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Apr 4 2024

Cardiff wartime hero honoured 83 years after saving iconic city centre building | UK News

A wartime hero has been honoured on his 100th birthday.

Ronald Brignall was 16 years old when he saved Cardiff City Hall from destruction during World War Two.

He carried a sandbag between his teeth, with another under his arm, while he scaled a drainpipe to douse the flames.

Mr Brignall climbed back up the pipe with a fire hose, also gripped between his teeth, to finish the job.

At the time, he was studying a plumbing qualification at college.

He was walking home when he saw an incendiary bomb land on the roof of City Hall.

He told his local paper at the time that his jaw was sore from carrying the sandbag and that he had ruined his suit.

Speaking ahead of his honour, Mr Brignall said he “didn’t have any fear” and that he “just wanted to make sure the bomb didn’t do any damage to City Hall”.

He later became an official fire-watcher to help keep Cardiff safe during the war, and then joined the RAF in 1944.

Cardiff mayor Bablin Molik visited Mr Brignall in the Sussex care home where he now lives to present him with a special certificate.

Mr Brignall’s son Ian said his father was “thrilled to have this recognition”.

“It’s a perfect present on his birthday,” he added.

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Ms Molik said the “best part” of her work was to meet “remarkable people”.

“I know this is a rather belated honour but it is no less heartfelt and I assured Mr Brignall and his family that the whole of Cardiff expresses its gratitude for the heroics he performed on that day in 1941,” she added.

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Dec 12 2023

Lissie Harper: Police officer’s widow honoured alongside famous faces after law change campaign | UK News

The widow of a police officer who was killed in the line of duty has been made an MBE, after campaigning for tougher laws in his memory.

Lissie Harper’s husband, Andrew Harper, a Thames Valley Police officer, died after getting caught in a strap attached to the back of a car and being dragged down a winding country road in Berkshire in 2019.

The couple had been married for just four weeks.

Mrs Harper successfully campaigned for Harper’s Law – which introduced mandatory life sentences for anyone who commits the manslaughter of an emergency worker while they are on duty.

She began to push for a change in the law when the three teenagers found guilty of her husband’s manslaughter were jailed for a total of 42 years after they were all acquitted of murder.

Henry Long, 19, was sentenced to 16 years and Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, both 18, were handed 13 years in custody over PC Harper’s death.

Mrs Harper’s MBE recognises her services to victims of violent crime and their families.

Harper’s Law came into effect last June and applies to police and prison officers, as well as firefighters and paramedics.

Celebrities honoured at same Windsor Castle event

Actress Vicky McClure, best known for playing Detective Inspector Kate Fleming in the BBC series Line Of Duty, was also made an MBE for her services to drama and charity at the same Windsor Castle ceremony where Mrs Harper was honoured.

The Bafta-winning actress, 40, has been an ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society since 2018 and has raised awareness around the disease through her creation of Our Dementia Choir.

Conservative MP Michael Fabricant became a knight after being named on former prime minister Boris Johnson’s resignation honours lists.

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Fallon Sherrock, who became the first woman to win a match at the PDC World Darts Championship in 2019, was also made an MBE.

Northern Ireland footballer Jonny Evans, former England women’s rugby union captain Sarah Hunter, former England women’s footballer Eni Aluko, and former boxer Johnny Nelson were also awarded MBEs.

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Sep 27 2023

Convicted murderer who helped stop London terror attack among those honoured by Princess Anne | UK News

A convicted murderer who helped tackle a terrorist in London was among those honoured at a Windsor Castle ceremony.

Princess Anne awarded Steven Gallant the Queen’s Gallantry Medal for his actions during the Fishmongers’ Hall attack in November 2019.

He was one of four men who confronted Usman Khan – who had knives taped to his hands and a fake suicide belt.

Khan killed Cambridge graduates Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23, at an offender rehabilitation event before fleeing on to London Bridge and injuring others.

Kitchen porter Lukasz Koczocik used a ceremonial spear to fight Khan, communications manager Darryn Frost jabbed him with a narwhal tusk, while another ex-prisoner John Crilly hosed him with a fire extinguisher.

Gallant tackled Khan to the ground and helped restrain him with the others despite not knowing if the suicide belt was real.

Armed police eventually arrived and shot him dead.

Gallant was one of two men convicted of killing Barrie Jackson in Hull in 2005 and was out on licence for the first time when the attack happened.

All four men who intervened have been awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal for their actions – but Mr Crilly couldn’t attend and will collect his award another time.

This year’s Civilian Gallantry List is the last to be approved by the late Queen.

Mr Koczocik, who was stabbed by the terrorist, said getting the medal was an “amazing honour” and had given him “closure”.

Among others honoured at Tuesday’s ceremony were Jacob Rees-Mogg and former home secretary Priti Patel, awarded a knighthood and a damehood respectively, after being named on Boris Johnson’s resignation honours list.

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After receiving his knighthood, Sir Jacob praised Mr Johnson’s “great leadership” during the pandemic and also paid tribute to Princess Anne’s “model of public service and duty”.

Dame Priti said her damehood was an “absolute honour and privilege”.

“I will never forget my time as home secretary, working alongside people who, day in day out, also gave so much to our country and particularly those on the front lines,” she said.

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Mar 18 2023

Murderer who confronted Fishmongers’ Hall terror attacker honoured in Queen Elizabeth’s final bravery awards | UK News

A convicted murderer who tackled a terrorist during the 2019 London Bridge attack is among those being awarded for their bravery.

Steven Gallant confronted terrorist Usman Khan as he carried out his attack at a prison education conference at Fishmongers’ Hall.

The attack occurred while Mr Gallant was on licence from prison after being one of two men convicted of killing Barrie Jackson in Hull in 2005.

Khan murdered Cambridge graduates Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23, and injured three other people before running on to London Bridge.

Another former prisoner, John Crilly, hosed Khan with a fire extinguisher before communications manager, Darryn Frost, jabbed him with a narwhal tusk, sending him off balance.

This came after a fourth man, Lukasz Koczocik, used a ceremonial long pike taken from the walls of Grade II listed Fishmongers’ Hall to disarm the terrorist.

Mr Gallant, Mr Crilly, Mr Frost and Mr Koczocik all feature on this year’s Civilian Gallantry list, the last to be approved by the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Prison officer Adam Roberts, who escorted Mr Gallant to the event on day release, also features on the list, having given first aid to Ms Jones after she was stabbed.

Read more:
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Man who fought off terrorist says authorities have ‘blood on their hands’

Mr Roberts said that it was “really important” for everybody that contributed to be recognised in some way.

He said: “I feel sort of mixed, it’s very difficult to celebrate when it’s for something that had an outcome that was so bad.

“It finished with Saskia literally dying in front of me as we tried to keep her alive, so it’s really difficult to celebrate at all when my thoughts are with her.”

Also on the list is John Rees who was killed as he attempted to stop a mentally ill woman carrying out a knife attack in a Co-op shop in May 2020.

The 88-year-old was stabbed and bludgeoned with two wine bottles and a fire extinguisher during the attack in South Wales.

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Oliver Dowden, said they were all “extremely worthy winners”.

He said: “We all hope we’d react with courage in the face of danger. These people have lived through that test, and responded in the most admirable way.

“Their selfless actions have saved lives, and I want to express profound thanks for their willingness to put themselves in danger to protect others.”

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Mar 7 2023

‘Reach for the stars’: British scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock honoured with her own Barbie doll | Science & Tech News

A British scientist known for her work with the largest space telescope ever made has been honoured with her own Barbie doll.

Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock has been immortalised as a one-of-a-kind plastic toy in her likeness in recognition of her achievements making space and science accessible to girls.

The 54-year-old, recently appointed chancellor of the University of Leicester, is a former British Science Association president and the first black woman to win gold at the Physics News Awards.

She is best known for presenting the BBC’s The Sky At Night.

Her doll, made by toy firm Mattel, wears an appropriately starry dress and comes with a telescope accessory – referencing her work with the James Webb Space Telescope.

The telescope – a successor to the Hubble – was a joint venture between various space agencies and scientists, and launched into space in December 2021.

Dr Aderin-Pocock was gifted the Barbie to mark International Women’s Day and British Science Week.

“Since falling in love with the idea of space travel as a young girl, I have spent my career trying to show girls how fascinating space science can be,” she said.

“I want to inspire the next generation of scientists, and especially girls, and let them know that Stem (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) is for them.”

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Dr Aderin-Pocock’s Barbie, which is not going on sale, is one of seven custom dolls Mattel has created to celebrate women blazing trails in the Stem subjects.

The others include YouTube boss Susan Wojcicki and German marine researcher Dr Antje Boetius.

Dr Aderin-Pocock hopes the expanded range of Barbie dolls will help “smash stereotypes”.

“When I was little, Barbie didn’t look like me, so to have one created in my likeness is mind-boggling,” she said.

“It’s such an honour to receive this doll that is celebrating my achievements… My daughter and I danced around the living room when we heard!”

She added: “I hope my doll will remind girls that, when you reach for the stars, anything is possible.”

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Sep 11 2022

Prince William has told Mark Drakeford he is ‘honoured’ to be the new Prince of Wales | UK News

Prince William has said he is “honoured” to be the new Prince of Wales during a phone call with the nation’s first minister.

Speaking to Mark Drakeford for the first time since the Queen’s death, the Prince noted his “deep affection” for Wales and vowed to spend the “months and years ahead” committed to the country’s communities.

Before his grandmother’s death, William held the title of the Duke of Cambridge, but was handed the titles previously held by his father after he became King Charles III.

Ceremonies held to proclaim King Charles across UK – latest updates

This makes him the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cornwall and Cambridge, while his wife Catherine is now the Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge.

A statement issued by Kensington Palace following the Prince’s conversation with Mr Drakeford said: “The Prince acknowledged his and the Princess’s deep affection for Wales, having made their first family home in Anglesey, including during the earliest months of Prince George’s life.

“The Prince and Princess will spend the months and years ahead deepening their relationship with communities across
Wales.

“They want to do their part to support the aspirations of the Welsh people and to shine a spotlight on both the challenges
and opportunities in front of them.”

Queen’s coffin leaves Balmoral

The conversation was held as the Queen’s coffin started its journey from Balmoral to Edinburgh.

Draped with the Royal Standard of Scotland, the coffin is travelling from the royal castle, through the Aberdeenshire countryside, to the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

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Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and other party leaders in Scotland are expected to observe the coffin as it makes its way past the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh.

After arriving at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, it will rest in the throne room until Monday afternoon, when it will be moved to St Giles’ Cathedral.

There it will lie for 24 hours, so the public can pay their respects.

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