Philip de Mouilpied never recovered after losing his mother to breast cancer at the age of 10.

When Kathleen died 37 years ago, there was no bereavement support, leaving Philip, his younger brother Johnny, and their sisters, Caroline and Andrea, struggling to cope.

Their dad, also called Philip, gave all the support he could alongside his wife’s sister Josie, who would also be taken by the disease six years later.

‘There was a lot of death growing up. We lived in a lot of grief and sadness. But to meet him, you’d never guessed Philip had lost so much,’ Johnny, 44, from Stockport, tells Metro.

‘My brother was never unkind or bitter. Nobody ever had a bad word to say about him – he was just so loveable.’

Philip married young and, by 22, he and his ‘wonderful, gorgeous’ wife Lucy, his childhood sweetheart, had their first child. For decades, he carried his pain and anxiety largely in silence, until he died by suicide in October last year at the age of 46.

That day Lucy returned from work and found Philip, Emily arrived soon after and called Johnny before dialling 999.

‘I had an hour to kill so I was sitting alone in Brown’s Bar in Manchester with a quick glass of Merlot, to decompress after meetings when Emily phoned.

‘I answered: “Hi baby girl.” And she told me what had happened,’ Johnny remembers.

In shock, he instructed her as best he could, telling her to check again for signs of life. When his worst fears were confirmed, Johnny had to break the heartbreaking news to his dad, also called Philip, and the rest of the family.

‘I was in an alleyway in Manchester phoning my sisters. Those were some of the worst conversations I’ve ever had in my life. I had to go home and then get the tram to Philip’s house. I just broke down in tears,’ he remembers.

Johnny rushed to his brother’s home to support Lucy, Jessica, 23, Emily, 22, and 19-year-old Callum.

Later, the whole family went to sit with Philip in the Chapel of Rest.

‘It was awful. But later I was glad I went,’ Johnny says.

The brothers had been close growing up and both struggled after losing their mother.

When Johnny was 18, he suffered from panic attacks as he prepared to come out as gay. But he discovered honesty and openness were the best way forward, and has been mentally well ever since. Philip, on the other hand, kept his pain inside.

‘He was very different to me and because he was older, he protected me a lot and didn’t deal with his feelings. He suffered,’ Johnny says. ‘He had experienced so much grief, and he hated anybody feeling sad. Whenever they did, he just tried to take that feeling away from them. Which was to his detriment.’

Philip, a steel work manager, fell into alcoholism in his twenties. When it emerged he was drinking before work, Johnny insisted he go into rehab, paying for treatment. In sobriety, Philip isolated himself from social situations.

‘There was always a reason he had to go home – to see to the dogs or something,’ Johnny remembers.

And while he’d had therapy and took antidepressants, Philip ‘never got to the root cause’ of his sorrow, his brother, who works in banking, adds.

‘We knew he was poorly, but he didn’t always tell the truth about everything. He had crippling anxiety, and he would always block it out, rather than tackle it, hoping it would just disappear. And then it morphed into depression.

‘Looking back on it now, I think he was waiting until the kids were independent and older to end his life. Callum had just got his first job and passed his driving test.’

Philip’s anxiety was so deep-rooted that Johnny does not believe anything could have prevented his brother from ending his life when he did.

‘Nothing could have stopped him,’ he says starkly. ‘Even if I was there that day, I wouldn’t have been able to save him. He’d made his choice.

‘But if anything could have been different, there should have been more focus on prevention, rather than cure. We spent years watching our mum die before our eyes – literally wasting away in front of us. We had no support whatsoever. If we had got to the root cause of it all, I think he could have been saved.’

Five weeks before Philip died, the whole family were in Northern Ireland for a family wedding. At the hotel, the brothers had breakfast alone together. Nothing significant was said, but Johnny now realises that Philip was saying goodbye.

After his death, Johnny took on a fatherly role, promising to walk his nieces down the aisle and now takes Jessica, Callum and Emily out whenever he can.

Married to Gareth, with their two cavapoos Henry and Buzz, Johnny lives ten miles from his family and remains close to Lucy. In trying to prevent the family from becoming overwhelmed by grief as their father was, Johnny tries to lead by example.

Five days after Philip died, he went to a Katy Perry concert, ‘because he would have gone mad had I cancelled’. A week later, he booked the whole family a holiday to Lanzarote so that, in the midst of funeral planning, they would have something to look forward to.

There was standing-room only at the church on the day of his send-off and Johnny gave Philip’s eulogy, paying tribute to his wicked sense of humour and devotion to his family. 

‘We had the most wonderful funeral for him, and he was laid to rest with my mum, which brought everybody a lot of comfort,’ adds Johnny.

Jessica, Callum and Emily danced on chairs to Philip’s favourite music, holding pictures of him aloft, and they now take his photo around the world, visiting places his anxiety prevented him from seeing.

The family also wanted to honour Philip’s life by helping prevent other suicides.

Johnny has always done a lot of charity work and for years he had been mulling the idea about using household bins for good causes.

‘Bins are everywhere. There are 100 million across the UK. After Philip passed, we realised as a family that if we put stickers on bins, it would open up that everyday conversation, and provide us with a way of make money for mental health charities from the sales,’ he explains.

So last month the Bin Silence Foundation was born, selling stickers with house numbers and a logo encouraging people to talk.

They got the stickers printed and sat around each other’s kitchen tables cutting them out ready to be sent, as sister Caroline leads the logistics.

‘Our hope is that it can start conversation, maybe even save some lives,’ Johnny says.

‘We want to bin silence around suicide. We’ve already had messages of thanks from people whose children are self-harming, whose husbands have been up on motorway bridges.

‘Even if you can’t speak to someone in your own circle, there is so much help out there. You aren’t alone. When you have anxiety or depression, it can feel very isolating. Philip didn’t realise how much he was loved.

‘If he had seen how many people were at the church, he never would have ended his life. The first time a man gets flowers is often at his own funeral, and that’s a tragic thing. We want people to know there is always hope, and always a way forward.’

Find out more about the Bin Silence Foundation here.

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Warmer weather is slowly but surely approaching, which means it will soon be time to make those all-important wardrobe swaps. Most importantly, we’ll have to say goodbye to boots and hello to sandals as the sun shows its face more. One dread that comes with this is that after being hidden away in your winter footwear, your feet might not be looking and feeling their best. 

The good news is that you don’t have to rush to book a pedi appointment to get flip flop ready. With a few simple steps, and the right products, you can indulge in a little self care moment and create the salon-feel in the comfort of your own home, and at a fraction of the price.

With the addition of a nifty foot file to remove dead skin, a great moisturiser to nourish, and additional extras such as cuticle oils, a pedicure kit, and if you want to be fancy a foot bath, you can sit back and relax as you give yourself a mini makeover ready for that holiday you’ve got planned, or if you’re wanting to wear those cute sandals hiding in your wardrobe.

Below is a simple at-home routine that will leave your feet feeling soft, refreshed and ready for the seasons ahead.

Step One: Foot Soak

Before jumping straight into scrubbing and nail maintenance, a good soak will help break down tough skin, and relax the muscles so you can have a little pamper before doing the following steps.

Simply soak your feet in warm soapy water for 10-15 minutes, and to elevate the experience you can add the likes of Epsom Salts, specific foot soak crystals, or a few drops of essential oils to give you a spa-like experience. Our personal favourite for this step is to invest in a trusty at-home foot spa.

Step 2: Remove Hard Skin and Calluses

As winter footwear is specifically designed to keep feet warm and protected against the elements, they aren’t often the most comfortable, meaning the hard skin is more likely to build on your heels and balls of your feet. 

After soaking, gently buff away rough areas using a foot file or eclectic callus remover. You can use these regularly to minimise the threat of cracks and future build up, and to keep them soft and smooth. Be aware as to not over-file as this can irritate the skin.

Step 3: Exfoliate with a Foot Scrub

Once the hard skin and calluses have been removed and buffed away, apply an exfoliating foot scrub that will banish the last remaining dead skin cells.

Foot scrubs often contain ingredients such as pumice, salt or sugar that work to fently buff away dead skin, without having to scrub with a tool. Whilst in the bath or shower, massage a small amount onto damp feet for a few minutes focusing on heels and soles, and then rinse thoroughly. 

Step 4: Trim and Shape Your Nails

Once you’ve given your feet the best clean, it’s time to tidy up your nails. Top tip: trim your nails straight across as this will prevent ingrown nails, and then use a nail file to shape them to your desired look. Follow this by pushing back your cuticles with a special tool as this creates cleaner, healthier nails, and prevents any hangnails from forming. The best and most straightforward way of doing this is with a manicure kit.

Step 5: Nourish Cuticles and Nails

This perfectly leads on to step five which is a step that many choose to either forget or ignore, and that’s applying a cuticle cream or oil. Using one of these will not only supply a boost of hydration to the nails and skin around them, but they help to strengthen them as well. Use a tiny amount on each nail before gently massaging in daily to keep them looking and feeling their best.

Step 6: Deep Moisturise Your Feet

The final step is locking in moisture. Foot creams and masks are designed to deeply hydrate dry skin and keep feet soft.

Foot masks are great as an overnight treatment or weekly pampering step, helping to restore moisture to dry heels and soles.

So, if you’re planning on giving yourself and your feet a pamper, then remember to moisturiser daily before bed, use a foot file once or twice a week, keep nails trimmed, and ultimately, opt for breathable footwear to prevent any dryness and irritation.

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Four years ago, Robert Brovdi was more comfortable in auction houses like Christie’s than filthy trenches. A well-off grain dealer in those days, with a sideline as an art collector, fragments of his pre-war life survive in the paintings and sculptures by Ukrainian artists dotted around the bunker. They’re displayed beside missile casings and captured drones. He’s an ethnic Hungarian, from Uzhhorod in western Ukraine, and best known by his military call sign, Magyar. Clean-shaven before the war, he now wears a long ginger and grey-speckled beard.

It is no surprise Lingard is following developments at Manchester United closely, and he reflects on an “amazing chapter” at his boyhood club.

Lingard spent 20 years at United, leaving in June 2022 when his contract expired. He joined Nottingham Forest the following month.

“We achieved amazing things,” he says. “But there’s going to be a point in time where you move on. For me, it was Korea.”

Lingard knows “everyone was a bit shocked” when he moved there, but says he needed to do so to focus on football and “clear my mind”.

Like Corinthians, United have had a turbulent season, but are on course to return to the Champions League following an upturn in form since Michael Carrick succeeded Ruben Amorim as manager in January.

Lingard says United have come on “leaps and bounds” under his former team-mate and is certain Carrick should be given the job permanently.

“It can be difficult with different managers coming in, having different ideas, different personnel,” he says.

“But I think they’re really on the right track with Michael. I know him from my United days. I know how he operates. The lads are doing really well under him.

“He’s got that Manchester United DNA inside of him. He knows the ins and outs of the club.”

Lingard remains in close contact with United captain Bruno Fernandes.

“He always wanted to see the best of me at United,” says Lingard. “He’s always been a guy that’s been there, that I can always reach out to.”

Fernandes, 31, has provided 18 assists in the Premier League season – two short of the record with five matches remaining.

Former team-mate Paul Pogba said earlier this week that Fernandes would be in contention to win the Ballon d’Or if he played for a team like Manchester City.

Lingard believes Fernandes should be in the running anyway.

“100%,” he says. “His performances at Manchester United this season have been extraordinary. He has to be up there.”

South Wales Police is appealing for help locating Lucy Jones, 40, who is missing from Bridgend.

The force says Lucy was last seen at 3.35pm yesterday (Sunday, April 26) in Brackla, walking in the direction of Wildmill.

She was wearing a black denim jacket with blue denim jeans and suede boots which have fur on them, and carrying a blue blanket. She is of skinny build, with long, dark hair.

If you have seen Lucy, or have any information which will help to find her, please contact South Wales Police quoting ref: 2600128599.

How many of these classic Mancunian insults and put-downs have you been on the receiving end of?

Are you likely to dish out a ‘do one’ or tell someone their new haircut is bobbins? Perhaps you regularly refer to the large group of youths doing wheelies by the park as a bunch of ‘scrotes’?

If so, then you are certainly well-versed in the lexicon of Mancunian insults and put-downs. For decades, two of the city’s most famous sons, Liam and Noel Gallagher, have regularly displayed their expertise in mixing up some rustic Anglo Saxon with a classic Manc insult.

This week, it was reported that the University of Sheffield is compiling a “swear map” of regional words and phrases across the UK. The academics involved hope to create a snapshot of how English is spoken in 2026, at a time when they say the language is evolving faster than ever.

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They’ve even set up a link for people to contribute their local salty language, particularly if it is specific to a town or city and may not be known elsewhere.

Around Manchester, as well as liberally peppering our sentences with swear words commonly heard throughout the UK, we’ve also had our own, let’s say, more creative insults and put-downs to add to the linguistic mix.

So if you’re looking for the perfect put-down to describe your mate who just won’t stop scrikin’ (crying), then you might find it in our list below.

1. ‘Angin

Usage: ‘She’s had nine jagerbombs and a kebab. She’s proper ‘angin’

Describes the dreadful feeling that follows a hangover or overindulgence. Also used to describe something unpleasant or rough-looking.

2. Cob on

Usage: ‘Why’s our kid gone home?’

‘No idea, he’s got a right cob on.’

When someone is being grumpy, bad-tempered, miserable or sulking, they are said to have a ‘cob on’. (And more often than not, a ‘right cob on’)

3. Couldn’t stop a pig in a ginnel

Usage: ‘The state of Frank’s legs in those jeans. He couldn’t stop a pig in a ginnel’

A colourful way of describing someone with bandy legs.

4. Do one / off you pop

Usage: ‘You’re doing me ‘ead in. Do one.’

Typically deployed when you want someone to leave or be quiet.

5. Give your ‘ead a wobble

Usage: “Lager and lime? Give your ‘ead a wobble!”

Telling someone to reconsider their actions or decisions.

6. Is it ‘eck as like

Usage: ‘The Printworks is the best night out in Manchester’

‘Is it ‘eck as like’

To express strong disagreement with something or what somebody has said.

7. Mardy

Usage: ‘I can’t be fussed hanging around with Donna, she’s being a right mardy get’

When somebody is being soft, a cry baby or won’t stop sulking.

8. Mingin’

Usage: ‘The toilets in there are mingin”

Describing something that is horrible/revolting/unpleasant.

9. Daft ‘apeth

Usage: ‘He dropped his phone in his pint again, the daft ‘apeth’

Describing a foolish or silly person, but usually in a light hearted way. Also sometimes pronounced as daft ha’p’orth.

10. Rank

Usage: ‘That pub is well rank’

Describing something that is disgusting.

11. Shut yer cake ‘ole

Usage: ‘I wish Liam would shut his cake ‘ole. He’s always scrikin’ over that bird.’

Telling somebody to be quiet.

12. Snide

Usage: ‘Give us a chip, don’t be snide’

Accusing somebody of being tight or ungenerous.

13. Mither

Usage: ‘I can’t be mithered with town’

When something is too much hassle/aggravation/effort.

14. ‘What did they cut your hair with, a knife and fork?’

Quite self explanatory, but a question asked to somebody you think has had a poor haircut.

15. Seen their a**e

Usage: “Well someone’s seen their a**e haven’t they”?

They are annoyed.

16. Peckin’

Usage: ‘You’re peckin’ me ‘ead.’

You are annoying me.

17. Stop ya chattin’

Stop talking a load of rubbish.

18. More life in a tramp’s vest

Usage: “I’ve seen more life in a tramp’s vest”

You probably heard this a lot during your moping, teenage years for being too lethargic and not enthusiastic enough for your mum or dad.

19. Strop

Usage: “She threw a strop soon as I got in.”

An outburst or tantrum.

20. Bobbins

Usage: “That film was bobbins.”

Not very good.

21. Chufty bag

Usage: ‘What were you expectin’ – a chufty bag?’

A non-existent medal for doing something insignificant and expecting a reward.

22. Scrotes

Usage: ‘Some little scrotes are hanging about outside.’

A delinquent group of youths that are up to no good. Also Scallies.

‘Great outdoor box, really easy to put together, even for me, being a lady in my early seventies’

Households without a shed or a garage may find it hard to store items such as DIY tools, bikes, and gardening equipment. An alternative, that costs less and takes up less assembly time, is an outdoor storage box.

These can be particularly useful for people with smaller gardens, yards or even balconies. There are many options on the market, including a Keter Samoa Outdoor Storage Box from Dunelm that shoppers praise for its durability and outdoor use.

The Keter Samoa Outdoor Storage Box is priced at £59 and has a 270-litre capacity, which the retailer recommends as being ‘perfect for smaller spaces’. It’s made from a moulded resin with a rattan effect and is water-resistant, helping keep belongings dry.

Dunelm’s Keter Samoa Outdoor Storage Box arrives flat-packed, so it needs to be assembled upon delivery. It’s a black colourway and is easy to wash – simply use a damp cloth. The external dimensions are width: 45cm x length: 117cm x height 57cm. The internal dimensions are width: 40cm x length: 114.4cm x height: 51cm.

For larger options, shoppers may opt for this Keter 880-litre Outdoor Storage Box from B&Q, priced at £125. The unit can be used to store items, such as toys and tools, or as a bin box, as it has a lift-away lid.

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£59

Dunelm

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Dunelm’s Keter Samoa Outdoor Storage Box is perfect for those without a shed or garage.

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Over at Amazon, this Outdoor Deck Box is £114. It’s part of the marketplace’s own-brand homeware range and has a 375-litre capacity. It’s made from a double-wall resin construction with a wicker pattern.

Dunelm’s Keter Samoa Outdoor Storage Box has an overall rating of 4.6 out of five, based on 31 reviews. One person wrote: “I bought two for nine-seater garden furniture cushions, which all fit in. We have covered them for extra protection. I am very happy with them, worth the price and easy to put together.”

Another pleased user wrote: “Spacious box. It fits all my tools from the outside toilet into this box, and now I have a functioning outdoor toilet!” An equally happy consumer penned: “Great outdoor box, really easy to put together, even for me, being a lady in my early seventies. You can also get a lot inside it.”

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One person knocked off two stars because of the set-up, explaining: “Good size but was difficult to assemble and flimsy.” Luckily, an additional shopper had more luck, saying: “Bought some cooking gear for the grill, to include crockery and utensils.”

Someone else said it was ‘exactly what I was looking for’, adding: “It looks great, completely waterproof and looks lovely.”

“Good storage container for a small space. The clip-on lid easily breaks. We had to buy two extra clips to keep the storage container closed,” another user said. Whilst another person remarked: “My cushions from the garden furniture are nicely stored away in my Keter Samoa storage box, nice and dry despite all the heavy rain we have been having.”

A final shopper concluded: “This is a well-priced garden storage box that simply clicks together. We use it to store kindling for our wood burner and so far, it seems to keep everything dry. It was available to collect from our local store within 48 hours of ordering online and we were helped to carry it to our car. All in all, very satisfied with both the service, price and product.”

The report suggests landowners may be less likely to plant trees due to the policy shift, with more than 200 woodland owners, estate managers and agents taking part in the study.

The survey was conducted by the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), the Confederation of Forest Industries (Confor), and the Royal Forestry Society (RFS).

Gavin Lane, president of the CLA, said: “A drop in tree planting, earlier felling, land sales – these are the warnings from the UK’s forestry sector, as woodlands risk becoming unintended casualties of the government’s inheritance tax changes.

“We know these reforms are hurting family-owned businesses across the UK, but their impact on forestry has received far less attention.”

Mr Lane said: “The government has legally binding environmental targets and ambitions to accelerate tree planting.

“This evidence suggests those goals are now in danger, undermining the sector and the investment made to date.”

Just one third of respondents in the survey said they believed they would not be affected by the tax changes.

Almost 60 per cent said they were now less likely to create new woodland, directly conflicting with government woodland creation ambitions.

In response to the policy changes, many landowners are now considering earlier timber harvesting, woodland sales or adjusting succession plans. Others said they may be reducing future investment in woodland management.

The survey highlights that while forestry can represent significant capital value, it often yields low income and long-term, irregular returns.

Family-owned woodlands and mixed estates are seen as especially vulnerable, facing risks of fragmentation, earlier felling and reduced long-term management.

Such trends could carry serious consequences for domestic timber supply, carbon storage, nature recovery and continuous cover forestry.

The evidence is being sent to the Treasury and Defra, with the CLA also writing to MPs and other industry stakeholders highlighting the concerns of our members.

Antony opens up on life following his troubled spell at Manchester United

Antony has described leaving Manchester United as the best decision of his life as he flourishes at Real Betis. The 26-year-old was part of the so-called ‘bomb squad,’ a group of United players considered surplus to requirements and made available for transfer.

Its other members were Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho and Tyrell Malacia. Last summer, Antony completed a permanent move to Betis, where he had experienced a successful loan spell during the second half of last season.

Although United absorbed a substantial financial loss on a player they bought from Ajax for around £80million, his exit benefited both parties after a disappointing stint at Old Trafford.

The Brazilian is maximising his fresh start, based on his form this season, delivering 13 goals and nine assists. Betis sit fifth in the Spanish top flight and could qualify for the Champions League if La Liga receives an additional spot, though that could still be awarded to the Bundesliga.

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Speaking about his decision to convert his Betis loan into a permanent transfer, Antony told ESPN Brazil: “It was one of the best decisions of my life to stay at Betis.

“I am very happy. My family weighed heavily in the decision. Seeing them happy is important. It makes things lighter on the pitch when the family is well.”

READ MORE: Man Utd identify another Casemiro replacement as summer transfer plans step upREAD MORE: Marcus Rashford makes clear Barcelona point amid Man Utd transfer scrutiny

Antony is hopeful that his current form will earn him a spot in Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad for the World Cup. He said: “My biggest dream is to play in the World Cup, but I have to do my part, my work. The national team is a consequence.

“I really want to return, to play in my second World Cup. It is always my objective to wear the national team shirt.”

Antony also opened up last year, revealing he was a new man following his unhappy spell at Old Trafford. He told the FIFA website: “The new Antony is someone who has learned from hardships, who respects the process and has found joy in playing again.

“Today, I can proudly say that I’m living my best life, in a place where I’ve chosen to settle with my wife and children, in a city that has welcomed us with open arms and helped me find peace.

“The tranquillity I’ve found off the pitch has had a positive impact on my performances on it. I feel more mature, aware of my responsibilities and happy about every training session and match.”

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Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

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A former charity shop volunteer has shared an insider tip for finding cheaper items – while other bargain hunters revealed how they bagged their best thrift store finds

Shopping in charity shops is fulfilling as you’re able to contribute money to a worthy cause while snapping up bargains yourself. While customers can frequently pick up items at attractive prices, a volunteer has a different role – one with rules they must follow.

Previously, charity shop workers urged visitors to stop donating one particularly unsavoury item. Now, social media users were eager to discover what some shoppers have picked up during previous visits to their local thrift store. One individual revealed they nabbed a hat for £1 bearing the slogan “Hey there weirdo”, among other “great charity shop finds”.

The thread also prompted a former charity shop worker to come forward and share a useful tip for securing future bargains.

In the Reddit post, the individual said: “I used to work in a charity shop. My best find was a pure cashmere cardigan worth over £100 I got for £5!

“To be fair, from the perspective of a charity shop retail worker it is a shop and not a boot sale (the charity still has to make a profit after all), but if you want cheaper prices, I do think it depends on the area!”

The person suggested that specific areas tend to be pricier, making it the place where certain items can be discovered.

Another contributor disclosed: “Back in 2001, When I was 19, I volunteered in a charity shop as part of a job centre course. Someone donated a N64 with five games, two controllers, memory pack, etc.

“The manager couldn’t sell it, as they didn’t have a license to sell electronics. I asked her how much she wanted for it, as it would be a waste binning it, and she sold it to me for £5. I was on £40 a week at the time, I felt like I’d won the lottery.”

What can you donate to charity?

Clothing and accessories are typically welcomed by charity shops, along with homeware, media and entertainment, toys and games, as well as quality bedding, linens and unwanted gifts.

Other items, such as furniture and electricals, are frequently sought after but come with certain restrictions – for example, a sofa would need its safety labels still attached.

Charity shops also maintain a list of items they simply will not accept. This covers anything broken, dirty or damaged. Safety equipment, such as helmets and car seats, are turned away, as are mains-powered electrical items (unless they have undergone specialist testing).

Furthermore, medical equipment, used pillows, and worn underwear are also refused by charity shops.