Liverpool Life 8:12 February 26 2020 by Steve Harrison

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Liverpool Life

“Why I own 150 hoovers...” Read how Matthew’s incredible story captured the nation with his collection of 150 vacuum cleaners

Wednesday February 26 2020

Expenses of final Reds’ games By DANIEL WILLIAMS Tickets for the final Liverpool FC home game, which could see the Reds crowned Premier League champions, are on sale for up to £5,250. The Reds are set to play Chelsea in the penultimate league game of the season on May 9, in what could be a memorable end to a historic season. The red half of the city is buzzing at the moment, as champions-elect Liverpool are storming to their first Premier League title in 30 years. Leading last year’s champions Manchester City with a staggering 22-point lead, the runaway leaders are well on course to lift the long-awaited trophy in May. But the chances for fans to see their beloved Reds claim the title at Anfield have taken a serious hit, with tickets being sold for some ridiculous prices. Tickets typically go for £100 but as Liverpool’s record-breaking title campaign nears its climax, prices are skyrocketing with games against Watford and Bournemouth doubling and tripling the standard price. And staggeringly, third party ticket site livefootballtickets.com is offering a number of tickets for the Chelsea clash, starting at a hefty £948 and rising to £5,250 for an executive Main stand seat.

The final league game against Newcastle on May 17 doesn’t come cheap either, with an away ticket at St James Park going for £1,500. This isn’t the first time supporters faced a money mountain to climb. Hotel rooms on the night of the Reds’ potential title-winning parade were being sold for over £20,000 earlier this month. Fans have been vocal in their annoyance of ticket prices. One Twitter user, @DJGlassBack, described the prices as “ludicrous.” He said: “We are quick enough to condemn foreign companies doing this so I wonder if the city or club will say anything about these ludicrous prices!” Another, @MangoCoconutNG, noticed hotel prices were the same as the price of a plane ticket. He said that his friends were travelling from south to Merseyside for the title parade and the prices of rooms were the same as a flight to Nigeria in December. He added: “You might as well drive down and sleep in your car.” But it’s not all bad news. The Reds’ recent successes in Europe and becoming Champions of the world in Qatar in December has seen them soar in popularity on the global stage.

Anfield

With a new Nike Kit deal imminent and the latest player acquisition Takumi Minamino raising LFC’s stocks in Japan, the Reds have never been more popular. This will no doubt have a huge impact on the local economy. Local taxi drivers and hotels are sure to receive a healthy financial boost come May. A report published last year found that LFC boosted the Liverpool City Region economy by £497m during the 2017-2018 season, according to Deloitte’s Sports Business Group.

Jurgen Klopp © Wikimedia Commons

Homeless people warned against sleeping in bins By LUKE EDWARDS Stickers are being placed on industrial-sized bins across the city warning the homeless not to risk their lives by sleeping in them. Gaskells Waste Management introduced the policy after a report revealed rising numbers of vulnerable people were seeking shelter in this way. Yesterday one of the city’s leading homeless support groups warned those thinking of using bins to sleep in that they were putting themselves in danger. Ruth McCaguhley, fundraising manager at the Whitechapel Centre told Liverpool Life: “We do work closely with Gaskells waste managemnt and

they run a campaign which has stickers on all of their bins asking rough sleepers to contact us rather than getting in the bin. “It happens across the country, which is way Gaskells and other waste management companies are very keen to get the message out that it’s a very dangerous thing to do.” Details of the steps being taken locally come after a national report by waste management company Biffa. It found that in the last five years, the problem of rough sleepers using bins for shelter has increased, with most incidents being in the winter. At least seven people have died in the last five years due to sleeping in bins and being crushed with the waste inside the bins in the back of the bin

LIVERPOOL LIFE

Warning sign lorries. Biffa employees reported 109 near misses between April to December 2019 of rough sleepers nearly ending up being tipped into the back of the lorry with the waste inside the bin they were seeking shelter in. On the night of the annual rough sleeper count, 15 people were counted sleeping on the streets in Liverpool, which is down from 33.

CONTENTS

Black Pearl saved after Storm Dennis P3

We raise a glass to Liverpool Beer Festival P8

Blue’s community effort P5

Artistic celebrations P11

Dragons Den P6

Blue plaque honours P13

The 53% drop is largely due to the Whitechapel Centre, Liverpool’s largest homeless charity, who provide overnight shelter at Labre house. Labre house accommodates for on average 75 people per night and has prevented over 1200 people from ending up sleeping rough over the past year. Out on the streets across the city stand vendors for The Big Issue are seen in all weathers selling the latest issue of the magazine. George Wright, communications and fundraising manager at The Big Issue North, said: “It’s not a specific situation we are aware of. Sleeping rough is a dangerous thing whether you’re in a bin or doorway and the more opportunities people have to avoid that is for the better.”

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

Green homes scheme for Vauxhall By LUKE EDWARDS © Fat Les (bellaphon), Wikimedia Commons

Cop drama to hit city streets Filming will take place in and around Liverpool for a new crime drama starring Martin Freeman (above). The Responder is written by former police officer Tony Schumacher and follows life on the front line of British policing through the eyes of Chris. The character, played by Martin Freeman, tackles a series of night shifts on the beat in Liverpool as an urgent response officer. Martin, best know for his TV roles in The Office and Sherlock, said: “Tony Schumacher’s script for The Responder resonated with me immediately. It felt like nothing that I’d read or seen.”

Sixty-six homes could be built in the Vauxhall area as part of a new green building scheme. Planners hope to make the plan a reality after the Homes England building group paid for a feasibility study into the project. The new development would see dozens of apartments built on Love Lane, Vauxhall, which are aimed at achieving a high level of energy efficiency, resulting in lower fuel bills and lower energy consumption. George Evans, chief executive of the Eldonians Community Based Housing Association, said: “Without the help of Homes England we wouldn’t be able to afford to know whether we can build it or not. “This (feasibility study) will tell us if we can.” The Homes England feasibility study will bring in consultants who will determine whether the project is feasible or not. This will allow them to get to a stage of full planning. To make this achievable, the project will adopt Passivhaus de-

Artist’s impression of the sign principles. This involves the use of solar panels, thicker insulation in the walls, triple glazed windows and having air tight enclosures. This reduces drafts coming in under doors and balanced ventilation to ensure heat is controlled by retaining and extracting heat through a heat recovery unit. The purpose of the feasibility study is because it is “industrial land and we don’t know how much it would cost to develop” ,according to the chief executive of the Eldonians Community

© Halsall Lloyd Based Housing Association. The idea is that the homes will be un-furnished, although they are flexible on this. Halsall Lloyd Partnership have been appointed as the architects for the project. The architects and designers worked on phase I and phase II of the Eldonian village. An objective of the project is to link it in with the Strategic Regeneration Area’s Ten Streets project, which George Evans labelled as the “the catalyst for the development of the North dock area.”

Black Pearl is saved after storm By LUKE EDWARDS A Facebook appeal has helped rescue New Brighton’s famous Black Pearl after it was battered by Storm Dennis. The pirate ship, which attracts thousands of visitors a year, needed a sturdy new deck in the wake of the recent windy weather. As a result, the Black Pearl’s Facebook page issued an appeal for pallets, which a local company delivered within a week. Sue Mace, one of the “pirates” of the Black Pearl who helped build and maintain the boat, told Liverpool Life it relied on the community to survie. She said: “We merry band of pirates consist of mostly retired people, about 16 of us. Some build the boat, all beach clean, some are photographers, some are giant bubble makers. “We all entertain our numerous school visits and of course the Children of Chernobyl. We also have a fairy village in Vale Park where all manner of mythical creatures can be found, which are illuminated on special occasions. “We never ask for public or school donations but we do attend local charity functions.” When asked whether the crew would ever abandon ship, given how many times the boat has been damaged and needing repairs, Mrs Mace said: “We all have far too much fun to ever want to give up, but time and tide will tell.” The boat receives grants from the council, Tesco and other businesses but relies on the local commu-

Storm Dennis hits New Brighton and, below, the Black Pearl on a calmer dayPhotos© Jan Peddie nity to supply things like fixtures and fittings. The boat is largely made up of driftwood and its structure is anchored into position by stainless steel cables underneath the rocks ,and rope and six inch nails to hold it all together. One mast is off a beached vessel, another from a local sailing club and the Black Pearl has been promised a third by a member of the public next month. The boat was made in 2013 when Frank Lund, also known as Captain Frank, was making wooden sea creatures out of his driftwood, as his neighbour walked past with a length of driftwood and had an idea to build a boat. A young girl shouted from the Promenade: “Could it be a pirate ship?” This storm is not the first time the Black Pearl has had to over-

come adversity. It has fallen victim to arson and vandalism as well as high tides and strong winds. A previous storm saw the Black Pearl on her first and last voyage as the remnants of the boat were found wrapped around the Gorm-

ley figures at Crosby Beach. The rebuild saw hundreds of people turn up to help restore the boat, arriving with wood, nails and food and drink for the day. A local sailing club donated the sails for the boat.

Walk in BAFTA recognition for memory Crosby Plaza’s love of film of Beatle George By CHARLOTTE KENNY

Community cinema Crosby Plaza has won a BAFTA for the Love of Film 2020 competition. The cinema, which opened over 80 years ago, is operated by volunteers and has been recognised for its work using the restorative magic of film to unite the local community. Martin Fol, who has worked at the cinema for 21 years told Liverpool Life: “A woman called Clare Stevenson who used to live in Crosby but now lives in London put myself and Jan Dunn forward for the BAFTA Love of Film competition which is for individuals who are involved in showing films or running organisations in their communities. “Over 300 people were put forward and we were shortlisted in the last eight. We’re one of two winners. “The judging panel of people such as Edith Bowman and Paul Greengrass looked at all entries and we were chosen to attend the BAFTA’s at the Royal Albert Hall with an overnight stay at the Savoy Hotel. “The whole experience was amazing, we were treated like celebrities and filmed arriving and being shown

our rooms, as well as an interview which will be broadcasted in August on ITV. “We offer film at affordable prices giving people on low income an opportunity to go the cinema with their family. We are a social enterprise and we offer autism screenings, dementia screenings and also have an Arts & Education department which helps teenagers, some vulnerable aged between 13-19, by getting them involved in film making. We are also involved with the foodbank and our ticket prices are £4.90 & £3.90.” The cinema opened on September 2 1939. However, it closed its doors the same day due to the regulations intro-

duced because of World War Two. In 1995, after the local community heard news of redevelopment of the cinema into offices, Janet Dunn began a petition which required 10,000 signatures to ensure that the cinema could stay intact. This petition was then submitted to the public enquiry to hear the owners appeal against the local authoritys plan. Eventually the developer withdrew the redevelopment proposal and the cinema then went on the open market. The cinema was reopened on July 18 1997 showing Jurassic Park: The Lost World. Following this, in January 2000, the building was purchased by the charity for £325,000.

By LEWIS BATTY The wife of George Harrison says there’s “no better way” to commemorate her late husband than with the council’s planned Woodland Walk, dedicated to the much-loved Beatle. Oliva Harrison believes her ex-husband, who died in November 2011, would have loved the memorial. She said: “George was an avid gardner who found solace and joy in being in the outdoors. I am really looking forward to watching it change and grow over the coming years” In Partnership with the George Harrison Estate, the council have revealed plans on what would’ve been his 77th birthday for the ‘George Harrison Woodland Walk’, which will be located opposite Allerton Towers in south Liverpool, close to where he grew up. The walk will officially open in 2021 and will combine garden and woodland, with a series of art installations celebrating the late Beatle’s life and lyrics.

Funnyman Kay’s new charity tour By JADA JONES

SUCCESS: Sound City

Festival gains new investor By LEWIS BATTY Liverpool’s Sound City festival has gained new investment to help fund its business development programmes and range of performers. The Sound City festival, first launched in 2008, has seen more than 5,000 up-and-coming artists perform on its stages, including now world-famous acts such as Ed Sheeran, Lizzo and The 1975. As well as this, Sound City also specialises in the training and development of many music and artist talent businesses across the NorthWest of England. The fundraising agency CAPLL

are the new investors in the festival, adding to its long-term support from the Arts Council England. Loretta Spencer of CAPLL told Liverpool Life: “CAPLL LTD are passionate about projects that look to benefit local communities and create positive impacts for people in those communities. In the past we’ve been involved with many projects such as the Danny Ings disability project amongst others. “We are very proud to now partner up with Sound City and help build on the huge success Sound City have had over many years in providing a genuine platform for many people

who are looking to enter the music industry”. The new investment is also linked to Sound City’s rebranded development programme ‘Launch’, a year-long programme which supports 12 artists with the development of their career, from recording music to tour management and PR. CAPLL will also be a partner in the Emerging talent stage for the festival in May, which includes acts such as The Blinders, The Snuts and Marika Hackman. This year’s festival takes place from May 1-3 at various venues in The Baltic Triangle.

Peter Kay is to make a return to Liverpool three years after cancelling all of his work projects in late 2017 due to “unforeseen family circumstances”. It was annouced yesterday the funnyman will make a comeback to the stage at the M&S Bank Arena this May. Liverpool is just one of the spots Kay, 46, will be visiting on his Dance for Life tour, with Manchester opening up the tour on Good Friday and London closing it out. The tour will see him donate all net profits to Cancer Research UK, the world’s leading cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research. The charity receives no government funding, which means that it relies on donations from the public. Tickets go on sale on Friday at 9am, and start at £33.35 online (including admin fee).

New hotspot swings into action By DANIEL HOPKINSON A new fun-filled nightclub is opening on Victoria Street in Liverpool. Avenue nightclub is set to open next month, in the old Midnight Lounge club. The eye-catching venue will feature a ball pit and swing that will bring a certain fun factor to the Liverpool nightlife. Owner Karl Gwynn told Liverpool Life: “Avenue will be the city’s new hotspot for guests wanting something that little bit different. “The night industry has changed a lot over the years, so we created Avenue to fit in line with the new trends, and make it picture worthy.” The redesign for Avenue nightclub is spearheaded by local interior designer Beth Begg, who worked on the refurbishment of Urban Calm in the Metquarter. Beth has taken inspiration from Palm Springs California, with pastel hues dominating the colour scheme as well as wall-towall floral designs that have been handpainted by Liverpool artist Jazz Stan. The club is set to open with an exclusive launch night planned for Saturday March 14.

Services as Lent begins By MARY SLOWEY Liverpool’s Christian communities are coming together today to celebrate Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday, which follows Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake Day, marks the beginning of Lent. Liverpool’s Metropolitan Cathedral has two services today, one in the Crypt Chapel, from 12.15 to 1pm and an evening service at 7pm. The Anglican Cathedral was offering an ‘Ashes to Go’ event as a way of offering the ritual of receiving a cross of ashes on the forehead to people who could not attend a traditional service. Clergy were available from 11am until 3pm in the main body of the cathedral today. A special Glitter Ash Wednesday Service is planned by Open Table, the LGBTIQIA+ community, at St Bride’s Church in Percy Street, tonight, beginning at 7.30pm. . As Lent began Christians traditionally used Shrove Tuesday to eat up the foods they would be not be enjoying for the next 40 days, such as eggs, fat, milk and flour, which is how the tradition of Pancake Day originated so no food was wasted.

Blues launch team effort in bid to feed community By CHARLOTTE KENNY Everton in the Community has teamed up with North Liverpool Foodbank. The charity, which was founded in 1988, and is one of the UK’s top sporting charities is supporing North Liverpool Foodbank after they received a huge response to donation appeals over the Christmas period. Donations received by the foodbank during December were at a higher level than usual. Currently, volunteers and staff from Everton in the Community are assisting it with organising the donations into food categories. It is expected that more than 14,000 people in Merseyside will access thefoodbank in the coming year. Communications officer Joe Cooper at Everton FC told Liverpool Life: “As the clubs/charities neighbourhood team, our focus is to assist those families within the Blue Mile, Walton, Anfield, Everton and Kirkdale, who are experiencing crisis cases. “We work with the families and foodbank distribution centres to erase the crisis element and provide emergency foodbank parcels which will feed a family for three or four days. “We also support the distribution and sorting of the mass donations that are received.

Goodison Park in the heart of the community “Previous work, up to date, 12,000 beneficiaries have accessed foodbank this year and we envisage that this will grow to 14,000 by March 2020.” Everton in the Community also runs food and exercise camps during school half term holidays, backed by Riverside Housing fund. Joe Cooper added: “As well as this, we fed local homeless and socially isolated people on Christmas Day with support of Fans Supporting Foodbanks.

Coronavirus case transferred to city from cruise ship By LOUISE JAMISON LIVERPOOL’S Royal Hospital was yesterday treating a former cruise-ship patient after they tested positive for coronavirus. Details about the condition of the patient - whose identity has not been disclosed - were revealed in a letter by the hospital’s chief nurse. In it, Dianne Brown said: “Dear patient, or visitor, we are writing to let you know that we are currently treating a patient with a respiratory illness known as Wuhan novel coronavirus. “We would like to assure you that there is no risk to you or your visitors. “The Royal Liverpool University Hospital is one of the hospitals with specialist infectious disease units which have been chosen to care for coronavirus patients. “We are currently treating a patient who has Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). The

patient is being cared for on our specialist Tropical and Infectious Diseases Unit at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.” Thirty British and two Irish patients who arrived at the Wirral’s Arowe Park on Sunday, after spending two weeks quarantined on The Diamond Princess liner, four of which tested positive for the virus. The other three patients have also been transferred to two other specialist NHS infection centres across the country on Sunday evening. People on the wards at the hospital have received a letter making them aware of the coronavirus patients. Liverpool fans who travelled to the recent Champions League fixture against Atletico Madrid were being advised to ‘self isolate’ after travelling home via Milan Bergamo airport, which is in one of the regions of the country worst affected by the outbreak.

“We always appreciate support of donations for our foodbank in the form of non-perishable items and toiletries.” Donations can be taken to The Peoples Hub, Blue Base and Everton Free School each day during opening hours. Donations can also be made to the Fans Supporting Foodbanks food van in the Fan Zone of a match day or alternatively to St. Andrews Community Network.

Free classes to refresh computer skills By MARY SLOWEY Hutte Community Centre is hosting free computer classes for adults. The classes will be two and a half hours a week at the community centre in Halewood. From beginners to Level 2, the classes are sure to be of interest to anyone wanting to freshen up their computer skills - and although having a basic knowledge is preferred, it is not essential. The classes are completely free and non-intimidating as they are taught in small informal groups. Anyone is welcome with an interest in learning about emails, word processing and the internet. To get involved, call in to the drop-in on Wednesday morning or call 0151 443 2052.

Liverpool welcomes largest eco-friendly fleet of vehicles By LEWIS BATTY

iverpool has welcomed the UK’s largest fleet of eco-friendly refuse vehicles onto its streets as part of the council’s goal to drastically reduce the city’s carbon footprint. The rollout of the new fleet is part of the council’s initiative to improve the collection and recycling of the city’s waste, with an aim to recycle 55% of Liverpool’s rubbish. The new CNG (compressed natural gas) vehicles produce 80% fewer carbon emissions and 90% less nitrogen oxide than the diesel vehicles previously used. Liverpool City Council cabinet member for Environment and sustainability Laura RobertsonCollins told LL: “We have declared a climate emergency, and all have to change the way we do things. It is vital that we improve the air quality across our city. “As a council we will do all we can to move away from the use of diesel and other fuels that compromise health, within our own vehi-

cle fleet. “We are currently looking at a possible ‘Clean Air Zone’ in the city centre.” The introduction of the wagons was made possible by Liverpool Streetscene services Ltd, a subsidiary of Liverpool City Council, which invested £3.4m in the new campaign. Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson has said this scheme is part of bigger green vision for Liverpool, which includes several future initiatives such as an electric street cleansing fleet, the promotion of electric taxi use and the planting of 750 urban trees across Liverpool over the next two years. The Mayor said: “This investment in a new fleet of refuse vehicles is a great statement of intent in our goal to make Liverpool a cleaner and greener city”. Liverpool has made steady progress over the years with becoming a more eco-friendly city, having reduced its carbon emissions by 18% since 2012. That number is set to rise to 35% by the end of 2020.

GOING GREEN: The new fleet of vehicles

Community groups bid in initiative to secure funding

SAFETY: The Kirkby Together event By LEWIS BATTY Kirkby-based community groups and organisations took part in a ‘Dragons Den’ style event on Saturday in a bid to secure funding to help create safer communities. Thirteen local groups delivered a two-minute pitch on how they would present an event, workshop or course

Photos © Lewis Batty aimed at helping young people in the local area learn new skills, gain confidence and make friends. The scheme is part of Merseyside Police’s violence reduction partnership. Chief inspector for local policing in Knowsley Phil Mullally told Liverpool Life: “The event was picked with the community in mind and those

local groups coming together, pulling in the right individuals to reduce violence. “Young people are impressionable and they do need the right role models, young people are vulnerable from a number of influences, so hopefully today, from the groups that are bidding the money will work along side children and help them in the long run”. Chief Inspector Mullally also discussed the importance of hosting the event in Kirkby and what it means for the wider Liverpool city region. He added: “Kirkby is a place that is quite high in terms of deprivation; poverty, education and jobs, those

types of social factors which really impact on crime. “They impact on mental health and people’s resilience, so this event is really an ideal opportunity because it really cements a community. “Collectively, as a group of local authorities, we can achieve more, and we can tap into more funding as part of the Liverpool city region and will help us tackle serious violence”. The event took place at All Saints Catholic High School and was judged by the audience, made up of supporters and members of the wider community. Several local groups were awarded up to £2000 to turn their ideas into reality at the end of the event.

ost 15-year-old lads are into football, music or gaming. But not Matthew Lock, the teenager with a passion for hoovers. The boy from Magull owns 150 of the household items, leaving any other collector behind in the dust. He has become that attached to them that he now has his own successful YouTube channel called The Vac Mat. So far it has 1.4 thousand subscribers as well as an instagram page boasting 18.3 thousand followers. The channel reviews all the biggest brands with them even sending him unreleased products in order to get his expert opinion. The teenager has become a media sensation as of late, appearing on BBC North West Tonight, BBC Breakfast, BBC 5 Live and Good Morning Britian. He said “Poeple are now getting in touch who previously declined working with me on videos and things. For example, we’ve had an email from Dyson saing that they would like me to go around the headquarters in Malmesbury and have a look at their products and the new developments, which is really amazing and it’s been one of the lifelong dreams of mine to get there because it’s one of the biggest technology firms in the UK.” Matthew will be one of the first people who will be able to visit the site who doesn’t work for the company and will be able to film parts which is usually strictly prohibited. He has now also become something of a mini-celebrity in the vaccum world, being asked to open the new Hoover store in Warrington in about three months’ time. Speaking on the past month he said: “It’s been amazing, it’s definitely been different and I’ve really enjoyed it, to be honest. It’s been great to talk about my passion and the response back from it has been really great. It’s been an onset different from what I usually do but it has been really nice.” The school kid had an interest in vaccums from a young age and first realised he could turn it into a profitable business after fixing his friends nan’s hoover, which she was about to throw out. Since then he has fixed hundreds and has encountered

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Nothing succeeds like suck-cess Liverpool Life’s MATTHEW NYLAND meets the teenager who can’t get enough of vacuums some unusual sites, once getting more than he bargained for when he found a diamond in an old hoover a customer had sent to him to fix. “We took it apart and found it was blocked with dust and dirt. But the actual cause of the blockage was a small diamond. Matthew’s pride of place is his garden shed, which contains the majority of his collection. This includes a 70-year-old vaccum, which once belonged to the Queen, as well as one of the first ‘Henry’s ever created. The teenager has had to balance all the recent popularity with school and has admitted he has struggled over the last few weeks. He added: “It has been hard, especially over the last month because I’ve got two months until my GCSEs and having things like This Morning which took two days, that begins to add up. It’s time to get down now and plan how I’m going to do work around it, it’s about putting schoolwork first and then work around it with this type of thing.” He hopes for the future he will get to be part of the James Dyson Foundation which takes 20 people a year and gives them a chance to go to university. This then leads to working with him developing new products. His ultimate goal however is to eventually create his very own vaccum cleaner, he can only hope the customers won’t think it sucks.

We took it apart and found it was blocked with dust and dirt. But the actual cause of the blockage was a small diamond

VAC MAT: Matthew proudly poses with some of his collection

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Cheers! It’s war of the roses in a pint pot

Liverpool is cele brating

its 40th year of

the Beer Festiva l

By STEPHEN RAWLINSON

here was a unique take on the War of the Roses this weekend as the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) held their 40th Annual Liverpool Beer Festival in the city’s Metropolitan Cathedral. Pitting different breweries against each other in the Crypt, Lancashire reigned supreme over Yorkshire as Beer Station Pale Express was voted the best beer of the festival. The winner was crowned after accumulating votes over the three days of the festival. Some of the local breweries from the Liverpool region involved at the event included Big Bog, Howzat, Liverpool Brewing Co, Ossett and Rock the Boat. Tony Morgan has been involved with the festival for over eight years in various roles. Speaking to LL, the CAMRA member spoke of the purpose behind the event. He said: “The idea is to showcase the beer that is brewed locally rather than mass-produced beer. We try to highlight local breweries and Liverpool has quite a few of them. “A lot of CAMRA beer festivals try to have a theme to get people interested and to advertise the local presses, so we thought we would try a competition against our friends on the opposite side of the Pennines.” Accompanying the beer tasting was live music from the Liverpool-based band ‘Jubilee Stompers’, who played songs from the ‘Jazz age’ and a variety of flavours of cheese from The Liverpool Cheese Company. Steve Burkes, Cider Bar Manager at the event, has been involved with the Liverpool Beer Festival

since 1996. He told Liverpool Life how he hopes more young people will join CAMRA. He said: “CAMRA nationally is an older person’s association and it’s not meant to be, it’s meant to be for anybody. It’s become a middle-aged thing, when we ask for contributions, we want young people to be involved and they would be most welcomed.” He added: “The festivals add to Liverpool’s cultural life because they are incredibly friendly. “Although you do not see people during the year, you see people repeatedly every February and it’s quite often you don’t know names but you recognise faces. It is important on a social context, not just drinking.”

Pictures © Stephe n Rawlinson

I do ... but not yet As more couples are choosing to get married later in life, Liverpool Life sent newly-engaged Maisie Harvey to find out more

LOVE: Maisie’s fiance surprised her with the love locks, and they put them on the chain immediately before he proposed

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Bl**dy he less sur ll, I’d be pr said yo ised if you u were pregna nt!

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more of a secular society people don’t necessarily have a belief in Christ or the Christian God, and it does make sense to me that they may not choose to get married in church, or they may not choose to get married at all.” However, he doesn’t worry about people choosing not to get married in church, seeing value in other types of marriage. “If you’re committing yourself to a person for the rest of your life, to love, honour, and cherish them, in good times and bad, in sickness and health, I think that’s a very good thing,” he said. Reverend Hitchman further ventured that marriage should be underpinned by a value system, but this could be from a different religion or “even humanist”. Of course, not all couples can get married in church, even if they would like to do so. While the United Reformed Church has empowered its churches to offer same-sex marriage, it remains a contentious issue for the Church of England. “The church, I think, has wrestled with this for quite a long time, and still is wrestling with it,” said Reverend Hitchman. He added: “I’m somebody whom at one point, ten or more years ago, had what would be called quite a conservative view on that issue – I would have said that marriage was exclusively between a man and a woman. I no longer have that view. “Marriage is about uniting two souls, it doesn’t matter whether that’s a man or a woman, or two men or two women.” The vicar can see the tides changing and suggests his progressive view is now widespread. “I know very very few clergy-people in the Church of England who would claim a relationship between two people of the same sex is not valid and cannot be blessed by God.” I asked when he thinks the Church of England will allow same-sex weddings to be conducted in its churches. Reverend Hitchman replied: “I think certainly within 10 years, but hopefully sooner than that.” One thing is undoubtedly true, the nature of marriage is changing. It is no longer a default setting for couples, it is an active choice made by two people. And I am very happy with my choice, naïve as it may sound, I look forward to being bound to the person I love forever.

Maisie and her fiance, Charlie. All pics © Maisie Harvey

got engaged earlier this month, at the age of 22. “Bloody hell, I’d be less surprised if you said you were pregnant,” exclaimed my Dad. It shouldn’t have been such a shock; I live with my fiancé and we’ve been together almost three years – it wasn’t exactly abrupt. But, we are bucking the trend, While in days gone by it would have been completely normal to be married at my age, it isn’t now. The average age of a woman getting married for the first time in the UK is 31, while men are older still at 33. In Liverpool it is even rarer to be married at a young age – only 1.2% of people aged between 16 and 24 in the city are married, nationally the figure is 2.9%. Vicar of Christ Church Toxteth Park and St Michael’s in Aigburth, Reverend Keith Hitchman, has noticed more couples opting to wed later. “People are getting married now often in their 30s, and in their 40s sometimes, but they’ve often been together for a long time. They may even have families,” he said. As well as couples choosing to get married later, the number of couples deciding to marry at all has been steadily falling. And of the couples who tie the knot, fewer are choosing to wed in churches. Only 24% of people in England and Wales now get married in a religious ceremony, whereas two-thirds of people did in 1966. Reverend Hitchman shared his insight on why this might be the case. “My personal view is that marriage in church is a particular form of marriage. I think as we’re becoming

The faces we never see Gallery raises modern slavery awareness By STEPHEN RAWLINSON

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includes a photo of the area where the crime had taken place along with information about the case and what happened to the victims. The National Crime Agency included 5145 potential victims of modern slavery in their strategic assessment in 2017 and it is hoped that the exhibition highlights how trafficking can be hard to spot in the public eye. The UK Home Office, the British Police and UK councils have also used the project as a training resource to help identify how to spot the signs of slavery. • The Dark Figure exhibition will be at the Open Eye Gallery until the 22nd March.

An exhibition highlighting cases of human trafficking unveiled on Thursday Night at the Open Eye Gallery. ‘The Dark Figure’ is photo series by documentary photographer Amy Romer that presents stories of neighbourhoods where modern slavery crimes have taken place. In partnership with Liverpool Stop The Traffik, who raise awareness through intelligence-led, bespoke campaigns, Romer hopes that by presenting a case-by-case study, the audience can find meaning in the phrase ‘modern slavery’. Each piece of the exhibition

This is a story people need to know about

By EVELYN EDWARD Stop The Traffik has sponsored a new exhibition at the Open Eye Gallery to bring awareness to modern slavery in the UK. The Dark Figure by Amy Romer seeks to highlight how normal houses and neighbourhoods can have dark secrets behind their doors. The exhibition juxtaposes seemingly innocent photos- a suburban cul de sac, an empty playground, a farm gate- with horrifying descriptions of the modern day slavery that took place there. The name ‘Dark Figure’ comes from the 13,000 people believed to be living in modern slavery in the UK- it is dark because it is the estimated number of cases that have not yet came to light. Despite the images having no real horror in them, they are haunting in the way they are void of people and look so ordinary. It made you feel like

human trafficking could be happening next door, yet you might not ever know. You can hear of stories such as that of Cunliffe Street, Lancashire where a young Hungarian woman was held captive and sold to a Pakistani man for £3,500 before being able to alert police. Her traffickers got 9 years between them. Photographer Amy Romer used local news to find out about the crimes, and travelled around the UK to take photos. Amy Romer said: “At one of those round the table dinner discussions with my family, my mums partner works for the Devon and Cornwall police and he was telling us about his work day. He was talking about how he was looking for people vulnerable to modern slavery and that was the first time I’d ever heard that phrase.

This was in late 2014, just before 2015’s Modern Slavery Act had come in. Since then theres been more news around modern slavery and I knew that if I didn’t know what it was then so many other people wouldn’t know what it was. I just felt like this is a story that people need to know about.” Stop The Traffik is a campaign coalition that aims to end human trafficking worldwide. Liverpool’s division raises awareness of how to identify and respond to human trafficking by going to schools, universities and community groups. Annette Mawdsley of Liverpool Stop The Traffik said: “The aim of this exhibit is so people realise that stuff is going on behind closed doors in every community all over the world and not just in the UK. You can walk past something and not have any idea what is going on and the worst of the worst

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could be happening next door, on the next road, anywhere. “There are stories behind gates, doors, windows, anything.”

The gallery owner who went from studying seaweed to sketches

ucked away on Cook Street in one of Liverpool’s grand 19th century buildings is the small independent art gallery

Editions. The route to fine art wasn’t a straightforward one for owner Olwen McLaughlin, who began her career studying seaweed. Olwen told Liverpool Life: “My degree has nothing to do with the arts - it was actually a science degree in botany and zoology.” After moving to Liverpool from Dublin over 30 years ago, Olwen was working at the University of Liverpool researching the uses of seaweed. She said “Working in a lab wasn’t really for me. I wanted to talk to people. “I ended up getting involved with the Open Eye Gallery.” Around the same time, founder Colin Wilkinson was setting up his business Light Impressions. “Because of my science training I ran the dark rooms and did all the colour printing. in those days everything was done by hand, it took hours to print out the most simple scene. It was actually a very enjoyable job.” For her first 17 years in the business Olwen was based in the Bluecoat until she moved to Cook Street. She said: “It’s a smaller space but it’s a bit like a

“Most people won’t spend much time in an independent art gallery”

CHLOE MORGAN talks to Editions owner Olwen McLaughlin about her journey

INDEPENDENT: The gallery features local artists Tardis. you can barely swing a cat but I have 50 pieces of art in here.” Inside are four walls expertly hung with a collection of prints from the gallery’s current exhibition. Every six weeks a new exhibition takes place and the space is once again transformed by the Olwen. She aims to work with local artists or artists that are connected to Liverpool in some way. The introduction and rise of social media has affected a number of businesses over the years, Editions is no exception. “There’s so few galleries now. Their days are numbered because there are so many ways to view art on your phone.” Olwen explained, “When people see a painting or photograph that they like on the internet they feel ownership of it, they don’t feel like they are lacking it.” Olwen hopes to see more people visiting independent galleries and breaking down the stigma around art

“Galleries are always seen as elitist but they’re actually not”

galleries. She said: “Galleries are always seen as elitist but they’re actually not, they’ve just a place selling pieces of art” She added: “Most people have walked into the Tate or a well-known art gallery but they won’t spend much time in an independent one.” Competing with other galleries is a challenge for Editions. The main income for the business is the framing service based in the gallery. “A lot of galleries in London for example can take huge percentages because they have big reputations and can take thousands of pounds but we’re talking about local artists here,” Olwen explained. Olwen is under no illusion buying art is not something everyone can afford. She said: “I think if anybody comes here there is almost always something they would like to take home but for some people it’s hard to justify buying if you have a young

Owner Olwen McLaughlin © Chloe Morgan family or anything.” She added, “But art is an investment. To invest in artwork is to invest in something that lifts your heart every time you look at it.” Her main message, however is to urge people to take time to view the artwork she displays. “We’re located in city centre, people can walk in for ten minutes to view some beautiful art.” • Editions is open from 10am every day, and is closed on Sunday.

Leaving a print on Liverpool By CHLOE MORGAN A TOP local artist has told how he hopes a new display in the city will leave its mark on Liverpool Peter Davies has created the Away Day Exhibition - a collection of print-making pictures - which will be in Liverpool until March 7. It also includes a number of prints from members of the Bath Society of Artists, of which Peter is a member. They have now gone in display in the Editions Gallery on Cook Street as part of an exhibition which will also comprise individual works from 14 artists who also specialise in print-making. Peter told Liverpool Life: “I

thought it would be a really nice idea because I’m really interested in links between different cities and the art scene.” The exhibition includes a broad range of printmaking from artists Peter Davis himself, Rita Smith, Sandra Porter, Brian Elwell and Charlotte Moore. The works included are mostly abstract landscape and figure based images which Davies describes as “something for everybody”. Print-making is the process of creating art by printing an image onto paper or canvas, often using different materials to carve out the print. Over 50 different pieces will be shown at the gallery throughout the exhibition which will run until March 7 at Editions Gallery.

EXHIBITION: Collection of print-making pictures

Silent comedy is laugh-out loud funny

f slapstick comedy is what you like, then The Strange Tale of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel at Liverpool’s Unity Theatre will be for you. The play captured the essence of silent comedy, with their classic “heavy suitcase” routine and typical silent film-era gags throughout. The play is set on a boat sailing to New York, something the audience can guess before the play begins. The multi-layered set resembles a boat, with life aids and suitcases really confirming to the audience that this play is about a journey at sea. The play used thrust staging which made the audience feel involved, as though they were on the boat to New York with Stan and Charlie. The feeling heightened as the actors included the audience in the play throughout the performance. On more than one occasion, Charlie Chaplin led an audience member out of their seat and on to the stage. Amalia Vitale was faultless as

Katie Preece enjoys a stand-out slapstick performance at the Unity Theatre which harks back to an earlier era Charlie Chaplin; from the beginning of the play, she had the audience in stitches. She has mastered Chaplin’s walk and quirky mannerisms but manages to make it look completely effortless. Jerome Marsh-Reid perfected the art of changing roles throughout the play, one moment he would be a Bell Boy, which could quickly change to a Doctor or Stan Laurel, but the audience would instantly know whom Marsh-Reid was playing. He differentiated his roles with the addition of a briefcase or a hat, but his body language, wide-eyed facial expressions and the way he carried each character made it explicit to the audience which character he played.

The singular fault in the performance is how hard it could be to keep up with the thread of what was actually happening. With few words spoken throughout the performance, it could be hard at times to keep up. Projected captions gave the title of each scene to the audience - despite this, the play’s scenes still seemed disjointed in places. Though it could be hard to keep up, it did not take away from the pleasure of watching the fantastic acting that was taking place on stage.

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Unity Theatre

THEATRE ROUND-UP by MAISIE HARVEY HEALTH AND SAFETY GOES MAD AT THE EPSTEIN

DIM LIT STAR SHINES BRIGHTLY AT PREMIERE

SHOW THAT DELIVERS A TOUCH OF MAGIC

The Epstein Theatre is set to play host to the world premiere of a hilarious new comedy. Playwright David Spicer’s Health and Safety showcases the lives of officials in the industry at their Annual National Conference. Billed as “hysterically rude” and “wonderfully un-politically correct”, big laughs are promised courtesy of “people on a mission to stop us climbing trees, playing conkers or putting our poodles in the microwave”. David Spicer said: “We have had so much fun bringing it to the stage and can’t wait for people to see it. I am sure they will have a fun night with us and it’s not often you get the chance to see a world premiere and to say... I was there!” • Tickets: £18 • Date: Fri 28 February – Sat 29 February 2020 • Time: Fri 7.30pm Sat 2.30pm and 7.30pm

The story of a sexually confused sixth-former trying to make it big in the entertainment business is coming to Hope Street Theatre this spring. The show has been created by actor, writer and producer Kai Jolley who has teamed up with producer Bill Elms (The Ruby Slippers), and director Zara Marie Brown. Kai’s previous acting credits include: Stop!... The Play; Violet The Musical; To Kill a Mockingbird; Jerry Springer: The Opera; and most recently he played the Genie of the Lamp in Aladdin at St Helens Theatre Royal. The writer and actor said: “The audience can expect to go on an emotional and meaningful journey alongside the cast, breathing life into the piece. “There’s a mixture of laugh out loud situations full of quirky and fun scenarios and moments that may trigger anger through injustice and heartache in the reality of the situation.” • Tickets: From £12 • Date: Wed 6 May–Sat 9 May 2020 • Time: Wed-Fri 7.30pm, Saturday 4pm and 8pm

The timeless classic Beauty and the Beast will bring magic and adventure to the Epstein Theatre this Easter. Join Belle as she discovers why it’s not what someone looks like on the outside that’s important. Channel 5 Milkshake’s Amy Thompson will appear as Belle opposite Timothy Lucas as the dashing but troubled Beast. Maisie Harvey Producer Chantelle Nolan said: “Beauty and the Beast is one of the most magical of fairytales with its beautiful and kind-hearted heroine and a troubled hero to root for, all surrounded by a brilliantly colourful cast of largerthan-life characters and with an important message for theatregoers young and old.” • Tickets: £13 • Date: Fri 10 April – Sun 19 April 2020 • Time: Various Times

Health and Safety at the Epstein Theatre

Dimly Lit Star at Hope Street Theatre

Beauty and the Beast will be at the Epstein

Honour for author Helen ahead of new show tour Much-loved author of Twopence to Cross the Mersey is remembered with a blue plaque By EMILY ROBERTS

elen Forrester, the author who spawned a genre of gritty, working-class memoirs, has been honoured with a Blue Plaque in honour of her 100th Birthday celebrations. The unveiling took place in her childhood home on Warren Road, Hoylake, on the Wirral Peninsula. The ceremony was led by Helen’s son Robert Bhatia, who commented: “I am thrilled to see this Blue Plaque where my mother discovered her passion for books on her grandmother’s bookshelves. “It is also where she always longed to come if only she had had twopence to cross the Mersey.” Helen was the eldest of seven children of inept, socialite, middle-class parents who lived on credit. When her father was made bankrupt during the Great Depression, the family was thrown into poverty. Evicted from their comfortable home in England’s gentler South West, with nothing more than the clothes they stood up in, the large family took the train to Liverpool where they hoped to rebuild their lives. During her family’s estranged years suffering in the slums of Liverpool, across the River Mersey lived her well-heeled grandmother in the affluent Wirral suburbs. She had fallen out with her son after he had

Stageplay writer Rob Fennah with author Helen Forrester

Robert Bhatia, left, Helen’s son, outside her Hoylake home, with actors Mark Moraghan and Sian Reeves who appear in the new touring production of The Waters of Liverpool

borrowed heavily from family members and was unable to repay his debts. Condemning him as a worthless spendthrift, Helen’s grandmother would have no more to do with him. Despite this, Helen was convinced that if she could muster up the tuppence required for a ferry boat ticket, she could visit her grandmother, explain what was happening to the family and she would come to their rescue.

lthough this never came to pass, it did provide the title of her first book, the best-selling Twopence To Cross The Mersey. Helen Forrester won a plethora of loyal fans through her anecdotal memoirs which also included Liverpool Miss, By The Waters Of Liverpool and Lime Street At Two. Her autobiographical writing was characterised by a lack of self-pity as she portrayed her life during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Following a successful run in October 2018, By The Waters Of Liverpool is being brought back for a 17-show tour of the UK. The Spring 2020 UK Tour opens on Tuesday March 3 at the New Brighton Floral Pavilion in Wirral. Helen Forrester’s blue plaque.

HAPPINESS: Ellie celebrates with her family

Photo by Ellie Graham

“I appreciate everyone and everything so much more”

LYDIA BAGGS meets 22-year-old cancer survivor Ellie Graham

Ellie at her celebration. Photo by Ellie Graham

he 22-year-old was excited about starting her third year at Liverpool John Moores University and had just returned from “the best holiday ever”. Then she received some devastating news that would change her life forever. She was told she had breast cancer.

Ellie was due to begin her final year at university when she found a small, pea-sized lump in her right breast.With dreams of becoming an early year’s teacher, the bubbly and vibrant student from Liverpool was forced to put everything on hold as she began a whirlwind journey to recovery. After experiencing sharp shooting pains in her breast, she put it down to hormonal changes, until

four days later when she discovered the lump. Ellie told LL: “Just a few days before, my manager was diagnosed with breast cancer and she had no symptoms. It made me so paranoid and I had this weird gut feeling.” After discovering the lump, Ellie went to the doctors to have it checked, where they reassured her it was only a cyst and it was nothing to worry about. As a precaution, they referred her to a breast clinic in Aintree, where she underwent an ultrasound and a biopsy, just to make sure there was no signs of cancer. Ellie jetted off on holiday to Ibiza with close friends and family, having no idea that when she returned her life would be turned upside down. Sitting with her boyfriend in a private room, three doctors walked in to tell her the news. She said: “I could just tell by their faces. They told me that things had become more complicated. I burst into tears, I couldn’t stop sobbing.” Ellie was diagnosed with Grade 3

breast cancer, the fastest growing form, on September 27, 2019. Six months on, after undergoing surgery and countless sessions of radiotherapy, Ellie was finally given the all-clear. Now, she is fighting to raise awareness to the early signs of breast cancer. She told LL: “It’s so worrying how uneducated young girls and women are about checking their breasts. There needs to be more done to educate people.” Ellie explained how different her perspective of life is now, after all she has been through. “It’s really changed my life. I appreciate everyone and everything so much more.” Ellie was treated at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in Aintree, supported by her family and friends who “never left her side”.After six months of what Ellie could only describe as a “rollercoaster”, she was able to ring the bell of hope, a traditional way for cancer patients to signal the end of their journey and began the next chapter of her life.

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f hop ‘bell o e h t ham inging Ellie r y Ellie Gra b o Phot

‘It’s all about M natural highs and no come downs!’

MY EXPERIENCE

Liverpool Life’s Hannah Martin tries out a silent yoga disco

RELAX: Time to stretch

arah Duff and Ben Winstanley are a mum and son duo who began their Silent Yoga Disco (SYD) journey in 2019. Yoga and meditation teacher Sarah is the session mentor, and son Ben is the live DJ. Sarah, author and founder of The Wild Hearted Women, told LL: “It’s all about natural highs and no comedowns! “The live DJ generates rhythm and soul to your moves, along with guided instructions being filtered gently in your ears. “The intimacy of the music, cool lighting, in a room full of people moving and connecting together gets your blood pumping, your heart open and leaves you feeling fully alive and joyful.” It’s believed that yoga has been practised for over 6,000 years, with its origins firmly rooted in India. Nowadays, there are many different versions of yoga, but they all have the same ultimate goal of integrating the mind and the body. During the SYD class, held at Yogacita in the Baltic Triangle, the music, along with the instruc-

© Hannah Martin tor’s voice, can be heard through wireless headphones. You are immersed in a completely silent room; each yoga student is enjoying their own private disco, without the distraction of other ambient noise and gives you an almost one on one connection with the instructor. Ben told LL about the style of music he plays during the SYD sessions: “I try to do disco songs that people know but that are edited in a different way so as it feels fresh. “I try to read the crowd and follow the song selection with the yoga moves and intensity that is happening. “I like having the opportunity to share music with people, especially disco, as it’s so uplifting. The collaboration of the arts with movement and music is always really enjoyable as a DJ. “Having the opportunity to play my own music and seeing people enjoy it, especially in an open setting like yesterday’s yoga practice, makes me happy.” Ben has also been working on some of his own music edits, which he incorporates into his SYD DJ sets.

There is a common misconception that yoga is slow, boring and only for people that are flexible, but this is completely not the case. With the ever-growing and developing styles of yoga, there is quite simply a class to suit every one of all abilities. SYD offers inclusivity and injects a fun, party vibe without the hangover (unless you feel like some cheeky bubbles afterwards!). In a modern world leaps and bounds away from our primal beginnings; filled with urgency, pressure and frequent disconnect, we find ourselves in a society in which people are searching for and exploring various ways to feel connected to the present, to nature and to inner-calm. • Yogacita is based at The Old Gun Factory, 1st floor, 20 Watkinson Street, L1 OAF info@yogacita.co.uk 0151 709 4358

y personal experience at the event was completely liberating. During a moment when my eyes were closed, a Buddha made of light came in to my centre of vision surrounded by dark (am I a hippy now?). I gave myself to the music, the yoga and the experience and as Sarah Duff said: “It’s all about how to loosen up, let go and become comfortable with yourself.” For me, that is exactly what happened. SYD probably isn’t for everyone. Everyone has their comfort zones, but sometimes when you completely remove yourself from what you know, you have the ability to expand. You’ll never know until you try, and surely knowing is better than assuming? Hannah Martin

PEACE DOVES: CELEBRATE WITH WORDS OF LOVE By LYDIA BAGGS

iverpool Cathedral is set to welcome a heartfelt art creation, marking the end of the Second World War.

A stunning new art installation, created by royal sculptor and artist, Peter Walker, will be hung from the ceiling of the cathedral to mark the Victory of Europe Day (VE). VE day marks the end of the Second World War, a day that remains in the memory and hearts of many. After six years of war, that cost the life of millions, people rejoiced in the news that Germany had surrendered. Visitors are being invited to write their messages of peace, hope and love on paper doves before artist Peter joins the thousands of doves together to create a beautiful largescale installation. Peter, a fellow member of the Royal Society of British Sculptors, first created the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Peace Dovesâ&#x20AC;? installation in Lichfield Cathedral, where 20,000 doves were joined together holding heartfelt messages between December and January 2019. Now, Liverpool is set to be home to his latest creation, which will be open to all until the very last day of May.

Have you have got what it takes to break out?

By MATTHEW NYLAND ith new storms battering the city every other week, staying indoors may feel like the safest option. However, escape rooms are a place where you and your friends can test your knowledge and teamwork under stressful - but storm-free - conditions. If you fancy yourself as some sort of Harry Houdini then luckily for you a brand new escape room is coming to the Liverpool Fabric District. Appropriately named Game Over, the £80,000 attraction promises to offer contestants unique riddles and puzzles as well as cutting-edge technology. Samir Patel, one of the managers responsible for the escape room said: “It’s great fun for all the family, you can come as a couple, you can come as a group of friends, children can enjoy it as well. It’s something different basically, a lot of outdoor activities people can’t do because of the weather, so this is something that can be done indoors and it’s great fun for anybody and everybody.”

There are four rooms based on popular films and TV series which include Maniac, Pirates of the Caribbean, Espionage and Money Heist. Samir added: “Liverpool is a fantastic city and it has always been part of our game plan to open one in Liverpool. It’s got loads of companies, two or three main universities so students galore everywhere and I think we bring something different to the current that’s not already in Liverpool. I know there are some escape rooms here but I think we bring a different element.” Hopefully for you and the sake of others, the pressure doesn’t turn you into some kind of maniac.

@GAME_OVER_LIVERPOOL

ESCAPEGAMEOVERLIVERPOOL

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LFC Academy coach welcomes grassroots heading regulations Liverpool FC academy coach has welcomed new guidelines banning heading for primary school children. On Monday new guidance was introduced by the English, Northern Irish and Scottish FA banning children under the age of 11 from heading balls in training. The new rules allow heading for those over the age of 12, but has placed restrictions on the number of training sessions that can involve heading, although, players are still allowed to head balls during matches. The guidelines come after the FIELD study in October 2019, which found that professional footballers were three-and-a-half times more likely to die of dementia than age-matched members of the general population. Pre-Academy coach Dominic Kenwright, 39, has been teaching children for 10 years and believes the new guidelines are a welcome change. He told LL: “I always felt heading wasn’t important and could be dangerous. “I support the [new] guidelines and have never taught heading as part of my coaching practice. “I don’t think the absence of heading a ball at a younger age restricts a footballer’s development and ability in later ages.” Kenwright founded his own academy four years ago, the Croxteth-based DK Youth Football Academy, and trains children from ages four to 14. While he recognises that heading is potentially dangerous, Kenwright also thinks the guidelines will help improve the standard of teaching.

Dominic Kenwright posing with Champions League Trophy. © Dominic Kenwright He added: “A less experienced coach could have one boy working on heading from crosses. “In 30 to 40 minutes he could have headed hundreds of crosses. Even thinking about that gives me a headache. “No child has ever run up to me and said, ‘Can we do headers?’ “Kids want to dribble, shoot and score. That’s it.” The findings from the FIELD study were significant, as they were one of the first pieces of major evidence to link football play and dementia risk. But LJMU researcher and Psychology tutor Dr Davide Bruno, who has

No child has ever run up to me and said, ‘can we do headers?’ Kids want to dribble, shoot and score. That’s it.

previously released studies into dementia risk in football, believes more research needs to be done. He told LL: “The [FIELD study] was an important study and, to my knowledge, the first to find evidence linking football play and dementia risk. “However, more work still needs to be done. “If football increases dementia risk, we don’t know exactly why. “[Some researchers] point out that goalkeepers had the same dementia risk as other players, so we don’t know whether this is an issue related Researcher and psychology professor to heading or to other factors.” Dr Davide Bruno © LJMU

LJMU mens rugby team hoping to secure league title By LYDIA BAGGS and LOUISE JAMISON

LJMU Rugby League are set to claim the league title in their final clash against Lancaster University. Liverpool John Moores rugby league team have been one of the top performing student rugbyleague teams in the country over the last few years. Today the league boys travel to Lancaster for their final match, where the title is inevitable as they remain the only team unbeaten in tier two of the Northern BUCS league. Training twice a week and with a series of weekly matches

on a Wednesday, the team have worked hard to get to the top. Chairman, Nathan Evans told LL: “I knew we were onto something special this year. We have already won the league and we are far from finished yet.” The team are now hopeful to continue their success for the rest of the season in the Northern Conference Cup. Team captain Alex Smith expressed his gratitude: “For us to go through the league the way we have, we’ve been blowing some teams out of the water. I couldn’t be prouder of the team and to win the league in my final season and to captain the boys is an absolute honour!”

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By DANIEL WILLIAMS

Making a new home By SCOTT TAYLOR Liverpool Women are looking into the possibility of making Chester’s Deva Stadium their home for the rest of the season, says manager Vicky Jepson. The Reds hosted a high-flying Arsenal in Chester last week rather than playing at their usual shared home with Tranmere Rovers’ Prenton Park after further issues to their pitch caused yet another postponement for the Women’s side. “Chester have been incredible in terms of accommodating us,” Jepson said. “The groundsmen are out here already looking after the pitch for us. We’re not used to that. This is a really good home. “It’s great to have an atmosphere too. You can’t always hear it at Prenton. This stadium is perfect for us. Look at it, it’s got grass on it. What more do you want? “I’m really happy with the way Chester have supported us and the club for the quick turnaround. There was a moment where we thought ‘god, where are we going to play our home games?’ Hopefully this will be our home for the rest of the season. It’s blue so that’s the one thing I’d change! I don’t think I’d get away with painting Chester’s seats red.”

Widnes Wild thrash their northern rivals By RYAN FARRELL Widnes Wild secured maximum points over the weekend, after two back-toback wins over the Bradford Bulldogs in a thrilling ice hockey clash. Following on from the 5-4 win in Bradford on Saturday, the Wild secured another victory over the Bulldogs in a heated affair in Widnes’ Planet Ice. Despite trailing by two goals to nil, the hosts showed great spirit to stage a comeback and come out 5-2 winners on the night. Both sides struggled to break the deadlock in the first period, as the Wild struggled to take advantage of a series of powerplays. Both Daniel Fay and Peter Toth were on the receiving end of clashes in the opening exchanges as the two sides went into the first break tied in a stalemate. The game sprung into life after the restart, Bulldogs taking the lead barely a minute into the second period of the game. The visitors then received another two-minute penalty for roughing, be-

fore doubling their advantage, giving the Wild a mountain to climb in order to get anything from the game. Hope was restored moments later, however, when Tom Jackson picked out Danny Bullock, who finished off a smart move off emphatically. That goal proved to be the turning point, as the Widnes fans raised their voices, hoping to lift their team as they pushed for an equaliser. The leveller did come with six minutes of the second period remaining. The visitors once again were penalised for roughing and the hosts took

advantage of their extra man when Jakub Hajek fired in to tie the scores at 2-2. With less than three minutes left in the period, Wild went in front for the first time,when Dani Haid was played in after good work from both Mikey Gilbert and Bez Hughes, leaving the scores at 3-2 going into the final twenty minutes. Hughes extended the lead early on in the final period. The visitors struggled to cope with the Wild’s forward thinking, allowing MJ Clancy to pick out Hughes, who had time to place his effort beyond the net minder. The game was put beyond doubt when Mikey Gilbert assisted Hughes, who grabbed his second goal of the evening. Frustration grew among the visitors towards the final whistle, and a series of ill-tempered incidents resulted in FIVE Bulldog players being sent to the bin. The game finally got under way again and Wild were able to see through their three-goal advantage, leaving the scores at 5-2 in favour of the hosts.

LJMU Women take first championship title By LYDIA BAGGS

Young stars follow in champion’s footsteps By JAMES LEE Multiple Liverpool athletes competed in Sheffield at the weekend. The event featured the national U20, U17 and U15 Championships with over 1000 athletes competing to rise the ranks and mark themselves on the national stage. Two Liverpool Harriers in particular shone, adding medals to the club’s history and breaking club records in the meantime. Henry Nwoke shared 60m gold and tied the club’s senior club record with his 6.77s effort that was matched by reigning champion Jeremiah Azu, with bronze going to Jeriel Quainoo. The tie was the first since the 1982 senior men’s 200m at the Commonwealth Games – outlining the rarity of the feat. Much of the excitement centred around the 60m, the crowd’s appetite whetted by some exceptional heats and semis, setting up what proved to be some pretty sensational finals. The U20 men’s race more than lived up to its star-studded billing

and needed a – very – close and long look at the photo finish. Nwoke, coached by Mike Sweeney, followed up with silver a day later in the 200m with a time of 21.46s. Speakng with England Athletics, Henry was more than satisfied with his day’s work. “So, I’m really happy especially as it was my best time.” Fellow Harrier Mia Morrisroe broke Katarina Johnson-Thompson’s U17 60m club record with a 7.73s personal best. The time was good enough for her to claim silver. Morrisroe similarly won bronze a day later in the 200m U17 final with a time of 24.62s. Wirral’s Brady-Jones (Sarah Kearney) won the U17 women’s 800m. Her opening lap saw her fly through in only 30 seconds, before whipping through 400m in 61.8s and holding the lead with an impressive winning time of 2:10:00. With the athletes looking to compete on the global stage in the future, the Championships posed as another step in their growing career.

LJMU Women’s football team have taken the league title after a tough battle to the top of the scoreboard. After a taxing season last year the team have worked tirelessly to bounce back and prove just how talented they are. With the help of their new coaches, the girls have undergone intense training sessions. Coach Ruben Newby told LL: “It feels great to win the league after all the hard work that both the coaches and players have put in over the course of the season.” This is the first time that the Women’s first team have claimed the title. Captain Lucy O’Toole, a third year Physical Education student, told LL: “Winning the league this year has been fantastic. The girls have come together as a team we have worked so hard to progress

Team Pride. Pic © @ljmuwfc and get to where we are now.” The team are widely recognised for their team spirit on and off the pitch and other LJMU teams took to social media to congratulate the girls on their victory. Vice-Captain, Jessica Hassall expressed the pride she felt to be part of the team: “I knew good things were going to happen after the first few sessions back. I am so over the moon to become league champions, alongside the best players and coaches.” Today, the girls head to their home ground at Jericho Lane, to take on University of Leeds 2nds in the Women’s Northern Conference Cup.

LLSPORT Final memorial for the 96 By LOUISE JAMISON

This year the final memorial service is to be held at Anfield to commemorate the lives of the 96 supporters who died in the Hillsborough tragedy. The annual event had been staged at Liverpool’s stadium since the tragedy in Sheffield on 15 April 1989. The ceremony will remember the 96, with a one-minute silence observed at 3.06pm The service is going to be held on April 31 and will commence at 2.45pm.

Margaret Aspinall, chair of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, said: “The 31st anniversary Hillsborough memorial service will be the last service ever to be held at Anfield stadium, which was a decision made by the families after much consideration. “Going forward, the families of the 96 will continue to remember their loved ones each and every day as well as in their own way on the anniversary.” Tickets for the event are available on the LFC website from today.

City celebrates life and legend of ‘Black Mamba’ Bryant By TOM BATTISON Liverpool people paid their respects to basketball legend Kobe Bryant with a special event to remember the ‘Black Mamba’ one month on from his tragic death in a helicopter crash. VideOdyssey in Toxteth hosted the event to celebrate the life of the LA Lakers hero. Bryant’s Oscar-winning short film ‘Dear Basketball’ and Spike Lee’s 2008 behind-the-scenes documentary on the basketball star were shown during the emotional afternoon. Free basketball sessions for basketball fanatics were also on offer at the event. Speaking during the event, organisers Andy Johnson and Dave Hargreaves asked the audience about Kobe’s impact on their lives, whilst sharing their own personal thoughts on the sportsman’s legacy. Both said they used to record German television growing up just to be able to watch NBA basketball fixtures. Dave told LL: “We’re celebrating his life. Not to focus too much on the death but his influence, the Mamba mentality and what that means. “If someone’s inspired from it today, then great. The idea of it is to look at the strength of his mind.

INSIDE SPORT

The ‘celebration of life’ event in memory of Kobe Byrant “He was so resilient, he was such a leader in the basketball community and the world. “We’ve got a small basketball community here in Merseyside, so for us to come together and share some moments is nice.

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“Something naturally happened with Kobe Bryant. Because he was so Michael Jordan-esque, it was like we’ve now got the next one. When I started playing basketball, Michael Jordan retired. So I was left without a global superstar if you like, and when

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Kobe came along, it was like a natural evolution of the game. Co-organiser Andy said: “When Kobe passed, we all felt the loss. Not just the hero but the loss to basketball. Because for me it’s about him passing on knowledge to the next generation, so today we just wanted to get people together. “He was a massive inspiration for us and globally. I think looking at it now at our age group, and just the fact he was such a good dad as well, such a good role model, he was passing on his knowledge by coaching his daughter’s team. “I think that’s the big thing that resonates with people. “There were so many buzzer beater moments Kobe had, where you just thought ‘Wow how have you done that? You’re not human’. “I think my favourite moment has become when he won the Oscar for ‘Dear Basketball.’ “I just didn’t have a clue that’s what he was doing. I found that more inspiring myself because I want to be a storyteller and here is a guy who’s lived out one of my dreams, who’s following another dream and passion, and succeeding. That’s my favourite Kobe moment.”

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