A pioneering public-private research initiative between GSK, the European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute is to harness the power of 'big data' and genome sequencing to improve the success rate for discovering new medicines.
The CTTV aims to use the almost daily advances in cutting-edge genetic research to help researchers in that crucial first step in exploring new medicines - finding where to start. Target validation is about clearly defining the role that a biological process plays in disease before developing a new drug to tackle it.
Currently, an estimated 90 per cent of compounds entering clinical trials fail to demonstrate the necessary efficacy and safety requirements, never reaching patients as medicines. This is often because the biological target for a drug is not well understood.
Thursday 27 March 2014
Wednesday 26 March 2014
Work Abroad
Increasing numbers of young people are taking advantage of
innovative and challenging opportunities to work and travel overseas.
Smaller Earth UK placed over 6,000 young adults on its Camp Leaders programme in the United States in 2013, an increase of almost 20 per cent on the previous year.
The organisation is also seeing growing interest in other parts of the world, with a 243 per cent rise in the number of applications from people to work as au pairs in China.
There is strong demand from Chinese families looking to educate their children on western culture and recognition of the importance of learning English at a young age. Equally, the UK au pairs being placed in China are driven by a desire to live and work in one of the world’s fastest growing economies. Learning Mandarin is also deemed increasingly important in giving young people an edge in the scramble for jobs and each au pair will receive 60 hours of classes during a three-month period.
There has also been a dramatic shift in the male/female ratio of those applying to work as au pairs in China with men now accounting for a third, compared to just 14 per cent in 2012.
Smaller Earth UK has Camp Leaders’ camps in a number of US states - including New York, New Jersey and Alaska - while the most popular Chinese cities for placements are Shanghai, Hangzhou, Shenzhen and Beijing.
Smaller Earth UK Chief Executive Bastian Weinberger said: “The journey they go on can truly change their lives and make them realise that the world has so much to offer them.”
Don't forget to review accessible camps!
Smaller Earth UK placed over 6,000 young adults on its Camp Leaders programme in the United States in 2013, an increase of almost 20 per cent on the previous year.
The organisation is also seeing growing interest in other parts of the world, with a 243 per cent rise in the number of applications from people to work as au pairs in China.
There is strong demand from Chinese families looking to educate their children on western culture and recognition of the importance of learning English at a young age. Equally, the UK au pairs being placed in China are driven by a desire to live and work in one of the world’s fastest growing economies. Learning Mandarin is also deemed increasingly important in giving young people an edge in the scramble for jobs and each au pair will receive 60 hours of classes during a three-month period.
There has also been a dramatic shift in the male/female ratio of those applying to work as au pairs in China with men now accounting for a third, compared to just 14 per cent in 2012.
Smaller Earth UK has Camp Leaders’ camps in a number of US states - including New York, New Jersey and Alaska - while the most popular Chinese cities for placements are Shanghai, Hangzhou, Shenzhen and Beijing.
Smaller Earth UK Chief Executive Bastian Weinberger said: “The journey they go on can truly change their lives and make them realise that the world has so much to offer them.”
Don't forget to review accessible camps!
Tuesday 25 March 2014
City Breaks Win!
Travel search site momondo has carried out an
extensive survey of British travel habits and results show city breaks are more
popular than ever, with 52% of those asked stating them as a preferred type of
holiday.
New York leads the way as a city break destination for Brits in the research, with 57% of those surveyed listing it as a favourite. Rome came in second, with 49% of Brits listing it as a favourite, and Paris a close third with 45% of Brits opting for it. Joint fourth-most chosen were Barcelona and Venice, with 44% of Brits selecting these cities as favourites, and in fifth place came Amsterdam, with 36% of Brits listing it as a favourite.
However the survey also delivered a few surprises. As 17% of Brits choose Norway's capital Oslo as a preferred city break destination, 15% preferred Finland's capital Helsinki, 15% selected Germany's Munich, and 13% opted for Poland's Krakow.
Other nations
In international comparison, momondo found Norwegians showed even more enthusiasm for a city break, with 69% of them citing it as a preferred holiday choice, whilst 68% of Italians, 61% of Finns, 60% of Spaniards, and 58% of Germans, stated city breaks as a preferred holiday option. Nations
who favoured city breaks slightly less than the UK were the Swedes, with 48% citing city breaks as a preferred holiday choice, 44% of Dutch, 23% of Russians, 22% of Americans, and just 11% of French, citing city breaks as a favoured types of trip.
Where is your favourite accessible city break?
Shorter in length than the average beach holiday, the three-
to five-day city break classically is taken mid-week, or over a long weekend.
City breaks encourage travellers to explore new parts of the world within a shorter
space of time - often without the need for a full week's leave from
work.
The survey found a massive 56% of Brits went on one or more city break in 2013. And of these asked, a considerable 30% of Brits questioned, had been on one city break abroad during 2013. Furthermore, 15% had taken two city breaks in 2013, and interestingly 10% of Brits surveyed, had been on three or more city breaks in 2013.
work.
The survey found a massive 56% of Brits went on one or more city break in 2013. And of these asked, a considerable 30% of Brits questioned, had been on one city break abroad during 2013. Furthermore, 15% had taken two city breaks in 2013, and interestingly 10% of Brits surveyed, had been on three or more city breaks in 2013.
New York leads the way as a city break destination for Brits in the research, with 57% of those surveyed listing it as a favourite. Rome came in second, with 49% of Brits listing it as a favourite, and Paris a close third with 45% of Brits opting for it. Joint fourth-most chosen were Barcelona and Venice, with 44% of Brits selecting these cities as favourites, and in fifth place came Amsterdam, with 36% of Brits listing it as a favourite.
However the survey also delivered a few surprises. As 17% of Brits choose Norway's capital Oslo as a preferred city break destination, 15% preferred Finland's capital Helsinki, 15% selected Germany's Munich, and 13% opted for Poland's Krakow.
Other nations
In international comparison, momondo found Norwegians showed even more enthusiasm for a city break, with 69% of them citing it as a preferred holiday choice, whilst 68% of Italians, 61% of Finns, 60% of Spaniards, and 58% of Germans, stated city breaks as a preferred holiday option. Nations
who favoured city breaks slightly less than the UK were the Swedes, with 48% citing city breaks as a preferred holiday choice, 44% of Dutch, 23% of Russians, 22% of Americans, and just 11% of French, citing city breaks as a favoured types of trip.
Where is your favourite accessible city break?
Friday 21 March 2014
Brazil In London
Looking for something different to do this weekend?
Write about access here.
Brazil Pop Up Diner is a series of supper club style events
taking diners on a culinary journey through the twelve Brazilian cities that
will be hosting the 2014 Fifa World Cup. Between March and June, eleven Sunday events (lunch and dinner) will be hosted at The Bedford and Strand
in central London.
Each meal will offer diners with an exotic and unusual
Brazilian feast and will include a Leblon caipirinha cocktail, pão de queijo
(Brazilian cheese bread), starter, main course, dessert, coffee &
chocolate – all priced at £35 a head. Guests will leave with a
goody bag containing, recipes and
information on where to buy the products to recreate this dinner at home.
information on where to buy the products to recreate this dinner at home.
Manaus will be the theme of 23rd March, showcasing food
produce from the Amazon region where England plays its first match in Brazil.
Its average humidity of 80% will certainly be a challenge for the players but
these same weather conditions that favour the exotic local produce. The
majority of Brazil´s indigenous dishes come from this region and the pop up
menu will include fruit such as CUPUAÇU, AÇAI, CAMU CAMU and others.
The menu will be signed
off by chef Roberta Sciasca, owner of Oui Oui, Miam Miam and Mira! Restaurants
in Rio de Janeiro.Write about access here.
Thursday 20 March 2014
Disabled Photography
Winners of the 2013 ‘On the Move’ national competition
for disabled photographers, were announced at the NEC during The Photography
Show.
This competition, now in its third year, is jointly organised by Mobility Choice, the charity responsible for delivering The Mobility Roadshow, and the Disabled Photographers’ Society (DPS). Entries were received from enthusiastic photographers located all over the UK and with a variety of disabilities. With the theme focusing on ‘Travel and Leisure’ this year, the organisers received a high number of impressive and engaging images depicting days out, holidays, sports, transport and local and international destinations.
The overall winning images were showcased at The Photography Show and were taken by:
- Sue Geary from Bristol, over 18
- Ben Newnham from Southport, aged 12
- Archie West from Devon, aged 9
The impressive winners’ prize packages included Calumet photographic accessories and vouchers and a Merlin Annual Pass for a disabled person and carer. This pass now gives the three winners entry to a range of top UK attractions such as the London Eye, Legoland Windsor and Madame Tussauds for 12 months. Sue, Ben and Archie also won £150 in cash.
This competition, now in its third year, is jointly organised by Mobility Choice, the charity responsible for delivering The Mobility Roadshow, and the Disabled Photographers’ Society (DPS). Entries were received from enthusiastic photographers located all over the UK and with a variety of disabilities. With the theme focusing on ‘Travel and Leisure’ this year, the organisers received a high number of impressive and engaging images depicting days out, holidays, sports, transport and local and international destinations.
The overall winning images were showcased at The Photography Show and were taken by:
- Sue Geary from Bristol, over 18
- Ben Newnham from Southport, aged 12
- Archie West from Devon, aged 9
The impressive winners’ prize packages included Calumet photographic accessories and vouchers and a Merlin Annual Pass for a disabled person and carer. This pass now gives the three winners entry to a range of top UK attractions such as the London Eye, Legoland Windsor and Madame Tussauds for 12 months. Sue, Ben and Archie also won £150 in cash.
Wednesday 19 March 2014
Travel App Friend Finder
In a world first, Friend Compass from travel search site
momondo connects your Facebook friends with flight searches to the places they live. Turning your smartphone into a compass, it instantly reveals where your friends live around the world, and how much it costs to go visit them.
As well as pointing out the directions in which all your friends live, the app tells you who lives in the hottest destination, who lives in the coldest destination, and who lives the farthest away. You can also see which friends are the cheapest and most expensive to visit by plane.
The app is available on iPhone and Android.
Monday 17 March 2014
Holiday Baggage Rage
Multiple baggage charges; different bag size and weight
restrictions; airport check-in delays; penalty charges if you do not book
bags online , and dismay at what you can't take back home from holiday are all
complaints included in a recent One Poll survey.
Baggage Issues Rage
Top of the "baggage beefs" that annoy us most are those sky-high airline charges for suitcases in the hold - with 44% putting this top of the list. This was closely followed in second place by 41% of respondents saying their greatest rage is that baggage allowances are simply too low, with 33% moaning most about often not being allowed a handbag in addition to a cabin bag - a figure that rose, understandably, to 45% among women. Fourth in the greatest "Baggage Rage" stakes, cited by over 32%, were those exorbitant excess charges for straying over your allowance, very closely followed in fifth place by nearly 32% of the sample hating getting caught out by extra charges for not booking in luggage correctly online. The final straw - voted for by 26% - was the double whammy of weight restrictions and some charges among airlines for cabin bags.
Worst Airport Luggage Experiences
When it comes to baggage rage when your family is in tow, however, hell has no fury as that actually experienced within the airport. Top of the baggage woes were those interminable queues and baggage checks, voted for by 29%. Second highest, at 25%, was being caught for extra luggage charges at the check-in, and third were baggage delays at the destination airport, infuriating 23% of respondents most. Fourth, with a 20% vote, came losing luggage en route, while manhandling luggage to the check-ins was next at 17%. The last two "baggage hell" votes were 10% for lifting heavy bags up yourself to check them in, and perhaps surprisingly in last place, 9% cited baggage handlers strikes as their worst family airport bag experience.
Family Luggage Items Left Behind
When asked what items families with children would be most likely to have to be left at home due to airline luggage restrictions,52% said it would have to be baby's high chair for the chop. Next forced choice to ditch, at 21%, was the baby potty, closely followed, among 21% of respondents were the children's sports gear, like footballs, tennis racquets and sports shoes. 19% said they would have to leave behind extra baby's nappies, while a close 18% opted to leave out of the suitcase the child's favourite game console or tablet - a sure-fire recipe these days for family discontent. Last on the must-leave-behind list, at 9%, is, perhaps surprisingly, the family first aid box.
Baggage Freedom
For a family holiday to succeed, 62% of survey respondents said it was important or very important to be able to freely choose how much baggage can be taken, compared with 9% who said it was not important or not important at all. It was acknowledged among 64% that adult women tended to have the biggest personal luggage needs, but adult men were next at 9%, in front of their teenage daughters at 6%, babies 4% and toddlers at 4% each , ahead of young sons and daughters, at 3% each. Most luggage-efficient were grandmothers and grandfathers, at around 2% each.
And do we care about our luggage contents? Well yes, 53% always lock all the cases on a family holiday and another 25% sometimes do - compared with 22% who never lock the family suitcases.
Lost Luggage
We also get annoyed about experiencing lost or damaged luggage - and here air travel would also appear to be a further source of baggage rage, with 36% of all respondents claiming to have experienced lost or damaged luggage with airlines.
Baggage Rage in action
The survey also explored how you might instinctively react if your airline bag was found to be 3kg overweight at check-in. 45% said they would transfer some clothes to their partners' bag and hold up the queue, while 38% would take some clothes out and simply wear them for the journey. 33% would promptly pay up the extra fee, while 19% would jettison any heavy toiletry items and leave them behind. The more emotional 4% amongst us simply start to cry, while another 4% would turn on the check-in attendant, and 3% would have a row with their partner!
Forsaking Holiday Mementos
It is not only what you cannot take with you on holiday, it is what you cannot bring back by air. The survey asked what items you would be most upset about not being able to bring back with you, due to hold restrictions. Top of the list, at 23% was local artisan craft mementos, followed by electrical goods and duty-free cameras at 22%. Booze is next - at 21% are bottles of local spirits reluctantly left and, at 20%, bottles of local wines - all too heavy and fragile. 15% of respondents would forsake fashion clothes from abroad, with 14% discarding country of origin foods and cheeses. 12% would leave behind local leather goods, and 11% would be most upset at not bringing home country of origin art and paintings. 8% would leave behind fossils, rock crystals and seashells, with nearly 5% ditching any woven rugs or carpets. If you think you and your family are upset about leaving all these things behind, spare a thought for the local artisans and shopkeepers, who thought tourism was there to help them.
Ferry Baggage Freedom
Asked to rank in order of importance the rage-free family baggage services provided by ferries, first came no restrictions on numbers of baggage items, second came no weight restrictions on individual baggage items, third came no charges at all for family luggage in car, fourth came no need to move baggage at all on journey and fifth came the ability to easily get to an item in luggage.
And freed from all the baggage shackles the survey asked one last question - which Top 10 family favourite items would you take on holiday by ferry, that you cannot by air? Top of the list, voted for by 29%, would be "comfort clothes" for all the family, from dressing gowns and slippers - to even onesies! Next, most important for 25%, would be the children's bikes, ahead of extra family waterproof clothes at 21%. Fourth, at 20% would be the pet family dog, with most ferries equipped to take pets. Children's sports gear is next most popular at 19%, and a child's carrycot or car seat receiving 18% of the votes. Seventh are the kids' favourite toys or game consoles at 16%, and only then does the dad or mum's golf clubs get a look in at 10%. For Britons, that most revered item of teapot and tea came ninth at 9%, with nearly 8% highlighting family ski gear at number ten.
The survey was commissioned through One Poll for industry body, Discover Ferries, to mark the start of National Ferry Fortnight, 15 - 29 March.
Top of the "baggage beefs" that annoy us most are those sky-high airline charges for suitcases in the hold - with 44% putting this top of the list. This was closely followed in second place by 41% of respondents saying their greatest rage is that baggage allowances are simply too low, with 33% moaning most about often not being allowed a handbag in addition to a cabin bag - a figure that rose, understandably, to 45% among women. Fourth in the greatest "Baggage Rage" stakes, cited by over 32%, were those exorbitant excess charges for straying over your allowance, very closely followed in fifth place by nearly 32% of the sample hating getting caught out by extra charges for not booking in luggage correctly online. The final straw - voted for by 26% - was the double whammy of weight restrictions and some charges among airlines for cabin bags.
Worst Airport Luggage Experiences
When it comes to baggage rage when your family is in tow, however, hell has no fury as that actually experienced within the airport. Top of the baggage woes were those interminable queues and baggage checks, voted for by 29%. Second highest, at 25%, was being caught for extra luggage charges at the check-in, and third were baggage delays at the destination airport, infuriating 23% of respondents most. Fourth, with a 20% vote, came losing luggage en route, while manhandling luggage to the check-ins was next at 17%. The last two "baggage hell" votes were 10% for lifting heavy bags up yourself to check them in, and perhaps surprisingly in last place, 9% cited baggage handlers strikes as their worst family airport bag experience.
Family Luggage Items Left Behind
When asked what items families with children would be most likely to have to be left at home due to airline luggage restrictions,52% said it would have to be baby's high chair for the chop. Next forced choice to ditch, at 21%, was the baby potty, closely followed, among 21% of respondents were the children's sports gear, like footballs, tennis racquets and sports shoes. 19% said they would have to leave behind extra baby's nappies, while a close 18% opted to leave out of the suitcase the child's favourite game console or tablet - a sure-fire recipe these days for family discontent. Last on the must-leave-behind list, at 9%, is, perhaps surprisingly, the family first aid box.
Baggage Freedom
For a family holiday to succeed, 62% of survey respondents said it was important or very important to be able to freely choose how much baggage can be taken, compared with 9% who said it was not important or not important at all. It was acknowledged among 64% that adult women tended to have the biggest personal luggage needs, but adult men were next at 9%, in front of their teenage daughters at 6%, babies 4% and toddlers at 4% each , ahead of young sons and daughters, at 3% each. Most luggage-efficient were grandmothers and grandfathers, at around 2% each.
And do we care about our luggage contents? Well yes, 53% always lock all the cases on a family holiday and another 25% sometimes do - compared with 22% who never lock the family suitcases.
Lost Luggage
We also get annoyed about experiencing lost or damaged luggage - and here air travel would also appear to be a further source of baggage rage, with 36% of all respondents claiming to have experienced lost or damaged luggage with airlines.
Baggage Rage in action
The survey also explored how you might instinctively react if your airline bag was found to be 3kg overweight at check-in. 45% said they would transfer some clothes to their partners' bag and hold up the queue, while 38% would take some clothes out and simply wear them for the journey. 33% would promptly pay up the extra fee, while 19% would jettison any heavy toiletry items and leave them behind. The more emotional 4% amongst us simply start to cry, while another 4% would turn on the check-in attendant, and 3% would have a row with their partner!
Forsaking Holiday Mementos
It is not only what you cannot take with you on holiday, it is what you cannot bring back by air. The survey asked what items you would be most upset about not being able to bring back with you, due to hold restrictions. Top of the list, at 23% was local artisan craft mementos, followed by electrical goods and duty-free cameras at 22%. Booze is next - at 21% are bottles of local spirits reluctantly left and, at 20%, bottles of local wines - all too heavy and fragile. 15% of respondents would forsake fashion clothes from abroad, with 14% discarding country of origin foods and cheeses. 12% would leave behind local leather goods, and 11% would be most upset at not bringing home country of origin art and paintings. 8% would leave behind fossils, rock crystals and seashells, with nearly 5% ditching any woven rugs or carpets. If you think you and your family are upset about leaving all these things behind, spare a thought for the local artisans and shopkeepers, who thought tourism was there to help them.
Ferry Baggage Freedom
Asked to rank in order of importance the rage-free family baggage services provided by ferries, first came no restrictions on numbers of baggage items, second came no weight restrictions on individual baggage items, third came no charges at all for family luggage in car, fourth came no need to move baggage at all on journey and fifth came the ability to easily get to an item in luggage.
And freed from all the baggage shackles the survey asked one last question - which Top 10 family favourite items would you take on holiday by ferry, that you cannot by air? Top of the list, voted for by 29%, would be "comfort clothes" for all the family, from dressing gowns and slippers - to even onesies! Next, most important for 25%, would be the children's bikes, ahead of extra family waterproof clothes at 21%. Fourth, at 20% would be the pet family dog, with most ferries equipped to take pets. Children's sports gear is next most popular at 19%, and a child's carrycot or car seat receiving 18% of the votes. Seventh are the kids' favourite toys or game consoles at 16%, and only then does the dad or mum's golf clubs get a look in at 10%. For Britons, that most revered item of teapot and tea came ninth at 9%, with nearly 8% highlighting family ski gear at number ten.
The survey was commissioned through One Poll for industry body, Discover Ferries, to mark the start of National Ferry Fortnight, 15 - 29 March.
Friday 14 March 2014
#GordonRamsay #SportRelief
Gordon Ramsay led a ‘Flash Gordon Mob in Los Angeles (March 13), to bring the spirit of Sport Relief to thousands of expats, with the help of British Airways.
Taking elements of a ‘flash mob’ and combining it with a ‘mini fun-run’, Ramsay completed a 100 metre run in Santa Monica, alongside 35 volunteers - some dressed in chef whites, others in ‘Flash Gordon’ costumes for comedy value!
The event was hosted by British Airways to bring Sport Relief to the 350,000 Brits living in Los Angeles. The airline has raised more than £6.5 million through is ‘Flying Start’ partnership with Comic Relief.
Taking elements of a ‘flash mob’ and combining it with a ‘mini fun-run’, Ramsay completed a 100 metre run in Santa Monica, alongside 35 volunteers - some dressed in chef whites, others in ‘Flash Gordon’ costumes for comedy value!
The event was hosted by British Airways to bring Sport Relief to the 350,000 Brits living in Los Angeles. The airline has raised more than £6.5 million through is ‘Flying Start’ partnership with Comic Relief.
Thursday 13 March 2014
Visit Accessible England
In the
spirit of Olympic and Paralympic legacy, VisitEngland has launched a national
marketing campaign aimed at championing and improving accessible tourism in
England.
The
national tourist board has worked with a number of destinations and the
Disabled Persons Railcard to develop exciting guides highlighting fantastic and
accessible tourism experiences across the country.
The
Access for All Campaign aims to position England as a leading destination for
accessible tourism. The campaign is a cost-effective way for selected English
destinations to showcase their accessible tourism businesses and attract more
visits from disabled travellers and others with access needs, and their
companions.
Each
destination has selected top class accommodation and attractions which have
then been through an Access for All programme developed by VisitEngland to
ensure they are delivering the highest standard of access for visitors.
These
places to stay and visit are featured in a series of local guides that
highlight key attributes of the destination as well as promoting it as access
friendly.
The four
destinations involved in the campaign are Leicestershire, NewcastleGateshead, Brighton
and Bath.
Wednesday 12 March 2014
VeloPark Now Open
Paralympic gold and double silver medallist, Mark Colbourne MBE, has launched
Lee Valley VeloPark.
Lee Valley VeloPark on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park includes
the iconic velodrome, remodelled Olympic BMX track, a new one mile (1.6km)
flood-lit road circuit and five miles (8km) of mountain biking trails. It is
the first venue in the world to bring these four cycling activities together in
one place.
Mark, who is an Ambassador for the venue, along with Olympic
double gold medalist Laura Trott, was selected as part of the cycling team for
Paralympics GB at the London 2012 Games.
He said: “I do feel honoured to have competed in the velodrome and very proud to have raced and won in front of my home crowd. This ambassadorial role will help me to inspire many more children in their quest to achieve great things in sport and in life.
He said: “I do feel honoured to have competed in the velodrome and very proud to have raced and won in front of my home crowd. This ambassadorial role will help me to inspire many more children in their quest to achieve great things in sport and in life.
Mark took silver in the C1-3 1km time trial on 30 August
2012, becoming Great Britain's first Paralympic medalist of the Games. On 31
August he won a gold medal in the C1 3km individual pursuit after breaking the
world record in both the qualification round and the final. Mark rounded-off
his Paralympic Games, with another silver in the C1 Time Trial on the road on
Day 7.
Public sessions begin on 31 March and are available for everyone - from grassroots level to elite, from toddlers to more mature riders, and everyone in between. There are specific women’s sessions, tasters for disability cycling and tandem rides for the visually impaired.
Public sessions begin on 31 March and are available for everyone - from grassroots level to elite, from toddlers to more mature riders, and everyone in between. There are specific women’s sessions, tasters for disability cycling and tandem rides for the visually impaired.
Wednesday 5 March 2014
Tuesday 4 March 2014
Parliament Pancakes!
In
what must count as one of their crowning achievements during this session of
Parliament, and in an astonishing display of nerves, fitness, agility, and not
least Olympic-standard pancake-flipping skill, the Lords team has conquered its
rivals to secure triumph at the annual Rehab Parliamentary Pancake Race. The
nail-biting eggs-travaganza marks Shrove Tuesday and was watched by delighted
spectators in Victoria Tower Gardens, Westminster.
The Lords team, which has not won the race since 2011, was victorious and finished the relay event in a time of 3 minutes and 56 seconds. The parliamentary tradition, which has been running for 17 years, sees teams of MPs, Lords and members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery line out before the world's media, to see which team is the fittest, fastest, and flippiest. The race is the creation of the Rehab Group in the UK which provides life-changing care, rehabilitation and training services to over 60,000 people with disabilities, people with brain injuries and people with mental health difficulties each year.
Nina Hossain,ITV News newscaster and the race’s Official Starter and Scrutineer observed, "I had been warned to expect all sorts of double-dealing and naughty behaviour, and I could definitely have done with some sideline referees particularly for those off-the-pancake incidents. Next year, I am going to suggest to the organisers to introduce video technology so that we can have instant replay from all possible angles!"
In what must count as one of their crowning achievements during this session of Parliament, and in an astonishing display of nerves, fitness, agility, and not least Olympic-standard pancake-flipping skill, the Lords team has conquered its rivals to secure triumph at the annual Rehab Parliamentary Pancake Race. The nail-biting eggs-travaganza marks Shrove Tuesday and was watched by delighted spectators in Victoria Tower Gardens, Westminster.
The Lords team, which has not won the race since 2011, was victorious and finished the relay event in a time of 3 minutes and 56 seconds. The parliamentary tradition, which has been running for 17 years, sees teams of MPs, Lords and members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery line out before the world's media, to see which team is the fittest, fastest, and flippiest. The race is the creation of the Rehab Group in the UK which provides life-changing care, rehabilitation and training services to over 60,000 people with disabilities, people with brain injuries and people with mental health difficulties each year.
Nina Hossain,ITV News newscaster and the race’s Official Starter and Scrutineer observed, "I had been warned to expect all sorts of double-dealing and naughty behaviour, and I could definitely have done with some sideline referees particularly for those off-the-pancake incidents. Next year, I am going to suggest to the organisers to introduce video technology so that we can have instant replay from all possible angles!"
The Lords team, which has not won the race since 2011, was victorious and finished the relay event in a time of 3 minutes and 56 seconds. The parliamentary tradition, which has been running for 17 years, sees teams of MPs, Lords and members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery line out before the world's media, to see which team is the fittest, fastest, and flippiest. The race is the creation of the Rehab Group in the UK which provides life-changing care, rehabilitation and training services to over 60,000 people with disabilities, people with brain injuries and people with mental health difficulties each year.
Nina Hossain,ITV News newscaster and the race’s Official Starter and Scrutineer observed, "I had been warned to expect all sorts of double-dealing and naughty behaviour, and I could definitely have done with some sideline referees particularly for those off-the-pancake incidents. Next year, I am going to suggest to the organisers to introduce video technology so that we can have instant replay from all possible angles!"
In what must count as one of their crowning achievements during this session of Parliament, and in an astonishing display of nerves, fitness, agility, and not least Olympic-standard pancake-flipping skill, the Lords team has conquered its rivals to secure triumph at the annual Rehab Parliamentary Pancake Race. The nail-biting eggs-travaganza marks Shrove Tuesday and was watched by delighted spectators in Victoria Tower Gardens, Westminster.
The Lords team, which has not won the race since 2011, was victorious and finished the relay event in a time of 3 minutes and 56 seconds. The parliamentary tradition, which has been running for 17 years, sees teams of MPs, Lords and members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery line out before the world's media, to see which team is the fittest, fastest, and flippiest. The race is the creation of the Rehab Group in the UK which provides life-changing care, rehabilitation and training services to over 60,000 people with disabilities, people with brain injuries and people with mental health difficulties each year.
Nina Hossain,ITV News newscaster and the race’s Official Starter and Scrutineer observed, "I had been warned to expect all sorts of double-dealing and naughty behaviour, and I could definitely have done with some sideline referees particularly for those off-the-pancake incidents. Next year, I am going to suggest to the organisers to introduce video technology so that we can have instant replay from all possible angles!"
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