to places and people and found out for herself but in a quite unassuming way.
“I think her knowledge of the town in such a short time was her greatest quality.
“I’ve found it very hard having known her for so long. It’s just so sad.”
Between 1997 and 2005, she and Joey were the only Conservative representatives on the council, which he believes helped cement their friendship.
Gerry joked they would hold their group meetings inside a telephone box during this time. He added: “It brought us much closer together. We enjoyed fighting against the other councillors but it was all very friendly.
“Overall, as long as you’re doing the right thing for the town as she was you’re doing well in the public’s eyes. It’s not just me saying it - it’s across the board.”
Marion also sat on Warwickshire County Council for 20 years between 1989 and 2009, serving Warwick South. She was made chair of the county council between May 2008 and May 2009.
Marion’s husband, Jim, often helped her in her council activities, and was as devoted to Warwick as she was.
He died at the age of 83 in 2011, just after Marion first showed signs of dementia.
She eventually moved to Woodloes care home to be looked after full-time.
In a statement, a spokesman for Warwick Town Council said: “It is with great sadness that we have been informed that Marion Haywood passed peacefully away after a long illness.
“She, along with husband Jim, was committed to Warwick and its residents and gave much of her time and herself for the benefit of this town she so loved.”
Her funeral will be at St Mary’s Church on Tuesday August 30 at 10am. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/tributes-paid-to-former-mayor-and-council-stalwart-1-7543668 | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/e2ae5b9279e5995191d488574f26d1ccb6e2b837b62b7bb0ddc5f45784da5dfb.json |
[
"Steve Mills"
] | 2016-08-26T13:10:27 | null | 2016-08-26T11:43:51 | A show depicting the more adult behind the scenes at a pantomime can be seen at The Priory Theatre in Kenilworth. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fwhat-s-on%2Ftheatre%2Fkenilworth-play-looks-backstage-at-pantomime-1-7546037.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7546036.1472208214!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Kenilworth play looks backstage at pantomime | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | A show depicting the more adult behind the scenes at a pantomime can be seen at The Priory Theatre in Kenilworth.
Look Behind You by Daniel Wain will be staged from Wednesday September 7 to Saturday September 17.
Welcome to the cross-dressing, thigh-slapping, wise-cracking world of pantomime, where men are women, monkeys talk and dreams come true.
Now look behind the scenes at the bad-mouthing, two-timing pressure cooker that is the backstage reality.
A time for peace, goodwill and happy-ever- after? Not for the mixed bag of mixed-up has-beens, wannabes and never-will- be’s of a godforsaken seaside town, somewhere far, far away from the paved gold of London Town.
Whether you love panto or hate it there is something in this dark comedy play for you. Daniel Wain’s tragicomic panto-within- a-play chronicles both the on and off- stage lives of the cast and crew of a repertory production of Dick Whittington that is rapidly going downhill even on the opening night.
The traditional family pantomime? Oh no, it isn’t!!
The show is not suitable for children.
For tickets visit www.priorytheatre.co.uk or by phone on 03336663366. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/what-s-on/theatre/kenilworth-play-looks-backstage-at-pantomime-1-7546037 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/097b53aee5596ab463c515acd3af32385b97074fe19ce6c39010b2829d22588f.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:07:06 | null | 2016-08-18T11:59:43 | Gutsy Wimbledon qualifier Marcus Willis will be the star turn at Sunday’s free ‘Try Tennis’ family session at Warwick Boat Club. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fsport%2Fother-sports%2Fwimbledon-hero-willis-set-to-pass-on-his-secrets-1-7532736.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7532735.1471517976!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Wimbledon hero Willis set to pass on his secrets | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Gutsy Wimbledon qualifier Marcus Willis will be the star turn at Sunday’s free ‘Try Tennis’ family session at Warwick Boat Club.
Willis, a coach at the club when not playing on the international circuit, is back after a heady few weeks following his life-changing run at Wimbledon where he won six matches to qualify for the Championships.
Ranked 772 in the world, he then sensationally won his opening match against world number 54 Ricardas Berankis before bowing out to former champion Roger Federer.
The club launched the Try Tennis initiative in June to take advantage of the surge of interest in the sport after Willis’s heroics and Andy Murray’s second Wimbledon crown.
Already scores of hopefuls aged from five to 75, both novices and lapsed players, have been down to the club to try their hand at tennis with friendly games, drills and coaching tips from expert coaches.
“We’re delighted Marcus can take part in this Sunday’s session,” said Warwick Boat Club head coach Gavin Henderson, Willis’ doubles partner in the Coventry League.
“He’ll be coaching, giving tips and helping to inspire everyone in a fun environment on our great courts on the River Avon right beside Warwick Castle.
“Our Try Tennis initiative is going really well. It’s had a great response and a lot of the people who’ve come along on spec have decided to take up the game.
“Everyone’s welcome; just come along. All you need is a pair of trainers and comfortable clothing - we even supply the rackets and balls and refreshments including cake, tea and soft drinks are available.”
The sessions are open this and every Sunday from 2pm to 4pm. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/sport/other-sports/wimbledon-hero-willis-set-to-pass-on-his-secrets-1-7532736 | en | 2016-08-18T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/7adab2aed15189b02419255286618eded15f5e9a259ffacffd94da1ab9c65e90.json |
[] | 2016-08-27T06:49:52 | null | 2016-08-27T06:00:00 | A TV company is on the hunt for separated families and parents across the UK, to take part in a new Channel 5 series. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Ftv-company-s-search-for-modern-family-1-7541867.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7541866.1472047656!/image/image.jpg | en | null | TV company’s search for Modern Family | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | A TV company is on the hunt for separated families and parents across the UK, to take part in a new Channel 5 series.
The show, with the working title of The Modern Family, wants to talk to people who would like help resolving any issues they feel are getting in the way of co-parenting, or getting on with an ex-partner for the sake of their children.
Separation affects around a quarter of children in the UK, with the common belief being that being brought up by both parents after separation, where safe and possible, is in the best interests of a child.
“Breaking up with a spouse or partner is one of life’s biggest upheavals,” said a spokesperson for producers Pulse Films. “The difficult part is getting to the stage where separated parents are still able to do things for the sake of the child, like arrange a joint birthday party, or attend a parents’ evening together.”
So the team at Pulse want to film with separated mums and dads who may have moved on to other relationships, and are keen to sort out the issues with their ex for the sake of the children.
Francine Kaye, relationship expert, family mediator and author of Divorce Doctor said: “Kids don’t divorce, parents do. Paradoxically couples need to understand each other more during and after separation, than they did when they were together - in order to parent effectively.”
Working under the guidance of a trained therapist, anyone who has children with an ex and has difficulty with the complicated relationships this has created, can get more information by texting ‘FAMILY’ or call: 07983 640463 / 07555 242 993, by emailing: modernfamily@pulsefilms.co.uk, or by calling Janette Hodds or Lyttanya Shannon on 0207 426 5700. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/tv-company-s-search-for-modern-family-1-7541867 | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/0e6e4f20b34def9db24d1fcf33a3f43274b85207312b13e5683be393ff607c4f.json |
[
"Sam Jackson"
] | 2016-08-31T14:51:43 | null | 2016-08-31T14:54:07 | The first Kenilworth Arts Festival, a week-long celebration of the arts, is less than a fortnight away. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Ffirst-kenilworth-arts-festival-almost-here-1-7554454.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7554450.1472652158!/image/image.jpg | en | null | First Kenilworth Arts Festival almost here | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | The first Kenilworth Arts Festival, a week-long celebration of the arts, is less than a fortnight away.
Incorporating music, film, theatre, fiction and workshops, the festival starts on Monday September 12 and ends with the free, open-air ‘Fiesta’ in Abbey Fields on Sunday September 18.
Rachel Sermanni will play on Saturday September 17
Chairperson of the festival Lewis Smith said: “From the outset, our aim was to craft a programme of events that would inspire and engage.
“I think we’ve achieved what we set out to do. It should be a very special week.”
Among the artists confirmed to appear at the festival are highly acclaimed singer-songwriters Rachel Sermanni and Luke Jackson, jazz pianist Jason Rebello, award-winning nature writer Rob Cowen and classical duo The Ayoub Sisters.
Kenilworth resident and prominent screenwriter Andrew Davies will also be appearing at the festival in conversation with Laura Lankester, who worked with Davies on his recent adaptation of War & Peace with the BBC.
Leamington singer-songwriter Shanade, who will be performing at 'Fiesta' on Sunday September 18
The highly-regarded poet David Morley will be curating an evening of poetry readings on Friday September 16.
Appearing alongside Morley - who won the Ted Hughes Prize for New Work in Poetry in 2016 - are several other leading poets including Sarah Howe, Claire Trévien, Jo Bell, Luke Kennard and Jonathan Edwards.
Alongside the headline events, the festival programme will include a series of workshops which will offer people the opportunity to engage with different forms of creative expression and learn from respected professionals.
Highlights include a songwriting workshop with Rachel Sermanni, a harmonica masterclass with Will Pound, a human rights journalism workshop with Rebecca Omonira-Oyekanmi and a poetry workshop led by poet Jo Bell, entitled ’52 Ways to Write a Poem.’
Jason Rebello will play on Thursday
Closing the festival on Sunday, September 18 will be Fiesta, a free, all-day event in Abbey Fields.
It will feature live music from bands including Winter Mountain, Swing from Paris, Shanade and local collective Mustard & Blood.
Also appearing will be The Fabularium, a theatre company consisting of acrobats, storytellers, musicians and puppeteers.
They will be performing a new piece of theatre for family audiences called ‘Reynard the Fox’.
Tickets for each event can be bought at the Tree House Bookshop, Ginger Property in Balsall Common, or at wegottickets.com/kenilworthartsfestival
LINEUP
Monday September 12 - Will Pound’s Harmonica Masterclass, Tree House Bookshop, 6pm; Andrew Davies, Holiday Inn, 7.30pm.
Tuesday September 13 - Will Pound’s Harmonica Masterclass, Tree House Bookshop, 6pm; Rob Cowen, Talisman Theatre, 7.30pm.
Wednesday September 14 - Rebecca Omonira-Oyekanmi, Tree House Bookshop, 6pm; The Ayoub Sisters, St Nicholas Church, 7.30pm.
Thursday September 15 - Jason Rebello, Tudor Stables, 7.30pm
Friday September 16 - Poetry Evening with David Morley, Talisman Theatre, 7.30pm.
Saturday September 17 - Jo Bell Workshop, Clarendon Arms, 10am; Rachel Sermanni workshop, VCamden House, 2pm; Rachel Sermanni, Tudor Stables, 7.30pm.
Sunday September 18 - Fiesta, Abbey Fields, 11.30am | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/first-kenilworth-arts-festival-almost-here-1-7554454 | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/ed8a49871509b05dfc990c04fa5615028c2ce58d10fe0310413e86ee7779f218.json |
[
"Staff Reporter",
"News Leamingtoncourier.Co.Uk"
] | 2016-08-26T13:13:12 | null | 2016-08-23T14:54:14 | Warwickshire Police is appealing for witnesses or information after an assault in Leamington on Sunday August 7. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fman-assaulted-on-canal-towpath-in-leamington-1-7540061.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7539774.1472199287!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Man assaulted on canal towpath in Leamington | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Warwickshire Police is appealing for witnesses or information after an assault in Leamington on Sunday August 7.
Between 5.30pm and 10.30pm, the victim, a man in his 30s, was walking along the canal between south Leamington and St Mary’s Road when he was assaulted by an unknown man.
The victim attempted to walk home from the scene and was later found injured on Ramsey Street.
He sustained a fractured jaw and facial injuries which required hospital treatment.
Investigating officers would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the incident. Please call Warwickshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 0444 of August 7 2016.
Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online here. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/man-assaulted-on-canal-towpath-in-leamington-1-7540061 | en | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/cb10e0cc0e36cef666927ba5653257a9bc75b7de98a64e30dcfa7c3877427bc4.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:11:59 | null | 2016-08-14T06:00:00 | Next month sees the release of a new Beatles documentary, directed by Oscar winner Ron Howard. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fwhat-s-on%2Flocal-listings%2Fquiz-how-well-do-you-know-your-beatles-lyrics-1-7521661.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7521660.1470905666!/image/image.jpg | en | null | QUIZ: How well do you know your Beatles lyrics? | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Next month sees the release of a new Beatles documentary, directed by Oscar winner Ron Howard.
The Apollo 13, Da Vinci Code and Rush director has been given the blessing of the surviving band members - Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr - and the estates of John Lennon and George Harrison to produce the film looking at the band’s early years.
As well as archive footage from “the touring years” from 1960-66, The Beatles: Eight Days A Week - The Touring Years will feature fresh contributions from McCartney and Starr and never-before-seen clips shot by fans.
To get yourself warmed up for the film’s release test your knowledge of the band’s hits with our fiendishly tricky lyrics quiz. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/what-s-on/local-listings/quiz-how-well-do-you-know-your-beatles-lyrics-1-7521661 | en | 2016-08-14T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/9dc409b1b2391ee4b3c83e3d507eb0aac03a7a76153044ca9c8b13a917a82bd2.json |
[] | 2016-08-28T06:50:14 | null | 2016-08-28T06:00:00 | It could cost airline passengers £25 for making a complaint, following the introduction of new aviation rules. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fba-and-easyjet-passengers-could-pay-25-charge-for-flight-delay-complaints-1-7540331.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7540329.1472127200!/image/image.jpg | en | null | BA and easyJet passengers could pay £25 charge for flight delay complaints | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | It could cost airline passengers £25 for making a complaint, following the introduction of new aviation rules.
Passengers traveling with British Airways, easyJet and Thomas Cook will be charged £25 if any claim they make is unsuccessful, as the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will no longer mediate between customers and airlines.
Previously, the CAA would act as the ‘middleman’ in negotiations between customer and airlines in disputes regarding flight delays and cancellations or missing or damaged luggage.
British Airways, along with easyJet and Thomas Cook, have signed up to the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR), which charges customers a £25 fee for unsuccessful claims for compensation.
However, passengers with other airlines, including Flybe and Ryanair will be able to pursue complaints without fear of financial loss as these airlines have signed up with the Retail Ombudsman which does not charge customers to use the service.
Also, Eurowings and Lufthansa will use German company Söp, which similarly does not charge a fee. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/ba-and-easyjet-passengers-could-pay-25-charge-for-flight-delay-complaints-1-7540331 | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/f9f16cb6d80274e7e63ccf91cf3affd9a8450ef6c8a7721ee2a9e9c55af22507.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:12:49 | null | 2016-08-25T11:46:41 | A man who carried out a revenge attack by torching a car outside his ex-girlfriend’s home which spread to the house has been jailed. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Farsonist-and-robber-jailed-for-seven-years-after-revenge-attack-1-7543408.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7543407.1472123470!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Arsonist and robber jailed for seven years after revenge attack | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | A man who carried out a revenge attack by torching a car outside his ex-girlfriend’s home which spread to the house has been jailed.
Tom Weedon, 21, fuelled by drink and drugs, had then gone on to set fire to another car some miles away at what he mistakenly thought was her new boyfriend’s home, Warwick Crown Court heard.
And a judge observed he had acted out of vengeance after his former partner had co-operated with the police to identify him on CCTV recordings of knifepoint robberies he had carried out.
Weedon, of no fixed address, was jailed for seven years after pleading guilty to two charges of robbery, one of attempted robbery, three of having a bladed article, one of theft and two of arson being reckless whether lives were endangered.
Prosecutor Graeme Simpson said that on November 2 last year there were two members of staff on duty at the BP garage in Stratford Road, Warwick, when Weedon burst in at around 3am and brandished a serrated kitchen knife.
One of the staff members rushed to a secure office from where he called the police as Weedon ordered the other assistant to open the till.
He lunged across the counter with the knife and grabbed about £350 before rushing out.
He was not identified until two weeks later when he returned to the shop as a customer, and one of the assistants recognised him.
Mr Simpson said that as a result CCTV from that visit was handed to the police, and Weedon was arrested, but he denied being involved and no further action was taken because of difficulties establishing his identity as the robber.
Then on December 4 Weedon stole a Yamaha motorbike from the multi-storey car park in Linen Street, Warwick.
At 8.20pm, wearing a motorcycle helmet with the visor down and brandishing the knife, he went into Subway at the Leamington Shopping Park. He ordered the two female staff members to open the till, but they managed to escape through a fire exit and he left empty-handed.
Two hours later he again targeted the BP garage in Stratford Road, Warwick, where he threatened a staff member with the knife as he made off with £450.
Mr Simpson said Weedon’s ex-partner assisted the police by agreeing to look at the recordings, and she recognised him on them - but he again denied being involved.
Then in the early hours of April 2 there was a report of a vehicle on fire on a drive in Yeats Drive on the Chase Meadow estate in Warwick.
Weedon’s ex-girlfriend’s black Saab had been set on fire, and the blaze had spread to her new boyfriend’s Peugeot work van – and to the front of the house itself.
They were woken by the noise caused by the fire, and could feel the heat and see the flames at the bedroom window, so called the fire brigade and escaped through the back door.
Both vehicles were destroyed, and the front of the house was also badly fire-damaged.
Weedon then went to an address in Leamington where he set fire to a Vauxhall Zafira parked outside in the mistaken belief it was the home of his ex’s new boyfriend.
The woman who lived there was woken by a loud ‘whoosh’ at 5.50am and looked out to see a trail of fire at the side of her car.
The flames again spread to the front of the house, causing the windows to burst.
Nick Devine, defending, said Weedon’s previous offences had been of a much less serious nature.
“Drugs and alcohol are the problem. At the time he was on a potent cocktail of serious drugs and alcohol.
“Money was needed to buy the drugs and to live, and he turned to crime to get that money.
“The arson offences are brought about through an entirely different set of circumstances. She was his first love, and when it came to an end he simply couldn’t cope with it.”
Recorder Goodchild said: “I accept that your personal life was in a mess, and you were taking a cocktail of drugs which completely shifted your sense of judgement.
“But there were three separate robberies, one of them an attempted robbery after the two girls, who have been terrified by the experience, fled, and the other two were actual robberies.
“Your former partner, and the mother of your child, was attempting to settle down with another man, and she helped the police. The result is that you sought revenge.
“You were steeped in drugs, and you went past and saw the car and set fire to it. It caught a van alight, and as they both blazed it caught the house. It must have been absolutely terrifying for those inside.
“What could have happened is that the occupants would not have woken up and would just have expired by smoke inhalation and would then have burned to death.” | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/arsonist-and-robber-jailed-for-seven-years-after-revenge-attack-1-7543408 | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/61db1c17cc6558e1c70a28a6aad4e81603f1485297c71069a9cfb45a15b585ec.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:06:16 | null | 2016-08-24T17:26:04 | Lewis Williams picked up two awards at Cleary’s ABC’s end-of-season trophy presentation. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fsport%2Fother-sports%2Fwilliams-and-ansell-pick-up-top-award-at-cleary-s-1-7542378.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7542377.1472055949!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Williams and Ansell pick up top award at Cleary’s | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Lewis Williams picked up two awards at Cleary’s ABC’s end-of-season trophy presentation.
Williams was named boxers’ boxer and also shared the best boxer award with Morgan Ansell.
In a season to remember, Williams was crowned CYP youth heavyweight champion and Central England heavyweight champion, while claiming Haringey Box Cup gold and his popularity in the gym came as no surprise to coach Edwin Cleary.
“Without a shadow of a doubt Lewis Williams is the number one youth heavyweight boxer in the UK,” said Cleary. “He is a larger than life character and in the gym he’s always there to help anyone.”
Williams has now been confirmed in the Challenge phase of the England Boxing Talent Programme.
This will see him receive a large amount of contact time from the England coaches, with the focus on technical development as well as physical and psychological traits that are key to becoming a world-class athlete.
He is also expected to box in the World Youth Championship in November.
Meanwhile, in her second season, Ansell captured the female junior English title and was selected for England Boxing honours.
She has now been joined by a growing group of young female boxers at the gym, with Leah Gunton and Gabby Cosidine attending a female Flag squad in Birmingham for up and coming talent alongside the 15-year-old.
Danny Quartermaine picked up Cleary’s ABC’s most improved boxer award having won the England Boxing Central belt and missed out on the English title after suffering a split-decision defeat to the highly rated Corey O’Regan. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/sport/other-sports/williams-and-ansell-pick-up-top-award-at-cleary-s-1-7542378 | en | 2016-08-24T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/c2e008e230cc398ced5085be88cd3724107e363f977bbdf0b3601d74d181d730.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:07:22 | null | 2016-08-20T06:00:00 | Bryony Page may have wowed crowds by becoming the first Brit to win an Olympic medal on a trampoline. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Ftrendy-trampolines-cause-child-injuries-1-7531014.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7531009.1471439036!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Trendy trampolines cause child injuries | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Bryony Page may have wowed crowds by becoming the first Brit to win an Olympic medal on a trampoline.
But new research suggests injuries sustained from indoor trampoline parks are an “emerging health concern”.
The warning comes after a study recorded 40 children needed medical treatment at one hospital in the space of just six months after trampoline accidents at an indoor park.
Last week 25-year-old Bryony won a silver medal in Rio, performing twists and turns at a staggering 30ft.
But while many youngsters may wish to emulate her, researchers stress the danger of using indoor trampoline parks, where many kids bounce simultaneously, on beds placed in close proximity to each other.
Researchers reviewed the medical records of Australian children under 17, who sought medical treatment at a children’s emergency care department between July 2014 and January 2015.
The team focussed solely on injuries sustained whilst at a trampoline park.
During a six month period, the team recorded 40 child patients, 55 per cent of which were girls, requiring treatment for their injuries.
The average age of each child patient was 10, but the youngest was just a year old.
Most of the injuries, a third, occurred while the child was on the trampoline.
And a fifth - 18 per cent - of the injuries were caused by a failed landing.
But in eight cases, the injury was the result of several different children of different sizes using the trampoline at the same time.
The research, published in the journal Injury Prevention, revealed over half of the children (52.5%) injured were simply jumping and not attempting any flips or somersaults at the time.
Six children injured themselves by landing awkwardly on something on the trampoline, such as protective padding designed to prevent falls.
Bruising and sprained ankles were the most common injuries, with 55% of the children’s medical records detailing these.
A third fractured elbow and ankle bones.
But for five children, their injuries were more serious and required surgery and a hospital admission.
Author Dr Christopher Mulligan, from The University of New South Wales said: “Most children were injured while involved in simple jumping activities (52.5%).
“However, five children (12.5%) were injured while attempting somersaults or flips.
“Six children were injured when they came into contact with something while on the trampoline.
“This included two children who landed on balls, and four children who landed on, or caught their feet in, the less elastic padding surrounding them or the hard surface floor.
“In terms of the injuries observed, the majority of patients presented with a soft tissue injury or sprain ( 55%) or fractured bone(s) (37.5%).
“One child sustained a lip laceration. One child presented with concussion, and one with chest pain.
“The lower extremity was the most frequent site of injury (67.5%), followed by the upper extremity (15%).
“The most common sprains were of the ankle. The most common fractures were supracondylar fractures of the elbow and fractures of the ankle.
“There was one fracture/dislocation of a cervical vertebra. No patients sustained a loss of consciousness.”
He added children using trampolines at home are more at risk of falling off it as they are raised above the ground or falling through the padding.
But at centres “double bouncing, or multiple users on a single trampoline, carried a significant risk for injury.
“This occurred particularly when small children were jumping with larger peers
or other adults.”
The study was published in the BMJ’ s Injury Prevention. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/trendy-trampolines-cause-child-injuries-1-7531014 | en | 2016-08-20T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/c5715cf33dd2f49256b9f7b0ce2a418756c0ecdf9625e456d7839b9b28d8aca5.json |
[
"Hannah Smith"
] | 2016-08-26T13:08:30 | null | 2016-08-17T16:25:40 | The chance to stay in one of the country’s biggest castles with the promise of Knight School, Horrible Histories and huge looming turrets to explore was like music to my eight-year-old audience’s ears. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fwhat-s-on%2Farts-culture%2Ftravel-review-exclusive-sleepover-at-one-of-the-country-s-biggest-historical-castles-1-7531459.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7531447.1471447761!/image/image.jpg | en | null | TRAVEL REVIEW: Exclusive sleepover at one of the country’s biggest historical castles | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | The chance to stay in one of the country’s biggest castles with the promise of Knight School, Horrible Histories and huge looming turrets to explore was like music to my eight-year-old audience’s ears.
“So we get to play all day, then have a knights’ sleepover as well?” Even with mum and dad in tow he knew he was in for something special. And I wasn’t unexcited myself.
At over 1,100 years old Warwick Castle offers its 21st century visitors free reign to explore magnificent stately rooms, dungeons and impressive grounds.
And its owners, Merlin Entertainments have brought history to life with a flaming fireball launch from the trebuchet (the largest in the world ), breath taking displays from enormous birds of prey, blood and guts from the Horrible Histories, spooks and ghouls undergrounds, jousting, archery, knights and endlessly more.
But the best part? Now, you don’t even have to go home. When the castle closes its gates the fun is only just beginning as another exciting adventure awaits – the promise of a sleepover in the shadows of kings.
The castle has been home - and imprisonment - to kings and earls, hosted royal banquets and parties and even has links to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. So the latest addition of year-round camping lodges at Knight’s Village really does mean a sleepover steeped in history.
No time to make it round the maze or see the joust? We can come back tomorrow morning after breakfast. The words are like magic to my little knight-in-training. And even mum and dad are tingling to wake up in such magnificent grounds after enjoying an evening by the river and some of the best views you could ever wish for.
An afternoon arrival showed us that a day at the castle just isn’t enough. But once evening arrived there really was a whole new adventure waiting.
Families can banquet in the great food hall where majestic thrones, flags and plates of armour take you right back hundreds of years. But what really grabbed our attention was the entertainment and chance for children to go wild.
The castle’s brilliant staff pulled everything out of the bag for the youngsters. Circus skills, archery, more knight and sword training – it was a summer Kids Club, but one where the grown-ups are elbowing to get involved as well. Though the less interested still get to enjoy a superb evening relaxing on the porch, watching the fun and basking in the last of the sunshine.
But of course, the centrepiece of Knight’s Village - the lodges. They’re great. With everything from mod-cons (plugs, and WiFi) to replica weaponry and armour, there’s something to keep all ages happy.
Unless you go for the premium, they’re on the cosy side. But with hundreds of years of history on your doorstep, there’s certainly no reason to want to cram inside and watch television.
And of course if it’s sunny and you have a taste for something a bit more medieval, you can get yourself booked up for Glamping and take on a huge cloth tent, complete with four-poster beds and a pair of thrones to watch over the evening entertainment as the sun sets.
It was as peaceful and entertaining a night as you could hope for, with happy children and happy mum and dad all looking forward to a return to the banquet for a hearty breakfast and another go at flag spotting.
The best bit about sleeping among the trees where inspiring history once unfolded? Waking up to stunning views in complete tranquillity. Looking out over the new camping village (which prides itself on not harming the historic grounds in any way and that not one tree was felled in its construction), you really can imagine yourself hundreds of years back in time.
And being able to head back through the gates to do it all again for a second day of exploring.
Warwick Castle’s Knight’s Village is as magical as you could expect from a stay in a truly historic location, and with activities continuing well into the night, acres of grounds to explore, and a historic town just metres outside, there’s no reason not to be excited.
Earning an excited thumbs up from mesmerised children, the stay really delivered as the perfect place to enjoy history on your doorstep this summer.
Warwick Castle’s Knight’s Village offers seasonal stays in Glamping tents or year-round accommodation in its wooden lodges. Prices start from £41.30 per person.
Visit www.Warwick-castle.com to book or more information. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/what-s-on/arts-culture/travel-review-exclusive-sleepover-at-one-of-the-country-s-biggest-historical-castles-1-7531459 | en | 2016-08-17T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/367a8f59b8410de728d1dc5cc872ea64c8b1079654b5f71a85644fab60cbeb17.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:07:37 | null | 2016-08-18T11:57:21 | It was a family affair for our Player of the Month Matt Edwards after the Warwickshire County Council Staff captain completed his maiden league century while batting with his dad. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fsport%2Fcricket%2Fkeith-sees-son-matt-s-first-league-century-up-close-1-7532723.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7532721.1471517835!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Keith sees son Matt’s first league century up close | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | It was a family affair for our Player of the Month Matt Edwards after the Warwickshire County Council Staff captain completed his maiden league century while batting with his dad.
Each month, in association with solicitors Blythe Liggins, we celebrate a local cricketing success, with the winner being presented with a box of six new balls for his club by the Leamington law firm.
Council Staff skipper Matt, 26, led from the front during his side’s 59-run victory over Wellesbourne 2nds in Division Two of the Cotswold Hills League, blasting a first competitive ton before capping off his day with a wicket and a run out.
After some initial setbacks for his team, Matt, batting at number five, immediately took the attack to Wellesbourne, looking particularly strong off his legs and hitting some nicely timed drives back over the bowlers’ heads.
Despite a couple of wickets falling during his knock, he reached his century in partnership with dad Keith, who had opened the innings and was forced to retire hurt before returning to the crease.
Matt said: “My dad opened and took a ball on top of the foot so he had to retire hurt. He then got hit on the same foot a few balls after coming back out, which I enjoyed!
“He was out there with me when I got my ton. I’ve scored centuries before but not in the league, so it was a nice moment.”
Matt, who has played for Staff for ten years, finished on 106 but his afternoon’s work did not end there as he proceeded to take a wicket and contribute a fine bit of boundary fielding to complete a run out.
“It’s been going really well this year,” said Matt. “I’ve always classed myself as a bowler first but this season I’ve really flown with the bat.
“I’ve been going in at five in the league and have scored three 50s, as well as the century. I scored 87 not out against the same side last season, so they’re probably pretty fed up with me.
“It’s been a great club to be around with lots of energy and support throughout the season, which has contributed to our success on the pitch.
“The first team is second in the table and our second team have already been promoted from Division Seven in the first year of us being able to field a team.” | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/sport/cricket/keith-sees-son-matt-s-first-league-century-up-close-1-7532723 | en | 2016-08-18T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/88c4bdb66542cf98fb0ac2717cb98e7122ec1e616d2d91c150529b64929a54db.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:11:25 | null | 2016-08-23T17:08:31 | The internet is 25 years old today and we take a look at 25 things the world wide web changed forever. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fthe-world-wide-web-is-25-today-here-s-25-things-the-internet-changed-forever-1-7540456.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7526907.1471968497!/image/image.jpg | en | null | The World Wide Web is 25 today: Here’s 25 things the internet changed forever | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | The internet is 25 years old today and we take a look at 25 things the world wide web changed forever.
Happy 25th birthday to the internet! In August 1991, British computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee published the first web page.
And on August 23, 1991, he gave the public access to it.
Handily, the page told readers how they could set up their own website, whatever the heck a website was.
You can view a version of that original web page here. Compared to what we have now obviously it is very basic but will go down in history as one of the most important developments of all time. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/the-world-wide-web-is-25-today-here-s-25-things-the-internet-changed-forever-1-7540456 | en | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/8ecc0b318aa4679d3231b758b41792086bb0e7d2aba609017bf5ee467acd1344.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:12:38 | null | 2016-08-23T10:49:40 | Footballers have raised more than £1,000 for the road safety charity Brake in memory of Leamington car crash victim Nathan Rhodes. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fnathan-rhodes-memorial-match-was-big-success-1-7539484.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7539478.1471948282!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Nathan Rhodes memorial match was big success | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Footballers have raised more than £1,000 for the road safety charity Brake in memory of Leamington car crash victim Nathan Rhodes.
Stockton FC, for whom Nathan was a player and manager before he died, beat Bishops Itchington 4-0 in the fundraising match at Bishops Itchington sports field on Saturday August 14.
Action from the Nathan Rhodes Memorial Match
Before kick-off players from both teams stood around the centre circle and joined spectators a one-minute applause.
Nathan’s younger brother Simon Rhodes was made honorary Captain of Stockton FC for the occasion.
He accepted the trophy from his mother Barbara Morgan while his teammate Charlie Smith received the Man of the Match Trophy.
A special prize of a framed original record of Twist and Shout by the Beatles - which was Nathan’s ‘celebration anthem’ - donated by Nev Boon was given to another Stockton player Travis Currell.
Players and spectators gave a one-minute applause at the Nathan Rhodes Memomrial Match.
More than 150 people came and showed their support for the event, which raised a total of £1,215 for Brake.
A raffle was held which consisted of more than 50 prizes that were donated by friends, colleagues and Warwick Tesco manager Jim Whitehead who also gave the food for the evening buffet which was held at The Greaves Club near the sports field.
Brake supported the families of Nathan and his friends Emily Jennings and Ryan Case following their deaths in the crash on June 20 2015.
Another fundraising game is being planned to take place next year. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/nathan-rhodes-memorial-match-was-big-success-1-7539484 | en | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/82c8786fa6230fb18078b9147daad8699ea6abca0c1955b35c171adbd195318e.json |
[] | 2016-08-30T16:51:35 | null | 2016-08-30T16:53:32 | The company behind a huge restaurant chain have confirmed which restaurants it will be closing and which will remain open. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fwhat-s-on%2Farts-culture%2Frestaurant-closures-what-will-happen-to-frankie-and-benny-s-in-leamington-1-7551152.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7551151.1472572389!/image/image.jpg | en | null | RESTAURANT CLOSURES: What will happen to Frankie and Benny’s in Leamington? | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | The company behind a huge restaurant chain have confirmed which restaurants it will be closing and which will remain open.
Hundreds of jobs were put at risk last week when the Restaurant Group, which owns the Frankie & Benny’s chain, announced that it would be closing 33 under-performing sites.
The firm, which also owns Chiquito Mexican restaurant, suffered pre-tax losses of £22.5million for the first half of the year during what it describes as a ‘challenging trading period’, as well as an ‘insufficient focus on value, unsuccessful menu development and poor operation execution’.
The firm has now confirmed that Frankie and Benny’s restaurant at the Shires Retail Park in Leamington will remain open.
Nearby branches of Frankie and Benny’s in Rugby, Northampton, Kettering, Coventry and Banbury are also safe.
However a spokesman for the Restaurant Group did confirm that Midsummer Boulevard branch of Chiquito in Milton Keynes would be closing in October.
The spokesman stressed that the closures focused on ‘under-performing’ restaurants.
The closures across the UK will affect up to 1,000 jobs, although it is understood that the company will redeploy the vast majority of staff in other outlets.
Chairman Debbie Hewitt said: “The board has moved quickly to undertake a review of the operating strategy and we now have clarity on the issues facing our leisure brands, particularly Frankie & Benny’s.
“The brand remains relevant and popular, and we are confident that improved performance will be achieved by being more customer-focused and data-driven, and through better operational execution.”
The Restaurant Group admitted it has lost value-conscious customers at Frankie & Benny’s after “significant price increases”.
The firm pledged to “look at the pricing architecture of the menu” and “reinvigorate the value offer” in a bid to attract more families to its outlets. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/what-s-on/arts-culture/restaurant-closures-what-will-happen-to-frankie-and-benny-s-in-leamington-1-7551152 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/aff6806ea70ac32d6f22b30967d4354cd6ef3da050a7432001b148472f2b9fa8.json |
[] | 2016-08-29T12:51:01 | null | 2016-08-29T10:46:25 | Nodding off in the middle of the day may be down to pollution generated by traffic, suggests new research. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fsleepiness-linked-to-traffic-noise-and-pollution-1-7548626.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7548623.1472463964!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Sleepiness linked to traffic noise and pollution | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Nodding off in the middle of the day may be down to pollution generated by traffic, suggests new research.
The study shows exposure to traffic pollution is a trigger for daytime sleepiness - and may also trigger SNORING.
More than 12,000 adults were included in the Respiratory Health in Northern Europe (RHINE) study.
The findings show that people exposed to high levels of pollution had a 65 per cent greater chance of suffering from daytime sleepiness, compared to those who had no exposure.
Traffic noise in the bedroom was also a trigger - with people 46 per cent more likely to feel sleepy in the day if exposed.
And the research also suggests that people are also 29 per cent more likely to be a habitual snorer if they are exposed to traffic noise while they sleep.
Daytime sleepiness affected one in five people involved in the study, while one in four reported habitual snoring.
Ane Johannessen, an epidemiologist at Bergen University in Norway, wrote the study together with Professor Thorarinn Gislason and other Northern European researchers.
She said: “Exposure to traffic should be taken into account when planning treatment for patients with sleep disturbances, because reducing noise and pollution exposure in the bedroom may have a beneficial effect.
“Reducing exposure through relocating the bedroom away from pollution sources or making the bedroom more soundproof to protect against traffic noise, as well as mapping alternative and less polluted outdoor everyday routes may help patients with their sleep disorders.”
The study also showed that men, older subjects, smokers and those with lower education were more likely to report habitual snoring.
They were usually less physically active, with a higher BMI, and more likely to have a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).
Women, older people, smokers, and those with lower education were more likely to report daytime sleepiness.
The new research is due to be presented at the European Respiratory Society’s International Congress in London next month.
Professor Jorgen Vestbo, President of ERS and Professor of Respiratory Medicine at the University of Manchester, said: “The question of who snores may be a running joke in some households but for many snoring is a serious issue, with direct links to physical and mental well being and the same is true for daytime sleepiness.
“We want people to think more about the environment around them and the impact it can have - from the way they sleep to the air they breathe.”
To coincide with Congress, the ERS will be holding some free public lung function testing, starting in Trafalgar Square on September 2 and 3. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/sleepiness-linked-to-traffic-noise-and-pollution-1-7548626 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/297fa3121bc7784d2559c432111aeb0880e7eca0ba6f18b1f8955d63301fe435.json |
[] | 2016-08-29T06:50:45 | null | 2016-08-29T06:00:00 | Fertility experts are calling for tougher regulations around IVF treatment because the solutions used to grow embryos can influence the birthweight and health of babies. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fcall-for-tougher-ivf-regulation-1-7541950.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7541949.1472049540!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Call for tougher IVF regulation | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Fertility experts are calling for tougher regulations around IVF treatment because the solutions used to grow embryos can influence the birthweight and health of babies.
They want firms a clear list of ingredients for the solutions like those used to regulate food such as peanut butter.
The demand follows the results of a trial that shows that the composition of these laboratory cultures influence the health of the resulting embryos and babies.
The trial found that they affected the numbers of viable embryos created, the rates of successful implantation in the womb, the pregnancy rates and the babies’ birthweights.
The findings were published in the journal Human Reproduction, together with a second paper that reviews what is currently known about embryo culture media.
The second paper concludes: “There is a strong case for demanding full transparency concerning the compositions of and scientific rationale behind the composition of embryo culture media”.
The journal’s editor-in-chief, Professor Hans Evers, called for “urgent action” by industry and regulators in the wake of the findings, saying that, just as with foods such as peanut butter, the exact composition of the culture media should be listed.
He said: “Floating an embryo for only a few days in a culture medium affects the birthweight of IVF children nine months later.
“Small differences in birthweight may reflect more subtle disturbances that only will manifest themselves later in life.
“As of today, not knowing the exact composition of their IVF culture media is no longer an option for clinical embryologists.”
Dr John Dumoulin, the IVF laboratory director at Maastricht University Medical Centre in The Netherlands, and his colleagues recruited 836 couples who were scheduled for IVF or ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) treatment at one of 10 IVF centres.
Dr Dumoulin said: “For the first time, by means of a large randomised controlled trial, we have shown that human embryos that are cultured in vivo are sensitive to their environment and that something is programmed into these embryos during those few days before transfer to the womb that still has an effect nine months later.
“This being the case, we must be aware that David Barker hypothesised that the environment in early life, from foetus to the first two years of life, can have a significant effect on long-term health.
“This means that we should be careful and we should no longer blindly accept new culture media, or other alterations in laboratory or clinical procedures, without first rigorously studying effectiveness and safety.”
In the second paper, a working group of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, led by Professor Arne Sunde, of the University Hospital in Trondheim, Norway, made the same recommendations.
Their research showed that culture media vary widely, their composition is usually unknown by the embryologists, doctors and patients, and figures about the influence of the media on outcomes are conflicting.
Prof Sunde said: “The key issue is that we must know the composition of the culture media we use, since it seems to induce differences in the make-up of the children born.
“We have no information about long-term consequences of this, but we cannot rule out that the composition of the culture media may affect the health of children as they grow up and become adults.”
At present, there is no uniform regulation of embryo culture media. In Europe, the majority of media approved for use carry the CE mark, but other non-CE media can still be used.
Prof Sunde added: “It is not obligatory to declare changes and the information we might get is far from sufficient.
“We want to know in detail what changes have been made and the scientific basis for the changes, including animal and human clinical data backing the change.” | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/call-for-tougher-ivf-regulation-1-7541950 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/2f2b7a9066037938290d991fc3eb9f1160b53e26eeeb4f4c33254ab229dddd65.json |
[
"Sam Jackson"
] | 2016-08-30T16:51:36 | null | 2016-08-30T17:02:20 | The NHS Trust which runs hospitals and clinics across the county ‘requires improvement’ despite doing well in many categories, according to an official inspection. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fhospital-trust-requires-improvement-inspectors-say-1-7551173.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7551172.1472572921!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Hospital trust ‘requires improvement’, inspectors say | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | The NHS Trust which runs hospitals and clinics across the county ‘requires improvement’ despite doing well in many categories, according to an official inspection.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) felt South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust rated as either ‘outstanding’ or ‘good’ in 46 of 59 categories of assessment, but this was not enough to earn it a higher rating.
In its March inspection, the CQC found the safety, effectiveness and the leadership of services at the trust needed improving, but found the care and the responsiveness of the trust’s services were good - resulting in the overall ‘requires improvement’ verdict.
The report’s author and chief inspector of hospitals Prof Sir Mike Richards said the trust must improve risk assessments for patients, staff training in safeguarding children and their management of patients suffering from mental health issues.
Bosses were disappointed with the overall rating, and still felt proud of what the trust had achieved.
Chief Executive of the Trust Glen Burley said: “We employ some of the best clinicians in the country and are extremely proud of the services that we deliver across Warwickshire and of our teams that provide them.
“The report confirms that we have been recognised nationally in many areas, in particular our work within A and E and urgent care to improve patient flow where we are now providing support and advice to other organisations to help them improve safety.
“There were three recommendations that the CQC highlighted as important and these have all been addressed. We have requested a re-inspection at the earliest convenience with a different inspection team.”
Chairman Russell Hardy said: “Having worked across many organisations what I have witnessed here is excellent leadership and an extremely positive culture.
“We are proud of all of our teams. They deliver excellent services day in day out to the people of Warwickshire and it is pleasing to see so many areas highlighted as good practice.
“We have not seen another inspection report that has so many ‘good’ areas that has not then been rated overall as at least ‘good’.”
Medical director Charles Ashton said: “I am confident of the high quality and safe care that we provide for our patients and service users.
“During my feedback session with the CQC, they provided assurance that there were no major concerns. This is reflected in the body of the report and I think it is unfortunate that our overall rating does not suggest this.
“I am proud of the teams and feel our clinical care is excellent.”
60 per cent of NHS trusts across the country have been rated as ‘requires improvement’ by the CQC. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/hospital-trust-requires-improvement-inspectors-say-1-7551173 | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/bc436ea65f15edb87fe9d161370db85a1c0056562c5b5d91005792b425b0709b.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:10:47 | null | 2016-08-21T06:00:00 | The choice of leaf-based beverages on offer has mushroomed in recent years, from builder’s tea or nothing, to every flavour from peppermint to rhubarb & ginger. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fnew-generation-of-teas-could-cure-hangovers-report-suggests-1-7531070.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7531069.1471439382!/image/image.jpg | en | null | New generation of teas could cure hangovers, report suggests | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | The choice of leaf-based beverages on offer has mushroomed in recent years, from builder’s tea or nothing, to every flavour from peppermint to rhubarb & ginger.
Now, a third generation of teas is brewing. This will concentrate less on exotic new flavours and more on health benefits as producers look to capitalise on a market that remains huge – with 165 million cups of tea consumed in Britain every day – but faces growing competition from coffee.
Tetley has looked into the tea leaves and predicts we are in for a range of “remedy” teas – enriched with medicines, from painkillers to antibiotics – some of which may even be offered as cures for hangovers and remedies for tiredness, the report suggested.
We can also expect tea to be consumed through an array of alternative “delivery mechanisms” such as tablets, jellies, sprays and sorbets, according to a new report Tetley has done with so-called futurologist consultancy Future Foundation.
“Britain’s love affair with tea is enduring. The way we consume tea has gradually evolved since the 17th century, but now we are entering a period of rapid change,” said Laurent Sagarra, head of product innovation at Tetley.
“The way we consume tea has gradually evolved since the 17th Century, but we are now entering a period of rapid change,” she said.
“We’re constantly innovating, grading, blending and tasting and now’s the time to see what’s next for the iconic British cuppa,” she added.
The proliferation of teas will give High street coffee shops a run for their month, the report suggests, with “tea-total” outlets offering a range of exotic tastes and flavours.
Nick Chiarelli, director of the Future Foundation, said: “Our report predicts that exciting and satisfying new tea formats will develop, and that tea will evolve to deliver personalised health benefits.” | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/new-generation-of-teas-could-cure-hangovers-report-suggests-1-7531070 | en | 2016-08-21T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/59944df90ae380a3fa724b7a66251284c8490994a8e98511aeff457ad2f41fd7.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:13:07 | null | 2016-08-25T11:45:54 | Years of hard work and dedication paid off for hundreds of pupils today (Thursday) when they opened the dreaded envelopes to find their GCSE results. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fgcse-results-find-out-how-our-pupils-fared-1-7543405.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7543404.1472122397!/image/image.jpg | en | null | GCSE RESULTS: Find out how our pupils fared | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Years of hard work and dedication paid off for hundreds of pupils today (Thursday) when they opened the dreaded envelopes to find their GCSE results.
And the nervous wait was replaced with jubilation for many, with record-breaking results across the district.
WARWICK SCHOOL
Just over 46 per cent of grades at Warwick School were A*s. Samuel Young achieved an exceptional sweep of 12 A* grades with Lionel Whitby a very close 11 A*s
and one A grade. Douglas Boyle, Joshua Brown, Samuel Coy, David Holroyd, James Keay, James McAuliffe, Gautham Rao and Andrew Tinkler all achieved 11 A*s which is an increase on last year, with 14 boys achieving a clean sweep of A* only grades. 19 students scored 10 or more A*A grades which also is an increase on last year. 56 boys achieved a clean sweep of only A* and A grades with 78 per cent of this year’s cohort achieving A*A, our third best year ever, and nearly 95 per cent achieved A*-B grades which is a brilliant result.
Fifty six boys achieved a clean sweep of only A* and A grades with 78 per cent of this year’s cohort achieving A*A, the school’s third best year ever, and nearly 95 per cent achieved A*-B grades.
Headmaster Gus Lock said: “I am extremely proud of our boys who have achieved these results; they have worked incredibly hard and have benefitted from fabulous support from their families and outstanding guidance from their teachers. Everyone deserves to feel very proud today and I congratulate our boys wholeheartedly.”
NORTH LEAMINGTON SCHOOL
On the back of last week’s A-level and AS-level outcomes (where 63 per cent of its Y13 students’ results were A*-B), North Leamington School is delighted that this year’s provisional GCSE results are as equally impressive.
The school has sustained the outstanding achievements of last year with 76 per cent of its Y11 students scoring A*-C in the sciences, 79 per cent posting A*-C in maths and 81 per cent recording A*-C in English. In new key measures, 74 per cent of students secured an A*-C in both English and maths.
Headteacher Joy Mitchell, said: “I am absolutely delighted with our results this year because we have secured and sustained excellent outcomes: students across the ability range have achieved wonderful results and made outstanding progress. Beyond this, the cohort are lovely, well-rounded individuals. The results are a fitting reward for their resilience, self-application and support of one-another.”
Individual achievements include:
Joseph Cofler – A**x1, A*x10, 1xA
Adam Cofler – A**x1, A*x7, Ax4
Amy Alcock – A*x10, Ax1
Daniel Morris – A*x8, Ax2, Bx1
Harpreet Rai - A*x7, Ax3
Molly Outhwaite – A*x4, Ax6, Bx1
Emily Nebard – A*x4, Ax6
Daniel Smyj-James – A*x1, Ax9, Bx1
George O’Donohue – A*x5, Ax4, Bx2
Jessica Bradley – A*x5, Ax4, Bx1
Anneliese Cummings – A*x5, Ax4, Bx1
AYLESFORD SCHOOL
At Aylesford School, 61 per cent of pupils achieved five plus A*-C(En/Ma) grades.
Headteacher Steve Hall said: “I am delighted for students of the school who have worked so hard towards their examinations and who have achieved so much. Their efforts have been rewarded and whilst school performance measures are changing the provisional data suggests a very good overall performance...indicating strong progress measures for the vast majority of students.
“We wish all students well as they continue on to the next phase of their personal, educational and vocational development.”
Individuals worthy of recognition for outstanding outcomes include:
Molly MacRae 11A* 1A
Charlotte Culley 7A* 3A
Samantha Miles 9A* 2A
James Harris 6A* 2A 2B
Chloe McDonagh 4A* 6A 2B
Harry Price 4A* 3A 2B
TRINITY CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Trinity Catholic School principal Chris Gabbett commended all involved in producing another successful year, with 64 per cent of GCSE students achieving grades A*-C in English and maths and a number of students achieving A* and A grades in all subjects. He added: “I am so proud of our students and of course their parents, who have supported them through the hard work and challenges that Year Eleven brings. The committed staff here at Trinity have also been amazing. We are delighted that the majority of eligible students will be returning to Trinity’s sixth form and that many others will be pursuing college courses or vocational pathways. Whether joining our strong sixth form, or following an alternative route, we wish them every success and happiness for their future.”
MYTON SCHOOL
At Myton School, 27 per cent of students achieved at least five A* and A grades - with 19 achieving at least 10 A*/A grades:
Headteacher Andy Perry said: “Congratulations to all our students on their GCSE results this year. Overall, we are delighted that 87 per cent of our Year 11 students achieved at least a C grade in English GCSEs this year with a third of the students achieving an A or A* in English. In maths, 81 per cent achieved at least a C grade and 27 per cent an A* or A.
“We can look at the 2016 cohort as a highly successful group of young people, welcome many of them back into our sixth form and wish them all every success for their futures wherever it may take them.”
KENILWORTH SCHOOL
At Kenilworth School, 82 per cent of students achieved the national measure of A*-C in both English and maths and 43 per cent of students achieved A*- C passes in E-BACC subjects.
Headteacher Hayden Abbott said: “Congratulations are due to all Year 11 students from Kenilworth School who achieved a great set of GCSE exam results this summer. Our Year 11 class of 2016 have shown tremendous resilience, determination, collaboration with their staff and impressive peer support at difficult times. They have matured in ways that cannot be measured by examination results, having lost a dear friend and classmate last year. We are all tremendously proud of each and every one of them and wish them well as they progress to the next stage of their education.”
CAMPION SCHOOL
Campion School achieved another set of excellent results after last week’s A level success. Over 70 per cent of pupils achieved A*-C in subjects including English and maths. Heather Cowgill achieved 10 A*/A grades including maths, English Llnguage, English literature and triple science. Chelsea Nwobodo, Alyssa Pope and Jack Southall all achieved 10A*/A grades.
Headteacher Jassa Panesar said: “GCSEs and A levels have become more challenging and Campion School continues to achieve highly with many of its pupils achieving A*/A grades. The school’s success is due to excellent relationships between staff, pupils and families as well as the shared ethos of dedication and hard-work.
“I would like to congratulate all Campion School pupils and their families on their achievements this summer. By working together as a team we have achieved excellent results. We are excited about the future and building on our successes in the years to come.”
KINGS HIGH SCHOOL
King’s High School in Warwick celebrated its best GCSE results over five years, with 80.3 per cent A*-A results.
This follows amazing A-level results last week, when King’s girls achieved the highest A*-B results of any girls’ school in Warwickshire.
95.1 per cent achieved an A*-B result and an impressive 99.6 per cent of papers received A*-C grades. The school attained a 100 per cent pass rate.
Headmaster Richard Nicholson said: “To have attained the highest results over five years of outstanding GCSE results is something of which they should be very proud. Our 2016 results, both at GCSE and at A Level, where our girls achieved the highest A*-B results of any girls’ school in Warwickshire, are all the more impressive when one considers that our girls accomplish these results whilst excelling in their extra-curricular pursuits in sport, music, drama and art.”
KINGSLEY SCHOOL
Once again girls at The Kingsley School in Leamington are celebrating stunning results in its GCSE exams, mirroring the sixth form students strong A-level performance last week.
Nearly 50 per cent of entries achieved A*-A grades, with over 80 per cent achieving A*-B and 98 per cent achieving five A-C GCSEs.
Headteacher Heather Owens is delighted with this year’s results, which continue the school’s trend of consistently achieving top grades at GCSE. She said:“I am again immensely proud of all the girls who have achieved such outstanding results today.
“Kingsley’s supportive environment and their strong work ethic has resulted in this outstanding performance. The results show the exceptional progress girls make at Kingsley and they should all be proud of their fantastic achievements.”
Of the many individual success stories:
Lizzie Westley from Oxfordshire achieved 12 A*s and 1 B
Isabelle Rhodes from Southam achieved 10 A*s and 1 A
Annabel Stock from Warwick achieved 8 A*s and 1 A
Grace Beckwith from Stratford-upon-Avon achieved 7 A*, 3 As and 1 C grade
Tanya Saunders from Leamington Spa achieved 6 A*s, 5 As and 1 B
Tilly Owen from Leamington Spa achieved 3 A*s, 7 As and 1 B
Charlotte Dennison from Daventry achieved 1 A*, 8 As, 2 Bs and 1 C
Amy Newcombe from Pillerton Hersey, Warwick achieved 1 A*, 8 As, 1 B and 1 C
Ambe Reid from Leamington Spa achieved 2 A*s and 8 As and 1 B
Lottie Wright from Stratford-upon-Avon achieved 2 A*s, 4 As and 3 Bs
Amy Rattigan from Coventry achieved 1 A*, 7 As and 1 B
Ellie Sinclair from Leamington Spa achieved 2 A*s, 6 As and 1 B
Sophia Godfrey from Leamington Spa achieved 6 A*s, 3 As and 2 B grade
SOUTHAM COLLEGE
Students at Southam College celebrated record GCSE results, with 87 per cent of students achieving at least an A*-C grade in English and maths.
Headteacher Ranjit Samra said: “In the context of new curriculum content these are our best ever results. We are delighted for students, staff and parents who have all worked tirelessly to ensure that every student fulfils their maximum potential.
“These results should give every student the belief that with hard work anything is possible.”
KINETON HIGH SCHOOL
Kineton High School achieved its personal best results.
82 per cent of Year 11 pupils achieved a C grade or above in English GCSE, and 72 per cent in maths - a record for the school.
A spokesperspon for the school said: “This is the result of continued hard work and commitment from both students and staff. We look forward to welcoming high numbers back into our Sixth Form and wish those leaving Kineton all the very best in the future.
“Well done to the following students who made the most progress in the year group: Neil Faulkner, Paul Philpott and Nicholas Melton. Isaac Aston, Louisa Briggs, Bethany Hall and Polly Alfandary are among a large number of students who achieved significant numbers of A* and A grades.
“Well done to Kineton Year 11 , we are very proud of you.”
PRINCETHORPE COLLEGE
From a cohort of 160 GCSE candidates at Princethorpe College, 40 per cent of grades are at A* or A, over two thirds at grade B or better and 20 per cent of pupils achieved at least nine A* or A grades.
There were many distinguished performances, but the best individual results were from Isabel Meade and Anna Harper-Lawrence who both achieved 11 A* grades.
Headmaster Ed Hester said that he was delighted with the excellent results which confirm how far the school’s academic profile has continued to develop over the past few years. “It is marvellous to be able to celebrate such success and all credit goes to the pupils and staff for their hard work”, he commented. “I am delighted that the vast majority of this cohort will continue into our wonderful Sixth Form and have the opportunity to complete our innovative Princethorpe Sixth Form Diploma, which is so highly rated by universities and employers.” | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/gcse-results-find-out-how-our-pupils-fared-1-7543405 | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/1b86ffea07b740a176442c71c35d04bbf74ddc179528930b2df2b166b5d50041.json |
[
"Staff Reporter",
"News Leamingtoncourier.Co.Uk"
] | 2016-08-26T13:13:03 | null | 2016-08-23T16:38:32 | An investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) found that police officers acted appropriately during the detention of a man in Rugby who later died. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Finquest-and-investigation-find-police-and-paramedics-not-to-blame-for-rugby-man-s-death-1-7540383.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7540382.1471968418!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Inquest and investigation find police and paramedics not to blame for Rugby man’s death | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | An investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) found that police officers acted appropriately during the detention of a man in Rugby who later died.
And a jury at an inquest has also ruled that neither officers nor paramedics were to blame for the death of Robert Grimsley.
Mr Grimsley, 34, from Rugby, was pronounced dead at University Hospital, Coventry, on Sunday 20 July 2014 at 8.17pm.
Earlier in the evening Mr Grimsley had become unwell during his detention by officers from Warwickshire Police in the Pennington Mews area of the town.
Police had responded to reports of a man apparently stealing lead from a roof.
Mr Grimsley was detained shortly after he had climbed over a high wall into a residential garden.
The IPCC investigation found that accounts of police officers, the first paramedic on the scene and witnesses from Pennington Mews, coupled with the results of a post mortem examination, indicated that soon after he was detained Mr Grimsley suffered a cardiac arrest.
First aid was commenced when Mr Grimsley was taken ill but, despite the efforts of those involved, sadly he did not recover.
The inquest which concluded on Friday recorded a narrative finding and gave cardiac failure as the cause of death.
During proceedings, the jury heard evidence from the police officers who were first on the scene two years ago, ambulance staff, medical experts and members of the public.
This included Samuel Davies, a friend of Mr Grimsley, who had been with him on the day of his death.
He had said in a statement to the IPCC that officers “failed to take the situation seriously” as Mr Grimsley lay dying on the floor.
IPCC Commissioner, Derrick Campbell, said: “I would again send my condolences to Mr Grimsley’s family at this difficult time for them.
“This was a case where a man died following contact with the police so it was important for us to conduct a thorough independent investigation.
“Our investigator found no indication of misconduct by the police.”
Warwickshire Police referred their contact with Mr Grimsley to the IPCC later on 20 July 2014.
The IPCC decided to conduct an independent investigation which examined accounts from officers and other witnesses, and considered medical evidence and relevant CCTV footage. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/inquest-and-investigation-find-police-and-paramedics-not-to-blame-for-rugby-man-s-death-1-7540383 | en | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/2028ff5d265e9533780c9773acc84f5b4db4c01024b530182270cc82d2aea9c5.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T12:50:03 | null | 2016-08-26T13:39:04 | Leamington narrowly failed to notch consecutive victories, falling to a two-wicket defeat at home to Wolverhampton. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fsport%2Fcricket%2Ffine-bowling-display-cannot-mask-leamington-batting-deficiencies-1-7544003.json | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/sport/cricket/fine-bowling-display-cannot-mask-leamington-batting-deficiencies-1-7544003 | en | null | Fine bowling display cannot mask Leamington batting deficiencies | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Leamington narrowly failed to notch consecutive victories, falling to a two-wicket defeat at home to Wolverhampton.
Leamington were asked to bat first in bowler-friendly conditions following heavy overnight rain and subsequent heavy cloud cover.
Veteran Neil Smith, pushed to the top of the order, was an early victim for Johannes Bothma and both Nathan Hooker and Lee Hopkins were dismissed by Usman Arif.
Wolves were bowling well but Leamington showed little application in testing circumstances.
Joe Somra compiled a patient 28 before being bowled by England Under-19 left-armer Ben Twohig, one of four wickets for the young spinner.
Adeel Sajid played some pleasing shots to make 26 and Tom Warner chipped in with an unbeaten 21, but Leamington were dismissed in the 34th over for a paltry 127.
Leamington were not finished yet, however, and openers Tom Warner and Matt Davison both struck in their first overs.
Worcestershire’s Tom Fell was clean bowled by Warner, with Davison accounting for skipper Dan Bowyer in similar fashion, neither batsman troubling the scorer.
The prize wicket of Wasim Jaffer, averaging 160 in the league, fell to Warner as the former Indian Test player, capped 31 times for his country, was adjudged leg before for ten.
Wolves’ other England Under-19 star, Zen Malik, dropped anchor but received little support from the other end and when he was stumped by Hooker for 45, Wolves were in trouble at 74 for six.
Adam Lawley and Will Neild took advantage of some loose bowling from Leamington, but when the latter was bowled by Davison and Smith accounted for Amritpal Singh, Wolves were 114 for eight.
Lawley (26 not out) played patiently, however, and with time on their side Wolves inched towards their target.
And, despite a couple of alarms, the Black Country side scraped home with two wickets in hand.
The reverse fixture saw a similar match with ball dominating bat and, again, Wolverhampton came out on top.
Dan McCarthy blew away Wolverhampton’s top order, taking four wickets as the hosts limped to 62 for five.
Muhammed Dogar then struck three times and Leamington were well on top, reducing the home side to 105 for nine.
Experienced skipper Mike Smith farmed the strike and his unbeaten 46 turned the match his side’s way.
Tea was taken with Wolverhampton on 148 for nine and the contest evenly poised.
Batting proved to be as difficult for Leamington and only stand-in skipper Jack Hawkes found the necessary application to build an innings.
His unbeaten 40 was the only highlight of the Leamington response as the visitors were dismissed for 108.
Three wickets apiece for Jaswal and Khan helped Wolverhampton maintain their healthy lead at the top of the table.
Heavy overnight rain and morning downpours saw Leamington 4ths’ match with Blockley cancelled.
Leamington 3rds eased their Cotswold Hills Premier Division relegation fears after winning an enthralling encounter at Shipston by one run.
Having been set a modest-looking 170 to win, fellow strugglers Shipston seemed to be easing to safety when they reached 163 for six with seven overs remaining.
However, Lee Credgington then bowled a second consecutive maiden to crank up the pressure and Jimmy Gethins (3-40) trapped skipper Tom Cox (21) lbw and bowled John Payton with the final ball of his spell for a double-wicket maiden.
Skipper Matt Dale then turned to experienced spin bowlers Shaun Williams and James Whitfield.
In the gathering gloom, the pair seemed to hypnotise the batsmen as the encircling fielders crept ever closer and going into the final over Shipston needed three runs for victory with just one wicket remaining.
A single came off the third ball and the fourth was pushed out square prompting the batsmen to set off for a sharp single.
However, Gethins swooped and his flat return found the keeper’s gloves to run out Daniel Payton by a yard and give a jubilant Leamington side victory by the smallest possible margin.
Earlier, a much-changed Leamington side had struggled to set a defendable target.
No batsman made a major score but Wayne Killian (24), Lee Credgington (30) and James Slora (31) all produced valuable contributions before a late flourish from Rob Woolaston (16 not out) and James Whitfield (12 not out) added the runs that were, later, to become so valuable.
Mindful that the threatening rain might bring the match to an early finish, Shipston’s early batsmen get their innings off the brisk start so as to keep the run-rate high.
However, none of them were able build a score and give Jack Murphy (48) the support to he needed to secure the win. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/sport/cricket/fine-bowling-display-cannot-mask-leamington-batting-deficiencies-1-7544003 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/0e793c95c0f5fb42efce9b8a2a5c952b4b8311ea9fff0097d5ec2fd6f0c5fdbb.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:09:05 | null | 2016-08-15T08:23:15 | Matt Adcock reviews Pete’s Dragon, starring Robert Redford | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fwhat-s-on%2Flocal-listings%2Fpete-s-dragon-review-family-fun-in-tale-of-a-fiery-friendship-1-7526534.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7526533.1471245749!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Pete’s Dragon review: Family fun in tale of a fiery friendship | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Matt Adcock reviews Pete’s Dragon, starring Robert Redford
Prepare to believe in dragons once more as the powers that be re-image Disney’s original boy-and-dragon story Pete’s Dragon.
Step this way or an adventure which sees unfortunate orphan Pete (Oakes Fegley) surviving in the wild thanks to his unusual best friend Elliot (a kind hearted furry green beastie).
Pete and Elliot’s worlds are shaken up when Pete runs into Forest Ranger Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard) who has somehow managed not to notice the wild boy and his giant green pal living on her patch of forest for several years. He’s whisked off to civilization and introduced to Natalie (Oona Laurence), an 11-year-old girl whose father Jack (Wes Bentley) owns the local lumber mill.
Grace sets out to determine where Pete came from, where he belongs, and the truth about his dragon – while the townsfolk decide to catch Elliot to make money out of him. Can the two mismatched kids and kindly dragon believing old timer Mr Meacham (Robert Redford) - who tells the local children tales of a dragon residing deep in the woods-– find a way to triumph?
Well, without wanting to spoil it, this is a Disney children’s fantasy but it does at least throw in some mild scares, a spot of tension and an impressive fire-breathing finale. This new take on Pete’s Dragon updates the 1977 live-action animation mixture removes lots of the cheese and adds some nice thought -provoking themes. Director David Lowery does a decent job in making the whole tale bounce along with a bittersweet grounding that should appeal to both kids and those who can still find their inner sense of childlike wonder.
Everyone goes about the fantasy fun and occasional peril with good spirit, Redford is the best I’ve seen him in years and the two young leads are very watchable. Howard has strong recent form with giant lizards after Jurassic World, plus there’s Karl ‘Star Trek’ Urban and Wes ‘American Beauty’ Bentley to round out a great cast.
Pete’s Dragon is a family pleaser which stands above the cash in summer kids efforts and is certainly worth a look. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/what-s-on/local-listings/pete-s-dragon-review-family-fun-in-tale-of-a-fiery-friendship-1-7526534 | en | 2016-08-15T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/f882b85389beb35137fe7a56bcfe702cdfb2eb09e6d7f4e6a4cf7dc9a6ae9df8.json |
[
"Matt Allan"
] | 2016-08-26T13:08:53 | null | 2016-08-22T11:09:16 | UK motorists have been hit by a near-20 per cent rise in insurance costs in the last year, new figures show. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fcar-insurance-costs-soar-nearly-20-per-cent-in-12-months-1-7537740.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7537738.1471860539!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Car insurance costs soar nearly 20 per cent in 12 months | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | UK motorists have been hit by a near-20 per cent rise in insurance costs in the last year, new figures show.
The average driver now pays £715 a year for fully comprehensive cover, up 19 per cent on the same time last year.
The figures were revealed by the Confused.com car insurance price index, which tracks quarterly and annual trends.
After dropping for several years from a high of £843 in 2011, insurance costs have been rising since the start of 2015. The latest figures, for the period from April to June 2016 show that costs have risen by 6 per cent since the start of the year and drivers are paying an average of £115 more for their insurance than they were in the same period last year.
Northern Irish drivers have been worst hit by the latest rises, seeing their premiums climb 25 per cent year-on-year. They now face an average premium of £863.
Also feeling the impact badly are motorists in parts of Scotland - the Highlands and Islands saw rises of 24 per cent and drivers in the Hebrides were hit with a staggering 42 per cent annual increase.
Conversely, Orkney’s capital - Kirkwall - was one of only two places to see a drop in costs, with a quarterly fall of four per cent. Hereford, in the West Midlands, was the only other place to see a fall in quarterly premiums - down two per cent on the first three months of the year.
While younger drivers might face the highest premiums overall, they have actually escaped the worst of the rises. Drivers aged 17 saw an annual rise of just eight per cent - the lowest of any age bracket - but still face average premiums of £2,013. A the opposite end, 61-year-old drivers saw a 24 per cent rise - the highest of any age group - but still only pay £418 a year.
And the gender gap persists, with male drivers facing annual rises of 21 per cent in comparison with the 18 per cent faced by women. This continued difference means the gap between the sexes is growing as men pay an average of £92 a year more - up from £27 in 2013.
Confused’s motoring editor, Amanda Stretton, said: “We’ve not seen price rises of this magnitude for five years - a 19 per cent annual increase is substantial to say the least. And these price rises are being felt across the board, for drivers of all ages and genders, across all UK regions.
“If prices continues to rise at the rate we’ve been seeing, we could be facing the possibility of average comprehensive premiums reaching a high not seen since 2011. This, combined with rising fuel prices and increased motoring costs across the board, could result in a sizeable dent in drivers’ pockets.” | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/car-insurance-costs-soar-nearly-20-per-cent-in-12-months-1-7537740 | en | 2016-08-22T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/76da80f2a477cc894e915638b579e33f4212b85c45a3aa5717a19efc6beb0424.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:00:51 | null | 2016-08-24T11:55:18 | Wimbledon hero Marcus Willis proved the star attraction at a free ‘Try Tennis’ session at Warwick Boat Club. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fsport%2Fother-sports%2Ffairy-tale-continues-for-the-guy-who-played-roger-federer-1-7541350.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7541349.1472036103!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Fairy tale continues for ‘the guy who played Roger Federer’ | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Wimbledon hero Marcus Willis proved the star attraction at a free ‘Try Tennis’ session at Warwick Boat Club.
Qualifier Willis, who admits his fairy-tale run to the second round of the Championships has transformed his life, proved a hit as he gave coaching tips and played friendly games with more than 50 newcomers to the game, ranging in age from three to 73.
“It was great to see all the excitement and enthusiasm among the players who came along,” said Willis, whose world ranking has shot up to 420.
“It’s so important to broaden the base of British tennis and it doesn’t matter what background you’re from - tennis is a brilliant game for everyone and if you’re dedicated enough, you can even make it your career.
“We’re really lucky to have Marcus training and coaching here” said Warwick Boat Club tennis manager Gavin Henderson. “He’s infectiously enthusiastic and really got everyone fired up today.
“He always plays with a smile on his face and he’s helped spread the word about our regular free Sunday afternoon sessions for everyone, which are proving really popular.”
“My life’s completely changed since those two weeks at Wimbledon,” smiled Willis. “It’s opened so many doors for me - wild cards into tournaments, all sorts of offers.
“I’d been playing good tennis for a while: I had wins against men in the top 100 but this wasn’t talked about.
“If you do it at Wimbledon, though, that’s talked about.
“I got on an aeroplane [at Atlanta]. The security guard looked at me and went ‘Willis. I know who you are’.
“The story has gone global... everywhere you get ‘this was the guy who played Roger Federer on Centre Court’.”
Since Wimbledon, he has also been picked to represents the New York Empire team in the glitzy World Team Tennis League, where he plays doubles with former Wimbledon finalist Andy Roddick.
“Andy’s retired from the circuit now and he’s put on a little weight, “ added Willis. “But he’s still an incredibly competitive guy and absolutely hilarious to play with.”
The Try Tennis sessions continue through the summer and run from 2 to 4pm each Sunday.
For more information, email gavindhenderson@hotmail.co.uk | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/sport/other-sports/fairy-tale-continues-for-the-guy-who-played-roger-federer-1-7541350 | en | 2016-08-24T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/a5a247c3088561982fc8afc3e40b8f59baf6a30893a45944929249331e6b10c1.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:04:36 | null | 2016-08-18T11:46:42 | Mike Vaughan Cycles rider Matt Clinton retained the Midland Time Trial Championships at Wolvey, Warwickshire, in an event promoted by Aerocoach. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fsport%2Fother-sports%2Fmidlands-title-puts-clinton-in-good-spirits-ahead-of-national-10-1-7532677.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7532676.1471517196!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Midlands title puts Clinton in good spirits ahead of National 10 | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Mike Vaughan Cycles rider Matt Clinton retained the Midland Time Trial Championships at Wolvey, Warwickshire, in an event promoted by Aerocoach.
Last raced by Clinton in the 2015 National 10-mile TT Championships, where he placed second, the straight-out-and-back course is known to be tough and slow.
However, still conditions and a fine afternoon saw Clinton finish at just under 30mph in 20min 2sec.
The time was nearly 20 seconds down on his Nationals clocking but it would put him 12 seconds clear of Jonathan Wears, while Dean Robson would finish another 12 seconds back in third.
More importantly, as he prepares for this weekend’s National 10 Championships in Suffolk, it was the Kenilworth rider’s best power output this season on his Trek Speed Concept.
He said: “I was a little disappointed to not go under 20 minutes. However, very few people have done that and I’m pleased with my form before next weekend’s National 10.
“The 10 course is also out-and-back, but looking at the profile, there’s not one bit of flat road - hopefully that should suit me.
“The course record is 21:33. That’s putting it into perspective, being nearly two minutes slower than Wolvey, which no-one considers quick.” | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/sport/other-sports/midlands-title-puts-clinton-in-good-spirits-ahead-of-national-10-1-7532677 | en | 2016-08-18T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/ad6fa1158ccab608301e186491895ad054bf6b8445d475ebf9574dbbdcc6d32f.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:12:28 | null | 2016-08-26T10:55:39 | St John’s Museum in Warwick is under threat of being closed for ‘walk-in’ public access - and a student is urging people to take part in a consultation which could prevent this. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Flabour-candidate-urges-people-to-help-save-walk-in-public-access-to-st-john-s-museum-1-7545846.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7545845.1472205325!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Labour candidate urges people to help save ‘walk in’ public access to St John’s Museum | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | St John’s Museum in Warwick is under threat of being closed for ‘walk-in’ public access - and a student is urging people to take part in a consultation which could prevent this.
Serhan Wade, the Labour Party candidate for the Warwick South seat on Warwickshire County Council, is concerned about the authority’s proposals to save £261,000 in the financial year from 2017 to 2018 which could lead to the museum being open only for public events and school groups.
The council has agreed to launch a public consultation into the proposals for its Heritage and Cultural Services (HCW).
Mr Wade said: “There is a real possibility that St John’s Museum could close to the public. This would take away a valuable place for family outings and will create problems for the regimental museum upstairs.
“I’m concerned about issues like this which is why I’ve decided to stand as a candidate.
“A town with a tourist- reliant economy like Warwick needs visitor attractions so this could affect jobs and local businesses as well.
“The minimal cost to run it is nothing in comparison to the benefits we gain from having it.
“I urge residents to take part in the consultation which will be on the county council website shortly. In this time of budget cuts, we must protect the public services we care about.”
The council’s savings requirement for HCW from 2014 to 2018 is £478,000 and it has already found £217,000 by cuts and changes to these services.
More information about the proposals can be found here | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/labour-candidate-urges-people-to-help-save-walk-in-public-access-to-st-john-s-museum-1-7545846 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/05a74c9a6f282fa1008a4d06b5eadb838b017cebd1b81c3afffb6207bd4403f3.json |
[] | 2016-08-27T06:49:56 | null | 2016-08-27T06:00:00 | Being stuck in a dead end job by your early 40s is bad for your health. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fdead-end-jobs-are-bad-for-your-health-1-7540255.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7540254.1471964133!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Dead-end jobs are bad for your health | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Being stuck in a dead end job by your early 40s is bad for your health.
Having an unrewarding job as you start out on the career ladder makes you more depressed, worried and had more trouble sleeping.
And if you stay stuck in positions with low levels of job satisfaction it affects you not just you mentally but physically too, including catching more colds, having a bad back and poor heart health.
But if you are happy in your job or finally get your dream job as your career progresses your overall health gets a boost.
The study by Ohio State University sociologists found job satisfaction in your late 20s and 30s has a link to overall health in your early 40s.
While it impacts on physical health, its effect was particularly strong for mental health.
Lead author and doctoral student Jonathan Dirlam said: “We found that there is a cumulative effect of job satisfaction on health that appears as early as your 40s.”
The study highlighted the importance that early jobs have on people’s lives.
Associate professor of sociology Dr Hui Zheng said: “You don’t have to be near the end of your career to see the health impact of job satisfaction, particularly on your mental health.
“The higher levels of mental health problems for those with low job satisfaction may be a precursor to future physical problems.
“Increased anxiety and depression could lead to cardiovascular or other health problems that won’t show up until they are older.”
He added the study was carried out before the credit crunch and said: “The recession almost certainly increased job insecurity and dissatisfaction, and that could have resulted in more negative health effects.”
The study used data from 6,432 Americans followed from the ages of 14 to 22 as part of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979.
Researchers examined job satisfaction trajectories for people from age 25 to 39 and their health on turning 40.
Participants rated how much they liked their jobs from 1 - dislike very much - to 4 -like very much.
They were then divided into four groups: consistently low and consistently high job satisfaction, those whose satisfaction started high but was trending down and those who started low but were trending higher.
About 45 per cent of participants had consistently low job satisfaction, while another 23 per cent had levels that were trending downward through their early career.
About 15 per cent of people were consistently happy at their jobs and about 17 per cent were trending upward.
Mental health was most affected by people’s feelings about their jobs with those in the low job satisfaction group throughout their early careers scored worse on all five of the mental health measures studied.
They reported higher levels of depression, sleep problems and excessive worry and were more likely to have been diagnosed with emotional problems and scored lower on a test of overall mental health.
Those whose job satisfaction decreased were more likely than those with consistently high satisfaction to have frequent trouble sleeping and excessive worry, and had lower scores for overall mental health.
But they didn’t see an impact on depression scores or their probability of being diagnosed with emotional problems.
Those whose scores went up through the early career years did not see any comparative health problems.
Those in the low satisfaction group and those who were trending downwards reported poorer overall health and more problems like back pain and frequent colds compared to the high satisfaction group.
But they weren’t different in physical functioning and in doctor-diagnosed health problems such as diabetes and cancer.
As with mental health, no effects were seen on physical health for those trending upward.
The findings was presented at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association in Seattle. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/local-news/dead-end-jobs-are-bad-for-your-health-1-7540255 | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/f0c8aeccd91938bc5957d2ac9aeabf3132e50d47c8cafbf9996433e7bf7425fb.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T12:59:28 | null | 2016-08-19T05:33:37 | Rob Thompson-Brown is the man who can help deliver promotion to Leamington according to boss Paul Holleran. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fsport%2Ffootball%2Fthompson-brown-can-be-the-difference-for-us-holleran-1-7532639.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7532638.1471516690!/image/image.jpg | en | null | Thompson-Brown can be the difference for us - Holleran | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | Rob Thompson-Brown is the man who can help deliver promotion to Leamington according to boss Paul Holleran.
The summer signing from Redditch has provided the dead balls for Brakes’ goals in wins over Hayes & Yeading and Merthyr Town to maintain their 100 per cent start to the season.
And Holleran says Thompson-Brown’s free-kick-taking ability has been a major factor in their rise to the top of the Southern Premier League table.
“In the summer I was looking for a player who could deliver good set plays into the box and that was one of the reasons Robbie appealed,” said Holleran.
“We’ve won the last two games 1-0 and he’s got two assists.
“He gets so much whip and how we are set up we’ve got two or three good targets. It gives us a different dimension.”
Previously unbeaten Merthyr looked good value for their point until James Mace’s injury-time intervention.
However, Holleran said the manner of Brakes’ victory augured well for further tough assignments to come.
“It was a difficult night. Merthyr put us under the most amount of pressure this season and Jamie Hood was absolutely immense.
“They’ve signed two or three good players - Scott Barrow played 20 to 30 games in League Two last season - and they had a good set-up and shape.
“We had good control in the first half but we struggled for fluency - you’ll get that when teams put something good in place.
“Our quality in the final third wasn’t where it needed to be.
“But in the second half there was good shape and good desire to see the game through and not concede.
“In the last ten minutes we looked a threat on the break and got into some good areas, though I still couldn’t see either side scoring.”
Brakes face another tricky test tomorrow with a visit to second-placed Chippenham but expect Darren Pond to return after he missed out on Tuesday evening with a groin problem.
“I’m not sure we’ll get a harder week,” added Holleran.
“But we’ve got six points on the board and it takes the pressure off a bit.” | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/sport/football/thompson-brown-can-be-the-difference-for-us-holleran-1-7532639 | en | 2016-08-19T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/aa4987fd97c1b1ae48e217adaa506318cfdee45045a400e79abfd5c5b08c8ddc.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:11:06 | null | 2016-08-21T06:00:00 | Can you get 10/10 in our retro games quiz? | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leamingtoncourier.co.uk%2Fwhat-s-on%2Flocal-listings%2Fquiz-how-well-do-you-know-your-retro-games-1-7528956.json | http://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_300,f_auto,ar_3:2,c_fill/http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/webimage/1.7528955.1471348453!/image/image.jpg | en | null | QUIZ: How well do you know your retro games? | null | null | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk | The types of cookies we, our ad network and technology partners use are listed below:
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Add This ► Add This provides the social networking widget found in many of our pages. This widget gives you the tools to bookmark our websites, blog, share, tweet and email our content to a friend. | http://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/what-s-on/local-listings/quiz-how-well-do-you-know-your-retro-games-1-7528956 | en | 2016-08-21T00:00:00 | www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/44dbe0cce505e11d008e5f4807d52f2e375486ff68abbd2df4bba761a4a29762.json |
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