Latest news with #NeilAnderson
The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
Who was Veronica Anderson and how did she die?
VERA Anderson received a phone call prompting her to leave her seven-year-old son in the care of a neighbour, saying she would be gone for 10 minutes. Described as fun-loving, popular and family-oriented, five hours later she was found dead in her own car with her throat slit — a crime which remains unsolved since 1991. 5 Who was Veronica Anderson? Veronica Anderson, often known as Vera, was a 42-year-old single mother residing in Widnes, Cheshire. She was well-liked in her community and co-ran a sandwich business with her teenage daughter, supplying local shops and factories. On the night of August 24, 1991, Veronica was at home with her two children. Her daughter, Lorraine, was 19 and pregnant, while her son, Neil, was just seven years old. At around 10pm, Veronica received a phone call. The identity of the caller has never been established, but whatever was said prompted her to ask a neighbour to look after her son Neil, explaining she would be back in about 10 minutes. Roughly ten minutes after she received the phone call, Veronica left her home and headed out in her blue Ford Cortina — she was never seen alive again. In the early hours of August 25, 1991, Veronica's body was discovered in her car off Tannery Lane in Penketh, Warrington, more than four miles from her home. She had been brutally murdered — her throat was cut, and there were signs of a violent struggle. A blood-stained glove and a length of cord, similar to window sash cord, were found at the scene — both believed to have been left by her killer. The attack was neither sexual nor a robbery, but the level and nature of the violence had the hallmarks of a hitman. Despite extensive investigations, the person responsible for her murder has never been identified or brought to justice. Over the years, the case has remained unsolved, despite renewed appeals and even arrests. 5 At the time of her death, Vera had been seeing a trucker for about three years. The man, who was eliminated from inquiries, stayed overnight at her home on August 23, 1991. In September 2024, Vera's daughter Lorraine Newton made a fresh plea for justice, saying: "It would be fantastic if the police could get someone for the murder. "It would be a form of relief to think they have got what they deserved." She continued: "I still hope that one day the culprit will get the justice they deserve. 5 "I would say to anyone who knows who did it to speak to the police. He has got away with this for so long and he could do it again. "Somebody knows — maybe his wife — if they do I don't know how they could live with that for 33 years. It is a very hard secret to keep. "She might have been threatened of course — 'open your mouth and I'm going to do it to you'." Media coverage The case has been featured in media and true crime programs, including reconstructions on Crimewatch. An episode of In The Footsteps of Killers examines the case of Veronica Anderson's unsolved murder. Emilia Fox and David Wilson investigate the mother-of-two's tragic demise. In The Footsteps of Killers: The Murder of Vera Anderson airs on Channel 4 at 10pm on Tuesday, July 1, 2025.
BBC News
15-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Man's 15-year quest to uncover Sheffield Blitz history
A man has dedicated 15 years of his life to uncover what happened to his grandmother and other families during the Sheffield Blitz in Anderson decided to take on the project after the chance discovery of an unpublished memoir following Dorothy Glover's death at the age of 93 in Anderson, who runs a PR consultancy in the city, said his upcoming four-book set titled "Sheffield Blitz - The Definitive Collection" would reveal the untold war secrets families believed had gone to the Anderson said: "This isn't just history, it's a time machine into your family's hidden past and a record to ensure their stories are never forgotten." Dorothy Glover was in her 20s when bombs rained on the city on 12 and 15 December 1940, killing hundreds of people and leaving thousands Glover spoke very little of the war during her lifetime but left behind her memories in the form of a book, discovered after her death just before the 70th anniversary of the Blitz. To Mr Anderson's surprise, she did not write about the horrors of the war but much simpler aspects of life."It talks about the nights spent in a communal air raid shelter in the Fir Vale area," Mr Anderson, who is the chair of the Sheffield Blitz Memorial Trust, said."It was all the petty squabbles that used to kick off between the neighbours night after night."The discovery of her memoir sparked Mr Anderson's desire to find out more about what he described as a "big part of Sheffield's story". "This was something that totally reshaped [the city] but there was so little to mark it," he said."That really put me on a journey, I thought I'd love to do more to mark what actually happened."His research included interviews with hundreds of survivors, weeks spent in archives in both the UK and Germany, and collaboration with the Imperial War Museum. Mr Anderson said part of his collection focused on why Sheffield had one of the lowest evacuation rates in the country and why bombs were still falling four years after the Blitz. "I started this journey with one question: What really happened to my family during the Sheffield Blitz?", said Mr Anderson. "Like so many people, my grandparents lived through the bombings but never spoke about them. "I had to find the answers for myself - and for everyone else still wondering."To officially launch the collection, Mr Anderson will host a free event on 11 June at Sheffield Central the collection's discoveries is a set of original German bombing maps, smuggled out of Germany after the war, hundreds of rare photographs as well as a full lists of every civilian casualty in World War to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Blitz artefacts wanted for expanded exhibition
A history group is urging local people to come forward with meaningful and sentimental objects from the Sheffield Blitz, as part of plans to expand a museum about World War Two. Sheffield Blitz Memorial Trust wants to create a larger, permanent exhibition of items from the air raids on the city centre in 1940. Chair of the trust, Neil Anderson, said the expanded exhibition, at the National Emergency Services Museum (NESM) in Sheffield, would be established over the coming months, and aimed to "bring history to life". Items in the current collection include fused coins and a bible, but the trust are keen to secure heirlooms and memorabilia "that tell a personal story" of the event. The Sheffield Blitz, as it became known, was marked by two nights of German Luftwaffe air raids on the city centre and the city's industrial area, from 12-13 December and on 15-16 December 1940. Seven hundred people died as a result of the bombing. The Moor - nowadays a large shopping area - was devastated by the bombardment, along with Devonshire Green. The City Hall and Sheffield United's Bramall Lane football ground were also damaged, and 70 people were killed when The Marples Hotel, on Fitzalan Square near Ponds Forge, was flattened. A blue plaque was subsequently erected where the hotel stood to honour those killed. The new exhibition is being funded by a donation of more than £91,000 to the Blitz Kids project, from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. "To ensure the display tells the most powerful and personal story possible, the museum is asking the people of Sheffield if they have something they think might suit the exhibition," said Mr Anderson. Items already on show include coins from the wreckage of the Marples Hotel, which were fused together from the extreme heat - "a poignant reminder of the tragic loss of life inside the building", he said. The collection also includes a bible, the only item which survived a direct hit on a Sheffield home. "These deeply personal objects help illustrate the devastating impact of the blitz, making the history tangible for future generations," he said. "We know there are treasured objects hidden away in drawers and attics that could help tell the story of Sheffield's darkest hours. "Whether it's photographs, letters, medals, shrapnel, or household items that survived the bombing, the museum is particularly keen to find new objects that tell a personal story." The Sheffield Blitz Codenamed Operation Crucible by the Germans Almost 700 people died and 82,000 (out of 150,000) houses were damaged Around 330 aircraft were involved in the bombardment which lasted for nine hours overnight on 12 December 1940 A second raid on 15-16 December hit the industrial area, east of the city centre Mains water supplies quickly ran out and water needed to be relayed from public baths - and even the River Don - to fight the fires. Further raids were mounted by the Luftwaffe on the city later in the war, but they were not of the same intensity as the December 1940 raids. Source: SYFRS and Sheffield City Council Mr Anderson said thousands of visitors visit the Sheffield Blitz exhibition at the NESM every year, and a book featuring the stories of Sheffield's Blitz Kids - the last generation to have lived through the attacks - is in production. The National Lottery money will also fund a series of educational and community engagement activities, including training for volunteers in interview recording, web design and research. Anyone with an item connected to the Sheffield Blitz, which could be loaned or donated, should contact the museum on 0114 249 1999 or email info@ Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Sheffield Blitz National Emergency Services Museum Blue plaque for 70 killed during WWII bombing Blitz firefighter among WW2 dead remembered
BBC News
01-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Sheffield Blitz artefacts wanted for expanded exhibition
A history group is urging local people to come forward with meaningful and sentimental objects from the Sheffield Blitz, as part of plans to expand a museum about World War Blitz Memorial Trust wants to create a larger, permanent exhibition of items from the air raids on the city centre in of the trust, Neil Anderson, said the expanded exhibition, at the National Emergency Services Museum (NESM) in Sheffield, would be established over the coming months, and aimed to "bring history to life".Items in the current collection include fused coins and a bible, but the trust are keen to secure heirlooms and memorabilia "that tell a personal story" of the event. What was the Sheffield Blitz? The Sheffield Blitz, as it became known, was marked by two nights of German Luftwaffe air raids on the city centre and the city's industrial area, from 12-13 December and on 15-16 December hundred people died as a result of the Moor - nowadays a large shopping area - was devastated by the bombardment, along with Devonshire City Hall and Sheffield United's Bramall Lane football ground were also damaged, and 70 people were killed when The Marples Hotel, on Fitzalan Square near Ponds Forge, was flattened. A blue plaque was subsequently erected where the hotel stood to honour those killed. The new exhibition is being funded by a donation of more than £91,000 to the Blitz Kids project, from the National Lottery Heritage Fund."To ensure the display tells the most powerful and personal story possible, the museum is asking the people of Sheffield if they have something they think might suit the exhibition," said Mr already on show include coins from the wreckage of the Marples Hotel, which were fused together from the extreme heat - "a poignant reminder of the tragic loss of life inside the building", he collection also includes a bible, the only item which survived a direct hit on a Sheffield home."These deeply personal objects help illustrate the devastating impact of the blitz, making the history tangible for future generations," he said."We know there are treasured objects hidden away in drawers and attics that could help tell the story of Sheffield's darkest hours. "Whether it's photographs, letters, medals, shrapnel, or household items that survived the bombing, the museum is particularly keen to find new objects that tell a personal story." The Sheffield BlitzCodenamed Operation Crucible by the GermansAlmost 700 people died and 82,000 (out of 150,000) houses were damagedAround 330 aircraft were involved in the bombardment which lasted for nine hours overnight on 12 December 1940A second raid on 15-16 December hit the industrial area, east of the city centreMains water supplies quickly ran out and water needed to be relayed from public baths - and even the River Don - to fight the raids were mounted by the Luftwaffe on the city later in the war, but they were not of the same intensity as the December 1940 SYFRS and Sheffield City Council Mr Anderson said thousands of visitors visit the Sheffield Blitz exhibition at the NESM every year, and a book featuring the stories of Sheffield's Blitz Kids - the last generation to have lived through the attacks - is in production. The National Lottery money will also fund a series of educational and community engagement activities, including training for volunteers in interview recording, web design and with an item connected to the Sheffield Blitz, which could be loaned or donated, should contact the museum on 0114 249 1999 or email info@ to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Illinois parents, lawmakers sound alarm over proposed homeschooling bill: 'Direct assault on families'
Conservative lawmakers in Illinois are sounding the alarm about a bill that could drastically change homeschooling rules in the Prairie State. The Homeschool Act, also known as HB2827, would mandate homeschooling parents to fill out a "homeschool declaration form" that would essentially register them in their nearest public school district. The children of parents who don't fill out the form are considered "truant, with penalties applying," according to the bill's synopsis. It also requires documentation of immunizations and health examinations for children who wish to participate in public school activities. "[If a] child in a homeschool program seeks to enroll part time in a public school or participate in any public school activities taking place on or off of school grounds, the homeschool administrator must submit proof that the child has received all required immunizations and health examinations or a signed Certificate of Religious Exemption," the text states. Department Of Education Launches 'Enddei' Portal For Parents, Students, Teachers To Report Discrimination The bill also "sets forth requirements for homeschool administrators and programs and reporting requirements." Read On The Fox News App "[The bill] makes conforming and other changes in the Freedom of Information Act, the School Code, and the Illinois School Student Records Act, including requiring (rather than allowing) nonpublic schools to register with the State Board of Education," the synopsis concludes. The Illinois State Board of Education's Education Policy Committee is reviewing the bill on Wednesday – but opposing lawmakers have encouraged constituents to submit witness slips in an attempt to halt any further progress on the bill. Illinois state senator Neil Anderson said on Facebook that 30,000 witness slips have been submitted. "After nearly 30,000 witness slips opposing this attack on our private and home schools, we need the public to resubmit their witness slips before tomorrow's House Education Policy Committee meeting at 8 AM," the Republican wrote. University Of Minnesota Students Rail Against College Leadership Over Wishy-washy Stand On Ice "Make your voice heard and protect our right to homeschool!" Chris Miller, a Republican representative in the Illinois House of Representatives, also called attention to the bill in a Facebook post. "HB2827 is scheduled for the House Education Policy Committee tomorrow," Miller wrote. "As a father of 7 homeschooled children, I find this bill to be a direct assault on families across Illinois!" Some left-leaning politicians have also voiced concerns about HB2827. Illinois state representative La Shawn Ford, a Democrat, told local outlet The Center Square that he's "not for it." "From the constituents that I've gotten calls from, I'm understanding why they don't like it," Ford is quoted as saying. "The loss of their autonomy, that's a major concern that they lose the autonomy over their children, which is why they choose homeschooling. They want to have control over their children's education, including the curriculum, how they teach and the philosophy."Original article source: Illinois parents, lawmakers sound alarm over proposed homeschooling bill: 'Direct assault on families'
