Shields Gazette | June 06, 2026 Legendary figures from the North East’s football scene are set to come together for a South Shields charity match. – by Ryan Smith South Shields Football Club are set to host a second fundraising match in aid of Diabetes UK on August 2, at the 1st Cloud Arena.The Mariners hope the match will surpass the success of their first event last year as they look for footballing legends from across Tyne & Wear to join them on the pitch.The club began fundraising last year after Jude, the grandson of chairman Geoff Thompson, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. This story is from the June 06, 2026 edition of Shields Gazette. Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers. SUBSCRIBE NOW Already a subscriber? Sign In
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Football legends teaming up for charity match | Shields Gazette – newspaper – Read this story on Magzter.com
The Beatles Story Wins Gold at VisitEngland Awards for Excellence for Second Consecutive Year – Liverpool City Region Destination Partnership
Liverpool’s The Beatles Story Awarded Coveted Gold at VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2026.
The Beatles Story has been awarded GOLD in the International Tourism Award category at last night’s prestigious VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2026 ceremony.
The ceremony, held at Aerospace Bristol beneath the wings of the iconic Concorde Alpha Foxtrot, celebrated the very best of England’s tourism industry. This national recognition follows The Beatles Story’s earlier success at the Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards, where it won in the same category earlier this year.
The VisitEngland Awards for Excellence champion the very best of the country’s tourism industry – celebrating quality, innovation and customer service. The International Tourism Award recognises attractions that deliver outstanding service to international visitors.
The awards cycle begins with a series of regional competitions, including the Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards, at which The Beatles Story won the International Tourism Award earlier this year – securing a spot at last night’s national contest.
The Beatles Story has remained a leading international attraction for 36 years, continuing to welcome visitors from across the globe and protecting the legacy of Liverpool’s cultural heritage.
Tourism is one of England’s largest, most valuable industries, supporting more than 200,000 businesses, employing 2.6 million people and generating about £76 billion in domestic visitor spending.
Mary Chadwick, General Manager at The Beatles Story, said:
“We’re so thrilled to receive this national recognition from VisitEngland. This award reflects the passion and hard work of our team, the invaluable support of our global community of ambassadors, and our commitment to delivering an exceptional experience for visitors from all around the world.
It’s an incredibly exciting time for Beatles tourism, with renewed global interest driven by upcoming biopic films, and new music projects from both Paul and Ringo. We’re proud to see Liverpool’s unique musical heritage recognised on a national stage, and to be at the forefront of that as we celebrate 36 years of The Beatles Story. We look forward to welcoming even more visitors and continuing to share this extraordinary legacy with future generations.”
Praising The Beatles Story’s continued success in bringing Liverpool’s cultural heritage to life for global audiences, Natalie Wyatt, Managing Director of Liverpool City Region Destination Partnership, said:“At a time when visitors are seeking meaningful, authentic experiences, The Beatles Story continues to set the benchmark for excellence.
This Gold award reflects not only the quality of the visitor experience but the attraction’s ability to translate a globally recognised cultural legacy into something personal, immersive and memorable for every visitor who walks through its doors.
Tourism is ultimately about stories, connections and shared experiences. The Beatles Story demonstrates the extraordinary value of bringing cultural assets to life in ways that strengthen local pride while attracting audiences from around the world.
On behalf of Liverpool City Region Destination Partnership, I would like to congratulate the entire team on this well-deserved recognition. Their success further enhances Liverpool City Region’s reputation as one of the UK’s leading cultural and visitor destinations.”Tourism Minister Stephanie Peacock said:
“I am delighted to see so many businesses across England being recognised for their outstanding work, helping to make people’s stays as enjoyable and memorable as possible. These awards are a real testament to those striving to ensure our tourism industry remains outstanding.”
VisitEngland Director Andrew Stokes said:
“The awards are a celebration of England’s outstanding tourism industry and an opportunity to highlight the excellence that makes it world-leading. These awards showcase the exceptional quality, unparalleled customer service and innovation that drive our industry. I congratulate the wonderful range of first-class award recipients, all of whom are so passionate about tourism. They are all deserving winners.”
For more information about The Beatles Story, visit www.beatlesstory.com.
For more information on the Visit England Awards for Excellence, click HERE.
For more information on the Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards, click HERE.
To see the full list of winners, click HERE.
Baby boy died after weeks of abuse as parents jailed for killing him
A South London couple who beat their baby to death have been jailed.Devaun Rose-Turner died at just eight months in December 2021, having been left with over 80 injuries in two months before he died(Image: Bedfordshire Police)A South London couple who beat their baby to death have been jailed. Devaun Rose-Turner died at just eight months in December 2021, having been left with over 80 injuries in two months before he died. The emergency services raced to the Bedfordshire home at about 7am on December 11 2021 after Devaun’s dad, Emmanuel Turner, called to say he wasn’t breathing.Devaun was pronounced dead later that morning. Parents Emmanuel Turner and Shandies Rose of Hurstbourne Road, Forest Hill, were arrested on suspicion of murder in 2022 but were released under investigation while detectives tried to build a picture of what happened.Detectives worked closely with medical and forensic experts to piece together the circumstances surrounding the death, with the extent and pattern of injuries indicating repeated episodes of physical abuse. Investigators also established that Devaun had been in the sole care of his parents throughout that period.In August that year, detectives learned the pair had fled it to Nigeria. They came back on May 10 last year and were arrested at the airport, charged, and held on remand.Turner, 34, and Rose, 29, both of Hurstbourne Road, London, were also both convicted of causing or allowing a child to suffer significant harmDuring the trial, the court heard how their son had suffered more than 80 separate injuries during the eight weeks leading up to his death.Emmanuel Turner, 34, was today sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday (June 3) with a minimum term of 22 years for the murder of his son. Shandies Rose, 29, was found not guilty of murder but convicted of manslaughter, and was jailed for 12 years.They were also both convicted of causing or allowing a child to suffer significant harm. They were sentenced to eight years and seven years, respectively, to run concurrently.Judge, the Honourable Mrs Justice Farbey KC, said: “Both of you knew about his pain. Both of you decided to keep it hidden so he received no medical help.”Detective Inspector Lee Martin, who led the investigation, said: “This was a complex and deeply challenging investigation into the sustained abuse and tragic death of a baby behind closed doors.“From the outset, our focus was on establishing exactly what happened to Devaun and securing justice for him, with our team working tirelessly to ensure he was given a voice.“Nothing can undo what happened to him, but today’s sentence reflects the persistence of our officers in ensuring that those who should have cared and protected for him have been held accountable for the abuse he suffered.“Our thoughts will always remain with Devaun – sleep well, little man.”Don’t miss out on the biggest local stories. Sign up to our MySouthLondon newsletter HERE for all the latest daily news and more
Public the Musical – Curve, Leicester – The Reviews Hub
Created by Stroud and Notes
Music and Lyrics: Kyla Stroud, Natalie Stroud and Olivia Zachariah
Writers: Hannah Sands, Kyla Stroud, Natalie Stroud and Olivia Zachariah
Director: Hannah Sands
Six years in the making, Public – The Musical arrives at Curve carrying considerable festival pedigree. Born from songs written during lockdown in 2020, developed through a first run at VAULT Festival in 2022 – where it won the Origins Award – and honed further at Edinburgh Fringe in 2023, where it took Playbill’s Pick of the Fringe Award, this is a production that has earned its place at a full-scale venue. The Curve run marks its most substantial staging yet, with an expanded script and a 90-minute running time that dispels any concern about whether the material can sustain the stretch. It can, and with room to spare.
The premise is simple: four strangers, trapped overnight in a public toilet. It’s the classic device – incompatible people forced into proximity, obliged to confront one another and, eventually, themselves – but the setting gives it a fresh and often very funny dimension. We meet each of them before they enter, glimpsing the small indignities that send them through the door: a café that won’t let you use the facilities without buying something, a shoe requiring urgent attention after an encounter with a dog. Amy Jane Cook’s set is spot on – entirely recognisable, the hand dryer and all, and a surprisingly versatile space for the action that unfolds within it.
The expanded version wisely abandons real-time constraints, playing the piece across the course of a night. It’s a good decision, as the relationships and revelations here – and there are several, carefully timed – could not realistically have developed in an hour. The extended form allows scenes between smaller configurations of characters, some of them asleep, creating space for the more intimate, reflective exchanges that add extra emotional strength.
The four characters are clearly drawn and played with real skill. Matt Corner is Andrew, a macho investment banker whose world has contracted to his expensive bike and his own blinkered certainties – misogynistic, contemptuous of anyone who doesn’t fit his worldview, and entirely unaware of it. It’s a difficult type to play without tipping into caricature, and Corner keeps him just credible enough to make his eventual shifts land. Grace Towning is Zo, an activist en route to a protest, and it’s a tribute to the writing and to Towning’s performance that Zo is genuinely, recognisably irritating – well-meaning to her core, but incapable of meeting people where they are. You understand her completely and find yourself exasperated in equal measure. Ivano Turco brings a quiet, fragile quality to Finlay, a fast-food worker holding himself together with some effort, and sometimes failing; his is the most inward of the four performances, and the most affecting. Cole Dennis rounds out the quartet as Laura, non-binary, good-natured, instinctively diplomatic – the person trying to keep the peace while missing a flight to a wedding. The four work well together, and the ensemble vocal work throughout is exceptional with tight harmonies that never come at the expense of clarity.
The pop-rock score is one of the production’s real strengths. There are numbers that catch the ear immediately, upbeat and propulsive, and others that pull back into something gentler and more reflective as the night wears on and the characters begin to lower their defences. Crucially, every lyric is audible – no small thing in a musical where the songs are doing genuine narrative work, as here they are.
Hannah Sands’ direction keeps the 90 minutes moving without sacrificing the quieter moments that give the piece its depth. What they have all built together – five years from bedroom to Curve – is funny, warm, and genuinely moving. The laughs are plentiful, but what stays with you is something rather more than that.
Public – The Musical is well worth catching before it leaves Leicester on 13 June though surely it will have a life beyond that.
Runs until 13 June 2026The Reviews Hub Star Rating
100%
Flush with heart and humour
Picture shows progress on new £45 million Cambridge police station
The construction of the building has seen a “few delays”The latest picture shows the progress of a new Cambridge police station being built(Image: Cambridgeshire Police)Cambridgeshire Police have released a picture showing the progress of a new £45 million police station. Last year, Cambridgeshire Police said the opening of its new £45 million police station, which is being built next to Milton Park and Ride, would be delayed.The station was initially supposed to open in November 2025. This was then delayed to spring 2026. A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police has confirmed that there have been a “few delays” but the force is hoping to transfer in “very soon”.Planning permission for the new station was approved by South Cambridgeshire District Council in March 2021. The new station will replace the force’s current 1960s Parkside building in Cambridge city centre.Construction of the building began in January 2024. Plans for the new station include doubling the number of cells, enhancing facilities to face complex crimes such as fraud and online investigations, and better road access for more efficient responses.A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police previously said: “The construction work will still be largely complete by the end of the year [2025] but fitting out, installing systems like ICT will take us to the spring.”It is not yet certain what will happen to Parkside Police Station.
Police and firefighters forced to close Staffordshire road as man found dead
Paramedics were also at the scene06:45, 04 Jun 2026Updated 07:56, 05 Jun 2026(Image: Manchester Evening News)Emergency services were forced to shut a Staffordshire road after a man was found dead. Police, firefighters and paramedics were all sent to the scene in Tutbury yesterday (June 3).As reported by The Sentinel and Burton Street was closed off for what, at the time, was described as a ‘police incident’. Now Staffordshire Police has confirmed that sadly a man was found dead.Meanwhile officers are not treating the tragedy as suspicious. The alarm had been raised at 1.40pm.A spokeswoman for the constabulary said: “We were called to a property in Tutbury, Burton-on-Trent, following reports of a sudden death.”Officers closed Burton Road in the direction of Ironwalls Lane while emergency services attended the scene. Sadly, a man was pronounced dead by paramedics a short time later.”His next of kin has been informed. We are not treating the death as suspicious.”A spokeswoman for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were called by colleagues at West Midlands Ambulance Service following reports of a sudden death. One crew attended the scene. Firefighters assisted in the removal of a man who was sadly pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene.”Get daily headlines and breaking news emailed to you – it’s FREEEnsure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search
Bold Street café that was always full closed without a word
The Liverpool city centre café has already been replacedBold Street packed with shoppers(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)A Bold Street café that was once constantly packed with customers has quietly disappeared from the city. Gong Cha, the bubble tea brand that attracted long queues stretching down the street when it opened in 2020, has closed and has already been replaced by another company.Gong Cha opened with more than 100 customers waiting in line and a lion dance ceremony to mark the occasion. The brand served a range of bubble teas, including “dirtea”, a dessert-like drink combining its signature milk foam, fresh milk, brown sugar pearls and topped off with Oreo crumbs.In August, Gong Cha shut its Newcastle site with no prior warning, leaving only a note on the door. Two months later, the company closed all of its Singaporean sites for the second time after a similar exit from the country in 2017.The Liverpool site’s absence was short lived as a new business, a Hong Kong street food venue named LOJO Mate, has already opened in the premises.LOJO Mate Classic HK Cafe on Bold Street, Liverpool(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)LOJO Mate came to prominence early last year as an inconspicuous dining spot serving up dishes from thousands of miles away. Established in 2024, it was an off-shoot of highly rated takeaway, Sai Kwan Lo Jo, which was formed more than 6,000 miles away in Hong Kong.Operating for several years, the original spot specialised in food from China’s Guangdong’s Xiguan region, such as hand-made lai fun noodles and sticky rice dumplings.For three years it consistently made it onto the Michelin Guide’s prestigious Bib Gourmand list. But then it suddenly closed with its owners called it quits on its takeaway, citing the pandemic, closures happening around them and a period of low earnings.LOJO Mate Classic HK Cafe on Bold Street, Liverpool(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)However, one of its founders decided to up sticks and move to the UK, landing in Bury, where he established LOJO Mate with a focus on Hong Kong-inspired dishes.In March, its owner, Alex, who prided himself as a one man operation, announced the venue would be leaving Manchester. LOJO Mate has now taken the brand to Liverpool with the Bold Street site up and running and offering everything customers came to love from the Bury site.Announcing its arrival, LOJO Mate said: “From a Red, to another. Almost two years of ‘training’ in Bury. Didn’t get much, apart from repetition. This year, LOJO Mate moves to the next chapter.”
Properties of the week: fabulous farmhouses
Wiltshire: Upper Minety, Malmesbury
(Image credit: Knight Frank)This charming period Cotswold build offers long views over the surrounding countryside. The property comprises approx. 38 acres, with 2 paddocks and land laid to permanent pasture. 5 beds, 4 baths, kitchen/breakfast room, 3 receps, outbuildings, stables, garden, parking. £1.75 million; Knight Frank.Devon: Higher Collaton, Blackawton
(Image credit: Marchand Petit)An elegant Georgian property with just under 10 acres of pasture. 6 beds, 4 baths, kitchen/breakfast room, 2 receps, 2-bed barn, 1-bed cottage, garden, parking. £1.5 million; Marchand Petit.Bedfordshire: North End, Bletsoe
(Image credit: Fitzjohn Estates)Grade II thatched farmhouse with a wealth of period features. 5 beds, 4 baths, kitchen/breakfast room, 5 receps, garden, outbuildings, parking. £1 million; Fitzjohn Estates.
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From our daily WeekDay news briefing to an award-winning Food & Drink email, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.Latest Videos FromLincolnshire: The Old Farmhouse, Fulbeck
(Image credit: Mount & Minster)A glorious Grade II property set in mature gardens and situated in the heart of one of Lincolnshire’s most attractive villages. 5 beds, 2 baths, kitchen, 3 receps, outbuildings, garden, parking. OIEO £750,000; Mount & Minster.Hertfordshire: New Hall Farmhouse, Wareside
(Image credit: Hamptons)A pretty period farmhouse with 15th-century origins and later extensions. The property is set in approx. 2.4 acres of mature south-facing gardens and enjoys far-reaching views across the neighbouring countryside. 6 beds, 6 baths, kitchen/breakfast room, 4 receps, summer house, detached 1-bed annexe, outbuilding, garden, parking. £2 million; Hamptons.
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Pembrokeshire: Llanddinog Farmhouse, Llanddinog
(Image credit: Country Living)This stunning, newly renovated holding is set in approx. 3.6 acres close to the coastal communities of St Davids and Solva. 4 beds, 2 baths, kitchen/dining room, 3 receps, 1 letting cottage with 1 bed, 2 letting cottages with 3 beds, 1-bed lodge, garden, paddocks, outbuilding, parking. £1.5 million; Country Living.Cumbria: Foldgate Farmhouse, Corney
(Image credit: Davidson & Robertson)A handsome house in the Lake District National Park, with views to the Isle of Man. Main suite, 4 further beds (1 en suite), 2 baths, kitchen/dining room, recep, snug, garden, parking. £585,000; Davidson & Robertson.A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.comScottish Borders: Sunwick Farmhouse, Berwick-upon-Tweed
(Image credit: Galbraith)A traditional 18th-century building in a charming countryside setting with views of the Cheviot Hills. 6 beds, 3 baths, kitchen/dining room, 2 receps, outbuildings, garden, parking. OIEO £485,000; Galbraith.
Wolves and Watford chase £8.5m attacker after 14 goals in 2026
Both Watford and Wolverhampton Wanderers are preparing for a demanding 2026/27 Championship campaign, albeit from very different starting points in terms of their expectations. It’s fair to say that Watford have been heading in the wrong direction for several years now despite possessing a number of exciting players, particularly in attacking areas. The likes of Othmane Maamma, Imran Louza, Nestory Irankunda, Kwadwo Baah, and Giorgi Chakvetadze all provide reasons for optimism. However, the club’s persistent managerial churn and inability to build continuity have prevented them from making meaningful progress up the table and 15th, 14th, and 16th have been their last three league finishes. As a result, they have drifted further away from promotion contention rather than moving closer to a return to the Premier League. That leaves prospective new boss Alessio Dionisi with a sizeable task on his hands. The Italian will do well to reverse Watford’s fortunes in what appears to be a particularly competitive Championship season, with several clubs harbouring realistic promotion ambitions.
Wolves and Watford eye Fluminese striker John KennedyAction Images
Among the clubs with promotion ambitions is Wolves, who are looking to bounce back at the first time of asking following relegation from the Premier League under Rob Edwards. They will need additions this summer to ensure they can do that. Also, given both clubs are likely to target some similar profiles of young and high-upside players, it would not be a surprise to see Watford and Wolves competing for some of the same transfer targets this summer. One of those has since been outlined, with Watford and Wolves both said to be keeping a close eye on Fluminense striker John Kennedy. Reports from Brazil indicate the two English clubs have made enquiries about a possible move in the summer transfer window.
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Fluminense are said to be open to a sale, but only if an offer arrives above €10 million (£8.5 million) for the 24-year-old. However, both Udinese and Cagliari have joined the Championship duo in contacting Fluminense, according to journalist Joao Van Boysen. He is in the final year of his contract but could be in demand after 35 appearances for the Brazilian giants where he scored 14 goals and notched a further two assists, becoming one of their most effective attacking players. Kennedy is a man for the big occasion after he scored the extra-time winner for Fluminense in the 2023 Copa Libertadores final, which was a goal that secured the biggest trophy in the club’s recent history.
The best use of Watford’s and Wolves’ resources might be to use £8.5 million elsewhereAction Images
Kennedy’s height, or lack of it, would not necessarily be a deal-breaker in the modern Championship, but it does raise questions about how each club would utilise him. At around 5’8″, Kennedy might offer mobility and intensity rather than aerial dominance.
For Wolves, the fit is slightly less obvious because they already possess a smaller, instinctive goalscorer in Adam Armstrong. Unless Rob Edwards sees Kennedy as a wide forward or second striker, there is a risk of duplication rather than complementarity. Wolves may instead prioritise a centre-forward capable of occupying centre-backs and providing a focal point.
At Watford, the argument is stronger. Pairing Kennedy with towering striker Luca Kjerrumgaard could create a classic big-man/little-man partnership, with the Brazilian feeding off knockdowns and space created by his strike partner via second balls. The question is whether that is the most effective use of resources in 2026. Most successful sides now prioritise fluid front threes or with goals from off of the wings, rather than rigid strike pairings. While Kennedy and Kjerrumgaard could work, Watford may ultimately extract more value elsewhere for £8.5 million or thereabouts.
New Leicestershire £30m SEND school could open in 2028
“We’ve got a rise in demand for special needs places that’s national and that’s also reflected locally,” Browne said. “It’s very clear the Harborough district has a real shortfall so it’s important we start looking at increasing capacity in that particular area.” He said the school “would absolutely pay for itself very quickly” despite the £30m price tag for taxpayers.This is because independent specialist placements for SEND children cost Leicestershire County Council nearly £70,000 a year, whereas specialist schools maintained and run by the county council cost between £23,000 and £30,000, he said. The school would include dining halls, music studios, drama spaces, and “ample” playing fields, including multi-use games areas and parking, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. Browne said the council hopes to open the school by September 2028, which he admits is an “ambitious target”.
