23.11.22 – Alpha Academies Trust, Fire Brigade Union Red Plaque, Black Friday, World Antimicrobial Awareness week

A former firefighter who lost his life during the Second World War has been remembered in a dedicated service.

Last Sunday local firefighters in Hanley paid their respects to the late Edwin Booth during a special ceremony organised by the Fire Brigade’s Union .

Members of Edwin’s family watched on as a red plaque was unveiled at Hanley Community Fire Station. It stands to remember and honour those in service who have died protecting their communities.

Since 2017, the red plaque scheme has created dozens of memorials in the UK for fallen firefighters who have died in the line of duty.

Edwin’s story began in 1925 when he joined the Stoke-on-Trent City Fire Brigade as a firefigher. He served the Hanley community for 15-years and transitioned into a sub-officer in 1939, coinciding with the start of the Second World War.

Sadly, on 16 Nov 1940, Edwin passed away as a result of the Blitz bombings. He was 38-years-old at the time.

Firefighters and staff from his local station in Hanley attended the ceremony to pay their respects to the local hero.

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With retailers bracing themselves for one of the busiest shopping days of the year, people are being reminded about the importance of knowing their consumer rights.

Black Friday is 25 November and shoppers are expected to spend around £4 billion on the latest technology, clothing, toiletries, toys and other household goods.

Staffordshire County Council’s trading standards service wants people to do their research, know their rights and stay alert.

The latest consumer rights include legislation to allow people to obtain a full refund on faulty goods within 30 days of purchase, an ability to challenge unfair terms and conditions and to demand poor services are redone or that there is a price reduction.

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This week is ‘World Antimicrobial Awareness’ week, which highlights one of the biggest challenges to modern medicine.

Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines. This makes diseases and infections harder to treat and increases the risk of severe illnesses or death.

Drug resistance over time causes various medications such as antibiotics to become ineffective and infections become difficult or almost impossible to treat. This can occur when medication is not properly disposed of and enters our environment by, for example, being flushed down the toilet.

To mark the antimicrobial awareness week clinicians are urging people across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent to return any unused anti-biotics to their local community pharmacy so they can be disposed of properly and safely.

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Leadership, innovation and community engagement are just some of the attributes which were celebrated at a ‘Staff Excellence’ Awards evening last night, across the Alpha Academies Trust which has a network of Academies in North Staffordshire.
The awards recognise the contribution of the whole profession as well as individual staff and teams of staff who strive to deliver and support excellent teaching, learning and care.

Kate Townshend, Alpha Academies Trust chair said: “It is important that we celebrate the invaluable work that our staff carry out on a daily basis, not only to enhance the learning experience of our students but also the community engagement work they participate in.

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