The  grass cutter’s roll-over protection system had been removed before Kamil Grygieniec, 23, started his work in North Stainley near Ripon, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed.

An HSE spokesman added that his employers, MHS Countryside Management Ltd had failed to carry out a risk assessment specifically for the grass cutting operation round the pond on October 8, 2021.

The ride-on lawnmower Kamil Grygieniec was using at the pond (Image: Health and Safety Executive)

A statement on behalf of Kamil’s mother and father said: “The pain I feel every day since that tragedy is unimaginable, I do not wish that on anybody. That day I lost part of me.

“I will never be able to hug him, tell him how much I love him. I will never receive flowers from him, will never meet his wife or his children. Kamil was my physical and mental support.

“That day was his last day at that workplace and it happened to be the last day of his short life.”

“I don’t know what life holds for the future for me, but what I am certain of is it will not be as full or as happy now that Kamil has gone from our lives.

“What makes it even worse, I believe his death could have been prevented and should never have happened.”

MHS Countryside Management Ltd, of Bishop Auckland, pleaded guilty to failure to ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of all its employees including Mr Grygieniec of Northallerton. It was fined £27,000 and ordered to pay £11,166 in costs at York Magistrates’ Court.

After the hearing, HSE Inspector Darian Dundas said: “This is a profoundly tragic case which is made all the more harrowing because the safety feature designed to prevent incidents like this had been removed from the lawnmower – leading to the fatal turn of events which has robbed a family of their loved one.

“The completion of a suitable and sufficient site-specific risk assessment is vital before undertaking work activities and ensures appropriate action can be taken to eliminate hazards or, where this is not possible, to properly control the risks.

“In this case, the failure to assess the risks and ensure suitable safety measures were in place resulted in a tragic and entirely avoidable loss of life.”

The home side, meanwhile, are on course to avoid the humiliation of having the lowest points tally in Premier League history and can ensure that unwanted record across a single season stays with Derby by springing a surprise and blowing the title race wide open. Follow Wolves vs Arsenal LIVE below with Standard Sport’s dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis from Matt Verri at Molineux Stadium!

Artist Pete McKee is bringing his exhibition The Boy with the Leg Named Brian to grassroots venues across the UK, including Newcastle’s Cluny.

The show will arrive in Newcastle on May 17, transforming the venue into a daytime gallery experience before a ticketed performance by The Everly Pregnant Brothers in the evening.

Pete McKee, artist and musician, said: “Music is a huge part of my life, and features constantly in my work.

“In fact, it was the original dream of mine to play on Top of The Pops rather than become an artist.

“We have picked some of the most amazing venues for this tour which have played host to some of the biggest artists before they were famous.

“Grassroots music venues like this are vital for bands like mine to perform to new audiences, so I can’t wait to play on with my band in these venues too.

“I love showcasing my artwork in non-traditional spaces too, so this is going to be a real celebration of art and music.”

The daytime exhibition, free and open from noon to 5pm, will feature interactive installations and a selection of Mr McKee’s work, offering visitors a new way to experience both the art and the venue.

The tour aims to celebrate and support independent music venues and will raise awareness of the work of the Music Venue Trust.

McKee’s exhibition, previously on display at Weston Park Museum in Sheffield, attracted more than 130,000 visitors during its year-long run.

It tells the story of his childhood growing up on a council estate in 1970s and 80s Sheffield—exploring themes of loss, identity, and the cultural influence of fashion and music.

Although deeply personal, the exhibition is intended to evoke collective memories and everyday experiences familiar to audiences across the UK.

As part of the tour, Mr McKee has created a special, limited-edition poster for each venue.

Only 50 will be produced, each signed by the artist, with all profits going to the Music Venue Trust and the participating venues.

The evening will conclude with a live show by The Everly Pregnant Brothers, the comedy ukulele band known for their parodies of well-known songs.

Mr McKee is a founding member of the band, which will perform songs from their latest album, Never Mind The Ukes, Here’s The Brothers.

Following a summer of performances at festivals including Tramlines and Rock N Roll Circus, the band is enthusiastic about playing in more intimate settings.

Mr McKee said: “Independent music venues like these are really important to me, not only are they where our band plays but it is also where I have seen countless artists over the years hone their craft.

“Music venues are closing down at a frightening rate across the country and it is important that we work hard to keep them alive.

“I can’t wait to bring my exhibition to your city and show my work in these beautiful and very different spaces from a gallery.”

Evening performances are ticketed, with doors opening at 7pm.

Full tour dates and venue information are available at www.petemckee.com.

Henry VIII is not remembered as a loving husband. Any English schoolchild can recount the unpleasant fates of most of his six wives with the rhyme: “Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived.” But though the end of his relationships are famous, less is known about Henry in love.

Now, a rare jewel discovered by an amateur detectorist and bought by the British Museum for the national collection may force us to reconsider the king’s brutal reputation.

The jewel is a heart-shaped locket, crafted in gold with red enamel decoration, and attached to a solid gold chain. On the face are the letters H and K linked together by the stems of a Tudor rose and a pomegranate, which was the symbol of Katharine’s Spanish royal family. It is a reasonable deduction that this remarkable jewel was connected directly to Henry and the first of his wives, Katherine of Aragon.

Katherine was the subject of Henry’s first and most shocking divorce, which precipitated England’s breach with the Roman papacy and the transformation of religion which we now know as the Reformation. In many ways Katherine also suffered the worst of the king’s personal cruelty. Although not executed, she was consigned to virtual house-arrest, much of the time separated from her only living child, Mary.

If this was indeed Henry and Katherine’s jewel it could be a vital clue to quite different moment in their relationship, and to a dimension of the king’s character that his otherwise notorious conduct has completely obscured.

In late medieval and Renaissance society, monograms – the linking of people’s initials – were often created to represent a personal connection, a marriage, a betrothal or even a secret love-match. Beneath the linked letters on the locket is the French word “Toujo(u)rs”, meaning “always” – a natural choice for a pledge between lovers. Here, the letters surely stand for Henry and Katherine.

The locket’s flower and fruit decoration seal the royal connection. The pomegranate symbol swept into English public life after the two families were joined through Henry’s marriage. Decorations for the coronation of the king and queen, just two weeks after the wedding, paired the Tudor rose with golden pomegranates. A woodblock print published to mark the occasion under the title A Joyful Meditation to All England, showed Henry and Katherine receiving their crowns under a twin canopy of the flower and the fruit.

Accounts of textiles commissioned for the royal household show dozens of different pieces – upholstery, wall-hangings, and livery to be worn by servants – all featuring the rose and the pomegranate prominently in their design.

Devoted designs

The decoration of the heart pendant is matched in a wide variety of treasures described in Henry’s household inventories. These contain descriptions of a bag of crimson satin, a silver comb case and standing cup all marked in the same way for the king and his queen. These lists also identify several collars or necklaces – described by the archaic term carkeynes – with heart-shaped pendants. One of these, coloured blue, is also inscribed, “H K”.

Henry spent prodigiously on beautiful, bespoke furnishings, but jewellery was his greatest passion. The inventories of his jewels and plate (gold, gilt and silver objets d’art) compiled shortly after his death in January 1547 record almost 4,000 individual pieces.

This Tudor heart pendant is a prime example of this level of investment. The locket itself is formed from 24-carat gold; the wide chain found with it is weighty and long – more than 40cm. Together they amount to 317 grams of precious metal. It is no wonder that the British Museum’s purchase price was £3.5 million.

It is clear from his wardrobe accounts – which record the purchase of decorative pieces for his household – that Henry took a personal interest in the material and design of many of these pieces. Surviving examples of designs for jewellery drawn by Hans Holbein, the German artist active at Henry’s court in the 1530s and early 1540s, may have come from a pattern book made to influence, or illustrate, the king’s developing tastes. He bought, or commissioned pieces, not only for his own household but also as gifts – often marking the new year – to family members and court favourites.

This may well be the origin of the heart pendant. Since it came to light, it has been spoken of as associated with Henry’s great pageant in the Pas-de-Calais in 1520, the so-called Field of the Cloth of Gold. Here he, Katherine and his court staged a ceremonial meeting with the French King, François I. A great many furnishings from the royal residences and chapels did cross the Channel to decorate the pop-up canvas palace and tents.

But I am convinced the message conveyed by this jewel is not political but profoundly personal. Toujours is an expression of deep, heartfelt attachment. An alternative theory, advanced by the British Museum itself, is that the pendant was made to mark the betrothal in October 1518 of Katherine’s only living child, Princess Mary, aged two, to the eight-month-old heir to the French throne.

But given the presence of pieces of very similar design in the royal household soon after the marriage and coronation, it must be possible that the pendant belongs to the early years of Henry and Katherine’s relationship. At first, she and the king were inseparable. Five months from the wedding she was pregnant. She conceived again each year from 1510 to 1513. One of these pregnancies resulted in a son, named Henry, born in January 1511. He lived for a little under two months.

In the late summer of that year, the king and queen embarked on a progress through the Thames Valley and on into the West Midlands, culminating at Warwick. It was in a Warwickshire field that the detectorist, Charlie Clarke, uncovered the heart pendant in 2019.

Could it be that a jewel gifted to Katherine at the time of the birth of Henry’s longed-for male heir was carried with the royal party – as so many of their personal jewels were – as they made their way into Warwickshire? It gives the locket an edge not just of romance, but of tragedy. Here, perhaps, Katherine was parted from a present that was, already, a memento mori of her lost son.

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Police say 72-year-old Jacqueline Ormes died at Royal Bolton Hospital last Thursday, February 12.

Officers say there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death and are appealing for members of the public to help them trace her family.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: “Police are appealing for the public’s help to trace family of a woman from Bolton.

“Jacqueline Ormes (72) died at Royal Bolton Hospital on 12.02.2026.

Bolton Coroners’ Court (Image: Anthony Moss)

“There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death.

“Anyone with information about Jacqueline’s next of kin should contact the Police Coroner’s Office in Bolton on 0161 856 4687.”

Police issue appeals like this to help them to find relatives of people who have died around the region.

Once the police have the details that they need, they will be passed along to the Coroner’s Office to let full cause of death be established.

In UK law, there is no legal definition of “next of kin”, but it is usually understood to be the closest relative, whether a partner, parent, child or sibling.

Anyone with any information can call the Police Coroner’s Office in Bolton on 0161 856 4687.

The newly released content takes the legendary strategy title to medieval South America, adding three new civilisations and three epic campaigns

Age of Empires II fans revelling in nostalgia have even more to enjoy with a new DLC.

Gamers who love the iconic 1990s PC game have been rewarded over the years with remasters of the beloved historical strategy series. But now, almost 30 years after the original Age of Empires II game first released, a new expansion has reason to keep fans coming back to the franchise.

The latest remaster, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, was called the ‘best version’ of the game by PC Gamer. Available not just on PC, but also Xbox and PlayStation, it has been updated with a number of DLC packs in recent years.

Yesterday (Tuesday, February 17) saw the launch of the latest update, The Last Chieftains. The new content includes three new civilisations to play as and new campaigns based in mediaeval South America.

The Mapuche, Muisca and Tupi join AoE, each with their own unique characteristics. Each one has its own campaign for players to enjoy.

Players choosing each new civilization will access their unique units, as always. The Mapuche offers melee cavalaryman the Kona and ranged cavalryman the Bolas Rider.

The Muisca’s Guecha Warriors are javelineers whose death heals other nearby Guecha Warriors, while the Temple Guard is a heavy infantryman that “attacks faster the longer it remains in combat”. Finally, the Tupi offer the Blackwood Archer, a ranged soldier trained in pairs, and the Ibirapema Warrior, a heavy infantryman who deals area damage.

The new campaigns are as follows:

Mapuche

• Lautaro: After witnessing his village’s destruction, the young warrior Lautaro vows revenge on the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia. Can Lautaro change his people’s fate by mastering Spanish tactics?

Muisca

• El Dorado: Commander Pacanchique is forced to pick a side between two powerful rulers, yet his true loyalty lies with his beloved Azay. Can Pacanchique protect her while surviving Muisca infighting and European incursions?

Tupi

• Arariboia: When a rival tribe threatens his people with extinction, chieftain Arariboia resolves to protect them at any cost. Will he be able to secure Portuguese aid and reclaim his people’s lost homeland?

An Xbox Game Studios spokesperson said: “We are thrilled to announce the next DLC for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition – The Last Chieftains, is available now! Dive into medieval South America, where history and folklore combine in a vibrant and compelling expansion to present epic battles, riveting narratives, and endless intrigue.

“Plus, The Last Chieftains introduces three captivating new civilizations, each with their own unique units and technologies: Mapuche, Muisca, and Tupi. Whether you are a passionate historian, an admirer of compelling narratives, a longtime fan of the Age of Empires franchise, or all of the above – The Last Chieftains will bring you countless hours of joy and fun!”

The Last Chieftains is available on Steam for PC, Xbox Store for Xbox Series X/S and and PlayStation Store for PS5. It costs £14.99.

Emergency services were called to Station Road around 1.30pm on Wednesday (February 18), after a car collided with the man.

He was taken to hospital, but it is understood he did not suffer any major injuries.

A witness at the scene, who did not want to be named, said he: “There were three police cars there attending a man with facial injuries. He was covered in a thermal blanket and sat on the path with his back to the wall.”

A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We received a call at 1.31pm on Wednesday, February 18, to reports of a road traffic incident on the junction of High Northgate and Station Road in Darlington.

“We dispatched an ambulance crew to the scene and transported one patient to Darlington Memorial Hospital for further treatment.”

Urmston is set for a transformation after leaders signed off on a 15-year vision for the town centre.

Trafford council is aiming to “future proof” Urmston as a “successful” and “dynamic” place to live and work. It has now signed off on a plan that will shape investment and regeneration in the town over the coming years.

A number of key areas are being eyed up as redevelopment opportunities, including Urmston’s derelict market site, the area around the library and several empty buildings around the town centre. Improvements in the streets are also proposed with new seating and road crossings being considered.

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Called the Urmston Plan, the vision will act as a guide for future projects in the town, with the council saying it will be able to use it as a basis for funding and investment bids in future years. The authority will also be liaising with landowners in the town centre to encourage sites to be improved or brought back to use. A list of the areas being considered for regeneration can be found below.

The plan has been drawn up following consultation with residents and businesses in the area, with almost 550 responses received. Concerns were raised from within the community over the general upkeep of the town, with issues such as cracked paving, potholes and litter flagged.

Residents also bemoaned a lack of public toilets in their park and a dearth of comfortable seating areas for the elderly. Young people in the town also criticised a lack of places for them to meet and socialise, particularly when the weather is bad.

Some criticised the town centre as dated and said they were “disappointed” with the number of vacant shops in the centre. Others raised problems on the roads, including congestion, poor parking and a lack of cycle infrastructure. Residents also said they wanted improved public transport into the town, including the creation of a Metrolink service.

Liz Patel, Trafford council’s executive member for economy and regeneration, said: “Urmston is one of Trafford’s most amazing and unique town centres […] and this plan is the latest reflection of our commitment to ensuring its future as a vibrant town centre that both delivers for residents and supports the diverse and hardworking businesses that call it home.”

She added: “The plan is not an end in itself, but a helpful and timely review of the priorities for the town centre and needs in Urmston. As and when investment and development opportunities arise, it will be a guide to that development.”

Councillor Joanne Harding has lived in Urmston since 1987, and represents it on the authority. She said: “Urmston really does have a charm of its own and it has a real sense of community that pulls together. Some of the historic buildings that we have, some of the architecture, is to be cherished.”

Regeneration ideas for Urmston

Higher Road – More planting, seating and lighting are proposed for the area around the cherry trees at the western end of Higher Road

Urmston Library – the overhanging roof of the library offers cover for people waiting for buses, but is not well-lit and needs more seating and planting, Trafford council has said. Existing columns and walls could also feature local artwork to “evoke feelings of local pride”.

Flixton Road / Crofts Bank Road – There is currently no pedestrian crossing between the pedestrianised zone at Golden Way and Urmston train station, the council said. A raised crossing is proposed across from the Millennium Clock, with the existing bus stop outside Bevano Lounge to be moved up the road. Trees would also be planted along this stretch.

Gloucester Road From Atkinson Road to the B5214 – This route hosts a variety of businesses, the council has said. Trees are proposed to be planted along this stretch, with seating built into some of the planters so people can stop for a coffee or have somewhere to sit while waiting for an appointment.

Former bank on corner of Crofts Bank Road – The council wants to see this building brought back into use to meet community needs, with arts, culture or leisure uses suggested for it. The building is currently vacant, but Trafford does not know what the landowner intends for its future.

Urmston Market – Planning permission was granted in February 2022 for the redevelopment of the site into an indoor market hall, work hub, hotel and children’s play areas. The scheme has stalled due to “viability challenges”, Trafford said.

Former Ridings Store – Again, Trafford wants to see the site brought back into use to meet community needs, with arts, culture or leisure uses once more suggested. However, the site is in “complex ownership” with the council believing its intervention might be needed to bring about its redevelopment.

Victoria Parade – Trafford said there is an opportunity here for a mixed-use residential development to be brought forward, incorporating commercial or work spaces. Again, ownership of this site has been described as complex and the project long-term.

Former TMBC Depot Building – This could be redeveloped into accommodation to meet either general housing need in the town or for older people. The intentions of the landowners for the site are “unknown”, Trafford has said. However, the council believes they would be “likely to support redevelopment”.

Former surgery on corner Station Road – Once more, the council wants to see this building redeveloped to meet community needs, such as through arts, culture or leisure use. Trafford has indicated that the owner is interested in redeveloping the site.