The winning design will be registered with the Scottish Tartan Authority as the official commemorative tartan for the America250 organisation

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Scottish students have been given the “remarkable” opportunity to design a tartan that will mark a historic milestone. Heriot-Watt University was invited by the Scottish Government USA to get involved in America250, a celebration for the USA’s 250th birthday.

Those studying at the Edinburgh institution’s school of textiles and design have been tasked with creating a tartan symbolising the historical and cultural ties between Scotland and the US. They submitted their ideas to a panel of experts from both countries, with the winning design due to be revealed in the summer.

The chosen design will be registered with the Scottish Tartan Authority as the official commemorative tartan for the America250 organisation. An initial commemorative run will be produced at Lovat Mill in Hawick in the Scottish Borders.

The winning student then travelling to Washington DC to formally present the tartan from Scotland to the US. Professor Fiona Grant, executive dean of the school of textiles and design, said: “We were delighted to be chosen for this special assignment to mark the America250 celebrations.

“It’s a remarkable opportunity to contribute to a project of real cultural – and lasting – importance while showcasing the breadth of skill, creativity and innovation that define Heriot-Watt’s school of textiles and design.”

Each submission had to meet a number of criteria, including the historical and cultural relevance of the tartan design, the creativity and originality of the pattern and supporting narrative, its public appeal and the potential for ceremonial and commercial use.

Mark Boyce, acting head of the Scottish Government USA, said: “The 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence is a moment to reflect on the long and historic ties between the United States and Scotland.

“A commemorative tartan is the perfect symbol of this interwoven relationship that continues to thrive through trade, education, culture and diaspora.

“We are delighted to bring this opportunity to the students at Heriot-Watt University, who are developing skills and creativity to help secure the future of Scotland’s unique tartans and textiles.”

Five Heriot-Watt students have been shortlisted, with the university saying the inspiration behind their designs is “as diverse as the samples they’ve woven”.

Grace Nicholls’ tartan highlights the vibrancy and heritage of Highland dance, through a design inspired by her family’s kilt colours and the rhythmic patterns shared across Scotland and North America.

The design by Kaci McEwan charts the US’s journey towards independence, with carefully numbered threads and colour sections referencing key moments in early American history such as the establishment of Jamestown in 1607.

Meanwhile, Elisabeth Fandke’s tartan is inspired by Fife-born founding father James Wilson and references shared Scottish-North American heritage, the Atlantic journey and the colours and motifs of Independence Hall in Philadelphia – where the Declaration of Independence was ratified.

Iris Morley’s tartan celebrates the shared value of liberty between Scotland and the US through colours drawn from national symbols and a central sequence of 13 stripes – a reference to the 13 colonies that broke away from Britain in the War of Independence.

Finally, Megan Beattie centred her design on the enduring friendship between Scotland and the United States, using a strong dark base to reflect its foundations and colours from both national flags to reference the relationship today.

The tartan project is part of a wider programme of activity around America250 and the America-Scotland relationship, and reflects the role Scotland has played in shaping the history of the United States.

The university pointed out many of the founding fathers and signatories of the Declaration of Independence were of Scottish descent while Scottish immigrants contributed to the development of American governance, industry and education.

Our thoughts are with those who have lost a loved one

Announcing the passing of a loved one in local news media is a long standing tradition and we are proud of the trust placed in us to make these important announcements. Every notice published to our newspaper and news site also appears on funeral-notices.co.uk – the UK’s number one site for death notices and memoriams. Every notice remains online forever providing friends and families with a lifelong tribute to their loved one, a safe place online to share memories, add tributes, photographs and make donations in memory.

Each week we pay tribute to the loved ones remembered in our area with a funeral notice and online tribute page. To read the latest announcements and add tributes to those from our area who have passed away, or to create a funeral notice yourself, click here. Alternatively, you can create a notice by calling the team on 01482 908084.

Here are a selection of notices published earlier this week.

Death Notices

Janice ABLETT

Passed away peacefully on Friday 6th March 2026 aged 74. Jan was a wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend to many. She will be sadly missed by all who knew her. Funeral service to take place at Cambridge City Crematorium, West Chapel on Monday 30th March at 3:15pm. Bright colours are warmly welcomed. Family flowers only please. Donations, if desired, to the benefit of Cancer Research UK can be made at the service, via Janice’s In Memory Page at www.peasgoodandskeates.co.uk or sent c/o 164 Histon Road Cambridge CB4 3JP 01223 791060

Raymond Victor (Ray) ANDREW

(Ray) Beloved husband to Helen, precious dad to Sarah, Katy and son-in-law Adam, treasured grandad to Lucie and Jamie, passed peacefully to rest at his home in Trumpington on Tuesday 3rd March 2026 aged 84 years. Ray will be greatly missed and remembered with eternal love. The funeral service celebrating Ray’s life will take place at St Mary and St Michael’s Church, Trumpington CB2 9LH on Tuesday 31st March 2026 at 1.00pm. Family flowers only please, but donations in memory of Ray may be made to Arthur Rank Hospice Charity at the service or online via Ray’s personal InMemory page at www.peasgoodandskeates.co.uk or sent c/o 617 Newmarket Road Cambridge CB5 8PA 01223 415255

Christopher BANDORSKI

of Papworth Everard passed away on Wednesday 18th February 2026 aged 58 years. A loving son of Joan and Mick, brother to Cheryl and Natalie and uncle to six. Funeral service to be held at 2:30pm, Histon Baptist Church on Tuesday 31st March 2026 followed by burial in the Histon and Impington Parish Cemetery. Family flowers only, donations if desired made payable to the British Heart Foundation maybe left following the service or forwarded to Richard Stebbings Funeral Service Ltd, Kendal House, Cambridge Road, Impington, Cambridge CB24 9YS. Tel: 01223 232309.

Philomena Josephine BOLGER (Phyllis)

Peacefully in Addenbrookes Hospital on Thursday 5th March 2025, surrounded by her family, aged 87 years. Reunited with her beloved husband Jim, much loved mum of Eunan, Senan and Fiona, treasured nana of Joe, beloved sister, sister-in-law, aunt and friend, who will be sadly missed by all who knew her. Requiem Mass to be held at St. Laurence’s Church, Milton Road on Thursday 26th March at 1pm, followed by cremation. Family flowers only please, donations may be made at the service for Kidney Research. Enquiries c/o Weyman Funeral Service, 26, Abbey Walk, Cambridge CB1 2QJ

David John CHIVERS

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Of Wisbech St Mary, MA PhD ScD Cambridge University Professor Emeritus in Primate Biology and Conservation & College Lecturer Emeritus in Veterinary Anatomy. Adored Husband of Christine, beloved Father of Katy, James, John, Joseph, Daniel & Rebecca, brother of Rina, Grandfather of Georgia, Toby, Oliver, Isabella & Emmeline, passed peacefully away at QEH King’s Lynn, Norfolk on Thursday 5th March 2026. FUNERAL at Selwyn College Chapel at 1p.m. on Monday 30th March – for family, friends & colleagues – followed by private interment at the Arbory Trust Woodland Cemetery, Barton. To honour David’s love of life please wear joyful clothing or Indonesian Batik shirts. MEMORIAL SERVICE during Summer date TBC. Family flowers only. Donations for Cancer Research UK to Peasgood & Skeates, 617 Newmarket Road, Cambridge CB5 8PA.

Claudio FELLA

Passed away peacefully on Friday 6th March 2026, aged 77. Beloved husband of Manuella, much loved father of Marco and Valerio, and a proud Nonno to Luca. Dear brother of Teodoro, Rodolfo and his twin brother Roberto. He will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him. The funeral service will take place on Tuesday 31st March at 10:00am at Cam Valley Crematorium, Field Farm Drive, Great Chesterford, Saffron Walden, CB10 1FE. Family flowers only please. Donations, if desired, to Arthur Rank Hospice via the service collection box.

Leslie FOX-TEECE

Of Cambridge. Passed away on Sunday 22nd February 2026 at home, aged 86 years. Dearly loved Uncle to Gary and Annie. Les shall be deeply missed by all. Funeral service to be held on Tuesday 24th March 2026 at Cam Valley Crematorium at 1pm. Donations, if desired, to the benefit of Dementia UK may be made at the service or online via Les’ personal InMemory page at www.peasgoodandskeates.co.uk All other enquiries to 617 Newmarket Road Cambridge CB5 8PA Tel: 01223 415255

Jean GAZE (Simpkin)

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Jean Gaze on 19th February 2026, age 85. A loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend who will be deeply missed by all who knew her. The funeral service will take place at the Small Chapel, Chanterlands Crematorium, Hull HU5 4EF, on Monday 23rd March at 2pm. All who knew Jean are welcome to attend. Donations, if desired, to Macmillan Cancer Support.

Roderic MARTIN

It is with great sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved Rod on Tuesday 11th February, at Duxford, aged 86. He will be forever missed by his loving family – Ben, Toby, Florence and Jessica, and his cherished grandchildren. In keeping with his wishes, there will be no service. Rest in peace, Dad.

Jilly Maynard J.P. MAYNARD

of Great Abington died peacefully on Monday 23rd February 2026, aged 85 years. Beloved wife, mother and grandmother. She will be greatly missed by all her family and friends. Funeral Service at St Mary’s Church, Little Abington on Tuesday 24th March at 12.30pm followed by interment. If wished, flowers may be sent c/o H. J . Paintin Ltd, 43 High Street, Linton, Cambridge, CB21 4HS

Sheila Margaret MILLER

Died peacefully at Arthur Rank Hospice on 7th March 2026, aged 91 years. Devoted wife of her late husband John. Much-loved mother to Tracey and Lynn and their husbands Rollo and Joff. Beloved grandmother to Gemma and Mark, and great-grandmother to Grace, Lily, Archie, Lola and Nora. Sheila will be dearly missed by all who knew her. Sheila’s funeral service will be held at Cam Valley Crematorium, Great Chesterford, on Monday 23rd March 2026 at 12pm. Family flowers only, but donations, if desired, in memory of Sheila to Arthur Rank Hospice may be made online at https://www.arhc.org.uk/donate/ or on the day or sent c/o Funeral Directors, Woodland Wishes, 4 High Street, Fulbourn, Cambridge, CB21 5DH.

Dorothy TRAVERS

Sadly passed away on 7th March 2026 aged 94 years. Wife of the late Andrew, mother to Duncan, Fiona and Bruce, granny and great granny. Funeral service to take place at All Saints Church, Haslingfield on Tuesday 31st March at 10:30am followed by a burial in the churchyard. Family flowers only please. Donations will be gratefully received for the British Heart Foundation or Dementia Research UK and can be made by visiting Dorothy’s in memory page at www.peasgoodandskeates.co.uk or sent to Peasgood and Skeates 45 Moorfield Road, Duxford CB22 4PP

In Memoriams

Hilda BROWN

Mum, You were such a special Mum in whom I always could confide; Always wise and caring always on my side. We shared so much happiness in times of yesterday; And to say how much I miss you I could never find a way. Memories will never fade, Mum. Loving Daughter Janet & and the late Mick

Hilda BROWN

Nan In loving memory of our little Nan. Of all the special gifts in life however great or small; To have you as our Nan was the greatest gift of all. Love Grandchildren Stephen, Andrew and the late Kevin xxx

Hilda Annie Brown IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Also Paul, Roberta and our Maggie. It breaks our hearts to have to write these words, a Mother who was so loving and caring, who left a void that can never be filled. A Mother, Brother, Sister and Partner so sadly missed. The memories you left behind will stay in our hearts forever. You are all missed beyond measure. God bless you all. The Brown Family xxx

To add your own tributes to the loved ones from our area, or to publish a notice for your loved one, visit funeral-notices.co.uk

Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those we have lost.

The aide said of the prince: “As he looks ahead to the responsibilities he will one day assume as Supreme Governor, he is keen to build a strong and meaningful bond with the Church and its leadership, one that respects tradition while speaking to a modern Britain, and reflects his broader belief that institutions must continue to remain relevant and connected to the people they serve.

For decades, mole catchers in the countryside have hung their carcasses on fences to be counted for payment and as evidence of their trapping prowess. But when hill walker Simon Lucas shared a photograph of the tradition on social media, he was unprepared for the ferocity of the response.

Viv Rollo is attempting to trace her father’s historically significant ring after it was lost or stolen.

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A “hidden” fragment of the Stone of Destiny was set into a ring which was lost or stolen shortly afterwards, it has emerged. The pieces of the historic rock were separated from the artefact in 1951.

The daughter of the ring’s previous owner is now appealing for help in tracking down what she says could be a precious family heirloom. Viv Rollo’s father David was gifted part of the ancient stone following the famous raid in which a group of nationalist students took it from Westminster Abbey and returned it to Scotland.

The Stone of Destiny broke in two during the daring heist and it was repaired in secret by a supportive stonemason called Bertie Gray. A research project recently revealed Mr Gray’s work may have resulted in around 34 fragments of the original Stone of Destiny.

These were distributed by Gray to people around the Scottish nationalist movement. One ended up at the SNP’s headquarters after being gifted to Alex Salmond.

David Rollo is believed to have been gifted one of the fragments in 1951, which he had set into a ring. He was good friends with Gavin Vernon, one of the four students who took the stone from Westminster Abbey, after they shared a flat as students in in Glasgow.

Mr Rollo died in 1997, aged 70, and his daughter Vivienne is now trying to unravel the mystery of the ring’s fate. Her father left few clues as to what became of it, and only told her the ring was either lost or stolen and that he had an idea of who had it – but he would not name the person he suspected.

Ms Rollo, who lives in Wester Ross, told Press Association: “I would definitely like to know what happened to it. It would be such a thing to have as a family heirloom.”

She said she believes Mr Vernon had asked her father to join him in the fateful Christmas Day heist at the end of 1950, but he declined to take part.

“I’m pretty sure Gavin asked my dad if he wanted to come along for this,” she said. “My dad said ‘don’t be daft, you’ll never do it’.”

Mr Rollo was called in for questioning by police in the days after the raid, as the authorities tried to recover the Stone of Destiny.

He told the police nothing and was not directly involved in hiding the artefact before it was later found by police at Arbroath Abbey in April 1951. However in a strange coincidence, Mr Rollo shared a surname with a man who did hide the Stone – John Rollo.

Ms Rollo said: “There must have been about 100 people who knew [about the stone], but they all kept quiet.”

Mr Gray’s work is thought to have resulted in at least 34 fragments of the Stone of Destiny, which has been associated with the crowning of Scottish and UK monarchs for centuries.

Ms Rollo, 70, said: “[My father] managed to get one of them and he said he got it made into a ring with a Celtic design. He said he knew who had taken it but he couldn’t prove it. Obviously you wouldn’t want to accuse one of your friends about something like that.”

Mr Rollo was well-known among the group of nationalist students involved in the Christmas Day raid – the parties at his house were famous and even immortalised in a song called The Lane Outside Dave Rollo’s Door.

He was tight-lipped around exactly who gave him the fragment or what may have become of it. He got married in 1956 but did not have the ring in his possession at that point. The ring is likely to be made of silver or a similar metal and has a Celtic design with three points.

The missing ring is one of several stories which have emerged as a research project seeks to document the fate of the fragments from the sandstone block, which were considered “hidden” for many years.

Professor Sally Foster of Stirling University has been working to trace the stories of the fragments. She is still keen to hear from people who may have knowledge of the whereabouts of the pieces.

“I treated every call as a privilege, even the most horrible and gruesome ones, I was the one to go in there to try and help”

A semi-retired paramedic has written a memoir on his experiences of working on the front lines of the Troubles.

North Belfast Blues by Brendan Magill details his journey from a troubled childhood where dead bodies would be left in his neighbourhood, to returning to those same streets as a paramedic, helping those most in need.

Through a turbulent upbringing on Adela Street and the New Lodge, the now 61-year-old was shaped by the things he saw at such an early age. He told Belfast Live he was “terrified of death”.

He said: “I was forced to deal with death at a young age and where we lived on that corner of north Belfast, we had a couple of bodies dumped in our street.

“When I was growing up, it felt like if it wasn’t on the news, it was on your doorstep. During those early years in the Troubles, I was hounded by death.

Magill has previous experience in writing, including children’s novels to encourage them to learn first aid. But it was in writing North Belfast Blues that he discovered a therapeutic experience, even if he didn’t originally intend for it to be that way.

He continued: “The only way I could do my story was to deal with the calls I faced as a paramedic, but when I started chronicling them, they reminded me of similar incidents from when I was a kid, and it became a form of therapy for me.”

“Before I started writing I would have said my childhood would have been very unhappy.

“After writing, I rediscovered that there were good things, like when I went out with my dad, or playing football despite the hassle we had. I realised we tried to make the most of things, despite the horrible backdrop of the Troubles.”

Through the tough years of childhood, Brendan admits there was an element of trauma, something he “buried through his teenage years”.

“It wasn’t until I was dealing with the deaths in the ambulance service that I was forced to look back.

“When you go to so many sudden deaths and murders, you can’t help but go and look back at your childhood. It didn’t matter that I had tried to bury those experiences; they eventually came back around.”

The retired paramedic never had any desire to join the ambulance service while growing up, and in his early twenties, Magill roamed aimlessly from job to job searching for a purpose.

It was one morning on his way to work when everything changed for him.

“I heard sirens behind me walking up the Dublin Road in a suit, to a job I didn’t want to go to. I looked around and it was a fire engine. Everyone’s heads turned to see what was going on, and I imagined what it would be like to do that job, to put on a uniform and have a sense of responsibility.

“That night I saw an advertisement in the Belfast Telegraph for the ambulance service, and that was it.”

After working in the ambulance service for 37 years, with many of those being during the Troubles, the retired paramedic has seen a lifetime of hardship.

He was one of the first on the scene for the Sean Graham Bookmakers shooting, in which five people were murdered and nine were injured.

“One shift, I was called to Dan’s Bar on Roden Street, where the INLA had killed two people. Then two hours later on the same shift, we were called to another shooting, where a Catholic had been killed.

“It really showed the brutality of what was happening on a daily basis. Tit-for-that, retaliation killings.”

Despite the challenging aspects of his job, Magill still found an identity within the Ambulance Service, and for the first time in his life, he had a purpose.

He continued: “When you’ve dealt with so much trauma and fear in your life and no one was helping you, it’s a privilege to walk into someone’s house as a paramedic, when they are at their worst moments in life, and offer some form of comfort.

“It’s nice to be able to go in and help people when you weren’t getting any help yourself.

“I loved wearing the uniform and the respect you got from it. I treated every call as a privilege, even the most horrible and gruesome ones, I was the one to go in there to try and help.

“I’m under 5ft 6ins and was always called shorty and that’s how I’ve felt most of my life. But when you put that uniform on and walk into someone’s house when there’s mayhem happening, you feel like the biggest person in the room. When I put that uniform on, I’m not small anymore.

“That uniform and call gives you a sense of purpose, and all of a sudden that height doesn’t matter.”

Brendan’s novel, North Belfast Blues is available now as an e-book on Kindle, with a physical copy expected in April.

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Emergency services were called to Holcombe Road at around 6.30pm today

Images from the scene shortly after it happened show a white car on its roof in the middle of the road.

Crash on Holcombe Road (Image: Phil Taylor)

It is understood that two other vehicles were involved in the crash, but believed to have been parked at the time.

Crash on Holcombe Road (Image: PHIL TAYLOR)

Police were also on hand to manage the road closure, which is believed to have been in place until around 8.30pm.

Greater Manchester Police have been contacted for comment.

We will bring you more on this incident when we get it,

The tower was lived in by an Italian religious figure

A tiny tower in Cambridge was once gifted to and lived in by Italians. History is all around in Cambridgeshire, with some historic buildings standing the test of time for hundreds of years.

One in Chesterton, known as Chesterton Tower, is a building that’s stood since the mid-14th century in Chapel Street.

This tiny tower was built in a gothic style. In 1227, Chesterton Church was gifted by Henry III to an abbey in Vercelli, northern Italy.

This was given as a thanks for the cardinal’s help in preventing a civil war. A procurator, who was most likely a canon of the abbey, lived in the tower.

It’s believed the procurator would have watched over affairs of the area. In 1440, the tower’s ownership then changed hands, as Henry VI gave the buildings to King’s Hall in Cambridge. King’s Hall later became Trinity College, as named by Henry VIII.

In 1949, the tower was fully restored and today it is now used as offices. It also stands in the former vicarage garden of nearby St Andrew’s Church.

The tower is made up of two storeys. It was built from field stones, clunch, brick and ashlar quoins. Inside, there are vaulted ceilings, a spiral staircase and garderobe, making it a home. It also includes original windows and old fireplaces.

Do you want more of the latest Cambridgeshire news as it comes in from across the county? Sign up to our dedicated newsletter to make sure you never miss a big story from Cambridge or anywhere else in the county. You can also sign up to our dedicated Traffic and Crime newsletters for the latest updates on the topics you are most interested in.

The UK has inadequate means to stop ballistic missiles fired from Iran, military experts have warned – although they also voiced doubts over Iran’s capability and its desire to carry out such a strike.

British defences lack the ability to shoot down ballistic missiles, they have claimed, and the systems that they do have are out at sea, and in numbers too small to be fully effective.

It follows a warning from Israel’s military that Iranian missiles were a threat to European cities – including London, Paris, and Berlin – after the failed attack on the British military base of Diego Garcia.

The base on the Chagos Islands is 3,800km (2,360 miles) away from Iran, further than previous estimates on the range of Iran’s missiles.

On Sunday morning, senior government minister Steve Reed stressed that Britain was safe, as he called Israel’s threat exaggerated and an attempt to garner support for the war. Hours later, a Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesperson doubled down on Mr Reed’s comments, stating that the country had the resources to “keep the United Kingdom safe from any kind of attacks”.

However, some military experts have suggested that Britain could be left vulnerable if Iran did have the capacity to strike.

Professor Michael Clarke, who was director general of the Royal United Services Institute think tank, told The Independent: “Could Britain defend itself against ballistic missiles coming from anywhere, whether it’s Russia or Iran? The answer is absolutely no. We have nothing.”

The only line of defence the UK had was its Sea Viper systems, he said, which are carried on the Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyers and can counter ballistic missiles. One of the six destroyers, the HMS Dragon, has been ordered to Cyprus, while three others are in port and are effectively non-operational, Mr Clarke added.

However, Britain, as a member of Nato, is protected by the organisation’s Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) system, which includes sites in Poland and Romania. It also features four US Navy destroyers, which are better equipped than the Type 45 destroyers and can intercept the missiles.

Matthew Savill, director of military sciences at the Rusi think tank, told The Times: “If launched towards the UK, this is what Nato’s BMD is designed for. The UK isn’t actually defenceless against a threat launched from Iran.”

Speaking on Sky News’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme, Mr Reed said: “We have systems and defences in place that keep the United Kingdom safe, and that will continue to happen.”

The housing minister refused to say how close Iranian missiles had come to Diego Garcia, but said the fact that one was intercepted and the other failed shows “that our defensive capabilities are correct”.

Mr Clarke also said he was doubtful Iran had the missile range to reach the UK. “I’m not sure they could have reached Diego Garcia. We don’t know. The fact that they tried, it may have been just a political gesture,” he said.

Retired Brigadier Ben Barry, who was formerly a Nato commander and director of the British Army Staff, described the UK’s defence system as “not adequate” against the threat of weapons such as ballistic missiles, if they reached the country.

He told The Independent: “UK’s ability to counter ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones, is not adequate to protect the UK homeland, and it’s not clear that it’s adequate to protect UK troops deployed overseas where there’s a considerable threat.

“If an enemy had ballistic missiles that were capable of reaching the UK, just having three ships would mean protection was pretty minimal. One could sit in the Thames covering London, but there’d be hard choices about what to do with the other two.”

Mr Barry, now a member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said that if Iran were to attack the UK, the defence force would have “the option of attempting to attack missile launchers. But to do that, it would effectively have to join the war along with the US and Israel. So far, the UK has said it supports only defensive action in the conflict.

“You could argue that it would be preemptive self defence, but in practice, to coordinate RAF aircraft looking for missile launches with Israeli and US aircraft, it would be very risky to do that unilaterally,” he said.

An MoD spokesperson said: “We have the resources we need to keep the United Kingdom safe from any kind of attacks, whether it’s on our soil or from abroad. The UK stands ready 24/7 to defend itself.

“The UK operates a layered approach to air and missile defence, provided by Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force assets equipped with a range of advanced capabilities, working in tandem with our Nato allies.

“This government has prioritised the need for air and missile defence for UK national security after years of underfunding, and that is why last June, following recommendations in the Strategic Defence Review, we announced up to £1bn in new funding to improve air and missile defence and keep the UK secure.

“This includes a new £118m contract announced last year to deliver six state-of-the-art Land Ceptor missile systems, which as part of the Sky Sabre system can hit a tennis ball-sized object travelling at twice the speed of sound.”

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Dylan Darling hit a driving layup as time expired for his only bucket of the game, and St. John’s advanced to its first Sweet 16 since 1999 with a 67-65 victory over Kansas in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday.

Darling, the Johnnies’ tenacious point guard, coolly won it after Kansas (24-11) erased a 58-45 deficit with 7 1/2 minutes to play, making a furious 20-7 run capped by Darryn Peterson’s two free throws to tie it with 13.1 seconds left.

The Jayhawks had four fouls to give, and they used all four to wind the clock down to 3.9 seconds. That was plenty of time for Darling, the Idaho State transfer who had missed his four previous shots.

Darling got the ball up top and drove the lane for a shot that banked in as time expired. His teammates tackled him in front of the St. John’s band in celebration.

Zuby Ejiofor and Bryce Hopkins scored 18 points apiece for the fifth-seeded Red Storm (30-6), who have roared back to college basketball prominence in just three seasons under coach Rick Pitino.

St. John’s advanced to face No. 1 overall seed Duke in the East Region semifinals in Washington.

The 73-year-old Pitino and 63-year-old Bill Self coached against each other for only the second time in the Hall of Famers’ decades-long careers, meeting for the first time in March Madness. They’re two of the three active coaches with multiple national titles, and now Pitino still has a chance to claim his third.

With Kansas transfer Ejiofor leading the way, St. John’s has won 21 of its last 22 games since early January, capped by the Johnnies’ second and third NCAA Tournament victories in the past quarter-century this weekend.

St. John’s won the Big East regular-season and tournament titles during its surge, and this Red Storm haven’t eased up a bit.

Peterson scored 21 points and Melvin Council Jr. had 15 points and nine rebounds for the fourth-seeded Jayhawks, who still haven’t returned to the Sweet 16 since they claimed Self’s second national title in 2022. After Kansas ended Arizona’s unbeaten season in a landmark victory on Feb. 9, the Jayhawks subsequently lost six of their final 11 games.

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AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness