She had gone to ask for hearing test but mentioned an unusual symptom

A GP immediately suspected something was seriously wrong when a woman who made an appointment about a hearing test mentioned a seemingly harmless symptom. Neil Hughes’ wife Carol was at the GP to discuss a potential hearing test when she happened to mention something odd.

“She told him: ‘I’ve also got a bit of a metallic taste in my mouth,’ so he sent her for an endoscopy,” Neil, 62, says. Carol had always been very healthy and there were no signs that anything was seriously wrong but when the results came back, the doctor said he had “found something nasty.”

Carol had oesophageal cancer, which would turn out to be terminal. It was 2024 and Neil gave up work as a senior bid manager for one of Europe’s largest multinational organisations to care for her.

Faced with such a bleak prognosis, the couple decided they would go on some final trips before she became too ill to travel. “It came right out of the blue. She was ridiculously healthy,” Neil, who lives in Essex, says. “We phoned a cancer specialist and said, ‘Right, we’d like to go to Cambodia and Vietnam for a couple of weeks.’

“They said, ‘Yeah, we can insure you for £16,000.’ So we decided to go to Europe instead.” The couple visited Nice, Berlin, Prague and Vienna, and had a wonderful time. When they returned, Neil made a promise to Carol.

“We were in the Casino in Monaco, sipping 20 euro James Bond Martinis and she asked me what I’d do when she was gone,” he says. “Then she said: ‘You’re not allowed to sit in front of the laptop and drink too much wine.’”

Neil agreed and together they decided to set up a travel blog Do Not Go Gently Travel – Adventurous Travel for Older Travellers so that he could focus on exploring the world and documenting his experiences. Carol died in March last year at the age of 71. The couple had been together for 31 years and Neil was devastated.

But over the last 16 months, the accomplished photographer has kept the promise he made and Do Not Go Gently has been expanding by the week. “The title is based on Dylan Thomas’s poem ‘Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night’, which seemed appropriate given the circumstances, as I grew up near his home in Swansea. And the poem was read at Carol’s funeral,” he says.

The blog has a logo featuring Neil running around the world with the Grim Reaper on his back. “Some people think it’s a bit close to the bone. But that is what I am doing – I want to fulfill everything in the time I have.”

The experience has helped Neil manage his grief, and he now travels regularly for two-month blocks at a time. House insurance rules won’t let him stay away for too long, and after his first seven-month trip, he found himself exhausted.

“It is a lot easier to deal with grief when you are keeping yourself busy. The idea is that I am living on behalf of Carol as well. It has been a good distraction, but there were a few difficult times. During Covid we did a puzzle of all the landmarks around Europe, and there was just one neither of us recognised. After Carol passed away, I went to Prague to see Bruce Springsteen play, and I saw the Dancing House. When I realised it was the place from the puzzle, that broke me. I had to find somewhere quiet for half an hour.

“Normally, I am fine, but things do sneak up on you.”

Soon, Neil will visit Tanzania, which will be his 60th destination, followed by The Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Costa Rica. He plans to travel for as long as he can, but doesn’t aim to visit every country on earth. Easter Island and the Iguazú Falls, on the border of Argentina and Brazil, were bucket-list destinations, and he fell in love with Mongolia, but he says he wasn’t so fussed about Bali, which has become very overdeveloped and busy.

Carol told Neil before she died that he could date someone else, but he is not sure that he is ready to do so. For now, he is happy to meet new people and broaden his horizons. “I find the UK very divisive at the moment. There’s no nuance anymore – it’s either black or white. It’s good to meet people from different backgrounds with different views.

“I want people to know that solo travel isn’t just for gap year kids. In the last 18 months, I’ve had a coffee with the director of a mosque in Indonesia, met Indigenous tribesmen in a forest in Colombia, stood on the equator in São Tomé and Príncipe, and danced with jubilant football fans in Argentina after they beat Egypt. I’ve dined with a retired banker living in Hong Kong and a Polish MMA fighter.”

Neil likes to go off the beaten track, take as many local buses as possible and sample local delicacies, such as fish head curry in Penang, which he said was delicious.

“I think Carol would be pleased with what I’m doing. I think she’d be proud of it. And pleased to see that I am maintaining my tradition of not doing anything by half,” he adds.

The organisation plans to develop the building into a vibrant community hub, offering activities that tackle loneliness and isolation.

A popular community organisation is set to breathe new life into Gowkthrapple Community Centre following the approval of the transfer of the building through a successful bid to the council’s Community Asset Transfer programme.

Wishaw Men’s Shed is set to take ownership of the centre, allowing the charity to expand its work supporting local people while creating a welcoming, inclusive space for the wider community.

The organisation plans to develop the building into a vibrant community hub, offering activities that tackle loneliness and isolation, improve health and wellbeing and provide opportunities for people to learn new skills, volunteer and connect with others.

It will also be available for community groups and partner organisations, helping to increase access to local services and activities.

The application received overwhelming community backing, with around 98 per cent of consultation responses supporting the proposal.

The assessment concluded that the transfer would deliver significant social benefits while ensuring the long-term future of the facility.

Councillor Geraldine Woods, convener of the Communities Committee, said: “It’s fantastic to see another local organisation taking the opportunity to shape the future of an important community asset.

“Wishaw Men’s Shed has already made a real difference to people’s lives, and these plans will allow the organisation to reach even more residents while creating a welcoming space where the whole community can come together.”

Community Asset Transfer gives local organisations the opportunity to take ownership of council buildings and land where they can demonstrate clear community benefit.

The transfer of Gowkthrapple Community Centre will help secure the building’s future while supporting the continued growth of community-led services in Wishaw.

Councillor Lousie Roarty, depute leader of North Lanarkshire Council, said: “Supporting our communities to take ownership of local facilities is an important part of our ambition to make North Lanarkshire the place to live, learn, work, invest and visit.

“This announcement will help secure the future of Gowkthrapple Community Centre while creating new opportunities for people to improve their wellbeing, build friendships and access valuable community services.”

Robert from Wishaw Men’s Shed added: “This is a hugely exciting moment for everyone involved with Wishaw Men’s Shed.

“We’ve always believed the centre has the potential to become a real focal point for the community, and we’re looking forward to welcoming more people through the doors.

“Our aim is to create a place where everyone feels welcome, whether they’re looking to make new friends, learn something new or simply enjoy being part of their local community.”

Formal decision notices will be issued and published shortly, allowing the legal transfer process to begin.

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Chelsea star Cole Palmer is set to withdraw from England duty with Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White in line for his first recall into the Three Lions’ fold since October 2025

Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White is set to replace Cole Palmer in the England squad just days after his wife’s outburst. The Chelsea playmaker is reportedly set to withdraw from Thomas Tuchel’s latest selection.

Palmer is managing a small muscle injury he picked up in the weekend’s defeat to Brentford and will no longer play a part. In his place, Forest midfielder Gibbs-White is due to earn his first recall into the England squad in just under a year, having not been handed a spot in Tuchel’s original selection.

Explaining that decision at the time, the England boss said: “It makes no sense to nominate three, four, five number 10s. It just does not help anyone. We can see the form that Morgan [Gibbs-White] is in.

“It’s one thing to be nominated, but it’s another thing to perform. This also counts, especially Cole needs to step up to justify the nomination.”

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Tuchel’s explanation of Gibbs-White’s original omission did not appear to go down well with the latter’s wife Britney De Villiers. She took to Instagram to post a picture emphasising the fact that Gibbs-White is the only player in the Premier League so far this season who has created five-plus chances in every game that he has played.

Gibbs-White has one goal and two assists for Forest so far this season, having scored 18 times and notched seven assists last term. In all, he has earned six caps for England since making his debut in 2024 under Lee Carsley.

Elsewhere, Palmer has been told to ignore the advice of Chelsea’s medical staff and join up with England regardless. Speaking on talkSPORT, Jamie O’Hara said: “I’ve had medical staff try to turn around to me and say, ‘No, you should only play 60 minutes.

“How about no? How about, ‘I’m in charge of my own destiny? I’m in charge of my football career. You ain’t in charge of my football career, I am.’

“Then Cole Palmer has to be a man and say, ‘No, I’ve been out, I’ve missed out on the England squad. I’ve missed a World Cup last season because I was injured and I weren’t playing, and I come back and I wasn’t fit.

“‘Now I am fit, and I’m ready to go and Thomas Tuchel called me up, I’m going, and if you say I’m not going, I’m still going, I’m getting in my car and I’m driving there to St George’s Park because I want to be involved with England.

“‘And you can’t tell me some geezer who’s in charge of load management can tell me that I ain’t going to play for my country.’ Do one.”‘

Palmer might not be the only player to pull out ahead of the international break. Manchester United duo Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo are also both doubts.

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An enormous 30-tonne memorial has appeared next to ‘Britain’s biggest’ headstone belonging to a so-called ‘traveller king’.

The nine-foot monument in Shiregreen Cemetery, Sheffield, marks the grave of Michael Collins and now stands mere metres away from the £200,000 marble headstone for his bare-knuckle boxer brother, William ‘Willy’ Collins.

The first memorial made headlines when it was erected two years after Willy’s death in 2020 at the age of 49 in Majorca, Spain.

But it has become the subject of a row after council bosses claimed it broke planning rules – much to the dismay of Willy’s family.

The self-proclaimed King of Sheffield’s widow, Kathleen, even threatened ‘war’ if the monument was pulled down.

The enormous structure remains in place for now and, four years later, a new 30-tonne black marble headstone has been built for Willy’s brother, Michael, who died in December 2024 at the age of 51.

The new memorial stands at nine and a half feet tall and features two white life-sized statues of Michael, one of which is flanked by what appear to be statues of Jesus Christ.

A marble pint and can of Guinness, and a marble bottle of Budweiser, can be seen behind him.

The second statue of Michael is sitting on a bench next to an image of the four Collins Brothers – all of whom have died – with the caption ‘Sheffield Collins Brothers’ written underneath.

To the right of the memorial is a marble Bluetooth jukebox emblazoned with the words ‘Legend Michael Collins’, two Irish flags, a CD and a photo of Michael.

People living in the area are not pleased about the recent development, with one comparing it to a ‘haunted crazy golf’.

One local said: ‘It is there because the council did not take action against the first one.’

Another agreed: ‘So if they didn’t get permission the first time, why is this allowed? One rule for them [because] they don’t want any trouble and another rule for the rest of us.’

Meanwhile, a third added: ‘That’s wrong. A shrine that big should be in a private cemetery, not a council one.’

But not everyone is displeased, with some describing the monument as a ‘beautiful place to remember their loved ones’.

Michael is survived by his wife Girleen, their four children Paris, Anthony, Montana, and Martin, and his one grandchild, Martin Francis.

Following his death, Michael’s daughter, Paris, said: ‘Dad was a loving family man.

‘He lived and died for his wife and children, and he absolutely doted on his little grandbaby. He thought the world of him.

‘My mum is absolutely heartbroken. They’d been together for 27 years and they did everything together.

‘My dad is in heaven now with his brother, Willy, sister-in-law, Josie, and Willy’s oldest daughter, Bonnie.’

The other two Collins brothers – Terry and Anthony – are also buried at the cemetery.

Terry died aged 52 in September 2024, while Anthony was just 22 when he died in 2002 after he was stabbed at the Afro Caribbean Club on Spital Hill.

Memorials do not require planning permission, but memorials in council cemeteries are subject to the approval of a formal application from Bereavement Services.

Final approval had not yet been granted before Michael Collins’ memorial was erected, but the council had been in discussion and prepared to consider plans for the large monument.

A final design was not submitted.

Sheffield City Council is now hoping the family will submit a retrospective application to assess whether approval can be granted.

It is also working through the appropriate processes for Willy Collins’ memorial, and discussions remain ongoing. The council told Metro it would be inappropriate to comment further.

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Airport officials have also warned that unattended luggage will be treated as suspicious

Passengers flying from Glasgow Prestwick Airport are being urged to double-check what they are packing.

A clear message on the airport’s website states that certain items must not be placed in carry-on or checked luggage. Officials also reiterate that travellers should never leave their bags unattended at any point in the terminal.

Prestwick Airport warns in capitals, “DO NOT PACK in hand luggage” the following items:

• Liquids and gels over 100mls (liquids, aerosols, gels and lighters under 100mls can be carried on, limited to one clear plastic bag of no more than 20 x 20cm.)
• Items that are classified as restricted or dangerous (restricted items can be packed in hold luggage)
• Sharp items, such as nail clippers, scissors, pocketknives and metal nail files

It also notes that travellers should “not carry or pack in hand luggage or hold luggage” the following:

• Items classified as dangerous
• Gases (eg CO2 canisters)
• Flammable liquids (including lighters)

It stresses: “Please note that liquid restrictions will remain in place at Glasgow Prestwick Airport”, adding: Any of these items found at screening points will be removed and destroyed.”

You should contact your airline for more information about what you can pack in hand luggage and hold luggage.

Glasgow Prestwick ‘unattended baggage’ rule

The Airport asks people to “never leave baggage unattended in public areas”. If you do, the rule is that your bag “will be treated as suspicious.”

It advises Glaswegians to “be travel-aware” by packing carefully and getting ready for security checks. Passengers could be asked to remove items such as boots or belts. The airport says people should follow the instructions shown as they approach security and remove any items as directed.

In seperate advice, UK Government officials write: “Airport security staff will not let anything through that they consider dangerous – even if it’s normally allowed in hand luggage.”

As a result, the airport and the UK Government are urging passengers to check the guidance online here to see exactly what they can and can’t take, including specific rules on items such as baby food and medication.

Presley Gerber said he was ‘absolutely terrified’ as he attempted to overcome his addictions with a controversial treatment six months before his death.

It was confirmed on Monday that Presley, the son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and her husband Rande Gerber, had died at age 27 following a years-long struggle with drugs, panic attacks and his mental health.

In March, Presley posted about his experience at a Mexico treatment clinic, where he underwent a ‘Pre Ibogaine Flood Dose’ – a single, high-dose administration of the naturally occurring psychoactive substance ibogaine.

Ibogaine is derived from an African shrub and is reported to help withdrawal symptoms and reset brain pathways. The high-dose is designed to induce a profound psychoactive and physiological ‘reset’. 

Admitting he was ‘absolutely terrified’ to go through the controversial treatment, which is illegal in the US, Presley was supported by his parents and sister Kaia Gerber for his ‘courage’.

Cindy commented on the post: ‘You are a warrior! Walked thru the fire to find yourself! So proud!’ 

Kaia added: ‘that’s my brother I am so damn proud’ whilst Rande wrote: ‘I’m so proud of you and your courage.’

‘Facing what’s hard takes real strength and watching you find your way back to yourself is everything. I love you so much.’ 

Ibogaine is illegal in the US, where it is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance but it is legal or permitted by prescription in countries like Canada and Brazil whilst it is used in specialised clinics in Mexico.

The model tagged Beond Ibogaine in Cancun, praising the clinic’s ‘incredible, caring, kind and on-their-sh*t team’. Treatment at the clinic starts at $12,500 for a 10-day programme.

Presley captioned his video: ‘Pre Ibogaine Flood Dose – quiet moment before everything changed.’

‘i was absolutely terrified, and I knew I would be again if I ever had to face something like this (helps to not go into the situations you do that get ya there but that’s life sometimes.)’

‘(my mantras were love yourself and lis gotta be the last time for this reason. letting go of control didn’t come easy, but I trusted there was something bigger than me guiding it’.

‘I knew why i was there. I faced what I had been running from, and somewhere in all of it, i started finding my way back to myself…. We shall see…. Praying it’s the last time I have to come back.’

It was confirmed on Monday that Presley, the son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and her husband Rande Gerber, has died at age 27 following a years-long struggle with drugs, panic attacks and his mental health (Presley, sister Kaia, Cindy and Rande pictured in May 2026)

In March, Presley posted about his experience at a Mexico treatment clinic, where he underwent a ‘Pre Ibogaine Flood Dose’

‘Next time I’d like to choose And absolutely can’t forget the incredible caring kind and on their sh*t team. Helps a lot haha. And I made some dope ass friends there  #iboga #ibogaine #rewireyourbrain #loveyourself #mentalhealth.’

Beond Ibogaine commented on the post at the time, writing: ‘Thank you for sharing this so openly. We know how much courage that moment takes, and we’re really proud of you for facing it with so much honesty and heart.’

‘It was an honor to support you, and it means a lot to know you felt the care of the team and the connection around you. Wishing you so much strength and clarity for everything ahead.’

Beond Ibogaine’s website states that ‘Ingesting a large enough dose induces a temporary psychedelic experience that can last several hours, normally with no significant side effects.’

‘For hundreds of years, indigenous African peoples, such as those practicing the Bwiti tradition, have ingested large doses of Ibogaine in its raw root bark form for its spiritual and healing properties.’

‘Over the past thirty years, Ibogaine has been administered in various clinics around the world for medical treatment purposes, most often to treat drug dependence, including the use of ibogaine for alcoholism and ibogaine for opiate addiction.’

‘Beond Ibogaine treatment exists to end suffering from trauma, depression & addiction. Faster. Safer & Forever,’ the website adds. 

‘Beond’s ibogaine clinic in Mexico combines the power of ibogaine, our proprietary safety protocols, and best-in-class behavioral therapies delivered by licensed credentialed Medical Doctors, Registered Nurses, and experienced Preparation & Integration Coaches.’

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner said that Presley died on Sunday at a rehab facility in a devastating end to a battle he had increasingly laid bare in brutally candid social media posts. His cause of death was not revealed.

Admitting he was ‘absolutely terrified’ to go through the controversial treatment, which is illegal in the US, Presley was supported by his parents and sister Kaia Gerber for his ‘courage’

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Last month, Presley’s sister Kaia revealed how his drug use and mental health struggles had affected their family.

‘When something like that happens in a family, it kind of levels everyone,’ she told Vogue.

Last November, Presley revealed he had taken a step back from social media to ‘take care of my own mental health for a bit’.

One month later, he opened up about his personal life in a candid social media video.

Sister, Kaia, said her brother’s troubles made her want to be the ‘easy’ child.

She explained: ‘I think that’s also why I started to self-​identify as the easy one and never wanted to ask for help. Because it felt like too much to have two children who were needing.’

He listed medication he takes for ‘night terrors’ and ‘panic attacks’.

‘I feel like honesty is the best policy,’ he began before sharing that he was on 1mg of Buprenorphine, used to treat both pain and opioid use disorders, twice a day.

Presley also shared that the ‘benzos have been fluctuating up and down depending on what’s been going on in my life’.

Benzodiazepines help ‘slow down activity in your brain and nervous system’ to treat ‘anxiety and related mental health conditions’, per Cleveland Clinic.

‘Unfortunately, I’ve had a lot of loss in many different forms recently, so that is not an excuse, but it’s the reason why I am where I’m at now,’ he shared.

He did not go into detail about the ‘loss’ he referenced, but went on to explain that he also takes a dose of Xanax at night or when his ‘panic attacks are really, really bad’.

Presely pictured in his last Instagram post, shared on August 5

The model then listed Valium, admitting that he didn’t know exactly how much he’d been taking as he said, ‘Who f***ing knows anymore.’

He noted in the Instagram reel that ‘doctors say a lot of different things so it’s kind of scary. But hopefully between my research and their research and the world and God, we can finally figure this out.’

Presley also talked about the lack of ‘direction’ he has from doctors when it comes to his medication.

‘I’d like doctors to be like, “Take this three times a day.” But every psychiatrist I’ve had – and I’ve had 15 – are like, “Here’s 20 medications and take this if you feel like this, take this as needed.”

‘And I’m like, “No, don’t give me that much leeway.” I need some direction,’ he continued.

Kaia told Vogue that witnessing her brother’s honesty was ‘refreshing’.

‘My parents for most of our lives were very, very private and didn’t share anything – and now we have this absolute teacher, my brother, who says, “I’m gonna be very human for everyone.” There’s only so much you can hide from the world,’ she said.

‘And trying to put a lid on something just makes the person feel like you’re ashamed of them.’ 

A £121m state-of-the-art health hub designed to cut NHS Wales waiting times could deliver around 3,000 operations every year, with a new facility in Llantrisant. The Llantrisant Health Park will feature six new operating theatres and 54 beds, initially focusing on hip and knee replacement surgery, alongside purpose-built diagnostic and recovery facilities.

The Regional Orthopaedic Arthroplasty Hub is being backed by Welsh Government funding and is designed to help patients access treatment sooner and recover more quickly following surgery.

Once fully operational, the hub is expected to carry out an average of 3,000 operations each year. Full story here.