Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and Sophie, Countess of Wessex will visit Manchester this morning ahead of the Queen’s funeral on Monday.
The royal couple will stay for just a few hours, visiting the Council’s book of condolence at Manchester Central Library to add their signatures, before moving on to view the floral tributes left in St Ann’s Square by locals in mourning.
The pair will also visit Manchester Cathedral today to light a candle for her late Majesty and view their books of condolence, and meet with volunteers involved with managing the tributes.
Council Leader Bev Craig, Lord Mayor of Manchester Cllr Donna Ludford and Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester Diane Hawkins will be amongst those on hand to greet the royals when they arrive in the city this morning and give introductory addresses.
Image: THe Manc Group
High Sheriff of Greater Manchester Lorraine Worsley-Carter will then read the proclamation before the Earl and Countess move on to St Ann’s Square.
In a statement released this morning, Manchester City Council announced that the royals would be making a visit to the city today and outlined the details of their visit. It said: “Today, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Sophie, Countess of Wessex will visit Manchester.
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“They will arrive late morning at Central Library to sign The Queen’s Books of Condolence. Then on to St Ann’s Sq to see the tributes left by the public.
“They will end their visit at The Cathedral to view their Books of Condolence and to light a candle in memory of Her Majesty The Queen.”
Today, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Sophie, Countess of Wessex will visit Manchester. pic.twitter.com/gykzj4V1HH
The royal visit comes ahead of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, wwhich ill take place on Monday 19 September.
Manchester City Council has announced this morning that the funeral will be live streamed on large screens throughout the city centre. For those who want to come together to watch it, it will be shown on screens in Cathedral Gardens, Exchange Square and inside Manchester Cathedral.
The day has been declared an official bank holiday, and so far a large number of businesses including major supermarkets and retailers have announced that they will be closed.
A large number of events have also been cancelled on the day, as well as thousands of NHS hospital appointments including knee and hip replacements, cataract surgery, maternity check-ups and some cancer treatments.
Body found at Bolton restaurant and suspected cannabis farm days after fire
Daisy Jackson
A body has been found at the site of a fire in Bolton, days after a blaze ripped through a restaurant.
It’s believed that the fire started on the first floor of the property, with early inquiries suggesting it may have been used as a cannabis farm.
Human remains were found at the premises on Bolton Road in Farnworth.
A criminal investigation is now underway and Greater Manchester Police are appealing for information and footage relating to the incident.
Emergency services had first been called to the area at around 1pm on Monday 27 November, to reports of a fire.
Earlier today, Saturday 2 December, a body was found during a search of the restaurant building, days after the fire.
Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Naismith of GMP Major Incident Team said: “Work is ongoing to identify the deceased and we are committed to ensuring the potential family members are fully supported and informed of updates in this investigation.
“The loss of life is a tragedy and I understand the upset this news will cause in the local community. I can assure you on behalf of the investigation team that we are determined to get to the bottom of what has occurred and establish the circumstances surrounding the fire.
“I can confirm this fire is being treated as suspicious and if there is any criminal responsibility, it will be brought to light and dealt with appropriately. We are particularly interested to hear from anyone who knows how this building was being used in the lead up to 27 November 2023.
“I would also like to appeal to anyone with information about the fire itself – including if you have any footage (such as CCTV, mobile or dashcam) – to contact GMP’s Major Incident Team.”
You can make a report by calling 0161 856 1995 quoting log number 1485 of 27/11/2023 or via the reporting function on GMP’s website: www.gmp.police.uk
Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Tameside police officers hailed ‘absolute heroes’ after saving the life of a seven-year-old girl
Emily Sergeant
Two Tameside police officers have been hailed as “absolute heroes” after saving the life of a seven-year-old little girl.
It comes after emergency services were called to an address in the Greater Manchester borough of Tameside earlier this week (29 November), and found a young girl who was struggling to breath and coughing up blood after choking on a sweet.
Police Constables Aaron Kincaid and James Blundell, from Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) Tameside division, were first on the scene.
To the huge relief of the girl’s parents, who were said to be “understandably distressed” and concerned for her welfare, PC Kincaid jumped straight into action and was able to utilise his first aid training to full effect by going on to successfully dislodge the sweet from the youngster’s throat, and then helping to calm her down before the paramedics arrived.
Whilst PC Kincaid looked after the little girl, PC Blundell did “everything he could” to help the parents remain calm.
Paramedics then took over once they arrived, and the young girl was taken to hospital as a precaution.
#NEWS | Tameside officers praised for saving the life of a 7-year-old girl who was choking.
The officers used their first aid training to dislodge the sweet, whilst helping the young girl and parents remain calm until paramedics arrived.
Reflecting on the incident, and hailing his officers “absolute heroes”, Superintendent Mike Walsh, from GMP’s Tameside district, said: “PCs Aaron Kincaid and James Blundell acted without hesitation during the incident, and took control of the situation that they were faced with.
“They deserve every credit for staying calm under extreme pressure and for working together as a team and utilising their training to lifesaving effect, and I’m sure the girl’s parents and family will consider them to be absolute heroes.”
“We’re both glad that we were in the right place at the right time,” PC Kincaid added.
“I have a daughter the same age as the little girl who needed our help, and I cannot tell you how much of a relief it was when she started breathing normally and said she was okay after I had managed to dislodge the sweet.
“The little girl gave me a thank you hug before she went to hospital, but I couldn’t have done what I did without PC Blundell’s assistance, so it was a real team effort.”
Georgina Pellant -
15th September 2022 
