What the papers said in the week ending September 17th 2022
Our thoughts this week have been drawn by the death of the Queen, mobilising memories of her and of ourselves and our families through these years. By living to 96 she has provided a reference for others as we grow old, and for families as we see what has happened to the Windsors. With sorrow and song, Scotland bids emotional farewell to ‘our Queen’ | Queen Elizabeth II | The Guardian
- King Charles III juggles pomp and sorrow as UK takes first glimpses | King Charles III | The Guardian
- Christians and other faith leaders have expressed their thanks and admiration for her devotion: Queen was wonderful example of Christian life, says archbishop | Queen Elizabeth II | The Guardian
- Britain’s faith leaders pay tribute to Queen’s devoted life of service | Queen Elizabeth II | The Guardian
- The Poet Laureate has written two acrostic poems: Poet laureate honours Queen Elizabeth II with new work, Floral Tribute | Poet laureate | The Guardian
- By the end of the week her body was resting in State in London and thousands have made time to pay respect by walking past
- Monday 19th September and her funeral will always be remembered as a special day.
Elsewhere:
The Russia-Ukraine conflict is entering a different phase as both sides claim progress: ‘You can’t scare us’, Zelenkiy tells Russia, after missile attacks on Kharkiv – as it happened | Ukraine | The Guardian
Our new Prime Minster and her ministers are intent on taking away protective constraints: Liz Truss to lift fracking ban ‘despite little progress on earthquake risk’ | Fracking | The Guardian
- Children will be at risk if junk food rules are scrapped | Letters | The Guardian
- A sober analysis sees no merit in this but draws attention to its underlying philosophy and its hazards: Trussonomics is a fanatical, fantastical creed, and the last thing Britain needs | George Monbiot | The Guardian
Evidence of problems which have arisen from poor management of our resources abound: Millions of UK patients forced to go private amid record NHS waiting lists | NHS | The Guardian
- Delays leave man facing four years in Leicester jail without trial | UK news | The Guardian
- Companies declared insolvent in England and Wales jump by 43% | Business | The Guardian
But new hope can be found:
Daily multi-vitamins may improve brain function in older people – US study | Health | The Guardian
Citizen scientists to monitor English rivers in £7m scheme | Rivers | The Guardian
How parents cope with empty-nest syndrome | Parents and parenting | The Guardian
There are lessons from medicine which are applicable to life in every setting: Give respect to others, listen and love:
- It is crucial that doctors listen to patients – and their families | Letters | The Guardian
- ‘We had such trust, we feel such fools’: how shocking hospital mistakes led to our daughter’s death | Family | The Guardian
We will be allowed opportunity to see the Lindisfarne Gospels in Newcastle in December: The Lindisfarne Gospels review – was Eadfrith the monk Britain’s first great artist? | Illustration | The Guardian. This looks and sounds amazing but rates only 3 stars?
We are invited to be puzzled about previous practice in adoptions: ‘Farmed’: why were so many Black children fostered by white families in the UK? | Race | The Guardian
Roger Federer is retiring from competitive tennis: Roger Federer announces retirement from tennis after stellar career | Roger Federer | The Guardian
David Jolly, Chair of Christians on Ageing, in a personal capascity
What the papers said in the week ending 10 September 2022
Queen Elizabeth 2
On Tuesday we saw how small Queen Elizabeth looked, but quite perky as she welcomed Liz Truss as her latest, and last, Prime Minister: Liz Truss becomes UK prime minister after meeting Queen at Balmoral | Liz Truss | The Guardian
On Wednesday we learned that she was less well: Queen to miss virtual privy council meeting after doctors advise rest | Queen Elizabeth II | The Guardian
By Thursday, she had died: The life of Queen Elizabeth II – a timeline | Queen Elizabeth II | The Guardian
Queen Elizabeth II obituary | Queen Elizabeth II | The Guardian
‘She has been so strong’: mourners gather at Buckingham Palace | Queen Elizabeth II | The Guardian
She has been our Queen for so long that only those of us who are old can remember times before her. Prince Philip had died last year and, though her mother had lived longer, we all knew that even the Queen cannot live forever. Her passing leaves a strange and empty feeling. We are spending days in mourning with the cancellation of some regular events and there is chance to reflect on the lives we have lived through her years, helped by film clips and commentaries of her life. Time to review changes which have happened in the world. Time to take in how important families are to each other. Time to give thanks, to regret, to press on.
Charles is Charles 3: already well-known and for most of us well-liked. We want the best for him and for all of us, hoping that he will stay true to his beliefs: First address as monarch sees Queen praised for her ‘love and devotion’ – as it happened | Queen Elizabeth II | The Guardian
Will Charles III be as green a king as he was a prince? | King Charles III | The Guardian
Elsewhere:
Boris Johnson goes reluctantly back ‘to the plough’: Boris Johnson likens himself to Roman who returned as dictator | Boris Johnson | The Guardian
Liz Truss and her close allies begin their vision of a new beginning in very challenging circumstances:
1 million more people in UK face poverty this winter, analysis shows | Poverty | The Guardian
Thérèse Coffey | Politics | The Guardian
The country is not in a good state:
We have not kept up to date on the roads: Majority of drivers have not read Highway Code updates – survey | East London and West Essex Guardian Series (guardian-series.co.uk)
The legal profession has been mistreated: Criminal barristers prepare for indefinite strike over legal aid | Barristers | The Guardian
Covid has caused deaths and physical and mental ill-health. I has also interfered with education, particularly the education of the less well-off: Covid drives biggest Sats results gap since 2012 for poorest pupils in England | Sats | The Guardian
Study finds link between poor mental health and long Covid | Long Covid | The Guardian
Transport and other services have become reduced and unreliable: TransPennine Express to slash timetable amid staff shortages | Rail industry | The Guardian
Record 6.8m people waiting for hospital treatment in England | NHS | The Guardian
Older people who are alone find it difficult to afford accommodation: ‘My choices are limited’: over-50s turn to flatsharing in cost of living crisis | Renting property | The Guardian
House Share, Flatshare and Rooms to rent for the over 40s (cohabitas.com)
But there are hints toward improvements:
Gordon Brown challenges Liz Truss to work with charities to address the problems of poverty and inequality: Britain’s charities have done all they can to help desperate people. What will Truss do? | Gordon Brown | The Guardian
Big Hoose Fife: How colanders and hotel bedding are helping hard up families – BBC News
Health can be improved with exercise, even against cancer: Increased physical activity reduces breast cancer risk, international study suggests | Australia news | The Guardian
A new vaccine will combat malaria: New malaria vaccine comes a step closer as experts say it’s ‘the best yet’ | Global health | The Guardian
Pope Francis praises smiles: Pope Francis beatifies his predecessor John Paul I | Catholicism | The Guardian
Favourite children’s programmes are to return to TV and will address issues of modern life: Thomas the Tank Engine to introduce first autistic character | Television & radio | The Guardian
It’s time for bed again: French team bring back The Magic Roundabout | Children’s TV | The Guardian
‘Eh-oh!’: Teletubbies to return on Netflix as series reboots for streaming | Netflix | The Guardian
Cliff Richard (81) hopes for a Christmas number 1: Joy to the world: Cliff Richard to release new Christmas album | Cliff Richard | The Guardian
Alan Garner (87) may win a prestigious prize: Booker prize: Alan Garner becomes oldest author to be shortlisted | Booker prize 2022 | The Guardian
Wildlife is returning to cities: Pine marten spotted in London for first time in more than a century | Endangered species | The Guardian
And we will do better for the environment: Environment Agency told to protect wetlands in landmark court case | Environment Agency | The Guardian
Farming v rewilding: the battle for Borrowdale in the Lake District | Farming | The Guardian
After all, we are gifted – the bones say so: Study reveals striking differences in brains of modern humans and Neanderthals | Neanderthals | The Guardian
David Jolley Chair of Christians on Ageing, in a personal capacity. September 2022
