mourning

“HE was the heart of Hyde.”

Emily Tunnicliff, 25, laid her simple arrangement of flowers outside Ricky Hatton’s home, called The Heartbreak, to join the hundreds already there.

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For many, the former boxer was the heart not only of Hyde but of Britain.

“I am from Hyde,” Emily added.

“He was proud of where he came from and we were proud of him.

“He has done so much for this city. He never forgot his roots.”

Her friend, boxer Tyler Dolby, 23, trains at Ricky’s brother Matthew’s gym nearby.

He agreed. He said: “He was an estate lad and you could never take that out of him. He was such an inspiration. He said to all the young lads here and in Britain you could all make it.”

In silence, a steady stream of mourners gathered at Ricky’s home to pay their respects.

Fans wearing Manchester United tops laid their tributes next to wreaths adorned with Ricky’s beloved Man City logo.

Charlie, 45, said: “I watched all his fights. I met him once and he was so nice and friendly. He was not a star, just Ricky.”

A grey rainy morning brought strong winds that blew over many of the tributes.

Kirsty Cartwright, 34, said: “I wanted to be here to show how much he was was loved.”

The boxer’s manager Paul Speak was there to look at the tributes.

He told The Sun: “It is just all too much to take in. All of it. I don’t have the words.”

The gates closed, with Ricky’s black Rolls-Royce on the drive.

But the mourners still came.

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Social News reporter Jess Flaherty recently started watching a smash hit crime show which first aired in the mid 00s but the huge twist at the end of one episode was tough viewing

Jess Flaherty is a Senior News Reporter for the Social Newsdesk, working across multiple titles including the Mirror, OK! online, Daily Star and more. She previously worked for the Liverpool ECHO, where she covered breaking news, events and entertainment in Merseyside.

Recently, I’ve started binge-watching the original series of Dexter, and the ending of one particular episode has left me in a state of grief. Okay, maybe I’m being a bit dramatic, but it did shatter me. Any Dexter fans likely knows what I’m referring to, but if you’re yet to watch the show and want to avoid any spoilers, look away now.

Consider yourself warned. Obviously, I’m referring to the shocking twist in the season four finale episode, The Getaway. Dexter, which originally aired from 2006 to 2013, chronicles the life of Dexter Morgan, a serial killer with a moral compass, who works as a blood spatter analyst for the Miami Metro Police Department by day, maintaining his “normal” persona while satisfying his urge to kill by night.

Dexter, played by Michael C Hall, is led to believe he’s a sociopath and a “monster” by his adoptive father, police officer Harry Morgan, who discovered him as a three-year-old child, sitting in a pool of his mother’s blood after she was brutally murdered in front of him.

Harry notices Dexter’s violent tendencies and emotional detachment and, instead of seeking professional psychological help for his clearly traumatised son, he teaches him “the code”.

Dexter harbours a desire to kill, but only those who fit Harry’s code – they must be murderers themselves. Over the years, he carries out ritualistic killings of numerous violent criminals who seem to have slipped through the justice system’s net.

As the series unfolds, Dexter’s actions continue to catch up with him – to devastating effect. In some cases, he even sabotages evidence to let culprits slip through the law’s grasp, just so he can savour the thrill of killing them himself.

This is most evident in season four, where we’re introduced to Arthur ‘the Trinity Killer’ Mitchell, portrayed by the brilliantly terrifying John Lithgow. His performance was so compelling that he bagged a Golden Globe award for his role as the chilling serial killer.

Now, given the show has been around for years, some spoilers are inevitable – I’m bracing myself for the much-maligned ending, and I already knew that the main antagonist in the first season was Dexter’s long-lost brother.

But what season four had in store for viewers took me completely by surprise.

By this stage in the series, Dexter is married to Rita – brought to life with a delightful blend of sweetness and charm by the talented Julie Benz.

Initially, Dexter was attracted to Rita to help maintain his façade of being a “nice, normal guy”, but as the story progresses, it becomes clear he genuinely cares for her. I adored Rita and hoped her influence on Dexter would have a positive effect on him.

However, Dexter’s fixation with the Trinity Killer led to her downfall.

After a tense game of cat-and-mouse, during which Dexter adopts a false identity to get close to Arthur Mitchell and his family, things begin to fall apart.

Mitchell soon realises Dexter isn’t who he claims to be and tracks him down. The Trinity Killer visits him at the police station, where he casually peruses photos of his own violent crime scenes without a care in the world.

Dexter sends Rita and their son away on a belated honeymoon to ensure she’s safe from the sadistic killer.

After some serious tension, Dexter seemingly prevails – he traps Arthur Mitchell on his trusty table and kills him, tossing his hacked up body parts into the ocean.

We’ve seen this scene before – Dexter is nothing if not consistent when it comes to how he completes his crimes.

When he returns home, he discovers a voicemail message from Rita saying she forgot her passport so had to return home to get it.

He calls her, but her phone rings in their house. Dexter walks into the bathroom and there, in a harrowing full circle moment, is his son sitting in a pool of his mother’s blood.

Rita is laying dead in the bathtub, the water crimson – one of the Trinity Killer’s trademarks.

I was hysterical.

The show did an excellent job of convincing us Dexter had won and got the better of the Trinity Killer.

As the show is years old, I have nobody to talk to about this gut punch of a twist so I scoured social media and saw it’s still a widely discussed episode to this day.

I know it’s not an episode I’ll ever forget, no matter what direction the show – and its subsequent spin-offs – takes from here.

A RARE mourning ring commissioned by King George IV has been found in a charity shop – and snapped up for just £15.

The gold band, engraved with the touching words “Remember me”, was created to honour the death of Princess Amelia, youngest daughter of King George III.

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The historic piece was discovered in a charity shop in Leicester and is now set to go under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers, where it could fetch between £3,000 and £5,000.

Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said: “It’s the most important charity shop find I’ve heard about in a decade.”

The unsuspecting buyer had picked up the ring from a local shop, unaware of its royal connection.

Mr Hanson recalled: “I was stunned and dazzled. From a simple box emerged a piece of deeply personal Royal history – commissioned by the Royal family itself to honour a lost loved one.”

Princess Amelia was born on 7 August 1783 and died aged 27 in 1810 after a long battle with tuberculosis.

Her death is thought to have devastated King George III, accelerating his mental decline. She was believed to be his favourite child.

The ring, crafted by top royal jewellers Rundell, Bridge & Rundell, was one of only 52 made on the orders of the Prince Regent – who later became King George IV.

They were handed out to close family and friends after her funeral in Windsor.

“The white enamel used in the ring denotes that Amelia was unmarried at the time of her death,” Mr Hanson said.

“White enamel symbolised purity and innocence in mourning jewellery, particularly for those who died young or unmarried.

“It contrasts with the more commonly used black enamel, which signified general mourning.”

In a final act of love, Princess Amelia is said to have pressed a ring containing a lock of her hair into her father’s hand as she lay dying, whispering the words now inscribed on the newly discovered ring – “remember me”.

A matching mourning ring was later bought by Queen Mary in 1935. Back in 1810, each ring cost 58 shillings to make.

“This find proves treasures still lie hidden on our high streets,” said Mr Hanson.

“It’s not just the monetary value – it’s the emotion, history and humanity behind this ring that truly moves you.”

Experts believe the ring could attract international interest when it goes under the hammer, thanks to its royal provenance and remarkable condition.

Collectors of royal memorabilia are expected to watch the auction closely.

Jewellery historian Alexandra Michell said: “It’s incredibly rare to find such a piece outside of established collections.

“Mourning jewellery from this era, especially tied to a royal figure, is both historically and emotionally valuable.”

The ring has now been placed in secure storage until its auction day to ensure its protection.

It will feature as a highlight item in Hansons’ Summer Fine Art Jewellery Auction.

The auction will take place on 12 June 2025, and bids are expected to come in from across the UK and abroad.

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