A former Manchester City doctor tragically fell to his death from the very same spot where he proposed to his wife 27 years earlier, an inquest has heard.
54-year-old Dr Jamie Butler – who was from Altrincham, and previously had worked at Manchester City, Sale Sharks Rugby Club, and Altius Healthcare throughout his career – popped the question on the famous Striding Edge side of the Lake District’s third highest peak, Helvellyn, all the way back in 1994.
But when he and his wife Margaret decided to relive the romantic moment all over again by returning their last November, this was when Jamie sadly died.
Cockermouth Coroner’s Court heard that the couple had been walking together up the mountain, but when they reached Striding Edge, Mrs Butler stopped to catch her breath and she told of watching her husband disappear into the mist as he went on to find the spot.
After he had been gone for a while, Mrs Butler shouted after him, but got no response and eventually became “concerned something had happened to him”, so she called police.
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Due to poor visibility during the misty weather, the court heard that the GP fell and was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene after suffering significant injuries, including a fractured skull.
Dr Jamie Butler fell to his death from the famous Striding Edge side of the Lake District’s third highest peak, Helvellyn / Credit: Geograph (Alan O’Dowd)
Mountain rescuers later found his body below the ridge, and the coroner concluded that his death was an accident.
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Mrs Butler paid tribute to her husband, who she said “was a loving husband with two twin boys that he adored.”
“He died doing what he loved [and] he will be forever missed,” she concluded.
Doug Jones – Head Physiotherapist at Altius Healthcare in Hale, who worked with Dr Butler at Sale Sharks when he was part of the physio team – paid tribute to him in a statement to the Daily Mail: “He was a really fantastic guy who didn’t have a bad word to say about anyone. He was very loved by the staff and players at both Sale and Man City… you just couldn’t not warm to him.”
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Dr Butler was also described as a “wonderful guy who will be very missed by his friends and family”.
Featured Image – Altius Healthcare
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Police appeal after teenage girl reports being sexually assaulted in a Stretford park
Emily Sergeant
An urgent appeal for information has been issued after a teenage girl reported being sexually assaulted in a park in Stretford.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained that officers attended Victoria Park, in the Stretford area, earlier this week on Tuesday night (21 July) following reports that a teenage girl had been sexually assaulted.
The incident is reported to have happened between 5:30pm and 5:44pm, and the offender is described to be an older white male of a large build who was wearing a black t-shirt.
No arrests have been made at this time, GMP confirmed, and enquiries are ongoing.
As police continue their investigation at pace, a public appeal for information has been issued in the hopes that someone can come forward and provide the details needed to track down the offender.
“Detectives are pursuing multiple lines of enquiry and the victim is being fully supported by specially trained officers,” explained Detective Superintendent Suzanne Keenaghan, from GMP’s Trafford district.
“There will be an increased police presence in and around Victoria Park while officers continue their investigation and provide reassurance to the local community.”
Police say they are ‘particularly keen’ to hear from anyone who was in the park at the time, or who may have CCTV, doorbell, mobile phone or dashcam footage from the area.
Anyone with information can speak to police officers at the scene, call 101, or contact GMP via LiveChat at gmp.police.uk, quoting log 3029 of 21/07/26.
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
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Business rates for pubs, clubs, and live music venues to be slashed by 20% next year
Emily Sergeant
Business rates for pubs, clubs, and live music venues across England are set to be slashed by 20% next year.
Continuing on with his week of, seemingly, introducing a new measure a day amid the cost of living crisis, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has now announced that he has taken action to cut business rates for pubs, social clubs, and live music venues across England from April next year.
It’s expected that these new business rate cuts will benefit nearly 32,000 pubs, clubs and live music venues, saving the typical pub an estimated £1,100 in the next financial year.
“For too long, the pubs, social clubs, and live music venues that form the backbone of local high streets have been replaced by boarded up windows and for sale signs,” the Government said in a statement as the cuts were announced today.
Andy Burnham is slashing business rates for pubs, clubs, and live music venues by 20% next year / Credit: John Arano (via Unsplash) | Wikimedia Commons
These changes are set to be fully funded by the Government – including through reviewing reliefs for businesses that do not make a positive contribution to local communities, such as vape shops for example.
The Government says it also plans to crack down on businesses that sell through online marketplaces but do not comply with their tax obligations, which therefore puts them at an unfair advantage over businesses that do play by the rules.
I’m giving thousands of pubs, clubs and music venues a 20% cut in business rates.
I won’t stand by while these cherished local spaces disappear, replaced by boarded-up windows and ‘For Sale’ signs.
They’re the heart of our communities and it’s time we backed them.
“Pubs, clubs and live music venues are at the heart of communities across the UK,” explained Chancellor John Healey. “They help make a place what we love. They bring people together, support local jobs and help keep high streets, and town centres busy, which is why we will back them all the way.
“We are determined to bring hope back, give businesses the support they need and generate growth in every postcode.”
Prime Minister Andy Burnham added: “For too long, Governments have stood by while cherished venues have disappeared from our local high streets. So today I am changing that.
“This Government will back the businesses that people want to see in their communities. I said I would protect pubs and local high streets, and that’s what we will do. What we’re announcing today is just the start as we work to bring back hope across the country.”
Emily Sergeant -
14th February 2022 
