Latest news with #Inspiration


BBC News
5 days ago
- BBC News
Severn Valley Railway hosts touring exhibition
A steam railway is hosting a 10-day event to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of the modern Severn Valley Railway said the event, which started on Friday, would feature a touring locomotive with interactive exhibitions inside its carriages, plus train railway said it had been organised in partnership with the National Railway touring train, named Inspiration, is due to visit 60 locations across Britain over 12 months, running to the summer of 2026. The railway said the travelling exhibition would "promote the past, present and future of the railway" and the 10-day programme included a number of pre-booked educational displays feature groundbreaking innovations in railway history and the science behind Severn Valley Railway said it would also look at careers in railways, in the hope of encouraging some people to consider it. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.


The Independent
20-06-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Starmer tells Lionesses they inspired his daughter to start playing football
Sir Keir Starmer told the Lionesses that they have inspired his daughter to start playing football. The prime minister visited St George's Park in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, on Thursday (19 June), where he told the England team that they have 'inspired so many girls' across the country. Speaking of his own 14-year-old daughter, Starmer said: 'The moment she saw women playing football she was almost physically drawn towards the pitch, it really excited her interest in doing sport.' He said 'that's just a small example', believing there are 'so many girls in that same position'. The prime minister wished them luck ahead of the Uefa Women's Euro 2025 tournament, and later received a personalised England football shirt with the number 10 on it.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The south east London dads who deserve a mention this Father's Day
From heart-wrenching tributes to viral fame and record-breaking feats, this Father's Day we're looking back at the inspiring, emotional, and often uplifting stories of the incredible dads we've spoken to over the past year. Each of them, in their own way, shows the strength, love, and dedication that defines fatherhood. TikTok stardom for Dartford dad and daughter duo From tragedy to joy, Dartford dad Jed Storey and his daughter Chloe have been lighting up screens on TikTok with their heartwarming and hilarious videos. The duo's account, @dadandcloshow, has gained nearly 200,000 followers thanks to their brilliant bond and fun content. Jed told us: 'We never expected it to take off so quickly… it's been an amazing way to connect.' Jed and Chloe Storey (Image: Jed Storey/@dadandcloshow) A chicken-shaped walk for a local legend In one of our quirkiest stories, Stephen Sangster, a dad from Orpington, walked over 11km in the shape of a chicken to celebrate the 130th anniversary of the Orpington Buff breed. 'It was an eggs-ercise in both fitness and creativity,' he joked, proving that even poultry-themed passion projects can be powered by pride, community, and a sense of humour. Stephen Sangster completed the walk in two hours (Image: Stephen Sangster) A father's grief turned into a call for change One of the most emotional stories came from Bora Bicakcim, the father of nine-year-old Ada, who tragically died after being hit by a bus in Bexleyheath. In the face of unimaginable pain, Bora shared his heartbreak with the News Shopper, describing the moment his world 'fractured beyond repair'. He told us: 'This tragedy happened on my watch, a father's ultimate failure… We will honour your name with acts of magnitude. You will never be forgotten.' Bora has since turned his grief into purpose, vowing to fight for change and raise awareness about the dangers of drug-driving. We think of Bora on his first Father's Day without Ada. Ada Bicakci was just nine-years-old when she was killed (Image: Family of Ada Bicacki) Beckenham dad goes the distance for a friend's daughter When Sam Wheeler from Beckenham heard his friend's daughter had been diagnosed with leukaemia, he didn't hesitate. The devoted dad will cycle more than 400km to Cornwall this August to raise money for Momentum Children's Charity – the same charity that's been supporting little Isla and her family since her diagnosis. Sam said the diagnosis came just a day after Isla had been at his house. Now, he's turning heartbreak into action. Sam is raising funds for Momentum Children's Charity (Image: Sam Wheeler) 500 miles across London – on foot Dave Thomas, a 64-year-old dad and retired NHS worker, took on a monumental challenge – running the entire London transport network. That's 12 Tube lines, the Overground, trams, DLR, and even the cable car – clocking up nearly 500 miles in just four months. Armed with selfies from every station and support from TfL, Dave is now waiting to hear if Guinness World Records will confirm his achievement. Dave Thomas (Image: SWNS) 35 years of community cuts and connections And finally, a special mention goes to Graham Norman, who has run The Crop Shop in Erith for 35 years with his wife Sharon and their five children. More than just a barber, Graham has been part of the local fabric since 1990 – cutting hair, making friends, and raising a family while keeping Erith looking sharp. Graham said: 'It's not just a barbers – it's part of the community. We've had generations of families come through the door.' The Crop Shop (Image: The Crop Shop) Happy Father's Day from all of us at the News Shopper.


Glasgow Times
14-06-2025
- Glasgow Times
Free exhibition train to visit Glasgow Central Station
The exhibition train, named Inspiration, is part of a national celebration marking 200 years of the modern railway, aptly called Railway 200. It is set to visit 60 locations, with Glasgow Central Station being the 16th stop on its busy schedule. Tickets to explore the train for free can be booked online from now until August 17 at Inspiration is the sole exhibition train on the rail network, curated in partnership with the National Railway Museum. The four-carriage train is designed to offer an engaging journey through rail's history, highlighting landmark moments in rails development, pioneering engineering feats and future roles in the railway industry. Train carriages are currently being fitted out, supported by a £250k grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The exhibition is also set to feature a 'Wonderlab on Wheels' which will allow visitors to test their own engineering skills through hands-on exhibits. Read more: First Bus to change timetables for services across Greater Glasgow (Image: Network Rail) Emma Roberts, Railway 200's programme manager, said: "This special exhibition train is set to become a new, national visitor attraction, providing an unforgettable experience for hundreds of thousands of people across Britain, including many schoolchildren. "It will excite, enlighten, entertain, and inspire them to take a fresh look at the railway, as part of its anniversary celebrations." The interactive exhibition is expected to attract more than 200,000 visitors, including schoolchildren, by prior booking. Alan Ross, engineering and asset management director at Network Rail Scotland, added: "The railway has been a vital lifeline for two centuries, connecting places and people to deliver critical services and boost economic growth. "It's also a symbol of transport innovation, continually evolving to meet the needs of modern life. "The exhibition train honours this incredible achievement while looking forward to the exciting journey ahead. "I encourage everyone to visit the train at your nearest stop this October to celebrate its rich history, recognise its connections to your own community, and get an exclusive glimpse of the future of rail travel." Booked visits start at 10am, with the last entry at 4pm. The train will close at 5pm, and visits are expected to last up to an hour. Read more: ScotRail named among best train operators in Britain for customer satisfaction For those unable to visit in person, a virtual tour of the exhibition experience is planned. No passengers will be carried on the train as it travels to its exhibition sites. To book tickets and find out more information on the Inspiration exhibition train, visit the Railway 200 website.


Scotsman
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Scotsman
Scottish dates announced for 'unforgettable' exhibition train to celebrate major rail anniversary
Network Rail/Railway 200 Railway 200 showcase to visit five Scottish stations in October Sign up for the latest news and analysis about Scottish transport Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A special exhibition train is to tour Scotland in October as part of celebrations to mark the 200th anniversary of the modern railway. The four-carriage display will feature landmarks in the network's development, interactive engineering challenges and a showcase of the range of rail jobs available to encourage more young people to join the industry. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad How the exhibition's "Railway Firsts" carriage will look | Network Rail/Railway 200 Entry to the Railway 200 show called Inspiration will be free but by pre-booked ticket, with visitors able to register interest in seeing the exhibition so they can be notified when bookings for the Scottish dates open. It will be at Glasgow Central station on October 11-12, the Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway on October 13-14, Strathspey Railway on October 16-17, Aberdeen station on October 19-20 and Edinburgh Waverley station from October 22-23. Free tickets are already available for the first three weeks of the tour, which starts on June 27 on the Severn Valley Railway at Kidderminster in Worcestershire. It will then visit Birmingham, Euston and Waterloo stations in London before touring the rest of Britain until December with further dates next year. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The exhibition, devised with the National Railway Museum, comprises a 'Railway Firsts' coach, 'Wonderlab on Wheels', enabling visitors to test their engineering skills, and a 'Your Railway Future' carriage, showcasing some lesser-known industry jobs to encourage interest in railway careers. The fourth coach, known as the 'Partner Zone', will offer free, flexible exhibition space. More than 200,000 people are expected to visit the train, which will be open from 10am to 5pm with visits expected to last up to an hour. A virtual online tour of the exhibition is also planned. Alan Ross, engineering and asset management director at Network Rail Scotland, said: 'The railway has been a vital lifeline for two centuries, connecting places and people to deliver critical services and boost economic growth. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It's also a symbol of transport innovation, continually evolving to meet the needs of modern life. 'The exhibition train honours this incredible achievement while looking forward to the exciting journey ahead. 'I encourage everyone to visit the train at your nearest stop this October to celebrate its rich history, recognise its connections to your own community, and get an exclusive glimpse of the future of rail travel.' Railway 200 programme manager Emma Roberts said: 'This special exhibition train is set to become a new, national visitor attraction, providing an unforgettable experience for hundreds of thousands of people across Britain, including many schoolchildren.