News
Pensioner says the first thing he’ll do after winning £105k on Hits Radio is buy a gravestone for his late wife
Oh bless you, John.
A pensioner who called into Hits Radio earlier this week delighted listeners by winning the show’s daily ‘Cash Register’ prize, but left them in bits when he revealed what he was going to spend the money on first: a gravestone for his late wife.
Caller John rang into the Manchester-based radio station on Wednesday to try his hand at their daily jackpot and after presenter Hattie Pearson confirmed he won, she quickly started to well up when he told her what he planned to do with the money.
Explaining that he’s not exactly flush with cash just living on his pension, John explained how his wife Anita had passed away six years ago and that despite visiting her gravesite every week to “put some fresh flowers” down, he’d not been able to pay for a proper headstone in all that time.
However, breaking the news to him that he’d won £105,000, radio host Hattie assured him that the pensioner would have “some good news to share with her” this time round and would be able to get her “the gravestone she deserves”.
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Well, that’s just lovely.
After realising that he’d just won over £100k, John responded by saying, “I need five minutes before I can go anywhere — my legs are shaking, I’m shaking everywhere”.
He then went on to say, “I’ve never, ever won anything” before quickly correcting himself and saying other than “the love of a lovely lady”, at which point Hattie once again looks visibly moved.
The pair of them bonded over getting “a bit emotional” on air and John ended the heartwarming phone with immense gratitude, adding, “You don’t know what this means.
We love you John and rest in peace, Anita.
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Featured Image — Hits Radio (via Twitter)
News
Everyone in England can now get FREE careers advice as part of a new Government scheme
Emily Sergeant
People all across the country now have the ability to access support from dedicated career advisers completely free of charge.
That’s because, for the first time ever, the full range of support previously offered by the National Careers Service will be available through Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) under the Government, creating a more joined-up service for people at every stage of their career.
Around 500 qualified careers advisers have joined the DWP, it has been confirmed, and they will provide expert careers information, advice, and guidance alongside the existing employment and skills support that are already available through Jobcentres.
But the key is here, the free careers support will be available to everyone – regardless of whether they claim benefits.
The services are set to be accessed either online, over the phone, or through face-to-face appointments at Jobcentres, giving people a single place to access the advice they need to take their next step.
As mentioned, these new services are part of the wider reforms the Government says it is taking to ‘give everyone the opportunity to succeed’.
These reforms include £2.5 billion of youth employment support, and £3.5 billion investment in employment support for disabled people and those with long-term health conditions.
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Support can be accessed online via the Get Careers Information and Advice page HERE, as well as through the freephone service on 0800 072 0288.
Face-to-face appointments will then be available in Jobcentres later this month.
Featured Image – Vitaly Gariev (via Unsplash)
News
Beloved Manchester artist Stanley Chow slams Conservative Party for using his artwork
Daisy Jackson
Celebrated local artist Stanley Chow has lashed out at the Conservative Party.
The illustrator, who is famed for his cartoon portraits of famous faces, has discovered that the political party have been using his Andy Burnham illustration at their party conference.
Publicly addressing the usage, Stanley said he would be ‘seeking legal advice’.
He shared a photo of his Andy Burnham portrait that has been placed onto a water bottle with the slogan ‘Bottler Burnham’.
The label also says: “0% strength. Bottled under pressure from Badenoch.”
In another photo, Stanley Chow revealed that the Tory party conference has used his Andy Burnham portrait on pots of sweets, too.
This time, they say: “Andy Panders’ people pleaser pick n mix. Free sweets for everyone, it will only cost you higher taxes.”
Stanley wrote: “It seems like @conservatives have been using my artwork without my permission at their conference party…
“Regardless of whatever your political allegiances are, it’s still copyright infringement… I’ll be seeking legal advice.”
Backing him up in the comments are a number of other local artists, including Mancsy, who said: “As well as the copyright infringement, I expect more of political parties than making gags at the expense of the opposition. It’s alarming on multiple levels.”
Someone else wrote: “Imagine calling a prime minister a people pleaser like it’s an insult… when it’s their job.”
Another person said: “How does that even happen?! Layers of people signing off who go, ‘Sure, let’s not worry about copyright’ (people who’ve presumably never step foot in MCR and seen your artwork, like EVERYWHERE). Drag em, babe. Copyright and reputation, surely.”
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Featured image: The Manc Group
Danny Jones -
19th May 2023 
