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GOOD NEWS YOU NEED RIGHT NOW BY COUNTRY & TOWN HOUSE In these strange and unusual times, we all need a little positivity in our lives, so we’re picking out the good news stories to come out amidst the coronavirus pandemic reporting for some light relief and hope for brighter times to come. Stay safe, and please send any stories you think we might like to share with our readers on Twitter @countryandtown or send to intern@countryandtownhouse.co.uk. This too shall pass. CAPTAIN TOM MOORE TO RECEIVE FREEDOM OF THE CITY OF LONDON It’s been at least a week since we shared a story about Captain Tom Moore, so if you’ve been missing him, here’s an update just for you. The WWII veteran, who raised £33million for NHS Charities Together, is to be given the Freedom of the City of London in a virtual ceremony. The 100-year-old is to be honoured in the centuries-old tradition following a special nomination by William Russell, the Lord Mayor of the City of London, and Catherine McGuinness, policy chair at the City of London Corporation. Captain Tom said: “I am deeply honoured to be granted the Freedom of the City of London. I remain humbled by the love and gratitude that I have received from the British public, and this honour is something that I will truly value for the rest of my life.” The ceremony will be livestreamed on the City of London Corporation’s YouTube channel on Tuesday. Source: iNews Above: GettyImages CAN YOU COOK A FIVE-MINUTE FEAST? If the #Run5Donate5 challenge wasn’t quite up your street, this one might be rather more palatable. Only A Pavement Away charity, which supports the homeless, ex-offenders and vulnerable veterans into jobs within hospitality, has teamed up with chef Tom Aikens for a new fund-raising initiative. The #FiveMinuteFeast challenge will support the  Hospitality Against Homelessness campaign, encouraging people to cook a meal in five minutes (Ready Steady Cook style), share it on social media, donate £5 or whatever you can afford, and nominate five friends to do the same. Ready, steady, #FiveMinuteFeast! onlyapavementaway.co.uk BRITAIN GOES LONGEST WITHOUT COAL SINCE 1882 Great Britain has gone for more than 28 days without using coal for the first time since 1882, with the lockdown contributing to keeping power consumption low. The use of coal has been on the decline for some time, but the warm April weather and lockdown have contributed to the long spell without using the power source. The previous record stood at 18 days, which was set last year. Fintan Slye, director of National Grid ESO said: “Within a matter of days we’ve seen a new solar generation record, and the longest period of coal-free operation in Britain. And that follows two of the greenest months on record at the start of the year, underlining the progress that’s being made towards our target of being able to operate the electricity system entirely with zero carbon sources by 2025.” Source: Sky News NOTTINGHAM PUBLIC MAKE VISORS FOR ATTACKED POLICE A member of the public in Nottinghamshire has spent hours making 200 visors at his home for staff at Nottinghamshire Police’s custody suites, following an incident of an officer being spat on while on duty. Home Printer Paul Mosley from Warsop Vale in Nottinghamshire worked with a team of like-minded individuals in the area to make the visors, which took over an hour each, with Paul’s printer running 24-hours to meet demand. Inspector David Wilkes said: “We’d like to thank Mr Mosley who made this incredible gesture and has spent hours to ensure they have been made. There is a fantastic community spirit in and around Nottinghamshire at the moment and we are delighted to receive the donation. The visors are re-usable, so will be marked-up with individuals’ names and will be given to officers and staff in our custody suites in Mansfield and the Bridewell. Police Constable Anthony Brice organised the donations, working closely with Mr Mosley. Source: Nottinghamshire Police FURLOUGHED STAFF DOING GOOD A new non-profit project is connecting furloughed employees with charities who need their support. Furlonteer.com is a community initiative aiming to connect furloughed workers with remote volunteer opportunities for charities and good causes. More than 50 charities have been matched with ‘furlonteers’ over the past week with more than 1,000 people signed up already. Volunteers are matched with charities based on their skills and availability, with nearly all work suitable to complete from home. Furlonteer.com has also partnered with Champion Health to support wellbeing in offering free online mental health training to those who register. Charities involved so far include UN Women, Duty to Care and Meals for the NHS. Visit furlonteer.com for more information. Above: Ben Dutton on Unsplash SEATTLE TO PERMANENTLY CLOSE STREETS If you’ve been enjoying quieter streets during lockdown, you’re not alone. One city across the pond has found the impact of the lockdown to be so positive in terms of traffic reduction, they’ve decided to make it permanent. Seattle has decided to permanently close 20 miles of streets to traffic so residents can exercise and bike on them. The Stay Healthy Streets initiative was brought in in April to help people to get out and exercise while maintaining social distancing and the major has announced the closures will be made permanent. “Over the long term, these streets will become treasured assets in our neighborhoods,” said Seattle Mayor Jenny A. Durkan. Source: CNN More Uplifting News This Way... Here's How You Can Help... YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE... SUBSCRIPTION OFFER Sign up for 10 print issues of Country & Town House magazine, plus seven supplements and instant access to every digital edition for only £12. Subscribe to C&TH Copyright © 2020 Country & Town House, All rights reserved.  Our mailing address is:  Country & Town House Studio 2, Chelsea Gate Studios, London, SW6 4QL, United Kingdom

GOOD NEWS YOU NEED RIGHT NOW BY COUNTRY & TOWN HOUSE In these strange and unusual times, we all need a little positivity in our lives, so we’re picking out the good news stories to come out amidst the coronavirus pandemic reporting for some light relief and hope for brighter times to come. Stay safe, and please send any stories you think we might like to share with our readers on Twitter @countryandtown or send to intern@countryandtownhouse.co.uk. This too shall pass. HARRY & MEGHAN SHARE VIDEO OF ARCHIE In celebration of Archie’s first birthday, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released a video of their son listening to Meghan reading a story for a Save The Children campaign. Prince Harry filmed the video of Meghan reading Duck! Rabbit!, one of Archie’s favourite books. The video is part of Save The Children’s Save With Stories campaign, helping to support vulnerable children around the world during the Covid-19 pandemic with learning packs, food vouchers and protective equipment. “Thank you #DuchessMeghan for helping us to raise urgent funds for our coronavirus appeal by reading "Duck! Rabbit"” the charity said on Instagram. Above: @banksy BANKSY CREATES NEW WORK FOR HOSPITAL A new Banksy artwork featuring a boy playing with a nurse action figure has appeared at Southampton General Hospital. The painting has now been hung in the hospital’s foyer near the emergency department. The boy in the painting has cast aside his Spiderman and Batman figures to play with a nurse toy, with a red cross emblem on her uniform, the only colour to feature in the work. A note accompanying the work read: “Thanks for all you’re doing. I hope this brightens the place up a bit, even if it’s only black and white.” Paula Head, CEO of the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust said: “Our hospital family has been directly impacted with the tragic loss of much loved and respected members of staff and friends. The fact that Banksy has chosen us to recognise the outstanding contribution everyone in and with the NHS is making, in unprecedented times, is a huge honour.” Source: BBC FIRT SPACE FILM PLANNED Tom Cruise is set to make history by shooting the first action film in space. The 57-year-old actor is working with NASA on the project to film aboard the International Space Station. The report in Deadline stated that Cruise is also working with Elon Musk’s SpaceX, which will transport astronauts to the ISS this month. Nasa administrator Jim Bridenstine wrote on Twitter: “Nasa is excited to work with Tom Cruise on a film aboard the Space Station!” Source: BBC ESSEX DAD RETURNS HOME TO STREET APPLAUSE An Essex street gave a recovered coronavirus patient a warm welcome home after six weeks in hospital. The 31-year-old dad of two Omar Taylor was intubated, put in a coma and suffered a stroke, but has recovered enough to return home with wife Kaitlyn. Neighbours help banners in the street and gave Omar a round of applause to celebrate his turn to his family home. “He still can’t speak, it’s very hard for us to understand him. But he’s done so well at home,” said Kaitlyn. “It’s just going to take time.” Source: BBC GAME OF THRONES ACTOR BECOMES ASDA DELIVERY DRIVER Game Of Thrones actor Michael Condron, who played Bowen Marsh in the HBO series, is doing his bit in the battle against coronavirus, signing up to work as an Asda delivery driver. Speaking to Belfast Live, the actor said: “every single person has a role to play in these times. People now should really appreciate the hard work that everybody does – I think people who work in supermarkets have often been taken for granted. A friend of mine said Asda were looking for people to work there so I got in touch. I came down, got a job and I absolutely love it. The job means I can continue to have that interaction with people like I get in a theatre. It’s kept me mentally in a good place and it continues to do so.” Condron, who has also appeared in The Tudors, is making up to 18 calls a day with demand higher than ever. Source: Independent Above: Amanda Rose WEMBLEY PARK UNVEILS INSPIRATIONAL NEW ARTWORK Home to the UK’s largest stadium, Wembley Park has today unveiled its latest public art commission created in partnership with mental health charity Mind. Comprising a series of 12 vibrant and abstract portraits coating the park’s emblematic Spanish Steps, One in Four by spraycan artist Frank Styles hopes to raise awareness about the importance of mental health, a reminder that the comprehension of emotional well-being often calls for ‘a shift in perspective’. INDIA PLEDGES TO SAVE THE SEA CUCUMBERS India is readying the world’s first safe zone for sea cucumbers. The sea creatures are endangered and often the target of poachers for the seafood industry and illegal trade operations in the Indian Ocean region –  in January this year, 172 cucumbers were seized. In response, Lakshadweep administration announced the creation of the world’s first conservation area for sea cucumbers across an area of 239 sq km, with further areas planned.  Source: Quartz India More Uplifting News This Way... Here's How You Can Help... YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE... SUBSCRIPTION OFFER Sign up for 10 print issues of Country & Town House magazine, plus seven supplements and instant access to every digital edition for only £12. Subscribe to C&TH Copyright © 2020 Country & Town House, All rights reserved.  Our mailing address is:  Country & Town House Studio 2, Chelsea Gate Studios, London, SW6 4QL, United Kingdom

GOOD NEWS YOU NEED RIGHT NOW BY COUNTRY & TOWN HOUSE In these strange and unusual times, we all need a little positivity in our lives, so we’re picking out the good news stories to come out amidst the coronavirus pandemic reporting for some light relief and hope for brighter times to come. Stay safe, and please send any stories you think we might like to share with our readers on Twitter @countryandtown or send to intern@countryandtownhouse.co.uk. This too shall pass. 100-YEAR-OLD'S RAMADAN WALKING CHALLENGE Inspired by the success of Captain Tom Moore’s mammoth fundraising effort, centenarian Dabirul Islam Choudhury is also raising money for coronavirus appeals with a sponsored walk. The 100-year-old is facing an added challenge, since he is completing the 100 laps of his community garden while fasting for Ramadan. Choudhury was hoping to raise £1,000 for the Ramadan Family Commitment (RFC) Covid-19 crisis initiative but has already raised more than £60,000. His son told BBC London: “When we started, we started at a small pace but he’s been increasing his number of laps he’s doing. The problem we have is that we have to try and stop him because he wants to carry on.” You can donate at: justgiving.com. Source: The Guardian Above: Massimo Virgilio on Unsplash THE PUGLIA HOTEL KICK-STARTING BUSINESS One Puglia hotel is hoping to kick-start business while giving back to health heroes with a ‘Buy One, Give One’ initiative. The Paragon 700 Boutique Hotel & Spa in Puglia is joining in with MMGY Global’s initiative to allow people to advance book a holiday to get money going back into the tourism industry and in return, for every two night guest booking the hotel will be gifting a one-night hotel stay to a healthcare worker. Find out more about the initiative at buyonegiveonestay.com Read our review of 5 of the best hotels in Italy DISABLED ARTISTS BRING NEW SKILLS TO HOME SCHOOLERS Run out of home-schooling ideas and looking for something creative? How about being inspired by the Mouth & Foot Painting Artists, artists who paint with their mouths and feet due to physical disability. The artists have created fun online tutorials to inspire a new skill, including a ‘Rainbow Hedgehog’ tutorial from Rosie Moriarty Simmonds, OBE. mfpa.uk Above: Camden Town Brewery's Camden Heroes lager BEER FOR HEROES Camden Town Brewery has launched a new Camden Heroes lager to celebrate the work of healthcare heroes, with all proceeds going to charity. In addition, all NHS workers will be able to sign up to claim a free six pack of the Camden Heroes Lager by signing up at the web shop using their NHS email address. The brewery is also donating 20,000 cans directly to frontline staff to enjoy when they clock off from their shifts. HOPE AROUND THE WORLD Hong Kong has contained its second wave of Covid-19, with zero local infections for more than two weeks. The country has recorded just 15 new cases since 20 April, all of which were people who had recently travelled. (Source: CNN). Meanwhile, New Zealand Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield has announced a second day of no new cases or deaths from Covid-19 in the country. (Source: RNZ) More Uplifting News This Way... Here's How You Can Help... YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE... SUBSCRIPTION OFFER Sign up for 10 print issues of Country & Town House magazine, plus seven supplements and instant access to every digital edition for only £12. Subscribe to C&TH Our mailing address is:  Country & Town House Studio 2, Chelsea Gate Studios, London, SW6 4QL, United Kingdom

GOOD NEWS YOU NEED RIGHT NOW BY COUNTRY & TOWN HOUSE In these strange and unusual times, we all need a little positivity in our lives, so we’re picking out the good news stories to come out amidst the coronavirus pandemic reporting for some light relief and hope for brighter times to come. Stay safe, and please send any stories you think we might like to share with our readers on Twitter @countryandtown or send to intern@countryandtownhouse.co.uk. This too shall pass. COULD THIS UNLOCK A MALARIA CURE? Scientists in Kenya have discovered that mosquitoes there carry a special microbe that could stop the spread of malaria. The microbe – named Microsporidia MB – completely prevents mosquitoes from being infected with malaria or transmitting the disease to humans, according to the findings from the team at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology in Kenya. Lilian Mbaisi, a Kenyan scholar involved in the study said: “We were excited to find that the Microsporidia MB symbiont is transmitted from mother mosquitoes to their offspring, and that the microbe does not compromise the ability of mosquitoes to survive.” Source: iNews Above: Quentin Kemmel on Unsplash HOW TO WATCH TOMORROW'S RARE METEOR SHOW A meteor shower associated with Halley’s Comet is happening this month, with the peak of the display expected tomorrow, 6 May 2020. The Eta Aquariids should be visible to the naked eye so if there are clear skies tonight or tomorrow night, you might look up to see a shooting star. The display will be clearest in areas with the least pollution and no cloud cover, with the optimum time to see the display predicted for the hours just before dawn. A silver lining for a sleepless night? There’s plenty to wish on a star for right now. Source: iNews SIBLINGS CAMP IN GARDEN FOR A MONTH A Derbyshire brother and sister have completed a month-long camping expedition… in their back garden. The teenage boy and his seven-year-old sister completed the challenge in aid of Treetops Hospice Care, raising £2,200 in the process. William Lacey said: "It was cold sometimes and water sometimes got in from the sides but it was all good otherwise.” Julie Heath, chief executive of Treetops Hospice Care in Risley, said: “We are so grateful to William and Sophie for their incredible camp-out challenge and raising so much money for Treetops. Between them they’ve raised enough for the hospice to provide three more weeks of overnight nursing care for some of our most poorly patients out in the community.” Source: BBC 'BUNDLES OF JOY' MAKE THEIR WAY TO COVID-19 PATIENTS Joy, an organisation working towards increasing life expectancy through better social health in partnership with University College Hospital, has launched a new initiative to help those currently battling Covid19 in hospitals. Acknowledging that the fight against the virus can be a lonely and daunting experience, the organisation is offering the chance to donate ‘bundles of joy’ to patients. These gift boxes can be personalised with pictures and uplifting messages of support to show these patients that they are not alone. Send a bundle of joy via bit.ly/SendABundle Above: Lars Kuczynski on Unsplash WHITE-TAILED EAGLE SPOTTED IN ENGLAND The largest bird of prey in the UK has been spotted in England for the first time in more than two centuries. A small number of white-tailed eagles were taken from Scotland by the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation and Forestry England and placed on the Isle of Wight and have since been seem in Norfolk, Kent and Somerset. “Four of the birds have learned that the Isle Of Wight is their home,” said Roy Dennis, of the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation. “The two on the Isle Of Wight already behaving like a pair. If those two survive, they might breed on the Isle Of Wight. It’s a long journey, they don’t breed until they’re four and they are truly wild birds so we’re not in control.” The white-tailed eagle has a wingspan of up to 2.5 metres (8 feet 2 inches) and hasn’t been spotted in England since 1780. Source: Newsweek NEW STAR WARS FILM ANNOUNCED Good news for Star Wars fans, announced on ‘Star Wars Day’ the fourth of May, Oscar-winning film-maker Taika Waititi is to direct and co-write a new Star Wars film, which will be released in cinemas. Joining Waititi on the screenplay will be Academy Award nominee Krysty Wilson-Cairns. Source: Star Wars More Uplifting News This Way... Here's How You Can Help... YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE... SUBSCRIPTION OFFER Sign up for 10 print issues of Country & Town House magazine, plus seven supplements and instant access to every digital edition for only £12. Subscribe to C&TH Copyright © 2020 Country & Town House, All rights reserved.  Our mailing address is:  Country & Town House Studio 2, Chelsea Gate Studios, London, SW6 4QL, United Kingdom