Liverpool Life 7:9 March 20 2019 by Steve Harrison

NEWS FROM THE HEART OF THE CITY

LL Liverpool Life ISSUE NINE MARCH 20

Carnivalesque Tale

And a farewell ... for now

FREE

EVER FORT Y NIGH

Liverpool Life contents Issue 9

MARCH 20 APRIL 2 2019 Vigil at the University of Liverpool

Legend of Mackintosh back to life

This test could save your life

Boost for childfriendly city Zoo’s palm oil campaign

18 21

Author Gemma’s journey

23 Sporting dates

DJ’s Dutch triumph

12-13

Band’s box is back

Break point for tennis club

26 Mural on Seel Street

LL Production: George Adams, Orlaith Clinton, Emma Fegan, Stephen Killen, Harry Leahey, Adele Matthews, Liam Plumbley, Megan Tattersley, Rebecca Thomas, Chloe Tomkins, Nick Ware, Ellie Watkinson, Annie Williams, Lucy Jones, Angelica Day, David Haycocks, Chloe Smith, Shannon Lyon, Tiarnan Quigley, Sean Whelan and Jake O’Neill Front page picture © The production of Wise Children More on Page 11

City pays tribute to New Zealand terror victims

NEWS LL 3

By ANGELICA DAY

A vigil was held at the University of Liverpool to commemorate the victims of the New Zealand shooting. The world-shaking attack on March 15 took place in two mosques in Christchurch, with 51 people losing their lives and a further 36 being injured.. The gunman, remaining unnamed, targeted people during prayer time on Friday. The attacker live streamed the shooting which lasted 17 minutes and was watched by 200 people. The video was later viewed 4,000 times before it was removed by Facebook. The University of Liverpool Islamic Society held the vigil at the Guild Square on Monday. The evening started with the President of the society leading a prayer, held under the university’s bridge, followed by a speech. Serat E-Ali, 25, the Vice President of the UOL Islamic society and second year PhD student, told Liverpool Life: “The prophet Muhammad peace and blessings be upon him said the parable of the believers in their affection,

by LIAM PLUMBLEY

mercy, and compassion for each other is that of a body. When any limb aches, the whole body reacts with sleeplessness and fever. “Every human life is valued on earth and nobody deserves to die like this. Liverpool ISOC wanted to show their support for all the victims that lost their lives in the attacks. We hoped the vigil demonstrated solidarity, unity and humanity as one community regardless of race, faith, colour or ethinicity against all terrorist organisations. “It was great to see Muslim, Christian and Jewish faith chaplains as well as a multitude of

students all in attendance, standing in solidarity against white supremacist terrorism.” There were many present at the time of the event, holding candles in memory of the victims. Many were students, some were teachers and even members of the public who were passing stopped to join the tribute. Raheela Luhar, 21, a student from Liverpool John Moores University said: “It was such a peaceful event that spoke about the islamophobia that Muslims face on a day to day basis and how this attack affected the Muslim community.”

Liverpool Mosque hosts peace celebration By SEAN WHELAN Liverpool’s Bait ul Lateef mosque hosted a peace event to bring members of the community together in a celebration of faiths. It was a poignant gathering, especially in the aftermath of the Christchurch terrorist attack, with representatives from different faiths celebrating the unity that

makes Liverpool such a special city. Shahil Munir Ahmed, the mosque’s Imam was delighted with the event and admitted it has given him some hope there can still be peace, despite the recent events in New Zealand. “Seeing Muslims, Christians and Jews coming together to celebrate our faiths and displayed our unity

has filled me with hope, during this a dark time. Liverpool Lord Mayor Councillor Christine Banks was also present and was proud of those involved with the gathering. She said: “It’s great to see so many people come together. This event has been arranged for a while, the mosque here does some great work in the community.”

Protest aims to end to UK-Saudi sales By GEORGE ADAMS Hundreds gathered outside Lime Street yesterday, Tuesday, to protest against Britain’s sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia. March 19 marks the fourth anniversary of the war in Yemen, and protestors were calling on Home Secretary Sajid Javid to reverse his pledge for political, technical and logistical support for the Saudi forces. Saudi Arabia has long been equipped with British aircrafts and munitions. Organisers claim Britain’s attitude to foreign policy in the

Wirral’s £130k arts cash boost

Middle East is a matter of urgency. They are calling for a stop to the bombing in Iraq, ending involvement in the Syrian conflict and abandoning plans to open a base in Bahrain. The anti-war movement will place these demands before all candidates in the General Election campaign. They claim that only the people of Yemen can resolve the crisis in that country and decide their own future, and their independence and territorial integrity must be fully respected. A spokesman said: “Saudi Ara-

bia is now playing a leading part in almost every anti-democratic development in the Middle East, including joining in the current Anglo-American bombardment in Iraq, We repeat our long-standing demand that Britain end its alliance with the dictatorial and oppressive Saudi regime, and cease supplying it with arms. “This present conflict in Yemen reflects the determination of both Saudi Arabia and the western powers to destroy the democratic potential of the Arab Spring in one country after another. “

A £130,000 Arts Council grant from the National Lottery Project has been given to Wirral to work with internationally-renowned artists and local people in its Borough of Culture year, just days before its first major event of 2019. The Wirral’s Borough of Culture programme will include new commissions and collaborations, which have been inspired by discovery, exploration and the great outdoors. The first major Wirral event will take place on Saturday, March 23, with a family festival hosted in Hamilton Square. Wirral Council leader Phil Davies, speaking about the grant, said: “The decision by Arts Council England to support Wirral’s Borough of Culture programme is a ringing endorsement for the fantastic year of events and cultural projects that lies ahead. “The grant will enable us to widen our ambition to work with some incredible artists from across the world and closer to home, and to deliver extraordinary cultural experiences for our residents and visitors.” The Wirral 2019 programme was recognised by the National Lottery Project grant because of the council’s commitment to increase engagement in its work with residents. The funding also recognises the fact that the Wirral can attract crowds of hundreds of thousands of people to its events, such as the Imagine Wirral cultural programme last year, which drew in more than 250,000 people.

LL NEWS

Thousands caught in speed camera trials

By Royal invitation

By NADIA BREEN

More than over 3,000 drivers have been caught speeding by ‘speed on green’ cameras on Merseyside roads in just one month. The new cameras record a driver’s speeds at traffic lights and those who have driven through a red light. Two have been installed as a trial on the streets of Liverpool. Merseyside Police revealed that both were deployed in Sefton and that trial locations will be operational for a month while the scheme is evaluated. At the Crosby site in February, 1,546 drivers were detected driving above the 30 mph limit. Of those, 1,383 have been offered a speed awareness course. In Maghull, 1,588 drivers were detected going at an excessive speed over the 30mph limit and 1,320 were offered a course. Jack Cousens, Head of Roads Policy for the AA, told Liverpool Life: “These cameras should make drivers think again as they consider putting their foot down to try and avoid stopping at a red light. “Eight out of 10 drivers say enforcement cameras are an acceptable means of policing our roads, but we must not become too dependent on them. “Having more cops in cars

By MEGAN TATTERSLEY

Fast: Need for speed © WikiCommons

would help improve road safety all round, as a more visible presence encourages everyone to slow down and drive carefully.” Jayne Eaton, from the Safer Roads Unit, said: “These cameras have been introduced to improve safety on our roads by influencing the speed of drivers at junctions and reducing the risk of a crash. “Whilst the overall number of detections remains a concern, the vast majority of those drivers were eligible for an educational course and so will have benefited from the insight that these courses provide. “During the first month at these two sites, they appear to have

done just that.” In the first week at the Crosby site, 539 drivers were detected but after five weeks, that dropped to 249. A similar trend was seen in Maghull, with a reduction in detections from 445 to 156. Paul Mountford, from the Safer Roads Unit, said: “Our aim is to create a safe environment for everyone to use our roads. “Complying with speed limits, driving with regard to other, more vulnerable road users and to the prevailing traffic conditions is critical if we are to achieve this.” Speeding carries a penalty of £100 and three penalty points.

St Patrick’s Day turns Liverpool green

For the fourth year running, a huge parade turned Liverpool into an emerald city to celebrate St Patrick’s Day. The parade, which included hundreds of people and featured everything from Irish dancers to Irish piping, travelled through Hope Street, Upper Duke Street and Berry Street. Pictures © Seanan McSheffery

The founder of a Liverpool charity has been invited by the Queen to attend a celebratory event. The evening will mark the centenary of the National Council of Voluntary Organisations, involving a range of charities from across the UK. Ian Gibb, the managing director of Liverpool charity Desire and Inspire, is one of those who has been invited to attend. He set up the organisation in 2015 to helps support young adults in the area from exclusion. They also aim to help raise awareness of the issues people can face, to bring them back into inclusion. The 56-year-old told LL: “I have a disability myself as I was born blind and I wanted to be able to go out, spread awareness and support people in similar situations. “I think this has helped raise the charity profile and I hope we see more interest,” Mr Gibb added. The charity, which is run by volunteers, helps adults with a range of problems, including housing, benefits, and educational issues. They also help build people’s understanding of issues individuals can face by offering exclusion to inclusion training at schools and universities. The response to his invitation has been very positive, especially on Facebook where people have been posting their congratulations. One comment said: “Congratulations Ian, well deserved, best wishes.” The event will be hosted by Her Majesty at Winsor Castle on April 2.

NEWS LL 5

City in Quest for waterfront planning team continues bid to By MEGAN TATTERSLEY The search for planners to transform Liverpool’s waterfront is continuing, with at least 15 teams offering to help with the ambitious project. National Museum’s Liverpool (NML) is aiming to connect the iconic landmark with the city to make it a modern visitor attraction, and have asked members of the public to take part in planning the project. Mairi Johnson, NML’s Director of Estates, said: “The masterplan is an ambitious undertaking that will dramatically change the visitor experience when complete. “Liverpool’s waterfront is not only a beautiful space but also one of huge historic significance to the city, the wider region and the rest of the UK.

“This is an exciting opportunity to create spaces for visitors to linger within this unique setting and to really engage with the spirit of the place.” Tomorrow, those that have already put their name forward will have the chance to see how their ideas can come to life, by having a guided walk around the site. The work will be around the Canning Graving Docks, taking in the Royal Albert Dock Liverpool on one end, Pier Head and Mann Island on the other side. Ms Johnson told LL: “We have already had 15 teams sign up for Wednesday’s walk, but I expect more will join in a last-minute flurry.” The team are expecting to attract creative thinkers who have exciting plans for the historical

waterfront. “We hope to see interesting ways in which we can open up the quaysides, currently not accessible to the public, with a strong, connected vision for how these spaces could be used to complement the amazing stories we tell in the nearby museums,” Ms Johnson added. Over 3.3m people visit Liverpool’s museums every year. National Museum Liverpool has eight venues, some of which are the most visited museums in Europe outside of London. Ms Johnson told LL that they expect the project to take between five to ten years to complete, depending on how they can fundraise. Closing date for applications is April 1.

Views of the Pier Head, © Megan Tattersley

host race By MEGAN TATTERSLEY

Liverpool has been assessed on whether the city can host the world’s premier round-theworld ocean race. Yesterday, the Ocean Race team visited the city and Wirral to see if it’s a suitable fit for their event. Liverpool was the only UK city to be shortlisted to host the 2021/2022 occassion, which has over 2m spectators. The assessment team visited key landmarks such as the Pier Head, Royal Albert Dock and Wirral’s waterfront. The race, which takes place every four years, sees top professional sailors sail around different parts of the world, reaching six continents over eight months. The upcoming event will begin in the Autumn of 2021 in Spain then make its way back to Europe to conclude the race in Summer 2022. The decision on whether Liverpool has successfully made the cut will be revealed this summer.

Gay Games may be on way By ADELE MATTHEWS Liverpool is bidding to host the Gay Games 2026 following their quest to be the most LGBT-friendly city in the UK. The LCR Pride Foundation announced their intention to make Liverpool the first UK city region to house the 2026 event. The Gay Games was first established in the United States in 1982. LCR Pride foundation Co-Chair, John Bird, told Liverpool Life: “The Gay Games is an open platform for athletes of all ability levels, with no regard to their race, faith, sexuality or gender as a criteria to compete, and we have an incredible amount of groups within the regions who are already excited and interested to support this bid; from

local sports teams and athletes, to large brands willing to donate resources. “To our knowledge, this will be the first time a city region, as opposed to a city, has looked to host the Gay Games.” The event attracts an international crowd of thousands of eager spectators and brings over 10,000 athletes. Competitors travel from across the world, even those from countries where homosexuality remains illegal and hidden. Both LCR Pride Foundation patron and paralympian Claire Harvey MBE and Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram have backed the bid. Mr Bird added: “We know each of the six boroughs has its own strengths that we can tap into for the 30+ possible sporting activities that are to be staged in

the Games. From Sefton to Wirral, the Liverpool City Region has an incredibly rich culture, aside from the obvious sporting backgrounds of LFC, EFC, Tranmere Rovers, St Helens RFC, who are raring to get involved.” Like the Olympics, the Gay Games takes place every four years with the next location being Hong Kong in 2022.

Left: LCR Pride Foundation logo. Above: flags outside the Royal Liver Building.

LL NEWS

Boost for council bid to become region’s first child-friendly city By SIMRAN ROY Liverpool has taken a step closer to becoming the first city in the North West to be a Unicef Child Friendly City. Following work with partner agencies, Liverpool City Council submitted a bid to the children’s organisation last November to put young people at the centre of everything it does, and now Unicef UK has officially accepted the bid. The bid ensures that children and young people would have a say on council decisions, ranging from major policies and decisions around care received by them, to designing new spaces in the city or sorting new services. The initiative would be a threeto-five-year partnership which would see politicians, council staff and other Liverpool stakeholders working with Unicef UK to receive support and training to make sure children’s rights are reflected in policies and budgets. To launch the partnership, the city flew flags for the initiative as young people from Liverpool’s Schools Parliament joined Unicef UK’s representatives and Liver-

Upgrade to conquer congestion By NICK WARE One of Liverpool’s historic roads is in line for a major £100m upgrade. Essential engineering works are set to take place on Waterloo Road and Regent Road. Funded by the Local Growth Fund (LGF), the purpose of the scheme is to address congestion in the area and improve accessibility to the waterfront area. Councillor James Noakes, cabinet member for Highways, said: “The North Liverpool corridor is a hugely complex highways scheme involving an immense amount of engineering works on two major roads at the same time.”

Proud: Smiling at Liverpool’s accomplishment pool City Council members to raise the Unicef UK flag from the roof of Liverpool Town Hall. Mayor Joe Anderson said: “Our vision for the future of Liverpool is to build a strong and growing city based on fairness. “Everyone, of every generation, has an important part to play in making that happen, but co-designing the future of our city with children is an important step forward.

“Children will be at the heart of decision making. “Working with an organisation such as Unicef UK means we are working with the very best when it comes to improving the lives of future generations and opening up the best possible opportunities for them. “This is very much the start of a long and ambitious journey towards receiving international recognition.

© Liverpool Express “However, we already have many child-friendly processes and initiatives in place, so it’s a case of building on these and making sure we give a voice to as many young people as possible.” Liverpool will be assessed on a regular basis throughout the programme and, if successful, could be internationally recognised as a Unicef Child Friendly City joining cities from 40 different countries taking part in this global initiative.

Register to vote, young people urged By HARRY LEAHEY A campaign to encourage more young people to register to vote across the region has been launched, ahead of local elections in May. It comes following recent figures from the Electoral Commission, which estimates around 16% of people in the North West have yet to register. The campaign, which the Electoral Commission is spearheading, is being dubbed ‘Got 5?’. Aimed at people aged between 18 and 34, the campaign will stress how it only takes five minutes to register to vote online, via the register to vote website. The campaign will also be targeting BME communities and home movers, as these groups are also understood to be less likely to have already been registered. Local elections are taking place

across the region on May 2, but the deadline to register is Friday, April 12th. Hannah Law, senior communications officer for the Electoral Commission, told Liverpool Life how the Got 5 campaign will get its message across using a variety of channels, including video-on-demand, online, radio and social media. She said: “The Commission will also be providing resources for local authorities and other partners to use as part of their public engagement work on key voter registration and information messages.” As well as having to have been registered on the electoral register before voting, a person must be aged 18 or over and also be a qualifying Commonwealth citizen; an

Picture © Man vyi EU citizen, resident in the UK or not subject to any legal incapacity to vote. If you have recently moved to another address and have not changed or updated your details, you will be required to register again on the offical Register to Vote website.

NEWS

Luxury hotel plan for Duke Street By SEANAN MCSHEFFREY Liverpool-based Legacie has announced they will be opening a new £30m luxury hotel in Duke Street, which will consist of of 250 rooms. The hotel will take over a site which is currently used as a car park. Having already delivered a number of residential schemes in the city, this will be its first hotel project. Legacie Developments says the site on Duke Street has been an “eyesore” for more than a decade. Earlier this month, property experts at Colliers International published a report revealing Liverpool was now a UK hotspot for hotel investment. Legacie founder John Morley said: “It is exciting to be part of a proposal which will help finish the remaining chapter of Duke Street’s regeneration story. “Our hotel development will add to the growing offer of restaurants, bars and independent chains, which already exist. “The car park has been a real blight in the area for far too long and a hotel will not only improve the lack of top quality hotel rooms available but will help drive additional footfall and boost the local economy.” The company’s residential properties in the city include Ropemaker Place in Renshaw Street, Reliance House in Water Street and the forthcoming Parliament Square development in the Baltic Triangle.

LL 7

Campaign reaches out to Wirral’s homeless By ANNIE WILLIAMS A homeless charity has teamed up with a number of community venues across Wirral to provide shelter for the peninsula’s rough sleepers. The Arklight Night Shelter is a pilot project running until March 24 and uses the Housing Justice ‘rolling night shelter’ model where a church or community venue, which would otherwise be empty overnight, takes a designated night or week to put a roof over the heads over those who need it. As well as providing a bed for the evening, Arklight is also supplying guests with a breakfast each morning, hospitality, and companionship for up to 12 individuals per night for eight weeks. Jackie Snell, Coordinator of the Arklight project, told Liverpool Life: “The idea was initiated because there is just not enough places for homeless people. “We wanted to open up our own shelters using people from local communities who wanted to help in all of these venues that are empty overnight to deliver a

Wirral Ark Hostel, Birkenhead © Annie Williams project that is about hospitality, and that is what we provide that other shelters don’t.” More than 300 volunteers from the community are providing help to set up the shelter, prepare and serve meals, welcome guests and provide them with companionship. The recent official rough sleeper count, which gives annual insight into visible rough sleeping on the country’s streets, showed that Wirral had a 46% rise in rough sleeping in the past three years. Steve Maguire is one of the guests who has benefitted from the Arklight project at the Salvation Army on Old Chester

Road. Steve said: “Having been homeless for a few weeks, my morale was low and when I was trying to keep positive the members of the church made life so much more bearable. “Walking in off the street after a long day to smiling faces and wonderful people to talk to was such a lift. I’ve made friends whilst there and cannot thank everyone involved enough.” Arklight is currently a pilot enterprise, but organisers hope to run the project every winter collaborating with the community to take action on homelessness.

Number of empty homes in England at seven-year high By TIARNAN QUIGLEY The number of empty homes across England has risen to its highest figure since 2012, with more than 216,000 homes laying vacant. Liverpool ranked the fourth highest Metropolitan district for the number of empty dwellings in October 2018 with 9,529, putting it behind West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester and the West Midlands. According to Shelter, a leading UK homelessness charity, the number of families with children accepted as homeless in priority need is also at its highest level since 2012 with 135 families in need of urgent help last year - even though the number of empty homes in the region has steadily risen since 2012.

Empty house on Normanton Avenue © Wikimedia Commons The West Midlands saw the largest percentage increase in rough sleeping from the previous year, jumping by 42%. According to Homeless Link, the number of rough sleepers on England’s streets reached a seven-year high in 2017 with 4,761, having increased every year since 2010 with an estimated rise in the number of people

sleeping on the streets of 165%. Housing minister Kit Malthouse said local authorities across England have the power to charge homes that have been empty for two years an extra 50% on their council tax and from this April this will increase to 100%, with the aim of reducing the number of empty homes across the country.

LL FOCUS Left: Writer Jan McVerry in conversation with BAFTA nominee Maxine Peake, right

Below: Jan with Clapperboard UK director Maureen Sinclair

Star Maxine backs youth media project

By CHRISTA DALEY ward-winning actor Maxine Peake brought a sprinkling of stardust to FACT Picturehouse for the launch of #MeToo Media Merseyside earlier this month. The high-profile event included screenwriter Matt Greenhalgh, acclaimed writer Jonathan Harvey and Waterloo Road actor Will Ash, among a host of alumni from the movie industry. As part of the launch, guests enjoyed a screening of the 2017 independent British feature film Funny Cow, starring Maxine and

featuring Liverpool comedian John Bishop, followed by a lively Q&A with Maxine, alongside acclaimed writer Jan McVerry. #MeToo Merseyside, set up by film-making charity Clapperboard UK in partnership with the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), is a pioneering media project aimed at young people aged 14-26, to nurture the creative talents of this generation. Maxine said: “I was delighted to have an opportunity to be involved with Clapperboard UK and its launch of #MeToo Media

Young people stand up against climate change

oung people from across Merseyside joined forces to support the youth climate strike around the world. Pupils in more than 100 countries did not attend classes on Friday, March 15, in order to draw attention to what they perceive is a lack of action to tackle climate change. Year 13 student Jonathan Liu, who is one of the main organisers of the strike spoke to Liverpool Life about why he became involved in the strike. He said: “I believe that climate change is potentially the greatest existential threat facing humanity, the problem is we’re not doing

By TIARNAN QUIGLEY anything about it and Western Governments are turning a blind eye and refusing to act.” He said that although ordinary people could do more to combat global warming the issues did not start and end with them. Amongst the sea of homemade signs featuring slogans like “don’t be a fossil fool” the crowd listened attentively as students of all ages read out poetry and gave passionate speeches about how climate change affected their futures. Also present were representa-

Merseyside. “The work that they do encouraging and progressing people into the industry whilst at the same time challenging prejudice through film is commendable”. Supported by the British Film Institute (BFI), the night began with an introduction from Clapperboard UK’s director Maureen Sinclair, followed by a moving story from one of the new young BFI Academy filmmakers of the future Anna McDermott. In her speech, Anna said: “This has made me realise that there

tives from the Wirral Green Party, including one-time prospective Wallasey candidate Lily Clough, who took aim at local councils for their lack of action in response to global warming. She said: “Climate change is such an imminent threat and it’s not being given the proper priority. Wirral Council rejected the motion to declare a climate emergency and Liverpool Council did the same. A lot of it was laughed at, this is not a laughing matter. “This planet doesn’t belong to us, it belongs to all life on earth, but we are the ones who are

is so much more to the industry we have been so lucky with what we have experienced through this project.” Clapperboard UK aims to give a voice to young people and communities through the medium of film and encourage creativity and developing film literacy. #MeToo Media Merseyside will allow young people to develop their own media website, challenging prejudices in all its forms through writing, and creating content “by new voices for new voices”.

destroying it, so we need to start doing something about it now.” Alix Cockcroft, also from the Wirral Green Party, echoed her colleagues’ comments, adding: “I believe climate change is one of the largest threats to today’s society and I don’t think it’s being taken seriously enough. “Make it much more of an issue to the people in power. The Green Party has been banging on about climate change for about the last 40 years and they’re paying no attention, the government pays lip service but then supports fracking.”

FOCUS LL9

Zoo’s success in palm oil battle By CHLOE TOMKINS

he city of Chester, home to the UK’s biggest zoo, has become the world’s first sustainable palm

oil city. This comes after years of hard work by Chester Zoo, which has campaigned consistently for sustainable palm oil because oil palm plantations are causing widespread habitat destruction in South East Asian rainforests and pushing endangered species such as orangutans and tigers to the edge of extinction. Palm oil is in vegetable oil and used in thousands of household products from food items to

cleaning materials and cosmetics. More than 50 organisations including businesses, restaurants and schools across the city pledged to source their palm oil sustainably, to try and tackle the crisis. Chester MP Chris Matheson said: “This is fabulous news for the zoo, fabulous news for Chester and fabulous news for the planet. “I am so pleased to have supported this project since the start. “I know how much work the zoo has put into achieving their ambition of creating the first Sustainable Palm Oil City in the world, and I am excited about the future of this campaign.” The zoo and conservation

activists have long advocated fully sustainable palm oil, as they say it is the only way to stop much-loved species becoming extinct. Chester is the proud home of a family of Bornean Orangutans and a pair of Sumatran Tigers, which are some of the zoo’s most popular attractions. However, they face extinction as their habitats are destroyed. Cat Barton, Field Programmes Manager at Chester Zoo, said: “This is a major moment in the fight to save orangutans and other wildlife from extinction. “A vast array of species are under threat and on the brink of being lost forever, because oil palm plantations are wiping

out rainforests to produce the food and household items we all consume every day. But it is not too late. By embracing a more sustainable future, we can stop this crisis.” So what does sustainable palm oil actually mean? GreenPalm, a certified supplier of palm oil, defines sustainable palm oil as ‘produced by palm oil plantations which have been independently audited and certified against the RSPO - Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil standard’. Two-fifths of the world’s palm oil producers are members of the RSPO, who have become the globally recognised standard for sustainable palm oil.

How to be a palm oil savvy shopper The LL guide to brands that are either PALM OIL FREE or SUSTAINABLE PALM OIL CERTIFIED

• • • • • • • • •

Choco Leibniz Milk Maryland Soreen Waitrose Walkers Fox’s Warburton’s Nutella Galaxy

• • • • • • • • •

Mars Nakd Divine Chocolate Yeo Valley Nestle Cereals Quorn Lush Lucy Bee Dolmio

Tigers and orangutans (top) are in danger as their habitats are destroyed because of palm oil production

THE GUIDE

ON SONG: Cast from previous productions of The Rocky Horror Show

Evening of Rocky’n’roll horror By ANNIE WILLIAMS

ichard O’Brien’s iconic musical The Rocky Horror Show is coming to Liverpool and Chester – and tickets are on sale now. Since it first hit the stage in 1973 at the Royal Court Theatre Upstairs in London, The Rocky Horror Show has become one of the world’s favourite rock ‘n’ roll musicals, having been performed worldwide for 45 years in more

than 30 countries and translated into more than 20 languages. The show comes to the Liverpool Empire from April 29th-May 4th, and Chester Storyhouse from September 16th to September 21st. It will then continue its UK tour until November. The cast playing the roles of The Narrator, Frank, Janet and Brad are to be announced shortly, with previous famous faces including Russell Crowe, Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Jerry Springer, Jason

Donovan, Meatloaf. Directed by Christopher Luscombe, the smash hit show features all of the famous musical numbers which have made The Rocky Horror Show such a huge hit for more than four decades, including Sweet Transvestite, Science Fiction/Double Feature, Dammit Janet and, of course, the timeless floor-filler The TimeWarp. The Rocky Horror Show has been described as “a guaranteed

party”, which famously combines science fiction, horror, comedy and music, while encouraging the audience to sing along – and that means audience members dressing in the most outrageous fancy dress. Ready to thrill you with fun and naughty moments, The Rocky Horror Show is the boldest bash of them all - but be warned, the show contains some rude bits! • Ticket details at www.rocky horror.co.uk

Stage set for drama students

By NICK WARE

he Drama department at Liverpool John Moores University is once again staging its own festival of theatre. Beginning with a grand opening on March 25th and running until April 13th, the Makin Theatre Festival, staged by third year students, will feature an exciting

and eclectic mix of performances which tackle themes ranging from dystopian futures to mental health, and a production of Parliament Square by James Fritz - in addition to a comedy panel show. There will be six main house shows performed across three weeks in three venues: the Joe H Makin Theatre, the John Foster

Drama Studio and Unity2. Running alongside these will be a fringe festival packed with an exciting mix of productions created by drama students across the three years of the degree, including one-to-one performances and new-writing and devised pieces. • Tickets for the shows can be purchased from https:// bit.ly/2ue4IQ7.

THE GUIDE Broadway makes bold return to Liverpool

he Broadway hit Stones in His Pockets is bigger, better and back on stages in the UK. The comedy is based on duo Charlie (Kevin Trainor) and Jake (Owen Sharpe) playing extras in a blockbuster being filmed in their rural Irish village, County Kerry. The fast-paced play sees the two performers transform throughout the show into an entire cast of characters, including townspeople, the film’s crew, childhood versions of themselves and even Simon Cowell. Written by Marie Jones, the pro-

duction cleverly portrays humour throughout - and sadness when an unexpected suicide is revealed. After discovering the upsetting news, the duo hit back and decide to write their own movie, one that shows real life in an Irish village. Complete with Irish dancing and a whole lot of adult humour, the play is hilariously funny to watch and very entertaining. Stones in his Pockets will be at the Liverpool Playhouse Theatre until May 23rd. • Ticket details at www.every manplayhouse.com

You'd be Wise not to miss this

elebrated author Angela Carter’s last novel is brought to life on the Storyhouse stage in Chester this week. The production of Wise Children made its critically acclaimed world premiere in London at The Old Vic last year. Now the show is being brought to Chester by director Emma Rice to wow audiences with its carnivalesque tale of the tangled fortunes

of two theatrical families. Wise Children made its debut on Tuesday and runs through to Saturday March 23rd for seven performances, including matinees at 2.30pm on Wednesday and Saturday. Set in Brixton, Nora and Dora Chance are twin chorus girls celebrating their 75th birthday. Their father and greatest actor of his generation,

Melchior Hazard, turns 100 on the same day – as does his twin brother Peregrine. But there’s a lot more to this story. Wise Children promises joy and heartbreak in a celebration of show business, family, forgiveness and hope. Expect showgirls and Shakespeare, scandal, music, mischief, mistaken identity – and butterflies by the thousand.

Auditions for Oliver arrive Auditions have been announced for LHK Youth Theatre’s immersive production of Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist, which will be showcased at The Epstein Theatre this November. On Sunday (March 24th), male and female performers aged 6-19 are encouraged to attend the open auditions which will take place at The Epstein Theatre at 10.30am. The region’s leading youth theatre company will bring the beloved novel to life on this winter, with dates still to be confirmed.

Performers are not required to book an audition slot, but are welcome to turn up on the day where registration will take place and all audition material will be provided. All applicants will be asked to sing a verse and chorus of a song of their choice. Roles for the full cast and chorus will be available, including down on his luck orphan Oliver Twist; pickpocket Artful Dodger; conniving gang leader Fagin; warm-hearted Nancy; and more. LHK Productions Managing

Director Lee Kelly said: “We are once again on the lookout for Merseyside’s brightest young stars. It always overwhelms me to see the staggering amount of talented young performers that come through the doors when we hold open auditions, and I cannot wait to welcome all the young hopefuls later this month.” • Auditions start 10.30am on Sunday at The Epstein Theatre, Hanover House, 85 Hanover St, Liverpool L1 3DZ

LL MUSIC

Opportunity knocks in Amsterdam

Matt Nock in action at Amsterdam’s Unpolished Community event

LIAM PLUMBLEY meets DJ Matt Nock

p-and-coming DJ Matt Nock is on the up after a debut performance in front of thousands of people in Amsterdam. The opportunity came for Warrington-born Matt after seeing a competition on Facebook to perform at popular Dutch event ‘Unpolished Community’, in which two lucky winners would perform in a 90-minute slot. To enter, interested performers had to submit a dedicated

mix of their choice. In total, 150 mixes were entered to be voted by the public and Nock’s flight to Amsterdam was confirmed when he came in in 1st place. The techno-based DJ, who was playing at his first international event, thrived off the pressure of having to perform in front of thousands of people. He told LL: “I had only played at a small hometown gig in a bar in Warrington town. “I have played at multiple house parties and I have put countless hours in behind the decks in my bedroom, so I felt I was more than ready to go to

‘

I had only played a small home-town gig in a bar

Unpolished and smash it.” Despite having a lot of passion in the DJ industry, it has not always been a life-long dream until a few years ago. Matt said: “I’ve always had an interest in music throughout my life, I learnt to play the drums and I took music as a subject in school. Music is something that has interested me more than anything else has. “It wasn’t ntil after I turned 18 and started attending events where big DJs would play, such as the Warehouse Project, that I fell in love with it and knew it was something I wanted to invest all my time into.”

’

After a hugely successful trip to the Netherlands, opportunities for Matt have come thick and fast, with a regular slot in some of Warrington’s bars and annual celebrations events such as St Patrick’s Day and upcoming Easter events. Matt now has his eye on a future in DJ’ing: “My goals for the future are to continue to learn and master my craft, learning anything possible I can about music and DJ’ing working to better myself and work my way up the show circuit ladder till one day I could do music and DJ’ing full time and fully support myself doing so, hopefully seeing more of the world in the process.”

MUSIC

LL 13

Main picture and below left: DJ James Adekoya ready to hit Showbar in Warrington Upper left: James with rapper Geko ©James Adekoya

From paper round to good time sound Liverpool Life’s Christa Daley speaks to Widnes-born DJ James Adekoya about his alternative route into the music industry

o fresh beats, good vibes and a good time sound like the perfect way to spend an evening? Then look no further, as DJAdek will be making his way to Showbar in Warrington to showcase his skills, this month. Making a mark on the music scene is hard. There are tough crowds, knock backs and competition. From a paper-round in school to accounting, then getting his first set of decks in 2017, up-andcoming DJ James Adekoya had an epiphany which sparked his

hunger to pursue his career within music. Since then, he’s been playing in venues all over the country. Appearing alongside some of the biggest signed rappers in the genre - such as Geko, Young Adz and Romeo from So Solid Crew James is on a mission to bring the city flair to a small town. The 25-year-old from Widnes told LL: “I have always been interested in music more than the average. “It has always been my favourite thing. I think throughout life, when you are younger you are into some things and you grow out of them.

“I was always focusing on making as much money as possible and put passion second. “After quite a while of doing different jobs and earning decent money and buying a house at 22, it wasn’t fulfilling enough for me.”

fter experimenting with alternative routes into music, Adekoya decided that DJ’ing was the right path due to his relentless passion for music. “Music has always been the one thing that has always stuck. I have always known that I want to do something within music. “I used to write music but

nothing serious. But I have always been interested [in music], but never really pursued it.” Playing from the likes of the anthems that everyone knows and loves to the songs that will be coming out in the upcoming weeks. The aim of the night is to deliver something fresh to the Warrington night-life scene for people to enjoy themselves while attracting new crowds. Get your dancing shoes on as DJ-Adek will be cranking up the bass at the Showbar in Warrington on March 30th - and it will be a night you will not want to miss.

14 LL MUSIC

Famous phone box comes home

Telephone Box in Hoylake. Pictures © Friends of 632 3003 By HARRY LEAHEY

hen I encounter the odd red telephone box on a street corner, I always imagine each one having its own unique past. But out of the many thousands across the country, it could be said that the box in Hoylake Wirral has the most remarkable one. Unlike other telephone boxes, the one in Hoylake boasts a claim to fame. Interestingly, it was once used by members of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, a globally successful electronic band which formed in Wirral back in the late ‘70s. Before making it big, the box became vital to them, when they would use it to keep in touch with their manager and book gigs. It even served as the place in which they found out one of their early songs had reached the top 20 in the charts. Following global success, lead singer Andy McCluskey later returned to his roots in 2017, when he had his picture taken where the box once stood, as it had been removed only days before. The picture showed McCluskey standing with his arms wide, with the caption “Goodbye 632 3002”, a number well known among fans as being from the actual telephone box. Discovering the picture on Facebook prompted OMD superfan

and local girl Stephane McCahill to have the box found and returned to its rightful place. The campaign began after she had an article published in the Wirral Globe newspaper, which expressed her, as well as other fans’, unhappiness about the iconic landmark linked to OMD being removed. This later resulted in Wirral Council being told that the phone box had been discovered by BT, and that it would be set aside for the Council to buy it back and have it returned. Telling LL how pleased she was with the news, Steph said: “We were absolutely ecstatic. I really wanted to tell Andy McClusky because I thought he’d be delighted, but at the time I didn’t have a direct access to Andy, so I got through other people to give

him the message, and he was delighted.” With help from other fans Andy and Hazell Barrett, Steph has founded ‘Friends of 632 3003’, a community group set up to help look after and maintain the landmark. After initially raising £800 to buy the box, the group later discovered that the council had already bought it, meaning its funds could instead be spent on renovating it. “We decided to have a proper committee and a project plan, to set out the kind of things we would like to do with the phone box. So we started off by thinking about how we could raise extra funds to do stuff, because £800 wasn’t going to be a lot. “We decided to have a lot of fundraising activities, such as an ‘80s disco, which raised about

Andy McCluskey in Hoylake. Pictures © Friends of 632 3003

£1,400, and we also had an auction of OMD specialist items. Lots of people who know the band well, and also people like Andy McCluskey themselves, actually gave us stuff to auction off, and even that also raised about £480.” Steph and the group also decided to have pin badges made which had the ‘632 3002’ number printed on them, as another way of raising some much-needed cash. The box has now never looked so good. As well as benefiting from a new lick of red paint, it also features bespoke artwork by local designer John Petch, who happened to have designed OMD’s ‘Punishment of Luxury’ album cover. As well as adding a modern and contemporary look, the paintings of red and yellow are also meant to reflect the lyrics from one of the band’s singles, ‘Red Frame White Yellow.’ Since the phone booth was retuned and renovated, visitors from far and wide have flocked to Hoylake to have their selfies taken with it, with some coming from Poland, Germany and even Chile. Steph said: “Local people have been very excited because some of them don’t know OMD, but some of them are really excited by what we’ve done because it’s a work of art and just looks lovely on the landscape.” It is hoped that the group can carry on fundraising so it can cover the cost of further modifications in the near future.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM LIVERPOOL LIFE NEWS FROM THE HEART OF THE CITY

LL Liverpool Life ISSUE NINE MARCH 20

Carnivalesque Tale

And a farewell ... for now

FREE

EVE FORT RY NIGH

This is where we leave you Reporter Annie Williams rounds up the year and gives a special thanks to those who helped along the way

ith the final edition of Liverpool Life finally here, it sadly marks the end of an era for the Journalism class of 2019. Our time here as trainee journalists has been nothing short of rewarding.

It has been a long year consisting of hard-hitting stories, emotional interviews and eyeopening experiences, but it has all been building us up for this day when we leave behind John Moores and fight for our places in the journalism world. We have worked to supply our readers with the top headlines circulating the news each fortnight, but our best content comes from within this very city. Our stories have ranged from names that dedicate their lives to making a difference, the charities on our doorstep who are saving lives, young artists who are keeping Liverpool’s title of ‘city of music’ alive, and the events which make Liverpool better than any

other city in the UK, or globe, but I guess that’s subjective. But all of this wouldn’t be possible without the very glue of Liverpool Life; the team would like to say a special thank you to our editors, who week-by-week have guided each and every one of us to becoming better writers, better designers and even better journalists. It is fair to say each and every one of us has grown in this process, and for that, we thank you both for your commitment and belief. But for now, it is time for us to make room for Liverpool Life’s newest generation whom we wish the world of luck. See you in October!

here to give you advice, things we learnt the hard way. You will learn in your newsdays to be impartial, so we will be giving an equal amount of tips for Broadcast as well as Text. The experiences you will have in your third year are things you won’t have unless you throw yourself in the deep end and put yourself out there - that is tip #1. Be prepared to be in a journalism environment, so dress smartly. Believe it or not, the interviewer doesn’t ask his questions while sporting tracksuit pants and caps. “Sorry, I didn’t hear my alarm,” isn’t a valid excuse, either for a Newsday or in a professional workplace. So something we learnt the hard way was: WAKE

UP ON TIME! Have you ever read an article without pictures and video? No? Well make sure you get enough of both to keep readers interested. Times are changing and multimedia is important, even if you think it isn’t. You also may not believe it but everyone has a story to tell. Unglue yourself off Twitter and Instagram; go outside, there are a lot of unreported things out there, more than you think. One of the most important things we all learnt as well is that phone calls are a lot harder to ignore than emails. Don’t sit on an email, find a number and call them. Remember shorthand? You’re really going to need that. You’ll get to learn about

... and some words of wisdom from Stephen Killen for the next generation of Liverpool Life journalists

ear Class of 2020, It’s your Guardian Journalismdegree Angel here. Congratulations on making it this far. When they say it is the final stretch, it really is. As a group, we’ve been there before, we didn’t know what to expect either but luckily we’re

spinning plates … you have to juggle a lot of things at once and it isn’t easy. There’s no point beating around the bush - you have to work on more than one story, more than one project, all at the same time. Working as a team is important. The lecturers don’t want to be working till 7pm every newsday, so you need to work together to make sure everything is done. You all remember that number in High School Musical ‘We’re All in This Together’? Focus on you, everyone works at different levels and paces, work at your own speed and do your best. Nevertheless,the most important thing is to ENJOY the course. If you put the work in, it’s a lot easier than you think.

Our highlights Lori Dunlevy: “My favourite part of final year was being given the opportunity to work at the Sunday Mirror in London. I was able to build good contacts during my time there, and have kept in touch with the editor since leaving.”

Tiarnan Quigley: “This course has introduced me to a lot of great people who I never would have become friends with if I stayed home in Derry. I’ve made friends for life on this course and look forward to hearing about everyone’s success in the future.”

Harry Leahey: “Being given an opportunity to sit in on a Q&A session with Leader of the House of Commons, Andrea Leadsom, was probably the highlight for me. She’s a pretty highprofile politician, so being able to ask her questionsonpressingissueswasabigdeal.”

Orlaith Clinton: “My highlight over the past three years was travelling to China for two weeks to study at ZUMC. It was the trip of a lifetime and I became great friends with the people who went on the trip. I probably would never have had the chance to experience China if I hadn’t come to this course.”

Angelica Day: “Third year has been my favourite year, even though it’s probably been the most stressful one out of them all. I just feel like I have gotten to know everybody so much more and have become a big group of friends instead of the little groups in the previous years. I’m going to miss calling my lecturers ‘My G’s’ and calling Kate, ‘Kate Babes’.”

David Haycocks: “This year has been very challenging and intense at times but I enjoyed my placement on the Sports desk at the Daily Mail and experiencing life as a sports Journalist.”

Chloe Tomkins: “I’ve really enjoyed making loads of new friends that I didn’t really meet in the first two years. Going to London with everyone was so fun as well, I’ll never forget that trip.”

Rebecca Thomas: “I really enjoyed my placement, I think it was so worth doing and showed me what I need to do to become a journalist and motivated me to do well at uni.”

THANK YOU FROM ALL OF US AT

LL Liverpool Life

Production: George Adams, Felicity Binns, Daniel Boal, Nadia Breen, Tom Cameron, Orlaith Clinton, Liam Cork, Ross Crane, Finbar Curran, Christa Daley, Angelica Day, Shaun Driscoll, Lori Dunlevy, Emma Fegan, Summer Gedall, Jack Gibson, David Haycocks, Ben Higgins, Rohin Jalota, Liam Jones, Lucy Jones, Conner Kiernan, Stephen Killen, Abigail Lawrence, Harry Leahey, Shannon Lyon, Adele Matthews, Joe Maude, Chantelle McKeever, Rose McMillan, Seanan McSheffrey, Christopher Megrath, Kerry Norman, Jake Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neill, Liam Plumbley, Tiarnan Quigley, Simran Roy, Chloe Smith, Megan Tattersley, Rebecca Thomas, Chloe Tomkins, Sarah Toner, Tammy-Lee Walsh, Nick Ware, Ellie Watkinson, Sean Whelan, Annie Williams

LL will be back in October!

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re making the Headlines

Latest issue available now. Read all about our journalism graduates at: www.issuu.com/ljmujournalism www.jmu-journalism.org.uk

16 LL ARTS

The legend of Mackintosh brought to life Orlaith Clinton visits the Walker Art Gallery ahead of the grand opening of an exhibition celebrating one of Glasgow’s most historic artists...

A selection of Mackintosh’s work at the Walker Art Gallery

‘As a city, Liverpool shares many similarities with Glasgow, from its industrial heritage as a port city, to its cultural heart and history of producing talented creatives’

he Walker Art Gallery is set to hold a major exhibition exploring the life and work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his contemporaries, next week. Must-see objects will be on display in Liverpool during what would be Mackintosh’s 150th year and features more than 250 pieces, ranging from ceramics and embroidery to stained glass, metalwork and architectural drawings. Charles Rennie Mackintosh: Making the Glasgow Style, a Glasgow Museums touring exhibition, runs until August 26. The Walker is the only English gallery to host the artwork. Alyson Pollard, senior curator for National Museums Liverpool, told Liverpool Life how similarities between Glasgow and Liverpool make this event so special. She said: “The work of Charles Rennie Macintosh spans many disciplines, from interior design to

architecture, and so we’re looking forward to showing visitors the impressive breadth of his work, as well as its enduring influence. “As a city, Liverpool shares many similarities with Glasgow, from its industrial heritage as a port city, to its cultural heart and history of producing talented creatives. We’ve greatly enjoyed working with Glasgow Museums to bring this wonderful show to Liverpool, which we’re sure will be extremely popular with visitors.” A sense of “energetic joy, humour and personal expression” can be seen in many early works made in the Glasgow Style. Fans of Mackintosh will have the chance to view his panelling, furniture and light fittings, as well as a section from the Chinese Room of the Ingram Street Tearooms, which has not previously been displayed outside of Scotland. Making the Glasgow Style presents the very best of Glasgow’s internationally important civic

collections, drawing from those of Glasgow Museums and The Mitchell Special Collections and Glasgow City Archives. It also includes some important loans from The Hunterian, University of Glasgow, Glasgow School of Art and from private collections. Councillor David McDonald, Chair of Glasgow Life and Deputy Leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “We are delighted to loan this magnificent exhibition to National Museums Liverpool to continue the celebration of Glasgow’s great cultural icon, Charles Rennie Mackintosh. “The exhibition gives fans of Mackintosh the space and time to enjoy a wealth of stunning artworks and objects, many of which have never before been shown outside of Glasgow. At the same time it enables us to share the Glasgow Style story, influence and legacy with a whole new audience.” The show begins on March 15.

Pictures © Orlaith Clinton

GRADWATCH

LL 17

Rory O’Reilly reporting for BBC Guernsey

Gradwatch

Island-hopping Rory’s career in focus NICK WARE talks to RORY O’REILLY

ory O’Reilly has already seen his fair share of drama in his budding career. In October 2017, Rory made the move from Northern Ireland to the Channel Islands, landing a journalist role at BBC Guernsey He said: “My role is extremely varied, which is one of the reasons why I love what I do. It can range from reading the news, reporting, producing shows and deciding what we cover, to presenting programmes. “Also, I now produce our threehour flagship breakfast programme on quite a regular basis. It’s a lot of work but you come away with a great end product that listeners really love.” Rory, however, could not have possibly foreseen that he would report on one of the biggest sporting tragedies in recent years.

After an aircraft containing Argentinian footballer Emiliano Sala went missing over the English Channel in January 2019, Rory was thrust into reporting on worldwide news. Weeks of searching for the plane culminated in the discovery of Sala’s body, while pilot David Ibbotson has yet to be found. Rory covered the events day-byday, offering regular updates via his Twitter account as the tragedy became more apparent.

‘

Before reporting on high profile stories for the BBC, however, Rory had to bide his time. While awaiting his first break in the journalism world, he was working full-time at a marketing firm, before a friend alerted him to a freelance position at Cool FM, a local radio station in Belfast. Rory told Liverpool Life: “I applied and ended up getting the position. “I would usually work at the weekends or evenings as the

Maybe one day you might see my face in front of the camera!

newsreader, reading two minute live bulletins on the hour, comprising all the local and national news as well as sport. “I continued on their freelance rota until I eventually applied for my current job.” Speaking of his time at LJMU, the 2013 graduate said: “I look back on my three years at John Moores fondly. “Liverpool is such a great city and the Journalism course was so instrumental in getting me to where I am at the moment. “It’s a great course with amazing lecturers and I don’t think I’d be where I am without it.” Rory has plans to move into televi ion in the future: “I think presenting is something that suits me. “You’re able to inject a lot more personality into it. So maybe one day you might see my face in front of the camera!”

18 LL BEAUTY

A Lush life Angelica Day takes us on a tour of the world of bath bombs and soap

he biggest Lush store in the world has just opened in Liverpool city centre. The new store, which opened at the weekend, has three floors with new spa rooms and is the first ever Lush to be completely vegan and egg-free. There is a vinyl library where you can sit back, relax and enjoy the musical selections of the store, as well as a perfume library. On the first floor, there are a variety of new additions to the line of Lush with a conveyor belt of bath bombs and interactive

musical jelly. There is also a station where you can personalise your own three-day moisturiser for the price of £15. Jamie Harris, 21, who attended the launch, told LL: “For a start, the sheer size of the new store is like a department store selling clothes, coffee and vinyl over three floors. “The best bit in my opinion has to be the bath bomb sushi bar. It was so cool that each and every bath-bomb in the store was displayed on rotation and

that you could take a seat.” Lush has tried to include more products where the line involves minimal use of plastic, such as hair bars, jelly-like products and wooden soap holders.

he top floor is dedicated to the spa, where there are shower rooms, spa treatment rooms, a spa room for bathing and a new chill room where you can help yourself to a selection of tea while you lounge on sofas.

The store has introduced a party room at the spa where you and four other friends can enjoy treatments altogether in one ‘lively’ lit up room. The new concept is that the music played in the spa rooms will match the kind of treatment you choose to get. At the launch, there were staff members dressed to match the new selections of bath bombs added to the line. Many bloggers attended the opening, with some even describing it as ‘emotional’.

Sneak peak pictures from the new Lush Shop © Angelica Day

STYLE

LL 19

Abbey’s crowning glory BY LORI DUNLEVY

oung entrepreneur Abbey Griffiths is proving that she has a head for business. The 23-year-old Criminal Investigation student, from Newtown, has been running her own headwear boutique at the same time as studying for her Masters degree. The boutique, Crowning Glory, is a one-of-a-kind company that specialises in renting and selling fascinators, hats and accessories. The boutique also sells matching clutch bags, pashminas and ties. Just in time for this year’s races, Abbey has launched a new website with a Spring/Summer collection available worldwide. Abbey said: “The last two years have been extremely busy and in the last four years I have hired out inbetween 2,000 and 3,000 hats and fascinators.” With lectures three days a week, Abbey has mastered the art of time management. She told LL: “Last year when I first began solely running Crowning Glory I found it very busy. “Deferring [my course] has been something that I have considered because it is hard to run a business and manage a degree. Recently I’ve re-grouped and prioritised and I know if I put my mind to it, I can stay organised and I can achieve both.” With some of the UK’s most famous horse races just around the corner, Abbey has added more than 1,000 items to her new

collection. She said: “We cater for all generations, looking for modern or traditional designs, especially weddings and the Chester and Liverpool races. “Crowning Glory headwear is very popular at the races. “You can see a Crowning Glory hat from a mile away. Each one is a unique statement piece.” With an overall aim of making everything affordable, the young

entrepreneur said: “Although people buy fascinators they are mostly like to not re-use them. “Nowadays most girls will only wear an outfit once on a night out and it is the same with fascinators.” Instead of buying and storing hats and fascinators, Abbey suggests that hiring and exchanging is much cheaper and ensures that women will always have new headwear to show off.

Pictures © Grant’s Photographics Crowning Glory hire prices start from £20 to £40, depending on their size and style. To find out more about the growing business go to www.crowningglory.online • Grand National preview: p25

Cheers as bar empowers women By SEÁNAN MCSHEFFREY

he Alchemist bar in Liverpool is backing a charity that supports unemployed women back into work. The bar has created three cocktails inspired by powerful women in Liverpool and beyond and will donate 50p from every cocktail sold on the #whosthatgirl menu to women’s charity Smart Works. Smart Works is a UK charity that provides high quality interview clothes and interview training to unemployed women

in need. It harnesses the power of clothes and confidence to allow a woman to be her best at a crucial moment in her life, giving women the confidence, the self-belief and the practical tools required to succeed at interview and transform her life. Lucie Osborne, Business Development Manager at The Alchemist Liverpool, said giving back to charity is something they feel very strong about. “We value every donation we make here at the Alchemist,

charity work is something very close to our hearts and something we will continue to do. We wanted to dedicate our March and April charities to all the amazing women in Liverpool and around the UK who are in need, and who want to succeed in the world of work. “Creating an empowering women movement is something we have wanted to do for a long time and we are happy to be able to support such an amazing charity who are passionate about women of today and their futures.”

Kate Stephens CEO of Smart Works said: “Since launching Smart Works we have supported over 11,000 women over the UK and we would not have been able to do this without the amazing donations and support from companies such as The Alchemist Liverpool.” The charity is also supported by the Duchess of Sussex who is the Royal Patron of Smart Works. The #whosthatgirl menu will be available in March and April as part of the Alchemist Liverpool’s empowering womens movement.

20 LL HEALTH

A new approach to an age-old problem Save money and the planet. Liverpool Life’s Summer Gedall investigates an alternative sanitary product

ith the fourth wave feminism movement gaining ground amongst millennials, many women have begun to see both the personal and environmental benefits of moving away from the use of single-use sanitary products. Tampons and pads are expensive, bad for the environment and, in rare cases, tampons can lead to life-threatening conditions such as toxic shock syndrome. Sustainable feminine hygiene products such as the ‘menstrual cup’ are much safer than tampons as they do not carry the risk of giving the user toxic shock syndrome. They are also better for the environment and could also serve as a solution for women who have limited access to tampons and pads. Psychology student Julia Thornton, 22, started using the menstrual cup three months ago, after she realised she was spending over £150 a year on sanitary products. She told Liverpool Life: “So far, the pros of using the cup have massively outweighed the cons and I’ve had a very positive experience. “I’ve suffered from very heavy and long periods since the day they started so I was spending a fortune every month and being a student,

it just wasn’t financially viable anymore. “The moon cup cost me £13 and can last for longer than a year so for me it’s been a really great long term investment. “I think that the whole idea of sanitary products should change and instead of advertising pads and tampons as the primary product, girls in school and at home should be encouraged to make a more environmentally friendly decision.” The cup is small, flexible and made from medical latex or silicone. It catches and collects the flow as opposed to absorbing it as a tampon or pad would. It is inserted in to the vagina in the same way as a tampon and if used correctly, the user won’t feel a thing. In the world’s sixth richest country, it is shocking that one in 10 women have at some point been unable to afford sanitary products and 12% of women have had to ‘improvise’ protection because of the cost. Last week, the government pledged that by September, all English secondary schools will provide free sanitary and feminine hygiene products for its pupils. Following this, it was announced that the ‘End Period Poverty, Period’ campaign, which is led by Councillor Anna Rothery and aims

to give period dignity to all women, will be backed by Liverpool City Council. There has been an immense wave of support for this campaign particularly from representatives at Plan international UK, a UK based charity who fight for children’s rights and equality for girls all over the world. Eva Carroll, the official Menstruation Representative for the Youth Advisory Panel at Plan UK, told Liverpool Life: “As a feminist, I feel the lack of free or affordable sanitary products is an indictment on our modern society. “A fifth of women and girls have had to change their preferred sanitary wear due to affordability issues. “I think that menstrual cups are a fantastic idea, although education is lacking around them. Plan UK found education around periods to be of huge concern in their research,. Because of this, methods such as menstrual cups remain untouched by a vast proportion of the population, which is deeply saddening. “As a short-term solution for homeless women and those of poor backgrounds, menstrual cups are a great idea due to their reusable aspect. “However, I believe all women should have access to sanitary products that are best for them.”

By SIMRAN ROY Liverpool City Council has begun efforts to eliminate ‘period poverty’ in the city by inviting community organisations to get involved. With the aid of non-for-profit organisations, a new initiative, backed by the Mayor’s Hardship Fund, aims to provide free feminine hygiene products to women from lower income backgrounds in an effort to give period dignity. Councillor Anna Rothery, mayoral lead for equality and race, is leading the End Period Poverty, Period campaign and is currently in talks with more than 30 organisations who have asked to become involved with the initiative. Cllr Rothey said: “End Period

Poverty Period aims to treat women and girls with dignity and respect. There has been a huge increase in period poverty, not just for women on benefits but also for women in low paid, precarious work “Women are too often being faced with the choice between buying for their children and products for themselves, and, as women, we know what the choice will be. If you take into account that a woman may have up to four daughters then the cost becomes a huge proportion of the weekly household budget. “When I was asked by Mayor Anderson to lead in the initiative I took great care not to duplicate the amazing work already being

done by other initiatives in schools and workplaces and decided to focus on community not-for-profit organisation who already have a long-established relationship with women and their daughters. “Women face a complex combination of financial constraints and we must ensure that this issue is approached in a sensitive. Working with organisations enables us to build on existing relationships and removes the need for intrusive questioning. We know menstruation is a major part of women’s lives but asking for assistance should not have to be.” The initiative follows a threemonth pilot scheme where more than 800 products were handed out to mothers and their daughters.

HEALTH

Take the test - don’t miss the chance to save your life

ach year, around 43,000 women in Liverpool are putting their lives at risk by missing their smear test appointments - but a Merseyside charity is aiming to change all that. Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust is the only UK charity dedicated to women, their families and friends affected by cervical cancer and cervical abnormalities. The organisation has services in Liverpool, Knowsley and Wirral. Robert Music, Chief Executive of Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust says, “It’s really worrying to see that so many women are not going for potentially life-saving cervical screening across the UK. Cervical

By REBECCA THOMAS screening provides the best protection against cervical cancer but we know that there are many reasons why women aren’t attending including cultural, physical, psychological and literacy factors. “We also know access is a growing issue and more women are finding it harder to access appointments. “We want women to know that they are not alone and we have lots of support available to help them feel more comfortable or help reassure them.” Cervical cancer affects around 3,000 women in the UK every year, and is the most common form of cancer for women under

the age of 35. The latest published figures reveal that the percentage of women aged 25-64 attending a smear test in Liverpool, was just 67.3%. This is 4% lower than the average for the rest of England, which is 72%. According to Liverpool Women’s NHS Trust, this equates to over 43,000 women in Liverpool being overdue or failing to attend a smear test at any given time. To put it visually, this is more than the number of people who can fit into Everton FC’s stadium. For many women, avoiding a smear test stems from fear of the actual examination and the anxiety of the results. Twitter user ‘Sammy’ said: “I’m owning up and I’ve been very

naughty, I have not booked for my smear test for a few years it’s not the fear of having the test, it’s waiting for the results, sets my anxiety off to another level, but seeing it all over Tv it’s time to grow up and face my fear!! #smeartest.” Twitter user Megan said: “So scared to book my 3rd smear test. I dont want to start this year off like last.” Liverpool City Council are supporting Public Health England’s #CervicalScreeningSavesLives campaign. The campaign explains that two women die every day from cervical cancer, and encourages women not to ignore their screening invitation.

Liverpool Women’s NHS Trust top tips for a happy smear Take someone you trust along This could be a friend, family member, partner or someone else, they can be in the waiting room or examination room with you to offer support. They may also be able to speak on your behalf about any worries you have. Wear a skirt or dress You can keep this on during the test, which may help you feel more covered.

Talk to your nurse or doctor If it is your first cervical screening, if you feel embarrassed or worried, or if you have had a bad experience before, tell the person doing the test as it will help them know how to support you properly.

Try to book your appointment mid-cycle If you are on your period this can make it harder to get a clear sample of cells, but the most important thing is that you book an appointment when it’s convenient for you.

Request a female doctor or nurse If you feel a bit uneasy or apprehensive, you may want to consider requesting a female member of staff to do the test.

Ask for adjustments to be made If you feel uncomfortable during the test, you can ask for a smaller speculum to be used, or to lie in a different position, which may be better for you.

22LL WELLBEING

Mind on the mend

Liverpool Life’s SEAN WHELAN speaks to Dr Phil Cooper about the mental health charity he started to raise awareness and help those in need

ental health awareness has been a topic on people’s lips for the best part of

the last decade. In particular, an alarming rise in suicides, especially amongst men, has prompted an increased effort to help those most in need. One organisation that has been at the forefront of efforts to help raise mental health awareness and help those most in need is The State of Mind charity. Dr Phil Cooper MBE set up the charity in the aftermath of rugby league star Terry Newton’s suicide in September 2010. “I was reading the Rugby League paper on the Monday following Terry’s death and there was an article on how the NHS and the Rugby League should get together to ensure something like this doesn’t happen again,” said Phil, an avid Warrington Wolves fan and mental health nurse. He then decided to seize the initiative and spoke to key figures in work to arrange talks with players in a bid to avoid another sports star taking their own life. “The idea took off quickly and we eventually saw a round of fixtures dedicated to State of Mind, focusing on the work we do, in return for

us providing free talks to all the rugby league clubs,” said Phil. The charity’s team has also focused on utilising social media to their advantage. “We’ve employed a twitter campaign to work alongside our work with the Rugby League. “The campaign reached over 14 million people last year with over 85k interactions,” said a proud Phil. The State of Mind charity may well have strong ties to Rugby League, but it certainly doesn’t exclusively focus on providing help those involved with the sport. The charity has given talks to over 50,000 people including footballers, students and men who work in male-dominated workplaces, such as construction sites, as Phil explains. “We provide education sessions around mental fitness. We use

sport as the backdrop for that and we use ex-sports people, rugby league players, union players, hockey players, males, females and we go into schools, colleges, businesses and construction sites. “It’s like a busman’s holiday for me, being a mental health nurse and a sports fan!”

he use of ex-sportsmen and women are vital to the charity’s work, and Phil, who received a lifetime Achievement Award at the National Positive Practice Mental Health Awards in 2013, explained just why that is the case. “Sports stars sharing their issues help to normalise it and eradicate a stigma surrounding mental health. “There is nobody immune to these difficulties, it doesn’t discriminate against anyone, you’ve

seen Stan Collymore admitting to struggling again lately. “We want to show there is nothing to be embarrassed about if you are dealing with mental health issues.” Phil added: “Participation in sport is so beneficial to mental health. “Firstly, being part of a team makes you part of something, helps you make friends and, on top of that, physical exercise is good for you, as is learning different things in sport and team dynamics.” Working as a part of a team at State of Mind has certainly been beneficial to Phil, and he is so grateful for being able to do what he does so well. “Sometimes I have to pinch myself being so involved with things I love doing, I just feel very fortunate being able to use my hobbies to help people. If I can have a small part in helping someone that’s great.” The State of Minds featured round in Rugby League’s fixture list is scheduled for this July, round 22, when players will warm up in State of Mind t-shirts and will talk about their own different stories or issues. In the meantime, the charity will continue the good work nationwide, and is set to launch a new initiative called Squad Goals in schools later this month.

WELL-BEING

LL 23

Gemma’s Journey Emma Fegan meets author Gemma Ray

rom a successful career as a radio presenter, vocalist and actress, to a newly-published author and motivational coach, it’s easy to believe Liverpool author Gemma Ray has it all - but what isn’t so apparent is the tortuous journey it took to get there. Gemma published her first book ‘Self-Discipline’ at the end of 2018. It is already a best-seller in five different categories on Audible and continues to receive five star reviews. The 37-year-old opened up to Liverpool Life about suffering a nervous breakdown in previous years and how she redeemed her life with the help of self-development. She said: “I first decided to write it in April 2017, but I didn’t put pen to paper until that summer and when I did, I wrote it in a matter of days. It took me another year to actually release it. “This wasn’t through a lack of self-discipline, it was a fear of ‘showing up’ and putting myself out there. “I was so overwhelmed at the

thought of writing a book that it stopped me from even starting. So, the whole book is one ironic cycle really. “I had a mild nervous breakdown in November 2016 and in order to heal myself, I really threw myself into self development. “I had coaching from different people, read and researched all I could on improving my mindset and got my mental health back to a place of positivity. “This book was part of my healing journey and instrumental in helping me put the pieces of myself back together.” It was at this time Gemma realised she had to let go of the resentment she held towards her biological father, whom she had not spoken to for 30 years and didn’t play a part in her son’s life, so contacted him on Facebook. “I wanted to forgive him because I realised the hate and anger I carried around about him was not serving me well at all. “I sadly did not get the chance to speak to him and heal our relationship as he died suddenly ten days after I sent the message. “When I first heard he’d died I think I was in total shock. I car-

ried on, busying myself for a week or so, got through the funeral but then I just crumbled. “I kept on a couple of clients who knew my circumstances and was working a small number of hours a week, but most days were a blur and even getting out of bed was hard. “I had to though, for my son who was six at the time. I suppose that was the first sense that self discipline got me through. “Those days that felt so dark and hopeless, I still had a small boy to be there for and I had no choice but to be a mum and get on with life. “It was a few months of really not feeling like myself and struggling to muster the strength to work, look after myself and even socialise. I retreated away for a long time, but with the help of coaching, my husband and some close friends I gradually felt better.” Although it took a toll on her marriage, her work and her motivation, Gemma doesn’t regret the emotional torment she went through as it allowed her to achieve her dream of writing her own book and made her into the

woman she is today. “I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, but it was the best thing that ever happened to me. “I feel like I shattered into a million pieces but my healing journey allowed me the time to examine each of those pieces of me before I decided if I was putting them back. “I’m more measured now and a little bruised so it was a real mental battle to even release the book. “Once I did, though, it felt like such a relief and could not believe the feedback. “It isn’t a self-help book that shows people how amazing my life is, it’s a book I wrote for myself and dragged every reader along with me. “It’s more ‘I don’t have my life together, but I did these things and even though they were annoying and boring, they made life better and happier. Why don’t you try some of it too?’.” Gemma is now going round schools, colleges and businesses to deliver motivational speeches. This is so she can help others, by sharing topics of self discipline, happiness, goal-setting and mental health.

‘This book was part of my healing journey and instrumental in helping me put the pieces of myself back together’

24 L

L SPORTS

McCann makes fighting history By SHAUN DRISCOLL

Bowie in 1976

Why David Bowie was Reds' fashion icon By STEPHEN KILLEN How do you remember Liverpool FC in the late ‘70s? European Cup success? King Kenny? But what about the influence of David Bowie on the Liverpool FC fan culture? That’s the subject of an article by Glasgow reseacher, Mairi Mackenzie, who published her findings on David Bowie’s influence on Liverpool Football Club casuals, a term used to describe the club’s hardcore supporters. In the article, ‘Football, Fashion and Unpopular Culture’, the fashion historian talks about how Bowie’s fashion choices in movie roles and music videos in the late ‘70s saw filtered through the turnstiles and onto the terraces at football clubs in the country, mainly Liverpool Football Club. Mairi Mackenzie’s research started in 2013 - the idea was sparked by an invitation to talk about David Bowie that year. She told LL: “I was invited to give a talk about Bowie by the artist and writer, Claire Biddles. “She ran an event called ‘Ms B

presents …’ at a venue in Glasgow and the theme on that occasion was Bowie. I had heard about Bowie’s influence in Liverpool but couldn’t find much written about it so decided to do some research, and that’s how it all began.” Liverpool Kevin Sampson featured in the article. He experienced the terrace lifestyle in the decades in which the football casuals collective was prominent. He told LL: “The period that had the biggest impact in Liverpool was his post-Young Americans phase. He appeared in the film The Man Who Fell to Earth and that image - vermillion wedge hairstyle, duffel coat, narrow jeans at a time when big wide parallels were the norm - connected strongly with our crowd, who were a bit too young for punk (and probably found it a bit too weird.)” The Awaydays author continued: “In that respect - having an image, a style and an attitude that was similar in many ways to the Mods philosophy, he was a visual and cultural lodestar to the young Liverpool fans I knocked around with.”

Captain leads the line By NICK WARE It has been a fruitful couple of years for Liverpool John Moore’s Rugby League team, and central to their success has been engineering student Jordan Thomason. The versatile forward and current first team captain’s arrival at LJMU has coincided with one of the most successful periods in the club’s history. After a year of settling into the side, Jordan and the team had to cope with a raft of high profile departures as a number of key players left after graduating.

Unperturbed by these losses the team went on to win the Northern Conference Cup in 2018, in the process securing their first silverware for five years after beating Cardiff Metropolitan 36-12 in Nottingham. Two weeks ago they made history, securing their second successive trophy with a 30-26 victory over University of Central Lancashire’s first team. After lifting the trophy in his final year, Jordan told Liverpool Life: “It was a great feeling. I was absolutely buzzing to win the cup again, and as captain it made me even more proud.”

Liverpool’s Molly McCann has made history, becoming the first English female fighter to win in the UFC, despite suffering a horrendous injury in the process. The Norris Green-born fighter defeated Priscila Cachoeira at the O2 Arena at the UFC London event on March 16th. ‘Meatball’ picked up the victory via unanimous decision after three, five-minute rounds of action - despite breaking her orbital bone in the second round. Molly fights out of Next Generation MMA Academy based in Liverpool City Centre. After winning the Cage Warriors Flyweight Championship, the 28-year-old signed with the worlds biggest Mixed Martial Arts company, The Ultimate Fighting Championship. In her debut bout, she lost at the Liverpool M&S Arena, but the Evertonian bounced back in big way with a stunning victory in one of the best fights of the night. Molly McCann said after her victory: “That was for you Liverpool!”

Smiles for McCann after win (instagram: meatballmolly) Darren Till suffered a shock loss against Jorge Masvidal, writes JAKE O'NEILL. The 25-year-old made an unsuccessful return to UFC as he was knocked out by Masvidal in the second round at the O2 Arena in London. Liverpool born Till floored Masvidal with a left hook in the early stages of the fight, but failed to finish him off. However, Masvidal used great footwork to get into range and land a solid combination -- led by a left hook that floored Till.

Cup Final beckons for the Raptors By SHAUN DRISCOLL Liverpool Raptors are into the final of the Challenge Cup after they defeated the DMU Falcons 21-17. The University of Liverpool’s American Football team held off a late comeback from the Leicester’s DMU Falcons at Beaumont Park to advance into the finals of the Cup. The Raptors had failed to win a play-off game prior to this season. Raptor’s James Sutherland got his side of to a perfect start with the opening touchdown, and the Raptors did not look back, steaming ahead to a 21-0 lead. The Falcons rebounded, though, and made a late onslaught on the Raptors’ defence, putting up 17 points - but the Liverpool side refused to fold. James said: “We think we are the best team in our division as we have only lost once all season, so it feels good that we now have

© Instagram (jsutherland_97) the opportunity to show everyone how good we are. “It feels good to have contributed in the win.” Liverpool Raptors will face Leeds University in the final of the Challenge Cup and Sutherland recognises the challenge: “They are unbeaten this season and we got beat by them but we are confident that we are now good enough to beat them.”

SPORT LL25 SPORTS DATES FOR THE CALENDAR Grand National Saturday April 6 at Aintree Race Course By ELLIE WATKINSION All eyes will be on Aintree Racecourse for the arrival of the 172nd Grand National next month. The world-famous steeplechase will take place from April 4- 6 with the Randox Health Grand National – the main event – starting at 5.15pm on the Saturday.

There is £3m in prize money up for grabs over the 21 races scheduled and with a reward of £1m for the Randox Health race, Saturday is set to be the most lucrative day. The bookies’ favourites include last year’s champion Tiger Roll, currently priced at 12/1. The nine-year-old horse, ridden by Keith Donoghue, won the Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham last week. Other horses in the mix include, Welsh National winner Elegant Escape priced at 20/1, former

Grand National winner Vintage Clouds, and the experienced Anibale Fly priced at 25/1. Day two of the Grand National marks Ladies Day and the first race Merseyrail Alder Hey Handicap Hurdle is set to start at 1.45pm. It will also be the fourth year of the Style Award, which gives one attendee the chance to win a Range Rover Evoque and a year supply of dresses from Chi Chi London. Other races on Ladies Day

include the Betway Top Novices Chase with a £100,000 prize and the JLT Chase with the biggestprize of the day at £250,000. A map published earlier on this year, marked the different stands across the 3,600-metre course. The stands will include the Festival Zone, West Tip, Queen Mother, Lord Sefton and Princess Royal. Tickets are still available for the Randox Health Grand National next month and can be purchased on the official website.

Liam Smith’s Homecoming Fight Saturday March 30 at the M&S Bank Arena

An Evening with Jamie Carragher Friday at the Heath Business and Technical Park

Liam Smith will fight Sam Eggington on home turf for the first time since 2016. Smith is looking to win back the title that he lost to Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in Texas, and in doing so become the city’s first twotime World Champion.

Join Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher for a night of football memories, with a special live performance from Jamie Webster.

Betfred British Masters May 8-12 at Hillside Golf Club, Southport

Unibet Premier League Darts April 11 at the M&S Bank Arena

The European Tour is one of the world’s leading golf organisations, with 47 tournaments across 27 countries. Take your chance and see the action live in Southport. Tommy Fleetwood hosts the event.

The top four darts players from the PDC Order of Merit, following the 2018/2019 World Championship, will qualify to play in the league and be joined by six invited players to compete in the event.

On your landmarks, get set, go Runners braved the awful weather conditions to take part in the BTR Liverpool Landmarks Half Marathon. More than 3,500 competitors took part in the 13.1-mile event, in some of the worst weather conditions in the race’s 26-year history.

L SPORT

26 L

Break point for tennis club By STEPHEN KILLEN The alarming decline in tennis participation has its eyes on swallowing Maghull Tennis Club, after claiming other small clubs in the past. Now in its 92nd year, the club is at risk of closing its facilities - but their committee members have launched a defiant message that the club will serve for many years to come. They hope that their upcoming fundraiser and other initiatives will secure the financial future of the club. Figures collected by Statista show that between 2016 and 2018, the number of people playing tennis in England has dropped by 50,000. Over the last few years, the club has looked to grow interest in the game throughout the town, recently offering a ‘Tennis for Free’ programme. Gary Schneider, a member of the Tennis Club – speaking on behalf of the committee believes it is vital that the club continues to offer support to children in the community, He said: “I believe it’s massively important that the club continues to stay open. “Even those from the area who may not be members will all have fond memories of going to the

courts and having a game with their mates over the years.” With Liverpool being predominantly football-orientated, the funding in the racket sport hasn’t been in the same league. It has been nearly 10 years since the club received a significant upgrade to their court. The weather and recurring moss on the courts often cause problems with the tennis club, but they’re working with Maghull Town Council to resolve the isuues. The six tennis courts are situated next to Maghull Town Hall, left of the Meadows Leisure Centre at the King George V Playing Fields on Hall Lane. In the surrounding area, there are Maghull Football and Cricket Clubs just a few metres away. Gary, who has been playing tennis since 2000, says it’s been hard to maintain high participation: “It’s always difficult trying to grow interest in the game. “We’ve run a tennis for free programme which aimed at engaging the local community to get fit, be active and have fun by playing tennis.” However, throughout their initiative, they found problems, post-Wimbledon, along the way. Gary continued: “Unfortunately, as we progressed through the year towards winter, numbers began to drop and a decision was made to

wait until the following year to try and arrange the programme.” Memberships allow players to play in the local divisions of the Liverpool Tennis League. They also offer deals for families who wish to join the club to help promote an active family lifestyle. Adults can join the club for £100, with students and juniors able to play for Maghull for £40 and £30, respectively. Maghull ‘A’ enjoyed promotion from the Lancashire County Lawn Tennis Association Mens Section ‘E’ in 2017 but saw a point’s deduction in their 2018 campaign due to unregistered players. Gary believes that the experience the club has given him can give the children in the area a similar skill. “The club hopes that we can persuade people to continue to play for the club, represent their community and stay fit and healthy. “I know from my own experience as a club member for many years, it’s a great way to make new friends and in doing so can also help reduce anti-social behaviour in the area as a result of playing tennis rather than causing trouble in the community.” In a bid to raise funds to secure the future of the club, the committee has put plans in place to host a fund-raiser with Liverpool and Everton legends at the Red

Lion Club (formerly the Maghull and District Royal British Legion Club) in Maghull on Friday May 3rd at 7pm. “The fundraiser itself will hopefully be a great night of entertainment for all. “As an Evertonian, I’m delighted that Kevin Sheedy will be attending. “He’ll be a popular choice from blues of all ages, and there will also be a representative of Liverpool – Mark Lawrenson - so both sets of fans will have the opportunity to listen to stories of the past and also ask their own questions to the players.” Over the course of the evening, there will be a chance to win prizes and vouchers. “There will also a be a compere for the evening who will ensure the event runs smoothly and buffet lunch will be included with each ticket purchase. The cost per person is £25. “During the evening we will also be holding numerous raffles for prizes such as vouchers for local shops etc. and also auctions for sporting memorabilia and equipment,” Gary added. • For more information about the fundraiser and future events, keep an eye on their Facebook page at https://engb.facebook.com/maghull tennisclub

Rebels help refugees find their home By NICK WARE Integrating asylum seekers into communities can often be hard, but there is one football club in Liverpool that is going above and beyond. Last summer, the Reverend Philip Waldron of Ullet Road Church and Chris Allen formed Ullet Road Church Rebels FC, a club made up of refugees living on Merseyside. Starting out as an AFC Liverpool supporter project, the idea grew legs, culminating in their first official friendly against AFC Liverpool reserves, and subsequently entering the I Zingari

League at level 14 of the English Football League system. Chris Allen, a volunteer and refugee campaigner, told Liverpool Life: “Refugees often find themselves living a lonely existence, being rather isolated. “So one of the ways we thought to combat that was by starting to take them to football matches, usually AFC Liverpool. “But what we found out was that some of the young lads that we were taking to matches wanted to set up their own football club. “I then spoke to Phillip the minister at Ullet Road Church and we built this football club. “Many of the players have

come from difficult backgrounds, coming to the UK to escape from them.” Chris added: “The lads that play for us come from places like Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Afghanistan. I spent a lot of time talking to them, and their stories were quite harrowing. “We have a centre forward who, at the age of 14, happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time on the end of a protest in Sudan and ended up being imprisoned. “What’s really striking is as we get to know the players is you learn that people make journeys on their own at young ages, travelling through places like Egypt and

Europe to get to the UK. “What we find out is refugees are trapped in a bad place where their past is deeply traumatic and a future that’s quite terrifying . When I was talking to the players about what football means to them. “One of the players, Mohammed, said how playing for the team and making new friends has increased his confidence: “When we have matches we forget all these things. “I still have thoughts of depression when I think about stuff I’ve seen. “It’s not easy to forget, but football helps you forget what happened.”

LL 27 Unbeaten Saints keep grip on top spot

SPORTS

Warrington Wolves star is hungry for success By LIAM PLUMBLEY Warrington centre Harvey Livett is hoping to lead the Wolves to a first Super League title this season. The young prospect, who has recently been out of the side, is hoping to nail down a regular place and push his team forwards in a new era with coach Steve Price. Livett, who can also play in the forwards and the half back positions, has only appeared once this season in which he scored two tries to help defeat Hull Kingston Rovers 28-14. The Wire have brought in fresh faces to help challenge the best in the division. Livett told Liverpool Life: “We’ve got a great bunch of lads here and the new faces that have come in to the squad have been

fantastic. We lost a few players but I feel that we have brought in enough quality to challenge.” The 22-year-old has grown up supporting the Wolves and has lived in Warrington all his life. “It’s a good feeling playing for my home team. I have supported them all my life and to now be a part of the Warrington Wolves, it is a really honour and there is no better feeling. “Obviously every rugby player wants to be a winner in their career. I’m still waiting for my first piece of silverware but I’m sure it will come soon, we’re good enough.” The Wolves fell short in both the Super League Grand Final and the Challenge Cup, losing respectively to the Wigan Warriors and the Catalan Dragons, games in which Livett was involved.

By GEORGE ADAMS

Harvey Livett © Harvey Livett The former England youth player had some words of advice for young rugby players. He said: “My best advice would be the old saying ‘practise makes perfect’. Just keep working on all your weaknesses and then you will get better and better.”

Famous Winwick Athletic maintain FA Charter Standard By LIAM PLUMBLEY Winwick Athletic have once again successfully secured their annual Charter Standard status with the Lancashire County FA. A Chartered Standard club since 2006, the Sunday league football club based in the Warrington league, has been awarded to Winwick through the running of the club. The FA Charter Standard is

awarded to football clubs who provide a high quality football experience to everybody involved. The award means that Winwick Athletic has been proven to be well run, sustainable, a place for child protection, quality coaching and safety paramount. Club secretary Paul McMahon told Liverpool Life, “It’s a pleasure to be awarded again; it shows the hard work behind the scenes is paying off.

“The fact that we’ve have received the Charter Standard award since 2006, shows that we are a consistently well run club and I believe we can carry on and continue to scoop more rewards.” Winwick have a famous history, having been formed as a grassroots club way back in 1976 and moved to Winwick Leisure Centre in 1996. Notable players to emerge from the club’s excellent team include Wales international James Chester of Aston Villa.

Marine leads way with female team By SEAN WHELAN

Marine FC are launching their first ever 16-18 female team in partnership with Elite Sports Academy. Marine in the Community are hoping to attract oung women who are eager to combine football with their education, as the Crosby side looks to maintain its reputation as an all-encompassing community club. Marine already has several females working at the club, including Susan Nugent, the club’s photographer, who is delighted with the news of a new

female side. “It’s great to see girls getting the same opportunities as the lads have, it’s a great community club and it will be nice to welcome more people to our family,” she said. James Leary, Marine’s CEO, is leading the initiative and admits it’s very important the club provide equal opportunities: “The

launch of this initiative makes me very proud, it’s nice to be able to provide a platform for these girls to participate in sport. “This can be around their studies or schoolwork and will help improve their skills on and off the pitch.” Trials will take place at Marine on March 28th.

League leaders Saint Helens extended their unbeaten record with a convincing victory over Huddersfield Giants. The injury-hit Giants put on a respectable performance, although the relentless world-class kicking game of Theo Fage and Lachland Koote kept Huddersfield on the back foot. Huddersfield came into the game energised following their victory over Wigan last week. They certainly weren’t playing like the Betfred Super League’s bottom paced side as they looked to improve their poor form which has seen them win just one out of their last seven fixtures. The Giants couldn’t hold back the Saints attack for long after a storming run from Luke Thompson broke the line for the first try of the game after just four minutes. Huddersfield marched steadily upfield, where England winger Germaine McGillvary scored in the right hand corner to bring the game level. Impressive foot work from the astonishingly quick Reagan Grace stretched the opposing line thin, earning him a try in the corner. The Giants’ misfortune only increased when Joe Wardle suffered a head injury whilst tackling, leaving him unable to continue. The bad luck continued when McGillvary dropped the ball behind his own try line and gifted Saints another soft try. In the closing minutes of the game, the big and powerful Huddersfield side was dominated by a younger, fitter Saints side who still looked fresh until the end. This loss takes the tally of injured Giants players up to eight as Huddersfield remain in the relegation zone. Huddersfield Giants: Tries: McGillvary (14), Turner (26) Conversions: Gaskell (15,27) St Helens: Tries: Thompson (4), Knowles (24), Percival (38,53), Grace (62), Peyroux (69), Lomax (74) Conversions: Coote

LL Liverpool Life

Picture by Adele Matthews

Goodbye from LJMU Journalism Students