South London heart attack survivor to take on famous bike ride in memory of dad who died from the same disease
In London, around 1,30,000 people are currently living with heart and circulatory diseases.
By Eastern EyeMay 27, 2022
A London resident is saddling up for British Heart Foundation’s London to Brighton Bike Ride to help raise money for people with heart and circulatory diseases, just like him.
Deepak Kapoor, 42, from Coulsdon, will be taking on the iconic 54-mile ride from Clapham Common to Brighton seafront on Sunday 19th June.
In 2012, Deepak suffered a heart attack. Aged just 32 years old Deepak was on his way home from work when he began to experience a tightening sensation in his chest. As he has a history of heart disease in the family Deepak wasted no time and went straight to hospital where he underwent an emergency stent procedure.
Over the past ten years Deepak has overcome many challenges on his road to recovery, both physically and mentally. He took up cycling in a bid to help him get fit and increase his own cardiovascular endurance.
Deepak Kapoor
Deepak now wants to put his pedal power to the test by taking on the famous London to Brighton Bike Ride and support the BHF’s ambition of raising more than £2.8 million at the event for research into heart and circulatory diseases.
He said: “Taking part in a cycling event was a fitness goal I wanted to work towards. Since signing up for the London to Brighton Bike Ride last year I’ve been working hard to increase my cardiovascular endurance on a bike.
“I’ve really been enjoying getting into cycling but know the 54-mile ride will be a challenge, and certainly put me out of my comfort zone. I know that I’m resilient and, with all the training I’ve been doing, I’ll be able to tackle anything. I’m looking forward to being able to say I’ve conquered the Ditchling Beacon.”
Chander Kapoor
Deepak’s own heart condition is not the only reason why he is taking on the London to Brighton Bike Ride. When he was just four years old his dad, Chander Kapoor, died just two days before his 36th birthday in 1984, after suffering a major heart attacked caused by a blocked aorta and significant damage to his heart muscle. Deepak will be riding the event on Father’s Day in memory of his dad, as well as other family members, including his grandfather, who have died from heart related conditions.
Sadly, he isn’t alone. In London, around 130,000 people are currently living with heart and circulatory diseases, which kill more than 1 in 4 in the Capital alone.
Deepak is now passionate about supporting others by raising money for life-saving research funded by the British Heart Foundation.
Deepak said: “The support I receive from my family and friends is overwhelming. I cannot thank them enough for all the love they’ve given to me over the last ten years through my own battle with heart disease.
“Losing a parent is always tough but losing one at such a young age is truly heart-breaking. My father was a great man, who always tried to stay healthy and active.
“Heart disease has impacted my family for generations, like so many others. I want to help make a difference to save lives and support the incredible work that goes into making research breakthroughs at the British Heart Foundation.”
The London to Brighton Bike Ride is returning on Sunday 19 June after a two-year break due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Deepak will join around 14,000 other cyclists of all abilities on the 54-mile ride from city to coast.
Lee Sumner, London to Brighton Event Manager, said: “Deepak has been affected by the consequences of heart and circulatory diseases his whole life but it’s so inspiring to hear how passionate he is about making a difference by taking on the London to Brighton Bike Ride.
“I wish Deepak the very best of luck on event day, along with the other 14,000 riders taking part in the London to Brighton Bike Ride. It’s thanks to people like him that the British Heart Foundation can continue to fund science projects that will help to save and improve lives of people with heart and circulatory conditions.”
Since April 2024, British citizens and settled residents have needed to earn at least £29,000 to apply for a partner visa. (Representational image: iStock)
THE UK’s independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has said the government could lower the minimum income requirement for family visas but warned that doing so would likely increase net migration by around 1 to 3 per cent.
Since April 2024, British citizens and settled residents have needed to earn at least £29,000 to apply for a partner visa.
The MAC has proposed a new threshold of between £23,000 and £25,000, which it said would still allow families to support themselves without needing to earn above minimum wage.
It also suggested that setting the threshold between £24,000 and £28,000 could prioritise economic wellbeing over family life.
The panel opposed the previously announced plan to raise the threshold to £38,700, calling it incompatible with human rights obligations, including Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
MAC chair Prof Brian Bell said the final decision was political but urged ministers to consider the impact of financial requirements on families.
The report recommended keeping the income threshold the same across all UK regions and not raising it for families with children.
Campaigners criticised the lack of a recommendation to scrap the threshold entirely.
The Home Office said it would consider the MAC’s findings and respond in due course.
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Forsyth’s reporting took him to politically volatile regions
Frederick Forsyth, the internationally renowned author of The Day of the Jackal, has passed away at the age of 86. His agent, Jonathan Lloyd, confirmed the news, describing Forsyth as one of the world’s greatest thriller writers.
With a career spanning more than five decades, Forsyth penned over 25 books, selling 75 million copies worldwide. His work, including The Odessa File and The Dogs of War, set the standard for espionage and political thrillers. Bill Scott-Kerr, his publisher, praised Forsyth’s influence, stating that his novels continue to define the genre and inspire modern writers.
From fighter pilot to novelist
Born in Kent in 1938, Forsyth lived a life as thrilling as his novels. He joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) at 18, becoming one of the youngest pilots in the service. However, his passion for writing led him into journalism, where he worked as a foreign correspondent for Reuters and the BBC.
Forsyth’s reporting took him to politically volatile regions, including Biafra during the Nigerian Civil War. His experiences there deeply affected him, shaping the narratives of many of his future works. In 2015, he revealed that he had worked with British intelligence agency MI6 for over 20 years, drawing on his real-life encounters with espionage for his novels.
The birth of The Day of the Jackal
Forsyth’s literary breakthrough came in 1971 when he published The Day of the Jackal. At the time, he was struggling financially and decided to write a novel as a way out of his difficulties.
“I was skint, in debt, no flat, no car, no nothing, and I just thought, ‘How do I get myself out of this hole?’” Forsyth later recalled. “And I came up with probably the zaniest solution – write a novel.”
Set in 1963, the book tells the gripping story of an English assassin hired to kill French President Charles de Gaulle. It quickly became a bestseller and was adapted into a film in 1973, starring Edward Fox. The novel’s impact continued decades later, with a TV adaptation starring Eddie Redmayne released in 2024.
An enduring literary legacy
Forsyth’s ability to blend real-world political intrigue with compelling fiction cemented his reputation. His follow-up novel, The Odessa File (1972), explored Nazi war criminals and was later adapted into a film starring Jon Voight.
Other major works include The Fourth Protocol (1984), which became a successful film starring Michael Caine and Pierce Brosnan, and The Dogs of War (1974), inspired by mercenary conflicts in Africa.
His latest novel, Revenge of Odessa, co-written with Tony Kent, is set to be published this August.
Tributes from colleagues and admirers
Following Forsyth’s death, tributes poured in from fellow authors, entertainers, and public figures.
Jonathan Lloyd reflected on Forsyth’s extraordinary life, recalling how they had recently watched a documentary on his career, In My Own Words, set to air later this year on BBC One.
Bill Scott-Kerr described working with Forsyth as one of the highlights of his career, praising his professionalism and meticulous approach to storytelling. Forsyth’s background in journalism, he noted, gave his novels a sharp sense of realism and ensured they remained contemporary and engaging.
Forsyth was awarded a CBE for services to literature in 1997Getty Images
Singer Elaine Paige, a personal friend, expressed her sadness, calling Forsyth’s knowledge of world affairs unparalleled. Andrew Lloyd Webber, who collaborated with Forsyth on Love Never Dies, the sequel to Phantom of the Opera, thanked him for his ability to craft stories that will endure for generations.
Conservative MP Sir David Davis, who considered Forsyth a close friend, described him as a man of honour, patriotism, and courage, as well as an outspoken defender of the armed forces.
Recognition and personal life
Forsyth was awarded a CBE for services to literature in 1997, honouring his immense contribution to British storytelling.
He was married twice and had two sons with his first wife, Carole Cunningham. His second wife, Sandy Molloy, passed away in October 2024, just months before his death.
Passing marks
Frederick Forsyth’s influence on thriller writing is undeniable. From his groundbreaking debut with The Day of the Jackal to his final works, he leaves behind a literary legacy that will continue to captivate readers for years to come. His ability to merge real-world intrigue with gripping narratives made his books essential reading for fans of espionage fiction.
Forsyth’s passing marks the end of an era, but his stories will live on, shaping the genre and inspiring new generations of thriller writers.
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The Canary Wharf business district including global financial institutions in London.
THE UK’s unemployment rate has increased to its highest level since July 2021, according to official data released on Tuesday, following the impact of a business tax rise and the introduction of US tariffs.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the unemployment rate rose to 4.6 per cent in the three months to the end of April. This was up from 4.5 per cent in the first quarter of the year.
The figures reflect the early effects of a business tax increase announced in the Labour government’s first budget in October. April also marked the beginning of a baseline 10 per cent tariff on the UK and other countries introduced by US president Donald Trump.
“There continues to be weakening in the labour market, with the number of people on payroll falling notably,” said Liz McKeown, director of economic statistics at the ONS.
“Feedback from our vacancies survey suggests some firms may be holding back from recruiting new workers or replacing people when they move on,” she added.
The data also showed a slowdown in wage growth. Analysts said the overall picture could encourage the Bank of England to continue cutting interest rates into 2026. The trend pushed the pound lower but supported gains in London’s stock market during early trade on Tuesday.
“With payrolls falling, the unemployment rate climbing and wage growth easing, today’s labour market release leaves us more confident in our view that the Bank of England will cut interest rates further than investors expect, to 3.50 per cent next year,” said Ruth Gregory, deputy chief UK economist at Capital Economics.
The Bank of England last reduced interest rates in May, cutting them by 0.25 points to 4.25 per cent.
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Keir Starmer had indicated last month that he would reverse the cuts. (Photo: Getty Images)
THE GOVERNMENT will reinstate winter fuel payments to millions of pensioners this year, reversing an earlier decision that had removed the benefit for most recipients in England and Wales. The move comes after months of criticism and political pressure on prime minister Keir Starmer.
After taking office in July, Starmer's Labour government had removed the winter fuel payments for all but the poorest pensioners as part of broader spending cuts.
The government said at the time that the cuts were necessary to address a gap in the public finances created by the previous Conservative administration.
Means-testing remains for wealthier pensioners
On Monday, the government announced it would restore the payments to 9 million pensioners. Only about 2 million people earning above £35,000 will remain excluded from the £200–£300 heating subsidy during the winter months.
The initial decision had faced opposition from dozens of Labour MPs and was seen as a factor in the party’s recent electoral setbacks, including gains made by Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party in local elections. Reform UK also leads in national opinion polls.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the decision to exclude wealthier pensioners still stands and defended the initial cuts.
“Because of those decisions, our public finances are now in a better position, which means that this year we're able to pay the winter fuel payment to more pensioners,” she said.
Treasury costings and political fallout
The Treasury said the reversal would cost £1.25 billion, while means-testing the benefit would still result in savings of about £450 million. It added that the move would not lead to permanent additional borrowing and that funding plans would be set out in a budget later this year.
Speaking at a press conference in Wales, Farage claimed credit for the U-turn.
“The Labour government are in absolute state of blind panic, they are not quite sure what to do,” he said. “Reform are leading now much of their agenda.”
Starmer had indicated last month that he would reverse the cuts.
According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, the earlier policy change had resulted in around 85 per cent of pensioner households losing access to the benefit.
(With inputs from agencies)
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The Conservative leader said she asks people to remove face coverings—whether burqas or balaclavas—when they attend her surgeries. (Photo: Getty Images)
KEMI BADENOCH has said she will not speak to women wearing burqas or other face coverings at her constituency surgery.
In an interview with The Sunday Telegraph, the Conservative leader said she asks people to remove face coverings—whether burqas or balaclavas—when they attend her surgeries.
Badenoch also said employers should have the right to ban staff from wearing burqas, stating, “Organisations should be able to decide what their staff wear.”
She said, “If you come into my constituency surgery, you have to remove your face covering. I’m not talking to people who are not going to show me their face.” She added, “There’s a whole heap of stuff that is far more insidious... things like first-cousin marriage… My view is that people should be allowed to wear whatever they want, not what their husband is asking them to wear or what their community says that they should wear.”
Afzal Khan, Labour MP and vice-chair of the all-party parliamentary group on British Muslims, criticised the remarks. He said: “Trying to outflank Reform UK on immigration or culture wars... erodes trust in politics itself.”
The issue was raised after Reform MP Sarah Pochin questioned Keir Starmer about banning the burqa. Nigel Farage has also called for a debate.
Zia Yusuf, chair of Reform, resigned over the issue but has since returned. He told The Sunday Times he might vote for a ban but said other issues were more urgent.
Chris Philp, shadow home secretary, said he had spoken to women in burqas in the past.