Local DJ and producer Luke Leadbelly has died after a short illness, with tributes pouring in.
The young DJ was a familiar face behind the decks at clubs, festivals and events right across Manchester.
Luke had been diagnosed with AML cancer, a type of blood cancer, and ‘fought many rough months’ before passing away on Sunday 25 August.
A GoFundMe has now been set up to help his family and to give him ‘the send off he deserved’.
Several event organisers and clubs around Manchester are now paying moving tributes to Luke.
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Hit and Run, a local club night, shared: “Just wanted to take a moment to big up our dear departed friend @lukeleadbelly – who recently left this world after a brief illness
“He was a key figure – especially in the first decade of the night. He played several of the @hitandrunuk takeovers and boat parties at @outlookfestival, as well as our first 2 room takeovers at @fabriclondonofficial – plus countless HIT & RUN’s, especially the Grime takeovers, whether we were doing a joint event with his crew @p13_mcr or not.
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“He was a wicked DJ, dedicated producer for nearly 20 years, and one of the sweetest spirits you could ever hope to meet.
Tributes pour in for much-loved Manchester DJ Luke Leadbelly after his death. Credit: Instagram, @hitandrunuk
“We are truly shocked by the news, and send love to his family and loved ones at this most difficult of times.
“He will always be remembered with the utmost affection by all of us here at @hitandrunuk”
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The GoFundMe page said: “Sadly on the Sunday 25 August 2024 Luke lost his fight to AML cancer. After his diagnosis, Luke fought through many rough months till his body gave in and he finally passed away.
“Luke truly was one of a kind and we’re hoping to raise some funds towards the funeral; to help the family and give him the send off he deserved. Any donation will be greatly appreciated.”
DJ Rich Reason shared: “Really gutted to hear that our friend @lukeleadbelly has just died – all happened so quickly, it’s difficult to get your head around it at all.
“Such a sweet and kind soul, with the cheekiest and widest smile; had mad love for the guy, and his fashion sense too! Always so happy to see him when out & about.
“He was a key presence in so many milestone moments for @hitandrunuk and will never be forgotten; also for his tunes with @tumarnigresham & @skittlesuk, his residency at @p13_mcr, countless sets with @mcrchunky & @strategyyeah
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“So sorry that so many people I know & love will be hurting a lot right now. Seems so cruel when he was really on the up and was obviously so happy in life and in love. This one hurts. Big Love Luke, Rest easy.”
DJ Katie Cooper wrote: “LJ, Luke, Beeb. I could write a million words to describe our lives growing up together over the last 17 years, but there isn’t any words to describe how proud I am to have been your friend.
“@lukeleadbelly my heart is truly broken and its hurting to imagine a world without you in it. thank you for being a brother, a best friend and for the most incredibly ridiculous memories anyone could ask for. I love you so so so much, forever and eve”
And fellow DJ and sound engineer Jonny Opo wrote: “This one hurts bad. Gonna miss you our Luke. You were there through all the early rave days, your energy and mischievous grin were infectious. I’ll never forget the b2bs in dirty warehouses and fields – you lived for it with me and the rest of the crew.
“I’ll never forget the outfits – there were always belters. You pioneered some crazy pants and animal prints!
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“Until we meet again at the big rave in the sky love you always and rest easy”
The hearing over Manchester City’s 115 FFP charges will officially start next week
Danny Jones
After more than a year of speculation as to when proceedings will finally start, it has been confirmed that the hearing regarding Manchester City and their 115 FFP charges is set to begin next week.
Man City were first slapped with the laundry list of alleged breaches of FFP (financial fair play) and failure to comply with Premier League rules on profit and sustainability (PSR) back in February 2023, but little movement on the case has been reported since then.
In that time, they also won the coveted Treble and their record-breaking fourth league title in a row; meanwhile, the club have continued to deny all claims of rule-breaking.
However, it has now been revealed that City‘s hearing will now kick off on Monday, 16 September.
BREAKING: The hearing over Manchester City's 115 charges will start on Monday 🚨 pic.twitter.com/9ujOCryVMF
As explained in various reports, given the extended nature of the claims made against the Manchester side, it is estimated that the case could run on for up to two months if not longer.
Furthermore, it is thought a decision isn’t expected to arrive until spring 2025 – again, this is simply due to the number of charges brought up over the best part of a decade.
In case you need a refresher, the allegations levelled at Man City date back to 2009 and concern a supposed nine years of financial irregularities, as well as subverting UEFA FFP rules.
Some of the accusations made against them also include failing to cooperate with the European football body and the Premier League, as well as offering ‘secret contracts’ so as to pay one particular manager a larger sum than what they recorded in their financial statements.
The final verdict, whenever it is reached, will be handed down by an independent commission and City will still be able to make an official appeal.
It goes without saying that were they to be found guilty, it would be the biggest financial scandal in English football history and could be seismic for the future of money in the sport and regulations surrounding ownership, which have already grown tighter following the charges being issued.
And in case you needed a more detailed refresher on what exactly they are being tried for and what the possibilities are regarding punishment if found guilty, here’s a quick rundown:
Featured Images — Arne Müseler (via Wikimedia Commons)
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The NHS found to be in a ‘critical condition’ following an independent investigation
Emily Sergeant
A landmark independent investigation has found the NHS to be in a ‘critical condition’, it has been revealed.
Lord Ara Darzi – who is an independent peer and practising surgeon, with 30 years’ experience in the NHS – was commissioned to write a report that will inform the Government’s 10-year plan to reform the nation’s health service.
He examined more than 600 pieces of analysis from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), NHS England, and external organisations during his investigation.
70 organisations were brought together in an ‘Expert Reference Group’ during the investigation, while Lord Darzi also sought input from NHS staff and patients through a number of focus groups and frontline visits.
Overall, his probe concluded that the service is in a “critical condition”.
NEW: @ImperialNHS Professor Lord Darzi has published his independent investigation into the state of the NHS.
This report will inform the government’s 10-year plan to fix our broken NHS.
The report particularly highlighted surging waiting lists, and a deterioration in the nation’s underlying health, as well as identifying “serious and widespread problems” for people accessing its services.
“Although I have worked in the NHS for more than 30 years, I have been shocked by what I have found during this investigation,” Lord Darzi admitted.
“My colleagues in the NHS are working harder than ever, but our productivity has fallen.
“We get caught up frantically trying to find beds that have been axed, or using IT that is outdated, or trying to work out how to get things done because operational processes are overwhelmed.
“It sucks the joy from our work – we became clinicians to help patients get better, not to go into battle with a broken system. We need to rebalance the system towards care in the community, rather than adding more and more staff to hospitals.”
Lord Darzi declared that the NHS is now “an open book”, and added that the Government needs to have a “more honest conversation” about performance.
"I've worked in the NHS for more than 30 years, but I've been shocked by what I've found during this investigation."
Despite the damning analysis, Lord Darzi did insist that the NHS’s vital signs “remain strong” and he praised staff for their “shared passion and determination to make the NHS better for our patients”.
In response to Lord Darzi’s investigation and the publishing of the report, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the scale of the damage done to the NHS revealed by the report is “unforgivable” and that “major surgery” is needed to reform the service “not sticking plaster solutions”.
“People have every right to be angry,” the Prime Minister said.
“It’s not just because the NHS is so personal to all of us, it’s because some of these failings are life and death. Take the waiting times in A&E. That’s not just a source of fear and anxiet, it’s leading to avoidable deaths.
Daisy Jackson -
30th August 2024 
