Latest news with #localcharity
Irish Times
02-07-2025
- Irish Times
A week before her death, Sarah Montgomery gave scans of her unborn baby boy to her daughters
On New Street in Donaghadee, Co Down, greengrocer Peter Wallace recalls how Sarah Montgomery always wanted to help people. It is Tuesday lunchtime in the small coastal town, three days since the 27-year-old mother of two was found dead in her home less than a 10-minute walk away. She was eight months pregnant. This is the town where Ms Montgomery grew up, where her young daughters attend her former primary school and where she helped fundraise for the local lifeboat charity of which her grandfather, Arthur Arbuckle, was once a crew member. READ MORE 'She was well known and a lovely girl, very quiet,' Mr Wallace, owner of Grattan's family greengrocers, says. 'She was a carer for her two brothers and adored her girls. They were so well-mannered when they came into the shop and always so well turned out.' On Tuesday evening, police confirmed a 28-year-old man had been charged with murder and child destruction. Just a week before her death, Ms Montgomery gave pictures of scans of her unborn child, a baby boy, to her daughters. There was great excitement about their new baby brother, Mr Wallace says. 'Our business put a post on social media yesterday to express our condolences. The response was unbelievable. The town is in complete shock,' he says. Blue teddy bears are propped up on bouquets of flowers with handwritten sympathy messages outside Ms Montgomery's home on Elmfield Walk. Police cordons remain in place around the property where more flowers are laid throughout the afternoon. At 2.15pm on Saturday, police received reports of an unconscious woman with a serious injury inside a house in the Elmfield area. Officers and paramedics attended. Ms Montgomery was pronounced dead at the scene. At the other end of New Street on Tuesday, staff at a chemist shop say they are struggling to come to terms with her death. Ms Montgomery was a regular customer and 'always spoiling her girls'. 'Being a mother and grandmother myself, this has really hit home,' says one staff member who did not wish to be named. 'I saw Sarah a week before she died. She was just a lovely person from a lovely family. She lost her parents a few years ago. 'She would have been in here four times a week. A great mother who loved her wee girls and was always buying them hair bobbles and treats. She was a great sister too.' Around the corner, a book of condolence has opened at a coffee shop. A young mother wipes away tears as she reads some of the messages. Outside, an elderly woman on a walking stick shakes her head in disbelief. 'Sarah came to the coffee shop all the time with the girls. Them two kids were her world and it's absolutely heartbreaking,' she says. 'Nothing like this has ever happened in this town, it is just devastation. Honestly, I can't say enough about her. She was one of life's nice people.' On the laneway leading to Elmwood Park, a woman carries a bunch of roses to place outside Ms Montgomery's home after work. 'Everybody knows everybody in this town. We can't stop thinking about her and her children,' she says.
BBC News
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Royston pays tribute to much-loved ice cream man who died
Tributes have been paid to a much-loved ice cream man who has died. The family of Gerry the Ice Cream Man, who worked across Royston, Hertfordshire, since the 1980s, said he "truly was an amazing man". They said the husband, dad, grandfather and friend "will be greatly missed by so many". Royston In Blue, who organise an annual charity 5k fun run and walk in the town, said it was "deeply saddened" by the news as Gerry had donated to it for many years. It said it would celebrate his life at this year's event on Sunday: "Gerry has supported Royston In Blue for many years and always given a donation from his takings on the day."We have decided as the event is heavily supported by children, instead of having a minutes silence we will celebrate his life by clapping and celebrate his involvement in the community on the day."Luke Haugh, the town's mayor, said: "He has spent many years supporting local events, charities, as well as bringing joy to the residents. "He was a good man, friendly and helpful, and our thoughts are with his friends and family in this hard time." 'A symbol of joy' More than 600 people commented on his social media page. David Archibald, from the town, said Gerry was "an icon of Royston". Another tribute said he "wasn't just someone who sold ice creams, he was a symbol of joy, consistency, and our community", who "brought magic to our Royston streets". Others described him as "the closest thing to royalty we had in Royston" and "a Royston treasure" who was "a huge loss to the town". Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fresh start for community pub - with talent show, whisky club, carvery and jazz
A community pub has been given a new lease of life - with the introduction of Totton's Got Talent, a whisky club and Mellow Sundays. Laura and Rich Bradshaw have been at the helm of The Saxon Inn in Calmore for just six weeks and are already making waves. The couple, lifelong publicans who last had a pub in Essex, have already hosted several events for their chosen local charity, and introduced live music and a variety of special nights and offers. (Image: The Saxon Inn)READ MORE:Transformation of one of the New Forest's most well known pubs Laura told the Daily Echo: "We wanted a change of scenery and like this area, so we decided to come down and give it a go, see what happens. "We came in hoping to cause a ripple, but it's been more like a tidal wave! We know the pub has had its ups and downs over the years and we want to make this era a big up. We are already seeing people who haven't been in for ages coming back. "We want to be very community orientated, if anyone needs any help, come to the pub and we'll see what we can do, we might be able to help or put you in touch with someone. "I grew up where the pub was the centre of the village, the heart of the community, that's what we want to achieve. "There's something for everyone and everyone is welcome." (Image: The Saxon Inn) Totton's Got Talent, with a cash prize of £1,000, will run from July 11 to 13, one of a number of fundraising efforts following the pub's promise to raise £5,000 each year for local heart screenings by Cardiac Risk in the Young, in memory of Calmore lad Ryan Carter, who died suddenly in 2019, aged 25. There's also been a special evening with former professional boxer Joe Egan and a family fun day, with lots more events to come inspired by a meeting with Ryan's mum Sue, including a Bullseye style darts contest in August. Mellow Sundays - with a carvery and live jazz band - have been a revelation, there's a resident DJ on Friday nights and local covers bands performing every Saturday. There's pizza and a pint for £10 on Mondays, the pool team are in on Tuesdays, it's Wednesday for quiz night and steaks are served up on Thursdays. (Image: The Saxon Inn) Foodie favourites include Wagyu steak and lobster tail while Cruzcampo, drinks from the cocktail pump and a great selection of whiskies for connoisseurs are also proving popular. The pub offers a food and drink delivery service within an eight mile radius. The outside space is being revamped to include a garden of remembrance and there are plans for an internal refurbishment next year.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Restoration plans revealed for 'iconic' windmill
An "iconic" windmill dating back to the early 19th Century is set to be restored to full working order after a charity stepped in to fund its repairs. The windmill, on Cambridge Road, Fulbourn, Cambridgeshire, was built in 1808 and became derelict after it ceased being used to grind grain in 1937. Ian Harrison, its owner since 2006, has rebuilt its sails, but said the discovery of "fairly significant structural weaknesses" made the full restoration unaffordable. Village charity, the Wright's Clock Land Fund, agreed to pay for the work, provided it could manage the mill. Mr Harrison and his wife were "very happy and very pleased" to lease the mill to the charity for 99 years, the Local Democracy Reporting Service wrote. "We also have to recognise that it sits in our garden and we won't be living in the house for the next 99 years, so we have got to think about looking after the interests of future generations as well," he said. Fulbourn Windmill was "just left to go derelict" after it fell out of use until a local group began the restoration of its exterior from the 1970s onwards. After taking ownership, the Harrisons had hoped to restore it to full working order, but discovered its frame had distorted over time. This meant the fantail - the mechanism at the top of the mill which allows the cap to turn and grain to be milled - was unable to move. Mr Harrison said: "We realised it was going to take a lot of money [to restore], which my wife and I didn't have the resources to cover." The Wright's Clock Fund, which paid for a condition report on the windmill, agreed to award a "substantial" grant to completely restore it. An application has been submitted to South Cambridgeshire District Council to begin the restoration. If granted, Mr Harrison believes the necessary work will take about two years. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Watermill revives traditional flour production X marks the spot as five medieval windmills found Repaired 500-year-old windmill reopens to public The Wright's Clock Land Fund Local Democracy Reporting Service
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Restoration plans revealed for 'iconic' windmill
An "iconic" windmill dating back to the early 19th Century is set to be restored to full working order after a charity stepped in to fund its repairs. The windmill, on Cambridge Road, Fulbourn, Cambridgeshire, was built in 1808 and became derelict after it ceased being used to grind grain in 1937. Ian Harrison, its owner since 2006, has rebuilt its sails, but said the discovery of "fairly significant structural weaknesses" made the full restoration unaffordable. Village charity, the Wright's Clock Land Fund, agreed to pay for the work, provided it could manage the mill. Mr Harrison and his wife were "very happy and very pleased" to lease the mill to the charity for 99 years, the Local Democracy Reporting Service wrote. "We also have to recognise that it sits in our garden and we won't be living in the house for the next 99 years, so we have got to think about looking after the interests of future generations as well," he said. Fulbourn Windmill was "just left to go derelict" after it fell out of use until a local group began the restoration of its exterior from the 1970s onwards. After taking ownership, the Harrisons had hoped to restore it to full working order, but discovered its frame had distorted over time. This meant the fantail - the mechanism at the top of the mill which allows the cap to turn and grain to be milled - was unable to move. Mr Harrison said: "We realised it was going to take a lot of money [to restore], which my wife and I didn't have the resources to cover." The Wright's Clock Fund, which paid for a condition report on the windmill, agreed to award a "substantial" grant to completely restore it. An application has been submitted to South Cambridgeshire District Council to begin the restoration. If granted, Mr Harrison believes the necessary work will take about two years. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Watermill revives traditional flour production X marks the spot as five medieval windmills found Repaired 500-year-old windmill reopens to public The Wright's Clock Land Fund Local Democracy Reporting Service
