Each week, Ben Hopkinson looks back at a serious, crazy, and happy news story from the past week.
Serious News
Following the fire that hit Somerset House on Saturday 17th August, it has been revealed that it narrowly avoided a similar disaster to what happened to the Notre Dame blaze according to its director.
Jonathon Reekie said the fire was seen to in time thanks to the “really quick-thinking staff” and the “amazing” response of the London Fire Brigade.
The venue began a phased reopening last weekend – just a week after the fire.
Mr Reekie has explained that reconstruction work could take years to complete as he is grateful adding: “I think I can say that if that fire hadn't been spotted and tackled as quickly as it was by the extraordinary emergency services, this could have been a complete disaster. Very luckily, it didn't become a kind of Notre Dame or Glasgow School of Art.”
Crazy News
A football match in the FA Vase – a competition for teams in the lower ends of the football pyramid – was cancelled on Sunday for the most comical of reasons.
Newhaven was set to face Tooting Bec in the first qualifying round of the competition, which was already delayed due to crowd congestion. With kick-off delayed 40 minutes, the match was ultimately postponed due to the error.
A statement from Tooting Bec said: “Due to a miscommunication, we arrived at the ground today without our playing kit. It was a monumental error, and we are embarrassed that it ultimately led to the match referee deciding to not allow a later kick-off to get the game played.”
Tooting Bec chairman suggested to the FA that Newhaven should just advance to the next round – and if the match should be rescheduled, his club will cover the costs and refund all spectators.
Happy News
A family who raised more than £3,000 within a charity football match are “over the moon” at their total.
Initially aiming for £1,000, Mel and Alex Gray tripled their target during the annual football match in memory of their baby daughter who passed away at only three months old.
Gracie was born 10 weeks premature and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy after suffering brain seizures.
The event which took place last Saturday at Wittersham Sports Field in Tenterden raised funds for East Kent Hospital’s Tiny Toes charity, after the support the family received back in 2019.
Alex wore the number 19 shirt – the date of Gracie’s birth in August 2019, as well as the date she passed away in three months later.
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