News
UK to get four day holiday for Queen’s Jubilee as Buckingham Palace unveils huge programme of events
From a national baking contest to a four-day bank holiday, there’s a lot planned for the celebrations…
The programme of events for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations have officially been released by Buckingham Palace.
In June last year, the Palace announced that Queen Elizabeth II, ninety-five, will be hosting four-days worth of celebrations to mark her seventieth year on the throne in June 2022.
Details surrounding the celebrations were initially kept under wraps, though the Palace did confirm that Brits will be treated to a four-day bank holiday across the usual May Bank Holiday, saying the extra days off will ‘provide an opportunity for communities and people to come together and celebrate the historic milestone’.
But now, nearly half a year on from the initial announcement, the finer details surrounding the historic occasion have been unveiled.
Celebrations actually began this week, with Fortnum and Mason launching its Platinum Pudding Competition – a contest to find a dish worthy of the Queen’s 70th year on the throne, with the likes of baking royalty Dame Mary Berry on the judging panel.
And then, between May 12th-15th, the ‘spectacular’ equestrian display A Gallop Through History will showcase horses from across the globe in a ‘personal tribute to our monarchy’.
The show is said to feature more than 500 horses and over a thousand dancers and musicians taking the audience on a journey from Elizabeth I to the Queen.
And on the same day, the UK – along with the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands and its Overseas Territories – will all light a beacon at the same time as one at Buckingham Palace, while a service of Thanksgiving will be held in the grand surrounds of St Paul’s Cathedral the following day.
On June 4th, there will be a celebrity-packed Party At The Palace – those lined up to perform at the show have not yet been named, but it has been hinted that some of the biggest stars in the world will be in attendance.
Defence Images / Flickr
Nations from across the Commonwealth and other parts of the globe are also expected to be involved in the show, such as Oman, India, the Caribbean, Canada, France and Norway.
On Sunday June 5th, the British public will be able to come together for the Big Jubilee Lunch, marking the final day of the bank holiday period (it starts on Thursday June 2nd). Balmoral and Sandringham – which are usually closed off to the public – will also be opened to local residents for the long weekend.
The Platinum Jubilee Pageant will then see volunteers, dancers, musicians, military personnel and key workers tell the story of the Queen’s seventy years on the throne with a parade made up of 200 silk flags.
School children will also be getting involved with the festivities with a nationwide drawing competition; kids across the country have been asked to create a picture for how they would like the planet to look over the next seventy years, with the best ones being put on to the flags.
Sir Mike Rake, chairman of the Platinum Jubilee’s advisory board, said: “After seventy years on the throne and particularly poignantly after the dark and troubling times in the last eighteen months, Her Majesty’s leadership, steadiness and unwavering devotion during her reign deserve recognition and celebration.
“In 2022 Her Majesty the Queen will have guided the nation through several decades of change, growth and advancement, like none before them – in times of triumph and also in times of trouble.
“In an age of advancement and adversary, the Queen has remained a constant, committed and courageous presence, therefore we have worthwhile and timely celebration.”
The Platinum Jubilee Line Up in Full
May 12th-15th: Performances in Windsor Castle
June 2nd: Bank holiday begins with a Trooping The Colour and lighting of beacons
June 3rd: Thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral
June 4th: Celebrity Party At The Palace outside Buckingham Palace
June 5th: Big Jubilee Lunch and Jubilee Pageant
July: Performances charting the stories of the Queen’s coronation and jubilees
The May Bank Holiday – which usually falls at the end of the month – will be moved to Thursday June 2nd, while an extra Bank Holiday will be added on Friday June 3rd, making it a four-day weekend.
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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