Latest news with #Selfridge
Daily Mirror
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Fearne Cotton's ex goes public with Made In Chelsea star girlfriend
Fearne Cotton and Jesse Wood, who share two kids, called time on their relationship last year before the son of Rolling Stones star, Ronnie Wood, moved on with Gemma Gregory Fearne Cotton's ex-husband, Jesse Wood, has made his first public appearance with his new girlfriend, Gemma Gregory. The son of Rolling Stones rocker, Ronnie Wood, split with Fearne in December after a decade of marriage, with the mum-of-two, 43, announcing the sad news on Instagram with a "heavy heart". Three months ago, Made In Chelsea star, Gemma, 39, posted snaps of her and Jesse snuggling up in the sunshine as the musician moved, 48, on with his life. And now they've rocked up together for a VIP screening of 60's icon Twiggy's new self-titled movie at the Selfridge's cinema in London, looking every inch a couple. Jesse grins in a snap of the pair, who pose alongside Twiggy, cutting a casual figure in a and jeans. Gemma, meanwhile, sports a racy cutaway black dress with a jacket around her waist as she cuddles up to her man at the star-studded bash. It comes after kids TV star, Fearne, spoke about her life without Jesse on BBC Breakfast this week. Admitting things hadn't been easy, she discussed the challenges she's faced over the past year, including health issues. Speaking candidly to hosts Jon Kay and Sally Nugent about an operation she had in December last year to remove two benign jaw tumours, she also discussed her recovery process, returning to work, and receiving support from fellow celebrity Davina McCall. "It was the end of last year, it ended up being one benign tumour and a couple of lymph nodes that had to come out with it," Fearne began. "But I've recovered well and I'm feeling good, and very grateful I think as well." Reflecting on her recent time away from the spotlight, Fearne said: "I think it was like a little pressing pause moment, which was no bad thing. It's so rare that I take off any time and I had to properly rest and recover; it went quite quickly. "I'm definitely back in the swing of things now." The timing of Fearne's operation coincided with the news of her separation from Jesse, son of Rolling Stones icon, Ronnie. The couple, who had been together for a decade, tied the knot in 2014. In a heartfelt statement issued in December through X, Fearne announced: "It is with a heavy heart that I let you all know that Jesse and I are ending our marriage. "Our priority has been, and will always be, our children. We please ask that you respect the privacy of our family at this time."
The Herald Scotland
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
The Scots inventor's legacy that's being kept alive
From portable TVs to giant flatscreens, television has developed far beyond what anyone could have imagined that small box in the corner of a living room could. Vintage sets have become much sought after, and this Sunday collectors will be able to get their hands on seven vintage sets at an unusual boot-sale taking place in Glasgow. The 'rare and collectable' sets, some of which are in a poor condition, will go on display at the Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre in Kelvindale, where they are currently stored. They need to be disposed of because of the start of building works aimed at expand the centre's facilities. Read more: The sale has piqued the interest of Iain Logie Baird, the grandson of John Logie Baird, the Helensburgh-born engineer who is renowned as the 'father of television'. The disposal of the TV sets comes 100 years after John Logie Baird achieved a significant breakthrough by transmitting a television picture of a human subject, in a Soho attic in October 1925. Seven months earlier, he had demonstrated an early 'in the rough' version of his television system three times a day for three weeks at the London department store, Selfridge's. Iain Logie Baird, who with his father, Dr Malcolm Baird, runs the website said that all of the Glasgow sets are post-war, the oldest being a Cossor TV dating from 1946-47. A.C. Cossor was a British electronics company whose history dates back to 1859. Malcolm Knight, founder of the Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre at Kelvindale, Glasgow pictured in the large store at the centre. (Image: Colin Mearns) Mr Baird acknowledged that it would be sad if some of the sets were unable to be repaired and had to be thrown onto the scrapheap. 'Few remain, and production numbers did not even reach six figures until 1949', he told The Herald. 'Many of these sets can be made to work if the picture tubes are still functional; however, this work is certainly not for the amateur." Mr Baird, asked whether he would be interested in acquiring any of the sets, said: 'I would have been interested if one of them had been a pre-Second World War set or a pre-1950 Baird-branded set, or a mechanical TV made for the 30-line system, but I don't collect many TVs on this side of the pond at this time. The Cossor is the one I would have been most interested in. I am about to purchase a 1947-48 Baird Garrick that is quite similar." The vintage TV sets, which were manufactured between 1946 and 1960, were amassed by the Scottish Industrial Preservation Trust, which has not been operative since the death of its founder and director, Steven Raeside, in May 2014. It is understood that some of the sets were featured in 'TV Is King', a 1994 BBC TV documentary about Michael Bennett-Levy, a leading collector of early technology items including television sets. Attempts have been made without success to find a new home for them in the guise of a museum or individual who could preserve them. Chris O'Kane, Scotland Co-ordinator for the Projected Picture Trust, said: 'Steven collected a number of things in his time and we ended up with these television sets. Exactly where they came from, we're not sure, but they ended up in storage at the Mask and Puppet Theatre because Malcolm Knight, who runs the centre, is one of the trustees of the Preservation Trust. Malcolm knew Steven quite well. 'They've been sitting there, and over the years we've not been able to do anything with them and we've had no interest from other museums. It seems to be the case that nobody has any money to do anything with them and nobody has any room for them. 'They have deteriorated a bit and we have to get them out now. I don't think they would work, and I wouldn't recommend switching them on, but they would be okay in the hands of someone who knows what he's doing. It is possible that some of them could be restored. They will be up for offer on Sunday to anyone who can make use of them, either for display or whatever." Malcolm Knight, founder of the Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre at Kelvindale, Glasgow pictured in the large store at the centre. (Image: Colin Mearns) As to the potential hazards that await anyone seeking to restore old televisions, he cautioned: 'Old TVs are significantly more difficult to restore than old radios, and have even higher voltages, meaning electric shocks are potentially fatal. There are sometimes some hazardous materials in the sets, such as Chrysotile asbestos panels or coatings--a risk to be aware of and to seek professional consultation on. 'Finally, the cathode ray tubes all appear to be still under vacuum, which are usually covered by safety glass at the front, so there's no issue there, but if the chassis is out of the cabinet, then there will be no safety glass, cabinet, or back panel protection. If the tubes have been 'necked' at the back, they will not be functional, but replacement tubes can be found from a donor set with patience and effort." Creating a picture on the sets was another issue if got working, he added. 'This can be done with a 625-line VCR played through a 625-405 line standards converter. The latter are not easy to find as they were made in very small numbers, aimed at hobbyists. 'It is an enjoyable hobby, but not for the faint of heart. The 1950s sets generally are easier to get working again than the 1940s models, and have a better picture. I would say a good option is to purchase only one set and focus on restoring one, as restoring five or six would get expensive unless you are an electronics technician with a minor in cabinet restoration. 'A collector may be happy enough to restore the cabinets only and clean up the chassis without getting them working. That is generally what I have done myself and what most museums do'. Mr Baird said he has been working with a group in Helensburgh that hopes to stage a local exhibition about his grandfather's childhood and early life, covering the breakthrough in October 1925 and the first public demonstration in January 1926. * The car boot sale takes place between 10am and 4pm on Sunday at the Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8-10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, Glasgow, G12 0QF. There will also be puppet shows - Looking for Nessie, by Talking Heads Puppets, at 11am and 2pm, and a Family Fun Day.
Daily Mail
29-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Are you rich enough to get a free £500 Selfridges shopping trip with your HSBC account?
HSBC has launched a switching deal to entice wealthy customers to switch to its Premier Account. The offer is only available to those who pay a salary of £100,000 into the account. And those who switch to HSBC's Premier account will get not get a cash bung as with usual bank switching incentives… but a £500 Selfridges voucher and the option to have a VIP shopping experience instead. HSBC relaunched its premier account in February and the bank made no bones about the fact it is trying to attract affluent customers. The bank said: 'The offering echoes the demands of affluent customers for services that support and enhance their lifestyle.' To get the £500 Selfridge's voucher, new customers must complete a full switch to HSBC's premier account through the Current Account Switch Service (CASS) by 12 August. A salary of £100,000 minimum must be paid into the account directly by customers' employers by BACS. At least two direct debits must also be transferred as part of the switch The monthly salary payments and two direct debits must be maintained until 31 October to get the voucher. Customers must not have had a HSBC account or First Direct account already to be eligible for the switching deal. If customers are eligible, they will be sent an email to claim the Selfridge's voucher on 9 November. Customers can opt for a VIP shopping experience at one of the four Selfridges UK stores in London, Birmingham, Manchester Trafford, and Manchester Exchange Square. The VIP experience includes access to the Selfridge's Lounge and a complimetary drink as well as the £500 voucher. Customers can also choose to take the £500 voucher without the shopping experience. The bank account has no monthly fee and comes with perks ranging from GP appointments to free worldwide travel insurance. Customers will be able to access online health services through a new HSBC Health app, including digital GP appointments, remote physiotherapy and mental health support. Travel perks like free worldwide family travel insurance with cover for dependents travelling up to age of 23 are also offered with the acount, as well as referential rates on foreign exchange and international payments. HSBC Premier customers can also get wealth management advice and preferential rates on savings and mortgages. Premier banking boom There has been a small boom in banks offering premier current accounts in a bid to attract the money of wealthy customers, which in turn gives them the ability to try and tap into that wealth to sell other services, such as investments. Last week Lloyds Bank launched its premier account geared towards wealthy customers with an income, savings or investments of at least £100,000. Jo Harris, of Lloyds, said: 'Lloyds Premier is a strategically important milestone in our growth ambitions for affluent customers - a part of the market where we have historically been under-represented.' Customers can also get the account if they are able to fund it with £5,000 a month. The monthly account fee of £15 will be refunded each month a customer meets the eligibility criteria. It too comes with a range of perks, which Lloyds claims to be worth £100 month. It offers GP and wellbeing services, lifestyle benefits, travel perks, cashback, discounted mortgage rates and appointments with financial coaches. The Bupa Family GP subscription service provides access to online GP and nurse consultations, online physiotherapy sessions and online mental health treatment sessions. It also comes with 1 per cent cashback on debit card spending, capped at £10 each month. Meanwhile, Barclays' Premier account lets customers earn up to 15 per cent cashback on eligible card transactions with a Barclays Visa debit card linked to a Cashback Rewards account. Customers need to earn at least £75,000 or have £100,000 savings or investments to qualify for the Barclays deal. NatWest also has a premier account which requires customers to have an annual income of £100,000 To qualify, you also need a mortgage, investment, life insurance or protection policy with the bank. Customers can also qualify with the same sum in savings or investments, or a half a million pound NatWest mortgage. In return, customers get worldwide family travel insurance, exclusive airport lounge service and a premium 24-hour helpline.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
From 'Gulf of Macomb' to swiss cheese, county leaders quip, chat serious regional issues
Metro Detroit's county executives discussed working across the political aisle, the need for better road funding and transit, boosting businesses and revitalizing communities during a chat in which there were plenty of jests, including Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel saying, "We're working with Google to change the name of Lake St. Clair; it is now the Gulf of Macomb." Laughter abounded after his quip and was sprinkled throughout the nearly hour-long conversation with his counterparts, Wayne County Executive Warren Evans and Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter, during a moderated panel hosted by the Detroit Regional Chamber April 30 in Lathrup Village. Their discussion also delved into deeper topics facing the leaders of Michigan's most populated counties, a conversation that comes 100 days after a shift in national politics and amid federal funding cuts that will impact the counties and the communities, businesses and constituents they serve. Coulter said local, state and federal governments are "very intertwined." For example, he said, two weeks ago they were told the $3.5 million they use to staff nurses in nursing homes to prevent infectious disease spread "was being yanked that night." "The next morning, we had to call six nurses and say don't go to work tomorrow, we no longer have funding for you to work in the nursing home," Coulter said. "I didn't have that on my bingo card. So we're scrambling to try to replace those services." The executives said they're trying to work with businesses, including heavy manufacturing, suppliers and automotive companies, especially with President Donald Trump's executive orders regarding import tariffs and the impact of auto tariffs. More: Whitmer 'still at it,' eyeing other priorities after securing Selfridge win from Trump More: We asked 100 Michiganders about Trump's first 100 days: Here's what they said "Our CEOs and our businesses' confidence level is in the tank right now. They're really nervous about tariffs. They're worried about ... getting talent. They're worried about whether they should expand. They had plans to expand ... and now they're worried about the stock market. From an economics perspective, things are a lot more anxious," Coulter said. Despite the uncertainty, he said, there are exciting things happening in Oakland County, such as the demolition of the Phoenix Center in a $60-million-plus deal to revitalize Pontiac and move 700 workers, including county employees, downtown. Hackel's appearance came a day after Trump's announcement that Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township would get 21 F-15EX fighter jets. For years, base leaders and officials in both parties at all levels of government worked to get jets at the base in Macomb County to shore up its future. Hackel, a Democrat, said he was not invited to the Selfridge announcement, but would have gone if invited. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, attended, and she and Trump, a Republican, greeted each other on the tarmac. Hackel emphasized things can get done if people put politics aside. Hackel has considered running for governor before and when asked if that was on the table, he said: "The extreme nature of both parties ... is not something of interest to me. Running for office, the question is how do you get through a primary? And that would be a bigger challenge for me to do so because I bring a very moderate, independent kind of personality ... I think it would be (a) very big challenge for me to make it through a primary." In terms of road funding and transit, Evans said "road funding is critical and part of the problem is the formula by which it's done. ... The real reality is Act 51 is 76 years old. The formula for roads 76 years ago should not be the formula for road funding now. ... There is no formula for the numbers of lanes, it's the length of the road. And so, it's very flawed." Hackel said he is encouraged by what officials have been hearing in terms of state leaders trying to reach a bipartisan road deal, and believes they'll get somewhere before the end of the year. Coulter said: "I want what he's drinking. I'm not as optimistic." In terms of transit, Evans said this year Wayne County is talking with its 43 communities to determine their transportation needs and to "try to build that into a plan that will go to the voters in the following year. I'm confident that we will do it. ... We do need to get some communities with some additional mobility if we're ever going to grow the region." Said Coulter: "Swiss cheese doesn't work for transit. And up until a couple years ago, Wayne and Oakland were both Swiss cheese transit communities — opt-in, opt-out, this community's in, this community's out. And so we went to our voters, much like Wayne is gonna do next year, and asked them to be all in." He added that in western Oakland County, where there were communities that weren't a big fan of this idea, ridership increased 60% this year. In 2022, Oakland County voters approved a countywide transit millage for the first time, meaning the system that allowed communities to opt out of the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation is no more in that county. Now, Coulter said, officials are talking about what's next, particularly up Woodward Avenue, such as bus rapid transit with a dedicated lane and lights that are timed. "Macomb's always been classic American cheese, OK," Hackel quipped, as Macomb County has always been an opt-in community for SMART. The executives also said they believe the next mayor of Detroit should continue Mayor Mike Duggan's business-friendly nature in the city, with Coulter saying he hasn't heard any of the leading candidates "doing anything but saying we gotta keep regionalism alive. We want to be partners in this region." Evans said he will endorse somebody in the Detroit mayor's race but has not done so yet. Contact Christina Hall: chall@ Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @challreporter. Support local journalism. Subscribe to the Free Press. Submit a letter to the editor at This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Metro Detroit's county executives talk challenges, roads, transit
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump delivers new fighter jets to Michigan base in surprise show of unity with Whitmer
The Brief Trump announced 21 new F-15EX fighter jets for a key US air base, securing its future. The move strengthens homeland defense and marks rare bipartisan praise from Trump to Whitmer. Selfridge Air National Guard Base had faced potential closure without a new mission. HARRISON TOWNSHIP, Mich. - President Donald Trump announced a major expansion of US air defense capabilities Tuesday, delivering a new fighter jet mission to Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan. The move will replace aging aircraft at the base with 21 F-15EX Eagle II jets—"fresh off the line," according to Trump—and ensure the base's continued operation after years of uncertainty. The announcement also marked a surprising political detente between Trump and Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, one of his most vocal critics. Trump praised Whitmer as "very effective" in advocating for the base, while Whitmer expressed gratitude for the outcome without directly naming the president in her remarks. The backstory For years, Selfridge had been at risk of losing its operational relevance as its A-10 fleet approached retirement. Trump addressed those concerns directly, telling service members and supporters, "Today I have come in person to lay to rest any doubt about Selfridge's future." He added, "In recent years, many in Michigan have feared for the future of the base. They've been calling everybody, but the only one that mattered is Trump." The new F-15EX jets represent one of the Air Force's most advanced platforms for homeland defense and strategic deterrence. The decision ensures that Selfridge, located near the US-Canada border, remains a key pillar in North American air defense. What they're saying Trump said Whitmer was instrumental in advocating for Selfridge's new mission, noting their conversation during a motorcade ride to the base. "She's been very effective," he said. Whitmer, in turn, called the mission "crucial for our homeland security and our future." Asked later about their much-discussed greeting, Whitmer told the Associated Press: "We shook hands and he leaned in to tell me, you know, congratulations and that I was a big reason that we were making an announcement today." The moment was noteworthy given the pair's historically adversarial relationship—and comes as Whitmer continues to raise her national profile. Big picture view The new fighter jet mission reinforces Trump's broader messaging around strengthening America's military and returning focus to homeland security. It also signals his willingness to reward state-level cooperation, even from Democratic leaders, when aligned with his defense priorities. Meanwhile, the announcement arrives as the US military continues to reassess domestic base operations, aging fleets, and readiness amid global tensions. Ensuring Selfridge's future preserves thousands of jobs and economic value—but more importantly, it reflects a broader investment in modernizing air defense infrastructure at home. Politically, the move could bolster Trump's image as a dealmaker ahead of a high-stakes midterm cycle, while giving Whitmer a bipartisan achievement in a deeply polarized era. What's next The successful push for Selfridge's recapitalization could set a precedent for other states lobbying to upgrade or preserve their own installations. With national defense strategies shifting toward high-tech deterrence and rapid response, bases like Selfridge may play a growing role in supporting those missions—especially as older aircraft are phased out nationwide. The Source This report is based on original reporting from the Associated Press and publicly available government statements. All quotes, statistics, and descriptions reflect information provided by verified news sources or official communications at the time of publication. This story was reported from Los Angeles.
