The pair, who announced their engagement in May, have posted marriage banns at Westminster Register Office. The hall is near to the Abbey Road studios where the Beatles recorded many of their most popular songs. Though the couple will have a year to marry at the Marylebone venue, it is expected that they will marry within the month.
Similarities are being drawn between Shevell and McCartney’s first wife Linda, who sadly died 13 years ago after a battle with breast cancer. Their wedding will mirror McCartney’s 1969 ceremony and will be a small family affair.
Rumour has it Shevell has offered to sign a pre-nup, though McCartney – who calls the New York millionairess his ‘comfort blanket’ – has refused. Seems optimistic after the Heather Mills debacle…
BRING BACK CANING
In the wake of last month’s riots, half of British parents are championing a return to corporal punishment.
A survey conducted by YouGov revealed that 49 per cent of parents believe smacking or caning should be used to punish badly behaved pupils. Parents believe that corporal punishment, which was banned in schools in state schools 1987, would provide the discipline needed for effective teaching.
The survey concluded that Britain needs to give teachers more authority, with 85 per cent of parents concerned that teachers were less respected than they were when they were at school. A further 91 per cent said they feared that teachers were scared of their pupils.
Surprisingly, almost a fifth of secondary school children agreed with a return to smacking and caning.
NATIONAL TRUST AT WAR
Ministers are going head-to-head with the National Trust over planning reforms.
Concerns over the loss of the green belt have led the National Trust to launch a campaign opposing changes to the planning system. The trust has expressed concern that the government’s plans for housing developments in the countryside will destroy some of Britain’s most treasured landscapes, as well as pose a risk to our rural communities.
The government believes that changes to the planning system are essential for economic growth. They are arguing that alternations need to be made in order to resolve Britain’s chronic house shortage. The National Trust, however, is urging members of the public to sign their petition to protect Britain’s countryside.
LUKE SKYWALKER’S HOME DISCOVERED
Well, in a way. Science fiction has turned into reality as astronomers reveal that they have found a new planet which orbits around two twin suns. The planet, named Kepler-16b, enjoys a double sunrise and sunset, just like the fictional world of Tatooine that Luke Skywalker originated from.
Nasa’s Kepler spacecraft detected the planet which lies 200 light years away from earth. The spacecraft is currently being used to scour the Milky Way for Earth-like planets that are in the habitable zone, an area not too close nor too far away from the star they orbit.
The planet, however, is likely to be uninhabitable. Nasa says that Kepler-16b appears to be cold and gaseous, a polar opposite from George Lucas’ hot and dry Tatooine.
Kepler-16b is the first confirmed planet of its kind, outside of science fiction.
THE MYSTERY OF WILLOW
A cat that went missing five years ago has been returned to its owners.
Willow, who disappeared in 2006, was found wandering the streets of Manhattan on Wednesday. The cat was an impressive 1,800 miles away from her home, having travelled from Colorado to New York.
Willow is healthy and appears to have been well-fed on her travels. A spokesperson for The Animal Care & Control of New York City noted that ‘obviously someone was taking care of her’. Staff also said it was unlikely that the cat travelled over half-way across America on its own.
How the cat got to New York, or spent the last five years of her life for that matter, will remain a mystery to her surprised – but delighted – owners.
THOMPSON PENS NEW PETER RABBIT TALE
Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson is bringing Peter Rabbit back to life to mark his 110 year anniversary.
Her new title, called The Further Tale of Peter Rabbit, will be released next September, more than 80 years since the last of Beatrix Potter’s stories were published.
Thompson’s new tale will take Peter a long way from home. He will visit his distant relative Finlay McBurney in Scotland, a place Potter herself loved.
Lochcarron of Scotland have already produced a Peter Rabbit tartan that Finlay McBurney will wear in the accompanying illustrations.
To coincide with the launch of the book, readers will be able to purchase an Apple app and the commemorative Peter Rabbit tartan.
DEER DESTROYING HEDGEROWS
Deer numbers have returned to heights not seen for hundreds of years.
New breeds such as the fallow, muntjac and Chinese water deer, as well as the native roe and red deer, are flourishing. After being hunted almost into extinction during the 18th century, the total numbers now stand at around two million.
Indeed, so many deer now roam Britain’s countryside that they are posing a threat to woodlands and smaller animals. Deer destroy the habitats of woodland mammals, birds and butterflies by eating hedgerows and shrubs. Concerns have also been raised about the possibility of the Bambi-esque creatures spreading diseases such as bovine tuberculosis and foot-and-mouth. This unprecedented increase heightens the spread of diseases like Lyme disease, which human’s can catch, and traffic accidents.
In certain areas of Britain, culls may be necessary; however, plans have come under attack from animal rights groups who argue that deer are an essential part of Britain’s heritage and should be protected.
Published on The Lady magazine’s website on Friday 16th September.
