The family of a man who went missing after going for a walk in Worsley have paid an emotional tribute after his human remains were formally identified.
It comes after Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirmed on Sunday night that, on Saturday 4 March at around 10:48am, officers from its Tactical Aid Unit who were conducting further search operations for Peter Baglin in the area around the Bridgwater Canal in Boothstown had “sadly discovered human remains”.
No formal identification of the remains had taken place at the time of discovery, but GMP did initially confirm that Mr Baglin’s next of kin had been informed, and that specialist officers were “continuing to support the family and their loved ones”.
Yesterday evening, it was then confirmed that the remains were that of Mr Baglin.
GMP says it’s “not believed there are any suspicious circumstances surrounding his death”, and that a file is being prepared for the coroner for the purpose of inquest proceedings.
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Following the confirmation, Peter’s wife Michelle Baglin – who made a desperate plea for his return last month – has said goodbye to her “best buddy” and beloved husband, father, grandfather, son, and brother in an emotional tribute paid on the grieving family’s behalf.
“Today is a day we wished would never come and our family is absolutely devastated at the news of Pete’s passing,” Michelle said in tribute.
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“When I think of Pete, I think of him as my best buddy and after being together almost 30 years, we complemented each other perfectly.
“He was a fantastic father, grandfather and great-grandfather to our three children, our four grandchildren, and our great grandchild. Pete was also a great brother to his two brothers. He was a much-loved son, and his mum and dad are being comforted at their home down south by Pete’s brother Paul and Paul’s wife, Katie.
Peter Baglin and his wife Michelle / Credit: Family Handout (via GMP)
“Over the last nine or so weeks, we have been endlessly searching for Pete [and] I would like to pass on a huge thanks from our family to friends and members of the community who have turned out time and time again trying to help us find him.
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“We would also like to thank Greater Manchester Police for maintaining contact with me every day since Pete went missing, and also for the constant support they have given me.”
Peter Baglin left home to go for a walk on the evening of Wednesday 28 December 2022, and was last seen on CCTV at a garage in Mosley Common near Worsley that same night – before his phone, hat, and headphones were found on a towpath beside the Bridgewater Canal the following day.
Peter’s wife reported him missing when he didn’t return home.
In the two months since the 55-year-old was reported missing from what has been described as his “favourite walk”, extensive police searches have been carried out along the canal towpath, between the Moorings and Astley Point, and adjoining fields and woodland areas – including by teams specialising in mountain rescue, underwater searches, and drones.
Michelle closed out her tribute to Peter saying the family “don’t know how we are going to move on from this day”, but have asked that their privacy is now respected as they “try and come to terms with our loss, and grieve Pete’s passing.”
Featured Image – GMP
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The Council is giving Mancs £2,500 to move into a ‘more manageable’ home
Emily Sergeant
The Council is now offering financial help to support people moving into a smaller and ‘more manageable’ property.
Ever heard of ‘rightsizing? Well, according Manchester City Council it’s a process where a tenant in a larger social rent, Council, or Housing Association property, that may have more rooms than they need or perhaps are struggling to manage a big house as they get older, can be supported into a smaller property that better suits their needs.
The benefits of this process include cheaper bills, lower rents, and overall, just homes that are easier to clean and manage.
The aim of it is also to free up larger Council properties for families who are on the housing register – of which there are said to be around 20,000 of them currently at this time, with larger homes having some of the most significant wait times.
Are you struggling to look after a big Council or housing association home? We can help!
We are offering £2,500 to help people move into a smaller more manageable home, freeing up larger homes for families that need them.
It’s also estimated, according to the Council, that a third of all social rented family homes are thought to ‘underoccupied’.
This is why financial support and grants are now being offered.
Last year alone, 109 households were helped to ‘rightsize’ and were supported in the process by a dedicated team of Council officers, as well as benefitting from the Rightsizing Incentive Scheme – with a further 432 households having expressed interest doing so in the future.
Residents interested in ‘rightsizing’ could get a cash incentive of £2,500, which can be spent on anything they like, along with moving costs.
The Council is giving Mancs £2,500 to move into a ‘more manageable’ home / Credit: Benjamin Elliott (via Unsplash)
“Rightsizing could be a brilliant option for older people who are renting a Council home who may have spare rooms they don’t need or would benefit from looking after a smaller property,” explained Cllr Gavin White, who is Manchester City Council’s Executive Member for Housing and Development.
“Often a barrier to moving is the cost, but the Council will take care of the financial burden to help a resident move into a new home.
“The benefit for the city is that we can free up more larger homes for people who are waiting for a property that properly meets their needs. We think around a third of Council tenants could be under occupying their home, which means they could be paying more than they need to or they could be hit with the bedroom tax.”
Does this sound like you? Are you ready to ‘rightsize’? Find out more and begin the process via Manchester City Council’s website here.
Featured Image – Vitaly Gariev (via Unsplash)
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Trailer released for Netflix’s new Lucy Letby documentary with ‘unprecedented access’
Emily Sergeant
The trailer for Netflix’s new documentary about the investigation of Lucy Letby has been released.
The feature-length film about Lucy Letby – the infamous neonatal nurse who was found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others under her care at the Countess of Chester Hospital – hears for the first time from the police officers who investigated the case that shook the nation.
It features never-before-seen footage of Letby during her arrests and police questioning, and even includes interviews with experts and lawyers on both sides, as well as with the hospital consultants who initially raised the alarm.
Tragically, it also includes an anonymised interview with a mother of one of the victims, who also speaks for the first time about her experience and involvement in Letby’s trial.
Produced as a result of years of research and relationship-building, the film – simply titled The Investigation of Lucy Letby – is described as being the most ‘comprehensive’ look at one of Britain’s most notorious crimes, and traces developments from her arrest to trial in chronological order.
Viewers will be given ‘unparalleled and exclusive access’ to those central to the story.
“This was an exceptional and demanding project, marked by significant creative and ethical responsibility,” commented director, Dominic Sivyer. “Our aim was to craft a powerful, emotionally resonant depiction of the events surrounding the case.”
Caroline Short, Head of Global TV at ITN Productions – who produced the documentary – added: “The access to all our contributors came with a huge responsibility to present everyone’s perspectives with care and understanding.
“We are grateful to all those people who trusted us to tell their story.”