Each week, Ben Hopkinson looks back at a serious, crazy, and happy news story from the past week.
Serious News
Last weekend saw a catastrophic crash on the A2 by Dartford Heath. A man and a woman in their 20s both died at the scene as a BMW M3 left the carriageway and overturned.
he driver was taken to hospital with serious injuries after the crash which happened on Saturday morning at around 10:30.
The coastbound carriageway was where it happened and was closed for hours, as well as the Londonbound direction too, to allow the air ambulance to land. Alternative routes through M25 Junction 3, Bexley and Bexleyheath were also congested.
Thoughts go to the family and friends involved in the crash.
Crazy News
With fears that the name ‘Nigel’ was going out of fashion, 372 of those named Nigel from around the world gathered at a Worcestershire pub.
Landlord of The Fleece Inn, Nigel Smith says that it was his life goal to boost the popularity of his name. He came up with the idea of the ‘Nige-fest’ after learning that the name had become extinct according to birth records in 2016 and 2020.
Musicians named Nigel entertained the crowd and attendees signed ‘the book of Nigel’ which has been kept at the pub. Awards were also given out which included the youngest Nigel which went to someone in their 30s, whilst the oldest made the trip from America. Others travelled from Los Angeles, Florida and Texas to Nicaragua, Zimbabwe and Spain.
Speaking of the event, the landlord says: “‘It was like we all had known each other forever, but obviously we didn’t. It was a great feeling of all of us getting together and celebrating our Nigel-ness. Times are pretty difficult at the moment for many of us so it was great to be able to get together for a party. We had a 14-week-old puppy called Nigel as well, which was nice – but he didn’t say very much! We are uniting Nigels from all across the world, and we would like to reach out to and invite all Nigels – and all non-Nigels – to come along and join us next time in 2025”.
Happy News
An independent bookshop in Norwich that has been trying to stay afloat has just received a “bonkers” £5,000 donation form Russell Crowe.
Bookbugs and Dragon Tales in Norwich wants to raise £15,000 to give the business “breathing space” and to bring books to children who may not have easy access to Norwich City Centre. After a few hours of the online appeal, the donation appeared in the name of Crowe.
The business opened in 2019 and was hit hard when it had to close during the lockdown, but owner Leanne Fridd says that the cost of living crisis could become “the straw that broke the camel’s back”.
