The family of a woman who died after travelling to Turkey for a gastric sleeve surgery have warned people to ‘think twice’ before doing the same.
Leanne Michelle Leary, 38, flew out to Istanbul to undergo the weight loss operation, which would reduce the size of her stomach.
But the mum-of-three from Oldham tragically died less than 24 hours after having the surgery on the 1 July.
A GoFundMe has now been set up to pay for Leanne’s funeral and to help her three children – 16-year-old Kyle, 14-year-old Caitlin, and nine-year-old Keavey.
Leanne’s husband Steven said that she believed the surgery was ‘absolutely safe’ after researching packages in Turkey, the Manchester Evening News reports.
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She chose to undergo the operation believing it would give ‘quality of life to herself and her children’.
On the family’s fundraising page, she’s described as ‘the most caring and compassionate person you would ever wish to meet’.
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It also stated: “In order to support someone you need to invest in that person, so let me tell you about Leanne Michelle. She was the first person everyone went to for support and she is well known in the community for supporting others going through a hard time and we would often see posts on Facebook asking for support for women and children who needed help to restart their life.
“Leanne had a open heart, open arms and ears and listened and supported anyone who needed to be heard. Leanne was loyal, hardworking and the most loving person you could ever wish to meet and her friends and family would echo that sentiment.
“Please can you help us to raise £10,000 to support her family to lay her to rest and for her children to start a new life without her. It’s not going to be easy for 3 children or her family and friends to move on as she has left a huge void, but we know that you will want to support a woman who supported everyone who asked for help. Thank you for reading this and we hope that we have touched your heart enough to help us.”
Quiet Corners: The Fox and Pine – Oldham’s proper good pub that feels like someone’s front room
Danny Jones
Our search for Greater Manchester’s cosiest pubs is never-ending, especially when it’s cold and grey outside as it often is around these parts, and we recently stumbled across a corker over in Oldham.
Let us introduce you to The Fox and Pine: a brilliant little boozer sat quietly on the corner of Greaves Street, an otherwise unsuspecting road just a block over from the main high street.
You’ll first spot it by the old-school lantern and hanging baskets placed outside, then by the door itself which bears the pitch-perfect British pub name pressed into a metal plate across what we assume (and certainly hope) is a pine door.
Its decorative but modest frontage is just a teaser of what’s to come as once you open that front door, you enter into a world of knick-knacks, bric-à-brac, sports memorabilia and more fox-related ornaments than you could possibly imagine.
The Fox and Pine pub in Oldham has all the charm as its name would suggest. (Credit: The Manc Group)
Opened in 2020 by Michelle and Chris Riley, the distinctive Oldham pub was named in honour of their two beloved football clubs, with Michelle born in Leceister (The Foxes) and Chris an Oldham Athletic fan (who were once known as Pine Villa), but the story behind the site itself gets even more interesting.
Although it is now an award-winning watering hole – having been voted CAMRA’s Greater Manchester ‘Pub of the Year’ three years on the foxtrot, among a number of other accolades – the location was previously used for local AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) meetings.
Now, while we obviously fully support anyone’s journey to sobriety, we’ll confess we’re quite pleased that it’s now become somewhere that not only serves alcohol but champions real ale, specifically, with an ever-rotating lineup from around Greater Manchester, Lancashire and beyond.
Better yet this isn’t a place that gives off binge-drinking but rather one that proudly embraces the undeniable sense of community that a really good, welcoming pub can give small towns like this.
Spanning two floors, both of which are decked out like a warm and quintessentially British family home, the Latics blue glow of the bar quickly catches your eye as you scan the various pumps of cask ale, stout, cider and lager – all of which the staff and customers alike have a good knowledge of.
A brûlée-flavoured number appeared to be the favourite on the day we popped in and it’s nice to see a genuinely friendly, engaging exchange between pourer and punter rather than just a transaction. The longer we lingered there the more nods to the local footy and rugby culture we found too.
A luminous sign reading ‘Yeds’ looms above the bar, referring to the local rugby supporters club that gathers there on matchdays; jerseys, scarves and more adorn the rest of it and much of the surrounding walls, but turn your head to the right and the vibe shifts from pub to what feels like a front room.
Twinkling with fairy lights and soft candlelight on each table is the main seating area, complete with framed pictures of local dogs (we’re talking dozens), a telly for the sport and a faux fireplace but one that still effectively serves as the hearth of the room for people to gather around and be merry.
Credit: The Manc Group
Once again, the whole room feels more like someone’s house than it does a pub and the same goes for when you head upstairs, where you’ll find two more seating areas. Between the fox-themed wallpaper, general decor and another mantlepiece, the only things that feel pubby are the tables and a dartboard.
In fact, we think it’s the little creature comforts and personalised touches that really set this place apart. Be it the hair gel, aftershave and even beard oil left free to use in the bathroom, or the various homemade pasties being served on tiny chopping boards downstairs, it feels delightfully intimate.
Not only were locals keeping a tab of whose round it was from across the room even if they weren’t sat together, but there was even a sign seemingly left out to reserve a corner table for their oldest regulars who seemed to know everyone – and we get the feeling they don’t have to book.
There are live music and comedy nights throughout the week too, should you desire some entertainment beyond good company and whatever game’s on the box, but we’ll be honest: we were quite happy just nestling up in the corner, nattering over a proper pint and getting to know the familiar faces.
When the air does get a bit warmer outside, there’s also a garden area waiting out back and they even turn space out front into a small beer garden terrace as well.
That being said, it is the undeniably cosy interior that we fell in love, so much so that we ended up spending pretty much the entire day there.
It’s been a minute since we’ve been truly swept up in the effortless magic of a pub like this and those who already frequent in don’t need reminding that it’s got a real gem here – they’re proud of it and we dare say a lot spend the majority of their time in here.
So, the next time you’re over Oldham way and in need of a quiet corner to cosy up in, or just fancy a decent pub to whet the whistle, you won’t go far wrong with The Fox and Pine.
Royal Oldham Hospital staff member left with ‘life-changing injuries’ following attack
Emily Sergeant
A staff member at Royal Oldham Hospital has been left with ‘life-changing injuries’ following a serious attack over the weekend.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) we were called to Rochdale Road in Oldham to reports of a stabbing at around 11:30pm on Saturday 11 January, as it was believed that a member of the public attacked a member of staff at Royal Oldham Hospital.
Once officers arrived on the scene, they found that a woman in her 50s had suffered “serious injuries” during the attack, and she still remains in hospital for treatment.
Her injuries are believed to be “life-changing”, according to police.
Following the attack, a 37-year-old man was swiftly arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder, and he remains in police custody.
With the investigation in the early stages, GMP says it is not currently looking for anyone else in connection with this incident, and officers “do not believe” there to be any kind of threat to the wider public.
We've arrested a 37 year old man on suspicion of attempted murder after a member of the public attacked a member of staff at Royal Oldham Hospital.
“This is a serious incident which has left a woman in a critical condition,” explained Detective Sergeant Craig Roters, from GMP’s Oldham district said:
“Our thoughts are with her family and colleagues, and we will continue to support them throughout this investigation.
“The local community can expect to see an increase in police presence whilst we carry out enquiries, but they are also there to offer reassurance and answer any questions you may have. We know that news of this nature will come as a shock, and if you have any concerns or anything you would like to share, please speak to them.”
Chief nursing officer at Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, Heather Caudle, also added following the incident: “We are incredibly shocked and saddened by the incident and our focus is on supporting the colleague involved and their family.
Daisy Jackson -
17th July 2023 
