Community News

Almost two thirds (62%) of people living in Birmingham still have tasks to tick off their to do list before lockdown measures lift this summer. However, over two thirds (83%) admit to putting tedious household tasks off until the last minute, according to new research out today.

Gas Safe Register – the UK’s official registration body for gas engineers and businesses – who commissioned the research among householders, has teamed up with Cleaning Queen and household hero, Aggie MacKenzie, to head off ‘lockdown fatigue’ and encourage people up and down the country to tackle the seemingly sensible tasks they’ve been putting off – including booking a safety check for their gas appliances – before lockdown restrictions lift this summer.

With two months to go until the expected lifting of lockdown measures in June, garden maintenance (30%), cleaning the windows (27%) and scrubbing the oven (23%) are ranked as the top three tasks that the people of Birmingham are determined to tackle.

However, worryingly, when it comes to gas safety in our homes, only (11%) are hoping to book in a safety check/servicing this spring for their gas appliances, with nearly a third (28%) also admitting that gas safety checks often slip to the bottom of their to-do lists. 

With a tendency to procrastinate on chores that we are not excited about, when it comes to the reasoning as to why there are still outstanding household tasks on their to-do lists this year, almost half (44%) admit they’ve put them to the back of their minds as they ‘can’t see’ them, and nearly half (48%) cite a lack of motivation.

Aggie MacKenzie, who has been keeping us clean, organised and tidy for two decades since appearing on Channel 4’s How Clean is Your House?, says: “Personally, I love getting the less glamorous household tasks ticked off my to-do list! But if it brings you less enjoyment, now is the time to get the sensible sorted and a Gas Safety Check with a registered engineer should be top of that list. Booking in your annual service now will reduce disruption to your house in the long term. Get it booked whilst we are still at home, so that your summer can be that bit more carefree!”

In fact, tackling the more ‘tedious’ tasks can be good for us. Over two thirds (61%) of ‘Brummies’ admit to receiving a positive boost and a serotonin hit when they do tick these tasks off the admin list.

TV behavioural psychologist Emma Kenny, who is also supporting Gas Safe Register’s campaigning efforts, shares her thoughts on why we get a ‘buzz’ from being sensible. She says: “Life in lockdown has felt overwhelming and fatigue has well and truly set in. It’s easy to understand why many of us have found it difficult to tackle those tasks we had to set out to do at the start of the year.

“Getting on top of your life admin – including those household tasks that we often ‘can’t see’ and put to the back of our minds - is great for positive mental health and wellbeing. Knowing that you have ticked off important tasks, such as having your gas appliances checked, so that you protect both yourself and your family is a small win, that makes a huge difference to all of your lives.

“Being organised this way helps you to feel in control of your world, whilst ensuring the safety of the people that mean the most to you in it. The science clearly shows that when you feel that you are on top of your roles and responsibilities you feel happier, and more content, which is something everyone needs after the challenging year we have faced.”

This spring, Gas Safe Register is encouraging Brits to ensure that the servicing of gas appliances in their homes, which should be booked annually, is on the top of their to-do lists. From cookers, boilers to gas fires, many faulty appliances – left unchecked - can pose life-threatening risks such as carbon monoxide poisoning, a gas leak, and in some instances fires, or even an explosion.

This has proven to be as important as ever with the research showing a lack of knowledge amongst people living in Birmingham around the signs of an unsafe gas appliance. More than 4 in 10 (42%) wrongly thought that smoke was a sign of an unsafe gas appliance, a third (31%) claimed the smoke alarm going off was a sign whilst 14% attributed mould and 8% a build-up of dust.

Bob Kerr from Gas Safe Register added: “As it starts to get warmer and the further easing of lockdown restrictions are now firmly in sight, you probably haven’t given your boiler a second thought! But, after a heavy winter of use whilst we’ve all spent more time than usual in our homes, springtime is the ideal season to book in your annual gas safety check with a Gas Safe Registered engineer.

As today’s research shows, with a lack of awareness around the signs and symptoms of an unsafe gas appliance, it’s even more important to make sure that your appliances are fit for use. You can find and check a local registered engineer to you on our Gas Safe Register website. There’s never been a better time to Be Gas Safe than Sorry.”

Aggie’s Spring to-do list before lockdown ends:

1. Clean the windows

2. Tackle the dust on the tops of kitchen cupboards and high-up/out-of-reach surfaces

3. Book a gas safety check

4. Cleaning the oven

5. Painting/decorating the house

6. Cleaning behind the fridge

7. The showerhead/curtain/taps/screen/

8. Pillows and duvets

9. Garden maintenance and cleaning your greenhouse

10. Rescue the barbie

Gas Safe Register’s six simple steps to help householders stay Better Gas Safe Than Sorry this Spring, are:

1.    Only use a Gas Safe registered engineer to fit, fix and service your appliances. You can find and check an engineer at GasSafeRegister.co.uk or call 0800 408 5500.

2.    Check both sides of your engineer’s Gas Safe Register ID card. Make sure they are qualified for the work you need doing. You can find this information on the back of the card.

3.    Know the six signs of carbon monoxide poisoning – headaches, dizziness, breathlessness, nausea, collapse and loss of consciousness.

4.    Check gas appliances for warning signs that they are not working properly e.g. lazy yellow flames instead of crisp blue ones, black marks or stains on or around the appliance and condensation in the room.

5.    Fit an audible carbon monoxide alarm. This will alert you if there is carbon monoxide in your home.

6.    Have all your gas appliances regularly serviced and safety checked every year. If you rent your home, ask for a copy of the landlord’s current Gas Safety Record.

How has lockdown been for you? Have you succumbed to the Lockdown 14? For those who missed this on social media, ‘Lockdown 14’ is the estimated average number of lbs fitness experts are saying we have put on over the past 12 months. If this is you and you want to get rid of yours, how about training for the St Basils ‘Hike for Homeless’?
 
Hiking popularity has boomed during lockdown as it’s a great way of getting fit and also raising money for a wonderful cause at the same time, win, win. Oh and did I mention it finishes at the pub, what’s not to love?
 
Teams get a map and a guidebook, before navigating their way to the various check points, so this really is more of a challenge than the average charity hike. Each check point has experienced marshals, a toilet, water, and emergency energy bars.

This year’s hike takes place on Saturday July 24, around the beautiful countryside of Warwickshire taking in such sites as the historic hamlet of Berkswell, the windmill in Balsall Common and Kenilworth Castle providing plenty of photo opportunities to share on social.

Teams are made up of 3 to 6 people, so grab your friends, family or colleagues and start training. Of course, this is a fundraising event and the more cash you raise for the challenge the more young people we can help.

Steve Rainbow, Events Manager for St Basils, said “The Hike for Homeless has been one of our most popular fundraising events for over 20 years and this year’s hike has been kindly sponsored by IM properties.

“The event gives friends, families, and colleagues the chance to really tackle a challenge together but in the most beautiful surroundings. We have teams who have signed up year after year and love the weeks of training too. The money raised from the hike really makes a difference to St Basils Vital work supporting the most vulnerable in our community.” 

Drivers in the West Midlands are seeing the biggest drop in car insurance costs in more than three years, new data reveals. The average cost of car insurance in the region dropped by £97 (13%) in 12 months, following a turbulent year which has sparked significant changes in driving habits. This means drivers in the West Midlands can now expect to pay £652 for their car insurance, on average. That’s according to the latest car insurance price index by Confused.com (Q1 2021), powered by Willis Towers Watson. Based on more than six million quotes per quarter, it’s the most comprehensive new business price index in the UK.

According to the data, drivers in Birmingham will have seen the biggest drop in their car insurance price when shopping around. Prices in the area fell by £110 (13%), with the average premium now £731. However, the data also shows that drivers in Birmingham are in fact paying out the most for their insurance, despite facing the biggest savings across the year.

It’s a similar picture across the rest of the UK, where prices fell by £87 (14%) in 12 months. This brings the average price of car insurance in the UK to £578. And throughout this past year, prices have been steadily declining, as drivers spend less time on the road. In fact, research suggests the average mileage of UK drivers dropped from 7,239 to 4,113 (43%) during the pandemic. And as a result, prices have decreased by £37 (7%) in the past three months alone (Q4 2020 – Q1 2021), as insurers adapt their pricing to reflect the current level of risk on UK roads. With fewer people driving regularly, the risk of accidents is much lower, meaning insurers are paying out less in claims.

However, Louise O’Shea, CEO at Confused.com, explains that not all drivers will see these savings. While those shopping around and buying a new car insurance policy could have saved as much as £87, further research of UK drivers found that almost half (45%) of drivers who received their renewal in the past three months saw their price increase by £45, on average(1). This suggests they could be paying more by opting to renew with their current insurer.

In fact, of the UK drivers who saw their renewal price increase this past quarter, almost half (48%) chose to stay with their current insurer, despite their price being more expensive. Of those who stayed with their current insurer, one in 10 (11%) claim the company automatically renewed the policy on their behalf. And it’s this practice which makes it difficult for motorists to opt out of their policy and find a better deal. This is something that is being investigated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which is looking into changes that will make it easier for customers to cancel their policy and benefit from the price savings being reported for new policies.

The FCA’s proposal will not just make it easier to cancel auto-renewals, it is also set to prohibit insurers from calculating a price based on whether the customer is a new customer or a renewing customer. However, this does not mean that renewal prices will stay the same or decrease, as they could still increase year-on-year. The FCA has been clear that shopping around will still give customers opportunities to save.

While most drivers across the UK will see a cheaper price when shopping for a new policy, some will see some very significant savings – in particular, male motorists. The cost of insurance for men dropped by £91 (14%) year-on-year and £38 (6%) in the past quarter to £574, on average. Meanwhile, female drivers shopping around will also have saved money during this past three months, with premiums now £82 (15%) cheaper than 12 months ago, and £36 (7%) less than last quarter. This means women are now paying £477, bringing the gap between male and female drivers to £97, on average.

Similarly, prices fell across all regions of the UK, but drivers in Manchester and Merseyside are seeing the most significant savings of all. The cost of car insurance in the region decreased by a whopping £122 (15%) in 12 months. This brings the average premium for drivers in the region to £708. Meanwhile, drivers in Inner London saved £116 (12%) on average when shopping for a new car insurance policy this past year, and are now paying £846, on average. But despite these significant savings, Inner London and Manchester and Merseyside are the two most expensive regions in the UK for car insurance. At the other end of the scale, the Scottish Borders is revealed to be the cheapest region in the UK for car insurance, with motorists paying £352 per year for their policies, on average. This is £62 (15%) less than 12 months ago.

Meanwhile, drivers of all age groups will also have seen a drop in price when shopping for car insurance this past quarter. And those in their early twenties are the biggest winners, seeing savings of up to £141 compared to last year. In particular, 21-year-olds are now paying £1,144 following a £141 (11%) drop in prices year-on-year, while 23-year-olds pay £994 – £136 (12%) less than 12 months ago, on average. However, these are still among some of the highest prices paid for insurance by all drivers. Although, 18-year-olds top the list of having the most expensive car insurance costs, forking out a whopping £1,442, despite an £80 (5%) drop in prices compared to this time last year. This is almost five times the amount paid by drivers in their late sixties, which is found to be the sweet spot when it comes to car insurance costs. The data reveals that prices are lowest for those aged 69, who pay £311 per year, on average, following a £67 (18%) drop in prices year-on-year. This is followed by 68-year-olds and 70-year-olds, who now pay £312 and £316 for their car insurance respectively, on average.

However, while the price of car insurance is decreasing, some motoring costs are in fact starting to creep up as the UK eases out of lockdown. In fact, Confused.com’s fuel price index suggests that petrol and diesel prices have been on the up since the end of last year. According to the data, drivers can now expect to pay 124p for petrol, on average. This is 11p more than December 2020. Meanwhile, diesel prices have increased from 118p to 127p in the same period. With these costs increasing, drivers will no doubt be looking to making savings where they can, starting with their car insurance.

Louise O’Shea, CEO at Confused.com comments: “It’s been just over a year since we went into lockdown for the first time and this triggered a lot of changes in how we’re using our cars. And this is a change that could be here to stay for the foreseeable future, so it only seems right that our car insurance costs are cheaper to reflect this.

“What we are seeing is the biggest drop in prices in the West Midlands in more than three years. But it’s important to remember that these lower prices are only benefiting those who shop around. It’s clear from our research that automatically renewing could in fact cost you more money. Loyalty clearly doesn’t pay! But if the increase is small, or you are fortunate to see your renewal price drop, please don’t settle for this as there will be an insurer out there willing to offer a better price. At Confused.com we’re so certain of this that we’re offering to beat your renewal quote or give you the difference, plus £20.”

The flag of St George flies high and proud to celebrate the patron saint of England as the hero who slayed the dragon is marked today.

And, as he is not just the patron saint for England, people in Aragon, Catalonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Palestine, Portugal, Germany, Greece, Moscow, Istanbul, Genoa and Venice are all also marking the Day with their own acknowledging his place in their own respecteve histories. Said to have born in Cappadocia - an area which is now in Turkey, very little is actually known about St George with plenty of stories about him that are full of myth and legend.

Living during the 3rd Century, his parents were Christians and, after his father died, his mother took George to live in the Middle East, where she was originally from. He became a Roman soldier but protested against how Rome treated Christian people badly.

He was put in prison and tortured because of this, but he refused to turn away from his religious beliefs before he was eventually executed.

It is said that the Roman Emperor's wife was so impressed by how George did not give up his faith that she became a Christian too. It is also believed that she was executed in the same way George had been.

Earliest recording of the saint slaying a dragon dates around the 11th century, but only became popular knowledge in the 15th century, when it was printed in a book called The Golden Legend.

Although some people have actually campaigned for St Edmund to be the patron of England, as they believe he is more English and more suitable for the title, the country's patron saint has not been changed - as St George remains thw patron saint of Engand.

Boris Johnson said he is deeply troubled by failures to properly commemorate Black and Asian troops who died fighting for the British Empire during World War One. Some troops were commemorated collectively or their names were recorded in registers, while their white counterparts had headstones.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace apologised in the Commons after a report blamed pervasive racism. He pledged to "take action".

The prime minister offered an unreserved apology over the findings of the review by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. "Our shared duty is to honour and remember all those, wherever they lived and whatever their background, who laid down their lives for our freedoms at the moment of greatest peril," he said.

Mr Wallace expressed deep regret in the House of Commons, as he told MPs there was no doubt prejudice had played a part in what happened after WWI. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which is tasked with commemorating those who died in the two world wars, has also apologised over its findings.

Labour MP David Lammy, who was critical to bringing the matter to light, called it a "watershed moment". Mr Wallace said: "On behalf of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the government both of the time and today, I want to apologise for the failures to live up to their founding principles all those years ago and express deep regret that it has taken so long to rectify the situation. Whilst we can't change the past, we can make amends and take action."

He said there were cases where the commission "deliberately overlooked evidence" that would have allowed it to find the names of the dead. And he said there were examples of officials employing an overarching imperial ideology connected to racial and religious differences in order to divide the dead and treat them unequally in ways that were impossible in Europe.

Outlining the next steps, Mr Wallace said the Commonwealth War Graves Commission will:

•       search in the historical record for inequalities in commemoration and act on what is found

•       renew its commitment to equality in commemoration by building physical or digital commemorative structures

•       use its online presence and wider education activities to reach out to all the communities of the former British Empire touched by the two world wars to make sure their hidden history is brought to life

•       and, over the next six months, assemble a global and diverse community of experts to help make this happen

Mr Wallace also announced a public consultation over plans to waive the visa fee for service personnel from the Commonwealth and Nepal who choose to settle in the UK in order to honour their contribution.

An inquiry by the commission was set up following a 2019 Channel 4 documentary, called Unremembered, which was presented by Mr Lammy.

The report found that at least 116,000 casualties from WW1, most of whom were of African, Indian or Egyptian origin, "were not commemorated by name or possibly not commemorated at all". But that figure could be as high as 350,000, it said.

It also cited racist comments such as the governor of a British colony saying in 1923 that: "The average native... would not understand or appreciate a headstone."

Shadow justice secretary Mr Lammy said that while making the documentary in Kenya and Tanzania, he discovered mass graves in which Africans had been dumped with no commemoration whatsoever. He said it was a travesty that men who served the British Empire were not commemorated properly, but welcomed the report.

"I'm just really, really pleased that the dignity that these men deserved - who were dragged from their villages and commandeered to work for the British Empire - that dignity that they deserve in death can be granted to them," he said.

Mr Lammy added that work must be done to find their names in archives where that is possible, and to establish how local communities would like them to be commemorated.

He also said Commonwealth soldiers should not be "whitewashed" out of history books, while Mr Wallace said it was a "deep regret" that his own WW1 education had included "very little about the contribution from the Commonwealth countries and the wider at the time British Empire".

Historian Prof David Olusoga, whose TV company produced Unremembered, said that apologies were not enough and resources would need to be committed if the commission was serious about restorative justice.

"If the Commonwealth War Graves Commission had set up a committee and discovered that 100,000 white British soldiers lay in mass graves - unmarked, uncommemorated - and the documentation proved that that had been deliberate, what would they do?" he said.

Six million soldiers from the British Empire served in WW1. Between 45,000 and 54,000 Asian and African personnel who died in the conflict were "commemorated unequally", the commission said.

The report concluded that the failure to properly commemorate the individuals was influenced by a scarcity of information, errors inherited from other organisations and the opinions of colonial administrators.

"Underpinning all these decisions, however, were the entrenched prejudices, preconceptions and pervasive racism of contemporary imperial attitudes," it added.

The report picked out an example from 1923 when the governor of the Gold Coast colony, now Ghana, argued for collective memorials rather than individual ones. At a meeting in London, it was said that the governor, F G Guggisberg, said: "The average native of the Gold Coast would not understand or appreciate a headstone."

In response, commission employee Arthur Browne said: "In perhaps two or three hundred years' time, when the native population had reached a higher stage of civilisation, they might then be glad to see that headstones had been erected on the native graves and that the native soldiers had received precisely the same treatment as their white comrades." The report said Mr Browne's response showed "what he may have considered foresight, but one that was explicitly framed by contemporary racial prejudice".

The commission, which was founded in 1917 as the Imperial War Graves Commission, said the events of a century ago were wrong then and were wrong now. Its director general, Claire Horton, said: "We recognise the wrongs of the past and are deeply sorry and will be acting immediately to correct them."

As part of the commission's work to search for unnamed war dead and those who are potentially not commemorated, it will also look at those who died in World War Two, although it is not thought that inequalities seen in WW1 were as widespread then.

Ms Horton said: "The report was sober reading but gave the commission the ability - now that we know the numbers and the areas to look - to start the searches properly to right the wrongs of the past".

Seven charities from across the Midlands have been chosen by employees at Mondelēz International sites throughout the region, to receive a donation of up to £5,000.

Guide Dogs in Birmingham, Molly Olly’s Wishes in Warwick, Scope4SEN in Derbyshire, Papyrus Prevention of Young Suicide and Friends of Herefordshire Alzheimer's & Dementia Sufferers has each been granted £5,000 from The Cadbury Foundation, whilst Birmingham-based Kingfisher Foodbank and St Anne’s Hostel each received £2,500 from the Foundation, as part of Mondelēz International’s ‘Your Charity Your Choice’ scheme. 

Each year, the company’s employees are invited to nominate charities or projects close to their hearts, with the final shortlisted charities voted for by the wider work force. 

Michelle Darragh, assistant visitor services manager at Cadbury World, nominated Guide Dogs for the significant donation, as part of the attraction’s ongoing fundraising efforts for the charity. With the team seeing the support and life-changing work of the charity first-hand, Michelle’s nomination received huge backing from her colleagues at Cadbury World.

Molly Olly’s Wishes is a small charity supporting children with life-threatening or life-limiting illnesses, as well as their families. Georgia Evans, an operator at the Bournville-based factory, nominated the charity, which will use the donation to grant individual wishes and provide therapeutic toys and books to children and to hospitals across the UK.

Colleagues from the Bournville-based site also chose the charity Scope4SEN to receive a further £5,000 grant. The charity provides free telescopes and other astronomy tools and materials for special educational needs schools and hospitals throughout the country.

PAPYRUS (Prevention of Young Suicide) has also received a £5,000 contribution from The Cadbury Foundation. PAPYRUS aims to reduce the number of young people who take their own life by breaking down the stigma around suicide and equipping people with the skills to recognise and respond to suicidal behavior.

Mondelēz International’s Marlbrook-based employees chose Friends of Herefordshire Alzheimer's & Dementia Sufferers to receive the £5,000 donation. The charity provides support to people affected by dementia and Alzheimer's, as well as campaigns for change, funds and research to help find a cure. 

A further £5,000 grant was split between Kingfisher Foodbank and St Anne’s Hostel after a voting tiebreak. The Cadbury Foundation’s donation will contribute towards distributing food and essential items to those in need across the West Midlands region; meanwhile for St Anne’s Hostel, the grant will partly fund a patio area for social events for its residents when Covid-19 restrictions lift.  

The Cadbury Foundation was set up in 1935 in recognition of Richard and George Cadbury and their investment in the welfare of their employees and the local community. Across the entire ‘Your Charity Your Choice’ campaign over £95,000 has been donated to local charities close to the hearts of its colleagues.  

Kelly Farrell, community affairs manager at Mondelēz International, said: “We’re extremely proud to be able to support the charities and projects that are important to our people through our ‘Your Charity Your Choice’ scheme. We’re delighted to know that with The Cadbury Foundation’s help, all of the charities can continue to provide invaluable support to local people in need.”

The Duke of Edinburgh was laid to rest in an intimate funeral at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle yesterday. The Dean of Windsor paid tribute to Prince Philip for his kindness, humour and humanity during the ceremony.

The congregation wore masks and was socially distanced in line with Covid rules, with the Queen seated alone. The duke's children walked behind his coffin in a funeral procession, followed by a national minute's silence.

More than 730 members of the armed forces took part in the event, but there was a limit of 30 mourners inside St George's Chapel, under coronavirus rules.

Prince Philip’s coffin was carried the short distance to St George's Chapel on a modified Land Rover, which the duke himself helped to design. The funeral procession was headed by the Band of the Grenadier Guards, the Major General's party, and military service chiefs.

Princess Anne and Prince Charles made up the front row behind the vehicle, followed by Prince Edward and Prince Andrew. Prince William and Prince Harry walked either side of their cousin Peter Phillips.

The brothers sat on opposite sides of the aisle but were seen chatting together after they left the service. Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence and the Earl of Snowdon also walked behind the coffin, trailed by members of the duke's household staff.

The Queen, 94, travelled with a lady-in-waiting in the State Bentley at the end of the procession. A ceremonial gun fire at nine locations across the UK and in Gibraltar marked the start and end of the national minute's silence.

No planes landed or took off at Heathrow for six minutes to coincide with the silence and all major sporting events were rescheduled to avoid a clash with the funeral. The funeral service was conducted by the Dean of Windsor, with the Archbishop of Canterbury pronouncing the blessing.

The Dean paid tribute to Prince Philip's kindness, humour and humanity and the "many ways in which his long life has been a blessing to us".

"We have been inspired by his unwavering loyalty to our Queen, by his service to the nation and the Commonwealth, by his courage, fortitude and faith," he said. The duke's association with the Royal Navy and love of the sea was also a focus of the service but no sermon was delivered, in line with his wishes.

The music included the 1860 hymn Eternal Father, Strong to Save, by William Whiting, which is associated with seafarers and the maritime armed services. There was a reduced choir of four singers but the congregation did not sing, in line with coronavirus restrictions.

Buglers of the Royal Marines sounded Action Stations - a signal that all hands should be ready for battle - as the coffin was lowered into the Royal Vault at the end of the service.

Buckingham Palace said the funeral plans had been modified to take into account public health guidelines.

The funeral took place entirely within the grounds of the castle and the public were asked not to gather there or at other royal residences. But the ceremonial aspects of the day and the service remained in line with Prince Philip's wishes and reflected his military affiliations and personal elements of his life.

Ahead of the funeral, the Queen shared a favourite photograph of herself with her husband in Aberdeenshire. Taken by the Countess of Wessex in 2003, the picture shows the couple relaxing on a picnic rug on the grass at the Coyles of Muick beauty spot, near the Queen's private estate of Balmoral.

Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, died at Windsor Castle on Friday April 9, aged 99.

The Worshipful The Mayor of Sandwell Councillor Dr Ann Jaron has sent a letter of condolence to Her Majesty the Queen and the Royal Family on behalf of the people of Sandwell.

Cllr Jaron also observed a minute’s silence yesterday (Saturday 17 April), to coincide with the national silence marking the start of the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral service.

People were able to join in individually, in their homes, on their doorsteps or wherever they are at the time.

Flags at public buildings in the borough reverted to full mast today (Sunday 18 April).

The council’s online book of condolence will close tomorrow (Monday) morning.

Bishop Dr Desmond Jaddoo has announced that he will be standing for West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner at the forthcoming May 2021 elections.

Jaddoo, who is party leader of the newly formed We Matter Party, is a well-known campaigner for equality and social justice.

He said, “It is time for strong and responsible leadership in order to ensure that the communities are the police and the police the community.

“The people of the West Midlands are clearly seeking change and this is the beginning of it. Divisions only lead to tragedies, and we need to stop pointing fingers and work together to seek solutions.”

He added, “There is no space in public safety for political spin or rhetoric.”

The elections will take place on Thursday May 6 with votes being counted in Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell, Coventry, Solihull and Walsall.

The We Matter Party will be announcing a date for a formal launch of the Party Leader’s election campaign.

The Duke of Edinburgh's funeral will be a profound chance for the Queen to say farewell to her husband of 73 years, the Archbishop of Canterbury has said.

Justin Welby said "She will behave with the extraordinary dignity, extraordinary courage that she always does." At the ceremony, there will only be 30 mourners in line with coronavirus restrictions.

Buckingham Palace said the Queen had faced some very difficult decisions in selecting the mourners from the 800-strong congregation originally planned, and she wanted all branches of her husband's family to be represented.

Mr Welby said many people had seen family members die in the Covid pandemic this year and the funeral service would resonate very deeply for a lot of people. He said: "I think there will be tears in many homes because other names will be on their minds, faces they've lost that they don't see again, funerals they couldn't go to as many haven't been able to go to this one because it is limited to 30 in the congregation. That will break many a heart."

Mr Welby said he expected the Queen at the service to behave with the extraordinary dignity, extraordinary courage that she always does. He added: "And at the same time she is saying farewell to someone to whom she was married for 73 years.

“I think that must be a very, very profound thing... in anybody's life." The archbishop, who will pronounce the blessing at the funeral service, suggested that people of faith could pray for the Queen, or alternatively sympathise and in their hearts offer their condolences to her and the hope for her to find strength in what must be an anguished moment.

The Earl and Countess of Wessex and their daughter Lady Louise Windsor viewed flowers and cards left in memory of Prince Philip at Windsor Castle. Earlier, the head of the UK's armed forces said the funeral will have the duke's "fingerprints all over it, reflecting his wide interests and his attention to detail." Gen Sir Nick Carter, chief of defence staff, said: "It's obviously been slightly affected by Covid, but nonetheless it will reflect military precision."

Sir Nick also hailed the extraordinary war record of Prince Philip - who served in the Royal Navy in World War Two - and the dozens of different military decorations and awards he had. "I think people will realise that this is a life worth looking into and I think they will be surprised by what he achieved and what he did in his 99 years," he said.

The Queen decided that there will be no military uniforms worn by members of the Royal Family, and those attending will instead wear morning coats with medals, or day dress.

Her Majesty The Queen thanked people around the world for their kindness and support following the death of her husband Prince Philip, ahead of his funeral.

The Queen sent a message to well-wishers who offered messages of condolence and tributes following the death of the Duke of Edinburgh.

A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace said that The monarch, 94, and her family were said to be grateful for the kindness and support shown by people from around the world and were touched by the tributes.

"Her Majesty and the Royal Family are grateful for all the messages of condolence from around the world and have been touched to see and hear so many people sharing fond memories of the Duke in celebration of his life,” the spokesperson said.

"The tributes received from young and old are truly a testament to the remarkable life and lasting endeavours of His Royal Highness." At the ceremonial service, The Queen will sit by herself and wear a face mask throughout. Princes William and Harry will not walk shoulder to shoulder during an eight-minute procession before the funeral.

Buckingham Palace went on to say: “The Queen faced some very difficult decisions as she selected the 30 guests permitted under Covid-19 rules, from the original 800-strong congregation, and had tried to ensure all branches of the duke’s family were there.

The Countess – Penelope ‘Penny’ Knatchbull, previously known as Lady Romsey and later Lady Brabourne – will join the Queen and the duke’s four children and eight grandchildren, as well as their respective spouses, at the service in St George’s Chapel. Countess Mountbatten is the wife of Earl Mountbatten, Norton Knatchbull – the grandson of Philip’s beloved uncle the 1st Earl Mountbatten, who was murdered by the IRA in 1979.

Three German relatives – whose ancestors were denied a place at Princess Elizabeth and Philip’s wedding because of anti-German feeling after the second war – have been included.

They are Bernhard, Hereditary Prince of Baden; Prince Donatus, Landgrave of Hesse; and Prince Philipp of Hohenlohe-Langenburg.

Downing Street has revealed how Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to observe and mark the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral.

It comes as the Archbishop of Canterbury says he hopes the nation would offer their prayers and condolences to the Queen during the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral, rather than speculate on her wellbeing.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson left a wreath for the Duke of Edinburgh and said that the nation owes more than words can say. A handwritten message was placed with the PM's tribute outside St George's Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle. It read: 'In grateful memory of a man to whom the nation owes more than words can say.

'Sent on behalf of the nation. ‘From the Prime Minister'.

Mr Johnson will watch Prince Philip's funeral from his Chequers country residence, after indicating that he will not attend in person to allow more space for family.  Mr Johnson left London to relax at the 16th century Buckinghamshire mansion, complete with a tennis court and indoor heated swimming pool. The Prime Minister turned down an invitation to Prince Philip's funeral at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle to allow more members of the Royal Family to attend.

The ceremonial funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh will see his coffin being transported to Windsor Castle chapel by a bespoke Land Rover Defender TD5 130, partially designed by the prince himself.

The specially-built hearse was in the works at Land Rover’s factory, in Solihull, in the West Midlands, since 2003, when the duke first approached Jaguar Land Rover with the idea. The vehicle is now ready to fulfil its intended function – albeit with the pandemic having altered original plans for the hearse to be driven to the castle from London.

The Defender has always been designed for functionality - from conflict zones to humanitarian disasters, far-flung research projects to domestic farmsteads. Because it was designed to operate in all terrains and all weathers, the SUV has come to represent a vision of an industrious, intrepid Britain.

Commentators believe it symbolises Prince Philip’s passion for engineering and practicality – but it’s also a vehicle that belongs to the same era, possessing something of the same aura, as the departing duke.

The duke saw to it that his funeral hearse would bear several features of his own choosing. Most significantly, he reportedly designed the Defender’s open top rear section, including the rubber and silver fittings that will secure his coffin on its journey to St George’s Chapel.

The military also feature. On the duke’s behest, the livery has been changed from the original Belize Green to Dark Bronze Green – the shade of green used by the military. Other details, such as the matching green hubs and black front grille, give the Defender a further stripped-back, martial quality.

The last royal funeral was held for the Queen Mother back in 2002, during which a more familiar horse-drawn hearse transported her coffin. So the duke’s funeral will certainly be distinctive, swapping hooves for off-road tyres, and mourning black for military green.

In a follow up to their History, Heritage and Identity Symposium series launched in the autumn of 2020, three churches in the United Kingdom with predominantly large, black congregations, are staging another public conversation, this time interrogating the present-day health and wellbeing of people of Caribbean descent living in the UK.

“As pastors and counselors in our churches, we are acquainted with the stories of hurt and pain faced by many our congregants, who feel disadvantaged and disenfranchised from the best of the health care system because of perceived stigma and racial bias”, asserts Bishop Tedroy Powell, who presides over the Church of God of Prophecy, UK.

“This is not an anachronism, it is present day reality for not just our members on record, but for so many people of colour in the African Caribbean Diaspora, who still feel disadvantaged in a proclaimed multiracial society”, maintains Bishop Powell, who leads the planning for the virtual Symposium being staged in collaboration with the University of the West Indies and scheduled for April 22 at 5pm GMT.

The UWI, ranked by Times Higher Education as among the Top 20 best universities in Latin America and the Caribbean, will present research data and perspectives from its Caribbean Institute for Health Research (CAIHR) on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and their prevalence and impact on the people of the Caribbean and its Diaspora.

CAIHR is the largest research entity in The University of the West Indies (UWI), with roots dating back to the 1950s when the UK’s Medical Research Council (MRC) commissioned pioneering research in severely malnourished children in the Caribbean. Today, CAIHR is the focal point of The UWI’s growing strength in health research innovation and interventions in nutrition, child development, chronic lifestyle diseases and sickle cell disease.

Professor, Sir Hilary Beckles, the Vice Chancellor of the UWI is confirmed to deliver another riveting dissertation on the unique ‘burden of disease’ borne by Caribbean people and their descendants, to be followed by a star panel of medical experts from the UK and the Caribbean Institute for Health Research, who will provide scientific perspectives and insights to guide how they overcome persistent health challenges.

Event Details

The media and general public are invited to attend this virtual symposium:

When: Thursday April 22, 2021          

Time: 5:00 pm GMT, 11:00 am Jamaica time.

Where: Streamed online via YouTube:  https://www.14dd5266c70789bdc806364df4586335-gdprlock/embed/wJfk6KiAeNU

REGISTER for the event at this link: https://bit.ly/3cy5HSc            

ABOUT THE HISTORY, HERITAGE AND IDENTITY SYMPOSIUM SERIES:

The History, Heritage and Identity Symposium series was initiated by the Church of God of Prophecy (UK), The New Testament Church of God and The New Testament Assembly in 2020 out of Christian conviction, and a transformative vision aimed at empowering people of African Caribbean descent and ancestry to be confident in their cultural heritage, and to lead fulfilling lives in the United Kingdom. These public symposia are therefore designed to construct the “intellectual infrastructure for a high-quality conversation” on the following touchpoints:

·         Education for Transformation

·         Race Relations and Social Justice Advocacy

·         Health and Wellness through Research and Knowledge Sharing

·         UK-Caribbean Trade and Business in the Post-Brexit Environment.

The central and local Government of the United Kingdom, companies and organisations in the Private, Public and NGO sectors, as well as individuals are welcomed to partner with this effort to build bridges of understanding and harmony in British society.

Five vehicles have been impounded in Hornsey and Wood Green for Blue Badge fraud following a joint operation by Haringey Council and the police.

One badge was being used by an individual even though the actual badge holder is deceased whilst four further stolen badges were identified. In addition, a fake Blue Badge and one that was lost were also picked up in the sweep that took place last week across various streets in the area. 

All those caught received a £130 penalty whilst those whose cars were impounded received a further £200 fine. Blue Badges offer a permit for those with mobility problems or hidden disabilities, allowing them to park closer to their destinations. 

Haringey Council, in London, works hard to ensure those that are entitled to a badge receive one, but it is also determined to crack down on Blue Badge fraud.

A Haringey Council spokesperson said: “We will not tolerate the misuse or fraudulent use of Blue Badges. Doing this makes it more difficult for those that are not able bodied to park as it takes up their spaces.

“If you are aware of anyone using a Blue Badge who should not, please contact the council.”

Anyone who has had their Blue Badge stolen is exempt from parking restrictions for three weeks whilst they wait for a replacement badge. This exemption is applied automatically once the council is made aware of a replacement badge application.