News
Manchester woman went on bike ride complaining she ‘felt hot’ but never came home
An inquest was held yesterday
An inquest heard how a ‘helpful and caring’ woman from Manchester went on a bike ride after complaining she ‘felt hot’ but never came home.
Rachel Jackson, 38, from Didsbury was found dead in Averham Park, Preston, a day after she was reported missing.
The artist was staying with a friend at the time but left the house for a bike ride after complaining she was feeling hot.
An inquest at Preston Coroner’s Court, on Thursday July 13th, heard Rachel had travelled from her home to Preston on March 30th this year, to visit the mother of her four-year-old nephew, Lucy Nowak.
They had visited the park and played in the play area before returning to Lucy’s home, Lancs Live reports. Rachel told her friend she had been feeling unwell and was seen by mental health services the day before.
Lucy said Rachel was worried about a letter she had received from HMRC and ‘had not been her best’ since returning from a holiday in Barcelona. She stayed at Lucy’s house that night and spent the following day laughing and joking around with her young nephew.
At around 7pm she told Lucy she was feeling hot and left to go out on a ride out on her purple bike.
After she didn’t return, Lucy tried to call her but got no answer. This was not unusual for Rachel as sometimes she would forget to charge her phone, Lucy said.
Lucy then contacted emergency services and a missing person inquiry was launched with an immediate search which included a police helicopter and LFRS drone being deployed in the area around Avenham Park, along with officers on foot.
The next afternoon at around 3pm, Rachel’s bike was discovered in a wooded area and her body a short distance away in dense woodland.
Greater Manchester Police Detective Inspector Simon Gray confirmed there was no criminal activity or third party involvement in Rachel’s death.
The inquest also heard of the talented artist’s battle with mental health. In a statement, her friend Lucy said she believed Rachel had been struggling with undiagnosed ADHD and was seeking an assessment. However, she found it hard to keep appointments and had been caught on long waiting lists.
Another friend said Rachel had attended hospital in crisis but had to wait three weeks for a follow-up call. The inquest also heard how Rachel was upset after her aunt had died from cancer.
Rachel’s mum Jacqui spoke of her daughter in happier times, describing how she would throw glitter around and pull people up for a dance. She also said Rachel was the oldest daughter in a close-knit family of siblings
She said: “She was always trying to help other people. She loved her artwork and her family. At her funeral everyone was dressed in rainbow colours. She went off in a campervan with rainbows all over it. There were hundreds of people there.”
Coroner Kate Bissett recorded a conclusion of ‘suicide’. She said: “She was clearly not well and had a number of concerns on her mind.
“I have no doubt that happy Rachel, who was in better health, would not have acted in this way and she had friends and family who would have helped her if she had reached out.”
Help and support lines for people struggling with their mental health:
Samaritans (116 123) samaritans.org operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you’re feeling, or if you’re worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org , write to Freepost RSRB-KKBY-CYJK, PO Box 9090, STIRLING, FK8 2SA and visit www.samaritans.org/branches to find your nearest branch.
CALM (0800 58 58 58) thecalmzone.net has a helpline is for men who are down or have hit a wall for any reason, who need to talk or find information and support. They’re open 5pm to midnight, 365 days a year.
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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