birminghammail--2020-08-22--A look behind the scenes at Aston Villa's training camp in Wales

After a series of fitness checks - such as the bleep test , spring jumps and core strength drills - Aston Villa 's squad hopped on the coach and headed for the fresh outdoors down in the south Wales countryside .
Dean Smith , his staff and players have been conducting their 20/21 pre-season training camp at the usual base for Wales ' national football and rugby teams at The Vale Resort just off the M4 , a 20-minute drive west from Cardiff city centre .
`` We don ’ t like to name drop but our professional sports team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of top-drawer teams : Manchester Utd , Lazio , Juventus , Real Madrid and Liverpool to name but a few .
And , quite frankly , we ’ re not surprised , '' is the description on The Vale 's website , which adds how the luxury four-star , 650-acre accommodation has 143 bedrooms , catering facilities and its own pristine golf course .
Sign up for our Villa newsletter with your email in the box at the top of the page or click here With Villa swapping last year 's melting conditions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wales , club writer Ashley Preece picks out some of the talking points , funnies and quirky bits from training as Villa 's preparations continue ahead of their delayed start against Sheffield United in four weeks ' time ...
The ball was pinged in by Ezri Konsa and it was down to a team of Jack Grealish , Neil Taylor , Keinan Davis , Marvelous Nakamba , Jacob Ramsey and Henri Lansbury to work the ball from around 25 yards , keeping it up before touching it down into a giant red bucket @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying , 'This is the one ! '
as the lads attempted to complete it .
'Keep it going , keep it alive ' was the cry from Taylor , too , before Konsa 's caressed header found Lansbury .
There , the midfielder tried to roll the ball in off his chest but , instead , it bounced off his belly and off the rim as it missed the bucket .
Cue scenes of despair all around , before Grealish yells : ' H !
How can you belly that in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gave him some back , tensed up like Hulk Hogan and told the skipper : 'All chest , bro ! '
.
Funny !
The clip began with Villa 's senior clique of Matt Targett , Grealish , Conor Hourihane , John McGinn , Taylor and Tyrone Mings strolling down to begin training before Smith 's fitness coaches Paddy Moore and Aman Shergill got the group going with some acceleration work through poles and ladders to get the blood pumping .
The ball was out soon enough and it was n't long before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sliding challenge ( he loves them ! )
as he attempted to stop a goal in a two-vs-one game played with mini , two-yard goals .
In another clip , Anwar El Ghazi and highly-rated youngster Carney Chukwuemeka , 16 , toyed with Indiana Vassilev before the tall teenager stroked home into the net .
Another game saw Mings and full-back Kaine Kesler take McGinn on , with the youngster attempting an audacious Cruyff pass back to Mings .
The possession games got bigger and cries of 'Well done , you ' , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hourihane 's Irish yell of 'Go on , go on , go on ! '
were heard as the intensity and tempo stepped up a notch .
Head coach Smith then called the lads in for a pep talk before training continued .
Davis headed home past Lovre Kalinic after great work by El Ghazi down the wing before , up the other end , keeper Viljami Sinisalo saved well from a Grealish curler .
Davis again , though , soon fired home past Kalinic once more as the quick-fire counter-attacking game mirrored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of play then involved Trezeguet , with the Egyptian killing the ball stone-dead on his chest from a long Kalinic throw .
The winger found Chukwuemeka down the flank before the teenager 's brilliant , cutting ball was struck home by El Ghazi at the back post .
Grealish , meanwhile , was at his usual best soon after .
He skinned young defender Mungo Bridge before teeing up Mbwana Samatta to tap home .
Davis slammed home a third within the four-minute clip while Grealish unleashed a powerful , left-footed strike past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ! '
was heard once more following great play between Aaron Ramsey - young brother of Jacob - and McGinn , with the latter coolly slotting home after being picked out by the 17-year-old .
The above was a description of the training video put out by Villa and one thing in particular stood out : the impact of Villa 's young guns in first-team training .
I penned a piece previously after witnessing Aaron Ramsey boss a session during last term 's Project Restart and , once more , it was the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this reporter and the man behind the camera .
It 's the first real glimpse we 've saw of Chukwuemeka , too , who 's heavily involved now after signing his professional contract at Villa .
The young , gangly central midfielder was , remember , billed as `` the best 16-year-old in England '' by chief exec Christian Purslow during a talk with supporters earlier this year .
Elsewhere , though , it was great to see the Ramsey brothers strut their stuff .
Jacob , 19 , starred out on loan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have really matured .
His brother , Aaron , is clearly a talent as well and you get the feeling the pair - who went to Barr Beacon School - could well be Villa 's future heroes .
Other under-23 stars recorded in action in Wales were centre-back Bridge and right-back Kesler , the latter making Smith 's squad away at Everton last time out .
It was a video that stunned everyone connected to Aston Villa .
Tom Otrebski , Villa 's comms officer , belted out an operatic number which could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It was some effort , by the way , as Tom stood on a chair during post-training dinner at The Vale and let rip .
It was brilliant and jaw-dropping in every way and had Villa 's squad - staff and players - on their feet , with McGinn jumping on a chair himself as he cheered and clapped .
What a voice , Tom !

After a series of fitness checks - such as the bleep test, spring jumps and core strength drills - Aston Villa's squad hopped on the coach and headed for the fresh outdoors down in the south Wales countryside.
Dean Smith, his staff and players have been conducting their 20/21 pre-season training camp at the usual base for Wales' national football and rugby teams at The Vale Resort just off the M4, a 20-minute drive west from Cardiff city centre.
"We don’t like to name drop but our professional sports team training facilities have attracted their fair share of top-drawer teams: Manchester Utd, Lazio, Juventus, Real Madrid and Liverpool to name but a few. And, quite frankly, we’re not surprised," is the description on The Vale's website, which adds how the luxury four-star, 650-acre accommodation has 143 bedrooms, catering facilities and its own pristine golf course.
Sign up for our Villa newsletter with your email in the box at the top of the page or click here
With Villa swapping last year's melting conditions in Minnesota for the calmness of south Wales, club writer Ashley Preece picks out some of the talking points, funnies and quirky bits from training as Villa's preparations continue ahead of their delayed start against Sheffield United in four weeks' time...
BUCKET CHALLENGE OVERFLOWING WITH BANTER
The ball was pinged in by Ezri Konsa and it was down to a team of Jack Grealish, Neil Taylor, Keinan Davis, Marvelous Nakamba, Jacob Ramsey and Henri Lansbury to work the ball from around 25 yards, keeping it up before touching it down into a giant red bucket. Dean Smith was also on hand, saying, 'This is the one!' as the lads attempted to complete it.
'Keep it going, keep it alive' was the cry from Taylor, too, before Konsa's caressed header found Lansbury. There, the midfielder tried to roll the ball in off his chest but, instead, it bounced off his belly and off the rim as it missed the bucket. Cue scenes of despair all around, before Grealish yells: 'H! How can you belly that in?'. Lansbury, though, gave him some back, tensed up like Hulk Hogan and told the skipper: 'All chest, bro!'. Funny!
THE SENIOR CLIQUE, DAVIS HATTY & TRAINING TEMPO HIGH
The clip began with Villa's senior clique of Matt Targett, Grealish, Conor Hourihane, John McGinn, Taylor and Tyrone Mings strolling down to begin training before Smith's fitness coaches Paddy Moore and Aman Shergill got the group going with some acceleration work through poles and ladders to get the blood pumping.
The ball was out soon enough and it wasn't long before we noticed Frederic Guilbert partake in a sliding challenge (he loves them!) as he attempted to stop a goal in a two-vs-one game played with mini, two-yard goals. In another clip, Anwar El Ghazi and highly-rated youngster Carney Chukwuemeka, 16, toyed with Indiana Vassilev before the tall teenager stroked home into the net. Another game saw Mings and full-back Kaine Kesler take McGinn on, with the youngster attempting an audacious Cruyff pass back to Mings.
The possession games got bigger and cries of 'Well done, you', 'Press, press, press' and Hourihane's Irish yell of 'Go on, go on, go on!' were heard as the intensity and tempo stepped up a notch. Head coach Smith then called the lads in for a pep talk before training continued. Davis headed home past Lovre Kalinic after great work by El Ghazi down the wing before, up the other end, keeper Viljami Sinisalo saved well from a Grealish curler. Davis again, though, soon fired home past Kalinic once more as the quick-fire counter-attacking game mirrored a basketball contest.
A nice bit of play then involved Trezeguet, with the Egyptian killing the ball stone-dead on his chest from a long Kalinic throw. The winger found Chukwuemeka down the flank before the teenager's brilliant, cutting ball was struck home by El Ghazi at the back post. Grealish, meanwhile, was at his usual best soon after. He skinned young defender Mungo Bridge before teeing up Mbwana Samatta to tap home. Davis slammed home a third within the four-minute clip while Grealish unleashed a powerful, left-footed strike past Orjan Nyland. 'Well done, you!' was heard once more following great play between Aaron Ramsey - young brother of Jacob - and McGinn, with the latter coolly slotting home after being picked out by the 17-year-old.
THE RAMSEY BROTHERS STRUT THEIR STUFF
The above was a description of the training video put out by Villa and one thing in particular stood out: the impact of Villa's young guns in first-team training. I penned a piece previously after witnessing Aaron Ramsey boss a session during last term's Project Restart and, once more, it was the teenager's who caught the eye of this reporter and the man behind the camera. It's the first real glimpse we've saw of Chukwuemeka, too, who's heavily involved now after signing his professional contract at Villa. The young, gangly central midfielder was, remember, billed as "the best 16-year-old in England" by chief exec Christian Purslow during a talk with supporters earlier this year.
Elsewhere, though, it was great to see the Ramsey brothers strut their stuff. Jacob, 19, starred out on loan at Doncaster last season and looks to have really matured. His brother, Aaron, is clearly a talent as well and you get the feeling the pair - who went to Barr Beacon School - could well be Villa's future heroes. Other under-23 stars recorded in action in Wales were centre-back Bridge and right-back Kesler, the latter making Smith's squad away at Everton last time out.
TOM'S GOT TALENT... WHAT A VOICE
It was a video that stunned everyone connected to Aston Villa. Tom Otrebski, Villa's comms officer, belted out an operatic number which could have been Polish given his proud heritage. It was some effort, by the way, as Tom stood on a chair during post-training dinner at The Vale and let rip. It was brilliant and jaw-dropping in every way and had Villa's squad - staff and players - on their feet, with McGinn jumping on a chair himself as he cheered and clapped. What a voice, Tom!


birminghammail--2020-08-22--Hit-and-run appeal after great-granddad left to die in street

Police have issued an urgent appeal to trace four men after a 'kind and generous ' great granddad was left to die in the street .
Andell Goulbourne was hit by a grey BMW M135i as he cycled along Washwood Heath Road at 11.15pm on July 30 .
Four men were allegedly in the BMW at the time , but instead of stopping to help the critically injured 59-year-old they reportedly ran away from the scene .
Police seized the car for forensic analysis and identified four men from CCTV footage who they now wish to speak to about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ images of the men and urged anyone who recognises them to get in touch .
Detective Sergeant Paul Hughes from our serious collision unit , said : “ We need to know who these men are – and if anyone believes they recognise any of the four then I would urge them to get in touch .
“ The victim , Mr Goulbourne , was callously left in the road fatally injured while four men ran from the vehicle .
The offenders were more concerned about looking after themselves than calling for an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ d hit .
“ It ’ s now almost three weeks since the collision and I would urge the men caught on camera to do the right thing and come and talk to us.
” Mr Goulbourne ’ s family released a statement describing the father-of-three as a “ kind and generous man ” .
Andell - better known as Spring-i - was a volunteer charity worker .
In a tribute released through West Midlands Police shortly after his tragic death , his heartbroken family said : “ Father of three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tragically and horrifically killed last Thursday at the hands of unknown perpetrators .
“ Andell was a kind and generous individual , a mentor to many young people .
He always sought to serve those less fortunate , this was reflected in his role as a volunteer charity worker .
He was a beacon of light .
“ Our family and black community are desperately appealing to you to come forward , this was a cruel and heartless act.
” Anyone with information is urged to contact the serious collision unit by email @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or Live Chat via WMP Online between 8am and midnight .
Quote log 5069 of 30 July .

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Police have issued an urgent appeal to trace four men after a 'kind and generous' great granddad was left to die in the street.
Andell Goulbourne was hit by a grey BMW M135i as he cycled along Washwood Heath Road at 11.15pm on July 30.
Four men were allegedly in the BMW at the time, but instead of stopping to help the critically injured 59-year-old they reportedly ran away from the scene.
Police seized the car for forensic analysis and identified four men from CCTV footage who they now wish to speak to about the car involved.
(Image: West Midlands Police)
West Midlands Police issued images of the men and urged anyone who recognises them to get in touch.
Detective Sergeant Paul Hughes from our serious collision unit, said: “We need to know who these men are – and if anyone believes they recognise any of the four then I would urge them to get in touch.
“The victim, Mr Goulbourne, was callously left in the road fatally injured while four men ran from the vehicle. The offenders were more concerned about looking after themselves than calling for an ambulance or trying to help the man they’d hit.
“It’s now almost three weeks since the collision and I would urge the men caught on camera to do the right thing and come and talk to us.”
Mr Goulbourne’s family released a statement describing the father-of-three as a “kind and generous man”.
Andell - better known as Spring-i - was a volunteer charity worker.
In a tribute released through West Midlands Police shortly after his tragic death, his heartbroken family said: “Father of three, grandfather, great-grandfather and brother, tragically and horrifically killed last Thursday at the hands of unknown perpetrators.
“Andell was a kind and generous individual, a mentor to many young people. He always sought to serve those less fortunate, this was reflected in his role as a volunteer charity worker. He was a beacon of light.
“Our family and black community are desperately appealing to you to come forward, this was a cruel and heartless act.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact the serious collision unit by email at FL_COLLISION_INVEST@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk, call 101 or Live Chat via WMP Online between 8am and midnight. Quote log 5069 of 30 July.


birminghammail--2020-08-22--Tottenham prepare bid for Maitland-Niles amid Wolves interest

Tottenham are preparing a bid for Ainsley Maitland-Niles amid speculation linking the Arsenal midfielder with a move to Wolverhampton Wanderers .
According to the Daily Mail , Spurs are readying a swoop on their north London rivals to add Maitland-Niles to Jose Mourinho 's squad .
Signing a new full-back is a top priority for Mourinho this summer in order to replace Serge Aurier , who looks set to move on .
Maitland-Niles is naturally a midfielder but he has excelled at both right wing-back and left wing-back for Arsenal and the report says his versatility is seen as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's a quick and easy way to stay on top of all the Wolverhampton Wanderers news with our daily newsletter .
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Google Play Store and App Store That versatility appeals to many and Sky Sports report Wolves , Brighton and Newcastle United also hold an interest in the former England under-21 international .
Maitland-Niles has been a regular for Arsenal over the past three seasons and made his 100th appearance for the club in their FA Cup final victory over Chelsea earlier this month .
The Gunners are reluctantly prepared to listen to offers for Maitland-Niles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guarantee him a place in his starting XI at The Emirates .
It is understood he would be available for around £20m having been told Arsenal are ready to listen to offers .

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Tottenham are preparing a bid for Ainsley Maitland-Niles amid speculation linking the Arsenal midfielder with a move to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
According to the Daily Mail, Spurs are readying a swoop on their north London rivals to add Maitland-Niles to Jose Mourinho's squad.
Signing a new full-back is a top priority for Mourinho this summer in order to replace Serge Aurier, who looks set to move on.
Maitland-Niles is naturally a midfielder but he has excelled at both right wing-back and left wing-back for Arsenal and the report says his versatility is seen as a 'huge plus' by Spurs.
Wolves daily newsletter. Free. To your inbox There's a quick and easy way to stay on top of all the Wolverhampton Wanderers news with our daily newsletter. Delivered straight into your email inbox each day, the bulletins will feature the latest Wolves news, views, gossip and opinion. All you have to do is punch your email in at the top of the article - or sign up here. And what's more, it's absolutely free! You can also get all the latest updates by following us on Facebook and Twitter. We also have a free app which you can download. It is always up-to-date with the latest news from across the region. Google Play Store and App Store
That versatility appeals to many and Sky Sports report Wolves, Brighton and Newcastle United also hold an interest in the former England under-21 international.
Maitland-Niles has been a regular for Arsenal over the past three seasons and made his 100th appearance for the club in their FA Cup final victory over Chelsea earlier this month.
The Gunners are reluctantly prepared to listen to offers for Maitland-Niles this summer with Mikel Arteta unable to guarantee him a place in his starting XI at The Emirates.
It is understood he would be available for around £20m having been told Arsenal are ready to listen to offers.


birminghammail--2020-08-22--Gothersley Hall,  where Roy Wood wrote 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday'.

Gothersley Hall , where Roy Wood wrote ' I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday ' .
The house is @ @ @ @ @ , with six bedrooms and was once home to Roy Wood .

Gothersley Hall, where Roy Wood wrote 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday'.
The house is on the market for £1,500,000, with six bedrooms and was once home to Roy Wood.
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birminghammail--2020-08-22--Ollie Watkins to Villa latest as negotiations set to 'ramp up'

Aston Villa have been linked with a move for Brentford striker Ollie Watkins .
The 24-year-old enjoyed a fantastic season for the Bees , helping them to the play-off final where they eventually missed out on promotion to the Premier League .
And he is now being linked with a host of clubs , Villa being just one .
Below we run you through all the latest on Watkins , including Brentford 's stance on the talented striker .
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We also have a free app which you can download .
It is always up-to-date with the latest news from across the region .
Google Play Store and App Store Watkins prefers a move to Villa if he leaves Brentford this summer , according to reports .
According to Sky Sports , he wants to reunite with Villa head coach Dean Smith should the opportunity come about .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Exeter City three years ago and helped oversee his development before being appointed at Villa Park .
Villa have been tipped to complete a double swoop on Brentford for Watkins and Said Benrahma .
You can find out everything about the Benrahma situation here .
The winger combined brilliantly with Watkins who netted 26 times in the Championship last season .
Watkins is a huge player for the Bees , under contract until 2023 , but after they missed out on promotion with defeat to Fulham in the play-off final , his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are plenty of teams being linked with a move which could present a problem for Villa .
The Guardian reports Villa are showing 'strong interest ' in Watkins but Leeds United and Crystal Palace are also said to be keen .
According to Sky Sports , Brentford value their star pair at £50m , suggesting Watkins is valued at around £25m .
Earlier reports suggested it would be 'at least £18m ' for the striker , but it now seems it will take another £7m to get the deal done .
Watkins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2017 , so whether it 's £18m or £25m , they are set to make a huge profit on their frontman .
Watkins had been on holiday in Greece .
BirminghamLive 's Villa correspondent Ashley Preece reports : `` Negotiations are set to ramp up upon Watkins ’ return from his break from Monday onwards with the two clubs - Villa and Brentford - set for showdown talks .
`` The Brentford ace is being tracked by Smith who wants him in over the next fortnight ahead of the season-opener next month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that will be worth in the region of £18m for Watkins in the near future .
That ’ s according to the Daily Mail , who claim that the Bees aren ’ t likely to be tempted into selling their top goalscorer for that price , because they value him at closer to £25m .
They are insisting that any interested suitors from the Premier League match their fee , but Villa will reportedly try to persuade them to bring that valuation down initially .
Brentford boss Thomas Frank has n't been drawn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surprised there is interest in his star men .
“ We played a top season , and we have some top players .
It ’ s of course natural that there is going to be interest , ” he told Sky Sports .
“ For me , it ’ s not about that now .
I ’ m not thinking about that .
I just know one thing - when we start again next season , we ’ ll have a very strong side out there again , and we ’ ll be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are good examples of the past , where teams come back even stronger , even hungrier and even more determined .
“ With this group of players , and this club , 100 % we ’ ll come back even stronger .
”

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The Aston Villa and Ollie Watkins saga that has rumbled for weeks seems to be reaching a conclusion.
The 24-year-old enjoyed a fantastic season for the Bees, helping them to the play-off final where they eventually missed out on promotion to the Premier League.
And he is now being linked with a host of clubs, Villa being just one.
Below we run you through all the latest as Dean Smith looks to have got his man.
Villa agree fee with Brentford
Villa are set to smash their transfer record to land Watkins.
Watkins is Dean Smith's top transfer target and a £28million deal has been struck with Brentford to bring him to Villa Park.
The BBC suggests the deal could also include £5million in add ons which would take the total to £33million and Villa are hoping to wrap it up quickly now.
Watkins will become the club's second signing of the transfer window following the £16million arrival of right-back Matty Cash from Nottingham Forest.
Sky Sports report he travelled to Birmingham last night and is set for a medical today.
He could be posing for pictures, holding the Claret and Blue shirt by close of play today.
Villa move would be 'perfect'
Watkins could have a similar impact to Tammy Abraham if he completes a 'perfect' move to Villa, former England winger Trevor Sinclair has said.
While Villa's forwards struggled for goals last term, Abraham found the net 26 times when he was on loan from Chelsea in the 2018/19 season and Sinclair believes Watkins would provide the same kind of boost.
“Villa would be perfect for him,” Sinclair told talkSport. “When they had Tammy Abraham they were flying and Ollie has got the same kind of figure and physicality.
“He’s quick and knows how to score a goal and get in the right areas. He would be perfect for Villa. I think he’s been a class act and deserves the move.”
Tottenham register interest
Villa aren't alone in their interest with a number of Premier League clubs looking to sign Watkins - and Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly joined the race.
Jose Mourinho is looking to find a striker who can occasionally fill in for star striker Harry Kane in north London and The Mirror suggests Watkins is a target.
Big-money offer
Villa are reportedly ready to blow their competition out of the water, offering the Bees striker a bumper £70k-per-week contract.
According to the Sun, Smith and the Villa hierarchy are preparing to offer a financial package to the player, which should see them move ahead of the competition.
The same newspaper then reported last Sunday that Watkins is now 'likely' to join Villa with Brentford's capture of Ivan Toney from Peterborough the breakthrough Smith's side needed.
Villa were 'frustrated'
Villa had become frustrated with their pursuit of Watkins because of the lack of progress over a deal, according to Sky Sports.
BirminghamLive previously reported how Smith wants to get the move over the line to allow Watkins to settle in during pre-season.
But a report from Sky last month stated: "With Sheffield United, Fulham and Crystal Palace also keen on the 24-year-old, Villa fear they are in the middle of an auction, and are reluctant to get involved in a bidding war."
None of that seems to matter now.
Watkins 'keen' on Villa move
Watkins preferred a move to Villa, according to reports.
According to Sky, he wants to reunite with Villa head coach Smith should the opportunity come about.
As Brentford manager, Smith signed Watkins from Exeter City three years ago and helped oversee his development before being appointed at Villa Park.
Brentford admission
Brentford boss Thomas Frank hasn't been drawn on speculation, but he is not surprised there is interest in his star men.
“We played a top season, and we have some top players. It’s of course natural that there is going to be interest,” he told Sky Sports.
“For me, it’s not about that now. I’m not thinking about that. I just know one thing - when we start again next season, we’ll have a very strong side out there again, and we’ll be ready to push.
“I think there are good examples of the past, where teams come back even stronger, even hungrier and even more determined.
“With this group of players, and this club, 100% we’ll come back even stronger.”


birminghammail--2020-08-22--Aston Villa transfers live - Billing linked as Smith gives update

Hello and welcome to Saturday 's LIVE Aston Villa coverage from BirminghamLive .
We will be keeping you informed on all the key developments across today as Villa 's transfer window gathers pace and the new season draws closer .
We will be adding all the latest Villa news , views and rumours to our live blog throughout the day , with new signings and transfers continually linked to the club .
Werder Bremen star Milot Rashica - valued at £20 million-plus - continues to be the name associated with Aston Villa with a report on the Kosovan reluctant to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seemingly meeting the German club 's price demand .
Elsewhere , Brentford duo Ollie Watkins and Said Benrahm remain top targets while there 's fresh links regarding Bournemouth duo Harry Wilson and Philip Billing while shock rumours surrounding young Liverpool duo Rhian Brewster and Marko Grujic .
Villa , who are currently enjoying a pre-season training camp in south Wales , are also linked with a move for American midfielder Weston McKennie , 21 , from Schalke .
So stay with us for today 's blog , below , and be sure to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transfer news and opinion .

newsdesk@birminghamlive.co.uk (Shane Ireland, Ashley Preece)

Hello and welcome to LIVE Aston Villa coverage from BirminghamLive on Wednesday, September 9.
We will be keeping you informed on all the key developments across today as Villa's transfer window gathers pace and the new season draws closer.
We will be adding all the latest Villa news, views and rumours to our live blog throughout the day, with new signings and transfers continually linked to the club.
Matty Cash arrived from Nottingham Forest to become the club's first senior signing of the window and Brentford striker Ollie Watkins completed his £28m switch to Villa Park on Wednesday.
Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has also been touted for a move with Dean Smith keen to add cover given Tom Heaton's long lay-off.
So stay with us for today's transfer blog and be sure to check back for all the latest Villa transfer news and opinion.


birminghammail--2020-08-22--Universal Credit bank holiday payments: how your pay dates will change next week

Huge numbers of people have applied for Universal Credit during the coronavirus pandemic .
Over a million new claimants started getting the benefit in April after turning to the Government for help and the same number began receiving it in May .
In latest figures , up to July 9 , there were 5.6 million people on the welfare scheme .
For many , Universal Credit has been an entirely new and unfamiliar experience , with rules on savings as well as financial penalties for breaking rules .
And there will be change to the regular routine next week when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ August Bank Holiday .
In 2020 , the August Bank Holiday weekend falls on Monday , August 31 .
It will mean changes to Universal Credit , a monthly welfare payment that replaces six other benefits and is paid once a month , usually on the same date .
Those applying for Universal Credit must wait five weeks for their first payment , consisting of a one-month assessment period in which their circumstances and income are checked , and then another seven days for the money to reach their account .
So if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 25 , you would normally receive subsequent amounts on the 25th of every month after that .
But pay dates vary if they would end up falling on a weekend or bank holiday such as the upcoming August Bank Holiday .
Universal credit is paid every four weeks on the same date .
It will also vary slightly over bank holidays such as the one in August .
Your normal pay date is determined by when your first payment arrives .
But it will be moved in any month where your pay date @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bank holiday .
So this means the money should go in your account between one and four days earlier than usual .
Payments will be back to normal by Tuesday .
These are both usually paid every two weeks .
Dates would never fall on a weekend .
When does the money go in ?
Depending on your bank , funds are available sometime after midnight on the day they are due , usually in the early hours .
Some banks deposit money into your account around 11.30pm so you can withdraw it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will release your funds at midnight or just a few minutes after that .
But in some cases you have to wait until 2am to 3am and others will not let you touch your money until at least 6am on payday .
These are the typical paying-in times for banks : Clydesdale , Yorkshire - 11.30pm the night before to 12.30am What if your payment does n't go in ?
The Department for Work and Pensions told Birmingham Live : `` If a payment date is on a bank holiday or weekend , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working day before the bank holiday or weekend . ''
But if you do n't get your payment , call the helplines we 've listed below .
But note that you may not be able to speak to benefits staff over the bank holiday weekend in all cases .
It depends which benefit you are enquiring about .
So it 's a good idea to check you have your money before the bank holiday weekend begins .
Look for work in your area using our jobs search tool below - just input your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to call is 0800 328 9344 ( this replaces previous number 0345 600 0723 ) Open Monday to Friday , 8am to 6pm .
All calls are free ( closed on bank holidays ) .
Helpline for Jobseeker ’ s Allowance ( JSA ) , Income Support , Incapacity Benefit and Employment and Support Allowance ( ESA ) The number to call is 0800 169 0310 Open Monday to Friday , 8am to 6pm .
All calls are free ( closed on bank holidays ) .

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Huge numbers of people have applied for Universal Credit during the coronavirus pandemic.
Over a million new claimants started getting the benefit in April after turning to the Government for help and the same number began receiving it in May.
In latest figures, up to July 9, there were 5.6 million people on the welfare scheme.
For many, Universal Credit has been an entirely new and unfamiliar experience, with rules on savings as well as financial penalties for breaking rules.
And there will be change to the regular routine next week when payment dates for benefits such as Universal Credit and ESA are adjusted because of the August Bank Holiday.
(Image: PA)
In 2020, the August Bank Holiday weekend falls on Monday, August 31.
It will mean changes to Universal Credit, a monthly welfare payment that replaces six other benefits and is paid once a month, usually on the same date.
Those applying for Universal Credit must wait five weeks for their first payment, consisting of a one-month assessment period in which their circumstances and income are checked, and then another seven days for the money to reach their account.
So if your first payment was received on May 25, you would normally receive subsequent amounts on the 25th of every month after that.
But pay dates vary if they would end up falling on a weekend or bank holiday such as the upcoming August Bank Holiday.
Universal Credit - August Bank Holiday payment dates
Universal credit is paid every four weeks on the same date. It will also vary slightly over bank holidays such as the one in August.
Your normal pay date is determined by when your first payment arrives.
But it will be moved in any month where your pay date happens to fall on a weekend or bank holiday.
Due date: Saturday, August 29
Revised pay date: Friday, August 28
Due date: Sunday, August 30
Revised pay date: Friday, August 28
Due date: Monday, August 31
Revised pay date: Friday, August 28
So this means the money should go in your account between one and four days earlier than usual. Payments will be back to normal by Tuesday.
Child Benefit - August Bank Holiday payment dates
Child benefit is usually paid every four weeks on a Monday or Tuesday (but you can get it paid weekly if you’re a single parent or if one of you is claiming other benefits). So it would not be paid on a weekend anyway.
Due date: Monday, August 31
Revised payment date: Friday, August 28
Employment Support Allowance (ESA) and Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) - August Bank Holiday payment dates
These are both usually paid every two weeks. Dates would never fall on a weekend.
Due date: Monday, August 31
Revised payment date: Friday, August 28
When does the money go in?
Depending on your bank, funds are available sometime after midnight on the day they are due, usually in the early hours.
Some banks deposit money into your account around 11.30pm so you can withdraw it before midnight on benefit payday. Others will release your funds at midnight or just a few minutes after that.
But in some cases you have to wait until 2am to 3am and others will not let you touch your money until at least 6am on payday.
These are the typical paying-in times for banks:
Clydesdale, Yorkshire - 11.30pm the night before to 12.30am
Lloyds - midnight to 1am
Bank of Scotland - midnight to 1.30am
Metro Bank - midnight to 2am
Barclays , Co-op- 1am to 2am
Natwest, RBS, Ulster Bank, Nationwide - 2am to 3am
Halifax - 3am to 4am
HSBC, Santander - 6am to 9am
What if your payment doesn't go in?
The Department for Work and Pensions told Birmingham Live: "If a payment date is on a bank holiday or weekend, customers will be paid on the last working day before the bank holiday or weekend."
But if you don't get your payment, call the helplines we've listed below.
But note that you may not be able to speak to benefits staff over the bank holiday weekend in all cases. It depends which benefit you are enquiring about.
So it's a good idea to check you have your money before the bank holiday weekend begins.
Look for work in your area using our jobs search tool below - just input your postcode to see the vacancies
Helpline for Universal Credit
The number to call is 0800 328 9344 (this replaces previous number 0345 600 0723)
Open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. All calls are free (closed on bank holidays).
Helpline for Child Benefit
The number to call is 0300 200 3100
Open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, and Saturday 8am to 4pm. Closed on bank holidays.
Calls are not free. A call to an 0300 number costs the same as a call to a normal home or business landline.
Helpline for Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Income Support, Incapacity Benefit and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
The number to call is 0800 169 0310
Open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. All calls are free (closed on bank holidays).


birminghammail--2020-08-22--The rude street names that could increase your property value by £44k

Most people probably do n't pay too much attention to street names when house-hunting .
But it turns out the first line of your address can affect how much your home is worth .
Astonishingly , this is particularly true if it sounds rude .
On average , many naughty names appear to actually boost property value by £44,000 , according to the latest study .
Maybe it 's because the address is memorable and has become famous .
None of your friends and relatives will forget where you live , that 's for sure .
After examining hundreds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SellHouseFast found many of them drove the value of your home up by £44,460 , on average .
But there are some that are still a turn-off , as we mention below .
Of course we all know about Bell End in Rowley Regis , where some residents claim the 'offensive ' name makes them a laughing stock and their children a target for bullies .
Some residents asked for the name to be changed , but an even larger petition wanted it to stay the same and the council confirmed they had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to this latest analysis , it boosts house prices by nearly £8,00 above the average for that postcode , according to SellHouseFast .
The research found the West Midlands had 42 eyebrow-raising street names , with the most commonplace rude words seen on street signs being Butt ( 16 ) , Bush ( 11 ) , Beaver ( 4 ) , Bottom ( 3 ) , and Cock ( 2 ) .
The naughtiest road name with the highest added value is one of America 's favourite swear words , jackass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ value of £869,866 and is the most popular in London and the South-East of England .
Of course , property prices tend to be higher in London and the South-East anyway .
Other names that increased property values , along with the regions where they occurred the most , are as follows : • Jackass : increased property value by £869,866 , most common in London and SE However , it seems some suggestive street signs were definitely off-putting and could lower property value .
These negative names were Backside , Beaver , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Minge , Hardon , Hooker , Pratt and Shag .
Two of those appear in the West Midlands .
There 's a Hardon Road in Wolverhampton and a Minge Lane in Upton-upon-Severn , Worcestershire .
The analysis suggested that Hardon in a street name lowers house prices by £21,984 and Minge by £62,789 .
Hooker was among the worst offenders , devaluing homes by just over £123,000 , second only to Shag which appears to be so shameful it takes a whopping £152,582 off the price .
On the other hand , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cheap purchase , though Shag street names seem to occur only in the North West .
This fits with an earlier survey several years ago for website NeedaProperty.com which found Britain 's top ten most embarrassing streets are on average a fifth lower in price than neighbouring roads with fancier names .
South East : ( 84 ) - the top five were Butt ( 19 ) , Beaver ( 18 ) , Bush ( 11 ) , Hoe ( 11 ) , and Bottom ( 8 ) .
East of England @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were Butt ( 21 ) , Bush ( 14 ) , Cock ( 14 ) , Hoe ( 7 ) , and Bottom ( 5 ) Yorkshire and the Humber : 57 - top five were : Butt ( 28 ) , Beaver ( 6 ) , Bottom ( 5 ) , Dick ( 4 ) , and Fanny ( 3 ) East Midlands : 53 - top five were : But ( 25 ) , Bottom ( 13 ) , Hoe ( 3 ) , Bush ( 3 ) , and Beaver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - top five were : Butt ( 30 ) , Bush ( 5 ) , Cock ( 4 ) , Hoe ( 3 ) , and Beaver ( 2 ) West Midlands : 42 - top five were : Butt ( 16 ) , Bush ( 11 ) , Beaver ( 4 ) , Bottom ( 3 ) , and Cock ( 2 ) North West : 39 - top five were : Beaver ( 10 ) , Butt ( 7 ) , Bottom ( 6 ) , Bush ( 4 ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 25 - top five were : Bush ( 8 ) , Beaver ( 6 ) , Hoe ( 5 ) , Pratt ( 3 ) , and Cock ( 1 ) Scotland : 20 - top five were : Dick ( 10 ) , Bush ( 4 ) , Cumming ( 4 ) , Butts ( 1 ) , and Pratt ( 1 ) North East : 13 - top five were : Beaver ( 3 ) , Busty ( 3 ) , Butt ( 3 ) , Bush ( 1 ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ popular rude word appearing in street names across the UK is butt .
It makes an appearance in 151 different road names and increases property value by £30,076 on average .
Coming in second is bush , mentioned 79 times across England , Wales , Northern Ireland , and Scotland .
Bush is closely followed by beaver which is found in 57 roads in the UK .
Thereafter , the most popular rude street names in the UK are Bottom ( 41 street names ) , Cock ( 33 ) .
Hoe ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Pratt ( 16 ) , Cumming ( 12 ) and Busty ( 4 ) .
Robby Du Toit , managing director of SellHouseFast , said : `` It can be off-putting to purchase a home on a road that sounds rude , so when looking into the data collected , we did find government guidelines and tips on how residents can change their street name , as not everyone finds Bush Lane as comical as others .
`` Different cities and counties across the UK will have different rules as to how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yet , there are some general tips and procedures .
`` The council will consider requests from residents , but there must be a good reason .
A handful of council guidelines state that one good reason includes a group of residents being unhappy with the street name .
`` This is a very time-consuming process as it is n't just the council ’ s decision .
For instance , Royal Mail are also asked whether they agree it is necessary .
`` You must also ensure you obtain permission from most residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signatures is essential . ''
Find properties for sale in your area by putting your postcode in our interactive tool below : How the study was carried out To find the names of the rudest streets , SellHouseFast used an online thesaurus to gather as many known rude words as possible .
After amassing a list of 150 words , the team then entered the names onto Streetlist.co.uk to discover whether there were streets with the rude words in their names , and where they were located .
They chose streets with just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there were no unrelated words included .
For example , the street name Cock Farm Lane was not selected , whereas Cock Lane was .
Using Zoopla.co.uk , SellHouseFast were able to find the average house price on the rude street , as well as the average house price within that postcode .
They then used the average value of homes to find out if there was an increase or decrease in value .

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Most people probably don't pay too much attention to street names when house-hunting.
But it turns out the first line of your address can affect how much your home is worth. Astonishingly, this is particularly true if it sounds rude.
On average, many naughty names appear to actually boost property value by £44,000, according to the latest study.
Maybe it's because the address is memorable and has become famous. None of your friends and relatives will forget where you live, that's for sure.
After examining hundreds of head-turning road names across the UK, SellHouseFast found many of them drove the value of your home up by £44,460, on average.
But there are some that are still a turn-off, as we mention below.
(Image: PA)
Of course we all know about Bell End in Rowley Regis, where some residents claim the 'offensive' name makes them a laughing stock and their children a target for bullies.
Some residents asked for the name to be changed, but an even larger petition wanted it to stay the same and the council confirmed they had no plans to rename it.
But, according to this latest analysis, it boosts house prices by nearly £8,00 above the average for that postcode, according to SellHouseFast.
The research found the West Midlands had 42 eyebrow-raising street names, with the most commonplace rude words seen on street signs being Butt (16), Bush (11), Beaver (4), Bottom (3), and Cock (2).
The naughtiest road name with the highest added value is one of America's favourite swear words, jackass.
Jackass Lane has an average selling value of £869,866 and is the most popular in London and the South-East of England.
Of course, property prices tend to be higher in London and the South-East anyway.
Other names that increased property values, along with the regions where they occurred the most, are as follows:
Jackass : increased property value by £869,866, most common in London and SE
: increased property value by £869,866, most common in London and SE Hoe : £209,258, South-East
: £209,258, South-East Cock : £125,921, East of England
: £125,921, East of England Thong : £111,429, South-East & Yorkshire and the Humber
: £111,429, South-East & Yorkshire and the Humber Bottom : £101,158, East Midlands
: £101,158, East Midlands Dick : £56,215, Scotland
: £56,215, Scotland Slag : £39,169, North West
: £39,169, North West Butt : £30,076, South-West
: £30,076, South-West Spank : £8,642, East Midlands
: £8,642, East Midlands Bell End : £7,963, East Midlands & West Midlands
However, it seems some suggestive street signs were definitely off-putting and could lower property value.
These negative names were Backside, Beaver, Crotch, Cummings, Busty, Fanny, Minge, Hardon, Hooker, Pratt and Shag.
Two of those appear in the West Midlands. There's a Hardon Road in Wolverhampton and a Minge Lane in Upton-upon-Severn, Worcestershire.
The analysis suggested that Hardon in a street name lowers house prices by £21,984 and Minge by £62,789.
Hooker was among the worst offenders, devaluing homes by just over £123,000, second only to Shag which appears to be so shameful it takes a whopping £152,582 off the price.
On the other hand, that's great news for those wanting a cheap purchase, though Shag street names seem to occur only in the North West.
This fits with an earlier survey several years ago for website NeedaProperty.com which found Britain's top ten most embarrassing streets are on average a fifth lower in price than neighbouring roads with fancier names.
(Image: Google Street)
Regions and their rudest names
South East: (84) - the top five were Butt (19), Beaver (18), Bush (11), Hoe (11), and Bottom (8).
East of England (68) - the top five were Butt (21), Bush (14), Cock (14), Hoe (7), and Bottom (5)
Yorkshire and the Humber: 57 - top five were: Butt (28), Beaver (6), Bottom (5), Dick (4), and Fanny (3)
East Midlands: 53 - top five were: But (25), Bottom (13), Hoe (3), Bush (3), and Beaver (3)
South West: 46 - top five were: Butt (30), Bush (5), Cock (4), Hoe (3), and Beaver (2)
West Midlands: 42 - top five were: Butt (16), Bush (11), Beaver (4), Bottom (3), and Cock (2)
North West: 39 - top five were: Beaver (10), Butt (7), Bottom (6), Bush (4), and Pratt (3)
London: 25 - top five were: Bush (8), Beaver (6), Hoe (5), Pratt (3), and Cock (1)
Scotland: 20 - top five were: Dick (10), Bush (4), Cumming (4), Butts (1), and Pratt (1)
North East: 13 - top five were: Beaver (3), Busty (3), Butt (3), Bush (1), and Cock (1)
(Image: Google Maps)
The most popular rude word appearing in street names across the UK is butt. It makes an appearance in 151 different road names and increases property value by £30,076 on average.
Coming in second is bush, mentioned 79 times across England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. Bush is closely followed by beaver which is found in 57 roads in the UK.
Thereafter, the most popular rude street names in the UK are Bottom (41 street names), Cock (33). Hoe (29), Dick (19), Pratt (16), Cumming (12) and Busty (4).
Robby Du Toit, managing director of SellHouseFast, said: "It can be off-putting to purchase a home on a road that sounds rude, so when looking into the data collected, we did find government guidelines and tips on how residents can change their street name, as not everyone finds Bush Lane as comical as others.
"Different cities and counties across the UK will have different rules as to how you can change your street name. Yet, there are some general tips and procedures.
"The council will consider requests from residents, but there must be a good reason. A handful of council guidelines state that one good reason includes a group of residents being unhappy with the street name.
"This is a very time-consuming process as it isn't just the council’s decision. For instance, Royal Mail are also asked whether they agree it is necessary.
"You must also ensure you obtain permission from most residents on your street, so gathering enough signatures is essential."
Find properties for sale in your area by putting your postcode in our interactive tool below:
How the study was carried out
To find the names of the rudest streets, SellHouseFast used an online thesaurus to gather as many known rude words as possible.
After amassing a list of 150 words, the team then entered the names onto Streetlist.co.uk to discover whether there were streets with the rude words in their names, and where they were located.
They chose streets with just the rude word in their name, there were no unrelated words included. For example, the street name Cock Farm Lane was not selected, whereas Cock Lane was.
Using Zoopla.co.uk, SellHouseFast were able to find the average house price on the rude street, as well as the average house price within that postcode. They then used the average value of homes to find out if there was an increase or decrease in value.


birminghammail--2020-08-22--Gold Coast Julie flew 10,000 miles to visit and missed family hero by 100 yards

A Birmingham-born mum-of-three travelled 10,000 miles from Australia to see her grandmother 's grave - without realising her George Cross hero grandfather was buried in the same cemetery less than 100 yards away .
Thanks to the magic of digital technology , you can now see her grandfather Able Seaman George Paterson Niven emerging from his new headstone at Yardley Cemetery in the video above .
And you can watch his ship crossing the rediscovered grave , too .
Born on Christmas Day , 1969 , Julie Jorgensen left Kingshurst at the age of six for a new life Down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Australia 's Gold Coast , a 90-minute drive from Brisbane .
Husband Ian , 53 , works for the local council helping to keep the beaches and other beauty spots looking at their best .
Julie has only been back to Brum three times since she was a child - the last time just 18 months ago .
With her Who Do You Think You Are ?
type genealogy story now combining strands from Scotland , England , Denmark and now Australia , too , it 's perfectly understandable that , although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Yardley Cemetery , Julie did n't realise her maternal grandfather was buried just yards away , too .
She only found out what she had missed when she was contacted by researchers trying to ensure anyone awarded either the George Cross or Victoria Cross had a gravestone to honour their bravery .
Julie says : `` We went to Yardley Cemetery to visit my grandmother ’ s grave on my dad Alan Jones ' side over Christmas , 2018 .
`` We did not know at the time that my brave grandad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Paterson Nevin , was only two sections away .
`` We had difficulty finding nan 's grave because it wasn ’ t marked very well .
`` We went into the office and a lady helped us to find it .
`` The older part of Yardley Cemetery is definitely unkept and I just did n't know that my maternal grandfather was buried so near . ''
The story has taken on a new twist because George 's grave has been given a £1,000 headstone - to commemorate his George Cross heroism .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Steve Davies , from Kent , and Stourport-on-Severn-based Mark Green .
They were helped by Jane Robinson , from Friends of St Paul 's Cathedral , which specialises in finding living relatives .
Mark and Steve are passionately trying to give every George Cross or Victoria Cross holder a last resting place the country can be proud of and run a website called vconline.org which you can access here .
And , after their work helped find Julie , their website now finally has a picture of George , too .
Julie says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my sister lives near Byron Bay in northern New South Wales .
`` My dad lives with me too .
I care for him since Mum 's ( Gillian ) death .
`` Australia is very peaceful and relaxed , maybe because it is so distant to everyone else in the world .
`` The weather is magic , although summer is too hot nowadays .
`` I believe we have the best beaches in the world and so much open space , but we do miss the history and beauty of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I am an Aussie and don ’ t remember living in the UK , but I love England , I do have a connection there .
`` My daughter is planning to move to the UK , as is my niece , as they have dual citizenship . ''
As a pre-school child in Birmingham , Julie 's father Alan Jones had three jobs while studying accountancy - and mum Gillian stayed at home to raise children Neil ( born 1963 ) , Tracey ( 1964 ) and Julie ( 1969 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alan was given the opportunity to move the family to Australia .
Gillian - who 'd attended Waverley Grammar School in Small Heath before joining Birmingham City Council - also accepted the challenge , otherwise they would not have gone to start a new life Down Under .
Neil has two children , Nathan and Shannen , Tracey has children Tahnee and Jessie and Julie 's three children are called Brendan , Rebecca and Emma - her husband Ian is a second-generation Aussie , but his grandparents were Danish .
Meanwhile , George @ @ @ @ @ @ @ His wife Rosie married her third husband , Frank Davies , on January 1 , 1951 .
They moved to Australia at the age of 80 , living with Julie 's family for ten years until she died peacefully aged 91 on December 13 , 1997 - 18 months after losing a husband for the third time .
Frank died on June 29 , 1996 .
`` My grandmother Rosie had a colourful life , that 's for sure , '' says Julie .
`` She married ( second husband ) George in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my mum , Gillian .
`` They were married in the June and Gillian was born in the October .
`` Grandmother Rosie already had a son to a previous marriage but unfortunately her first husband died .
`` So George was her second husband and when he died she found a third - and he also died before she did . ''
When you visit this vast cemetery off the A45 Swan Island , you soon realise many graves on the Clay Lane side are in need of restoration - a problem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come and go and people forget who 's buried where .
`` My dad was disappointed at the state of his mother 's grave , '' says Julie .
`` He has a brother in London but has rarely had time to check on it or to maintain it .
`` We visited England at that time as it was just after my mum Gillian had passed away ( George ’ s daughter / Alan 's wife ) .
`` Dad was grieving so badly and still is for Mum .
`` But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again after he thought he was too old to travel was just wonderful .
`` My father did a lot of crying on that trip , going down memory lane .
`` It was the best decision we made and one he will never forget .
`` To go to visit the country he grew up in one last time .
`` We couldn ’ t have done it while Mum was here anyway because of her stroke and high care needs .
She died in 2018 . ''
George , 42 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on June 29 , 1939 - they lived at 55 Cooksey Road , Small Heath .
The road still exists , but today it 's a redeveloped modern housing estate .
The son of Railway Signalman Angus McKenzie Niven and Mary ( nee Gordon ) , George was born at 3 Ramsay Place , Portobello , Edinburgh .
After following his father into the railways , George then joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class at HMS Ganges on August 17 , 1913 , serving on HMS Crescent and HMS Collingwood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signed up for 12 years service in 1915 and was promoted to Able Seaman later that year .
George was awarded a George Cross more than a decade after an act of bravery at sea in 1929 following an explosion on board HMS Devonshire .
George 's medals , also including a 1914-15 Star , British War Medal 1914-20 and Victory Medal 1914-19 , are privately held .
His last resting place in Yardley Cemetery is Section 58 , Grave 66438 .
And now , at last , it 's fit for a @ @

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Remember Birmingham from days gone by with our nostalgia newsletter
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Remember Birmingham from days gone by with our nostalgia newsletter
A Birmingham-born mum-of-three travelled 10,000 miles from Australia to see her grandmother's grave - without realising her George Cross hero grandfather was buried in the same cemetery less than 100 yards away.
Thanks to the magic of digital technology, you can now see her grandfather Able Seaman George Paterson Niven emerging from his new headstone at Yardley Cemetery in the video above.
And you can watch his ship crossing the rediscovered grave, too.
Born on Christmas Day, 1969, Julie Jorgensen left Kingshurst at the age of six for a new life Down Under.
Now 50, she lives on Australia's Gold Coast, a 90-minute drive from Brisbane.
(Image: Courtesy of granddaughter Julie Jorgensen)
Husband Ian, 53, works for the local council helping to keep the beaches and other beauty spots looking at their best.
Julie has only been back to Brum three times since she was a child - the last time just 18 months ago.
With her Who Do You Think You Are? type genealogy story now combining strands from Scotland, England, Denmark and now Australia, too, it's perfectly understandable that, although she found her paternal grandmother's grave in Yardley Cemetery, Julie didn't realise her maternal grandfather was buried just yards away, too.
She only found out what she had missed when she was contacted by researchers trying to ensure anyone awarded either the George Cross or Victoria Cross had a gravestone to honour their bravery.
(Image: Courtesy of Julie Jorgensen)
Julie says: "We went to Yardley Cemetery to visit my grandmother’s grave on my dad Alan Jones' side over Christmas, 2018.
"We did not know at the time that my brave grandad on my mum's side, George Paterson Nevin, was only two sections away.
"We had difficulty finding nan's grave because it wasn’t marked very well.
"We went into the office and a lady helped us to find it.
"The older part of Yardley Cemetery is definitely unkept and I just didn't know that my maternal grandfather was buried so near."
(Image: Graham Young / BirminghamLive)
The story has taken on a new twist because George's grave has been given a £1,000 headstone - to commemorate his George Cross heroism.
George's grave was tracked down by Steve Davies, from Kent, and Stourport-on-Severn-based Mark Green.
They were helped to locate the family in Australia by Jane Robinson from the voluntary staff at St Paul's Cathedral, who had previously traced the descendants of the soldiers and sailors who embroidered the Cathedral's First World War Altar Frontal in 1918-1919.
The headstone has been generously funded by the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association.
Mark and Steve are passionately trying to give every George Cross or Victoria Cross holder a last resting place the country can be proud of and Mark runs a website called vconline.org which you can access here.
Of the three extra graves they know about that need new headstones nationwide, two of them are in Birmingham.
After their work helped find Julie, the vconline.org website now finally has a picture of George, too.
(Image: Courtesy of Julie Jorgensen)
Aussie lifestyle is 'magic'
Julie says: "My brother lives nearby and my sister lives near Byron Bay in northern New South Wales.
"My dad lives with me too. I care for him since Mum's (Gillian) death.
"Australia is very peaceful and relaxed, maybe because it is so distant to everyone else in the world.
"The weather is magic, although summer is too hot nowadays.
"I believe we have the best beaches in the world and so much open space, but we do miss the history and beauty of the UK and its beautiful, green landscapes.
"I am an Aussie and don’t remember living in the UK, but I love England, I do have a connection there.
"My daughter is planning to move to the UK, as is my niece, as they have dual citizenship."
(Image: Courtesy of Julie Jorgensen)
Who is Julie Jorgensen?
As a pre-school child in Birmingham, Julie's father Alan Jones had three jobs while studying accountancy - and mum Gillian stayed at home to raise children Neil (born 1963), Tracey (1964) and Julie (1969).
Julie was just six when Alan was given the opportunity to move the family to Australia.
Gillian - who'd attended Waverley Grammar School in Small Heath before joining Birmingham City Council - also accepted the challenge, otherwise they would not have gone to start a new life Down Under.
(Image: Courtesy of Julie Jorgensen)
Neil has two children, Nathan and Shannen, Tracey has children Tahnee and Jessie and Julie's three children are called Brendan, Rebecca and Emma - her husband Ian is a second-generation Aussie, but his grandparents were Danish.
Meanwhile, George died in 1947 aged just 49.
His wife Rosie married her third husband, Frank Davies, on January 1, 1951.
They moved to Australia at the age of 80, living with Julie's family for ten years until she died peacefully aged 91 on December 13, 1997 - 18 months after losing a husband for the third time. Frank died on June 29, 1996.
(Image: Courtesy of Julie Jorgensen)
"My grandmother Rosie had a colourful life, that's for sure," says Julie.
"She married (second husband) George in 1939 when she was already pregnant with my mum, Gillian.
"They were married in the June and Gillian was born in the October.
"Grandmother Rosie already had a son to a previous marriage but unfortunately her first husband died.
"So George was her second husband and when he died she found a third - and he also died before she did."
(Image: Graham Young / BirminghamLive)
Visiting Yardley Cemetery
When you visit this vast cemetery off the A45 Swan Island, you soon realise many graves on the Clay Lane side are in need of restoration - a problem for society at large as the generations come and go and people forget who's buried where.
"My dad was disappointed at the state of his mother's grave," says Julie.
"He has a brother in London but has rarely had time to check on it or to maintain it.
"We visited England at that time as it was just after my mum Gillian had passed away (George’s daughter / Alan's wife).
(Image: Courtesy of Julie Jorgensen)
"Dad was grieving so badly and still is for Mum.
"But seeing all Mum and Dad's family again after he thought he was too old to travel was just wonderful.
"My father did a lot of crying on that trip, going down memory lane.
"It was the best decision we made and one he will never forget.
"To go to visit the country he grew up in one last time.
"We couldn’t have done it while Mum was here anyway because of her stroke and high care needs. She died in 2018."
(Image: Courtesy of granddaughter Julie Jorgensen)
George Paterson Niven
George, 42, married Rose Magdalene Post, 33, on June 29, 1939 - they lived at 55 Cooksey Road, Small Heath.
The road still exists, but today it's a redeveloped modern housing estate.
His death certificate mentions coronary heart disease and chronic bronchitis.
The son of Railway Signalman Angus McKenzie Niven and Mary (nee Gordon), George was born at 3 Ramsay Place, Portobello, Edinburgh.
After following his father into the railways, George then joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class at HMS Ganges on August 17, 1913, serving on HMS Crescent and HMS Collingwood during the First World War.
He signed up for 12 years service in 1915 and was promoted to Able Seaman later that year.
George was awarded a George Cross more than a decade after an act of bravery at sea in 1929 following an explosion on board HMS Devonshire.
George's medals, also including a 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-20 and Victory Medal 1914-19, are privately held.
His last resting place in Yardley Cemetery is Section 58, Grave 66438.
And now, at last, it's fit for a hero.


birminghammail--2020-08-22--Midlands woman tours Cornwall in £200 renovated caravan

If you ’ ve been undecided for what to do for your holiday this summer given the complications of the pandemic , take a leaf out of this savvy woman ’ s book .
Vicky Hibberd , 25 , a primary school teacher from Stoke on Trent , managed to snap up a bargain caravan from Facebook Marketplace for £750 , and set about transforming it herself using Frenchic paints and accessories from B & M and The Range .
Her caravan now looks as good as new - and Vicky managed to totally transform it in just five days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community LatestDeals.co.uk : `` Me and my fiancé are long term campers , and we ’ ve been wanting an old caravan or camper van for a long time , but all of the ones I ’ d been seeing were full of damp .
`` We had a camping holiday booked for two weeks - a week in Somerset and a week in Newquay , Cornwall .
`` The Sunday before we were planning to go away , my mum sent me the link to this caravan on Facebook Marketplace .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was solid : a 1995 ABI two-berth little caravan for a bargain of £750 !
`` For its age , it was quite clean - we picked it up on Sunday and we were going away the following Saturday - so I had five days to put my stamp on it .
`` Luckily , everything worked so it was just a case of making it look nice and homely .
My family kept telling me not to paint it , saying that I didn ’ t have enough time and wouldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Saturday , but I did it anyway !
`` Luckily , everyone loved it and I proved them wrong .
I couldn ’ t have done it without my fiancé Marcus , best friend Sam and mum and dad .
“ I used two tins of Frenchic Swanky Pants , which cost £18 each , and one tin of Frenchic Dazzle Me for £18 .
“ I bought new handles from Amazon for £25 for 20 .
“ The accessories are from B & M and The Range and cost around £80 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , cushions and fake plants .
I also bought a carpet off-cut for £19 from Carpetright .
`` First I gave it a good clean using sugar soap , then I soaked off the wallpaper that was on the cupboard doors .
`` I gave everywhere a light sand , giving it a key for the paint to stick to , then sugar soaped again to remove any sanding residue .
`` I painted the ceiling first using the Dazzle Me White - that needed a lot of coats to cover the beige @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Then I painted the wood , cupboards and cupboard doors using the Swanky Pants Grey .
`` I started using a colour called Duckling but it was too blue so I changed it to grey .
`` This particular paint needs three weeks to fully cure and go hard - but obviously I didn ’ t have that long , so I ’ ve just been really careful whilst we ’ ve been away . ''
Vicky is thrilled with her caravan ’ s stylish transformation and found that the project kept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown .
`` I am absolutely over the moon with it .
It ’ s not perfect , I ’ ve still got some bits and bobs to do , like recovering the seats and putting in new curtains , but I ’ m currently on holiday in our little home from home and it ’ s fabulous !
`` Fletcher , our dog , loves it too !
No more soggy holidays in a tent - we ’ ve had our fair share of those !
“ My main tips would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ careful of damp .
`` Join Frenchic pages on Facebook and Instagram - there are so many wonderful projects that people have done and great tips shared all of the time .
`` Don ’ t be disheartened by the first coat - it will look awful but keep powering through !
`` I was able to collect my paint from my local stockist following social distancing rules - she lives very close to me so that was lucky .
`` Obviously Amazon Prime is a godsend - with the click of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lockdown period , I ’ ve been experimenting with different up-cycling projects ( furniture , chimney pots , an old Singer sewing table ) and it really helped me keep my mind busy and occupied in the strange times that we ’ ve all been through .
`` I ’ ve never been creative , but I used the lockdown period to give something new a go - little did I know it would lead to a full caravan makeover !
” Tom Church , co-founder of LatestDeals.co.uk , comments : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ straightforward , but Vicky ’ s positive , go-getting attitude means she ’ s got a gorgeous caravan to use for her camping trip - all for a bargain price !
“ There are some amazing bargains to be found on Facebook Marketplace - and you really don ’ t need to be a pro at DIY to make them look better .
Some paint and some affordable accessories , as Vicky proves , can go a long way !
”

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If you’ve been undecided for what to do for your holiday this summer given the complications of the pandemic, take a leaf out of this savvy woman’s book.
Vicky Hibberd, 25, a primary school teacher from Stoke on Trent, managed to snap up a bargain caravan from Facebook Marketplace for £750, and set about transforming it herself using Frenchic paints and accessories from B&M and The Range.
Her caravan now looks as good as new - and Vicky managed to totally transform it in just five days for just £198.
Vicky told money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk: "Me and my fiancé are long term campers, and we’ve been wanting an old caravan or camper van for a long time, but all of the ones I’d been seeing were full of damp.
"We had a camping holiday booked for two weeks - a week in Somerset and a week in Newquay, Cornwall.
"The Sunday before we were planning to go away, my mum sent me the link to this caravan on Facebook Marketplace.
"We went to have a look and it was solid: a 1995 ABI two-berth little caravan for a bargain of £750!
"For its age, it was quite clean - we picked it up on Sunday and we were going away the following Saturday - so I had five days to put my stamp on it.
"Luckily, everything worked so it was just a case of making it look nice and homely. My family kept telling me not to paint it, saying that I didn’t have enough time and wouldn’t get finished before our holiday on Saturday, but I did it anyway!
"Luckily, everyone loved it and I proved them wrong. I couldn’t have done it without my fiancé Marcus, best friend Sam and mum and dad.
“I used two tins of Frenchic Swanky Pants, which cost £18 each, and one tin of Frenchic Dazzle Me for £18.
“I bought new handles from Amazon for £25 for 20.
“The accessories are from B&M and The Range and cost around £80 - I bought throws for the seats, cushions and fake plants. I also bought a carpet off-cut for £19 from Carpetright.
“Transforming the caravan cost £198 in total.
"First I gave it a good clean using sugar soap, then I soaked off the wallpaper that was on the cupboard doors.
"I gave everywhere a light sand, giving it a key for the paint to stick to, then sugar soaped again to remove any sanding residue.
"I painted the ceiling first using the Dazzle Me White - that needed a lot of coats to cover the beige colour, I think about five.
"Then I painted the wood, cupboards and cupboard doors using the Swanky Pants Grey.
"I started using a colour called Duckling but it was too blue so I changed it to grey.
"This particular paint needs three weeks to fully cure and go hard - but obviously I didn’t have that long, so I’ve just been really careful whilst we’ve been away."
Vicky is thrilled with her caravan’s stylish transformation and found that the project kept her mind off the stresses of the lockdown.
"I am absolutely over the moon with it. It’s not perfect, I’ve still got some bits and bobs to do, like recovering the seats and putting in new curtains, but I’m currently on holiday in our little home from home and it’s fabulous!
"Fletcher, our dog, loves it too! No more soggy holidays in a tent - we’ve had our fair share of those!
“My main tips would be to find a solid caravan - be careful of damp.
"Join Frenchic pages on Facebook and Instagram - there are so many wonderful projects that people have done and great tips shared all of the time.
"Don’t be disheartened by the first coat - it will look awful but keep powering through!
"I was able to collect my paint from my local stockist following social distancing rules - she lives very close to me so that was lucky.
"Obviously Amazon Prime is a godsend - with the click of a button things just arrive!
"Over the lockdown period, I’ve been experimenting with different up-cycling projects (furniture, chimney pots, an old Singer sewing table) and it really helped me keep my mind busy and occupied in the strange times that we’ve all been through.
"I’ve never been creative, but I used the lockdown period to give something new a go - little did I know it would lead to a full caravan makeover!”
Tom Church, co-founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, comments: “Holidaying this year certainly isn’t straightforward, but Vicky’s positive, go-getting attitude means she’s got a gorgeous caravan to use for her camping trip - all for a bargain price!
“There are some amazing bargains to be found on Facebook Marketplace - and you really don’t need to be a pro at DIY to make them look better. Some paint and some affordable accessories, as Vicky proves, can go a long way!”


birminghammail--2020-08-22--Wicked lies of the knife-obsessed son who butchered his mum and stepdad

A knife-obsessed son butchered his mother and stepfather - stabbing them both more than 20 times in an orgy of violence - before searching for escorts on a laptop as they lay dead just yards away .
Evil Anmol Chana told a string of lies in a doomed bid to cover his tracks , claiming his mother had mistreated him and dismissing an injury he picked up in the struggle as the legacy of a fight with a stranger .
But the 25-year-old - who hatched a plot to steal cash from a Lidl and booked a flight to Italy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not run from the truth .
A jury found him guilty of brutally murdering Jasbir Kaur , 52 , and Rupinder Bassan , 51 , at their home in Moat Road , Oldbury , in February this year .
During a trial at Birmingham Crown Court , Chana claimed he acted in 'frenzied ' self-defence and killed them lawfully .
But jurors concluded he was simply lying .
Was that the only time Chana had been untruthful to them ?
On the fourth day of the trial he took to the witness box @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he had been subjected to sustained abuse , both physical and sexual , at the hands of his mother .
Going into graphic detail , he said the prolonged ordeal had left him `` messed up '' in the head and hating Mrs Kaur .
But the claims were pure `` fantasy '' , according to prosecutor Jason Pitter QC .
Regarding the killings , Chana told the court he rowed with his mother `` about the past '' for around an hour-and-a-half at her home on Saturday , February 22 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of repeatedly calling him a `` waste of space '' .
When Mr Bassan returned home that evening , Chana claimed he came at him with a knife with Mrs Kaur instructing to `` finish him off '' .
Describing what happened next , Chana said : `` There was a lot of struggling .
The lights were off .
I was not thinking any more .
It was after I got the knife off him he bit me .
`` I defended myself .
He was still coming at me .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mouth .
I tried to push him away .
I thought he might use another knife .
I was too pumped and could not think straight .
`` I tried to pull my thumb out .
I was scared he was going to do something else so I then stabbed him a couple of times .
It was dark and I could not see clearly .
I was not paying attention to what she ( his mother ) was saying .
`` I was scared I was going to get stabbed myself .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ me .
My mum was coming at me as well , smacking my arms and face . ''
He added : `` There was a lot of pushing and shoving going on in the hallway .
I was trying to neutralise Rupinder .
She ( Jasbir Kaur ) got in the way and I stabbed her a couple of times .
`` I was using the knife to stop both of them coming at me .
I was just trying to get out of the situation.
” But Mr Pitter pointed to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 20 times and told the jury : `` You can safely conclude he was the aggressor and that he was not acting in reasonable lawful defence . ''
Chana 's actions after the killings also gave an insight in to his cold and callous mentality .
He did not call for an ambulance .
Instead he dragged both bodies to a rear living room , then sat a few feet away to search for female escorts on a laptop .
He would make dozens more attempts to contact escorts over the coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also went to the pub to play pool , made a petrol bomb to burn Mr Bassan 's car , plotted to rob a Lidl shop and bought a plane ticket to Italy with the intention of fleeing the country .
Meanwhile his sister Kiran had become fraught with worry at not being able to reach her mother on the phone .
When Chana was arrested he made up another elaborate tale that the bite to his thumb had been inflicted in a fight with a `` random geezer '' a week earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by questioning 'where is the evidence ? '
.
When they duly showed it to him he clammed up and replied `` no comment '' .
There had been a number of warning signs of the defendant 's murderous potential throughout the years .
Chana had started to act out from the age of ten .
Kiran said he got into trouble at school a lot and seemed like a `` problem child '' .
She had also told the court of her brother 's `` bizarre fascination '' with knives and how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lock themselves in their rooms because Chana was being aggressive and violent .
She also revealed that knives had to be locked away in the home at one stage .
Chana himself dismissed the idea he was `` obsessed '' and claimed he was merely interested in `` antiques '' and at times would carry a Kirpan whilst practising as an orthodox Sikh .
There were also the times he attacked his biological father after moving back to Corby , Northamptonshire , to live with him between 2010 and 2013 .
On one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fluid and set them on fire .
On another , he took a knife to him and warned : `` I could stab you '' .
Then there was the chilling text messages Chana sent to his father in 2017 complaining about his mother .
One of them read : `` ‘ I want to knife her , pour oil down her throat and put her head in a chip pan . ''
Another message said : `` Tell me how to get rid of that b**** bro . ''
Three years later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

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A knife-obsessed son butchered his mother and stepfather - stabbing them both more than 20 times in an orgy of violence - before searching for escorts on a laptop as they lay dead just yards away.
Evil Anmol Chana told a string of lies in a doomed bid to cover his tracks, claiming his mother had mistreated him and dismissing an injury he picked up in the struggle as the legacy of a fight with a stranger.
But the 25-year-old - who hatched a plot to steal cash from a Lidl and booked a flight to Italy intending to flee the country - could not run from the truth.
A jury found him guilty of brutally murdering Jasbir Kaur, 52, and Rupinder Bassan, 51, at their home in Moat Road, Oldbury, in February this year.
During a trial at Birmingham Crown Court, Chana claimed he acted in 'frenzied' self-defence and killed them lawfully. But jurors concluded he was simply lying.
(Image: WMP)
Was that the only time Chana had been untruthful to them?
On the fourth day of the trial he took to the witness box and claimed that, as a child, he had been subjected to sustained abuse, both physical and sexual, at the hands of his mother.
Going into graphic detail, he said the prolonged ordeal had left him "messed up" in the head and hating Mrs Kaur. But the claims were pure "fantasy", according to prosecutor Jason Pitter QC.
Regarding the killings, Chana told the court he rowed with his mother "about the past" for around an hour-and-a-half at her home on Saturday, February 22. He accused the "wicked woman" of repeatedly calling him a "waste of space".
When Mr Bassan returned home that evening, Chana claimed he came at him with a knife with Mrs Kaur instructing to "finish him off".
Describing what happened next, Chana said: "There was a lot of struggling. The lights were off. I was not thinking any more. It was after I got the knife off him he bit me.
"I defended myself. He was still coming at me. In the struggle my thumb went into his mouth. I tried to push him away. I thought he might use another knife. I was too pumped and could not think straight.
(Image: Adam Hughes / SWNS)
"I tried to pull my thumb out. I was scared he was going to do something else so I then stabbed him a couple of times. It was dark and I could not see clearly. I was not paying attention to what she (his mother) was saying.
"I was scared I was going to get stabbed myself. It was fear and adrenaline going through me. My mum was coming at me as well, smacking my arms and face."
He added: "There was a lot of pushing and shoving going on in the hallway. I was trying to neutralise Rupinder. She (Jasbir Kaur) got in the way and I stabbed her a couple of times.
"I was using the knife to stop both of them coming at me. I was just trying to get out of the situation.”
(Image: Birmingham Mail)
It was a detailed account.
But Mr Pitter pointed to the fact both victims had been stabbed more than 20 times and told the jury: "You can safely conclude he was the aggressor and that he was not acting in reasonable lawful defence."
Chana's actions after the killings also gave an insight in to his cold and callous mentality. He did not call for an ambulance. Instead he dragged both bodies to a rear living room, then sat a few feet away to search for female escorts on a laptop.
He would make dozens more attempts to contact escorts over the coming day,s during which time he also went to the pub to play pool, made a petrol bomb to burn Mr Bassan's car, plotted to rob a Lidl shop and bought a plane ticket to Italy with the intention of fleeing the country.
Meanwhile his sister Kiran had become fraught with worry at not being able to reach her mother on the phone.
When Chana was arrested he made up another elaborate tale that the bite to his thumb had been inflicted in a fight with a "random geezer" a week earlier. He also arrogantly challenged the investigators by questioning 'where is the evidence?'.
When they duly showed it to him he clammed up and replied "no comment".
There had been a number of warning signs of the defendant's murderous potential throughout the years.
Chana had started to act out from the age of ten.
Kiran said he got into trouble at school a lot and seemed like a "problem child".
She had also told the court of her brother's "bizarre fascination" with knives and how she and her mother were forced to lock themselves in their rooms because Chana was being aggressive and violent.
She also revealed that knives had to be locked away in the home at one stage.
Chana himself dismissed the idea he was "obsessed" and claimed he was merely interested in "antiques" and at times would carry a Kirpan whilst practising as an orthodox Sikh.
(Image: Adam Hughes / SWNS)
There were also the times he attacked his biological father after moving back to Corby, Northamptonshire, to live with him between 2010 and 2013.
On one occasion he soaked his socks in lighter fluid and set them on fire. On another, he took a knife to him and warned: "I could stab you".
Then there was the chilling text messages Chana sent to his father in 2017 complaining about his mother.
One of them read: "‘I want to knife her, pour oil down her throat and put her head in a chip pan."
Another message said: "Tell me how to get rid of that b**** bro."
Three years later Chana would figure that out for himself.


birminghammail--2020-08-22--Two arrested in murder probe as man found dying with stab wound

A woman and a girl of 15 have been arrested after a man was found dying with a stab wound @ @ @ @ @ busiest roads .
The casualty was found slumped near the junction of Bristol Road and @ @ @ @ @ , with a chest wound just before 5pm .
He died in hospital little more @ @ @ @ @ prompting a murder investigation .
The scene remains sealed off and a woman aged 28 @ @ @ @ @ at the scene .
They were still in custody later on Saturday night .
West @ @ @ @ @ and urged anyone who was in Mill Pool Way at around the time to get @ @ @ @ @ hold vital information .
Anyone with information should call officers on 101 or contact the @ @ @ @ @ its website .
Quote log 3112 of August 22 .

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A woman and a girl of 15 have been arrested after a man was found dying with a stab wound near one of Birmingham's busiest roads.
The casualty was found slumped near the junction of Bristol Road and Mill Pool Way, Bournbrook, with a chest wound just before 5pm.
He died in hospital little more than an hour later, prompting a murder investigation.
The scene remains sealed off and a woman aged 28 and the teenager were arrested at the scene. They were still in custody later on Saturday night.
West Midlands Police appealed for witnesses and urged anyone who was in Mill Pool Way at around the time to get in touch as they may hold vital information.
Anyone with information should call officers on 101 or contact the force via Live Chat on its website. Quote log 3112 of August 22.