Now, she joins a 16-member panel of the Air Force Academy’s board of visitors, which ‘inquires into the morale, discipline, curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, fiscal affairs, academic methods and other matters’.
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White House spokesperson Olivia Wales said: ‘Charlie Kirk served proudly on the board, inspiring not only the next generation of service members, but millions around the world with his bold Christian faith, defence of the truth and deep love of country.
‘Erika Kirk will continue his legacy, and will be a fearless advocate for the most elite airpower force in the history of the world whose warriors keep our nation safe, strong and free.’
In a statement announcing her appointment, Turning Point USA’s board said Charlie had previously expressed that Erika should take over in the event of his death.
‘Charlie prepared us for this moment,’ the board wrote, describing her as ‘the natural successor to his work’.
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Who is Erika Kirk?
The couple had two children before Charlie was assassinated earlier this month
Born Erika Lane Frantzve in Scottsdale, Arizona, on November 20, 1988, she grew up in a Catholic family where charitable work was encouraged.
Her mother involved her in volunteer work at soup kitchens, something that Erika has credited with shaping her values.
Sport was another central plank of her early life. She played basketball at Notre Dame Preparatory High School in Scottsdale, winning awards for sportsmanship and teamwork.
Erika went on to play basketball for Regis University in Denver before transferring to Arizona State University, where she earned a degree in political science and international relations.
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She combined her studies with entering beauty pageants, being crowed Miss Arizona USA 2012 on her 23rd birthday, and going on to represent her state at the Miss USA competition.
After her undergrad, she completed a master’s in 2017, followed by a doctorate in Christian leadership in 2022.
Alongside this, she launched the nonprofit Everyday Heroes Like You, an organisation that supports grassroots charitable initiatives.
She also created a faith-based fashion label, Proclaim Streetwear, and founded Bible in 365, a ministry project.
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Alongside this, she worked in real estate and hosted a faith-oriented podcast called Midweek Rise Up.
How did Charlie and Erika meet?
The couple tied the knot two years after meeting and went on to have two children together (Picture: Social media)
Erika met Charlie Kirk in New York in 2019 through mutual connections. At the time, Charlie was already well established as a conservative commentator and the head of Turning Point USA, which he founded in 2012.
Their relationship developed quickly, and they got engaged the following December before tying the knot in May 2021 at a ceremony in Scottsdale, Arizona.
A reception was held at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess hotel, coinciding with Turning Point’s ninth anniversary.
The couple went on to have two children together and lived between Arizona and New York.
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As Charlie’s profile grew, Erika became a visible presence at many of his events, often appearing alongside him on stage or in interviews.
Since her husband’s murder, she has spoken of her devastation but also of her determination to continue his work, telling supporters: ‘Charlie gave his life to this cause. I will not let it end here.’
What are Erika’s policies?
Erika is considered to be even more conservative than her right-wing husband (Picture: AP)
Erika’s public statements indicate that she is just as conservative, if not more, than her late husband.
During an episode of The Charlie Kirk Show broadcast last year, Erika and Charlie did a Q&A with listeners.
One asked who was more conservative, to which Charlie replied, ‘Erika by far. (We’re) not even close. I am a moderate compared to Erika.’
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She could be heard agreeing with this statement.
Her approach to marriage is often interpreted as being a ‘trad wife’ — a term used to describe women who embrace traditional gender roles, emphasising marriage, motherhood, and homemaking.
During the same episode as mentioned above, she described their bond as one modelled after the fifth chapter in the Bible’s Book of Ephesians.
In it, the wife submits to the husband, who, in turn, according to the Bible, protects and cherishes the wife, just as Christ also loved the Church and gave himself for her.
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In 2025, she made a speech calling on listeners to ‘revive biblical womanhood — not the watered-down version the world offers, but the kind forged in fire, rooted in obedience, and patterned after the women who came before us: Esther. Ruth. Deborah. Hannah. Mary.’
For Erika, this has gone hand-in-hand with a strong public commitment to faith and conservative politics.
Her advocacy has focused on issues such as opposition to abortion, the promotion of ‘biblical family values’, and the conviction that American culture must remain rooted in Christianity.
Through her nonprofit and podcast work, she has also highlighted themes of community service, youth mentorship, and mental health.
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What is Erika Kirk’s relationship with Donald Trump?
Erika was a guest at Trump’s State of the Union this year (Picture: AFP)
After her husband’s death, Erika has been seen multiple times with Trump, even hugging him at Charlie’s funeral.
The president called Kirk’s killer a ‘radicalised, cold-blooded monster’ during the service.
Trump said that Kirk’s assassination was really targeted at all American conservatives.
‘The gun was pointed at him, but the bullet was aimed at all of us. That bullet was aimed at every one of us,’ he said.
Trump and a grieving Erika embraced at the end of the service, before kissing her on the cheek.
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During the State of the Union this year, Trump invited Erika and spoke of Charlie’s murder, as Erika wept.
The council will soon be asking Wishaw locals to help shape their community priorities over the next decade.
Wishaw residents are set to be given the chance to create community projects for the next 10 years.
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The council will soon be asking Wishaw locals to help shape their community priorities over the next decade.
Your views will guide what NLC will focus on with local communities and partners across the public and voluntary sector, including Police Scotland, Scottish Fire & Rescue Service, NHS Lanarkshire and Voluntary Action North Lanarkshire.
As the council gets ready for this next stage, NLC are shining a light on projects that the public helped bring to life over the past few years.
These included the new outdoor gym in Overtown and the new King George V Community Garden in Wishaw.
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The council state: “A new outdoor gym in Overtown is giving local residents a free and accessible space to stay active and enjoy exercising outdoors. The project was shaped through community engagement, with residents highlighting the need for more opportunities to support health and wellbeing in the area.
“The new equipment provides a welcoming space for people of all ages to build fitness, spend time outside and connect with others in their community.
“The outdoor gym has already been well received and is becoming a popular addition to Overtown’s local amenities, reflecting ongoing investment in spaces that encourage healthier, more active lifestyles.
“The new King George V Community Garden in Wishaw was officially launched as part of Mental Health Awareness and Green Health Week, offering a welcoming space for residents to connect with nature and support their wellbeing.
“The garden was created through close collaboration with local groups, who helped shape a space designed for relaxation, community activity and outdoor learning.
“The launch event brought together partners, volunteers and community organisations who have played a key role in bringing the project to life.
“Their involvement has helped create a garden that not only enhances the local environment but also provides meaningful opportunities for people to come together, support their mental health and enjoy time outdoors.
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“The project reflects ongoing investment in community‑led spaces that promote wellbeing, connection and a healthier lifestyle for people across Wishaw.”
When I came up with an idea for a novel back in 2018 about a troubled mother and son, I needed to find an angle. I needed to find something to bring conflict and drama into the lives of these two poor souls. I tried a few different angles; I had them, first of all, trying to navigate the aftermath of a nuclear strike on Scotland but it was terrible – like a fanfiction version of The Road.
Next, I had the boy, Jamie, being found dead in his room and his mother trying to piece the story of his dodgy online life together to try and find out why. I knew right away with that one that killing off a main character in the first couple of pages wasn’t the way forward. While reading an article about a new online community known as incels, as I tore my hair out over the book, I knew I’d found my hook.
Incel is short for Involuntary Celibate. Generally, it means a person, almost always a man, who regards themselves as being involuntarily celibate because they are unable to attract a romantic or sexual partner. For some incels, they say this is because of how they look; because they aren’t tall enough, because they have a weak chin or because their eyes aren’t positioned in what they believe is the most desirable position on their face.
For others, they say it’s because women aren’t attracted to them because they are of low status – because they aren’t high-status, alpha ‘Chads’ (think of the opposite of an incel, a successful, tall, handsome, promiscuous man.)
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I dove headfirst into researching the world of incels. I watched documentaries, read articles, books and papers on the subject and scoured their forums to pick up their terminology.
Having been on the internet for a long time, I consider myself pretty much unshockable and desensitised but even I felt harrowed and uneasy, disgusted even, by what I read in their online spaces.
Their hatred towards women was so visceral and frightening. They detailed their deranged and violent fantasies, involving women they knew, sometimes even family members. They lauded mass shooters, even hailing one of them as a sort of quasi-deity. They spoke to each other as if they hated each other, almost as much as they hated themselves.
It was hard to feel sorry for them. I thought to myself that these guys were beyond help. But something kept me coming back to reading through their forums. After a while I began to think, ‘How have they ended up like this?’
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I began to delve deeper and began reading lengthy posts where young guys opened up about their home lives, childhoods and mental health. Time and time again, these boys would write of their upbringings which were littered with abuse, poverty, bullying, loneliness and often learning difficulties. To me, it painted a bleak picture of lost boys searching in the wrong places for a bit of human interaction.
And ready to prey on these boys were far more sinister men. These men encouraged the boys to blame their problems on women and to seek retribution for it. They detailed ways in which to make the women they may encounter in their day to day lives uncomfortable.
They were egging on these obviously very vulnerable boys, luring them deeper into their toxic worldview until they had them, essentially, brainwashed; fully malleable and compliant, ready to do whatever the men wanted out of fear of being ostracised from the only community they had or of being blackmailed. If this was what I was seeing being written on public forums, it’s hard to even comprehend what might be going on in their private messages to one another or what was happening in other, less accessible parts of the internet.
While their troubled childhoods and desire to be part of a community might go some way towards explaining their online behaviour, it can’t excuse it. These boys need to help themselves if they really do want to break away from these toxic online environments. I suppose this is easier said than done and in an ideal world it would be as simple as that.
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But in the world we live in, where misogyny isn’t just confined to dark corners of the internet but is instead rampant and ever present, I believe it’s down to men to help tackle the problem.
Good male role models are in short supply. The ones that are out there struggle to cut through the noise made by the likes of Andrew Tate who present a cartoonish, ridiculous version of masculinity which, to a thirteen year old boy, looks like the coolest and most aspirational thing ever. But role models don’t have to be celebrities or influencers.
As men, we should be doing our best to set good examples for the boys and other men in our lives, to show them a positive version of masculinity. We all have friends, brothers, cousins, colleagues and classmates who maybe look to us for guidance. While we’ll all have acted in ways we’re not proud of and we’ll all have said things which make us feel a sharp pang of guilt when we are reminded of them, we’re all more than capable of trying to be better than that.
As I wrote my novel, I grew more and more interested in men in general. I pondered over what a makes a good man and still can’t quite come up with an answer.
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Is being a good man just not doing bad things?
Is the bar for us that low?
Is it just as simple as being a good person?
I began to ask myself if I could say, hand on heart, that I am a good man. The answer to that is – I don’t know. But I do know I want to be a better man. I implore you to ask yourself the same.
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Hermit by Chris McQueer (Wildfire, £18.99) is out now.
Martin Lewis has urged everyone with a mobile phone to dial a five-digit code and screengrab the result
It’s so rare that you’ll know someone who doesn’t own a mobile phone these days. These little squares have become a vital component of daily life, which is why it can be all the more annoying when they get stolen.
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The devices that feel like that our whole lives are in, can be snatched in the blink of an eye and be a major inconvenience. And with technological advancements, it’s easier for thieves to target bank accounts.
But there are ways owner can protect their devices, as well as important information and one way to do this is by using a simple code. The useful tip has been backed by finance guru Martin Lewis, who previously explained why every phone owner should dial it as soon as, reports the Express.
The Money Saving Expert founder shared this advice on his ITV show in 2025, following reports at the time that phone thefts have surged by 40 percent, as criminals increasingly target individuals’ financial information via their mobile devices.
He stressed the importance of immediate action to secure handsets against unauthorised access in the event of theft, thereby reducing the risk of thieves draining bank accounts through stolen phones.
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Martin advised viewers to modify key settings on iPhone, Samsung and Google phones for enhanced protection, including text message settings.
Speaking on his March 11 episode of Martin Lewis Money Show Live last year, he said: “Mobile security tips – thefts are up 40 percent in London but they’re going up right across the country too.
“Now the crucial thing, they’re not just trying to nick your phone, some of them are trying to access your financial data from your phone.”
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“You have to protect yourselves on this, folks.”
Martin recommended the use of remote tracking apps such as Apple’s Find My, Samsung’s SmartThings or Google Android’s Find My Device to locate stolen phones and suspend payments.
He further suggested enabling biometric features like fingerprint ID sign-in on both mobile devices and banking apps, and emailing oneself a screenshot after dialling the provided code.
Martin advised: “Now, this one sounds a bit peculiar. Dial *#06# to get your IMEI image then take a screenshot and save it.
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“That’s what you’ll need to provide to the police if your phone is stolen. Screenshot it and assuming you can access your email not just on your phone, I would just email it to yourself so you’ve got a copy somewhere.”
Lastly, Martin emphasised that ‘possibly the most crucial’ tip is to ensure two-factor authentication does not appear on your lock screen.
He explained: “Many people have that appear on their lock screen so when your phone’s locked, the code still appears. You don’t want that. It means if someone gets your phone they can get the code. So what you need to do to prevent that is turn off your ‘preview notifications’. It will still tell you you’ve had a message but it won’t display your code on your message. Everyone please do that one. It’s a nightmare if you’ve not done it.”
The Martin Lewis Money Show Live episode from March 11, 2025, is still available for viewing via ITVX.
Aldi is serving up the role of pie-tester to celebrate the launch its Specialbuy range of 13 pies, which is now available across all stores.
The Pie Tester will play a pivotal role in understanding the desirability of each pie, assessing everything from the crust quality and filling consistency to the flavour balance and overall harmony of the ingredients.
Their insights will be shared with customers to help guide them when making that crucial pie-purchasing decision and will be used to help inform the selection of Aldi pies in the future.
To be considered, pie-lovers simply have to provide a short summary of what makes them suitable for the position. As a thank you for their efforts, the final candidate will also be treated to a year’s worth of free pies. To apply, they should visit the Aldi website here.
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Julie Ashfield, Chief Commercial Officer at Aldi UK said: “At Aldi, we take our pies very seriously. Our range has been carefully crafted to appeal to Britain’s love of pies, combining high-quality baking with much-loved local flavours.
Aldi looking for pie-tester
“Our Pie Tester will have the enviable task of tasting and reviewing the range to help us understand which flavours really hit the spot. If you’re passionate about pastry and serious about sampling, we want to hear from you. No previous pie-tasting experience required!”
On sale now are Steak & Ale, Chicken & Mushroom and Cheesy Bean pies, to elevated options like Venison & Merlot, Hog Roast, Stuffing & Apple, and BBQ Pulled Pork pies, shoppers are urged to act quickly to avoid missing out, with pies in stock for a limited time only.
The deadline for applications is Friday 27th March 2026.
Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei was wounded in the US-Israeli airstrikes which killed his father.
The 56-year-old assumed the top position after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the initial strikes on Iran, but has not been seen in public since.
Mojtaba Khamenei had been lightly wounded in the strikes but continued to operate, an Iranian official told Reuters.
The new supreme leader has long been a secretive figure within Iran and has not given any public statement since being appointed by an assembly of Iranian clerics on Sunday.
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Mr Khamenei lost his father, mother, wife and other relatives during the Israeli airstrike on 28 February.
Image: People hold placards with an image of Mojtaba Khamenei in Tehran. Pic: WANNA/Reuters
Speculation has been mounting about the health of the new supreme leader, with Yousef Pezeshkian, the son of Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, referring to reports that he had been injured.
In a post on Telegram, he said: “I heard news about Mr Mojtaba being injured. I asked friends who were in contact. They said, thank God, he is healthy and there is no problem.”
Image: Mojtaba Khamenei. Pic: Reuters
A state television anchor also appeared to confirm rumours that Mr Khamenei had been hurt, describing him as a “janbaz” or “wounded veteran” of the Ramadan War, the name Iran has given to the conflict.
Mojtaba Khamenei ‘is a hunted man’ from the start
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‘Target for elimination’
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) backed the relative unknown as the new supreme leader, viewing him as a more pliant version of his father, who would support their hardline stance.
It’s likely the younger Khamenei has sought to keep a low profile due to the risk of further US-Israeli strikes.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said last week that any leader appointed by the current Iranian leadership would “be an unequivocal target for elimination”.
Mojtaba Khamenei is the second-oldest son of the late supreme leader, and a hard-line conservative who served in the Habib battalion of the IRGC during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, allowing him to build support within its ranks.
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He has also been linked to the violent suppression of protests in Iran.
Although he studied in the holy city of Qom, he was only a mid-ranking cleric, not a senior ayatollah like his father.
Image: Mojtaba Khamenei, alongside his father. Pic: Reuters
He bears a strong resemblance to his father, and wears the black turban of a sayyed, indicating his family traces its lineage back to the Prophet Mohammad.
By allowing Mr Khamenei to inherit the role, the assembly of experts has, in effect, created a dynasty, a move that defies the tradition of selecting the next supreme leader on credentials alone.
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US President Donald Trump had previously branded the selection of Mojtaba Khamenei as supreme leader as “unacceptable”.
“We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran,” he said.
The ‘Greatest Show on Turf’ is upon us as thousands descend on Gloucestershire for the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.
There are 28 races to enjoy across four days, from the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday to the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday, in what is considered the highlight of the global horse racing calendar.
Day one opened with a bang as Old Star Park maintained his unbeaten record over hurdles after battling back to get his nose in front and claim the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
The Willie Mullins-trained Kargese became only the second mare since 1980 to secure the Singer Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase as she made all to foil market leaders Lulamba and Kopek Des Bordes.
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And there was further success for the females in the feature race as Lossiemouth enhanced her existing superstar mare status with a stirring success in the Unibet Champion Hurdle.
Friday’s Gold Cup has been left wide open after Galopin Des Champs was ruled out and then Fact To File was not declared, leaving Jango Baie, Gaelic Warrior and The Jukebox Man all vying for favouritism. Here’s everything you need to know…
Thousands will descend on Cheltenham Racecourse
AFP via Getty Images
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When is Cheltenham Festival 2026?
The meeting runs for four days, beginning Tuesday, March 10, 2026, and running until Friday, March 13, 2026.
There are seven races each day at Prestbury Park, with the first at 1.20pm and the last at 5.20pm.
Cheltenham Festival 2026 race card and results
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Ladies Day (Wednesday, March 11)
13.20: Turners Novices’ Hurdle
King Rasko Grey 11/1
Act Of Innocence 10/1
Zeus Power 50/1
Soldier Reeves 150/1
14.00: Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
15.20: Cross Country Steeple Chase
16.00: Queen Mother Steeple Chase
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16.40: Grand Annual Steeple Chase Challenge Cup
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St Patrick’s (Thursday, March 12)
13.20: Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
14.00: Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase
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14.40: Pertemps Network Final
15.20: Ryanair Steeple Chase
16.40: TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase
17.20: Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup
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St Patrick’s Day is celebrated at the course on the third day of the Cheltenham Festival
AFP via Getty Images
Gold Cup Day (Friday, March 13)
14.00: County Handicap Hurdle
14.40: Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Steeple Chase
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15.20: Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
16.40: Festival Hunters Chase
17.20: Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle
The Cheltenham Roar heard coming around the bend
Getty Images
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Champion Day (Tuesday, March 10) results
13.20: Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
Old Park Star 15/8f
Sober Glory 9/2
Mydaddypaddy 6/1
14.00: Arkle Novices’ Chase
Kargese 7/1
Kopek Des Bordes 11/8
Lulamba 11/10f
14.40: Handicap Steeple Chase
Saratoga 10/1
Winston Junior 5/1
Klycot 40/1
Pourquoi Pas Papa 16/1
Johnnywho 18/1
Jagwar 3/1f
Quebecois 10/1
Blow Your Wad 14/1
Lossiemouth 7/5f
Brighterdaysahead 7/2
The New Lion 3/1
16.40: Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
Madara 3/1f
Will The Wise 10/1
Moon D’orange 25/1
Downmexicoway 9/1
17.20: National Hunt Novices’ Chase
Holloway Queen 12/1
King Of Answers 22/1
One Big Bang 11/1
Union Station 28/1
Cheltenham Festival 2026 weather forecast
The Festival is expected to kick off with sunny skies and little rain on Tuesday, according to Accuweather, though the Met Office are forecasting more cloudy conditions.
Conditions are likely to worsen, with rain expected on Wednesday and Friday, between a slight respite on Thursday. Temperatures are predicted to peak at 15C on Friday for the Gold Cup.
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Reporting on the morning of the first day of the Festival, the going is currently Good to Good to Soft on the Old Course, New Course and Cross Country.
How to watch Cheltenham Festival 2026
TV channel: ITV1 will broadcast the first six races for FREE, with coverage beginning at 12.45pm every day and running until 5pm.
Preview show ‘The Opening Show’ will be broadcast on ITV4 from 9am to 10am every morning of the meet.
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The only place to watch the Festival in its entirety is on Racing TV, which will broadcast all seven races on each day of the meeting. Build-up coverage starts at 12.45pm GMT every day and coverage concludes after the final race. Racing TV is a subscription-based channel available through Sky.
Live stream: TV viewers can watch the action for free via ITVX website and app. Racing TV is available across Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and their own website and app.
The new system means sole traders and landlords earning more than £50,000 will need to keep digital records and send quarterly updates to HMRC, instead of filling in an annual tax return.
Self-employed people and landlords in Lanarkshire are being urged to ensure they are ready for a major change to the tax system.
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Charity Advice Direct Scotland, which runs the free service taxadvice.scot, said its advisers are on hand to help those struggling to get to grips with new HMRC rules.
Around 780,000 people across the UK, including tens of thousands of Scots, are making the switch to the ‘Making Tax Digital’ system from April 6. A further 970,000 people will be required to join the scheme in 2027.
The new system means sole traders and landlords earning more than £50,000 will need to keep digital records and send quarterly updates to HMRC, instead of filling in an annual tax return.
Those who are eligible will also need to use specialist computer software to create, store and correct their records, and send the quarterly updates.
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Advice Direct Scotland said eligible taxpayers should start preparing for the changes immediately, if they have not already done so, and urged anyone requiring help to get in touch.
The charity said moving to digital recordkeeping could make managing tax easier in the long run, by reducing errors and saving time.
It also means less time spent searching for paperwork at the end of the tax year, as records can be updated by business owners as they go.
Andrew Bartlett, chief executive of Advice Direct Scotland, said: “This is a major change for self-employed people and landlords in how they manage their finances, and anyone affected should take action now.
“It promises to be a positive move, as going digital can simplify recordkeeping, reduce the stress of tax season, and free up time to focus on business development.
“But with the April 6 deadline fast approaching, now is the time to check if you are among those affected and take action. Don’t leave it to the last minute.
“These types of changes can feel overwhelming, but don’t worry. Advice and support is available at taxadvice.scot, or by calling 0800 756 3381.
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“If you’re unsure, don’t struggle on alone. Asking for help is the smart move to stay ahead.”
Karl joins from London-based legal firm Russells, where he headed up its Private Wealth team for the last six years.
Rachel Tunnicliffe, Head of Private Client Services at Raworths said: “Karl’s superb communication skills and empathetic approach make him an ideal fit for the firm.
“His existing client portfolio will give our talented team the opportunity to apply their outstanding legal knowledge to a range of issues.
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“In addition, the expertise we offer from our wider private client and commercial specialists will be extremely beneficial to Karl’s clients.”
Karl Dembicki said: “Over the years I’ve been fortunate to build a strong private client practice, including several household names across the worlds of media and entertainment for whom I have acted as a trusted adviser on personal and estate planning matters.
“Many have chosen to continue working with me and have already transitioned their work to Raworths following my move to Harrogate, which reflects the trust developed over the years.
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Since 2024, the Trusts, Wills and Estates team has been led by joint heads Alison Walker and Sam Jenner, enabling Rachel Tunnicliffe – the former Head of Trusts, Wills and Estates who led the team for a decade – to expand her other leadership roles as Senior Partner at Raworths and Head of Private Client Services.
Rachel added: “Alison and Sam have proven themselves to be an inspirational leadership duo – taking the team forward by nurturing our next generation of talent whilst growing its client portfolio.
“With their continued leadership and Karl on board – we can continue to grow our reputation as a centre of excellence for clients, wherever they are based.”
Raworths provides integrated commercial and private client services and employs more than 70 people at its single centre base in Harrogate, including 25 in Trusts, Wills and Estates.
A man has been jailed after picking up a third conviction for knife crime offences. Raul Maretic-Ramon, 23, was jailed for two and a half years on Monday (March 9) at Cambridgeshire Crown Court after he previously denied threatening a person with a knife in Cathedral Square, Peterborough.
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He was detained by Peterborough City Council enforcement officers and arrested by police. He later admitted to being in possession of cannabis.
Maretic-Ramos, of Manor Gardens, Stanground, Peterborough, denied threatening a person with an offensive weapon in a public place but was found guilty following a trial at Cambridge Crown Court in December. He appeared at the same court on Monday (9 March) and was jailed for 30 months.
Police Constable Jordan Pleyer said: “Maretic-Ramos threatened the victim in the middle of the afternoon, and we believe it was witnessed by young people. Possessing a knife is dangerous for the carrier and others, and we have seen the tragic consequences too many times. I am glad the sentence reflects the severity of the offence.”
Police have urged anyone with information about someone carrying a knife to report it to the police online or call 101. In an emergency always call 999.
Punters have criticised the cost of Guinness at Cheltenham Festival 2026 despite the price being reduced from £7.80 to £7.50, with social media users calling it “disgraceful”
Racegoers have continued to voice their frustration over Guinness prices, despite a reduction following complaints from festival attendees.
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The famous Irish stout remains the beverage of choice for many amongst the tens of thousands descending upon the Cotswolds for the four-day racing festival.
However, last year’s festivities left a bitter taste when punters discovered they’d be paying an eye-watering £7.80 for a pint of Guinness, with the alcohol-free alternative costing just 40p less.
Other beers offered little respite, with ‘premium lager’ set at £7.40 and Doom Bar matching the standard Guinness price. Festival organisers seem to have listened to the feedback, reducing the cost of a regular Guinness to a slightly more reasonable £7.50 for the 2026 event.
The non-alcoholic Guinness option has been set marginally cheaper at £7.30. Premium lager and Doom Bar remain at their 2025 prices.
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In positive news for Guinness lovers, the festival will allow alcohol consumption in front of the grandstand along the rails for the first time, meaning visitors can enjoy their drinks whilst watching the races unfold.
Despite the price reduction, many attendees remained unhappy about the cost of the dark brew. One person on social media branded it “Disgraceful”, whilst another remarked, “And that’s why more and more people are going abroad to watch it.”
Guinness is amongst a small number of items experiencing price cuts at Cheltenham, although accommodation costs remain eye-wateringly expensive.
An average five-night stay now sits at £3,772, based on Booking.com figures, whilst renting a three-bedroom townhouse close to the racecourse for the four days will set you back £8,812.
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At the more budget-friendly end of the spectrum, Airbnb prices ranged from a one-bedroom cottage nine miles from the course at £579 to a single-bedroom flat under two miles away for £2,500. The cheapest option available on Booking.com was a guest house four miles from the track priced at £1,033.
Festival organisers have introduced measures aimed at making the event more accessible and wallet-friendly for the typical racegoer. Ladies Day is returning after a seven-year absence.
Event organisers expect this decision will draw a wave of female attendees, with £10,000 worth of prizes available for the best-dressed participant. Furthermore, the daily capacity has been cut by 2,500 to 66,000 to provide a more pleasant experience for visitors, with less congested stands and reduced waiting times for refreshments.
Multi-ticket packages were made available to bring down the cost of entry. These alterations mark the most substantial transformation in Cheltenham’s 166-year history.
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Whilst the event itself may be more affordable to attend, the heightened demand has driven up accommodation prices across the region, something that lies outside the remit of racing authorities. Legendary jockey-turned-pundit Ruby Walsh has given his backing to the changes, saying: “I’m very impressed with the changes. I think less is always more, so bringing down the capacity to me is a no-brainer.
“There has to be a customer experience. People have to walk out thinking, ‘I want to go there again’. Ladies’ Day? I’m all in a dither. I have no idea what hat I’m going to wear! I am a man with a girl’s name so I’d better make an effort.”
