The musician inspiring a new generation
It’s good news for the future of classical music! British cellist, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, quickly became a household name after he played at the Royal wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Who could forget it? He really tugged on our heartstrings. Now, thanks to the so called ‘Sheku effect’, a new generation of cellists is emerging, with Britain’s National Schools Symphony Orchestra reporting a 68% rise in applications from young cellists.
It’s a dog’s life
There’s nothing like a happy dog story to get you right in the feels, so let us introduce you to August. The sandy-haired doggo known as ‘Augie’ turned the grand old age of 20 this week, officially making her the world’s oldest golden retriever. Jennifer and Steve Hetterscheidt, who live in Oakland, rescued August back in 2014 when she was 14 years old but six years on, she’s still here wagging her tail and celebrating the big 2-0 with a birthday cake to boot.
Queenie by Candice Carty Williams is crowned Book of the Year
Candice Carty-Williams became the first black author to win the Book of the Year at the prestigious British Book Awards (NIBBIES). Carty-Williams won the award with her luminous debut novel and best-seller, Queenie. Speaking about her win, Carty-Williams said: “I don’t quite know how I feel about winning book of the year; I’m proud of myself, yes, and grateful to the incredible team that helped me get Queenie out of my head and onto the shelves. I’m also sad and confused that I’m the first black and female author to have won this award since it began. Overall, this win makes me hopeful that although I’m the first, the industry is waking up to the fact that I shouldn’t and won’t be the last.” We’re so excited to read it for this month’s book club.
Normal People’s Paul Mescal reads Elmer the Elephant
If ever we needed something to get us through Monday, this was it. Normal People star and silver chain-wearing heartthrob (sorry, we can’t be cool about it), Paul Mescal, sat down to read us Elmer and Super El by David McKee, to raise funds for Save The Children. And it was beautiful.
Another heroic walking challenge
Following in the footsteps of Captain Tom Moore, an inspiring little boy with two prosthetic legs has completed a heroic walking challenge. Tony Hudgell, aged 5, set out to raise £500 for the hospital that cared for him by walking 6 miles in 30 days but his efforts captured the hearts of the nation and he’s since gone on to raise over £1 million for Evelina London Children’s hospital. What an incredible little boy!
