Firefighters, volunteers, and staff from across Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) have raised thousands to support the people of Ukraine.
And they say it’s all thanks to “the generosity of people” across the region.
Last weekend, fire stations across Greater Manchester held charity car wash events, and colleagues from across GMFRS as well as Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) all chipped in to wash cars and collect donations from members of the public, which eventually tallied up to an impressive £32,000.
15 different fire stations across Greater Manchester held events across the two days.
GMFRS says all of the money raised will be shared with Greater Manchester-based frontline medical aid charity UK-Med – which has launched an emergency appeal backed by the Mayor of Greater Manchester.
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“I’m incredibly proud of the hard work of all our firefighters, support staff and volunteers over the weekend [as] together we washed thousands of cars and raised thousands of pounds to go towards vital supplies for Ukraine,” said Chief Fire Officer Dave Russel on the success of the event.
He continued: “We stand in solidarity with Ukraine and will do whatever we can to support all those affected by the devastating and tragic events that continue to unfold.
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“The car washing days are just one of the ways the service is helping this vital cause.
WOW! What a day 🇺🇦🚒🧽
Thanks to all our colleagues and volunteers who washed cars today and all those who brought their vehicles along and donated for @UKMed
— Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (@manchesterfire) March 12, 2022
“I’d like to thank everyone that came along to the car washes, whether that be to wash cars, bring food supplies for our staff, or have a vehicle washed for a donation.
“We are overwhelmed by the support and generosity of the people of Greater Manchester.”
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The car wash events came as firefighters continue to support local charities with the ongoing humanitarian effort, which has also included crews helping with the sorting and distributing of donations at the Bury Polish Centre, and distributing aid to warehouses in Trafford Park before they are shipped to Poland.
GMFRS said they had heard plenty of “heartwarming” stories of the community’s generosity and support over the weekend.
At Marple fire station, local residents Alan and Joyce donated the £100 that they would have spent celebrating their recent 50th wedding anniversary, and Rochdale fire station, emergency service colleagues from Greater Manchester Police and North West Ambulance Service helped firefighters and GMFRS staff to clean cars.
When firefighters at Farnworth fire station were called out to an emergency incident, members of the public took it upon themselves to wash cars and still donated generously.
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15 different fire stations across Greater Manchester held events across the two days this past weekend / Credit: GMFRS
GMFRS also received thanks from local residents and organisations with links to Ukraine.
At Whitefield fire station, a resident from Ukraine dropped by to thank crews and volunteers, while at Agecroft, members of the Eccles Polish Centre also gave their thanks and sandwiches to GMFRS staff, who have recently been helping to sort donations at the centre.
The fire service’s fundraising efforts aren’t ending there either.
Later this week, a team of volunteers from GMFRS will join a national convoy to deliver fire and rescue equipment to support firefighters on the frontline in Ukraine.
Peaky Blinders confirm title and release date of upcoming film
Danny Jones
After what feels like an age since it was first announced, Peaky Blinders and Netflix have finally confirmed the title and release date of the upcoming feature-length film.
It was revealed that the global streaming giant secured exclusive rights to the movie last year, and it has now been revealed that it will also be released in selected theatres before it hits the platform.
With production on the long-talked-about project getting underway in September 2024, we’ve heard little else from creator Steven Knight, who has also been booked to deliver the Oasis reunion documentary chronicling their Live ’25 world tour.
However, we now know not only the official title of the film, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, and that it will be dropping early next year. They’ve even shared the first poster.
Clearly referring to the series’ most famous lead character, Thomas Shelby – played by now fully-fledged Hollywood A-lister Cillian Murphy since 2013 – the teaser shows him sat astride a horse, not to mention covered in a fair amount of dirt and/or blood.
Alongside the suit and the trademark newsboy cap with blades inserted in the brim (the calling card of both the fictional and the real ‘Peaky Blinders’), it’s quite a classic look of Tommy’s.
Scheduled to release in limited cinemas on 6 March before arriving on Netflix on 20/3/2026, this will not only be the first film in the wider franchise but the first to air separately from the BBC.
While its parent network is still involved as collaborators on the flick, this is the first instalment in the IP to be distributed directly by Netflix after they bought the rights to release the show in the US.
Another look at a seemingly older Tommy Shelby (Credit: Publicity picture via Netflix)
As for The Immortal Man, both new and returning members of the cast include:
Cillian Murphy (Oppenheimer, 28 Days Later)
Rebecca Ferguson (Dune, Silo)
Tim Roth (Reservoir Dogs, The Hateful Eight)
Sophie Rundle (After the Flood, Gentleman Jack)
Ned Dennehy (Culprits, The Peripheral)
Packy Lee (Blue Lights)
Ian Peck (His Dark Materials, Robin Hood)
Jay Lycurgo (Steve, Half Bad: The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself)
Barry Keoghan (Saltburn, The Banshees of Inisherin)
Stephen Graham (Adolescence, A Thousand Blows)
Speaking in a full press release, Murphy said: “It seems like Tommy Shelby wasn’t finished with me. It is very gratifying to be re-collaborating with Steven Knight and Tom Harper on the film version of Peaky Blinders. This is one for the fans.”
Returning four years after the end of the mainline series, but catching up with Tommy at the outset of WWII in terms of the actual timelines, Netflix say that the Shelby patriarch “is driven back from a self-imposed exile to face his most destructive reckoning yet.”
Safe to say we cannot wait to be back in the world.
In the meantime, you can find out more about the next season(s) of Peaky Blinders coming to the BBC very soon down below.
Paul Scholes blasts Ruben Amorim for ‘bull****’ response to Kobbie Mainoo question
Danny Jones
Club legend Paul Scholes has called out Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim for what he dubbed a “bull****” reaction to a question from a journalist regarding Kobbie Mainoo on Thursday.
The Portuguese coach saw his Premier League win rate clock in at just under 44% (the lowest of any Man United manager for, let’s just say, some time) after the 1-1 home draw against West Ham.
Conceding a late goal against the Irons, who are currently sat in the relegation zone, the Red Devils ultimately dropped another two points against a side that they should be beating, both based on present form and if they have any hopes of competing for the top spots.
Unsurprisingly, Amorim was pressed on why he didn’t make a more offensive substitution to try and claw back the victory, to which he then asked what looked to be a somewhat loaded question and gave this reaction after the response:
The laughter, in particular, hasn’t gone down well with everyone, especially the Class of ’92 graduate and retired midfielder.
Jumping on social media after the quotes from the Amorim press conference were out, Scholes posted on his Instagram story: Bull****. This kid is being ruined, not being played in a team that can’t control a game of football.”
He went on to add: “Hate seeing homegrown players leave, but it’s probably best for him now – enough is enough.”
First off, Reds – do you agree?
It isn’t the first time Scholes has levelled criticism at Amorim, his tactics, management and overall coaching style, having said this of their previous appointment at Old Trafford.
Paul Scholes on Ruben Amorim's tactics against 10-man Everton which frustrated him 😬 pic.twitter.com/AgsESuH83h
Safe to say he isn’t his biggest supporter at the moment.
Fellow former teammate and England international turned pundit, Gary Neville, was also left not just confused but frustrated by the performance, telling Sky Sports in his post-match interview that he noted the camera picking up “real dejection” on the faces of the fans after the full-time whistle.
With an away trip against Wolves, a home match against Bournemouth, as well as travelling to face high-flying European place competitors, Aston Villa, before hosting Newcastle on Boxing Day, it’s anyone’s guess as to how the results will pan out.
You can see the highlights from Man United vs West Ham down below.
How many points do you see them picking up over the next four fixtures?
Emily Sergeant -
16th March 2022 
