Each week, Ben Hopkinson looks back at a serious, crazy, and happy news story from the past week.
Serious News
An injunction has been granted to National Highways against protesters who voice their opinions by blocking the M25. Over the past week, more than five blockages have been caused by Insulate Britain, but since the injunction was granted on Wednesday. Any that happen since Wednesday’s injunction went through “will face contempt of court with possible imprisonment if they flout” says Transport Secretary Grant Shapps. Home Secretary Priti Patel said the “important injunction” would mean “people can get moving again” on the London orbital motorway.
Crazy News
Meet Harry Potter, a 33-year-old from Waterlooville. He’s had to spend the past 25 years convincing everyone that he actually shares his name from the wizard at Hogwarts. He has been disciplined in football matches for this, as well as being called a liar by his future wife. Harry says “When I was a young footballer, a referee threatened me with a red card. When I met my wife Philippa on holiday in Greece, she didn’t believe me either. People think it’s a wind-up”. However, sharing a name with the wizard isn’t a bad thing as he was invited onto The Big Breakfast TV show as a kid, which is where he met Ben Stiller and Gwen Stefani. Maybe Voldemort won’t get on his case just yet, as he owns a rare copy of the first Harry Potter book which could be worth £30,000 due to it being one of the only 500 made in the first print run.
Happy News
Shelly Brockbank has been reunited with her pet cat after 12 long years. Alfie went missing in 2009 when he was four years-old and failed to return home later that day. After being found, he went into the JSPCA as a stray and after browsing social media, she saw a post with Alfie advertised. Before he disappeared, he apparently enjoyed exploring and was “well-known for climbing into people’s cars”. Talking about the reunion back at home, Shelly said that he “came out of his box and was immediately rubbing up against my leg, trying to get in my lap. It was almost like he was saying, ‘I’m home’.” Shelley hopes that Alfie can now enjoy a “cosy retirement”.
