http://www.champnews.com All the latest Southport news from Champion Newspapers en-uk Copyright 2007 Champion Media Group. All Rights Reserved http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7634 A young peregrine falcon has been nursed back to health after being handed in to a vet in Birkdale. The bird was suffering from malnutrition and exhaustion, likely to be caused by the recent high temperatures. The female peregrine, named Dora, was handed to Turbary Woods Owl and Bird of Prey Sanctuary in Whitestake, Preston, who have since released it at a secret location in Birkdale. “It was very important that the bird was released as soon as possible, as although they receive a very healthy diet while at the sanctuary, they don’t maintain fitness whilst in an isolation aviary, and need to be in top form when released in order for them to catch their prey,” sanctuary manager Andy Bilsborough said. “The best and most rewarding aspect of the job is to see an injured bird re-released back into the open skies.” Peregrine falcons are the fastest animal on the planet and have been recorded at flying at over 200 miles per hour. They are under high protection status from the Wildlife Act, yet are increasing in numbers in the North West of England, while declining in many other areas of the UK. Andy and his dedicated team of volunteers rescue more than 100 birds of prey and owls each year. Turbary Woods is open to the public seven days a week, see www.turbarywoods.co.uk 02/07/2009 07:54:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7633 THE forthcoming performance of the Magic of Motown at the Southport Summer Classics was always going to be a special event. However, demand from Michael Jackson fans has meant an extended, extra-special tribute to the King of Pop will now feature during the performance on Friday July 24. “Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Motown record label, the Magic of Motown takes the audience back to 1969 when the Jackson 5’s debut single I Want You Back topped the charts,” says show producer Michael Taylor. The hit concert show – which features 36 million-selling Motown hits – continues with Jackson 5 hits ABC and I’ll Be There before moving on to Michael Jackson’s time with the Jacksons, featuring yet another platinum-selling single, Blame it on the Boogie. “The Magic of Motown is the biggest production of its kind on tour,” says Michael Taylor. “Although it already includes 36 hits, the 15-strong cast have an even bigger repertoire to choose from. “Therefore we are able to add even more songs that starred Michael Jackson to provide a fitting tribute to a true singing legend.” Philip Kavuma, who plays Michael Jackson in the Magic of Motown, says the tribute will be an emotional affair. “I’m as big a Michael Jackson fan as they come,” he says. “Like everyone else, I’m still in shock from the news. By the time of the show I’ll have had time to compose myself, but it’s sure to the most poignant performance of my life.” Mamma Mia! The Abba Magic concert show has been added as support to the Magic of Motown at the Friday night of the Southport Summer Classics’ weekend. With record ticket sales for the night reported by Sefton Council, the promoters of the evening’s entertainment say they are pulling out all the stops to make the open-air show a huge hit with music fans. The evening now begins an hour earlier at 7pm, opening with Abba Magic performing their Queen’s Award-nominated concert show. Gates 6pm, Abba Magic 7pm, Magic of Motown 8pm. Tickets £17 adults, £13 children.   Pay on the gate: £20 adults, £15 children, under-fives free. Group bookings: Buy 10 tickets, get a further ticket free.  Call the box office on 01704 540011 or buy online: www.visitsouthport.com    02/07/2009 07:48:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7632 Just over 100 tickets are left for the Pop Factory Live show at Southport Theatre next month, featuring Britain’s Got Talent winners Diversity and finalists Stavros Flatley. The event on July 31 at 7.45pm will also feature MD Productions, Ramena Farahi, Kimmo the magical ventriloquist and the Team Extreme football freestylers. Organiser Kevin Peet said: “We have had a great response to the show and we have sold over 1400 tickets.  We only have about 150 tickets left so if anybody hasn’t got a ticket I would suggest they call us on 01704 233383 or go online to www.popfactorylive.co.uk.”   02/07/2009 07:47:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7631 Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Inc gang are back by popular demand in Scooby Doo and the Pirate Ghost, a brand-new, all singing and dancing “spook-tastic” show which runs at Liverpool Empire Theatre from 23-26 July. In this exciting production, written and directed by the acclaimed Jim Millan, the beloved Hanna-Barbera characters Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Velma, Daphne and Fred are bought to life, bringing their unique, comical brand of detective work and super scary fun to theatres across the country. A tropical island is the scene for Scooby’s newest live adventure, but it’s far from peaceful and idyllic when The Mystery Inc gang land on the island! Ghostly goings-on and supernatural scenarios mixed with hilarious physical comedy, groovy music and magical effects will be keeping audiences happily spooked and on the edge of their seats for the entire 90 minutes of this exciting production! Tickets £16.50 - £18.50 – all tickets £10 for opening performance.  Call the box office 0844 847 2525* or visit www.LiverpoolEmpire.org.uk*   02/07/2009 07:46:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7629 Rock, indie, jazz, acoustic and folk bands are gathering in Hesketh Bank for a repeat of last year’s highly successful Manor Garden Music Festival. As well as being a well known horticulturalist, Keith Dickinson was a huge fan of live music, and attended countless festivals and concerts throughout his life. So last year when he lost his battle with a brain tumour, his family and friends rallied round to organise a music festival on the land behind his house in Shore Road, Hesketh Bank, to raise money to support further research into the illness. This year they are building on the success of the first event to continue to help Marie Curie Cancer Care and The Brain Tumour Trust, and keep Keith’s memory alive. Around 20 bands and musicians will entertain the crowds at two stages between midday and midnight on Saturday July 18. Keith’s gardens will also be open, and a range of craft, produce and health stalls will sit alongside children’s entertainment and games. A range of food and drinks will be on sale, including a tea and cakes stall and a licensed bar, with profits going to the charities. Tickets are £5, from the ticket line 07932 586287, Top Shop newsagents in Hesketh Bank, or by emailing manorgarden@live.co.uk, or on the gate for £7.50. More details about the festival and the line-up can be found at myspace.com/manorgarden.   02/07/2009 07:44:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7628 Infamous former London gangster ‘Mad’ Frankie Fraser is coming to Southport to star in an evening of entertainment and stories of his criminal past. Frankie, a contemporary of the Kray twins in swinging 1960s London, will appear at the Floral Hall on Saturday July 25. The show will see the convicted criminal tell anecdotes from his life of crime and extensive time spent behind bars. The entertainment will also include appearances from a troupe of burlesque dancers and a charity auction with proceeds going to Wirral’s Jellybean appeal. Rebecca Armstrong, spokesperson for promoters CS Promotions who have brought the gangland figure to the town, said: “Mad Frankie Fraser is one of the most colourful characters to have seen the inside of Her Majesty’s Prisons. “He’ll have some great (not to mention dark) stories to tell about his life as a London gangster and his run-ins with the Kray twins, and we expect there to be a great turnout for this evening of entertainment.” Tickets for the show cost £45, including dinner and entertainment, with exclusive packages available to meet the man in person at a pre-dinner drinks reception.   02/07/2009 07:40:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7626 Churchtown's historic features have been classed as ‘at risk’ by English Heritage, but Sefton Council says it cannot understand why. The conservation area that covers Manor Road, Botanic Road and areas of Cambridge Road and Mill Lane, is listed as one of English Heritage’s Conservation Areas at Risk 2009. The list was compiled from data provided by local authorities, but Sefton say they are perplexed as to why English Hertigate consider Churchtown to be ‘at risk’. A spokesman for Sefton Council said: "We were quite surprised to see Churchtown appear on the list, because it is one of our best conservation areas and our response to this survey was generally positive about the village. "If anybody is interested in suggesting ways to improve and enhance any of our conservation areas, we are always keen to hear from them." English Heritage said areas were included on the list if they were in danger of deteriorating over the next three years, or already had.  They could not provide specific reasons for Churchtown’s inclusion. Threats to conservation areas include PVC windows and doors, modern street furniture and signage, satellite dishes and poorly maintained roads and pavements. Chairman of North Meols Civic Society, Ken Bridge, says he was not surprised at all to see Churchtown on the list. “As part of Sefton Council’s survey on behalf of English Heritage, we commented about the clutter in Churchtown, such as obtrusive road signs,” Ken said. “Since we made the comments they have put even more signs up.  It is totally ludicrous. “Other problems are inappropriate signs on business premises - again, the council allowed this to happen.  “Also people are replacing traditional windows and doors with plastic ones.  Householders are not fully aware of the responsibilities of living in a conservation area.” The civic society would like to see unnecessary signs and street furniture removed, he added. Neighbouring authority West Lancashire was awarded for its work to maintain conservation areas. Sefton's Conservation officers can be contacted on 0151 934 3574/3584. By Natasha Robson 01/07/2009 11:03:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7625 Queen of Shops, Mary Portas, may have transformed the fortunes of a Save the Children charity shop in Kent, but Southport’s store is still waiting for an improvement. The BBC2 series Mary Queen of Charity Shops saw Mary campaign for better quality donations and revamping the layout and atmosphere of a shop in Orpington - more than doubling its takings. But shop leader at Save the Children on Eastbank Street, Patsy Krishnan, says they have seen little difference since the show aired. “At the moment everything is about the same.  There hasn’t been any noticeable change,” said Patsy, who has volunteered at the shop since it opened 20 years ago. “In many ways the show was true to life, but it did not make it obvious how much local competition there was. “Southport probably has more charity shops than an equivalent-sized town, so we have lots of competition. “It was good from an entertainment point of view and we can all learn something from it.  There were some pointers we could take on board.” Patsy says she would love to see a re-fit of Southport’s shop, like on the show, but they are in the hands of head office. She would also echo Mary’s call for good quality donations.  In the show it was revealed that the majority of donations are so poor they cannot be sold.  Some items included soiled nappies, mouldy clothes and muddy shoes. “We get all sorts of rusty things and broken toys,” Patsy said. “How anybody thinks we could sell them I don’t know.  People don’t realise that we have to pay for all the rubbish we throw away.” The shop is also desperate for volunteers to boost the current team of 24.  If you can help, call into the shop at 50 Eastbank Street or call on 01704 547353. By Natasha Robson 01/07/2009 10:28:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7624 KGV College’s £40million  building plans have been left “hanging in the balance”, after the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) failed to give the green light for funding. Building was due to begin at the Scarisbrick New Road site in February this year (2009), but the project ground to a halt when the LSC put a freeze on funding college developments nationally. On Friday (June 26,2009), it was announced that KGV was not one of 13 further education providers around the country to be picked by the LSC to take its project to the next stage. The 13 chosen colleges, including Merseyside’s St Helen’s College, will now be asked to reduce costs for their plans and look to other sources for backing before the LSC give funding. A statement released by KGV said: “The £40 million project so well supported by the LSC right up until December is now left hanging in the balance. It is not on the list announced by Ministers on Friday.  “The list was made up of mostly large urban FE colleges in labour seats.” College principal, Hilary Anslow, described the situation as a “huge disappointment” and added: “The project had the support of the LSC, the whole community and is much needed by the College. “However, I am sure you know us well enough by now to know that if Plan A is on long term hold, we are already working on Plan B. “I cannot tell you what we will do next just now, but I can tell you that we will not do nothing.  We cannot proceed with the visionary project as planned – but we will do something.  Watch this space!” KGV had already spent £2million during early stages of the development, which was set to include a new two-storey structure to replace old and portable buildings. The existing Millenium Building was to remain alongside a new sports hall, performing arts centre and additional learning space. The LSC explained: “Many colleges have incurred development costs for projects which will not now be going ahead in the short term. “We have a contingency fund to mitigate the impact of potential aborted costs on the financial health of colleges. This will be limited to those appropriately incurred within the terms of the capital programme.” Southport’s Liberal Democrat MP, John Pugh, told Champnews.com: “This is a bitter pill for the college to swallow. “They have been led up the garden path by the LSC and left stranded. “Hopes have been raised only to be dashed and money spent to no avail. With a big squeeze on public spending coming whoever wins the next election, the outlook can only be gloomy in the short term. “The principal and I saw the minister a few weeks back and were given no real promises. We now know why.” By Natasha Young       01/07/2009 10:13:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7623 NHS trusts across Sefton have boosted the health and well-being of their staff, thanks to the Hospital Food Project. Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust, Mersey care NHS Trust and Aintree University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust were among 10 trusts in Merseyside and Cheshire that took part in the project, from September 2008 to January 2009. Initiated by Heart of Mersey, a Liverpool-based cardiovascular disease prevention charity, the ‘Nourish’ campaign involved hospitals monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of new healthy eating promotions, canteen menu overhauls and health food discounts, as well as the impact of changing existing recipes to reduce the amount of fat, salt and sugar in meals. Practical training workshops on nutrition were also provided for catering staff. The project’s final evaluation report revealed positive results, with Southport and Ormskirk staff asking for healthier snacks. To date the trust has sold 144 boxes of healthier variety snacks and crisps. Mersey Care’s fruit sales increased from 75 pieces per week to 90 during the three month campaign, and Aintree University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust reduced the saturated fat content of many daily meals by four grams per portion, simply by reformulating their cheese sauce recipe. Robin Ireland, chief executive of Heart of Mersey, said: “There are genuine barriers to healthy eating such as the accessibility and affordability of choosing healthy food options. “For me, the success of this project has been in its introduction of lots of small changes and its focus on helping catering staff to understand how to remove some of these barriers, in order to make it easier for people to choose a healthier diet.” Over the coming months, trusts will continue to learn from the project with further menu alterations and healthy food promotions, and will continue to monitor food sales on different healthy food product lines and meals. By Natasha Young 01/07/2009 10:00:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7617 This year’s Woodvale International Rally is already proving to be a record breaker. Organisers of the August event have reported the sale of more advanced tickets than ever before, more camping site reservations and more tank, armoured vehicles and stationary engine exhibits confirmed. Now in its 38th year, the rally takes place at RAF Woodvale on August 1st and 2nd and this year ticket prices have been reduced and more free entertainment has been introduced to ensure visitors enjoy an affordable weekend. Also new this year is a Motorbike Display Area featuring vintage and classics through to modern motorbikes as well two displays on both days from famous stunt rider Neil Porter. This year visitors will also have the chance of winning a limited edition 125 cc scooter worth £1,300, part sponsored by Coca Cola energy drink Relentless. The £1 raffle tickets are now available from Southport Motorcycles at 115 Eastbank Street. The rally offers visitors a spectacle of events and activities from its renowned Model Aero Show and Vintage and Classic Car Rally to a colourful kite festival, Morris dancing, country market, autojumble, car boot sale and craft fair. Tickets in advance for both days are £8 for adults, £4 for children, £7 for OAPs and £20 for a family ticket. At the gate adults tickets cost £10, children £5, OAPs £8 and a family ticket is £25. Gates open on both days at 9am and dogs on a lead are allowed. For further information, to download an advance booking form and to book a camping slot (£50 for both days) visit www.woodvale-rally.org.uk. Advance tickets are available from the Tourist Information Centre on the corner of Lord Street and Eastbank Street.   25/06/2009 06:47:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7616 A 22-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of wounding following a stabbing on Larkfield Lane. The man from Southport was arrested on Wednesday June 25. He was questioned by detectives and has been released on bail pending further enquiries. Officers were called to Southport Hospital at around 10pm on Sunday, June 21, after a 25-year-old man was admitted with stab wounds to his chest and stomach. The man's injuries are serious but not life threatening. Merseyside Police is appealing for anyone who may have witnessed this incident or who may have any information which may help police with their inquiries to contact 0151 777 3465 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. 25/06/2009 06:45:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7615 A Tarleton youth football team has been given a welcome boost with the donation of training bibs from a local company. The reception team at FA Chartered Tarleton Corinthians known as ‘The Ants’, scooped the deal when DB Energy Manager Edward Leech heard that the team were in need of some help.  The Ants meet every Thursday on Carr Lane and is part of Tarleton Corinthians which has over 30 playing teams. DB Energy manager Edward took time out to present the grass roots players with their new yellow and orange bibs at a special presentation. Ants manager Johnny Cookson, who also finds time to run a car valeting business and work as a retained fireman, said: “This donation is absolutely fantastic! I love coaching the Ants and its massively rewarding to see the kids develop. “Scouts regularly come and watch the players and some children as young as six have been signed up for the likes of Man Utd, Liverpool, and Bolton. It’s not competitive football as the children are too young for that but we have about 20-30 kids who meet up once a week for 12 months. After that the players can start playing more competitive matches.” DB Energy based in Deepdale Road, Preston is the newest Lancashire wide provider of Commercial Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) which are now compulsory for every business since October last year. 25/06/2009 06:44:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7614 Dreamboats and Petticoats - Liverpool Empire Set in 1961 and featuring more than forty rock ‘n’ roll classic hits of the era Dreamboats and Petticoats is swinging at the Liverpool Empire. Inspired by albums of the same name it is brought to the stage by Bill Kenwright and Laurie Mansfield in conjunction with legendary television scriptwriters Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran. The sixties really did swing.  I know – I was there!  Ours was the first generation of teenagers who knew they wanted something different from life.  A germ of an idea could be turned into a reality overnight.  We’d hatch plans to make a name for ourselves.  “Yeah … let’s do it!” we would say.  And we did! Ben Freeman (Emmerdale) and Scott Bruton (2008 X Factor finalist) lead an outstanding and energetic cast in this jumpin’, twistin’, rockin’ show which also stars Jennifer Biddall (Hollyoaks), David Cardy (Birds of a Feather) and newcomers Daisy Wood-Davis and AJ Dean. The story weaves around London’s St Mungo’s youth club song-writing competition as the characters dream of fame.  A day trip to Southend funfair with real dodgems and flashing lights sows the seeds for Dreamboats and Petticoats to become the winning song (of course).  This leads into a fast, wild and vibrant finale featuring At the Hop with the audience twisting in the aisles and reliving memories. It’s guaranteed to send you smiling and dancing down Lime Street! Score: 5/5 - O’ill give it foive!  (If you were part of the 60s you’ll remember!) Review by Jenny Robson   25/06/2009 06:40:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7613 The award-winning Grimethorpe Colliery Band, who catapulted to world-wide recognition through the 1996 hit movie ‘Brassed Off’, will play at the Southport Theatre & Convention Centre on Saturday 11th July at 7.30pm.  This concert will provide a rare opportunity to see and hear the cream of brass instrumentalists and what is still regarded as the UK’s premier brass band. Brassed Off took Grimethorpe to international stardom and the band was inundated with invitations to appear all over the world.  In 2004 the band topped the classical music charts with a CD featuring a selection of their most popular numbers.  The Grimethorpe Colliery Band were crowned National Brass Band Champions of Great Britain at the Royal Albert Hall in London two years running in  2006 and 2007. The demand for tickets for their live performances confirms the Grimethorpe’s continued popularity. Tickets are £18.50 and £16.50 (groups 10+: 1 in 10 go free). To book call Ticketmaster 0844 847 2380*, book online www.southporttheatre.org.uk* or call into the Box Office open Monday – Saturday, 9.30am-5.30pm (*subject to a booking fee).     25/06/2009 06:37:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7612 A West End scale musical pulls into Liverpool’s Royal Court in September which is packed with fun, laughter and soul-stirring songs. Willy Russell’s Our Day Out – The Musical is the Royal Court Liverpool’s biggest project to date and is set to be the smash hit show of 2009. Our Day Out was a massive TV hit when it was originally written in 1976 and was later turned into a popular stage play. Now, for 2009, Willy Russell has reworked the script and added some fantastic songs (the songs and music co-written with Director Bob Eaton) to create a brand new Musical which will have you laughing and singing all the way home! A very funny and heartwarming story, Mrs Kay’s Progress Class are all on board and bound for Alton Towers... until Mr Briggs gets on board! The destination changes to a zoo in North Wales but there is no stopping the fun on a trip for the class that always gets left behind. Big dance numbers, instantly recognisable characters and songs so catchy you’ll be singing them for weeks make Our Day Out –The Musical the hottest ticket in town. The cast will include Michael Starke (Brookside, Coronation Street), Andrew Schofield (Misery, Brick Up The Mersey Tunnel), Holly Quin-Ankrah (Grange Hill, Rock Rivals), Bradley Clarkson (Grease Is The Word) and Gillian Hardie (Stags and Hens, On The Ledge). Our Day Out – The Musical will run from Friday 11 September to Saturday 17 October. Tickets and information are available from www.royalcourtliverpool.com or on 0870 787 1866.   25/06/2009 06:35:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7611 It’s Now Or Never - Little Theatre, Southport Imagine two kidnappers, a chainsaw and the King of rock ‘n’ roll and you have this hilarious romping comedy chosen by the Too Friendly Theatre Company to celebrate their 10th anniversary. John Windsor is very funny as Keith who has invited Tom (Cliff Gillies) and Alice (Helen Haygarth) to stay at his Marbella villa in preparation for their wedding the following morning. Keith and Tom are Elvis fanatics; when they believe they have spotted him in next door’s garden they kidnap him and plan to sell their story to the British tabloid press. Cue Sunday Insider journalist, Sue Thomas (Daphne Wood), up from Gibraltar to cover the scoop. Things don’t go according to plan.  Inspector Olvera (Rob Darby) arrives and lines get quickly crossed; hearing everyone talking about ‘the King’ he presumes King Juan Carlos is around. Meanwhile dry-cleaning assistant Lydia (Dorothy Scott) pops in and out to keep Alice’s wedding dress in pristine condition when it keeps getting ruined in the mayhem.  Oh – and Keith ends up wearing the dress … don’t ask! In absurdly farcical form doors open and close as the characters scurry about (sometimes having to pretend they haven’t noticed each other).  Mark Haygarth completes the cast in the role of well padded out ‘Elvis’.  One memorable scene sees him propped up between Tom and Keith supposedly dead.  Keith does Elvis’s talking, ventriloquist style.  One funny line talks of his being as ‘glite as a glutton’ – wonderful stuff! Score: 3.5/5 – Frantic and funny By Jenny Robson   25/06/2009 06:33:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7608 A 25-year-old man was stabbed in the chest and stomach during an attack on Sunday (June 21). Police were called to Southport Hospital at around 10pm, after the man was admitted with stab wounds that are said to be serious, but not life threatening. Officers sealed off the area around a house on Larkfield Lane, Churchtown, where the stabbing took place and searched the location. Several police vehicles remained at the scene throughout Monday. Enquiries are ongoing into the cause of this incident. Merseyside Police is appealing for anyone who may have witnessed this incident or who may have any information which may help police with their inquiries to contact 0151 777 3465 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. By Natasha Robson 24/06/2009 10:50:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7607 Southport's MP John Pugh has repaid £422 to the fees office for a telephone bill that was claimed for twice. The repayment was revealed at the weekend in the Telegraph newspaper, in a list of more than 150 MPs who had given back expense claims. Mr Pugh revealed that when re-checking recent accounts he discovered an office telephone bill was a partial duplication of one submitted previously, so he repaid this duplicated claim. “Unfortunately neither the fees office, who are supposed to carefully validate claims, nor I picked up on this at the time,” he said. “I also spotted we had very significantly under-claimed on one of my business/fax lines and additionally mixed up an invoice that should have gone in with a cheaper one that did - so the taxpayer wasn't actually losing out at all. “And I don't, unlike other Mps, ever claim for mobile phone rental or calls even though that too is mostly business calls.” He added: “With 700 original pages of complicated paperwork and invoices stretching back five years you're likely to find some mistakes though I'm naturally sorry there's any at all.” Liberal Democrat Mr Pugh has also installed a new switchboard system with bills paid by direct debit to help avoid errors, he said. Meanwhile, Mr Pugh, who employs wife Annette as an administrative assistant, has responded to the remarks by Leader of the Commons, Harriet Harman, that MPs should no longer employ close family members. Miss Harman’s comments were in response to an inquiry into Commons expenses by Sir Christopher Kelly. It was time to end the practice, she said, because the public did not believe it was fair. Mr Pugh said: “We're all committed to the Kelly reforms and I strongly suspect that Sir Christopher will recommend against the future employment of family members. “That will be a tough dilemma for many MPs but not for us, as Annette was always intending to retire when she get to pensionable age before the next election. “The charms of little grandchildren in Southport significantly outweigh shuttling down to London each week, working hard for low wages and coping in the current political atmosphere. “If elected I will have to find an adequate replacement and have to pay them significantly more than the below rate salary I pay her. “The sad thing is that most normal people I talk to can see benefits of MPs and qualified and able spouses working together rather than spending their lives in different worlds at either end of the country.” By Natasha Robson     24/06/2009 10:35:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7606 Athletics The Northern Senior and Junior Championships at Sport City, Manchester saw no fewer that 3 LPS members reach the final of the U20 400m. Harry Doran secured the silver medal in a brilliant personal best time of 48.15 with Danny Higham(4th in 49.40) and Wayne Ashall(6th in 50.37). Also in the U20 1500m David Forrester was a somewhat disappointed 7th in 4.08.27 after running a highly promising heat time of 4.02.07. Other U20 finalists were Rhea Ellis(9th 1500m in 4.52.20) and Chris Hesketh(9th 1500m Steeplechase in 6.30.97). Also present were Harry Boyd(1500m in 4.18.23) and senior Adam Clansey(1500m in 4.20.79). The club`s Young Athletes were at Litherland for the fourth match of the Northern Premier League. This is a competition heavily weighted to numerically strong clubs who can cover the multiplicity of events. It was not surprising, therefore, that the Liverpool Pembroke Sefton more slim-line squad struggled against the might of Blackpool and Chesterfield finishing third and teetering on the edge of overall relegation. Nevertheless, there were some stunning individual performances with the club`s class sprinters Adam Thomson(first U17 400m in 51.10) and rising star, Andrew Williams(first U15 400m in 53.50).Not to be outshone the girls produced a Grade 1 performer in the shape of Amelia McLaughlin(first U13 High Jump with 1.42m). There were some interesting `double acts' as in the U17s where Mike Bride and Ed Rimmer took the 1500m with 4.19.4 and 4.46.0 respectively. The 3000m pair of Jai-Vernon McGuigan(9.31.7) and Toby Loveridge(10.08.1), 1500m Steeplechasers, Sean Kirkbride(5.05.7) and Adam Goldfarb(5.08.4) and Hammer Throwers Mike Carmona-Jones(43.24m) and Tom Johnson(36.69m) did likewise. Other individual winners included Kevin Carmona-Jones (Discus 26.62m) and Billy Williams (High Jump 1.75m). At U15 Andrew Williams added the 100m(12.10) to his 400m win and Danny Holloran took the Discus with 27.03m. Brett Adamson`s 200m victory in 24.70 also attracted some attention. At U13 there is yet another emerging sprint talent, Alex Higham, who took both the 100m(13.70) and 200m(28.60). Equally successful team mates were Ben Haines(Shot 7.51m) and Daniel McComb(High Jump 1.30m). Among the girls U13 Amelia McLaughlin showed she could hurdle as well as jump, taking the 70m race in 12.9 with Holly Moran(14.1) in B winning support. The afternoon concluded with three relay wins the U17 4 x 400m 3.38.30(Mike Stam, Adam Thomson, Jesse Roberts, Stuart Dolman), U15 4 x 100m in 50.30(Joel Hutchinson, Andrew Freeman, Andrew Williams, Brett Adamson) and the same four combining to take the 4 x 400m in 3.57.90 23/06/2009 10:43:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7599 A third Lord Street jewellers has been targeted by thieves in as many months. Officers were called to Diamonds Direct around 12.30pm on Monday June 15 (2009) when three or four men smashed the front door of the shop and internal security screens. Police say it is unclear at this stage if any jewellery was taken. The men then ran out of the shop to a waiting gold BMW estate before driving away in the direction of Shakespeare Street. The car has since been discovered abandoned and burnt out in Railway Street, Birkdale. No staff were present at the time of the incident and no-one was injured. All the offenders were all wearing black clothing and balaclavas. Forensics teams cordoned off the shop and will examine the car.  Officers will also examine CCTV. Merseyside Police recently released CCTV images of men wanted in connection to two other thefts from Lord Street jewellers. One took place at H Samuels on May 6. A man walked in and asked to see a diamond ring which was on display in the window. After looking at that ring, he handed it back before asking to see a second ring. The staff member handed it to him - a 'Forever Yours' diamond ring worth several thousand pounds - and the man left the shop without paying. He is described as white, around 5ft 7ins and of slim build with a shaved head and slight stubble, wearing a white or grey top, blue jeans and white trainers. The second theft happened at Ernest Jones in Lord Street on April 21 and was carried out by a man of a similar description to the offender in the H Samuel theft. A diamond ring worth several hundred pounds was stolen after a man asked staff to remove it from a window display so he could look at it, claiming he was looking to buy a ring for his girlfriend. Southport police are appealing for anyone who recognises the man, or has any other information relating to these incidents to contact them or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. By Natasha Robson   17/06/2009 06:07:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7596 Local postmen are being disciplined and are at risk of losing their jobs for “fairly trivial things,” according to Southport MP John Pugh. The Liberal Democrat has questioned Royal Mail’s actions against postmen who travel from house to house by bicycle without wearing a helmet and said: “I have been shown a frighteningly long list of scores of local postmen who have been disciplined by the Royal Mail for what look like fairly trivial things. “However when I have asked for the numbers of people disciplined from Royal Mail management I have been told that I cannot have it due to the Data Protection Act.” Explaining there are cases of postmen in the town facing the sack for not wearing a helmet the MP, who opposes the proposed part-privatisation of the Royal Mail, added: “The only one at risk is the postman himself but its is not even consistent. Behaviour that is tolerated in one area may be the subject of disciplinary action in Southport. “I understand that in times of change there is friction but the unwillingness of the Royal Mail to provide statistics on the number of disciplinary actions and the reasons for them will back up conspiracy theories, If it’s not about replacing full time staff with casual labour and reducing the huge pension bill, there's really no good reason not to be open.” A Royal Mail spokesperson told Champnews.com: “We do not discuss individual personnel issues. However, Royal Mail takes the safety of its employees very seriously which is why it is mandatory for all Royal Mail staff who use a bike to wear personal protective equipment, including cycle helmets.” A spokesperson for the communications union, CWU, which represents postal workers, said: “We can’t comment on any individual cases but we have found that Royal Mail are often not willing to apply mitigating circumstances in disciplinary hearings, and we believe that full time duties must be maintained under any use of conduct codes or disciplinary hearings. To reduce full-time to part-time work is completely unacceptable.” By Natasha Young   17/06/2009 05:51:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7595 Athletics After an opening European mini-tour starting in Montreuil-sous-Bois, Paris, where Michael Rimmer recorded 1.47.04 in third place, he was off to the Golden League match in Berlin where he stepped up both his time 1.46.31 and position, second. He and his coach, Norman Pooler, will be mightly pleased with such an auspicious start to the season that could well end up again in Berlin for the World Championships. County Schools Championships Club members, all representing Sefton, were very much in evidence at the County Schools Championships. There was a good turn out in The Merseysides at the Oval, Bromborough where Senior Dean Matthews achieved what he has threatened all season leaping to a 13m triple jump victory. His 13.44m was so convincing his sights immediately turned to 14m. At Inter level Adam Thomson again showed his 400m class with a 50.4 win paralleled in the Junior 400m by Andy Williams with 53.9. Perhaps the afternoon`s most interesting result came in the Junior 200m where the club`s new acquisition from Australia Brett Adamson won in 24.3 to add to a third placed 100m(12.3). Other prominently placed athletes from the Senior ranks included Dave Forrester(2nd 800m in 1.57.7), Chris Hesketh(third 800m in 1.58.8 and Sean Dignam(fourth 800m with 2.02.5). Harry Boyd took the 1,500m(4.12.1), Simon Birch (double first Shot 9.09m High Jump 1.60m) and Rhea Ellis(second 1,500m 4.54.5). The Inters also provided winners at High Jump(Billy Williams 1.85m), Discus(Mike Carmona-Jones 35.41m), Hammer(Tom Johnson 37.03m) with second placers, Toby Loveridge (1,500m 4.10.5) and Olivia Fell(Triple Jump 9.96m). A third slot went to Mike Bride(1,500m 4.13.6). Junior success came from long jumper Emily Canning(4.14m). Year 7 provided Amelia McLoughlin(second 75m Hurdles 12.6 and first High Jump 1.45m) with Ben Haines similarly successful at the High Jump with 1.25m. The Lancashire championships at Blackpool witnessed a very spirited run from Junior Alistair Nelson who chopped a huge seven seconds off his personal best in the 1,500m to race away from the opposition in 4.24.9. Sprinters were also prominent with 200m winners in the shape of Stuart Dolman in 23.3 and Joel Hutchinson with 24.5. Inter Annie McLaughlin was second with 27.0. Also in this age group Sean Kirkbride and Adam Goldfarb were on their own in the Steeplechase with 5.15.4 and 5.17.2 respectively. National Junior League(Merseyside) In a crowded weekend the Junior League match at Wigan was a sufferer in terms of attendance. A fairly routine encounter was enlivened by some unexpected hurdling from Chris Hesketh(400m in 59.60), Billy Williams first in the High Jump with 1.85m, still teetering on 1.90m, double victors Nathan Hilton(52.10) and Wayne Ashall(51.80) at 400m and Tom Hanlon(2.01.40) and Sean Dignam(2.04.40) at 800m. The men`s sprint relay quartets mopped up as usual. With only three women enthusiasts Toria Swift, Nicole Garner, Grace Stewart available the club expected a hammering but were pleasantly surprised to finish fifth out of eight teams..A full strength squad could easily capture third spot. Kirsty cruises on There are not enough superlatives in the book to describe Kirsty Longley. She took the long trip to Watford to compete in the BMC meeting and came away with a personal best in the 1,500m of 4.41.63. A fantastic example of commitment. 16/06/2009 11:29:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7587 The home of a Southport businessman was targeted by gunfire for the second time at the weekend. Merseyside Police officers were called to John Ball’s Selworthy Road house in Birkdale at around 11.40pm on Saturday (June 6), following reports of shots being fired. No one was injured in the incident, which took place in one of the borough’s most affluent areas. The house is close to the prestigious Royal Birkdale golf club and the homes of former Liverpool FC stars Alan Hansen and Kenny Dalglish. Worried residents told The Champion: "People around here are very worried about what's been happening in this area recently." Detectives believe the incident was a targeted attack, although a police statement said it was too early to say if the shooting is linked to other recent incidents in Sefton. Throughout this year a string of properties linked to Mr Ball and local businessman Terry Riley, who owns Formby’s Shorrocks Hill Country Club, have been at the centre of shootings and suspected arson attacks. Crime scene investigators have carried out forensic examinations following Saturday night’s attack, and house-to-house enquiries have been conducted. High visibility patrols have been stepped up in the area to provide reassurance to the public. Police are urging anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information relating to it to call the gun crime hotline on 0800 458 1211, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. By Natasha Young 10/06/2009 08:22:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7586 Sefton Council has released its list of elected members’ expense claims for 2008-2009. Each of the 66 councillors (three per ward) receives a basic allowance of £8,850, plus a special responsibility allowance if they hold a position within the council. They may also claim expenses for public transport, subsistence and car mileage. The most expensive member is St Oswald Cllr Peter Dowd, claiming £32,183, including a £22,125 for being Labour Group Leader and more than £800 for public transport. In the Southport, Formby and Maghull areas, the most expensive councillor was Molyneux Cllr Tony Robertson, whose £32,013 claim included almost £23,000 special allowance for being Liberal Democrat Group Leader and Leader of the Council. Dukes ward Labour Cllr Les Byrom claimed the most in the area for public transport - £328.50 - which he says was for a number of trips to London for Local Government Association meetings. “I am members of two LGA committees and that means going down to London,” he said. Birkdale Liberal Democrat Cllr Iain Brodie-Browne claimed the most for subsistence in this area - £386. He told Champnews.com this was for one LGA conference he attended, representing the whole of Sefton. “That is the only subsistence claim I have had and I do not claim for lots of other things which I am entitled to claim for." He also received a special allowance of £15,327 for being a cabinet member. Claiming the most of the whole council for car mileage was Kew Liberal Democrat Cllr Fred Weavers.  His £276 claim was more than £100 more than any other councillor. Cllr Weavers also received a £464 special allowance, of which he says he has “no idea” what it is for. But he says he is “good value for money”, having an overall claim of £10,026, and having secured millions in funding for the council. The least expensive councillor in Sefton is Lib Dem Cllr John Gibson of Manor ward, claiming less than the basic allowance at £7,922.19. "I pay for things out of my own pocket and don't see why the taxpayer should pay for things such as a teapot, which Crosby MP Claire Curtis-Thomas claimed for," he said. By Natasha Robson What your councillor claims Martyn Barber (Con, Manor), BA £8,850, SRA £463.91, T £9,313.91. Mark Bigley (Con, Ainsdale), BA £8,850, SRA (spokesperson) £4,425, T £13,275. Andrew Blackburn (Lib Dem, Park), BA £8,850, SRA £140, T £8,990. Mike Booth (Lib Dem, Kew), BA £8,850, T £8,850. Iain Brodie-Browne (Lib Dem, Birkdale), BA £8,850, SRA (cabinet member) £15,327.32, PT £321.91, S £385.88, T £24,885.11. James Byrne (Lib Dem, Park), BA £8,850, SRA £87.50, T £8,937.50. Les Byrom (Lab, Dukes), BA £8,850, PT £328.50, S £139.15, CM £8.82, T £9,326.47. Jack Colbert (Lib Dem, Molyneux), BA £8,850, T £8,850. Roy Connell (Lib Dem, Sudell), BA £8,850, SRA (spokesperson) £4,565, T £13,415. Gill Cuthbertson (Con, Harington), BA £8,850, SRA £297.50, T £9,147.50. John Dodd (Lib Dem, Meols), BA £8,850, CM £1.67, T £8,851.67. Alf Doran (Con, Harington), BA £8,850, SRA (Deputy Mayor and spokesperson) £8,850, CM £24.55, T £17,724.55. Maureen Fearn (Lib Dem, Kew), BA £8,850, SRA (spokesperson) £4,495, S £250, T £13,595. Ronnie Fearn (Lib Dem, Norwood), BA £8,850, SRA (cabinet member) £15,327.32, T £24,177.32. Robbie Fenton (Lib Dem, Park), BA £8,850, T £8,850. John Gibson (Lib Dem, Manor), BA £7,922.19, T £7,922.19. Tom Glover (Con, Cambridge), BA £8,850, SRA (spokesperson) £4,477.50, PT £8.20, CM £35.22, T £13,370.92. Barry Griffiths (Con, Ravenmeols), BA £8,850, SRA (licensing committee chair) £9,007.50, T £17,857.50. Richard Hands (Lib Dem, Birkdale), BA £8,850, SRA (scrutiny and review chair) £3,612.75, T £12,462.75. Geoff Howe (Lib Dem, Molyneux), BA £8,850, T £8,850. Anne Ibbs (Con, Ravenmeols), BA £8,850, SRA (spokesperson) £4,460, T £13,310. Debi Jones (Con, Manor), BA £8,850, SRA (spokesperson) £4,425, S £250, T £13,525. Terry Jones (Con, Ainsdale), BA £8,850, SRA (spokesperson) £3,995.85, T £12,845.85. Cliff Mainey (Lib Dem, Sudell), BA £8,850, T £8,850. Sylvia Mainey (Lib Dem, Sudell), BA £8,850, T £8,850. Sue McGuire (Lib Dem, Cambridge), BA £8,850, SRA (spokesperson) £4,425, T £13,275. David Pearson (Con, Dukes), BA £8,850, SRA £17.50, T £8,867.50. Vin Platt (Con, Ravenmeols), BA £8,850, SRA (cabinet member) £17,700, T£26,550. Brenda Porter (Con, Ainsdale), BA £8,850, SRA (cabinet member) £17,700, T £26,550. Carmel Preston (Lib Dem, Cambridge), BA £8,850, SRA (spokesperson), £4,135.85, T £12,985.85. Brian Rimmer (Lib Dem, Norwood), BA £8,850, SRA £463.91, T £9,313.91. David Rimmer (Lib Dem, Meols), BA £8,850, SRA (spokesperson) £4,512.50, T £13,362.50. Tony Robertson (Lib Dem, Molyneux), BA £8,850, SRA (Lib Dem Group Leader, Council Leader) £22,992.92, PT £9.60, CM £160.26, T £32,012.78. Simon Shaw (Lib Dem, Birkdale), BA £8,850, SRA £463.91, PT £184.15, S £29.84, CM £38.94, T £9,566.84. Eric Storey (Con, Harington), BA £8,850, SRA (spokesperson) £4,512.50, T £13,362.50. David Sumner (Lib Dem, Norwood), BA £8,850, SRA £175, CM £18.81, T £9,043.81. David Tattersall (Lib Dem, Meols), BA £8,850, SRA (cabinet member) £15,327.32, T £24,177.32. Sir Ron Watson (Con, Dukes), BA £8,850, T £8,850. Fred Weavers (Lib Dem, Kew), BA £8,850, SRA £463.91, PT £137.43, S £298.64, CM £275.89, T £10,025.87. KEY BA Basic Allowance, SRA Special Responsibility Allowance, PT Public Transport, S Subsistence, CM Car Mileage, T Total.     10/06/2009 08:16:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7585 A Beatles and pop music memorabilia valuation day will be held at the Royal Clifton Hotel, The Promenade, Southport, on Sunday June 21 (2009) from 10.30am to 4.30pm. The Beatles played 26 concerts in Southport between 1961 and 1963, which means lots of memorabilia could still remain in the area, items such as autographs, photographs, concert related items and much more. Beatles memorabilia has risen in price significantly over the last five years, particularly signatures, concert posters, some novelty items and certain albums. A Beatles concert poster from Southport in decent condition could now bring £4,000 to £6,000. Valuation company Tracks is inviting the public to bring along any pop music memorabilia (concert posters, flyers, programs, tickets, signatures, magazines, personal possessions, negatives, lyrics etc) for a free valuation. They will be purchasing selected items on the day. For more details call Jason at Tracks on 01257 269726. By Natasha Robson   10/06/2009 08:00:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7584 Athletics It was a somewhat miserable day at Litherland for the Northern Senior Track and Field Match (Division 2W). The poor weather reflected the Liverpool Pembroke Sefton overall performance as the club slumped to fifth place mainly due to a poor turn out. However, there were some bright moments principally that of international, Phil Taylor, taking both the 100m(11.6) and 200m(22.4) as part of his season`s preparation. One had to look hard for other individual winners but down in the field events the indefatigable Mark Line racked up useful wins and points for the club in the Discus(34.42m) and Pole Vault(3.00m) and the maturing Dean Matthews was the Triple Jump victor(12.68m). Among the women only Charlotte Christian`s second placed Hammer Throw (37.10m) stood out. Although the afternoon was rounded off pleasantly with predictable relay wins in the 4 x 100m(Danny Higham, Phil Taylor, Nathan Hilton, Ian Milsom) in 44.9 and the same quartet doubling up in the 4 x 400(3.32.5), it was far from one of the club's best days. A more united effort will be required at the next two matches if relegation is not to be stared in the face. 09/06/2009 11:39:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7578 Diversity and all nine of the Britain’s Got Talent finalists will perform alongside George Sampson on the ‘Britain’s Got Talent Live Tour’ 2009! Dance troupe Diversity were voted by the British public as the winners of Britain’s Got Talent 2009 and will now headline the Britain’s Got Talent Live UK Tour, which comes to Liverpool’s Echo Arena on 18 June. They will be joined on tour by all nine other finalists; Susan Boyle, Julian Smith, Shaheen Jafargholi, Aidan Davis, Stavros Flatley, Hollie Steel, Shaun Smith, Flawless and 2 Grand. The arena tour, which will travel across the UK until the end of June, will be hosted for the second year running by ITV2’s Britain’s Got More Talent presenter Stephen Mulhern. Tickets are on sale from the Echo Arena Box Office on 0844 8000 400 / online at www.echoarena.com, priced at £32.50 subject to booking / handling fees.   04/06/2009 07:01:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7576 Strictly Come Dancing newcomers Brian Fortuna & Kristina Rihanoff will perform at Southport Floral Hall accompanied by the Fever Latin American Formation Teams on Sunday June 14 at 7.30pm. If you’ve liked the Strictly series then you’ll love this show.  Jammed packed with sequins and seduction this show feature’s this years Strictly Come Dancing New comer’s all the way from the USA Brian and his partner Kristina as you’ve never seen them before. No longer held back by their clumsy celebrity partners, this show is an opportunity to see just why they’re the professionals.  Whether you like the sizzling energy of the salsa or the romance of the rumba you won’t be disappointed. Tickets are £15 per person, front row tables available at £20 per person, tables seat 10. Early bird discount of £1 per ticket is available. To Book your tickets call the Southport Floral Hall Box Office on 01704 500036. 04/06/2009 06:51:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7575 Every year the Southport Lyric Singers present a Concert in aid of a local charity. This is in addition to their regular support of Queenscourt Hospice for which they raised over £1000 last year. Their chosen charity for the Concert on Friday 5th June is the Children's Liver Disease Foundation, which gives support to families and young people, and funds research. Through its work and determination, children are alive today who would otherwise have died. The granddaughter of one of the Choir has been helped by CLDF and the money raised at the Concert will help families in our area. Three-quarters of CLDF's annual income comes from supporters and members of the public. The Concert will be held at Lord Street West Church Hall, Southport at 7.30pm. A programme of varied and popular music has been chosen and there will be solos, duets and monologues by Choir members. Edna Woodward will conduct the concert and accompanists will be Margaret Prew and Marjorie Jewell with compere, Dorothy H Hughes. Tickets, which include refreshments cost £5 and are available from the Lyrics (01704 227017) or on the door. There will also be a Raffle. 04/06/2009 06:50:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7574 Jon Cleary Southport Arts Centre As part of Southport’s superb International Jazz Festival British blues pianist, singer and composer Jon Cleary delighted his fans with a foot-stomping solo concert on Friday evening. Born in Kent he moved to New Orleans whilst in his teens.  He quickly became a fan of blues, jazz and soul records and has worked with big names such as Bonnie Raitt, D’Angelo, Maria Muldaur, Taj Mahal and Eric Burden. Bonnie Raitt once described him as ‘the ninth wonder of the world’.   This may be going a bit far but there is no doubt that Jon knows his business.   Wearing an oversized grey flannel cap, instead of his more familiar hat, he pounded the ivories with great energy and passion.  His fingers danced over the intricate improvisation and he poured his heart out with the vocals. In Jon’s own words: “The piano is the perfect percussion vehicle with which to interpret Latin and Caribbean music.” I particularly enjoyed Farewell to Storyville a song written about the red light district of New Orleans and The Crave - played as a tribute to the legendary Jelly Roll Morton. Ninety minutes without a break is a tall order.  No wonder he was sweating. But even then his fans would not let him stop.  He re-emerged for a rousing encore of Lipstick Traces dedicated to Snooks Eaglin who died this year. Score: 4/5 – A real treat! Review by Jenny Robson 04/06/2009 06:46:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7573 Around £50,000 a year is being spent on taxis to take mental health staff to and from work after their unit was moved from Southport to Liverpool. Nine staff members are provided with taxis for the 50-mile round trip for early, late and night shifts at the STAR unit for learning disability patients in Mossley Hill, previously located on Park Road West. Their journey time of around an hour each way is included in their number of hours worked per day. A social worker from Southport approached The Champion about the arrangements. “Some eyebrows have been raised,” she said. Barry Owen, Mersey Care NHS Trust’s Service Director, Local Services explained that full consultation with service users, carers, staff and staff side representatives took place in preparation for the £250,000 STAR unit being built. “The transition for the Morley Unit staff to Mossley Hill Hospital resulted in an approximately 50 mile round trip, which by public transport would take over an hour each way,” he said. “The annual cost of the taxi service is £50k, which will be reinvested within the service when the arrangement expires.” The taxi provisions began in October 2008 and will continue until October 2010. After this time, staff will then travel in their own time but will be paid excess mileage as a result of the move. “The provision of taxis is not a legal obligation of the Trust, however continuity of care to our service users is of paramount importance and the provision of taxis significantly decreases travel time for our staff and affects the impact on care provided,” Mr Owen added. The Healthcare Commission visited the Morley Unit in Southport on 3 April 2007 and their report was generally positive about the service, however it was critical of the environment. The Mental Health Act Commission had also been critical of the in-patient environments on previous visits. The new unit opened, that serves Liverpool up to North Sefton, in October 2008 and is a marked improvement, providing an improved therapeutic environment on ground floor accommodation. The unit now complies with guidance on single gender accommodation and all service users have single bedrooms. By Natasha Robson  04/06/2009 06:42:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7572 A West Lancashire councillor has defended claiming more than double any of his other colleagues’ travel and subsistence allowance. Cllr Martin Forshaw, the Conservative cabinet member for planning and transport, claimed £1753.54. The next largest claim, by fellow Tory councillor May Blake, was £834.34. Cllr Forshaw, who represents Hesketh with Becconsall, said the size of his claim was a result of the numerous meetings he attends in his role as a cabinet member. “The claims are for travel expenses submitted monthly in a detailed form to member services,” he said. “I am comfortable with my claim. I think it is appropriate. It is all on council business. “I have special responsibilities for planning and transport and attend meetings in various parts of the country. “For example I travelled to London for a meeting last year in September or October and booked a hotel on my credit card which I claimed back. “I could have booked the hotel through member services and then it becomes a council expense but I find it easier to do it myself.” Cllr Forshaw said that of the £1753.54 only a small sum had been for non-travel expenses. “Of that around £20 to £25 will be for meals but no more,” he said. He added that he has been to meetings in Leeds, Manchester and London as well as Blackpool and Burnley in the last year but said he couldn’t remember precise details of all his trips. The total of all councillor expenses claims for 2008/09 was £7279.52, of which Cllr Forshaw’s made up a significant amount. Last year Cllr Forshaw claimed £710.53 in his role as cabinet member for planning and transport. Other councillors claiming large amounts in travel and subsistence were Tarleton Tory councillor James Kay, who claimed £739.99, and Halsall Tory councillor Doreen Stephenson, who claimed £644.03. By Peter Swift 04/06/2009 06:38:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7571 A consultant psychiatrist has told a jury that he had been unaware of obscene images of children found on his computer.  Dr Malcolm Darley, who worked at a Liverpool mental health unit,  denied being responsible for the indecent images which were discovered on his machine.  He was arrested after a total of 71 pornographic photographs and video clips of children were discovered.  They came to light after being found by a computer repair man Darley had asked to transfer files from his old computer to his new machine. Darley, formerly of Kingswood Park, Southport, today (Wed) told Liverpool Crown Court that he contacted computer expert Mark Owen and asked him to transfer family photographs and some software.  But the court has heard that as Mr Owen transferred the data he discovered obscene images of children among adult pornography on the machine and contacted police.  43-year-old Darley, of Wallings Lane, Silverdale, Carnforth, admitting looking at adult pornography and saving some images, but told the jury that he had no idea what police were talking about when they came to arrest him on April 17, 2007.  He insisted he had only looked at websites which stated all models were over 18 and denied having any sexual interest in children.  When asked how the images could have appeared on his computer, he claimed someone else could have accessed his computer in his "open household".  He said, "I was a single man in a large house, I was very sociable, very gregarious.  “I invited people back, people were welcome to stay, people were welcome to use my computer. I was very open, probably too open.   "I had been travelling, I went to Australia for a  year, people came to stay with me."   He told the court people would often stay for weeks or months at a time and the computer would be left on.   But he told the court he had contacted many of his friends and had no idea who could have looked at the images.    Darley was suspended shortly after his arrest and is also facing a disciplinary investigation by the General Medical Counsel.    He told the court it “would be very difficult” to work again at his unit.    The jury has heard that a file -sharing service was also found on Darley's computer which enabled him share pictures with other users.    Neville Biddle, prosecuting, told the jurors, "When the computer expert looked at what the user of computer had been doing he noticed there were a number of sites called things such as ‘Lolita, Illegal 15-year-old’ and ‘Bambino collection - real child porn’.  “The Crown says this establishes that the user of the computer was knowingly going into child porn sites and downloading the material."  Darley accepts that the images were found on his computer and that they were indecent.  But he denies 11 charges of possessing child pornography between November 2004 and April 2007.  A further 11 charges of making the images were dropped yesterday. The case continues 04/06/2009 06:31:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7569 A former Southport man was found to have obscene images of children on his computer when it was taken to a repair shop, a court has heard. Malcolm Darley called in a computer expert when he needed to transfer files from his old computer to a new machine. The hard drive was taken away to the shop and as well as adult porn the repairman also found was child porn and immediately went to Southport police station. A Liverpool Crown Court jury heard today that when police experts examined the hard drive they found a total of 59 indecent photos and 12 video clips. Darley, 43, formerly of Kingwood Park, Southport, denies 11 charges of downloading indecent images of children and 11 of possessing such images between November 28, 2004 and April 14, 2007. Neville Biddle, prosecuting, claimed that Darley had told the computer expert he called in, Mark Owen, that most of the material in his account on the computer was photographs. When Mr Owen looked at the computer he found a file sharing programme which gives access to pornographic sites. "When he looked at what the user of the computer had been doing he noticed there were a number of sites called things such as, 'Lolita', and 'Illegal 15-year-old - real child porn," alleged Mr Biddle. "The Crown says this establishes that the user of the computer was knowingly going into child porn sites and downloading the material," he added. When interviewed Darley, now of Wallings Lane, Silverdale, Carnforth, said he did not know how the material had got on his computer and said that other people used the machine and may have downloaded it. Dt Con Peter Jones told the court that he interviewed Darley after his arrest three days after the computer was taken to the shop. Mr Owen had found the thumbnail indecent images and had been shocked at photos of naked under 16-year-olds. Darley told him: "I don't know anything about those images. I wasn't aware it was there and I certainly would not have looked at them." He also told the officer that various different friends had access to the computer. The case continues. By Lynda Roughley 03/06/2009 10:59:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7568 Rollerblading pensioner Geoff Dornan has vowed to carry on skating, even if it lands him in prison. After calling off his appeal last week against his conviction for dangerous and annoying skating on Chapel Street, Southport, Geoff says the way forward is to open discussions with Sefton Council. Geoff was found guilty of breaking a bye-law at Southport Magistrates Court in February and must pay a £300 fine and costs to Sefton Council of almost £1,800. “I am going back to say 'OK, this has happened, I am not very impressed, but the law still remains the same so we are back at square one',” Geoff, 71, said. “I want them to tell me how I skate in such a way to fulfil the law.  They are hoping I will just go away, but I won’t. “I will respectfully ask for directions, but if they won’t talk to me I will carry on skating, but next time they fine me I won’t pay so I will go to jail.” Geoff says his solicitor has written to Sefton Council to ask for a discussion. He contends that the bye-law, stating that people must not skate “in such manner as to cause danger or give reasonable grounds to annoyance to other persons using the footway”, is ambiguous and a matter of personal interpretation. A spokesman for Sefton Council said: "If we receive any correspondence from Mr Dornan's solicitors, we will respond in the appropriate way." Geoff, of Normanhurst, Ormskirk, says he still enjoys skating around Ormskirk, Southport and Liverpool. He says he has the full support of the British Roller Skating Federation and recently passed their grade four proficiency test - the highest level - on his first attempt. By Natasha Robson 03/06/2009 10:36:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7567 Police are appealing for witnesses after an 18-year-old woman was raped on Southport Promenade. The victim met her attacker in Starsky’s bar, West Street, and walked with him to a shelter by the Marine Lake, where he became aggressive and raped her. She struggled free and punched him in the face before running away. She met the man in the early hours of Sunday, April 26 2009, and they walked to the lower Promenade between 1.45am and 2.30am. They sat talking in the shelter, but when the woman tried to leave the offender became angry, pushed her back into a seat and attacked her. The man is described as white, in his mid-20s, at least 6ft tall, of muscular build with short dark spiky hair. He was wearing jeans and a short-sleeved white top. Detectives are keen to talk to a man who found the victim on the Promenade. He is described as white, in his mid-30s to 40s, of average height and large build with a bald head and round face. He was walking his dog and wearing black trousers, a shirt and a black zipped-up jacket. He had a local accent. Detectives also want to trace another man who was seen at the lake around the time of the offence. He is described as white, in his mid-30s and was looking for a Staffordshire bull terrier-type dog. Neither of the men detectives would like to talk to are suspects but they may have important information that could help the investigation. Detective Inspector Dave Rooney said: "I would like to reassure local people that this kind of assault is thankfully quite rare and we are determined to bring the offender to justice as soon as possible. "However, I would like to remind women to take care when they go out at night and to avoid walking through isolated or unlit areas on their own. Always walk home in pairs or in a group and avoid being on your own at night." Anyone with any information is urged to call police on 0151 777 3165 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. By Natasha Robson 03/06/2009 10:25:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7565 Athletics Kirsty Longley is having a dream season and a fantastic run of success. In the unusual Tunnel 10K she took complete control of the women`s race and coasted home comfortably in 37.49. She now rates as possibly the most feared competitor on the district.  Her Liverpool Pembroke Sefton colleague Lisa Gawthorn was 11th female in 44.54 while John Bebbington took second in the Over 60 event with a respectable 44.26. Another class sprinter emerges from the LPS 400m stable It was a glorious day at Wavertree as LPS hosted the third of the Northern Premier Young Athletes matches. As expected Liverpool Harriers dominated but an intriguing battle ensued between the powerful Leeds City and LPS, the latter losing out eventually but not without a dogged fight. There were numerous individual performances to relish but none more so than that of Under 15 Andrew Williams in his first season and turning in a grade 1 performance at 400m in 54.30, to add to a useful 200m win in 24.60. Another class addition to the club`s already very powerful one-lap squad. At Under 17 Adam Thomson continued his good season with a sharp 100m(11.40) second place and 200m win(23.00). Toby Loveridge was untroubled in taking the 1,500m(4.16.1) and other victors in this age group included Mike Carmona-Jones(Hammer 41.44m), Drew Atherrton(Javelin 39.93m) and Billy Williams(1.85m), the elusive 1.90m just escaping him once more. At U15 Alistair Nelson was well clear in the 1,500m in a good 4.31.8. The only winner at U13 was Ben Haines with a Shot Putt of 7.66m. Winners were in short supply among the girls but there were excellent graded performances from U17 Jessica Broady 2nd in both Discus (24.10m) and Hammer(30.24m). U15 Twanda Lungu ran third twice but with excellent times in the 100m(13.2) and 200m(27.6). Buried in the U13 results Amelia McLaughlin leapt 1.40m in the High Jump for a top grade performance. The afternoon finished with the usual strong showing of the host club in the relays with U17 wins at 4 x 100m(47.10) and 4 x 400m from Adam Thomson, Mike Stam, Jesse Roberts, and Stuart Dolman. Emma Givens, Annie McLoughlin, Sarah More and Aimee Hall were likewise successful in the 4 x 100m(52.60). 02/06/2009 10:45:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7558 Town centre roadworks will cause minimal disruption to traffic, bosses have promised. The work to replace “unreliable” water pipes on Eastbank Street, due to start on Friday May 29 2009 will be phased to have the least impact on traffic, say water company United Utilities (UU). Engineers will be working in the lay-by of the street, leaving enough room for vehicles to pass through.  United Utilities' Christian Ewen said: "This is a vital project to replace old and unreliable water pipes - some of which are more than 100 years old. "The upgrade will reduce the risk of bursts and deliver a better water supply for local businesses. "We are working closely with local traders to keep disruption to a minimum. "Eastbank Street will be kept open at all times and we will be phasing the excavations we need to make in the road to limit traffic impact. "Pedestrian access will be unaffected as we are not digging on the pavements. "We have already had a constructive meeting with local businesses and will be keeping traders informed throughout the process. "Although there is never an ideal time to dig up the road it is essential that this work happens now to prevent future bursts, which can be hugely disruptive to businesses in the area. "Our work on Eastbank Street is expected to be completed by July." MP John Pugh was concerned shops could be affected and had asked for the works, that could last up to eight weeks, to be delayed until the recession improved. But UU says the work is “vital” and that a “constructive” meeting with local traders has reassured them problems will be minimal. Mr Pugh added: “It remains the case that major road works disrupt traffic flows. Given the importance of Eastbank Street as a main thoroughfare, this runs the risk of putting people off travelling into the town centre.” By Natasha Robson 28/05/2009 06:52:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7557 Barclays Bank in Formby has agreed to match the £750 raised at a recent Help For Heroes charity night. James Hilton and Alistair Cribb organised the fancy dress event at Southport pub The Falstaff, alongside the pub’s landlord Adrian Davies. The duo are also currently cycling from Portsmouth to Paris in aid of the charity, which supports wounded servicemen and women. The organisers would like to thank Val at Party Party for providing fancy dress costumes at the event. By Natasha Young 28/05/2009 06:47:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7556 The Too Friendly Theatre Company’s next production, It’s Now or Never, runs at Southport’s Little Theatre from June 11 to 13. The story follows an Elvis Presley fanatic, Tom Weals, and his fiancee, Alice, as they arrive in Spain in preparation for their long awaited wedding. Keith Clark, a fellow Elvis fanatic, has offered them the use of his villa outside Marbella while he is in London, but their arrival is predated by a sighting by Keith of Elvis Presley, alive and well and gardening in a nearby villa. Unbeknownst to Alice, who is not much of an Elvis fan, Keith talks Tom into helping him kidnap Elvis and sell the story to the British tabloid press. However, things don’t go according to plan. John Windsor, who plays one of the would be kidnappers, says: “The script is brilliant. It’s extremely funny but the hardest parts for me will be trying to keep a straight face and having to keep up with the furious pace. It’s one of the funniest and most ridiculous plays I’ve read and I can’t wait for audiences to get to see it.” You can book your tickets, priced £7.50, in advance by calling 01704 560229 and you can visit the companies website at www.toofriendlytheatre.com for more information.   28/05/2009 06:42:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7555 An evening of Bob Dylan and the Poetry of the Blues takes place at Southport Arts Centre tomorrow (Thursday June 4) at 7.30pm. Writer Michael Gray, the author of The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia and Song & Dance Man III: The Art Of Bob Dylan, will present this look at how Dylan was inspired by the blues. Using great records and rare footage to illuminate his talk, Michael shows how hugely Dylan has been inspired by the blues and how much of its poetry has been smuggled inside his own. John Sprackland, Performing Arts Programme Manager at Southport Arts Centre, said: "Dylan remains one of this era’s greatest artists and Michael Gray is one of the world’s leading authorities on the work of Bob Dylan. His book was selected by the then Poet Laureate Andrew Motion as one of his books of the year but this isn’t a purely academic occasion - anyone who loves music, and songwriting in particular, will find this a very enjoyable evening.” Tickets are £10 or £8 for concessions, available by calling Southport Arts Centre box office on 01704 540011 or by logging onto www.seftonarts.co.uk 28/05/2009 06:38:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7554 Maghull Musical Theatre Company The Pajama Game The Little Theatre, Southport Wednesday June 3 to Saturday June 6 This bright, brassy and jubilantly sassy show has a fresh and winning grin on its face! The best natured musical you may ever see, it is young and funny, earthy and fast. If the hassle between pajama makers and the factory Boss sounds unlikely material for a musical comedy, guess again! It is based on the novel Seven & A Half Cents by Richard Bissell. Script by George Abbott & Richard Bissell, lyrics and music by Jerry Ross & Richard Adler. First performed in 1954, revived in 1973 and the latest Broadway revival in 2006 won a Tony Award. This musical is noted for starting the career of Shirley McLaine. It includes songs made famous by Doris Day, the late Edmund Hockeridge and more recently by Harry Connick Jnr, including Hey There, Once a Year Day, I'm Not at all in Love, Hernando's Hideaway and The Pajama Game. These songs will be sung by the Company in the Wayfarers Arcade (Lord Street) on Saturday 30th May from 4.15 p.m. onwards. Tickets for the production are available from Dave & Elaine on 0151 5473025 and from The Little Theatre Box Office on 01704 530521 (11.00 am to 5.00 pm). 28/05/2009 06:31:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7553 Howard Marks, described by the Daily Mail as “the most sophisticated drugs baron of all time”, is coming to the Vincent Hotel in Southport on Sunday (May 31 2009), for an exclusive and unmissable live Q and A.   Part of the Vincent Hotel’s spend the night with series of events, Marks promises to deliver an intoxicating insight into his adventurous life as a renowned international marijuana smuggler and talk about the film due to be released next year, in which he will be played by actor Rhys Ifans.   Columnist, comedian, campaigner; there is no-one quite like Howard Marks or “Mr Nice” as he was known by his clients. Unlike his one-man show however, the event at the Vincent Hotel will include a live Q and A, giving the audience a rare opportunity to ask one of the world’s most colourful characters anything they like.  When asked what we can expect, Marks commented: “I’m sure the crowd will enjoy what I have to offer them”   The event takes place at 7.30pm. Tickets are £20 and available by calling the Vincent Hotel on 01704 883800 or emailing sales&events@thevincenthotel.com 27/05/2009 08:13:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7552 A cage fighter from Ainsdale, who was the ringleader of an international drugs gang, has been jailed for 18 years. Paul Wilson, 37, of Liverpool Road, admitted conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs and was sentenced last week at Liverpool Crown Court. The gang, who arranged for cocaine and amphetamine to be smuggled from Europe, were watched by police for 18 months before their arrests last year (2008). Six other gang members were also sentenced, including Gary Kelly, 48, of Liverpool Road, Formby, who was jailed for six-and-a-half years for conspiracy to supply class A drugs and Wilson’s sister Jane, 35, from Everton, who was given a year-long community order for the same offence. Paul Wilson is already serving an 11-and-a-half-year jail sentence, dealt him in August last year at Manchester Crown Court, for his part in a nationwide gun-running gang. Greater Manchester Police's Armed Crime Unit seized 56 of the guns from across the country, that had been packaged into 'assassin's kits'. He was arrested after police raided his home in January and in May admitted conspiracy to possess firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life. By Natasha Robson   27/05/2009 07:55:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7551 Rollerblade pensioner Geoff Dornan will appear in Crown Court on Friday (May 22, 2009) to appeal his conviction for dangerous skating. Southport magistrates found Geoff, 71, guilty in February after a trial in which he denied breaking a Sefton Council bye-law skating in a dangerous or annoying manner on the pedestrianised Chapel Street, Southport, last October. If he loses his appeal, Geoff, of Normanhurst, Ormskirk, says his fight with the council could cost him more than £10,000 in legal fees. “I had saved some money to improve my house, so if I spend all the money I have I can keep myself out of debt,” Geoff said. After his trial magistrates ordered Geoff to pay a £300 fine and costs to Sefton Council of almost £1,800, but these have been suspended after the appeal notice was lodged. He says he will not be taking anything for granted on Friday. Geoff is still keen to promote the health benefits of rollerblading.  He took up the pastime seven years ago after his daughter suggested he lose weight, and says keeping fit is now a temptation rather than a chore. He says his skating is safe and that he always gives pedestrians “100% right of way”. After his trial earlier this year, Mr Dornan found himself at the centre of a media circus, appearing on GMTV, News at 10, Jeremy Vine's BBC Radio Two show, BBC Radio Four as well as national and local newspapers. By Natasha Robson   27/05/2009 07:48:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7550 Southport residents are asked to keep an eye out for a runaway parrot. Pat, a green-winged macaw, flew off from his Albert Road home on Thursday evening (May 21, 2009). Pat went missing last October and was found on a washing line in Churchtown.  Worried owner Michael Mullen says Pat will be getting hungry. “He flew off over the Imperial Pub but he could be absolutely anywhere by now,” Michael said. “He’s probably sitting at the top of a tree somewhere, swaying in the breeze.  The rain has stayed off so far but that would have brought him down, he doesn’t like rain. “If anyone spots him they should maybe try and feed him.  He will eat anything, especially now as he will be very hungry.” Three-year-old Pat is red with blue and green on his wings and is around three feet long. Anyone who sees Pat should call Michael on 07814 696524. By Natasha Robson 27/05/2009 07:09:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7549 A Sefton councillor has abandoned his safe Labour seat and defected to the Liberal Democrat party. Bootle Derby Ward Cllr Paul Larkin, who previously worked as Crosby MP Claire Curtis-Thomas’s agent, made the decision claiming Labour “continued to let the people down.” The move now gives Lib Dems “a foothold in every part of Sefton,” according to the party’s regional chair in the North West, Cllr Sue McGuire.    Cllr Larkin said: “As a life long Labour supporter and a cllr since 2004, I would like to thank the community for their support, and would ask them to understand that I have not taken this decision lightly. “Having been the agent for the MP for Crosby in 2005, I worked tirelessly for a Labour victory, yet unfortunately they continued to let the people down. Moreover the arrogance of the national Labour party and lack of concern for the ordinary working class family, like their local Labour counterparts, have led me to join the Liberal Democrats a party that I know listens to the local people. “I believe more and more people will realise that the Liberal Democrats are the best choice for disillusioned Labour supporters.” Sefton Council leader and Lib Dem cllr Tony Robertson welcomed Cllr Larkin into the party and said: “I am pleased that he feels the Liberal Democrats are the best party to get things done and the best opposition to Labour." Meanwhile the borough’s Labour leader, Cllr Peter Dowd said: “If Cllr Larkin wants to join a Party that has closed schools across Sefton, shut down community centres and has closed and is demolishing a sports centre in his own patch of Derby ward, then they are welcome to him.  If Cllr Larkin wants to help the Liberal Democrats to do even more dirty work, particularly in the poorer parts of Sefton, then that is a matter for his conscience.  Quite frankly, I think it was a question of him jumping before he was pushed.” Last summer Southport Tory Cllr Les Byrom switched to the Labour party over policy issues.  By Natasha Young 27/05/2009 07:00:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7540 Merseyside Police has arrested a 41-year-old man, in connection with a series of attacks against Southport and Formby businessmen. Over recent months properties linked to John Ball and Shorrocks Hill owner terry Rileyhave been targeted by shootings and suspected arson attacks. The Litherland man was arrested today (Thursday May 21) on conspiracy to commit arson and possession of a firearm, following the execution of a warrant. Officers also recovered a handgun, silencer and three magazines. Police are following up a number of positive lines of enquiry and investigations are ongoing. The man has been taken to a Merseyside police station to be interviewed by detectives. Anyone who has any information about this incident is asked to call the Guncrime Hotline 0800 458 1211 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. By Natasha Young 21/05/2009 10:01:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7539 Preparations are hotting up for Southport's major new televised sporting event next month. The Tour Series cycling race will see the resort showcased on ITV4 as elite riders race along Lord Street on Thursday, June 11. Thousands of spectators are expected to line the streets for the evening event with many more tuning in for the TV race highlights the following night (Friday, June 12.) The Tour Series has evolved from the popular Tour of Britain cycling race. The new all-action event will see teams of professional riders racing for one hour in 10 towns and cities throughout the UK. It is hoped the Southport Tour Series will become an annual fixture, and an established part of the Southport's busy events diary. To support the main race, there will also be an afternoon of cycling activities, junior races, and other family attractions. Cllr John Fairclough, Sefton Council's Cabinet Member for Technical Services, said: "This race should be a massive coup for Southport and our Cycling Town project team has worked very hard to ensure it comes off. "As well as the race highlights, the TV coverage will also focus on Southport as a visitor and shopping destination and we have been working behind the scenes to promote the resort and ensure it is reflected in the best possible light. "We are sure the people of Sefton will really support this exciting event - and I am looking forward to seeing Southport on ITV4 the following night."   Dave Marrin, Sefton's Cycling Town project manager, said: "We have been working with the event organisers on a range of issues such as road closures, camera positions, sponsorship, safety barriers and hospitality facilities. "While this is a new event, we have been able to draw on our recent experiences with the Open golf championship, the Grand National, and Southport's other major events. "All in all, it promises to be a great afternoon and evening on Thursday, June 11." 21/05/2009 09:55:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7538 The Botanic Gardens could be without its famous boats and train for more than two years. Sefton Council said the concessions could not be run this year, because the park's boat house is in urgent need of repair, Botanic Gardens Action Group vice chairman, Cllr John Dodd, said. “A lot of people have been asking when the boats are coming back and the worry is that people will forget about them and start visiting other parks away from Sefton,” Cllr Dodd said. “There doesn’t need to be a boathouse to have boats - there could be a temporary kiosk or a man with a pouch taking money. “I hope to put pressure on Lord Fearn, cabinet member for Leisure and Tourism, and Sefton’s Leisure director to see if something temporary could be put in, but we are virtually in summer now.” Chairman of the Action Group, Ken Bridge, said: “Botanic Gardens without the boats and the train is like the town centre without the shops.  “The repairs cost is not likely to go into the council’s budget until next April at the earliest and then there would be the wait whilst the repairs are carried out.” The boathouse should have been maintained before it became irreparable, he added. Sefton Council removed several sunken boats from the park’s lake last month. A spokesman for Sefton Council said: "There are plenty of free activities for the whole family available in the award winning Botanic Gardens. "Unfortunately we had to make the decision to not operate the boating and train concession this year as the service is not viable. "We are currently planning a consultation exercise involving park users and the Botanic Gardens Action Group to see exactly what facilities people would like in the popular park. We are hoping to move this engagement process forward in the coming months." By Natasha Robson 21/05/2009 09:51:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7537 Open auditions are to be held at the Liverpool Empire Theatre on 29th May to find a new Young Helen Forrester, one of the starring roles in the hit musical play Twopence to Cross the Mersey, which returns to the Empire later this year for a two week run. The role, previously played by Jamie Clarke, is central in Helen Forrester's true story of how she and her formerly wealthy family had to leave behind the nannies and servants and survive in the slums of  Liverpool during the depression of the 1930s. Writer and producer of the show Rob Fennah said: "The last time we held open auditions in 2004, Jamie, a relatively inexperienced actress at the time, beat hundreds of other hopefuls and clinched a part with her fantastic singing and acting abilities. As a direct result of her appearing in Twopence she was spotted by a leading West End agent and was signed up immediately." Co-producer Alan Fennah added: "Finding home grown talent is important to us and, providing they can sing and act to a high standard, everyone who comes to the audition is in with a chance. We are also delighted to announce that the show will again be starring actress Pauline Daniels in the role of Helen Forrester Senior." Pauline, whose theatre credits include Misery, Shirley Valentine and Breezeblock Park said: "I have always been a fan of Twopence to Cross the Mersey and am so thrilled to be coming back. I am confident it will be the best production to date." Returning also is Mark Moraghan, formerly of Holby City. Together with his numerous TV and theatre credits, Mark is making a name for himself as a singer and is about to release his first album. He's not a bad cook either, making it to the final of last year's Celebrity Masterchef. Mark will play the role of Helen's father, John Forrester. Auditions take place on Friday May 29 at the Empire Theatre's Atrium bar (please queue at the main glass doors of the new part of the building at the side of the theatre). Auditions will begin at 10am. Auditionees must be aged between 16 and 21. For more information about the auditions please see www.pulse-records.co.uk or www.LiverpoolEmpire.org.uk For more information on Twopence to Cross the Mersey please contact Rob Fennah on 0151 649 0427 or info@pulse-records.co.uk 21/05/2009 09:38:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7536 Rising folk star Jackie Oates will play at the Bothy Folk song Club, Park Golf Club, Park Road West, Southport, on Sunday June 28 - her only North West gig. Jackie scooped two awards at the 2009 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.  She walked away with the prestigious ‘Horizon’ award along with ‘Best Traditional Track’ for her version of ‘The Lark in the Morning’.  This is in addition to being a previous BBC Young Folk Award finalist in 2003 and having MOJO magazine Top 10 album reviews, numerous festival appearances and tours with the legendary Show of Hands under her belt. The concert starts at 8pm.  For more information or tickets (£7) call 01704 530133.   21/05/2009 09:34:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7535 Eugene Onegin Southport Arts Centre The audience travelled from all corners of the UK, Brussels, Switzerland and Australia to attend Una Voce Opera Company’s prestigious and ambitious version of Tchaikowsky’s dramatic opera.  The special English translation was prepared by Musical Director (Chris Gill) and his wife (international soprano Serenna Wagner). Set in 19th century Russia the story begins with Madam Larina (Pam Ashcroft) in her garden with nursemaid Filipyevna (Jeanette Jarrel) and her daughters Tatyana (Serenna Wagner) and Olga (Isobel Jenkins).  Olga’s fiancé, Lensky (Peter Bates), visits with his friend Eugene Onegin (Luke Thomas expertly playing his first leading role). Shy and innocent Tatyana falls in love with Onegin.  She writes an impassioned letter declaring her feelings in an excellently directed moving scene.  Alas her love is unrequited as Onegin rejects her.  Onegin flirts with Olga in Act 2, aggravating Lensky.  In a drunken rage Lensky challenges him to a duel. Onegin shoots Lensky and flees. Years later he returns to St Petersburg.  Tatyana has married Prince Gremin (Keith Cawdron) who sings a beautifully poignant aria.  Onegin realizes he loves Tatyana pleading with her to run away with him.  His passionate advances are rejected in the final electrifying scene. Other principal parts were adeptly played by Martin Mackarel (Captain Petrovitch), Mark Gairrusso (Zaretsky), Eric Russell (Triquet) and Andrew James (Guillot).  They were backed by a first-rate talented chorus with conductor, Chris Gill, and pianist, Robert Chesters, performing the captivating music. With its range of exquisite voices this was a memorable production and, to quote one of its lines, ‘burning with passion’. Champ verdict: 4.5/5 – a joy! Review by Jenny Robson 21/05/2009 09:33:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7534 TV psychics Colin Fry and TJ Higgs will bring their show, The Best of British Mediumship, to Southport Theatre on Thursday June 4. Colin experienced his first message from beyond the grave at the age of ten and began his work as a medium aged 17. Through his television series 6ixth Sense, and subsequently through theatre appearances in the UK, Ireland and around the world, he forged a particularly close relationship with a wider public. In his live shows he regularly astounds individual audience members with the accuracy and prescience of the messages that he offers from the spirit world. Colin also works with other mediums and is currently touring with TJ Higgs, who appears alongside him in the TV series Psychic Private Eyes together. To book tickets for the show call Ticketmaster on 0844 847 2380, visit www.SouthportTheatre.org.uk or call into the Box Office, open 9.30am-5.30pm, Monday to Saturday. Tickets, priced £19.50, are subject to booking fee. 21/05/2009 09:31:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7533 With over 40,000 tickets already sold for this year’s Liverpool Summer Pops Festival, organisers CMP have today announced further shows across the city, declaring it the biggest and best Pops ever. The month-long music extravaganza takes place across venues in the Liverpool this July, at the Echo Arena, 02 Academy, The Bluecoat and The Philharmonic. The Echo Arena plays host to Pops favourites Deacon Blue on Friday, July 31 and Simply Red bring their greatest hits farewell tour to the Pops on Saturday, July 25. The UK’s most popular pianist and bandleader, Jools Holland, makes a welcome return to the City this summer. Other top acts include legendary singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen, the hottest girl group around the Pussycat Dolls, America R&B superstar Ne-Yo, Latino songstress Gloria Estefan and Irish folk stars The Pogues, all making their Pops debut. The MOBO Award winning hip hop trio N-Dubz are joined by special guests Chipmunk, Stevie Hoang and Liverpool rapper Young Kof. For tickets call 0844 847 1616. 21/05/2009 09:28:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7531 Work has been delayed on Southport‘s minor injuries unit for children while health bosses decide whether the centre should treat adults as well. The news comes as local politicians have said they are angry at the lack of progress. In January (2009) NHS Sefton, who will run the unit for north Sefton residents, said the centre could by open by November this year, but plans have yet to be finalised. Liberal Democrat MP John Pugh says the trust should “get real and get on”. Southport’s Conservative parliamentary candidate, Cllr Brenda Porter, says Southport residents have waited long enough for children’s facilities, since A&E for under 16s was moved to Ormskirk in 2003, and that NHS Sefton should “get their act together”. “Leigh Griffin (NHS Sefton chief executive) has assured me that the commitment is still there, but we need to see some action.  This was a promised service to the people of Southport and Formby, and I have told him that the commitment is not enough now. I am angry that it has not been moved on as promised at the beginning of the year,” she said. The centre could be sited at the Centre for Health and Wellbeing, Hoghton Street, or Southport Hospital. Dr Leigh Griffin, Chief Executive of NHS Sefton, said: “NHS Sefton remains committed to developing a walk in centre in Southport and we are working with Southport and Ormskirk Hospital to progress this. “We want to ensure that any new walk in centre best meets the needs of local people. So, we are now considering if there would be additional benefits in developing a centre for minor injuries and ailments that would treat adults as well as children. “It is important that we get this right, which is why we are taking the time to fully explore this option, and we have discussed this with a number of interested parties, including Cllr Porter and Mr Pugh.” “Providing a dedicated walk in centre for all ages may help to ease the pressure on A&E services during busy times and we are working closely with the hospital to ensure that any option offers best value for money, no matter where it is located.” By Natasha Robson 20/05/2009 06:06:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7530 A 15-year-old girl who has been missing since Saturday May 9 (2009), has been found safe and well in Morecambe following media appeals. Gemma Hammond, who divides her time between Southport and Lancashire, was found in Morecambe after a member of the community reported a sighting of her. 20/05/2009 05:21:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7529 Merseyside Police arrested three people in Netherton on Monday night (May 18, 2009), following a series of attacks against Southport and Formby businessmen. Over recent months a number of Sefton properties linked to Terry Riley, who owns Formby’s Shorrocks Hill Country Club, and John Ball have been targeted by shootings and suspected arson attacks. Following the execution of a warrant in Nutsford Close, Netherton at 9.30pm on Monday, police seized a number of empty petrol cans, a quantity of cash, mobile phones and a quantity of controlled drugs. Two men, aged 38 and 32, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson, possession of controlled drugs and money laundering. A 36-year-old woman was also arrested on suspicion of possession of controlled drugs and money laundering. As The Champion went to press they remained in police custody and were set to interviewed by detectives. Detective Superintendent Martin Andrew said: "This warrant was executed as a result of information from the public and I would like to thank the local community for their assistance. "I would ask people to continue coming forward to help us put an end to these incidents and bring the offenders to justice.“ A 58-year-old from Maghull and a 39-year-old from Netherton, who were arrested last week on suspicion of conspiracy to commit criminal damage, namely arson and firearm offences, have been bailed pending further enquiries. Police are also investigating whether a number of incidents that took place last week are connected to previous incidents across the borough. At around 1.15pm on Tuesday May 12 an armed chase allegedly took place on Southport’s Coastal Road involving two men on motorbikes, one of whom may been in possession of a gun. The men, said to be wearing dark clothing with one on a black motorbike and the other on a green motorbike, were reportedly pointing the weapon at the car of Sefton businessman Terry Riley. An improvised explosive device was thrown at the front door a Litherland property last Thursday (May 14). Police were called to the address at 11.20pm and minor damage was caused the exterior. Nobody was injured. A fire at a derelict building on Southport’s Norwood Road on Friday night (May 15) is also being investigated. No injuries were caused by the incident, at around 10.30pm.     Anyone who saw anything or who has any information is asked to call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. 20/05/2009 05:10:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7527 Athletics The Liverpool Pembroke Sefton Young Athletes were at Doncaster for their Premier League match. It was always going to be a tough occasion up against the powerful Sale, Doncaster and Gateshead teams and so it turned out. In spite of trailing in last though there were some scintillating individual performances especially Adam Thomson`s 400m win in the Under 17 400m in 50.70 followed by the 1.80m high jumpof the fast improving Billy Williams. There were other single winners at U17 including Toby Loveridge(800m in 2.06.3), Mike Bride(1500m in 4.22.1), Mike Carmona-Jones(Hammer 38.97m) and a neat A and B double success in the 1500m Steeplechase for Jai Vernon-McGuigan(5.03.4) and Sean Kirkbride(5.04.9). The star for the women in this age group was Jessica Broady with an impressive Hammer Throw of 29.79m but Emma Givens(12.9) and Annie McLoughlin(13.3) combined well to take the 80m hurdle races. At Under 15 Andrew Williams(55.90) and Joel Hutchinson(56.40) posted eye-catching 400m times. Under 13 Ben Haines stood out winning the Shot with 7.05m and usefully doubled up to win the 800m B event in 2.44.5. But it was more a day for honest endeavour, characterised by Kevin Carmona-Jones, George Curran, Zoe Rafferty, Tawanda Lunghu and a host of others who battled for every point.This difficult encounter was best illustrated when LPS came away with one relay win, the Mens 4 x 400m(Mike Stam, Adam Thomson, Jesse Roberts and Toby Loveridge). There will be better results in the next three matches. 19/05/2009 11:10:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7517 The resort has much to offer to holidaymakers, according to Keep Britain Tidy. Southport and Ainsdale were awarded Quality Coast Awards (QCA) once again, helping this year to be one of the best on record for the quality of England’s beaches. Each year the campaign honours beaches across the country with the award which focuses on facilities and amenities, as well as the prestigious Blue Flag. No Blue Flags were given to the North West this year, although QCAs are given to the best beaches that may not reach Blue Flag standards for water quality. Phil Barton, chief executive of Keep Britain Tidy, said:  “With all the doom and gloom around holidaying in England is the perfect way of saving money and having a great time. “Whether it’s a question of variety, accessibility or value for money, enjoying wonderful beaches like those in the North West is the ideal way to recharge your batteries.” Elsewhere in Sefton, Crosby was a new addition to the North West’s QCA winners list. By Natasha Young 13/05/2009 08:40:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7516 A 47-year-old Eastern European man appeared at North Sefton Magistrates court on Friday (May 8, 2009), facing 20 charges of owning or making indecent pictures of children. Vidamintis Vaistaras of Leyland Road, Southport told the court that guilty pleas would be entered for all the charges. Images from the internet were found when his then home address, a Scarisbrick New Road flat, was searched. Helen Prescot, prosecuting, said: “This case came to light from an internet investigation going back to 2006.” Pictures were in categories from one to five, with a “significant amount at four and five.” Mrs Prescot added: “I don’t think I need to go into any more detail than that. These matters clearly need to be referred to Crown Court.” Magistrates told Vaistaras: “We have decided the offences you have committed are so serious you should be given greater punishment than we can give in this court.” A full pre-sentence report has been has been ordered and Vaistaras has been released on unconditional bail to appear at Liverpool Crown Court in the week commencing June 22 (2009).     13/05/2009 08:28:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7515   Merseyside Police is investigating an alleged armed car chase on Southport’s Coastal Road. At around 1.15pm on Tuesday (May 12, 2009) an incident allegedly took place involving two men on motorbikes, one of whom may have been in possession of a gun. The men, said to be wearing dark clothing with one on a black motorbike and the other on a green motorbike, were reportedly pointing the weapon at the car of Sefton businessman Terry Riley. Police are appealing for anyone who saw a car driving erratically on the Coastal Road at this time with two motorbikes nearby to contact them immediately. Detective Superintendent Martin Andrew said: "Merseyside Police is currently investigating this allegation and I can reassure the local community that the Force is investing substantial resources to bring this situation to a close. "The individuals involved in the dispute are not fully co-operating and we are working to identify the real motive behind it to progress the investigation. "We will not tolerate violence and gun crime and we are committed to bringing the people involved in this dispute to justice. "The Force always acts on information from the public and I would urge anyone with any information to call the guncrime hotline on 0800 458 1211 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111." 13/05/2009 08:15:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7514 A charity event aims to raise thousands of pounds for a cardiac risk charity prior to the anniversary of the death of popular Southport music lover Chris Haw. Another Magical Evening in May will see magic, illusion, comedy and song in a spectacular show at Southport Arts Centre in aid of CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young). Following on from last year’s highly successful A Magical Evening in May, the show promises a packed evening of fantastic entertainment whilst raising vital funds for the charity. Co-organiser of the show, Elinor Pedlar of Goldielle Promotions said: “Last year we raised almost £2,000 for charity – this year we want to surpass that. “Another Magical Evening in May is going to be a fantastic evening and one that will never be forgotten. There's going to be some great acts and some spectacular surprises. “Cardiac risk in the young is a serious issue, and we hope to support the charity whilst putting on a great show for all the family.” Chris Haw died suddenly in June 2006 from an undiagnosed heart condition aged just 25. His family have since actively supported CRY and this summer will be staging a music festival in Southport also in aid of the charity. See www.jedimusicfestival.com  The show starts at 7pm on Thursday, May 21 and the line up includes Junior World General Magic Champion, Stephen Williams. Compere for the evening is actor, writer and comedian Steve Royle (BBC Radio Lancs). Doors open at 6pm with pre-show entertainment taking place in the foyer and the bar area. The Mayor and Mayoress of Sefton, Councillor Alf Doran and Councillor Gill Cuthbertson will be attending the event. Come along and enjoy a very magical evening. Full details of the show and line up can be found on the dedicated website www.freewebs.com/amagicaleveninginmay . Tickets are on sale at the box office 0151 934 2141 or online at www.seftonarts.co.uk. Adults £10, children and concessions £7.50, and a family of four for £30. 13/05/2009 06:39:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7507 Sefton has been named as one of the most ‘recession-proof’ areas of Britain. The borough has climbed the second highest number of places in a list of the largest authorities in the country, ranked on various economic factors. Last year Sefton was 80th on the U-Switch.com regional recession index, but has climbed to 67th place this year. “For Sefton, this is thanks to a 7% boost in average earnings and just 46% more people claiming Job Seekers’ Allowance – this is 20% below the average increase in the country,” a U-Switch spokesperson said. The rankings examine an area’s average income, house prices, unemployment and council tax. Formby businesswoman and chair of the Village Partnership, Gill Fell, said: “Maybe it’s because of all of the hard work people in the area are doing. A lot is being done to keep businesses afloat. “Plus Southport offered a free Park and Ride service at weekends and we have working groups that are continually pushing to help businesses flourish. Little things are helping.” Cabinet member for tourism, Cllr Ronnie Fearn, said the continued development of Southport as a Classic Resort of the north has brought many visitors to the area. “It would appear that the public, including those who have decided not to go abroad, are choosing Southport as a destination and that the number of shoppers who arrive in the town still remain level - and indeed ,from the point of view of coach parties, has increased,” he said. “In spite of the fact we have seen closures in the town centre of various establishments, this does not appear to have affected the appearance of the town and the general theme of attracting people. “We expect to continue developing in King’s Gardens, finalising Lord Street, further development of hotels and the culture centre at the Arts Centre, to provide what people need and once again succeed as the resort of the north.”   07/05/2009 10:00:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7506 One of the country's finest singers is set to appear at the Southport International Jazz Festival. Organisers have recently confirmed the appearance of Jacqui Dankworth at Southport Arts Centre as part of the five day festival which begins on May 28. Daughter of the legendary jazz musician and composer, Sir John Dankworth and International singing star Dame Cleo Laine, there was never any question that Jacqui wouldn’t follow her parents into show business. Sefton Council Events Manager, Carolyn Lowry, said: "There is a great line up of acts for this year's Southport International Jazz Festival and Jacqui Dankworth is a definite highlight, certainly one for the diary. Alongside the theatre and Arts Centre gigs there are also a range of other performances at pubs, restaurants, bars and out on the streets and gardens in Southport for people to enjoy." Southport Arts Centre welcomes Jacqui Dankworth on Sunday, May 31, from 7.30pm. Tickets are £17 and £15 for concessions. To find out more go to www.southportjazz.com or call the box office 01704 540011. 07/05/2009 09:56:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7505 Jazz and blues music will be the subject of an exhibition of paintings, collages and photographs at Southport's Atkinson Art Gallery. Jazz Duet is an exhibition which brings together the work of artist Dave Barden and photographer William Ellis, capturing the imagery of popular music, particularly jazz and blues. Since returning from a tour of music venues, recording studios and archives in Memphis, Nashville and Chicago, Dave Barden has produced a series of paintings inspired by the atmosphere and sounds of live performances. His work includes references to famous clubs such as Buddy Guy’s and BB King’s in the USA, but also to international jazz festivals closer to home at the Sage in Gateshead and Southport, where Dave was resident artist.  William Ellis has an international reputation as an innovative and intuitive jazz photographer. He’s exhibited all over the world including North Sea Jazz, The Hague, Amsterdam, New York, Cape Town and Havana. This free exhibition runs until June 13. For further information call Southport's Atkinson Art Gallery on 0151-934 2110 or log onto www.seftonarts.co.uk 07/05/2009 09:55:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7504 The record breaking touring show We’ll Meet Again clocks up an amazing ninth year on the road in 2009, calling at Southport Theatre and Convention Centre on Wednesday June 3 at 2.30pm. With the fabulous music of The Martyn St James Sound here is an afternoon show with a recollection of the days when the spirit of Britain was at it’s highest, and an era to be proud of. It’s great fun and damp-eyed nostalgia that leaves you with a warm and sentimental glow. The show features a range of talent, including singers Sheley James and Tony Leyton, musical entertainer Andy Eastwood, comedy star Steve Barclay and host Mervyn Francis. This matinee performance will bring back classic memories of Gracie Fields, Vera Lynn, Al Jolson, Max Miller, George Formby and many more. Tickets are £11 (concessions £20 off; Groups 10+: 1 in 10 go free). To book Call Ticketmaster 0844 847 2380*, book online at www.southporttheatre.org.uk* or call into the Box Office open Monday-Saturday, 9.30am-5.30pm (*subject to booking fee). 07/05/2009 09:53:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7503 The Songs Of Sister Act come to Southport Theatre and Convention Centre on Thursday May 28, 7.30pm. This high energy concert is the must see show this season, starring The London Community Gospel Choir and Rowetta (X Factor and Happy Mondays). The Theatre will fill with the sound of those famous Gospel hits from the smash hit movie Sister Act. This unforgettable show will have the audience dancing in the aisles to songs that include: Oh Happy Day, Joyful Joyful, Shout, Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, Hail Holy Queen and many more! So get those habits on, dig out your dancing shoes and prepare for the night of your life - fancy dress encouraged! Tickets are £18.50 (concessions £1.50 off; Live Card £1.50 off). 07/05/2009 09:52:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7502 Let Sefton Arts take you back to the swinging 60s this summer with Telstar - The Concert at Crosby Civic Hall on Saturday June 6 at 7.30pm. This tribute to the legendary record producer Joe Meek features 60s stars The Tornados (Telstar, Globetrotter, Ice Cream Man) and John Leyton, (Johnny Remember Me & Wild Wind). Meek's most famous hit, The Tornados' Telstar, was a worldwide smash and they became the first ever UK group to reach the top spot in the USA. The dramatic story of the world's first Independent record producer who changed the face of the British music industry has now been made into 'Telstar' - The Movie, due for release this summer. Telstar - The Concert at Crosby Civic Hall is supported by The Honeycombs Band and The Flames. Tickets cost £14 (£12 concessions) and are available by calling Box Office on 0151 928 1919/01704 540011 or by logging onto www.seftonarts.co.uk 07/05/2009 09:41:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7501 The spectacular Compton organ, originally from the Grand Cinema, Lord Street, will be re-housed at Hesketh Bank Village Hall. The eye-catching art deco organ was moved from Southport to Cheetham Hill Methodist Church in Manchester, and in later years to Chorley Town Hall. The Grand Cinema closed in 1966 and is now the Mint Casino. Hesketh Bank Village Hall, Station Road, is currently undergoing major refurbishment that will see an organ chamber and extra storage added to the building. “With an Interior redesign the hall will provide a wonderful venue for the Compton, with hopefully a sprung floor to ensure that dancers will have the best facilities possible,” hall treasurer Maureen Baldwin said. To mark the change, the Chorley Compton Organ Society (CCOS), who were asked by Chorley Borough Council to remove the organ from their town hall, will change its name to the West Lancs Cinema Organ Trust. “This new venue for the Compton will provide a facility that will enable the society to up-grade the instrument by adding extra ranks, which will provide a more varied sound worthy of being played by top professional organists,” Maureen said. “Once the upgrading of both the organ and the village hall has been completed the building will be a splendid venue for concerts, dances, organist training and practice and one day, hopefully, a community cinema.” The plans need investment.  Anyone interested in the project should contact Maureen on 01772 814457 or Helen Sephton, Secretary CCOS on 01772 812296. By Natasha Robson 07/05/2009 07:43:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7500 A family's Easter break was ruined by the “filthy and disgusting” conditions at Ainsdale’s Pontin’s holiday camp. The family from Shrewsbury had booked three apartments over Easter weekend through an offer in a national newspaper. When they arrived they were horrified to find chewed food stuck to the windows, mould in the fridge, freezer and on the curtains, peeling wallpaper, thick dust and food crumbs on the bed. One of the apartments even had a hole in the front door where it appeared to have been kicked in. Mr Jones (name changed) refused to stay on the site and took his wife and three young children to stay with relatives in Wirral. They had to drive back to Southport each day to meet up with Mr Jones’ mother and father, brother and sister and their families, who remained at Pontin’s. “I was surprised that they stayed, but they would have had to travel a lot further to stay with family,” Mr Jones said. “I had a quick look around the three apartments that we were allocated and observed unhygienic and potentially health harming conditions. “We were disgusted to find what looked like dried chewed up food stuck to the inside of the window. There was a dried brown liquid stain which looked as though it had dripped down the wall. There was also black mould on the curtain, mould in the inside of the fridge-freezer, thick dust around the carpet, food crumbs on the sofa bed and filthy carpets.” Other problems included numerous cigarette burns on the carpets, a broken table, rusting railings and peeling paint. Mr Jones said his family would like to return to Southport but would never go back to Pontin’s. “I feel that Pontin’s Southport Holiday Park is potentially damaging to not only the local economy and tourist trade, but also those locations where other Pontin’s holiday parks are situated,” he said. A Pontin's spokesperson said: "We are a reputable company accommodating nearly 750,000 guests each year and our aim is to ensure that everyone has an enjoyable break. It is disappointing if this does not happen, whatever the reason. “We were therefore very sorry to receive his comments and have written to him advising that we are carrying out a full investigation and will contact him again as soon as it is complete." By Natasha Robson 07/05/2009 07:35:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7498 Merseyside Police is one of five forces to be honoured by the Home Office for its crackdown on drug dealers. The force picked up the award for best practice in asset recovery at the annual Tackling Drugs Supply Awards, having seised more than £1.1 million in cash. Mereseyside’s Operation Manaton was also commended at the event, in the category for the best example of enforcement linkages with Drug Intervention Programme. Chief Constable, Bernard Hogan-Howe said: “Merseyside Police has had some significant successes in the field of serious organised crime and over the past three years has been one of the most successful forces in the country for asset recovery. “The ability to take ill-gotten gains off those involved in crime is a powerful tool in our total war on crime - last year this force seized in excess of £2.6 million. Ironically, through the national incentivisation scheme we are able to plough some of that money taken off criminals back in to fighting crime on Merseyside. “I am delighted that the Financial Investigations Unit has been recognised nationally for its work on this particular case and would like to congratulate them on a job well done. The team works hard to ensure that crime does not pay and this is one of numerous successful asset recovery cases they have worked on in recent years. We cannot and will not be complacent and we will continue to hit criminals were it hurts - in the pocket." By Natasha Young     06/05/2009 07:32:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7497 A devoted dad cycled from Holland to Ainsdale to deliver his daughter’s Christmas present. Ramona Colijn was visiting family in the Netherlands in December when boyfriend Malcolm Proctor bought her a new bike. When they realised they could not fit the cycle on the plane, dad Bert, 65, a keen cyclist, offered to ride it back for her. “I thought he was crazy,” she said. “He cycles a lot in Holland but it is very flat there and this bike does not have any gears.” Bert rode the two-hour journey from his home to Rotterdam, took the ferry to Hull and rode the Trans Pennine Trail to Southport. “He was surprised how steep some of the hills were and had to push the bike in some places, especially over the Pennines,” Ramona, an Oxfam volunteer, said. “He thought the journey was fantastic and took lots of photographs. “His English is not great but he managed to get food and a place to stay every night and said everyone en-route was very helpful.  He also got a lot of attention about the bike because it is quite unusual. “He said  he would like to do the journey again, but never with this bike.” Bert’s 200-mile ride from Hull took him five days.  His first stop when he arrived on Tuesday evening was at Many Happy Returns Travel, Liverpool Road, that is owned by Malcolm’s brother, Frank Proctor. By Natasha Robson 06/05/2009 07:27:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7496 A married couple, thought to be from the Maghull area, have become the first confirmed victims of swine flu in Sefton. The pair had recently visited Mexico, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) said. The woman was confirmed as having the virus on Friday May 1 (2009) and the man was diagnosed the following day. The couple are being treated at home with anti-viral medication and are said to be responding well.  Members of their family and others who have had close contact are also being treated as a precaution. More than 600 people across the UK have been tested for the H1N1 flu virus, which is though to have infected more than 700 people in Mexico. Meanwhile, the North West is prepared to handle a swine flu  pandemic, according to the region’s NHS. With an increase of confirmed cases in the UK (now at 27), Dr Ruth Hussey, regional director for public health, said: “Our local NHS hospitals and primary care trusts have been working with the Health Protection Agency to put into action the plans that have been developed and thoroughly tested for such an eventuality.  They have been preparing for a possible pandemic for the past five years. “We know that people will be feeling concerned at the moment.  However, we want to reassure them that the NHS is prepared. “It is important that people are vigilant.  At the moment it is unclear where the swine flu virus will spread, however we are anticipating that there will be some cases in our region. “If you have returned from an affected area and have flu like symptoms stay at home, call your GP or NHS Direct.  You will be asked some simple questions.  If necessary, swabs may be taken to be tested and, if needed treatment will be given with anti-viral medication. “There are some basic and effective steps that we can all take to help prevent the spread of swine flu, and any other type of flu.  Follow the advice of the national campaign to ‘Catch it, Bin it, Kill it’ if you need to sneeze of cough,” said Dr Hussey. “Viruses are spread through the air, so using a tissue and disposing of it effectively is very important as well as washing your hands thoroughly and regularly.” The Department of Health has now launched a national flu information line and leaflet drop to every household. The national flu information line can be reached on 0800 1513 513.  By Natasha Robson     06/05/2009 07:10:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7495 Little Shop of Horrors Liverpool Empire Little Shop of Horrors is my favourite musical - and probably it will be yours too after seeing this fantastic production. From the first bars of music right through to the end, the action was slick and fast-paced and the audience was captivated. The show tells the story of Mushnik’s Skid Row florist, that is destined for closure until nerdy shop assistant Seymour discovers a “strange and interesting” new plant - Audrey II - that brings fame and fortune… but at a price. The cast is magnificent and features some big names, such as 2point4 Children’s Clare Buckfield who shone as ditzy florist Audrey, former Doctor Who Sylvester McCoy as Mushnik and Alex Ferns (formerly Trevor Morgan in Eastenders) who had everyone in stitches as Audrey’s psychotic boyfriend, the insane dentist Orin Scrivello. Seymour is played by Damian Humbley, who is perfect in the role and has a fantastic voice. His duet with Audrey was one of the highlights for me. Street urchins Crystal, Ronette and Chiffon (played by Nadia Di Mambro, Donna Hines and Lara Martin in this performance) cleverly help move the story along and belt out some fantastic tunes. Some spectacular puppetry really brings Audrey II to life, from when she is a small sapling to a fully grown monster. The score by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken will leave you humming the song for days to come. This brilliant show by Chocolate Factory Productions is a credit to everyone involved. Go and see it! Little Shop of Horrors runs until Saturday May 9 at the Liverpool Empire. Tickets are £10.50 - £29.50. Call Ticketmaster on 0844 8472525. Review by Natasha Robson 06/05/2009 05:12:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7494 The Kirsty kick It was a weekend when Liverpool Pembroke Sefton`s runners, jumpers and throwers all excelled. Top slot must go to Kirsty Longley who is developing a fearsome reputation for a finishing kick. She took the Women`s prize in the Waterloo 15K Road Race with a devastating sprint to the line leaving ostensibly quicker opponents gasping. Some 48 hours previous she had done something similar in the Northern Senior League(Div 2) match at Warrington. Opting for the 1500m she appeared well adrift of the leader but produced an astonishing sustained charge over the last lap to surge to the front and record 4.43.0, chopping a massive ten seconds off her personal best. She is now arguably queen of the local distance running scene. Also at Victoria Park Charlotte Christian continued her inexorable advance towards 40m with another personal best throw in the hammer of 38.99m. She seems determined to keep the tension alive as she edges upwards week after week.Michael Zaim recorded a useful 100m/200m double in 11.5 and 23.2 and Paul Milburn made a welcome return with a 400m hurdles win of 61.0 and excellent performances elsewhere.The field event enthusiasts will be following with interest the quiet advance of Dean Matthews winner of the long jump with 5.42m but an even better 12.71m triple jump victory. He has star quality. Super-vets Dave Brown and Mark Line were everywhere in the throws department piling up massive points for the club but not enough to raise them above fourth on the day. The club`s Under 17`s were at Sheffield and up against giant clubs Sheffield and Hull. Third spot would have been good but events turned out rather better. At U17 Adam Thompson took the 100m in 11.5 but even though pipped in the 200m recorded a Grade1 performance of 22.6. Quality efforts also came from Toby Loveridge,1500m in 4.11.1, and Jessica Broady with a 32.96 hammer throw. Tom Johnson(hammer 33.08m) and Billy Williams(high jump 1.75m) were additionally good winners.Under 15 middle distance runners Alistair Nelson(800m in 2.15.2) and Kyle Nicholls(1500m in 5.02.0) were victors and in Kyle`s case closely marked by David Reece(5.03.4). In the U13`s Alex Higham starred with a 100/200 double of 14.0 and 27.9 but hidden away in the results Amelia McLaughlin racked up a fine Grade 1 high jump of 1.44m. The meeting closed with a run of excellent relay results that included three wins, U17 men 4 x 100m and 4 x 400m and U17 Women 4 x 300m. Up to that point the host club Sheffield were well away winners but Hull were clearly struggling. Spirits soared in the LPS camp and as they boarded the coach home came the news that they had edged past Hull to claim second spot 326 to 323 points. The bus `erupted'. The club will have a good season in this age group. 05/05/2009 11:50:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7487 The acclaimed musical Little Shop of Horrors stops at the Liverpool Empire Theatre this week. The affectionate spoof of a 1950s sci-fi film stars Clare Buckfield (Audrey), Alex Ferns (Dentist) and Sylvester McCoy (Mushnik). Alex, who shot to fame as Eastenders’ evil Trevor Morgan,  is delighted to be starring in one of his favourite shows. “It’s a bit of a dream come true for me,” Alex said. “I’ve been a huge fan of the movie ever since it came out and I love being in the show. “The dentist was a favourite character and it’s great being able to play someone completely insane and funny at the same time.” The show tells the story of down-and-out Skid Row floral assistant Seymour, who becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers an exotic plant with a mysterious craving for fresh blood. Soon “Audrey II” grows into an ill-tempered, foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore offering him fame and fortune in exchange for feeding its growing appetite… but as Audrey II’s hungry demands increase, all that Seymour holds dear is threatened. This is Alex’s second musical role, after appearing in Guys and Dolls in 2007, and he says he loves singing.  The show’s score is by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, who wrote the stunning scores to Disney’s Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin. “That is what I am enjoying most.  It’s fantastic to be able to let rip and hold my own.” As well as the sadistic dentist, Alex plays seven other small roles including a woman. This is his first visit to Liverpool and he is looking forward to experiencing the city. Little Shop of Horrors runs until Saturday May 9 at the Liverpool Empire. Tickets are £10.50 - £29.50.  Call Ticketmaster on 0844 8472525. 05/05/2009 05:27:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7482 Southport residents are being urged to help fight global poverty during Christian Aid week - May 10 to 16. The charity’s volunteer development officer, Amy Merone, 26, grew up in Southport and has carried out a wealth of voluntary work from a young age. Former Stanley High pupil Amy began delivering house-to-house collection envelopes in Churchtown with her mum, and has since spent a year in Nigeria working in an HIV clinic. “I knew even while at university that I wanted to do something that would raise awareness of and campaign against social injustice in the world,” said Amy, who now lives and works in Oxford. “My time in Nigeria and the work that I have subsequently done, both with Christian Aid and with refugee organisations, has affirmed for me the importance of the work that organisations like Christian Aid do. “I really do believe that we all have a responsibility to act in the name of social justice and Christian Aid Week is an ideal way that people in Southport can help to support people in other, less fortunate parts of the world.“ For more than 60 years Christian Aid has been providing relief to those hit by disaster, helping people help themselves out of poverty and speaking out against injustice.  Last year the organisation raised £15 million during Christian Aid Week alone. The charity’s Southport organiser is Trish McKenzie. Anyone wanting to make a donation to Christian Aid or to become a collector can contact her through St George’s United Reformed Church, Lord Street. By Natasha Robson 30/04/2009 12:25:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7481 Ninety-six year old Dorothy Hirst could be the oldest swimmer in town. Every week she makes the bus journey to the Victoria Leisure and Fitness Club on the Promenade for her half-hour dip. Great-grandmother Dorothy, who is also a keen painter, has been swimming since she retired 35 years ago and says it keeps her fit and well. She used to swim three times a week but has cut down to just one session.  She now prefers the more sedate breaststroke to the front crawl and has also given up diving. “I have been a member of the Victoria 25 years and I wouldn’t go anywhere else,” Dorothy said. “Everybody is so nice and it is good company.” By Natasha Robson 30/04/2009 12:15:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7480 Singin’ In the Rain - Liverpool Empire The atmosphere was electric as the overture began and I knew this show was special. With handsome good looks and dazzling white smile Olivier award-winning West End and Broadway star Tim Flavin shines as Don Lockwood in this slick and mesmerising stage version of the 1952 MGM film.      He wows the audience in ‘real’ rain with the show’s iconic puddle-splashing tap routine (immortalised by Gene Kelly as probably the most famous musical sequence ever).  Gene Kelly took a day and a half to shoot it on film.  Tim Flavin dances through one take every night! The show tells the story of the making of one of Hollywood’s first musicals. Silent screen star Lina Lamont (Amy Griffiths) is struggling to get into talkies with her excruciating voice.  To get the film released on time, studio bosses dub newcomer Kathy Seldon’s (Jessica Punch) angelic voice over Lina’s and trouble begins.  Both girls are also in love with Don Lockwood – and who can blame them? Lockwood’s sidekick, Cosmo Brown, is perfectly played by multi-talented Graeme Henderson who is also responsible for the incredibly inventive, witty and perfectly executed creative choreography.  The show is littered with sharp one-liners, colourful costumes and surely some of the best lyrics and show tunes ever written.  I must mention the immaculate split-second timing, especially in Make ‘em Laugh – nothing short of brilliant! With a superb cast and outstanding direction by Alison Pollard this show is a winner.  All the splendour of Hollywood with a rousing umbrella-twirling finale! A top class show from UK Productions! Score 5/5 Review by Jenny Robson   30/04/2009 12:10:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7479 The record breaking touring show We’ll Meet Again clocks up an amazing ninth year on the road in 2009, calling at Southport Theatre and Convention Centre on Wednesday June 3 at 2.30pm. With the fabulous music of The Martyn St James Sound here is an afternoon show with a recollection of the days when the spirit of Britain was at it’s highest, and an era to be proud of. It’s great fun and damp-eyed nostalgia that leaves you with a warm and sentimental glow. The show features a range of talent, including singers Sheley James and Tony Leyton, musical entertainer Andy Eastwood, comedy star Steve Barclay and host Mervyn Francis. This matinee performance will bring back classic memories of Gracie Fields, Vera Lynn, Al Jolson, Max Miller, George Formby and many more. Tickets are £11 (concessions £20 off; Groups 10+: 1 in 10 go free). To book Call Ticketmaster 0844 847 2380*, book online at www.southporttheatre.org.uk* or call into the Box Office open Monday-Saturday, 9.30am-5.30pm (*subject to booking fee).       30/04/2009 12:09:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7478 One of the country's finest singers is set to appear at the Southport International Jazz Festival. Organisers have recently confirmed the appearance of Jacqui Dankworth at Southport Arts Centre as part of the five day festival which begins on May 28. Daughter of the legendary jazz musician and composer, Sir John Dankworth and International singing star Dame Cleo Laine, there was never any question that Jacqui wouldn’t follow her parents into show business. Sefton Council Events Manager, Carolyn Lowry, said: "There is a great line up of acts for this year's Southport International Jazz Festival and Jacqui Dankworth is a definite highlight, certainly one for the diary. Alongside the theatre and Arts Centre gigs there are also a range of other performances at pubs, restaurants, bars and out on the streets and gardens in Southport for people to enjoy." Southport Arts Centre welcomes Jacqui Dankworth on Sunday, May 31, from 7.30pm. Tickets are £17 and £15 for concessions. To find out more go to www.southportjazz.com or call the box office 01704 540011.   30/04/2009 12:07:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7477 Following the huge TV success of the children’s hit series, Fifi and The Flowertots, Premier Productions is taking the show on a national theatre tour, calling at Southport Theatre and Convention Centre on Tuesday May 26 and Wednesday May 27. The stage production, called The Fairy and the Flowertots, follows Clairy Fairy, a fairy who is blown off course and lands in Flowertot Garden. Fifi (voiced by Jane Horrocks) and her Flowertot friends have to help Clairy find her lost wand so she can mend her magic wings and return home. The enchanting 90 minute production is full of music, fun and audience participation as Fifi, Violet, Primrose, Bumble, Stingo and Slugsy join together to help their new found fairy friend. Tickets are £13 (concessions £2 off; groups 10+: 1 in 10 free; Live Card £2 off).  To book call Ticketmaster 0844 847 2380*, book online at www.southporttheatre.org.uk* groups 10+ call 0800 587 5007. Box Office open Monday-Saturday, 9.30am – 5.30pm(*subject to booking fee).   30/04/2009 12:06:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7476 I’m A Celebrity star David Gest brings the musical story of his life to Southport Theatre and Convention Centre in October. David Gest… My Life! A Musical Concert Extravaganza will feature 10 legendary acts including The Tempations Review featuring Dennis Edwards and Ollie Woodson, Russell Thompkins Jr and the New Stylistics, Peabo Bryson, Deneice Williams, Jimmy Ruffin, Freda Payne and Percy Sledge. The play encompasses the story of Gest's life with comedy and music. It includes over 30 top five records, all performed by the original artists. There will also be Gest's characters he made famous in the jungle when he appeared on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! Gest will be singing and dancing in numbers with a 10-member dance troupe entitled The Tess Tickle Dancers and the Little People Of DavidLand. Prior to becoming a television celebrity, Gest was best known for producing Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration which is the highest rated musical special in television history in the US and seven other countries. Gest has produced over 100 specials internationally. The show will appear at the Southport Theatre and Convention Centre on Tuesday October 6 at 7.30pm. Contact the Box Office on 0844 8472380 or www.southporttheatre.org.uk. Ticket prices are £28, £35, £45.   30/04/2009 12:05:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7475 Comedian Eddie Izzard has added a second Liverpool Echo Arena date to his UK tour ‘Stripped’. Due to popular demand, Eddie will now bring his surreal stand-up to the city on November 1, as well as October 31. Tickets for the new date are now on sale priced £30, subject to a handling/booking fee. Maximum of six tickets per person. Visit www.echoarena.com or call the Echo Arena Box Office on 0844 8000 400 to book. The show is recommended for viewers aged 15 and over. 30/04/2009 12:02:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7474 Oh! What a Lovely War SDC Southport Little Theatre A tremendous show to end the SDC season. Lots of singing, dancing, jokes and so many costume and scene changes you felt the wardrobe people (Sherel Coley & Margaret Horne) and props (Dave Harrop and Karen Nicholson) should be given Oscars. Practically everyone in the society appeared in this epic production of Joan Littlewood's famous musical satire on the First World War. Director Margaret Mann, had a Herculean task organising the logistics of the show as the actors were constantly trotting offstage to reappear moments later as different people in different countries in different get-ups. Stan Hagan alone must have worn ten different outfits, offering a rare sighting of his knees at one point as a kilted gamekeeper, and speaking at least three languages.Ê Four if you count Scottish. Then there was the music. Cate Leight led the colourfully dressed chorus in Your King and country, getting the show off to a rousing start. I counted well over twenty songs of the period, favourites like If you wore a tulip, Tipparary, Keep the home fires burning and Sister Susie's sewing shirts, which had the audience enthusiastically joining in. They weren't all fun numbers. Ruth and John Baldwin duetted on a poignant Roses of Picardy and Diane Mackly's After the ball brought tears to a few eyes. Stephen Hughes-Alty was in fine form as the pivot of the show, the M.C. leading his troupe of pierrots, though he also turned up as a Sergeant Major and an Irish soldier, whose jig brought the biggest laugh of the night. Pippa Morris performed a neat tap-dance and Hilary Thomson, restored to her original glamour after recent roles, joined Sandy Threlfall and Cate Leight as singing usherettes, pre-dating The Beverly Sisters by forty years. Villain of the piece was Ray Mann who played Haig, The Butcher of the Somme, the general who knowingly and unashamedly sent thousands of young men to their inevitable deaths, condemning a generation of women to widowhood or spinsterhood. Yet, instead of being incarcerated, he is honoured by his country. And that is the sad thing about this play. Despite the jollity of the songs, the fun Pierrot costumes, the lively dancing and the fact that all the cast were obviously having a great time, the lingering impression as I came away from the theatre was one of great sadness for the men who died and the generation of young women facing a life alone. Plus a feeling of anger against this country's 'leaders' who disgracefully encouraged mothers and wives to send their men to the Front knowing most of them would never return. Champ verdict: 4 out of 5. A great production. Review by Ron Ellis 30/04/2009 12:00:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7471 Ramps have been built on Hesketh Park lake’s islands to allow newborn ducklings to safely get to the water. Foot-high wire fences around each of the three islands were trapping the baby ducks. Len Golby, of the Southport Swan Rescue (SSR), told Champnews.com he had donned his waders four times in five days to rescue 28 ducklings. “They have put these fences up to stop ducks getting on the island, but the people that have done this don’t realise that ducks can fly over the top of them,” Len said. The ducks were laying eggs on the islands, but when they hatched the babies were unable to get over the fence. Volunteer Len built a new fence panel with a gap to help the ducklings escape. SSR co-ordinator Gwen Barton is looking after four of the rescued ducklings who could not be returned to their mother. Cllr Tom Glover, chairman of the Hesketh Park Heritage Group, explained that the fences were designed to help grass grow. “It has taken two years to kill the Japanese hedge weed on the islands and now we are trying to get the grass established, then we can take the fences down altogether,” he said. A spokesman for Sefton Council said: "After being contacted by the Southport Swan Rescue Group, measures were put in place to help ducklings, who couldn't fly, leave the Hesketh Park islands safely. "We have since built a number of wooden ramps to enable ducklings and other birds to easily get back onto the islands. "Netting on the islands was put in place to protect plants which were being eaten by birds in the popular park." By Natasha Robson 29/04/2009 06:01:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7470 A 17-year-old boy has been arrested after a vicious gang attack on a 19-year-old man. The victim was kicked, punched and stamped on by members of a 20-strong gang of teenagers, both boys and girls, outside the Portland Hotel on the corner of Bedford Road and Kew Road. Attackers knocked the Southport man to the ground and stamped on his head. He suffered multiple injuries and was taken to Whiston Hospital, Prescot, for treatment.  He remained in hospital at the time The Champion went to press. The gang is believed to have spent the evening on Bedford Park before the trouble sparked outside the park gates around 10.30pm on Friday April 24 (2009). A Merseyside Police spokesman said: “We were called to a large scale disturbance involving a number of people near the Portland Hotel.  We are appealing for witnesses to get in touch.” Locals say youths often cause trouble and drink on the park, but they are shocked at the severity of this latest attack. Police arrested a 17-year-old from Southport on Sunday April 26 (2009) on suspicion of assault.  He has been questioned and released on police bail pending further enquiries. Anyone with information or who witnessed the incident is asked to call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111. By Natasha Robson 29/04/2009 05:50:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7456 With Snap’s The Power blaring out of the speakers at The Fox and Goose the 14 times darts World Champion Phil Taylor came on stage to play his first exhibition match. The venue was packed and Taylor was met with a warm welcome from the Southport audience. Taylor, who had brought the singer Robbie Williams’ dad, Peter, with him, was in a relaxed mood when The Champion spoke to him earlier in the night and found out it was not his first time in Southport. “The last time I was in Southport was over 30 years ago,” he said. “I went to Pontin’s on holiday. I went on the beach too, but I have never seen the sea though. “It is a lovely town, now I have been back again I want to bring my grandchildren here for a weekend out.” Taylor won his 14 World Championship this year and beat van Barneveld 7-1 in the final. It was his first World Championship for three years. He said: “This year’s World Championship was the best one for me because everyone was writing my career off last year. And even I was beginning to think that the bubble had burst. “Though in my mind, I still felt that I was 18 and I came good on the practice board and walked the World Championship. I have since won 15 out of 16 tournaments.” So what is the secret of his success? Taylor answered: “It is hard work and dedication and making sacrifices. I decided what I wanted to do and I worked hard at it. “I used to work at a factory for no money, I also welded cars and worked behind a bar. So I had three jobs basically to survive. I then decided to pick up a set of darts and make a living out of it at the age of 26.” It was the well known darts player of the 80s Eric Bristow who spotted Taylor, nicknamed The Power, playing darts in the pubs of Stoke-on-Trent and decided to sponsor him. “Without Eric I would not be here,” Taylor said. “He believed in me and put money behind me, So I owe a lot to Eric as far as my career is concerned.” Taylor is now 48 and wants to play until he is 55. He added: “I want to win the World Championship again. Every tournament that I go into now I want to win it. So look out I am after you.” By Henry James   23/04/2009 11:33:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7455 New girls football teams will be launched in Southport thanks to an £8,000 grant. Hesketh Colts Junior FC applied for the Football Foundation funding in November and are now looking for girls in school years four, five and six to join the teams. The money will fund development of the girls’ section for three years and the club, launched in the town in 1990, hope to start an extra team each year. “The atmosphere in the club is bouncing.  We have got all the coaches in place all ready to take on the girls’ section,” secretary Gary Unsworth said. “We have been biting our fingernails for a while because we couldn’t move forward until we had heard about the grant.  Now we have got it the whole club is buzzing.” The club has to meet certain benchmarks, such as the FA’s Charter Development Standard, to be eligible for the grant and the money will go towards training coaches, hiring pitches, hiring indoor training venues for winter and advertising. “We will start off with three girls’ teams for under-nines, under-10s and under 11s and hopefully will introduce a new under-nines team each year until we end up with girls from nine to 16 and 17,” Gary said. The Hesketh Colts, whose members are mainly from the Churchtown, Marshside and Meols areas, will be only the second club in Southport to have a girls’ section. The club has boys’ squads at under-6, 11, 12, 13 and 15 age groups, playing matches in the Craven Minor League and managed and coached by volunteers.  Any girls would like to learn to play football or just to give it a try, should contact the club’s Girls’ Development Officer, Paul Heybourne, on 01704 232851 or 07794368525.  Further details of the club and the people who run it are on its website www.heskethcoltsjfc.co.uk. By Natasha Robson 23/04/2009 11:12:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7454 Children of Eden Southport Operatic New Generation Southport Arts Centre Once again, Southport Operatic New Generation have put on a show to remember, demonstrating what a tremendous array of acting talent there is among the young people in our town. Children of Eden, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz of Godspell fame, tells the biblical story of the Creation from Genesis followed, in Act Two, by Noah and The Flood, with the underlying theme of the conflict between parents and their children when they leave the nest. Originally developed at the Royal Shakespeare Company, it is in the Top 20 of the most licensed titles. Nick Donnnelly, resplendent in a Daz-white suit, is commanding as God, his powerful voice filling the Art Centre auditorium. Toni Spofforth gives a feisty performance as Eve who persuades Adam, Chris Rimmer, to eat from the Tree of Knowledge, thus incurring the wrath of God who banishes them from the Garden of Eden to The Wasteland. Following in his mother's footsteps in his quest for knowledge, Cain (Matt Greenwood) falls out with his gentle brother Abel (Tom Mackley) and kills him, thus perpetuating the family curse for generations ahead until, 1000 years later, God decides to wipe out the Cain dynasty by flooding the world allowing only Adam's descendents to survive. This is a vibrant, exciting musical with a definite feel-good factor yet there is a certain underlying disquiet about a storyline that brings home the violence, misogyny and unforgiving aspects of the Christian doctrine. It makes one think that the world might be a better and more peaceful place if mankind dispensed with religion altogether. Noah (Nathan Barry) is told to build an ark to save his family from the widespread slaughter but one of his sons, Japeth, wants to marry Yonah who is of Cain descent. Noah disobeys God and allows them to stay in the ark whereupon God decides to throw in the towel and let the human race fend for itself. The moral being that parents should allow their children to find their own way in the world. The songs are joyous and uplifting, featuring many differing musical styles and well complemented by the dynamic backing of a seven-piece band led by musical directors Michael Gilfillan and Ceri Williams. Ain't it Good is gospel music at its best with the choir in fine voice, pure Aretha Franklin, while In Whatever Time We Have, sung by Joe Hinds and Emily Stubbs as Japeth and Yonah, is unbearably poignant. The dancers in their colourful costumes are a major part of the show and the superb choreography is a tribute to Pippa Morris from the Loreto Bamber Dancing Academy. With such a large cast and covering serious themes, this is not an easy musical to direct but Wendy Weldon has excelled herself by making it a life-enhancing entertainment. Not a show to be missed. Verdict 3.5/5 - A heartwarming show 23/04/2009 11:07:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7453 Southport Dramatic Club present their latest production, Oh What a Lovely War. It's 1914 and Europe is on the brink of war. Your king and country need you, so be a real man and enlist today!  But the propaganda promise of valour and victory is quickly revealed to be a fatal myth, as the donkeys in command send the lions on to the front line to die with mind-blowing arrogance and incompetence. But throughout it all they keep on singing! Oh, What a Lovely War is a moving, funny lyrical evocation of the tragedy and pathos of the First World War; one of the most  futile and ferocious conflicts in history. Armed with sketches, songs and stories, a cast of Pierrot clowns mix their sombre buffoonery with the bawdy, tough humour of the squaddies on the front line to take you on an incredible journey across Europe: from the optimism of the British home front to the blood soaked fields of  Flanders. Along the way, the story is marked by a fantastic collection of songs from the Great War such as Pack up Your Troubles, Keep the Home Fires Burning and It's a Long Way to Tipperary. Oh, What a Lovely War is a groundbreaking and stunning revelation of a conflict that wiped out a whole generation of young men throughout Europe. Still as relevant today as when it was first seen in London in 1963, this brilliant satirical musical is one of the landmarks of post-war British theatre. With all the punch of  Saving Private Ryan, the hilarious satire of Blackadder Goes Forth and some of the most evocative and celebrated music of the last century, this production is one not to be missed. Director Margaret Mann and her talented 28 strong cast have worked tirelessly to bring all aspects of this production to life in equal measure. It runs from 24th April to 2nd May at the Little Theatre.  The box office opens  Friday 17th April 2009 at 11.00 a.m. (Tel 01704 530521/530460). 23/04/2009 10:58:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7452 All the Fun of the Fair Liverpool Empire Theatre All the Fun of the Fair takes its name from the title of David Essex’s late 70s album.  Together with Boogie Nights creator Jon Conway David co-wrote this roller-coaster of a musical featuring all his hits and album favourites. The show opens with Rosa (Louise English), the gypsy fortune-teller singing A Winter’s Tale on an almost dark stage.  She tells a moving story of heartbreak and love and introduces the two doomed lovers – Alice and Jack.  Alice (Tanya Robb) is the pretty daughter of Harvey (David Burrows) who is against her relationship with Jack (Levi’s son).  And so begins the story of all the misery at the fair! The funfair is struggling to survive and then gets trashed by a gang.  Rosa loves Levi (David Essex) but he isn’t interested even though they once had a fling.  Recently widowed Levi is the father of rebellious teenage son, Jack, played by Paul-Ryan Carberry who is making his professional debut.   The set moves to under the skyline of the big dipper with the carnival atmosphere of carousel, dodgems, candy floss, shooting gallery, romance and rock and roll. The hit songs are all there – Hold Me Close, Me and My Girl, Gonna Make you a Star – but the best was undoubtedly Silver Dream Machine in the second half featuring David Essex sitting astride a huge motorbike with searching headlights flashing around the auditorium.  Very exciting! The UK tour is nearing its end so perhaps this is why David seemed tired. But his fans loved him and gave him a standing ovation at the end.  Shame he couldn’t sing all his hits himself.  They just don’t sound the same sung by other people. A good show but rather slow!  Needs more direction. Score 3/5 Review by Jenny Robson 23/04/2009 10:52:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7451 The incredible singer and innovator in the English folk scene, Eliza Carthy, heads to Southport on Friday. This will be her first tour since her six-month break to have a baby and her four-month old daughter will accompany her around the country. “It is working well so far, but I’m not sure what it will be like when she starts crawling,” Eliza said. “I will be performing stuff from my new album, but with a different band.  The album has quite a cast of thousands with a big brass section and full orchestra.  We are trying to re-create that with a small string section, drums and piano.” The singer will be accompanied at the Southport Arts Centre gig by Willie Molleson on drums, Emma Smith on double bass, Barney Morse-Brown (Duotone) and Phil Alexander (Moishes Bagel and Salsa Celtica) on keyboards, piano and accordion. “I have played at Southport Arts Centre four or five times before and it’s great - we always get really good audiences and it is a good atmosphere,” Eliza said. Eliza likes to mix modern stories with traditional English music inspiration. “I am fond of a miserable narrative,” she said. “I like it when somebody dies or gets their heart broken or eats too much fish and chips.” The Eliza Carthy Band will perform at Southport Arts Centre on Friday, May 1, at 8pm. The band will be supported by Duotone. Tickets cost £14 or £12 for concessions, available by calling Southport Arts Centre box office on 01704 540011 or by logging onto www.seftonarts.co.uk By Natasha Robson 23/04/2009 10:50:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7450 The innovative stage show Elvis Presley in Concert returns to the UK in March 2010. Tickets went on sale on Friday April 24 for the production that reunites former Elvis band mates live on stage with a state of the art video-projected Elvis. The Elvis footage is projected on a large video screen. On stage a 16-piece orchestra and some of Elvis' original bandmates from the concert era of his career and other cast members perform live with the Elvis video. The show comes to the Echo Arena Liverpool on March 7 2010. To book tickets log on to www.echoarena.com or call the Echo Arena Box Office on 0844 8000 400. Tickets are priced at £35 / £33.50 subject to a booking / handling fee. Show time is 8pm. 23/04/2009 10:48:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7449 A major new production, featuring some of the greatest hit songs ever written, comes to the Liverpool Empire in June. Dreamboats and Petticoats - The Ultimate British Rock n Roll Musical -  is written by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran, the team behind Goodnight Sweetheart, Birds of a Feather, and Shine on Harvey Moon. In 1961 emotions run high as talented young musicians Norman and Bobby compete to win the hearts of their adoring female fans – and more importantly, the gorgeous Laura. But when Laura shows that she’s no slouch with the guitar, rock ‘n’ roll fame beckons.…. Manchester born Scott Bruton, one of this year’s X Factor finalists, stars in this brand new musical. Joining Scott is Ben Freeman who played the role of Scott Windsor for 10 years in ITV’s hit soap opera Emmerdale, Jennifer Biddall who played Jessica Harris in Hollyoaks, three new stars Daisy Wood-Davis, A J Dean and Emma Hatton who were hand picked from hundreds of hopefuls and David Cardy who is best known for his role as Chris Theodopolopodous in Birds of a Feather. Dreamboats and Petticoats comes to the Empire from Monday June 22 to Saturday June 27. To book call the box office 0844 847 2525* or go to www.LiverpoolEmpire.org.uk* (*booking fee applies). 23/04/2009 10:47:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7448 Audiences will be entertained by a true international singing star when Joe Longthorne and his fantastic 12-piece orchestra appear in concert at the Southport Theatre on Sunday May 10 at 7.30pm. Joe Longthorne has been a household name in Britain for over 25 years and continues to be in constant demand both as a television and live performer. He first came to British public attention in 1981 when he was a finalist on London Weekend Television’s Search For A Star, which led to appearances at The London Palladium with Bob Hope, a slot on The Royal Variety Performance and appearances on The Talk Of The Town programme. In 1987 he starred in the popular BBC series The Les Dennis Laughter Show and went on to be given his own television series The Joe Longthorne Show by Central Television for three consecutive seasons. Joe’s repertoire of voices is endless and includes hundreds of the world’s top singer, although he is perhaps best known for his impersonation of Shirley Bassey. His current tour sees him perform a wide variety of music and comedic impressions, while his musical performances are interspersed with entertaining stories and anecdotes from over 25 years in show business. Tickets are £25 and £22 (concessions £2 off). To book call Ticketmaster 0844 847 2380*, book online www.southporttheatre.org.uk* or call into the Theatre Box Office open Monday-Saturday, 9.30am-5.30pm (*booking fee applies).   23/04/2009 10:44:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7447 After the outstanding success of Disney On Ice’s Finding Nemo at the end of last year, Disney On Ice is back! See this dazzling new ice show where secret wishes are revealed when Disney On Ice presents Princess Wishes skates into the Echo Arena Liverpool 25-29 November. Through artistic skating and graceful acrobatics, Disney On Ice presents Princess Wishes beautifully recreates the defining moments when seven Disney princesses’ wishes are fulfilled. With Tinker Bell as their guide, guests will see the inspiring stories of Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, Mulan, Jasmine, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White and witness their wishes being granted and their dreams coming true. In this new touring show produced by Feld Entertainment, audiences will go where imaginations soar and anything can happen if they just believe. Ariel’s dreams are unlocked from under the sea and, in one magical moment, she finds happiness in an exploration above the waves. Mulan teaches inner strength, Jasmine discovers a whole new world and Snow White finds her one true love. This beautiful presentation also reveals Cinderella, Belle and Sleeping Beauty’s deepest wishes. Disney On Ice presents Princess Wishes invites audiences to come along as Tinker Bell shows them the timeless tales of seven inspiring princesses. Focusing on the moments where the princesses’ dreams come true, the show uses high-energy music, glittering sets and dramatic choreography to make a truly breathtaking experience. Tickets are £11.50 to £33.50.  To book tickets log on to www.echoarena.com or call the Echo Arena Box Office on 0844 8000 400.     23/04/2009 10:41:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7446 Pleasureland's owner has vowed to stay committed to the fairground despite their fourth suspected arson attack in two years. The latest fire destroyed the historic River Caves ride, that had been disused since previous owners Pleasure Beach’s Thompson family left the site in 2006. Owner Norman Wallis received a telephone call on Tuesday evening (April 21) shortly after the fire broke out at 7.50pm. “When I arrived it looked like something from a film on the TV,” he said. “There were great big flames coming out of the top of the building and smoke everywhere.” Eight fire engines and two support vehicles took two hours to get the blaze under control. Fire crews remained at the scene well into the following day to damp down the scene. A second fire started at the same time on an advertising hoarding in another part of the fairground. Mr Wallis said he and his colleagues had finished replacing broken windows in a neighbouring building just an hour before the fire broke out. The site has been plagued by vandals, he said, and suffered three previous arson attacks. Repair work has cost them hundreds of thousands of pounds. “You can’t allow vandals to stop progress,” Mr Wallis said. “We are committed to Southport and we have got to look to the future now, not the past.” The River Caves was opened at Pleasureland, on Southport's Promenade, in 1922, and was one of just two remaining rides in the country. Passengers rode on a boat through scenes including ancient Egypt, the jungle and the land of the dinosaurs. Pleasureland’s owners removed the exhibits in 2004 to be replaced by a dinosaur theme. The building was reconstructed with damaged parts of Blackpool’s Big One rollercoaster. When Pleasureland closed, elements of the ride were rescued by Dreamland heritage park in Margate. By Natasha Robson 23/04/2009 05:45:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7445 The iconic gas tower will be demolished by the end of June (2009). After almost 50 years of dominating the Southport skyline, work has begun to dismantle the 85-metre gas holder on Crowland Street, that was decommissioned in January 2008. National Grid contractors, CDC Demolition, had to remove the two smaller gas holders on the site first, to make way for the UK’s second largest crane needed to take down the biggest one. The crane stands 100 metres high with an 80-metre boom and weighs more than 600 tonnes. The structure will be used to transport the dismantled pieces of steel and took six people, six days to erect. David Clarke, managing director of CDC Demolition, said: “This has been one of our most interesting and challenging projects to date. The size of the gasholder and its proximity to its surroundings has presented a number of engineering challenges for us. Also, to have one of the country’s largest cranes on site has been exciting for the project team.” Brian Alston, National Grid regeneration manger, added: “Gas holders offer local storage to cope with daily demand and provide security of supply. However, technology has moved on and there are now more cost-effective ways of providing storage capacity in some areas. “We hope that our works will create a more pleasant outlook for the people of Southport and please be assured every effort will be made to minimise disruption to the local area.” Once voted one of the North West’s biggest eyesores in a BBC competition, the huge gas tower can be seen from miles around and is considered a precious local icon by some. There are two groups dedicated to saving the structure on social networking site Facebook, each with almost 200 members. By Natasha Robson 22/04/2009 05:48:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7444 Ainsdale police station is to open for additional hours and gain more of a police presence, as part of an ongoing review of Sefton’s policing resopurces. Following consultation with the public, local councillors and MP John Pugh, the Segars Lane station will open on Wednesday and Friday evenings and on Saturday mornings on a trial basis. The village’s neighbourhood officers and community support officers, which currently operate out of Formby, will also be moved to the station. Formby officers will remain at Formby police station. No officers will be taken off the streets to staff the desk. Sefton’s Area Commander, Chief Superintendent Ian Pilling said: “The review of all police station opening times in Sefton is still ongoing and no changes will be carried out without full consultation with the public and community leaders taking place. Anyone with any views in respect of this issue is welcome to contact their local police station to share them.” Ainsdale Conservative Councillor Brenda Porter said: I’m really pleased we have additional hours, it’s really good news.” By Natasha Young     22/04/2009 05:33:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7443 A trader who fronted a successful campaign to save Southport’s Indoor Market Hall is to close her stall for good. Sweet stall owner Wendy Miller made the decision  to leave the King Street site, where she has worked for 19 years, during a fight for reassurance from Sefton Council that the  market hall would remain in the town. Along with her 43-year-old son Paul who helps run the stall, she decided May 30 would be the closing date  now that the council have agreed to support the market’s long-term future with plans for a £3.2million revamp. “I wanted to see the campaign through,” Wendy told Champnews.com. “The time feels right now that we’ve got our aim. “The market is going to be super, I’ll still keep following it.” The campaign, described by Wendy as “hard work”, took off in January last year (2008) with the help of the resort’s Conservative parliamentary candidate Councillor Brenda Porter. A petition of more than 8,000 signatures was gathered, showing that many tourists and local residents were in support of the market staying at the King Street hall and the need for refurbishment. Wendy added: “I’m happily going with a good feeling about the place now. “I’m a firm believer it would have just gone if nothing was done. We were just watching stalls empty and go.” Having started off working on a friend’s underwear stall before opening her own confectionery business, Wendy described her time at the market as “fun” and listed Tory leader David Cameron’s whistle-stop visit to the building last year as one of her highlights. “I was in awe when David Cameron came,” she said. “I will miss the customers the most. I’ve loved being involved in people’s lives and hearing their tales.” Wendy and Paul, who has worked with his mother for 10 and a half years, now plan to enjoy some family time, as well as holidays they have missed out on while working long hours and often seven-day weeks. “We’re going to have a bit of fun time now,” added Wendy. By Natasha Young 22/04/2009 05:30:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7442 The bar where an alleged brawl involving Steven Gerrard took place has had its alcohol licence suspended. It is the first time police in Sefton have applied to suspend a premises’ licence in order to prevent serious crime.  The powers have been used only a handful of times elsewhere in Merseyside, normally at premises linked with shootings or stabbings, such as in the Rhys Jones murder case. The management of the Lounge Inn on Bold Street have called the decision “severe and disappointing” and say they will appeal the ruling and comply with everything asked of them. Sergeant  Nick Cowell said the bar had a trend of “grave woundings” as well as poor management. Sgt Cowell presented Merseyside Police’s case to an emergency meeting of Sefton Council’s licensing sub-committee on Monday morning (April 20, 2009). “There are three incidents at this premises where woundings of a serious nature have occurred,” he said. In August 2008 a man received serious head injuries. On December 29 (2008), Churchtown businessman Marcus McGee suffered facial cuts and a broken nose after a fracas, after which Liverpool FC captain Steven Gerrard and six other men were charged with affray. Most recently, on Sunday April 12, Southport man David Jackson was scarred for life after having a glass or bottle thrust in his face. He needed 22 stitches to two deep cuts on his face and his vision has been impaired in his left eye. Sgt Cowell explained that the attack was not reported to police for three hours and in the meantime bar staff cleaned the crime scene. “There are a great number of concerns regarding this matter,” he said. “The designated premises supervisor is under obligation to help prevent crime.  The very act of cleansing the scene of evidence could have impaired a murder investigation. “CCTV footage has been secured by police, but the actual assault is not on the footage.  It would appear that the alignment was obscured by a  large TV set.” The Lounge Inn, still referred to as Ciros in its licence, has two licensees - Antonio Curcillo and his son Dario Curcillo, also the designated premises supervisor, who Sgt Cowell likened to “The Scarlet Pimpernel”. “He is extremely hard to get hold of,” he said. “He is supposed to be the person in day to day charge, but according to police licensing visits he was last physically seen on that premises in 2007.” There was no evidence he had training in the Licensing Act 2003, he added. The committee agreed to immediately suspend the licence.  Owner Mak Naidoo is responsible for running the bar, that opened almost two and a half years ago. He holds a personal licence holder’s qualification and is in the process of applying for a licence in his name. “We are very disappointed with the decision, but we will be working very closely with the licensing authorities and the police to ensure all necessary remedial action will be taken,” he said. “We hope the matter will be resolved as soon as possible to resume business as normal.  In the meantime the restaurant will be open Tuesday to Sunday, 5pm to 11pm and although we are not able to sell alcohol, customers are more than welcome to bring their own.” They are in the process of carrying out the requirements of the police and council, including improving CCTV and security and giving extra training to all staff. No one from the Lounge Inn was present at Monday’s hearing.  “We were unaware that we were able to attend,” Mr Naidoo said. “Otherwise we definitely would have been there.” A full review hearing will take place on May 14. Steven Howard, 28, of Portland Street, Southport, appeared at Bootle Magistrates Court charged with causing grievous bodily harm to David Jackson at the Lounge Inn on April 12. He has been remanded in custody to appear for a plea and case management hearing at Liverpool Crown Court  on July 28. The trial of Gerrard and his six co-defendants begins on July 20. By Natasha Robson 22/04/2009 05:19:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7432 The Pride of Ireland comes to Southport Theatre and Convention Centre on Thursday May 7 at 7.30pm. This wonderful show from Ireland features the very best in Irish entertainment, from yesteryear to today’s Irish stars. Starring Ireland’s most dynamic and versatile performer Dominic Kirwan, with the Internationally renowned The Three Irish Tenors, who will enthral you with their fabulous  repertoire of popular classics. The cast also includes Sandy Kelly, Ireland’s Patsy Cline. From the showband era, Frankie McBride from Frankie McBride and The Polka Dots, Larry Cunningham from The Mighty Avons, Brian Coll from The Plattermen and Buckaroos.  Elaine Boyle, Ireland’s newest singing sensation, and featuring from the world of Irish Dancing, Internationally acclaimed Dancers from Gaelforce-Irish Dance Show, and the versatile Colm Kirwan. Tickets are £19.50 and £17.50. To book call Ticketmaster on 0844 847 2380*, book online at www.southporttheatre.org.uk* or call into the box office, open Monday to Saturday, 9.30am – 5.30pm (*subject to booking fee). 16/04/2009 10:44:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7431 Hesketh Bank Christian Centre, Moss Lane, Hesketh Bank is holding its second music festival on May 8 to 10. Friday 8 is Youth Night, featuring a selection of local bands and artistes. Tickets are £3 in advance, £5 on the door. The Houghton Weavers play on Saturday 9 - a fundraising event for the Douglas Cardiac Trust. Tickets are £12.50 which includes a hot pot supper. On Sunday 10 there will be a Brass Band Concert with cream tea. Guest band is the 4th National Champions, The Lostock Hall Memorial Brass Band. Tickets are £5 including the cream tea. Tickets are available from Topshop Newsagents on Station Road or the Hesketh Bank Christian Centre 01772 816727. For further information contact Mark Hawksley on markhawksley@postmaster.co.uk   16/04/2009 10:42:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7430 Jack and the Beanstalk Easter Panto Southport Arts Centre Spring has sprung and the Easter Panto at the Southport Arts Centre celebrated this with Jack and The Beanstalk. The show, brought to the town by LHK Productions ran over the holiday – and on a packed Thursday evening I was there – niece and nephew in tow warmed up for the usual ‘he’s behind you!’ etc. Since becoming a reporter I’ve seen around 6 million pantos (or it seems that way). Cinders twice, a few Snow Whites, Peter Pan and more. I’ve never seen Jack and the Beanstalk so I was intrigued at how the performers would portray a nasty giant on a budget without giving the youngsters nightmares. The verdict – using a great set, clever use of light and imaginative sound they pulled it off a treat – in short it was a giant success. Star of the show Anthony Kavanagh (90’s singer – I Can Make You Feel Good) seemed born to be on the stage. With his charming smile and great voice he was a natural at live entertaining. The same can’t be said for Big Brother beauty Stephanie McMichael, she seemed uncomfortable on stage and seemed to have trouble rhyming her words. That said, it takes some confidence to pull off a pink tutu and sparkly shoes over the age of six without looking like a plonker, and she looked absolutely fabulous. Alison Crawford (Grease is the Word) who played Gill did an amazing job. Her sweetness shone through and everyone in the audience fell in love with this kind princess. And the Panto Dame – brilliant. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when she graced the stage. In fact my nephew loved the dame dance so much he still won’t stop performing it! The audience didn’t want her to leave the stage. Star of the show – the panto horse. It’s been a long time since I saw a panto horse and this one was great. With tricky moves and a real character both the front end and the back end entertained us, and as predicted received the biggest applause at the end of the show. So toe-tapping songs combined with fun, fabulous dancing, smart wit and side splitting humour this was without a doubt the best panto I’ve ever seen. Can’t wait until next year! Well done to all involved. By Rebecca Keegan   16/04/2009 10:40:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7429 The world’s number one touring Abba tribute concert comes to Southport Theatre on Friday May 8 at 7.30pm. Abba Mania formed in 1999 and the show has been selling out theatres and concert halls internationally ever since. This show has toured the world in its quest to bring the music of the Swedish supergroup to their millions of fans, old and new. Abba’s timeless songs were written to be enjoyed live and Abba Mania gives you exactly that – 2 hours of uplifting, dance inducing and sometimes heart-breaking songs, fully live with fantastic staging, lighting and effects. The show recreates Abba’s sound not only perfectly, but respectfully too. Hit after hit include ‘Dancing Queen’, ‘Waterloo’, ‘Mamma Mia’, ‘The Winner Takes it All’, ‘Super Trouper’, ‘Fernando’, ‘Take A Chance On Me’ and many more that continue to fill dancefloors worldwide. Tickets are £16.50, children £8.25 (16yrs and under); groups 10+ 1 in 10 free; Live Card £2.00 off. To Book Call Ticketmaster on 0844 8472380*, book online at www.southporttheatre.org.uk* or call into the Box Office open Monday-Saturday, 9.30am – 5.30pm (*subject to booking fee).   16/04/2009 10:38:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7428 Direct from a sensational smash hit West End season, Little Shop of Horrors will be open for business at the Empire from May 4-9! The cast includes Clare Buckfield (Audrey), Alex Ferns (Dentist), Sylvester McCoy (Mushnik), Damian Humbley (Seymour), Cathryn Davis, Nadia Di Mambro, Donna Hines as Ronettes and Andy Heath as Puppeteer. Clare Buckfield has been a Dancing on Ice finalist. Her team won in the ITV Christmas Special on Christmas Day. She is most known for her TV roles in Steel River Blues and 2.4 Children. Alex Ferns has won many TV Awards for his portrayal of Trevor on EastEnders. He has appeared onstage in Michael Grandage’s production of Guys and Dolls and recently toured in Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. Sylvester McCoy was the seventh Doctor in the long-running BBC TV series of Doctor Who. His numerous stage roles include the Fool in the recent RSC production of King Lear with Ian McKellen. Down-and-out Skid Row floral assistant Seymour becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers an exotic plant with a mysterious craving for fresh blood. Soon “Audrey II” grows into an ill-tempered, foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore offering him fame and fortune in exchange for feeding its growing appetite… but as Audrey II’s hungry demands increase, all that Seymour holds dear is threatened as the plant’s sinister agenda for global domination is revealed…. One of the longest-running off-Broadway shows of all time, this affectionate spoof of 1950s sci-fi movies has become a house-hold name, thanks to a highly successful film version and a score by the song writing team of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken. They also wrote the music and lyrics for Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Beauty and The Beast and Aladdin. Tickets are £10.50 - £29.50.  To book call the box office 0844 847 2525* or go to www.LiverpoolEmpire.org.uk* (*booking fee applies).   16/04/2009 10:36:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7427 A free taster session will be held on Friday April 17 for a new performing arts school in Southport. ‘Cats Academy of Theatrical Stars’ was recently founded by Catherine Whitehall after many years of experience in the industry, both performing and teaching. Having returned to her home town of Southport, Catherine has set up CATS in the hope that children interested in dance, drama and singing can come together to learn and meet new friends. “CATS is not just for children who wish to make a career in performing arts. It is a chance for the, to socialise, learn creative skills, gain confidence and develop interpersonal skills which are essential in any career and will enhance their ability to communicate with others throughout their schooldays and into adulthood,” Catherine said. The school, based at Stanley High School, Fleetwood Road, provides professional tuition for dance, drama and singing for children five to 18 years. The taster takes place on Friday April 17 from 5pm to 8pm. For more information go to www.catsacademy.co.uk or email info@catsacademy.co.uk Catherine also wants to congratulate private students Beth Readman and Lilley Deevey on passing their Grade Two Singing ABRSM exams with distinction. 16/04/2009 10:33:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7426 Stars of Emmerdale will appear at the Riverside Steam and Vintage Vehicle Rally this weekend. Paddy Kirk  and Marlon Dingle (aka Dominic Brunt and Mark Charnock) will make guest appearances at the event, that will feature more than 500 exhibits on Saturday and Sunday, April 18 and 19 2009. Thirty steam engines will be on display along with vintage cars, wagons, tractors, buses, motor bikes and military vehicles. A vintage fairground will be in attendance together with numerous trade stalls and a selection of food outlets. An auction of steam engines, vintage vehicles and items of memorabilia will take place on Saturday at 2pm. The event will be held at the Riverside Holiday Park Complex, Southport New Road, Banks and all proceeds will be donated to local charities. Admission is £5 for adults and £3 for children. The Harrison Family, owners of the Riverside, hope the rally will become an annual event and raise thousands for charity. Some of the causes to benefit from the inaugural event are the North West Air Ambulance, the NSPCC, local hospices and Rotary International.    16/04/2009 10:31:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7425 A Southport couple celebrated a very rare anniversary last week. Betty and Alfred Coombes and their family gathered at Westcliffe Manor nursing home to mark their Platinum Wedding on Wednesday April 8 2009, exactly 70 years since they married in Hull. The couple were 18 and 22 when they wed, 18 months after meeting at a dance class.  Since then they have moved 14 times, but have spent the past 20 years at Percival Court sheltered accommodation, Lord Street. Alfred, 94, who has a first-class degree in chemistry and worked as Birmingham City Analyst, now lives at Westcliffe Manor, Westcliffe Road, after suffering a stroke. “It feels amazing to be celebrating 70 years of marriage because it really seems such a short time,” Betty, 89, said. “We are very happy and aware how fortunate we are to still be together after all these years.  We would be lost without each other.” The couple, who have two children - Margaret Boneham, head of Health and Social Sciences at Bolton University, who lives in Southport, and John Coombes, a dentist in Shropshire - received a card hand-signed by the Queen sending her “warm congratulations” on their special day. Betty, a former school and university secretary, believes their long and happy marriage is down to marrying at a young age. “We hadn’t become too set in our ways and we grew up together,” she said. “If we had a disagreement we never let it hang around for long.  If we discussed it we would turn to the other person’s point of view.” By Natasha Robson 16/04/2009 10:27:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7424 Southport has defied the credit crunch with businesses booming over the Easter weekend. The sun shone and visitors flocked to the resort to shop, sightsee and have fun. “Credit crunch - whatever!” owner of the Sandgrounder fish and chip restaurant, Nevill Street, Brian Garner said. “This has been one of the busiest Easter weekends in years, so let’s hope it stays that way.” Herbert Silcock Jr, owner of Silcock’s amusement arcades, Funland and the carousel, said the sunshine made all the difference. “This has been a very reasonable start to the 2009 season,” he said. “Southport has the right recipe for attracting visitors, and Sunday and Monday were the icing on the cake. “If you offer value for money like we do, people will support you an Southport benefited because of that this weekend.” New Pleasureland owner Norman Wallis said visitors came from as far as Kendal, Leeds, Wolverhampton and North Wales. “It is nice to know we helped to bring a lot of people into Southport,” he said. “People are concerned about the credit crunch and holding on to their pennies, but our motto is ‘affordable fun for everyone’. “It was a busy weekend, but one swallow does not make a summer and we need to continue to promote the town and build on the quality that everyone can now see in Southport.” Town Centre Manager Jim Breen said early reports show that stores did roaring trade. “Crowds were much higher this Easter weekend and from the few reports I have had stores have had a very good few days sales-wise and are reporting very good figures,” he said. Former Mayor of Sefton, Conservative Cllr David Pearson, said: "Southport has been packed with visitors, yet what do we hear from many of our residents? "I am one of the first to admit that our town is not perfect, but if you have lived here any length of time where else would you rather reside? "Let's all pull together, support Southport and we will survive this financial downturn." By Natasha Robson   16/04/2009 10:23:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7423 The world’s largest size of champagne bottle is on display at Portland Wines. The Melchizedek - equivalent to 40 standard bottles - stands four feet tall and is worth £4,000. The huge bottle of Drappier was specially ordered from the shop on Portland Street by a Southport businessman who collects champagne, but it will be on display for another week. The same man bought the second-largest size - a 36-bottle Primat - from the store several years ago. “This is the largest mass-produced bottle in the world, but they only make around 20 a year,” Portland Wines owner Dave Smith said. “They are made to order and it has taken about 12 weeks for it to arrive.  It is exciting for all of us to have it on display in the shop.” By Natasha Robson 15/04/2009 10:36:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7421 A doctor and his relative were attacked in a suspected hate crime at Southport hospital’s A&E department. Both of the male victims, aged 22 and 28, were injured in the attack by a gang of four youths on Good Friday evening (April 10, 2009). Hospital staff called police when the attack broke out in the accident and emergency ward, shortly after 6.30pm. Officers responded immediately and arrested two boys aged 16 and 17 and two men aged 18 and 20, all from the Southport area, on suspicion of racially aggravated assault and affray. Merseyside Police say they are treating the incident as a hate crime. A Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust spokesman confirmed the assault. He said: “One of those attacked is a doctor at the Trust, the other is one of their relatives, and both sustained injuries. “Because this is now the subject of a police investigation it is inappropriate for us to comment further other than to say the Trust will be cooperating fully with the police investigation and to commend our staff in the A&E who acted swiftly and properly in a very difficult situation.” The men arrested have been released on police bail pending further enquiries.  No charges have yet been laid. Merseyside Police is appealing for information on the assault and officers are keen to speak to anybody who witnessed the incident either outside of the hospital or in the A&E department. Witnesses are urged to contact Sefton CID on 0151 777 3165 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. By Natasha Robson     15/04/2009 09:51:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7420 Twelve “serious” medical blunders were made at Southport and Ormskirk Hospitals over the past year, a national newspaper has revealed. In one case a patient alleged feeling pain during an operation. The statistics were revealed by the Daily Mirror using the Freedom of Information Act.  From the 97 hospital trusts who replied  to the requests, more than 2,000 “serious untoward incidents” (SUIs) were listed. Aintree University Hospitals NHS Trust had 11 SUIs, including a patient being incorrectly identified and undergoing the wrong urological procedure, a wrongly-inserted chest drain puncturing a patient’s heart and a breathing tube being dislodged from a patient’s windpipe, leading to a fatal heart attack. The investigation blamed staff shortages and cost-cutting for the mistakes, which was denied by Aintree. A spokesman for Southport and Ormskirk Hospital confirmed the figures but did not wish to comment further. A spokesman for Aintree University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said they had a “robust system” for the reporting of patient safety incidents with a view to ensure lessons are learnt each time. He added: “Every serious untoward Incident instigates the Trust’s Being Open Policy and we ask family representatives to participate in a root cause analysis investigation. Staff are actively encouraged to report any incident, whether someone has suffered harm or not. Reporting helps identify problems, which enables us to work on solutions. “In each of the Serious Untoward Incidents reported staffing levels were not identified as a root cause of the incident.” The number of SUIs at each hospital trust ranged from none at two hospitals to 116 at North Staffordshire. A spokesman from the Patients’ Association said the accidents were “avoidable”. By Natasha Robson   15/04/2009 09:47:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7414 Merseyside Police is appealing for information following an assault which happened on Friday 6, February 2009 on Scarisbrick Avenue, (near to West Street) Southport. At around 3.45am a 21-year old male received a broken jaw following an altercation with a number of other males. Merseyside Police would like to speak with anyone who witnessed this incident and are keen to identify the below males who may have valuable information to assist with the investigation. Anyone with any information isurged to contact Copy Lane CID on 0151 777 3165 or Crimestoppers 0800 555111.   09/04/2009 11:45:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7413 A clay pigeon shooter from Southport is “honoured” to have become the youngest ever manager of the England team. Karl Prince, 33, applied for the position last month and was given the job by the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association (CPSA) last week. He hopes to use his new appointment to attract more youngsters to the sport. “I was delighted when I heard the news,” Karl, who lives near the town centre, said. “Representing the national team is a big responsibility but it will be a great thing to do.  And to be the youngest ever manager is a great honour. “I hope to get more juniors involved and start them off shooting, because it is not the elitist sport that some people think and you can start at any age.” Karl began shooting as a hobby aged 16 and picked up the sport when he worked on a clay pigeon shoot in Scarisbrick. He took it up seriously eight years ago and has since travelled the world alongside the Great Britain team, competing as an individual, and has been ranked in the top 20 competitors in the world. Karl’s England manager role lasts three years and he will be responsible for motivating the team and organising their travel, accommodation and events such as prizegivings. “I would encourage anyone thinking of taking up the sport to come on down and have a go,” former Kingswood school pupil Karl said. “There are no age restrictions and most clubs will lend a shotgun to someone who doesn’t have their own.  “A good clay pigeon shooter needs good reactions, a calm temperament, good eyes and motivation.” To find your nearest club, go to www.cpsa.co.uk By Natasha Robson 09/04/2009 11:37:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7412 Southport will soon be featured on the controversial Google Street View online map system. The Street View camera car was spotted driving round Southport and Tarleton last week. The unusual-looking vehicle, with a camera mounted on a large pole on the roof, was spotted on Scarisbrick New Road, Bispham Road, The Coastal Road, Manchester Road, Lord Street and Eastbank Street, among others. Google Street View, that is currently available for seven UK cities including Liverpool, allows web users to see a photographic eye-level view of streets from Google Maps. A Google spokesman confirmed Street View cars are still driving around the UK to collect imagery. He added: “It takes several months to go from driving to imagery available online.  As an example, we started driving last July, and we only got the first imagery online in March.” The first images have proved controversial, with some claiming it is an invasion of privacy and others saying it could be used as a scouting tool for burglars. But Sefton crime reduction officer Kevin Kehoe does not believe home-owners need to worry. “I think people are fearful of it without understanding.  I don’t see it being anything that would be a crime generator,” he said. “Burglars often know the area, without going to the internet to look at map, so I don’t see it being particularly worrying. “It only shows the front of properties and 70-75% of burglars enter through a rear ground floor door or window.” Chair of Southport Homewatch, Margaret Jepson said the majorities of burglaries are opportunistic rather than planned. “I can understand some people are going to be a bit concerned about this, but it us up to people to look after their own security.  A lot of burglaries take place through insecure property, so people need to routinely lock their doors and windows.” By Natasha Robson 09/04/2009 11:18:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7411 Birkdale Orpheus Society Anniversary Production - South Pacific This year the Birkdale Orpheus Society celebrates its 50th Anniversary with a new production of the musical South Pacific, which the society first presented at the Garrick Theatre in 1960 with current President, David Charters, playing Joe Cable. The society was formed on February 28 1959, the first meeting taking place at St. John's Hall in Wright Street, Southport. The B.O.S. stage 2 musicals a year (in May and October) at The Little Theatre in Southport, ranging from traditional blockbusters such as My Fair Lady, Fiddler on the Roof, The King and I  to the likes of Cabaret and big number dance shows such as West Side Story, Copacabana, 42nd Street  and Annie.  They pride themselves on maintaining the highest standard, catering for every taste and age, and welcome any new members of all ages, ranging from children to grandparents, who would like to be a part of a fun and friendly society.  Future productions include Singin' in the Rain, When The Lights Go On Again and, for the first time in the North West, The Likes of Us,  an Andrew Lloyd Webber Musical. Many people who joined in the 80's and 90's are still active in the society today and span generations of family members.  Ex-Chairman, Liz Clarke, is making her directing debut with South Pacific, sharing the stage with her two children, Michael and Lucie, and her mother, Pam. Her father, Gordon, is Front of House. Meanwhile, current Chairman, Ian Ashcroft, appears alongside daughter Miriam. Choreographer is Mandy Evans and Musical Director, Jeff Rimmer. The production opens at The Little Theatre, Southport on Saturday 9th May and runs through to Saturday 16th May, starting at 7.30pm with a 2pm matinee performance on 16th May (Advanced ticket sales tel: 01704 564042. Theatre Box Office opens Saturday May 2, 11.00am-5pm  tel: 01704 530521) By Ron Ellis 09/04/2009 11:05:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7410 Sign of the Times: Liverpool Playhouse Sign of the Times tells the heart-warming story  of two characters who have let their ambitions pass them by and become lost in someone else’s idea of progress. Frank Tollit, played by Stephen Tomkinson, has spent the past 25 years of his life putting up signs on the outside of buildings. Having been led to believe he is a key part of the workforce at the hardware store where he is head of installation, Frank suddenly has to come to terms with the fact that the company is downsizing. Joined on the rooftop by work experience teenager Alan (Tom Shaw) who has put his own creative ambitions on hold to go out to work, Frank spends his last day in the only job he has ever known reflecting on how he has missed out on his true dream of becoming a writer. The duo, who at first appear to be like chalk and cheese, strike up an unexpected yet believable bond, but are surprised by the situation they are in when they meet again. It could be the timely subject of job cuts that makes the story and its characters so easy to relate to, yet writer Tim Firth, whose other works include Calendar Girls and The Flint Street Nativity, maintains a warm and funny approach throughout this feel-good comedy. Tomkinson, who is at home in lead roles having starred in TV shows including Wild at Heart, All Quiet on the Preston Front and the film Brassed Off, lived up to expectations with an excellent performance, whilst little-known actor Shaw was equally as impressive.   Review by Natasha Young   09/04/2009 11:02:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7409 Reunited eighties legends Spandau Ballet will perform at Liverpool’s Echo Arena this year, as part of their comeback world tour. The multi-platinum selling five piece, including Tony Hadley, John Keeble, Gary Kemp, Martin Kemp and Steve Norman, will play their hits True and Gold once again. The concert takes place on October 29. For tickets log on to www.echoarena.com or call the Echo Arena Box Office on 0844 8000 400. Tickets are priced at £60 / £45 / £37.50 (all subject to booking and transactions fees).   09/04/2009 10:58:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7408 The ever-popular Solid Silver Sixties show comes to Southport Theatre and Convention Centre on Monday April 27, 7.30pm. Featuring The Searchers, The Merseybeats, Wayne Fontana & very special guest John Walker of the Walker Brothers, the UK’s original and premier 60s show is back once again, now in its 24th year. Taking you back to the “Summer of Love” is the chart topping 60s pop group The Searchers, joining the tour for the 11th time. The influential foursome have notched up a run of over 18 hit records, including three number 1’s and the classic ‘Sweets For My Sweet’.  Also joining the show are Wayne Fontana, The Merseybeats and John Walker; all astoundingly talented and well respected artists from the era. With hits like ‘Um Um Um Um Um Um’, ‘Pamela Pamela’ and the epic ‘Game of Love’, Wayne remains a firm favourite.   The Merseybeats will be performing some of their greatest numbers including the million selling ‘I Think Of You’, ‘Wishin & Hopin’ and ‘I Love You Yes I Do’. John Walker was part of the brilliant Walker Brothers, he played on all the greatest numbers including ‘Love Her’, ‘Make It Easy On Yourself’, ‘My Ship Is Coming In’ and ‘Stay With Me Baby’.  Completing the impressive Solid Silver 60s line-up are The DAKOTAS performing the likes of their chart-topping hits "Bad to Me", "Little Children" and "Do You Want to Know A Secret." Tickets are £21.50, £19.50 & £17.50.  To book call Ticketmaster on 0844 847 2380*, go to www.SouthportTheatre.org.uk* or call in to the Box Office open Monday-Saturday, 9.30am-5.30pm (*subject to booking fee).   09/04/2009 10:56:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7407 Members of the Crosby Symphony Orchestra, who come from all areas of Sefton and West Lancashire, are enjoying rehearsals for their Spring Concert, to be held in St Faith's Church, Waterloo (corner of Kingsway and Crosby Road North) on Sunday April 26, at 7.30. The evening begins with the Orb and Sceptre march, which was composed specially for the Queen's Coronation in 1953 by William Walton. It starts with bright trumpet fanfares before moving into the famous march section. Ravel orchestrated his “Mother Goose Suite” from his piano impressions of some nursery rhymes, including Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, and Tom Thumb. The first half concludes with Sibelius' Valse Triste, which was an instant hit with the public when it was first performed . It became one of his signature pieces and is still very popular today. For the second half of the concert, the mood changes as the orchestra moves to a Russian composer, Borodin, whose Second Symphony contains four movements of contrasting mood, colour and tempo, with a resplendent finale. The concert will be conducted by Robert Sells and tickets, priced at £7 and concessions £5 including a Programme, are available from Pritchard's Bookshop in Crosby village, or on the door.   09/04/2009 10:54:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7406 X-Factor stars Journey South will be appearing for at Southport’s Prince of Wales Hotel, Lord Street, on Friday July 17. The duo will be joined by support acts and a DJ for a cabaret evening in the ballroom, that includes a three-course meal for £19.95 per head. Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased by calling 01704 233383 or email kevinpeet@btconnect.com.   09/04/2009 10:53:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7405 Following the sad and sudden death of original ELO member Kelly Groucutt recently, The Orchestra have decided to go ahead with their May tour in tribute to him. With original ELO past hit-makers Louis Clark and Mik Kaminski alongside ELO Part II founding member Eric Troyer, Phil Bates and Gordon Townsend, this will be a fitting tribute to Kelly and a show not to be missed. One of the most successful groups of the 70s & 80s, ELO spent a staggering 255 weeks on the singles chart and 393 weeks on the album charts; total worldwide sales are in excess of 100 million records, in the UK alone they had 27 top 20 hits, 11 top 10 albums including two Number Ones - “Discovery” and “Time.” ELO’s previous top ten hits include ‘Xanadu’ (featuring Olivia Newton John), ‘Roll Over Beethoven’, ‘Livin’ Thing’, ‘Mr Blue Sky’ and ‘Sweet Talkin’ Woman’.  The show comes to Southport Theatre and Convention Centre on Wednesday May 20. For tickets call 0870 4000684 or go to www.southporttheatre.org.uk.   09/04/2009 10:52:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7404 Submerged boats have been removed from the Botanic Gardens lake. Several boats had been left to sink in the lake at the park in Churchtown after the operator left at the end of last season. Chairman of the Botanic Gardens Action Group, Ken Bridge, has thanked Sefton Council for removing the ‘eyesore’ before the Easter holidays. “We hope that the boats can be back on the lake before the main holiday period, but the boathouse is in danger of falling down and will have to be rebuilt,” he said. “With the present freeze on Council spending things are not hopeful as the building will have to be replaced as the original, with the Botanic Gardens being in a conservation area.” A spokesman for Sefton Council said: "Following discussions with the Botanic Gardens Action Group, the old boats have now been cleared from the park lake. "We are currently looking at the boating facilities at Botanic Gardens with the view of re-letting this concession. No decisions have yet been made." By Natasha Robson   08/04/2009 11:06:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7403 Southport Boat Angling Club is hoping to turn Ainsdale’s Sands Lake into a fishing site for young people. Members of the group carried out a survey of how many fish are in the boating lake last week, in a bid to get the project underway. The club’s secretary, retired fire fighter John Law, 57, helped come up with the idea. He said: “We are hoping in time to open the lake up for fishing for kids. “When I was eight, nine and 10-years-old we used to go fishing there and I had a great time.” Environment Agency funding is available to help the project and John added: “We got no fish out of the lake but the Environment Agency will put some in. “We’ve got to provide the right habitat before we can add fish though so we’ve got to do a lot of work.” Ainsdale Conservative Councillor Brenda Porter said: “I think it’s another facility for the area that can only be good and I’m looking forward to being kept updated and doing all I can to help. It will be good to bring the Sands Lake area alive again for young  people to use. “Well done to John Law and his team who are doing this on a voluntary basis.” By Natasha Young 08/04/2009 10:47:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7402 Southport could be left without a library for up to two years if a temporary location cannot be found. The current site on Lord Street is earmarked for a major redevelopment that could begin later this year (2009) if funding is secured. A source revealed that Sefton Council is having difficulty finding a venue to house the library’s wide range of books, CDs and DVDs and reference section during the extensive works. The library also provides free internet and computer access. It is understood council officers have viewed and rejected several locations in the town, including Casablanca restaurant at Pleasureland. It is unclear whether staff, who are employed by the council, would be transferred elsewhere or made redundant. The planned £20million development would turn the current library, Atkinson Art Gallery and Arts Centre into a modern cultural centre for the town. A £4million Government grant is already in place, but a further £16million needs to be secured before the work could go ahead. The Champion revealed in February how Arts Centre staff are fearful for their jobs after they were told the theatre could close for more than two years, from January (2010). Amateur dramatics groups already have bookings at the theatre in 2010 and would be forced to find another venue. A spokesman for Sefton Council said: "As part of a 10-year strategy, Sefton Council is currently seeking a significant package of funding to link up the Arts Centre, library and art gallery on Lord Street. "If we are able to get funding for the project it will mean a major investment in the cultural facilities for the resort of around £20 million, and would involve a considerable construction project to develop the centre. "We are looking at a number of options for the continuation of services during that period. But at this early stage it would be wrong to speculate publicly what may, or may not happen." By Natasha Robson   08/04/2009 10:33:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7401 A 42-year-old man is facing 84 charges, including posing as a medical doctor and a vet and sexual assault. Russell Oakes, of Shore Road, Hesketh Bank, appeared before Southport magistrates on Friday (April 3, 2009) for his case to be sent to Crown Court. The charges of fraudulently posing as a veterinary surgeon relate to numerous incidents at Warren Farm, Southport Old Road, Formby; Headbolt Farm, Woodvale Road, Ainsdale; Ferns Farm, Liverpool Road, Rufford; Oliversons Farm, North End Lane, Hightown; Boundary Farm, Dole Lane, Bretherton, and farms in Eccleston, Wigan and Irlam, Manchester. On February 26,2008, he allegedly attempted to castrate a four-year-old Welsh pony at Headbolt Farm, causing it unnecessary suffering. Oakes is charged with dishonestly gaining membership of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in November 2006 by using a forged veterinary medicine degree certificate from Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, and a forged letter of good standing. He is said to have gained  more than £5,500 by his fraudulent activities as a vet. Oakes is said to have posed as a medical doctor in several locations including Warren Farm, Crosby and Standish, Wigan, and charged ‘patients’ for blood tests, then forged the results. He faces charges of assault on former patients and is said to have fraudulently gained more than £5,400 posing as a doctor. Oakes is charged with four counts of sexual assault. He is accused of appealing a speeding offence by falsely claiming he had to attend a veterinary emergency. He is also accused of assisting his girlfriend, Joanne Conroy, of avoiding a speeding charge by falsely ‘verifying’ that she had a medical emergency. All the alleged offences relate to a period between October 2006 and March 2008. Conroy, 39, of the same address as Oakes, appeared alongside him in the dock, charged with  perverting the course of justice for falsely claiming she had a medical emergency to avoid a speeding prosecution in 2007. Oakes, on conditional bail and Conroy, on unconditional bail, will appear at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday July 7 (2009) for a plea and case management hearing.   08/04/2009 10:05:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7398 Hundreds of Southport residents turned out to pay respects to former Summer Hostess, Connie Creighton. The variety tribute show at the Arts Centre raised more than £2,000 for Queenscourt Hospice from ticket sales alone, in memory of Connie who died in January aged 74. The show featured a range of talents who had worked with Connie over the years, including Sooty star Matthew Corbett, Southport comedian Bobby Kaye, Sooty Show colleagues Teddy Alexander and Spencer K Gibbins, Search for a Star winner Sandi West and accompaniment from organist Charles Mitchell. Matthew told some anecdotes about his years working with Connie and introduced a 1976 promotional film of Southport, narrated by her. Connie’s husband John Seaton had hoped to attend the show, but was unable to make the journey from Bournemouth due to illness. The show was filmed for him. “What a wonderful show, and I know Connie enjoyed it too,” Matthew said. “It was nothing other than a success and it was superb to hear Connie’s voice on film. “That was the first time I have been on a theatre stage since the last Sooty stage show with Connie in 1998 and it was terrifying.” Organiser Phil King hailed the show as “exceptional”. “Everybody has a story about Connie, all with a bit of fun in them, and that came across famously,” he said. “She was so well loved and professional from top to toe. There was no one else like her in the whole British seaside resort industry.” Phil thanked the committee, Arts Centre staff, acts, and sponsors June the Florist. 03/04/2009 06:33:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7396 A TALENTED dancer from Southport has landed a role in her favourite musical - Chicago. Laura Tyrer, 26, plays June in the famous show, that stars Jimmy Osmond as Billy Flynn and Eastenders’ Emma Barton as Roxy Hart. Laura joined the cast fresh from her West End role in Monty Python musical comedy Spamalot. Chicago is touring the country until the end of the year and comes to the Liverpool Empire Theatre from Monday 6 to Saturday 11 April. “I love it - it’s just such a brilliant show,” former Merchant Taylors' pupil Laura said. “It’s a bit hectic always moving from place to place but I don’t mind.  They are great people to work with and it is the show I always wanted to do.” The award-winning show is based on real life events back in the roaring 1920s.  Nightclub singer Roxie Hart shoots her lover and along with cellblock rival, double-murderess Velma Kelly, she fights to keep from death row with the help of smooth talking lawyer, Billy Flynn. Created by the musical theatre talents of John Kander, Fred Ebb and legendary choreographer Bob Fosse, Chicago’s sexy, sassy score includes the showstoppers All That Jazz and Razzle Dazzle. Laura, who grew up in Ainsdale and began dancing at Loretto Bamber Dance Academy, is also an understudy for the part of Velma. “A lot of my family and friends are coming to see the show in Liverpool.  The Empire is a lovely theatre and we always have great audiences there,” Laura said. To book tickets for the show (£10-£33), call Ticketmaster on 0844 8472525 or go to www.liverpoolempire.org.uk (booking fee applies). 02/04/2009 05:54:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7395 The Royal Clifton Hotel, Sunday April 19, 8pm The Ryan Quigley Sextet This is a highlight concert in the 2009 Southport Melodic Jazz Club calender, bringing an outstanding contempoary jazz ensemble to town. Derry born, Glasgow based trumpeter Ryan Quigley's style is influenced by the classic 1950's/60's 'Blue Note' vinyl recordings by such iconic bands as The Sidewinders and the Jazz Messengers, as well as the great Chet Baker. His musical career includes appearances with The Irish National Symphony Orchestra and the RTE Concert Orchestra and he also now has a regular place in the trumpet section of The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra. Ryan's reputation as a band leader, arranger and composer is growing rapidly. The jazz critic Rob Adams recently wrote  "His writing is succinct and deftly orchestrated and his playing has strength in its concision as well as carrying a whole lot of heart, soul, sincerity and enthusiasm." Ryan has created an outstanding band for this current Jazz Services sponsored UK tour. Most of them are Glasgow based including the internationally renowned pianist Brian Kellock. Laura Macdonald on saxes, drummer Alyn Cosker and Calum Gourley on bass. We heard Brian Kellock last week at The Gateshead Jazz Festival and we can assure our audience that there's a real treat in store. Last but definitely not least is Paul Booth, a young English tenor sax player who stole the show at the club's Winter festival in 2008 with Arnie Somogyi's band. For those who enjoy straight ahead swinging jazz, this concert is a must. You can get more on Ryan Quigley on www.myspace.com/ryanquigleytrumpet Tickets are available in advance from: SMJC Tickets 01704 541790 or The Royal Clifton Hotel 01704 533771 Price £14  SMJC members £12  NUS students £8  Accompanied under 16's free Doors open 7.30 pm - All welcome.   02/04/2009 05:52:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7394 THE CEMETERY CLUB SDC - Southport Little Theatre Three middle-aged widows meet monthly at the cemetery to visit their husbands' graves and this well-written play is about how they adjust to their bereavements in different ways. Sadness is seldom allowed to intrude in what is essentially a clever and sophisticated Jewish comedy.            In fact, the first half could have been a radio play as most of the interest was in the acerbic verbal exchanges between the three women.  The second half was enlivened by more action including an amusing slapstick scene after the wedding reception. The man-hungry Lucille is glad to be rid of her cheating spouse and is eagerly searching for his replacement. Viv Tyrer excelled in the part but will she ever live down the wig and horrendous pink wedding outfit she had to wear in Act Two? Kathy Felton-Aksoy played Ida, who is ready to look for love again and seems to have found it with widower Sam, an unusually reticent role for Les Gomersall but one he adapted to well. Margaret Hodge was Doris, still emotionally shackled to her lost love. She and Lucille warn Sam not to pressure Ida but are not prepared for her distress when he turns up at a wedding with a younger partner played by Pat Simpkin. The dialogue is sharp and witty with shades of Neil Simon at his best and all four actresses delivered their lines with the aplomb of a Lucille Ball or Bette Midler.  Only one quibble - the interludes between scenes (and there were four scenes in each act) seemed unnecessarily overlong despite the pleasant background music. A couple of graves dragged on in front of a backdrop curtain would have sufficed. Champ verdict 3/5 Sparkling dialogue. Review by Ron Ellis 02/04/2009 05:48:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7393 Scooby-Doo and the gang are back! Following their sell-out success with "Stagefright" the ultimate cartoon classic explodes onto the stage once again with "Scooby-Doo and the Pirate Ghost" - a brand new show to entertain the whole family. Join Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Velma, Daphne and Fred as they encounter a new case to solve in their trade mark Mystery Inc style. Hold onto your seats as the adventure unfolds with perplexing clues, pirate ghosts and an abundance of Scooby snacks. It's Scooby-Doo and the gang at their finest and funniest, live on stage and back by popular demand. Come and see these much loved Hanna-Barbera characters as they face one hilarious situation after another, mixing their familiar blend of classic physical comedy, popular tunes and special effects into an irresistible theatrical experience that will appeal equally to parents who grew up watching the television show and kid who have discovered Scooby-Doo for the first time. The show comes to Southport Theatre and Convention Centre on Friday April 10 to Sunday April 12 at varying times. Tickets are £14.50 - £19.50, children £10, family tickets £54 and £48.  Other discounts available. To book call Ticketmaster 0844 847 2380*, go to www.SouthportTheatre.org.uk* or call into the Box Office  open Monday-Saturday, 9.30am-5.30pm (*subject to booking fee).   02/04/2009 05:46:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7392 The Saturdays are set to go on their first headline tour this June at theatres across the UK. The ‘Work’ tour calls in at the Liverpool Empire on Monday 29 June, and tickets are on sale now. “I can’t believe we are about to go out on our first very own tour,” says Una Healy. “We hadn’t even released our debut single this time last year and nobody knew us. So many great things have happened and we can’t wait to go out and perform on our own headline tour.” The Saturdays are one of the success stories of the last year. In nine months, The Saturdays have had four top ten singles and a top ten album. Their current single, ‘Just Can’t Get Enough’ – in aid of Comic Relief – is set to give the girls their biggest hit to date.  Their debut album ‘Chasing Lights’ has now gone platinum. A new single will be released to coincide with the tour. To book call the box office: 0844 847 2525* or go to www.LiverpoolEmpire.org.uk* (*24/7 - subject to booking fees)   02/04/2009 05:45:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7389 A fun afternoon of music will raise funds for children in Malawi. The gig will feature a range of bands from the area at the bandstand on Lord Street, Southport, on Saturday April 11 from 11.30am to 4pm. Samba band Beatlife, covers group Groovebox, the Latin-influenced Grapes Band and soloist Keith Wilson will all be performing and collecting donations. Beatlife member and former Birkdale High and KGV College student Mike Smith, 25, has organised the event to raise money for a project close to his heart. "Last year Beatlife went over to the Chikale School in Malawi and made a documentary with the kids doing a samba school," saxophonist Mike, of Liverpool, said. "They loved it and it made a massive difference.  The all wanted to speak English so we said we would try and go back every year with an English teacher. "British Airways agreed they would sponsor our flights so we are raising money to buy instruments for the kids." By Natasha Robson 02/04/2009 05:34:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7388 A new car parking system launched at Southport and Formby District General Hospital on Wednesday April 1 has been widely criticised. In a change to the previous £3 per visit flat rate, it will now be free to park in the hospital car park for the first 20 minutes, with 20 minutes to two hours costing £2.50, two to four hours costing £3, four to eight hours will be priced at £4 and those who park for over eight hours will be charged £5. Visitors will collect a ticket at the barrier on arrival which must then be taken to a pay station and inserted into the barrier on exit. Weekly parking passes will be available from the general office for £10, with a £5 deposit for the pass. Previously they were priced at £5 with a £5 deposit. Formby resident John Cooper, who has had to visit a relative in the hospital for several weeks, claimed the general office’s 8.30am to 4.30pm weekday opening hours, make it difficult for people who work to purchase the cheaper pass, as the office also shuts for lunch. “If you’re working you can’t get a pass. They are available but not very available,” he said. The new free 20 minutes of parking has also been dismissed by local councillors.  Kew Liberal Democrat Cllr Maureen Fearn told The Champion: “I’m glad they have looked at and recognised problems. We still think there should be free parking. “We feel the 20 minutes for free does not even allow people to get in and out of the hospital as it is such a big place. “We hope they will review the parking again.” Formby Conservative Cllr Barry Griffiths described the new free parking as a “red herring” and added: “I know few people who spend 20 minutes there.” Southport’s Tory parliamentary candidate, Cllr Brenda Porter said: “It must be noted that most people who come and park at the hospital are visiting someone ill and so it is unacceptable to double the weekly pass. “Also if you go after a certain time at night you would only be going for an emergency so you shouldn’t have to pay.” Cllr Porter added that a rise in charges will have repercussions for surrounding areas of the hospitals with people parking in streets. A spokesperson for Southport and Formby District General Hospital said: “The provision of free parking remains unchanged but is more accessible. Previously there were a limited number of spaces. “From surveys of users undertaken by the Trust approximately 50% of visitors and patients will benefit from the change in prices whilst the vast majority will pay no more than at present. Therefore it will be generally less expensive.” When pressed about the ability to buy weekly passes while the general office is closed, the spokesperson added that arrangements would be in place to purchase the passes out of hours and ward staff would know about them. By Natasha Young 02/04/2009 05:31:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7387 A three-year-old girl and her father were burned when the girl’s dress caught fire in a fabric shop. The young girl is believed to have been playing with a small dog in Brown’s of Burscough when a gas heater set her clothes alight. She suffered burns to her left leg and her 36-year-old father suffered burns to both hands as he tried to put out the flames. The owner of the shop, on Liverpool Road North, also suffered minor burns which did not require hospital treatment. The father and daughter, from Southport, were treated at the scene by paramedics and taken to hospital. “Luckily they did not suffer severe burns, but they did go to hospital and were released shortly afterwards,” Paul Ratcliffe of Skelmersdale Fire Station said. The young girl was taken to Ormskirk hospital and her father to Southport hospital. Ambulance teams alerted the fire service, but the fire was already out when they arrived. Fire crews called police to the incident, that happened around 9.45am on Friday March 20. Police informed West Lancs District Council, and officers from the Environmental Health Section, in conjunction with Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, are currently investigating the incident. Brown’s of Burscough did not wish to comment. By Natasha Robson   02/04/2009 05:26:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7386 A new singing group for all abilities has launched in Southport. Singing Our Socks Off already has two very successful groups in Liverpool and Crosby, and now Southport residents are invited to join in the fun. Teacher Su Grainger will be leading the group from the YMCA on Hoghton Street. “I have had calls from people in Southport about the Crosby group but it has been a bit too late for them, so I have decided to hold this one in the afternoon,” Su said. “Anyone is welcome to join.  Most people say 'I can't sing but I really like it', but this group is for people who enjoy singing together. “I teach natural voice so people don't have to read music.  Basically I sing something and they sing it back.  It is good fun.” The group got down to the final 60 in BBC1 show Last Choir Standing last year and hope to get involved with community groups and events in the area. The Southport group will meet from 1.30pm to 3.30pm on Wednesdays and is open to people aged 18 and above. For more details go to www.sosoclub.co.uk, email su@sosoclub.co.uk or call Su on 07717 181826. By Natasha Robson 02/04/2009 05:23:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7385 Falcons, hawks and owls will be taking to Southport’s skies over Easter Bank Holiday at the second Plant, Food and Country Fair. The show at Stanley High Sports College, Fleetwood Road, will feature a full programme of events on Saturday April 11 to Monday April 13, including Clydesdale and shire horses, sheepdog and duck herding displays, Parkgate Pony Sanctuary vaulting team, Morris dancing and live music, dog agility, open dog shows and ferret racing. Holystone Hawks birds of prey and owner Stan Smiles will be making their debut at the show. Show organiser, Southport businessman Kelvin Pye said: “Falconry has been an integral part of our Garden Festivals shows and has always been popular with all the family.  We are delighted to welcome Stan Smiles along for the first time.  His gun dog and heavy horse displays will bring an extra dimension to the fair and give people an insight into a country way of life that has been part of our heritage for centuries.” The show runs from 10am to 5.30pm each day.  Tickets are £4 for adults (£3.50 if booked in advance on 01492 523410), children over three £1 or £10 for a family ticket. By Natasha Robson 02/04/2009 05:21:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7384 Two staff were unfairly dismissed by Barnetts Solicitors, an employment tribunal has ruled, in the first case of its kind involving a legal firm. Six former employees claimed unfair dismissal under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (TUPE) regulations. The claimants were formerly employed by Lees Lloyd Whitley Solicitors in Birkenhead to work on high-volume conveyancing case work for Britannia Building Society. In June 2007, Barnetts Solicitors, based on Kew Business Park, successfully tendered for the work. Lees Lloyd Whitley advised that 23 of their employees were affected by the transfer. All were offered relocation to the Barnetts head office in Southport. Six went on to lodge a tribunal claim for unfair dismissal. The employment tribunal in Liverpool ruled that two of the six claimants were unfairly dismissed under TUPE regulations, in what was adjudged to be a case of service provision change. A majority ruling (the employment judge dissenting) also found that the respondent had failed to comply fully with the consultation provisions laid down in the regulations. It is the first time a case has been decided involving a law firm and the 2006 TUPE rules. The point of principle was the finding that, where an employee establishes he was "assigned" to the provision of a service prior to a relevant transfer, he has the right to transfer to the new provider but to carry on working from his original location. An exception might be in a case where the employee has a general mobility clause in his contract of employment. Whether or not the location change amounts to a breach of contract, the tribunal found in this case that it amounted to a “material detriment”, and accordingly gave rise to a deemed dismissal under the TUPE regulations. The finding in this case was “fact specific” but it does underline the fact that when a firm succeeds at tendering for a service that has previously been provided by another firm (or carried out in house), there may be significant potential liabilities arising from the “service provision change” and the new provider will almost inevitably be responsible for those liabilities. A further remedy hearing is due to take place to decide compensation for the two former staff – date to be confirmed. By Natasha Robson   02/04/2009 05:20:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7380 For someone who only took up running nine months ago 13 year old Alistair Nelson has enjoyed a roller coaster ride to the top of his sport. The Liverpool Pembroke Sefton cross country runner has shown remarkable talent and composure. By finishing fourth in the English Schools Championships he qualified to represent England in the Aviva Siab International Cross Country Race in the beautiful surroundings of the Vaynol Country Estate near Bangor, North Wales. Up against the best from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland he made his usual cautious start but worked his way through the field climaxing with a storming sprint finish to close in sixth and third counter for the victorious England team. The Burscough Priory Science College pupil has astonished even his coach, John McCarten, with his progress and maturity. He is yet another outstanding product of the club`s Edge Hill University training squads.   Club sprinter Harry Doran who has also medalled while collecting an English Indoor vest this year has received a call up for the North of England team in their annual international match in Malta later in the month. The 400m runner is a student at Southport`s KGV College who recognise and support this talented athlete. He hopes to continue his studies next year at Edge Hill University. 01/04/2009 04:22:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7370 A new book will “name and shame” local politicians, its author says. Amongst those mentioned in Pat Regan's Dirty Politics are MP John Pugh, his aide Tony Dawson, and Cllrs David Tattersall, Simon Shaw and Carmel Preston. “Many ill-mannered political activists featured will wish to strangle this work at birth. Nevertheless, they will now undoubtedly reap what they have sown,” Mr Regan said. “Although they have been conceited in the belief that they could act without challenge, Dirty Politics will prove them to be oh so very wrong.” Cambridge ward Cllr Preston has responded to the comments, that relate to when her son Kirk was banned from driving in 2007 after being caught driving at more than twice the legal drink-drive limit. At the time Cllr Preston told The Champion: “I don't wish to comment on this and I would prefer it not to be printed.” Speaking this week Cllr Preston said: “My husband and I are totally against drink-driving.  I had just been elected and I was absolutely surprised about it.  I couldn't believe the press wanted to pick it up and I was naïve with the comment I made.” In the book, Mr Pugh is accused of attacking Mr Regan's wife Cath's religious views, Mr Dawson is said to have made “obnoxious” comments on internet chat rooms, Cllr Shaw is said to have been thrown out of a health care meeting for “disruptive behaviour” and Cllr Tattersall is alleged to have verbally attacked Cath Regan in public. None of the men wished to comment. When asked if only Liberal Democrats came under fire in the book, Mr Regan said other parties were mentioned too. “But I think this is going to be the new version of the Satanic Verses to Lib Dems,” he said. The book, released in June by Can Write Will Write publishers, concentrates on the fortnightly bin collections and destruction of green space. By Natasha Robson   26/03/2009 13:03:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7369 Having already captivated more than two million people in the USA, Blue Man Group’s ultimate concert experience How To Be A Megastar is hitting UK arenas in 2009, coming to the Echo Arena Liverpool on Wednesday May 20. The Blue Man Group will be presenting their perfect anarchistic instruction manual on gaining popularity in the modern world of music and beyond. Needless to say, the three seemingly emotionless, bald, glistening blue, mute men have taken with them all their self-crafted ensembles, together with Blue Man favourites such as whirlpool drumming, marshmallow throwing and paint spitting. In arenas, the multimedia show is in its element, with innovative components from surreal theatre, slapstick, video, lightshow and stimulating rock music. The Blue Man Group’s energetic tour production, "How To Be A Megastar", lays emphasis on dynamics, rhythm and audience participation. The figures, wrapped in blue-coloured latex, spread amusement and curiosity with their virtuoso tube-playing act, without words but with eyes open wide. The main motivation of the performance lies in working with bizarre percussion instruments and obscure ensembles - with a maze of pipes, the tubes. The Blue Man Group emerged from the New York underground art scene of the late 80s. In 1987, Matt Goldman, Phil Stanton und Chris Wink, while working for a catering company in Manhattan, started holding organised street-art events and performing in parks and clubs. At the legendary La Mamma Experimental Theatre Club, they produced their first show "Tubes". It was met with a rapturous response from both audiences and the media. The Blue Man Group moved to the Astor Place Theatre, where the show has been playing ever since. To book tickets log on to www.accliverpool.com or call the Echo Arena Box Office on 0844 8000 400. Tickets are priced at £39.50 and are subject to a handling / booking fee.   26/03/2009 12:50:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7368 Legendary rock band Status Quo will perform at Aintree Racecourse this summer. Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt and the band will play some of the greatest hits and fans' favourites from their back catalogue, which includes 75 singles and more hit albums than The Beatles had. Tickets are available for the June 12 show by logging on to www.aintree.co.uk or visiting the booking office at the racecourse. To purchase tickets over the phone call 0844 579 3001 from  April 6. Priced at £19 if purchased on or before May 29, and £24 after and on the night, admission includes a full evening of racing followed by the concert.   26/03/2009 12:46:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7367 Sefton's Theatre in the Rough Festival is now accepting script submissions from young playwrights from across the borough. Theatre in the Rough is a festival of new playwriting by 13-18 year-olds from across Sefton. Selected plays will be produced by a professional cast at Southport Arts Centre on 19 and 20 May. Writers must be aged between 13 and 18 and live in Sefton. Scripts should be no longer than 15 minutes in length. Plays should somehow be connected with some aspect of Sefton. Writers may work in groups if they wish. Plays should be emailed to info@theatreintherough.com by Thursday April 9. Full details and some playwriting tips are available on our website: www.theatreintherough.com The Theatre in the Rough Festival is funded by Express Sefton and Awards for All, and supported by Sefton and Halton Borough Councils.   26/03/2009 12:45:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7366 David Essex, together with Boogie Nights creator Jon Conway invite you onto a roller coaster ride of romance and rock and roll, underscored by a helter-skelter of David Essex hits and album favourites. All the Fun of the Fair is set around a travelling funfair, providing the focal point for a musical merry-go-round of love, loss, laughter and loyalty, all played out against a stunning score. David Essex stars in the role of funfair owner Levi Lee, who is coming to terms with the death of his wife and the attentions of another woman whilst struggling to deal with his rebellious teenage son’s tangled love life and ambitions. Danger and mysticism lurk in the future, as predicted by a gypsy fortune-teller if Levi changes his path. This moving story with a heartbreaking twist reaches out to every parent and anyone ever torn in love. There’s Rosa, played by acclaimed West End actress Louise English, who yearns for the attentions of Levi, and then, a generation on, there’s Levi’s son Jack. The producers are delighted to introduce Paul-Ryan Carberry in the role of Jack, a wild and wilful young man who’s very much his father’s son though he might not always see it himself. David Essex has enjoyed a remarkable career spanning concerts, records, theatre, composing, film and TV. All the Fun of the Fair comes to the Liverpool Empire Theatre on  April 13-18 at 7.30pm, Wednesday and Saturday matinee 2.30pm .  Tickets are £10 - £30. Call the box office: 0844 847 2525* or go to www.LiverpoolEmpire.org.uk* (*24/7 - subject to booking fees ). 26/03/2009 12:43:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7361 A debate over the missing millions promised to help revamp colleges including Southport's KGV, will be lead by John Pugh MP today (Wednesday, March 25). The Liberal Democrat secured the House of Commons debate after KGV's multi-million pound rebuild plans were put on hold when Learning Skills Council (LSC) put a freeze on their funding. The college was set to start building work earlier this year and has already committed £2 million from its own resources to the scheme. Following a meeting with KGV principal Hilary Anslow last week, Mr Pugh said: “The situation is ridiculous. Colleges like KGV have been encouraged with promises of funding to be ambitious to add more into the scheme, some being tempted into a complete re-build. Now there is a deafening silence from the government quango responsible for getting these schemes moving and no sign of the money promised. The colleges are left in the lurch. “I am hoping to dispel some of these clouds of confusion. Its an atrocious way to treat a college like KGV who don't know now whether to repair temporary classrooms or wait for news on funding. It's chaos and incompetence of the first order and someone has to answer for it.” Mr Pugh is hoping MPs representing other affected colleges across the UK will join him in demanding answers from ministers on the issue. KGV's redevelopment plans include the demolition of some of the college's old buildings and the addition of a two-storey extension to the existing Millenium Building, including more learning space, modern sports facilities and a performing arts centre. There are also additional sports field development plans in place.  By Natasha Young     25/03/2009 06:40:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7360 Southport Liberal Democrat MP John Pugh's full-time aide faces the sack after writing a "vicious" and "personal" public letter about a Tory councillor. Senior caseworker Tony Dawson wrote the letter, published in last week's Champion (March 18, 2009), about parliamentary candidate Brenda Porter, without the knowledge of his boss, MP John Pugh, who has distanced himself from the comments. Cllr Porter was distressed by the personal remarks and senior Tories have called for Mr Dawson to be sacked. “To be frank I was furious when I saw the letter in The Champion, even though it had been submitted by Mr Dawson in a personal capacity,” Mr Pugh said. “Tony is employed as a good and caring caseworker and understandably not to deal with the press. He himself regrets the intemperate, silly and offensive tone of the letter which I do not excuse or condone. “I cannot comment directly or publicly on any personnel matters or any subsequent procedures which are of course a matter of employment law.” The published letter, in response to Cllr Porter's claims in The Champion that some Lib Dems were ageist, was Mr Dawson's second submission. The first was rejected by the editor Martin Hovden for being “too personal”.  He invited Mr Dawson to amend his letter, which was again toned down before publication. In it, Mr Dawson suggested Cllr Porter was embarrassing and not “serious and capable”. Ironically, last week Mr Pugh revealed that “unnecessary nastiness and spite” made him angry. Formby Tory Cllr Barry Griffiths believes Mr Dawson should pay with his job – a view echoed by Sefton Tory group leader Cllr Paula Parry. “I want to challenge John Pugh to come from behind the smokescreen and sack this man forthwith,” Cllr Griffiths said. “If Mr Pugh doesn't, he is not fit to represent the people of Southport.  Mr Dawson is not doing Southport or the Lib Dems any good.” Friends of Cllr Porter said she had been very upset by Mr Dawson's comments, but she is determined to carry on with her work in the town. Cllr Porter said she has been “humbled” by the huge number of good wishes she has received from colleagues and members of the public who read the letter.  She has received flowers, cards, emails and texts offering support. The Champion has received a wealth of letters from the public and Tory councillors berating Mr Dawson's “nastiness”. Cllr Porter has the highest majority of any elected member in Sefton and will be Mr Pugh's main rival in next year's (2010) general election. When The Champion conatcted Mr Dawson did not wish to comment. Last year (2008) senior Lib Dem Cllrs Simon Shaw and Iain Brodie-Browne were accused by Tories of being "bully boys" when dealing with Cllr Porter. Both councillors strongly denied the accusation.  The Champion also revealed recently that Lib Dems were privately claiming that Cllr Porter is too old at 70 to be the town's next MP. By Natasha Robson  25/03/2009 06:29:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7357 Athletics Liverpool Pembroke Sefton got 2009 off to a great start with sprinters Phil Taylor collecting a silver relay medal indoors for Great Britain in the European Championships in Turin and Harry Doran also medalling for England Under 20`s in an indoor home countries match in Cardiff. Now they are unexpectedly joined by one of the club`s youngest members. Running in the high profile English Schools Cross Country Championships in Leicestershire Alistair Nelson looked off the pace for the first of two laps of the Junior race but produced a storming run on the second circuit to finish fourth and guarantee himself a place in the English Schools team in the forthcoming home countries match in Bangor, North Wales. Although the 13 year old just missed out on an individual prize the Burscough Priory School pupil led Lancashire to the bronze team medals. He has had an astonishing first season in the sport. Also at the championships and running for Merseyside Jai Vernon-McGuigan was 104th in the Intermediate race. At Senior level David Forrester(66) and Harry Boyd(71) led their county home to 13th spot. Toby Loveridge and Michael Bride failed to finish. Paul Roberts was 271st for Lancashire. The club had two representatives in the Senior Girl`s race, Rhea Ellis first home for Merseyside in 38th and a courageous Toria Swift(189) who was part of a respectable 8th placed Lancashire squad. 24/03/2009 12:10:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7355 SOUTHPORT 3 BURSCOUGH 0 By Neil Leatherbarrow The gulf between the top of the Blue Square North and the lower reaches of the league, was clear for all to see at Haig Avenue. Burscough worked like Trojans for ninety minutes but simply didn’t have the physical strength and individual quality to match the Sandgrounders. For the first half hour the Linnets actually matched Southport, but only because they ran and ran and it was impossible to expect a team to keep up such a tiring work rate. In the opening thirty minutes, Ryan Wade led Burscough on foray after foray into the Southport half, but to no avail and the Linnets couldn’t make their chances count. Southport manager Liam Watson made a crucial change after Lloyd’s shot and it turned the game, moving Shaun Whalley to the right, Robbie Booth into the middle with Ciaran Kilheeney and pushing Matt McGinn into an attacking role on the left. It gave Burscough’s defence too much to cope with. Former Linnet Robbie Booth was the instigator of Southport’s almost immediate turnaround in fortunes. First taking advantage of some ponderous defending to fire wide, then in the 35th minute putting in a shot that Yates blocked with an outstretched foot that sent the ball inches away from the foot of the post. Before a minute later bringing a magnificent one handed save out of Burscough keeper Kyle Clancy. Burscough are not a very tall team and this was finally their undoing in the 38th minute. Booth hoisted in a corner from the left, in crashed Southport defender Adam Flynn to smash a header past Clancy. Ironically it was Flynn’s first ever goal for the Sandgrounders, since his move from Burscough. Southport hit Burscough with a mortal blow forty seconds after the interval when Whalley got the ball on the right and curved it behind the Burscough defence for McGinn to sweep the ball home. The score might have been worse for Burscough had Flynn converted a header from a free kick from the right. Burscough then attacked and Wade ran down the left and beat James Connolly before cutting inside and hitting a right foot shot from an acute angle that only just missed. Soon afterwards Chris Holland went close for Burscough on the hour, shooting just wide from 20 yards. Southport then hit the Burscough woodwork in the 66th minute when Whalley’s cross almost sneaked in at Clancy’s far post. The end for Burscough came in the 78th minute when Whalley crossed to the far post presenting Allan Smart with a free-header that he accepted gratefully. All three Southport goals were scored by players Liam Watson had taken to Southport from Burscough. After the game Watson did have one positive for the Linnets: “Burscough will cause Tamworth problems next week…they (Tamworth) will not like Burscough’s style of play at all.” 24/03/2009 12:00:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7351 Assault charges against Liverpool FC captain Steven Gerrard and two pals have been dropped. But they are still charged with affray, relating to an incident at the Lounge Inn, Bold Street, Southport, on December 29, as are four other defendants. Churchtown businessman Marcus McGee is alleged to have suffered facial injuries during a brawl on the night. The bench, chaired by Dr Pamela James, agreed to prosecutor Nick Evans' request to discharge the counts of assault and commit the case to crown court. Wearing a dark grey suit and black tie, Gerrard, 28, of Victoria Road, Formby, spoke only to confirm his name, age and address as he faced Southport Magistrates on Friday (March 20). Gerrard along with Accrington Stanley FC goalkeeper Ian Dunbavin, 28, of Guildford Road, Southport, the club's midfielder Robert Grant, 18, of Enstone Road, Litherland, John Doran, 29, of Woodlands Road, Huyton, Ian Smith, 19, of Hilary Avenue, Huyton-with-Roby, Paul McGrattan, 31, of Linden Drive, Huyton, and John McGrattan, 33, of Rimmer Avenue, Bowring Park will appear at Liverpool Crown Court on April 3 for a plea and case management hearing. None have yet entered formal pleas. Paul McGrattan is also charged with assaulting a police officer, which has been adjourned until after the Crown Court hearings. An extra charge of affray has been laid against Smith. He will appear again at North Sefton Magistrates on Friday March 27. Gerrard was met at the court on Albert Road by a chauffer-driven black BMW. All seven defendants are on conditional bail. By Natasha Robson   20/03/2009 09:11:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7347 Former Sooty star Matthew Corbett will take to the stage for the first time in 10 years to host a tribute show to his late friend and colleage Connie Creighton. Connie, Southport's Summer Hostess in the 1980s and 1990s, was a co-host on Sooty's national stage tour for 23 years and appeared in each of his television series. She died in January of dementia and a tribute variety show has been organised at Southport Arts Centre in her memory. "It will be Connie's day and we must remember she will be watching," Matthew, who celebrates his 61st birthday on the day of the show, told The Champion. "If anything strange happens or a lightbulb explodes it is probably her commenting on the show." Matthew will introduce the variety acts, on Saturday March 28, and tell some amusing anecdotes about his time with Connie. "She was absolutely amazing to work with," he said. "All the time I worked with her we never had a cross word - not one - and that is truly remarkable.  It shows she must have been a really nice person. "She is the most professional person I have ever worked with.  She never said she couldn't do something and she never let me down.  I was spoilt." Connie first began working with Matthew's father Harry Corbett, before Matthew took over Sooty in 1975. She soon became a much-loved member of the Sooty family and visited Southport Theatre every winter for a week-long stint of the stage show. "Connie was always so well prepared for both the stage show and TV series.  She used to know the script better than I did," Matthew said. "There would always be one episode in each series that would feature Connie and I used to write some really evil stuff for her. "I knew how proper Connie was and used to take great delight in making her do things she wouldn't like, such as in one show she got a bucket of mud thrown over her.  "She would say 'Matthew, have you done this on purpose?', but she was a good sport and would always go along with it.  We just used to laugh all the time." The tribute show begins at 2.30pm and all proceeds will go to Queenscourt Hospice. It will be Matthew's first stage appearance since the final Sooty Show tour - The House That Sooty Built - in 1999. Other acts confirmed for the show include Teddy Alexander, Bobby Kaye, Spencer K Gibbins, Sandi West and Acer Murphy. Tickets priced £10 (£7.50 concessions) are available from the Arts Centre box office on 01704 540004. By Natasha Robson 19/03/2009 11:54:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7345 A Southport man has been convicted of assaulting a six-month-old baby he was minding. A Liverpool Crown Court found Darren Lyle guilty of injuring the baby girl's face during the assault while he was alone caring for her. The baby, who cannot be named for legal reasons, suffered bruises to her cheek, inside both ears and blood spots under her eye. Lyle, of Salwick Close, Southport, admitted causing the injuries, but denied assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The 31-year-old said he had accidentally hurt the child, who is now about 20 months old, in a panic after she had fallen off the sofa. Martine Snowdon, prosecuting, told jurors “considerable force” would have been required to inflict the injuries and not just “rough handling”. The jury unanimously found Lyle guilty on Wednesday March 18 after three-and-a-half hours of deliberations following a two-day trial at Liverpool Crown Court. They heard Lyle, who was working as a hotel manager, was caring for the child on January 26, 2008, while her mum was at work. But at about 11.30am, Lyle arrived at the woman’s place of work in a distressed state, saying the child had fallen off the sofa as he got her a bottle. She returned home and called her own mum, who worked as a nurse. They took the baby to Ormskirk hospital, where she was examined and kept in overnight. But the following day, she was told by hospital staff that the baby’s injuries did not match Lyle’s explanation. Lyle later told baby’s mum he had grabbed the child. She told the court, “Darren started crying, he was very distressed and was having difficulty speaking. He said: ‘I’ve got something to tell you’. “He told me he had grabbed her round the face in a panic. He was sobbing and saying ‘I’m really sorry’.” Lyle went on to say he had found the baby lying on the floor and demonstrated grabbing her and placing his hands on either side of her face. The mum said he was repeatedly apologising. Judge John Roberts further remanded him on bail until April 15 and told Lyle, who has no previous convictions, that he had to carefully balance factors before sentencing. 19/03/2009 11:36:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7344 Wyrd Sisters Sefton Theatre Company Southport Arts Centre Studio The Sefton Theatre Company certainly live up to their slogan of putting on plays of artistic merit and literary distinction. Wyrd Sisters is a play for devotees of the fantasy genre and Terry Pratchett’s Discworld devotees, like Star Trek fans (aka Trekkies), inhabit a closed world.  I should confess that I have never got past the first chapter of any Terry Pratchett book so I cannot say whether or not the stage version improved on the printed word.  Though I might admire the cleverness of his writing and humorous similes (‘the night was as black as the inside of a cat’), I found the unreality of his plots unable to sustain my interest. Having said that, the cast threw themselves into their roles with gusto and I especially enjoyed the three witches, brilliantly played by Tracey Bachelor, Carolyn McAdam and Laura Franklin, who seemed to have metamorphosed from the snug in the early days of the Rovers Return to totally steal the show. Their down to earth Lancashire tones played well against the implausibility of the action. David Walker perfectly suited his part as the King. In fact he looked remarkably like Henry the Eighth. What dedication to acquire a gammy leg to go with the walking stick. Method acting at its most extreme.  Deborah Bloom acquired what I hope was a temporary shrewish quality as his bossy wife. Colin Wayte made a striking dead king and Nick Lloyd was whimsical as a strolling player. John Sharp and Kate Sloman made a nice foster couple as The Vitollers.  The whole production was well done in every way and the audience of Pratchett fans lapped it up. As for me, I look forward to their next production in November, Neil Simon’s comedy, ‘Rumours’. Much more my sort of play.             Star Rating  6/10 By Ron Ellis   19/03/2009 11:34:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7343 Ruddigore Southport Arts Centre Ruddigore was never one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s more popular operas and numerous cuts and alterations have been made over the years to ‘improve’ it. For this production by the Hoghton Players, John Hilton and Ian Mackley opted for a traditional portrayal with colourful costumes from the 1920’s but with references to modern people and places in an effort to draw in younger crowds. This seemed to work well with the audience although I personally felt that references to Bob Geldof and David Beckham a little incongruous in the setting. The cast credits shown on the screen made for a dramatic opening and the young bridesmaids exuberant singing immediately created an upbeat tone for the evening ahead. The idea of the Old Masters coming to life in the second act complete with full Hammer Horror make-up was an innovative touch. Victoria Aindow has a fabulous voice, well suited to the lead role of Rose who falls in love with young farmer Robin Oakapple, Phil Clieve making the transformation from shy suitor to wicked baronet. Special praise must go to Andrew Lamb as the ‘dead’ baronet, Sir Roderic Murgatroyd. His diction and projection was first class, a necessary quality at this venue. Basically, the plot is a satire on the Victorian melodramas of the day but don’t even try to understand it. Instead, enjoy the dancing, the colourful costumes, the fine singing and the lively atmosphere created by a large cast obviously enjoying themselves. Sadly, despite the fine singing, none of the songs in Ruddigore are memorable apart from ‘My Eyes are Fully Open’ and even that is a carbon copy of ‘Model Major General’, which Gilbert & Sullivan had already used in ‘Pirates of Penzance’. Chuck Berry isn’t the only one to use the same good tune time and time again. The best part of the evening was the snatch of Tony Christie’s ‘Is this the way to Amarillo’, ostensibly a form of torture to elicit a confession from Sir Ruthven (previously Oakapple) but a joy for the audience and an inspired piece of programming by the producers.               Star Rating  6/10 By Ron Ellis   19/03/2009 11:32:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7342 Tales from the Melling Road - SDC Youth Theatre Southport Little Theatre   Written and directed by SDC member Alistair Hewitt, ‘Tales From the Melling Road’ was essentially a series of sketches built around the 1997 Grand National, which was cancelled due to an IRA bomb scare. The play shows the impact the cancellation had on various people, both locals and visitors who, for various reasons, had travelled up to Aintree for the race, such as the family from Essex who, unable to leave, are put up by a local family. We see how they each overcome their prejudices against ‘Scousers’ and ‘’Suvverners’ as they find common ground. One of the best bits of the show was the ‘Saturday Night Fever’ dance performed by the youngest and smallest member of the cast, Matthew Hewitt, resplendent in white John Travolta suit. The one discordant note, in what was otherwise an amusing and insightful script, was the owner’s shooting of the racehorse trainer as he sat in the stable nursing his sick animal.  All the young cast performed to a very high standard and the audience enjoyed the antics of the foreigners trooping on and off stage whilst Alex Sherwood, as Elvis the racehorse, enjoyed being constantly petted by various female members of the cast. It says a lot for the future of the company that they have so many talented youngsters waiting in the wings and such a shame that no less than three local amateur societies were presenting shows in the same week which meant audiences were spread more thinly.  Star Rating 6/10 By Ron Ellis 19/03/2009 11:30:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7341 The Illegal Eagles come to Southport Theatre and Convention Centre on Sunday April 5 at 7.30pm. A full evening show featuring all the classic Eagles songs delivered in full Eagles sound and vision.  If you missed THE EAGLES recent stadium tour dates, don’t worry its all here in ‘the fast lane' - Hotel California, New York Minute, Life in the Fast Lane, Tequila Sunrise, New Kid in Town and more. Tickets are £19.50 & £18.50.  To book call Ticketmaster 0844 847 2380*, book online at www.SouthportTheatre.org.uk* (*subject to booking fee) or call in to the Box Office open Monday-Saturday, 9.30am-5.30pm. 19/03/2009 11:21:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7340 THE magic of the great musicals comes to the Southport Theatre and Convention Centre on Friday April 3, bringing the glitz and the glamour from the West End stage and the bright lights of Broadway. This sell out electric production of musical showstoppers has been voted one of the best touring shows by theatre managers from all around the UK and the company behind it ‘Mad About Productions’ has been nominated in 2008 UK ‘Producer Of The Year’. This prestigious award is the equivalent of the Oscars for UK Producers around the country.  Transporting you on a whistle stop tour into the heart of London’s theatre land the show contains over 20 of your favourite musicals such as ‘Les Miserables’, ‘Phantom Of The Opera’, ‘Miss Saigon’, ‘Sunset Boulevard’, ‘Chicago’, ‘Joseph’,  ‘Oliver’, ‘Starlight Express’ ’and many more musical classics. ‘Mad About The Musicals’ will provide a two-hour extravaganza of unforgettable musical numbers allowing you to enjoy the great moments of the classic shows in one evening complete with a premier live band, west end singers, top notch dancing, spectacular lighting and glitzy costumes bringing a pure slice of entertainment. Tickets are £18.00, £16.50 & £12.00.  To book call Ticketmaster 0844 847 2380* or book online at www.SouthportTheatre.org.uk* (booking fee applies) or call in to the Box Office open Monday-Saturday, 9.30am-5.30pm. 19/03/2009 11:19:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7339 Rumours of Fleetwood Mac come to Southport Theatre and Convention Centre on Saturday April 4 at 7.30pm. In one sensational evening of outstanding musicianship, Rumours of Fleetwood Mac chart the songs of arguably the world’s first supergroup from their inception in 1967 with Peter Green, Mick Fleetwood and John McVie through to the critically acclaimed “Rumours” in the 1970s with Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham, and then onto their more recent works. After the huge success of their annual tours 2002, these six professional musicians return to deliver non-stop hits in a display of some of the finest music produced in the last century including timeless classics such as ‘Black Magic Woman’, ‘Albatross’, ‘Go Your Own Way’, ‘Dreams’, ‘Gypsy’ ‘Say You Love Me’, ‘Little Lies’ and many more. Tickets £18.50, £16.50 and £14.50.  To book call Ticketmaster 0844 847 2380* or book online at www.SouthportTheatre.org.uk*(*subject to booking fee) or call in to the Box Office open Monday-Saturday, 9.30am-5.30pm. 19/03/2009 11:16:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7338 The horse who made headlines by winning the Cheltenham Champion Hurdles as a 22-1 outsider was born to be a star, his former owner says. Captain Jim Wilson bred and trained Punjabi on his farm in Sollom, near Tarleton, before selling him to renowned trainer Nicky Henderson two years ago. He was "elated" when the six-year-old won last week's famous race, delighting bookies by beating 6-4 favourite Binocular. "I was exhausted, I felt like I rode him the last mile myself," he said. "I was at home watching it by the fire and I was absolutely thrilled to bits.  I couldn't believe he was 22-1 - he should have been 5-1, not that I'm complaining because I won enough to take all the family out for a good meal, and a bit more besides." Captain Wilson, 82, began breeding horses while in the Army and has spent 43 years breeding in Sollom. He named Punjabi after his forces nickname - so dubbed because he grew up in India. "There are so many reasons why we knew he could be a winner," said Captain Wilson, who also bred former Ascot winner Red Rosein. "The breeding was there and when he arrived you could tell by the way he moved.  He was a very likable horse and when we started to train him he always tried to do his best.  He was never acting the giddy goat. "We could tell he was a bit special." Punjabi won four races on the flat before the family decided to sell him to Nicky Henderson to train him for jumps. Daughter Geraldine Rees, who helped train Punjabi, was also the first female jockey to finish the Grand National in 1982. By Natasha Robson 18/03/2009 07:49:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7337 Marine Way Bridge is due to reopen by the end of the week after routine maintenance checks. The bridge between Ocean Plaza and Southport Promenade has been closed to traffic since Monday March 9 (2009) for Sefton Council contractors to check the structure. By Natasha Robson 18/03/2009 07:43:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7335 A Southport couple is hoping witnesses will come forward after a bus driver allegedly negotiated a roundabout so fast, one of their twin babies was thrown out of their pushchair. Janet Caunce of Bedford Road, Birkdale had to travel by bus to Southport town centre with the 15-week-old twins on Saturday (March 14, 2009), after her partner Scott Burbidge took the car to work when his van broke down. Ms Caunce boarded the Arriva 44 bus from Eastbank Street at 2.45pm to travel home and had to leave her children seated in their pushchair. Mr Burbidge, a kitchen and bathroom fitter, claimed that when the bus reached Kew roundabout it “swung round the roundabout very fast.” He added: “The buggy went flying and my baby came out of the buggy. “My partner picked up Ella and a pregnant woman had to help her with the other. “The driver just carried on going while everyone got up trying to help my babies.” Both Ms Caunce and Mr Burbidge reported the incident to Arriva on the same day and were later told the company was investigating the matter as the driver had denied it. An Arriva spokesman told Champnews.com: “We are concerned to hear about this incident and are sorry that Ms Caunce feels she has not received the level of service she would expect from Arriva. We are already in direct contact with Ms Caunce and are carrying out a full investigation.” The spokesman also confirmed that Arriva had requested CCTV footage from the bus to help with the investigation. By Natasha Young 18/03/2009 07:10:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7334 Staff at Southport claims handling firm Plantec Holdings raised £900 for Comic Relief. Managers and supervisors in fancy dress served bacon butties to staff to raise the funds. 18/03/2009 06:09:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7333 Warning - don't read this review if your not open minded – I have to confess before you read on that I have written it about half a dozen times, one attempt after the other resulting in me deleting words, sentences and even full paragraphs that may offend, or seem vulgar. Sitting in the Liverpool Empire Theatre screaming out a word I have been banned from saying all my life was the strangest moment of my year so far....and the most exciting (I'm not sad – if you were there you'd know what I mean). Seeing the Vagina Monologues is like walking into an alternate universe – nothing is taboo – every possible word, sentence, cliché and expression is made on that stage – most of which every woman (and probably man) has thought of, but never said out loud. So – where do I start. Well, the title is pretty self explanatory, three women sit on stage and read out various monologues by women all over the world, they also reveal bizarre facts, stats and quirky answers to the most unusual of questions – all to do with the vagina. Does that sound inn poor taste? You have no idea – as I said I'm on attempt seven of writing a 'safe' review of a very on-the-edge play. Although the performance by Jennifer Ellison, Sue Jenkins and Cathy Tyson is a laugh a minute, there are some very serious issues touched on. Monologues were recited from women and young girls who have experienced some horrendous abuse in their lives, resulting in troubled and scary adulthoods and even relationships. The three women sitting on the no frills stage were engaging, intriguing and en lighting. And as for the men in the audience – they were very, very brave. I'd love to recite at least one of the facts or jokes from the evening – but suspect my editor wouldn't be too pleased (you guessed it – he's a man). This is a perfect girls night out show – see it before it leaves the area on Saturday. The Vagina Monologues runs at the Liverpool Empire until Saturday, March 21. For tickets call 0844 847 2525 or visit www.liverpoolempire.org.uk. Review by Rebecca Keegan 18/03/2009 06:00:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7324 The family of an 88-year-old woman killed in a road collision in Southport have paid tribute to her kindness, thoughfulness and generosity. Catherine Lennon, known as 'Kit', mum to Dennis, Kevin and Mick and proud grandmother to Amy, Jack, Kate and Rosie. Mrs Lennon, from Tarleton, was taken to Southport and Formby District General Hospital, by ambulance, where she was treated after the collision near to junction of Union Street and Castle Street, Southport on Friday February 13 2009 at about 2pm. She later died of complications brought on by her injuries, on Tuesday March 3. A silver Renault Clio was reversing into a parking space when it was in collision with Mrs Lennon, who was walking. The driver of the Clio stopped at the scene and is fully cooperating with the police enquiry. Mrs Lennon's family said in a statement: "She will be lovingly remembered by her family and friends for her kindness, thoughtfulness and generosity and her great love of animals. "She was a proud Irish lady who loved life and valued her independence and will be sadly missed." Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information should contact 0151 777 5644, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. 13/03/2009 10:40:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7319 This month The Cemetery Club comes to Southport's Little Theatre, presented by the Southport Dramatic Club. The play, by Ivan Menchell is directd by Robin Hirsch. This is the story of three Jewish widows in Forest Hills. They are the surviving heart of three sets of long-time best friends, each of whom is in a different stage of moving on with her life. Once a month the three women, Doris, Ida and Lucille, meet to pay their respects to their husbands who are all buried in the same cemetery. Doris is content to have loved her husband well, seeking nothing more than simply to go on remembering him. Lucille hungrily longs for a new man. She flaunts the men on her arm with hopes that her late husband sees that she has moved on without him. Ida is in the middle of these two opposites. She recounts how her husband always loved coming home to her home cooked meals and how she spent the first few months after his death cooking for the husband who would never come home to her again. When Sam, a local widower, comes into her life, Ida wonders if she may be ready to open her heart to a second chance at love. The two find a connection that is soon torn apart by Ida's meddling friends. They warn off Sam who respectfully retreats without telling Ida why, but hen Sam appears at the wedding of a mutual friend with a glamorous younger widow named Mildrid sparks fly. This is a bitter sweet comedy with all the heartache of coping with life of comping with life after the death of a partner and all the comedy you would expect from a situation that features three smart-talking women of a certain age. Director Robin Hirsch has made the most of both these elements to give us a play that will have you laughing out loud one minute and shedding a tear the next. In the cast are Kathy Fleton Aksoy, Margaret Hodge, Viv Tyrer, Pat Simpkin and the one man, Les Gomersal who are all sure to give performances to be remembered. The Cemetery Club runs at the Little Theatre from March 27 to April 4. Tickets range from £7 - £8.25. Call 01704 530521 12/03/2009 12:49:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7318 A second night has been added to the 2009 Southport Summer Classics - Music in the Park. Organisers have announced that the incredible Magic of Motown tribute concert will take to the stage on Friday, July 24, to celebrate 50 years of Detroit's finest. The lavish production celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Tamla record company, which later became Motown Records, bringing the likes of the Temptations, Diana Ross and the Supremes, the Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye, Lionel Richie, Martha Reeves, Smokey Robinson, Mary Wells, the Isley Brothers and Jimmy Ruffin to the world. A talented cast of 15 bring to life hits like; Get Ready, Stop in the Name of Love; My Girl; Dancing in the Street; Reach Out I’ll Be There; What Becomes of the Broken Hearted, Tears of a Clown, Ain’t Too Proud To Beg and many more. Sefton Council's Events Manager, Carolyn Lowry, said: "This is an absolutely incredible show and will be a lively addition to this year's line up. The 15-strong cast literally put their heart and soul into it with amazing performances and outrageous costumes. I am delighted that we have been able to secure The Magic of Motown for what will be a very memorable outdoor concert. "Southport's Summer Classics is always very popular so we are making the tickets available straight away so people can have the peace of mind that they will not miss out on this amazing concert. "The popular Saturday night performance from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra will also be taking place so there is a lot to look forward to." Tickets for Magic of Motown at Southport Summer Classics - Music In The Park on Friday, July 24, cost just £13 if you book before the June 1, £17 after that date and £20 on the gate. They are available by calling 01704 540011 or go to www.visitsouthport.com  12/03/2009 12:45:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7317 After four magical years at the London Palladium and three sensational years touring large scale venues all over the UK, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is back and coming to Liverpool Empire Theatre from 27 June to 18 July 2010. Tickets are on sale now for this box office smash, that has been re-vamped, updated and technologically advanced in order to bring it to your doorstep. Directed by Adrian Noble this feel good family favourite will be a sure fire way to beat the blues next year. With a cast and crew of over 100 (including 10 dogs), sensational sets, a full orchestra and stunning special effects this action-packed adventure is the story of the magical car, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts, and his two children Jemima and Jeremy alongside Truly Scrumptious and Grandpa Potts, all try and outwit the dastardly Baron and the evil Child Catcher. Nominated for three Olivier Awards, winning Best Musical at the 2002 Variety Awards, nominated for five Tony Awards on Broadway, winning the coveted 2006 Manchester Evening News Theatre Award for Best Family Show and holding the Guinness World Record for the most expensive stage prop Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is guaranteed to be a wonderful experience for the whole family to enjoy. Strictly limited seasons in each venue so make sure you book your tickets today. There has never been a better show and a better time to cheer up your family! Empire Theatre General Manager, Hannah Collins, said: “We’re delighted to have this breathtaking, fantastic family show back at the Empire. Its 2006 run here was a huge hit and next year’s return visit is set to be even better.” For tickets (£17 - £38.50) call the box office on  0844 847 2525* or visit www.LiverpoolEmpire.org.uk* (*subject to booking fee). 12/03/2009 12:43:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7316 Grab your scarf for a game of a lifetime with Nick Leather’s fast-paced coming of age story pulsing with all the excitement of Match Day. With more energy than a fast-paced match this new play, by one of the North West’s most prominent young writers, tells the story of young Billy who dreams of fame and fortune as a footballer. Directed by Serdar Bilis and with a cast that includes Liverpool actors Neil Caple and David Lyons, Billy Wonderful is playing in ‘the round’ at it’s home ground of the Everyman Theatre which is transformed into a football stadium to truly recreate the unique atmosphere of a Merseyside derby. Billy’s made the squad and it’s wonderful. He’s down the wing and he’s flying. He doesn’t believe in much, but he believes in this….in football. As the Blues and the Reds come out to play, it’s D day for Billy…Derby Day.  Will Billy keep his head or will he fall foul of fame and fortune? The play follows the highs and lows as one-time boy wonder, Billy Walters, relives the Merseyside Derby match that marked the turning point in his life. Those key moments in the match are mirrored with key events in Billy’s life over 22 years. Can Billy achieve his lifelong ambition of scoring the winner in the Derby, and is there really such a thing as life after football? The cast taking on various roles includes: Neil Caple, Rob Law, Michael Ledwich, David Lyons and Shaun Mason. Billy Wonderful is at the Liverpool Everyman from Thursday 12 March until Saturday 4 April 2009. Suitable for ages 12+. For tickets call 0151 7094776 or visit www.everymanplayhouse.com.   12/03/2009 12:41:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7315 Southport's MP is one of a group of senior politicians backing calls for the pub industry reconsider how the 'beer tie' works. Licensees who are 'tied' to a certain brewery can pay up to 50p more per pint for beer and the Government is calling on  pub chains, known as pubcos, to look again at how this works. Liberal Democrat John Pugh MP said a number of licensees in Southport have raised concerns about the tie. "You can't expect the Government to do something about this problem if [the industry] doesn't address this as well," he said. Neil and Jacky Hanson have run the Rabbit Inn on Manchester Road since June.  They say pubcos should be doing more to help smaller outlets compete with big chains who can offer cheaper beer and discount deals at supermarkets. "I would like to see more support from the brewery so smaller pubs can have a chance to compete," he said. "It is a bit galling  when you see in the press breweries saying they are helping pubs out as much as possible, when in reality they are not." Business has dropped around a quarter since the summer, a fact that Neil puts down to the smoking ban. "In the summer our beer garden was absolutely packed, but in winter people don't want to stand outside in the cold to smoke.  They can sit at home with a few cheap tins and smoke there," he said. "I can understand in a pub that does a lot of food you would not want people smoking there, but I don't think a ban is necessary in all pubs." John Pugh MP is a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Save the Pub Group, aiming to keep local pubs open. In Southport eight pubs have closed since 2005. By Natasha Robson   12/03/2009 12:39:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7314 Author Pat Regan's third book is likely to cause quite a stink in Sefton. Dirty Politics, in which Pat investigates "misleading" information put out by councils about issues such as the fortnightly bin collection, also names local politicians whose actions have got them into trouble. But Pat is staying tight lipped as to who the individuals are, so as not to spoil the surprise when the book is released in June. "I think certain people may have a heart attack when they read it," Pat said. "I'm pleased that not much has been altered by the editor.  The publishers are very open minded and everything we have said we can prove." Pat, of Sandbrook Road, Ainsdale, has spent seven months working on the book, that also "dispels myths about alternative energy" and looks at "ongoing wildlife habitat destruction committed by double dealing councils and ruthless politicians". Pat says the book, that he describes as "uncompromising" and "no-nonsense" has been well received by publishers, Can Write Will Write, because it is "unique". Although it focuses on Southport, it also tackles much wider issues. On its release in June it will be available from major outlets including Amazon.com and supermarkets. "It has been hugely enjoyable to write and it will get out a lot of truths that local residents need to know about," Pat said. By Natasha Robson 12/03/2009 12:35:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7309 A traveller who spent eight days in an Egyptian hospital is urging Brits to be grateful for our fantastic health service. Doreen Johnson, 68, was 10 days into a world cruise to celebrate her recovery from breast cancer when she fell and broke her leg in three places. She described her experience that followed as traumatic and humbling. "We were on shore in Alexandria and the road was very, very busy with traffic.  There were roadworks and I slipped and broke my femur.  I had no use of my leg," Doreen, of Leyland Road, Southport, told Champnews.com. A local man called an ambulance for her and husband Charles, 76, which took more than an hour to arrive. "It was full of sand and dirt and there was already a patient in it and all their family," Doreen said. "I was in absolute agony and they put me on a piece of hardboard to lift me into the ambulance.  They had no painkillers and going over speed bumps was just awful." Doreen was taken to a public hospital an hour away, where her blonde hair and fair complexion made her the centre of attention. "I had all kinds of people round me, sitting on the bed and showing me babies," Doreen recalled. "There must have been about 30 people round me at one point.  And the hospital had nothing.  There was no soap, the toilets didn't flush, there were no bandages or painkillers. "They took me for an X-ray and the room was dirtier than a garage and the equipment so antiquated.  But the kindness of all those people wanting to help me was unbelievable." Doreen was carried around the hospital on a sheet with knots tied in the corners by young girls.  Her leg was stabilised by a hand-made frame of mild steel. "I was absolutely petrified of having to have an operation in that hospital," Doreen said. Within a few hours the British Consulate arrived to help the couple, arranging for their transfer to a private hospital and helping Charles retrieve their luggage, get money and apply for an extended visa. "This is also a warning to people never to go away without insurance, because if I hadn't had it I would not have got the operation," Doreen said. She endured a four-hour procedure to mend her broken leg with metal rods and 12 screws, performed by one of the country's top surgeons. The couple also had to ensure the metal frame was sent back to the public hospital, as it was worth so much to them. "It was such a difference to go from the boat, with everyone in ball gowns talking about how many cruises they had been on, to the hospital where people had nothing at all but still wanted to help," Doreen said. "I will never go on another cruise.  I was screaming in agony in the hospital but I never cried, but when I think about how little those people have I cry for them." The couple bought a walking frame for the hospital before they left and will be sending a parcel of soap, bandages and other items. Doreen said the experience, although awful, has been a positive one as it has made her appreciate everything she has. She is now recuperating at home. By Natasha Robson 11/03/2009 06:40:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7308 Southport's KGV College will have to wait longer for the green light on their multi-million pound building project. Building work was due to begin at the Scarisbrick New Road site on February 4 (2009),  but the £38 million plans came to a standstill when the Learning Skills Council (LSC) put a freeze on their funding programmes nationally. Just eight further education schemes across the country were given the go-ahead last week, when the National Council held a meeting to discuss an assessment of the programme. Colleges in Liverpool, Stoke-On-Trent, Coulsdon (Surrey), West Kent, Solihull, Northampton and two in Bolton received approval to continue their developments. The eight schemes will cost nearly £400 million, with £300 million to be provided by the LSC over the next five years.  Following the meeting, Skills Secretary John Denham issued a statement to Parliament saying: “There are many more schemes currently in preparation than can be funded in this spending round. For that reason, I agreed with the council that they would appoint an independent reviewer—Sir Andrew Foster—to find out how this situation arose and what lessons must be learnt for the future. It is clear that even at current record levels of funding not all schemes can be implemented on the timescales originally envisaged. I have therefore asked the council to consult with the Association of Colleges and the FE sector to advise me on ways of prioritising schemes in the future programme.” A spokesman for KGV College said: “We hope we are next in line. We will now make it our priority to find out when the next metteing will be held and when we will be considered.” Plans for KGV's development include a new two-storey structure, which will replace some of the college's old buildings and portable buildings. The existing Millenium Building will remain alongside new modern facilities including a sports hall, a performing arts centre and additional learning space for students. Seperate plans for a sports field development including an all-weather pitch are also in place. By Natasha Young 11/03/2009 06:18:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7297 Christ Church, Lord Street, Southport is starting two new Alpha courses in the next fortnight. A course in the church starts on Thursday March 12 at 7pm.  Anyone is welcome and it is free. Members have a light meal together, in order to get to know each other better, and then watch a short DVD on a different topic each week, such as "Is there more to life than this?", "Who is Jesus?", "Why and How do I pray?". People are free to come and share their views or just simply to listen to the views of others. Also for the first time, the church is holding an Alpha group in Lloyd's Bar (Willow Grove) on Lord Street, starting on Friday March 13 at 10.30am. The group will be watching the same DVD as on Thursday nights, followed by an informal and friendly discussion in the pub afterwards. The Alpha Course is an International course, run by many different church denominations, all over the world. More than 2 million people in the UK and 11 million people worldwide have now attended an Alpha course. The theme for this year's courses is "If God did exist what would you ask?" For further details or to book your free place, please contact the church office on 01704 531756. There is also an Alpha website at www.alpha.org which contains more information and facts. 05/03/2009 11:12:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7296 THE licencees of the Zetland pub are coming to terms with losing everything they own to a devastating fire. Derek Shaw had to be rescued by firefighters after going back into the flat, above the pub, to save his dog, Sam.  He spent three days in hospital on pure oxygen after suffering smoke inhalation and burns to his back. Firefighters found Derek's partner Helen Foulkes in the kitchen.  She spent the night in Southport hospital suffering smoke inhalation from the fire in the early hours of Thursday (February 26). "All the kids were out at the time, and that's a miracle in itself," Derek, 46, said. "We lost everything in the fire, but Sam is still alive and kicking. "It is the first time either of us has experienced a fire and it was very confusing when I first woke up.  I went back in for the dog and got lost because of the smoke. "At the time you don't think about it, but the next day it makes you realise what could have happened.  It's scary stuff." Helen, 43, and Derek, both from Southport, are now sleeping on the pub's floor as their flat is uninhabitable.  Their three daughters, aged 20, 18 and 13 are staying with friends and family. "We want to say a very, very big thank you to all the regulars who have helped clean up the place and offered us a place to stay and clothes," Derek said. "We are both OK, but Helen is finding it hard.  She has been traumatised more than me." The couple re-opened the pub on Zetland Street, Southport, that they have run for 15 months, at 6pm on Saturday and say it is now business as usual. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. By Natasha Robson 05/03/2009 11:10:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7295 Happy Mondays star Bez will be DJ-ing at Southport's Apres nightclub on Friday March 6. Tickets for the event at the club on West Street are priced at £4 and should be bought in advance to avoid disappointment. Tickets are available from Apres during opening hours or all day from the Wellington pub on Eastbank Street. 05/03/2009 11:02:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7294 Thriller - Live is a spectacular, high-octane concert specially created to celebrate the career of the world's greatest entertainer and undisputed King of Pop - Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5. It is moonwalking from the West End to the Liverpool Empire Theatre from Monday 9 - Saturday 14 March. Throughout the show the non-stop hits just keep on coming, with “I Want You Back”, “I'll Be There”, “Show You The Way To Go”, “Can You Feel It”, “Rock With You”, “She's Out Of My Life”, “Thriller”, “Beat It”, “Ben”, “ABC”, “Man in the Mirror”, “Dirty Diana”, “Billie Jean”, “Earth Song”, and many, many more. The cast includes Pop Idol finalist Hayley Evetts, who came to the nation’s attention in the same contest as Gareth Gates and Will Young. To bring to life on stage the distinctive high-energy dancing and pulsating sound of many of pop’s greatest hits, Thriller - Live blends eye-popping video footage and effects together with dazzling choreography by the show’s award-winning director Gary Lloyd. Thriller - Live was originally conceived and created by Executive Director of the show, Adrian Grant, a long time associate of Michael Jackson, and author of ‘Michael Jackson – The Visual Documentary’. Tickets, priced £12.50 to £28.50, are available from the box office on 0844 847 2525* or www.LiverpoolEmpire.org.uk* (*24/7 - subject to booking fees).   05/03/2009 11:00:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7293 The Hoghton Players Gilbert and Sullivan Society will perform Ruddigore at Southport Arts Centre next month. The production, taking place from March 11-14, will see both talented youngsters and experienced actors take to the stage for an evening of music and dancing. Producers John Hilton and Ian Mackley have added some innovative ideas to the show and music is directed by Paul Varney. Tickets cost £6 to £9 depending on the performance. Call the advance box office on 01704 578232. 05/03/2009 10:58:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7290 Therapists and volunteers at the Sefton Cancer Support Group are raising as much money as possible to find a new centre. The charity, currently based on Liverpool Road, Formby, where they offer non-medical support to those affected by cancer, including social events and holistic treatments including aromatherapy, acupuncture, chiropody and reflexology, is being forced to move as the future of their current site is unclear. The charity, which receives NHS Sefton funding to help pay bills, is able to pay rent for the new location but needs money for fixtures and fittings to make it suitable to continue the service, which is used by a turnover of people from Southport to Bootle. Therapist Jan Ord told Champnews.com:“I just don't want to see it go. “We have people who come here and say they walk in and their worries are cast aside. We don't talk about their problems.” Jan managed to raise more than £750 for the cause by taking part in her own fundraising event at the weekend. The 56-year-old took part in a sponsored sofa sit at Formby's Cross House pub on Sunday (March 1,2009), where she joined firefighter Paul Graham to remain seated from 11am until 11pm, with just two 10-minute breaks. The duo collected lists of sponsors and kept a collection bucket at their side on the day. Bar staff also donated their tips to help. Jan described the event as “absolutely wonderful” and said: “The challenge wasn't bad, I did really well and I didn't have my first break until 6.50pm.” Anyone who would like to make a donation to help the Sefton Cancer Support Group with their move can call 01704 879352, or visit the centre at 88 Liverpool Road, Formby between 10am and 4pm from Monday to Friday. Suggestions of any rented accommodation which could be used as a new location for the centre are also welcome. The group are preferably looking for a three-bedroom house or bungalow. By Natasha Young 04/03/2009 07:24:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7289 Sefton's out-of-hours GP service was relocated without warning, Southport's Conservative Parliamentary candidate claims. Cllr Brenda Porters says NHS Sefton, who operate the service from sites at Southport Hospital and Litherland Town Hall, told her they were considering moving the overnight service to one base in Formby, but nothing had been confirmed. She was "annoyed" to receive calls from patients telling her it had already been moved, she told Champnews.com. "This is a medical service - what a cheek to do this without any consultation," Cllr Porter said. "If I hadn't have checked up I wouldn't have known it had moved to Formby after 11pm.  It is really bad.  They said they were just thinking about it a few weeks ago, but it was obviously cut and dried by then." She called the move a "short straw" for Southport, adding that the clinic on Philip's Lane, Formby, could be hard to find for a worried patient who did not know the area. But NHS Sefton insist they have been transparent with everyone about the decision process. Alison Shaw, Director of Provider Services, said: “Over the past few months we have been reviewing our GP out of hours arrangements to ensure they continue to offer our patients the highest possible standard of care and treatment. “We want the service to be even more effective and responsive to the needs of our patients. “So, while the service will continue to be based in Southport and Litherland, we have introduced an additional, more central site in Formby where the overnight team of GPs and nurses will operate from. “It also gives patients more choice about where they can book an appointment to see a doctor if they need to during the early hours. “We will regularly review our GP out of hours arrangements to make sure that our patients can expect continual improvements from the service.” By Natasha Robson   04/03/2009 07:10:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7288 A Hesketh Bank man has been charged with fraudulently posing as a medical doctor and a vet. Russell Lewis Oakes, 42, of Shore Road, is also charged with sexual assault on a teenage girl and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. One of the charges of fraud by false representation as a veterinary surgeon relates to an incident at Warren Farm, Southport Old Road, Formby.  Another occurred in Ainsdale, Southport. Oakes, a suspended osteopath who practised in Wigan, faces a total of 84 charges that also include deception, perverting the course of justice and attempting to pervert the course of justice.  The Royal College of Veterinary Surgery (RCVS) reported Oakes to the Merseyside Police  in 2008 for allegedly presenting a forged degree certificate and letter of good standing  when joining in 2006.  The RCVS adjourned their disciplinary procedure in the light of the police investigation. Mr Oakes was suspended by the General Osteopathic Council in June last year. All the alleged offences relate to a period between October 2006 and March 2008. Oakes has been bailed  to appear at North Sefton Magistrates Court on March 20 (2009). Joanne Conroy, 39, of the same address, has been charged with perverting the course of justice and was bailed to appear before the same court on the same date. By Natasha Robson     04/03/2009 06:48:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7279 A Southport man who attacked a man in a bus queue in the town centre has been given a suspended prison sentence. Liverpool Crown Court heard that the victim, Joe Wright, lost two front teeth and another was broken in the attack. Michael Settle, of Roe Lane, was sentenced to six months imprisonment suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to pay his victim £750 compensation and carry out 150 hours unpaid work. He had admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and being in breach of a conditional discharge for assault. Helen Morris, prosecuting, told the court that Mr Wright had tried to butt into the middle of the bus queue on Lord Street. Settle, who was not in the queue, remonstrated with him and they exchanged verbal abuse. Settle said to him, "I'm going to drop you like a bad habit" and then butted him in the face. The victim fell to the ground on his back and as he went to stand up spat out two front teeth. Settle, 21, then punched him in the face, said Mrs Morris. The victim's friend came over and recognised Settle who was later arrested. Frank Dillon, defending, said that Settle had admitted his guilt for the offence which happened while he was in drink.   26/02/2009 12:04:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7278 She has an extraordinary talent, millions of fans, exciting new television challenges ahead, a second best-selling book out soon…and a nationwide non-stop box office-busting tour to deliver! Following her very own TV series – ‘Sally Morgan Star Psychic’ on National TV, Sally, the stars psychic goes on national tour for the first time. As a highly respected medium, Sally has become a close and trusted friend of top show business celebrities and Royalty alike. Famously, she has read for George Michael, Uma Thurman, Robert DeNiro and most notably the late Princess Diana. What’s more, her amazing readings are just as accurate face-to-face, over the telephone and even over the internet! Sally had her first psychic experience when she was just nine months old and saw her first ghost when she was only four years of age. Since then she has been using her gift to read people’s past and predict their futures. She can also see, hear and speak to the dead with astonishing results. Sally brings her show to Southport Theatre and Convention Centre on Thursday March 12 at 7.30pm. For tickets (£17.50) call Ticketmaster on 0844 847 2380* or book online at www.southporttheatre.org.uk* (*booking fee applies). 26/02/2009 12:02:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7277 Get your dancing shoes on because Southport is hosting this year's Salsa Kingdom. Some of the world's finest Salsa groups and dancers will be strutting their stuff in the resort for only the second ever Salsa Kingdom Festival. Southport Theatre and Convention Centre, The Arts Centre and The Prince Of Wales Hotel will play host to the UK‘s Ultimate Latin music and Dance Festival with more than 2,000 people set to attend. The Theatre will be showing 'The Magic Of Salsa Kingdom' a new musical from New York with iconic artists and dancers plucked from the stages of Broadway, Hollywood, and the cream of world Latin Dance Champions. There is also dancing in the Floral Hall and over 60 Dance workshops from international instructors in the Prince Of Wales Hotel and The Arts Centre. Salsa Kingdom will take place from September 18 -20 and is just another major coup for the Convention Centre. Already big names such as Grammy nominated band 'The New Swing Sextet' and World Salsa Champions Tito and Tamara from Dirty Dancing have confirmed they will be heading to the resort. Southport Theatre and Convention Centre recently enjoyed a complete refurbishment as part of a £40 million investment programme. The impressive venue also boasts a link through to the newly built Ramada Plaza Hotel which is immediately adjacent. Maxine McCarthy, Conference and Corporate Sales Manager for Sefton Council, said: "We are delighted that Salsa Kingdom have chosen Southport as a destination. "Salsa Kingdom is a vibrant event which attracts both national and international dancers. It is also open to the general public so anyone can get their dancing shoes on, take part in classes, watch the 'Salsa Showcase' or just dance until dawn. "It will be held at a number of venues across Southport and will attract more than two thousand people with the majority of these taking up accommodation in the town. This in turn will generate thousands of pounds for the local economy. "The Southport Theatre and Convention Centre is fast becoming a fantastic place for the complete conference experience and we are constantly attracting new business as well as building on our existing clientele who use our facilities." The following week sees The International Brotherhood of Magicians, a 1,000 delegate plus convention, casting their spell on Southport with a week long series of workshops and magic shows. For more details on Southport Theatre and Convention Centre visit www.visitsouthport.com or www.southportconferences.com. For more information on the Salsa Kingdom event visit www.salsakingdom.co.uk. 26/02/2009 12:01:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7276 SOUTHPORT DRAMATIC CLUB at THE LITTLE THEATRE The Shell Seekers    Adapted from Rosamunde Pilcher’s million seller saga by Charlotte Bingham and Terence Brady, The Shell Seekers tells the story of 64 year old Penelope Keeling, a mother of three recuperating after a heart attack and looking back on her life and her relationships with her children. Her prized possession is a painting, The Shell Seekers, by her celebrated artist father, the late Lawrence Sterne, which is now worth a fortune. Val Pedlar is a tour-de-force as Penelope, a role played on the screen by Vanessa Redgrave and Angela Lansbury. This is a massive part but Val confidently carries the authority of an independent woman whilst showing still the pathos of her situation as her children selfishly try to persuade her to sell the painting. The story is acted out with flashbacks to the past. Ceri Watkins is refreshingly innocent as the young Penelope and Jim Longworth perfectly cast as her artist father as they talk in his Cornish studio. Brendan Callow exhibits the unpleasant traits of a modern banker as the greedy son, Noel, who has plans for his share of the inheritance whilst Dyan Ensenat exudes envy and greed as the grasping daughter, Nancy. Barry Johnson plays Nancy’s henpecked husband George and provides the best comedy moment of the evening when he finally turns on her.  Helen Pickavance is the other daughter, Olivia, sophisticated and sympathetic but, like her siblings, with no time to spare for her mother in her convalescence. Penelope invites Antonia, daughter of her Olivia’s former lover, to stay with her and Antonia starts up a romance with the young gardener, Danus, a man who reminds Penelope of the one big love of her life, Richard, who was killed in the War. Scott Rowan plays Danus, with a Scottish accent, and in flashbacks he becomes Richard as Penelope sees in Antonia, a reflection of younger self. Sue Thomas shines as the archetypal housekeeper, Ellen, and Ray Mann displays his familiar charm as the man from Sotheby’s who comes to value the painting and ends up reading the will after her death, the crowning glory of the night. A long play and not easy to perform but the cast conveyed the whole range of emotions superbly, from bitter jealousy and regret to romance and tenderness. One or two of the scenes, especially those of children plotting to ‘safeguard’ their inheritance, might have benefited from shortening and the microphones needed turning up for those away from the front rows, the dialogue often being overtaken by the excellent and pertinent sound effects which added a lot to the atmosphere. But, all in all, another triumph for the SDC and the director, James Hughes-Alty. Champ Verdict: 3.5 out of 5.  An emotional and satisfying evening. Review by Ron Ellis 26/02/2009 11:58:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7275 Bosses at Ormskirk's Maternity Unit have announced they are to appoint four new employees  after a midwife claimed the staff couldn't cope. Last week it was revealed that the unit had to close its doors to mums seven times in 2008, once in March, three times in September, once in November and twice in December because of a shortage of beds or staff. Following the release of those figures by the Tories a midwife at the Ormskirk Unit contacted Champnews.com. She claimed: “We can't cope. The unit needs more midwives. “We were shut seven times last year, but in reality the unit would have been shut more times if the midwifes had not been doing extra shifts to keep the unit open. “Staff are going off with the flu and colds and are not coming back as quickly as they used to do, because of the high stress levels. “It does not help that we deliver 35% of the births by Caesarean Section, which is one of the highest rates in the country.” A spokesman for Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust responded that since it opened in 2004, there has been a year-on-year increase in the number of mothers who choose to have their babies at the maternity unit at Ormskirk – in the last three years alone this has been 17%. He commented that this has 'undoubtedly put additional pressure' on the staff. He added: “There have been occasions when staffing levels have been reduced due to sickness or vacancies and – as is normal practice throughout the Trust – staff are asked if they would be willing to swap shifts or to work additional hours. “However it is hoped that the number of occasions when this happens will decrease with the imminent appointment of four additional staff, including midwives and theatre staff. “Any decision to close the unit is made after very careful consideration with the utmost priority being the safest care for mothers and babies. “The recent occasion when the Unit closed because of the number of mothers giving birth, unfortunately coincided with an increased level of staff sickness which was managed in line with the Trust policy. There is no evidence that the increase was associated with stress, but a number of staff were sick with colds and flu brought about by the winter weather and this has since improved. “In line with the national trend, the Trust is experiencing an increased number of Caesarean Sections with a rate for the last twelve months of 28% - although we did see a high of 35.5% in September 2008. A number of initiatives have been introduced recently to try to reduce this level, and this has been reflected in the January figure which indicates a reduction to 25%. “The possible expansion of the unit at Ormskirk and subsequent staffing numbers is being considered in view of the increased demand on our services due to its popularity.” Adrian Owens, the Conservative General Election candidate for West Lancashire said: “I'm pleased that the hospital trust has responded positively to the pressures at Ormskirk.” By Henry James             25/02/2009 06:39:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7274 A Crown prosecutor is getting used to life in the public eye after appearing on four episodes of a BBC2 gameshow last week. Andy Page was a member of the Quizzee Rascals team on Battle of the Brains, presented by Nicky Campbell. He says he has had a great reaction from colleagues at Southport Magistrates Court, where he has been working this week, as well as being stopped twice in the street by strangers. “It's been really nice,” assistant prosecutor Andy, from Crosby, said. “I really enjoyed the show, despite losing all four of my individual rounds.  I think I was unlucky to lose some of them, but it seems like I am the only person in the country who didn't know the musical based on Madame Butterfly is Miss Saigon. “That's the thing with quizzes - you either know the answer or you don't.” In the show the team captain must pick individuals to compete against a member of the rival team on a certain subject, before going through to a knock-out round.  The winning team gets the chance to win £1,000 and the captain must answer a question correctly for the team to return the next day. Former Mastermind champion Andy is a member of the Old Dog team in the Merseyside Quiz League, who, with team mates from Formby, Maghull and Wigan, play at the pub of the same name in Up Holland. He won £1,000 on Battle of the Brains, but says it can't compete with the prestige of the Mastermind title. Andy has also appeared on various TV game shows since 1982, including University Challenge and 15 to 1. “People keep telling me I should go on Millionaire, but it's very hard to get on it,” Andy said. “This is the first gameshow I've been on in three or four years but it has definitely given me the bug again.” By Natasha Robson 25/02/2009 06:28:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7273 Merseyside Police has insisted its standard of response in Formby “remains unaffected”, despite patrol cars being moved from their Ainsdale base to Southport. Following the North Sefton patrol team's relocation to the resort's Albert Road station last month, Chief Superintendent Ian Pilling, area commander for Sefton, said: “As part of our Total Policing approach we continually review our resources to ensure the best possible service for the communities of Sefton. The officers and vehicles based at Ainsdale have always been part of the Southport Patrol Team and as such are deployed across North Sefton as required. “It was decided that the best way forwards was to relocate the North Sefton patrol team from Ainsdale to Southport as it would be the most efficient and practical use of resources. These vehicles often spent much of their time in Southport as key facilities such as the custody office are located there. “Merseyside Police has pledged to attend all emergency calls within 10 minutes and currently the Sefton Area meets this time for 98% of 999 calls. Vehicles still regularly patrol Formby and Ainsdale and, since the changes were made at the beginning of January (2009), this high standard of response remains unaffected.” Formby Conservative councillor Alf Doran said that a presentation was previously made by the area commander at the village's area committee meeting, where he explained there would be no change to officers on foot patrol and in regular police patrol cars in the village as it would only affect immediate response cars. The committee were also told of a tracking system that is in place to help send the nearest police car to an incident. Cllr Doran told Champnews.com: “When I first heard about the move I was unhappy about the thought of it but Chief Supt Pilling went a long way to allay my fears. “We are now hoping to go into the control room where they run their system and see how it works, and we will be keeping a close eye on responses in Formby.” By Natasha Young   25/02/2009 06:04:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7272 Rollerblading pensioner Geoff Dornan has been found guilty of dangerous skating. After a trial Southport magistrates decided Geoff, 71, had endangered pedestrians on Chapel Street, Southport, on October 3 and 16 last year, thereby breaking Sefton Council bye-laws. “Chapel Street is the major pedestrianised shopping area in Southport and was not intended to be used as a skate park,” chair of the bench Fraser Wallace said. Geoff, of Normanhurst, Ormskirk, was fined £300 and ordered to pay costs of £1,792, but these have been suspended after an appeal notice was lodged. The court watched two DVDs of CCTV showing Mr Dornan skating on Chapel Street. The defendant gave a commentary over frame-by-frame playback, explaining the route he took and decisions he made to “allow pedestrians to continue their line and pace without any sense that they have to avoid me”. Mr Dornan, a retired youth worker, liked to skate on Chapel Street to the music of his favourite buskers, the court heard. When asked by prosecutor Suzette Cain why he did not skate along the four miles of cycle track on the Coastal Road, he replied: “Why should I? There is no music. That is the reason I don't.” Defending, Andrew Scott said: “Skating is his reason for being.” No one had complained about Mr Dornan's skating on the dates in question and he had not made any physical contact with any pedestrians, he added. By Natasha Robson 24/02/2009 11:33:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7263 Building on the success of last year's inaugural weekend folk festival, Folkport 2009 crammed a second generous dollop of sublime music into 12 hours at Southport Arts Centre on Saturday. It was another triumph of organisation for John Sprackland and the Arts Centre team, who assembled on an eclectic array of talent from old favourites like Show of Hands and the Kathryn Tickell band to the fresh contemporary sound of young ensembles Mawkin Causley, Uiscedwr and Wheeler Street. And full marks to Clive Pownceby and the gang from Southport's own Bothy Folk Song club, who held court in the Duke's bar with a succession of resident performers and special guests including Scold's Bridle and Roger Wilson, creating an atmosphere of welcome calm where one could grab tasty hot food and some of the excellent Southport Brewery ales on offer while keeping the vibe going in between the headline acts. The day kicked off in pioneering style with Mawkin Causley, probably the only pin-up boy band on the UK folk circuit, who revealed an edgy dynamic, gave some traditional tunes a refreshing new treatment and also played a few excellent original songs. Jim Causley's deep mellow voice complemented the sharply-phrased fiddle-playing of Jamie Delarre and the percussive guitar of David Delarre to perfection. I was also much taken with Uiscedwr, another young band fronted by Welsh musician Anna Esslemont, who is an outstanding violinist and has a natural affinity towards Celtic roots. She also has a fine singing voice not only in the pure sense, but in its ability to deliver smart catchy lyrics in the three-minute pop idiom. Backed by accordion, guitar and percussion, the result is a marvellous mixture which defies pigeon-holing. In the afternoon and early evening, there were full houses for Anna Massie, Kathryn Tickell, Show of Hands and Ruth Notman, featuring terrific group and individual performances which had the audiences begging for encores. I particularly enjoyed Show of Hands, (Steve Knightley and Phil Beer, with Miranda Sykes on bass) who played wonderful songs old and new and engaged the audience with jokes and anecdotes collected over decades of touring. The day was closed with a rollicking session from Kentish newcomers Wheeler Street, a six-piece band with a lively pub-folk-rock style that got everybody bopping along till midnight. A sensational day – and the beer kept flowing to the end... By Mike Montgomery 19/02/2009 09:54:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7262 Ballet fans were given a first-class treat last week with a superb performance of Coppelia at Liverpool's Empire Theatre. Presented by Ellen Kent and Ballet International, the Russian Classical Ballet Theatre staged a production of Leo Delibes' magical work which blended traditional dance with a stylish setting. Following the original 19th century choreography by Arthur Saint-Leon, award-winning Russian prima ballerina Kristina Terentieva took the lead role of Swanilda, and her performance exuded class and effortless delicacy. Partner Alexei Terentiev had relatively little to do as Frantz, but the whole cast, including a corps de ballet from the Elliott Clarke School threw themselves into the show with gusto, Some of the ensemble dancing could perhaps have benefited from more rehearsal time, but there was no denying the infectiously joyful exuberance of the performers. The costumes and sets were beautiful and the live orchestra under the baton of Vitaly Kutsenko was outstanding. Champ verdict: 4/5 A delightful evening. Review by Mike Montgomery The Empire is currently staging Bill Kenwright's acclaimed production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph, with Antony Hansen, from BBC TV’s ‘Any Dream Will Do’ in the title role, and Tara Bethan from BBC TV’s ‘I’d Do Anything’ as narrator. The run ends this Saturday, February 21. Next week sees the return of Buddy the Musical, from Monday February 23. See www.liverpoolempire.org.uk 19/02/2009 09:45:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7261 After wowing audiences in 2006 with Swan Lake on Ice, the world-famous Imperial Ice Stars, who have won international critical acclaim and a host of five-star reviews, are back at the Liverpool Empire once more with their brand new production, Cinderella On Ice, which is at the theatre from 3-7 March 2009. So far more than two million people across five continents have greeted The Imperial Ice Stars’ adrenaline infused performances with standing ovations. The Imperial Ice Stars have performed at many of the world’s most prestigious venues. Cinderella on Ice, their third production, continues to break new ground in the genre of ice dancing. Stunning skating feats, some only seen in Olympic arenas and some never attempted before, are performed within the confines of a frozen theatre stage, including breathtaking high speed throws and incredible lifts and lift sequences. Producer James Cundall, Chief Executive of Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, explains: “By giving these exceptionally talented skaters the freedom to experiment outside competitive skating, while working alongside some of the top figure skating coaches in the world, we are able to take ice choreography to new limits.” The show incorporates stunning three-dimensional scenery depicting a Siberian village square and a black and silver art deco theatre, magical special effects, including fire and rain; flying and state of the art projection. In this new interpretation of a classic tale, The Imperial Ice Stars tell the story of Cinderella, a humble chorus dancer who is thrust into the spotlight as a prima ballerina and captivates the handsome Lord Mayor’s son, the most eligible bachelor in town, with her graceful performance. Despite rival attempts by her stepsisters to steal his heart, the kindly Watchmakers and Gypsy Fortune Teller ensure that true love triumphs. For tickets (£13.50 - £28.50, discounts available) call 0844 847 2525 or go to www.liverpoolempire.org.uk 19/02/2009 08:46:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7260 If you need a pick-me-up from the winter blues and a break from the credit crunch then Southport Theatre has just the night for you. The brand new production of The Ultimate Juke Box Party promises to give you a feel-good night to remember featuring more than 60 of everyone’s favourite songs, including ABBA, Elvis, Queen, Buddy Holly, The Beatles and Elton John. The show is produced and hosted by former television heavyweight wrestling star Neil Sands who said: “Being aware of the current financial situation I thought everyone needs a feel good night out to lift their spirits so by putting so many songs from so many popular stars in one show it also makes it a value for money night out as well. “We have a brilliant five-piece party band, two sensational female singers and when you mix that with a large helping of fun, stunning costumes and non-stop great music we have a night that will lift anyone's spirits.” The Ultimate Juke Box Party is on Friday February 27 at 7.30pm. Tickets are £15.50 (concessions and Live Card £1.50 off). To book call Ticketmaster 0844 847 2380* or book online at www.SouthportTheatre.org.uk* (*subject to booking fee). 19/02/2009 08:35:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7258 Southport's oldest radio taxi firm is taking a step back in time to mark its 50th anniversary. Yellow Top has paid for one of its fleet to be re-sprayed in the colours the cars originally sported in the 1950s. Owner John Whiteside says he hopes other drivers, who privately own their cabs, may follow suit and have their bonnet, roof and boot painted light yellow. “The car has been out a couple of days and we have had a few comments already.  We thought it would bring back a bit of nostalgia,” John said. “The firm started in 1959 with seven cabs and quickly grew to 14.  Now we have around 50.  The office started out on Hoghton Street, then moved to Lord Street and in 1985 we moved to where we are now on Sussex Road.” Masters Vehicle Body Repairs on Hart Street said they were happy to have been chosen for the job. Yellow Top also held a celebratory dinner at the Floral Hall for past and present staff and drivers to mark their anniversary. By Natasha Robson 19/02/2009 08:26:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7256 An Ainsdale man who was addicted to gambling has been jailed after be admitted stealing more than three quarters of a million pounds from his employers. Preston Crown Court was told that David Moore, a book-keeper, took £783,000 over a four year period because of his gambling addiction. The huge theft was unearthed when he was made redundant and discrepancies were revealed when the Skelmersdale company was taken over. Moore, 40, who lived on The Green, Parbold at the time of his arrest, but has since been living on Segars Lane, Ainsdale, admitted 382 theft offences and was jailed for three years and four months. Moore had worked for the firm, Typolac Ltd, who manufactured coloured card, for ten years up to 2009. Preston Crown Court heard that on searching his Parbold home, police were confronted with an Aladdin's cave of collectable items ranging from signed sporting memrobilia and artwork to collectable toys he had bought to sell on Ebay in an attempt to recover the money. Among the items recovered were original oil paintings, high value designer watches including Rolex and TAG Heuer, together with signed racing helmets belonging to Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher. But thousands of items he had bought were unsold. Mr Paul Cummings, prosecuting, said Moore was solely responsible for processing purchase invoices and recording payments. He had authority to be the sole signatory on cheques less than £5,000 and it was a feature of the case that all the thefts were less than that amount. He tried to disguise what he was doing and no one else had had access to ledgers. "Everything was concealed until he was made redundant," Mr Cummings told the court. Police found he had deposited £600,000 into his account. Mr Andrew Downie said: "The defendant is a gambling addict. He has now joined gamblers anonymous and is doing well. He had been under the mistaken belief that it would only take one success to pay off the debt but it had spiralled." He said Moore bought things on the internet ranging from plastic figurines to signed Mike Tyson photographs to re-sell. Judge Christopher Cornwall told Moore he had been employed for 10 years. "The last four years where characterised by systematic dishonesty on your part," he said.  18/02/2009 05:42:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7255 A Southport mother spent seven years writing a book about her day-to-day life caring for a daughter with Cysitc Fibrosis. Karen Dohren, of Radnor Drive, started writing CF Vs Us by hand and has finally had the book published by Birkenhead company Countyvise. Having funded the book herself, Karen, 44, told Champnews.com: “This was a personal thing for me and something I was determined to do. “I'm hoping it will be informative and will raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.” The mother of two who, along with her husband Ian, acts as a carer for her 16-year-old daughter Olivia, gives an insight into their lives from becoming pregnant and discovering her baby would be born with the genetic illness, through to how their lives are now. Cystic Fibrosis is a life-threatening diesease that affects the internal organs, particularly the lungs and digesetive system, and makes it difficult to breath and digest food. It affects over 8,000 people in the UK. Claiming the book puts a “positive slant” on the situation, Karen added: “It's aimed at all different people and it could help people with any illness.” Karen, who has never written another publication, received full support from her husband and children, who also added their own imput into the book. She now plans to send a copy to the prime minister Gordon Brown, who's son Fraser also has Cystic Fibrosis. By Natasha Young 18/02/2009 04:56:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7254 A midwife-led unit should be built in Southport after Ormskirk's maternity ward closed seven times last year, Conservative parliamentary candidate Cllr Brenda Porter has said. The hospital trust is considering building a midwifery-led unit next to the maternity ward because of increasing birth rates in the area, but Cllr Porter believes Southport will be missing out once again. “A Unit in Southport is very much needed as the road system to Ormskirk has never improved and better public transport has not been addressed,” she said. “Assurances in both 2003 and 2005 that Southport residents could rely on the Ormskirk maternity service has proved unreliable.” The midwife-led unit in Southport that closed in September 2005 should be re-opened with improved facilities, she said. Figures obtained by Conservatives under the Freedom of Information Act showed Ormskirk's ward 'closed' seven times during 2008, on some occasions resulting in expectant mums being sent to alternative hospitals around the North West. But a spokesman for Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust said that the unit was never actually 'closed'. “Any woman or ambulance personnel that contacts the delivery suite during periods of closure are telephone triaged by the midwife, at which time an assessment is made as to the course of action to be taken ie treat, treat and transfer or divert to nearest alternative maternity unit.” They added that when the ward had diverted patients it had been because it was at full capacity, or due to “inadequate staffing levels following unpredicted sickness.” By Natasha Robson   18/02/2009 04:39:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7244 Southport is fighting back against the credit crunch with a range of schemes and campaigns. The town's MP John Pugh is leading the battle to promote local businesses and save further pubs from closure. And there is already some good news, with estate agents reporting a “very encouraging” boost in trade during January, and holiday company Pontin's announcing plans for a major rebuild of their Ainsdale site to boost tourism. Owners Ocean Parcs, whose chief executive Ian Smith was born and raised in Southport, say they will totally redesign and rebuild the centre, subject to planning approval, as part of a £50million upgrade to their seven national parks. “The potential is enormous,” Mr Smith said. Southport has also benefited from a £4million government 'Sea Change' grant, designed to regenerate seaside towns. It will be put towards a new cultural centre that will include theatre, museum and live music venue, on the site of the current Arts Centre, Atkinson Art Gallery and library on Lord Street. Now Liberal Democrat Mr Pugh hopes to reignite the town's shopping centre with a four-point plan to help independent retailers through the financial crisis. Councillors have also pledged more than £5,000 towards a spring retail promotion, organised by Southport Business Enterprise. They hope to reverse the trend of shops closing in the town. Mr Pugh has also joined a Parliamentary groups to protect local pubs, that are closing at a rate of 39 per week nationally. By Natasha Robson 11/02/2009 07:08:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7241 Rollerblading pensioner Geoff Dornan has appeared in court charged with dangerous and annoying skating. Geoff, 71, denies skating in such a manner on the pedestrianised Chapel Street, Southport, last October (2008). Prosecuting, Suzette Cain for Sefton Council said Chapel Street was covered by a bye-law stating people must not skate “in such manner as to cause danger or give reasonable grounds to annoyance to other persons”. Magistrates watched CCTV showing Geoff rollerblading on Chapel Street, from October 3 and 16. The prosecution said this showed him breaking the bye-law, but Andrew Scott, defending, said: “The evidence that you see shows nobody being annoyed and no danger.” Prosecution witness, PC Paul Harwood, told the court how he had seized the CCTV recordings from Marks and Spencers' camera operator on the two dates and had spoken to Dornan on October 16. “I explained that due to his manner of skating I believed he was breaching the town centre bye-law and had potential to cause danger or annoyance,” he said. When asked under cross-examination why he did not arrest Dornan, he replied “it is not an arrestable offence” and “I reported him for summons to the council.” He admitted the bye-law refers to “danger”, not “potential danger” and that no one had complained about Dornan's skating, but said his “general manner of skating is dangerous for all to see”. Witness PC Kim Montgomery said she had received a complaint about Dornan on October 16 and had asked him to stop skating but he refused. She had not stopped him because she was not “100% knowledgeable” about local bye-laws, the court heard. Witness Harold Craven, of Sefton Street, Southport, said he had seen Dornan skating on Chapel Street several times and had complained to police. “I saw the gentleman skating very, very fast, weaving in and out of all the pedestrians and wondered what would happen if he were to hit one,” he said. Under cross-examination he admitted he could not remember the dates he had seen Dornan. Mr Scott submitted that there was no case to answer. But magistrates decided there was and adjourned until Tuesday February 24 (2009). By Natasha Robson 11/02/2009 06:39:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7234 Southport Bach Choir will entertain local music lovers with their exciting performance of Handel's 'Messiah' this Saturday (February 7). The concert, at Holy Trinity Church on Hoghton Street, will be conducted by Ian Wells and features well-known soloists Gillian Winstanley, Robert Carey, Jonathan Bowden and Roger Barlow. Ian Tracey will accompany on the organ. Starting at 7.30pm, tickets cost £10, or £8 for concessions, and are available from choir members. Alternatively, call Alice Taylor on 01704 229416.    05/02/2009 11:41:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7233 In celebration of the release of the first official new album in over 30 years, The Drifters are back on tour in the UK with an exciting new show. The ‘Five Decades and Moore Tour’ is coming to The Southport Theatre in Southport on Tuesday March 3 as part of a 50 date UK Tour. As one of the biggest selling bands of all time, The Drifters have collated a huge catalogue of over 50 hits, selling in excess of 214 million singles and 114 million albums across the world. Since their creation, the line up of The Drifters has undergone many changes with more than 55 different singers, including icons such as Ben E King,  Rudy Lewis and Charlie Thomas each of whom was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. This energetic show features the only legitimate Drifters line up in the world, accompanied by world class musicians and a stunning visual presentation of unseen footage from the last 50 years of The Drifters’ fabulous, hit-filled history. The line up will of course perform the timeless classics such as ‘Saturday Night at the Movies,’ ‘Under The Boardwalk,’ ‘Come On Over To My Place’ and ‘Kissing In The Back Row of the Movies.’ The show also features a whole host of new material from the stunning new album to be released in 2009. The album is entitled ‘Five Decades and Moore named in honour of the longest serving group member, Johnny Moore, who died ten years ago. Tickets for the 7.30pm show cost £20 (£18 concessions).  Call  Ticketmaster on 0844 847 2380 or visit www.southporttheatre.org.uk   05/02/2009 11:39:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7231 Formby's red squirrel population has been severly hit by a two-year epidemic of the squirrel pox virus. New figures released by the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, leaders of red squirrel conservation in the area, revealed the population in Formby and Ainsdale pinewoods had shrunk 40% of its normal size by spring 2008 and to 20% by early autumn. The figures were discovered after volunteers surveyed the woodlands six times a year since 2002, enabling accurate monitoring of changes in red squirrel numbers. As the squirrels have continuied to die since autumn 2008, the Trust believes it is likely that one in 10 of those present in 2006 have survived and that only a hundred or so are left in the pinewoods. Large numbers have also died in urban areas of the village, however the disease has not yet spread to Hightown or Blundellsands and Crosby. The squirrel pox virus is carreid by non-native grey squirrels, who are not usually harmed by it, and  is lethal to native  red squirrels when they become infected. No new cases of the virus have been reported since Christmas but it could reappear. Steve White from the Lancashire Wildlife Trust said: “We have long known that the spread of squirrel pox from greys was the major threat to the survival of Sefton’s red squirrels, but the speed with which this disease has taken hold has taken us by surprise. All is not lost, though. If we can prevent a recurrence of the disease then the surviving red squirrels could recolonise the area quite quickly.” Members of the public are being asked to continue reporting sightings of both red and grey squirrels  in the area, as conservationists step up their efforts to save the red squirrels. Call the Lancashire Wildlife Trust on 07590 745862 or 0151 920 3769. By Natasha Young   05/02/2009 11:28:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7230 The festive panto season may be over for another year, but all is not lost for those who missed out. Southport Arts Centre, on Lord Street, is gearing up to host another Easter production, this time telling the tale of Jack and the Beanstalk. The show will reunite 90s pop star 'Kavanagh', real name Anthony Kavanagh, and Alison Crawford, who took the lead role in last year's Easter pantomime, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The duo previously paired up on 2007's ITV1 show Grease Is The Word, in the hope of becoming the the next Danny and Sandy in the hit West End musical. Playing characters Jack and Jill, they will also be joined by Big Brother 9 contestant Stephanie McMichael, who stars as the fairy. Fresh from his Christmas panto performance in Aladdin, in Sunderland, Anthony told Champnews.com: “Panto is hard as I'm not used theatre and it's two shows a day, but is a bit of fun and luckily all my roles have been a bit 'Jack the Lad'. “Plus I'm really, really looking forward to working with Alison again.” Alison, who enjoyed success in last year's Easter production, said: “It's a really good panto. I'm really going to enjoy the songs and the cast. “It's not like doing a show at Christmas as everyone is in the party mood then.With Easter it's more about families and it's still a great atmosphere.” Jack and the Beanstalk will be at Southport Arts Centre, on Lord Street, at 2pm and 7pm from April 8-11(2009). For tickets call 0151 9342141 or visit www.seftonarts.co.uk. By Natasha Young 04/02/2009 10:31:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7229 A 71-year-old rollerblader who was charged with skating in an unauthorised area has slammed the case as “a total waste of public money” after the trial was dropped by the prosecution. Police charged Geoff Dornan with breaking bye-laws by skating on Chapel Street, Southport, and the pensioner was forced to spend more than four hours in police custody, magistrates heard. But skating is not forbidden on Chapel Street, as was stated on the charge, defence solicitor Andrew Scott said. “The police got it entirely wrong,” he added. North Sefton Magistrates agreed to discontinue the trial and allow Mr Dornan, who has no previous convictions, to apply for costs to be returned.  “Although I am relieved at this outcome, I should add that in the intervening months I have suffered considerable stress and personal hardship in consequence of this unwarranted action,” Mr Dornan, of Normanhurst, Ormskirk, said. “I was subjected to the humiliation of being arrested and held for hours on end at Southport Police Station, where I was  body searched, and had my personal characteristics entered on to the national criminal database. “But to me, much the worst of all these indignities was the confiscation of my beloved rollerblades.” Mr Dornan also said he has suffered a bad back since his rollerblades were taken on November 25, 2008. “I'm itching to get back to rollerblading myself young again,” he said. “It may take a while but I'll do it.” Mr Dornan, who has been skating for almost eight years, said he had been very impressed with the way the majority of police officers dealt with complaints against him, but believed his prosecution was “a total waste of public money”. He still faces a charge of dangerous skating, brought by Sefton Council, that will be heard at North Sefton magistrates court on Monday (February 9, 2009). By Natasha Robson   04/02/2009 07:21:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7228 Southport's KGV College has quashed rumours that its plans for a £38million rebuild are at risk. The Scarisbrick New Road college was due to start building work, but the start date has been delayed due to a national freeze on funding for building programmes from the Learning Skills Council (LSC). However, following other media reports last week claiming the college's rebuild dream had been “shattered”, a KGV spokesperson told Champnews.com: “It's not a dream shattered, it's a dream delayed.” The spokesperson also claimed that the funding freeze was “a national problem and not a KGV problem” as funding for projects elsewhere in the country was being reassessed but KGV's funding had already been approved. Principal Hilary Anslow said: “We are delighted to have such strong support nationally for the plans and we will start as soon as we get the go-ahead.” The plans include the demolition of some of the college's old buildings and the addition of a new two-storey structure to the existing Millenium Building. The new build will include modern learning facilities such as a performing arts centre,  a sports hall and more space for learning. The college also has additional plans in place for a sports field development including an all-weather pitch. By Natasha Young   04/02/2009 05:24:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7227 Southport Arts Centre could close for more than two years while a major redevelopment is carried out. Around 30 staff were informed at a meeting by Sefton's head of arts and cultural services, John Taylor, and say they are “concerned” at the plans, that would see the centre close from January next year (2010). It is unclear whether staff, who are employed by the council, would be transferred elsewhere or made redundant. Amateur dramatics groups already have bookings at the theatre in 2010 and would be forced to find another venue. But Sefton Council insist the scheme is still at an early stage and no definite decisions have been made. “It is a long time off so that's a full year of worrying what might happen,” one staff member told Champnews.com. “It is the uncertainty of it all that is difficult.  It throws everything up in the air.  Mr Taylor glossed over the issue of redundancies but I think that was the implication.” A rep for Unison, the public service trade union, has asked for staff to be kept up-to-date with developments. The closure would be necessary to carry out building work for a new cultural centre, linking the Arts Centre, Atkinson Art Gallery and library. A £4million Government grant is already in place, but a further £16million needs to be secured before the work could go ahead. A spokesman for Sefton Council said: "We have had initial discussions with staff to outline the possibility that some facilities may be temporarily closed in the future while a new cultural centre is developed in Southport. "As part of a ten year strategy, Sefton Council is currently seeking a significant package of funding to link up the Arts Centre, library and art gallery on Lord Street. "There are no guarantees that this project will even go ahead at this time. But we felt it was important to let staff know what may happen if we secure the money for the scheme. "If we were able to get funding for the project it would mean a major investment in the cultural facilities for the resort of around £20 million. This would therefore involve a considerable construction project to develop the centre. "We are looking at a number of options for the continuation of as many services as possible during that period. But as the scheme is still at a very early stage it would be wrong to speculate publicly what may, or may not happen." By Natasha Robson 04/02/2009 05:13:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7222 Trap For a Lonely Man - Southport Little Theatre This 1960 thriller by Robert Thomas has been translated into 14 languages and performed over 30,000 times worldwide as well as being made into 2 films and 3 TV dramas under various titles, of which I think Honeymoon with a Stranger or One of my Wives is Missing would have been more likely to pull in the punters. Making a welcome return to the SDC stage, Ted Bullen stars as Daniel, living alone in a holiday chalet, who has reported his newly-wed wife is missing. She has been due a large inheritance from a dying uncle. A few days later, a local priest (Steve Pritchard whose persona is admirably suited to the calling, even when not wearing his cassock) arrives, bringing his bride back. But Daniel maintains the lady the priest produces (Sandra Unsworth, a model of cool sophistication) is not his wife at all and his every desperate attempt to prove it is thwarted, despite a police inspector willing to listen to his pleas. Two witnesses are found who might help him, a tramp who witnessed his wedding (charmingly played by David Charters whose accurate portrayal and Irish accent could earn him good money if he ever took to begging in Lord Street) and the nurse who had attended his real wife (a defiant performance by Susanne Denner) but will they testify on his behalf?  Who, out of all of them, is telling the truth? The suspense lasts till the final, startling (albeit unlikely) denouement. Ted Bullen will need a good supply of Zubes to keep him going to the end of the run as he screams his way convincingly through the action but hero of the show on the night I went must be director Ray Mann. As the actor playing the Inspector was unable to appear, Ray had to step in and read the part, one of the most difficult tasks in the theatre. The way to judge such a performance is to close one’s eyes and listen for any hesitation or wrong emphasis on words. In this case, there was not a suspicion Ray was holding the book and, furthermore, he had all the actions spot on. If you like a good mystery, don’t miss this.  And I bet you never guess the ending. Champ verdict 3.5/5.   A plot like a MENSA puzzle. Review by Ron Ellis 29/01/2009 09:32:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7220 Flashdance The Musical opened at the Liverpool Empire on Monday and the audience were certainly left dazzled by the show – and even a little hot under the collar. The story of 18-year-old Alex, welder by day and Flashdancer by night, is a really uplifting tale about how young people achieve their dreams – no matter where they come from or what hurdles stand in the way. The box office hit film and soundtrack What a feelin' have pushed Flashdance  to an iconic standing – and the live show certainly didn't disappoint as we follow Alex Owens on her journey to obtain a place at the Shipley Dance Academy. With brilliant choreography and dancers nothing short of spectacular this show is one to really get your pulse racing (and for the boys if that doesn't do it the costumes certainly will). Victoria Hamilton-Barritt, who plays star of the show (Alex), gives a brilliant performance. Her talent seems endless as she seamlessly drifts from the gritty edgy side of the character to the young and ambitious but scared young girl who worries that throwing herself at her dream may result in her failing. Victoria is hugely talented with her singing, acting and amazing dance skills she is a true star. Noel Sullivan, from flop band Hear'say (trumps to the one to remember one of their songs), plays our hero Nick Hurley – and it's obvious he is very at home on the live stage – who knew he could sing? Noel does a fantastic job of making the audience – or at least the women – fall for him, with his charm, sincerity and, of course, dashing good looks. Bernie Nolan (surprise she's at the Empire yet again) was the perfect choice to play Alex's pushy mother Hannah. From their first scene together we can see what we have all experienced at some point – a pushy mother with a big heart. The relationship between Hannah and Alex really draws the audience in – with the daughter pesters her mum to stop smoking, while the proud mother pesters the daughter to follow her dream. Clear audience favourites in the show are the sexy threesome Gloria, Jazmin and Keisha who work with Alex at Mawby's Bar where they dance. The three are fun, energetic, sassy and brilliant on stage. They have everyone watching the show in the palm of their hand straight away – and the guys who were dragged along my their wives suddenly stopped complaining about missing the football. A huge congratulations must got to musical director of the evening Dave Rose, who led the orchestra and did a perfect job of it. Flashdance The Musical has everything, it's gritty, sexy, it brings tears of happiness and grief and you will toe tapping by the end of the first act. See it now before it hits the West End and tickets get expensive! Flashdance The Musical runs at the Empire Theatre until Saturday, January 31. Tickets 0844 8472525  www.LiverpoolEmpire.org.uk  ChampVerdict – 4/5 – What a feelin! Review by Rebecca Keegan 29/01/2009 09:17:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7218 A new helpline offering advice on dementia has been launched by a Southport care home. Experienced dementia care staff at Birch Abbey will offer advice on the condition, its impact and available support options. The iPersonally HelpLine is available to all local people, not just Birch Abbey clients, and aims to help the family and friends of people living with dementia. The helpline is open from Monday to Friday at 9.30am-3.30pm, with an answering machine in operation outside of those hours. Call the iPersonally HelpLine on 01704 885050.  By Natasha Young 29/01/2009 06:38:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7217 There is new hope for the future of Tarleton's farmers' markets after a study revealed more than eight out of 10 people thought it was good for the village. The independent opinion poll was organised by the parish council, after some traders said the markets, in Mark Square, were affecting their business. Carried on on Friday January 9 2009, the survey shows 83% of the residents, visitors and traders polled thought a monthly farmers' market was a good idea. Just 10% thought it may harm local shops. The markets, run by Clive and Debbie Wareing, are not currently running, after Lancashire County Council advised that planning permission for street trading would be needed. “We will use the results of the poll, alongside other issues, if and when a planning application is received to continue running farmers' markets within the village,” parish council chairman Dave Rydings said. “This is democracy in action.  We don't want to impose things on people if they don't want it.  We felt it was right and proper that people had their say.” Debbie Wareing told The Champion she is “extremely pleased” at the findings of the survey and is hoping to move things forward. She is currently in talks with landlord Acland Bracewell. By Natasha Robson   29/01/2009 06:34:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7216 It remains a difficult time for Southport's pubs and resort MP John Pugh is continuing to fight to keep them open. The Oast House on Stanley Street is currently advertising for a tenant and the Old Ship Inn on Eastbank Street closed its doors in the last few days.  It is not known if the closure will be a temporary or permanent measure. The Arion on Kenilworth Road and the Herald on Portland Street have also recently closed. Meanwhile the Blue Anchor on Tithebarn Road is back open with a new landlord. Ian Mather, who also runs the Plough in Crossens, says he hopes to take the pub back to its roots as a friendly, community local. “I have had the Plough for three years and turned that around and now I want to improve the Blue Anchor, but in ways that customers are asking for,” Ian said.  “I want it to have a friendly atmosphere.” Liberal Democrat Mr Pugh says he is “only too pleased” to see pubs reopening in the current economic climate. “I greatly admire this kind of positive hard-working attitude.  The refusal to passively accept challenging economic circumstances will play an essential part of the future of local businesses, and pubs in particular,” he said. "I am continuing to work with CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale) and landlords to safeguard the future of the local pub." Mr Pugh has also met with Adrian Davies, landlord of the Falstaff on King Street to discuss the current situation. Adrian believes the Government has not done enough to help pubs survive the smoking ban. “The fact the Government put this law in place without giving any support to pubs is crazy,” he said. “I think local government should get involved and assess every individual pub to see whether it is viable for an outside smoking area, funded by them.  The tenant could pay them back over a period of time.” Ian Garner, regional director of CAMRA, says increasing beer tax and inflexible breweries, on top of cheap alcohol deals in supermarkets, is causing major problems for pubs. CAMRA is supporting a national campaign – 'Axe The Beer Tax – Save The Pub' – to help prevent more locals from closing. By Natasha Robson   28/01/2009 05:24:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7214 Southport's overnight GP service could be moved to Formby. NHS Sefton is considering relocating the out of hours service, for patients who need to see a GP after their local surgery has closed, from its site at Southport Hospital to Formby Clinic. The move would come into effect from midnight. The service in Litherland would also move to Formby after midnight.  It is unclear whether the same number of GPs will staff the centre. NHS Sefton says if a patient wanted an appointment in Southport or Litherland during the night, the GP could drive to meet them from Formby. Southport's Conservative parliamentary candidate Brenda Porter, who has had meetings with NHS Sefton this week, said the plans are “crazy”. “I am advised only a small number of people are using the service, but it is an emergency service and I am sure numbers will fluctuate,” she said. “The plans to open either Southport and Litherland if requested by a patient are unrealistic, would prove costly and time consuming. Southport residents have put up with enough over the years with the loss of many services and I would ask that this proposal be reconsidered.” Liberal Democrat MP John Pugh also condemned the plans, saying: “Yet again we have the local NHS shooting itself in the foot by starting with what they need, not what the public want.” But NHS Sefton insists the changes would be better for patients. Alison Shaw, Director of Provider Services, said: “We have been reviewing our GP out of hours arrangements to ensure they continue to offer our patients the highest possible standard of care and treatment. “We want the service to be even more effective and responsive to the needs of our patients. “So, while the service will continue to be based in Southport and Litherland, we are introducing an additional, more central site in Formby where the overnight team of GPs and nurses will operate from.” Patients will have more choice of where to make an appointment and the arrangements will be regularly reviewed, she added. By Natasha Robson 28/01/2009 05:02:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7210 A Southport man today (Fri) admitted murdering the father of his step-son and trying to murder the youngster. Robert Pennington repeatedly stabbed Michael O'Connor, 59,  at his home in Conyers Avenue, Birkdale on August 22 last year. He is also tried to murder 16-year-old Liam O'Connor but the teenager fled the scene after finding his father lying in a pool of blood. 44-year-old Pennington, of Walnut Street, Southport, was further remanded in custody by Liverpool Crown Court to await sentence on February 13. 23/01/2009 07:17:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7209 Steven Gerrard has denied assaulting Southport businessman Marcus McGee. Wearing a dark blue suit and blue and white striped tie, the Liverpool captain and two co-defendants indicated not guilty pleas to assault causing actual bodily harm and affray, in front of resort magistrates this morning (Friday January 23). Nick Evans, prosecuting, requested a 10-week adjournment. But Gerrard's solicitor Richard Green asked the standard eight-week adjournment be ordered. Gerrard, 28, of Victoria Road, Formby, together with John Doran, 29, of Woodlands Road, Huyton, and Ian Smith, 19, of Hilary Avenue, Huyton-with-Roby are charged with an incident at the Lounge Inn, Bold Street, in the early hours of Monday December 29. Gerrard arrived at court in a black BMW and was met at the door and chauffeur-driven away after the 30-minute hearing. His wife Alex Curran did not accompany him. Magistrates Ray Rourkin, Maria Moran and Simon Chapman adjourned the matter to Friday March 20 at the same court. The defendants must not enter the Lounge Inn, unless accompanied by their solicitor, and must not contact the alleged victim Marcus McGee, 34, his parter Gina Lond, Lounge Inn manager Sabrina Malik, staff Lee Wilkinson and Pearse Jackson and other witnesses Kate Wilson, Jade Bevan, Stacey Maxwell, Samantha Patel and Nathaniel Lockie. By Natasha Robson 23/01/2009 07:10:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7206 Folk fans are in for a real treat this year as a plethora of musicians are on the bill for Folkport 09. Following 2008's hugely-successful Folkport event, the 2009 concert at Southport Arts Centre is expected to be just as popular. Featuring BBC Folk Awards-nominated artists, the event - which takes place on Saturday, February 14 - is sure to be a real show-stopping event for fans of folk music. Mawkin Causley have been nominated for Best Group and Phil Beer from Show of Hands has been nominated for Musician of the Year. Both will perform at Folkport 09, along with The Kathryn Tickell Band, Wheeler Street, Ranarim, The Anna Massie Band, Ruth Notman, and The Bothy Folk Club with guests, Scold’s Bridle and Roger Wilson. All-day tickets are £30 or £28 for concessions and Bothy Club members. Tickets for the afternoon concert only are £14 and tickets for the Evening Concert and 'After Hours Extra' are £18. Southport Arts Centre will also welcome Eliza Cathy on Friday, May 1, 2009, who has been nominated for three titles at the BBC Folk Awards. She is in the running for Folk Singer of the Year, Best Album for Dreams of Breathing Under Water, and Best Original Song for Mr Magnifico. The winners of the BBC Folk Awards 2009 will be announced on Monday, February 2. For further information about Folkport 09 or Eliza Carthy call Southport Arts Centre box office on 01704 540011 or log onto www.seftonarts.co.uk, or www.bothyfolkclub.co.uk 21/01/2009 07:01:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7205 Lovers of classical music will be delighted to hear of the upcoming performance by Ludovic Morlot, Paul Lewis and the BBC Philharmonic at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester. French conductor Ludovic Morlot, who originally trained as a violinist and studied under Sir Colin Davis at the Royal Academy, later won a fellowship to the Royal College of Music. Having been Assistant Conductor at the Tanglewood Music Centre from 2004-2007, he will this year return to the New York Philharmonic, Rotterdam Philharmonic and Chicago Symphony, with whom he regularly works. Pianist Paul Lewis has recently won great critical acclaim for his recent cycle of Beethoven sonatas, including a Classic FM Gramophone Award. Born in Liverpool, Lewis as performed with the BBC Philharmonic several times in the past, and they are delighted to welcome him back, when he will be performing Mozart's wistful final piano concert, K595. The programme opens with Stravinsky's spirited Fireworks and is followed by Sir Harrison Birtwistle's Night's Black Bird, inspired by a lute song of John Dowland to conjure up a distinctly nocturnal atmosphere. The second half of the concert continues the Orchestra's Neglected Genius strand with a performance of Duka's La Peri, a little-known ballet score based on a Persian myth about the dance of a fairy who is too beautiful to die. The prorgramme will close with Ravel's thrilling orchestral show-piece, La Valse. The concert begins at 7pm on Saturday January 24. Full price tickets cost between £9 to £31, with discounts and concessions available. They can be purchased from the Bridgewater Hall on 0161 907 9000 or on-line at www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk   21/01/2009 07:00:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7204 A musical feast awaits the audience at Southport Arts Centre this month as Blue Blokes 3 take to the stage. The trio - who perform with several instruments including the banjo, guitar, saz and mandolin - will appear at the Lord Street venue on Saturday, January 24, at 8pm. Formed as an impromptu folk club trio to pay tribute to Shirley Collins after she was awarded an MBE, Blue Blokes 3 are a bunch of old friends, each with a lengthy musical history. The line-up is Ian Anderson on vocals, guitar and slide guitar; Lu Edmonds (vocals, cumbus, saz, guitar and more) and Ben Mandelson, vocals, mandolin, baritone bouzouki, banjo, tenor guitar, guitar and more. Blue Blokes 3 are described as having a contemporary sound of blues and string bands of the 1960s. Ben Mandelson and Lu Edmonds are best known as members of 3 Mustaphas 3 and Billy Bragg's Blokes. At the Southport gig, they are joined by journalist and musician Ian Anderson for a cheerful, twanging acoustic work-out, playing anything from guitars to mandolin, bouzouki and saz on a set that ranges from reworkings of Mississippi Fred McDowell and Louis Jordan to English traditional material. They will be supported by Manchester-based US songwriter Zoe Mulford. Tickets cost £8 or £6 for concessions, available by calling the Southport Arts Centre box office on 01704 540011 or by logging onto www.seftonarts.co.uk   21/01/2009 06:55:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7202 Southport pubs are falling victim to a range of factors that are seeing a record number closing daily across the country. Recently the Arion on Kenilworth Road, the Herald on Portland Street and the Blue Anchor on Tithebarn Road have all shut. There are rumours that other pubs in the resort are also feeling the pinch and could be forced to close soon. Sources say a combination of unfair restrictions by companies that own the pubs,  increasing beer tax, supermarkets selling cheep alcohol and the smoking ban are sounding the death knell for local pubs. "People are drinking more than ever but the local pubs are barely scraping by. They make little profit on  beer sales as they are tied into deals by the companies that own the pubs,” Southport MP John Pugh said. “This means they cannot compete with the supermarkets or big chains like Wetherspoons.  This makes profit for the London companies that own many pubs and the shareholders is forcing pubs across the country to close. Many of these pub companies have put very little back into the business and haven't invested in their properties." The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) regional director Ian Garner says it is a “myth” that the credit crunch is responsible. “The British pub is under attack from the Government,” he said. “At the last Budget the Chancellor announced the alcohol accelerator, so tax will automatically rise by certain percentage points each year. “By the time two or three pence reaches the pump, it is six or eight pence and affects the price in a big way. “Also beer is taxed twice – once from the brewer and once from the pump. “And supermarkets selling beers at a loss is not uncommon.  Some are selling it cheaper than water or milk. “We campaign to keep pubs open.  There is no better place to go and meet your mates than the local.” Manager of the Thatch and Thistle on Meols Cop Road, Mary Porter, says the smoking ban has had a big effect on many pubs.  Currently six pubs in Britain are closing daily. “Pubs definitely smell a lot better, but although a lot of young people still come out, older people don't want to stand outside when they want to smoke, especially in this weather,” she said. Liberal Democrat MP Mr Pugh has written to the town's surviving pubs to see how they are faring. CAMRA is supporting a national campaign – 'Axe The Beer Tax – Save The Pub' – to help prevent more locals from closing. By Natasha Robson 21/01/2009 06:16:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7201 It has been a bad week for Formby's most famous residents. Liverpool FC captain Steven Gerrard is facing a court appearance on Friday, accused of assault and affray, while wife Alex Curran suffered a rush hour car accident. And despite Gerrard scoring against Merseyside rivals Everton in Monday's derby match, his side only managed a draw after an equaliser in the 87th minute. Alex, 26, was involved in a prang on the Formby Bypass as she drove the couple's  five-year-old daughter Lily-Ella to school on Wednesday (January 14). Alex's black Range Rover 4x4 was in collision with another car at traffic lights by the Red Squirrel pub, just minutes away from their Victoria Road mansion. Neither mum or daughter were hurt and the cars were not seriously damaged. Drivers exchanged insurance details and police were not informed. Husband Steven, 28, will face a media circus at Southport Magistrates Court this week. Police are planning to close roads around the court on Albert Road to avoid traffic chaos caused by the newspaper, radio and TV crews from across the globe. They will create a 'pen' outside the court for media and reporters will be issued with tickets to gain entry to the hearing. England star Gerrard and his two co-accused could face five years' jail if guilty of the charges of assault occasioning bodily harm and affray after an alleged attack on Churchtown company director Marcus McGee, at the resort's Lounge Inn last month. Southport resident and Accrington Stanley goalkeeper Ian Dunbavin, 28, was arrested on Friday (January 16) on suspicion of assault and affray over the same incident. This follows Colleen Rooney's brother Anthony McLoughlin, 19, of Huyton, being arrested on January 13, again on suspicion of assault and affray.  Both men have been released on police bail without charge, pending further enquiries. Father-of-two Mr McGee, 34, of Moss Lane suffered a cut to his head requiring stitches, a swollen eye and lost a tooth during the fracas in the bar on Bold Street in the early hours of Monday December 29. Witnesses reported that Gerrard had asked Mr McGee, a double-glazing firm boss who was acting as DJ, for a swipe-card to change the music, but he refused, saying it was against club policy. It is then the melee is said to have broken out. Gerrard will appear in court alongside  John Doran, 29, of Woodlands Road, Huyton, and Ian  Smith, 19, of Hilary Avenue, Huyton-with-Roby. By Natasha Robson       21/01/2009 06:07:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7200 A former Southport man has appeared in court facing child porn and drugs offences. Dr Malcolm Darley faces 11 charges of downloading indecent images of children, 11 of possessing such images and possessing cocaine and amphetamine. The offences allegedly occurred between November 28, 2004 and April 17 last year in Southport, Merseyside. 43-year-old Darley, of Wallings Lane, Silverdale, Carnforth, pleaded not guilty to all the offences on the basis he had no knowledge of any of the items.  He was further remanded on bail by Liverpool Crown Court until February 27 when a trial date is likely to be fixed. 21/01/2009 06:05:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7199 SOUTHPORT'S former Summer Hostess Connie Creighton has died after a six-month battle with dementia. Connie, who hosted 22 summer seasons in the resort, as well as performing at Southport Theatre with the Sooty Show each winter, passed away peacefully at her Bournemouth home on Saturday (January 17). She met husband John Seaton, who grew up in Southport, at the resort's Floral Hall. “I first saw her at a League of Friends Hospital garden party and thought she was a nurse,” John told The Champion. “Then I saw her photograph with an ad for a show she was doing – Connie's Candlelight Club – in the Floral Hall, so I went down and chatted her up.  That was how it began.  We'd been together 32 years and married for 15.” John acted as Connie's carer and was with her when she died, after her heart stopped at her family home where she was born. Connie will be buried in Bournemouth next week, but John is hoping to organise a memorial to her in Southport after the funeral. Connie, 74, worked regularly in the resort until the mid 1990s, compering shows including Search For a Star and the English Rose Beauty Contest. Former head of tourism Phil King paid tribute to a lady with “numerous talents and enviable fashion sense.” Long-time friend Wyn Thorn, who used to organise Southport Carnival said: “We will remember Connie for her wonderful smile, her kindness and the help she brought people.  She was a really wonderful person and I can't believe she's gone.” By Natasha Robson   21/01/2009 06:04:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7190 Tesco have withdrawn a controversial planning application to extend their Town Lane branch. Southport MP John Pugh received a phone call from the supermarket giant on Monday night (January 12, 2009) to inform him of the last-minute move. “Tesco phoned me last night (Monday) to say they are withdrawing their planning application which is what I asked them to doing autumn,” he told Champnews.com. “It's victory but what we want is for Tesco to become a team player and join the town partnership.” The plans, which included a single storey extension to the side of the current store, the relocation and building of a new petrol station, a new vehicle entrance onto Southport Road, new parking spaces, the enlargement of the service yard and the addition of wind turbines and sun trackers, were recommended for refusal at tonight's planning meeting (Wednesday January 14, 2009). They were previously recommended for approval by planning officers in August (2008) however the decision was deferred. A campaign by Mr Pugh including a petition, as well as objections from the Southport Business Enterprise and several town centre retailers then followed, amid fears that the expansion would damage town centre trade. A Tesco spokesperson confirmed the move and said: “We are disappointed that plans that were recommended for approval in August are now recommended for refusal.” The spokesperson also added that Tesco still feel their customers in the area would benefit from more choice and that the store would have delivered, however for now plans are withdrawn. By Natasha Young   14/01/2009 05:14:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7189 Southport's MP has arranged a meeting with business leaders to discuss the future of Southport town centre. Liberal Democrat John Pugh says the number of empty shops in the resort could create a “downward spiral”. The flagship Woolworths store has left a void on Chapel Street since it closed in December (2008) and more smaller stores are closing by the week. Lord Street's Card Warehouse and temporary store Calendar Club in Marble Place closed on Sunday (January 11, 2009) and independent designer clothes shop Deja Vu, on Market Street, shuts its doors today (Wednesday January 14, 2009). Let's Celebrate card shop in Wayfarers Arcade will close on Saturday (January 17, 2009). Also The Pier closed its store inside Southport's Homebase, after the chain, that specialised in handcrafted furniture and gifts, went into administration. Meanwhile, discount department store TJ Hughes has denied rumours that it intends to move into the former Woolworths store. "We must get a grip of this issue as so called voids destroy the look of a town centre and are bad for confidence,” Mr Pugh said. The MP is calling for a database to establish who owns the buildings shops trade from, together with a way of tracking rent levels. Town centre manager Jim Breen is also planning to meet with stakeholders and council officers in an effort to minimise the effects of the credit crunch for local firms. Commercial property expert Tony Hill, of the Antony Hill Partnership, Hoghton Street, says there is life in the market, but confidence needs to be built up. “Although there are a lot of empty shops at the moment, on our first day back after New Year we let a shop on Eastbank Street that is going to be a dress shop,” he said. “The problem with the retail sector is a lack of confidence.  The market will come back but it will take time.” Also this week four staff have been made redundant from Doulton Home Store in Central 12. In recent weeks fashion shops Emma Somerset, Woman to Woman and MK One have closed and designer store USC on Chapel Street has gone into administration. MFI at Meols Cop retail park closed in December (2008). By Natasha Robson   14/01/2009 05:11:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7186 Former KGV College tutor Ben Williams, who is accused of child porn offences, is to face a re-trial. A jury at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday (January 9) failed to reach verdicts on any of the ten charges he faces.  Following almost five hours deliberations the jury revealed they could not agree and Williams has been granted further bail. It was alleged by the prosecution that 35-year-old Williams, a history teacher, had "only one motive" for looking at the indecent images.  Williams, a former councillor for the Clubmoor ward, denied ten charges of making indecent images between November 5, 2006, and January 26, 2008.     Police began to investigate Williams in December 2007 after staff from his former college Southport's King George V school reported suspicious activity on their computers.    Williams, of Townsend Avenue, Norris Green,  had been suspended from the school and had also agreed to suspend himself from the Liverpool Labour party.    During the inquiry officers seized computers from the council offices, from his new employers Hugh Baird College in Bootle, and his girlfriend's home and his father's.  The pictures were found on one computer and showed ten images of girls, all clothed. Peter Davies, prosecuting, claimed that they were deliberately and knowingly downloaded by Mr Williams.  He had repeatedly used search engines, such as Google Images and U-tube to access sites with names including 'Naked Child', 'Lolita', 'Child XXX' and 'Little Girls'. Williams claimed that he had been doing "political research." He told police that David Cameron's comments about children accessing explicit material on the high street had "provoked his interest".  He also said he had been conducted his own research because of his fears for his students. His re-trial is begin on May 18. 09/01/2009 11:31:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7185 A new kidney dialysis unit at Southport & Formby District General Hospital is on schedule to open next month. The unit, which has been the subject of a long-running local fundraising campaign, will host two days of sneak previews ahead of its planned February 16 (2009) opening. Patients, staff and local people can visit the site on January 19 and 20 (2009) between 1pm and 3pm to see the unit and a range of cutting edge technology that will provide high-quality treatment. The Southport NHS Dialysis Unit is one of a number of new or refurbished facilities that have been built or adapted across Merseyside and Cheshire as part of the Government’s independent sector procurement programme. The resort's facility will be managed by Fresenius Medical Care and patients will be clinically managed by consultant nephrologists from Aintree University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. All Fresenius units are similarly equipped, featuring access controlled entrances to wards; comfortable patient waiting areas; consulting rooms and staff rooms and showers. There are also bright and airy treatment areas including isolation rooms that are all fitted with televisions, Freeview and radio, as well as individual washbasins, disposable curtains, sheets and pillowcases. A water treatment room is included in the unit, equipped with a highly sophisticated filter system to ensure high standards of water purity. Southport MP John Pugh has welcomed the new facility. He said: “ I have personal friends currently on dialysis whose lives will improve enormously as a result of this NHS commitment. Few people understand how big a saving in time and trouble this is to patients who previously had to spend big chunks of their week in Liverpool receiving dialysis. “The age profile of Southport means that we are going to have increased demand in Southport and that has been underlined in all my discussions with NHS planners.” By Natasha Young 08/01/2009 08:49:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7184 Southport's B&Q store is taking action after compalints of birds being killed by a net hanging over its outdoor garden section. Ann Spense, of Scarisbrick, contacted the RSPCA after seeing dead birds hanging from the net while visiting the Meols Cop Road site. She told Champnews.com: “I was in the garden centre and I looked up and saw the the birds. “The net goes all the the way round and over the centre. Sense tells you it could kill birds and it is killing them.” An RSPCA spokesperson said: “An RSPCA inspector visited B&Q on Foul Lane on Monday (January 5, 2009), and spoke to a member of management regarding the outdoor netting used at the outlet. “We understand the netting is being used for security reasons and that a number of holes have been deliberately cut in to the netting to help any birds that become trapped escape freely. “The RSPCA advised staff to monitor the netting on a daily basis to ensure any trapped birds are immediately detected and released back in to the wild. We also asked staff to contact us immediately should there be any difficulties in freeing any trapped birds, in which case we would be able to offer assistance. “In offering this advice the RSPCA expects the situation to be dealt with appropriately. We will be maintaining regular contact with the store and will continue to monitor the situation.” A B&Q spokesperson said: “B&Q has security netting in place over the exterior garden centre at the store. Although there is space around the netting for birds to access and exit the garden centre, regrettably, from time to time, birds get caught up within this netting. “Following a recent visit from the RSPCA our security netting was found to provide adequate space for birds to fly in and out. However, upon inspection, the RSPCA did request the removal of two dead birds, which we are carrying out as a matter of urgency when the store closes to the public." By Natasha Young 08/01/2009 08:34:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7183 A jury heard yesterday (Wednesday January 7, 2009) that a Merseyside teacher allegedly admitted accessing child porn sites. Principal of Southport's King George V college, Hilary Anslow, OBE, told Liverpool Crown Court that she called Ben Williams in for a meeting after learning of inappropriate use of the college's machines.  She said that the history and politics teacher admitted he had searched the internet with words such as "Lolita" and "kids xxx".  Williams, a former Labour councillor was immediately suspended following the meeting in October 2006 and disciplinary proceedings began. He eventually resigned from the school in early 2007 after they reached a "compromise agreement"  - which included him getting a reference.  Mrs Anslow said the college's solicitors had advised them not to inform the police.  She said after he was suspended she received an email from him claiming his actions had been inspired by "genuine concern" for his students. He denied he was motivated by "voyeurism or perversion." Williams later went on to work at Hugh Baird College in Bootle and doing supply teaching.  The former Clubmoor councillor was eventually investigated after the Department for Education responded to Mrs Anslow's requests for guidance almost a year later.  Officers seized the computer from KGV, as well as machines from the council offices, Hugh Baird College and his partner and father's home. They discovered 10 images of young girls, all fully clothed.  35-year-old Williams, of Townsend Avenue, Norris Green, is on trial at Liverpool Crown Court where he denies 10 counts of making indecent images.  The case continues. By Lynda Roughley 08/01/2009 08:25:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7182 It was a rewarding festive holiday period for Southport who achieved a 100% record from the one match they were able to play while promotion rivals AFC Telford dropped five points after only drawing at Kings Lynn and surprisingly losing at home to Stafford Rangers. This has kept The Sandgrounders just one point behind leaders Tamworth but a point in front of AFC Telford with a game in hand. Hundreds of fans were justifiably furious at being encouraged to make the 200 mile round trip to Harrogate on Saturday, having been assured by Harrogate Town officials that the match would definitely be on, only to be informed on arrival that the referee had called the game off at 1.30pm due to a frozen pitch. It was quite obvious to everyone there that there was no way that the pitch would have been playable at any time during that morning yet Southport secretary, Ken Hilton, confirmed he had checked with Harrogate Town staff at 10.30am before the team coach set off and had been told the pitch was fine and the match would be on. The attendance on Saturday, on what was virtually a holiday weekend, would obviously have been far bigger than could be expected on a Tuesday night when many away fans would not have time to travel across the Pennines after work so Harrogate FC obviously stood to gain from the increased gate receipts if the game had been played. It is not surprising then that many people see the Yorkshire club’s actions as a pathetic and shameful attempt to coerce the referee into allowing the game to go ahead, caring neither about the fans nor about Southport FC personnel who had all incurred considerable travelling expenses. It will be interesting to see if Harrogate Town offer any compensation by way of free tickets or reduced admission prices to travelling fans and compensation to the club. And, if not, whether the Football Association will take any action against them. Southport now face another long trip on Saturday, weather permitting, to play Durham City in the Second Round of the FA Trophy on their plastic pitch with John Doolan the only likely absentee through injury. Steven Drench is now fully back on the club payroll as his loan period with Gary Brabin’s Cambridge United has ended. Liam Watson has circulated his name to other clubs, reiterating that Tony McMillan is his number one keeper. Meanwhile, the manager is already looking ahead optimistically to next season. Having said he needs six new faces to compete at a higher level, Watson is making sure he holds on to his key players by persuading Chris Lever and Kevin Lee to sign new contracts which will keep them at Haig Avenue for another two and a half years. By Ron Ellis 07/01/2009 08:41:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7181 A BRITISH holiday company is on the lookout for more than 300 entertainers. Haven will hold X Factor-style open auditions in Liverpool this month in a bid to find talented Merseyside singers and dancers for their its 35 holiday parks. Starting at 10am on January 14 and 15 at The Liner Hotel, Lord Nelson Street, entertainment managers will hold singing and dancing auditions plus interviews. Successful performers will help to run kids' clubs, talent shows and interactive stage shows at  parks across the country. 07/01/2009 08:15:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7179 If you're a love of the only instrument able to turn mere mortals into gods, then here's a date for your diary. On Wednesday January 14, Six String House welcomes the return of Richard Smith, one of the world's greatest guitarists. Richard has toured the world, astounding audiences with a repertoire spanning an incredible range of styles. Whether your love is bluegrass, country, jazz, modern pop and rock or classical guitar, Richard has something for you. He can even play several of John Philip's Souza's marches, incredibly managing to sound like a whole marching band, drums and all! Performing alongside him will be acclaimed cellist Julie Adams. As well as being married to Richard, Julie is a session player in Nashville Tennessee and has featured on a wide range of projects including top ten albums and major film scores. She featured on the Grammy-winning CD “Beautiful Dreamer”, and on Suzy Bogguss' track “Oh! May the Red Rose Live Always”. The Pacifica Tribune of California has already praised the duo, calling them “Incredibly gifted musicians, with wonderfully silly senses of humor and a clear love for what they do. When they play together, it'll melt your heart.” If this blend of virtuoso performers and rarely-paired instruments sounds too good to miss, get yourself a £10 ticket either from www.myspace.com/thesixstringhouse or by phoning Southport Arts Centre on 01704 540011. Tickets will also be available on the night for £13, which takes place at The Freshfield Hotel on Massams Lane, Formby.     07/01/2009 08:12:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7178 An all star cast has been announced for the world premier of Flashdance – The Musical to be held in Liverpool. Bruno Langley, Bernie Nolan, Noel Sullivan and Victoria Hamilton-Barritt are to star in the the stage show, based on the smash hit film. Taking the lead of Alex Owens will be Victoria Hamilton-Barritt. Victoria’s West End theatre credits include “Mamma Mia!”, “Fame” and “Desperately Seeking Susan”. Other theatre credits include Stephanie in “Saturday Night Fever” and Anita in “West Side Story” on tour. Choreographer Arlene Phillips said: “After searching the country high and low and seeing hundreds of girls for the part of Alex, I suddenly remembered the stunning Victoria Hamilton-Barritt who had played a leading role in Saturday Night Fever in the West End and invited her to audition. She is the only girl who we believe can sing, act and dance this role to the standard we need.” Bruno Langley will play Jimmy. Bruno is probably best known for playing Todd Grimshaw in “Coronation Street”. Bernie Nolan will play Hannah Owens. Bernie is best known as the lead singer of The Nolan Sisters. Her theatre credits include Mrs Johnstone in “Blood Brothers”, both in the West End and on tour and “Mum’s the Word” on tour.  Noel Sullivan will play Nick. Noel is best known as one fifth of the record-breaking pop band Hear’say. His musical theatre credits include Danny in “Grease” and Nick in “Fame”.  Producer David Ian said: "To have put together a star cast of this calibre for the world premiere of this exciting, brand new musical, is beyond my wildest dreams. This show is going to be dynamite." The Musical will play Liverpool Empire Theatre from 26-31 January this year. For tickets and information call 08448472525 or visit www.liverpoolempire.org.uk   07/01/2009 08:08:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7176 Coronation Street star Kenneth Cope has spoken of his six years of hell, believing he was dying of cancer. Kenneth, 77, was told by doctors at Oxford's Churchill Hospital in 2000 that he only had months to live, after diagnosing him with incurable cancer, mesothelioma. Kenneth, who moved to Southport in 2003, had been suffering chest pains after filming a rough scene in Brookside, where he was pushed against a metal pole by nightclub bouncers. After an X-ray showed a small pleural effusion (fluid between the lung and chest wall), Kenneth was given further tests before being given the devastating news. “They told me I had mesothelioma and the most I had to live was 14 months.  I said 'are you sure?' and they said '98%'.  They said it was incurable,” Kenneth, who plays Coronation Street's Jed Stone, revealed. “They told me I should sue the theatre where I used to work, because the cancer is caused by exposure to asbestos and I had probably inhaled it from the stage curtain.” Kenneth threw himself into work, wanting to build a nest egg for his three children's future. They and his wife, Renny Lister, were all devastated by the news. “It was horrible.  It is an awful thing when someone tells you you are dying.  I trusted these doctors, but they made a dreadful mistake,” Kenneth said. It was only in 2006 that the former Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) actor found out the truth.  He had been referred to a specialist at Liverpool's Broadgreen hospital after a reaction to medication caused heart problems. “I said to him 'I have got cancer and no one is telling me how it is being treated',  and he showed me a letter from a doctor written in 2005 saying 'this patient has never had cancer',” Kenneth said. “I broke down and cried in front of him.  I sobbed across the desk.  It was like a new lease of life for me.  And it is lucky I have got a good sense of humour that carried me on.” Kenneth says he is taking action against the doctors who failed to tell him he did not have cancer.  The General Medical Council's five-year limit means he cannot take action with the original doctors who misdiagnosed him. An investigation cleared Oxford Churchill Hospital and its doctors of any wrongdoing in the case. A spokesman said the case had been “thoroughly investigated” and concluded that there was “no negligence” in the way Kenneth's illness was managed. Meanwhile Kenneth will soon return to our screens in Coronation Street.  He is filming his last scenes -for the time being – this week. By Natasha Robson 07/01/2009 06:45:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7175 More shops in Southport town centre have closed down. Independent Lord Street clothing store Woman to Woman and chain store Emma Somerset shut their doors for good last week, just days after the town's Woolworths branch ceased trading. Fashion retailer USC, on Chapel Street, currently remains in administration after just 43 out of 58 stores in the Scottish chain were saved. Town centre manager, Jim Breen, said: “The closure of stores in national chains is part of the economic downturn, but for local businesses we are going to be meeting right away to really find out what there is that we can do for them. “We are here to support the retail sector.” The owner of Woman to Woman was unavailable for comment. USC administrators PKF and Emma Somerset administrators Armstrong Watson were also unavailable for comment.   The town's MP, John Pugh, said: “Although retail across the country is having a tough time I get very angry when corporate bosses pull the plug on shops like the Southport Woolworths or USC that locally were were trading at a profit. “There are some big names showing interest in sites like the Waitrose building but the council should not wait for events to overtake us. They've got to get a grip of the retail strategy for this town and begin by turning down the massive expansion Tesco plan at Kew. “Good ,sustainable, town centre businesses are being killed of by faceless, absentee landlords demanding currently unrealistic rents and those businesses now need friends and community support.” By Natasha Young   07/01/2009 06:41:00 http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=7174 The Salvation Army is planning to build a new community worship centre – its first purpose-built headquarters in more than 75 years in the town. The modern centre will be next door to the Army's current base, a former Methodist church on Shakespeare Street, Southport. On the site of a former tyre yard, the building will be a centre for worship with meeting rooms for  community groups and the Army's coffee shop. The Christian charity's furniture warehouse and charity shop will be moved into their old building. “It is a dream come true that we can double our working space,” Major Gethin Thomas, leader of the Salvation Army in Southport said. “We would hope work could start by the end of the year or early next year, but we have got some fundraising to do first. “It will be a modern building, very user friendly, safe and with good access for the disabled. “We will be able to serve the community in a better way than at the moment and it will offer more parking.” The new centre will be a base for the Army's popular Friday Kids Club, Women's Group, Young at Heart group, a Brownies group and AA meetings. For more information on the Salvation Army's activities in Southport call 01704 547805. By Natasha Robson 07/01/2009 06:39:00