PRAISE has been heaped on Sue Weir who has stepped down after 21 years at the helm of healthcare and charitable giant Medicash
During Sue’s time as chief executive, Medicash was awarded the Freedom of the City of Liverpool in recognition of its longstanding commitment to charitable giving and contribution to healthcare
Medicash chair Jonathan Brown said: “It was always going to be a momentous occasion when Sue decided to retire and her unwavering commitment to both the business and the charitable
Thanks, Sue
–we’ll miss you
work supported through the Medicash Foundation have left permanent mark on the sector Medicash has named Andrew Healy as her successor Andrew’s background includes CEO roles in a number of mutual and community-focused financial services businesses and he wa awarded an MBE in 2023 for services to the local community
CHAMPIONS
THE news that a disability champion will be appointed in every area of the Government has been given a cautious welcome
Lead ministers for disability in each government department will be expected to “champion disability inclusion and accessibility”
Disability Minister Sir Stephen Timms said the move aims to drive “real improvements” across the country, with each lead minister encouraged to engage with disabled people on a regular basis on all areas of policy
But Dan White, policy and campaigns officer at Disability Rights
UK, said how much difference the move makes remains to be seen
LEADER: Ellesmere Port and Bromborough MP Justin Madders, Minister for Employment Rights, Competitions and Markets
He said: “DR UK has met several times with the Disability Minister, and we acknowledge his positive record of championing disabled people’s rights
The Lead Ministers for Disability
Abena Oppong-Asare: Cabinet Office
Justin Madders: Minister for Employment Rights, Competition and Markets
Stephanie Peacock: Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth
Emma Hardy: Minister for Water and Flooding
Miatta Fahnbulleh: Minister for Energy Consumers
Catherine McKinnell: Minister for
“However, the Government’s ctions on disability in their first five months in office have been xtremely poor
“While the appointment of lead departmental ministers for disability is welcome, we cannot assume that this move will lead to genuine engagement with Disabled People’s Organisations or real change for disabled people ”
Mr Timms said the lead ministers’ role will be to “represent the interests of disabled people, champion disability inclusion and accessibility within their departments
He added: “I’m going to chair regular meetings with them and will encourage them to engage directly with disabled people and their representative organisations, as they take forward their departmental priorities
School Standards
Simon Lightwood: Minister for Local Transport
Stephen Kinnock: Minister of State for Care
Feryal Clark: Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for AI and Digital Government
Sir Stephen Timms: Minister of State for Social Security and Disability
Lord Livermore: Financial Secretary to the Treasury
Seema Malhotra: Minister for Migration and Citizenship
Rushanara Ali: Minister for Homelessness and Democracy
Alistair Carns: Minister for Veterans and People
Alex Davies-Jones: Ministry of Justice
Kirsty McNeill: Office for Scotland
Fleur Anderson: Office for Northern Ireland
Dame Nia Griffith: Office for Wales
A NEW and increasingly widely used diabetes drug may have additional health benefits for older adults
Researchers looked at data from more than 300,000 patients and found that one type of diabetes drug in particular – SGLT2 inhibitors – were associated with a reduced risk of heart attacks and strokes in older people, compared to younger people.
This benefit was in contrast to other findings that showed the same drug was actually less effective in reducing blood sugar levels in older adults, compared with younger adults.
The findings suggest that it may be beneficial, for some groups, to take a broader view of the overall benefits when prescribing medication to patients with type 2 diabetes.ts.
Currently, global estimates indicate that one in five people over 65 live with diabetes, and that almost half of those with type 2 diabetes are over 65.
Older people with diabetes are also more at risk of complications of the disease, including cardiovascular symptoms such as heart disease and strokes.
The study, led by the University of Glasgow, is the largest of its kind to assess the health benefits of diabetes medications in different age groups.
FOND FAREWELL: Sue Weir, inset Andrew Healey
WARMEST congratulations to Lady Anne Dodd on being admitted to Liverpool’s Roll of Citizens of Honour
Lady Dodd is a trustee of the Ken Dodd Charitable Foundation, named after her late husband, the legendary comedian, Sir Ken
The Foundation has made over 50 donations to more than 30 charities, including All Together NOW!
Lady Dodd said: “I felt so honoured to receive this award
“I love Liverpool, my adopted home for over 50 years During the last six years, as Trustees running the Foundation with Ken’s nephew, John Lewis, I have met so many incredible workers and volunteers in
City salutes Lady Anne
a variety of charitable organisations, and particularly Liverpool hospitals “I am truly thrilled to bits or as Ken would say, I am completely discomknockerated!”
Cllr Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council, said: “The Citizen of Honour accolade recognises people who make an exceptional contribution to the city and Anne, Lady Dodd is the perfect embodiment of this ”
NEW HOPE has been given to thousands people living with Stargardt disease, the most common form of inherited macular degeneration
Researchers have developed a highly efficient gene editing therapy that could potentially treat the condition
Dr Bence György, of the Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology
Basel, said: “Our approach achieved remarkably high levels of gene correction These results far exceed what we believe is necessary to provide clinical benefit to patients ”
The next steps may include further safety studies and preparations for clinical trials
If successful, this gene editing approach could also offer hope to people with other inherited retinal disorders
HOPE SPRINGSHOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL ETERNAL
MOVING: A family’s generous contribution to our battle for survival
AVERY warm welcome to our spring issue – and a massive thanks for all the support we’re receiving to keep this vital lifeline alive
As you will be aware, publishing newspapers is a costly business and balancing the books is challenging –especially for a small charity newspaper like All Together NOW! which is dependent on advertising, grants and donations
It’s an uphill battle, and the odds may be
stacked against us, but we are determined to continue providng this UNIQUE and much-needed source of news and info for all those affected by disability – and really do appreciate all your help
Just as we were celebrating the £10,000 donation from the Anne Duchess of Westminster Fund, word reached us that the Duchy of Lancaster Benevolent Fund have agreed to cover the printing costs of our summer edition, out in June, which marks our 20th anniversary
Generous support has also come from
old friends and lots of readers – including £150 from an anonymous donor, who picked up the paper at an Asda store
The message was simple and moving
All Together NOW! clearly means a lot to this family, as it does for tens of thousands of others across the region
This is why the fight continues TOM DOWLING, edi news@alltogethernow.org.uk
A BLIND astronomer who “hears the stars” will be among the speakers at a major global tech conference
Dr Wanda Diaz-Merced, based at the European Gravitational Observatory Cascina, Italy, has pioneered the practice of converting space data into sound, allowing her to “hear” celestial objects
Sessions also include how artificial intelligence and robotics can make life better for those with disabilities
The Inclusive Design for Sustainability conference takes place at the Glasgow Science Centre, March 17/18
KIDZ to Adultz North, the annual exhibition of goods and services available for disabled children – is coming to the ACC Liverpool on Wednesday, December 3 – International Day of Persons with a Disability Other diary dates: n Mar 19-20: Naidex, the UK’s leading disability event, NEC Birmingham n May 16-17: Motability Scheme Live. Birmingham NEC n July 13: Disability Awareness Day, Walton Hall Gardens, Warrington Aug 1-2: Harrogate Yorkshire Event Centre n Nov 26-27: The Occupational Therapy Show, NEC Birmingham
HONOURS: Lady Anne with a knighted Sir Ken
More cash for homes that meet your needs
SOCIAL housing provider Habinteg has welcomed a much needed boost to the Disabled Facilities Grant this financial year
The Government increase – on top of the £86m announced for the next financial year at the Autumn Budget – takes the annual total to £711m and means thousands of older and disabled people will be able to apply for the financial support needed to live in a home suitable for their needs
A Habinteg spokesperson said: “The Disabled Facilities Grant is a vital resource However, as a social landlord with homes across England, we know that councils face great pressure to ensure their total grant allocation meets the needs of disabled and older people in their area ”
“Habinteg urges the Government to make the M4(2) accessible and adaptable standard the baseline for all new homes in England now, as adaptations are considerably cheaper (than for M4(1) homes) and would help the Disabled Facilities Grant pot to go further ”
Christina McGill, Habinteg’s director of social impact, said: “Right now, only 9% of homes offer even the most basic levels of accessibility and there is huge demand for adaptations to homes that don’t meet the needs of people who live in them ”
l M4(1) Category 1: Visitable dwellings
This is the mandatory baseline and offers some basic accessibility features such as wider doors and corridors
l M4(2) Category 2: Accessible and adaptable dwellings This standard provides enhanced access features and benefits to all households over the lifetime of the home
Crucial advice at risk
FREE life-changing support for thousands of deaf and disabled people could be lost as advice centres struggle with cash shortages and surging demand
More than 90% of UK deaf and disabled people’s organisations (DDPOs) report a rise in demand, and two in five say they are struggling to stay afloat financially
An AdviceUK survey of 247 independent advice-giving organisations paints a bleak picture, with more than a third not confident they have the funds to continue beyond the year
Liz Bayram, head of AdviceUK, said:
“Deaf and disabled people’s organisations provide essential advice, support and advocacy to enable people to live independent and fulfilling lives
“Yet our research shows these organisations are at breaking point”
AdviceUK is calling for sustainable funding solutions, including mandated local authority support to secure their future
HELP TO WORK HELP TO WORK UNDER THREAT UNDER THREAT
HIGH DEMAND: Access to Work scheme has helped many disabled people into work
CUTS to the flagship Access to Work scheme are in the pipeline – just as the Government is trying to push more disabled people towards the workplace
Sir Stephen Timms, the social security and disability minister, said the scheme, which contributes to the costs of equipment and support for disabled workers, was unlikely to be sustainable long term
The scheme needed to be better and more effective, he told MPs
Sir Stephen said demand for support was very high, and ministers were looking at whether employers could do more
His comments to the Commons work and pensions committee suggest ministers will take measures to cut the number of disabled people eligible for the scheme, and increase obligations on employers to make more adjustments in the workplace
The warning follows years of rising numbers of recipients of
by JOHN PRING Support to be cut
Access to Work support – apart from the first year of the pandemic – and mounting backlogs and delays
Sir Stephen had been responding to concerns about the backlogs and lengthy delays in processing applications raised by disabled Liberal Democrat Steve Darling
One of his constituents was told she would need to wait six months for support, while another disabled woman was facing the possibility of a job offer being withdrawn because “it had gone on for months with Access to Work failing to process the claim”
Sir Stephen told him: “The problem is that there has been an enormous surge in applications
“A number of us will remember
that we used to talk about Access to Work as a kind of ‘best kept secret’ because nobody really knew about it and employers didn’t know about it
“Well, that seems to have changed in the last two years and there’s been an enormous surge in applications for Access to Work and the department has done its level best to keep up ”
He said DWP had allocated more staff to deal with applications, but the system was still not in good shape
“I think we’re going to need to make some fairly significant reforms to Access to Work, look again at the whole approach we’re taking, look at whether employers could do more
“There are legal obligations on employers to make reasonable adjustments I’m wondering whether there’s more we can do there
“I think the current style of Access to Work is unlikely to be sustainable in the long term
“We’ve got to come up with something better and more effective given the current very high level of demand ”
Thousands being made to wait
EMPLOYMENT minister
Alison McGovern revealed last October that there were then around 55,000 Access to Work applications.
DWP figures later that month showed the amount
spent on assistance such as equipment, travel and support workers increased from £127m in 2016-17 to £255m in 2023-24, once the inflation was allowed for. It also increased by 34% in
Despair at delay to care reform
THE decision to delay long-term reform of the adult social care system in England has been met with despair by disabled groups
Health and social care secretary Wes Streeting has instead opted to set up a commission to examine the future of social care, which will take until 2028 to complete Opposition parties reacted positively to his call for the commission to build a cross-party consensus, but the overwhelming response from disabled people’s organisations was one of disappointment and frustration
Fazilet Hadi, head of policy at Disability Rights UK, said Streeting’s announcement was deeply disappointing to millions of disabled people, young and old, who are currently being denied social care or receiving inadequate care and support She said the timetable for the commission would mean nothing of significance will happen during this parliament
Although the first phase of the new commission will report next year, the second phase, with recommendations for longer-term reform, will not be completed until 2028
Questions
Mr Streeting said the commission would work to build a national consensus around a new national care service able to meet the needs of older and disabled people into the 21st century
But there were questions as to why he needed a commission when the Fabian Society had already produced a report in 2023 – at his request –on how to introduce a national care service
the last year, from £191m in 2022-23 to £255m in 2023-24, while the number of disabled people receiving Access to Work support increased from 34,800 in 2022-23 to 49,920 in 2023-24, a rise of 43%.
Donald O’Neal, an adult social care user and author of The Lack of Care Act 2014, said he despaired to hear “yet another government minister announce yet another report into adult social care”
He said: “We don’t need more reports, we need action, and now ”
Assisted dying ‘devalues life’
Thow the brain works
NEW advice about neurodiversity at work is now available to bosses from workplace expert, Acas
Neurodiversity describes the natural differences in how people’s brains behave and process information
Well-known types include ADHD, autism, dyslexia and dyspraxia
Lots of neurodivergent people do not see themselves as disabled but will often be considered as having a disability under the Equality Act
Julie Dennis, Acas head of inclusive workplaces, said: “Our new advice has tips on how to raise awareness, be inclusive, sensitive and stay within the law when managing neurodiversity at work ” n The Equality Act gives disabled employees protection against discrimination and the right to reasonable adjustments at work n www acas org uk/neurodiversity
Help for blind students
A PLEA from a parent resulted in a product set to transform the experience of maths students with visual impairments
Workers’ brains – and Festival marches on
The concerned mum, whose daughter struggled with unsuitable maths sets, challenged a stationery firm to prove its “commitment to empower all children”
Maped Helix’s designers came up with the Oxford Vision Maths Set –created in conjunction with the Royal National Institute of Blind People l Price, £3 25 Available at Asda, Amazon, Ryman and WH Smith
THIS year ’s Youth Hostel Association’s Festival of Walking has been secured
The month-long autumn festival has helped thousands of people discover the mental and physical benefits of walking Now, the popular event is set to get more people get active thanks to a share of nearly £4m combined National Lottery and Government funding from Sport England Download the free self-guided mapped walking routes: yha org uk/festival-ofwalking/self-guided-walks
THE impact of deaf mediators, interpreters and translation professionals will be the subject of a £600,000 study by the University of Wolverhampton
HE BILL that aims to legalise assisted suicide in England and Wales will have a profound negative impact on how disabled people’s lives are valued by society, MPs have been warned
Fazilet Hadi, head of policy at Disability Rights UK, told politicians they had a responsibility to consider the impact the legislation would have on disabled people, and on wider society
Hadi told the cross-party committee of MPs examining the terminally ill adults (end of life) bill:
“We are a country that is unequal, that has internalised ableism against disabled people
“So I do think the bill will have a serious and profound negative impact against the valuing of disabled people’s lives ”
Asked by Labour ’s Naz Shah – who is opposed to
legalisation – about disabled people’s experiences of coercion by members of the health and care professions, she said: “Our experience of the NHS and of the medical profession isn’t wholly positive and we often find that doctors, because they can’t treat or cure us, do devalue our lives ”
She warned of giving doctors the powers to “steer us towards assisted dying as they are not a group who is always on the side of people with disabilities
“We only have to go back five years to the Covid pandemic to see how disabled lives were devalued the ‘do not attempt resuscitation’ notices, we all know that disabled people sometimes didn’t receive access to critical care, we all know that people with learning disabilities, young people, were disproportionately dying ”
She concluded by saying the bill should be scrapped, rather than improved
REVOLUTION IN HEARING AIDS
THE go-ahead to bring pioneering hearing aids to the UK has been given to businesses around the world
This includes earphones with both hearing test and hearing aid software functionalities, enabling people take a test at home using an app on their phone
If the test indicates mild to moderate hearing loss, the person can then switch on the hearing aid function on the same earphones
– but deaf charity warns of risks
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “Britain can be a powerhouse for medical technology, but only if we rip out pointless regulation that suffocates innovation
“Groundbreaking new hearing aid devices have the potential to help tens of thousands of people with hearing loss, helping them to live their life to the full The action we’re taking will give businesses the
green-light to start selling these products to patients across the UK
However, while welcoming the move concerns have also been raised by the head of deaf charity RNID, Harriet Oppenheimer
She said: “Changes need to be introduced carefully and with the right regulatory safeguards in place
“There are some significant risks to consider in allowing all hearing aids to be made available without the user having first received a gold-standard hearing test, a referral to an audiologist to consider any underlying health conditions, or having their hearing aids fitted by a trained professional
“We recommend an urgent review of all the regulations covering hearing aid provision One area the Government needs to urgently explore is the introduction of a new category of device for specifically regulated over-the-counter hearing aids ”
PLANS to give thousands of pupils with special needs and disabilities (SEND) better chances in mainstream schools have been warmly welcomed
Nearly £750 million in funding will help schools provide much-needed support and specialist facilities, and make classrooms more accessible for children with SEND
The cash injection from the Government comes after the National Audit Office highlighted the crisis in the SEND system and the struggles faced by parents seeing their children’s needs ignored
Last year, only 20% of pupils with SEND met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at Key Stage 2 level Without the right support, children are falling behind their peers, impacting their future life chances
Education Minister Bridget Phillipson insists the money will start to pave the way for wide-ranging, long-term Government plans for reform to help more pupils with SEND have their needs met in mainstream schools
Under pressure
Mel Merritt, from the National Autistic Society, said: “The SEND system has been buckling under pressure for years so this funding is very welcome ” Professor Karen Guldberg, an autism specialist at the University of Birmingham, and chair of a Neurodivergence Task and Finish Group, said:
“For too long, too many children with additional needs haven’t been getting support early enough, with dire consequences when issues escalate
“But my commitment to reform – making tangible change to the SEND system to improve experiences for children and families – could not be clearer, and building a system where more children with SEND can attend mainstream schools is central to our plans ”
n MORE than 212,000 people in England are now waiting for an autism assessment – three times more than in July 2021.
ON THE WAY: more choice will soon be available on the high street
Help when you need it
Since launching in 2015, more than 400,000 people across the North West have now registered for United Utilities’ Priority Services scheme.
Steph Smith from the Priority Services team said: “Our Priority Services scheme is free to all our customers who may need a bit of extra support in life. This could be due to age, ill health, disability, worries or language barriers.
“By registering for our scheme, we can make sure you receive the right support from us during those times the water to repair a leak, or if we need to visit you in your own home.
“Even if you don’t need this support, we all know someone
services - such as a friend, family member or neighbour - so please encourage them to get in touch to register.”
Services include:
• A dedicated team on hand to listen and help
• Braille, large print, ‘talking’ bills and text relay service
• Knock and wait service. If you tell us you have mobility needs and we have to visit your home, we will wait allowing enough time for you to answer the door
• Nominate a carer, family member or friend to check your bills and speak to us on your behalf
• Additional support if you have a medical need for water.
• Protection from bogus callers with a password protection scheme
• Notice of interruptions to your water supply
• Translation services
• Every two years we’ll check that your details are still correct
Scan the QR code to visit our
• are blind or partially sighted;
• have a chronic (long-term) or serious illness;
development;
• have dementia;
• rely on dialysis, feeding pumps or automated medication;
• are deaf or hard of hearing, or have
• have a mental health condition;
• have children aged 5 or under;
• are experiencing temporary life changes (including divorce or bereavement);
• are recovering after leaving hospital;
• have restricted movement making it
• may struggle to communicate because
MEDICAL NOTES
Hospitals lead hunt for hidden viruses
ALL patients undergoing routine blood tests in A&E at two Liverpool hospitals will now be screened for blood-borne viruses – unless they choose to opt out Screenings at Aintree University Hospital and the Royal Liverpool University Hospital will help identify those living with undiagnosed HIV, Hepatitis B, or Hepatitis C, supporting early diagnosis and access to life-saving treatment
While there is no cure for HIV, early diagnosis combined with highly effective treatment allows people to live a normal life span
Effective treatment also ensures that people cannot pass the virus to others Liverpool is among the first UK cities to implement this testing in A&E, following successful pilots in London, Brighton, Birmingham, and Manchester
The pilots identified nearly 1,000 cases of HIV and over 3,000 cases of Hepatitis B and C in just 18 months
Professor Matthew Ashton, Director of Public Health at Liverpool City Council, said: “Liverpool has a proud history of delivering bold public health interventions, and we are once again at the forefront of innovation with this initiative ”
Waiting lists slashed
THOUSANDS of children and adults in Merseyside and Cheshire are receiving care quicker thanks to its new surgical centre – with more to come next year
The multi-million pound centre, based at Clatterbridge Hospital, Wirral, treated 3,000 patients in its first year and has continued to help tackle waiting lists In that first 12 months the two surgical theatres saw 1,500 urology patients, more than 800 orthopaedic patients, over 350 general surgery cases, 150 gynaecological patients and 140 breast patients.
Research from The Health Foundation shows the impact new surgical centres in England are having by delivering more operations in shorter times, while also improving patient care.
Over 5,000 patients have been treated at the Clatterbridge centre since it opened in November 2022, including with the brand new £2 million Da Vinci Xi robot, enabling more patients to be treated, including those with cancer.
The Cheshire and Merseyside Surgical Centre at Victoria Infirmary in Northwich, on schedule to open in spring 2025, will provide state-of-the-art areas covering ophthalmology, orthopaedics, pain, ear nose and throat, dermatology, and general surgery. There will also be a treatment room, recovery area and consulting rooms.
GOOD news for those living in Merseyside and Cheshire with back, joint, and muscle problems – you could be treated sooner than you think
Waiting lists in the two counties are currently among the worst in England for musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions
Now as part of the Government’s drive to tackle economic inactivity – where someone is out of work and not looking for work – 17 Integrated Care Boards will share part of a £3 5m package to improve MSK services
The Government says it is also aiming to get people presently inactive due to MSK issues back into the workplace There are 2 8m people economically inactive due to long-term health and MSK is the second largest reason given, behind mental health
A Government spokesperson said: “With prevention, early detection and treatment, we know that the 17 million people with musculoskeletal issues in England could better manage their conditions, improving their quality of life and enabling them to rejoin the workforce ”
Sickle cell ‘cure’
PEOPLE in England with severe sickle cell disease will be among the first to receive a potential cure.
The National Institute for Health Care Excellence (NICE) approved the use of exagamglogene autotemcel (exa-cel) in the NHS in England. It will be made available for some people 12 years and over with certain types of severe SCD.
Treatment with exa-cel (also called Casgevy and made by Vertex) involves collecting the
person’s stem cells. These are then edited in a lab to produce non-sickling red blood cells. The edited cells are then infused back into the person. As exa-cel involves people receiving their own edited cells, they have no risk of their body rejecting them.
NICE heard from a patient expert who described how the distressing lifelong disease had affected them and that treatment with exa-cel had made them “healthier, fitter and stronger than at any point in my life before”.
Back pain relief BEATING ARTHRITIS
NEW hope has been given to millions of people who suffer with rheumatoid arthritis.
Scientists have pinpointed key cells that could be used to predict painful flare-ups –hopefully paving the way for more patients to achieve sustained relief from the condition
The breakthrough came as researchers analysed tissue from the joints of rheumatoid arthritis patients, using a new technique –known as spatial transcriptomics – which allows for the precise identification of individual cell locations
Professor Mariola Kurowska-Stolarska, from the University of Glasgow, which led the work, said: “Recent advancements in technology allow us to examine tissue at high resolution, identifying specific cell-to-cell interactions that cause pathology
“This helps to pinpoint the cause of diseases, such as flare-ups, before they begin ”
The important new findings came from collaboration between the universities of Glasgow, Newcastle, Birmingham and
Oxford, and the Universitario A Gemelli IRCCS in Rome
Rome-based Professor Stefano Alivernini said: “We hope this research is the first step to find new ways to help more arthritis patients and optimise their management, letting them stay symptom free and remain in remission after their therapeutic journey ”
The researchers discovered a crucial difference in the behaviour of dendritic cells between people who are likely to experience flare-ups and those who are not
In particular, in patients at risk of flare-ups, dendritic cells were detected in the blood weeks before the recurrence of the disease, suggesting these cells could be used as biomarkers – or potential treatment targets –
to help keep people in remission
The latest figures show that around 450,000 adults in the UK have rheumatoid arthritis, while around 1% of the world’s population is affected
Although treatments have improved, many people experience painful and unpredictable flare-ups While for some patients their arthritis settles, even after treatment ends 50% of patients experience a flare-up again within weeks or months
Dr Caroline Aylott, from Versus Arthritis, the organisation paying for the work, said:
“By using this new technology, researchers are able to look in more detail than ever before at the cells responsible for inflammation in the joint
“This means we are closer to using these as markers to predict when painful flare-ups will occur, which will help people to manage their rheumatoid arthritis better ”
Dr Aylott added: “By supporting groundbreaking studies like this, we are advancing towards a future where arthritis is preventable, manageable, and treatable ”
New treatment ‘saves kids’ hearing’
ATREATMENT that could stop devastating hearing loss in children undergoing cancer treatment is to be used by the NHS for the first time
Because children’s ears are still developing, they are susceptible to hearing loss during treatment with cisplatin, a powerful chemotherapy medicine that can cause damage – known as ototoxicity – to the inner ear
But for the first time a drug that can prevent, or at least reduce, hearing loss has been passed for use by NICE, the body that recommends new treatments for the NHS
Evidence from two clinical trials showed the treatment almost halves the rate of
IMPACT:
Experts are calling for measures to reduce the number of head injuries in football and other contact sports
hearing loss in children receiving cisplatin chemotherapy
Ralph Holme, from deaf charity RNID, said: “We are thrilled that this groundbreaking drug will be made available
“We look forward to seeing it being rolled out in hospitals across the country, and we are hopeful that all children who may benefit will soon have access to this vital treatment ”
About 60% of children having cisplatinbased treatment develop irreversible hearing loss, and 283 new cases of ototoxic hearing loss were diagnosed in people under 18 in England between 2022 and 2023
NICE heard from parents who told them that their children’s speech and language development, functioning at school and at home can all be affected if hearing is impaired through chemotherapy
The innovative new medicine is set to be made available for children aged from one month to 17 years old
Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at NICE, said: “Hearing loss due to cancer treatment is devastating for children and their families
“This is the first drug shown to prevent and reduce the impact of hearing loss, and it will have a life-changing effect on the lives of children and young people ”
HEADS YOU LOSE
THE case for reducing – or removing – heading in professional football has been further strengthened by the work of a top dementia expert
A study led by neuropathologist Professor Willie Stewart has found no evidence that the high dementia risk among exprofessionals is driven by lifestyle factors that are widely linked to the disease
When the ex-pros were compared with the general population, they were found to be at similar – or even lower – risk of obesity, high blood pressure and other conditions that can affect brain function in later life
Death rate
Compare that to Professor Stewart’s previous research that showed that former professional footballers had around a three and a half times higher rate of death due to neurodegenerative disease than the general population
He went on to reveal that footballers with
the longest careers were five times more likely to be diagnosed with dementia
Taken as a whole, the research points to years of playing contact sports at a professional level as a key factor
Professor Stewart and his team at the University of Glasgow say that while addressing general health and lifestyle risk factors remains important, there is further scientific reason to support measures aimed at reducing exposure to repetitive head impacts and traumatic brain injury in sport
He said: “Our data suggests this relationship between higher rates of neurodegenerative disease among former
not
by those wider general health and lifestyle factors, widely recognised as dementia risk factors
“As such, while interventions to address general health and lifestyle risk factors should remain recommended, the priority for neurodegenerative disease risk mitigation among contact sports athletes should continue to focus on the reduction, if not removal, of exposure to repetitive head impacts and traumatic brain injury, wherever practical ” Contact sports
The study, Influence of Health and Lifestyle Factors on Dementia Risk among former Professional Soccer Players, is published in JAMA Network Open
The work by Professor Stewart and his team was funded by the Football Association and the Professional Footballers Association, the National Institutes of Health and the Medical Research Council
professional footballers is
driven
Travel takes toll on young
NEARLY two out of three young disabled people are left mentally and physically drained by using public transport, research has found
Rachael Badger, from the Motability Foundation, said:
“Young disabled people are the future of accessible transport
“It is vital that their needs are understood across the transport sector so they can make the journeys they choose, and so that accessibility can be embedded into future modes of transport
“With the launch of this report, we hope to see a refreshed focus on young disabled people’s
needs within the transport sector ”
The research revealed:
l More than half (63%) of young disabled people feel unsafe using public transport
l Half of LGBTQ+ young disabled people reported feeling vulnerable in crowded spaces on public transport
l Nearly a third of young disabled people deliberately reduce their journeys to save money
The wide-ranging study – Creating an inclusive future: Addressing accessible transport needs for young disabled people –engaged 1,200 young disabled people
‘ROADS MUST ‘ROADS MUST BE SAFE FOR BE SAFE FOR SCOOTERS’ SCOOTERS’
MOBILITY scooter deaths nearly doubled in a year, sparking calls for users to be better protected
Campaigners say mobility scooter riders urgently need adding to the Highway Code’s list of vulnerable road users – a move that would help keep them safe
Sixteen mobility scooter users were killed and 80 seriously injured in collisions in 2023, up from nine deaths and 64 serious injuries in 2022
Since 2022, the Highway Code has contained a Hierarchy of Road Users, which puts greater responsibility on those causing the most harm – like heavy goods vehicles – while prioritising the
safety of pedestrians But despite their vulnerability, mobility scooter users remain absent from the hierarchy, leaving a critical gap in protections for them
Meanwhile a study by mobility scooter
insurers Surewise has found:
l Mobility scooter users are nearly three times more likely to be killed in a road collision than any other road user group
l Over the past decade, casualties involving mobility scooters have increased by an average of 20% annually
l In 2023, 74% of mobility scooter crashes involved one other vehicle
Professor Duncan Guest, a cognitive psychology expert at Nottingham Trent University, led a two-year study into how
mobility scooter users perceive road hazards
He said: “The significant rise in fatalities and serious injuries involving mobility scooter users underscores the urgent need for their inclusion in the Highway Code
“These users face unique challenges navigating pavements and roads, often contending with inadequate infrastructure, poor driver awareness and a lack of clear guidance ” n In the UK, Class 3 mobility scooters are allowed on the roads, which means they include the necessary safety features to navigate road traffic, and have a maximum speed of at least 8mph
aids access Vast library
A VAST new database of information could make travelling across the UK easier for disabled people
The National Centre for Accessible Transport (ncat) has created a new Resource Collection, which brings together 366 organisations involved in producing, funding, or commissioning transport initiatives, along with 54 hubs such as research groups, living labs, and funding schemes
Michael Edwards, from ncat, said: “We invite everyone to contribute to this growing body of knowledge and join us in our mission to create a more accessible future for all ” n resourcecollection@ncat uk
Vehicles on show
THE MOTABILITY charity is staging three free exhibitions this year – and under a new name
Previously known as The Big Event and One Big Day, the events are now called Motability Scheme Live and are a great way to see the ever-increasing range of accessible vehicles, powered scooters and wheelchairs
n May 16-17: Birmingham NEC
n Aug 1-2: Harrogate Yorkshire Event Centre n Sep 19-20: Northern Ireland: Eikon Exhibition Centre, Lisburn
Deaf workers deserve better on set BATTLE STATIONS
ALMOST all deaf people working in film and television face daily discrimination, says a new damning report.
And industry bosses have been told they must “move from well-meaning words to tangible change”
The challenges faced by deaf and hard of hearing professionals in the industry are the subject of a report by the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity – named after the veteran comic and diversity champion
One of the participants interviewed for their research spoke about the barriers she has faced in the industry
“Apart from my own work, I have to educate my own interpreters,” she said “It’s quite draining and exhausting
“Training has been very hearing-orientated It was a constant fight, to battle the barriers, simply just to get the access I needed I have to work triple as hard ”
Erika Jones, head researcher on the study, said: “The voices of deaf people are still being marginalised within the screen industry and as a result potential talent is being lost or unrecognised due to the barriers they face on a daily basis ”
Jones, who works in broadcasting and is a deaf and British Sign Language user,
highlighted that it had taken nearly 60 years for a second UK feature film to be directed by a deaf person – from 1967’s The Return of Dracula by Stephen Pink to Retreat by Ted Evans, due for release in 2025
“This is not down to a lack of talent, passion or hard work,” insisted Jones Recommendations from the report include:
l A database of sign language interpreters for the media sector
l More apprenticeships for the deaf and hard of hearing
l Reviews of pay disparity between deaf and hearing workers
l A dedicated BSL television channel
Officials fail to use BSL
DEAF and hard of hearing people are also continuing to be overlooked as government departments fail to communicate in British Sign Language
The Royal National Institute for Deaf People says while there has been progress, “there is still clearly a long way to go” to ensure equal access for the deaf community
Michael Quinlan, advocacy manager at RNID, said: “While it’s encouraging to see that BSL activity has more than doubled, the fact that five government departments have yet to provide any communications in BSL shows that improvements fall well short of providing an inclusive service for people who are deaf
“Government communications are vital for people to find out about what support is available and the opportunities there are to feed into policy developments It is essential that these communications are accessible to everyone, including the deaf community ”
Little steps can help
SMALL fixes could transform the lives of many people living with multiple sclerosis sufferers who are trapped in their homes
So says a report from the MS Trust that highlights inaccessible town centres and inadequate public transport
The charity’s chief Lucy Taylor said: “The moment you have a condition like MS that can make walking difficult, you realise how inaccessible many of our towns are
“We are committed to raising awareness of what living with MS day to day is like –and the world of difference it makes when support is available ”
In the report – Life Changing: Getting around with MS – 90% of those with MS said uneven pavements, limited dropped kerbs, or cars parked on the pavement made it difficult to move around Charlotte said becoming housebound in
her 20s due to inaccessible streets and transport had her questioning the point of living She said: “Most people take going out for granted but I need to plan it carefully Sometimes the effort is too much ” Charlotte, now 30, added: “Small fixes would be a lifeline for thousands like me ”
More than half of those questioned said they would leave their house more often if support was available
Rebekah, 52, who finds walking a real struggle is now able to get out and about with the help of carers that she pays for out of her Personal Independence Payment
Claiming the benefit, though, was “overwhelming”
The MS Trust’s report found 60% of respondents were unaware of the financial support available, and 30% who had looked at applying for support said the forms were too long and too complicated
ACTION: Deaf staff facing everyday challenges
POLES APART but
the messa is the same . .
GUTSY: Jonny overcame huge challenges to show “disability is not inability”
IS IS POSSIB POSSIB ANYTHIN ANYTHIN
Champagne on ice for Jonny
IRON-willed stroke survivor Jonny
Huntington is celebrating becoming the first ever person with a disability to ski solo – and unsupported – to the South Pole
“I’m exhausted – but so proud to make it to the Pole and complete an expedition that many thought impossible,” said Jonny, 37, from the southern most point on earth
Just 52 people have ever successfully skied to the South Pole without support Jonny is the first explorer with a disability to do so, covering the 911km of Antarctic
tundra with limited mobility down his lefthand side; a feat he completed in 45 days, 14 hours, 15 minutes
“It pushed me to my limits – both mentally and physically – but there was no way I was going to give up I just needed to keep putting one foot in front of the other
“It just proves that anything is possible with self-belief
“I will never let my disability define me, and I hope that by reaching the finish line, it shows that no matter what life throws at you – with enough determination everyone can fulfill their potential ”
On average, Jonny skied for 11 hours a day, dragging all his equipment and food in a sled that weighed more than 90kg He
battled Arctic temperatures as low as -40 C and blistering 24-hour sunlight, huge ice formations called sastrugi and soft snow that made progress challenging
Jonny added: “Antarctica is a remote, hostile and uninhabitable environment, and some of the conditions were incredibly challenging
“There were days when I had to finish earlier than planned because of dangerous conditions or pure exhaustion and selfpreservation for the longevity of the expedition, meaning it took longer than I initially planned I ended the expedition with just 24 hours of rations left ”
Jonny has permanent brain damage and a significant lack of mobility and control down
his left-hand side, following a stroke in 2014
“I fell a lot over the course of my journey, especially at the start of the expedition while I was getting acclimatised to the conditions, but just had to get back up, dust myself off, and carry on
“Despite the challenges I faced on the ice, my hope is that by completing the expedition, I have shown that disability does not mean inability ”
Jonny was raising money for four charities – the Invictus Games Foundation, Armed Forces ParaSnowsport Team, Team Forces and The Adaptive Grand Slam Foundation.
FIGHT: Debbie campaigns for better access to the UK’s countryside
Debbie blazes trails
DEBBIE North has spent the last 15 years fighting for better access to the countryside.
Her dedication to the cause has included setting up the charity ‘Access the Dales’, advising the Government, motivational speaking and writing about inclusive travel
Now she’s just published a new book – North Yorkshire Accessible Walks for Alll – a practical guide aimed at making the region’s stunning landscapes available to everyone, regardless of physical ability
Debbie’s passion for inclusive walks was sparked by her diagnosis of spinal degeneration and the loss of her husband, also an avid walker
“My book is not just a guide, it’s an invitation to explore the stunning natural beauty of North Yorkshire,” she says
“It includes lots of curated accessible walks with descriptions, maps and personal anecdotes ”
Debbie aims to empower everyone to enjoy breathtaking views, stunning countryside and the beauty of nature, all on a scooter
Mobility company TGA have helped Debbie set up hubs in Malham, Nateby, Tebay and Leyburn, where scooters like the Breeze S4 used by her are free to loan
TGA managing director Daniel Stone said: “Just like Debbie, we are committed to promoting inclusivity in outdoor activities for everyone with mobility challenges
“She is an inspiration to us and others Publishing this book is another huge achievement and we look forward to working with her on whatever challenge comes next ”
The best prepared cities in Europe
THE most accessible city in Europe has been named in a new study of popular travel destinations.
Paris was found to be the best option for disabled and older people, and those with pre-existing medical conditions
Factors including flight time from the UK, types of public transport, available hospital beds, accessible tours and attractions, and restaurant accessibility were taken into account in the study by travel insurance provider Good To Go
Paris ranked in the top five cities across all the categories used to measure accessibility, other than public transport and attractions
Three Italian cities – Milan, Florence and Venice – ranked in the top five destinations, with the cultural centre of Florence taking the top spot for both accessible attractions and accessible restaurants
The high rankings came despite the fact that both Florence and Venice rank among the bottom cities for public transport
Despite being one of the closest destinations in terms of flight time, Dublin ranked fifth bottom in the list The short flight time did not hide the fact that the Irish capital scores poorly for available forms of public transport and number of hospital beds
At the bottom of the list, the Turkish metropolis of Istanbul scored poorly across most categories The iconic city does boast some of the best availability in terms of public transport, but ranked last in every other metric.
Stockholm, Warsaw and Madrid make up the rest of the bottom five accessible cities.
Top 10 most accessible destinations
SHOPMOBILIT Y
n ALTRINCHAM
Tel 0161 929 1714
n ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE
Tel 0161 339 9500
n BARROW
Tel 01229 434039
n BIRKENHEAD
Tel 0151 647 6162
n BLACKBURN AND DARWEN Tel 01254 690566 or 07757 502217
n BLACKPOOL
Tel 01253 349427
n BOLTON Tel 01204 392946
n CARLISLE
Tel 01228 631564
n CHESTER Tel 01244 312626
n CHORLEY
Tel 01257 260 888
n COLWYN BAY Tel 01492 533822
n ELLESMERE PORT
Tel 01244 312626
n KENDAL Tel 01539 740 933
n LEIGH, Wigan
Tel 01942 777 985
n LIVERPOOL
Tel 0151 707 0877
n MANCHESTER Trafford
Centre Tel 0161 747 2684
n MANCHESTER Arndale
Centre Tel 0161 839 4060
n NELSON
Tel 01282 692 502
n NORTHWICH, Vale Royal
Tel 01244 312626
n OSWESTRY
Tel 01691 656882
n PENRITH
Tel 01768 895 438
n PRESTON Tel 01772 204 667
n RHYL Tel 01745 350665
n ROCHDALE
Tel 01706 865 986
n RUNCORN, Halton Lea Tel 01928 710144
n SHREWSBURY
Tel 01743 236900
SKELMERSDALE
Tel 01695 550066
n STOCKPORT Tel 0161 666 1100
n WARRINGTON Tel 01925 240064
n WARRINGTON Birchwood Tel 01925 822 411 WIDNES: 0151 511 8833
n WIGAN Tel 01942 776 070
n WINSFORD Tel 01244 312626
n WREXHAM Tel 01978 312390
MIDLANDS
n BIRMINGHAM Snow Hill Railway Station Tel 0121 236 8980 Level 2, Centre Car Park, Bullring Tel 0121 616 2942
n STAFFORD Tel 01785 619456
n STOKE ON TRENT Tel 01782 233333
n SUTTON COLDFIELD
0121 355 1112
n TAMWORTH Tel, 01827 709392
n WALSALL Tel 01922 650781
HONOUR: New chief
Zoe leads arts body into new era
THE curtains opened on Merseyside’s international disability arts festival with a new leader full of rage!
Zoe Partington’s appointment as chief executive of DaDa Disability and Deaf Arts is seen as key to giving the organisation a solid platform for the next 10 years Her first major project is overseeing DaDaFest
International, which since its launch in 2001 has showcased the work of disabled, deaf and neurodivergent artists
The festival’s theme this year is RAGE – A Quiet Riot! And that’s a theme which sits perfectly with the new boss, who has built a reputation as an international consultant on disability art, architecture and inclusion
“I believe as disabled people we
should not let fear hold us back from striking out and being at the centre of decision-making in the cultural sector,” she says Her appointment follows confirmation from the Arts Council that DaDa would remain on its funding list until at least 2026
“As a disabled woman in a leadership role I feel honoured to follow other strong political disabled women from the North ”
THE PLANTSSUITE
Music made of flowers soothes cancer patients
FOR centuries plants have given us all kinds of he remedies
Now, they also providing the backing “vocals” to a new musical project aime at helping people undergoing cancer treatment
The 45-minute album –linea naturalis – is derived entirely from electrical data from plants with medicinal and healin properties
Award-winning compos Dr Helen Anahita Wilson, treated for breast cancer four years ago, said: “Cancer treatment can be extremely challenging and it can feel as though one is disconnected from nature
“Hospitals can be such noisy, sterile and unnatural places often with competing sounds of hospital equipment, no natural light, nor access to plants and green spaces and so linea naturalis is designed to connect people back to nature by listening to music created from the same plants that their chemotherapy drugs are made from ” By connecting electrodes to plants
involved in chemotherapy and other anticancer treatments, Helen transforms bioelectrical frequencies and fluctuations in micro-electrical currents from each plant into notes and phrases She then crafts compositions using these plant-derived musical phrases
Helen added: “Many people are not aware that a lot of chemotherapy drugs are rooted in nature “I hope this album helps others going through cancer treatment by offering reassuring and calming music specifically
NEED advice finding the right equipment to help you live more independently?
If so, give the friendly people at Adapt & Live a call
The service is the new name for the helpline run by the Disabled Living charity, which has been operating in Manchester for 125 years
The team also provides occupational therapy assessments, access audits and accredited training programmes. n 0161 214 4590
designed to be listened to in hospital I’ve also incorporated recordings of birds and gentle rain You’ll also hear plant-derived melodies played by a harp, strings, and some beautiful electronic instruments ”
n Half of the profits from the album are going to Cancer Research UK and Maggie’s Cancer Centres It is available on all music streaming platforms Apple
n Scope’s Disabilty Information and Advice Line (DIAL) Freephone 0808 800 3333
HEAVY PETAL: Helen transforms electrical currents from plants into musical notes
More cups in sight for hot shot Tony
SNOOKER is a great way of being more active and making new friends.
Merseyside’s snooker king Tony Southern has being doing just that for 50 years
Along the way he’s also won more than his fair share of trophies – 24 national championships plus seven World Disabled Billiards & Snooker successes, including back-to-back Belgian Open crowns in 2019-2020
Next came the UK Disability Championship and most recently the 2024 Champion of Champions crown
Now, Tony, who has cerebral palsy, has his eyes fixed firmly on three upcoming WDBS tournaments
The Belgian Open returns to the historic city of Bruges from Mar 21-23
Then it’s the Hull Open on May 1618, followed by the Champion of Champions in Walsall on June 14 n WDBS, tel 0117 317 8200
Ohgosh! Ohgosh! Josh hasJosh has a hit on a hit on his handshis hands
YOU wouldn’t blame musician Joshua Henderson for blowing his own trumpet
Not only is his debut album – Songs of Liverpool for Friends – getting thousands of streams, he also struck a deal with HMV to stock it at their Liverpool store for the whole of Disability History Month
Josh, 29, who has learning disabilities, recorded his album at the city’s The Cabin studio with the support of disability arts organisation DaDa
Josh first became involved with DaDa more than a decade ago through their Young Ensemble project, which works with young disabled musicians to compose and
VISUAL PROBLEMS
n ACCRINGTON Tel 01254 233332
n BARROW Tel 01229 820698
n BIRMINGHAM Action for Blind Tel 0121 665 4200
n BLACKBURN
Tel 0125 554143
n BLACKPOOL: N-Vision
Tel 01253 362696
n BURY Tel 0161 763 7014
n BURNLEY Tel 01282 438507
n CARLISLE: Action for Blind People Tel 01228 595121
n CHESHIRE & N WALES: Vision Support Tel 01244 381515
n CUMBRIA (West) Tel 01946 592474
n CUMBRIA (Sth Lakeland) Tel 01539 726613
n GUIDE DOGS Tel 0118 983 5555
n HENSHAW’S 0161 872 234 or 0151 708 7055
SUCCESS: Josh’s album has had thousands of streams
perform original music
Executive producer at DaDa Rachel
Rogers said: “It has been a privilege for us to work with Josh and see his development across the last decade
“He is an incredibly talented and credible artist ”
The singer-songwriter started playing the guitar aged nine, inspired by his musical dad All the songs on the album have been written and arranged by Josh who performs vocals, electric guitar and piano
There are contributions from two other Young Ensemble graduates, Mollie Parkinson on bass and Tyler Sherwood on drums
The track Capital of Culture 08 features a
special performance by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra’s Georgina Aasgaard
Speaking of his inspiration for the album, Josh said: “Liverpool is my home city, my favourite place It’s where I do my art and I like the buildings, they make me calm
“I like to go down on a sunny day and get on the ferry I love feeling the breeze and looking over at the city ”
n Josh’s album was made with the assistance of a grant from Youth Music, using public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England
The Youth Music Next Gen Funds aim to help young creatives across the UK realise their dreams
AT THE END OF A PHONE
n LIVERPOOL: Bradbury Fields Tel 0151 221 0888: Action for Bind Tel 0151 298 3222
n MANCHESTER: Action for Blind Tel 0161 787 9252
n PRESTON: Action for Blind People Tel 01772 320550
n OLDHAM Tel 0161 682 8019
n ROSSENDALE Tel 01706 873256
n SIGHTLINE (North West)
Tel 0800 587 2252
n WIGAN Tel 01942 242891
n WIRRAL Society of the Blind and Partially Sighted Tel 0151 652 8877
HEARING ISSUES
n BIRMINGHAM Institute for Deaf Tel 0121 246 6101
n CHESHIRE Deaf Society Tel 01606 47831
n CUMBRIA Deaf Society Tel 01228 606434
n LANCASHIRE (EAST) Deaf Society
Tel 01282 839180
n MANCHESTER Deaf Centre Tel 0161 273 3415
Genie Networks Tel 0161 941 4549 Text 18001 0161 941 4549
n MERSEYSIDE Society for Deaf Tel 0151 228 0888
n SOUTHPORT Centre for the Deaf Tel 01704 537001
n ST HELENS: Deafness Resource Centre Tel 01744 23887
705959 / 486923 MIDLANDS
n BIRMINGHAM Tel 0121 675 8000
n SOLIHULL Tel 0121 788 1143
n WALSALL Tel 01922 610 810 NORTH WALES
n ANGLESEY Tel 01248 722828
n BANGOR Tel 01248 370 797
n CONWY Tel 01492 533714
n DENBIGHSHIRE: NEWCIS Tel: 0845 603 3187
nDOLGELLAU Tel 01341 421167
n FLINTSHIRE: NEWCIS, Tel: 01352 751436
n WREXHAM CARERS SERVICE
CUE KING: Tony in action
Mar 8: TRASH! Storyhouse, Chester. Four creative workers give a new life to all kind of waste
Mar 8: Jason Donovan – Doin’ Fine The Lowry, Salford
Mar 8: Martin Kemp: Back to the 80s DJ Set Floral Pavilion, New Brighton
Mar 9: Pride of Ireland Grand Theatre, Blackpool Mike Denver and Dominic Kirwin
Mar 9: Beyond the Barricade Lyceum, Crewe Music from Les Miserables
Mar 10: Ben Fogle: Wild The Lowry, Salford
Mar 11-22: Blood Brothers. Empire, Liverpool
Mar 11-15: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Palace Theatre, Manchester
Mar 11-15: Do I Love You? Octagon, Bolton Northern Soul for a new generation
Mar 11-15: Ghost Stories. Playhouse, Liverpool
Mar 11: Ben Fogle: Wild Storyhouse, Chester
Mar 11: Pride of Ireland The Brindley, Runcorn Mike Denver and Dominic Kirwan
Mar 11: Sherlock versus Dracula. The Brindley, Runcorn
Mar 11: Giovanni – The Last Dance Venue Cymru, Llandudno
Mar 12-13: The Smartest Giant in Town Theatre Royal, St Helens
Mar 12: Giovanni – The Last Dance Floral Pavilion, New Brighton
Mar 12: Rave On – The Ultimate 50s & 60s Experience The Brindley, Runcorn
Mar 13-14: John Bishop – Back At It Venue Cymru, Llandudno
Mar 13: The Fureys The Brindley, Runcorn
Mar 13: Jenny Éclair Storyhouse, Chester
Mar 13: An Evening with Liverpool
FC Legends. Floral Pavilion, New Brighton Bruce Grobbelaar, Ronnie Whelan, Gary Gillespie, Ray Houghton, Peter Beardsley, John Aldridge, Steve McMahon and more!
Mar 14: Music & Laughter. Floral Pavilion, New Brighton Stan Boardman, Ricky Tomlinson, Sean Styles and Gary Murphy Band
Mar 14-15: There’s a Monster in Your Show, Storyhouse, Chester
ZANY JANE
MEN, money and microphones will be fought over in the comic retelling of Jane Austen’s iconic love story – Pride and Prejudice (Sort Of ) The Lowry, Mar 18-22
Theatre Royal, St Helens
Mar 17: Wardruna Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool
Mar 14: Ed Patrick: Catch Your Breath Storyhouse, Chester
Mar 14: Perfectly Frank: A Salute to Frank Sinatra The Brindley, Runcorn
Mar 14: Go Your Own Way. Pavilion, Rhyl Fleetwood Mac tribute show
Mar 15-16: Room on the Broom Lyceum, Crewe
Mar 15: Candace Bushnell – True Tales of Sex, Success and Sex in the City Opera House, Manchester
Mar 15: Bronwen Lewis Venue Cymru, Llandudno
Mar 15: WIFI Wars Octagon, Bolton
Mar 15: The Dinosaur That Pooped Grand Theatre, Blackpool
Mar 15: Opera North – The Flying Dutchman. The Lowry, Salford
Mar 16: Elkie Brooks – The Long Farewell Tour The Lowry, Salford
Mar 16: Mozart in Motion: Prodigy William Aston Hall, Wrexham
Mar 16: Spice Girls Experience Theatre Royal, St Helens
Mar 16: Sunday Night at The Grand Grand Theatre, Blackpool
Mar 17: Anton Du Beke at the Musicals Grand Theatre, Blackpool
Mar 17: Saving Tinderella
Mar 17: Seven Drunken Nights – The Story of The Dubliners Opera House, Manchester
Mar 18-22: Dear Evan Hansen Storyhouse, Chester Musical Meet Evan: an anxious high school kid who wants nothing more than to fit in
Mar 18-22: Pig Heart Boy. Playhouse, Liverpool Is it better to have a pig’s heart that works than a human heart that doesn’t?
Mar 18-22: Pride and Prejudice (Sort Of )
The Lowry, Salford Audacious retelling of Jane Austen’s most iconic love story Audio described, touch tour, signed, Mar 22
Mar 18-22: Handbagged The Lowry, Salford
Mar 18: Anton Du Beke – At The Musicals Opera House, Manchester
Mar 18: An Audience with Liverpool Legends Venue Cymru, Llandudno John Barnes leads the attack
Mar 19: The Story of Guitar Heroes Theatre Royal, St Helens
Mar 19: Rob Beckett: Giraffe. Opera House, Manchester
Mar 20-21: Ysgol John Bright present Legally Blonde Venue Cymru, Llandudno
Mar 20: The Greatest Barbra Streisand Concert Theatre Royal, St Helens Tribute
show
Mar 20: Su Pollard: Still Fully Charged Pavilion, Rhyl
Mar 20: Phil Walker – Happy Bunny
The Brindley, Runcorn
Mar 20: The Story of Guitar Heroes Lyceum, Crewe
Mar 20-21: Driftwood The Lowry Salford An inspiring story about hope, love and belonging
All performances have integrated creative captions
Mar 21-Apr 19: Red or Dead Royal Court, Liverpool Peter Mullan (Ozark, Westworld, Mum) is Bill Shankly in an amazing new show adapted from David Peace’s iconic novel
Mar 21-22: The King’s Voice Octagon, Bolton Gordon Hendricks as Elvis
Mar 21: The Funny Mummy Storyhouse, Chester Alyssa Kyria’s one-woman comedy show
Mar 21: Bat To Hell – A Tribute to Meat Loaf & Jim Steinman Theatre Royal, St Helens
Mar 21: A Spectacular Night of Queen. The Brindley, Runcorn
Mar 21: Mothers of the Brides Pavilion, Rhyl
Mar 21: Kim Wilde Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool
Mar 21: Showaddywaddy. Lyceum, Crewe
Mar 21: Rave On: The Ultimate 50s & 60s Experience Grand Theatre, Blackpool
Mar 21: Gareth Gates: Love Songs from the Movies Floral Pavilion, New Brighton
Mar 22: Al Murray: Guv Island. Floral Pavilion, New Brighton
Mar 22: Sue, Matt & Phil Live! The Reunion Tour Palace Theatre, Manchester Quiz night with the sporting legends
Mar 22: Country Hits Live Lyceum, Crewe
Mar 22: The Drifters Pavilion, Rhyl
Mar 22: Jason Donovan Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool
Mar 22: Dr Rangan Chatterjee: The Thrive Tour Opera House, Manchester
Mar 22: The Best of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons Grand Theatre, Blackpool
Mar 23: The Repair Shop Live The Lowry Salford
Mar 23: The Dinosaur That Pooped. Opera House, Manchester
Mar 23: Mike + The Mechanics Venue Cymru, Llandudno
Mar 23: Katherine Ryan: Battleaxe Grand Theatre, Blackpool
Mar 23: Su Pollard – Still Fully Charged Floral Pavilion, New Brighton
Mar 24-25: Revision on Tour: Macbeth Regent Theatre, Stoke
Mar 24: Manchester City Legends The Brindley, Runcorn Paul Dickov, Nicky Weaver and Peter Reid
Mar 24: Mike + The Mechanics Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool
Mar 24: An Evening with Kevin Sinfield The Lowry, Salford
Mar 24: Thank You for the Music The Lowry, Salford
Mar 25-29: Boys From The Blackstuff Empire, Liverpool
Mar 25-29: Little Women. Grand Theatre, Blackpool Step into the world of sisterhood, courage, ambition, as the March sisters navigate the challenges of the Civil War era, forging unbreakable bonds of love and family
Mar 25-29: Cruel Intentions. Palace Theatre, Manchester Smash-hit musical packed with 90s pop classics
Mar 25-29: SIX The Musical Storyhouse, Chester
Mar 25: An Evening with Kevin Keegan The Brindley, Runcorn
Mar 26-Apr 12: Of Mice and Men Octagon, Bolton Audio described Apr 5; signed/captioned Apr 8
Mar 26-29: Tambo and Bones Playhouse, Liverpool Funny and provocative satire
Mar 26-29: Pig Heart Boy. The Lowry, Salford Is it better to have a pig’s heart that works than a human heart that doesn’t? Cameron is 13, and all he wants is to be normal
Mar 26: The Music of John Denver The Brindley, Runcorn
Mar 26: Revision on Tour: Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde Regent Theatre, Stoke
Mar 27-29: Rita, Sue and Bob Too! Pavilion, Rhyl
Mar 27-29: Death of a Salesman. Lyceum, Crewe The final 24 hours of Willy Loman’s life David Hayman
stars
Mar 27-28: Paddy McGuinness: Nearly There. The Lowry, Salford Mar 27: Whitney – Queen of the Night Venue Cymru, Llandudno Tribute show
Mar 28: David Gray: Past and Present World Tour Venue Cymru, Llandudno
Mar 28: Diana & Lionel The Brindley, Runcorn Tribute show
Mar 29: Ready Steady 60s Show The Brindley, Runcorn
Mar 29: The Night Sky Show Venue Cymru, Llandudno
Mar 29: Mahler Symphony No.3. Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool
Mar 29: Milton Jones: Ha!milton The Lowry, Salford
Mar 30: Fun for Little Ones – A Tribute to Ms Rachel. The Lowry, Salford
Mar 30: Murder She Didn’t Write The Lowry, Salford
Mar 30: John Cale Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool
Mar 30: Queen of the Night – A Tribute to Whitney Houston Floral Pavilion, New Brighton
Mar 31: David Gray Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool
l continued next pages
Apr 1-5: Animal Farm Playhouse, Liverpool When the downtrodden animals of Manor Farm overthrow their master and take over, they imagine it is the beginning of a life of equality
Apr 1-5: Shirley Valentine Grand, Blackpool Audio described Apr 5
Apr 1: Rumours of Fleetwood Mac. Venue Cymru, Llandudno
Apr 1: An Audience with Aggers and Tuffers Philharmonic, Liverpool
Apr 1: Ian Stirling: Relevant Lyceum, Crewe
Apr 2-3: Paul Smith: Pablo Regent, Stoke
Apr 3: Dave Spikey: Life in a Northern Town The Atkinson, Southport
Apr 3: Shaun Ryder – Happy Mondays, and Fridays, and Saturdays, and Sundays The Brindley, Runcorn
Apr 3: Nathan Carter Floral Pavilion, New Brighton
Apr 3: Anton Du Beke at the Musicals Venue Cymru, Llandudno
Apr 4: Aled Jones Floral Pavilion, New Brighton
Apr 4: Anton Du Beke at the Musicals. Storyhouse, Chester
Apr 4: Oh, What a Night The Brindley, Runcorn
Apr 4: Ellen Kent: Madama Butterfly Regent, Stoke
Apr 4: Katherine Ryan: Battleaxe. Venue Cymru, Llandudno
Apr 5: Showaddywaddy Venue Cymru, Llandudno
Apr 5: The Story of Swing Pavilion, Rhyl
Apr 5: What’s Love Got to do With It? Regent, Stoke Tina Tina tribute
Apr 5: Beatles for Sale The Brindley, Runcorn Tribute show
Apr 5: The Music of Zimmer vs Williams Philharmonic, Liverpool
Apr 5: The Dinosaur That Pooped a Rock Star Lyceum, Crewe
Apr 5: Lou Sanders: No Kissing in the Bingo Hall Storyhouse, Chester
Apr 6: Carry On! An Audience with Mark and Lard. Storyhouse, Chester Mark Radcliffe and Marc Riley are back after 20 years
Apr 6: The Night Shy Show Regent, Stoke
BOX OFFICE CONTACTS
BLACKPOOL
Grand Theatre: 01253 290190
BOLTON
Octagon: 01204 520661
CHESTER
Storyhouse: 01244 409 113
CREWE
Lyceum: 01270 368 242
LIVERPOOL
Empire: 08444 999 999
Everyman & Playhouse: 0151 709 4776
Philharmonic Hall: 0151 709 3789
Royal Court: 0870 787 1866
Unity 0151 709 4988
LLANDUDNO
Venue Cymru: 01492 872000
MOLD:
Theatr Clwyd: 0845 3303565
MANCHESTER
Opera House: 0870 401 9000
Palace: 0870 401 3000
SALFORD
The Lowry: 0843 208 6000
Access line: 0333 320 2838
NEW BRIGHTON
Floral Pavilion: 0151 666 0000
RHYL:
Pavilion: 01745 330 000
RUNCORN
The Brindley: 0151 907 8360
ST HELENS:
Theatre Royal: 01744 756000
STOKE:
Regent Theatre: 0844 871 7627
Singing legend
HEARTBREAKER:
Dionne Warwick, Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, April 26
TOP COMIC:
Dave Spikey is at The Atkinson, Southport, April 3 and The Lowry,
Apr 6: Flowers and Friendship Bracelets –The Ultimate Pop Concert Grand, Blackpool
Apr 7-12: Hairspray The Musical Venue Cymru, Llandudno
Apr 8-19: War Horse Empire, Liverpool
Unforgettable theatrical experience which takes audiences on an extraordinary journey from the fields of rural Devon to the trenches of First World War France Audio described Apr 11; captioned Apr 15; signed Apr 17
Apr 8-12: Little Women. The Lowry, Salford
The enduring journey of the March sisters
Audio described /touch tour Apr 11; signed
Apr 12
Apr 8-12: The Gruffalo Playhouse, Liverpool
Apr 8-12: Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of) Floral Pavilion, New Brighton
Apr 8-12: Handbagged: The Iron Lady vs The Crown Grand, Blackpool Signed/ audio described Apr 12
Apr 8: Billy Billingham: Always A Little
YOU’LL BE SHOUTING IT YOU’LL BE SHOUTING IT
Further The Lowry, Salford
Apr 8: Taylormania The Brindley, Runcorn
Apr 9-May 17: Mary Poppins Palace Theatre, Manchester Australian stars Audio described Apr 24; signed May1; captioned May 8
Apr 9: An Evening with Sir Geoff Hurst Philharmonic, Liverpool
Apr 9: Kate Mosse: Unlocking the Secrets of the Labyrinth Storyhouse, Chester
Apr 10-12: The Moth The Lowry, Salford
1994: a chance meeting between two men, John, a black British activist and journalist and Marius, a white South African ex-soldier, sets in motion a chain of events that will change their lives forever Signed Apr 11
Apr 10-12: Murder Mystery: First Class
Murder – Afternoon Tea Everyman, Liverpool
Apr 10: Jasper Carrot Pavilion, Rhyl
Apr 11-May 10: A Knight’s Tale the Musical. Opera House, Manchester Rip-roaring tale of chivalry, jousting, heroes and villains
Apr 11: Jon Culshaw: Imposter
Syndrome The Lowry, Salford
Apr 11: Ms Rachel – Fun for Little Ones. Lyceum, Crewe
Apr 12-13: A Midsummer Night’s Dream The Brindley, Runcorn
Apr 12-13: Giovanni Pernice: The Last Dance Storyhouse, Chester
Apr12: Northern Soul is Modern Soul Pavilion, Rhyl
Apr 13: Omid Djalili: Namaste Grand, Blackpool
Apr 13: Murder Trail Tonight 111 Lyceum, Crewe
Apr 14-17: Peter Pan The Brindley, Runcorn
Apr 14: Rumours of Fleetwood Mac The Lowry, Salford
Apr 15-20: Room on the Broom The Lowry, Salford Jump on board the broom with the witch and her cat Relaxed performance Apr 16; signed Apr 17; audio described/touch tour Apr 18.
Apr 15-19: The Girl on the Train Storyhouse, Chester
Apr 15-19: SIX Regent, Stoke Musical
Apr 15: Rumours of Fleetwood Mac Lyceum, Crewe
Apr 16-May 10: The 39 Steps Octagon, Bolton Signed/captioned Apr 30; audio described May 3
Apr 16-19: Peter James’ Picture You Dead
The Lowry, Salford DSI Grace investigates a cold case that leads him to the secretive world of fine art Signed Apr 17; audio described/ touch tour Apr 18
Apr 16-19: Toxic The Lowry, Salford
Apr 16: Francis Rossi Venue Cymru, Llandudno
Apr 17-19: Rumours of Fleetwood Mac Philharmonic, Liverpool
Apr 17: Dave Spikey – Life in a Northern Town The Lowry, Salford
Apr 17: Richard Herring: Can I Have My Ball Back? Playhouse, Liverpool
Apr 18: Dracula Lyceum, Crewe
Apr 19-20: Pinocchio Pavilion, Rhyl
Apr 16-19: Guys and Dolls Grand, Blackpool
Apr 19: An Evening with Craig Revel Hopwood William Aston Hall, Wrexham
Apr 19: Wickedly Ariana Floral Pavilion, New Brighton Tribute show
Apr 21: Chris McCausland Pavilion, Rhyl
Apr 22-26: Calamity Jane Empire, Liverpool
Apr 22: Tommy Blaize. Theatre Royal, St Helens
Apr 22: Chris McCausland Lyceum, Crewe
Apr 22: Carry On! An Audience with Mark & Lard Floral Pavilion, New Brighton
Apr 22-26: Boys From the Blackstuff The Lowry, Salford
POPPIN’ BACK!
CLEAN SWEEP: Aussie stars Stefanie Jones and Jack Chambers are set to reprise their roles as Mary Poppins and Bert – Palace, Manchester, Apr 9-May 17
OWZAT: An Evening with Aggers and Tuffers –Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, Apr 1; The Lowry, May 12
TIME WARP: Jason Donovan is back as Frank-n-Furter – Rocky Horror Show, Palace, Manchester, May 19-31
FROM THE ROOFTOPS FROM THE ROOFTOPS
Apr 23: Mothers of the Bride Lyceum, Crewe
Apr 23: Bye Bye Baby Theatre Royal, St Helens
Apr 23: Chris McCausland William Aston Hall, Wrexham
Apr 23: The Invisible Man. The Brindley, Runcorn
Apr 23: John Power – Cast, The Ls’s & ME The Brindley, Runcorn
Apr 24: The Sensational Sixties Experience Grand, Blackpool
Apr 24: Craig Revel Horwood Theatre Royal, St Helens
Apr 25: The Australian Bee Gees Show Venue Cymru, Llandudno
Apr 25: An Evening with Craig Revel Horwood Storyhouse, Chester
Apr 25: ABBA Forever Theatre Royal, St Helens
Apr 25: Seven Drunken Nights Grand, Blackpool
Apr 25: A Night to Remember The Brindley, Runcorn
Apr 25: New Jovi – The Ultimate Tribute to
Shipbuilders social club This is her return gig
May 1: Menopause The Musical 2 – Cruising through the Menopause. Empire, Liverpool
May 1: Julian Clary: A Fistful of Clary The Lowry, Salford
May 1: The Johnny Cash Roadshow The Brindley, Runcorn
May 1: An Intimate Evening with Paul Jones Theatre Royal, St Helens
May 1: Sophie McCartney: One Foot in the Rave Storyhouse, Chester
May 2-3: Chris McCausland. Storyhouse, Chester
May 2: Menopause The Musical 2 – Cruising through the Menopause Lyceum, Crewe
May 2: Closure Lyceum, Crewe One act comedy following Lydia De La Murrãy on her journey of self-discoveryl
May 2: The ELO Tribute Show Floral Pavilion, New Brighton
May 2: Nikita Kuzmin – Midnight Dancer Regent, Stoke
May 2: A Vision of Elvis Pavilion, Rhyl Tribute show
May 3: Menopause The Musical 2 Pavilion, Rhyl
May 3: Seven Drunken Nights – The Story of the Dubliners Regent, Stoke
May 3: ABBA by Candlelight. Floral Pavilion, New Brighton
May 3: The Mersey Beatles Theatre Royal, St Helens
May 3: A Vision of Elvis The Brindley, Runcorn
May 3: Irish Annie’s Lyceum, Crewe
May 3: Killer Couples Grand, Blackpool
May 4: Daniel O’Donnell Philharmonic, Liverpool
May 4: Craig Revel Horwood: Revelations –Sings Boys Don’t Sing Grand, Blackpool
May 5-10: The Rocky Horror Show Regent, Stoke
May 5: The Simon & Garfunkel Story Grand, Blackpool
May 6-Jun 7: Hamilton Empire, Liverpool
Musical telling the story of America’s Founding Father Alexander Hamilton Signed May 27; captioned May 28; audio described May 29
May 6-7: Do I Love You? Storyhouse, Chester Join twenty-somethings Sally, Nat and Kyle in this John Godber comedy as they develop a love for Northern Soul
Bon Jovi The Brindley, Runcorn
Apr 25: Lost in Music Philharmonic, Liverpool Apr 26-May 17: Takeaway Everyman Liverpool Hyltons Caribbean takeaway is a much-loved restaurant at the heart of Liverpool 8 Built by Carol and her late husband into a bustling hub with a mouth-watering menu, it serves great food with a huge side-order of love But in a world of delivery apps, street food markets and gourmet curry goat, her family are divided about what their future should hold
Apr 27: The Overtones – Up Close and Personal Theatre Royal, St Helens
Apr 26-27: A Star is Born Grand, Blackpool
Apr 26: Nigel Havers: Talking B*; *cks Playhouse, Liverpool
Apr 26: Musical Journeys: From Stage, Screen and Beyond The Brindley, Runcorn
Apr 26: The King’s Voice Theatre Royal, St Helens Elvis tribute
Apr 26: The Overtones Pavilion, Rhyl Apr 26: Dionne Warwick Philharmonic, Liverpool
Apr 26: The Dinosaur that Pooped Venue Cymru, Llandudno
Apr 27: That’ll Be the Day Venue Cymru, Llandudno Musical
Apr 27: The Illegal Eagles Philharmonic, Liverpool
Apr 28-29: RSC First Encounters – The Tempest Grand, Blackpool
Apr 28-29: Gary Barlow Empire, Liverpool
Apr 28: An Evening with Paul Merson. The Brindley, Runcorn
Apr 29: Mike Peters (The Alarm) – Love, Hope, Strength The Brindley, Runcorn
Apr 29: Aled Jones Theatre Royal, St Helens
Apr 29-May 3: Chicago. Venue Cymru, Llandudno Musical
Apr 29: Kate Rusby: When They All Look Up Storyhouse, Chester
Apr 30: Sir Ranulph Fiennes Storyhouse, Chester Stories from his legendary exploits and adventures
Apr 30: Nikita Kuzmin - Midnight Dancer Empire, Liverpool
Apr 30: Steeleye Span in Concert Pavilion, Rhyl
Apr 30: Paradise Found – A Dedication to the Legend of Meat Loaf The Brindley, Runcorn
May 1-17: Making It! Royal Court, Liverpool After forty years as a singe actress and cabaret diva, Bev has seen it all and had nothing She is backstage at the Kirkby Boilermakers and
May 6: The Phantoms starring Lee Mead Floral Pavilion, New Brighton
May 7: Curtis Steigers Floral Pavilion, New Brighton
May 7: Boyzlife (Keith Duffy & Brian McFadden) Pavilion, Rhyl
May 7: Julian Clary – Fistful of Clary Grand, Blackpool
May 7: Simon Reeve: To the Ends of the Earth Lyceum, Crewe
May 7: It’s A Beautiful Noise – The Definitive
Neil Diamond Tribute Theatre Royal, St Helens
May 8: Harry Hill. Storyhouse, Chester
May 8: A Beautiful Noise – The Music of Neil
Diamond The Brindley, Runcorn
May 8: Country Roads Theatre Royal, St Helens
May 8: The Waterboys Philharmonic, Liverpool
May 8: Simon Reeve – To the Ends of the Earth Floral Pavilion, New Brighton
May 9: Sophie McCartney: One Foot in the Rave Venue Cymru, Llandudno
l Continued next page
l Continued from p21
May 9: The Smooth Rock Show Floral Pavilion, New Brighton
May 9: Douze Points: Eurovision Classics Philharmonic, Liverpool
May 9: Genesis Connected. Theatre Royal, St Helens Tribute show
May 9: The Beatles v Elton John with a Little Help from their Friends Grand, Blackpool
May 9: Mama – Genesis Tribute. The Brindley, Runcorn
May 9: The Spice Girls Experience – The Party Grand, Blackpool
May 9: Legends: The Divas Lyceum, Crewe
May 10: Phantoms of the Popera. Pavilion, Rhyl
May 10: Mark Steel: The Leopard in my House Lyceum, Crewe
May 10: Sun Records the Concert Grand, Blackpool
May 10: Northern Live Theatre Royal, St Helens
May 10: One Night of Elvis – Lee Memphis King Floral Pavilion, New Brighton
May 10: Sherlock Holmes: The Sign of Four Floral Pavilion, New Brighton
May 10: Nikita Kuzmin Midnight Dancer. Venue Cymru, Llandudno
May 11: Austentatious: An Improvised Jane Austen Novel The Lowry Salford
May 11: Aled Jones Grand, Blackpool
May 11: Irish Annie’s. Octagon, Bolton
May 11: That’ll be the Day Lyceum, Crewe
May 12-17: & Juliet Regent, Stoke Juliet’s new story bursts to life through a playlist of pop anthems
May 12-13: …Earnest? Lyceum, Crewe One-of-a-kind play that’s guaranteed to have you laughing whether you’re sitting in the audience or performing onstage
May 12: An Audience with Aggers and Tuffers The Lowry, Salford
May 12: An Audience with Lucy Worsley on Jane Austen Philharmonic, Liverpool
May 12: Simon Reeve – To the Ends of the Earth Grand, Blackpool
May 13-17: Girl on a Train Playhouse, Liverpool Gripping new play that will keep you guessing until the final moment Louisa Lytton in the star role
May 13-17: An Inspector Calls Venue Cymru, Llandudno
May 13-17: Shrek The Musical. The Brindley, Runcorn
May 14-15: Theatre Re Presents BIRTH Storyhouse, Chester Emily is eight months pregnant when she reads her grandmother ’s journal
May 14: Pig Heart Boy Grand, Blackpool Cameron is 13, and all he wants is to be normal – have friends, go to school, and dive to the bottom of his local swimming pool Audio described May 17.
May 14: Joel Dommett – Happy Idiot Lyceum, Crewe
May 14: Mothers of the Brides Floral Pavilion, New Brighton Comedy
May 14: Frankenstein (On a Budget).
Octagon, Bolton One man, one monster, one glorious dream to singlehandedly tell the most famous cult horror story of all time, and absolutely no budget whatsoever What could possibly go wrong?
May 15: Murder She Didn’t Write Octagon, Bolton
May 15: Henning When –Acid When Lyceum, Crewe
STEPPINGUP
I SPY: Homage to the classic espionage thriller – The 39 Steps, Octagon, Bolton, Apr 18-May 10
May 15: Irish Annie’s Theatre Royal, St Helens
May 15: Sophie McCartney: One Foot in the Rave The Lowry, Salford
May 16: China Crisis The Lowry, Salford
May 16-17: All or Nothing – The Musical. Octagon, Bolton 1965, a new phenomenon erupted on the streets of London
May 16: A Tribute to Sting & The Police Theatre Royal, St Helens
May 16: Clearwater Creedence Revival: Have You Seen the Rain 55th Anniversary Tour Lyceum, Crewe
May 16: Taylormania Floral Pavilion, New Brighton Tribute show
May 16: Elkie Brooks: The Long Farewell Tour Storyhouse, Chester
May 16: Killer Couples Pavilion, Rhyl
May 17-18: Farm Boy Storyhouse, Chester
Michael Morpurgo’s sequel to War Horse – a moving account of the changing face of the English countryside
May 17: Beyond the Barricade The Lowry, Salford Musical
May 17: Northern Live: Do I Love You Pavilion, Rhyl
May 17: Elgar ’s Cello Concerto Philharmonic, Liverpool
May 17: Killer Couples Lyceum, Crewe
May 17: Steely Don The Brindley, Runcorn Tribute show
May 18: Mozart in Motion: Master William Aston Hall, Wrexham.
May 18: Johnny Cash Roadshow Grand, Blackpool
May 18: The Drifters Floral Pavilion, New Brighton
May 19-31: The Rocky Horror Show.
Musical Palace Theatre, Manchester Starring
Jason Donovan
May 21-24: Dracula Octagon, Bolton
May 29-21: Come Fall in Love Opera House, Manchester Stage adaptation of India’s longest running blockbuster movie – the highenergy, globe-trotting romcom Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, also known as DDLJ
May 19-20: The Worst Princess. Storyhouse, Chester Family fun show
May 19: Everton Legends The Brindley, Runcorn Graeme Sharp, Tony Cottee and Peter Reid
May 20-24: North by Northwest. Playhouse, Liverpool Emma Rice takes on film legend Alfred Hitchcock in this funny reworking that turns the original thriller on its head
May 20-24: Peter James’ Picture You Dead Floral Pavilion, New Brighton DSI Grace investigates a cold case that leads him into a dark underworld of greed, deception and murder
May 20-24: Dear Evan Hansen Grand, Blackpool The musical of its generation for all generations Signed/audio described
May 24
May 20: The Simon & Garfunkel Story The Brindley, Runcorn
May 21: The Real Thing The Brindley, Runcorn
May 22: Seven Drunken Nights: The Story of the Dubliners Venue Cymru, Llandudno
May 22: Danny Baker: Aye Aye! Ahoy-Hoy! Lyceum, Crewe
May 22: Aled Jones The Brindley, Runcorn
May 22: Jason Mountford Pavilion, Rhyl
May 23: Lost in Music – One Night at the Disco Pavilion, Rhyl
May 23: The Carpenters Experience The Brindley, Runcorn Tribute show
May 23: Jason Mountford: A Manford All Seasons Venue Cymru, Llandudno
May 23: King of Pop Theatre Royal, St Helens Michael Jackson tribute show
May 23: The Australian Bee Gees Show: Feel the Fever – Again Philharmonic, Liverpool
May 24: China Crisis Philharmonic, Liverpool
May 24: Fastlove Pavilion, Rhyl George Michael tribute show
May 24: Big Dick Whittington Theatre Royal, St Helens Adult panto
May 24: Julian Clary – A Fistful of Clary Lyceum, Crewe
May 25: Justin Moorhouse: The Greatest Performance if My Life Octagon, Bolton
May 25: Sweet & Sour - The Ultimate Tribute to Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo Floral Pavilion, New Brighton
May 25: The Waterboys Venue Cymru, Llandudno
May 25: The Sensational 60s Experience Lyceum, Crewe
May 25: What’s Love Got to do With It? Philharmonic, Liverpool Tina Turner tribute show
May 25: The Dinosaur That Pooped a Rock Show Theatre Royal, St Helens
May 25: Sexbomb – Celebrating the Music of Sir Tom Jones Grand, Blackpool
May 26-27: Pirates Love Underpants Lyceum, Crewe
May 27: Something About Lennon Theatre Royal, St Helens John Lennon story
May 27: Spirit of the Blitz Floral Pavilion, New Brighton Music from the 40s
May 27: The Simon & Garfunkel Story
Philharmonic, Liverpool
May 28-31: Everybody’s Talking About Jamie Grand, Blackpool Uplifting musical
May 28: The Simon & Garfunkel Story Regent, Stoke
May 28: Flowers and Friendship Bracelets –The Ultimate Pop Concert. Theatre Royal, St Helens
May 28: Woman Like Me – The Little Mix Show The Brindley, Runcorn
May 28: Something About Lennon Floral Pavilion, New Brighton Actor and musician Daniel Taylor shares a heartfelt tribute to the inspiration behind a generation
May 28: An Evening with Phil “The Power” Taylor Lyceum, Crewe
May 28: Aljaz and Janette: A Night to Remember Philharmonic, Liverpool
May 29-Jun 29: Dear England. The Lowry, Salford Fictionalised account of the struggles and successes of England’s football teams Signed Jun 7; captioned Jun 11; audio described Jun 18 and Jun 28
May 29: Sophie Ellis-Baxter. Philharmonic, Liverpool
May 29: One Night in Dublin Floral Pavilion, New Brighton
May 29: The Wizard of Oz Lyceum, Crewe
May 29: Here Come the Girls. Theatre Royal, St Helens The music of the best female singers of all time
May 29: Cirque de Celine: Ultimate Tribute Concert to Celine Dion Pavilion, Rhyl
May 30-31: Steve Steinman’s Eternal Love –The Musical Venue Cymru, Llandudno
May 30: King of Pop Pavilion, Rhyl Michael Jackson tribute show with Navi and Jennifer Batten
May 30: Rory Bremner: Making an Impression Storyhouse, Chester
May 30: Thank You for the Music Lyceum, Crewe
May 30: Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra Philharmonic, Liverpool
May 31: Sensational 60s Experience
Philharmonic, Liverpool
HOW PLANTS GOT THEIR NAMES . . .
ONCE seen, never forgotten – the exotic, perfumed blooms of brugmansia have an indisputable “wow!” factor
Popularly known as “angels’ trumpets”, brugmansia are evergreen shrubs from riverside situations in tropical and sub-tropical zones in the Americas
They grow from 2m-10m (6ft30ft) tall depending on species –there are only five species – and in summer produce dangling trumpet-shaped blooms with turned-up petals up to 30cm (12in) long
Nearly all emit a fabulous fragrance at night Brugmansias are also cultivated in cooler climates such as ours but flourish only in greenhouses and
An exotic bloom with the wow factor
conservatories Colours range from rich gold in Brugmansia aurea to pale pink in Equador Pink, and pure white in Brugmansia x candida They are named in honour of Sebald Justinus Brugmans (17631819), an expert in many subjects from mathematics to astronomy, who became professor of botany at Leiden University
BRUGMANSIA TIP OF THE SEASON
WALL-ROUNDERS
WALLFLOWERS are the complete spring plants –colourful, hardy, easy to grow from seeds or cuttings and with a sweet scent which attracts pollinators. They remain popular however fashions change, invoking cottage gardens when planted informally in mixed colours, adding a touch of class to public parks and making excellent gap-fillers in garden borders
Their colours range from palest cream through shades of orange and red to deep, velvety maroon The latest varieties even combine two colours on the same petals
Some of the best forms of the common wallflower, Erysimum cheiri, are in the Bedder series, such as Orange Bedder and Blood Red; the Fair Lady series of pastel
shades including a pink; Harlequin in dazzling mixed hues; Sunset Tutti Fruiti, mixing several shades of gold and red; and Harpur Crewe, rich yellow
Erysimum cheiri comes from southern Europe but there are others such as the Siberian wallflower, Erysimum allionnii, which has bright bronze-orange flowers and blooms a little later so if the two species are combined in a mixed planting, the overall display lasts longer
TO GET the best from clematis species which flower in summer, such as the yellow Clematis tangutica, cut them down in early spring to within 30cm (12in) of the ground, pruning just above a pair of healthy buds
Then apply a high-potash feed such as tomato fertiliser and a thick mulch of garden compost or wood chippings. But don’t cut down springflowering kinds such as Clematis montana, just prune for tidiness after they have flowered
If the blooms of any largeflowered variety such as Nelly Moser fades to a greenish colour a high-potash feed will bring back the brightness
There are also short-lived perennial varieties, lasting three or four years, which grow like small, rounded shrubs and bloom from late winter for much of the year
These include Bowles’s Mauve, with blue-green leaves and spikes of luminous mauve flowers; Red Jep, with red, purple and pink shades on the same petals; and Winter Orchid, with rich orange purplishpink flowers
A stunning new perennial, Erysimum Fire & Flame, bears golden-cream petals with flame-shaped red to purple markings –ideal for brightening the borders after winter ’s gloom
This variety, available as potted plants from Thompson & Morgan, continues to bloom for many weeks and looks superb
mixed with purple tulips The plants are compact and reach 50cm (20in) in height and spread
Wallflowers tolerate most types of soil but, as members of the cabbage family, they prefer a high lime content With the exception of the short-lived perennials named above, they are best grown as biennials – sown one year to flower the next and then discarded Seed is sown in June to flower next spring
The young plants should be thinned to 20cm (8in) apart and planted out in autumn
Easier still to grow are young plants which can be b by mail order from m suppliers at this time of year
PURE WHITE: Brugmansia x candida
LUMINOUS: Erysimum Bowles’s Mauve
SUPERB: Erysimum Fire and Flame (picture by Thompson & Morgan) COMPLETE
Complete the crossword in the normal way then make a note of the letters contained in all the squares which are marked with shaded stars. These letters will make an anagram of the name you are looking for.
The Accumulator Quiz
E ach question has four possible answers and is worth from one to 15 points. Circle your chosen answers and keep a record of your points total. Maximum total points 120.
QUESTION 1 – for 1 point:
What type of female animal is referred to as a jenny?
A Rabbit
B Mule
C Donkey
D Hare
QUESTION 2 – for 2 points:
What type of dog was Walt Disney’s Pluto?
A Labrador
B Bloodhound
C Collie
D Spaniel
QUESTION 3 – for 3 points:
The position of wing attack is played in which sport?
A Basketball
B Football
C Netball
D Baseball
QUESTION 4 – for 4 points:
In which board game can a player ‘huff’ the other as a form of forfeit?
Written material (4) 3. Imitate (5) 4. Metric weight (5) 5. Unlucky influence (4) 6. Temporary suspension (8) 7. National treasury (9) 8. Thanks (9) 11. Having weapons (5) 12. Chaos (5)
13. Midlands city (5)
B Chess
C Mah-jong
D Draughts
QUESTION 5 – for 5 points:
Which English county was once divided into areas known as Ridings?
A Kent
B Norfolk
C Yorkshire
D Hampshire
QUESTION 6 – for 6 points:
In the Northern Hemisphere which month contains the longest day?
A May B June
C July
D August
QUESTION 7 – for 7 points:
Which product was first sold as ‘the esteemed brain tonic and intellectual beverage’?
A Coca-Cola
B Horlicks
C Guinness
D Ribena
QUESTION 8 – for 8 points:
English actor Dev Patel made his screen debut in which TV teenage drama?
A The Inbetweeners
B Grange Hill
C Misfits
D Skins
QUESTION 9 – for 9 points:
Who had the nickname The Iron Duke?
A The Duke of Marlborough
B The Duke of Devonshire
C The Duke of Wellington
D The Duke of Gloucester
FILL in the blank squares in the grid with numbers so that each horizontal or vertical line adds up to the total given in the box either to the left or above it. Horizontal totals are given in the top right corners of the shaded boxes; vertical totals in the bottom left corners. You can use the numbers 1 to 9, but may not use the same number more than once in any run. The number may be used again, however, in the same row or column but as part of another run.
QUESTION 10 – for 10 points:
What was the name of Gandalf’s horse in Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings?
A Hedwig
B Shadowfax
C Shardik
D Aslan
QUESTION 11 – for 11 points:
Which planet in Gustav Holst’s The Planets Suite is described as ‘the bringer of jollity’?
A Saturn
B Mars
C Uranus
D Jupiter
QUESTION 12 – for 12 points:
In which island group is the town of Stromness?
A Outer Hebrides
B Shetlands
C Faroes
D Orkneys
QUESTION 13 – for 13 points:
Which of the following was designed by the architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott?
A The red telephone kiosk
B London’s tube map
C The zebra crossing
D Nelson’s Column
QUESTION 14 – for 14 points:
In the Wizard of Oz, what was Dorothy’s surname?
A Stratten
B Lamour
C Parker
D Gale
QUESTION 15 – for 15 points:
Where was the artist Pablo Picasso born?
A Málaga
B Barcelona
C Seville
D Bilbao
English actor Dev Patel. See Question 8
EACH number in our Cross Code grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. You have three letters in the control grid t o start you off.
E nter them in the appropriate squares in the main grid, then u se your knowledge of words to work out which letters should go in the missing squares.
As you get the letters, fill in other squares with the same number in the main grid and control grid. Check off the alphabetical list of letters as you identify them.
DIALLING CODES
Telephone dialling pads combine several letters on one key. Here we have encoded several sets of words or items by using numbers rather than letters. Then we have divided them into groups of three characters and run all the names one after another to make your task a little more difficult. Can you crack the codes?
Each pair of words has a missing word between them that acts as a link to both (e.g. FRONT – DOOR – MAT). The initial letters of the six answers (reading downwards) will spell out a piece of armour.
TIGHT
MAKE A DATE
In which year did all three of these significant historical events take place?
1. Wilhelm Röntgen discovers electromagnetic waves which he calls X-rays.
2. Oscar Wilde’s last play The Importance of Being Earnest is first shown at St. James’ Theatre in London.
3. Sigmund Freud publishes his paper on Studies In Hysteria, marking the beginnings of psychoanalysis.
WAS IT? a) 1890; b) 1895; c) 1900; d) 1905; e) 1910.
WORD WIZARD
SPHENE H ere is an u nusual word w ith three definitions, only one of which is correct. Can you identify the right d efinition?
1) A headband or fillet worn by women in ancient Greece; 2) The hazy halo of light surrounding the moon when it is covered by light cloud;
3) The mineral titanite, occurring as wedgeshaped crystals in igneous and metamorphic rocks.
5. Straight; To The Hilt; Risk; Come to Grief; Even Money; Comeback; Bolt; re;Crossfi Under Orders; Silks; High Stakes. 6. Melisandre; Sansa Stark; Theon Greyjoy; Arya Stark; Jon Snow; Tyrion Lannister; Stannis Baratheon; Jorah Mormont. Spot Check A = 5; B = 3; C = 1; D = 6; E = 4; F = 2. Missing Link skin; hard; idiot; extension; look; draw. Armour: shield. Make a Date The year was 1895. Transformer Any + Z = Zany.
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in the cit y A sanctuar y
SET into the pavement in one of Liverpool’s busiest streets, the oldest surviving medieval relic in the city centre goes almost entirely unnoticed
Thousands of people walk over it every day without any idea of its historical significance
The Sanctuary Stone, outside the former NatWest Bank on Castle Street, has been there for more than eight centuries
A flat, circular slab of green volcanic rock, it is about 18 inches in diameter and has four parallel lines scored across it
The first written reference to the stone appears in 1292, but it is certainly older than this
The stone was once one of a pair, and its partner stood on Dale Street near the corner of Stanley Street However, this has long-since vanished and records do not say when or why it was removed
They marked the boundaries of the
Town Fairs, which were held annually on July 25 and November 11, and were of vital importance to the developing town
When King John created his new “Town and Borough of Leverpul”, in 1207, the right to hold a fair was one of the privileges that he granted, and this established Liverpool as a market town as well as an important port and harbour
The fairs brought in a greater range of goods and commodities to the town, as well as merchants, traders, and customers from miles around Royal connection
These people not only traded with each other but they also bought goods and services from the townspeople, which helped to create a burgeoning local economy
However, the reason why the stones had a name other than as simple boundary markers for the market days, was because they also signified another
privilege that had been granted to the town by the King; the Right of Sanctuary
For 10 days before and 10 days after these one-day events, protection from arrest was secured within the precincts of the fair, mainly for debtors who would otherwise have been thrown into prison
The Right of Sanctuary was a temporary guarantee of safety from prosecution that dated from early Anglo-Saxon times
From that period all churches and churchyards in England generally provided refuge for fugitives for 40 days, while permanent refuge was available at the great Liberties of Beverley, Durham, and Ripon
The King regarded Liverpool as being so important that he allowed the town this special freedom too
However, the ancient tradition was abolished by Henry VIII, during the Reformation, so it’s no use trying to claim sanctuary on Castle Street today!
by KEN PYE
RELIC: The Sanctuary Stone on Castle Street, Liverpool
MEDIVAL: How the original Sanctuary Stone may have looked
HISTORIC: The plaque on the wall of the former Natwest bank in Castle Street, Liverpool
ARIES (March 21st - April 20th)
March 2025 marks a powerful phase This is a rare opportunity for long-term growth, encouraging you to take charge and shape a solid foundation for future achievements It’s time to break old habits April brings unexpected news that may alter existing plans, marking the beginning of a new phase in your life Embrace this change and trust in your ability to navigate any challenges that arise A young family member ’s ambitions may also come to the fore By the end of the month, any early troubles should dissipate quickly Your confidence soars in May, enabling you to work hard towards your dreams This is a wonderful time to explore your creative side and join communities
TAURUS (April 21st - May 21st)
Let go of past traumas and embrace inner peace as you prepare for a fresh start March’s energies call for quiet reflection and spiritual insight Embrace solitude, and allow this period to guide you toward a brighter future Peace and privacy will be your main focus in April, providing a chance for self-reflection and prioritising your creative and spiritual needs Intense family discussions mark the third week, focusing on home improvements or fulfilling a loved one’s aspirations A partner ’s unexpected support will surprise and encourage you in May Your hard work and accomplishments won’t go unnoticed The month ends on a challenging note
GEMINI( May 22nd - June 21st)
March calls you to explore your psyche, question established beliefs, and embrace a path of authentic personal development Trust the journey, as these transformative experiences lead you toward lasting fulfilment April, is likely to be a period of unpredictability and sudden changes The initial weeks will bring frustrations It is crucial to remain calm and resilient As the month concludes, be cautious to avoid unnecessary conflicts, particularly with older family members May promises to be a vibrant, dynamic month Don’t hesitate to ask a trusted friend for guidance Expressing your thoughts will be healthier than keeping them bottled up
CANCER (June 22nd - July 23rd)
March’s cosmic energies encourage harmony, open-heartedness, and clarity in all relationships Embrace this period of connection, growth, and renewal, as the energies help align your relationships with your inner values Personal goals will take centre stage in April, making it an ideal time to lay a robust foundation for your future This could involve enhancing your qualifications or updating your existing skills, which could also serve to keep your motivation high May is an opportune time to share hobbies with friends and family, and engage in conversations filled with mutual understanding Enjoy some quality time with a young relative
LEO (July 24th - August 23rd)
New horizons and opportunities are on the way Whether embarking on a journey, pursuing higher education, or launching a project, March encourages you to embrace life’s possibilities Stay strong in April and utilise any surge in energy towards improving your health and wellbeing Your strong opinions on significant topics such as politics and religion will resonate with your friends Expect to be burdened with additional responsibilities in May Despite these extra tasks, you will astonish even yourself with your productivity and organisational skills
RUSSELL GRANT
What‘s in store for you this spring
Towards the end of the month, your expertise will be sought for a community project, leading to new friendships and recognition from a person in power An unexpected offer from this individual will be a pleasant surprise
VIRGO (August 24th - September 23rd)
March encourages you to deepen bonds, release what no longer serves, and welcome fresh starts This period is ripe for significant personal and relational progress, guiding you toward a more fulfilling future Your focus will be on finances throughout April Exciting opportunities are within your reach However, be cautious as this energy could also lead to conflicts or creative blocks Towards the end of the month, you may encounter disputes over inheritance issues with shared property May promises to be a significant month Striking a balance between everyday routines and new matters will bring positive benefits to your home life and relationships
LIBRA (September 24th - October 23rd)
This is a time for teamwork, adaptability and shared dreams Whether it’s a project, business venture, or relationship, value unity and trust in mutual support Remember, strength lies in unity Embrace change, trust your intuition, and confidently step into a future aligned with your aspirations Over the month of April, you will experience a surge in charm and charisma Be mindful of the signals you’re sending out to your friends, as they often reflect your own beliefs about friendship May promises to be an eventful month, filled with opportunities for growth and self-discovery Stand up for those unable to help themselves The month ends with a green light for previously discussed deals
SCORPIO
(October 24th - November 22nd)
March is a powerful month for transformation and renewal With Saturn moving into Aries on the 24th, this period calls for greater responsibility and commitment in health, career,
and daily routines April sees a focus on health and relationships You’re encouraged to address any negative influences on your health, such as poor eating habits or a potentially toxic social circle A change in exercise routine could be beneficial The last week of the month offers a chance for significant changes in your living situation You’ll feel a sense of generosity in May, especially towards family and relatives who’ve been there for you Your kindness is your strength, and the more you give, the more you’ll receive
SAGITTARIUS
(November 23rd - December 21st)
March’s energies support a balance between ambition and creativity, urging you to approach dreams pragmatically Be bold, pursue passions with confidence, and turn your aspirations into reality April promises a period of vibrant energy and significant accomplishments You’ll find yourself in a position to utilise a great amount of energy, which could lead to remarkable achievements, earning you praise and recognition You’re set to have an engaging and dynamic May Be proactive and let your emotions guide your actions As the month concludes, be mindful of potential issues in joint matters and partnerships, as health or trust
CAPRICORN
(December 22nd - January 20th)
Let go of outdated patterns, and trust the journey toward self-discovery Embrace new perspectives and nurture close relationships In April Capricorn, your focus will be on family and work responsibilities It’s essential to remain focused, completing all tasks before moving onto new ones Give yourself the freedom to enjoy life It’s crucial to balance work and play Mistakes that have long been hidden may come to light in May, prompting you to stand in support of those in need Social activities and the company of cheerful friends will help uplift your spirits
AQUARIUS
(January 21st - February 19th)
It’s time to set clear goals Challenges this month present opportunities for resilience and self-improvement The New Moon in Aries on the 29th in your 3rd house invites fresh beginnings in communication and skill development April is a time to examine the roles you and others play in each other ’s lives Your charisma and passion will make your words impactful and inspiring This is also a good time to think about innovative ways to generate extra income A disagreement may arise during early May about future plans, but open discussions could help resolve tensions and improve romantic prospects Prioritise your health
PISCES (February 20th - March 20th) March supports self-discovery, healing, and growth, empowering you to step confidently into a new phase of life Embrace this opportunity for inner transformation and renewal April brings many challenges and growth opportunities A peculiar event towards the end of the first week may necessitate a reassessment of your current objectives During May, you may find friends or neighbours often calling upon yourself for favours Be mindful of setting boundaries so as not to be taken for granted Community matters may require your attention, and you’re urged to ensure those in power learn from past mistakes By the end of the month, conversations around home, family, and finances will take centre stage
books books
The Matterhorn’s missing pictures
The Ascent of the Matterhorn: The Forgotten Photographs by Edward Wymper, Gibson Square, £20
IN THE annals of mountaineering history, few tales were as compelling and transformative as Edward Whymper ’s
First published in 1871, this classic work chronicles the first successful climb of the Matterhorn in 1865, a feat that heralded mountaineering as a popular sport and spawned a new genre – that of the high-thrills adventure book
Almost 150 years later his memoir is republished for the first time in an expanded illustrated edition Whymper was not only a keen mountaineer but also a Victorian driven by an insatiable curiosity
One of his pursuits was photography and in 1874 he was the first man to lug a mobile camera on to the Matterhorn to take pictures, which he used for his lantern-lecture tours They are included for the first time in this edition
Remember this?
Looking back at THE 1966 WORLD CUP, by Matt Singleton with illustrations by Samuel Larn, £14 99
THE second in a series of books developed for people living with dementia and other cognitive difficulties recounts a joyous event in England’s sporting history
With a foreword by Sir Geoff Hurst, the last surviving member of the 1966 World Cup-winning team, and an audiobook read by Clive Tyldesley, the book is intended to spark memories and conversations between people living with dementia and their loved ones
Looking back at the 1966 World Cup has been produced by Cognitive Books in collaboration with the Alzheimer ’s Society’s Accelerator Programme and Football Association
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