Liverpool Life issue 11

Liverpool

Life

www.jmu-journalism.org.uk

12th - February - 2013

BATTERED: The Rocky Horror cast hosted their own pancake party at the Liverpool Empire today but it turned into a messy affair when the batter started to fly. Ben Forster (L) and Roxanne Pallett (R)

In this week’s issue .....

Pg 5

Liverpool remembers: James Bulger 20 years on

Pg 10

RAPID - IT IS THE END Staff told store can no longer continue

By Joe Barnes and Emma Kemmery Liverpool’s family-run hardware retailer Rapid has been forced to cease trading after going into administration, leaving over 100 people without jobs.

Staff, who have been working for the company unpaid, finally received a letter today (Tuesday) from the administrators, Duff & Phelps detailing the closure of the company and the extent of redundancies.

One employee who wished to remain anonymous said: “It’s a real shame for everybody involved, particularly the staff who’ve lost out on a lot of money which they have worked for.

“There’s a feeling that from the very top down to the bottom everybody within the company has worked to ensure its survival - lots of sacrifices have been made the last few months - but it’s totally out of their hands now.

“The whole situation has been com-

pounded by the attitude of the administrators.

“They’ve pretty much left staff in the dark and really disregarded the welfare of the employees.

“The administrators have been accused of issuing threats that staff would not receive any owed money or paid redundancy if they did not turn up to work, despite no guarantee of being paid for their services, wages and salaries.”

He continued: “This was discussed with

the company’s employees in meetings last week whilst discussions were on-going.”

However the joint administrators have now written to all employees to confirm that the store will not be re-opening.

They said all employees have been made redundant with effect from 8 February 2013.

The store closes trading after being run for 42 years by managing director Martin Doherty and his family.

Continued on page 3

Love Story: The best and worst of your Valentine tales Back Page

JMU’s Gaelic football team win University championship again

Life/News/2

Fire services win community award

by Rachael Leitch

Guests at the awards included Actress Denise Welsh © ElbowRoom Photography

City business boost

by Joe Barnes St George’s Hall is set to play host to The Big Enterprise event on the 28th of February.

The free event will feature over 45 regional and national exhibits and workshops such as

‘how to market your business and ‘finance and law’ Event organisers said: “With expert advice on hand from people who have already taken the plunge and turned their initial idea into a successful business.”

Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service has won an award for their initiative to prevent anti-social behaviour and reinforce fire safety in local communities.

The Street Intervention Initiative, launched by Citysafe and Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service in 2009, has won the Emergency Services Hero in the Community Award at the first annual Flame Awards 2013.

The initiative that has been labelled a blueprint for the rest of the UK by the Flame Awards, involves teams consisting of fire prevention experts and others including Liverpool boxer, Tony Dodson. The teams work three nights a week in Liverpool, visiting communities and meeting with young people to reduce deliberate fires.

Sarah Wyatt, a Supervisory Advocate with the Liverpool Prevention and Protection team at Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service, said: “It has been a privilege to manage the Street Intervention Team project for the last three and a half years and I was very proud to receive the Emergency Services Hero in the Community Award on behalf of my team. Their enthusi-

asm to undertake their role in all situations and weathers is second to none - they truly are Heroes in the community.”

The Flame Awards will be an annual celebration to showcase the efforts of UK based community groups, volunteers, charities, schools and theemergency services who have demonstrated sustainable projects that have made a significant difference in communities throughout the UK or Worldwide.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Phil Garrigan said: “Councillors and the public across Liverpool have also seen the results of the teams’ work at first hand. It is a very good project working directly with Liverpool residents based in the heart of our communities.”

Councillor Peter Brennan, Mayoral lead on Community Safety, said: “This is a very well-deserved award for a project and one that I am proud to be associated with that has provided advice, guidance, support to over 1,200 young people across the city. It shows how Citysafe and our partners are working together to make our city a safer place to live, work and visit.”

Style night makes UK wishes come true

Liverpool

Life Team Editor Joel Richards News Editor Jamie Allen News Katie Croft Sam McDonnell Emma Callum Features editor Sarah Bold Features Kate Molyneux Sophie Marsden Sanna Zahid

Sport editor Jess Etherington Sports Elisha Storrow Dani Baldwin Andrew McKenna Picture editor Josh Killner

Bargains store in ‘forced labour’ setback

by Rachael Leitch

A university graduate has succeeded in her appeal against unpaid work schemes after judges agreed the guidelines are legally flawed.

Cait Reilly, 24, claimed the Poundland store she worked for was breaching laws on forced labour . In November 2011 she had to leave her job at a museum and work unpaid at the Birmingham store under a scheme known as the “sector-based work academy”.

The University of Birmingham Geology graduate was told she would have to complete the unpaid work, involving stacking shelves, in order to keep her Jobseekers Allowance. Originally she lost her appeal but the court reversed part of the decision.

Miss Reilly described the two week work experience as “a complete waste of time” and said it did not benefit her when seeking other job opportunities.

The government’s scheme has now suffered a setback as the judges have quashed the regulations underpinning the back-to-work schemes. However, the Appeal Court has backed the Supreme Court’s ruling that requiring job seekers to participate in the unpaid work scheme does not breach any human rights.

Miss Reilly has said she hopes the government will now reconsider its methods of addressing the problem of long-term employment. The government is seeking permission to appeal to the Supreme Court and new regulations will be brought before Parliament today.

Climbers to take on Norway

by Scott Fitzpatrick

Stars come out to show their support for charity © James Garbutt Photography

by Katie Croft St. George’s Hall played host to the first Style Night led by events company 8TEN in aid of Make- A- Wish Foundation UK last weekend.

BBC Radio Merseyside’s Pam Taylor was the host for the evening and kept the guests entertained throughout the night.

Guests on the evening included ex Desperate Scousewives Star Elissa Corrigan.

Guests received good bags filled with beauty products before being seated in the venue’s Concert Room. The show start-

ed with a thirteen gift raffle, where prizes included a Dior bracelet, Links of London Jewellery, Limited Edition Gold Moet & Chandon, a Vidal Sassoon haircut and colour and an Illamasqua Make-over to name a few. All the winners were delighted with their prizes.

The show started with Paris.G womenswear collection. Next to showcase was LJMU graduate Helena Hussain, followed by womenswear and menswear label Ultimate Fashion. New t-shirt brand Unusual Suspects showcased their new capsule collection accompanied by

Manchester’s own Kemm who had the crowd captivated by his every move. Luxury womenswear label Isabel Wong followed with a 20-piece goddess like collection, and last but not least was womenswear brand Umoja accompanied by Liverpool’s one to watch Lanca Gomez, which was the perfect end to the night.

A total of £3,061 was raised through ticket sales, donations and raffle ticket sales. Company Founder Paris-Edwards Griffith said “We want to thank everyone who was involved in making the night such a success.”

A team of volunteers from Liverpool are set to take on the elements as part of the ‘Arctic Heroes Challenge’ to raise money for Help for Heroes.

The volunteers were presented with the Liverpool City Shield to honour the volunteers, who will leave the UK on March 1st, aiming to reach Nordkapp in Norway.

Ian Williams and Wayne Mosedale will be making the trip, with the return journey expected to take around 17 days.

Serving Army TA Reservist Mr Williams said: “I was invited on the challenge 15 months ago when we potentially had seven or eight vehicles, but we now have four going. This is a fantastic opportunity for us to be involved with something that will be a challenge for us, whilst raising much-needed long-term funds in support of our injured servicemen.

“We have raised upwards of £16,000 in donations thus far, on the back of our individual and collective fundraising effortsvia the challenge. We had our ‘Arctic Heroes Ball’ just over a week ago, and estimate that with fund-matching, we will have brought in around £9,000 which when combined with the previous, brings it up to around £26,000.

Liverpool fights against new tax

by Paul Collins

Liverpool residents are uniting to fight changes to Welfare Reform which would affect housing benefits.

From the 1st of April, benefit claimants in the UK could have their allowance reduced as part of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 after David Cameron and the Coalition won the vote of a so-called ‘Bedroom Tax’.

Between 10,000 to 12,000 tenants of housing associations or social landlords in Liverpool alone are faced with losing at least 14% of their Housing Benefit eligible rent.

The reform is aimed at people who are deemed to have at least a spare bedroom and are seen to be under-occupying their rooms.

The new legislation states a 14% cut for one spare bedroom and 25% for two or more extra bedrooms. Tenants are expected to either pay the penalties, estimated by the Government at an average of £14 a week, or move into new homes.

Bedroom tax will allow one bedroom per property for each person or couple. Children under the age of 16 of the same gender will be

expected to share a room. Children under ten will have to share a bedroom, regardless of their gender.

A newly-formed group ‘Combat the Bedroom Tax’ is holding a series of tenant-led district meetings to organise resistance to the reforms.

Their stand is based on solidarity and direct action.

Residents gathered at The Florrie on Mill Street, Dingle, yesterday to protest about the new tax laws. and to discuss their forthcoming campaign.

Local resident, Mike Cotgreave, who studied Politics at John Moores University, said: “I’m really keen on the community.

“We have to take matters into our own hands. We need to control our own struggles and not let anyone fight our battles on our behalf because that’s when they get lost. We have to do it ourselves.”

Sheila Coleman encouraged people to ask their MPs about these issues. She said: “People need to be held accountable.”

Glyn Williams, a resident who is set to lose 24% of his benefits asked: “What will happen if we don’t pay?”

The next meeting will be at 7pm tonight at Croxteth Sports Centre.

by Rachel Laird

Liverpool’s Rapid store has gone into adminstrination following struggles to stay afloat

Store confirms 100 workers are jobless

by Joe Barnes and Emma Kemmery Continued from page 1

Residents met on Monday to discuss the new tax

Life/News/3 Bus costs ‘too high’ in Wirral

Another employee, who also wished to remain anonymous ,said: “It’s a horrible situation.

The uncertainty is the worst thing as we’re totally out of the loop. It’s sad for everyone here, especially because as far as anyone can tell we’ve come off the back of a successful couple of months.”

Lisa Hilton, a Rapid customer, believes it could have been the change in location of the store and downsizing in 2012.

Lisa said: “When it was on Renshaw Street it was easier to get

your paint or get your carpets and put them in your car as there was parking outside. But now, how would you carry it out of the shop?

“It’s just sad, as it was an iconic store and I just hope they can come to some sort of solution.”

John Weter, a Liverpool resident, said: “I’m sorry to see it go, but I’m more sorry to see people are going to lose their jobs.”

Philip Duff, Joint Administrator said: “The financial position of the Company is such that it can no longer continue to trade as there is insufficient stock to generate sales with which to meet on-going trading liabilities, including employee wages and salaries.”

He continued: “This was discussed with the Company’s employees in meetings last week whilst discussions were on-going, however the Joint Administrators have now written to all employees to confirm that the store will not be re-opening and as such all employees have been made redundant with effect from 8 February 2013.”

The store closes trading after being ran for 42 years by managing director Martin Doherty and his family.

New recruits sniff out illegal tobacco

Bus travel costs have been blasted as discrimination against Wirral people.

Birkenhead MP, Frank Field, has complained to Merseytravel about the issue of zone ticket costs on each side of the River Mersey.

Field claimed that Wirral’s travelling public is not getting a “fair” deal on the buses because of discriminatory pricing.

He said: “This discrimination becomes greater the longer the period the saver ticket covers.

“Discrimination continues with children. Take the Weekly Saver for a child in the Manchester Zone at £6.75, yet for a Wirral child it is £12. Even worse is the Four-Weekly Saver. The cost for a child in Manchester is £23.50 but for Wirral it’s £42.

“Wirral residents should be treated equitably with those in Liverpool. Many people in Wirral believe they are being discriminated against compared with Liverpool residents.”

In a detailed memo to Merseytravel Chairman Cllr Liam Robinson, he pointed out price differences between Wirral and Liverpool ticket prices, pledging to raise the issue with Arriva’s senior management.

He said: “I really welcome Mr Field’s comments on this issue because bus fare pricing is something we give a great deal of attention to. We will be contacting Arriva’s senior management to discuss this issue in general, and the concerns he raises, in the near future.”

Mixing up the mail

by Josh Parry

by Paul Collins

Sniffer dogs have helped to uncover more than £4,000 worth of contraband cigarettes in raids with Sefton Council Trading Standards Team.

Illegal tobacco was seized after seven retail premises were visited in Bootle, Litherland and Southport by Trading Standards.

The two black labradors, Murphy and Ozzie are provided by Wagtail UK Ltd and help detect concealed stashes of tobacco at the four premises they raided.

Andrew Naisbitt is the Sefton Council Trading Standards Manager.

He said: “Traders often conceal illegal tobacco in unusual places and following this round of raids items were discovered in children’s lunchboxes.

“This just shows the lengths people will go to in order to store contraband items but by working with the highly trained tobacco dogs, this means there are no longer any hiding places for them.”

The raids are only the second time sniffer dogs have been used, however they are already proving invaluable to the team.

Councillor Trish Hardy, Cabinet

The Royal Mail is pursuing changes to the way post is delivered in the city as part of a nationwide project to modernize its services.

Customers can expect to get their mail at a different time depending on where they are on the new delivery route. Mail carriers will keep delivering in the morning but carry on for a longer period throughout the day.

A manager at Liverpool South Eastern Office explained: “These changes are necessary, the number of letters sent is decreasing, on the contrary, there are more and more parcels, hence the shared vans and the HTC trolleys.”

Changes in the equipment used means that delivery workers pushing ‘mail prams’ on the pavements of Liverpool should become a usual sight this year.

Liverpool South Eastern Delivery Office is based on Wellington Road, Wavertree, and their staff delivers the post in three areas: L13, L15 and L16.

Residents and all addresses in these areas have received letters this weekend warning them of the changes being made to their delivery office’s services.

Sefton Trading Standards team have employed the labradors to sniff out illegal tobacco being sold around Merseyside Member for Communities and Environment, said: “This is the second time we have used the sniffer dogs and yet again it proved to be a huge success.

“We will also take action against anybody who chooses to trade in illegal tobacco to protect legitimate traders and help our public health partners in reducing the

numbers of people who smoke.”

No arrests have been made, but investigations are ongoing into where the illegal tobacco came from.

Anyone with information regarding the sale of illegal tobacco should call the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 08454 04 05 06.

Life/News/4 Why now is the time to go green

by Karina Galli

Students and universities across the country have been getting involved with this year’s 7th annual national Go Green Week.

The event is run by students from the campaigning network People and Planet, which supports student action on world poverty and the environment.

This week is their national week of action which aims to get students and universities to hold a week of activities to raise awareness about important changes that we can all make to reduce our carbon footprint and tackle climate change.

Phoebe Cullingworth, Go Green Week Coordinator, said: “The range of creative events and activities put on by students aiming to engage their peers is testament to the determination of young people to tackle the environmental crisis facing them.

“By demonstrating their own personal motivation to make a change, students are calling for the education sector to respond with the same urgency and to lead on a transition away from fossil-fuels to a greener future.”

LJMU is taking part by hosting a range of activities that will take place across the week.

Dr Bike, a bike maintenance drop in session will be available to get your bike tuned up for free or ask for advice from Bike Right’s mechanic in the Aldham Robarts Learning Resource Centre between 11am-1pm on Wednesday 13th February.

A waste and recycling Awareness Stand run by Sita UK will be open in the foyer area of James Parsons Building between 10am12pm on Thursday 14th February.

You can also go online and vote for your favourite student video promoting greener transport options for students in the LJMUGo competition.

Pledge your support on the LJMU Go Green Week webpage where there are a range of activities you can pledge to complete in order to help make a difference.

Year of the rain ...

by Lauren Kelly

Not even the lashing rain could stop crowds who gathered in their thousands at in Chinatown on Sunday to witness the extremely vibrant and lively Chinese New Year celebrations.

Welcoming the Year of the Snake, local families and students joined the Chinese community at the spectacular parades and demonstrations that took place in the city centre.

Children who went along to the parades with their parents relished the parade of drums and dragons, taking full advantage of the market stalls and buying plenty of novelty souvenirs.

A dragon, unicorn and lion dance marched through the streets and photographer Raymond Condwell, who attends the festival every year, managed to capture some shots of the day.

Mr Condwell said: “I have been to the Liverpool and Manchester festival a few times and I love it. It’s the colours that make it so great.”

Despite how busy the streets of Liverpool were today, the magnitude of the festival would not compare to celebrations in Beijing or Hong Kong.

Yuan Zhang, a student studying finance in Liverpool said that in China there are a lot more private parties.

He said: “In China most of the people stay at home, and eat food and visit family members or go to temples and celebrate.”

Mr Zhang and his friends have been making the most of the options available to them in Liverpool by cooking dinner on

The crowds gather by Chinatown on Berry Street and Parliament Street to welcome in the Year of the Snake

...and dragons dance in a downpour Saturday, and having traditional Chinese dumplings, just like they do back home.

Wendy Simon, the city council Cabinet Member for Culture and Tourism, told the Liverpool Echo: “Across the two days the amount

of people who have come down and enjoyed the celebrations at different venues this year is great.

“It’s widening the reach of people who take part and are finding out more about another culture.

With the time of year it takes

place, the weather has been poor lots of times before but it never seems to put the crowds off.

“It’s hard for everybody but in cities like Liverpool you really get the community support and people will muck in and help keep these

Out of Bootle and into Africa

by Josh Parry

A Bootle church is sending 12 people on a mission to Ghana.

The trip is being organised by Lauren Hayes, who originally visited Ghana in 2011 in order to donate school supplies to local schools and build a fresh-water well for a village.

Since Lauren’s original visit, she has attracted a group of 12 who are set to visit Ghana with her alongside her husband and friends.

“In November, I spoke to the church about an expedition to Ghana which myself, my husband Andy and friend Leanne were going on, I said that if anyone wanted to join us they were very welcome to,” she said.

Lauren continued: “The response we received was massive and we are now a solid team of 12 with vast difference in experience, age and reasons for going on the trip which is just great!.”

Organised in conjunction with the Rescue Aid foundation, the group plans to spend over a week in Ghana and will visit schools, orphanages, hospitals and children’s homes in order to give donations and provide aid to local children in need.

Northfield Church is appealing for monetary donations as well as school supplies, clothes, toiletries and toys that can be taken to Ghana in order to donate to the locals.

A Merseyside grandmother has published a book to help Scrabble players reach top scores.

Sheila John, 75, from Little Neston, has written Wicked Wee Words, which lists three letter words that use high scoring letters such as Q and X. All of the words used in Sheila’s book were taken from the official Scrabble dictionary, to ensure they can be used in the game.

“It’s basically a list of threeletter words, usually with high scoring letters, to be used for playing Scrabble,” Sheila told the ECHO. She said: “I’ve always liked playing Scrabble and this is something that hasn’t been done before.

“I wrote it about five years ago and it took me about eight or nine months. I’d just do a bit every now and then.

“At first I was just doing it for

Mersey firms up for £15m ad prize

by Lauren Murphy

The Northfield Church group on their first trip to Ghana

Gran’s little book of three-letter winners

by Rachael Laird

events going.”

After this weekend’s popular events of Tai Chi demonstrations, art exhibitions and of course the dragon dance, it is clear that the Liverpool community is looking forward to the Year of the Snake.

fun and I was printing it off to give to people, but then my printer gave up the ghost and I decided to have a look at self-publishing.

“I decided to go with an American publisher because Scrabble is very popular over there.”

Sheila, a former pharmacy technician at Clatterbridge Hospital, teamed up with US publishers AuthorHouse and her work is now available from Amazon and Barnes and Noble as a book and

e-book. And she said she uses the book when practising with the Scrabble group that she’s a member of.

Sheila, who is originally from Scotland, but has lived in Little Neston for 30 years, said: “It is a thrill seeing the published book.

It really was just for fun and I’ve enjoyed doing it.

“I haven’t done anything like this before because I’m not a creative writer.”

She said: “This is different from a usual dictionary because the words are listed in a way that if the letter you have is in the middle of a word it’s easy to find.”

Scrabble was invented officially in 1938 by US architect Alfred Mosher Butts and every year competitions are held worldwide to decide wordsmith champions.

The recognised highest score is reported to be 830 and the highest average score across a 12 game tournament was 434.

Two businesses will represent Merseyside in the Local Business Accelerator (LBA) campaign.

Copplestone Bridal, in Liverpool city centre, and Urban Beauty Stores, from Widnes, were chosen to progress to the next stage of the national competition to promote small firms and start-ups.

The prize offers regional winners £15m-worth of free ads in 500 newspapers around the country and a £10,000 cash prize and mentoring from Dragons’ Den star and LBA ambassador Deborah Meaden for the overall winner.

Local winners will benefit from a free ad campaign in the Liverpool Echo newspaper and free mentoring from two business experts: Professor Phil Harris, an internationally-renowned marketing expert and business chairman David Wade-Smith.

Run by father and son John and Malcolm Sibson, Copplestone Bridal has recently relocated their business from Johnston Street to Sir Thomas Street.

Urban Beauty Stores, based in Widnes Market Hall, is a beauty and cosmetic product retailer.

One of the businesses will be selected in June to take on the regional finals and hopefully progress to the national shortlist which is announced in September, ahead of the final in October.

Life/News/5

City’s sorrow at Vatican blow

By Rory O’Reilly

The Archbishop of Liverpool, the Most Reverend Patrick Kelly, has spoken of his surprise at today’s announcement by Pope Benedict XVI that he is set to resign as head of the Roman Catholic Church at the end of this month.

The Pope becomes the first to resign his position since 1415, stating that at 85, he is too old to continue his duties.

Archbishop Kelly said: “First of all my reaction was like that of many, total surprise, but in the same breath it was also gratitude and admiration. Gratitude, because it was typical of the man I’ve known for some years. He puts the wellbeing of the Church first.”

He did comment on who the next pope could potentially be stating: “It’s silly to say who the next Pope will be; all the last four have been surprises. But I don’t think that will take very long.”

He finished with a statement to Liverpool’s Catholic community: ““I would say to the catholics of Liverpool to give thanks for a great Pope, to give thanks for the wisdom he showed us, and thanks for the three books he gave us. All his life was focused not on himself, but on the Lord.”

Half of libraries to close

By Emma Kemmery Half of all libraries across Liverpool are being forced to close as cuts take hold, with 400 jobs to be affected.

The cuts mean that some of Liverpool’s public libraries are to be sold in a bid to save around £1m per year.

Details of job losses obtained

by Labour show 12 staff leaving Birkenhead library, six from Wallasey Central library, four from libraries in Bebington, Bromborough and Heswall, as well as staff from most other libraries across the city.

Liverpool currently has 19 libraries, but the council thinks it can save around £938,000 by closing around 10 of these from April 2014.

There has been outcry from Liverpool residents about the cuts to public libraries.

Sheena Streather, Liverpool John Moores University Librarian, said: “They’re amazed at the outcry there has been from the public about the closure of libraries, which is lovely but surprising, because the majority of people don’t use public libraries at all.”

“It is in some cases, trying to keep lots of little libraries open is to the detriment of keeping a better service available in just a few better equipped, better services libraries.”

Mayor Joe Anderson, said: “The simple fact is that we get 80% of our funding from the government, and the savage cut in our grant means we are the hardest hit city in the country.”

The plans are supported by the city council’s budget working group which comprises of the mayor, Liberal Party and Liberal Democrats.

Bulger murder still shocking 20 years on

By Lucy Baines

In a rare and emotive radio interview, Ralph Bulger - the father of murdered toddler James Bulger has spoken about the grief he has suffered on the anniversary of his son’s death, two decades on.

On the 12th February 1993, Ralph Bulger’s two-year-old son James went missing outside a butcher’s shop in the New Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle, Merseyside.

His mother had turned away to pay for some meat, glancing back only moments later to find James gone.

CCTV images showed that James had been taken from the shop by two older boys, who, within minutes, had taken James outside the shopping centre.

James’s body was discovered two days later on a freight line.

He had been taken two miles away from where he had first gone missing, and was found beaten to death having been stripped from the

waist down and having had paint thrown in his eyes.

The memory of his son’s murder weighs heavily Ralph’s mind to this day, who has been left with the feeling that he could have done something to prevent his son’s death.

Ralph told BBC Radio 4: “It’s always there, it always comes back, still feel the same but you learn to live with it a bit, just like, live with the pain, I just feel like I should have had him at the time.

“If I’d have took him with me maybe none of it would have happened.

“It just takes the soul out of you.

You just feel empty all the time. I shouldn’t have really let him out of my sight.”

On the day James disappeared, Ralph was going to take him with him while he helped a family member with home improvements, however, Ralph was worried about James playing with work tools and so James went with his mother Denise.

Ralph regrets the decision to this day and blames himself for what happened to his son.

The CCTV images of the two 10-year-olds with James gave Ralph hope.

He said: “I thought he’d have been alright, it was just kids that took him, but, you don’t expect it do you.”

Unfortunately, this hope was short lived when the toddler’s body was found on the 14th February.

Ralph said: “It felt like I was in a dream, I couldn’t believe it…I just wanted to die myself”.

Ralph told the BBC Radio 4 that he vomited in the bathroom sink of the police station after he found out, and that it was at this point that he says he felt the first wave of a self-loathing that has never left him.

In the following days and weeks Ralph began to spiral out of control while he struggled to cope.

He and his wife at the time Denise divorced due to their inability to

comfort each other while coping with the grief they were trying to deal with, and a drinking problem he would suffer with for many years began.

Ralph said: “It was non-stop drinking, binge drinking and I was just killing myself really...

“Sometimes I was drinking a bottle of whisky and I couldn’t even get drunk, so I’d go onto two bottles of whisky a day, wake up, fall asleep, wake up, start again.

“I wouldn’t eat and I’d just go back on the drink to try and kill the pain.”

The boys who killed James, both aged 10, were arrested and charged within days. Robert Thompson and Jon Venables were tried at Preston Crown Court in November 1993 and convicted of murder.

Eight years later, both were freed from secure children’s homes. In 2010 Jon Venables was re-arrested and charged with the possession and re-distribution of indecent images of children.

He was sentenced to two years in prison.

It is, he says, the fact that they were children themselves which lends this case its unique horror: it has robbed him and his family of the comfort that they could have begun to cope with had justice had been delivered.

Ralph believes that: “What they did was just evil.”

He and his family still fear what Robert Thompson and Jon Venables are capable of and believe that “they shouldn’t be in society.”

“They didn’t just kill James,” he points out, “they tortured him and they mutilated him.

“For them to be like that at such a young age… They’re older now; imagine what they could do now.

“If they’re not getting watched all the time what’s to stop them trying to take one of our kids again?”

“Sometimes you feel like you’re having a heart attack... I don’t think it’s a pain you can heal. I think it’s with you for life.”

Graduate’s hospital Mercy mission

By Michaela Routledge A sciences graduate from Birkenhead has returned from assisting onboard the largest hospital ship in the world.

Lizzie Clegg volunteered her services for three whole months on the Africa Mercy, a vessel

which is run by international charity Mercy Ships and offers free medical and humanitarian aid to those who are deprived of money.

The ship is now attending to those in Guinea as part of a ten month outreach as it is one of the poorest countries in Africa.

The 21-year-old former biolog-

ical science student would cook for around 400 people each day, as well as working in the ship’s galley, feeding other volunteers and on days off, would help with the care of patients.

Lizzie was happy to gain valuable experience after graduating.

She told the Wirral Globe: “I

want to be a doctor and as the applications are so competitive it is really important to have some experience working with patients.

“I also really loved working with the eye team. It’s so rewarding to see people’s lives literally transformed in front of your eyes.”

Volunteers from as many as 40

different nations are on the ship and jobs vary from nurses to chefs and even engineers. The ship features a state-of-the-art hospital ship with X-ray facilities, a pharmacy and a laboratory.

Mercy Ships as a whole has provided care for more than 70 countries.

Life/Style/6

Have we given up on Lent?

by Philippa Probert

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent and that means giving up something we love for 40 days and 40 nights. We wondered whether Lent itself has become something that people are giving up?

The six week period is normally a time when people go without, but in recent years the meaning of lent to some people has become less important.

Shop worker, Steve Fletcher 46, told Liverpool Life: “I’m not giving anything up, never have.

I am too greedy to stop having something I love.”

Anne Fearon, Parish worker at St Helen’s church Crosby said: “People today who attend church do feel very strongly about attending mass on Ash Wednesday because they don’t feel like their Lent has properly began otherwise.

“The younger generations have tended to move away from attending mass but as their own way of marking Lent they still like to sacrifice something for the time period. It would always be nice to see more of the younger generations attending mass but that’s just how it is these days.”

Maybe the future of Lent will involve adding something to improve our lives instead of taking away.

Anne said: “Many people think it’s just food items that can be given up but it’s all about sacrificing. Giving up your time to helping other people for instance is a sacrifice, we can’t forget that.”

Frequent church goer Ashley Young said: “I have always given up something for Lent. It wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t. My whole family gives up something different, this year I’ve chosen to

From sweets and chocolate, to cigarettes and swearing.

These are just some of the things people vow to give up for Lent every year- but are we losing our willpower?

Sweet Image ©Flickr/Chris.

Vandyck

give up using my car around where I live. I can walk to local shops so in the long run it should save me petrol too.”

There are many foods that some Christians do not eat in Lent, such as meat and fish, fats, eggs, and milky foods. Some Christians just give up something they really enjoy such as cakes or chocolate or often alcohol.

One student, Graham Walker 22, said: “I was thinking about giving up bacon because I live with a doctor and he says it’s going to kill me. I don’t think I have the willpower though.”

Suzanne Dudman, 39 said: “I am going to try and give up chocolate. My husband says I eat too much as it is so it’s going to be hard for me. I’ve never completed the whole forty days before but a week would be an achievement.”

Sophie Grundy, a journalism student, said: I’m giving up take out and fast food. I live off pizza and subway, so I’ll have to find something else to eat. I don’t believe in God, but practice Lent.”

A history of Ash Wednesday Today we celebrate Shrove Tuesday (pancake day to most of you).

Shrove Tuesday precedes Ash Wednesday which is the first official day of Lent. Shrove Tuesday is a day to celebrate eating rich, fatty foods before the ritual fasting which is part of Lent.

Ash Wednesday stems from a story in the bible where Jesus spent forty days fasting and praying in the desert. The gospels of Mark, Matthew and Luke explain how Jesus spent forty days enduring the temptation from satan. Ash Wednesday occurs 46 days before Easter.

The name Ash Wednesday comes from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of the faithful as a reminder of human mortality. The ashes are usually gathered from the burning of palms for Palm Sunday.

The ashes are usually blessed using holy water.

The traditional Ash Wednesday church service often includes a corporate confession rite.

People traditionally fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, but some Christians choose to fast for the whole 40 days. Some people only consume bread and water.

Flippin’ Marvellous Perfect pancake recipe Ingredients

50g Plain Flour 1 medium Egg 150ml Semi Skimmed Milk 1 pinch Salt 2 teaspoons Sunflower Oil 3-4 shots 1-cal oil

Batter

Sift the flour and salt into a mixing bowl Make a well in the centre of the flour and add the egg and oil Use a fork or whisk to stir into a sticky paste Gradually add in milk till you have a batter the thickness of single cream Cover the mixture and allow it to rest for 30 minutes

Pancakes

Put a drizzle of oil in the pan Using a medium heat pour a ladle of batter into the pan Tilt the pan so that you get a round shape, as thin as possible Cook over a medium heat until the pancake is golden If you are feeling brave, toss the pancake If not, use a fish-slice to turn it

by Sophie Marsden In honour of Shrove Tuesday, Liverpoool Life is giving you some new ideas for pancake toppings.

By using our favourite recipe we have provided, you should be able to make pancakes from start to finish.

Hopefully you’re not cheating and using a readymade pancake mix (they never taste as good!)

Traditional pancakes toppings are sweet and simple, and sugar and lemon is always a winning combination, and very easy to do as well. If you’re taking inspiration from the American’s, you might be topping your pancakes with streaky bacon, scrambled eggs and maple syrup.

If you’ve still managed to keep up your new year diet, you might want to opt for some chopped berries; blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and cherries.

If your lucky enough to eat what you want, the more toppings the better, and the sweeter the better.

If you’re stuck for ideas, here are some weird and wonderful pancake toppings for you to try out, both sweet and savoury.

Chilli & chocolate:

Milk or dark chocolate is recommended for this, melt in a pan (becareful not to burn) and sprinkle a touch of powdered chilli over.

Spinach & cheese:

People forget that pancakes can be sweet or savoury. The spinach will contribute to 1 of your 5 a day and then melt as much cheese as you want on top.

Apple & cinammon:

Heat the apples in a pan or bake in the oven till they’re soft, sprinkle cinammon on top to taste.

Yoghurt, lemon & raspberry:

This is one of the healthier options. Use a large dollop of natural or vanilla yoghurt, sprinkled with chopped raspberries and squeeze some lemon over.

Peanut butter & Banana:

Spread as much peanut butter over your pancake as you want, chop up some bananas and put on top, then fold over.

Marshmallows & chocolate:

Melt some marshmallows slightly, and melt some white, milk or dark chocolate in a pan, pour onto the pancake and fold.

Mascarpone & pistachio nuts:

Dollop a tablespoon of mascarpone in the middle of your pancake, chop some pistachios into tiny pieces and sprinkle on top. Squirt some honey over for extra sweetness.

Blueberry & Coconut:

Use a handful of blueberries and use a teaspoon to sprinkle dessicated coconut over the fruit.

Peaches & cream:

Chop some peaches on top of your pancake, fold and pour single, double or clotted cream over the top as required.

Ice cream & maple syrup:

Choose your favourite flavour ice cream and drizzle with maple syrup to satisfy that sweet tooth.

Liverpool

Life/Style/7

Life

Fab re-make in marathon session

by Josh Nevett

A score of high-profile musicians including Stereophonics, Joss Stone and Beverly Knight have all teamed up to re-record the Beatles’ seminal debut album Please Please Me. The 12-hour mammoth recording session marked the 50th anniversary of the Fab Fours’ classic release and took place at London’s Abbey Road studio.

The Liverpudlian quartet originally recorded the album in a daylong session on 11 February 1963, 50 years ago this week. In order to re-enact the session accurately, the group of modern songwriters, bands and singers performed each individual track off the album live on Radio 2 in the same amount of time originally taken.

Earlier in the day, Stereophonics singer Kelly Jones busked outside the legendary studios with Radio 2 breakfast presenter Chris Evans, before singing ‘I Saw Her Standing There’.

Liverpool-based singer Ian Broudie of the Lightning Seeds covered ‘Do You Want To Know A Secret’, whilst soul star Joss Stone performed her reinterpreted version of ‘A Taste of Honey’, which is taken from the film of the same title. Blur guitarist Graham Coxon also reworked the lesser known track ‘Baby It’s You’.

Simply Red’s Mick Hucknall was amongst the collection of acts gathered in the studio to commemorate this occasion as well.

The original album cost a meagre £400 to produce and included cuts of one the band’s live shows along with a few choice covers.

It was initially thought that the album would be recorded at the

Cavern Club in Liverpool, however the acoustics were deemed too poor, so they relocated to the studio in London instead.

On the day, John Lennon suffered with a cold, but overcame his illness to perform the now legendary cover version of The Isley Brothers’ track ‘Twist And Shout’, with which Beverley Knight brought the show to a close, backed by a full choir. Please Please Me went to number one in the charts in 1963 and held that position for 30 weeks until it was eventually knocked off the top by the Beatles’ second album, ‘With The Beatles’.

Next week, Latin American Beatles tribute act, All You Need is Love, is due to perform Please Please Me in its entirety live on stage at The Cavern Club to mark this historic milestone.

The Rocky Horror show has brought its 40th anniversary tour to the Liverpool Empire; bringing out hundreds of scantily clad scousers on a chilly February night.

With a fantastic cast including Superstar winner Ben Forster playing nerdy brad, Emmerdale’s Roxanne Pallett playing squeaky clean Janet and X-Factor’s Rhydian as Rocky.

The show is known for its audience interaction, and the opening night did not disappoint. The narrator in particular delighted fans with his witty one-liners and comebacks. When it is a necessary for a sign informing the audience “Don’t throw anything, including toast kit kats and rice.” You know

you’re in for an interesting night.

As a tribute to 50’s B-Side science fiction films; the story sees newly engaged and squeaky clean Brad and Janet wind up at the mysterious mansion of Frank n Furter where they meet the transvestite’s latest creation in the form of Rocky.

However, Brad and Janet get more than they bargained for when they’re invited into Frank’s lab to spend the night.

The stand-out performance came from Oliver Thornton who played the ‘Sweet Transvestite’ Frank N Furter. In fishnets and dangerously high heels (like the majority of males in the audience) he stole the show with his dark humour and ad libs. As a first timer, it is easy to see why there is still a cult following 40 years on.

Music

Family

13th February: Echo Arena Example.

It’s been an incredible year for Example, this summer he maintained his stranglehold on the world of Electronica with 12 shows in Ibiza spending the summer months on the road playing a plethora of festivals across the UK and Europe to rave reviews.

Tickets: £25.00

14th February: Murder Mystery Night. Hosted

by Lovehistory, this rather splendid occasion promises to grip you from the start. In true Victorian splendour there will be food and drink aplenty. You will be treated to a hot buffet, Victorian fancies and plenty of drink to add to the occasion.

The event will be held in the austere oak panelled library where visitors will ponder, speculate and try to catch the killer. As you cast the eye of suspicion at each suspect you will be entertained by a team of professional actors who will join you; some will help, some have secrets of their own to hide. You will interrogate them, question them until you begin to put the pieces together and ultimately identify the murderer!

12th February: O2 Academy Jake Bugg.

The fast rising hit-maker from Nottingham comes to Liverpool on his first tour of 2013. The 18-year-old will be performing hits from his self-titled debut album which topped the charts back in October when it was released.

The teenager has shot to stardom, and also recently received a nomination for a Brit award in the British Breakthrough category.

Tickets: SOLD OUT

Arts

Fashion 17th February: 10am Vintage & Craft Fair.

Over 20 stalls of vintage goodies and handmade crafts including clothing, accessories, jewellery, art, antiques, handmade cakes and sweet treats, gifts, home wares and much more. Free entry at Woodside Ferry Terminal Building.

The Cavern Club in Liverpool © Flickr Album by The Beatles © Flickr/by badgreeb.

Damn it, Janet! Horror’s a hoot!

by Josh Parry

What’s On...

Theatre 14th February: The Rocky Horrror Show.

Follow squeaky clean sweethearts Brad and Janet on an adventure they’ll never forget.

Get ready for a night of fun, frolics and frivolity in this thrilling production of Richard O’Brien’s classic original script!

At the Empire Theatre starting at 8pm.

Tickets: £29.50

8th February-12th May: Glam Tour.

An exhibition exploring the glam movement is now on display at Tate Liverpool.

‘Glam! The Performance of Style’ looks at a period during the 1970s which influenced both art and culture in both the UK and US. This era was rooted in British art schools but made mainstream by the likes of David Bowie as music heroes of the day adopted a more flamboyant image.

Over 100 pieces are featured in this exhibition from magazines, paintings and photographs to a new take on Marc Camille Chaimowicz’s spectacular, glitter-strewn installation Celebration Real Life, featuring mirror balls, strobes and stage lighting.

Looking at influential artists including: David Hockney (pictured), Andy Warhol, Cindy Sherman, Allen Jones and Richard Hamilton.The event is free entry, but donations are excepted.

Do you have an event for our What’s On Guide?

Contact Liverpool Life on liverpoollifenews@gmail.com

The Rocky Horror Show at the Liverpool Empire

Life/Health/8

When food becomes an enemy

Signs and symptoms of eating disorders that you should be looking out for...

Jonathan Bridge investigates the worrying issues of eating disorders amongst students and what can be done to help those in need of support Approximately 1.6 million people in the UK are currently dealing with an eating disorder, such as Anorexia and Bulimia but are too afraid to seek help because of the stigma that surrounds the disease. However without this help, the disease puts the sufferer at serious risk of other health conditions, and in some cases, can be the cause of death. But this week, the focus is on helping people with these debilitating conditions.

Eating Disorder Awareness Week lasts from February 11 to February 17 and is a chance for charities and organisations to raise awareness on the disease and the extreme effect it has on a sufferer’s life.

An eating disorder can be instigated at any time in a person’s life, both in boys and girls, and has no single cause but is believed to have many influences such as depression, and the pressure put on them to be slim and fit like celebrities.

Not all of us spend time thinking about what we eat. However, for some people daily life can revolve around that very thought. People suffering with an eating disorder find themselves totally absorbed with their eating, obsessing over it between each meal.

Eating disorders are a serious mental concern. Psychologically, at the root of an eating disorder may be a combination of a number of issues, including: • Distorted body image • Low self-esteem • Anxiety for some control • An expression of deep emotions such as depression or trauma that can’t be put into words One in ten people in the UK will experience partial or full symptoms

of anorexia, bulimia or binge eating at some point in their lifetime.

The charity ‘Beat’ is using Eating Disorders Awareness Week between 11th and 17th February 2013 to spread the message that everybody knows somebody who is suffering from these afflictions– eating disorders are more common than you think.

They can affect anybody from any walk of life. These terrible disorders do not target people by age, gender or background and can in some instances become life threatening.

‘Beat’ is a charity intended at providing support and help for those dealing with an eating disorder by campaigning for better treatment and to challenge the stereotypes of people with the disease by treating them carefully and with respect.

Mary George from Beat said: “We are learning so much more about the causes of developing an eating disorder, and don’t understand everything yet. The causes are complex but include a mix of genetic, biological and cultural factors and a number of factors usually combine to make an individual at risk.

“Eating disorders are not a diet gone wrong or a fad or fashion.

They are a way of coping with difficult thoughts, emotions or experiences. Although many people make a full recovery from their

Merseyside is measles blackspot

* Talking about or becoming obsessed with calorie or fat content * Avoiding social situations that involve food/taking to eating alone or in secret/disruptions to ‘normal’ eating times * Self depricative talk (after eating)/ poor body image/low self-esteem, need for acceptance from others * Compulsive exercise * Measuring self worth on weight – ‘good’ for not eating ‘bad’ for giving in to eating * Pre-occupied thoughts of food, weight and cooking * Mood swings, depression, fatigue, irritability, insomnia * Difficulty concentrating * Very aware of other peoples’ eating habits/weight/diets * Nervous or indecisive around meal times, especially if the eating place is particularly obvious, such as a canteen/ halls meal * Becoming quieter and more withdrawn in general conversation * Seeming to read a lot into comments made about their appearance * Engaging more in ‘fat talk’. Fat talk is a term used to describe statements made in everyday conversation that reinforce the thin ideal and contribute to women’s dissatisfaction with their bodies, for example ‘I’m so fat’, ‘do I look fat in this?’ (type ‘fat talk free week’ into Google for more information on fat talk)

eating disorder, it can happen that an emotional trauma such as relationship breakdown or bereavement may trigger its return. It is important that the sufferer recognises the signs and seeks early help in order to halt the progress of this sometimes deadly illness.”

In a survey conducted by volunteer led charity Student Run Self Help (SRSH), 71% of the 318 students who completed it reported they had first or second hand experiences of an eating disorder. Another 55% of the students also reported that they had experienced mental health problems for which they would have liked further support.

Elisabeth Reed, Project Manager at SRSH explained: “Too many peo-

ple suffering with eating disorders slip under the radar. They hide the eating disorder’s behaviour from their friends and family meaning that they can slip further into their illness and often feel like no one cares enough to take any notice.

She added: “It’s been said numerous times that one of the worst things about having an eating disorder is the feeling of isolation.

If you are worried about someone - talk about it. The best thing to do if you think someone might be struggling with an eating disorder is to simply start a conversation with them about it.”

Changes that occur in the late teen years can often cause stress and anxiety about what the future holds.

It is around the time of enrolling into university that eating disorders and other mental health issues can commonly occur.

The SRSH manager said: “It’s thought that one of the many reasons that the eating disorder might take hold at this time of life is due to the stressful life changes and the feeling that things are out of a person’s control.

The eating disorder is sometimes thought of as a coping mechanism- it’s something that can be controlled when everything else seems scary and out of control.”

However, many young adults with an eating disorder face difficulties in receiving flexible and continual treatment once they move to university.

Jonathan Kelly, Research Officer for Beat, said: “We are concerned by the extra hurdles often faced by students, in accessing treatment for their eating disorders. Case studies illustrated by research carried out by SRSH and described by experienced clinicians and discussed on the Beat helplines, show the extent and seriousness of these problems.

“This centres around a lack of flexibility and communication between GPs and eating disorders treatment services in different areas of the country, which report being constrained by ambiguities in current policies and practices, about who should pay for, and have overall clinical responsibility for a student’s

Over a quarter of all cases of measles in England and Wales last year were recorded in the Merseyside area, which coincided with an 18-year high of measles cases nationally.

Last year saw 2,016 confirmed laboratory cases of the highly contagious disease with Liverpool being accountable for 313 of these cases.

This is compared to just 52 cases recorded in the North West in 2011.

A third of the recorded cases in 2012 were in people over the age of 15 who did not receive the MMR vaccination.

This increase in outbreaks has

been put down to the knock on effect of the autism scare nearly 15 years ago when people feared there was a link between the MMR vaccine (measles, mumps and rubella) and the mental condition.

The research had been discredited within six years but the seed of doubt had already been sown in the minds of parents around the country.

This saw a drop in the number of parents choosing to vaccinate their children against the virus and by 2004 only 80% of all children had received the vaccination.

The number of children receiving the MMR vaccine has increased

each year since 2004 but the figure is still below that of the 95% which the World Health Organisation believes is needed to make it almost impossible for the virus to spread.

Hugh Lamont, a spokesperson for the Health Protection Agency (HPA) in the North West, said: “The clear message from us is that people need to be vaccinated.

“We’re seeing numerous cases in older children, teenagers and adults- and in babies below the age of vaccination.

“No one should dismiss measles lightly. In current outbreaks on Merseyside and in Lancashire approx-

care whilst they are studying and are away from home.”

Friends and family are vital in spotting the signs of an eating disorder. It is as a result of love for the individual that you may raise concerns about their eating. Reaching out with kindness can be the start of helping them to tackle their illness.

Recovery from an eating disorder is possible with the right help and support.

Identifying problems early is crucial before dysfunctional behaviour occurs. Often people suffering from with an eating disorder will become very unsociable and withdrawn, excluding themselves from situations to avoid embarrassment.

An obsession with counting calories and fat content of food, as well as avoiding certain foods, can also be an indicator someone is suffering.

They may make excuses to avoid meals in order not to eat, or if they are suffering from bulimia may disappear shortly after eating.

Beat provides a range of support including helplines for adults and young people, a UK wide network of self-help and support groups and online support including information, message boards and live chat at www.b-eat.co.uk. The charity also provides expert training to health and social care professionals and supports research.

Help Line numbers are as follows: Youthline (under 25s): 0845 634 7650 (Open Mon-Fri; 4.30pm8.30pm and Sat; 1-4.30pm) Beatline (Over 18s): 0845 634 1414 (Open Mon-Fri; 10.30am-8.30pm and Sat; 1-4.30pm) Additional reporting by Lauren Kelly imately one-third of patients need in-patient treatment in hospital and a number required intensive care.”

In an attempt to prevent further outbreaks, the NHS and the health protection agency have organised a series of sessions in schools to immunise children who have not received the vaccine.

Sean Mackay, Head of Department of Public Health at LJMU, said: “Students should attend their GP if they are worried or unwell.”

Anyone under of 25 is advised to get vaccinated and those who believe they have contracted the virus should seek medical attention.

Life/Health/9

‘The day my life changed’ A few weeks ago Joel Richards agreed to do a favour for a friend. Little did he know, it would lead to a shocking discovery...

A couple of weeks ago I was asked by a friend to help out with his project for university, which I was happy to do.

It involved a routine fitness test where my height, weight and body fat was measured, and my blood pressure was taken. Then I had an ECG (echocardiogram) where I could see my heart beating on an ultrasound machine which was weird in itself.

After the testing had finished and I put my shirt on I was told something which shocked and confused me at the same time.

My friend’s supervisor told me I have a bicuspid aortic valve with mild aortic regurgitation. My initial thoughts were that it was a serious condition which would require surgery and possibly a radical overhaul of my lifestyle. Plus the discovery could not have come at a worse time considering I am in my final year of study and have a mountain of work to complete, and the initial fear was how I could have coped with such news. However I was wrong.

It turns out my condition is something that has always been there in the background ever since the day I was born. It’s just that I never knew about it and it had never stopped me from living my life. In fact I can count myself lucky that it could have been worse and that it’s better to have discovered it now rather than later on in life when it could perhaps have been more fatal.

For those that don’t know, a bicuspid aortic valve is the most common type of con-

genital aortic valve disease.

According to the NHS it affects around 1 in 50 people.

It occurs when the aortic valve has only two flaps (which act as gates to allow blood through) instead of the usual three. The valve may function normally for years without you being aware of the problem, often until you reach your 50s or 60s.

Sometimes, if there is a problem with the aortic valve, the person may not experience any symptoms until late in the disease. Any symptoms occur because the heart cannot pump blood around the body efficiently.

Symptoms may include: •Chest pain brought on by physical activity (angina) – this is caused by the heart having to work harder due to the restricted blood flow through the aortic valve.

•Shortness of breath – at first this may be noticeable only during exercise, but later this may be experienced even when resting.

•Dizziness or light-headedness – this is caused by the obstruction of the flow of blood from the heart to the rest of the body.

•Loss of consciousness (fainting) – this is also a result of reduced blood flow caused by the obstruction in the heart.

Although I was told not to worry by my friend’s supervisor, who is a reader in Cardiovascular Physiology at John Moores University, I couldn’t help but feel afraid at the prospect of having to tell my family the news. Not only that, but I’ve got what is possibly the most important

If your GP suspects you have aortic valve problems, they will refer you to a heart specialist (cardiologist) to do some tests: •An echocardiogram is where an ultrasound scan is used to obtain a detailed image of your heart. An echocardiogram can often detect abnormalities with the shape and movement of the heart valves.

•Coronary angiography is a type of X-ray that uses a special dye which helps the blood vessels of the heart show up clearly on an X-ray scan.

These tests should be able to confirm a suspected diagnosis of aortic stenosis or regurgitation.

months of my life coming up and the last thing I needed was a bombshell that would threaten to derail that. Understandably it was a lot for them to take in, especially my Mum who was upset and visibly shocked when I told her, my Dad and my sisters about the hospital appointment which was to take place.

But after explaining to them that there was nothing to worry about, I headed to the hospital, accompanied by my Mum last week, where I was to have another ECG. Whilst she waited outside the treatment room I took off my t-shirt in front of the nurses (no awkwardness at all!) before being poked and prodded by the ultrasound once again.

Once the scan was finished the nurses told me I would have to wait for my results to be sent out, which as I write are still to be delivered to my home.

If my symptoms are mild, which I have been told is most likely, I will be invited to come in for an echocardiogram every year or two to check whether the problem is getting worse.

But the worst case scenario is that if the symptoms were severe, it is highly likely that surgery to replace the valve will be recommended. Without treatment, stenosis or regurgitation of the aortic valve is likely to get worse and will eventually lead to heart failure, which can often be fatal.

There is also a small but significant risk that the heart will suddenly stop beating (sudden cardiac death), which can also be fatal although I am confident this won’t happen.

Research has found that people with severe aortic stenosis who are not treated with surgery have a 25% chance of dying in the first year after the symptoms start. The risk is 50% in the second year.

Meanwhile people with severe aortic regurgitation who are not treated with surgery have a 25% chance of dying after five years following the start of symptoms. The risk is 50% after ten years.

Having been through this experience I count myself lucky that I said ‘yes’ to helping my friend out,

because had I not discovered what I now know, I may not have been so lucky later on in life.

“I can count myself lucky that it could have been worse”

Life/Style/10

“W� �us� ��n� w����n� �n� ha� � �i��i� ”

“I �us� h��� n� �u�� a� ���”

Are you lucky in love or a dating disaster?

Lauren Kelly and Rosie Cameron went looking for love... stories

We see it all the time in movies. Boy meets girl, Boy asks girl on a date, girls says yes and then girl stands him up because she got a better offer just as he pulls up outside the cinema.

Dates can be the most awkward experiences between two people.

They could fall in love within the first five minutes, or end up hating each other. She could realise that she can’t stand the way he chews with his mouth open and he hates the way she laughs.

As Valentine’s Day approaches, those in relationships realise how lucky they are to have found that special someone and express this love by exchanging presents, going on a picnic, and some even get engaged. However for singletons it can be a painful reminder that they have yet to find the love of their life. Or they could relish in the fact that they can do whatever they want without having to listen to anyone nagging them.

In the spirit of the Week of Love, Liverpool Life reached out to the lovebirds in the city to find out what their best and worst dates were, and heard some pretty interesting stories, some romantic, some not so romantic...

“W� ��n� t� �l�� ���� g�l�. I w�� , �u� �� ��w�y� s�y� �� �e� �� ��� . H� ���n� ��� �n���� ���� t����n� ��i�� i� ���r� �ec�u�� i� ’� n��m���� �� �h�’� ��� �h����b��! W� �n�e� �� ba�� a� �i� �n� I �i��’� �e��� ���� ����� �� ��� m����n�, ��i�� s��nd� �r�n� �u� I ac�u���� ma�� ��� w�i� ������ ����� d�y� ���� I �i�e� ���! I� wa� �us� �ec�u�� �� ���n� s� l�n� g����n�! Tha� wa� � �e�� �n� � h�l� ag� �u� �� s���� l�u�� �b�u� i� �n� �������� i� ���� i� wa� �es��rd��.” (L����� Ric���� , 20)

“I �us� �e� ��� �n� �� ���� w����n� r��n� , I �i��’� �n�� ��� �ef��� , i� wa� � �rs� ���� ���n� s� i� wa� � �i� ���w�r� . W� w���e� r��n� �e�� Br��b�r�u�� ��r�u�� ��� ��ld� �n� �ha�. I’� s���� �i�� ��� n��, ����� �e�r� �n� ��� m�n�h�!” (C��n�� T�lst�� , 19)

“M� �n� �� b�y����n� ��w�y� g� �� ����� r�m�n�i� �����nd� �w��.

W� c��’� �ff�r� t� g� f�� V���n���e� d�� �h�u�� s� �� ��� ���e�! W� �e� �� s�ho�� �u� �� �i��’� �e���� ���� ��e�� , �u� �� �� t����n� �� Fa��bo�� �n� ��r�n�e� t� g� �u� t� ��� ����m�. W� lo��e� ������ f�� ��� ��� �� w�n�e� t� wat�� �u� f�� s��� �eas�� i� wa��’� �h���n� �� ��� ����m� �n� ��� st�� ha� ����� �e�r� � i�. W�i�� wa� ����� ��b��ras��n�!” (C��l�e� G��n�� , 19) “I ��n� �� � da�� �i�� � ��� t� ��� ����m�.

I� wa� s� ���w�r� c�� a� �� ���� w����n� �� �i��e� �� � �ra���e� of� ��� flo�� �n� g��� i� t� �� a� � ��e��n�! I ����i���� �i��’� st�� �i�� ���! I �us� h��� n� �u�� a� ��� . A ��� a��e� �� i� I c��l� t��� �� ������ of� �n� ���� i� t� ��� a� I wa� w����n� t� ��� ��i� m����n�, �ec�u�� �� �e���� ���e� i�! S� s�r�n��!” (H���� D��i�, 19)

Our top tips.......

by Emma Callum The 14th of February isn’t a date everyone instantly recognises. But if you call it by its proper name, Valentine’s day, that’s a different story. For some (the loved-up ones) images of hearts, flowers, romantic moments and general mushiness springs to mind.

For the others, aka the singletons, shots of sitting alone eating a meal for one watching back to back Bridget Jones or the Big Bang Theory flashes in front of your eyes. But this year, no matter which camp you’re in, make

sure you’re having fun whatever your Facebook relationship status says because, technically, that’s the only one that counts.

Girls, don’t stay in watching Pretty Woman having thoughts of one day finding a man that’s like Richard Gere. This year you need to get the girls together and head to Palm Sugar Lounge or Alma de Cuba for a night of cocktails and champagne.

Or if your bank balance is still struggling after New Year’s, get your friends round for a chocolate and wine night in your pyjamas. There’s no excuse to

be sat in with the Sex and the City box set this year.

Die Hard 5 hits cinemas this Valentine’s Day, the best day to go watch John Maclane blow up half of America with the boys if you’re single this February 14th.

Head to the Bier Keller on Dale Street afterwards for a stein or four of Germany’s finest beer.

If you’re one of the couples this year looking for something different to do, try out Panoramic 34. Located on the 34th floor of West Tower on Brook Street, eat an a la carte meal with the

Chelsea Gannon and Holly Davis share their Valentine stories

“I �i��’� �n�� i� wa� � da�� , �ha� ’� ��� �r�����. W� ��n� t� ��� ����m� t� wat�� � �e���� m���� ���. I ����� i� wa� In�i�n� J��e�. H� w�n�e� t� �i� �i�h� ��x� t� �� �u� I �i��’� w�n� ��� t�. I d��’� ���� �e���� ���n� �e���� �lo�� t� �� . Bu� �� �i� p�� f�� �� �i��e� s� I �h��l� h��� �n��� �e����! T�� �es� da�� wa� � �i��i�. I �i��’� �n�� i� wa� h������n�. H� �us� a��e� �� t� g� �n� ��e� ���, �n� I ��n� �n� ����� wa� � �i��i� l�i� �u� �� t�� � ��i� ����!” (Rad� I�i���v� 19)

best view of the city.

Their Valentines special will set you back £75 a person for a five course meal, but is sure to score you some brownie points with the other half.

An alternative gift to give this February 14th could be an indoor sky diving session.

Starting at £29.99 per person for a flight, it’s a once in a lifetime experience that most will enjoy. Visit http:// www.airkix.com/ for tickets or keep your eyes peeled on discount voucher websites that normally have offers available.

LIVERPOOL LIVE

Life/Music /11

MANCHESTER TRIO, DELPHIC - INTERVIEW

JMU jukebox

To the drawing board and back again, Manchester’s trio Delphic are ticked off with big plans to purge the charts.

Joshua Nevett stole a few words with Matt Cocksedge of Manchester indietronica band Delphic ahead of their performance at the 02 Academy Liverpool.

CONOR MAYNARD FEAT WILEY ANIMAL

Joshua Nevett: You’ve been quoted as saying: “You get very angry about the state of popular music and we want to bloody change it.” What particular aspects of popular music instil this anger?

The UK’s answer to Justin Beiber has acquired a new partner in grime, securing the services of Hip-hop upstart Wiley to feature on his latest track. Don’t panic girls, this is one self-confident teeny bopping sensation that hasn’t succumbed to partaking illicit substances just yet, it’s all good clean fun here.He begs, he pleads, ‘mess me up so good until I’m begging for more’, in his whiny American vernacular. He’s a heart-throb, sure, but the juxtaposition proves too disparaging as Wiley wades in between an overload of emotive gibberish. - Joshua Nevett

Matt Cocksedge: We’re just pissed off at pop, I think there’s a lot of cynical music being made at the moment – and you only have to look at the charts to see why we get a bit angry. We just want to make people aware of that, and we’re doing all we can to make music that repels against it.

JN: It took you in excess of 18 months to write and record your second studio album - Collections, what caused this lengthy draught of creativity?

MC: After we released our first album acolyte, we toured it into the ground, and I just think we were creatively and emotionally burnt out at that time. We’d spent a long time on the road and I think we just needed to have a bit of a break.

JN: How has your affinity with technology affected the overriding tone of the album, and what do you think of the notion that over reliance on technology de-humanises the art of music?

MC: I don’t think it de-humanises it, it just makes for more honest recordings because you just do it there and then and it’s done. But then again, if you use it like Cher, then yes, it de-humanises music.

JN: You revealed that you listen to a lot of hip-hop and R & B since the release of your last album, citing artists such as Jay-Z and J Dilla as prominent influences. How do these influences harmonise in the context of Collections?

MC: Yeah we’ve been listening to a lot more R&B,

and you know, a lot more world music. Collections, the name itself just implies that kind of variation and that width and breadth of sound. We just tried to make (this album) as different as possible to everything else we’d done.

JN: The teaser track you released last year – Good Life was featured as one of the five Olympic Tracks for London 2012, do you reckon its inclusion was the catalyst that inspired many of our great athletes to Olympic glory?

MC: [Chuckles] Oh, erm, definitely yes. I think they were running away from Muses’ song and running towards ours. I think that’s what it was.

JN: Your first album used the colour palette of club culture as a reference point for cross-pollinating genres; does Collections recapture the under-

ground, Madchester ethos that’s previously been engrained into the Delphic mentality?

MC: We’ve spent a lot less time in Manchester, and really tried to consciously move things on, get away from that. Personally I think it sounds very different but hey, you’ll just have to go and buy a copy and find out yourselves.

JN: If the musical heritage of Manchester and Liverpool were somehow inexplicably bound into human form who would win in a bout of fisty cuffs?

MC: [Laughs] I think Manchester would have a huge army of strength, but then Liverpool would just unleash the Beatles who would just trample on everyone. So I think Liverpool would probably win, but please don’t print that because I’ll never be able to go back to Manchester ever again.

Review: Dutch Uncles @ The Kazimer

By Joshua Nevett “Hmm, I have to say, one of my top five moments in music has to be finding out that my band has split up via YouTube – and playing the Kazimier tonight of course” divulges the angular Francis Lung, the ever enigmatic cajoler.

My, my, he sure does knows how to turn the charm on, but for those of you who are more observant than most, you’re probably already wise to the fact that tonight’s support act, the wiry, slick-mannered Francis is not who he seems. Now touring under a false moniker, Francis Lung is the pseudonym of estranged WU LYF bassist, Tom McClung. His mawkish acapella and remorseful karaoke renditions are reminiscent of a washed-up seaside crooner, lamenting his lost loves atop of a mist-shrouded lighthouse. However, he still manages to reduce the capacity crowd of the Kazimier to a resounding hush. Accompanied by nothing more than his iPhone connected to a tiny Fender practice amp, Lung’s limbs flail frenetically for Selfish Man while shimmering, carefully plucked guitar is applied sparingly for introspective ballad of Brooklyn Girls.

Forget the rasping, confrontation of WU LYF; for when Lung’s debut solo output is released later this year it’ll be sure to bleed the heart dry of emotional

poignancy – that’s if this collection of disaffected dramatics is anything to go off.

Manchester’s Dutch Uncles are no dummies when it comes to high-octane, cathartic smart-pop. They’ve arrived just in time to give tonight what it’s sorely

been missing, a unified congress of funk. They write exhilarating electronica indebted parcels of pop with enough xylophone bongs to compete with the Royal Philharmonic. “I’d like you to meet our newest addition, the electric xylophone, tonight’s going to be a lot of fun”, remarks impish frontman Duncan Wallis, who looks beside himself with joy at the prospect of having more instruments at his disposal to clatter, smash and jab. They’re out of the blocks with an eerie jitter, as Pondage sets a tone of tension that’s present throughout their latest album Out Of Touch Into The Wild.

Haunting keyboard stabs build and unnerve in a gruelling rhythmic canter that you can almost properly dance to. Wallis spares no time in jerking around the perimeter of the stage; he unshackles his limbs with fevered intent like a malfunctioning jack-in-thebox out of its matrix. They may paddle in the same puddles as Hot Chip (Wallis’s falsetto) or Peter Gabriel (cerebral synths), but they swim in an entirely different pool altogether – and lead single Fester proves this with disco handclaps and an onslaught on staid guitar lines. “This has gone at the speed of light, let’s have a last hoedown.” Promises Wallis, and it’s a hoedown we receive as they bounce into the punchy percussiveness of The Ink. One thing’s for sure; they’ll have the punters speaking double Dutch for weeks.

JULIO BASHMORE – HUSK It seems Julio Bashmore and impromptu dance floor drama come hand in hand these days. However JB’s latest single, ‘Husk’, exemplifies the lower-end of his craftsmanship. The hypnotic undercurrent of a woodwind flute builds a half-baked suspense amongst an offset of 90s garage infused chimes. This is Bashmore’s most restrained and tempered output to date, buffered with the sheen of low frequencies that you’d expect from his more conventional exploits. Cinematic suspense builds as the hiss of a snarling snare roll dissipates into a disorientating climax. Somehow the lines he blurs between genres have never seemed more coherent, coming to a dance floor near you soon. - Joshua Nevett

THE TEA STREET BAND – PUSH THE FEELING ON The Tea Street Band are back with their first release, off the back of announcing shows in Dublin, Brooklyn and a supporting slot with Inspiral Carpets. They release the shimmering ‘Push The Feeling On’ to the world, via ITunes on the 25th of February. Liverpool’s likely lads bring their original dancey sounds, made with a clever but unusual mix of Guitars and pedals. The catchy mix of sounds will no doubt reach out to thousands and fill dance floors across the country. Despite the track not yet being released it has been endorsed across national radio with XFM championing the band’s track already. - Joe Barnes

Life/Style/12

4.

1.

The Dispensary:

The Roscoe Head:

You would miss the Roscoe Head if you didn’t know where it was. Secreted in an alleyway off Hardman Street, the Roscoe is very small, but inside, packs a punch. Inside the various Real Ale awards the pub has won plaster the wall at the side of the bar. However, the pub does not participate in the Liverpool Beer Festival, choosing to host its own successful event instead. The Roscoe Head also has the prestige of appearing in every single ‘Good Beer guide’ since it was first started.

Recommendation: Three

taster glasses of ale for the price of a pint (Tin Can Avenger, Frosty Bog and Knight Hood)

2.

Dr Duncan’s deals almost exclusively in beer and ale from a local brewery. Robert Cain’s brewery has been around for over 150 years and Dr Duncan’s now sells over ten varieties of Cain’s beer and ale, including the popular selling Raisin Beer.

The interior of the pub is that of an old pharmacy, hence the name, and combined with the selection of ale on offer, is popular with tourists and locals alike.

Recommendation: Cain’s Traditional

3.

The Ship and Mitre: One of Liverpool’s best and most acclaimed pubs, the Ship and Mitre stocks beers, fine ales and ciders from all over the world. The pub was given the prestigious CAMRA award of Liverpool and District pub of the year in 2009 and with Real Ale coming from breweries all over the country it is no wonder enthusiasts come from all over the country to sample what the ship has to offer.

Recommendation: Captain Smiths (Titanic Brewery)

13

Raise a glass to real Ale

Dr Duncan’s:

Bitter

20

Voted CAMRA’s pub of the year in Liverpool in both 2010 and 2011, the Dispensary will be hoping to claim the title for the third time in four years.

The pub stocks a host of guest ales with their own unique taste and drinkers are being gently encouraged to vote for the Dispensary as they vie for the award. With a quirky décor that resembles a dispensary (hence the name) and the lively atmosphere, the pub has a good all–round package that make it so popular.

The search is on to find Liverpool’s real ale Pub of the Year 2013.

The fiercely-fought competition is being organised by the Liverpool and Districts branch of CAMRA – the Campaign for Real Ale – and voting, amongst members only, is open until February 25th, with the group saying: “Although the beer will be a significant factor we are looking for the pub which provides the best all round drinking experience.”

Nationally, CAMRA is dedicated to conserving the future of the traditional English pub, as well as calling on the Government to introduce ‘pro pub policies’.

Each year, the campaign produces a good beer guide listing the country’s best 4,500 real ale pubs and traditionally Liverpool has always had a good show in what is considered to be the real ale lover’s “bible”.

So, as the race to be crowned the city’s champion real ale pub hots up Liverpool Life sent ADAM DAVIES on a mission to find what he considers to be six of the best.

Recommendation:

White Rat ale (Rat Brew-

5.

Inn Emporium: A fairly new addition to the pub scene in Liverpool, the Inn Emporium has only been open since last April but has already established itself as one of the best pubs around. With a selection of real ales and world beers, the Emporium is a CAMRA recommended pub and the cask selections are all by the Liverpool Craft Beer Company which keeps the local element in the pub.

Recommendation: Viking ale and India Pale Ale both by Liverpool Craft Beer Company

6.

The Fly in the Loaf:

The Fly in the Loaf is probably the biggest of the six pubs, and this is reflected in the selection of beers on offer. With over 60 world beers, including six cask ales that change, as well as imported beers, there is much to choose from.

Recommendation: Okells Real Ale

Life/Style/13

A century of women’s fashion

By Lauren Murphy

An exhibition showcasing 100 years of women’s fashion will take place this month at Sudley House Museum.

The museum, located in a Victorian Merchant’s house in Aigburth, will display 12 evening outfits reflecting the changes in the role of women in the twentieth century. The impact of two world wars, women entering the workplace, feminism and new manufacturing methods will be portrayed through the garment styles, materials and changing hemlines.

The changing styles are to represent the wider social changes and key periods in women’s history. The final garment will display an outfit from the year 2000 which aims to show how women’s fashion has transitioned in such an unthinkable way since the start of the century.

Alyson Pollard, Curator of Decorative Arts said: “The twentieth century saw more shifts in women’s lives than any previous period. The two world wars speeded up the pace of change; enabling women to become more active out of the home, joining the workplace and generally broadening their horizons.

“Alongside these massive social shifts, new materials and improvements in manufacturing methods made clothes less expensive, allowing more women than ever before to buy good quality garments.

“This growing freedom of choice meant that by the year 2000 a woman could wear clothing suited to her more active lifestyle which was also fashionable and expressed her personality. We take this for granted today but it would have been much less common only ten decades ago.”

The exhibition entitled “20th Century Chic: 100 years of women’s fashion” will begin on 16th February with free admission for all.

Dancing against violence

By Emma Kemmery

The first One Billion Rising event will take place across the globe this week, with people from all over the world fighting against violence through the form of dance.

The event, taking place on Thursday 14th February will see females from all parts of the world rising in solidarity to fight oppression.

There are 200 countries signed up to take part in the rise, with activists, celebrities and political leaders also signed up to join in the dance.

Starting in Samoa, a 48-hour long rise travelling across the world, across the Pacific Islands, Asia, Europe, Africa, and America.

Liverpool will be taking part in the event, and organisers invite risers along to The Black-E on Great George Street.

The Liverpool event will begin at 7pm, and will be an open Zumba and World Dance class full of upbeat songs and dance routines celebrating women around the world.

Risers will be expected to wear red and black on Thursday to mark their support of the movement.

It was decided that Liverpool would join One Billion Rising on 11th October 2011, when a meeting championed by Ms. Stella Creasy, Labour and Co-operative MP took place in the city.

Councillor Creasy, announced at the meeting that: “Sharon Green from Unison expressed an interest in members being able to mark OBRUK or participate in such an event in the city.”

It was with this support that the event was confirmed in the city.

Rossana Abueva, a One Billion Rising UK organiser, said: “The

invitation goes out to all women and men in the Northwest region who would like to rise up with Movema.

“The event can take any form e.g. poetry reading, dance party, film showing, a theatrical staging of monologues, music/song, panel discussion, flash dance mob.”

You don’t need any experience, just bring yourself and a bottle of water and be part of the movement!

Celebrities that have joined the rising include professional basketball player Royce White, actor Andre Royo and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, each with their own reason to rise.

On Twitter, many people have given their own reasons for their commitment to rise on Valantines Day: “VDay: In Pakistan, it is illegal for women to dance public-

ly; Sheema Kermani is doing it anyway for #1billionrising” “Stephanie J Bradley‫‏‬: “Watch, protect & advocate. Evil doesn’t voluntarily step aside!”

“Eve Ensler‫‏‬: Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on-line saying “Get out and Dance for One Billion Rising”.

Thank you!”

“Break The Chain”, the One Billion Rising dance anthem, will be used in flash mobs all over the world!

The legendary Debbie Allen has choreographed a simple dance sequence that you can learn with your fellow risers from home.

Organisers of the event are calling for all that take part the record their own experience of One Billion Rising, and to live stream dances from all over the world.

Atomic Kitten: Whole again

By Joe Barnes

Atomic Kitten are set to come out of pop music retirement as they are announced to play the ‘Big Reunion Arena Tour’ based on the ITV television programme of the same name.

The Tide is High stars have been listed alongside fellow Liverpool boyband 911 as well as 5ive, Liberty X, B*witched and Honeyz.

The tour is set out for 12 dates across the country and is set to visit Atomic Kitten and 911’s home town on the 8th of March, when the returning pop stars play the Echo Arena.

This is the first time Kerry Katona, Natasha Hamilton and Liz McClarnon have regrouped, apart from occasional appearances after going on solo ventures since 2004.

Katona has not kept out of the public eye though with appearances on reality television shows I’m a Celebrity…. Get Me Out of Here, Dancing on Ice and Celebrity Big brother.

“It’s the chance to re-live their dream”

Speaking of the tour, promoters Live Nation said: “The Big Reunion follows their every step, as their worlds are turned upside down after years away from the spotlight. For some it’s the chance to relive their dream, for others it may open old wounds as they prepare to face demons they thought they had buried forever.”

Tickets for the tour will be released at 9am, 15th of February.

Life/Sport/14 Pool prepare for Russia

by Rory Kelly

Liverpool FC will see action in Europe this Thursday as they travel to face Russian side Zenit St Petersburg in the last 16 of the Europa League (5pm kick-off).

It will be the Reds’ second trip to Russia this season, having played Anzhi in the group stages of the competition, losing 1-0 through a Lacina Traore goal.

The Reds will be hoping to bounce back after a poor performance against West Bromwich Albion on Monday night, in whic they lost 2-0, through goals from Gareth McAuley and Romelu Lukaku.

It was a disappointing defeat for Brendan Rodgers’ team, having been on a good run of form in recent weeks.

Rodgers will be hoping that Daniel Sturridge will be fit for the trip, having sat out Monday night’s defeat after picking up an injury in their 2-2 draw with Manchester City. The manager also left young winger Raheem Sterling out of the starting team for Monday’s defeat, though was introduced during the second half as a replacement for Jordan Henderson.

Speaking after the game, Henderson admitted that although the Reds didn’t perform as well as they could have, they must learn from this.

He said: “We just have to keep going, keep our heads up and bounce back from this.

“We just have to stay positive and think about the next game now which is Zenit in the Europa League on Thursday night. Hopefully we can improve, get some better results in the league and look to close that gap.”

Rodgers also handed a first appearance to new signing, Brazilian midfielder Phillipe Coutinho, who replaced Stewart Downing late in the second-half. He may feature against Zenit on Thursday.

However, they will be without long term absentees Martin Kelly and Samed Yesil.

Zenit will prove strong opposition for the Reds, with key players such as Brazilian striker Hulk and Portugese midfielder, Danny, Belgian midfielder Axel Witsel and Russian captain Igor Denisov all available for the tie.

Tigers lose 22nd in a row

by Rory Kelly

Mersey Tigers’ disastrous season keeps on getting worse, as the Liverpool basketball side lost their 22nd game in a row on Friday.

The Merseyside basketball team lost their most recent match against Glasgow Rocks, by a score-line of 58-97. Having been behind by 20 points at the halftime break, the Tigers were blown away by their opponents in the second half.

The Tigers have been unable to find a win all season, and currently sit 16 points adrift of their nearest rivals at the bottom of the British Basketball League.

On the player front, it has not been all doom and gloom for the side. Two Tigers players currently sit in the league’s top five turnovers for the season, with Gael Hulsen and Joshua McGinn both making the list.

With just eight rounds of games remaining this season, the Tigers will be hoping not to end the season winless, and will travel to face Worcester Wolves this Friday.

National weights are announced

2012 Grand National Winner, Neptune Collonges

by Scott Rumsey

Weights for this year’s Grand National were announced this morning in the luxurious surroundings of London’s Savoy hotel.

The 166th running of the most famous race in the world will be held as usual at Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool on Saturday 6th April and todays declaration stage meant that the list of 83 horses were allocated the weight they must carry if they are to win the illustrious steeplechase.

Of those entered only a field of 40 will line up to compete on the

day, a number which many think is too high following a number of fatalities in recent years.

The winner of last year’s race, Neptune Collognes is not present in the line-up following his retirement from the sport but two horses of interest are favourite Seabass who finished third in the race last year and Sunnyhillboy who was caught on the line by the eventual winner to finish second.

The Ted Walsh trained, Seabass, will have to defy a weight of 11st 2lb if he is to land the spoils and his trainer said: “I don’t know how they came to this weight but

Price hopes for knockout

by Elisha Storrow Liverpool’s heavyweight power, David Price is looking to defend his Commonwealth and British titles at the Echo Arena next Saturday.

Price is taking on the two-time world title challenger, Tony Thompson in front of his hometown crowd on February 23rd in an attempt to move closer to a shot at fighting current heavyweight champion, Wladimir Klitchsko for

the world title.

Now ranked 9th in world by the World Boxing Council, 29-yearold Price returns to the venue where he beat Audley Harrison in a first-round knockout to fight Thompson in front of a Liverpudlian crowd.

Unbeaten Price, thinks Thompson is the perfect opponent for him to continue his contention for the world title.

He said: “If I go in there and do a number on Tony Thompson peo-

I’m not too worried he has a big chance.”

This year’s weights are headed on 11st 10lb (rated 162) by the mercurial but hugely-talented Tidal Bay(16/1), who boasts three wins over hurdles and fences at Aintree.

After saddling 52 beaten horses in the John Smith’s Grand National, Tidal Bay’s handler Paul Nicholls finally saw his luck change last year when Neptune Collonges prevailed.

The champion trainer is also represented by Join Together (10st 12lb, 20/1), who has not been

ple will be like ‘Well it wasn’t a test’ but the reality is, it’s a test for me because he fought Wladimir Klitschko 6 months ago. It’s a big fight and he’s a world class fighter. Now, if that’s not a test, I don’t know what is but it’ll be judged after the fight whether it was a test by how I deal with it. It’s an exciting fight.

“He’s got a great record, a great knockout ratio. He’s obviously got something about him that’s got him as far as he’s got and that’s what we’ve got to look out for. It’s a great fight that’s exciting me and I’ll be at my best on the night and I think I’ll need to be.”

Price’s size and power has been compared to that of the Klitchskos, making him a suited match for Thompson, who has twice fought Wladimir Klitschko.

In his first fight of the year, Price told JMU Journalism of how this fight will be a huge step up from his fight last year, where he stopped all four of his opponents, which included knockouts of Audley Harrison and Matt Skelton.

He said: “It’s two levels above domestic level against a fighter who’s fought for the world title twice, compared to domestic level fighters. Last year was great, I had four great wins and I proved without doubt that I’m above domestic level and now it’s time to prove that I belong at this level.”

seen since finishing runner-up in the Betfred Becher Chase at Aintree on December 8, and a pair part-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson - 2010 Betfred Bowl winner What A Friend (11st 5lb, 33/1) and Harry The Viking (10st 2lb, 25/1).

The John Smith’s sponsored, Grand National now regularly attracts the best chasers in training and among those due to line up this year are the 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander (33/1), who has 11st 6lb to carry, and Albertas Run (11st 8lb, 33/1), winner of the 2010 Grade One John Smith’s Melling Chase

at Aintree and two Ryanair Chases at the Cheltenham festival.

John Baker, Regional Director North West of Jockey Club Racecourses, commented: “The countdown really gets underway today to what promises to be both an ultra-competitive and high-class renewal of the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on Saturday, April 6.

“Alongside the Aintree specialists and winners of many of the top staying handicaps, we also have some of the top chasers in training engaged, including a Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup victor.

Tranmere stay on top

by Rory Kelly Tranmere Rovers remain top of the nPower League One, even after suffering defeat on Saturday against Leyton Orient.

Ronnie Moore’s side went down 2-1 at home to the O’s, in what was a disappointing defensive performance from the league leaders.

With second placed Doncaster Rovers losing at home against Walsall, and third placed Swindon failing to capitalise with just a draw away at bottom placed Hartlepool, Moore’s side remain top despite the slip-up.

However, although Rovers’ are at the summit of League One at this stage of the season, Moore is still hoping to bring in a new striker during the loan window.

Speaking after Saturday’s defeat, Moore said: “Hopefully something will develop and we can bring in the player we need.

“I’m looking for someone who can not only cover us in the opposition box but also cover us in our own box.”

Rovers’ failure to deal with two set-pieces cost them against Orient, and with Moore already addressing the height issue of his team, he admits that the current players need to develop and edge to defending set-piece situations.

“We conceded from two set plays and would have conceded a third but for the linesman helping us out by giving offside. We were not playing for offside, it was just lucky that the lad ran offside.

“Conceding those goals shows me we’re weak in our decision-making in the picking up area. We have to improve it.

“If we think the Leyton Orient were a big side, we have Stevenage, Sheffield United and Preston to play and they have five or six big lads in their teams. If we can’t defend set plays we are not going to win too many games.”

Former PSG striker Loris Arnaud is currently on trial at the club, and names such as Liverpool’s Adam Morgan, Leeds striker Dominic Poleon and Brighton’s Toby Agdestien.

Life/Sport/15 Blues - the story so far

Kop king Carra’s top ten moments

As Kop legend Jamie Carragher retires, Liverpool Life’s Joe Barnes looks back on the ten most memorable moments from Carra’s 27-year career with Liverpool FC

A local lad, Carragher always raises his game for the local derby, but this particular one in 2008 was a stand out. His fully committed off the line block from Marounane Fellaini to prevent the Belgian from scoring his first derby goal.

1: Istanbul, AC Milan, European Cup Final, 25/05/2005 On the road to Istanbul Carragher had already kept out some of the best strikers in the world but his crowning moment in the red of Liverpool, came on the 25th of May 2005, when his last minute heroics in defence to keep Kaka and Shevchenko at bay helped his side lift the European cup for the fifth time. He also inspired Liverpool keeper Jerzy Dudek to replicate Bruce Grobbelaar’s goal line dancing in the 1984 European cup penalty shootout.

6: Barcelona, UEFA Cup semi, 2001 As a 23 year old, Carragher faced up against some of the most prestigious names in world football as Barcelona Visited Anfield in the UEFA cup semi-final. Keeping the likes of Guardiola, Overmars, Rivaldo and Kluivert quiet helped put Liverpool’s name back on the top of world football once again.

2: Chelsea, European Cup Semi-final, 2005 Carragher marshalled the back four, who managed to withstand everything Chelsea, had to throw at them whilst holding onto the lead to propel Liverpool into their first European cup final in 20 years. He kept out the likes of Drogba, Lampard and Gudjohnsen who had been prolific in Chelsea league winning season.

3: Chelsea, Premier League, 2011 This game will be remembered as Fernando Torres’ debut for Chelsea after his £50million switch from Anfield, but Carragher made his return after a period out injured and returned with revenge.

Keeping Torres out with countless blocks and tackles and helped Liverpool on their way to a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge.

4: Manchester United, Premier League, 2009 Early in the game Liverpool conceded early on and her against the ropes with Manchester United piling on the pressure with Carragher putting in plenty of tackles including a trade mark block on Ji-Sung Park to prevent the Korean lengthening United’s lead.

5: Everton, Premier League, 2008

from the Kop in later games.

7: Fulham, Premier League, 2006 A goal is a rarity for Carragher so this is why Fulham pops up in our top ten. Jamie’s outstretched leg at the back post powered in his only his third league goal for Liverpool.

8: Debut goal at Anfield, Aston Villa, 1997 He may have been a boyhood Everton fan but scoring in front of 40,000 fans on your home debut as a 18 year old boy for his local club is a special moment, Carragher said after the match that he had prepared for plenty scenarios in the match but not a goal celebration.

9: Everton, Testimonial, 2010 It is not often players receive a testimonial at a club now, especially not during their playing career but this accolade was bestowed on Jamie and 35,000 fans turned up to honour him. The funny moment came when the Everton XI were awarded a penalty, but before the Everton player stepped up to take it, Carragher run up from behind him to put the penalty past Brad Jones.

10: Arsenal, FA Cup, 2002 This may not have been a game to remember for the right seasons, but it showed Carragher’s passion in a Liverpool shirt, after an Arsenal fan hurled a coin at him, his heart ruled over his head and he flung it back into the crowd, which spawned a funny song.

LEGEND: Carragher has announced that he will retire at the end of the season

by Elisha Storrow

Everton skipper, Phil Neville has been reflecting on the club’s season so far.

The 2-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday has put a dent in their attempt to snatch fourth place, now putting them sixth in the Premier League table, looking forward to their FACup tie with Oldham on Saturday.

Captain, Neville told Liverpool Life how vital it is for Everton to win every game that they can.

“At this stage in the season, it’s where you start looking at the league table. The first half of the season is about jostling for places, now you look after every result, you look at where you are in the table, you look at your next game to where you can get to in the table because points are at a premium and the clock’s ticking now.

A player that has impressed fans and Neville in particular is Leighton Baines. Scoring both of Everton’s goals in their 2-1 defeat over West Brom last month, Baines is proving himself to be the best left-back in the Premier League alongside Chelsea’s Ashley Cole.

Neville said: “I think he’s the best left-back in the country and he’s at that level now where he’s an international player and he belongs on that stage. I think for three seasons now he’s consistently been our best player and he’s a joy to play with.

“Him and Pienaar down the left is our strongest attacking force and it is great when you see a lad grow and mature into a real top class international footballer.”

Although January was quiet for Everton on the transfer front, Neville told Liverpool Life that he is no different from the fans when it comes to the transfer window.

He said: “It’s just as exciting for the players as it is for the fans because the players that are leaving other clubs that you know and that you hear about and you see other clubs making moves in the transfer market that could affect their team’s performance and like I say, I’m glued to the telly till midnight.”

“Time is running out and games are getting shorter and shorter in terms of games left and we want to be there in the mix at the end of the season. There are no easy games in the Premiership. “

Charity nets £700 boost Team GB help Rio Olympian

by Rachael Laird

Wallasey teacher Nicola Lam has organised a charity netball tournament at Leasowe Recreation Club to raise money for diabetic research in memory of her friend.

Mrs Lam lost her best friend Nicola Rigby to Diabetic ketoacidosis, a potentially fatal complication of Type I diabetes.

The netball tournament at Leasowe Recreation Centre raised £700 for research into the disease.

Nicola, aged 26, of Ellesmere Port, had been a regular member of St Mary's Netball Club when she died suddenly in her sleep after feeling unwell.

Her illness had been undiagnosed and her baby daughter Lily was only six months old at the time.

When Nicola died she left Lily, now nearly one, and her fiancé Mark Wilson. She was still on maternity leave from her job in JJB Sports, Cheshire Oaks.

Nicola and Mrs Lam had known

by Josh Parry

© St Mary's Catholic College each other since childhood, going together to Christ The King Primary School, Bromborough, and St John Plessington Catholic College, Bebington.

Mrs Lam said: 'It was terrible to lose my best friend like this, and such a shock. Nicky was

very sporty and very fit, and no one had any idea she was ill.

“We were very close, and had played netball together for many years. The tournament was in her memory. We wanted to raise as much money as we could to help diabetes research.'

The netball tournament at Leasowe Recreation Centre raised £700 for research into the disease As well as being a keen netballer, Nicola had also played football for Vauxhall Motors' women's team.

Team GB medallists are lending a helping hand to fund a Wirral Olympian’s Rio 2016 dream by raffling off the chance to race against champions.

Christopher McDermott, who competed in Team GB’s London 2012 handball team, is seeking funding in order to train for Rio 2016 after UK Sports announced handball, basketball, table tennis and wrestling would be receiving no money for the next Olympic cycle.

Their newly introduced ‘no compromise’ policy means those who are not competing for medals do not get funding.

Mr McDermott criticised the policy and said: “We have a crop of young players but having no funding is preventing them from achieving what they need to achieve.”

He continued: “It’s a catch 22,

with no medals we don’t get any funding, but how are we to improve when we have no funding?”

After hearing the news that handball had been cut from the budget, a number of Chris’s fellow Olympians signed up to raise funds.

Amongst the prizes on offer is the chance to row alongside Olympic champions, the opportunity to cycle with Dani King and the possibility to have an Olympic medallist at your child’s school.

Co-ordinating the rowers’ effort is Olympic bronze medallist Steve Rowbotham, who explained why they were keen to help: “The ethos of Legacy 300 appeals to our team philosophy and I hope that rowing fans will support this project to help secure alternative funding to ensure our fellow athletes can continue to strive for excellence by competing and developing at the highest level,” he said.

12- February -2013

Everton ready to take on Oldham

by Rory Kelly

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS The LJMU Gaelic football team celebrating after their victory against Liverpool Hope, amongst other teams on Sunday

by Ryan McCann and Rory Kelly

LJMU claimed their second British Universities Gaelic Football Championship in three years, beating city rivals Liverpool Hope University in the final on Sunday.

The team won both their group games, beating Glasgow by 3-11 to 0-3, and then St. Mary’s by 1-6 to 0-5. They then faced Napier University in the semi-final, and comprehensively overcame the Scottish side 2-14 to 1-3.

The win makes LJMU the second most successful team in the competition’s history, winning the tournament a staggering six times, including a period of dominance between 2006 and 2009.

On a wet day in Manchester, LJMU faced local rivals Liverpool Hope in the final, and both

teams started the game tentatively and at half-time, LJMU led by 0-3 to 0-2. With such a low-scoring first half, the second half was full of action as both teams tried to get on top of each other.

Scores from David Lowry and Niall McGovern saw LJMU take the lead late in the game, and with some strong defending from Donegal duo Oisin Porter and Barry McGinley for John Moores, Hope failed to break them down in the final stages. With LJMU holding on during the final minutes, they clinched the title.

Speaking after the game, manager and former LJMU student Eoghan Kerr said:“It is an unbelievable achievement to win this trophy again. We have now won it seven times, more than any other university, and six of those wins have come in the last eight years.

The work the boys have put in all year has been great and they have been rewarded for their efforts.”

JMU captain Kieran Harte, who became the first English–born captain to lift the trophy, told Liverpool Life:“I won the trophy in 2011, and we were beaten by a single point in last year’s final, so this one is extra special. I loved every minute of the 2011 victory, but being captain, it means so much more. I have trained and played with these boys since September and this trophy is just proof of the saying ‘there’s no substitute for hard work’.

Hope captain Sean Harper, who played for LJMU last year before switching courses, spoke of his heartache in the last two-years.

“I am devastated. I lost a final last year, a final that we should never have lost, and now I am on

the losing end again. I transferred to Hope at the beginning of the year and I knew what the rivalry would be like. I am best friends with a lot of the LJMU team, but I had to put that to the back of my mind throughout the weekend.

“I am pleased to see them win it because they are the bench mark in university’s GAA, and we all strive to emulate LJMU’s success but that doesn’t make losing two finals any easier.”

LJMU men’s gaelic football team are now recognised as the most successful team in the entire university after securing their seventh national crown on Sunday.

The side have qualified for the semi-final of the Trench Cup, which features the ‘B’ Division sides from the Irish championships, and having reached the final of the Trench Cup in 2007,

losing by a single point against St. Pat’s College, Drumcondra from Dublin on that occasion, manager Kerr is hopeful that the JMU boys can cause an upset.

“We are going there with a winning mentality and there’s no doubt in my mind that we can cause an upset.

We got hammered a couple of years ago after winning the British championships, but we are much wiser and more aware than in previous years.

“The Irish teams will no doubt be stronger, but the system we have in place means we will be hard to beat. Stranger things have happened.”

In a fortnight’s time, the team will travel to Athlone in County Westmeath, Ireland, for the semi-final of the All-Ireland championships.

Last week JMU managed to beat bottom of the league Salford, but replicating the result will prove more difficult against a second placed University of Manchester team with only two defeats this

campaign.

Manchester as they are a red brick university so that changes the way people play with them putting in big tackles.”

their first match of the season against second bottom University of York.

Testing times for LJMU rugby team

by Scott Rumsey

JMU‘s Rugby Union First XV will face a stern test on Wednesday as they travel to Manchester looking to win two consecutive matches for the first time this season.

Michael Bartlett, a flanker for the first XV, said: “The game against Manchester will be tough because we are evenly matched.

There is a rivalry between us and

The women’s first XV will also be in action as they look to win

Last time out they suffered a walkover defeat after failing to field a side.

Everton will be hoping to avoid a shock upset in the FA Cup this weekend, as they travel to Boundary Park to face giant-killers Oldham Athletic on Saturday (6.00pm kick-off).

David Moyes’ side go into the game on the back of a disappointing 2-0 defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday, and Moyes will be hoping his side can find the form that sees them currently sit in sixth position in the Premier League.

The Blues will welcome back defender Sylvain Distin, who pulled out of the warmup prior to the United match with illness. Moyes will also be hoping that the returns of influential players such as Darron Gibson and Kevin Mirallas will help ease the Blues’ passage into the next round.

Striker Nikica Jelavic is also expected to play a part in the game, having been on the substitute’s bench in recent weeks due to the good form of Nigerian striker Victor Anichebe. However, with Anichebe picking up a calf injury in Sunday’s game, the Croatian is expected to lead the line for the Blues.

Moyes will be without Seamus Coleman and Tony Hibbert, both of whom have yet to recover from their respective injuries.

League One side Oldham will face the Blues, just weeks after parting ways with manager Paul Dickov, with Dickov’s assistant Tony Philliskirk taking temporary charge of the Latics. Dickov departed the club just a week after his side eliminated Liverpool from the FA Cup, after a disappointing run of defeats in the league.

Having seen his side pick up three valuable points against MK Dons on Saturday, Philliskirk will be hoping his players can cause another upset on Sunday.

It will also be a big occasion for Oldham’s talismanic midfielder, José Baxter, as he will face his former employers for the first time since his release last summer. The 21 year-old was the youngest player to ever start a Premier League game for Everton at just 16, but went on to make just seven appearances for the club before leaving on a free transfer.

Neville’s thoughts- Page 15