A petition signed by 5,000 people calling for the school to remain open was submitted to the Education Minister

The community surrounding a rural Co Down school have taken their battle to remain open to Stormont by handing in a petition signed by thousands to the Education Minister.

St Malachy’s Primary School has been at the heart of the Kilclief community for 159 years. The school is known for its peaceful rural setting, strong pastoral ethos, child-centred teaching, and dedicated staff. The school is also known for its inclusive approach to education, particularly for children with Special Educational Needs.

Last year, the primary school received the news it was facing closure due to low enrollment numbers. The Council for Catholic Maintained Schools said the proposed closure would be effective in September 2027, alongside an expansion of St Joseph’s PS Strangford, which includes two external classrooms.

A petition calling for the school to remain open received more than 5,000 signatures from the local community and beyond. On June 30, parents, teachers, and pupils from St Malachy’s PS took this petition to Stormont, to be handed over to the Education Minister.

Speaking to Belfast Live, acting principal of the school, Ashlene McMullan, said they have been blown away by the response to their petition.

She said: “St Malachy’s is a rural school that is the heart of the community. It’s so much more than just an education, the children make memories and friends, as well as the school hosting so many cornerstone events. It would be a big loss if the school were to close.

“We had an online petition and a written petition, which has had thousands of responses. People locally and from further afield have been supporting us, which has been great to see.

“We need to save our rural school. Our school is so much more important than people realise, and without it, it would be a big loss to the community.”

Claire Cultra’s son, five-year-old Daniel, has just finished Primary One at St Malachy’s PS. She said the school has given so much support to her young son, who has Down’s syndrome, and Claire said her three-year-old daughter Susie is excited to start at the school in September 2027.

“Daniel goes in every morning the happiest child, he is loved by all the children and teachers, he has an amazing classroom assistant,” Claire said.

“We had a process of introducing Daniel into the school just because of his Down’s syndrome, he’s very much into routine. He has just blended into the school so well. Susie is super excited to go to the school, but she has another year to wait.

“Generations of our family, on both sides, have attended this school. It would be devastating if it ever closed.”

Claire said the closure of the school would have a knock-on effect to the surrounding community. She added: “It’s so part of the community – everything centres around the school.

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“We’re a small parish in Kilclief, but when we come together, we hold events at the school throughout the year. We have people coming from far and wide for the Pumpkin Patch, we have Santa visits.

“The school is loved by everybody, it would be devastating to see it close. That site would just be vacant and the only thing left in the parish would be the church.

“Yes our numbers are low, but our community is growing. There are houses being developed. We are just calling for our school to be saved.”

Conor McCarthy, regional officer for Unison, said they “disagree completely” with the decision to earmark the school for closure.

He said: “We fully back the community and the staff. It does need to stay open, these children have amazing opportunities, and it’s a beautiful school surrounded by a beautiful environment. For it to be earmarked for closure is absolutely scandalous.

“There’s no way the Department of Education and this current minister can say they’re for the promotion of good educational outcomes, and fostering good mental health in our schools, while at the same time closing schools like St Malachy’s. It just does not add up.

“The school needs to remain open, not only for these current kids, but for future generations. There are kids waiting to go into that school, so the numbers can be obtained, but this managed decline – not only of St Malachy’s, but rural schools right across the country – needs to stop.”

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Chris Hazzard, MP for South Down, said the focus needs to be on local children receiving a world class education, no matter what decision is ultimately made.

He said: “Like so many of our small rural schools across the North, there’s real pressures when it comes to sustainability and the quality of the education the child is receiving.

“We as a community, parents, grandparents, we can all have an attachment to the bricks and mortar of local schools, but we must ensure the education the child is receiving is world class. My ask here is whatever process is in place, whatever the decision that is come to, that the education of the children is world class.

“Like many rural isolated communities, this is a small coastal area. You have stunning scenery, a strong GAA club, and you have a small local school in that community.

“Once you start to lose those different elements, the sense of community cohesion can lose out, which we’ve seen in other areas as well. We’ve dealt with a school amalgamation process in the Mourne area over the years, and much of these fears came to the surface in that process as well. Fundamentally, the most important thing is the education of the children.”

St Malachy’s Primary School said they have submitted a detailed and evidence-based case and is urging CCMS and the Department of Education to give full consideration to the unique role the school plays, particularly in supporting children with SEN.

In a previous statement, a CCMS spokesperson said: “Operational Plan 2 of the Strategic Area Plan 2022 – 2027, was published on 16 January 2025.

“This included a work stream for the Strangford and Kilclief area in which the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) proposed to review maintained primary school provision in the area.

“CCMS plans carry out a pre-publication consultation with parents, staff and governors from St Malachy’s Primary School and St Joseph’s Primary School on the future of primary provision in the area.

“The consultation is due to commence later this year. Stakeholders will have the opportunity to provide feedback to the proposal being consulted on.”

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Danny Vettrino was shot dead on the luxury island of Canouan last week, with multiple people ‘assisting police’ in their investigations.

Police are considering “all lines of enquiry” in their investigation into the death of a Scottish man gunned down on a Caribbean island. Danny Vettrino was shot and killed at a car park in the Gym Hill area of Canouan in St. Vincent and the Grenadines at around 11.30pm on Wednesday, June 24, after returning from a day out.

The Record revealed yesterday that local media had linked the 36-year-old’s death to a plane that vanished on the luxury island earlier this month. However, the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) was unable to confirm Danny’s death was linked to this incident.

A spokesperson for the force told the BBC that a probe was ongoing and would be following “all available lines of enquiry”, with multiple people “assisting police” in their investigations.

It had been reported the RSVGPF detained two men in connection with the death but they have not verified if this is true at this stage. The light aircraft left Argyle International Airport for Tobago on June 12 but was missing for three days.

However, Deputy Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Clair Leacock, announced it had been traced three days later. Leacock refused to go into detail on the matter and said the situation was a “very delicate security matter”

He said the intelligence and security agencies are closely monitoring the situation and would focus on the two Colombian pilots.

The Record revealed on Sunday how Vettrino moved to Colombia for a year in 2023 after working in Egypt for eight years with an international peacekeeping organisation. He left South America in 2024 and moved to the Grenadines where he worked as a Technical Service Manager at the Canouan Estate Resort and Villas.

Confirming his passing online, his brother Robson Vettrino Kolberg said Daniel, known as Danny, was “loved by everyone, a pure soul who only wanted success and happiness for all of those around him”. He said: “He has touched the lives of so many people, from his hometown in Fife to all corners of this world.”

Daniel’s aunt also paid a heartfelt tribute to her “one in a million” nephew on Sunday. She said: “Daniel lived a life shaped by courage, independence, and a determination to follow his own path.

“He was one of five, a brother, son, nephew, cousin, and friend — loved deeply in every role he held. His journey was uniquely his: brave, stubborn, gentle, and unforgettable. He did it his way.

“Daniel was violently taken, robbed of the years he deserved, and the loss has shaken every part of the family. But his story, his spirit, and his love remain. Rest in the peace you deserve.”

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: “We are supporting the family of a British national who died in St Vincent and the Grenadines, and we are in contact with the local authorities.”

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On Truth Social, Trump said that the court’s decision was “too bad” and vowed to continue to fight to end birthright citizenship through legislation.

“No long and unwieldy constitutional amendment is necessary,” he said. “Congress should today start work on ending expensive, and unfair to our country, birthright citizenship.”

The US has granted citizenship to everyone born in the country since 1868, with the right enshrined in the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution, and bolstered by later US Supreme Court rulings.

“Citizenship, then and now, was the right to have rights – to freely participate in our political community,” Justice Roberts wrote in the majority opinion. “The Framers of the Fourteenth Amendment extended that promise to ‘every free-born person in this land’,” he wrote.

“We keep that promise today,” the chief justice said.

Three of the court’s nine justices dissented from the decision: Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch and Samuel Alito.

Justice Thomas, for his part, argued that the 14th amendment was being “repurposed for political projects” and that the freed slaves it was originally intended for “were Americans” with no allegiance to other countries.

Another of the dissenting Justices, Samuel Alito, described the ruling as a “serious mistake” that “confers citizenship on virtually anyone who happens to be born in this country”, including those who come to the US with the explicit purpose of giving birth to a child and then returning to their country of origin.

The case was of enormous significance to President Donald Trump, who made a brief but historic appearance at the court to watch oral arguments in April.

On X, White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller – a vocal proponent of stricter immigration rules – called it “one of the most destructive and outrageous decisions” in the Supreme Court’s history.

“American citizenship is not the birthright of the world,” he said. “No provision of the Constitution can be read to require our national self-obliteration.”

But immigration advocates and detractors of the administration celebrated the ruling.

Dariely Rodriguez, chief counsel at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, said that the ruling “solidifies what we have known to be true for over a hundred years”.

“Anyone born on American soil, regardless of the legal status of their parents, is born an American citizen,” she added. We have endured an incredible test of our collective will as a nation and have prevailed.”

It’s taken the place of another play centre which closed down earlier this year

A new soft play centre has opened in Trafford with light up slides, role play sections and an interactive projector screen.

Epicland UK will officially launch on Saturday on the upper floor of Partington Shopping Centre and is already grabbing the attention of families.

The attraction is replacing The Hideaway family play centre, part of The Hidden Treasure Trust Christian-led charity, which closed at the beginning of this year.

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The new brightly coloured centre, which is mostly pink and yellow, features two soft play sections – one for twos and under and another for children aged three to nine years.

Its main features include a light up racing slide and a light up warp slide. There’s also an interactive projector screen and role play sections.

Wendy Leung has opened the business with her sisters Winnie, Winhola and Wanda and with 10 young children between them, they say they know only too well what families are looking for.

“We have 10 kids between us aged two to nine, so it’s been a busy few years and hadn’t been the right timing for us to open the soft play,” she said.

“This opportunity arose at the beginning of the year when we saw that The Hideaway was for sale.

“We have always dreamed of opening a soft play since having kids. We have been to many over the years, so we have put together things that we have liked from other soft plays and things we thought were missing, and would make the experience more enjoyable for parents too.

“Location wise we thought this was easy to travel to from Stockport, where we are from, and from all other Trafford surrounding areas.”

She said the free car park was ‘a big plus for us’ and being able to create jobs locally.

“Most of our staff are within walking distance from here,” she added. “Some are students, some are mums themselves. We think this would bring more footfall to nearby businesses too.”

Epicland UK also features a cafe, from where parents can keep an eye on their kids, and has its own party packages available.

“We will have good quality food menu and barista quality coffee as we want parents to enjoy it as well as children,” said Wendy.

“We have party packages available with over 20 themes to choose from.”

During peak times (weekends and school holidays) sessions last two and a half hours, but off peak it’s unlimited play.

For one child, aged one to nine with an adult included, it costs £16.95 peak or £12.95 off peak. Extra children are £13.95 peak and £9.95 off peak. Babies under one go free. Parties cost £21.95 per child off peak and £24.95 a child at peak times.

It’s open 9am to 6pm Tuesday to Friday, and 8.30am to 6pm at weekends and bank holidays.

Emmanuel Sakyi, 31, fled the scene after crashing while drink driving on Bletcham Way in Milton Keynes with his baby daughter dying in the accident, a court heard

A dad is on the run from police after being convicted of killing his baby in a drink-drive crash.

Emmanuel Sakyi, 31, allegedly fled the scene after a collision with an oncoming car, having driven on the wrong side of the road, on Bletcham Way in Milton Keynes in December 2022.

His seven-month-old daughter Emmanuela, who was sitting on her mother’s lap in the passenger seat, suffered serious injuries in the crash and later died in hospital.

Sakyi, of Milton Keynes, did not appear at Aylesbury Crown Court last week for his trial after being charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

On Monday, he was found guilty by a unanimous jury after just over two and a half hours of deliberation, and was sentenced in absentia to 15 years’ imprisonment.

During the trial, jurors heard that Sakyi was driving while twice the legal alcohol limit and “demonstrably far below” the standard of any reasonable motorist.

He drove his grey Peugeot 508 “for a considerable distance on the wrong side of the road” before colliding with a green Fiat 500, the court heard.

Prosecutor Daren Samat said the defendant did not, as he was legally responsible to do, secure his daughter in a car seat or appropriate restraint. It was heard that instead, Sakyi “simply allowed her to be carried in the front seat by her mother”.

Emmanuela was sitting on her mother’s lap with a seatbelt across her stomach, Mr Samat told the court. “We say that in itself was wholly inappropriate and dangerous,” he added.

The defendant failed to respond to the driver of an oncoming Fiat 500, named in court as Shannon Willison, who was flashing her lights and beeping her horn to attract his attention, jurors heard.

“Instead, he carried on straight and despite the other driver’s best effort to avoid a collision, he drove into that Fiat 500,” Mr Samat added.

The prosecutor said the defendant, who it was alleged knew he was responsible for the collision, “wasn’t going to stick around for the police” and fled the scene. He said that the defendant may not have known at this stage how serious the injuries to baby Emmanuela were.

Sakyi was later arrested by police outside his home address, but since he failed to appear for his trial, Thames Valley Police are now appealing for help locating him. He is described as a black man with a medium build, with black hair and brown eyes and is around 5ft 3inches tall.

Lead investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Ed Crofts, said: “Enquiries have been ongoing to locate Emmanuel Sakyi, and we are now appealing for the public’s help in locating him. This is a devastating case where a child’s life has been lost. Our enquiries are focused on ensuring Sakyi faces the consequences of his actions.”

He added that members of the public should not approach Sakyi if they see him, but should instead call 999. Police have asked that anyone with information on Sakyi’s whereabouts should call 101 or make a report online quoting reference 20260622-2396, or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Sakyi, of Milton Keynes, denied but was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving and was sentenced in absentia to 15 years imprisonment, and disqualified from driving for 18 years.

Britain’s Defence Investment Plan (DIP) marks a significant shift in military priorities. Over four years, an additional £15 billion will take spending up to £298 billion overall.

This includes £63 billion to fund nuclear deterrence and £8 billion for future combat aircraft. But its most attention-grabbing headline concerns the maritime domain.

Plans for the Type 83 destroyer to replace ageing Type 45s have been shelved.
Instead, at least six Common Combat Vessels will be acquired, to act as hubs for
uncrewed systems (drones). Alongside them, more than £5 billion will fund air, land and sea drones and autonomous systems across Britain’s armed forces.

The Type 83 was meant to be Britain’s next great destroyer with cutting edge
capabilities. It would have replaced the Type 45 class from around 2035. It would
have operated as part of the Future Air Dominance System (FADS).

It was never intended to be a conventional ship. Instead it was to be a platform for maritime air defence, strike, sensing, command and networking.

Early reports described a minimally crewed warship between 145 and 165 metres long. It would have displaced between 6,000 and 10,000 tonnes. Its planned surface role included maritime interdiction and self-defence against small attack craft.

Defences included a 57mm gun and directed-energy weapons (such as lasers) for
those missions. They also included decoys and directed-energy weapons for close
threats.

Its strike role was more ambitious. Planned capabilities included between 72 and
128 Mk 41 vertical missile launch cells. These could carry air defence missiles and
long-range strike weapons. There was also potential for future hypersonic weapons,
one of the most deadly weapons of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Defending airspace

Air defence was the Type 83’s central purpose. The ship would have protected UK
aircraft carrier strike groups and other allied and Royal Navy groups in places like the North Atlantic, the Norwegian Sea, the Mediterranean, the Gulf, the Red Sea and the Indo-Pacific region. Its mission was to defend against aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and hypersonic threats. Artificial intelligence would help select sensors and weapons against complex raids, from several directions at once.

However, all ships, including destroyers, have their own vulnerabilities. Ukraine has used small naval drones to sink the Moskva missile cruiser. The patrol ship Sergey Kotov was destroyed by Magura V5 uncrewed surface vessels.

In early 2026 Ukraine claimed around 30% of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet combat assets had been
destroyed or damaged. A Type 83 destroyer would be far more capable than any of
those ships. But it may also have had to face hypersonic anti-ship missiles one
day.

Savings from cutting the Type 83 are being spent on a wide variety of drones. These
will cover air, land and sea, ranging from small quadcopters to mine-hunting drones
and one-way attack “Kamikaze” drones. The Royal Navy will develop autonomous
vessels to act as uncrewed missile platforms, and to sense and hunt submarines.
Project Pantheon will trial jet-powered drones operating alongside F-35B aircraft.

The Army will get small Rapstone First Person View (FPV) strike drones and
interceptor drones. Project Nyx aims to have up to 24 armed drones flying as wingmen for Apache helicopters by 2030. Project Corvus adds up to 24 surveillance drones. While the RAF will develop autonomous fighter aircraft, with a demonstrator by at least 2030.

Floating platforms

The range of drones initially looks impressive, but there is no total drone
procurement figure. The DIP has specified small numbers for some higher-end
systems. Ukraine offers an uncomfortable comparison. Britain aims to produce up to
150,000 drones for Ukraine by the end of 2026. In comparison, Ukraine’s defence ministry expects to produce more than seven million drones in 2026.

That difference shows the challenge facing the Ministry of Defence and the UK government. Drone warfare requires massive numbers of low cost, low capability, short range drones. Plus significant numbers of large, medium-range and long-range drones.

So can drones replace Type 83 destroyers? No. Surface drones can be dispersed
and operated across wide areas. But in a maritime environment they need a floating
platform to operate from. The same goes for aerial drones. Neither can replace a
Type 83’s large, portable missile magazines, command facilities, or defence of a
carrier fleet. The Common Combat Vessel will provide some hybrid capabilities.

But it does not carry the strike threat or defensive capabilities of a destroyer.
The timeline to achieving these capabilities also matters. The Storm Shroud
uncrewed electronic warfare vessel is expected this year. Rapstone will receive
extra money over the next 12 months. Nyx and Corvus are aimed at 2030, and
Defence procurement is often hit by delays.

The RAF combat drone demonstrator is due by at least 2030. Common Combat Vessels are expected from the early 2030s. Until then, upgraded ageing Type 45 destroyers will need to meet new challenges. In the meantime, Ukraine is innovating, designing, building, testing and deploying drone systems faster than the UK can currently contemplate.

A heated exchange unravelled at Wimbledon on Tuesday after one British star was confronted amid a furious exchange with the umpire

Tennis player Damir Dzumhur unleashed fury at the umpire during his first-round clash at Wimbledon and accused British wild card Arthur Fery of not being honest. The Bosnian was facing Fery and held a set and a break advantage when he challenged what he believed was an incorrect let call.

The umpire took the brunt of it, but Fery also came under fire during his opponent’s outburst, in which the 23-year-old was urged to “be honest”. The dispute seemed to affect Dzumhur, who watched his chances slip away after expressing his frustration and eventually suffered defeat in four sets on Court 16.

“It was a let,” Dzumhur said to the umpire during the confrontation. As Fery then approached the net, his opponent made clear his annoyance was mainly with the official.

“You played the point, you didn’t stop,” he continued, addressing the Brit. “No, no, no. You won the point, let’s be honest.”

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“I don’t care what he’s saying,” Dzumhur added, gesturing towards the umpire. “Can you be honest and say you didn’t stop?”

Fery, who pulled off a similar shock at Wimbledon last year in the first round, then twice confirmed that he didn’t stop, telling his rival: “I didn’t hear the let.”

“Look in my eyes and say this, you didn’t stop?” Dzumhur asked.

When Fery refused to change his stance, the 34-year-old appeared dismayed. Dzumhur then turned directly to the umpire and asked if they saw the let, to which he was told no.

When he asked if he had heard it, the same response followed. Dzumhur then added: “So you are that bad that you didn’t hear, and everybody heard?”

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“You are that bad? You made the mistake. And he [Fery] stopped.”

Before stepping up to serve again, he turned to Fery and said: “Fair play man, as always.” The British player needed just one of his two break points to draw level at 2-2 in the second set before storming through the next four games consecutively.

The one-sided dominance carried into the third set, which the Brit wrapped up 6-2. He then sealed the victory in commanding fashion, taking the fourth set to complete a 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 triumph.

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Fery became the first British man to advance to the second round and only the second British singles player overall to do so this year following a disastrous first day for home players. Katie Swan had led the way, defeating Irina-Camelia Begu 6-4, 6-4.

Fery’s next challenge will be against Otto Virtanen in the second round. The Finnish player caused a major upset by knocking out fourth seed Ben Shelton in a final-set tie-break to set up the encounter.

“Our ambition is ultimately to change how we anticipate patient need”

An NHS hospital trust in Greater Manchester is using a new form of technology to help tackle growing pressure on its emergency department.

Tameside & Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust has introduced an artificial intelligence (AI) tool to identify patients who may need extra support before they end up back in hospital.

The tool looks at information already routinely collected during a visit to Tameside General Hospital A&E and predicts which patients are most likely to return within the next month, allowing staff to step in with community care before their health problem worsens.

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The data includes demographic details, how a patient arrived at hospital, triage information, long-term health conditions and their history of emergency attendances or inpatient admissions.

Patients identified as being at high risk are then discussed by multidisciplinary teams made up of NHS staff and health and social care partners. Together, the trust says they create personalised follow-up support in the community, before health issues develop into emergencies.

The AI tool also monitors high-risk patients to ensure appropriate care has been provided. According to the trust, early results suggest the initiative has reduced emergency department reattendance among high-risk patients by between 33 per cent and 50 per cent, although it says impact has varied from week to week.

The trust says the AI will improve with time as it learns from more data, with plans to introduce further automation across its hospital to reduce pressure on clinical staff while improving patient safety and quality of care.

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Operational Intelligence Lead Liam Brierley said: “The tool allows us to predict emergency department reattendance, rather than simply providing a retrospective analysis.

“Our ambition is ultimately to change how we anticipate patient need, moving from reactive care to intelligent, preventative intervention.

“This project is strong example of how we can take advantage of new, advanced technologies like AI for the benefit of both our patients and staff. The AI tool doesn’t replace clinical judgement but rather empowers clinicians with the insight they need to deliver high-quality care before a crisis occurs.”

Before it was introduced, the model underwent extensive testing, while patient safety specialists helped design the clinical processes surrounding its use. Data security experts also ensured patient information remains protected and is only accessible to authorised staff, the trust said.

The project has also been shortlisted in the ‘Urgent and Emergency Care Safety Initiative of the Year’ category at the 2026 HSJ Patient Safety Awards. Winners are due to be announced on September 28.

Katherine Ryan fell asleep on her husband Bobby Kootsra’s shoulder as they sat centre court at Wimbledon Championships on Tuesday. 

The second day of the tennis tournament saw the historic return of Serena Williams, Iga Swiatek defending her title and a gripping clash between Stan Wawrinka and Matteo Berrettini.

A whole host of stars, including Katherine Jenkins, Mollie King and Cliff Richard, headed to the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club for another action-packed day. 

However, comedian Katherine seemingly struggled to stay awake during one moment in the day, after heading to SW19 for her 43rd birthday. 

Katherine was pictured with her eyes closed and her head resting on Bobby’s shoulder. Sharing the photo on Instagram, she joked: ‘No disrespect to the sport’.  

The couple sat next to David Gandy and Suley Suleyman in the stands. 

It was Katherine’s second day of attending and the TV personality cut a chic figure in a black cardigan, tailored white trousers and cat eye sunglasses. 

Meanwhile opera singer Katherine, who was spotted on Monday in the Royal Box, attended again with her husband Andrew Levitas.

Katherine wore a white summer dress with gold buttons and strappy raffia wedges with a matching bag. 

Mollie King and Stuart Broad opted for matching cream suits.

The radio presenter, 39, and the former professional cricketer, 40, took their place in the Royal Box on Centre Court.

Mollie looked lovely in her neutral skirt suit, which featured black detailing on the cuffs and collar, styled with a black quilted Chanel bag and shades.

Stuart was sporting pale double-breasted linen jacket with matching trousers, over a white shirt and orange tie with brown suede loafers for the occasion. 

The couple, who have two daughters Annabelle, three, and Liliana, 18 months, are regular attendees at the annual tennis event.

Jameela Jamil, who attended day one on her own, was today joined by her long-term partner James Blake for another day of tennis action.

Katherine was pictured with her eyes closed and her head resting on Bobby’s shoulder. Sharing the photo on Instagram, she joked: ‘No disrespect to the sport’

The comedian seemingly struggled to stay awake during one moment in the day, after heading to SW19 for her 43rd birthday

The couple sat next to David Gandy and Suley Suleyman in the stands

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Another returning guest of the club was Katherine Jenkins, who was spotted on Monday in the Royal Box, attending again with her husband Andrew Levitas

The opera singer posed for a photo in a chic white dress 

It wouldn’t be Wimbledon without an appearance from devout attendee Cliff Richard

Sir Cliff, 85, was in great spirits as he arrived arm in arm with a frriend and looking dapper in a blue printed blazer and striped tie

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The singer sat in the Royal Box during the Women’s Singles first round match between Taylor Townsend and Iga Swiatek

Katherine documented her day on Instagram and shared this selfie from the stands 

The couple beamed for a photo. Katherine has been a guest at Wimbledon for the past three years 

It was Katherine’s second day of attending and the TV personality cut a chic figure in a black cardigan, tailored white trousers and cat eye sunglasses

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The second day of the tennis tournament sees the historic return of Serena Williams

Mollie King and Stuart Broad opted for matching cream suits

The radio presenter, 39, and the former professional cricketer, 40, posed for a photo before taking their place in the Royal Box on Centre Court

Jameela Jamil, who attended day one on her own, was today joined by her long-term partner James Blake for another day of tennis action

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The actress cut a stylish figure in a tan and navy polka dot dress, which she accessorised with a pair of cream stilettos and a leather bag.

Another returning guest of the club was Katherine Jenkins, who was spotted on Monday in the Royal Box, attending again with her husband Andrew Levitas.

Katherine wore a white summer dress with gold buttons and strappy raffia wedges with a matching bag. 

Other notable names who were invited to sit in the prestigious box were actresses Celia Imrie and Fiona Shaw.

The veterans of TV and film were spotted catching up, joined by Fiona’s wife Sonali Deraniyagala.

Other guests included TV host and author Richard Osman and his actress wife Ingrid Oliver, who looked chic in a cream and navy pinstripe suit.

Day two is underway at the All England Club, with many first-round matches still taking place after the prestigious competition began yesterday.

Nicola Peltz’s brother Will Peltz, 40, and his new model wife Kenya Kinski-Jones, 33, attended the day after David did – amid the Beckhams’ family feud 

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The newlyweds brushed off the family drama and enjoyed a day out watching the tennis, where Kenya stunned in Wimbledon whites

The actress cut a stylish figure in a tan and navy polka dot dress, which she accessorised with a pair of cream stilettos and a leather bag

Katherine wore a white summer dress with gold buttons and strappy raffia wedges with a matching bag

Emma and Katherine posed in their matching white looks

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Other notable names who were invited to sit in the prestigious box were actresses Celia Imrie and Fiona Shaw (pictured)

The veterans of TV and film were spotted catching up, joined by Fiona’s wife Sonali Deraniyagala

Celia looked lovely in a printed shirt dress and shades

Centre Court features defending women’s champion Iga Swiatek against Taylor Townsend, followed by Alexander Zverev.

The headline event of the day is the singles return of Serena Williams, who is playing her first Grand Slam singles match in four years against Maya Joint.

British interest centres on Katie Boulter and Jacob Fearnley after a difficult opening day for the home players.

Stuart and Molly took their place in the box

Fiona appeared to be very amused by something

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Emma Thynn, Marchioness of Bath, looked stunning in a sleeveless tweed jacket

Lady Amelia Spencer and Lady Eliza Spencer coordinated their looks, posing in their chic coords and cream accessories combos 

Lady Eliza was also spotted arriving with Misse Beqiri, who looked gorgeous in a yellow tweed mini dress and kitten heels 

Jameela caught up with Richard Gadd while at the match with her boyfriend James Blake

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Richard sat alongside Taron Egerton, Christine Egerton and Noah Jupe (L-R) 

Noah looked trendy in utility-inspired shades 

He kept things cool as he reclined in his chair

Taron threw himself into the action as he jeered courtside

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Nicky Hilton Rothschild was summery in a blue and white striped dress for her arrival at SW19 

Range Rover celebrated The Championships at Wimbledon with an exclusive event featuring a host of actors and creatives in partnership with Esquire and Noah was pictured there 

James and Jameela also popped inside the Range Rover event for a photo opp

Jameela looked stunning in her polka dot dress and heels 

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Taron Egerton was suited and booted for the occasion

Paapa Essiedu kept things casual in cargo pants and a denim bomber 

Other Wimbledon guests included TV host and author Richard Osman and his actress wife Ingrid Oliver, who looked chic in a cream and navy pinstripe suit

Greg James looked smart in a navy jacket with camel trousers

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Richard, who was sporting a pale plue suit, waved to fans as he passed by

Chris Robshaw and Camilla Kerslake were also seen arriving at the club

A smiling Dermot O’Leary dressed up in a suit and tie as he posed at the entrance

Jessica Gunning enjoyed the hospitality, looking chic in a navy and white coord

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Traitors star Cat Burns enjoyed the Champagne Lanson suite with her makeup artist and influencer girlfriend Sarah New