Council rules out space tourism plans
STEPHEN CRAIB WAS SO BADLY HIT BY CORONAVIRUS THAT HE HAD TO GO TO HOSPITAL – BUT AFTER HIS RECOVERY HE DONATED BLOOD PLASMA TO HELP RESEARCH INTO POSSIBLE TREATMENTS FOR COVID-19
THE leader of Cornwall Council has poured cold water on the suggestion that space tourism could operate from Newquay’s Spaceport Cornwall.
There have been reports in national media recently that Sir Richard Branson could use the base at Cornwall Airport for his Virgin Galactic enterprise, which will offer space flights for tourists.
Virgin is already a partner for Spaceport Cornwall. It is due to be used as a base for Virgin Orbit, which uses horizontal launches to send small satellites into orbit.
There had been a suggestion that Sir Richard also wanted to extend this to Virgin Galactic as well.
However, at a meeting of full council yesterday, leader Julian German said there were no plans for space tourism from Newquay.
The issue was first raised at the meeting by Sue James, who asked
Geoff Brown, Cabinet member for transport, to “reassure” residents that there were no plans for space tourism launched from Cornwall.
Cllr Brown said: “It was never an intention that we would do space tourism. It has always been about small satellites, low orbit launches monitoring climate change and that sort of thing.
“If at any time we were to look beyond that, it would come back to Council for decision, if we were to look at space tourism.”
Cllr James asked Cllr Brown to issue a public statement on that matter “to stop all this nonsense going around the media”.
Newquay councillor John Fitter asked council leader Julian German about the matter, highlighting that Sir Richard had been reported as saying that he might be in Cornwall when the G7 summit is held in Carbis Bay in June.
Cllr Fitter said: “Presuming, Cllr German, that you will be the leader of the new council at that time, can you reinforce the message that Cllr Brown has given that Cornwall does not want and will not allow space tourism, which is an abundant waste of money, to operate from Cornwall Airport?”
Cllr German replied: “Yes, I can reiterate and confirm Cllr Brown’s position that Cornwall Council will not be taking forward any space tourism operation from the airport.
“It would send out the wrong message to the residents of Cornwall,” the council leader added.
Over the past year the coronavirus pandemic has caused heartache for families across the UK. Many people have either struggled to deal with the illness itself or had their lives turned upside down because of lockdown restrictions.
And, of course, for some that heartache has been made even more unbearable by the loss of a loved one.
Research from Co-op Funeralcare, the UK’s leading funeral provider, has shown at least 8 million people experienced the sudden death of someone close last year*. And in the past six months, one in 10 of those deaths was due to Covid-19.
More than a quarter of people said the unexpected nature of their loss had a greater impact on them, and that the crisis had left them unable to grieve in the way they normally would.
But Co-op Funeralcare believes distance shouldn’t mean we can’t share and find ways to work through our grief.
Not only does it offer practical help so that families can say their goodbyes with love and dignity, it also works with specialist bereavement organisations and charities to support people through the grieving process.
While Covid restrictions have meant that funerals have had to be conducted slightly differently, Co-op Funeralcare’s level of care has not changed. Managing director of
Co-op Funeralcare, Sam Tyrer, says: “Our colleagues have seen first-hand the devastating impact of the pandemic and the wave of grief that followed. We will continue to work closely with dedicated and brilliant organisations to make sure the voices of the bereaved are heard.”
‘We will continue to work to make sure the voices of the bereaved are heard’
THE grandson of a Dunkirk hero has described him as a true legend who led a remarkable life. Tributes have been paid to 100-yearold Eric Alexander Taylor, BEM, after he passed away on Sunday at his home in Helston.
The father, grandfather and Second World War veteran had celebrated his milestone birthday in June, 2020, marked by a fly-past of Hawk jets, a drive-by from veteran motorcyclists and the Happy Birthday song performed by the HMS Seahawk Band from RNAS Culdrose.
Mr Taylor served with the Royal Norfolk Regiment in the early days of the Second World War before being captured on the beaches and becoming a prisoner of war. Falling back to Dunkirk in June, 1940, his unit held off the enemy for as long as possible, but were eventually captured.
Along with 10,000 French and British prisoners of war, Mr Taylor, then aged 19, was marched to Germany, where they were loaded into cattle wagons and transported to Nazi-occupied Poland. He spent the rest of the war in a number of labour camps, doing manual labour such as repairing railway lines.
His grandson, Sean Johnstone, has led the tributes, calling his grandfather “his hero”, saying he had a “smile to melt” and was “loved by many”.
In a Twitter post, he wrote: “So after 100 years grandad passed away yesterday evening at his home in Helston. A true legend, a remarkable life, a smile to melt and loved by many. He was also my hero and I am heartbroken. Eric Alexander Taylor, BEM, 1920 – 2021. Cheers old boy.”
Rebecca Wills added: “So very sorry to read this news. Such a gentleman. He will be sorely missed. Thoughts with you and the family.”
James Rickard paid tribute to him as “an absolute hero of a man”, saying he “will be sorely missed”.
Steve added: “A nation should salute this man. So sorry for your loss mate. 100, fantastic life, fantastic innings. Now back together with his mates.”
Mr Taylor also had a long and proud involvement with his local brass band. A statement from Karl Long, of St Keverne Band, read: “For as long as people can remember, Eric has been very much involved with St Keverne Band. Through his inspiration and teaching, he leaves a legacy of musicians that are cast far and wide throughout the country. He was largely responsible for the education of many St Keverne Band members both past and present.
“Eric remained a stalwart supporter of ‘his boys (and girls)’ at St Keverne Band to the very end, both on and off the stage.
“Eric was St Keverne Band through and through and a true inspiration to us all musically, with his unfailing support for the band and his outlook on life in general. Those of you who knew Eric better than I will know his story, but needless to say that we have all lost a true legend. Our thoughts are with Eric’s family at this time.”
“IT was when I couldn’t taste my pepperoni pizza that I knew something was up,” says Stephen Craib of the first symptoms of Covid-19 that landed him in hospital in March last year.
“I’d come home from work because I was really burning up with a fever, and I couldn’t smell or taste a thing,” recalls Stephen, from Carshalton, south London. “It was really early in the pandemic so I just assumed it was a virus.”
Stephen became so unwell that his sister Angie stepped in to help.
“Angie was really worried, so she moved in to nurse me,” says the 42-year-old Royal Mail manager. “For days I just staggered between the sofa and my bed.”
SHOCKING
A concerned Angie later called 999 and, with his blood oxygen levels then dangerously low, Stephen was admitted to hospital for eight days. “It was quite shocking – everyone was masked up and of course nobody could come in with me,” he says.
After Stephen was discharged, he donated plasma for use in medical research to find Covid-19 treatments, and has so far donated 18 times as part of the study. “It’s a piece of cake to do,” says Stephen, “like giving blood.”
To date, 16,000 units of high-antibody plasma have been donated. “Donations are vital to our ongoing lifesaving research, which gives us a better understanding of how we can best treat patients with Covid-19 and help prevent deaths in the future,” explains Professor Dave Roberts, associate director of blood donation at NHS Blood and Transplant. “To be ready for the future, the time to donate your plasma is now.”