Liverpool Life 9:14 March 10 2021 by Steve Harrison

LL Liverpool Life March 10 2021

THIS WEEK ARTS

LIFESTYLE

FROM THE HEART OF THE CITY

HAS LOCKDOWN CHANGED THE FASHION INDUSTRY?

THE PERFECT GIFT FOR YOUR MUM

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY SPECIAL

OUR JAKE’S LIVING HIS DREAM > FORMER LJMU JOURNALIST MAKES THE VOICE SEMI-FINALS

> Find out where the best spots are in Liverpool to enjoy a coffee and picnic during lockdown - p19

CONTENTS THIS WEEK

12 & 13

20 & 21

4&5 LJMU graduate Jake’s in fine Voice 6&7 Pop-up cycle lanes 8 Fashion app launches 9 Landmark’s new lease of life 10 Grassroots football on way back 11Concern over classroom return

LIFE

12&13 International Women’s Day 14&15 Celebrating St Patrick 16&17 Gift guide for mums 19 Post-lockdown picnic places 20&21Will workwear return? 22&23 Who is Spring-heeled Jack?

14 & 15

elcome back to another jam-packed edition of Liverpool Life magazine. On the week that saw schools reopen, and Harry and Meghan’s tellall interview with Oprah, our team of reporters have brought you the latest and greatest that Liverpool has to offer. Henry Brown reports on sustainable fashion tech start-up Renoon as it reveals its new mobile app, speaking to co-founder Iris Skrami. Meanwhile, Chloe O’Connor gives us a guide to the best coffee

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22 & 23

Another week, another edition spots and picnic spaces throughout Liverpool as lockdown restrictions start to lift. An iconic Wirral landmark is getting a makeover - Gioia Dalosso Hemnell reveals the restoration plans for the hydraulic tower, while Olivia Houghton is helping those of us who are in need of guidance for Mother’s Day gifts. Following up on International Women’s Day, Annisha Maraj looks at how the Goddess Project

celebrated the day by hosting The Black Women’s Forum, and Romy Wilson reports on Liverpool women’s mental health charity WHISC (The Women’s Health Information & Support Centre) and their online events. We end this week’s issue with the fabulous story of Liverpool’s very own urban legend ‘Spring-heeled Jack’, by Reece Pape. Lauren Hughes, Lifestyle Reporter

LL LIFE

VOICE’S JAKE LJMU graduate Jake O’Neill makes it through to semi-final

By LOLA ROBERTS t is always a cause for cele-

bration in Liverpool when a local lad is on the telly. Scousers love to support their own in competitions, therefore were devastated to see Jake O’Neill leave ITV1’s The Voice in the battle rounds last month. The LJMU Journalism graduate was unfortunately eliminated from the competition in the battle against Wura, but the 23-year-old announced on Friday that he will be making a return to the competition. The semi-finalist, who comes from Ormskirk originally, explained: “I wanted to audition for the voice because I’ve been singing for so long now, and with it being such a high profile TV show (I knew) it would give me such great exposure as an artist.” Jake auditioned for the competition with Elton John’s song ‘I Want Love’. He said: “I chose this track because it is a song that I could make my own, the track is so unique I thought it would be great for my style

and my voice.” He was right in his choice and caught the attention of Sir Tom Jones, who turned in his spinning judge’s chair at the very last second. Jake described his feelings at the time as “literally speechless”. He added: “I couldn’t

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gramme this year has had to change due to Covid regulations, Jake explained: “The production team were really great with keeping everyone safe in regards to Covid. “We had to wear masks at all times and had to be socially distanced if we we’re to ever be required for

Being on national TV is a huge honour and one that I’ll remember forever!

believe it - it was after I’d actually stopped singing so I really was shocked. I’m so thankful. “I’ve definitely been most star-stuck by Tom Jones. As he’s such a legend it was so huge for me to work with him and get advice off one of the biggest icons in music history.” Production for every television pro-

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filming.” Jake has high hopes for years to come after the advice he has be given on the show. “I’ve learnt so much during my time so far on The Voice and I can’t wait to put it all into action when lockdown is over. I’ve learnt a lot about myself as a performer and

how to control my voice better when I’m nervous.” Jake will be back on our screens next week and will still be a proud member of ‘Team Tom’. He is very excited to make a return. “I’m super happy to be back in to the semi finals! I can’t wait to perform in front of the four coaches again and to get myself out there. “It’s a huge pleasure to do so and I’m really excited for everyone to see my performance. Being on national TV is a huge honour and one that I’ll remember forever!” For now, the semi-finalist is living his dream. When asked if he thinks he will win, he said: “You’ve gotta be in it to win it and I think it’s getting to the stage where the competition is so good and anyone could win. “I’ll give it my all. It’s such a huge pleasure to have even got a turn in the first place, so to be in the semi-finals is just incredible to me.” Watch The Voice semi-finals this Saturday at 8.30pm on ITV1 - and good luck Jake, from everyone at Liverpool John Moores University!

The Voice chairs LEFT, Tom Jones RIGHT © ITV.com

LL LIFE

IS IN A SPIN

of TV’s talent-spotting show - and we’re all rooting for him!

The facts behind The Voice The Voice UK is a singing competition

looking for fresh musical talent with musical superstars as the judges. For the first round of the competition the judges are unable to see the contestants, hence the title ‘The Voice,’. If the judges like what they hear they can press a button, this button spins round their chair and they then make a bid to have the singer on their team. Each judge has six spaces on their team who they will then mentor and take through to the battle rounds. Past judges include Jessie J, Danny Donoghue, Ricky Wilson, Kylie Minogue, Rita Ora, Paloma Faith, Boy George, Jennifer Hudson and Meghan Trainor. The show is now on its 10thseason here in the UK and this year the judges include Sir Tom Jones, Will.I.am, Olly Murs and Anne Marie. The show was first televised in March 2012 on BBC One, jumping to ITV1 in 2017. Since first airing the show has grown massively, branching out from The Voice to The Voice Kids, The Voice Teens and The Voice Senior. Variations of the show are now broadcast in 145 countries across the globe. The winner of The Voice UK will receive a recording contract with Polydor Records. Before jumping to ITV1 the winner also won a cash prize of £100,000.

Jake O’Neill © ITV.com

LL THIS WEEK

The path to a secure future

LL THIS WEEK By CHLOE O’CONNOR

yclists from all over the city have started to worry about the future of the new cycle routes to the city centre now that the roadmap for recovery has been released. The cycle lanes were given the green light back in May as part of a scheme to adapt the city to new the lockdown rules. But cyclists now fear the routes could be in danger Keen cyclist Thomas Wardle, 28 said: “They titled them ‘pop up’ for a reason. I am worried about the future of these lanes as I use the West Derby road route every day. “The risk of cyclists getting hit is a lot less with these in place. I hope the council sees this, especially with kids going back to school. I just think everyone would benefit from it more. “There might be a little more traffic, but this could lead to more people using bikes as they see how much quicker it is. I do own a car myself, but I definitely won’t be going back

to it, it is just so much cheaper cycling.” The lanes secured an initial £2million in funding which was then topped up by a further £4million a few months later as a kick start to the recovery from the Covid-19 Pandemic. Up to 100km of cycle lanes were created from seven key areas around the city. The lanes offer many benefits during the pandemic but some worry about the levels of traffic getting to and from work when life returns back to normal. Daily driver, Holly Keane, 23 said: ‘I drive all over the city and over the water for my job, it is so stressful trying to go from one place to another and these new lanes really do not help. “Even during a pandemic, I have been caught in heavy traffic that has made me half an hour late to a shift. I do get that the cyclists need these lanes as it is so dangerous, especially when they don’t wear any reflective clothing. “I would hate to ever have an accident with a cyclist but there have been so many near misses. I think if the council keeps them then they should think about how they are going to improve traffic. The council has explained that, based on feedback, some or all of these lanes may become more permanent depending on the experience

people have. Speaking at the time of the lanes’ introduction, former Liverpool mayor, Joe Anderson said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted our way of life beyond imagination but the challenges it has presented has also provided us with a once in a lifetime opportunity to reimagine how we use and travel within our cities. “We are already doing much to alter how people move around Liverpool city centre but we must now go further than we ever dreamed possible and use our highways network in a way which balances the needs of our economy, our health and our environment.

“This £2m programme for temporary cycle lanes is just one step on the long road to recovery. Hopefully these measures will provide businesses and their workforce strong alternatives if they don’t want to use public transport and don’t have access to a car.” The lanes have been funded through extra central government funds from the Emergency Active Travel fund. The fund has provided the country with £250 millions to create pop up cycle lanes, wider pavements and safer junctions. • Let us know your thoughts on the matter through our social media page where we will be hosting a poll @LivLifeMagazine

‘ ’ I am worried about the future of these lanes

The seven pop-up cycle routes:

Route 1. West Derby Road – Kensington – City South Route 2. Sefton Park to City Centre – Sefton Park perimeter – Sefton Park Road Route 3. Liverpool Loop North: Bootle New Strand – Bank Hall – Vauxhall – City Centre Route 4. East Lancs – Townsend – Breck Road – City Centre Route 5. East Prescot Road – University Hospital – London Road – City Centre Route 6. University Route: Gateacre – Woolton Road – Wavertree – Lawrence Road – Crown Street – Myrtle Street – City Centre Route 7. Liverpool Loop South: Hale – Speke Boulevard – Garston Village – Aigburth Road – City Centre

Cyclists using the pop-up lanes across the city

Credit: Unsplashed

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Renoon’s Nicolo Tresoldi, Gabriele Trapani, Iris Skrami, Piero Puttini

Fashion app that’s eco-friendly

By HENRY BROWN

n’s Par tner

to everyday staples like Nike and Patagonia. Similar websites such as the Vestiaire Collective, which is an online marketplace where people can sell their pre-owned luxury fashion items, have become increasingly popular as the market shifts towards sustainability and moderation in a digital age. Iris Skrami spoke of the unexpected successes the site had enjoyed and said: “We hadn’t expected it to resonate so well with the market as soon as we launched the app. “We did better in the first two weeks than we had in any other months combined. “I can see Renoon becoming a global platform (in the next 10 years) and to help consumers worldwide.” The app has launched in a limited capacity, currently only women’s and non-binary clothes can be purchased and access is restricted via code. Iris Skrami continued: “We wanted to have more control over it, not to make it exclusive in any sense as we know that can work in contrast to sustainability, but we wanted to make sure that the initial users of the app care about the topic and also to ensure that the technology behind the app was working at its best.”

Image © ID.EIGHT, Renoo

ashion tech start-up Renoon has this week unveiled its new mobile app. Renoon is a website that collates sustainable fashion from across the internet into a searchable database, allowing you to find the items you want based on your own parameters, giving the modern shopper easier access to a more eco-friendly option. It has already proved popular with savvy Liverpool shoppers. During the launch event, co-founder Iris Skrami said: “Sustainable fashion platform Renoon is changing the way we shop online with the launch of their new website and mobile app. “From today, people will be able to find fashion products according to their personal style and values. The launch represents a revolutionary innovation in the way we discover, access and learn about sustainable fashion.” The company, which was founded less than a year ago, has seen itself gain widespread recognition amongst the fashion industry, having partnered with over 100 brands ranging from high fashion names such as Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen

Access codes have been granted in limited capacities and Liverpool Life readers can exclusively access the app, which is live on iOS and Android now, by using the code: “JMU”.

Image © SILFEN, Renoon’s partner

LL THIS WEEK

Restoration go-ahead for historic landmark By GIOIA DALOSSO HEMNELL

n iconic Wirral landmark is a step closer to being overhauled and restored to its former glory. The Grade II listed Hydraulic Tower sits proudly on Tower Road along the docks in Birkenhead and near the well-recognised red Tower Road bridge, and it remains a symbol of Wirral’s industrial past. Wirral Council’s Economy, Regeneration and Development Committee has approved recommendations for the Wirral Waters Investment Fund to be granted so the restoration can go ahead and it can become a new Maritime Knowledge Hub. Joey Miller, a retired 65-year-old from Birkenhead, used to play in the empty building when he was young and told Liverpool Life: “It’s such wonderful news about the regeneration plans for the tower. I have such fond memories of the building. “As a youngster, my friends and I would sometimes climb to the top of the tower. One time the Police came and demanded that we come down. It was pretty dangerous climbing to the top, but the views were amazing.” The iconic building has been left unused for many years but is now set to become a world class centre of excellence for the maritime sector. Standing near to the Four Bridges, it is instantly recognisable as a copy of the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence

and stands to be modernised in a multitude of ways, serving both businesses and the public. Chris Shirling-Rooke MBE, Chief Executive Officer of Mersey Maritime said: “Mersey Maritime is 100% committed to seeing the Maritime Knowledge Hub project come to fruition. “It is absolutely vital, in our view, to the future of the maritime industry in the Liverpool City Region and is of significance to the wider regional economy and indeed nationally. We’ve backed it from the outset and are proud to continue to be a significant partner in its delivery. “We know that the maritime industry in this area is a significant contributor to the economy, providing highly-skilled and excellent quality jobs and employing incredibly productive workers. But it can’t rest on its laurels and must be alive to the opportunities that innovation and technology holds for the sector, not least as we drive forward the ambition of delivering clean and net zero maritime. “For us, the Maritime Knowledge Hub sits at the heart of our role in delivering those priorities for the future of the industry.” The council hopes to firm up plans to agree a 250-year lease on the building and part financing of its redevelopment to help maintain the driving force of regeneration in the area including retail, a new square, an

The Hydraulic Tower before renovation events programme as well as managed workspaces, studios and a restaurant too. Developers Peel L&P will be working with several partners, including Mersey Maritime, Wirral Council and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, spending £23m on flourishing the restoration project which will create hundreds of new jobs. The plan is also supported by central Government

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through the Department of Transport’s Maritime 2050 strategy. Chair of the committee, Cllr Anita Leech, said: “The Maritime Knowledge Hub is an incredibly exciting element of the renaissance of the dockland areas. “This is a landmark building which has sadly been left to fall into disrepair and the only way to make this scheme viable is if the council steps in and uses grants and other funding available for a major capital project such as this. “These plans will see a remarkable building brought back into use, creating a world class facility and hundreds of new jobs.”

I have such fond memories of the building

What the ‘Maritime Knowledge Hub’ will look like

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LL THIS WEEK

Slow, steady route back for grassroots football

Liverpool FA’s Football Development Manager Anthony Smith speaks to JOSHUA ADAMS about the return of the nonprofessional game

ver the course of the global pandemic, many facets of normal life have been stripped away from us in the name of public health, and none-more so than the mass of activities and opportunities provided by Liverpool’s thriving sports and leisure sector. In March of last year, many local football teams across the area were forced to abandon their seasons as COVID-19 began to impede sporting fixtures across the country. But as we find ourselves starting to plan for life after lockdown, a path to return to the playing fields and football pitches across Merseyside seems to be no sooner along the way to be decided Anthony Smith is the Liverpool FA’s Football Development Manager, and he spoke to LL about the challenges of the pandemic, the state of the game in Merseyside during COVID, and how the association is slowly preparing for the eventual return to play. Recalling the first phase of lockdown in England, Anthony reflected upon the shock to the system that was dealt to local football by the pandemic. It was around March time that it

The

really started to kick in and it became evident that football was going to have to stop, that was a really hard thing to have to tell the clubs in the area, but because this was the first time this had happened in our lifetimes, we had no idea as to what to do or how to move forward with the season - there was a lot of confusion. “A lot of the leagues ended up going null and void, we simply didn’t have much other choice at the time. This was a travesty for the local teams who play at a semi-professional level and were trying to gain promotion” Over the course of the pandemic, the local clubs and grassroots leagues at the foot of the English football pyramid began to suffer financially, as their incoming revenue halted to zero during the first lockdown.

ut as Anthony explained, despite the monetary side of the game coming under increased pressure during the time away, players’ and clubs’ hunger for the game never looked like dwindling. “Despite the circumstances, I think it gave people a chance to miss the game, and they were more eager to come back and play, as soon as we restarted, a lot of teams, be that Sunday League or grassroots level were post-

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The Government recently announced an extra £25m investment into grassroots football.

It’s a waiting game now to see when football can come back at a local level

ing full squads for the games in that brief period that we returned, I think people appreciated it more. “The players came back with a lot of enthusiasm, but obviously having been away and not being able to train, players were coming into the games cold, but you couldn’t fault their efforts, they had clearly missed doing what they loved.” At present, the business of moving forward into a post-COVID world is a looming proposition for every sector of industry in the UK, and for the Liverpool FA and the wider local game in the UK, the idea of returning to normality has become a daunting prospect. “We’re almost in no-man’s land. We got a significant chunk of games played between the last two lockdowns, but to be honest it’s a waiting game now to see when football can come back at a local level. “A lot of leagues are determined to finish the season, whether it’s in one format or another, but that’s all down to the Government as to when we’re allowed back and start organising fixtures again,” said Anthony, who subsequently emphasised his idea that

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the pandemic had bought about some valuable lessons for those working in football. “I think the pandemic has taught us to be more proactive. In the past the FA and a lot of the local leagues have been quite restrictive in how they operate, we’ve got codes and rules that are quite rigid but the pandemic has allowed us to ease this a little bit and become more flexible with the leagues and the format of the leagues moving forwards.” Many of the rules surrounding the return of grassroots sport in the UK have yet to materialise at this crucial stage of the UK’s lockdown, but in his closing remarks, Anthony emphasised his belief that people’s enthusiasm for the game will be a large factor in the success of the grassroots football in the post pandemic world. “After such a long period without competitive sport in their lives, I think people will be itching to get back out and play, and who knows, maybe the return to normal life will see a lot more newcomers to the game? “That’s something I’m really optimistic about.”

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Why teachers fear school return

By JAYKE BROPHY

espite the reopening of schools signaling the first step back into normality and out of lockdown, it is being met with a degree of fear for the safety of both pupils and teaching staff. The decision not to vaccinate all teachers ahead of this week’s return to the classroom caused controversy and disappointment among many school staff, who had been hoping to be protected prior to going back to work. Teacher Anne Rycroft, from Wirral, who also works as a national executive for teachers’ union NASUWT, said she was disheartened by the decision not to vaccinate all teachers in the lead-up to reopening schools. “It was very disappointing. One of the main things we’re worried about is getting ill and the impact it may have on our families,” she said. “The vaccination is an important factor. Some of the reasons (the government) have given don’t really stand up. “The NASUWT have has been pushing for a while for

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teachers to get the vaccination so to be told we won’t be getting it is very disappointing.” It is understandable that there will be some fears amongst teachers about their health and the safety of their family, being that most under the age of 55 are yet to be vaccinated. Ms Rycroft said: “There is a huge amount of nervousness. I see seven groups of students across two days so there’s quite a lot of mixing.” For parents there may be a degree of excitement at this week’s reopening of schools to all students, but teaching staff continue to make their voice heard. The issue of safety in schools had been reduced during lockdown, when only the children of

It was very disappointing. One of the main things we’re worried about is getting ill and the impact it may have on our families

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key workers were attending. But it has been highlighted once again now that all pupils are returning to school with potentially cramped classrooms replacing Zoom lessons and Teams meetings. Despite the concerns, it would be unfair to say that there isn’t some excitement across the teaching profession about being able to head back to work. Teachers will be the first to say that they need kids back in the classrooms in order to ensure they are getting the education they require. “We need to be in classrooms,” said Anne Rycroft. “Sitting at a screen all day is not the natural thing to do. We need students back in to make sure they’re okay, so coming back is the right thing to do. The concern is just around how it’s going to work.” It remains to be seen what impact this move will have on the number of cases and deaths in the region, but the lack of caution taken to safeguard teachers is an issue that certainly shows no sign of going away.

All photos © Unsplash.com

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“ S M A S H I N G STEREOTYPES” 12

By ROMY WILSON

Liverpool women’s health charity didn’t let the pandemic stop from them marking International Women’s Day – they took the event online instead and celebrated with a range of activities. WHISC, The Women’s Health Information & Support Centre, based in Bold Street in Liverpool city centre, celebrated IWD on Monday by running a variety of online events throughout the day. These included the chat café, an informal drop-in session where women brought a brew and could have a mood-lifting chat, as well as a Ukulele workshop, dance aerobics class, yoga class and ‘Get Lit’, which was a fun look at women in literature. To make IWD accessible for all the women at WHISC, the organisation came up with an idea to make thirty tablets available on loan for those who were unable to join because they didn’t have digital access via phone, laptop, android or tablet. Kirsteen Sheppard, the drop in and volunteer coordinator at WHISC, said they had been helping women to get online for some time. “(We have) been running windows for WHISC, where women could come into the centre and learn how to get online. We’ve been teaching people how to use Google, how to shop and how to connect with friends”. Kirsteen said the centre was packed for last year’s IWD, with free massages on offer, henna, classes, singing and drama available. She added: “Being able to offer something, even if it’s online, is absolutely essential for people to stay

connected. “It’s important to stay in touch with the people who use your service, particularly at the moment with increased isolation and loneliness and people with existing issues can feel much greater when we’re in a period of lockdown.” This year WHISC wanted to celebrate women’s achievements and ran a giveaway on their Facebook page calling on people to nominate their WHISC Wonder Woman, a keyworker who would win a free massage (once that is permitted by lockdown restrictions) for being the first few to be nominated. Any key-worker could be nominated whether they were a female truck driver, supermarket worker or nurse on the frontline. Kirsteen explained why she thinks International Women’s Day is so important.

She said: “There is still a global gender gap so it’s essential that we still bring that to people’s attention on a day such as this. It’s important every day, but it’s good that there is a day put aside to promote this.” The campaign theme for IWD this year is #ChooseToChallenge, which calls everyone to choose to challenge gender bias and inequality. Kirsteen saidt WHISC’s aim was to “smash stereotypes” on IWD, raise awareness of the inequalities that still exist and challenge any bias. “Here at WHISC we support all women it’s not just topic specific and we educate, support and help to raise self-esteem and confidence. We offer information so people have access to the information they need to improve their situation. Our work every day is about helping women reach their potential and International Women’s Day highlights all of our work.”

Photos © Women’s Health Information anf Support Centre on Instagram

IN LIVERPOOL

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Goddess Projects go online to support black women By ANNISHA MARAJ

elebrations of International Women’s Day have been a little different this year with most events being held virtually. The Goddess Projects, based in Liverpool, celebrated the day by hosting The Black Women’s Forum, a space where black women were able to speak about issues that are important to them. As well as discussing future opportunities and events, The Goddess Projects said they wanted to allow participants to set the tone: “We will be looking at what areas people want to discuss and why are people there getting involved, and what are the sort of things they would like to see as a group” The driving force behind The Goddess Projects are co-founders Natalie Denny, Dominique Walker and Khadiijah Amaru. Dominique is a lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University within the School for Justice, she is also Vice Chair of the Anthony Walker

Foundation. Natalie is a writer, Program Manager for the Anthony Walker Foundation, Director of Sky Writers and Chair of The Period Project Merseyside. Khadiijah, is a multi-disciplinary artist as well as a co-founder of The Goddess Projects. They felt it was extremely important to host The Black Women’s Forum to work with other black women and gain a better insight into what struggles they may be facing and what issues arise in the community. When asked what International Women’s Day means to them, they said: “International Women’s Day is important to us because it’s an opportunity for us to celebrate and elevate Women, especially black women. “It’s about us remembering pioneers of the past ,but also about us thinking about the current women in our lives, and thinking about the women of the future and making the world a better place for them’ The Goddess Projects founders say it is imperative to support the black women within our society, and that more should be done to help them. “If you look at the statistics in terms of maternity for example, black women are five times more likely to die in

childbirth or have serious complications that their white counterparts and that’s just one statistic. “There seems to be plenty inequalities within society around black women and they do need additional support, and we think that starts with listening to black women and looking at the statistics and about how we can move forward in helping to keep them informed.” The Goddess Projects will be hosting other events throughout the year, such as their TGPFest which will start in October. Last year saw TGP Fest host a playwriting workshop, a virtual podcast and much more. TGP also have a book club which enables members to meet monthly or bi-monthly. They told Liverpool Life that they will be starting their walking groups again once restrictions have lifted and it’s safe to do so. If you are interested in The Black Women’s Forum or want to keep up to date with them, you can get involved by sending them an email thegoddessprojects@outlook. com or by following them on their social media accounts, Instagram @ thegoddessprojects, Twitter @Thegoddessproj1 and on Facebook The Goddess Projects.

Photos © The Goddess Project

LL LIFE

CELEBRATE DAY IN STYLE

Dressed in green and a Guinness in hand, Scousers and the Liverpool Irish have always made sure to make a celebration out of St Patrick’s Day. Now that we are approaching March 17 still in lockdown, here is Liverpool Life’s pick of five ways you can commemorate Saint Patrick at home. Words: MADDIE FREEMAN Take part in local Liverpool virtual events

echnology has enabled us to find a way to enjoy a lot of things virtually during the pandemic and the Paddy’s Day celebrations are no exception to this. The Liverpool Irish Centre are hosting seven hours of events on St Patricks Day. Here is the full day’s itinerary. 3pm - St. Patrick’s Day Messages: a collection of messages and greetings to kick start the day’s events 4pm - The Great Irish Bake-off with Nora: creating traditional Irish dishes from scratch on livestream 5pm – Catriona Grimes St. Patrick’s Day Special: a live concert from pianist Catriona Grimes and her friends 6pm – Live Podcast: virtual video podcast celebrating culture and heritage with a mystery guest 7pm – Michael Coyne One Night Only: a performance of live songs from special guest Michael Coyne 8:10pm – St. Patrick’s Hooley with Patsy: an all-night hooley with entertainer Patsy 10pm – The Molly’s Live from Liverpool Irish Centre: a live performance from two-piece band The Molly’s to end the evening

he Liverpool Irish Centre will also be putting on a virtual Irish Quiz on Sunday March 21 to round off a week of celebrations. It will be hosted by James MacGregor and will include virtual picture and music rounds to keep you entertained from home.

• Tickets for all these events can be found on https://www.liverpoolirishcentre.org/what-s-on and are all free.

Sharpen up your home baking skills with a Soda Farl

Paddy’s Day brunch isn’t complete without a traditional homemade soda farl. Nearly every family in Ireland have their own recipe for soda bread, if you don’t already have your own you can follow this version. Ingredients: 350g (120z) soda bread flower 425ml (3/4 pint) buttermilk

Method: Preheat the oven to 170 °C / 325 °F / gas mark 3 Sieve flour Add cooking oil to buttermilk and make to a dough with the flour Turn on to a floured board and divide into two portions

½ tsp sugar

Place on a baking tray and bake in pre-heated oven for 30 minutes

1 tbsp cooking oil

Serve whilst hot

Stream a live parade

ven with social distancing rules still in place, the classic city parade’s that have become an essential part of celebrating Paddy’s Day can still be enjoyed from home. The organisers of the annual parades, Liverpool St Patrick’s Day Parade will be streaming a live event that will take place at the Famine monument in Liverpool City Centre. The event will include guest speakers and a wreath laid to honour the Irish community in Liverpool. Tune in free of charge on their Facebook page. St Patrick’s Festival TV will also be broadcasting six days of events online for free from March 12-17. It will include comedians, entertainment, music, traditional performers but most importantly the RTE Virtual Parade.

LL LIFE

ST PATRICK’S THIS YEAR Put a twist on the traditional scavenger hunt

nstead of searching for leprechauns or a pot of gold, use your daily exercise to take a walk past the city’s best Irish bars, ticking each one off as you find it. Starting at Shenanigans on Tithebarn Street, pass nine other bars before reaching O’Briens on Slater Street. You also have the infamous McCooley's bars in the two most popular drinking spots in the city, Matthew Street and Concert Square to check out. Although you can’t stop at any for a drink, appreciate their architecture by posing for a photo in front of each one.

Get dressed up and get your dancing shoes on for a step dance

nother way to use the day is to head to a local park or green space, or even your back garden to practise some Irish step dancing. Find a beginner’s tutorial for the Riverdance on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=FWigb3IoOWc To practise your dancing or just to get into the spirit of St Patrick’s Day, buy a dress up costume available to order and collect from Smiffy’s Liverpool. A full range of dress up costumes, wigs and props can be found on their website. https:// www.smiffys-liverpool.co.uk/ events/st-patricks-day

However you choose to celebrate the feast of St Patrick’s Day at home this year, don’t forget to do it with appreciation for the cultural and religious heritage of Ireland ... and with an Irish coffee in hand! 15

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witch up the roles, cook for your mum! Or…if you aren’t very handy in the kitchen, order a Mother’s Day Roast from Maray for £13. You can pre order the roast from March 8 via the website and collect from Allerton Road. www.maray.co,uk

here better to start than with a bit of home football? On the LFC website, you can purchase an official merchandise LFC gin goblet for £15. Although it’s more on the expensive side, I believe this is a bougee gift for a mum who’s an LFC fan! www.store.liverpoolfc.com

Time to treat Mum 4.

oot Houseplants deliver all across the Liverpool region. Show your mum you lover her by introducing some spring greenness into her home. Away with the doom and gloom of winter and step into a fresh season and positive outlooks. Plants range in price from £5 all the way to £180! Add a gift note at checkout, and free delivery on orders over £50! www.root-houseplants.com

n Mother’s Day, mums deserved to feel pampered. Mersey Made are offering a bundle of handmade gifts, like face roller and melt bar pamper hampers. Individual items range from £10 - £30, and the hampers cost up to £50, depending on the type of pamper you want to give your mum. www.merseymade.uk

3. With non-essential shops still closed, shopping for Mother’s Day this year may be trickier than in years before…and it’s just around the corner! LIV HOUGHTON brings you the ultimate online gift guide to suit all of your parental-present needs

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ampers are trending this Mother’s Day. Authentic Italian restaurant, Casa Italia are offering their version of a Mother’s Day hamper – Italian style! Included in the hamper is a £10 gift voucher, bottle of house wine, panettone and Casa salad dressing. The box costs £24.99 and is available for collection. Alternatively, the box can be delivered for an extra fee of £5. www.thecasaitalia.com

he right music can brighten up a day even when you’re stuck inside the house! Dig Vinyl on Bold Street offer a huge variety of records, in all genres. Treat your mum to a retro vinyl of her all-time favourite tune. Even if she doesn’t own a record player, I still think this gift would be a thoughtful, decorative keepsake. Records range in price and you purchase through their website. You can either chose to have your order delivered or collect from the store: 27 Bold St, Resurrection, Liverpool L1 4DN.

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LL LIFE

Mersey paradise, picnic paradise The first easing of lockdown restrictons has begun; CHLOE O’CONNOR reccomends the best places to grab a coffee and enjoy the new rules!

t last people are finally to be allowed to see some muchloved friends after months of being in lockdown. The government has given England the green light to meet up socially distanced in a public space with one other person from outside their household. Now people have been given this new lease of life what can they do? Here is a guide to the best coffee spots and picnic spaces throughout Liverpool.   Words cannot espresso how much people have been craving this new lease of life, so first coffee.

for coffee, and their daily quotation board, but they also have an amazing reputation for their baked goods. Fika Coffee is a safe haven for those with a sweet tooth - they even offer marshmallow syrup.

Home to the first Scouser to have their name up on the BT Tower in London for all he has done for the community during lockdown. Anthony Grice sends a whole latte love to locals and puts his heart and soul into the brewing of a good cup of coffee. They are not only known

A local brewing spot in Baltic Triangle. Whilst hidden away it is impossible to miss its brew-tiful artwork covering the front of the building. This small, quaint place seem to have some of the most loyal customers who say there is no other feeling like having a Fantasia brew.

Fika Coffee

Artisane

Got time to kill? Find the queue down the street. It will lead you to a small Italian bakery known for its macaroons, sourdough and cappuccino. It offers reasonably priced coffees and hot beverages for adults and their little ones. Kid’s ‘Milky Way’ is said to be out of this world!

Fantasia,

The Liverpool skyline from Everton Brow, photo: Chloe O’Connor

The Egg

Detailed coffee order? Don’t worry the Egg has got you covered! It has a huge variety of different milks and blends that is accompanied by many vegan treats. Such a life saver for fellow animal lovers. Where have they bean all our lives?

So where can you go?   Everton Brow

Why not enjoy your coffee with a breath-taking view. This is said to be Liverpool’s best viewing spot as it gives you the full skyline of the city. Perfect for a romantic evening stroll. Just remember to bring gloves.

Calderstones Park

Calling all dog lovers. Calderstones Park is the place to be if you fancy bringing your four-legged companion on your coffee stroll. With fields, lakes and muddy pools, it is hard for your furry loved one not to have fun. The park is home to the beautiful Japanese garden that is open from 10am to 4pm every day.

Abercrombie Square

Fancy a quiet sit down to enjoy some peace and quiet? This is the perfect picturesque spot. It is the centre of the University of Liverpool Campus and is very quiet now that a lot of the students have gone home.

Sefton Park

Treats from Artisane, photo: Chloe O’Connor

Fancy a longer walk with a friend or perhaps a skate?  Sefton Park is the place to be. Just off Smithdown Road this park can be circled for hours offering space for picnics, rollerblading, cycling and scootering. It is a very lively, buzzing with energy. There are also two coffee shops located inside the park.

Fika Coffee, photo, Chloe O’Connor

Staying in with a Will the experience of the past year change the way we dress when things are back to normal? SHANNON GARNER speaks to people in the fashion industry to find out

he global coronavirus pandemic has dramatically shifted the way in which we go about our day-to-day lives.

With the roadmap out of lockdown announced, the plans to slowly ease restrictions over the next few months and be back to normal by June 21 may have altered the perspective of dressing for the future. The pandemic will have a lasting effect on our relationship with fashion as the government-imposed lockdowns have not only altered our wardrobes and seen a rise in loungewear, but they have also caused changes in the fashion industry.

shows that fashion brands were thriving and capitalising on lockdowns impacts as loungewear was no longer being designed with the intent of not being seen in. More and more brands began producing loungewear attire as people were no longer looking for formalwear for work but instead, were looking for comfortable attire for their new working-from-home environments. Shannon Lau, a student fashion designer originally from Liverpool said: “I think loungewear is now seen as a trend because of lockdown.

Since there has been nowhere to go, the trend cycle has been completely disrupted and people have found comfort in constantly wearing loungewear.

“More and more fashion brands are producing athlesiure clothing and because of the recent situations we have been in, people will continue to wear this type of clothing more.”

Historical events like this are known for influencing fashion trends and the big players in the fashion industry have made sure to use it to their advantage.

Saskia Clark, a social media assistant for Missguided, also commented on the popularity of loungewear.

The ‘Sheets to Streets’ aesthetic saw people increasingly sporting loungewear out of the house and

“Lockdown has caused loungewear to be our bestseller,” she said

“It’s a category that we promote on social media daily, which pre-Covid we may have published a few times a month.” With the hopes of things returning back to normal soon, the opportunity to finally dress up will hopefully inspire people more than ever before. Shannon Lau commented on the ways people may dress for the future after lockdown. She said : “I think that people will want to dress up more after lockdown as they will want to feel special and done up because we’ve not been able to do that for a while.” Saskia Clark added: “Though COVID is still in its prime and we arent due to be out of lockdown till mid year, we are beginning to see a drop in the want for loungewear. “Many are excited for a new start and may be preparing for a post lockdown wardrobe, which we can see in our current product offering and search terms.”

What does your lockdown fashion look like?

new fashion identity Perfect your working-from-home wardrobe

.0 ASOS £32

Top s h o p £3 9.99

Newlook £21.99

For her

Aso s

Newlook £19.99

.9 ok £12 Newlo

£30

For him

Only & S

ons £20

Asos £2 8 Topman £34.99

LL LIFE

REECE PAPE delves into one of our city’s most obscure - and unsettling - urban legends

very place has its share of urban legends. There’s stories of Nessie frolicking in Loch Ness, Highgate’s got a vampire, and apparently mermaids like to have a dip in the ponds of Norfolk. Liverpool is no exception. With ghosts and ghouls and various other supernatural creatures popping up throughout its history, we’ve had our fair share of both old and new legends. One such story, which admittedly we may have pinched from our pals over in London, involved a fire-spitting and phosphorous-faced demon that could bound from rooftop to rooftop, terrifying and sometimes attacking onlookers. ‘Spring-heeled Jack’ was his name. After leaping onto the scene in around autumn of 1837, tales of Jack quickly caught the attention of the general public – as well as the papers. Mainly attacking women, the reports varied from a creature ambushing people as they were out walking, to a rather nasty version of the game ‘knock, knock, dash’ – instead of running away, however, this assailant would use its metal claws to slash and maim its victims. One thing that was always consistent, though, was the attacker’s ability to literally leap away from the scene like a bouncy little monster. After decades of haunting the streets of England – from London to Lincolnshire and all over the place really – the last ‘confirmed’ sighting of Spring-heeled Jack was in 1904 in Everton, bounding up and down the streets and rooftops, never to be seen again... Or was he? Despite ‘official’ sightings of Jack

dying down, the legend still survives. He’s popped up in books, film, television and even many locals claim that he still stalks the night (and any high place really). Some accounts even find their way into the Liverpool Echo from time to time, with many attributing various strange occurrences to the agile demon. In December last year, some credited odd hoof prints in the snow found in Calderstones Park to be the work of Jack, and, even last month, a sinkhole discovered in Grant Gardens was thought by believers to be another display of his abilities – perhaps he jumped a bit too high and lost his balance? Whatever the case, it’s clear that despite a few comments on the Echo’s website would suggest (the word ‘imbecile’ is thrown out from time to time, and not just on stories about mythical beings), the fear of Spring-heeled Jack is still present in the minds of some city locals. One such person, who wished to remain anonymous (perhaps in fear of Jack, who knows?), maintained that the myth has endured in his family

for years. He said: “My mum always goes on about him. She’s convinced that he’s out there, and she’s even seen him a few times. “Once she was in the car, driving on Prince Alfred Road by the Holy Trinity Cemetery, and she noticed something moving in the trees. She says she saw something human-sized jumping between them, in like a zigzag pattern just over her car as she drove past the cemetery. And then it was gone. She’s confident that it was him, Spring-heeled Jack himself. “She used to tell me not to go there at night, just in case he’d pounce on me or something. I’d say it was just a case of her stopping me going somewhere on my own, but she definitely fully believes it” Researcher Mike Dash has investigated the story for a considerable number of years, with his upcoming book Spring-heeled Jack: Sources and Interpretation aiming for release next year. He believes the staying power of the legend is down to the mystique

and structure of the story , saying: “There’s something specific about Spring-heeled Jack. It’s a catchy name, for one thing, which always helps. I think there are two things about the legendary sides of things that matter. “Firstly the idea that Jack appears in 1837 and then disappears in 1904 is quite powerful, because – if you just do the maths – no human being could be active for that long, so if there’s only one thing that is causing all this mayhem, it must be something strange and bizarre or supernatural or alien. “It doesn’t necessarily mean that Jack has gone away forever. If he’s that weird and strange and supernatural, he could come back.” Like many, Mike first encountered the story when he was young. Another aspect he believes to contribute towards Jack’s appeal. He told us: “It’s not just out there in history, it might be him sitting on my

assailant would use “itsThis metal claws to slash and maim its victims ”

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windowsill at 2 o’clock in the morning when I’m all by myself. I think it’s those two things: it’s the fact that he might still be out there, and that he can be wherever he wants to be because he’s the most agile and allusive entity, that makes him particularly memorable for people.”

LL LIFE

s the comments on previously discussed articles would suggest, not everyone is as charmed by Spring-heeled Jack and other similar urban legends as Mike. In fact, many attribute them to be complete nonsense. A ridiculous monster and an easily-explainable ‘mystery’, that serves as a detriment to readers and a waste of time. Whilst he does not necessarily believe that Spring-heeled Jack is bouncing around out there, Mike does still see a value in engaging with stories such as this. “We are less as human beings if we don’t have that engagement with the unknown and the unexplained,” he said. “As a historian, these stories tell us a lot about the way in which society worked, and what society saw as important or frightening in the past as well. It would be ridiculous to say we should only focus on nuclear physics or whatever. “It is often difficult to know what everyday people thought of Spring-heeled Jack [at the time], because the newspaper sources were written by their ‘betters’, by people who would sneer at these stories as stories that ‘serviced hell’. If we take that view, they think that they’re being superior but they’re just being ignorant. “It means that they don’t understand. To just dismiss it as ‘ridiculous’ – well maybe they are ridiculous but they still tell us something about what people thought, and what they were prepared to accept and they shape the things they’re prepared to accept.” Despite, as Mike would call it, an ‘exclamation mark’ of an ending, the story has perevered, and most likely will continue to, in Liverpool. The nature of the city and its spirit of community is what he believes to be the reason for this.

©Allen3

He said: “Liverpool is a city that has stronger community links. Being a Liverpudlian still means something, in a way that being a citizen of most towns and cities doesn’t “In terms of coming back, that’s the condition it needs. People in London – that’s where the story started – they haven’t heard of Spring-heeled Jack on the whole. He can’t come back if people aren’t aware.” So, on a rainy night, if you see a man jumping from rooftop to rooftop, it may just be Spring-heeled Jack: The Demon of Victorian England. Or just someone with amazing abdominal muscles.

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It might be him sitting on my windowsill at 2 in the morning when I’m all by myself

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