Seven-year-old wows crowd with rendition of ‘This Is Me’ - in sign language
Video by: Michael Deegan
This adorable seven-year-old girl has become an internet sensation after wowing a crowd with a rendition of the song ‘This Is Me’ - in sign language.
Jessica Deegan’s dad Michael posted a video of her performing the song on Twitter, which has attracted over 240,000 views.
The youngster performed the song from the film The Greatest Showman at a talent show last Saturday and won a prize in her category.
Jessica, who is not deaf and has been learning sign at school, entered the open category of Next Step's Got Talent competition in her home of Livingston, West Lothian.
Proud dad Michael Deegan, 28, posted the clip of his daughter on Twitter and received more than 1,700 retweets and 14,000 likes.
Michael said: "It was a local dance group she goes to and they put on a talent show for the kids.
“Jessica chose to go into the open category to do sign language - she had learned it in school and really enjoys it.
“She cares for everyone and wanted to involve something that includes other people and lets others enjoy something different."
On the day, dad of two Michael attended the show with his parents Rose, 55, and Phil, 68, and Jessica's little brother Kobin, aged four.
Michael claimed Jessica was "really confident" and couldn't wait to perform her act which she had been practicising for weeks ahead of the event.
He said: “She had been practising for a couple of weeks before she had to put her entry in.
"She was really confident with no nerves and looked forward to it.
“Her family that went along knew what was happening but apart from that no one else knew.
“Not many people knew what was going on."
Image by: Michael Deegan
The amazing performance received a standing ovation and even moved a judge to tears.
Dad Michael said: “Everyone was getting drawn into it and emotionally attached to it - the place went silent.
“She only had a minute and a half then everybody jumped up in a roar.
“One of the judges said it brought tears to their eyes while watching it.
"She’s had a lot of support and messages since."
Michael, a customer resolution analyst, hopes his daughter will continue to learn sign language, which he believes could benefit her further down the line.
He said: “I’m hoping she does keep it up, she’s enjoying it and I’m hoping the school continue to offer it.
"But if they don't then I will speak to her and if she wants to continue it I will try and find her a tutor.
“I know myself it would be something very useful for her going into a working environment."
Michael said the response from family, friends and online has been "overwhelming".
He said: “Everybody’s over the moon with her and I still can't find the words with how proud I am with her.
“Everybody said it was so good.
“It’s overwhelming for us, never mind Jessica."
He added: "She likes to play with everybody and include others in the group - it shows everyone how much of a caring child she is.”
Image by: Michael Deegan
BAD HAIR DAY
Image by: Sophia Soares
A baffled schoolboy has been punished by his school for cutting his hair too short - just a day after being told off because it was TOO LONG.
Jonathon Soares, 16, was told by staff last Monday that his haircut - which featured shorts side and a long floppy fringe and he had sported for months - was too long.
The 16-year-old student duly got a £10 trim that night at his local hairdresser and had the sides 'shaved faded' and the top and fringe cut shorter.
However the following day he was stunned when a teacher at Great Yarmouth Charter Academy, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, told him off for his 'Meet Me at McDonalds' haircut.
The teenager, from Great Yarmouth, was punished for his new do and was put in isolation for the rest of the week - where he was forced to work alone.
Image by: Sophia Soares
Image by: Sophia Soares
Jonathan's mum was outraged by the school's decision to isolate her son and is worried this will now effect his GCSEs - which he is set to take at the end of the year.
The youngster's hair is naturally curly and brown.
The youngster's mum, Sophia Soares, 35, said: "It's ridiculous.
"It seems to me like they are making an example out of Jonathan.
"I understand that they need to have the correct uniform and look smart but there are no patterns in it and it's not an outrageous colour - it's just a short back and sides.
"In my eyes how he chooses to have his hair cut is up to him."
Image by: Sophia Soares
The GY Charter Academy pupil now fears he may not get his place at East Norfolk Sixth Form College next year if he gets excluded in his final months at the school.
Sophia added: "You should not isolate a child for their haircut.
"A haircut does not stop you from learning.
"He is not the only child in that school with that haircut either - it's discrimination.
"He's not learning anything in isolation now so he might as well be at home."
A spokesman for the Inspiration Trust, who run a range of schools across Norfolk and Suffolk said pupils and parents are aware of the school's guidelines.
The Trust said: "Great Yarmouth Charter Academy’s guidelines on uniform and appearance have been well publicised, and families and pupils are well aware of the school’s requirements around haircuts.
"These are not difficult to follow, and if pupils choose to go against them they do so knowing the sanctions they are likely to face."
Military flypast held in honour of ten airmen and a British 82-year-old who blames himself for their deaths 75 years ago
Image by: Simon Galloway 
Image by: Simon Galloway
A military flypast was held today in honour of ten airmen and an 82-year-old who blames himself for their deaths 75 years ago.
Tony Foulds was just eight years old when he and a group of friends spotted a B-17 Flying Fortress.
The American plane known as 'Mi Amigo' was returning from a planned bombing raid over Europe after being attacked by the Luftwaffe.
Tony and his pals waved at the plane unaware it was going to try and make an emergency landing in the field they were standing in at Endcliffe Park in Sheffield.
Instead the plane and its crew steered away from them and crashed into trees - killing everyone on board.
Grandfather-of-four Tony has blamed himself for their deaths ever since and spent several decades tending a memorial to the brave crew.
Image by: Simon Galloway
Image by: Simon Galloway
Image by: Simon Galloway
The 10 men killed in the crash:
Pilot Lt John Kriegshauser, pilot from Missouri
2nd Lt Lyle Curtis, co-pilot from Idaho
2nd Lt John Humphrey, navigator from Illinois
Melchor Hernandez, bombardier from California
Harry Estabrooks, engineer and gunner from Kansas
Charles Tuttle, gunner from Kentucky
Robert Mayfield, radio operator from Illinois
Vito Ambrosio, gunner from New York
Malcolm Williams, gunner from Oklahoma
Maurice Robbins, gunner from Texas
The list of aircraft taking part in Mi Amigo memorial flypast over Endcliffe Park in Sheffield:
Mi Amigo
KC -135 Stratotanker
Typhoons x2
CV-22 Osprey
F-15 Eagle x4
Dakota
MC-130
F-15s
RAF firepower
MC-130
B-17 Flying Fortress
Image by: Simon Galloway
Image by: Simon Galloway
But after Tony asked for a flypast for them on the 75th anniversary of the deaths a campaign was launched and his wish came true - with him as the guest of honour.
An emotional Tony speaking on BBC breakfast said: “I have had a guilty conscience all my life, the guilt has grown more and more over the years.
“The men that saved my life they’re my family, they didn’t know who anyone of us on the field that day but they chose to save our lives over their own.
“This fly-past is not about me, this is about those brave men who saved my life. I’ll never stop visiting the memorial.”
Mr Foulds said he and the other children were in the park on February 22, 1944 because boys from two rival junior schools were fighting.
Tony was spotted earlier this year by Dan Walker, BBC presenter who was walking his dog through the park spotted the pensioner caring for the memorial.
Dan shared their exchange online and it instantly won the heart of the nation.
A social media-led subsequently went viral and a fly-past which had been a life-long dream of Tony’s was successfully organised along with new steps and a flagpole for the crash memorial.
Today, thousands of people along with two relatives of the crew members who tragically died 75-years-ago, attended the fly-past involving military aircraft from Britain and the United States.
Crews set off from RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, which is home to the largest US Air Force base in the UK.
Image by: Simon Galloway
Image by: Simon Galloway
Mystery winner of £76m EuroMillions jackpot revealed
Image by: Thomas Maddick
Andrew revealed that he will be sharing his millions with over 20 people in his family, including Trisha's 14-year-old daughter, who has special needs.
Andrew said: “She will be set up for life. Any care she needs she will have.
“I won’t stop doing the lottery. I don’t do any other gambling but I will still buy my £1 scratch card.”
Andrew Clark is believed to have three children named Jamie, 22, Rikki, 23 and Zhoe, 27, and he lives in a home worth around £200,000.
He has three granddaughters aged nine, six, and two. He has put £200 each in their Christmas cards.
When asked about being apparently relaxed about the win, he said: “This is me. We’re very down to earth people. Trish will keep me grounded.”
He added: “Trish bought a Nissan Quashquai. She’s not a car person but that’s what she wanted.”
Andrew used to make parts for Mercedes Formula One.
He said: “Perhaps now I can buy one.”
Asked about Christmas presents, Andrew said: “Everyone will still get the same pair of socks that they were all supposed to get.”
Speaking about their families, Trisha said: “I’m sure they will help us spend it.
“They money will benefit them for life.”
With Andrew claiming the ticket, a frantic six-week search for the winner comes to an end.
The National Lottery deployed ad vans to the area to encourage the winner to come forward, and even enlisted local town crier Steve O'Dare to spread the news.
Andrew's is the 12th biggest win ever in the UK, and is not the first time someone from the area has got lucky.
In 2015, Richard and Angela Maxwell, from Conningsby, Lincs., won £53m.
And in May this year, another winner from Grantham, Lincs., scooped just under £10m.
Image by: Thomas Maddick
World-famous 'French Spiderman' free-climbs 475-foot tower in just 25 minutes
Image by: Adam Lockwood
This astonishing video shows a world-famous free-climber, known as 'The French Spiderman', scale the side of a 475-foot tall building in just 25 minutes.
Alain Robert, 57, is famous for his free solo climbing, scaling skyscrapers using no climbing equipment except for a small bag of chalk and his climbing shoes.
The daredevil has climbed a whopping 165 buildings without a safety cord, including the 1,000-foot tall Eiffel Tower in Paris, and Dubai's Burj Khalifah, which stands at a whopping 2,700 feet tall.
And on Wednesday, 24/03/20, Alain was spotted scaling the Agbar Tower in Barcelona, Spain, which stands 475-foot tall (144 metres).
It took the Frenchman just 25 minutes to make it up the building and back down again - watched and filmed by his friend and fellow free-climber Adam Lockwood, 18.
Adam, from Manchester, is also currently in Barcelona to free-climb, and he supported Alain from the roof of a neighbouring building, The Arts Hotel - Barcelona's tallest building, at 505 feet tall.
Image by: Adam Lockwood
Image by: Adam Lockwood
Image by: Adam Lockwood
Adam said: "I knew Alain was here and was going to climb the Agbar Tower, so I climbed to the top of The Arts Hotel last night [Tues] and slept on the roof to watch him.
"It took him about 25 minutes to go up and back down again. When he got back down he got put in the back of an ambulance, and then driven off in a police car.
"Last time he did this he got escorted out the country. I don't know if that's going to happen again now."
Adam added that he has known Alain for about a year - but that Alain has been free-climbing "all his life".
It was the Frenchman's fourth time climbing the Agbar Tower - having previously scaled the 38-storey building in 2006, 2007, and 2016.
Mysterious face has appeared in a cliff following a landslide - and locals claim it could be the head of a mythical GIANT that stalked the area
A mysterious face has appeared in a cliff following a landslide - and locals claim it could be the head of a mythical GIANT that stalked the area.
Louise Coe, 45, was walking the coast path at Bedruthan Steps when she noticed a pair of eyes and a nose staring back at her.
NHS worker Louise and her husband walk the route near Padstow in Cornwall regularly but had not been recently - due to recent landslides that closed the steps.
She suspects the face was caused by the landslides - creating a remarkably detailed carving of a face.
The 'steps' are a natural rock formation said to have been created when the 'Bedruthan Giant' used them as stepping stones to cross the bay.
Some locals have even claimed the face could be that of the mythical giant.
Louise said: "My partner and I were just out walking with the dog when we spotted it.
"We're National Trust members so we quite often walk along the coast near the Bedruthan Steps.
"There had been some rock falls recently we think, but suddenly my partner and I just noticed that the rock face looked like a face looking out to sea.
"The steps are actually closed at the moment because of rock falls, so it might be a new formation - it looks very different.''
Dangerous landslides have been reported there both in December 2019 and on New Year's Day 2021.
Former Tory Minister Rory Stewart claims Boris Johnson is leaking negative stories about Rishi Sunak - because he feels threatened by him
Former Conservative Minister Rory Stewart claims Boris Johnson is leaking negative stories about Rishi Sunak - because he feels threatened by him.
Stewart, 49, a former Tory leadership contender, says the PM is ''probably quite enjoying'' the criticism aimed at the Chancellor and his wife.
Stewart says Sunak is aware the recent ''smear campaign'' is not just from journalists - and ''No.10 is feeding quite a lot of this''.
He says ''it's perfectly possible that people inside No.10 are quite enjoying dripping this stuff through''.
Stewart was speaking on Alastair Campbell's 'The Rest Is Politics' podcast.
He said: "My guess is Boris Johnson is probably quite enjoying this.
I think he feels threatened by Rishi Sunak.
"Rishi was the big challenger to him, and I think when Rishi Sunak is saying it's a bit of a smear campaign, he's not just talking about journalists going after him.
"I think he suspects that No.10 is feeding quite a lot of this.
"I think it's perfectly possible that people inside No.10 are quite enjoying dripping this stuff through.
"Suggesting he's going off on holiday in California, when he probably isn't...
"Drawing people's attentions to questions they might ask about his tax, asking about the green card etc.
"Because I think apart from Rishi Sunak it's difficult to see who really is in a position to challenge Boris Johnson."
Sunak's wife has been slammed for her 'non-domicile' status in the UK.
Both Sunak and Murty have also been criticized for holding US green cards.
Sunak studied at University in California but is a British citizen and was born in the UK.
Stewart added: "Rishi Sunak, I'm not particularly fond of. He's not a guy I particularly got on with while I was in Parliament.
"But I do feel there is something very very disturbing about this sort of political life and what it means psychologically.
"He now in an instant has found his wife under attack, he's basically being accused of being a liar and a criminal when from his point of view he hasn't broken any law at all.
"I was saying to a friend that I felt sorry for him, and my friend just laughed and said that they were enjoying this enormously.
"But obviously as a former politician, I don't enjoy watching this happen to anyone, Labour, Conservative, Lib Dem.
"It's one of the reasons we don't end up with good politicians."
The podcast is here: https://play.acast.com/s/the-rest-is-politics/
