I have been hand-stitching a newspaper (or other discarded some-such) face each day to record the year, not always successfully, since 2014. This is the 2024 version, obvs. It will take the form of 4 napkins, gifted by my friend Áine, each representing 3 months. This is the first napkin with faces for January, February and March.
Day 1: Julie Hesmondhalgh Metro 31.12.23. Photo: ITV*. As Suzanne Sercombe in 'Mr Bates vs the Post Office', a drama about the outrageous hounding and wrongful prosecution of thousands of subpostmasters between 1999 and 2015. One of the most appalling miscarriages of justice in UK history. Cut from the TV Listing page.
Day 2: Toby Jones Metro 31.12.23. Photo: ITV*. As Alan Bates in 'Mr Bates vs the Post Office'. As above.
Day 3: Claudia Winkleman Metro 31.12.23. Photo: BBC*. Presenter of The Traitors, a BBC TV programme in which the contestants have to figure out who is lying in order to win a huge cash prize.
Day 4: Sarah Lancashire Metro 31.12.23. Photo: Uncredited. Sky?* As Julia Child in Julia, a 'much-loved American chef'. Cut from the TV Listings page. Sky Atlantic.
Day 5: Camila Batmanghelidjh, 1963 - 2024 Evening Standard 3.1.24. Photo: Uncredited. Social justice campaigner.
Day 6: Les McCann, 1935 - 2023 Metro 3.1.24. Photo: Uncredited. Jazz legend.
Day 7: Luke Littler Metro 4.1.24. Photo: Uncredited. The youngest ever darts player to reach the final of the World Championship, at the age of 16. Phil Haigh is credited as a source in the article.
Day 8: Alan Bates Metro 5.1.24. Photo: Uncredited. Letter from Ian, Glasgow, ('Send Us Your Views' Page) about the huge integrity of Alan Bates from Justice For Subpostmasters Alliance.
Day 9: Suresh Damodharan Metro 8.1.24. Photo: Uncredited. A doctor, who has flown from India every Christmas, for the last 11 years, to help the NHS.
Day 10: Gabriel Attal Metro 10.1.24. Photo: Uncredited. France's youngest, and first openly gay, Prime Minister.
Day 11: Maria Metro 11.1.24. Photo: BBC*. Article by Brooke Davies about the huge miscarriage of justice at the Post Office. The photo is a still, taken from the BBC's Breakfast programme the previous day, when sub-postmasters were sharing their horrific experiences. Maria was one of them. I'm assuming that she didn't want her surname to be broadcast, but said she was from Huddersfield. Her contract was terminated after she paid more than £30,000.
Day 12: Sally Stringer Metro 11.1.24. Photo: BBC*. Sally ran a small, rural Post Office in Beckford for nearly 20 years. She says, "This is one of the worst miscarriages of justice this country has ever seen." Article as above.
Day 13: Tom Hedges Metro 11.1.24. Photo: BBC*. Tom ran a Post Office near Skegness. He was there for 16 years until he was dismissed in 2009 and convicted in court in 2010. He says, "It wrecked my life, my family's life and everybody I know." Article as above.
Day 14: Tim Brentnall Metro 11.1.24. Photo: BBC*. Tim ran a Post Office in Pembrokeshire from 2005, until a shortfall was found in 2009. "I was told that if I didn't repay it, I'd be facing a theft charge. So I raided my savings, my parents' savings, I had to sell my car. And as soon as that was done, I was then charged with false accounting." Article as above.
Day 15: Alison Hall Metro 11.1.24. Photo: BBC*. Alison ran a Post Office in West Yorkshire. She was suspended in 2010. Article as above.
Day 16: Varchas Patel Metro 11.1.24. Photo: BBC*. Varchas’ father, whose health is completely shattered, ran a Post Office in Horspath, Oxford, and was wrongfully prosecuted in 2011. Article as above.
Day 17: Parmod Kalia Metro 11.1.24. Photo: BBC*. Parmod paid the Post Office £22,000, was jailed for 6 months, shunned by his community, and attempted to take his own life 3 times after his marriage broke down. Article as above.
Day 18: Jess Kaur Metro 9.1.24. Photo: ITV*. Jess was falsely accused of stealing £11,000 from the Post Office, resulting in a suicide attempt, sectioning and shock therapy.
Day 19: Roy Calne, 1930 - 2024 Metro 8.1.24. Photo: Uncredited. Carried out the first successful liver transplant operation in Europe, in 1968.
Day 20: Simon Parkes Metro 18.1.24. Photo: Uncredited. Article by Sam Corbishley. Detectives have received fresh information about Simon Parkes, who went missing in 1986.
Day 21: Julia Sawalha Metro 22.1.24. Photo: ITV*. As Bubble in The Masked Singer, an ITV programme in which anonymous celebrities sing in fabulous costumes.
Day 22: Hilary Fleming Metro, 25.1.24. Photo: SWNS*. A retired NHS worker who has worn a different hat every day for three years to raise funds for Wiltshire Air Ambulance, who twice saved her husband's life.
Day 23: Chris Kapessa, 2006 - 2019 Metro, 23.1.24. Photo: Uncredited. Article about the death of Chris Kapessa age 13, who drowned after being pushed into a river as a 'prank'.
Day 24: Vanessa Ruck Metro, 24.1.24. SWNS* is credited a different photo in this article. The first female Brit to finish a 13-day, 3,700 miles bike race across the Saharan sand dunes.
Day 25: Raye Metro, 25.1.24. Photo: Uncredited. Article by Alicia Adejobi about the Brit Awards nominations. Raye has received a record seven nominations.
Days 26-28: Grace O’Malley-Kumar, Ian Coates and Barnaby Webber Metro 26.1.24. PA*. Article by Brooke Davies about the fatal stabbings of three people who were getting about their lives, and then they weren't.
Day 29: Jaz Singh Metro, 30.1.24. Photo: Uncredited. BBC?* Missed out on a prize of £95K in The Traitors, a BBC TV programme in which the contestants have to figure out who is lying.
Day 30: Cyrus Lueng Metro 31.1.24. Photo: Uncredited. A 12yo schoolboy with the same IQ as Einstein and Stephen Hawking.
Day 31: Jefferson Parlett Metro 31.1.24. SWNS* is credited for a different photo in this article. Article by Elizabeth Hunter about the first person in the world to get a degree in the clowning craft.
Day 32: David Creamer Metro 1.2.24. Photo: Uncredited. A former miner, in agony for 7 months as he was unable to get NHS dental treatment.
Day 33: Gulzarin Iqbal Metro 2.2.24. Photo: Uncredited. Article, by Tom Sanders, about how Mr Iqbal ran to the aid of a stabbed teacher.
Day 34: Stephanie Bunyan Metro 2.2.24. Photo: Rex*. Article, by Gergana Krasteva, about a Japanese macaque who spent 5 days on the run from Highland Wildlife Park in the Cairngorms. Honshu, said monkey, was helping himself to Stephanie's bird feeder.
Day 35: Keagan Kirkby, c1999 - 2024 Metro 6.2.24. Photo: Uncredited. 25yo jockey who died after a fall in a race.
Day 36: Ai Weiwei Metro 5.2.24. Photo: Uncredited. He says ‘cancel culture’ in the West is like Mao Zedong's China.
Day 37: Ian Lavender, 1946 - 2024 Metro 6.2.24. Photo: Michael Fresco. As Frank Pike in the classic BBC sitcom, Dad's Army (by David Croft and Jimmy Perry). The last surviving cast member.
Day 38: Chris Pratt Metro 7.2.24. Photo: SWNS* Lidl*. Lidl staff member and perfume advert model.
Day 39: Ricard Plaud Metro 8.2.24. Photo: Uncredited. Article, by Sam Corbishley, about a sculptor who spent 8 years building the Eiffel Tower from matchsticks, only to have his Guinness World Record attempt rejected on a technicality.
Day 40: Henry Fambrough, 1938 - 2024 Metro 9.2.24. Photo: Uncredited. Last surviving member of the Detroit Spinners.
Day 41: Hind Rajab, 2018 - 2024 Metro 12.2.24. Photo: AFP*. Article, by Sara Odeen-Isbister, about how the bodies of Hind, her aunt, uncle and three cousins were found dead in their bullet-riddled car.
Day 42: Jennie Berry Metro 12.2.24. Photo: Uncredited. Jennie, a wheelchair user, had to 'shuffle' up a flight of stairs at Dalston Junction Station when the lift was out of order. There was no sign advising her of this in advance. She says this is a common occurrence. However, she was more upset about the appalling treatment she got from staff. TFL says it's being investigated.
Day 43: Stevie Wonder Metro 12.2.24. Photo: Uncredited. Article, by Rachel O'Connor, about how the Glastonbury lot are trying to get Stevie because they're having trouble getting Madonna.
Day 44: Dead Dawg/ Pablo Grant, 1997 - 2024 Metro 13.2.24. Photo: Uncredited. Article about the death of rapper and actor, Dead Dawg.
Day 45: Leanne Mohamad London Evening Standard 13.2.24. Photo: Uncredited. Article, by Rachael Burford, about how pro-Palestinian candidates are working together in London to unseat politicians who do not support a ceasefire. One such candidate, Leanne Mohamad, is campaigning to unseat Wes Streeting.
Day 46: Ralph Sims Metro 15.2.24. Photo: PA*. Ralph Sims died in 2019 at the age of 65. His death was entirely avoidable. The hospital trust has finally admitted negligence and apologised. Ralph's family say that the best thing they can do now is ensure guidelines and protocols are followed.
Day 47: Lucie Colebeck Metro 16.2.24. Photo: Uncredited. Former Team GB gymnast and Cirque du Soleil star, Lucie, has set a world record by doing 36 handsprings in 30 seconds.
Day 48 + 49: Bianca Stigter and Steve McQueen Evening Standard Magazine 9.2.24. Photo: Getty*. Stigter and McQueen discuss their new film, 'Occupied City', with Ethan Croft.
Day 50: Jimi Famurewa London Evening Standard 28.2.24. Photo: Uncredited. Restaurant review in which a meal for two, plus drinks, costs about £170. Jimi is 'Restaurant Writer Of The Year'.
Day 51: Gabriela Rodriguez Metro 20.2.24. Photo: Uncredited. Gabriela was sacked after eating a tuna sandwich from a leftover platter at a business meeting at the solicitors' office where she cleaned. She had worked for the company for two years and had an impeccable record.
Day 52: Robin Windsor, 1979 - 2024 Metro 22.2.24. Photo: PA*. Article, by Josie Copson, about the death of dancer Robin Windsor.
Day 53: Ewen MacIntosh, 1973 - 2024 Metro 22.2.24. Photo: Shutterstock*. He played ‘Big Keith’ in The Office so beautifully.
Day 54: Hide Takemoto London Evening Standard 28.2.24. Photo: Jeremy Selwyn. Article, by Ross Lydall, about the return of the TFL Busking Auditions.
Day 55: Yulia Navalnaya Metro 29.2.24. Photo: Reuters*. The wife of Alexei Navalny, lawyer and Russian opposition leader, says her husband was tortured for 3 years and murdered by Vladimir Putin. Article by Gergana Krasteva.
Day 56: Dave Myers, 1957 - 2024 London Evening Standard 29.2.24. Photo: Uncredited. Article, by Tina Campbell, about the cook and television presenter.
Day 57: Mia Allen Metro 26.2.24. Photo: SWNS*? Britain's youngest crane operator.
Day 58 + 59: Steve Whitehouse and Kevin Marriott Metro 29.2.24. Photo: SWNS*. Article, by Jen Mills, about a binman who helped another binman to save a man, woman and dog from a burning building, and then went on to finish his round.
Day 60: Oliver Campbell Metro 29.2.24. Photo: Cover Images*. Article, by Sam Corbishley, about a man with learning difficulties who was jailed for life in 1990. The case was 'full of holes' and Mr Campbell was interviewed by police without a solicitor present, and officers may have 'deliberately lied' to him to adduce confessions.
Day 61: John Sheeran Metro 1.3.24. Photo: Uncredited. Ed hired the Louvre so his parents could look at the art in private.
Day 62: Justin Welby Metro 5.3.24. Photo: Uncredited. The Archbishop of Canterbury wants to repair the damage done by the Church of England's historic links to slavery, but needs more money.
Day 63: Shaquille Graham, 1994 - 2024 Metro 12.3.24. Photo: Uncredited. A 'figure of light', who was murdered on the street.
Day 64: Katie Boulter Metro 5.3.24. Photo: Getty*. Winner of the San Diego Open. That's tennis. Article by Dave Filmer.
Day 65: Jeff Bezos Metro 6.3.24. Photo: Uncredited. Once again the richest person in the world. At time of stitching. Net worth: £158 billion.
Day 66: Maria Branyas Morera Metro 5.3.24. Photo: Uncredited. At 117, Maria is the world's oldest person. She says the secret is lots of positivity and staying away from toxic people.
Day 67: Jodie Foster Metro 8.3.24. Photo: Uncredited. Another Oscar nomination for Jodie Foster, who is 58 years into the career her mother predicted would be over 20 years ago.
Day 68: Dave Rowntree Metro 8.3.24. Photo: Uncredited. The Blur drummer has been announced as Labour's candidate for Mid Sussex at the next General Election.
Day 69: Grace Subathirai Nathan Metro 8.3.24. Photo: Uncredited. Ten years since the disappearance of flight MH370, Grace recalls the last phone call with her mother. Article by Sarah Bajc.
Day 70: Irma Garcia Metro 11.3.24. Photo: Uncredited. Article about the Sussexes visiting the family of Irma Garcia, who was killed in a Texas school shooting in 2022.
Day 71: Norah Jones Metro 11.3.24. Photo: Uncredited. At the age of 44, Norah Jones has won 9 Grammys. Interview by Graeme Green.
Day 72: Da’Vine Joy Randolph Metro 12.3.24. Photo: Uncredited. Best Supporting Actress for The Holdovers. Article, by Alicia Adejobi, about this year's Oscar winners.
Day 73: AI Generated Man Metro 5.3.24. Photo: Uncredited. Article, by Hiyah Zaidi, about how Trump fans are posting AI images to claim the ex-president popular with black voters.
Day 74: Paul Alexander, 1946 - 2024 Metro 14.3.24. Photo: Uncredited. Paul ‘lived in an iron lung’ for more than 70 years.
Day 75: Diane Abbott Metro 15.3.24. Photo: Uncredited. Letters Page focusing on Frank Lester's racist and misogynistic comments towards Diane Abbott, and about how the tories haven't refunded the millions he has donated to the party.
Day 76: Ben Gojka Metro 15.3.24. Photo: SWNS*. Article about how Ben kicked his potato waffle habit.
Day 77: Taylor Swift Metro 19.3.24. Photo: SWNS*, Getty* or AFP*. Article, by Dean Murray, about how 70,000 jumping/dancing fans created earth tremors equalling a 0.8 magnitude quake.
Day 78: Barack Obama Metro 19.3.24. Photo: Uncredited. Article about the former US President visiting Downing Street.
Day 79: Oprah Winfrey Metro 19.3.24. Photo: Uncredited. Article, by John Dunne, about the fat-shaming Oprah had endured for decades, and also about the growing trend of weight management medication.
Day 80: Ann Wilson Metro 20.3.24. Photo: Uncredited. At 82, Britain's oldest barmaid, having poured more than 3 million drinks.
Day 81: Ewan McGregor Metro 23.3.24. Photo: Uncredited. As Mark Renton in Danny Boyle's Trainspotting (1996) from the book by Irvine Welsh. Cinematography by Brian Tufano. TV Listings page, edited by Laurence Phelan.
Day 82: Shelley Duvall Metro 22.3.24. Photo: Rex*. The axe used in The Shining (cinematographer: John Alcott) has sold for £98,000.
Day 83: Karl Wallinger, 1957 - 2024 Metro 23.3.24. Photo: AP*. Obituary of the musician.
Day 84: Kate Middleton i 23.3.24. Photo: Twitter/ KensingtonRoyal*. The Princess of Wales tells the world she has cancer.
Day 85: Natalia i 23.3.24. Photo: Uncredited. Natalia was a vet, now she treats people. From a documentary following a Ukrainian battalion on the front line of the war against Russia (Director - Jamie Roberts; Editor - Kate Spankie; Composer - David Schweitzer; Line Producer - Claire Walker; Executive Producer - Jonathan Smith; Production Company - Hoyo Films Ltd.). TV Listings page, edited by Laurence Phelan. BBC2, Monday 25th March, 2024.
Day 86 Laura Kenny i 23.3.24. Photo: Uncredited. Laura is retiring, after 5 Olympic gold medals and 7 World Championship titles.
Day 87: Unnamed Protester Metro 27.3.24. Photo: EPA*. Demanding the release of India's opposition leader and anti-corruption activist, Arvind Kejriwal, who is being held in custody on corruption charges just in time for the election.
Day 88: Gary the Gorilla Metro 27.3.24. Photo: SWNS?* The rear of a fibreglass gorilla, named Gary, has been found in a layby on the A92 in Fife. His face, chest and front have been missing for a year. Article by Jen Mills.
Day 89: Michael Copeland Metro 27.3.24. Photo: SWNS*. Campaigner for mental health, climbed Kilimanjaro (and other mountains) with a fridge strapped to his back.
Day 90 + 91: Miguel Luna and Maynor Suazo Metro 28.3.24. Photo: Uncredited. Construction workers who were fixing potholes when a container ship crashed into the Key Bridge in Baltimore. Presumed dead. Article by Gergana Krasteva.
* The photo credits appears as they did in the publications from which the faces were cut. For the record, I don't accept the name of a company as the credit for a photograph. There was an actual person behind the camera. If you are that person, or know them, please let me know.