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BBC News
16-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Tanni Grey-Thompson humiliated after flight delay blame
After the late departure of a flight was blamed on her, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson has described how humiliated she it was not her fault, she said the captain announced the delay in leaving was "because of the wheelchair".The Welsh cross-bench peer and former Paralympian has led a UK government-commissioned review looking at how airline and airport staff support disabled passengers. It found they are receiving "inconsistent" training, with 19 recommendations made, including disability awareness training being rolled out for all aviation roles, including crew, ground services and hospitality. "I'm not sure people understand the humiliation when it's not a disabled person's fault," Baroness Grey-Thompson said on BBC Breakfast."The captain announced 'we are leaving late because of the wheelchair'."I was at the gate an hour early. No-one came to put me on the plane."Reflecting on the review's findings, Baroness Grey-Thompson told Radio Wales Breakfast that they found "six or seven different types of training" at one airport, meaning it could be very confusing.A lack of a universal training system meant disabled passengers faced uncertainty about the support on offer when flying as each airline based at the airport had a different methodThe review also highlighted the need for passengers to access information easily about their would include support for finding in-airport services, detailed guidance on how their mobility aids will be transported and information about requesting and booking assistance."We found there was inconsistent information on airports, navigating airports and getting assistance," said Baroness taskforce also called for passengers to be able to find transparent information on complaints procedures. Baroness Grey-Thompson said the report is the "next critical step" in making air travel more inclusive for disabled people."There are issues for disabled people in all modes of transport. But with flying it's inconsistent and not the experience people would want," she group will now work to help ensure its proposals are adopted by airlines, airports and regulator the Civil Aviation Authority."This is not the end. It's going to be interesting to see how the industry thinks differently about what it does," said Baroness comes after disability campaigners called for airlines to update their regulations to better support those with mobility issues in August last journalist and wheelchair user Frank Gardner was also forced to wait 95 minutes for a medical lift so he could leave an aircraft at Heathrow last airport apologised and said the delay was caused by its assistance provider responding to a medical emergency, which reduced the number of vehicles available. UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: "Everyone should be able to travel with dignity and be respected at every stage of their journeys, including disabled passengers.""That's why we established this group in November last year, and I welcome this report's findings."Karen Dee, boss of industry group AirportsUK, said the report will "build on the work already being done by airports, and the wider sector, to ensure air travel is accessible to all".
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
New boss Barry-Murphy gets backing from ex-favourite
Former Cardiff City striker Michael Chopra has given the appointment of Brian Barry-Murphy hjs blessing – but warned the Bluebirds will be under pressure to from the off in League One. Barry-Murphy - pictured above with chief executive Ken Choo - was named new head coach on Monday and will lead the club in their first season back in the third tier since 2003. Advertisement Chopra, speaking on Radio Wales Breakfast, says he thinks the former Manchester City academy coach is the right man to take on the challenge. But he did warn that expectations will be high for the 46-year-old who was appointed after a lengthy process. "I think it's a good appointment," ex-forward Chopra said. "Whether he was the first choice, I'm not too sure. Some people thought it would be Aaron Ramsey but it wasn't to be. "But from what I've heard and the people I've spoken to, he seems like he will be a good manager. The type of person he is, the way he plays his football it could be great for Cardiff City. Advertisement "It's his first senior role for a while but he's been at Man City, the top club and learned his trade from Guardiola and you don't get better than that." However, on the challenge ahead, Chopra said: "They need a good start because if they don't there will be a lot of pressure on the club. "People are expecting to bounce back but it's harder than you think."
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Anger as Oxford rail line classed as Wales project
There is anger that a multi-billion pound project to build a railway line between Oxford and Cambridge has been classed as an England and Wales project. The £6.6bn line will see no tracks laid in Wales, but because of the way it has been classified, it means the country will not benefit from any extra cash. David Chadwick, Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe, told Radio Wales Breakfast it was "HS2 all over again". The UK government said it was paid for through its "rail network enhancements pipeline, which funds projects in both England and Wales". Chadwick said Wales was "being denied hundreds of millions in funding that could transform our own rail network". He added that Labour expected people in Wales "to believe the ridiculous idea that this project will benefit them and they are justified in not giving Wales the money it needs to improve our own public transport systems". Why a 49-mile train journey took me seven hours From paralysis to Parliament in 10 years for MP Wales has 'entitlement' to HS2 cash - ex-minister Unlike Northern Ireland and Scotland, most of Wales' railway is funded by the UK government, and not ministers in Cardiff. Under the system used to fund the devolved nations, called the Barnett Formula, Scotland and Northern Ireland get extra money when more cash is spent on rail in England and Wales. It follows the long-standing row over HS2 - deemed to be an England and Wales project - so Wales gets no extra cash, which would be the case if it was England only. However, none of the track planned for HS2 will reach Wales. Differing figures have been given for how much politicians think Wales is owed from HS2, from £4bn suggested by Plaid Cyrmu and the Welsh government in the past to £350m in the most recent figures from Welsh ministers. The UK government said its rail network enhancements pipeline also paid for the redevelopment of Cardiff Central Station, improved level crossings in north Wales and support for the upgraded south Wales relief lines. Wales' Transport Secretary Ken Skates said the UK and Welsh governments had agreed "an ambitious pipeline of improvements that will make up for underinvestment by previous governments" and were "seeking a fair share of investment".
BBC News
28-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Powys runner raises thousands in marathon after saving life
A runner has raised thousands of pounds for charity after saving the life of fellow Nicholson, 35, was running in Builth Wells, Powys, last September when he noticed a runner in was Darren Hughes who had "just collapsed" and Lee worried he might have from Newbridge on Wye, told Radio Wales Breakfast he "didn't know what was going on" but has been called a "hero" after saving Darren's life that day. Lee was carrying his phone at the time, which he usually never does, and phoned the emergency services."One of the first questions they ask is, is the patient breathing?" he said. I checked and I could tell straight away he wasn't, so I went straight into CPR."Lee performed CPR for about 20 minutes until paramedics initially thought the collapse was caused by acid reflux, but later discovered he had suffered a cardiac arrest."I've got no memory of it, that's the strange thing," he said."I can't even remember what feeling I had in my body." Darren said his running route is usually "very, very quiet" adding that it was "pure luck" someone found fact that his "hero" Lee also knew how to perform CPR was a life-saving was inspired to run in the London Marathon and said the atmosphere was something he had "never experienced"."It was incredible the amount of people shouting your name and the support was ridiculous really," Lee was "pleased" with his time finishing in a very respectable time of three hours and 51 minutes, raising thousands for charity."I was just pleased to get around in the end to be honest," he said.
Wales Online
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Race Across the World: Inside stunning jet-set life of show's youngest ever couple Sioned and Fin
Race Across the World: Inside stunning jet-set life of show's youngest ever couple Sioned and Fin Fin and Sioned will be taking on the adventure of a lifetime on Race Across the World, but before that they hadn't travelled further than Europe together, up until a point... Sioned and Fin from Carmarthen are set to be the youngest competitors to feature on Race Across the World. (Image: BBC ) Childhood sweethearts from Carmarthen, Sioned and Fin, are set to undertake an epic journey as they appear in the latest series of Race Across the World on BBC One. At just 18 and 19 at the time of recording, Fin and Sioned are making history as the youngest participants to compete in the show, setting their sights firmly on victory. Swapping their quaint Welsh life for an awe-inspiring 14,000km trek across Asia, the race starts at the Great Wall of China before taking on four other teams through China, Nepal, and India, then concluding the competition in Kanniyakumari, India's southernmost point. Before competing on the show the pair admitted they hadn't travelled further than Europe together. But, since then, they have posted their glamorous holidays all over Instagram. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter . Article continues below In an interview with Radio Wales Breakfast Fin said: "We'd never been outside of Europe together. "So to then go somewhere like China, where the language and culture are completely different - it was just us, relying on each other for the first time." When they took on the challenge back in October, 2024, the furthest they had travelled together was Tenerife in the Canary Islands. Content cannot be displayed without consent Sioned told the radio show that despite being together since childhood they had "never really done anything outside of this little relationship in Wales". They first became an item four years ago at just 13 years old, and they were both excited to compete in the new season of Race Across the World and thought it would be the ultimate test to their relationship. Sioned shared her anticipation: "I wanted to travel anyway, so it's a great start for that, but along with discovering more about myself and Fin, just strengthening that bond in a very real and authentic way." She elaborated on the couple's quest not only in terms of discovery but also dependency, remarking: "We've not really been together just the two of us before so this is something where we will have to rely and depend on each other, we don't have another choice. A lot about self-discovery I think as well as seeing more of the world in the process." Fin remarked: "It's a way to see if me and her can be together basically, if it can work forever. A challenge to see if it will make or break us." Sioned expressed her desire for the competition to strengthen their relationship, saying: "We've got such a strong bond anyway, but to know 100% that we can fully depend on each other and just see more of the world." Since appearing on the show, the pair have shared pics of their travels together, including Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, in Australia. Content cannot be displayed without consent Sioned was initially encouraged by her mother to join the competition with her brother, but ultimately chose to partner with Fin. She relayed: "They love the show themselves and they're very sad to see me go, but they know it's an insane opportunity and want me to really go for it." The couple will be up against four other duos in the contest, including siblings Elizabeth and Letitia; ex-spouses Yin and Gaz; brothers Brian and Melvyn; and mother-son pair Caroline and Tom. Fin and Sioned will be on Race Across the World tonight, Wednesday, April 23 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 9pm. Article continues below
