Phil Churchill, 49, says the condition affects every part of him, every day
A man who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the age of 40 has credited martial arts for “massively” helping him cope with the physical and mental effects of the condition.
Phil Churchill, now 49, struggles with balance, coordination, and pain – and said the condition affects every part of his body, every day.
Despite this Mr Churchill, from Glastonbury in Somerset, leads 16 martial arts classes a week, teaching hundreds of pupils.
“I always feel better when I’m teaching,” he said. “It keeps my mind focused and not on whatever today’s issue is.”
Parkinson’s is an incurable and progressive brain disease which leads to tremors and slow movement.
It is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world, with about 153,000 people in the UK living with the condition.
Mr Churchill sporadically took part in martial arts when he was younger but said he began taking it seriously while recovering from an injury, years before his diagnosis.
When he did start having symptoms, it took doctors two and half years to diagnose him, as they believed he was too young to have Parkinson’s.
It was only after Mr Churchill had a brain scan that the condition was confirmed.
‘Instant headache’
Mr Churchill, who teaches pupils in Worle and Weston-super-Mare, in North Somerset, said: “I know that it’s incurable, it’s not stoppable, we can’t even slow it down and it’s not predictable, but the one thing I know is tomorrow I will be worse than today.
“Some days I’m not twitching or shaking, but it feels like I’m drunk… I have to hold onto the walls.
“Other days I almost forget about it until suddenly a neck twitch will kick in and it shakes my head and gives me an instant headache… it’s like ‘don’t forget’.”
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Mr Churchill’s son Ali made a documentary about his father’s experience
His son, Alexander “Ali” Churchill, is a filmmaking student at the University of Gloucestershire.
Over several weeks last year, Ali filmed Mr Churchill at work for a documentary project to tell the story of how martial arts has helped him to maintain his physical fitness and a positive mindset.
“People use martial arts for all sorts of things, not just Parkinson’s, not just physical difficulties, it could be for mental health,” Ali said.
“It’s about telling other stories and really it’s a story of martial arts, just as much as Parkinson’s,” he added.
Anna Castiaux, physical activity programme lead at Parkinson’s UK, said being physically active can be as important as getting the right medication for to help people manage their Parkinson’s symptoms.
“Just 2.5 hours of physical activity a week can make a real difference in living well with the condition and can have a positive impact physically, mentally and socially,” she added.
“Martial arts is a great way for people with Parkinson’s to stay active and can be particularly beneficial for improving balance, stability, and posture.”
Dismaland was built on the site of an abandoned lido which Banksy visited as a child
Ten years ago today the gates of Dismaland opened for the first time, and over the next five weeks, more than 150,000 people flooded through them.
The exhibit was built on the site of Weston-super-Mare’s dilapidated Tropicana lido, which the anonymous Bristol street artist had visited as a child.
The subversive tourist attraction was conceived as a ‘bemusement park’, offering a satirical twist on mainstream resorts.
From installations on climate change and consumerism to war, surveillance and the ongoing refugee crisis – for many, the dystopian commentary remains equally as poignant today.
Local residents have shared some of their favourite memories of the exhibit, and reflected on the lasting impact it left on the North Somerset seaside town.
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The exhibit was a collection of work by Banksy, alongside 58 other artists from around the world
In 2015, Charlie Goodhind sat at her work computer continuously refreshing the page, desperate to score tickets to the event everyone was talking about.
But nothing could have prepared her for the “haunting” experience that awaited.
“Each piece had a different meaning, but when you put them all together, it says a lot about society in general and how the world is changing,” she said.
“A lot of people would find some of the things we saw quite shocking, but I think sometimes shock is needed to get the message across.
“There is always a darker side to the things you enjoy, and I think Dismaland opened up those conversations.”
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This coin-operated boat is largely interpreted as a commentary on the European refugee crisis
Ms Goodhind, who studied art, described the “powerful” and “thought-provoking” interactive installations – including a coin-operated boat full of migrants, and hook-a-duck from a vat of crude oil.
“If you’re stood in front of a painting, it’s very flat. You are the observer,” she explained.
“But interacting with art makes you connect with it. It makes you feel like you play a part in this. You can change this.”
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This hook-a-duck game with a sinister twist was likely influenced by several major disasters in 2015, in which oil spills destroyed ecosystems and wildlife
Mark Hills told the BBC he did not have high hopes for an event that described itself as dismal, but it was the “mysterious Banksy” that piqued his interest.
The moment he entered, he was searched by a fake security guard using cardboard equipment, and handed an ‘I am an imbecile’ balloon.
“The whole thing was like ‘what have we come to?’ Everything was so run down and depressing, but it was amazing,” he laughed.
“The staff were awful, everybody was angry and mean to you. It’s the opposite of what you normally pay for.”
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This display is widely believed to represent the media’s intrusive exploitation of Princess Diana’s death
Mr Hills spent hours wandering around the abandoned leisure park, stopping to look in “every nook and cranny” for some bleak commentary.
He paused at the base of an overturned carriage where Cinderella’s lifeless figure lay flung from the window, with paparazzi preying on her downfall.
“That was definitely the piece that stood out the most to me. It had an eerie feeling about it,” he recalled.
Mr Hills says Dismaland paved the way for challenging the norm – creating a unique space where daunting concepts become almost ridiculous.
“A lot of people have the same opinion as Banksy when it comes to his politics,” he said.
“I just think people are too afraid to speak up, because you’re the one seen in the wrong.”
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A traditional fairground carousel was replaced with a commentary on the horse-meat scandal in Britain at the time
Kurtis Young was 21 years old when he unknowingly signed up to become a Dismaland steward.
“At the time I was just out of college and didn’t have a job. I saw an advert in the local paper for movie extra roles and runners,” he said.
“It didn’t say exactly what is was, it was all very secretive, but I thought ‘that sounds fun’.”
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This exhibit is thought to be a remark on the conditions animals are kept in at aquatic theme parks
The oblivious volunteers underwent three days of training, facial movement exercises and acting lessons on staying miserable.
Rumours soon began circling that the elusive street artist was involved, after someone recognised his manager’s name on a non-disclosure form.
“It was all a bit confusing. A lot of people dropped out because they thought ‘what are we even doing?’ We didn’t find out officially until we got to the location.”
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Staff at the event were trained to be surly, incompetent and irritable
Mr Young said he spent the next five weeks “causing chaos” and “being mischievous” – kicking over children’s sandcastles and cheating at fairground games.
“There was a lot of pushing the boundaries. Never maliciously, but just to create an interactive experience,” he explained.
PA
The local authority said Dismaland “paved the way” for other cultural and entertainment events in the town
Mr Young described the job as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“It was such a fun chapter of my life, it’s a shame it was so short,” he said.
“But if it were to happen again I don’t think it would have the same impact. It would almost defeat the point, by becoming too commercial.”
North Somerset Council confirmed there are no plans for Dismaland 2 on the horizon, but the event did help to “shine a spotlight” on the Tropicana’s potential.
It was estimated to have generated a £20 million boost to the local economy, with shops, hotels and businesses experiencing a surge in trade.
The Tropicana, pictured here in the early 2000s, is set to soon become a cultural arts venue
The authority says it is in the process of leasing the site to an experienced venue operator long-term, and will make the announcement in the coming months.
Councillor Mike Solomon, cabinet member for culture, leisure and open spaces, said: “This will create new jobs, support local businesses and deliver a year-round experience-led economy for the future.
“We want to attract higher profile acts, culture and entertainment events to elevate Weston’s place within the regional, national and international scene.”
Johnson has starred in the Fast and Furious franchise and Disney blockbuster Moana since leaving WWE, while Cena’s acting career includes a cameo in 2023 hit Barbie.
Maher would not be the first sports star to appear in WWE.
Boxers Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather and Tyson Fury have all made cameos, while Olympic medallists Kurt Angle and Ronda Rousey have been key ongoing characters in the promotion.
Maher, who has been named at outside centre for Friday evening’s World Cup opener against England in Sunderland, says she remains a rugby player first, despite her phenomenal success on social media and clutch of new ventures.
Having won a bronze medal with the US sevens team at Paris 2024, she joined Premiership Women’s Rugby side Bristol Bears on a three-month contract in January to help her acclimatise to the 15-a-side game.
Her debut against Gloucester-Hartpury set a new attendance crowd for the league of 9,240 after the fixture was switched to Ashton Gate to accommodate more spectators, while her team’s social media footprint also grew significantly.
“So many times people forget, but I am a rugby player first,” Maher added.
“I do the social media because I have to because it is not sustainable to be a women’s rugby player – I am not going to make money doing it.
“It does irk me at times when people forget that. One comment once was: ‘Are you going to watch the Instagrammer play?’
“I was like, ‘no, I have won a bronze medal, I’ve been to two Olympics, I am a good rugby player who loves the sport’.
“I am proud to do both but I do want to be known as a rugby player.”
Harriet Youldon-Helm’s took her son Albie to their GP surgery in Horndean for a vaccination
Health leaders in the south have said they are worried about an outbreak of measles if people do not come forward and get vaccinated.
A campaign is running this summer for both adults and children to have the two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine, which is needed for full immunisation
The fears follows a rise in cases of measles around the UK and in Europe.
Simon Bryant, director of public health at Hampshire County Council, said he was “concerned about the rise in measles we have seen across the country and across the world”.
Harriet Youldon-Helm’s son Albie has just turned one and she brought him to their GP surgery in Horndean for a vaccination.
She said it was “very worrying” that cases of measles had been on the rise.
“At the end of the day we don’t know what they will or won’t get,” she said.
“If there’s anyway we can prevent them from getting it then of course we want to do what we can to avoid it.”
NHS bosses want more parents like Harriet to come forward and check their child is immunised. Full protection against measles requires two doses of the MMR vaccine.
Children should be immunised with their first dose at one year of age, with the second and final dose given at 18 months.
There are two MMR vaccines – one contains porcine gelatine, derived from pigs, and the other does not.
Anyone who wants their child to have the porcine gelatine-free vaccine is advised to speak to their GP.
Measles ‘may spread more’
Dr Zaid Hirmiz, of Horndean Surgery, is Ms Youldon-Helm’s GP and deputy chief medical officer for NHS Hants and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board.
He said: ‘All vaccinations, not just MMR go through a lot of safety testing and monitoring and once that has passed that’s when they get licensed and even when they get licensed the monitoring and testing does not stop.
“We have an excellent record of safety for that vaccine, so I can assure everyone, these vaccinations go through a lot of safety checking before they are licensed.”
While children are the most vulnerable – this latest vaccination message is also important for adults too, who can catch it, become poorly and pass it on.
Health leaders say there is no age limit to getting vaccinated and want to remind people its free.
UK wide, uptake of childhood vaccinations, including for the MMR, is the lowest it has been in a decade.
In 2024 there were 2911 laboratory confirmed cases of measles in the UK, the highest number recorded since 2012.
In Hampshire and the Isle of Wight as yet there has been no full outbreak, but between January 2024 and May 2025 there have been 29 confirmed cases in the area.
Mr Bryant said: “As people have been traveling over the summer and going back to school, the concern is that it may spread more.
“We have good uptake but its really important that is raised further so we have protection for the whole population and the vulnerable people in our society.”
Currently first dose rates in the region compare favourably to the UK, at 95%, however the second dose is lower at 90% which doesn’t reach herd immunity (95%).
There are also some areas such as in Southampton, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight where second dose uptake is lower still, at 86-87%
A mental health hub has launched same-day appointments online for people who need support.
New service Hope Haven is due to open a walk-in centre in Whitehaven, Cumbria, at the end of the year.
While refurbishment on the King Street site is under way, it is offering one-off video call appointments, which people can access without a referral from 16:00 to midnight every day.
The virtual sessions can be booked online and are run by trained mental health support workers, who can help with social, emotional and practical issues.
Samantha Kitula, from Everyturn Mental Health, one of the hub’s partners, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be part of Hope Haven, offering new ways for people in Copeland to get mental health support.
“This virtual appointment option means that people who struggle to attend in person can still reach out and easily get quick, personalised support.”
The scheme is designed to improve mental health access in Copeland and is a partnership between Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW), Cumbria Health, and a number of charities and organisations that offer wellbeing and community support.
Hope Haven also offers weekly, community drop-ins at the Senhouse Centre, wellbeing walks around Whitehaven and a Chatty Cafe – a scheme to help tackle loneliness.
Volunteers are available at dedicated table at The Next Chapter Coffee House, in Kells, and people can join for a chat or support.
Shambala was founded by a group of friends in 2000 and now welcomes about 15,000 attendees each year
A music festival held at a “secret countryside estate” will return for its 25th anniversary event this weekend.
Shambala, a four-day festival held in the north of Northamptonshire, is set to welcome about 15,000 revellers from Thursday to Sunday.
The event, which has a long history of promoting sustainability, will see food vendors and facilities cook and heat entirely on biogas, a first for a UK festival, according to Shambala’s organisers.
As well as music, the festival features arts, spoken word performances and a range workshops.
What is Shambala Festival?
First held in 2000, Shambala features a variety of music including rock, pop and folk.
There are also independent films, a variety of workshops, talks, debates and comedy.
Founded 25 years ago by a group of friends, Shambala has grown from a small gathering of 100 people in a field to a large-scale celebration of music, art, and community.
Its organisers said it provided a family-friendly atmosphere that had earned it a dedicated following.
Many attendees dress in costumes in accordance with the annual theme, which in 2025 is entitled “pun intended”.
While details of the venue can easily be found, is not widely publicised in advance in order to encourage a sense of community
Who’s performing this year?
This year’s event will feature 40 different stages and venues.
Among the artists on the line-up are Grammy award winning jazz rap act Digable Planets. UK grime artist Manga Saint Hilare and electro-dance act Fat Dog will also feature.
Other key names on the lineup include Lady Shaka, DJ Yoda, Grace Petrie, Freestylers v Dub Pistols, Hak Baker and Asian Dub Foundation.
Beyond the music, the festival will showcase spoken word performances from acclaimed poets Lemn Sissay and Vanessa Kisuule, alongside political satire and activism from Led By Donkeys.
How does Shambala promote sustainability?
The festival is run on “100% renewable energy”, its organisers said.
It is also completely meat- and fish-free and has no single-use plastics.
Attendees are encouraged to take public transport to attend, with shuttle buses running from Long Buckby and Market Harborough railway stations.
Organisers claim that they have cut their carbon footprint by 90% over the course of the festival’s quarter-century history.
Adult ticket prices for the full weekend started from £249, but in 2022 Shambala launched a “pay it forward” scheme that allows people on lower incomes to apply for a fully funded ticket, which includes accommodation and food and drink for free.
People in receipt of benefits such as Pension Credit, Universal Credit and Jobseeker’s Allowance are able to apply for the fund, with half the money ring-fenced for those in Leicestershire and Northamptonshire.
The world’s oldest living person is celebrating turning 116.
Ethel Caterham, who lives in a care home in Lightwater, Surrey, became the oldest living person in April following the death of Brazilian nun Sister Inah Canbarro Lucas aged 116.
Born on 21 August 1909, she is the last surviving subject of Edward VII.
His great-great-grandson Charles III sent Mrs Caterham a card to mark her 115th birthday in 2024.
Mrs Caterham was born three years before the Titanic disaster, eight years before the Russian Revolution and lived through two world wars.
Born in Shipton Bellinger, Hampshire, the second youngest of eight children, she was raised in Tidworth in Wiltshire.
As a teenager she worked as an au pair in India, and later lived in Hong Kong and Gibraltar with her husband Norman, a lieutenant colonel in the army.
A statement released by her care home said: “Ethel and her family are so grateful for all of the kind messages and interest shown to her as she celebrates her 116th birthday this year.
“Ethel will spend the day quietly with her family so that she can enjoy it at her own pace. Thank you again for your kind wishes on this special day.”
The oldest person who ever lived, whose age could be verified, was Frenchwoman Jean Louise Calment, who died in 1997 at the age of 122 years and 164 days.
TNF inhibitors were used by 64% of pregnant women with inflammatory diseases through all trimesters. Those with continuous use through all trimesters had reduced use of corticosteroids postpartum.
METHODOLOGY:
Researchers analyzed prescriptions of TNF inhibitors in pregnant women with chronic inflammatory diseases in the MarketScan US commercial claims database, focusing on usage patterns and discontinuation compared with those who continued using them throughout pregnancy.
They included live birth pregnancies among women aged 15-45 years with rheumatoid arthritis, radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, psoriasis, and/or inflammatory bowel disease who were hospitalized between 2011 and 2021.
A total of 3711 pregnancies were exposed to TNF inhibitors during gestation, with use of TNF inhibitors defined as having at least one filled prescription or infusion during the preconception, gestation, or postpartum periods.
The time of exposure during pregnancy was categorized by trimesters, with a grace period of five half-lives added to account for biologic activity.
TNF inhibitors were classified by high or low placental transfer ability, using national drug and procedure codes. The use of systemic corticosteroids and nonbiologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs was also assessed.
TAKEAWAY:
Overall, 64% of pregnancies were exposed to TNF inhibitors throughout all trimesters, whereas 17% were exposed during a single trimester and 18% during two trimesters. Additionally, 89% had preconception exposure, and 68% had postpartum exposure.
Among pregnant women with inflammatory bowel disease, 84% continued using TNF inhibitors throughout all trimesters. A higher proportion of pregnant women with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and radiographic axial spondyloarthritis/psoriasis discontinued TNF inhibitors before the third trimester than those with inflammatory bowel disease.
The proportion of pregnancies exposed to TNF inhibitors throughout all trimesters increased from 55% in 2011-2013 to 73% in 2020-2021 (P for trend < .001). Pregnancies with continuous use of TNF inhibitors had lower use of corticosteroids during pregnancy and postpartum than those with limited exposure.
Exposure to TNF inhibitors with a high placental transfer ability was seen in 73% of pregnancies, whereas exposure to low-transfer agents was seen in 27%; switching from high- to low-transfer TNF inhibitors occurred in 1.4% of pregnancies, with 0.2% switching from low- to high-transfer agents.
IN PRACTICE:
“Our findings suggest a trend toward increased TNFi [inhibitor] continuation throughout gestation. As TNFi continue to be widely used, ongoing evaluation of their safety and long-term outcomes during pregnancy will be critical, notably related to immunization response in offspring. This information will inform future guidelines and help optimize the health of mothers with chronic inflammatory disease and their children,” the authors of the study concluded.
SOURCE:
This study was led by Leah K. Flatman, PhD, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It was published online on June 15, 2025, in The Journal of Rheumatology.
LIMITATIONS:
The study’s retrospective design may lead to residual confounding because it relied on administrative data. The lack of detailed clinical information, such as disease activity levels and reasons for stopping TNF inhibitors, limited the understanding of treatment decisions. Potential misclassification of TNF inhibitor exposure and gestational timing exists owing to reliance on claims data. The exclusion of stillbirths limits the generalizability of findings, and the focus on commercially insured women may not reflect broader populations.
DISCLOSURES:
This study was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) project grant and the Arthritis Society Stars Career Development Award to an author who also reported receiving senior salary support from the Fonds de Recherche du Québec — Santé. Another author received support from a CIHR Canada Graduate Scholarships Doctoral Award. No relevant conflicts of interest were disclosed by the authors.
This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
Across two frantic days in New York, Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani repeatedly made their intentions clear. As the only doubles specialist team in a tournament that had banished the rest of their kind, they were on a mission to prove their worth by succeeding on the court.
Shortly before midnight on an Arthur Ashe Stadium still filled with raucous spectators, the mission was complete. They triumphed in spectacular fashion at the reimagined US Open mixed doubles championship by closing out the star singles pairing of Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud, the third seeds, 6-3 5-7 (10-6) in a supreme, intense tussle to defend their title.
Ever since the US Open announced its transformed mixed doubles tournament six months ago, which has been moved forward to the US Open’s qualifying week and rebranded as a shortened format with an entry criteria that overwhelmingly favours singles players, Vavassori and Errani have been two of its biggest critics.
A wildcard pairing due to their victory last year, they entered this tournament determined to back up those criticisms by proving the value of doubles players on the court. As they have marched through the draw, many of their doubles specialist peers have offered their full support. “I think this one is also for the doubles players that couldn’t play this tournament,” said Errani afterwards.
In a draw filled with many of the best tennis players in the world, Errani and Vavassori made a decisive case for the importance of teamwork in this discipline. They demonstrated the value of sharp, decisive netplay, strategy, formations and intelligence by on the court. They were always one step ahead of the opponent and they imposed relentless pressure with their suffocating brilliance at the net.
After blazing through to the final without dropping a set, the title was decided in an incredible match defined by sharp contrasts, the teamwork, tactical nous and shifting formations of the Italian pair against the baseline supremacy of Swiatek and Ruud, who spent the night eviscerating forehands as they tried to pierce the Italian wall at the net. They then launched a spectacular comeback to force a final set match tiebreak before the Italians closed out the match. “You proved that mixed doubles players are smarter tactically than singles players, I guess,” said Swiatek.
While the victors made their points clear, in many ways the US Open organisers also did. This event has generated criticism for a wide variety of reasons, from the way it disposed of the doubles specialists to the changes imposed by the US Open without any input from the players themselves.
This tournament’s aim, however, was to create a bigger stage for a format the organisers deemed obsolete, and the interest it has generated is undeniable. Four days before the start of the US Open, a completely full Arthur Ashe stadium was on hand to witness the climax of an event that had become little more than a footnote in recent years.
One year on from their triumph over a field of specialists, the best mixed doubles team in the world reaffirmed their supremacy by beating the singles superstars. Photograph: Justin Lane/EPA
The evening began with Swiatek and Ruud ousting the top seeds Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper in the first semi-final. During their warmup, the on-court MC suggested that Ruud could win his first grand slam title by the end of the night and described Draper as a two-time grand slam semi-finalist. They were extremely jarring claims that underlined another significant point of contention: should this event be categorised as a grand slam title or, considering its shortened format and restrictive entry conditions, is it simply an exhibition?
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Perhaps neither of these definitions are suitable and this is simply a special event in its own category. While some teams, such as Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu, participated for the good vibes, this second night presented an intense, high quality evening of tennis. It is obvious that the singles players have far greater priorities, and they will not lose sleep over losing a mixed doubles event in their training week before the real tournament begins, but they are also intensely competitive and they each competed on Wednesday with determination and full effort.
At a time when numerous global sports, such as athletics, swimming and even gymnastics, have introduced mixed-gender team events, this event is also a reminder of tennis’s failure to properly take advantage of one of its unique selling points: the fact that the top male and female players share the stage at the biggest tournaments. A distinct feature of mixed doubles, compared to those other mixed-gender events, is that the female players are more than capable of holding their own and making decisive winning plays against their male counterparts. For most of the first semi-final match, for example, Pegula was the best player on the court.
In general, the two days of competition were great fun. This tournament included the unforgettable sight of 45-year-old Venus Williams tussling with Andrey Rublev from the baseline, acing him while trailing match point during Karolina Muchova and Rublev’s win over Williams and Reilly Opelka. A month after returning a 153mph serve at Wimbledon, Taylor Fritz at times struggled with Sara Errani’s 70mph first serves. Most notably, one year on from their triumph over a field of specialists, the best mixed doubles team in the world reaffirmed their supremacy by beating the singles superstars. For their efforts, they earned $1m prize money, a handsome pay rise of $800k in just one year.
Emily Frances
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