News

Tributes paid to ‘incredibly loved’ North West paramedic who died suddenly

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 16th January 2023

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.

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“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

News

Manchester palaeontologist unearths bones of what may be the largest known marine reptile

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A Manchester-based palaeontologist has unearthed the bones of what may be the largest known marine reptile.

This new identification is a crucial part of a fascinating eight-year long discovery journey.

It all started when a seasoned fossil collector named Paul de la Salle found a giant jawbone on Lilstock Beach, near Bridgewater in Somerset, back in May 2016, and then father and daughter, Justin and Ruby Reynolds from Devon, found the first pieces of a second jawbone and another giant bone while searching for fossils on the beach at Blue Anchor, also in Somerset, in May 2020.

And now, a palaeontologist at the University of Manchester (UoM) Dr Dean Lomax, has identified the fossilised remains of the second gigantic jawbone that measures more than two metres long.

Experts have identified these bones as belonging to the jaws of a new species of enormous ichthyosaur – which is a type of prehistoric marine reptile – and astonishing estimations suggest the oceanic titan would have been more than 25-metres long.

Dr Lomax has been working together with Justin and Ruby Reynolds, along with Paul de la Salle and several family members, since the father-daughter duo first contacted them about their groundbreaking discovery in 2020.

A Manchester palaeontologist has unearthed bones of what may be the largest known marine reptile / Credit: UoM

“I was amazed by Justin and Ruby’s find,” Dr Lomax commented.

“In 2018, my team and Paul de la Salle studied and described Paul’s giant jawbone, and we had hoped that one day another would come to light.”

He explained that Justin and Ruby’s new specimen was “more complete and better preserved” than the first find, and that he “became very excited” at the chance to learn more following their discovery.

As mentioned, the Manchester-based research team, led by Dr Lomax, revealed that the jaw bones belong to a new species of giant ichthyosaur that would’ve been about the size of a blue whale, and they have called the new genus and species Ichthyotitan severnensis – which means ‘giant fish lizard of the Severn’.

The bones – which represent the very last of their kind – are around 202 million years old, and date back to the end of the Triassic Period in a time known as the Rhaetian.

During this time, the gigantic ichthyosaurs swam the seas while the dinosaurs walked on land.

The University of Manchester, where Dr Dean Lomax works as a palaeontologist / Credit: UoM

Ichthyotitan is not the world’s first giant ichthyosaur, but the discoveries by Paul, and Justin and Ruby, are said to be “unique among those known to science”, as they appear roughly 13 million years after their latest geologic relatives – including Shonisaurus sikanniensis from British Columbia in Canada, and Himalayasaurus tibetensis from Tibet in China.

Speaking on the confirmation of the bones’ identification this week, Dr Lomax said: “This research has been ongoing for almost eight years.

“It is quite remarkable to think that gigantic, blue whale-sized ichthyosaurs were swimming in the oceans around what was the UK during the Triassic Period.

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“These jawbones provide tantalising evidence that perhaps one day a complete skull or skeleton of one of these giants might be found.”

Featured Image – UoM

News

Northern Quarter favourite Pie and Ale has sadly closed down

Danny Jones Danny Jones Pie and Ale Manchester closed down

Beloved Northern Quarter eatery and pub Pie and Ale has sadly and quietly closed its doors this week in yet another gutting bit of news for the Manc hospitality sector.

Known for its legendary homemade pies, great selections of ales, craft beers and lagers, not to mention a great little pub when it comes to watching live sport, it’s long been considered an NQ institution.

Unfortunately, however, as confirmed by a sign posted in the window, Pie and Ale has now closed for business after more than a decade.

Safe to say, we’re absolutely gutted, as we’re sure everyone else is.

Credit: The Manc Eats

While no official announcement has been made on their social media as yet, which will no doubt receive love and sadness from its loyal following, the sign in the window simply reads: “Pie and Ale has unfortunately ceased trading. Apologies for any inconvenience.”

The local favourite which was always hailed for being great value for money – celebrated especially for its popular pie and a pint for under a tenner deal – also served up great nibbles and light bites as well as dessert specials.

Although the Lever Street spot previously shut down for a short spell back in 2018 due to what they labelled as “unforeseen circumstances” before reopening just two months later, this latest update looks pretty definitive.

Sister-site Bakerie also ceased trading back in April 2019, with husband and wife founders, Alyson Doocey and David Cook, admitting that all independents had been “feeling the squeeze”.

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While we have few other details at this stage, it does look like Pie and Ale has indeed closed down for the foreseeable future.

A mainstay on our list of the best pies in Manchester since day dot and just the latest in the list of losses in 2024 so far, they will be sorely missed.

We sincerely hope this is like last time and will keep our fingers crossed that we see the pie pros and expert pourers back in business at some point.

RIP to an NQ icon.

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Featured Images — The Manc Group

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