Featured News Archives - Times Echo and Life

April 9, 2020

Teenagers undertake the ‘CovHead-19’ challenge

TWO TEENAGERS from the Moorlands have shaved their heads as part of a challenge that aims to raise money for the NHS as it battles the outbreak of coronavirus. Friends Joe Avery, from Cheadle, and Alfie Walford, from Kingsley, both joined in the 'CovHead-19 Challenge' that invites people to sponsor others to shave their heads to try to “donate some money to a good cause and create some positives out of a bad situation.” Joe explained how he got involved with the initiative, which was set up by NHS Charities Together.

Stranded musician entertains with garden concert series

AN AMERICAN musician who can’t return to his home in Cyprus because of restrictions in place to combat coronavirus Covid-19, is giving free weekly concerts in Uttoxeter. Raphael Orlando Tate is staying with friends in the town, after becoming stranded in the UK.

Schools help protect front line workers

INNOVATIVE school staff have stepped up to help provide frontline medics with vital kit. Nurses, doctors, NHS staff, GP surgery staff and carers are among the many key workers needing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). But as global demand is on the rise, some a struggling to get hold of masks, visors and other equipment such as disposable aprons and gloves.

Mass community spirited token of appreciation

As NHS staff, carers, emergency service employees, store staff, delivery drivers and many other key workers strive to keep the country going – residents across the nation joined in on a 'Clap For Our Carers' initiative which all started from a post on social media. And the community of Cheadle and surrounding areas was no different in joining in on the mass clap to show just how appreciative we all are of our key workers. It is understood that another 'Clap for Our Carers' will take place once again tomorrow (Thursday, April 2) at the same time of 8pm.

Village restaurant cooks up a feast for NHS staff

A TEAM of Indian chefs have been helping to feed NHS staff during the current coronavirus situation. Staff from Roshni Restaurant in Forsbrook visited the Royal Stoke University Hospital last Wednesday (March 25) armed with around 100 curries for NHS workers to enjoy. Restaurant owner Muhammed Sami told the Times & Echo: “I just wanted to do something for the hard working NHS staff.

‘To isolate is vital – and I can tell you why’

A FORTNIGHT ago, Dr Helen Kara returned from a week teaching and speaking at universities in Southampton and Norway. When she arrived home on March 13, she decided to self-isolate, aware that although it was unlikely she had picked up coronavirus Covid-19, she had travelled through many crowded places, including airports, train stations, tube trains and taxis as well as staying in hotels and eating in restaurants. As an asthma-sufferer, Helen took the decision to isolate herself as much as possible from family and friends, even though at that point, there was no official requirement for her to do so. She said: “I took all the precautions I could; my hands have never been so clean. “But I wouldn’t know for sure whether I had caught the virus for at least 14 days, maybe longer – and if I had caught it, then during those days I could infect tens or hundreds or even thousands of other people.” The day after she came home, Helen shared her thoughts and fears in her blog helenkara.com, reflecting on her longing to see a friend’s new baby and the restrictions she was placing on herself after researching coronavirus as much as she could. But just a couple of days into her self-imposed isolation, Helen realised that not everyone was as aware of the potential effects of the virus. And before the Government instructed the nation to stay at home, her parents, who are 79 and 80, enjoyed a visit from a friend. Now Helen is sharing their story - a stark illustration of the difficulties faced by so many as we remain in our homes, unable to care for our loved ones far away, fearful of the many ways this virus can enter our homes and impact on our lives:

Volunteers co-ordinator Covid-19 response

TOWNSFOLK are playing a crucial part in supporting family, friends and neighbours as restrictions put in place to slow the spread of coronavirus Covid-19 intensify.

Time capsules to mark moment in history

A RESIDENT from the Moorlands has started an initiative that has seen people from all around the world join together to create time capsules to remind future generations of the impact the coronavirus pandemic has had globally. Eve Goodyear from Cheadle thought up the idea with her children, wanting to mark this moment in time in a practical way. Her family have created a timeline of what has happened over the past few weeks amid the Covid-19 outbreak by placing newspaper cuttings and family trees and photos into a time capsule.

Parish council leads the way in helping the elderly and vulnerable in Blythe Bridge and Forsbrook

RESIDENTS in the villages of Forsbrook and Blythe Bridge are continuing to club together to look after the more vulnerable members of their community. Chairman of Forsbrook Parish Council Peter Jones said: “I am heartened by the community response and their call to action. “At this time we need to make sure we are all looking out for our neighbours.”

Campaign launched to fundraise for 26 new defibrillators in town

A COUNCILLOR is joining forces with a charity to launch a campaign to help raise funds to install 26 additional defibrillators in a town following the loss of its community response vehicle. Cheadle town councillor Elizabeth Whitehouse is fronting a campaign in alliance with AED Donate to increase the number of life saving pieces of equipment in her town, urging businesses and residents to donate to the cause. Stone-based AED Donate is a charity committed to “improving survival from out of hospital cardiac arrest,” championing the need for automated external defibrillators in the community.

Community rallies together to help vulnerable amid virus

A VILLAGE in the Moorlands has come together to help the more vulnerable members of their community amid the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. Forsbrook Parish Council has run an appeal parishioners to nominate “one or two people per street” to keep an eye out for the vulnerable people who live close by. The council also said that, via the parish, efforts could be made in regards to any items that need collecting, such as prescriptions and food.

Dancing diggers to take centre stage at carnival

JCB’s world-famous Dancing Diggers will take a birthday bow at a Moorlands community event this summer as the company marks its 75th anniversary. Widely regarded as a 'down-to-earth version' of the Red Arrows, the legendary JCB Dancing Diggers will take centre stage in the main show arena at Cheadle Carnival on Saturday, July 4. There, the mechanical monsters will perform intricate and spectacular ‘choreographed’ routines with an elegance and split-second precision that belies their heavyweight construction. The World’s Fastest Tractor – a modified version of the famous Fastrac made in Cheadle – will also be on show. The tractor secured the title with a speed of 135.191 mph driven by motorbike racer and lorry mechanic Guy Martin at the wheel. Also lining up alongside the tractor will be the JCB GT - the world’s fastest backhoe loader with a top speed of around 120mph. JCB is also supporting the carnival with a £3,000 donation by sponsoring the main stage.

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