Latest news with #Hereford
Daily Mail
9 hours ago
- Daily Mail
William and Harry's former private secretary: 'Protect our courageous SAS soldiers or we will lose them forever'
Last summer I went back to Hereford for the funeral of a friend from 30 years ago. He had died climbing, which is what he loved most, apart from his family, his friends and his country. Other than a mesmerising twinkle in the eye and dark good looks, he didn't stand out as anything special on a crowded street. For he was a humble man: Kind, selfless and quietly confident. He had a drive within him to help others, particularly the vulnerable, the picked-upon and those living in fear of their lives. Normal traits, in fact, for a soldier of the Special Air Service. So much has been written about the SAS, so many films made, so many reality-TV botch-ups of our actions and even our selection processes. Apart from one or two post-war accounts written by early veterans, I recognise none of the recent fictional stereotypes in my friend the climber or anyone else I came across in my eight years in the regiment. At the wake after the funeral in Hereford, the regiment's home, I was buttonholed by George Simm, my Squadron Sergeant Major, Regimental Sergeant Major and benevolent scourge. Almost all the old friends I met with him were being persecuted for their brave actions in Northern Ireland many decades ago. They were phlegmatic, facing the storm as they've faced it before, but their courage could not conceal the sense of betrayal they felt. I left angry. It is an abhorrent injustice. Though bound by the SAS strict code of discretion, I can at least use the four unchanging principles of our founder David Stirling to tell you the reality of what I saw during my time. First, the principle that seemed so effortless to everyone but me (though I hope others may have felt the same): 'The unrelenting pursuit of excellence.' I have never known – nor will I again – such consummate professionalism as in the SAS. Within its ranks are some of the finest soldiers in the world, jacks-of-all-trades who have proved they can meet any threat – except perhaps the one they now face from lawfare, the threat from within. Next came 'the highest standards of self-discipline'. Physical and organisational, but especially moral. An oft-quoted line is that we would never transgress morally on operations because to do so would be to lower ourselves to the base level of our enemies, blowing our credibility and decimating our ability to achieve our mission. While this may be true, it is secondary. What guides SAS soldiers is the urge to do right by the innocent folk we have been sent to protect – as in Northern Ireland, where the SAS arrested more terrorists than they ever killed – and to do right in the eyes of our comrades and the British people. That might sound overly idealistic, pompous even, but it is how many of us felt. Some of us in the regiment did not even vote in general elections. This was not idleness and certainly not some petulant statement. It was because we had implicit faith in our system of parliamentary democracy, and in what Britain stood for in the world. To have voted would, in some way, have compromised that. We were there to do the will of the Government – any government – and not take party-political sides. That, of course, was when we believed the Government had our backs. Stirling insisted upon 'a classless but not a rank-less society', based on pure merit and no social preferment. We all did the same selection – officers and men – which meant that we had complete faith in one another. To reap the benefits of an egalitarian structure such as the SAS, as with any other successful human enterprise, still requires leadership and a rank structure. But, as a commander in the regiment, what I learnt very early on was that I was not always the leader. To have had me telling the climber what to do on a cliff-face would have been, literally, sheer lunacy. He was the leader then... and so on. Finally, Stirling recognised that hubris was the surest route to ruin. So, his quartet closes with a call for 'humility and humour'. Recognising that success in the past does not guarantee success for the future is often the most difficult of the principles to obey. But it is perhaps the most critical. The urgency with which SAS soldiers fought the temptation to be complacent and strove to remain ahead of our country's enemies simply astounded me. It still does. While an unforgivable conceit, I am going to add a fifth principle: 'Decency'. Three of my children have SAS god-fathers. They weren't picked for their extraordinary skills – hardly transferable – but because the moral compass of each is welded at true north. Enough said. It seems to me that the British have a decision to make. Either we move to protect our SAS soldiers – as they have protected us – or we do nothing and lose the SAS. In capability and character, this is a strategic asset that no other country has and which – any day now – the British people might sorely need. This is why I wholeheartedly support the Daily Mail's campaign to protect our veterans.
Time Out
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Hawksmoor is hosting an open-air feast in a forest – and it's just outside London
Steakhouse pros Hawksmoor have announced plans for their summer holiday - and everyone's invited. This August, they'll be hosting four nights of al fresco dining in the ancient woodlands of Hertfordshire. The five course menu will include a host of Hawksmoor classics, from barbecued pork ribs, to Caesar salad, and scallops in garlic butter, with two mega dishes for the mains; Hereford rib of beef roasted over charcoal, or grilled Brixham monkfish with parsley and garlic oil. There'll also be some serious sides; ash-baked potatoes, barbecued bone marrow, heritage tomato salad, and grilled purple sprouting broccoli. For pud – if you have room – there'll be a seasonal pavlova, and Tunworth cheese with blossom honey on toasted sourdough. There's a wine pairing too! How much for such delights? £195, and that includes all your food and booze. The outdoor dinners will take place in the grounds of posh spa hotel The Grove, which is just north of glamorous Watford, on August 1, 2, 8 and 9, from 6.30-9pm. If you're feeling particularly flush, you can book an overnight package that includes a room at the hotel, which is £1012, based on two people sharing.
The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
Lucy Letby prison guard reveals what baby killer is REALLY like in jail & chilling feature that made her ‘very strange'
THE prison officer who watched convicted baby murderer Lucy Letby on her first night on remand has revealed what she was like in jail. The guard, known only as Dave, watched the "very strange" killer during her brief stint at Styal Prison in Cheshire. 6 6 6 Letby, 35, from Hereford, is serving 15 whole-life orders after she was convicted across two trials at Manchester Crown Court of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others. Speaking on the Shaun Attwoods True Crime Podcast, he said that the 35-year-old was a 'very, very strange character'. Dave explained that he received a text offering overtime to be on 'constant watch' over a prisoner. However, he was not told it was Letby until the last minute when his boss broke the news. Dave spent the night with Letby during her first night on remand, after she had arrived fresh from court. He revealed that he was surprised at the child killer's 'dishevelled' appearance. He said: 'I turned up, sit down on the segregation and the first thing that sort of hit me, you see her in all these photographs, this normal looking blonde woman, and I was surprised at how sort of dishevelled she looked. 'She didn't have blonde hair, brown hair, she just looked sort of drained. "It was night time, I think she might have asked me what time it was at one point. There might have been a few words exchanged, not much.' Letby was only kept at Styal Prison for a handful of days before being transferred to another facility. The murderous nurse stood trial at Manchester Crown Court in 2022, where she pleaded not guilty to seven counts of murder and 15 counts of attempted murder. She was eventually convicted of the murder of seven babies and the attempted murder of another seven and handed 15 whole-life sentences. Letby, from Hereford, committed her crimes while working in the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital between 2015 and 2016 Dave said he didn't know whether other Styal inmates were aware she was in the same prison, but other female lags would 'not have treated her well' owing to the nature of her offences. The former neonatal worker has being seeing out her sentence in HMP Bronzefield, which houses many of the Britain's most notorious female prisoners. Letby is on the same wing killer mum Sian Hedges and Beinash Batool, who was jailed for killing stepdaughter Sara Sharif. Known as House Block 4, the unit is reserved for those serving life sentences and prisoners who have enhanced status due to good behaviour behind bars. Also on the same wing until her recent release was disgraced prison officer Linda De Sousa Abreu, who was filmed having sex with a prison while working at Wandsworth Prison. 6 6 6 Letby lost two attempts to challenge her convictions at the Court of Appeal last year. In April a new email - sent on May 4 2017 to colleagues at the Countess of Chester Hospital - emrged which appears to cast significant doubts over the official chronology of events. The memo is a significant boost to Letby's legal fight to overturn her convictions. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was the latest official figure to reveal he has revealed he has "doubts" over Lucy Letby guilt. The Reform UK leader spoke about the case off the back of Jeremy Hunt's comment piece in the Mail last week. The former health secretary called for an "urgent re-examination" of Letby after "serious and credible" questions were raised by experts. The MP urged Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which investigates potential miscarriages of justice, to "speed up their normally painfully slow process". Speaking on GB News, Mr Farage agreed that he was also beginning to have 'doubts' about the case. He said: 'I have a feeling, actually, Jeremy Hunt might be right about the Lucy Letby case. "I'm just beginning to get more and more doubts about that issue." Cheshire Constabulary is still conducting a review of deaths and non-fatal collapses of babies at the neonatal units of the Countess of Chester and Liverpool Women's Hospital during Letby's time as a nurse from 2012 to 2016. The force have also launched another probe into allegations of corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter at the Countess of Chester Hospital. Meanwhile Lady Justice Thirlwall is due to publish in November the findings from the public inquiry into how the former nurse was able to commit her crimes. The Sun revealed earlier this year what Letby's own parents, Jonathan, 79, and Susan Letby, 65, said about the case. In one correspondence, seen by The Sun, Letby's parents reveal they "firmly believe" their daughter's convictions will be "the biggest miscarriage of justice in British history". They also said they're pleased "public opinion is beginning to sway" in her favour "at last".
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
I guarded Lucy Letby during her first night in prison - this is what she's really like
A former prison officer whose job it was to watch Lucy Letby during her first night in prison has opened up about his experience. Dave, who used to work at Styal Prison in Cheshire, revealed that he thought she was a 'very, very strange character'. The former British neonatal nurse was convicted of murdering seven infants and attempting to murder seven others at the Countess of Chester Hospital between June 2015 and June 2016. Letby, who is from Hereford, was arrested in July 2018 and later sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole-life order. Her trial revealed a disturbing pattern of harm inflicted on vulnerable babies under her care. Speaking on the Shaun Attwood True Crime podcast, Dave revealed Letby was kept in a segregation unit and he was tasked with 'constant watch'. He said: 'It was her first night and she has got her whole-life tariff now but it was her first night on remand. She had come from court that day and had been charged. 'I turned up, sat down on the segregation and the first thing that sort of hit me, you see her in all these photographs, this normal looking blonde woman, and I was surprised at how sort of dishevelled she looked. 'She didn't have blonde hair, brown hair, she just looked sort of drained. It was night time, I think she might have asked me what time it was at one point. There might have been a few words exchanged, not much.' Dave later noted that he was struck by how calm she appeared on her first night in prison. He explained: 'I was sat watching, thinking if I had have been accused of this I'd be climbing the walls I'd be saying ''Let me out I've not done this.'' 'But it was almost as if it was just a bit of a burden to her, just a bit like, ''I'm here, what time is it? What's happening?'' 'She was a very, very strange character, [that] is my opinion of her,' he added. He revealed that Lucy was only kept in the prison he worked in for a matter of days before she was moved elsewhere. Dave added that he wasn't sure if the other inmates knew that Letby was even in the same prison with them. He claimed the female offenders would 'not have treated her well' if they had been aware of her presence, given that her crimes involved infants. Letby still maintains her innocence of the crimes that she has previously been found guilty of. She insists she has never harmed any baby in her care. Last month, a leading barrister called for the Lucy Letby case to be referred back to the Court of Appea l because her convictions are 'almost certainly' unsafe. Adam King, who prosecuted the Just Stop Oil climate protesters, is the latest respected figure to raise questions about the case against Letby. Since the nurse lost her appeal last year, a mass of evidence undermining the prosecution's case has been gathered by her new legal team, raising questions about the claim she was on duty for every suspicious incident and about the testimony of the main prosecution witness, Dewi Evans. Doubts have also been raised about the tests which purported to show Letby used various techniques – including insulin poisoning and injecting air into veins – to murder already sickly babies. Contradictory and incoherent notes written by Letby in post-arrest therapy sessions were also presented as a confession – even though she strongly denies murder. Letby's barrister Mark McDonald presented a 698-page report from 14 world-leading experts to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which deals with potential miscarriages of justice. The report concluded that the babies died from poor care, prematurity and natural causes. Since her conviction, dozens of doctors, nurses, statisticians, law experts and scientists have come forward to criticise the way in which evidence was presented to the jury. They include Lord Sumption, a former judge at the Supreme Court, who said he believes Letby is 'probably innocent'. Last week, Nigel Farage added his voice to growing concerns about the safety of Lucy Letby's murder convictions, saying that he is 'getting more and more doubts'. The Reform UK leader was responding to an article in the Daily Mail by Sir Jeremy Hunt, who was Health Secretary when the babies died at the Countess of Chester Hospital. Sir Jeremy called for an urgent re-examination of the case, saying: 'If Letby really did kill seven babies in their cots and attempted to kill seven more, no punishment short of the death penalty is too harsh. 'But if they were caused by professional shortcomings, we need to know why. 'More than anything else, we need to make sure other families don't have to go through the same tragedy.' He added that he had noted the findings of the international panel of paediatric specialists and neonatologists, and had also read a 'wide range of expert concerns about the conduct of the criminal case'. Sir Jeremy said: 'Taken together... this analysis raises serious and credible questions about the evidence presented in court, the robustness of expert testimony and the interpretation of statistical data.' Mr Farage told GB News: 'I'm just beginning to get more and more doubts about that issue.'
BBC News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Mott The Hoople's Mick Ralphs dies aged 81
Guitarist and songwriter Mick Ralphs, best known for his time with Mott The Hoople, has died at the age of 81, according to the band's official website. A statement said: "Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time."The Hereford-born musician was a key member of the band, which formed in 1969. He left four years later, and moved on to Bad Company.A statement from that band said Ralphs was "survived by the love of his life Susie", his two children and three step-children", as well as his bandmates Simon Kirke and Paul Rodgers, the latter of whom added: "Our Mick has passed, my heart just hit the ground." Ralphs was with Mott The Hoople for the release of 1972's All The Young Dudes, which was written by David Bowie. The song reached number three in the UK singles charts that Allen, one of the founding members of the band, stated of Ralphs' passing: "It's very sad to hear that he is gone. We have lasting memories, fond memories."Ralphs' final performance with Bad Company was in October 2016, with the musician suffering a stroke the following Company had been due to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame later this year. Rodgers said: "He has left us with exceptional songs and memories. He was my friend, my songwriting partner, an amazing and versatile guitarist who had the greatest sense of humour."[In] our last conversation a few days ago we shared a laugh but it won't be our last. There are many memories of Mick that will create laughter. "Condolences to everyone who loved him especially his one true love, Susie. I will see you in heaven."Drummer Kirke said: "He was a dear friend, a wonderful songwriter, and an exceptional guitarist. We will miss him deeply." Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
