News
Schoolboy gets new life-changing bionic arm funded by plumber
He welled up as he was gifted a Black Panther-style ‘Hero Arm’
A young schoolboy given a new life-changing £13,000 bionic arm shook hands with the plumber who funded it.
Seven-year-old Alex Sparks was born without a right forearm and had been on an NHS prosthetic waiting list for more than three years.
After spending birthdays ‘wishing’ for it to grow back, his parents, Dionne and Robin, decided to fundraise for a motorised prosthetic arm for him.
When James Anderson, a 52-year-old plumber from Burnley, founder of Depher Plumbing Services, heard about the fundraiser, he fulfilled the target by making a single payment.
James met Alex in his hometown of Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire where the youngster got to try out his new arm by doing a ‘high five’, a ‘tickle’ and a ‘squeeze’.
Watching in amazement as the motors in Alex’s arm whirred, James said: “Wow! That’s absolutely amazing mate! Honest to God.”
Alex had never enjoyed wearing prosthetics until he tried the Black Panther themed ‘Hero Arm’ and his family say his face ‘lit-up’ as he was able to make it move.
The device, made by Open Bionics in Bristol — a company that 3D prints prosthetic limbs — uses sensors to register muscle movements in the upper arm and turn those into hand motions.
Alex told ITV News about ‘loads of things’ he now wants to do with his new bionic arm, saying: “I want to brush my teeth, reel-in a rod when I fish and play with two hands.
“Play catch and learn how to draw with this [bionic] hand because I can draw with [the other] hand.”
James’ Burnley-based social enterprise firm Depher, has helped many elderly and vulnerable people in need.
Originally setup to give free plumbing work to elderly and disabled individuals, it now provides wider support and food parcels.
The plumber explained he chose to pay for Alex’s arm as he could see the schoolboy’s ‘strength in his eyes’.
He said: “When I saw that he needed this so he could go fishing with his Dad, go bike-riding and play football – just do the normal things that a child would do with his mates outside – I immediately fell in love with it.
“You could see the strength inside of him, You could see the strength in his eyes. It was a no brainer. I transferred the money to the bank and said, ‘there you go, it’s done’.”
In a mobile phone video of the touching moment, James shows Alex the receipt and asks: “Do you know what that means?” Alex replied: “No.”
James then says: “That means I’ve just paid for your new arm. So, hopefully, sooner rather than later you’re going to go fishing with your Dad.”
To which Alex cheers and fills up with tears of joy.
Dionne and Robin are now hoping Alex’s new arm will bring him a brighter, happier future and allow him to do all the things he would like to do in life.
His dad Robin said: “We’re looking forward to him becoming an independent and outgoing seven year old.
“One that he doesn’t always have to keep looking back towards where his mum and dad are for help. Where he could just go forward and enjoy his life.”
The family are extremely grateful and can’t thank James enough as Dionne described James as an ‘incredible man’, adding: “He’s just helping so many people, whether it’s his food banks or his plumbing.
“He’s just one man helping loads of people. The world definitely needs more James Andersons. It really does.”
Alex’s new bionic limb is a little longer than his arm allowing him room to grow until he reaches his mid-teens, where he will need a replacement arm to match his size.
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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