Memorial unveiled for wartime miners the Bevin Boys
The Countess of Wessex has unveiled a memorial to 48,000 men who worked in British coal mines during the Second World War.
Mother's devastation at taping of dummy to son's mouth
The mother of a four-month-old baby found with a dummy taped to its face at Stafford Hospital has said she was "devastated" by the news.
M6 crash victim brothers were family's 'precious jewels'
Tributes have been paid to the two young brothers and their aunt who were killed on Christmas Day in a crash on the M6 motorway.
Live updates
Memorial unveiled for wartime miners the Bevin Boys
The Countess of Wessex has unveiled a memorial to 48,000 men who worked in British coal mines during the Second World War.
Read the full storyCountess of Wessex unveils wartime miners' memorial
Advertisement
Who are the Bevin Boys?
- When Britain declared war in 1939, thousands of experienced miners left the mines to join the armed services or transfer to higher-paid "war industries".
- By the summer of 1943 more than 36,000 men had left the coal industry and the Government decided it needed around 40,000 men to take their places.
- Labour and National Service Minister Ernest Bevin devised a scheme whereby a ballot put a proportion of conscripts into the collieries rather than the armed services.
- Alongside the ballotees were also men who volunteered for service in the coal mines rather than military.
- Between 1943 and 1948, 48,000 young men were conscripted for National Service Employment in British coal mines - they were known as the Bevin Boys.
- It is thought around 5,000 miners lost their lives during the war.
Wartime miners' memorial to be unveiled
A memorial will be dedicated to thousands of men, known as the Bevin Boys, who worked in British coal mines during the Second World War.
The memorial at the National Arboretum, Staffordshire, is designed by Harry Parkes, a former Bevin Boy, and features four blocks of Kilkenny limestone.
One features an engraving of the emblem of the Memorial Campaign along with the words: "We also served 1943 - 1948".
Hospital campaigner says 'don't judge us on our past'
One campaigner involved in the march held to save Stafford Hospital says people should look at Stafford Hospital now, not to the past.
Thousands march to save Stafford Hospital
Thousands of people have taken to the streets in Stafford to protest over threatened cutbacks to acute services at Stafford Hospital. Protesters say they fear the cuts will lead to losses of life and will put other local hospitals under strain.
Protesters filled the Market Square and many surrounding streets, they marched to the hospital approximately one mile away.
For years Stafford has faced criticism over poor standards of care, which has been blamed for hundreds of patient deaths.
But marchers say the hospital has greatly improved and the threat of acute services being moved elsewhere will leave people in the town in danger.
The hospital is currently in special administration the administrators say they are aware of the strength of feeling locally and are setting up public meetings to hear people's views.
Advertisement
Thousands gather for Stafford Hospital march
Thousands of local people have arrived in Stafford today to march in support of Stafford Hospital.
The march starts from Stafford Market square at 14:30. It has been organised by a community group, with the support of local MPs and Stafford Borough Council.
Memorial to honour British servicemen and women
Name engraving for British servicemen and servicewomen who were killed in 2012 will begin at the Staffordshire Memorial Arboretum today.
Engraver Nick Hindle will begin the task of engraving the names of 43 army personnel, five Royal Marines and five RAF personnel.
Mr Hindle will be there for the next month as he engraves the names, which will be read out and dedicated in a special service for families later in the year.
There are already 16,000 names on the memorial.
Million pound watch features tiny micro-sculpture
A wristwatch estimated to be worth one million pounds is going on display in the Midlands.
What makes the watch so unique is the tiny micro-sculpture built into its design.
The sculpture itself is so small, it can only be seen under a microscope.
A special set of lenses have been added to the watch to make it visible.
Local Birmingham artist Willard Wigan was commissioned to create the sculpture.
The watch will go on display at Staffordshire University this weekend for the first time, alongside more of Willard's micro-sculptures- some so small they fit onto a pin head.
Mother's devastation at taping of dummy to son's mouth
The mother of a four-month-old baby found with a dummy taped to its face at Stafford Hospital has said she was "devastated" by the news.
Read the full storyToday's top stories
