News
Family pay tribute to pregnant mum with ‘heart of gold’ who died in M66 crash
‘She was the most amazing person, she had a heart of gold’
A family member has paid tribute to a pregnant mother with a ‘heart of gold’ who tragically died in a crash on the M66.
Frankie Julia Hough, from Chadderton in Oldham, was driving southbound on the motorway, near Bury, at the time of the crash at around 3.10pm on Saturday, May 13th.
She was in the car with her two young sons, nine-year-old Tommy, two-year-old Rocky, and her four-year-old nephew Tobias. The pregnant mum, 38, tragically died as a result of her injuries in hospital yesterday.
Her son, Tommy and nephew, Tobias are still in hospital in induced comas. Rocky suffered minor injuries and is being cared for at home by loved ones.
A family member has described Frankie as being a ‘shining light’ and ‘fierce mother’ with ‘a heart of gold’.
She leaves behind her two boys and her partner Calvin, as well as her parents Julia and Frank, sister Becci Welby, brother-in-law Arron Welby, and many more loved ones.
Frankie had found out she was expecting a baby girl and had only just celebrated with a baby shower the week before she died.
Paying tribute to her on behalf of her family, her brother-in-law, Arron told the Manchester Evening News: “She was the most amazing person, she had a heart of gold. She was a dedicated, fierce mother and she was a fighter for her kids.
“She was the best auntie. She was a shining light, she would protect her kids with everything she had.”
He added: “She was pregnant and was only just celebrating the week before with a baby shower when she found out she was having a little girl. It’s just so sad.”
Arron said Frankie would now be ‘shining down’ on her son and nephew as they continue to fight in hospital and his son Tobias — Frankie’s nephew — has been a ‘little warrior’.
He continued: “We don’t know what the outcome is going to be when he wakes up, we know he has had a head trauma. We’re hoping there will be no detriment to his long-term health, he is being a strong boy.
Tommy is believed to be also ‘making good progress’ but is still in an induced coma. His dad is by his bedside.
Arron added: “We’re just going day-by-day and bit-by-bit and want our boys back. It’s good if people pray and it gets us through, we want that power and positivity.
“We know she’s [Frankie] shining down on them now and bringing them through and showing us that she’s there and helping. She was just so strong-minded, if anyone was to go she would have picked herself.
“We’ll carry her legacy on. We now need to bring our boys through.”
Frankie’s family thanked the first responders on the scene who were ‘amazing and professional’. They also thanked the teams at Manchester Royal Infirmary who are caring for the boys and at Royal Preston Hospital who cared for Frankie.
A GoFundMe page has been set up for the family, with more than £40,000 raised so far. To donate, click here.
Adil Iqbal, 22, of Hope Street, Accrington, has been charged with one count of causing death by dangerous driving and two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
He appeared in court yesterday (May 15th) wearing a grey tracksuit and spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address.
News
Oasis announce huge reunion tour as Liam and Noel Gallagher ‘make peace’
The news we’ve all been waiting for!
After years of will-they-won’t-they speculation, Oasis are officially BACK together for a reunion tour.
The Gallagher brothers have put aside their differences in the name of music, making thousands of fans extremely happy in the process.
The band teased the news on their socials over the weekend, posting a video on Sunday morning with today’s date (Tuesday, August 27th) and the time 8am.
And now shows have been announced for multiple dates in the UK and Ireland, with tickets going live this Saturday, August 31st.
The legendary Mancunian rockers will take to the stage next summer, with gigs in Cardiff, London, Edinburgh, Dublin and, of course, Manchester.
15 years after splitting, the band confirmed they would be back for 14 shows, saying: “The guns have fallen silent. The stars have aligned. The great wait is over. Come see. It will not be televised”.
The gigs will be Oasis’s ‘only shows in Europe next year’, with tickets on sale this Saturday at 8am in Ireland and 9am in the UK.
The Oasis 2025 tour dates in full:
July
4th – Cardiff, Principality Stadium
5th – Cardiff, Principality Stadium
11th – Manchester, Heaton Park
12th – Manchester, Heaton Park
19th – Manchester, Heaton Park
20th – Manchester, Heaton Park
25th – London, Wembley Stadium
26th – London, Wembley Stadium
August
2nd – London, Wembley Stadium
3rd – London, Wembley Stadium
8th – Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium
9th – Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium
16th – Dublin, Croke Park
17th – Dublin, Croke Park
You can grab your tickets HERE.
News
Stagecoach hiring over 100 new bus drivers for Bee Network with £31k salaries
Fancy a career change?
Stagecoach Manchester is hiring over 100 new bus drivers to work from its Oldham depot, following the second phase of the Bee Network launch in March.
You can apply for a range of roles, from positions with no experience required to fully qualified bus drivers.
Successful applicants will receive full training as part of the job, and trainees will get paid to train. Then after only 12 months’ service at Stagecoach, drivers can expect to earn up to £16 per hour, which equates to £31.6K per year, before overtime.
As well as that, drivers that already hold a PCV licence may be eligible to receive a £1,200 joining bonus.
Stagecoach
There’s also a host of other benefits available to all Stagecoach employees, like 28 days paid holiday, generous pension and free Stagecoach bus travel for successful applicants and a companion.
Rob Jones, Managing Director at Stagecoach Manchester said: “Expanding our offering in Oldham means we’ll be investing more in the economy and supporting our local community, as well as strengthening our workforce.
“Whether you’re looking for a career change or you’re a fully qualified, experienced bus driver, there’s a role for everyone here in Oldham.
“We’re looking for personable and dedicated drivers who are ready to help us build on the success of the Bee Network and connect the people of Oldham and Greater Manchester with the places and people that are important to them.”
Stagecoach
Phil Cornwall, bus driver at Stagecoach Manchester, said: “I’ve been a driver at Stagecoach for 25 years and I couldn’t recommend it more.
“From the perks to the people to the passengers, it really is a great place to work.”
To apply, head to the Stagecoach website HERE.
Two men have now been charged with murder, following the discovery of a human torso in Kersal Dale.
As well as that, more suspected human remains were also discovered this morning, Monday April 29th, in an alleyway close to the railway lines off Worsley Road, Eccles.
This follows earlier discoveries of human remains over the past three weeks, at Kersal Dale, Blackleach Reservoir and Colliery Wood, all in Salford.
Greater Manchester Police
Michal Jaroslaw Polchowski (25/04/1956) and Marcin Majerkiewicz (10/04/1982) both of Worsley Road, Eccles, have been charged with murder.
They are set to appear at Tameside Magistrates Court this afternoon.
While formal identification is still ongoing, the remains found at Kersal Dale are believed to be of a local man in his 60s. The remains found at the other three locations are still to be tested, but police are confident they belong to the same victim.
ACC Sarah Jackson said: “We have had large numbers of officers, staff and specialists working diligently on this investigation over the last three weeks. It has been very much a large, collective effort, with the victim and family at the heart of it from the outset.
“We have specially trained officers deployed to support the family as they come to terms with this tragic news. They are aware of this morning’s further discovery and will continue to be kept up to date with how we are progressing.
“Despite the charges brought today, our work is far from over.
“The scenes we already have established in Bury and Salford will remain in place for much of this week whilst our searches and enquiries continue. Local officers will continue to patrol the impacted areas to provide reassurance.
“We will continue following every line of enquiry to recover and reunite the victim with his family, bringing a dignified end to this terrible scenario.
“I’d like to thank the communities of Salford and beyond for their cooperation throughout this investigation. I know this incident has come as a shock, and the support we’ve had from those in the area is very much appreciated.”
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