Category Archives: Sealand

Wonder, a purpose-led customer experience agency that recognises the primacy of data, content and technology in building powerful, connected customer experiences, was launched in May 2021 by industry heavyweights Gareth McPherson (ex-Virgin Active chief marketing officer and both managing director and chief creative officer at Publicis Machine) and Helen Ludwig (local ad industry strategy leader and former managing director at Saatchi & Saatchi) with Adrian Hewlett a partner and non-executive chairperson.

L to R: Gareth McPherson, Nicky Scheepers and Helen Ludwig

Thank you! Its been a wonderful journey so far! Weve enjoyed building out a purpose-based business and have had a lot of fun moments in the process. The journey has been good for us so far, weve seen growth in our team, our client list and capabilities through technology.

Weve been fortunate as it has gone better than planned and hoped for, and were grateful for the partnerships, purpose-driven work and growth that has come our way.

Having launched in a constrained business environment, we had planned out a considered prudent approach, however with companies and brands applying new tactics to reach customers, weve seen the opportunities and gaps to assist. This has helped us partner with some blue-chip clients at an early stage in our company career and its been the catalyst for our quick growth.

Our robust client list has grown and includes: Unitrans Africa, Score Energy Drinks, Jet, TFG, Fitch & Leedes, Craft & Design Institute, Granny Goose, Solal, Currency Hub, MoonSport, Old Mutual Wealth Double Century, Fynbos, EMGuidance, Sealand, The Coaching Centre and our two NGO/non-profits we provide services to - I Love Coffee and Love in a Bowl.

When we started the business, we shaped it with our values at our core. This has been the bedrock on which our culture is built. Weve definitely felt that staying true to our values is paying off.

Being purpose-led and matching clients and projects to our value system really has shaped a strong culture for doing whats right, doing good business and definitely helping deliver strong results and return on investment for them.

Our focus has very much stayed the same. We feel that our service offering matched our capabilities and is what our clients are after. Business will always be about connecting customers to services/products. Going to market with a holistic understanding of the customer journey and offering the right solutions at any given touch-point has helped shape a true CX offering.

Each challenge is unique, the customer journey is broad and specific tactics may need to be applied to solve a specific challenge.

Finishing a strong first year. There have been some great business accomplishments and also personal ones. Were humbled to have 10 client partners, a staff complement of five, an affiliate agreement with the Publicis Groupe and also to be working with some amazing NGOs, the likes of The Craft and Design Institute, iLoveCoffee and Love in a Bowl.

Besides the day to day, working with organisations that empower people, improve and build communities really does have a rewarding feeling about it.

From the outset, we were hellbent on launching a company that was different. Our unique model and makeup do set us apart. We are a collective of senior thinkers surrounded by our advisor panel of entrepreneurial experts and we overlay this with the smart delivery of specialist skillsets.

It allows us to be a nimble and agile startup but draw on the scale and backing of a solid network. This definitely has proved to be attractive to clients. Our culture of curiosity, mastery, collaboration and purpose has informed the type of clients we have attracted and the type of work we do.

By working across the full customer journey, weve built out connections through communication campaigns, e-commerce platforms, content strategies, digital marketing and media solutions.

We cant really pinpoint one thing but our view is that the company is never complete, we will always be continuing to improve, and through new technologies, tactics and training we will continue to fine-tune and be better.

We continue to stay on our trajectory, keep to our north star of purpose-led, live our values, remain humble, grow our talent and make a meaningful difference to our clients' business, our partners, employees and community.

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Wonder celebrates a year of leading purpose-based brands - Bizcommunity.com

Everybody is terrified of something, and often it has to do with whatever's most likely to cause an unpleasant and untimely death. If you're living in the Cretaceous Period, a T-rex might be the stuff of nightmares, while a mountain goat living today in the European Alps might constantly be on high alert for a golden eagle swooping down and dropping them off a cliff. But if you're an animal almost any animal living off the coast of Antarctica, the real horror show begins when the leopard seals show up.

Leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) are apex predators and the second largest seal in the Antarctic coastal ecosystems, after the southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina). They are extremely agile, fast swimmers with long, muscular bodies. Their common name references the big, spotted cats of Africa and Asia, because they are both terrifying apex predators with giant, powerful jaws filled with sharp teeth, and their coats are also speckled.

"Leopard seals eat almost everything, from krill to penguins to seals and fur seals," says Daniel Costa, director of the Institute of Marine Sciences UC Santa Cruz, who studies movement patterns, diving behavior, physiology and diet in leopard seals. "They typically hang out at penguin and fur seal colonies. When the penguins or fur seals go into the water the leopard seal very slowly sneaks up on them and catches them. They then swim further offshore and begin to tear the seal or penguin apart. Leopard seals also attack and kill juvenile crabeater seals we've seen adult crabeater seals that have been mauled by leopard seals."

Leopard seals are stealthy hunters, but tiny krill are more difficult to sneak up on than a fish or a floating sea bird. However, their front teeth are sharp and great for ripping and tearing, but they also have specialized molars they use to filter krill out of the water while they swim around.

A study published in 2019 in the Canadian Journal of Zoology found leopard seals cache their prey like cats, sometimes killing a fur seal pup and stashing it somewhere safe to eat later when they're hungry.

Leopard seals are pagophilic, meaning they mostly live on ice packs, and they're primarily found in Antarctica, though they have been sighted off Australia, South America, New Zealand and South Africa. They live on their own for most of their lives, with the exception of when a mother is with her pup.

"Not much is known about the reproductive biology of leopard seals," says Costa. "We know they give birth in the pack ice during the austral spring [spring in the Southern Hemisphere] in October and November. They give birth to a single pup. If they are like other pack ice seals they suckle their pup while fasting and do so over a period of a few weeks. Their milk is probably very high in fat 40 to 50 percent fat."

Their breeding system is equally mysterious. Male leopard seals spend many hours each day making loud, underwater calls during the austral summer, November through March, possibly as a way to fend off intruders to their territory and to call in potential mates.

In their romantic lives, leopard seals probably practice what we call serial monogamy, says Costa:

"A male stays with a female while she has her pup, waiting for her to come into estrus. Once they breed, he goes looking for another female to breed with. There is very little known about this, but males do have a very high frequency vocalization that is probably related to social display."

As predators at the top of the food chain with no real threats other than humans and the killer whale, leopard seals do pretty well for themselves. But, like virtually every other animal that relies on Antarctic pack ice for its livelihood, the threat of climate change looms large over the long-term survival of leopard seals.

"There are no direct threats to leopard seals, other than climate change potentially reducing the abundance or the distribution of their prey," says Costa. "In one of the fur seal colonies I have worked on, the number of leopard seals has increased dramatically from a few to over 30 individuals. We don't know if this is because the population has increased, or that they are now focusing on a few fur seal and penguin colonies because other food resources are less available."

Link:

Leopard Seals Are Apex Predators of the Antarctic - Animals | HowStuffWorks

FBI data suggests 143% increase in reports of sextortion crimes so far in 2022, compared to same time in 2021

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.(KRQE) Albuquerques FBI field office is warning New Mexico teens and parents about an increase in the number of so-called sextortion cases. According to the FBI, thats when suspects convince victims to take part in explicit sexual activity over social media, then use that media against the victims to gain more.

Nearly halfway through 2022, the Albuquerque FBI Division says its already received 107 reports of the sexual-extortion cases. The FBIs data suggests a 143% increase in the number of reports between January and May of 2022, compared to the same time in the previous year. In 2021, Albuquerques FBI field office received 126 total reports, with just 44 coming between January and May 2021.

According to the FBI, suspects in sextortion cases often record or keep the sexually explicit content victims produce. With that material, the FBI says suspects, or predators try to get money, additional sexual material, or other things of value from the victim.

In response to the FBIs concern of the situation becoming more prevalent, the Albuquerque field office has, in part, launched a new electronic billboard campaign with messages urging teens to be cautious online. The message reads, the internet connects your kids to the world be careful online this summer. The billboard also features the FBI seal and Albuquerque Public Schools logo, alongside a link to an FBI website: fbi.gov/safekids.

The FBI says sextortion usually begins when an adult contacts a minor over an online platform used to meet and communicate, such as a game, app, or social media account. Typically, victims are between the ages of 14 to 17 years old.

Coercion of a child by an adult to produce sexually explicit media made by minor is whats considered Child Sexual Abuse Material, or CSAM, according to the FBI. The federal law enforcement agency says penalties for the crime can include up to a life sentence in prison.

Investigating sex crimes, the Albuquerque FBI Division created a Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force in April 2020. That unit is made up of representatives from the FBI, the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office, Second Judicial District Attorneys Office, U.S. Attorneys Office, New Mexico Attorney Generals Office, New Mexico State Police, and Albuquerque Police Department.

The FBI offers the following tips for parents and teens to protect themselves online:

According to the FBI, If you believe you or someone you know is the victim of sextortion:

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Albuquerque FBI warns parents, teens of increase in sextortion cases - KRQE News 13

Parents are feeling the pressure because of the baby formula shortage. While the supply of formula runs low, emotions are running high. Keep in mind, thats what scammers are betting on, Holly Salmons said. Salmons is the president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Central Florida. She said for parents desperately trying to find formula, the highest risk is on social media. That situation is rife with opportunity of people being ripped off or being scammed, Salmons said. That is something that Sierra Clemmons is warning families about on the Finding Formula Facebook page she started in Winter Garden. RELATED:There have been some people who have said, I need this formula or I have this formula. Give me this money in order to get it. Then, it turns out the second that they get Venmoed, whatever the case, the accounts gone and they dont get the formula, Clemmons said. As a mom who is struggling with the formula shortage herself, Clemmons said she created the group to be donation only. This is all just donation out of the goodness out of our hearts, so if someone is asking for money in any way, that just pops up a big red flag, she said. There should be no exchange of money at all. If someone is asking for money for the can of formula or the liquid, thats a big red flag for me, Clemmons said. Salmons agreed, which is why she said do your homework before you click send on a payment app. Make sure that you verify, verify, verify, before you pay the money, she said. Because the last thing you need is to be stressed out, heartbroken and have those funds taken from you.Its not just the money that families should keep in mind, but something even more important. You also want to make sure that youre paying attention to the health and safety of your family and not just securing the product. Keep in mind that the seal and the expiration date are just as important, Clemmons said. If you think youve experienced a situation like this, the BBB encourages you to report it online with the Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker.

Parents are feeling the pressure because of the baby formula shortage.

While the supply of formula runs low, emotions are running high.

Keep in mind, thats what scammers are betting on, Holly Salmons said.

Salmons is the president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Central Florida.

She said for parents desperately trying to find formula, the highest risk is on social media.

That situation is rife with opportunity of people being ripped off or being scammed, Salmons said.

That is something that Sierra Clemmons is warning families about on the Finding Formula Facebook page she started in Winter Garden.

RELATED:

There have been some people who have said, I need this formula or I have this formula. Give me this money in order to get it. Then, it turns out the second that they get Venmoed, whatever the case, the accounts gone and they dont get the formula, Clemmons said.

As a mom who is struggling with the formula shortage herself, Clemmons said she created the group to be donation only.

This is all just donation out of the goodness out of our hearts, so if someone is asking for money in any way, that just pops up a big red flag, she said.

There should be no exchange of money at all. If someone is asking for money for the can of formula or the liquid, thats a big red flag for me, Clemmons said.

Salmons agreed, which is why she said do your homework before you click send on a payment app.

Make sure that you verify, verify, verify, before you pay the money, she said. Because the last thing you need is to be stressed out, heartbroken and have those funds taken from you.

Its not just the money that families should keep in mind, but something even more important.

You also want to make sure that youre paying attention to the health and safety of your family and not just securing the product. Keep in mind that the seal and the expiration date are just as important, Clemmons said.

If you think youve experienced a situation like this, the BBB encourages you to report it online with the Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker.

Excerpt from:

Parents urged to beware of scams as baby formula shortage continues - WESH 2 Orlando

A popular annual event in Campbell River has been cancelled for the third year in a row.

The City of Campbell River says the 2022 Wings N Wheels event will not be taking place this year due to construction at the airport.

The event had been scheduled to take place on July 10 and is expected to return in 2023.

Although we cannot facilitate the event in 2022, the community can look forward to its return in 2023, when necessary airport improvements are complete, Mayor Andy Adams said in a press release.

The Campbell River Airport has been a wonderful host of past events, adds Bill Alder, President of Sealand Aviation. With significant improvements coming to the airport in this summer, we simply dont have the space needed to put on the type of show that weve become accustomed to. We thank North Island Cruisers, City Council and City staff for their continued support of the event, and will return in 2023 with an event worth waiting for.

The Campbell River airport is undergoing $4.5 million worth of renovations and upgrades that include improvements to airport lighting, visual aids and taxiways.

With construction at a peak in July, it is not possible to provide an accessible environment to host this event in 2022, said Dennis Brodie, the airports manager.

Wings N Wheels has been hosted by Sealand Aviation, in partnership with the City of Campbell River since 2013. The event was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

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Wings 'N' Wheels event in Campbell River cancelled due to airport construction - CHEK

There were no medals, nothing like that, says Trevor Swinburne as he remembers the last time Carlisle United rose into English footballs second tier, four decades ago yesterday. But there are memories to trigger the feeling that, 40 years ago, we were doing alright

The 1981/2 season saw the Blues win their last game at Chester to finish second in Division Three on goal difference. Bob Stokoes team did not receive silverware, but Swinburne the teams ever-present goalkeeper has other mementoes.

We were allowed to keep our shirts that we wore that night at Chester. Ive still got that. It was a nice jersey had a green collar, in a cottony material. I would like to say I still fit in it, but I dont

Swinburne is 68 but retains a razor sharp command of the detail of one of Uniteds finest hours. It is hard to imagine the Blues reaching the Championship just now but, in the early eighties, second-tier football was not such an alien experience.

Carlisle had, after all, spent much of the late 1960s and early 1970s at that level. After falling from the top flight in the latter of those decades, it took the hardened figure of Stokoe, in a second managerial spell, to take them back up.

READ MORE:In pictures: Carlisle United's last promotion to Division Two - 40 years ago

He did so with an experienced, tightly-knit side in which Swinburne was the last line of reliability. Having joined from Sunderland in 1977, he proved an adept goalkeeper behind a strong defensive line, in a team whose climb culminated at Sealand Road, Chester, on May 19, 1982.

Typically, this being Carlisle United, there was unnecessary drama before that day, because Stokoes team, despite an increasingly potent season, lost the first two of their last three games when promotion seemed assured.

Bob Stokoe, second right

Thats right we went down to Wimbledon and lost 3-1, then we had Bristol Rovers at home on the Saturday, Swinburne says. We only needed a point, and I think wed only lost one home game all seasonso of course we went on to lose that one 2-1 as well.I blame myself for that, because on my way down to the ground I bought a bottle of champagne to celebrate. That backfired...

Swinburne does not believe it was a case of outright promotion jitters, but something was still preventing United from kicking for home. When the finishing line is in sight, you need just a little bit more to get there. Perhaps it was subconscious.

The pressure was building all the time. Going down to Chester, despite the poor season theyd had...we were a little bit apprehensive about it.

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Chester, already relegated, were a largely bereft side, having infamously lost to Penrith in that season's FA Cup. Yet they gave United a contest. We were under quite a bit of pressure in the first half and I had quite a bit to do," Swinburne says. "We managed to survive...and then Pop scored.

Pop Robson celebrates the goal at Chester that took United up in 1982

Following a corner, Robson, Carlisles veteran forward, fired the clinical first-half goal that would seal their Second Division status.That gave us a bit of leeway, and in the second half we took more control," Swinburne says. "The last 10-15 minutes seemed like an eternity, but I vividly remember Tommy Craig and Russell Coughlin coming into their own, and late on managing to keep the ball up near the corner flag, well away from me.

All the Carlisle fans started to gather to come onto the pitch. Chester had a free-kick, and Stevie Ludlam an ex-Carlisle player very kindly hung it up nice and I came out and caught it on the penalty spot. The referee was right beside me and said, Give me the ball, keeper, its all over.

I gave him the ball, he blew the whistle, and all the Carlisle fans started coming on from the far end of the pitch. In my goal I always used to take a cap and gloves, so I went back to get them before trying to get off the pitch. But by this time the Carlisle fans were over the halfway line. I had no chance! But everybody was so happy, so ecstatic.

Swinburne and his team-mates eventually battled their way into the dressing room. The smiles never left our faces. We went into the Chester directors box and were able to acknowledge the fans on the pitch.

Afterwards, I didnt come back in the team bus; I came back with Gordon Staniforth and Russell Coughlin in one of the fans cars. We went to a pub in Carlisle, near the castleand later that night I stupidly was going to take my car back home. Gordon said, Trevor, dont - get a taxi, itll be a bad end to a great day if something silly happens.

That was a good piece of advice. I got home, lay in bed, the room started going roundand next day I got a taxi down and picked up my car.

When heads cleared, there could at last be a sense of satisfaction at Carlisle's promotion, which was led by their uncompromising manager.Swinburne had been signed by Bobby Moncur, but it was Stokoe who had pointed them back in the right direction.

Bob didnt suffer fools, says the goalkeeper. He was a vastly experienced manager, and if people didn't fulfil what he saw as his pattern of play and team demand, they werent around for very long.

"I know he pulled his hair out not that he had much to pull with people like Paul Bannon. Paul did wonderful things but silly things as well. But as far as defensive work was concerned, I dread to think what he would say about this playing out from the back you see today. He was all, Get the ball forwardif youre in doubt, get it out.

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Carlisle used 20 players across the entire season, many of them established regulars. Swinburne had to become such a figure across his time at Brunton Park. I had a long history with Bob because he was my manager at Sunderland. I always got the impression there that he didnt like inexperienced players.

At Sunderland I was battling against Jimmy Montgomery, who had loads of experience. I would come in and, no matter how well I did, I was always pushed out again. So it was nice to get to Carlisle.

Swinburne joined United from Sunderland in 1977

Allan Ross was the goalkeeper then, and Rossy was so helpful to me. One of his attributes was talking to defenders, whereas I was a lot quieter. To be able to listen to Rossy as he explained how to organise things was invaluable to me. I will always be grateful to him for that.

It meant that by the time Bob came to Carlisle [in 1980], I was a much more experienced player and I remember the season before we got promotion when Bob and [trainer] Dick Young went behind my goal when we were playing at Burnley. Bob said he wanted to see how I communicated with my defence. He had been a centre-half in his day and knew how important it was. He said, 'I was pleasantly surprised by what I saw that night'. So he decided I was going to be the goalkeeper in our push for promotion the following season.

Swinburne therefore remained a consistent touchstone in a side of other seasoned pros. There was class and there was quality through that team. You look at Tommy Craig, Pop Robson, Bobby Parker, Dave Rushbury, Keith Houghton, Jackie Ashurst. Good, solid players.

"From a goalkeepers point of view, having a settled back four was really important.Going forward there was a lot of creativity. I had a high regard for Russell Coughlin, who was great in the middle of the field, and Tommy Craig. Then up front you had Paul Bannon: a bit of an ungainly sort of player but really effective and scored some vital goals for us, as did Gordon Stanny.

A lot of credit has to go to Bob for the way he wheeled and dealed. The selling of Peter Beardsley [to Vancouver Whitecaps] didnt go down too well but it brought in the money to allow Bob to put the team together that got promotion. A great piece of management, really.

It was a team that accumulated many motorway miles in their pursuit of success. There was some good banter," Swinburne says. "I remember on one trip, Gordon Staniforth was in charge of the videos to watch on the bus. He put one on something quite gruesome, I wont say what it was and Bob didnt like it.

He went up and said, I dont know who got this thing, but Im not watching it. And flung the video half the length of the bus to Gordon"

Gordon Staniforth, one of the stars of the 1981/2 promotion side

Swinburne went on to play every game in 1982/3 as United acclimatised to Division Two with a mid-table finish. By the end of that campaign he had made the best part of 300 appearances for the club. Yet his time at Brunton Park then suddenly came to an end.

The issue was the offer of a new contract that was verymiserly, in my opinion, he says. I knew there were people coming in who were earning a lot more than me. I was on 155 a week, and got offered 170 a week. For someone that was ever-present for two seasons, and achieved a bit of success, I didnt think that was a good enough offer.

The club never came back with an improved offer. I dug my heels in and said, Right, Im going. My wife asked where I wanted to go to. I said, I dont mind, as long as its not London. Anyway, I ended up at Brentford

Swinburne chuckles at that , but maintains it was not a good feeling to leave Carlisle. Id just moved house the Christmas before we left. I thought I was well settled. Two of my three sons are Cumbrians and we loved the area. It just became a matter of principle.

Ive always regretted it. My heart is Carlisle.

Swinburnes time at Brentford was not so enjoyable, and he then joined Leeds, where he was back-up to the future Carlisle keeper, coach and manager Mervyn Day. Lincoln City then offered him first-team football and he saw out his career at Sincil Bank, making roots in the city even though the Imps were relegated from the Football League in 1987. A vastly different calling then came.

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Whilst at Brentford, a neighbour who worked in the prison service had suggested it might offer a career option after football. It intrigued Swinburne and, as he hung up his gloves, he pursued it.

Initially he headed into the service as a physical education instructor, but felt there was better scope for promotions, and a pension, if he became a prison officer. Over the years he worked at HMP Stocken, HMP Lincoln and HMP Leicester, working his way up to senior officer and then governor positions.

It was quite a change, he says. But I loved it. I think the best thing I can say is that if you watchPorridge[the 1970s sitcom starring Ronnie Barker], it is a real true reflection of life in prison. Its about one team the prisoners trying to get one up on the other team the officers and humour is a big thing.

It's a strange environment. Its like a microcosm of the world behind the big walls. You get some real horrible characters, and yet you have to deal with them. I always worked along the lines of if somebodys ok with me, Ill be ok back. If someones creating me problems all the time they will get what theyre entitled to but nothing more.

Are there crossovers from football? Yes I think its the team aspect.I was always working on the rehabilitation side. Im a great believer that some people go through their lives and make a mistake, and that knocks them off the rails. The vision of the prison service is to get them back on the rails, give them employability skills and so on. I like to think we did some good work. We certainly tried to.

Swinburne, who lives in Lincoln, with his grandchildren

Swinburne left the service in 2012 and, busy in retirement, drove across America, visited family in Australia and devoted time to his grandchildren and his garden. He accepted a job driving disadvantaged children to school and, until recently, was chairman of the Lincoln City former players association.

He watches his old club at Sincil Bank, where often he encounters another familiar Carlisle face in the Lincoln-based 1990s defender Dean Walling. Yet it is some time since he reconnected with the Blues players of his own era.

Just before Covid, we holidayed in the Lakes, and I went to Brunton Park and stood outside the gate, went into the club shop, just reminisced a little bit," he says. "Id like to go back to a game some time and see if anyone I know is still there.

I did keep in touch with some of the lads at first, but as time passes the contact gets slimmer. It would be nice to relive what we did in '82 again with the people who shared the experiences.

Those boys will always have their respected part in Carlisle Uniteds history, and the achievement appears ever more precious as the years go by. In a footballers career you dont get too many promotions, and I experienced two in nearly 20 years," Swinburne says. "Without a doubt, what we did at Carlisle is up there amongst my most special memories.

READ MORE:How we reported Carlisle United's promotion to Division Two in 1982

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Trevor Swinburne on Carlisle United's 1981/2 promotion: 'We had class and quality...' - News & Star

Ruins, former buildings and forbidden places galore are dotted around the region.

While these structures are no longer in use, accessible, or even exist anymore, they sure do have some interesting stories to tell.

The former Tolly Cobbold brewery in Ipswich- Credit: Sarah Lucy brown

Cliff Brewery

First on this list is the former Cliff Brewery in Ipswich. Anyone whos grown up in the town (or loves their beer) will know all about this building, and how much of an iconic structure it is.

Located on thewaterfront, this now-disused brewery was once where Tolly Cobbold brewed some of its biggest and best beers until 2002 when operations ceased. In 1989, it became a Grade-II listed building, and in 2015 it made The Victorian Societys list for Top Ten Most Endangered Victorian and Edwardian Buildings.

A group of Cobbolds draymen at the Cliff Brewery in 1935- Credit: Dave Kindred/Archant

Over the years, the former brewery has been the talk of the town, with many wondering what will happen to it next. Various planning permission requests have been put in, including turning it into a business and education centre, housing, and even a theatre.

However, in 2020 a fire broke out, causing substantial damage to the already old building. But in 2021 the former brewery was bought once again under auction. Who knows what the future holds for this once-thriving brewery, but Im sure we can all agree its a stunning piece of architecture that deserves a second lease of life.

Sealand- Credit: Ryan Lackey

Sealand

Anyone whos ever stood on Felixstowe beach on a clear day will no doubt have noticed the structure thats roughly 12km out to sea.Thats Sealand an unofficial micronation that was founded as a sovereign principality in 1967 on HM Rough Sands, a former World War II Maunsell sea fort.

Established by former British Army major Paddy Roy Bates, it claims to be the worlds smallest nation with an approximate area of 4,000 square metres. It began life as the home of a pirate radio station, and in 1975, Bates introduced a national flag, national anthem, currency, and passports for the principality. At its peak in the 1970s, around 50 people lived on the platform but today its population has dwindled to just two residents.

Sealand pictured in 1978- Credit: Archant

According to its official website, the principality is pretty much off-limits to visitors. It states: Due to the current international situation and other factors, visits to the Principality of Sealand are not normally permitted. Accordingly, the application list for visas is for the time being closed.

So sadly no day trips this summer.

Shrubland Hall- Credit: Sarah Lucy Brown

Shrubland Hall

This historic Georgian manor in the heart of the Suffolk countryside certainly looks impressive from the outside but thats as far as you can go. The Coddenham country house has been closed to the public since 2017, and has had a rather interesting history since its inception.

Built in the 1770s, this 288-acre estate has played a number of roles over the years, including hosting nobility. During World War One, it became a home for wounded soldiers, and in the 1960s it was a detox health clinic that actress Joan Collins once visited. Its even been a film set and can be seen in the 1965 James Bond film Thunderball.

Shrubland Hall at Coddenham- Credit: Sarah Lucy Brown

More recently, it briefly reopened as a hotel, restaurant and spa in the mid-2010s but sadly closed shortly after and has been shut ever since.

Earlier this year, the East Anglian Daily Times conducted an investigation which found it was being marketed as a wedding venue with photos suggesting it had hosted two weddings there in 2019 and 2021. However, the hall indeed remains closed to the public.

It will be interesting to see if anything comes of it anytime soon though after all, its parklands and Italian-style gardens are Grade I-listed, and the hall itself is a Grade II-listed building.

While Bury St Edmund's Abbey is no more, its ruins are impressive nonetheless- Credit: Sarah Lucy Brown

Bury St Edmunds Abbey

Once the largest Romanesque church in all of northern Europe, the former Abbey at Bury St Edmunds helped put this Suffolk town firmly on the map during Englands medieval years.

It was first established in the 11th century under the reign of King Cnut, with a stone rotunda constructed as a shrine for the slain King Edmunds body.

It prospered and grew for centuries (and at one point even ran its own mint), and in the 13th century it played a vital role in British history - as the abbey was the very place where a group of barons met to swear an oath, in which they urged King John the accept a Charter of Liberties - later to become the Magna Carta.

While Bury St Edmund's Abbey is no more, its ruins are impressive nonetheless- Credit: Archant

But the abbey was a cause of contention with the local residents, and was eventually torn down during the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 1530s and 1540s.

What remains today however are its impressive ruins, which you can visit. These can be found in the eponymous Abbey gardens.

Just stand among these stone ruins and try to envisage how statuesque and towering this abbey once was, all those years ago. It mustve been a sight to behold.

If the abbey church was still intact today, like some of the minsters up north or Westminster in London, Bury St Edmunds wouldnt be the wonderful town it is today. Instead, it would be a sprawling, metropolitan city, and a mass of urbanisation, explains local historian and Bury St Edmunds expert Martyn Taylor.

Henham Hall, featuring the Earl of Stradbroke with members of his staff and their families, c. 1920- Credit: Archant Archives

Henham Hall

When you hear the word Henham, you tend to think of Henham Park, where the annual Latitude Festival takes place every summer. Having played host to some of the planets biggest and best indie, folk, dance, and alternative acts around, its one of the countys most prestigious green spaces, and a hallowed turf for any music fan.

But did you know it was once home to a large country manor? The former Henham Hall used to occupy this sprawling stretch of land, and was constructed in the 1790s. Designed for John Rouse, sixth Baronet and later first Earl of Stradbroke, it was built on the site of a previous Tudor mansion which sadly was destroyed by a fire in 1773.

The new hall was completed in 1796 and in 1858 fell foul to a fire once again. However, the insurance money wasnt enough to help fix it, and shortly after the Second World War, the home was demolished due to a combination of insufficient funds and wartime damage. Today, all that remains of the former hall are the stables and some lodges.

The now-disused Severalls Hospital- Credit: Archant

Severalls Hospital

Over the border in Essex is Severalls Hopsital in Colchester a former mental health hospital that was in use throughout the 20th century. Severalls opened in 1913 as the Second Essex County Asylum, and once covered a 300-acre site.

During the Second World War, it was bombed by the Luftwaffe, and 38 patients were killed in the hospitals west wing. However, the former healthcare centre is moreknown for administeringtreatments on patients deemed unethical today, such as frontal lobotomies, during the mid 20th century.

A corridor in the former Severalls Hospital- Credit: Archant

By the 1980s, most of the hospital fell into decline, and it officially closed in 1997. Since its closure, it has been the subject to a number of paranormal investigations, as well as trespassers making their way onto the site.

Have you got a favourite former place, abandoned building or set of ruinsin Suffolk that didnt make the list? Get in touch with danielle.lett@archant.co.uk to share yours.

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Can you visit Sealand off the coast of Suffolk? - East Anglian Daily Times

An image that was uploaded on Rhee Keuns YouTube channel after his arrival in Ukraine on May 10. (Rhee Keuns YouTube channel)

According to ROKSEAL (Rhee Reuns YouTube channel) on Sunday, Rhee, also known as Ken Rhee, was injured while leading a special reconnaissance mission.

LT Ken Rhee recently incurred injuries while leading a special reconnaissance mission behind enemy lines. He has been transferred to a military hospital. We will keep you posted, the online post said.

Many rumors and speculations about the Navy SEAL-turned-YouTuber had erupted in the past few weeks. Among the rumors were that he had been killed in Ukraine and that he was staying at a hotel near the Ukrainian border with Poland. There were speculations that his motivation for joining the war was to shoot YouTube videos.

Rhee rejected the claims in a YouTube post Thursday, arguing that spreading fake news and rumors was a serious crime.

Criticizing and insulting soldiers fighting on the front line in war situations and spreading false information about them is a serious crime, considered an act of propaganda or spying, he wrote on his YouTube channel.

Rhee, who rose to stardom as one of the trainers in the YouTube military series Fake Men, announced his arrival in Ukraine via social media on March 7.

By Lee Si-jin (sj_lee@heraldcorp.com)

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Ex-Navy SEAL and YouTuber Rhee Keun injured in Ukraine - The Korea Herald

Thousands of runners will descend on the city centre this weekend for what will be the 40th anniversary of the Essar Chester Half Marathon. The hugely-popular road race starts from Chester Racecourse at 9am on Sunday, May 15.

Runners will then head through the city taking in Watergate Street, the Rows and Chester Cathedral before venturing out into the countryside via Northgate Street. Organisers are inviting both competitors and spectators to join them in celebrating the landmark event, which will have two very special guests.

"There will be a cake with 40 candles on it on race day," said joint race organiser Chris Hulse. "And we are hoping the 4,000 runners at the starting line and the oodles of spectators will share our celebratory mood!"

READ MORE: Chester city centre road closures as Northgate development nears completion

"We are honoured to have the race started by Dr Basil Thompson who was one of the organisers of the very first Chester Half Marathon back in 1982. He will be accompanied by British Marathon Champion Jonathan Mellor.

"Our award-winning half marathon attracts runners from far and wide, joining an impressive local contingent. We have a fantastic finish area outside the Town Hall which will produce a lively party atmosphere, giving much appreciated support to the runners heading down Northgate Street with all the spectators undoubtedly sharing in their triumph at completing the 13.1-mile challenge."

It is expected that the runners will raise over 500,000 for charity. Claire House Hospice is the official race charity, but a myriad of other great causes will be supported by the participants. Chris said: "As part of the anniversary celebrations we will be offering runners mini cakes and special birthday giveaways to 40 lucky winners at the finish, kindly donated by sponsors and local Chester businesses, in addition to the commemorative t shirt and goody bag. Its going to be a memorable event!"

Here are the all important details you need to know:

Event times

The actual race starts at 9am, but the Chester Racecourse car park opens at 6.30am - 4 cash charge per vehicle - along with the helpdesk. The car park closes at 7.30am and won't reopen until 10am. The baggage store opens at 7.30am and will be in operation until 1pm. Prize presentations will start at around 11am.

The route

The race starts at Chester Racecourse, heading up Watergate Street, through the Walls and the historic centre of Chester. Runners will leave the city via the Garden Quarter before heading out into the countryside on Parkgate Road.

Just after Little Mollington Hall, runners will turn onto the Roman road into the villages of Mollington and Lea by Backford. The route then continues up Parkgate Road and turns left to loop around part of Saughall village. Returning on Parkgate Road, runners will then pass Chester University and run towards the finish line via the Garden Quarter. The finish line is outside the Town Hall and Cathedral.

Road closures

Access to the city centre will always be available via Sealand Road and New Crane street, except for a short period between the race start. This section of road will be shut from 8.55am for around 20 to 30 minutes. If you are travelling into the city, use Liverpool Road, Hoole Way, the A51 and Grosvenor Road routes to avoid the closed roads.

If you live in the Garden Quarter or Blacon, then Cheyney Road, Stadium Way, Bouverie Street, Raymond Street, Canal Street and Garden Lane are closed until 1pm. Cars parked on West Lorne Street, Chichester Street or roads connecting these will be able to drive to the George & Dragon to exit. There will be no exit for cars parked in the Garden Lane car park as runners will be on the road.

Cars parked west of the canal will be able to exit via Sealand Road up to the A550 and Two Mills. Access from Chester towards Blacon will not be available via Sealand Road between 7.30-10am.

If you live in Mollington, then Parkgate Road through the village will be closed from 8.30am to 1pm, while roads in Mollington will be shut from 8.30am to 12pm. Well Lane and Station Road will be closed from 8.30am to 11am. Organisers will endeavour to provide residents access to the A41 after 10.10am.

If you live in Saughall, between 8.30am and 1pm Parkgate Road will be closed. Access and exit via Sealand Road to North Wales and the Wirral is available at all times. Access via Sealand Road from Saughall into Chester will be available, except for a twenty to thirty minute period from 8.55am, while the runners leave Chester Racecourse. Access from Chester towards Saughall, via Sealand Road, will be restricted between 7.30-10am.

For access to and from Ellesmere Port and the Wirral, use Liverpool Road and the A41. After 10am it will also be possible to use Sealand Road and the A550 to get to Two Mills junction and continue north from there. Road closures do not apply to pedestrians. If you are on the run route please take care as there will be race vehicles on the route.

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Chester Half Marathon: Details of road closures ahead of 40th anniversary race - Cheshire Live

BOSTON (WWLP) The Massachusetts State flag and motto are seen as controversial and in need of change by some residents.

The State Commissions tasked with reviewing the Massachusetts seal and motto met Tuesday to discuss what the future of the flag looks like. The 19-person commission includes state lawmakers, Massachusetts tribe members, representatives for the state commission on Indian affairs, and other agencies.

Currently, the Commonwealths seal and motto shows a controversial image of an indigenous man standing over an arm wielding a sword with the Latin motto, By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty.

Elizabeth Solomon, Special Commission on the Official Seal and Motto of the Commonwealth, said, This is just imbued with multiple instances of disrespect, racism, and colonialism.

During the commissions meeting, members stressed the need to fully understand and represent the history of the Bay State, while also respecting the indigenous people of Massachusetts.

The Commission was originally given an October 2021 deadline, but that has since been extended. Massachusetts would not be the first state to change its seal. Just last year, Mississippi, changed its flag to remove the confederate battle cross.

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Debate continues on changing Massachusetts seal and motto - WWLP.com