A library book has been returned 84 years late by the grandson of the man who took it out.
The copy of Red Deer by Richard Jeffries was borrowed from the Earlsdon Carnegie Community Library in Coventry back in 1938 by Captain William Humphries who took the nature book out for his daughter Anne.
It remained on the shelves of his home until he died in 1957 but went unnoticed.
Anne also recently die, but the book still went undiscovered until Paddy Riordan found it when he was going through his grandfather’s belongings.
Mr Riordan took it back to the library, along with the fine of £18.27, or one old penny week. At today’s level of 25p a day the total fine would have been £7,673. Copies of the book are for sale on Amazon for less than £4.
The book had been taken out just eight times before Captain Humphries borrowed it.
A notice on the books front page kindly asks borrowers to return the books as soon as they’ve finished with them, even if it is before the deadline.
It reads: “Books may be retained for 14 days. it is requested, however, that, with a view to the convenience of borrowers generally, all books be returned at once when done with, although the 14 days may not have expired. For detention beyond 14 days fines will be charged as provided in the Regulations: for each week (or portion of a week) One Penny.”
A staff member posted on Facebook: “Here’s something you don’t see every day . . . a copy of Red Deer by Richard Jefferies has been returned to us – a mere 84 years and two weeks overdue!
“Paddy returned the book to us from his grandfather’s collection and kindly donated the fine calculated at the then rate of 1d per week, totalling £18.27 in today’s money.
“How wonderful the book has finally made its way home.”
Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak held talks late into the night, Sky News understands.
Reports suggest Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak’s talks focused on a potential joint ticket.
The discussion has fuelled speculation the pair could strike a deal – though neither the former prime minister nor the ex-chancellor have officially declared themselves in the race to succeed Liz Truss.
Race to be PM heats up – follow the latest updates
Image: The expected timeline of events in electing a new PM
To be included on the ballot paper, leadership candidates need support from at least 100 Conservative MPs.
Public endorsements mean Mr Sunak has surpassed this threshold – with 121 backers – and Mr Johnson’s allies claim he has the numbers required to run too.
However, the latest Sky News tally suggests just 56 MPs have confirmed they would support Mr Johnson’s campaign to be prime minister for the second time.
One of Mr Sunak’s supporters – Richard Holden – rejected claims that Mr Johnson had 100 MPs behind him, and said this number of public endorsements had not been made “because they don’t exist”.
The only person who has thrown their hat into the ring, Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt, has received endorsements from 23 of her peers.
The current contest has been expedited following Liz Truss’s resignation as prime minister, and nominations for the ballot paper are due to close at 2pm tomorrow afternoon.
Read more: Who are Tory MPs backing to be the next prime minister? MPs who applauded Johnson’s departure now urge #BringBackBoris Analysis: Johnson dominates talk, but a win won’t be easy
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
0:52
‘I can’t have a liar in parliament’
The talks come after Mr Johnson jetted back to the UK from his holiday in the Dominican Republic in economy class – with some fellow passengers booing him as he boarded.
If all three candidates were to receive 100 backers, there would be a vote by MPs – with the winning two put forward to the party membership.
A vote would then take place, meaning the new leader would be chosen by Friday.
In a significant moment for Team Sunak, Kemi Badenoch threw her support behind the former chancellor after a string of big names had flocked to Mr Johnson.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
1:18
What would it take to force a general election?
While she admitted that she had been a member of “the Boris Johnson fan club”, she warned the Tories are not “organising a popularity contest” – and the party is “not a vehicle for any one individual’s personal ambitions”.
Writing in The Sunday Times, Ms Badenoch said of her decision to endorse Mr Sunak: “Like any work colleagues, we had our disagreements, which I elaborated on when we were competitors in the same contest.
“Now it is imperative that I let people know the decisions he made that I knew were absolutely right.”
She also spoke of his attention to inflation and reining in of “unnecessary, wasteful spending”.
Former foreign secretary Dominic Raab said it is “difficult to see” how Mr Johnson could become prime minister again when he is “absorbed and distracted” by the issues surrounding partygate.
Speaking to Sky News, Mr Raab said he was “confident” Mr Sunak would run in the Tory leadership race and was the “standout candidate” among the field.
‘Voters must get a say’
Meanwhile, opposition parties continue to call for an immediate general election amid the ongoing turmoil within the Tory Party.
The SNP’s leader in Westminster, Ian Blackford, today wrote to Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer, urging him to work together to bring forward a vote of no confidence in the government and force a general election – though they would need support from some Tory MPs to win it.
Mr Blackford said: “The Tories have taken a wrecking ball to the UK economy and made families suffer – as mortgage rates rise, pensions fall, and soaring inflation pushes up household bills.
“Having done so much damage, they simply cannot be allowed to impose a third Tory prime minister without an election. It would be unthinkable and undemocratic. Voters must get a say.”
To register your interest in joining the audience please email TheGreatDebate@sky.uk
The Queen’s lying in state has entered its first full day, with mourners braving lengthy queues for the chance to file past the late monarch’s coffin.
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to walk through the ancient hall of Westminster Palace after the doors opened to the public at 5pm on Wednesday.
It will stay open for four full days until 6.30am on Monday – the day of her funeral.
Queen lies in state as guard faints – latest news
There are predictions the line could stretch for up to 10 miles with waits of up to 30 hours to get into Westminster Hall.
However, as of 5am on Thursday it was 2.1 miles long – stretching to Southwark Bridge.
Sky News reporter Olive Enokido-Lineham waited six hours to enter the palace, suggesting wait times are much shorter than initially feared.
Police officers, volunteers, and stewards are managing the queue, while toilets and water fountains are being provided at various points along the route.
People waiting in line are being given a coloured and numbered wristband to prevent any queue jumping, and to allow them to leave for short periods, such as to get food.
Watch the Queen lying in state
Rehearsals for funeral take place overnight as King takes day for reflection
Rehearsals have been taking place overnight for the Queen’s funeral.
Members of the military could be seen in Westminster carrying a stand-in coffin, ahead of Monday’s state funeral.
Image: An early morning rehearsal for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth
King Charles has returned to his Highgrove home in Gloucestershire. He will have a private day of reflection and is not expected to attend any public events.
In the detailed planning for the aftermath of the Queen’s death – known as Operation London Bridge – a day was set aside at this point for the new monarch to have some time away from public duties.
The period will allow the King to pause, but it is understood he will be working in preparation for his new role and will already be receiving his red boxes of state papers.
Read more on Queen: Seven things to look out for as the Queen lies in state Queen leaves Buckingham Palace for final time In pictures: Meghan reunited with Royal Family
Elsewhere, King’s Counsel will take part in wreath laying after the death of the Queen.
Senior barristers, now known as KCs instead of QCs after the proclamation of the King, have been invited to dress in robes and court mourning attire.
They will then gather outside the Old Bailey before walking to Gray’s Inn Chapel for the ceremony.
Meghan postpones celebratory event
Image: Sophie, Countess of Wessex, the Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex
Meanwhile, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, has postponed a celebratory event she was due to attend as a woman of honour, as well as the release of her podcast, out of respect for the Queen.
Meghan was selected alongside other high-profile women, including Hillary Clinton, Oprah Winfrey and Malala, as part of US outlet Variety’s Power of Women event.
The honourees will feature on the cover of the publication’s Power of Women special edition, with an event taking place on Wednesday, 28 September.
“Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, was chosen as one of one of this year’s stellar honorees,” Variety said.
“The Duchess’ cover will be postponed to a later date, out of respect for the recent passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
“Similarly, she will not attend the Power of Women event in Los Angeles later this month.”
Meghan’s podcast, Archetypes, will also not be released during the duration of the mourning period for the Queen.
Image: The bearer party carries the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II into Westminster Hall
Among her fellow honourees was US talk show host Oprah Winfrey, who conducted the explosive interview with Harry and Meghan in March 2021.
Speaking recently at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Winfrey said she hoped the Queen’s death will allow the Royal Family to come together and provide “an opportunity for peacemaking”.
The royals were reunited as they joined a procession behind the Queen as she left Buckingham Palace for the final time on Wednesday.
King Charles, the Prince of Wales and Duke of Sussex accompanied the monarch on the journey to Westminster Hall for her lying in state. The Queen Consort, Princess of Wales, Countess of Wessex and Duchess of Sussex travelled by car.
Music entrepreneur Jamal Edwards’ mum Brenda has paid tribute to her son on what would have been his 32nd birthday.
The YouTube star, who helped launch the careers of artists including Ed Sheeran, Dave and Jessie J, died suddenly at home in Acton, west London, in February.
Ahead of a fundraising celebration to mark his birthday, TV presenter and stage star Brenda Edwards told Sky News it was a “bittersweet day”.
“It has only been six months and it’s been a hard six months for myself, his sister and the family and his close friends,” she said. “But we feel that we have to do something to celebrate.”
Born in Luton, Jamalgrew up on a council estate and went on to be appointed an MBE for services to music as well as an ambassador for the Prince’s Trust, which helps young people set up their own businesses.
His online urban music platform SBTV helped dozens of UK artists rise to prominence over the years.
Acts including Big Narstie, Mist and Fleur East are due to perform at the SBTV “mega cook-up” to mark what would have been his birthday on Wednesday, with surprise guest performances also promised.
Following Jamal’s death, many music stars including Sheeran paid tribute. In July, the Shape Of You star released the video for Are You Entertained, a collaboration with US rapper Russ, which had been planned by his late friend.
“I wish Jam was here to see it, I wish we’d done it together, but he would be buzzing how all his people came together and brought his vision to life,” Sheeran said at the time.
“Ed and Jamal’s relationship has gone for many, many, many years and I’m just really grateful,” Brenda said. “Ed’s been so supportive. There has been so much support from all around, so I’m really grateful for everything.”
She said the birthday event was about celebrating her son’s life “in the best way that we know how [as] music was one of the ways that he tried to bring everybody together”.
Read more: It all started in his bedroom: How SBTV founder Jamal Edwards changed the UK music scene
She added: “It’s going to be a bittersweet day but I’m smiling thinking about him as well as the sad emotion that I’ve obviously got…
“I know he’s going to be looking down watching us.”
Earlier in August, a coroner concluded that Edwards died after taking cocaine and suffering cardiac arrhythmia.
Following his death, his mother warned others of the dangers of taking recreational drugs, saying in a statement: “It’s so important that we drive more conversation about the unpredictability of recreational drugs.
“Jamal is proof that this can happen to anyone. His passing has shown that one bad decision on any one occasion can lead to devastating consequences.”
Proceeds from the birthday fundraiser will go to the Jamal Edwards Self Belief Trust, which was set up in his memory to help combat homelessness, support people with mental health issues, and provide life skills to young people in need.
