A Manchester mum who lost her young son in a tragic accident has been “overwhelmed” by the outpouring of support by the local community in her bid to create a lasting legacy for him.
When Max Rimmer-Chambers sadly died in May 2017 at aged four after a fireplace surround fell on him, his passing completely ripped through the whole local Openshaw community and saw hundreds of people attend his funeral and donate money to his grieving family.
And it was these kind donations that inspired his family to give back.
Now, his mum Kerrie Rimmer, 44, has launched a campaign where she is aiming to raise more than £200,000 to build an ambitious community bike track in his memory.
As the young boy was “full of fun and adventure”, had a “cheeky charm”, and was known to have an “obsession of all things with wheels”, the campaign for the cycle track – which is called Max Trax – will commemorate Kerry’s “outgoing and bubbly” son, who she said was her “absolute world”.
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“He loved nothing more than riding bikes, scooters, and anything that zoomed around Delamere Park beside his house,” Max’s family said.
Built in the heart of the Openshaw community at that very same park beside his house, Max Trax will be a place for young people and families to come to have fun and be active, learn something new, and explore the outdoors.
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The campaign may started small but, but after support from Manchester City Council and the charity Step Up MCR, the family decided to expand it.
The plans for the proposed project will feature a new cycle track for all ages, educational programmes, and even a community centre, while a disused building within the park could also be transformed into a “community hub” that will run workshops to teach new skills and provide meals for struggling families.
A ‘repair shop’ will offer to recycle old bikes to donate to children from low-income families, alongside educational workshops to teach children new skills to further their hobbies or even future careers.
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Ms Rimmer said her son would “absolutely love” the campaign.
Cllr Donna Ludford – councillor for Clayton and Openshaw – told ITV Granada that the bike track will have a “massive impact on the community”, adding: “For young people, it’s somewhere to go, an activity [and] if this didn’t happen, I’d be really upset as I think it’s something that everybody can get involved in it.”
A Crowdfunder set up for the campaign has already seen donations reach the £71,000 and counting, and you can contribute here.
You can also support and find out more about the Max Trax campaign here.
Liam Gallagher says he’ll ‘gig in Lidl’ if Co-op Live still isn’t ready – and they sound pretty game for it
Danny Jones
Following the ongoing palaver with Co-op Live, Liam Gallagher has joked that he’d happily play his scheduled gigs in a Lidl if the arena still isn’t ready – at least we think he’s joking…
With Liam Gallagher having been named as one of the first acts booked to play Co-op Live last year, many are now wondering whether the venue will even by June, with the former Oasis frontman set to play four Definitely Maybe 30th-anniversary sets. That being said, he’s come up with a solution if not.
Vintage LG, we’ll give him that.
Obviously a bit of a tongue-in-cheek quip at the venue being sponsored by a supermarket and convenience store chain, it could have been any other competitor that the ever-witty youngest Gallagher brother picked but it somehow made it extra funny that he chose a budget brand like Lidl.
However, with the 51-year-old already having fun with stunts like voicing the tannoys on the Metrolink last year, for instance, we wouldn’t put it past him to take this joke a little further.
Better still, not that we’re getting carried away or anything but Lidl themselves seem pretty keen on the idea too; they even spent the time to build an entire setlist for the fictional show. Fair play.
Can you imagine? Liam Gallagher swapping the occasional tambourine shake for beeps from a barcode scanner as he moves back and forth on the conveyor belt. We know it’s absolute nonsense and we definitely shouldn’t be even remotely considering it… BUT it’s the stuff of dreams and strange things have happened.
A lot of stranger things have happened this week alone. As for the latest with Co-op Live, the Chairman and CEO of key-backers Oak View Group, Tim Leiweke, issued a full statement sharing his “sincere apologies”and insisting that they understand “there is work to be done to rebuild your trust in us.”
With the likes of Olivia Rodrigo, Peter Kay, The Black Keys and more having their gigs pulled by the venue due to numerous issues, including an air conditioning unit falling from the ceiling, fans are understandably fearful that other upcoming events could face delays or general misfortune.
Much like the venue itself, we imagine we’ll be playing catch-up on this whole saga for the foreseeable, but here’s a recap of the story so far:
Featured Images — Lidl GB/Exit Festival (via Flickr)/The Manc Group
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Gavin and Stacey will return with a 2024 Christmas special for its final episode
Danny Jones
After some pretty big rumblings earlier this year, it’s finally been confirmed that Gavin and Stacey will be returning for a Christmas special this year and what will be its last-ever episode.
The beloved British comedy last aired back in 2019 with their previous Christmas special and fans of the show have been crying out for more ever since.
Well, it turns out they’ll be getting just one more go around the block as co-creators James Corden and Ruth Jones revealed that they have now finished writing their third and final Xmas special which will tie a festive bow on the trio of series which started all the way back in 2007.
Sharing a picture of the script on social media, the pair wrote: “Some news… It’s official!!! We have finished writing the last ever episode of Gavin and Stacey. See you on Christmas Day, BBC One. Love Ruth and James”.
However, what was actually going on was a bit of a red herring as she carefully chose to talk down any notions of another series but didn’t categorically dismiss the potential Christmas special.
In fact, she actually went on to add: “All I can say is, if there was something to say on that front, James [Corden] and I would happily announce it, we would.”
And that’s exactly what they’ve done. Well played, Nessa.
As for details surrounding the final chapter in the Gavin and Stacey story, we have very few details at this stage but fans of the iconic show will already be wondering how they might pick up from where certain threads left off.
Production companies Baby Cow, Corden’s Fulwell 73 and Jones’ Tidy Productions are all behind the special and, given the momentous occasion, it will likely have a primetime slot on the TV guide when it finally rolls around this holiday season.
So get your remotes, baubles and bhunas at the ready because Gavin and Stacey is coming back for one last time and it’s sure to be a TV event that people all across the UK will remember for years to come.