“I love this record, it means so much to me. It gave us access to the world”

Snow Patrol have been honoured as the first recipients of the brand-new Official Charts Hall of Fame Award.

The new accolade from the Official Charts Company will, going forward, be presented annually to the UK’s official biggest single and album of the year.

The award is part of celebrations marking 70 years of the Official Albums Chart and the Co Down band were selected as the inaugural recipients of the award to coincide with the 20th anniversary of Eyes Open.

The album gave Snow Patrol their first Number 1 on the Official Albums Chart and became the UK’s Official biggest album of 2006, which “propelled Snow Patrol from alternative-rock favourites to one of the defining bands of the decade”.

Speaking to the Official Charts as he accepted the award, frontman Gary Lightbody said: “Thank you very much, this is great! My mum will be delighted!

“I love this record, it means so much to me. It gave us access to the world – a world which we never thought we would occupy.

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“We started in 1994 and didn’t have a hit until 2004. We had 10 years of no success, and then Final Straw was very successful. Then Eyes Open was extremely successful. It was very new to us, that type of success; playing the bigger shows, getting on the radio. Being in the charts was very exciting to us.

“It’s an album that still seems to live and breathe, and also change and shift. The album is an artifact that’ll never change, but the songs change, shift and evolve over time with the way we play them.”

According to Official Charts Company data, Eyes Open has gone on to shift more than 2.6 million units in the UK to date, including 2.4 million pure sales.

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Decades earlier, those grounds on Acomb Road in York echoed with very different sounds as children played under the watchful eye of nurses in the gardens of what was then the Godfrey Walker Home.

It isn’t easy to mentally swap that scene of pints, replica shirts and nervous glances at the scoreboard for prams, toys and nursery games. But our old photo highlights the history of the Victorian villa that was originally built for the Russell family, according to the York Historic Environment Record.

Old photo reveals forgotten past of popular York pub – pictured, children at play under the eye of nurses in the grounds of the Godfrey Walker Home (now the Carlton Tavern pub) in 1948 . (Image: Newsquest)

The Waifs and Strays Society moved its Godfrey Walker children’s home here in 1946, turning it into a nursery in 1947 for babies and toddlers up to five. Records show it continued as the Godfrey Walker Children’s Home until about 1970, before becoming a hotel and, in the 1990s, the Carlton Tavern pub under Marston’s.

1962 – The Glass Bridge in Grosvenor Terrace, Clifton, is replaced with a new footbridge. (Image: Newsquest)

The photo is one of several that we’ve uncovered in our archives to a offer snapshot of everyday life in York – from the Cross Keys pub in 1968, standing watch over the busy Tadcaster Road junction, to the Crystal Palace on Holgate Road in 1961, a well-known stopping point for locals.

1968 – The Cross Keys and the junction of Tadcaster Road and St Helen’s Road. (Image: Newsquest)

Shops, too, tell the story of a changing city. Older readers may remember when Newbould’s Fisheries in Huntington reopened in 1967 after a £3,000 refurbishment, while the street scene of Hull Road and Matmer House hints at the mix of homes and businesses lining York’s expanding suburbs.

Matmer House in Hull Road in 1968. (Image: Newsquest)

Other photos feature once-familiar scenes from carnival crowds in Wigginton, school days at Robert Wilkinson, and Clifton’s old Glass Bridge giving way to the new.

Wigginton Carnival on Midgley’s Fields (now Windsor Drive) in 1962. (Image: Newsquest)

We hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane. If you love delving into York’s past and seeing photos from yesteryear, and reading stories about them, then please join our online nostalgia group on Facebook, Why We Love York – Memories. It is free to join and you will find us at www.facebook.com/groups/yorknostalgia.

22 July 1966 – The old Robert Wilkinson Primary School, which was built in 1857 and was replaced by new premises in 1972. (Image: Newsquest)

It would be great to see your old photos of York – and they don’t have to be from centuries ago.

We all love seeing old photos from our own past, and some of our more popular stories date from the 70s, 80s and 90s – and even into the noughties.

If you have a nostalgia story for us, you can also contact us on email – write to nadia.jeffersonbrown@newsquest.co.uk.

North Yorkshire Council’s scrutiny of health committee heard how North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust and South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust were now working in partnership on the plans as University Hospitals Tees.

Councillors were told “radical changes” were needed to ensure hospital services remained sustainable in the future.

The changes are set to include a shift to providing more care in the community and people’s own homes, and a focus on prevention through education.

The ‘hospital at home’ service could be expanded with the equivalent of 500 extra beds created, while hospital at home services for children and young people could be added.

The strategy proposes increasing activity in the two surgical hubs at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton and the University Hospital of Hartlepool.

Specialist services would then be consolidated at either James Cook in Middlesbrough or the University Hospital of North Tees in Stockton, while both hospitals would maintain an emergency department.

Under the plans, James Cook Hospital would focus on areas such as urology, spinal services, non-ambulatory trauma and paediatrics.

The Stockton hospital would specialise in general medicine, gastroenterology, endocrinology and diabetes, respiratory (chest) medicine and elderly care medicine, alongside general surgery.

Children’s and young people’s services could also be consolidated to create a specialist children’s hospital on one site.

An overhaul of outpatient services is also planned.

Councillors were told that doing nothing was not an option, with an extra 112 beds needed within the next 15 years under the current model.

Matt Neligan, chief strategy officer at University Hospitals Tees, said: “We’ve got a number of services that are duplicated across Teesside; we’ve got James Cook University Hospital and we’ve got University Hospital North Tees, which are six miles apart as the crow flies and haven’t worked closely together over the last few decades.

“That is a big issue that causes us to think about what our ambition might need to be. We’ve got a number of workforce and performance pressures, and increasingly the financial pressures create pressure on our service.

“That’s exacerbated by the growth in the population so we know that if we stand still the demand on inpatient emergency care is going to grow by about 40 per cent over the next 15 years.”

“That requires us to think differently about the model of care that we provide.”

The meeting was told that the University Hospital North Tees had a current maintenance backlog of £126m, while James Cook Hospital’s private finance initiative contract costs £83m a year.

A significant rise in demand for hospital services is also forecast, driven by a rapidly ageing population and increasing levels of frailty and long-term illness.

Projections show that the proportion of people aged over 70 is expected to grow at a faster rate than other UK regions. This demographic shift is set to place considerable pressure on urgent and emergency care services over the coming years.

Between 2023 and 2040, A&E attendances among over-70s are predicted to rise by 39 per cent, while inpatient hospital spells for the same age group are expected to increase by 36.3 per cent.

NHS chiefs are currently setting out their case for change, with more detailed plans and public consultations expected in the coming months.

Arthur Fery defied persistent nosebleeds to win a five-set roller coaster against Zizou Bergs and reach the fourth round of Wimbledon for the first time.

The 23-year-old wild card needed treatment three times for the issue, which has dogged him throughout the tournament, while he was 4-1 down in both the fourth and fifth sets.

But Fery showed huge courage and belief to fight back both times before claiming a 2-6 7-5 2-6 7-6 (3) 7-6 (10/5) victory after four hours and 38 minutes.

It was the first five-set win of Fery’s career and comfortably the longest match of his life, while he is only the second British wild card to reach the last 16 at a grand slam after Andrew Foster here in 1993.

And his victory on a raucous Court 18 took him into the top 100 of the rankings for the first time.

Carrying the hopes of the home country as the only singles player to make the last 32, Fery kept his cool impressively throughout, although the nosebleed-related breaks were tough on Bergs, especially one during the 10th game of the deciding set.

Usually players are only allowed to take one medical timeout for a single condition, but blood is an exception that requires immediate intervention.

Fery will seek medical treatment after the tournament that it is hoped will cure the problem, which has become an increasing issue during the grass-court season, for good.

Speaking in an on-court interview, Fery said: “It’s unreal. Four hours 40 with that support, it’s unbelievable. I requested to play on this court because it’s awesome. I had a great time on it in the second round and this trumps it but I got so much support, it’s awesome.”

Eyebrows were raised initially when the match was scheduled on the relatively small Court 18, where Fery defeated Otto Virtanen in round two, and long queues snaked around the outside with fans eager for a glimpse.

Fery was born in France and has French parents but grew up only 10 minutes from the All England Club.

He would have settled for an unseeded opponent in his first grand slam third round but Bergs, named after French footballer Zinedine Zidane, was certainly not to be underestimated having just won his first ATP Tour title at Eastbourne to climb to a career-high ranking of 37.

Bergs dominated the opening set, with Fery’s first nosebleed occurring after only four games, but the young British player turned things around in the second set, helped by some ill-timed double faults from his opponent.

Fery appeared to have the momentum going into the crucial third but Bergs stepped up again with a run of five games in a row, sealing the set with a Pete Sampras-style slam dunk smash, and seemed in complete control leading 4-1 in the third with a double break.

Fery looked to be tiring but, spurred on by the home crowd, back he came, and he turned on the style in the tie-break, whipping a forehand winner down the line on the run and then making a backhand volley at full stretch as he kept the dream alive.

Fery’s second nosebleed came during a hugely unsatisfactory break of more than 15 minutes, with both players heading off court to change their clothes, while Bergs also took a timeout for blister treatment.

Fery struggled to regain his physical intensity and Bergs once again moved to the brink of victory only to stumble.

It was clear heading into the tie-break that Fery, roared on by the home crowd, was the player who believed this was his moment, and so it proved.

Speaking at the march, Mr Tatchell told the Press Association: “We’re marching in London Pride today to highlight the fact that at the World Cup, which is ongoing right now, 11 countries ban gay footballers from their team – that’s against Fifa rules, but Fifa is doing nothing.”

By GETHIN HICKS, REPORTER

Updated: 18:55 BST, 4 July 2026

In many cultures, the placenta is more than tissue left over after birth. It may be understood as spiritually linked to the baby, treated as a companion or sibling, and buried to protect the child or connect them to family and land.

Yet in many maternity settings, what happens to the placenta after birth may receive little discussion unless a woman already knows she can ask to take it home.

For my doctoral research on migrant Nigerian mothers’ experiences of antenatal care in the UK, one mother described wanting to keep her placenta for burial after birth.

This was something she had done after the births of her other children. But while navigating maternity care in a new country, other questions took priority, and she did not feel able to raise it with her midwife.

Her placenta was disposed of with no discussion. She later said: “They are supposed to ask me about these things, if they had asked I would have explained.” She felt a sense of loss and grieved for the placenta.

Her experience shows why placenta disposal should be discussed during pregnancy, rather than left until after birth.

Special meaning

The placenta is a temporary organ that develops in the uterus during pregnancy. It links to the baby through the umbilical cord and supports pregnancy by transferring nutrients, oxygen and hormones, while removing waste products such as carbon dioxide.

During pregnancy, the placenta is treated as vital. It is monitored because it helps sustain the baby. But after birth, it can quickly become treated as a disposal issue rather than something a woman may have feelings, beliefs or plans about.

A review of placenta disposal practices among indigenous groups globally found that rituals surrounding the placenta often carry special meaning for women and families. In Niger, for example, the placenta has been described as a “travelling companion” that accompanies the baby from one world to the next.

In many cultures, the placenta is buried. The burial site may be chosen carefully, sometimes in the family home or on ancestral land. The ritual may be linked to the baby’s protection, the mother’s future fertility or the child’s long-term wellbeing.

Some people consume the placenta after birth, for example in capsules or smoothies, in the belief that it may support energy, mood, milk supply or postnatal recovery. If a woman is considering eating the placenta, she can be given evidence-based information about infection risks.

In UK maternity care, practice varies. Some NHS organisations provide patient information explaining that women may be able to take the placenta home, provided safety requirements are met. Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, for example, tells patients that the placenta may be stored for 48 hours in case testing is needed, then either disposed of by the hospital or taken home. The trust explains that, if the placenta is disposed of by the hospital, it will be treated as clinical waste and incinerated.

Other NHS guidance gives practical advice on taking a placenta home, including safe storage, burial on private land and avoiding public spaces. These details are important because a placenta can deteriorate quickly after birth and may carry infection risks. If there has been an infection, or if the mother is carrying a blood-borne virus, the hospital may need to retain the placenta for safe disposal.

There are also clinical reasons why a placenta may need to be examined or tested, for example after pregnancy complications, suspected infection, preterm birth or foetal growth restriction.

These clinical needs are important – but they do not remove the need for respectful discussion with the mother.

The problem is that women may not know they have options unless someone tells them. In my study on migrant Nigerian mothers’ experiences of antenatal care, mothers described how cultural practices were often not discussed during routine care. Some women concealed cultural practices because they were unsure how they would be received. Others were focused on understanding a new healthcare system and did not feel confident raising issues that were important to them.

Respectful discussion

During pregnancy, midwives could ask: “Have you thought about what you would like to happen to your placenta after birth?” This discussion could sit naturally within the birth plan, alongside conversations about how the placenta will be delivered after birth. Birth plans already include preferences about labour, pain relief, feeding and immediate care after birth. Adding placenta disposal would be a small change with practical and cultural benefits.

It would also support safer care. If women tell their midwife in advance that they want to take the placenta home, staff can explain when this is possible, when it may not be possible, and how to store, transport or bury it safely. If a placenta needs to be retained for clinical testing, that can be explained clearly.

Good placenta etiquette is simple: ask, explain the clinical and safety issues, and respect the woman’s choice wherever possible.

For some families, the placenta is part of the story of birth. Treating it as an afterthought can cause avoidable distress.

The placenta receives close medical attention throughout pregnancy because it sustains the baby. After birth, it deserves careful handling too.

The former NatWest building in Farnworth has recently been under inspection by Bolton Council as it has breached planning rules.

A group erected the structure with no application, the council said.

Cllr Sue Howarth, from Farnworth North, has spoken out on the aesthetics and situation with the former NatWest building on High Street.

She said: “This is an attractive building, and many residents of Farnworth want to have their say if an owner applies to make changes to the building.

(Image: Bolton Council)

“The entrance door area on Market Street has an attractive light yellow stone surround of pillars either side and a large attractive stone crest above the door.

“There is historical design heritage that continues as the facade sweeps around a whole length into Church Street.

“Residents are worried the facade is being damaged by the metal structure.

“Currently the erection of extension and installation of steel shutters to the front of the property elevation is being investigated as a planning enforcement item at the planning authority.

“Should any other changes to the building be noticed or suspected, these also will be able to be added to the investigation of the planning control of the building.”  

(Image: Paul Sanders)

It follows a previous planning application to build a House of Multiple Occupancy (HMO) on the site that was rejected.

The NatWest bank building at Market Street, Farnworth, has been vacant since the branch closed in May 2025.

A spokesperson for Bolton Council said: “The property is not listed and not in a Conservation Area.

“The development of a front extension requires planning permission and there is currently no planning application in place for this.

“Planning Enforcement has opened an investigation into the matter.”

Soho Square is set to see some incredible speeches and performances from across the trans and non-binary community.

A dedicated trans-led stage has been curated by Mzz Kimberley.

Performers include Brandy x Temptation, Curvy Black Witch, Custodians, Dr Helen Webberley, Ebony Rose / Para Pride, Frigid Presents Mother, ISH99NI, Lexi & Aisha, M.E.N Live, Marty Davies, Nathan Ethan, Panty Soaker Sound System, Tabs from Butch, Please!, Taman, DJ Tasty Tim, Telisa TK, The New Cross Dresser, Trans Legal Clinic, Women of Colour in the Global Women Strike.

Second Twenty20 international, Emirates Old Trafford

India 190-7 (20 overs): Kishan 49 (40), Sharma 43 (24), Iyer 37 (22); Curran 3-33

England 191-6 (19 overs): Bethell 76* (46), Brook 39 (15), Banton 39 (32), Arshdeep 3-40

England won by four wickets, lead five-match series 1-0

Scorecard

Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi became the youngest man to play for India in England’s thrilling four-wicket win in the second T20 at Old Trafford.

At 15 years and 99 days old, the opener broke the record set by the great Sachin Tendulkar when he played a Test against Pakistan aged 16 years and 205 days in 1989.

Although Sooryavanshi sparkled for 14 off 10 balls in India’s 190-7, it was England’s own protege, Jacob Bethell, who led them to victory with an over to spare.

Bethell crunched a breathtaking unbeaten 76 from 46 balls to give the home side a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

Sooryavanshi’s inclusion sent a frisson of excitement around Old Trafford, giving a boisterous and partisan crowd further reason to make noise.

And the left-hander gave a brief glimpse of the thrilling strokeplay that has enthralled the cricketing world.

From the fourth delivery he faced, and first from England fast bowler Jofra Archer, Sooryavanshi audaciously whipped over his shoulder for six. In the next over, Josh Tongue was larruped over cow corner for six.

In the fifth over, Sooryavanshi looked primed to attack the off-spin of Will Jacks, only to run past a flatter one and be stumped.

Ishan Kishan made 49, Abhishek Sharma 43 and Shreyas Iyer 37, but India were stifled by tight bowling from Jacks and Sam Curran, the latter claiming 3-33. The tourists took 23 off the last seven balls, yet their total felt no better than par.

From 1-2 after the first over, England were kickstarted by captain Harry Brook’s 39 from 15 balls, followed by a stand of 67 between Bethell and Tom Banton.

England needed 49 off the final four, when Bethell climbed into the leg-spin of Ravi Bishnoi, hammering three sixes for a total of 29 off the 17th over.

And Archer calmly clipped the winning runs from the final ball of the 19th over to put England ahead going into the third match of the series at Trent Bridge on Tuesday.