James Makinson, a 79-year-old army veteran who had lived in caravans and motorhomes for more than 20 years, has been helped into a permanent home in Wigan through the Homes at Ease scheme run by Armed Forces Community HQ. He said the home has given him a sense of security, and the scheme has been praised for helping veterans find stable housing across the North West.
A century-old family department store, Coes, is moving one of its branches into much larger premises on Hamilton Road in Felixstowe. The chain credits its personal customer service and long-serving staff for keeping its High Street shops going.
A 14-year-old brass band player, Efan, and his teacher Dylan 'Corn' Williams from Seindorf Arian Deiniolen talk about how brass bands bring communities together ahead of Remembrance Sunday. Efan will play hymns with the band at the village war memorial service, and Dylan has been teaching local cornet players to play The Last Post.
Final preparations are underway for Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival, the oldest carnival in the country, with families and clubs building floats in the evenings after work. Renegades Carnival Club, founded in 1966, has around 50 members spanning several generations, with many carnival families passing the tradition down.
