News: Rotherham explores collaboration on healthcare with Northwest China

The Mayor of Rotherham and staff from Rotherham Council are amongst delegates visiting Northwest China to showcase the UK's expertise in healthcare.

The authority has also announced a series of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Xi'an region to further explore opportunities for collaboration in healthcare and digital healthcare.

Xi'an is the capital of China's Shaanxi Province and the most populous city in Northwest China.

Representatives from the Rotherham Council visited Xi'an back in 2013 and a trade visit from the Sheffield city region to Shanghai and Xi'an took place in 2014. An MOU already exists between Rotherham and Xi'an for mutual economic development support and cultural leaders from Xi'an visited the borough at the end of 2016.

Last year, the Council joined with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office – British Embassy Beijing, ConnectChina Ltd, Yorkshire & Humber AHSN and the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) to target the Chinese region and the growing healthcare market.

Xi'an's five year plan places digital healthcare as a priority policy for the city over the next few years in order to increase access to healthcare for the population in rural areas; to improve efficiency in healthcare delivery; and enhance the patient experience through integrated care.

Xi'an is also investing significantly in new-build hospitals in the next five years, creating commercial opportunities for technology partners from the Sheffield city region with the expertise to support the design and construction of advanced digital health infrastructure.

Advertisement

The delegation will travel to Shaanxi and Ningxia, including the cities of Xi'an, Tongchuan and Yinchuan. Led by the Mayor of Rotherham, Councillor Lindsay Pitchley, the UK delegation of 28 includes officials from Rotherham Council, senior representatives from the British Embassy in Beijing, experts from the UK healthcare sector and representatives from ten UK companies and Universities.

During the five day visit, the delegation will visit local hospitals, hold business matchmaking sessions and meet senior level leaders in the three cities, sharing policy and technical expertise and boosting regional partnerships.

Agreements include an MoU between Xi'an Health and Family Planning Commission and Rotherham Investment and Trade Department to promote healthcare cooperation.

A training MoU has been signed between Xi'an No. 3 hospital and Sheffield University whilst Xi'an Traditional Chinese Hospital and Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals will focus on remote online clinical consultation, digital health and staff job shadowing.

Lyndsay Pitchley, Mayor of Rotherham, said: "The UK is internationally renowned for delivering excellent healthcare and I'm delighted to lead this delegation to visit Shaanxi and Ningxia. This is a great opportunity for our delegation to showcase their expertise to counterparts in Northwest China and enhance regional links between our countries.

"There is much more we can do together and we are committed to seeking out opportunities for further collaboration with the regions."

Nick Low, regional city engagement counsellor of the British Embassy in Beijing, added: "We want the Golden Era to apply across China and the UK, and we are very keen to develop our growing relationship with Shaanxi and Ningxia. So much excellent work is already underway and this is an exciting opportunity for further collaboration in healthcare.

"We particularly look forward to seeing more trade and investment in both directions and we see President Xi's Belt and Road initiative as a great opportunity to collaborate with China, both within China and working in partnership on third country projects.

Speaking at the seminar, Xi'an's Vice Mayor, Li Jing, noted the city would like to use the delegation's visit to strengthen cooperation and communication between Xi'an and the UK in various areas, including planning and development of Shaanxi's Free Trade Zone.

Images: British Embassy Beijing

Read more...

News: AMRC to boost research for China's space programme

The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing and the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST) have signed an agreement to launch a new joint research institute.

Based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) and a partner in the HVM Catapult (the Government's strategic initiative that aims to revitalise the manufacturing industry), the AMRC focuses on advanced machining and materials research for aerospace and other high-value manufacturing sectors. It is a partnership between industry and academia, which has become a model for research centres worldwide.

SAST has conducted extensive research, design and manufacturing for many parts of China's launch rockets and also specialises in space satellites and tactical missiles.

Having singed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) creating its first partnership in China, the AMRC will work with SAST to develop strong thin-walled structures for commercial rockets.

Advertisement

SAST, which has an annual budget of $60 billion, is a subsidiary of the China Aerospace and Technology Corporation (CASC), a state-owned enterprise and the main contractor for the Chinese space program. CASC provides commercial launch services to the Tiangong 3 Space Station, scheduled for launch in 2020.

CASC also provides commercial launch services to the international market and with 20,000 employees in Shanghai, is one of the world's most advanced organisations in the development and deployment of high energy propellant technology, strap-on boosters, and launching multiple satellites atop a single rocket.

SAST is working with the AMRC on the technical issues associated with creating strong thin-walled structures for commercial rockets. They will fund mobility for academic and commercial staff to receive training in advanced manufacturing techniques and send China Scholarship Council (CSC) students to study for their PhDs in the Sheffield city region.

Professor Sir Keith Burnett, vice-chancellor of the University of Sheffield, was in Shanghai on a ministerial visit. He said: "I am delighted that two world-leading organisations such as SAST and the University of Sheffield's AMRC are collaborating so effectively to find technical solutions to complex aerospace issues.

"This is a priority area for China as announced by President Xi Jinping, and also one of longstanding expertise at the University of Sheffield. We see tremendous potential for companies and products in both countries."

John Baragwanath, executive director of the AMRC, added: "The AMRC is delighted to partner SAST on this new collaborative research programme, which will combine expertise in the two centres and lead to improved products and new innovations."

Last year, the AMRC unveiled a new corporate structure with ambitions for further growth at home and abroad, targeting a more than doubling of its turnover to in excess of £80m over the next five years.

AMRC website

Images: SAST / University of Sheffield

Read more...

News: Sarclad secures Chinese contract

AMP-based Sarclad, a provider of advanced technology products for the metals industry, has secured a contract from CISDI, a Chinese company which set up its European base in Sheffield.

Sarclad employs around 65 staff and specialises in world-leading products and applications for measurement, monitoring and quality improvement in the production and rolling of steel. Investing £1.6m and doubling capacity, Sarclad opened a new facility on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham in 2012 after moving from Chesterfield.

CISDI UK, a subsidiary of China's global engineering giant CISDI, opened its £2.2m offices at Victoria Quays in May and the procurement and design company has a shopping list of hi-tec, hi-spec engineering components for CISDI construction contracts around the globe.

Worth £190,000, the first deal will see Sarclad supply a remote strand condition monitor, a hi-tech quality control device to be used for a steel casting machine.

Richard Cowlishaw, managing director at Sarclad (pictured, third left), said: "Having CISDI located in Sheffield provides a direct link to the huge export market in China and will benefit not only Sarclad but other manufacturers and suppliers throughout the country.

"We feel proud and honored to have received the first order issued from its new Sheffield office.

"Our equipment will be used for measuring the critical parameters of a steel casting machine to ensure the highest quality of the cast steel slabs. It is custom-designed and manufactured entirely in the UK.

"The world-leading, hi-tech engineering equipment Sarclad offers satisfies CISDIs requirements in many areas of the steel industry, from steel casting to inspection and the texturing of rolling mill rolls."

John Lester, managing director at CISDI UK, added: "We are delighted to be buying from Sarclad, a company with a vast amount of expertise in the metals industry.

"The order will be heading for China, where our parent company CISDI Group will incorporate it into a continuous casting plant it has won a contract to build for Sha Steel in Zhangjiagang, in the Jiangsu province.

"There will be further orders to come from that project and we hope to place as many as possible within the Sheffield City Region.

"CISDI UK has a further £1.3m of procurement and design orders from China to fulfil on components within our first year, particularly those made to such long tradition in the local area."

Since March, Sarclad has secured further orders for steel plants in China and Germany. It also supplies plants in Canada, Turkey, Belgium, Saudi Arabia and Brazil.

Sarclad website
CISDI website
Images: CISDI UK / Sarclad

Read more...

News: Visions of China back on the agenda

The cabinet at Rotherham Council is due to make a decision on the disposal of the Pithouse West site next week, the former colliery land where the council has harboured a long running desire to create a landmark leisure / tourism development.


In August 2011 the council confirmed leisure organisation China Vision Ltd and regeneration specialist MCD Developments as the preferred developers for the site, located to the north of Rother Valley Country Park. Also involved in the bid is Dr. Lee Kai Hung of Hong Kong's South West Eco Development Limited and who has projects in the UK and China and is a prominent member of the Chinese community in England's Northwest.

The site of the proposed £350m YES! Project was put up for sale by the Council after original developers, Oak Holdings made a material lack of progress since entering a preferred developer agreement in 2003.

In November 2012, council officers sought an urgent agreement from councillors to complete the sale agreements and head leases for 180 and 153 acres of former opencast land, which is classed as greenbelt.

Visions of China will be a £118m, 120 acre cultural theme park set in an authentically built and landscaped Chinese environment combining a range of experiences and activities for visitors.

It is set to include oriental lakes and gardens, China Town retail street, a Shaolin temple and cultural centre, a theatre, children's fantasy land, restaurants, an oriental spa, pavilions, a pagoda and a hotel.

It aims to attract 1.5m visitors to Rotherham each year and the developers believe that it will create 200 jobs during its two year construction and more than 380 permanent jobs once in operation.

The developers, led by Peter Moore OBE, who introduced the Centre Parcs concept to the UK, and Stephen Byrne, chief executive of Birmingham-based MCD Developments, said at the time that they had secured funding for the ambitious project but the funding agreement was conditional on securing the land.

The lease was set to be signed with MCD VOC LLP, a limited liability partnership with no trading history or assets and members based in the Isle of Man. It is one of a number of companies set up by the partners involved in the Visions of China project.

No details of the funding or any planning applications have been made public. Minutes show that members of Rotherham Council's planning board were set to receive a presentation about a forthcoming application for planning permission regarding Visions of China in March 2013.

The only public reference of the project since then was by the developers, MCD, during its exhibition at the global real estate event, MIPIM in 2013 - "Visions Of China, Rotherham – major new international visitor destination, comprising a 120 acre park, with 60 acres of residential. Incorporating 1.4 million sq ft of unique cultural theme park set in a totally authentic built and landscaped environment. It will be one of the most original and intriguing day visitor destinations to have been created in Britain for decades."

The latest report is exempt and will be heard in private as it contains commercially sensitive information. The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board, Cllr. Glyn Whelbourn has also agreed that the item is urgent and cannot reasonably be deferred. This means that the decision is not subject to the call-in procedure and cannot be called in for further scrutiny.

Images: via RiDO

Read more...

News: Rolls-Royce to partner with Chinese nuclear reactor vendor

Rolls-Royce has signed an important memorandum of understanding (MoU) with CGN, the Chinese nuclear reactor vendor. The agreement will see Rolls-Royce cooperate more closely with CGN in the field of civil nuclear power, in the UK and other overseas markets.

Outline plans have been approved for a 21,000 sq m "Project PoWeR" facility on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham for manufacturing and assembling power vessels for the next generation of nuclear power stations being built at home and potentially overseas. It will bring another 180 of the initial 360 jobs from Rolls-Royce and work will start when the world-renowned engineers receive the first orders for its nuclear components.

The MoU is another step forward and will explore possible collaboration in areas such as engineering support, provision of components and systems, supply chain management and instrumentation and control technology.

Rolls-Royce has significant nuclear expertise, including providing advice to governments and operators, supply chain management and manufacturing and technical engineering support. Today, Rolls-Royce supplies safety-critical instrumentation and control technology to more than 70 per cent of nuclear reactors in operation or under construction in China and Emergency Diesel Generators to almost 40 per cent.

CGN is described as "a colossal state-owned enterprise," and comprises its core member (China General Nuclear Power Corporation) and over 30 subsidiaries. The current installed capacity of CGN's operating nuclear generating units has reached 11,620 MWe, and 13 other nuclear generating units are currently under construction, involving a total installed capacity of 15,500 MWe.

China has 21 reactors in operation, 28 currently under construction and further reactors planned.

Jason Smith, president or nuclear at Rolls-Royce, said: "China represents one of the world's largest civil nuclear markets in which Rolls-Royce has been supplying safety-critical technology and solutions for 20 years.

"I am delighted that we have built a partnership with CGN based on mutual trust. I look forward to exploring how we can broaden our work together in our domestic and international markets."

During a visit by Chinese Premier, Li Keqiang, this week, the UK and Chinese governments announced the UK-China nuclear cooperation statement which paves the way for Chinese companies to invest in Hinkley Point C, the first of the UK's new generation of nuclear power stations. EDF Energy proposes to build two Areva EPRs at the site, and has previously announced that China General Nuclear Corporation and China National Nuclear Corporation will take a stake of around 30-40 per cent in the venture.

Energy and Business Minister Michael Fallon said: "This deal brings a real boost to the UK economy. Closer cooperation between the UK and China could be worth hundreds of millions of pounds to British businesses. We are making the most of Britain's low carbon energy to maximise jobs and business opportunities, get the best deal for customers and reduce our reliance on expensive foreign oil and gas imports."

Rolls-Royce website

Images: Number 10

Read more...

News: SCR companies to show their metal in China

Sheffield City Region companies are set to attend one of the world's biggest steel exhibitions in September as part of an initiative supported by the region's Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).


After a successful regional mission to the event in 2012, ConnectChina and The Expo People are organising a regional pavilion at CISSIE 2014 in Shanghai. Taking place on September 18 - 21, the China International Special Steel Industry Exhibition is the special steel industry's unique biennial trade show and exposition. Bringing together industry professionals, it also includes a technology conference showcasing advancements in all phases of steelmaking.

With backing from Rotherham Youth Enterprise, The Expo People is based in RiDO's Moorgate Crofts business centre in Rotherham and has been set up by international event specialist, Paul Tomes who has worked with events organisers around the world to promote events from Morocco to Abu Dhabi and across Europe.

ConnectChina provides a range of services to facilitate businesses and organisations to develop trade and investment with China.

Speaking about the event in 2012, Joanna Lavan of ConnectChina said: "This exhibition open doors to opportunities with some of the largest steel companies in China and we are keen to keep the relationships thriving."

The package means that companies can exhibit at the event for as little as £1,600.

Ellen Cutler, director of inward investment at Sheffield City Region LEP, said: "We continue to work hard to support companies from within the region to perform globally, particularly within emerging and growing markets such as China.

"We also put a lot of time and effort into promoting the region as an advanced manufacturing zone."

South Yorkshire pavilion exhibitors can also benefit from a partnership struck up between Emirates and the group organisers, offering exhibitors additional benefits including Skyward tier upgrade, bonus miles, airport lounge use and preferential fares.

CISSIE website
The Expo People website

Images: CISSIE

Read more...

News: Chamber's China focus

Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber is hosting an event this month to help local companies grow their business with China.

The Chinese economy has grown at just under ten per cent a year for 32 years, overtaking Japan in 2010 to become the world's second largest economy. Following the global financial crisis, the Chinese government began loosening monetary policy and has launched a major investment programme to ensure growth does not slip below the official "target rate" of 7.5 per cent.

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office states that UK exports to China grew rapidly over the past decade, but not quite quickly enough to keep pace with the market. Since 2002, UK exports to China have quadrupled to £12.5bn. The IMF's forecasts suggest China's import market will be worth over £3 trillion by 2020. If the UK maintains its market share, UK exports to China will be worth just over £30bn.

At the event at the Digital Media Centre in Barnsley on May 20, the Chamber is welcoming speakers from the China-Britain Business Council and Bridge to China, two leading organisations aimed at boosting trade and creating cross-cultural relationships between the UK and China.

Topics covered include: China, its regions & cities; Market Entry Strategy; Opportunities for Exporters; Cultural Considerations; Practical Tips; Help & Support Available.

The chamber is also supporting a trade visit to Shanghai & Xi'an later this month. Organised by ConnectChina, the visit is also supported by Rotherham Council. Councillor Roger Stone from Rotherham was invited to speak at an event in September 2013 in Xi'an. This provided an opportunity to showcase the Sheffield city region and helped to strengthen links between the two regions.

The visit will enable companies and organisations to participate in the Xi'an Silk Road Trade & Investment Cooperation Conference on May 23-26. Companies will be able to exhibit at the Expo at no cost and there will also be B2B meetings arranged by the organisers of the Expo.

Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber website
ConnectChina website

Images: Danielinblue / Wikipedia. Used under Creative Commons licence

Read more...

News: Rotherham's Visions of China nearer reality

A year after it was first announced, the multi million pound Visions of China leisure project in Rotherham is "making good progress."

In August last year, Rotherham Council confirmed leisure organisation China Vision Ltd and regeneration specialist MCD Developments as the preferred developers for the former Pithouse West colliery site, located to the north of Rother Valley Country Park.

The site of the proposed £350m YES! Project was put up for sale by the Council after original developers, Oak Holdings made a material lack of progress since entering a preferred developer agreement in 2003.

Visions of China will be a £118m, 120 acre cultural theme park set in an authentically built and landscaped Chinese environment combining a range of experiences and activities for visitors.

It is set to include oriental lakes and gardens, China Town retail street, a Shaolin temple and cultural centre, a theatre, children's fantasy land, restaurants, an oriental spa, pavilions, a pagoda and a hotel.

It aims to attract 1.5m visitors to Rotherham each year.

Council leader Roger Stone confirmed that he and council officers met last month with the Peter Moore and Stephen Byrne, the men behind the Visions of China project.

He said: "Although there is some way to go, I can say that the project is making good progress with much work going on behind the scenes.

"Projects such as these do take a long time with much negotiation taking place that the public never get to hear about until it is signed, sealed and delivered.

"The New York Stadium was a case in point when it hosted Rotherham United's first league game of the season."

Images: China Vision Ltd / RiDO

Read more...

News: Visions of China tourism project could create hundreds of new jobs in Rotherham

Rotherham Council has backed a multi million pound project to create a unique culture and leisure development in Rotherham based on the "Visions of China."

The Council's Cabinet has selected the preferred developers for the fomer Pithouse West colliery site, located to the north of Rother Valley Country Park.

The site of the proposed £350m YES! Project was put up for sale by the Council in May after developers, Oak Holdings made a material lack of progress since they entered into a preferred developer agreement in 2003.

Visions of China will be a £118m, 120 acre cultural theme park set in an authentically built and landscaped Chinese environment combining a range of experiences and activities for visitors.

The bid was put forward by leisure organisation China Vision Ltd and regeneration specialist MCD Developments.

The Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) was keen to endorse a bid led by the consortium to secure £5.7m from the government's Regional Growth Fund that would "bring forward an iconic addition to the British tourism market."

Councillor Roger Stone, Leader of Rotherham Borough Council, said: "This is a prestigious project which will create hundreds of new jobs and bring in many thousands of visitors and we are delighted that it is being brought to Rotherham.

"Our decision today is the first stage on the road to turn this "China Vision" into a reality and we will be working hard with the partnership to make it happen.

"This site has great potential and this proposal offers an exciting, unique and imaginative new attraction which meets our local regeneration aspirations and the desire of the region to increase the numbers of visitors from across the world heading to Yorkshire."

Images: RiDO

Read more...

News: Rotherham looks east to China's Hainan Island

Rotherham is building on its reputation as a leading location for foreign investment by creating links with China.

Last week representatives from Rotherham Council took part in a special reception for a delegation from China's Hainan Island.

The visit was organised by Manchester businessman and Chairman of the Northwest Chinese Council, Dr. Lee Kai Hung, who has been instrumental in helping to establish trade links between Manchester and Nanning in the Southern Chinese province of Guangxi.

In 2007, the Greater Manchester Chamber signed a Cooperation Agreement with Nanning Chamber of Commerce aimed at growing a relationship regarding trade and investment. Following a number of trade visits, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in 2009 between Trafford Council and Nanning.

Rotherham Council Leader, Roger Stone said on his blog: "Dr. Lee is Manchester-based but his businesses can be found in both mainland China and Hong Kong. At the reception I could see how the contacts made there could prove to be beneficial to Rotherham and so promptly invited the delegation to travel over the Pennines in the future and come and see what Rotherham has to offer expanding Chinese companies."

"I have said many times that during times of economic downturn we have to do even more to attract inward investment.

"This is not the time to bring down the shutters. Instead we have to get out and bang the drum for Rotherham because investment in the borough means more jobs and more financial security for the people on the street."

The Hainan Province in Southern China includes China's largest special economic zone and in January, the Chinese government announced that it plans to invest billions in order to build the southern island of Hainan into a top international tourism destination by 2020.

Rotherham helped to attract a record number of overseas investors to the region in the 12 months to July and the US-based National Business Incubation Association (NBIA) awarded the borough "Soft Landing Zone" status last year.

The award recognised the four business centres managed by the Council's regeneration arm, RiDO, as well as their knowledge and expertise to deliver a comprehensive package of support that will maximise the chances of a foreign inward investor successfully entering a new market.

RiDO is looking to build on this status and sees capturing international business and the growth of existing businesses in to global markets as the next phase of their development in incubation and business support.

A business plan is being progressed to secure European funding that would enable RiDO to encourage additional successful knowledge based business to set up in Rotherham by attracting foreign business. It would aslo enable them to work with home grown talent to develop ideas that have true potential to create export focused businesses through accelerated development and support.

Rotherham Investment and Development Office
Hainan Province website

Read more...

News: Chinese delegation visit AMP in Rotherham

Last week a group of high profile Chinese delegates visited the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham as part of a collaboration between the city of Sheffield and the Chinese cities of Wuhan and Nanjing. The delegation of 12 people was led by Dr. Shi Nan - Secretary General of the Urban Planning Society of China and aims to promote excellence in urban regeneration and the provision of affordable housing. After visiting projects in the city, the group enjoyed a tour of the Advanced Manufacturing Park hosted by Chris Scholey of Renaissance South Yorkshire. The Chinese delegates also gave local businesses the unique opportunity to find out what it takes to break the Chinese market. A seminar was held at the University of Sheffield’s Confucius Institute where Professor Liu Hongyu and Dr. Shi Nan from the delegation briefed the audience on urban regeneration and affordable housing in China. They also outlined the opportunities that exist in China for companies involved in urban development, land reclamation or sustainable engineering. Ian Bromley, Chief Executive at Creativesheffield, said: "These increased connections with China are fast putting Sheffield on the global map. This world-wide interest in Sheffield’s economic and physical development can only bring benefits through an improved city image, increased inward investment, knowledge transfer, global collaborations and trade."
AMP website
Creative Sheffield website
Rotherham

Read more...

News: Chengdu tournament has cutting edge

A fundraising tournament for the China earthquake appeal is set to be cutting edge following the support of one of Rotherham's latest investors. Dormer Tools are sponsoring two special charity games between the Chengdu Blades and Sheffield United on August 6 and Sheffield FC on August 9. Funds raised from the Blades' game will be going to the British Red Cross China Earthquake appeal, while Sheffield United - who own 90 per cent of the Chengdu side - will be wearing the charity slogan on their shirts to help raise awareness of the charity. Dormer have been supporters of Sheffield FC during the last few years and recently extended their Gold sponsorship deal with the world's first football club for another season. Nigel Bullivant, Chief Information Officer at Dormer Tools, is also responsible for the company's business in the Far East. He said: "We felt the Chengdu Blades tournament with Sheffield United and Sheffield FC would be a great opportunity for Dormer Tools to help raise as much funds as possible for the earthquake appeal. "The group has close links with China and we wanted to offer our support to those affected by the disaster."

Dormer Tools website
Rotherham

Read more...

News: Chinese interest in Martek systems continues

Rotherham company, Martek has secured a significant deal from an up-and-coming shipyard in China. The order for 16 Bulksafe Water Ingress Detection Systems was received from the Mawei shipyard, situated in Fuzhou, Fujian Province China. The shipyard is in a newly targeted region for Martek and it is especially pleasing for the team to have received this order after committing to a demanding and extensive visit to China back in April. Sales co-ordinator Nicola Walker commented on the order:“Mawei is the most established shipyard within the Fuzhou area, building mainly small and medium Bulkers and also Container vessels. Having secured the contract for the water ingress detection systems for all of their vessels currently under construction is a huge step forward for Martek. It’s really great to see that the trip to China is coming to fruition, we are all extremely hopeful that many more orders will be we won in China this year.”
Martek website

Rotherham

Read more...

News: Rotherham firm import rock guitar

Rotherham firm Xiang Trading have imported a custom designed headstone to commemorate the life of a heavy rocker. Xiang came up with detailed designs for a black granite headstone with an inlaid copy of Stuart 'Snake' Neale's favourite guitar – a Gibson Les Paul. The Rotherham based firm specialises in importing granite and other products from China and the headstone is one of a series which Xiang, run by Brett and Chris Ainsworth, have made - including award-winning monuments in the shape of a Newcastle United football shirt, a half-scale motorcycle and a Ford Transit van door in blue pearl granite. Brett told The Star: "Chinese masons are very highly skilled at carving and reasonably priced too, so special monuments have become affordable."

The Star article

Rotherham

Read more...