News
Coronation Street actor Antony Cotton brands cost of rail tickets for armed forces ‘national disgrace’
The actor was awarded an MBE last year for his service to the British Army, personnel and veterans
Coronation Street actor Antony Cotton took to social media in a series of posts calling for ‘heavily subsidised’ rail tickets for armed forces personnel.
Cotton, who plays Sean Tully in Corrie, addressed the Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps in a series of tweets, asking him for a conversation about the price of tickets soldiers have to pay to see their families.
The 48-year-old from Bury wrote in his first post: “Good morning @grantshapps. I’ve messaged you several times, to no avail. I’d like to have a conversation with you about the cost of rail tickets, especially for our Armed Forces personnel.
“Serving soldiers can’t afford to travel home. I’d like to know what you think about that?”
One person took to the comment section to say: “Armed Forces personnel have their own railcards, so get a discount not available to others.”
Cotton wrote in response: “Yes. The HM Forces railcard. Which they pay annually for. If a soldier is working at @RMASandhurst, and lives in Newcastle, to get home this Friday, here is an example of that discount in practice. This is the reality.”
He posted a screenshot of a single ticket from Camberley – where the Royal Military Academy (RMA) Sandhurst is based – to Newcastle costing £108 after the discount had been applied.
To no reply from Mr Shapps, the star went on to post a second tweet saying: “Our Armed Forces should be able to travel home on the train, not for free, but for a very heavily subsidised price. It is the very least we can do for our serving personnel.
“Charging anyone upwards of £100 to get on a train is nothing short of a national disgrace @grantshapps.”
Cotton then posting a third tweet, adding: “For context – a private soldier’s salary is £23K. A lance corporal’s is £30K a year. An MP’s basic salary is £86K.”
Many people took to the comments of Cotton’s tweets in support of him. One person said: “So true I agree completely.”
Another put: “I know people who have no understanding of our armed forces really are not aware of the rubbish incomes they are on, expected to put their life on the line. They pay out their own pockets to get home to see friends and family, it sucks the discounts are not enough.”
And a third typed: “I used to work at Plymouth Ticket Office in the early 1980s and they used to be given Travel Warrants to use so they could go home free. I’m shocked that they are expected to buy tickets now.”
Aside from his TV work, Cotton has been involved in work for the military community since 2008 and spends much of his spare time supporting Armed Forces charities.
The actor was awarded an MBE last year for his service to the British Army personnel and veterans.
He is passionate about helping veterans and serving military personnel, taking inspiration from his grandfather, Oswald Cotton, who was rescued at Dunkirk – four years previous to the D-Day landings. His late grandfather served in the Royal Army Service Corps, delivering fuel to the front lines in Europe.
Cotton sadly never got to meet him, as he passed away before he was born.
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News
Oasis announce huge reunion tour as Liam and Noel Gallagher ‘make peace’
The news we’ve all been waiting for!
After years of will-they-won’t-they speculation, Oasis are officially BACK together for a reunion tour.
The Gallagher brothers have put aside their differences in the name of music, making thousands of fans extremely happy in the process.
The band teased the news on their socials over the weekend, posting a video on Sunday morning with today’s date (Tuesday, August 27th) and the time 8am.
And now shows have been announced for multiple dates in the UK and Ireland, with tickets going live this Saturday, August 31st.
The legendary Mancunian rockers will take to the stage next summer, with gigs in Cardiff, London, Edinburgh, Dublin and, of course, Manchester.
15 years after splitting, the band confirmed they would be back for 14 shows, saying: “The guns have fallen silent. The stars have aligned. The great wait is over. Come see. It will not be televised”.
The gigs will be Oasis’s ‘only shows in Europe next year’, with tickets on sale this Saturday at 8am in Ireland and 9am in the UK.
The Oasis 2025 tour dates in full:
July
4th – Cardiff, Principality Stadium
5th – Cardiff, Principality Stadium
11th – Manchester, Heaton Park
12th – Manchester, Heaton Park
19th – Manchester, Heaton Park
20th – Manchester, Heaton Park
25th – London, Wembley Stadium
26th – London, Wembley Stadium
August
2nd – London, Wembley Stadium
3rd – London, Wembley Stadium
8th – Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium
9th – Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium
16th – Dublin, Croke Park
17th – Dublin, Croke Park
You can grab your tickets HERE.
News
Stagecoach hiring over 100 new bus drivers for Bee Network with £31k salaries
Fancy a career change?
Stagecoach Manchester is hiring over 100 new bus drivers to work from its Oldham depot, following the second phase of the Bee Network launch in March.
You can apply for a range of roles, from positions with no experience required to fully qualified bus drivers.
Successful applicants will receive full training as part of the job, and trainees will get paid to train. Then after only 12 months’ service at Stagecoach, drivers can expect to earn up to £16 per hour, which equates to £31.6K per year, before overtime.
As well as that, drivers that already hold a PCV licence may be eligible to receive a £1,200 joining bonus.
Stagecoach
There’s also a host of other benefits available to all Stagecoach employees, like 28 days paid holiday, generous pension and free Stagecoach bus travel for successful applicants and a companion.
Rob Jones, Managing Director at Stagecoach Manchester said: “Expanding our offering in Oldham means we’ll be investing more in the economy and supporting our local community, as well as strengthening our workforce.
“Whether you’re looking for a career change or you’re a fully qualified, experienced bus driver, there’s a role for everyone here in Oldham.
“We’re looking for personable and dedicated drivers who are ready to help us build on the success of the Bee Network and connect the people of Oldham and Greater Manchester with the places and people that are important to them.”
Stagecoach
Phil Cornwall, bus driver at Stagecoach Manchester, said: “I’ve been a driver at Stagecoach for 25 years and I couldn’t recommend it more.
“From the perks to the people to the passengers, it really is a great place to work.”
To apply, head to the Stagecoach website HERE.
Two men have now been charged with murder, following the discovery of a human torso in Kersal Dale.
As well as that, more suspected human remains were also discovered this morning, Monday April 29th, in an alleyway close to the railway lines off Worsley Road, Eccles.
This follows earlier discoveries of human remains over the past three weeks, at Kersal Dale, Blackleach Reservoir and Colliery Wood, all in Salford.
Greater Manchester Police
Michal Jaroslaw Polchowski (25/04/1956) and Marcin Majerkiewicz (10/04/1982) both of Worsley Road, Eccles, have been charged with murder.
They are set to appear at Tameside Magistrates Court this afternoon.
While formal identification is still ongoing, the remains found at Kersal Dale are believed to be of a local man in his 60s. The remains found at the other three locations are still to be tested, but police are confident they belong to the same victim.
ACC Sarah Jackson said: “We have had large numbers of officers, staff and specialists working diligently on this investigation over the last three weeks. It has been very much a large, collective effort, with the victim and family at the heart of it from the outset.
“We have specially trained officers deployed to support the family as they come to terms with this tragic news. They are aware of this morning’s further discovery and will continue to be kept up to date with how we are progressing.
“Despite the charges brought today, our work is far from over.
“The scenes we already have established in Bury and Salford will remain in place for much of this week whilst our searches and enquiries continue. Local officers will continue to patrol the impacted areas to provide reassurance.
“We will continue following every line of enquiry to recover and reunite the victim with his family, bringing a dignified end to this terrible scenario.
“I’d like to thank the communities of Salford and beyond for their cooperation throughout this investigation. I know this incident has come as a shock, and the support we’ve had from those in the area is very much appreciated.”
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