Liverpool Life 8:3 October 23 2019 by Steve Harrison

FROM THE HEART OF THE CITY

I’m free!

Liverpool Life

CORBYN VISITS LIVERPOOL WARDROBE WONDERS

CALLUM’S SPOOKY MESSAGE

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 23 2019

NEWS EVENTS LIFESTYLE SPORT

North West first race car simulator By DANIEL HOPKINSON The first race car simulator in the North West is now open, giving racing fans a chance of a lifetime to get close to racing on a real track. The simulator opened on Friday to give car-racing fans the experience to test their driving skills on some of the most famous racing tracks. The new race car simulator is the latest gaming technology created by Century Slim Racing and the new centre is based at the Team Sport Go

Karting in Warrington. The simulator contains a 180 degrees view of the track on three panoramic screens and visitors can add a headset for a more realistic experience of what it is like to be in a race car. This new technology allows racing fans to get as close as possible to racing on the track, without the worry of crashing. Racers will have the chance to save their race time online, as there is an interactive leader board on the Century

Slim Racing website. The website allows visitors to track their score, and challenge or defend their best time if someone comes close to breaking the time. The simulator will also be open to big bookings for those who want to hire out the centre for parties. Century Slim Racing are allowing annual memberships to the centre, which will give the members additional benefits to enjoy their experience even more.

Lime Street closures scheduled next month By CHLOE MORGAN

Delight as Face Lab nominated for top award By DANIEL WILLIAMS

Rail passengers can expect more line closures at Liverpool Lime Street next month because of a signalling upgrade taking place at Edge Hill station. As part of the Great North Rail Project signalling controls are being switched to Network Rail’s operating centre in Manchester. The work will take place on November 2 and 3 as part of a £340m investment across Liverpool City Region to upgrade its railways by the end of 2019. The investment has already seen upgraded platforms at Lime Street station and improvements to railway tracks. Phil James, managing director of Network Rail’s North West Route, said: “I know there is never a good time to close the railway but, for work as complex as this major signalling upgrade, unfortunatly its unavoidable.” Rail replacement buses will be avaible to passengers to Liverpool Central or through the Liverpool South Parkway route. Cllr Liam Robinson, transport portfolio holder at the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority said: “We were very grateful for the patience shown by rail users during the Lime Street upgrade last year and we would

Liverpool Lime Street

advise them to plan ahead and follow the advice given when making journeys over this weekend. The signal work at Edge Hill will allow disruptions to be responded to more efficiently and delays to be minimised. Lime Street already has the signalling system in place. Passengers are being urged to visit www.nationalrail.co.uk for any journey information and for help planning alternative routes.

LIVERPOOL LIFE

Prof Caroline Wilkinson

Edge Hill Station © Reptonix Awards Wikimedia Commons

CONTENTS

Jeremy Corbyn Rally P3

Fashion for fall P8

Museum of the moon P5

Pulling pints in the city P11

Mental health charity night P6

Holiday fun for families P13

An LJMU research group has been nominated for a top culture award. Face Lab, a group that creates 3D models of faces using skeletal remains, has been shortlisted for the Impact Award (International reach) in the Liverpool City Region Culture and Creativity Awards. The group, consisting of six members of staff along with two postgraduate students, is involved in many police forensic investigations for the identification of human remains. They also have an educational role, as they are involved in archaeological investigations. The team analyses historical figures to create a 3D model of their face. Their work is presented in museums and galleries from around the world, and they have worked alongside organisations such as the Egyptian Museum of Cairo, Interpol and the FBI Academy. Prof Caroline Wilkinson, Director of Face Lab, said to LL: “We are delighted to be nominated and delighted to be recognised for our international reach.” The Lab has been shortlisted for the award alongside the International Slavery Museum and Africa Oyé. Prof Wilkinson added: “It’s a nice process to be involved in.”

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EDITOR: Megan Stringer PRODUCTION TEAM: Aoife Monohan, Charlotte Kenny, Rosie Patel, Laura Kelly, Demi Williams, Ben Lynch, Stephen Bramhill, Solomon Murphy, Ethan Jukes-Mcnee, Faye Wasilowski, Olivia Wagg, Evelyn Edward, Dan Jones FRONT COVER PHOTO: Lauryn Pouama

Corbyn’s rallying call to faithful as election looms By MAISIE HARVEY

Jeremy Corbyn fired up hundreds of Labour supporters as he took to the stage in Grand Central Hall on Saturday night. The leader of the Labour party called for an end to austerity, as well as promising an end to rough sleeping and protection of the NHS. The long-time MP said: “Nine years ago this country didn’t have a million people using a foodbank every year, nine years ago we didn’t have the thousands and thousands of rough sleepers we’ve now got. It is all a product of austerity, which was always a political choice.” He added: “We know what that means when they [the Conservatives] talk about American healthcare companies having access to the UK health market. Well, I’ve got news for them, the UK health market closed down in 1948 when we set up the NHS. There is not going to be a health market, because we will always defend our national health service.” The politician also promised educational reform, including music education for all children and an end to Key Stage One and Key Stage Two testing. His colleague, Angela Rayner, Shadow Secretary of State for Education also spoke at the rally, and emphasised the need for an inclusive education system. She said: “The next Labour government will make sure everyone can reach their full potential. We cannot afford as a society to let anyone’s potential not be reached, because we all lose out.”

Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) protesting outside © Robbie Robinson

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn speaking to supporters in Liverpool © Maisie Harvey The Labour MP for Ashton-under-Lyne accused the current Conservative government of being out of touch with the people, and defended Labour’s renationalisation policy. She said: “The Tories are s**ting themselves. They know that, actually, it’s not any sort of sect to think that our national utilities, our railways, our public services should be

Family plea to bring home grandmother By JADA JONES A Liverpool family is raising money to bring home their 71-year-old grandmother following a stroke in Malaga, Spain, earlier this month. The family received a phone call from Spain to inform them that their grandmother Christine Attrill, had been taken to a hospital, but there were no details about where she was or her condition. The family struggled to find out details and due to the language barrier they had to rely on assistance from the British Embassy, who discovered which hospital their grandmother had been taken to. The family learnt that Mrs Attrill was on a ventilator and has a serious case of pneumonia. The family are now trying to raise the £14,000 on a JustGiving.com page to try to get her grandmother back to England via air ambulance. People are asked to donate at https://justgiving.com/crowdfunding/christinespage

there for the public good and work in the interests of the public and not private profiteers. “They tried to attack me for saying private schools shouldn’t be subsidised by the taxpayer. I’ve got news for them, it ain’t a sect, it’s the general public.” The Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, supported his Labour

colleagues. He said: “Ten years of austerity we’ve faced, it has to end. Our challenge is not just to win MPs in Liverpool, or the City Region, but across the country. “We have no choice, we have to make sure that we get elected, a labour socialist government that can transform our city.” The mood in Grand Central Hall was one of optimism, with Labour supporters both young and old cheering loudly at each proclamation. This came despite a protest outside the venue by the Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI), who were urging those queuing to enter to challenge Jeremy Corbyn on the issue. Inside the event it was confirmed that Labour backs the WASPI campaign “100 percent”.

Wirral Radio re-branding as a digital platform By CHLOE MORGAN

Pictured: Christine Attrill, who is currently in hospital in Malaga following a stroke

Radio Wirral is relaunching on digital radio next month. The community station formerly named Wirral Radio rebranded after its closure in March 2018. Ian Kenyon, Peter Silcock and Tom Hunter, who were part of the original crew, will be joined by digital marketers Nik Ellis and Justine McLaughlin for the relaunch. The rebrand has introduced a new set of goals for the station, which will focus on providing local news andmarketing opportunities to Wirral businesses and support local events. The station has taken to twitter to promote its return to DAB and present the rebrand to its followers. • LEFT: How we reported the story in February.

Tree-mendous success for historic Allerton Oak By MAISIE HARVEY Liverpool’s 1,000-year-old Allerton Oak has been crowned the Woodland Trust’s Tree of the Year 2019. The legendary tree, whose frail branches now require props to support them, has seen off competition from across the country. The winner was decided by the public and the Allerton Oak won 34% of the vote. As well as the honour of the title, the oak has received a £1,000 grant to be put towards its care. It is rumoured a court was held under the branches of Calderstones Park’s most famous oak in medieval times and that the tree survived the explosion of the Lotty Sleigh ship in 1864.

WINNER: The 1,000-year-old tree which can be found in Calderstone’s Park

Walk delivers a healthy message By TOM BATTISON St Helens Council has held a community walk to promote health and the environment. The Ranger Service at the council undertook a 3.5 mile nature walk throughout different public footpaths and rights of way paths through Rainford village. During the walk, held each month, rangers Tracey Sherer and Barry Fleetwood were on hand to discuss different environmental issues in the area. The walk started at Siding Lane Nature Reserve, an important community hub in this particular area of Merseyside, where the two-hour walk started and ended. Tracey spoke to LL more about the message behind this health walk service and how the environment has

changed in St Helens. “It goes in peaks and troughs, at the moment because the Liverpool city region calendar of events are out there, people are getting to hear about the areas and we get more and more conservation groups working in these areas so it’s great, it’s not always been like that such as recessions, it’s just one of those things, places will suffer, but as long as we keep using them, it’ll come round again, and it’ll be fantastic. “The healthy living team initially started the healthy living programme, that was grant funded and we jumped on-board many years ago, and we had an awful lot of walks with them, ranging from ‘one heart walks’ to ‘three heart walks’, this walk today was a three-heart walk, which is aimed at those who want to

NATURE RESERVE: St Helens Council is promoting health and the environment with nature walks © Tom Battison walk along and get a little bit out of breath.” Tracey added: “A one heart walk is about introducing more people to walking again, and more important socialising, because it is quite a social walk. “That’s why we rangers come in doing the natural history. “A lot of people come out and it might be their only way of socialising. “We get a lot of regulars and we get new people, and we make friends and they make more friends, and they get

to hear about other walks, and it kick starts so much more social activity for people, so it is really good.” “I’d encourage people to just keep using the natural environment. We have a lot of rights of way that don’t get used, and they disappear. Keep using the local environment, keep appreciating it and getting everybody else involved because its good for mental health as well as physical health.” The next health walk at Siding Lane Nature Reserve is due to take place on November 18.

Return of Halloween parade By DANIEL WILLIAMS A large troupe of Halloween drummers are set to parade through Liverpool City Centre this weekend. Katumba, a Liverpool-based drumming group, will transform the city into a “playground of imagination”. The parade route will worm its way through the heart of the city centre on October 26, starting from 8pm at the corner of Bold Street and Colquitt Street. Alongside the festivities, Katumba has offered audiences the chance to take part in the parade, with classes to create lanterns and props. The group will finish the celebrations with a Halloween party at the Katumba Culture Hub on October 31. Other spooky events include, the Hallowe’en Monster Ball 2019, which offers partygoers a chance to catch a viewing of classic seasonal films from October 27 to October 30 at the Palm House in Sefton Park. Trapped in Wonderland will give a spooky spin to the classic Lewis Carroll tale. You can catch the event on October 31. Finally, for late night festivities, the Twisted Circus Hallowe’en Festival is set to appear for its sixth year.

Young people are given a voice with new newspaper By MAISIE HARVEY A youth-led newspaper will launch in Liverpool next year and the community organisation behind it are now recruiting young artists and writers for the project. Comics Youth, which has been helping young people across the Liverpool City Region express themselves through art and writing since 2015, is running the project. The newspaper will be produced in a tabloid format, with each of its 40plus pages filled with content written or drawn by young people aged between eight and 25. “They get to make their own newspaper, and they can do it exactly how they want to,” said Amy Roberts, Marketing and Communications Officer at Comics Youth. She added: “It gives them the opportunity to talk about everything they want to talk about, whether that be writing poetry or doing a stream of consciousness about Noel Fielding’s jumpers on British Bake Off, or even just working on their art work and having that be published somewhere and seen by the public.” The group have an inclusive ethos and are especially keen for the voices of marginalised young people to be heard. Amy said: “In this country, under the current government with the amount of funding cuts that are happening, we

PROJECT: Young people participating in a Comics Youth workshop © Comics Youth live in an environment of exclusivity. “A lot of people are being treated as ‘other’, if you’re not white, cisgender, above being lower or working class, straight, you are basically shut down – you aren’t given the same attention, you aren’t given the amount of resources, you aren’t listened to, you aren’t taken seriously. “We want to make as inclusive a space as possible so that young people feel safe and they feel nurtured, and they don’t feel afraid to leave the house, and they don’t feel ‘other’. In this day and age no one should feel separate or different. We’re all the same. We’re all humans. We all deserve the exact same treatment.” There will be a focus on feel-good news items, as the team have received

feedback from young people suggesting this is lacking in the mainstream press. Amy said: “They would want something that always ended on a positive note, no matter how negative, or depressing, or debilitating the story was.” The newspaper will be released quarterly, and its first issue is due to be published in February 2020. About 1,000 copies will be available for the young people involved to distribute to their family and friends, while about 4,000 will be sold through a pop-up stall and through local independent businesses. More than 40 young people have expressed their interest in being part of the project.

Museum of the Moon set for Wirral landing By STEPHEN RAWLINSON Visitors will be able to marvel at a close-up look at the moon’s surface when it arrives in Birkenhead Town Hall this month. Museum of the Moon, by artist Luke Jerram, is a fusion of lunar imagery, moonlight and surround sound composition created by BAFTA and Ivor Novello award-winning composer Dan Jones. A special programme of lunar-inspired events beneath it will accompany the world-famous installation. The Museum of the Moon may be familiar because it was at Liverpool Cathedral last year, receiving high praise during its visit. The event, which begins on October 25 and runs for three weeks, is part of Wirral’s Borough of Culture programme. The initiative was introduced by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and is designed to encourage cultural activities across the region. Wirral’s events this year have been inspired by discovery, exploration and the great outdoors. During the three weeks, visitors will be able to

experience extremely detailed NASA imagery of the lunar surface. Each centimetre of the 7 metre, internally-lit sculpture represents 5km of the moon’s surface. Included as part of the events are the Glamournauts and the 18th Century Orchestra. The Glamournauts are part of the Mooncup Theatre group, who on October 30 will be doing a performance based on the resilience and achievement throughout space. This is a free event running throughout the day. Baroque music will accompany some peaceful sights on November 13 as the 18th Century Orchestra will provide a unique experience for the town hall. Tickets are £18. Birkenhead Town Hall, in Hamilton Square, has also hosted other prominent art events as part of the Borough of Culture programme. In March the area hosted Animated Square created by award-winning Illuminos, who spent time in the borough to uncover stories about Birkenhead’s past, present and future which were then created into a light and sound display. More information available at www. VisitWirral.com.

AWESOME: The moon in Liverpool Cathedral

Taking small steps to beat loneliness with creativity

By STEPHEN RAWLINSON

mental health wellness organisation has held its first event aimed at tackling isolation and loneliness among

students. Aptly named ‘Sound Mind’, the event, held at Phase One on Seel Street, focused on promoting the mental health wellbeing of younger people through charity talks, creative workshops and live music. It was run by the community interest company Small Steps. The founder and director of Small Steps Niamh Mitchell thinks that “loneliness and isolation in young people and students is a problem that can no longer be ignored”. Coming from her own personal experiences as a student in Manchester, the 24-year-old told Liverpool Life: “When I was in university, I struggled with feeling lonely and mental health and there were no outlets, so we thought by making it a social event it wouldn’t come with this stigma.” She added: “Unfortunately there is still a stigma - you can’t really say to your mates ‘I’m not feeling great’, because they may not know how to help and it can be awkward to tell your friends. We feel like we can open a door to help people.” Multiple charities were in attendance on the night, including the Open Door Centre. Based in Birkenhead, they provide immediate free access for anybody between 15 and 30, who is feeling depressed, anxious or suffering from panic attacks. Adele Iddison, coordinator of the group, felt their charity was useful for students who feel pressured to go their GP for advice, due to the relaxed nature of their programme. She told Liverpool Life: “We do an eight-week bespoke programme,

IN TUNE: Musicians perform at Sound Mind © Stephen Rawlinson based on cognitive behaviour therapy. It is volunteer based. They provide insight and lead the sessions on a weekly basis. “We have a coffee shop and a gig venue and the idea is that we put mental health services in everyday places, you can go somewhere and have a conversation in a laid back environment and feel relaxed.”

here were creative workshops taking place in Phase One in order to get the students in attendance talking, including ‘Speed Making’. This activity had guests making models and art pieces with a time limit, with the idea that these activities would allow enough fun to break the ice, for those suffering from anxiety.

From an NHS perspective Joni Flynn, who works for Talk Liverpool, highlighted the importance of mental health, particularly for students. Speaking at the event, she said: “National campaigns help to break down stigma and get people talking, as do events such as this event – Sound Mind. Mental health and wellbeing should be seen on equal footing with physical health and wellbeing. It is an important part of what makes us who we are.” She added: “We all need support from time to time, and talking openly about what can be done to help is key to helping us live our lives to the fullest” Miss Mitchell hoped that Sound Mind could be the first in a termly event to get students talking more.

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How mental health is viewed has changed a lot in recent years

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Bewitching sound that’s out and proud Liverpool Life’s JADA JONES talks to Liverpool songwriter Callum Crighton about his new spooky single and the inspiration behind it

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The strongest thing someone can do is to just show love

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birthed. The strongest thing someone can do is to just show love. “The message behind the song is highlighted with the line ‘Yes I am a witch, without the trouble or the toil’.” Halloween was a natural inspiration for this track. Callum said: “Halloween is my favourite holiday and witchcraft is

© Lauryn Poutama something that really fascinates me, I love to believe that there is some magic in the world and that everyone is a bit of a witch.” Witchcraft marks the eighth music video that Callum has released, a creation that has been compared to ‘David Bowie meets VHS workout tape’. The video is also the fifth he has made in collaboration with Tempest Studios, an all-female production company based in Liverpool. The singer and company have been working together since the May 2018 release of ‘The Bubblebath Bop’. • Witchcraft is available on all major streaming platforms now. The music video can be found on Callum’s YouTube channel.

More spooky tunes for your playlist 1.There will be blood - Kim Petras German singer-songwriter Kim Petras released her 17 track Halloween-themed EP ‘Turn off the light’ this month to critical acclaim. Paying homage to the LGBT icons of horror and inspired by ‘80s slasher movies, we’re sure this will be a hit this Halloween.

iverpool native Callum Crighton is at it again, dropping his third ‘spooky’ song with Witchcraft. The short track was originally intended to be a B side for an upcoming single (keep your eyes out this next month) but the 20-year-old singer loved the track so much that he wanted to give it its ‘own moment’ right before Halloween. This is not the first ‘spooky’ song that Callum has released in recent years, with Magic and Juggernaut coming out in recent years. Callum explained that he has always been a fan of horror films and that Hallowe’en is his favourite holiday, so it is hardly surprising that these themes have found their way into his music. When LL asked Callum about his inspiration behind the song, he said: “This song was inspired by the homophobia that I have received on the streets. It’s something that I have to face most days. “I am unapologetically myself and some people don’t respond well to that. I could easily retaliate however I think it’s always better to channel your energy into something positive and that’s how Witchcraft was

2.Thriller - Michael Jackson A Halloween classic that’s bound to get everyone on the dancefloor, mimicking the iconic zombie dance from the music video. It even won a grammy in 1985 for best Video! 3.Superstition - Stevie Wonder Stevie might say in this song to not blindly believe in superstition,

but be beware of breaking mirrors and crossing black cats this Halloween. Funky and soulful, it’s perfect easy listening for a laid-back halloween chill out. 4.Bury a friend - Billie Eilish The 17-year-old alternative pop sensation takes on nightmares and night terrors in this experimental new song, along with writing about the monster under her bed. Sure to be a hit with the teenage crowd, with inspiraton drawn from the likes of Marilyn Manson, Lorde and Kanye West. 5.Monster Mash - Bobby (Boris) Pickett Yes you’ve heard it before. But it has not got any less catchy.

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We look at the latest fashion statements from funky hair accessories to stylish checks

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CANNY CAPES Next, £28, left, and New Look, £17.99

The lady, the clothes and the wardrobe Emily Margaret Tinne, taken around the time of her marriage in 1910. Photograph courtesy of the Tinne family

By DEMI WILLIAMS he secrets of a rich woman’s vintage wardrobe will soon be revealed at the Walker Art Gallery. An English Lady’s Wardrobe is a new exhibition which explores the shopping and style during the early Twentieth century. It highlights the clothing and accessories of Liverpool’s millionaire Tinne family, focusing particularly on Mrs Emily Margaret Tinne. Emily Margaret, an avid fashion collector, spent the 1920s and 1930s buying clothes in Liverpool shops as well as having them made by her dressmaker. More than 70 pieces are now on display in a large-scale showcase, but is only a small portion of the collection. Pauline Rushton, Senior Curator, told LL: “As a result, we now have the biggest collection of one person’s wardrobe in the UK with over 750 pieces altogether in the collection. “We have 73 outfits and then probably around 100 accessories as well, so we’ll give you a flavour of what her wardrobe was like and the kinds of things she bought or had made for herself.” The show features an array of pieces including evening wear, day-

wear, underwear, and accessories. The exhibition demonstrates the major changes in fashion throughout the Edwardian period and tells the story of how Mrs Tinne’s style evolved. Most of the clothes date from 1910, the year Emily Margaret married, up to the outbreak of the Second World War. She was buying consistently for two decades. Pauline Rushton said: “You see the major changes in fashion throughout the show. Clothes were quite constricted, women were wearing corsets a lot obviously, very nipped in waist, very long skirts and as you go through you’ll see progression of style, so in the 1920s things became more baggy. “In the ‘30s they were a little bit more tailored, a bit more fitted to the body, and you can start to see the outline of the hips again. So you do see the change in style over the period.” Pauline is hoping that people of all age groups and generations will come to see the exhibition. She said: “We’re happy if young people come as well because I think they’ll find a lot of interest, there are a lot of people who are interested in vintage costume.” • An English Lady’s Wardrobe is open to the public from Friday.

Emily Margaret Tinne’s daywear display © Demi Williams LL

Dress patterns (above) and Swimwear (right) © Demi Williams LL

Hats, jewellery, handbags, evening wear and children’s garments from the collection (below) © Demi Williams LL

From kitchen table to success T By SARAH ALMOND

his is the story of one independent brand that went from kitchen table to a global success. Liverpool is known for its unique sense of fashion yet 22-year-old Mollie-May Cartwright couldn’t quite find what exactly she was looking for to change up her wardrobe. So, the University of Liverpool graduate decided to take matters into her own hands and create her own line, Caramella. She told LL: “My market starting out was girls like me. “I only sell items I personally love, and this came from the high volume of people asking where my outfit was from and where they could buy it and I thought ‘I’d love to say this was from my own store’.” It started with trialling never seen before items ordered from international wholesaler - taking photos, modelling the pieces and posting them on popular social media network Instagram. Straight away, her page attracted lots of attention; again, people were asking her where her outfits were from. Only this time, she could say it was her own store. “For the first time ever I could actually say it was my shop. I sell this. I was like ‘Wow, people were excited for this!” Within minutes of advertising her first pieces, the new business owner already got her first order. “It was international, a lovely Spanish lady enquired about purchasing two tops and those items were soon to be my best seller for the best part of six months.” But it wasn’t all plain sailing for the budding entrepreneur who says this business venture as the most challenging thing she’d ever done. Having to learn the ropes and

teach herself the art of business was a long and difficult process. When asked what got her through it she replied: “Google was key! I had no clue about anything. I had to learn everything myself, but my passion for Caramella is what drives my business.” After two years, a degree in Psychology and a £500 loan from her dad, Mollie-May from Prenton, Wirral, has created a brand adored by thousands. With almost 63 thousand followers on Instagram, and an impressive list of celebrity ambassadors such as TOWIE star Chloe Lewis wearing her looks, one of her biggest achievements is still making young girls feel their best selves. “The tons of kind messages saying ‘thank you for my outfit, it made me feel so lovely’ is just as, if not more rewarding.” But aside from making her customers happy, she says she is at her most proud when it comes to people who work for her: “Hiring staff is the most rewarding achievement so far. Being in a position to offer a career to somebody is the best feeling.” It isn’t just Mollie behind the madness, slowly she has been building her business, but it currently consists of Erin, her all-round assistant, and her first staff she hired; and Paris, her customer assistant. “We are always one step ahead of the trends. Bringing new styles to Instagram is what Caramella does. We will keep expanding, keep growing and ensuring our customers are happy.” Caramella are now heading into their winter line, bringing out more ranges for different body types: “Caramella strives to fit and look amazing on any body shape. Tall, petite and curve ranges are our future.”

Owner Mollie-May and assistant Erin in action at the warehouse © Dani Rossi

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TOWIE star Chloe Lewis wearing the Azzura dress © Dani Rossi

We’re always one step ahead of the trends. Bringing new styles to Instagram is what Caramella does

Family celebrates loving links with historic pub By LYDIA BAGGS

hen Peter and Val Smith replied to an advertisement in the Liverpool Echo 35 years ago asking for pub managers from down south, they didn’t think that 26 years down the line they would still be in the trade and that their family would be running one of Liverpool’s most famous pubs. The couple left Merseyside to run local pubs all around north and south London before becoming the new owners of the Ferry Boat Inn, just outside Tottenham, in 1987. But their love of Liverpool never left them and when they had the chance to return they jumped at it, becoming the landlords of one of the city’s most famous pubs, the Liverpool in James Street. Daughter Paula described the pub as her mum and dad’s empire. She told LL: “They gave the whole family a home, work and a future.” The Liverpool was first known as Dodd’s Hotel, but after being bombed during the war it was rebuilt as the `Moaner Castle`. Close to the waterfront and docks, it became a well-loved destination for the Merchant and Royal navies. In fact, the pub got its current name from the 4,800-ton HMS Liverpool when the vessel was commissioned in 1982. In 2012, the HMS Liverpool made its last ever trip home and the captain presented Val, now 78, with a picture of the ship, which hangs proudly on the wall. Still now, ex-navy personnel come into the pub reminiscing about the past and telling their historic tales. Daughter Paula also described how much the

pub meant to the entire family. She told LL: “This place means so much to us all. It has been our whole lives. All our memories are here. It’s home.” In April this year, the pub lease came up for renewal. After Peter sadly passed away 14 years ago and mum Val was ready to take a step back, daughters Paula and Yvonne were not quite ready to cut the ties and decided to follow in the footsteps of their parents.

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ICONIC: The Liverpool Pub by James Street

This place means so much to us all. It has been our whole lives. All our memories are here. It’s home

EMPIRE: Val and Peter Smith. All photos © Lydia Baggs Daughter Paula told LL: “My dad was forever searching for a pub to make their own, and then this place came along in 1992. “At the time, people knew it as the ‘dead house’ because nobody ever went in. We all tried to talk dad out of it but he saw something special in it.” Now, The Liverpool - situated on James Street - is a much-loved, traditional pub in the heart of Liverpool centre serving fresh home-cooked food and hosting live entertainment on the weekends. The family pub welcomes its familiar faces but also opens its doors to new customers. When speaking about the pub to LL, Paula described how much she values the customers. She said: “We always have familiar faces in, locals and regulars. We are true friends with our customers and we value them. We love to learn about other people’s stories and in return they learn the story of the pub. “At the end of a night everyone leaves but the energy remains.” The future for The Liverpool is bright, as Paula and Yvonne look forward to celebrating another quarter of a century.

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CHEERS: Val with her three daughters and two granddaughters

Welly walk to kick off the Spooky season By TOM BATTISON

damp, cold and miserable October morning wasn’t enough to scare the general public off this event. It was just as well, because there would be plenty more frights in store as it was! Sefton Park was again the scene for this year’s Spooky Welly Walk, a charity event set up by the Liverpoolbased Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation. With Halloween itself a couple of weeks away, this did not stop the general public expressing their own excitement at this time of year, with plenty of spooky-themed costumes on display, contrasting with the peaceful backdrop of Sefton Park. The event started at 11am, and you would have found it hard to negotiate you way through the crowd as the venue was packed to the rafters. It was hard to not rubberneck at virtually

every stall on offer which lined the opening pathway. “In terms of our fundraising events, it’s pretty much the highlight for us. It attracts thousands of people, and every year it seems to get bigger and more popular,” a spokesperson for the charity explained. “It’s wonderful to be part of From FIENDISH FACES: Some of the costumed the Birds of Prey, to the inflatable because we knew that Halloweenfootball taking place, with more than themed events are very popular and enough people getting themselves ingive everyone the chance to dress up volved in, despite the dismal autumnal and get into character. weather.” “It is something where so many peoThe event was choreographed smartple are clearly having fun and happy ly. At the peak of the day there was a to be there. full host of performance displays from “Lung cancer does not currently all different types of ghostly-looking have a high public profile, yet it kills people. more people than any of the others. Simon Malia, Media and communi“We want to spread the word that cations Manager at Roy Castle Lung lung cancer can be treated if it’s Cancer Foundation, spoke to LL caught early enough, that we’re about the charity behind this hugely working hard to improve ways to popular event. ensure people are diagnosed earlier, “We started running the Roy Castle and that we offer help and support to Lung Cancer Foundation ‘Spooky all affected by the disease.” Welly Walk’ around six years ago,

A Night filled with Music at the Epstein

By DAN JONES

he iconic Epstein Theatre was brought to life by Roy Locke as he played the ‘Music of the Night’. The critically-acclaimed tenor (pictured, above) brought a mix of both musical theatre and opera to the stage. The show was a mixture of pieces from some of the most well-known musicals in the world. Locke’s extensive knowledge and experience within the industry allowed him to add a personal anecdote to each song, this helped to engage and familiarise the audience with each performance. Locke was accompanied by Olivia Brereton, a fellow West End star (pictured, right). Her addition to the show created

a balance and added variety, rather than hearing one voice for the whole evening. The pair have worked together before, which allowed them to give a true and convincing performance, taking you into each musical they performed, no set or costume needed. The theatre was filled with voices as the audience was encouraged to join in with the singing. A large chorus erupted when the two began singing ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’, adding a personaltouch to the performance. Overall, the show lends itself to an older audience, with many of the songs from plays from several decades ago. An enjoyable evening was had by all.

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participants in the event “All our staff take part and we always have a wonderful time ourselves. “The people of Merseyside always come up trumps. This is an amazing city, the people have such warm hearts. “It becomes really emotional – so many people, so much joy, and so much pride.” With the event set to travel to Birmingham this coming weekend, leaving Merseyside for the first time, it goes to show how popular this event has become and how much the Roy Castle Lung Cancer charity continues to make great strides among the community.

Panto season has woken up in St Helens

his performance of Sleeping Beauty brings opulence, laughter and fire to St. Helens Theatre Royal. Spectacular acting from the cast combined with buckets-full of traditional pantomime audience interaction makes for a great family event. Oh yes it does! The story itself was untouched - the lovely and kind, but ultimately helpless, princess was lured to a tower and in need of rescuing. Perhaps the story could have been modernised for an audience filled with the next generation. That being said, the production itself was well put together. The set and costumes were fantastic and the script was studded with local jokes and some less-than-subtle innuendos. The seven-strong cast captivated the audience from beginning to end, with Lewis Devine as Chester the Jester throwing all his efforts in to creating a show-stopping performance. However, it was Samantha Palin as the evil fairy, Carabosse, who stole the show. She epitomised strength and all-round fabulousness. The show wouldn’t have been the same without this great character and Palin’s excellent acting skills. Her rendition of Blondie’s “One Way or Another” really gets you moving! Sleeping Beauty runs until October 29. Tickets can be purchased from the box office on 01744 756 000.

By HANNAH MARTIN

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School’s out, time for fun! Liverpool Life’s guide to enjoying the half term holiday

By SARAH ALMOND

he half-term holidays are here and families everywhere will be having fun in Merseyside with a host of special events and favourite attractions. The Odeon Kids club will be running each weekend at Liverpool One. Tickets for a kids’ screening are just £2.50 each – and that is for parents too, which means the whole family can enjoy fairy-tale fantasies, faraway lands and animated favourites at a price that will not break the bank. The Little Liverpool gallery is a hands-on fantasy world created especially for children under the age of six to play and learn and will be open at the Museum of Liverpool every day during the half term. Inside the gallery, young visitors can create their own Liverpool - a city where they are in charge. Storytelling for the children is available this half term at the Merseyside Merseyside Maritime Museum on October 26, when visitors can listen to the adventures of Polar the Titanic bear, based on a story originally written by Titanic survivor Daisy Corning Stone Spedden for her

son, Douglas. Meanwhile, a talk on Titanic fashion and Fortunes will give an interesting look at the experiences of different people aboard the Titanic. You can learn about the fashions they would have worn and the objects that were important to them at the Maritime Museum on October 27. Autumn is a great time to visit the 500-acre Knowsley Safari Park and children’s ticket prices are discounted between October 26 and November 3. For a more prickly experience, Chester Zoo is holding a helping hedgehogs masterclass on October 29, 11am to 3pm. Building up to more family fun is Brick Live at the Liverpool Exhibition Centre, with interactive attractions and more than two million bricks to get your hands on.

Images: Top, Brick Live, centre, Knowsley Safari Park, above, Chester Zoo and left, the Museum of Liverpool

WHY WE LOVE AMERICAN FOOTBALL

Widely Received Louise Jamison goes the extra yard for the USA’s most popular sporting export

merican Football is not just about ‘jocks’ and staying up at unholy hours to watch the annual Super Bowl final

anymore. The popularity of the sport is rising in Britain, with fans taking to the roaring stands in full-size sporting arenas, such as Wembley Stadium. American football is slowly taking a hold in Britain - this has been

largely aided by many colleges and universities, who are now introducing the sport to their students. Clubs are cropping up all over the country, and it seems as though educational institutions are the ideal breeding ground for this particular sport. Liverpool John Moores University has taken a kick at the US sport with its very own team, LJMU Fury. Fury play in division one of the British Universities and Colleges Sport

Left and right: LJMU Fury players during practice

‘

It is a great sport because there is a position on the field for everyone

(BUCS) American Football League. Teams have been competing all over the country since 2012, when American Football was absorbed as an official league. LL spoke to former treasurer of the Fury team Chris Alderson. The 22-yearold said: “American Football doesn’t really seem to be in the forefront of the typical British, sport enthusiast, but it’s easy to get into. I had watched the super bowl before and thought I would like to have a go at it. “People in the UK are just used to our traditional football, and

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probably see NFL as being similar to rugby. It is a great sport because there is a position on the field for everyone no matter what size you are or your physical capability. “People would be surprised by the number of local teams there actually are in the UK, I’d love to see it grow more.” It is certainly one of the fastest growing sports in the UK. One major influencing factor is the fact that the NFL have been hosting regular season games in London from 2007; increasing game broadcast views by 15% in the UK since then. While a tradition has not yet been established in Britain, perhaps in the upcoming years we will see Brits swapping Champions League away days for NFL nights.

Meatball Molly scores another win By JAMES LEE Liverpool fighter Molly ‘Meatball’ McCann earned her third consecutive UFC win in Boston last night. ‘Meatball’ came up against Diana Belbita on the preliminary card and proved once again why she deserves to be amongst the best women’s flyweights in the world. Her opponent had some success early into the first round with her constant pressure on the feet, as she landed multiple strikes, but McCann quickly adapted in the fight and implemented a more grappling-heavy game plan. The second round was where some began to dominate, continuously taking the Romanian down on the fence. One moment during the end of the second, McCann had flattened out Belbita on the mat and landed a barrage of strikes. Belbita was deducted a point in the second for grabbing the fence multiple times, and knew she needed a finish in the third round to win. However, she did little to hurt ‘Meatball’ in the third, who earned 30-26 on all three judges’ scorecards to secure her third victory in just four octagon appearances. Speaking about the fight, she attributed that loss on her UFC debut to her current win streak she is on now. She said: “There biggest slice of humble pie I have ever had in my life on my debut and it shaped me into the person I am now and I think you will all see a difference in my character, not work ethic but there is a different belief.” A spot in the amongst the top 15 flyweight’s in the UFC rankings is likely now and she should look forward to a title contender fight soon.

Fleetwood poor By ALEX METCALFE Tommy Fleetwood’s season got off to a less than ideal start this weekend, as he finished his weekend 11 shots off winner Justin Thomas. Despite shooting under-par on all four days, he was far behind the form of the front pack; who were already out of touching distance by Friday evening. His best round came on Sunday, carding a round of 68 at four underpar. This was enough to take the Southport-born player to T20, but he will no doubt be disappointed as he only picked up 40.08 FedEx Cup points, leaving him 106th overall. As a reward for finishing T20, Fleetwood will pocket an unreal $103,285 to start his campaign. His next event comes just this week in the Zozo Championship, Tokyo, which is the first ever to be sanctioned PGA Tour event in Japan. Other notable results include Jordan Spieth finishing T8 with a round of -12. Northern Irish hero,

DONATION: Marine AFC are welcoming the investment

Mersey giants’ pledge to fund grassroots football By MATTHEW NYLAND The chairman of Marine FC has welcomed Everton and Liverpool’s recent initiative to support grassroots football in the area. The two Merseyside giants have pledged to donate £75,000 per year for the next three years to help grassroots football. The final sum will see an influx of £450,000 pumped into the system, which will see some of the city’s poorest children benefit. Marine AFC Chairman Paul Leary told Liverpool Life: “Any financial contribution such as this is very welcome in my opinion. “Grassroots and non-league football is vital to provide the base and pathways for young footballers to progress and develop. “Without it, the game will become totally elitist enjoyed by a few. Young talent will be lost to the game.” Former Swansea City and current non-league footballer Lee Trundle, who played briefly for Marine, add-

ed: “If you look at it from a different point of view, by putting that amount of money into it you can have more kids playing more football and a better quality of football so it keeps them off the streets.” A lot of criticism has been aimed towards football’s governing bodies in recent years regarding the decline of grassroots football. Many Saturday and Sunday amateur football sides fold every year or are in extreme financial difficulty due to financial pressures from rising pitch fees. Numerous teams also suffer from a shortage of volunteers.

Grassroots football is something that is often disregarded in the modern game in terms of its importance to English football. However, it has made a massive impact over the years and has contributed many Premier League footballers. Over the years, Premier League legends such as Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard made their early starts at their local teams. Although it is not entirely clear how the funding will be used, Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson announced that the funds would aim to help parents who can’t afford pitch fees.

Wrestling treat for Tuebrook

By DANIEL WILLIAMS A Merseyside wrestling show is set to make its Tuebrook debut. Just Fabulous Pro Wrestling (JFPW) is to host its third show on Saturday November 2 at Tuebrook Hope Centre. The first show was hosted in Widnes and was a charity event for the family of Christian Thornton, a pub landlord who was fatally stabbed earlier this year. Visitors to the Hope Centre will be able to see a championship bout between Joey Fabulous and Matthew Davies. The pair are both local men who grew up on West Derby Road. Joey Fabulous, professional wrestler and founder of JFPW, explained that a childhood passion inspired him to wrestle. He said: “I’ve been wrestling now for nearly 11 years. I think everyone of a certain age grew up watching WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) or

WCW (World Championship Wrestling). “Most people grow out of it, but I didn’t. I found a training school and thought I’d give it a go. I loved it and I haven’t looked back since.” He added: “Wrestling Tuebrook Hope Centre © Daniel Williams is the ultimate show. We can He said: “We are delighted to be get you lost in a moment and make a supporting local sportsmen, advancmemory for a lifetime.” ing their hobbies and providing a The show was organised alongside range of activities in the heart of our the Tuebrook Hope Group, who help Tuebrook. run the Centre. “It is one of many initiatives that Tuebrook councillor Joe Dunne, a we are providing for young people to trustee of the Group, is excited to host come along and enjoy.” the show..

Tickets now axed for cup games

Reds fans’ dismay at cup match ticket plan By LUKE EDWARDS Liverpool fans have reacted with disappointment to news that the club will no longer issue paper tickets for cup competitions. Supporters attending games at Anfield are now being asked to bring a confirmation email of their seat details with them on their phones or as a physical copy for each game. This procedure is already in place for league games at Anfield. Sam Mitchell, 20, a season ticket holder at Anfield told LL: “I think it is a shame. “I like to collect my tickets from the cup games especially from memorable games like the Barcelona game last season. I can look back on that ticket and in the future show the grandkids I was there.” The front-line maintenance apprentice engineer continued: “I don’t see how this will stop touting all together as some people I know effectively rip off their mates by selling tickets to games they can’t get to and making a tidy profit off them.” The announcement comes just a couple of weeks after the club introduced a new fan identification scheme, Fan Update, in an attempt to stop illegal touts purchasing multiple tickets and then selling on for a profit and to also know who is in the ground at each game. An online identification process has been designed for members to verify who the membership belongs to and who attends the games. • Clubs combine to boost the grassroots: p15.

INSIDE SPORT

Teenager Liam McCracken is spreading his wings with his mixed martial arts (MMA) career. The 18-year-old mixed martial artist, fighting from Aspire Combat Sport Academy, is flying to Bahrain alongside his coaching team to compete for Team England in the World Championships in the Amateur MMA division. Liam stopped playing football at the age of 11, deciding that he would take on MMA as a hobby to fill his free time but instead fell in love with the sport. Seven years later, Liam’s hobby has blossomed into a career. He holds a 6-0-2 amateur record, giving him a lot of experience for a fighter his age. Liam’s coaching team consists of Dean Garnett (9-2-1), Phil Turner, Aaron Robinson (4-2-0) and Johnny ‘Pretinho’ Eduardo (28-12-0). With ‘Pretinho’ being a signed UFC Pro fighter and Garnett being signed with Brave MMA, it is easy to see that Liam is surrounded by some serious MMA talent. He also trains alongside notable names including Marlon Jones, his primary training partner. The two fighters have been training together for years, and the talent they possess has not gone unnoticed. When talking to Phil Turner about the two young men, he said: “Through hard work, determination, commitment,

© Jada Jones FOCUSED: McCracken in preparation for the World Championships and their friendly rivalry Marlon and Liam improve continuously resulting in the best young talent I have seen in my 15 years in this sport. “They lead by example on and off the mat and you won’t find two better role models for the next generation to aspire to be.” Liam’s wins include the Cage Warriors Academy Junior Bantamweight championship, and he has not stayed still with MMA, with him going on to win gold at the Empire Grappling Brazilian Jiu Jitzu British Open earlier this year. Liam is looking further than British Opens and moving onto a global stage. When talking about his upcoming trip

to Bahrain, Liam said: “My next fight is definitely the biggest opportunity I have had so far. I have been chosen to represent Team England and fight for the IMMAF World Championship in Bahrain. Not many people can say that they’ve been there, so to say I’ve been able to fight there… It’s a big opportunity.” The IMMAF commences on Sunday, November 10 and continues until November 16. It follows a tournament structure with daily weigh ins and daily fights. Liam is not the first from his gym to go forward to an IMMAF tournament, with a small group of Aspire fighters going along to last year’s Bahrain World Championships.

Huyton wrestler wins two medals for GB By LYDIA BAGGS Greco freestyle wrestler Tony Collins is heading home with silver and bronze for GB after competing in the Masters World Championships in Warsaw, Poland. The 66-year-old 2016 British champion, from Huyton, has 42 years’ experience in the freestyle wrestling industry. He flew to Poland on Thursday to take on his newest opponents. Speaking before the competition, and after months of intense training, Collins said he hoped to place well in the Championships. He updated LL with his busy schedule once he had arrived in Poland and said he had one day of practice and drill before the weigh in on Saturday, followed by the Greco Roman World

Grassroots football backed by top clubs

championships on Sunday and freestyle on Monday. The great-grandfather said: “On day one of the competition I defeated a world champion in the first round, then later on I met an American in the final and he was just too big for me, so I took silver in the world Greco Roman championships. “On day two I took bronze in the freestyle after an injury earlier on in the day.”

The medals Collins won in Poland

Wrestling show to hit Liverpool

Tony Collins: British champ at 66

Why American football is on the rise