Once part of a chart-topping pop band, he became a heartthrob who travelled the world and graced magazine covers. 

Now, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has appointed former Clean Bandit musician Neil Amin-Smith to be his top economic adviser. 

Before his successful political career began in 2019, Amin-Smith, 36, was a violinist in the Grammy Award-winning band. 

The British electronic music group was formed in Cambridge in 2008 and also consisted of members Grace Chatto and brothers Jack and Luke Patterson. 

The band is best known for its hits Rather Be, which spent four weeks at number one in the UK and sold over 1.1million copies, Rockabye and Symphony.

Over the years they collaborated with huge artists including Demi Lovato, Zara Larsson and Jess Glynne.

Before his successful political career began in 2019, Amin-Smith, 36, was a violinist in the Grammy Award-winning band

During his music career, Amin-Smith appeared on the cover of Gay Times, after announcing he had started a relationship with Years & Years singer, Olly Alexander.

‘It’s important for people to see you can be happy as a gay couple, and as a young gay couple,’ he told Capital FM in 2015.

The pair dated for a year around ten years ago, before breaking up. However, in February 2025, Alexander revealed that he has reignited a love affair with an old flame.  

In 2016, Amin-Smith ditched the glamour of the music industry when he quit the band.

Amin-Smith, who grew up in North London, then joined the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), an economic think-tank, as a research economist, before moving to the Treasury in 2019 as a senior policy adviser.

He took on a powerful role as the Labour Party’s main political adviser for policy affecting the City of London, working closely with Rachel Reeves for four years.

And this week, according to The Times, Amin-Smith has been spotted in 10 Downing Street after being appointed by the Prime Minister, who has officially been in office for just under two weeks, having succeeded Keir Starmer on July 20.

Amin-Smith graduated from Cambridge with a BA in History, and later an MPhil in Economics in 2013, at which point he says he turned down job offers from the Foreign Office and MI6 to pursue a musical career with the group.

‘Both very tempting, but no real regrets,’ he told the Daily Telegraph in 2015. ‘I don’t think I would have wanted to be working in the national interest as such.’

Elsewhere in 2025, the heartthrob has topped the Standard’s list of 100 sexiest people in London, after ‘turning Treasury heads like hungry owls’, according to the publication.

Rachel Reeves (middle) laughs next to Neil Amin-Smith(left) and Ed Miliband (right) made a joke at 11 Downing Street in London on July 9, 2024

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During his music career, Amin-Smith appeared on the cover of Gay Times, after announcing he had started a relationship with Years & Years singer, Olly Alexander 

‘He’s unusually gorgeous, and quite stylish,’ one Treasury official told Politico.

‘He’s a bit of a popstar, but he doesn’t rub it in your face. It’s a kind of quiet, confident coolness.’

The new move from Burnham comes after he made a number of changes in his cabinet.  

Burnham’s new cabinet includes several senior Labour figures, with several notable changes from the previous government.

Rachel Reeves was axed as Chancellor, Sir Keir’s Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy was sacked, and Peter Kyle lost his job as Business Secretary as Mr Burnham cleared the way for his own allies to take key roles.

However, both Angela Rayner, who was forced to resign over a tax scandal, and Louise Haigh, who quit as Transport Secretary when a previous fraud conviction came to light, are back in the Cabinet.

The ex-Manchester mayor has promised to deliver the biggest change to British politics in 40 years.

He promised to provide early ‘breathing space’ for households struggling with the cost of living, vowed to end rough sleeping and set out a goal of ‘reindustrialising Britain’.

Prince Harry racked up the highest taxpayer-funded security bill of any VIP visiting Canada over a five-year period – including $365,000 (£195,000) in 12 months while he was courting Meghan Markle, newly released figures revealed today.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) records show public spending on protection for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex was $539,000 (£286,686) between April 2015 and March 2020.

Canadian taxpayers may even have picked up a $10,586 (£5,642) bill for Mountie bodyguards during the Duchess of Sussex’s private three-day girls’ trip to Toronto with her former best friend Jessica Mulroney in 2018, it has emerged.

State broadcaster CBC has won a six-year freedom of information battle to uncover the true cost of protecting dignitaries visiting the country.

The $539,000 (£286,686) spent protecting Harry was the highest security bill for any VIP over the same five-year period – more than the Obamas, the Clintons and the Trumps. 

Harry accounted for more than 10 per cent of the $5million (£2.66million) spent safeguarding around 100 royals, politicians, diplomats and their families while visiting Canada. 

His annual security bill peaked at $364,859 in 2017-18, the year he proposed to Meghan, who was filming the final series of Suits in Toronto.

In the 2016-17, the year they first met and began secretly dating, the cost to Canadian taxpayers was $106,000.

The amount spent protecting Harry, then a working member of the Royal Family, dwarfed the $178,584 bill for his father, then-Prince Charles, who visited Ontario and Quebec with Camilla in 2017.

Canadian taxpayers may even have picked up a $10,586 (£5,642) bill for Mountie bodyguards during the Duchess of Sussex’s private three-day girls’ trip to Toronto with her former best friend Jessica Mulroney in 2018

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Harry stayed with Meghan at her home in Toronto (pictured) when she was filming Suits. Their relationship was a secret for around six months

Harry, who adores Canada and has attended numerous Invictus and military events there, made a number of undercover trips to Toronto, starting in 2016 when he fell in love with the actress following a blind date.

He stayed in Meghan’s home in the city on a number of occasions.

Prince Harry described their flight from Canada to Los Angeles after Megxit as their ‘freedom flight’ – and shared footage of them on board with Netflix

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‘We had a good five, six months almost with just privacy, which was amazing’, Meghan said at that time.

The cost of protecting the Sussexes in Canada dropped sharply to $866 in 2018-19 and $904 in 2019-20 – when they spent most of their time in the UK after marrying – before rising again to $56,405 in 2019-20.

Harry and Meghan had briefly moved to Vancouver after Megxit in January 2020, before relocating to California on a secret trip Harry called their ‘freedom flight‘.

In its accounts, the RCMP attributes the vast majority of the $539,000 costs over five years to Prince Harry.

According to the Court Circular, Prince Harry had one public visit to Canada during 2017 and 2018 – a weeklong trip to Toronto related to Invictus and the Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

The newly released documents show a separate entry for the Duchess of Sussex in 2018-19, totalling $10,586.

CBC has linked the expenditure directly to a trip Meghan made in August 2018 to spend three days with Jessica Mulroney.

It is believed to be her only visit to Canada in that financial year.

They became close while Meghan was filming Suits in Toronto for seven years, with Jessica often credited with helping shape many of Meghan’s most stylish looks.

But their friendship is said to have later crumbled when Jessica was cancelled in June 2020 after a Black influencer accused her of exhibiting ‘textbook white privilege’ during a dispute linked to the Black Lives Matter movement.

Meghan reportedly cut off contact.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s first public engagements together was at 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto

Jessica had been inseparable from Meghan for years, helped keep her relationship with Harry secret and was among the first people Meghan called from Kensington Palace after Harry proposed.

Jessica’s twin sons, John and Brian, then seven, had the honour of carrying Meghan’s train down the aisle at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, while her daughter Ivy, then two, served as a bridesmaid alongside Princess Charlotte at the royal wedding.

But Jessica was later cut adrift by her former best friend, and effectively cancelled, after expressing her views on Black Lives Matter.

‘She was upset their friendship ended,’ an insider told the Daily Mail last year.

While Prince Harry topped the list for VIP security costs, the bill for Canadian Mounties protecting former US presidents and their families was at $497,544.

A number of these visits were related speeches, book tours and even ski holidays.

Canadian security expert Phil Gurski told CBC that VIPs visiting the country for commercial engagements should help cover the costs.

He said: ‘Why are we paying for the privilege of them coming here to make money from Canadians?’

Security for Barack and Michelle Obama cost $295,411, followed by Bill and Hillary Clinton on $143,927.

‘President Trump & Family’ is also listed in the accounts, with $51,558 incurred in 2016-17, $13,078 in 2017-18 and $1,769 in 2018-19.

Protecting US ambassadors to Canada, Bruce Heyman and Kelly Craft, cost $487,654 over five years, followed by the $446,333 spent on security for US vice-presidents such as Joe Biden and Mike Pence.

The financial records were first requested in January 2020 but only were released this week after Canada’s Information Commissioner Caroline Maynard intervened.

Conor Meechan, who has been attending a wedding at the luxury Crossbasket Castle Hotel, told the court he was at a loss to explain his actions.

A wedding guest who told two terrified women he had a ‘sexual attraction to gingers’ has been spared jail.

Conor Meechan, 34, was at the luxury Crossbasket Castle Hotel in Blantyre, Lanarkshire, when he entered a neighbouring bedroom.

Meechan kissed one woman on the cheek which left her scared he would carry out more sexual acts.

The second woman said she was engaged, to which he replied, ‘Oh s*** are you?’ and then stated he would return and winked towards the women.

During the altercation, both women texted each other with one stating, ‘What the f*** is going on, I wish he would leave’. He was reported to hotel staff who ordered him to leave the five-star venue.

When challenged over his actions, he replied: “I’ve not done anything wrong, I have only had three beers.” He was reported to police and an investigation led to him being arrested.

Meechan, of Pollock, Glasgow, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court and admitted two charges of sexual assault.

Sheriff Maria Kicinski ordered him to carry out 135 hours of unpaid work and put him under supervision for a year.

Depute fiscal Cameron Murdoch told the court: “The accused entered the bedroom and made comments on their appearance and called them pretty and gorgeous.

“He stated to them that he had a thing for gingers, and one of the witnesses began laughing out of nerves.

“He then sat down next to the witness and asked her her name and immediately thereafter kissed her, but she turned her head, and he kissed her on the cheek, which caused her to feel frightened that he would carry out other sexual acts.

“The accused remained in the room and began speaking to the other woman, who politely engaged the accused, but he made sexual comments to both women, similar to those he had a sexual attraction to gingers and redheads.”

Laura Kiernan, defending, said: “He is at a loss to explain his actions and he cannot explain why he did this.

“He is a hard-working man who has his own business and is somebody who is not deemed to pose a serious risk to the public and can be managed in the community.”

Sheriff Kicinski said: “I have taken into account of all of the facts of this case which are obviously a concern but it is reassuring to read that they are a concern to you as well.

“This is not the way you normally behave which is also reassuring and there is an alternative to a period of imprisonment.”

Meechan, a roofer, was placed on the sex offenders’ register for a year.

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In the aftermath of the World Cup, despite the many issues that had plagued the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada, Gianni Infantino spoke in tones that suggested he felt invincible. By delivering record revenues and the “most outstanding” World Cup ever, the Fifa president felt emboldened enough to embark on a victory lap, admonishing his critics from within the stronghold of his Fifa palace, while safe in the knowledge that the structures and mechanisms designed to keep him in power were secure.

Barely a week later, the walls around Infantino are crumbling before our eyes. In overplaying his hand and rushing through proposals to sell stakes in the World Cup and Fifa tournaments to private investors, Infantino has crossed a line from which he may not return. Uefa’s extraordinary decision to boycott the World Cup should Infantino get his way has been followed by two more federations, the Asian Football Confederation and Concacaf, rejecting his proposals. Uefa now has enough support to comfortably defeat Infantino if a vote of Fifa’s 211 member associations goes ahead next month.

Whether Infantino’s plans, understood by The Independent to have been in the works for over a year, even survive for that long is another matter. Infantino is also under mounting pressure from within Fifa itself. The president’s long-time adviser, Carlos Cordeiro, described as a heavyweight figure within the organisation, resigned in protest on Friday. “Football has been central to my life, and after more than 35 years in banking, I understand both the value of this asset and the consequences of giving part of it away,” he said in a statement. “That is why this proposal should be rejected.” If even the Fifa suits have seen enough, it tells you that Infantino has gone too far.

In its own statement in the early hours of Friday morning, Fifa provided some “clarifications” around the private investment proposals, insisting that its “planned consultation process was disrupted by incorrect media reports”. But it may not stop some of Infantino’s steadfast allies from switching sides. Asia will host the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia and parts of the region have benefited greatly from Infantino’s support since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but the AFC’s president, Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa of Bahrain, has been Infantino’s most vocal critic outside of Europe. A withering statement on Friday accused Fifa of “undermining” the World Cup and called for an “urgent review” into its governance.

The AFC said it stands in “solidarity” with Uefa, while Concacaf (the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football) also confirmed that it had “rejected the proposals” following its own emergency meeting. The Independent also understands that the vast majority of Concacaf’s 41 members have lost confidence in Infantino’s presidency. That is to be admired, as Infantino’s ploy of offering countries $40m for backing his proposals, or risk receiving only $10m for rejecting them, was aimed primarily at smaller nations who would have benefited greatly from the windfall, an additional pot of gold to clear debts and fund overdue infrastructure projects. Infantino attempted to target those vulnerabilities, but he has come up against organised, united opposition.

With Uefa, the AFC and Concacaf aligned, a voting bloc of around 150 member associations would comfortably defeat Infantino’s proposals, even if a few countries from those federations went against the whip. For Infantino, an embarrassing defeat appears inevitable. Further opposition from the confederations of South America and Africa, who have yet to publicly take a stance either way, would surely make his position untenable and spell the end of his presidency. Even so, it is already beyond clear that Infantino must go: a president who places his political interests and the financial incentives of private investors – from within Donald Trump’s own family – above the sport is no leader. As Uefa said: “This is not merely a profound failure of leadership but an abdication of Fifa’s duty as the custodian of world football.”

Even if his proposals are defeated, Infantino will surely take another page from the Trump playbook in another respect: could you ever imagine Trump resigning over anything, no matter how egregious, let alone admitting to a miscalculation of such epic proportions? It says a lot that, in the midst of an apparent crisis, Infantino was accelerating his plans for an expansion to 64 teams for the next World Cup while his fiercest opponents, Uefa, was holding its emergency meeting on Thursday.

Infantino is acting like a tyrant, and he must be stopped. Uefa and its allies will be rewarded for the strength of its opposition in recent days, but they must now strike and put forward a candidate to challenge Infantino’s presidency when he stands for re-election in March next year. Uefa’s Alexander Ceferin, who has positioned himself as the anti-Infantino despite making anti-competitive changes to the Champions League under his leadership, would be an obvious candidate.

The Independent, meanwhile, has reported that Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser al-Khelaifi, the chairman of Qatar Sports Investment, would also carry support. He could stand to gain from a further elevation of his status within the game. Other figures such as Lise Klaveness, the president of the Football Association of Norway, have been standing up to Infantino for some time. Klaveness in particular should be recognised for putting her head above the parapet long before the tide on Infantino turned within political circles.

Infantino’s plans for the “Fifa Forward Enterprise” may appear to be on life support, but it will also take more to topple his empire. That said, football has spoken and faces a window of opportunity that must now be seized if it wants to build a fairer game: the rejection of Infantino’s proposals must stand for the rejection of the man himself, and the organisation he has helped shape.

It topped a new list of places to go by Time Out.

A visit to one of Scotland’s cities has been crowned the “best thing to do in the UK” by Time Out, and it is neither Edinburgh or Glasgow. The experts described it as “a fantastic history-focused trip”, and also praised the city’s various upcoming festivals and other events.

As reported by the Daily Record, Time Out has put together a roundup of 25 of the “best things to do in the UK right now”. There are five Scottish experiences in total on the list, one of which is visiting the city of Stirling. The magazine previously declared Stirling the best place to visit in the UK at the start of 2026.

Time Out singled out the wide variety of events and festivals that are taking place in Stirling in the coming weeks and months. Among these are the Stirling Highland Games on August 15, the multi-genre Interesting Things Music and Arts Festival on the same day, BBC Radio 2 in the Park in September, and Stirling Cocktail Week later in the year.

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The experts also praised the city’s historical significance, noting its connections to figures such as William Wallace and Mary, Queen of Scots. Stirling is home to many historic attractions, including Stirling Castle, the National Wallace Monument, and the Stirling Old Town Jail.

Time Out wrote: “Stirling has witnessed many of the nation’s most significant events—from William Wallace’s defeat over the English to the crowning of Mary Queen of Scots at just nine months old—making for a fantastic history-focused trip.

“In 2026, Stirling Distillery will release its first batch of Stirling whisky and independent venues will celebrate Stirling Cocktail Week with serious food and drinks deals all over the city (dates still to be announced). And every August there are the rollicking Highland Games featuring Highland dancing, the Stirling Stones competition and battle reenactments.”

According to Stirling Council, the number of people visiting Stirling has soared past pre-Covid levels. The Scottish Tourism Economic Activity Monitor states that 4.6 million tourists visited the city in 2024, which was an increase of more than 10 per cent compared to the previous year and higher than the previous peak in 2017.

The city has also received a number of other accolades in recent years, in addition to being named the best place to visit in the UK by Time Out. Stirling was previously crowned Scotland’s top visitor destination by Lonely Planet and Scotland’s cultural capital by LNER in 2025.

Stirling Council Leader Susan McGill commented: “This latest recognition from Time Out is another fantastic achievement for Stirling and reaffirms the area’s reputation as a must-visit destination. We have world-class attractions, rich history and heritage, a packed programme of exciting events, a thriving cultural scene and stunning scenery. From our vibrant city centre to our beautiful rural communities, there is so much to explore, enjoy and experience across Stirling.

“Our excellent transport links have been improved with the new Lumo train service from London—so there has never been a better time to visit Stirling and enjoy everything we’ve got to offer. We look forward to welcoming more visitors from across the world to Stirling during the rest of the summer and this year.

“We are also committed to working with our tourism businesses and other partners to support further growth in this key part of the economy.”

More information can be found on the Stirling Council website. For the full list of the 25 best things to do in the UK right now, see the Time Out website.

Crews from neighbouring Humberside and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Services were called to agricultural fields behind Full Sutton Industrial Estate in Common Lane, between the villages of Full Sutton and Fangfoss.

Plumes of smoke were seen from miles away at around 11am this morning.

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Eyewitnesses who work on the estate said this afternoon that four fire engines were present at the scene and were able to put the fire out, adding that it was limited to the fields and did not affect premises on the estate.

A Humberside Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We worked alongside North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service in response to a field fire in the Full Sutton area today (31 July).

 “We received the 999 call at 10.48am and were on scene within five minutes.

“Three fire engines were sent from Humberside Fire and Rescue Service to the incident, where crews worked alongside firefighters from North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

“The fire was extinguished by 11.50am, although firefighters remained on scene a number of hours to continue dampening down.

 “Approximately five acres of straw and stubble were involved.

“We would like to thank the farmer for their support, including the use of a water bowser to help tackle the fire.

“The incident has been recorded as an accidental ignition.”

Humberside Police has released a strkingimage featuring photographs of Bush’s 75 victims.

On the top row, from left to right: Anne Lillian Marshall, Annie Kendall, Anthony Neylon, Audrey Leach, Barbara Stockdale, Barry Clark, Brian Johnson, Colin Wainman, Craig Moses, Danny Middleton, Alan Chearman, Alan Endall, Albert Edward Owst, Alan Gray, and Andrew Murphy.

On the second row, from left to right: Darren Laws, David Burton, Andrew Suffill, Dennis and Eileen Frazer, Dorothy Curtis, Gordon Smith, Graham Finn, Hazel Brown, Herbert Jimmy Porter, John and Christine Tibbles, Jean Collinson, Jessie Stockdale, and Joan Sparks.

On the third row, from left to right: Joan Stark, John Booth, John Carlill, Jon Butler, Joyce Moulton, Julie Webb, Leslie Raymond Cawood, Lilian Carter, Lisa Urry, Margaret Ann Welsh, Margaret Ounsworth, Mark Hotham, Mark Meikleham, Marolyn Sissons, and Martin Sydney Sawyers.

On the fourth row, from left to right: Mary Rhodes, Maureen and Keith Greensides, Maureen Graham, Michael Ellam, Michael Neal Andrew Hall, Muriel Winning, Norman Bridger, Patrick Spriggs, Paul Hemingway, Peter Moody, Raymond Bullough, Raymond Dagnall, Raymond Parker, and Rita Shaw.

On the bottom row, from left to right: Ronaldo Coates, Roy Butler, Shane Atkinson, Shirley Welburn, Shirley Wright, Stephen Perrins, Susan Gorbutt, Susan Stone, Sylvia Osler, Terence Buck, Terence White, Thomas Anderson, Thomas Marritt, Tony Munro, and Valerie Chalkley.

Brian Devine has been suspended by his current club Saltburn over allegations that he has been clicking his fingers to claim a caught-behind wicket, and footage of several incidents later went viral on social media.

The main one has been the controversial dismissal of Norton seconds player Noman Shabir in a recent North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League game, which Saltburn’s seconds won comfortably.

Mr Devine has played for Saltburn for several years, but during a brief spell away from the North Yorkshire club, he captained Pudsey St Lawrence to the Bradford Premier League Second XI Premier Division title in 2023.

Footage has been sent to The Northern Echo’s sister publication in West Yorkshire the Telegraph and Argus by a concerned local cricket player, who claims some of Mr Devine’s actions were suspicious during the Pudsey derby that September.

Saints won the game by eight wickets at Congs, which ensured they pipped Jer Lane and Woodlands to the title.

DEVINE INTERVENTION? Brian Devine launches a big appeal as the wicket keeper shows little interest in claiming a dismissal in the Pudsey derby (Image: Submitted)

Footage from the game appears to show slip fielder Mr Devine waving his arms in an unusual fashion while opener Huzayfa Azam flays a shot through the offside.

Another incident in the Pudsey derby in which Brian Devine’s left hand moved as the ball arrived at the bat (Image: Submitted)

Later in the innings, similar footage shows a batsman being given out caught behind, one of four catches for the wicket-keeper in that match.

The man at the crease lunges forward and the ball passes close to the bat, but only Mr Devine at slip appeals, while the wicket keeper appears to have no interest in claiming the dismissal.

Not only that, but the umpire gives the batsman out,

The player looks astonished at the decision, appearing to put his hand out in protest and stare down the pitch at the umpire for several seconds before reluctantly walking.

Pudsey St Lawrence said released a statement in relation to the footage published by the T&A and also videos appearing on a national newspaper’s website.

The statement says: “Pudsey St Lawrence Cricket Club is aware of allegations involving Mr Brian Devine during his time as a player for the club.

“At no stage was the club aware of any alleged misconduct by Mr Devine, nor were any concerns or complaints raised with the club by opposition teams or umpires who officiated the fixtures in question.

“The club expects its players to uphold the highest standards of integrity and sportsmanship and takes any credible concerns extremely seriously.”

 After worldwide coverage of the Mr Shabir dismissal, which has been commented on by celebrities and viewed far and wide, Saltburn put out a statement on social media.

It read: “This is issued in response to the widely publicised complaint made against a Saltburn Cricket Club member and, as a consequence, against the club more generally.

“We are treating this allegation with the utmost seriousness and, as a family-centric club, we are fully cooperating with the NYSD League’s investigation.

“We believe that the club acted decisively as soon as the complaint and investigation were made known to us.

A controversial dismissal in a match involving Brian Devine when he played for Pudsey St Lawrence (Image: Submitted)

“The player at the centre of the complaint has been suspended and will not play again for the club this season or in the foreseeable future, pending the outcome of this investigation.

“Initial discussions have already taken place between club officials and the league.

“This has been a very distressing and stressful experience for all those concerned, and we would ask that this reality is borne in mind and that personal boundaries are respected, as we are an amateur club entirely run by volunteers.

“We will be making no further comment at this time.”

The T&A contacted officials from Pudsey St Lawrence, Pudsey Congs and the Bradford Premier League for comment on the footage we have been sent, but had received no comments by the time of publication.

Historic Bryn Aber coastal estate has been recently remodelled and is surely one of Wales’ most unique homes

Tucked away behind a walled garden on the Isle of Anglesey’s north coast lies a distinctive property connected to the natural treasures that encircle it but can also impressive with its unique history.

Called Bryn Aber, this impressive £1.25m estate nestled into a stunning spot on the coast dates from the late nineteenth century. Its most significant period started in the 1930s when it became the residence of pioneering aviator, ornithologist, conservationist and ‘modest millionaire’ Captain Vivian Hewitt.

Hewitt was known for achieving one of the first ever flights from North Wales to Ireland. On April 26, 1912, Captain Hewitt flew from Rhyl along the North Wales coast and landed in Holyhead to prepare for the main part of his flight. He then took off and managed to land in Phoenix Park in Dublin to the roar of cheering crowds. For more home, renovation and interiors stories sent to your inbox twice a week sign up to the property newsletter here.

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The story goes that when the pioneering pilot had achieved this remarkable feat, he dismantled the plane and brought it back on the ferry. Yet arguably Hewitt’s most lasting legacy is forward-thinking conservation efforts at Cemlyn, reports North Wales Live.

Captain Hewitt helped create the landscape seen today at the Cemlyn Bay nature reserve. His formation of the lagoon helped establish one of Britain’s most significant breeding locations for terns, and the bird sanctuary featured on the TV programme Spring Watch.

Hewitt’s former home sits in a sheltered spot at the western boundary of the spectacular Cemlyn Bay National Nature Reserve to which he contributed so much. His family made their money from the brewing industry but Hewitt is said to have inherited a fortune but he was known to be a ‘modest’ millionaire, living a quite, unostentatious life focussed on wildlife and nature.

The agent selling the property says: “Set discreetly behind its famous historic brick walls and surrounded by some of the most dramatic and legally protected landscape on Anglesey, this exceptional home offers a rare opportunity to acquire a private coastal sanctuary within the Anglesey Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

“Approached via a quiet coastal road, arrival is through impressive 12-foot-high steel gates set within the tall brick walls. A private driveway leads to the house, creating a sense of arrival and preserving the seclusion for which the estate is renowned. Recently sympathetically remodelled and upgraded, Bryn Aber offers a blend of heritage and contemporary design.”

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Entry to the property can be made either through the porch entrance at ground level or, for a more dramatic arrival, via the cantilevered staircase integrated into the brick walls, leading up to the first floor terrace. There’s more drama just when parking the car, with a staircase hugging the characterful red brick wall that surrounds the house leading down to the garden.

The ground floor comprises five bedrooms and each can offer direct access to the inner walled garden via sliding patio doors, a delightful way to start the day with a morning coffee or a nightcap under the stars.

A staircase takes you to the home’s focal point on the first floor; a striking open-plan layout arranged around the panoramic coastal views that continue to mesmerise as change by the hour, the day, the season.

The kitchen, dining and living areas merge to form an outstanding space for entertaining, leading straight onto a generous terrace that curves around the property and showcases sweeping views across the lagoon, shingle ridge, and shoreline, across the curving shingle ridge of Esgair Gemlyn towards the Irish Sea, presenting an ever-shifting panorama of light, tides, wildlife and rural landscape.

The lagoon islands are home to Wales’ only breeding colony of Sandwich terns, alongside common and Arctic terns. The reserve recently documented Anglesey’s first breeding pair of avocets, while the neighbouring coastal habitat is home to a wealth of species, including little egrets and little owls.

Beyond the main grounds of around 2.8 acres, the sale of this dream home encompasses a separate parcel of land of approximately 1.1 acres on the headland, incorporating a section of shingle beach and rocky foreshore.

This area, known as Y Storws (the Stores), contains the remnants of historic commercial buildings, including warehouse, weigh house and coal yard structures, all linked to Cemlyn’s rich maritime and trading heritage.

As well as relaxing and soaking in the views at this peaceful and private corner of Wales, there’s also a chance to add value as the outbuildings come with planning consent to demolish them and develop secondary accommodation that could be used as an annexe, home office or studio workshop.

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This historic property, now remodelled into a stunning dream home, is on the market for £1.25m with Beresford Adams, Holyhead, call 01407 890024 to find out more. For more property, renovation, and design stories join our Amazing Welsh Homes Facebook group here.

Dean Hesketh, who goes by a range of other alliases, was last seen leaving hospital on Tuesday

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Police are appealing for a missing man who may have a contagious health condition, after he went missing from a hospital. Dean Hesketh was last seen leaving Royal Preston Hospital on Tuesday, July 28 at 11.16am.

The 51-year-old also goes by the names Tim, Dean or Anthony Gledhill. He is described as 5ft 4in, with black hair and blue eyes.

Dean is of a slim build and was last seen wearing a khaki green and black jacket, black trainers and a Lyle and Scott jumper, reports LancsLive.

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Dean was also last seen wearing a surgical mask. He has links to Preston, Penwortham and Blackpool.

Enquiries are ongoing to find him, but police are growing increasingly concerned. The force warn not to approach Dean if he is spotted, as he may have a contagious health condition.

For any sightings of Dean, contact 999 as soon as possible to make sure he is safely found.

Anyone with any information or footage that could lead to his whereabouts are encouraged to call 101, quoting log 1051 of 28th July.

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