Tributes have been paid to a “dedicated” and “incredibly loved” North West paramedic following his sudden death.
Ben Lightburn sadly passed away on New Year’s Day following a road traffic collision.
The beloved husband and father-of-two previously served in the Royal Navy before he joined the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) back in 2014 as an emergency medical technician, and later qualifying as a paramedic in 2021 and going on to work across the Cheshire and Merseyside North sector.
Ben helped many communities in their time of need, and showed “immense care and compassion” to all his patients, the NWAS said.
So many of Ben’s friends and colleagues are now sharing their memories of working with him.
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“Ben was, and will forever remain, an incredibly loved member of our team,” said senior paramedics and technicians who worked closely with him.
“He was amazing with patients and so ridiculously smart. He mentored students and supported his colleagues with a passion that was admirable. He was a joker, he was cheeky, he laughed with us and at us, and was always at the heart of our team.
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“Ben has dedicated his life to the services, from serving in the Royal Navy – of which he always shared fond memories with us – and then joining us here at NWAS. He always aimed to excel at everything he did, both in work and in his personal life, and he was so well respected by his colleagues and adored by patients.
“His close-knit team, NWAS and beyond have lost a truly genuine, kind and ever caring soul.
“There are no words to describe how we feel to have lost Ben, so tragically and so suddenly, and we will cherish his memory forever, and our thoughts extend to his beautiful family at this unimaginable time.”
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Tributes have been paid to ‘incredibly loved’ North West paramedic who died suddenly / Credit: NWAS
Ben’s manager at the NWAS Cheshire and Merseyside North Sector said Ben was a dedicated paramedic who will have “undoubtedly changed patient and families lives for the better” and that his absence has already “an irreparable hole across the NWAS team he worked with”.
“Ben consistently placed others before himself, he was not just a paramedic, but a friend and a mentor to many of his colleagues.
“The sadness felt is shared by many and we extend our deepest condolences to Ben’s friends and family who have lost someone very special.
“Our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragic loss.”
Featured Image – NWAS
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Manchester councillor Bev Craig has been awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours List
Danny Jones
The leader of Manchester City Council and representative for Burnage, Bev Craig, has officially been awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the New Year Honours List for 2026.
Councillor Craig, who has held her leadership position since October 2021, received the OBE for her services to local government.
She joins several other regional councillors to be named by King Charles III.
First elected by Burnage residents back in 2011, she has spent more than a decade and a half devoting her professional life to the community, as well as nearly a whole five years of that time at the highest level within the Council.
The University of Manchester graduate has played several key roles throughout her career, including giving back to higher education, helping trade unions, as well as serving as an executive member for adult social care and health during the pandemic, before serving as Deputy and eventually Leader.
Speaking in an official statement, Craig said: “To receive an OBE is a huge privilege, and to get awarded it for what I’ve been able to give back to our city is all the more special.
“Manchester is an incredible city, made special by its people and a place I’m proud to call home.
“Leading our city is a privilege I don’t take for granted, so to get awarded an OBE for what we’ve been doing to make Manchester an even better place to live and improve the lives of Manchester people, while creating a city that is fairer and more inclusive for generations to come, is the real honour.”
With the Council having also confirmed two special NYE events on either side of the Town Hall this year, it feels like a fitting celebration.
Congratulations to Bev Craig on the well-deserved accolade and title; we have no doubt she’ll continue to excel in her post.
You can find the King’s 2026 New Year Honours List HERE.
As for the discussion around knighthoods, many Brits are currently calling for a change in the rules in hopes of making OBE, CBE and MBE, Kevin Sinfield a Sir.
Featured Images — Publicity picture (via Manchester City Council)
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VAR audio requested as Nottingham Forest prepare complaint after Man City defeat
Danny Jones
Nottingham Forest have requested that the VAR audio from their game against Manchester City be released, as they are considering launching a formal complaint following the defeat.
Forest hosted Man City at home this past weekend and went on to lose 2-1.
However, Sean Dyche’s side are said to be ‘extremely unhappy’ with some of the refereeing decisions made by first official, Rob Jones, on the day.
As a result, they are now asking the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) to share some of the conversations between on-pitch officials and the VAR team at Stockley Park in West London.
"I'm scratching my head and I can't believe it!" 😳
Sean Dyche wasn't happy with the officiating in their loss to Man City 😬
As you can see, Dyche initially said that “there’s no point” in pushing the refs on their performance, as he feels they usually only “get in trouble”, but it looks as though his employers have advocated for him.
Nottingham Forest had a problem with the final call in a number of instances during the festive fixture on Saturday, 27 December, but none more so than in one key moment.
The manager and his coaching team felt that Rayan Cherki’s 83rd-minute winner should have been cancelled out following a foul by Nico O’Reilly on Morgan Gibbs-White in the preceding corner, which may have prevented Cherki from scoring another decisive finish.
Dyche also argued that another City defender, Ruben Dias, was due a second yellow card and therefore dismissal from the pitch for a challenge after the break, but there was ultimately nothing doing.
You can see the collision here:
"I do have sympathy for Sean Dyche… it is a second yellow card!"
Ref Watch discuss whether Ruben Dias should have been sent off against Nottingham Forest. pic.twitter.com/dxTYmGsEqZ
According to Sky Sports News, Nottingham have already requested more information from the refereeing body, with this not being the first time they’ve felt hard done by.
As they put it, the hope/belief is that raising the issue could help “start a broader discussion around officiating this season.”
What do you make of Forest’s concerns against Manchester City, and do you think they’re worthy of launching an official complaint against the PGMOL and Premier League?
You can see the highlights from the game and perhaps decide for yourself down below.
Emily Sergeant -
16th January 2023 
