Tributes are pouring in for a Lancashire dad who has reportedly died fighting Russian invaders in Ukraine earlier this week.
Former paratrooper Simon Lingard, known to close friends and family as ‘Grimmy’, is said to have been killed on 7 November after his unit was attacked in the Bakhmut area of the war-torn nation.
The region has seen almost constant fighting over recent weeks and months, with more than 700 Russian troops thought to have been killed there on Monday alone.
A spokesperson for the UK’s Foreign Office said in a statement: “We are supporting the family of a British national who has lost his life in Ukraine and we are in touch with the local authorities in connection with his death.
“Our thoughts are with their family at this difficult time.”
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Kierren Stokes, who served alongside Lingard in the parachute regiment, paid tribute to the “great soldier” on social media:
The veteran soldier and father of two from Great Harwood near Blackburn travelled to defend Ukraine from Putin’s invasion back in February, having previously served in the British Army as part of the Special Forces Support Group.
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A vigil was held in his home town shortly after the news of his passing was announced. Friend Mickii Edwards told ITV that everyone “wanted him home but he didn’t want to come”, adding: “He was just courageous. He was like a lion and I loved him to bits.”
Writing via his mother’s Stacey Longworth’s Facebook, Lingard’s 17-year-old son Jackson said: “After years of dedicating his time and effort to protecting our country, my dad still had more fight in him and left the country to protect the people of Ukraine against the Russian army too.
“My heart is broken to announce that Dad has passed away in battle, a true hero and beloved to so many of us. I can’t put into words how much he is and will be missed, but I’m comforted to know that this happened doing what he loved and surrounded by friends.
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“I love you dad, I’m so proud of you.”
As the post goes on to explain, the Ukrainian military is covering the fee for returning his body to the UK but the family still needs funeral costs.
A GoFundMe page was set up in his honour and with hopes to give the “local hero the send-off he deserves” and the funds have already surged past the £22,000 target, with Jackson insisting that “even the smallest donations mean the world” to himself and his younger brother Keane.
In the description of the fundraiser, the family writes that Lingard was “an inspiration to all who knew him, a real-life hero who died fighting for what he believed in. He was loved and adored by so many a true representation of what a soldier should be.”
They also go on to explain that any additional money raised will go into a trust fund for Jackson and Keane which they can access once they turn 18.
Rochdale is bidding to become the UK’s first-ever Town of Culture in 2028
Emily Sergeant
Rochdale has announced its intention to bid to become UK Town of Culture 2028.
Entering into the national competition launched by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), following on from the success of the already-existing City of Culture award, the Greater Manchester town is hoping to be the first-ever town to claim the title.
The Town of Culture competition invites towns across the UK to showcase their cultural story and develop ambitious programmes that celebrate local heritage, creativity, and communities.
The winning town receives a £3 million grant from the Government to deliver a major year-long cultural programme in 2028 designed to boost civic pride, attract visitors, and provide everyone with the opportunity to participate in cultural activities.
Rochdale’s bid is being led by Rochdale Borough Council and Rochdale Development Agency, alongside cultural groups, education providers, and community organisations.
The bid will build on the town’s history as the birthplace of the Co-operative movement, and a centre of political reform, collective action and working-class cultural innovation.
A town of national and international significance, whose people and ideas have shaped the social, democratic and cultural life of the UK and beyond, Rochdale Council says the town’s story is ‘distinctive’ and as highly relevant today as it ever has been, and this is a driving force behind its Town of Culture 2028 bid.
Not just historically, but over recent years too, the town has made a significant contribution to the UK’s popular culture, producing internationally recognised musicians, artists, writers, and performers.
Local leaders say the bid to become the UK’s first ever Town of Culture underlines Rochdale’s ambition after just completing a ‘hugely successful’ year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture for 2025.
Rochdale is bidding to become the UK’s first-ever Town of Culture / Credit: The Manc Group | Rochdale Council
“We have a strong foundation for a bold and future focused UK Town of Culture programme and an incredible story to tell,” commented Cllr Neil Emmott, who is the Leader of Rochdale Borough Council.
“We’ll be developing a fabulous programme of new events and activities as well as amplifying our existing offer and recently transformed town hall square and centre.
“As we have already seen during our year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture, we have an established infrastructure of creative partners ready to go, who have already expressed their support for our bid, providing significant capacity and scale to deliver a UK town of culture programme in 2028 that would leave a permanent cultural legacy.
“We have exciting and varied attractions and iconic venues that have seen significant investment, an array of creative talent and we’re very well connected.
“This bid will allow us to share this in new ways and invite others to experience it.”
Featured Image – Rochdale Borough Council
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Sara Cox tipped to replace Scott Mills for Eurovision 2026
Danny Jones
Greater Manchester’s very own Sara Cox is reportedly set to replace Scott Mills at the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest following his sacking from the BBC.
Mills was axed by the news and entertainment corporation on Monday, 1 April, for ‘misconduct’, which has now been revealed to involve a historic relationship with a boy aged under 16.
While the fallout surrounding Scott Mills is only just beginning, the task of finding his replacement in multiple roles has already begun – though it looks like one may have already been decided.
Now reported by multiple outlets, it appears as though Bolton-born Sara Cox is first in line to pick up Mills’ co-hosting duties for this year’s Eurovision show.
Having already been involved with coverage of the event on multiple ocassions in the past, it now appears that she’ll be in post for the Grand Final too.
As a long-standing radio and TV staple, it only takes a quick look at social media to see how much backing she has already received in the past, with a post from last year reading, “Great to have Sara Cox back commentating on Eurovision“, and others from over a decade ago praising her past presenting.
In fact, it might not end just here either, as many are already calling for her to replace the 53-year-old breakfast show host.
From her days as a Radio 1 favourite to becoming a BBC mainstay across the board, her popularity only seems to have grown over the last decade, especially thanks to her charity fundraising efforts.
While an official announcement is yet to be made, the feeling is that it is all but confirmed for her to take over from Mills as part of the Eurovision commentary team.
As for the now vacant early morning slot on BBC Radio 2, the likes of Claudio Winkleman, Vernon Kay, fellow Manc Nick Grimshaw, the aforementioned Rylan, and several others have all been floated as potential stand-ins/future full-time hosts.
Do you think both should be given to Sara Cox, and if not, who would you like to see replace Scott Mills?
Danny Jones -
10th November 2022 
