Just as children are facing the coronavirus crisis today, I grew up during another time of crisis — the economic recession of the 1980s. In my home town of Rotherham I saw the fallout of that major recession impact my local community and even my family. Alongside so many other people working in the steel … Read more
Back in 1968 and 1969, the Hong Kong flu hit the world. In the UK, 80,000 people died and the lives of one million were lost worldwide. I was 24 at the time, just starting my career, and while I still vividly remember the Cuban missile crisis and Kennedy’s assassination which were a little earlier, … Read more
A brave nurse has sent a heartbreaking apology to a church warden who was stabbed to death on a supermarket shopping trip saying: ‘I’m sorry I couldn’t save you.’ NHS worker Lisa Way, 53, was also injured in the attack inside a village Co-op where grandfather John Rees, 88, was killed as his wife Eunice … Read more
Back in November 1918, the San Francisco authorities thought they had beaten the deadly Spanish flu pandemic that had spread across the globe in only a matter of months. Infection levels in the city had peaked, then dwindled to apparent insignificance. At the centre of the city a whistle blew, signalling the official end of … Read more
Whisper it… but could it be we have gone too far? That is the alarming question my colleagues and I are beginning to ask, firstly of ourselves and then, cautiously, of each other. In our understandable but frenzied drive to ‘Save the NHS’ from the scourge of coronavirus, are we inflicting long-term damage on millions … Read more
Bruce Willis has raised eyebrows over his decision to quarantine with his ex Demi Moore, rather than his wife Emma Herring. Model Emma, 41, confirmed she was not isolating with the pair when she commented ‘love and miss you guys’ on a snap of the famous exes and their daughters Tallulah, 26, and Scout, 28, in … Read more
Killing Eve Verdict: Dead-cool thriller loses its flair Rating: Gone is the pink nylon tutu with bovver boots, the child’s cartoon pyjamas — and there’s nothing remotely like the Bavarian bodice worn with a fluffy pig-face mask. Instead, the first time we see Russian assassin Villanelle, as Killing Eve returns for a third series, she’s … Read more
Twelve cyclists ride in formation in London’s Regent’s Park. It was, as far as they were concerned, just a normal Saturday. What other conclusion can be drawn from the picture of them pedalling furiously through the beauty spot seemingly without a care? On the day the coronavirus pandemic claimed 708 lives in Britain, they and … Read more
The Marquess of Bath, the eccentric owner of Longleat Safari Park, has died aged 87 after testing positive for coronavirus. In a statement, Alexander Thynn’s family thanked the medical team at Royal United Hospital in Bath which ‘cared so professionally and compassionately’ for him in his final days. Here, Richard Kay looks back at the life … Read more
Boris Johnson has written to all opposition leaders to invite them to Number 10 next week to work together to battle coronavirus. The announcement comes as it was revealed that the Queen will issue a rallying cry to the nation on Sunday in a rare address to the nation to boost morale. Johnson wrote: ‘Coronavirus … Read more