The Hillsborough Disaster

On 15th April 1989, an FA Cup Semi-Final being held at Hillsborough, home to Sheffield Wednesday, between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest was abandoned six minutes into the first half. What is now known as the Hillsborough Disaster resulted in the deaths of 96 football fans and it remains one of the worse stadium-related disasters in Britain.

Today, marking the 20th anniversary, the fans of all sides will gather at Anfield to pay their respects and at 3.06 pm there will be a two minute silence in remembrance of this tragic event.

As a football fan myself, I too will be thinking of this tradegy.

Today we have to remember that football is fairly insignificant in life but it can produce events that stay with us our whole lives. My thoughts, as I am sure those of every football fan in the country, go out to Liverpool today - the club, the players past and present, the fans and most importantly those families who had their lives ripped apart by a simple game of football.

Easter

At Easter, we are lucky to have two public holidays: Good Friday and Easter Monday. This gives us all time to enjoy a long week-end with our family and friends.

For the young Easter is all about chocolate and bunnies whilst for the “young at heart”, we forget the bunnies and gorge on the chocolate!

Being a mind of trivia, I thought I would share with you some facts about this celebration:-

• Easter always falls between March 22 and April 25.

• The name Easter owes its origin from Eastre, the Anglo-Saxon goddess who symbolizes the hare and egg.

• From the earliest of times, the egg has been considered to be the most important symbol of rebirth.

• Originally, Easter baskets were made to look like bird’s nests.

• The original recipe for chocolate eggs originated in Europe in the 19th Century

• Every year over 90 million chocolate bunnies are made.

• In a recent survey, 76% of people said they preferred to eat the ears of chocolate bunnies first.

• If you have time on your hands, Pysanka is the specific term used for Easter egg painting.

Whatever your understanding of Easter is, be it religious or cultural, may it remind you of the beauty, joy and peace of the Easter Season. It is a time of hope and often starts new beginnings in life.

RBS South London Business Awards

Exciting news – I have been shortlisted for the Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the RBS South London Business Awards.

This recent piece of good news is the latest in a series of successes for me on a personal note. Last December I was shortlisted for the Radar Disabled Entrepreneur of the Year Award but missed out in a very competitive field. And earlier this year I was appointed a member and an ambassador for the London Football Association Equality Advisory Group. So this shortlisting is another feather in my cap.

The winners of the RBS South London Business Awards will be announced at an Awards Dinner and Ceremony at Selhurst Park Stadium on 20 May.

I will keep you updated on the event and of course, the result!