
Firefighters tackle 'large' blaze at Pakefield industrial unit
People living nearby have been advised to keep their windows and doors closed due to the smoke.
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Times
an hour ago
- Times
Priest calls out ‘entitled' parishioners in scathing poem
A priest has published a poem calling his parishioners 'entitled' and blaming their 'unlikeable' nature for his dwindling congregation. Father Pat Brennan wrote of 'the righteous, the clique, the worthy' who he says forced him out after nine years at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Coventry. The poem, titled Not I Lord Surely! and signed off as his 'parting gift', was shared in the church's newsletter, alongside a message saying he had been pushed out by 'those few who had been vocal in criticism in and outside the parish'. He also blamed them for putting new members off attending. 'Gossip flows from holy lips,' he wrote, blaming 'A mix of disgruntled, unlikeable,/ entitled offended, who don't want to know./ Better than you, holier too,/ tutting for a living, whispering about you know who…' He also asked: 'What makes people not come to church?/ Could it be the people who already go?/ The righteous, the clique, the worthy,/ the disdainful look given, the thought 'you're in my seat'/ the unfriendly, so that the stranger remains always so.' • Melanie Phillips: Catholic church has new appeal for the young Maura Murray-Reeve, a parishioner, shared the poem in a residents' Facebook group, describing it as 'extremely disappointing' that Brennan felt pushed out. She said he had been the parish priest for almost ten years and was always very welcoming. She wrote in the Facebook post: 'His letter of 'goodbye' and poem, from the newsletter, are below. It's disgusting to think that he was treated so poorly by a very sad minority. They should be ashamed of themselves.' Murray-Reeve told BBC Coventry that she was 'embarrassed' to be part of the church that had treated Brennan wrongly and it was important for him to share his experience. 'This isn't the way we should be making a priest feel,' she said. Another churchgoer, Chantelle-Louise Beach, said Brennan was 'the most amazing warm welcoming priest'. Another, Tara Court, said he was 'so lovely and down to earth' when she had to organise her brother's funeral. Others attested to the unsavoury nature of some parishoners. Kat Smith wrote that one of the reasons she stopped going to church was that she did not like the way she 'was looked down on and judged'. Brennan said he had fond memories from his time as parish priest but said you 'can't please all the people and those few who have been vocal in criticism in and outside of the parish, have contributed to my leaving'. • Pope Leo to take two-week holiday in break with 'pauperism' of Francis The Archbishop of Birmingham has appointed Father Charles Miller as the new parish priest, who will arrive at the end of July, according to the newsletter. The Archdiocese of Birmingham said in a statement: 'Fr Pat is an experienced and much valued member of the clergy. 'He has been running three parishes for several years, which is a large workload. 'As part of new parish clustering, Fr Pat will continue as parish priest at Bulkington and Bedworth and a new parish priest has been appointed to Holy Family.'


BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Sunderland City Council block 'unacceptable' HMO
Plans for a new shared home have been blocked after being labelled "unacceptable" and "harmful" by council development City Council has refused proposals for a house in multiple occupation (HMO) at Riversdale Terrace in Sunderland's Millfield ward, due to the number already in the area and risk of anti-social behaviour. Planners said the house, which was proposed to be converted into a seven-bedroom dwelling across three floors, would "lead to an overconcentration of HMOs" if applicant has the right to challenge the council refusal decision by lodging an appeal with the Secretary of State. The initial proposed site plan showed all HMO bedrooms offering an en-suite bathroom, and some bedrooms served by also stated there would be a bin storage area and noted no parking would be provided, although plans were later amended to provide one space, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. 'Undermine quality of life' Council planners said there would be "adequate living space and an acceptable standard of amenity" for future they said its approval would result in the number of HMOs exceeding 10% of all residential properties within 100m (328ft), which went against council planning said the plans were an "inappropriate development" and would work against "the aim of creating places that are safe, inclusive and crime and disorder, and the fear of crime, do not undermine the quality of life or community cohesion and resilience".Northumbria Police also objected to those living in rooms on the second floor having to "travel the full height of the building to store food and prepare meals", as well as the "small amount of external space" and "potential for anti-social behaviour to spill out into the surrounding locality".Council planners concluded it would be "unacceptable as it would be considered to be harmful to the character and amenities of the area". Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.


The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Massachusetts assisted-living blaze kills a musician, secretary, and veteran Army sharpshooter
Gabriel House had seen better days. The 100-unit assisted-living facility that burned Sunday night, killing nine people so far, opened in 1999. Some photos on its Facebook page show neat rooms but older-looking carpeting and furniture. Her granddaughter didn't like the assisted-living center, but 86-year-old Eleanor Willett wanted something that left her money to play the slots at a casino. She earned too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford a higher-priced assisted-living facility, Holly Mallowes told The Associated Press Tuesday. 'She said, 'I don't need much, but a roof over my head and someplace to put my sewing machine,'' Mallowes said. Willett was the oldest to die. Here's what we know so far about the victims. Eleanor Willett A Massachusetts native, Willett spent more than 20 years as a secretary and even worked briefly as a cocktail waitress, her granddaughter said. Her home was always a base for everyone in her family, Mallowes said. 'My mom worked a lot and Grammy 's was always a place we called home,' said Mallowes, 45. 'We lived with her often. She was very strong. She outlived two husbands and raised five children. She was absolutely a joy.' Mallowes, a paralegal who lives in Dartmouth, described her grandmother as 'very religious' and a 'devout Catholic.' 'She wanted to be somewhat independent,' Mallowes said of Willett's decision to move to Gabriel House in Fall River, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Boston. "To leave her home alone all day, I was to afraid something might happen.' 'As our grandparents and parents get older, we say 'I'll make it to go see them a different day' and you always put it off," Mallowes said. "See them while you can. Tomorrow is not promised.' Kim Mackin Makin, 71, was a violist who performed in Boston area orchestras, according to her nephew, Austin Mackin. She was described in a statement from family members as 'gifted beyond words.' 'We will all miss Kimmy,' the statement read. 'Beyond being exceptionally kind, few knew that she was a brilliant musician.' Kim Mackin received a full scholarship to the Manhattan School of Music and after graduating, toured the world as first chair viola. Breonna Cestodio described her 78-year-old uncle, Rochon, as 'a very quiet guy,' yet a 'great guy.' 'He kept to himself," she told reporters. 'He was a sharpshooter in the Army. He loved getting visits from all of his nieces and nephews.' Rochon moved into Gabriel House about a year ago. Cestodio had little good to say about the facility, remarking that it always seemed hot inside the building. 'Every time you visited him, he was sweating,' she said. 'No air in the building. I never saw any workers, except in one closed-off section. I never saw any workers.'