London Ambulance Service warns Jubilee crowds to wrap up - BBC News
Extra people are on duty for London Ambulance Service this weekend
London Ambulance Service says it is preparing to treat people affected by the cold while standing outside for Jubilee events.
A spokeswoman said with the cooler temperatures this weekend there was an increased risk of hypothermia among those spending long periods outside.
The ambulance service has drafted in extra staff, with many using bikes and motorbikes to get around road closures.
St John Ambulance will be at about 80 events in London.
The so-called "booze bus" and alcohol treatment centre in Soho, central London, which is normally open at weekends, will be in use for the whole bank holiday.
People volunteeringBut a spokeswoman said alcohol-related casualties were not expected to be the greatest problem.
"The biggest challenge will be that it is four days," she said.
"We are expecting a range of issues, including people standing waiting for too long for different events to start. It's quite cold and we advise people to wrap up to avoid hypothermia."
Temperatures are forecast to range between 9 and 12C on Sunday.
St John Ambulance will have treatment centres in central London and people are encouraged to visit them with minor injuries rather than calling an ambulance.
Ann Cable, commissioner of St John Ambulance London, said: "If it had been last weekend we would have been expecting heat exhaustion, heat stroke and wasp stings, but hopefully it will be mainly minor injuries from long days outside - headaches, blisters and that sort of thing."
She said 1,600 people were volunteering over the long weekend, many stationed at street parties.
The Red Cross is providing first aid cover at 40 events in the south-east of England over the weekend.
London to be Bolt-ed - The Daily Star
Usain Bolt has promised to "wow" the world with his performances at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
The Jamaica sprinter is the reigning Olympic 100 metres and 200 metres champion after some dazzling displays in Beijing four years ago, where he also helped the Caribbean island in the 4x100m relay gold medal.
World record holder in both individual sprint disciplines, Bolt endured a relatively modest start to the European track season but was back into top form when winning the Rome Diamond League 100m in 9.76 seconds on Thursday.
"I know I can go faster because this is the start of the season. I have a long way to go," Bolt said in London on Friday, where he was launching Jamaica's Bob Marley-inspired kit.
"I'm really looking forward to competing here. I haven't competed in London for a while so I'm really looking forward to it."
Bolt said he would seek inspiration from London's Jamaican community, adding: "I know all the Jamaicans living here are looking forward to it also so I'm just preparing to put on a great show.
"At the end of the day I just want to wow people after this Olympics so I'm looking forward to it."
Asked whether he will need to improve on 9.76secs to win gold, and whether he can go faster, Bolt said: "That's what I do.
"The season is still early. Everybody is running 9.8 so that's good competition. 9.7 is also good for me.
"I'm happy with the way it is and just want to continue working hard and run faster so I'm looking forward to it. I'm ready to go."
Bolt 'only' managed a 10.04sec run in winning the 100m in Ostrava last week, but he said: "I never doubt my ability, never. People forget, and I keep explaining to people, that athletes have bad days.
"Every athlete can -- cricket, football, any sport -- you have bad days and that was just one of mine and I got past it and now I'm just moving forward."
Bolt's triple Olympic triumph in Beijing was powered on a diet of chicken nuggets -- but there will be no repeat of that in London.
"The good thing about the fact we are in London is there will be a lot of Jamaican food -- the only thing I have to worry about is putting on weight," he said.
"There will be no chicken nuggets this year."
The Jamaican kit was designed by Cedella Marley, who drew inspiration from her father and his music.
"We took the fit of what my dad would wear and updated it to 2012," Marley said.
"You have the Iron Lion military jacket, the Buffalo Soldier shirt. I tried to incorporate the Bob Marley fit in as many pieces as possible where we were able to accommodate that.
"You did see dad on the jacket, right? So that's a little piece of him that's going to be in London."
GM's Vauxhall announces new Astra at UK plant - Yahoo Finance
LONDON (AP) -- General Motors' Vauxhall plant in northern England will build the company's top-selling Astra vehicles, the automaker said Thursday — a relief for U.K. politicians who had lobbied its American owner to keep the plant open.
The announcement comes after workers at the Ellesmere Port plant, near Liverpool, overwhelmingly backed a job deal which turned the factory into a 24-hour-a-day operation, a key cost-cutting measure pursued by parent company GM Europe.
GM Europe lost $700 million in 2011 and has been struggling to turn around its Opel and Vauxhall brands. It had been feared the company would close the Ellesmere Port facility in favor of consolidating production elsewhere — such as its headquarters in Ruesselsheim in Germany or Gliwice in Poland.
In a separate announcement, Opel said that the Ruesselsheim plant would switch to producing other models.
GM's announcement — which comes with a 125 million pound (nearly $200 million) investment and 700 extra jobs — is a break for leaders such as British Business Secretary Vince Cable, who fought to keep the British plant open.
Prime Minister David Cameron, speaking from the northern city of Manchester, called the decision "a fantastic vote of confidence."
"The U.K. government gave this its full backing. The unions supported the necessary changes. The workforce has responded magnificently. It is a British success story," he said.
Cable, who at one point traveled to the U.S. to plead the plant's case, told BBC television that no financial inducements were offered to General Motors Corp. to keep the U.K. facility open, saying the move underlined that Britain is "a good business environment for the motor industry."
Production of the new car is due to begin in 2015, with at least 160,000 vehicles scheduled to be produced every year.
London through to Ring Cup final - Irish Examiner
London through to Ring Cup final
After 180 minutes of action, London eventually booked their place in next weekend's Christy Ring Cup Final thanks to a 2-16 to 2-13 extra-time win over Down in Ruislip.
Last Saturday, the sides finished level at 1-21 apiece after extra-time with Michael Turley firing a late score for Down to set up today's semi-final replay.
London looked likely winners at half-time of normal time with a Martin Finn goal helping the Exiles to a 1-7 to 0-5 interval lead.
The hosts also had a missed penalty goal opportunity from Cork native Finn after a fine block by Sean Ennis.
Down had the assistance of a strong wind on the restart, but London remained on course for victory in normal time.
They were 1-10 to 1-6 ahead after 55 minutes despite Michael Ennis netting a goal for Down.
However, Down found their best form late on with Conor Woods again scoring a late goal. His 69th-minute penalty strike forced extra-time on a 2-9 to 1-12 scoreline.
London were first to impress in extra-time, with Luke Hand claiming a goal late in the first period to ensure a 2-14 to 2-12 interval lead.
Scores were at a premium on the restart, with London outscoring their opponents by two points to one in the closing 10 minutes.
London will now face Wicklow in next Saturday's final, which is part of a triple header of hurling deciders at Croke Park with the Lory Meagher and Nicky Rackard titles also up for grabs.
Where are London's best shops for golfing equipment? - Daily Telegraph
You could also try the Central London Golf Centre, where there’s a thoroughly decent shop, nice course and a driving range. You can even try clubs on the driving range before buying.
But if you’re after the very best, a day trip to Surrey might be in order. Visit Silvermere, home to one of the best golf shops in the country. There’s an embarrassment of riches here, from top brands such as Callaway, TaylorMade, Ping and Titleist. Most importantly, it’s where the best golfers go, and is often spoken about with a knowing tap to the side of the nose.
Britain's queen to lead giant jubilee river pageant - thejakartaglobe.com
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II sails on a royal barge down the River Thames Sunday as part of a huge pageant marking her diamond jubilee, in one of the biggest events of its kind in London's history.
The flotilla of more than 1,000 boats is the high water mark of the national celebrations for the 86-year-old monarch's 60th year on the throne but the event also poses formidable security challenges.
More than one million revellers are expected to line the streets to see the the extravaganza of steam boats and tugs, speed boats and historic vessels in the first pageant on this scale on London's river since 1662.
Dunkirk "little ships" that evacuated British forces from Europe in World War II and a Chinese dragon boat are among the vessels which will accompany the queen and other royals on the 11-kilometre (seven-mile) journey.
Forecasters said wet weather was now expected for the pageant, which starts at 1300 GMT and is expected to last four hours, with fears that heavy rain which hit the city overnight could turn the event into a wash-out.
Britons have also planned more than 9,500 street parties for Sunday.
A four-day national jubilee holiday kicked off on Saturday with the queen indulging in her love of horse racing at the famed Epsom Derby horse race, where she was greeted by cheering, flag-waving crowds.
Army paratroopers swooped from the sky ahead of her arrival with husband Prince Philip, 90, and other members of the royal family, who saw favourite Camelot win Britain's richest race.
A huge red, white and blue Union flag was projected onto Buckingham Palace on Saturday night, and even the huge London Eye ferris wheel on the Thames was illuminated in the national colors.
The celebrations take place as the royal family enjoys its highest support for decades. That is especially so for the queen, who is only the second British monarch to celebrate a diamond jubilee, after queen Victoria in 1897.
The river pageant on Sunday is by far the most complex part of the festivities, and is effectively doubling up as a security rehearsal for the London Olympics that open on July 27.
Some 190 boats will sail alongside the pageant to handle security and respond to any emergencies, while around 5,500 police and 7,000 volunteers will be on standby.
Heir to the throne Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, as well as Prince William, his wife Catherine and his brother Prince Harry, are joining the queen and Prince Philip on the sumptuous red and gold royal barge.
The queen held the position of Lord High Admiral in the Royal Navy from 1964 until 2011, when she handed the title over to Philip.
Music ranging from the national anthem and chiming bells, to Bollywood tunes and the famous James Bond theme will blare from boats and the Thames flood barrier will be closed to ensure calm waters.
Traffic will be barred from seven of the 14 London bridges that the flotilla passes beneath.
Organisers have not been able to hold a full dress rehearsal but insist there is only a minimal risk of a crash between the boats, which include several that are more than a hundred years old.
A concert in the shadow of Buckingham Palace featuring Paul McCartney and other top names is the highlight on Monday before the four-day extravaganza culminates in the pomp and splendour of a ceremonial parade on Tuesday.
There is a history of spectacular royal celebrations on the Thames including the coronation of king Henry VIII's wife Anne Boleyn in 1533 -- she was later beheaded -- and a pageant for King Charles II in 1662.
After a rocky period including the death of princess Diana in 1997, today's royals are resurgent in Britain, with a recent poll showing that 80 percent of Britons want the country to remain a monarchy.
Those levels of support are comparable to 1953, the year of the queen's coronation.
She acceded to the throne on February 6, 1952, upon the death of her father King George VI while she was away in Kenya, and was crowned the following year on June 2, amid massive public enthusiasm despite heavy rain.
AFP
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