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BBC News
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Thameslink's oldest station worker, 85, honoured with song
An 85-year-old railway worker from north London has been honoured with a folk song to mark his long service. Siggy Cragwell, from Hampstead, works as an assistant at Elstree and Borehamwood station, and is Thameslink's oldest special track about Mr Cragwell was one of five commissioned by BBC Radio 2 to tell the stories of people whose lives have been influenced – or changed irrevocably – by was written by award-winning singer-songwriter Richard Thompson, and featured Mr Cragwell's cricketing colleagues on backing vocals at their club, Holtwhites-Trinibis, near Gordon Hill railway station. "It's such an honour to have this song written about me," said Mr Cragwell. Mr Cragwell came to Britain as part of the Windrush generation in 1962 and started work the day after his ship docked in Thameslink Railway said he had been delivering excellent customer service on the railway non-stop ever since. Mr Cragwell did try to retire once but said he found life so boring that he came back to work. He has received two lifetime achievement awards – one by popular vote in his north London community – and a British Empire Medal (BEM) for his services to the railway. He previously played cricket for the England over-70s, and still takes wickets from players in their 20s."I could never have dreamed when I came to this country that I'd still be working for the railway 63 years later and be receiving all these accolades," Mr Cragwell added.
The Wire
20-07-2025
- The Wire
Fauja Singh: The ‘Turbaned Tornado' Who Stayed Committed to His Passion For Running Even at 114
Culture Fauja Singh's cremation will take place on Sunday, July 20, at his native village Beas in Jalandhar district, Punjab. Jalandhar: Fauja Singh, the 114-year-old turbaned Sikh, a global name that would remain etched in the history as the oldest marathon runner in the world, had a desire to breathe his last in his native village Beas Pind in Jalandhar district, a reason why he had started living there for the last five years post pandemic. ' Meri maut Punjab ch howe (I want to breathe my last in Punjab', he had been telling his family members who settled in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States. Fauja Singh died in a hit and run case on the Jalandhar-Pathankot highway on Monday, July 14, after he was hit by a Toyota Fortuner driven by Canada-based NRI Amritpal Singh Dhillon. The cremation will take place on Sunday, July 20, at his native village. The plush house of Fauja Singh in the middle of fields at Beas Pind, Jalandhar. Photo: Kusum Arora While the Jalandhar Rural Police arrested the accused the very next day, Fauja Singh's family was heartbroken at the apathetic behavior of the accused. 'We are thankful to the police for acting swiftly in our case. The police tracked the accused within a day just because my father was a global figure. However, the fact is that had they been acting tough against the traffic violators, many accidents would haeve never taken place. The accused fled the spot without caring to save my father,' said Harbinder Singh, the son of Fauja Singh. Famously known as 'Turbaned Tornado' for completing nine full marathons and breaking his own records every time, Fauja Singh set benchmarks in life with commitment to values like humility, simple food, farming and the ability to overcome setbacks. Born in Beas village on April 1, 1911, Fauja Singh started running at the age of 89 in international marathon events. His first race was the London marathon in 2000. However, as a child he started walking at the age of five. From the year 2000 to 2012, he ran in London, Toronto and New York marathons. He was also the torch bearer of the 2012 London Olympics. Fauja Singh announced his retirement during the Hong Kong marathon in February 2013. He was awarded the British Empire Medal by Queen Elizabeth II in the year 2015 and Ellis Island Medal of Honour, by the National Ethnic Coalition, a US group in 2003. Family members of late marathoner Fauja Singh show a photograph of the latter meeting with late Queen Elizabeth II, at his native home, in Jalandhar, Punjab. Photo: PTI Coming from a family of farmers, Fauja Singh took to farming early in his life with his parents and picked life lessons. Behind his passion for running was the story of the loss of one of his sons, Kuldip Singh, who died after the dhaba roof they were constructing suddenly fell on him. Seeing him devastated after the sudden demise of his son and that of his wife Gian Kaur later, Fauja Singh's family decided to take him to the UK in 1993. It was in the UK that Fauja Singh started going for walks all alone, sometimes in a formal suit, an unusual sight, when a chance meeting with his coach Harmandar Singh brought a 180-degree shift in his life. After that, there was no looking back and Fauja Singh's name became synonymous with marathons. Talking to The Wire, Paramjit Singh, the US-returned nephew of Fauja Singh shared how post Covid-19, he had started staying in his village. He would say jokingly, 'I do not want to come back in a coffin (from abroad).' 'Fauja Singh went to Canada in March 2024 but came back within a fortnight telling everybody that he wants to go back to his village. At home, his routine included walking around the fields, running and meeting people in the village. Even at the ripe age of 114, he used to walk and run for eight to 10 hours every day, a feat which is next to impossible for any elderly person', he said. Paramjit Singh said that Fauja Singh was a brand ambassador of not just marathons but also simplicity. His life will serve as an inspiration for generations to come, he said. 'Despite being a UK citizen, he remained attached to his roots and ate simple vegetarian Punjabi food: in the morning he had alsi di pinni, which is flax seed ladoo made in desi ghee with dry fruits and jaggery and tea, then one chapati, dal, sabzi three times a day. He also had milch animals at his home, giving him the luxury of homemade curd, lassi and desi ghee', he added. Family and friends gather for condolence meeting at the courtyard of Fauja Singh's house in Beas Pind, Jalandhar. Photo: Kusum Arora With a sense of pride, Paramjit Singh mentioned that Fauja Singh was the first turban-wearing Sikh to win marathons in the world. 'There are many firsts attached to his name but he always remained grounded. He was also the oldest marathon runner to have ever appeared in an Adidas ad 'Impossible is nothing' in the year 2004 along with David Beckam and Mohamad Ali', he said, adding that he always attributed his success to rabb, the almighty. Highlighting his philanthropic side in an obituary in The Indian Express, former state information commissioner of Punjab, Khushwant Singh, who has also authored his biography titled Turbaned Tornado: The Oldest Marathon Runner Fauja Singh, shared how Fauja Singh donated the endorsement fee from Adidas-sponsored Marathon to a UK-based charity called Bliss. During the 2016 Mumbai Marathon, he sent the fee amount from the Nestle to Pingalwara Trust in Amritsar, a home for the orphans and the destitute, Khushwant Singh wrote. Not just the endorsement fees, he would also donate cash showered on him in various gurdwaras as a mark of honour in the cash box. Balbir Singh, a family friend of Fauja Singh, who was the first to rush him to the hospital after the accident, told The Wire that when People's Walk against Drugs was held in Jalandhar in December 2024, he ran and walked for 20 kilometres at the age of 113. 'We kept pleading him to stop and sit in the car but he was comfortable, astounding everybody with his stamina', he added. Harbinder Singh said that during the farmers' protest, as part of Doaba Kisan Sangharsh Committee, a farmer union, he stayed at Singhu border while Fauja Singh and other villagers donated a solar panel, when the government had snapped power supply to the farmers. 'Apart from ration and funds, we took a solar panel in a tractor to Singhu border ensuring power supply to the farmers', he shared. Fauja Singh's plush house in the middle of fields in Beas village was also a testimony to his love for farming and life in the lap of nature. His house adorned two Pilkan trees, under which he used to spend his summer days and a mango tree, where his mornings began by picking the best mangoes. Fauja Singh's shoes bearing his name, which he used to wear daily for walking and running in the village. Photo: Kusum Arora His granddaughter Japneet Kaur (16) shared how Fauja Singh was fond of mangoes, so much so that he used to hide them in the house for natural ripening but then forget quite often. 'We found a mango kept in his almirah in his clothes two days after his death. Every morning, he used to pick the best mangoes and hide them in the house for ripening,' she said. Japneet also shared that despite being illiterate, Fauja Singh could do his signature in Urdu language. 'He learned to sign in Urdu, a rare talent these days. For the past some time, I was teaching him English alphabets and he had learned it till 'H'. I also taught him how to pronounce the alphabets and he would keep repeating A, B, C, D whenever he saw me….,' she said with a smile on her lips and grief in her voice. Showing his marathon shoes bearing his name, which he used to wear daily, Japneet said, 'Quite often he would look at his shoes and point towards his name, Fauja Singh, with a smile. He loved walking and running and he left the world doing what he loved the most – a walk around the village.' The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
Time of India
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
U.S. ‘HUMILIATES' Pakistan; Clarifies Trump Won't Visit Islamabad Before India
Who Was Fauja Singh? The Turbaned Tornado Who Defied Age Dies at 89 Fauja Singh, the legendary marathon runner known as the 'Turbaned Tornado', passed away at the age of 113 after being hit by an unidentified vehicle in his native village, Beas. Born in 1911, Singh took up running at the age of 89 and went on to complete nine full marathons, becoming an international icon of resilience, fitness, and determination. He was a torchbearer at the 2012 London Olympics and was awarded the British Empire Medal in 2015. Fauja Singh's legacy continues to inspire generations across the globe.#FaujaSingh #TurbanedTornado #MarathonLegend #SikhHero #RunningAt113 #IndianAthlete #SeniorAthlete #BritishEmpireMedal #LondonOlympics #PunjabNews #InspirationalJourney #Tribute #RestInPeace #FitnessIcon #LegendLivesOn 18.4K views | 2 days ago
Time of India
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Trump Loses Cool At WSJ For Publishing U.S. President's 'Racy' Birthday Letter To Epstein
Who Was Fauja Singh? The Turbaned Tornado Who Defied Age Dies at 89 Fauja Singh, the legendary marathon runner known as the 'Turbaned Tornado', passed away at the age of 113 after being hit by an unidentified vehicle in his native village, Beas. Born in 1911, Singh took up running at the age of 89 and went on to complete nine full marathons, becoming an international icon of resilience, fitness, and determination. He was a torchbearer at the 2012 London Olympics and was awarded the British Empire Medal in 2015. Fauja Singh's legacy continues to inspire generations across the globe.#FaujaSingh #TurbanedTornado #MarathonLegend #SikhHero #RunningAt113 #IndianAthlete #SeniorAthlete #BritishEmpireMedal #LondonOlympics #PunjabNews #InspirationalJourney #Tribute #RestInPeace #FitnessIcon #LegendLivesOn 18.0K views | 2 days ago
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Take Down Swastika': Stefanik Skewers CUNY Chancellor On Hamas-Linked Hires, Campus Anti-Semitism
Who Was Fauja Singh? The Turbaned Tornado Who Defied Age Dies at 89 Fauja Singh, the legendary marathon runner known as the 'Turbaned Tornado', passed away at the age of 113 after being hit by an unidentified vehicle in his native village, Beas. Born in 1911, Singh took up running at the age of 89 and went on to complete nine full marathons, becoming an international icon of resilience, fitness, and determination. He was a torchbearer at the 2012 London Olympics and was awarded the British Empire Medal in 2015. Fauja Singh's legacy continues to inspire generations across the globe.#FaujaSingh #TurbanedTornado #MarathonLegend #SikhHero #RunningAt113 #IndianAthlete #SeniorAthlete #BritishEmpireMedal #LondonOlympics #PunjabNews #InspirationalJourney #Tribute #RestInPeace #FitnessIcon #LegendLivesOn 6.4K views | 5 hours ago
