UK News

Search continues for hiker Kyle Sambrook, missing in Scotland with his dog

The pair were last seen on Sunday.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 24th February 2023

Police are still searching for Kyle Sambrook, a West Yorkshire local who went missing while hiking in Scotland with his dog.

It’s believed that the 33-year-old had intended to climb Buchaille Etive Mor in the Glencoe area before wild camping with beagle Bane.

He set off from his home in West Yorkshire on Saturday 18 February, and was last seen in the Lost Valley area on Sunday at around noon.

Kyle was supposed to return home on Tuesday, but hasn’t been in touch with friends or family, The Hoot reports.

Police and mountain rescue teams have reported that Kyle is carrying a tent and other hiking equipment and was ‘suitably clothed’ for walking in the conditions of the Scottish Highlands.

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Kyle Sambrook with his dog, a beagle named Bane
Kyle Sambrook with his dog, a beagle named Bane
Search teams in Glencoe looking for Kyle Sambrook
Search teams in Glencoe looking for Kyle Sambrook. Credit: Facebook, Glencoe Mountain Rescue

His car, a black Peugeot 208, was located in the Three Sister’s car park in Glencoe.

Police, along with a team of volunteers from Glencoe Mountain Rescue have been searching the hills for Kyle but so far have been unable to find him.

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Kyle is described as white, 5ft 8ins, of medium build, with ash blond hair short hair, ginger/blond stubble, blue eyes and a West Yorkshire accent.

Volunteers from Glencoe Mountain Rescue searching for missing Kyle Sambrook. Credit: Facebook, Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team

He was believed to be wearing khaki and black Merrel hiking boots, khaiki and black Revolution Wraith outdoor trousers, a dark and light blue hooded Peter Storm waterproof jacket, and a grey North Face beanie hat.

He was carrying a grey and yellow Merrel backpack.

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Sergeant Shaun Knox from Police Scotland said: “Kyle was suitably clothed for walking and we believe he had a tent and other equipment with him.

“He may have changed his original plan to climb Buchaille Etive Mor and it is important that we find him to make sure he is safe and well.

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“We are asking anyone who was out and about on Sunday in the area, and in the days since, if they recall seeing Kyle and his dog, both are quite distinctive.

“We would like to thank everyone who has responded to our appeal as every piece of information, no matter how small, could be vital in helping us to find him. Please get in touch with any information that you might have.”

Anyone who can help should call Police Scotland on 101, quoting reference number 1644 of Wednesday, 22 February, 2023.

Featured image: Police Scotland

UK News

Northern Rail confess that they still use fax machines to contact train crews

Danny Jones Danny Jones Northern Rail still uses fax machines

In a quite staggering moment for the public transport sector, Northern Rail has confessed that it still uses fax machines to communicate with train crews across the network.

Nope, not an April Fool’s but, rather fittingly, it is Halloween and this is pretty scary stuff to hear in 2024.

Yes, as unbelievable as it might sound, part of the reason that Northern trains have been so poorly run in recent years, leading Greater Manchester’s Mayor Andy Burnham to call an emergency meeting this past Wednesday, is because they still rely on faxes to communicate between train crews.

The alarming revelation was made public after the transcript from Burnham’s and the Northern mayors’ meeting with the Rail North Committee was shared online, in which one official said that many problems arise “because the tools we use to get information and messages to our crew rely on faxes, amazingly.”

A simply flabbergasting statement of admission from the rail network which had come under even more fire than ever of late following swathes of trains being cancelled across the region.

Burnham had already called out the company for delivering an “embarrassing” and “part-time service” but things have only got worse since he called the meeting itself.

On Thursday night, yet more trains were cancelled – some even mid-journey between the likes of Manchester and Sheffield, with passengers finding out before conductors in some instances (members of The Hoot and The Sheff team can vouch for that) – causing even more bedlam at the station boards.

Another local based in Gatley, Stockport who spoke to us following last night’s “laughable” service told us how they had to make alternative arrangements to get home after their next 10 trains were cancelled.

Naturally, the Bee Network pioneer wasted no time in calling for Chancellor Rachel Reeves and the Department for Transport to intervene as, at present, the state of trains in the North as a whole is simply untenable.

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It very much feels like an ‘if you don’t laugh you’ll cry situation’ but commuters have been stuck with these simply unnaceptbale conditions for far too long.

Other details from the meeting included that not only do Northern employees still train crew members to communicate over their rotas or to book time off via fax machines, but that despite assuring they want to get rid of them they state it can’t be simply replaced due to current reliance and union rules.

It’s claimed that the rail firm has so far been unable to successfully update the network-wide communication system because of the legacy agreements that remain between Northern train drivers and their union ASLEF (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen).

Elsewhere, with the Labour Party having announced a number of cuts, tax increases and other financial changes as part of their first budget in 14 years, Burnham has at least managed to secure Greater Manchester’s locally-controlled £2 bus fare while most of the country are set to lose it.

Greater Manchester to survive key public transport cut as government prepares to scrap bus fare cap
Northern Rail might be stuck with fax machines but the Bee Network is thriving.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — El Pollock (via Geograph)/Jon David Houghton/Tumi-1983/(via WikiCommons)

UK News

Scissor Sisters confirm reunion after more than a decade ahead of massive Manchester gig

Danny Jones Danny Jones Scissor Sisters are back UK reunion shows Manchester tickets

Still a firm cult favourite from the 2000s, Scissor Sisters are officially back and are bringing a special reunion tour to Manchester and the UK and Ireland at large.

The American outfit were one of the biggest and most well-known pop groups on this side of the Atlantic during their heyday, notching three BRIT Awards and two number-one albums.

Starting out in New York, like many bands in an oversaturated music market, they ended up proving to be much more popular here in Britain than they ever did in the US, not to mention becoming real icons among the LGBTQ+ community.

And now, over a decade later, the Scissor Sisters are set to repay the likes of Manchester, Leeds, London and more with a series of comeback shows, including one at Co-op Live arena – a gig which the venue has already teased earlier this week.

Confirming the reunion on social media on Thursday, 10 October, the band said: “Exciting news, for the first time in over a decade, we will come together again, live next May across the UK and Ireland.

“And for the first time ever, our debut album Scissor Sisters will be performed in full in celebration of its 20th anniversary – alongside all the other Scissor hits from along the way… See you very soon. Jake, Babydaddy, Del.”

Long-time fans were quick to notice that there was no mention of fellow founding member Ana Matronic nor former drummer Randy Real; the band themselves told BBC that the current lineup following their indefinite hiatus is by no means a way of replacing anyone but does give them a chance “to get some people on stage and ask some friends to do fun things.”

Frontman Shears’ 2023 Cabaret co-star, Rebecca Lucy Taylor, was also teased with a possible appearance on the Scissor Sisters reunion tour. Either way, they’ve promised a “little bit of chaos, anarchy” and an “‘anything can happen’ energy again.”

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It’s been 12 whole years since we last saw them out on the road, so it’s only fitting that they give us a dozen UK/IE dates, starting at Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena before bringing the comeback party down the home stretch in Dublin.

Scissor Sisters are set to stun the Manchester crowd with their Co-op Live debut on Wednesday, 21 May 2025, with special guest support from Alison Goldfrapp of the iconic electronic music duo, and we truly really can’t wait to roll back the years with them.

Pre-sale goes live on Wednesday, 6 November at 10am which you can access via their website and general admission tickets will be available from the same time the following Friday, 8 November.

You can get ready to grab yours HERE.

We can’t wait to hear all the favourites – ‘Filthy/Gorgeous’, ‘I Don’t Feel Like Dancin”, ‘Take Your Mama’ and more – but, until then, the announcements coming out of Manchester’s biggest new music venue just don’t stop…

Pet Shop Boys named amongst latest wave of unreal acts set to play MTV EMAs at Co-op Live

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Press Image (supplied)

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