Covid UK decline is official

Coronavirus was no longer the leading cause of death in both England and Wales in March for the first time since October 2020, new figures show.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) data shows that Covid-19 was the third leading cause of death in both countries in March, accounting for 9.2% of all deaths registered in England and 6.3% in Wales.

Covid-19 was previously the leading cause of mortality each month from November 2020 to February 2021.

Appeal for information after body found in water off Lyme Regis

Detectives are appealing for anyone with information to come forward after the body of a woman was sadly recovered from the sea off Lyme Regis.

Dorset Police received a report from the Coastguard at 10.48am on Monday 19 April 2021 that the body of a woman had been found in the water around one mile east of Lyme Regis harbour.

With assistance from the coastguard and RNLI, the deceased has been recovered. While there is nothing to indicate the death is suspicious, detectives have so far been unable to identify her.

The woman is described as white, aged in her 40s or 50s and was wearing black Skechers shoes, black jeans, a pink top with red stripes across the front and a dark blue rain jacket. She was also wearing stud earrings and glasses.

Detective Inspector Kate Lill, of Weymouth CID, said: “This is a very sad incident and we are keen to identify the woman involved as soon as possible so her loved ones can be made aware. 

“We have made a number of enquiries, but we have had no reports of anyone going missing in the area or any concerns for welfare that could relate to this woman. 

“It is believed the body had been in the water for less than 24 hours and we are appealing for people to come forward if they have any information that might assist our efforts to find out who this woman is. We would like to hear from anyone who has come across any abandoned vehicles in the area or witnessed anyone close to the water in clothing matching the description given above.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55210060853.

Please take your rubbish home

This a bin bag, it’s a very clever piece of kit, it can fold or roll down very small, small enough to even go in a pocket!  

Then it can make itself very big! Big enough to hold all the rubbish that is left after your picnic in the park or your visit to the beach... 😊

It really likes to be taken back home when it’s full and to be placed in your bin... 👍🏻 

Why not join forces with this clever bin bag and keep our beautiful parks and beaches clean and tidy. 

Have respect for your surroundings, other people, children and wildlife!!

Plans are under way for the return of Lifeboat Week to Lyme Regis in July

A provisional programme for the week, beginning on July 24, is being discussed by members of the town’s Lifeboat Supporters' Group.

The week – a summer highlight since the 1970s – was cancelled last year because of the pandemic.

Chairman of the supporters group Ken Lavery said: “We feel we have to be optimistic and hope that restrictions will be lifted by late July.

“We are making plans to stage as many events as possible during the week, including old favourites and new activities subject to any Covid-19 restrictions which might still be  in place. We will update you on progress via our Facebook page and website.” (https://www.facebook.com/LymeRegisLifeboatWeek https://www.lymeregislifeboatweek.co.uk)  

Lifeboat Week has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for the RNLI’s life-saving charity since the 1970s. In 2019 the week raised a record £40,000.

Pulman's Wins Again!

 

Pulman's Weekly News has now been awarded Best Local News Publication –  West Country in the  2021 Global Business Awards hosted by Corp Today Magazine.

Pulman's Weekly News & Advertiser Series was put forward to Corp Today’s dedicated team of in-house researchers who have handpicked each of their 2021 award winners. This proven approach ensures that they award on merit, and not popularity, and recognise the very best in the business.

Michael Banks, MD of Pulman's Weekly News, said; “To be acknowledged as Best Local News Publication for the entire region is a further feather in the cap, especially in these uncertain times.  Our news coverage has now evolved to provide both video and online reporting, and I am delighted the team have won such a prestigious award in such a wide-reaching area. Included in this new area are neighbouring towns within Dorset, who benefit greatly from their own bespoke PR brands, such as Experience Lyme Regis.

“The effort put in by our team and in particular past developmental guidance from digital media entrepreneur Duncan Williams, drawing upon parallel success with Reach Plc and InYourArea projects, as well our own individual feature writers, contributors and staff, all represents a collective belief we all share in the future of hyperlocal media. I am proud that we have been awarded such a significant prize in difficult times which highlights the quality of our work on behalf of the West Country communities and small business advertisers we serve.”

Corp Today Magazine who claim readers consisting of 138,000 ‘C’ Level professional, VPs, Consultants, VCs, Managers and advisors, will announce the award winners in all categories shortly.

Russian Artist Captures Lyme Regis Lifeboat Crew

A Russian - born artist based in Lyme Regis has launched a portrait painting project involving nearly thirty members of the town’s volunteer lifeboat crew.

Maria Barbashina, 38, offered to paint the portraits, and some 26 crew members have volunteered for a 90 minute sitting.

Maria, who trained as an artist in Russia from the age of 12, specialises in portraits and still life.

Her first lifeboat crew subject was volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager Nick Marks and he was followed by sea-going crew members including senior helm Tim Edwards.

Maria said: “I enjoy a challenge and like to choose subjects who I feel play an important role in local life.

“I hope my portraits will help to promote the volunteer duties of the RNLI in Lyme Regis.

“I also find this sort of project a very nice way to meet new and interesting people.

Nick Marks said: “It’s a great project which Maria has offered us and one day we may have a display of the portraits in the lifeboat station.

ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY?

MAKE A CHANGE AND BECOME A COUNCILLOR

By now, everyone has heard the name, Jackie Weaver. But, did you know there are over 2,000 local (parish and town) council elections taking place this year?

Are you passionate about your community? Do you want to help make a long-lasting change? Do you have innovative ideas for the council? Do you have concerns about a specific issue and want to do something about it? If this is you, then your community needs you. 

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) is looking for people from all backgrounds and experiences who reflect their community to put themselves forward for election this May, as part of its #MakeAChange campaign.

Local councils are the first tier of local government and make a massive difference to local people's quality of life. They run numerous services — many you will see day-to-day, but some are less known. These include introducing solar panels, setting up dementia-friendly groups, organising community buses, creating neighbourhood plans, implementing suitable housing, establishing youth projects, managing allotments and open spaces, maintaining footpaths, public seating and litter bins.

Visit www.nalc.gov.uk/elections to find out more about how you can become a councillor.

News Team Wins Regional Media Innovator Award 2020

Congratulations to Pulman's Weekly News digital team named "Best Local News Publication 2020 - West Country" by Corporate Vision Magazine in their Media Innovator Awards.

PULMAN'S WEEKLY NEWS & ADVERTISER SERIES was founded in 1857 by West Country publisher George Philip Rigney Pulman. For generations his papers have been highly regarded by communities as a reliable source of news and for their local advertising services. Today this honourable tradition continues. New and growing readership demands have required a gradual transition from print to digital.

This long-term technology investment has already resulted in the company being presented with the West Country 'Media Innovator Award' for 2020 by Corporate Vision Magazine.

Says Devon born Managing Editor, Duncan Williams: "This validation for our digital outreach, particularly during these Covid-19 aware times, has been been most welcome. We are seeing more readers and businesses needing to read, promote and connect to our local news services than ever before."

Backdated pay secured for staff of Lyme Regis newspaper title after two-year legal battle

Report by Daniel Wilkins for MidweekHerald

The publisher at the centre of a row over the defunct Pulman’s View From series of newspapers, which covered parts of East Devon, has secured backdated pay for former employees.

Duncan Williams told the Herald he has reached an agreement with the insolvency agency for 29 staff from the View From titles to get their wages.

It follows a two-year legal battle after Mr Williams appealed having to assume more than £500,000 worth of debt when he launched a bid to revive the titles.

He said: “As a trade union member myself, I support what the staff have been through.

“I always said to them I would appeal this.”

Mr Williams purchased the View From titles, which included papers covering Sidmouth, Honiton, Axminster, Seaton and Lyme Regis, in January 2018.

He set out to revive the titles, as well as launch an award in honour of George Pulman, who founded the papers in the 1850s.

Mr Williams said: “It wasn’t a capricious act – it was genuinely to do something that would celebrate that heritage.

“But the debts were astronomical – I have been chased by debt collectors for two years.”

He set up a crowdfunding campaign in the hope of attracting investors to help him revive the titles.

In doing so, he needed to give investors a guarantee and took on the liabilities of the company.

This prompted a two-year legal battle, and, despite an appeal, Mr Williams was told by the courts he had assumed more than £500,000 in debt, which included the unpaid staff wages.

Mr Williams told the Herald that securing the agreement for former staff to be paid was a ‘tremendous relief’ to him.

However, this is not the end of the road for Mr Williams, as he is still repaying debts owed to those who contributed to his crowd-funding.

He said the lack of advertising revenue due to the coronavirus made the papers’ relaunch unfeasible.

He added: “The AI digital technology I have developed would have been part of the plan to relaunch, and that still is the intention, but, in the current climate, it would be crazy to pursue this.”

https://www.midweekherald.co.uk/news/former-staff-of-view-from-get-backdated-wages-1-6672693

Stay Home, Save Lives

Let's all work together to beat the spread of the coronavirus.

Leave your primary place of residence only if you really have to - in order to buy food and other essential items, to take a walk or exercise at a safe distance from others.

If you leave your home or gather in public for any reason other than those specified, the police have the powers to disperse you and issue fines.

Media director loses appeal against money owed to employees

Duncan Williams bought the newspaper company for £1 after staff were made redundant and is now facing a six-figure payment to employees

Report for Devon Live by Anita Merritt

A media director who bought a weekly newspaper for £1, just 12 days after redundancies were announced, has been refused permission to appeal an order to pay a six-figure sum to employees.

The Court of Appeal has thrown out an application by Duncan Williams against a decision which found him personally responsible in September 2018 for money owed to former staff members of the View From series.

A previous hearing at Exeter Combined Court ruled he was liable for claims of staff still awaiting pay in lieu of notice, redundancy money and arrears of pay – rather than the Lyme Regis-based papers’ previous owner Peter Masters, who owns the Sunday Independent.

Initially he was ordered to pay £16,500, but the final settlement is now a six-figure sum.

At the tribunal it was heard Mr Masters made all staff redundant on January 4 due to the titles ceasing publication. 

Mr Williams bought the titles, which cover areas of Dorset, Devon and Somerset, on January 16, and all right, powers, duties and liabilities had transferred to him rather than his limited company.

Mr Williams, who did not attend the two-day hearing, had stated he only purchased the intellectual property rights for the brands.

He runs independent news and marketing service the Poole Post. He is also a commercial development consultant with News Group Ltd and a director of Vibe Marketing.

Mr Williams originally launched a crowdfunding bid, with a target of £85,000, to revive the series of closed weekly newspapers.

There are 28 claimants still awaiting payment following the tribunal and attempted appeal.

Lead claimant James Coles told Hold the Front Page many who contributed hundreds of pounds towards barrister fees have still received nothing.

James Coles, former Deputy Editor

James, former View From deputy editor, said: “It’s hard to believe it’s been more than two years since the demise of the View From. But what I really can’t get my head round is how Duncan Williams is still thumbing his nose at us – and last year’s tribunal decision.

“If he can’t pay, why doesn’t he do the honourable thing and declare himself bankrupt? At least then, we could go to the government and claim the statutory monies awarded to us by the tribunal.”

Mr Williams has claimed 10 of the View From ex-employees have each received redundancy payments from the Insolvency Service.

Mr Williams told Hold the Front Page : “I will continue speaking with The Insolvency Service and if it is the case that all of the limited company debts to its employees are to be shouldered by myself as an individual director then the Sunday Independent Ltd can be placed into prompt administration without these being carried into the long awaited final audit.

“The digital publishing subsidiary company ETCH Creative has always remained solidly within the Sunday Independent Ltd and since technology development and research in this area has obvious value to future regional media revenue generation, a buyer will be sought during the administration process.

“It has been a long and protracted case and I have always had greatest sympathy for the employees of the Sunday Independent, of which of course I am one.

“Like one of the claimants, I am also a trade union member and the original endeavour was, as we all know, a genuine attempt to introduce Crowdfunding as a means to have regional newspapers part-owned by their own journalists and communities.”

When asked about the final debt owed, Mr Williams told Devon Live: "The final figure of debt is now around £180,000 split evenly between myself and digital agency ETCH media, which employed approximately half of the original claimants, and which always remained within the Sunday Independent Limited.

"The brand IP of View From was transferred out into my name as an individual only because it was used as a form of personal security guarantee against the Crowdfund investment taking place. It is now owned by the venture capital team behind the Crowdfund.

"However, it was this former action that made Exeter Tribunal Judge Roper make myself personally liable for staff redundancy under TUPE regulations."

Court refuses ex-View From owner's appeal bid

Report for HoldtheFrontPage by David Sharman

A media director has been refused permission to appeal an order to pay a six-figure sum to 27 employees made redundant when the weekly newspapers they worked for ceased publication.

The Court of Appeal has thrown out an application by Duncan Williams to appeal against a decision which found him liable in September 2018 for hundreds of thousands of pounds owed to former staff members of the View From series.

Mr Williams, pictured, had bought the company for £1 on 16 January 2018, 12 days after the redundancies were announced. A previous hearing ruled he was

for claims of staff still awaiting pay in lieu of notice, redundancy money and arrears of pay – rather than the Lyme Regis-based papers’ previous owner Peter Masters, who owns the Sunday Independent.

During his appeal, the affected staff sought statutory amounts from the government and The Insolvency Service eventually agreed to pay statutory redundancy pay to those eligible – about ten of the claimants – 22 months after they lost their jobs.

All former staff are still waiting for statutory notice pay, wages owed, holiday pay and additional awards granted by the employment tribunal remedy hearing in March 2019. HTFP understands the figure still owed is a six-figure sum.

Lead claimant James Coles told HTFP many who contributed hundreds of pounds towards barrister fees have still received nothing.

James, former View From deputy editor, said: “It’s hard to believe it’s been more than two years since the demise of the View From. But what I really can’t get my head round is how Duncan Williams is still thumbing his nose at us – and last year’s tribunal decision.

“If he can’t pay, why doesn’t he do the thing and declare himself bankrupt? At least then, we could go to the government and claim the statutory monies awarded to us by the tribunal.”

Mr Williams is an active director of the Sunday Independent Ltd, while Mr Masters resigned from the company on the day he sold the titles to Mr Williams.

Mr Williams told HTFP: “I will continue speaking with The Insolvency Service and if it is the case that all of the limited company debts to its employees are to be shouldered by myself as an individual director then the Sunday Independent Ltd can be placed into prompt administration without these being carried into the long awaited final audit.

“The digital publishing subsidiary company ETCH Creative has always remained solidly within the Sunday Independent Ltd and since technology development and research in this area has obvious value to future regional media revenue generation, a buyer will be sought during the administration process.

“It has been a long and protracted case and I have always had greatest sympathy for the employees of the Sunday Independent, of which of course I am one.

“Like one of the claimants, I am also a trade union member and the original endeavour was, as we all know, a genuine attempt to introduce crowdfunding as a means to have regional newspapers part-owned by their own journalists and communities.”

Philip Evans' statement to Exeter Tribunal Court following closure of View From Newspapers

The founder of the View From Newspapers was Lyme Regis based office manager Philip 'Pip' Evans.

In 2018 the papers faced sudden closure with 29 staff being left jobless.

The background to the reasons for the closure have been the subject of much debate and supposition.

So, after much insistance, we are able to publish the full statement (below) presented to the Exeter Employment Tribunal courts by Philip Evans himself.

This statement gives a revealing insight into what exactly was going on at the time within the Lyme Regis editorial offices that were being overseen by 'Pip' and his team.

Destination Awards

Do you know a business in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area that you think deserves to win an award? 🤔🏆

Click the link below, fill out a quick nomination form and we can then get in touch with your nominee! We'll tell them the great things you've told us about them and encourage them to fill out one of our application forms.

Have your say in who should win a Destination Award and nominate today!

👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼
https://www.destinationawards.co.uk/nominate

Destination Awards
Yellow Buses
Expectations Travel
Marsham Court Hotel Bournemouth
BCP Council
DBox Events
Poole Post - NewsGroup
Society for Poole
On the Hoof Coffee Company

West Country entrepreneur invests in independent media group

Can John Mappin of Tintagel in Cornwall help you and your business to flourish and prosper? 

John Mappin is a private international investor and media owner. He is a Scientologist and once a former colleague of the View News independent media owner Duncan Williams.

John and his team are known for their unique geopolitical research capacity and predictive abilities.

Mr. Mappin is recognised, as one of the few Europeans who accurately predicted, with precision, President Trumps 2016 victory in June 2015.

Partly a result of that, Mappin has created great friendships and wonderful warm relationships in Washington DC.

He has also has gained an in-depth understanding of the wisdom of the current 45th Presidential administration.

Mappin's personal interest is in helping the International Freedom movement flourish and expand and more generally to help and invest in the export of excellence and ability wherever it is found.

Recently, through their friendship, John and his wife Irina, Irina Kudrenok-Mappin, helped Charlie Kirk, of Turning Point USA expand his educational movement internationally into the UK and helped to increase the United States growth and impact of Turning Point USA.

Based at his UK home, the mythological Camelot Castle, Mappin's well-researched voice of sanity and his purpose to help restore the sovereign impulse of man, has become followed closely by several pundits of our times. 

He is quoted by the observant and those wise souls interested in the philosophical epicentre of Freedom.

Mappin's 30+ years of experience, his unique use of higher mathematics, and his understanding of modern communications methods are appreciated.

The challenges that international leaders face every day in exporting their message and purpose are resolved with inspiring regularity at Camelot Castle.

Appointments can be arranged with the team through the Private Secretary.

privatesecretary@camelotcastle.com

VIEW NEWS Christmas message

Wishing all of our many West Country friends, businesses and communities a very happy Christmas.

Thank you for your support in 2018. We look forward to exciting times during the coming year... Where local media matters.

GEORGE PULMAN - VICTORIAN MEDIA MAN

- Remembering a rural publishing pioneer who was also a committed Christian.

Many West Country communities know the name George Pulman well. He is considered something of a Victorian media mogul who founded Pulman's Weekly News way back in 1857.

His media brands continued to be a prolific news source for over 150 years throughout the prime agricultural counties of Devon, Dorset and Somerset.

Pulman's news was always renowned for its reliability and trustworthiness. What was published by Pulman's journalists could be considered as being true.

What people may not know is that George Pulman was also a lifelong committed Christian who worshipped regularly at his local town church in Axminster, Devon.

To help rouse local attendance, George would enthusiastically play the church organ on a Sunday morning. There he went on to meet and marry his young wife, who was likewise drawn to become a regular member of the same Axminster congregation.

Throughout his life he believed in the importance of building community: through Church, rural life and local news. He always upheld values of truth and helped give voice to many West Country causes and concerns that might otherwise have been cast aside and forgotten.

Journalism was a task that required the utmost responsibility and was a profession treated with great respect.

So in today's era of fake news and political propaganda, perhaps it is time to remember the values of one of the news media's earliest pioneers.

A man of faith who built a regional media empire in the wake of the industrial revolution which lasted through multiple generations.

The 'Pulman's Award' and bursary continues to uphold the same values of George Pulman and is open for nominations throughout the year.

George Philip Rigney Pulman: 1819 - 1880

Publisher liable for money owed to journalists still plans to reopen weeklies

Report by David Sharman for HoldTheFrontPage

A publisher at the centre of a row over a series of local newspapers which ceased publication in January has reiterated his determination to reopen them over time.

Duncan Williams, left, bought the View From titles, which cover areas of Dorset, Devon and Somerset, in January following their closure by previous owner, Sunday Independent publisher Peter Masters.

A court has since ruled Mr Williams is liable for money owed to a group of 28 former View From employees who were made redundant when the titles ceased publication.

But he has restated his intention to appeal the decision and says he is still working to get the eight View From titles as well as Axminster-based Pulman’s Weekly News reopened, although he accepts this will not happen in one go.

As part of the relaunch plan, he has set up a video news channel entitled View News which also aims to offer a PR service to local businesses, converting press releases into videos which would then be carried on the newspapers’ social media channels and websites.

The View From titles served towns and villages including Beaminster, Bridport, Dorchester, Lyme Regis, Weymouth, Seaton, Honiton and South Somerset, while Pulman’s Weekly News covered Axminster.

Said Duncan: “The titles will all be brought back incrementally. As they have been traditionally free, budgets need to be securely in place first off before relaunching the entire portfolio in one fell swoop.

“Revenues from video advertising and social media are designed to enable this.”

Duncan added: “Despite the recent controversy surrounding their acquisition, I remain very happy indeed with the Pulman’s Weekly News brand.

“Their founder George Pulman was an influential Christian publisher of the Victorian era whose vision I much admire and whose community values are certainly part of what makes local media so vital to regions.

“Likewise, I remain delighted with the View News series, which I know have suffered from sharply declining advertising revenues, repeat closures, rumpuses and relaunches. However, the technology upgrades I have personally invested in are hoping to remedy this.

“To be clear to all of my investors, banks and advertising agencies: I have no intention whatsoever of going bankrupt. The employment tribunal decision will be appealed.”