Author: rb809rb

It’s the event where being boring is the whole point.

Every year thousands of fans travel from across the world for the Festival of the Unexceptional (FOTU) at Grimsthorpe Castle, in Lincolnshire.

Created to champion the most basic cars you can imagine, the grounds are packed with around 2,500 much-loved but largely forgotten family vehicles now rarely seen on Britain’s roads.

The event this weekend was in its 12th year and entries must have been manufacturedbetween 25 and 50 years ago to qualify.

Fifty are selected to compete for top prize, with this year’s judges having included editor-in-chief at Autocar Steve Cropley, content creator Steph Hoy, motoring journalists Richard Bremner, Jesse Billington, Antony Ingram and Gary Axon, as well as TV presenter Jon Bentley.

First place went to Gordon McNeill and his 2001 Volkswagen Polo E, which has been owned and loved for 20 years. It was Gordon’s first car and – despite having battle-scarred paintwork – is still the only car he has ever owned, racking up 176,000 miles.

In second was a very rare 1992 Toyota Previa, owned by Matt Swinn, who uses it to haul his band and their equipment all over the country.

Despite its heavy use, Matt has kept it meticulously maintained. He is so dedicated that he even framed the 1990s sweet wrappers, receipts and other period rubbish found under the seats when he bought it.

Third place went to a 2001 Ford Focus owned by Jake Seddon. The car originally belonged to his grandad and was restored by his father.

It was displayed alongside many family photos, and the judges commended the condition of the car and its family connection.

Other special mentions went to a 1991 Ford P100 TD owned by Jack Duxbury, a 2000 Kia Clarus Wagon owned by Marwin Jansen, a 1986 Citroen Axel owned by Rick Martens, a 1982 Fiat 127 owned by Maia Egan and a 1994 Honda Civic Bali owned by Emma Rowe.

Away from the cars on the main stage was live music and interviews.

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The festival is hosted by insurance provider Hagerty. Mark Roper, the company’s managing director, said: ‘Wow. Just when we think the Festival of the Unexceptional can’t get any bigger, it grows again and is more spectacular than ever.

‘What a delight to see the lawns of Grimsthorpe Castle covered with thousands of FOTU cars, being enjoyed by 4,500 people from all around the world.

‘Thanks to each and every person who came for their dedication, passion and support of all things FOTU.’

Best of the most boring

Gordon McNeill took first place with his 2001 VW Polo E, which may be a little battle-scarred but is still the only car he has ever owned.

Matt Swinn with his 1992 Toyota Previa, which came second. He has framed the rubbish he found under the seat when he bought it.

Third place went to Jake Seddon and his 2001 Ford Focus. The car originally belonged to his grandfather.

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If you were to go down to the beach today you may find a wobbly surprise.

Thousands of bright electric blue creatures, thought to be Velella Velella, have washed ashore after a scorching heatwave this summer.

The creatures dubbed ‘alien jellyfish’ are normally found in exotic climes like Portugal or the Caribbean but over the weekend it was St Bees beach in Cumbria that was overrun.

Louise Nicholson nearly mistook one of the strange creatures for a mound of seaweed.

Speaking to BBC Cumbria, she said: ‘There were hundreds of them and there were lots of visitors to the area taking photos.

‘They are absolutely beautiful, only about 2ins in size. It was a great find on a beautiful day.’

The organisms have a ‘sail’ which they use to travel across oceans, and normally roll into strange territories in the wake of a storm.

They are harmless to humans – but beachcombers have been warned to be aware.

Velella velella, known as By-the-wind Sailors, haven’t been swept here in such huge numbers in more than a decade.

But although the two-inch creatures are related to the deadly Portugese man ‘o war, the worst they offer people is a mild sting.

The electric blue creatures are ‘colonial hydroids’ – meaning they’re not jellyfish but a colony of tiny individual animals.

They live partly in and partly out of the water with a sail held in the wind and tentacles dangling in the water to catch plankton.

Conservationist Steve Trewhella said: ‘They only wash up after prolonged gales and storms.

‘Because they travel in the same way, in theory Portugese man o’ wars could come in as well, and that would be something to worry about. They pose a real threat and can kill people in the water.

‘We are noticing a trend in these unusual marine animals coming into our shores on a more regular basis recently. It’s because our weather appears to be changing.

‘Velella velella are deep blue or purple in colour and often cause confusion if they wash in, in vast numbers, creating a blue beach.’

Marine specialist Frankie Hobro, owner of Anglesey Sea Zoo in Bynsiencyn, said their sting is ‘mild’ in comparison to their cousins – the deadly Portuguese man o’ war.

‘If you touched your lips, face or another sensitive area, it could be quite painful and cause a tingling sensation,’ she said.

‘What is slightly worrying is that Portuguese Man o’ War are arriving earlier in the year and more frequently, overlapping with marine creatures like By-the-wind-sailors. It shows how climate change is affecting ocean currents.’

Temperatures could reach 35C in the South East on Monday, according to the Met Office, higher than forecasts for the islands of Mykonos, Rhodes and Santorini.

Much of central and southern England is set to see highs in the upper 20s to low 30s before temperatures ease slightly later in the week.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued amber heat-health alerts for the East Midlands, East of England, South East and London from Monday until Wednesday morning.

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Built as an imposing Victorian home, Clifton Hall was repurposed as a masonic hall by the 1920s.

But the historic home has since garnered a reputation for supernatural occurrences, with workers claiming to have noticed unexplained events while maintaining the 180-year-old property.

Caretaker Jeff Forshaw, who joined the team working at the Grade II-Listed building as a volunteer in 2023, said he heard unusual sounds while preparing the property for a visit with his daughter.

Incidentally, the pair were getting the home ready for a live ‘paranormal investigation’ on Halloween by Haunted Scouse, a group which scans haunted locations for signs of supernatural activity.

He explained they had arrived to open up the hall before the group was due to arrive when they heard a loud noise like running water.

‘It was loud, as if someone was filling a bath’, he said.

Things became even eerier when, after he yelled out ‘hello’, the sound suddenly stopped.

Another unexplained event occurred as they were preparing the basement when the fire exit door refused to open, as if it had been blocked from the other side.

Mr Forshaw explained: ‘It genuinely felt like someone had planted their foot behind it.

‘My daughter thought I was messing around, so she squeezed past me and tried it herself.’

After struggling for several minutes, the door suddenly burst open. When the pair tested it again, the door opened and closed without any issues.

In a corridor, they also noticed what sounded like a music box playing. Members of the Haunted Scouse group also reported hearing similar sounds.

Built as a private residence in 1845, Clifton Hall later became a tabernacle before being converted into its current use as a Masonic Hall.

Since 2023, the unique building has been available for hire for events, such as meetings and functions.

Strange occurrences have even convinced more skeptical members of staff.

One volunteer at the hall reported feeling something push them on the shoulder while working alone in the basement.

The hall’s kitchen manager, another skeptic, has since had several experiences, including being hit with a pan lid and losing his keys only for them fly straight at him across the room.

On another occasion, the same manager reported encountering a silhouette of a man looking through one of the windows facing the car park, Mr Forshaw said.

He returned the next day to try and find any trace of the figure or furniture which could have cast the shadow, but discovered nothing there.

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