Trending

People are calling for an extra bank holiday if England win Women’s EURO 2022 final

"If football comes home, then the country must be allowed to celebrate it."

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 29th July 2022

People are calling for there to be an extra bank holiday in England if the Lionesses clinch the win in the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 final.

After what has truly been an outstanding string of victories in the lead-up to the grand finale of European football’s flagship tournament over the last couple of weeks, England women’s national team are set to face Germany in a long-awaited showdown on Sunday evening.

The Lionesses will play in front of a sold-out Wembley Stadium after booking their ticket to the final by beating competition favourites Sweden in the semi-final on Tuesday.

Beth Mead, Lucy Bronze, Alessia Russo, and Fran Kirby all found the back of the net for England in the thrilling 4-0 victory, which is just one of several wins that have gone on to inspire the nation and prompted people on social media to call for an extra bank holiday should the Lionesses come out on top this Sunday.

The calls for an extra bank holiday should England’s women’s team bring home the title of European champions come after similar calls were made when the England men’s equally made their way to the EURO 2020 final against Italy last year.

ADVERTISEMENT

Read more: Over 25,000 people sign petition for extra Bank Holiday if England win Euro 2020

Although, as most football fans will know, that extra day off was never granted as the Three Lions lost out – but many are hoping for a different ending to the story this weekend.

ADVERTISEMENT

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer – who was spotted at Tuesday’s semi-final match at Bramall Lane in Sheffield with his wife, Victoria – is one of the notable names who has reportedly joined fans in calling for a “day of celebration” in the form of an extra bank holiday.

He told The Mirror: “The whole country will be roaring on the Lionesses in the final on Sunday.

“They have already done us proud, but if they win it will be a truly historic achievement – one that should be marked with a proper day of celebration, where clubs can open and promote access for women and girls.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Starmer’s endorsement of an extra bank holiday follows Tory former Sports Minister Tracey Crouch and Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey’s own calls for a day of worthy celebrations.

England will face Germany in the final of the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 on Sunday / Credit: Lionesses (via Twitter)

Tracey Crouch also told The Mirror: “The Lionesses have already made the nation so proud, blazing a trail for women’s football everywhere [so] if we win on Sunday, let’s give everyone a chance to celebrate with a special bank holiday as we said we would for the men.”

Sir Ed Davey added: “If football comes home, then the country must be allowed to celebrate it.”

In response to the growing calls for an extra bank holiday in the event of the Lionesses’ victory, a government spokesperson has said: “The current pattern of public and bank holidays is well established and while an additional bank holiday may benefit some communities and sectors, the cost to the economy of an additional bank holiday is considerable.”

Featured Image – Lionesses (via Twitter)

Trending

Inside the Grade I-listed Cheshire mansion currently on the market for an eye-watering £11.4m

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A Grade-I listed manor house has gone on the market over in Cheshire, and to say it’s absolutely stunning is a serious understatement.

Oh… but you will need a spare £11.4 million to fork out on it though.

Of course, it goes without saying that the vast majority of people reading this article right now won’t see a sum of £11.4 million ever in their lifetimes, and properties of this size and stature are not the kind we’ll ever get to call home, so the next best thing we can do is just snoop around on good old Rightmove and have a nosey at all the jaw-dropping pictures instead.

Like us, if you’ve got no shame in admitting that one of your favourite internet pastimes is looking up houses you can’t afford in places you’ll probably never visit, then allow us to introduce you to this absolute beast of a mansion in Cheshire.

We’re talking a Grade I-listed, 10-bedroom, has its own library, lake, tennis courts, self-contained lodges, a venue for hosting weddings and corporate events, and is sat in extensive farmland kind of ‘beast’.

This is Dorford Hall, in the Nantwich area of south Cheshire / Credit: Savills

This is Dorford Hall.

Nestled in a secluded, yet still very easily-accessible corner of Nantwich in south Cheshire, the expansive Dorfold Hall Estate boasts a seriously-stunning Grade I-listed Jacobean manor house surrounded by breathtaking Victorian gardens that’s been immaculately-restored and renovated by the current owners over several years to now offer accommodation for modern living within a historic setting.

While the estate may now serve the dual purpose of being a cherished family home, and a picturesque venue for weddings and corporate events, that’s now how it started life in the 17th century.

Built in 1616 and designed in the characteristic Jacobean style, the Grade I-listed Hall is steeped in local historical and architectural significance – with rumours claiming its construction was even expedited to host King James I during a royal visit.

It’s a Grade I-listed manor estate rumoured to have been built for King James I to stay in during the 17th century / Credit: Savills

Now, estate agents Savills call it a “fine example of Jacobean architecture”, all thanks to its symmetrical design, red and blue brick diapering, stone detailing, slate roofing, large mullioned windows, ornate chimneys, and gables.

Accommodation is arranged over three floors, with the spacious reception rooms, bespoke kitchen and dining room, library, billiards room, and the separate lodges, cottages, and apartments for housekeepers, being just a few of the stand-out features it has to offer.

And the wow-factor doesn’t stop with indoors either, as the outside is arguably even more impressive.

It’s currently on the market for £11.4 million / Credit: Savills

Once you’ve entered the estates grounds through the electric gates and make your way down the impressive tree-lined drive, you’ll find acres of mature and historic gardens, new lawn and garden irrigation systems, several outbuildings, and even an enviably-beautiful walled garden with its very-own wildflower meadow, lake.

As mentioned there’s even tennis court within the grounds too, as well as a restored Clock Tower, and the small matter of a RIBA award-winning avant-garde event space and Coach House that’s licensed to hold civil ceremonies.

We know we’ve used the word ‘impressive’ quite a few times throughout this, but what’s one more… it’s all pretty impressive, right?

Read more:

Dorford Hall is currently on the market with Savills for a whopping £11.4 million, and if you fancy taking a closer look, then you can contact the property company to arrange a viewing.

Or take the cheaper route instead and just have a nosey at the Rightmove link here.

Featured Image – Savills

Trending

New narrators to take over from Sir David Attenborough for special episode of Planet Earth III

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

The BBC has announced that some new narrators will be taking over from Sir David Attenborough for a special episode of Planet Earth III.

Sir David Attenborough is one of the most beloved British public figures of all time.

The BBC stalwart has been narrating nature documentaries for over 70 years now, and is known all across the world as the voice of nature – but, as our natural world faces even greater challenges than ever before, the broadcaster has claimed that “one voice alone is not enough to speak up on behalf of planet Earth”.

This is why, especially to mark Earth Day yesterday (22 April), the massively critically-acclaimed documentary series, Planet Earth III, decided to collaborate with BBC Children in Need for a one-off episode of the show.

New narrators are taking over from Sir David Attenborough for a special episode of Planet Earth III / Credit: BBC

But what exactly is it that makes this episode so “special”? Well, that’s because it’s uniquely narrated by dozens of schoolchildren.

The children – who are each aged between nine and 13, and are all said to be “budding naturalists” – can be heard reading from Sir David Attenborough’s original scripts in a bid to both “champion the power of youth voices” and, ultimately, “speak up for the planet”.

The BBC explained that the 50 student narrators were chosen from schools selected by BBC Children in Need as some of the most engaged fundraisers for the charity across the UK in recent years.

Alongside the airing of the special episode, the BBC also gave tens of thousands of children nationwide the chance to tune into a virtual assembly hosted by wildlife biologist, explorer, and presenter Lizzie Daly, as well as take part in a Q&A with the producers of the popular documentary series.

Clips from Planet Earth III were also made available so curious kids could have a go at narrating for themselves.

Read more:

The special episode of Planet Earth III narrated by the schoolchildren is now available to watch on BBC iPlayer here, but it will also be airing on BBC One on Monday 6 May too.

Featured Image – Mark Harrison (via BBC)

More Trending

Business

Chester Zoo named best zoo in the UK thanks to more than 11,000 ‘excellent’ ratings

Antony celebrations controversy FA Cup semi-final Coventry City penalty shootout

Sport

Antony labelled ‘classless’ and ’embarrassing’ for celebrations after Man United’s penalty shootout win against Coventry

Business

‘Not just for mums’ – Iceland drops iconic slogan after more than 50 years

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches