‘My brother was never unkind or bitter. Nobody ever had a bad word to say about him – he was just so loveable,’ says Johnny (left – pictured with Philip)
Philip de Mouilpied never recovered after losing his mother to breast cancer at the age of 10.
When Kathleen died 37 years ago, there was no bereavement support, leaving Philip, his younger brother Johnny, and their sisters, Caroline and Andrea, struggling to cope.
Their dad, also called Philip, gave all the support he could alongside his wife’s sister Josie, who would also be taken by the disease six years later.
‘There was a lot of death growing up. We lived in a lot of grief and sadness. But to meet him, you’d never guessed Philip had lost so much,’ Johnny, 44, from Stockport, tells Metro.
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‘My brother was never unkind or bitter. Nobody ever had a bad word to say about him – he was just so loveable.’
Philip married young and, by 22, he and his ‘wonderful, gorgeous’ wife Lucy, his childhood sweetheart, had their first child. For decades, he carried his pain and anxiety largely in silence, until he died by suicide in October last year at the age of 46.
That day Lucy returned from work and found Philip, Emily arrived soon after and called Johnny before dialling 999.
‘I had an hour to kill so I was sitting alone in Brown’s Bar in Manchester with a quick glass of Merlot, to decompress after meetings when Emily phoned.
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The brothers – Johnny (left) and Philip – lost their mum to cancer when they were just children (Picture: Supplied)
‘I answered: “Hi baby girl.” And she told me what had happened,’ Johnny remembers.
In shock, he instructed her as best he could, telling her to check again for signs of life. When his worst fears were confirmed, Johnny had to break the heartbreaking news to his dad, also called Philip, and the rest of the family.
‘I was in an alleyway in Manchester phoning my sisters. Those were some of the worst conversations I’ve ever had in my life. I had to go home and then get the tram to Philip’s house. I just broke down in tears,’ he remembers.
Johnny rushed to his brother’s home to support Lucy, Jessica, 23, Emily, 22, and 19-year-old Callum.
Philip with his family (L-R: Lucy, Emily, Callum, Jessica)
Later, the whole family went to sit with Philip in the Chapel of Rest.
‘It was awful. But later I was glad I went,’ Johnny says.
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The brothers had been close growing up and both struggled after losing their mother.
When Johnny was 18, he suffered from panic attacks as he prepared to come out as gay. But he discovered honesty and openness were the best way forward, and has been mentally well ever since. Philip, on the other hand, kept his pain inside.
‘He was very different to me and because he was older, he protected me a lot and didn’t deal with his feelings. He suffered,’ Johnny says. ‘He had experienced so much grief, and he hated anybody feeling sad. Whenever they did, he just tried to take that feeling away from them. Which was to his detriment.’
Philip with his siblings Caroline, Andrea and Johnny
Philip, a steel work manager, fell into alcoholism in his twenties. When it emerged he was drinking before work, Johnny insisted he go into rehab, paying for treatment. In sobriety, Philip isolated himself from social situations.
‘There was always a reason he had to go home – to see to the dogs or something,’ Johnny remembers.
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And while he’d had therapy and took antidepressants, Philip ‘never got to the root cause’ of his sorrow, his brother, who works in banking, adds.
‘We knew he was poorly, but he didn’t always tell the truth about everything. He had crippling anxiety, and he would always block it out, rather than tackle it, hoping it would just disappear. And then it morphed into depression.
Five weeks before Philip died, the brothers had breakfast together alone. Johnny believes that was Philip’s way of saying goodbye
‘Looking back on it now, I think he was waiting until the kids were independent and older to end his life. Callum had just got his first job and passed his driving test.’
Philip’s anxiety was so deep-rooted that Johnny does not believe anything could have prevented his brother from ending his life when he did.
‘Nothing could have stopped him,’ he says starkly. ‘Even if I was there that day, I wouldn’t have been able to save him. He’d made his choice.
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‘But if anything could have been different, there should have been more focus on prevention, rather than cure. We spent years watching our mum die before our eyes – literally wasting away in front of us. We had no support whatsoever. If we had got to the root cause of it all, I think he could have been saved.’
Read more by Sarah Ingram
Five weeks before Philip died, the whole family were in Northern Ireland for a family wedding. At the hotel, the brothers had breakfast alone together. Nothing significant was said, but Johnny now realises that Philip was saying goodbye.
After his death, Johnny took on a fatherly role, promising to walk his nieces down the aisle and now takes Jessica, Callum and Emily out whenever he can.
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Married to Gareth, with their two cavapoos Henry and Buzz, Johnny lives ten miles from his family and remains close to Lucy. In trying to prevent the family from becoming overwhelmed by grief as their father was, Johnny tries to lead by example.
Philip and his daughter Emily in July 2025
Philip with son Callum and his other daughter Jessica
Five days after Philip died, he went to a Katy Perry concert, ‘because he would have gone mad had I cancelled’. A week later, he booked the whole family a holiday to Lanzarote so that, in the midst of funeral planning, they would have something to look forward to.
There was standing-room only at the church on the day of his send-off and Johnny gave Philip’s eulogy, paying tribute to his wicked sense of humour and devotion to his family.
‘We had the most wonderful funeral for him, and he was laid to rest with my mum, which brought everybody a lot of comfort,’ adds Johnny.
Jessica, Callum and Emily danced on chairs to Philip’s favourite music, holding pictures of him aloft, and they now take his photo around the world, visiting places his anxiety prevented him from seeing.
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The family also wanted to honour Philip’s life by helping prevent other suicides.
Johnny created the Bin Silence Foundation in Philip’s memory to help get people talking about mental health (Picture: Supplied)
Johnny has always done a lot of charity work and for years he had been mulling the idea about using household bins for good causes.
‘Bins are everywhere. There are 100 million across the UK. After Philip passed, we realised as a family that if we put stickers on bins, it would open up that everyday conversation, and provide us with a way of make money for mental health charities from the sales,’ he explains.
So last month the Bin Silence Foundation was born, selling stickers with house numbers and a logo encouraging people to talk.
They got the stickers printed and sat around each other’s kitchen tables cutting them out ready to be sent, as sister Caroline leads the logistics.
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‘Our hope is that it can start conversation, maybe even save some lives,’ Johnny says.
‘We want to bin silence around suicide. We’ve already had messages of thanks from people whose children are self-harming, whose husbands have been up on motorway bridges.
‘Even if you can’t speak to someone in your own circle, there is so much help out there. You aren’t alone. When you have anxiety or depression, it can feel very isolating. Philip didn’t realise how much he was loved.
‘If he had seen how many people were at the church, he never would have ended his life. The first time a man gets flowers is often at his own funeral, and that’s a tragic thing. We want people to know there is always hope, and always a way forward.’
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Find out more about the Bin Silence Foundation here.
The actress shared the photo after opening up about heading back to work on her latest thrilling drama after becoming a first-time mum
Michelle Keegan shared a rare snap of her daughter, Palma, after opening up about heading back to work on her latest thrilling drama after becoming a first-time mum.
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Last week, the Stockport-born actress was seen alongside her new co-star Douglas Booth as they attended the ITV Showcase 2026 at The Design Museum on Thursday (April 23), where their new show, The Blame, was previewed ahead of its release later this year.
It was previously announced that Michelle will be starring as DI Emma Crane in the new “compelling” ITV crime drama, In The Blame. Her character will investigate the death of a teenage figure skater, starring alongside Douglas as DI Tom Radley.
ITV’s synopsis for the six-part drama previously teased: “What starts as a tragic death in the quiet town of Wakestead, spirals into a tangled web of lies, institutional cover-ups, and moral compromise as DI Crane (Keegan) and DI Radley (Booth) dig deeper”.
Speaking to ITV Showcase host Graham Norton about working on the show after welcoming Palma into the world, Michelle said: “Coming back to work after having a baby is quite daunting. The production were so supportive and I was so looked after and it was like working with family.”
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While Michelle and her husband, Mark Wright, largely keep their daughter out of the spotlight, over the weekend, Michelle did share a new snap of her little girl.
Out soaking up the spring sunshine, she shared a picture of Palma, without showing her face as they choose to keep her identity private, in which she could be seen sporting a denim jumpsuit covered in embroidered cherry and strawberry details, which had been paired with some vibrant red shoes, as she tucked into some crisps.
Last month, the former Coronation Street star and Mark celebrated a year since they welcomed their daughter, Palma Elizabeth Wright, into the world. Fans may recall that the couple revealed to the world that they were expecting their first child together in a sweet pregnancy announcement just after Christmas 2024, which featured Michelle debuting her blossoming baby bump on a Spanish beach.
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Michelle, 38, and Mark, 39, who hails from Essex, then later announced they’d welcomed their daughter into the world on March 12, almost a week after she was born, as they confirmed their unique name for the first child
The hit ITV gameshow returned for a 36th series on Sunday (April 26), with Jeremy Clarkson once again taking on the role as host.
The former Top Gear and The Grand Tour presenter has described the new series as “exceptionally exciting”, and after the first episode, we can see why.
Quiz enthusiast becomes seventh winner on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
Only six other UK contestants have ever won the £1 million prize on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
Retired IT analyst Roman Dubowski became the seventh, winning the £1 million jackpot on Sunday night’s episode.
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Mr Dubowski, a quiz enthusiast who lives just outside Stockport, said the victory felt “unreal” and revealed he celebrated the life-changing win with “a cup of tea.”
Mr Dubowski said: “It felt unreal. It didn’t feel like the real world, almost, this isn’t where I expected to be.
“It didn’t sink in until later. I did sort of go home quietly, to be honest, I didn’t get drunk – I had to have a cup of tea.
“I think it was just sitting in a quiet room and letting it all sink in, and thinking about what happened in the previous 24 hours.”
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After the show, the first person he told was his sister, who was “absolutely thrilled.”
Planning to buy a new house, Mr Dubowski also hopes to travel with his winnings, naming New Zealand and South America among possible destinations.
He said he will share some of the money with his niece and nephew.
Would you have answered the £1 million question correctly?
The crucial £1 million question was: “Used since 1876, which trademarked logo is described in the James Joyce novel Ulysses and depicted in works by Manet and Picasso?”
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The options were Bass Ale, The Famous Grouse, Coca-Cola, and Stella Artois.
Mr Dubowski chose to use his 50/50 lifeline before choosing Bass Ale.
He said he felt confident immediately: “When it came up… I thought, I think I know this straight away.”
He recalled seeing the Manet painting A Bar at the Folies-Bergère at The Courtauld Gallery in London, and “distinctly” remembered the red triangle, the symbol of Bass beer.
MacGregor, an SNP MSP for ten years who is standing for re-election, said at a hustings organised by the Upstart charity:
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“Perhaps before I come to what’s in in the SNP manifesto, I will address the issue of kindergarten, of course, which is the main issue that Upstart exists to promote and put on record, which I don’t mind doing, my disappointment that the SNP manifesto does not include a commitment to kindergarten in this parliamentary term.”
He added: “This is despite my own personal best efforts to try and get it there, and I know actually the cabinet Secretary for Education and the outgoing minister Natalie Don both also were supportive of that as well.
“I think it should be recognised, though, that a kindergarten stage is SNP party policy, which I’m very pleased about and just because it isn’t in the manifesto does not mean that it isn’t something that can be taken up in the next parliamentary session.”
Journalist Lesley Riddoch, who chaired the hustings, told MacGregor his criticism was “astonishingly honest” and asked what the SNP’s problem was with the policy.
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He replied: “The honest answer is I don’t know.”
MacGregor, who is standing in Coatbridge and Chryston, also said: “I think perhaps it’s maybe not seen as being as of an urgent concern as other areas.”
On primary school testing, a policy defended by Swinney, he said: “I’ve been an outspoken critic of testing at P1.”
He continued: “I just don’t think that they should exist at all. I don’t think that it’s one of these things that you can make better, you can make less intensive.
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He also said: “But they just really shouldn’t be happening. And I don’t mind saying that. That could be seen as quite strong, but I do think that we should take the opportunity early in this next parliamentary session, hopefully under an SNP government again, to get rid of them rather than trying to dilute them. They should just go.”
MacGregor also said he is “not a fan” of homework at a primary school level.
In 2018, Swinney as Education Secretary rejected calls to axe P1 tests:
“Frankly many of the criticisms from opposition politicians have ranged from ill-informed to hypocritical.
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“Some opposition politicians are now proposing to scrap P1 assessments.
“To do this would be deeply irresponsible, and parents would quite rightly never forgive any politician who puts party politics ahead of the educational interests of their children.”
This year, that day marked the 30th anniversary of the St George’s CE Primary School in Westhoughton with a special reunion with former staff and governors being invited to celebrate the milestone.
The day was capped of by a church service in the school’s on-site church, which on weekends is used by people from around Westhoughton as their local place of worship.
Pictures from the church service (Image: James Young)
School headteacher James Young said: “It’s been a lovely day, but very busy!
“The service will be all about celebrating St George’s Day and celebrating 30 years of the school.
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“We try and focus on out motto, which is all about loving life. It comes from John 10:10 – The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
The library, opened in 2024 (Image: Dan Dougherty)
St George’s CE Primary School moved from its previous home on Hart Common in 1996, as the previous building – which had been there for 125 years – was no longer fit for purpose.
It was at this point that Hart Common School, as it had previously been known, became St George’s CE School.
The library was opened in 2024 by poet Levi Tafari (Image: Dan Dougherty)
“We came from Hart Common with 100 children,” said Jackie Goodwin, who was a governor at the time of the transition – and still is today.
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“The old building wasn’t fit for purpose anymore – it was too small.
“We took the original stained glass windows with us when we made the transition, as well as the wooden plaques with the names of people who died in the war, so there is continuity between this building and the old one.”
Extracts from the 1879 logbook of the original Hart Common School (Image: James Young)
Dave Smith currently a ‘foundation governor’ on the board of the school, was also a governor at the time of the transition.
“I’ve got a connection with school as all three of my children went here and they all did really well,” said Dave.
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“The old building was just too small and not suitable – this one is very light and bright.
Hart Common School had been in place for 125 years, across which period they only had five headteachers, said Mr Smith.
A celebration poster from the children of St George’s (Image: Dan Dougherty)
“When you got that job you didn’t leave it!” he said.
Mr Smith added: “When the old school was set up Hart Common was just a small collection of houses, but as Westhoughton grew it made sense to move to a bigger building.”
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One of the most striking things about St George’s CE School is the sense of community they have managed to foster.
Many former teachers still keep in contact with current staff, and many children are children of former pupils.
Picture of the previous school building at Hart Common (Image: James Young)
“There are a lot children here that are now on their second or third generation,” said former headteacher Simon Bramwell, who was visiting for the occasion.
“Ms Fairbanks, who teaches here now, used to be a pupil.”
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Marilyn Sweet was a reception teacher at St George’s at the time of the transition, having spent 15 years at Hart Common before it moved.
“It was a good name for the children, because I could say ‘I’m Sweet now, but if you misbehave I’ll turn sour!” Marilyn said.
She played a very active role in school life during her tenure, even designing the school’s original logo.
“I have very fond memories of the place,” she said, “and being here again is bringing back more and more.
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30th anniversary cake (Image: James Young)
“This used to be my classroom, but everything has moved!”
The back room that we were in had recently been redecorated and was not currently being used as a classroom.
After a tour of the school, the children gathered in the main hall for their St George’s day service.
Bridlington and Filey Coastguard rescue teams were sent to Thornwick Bay in Flamborough around 12.30pm yesterday (Sunday, April 26).
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A manual rescue operation was hampered by a scene the coastguard described as “a narrow knife-edge pinnacle, with sheer drops either side and no safe option for a rope rescue.”
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A spokesperson for Bridlington Coastguard rescue team said: “The call was made to request a rescue helicopter.
“In a tense and highly skilled manoeuvre, the aircraft arrived on scene and carried out a low-level winch, carefully lowering the winchman onto the precarious ledge.
“The casualty was secured in a rescue strop and lifted to safety.
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“The helicopter then landed at a site prepared by coastguard teams, where the casualty was safely reunited with family members.
“Thankfully, despite the dramatic circumstances, the casualty escaped injury just very cold after the ordeal.”
Thousands of runners, including a host of famous faces, crossed the London Marathon finish line on Sunday, amid warm temperatures, with many punching the air in triumph on the Mall. Among the notable participants were Wicked actor Cynthia Erivo and former England cricket captain Sir Alastair Cook.
Cynthia Erivo achieved a new personal best, completing the 26.2-mile course in approximately three hours and 21 minutes, significantly improving on her 2022 time of three hours and 35 minutes. After her arduous run, the Oscar-nominated star, visibly exhausted, was helped to a seat before speaking to the media.
Reflecting on her experience, Erivo shared: “There was a little rough moment where I thought it was never going to make it, but then I found a little bit of strength. I’m here, and I feel really proud.” Despite her early 5am start for the marathon, Erivo was scheduled to perform all 23 roles in Dracula at the Noel Coward Theatre in London on Monday evening. “It’s at 7.30pm, so I should be fine,” she quipped, adding: “I may be a little slower than usual.”
When asked about the potential for the London Marathon to be held over two days in the future, Erivo commented: “It would be amazing. I may be just watching next year, though.” She expressed her love for running, explaining that it allows her to “zone out” and “just be me”, providing a moment to “centre… I get to think about the things that I want to think about, zone out for a second, meditate for a second”.
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The ‘Wicked’ star ran the marathon previously in 2022 (Getty)
The distinctive Peppa Pig theme tune heralded the arrival of children’s TV character Daddy Pig at the finish line, accompanied by “The Body Coach” Joe Wicks. The pair completed the course in five hours and 51 minutes, running in support of the National Deaf Children’s Society, following a storyline in Peppa Pig that revealed George Pig is moderately deaf.
Post-race, Wicks conveyed his immense pride in Daddy Pig, praising his dedication to training and his impressive performance despite the warm conditions. He noted the crowd’s reaction: “It’s lovely when people say ‘Joe!’ and give me a little cheer, but 99 per cent of it was ‘Daddy Pig, give us a wave!’, kids smiling, kids getting excited. So I rode off the energy of Daddy Pig today, and it was great.”
When questioned about other animated characters he might like to run alongside, Wicks responded: “Who can top Daddy Pig? There aren’t many people… maybe one day, when Peppa’s older, she might run with me as well.” He also addressed social media speculation regarding Daddy Pig’s identity, stating that while social media has been “great at stirring up conspiracies… Daddy Pig is a pig and that is it. There’s no human being involved”.
Joe Wicks and Daddy Pig ran as training partners (Ben Whitley/PA)
Sir Alastair Cook, upon finishing his race, declared the finish line as his favourite part. “Apart from that, just seeing the number of people that come out,” he added. He found a moment of personal joy at the 20-mile mark: “I’d just say, seeing my little boy (Jack) and my family at around about the 20-mile mark, it didn’t inspire me to run any faster, because I was done, but it was nice to see his face.”
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Comparing the marathon to his cricketing career, Sir Alastair remarked: “Cricket’s easy. When you’ve finished, when you’re not very good, you cash out and sit down. There’s no hiding place here.”
A huge fire has torn through a house near Aberdeen. Emergency services were called to a property on Coronation Road in Peterculter, on the outskirts of Aberdeen, at around 2pm on Sunday.
Footage of the blaze showed thick black smoke billowing from the front door of the house and rising through the property’s roof. Sirens could be heard in the distance as neighbours stood watching on the pavement in disbelief.
A number of fire crews were sent to the scene and spent a few hours bringing the fire under control
It is unknown if anyone was injured in the blaze. The property is understood to have suffered significant damage.
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Speaking to The Courier, one onlooker said: “The roof has caved in and the whole house seems to have been destroyed.
“I think firefighters are now trying to stop the fire from spreading into the neighbouring house.
“It must be horrible for the owners – a nightmare.”
A study by Age UK reveals that early experiences in physical education are discouraging thousands of people aged 50 to 65 from staying active.
The figures show half of people in the North West dreaded PE lessons in childhood, and more than half a million now feel put off sport for life as a result.
The findings come as part of Age UK’s new campaign, Act Now, Age Better, which aims to inspire midlifer’s to get active for a healthier later life.
Lauren McKechnie, chief executive of Age UK Bolton, said: “Being physically active is one of the most powerful things we can do for our health and happiness.
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“It supports not only our physical wellbeing, but our mental health, independence, social connection and sense of purpose—benefits that ripple far beyond the individual.
“When people are supported to move more, everyone wins.”
Senior couple jogging in a park (Image: Getty Images)
The campaign brings together more than 40 national sport and activity partners, including British Cycling, Badminton England and England Netball, to help reintroduce exercise in a more inclusive and supportive way, reflecting changes over the past 30 to 40 years.
Age UK Bolton is backing the campaign and offering a variety of activities as part of its Strength and Balance programme and other community sessions.
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Ms McKechnie added: “At Age UK Bolton, we have a specialist Strength and Balance offer, alongside a variety of community-based sessions—from gentle dance to tai chi—helping people to stay active in ways that feel accessible and enjoyable.
“What truly sets Bolton apart, however, is the strength of our partnership approach.”
She highlighted the charity’s work with Bolton Council, Active Bolton, and Bolton Wanderers in the Community to create a “broad, inclusive and accessible range of opportunities” for older adults.
She said: “Together, we are creating the conditions for people to stay well, connected and independent for longer.”
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The research also found that 42 per cent of people in the target age group feel anxious about joining a sports group or class at their age.
However, there remains a high level of interest, with 23 per cent of midlifers saying they would be motivated by age-specific classes, 19 per cent wanting more beginner-only sessions, and 16 per cent interested in making new friends through activities.
Individuals engaging in a vibrant fitness session, performing dumbbell exercises in a well-lit gym, promoting health, endurance, and teamwork in a lively and motivational environment. (Image: Kaspi Creative Inc.)
The campaign features support from sports and media personalities including Dame Kelly Holmes, Sally Gunnell, Dame Denise Lewis, and Gabby Logan.
Dame Kelly Holmes said: “The benefits of sport and exercise are endless.
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“It doesn’t matter whether you’re a professional athlete competing on a world stage, or a busy parent who has just managed to carve out a few hours for yourself one evening a week to head along to your local netball group.
“It’s about self-care, making new connections, feeling team spirit, supporting mental health, getting outside and feeling strong and capable for as long as possible.
“Age UK’s Act Now, Age Better campaign is a fantastic reminder of all those things and how important they can be for someone in midlife who is looking to increase their chances of living a better later life.
“It might feel like a small thing, or a task that can be shoved to the bottom of a never-ending to-do list, but trust me – it can make a world of difference.”
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The campaign will run throughout the summer, with many partners offering free taster sessions and resources to help people try new activities in a welcoming environment.
More information about the Act Now, Age Better campaign can be found at www.ageuk.org.uk/actnow.
Rhiannon Wilkinson, head of Ashville College, is in the running for Headteacher of the Year (Independent) at the 2026 Tes Schools Awards, widely regarded as the ‘Oscars’ of the education sector.
Her leadership has helped the college reach the Sunday Times Parent Power top 10 independent schools in the North.
Ms Wilkinson said: “Thanks to the home-grown skills and talents of all our staff and pupils, Ashville continues to grow, innovate and be forward-thinking.
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“There is no shortage of inspiration in schools and their people across the UK, so I am thrilled that the Ashville name will be represented on the national stage at such prestigious awards.”
She is the only nominee in the North of England.
Ashville College also achieved record-breaking A-level results for the second consecutive year.
Greg Styles, Ashville College’s chairman of governors, said: “The combination of Rhiannon’s skills in strategic thinking and practical business innovation is something I have found to be quite unique in the education sector.
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“Her visionary leadership has created the ‘new’ Ashville for the future, and she deserves to be recognised on the national stage.”
Cameron Norrie set up a first meeting with Jannik Sinner after battling into the fourth round of the Madrid Open.
While Norrie has faced Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic on multiple occasions, he oddly has never previously taken on world number one Sinner.
That will change at the Caja Magica on Tuesday when the British number one will bid to halt Sinner’s 19-match winning streak and make the quarter-finals in Madrid for the first time.
“I’ve never played him, which is crazy,” Norrie told Sky Sports. “I’m excited to play him but every time we practise he rips me up and smokes me.
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Cameron Norrie will face world number one Jannik Sinner in Madrid (Reuters)
“He’s really confident, probably the most confident player in tennis right now. I’m going to take it to him, I’m just going to play my game, play the ball in front of me.”
Having survived a near three-hour battle against Tomas Machac in the second round, Norrie managed to see off big-serving Argentinian Thiago Agustin Tirante in straight sets, coming through 7-5 7-6 (5).
“It was tricky,” said Norrie after the contest on the Caja Magica’s third court.
“I hadn’t played in the stadium courts yet, not even in practice, so it was a little bit different returning and it was tough to get the range.
(Reuters)
“I had to go back because his serve was kicking so, so much. His first serve is an absolute rocket, as we expected, but I managed to dig deep when I needed to and played well in the big moments, and that was the difference.”
It was a contest of few chances but Norrie converted his third opportunity to break in the 12th game of the opening set with a backhand winner and then clinched his first match point in a nervy second-set tie-break.
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Tirante, ranked 75, sent down a serve measured at 149 miles per hour in the sixth game but was unable to create any break points on the Norrie serve.
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