St Ann’s shooting suspect arrested

POLICE have arrested a 20-year-old man in connection with a shooting in the St Ann’s area of Nottingham.
It is believed two gunshots were fired towards a group of people who were standing outside Smithy’s News, Food and Wine, at around 1.05pm on August 30th.
No-one was injured in the incident although damage, including a smashed glass panel, was caused to the shop.
The suspect was arrested on Tuesday afternoon in the Radford area of Nottingham on suspicion of attempted murder.
He remains in police custody helping police with their enquiries.

Dr Who baddies come to the city

SOME of the scariest and most iconic monsters from the BBC’s smash hit TV show Doctor Who landed in Nottingham’s Old Market Square on Wednesday to celebrate the forthcoming Doctor Who Live tour.
Old Market Square was transformed into a monster’s playground as fans came face to face with some of the Doctor’s most terrifying enemies, including a Cyberman, Scarecrow, Ood, Silurian and a Clockwork Robot.
Doctor Who Live is a music and monsters spectacular featuring special effects, optical illusions and breathtaking pyrotechnics which build to an epic finale. Clips from the Television Programme as well as specially filmed scenes starring the Doctor (Matt Smith) will be shown. Visit www.doctorwholive.com for more details

Sisters to climb Africa’s highest peak

TWO sisters are aiming to climb the highest mountain in Africa in memory of their friend who died of cancer.
Samantha Jackson and Amanda White plan to scale the 6,000-metre high Tanzanian mountain Kilimanjaro to raise money for two charities.
The sisters’ close friend Laura Howard lost her battle with cancer in 2009 aged just 23 so Samantha, 29, from Arnold, and Amanda, 28, who now lives in London, want to do something special in her memory.
They hope their Kilimanjaro climb on October 1 will raise more than £6,800 for the two charities which helped Laura - Marie Curie Cancer Care and Teenage Cancer Trust. To prepare for the big day, Amanda and Sam have climbed Snowdon and braved Yorkshire’s ‘Three Peaks’ and plan to tackle Scafell Pike and go walking in the Alps.
Katie Grinter, local community fundraiser for Marie Curie Cancer Care, said: “We are so proud of Amanda and Sam.”
To help the sisters visit www.uk.virginmoneygiving.com and type Amanda White in the ‘find a friend’ box.

Speedo backs Oliver’s bid for success

LOCAL teenage swimming hero Oliver Pratley has been treated to a tour of Nottingham-based Speedo’s high-tech Aqualab research and development facility.
He was also personally fitted for a Speedo LZR Racer suit
Oliver, 15, has Downs Syndrome and has only been swimming for three years but already holds two junior short course swimming records for 100-metre freestyle and 50-metre backstroke.
He achieved this at the European Downs Championships in April and now the Nova Centurion squad swimmer has set his eyes on the world stage as he prepares to compete for Britain in the World Down Syndrome Championships in Taiwan in September.
Oliver’s Speedo tour was conducted by Speedo Aqualab’s product development manager Debbie Yeoman, who gave him a Speedo kit bag and other goodies as well as fitting him out with a revolutionary LZR Racer suit.
Speedo’s VP of product and marketing, Sean Hastings, who met Oliver on his tour, said: “We are delighted to provide practical support for a great local athlete such as Oliver in his pursuit of international glory for Britain. We wish him every success in the World Down Syndrome Championships.”
In addition to the support from Speedo, Oliver is also being backed by Maunside Radio in Mansfield.
Oliver is pictured with Speedo’s Sean Hastings.

Picture by Will Pickering

Cancer fight in memory of mum

BULWELL cyclist Deanne Taylor is gearing up to help fight breast cancer in tribute to her mum who died from the disease in 1984.
Deanne will join hundreds of women in Breast Cancer Campaign’s women’s cycling event, Pedal it Pink, at the National Water Sports Centre on October 17th in memory of her mum Elunid (known as Lynne).
Deanne said: “I was 18 years old when Mum was diagnosed with breast cancer — she was just 43 years old.
“She was so glamorous and young looking it was hard to believe she was ill. In the May she had a mastectomy followed by a hysterectomy in the August after it spread.
“Over the next four years our lives continued and Mum attended regular check-ups, but then the news we had dreaded, the cancer was back.
“Mum had radiotherapy but ultimately the cancer progressed until finally she passed away in March 1984.
“She was my best friend who I miss terribly and not a day goes by 26 years on when she is not in my thoughts. She enriched my life and I am proud to have shared some time with her.
“If by raising money to help fight this disease I can stop others going through this it will be worth it.
“Over the years I have participated in many events to help raise funds for breast cancer so I hope lots of people will sponsor me for Pedal it Pink and help Campaign continue funding vital breast cancer research.”
 If you would like to join Deanne at Pedal it Pink and help put the brakes on breast cancer, visit www.breastcancercampaign.org, email pedalitpink@breastcancer campaign.org or call 020 7749 3700 to sign up.

Extra £1m is paid back to the City

A FURTHER £1m has been paid back to Nottingham City Council by one of the Icelandic banks it invested in.
Heritable Bank, which the council had £15.6m in when the country’s banking system collapsed, recently repaid £999,825 to the council. This takes the total repaid to £6.435m – over 41% of the original investment.
Along with over 100 local authorities, the city council had investments in Iceland when the country’s banking system collapsed as part of the global financial crisis in 2008.
A spokesman said: “Since then, the council has been working to retrieve its money and has been assured there is every chance of getting the lion's share back.
“Further regular repayments are expected from the administrators of Heritable Bank – with a similar amount anticipated this autumn.”
The Local Government Association (LGA) is working on behalf of all affected councils with administrators in both the UK and Iceland to recover as much as possible from the failed banks.
Its influence has meant that the total amount councils will recover from the Iceland-based banks will be higher than it might otherwise have been, with authorities expecting to be confirmed as priority status creditors under Icelandic law.

ncn’s Helen to represent her country

A MEMBER of staff at New College Nottingham (ncn) has been chosen to represent England in an international ice hockey event.
Helen Moss, PA to the college’s director, will take part in the ‘Hocktoberfest’ international female ice hockey festival in Ontario, Canada as a member of the England Women’s Ice Hockey team in October.
She will be joined by ncn student Rebecca Cooke, who has been selected as a reserve.
The pair earned their places after playing for the North of England squad earlier this year.
During the four-day tournament, women’s ice hockey teams from all over North America and Europe will compete for the coveted bronze, silver or gold trophies.
Helen said: “It will be a fantastic experience to play against so many different teams and to revisit the friends I’ve made from previous years.”

Chrissie’s shooting from the lip!

Topper columnist Chrissie Rowell has lots to say...

Read her column