Latest news with #DaveLawrence
The Guardian
6 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Anger over Santander charging for business accounts it said would be ‘free for ever'
Santander customers have accused the bank of misrepresentation after it announced it would start charging for business accounts it had promised were 'free for ever'. Thousands of small business owners have been informed they face charges of £9.99 a month from October despite a written guarantee that they would never incur fees. The free accounts were withdrawn for new customers in 2011. The sole trader Dave Lawrence* opened his business account in 2005 and received a letter confirming that he qualified for the Free Banking Forever tariff and 'need never pay banking charges again'. He said: 'Which part of for ever do Santander think doesn't apply now, and how can they justify introducing charges given their pledges to the contrary?' Santander took over the bank previously known as Abbey National in 2004 and, after the acquisitions of the building societies Bradford & Bingley and Alliance & Leicester, it rebranded everything as Santander in 2010. It was forced to U-turn on proposed charges to its forever accounts in 2012 after customers threatened legal action. It claimed that it had been responding to customer demand for upgraded services. Jennifer Iles, a graphic designer, also signed up to the service because of the 'free for ever' promise. 'I objected when Santander tried to impose monthly charges in 2012,' she said. 'Now they are not only trying to renege again but are denying the obligation. They will have a fight on their hands.' Santander told the Guardian that accounts that predated the 2008 merger of Abbey and Alliance & Leicester were migrated into its Business Every Day account in 2015 and that the terms and conditions of that contract did not include the free for ever promise. A spokesperson said: 'The business banking landscape has changed significantly over the last decade. As such, we are simplifying our business banking offering as the first step to ensure that we can sustainably and efficiently evolve to better meet the needs of our business customers in the future.' Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion Lawrence and Iles say they were not notified that the guarantee had been withdrawn when their accounts were migrated. 'If I had originally signed up to a business bank account that cost £9.99 a month that would have been my choice, but I opened the account with the promise in writing of free banking for ever,' Lawrence said. 'The charges are not huge; it is the principle that matters.' * Name has been changed
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Former England fast bowler David Lawrence dead at 61
England cricketer Dave 'Syd' Lawrence, who has died aged 61, is honoured at Headingley on Sunday (Darren Staples) David 'Syd' Lawrence, the first British-born black cricketer to play for England, has died at the age of 61, it was announced Sunday. Nearly a year ago it was revealed that Gloucestershire fast bowler Lawrence, who took 18 wickets in five Tests between 1988 and 1992, had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease, an incurable illness, which progressively damages parts of the nervous system. Advertisement A statement from Lawrence's family given to Britain's PA news agency said: "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dave Lawrence MBE following his brave battle with motor neurone disease." Lawrence bagged a five-wicket haul against the West Indies in 1991 to help England seal a series-levelling win at the Oval, with Desmond Haynes and Vivian Richards among the batsmen he dismissed. But his career all but ended the following year with a sickening injury when he shattered his kneecap running into bowl during a Test against New Zealand in Wellington. That was the end of his time with England, although he made a brief comeback for Bristol-based Gloucestershire, playing four four-first class games in 1997 before retiring for good after taking 625 wickets for the county. Advertisement He later became president of Gloucestershire, with his old county saying in a social media post Sunday that they were "devastated" to learn of Lawrence's death. Following his MND diagnosis, there were emotional scenes when Gloucestershire won the T20 Blast final at Edgbaston last year, with captain James Bracey presenting the trophy to Lawrence. His MND diagnosis also hastened Lawrence's autobiography amid fears he would lose the ability to speak. Titled 'In Syd's Voice', and written with the help of cricket journalist Dean Wilson, the book was published this month. England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Richard Thompson hailed Lawrence as a "true trailblazer" who became a "powerful voice for inclusion and representation in our sport". Advertisement There was a minute's applause in honour of Lawrence before the start of the third day's play in the first Test between England and India at Headingley on Sunday, with players and officials also wearing black armbands as a mark of respect. jdg/nr
France 24
22-06-2025
- Health
- France 24
Former England fast bowler David Lawrence dead at 61
Nearly a year ago it was revealed that Gloucestershire fast bowler Lawrence, who took 18 wickets in five Tests between 1988 and 1992, had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease, an incurable illness, which progressively damages parts of the nervous system. A statement from Lawrence's family given to Britain's PA news agency said: "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dave Lawrence MBE following his brave battle with motor neurone disease." Lawrence bagged a five-wicket haul against the West Indies in 1991 to help England seal a series-levelling win at the Oval, with Desmond Haynes and Vivian Richards among the batsmen he dismissed. But his career all but ended the following year with a sickening injury when he shattered his kneecap running into bowl during a Test against New Zealand in Wellington. That was the end of his time with England, although he made a brief comeback for Bristol-based Gloucestershire, playing four four-first class games in 1997 before retiring for good after taking 625 wickets for the county. He later became president of Gloucestershire, with his old county saying in a social media post Sunday that they were "devastated" to learn of Lawrence's death. Following his MND diagnosis, there were emotional scenes when Gloucestershire won the T20 Blast final at Edgbaston last year, with captain James Bracey presenting the trophy to Lawrence. His MND diagnosis also hastened Lawrence's autobiography amid fears he would lose the ability to speak. Titled 'In Syd's Voice', and written with the help of cricket journalist Dean Wilson, the book was published this month. England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Richard Thompson hailed Lawrence as a "true trailblazer" who became a "powerful voice for inclusion and representation in our sport". There was a minute's applause in honour of Lawrence before the start of the third day's play in the first Test between England and India at Headingley on Sunday, with players and officials also wearing black armbands as a mark of respect.
Times
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Times
Dave ‘Syd' Lawrence, ex-England and Gloucestershire bowler, dies aged 61
Almost a year to the day that Rob Burrow was commemorated with a tribute match at Leeds Rhinos, the rugby league club that abuts this most famous of cricket grounds, those at Headingley for the opening Test against India and the wider game remembered Dave 'Syd' Lawrence, the first British-born black cricketer to play for England, who has also died of motor neurone disease (MND). This terrible illness cut short the remarkable Burrow's life, and now that of Lawrence, who was diagnosed a year ago and who passed away over the weekend. The game will take his death particularly hard; he was fine, fast bowler for Gloucestershire and England, a determined, spirited and popular opponent and team-mate, a trailblazer for black Britons and, at 61 years old, is gone too soon.
