In brief: Lancashire prison safety, historic clock to return to Carnforth and Leyland school goes extra mile

Two Lancashire prisons are amongst more than 60 listed as awaiting vital improvements as government U-turns on fire safety, say documents uncovered by the Howard League for Penal Reform. The list includes Lancaster Farms and Wymott, near Leyland. Andrea Coomber KC (Hon.), Chief Executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: “From chronic overcrowding and rising violence to record levels of self-harm and people being released by mistake, chaos in the prison system is rarely out of the headlines. Fire safety has largely remained under the radar until now. But the long-running detention of tens of thousands of people in fire-risk cells, and the government’s U-turn on a deadline to solve this, amount to a national scandal.“ A His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service spokesperson said: “We take the safety of our prisons extremely seriously, and we are carrying out our plans to meet fire safety standards as fast as possible across the estate.”

Visitors to Carnforth Railway Station will once again be able to see the original clock made famous by the 1945 film Brief Encounter, returned to its rightful place, 80 years after the film's release. The clock, first installed at the station in December 1895 and manufactured by Joyce of Whitchurch, Shropshire, was removed in August 2020 for restoration and to have its fixings remade. It is now back on display for passengers and visitors alike ahead of a relaunch. The return marks a significant moment for Carnforth. The station has long been a destination for enthusiasts of the David Lean classic Brief Encounter and the clock is one of its most recognisable symbols.

Pupils and staff at Leyland Methodist Schools and Wheatley Lane Methodist Primary School have been spreading kindness throughout their local community as part of a Trust-wide ‘Big Serve’ initiative led by Epworth Education Trust - inspiring 13,418 acts of kindness. Activities included visiting care homes, supporting younger children in nurseries, volunteering at local food banks and promoting safer parking around schools. Several schools also participated in whole-school fundraising events, including a colour run and charity challenges. In total, the Trust recorded an incredible 13,418 acts of kindness across its 10 schools and collectively, schools raised £10,889.42 for various charities and community causes, highlighting the compassion and community spirit shown by pupils and staff. Julie-ann Hewitt, CEO at Epworth Education Trust, said: “Kindness sits at the heart of everything we stand for as a Trust family. The Big Serve is about empowering our children to recognise the impact they can have on others and showing them that even the smallest gesture can make a meaningful difference. We are incredibly proud of the compassion and community spirit being shown across our schools.”