Latest news with #GaryEdwards
ITV News
18-06-2025
- Business
- ITV News
250 jobs at risk as UK's largest glass factory set to close in Wigan
More than 250 jobs have been put at risk as trade unions and local politicans warn the largest fibre glass factory in the UK is set to close. The NEG Nippon Electric Glass Fiber Works (EGFU), based at Hindley Green near Wigan, has been owned by the Japanese company since 2016 and was a major part of their planned expansion into the European market. The future of the site has been in doubt since April, when NEG announced they were looking for a buyer to take over their UK branch. At a Board of Directors meeting held on Wednesday 18 June, the company's president Akira Kishimoto announced they would "cease operations" of their UK subsidiary. The President confirmed the site will "stop its production in late June". Despite working with the company to find a new owner, Labour MP for Makerfield Josh Simons has published an open letter to workers in which he says that "Nippon is unwilling to do a deal to secure the future of this site and your jobs." He said: "I am angry and I will stand up for you in the coming days to secure whatever support I can for you and your families. "I want you to know that I value and respect the work you do. I care very much about doing my absolute best for you, for this community, and for industry in the UK. "In this age of insecurity, it matters where things are made and who makes them, and I will push for this site and Hindley Green to be at the front of the queue for future investment opportunities." GMB Regional Organiser Gary Edwards described the decision to close the sight as "deeply disappointing" and a "bitter betrayal of workers and UK industry". Mr Simons has been working with the Government, the GMB Union, and prospective buyers to secure the future of the sight, but said NEG repeatedly changed their conditions for any sale with little notice. He said: "I am so sorry that we couldn't get this over the line. I know how anxious this period has been. "I have spoken to many of you in recent weeks, as have Gary and your local councillors, and I can only imagine how you feel. I want you to know that your work is a source of pride for me, for this area, and for the country." Gary Edwards added: 'Everyone involved worked tirelessly to try and secure the site's future. 'But for every solution we found, the company presented another problem. It became hard not to question how serious they were about doing a deal." Mr Simons went on to invite workers to a meeting at the local Labour club with representatives of the GMB union, where he promised to explain what had happened and explain the next steps they could take.
Daily Mail
15-06-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE The fugitive cave man of Bristol: How wanted man living in subterranean hideout was finally caught by police after bragging about off-grid lifestyle on YouTube
Gary Edwards smiled and shook his guest warmly by the hand as he invited him in to his 'cosy' subterranean home - a damp cave outside Bristol which he had moved a mattress and sink into. Presenting himself as a victim of the city's spiraling homeless crisis, a dirty and bedraggled, but cheerful and optimistic Edwards proudly showed his YouTuber friend around his hovel. Viewers of the video, which was watched 45,000 times, saw how Edwards had made every effort to make his squat homely, fitting it with a wood-burner, kitchen sink and even a 'double bed' (a dirty mattress and sleeping bag in a dryish corner of the cave). Responding to questions from interviewer Joe Fish, Edwards took the opportunity to rail against the state of the nation, and specifically the late Tory government, complaining: 'People who are out on the streets have to survive on nothing. 'I haven't had any money off the government in ten years. People treat us differently to everyday society. Society is told homeless people are criminals, drug addicts and alcoholics.' His eloquence won him many fans in the comment section with people describing the cave man as a 'survivor', an 'inspiration' and a 'great mentor to young people.' But what the commenters didn't know, and crucially what Edwards didn't say, is his choice of accommodation was no doubt because he was a fugitive who had been wanted by the police for over three years. MailOnline can reveal that Edwards began living in his makeshift home, located on a sheer drop rockface outside the city limits shortly after he was charged with assaulting an emergency worker in 2022. He managed to live there for years using his skills as an 'outdoorsman' to survive on the absolute fringes of society, until he was finally arrested in May after MailOnline tipped off the police to his whereabouts and true identity. Edwards was ordered to appear before Poole magistrate's court to answer to the crime he was charged with back in 2022 but, in a stunning turn of events, the fugitive caveman refused to turn up again. He is now back on the run to evade concurrent charges which include failing to surrender, failing to comply and the use of threatening language to cause alarm and distress. MailOnline made repeated attempts to establish from the courts service why he had not been remanded in custody upon his most recent arrest - however, they did not respond. He has not returned to his cave residence which our exclusive pictures show is now abandoned. His current location remains a mystery. Remarkably, despite being wanted by the police, Edwards had saw fit to give a tour of his home to a YouTuber last year, in which he railed against the lack of support homeless people were given by the council. In the video, titled 'Interview with a Cave Man - I investigate the Cave People living beneath UK City', Mr Edwards bragged that he was able to survive due to his outdoors skills. He also claimed that the only reason he had joined others living in the colossal cave system was due to a lack of council support for mental health services, moaning: 'For British people if you don't have an addiction or a health problem or you can't be classified as having a mental health issue you just don't don't get anything on the system.' Edwards was first found by a YouTuber named Joe Fishh investigating the South West cities reclusive cliff dwellers. Bristol has a well-established homeless epidemic which has led some desperate figures on the edge of society to seek refuge in the caves and nooks scattered along the cliffs on the outskirts of the city close to the famous Clifton suspension bridge. Edwards, who didn't give his name in the near 40-minute documentary, used his 15-minutes of fame to rail against the perceived injustices in the system. He said that without a bank account it was impossible to access benefits and even those high street banks that offer a so-called 'homeless person's account' require proof of address from account holders. Bristol has a well-established homeless epidemic which has led some desperate figures on the edge of society to seek refuge in the caves and nooks He said without any hope of finding a permanent place to live he has resorted to the caves sorting himself out some running water and setting up a sink to wash his dishes. Today, his cave seems to be uninhabited. The dark cave, which can only be accessed through thick shrubbery and via a route which lies on the edge of a cliff face, has a large reconstructed metal fence as its entrance which now lies open. On the metal fence are the words 'community spirits keeps us going'. To the left of the entrance, there is a sink on top of a pool of dirty water, with pots and pans hanging from a metal fence. Intriguing items were scattered across the cave floor, including a giant and filthy teddy bear, a tattered copy of 'The Great Controversy', an empty paint bucket, roll-on deodorant and a calculator. A doorstop, water bottle, kitchen knife, bike light, a head torch, lighters and a single large sandle (size 11) were among other items lying in small suitcase near the entrance to the cave. There is, what appears to be a stove, in a makeshift kitchen separated from the cave via wooden poles. Crisscrossed wooden sticks and branches have been placed on top of rocks to create a makeshift roof over some dirty blankets and a duvet - which is presumably the bed the cave dweller slept on. A booklet was discovered next to the makeshift bed - which was a copy given out to the attendees of Massive Attack's famous 1.5 degrees climate action performance, which took place in Bristol in 2024. Next to the blankets were random items including eggshells, hand warmers, baby wipes, a flask, toiletries, a thermostat, a pocket mirror, scissors and a torch. An unopened Cucina tomato sauce jar was also discovered, which you can purchase from Aldi, had an expiry date which went back to 2023. An opened BBQ flavoured Pringles can was also found on some rocks - and this expiry date wrote 2025. There was various graffiti written on the rocks and cave walls. Speaking last year, Edwards said: ''I sort of generally take care of the place. I've already cleaned six bagfuls of cans and bottles out of there. 'There were loads of old sleeping bags that you know you wouldn't ever want to sleep in again so we got rid of all of them and and basically cleaned out all the cr*p.'
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Yahoo
Good Samaritan thwarts Georgia carjackings, holds suspect at gunpoint until police arrive
Police are investigating two attempted car jackings that happened Monday night in Marietta. Police say the first attempted carjacking happened at a gas station on Franklin Gateway SE. They say the second attempted carjacking happened at a nearby intersection. Officers said they arrived to 66-year-old Gary Edwards holding 32-year-old Rico Riley at gunpoint. 'We had what potentially could have been a tragic situation. We had an individual lurking next to a vehicle at a gas station the driver had gone inside the business,' said Chuck McPhilamy, Marietta Police Department Public Information Officer. 'He was waiting for her to exit as she attempted to get back into her car the fight began. Roughly a minute that they were in a severe struggle trying to get control of the keys and that vehicle. 'At one point she is in the vehicle he pulls her out then she gets in the vehicle he pulls her out this is a struggle.' >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Police said the struggle between the victim and suspect probably went on for roughly one minute. 'We walked out of the restaurant. Heard a lady screaming across the street. We could see a car next to the gas station with its door open with this guy the suspect on top of the lady she was still screaming,' Edwards said. Edwards can be seen in a picture taken from security camera video, running to the gas station to jump in and help the victim. 'Knocked the suspect down and he got up at that point a little scuffle with me and then he started running,' he said. 'That suspect now leaves and runs out into traffic and attempts a second carjacking. that same good Samaritan runs out into traffic,' McPhilamy said. Police said a mother and her toddler were inside their car at an intersection when Riley tried to steal it. Edwards said his wife was nearby as he went after the suspect. 'I realized he's unarmed; I had no idea what he's walking into,' Anna Edwards said. 'We both have conceal carry permits and I had my gun in my purse. He had his in our other vehicle which we hadn't driven. I followed him across the road and pulled out my gun to give him something to defend himself should he need it. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] 'I caught up to him handed him my gun, said take this.' 'I got her gun at that point i took it into my own hands and made him get out of that vehicle and get on the ground,' Gary Edwards said. 'The suspect is behind bars and will face charges related to these crimes. the good Samaritan and that victim are ok because of their own choices. Certainly we applaud his efforts and are very grateful for the outcome we want to caution the public if you're not wired that way this may not have been the safest outcome for you,' McPhilamy said. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
BBC News
27-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Walsall match day volunteer Gary Edwards in VIP Wembley tour
A match day volunteer at Walsall FC's Bescot Stadium was treated to a VIP day out at Wembley for his 80th a visit organised by Walsall FC Foundation, the team's official charity, Gary Edwards was presented with a signed shirt before Friday's semi-final, and then took a behind the scenes tour before Monday's pensioner has run the tuck shop at Bescot as a match day volunteer since the stadium was built in said Walsall's defeat on Monday was "disappointing", but his birthday tour was a "brilliant experience". A Walsall fan since he was a teenager, he told BBC Radio WM that his son was a member of the junior Saddlers team when he was asked to run the tuck shop 35 years ago, and he is still doing top sellers at the moment are Haribo sweets and KitKats, he he toured Wembley with his grandson, he said the highlight was seeing the royal box and the media room, and he went on the pitch."We went round in the media room which was great," he described how he was able to sit behind the press conference desk imagining what it was like to be the England manager, while the man who showed them round sat in the audience."We went up into the royal box," he said, "And we went to where the players have the trophy after, which unfortunately wasn't Walsall." Signed shirt Remembering how he visited the old Wembley stadium 10 times, he said he still recalled paying seven shillings and sixpence for a ticket – which was original Wembley, which opened in 1923, had been famous for its twin was demolished in 2003 to make way for a modern 90,000-capacity venue. Monday's visit was his third trip to the new FC Foundation posted on Facebook: "To celebrate our volunteer Gary's 80th birthday, we presented him with a signed shirt before our play off semi-final on Friday."Thanks to EFL (English Football League) in the Community, we've also gifted him a VIP experience at Wembley Stadium on Monday ahead of the final." Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Southwest Missouri residents continue cleanup from 20-mile long trail of tornado damage
NEVADA, Mo. — It's been 36 hours since an EF-1 tornado passed through Nevada, leaving behind a trail of damage nearly 20 miles long. GALLERY: Southwest Missouri storm & tornado damage Power has been restored to all but about 300 customers, and help is being offered to those working on rebuilding. 'Damage cleanup is moving along rather rapidly,' said Gary Edwards, Nevada City Manager. Edwards says that's thanks in large part to work done by property owners and city staff. 'We heard chainsaws up until about midnight last night. People working on their properties, cleaning up their properties, getting rid of the limbs.' Edwards tells us the EF-1 tornado 'hopped across town.' 'It would land, do damage, jump, go up, move on to the next site, do damage,' said Edwards. Because of the substantial nature of the damage, a shelter was set up at the Nevada Community Center for those left without a home. 'So far we have about four,' said Jenna Solomon with the American Red Cross. Vernon County tornado leaves residents stunned: 'Keep us in your prayers' A number she expects to rise. 'I know a lot of people would rather go to family members and other things for shelter, and I completely understand that. I wouldn't want to sleep in a shelter, either. But we're always here.' Even if it's not for a night, the shelter can offer a place to get out of the rain or charge devices like phones. Across town, donations and volunteers are being gathered at the Vernon County Fairgrounds. 'We've had major churches, we've had large organizations come in and say, 'How can we help?' said Edwards. Much of that help arrived within hours of the storm, overwhelming city leaders with their generosity. 'We have pages of volunteers who want to help, and we'll be taking them up on that.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
