Latest news with #JamesCracknell
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Jordan Cracknell: ‘I hope James stands again – but I think Reform are more organised than the Tories'
'Do you really row?' were the first words Jordan Cracknell uttered to her now husband, the Olympic rower James Cracknell, when they met. She laughs, recalling how she found herself sitting next to him for a matriculation photo for Peterhouse College, Cambridge, in 2018. Fresh off a plane from her native New York, Jordan was there to study for an MBA, while Cracknell was studying for an MPhil in human evolution, and preparing to become the oldest ever competitor in the Boat Race. 'James wasn't wearing a tie, so the porter handed him one saying this was the best rowing tie they had. And I'm looking at this guy, who looks really thin, and I'm thinking, 'This guy does not look like an athlete'.' 'He liked the fact that I didn't know him' The double Olympic gold medalist – who'd just finished filming Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls – was understandably bemused. Rather than enumerating all the ways he was a fairly big deal in the rowing world, he said a simple yes, and their chat moved onto their respective studies. And so the American left the encounter none the wiser. With hindsight Jordan says: 'I think he found it really refreshing. He liked the fact that I didn't know him, and I had no preconceived notions whatsoever.' After all, since his 20s, Cracknell, now 53, had grown up in the spotlight. The years of competing in rowing for Great Britain turned into years of executing extraordinary feats, such as rowing the Atlantic with his friend, the broadcaster Ben Fogle. Then there were the difficult years that followed his being struck from behind by a petrol tanker in 2010 while cycling in Arizona (which we'll return to later). And so to find himself sitting next to someone who had no idea about any of this, must have been a novelty. Over the next few weeks, Jordan and Cracknell kept running into each other at college events and found themselves gravitating towards each other. The appeal for Jordan? 'He was not as nerdy as other people,' smiles the 39-year-old. 'You have to understand Peterhouse is very small, and a lot of the PhD students focus on religion. One was studying sarcasm in the bible, so super esoteric. Those conversations were not for me or James. And I didn't know anyone.' We are in the light and airy communal area of her office in west London. A native New Yorker, Jordan grew up on the Upper East Side ('all very Gossip Girl '), but there's nothing intimidatingly Uptown Girl about her. Dressed in simple jeans, white shirt and pumps, she laughs frequently and fully at the series of events that have led to her now calling England home. 'My plan wasn't to come to England and fall in love' Today, she commuted from the home she shares with Cracknell in Henley, although the pair also have a pad in Fulham. It's a life that she could never have imagined for herself when she packed her suitcase and left Manhattan and her job in finance for a year of study. 'My plan wasn't to come and fall in love. After all, so many people meet online now, it's so rare to meet in person,' she says. The decision to come to Europe to study followed years concentrating on her career, leading to a desire to spend some proper time in Europe travelling. Instead, she ended up being initiated into the rarefied world of British rowing. Over six years on, and she's not only fully acquainted with Henley Royal Regatta – which begins on July 1 – but has supported James through a general election, all while maintaining her own career; Jordan is also the author of a children's book, You Can Count On Penny, that aims to inspire a love of maths in the young. Back in 2018, however, she remembers, three weeks into first term, a young college friend of hers trying to tell her about the kind of profile the Olympian Cracknell had. Jordan was still slightly underawed. 'When you turn on the Olympics in the States, all the programming is focused towards swimming and gymnastics. That's why Michael Phelps and Simone Biles are huge. 'Even later when I started dating James, he was talking about events in the Olympics that I had no idea existed. The coverage in the UK and Europe is much more rounded than in the US.' As the pair got closer, even Cracknell tried to prepare her for how public his life was, but still it didn't land. 'I was like, 'Yeah, yeah'. I grew up in New York, I went to school with Christie Brinkley and Billy Joel's daughter. In New York, you ignore celebrities. Everyone's famous for something.' She finally started to get it when on a night out at Wetherspoons a drunken hen party guest asked her, 'Do you know who this man is? This is an asset to the United Kingdom.' 'I thought that was really funny, and so did James,' says Jordan. By the New Year of 2019, having spent a month in the US for Christmas, but talking on the phone with Cracknell every day, Jordan knew the relationship was something serious. Still, it was a closeness that only their group of Cambridge friends knew about. From the beginning, Cracknell had been open with her about the fact that he and his wife, the TV presenter Bev Turner, mother to his three children, had separated the previous year. However, their separation was only announced publicly in March 2019, leading to inevitable news headlines. 'It was weird to see the press coverage about our relationship at first. It didn't help that there was a picture of him grabbing my behind,' laughs Jordan. 'All my American friends thought it was so funny, which helped me laugh at the situation as well.' And then came the Boat Race that April. 'It was crazy. Piers Morgan was trying to get him on the phone ahead of the race. There was a complete media blackout.' Cracknell went on to be the oldest winner ever, at the age of 46. At what point did Cracknell talk to her about his accident in Arizona, and the brain injury that followed? 'He told me he had been in an accident. With James, the way the information about his life was shared, it was all very piecemeal. It came out in fits and spurts.' It was in 2019, as a guest at a dinner for Headway, the brain injury association that Cracknell is vice-president of, that she really started to understand brain injuries. Even today, they don't talk about it on a day to day basis. 'It's a terrible thing to go through. Not just the brain injury, but the PTSD of being involved in an accident like that. It was traumatic, not just for James, but his entire family.' Jordan met Cracknell's children, his parents, and sister, in their first years of dating. He also met her mum and brothers – her father having died of a heart attack when she was 19. And when Jordan's MBA finished, the couple committed to a transatlantic relationship. 'He was on Strictly at the time, so a lot of the flying was up to me. Commuting transatlantically is not the most fun, especially in economy,' laughs Jordan, who at 6ft has enviably long limbs. It was a struggle to try and watch the show while in New York. Jordan recalls finding an English pub called The Churchill and asking them to put it on. 'The two drunks at the bar got really into it as well,' she laughs. Her friends in the US, meanwhile, were convinced she was dating a knight, failing to understand the difference between an OBE and a knighthood. Eventually Jordan spoke to her boss about the idea of going back to England, who was supportive of the idea of her setting up a London office. She moved over permanently in October 2019, with her two elderly cats, flying to Paris, and then driving the last leg so they didn't have to go in cargo. Home became a rented flat in Chelsea, which is where she and Cracknell found themselves when the pandemic started. Cracknell put his rowing machine on the balcony – and Jordan tried rowing for the first time. 'James gave me tips, which was really nice. I'd row for 20 minutes and be pretty happy, and then he'd be on it for two hours,' she laughs. Jordan found a novel way to fill the lockdown time, watching some of Cracknell's documentaries, from rowing the Atlantic, to coming 11th in the Marathon des Sables. 'I learnt a lot,' she says. And of course, she has got to know Ben Fogle and his family in real life, too. 'I never expected James to go into politics' It was in January 2021, while on a weekend trip to Cambridge, that Cracknell proposed, with the couple choosing to marry that August in London. 'My mum said it was the tallest wedding she'd ever been to,' laughs Jordan. 'She's about 5ft 3in, so she was this tiny lady surrounded by tall men.' There were also some uninvited guests, with Jordan having to eject some members of the press who had gate-crashed the reception at the RAC club, and were at the bar trying to get drinks. How has she handled the public interest in hers and Cracknell's life together? 'I've gotten used to it. There are no books on how to deal with it, no dummies' manual,' she laughs. 'It sits better with me now, I guess.' One dummies book she did buy though, was about British politics. 'That was a whole other thing. I was not ever expecting James to tell me he wanted to do politics.' In September 2023, Cracknell was selected as the Conservative candidate for Colchester. Jordan joined him canvassing in the rain, both of them wearing out their trainers during 10-hour shifts in the rain. 'I learnt a lot,' she reflects. 'I really understood what the issues are for the average British person outside of London, their worries and concerns about jobs, the economy, immigration.' In the 2024 general election, Cracknell lost to the Labour candidate. It was a fascinating learning experience for Jordan, who has long been interested in politics. Back home she is a Democrat, saying they have more in common with UK conservatives, while Republicans are closer to Reform in outlook. 'Everything is more Left-wing in the UK,' she says. She follows US politics with interest and sees Trump's re-election as a sign that the Democrats are failing their party base. 'Biden really fumbled it, and Kamala didn't really have a lot of time,' she says. 'I think people would have appreciated having a Democratic primary [to formally elect a candidate]. It was just mismanaged.' Even now, she says the Democrats aren't reorganising themselves in an electable way. 'It's unfair that the octogenarians are in charge. We should have more young people coming up from the bottom. It's terrible the establishment stays, and stifles this growth. As long as that keeps happening, we're just going to have Trump or Vance.' 'If he ran again, I would be there knocking on doors' In the UK, she is impressed by how Reform run their campaigns. 'It's a very well organised party,' she says. 'The Conservatives do everything by paper, filling out damp forms on doorsteps, that then have to be digitally inputted. Whereas Reform are sending out personalised mailings to constituents. It's something to think about,' she says. 'I'm not certain of what Labour or Lib Dems do, but I think the Green Party is getting really organised, too.' She is supportive of any further attempts Cracknell decides to make to be elected, saying: 'I actually really hope that James runs for politics again. We've been through an election, and we know what works and what doesn't work. It kind of depends on what happens in the next few years in politics. Certainly, if he ran again, I would be there by his side knocking on doors.' First, there's that Royal Regatta. In previous years she's always made sure friends' visits to the UK coincided with the event. 'They all love it. They love the dressing up aspect, we always have a good time. 'The top comment is, 'We don't have anything like this in the States'. I guess the closest we have is polo, but those are very expensive to go to. We don't have this very nice rowing regatta in a very picturesque place.' Henley life is otherwise peaceful and quiet. The couple now have three dogs. It's not unheard of for Matthew Pinsent to drop round with his own to say hello. She and Cracknell occasionally go out on the water too. 'It's so funny because I was so worried about falling in. And he was like, 'I don't want to fall in too. It's fine'. He's a really good teacher. He really breaks it down so nicely and is so certain of himself. You feel you can really trust him.' Every day she thinks about the day before she flew to England to start her MBA. 'I went to the beach at the Rockaways. I was wearing the skinniest bikini, and I remember lying in the sun getting all tanned. If you'd told me that day at that beach, what would have happened after that flight, I would never have believed you.'
Zawya
5 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
British Safety Council celebrates ‘best of the best' in health, safety and wellbeing at International Safety Awards 2025
British Safety Council held its annual Gala Dinner on 19 June to celebrate the winners of its International Safety Awards 2025, at the Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington, London. This is the 67th year the awards have taken place and the 65th year of a gala dinner. The prestigious event, which this year was sponsored by HSI Donesafe, was hosted by adventurer James Cracknell OBE, the celebrated former Olympic Rower, and included speeches by British Safety Council CEO, Mike Robinson, its chairman Peter McGettrick, and Dr. Tim Marsh, world-renowned Safety Psychologist and MD of Anker and Marsh. The event combined a formal presentation ceremony with a dinner and evening of live entertainment. The International Safety Awards recognise and celebrate organisations from around the world that have demonstrated to the satisfaction of the scheme's independent judges their commitment to preventing workplace injuries and work-related ill health during the previous calendar year. The awards also acknowledge organisations that have shown commitment to wellbeing and mental health at work. In 2025, 789 organisations won an International Safety Award. They span all sectors with significant representation from the construction, manufacturing, oil, gas, mining, power and utility sectors. Winners were drawn from 45 countries worldwide. 212 organisations were awarded a Distinction, 371 organisations were awarded a Merit and 206 organisations achieved a Pass. Only the best of the best wins an overall category award, and the full list of winners can be seen below. Speaking at the event, Chief Executive of British Safety Council, Mike Robinson said: 'These awards demonstrate the commitment of all organisations represented, not only to the health and safety of their own workforces, but to the British Safety Council's vision that no-one should be injured or made ill through their work. As we celebrate individual and collective successes here tonight, we also understand what the success means outside the context of this evening. The safer and healthier workplaces you are building mean that more people get to go home safely at the end of each working day. 'And in an age defined by rapid change, this commitment to worker health, safety, and wellbeing has never been so needed, nor so important. The world is changing, and access to knowledge and support are invaluable tools in navigating social, political, environmental and technological change. Our members, working in more than 60 countries, share this same commitment, understanding that healthier and safer workplaces are more productive and more profitable too. 'It is our vision at the British Safety Council that no-one should be injured or made ill through their work – anywhere in the world. By sharing the achievements of the winners of these awards, we can inspire other employers everywhere to follow their lead and give workers' health, safety and wellbeing the priority it rightly deserves. In his address, Chairman of British Safety Council, Peter McGettrick said: 'I know I speak, in unison, with the trustees and staff of British Safety Council when I say just how impressed we have been with the quality of award entries we received this year. As ever, we remain grateful for a growing number of applications from different regions of the world, as each of these demonstrates a shared commitment to making the health, safety and wellbeing of workers a priority. 'Throughout the course of this evening, the theme of change has loomed large. It forces us to ask how we keep workers safe amid the rapid change that will come to define our near future. And as we stand, at the dawn of an Age of AI, we face a question previous generations have not wrestled with: how do we make wellbeing a constant in a world constantly in flux? 'Outside of this room, around the world, the challenge of managing change is no small feat. Ladies and gentlemen, you are playing your part in that transformation, and I thank you. I thank you for your attendance here tonight, for your hard work over the course of the year, and for the difference you are making in creating workplaces in which the workers of today and tomorrow can thrive.' In his keynote address, Tim Marsh reflected on his career, from his first job as a psychologist studying suicides in the military, through a focus on safety leadership, behavioural safety, and safety culture, up to more recent times when his expertise as a safety psychologist has been at the forefront of developments on wellbeing and mental health at work. Dr. Marsh underlined that, as we look to the future, and consider health, safety and wellbeing at work, we need to remember that good work is good for you (because it brings meaning, purpose, banter and camaraderie) – therefore it is important how we treat our colleagues and what our organisational cultures are like. -Ends- International Safety Awards 2025 – Category Winners Free to Enter Awards CEO of the Year WINNER: Reem Mohd Saeed Ahmad Hamdan, Electricity Distribution Company (EDCO) In January 2022 Reem Hamdan became a Director General of the Electricity Distribution Company (EDCO), and has led strategic initiatives to improve occupational health and safety (OHS), energy efficiency, and gender inclusion, played a transformative role in health, safety, environmental sustainability, and workforce wellbeing in Jordan's energy sector. Her vision for Jordan's energy sector is centred on expanding renewable energy integration through solar and wind projects, enhancing workplace safety with cutting-edge digital safety solutions & empowering employees through mental health programs, training, and professional development initiatives. As the first female Director General in Jordan's power sector, Hamdan has championed gender inclusion and workforce empowerment through policy reforms highlighting the importance of gender inclusion, safety, and sustainability, and has established mentorship programs, ensuring that female engineers receive training, leadership guidance, and career advancement opportunities. Hamdan has redefined workplace safety, environmental stewardship, and employee empowerment in Jordan's energy sector and she continues to set new standards for excellence in safety, sustainability, and leadership development. Health, Safety and Wellbeing Ambassador of the Year Award WINNER: Mr. Adnan Ahmed Al Ali, National Contracting Company Limited Mr. Adnan Ahmed Al Ali goes far beyond his HR responsibilities to drive health, safety, and wellbeing at NCC T&D - KSA. In an industry where safety often means simply following rules, Mr. Adnan has redefined it as a core human value. His leadership has transformed safety culture through active prevention and genuine care for employee welfare. His approach centres on human connections rather than just systems, making his contribution exceptional and worthy of recognition. Health and Safety Transformation Award – sponsored by Croner–i WINNER: Zelim, ZOE Developed with input from the US Coastguard, ZOE is an AI-based technology that accurately alerts, detects and tracks person overboard casualties from the moment they fall overboard to the point of recovery. Of the 1000 people that fall overboard annually only half are recovered. The rest are lost due largely to poor person-in-water detection and tracking technology, especially in high sea states, or where survivors are confused with beacons, buoys, seabirds, or light reflections on the water. The system can differentiate between persons in water and objects such as small craft, seabirds, buoys, reflective light, flotsam and jetsam, which can generate a false reading common with other detection methods there is a greater chance of the persons in the water being found and rescued. ZOE reduces the number of souls lost to POB incidents. Seize the Opportunity Award WINNER: Dubai Municipality - Al Garhoud, Health and Safety Department's Response to the April 2024 Climatic Event in Dubai In April 2024, a significant climatic event led to heavy rainfall and strong winds in Dubai, resulting in floods that mixed rainwater with groundwater. The Health and Safety Department's strategic response to the April 2024 climatic event demonstrated strong emergency preparedness, effective crisis management, and a commitment to innovation. Through rapid action, coordinated efforts, and advanced technologies, the department successfully mitigated risks, safeguarded public health, and reinforced Dubai's resilience in the face of environmental challenges. The James Tye Award WINNER: Ala'aldeen Farhan Ali Al-Soukni, United Development Company Mr. Ala'aldeen has initiated and established an annual plan for health, safety and wellbeing across UDC, improving interaction across teams throughout The Pearl and Gewan Island. The Pearl Island spans an impressive 4 million sqm of land and has 32 kilometres of new coastline. The project accommodates an estimated 25,000 residences, currently embracing a thriving community of 52,000 residents and also receives over 35 million visitors every year. From compliance audits to employee wellbeing initiatives, to implementation and enforcement of health and safety requirements for all communities across the complex environment, this has been a huge undertaking. Team of the Year Award WINNER: Ramboll - APAC Care Ambassadors Team The Ramboll APAC Care Ambassadors Team is a diverse group of employees from across the Asia-Pacific region. Their achievements have been transformative, delivering measurable and meaningful improvements across Ramboll, enhancing employee wellbeing, improving communication and trust, and delivering measurable results. The Ramboll APAC Care Ambassadors Team's efforts have laid a strong foundation for continued improvement in health, safety, and wellbeing, such as increasing workforce resilience, creating a safety-first culture and championing a supportive and inclusive workplace. Wellbeing Initiative Award WINNER: ABB Process Industries The ABB Process Industries (PAPI) team has played a critical role in implementing ABB's Safety & Well-being strategy. As part of ABB, a global leader in electrification and automation, PAPI recognises that its employees are key to its success. By fostering a culture of diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity, the division enhances Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) performance. PAPI has developed a robust health and wellbeing strategy, and ensures that health and wellbeing are deeply embedded in daily business operations. By addressing both physical and psychological safety, PAPI fosters a well-rounded, supportive work environment. Rising Female Star of the Year Award in collaboration with SOWSHE-A WINNER: Dr. Maryam Bin Essa, Dubai Municipality Dr. Maryam Bin Essa's career at Dubai Municipality (DM) is testament to visionary leadership, innovative solutions, and steadfast commitment to health, safety, wellbeing, and environmental management (HSWE). Her journey from Manager of the Environmental Health Section to her current role as Deputy Director of Health and Safety Department showcases her exceptional capability to shape future leadership in this field. During her tenure as Manager of Environmental Health Section, she developed key policies and strategic initiatives, as well as making significant contributions to water safety, leading to 13 intellectual property recognitions that have benefited entities and service providers in Dubai. Dr. Maryam is committed to driving leadership in health, safety and wellbeing management through innovative initiatives and strategic mentorship. Environmental Award WINNER: King Saud University, Medical City King Saud University Medical City (KSUMC) is Saudi Arabia's largest teaching hospital. With three hospitals, an 1800-bed capacity, and 145 medical programs, KSUMC serves a pivotal role in healthcare education and service. Climate change presents growing risks to healthcare institutions, including threats to infrastructure, patient care, and emergency preparedness. KSUMC has developed a comprehensive disaster management strategy, including an Internal Disaster Management Plan, an External Disaster Management Plan, and a Hazard Vulnerability Assessment (HVA) tool to evaluate climate change risks. This proactive approach helps assess the likelihood and severity of natural events such as sandstorms, temperature extremes, and epidemics, guiding the hospital's risk mitigation efforts. Lifetime Achievement Award WINNER: Jason Anker, Anker & Marsh In 1993, at just 24 years old, Jason suffered a life-changing accident. While working on an unsupported ladder, he fell and was left permanently paralysed, confining him to a wheelchair and altering the course of his life and the lives of his family - one that has not always been easy for him to tell – he aims to help others and ensure that no other families have to endure the pain and hardship that his own family did. Jason's message – which can be summed up as one of hope and inspiration – is one told with confidence and clarity about the importance of mental health, wellbeing, and safety in the workplace. He shares the lessons he has learned in the hope of inspiring others to be the best versions of themselves and take better care of their mental health and safety. Throughout his recovery journey, Jason came to understand why he made his unsafe decision on the day of his accident, and this self-reflection fires his passion for promoting mental health and safety in the workplace. Jason now emphasises that if he had been in the positive mental state he is in today, he would have spoken up about the dangers he was facing. He advocates for a culture where individuals are encouraged to speak up about safety concerns, look out for themselves and others, and prioritise their wellbeing. Jason is an everyday hero. Best in Sector Art and culture – museums/galleries KULTUR A.S. - Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyesi Construction Spaceage General - D-111247 Construction of Two (2) New 33/11 KV Primary substations For Al Reeman 01,02 and Baniyas North as well as associated 33KV and FO cable works Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates Consultancy and advisory WSP - Zayed National Museum Defence BAE Systems Naval Ships Education The Sheffield College Gas GAIL (India) Limited, Gas Processing Unit, Gandhar Health and social care Sodexo Health And Care - Wythenshawe Hospital Hospitality and catering Alliad Company DMCC IT CTRLS Datacenters Limited, Hyderabad. Leisure and sports clubs Sheffield United Football Club Local government Qatar Free Zone Authority (QFZ) Manufacturing Zuari Cement Limited - Sitapuram Works Mining and quarrying Artmin Madencilik Oil ONGC Cambay Asset Other property activities Ejadah Asset Management - DIFC Power and utility NTPC Limited - Darlipali Super Thermal Power Station Scientific and technical services Thermo Fisher Scientific India Pvt. Ltd. - Corporate Office Mumbai, Maharashtra Storage / warehousing White Stuff Ltd. - Distribution Centre Transportation / logistics Borusan Lojistik Dagitim Depolama Tasimacilik VE Ticaret A.S Best in Country Asia (other) HP Commercial Resort Kingdom of Saudi Arabia El Seif Engineering Contracting, Head Office Kuwait WSP Middle East - South Surra Project (RA/257) Middle East (other) China State Construction Engineering Corp. Ltd (Egypt) & CSCEC International Installation Engineering Co., Ltd - Alamein Downtown Towers Pakistan Fatima Fertilizers Limited, Multan Qatar Qatar Free Zone Authority (QFZ) Singapore China Communications Construction Company Limited (Singapore Branch) - CR109 - Design and Construction of Tampines North Station and Tunnels Turkey BOTAŞ International Anonim Şirketi UAE Dubai Municipality - Health & Safety Department United Kingdom Willmott Dixon Construction London and East Chief Adjudicator's Award WINNER: Coromandel International Limited, Vizag About the International Safety Awards scheme The International Safety Awards, sponsored by HSI Donesafe, are open to organisations of all types, sizes and sectors in the UK and internationally, both members of the British Safety Council and non-members, and relate to the health and safety management at a specific site or business unit. The awards include a range of auto enter awards as well as free to enter awards. About British Safety Council British Safety Council believes that no-one should be injured or made ill through their work. Since its foundation in 1957, British Safety Council has campaigned tirelessly to protect workers from accidents, hazards and unsafe conditions, and played a decisive role in the political process that has led to the adoption of landmark safety legislation in the UK. Its members in more than 60 countries are committed to protecting and improving the wellbeing of workers, believing that a healthy and safe work environment is also good for business. British Safety Council is a registered charity (Charity No. 1097271 and OSCR No. SC037998). As part of its charitable work, British Safety Council leads health and safety networking forums for numerous sectors, facilitates and promotes best practice in the UK and overseas. It also offers a range of services and products, including training, qualifications, publications, audits and awards. British Safety Council works closely with organisations, charities and individuals who share its vision of ensuring that every worker goes home at the end of the day as healthy as they were when they went to work. Please use British Safety Council in full rather than abbreviating to BSC when quoting the organisation. British Safety Council's networks: |Website: Twitter: Facebook: YouTube: LinkedIn: Safety Management: Media contact: Julian Quigley Media Relations Manager British Safety Council Email: / press@
The Independent
30-04-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
From Olympians to Love Island stars: The famous faces standing in the local elections in your area
Local councillors are usually obscure figures, passionate local activists hoping to improve their areas or ambitious party loyalists wanting to climb the electoral ladder. But among the thousands of councillors standing across the country on Thursday, a few names stand out. From Olympians to ousted ex-MPs, The Independent looks at how the main parties are hoping star power will help their candidates over the line in one of the most unpredictable sets of local elections in British history. Stiliyan Petrov Stiliyan Petrov, the son of an ex-Aston Villa and Bulgaria captain of the same name, is standing for Reform UK in the May local elections. His father is Bulgaria's most capped player and he hopes to represent Nigel Farage 's party in Lapworth & West Kenilworth, Warwickshire. 'I decided to stand for election because I think it's time the working-class people and the youth of this country have a voice that'll actually represent them,' the ex-professional footballer's son said. James Cracknell James Cracknell is standing for a seat on Oxfordshire County Council. The double Olympic gold medal-winning rower is standing as a Conservative for Henley, having previously attempted to become the area's MP. He was awarded an OBE for 'services to sport' in the 2005 New Year Honours list and is promising to help Henley 'get its buzz back', according to the local Conservatives. As a rower, he has made holding water companies to account over river cleanliness a key issue he is fighting on. Luke Campbell Reform UK's candidate for the Hull and East Yorkshire mayoral election is also an Olympic gold medalist. The boxer is swapping his gloves for the chance to represent the region as the first head of the new combined authority. He is the favourite to win, according to a recent More in Common poll, in what promises to be one of the closest results of the night as Reform, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats and Labour all stand a chance. Mr Campbell, who won gold at the London 2012 Olympics, said Hull and East Yorkshire has 'given me everything' and that he now wants to fight for the region in return. Ollie Williams The Love Island star is hoping to strike it lucky with voters and win a Reform UK seat on Cornwall council. Ollie Williams appeared on the ITV dating show in 2020, but left after just three days claiming he had feelings for another woman. The 29-year-old sparked fury among viewers as photos emerged of him posing beside dead animals, leading to suggestions he was 'trophy hunting'. He has avoided the limelight in the years since his appearance on the ITV show, but is now standing for Reform in the Lostwithiel and Lanreath ward. 'Our freedom of speech and society has been eroded for far too long and it's time to act,' he declared. Arron Banks Self-styled 'Brexit bad boy' Arron Banks co-founded the campaign alongside now Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice. The long-standing Farage supporter is now running to become the West of England mayor for his party. Announcing his candidacy at Reform's local election launch in Birmingham, he called on people to 'vote Banksy for Bristol'. As well as close ties to Mr Farage, Mr Banks has a history of ties to Donald Trump and was pictured with him after the US Presidential election in 2016. He has cited Mr Trump's success as being the result of connecting with voters on an emotional level. Mr Banks and Mr Farage drew the interest of Robert Mueller as part of his investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 election. Mr Banks described the investigation as a 'witch hunt'. Mr Banks also made headlines after the tragic murder of Labour MP Jo Cox in 2016. At the time, he commissioned a controversial poll on whether her murder had affected public opinion on voting.
The Independent
29-04-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
From Olympians to Love Island stars:The famous face standing in the local elections in your area
Local councillors are usually obscure figures, passionate local activists hoping to improve their areas or ambitious party loyalists wanting to climb the electoral ladder. But among the thousands of councillors standing across the country on Thursday, a few names stand out. From Olympians to ousted ex-MPs, The Independent looks at how the main parties are hoping star power will help their candidates over the line in one of the most unpredictable sets of local elections in British history. Stiliyan Petrov, the son of an ex-Aston Villa and Bulgaria captain of the same name, is standing for Reform UK in the May local elections. His father is Bulgaria's most capped player and he hopes to represent Nigel Farage 's party in Lapworth & West Kenilworth, Warwickshire. 'I decided to stand for election because I think it's time the working-class people and the youth of this country have a voice that'll actually represent them,' the ex-professional footballer's son said. James Cracknell James Cracknell is standing for a seat on Oxfordshire County Council. The double Olympic gold medal-winning rower is standing as a Conservative for Henley, having previously attempted to become the area's MP. He was awarded an OBE for 'services to sport' in the 2005 New Year Honours list and is promising to help Henley 'get its buzz back', according to the local Conservatives. As a rower, he has made holding water companies to account over river cleanliness a key issue he is fighting on. Luke Campbell Reform UK's candidate for the Hull and East Yorkshire mayoral election is also an Olympic gold medalist. The boxer is swapping his gloves for the chance to represent the region as the first head of the new combined authority. He is the favourite to win, according to a recent More in Common poll, in what promises to be one of the closest results of the night as Reform, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats and Labour all stand a chance. Mr Campbell, who won gold at the London 2012 Olympics, said Hull and East Yorkshire has 'given me everything' and that he now wants to fight for the region in return. Ollie Williams The Love Island star is hoping to strike it lucky with voters and win a Reform UK seat on Cornwall council. Ollie Williams appeared on the ITV dating show in 2020, but left after just three days claiming he had feelings for another woman. The 29-year-old sparked fury among viewers as photos emerged of him posing beside dead animals, leading to suggestions he was 'trophy hunting'. He has avoided the limelight in the years since his appearance on the ITV show, but is now standing for Reform in the Lostwithiel and Lanreath ward. 'Our freedom of speech and society has been eroded for far too long and it's time to act,' he declared. Arron Banks Self-styled 'Brexit bad boy' Arron Banks co-founded the campaign alongside now Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice. The long-standing Farage supporter is now running to become the West of England mayor for his party. Announcing his candidacy at Reform's local election launch in Birmingham, he called on people to 'vote Banksy for Bristol'. As well as close ties to Mr Farage, Mr Banks has a history of ties to Donald Trump and was pictured with him after the US Presidential election in 2016. He has cited Mr Trump's success as being the result of connecting with voters on an emotional level. Mr Banks and Mr Farage drew the interest of Robert Mueller as part of his investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 election. Mr Banks described the investigation as a 'witch hunt'. Mr Banks also made headlines after the tragic murder of Labour MP Jo Cox in 2016. At the time, he commissioned a controversial poll on whether her murder had affected public opinion on voting.
The Independent
20-03-2025
- Health
- The Independent
James Cracknell on recovering from a brain injury and the importance of asking for help
Recovering from a traumatic brain injury has been a long journey for former Olympic rower James Cracknell. But 15 years after the wing mirror of a fuel tanker smashed into his head as he was cycling in the US, the double Olympic gold medallist is close to being back to normal, following a gargantuan struggle to understand the way his injury affected his personality, mental health and capabilities. It was a struggle that cost him his marriage to the TV presenter Beverley Turner, the mother of his three children, as the damage to the frontal lobe of his brain caused personality changes, memory problems, and epilepsy, as well as leaving him unable to recognise people's faces, and losing his sense of taste and smell. But now, thanks to counselling, groundbreaking new scans that have helped identify his specific areas of brain damage and the behaviour linked to it, plus a simple acceptance that he needed help, the Olympian who once described himself as 'the man who used to be James Cracknell' is now not far off being the original James again. Speaking to mark World Head Injury Awareness Day (March 20), Cracknell, 52, recalls that after the accident: 'My ex said to me 'you've become more of you', but if I'm looking honestly at my characteristics, they're stubborn, competitive, determined and pretty unforgiving – and if those characteristics are heightened, it's not good. 'They're very good traits in what I used to do, in a sporting environment, but they're not so useful for a happy family life. 'But I'm definitely more like I was before now than I was five years ago.' Cracknell doesn't shy away from the way he could behave after the accident, calling himself 'a d***' and admitting: 'I think it's harder on other family members, because a lot of sympathy goes to the person who had the accident, rather than the people around them. So 'he gets all the sympathy but he's a d***'.' Nevertheless, although he wholeheartedly agrees he was 'very fortunate' to survive the accident, and sustain no other injuries, what frustrates him more than anything is people assuming he can't do things because of his head injury. 'The biggest thing to get over was people close to me, and people I didn't know, placing a limit on what they thought I could do compared to before the accident, and then everything I did ever since was viewed through the prism of the brain injury, rather than I'd always made dodgy decisions.' The former athlete, who won golds in the coxless fours at the Sydney and Athens Olympics, as well as six World Championship titles, admits that for many years after the accident he had a mental barrier to accepting he needed help. 'I think one of the big, big barriers, especially having done sport, is admitting or asking for help,' he says. 'Because I was so used to sorting my own problems out, I just thought 'I can do that, I can do that'. I didn't want to ask for help. 'So the first barrier for me was being able to ask for help and thinking I needed it, and actually realising asking for help is a sign of strength, not a sign of weakness. Prioritising therapy and counselling is really important.' Cracknell, who successfully won compensation for the accident after a one-and-a-half-year legal fight in America, didn't have counselling until around 2018 – eight years after the accident – and says: 'What I'm not good at is if a routine changes or if we plan something, and then it changes. I feel more and more inflexible about that, which is very difficult when plans change all the time. 'I have the reaction more of a teenager than an adult. But what I'm better at now, through therapy, is being more self-reflective, and just saying 'OK, don't be a d***'. I didn't have that before – I just thought everyone else was being a d***'.' In addition, he feels his emotions were 'really dampened at the top' by the head injury – so, for example, in the past if he was having a nice time with his kids, it's occurred to him that he should have been feeling happier than he actually did. 'It definitely helps to be more reflective,' he explains. 'I think getting divorced and not living with the kids means I cherish the time I do have with them in a different way.' Another improvement is that Cracknell, who now coaches rowing, says he thinks more before answering questions – a trait demonstrated by occasional pauses before he speaks. 'That's because after the accident I really didn't think at all, I had no filter, and good or bad, it would come out. I think I'm definitely more cognisant of other people now,' he says. He still has counselling, although not as frequently, having couples 'pre-counselling' with his second wife Jordan Connell, who he married in 2021. 'My wife is American, and it's a very different attitude to therapy over there,' he says. 'If couples go to counselling here, normally it's at the end of the relationship, rather than just after we got married. It's actually very useful not to have a stigma around it.' As well as finding counselling useful, Cracknell – who has also taken part in a number of daunting endurance challenges, including the Atlantic Rowing Race and the race to the South Pole, both with his friend Ben Fogle – has recently had cutting-edge brain scans that revealed the full extent of his injury. The scans, arranged by the brain injury lawyers Coulthursts, showed significant changes to the structure and function of Cracknell's brain that weren't apparent from standard MRI images, including elevated gamma waves in his brain's face-processing area, explaining the difficulties he's had with recognising familiar faces. He explains that after the accident, he'd go to dinners and meet sponsors, but wouldn't recognise them the next week. 'I think it quite annoyed them,' he says, 'so if I was going to a dinner I'd see who was on my table, then try and get a picture of them, and work out if I'd seen them before so I could then have a coping strategy.' He adds: 'Understanding the extent of the damage earlier would have given me the tools to adapt much sooner. Instead of trial and error over 15 years, I could have developed coping strategies immediately. 'If I'd known then what I know now, so many things could have been different.'
