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Ipswich lecturer's Olympic boxing protégé sends emotional thank you from Paris

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We publish the stories that matter and champion everything that's good about our town – without the ads, popups or tracking

An Ipswich college lecturer received a heartfelt message from the Olympic boxer he's trained since childhood as the athlete prepares to compete in Paris.

Ipswich resident, Simon Mullan, a 47-year-old welding lecturer at Suffolk New College, has coached boxer Lewis Richardson, 27, for 14 years.

Richardson, from Colchester, will compete in the 71kg category at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Simon Mullan and Lewis Richardson standing next to eachother
Simon Mullan and Lewis RichardsonSimon Mullan

Why it matters: Behind nearly every sporting success is a story of huge personal sacrifice and dedication, not just from the athlete, but from family, friends, coaches, teachers and mentors. It's important that in moments like this, these people get the recognition they deserve.

How we got here: Richardson's journey to the Olympics has been challenging:

  • He won a test event in Tokyo before Covid-19 disrupted the previous games

  • His original 75kg weight category was eliminated, forcing him to lose 4kg to qualify

  • Mullan supported him throughout these setbacks

What they're saying: Richardson sent Mullan a postcard from Paris, writing:

"To Simon -- we did it. Olympian forever. Just a quick message to thank you for supporting me -- from a boy to a man. I am very grateful. You have been far more than just a coach in boxing -- you have been my mother, a father, a friend, a physio, nutritionist and much much more. Always here. Olympics here we come."

Mullan's reaction: "That choked me up. When you get back from holiday you get the holiday blues -- then I saw the postcard -- and it was such a nice touch."

What's next:

  • Mullan won't attend the Olympics, as he'll be refereeing the school's boxing European Championships in Bosnia

  • He aims to referee at future Olympics

  • Suffolk New College  plans to invite Richardson to speak with students after the games

The bottom line: While Mullan can't be in Paris, he'll be cheering Richardson on from his home in Ipswich, hoping his protégé can bring home an Olympic medal. Ipswich needs more Simon Mullans.

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Farage more trusted than Starmer in East of England, latest poll finds

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Ipswich.co.uk Logomark in a circle

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We publish the stories that matter and champion everything that's good about our town – without the ads, popups or tracking

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is more trusted to represent the UK internationally than PM Keir Starmer among East of England voters, new polling reveals.

Why it matters: The findings highlight a significant decline in trust for the main party leaders in the region less than a year after the general election.

The poll, conducted by communications agency PLMR and Electoral Calculus, shows Farage ranked highest among named leaders at 19% in the East of England, ahead of Sir Keir Starmer (13%), Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch (6%) and Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey (5%).

Nigel Farage
Nigel FarageAlamy

The bigger picture: One in three voters (33%) in the region responded "none of the above" when asked which political figure they would trust most, suggesting a broader decline in overall trust in UK political leaders.

By the numbers: The same poll indicates Reform UK would become the largest party in the region if an election were held tomorrow:

  • Reform: 21 seats

  • Conservatives: 10 seats

  • Labour: 4 seats

  • Liberal Democrats: 2 seats

  • Greens: 1 seat

In contrast: Nationally, Farage and Starmer are tied at 16% among those who named a preference, highlighting a more polarised national picture, with the Reform UK leader building more trust with voters in the East of England specifically.

What they're saying: "This polling highlights a significant decline in trust for the two main party leaders among East of England voters when it comes to representing the UK on the international stage," said Tim Miller , Managing Director of PLMR Genesis , the East of England branch of PLMR.

Reform and Nigel Farage have seemingly been able to capitalise on this and it's now translating into voting intentions, with the Party set to overtake Labour and the Conservatives in the region with the largest number of seats – a seismic political shift.

Between the lines: The poll suggests Reform would make strong gains across the region, potentially taking seats from both major parties:

  • Suffolk: Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket from Labour

  • Essex: Braintree from the Conservatives and Thurrock from Labour

  • Cambridgeshire: North East from the Conservatives and North West from Labour

  • Norfolk: North West from the Conservatives and South West from Labour

Tim Miller on a backdrop of Ipswich from above and political party colour overlays
Tim Miller of PLMR GenesisOliver Rouane-WilliamsIpswich.co.uk

The national outlook: The survey of 5,180 adults showed Reform securing 25% of the vote share nationally, compared to 23% each for Labour and the Conservatives. This would translate to 227 seats for Reform, 180 for Labour and 130 for the Conservatives.

The bottom line: "If Labour wants to keep Reform at bay, hold onto the gains they made in the East of England and remain in government in four year's time, the Party needs to focus on getting their message across more clearly to voters and instil confidence in their domestic agenda," Miller concluded.

Oliver Rouane-Williams speaking with an elderly couple in the town centre

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