Liverpool Life 4:5 November 11 2015 by Steve Harrison

11-November-2015

INSIDE THIS WEEK’S ISSUE... NEWS

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LIFEextra

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Thanksgiving comes to Merseyside

Liverpool college staff strike

SPORT

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Scouse Olympian going to Rio 2016

Silent tribute

BY SAM DAVIES & MICHAEL HENRY

Liverpool fell silent this morning to commemorate the fallen soldiers of the two World Wars and conflicts since. Members of the public attended a memorial service at the St George’s Hall Cenotaph, where a two-minute’ silence was held. A specially commissioned film, which aired during the memorial service on Sunday, was also shown during today’s procession. The silent movie tells the story of Liverpool’s involvement in World War One and features photographs of local people and their role in the war effort. Liverpool Life went to St George’s Hall to speak to those who had gathered outside the wonderful poppy display to pay their respects. Former Paratrooper Roy Shaefer, 87, and his wife Sheila, 83, had made the journey from their home in Spital, Wirral, to Liverpool yesterday in order to show their gratitude to the fallen servicemen of wars gone by. Mr Shaefer joined the Paratroopers in 1946, one year after the conclusion of World War II, and he spoke of his admiration for those who had given their lives for the future of their country. He said: “It’s a tribute more than anything really. I was born a year too late to enlist for the war but for those who did fight, it’s the only way we can truly show our appreciation. It helps people remember the huge sacrifices that many young men made during the war. And unfortunately for many, the main thing they had to sacrifice was their lives.”

Roy and Sheila Shaefer pay their respects to fallen soldiers at St George’s Hall © Michael Henry

TEEING OFF

BY LEIGH KIMMINS

Golfer’s paradise planned for Hoylake

The people of Wirral are to have their say on multimillion pound proposals for a new world class development at Hoylake golf course. The council is working with golf course developers Jack Nicklaus Group to regenerate Hoylake course to become one of Britain’s prime coastal golfing resorts. The plan to create a new world class resort, including a hotel, will create 175 new jobs and around £120 million of new investment. Wirral residents will have a chance to feed back their ideas on the project

and find out about latest proposals with the two drop in events running from 1pm – 7pm from today until Friday at Melrose Hall in Hoylake and then again at Westbourne Hall in West Kirby from the 18th to the 20th. Wirral Council said the sessions are not actually part of the formal planning of the project: “They will provide an opportunity to tell us what you think and to feed your comments and suggestions into the project design team.” The Open Championship at Hoylake in 2014 was attended by 202,000 people

and generated more than £19 million to Wirral’s visitor economy. The Hoylake Open in 2006 was attended by nearly 230,000 and remains a record for any Open Championship staged in England. The success of the tournament is something Wirral Cllr Phil Davies aims to build on to help the area through tourism. He said: “Securing £250 million of private sector investment and increasing Wirral’s tourism economy to £450 million by 2020 are two of the pledges I made to Wirral residents and the golf resort proposal is key to

us achieving those.” Locals have so far been supportive of the plans but Cllr Davies still sees the need for public drop-ins. He said: “It is important the council and the developers keep listening to local people as these proposals move forward. The events in November are just the first stage and there will be other opportunities for people to learn more as the project develops. “As with many schemes like this, formal consultation will come later, but this is a timely opportunity to provide an update on the LAYOUT: Proposed plans for the new course progress being made.”

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Macmillan event in Southport is there for you

By JENNY KIRKHAM A free health and wellbeing clinic will be held in Southport on Thursday to help cancer patients adjust to life with and beyond cancer. Macmillan Cancer Support and the NHS will be joining forces at the event held in Southport Theatre and Convention Centre to provide local support, information and advice to help patients and their families. Jackie Brunton, Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust lead cancer nurse, said: “We’re delighted to join forces again with Macmillan, building on the success of previous health and well being clinics. We would also be delighted to welcome friends and family to come along as we understand how a cancer diagnosis affects not just the person with cancer.” Clinical nurse specialists will also be on hand and there will also be healthy food demonstrations, hand massages from Sefton Older Persons Enabling Resource and Action, a benefits advisor and a performance by the Living Well Centre/ Macmillan Singing Group. Helen Jones, Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Centre Manager, said: “We understand how patients can often feel they lose the safety net of support they receive while attending the hospital regularly for treatment. These events are designed to help people to return to everyday activities and make the most of the good things in their life.”

Life

Halton, we’ll stand up to homophobia together By BEN CUMMINGS A new project is to be introduced in Halton to help young people battle homophobia. The Halton Youth Cabinet plan to recruit 12 young people, ranging from the ages of 11-19 who will receive a form of training around the impact of this form of bullying. The selected youths will then receive support to train school staff and raise awareness among students. This decision comes after the same campaign conducted a survey which found that homophobic language was heard more than 85% of schools and colleges across Halton. A spokesperson for Halton Youth Cabinet said: ““Our research shows that the use homophobic language has become a really big issue in our schools. “The impact of regularly hearing homophobic language can be devastating on young people and is something that needs to be stamped out. “We are proud to be doing our part to help challenge homophobia and we would love every school in the borough to get involved and active in making the Challenge Champions programme a success.” Also speaking about the campaign, Cllr Ged Philbin, councillor for children, young people, and families said: “We are keen to work with young

The Museum of Liverpool is to host a special exhibition by local award-winning photographer Stephen King, following a collaboration with trans military veterans and Liverpool John Moores University. Exhibited in partnership with Homotopia, “Dry Your Eyes Princess” opens Wednesday 16 December 2015 until Sunday 31 January 2016. The event will feature 12 large-scale portraits of people from Liverpool that will examine the link between sitter’s gender identity and their experience of military service. The portraits are

people to combat all forms of homophobia. It is a form of bullying, which should not and will not be tolerated.” The Cabinet is elected on an annual basis by young people from schools, colleges and youth centres across Halton. The Cabinet strives to be representative of the young people across the borough and seeks to work with professionals to address issues that are important to young people. The initial training takes place on Saturday, December 5, with, as of yet, unconfirmed days of action against homophobia. Aaron Booth, LGBT Activist

Emma Vickers © Twitter

of people from Liverpool and other parts of the country who participated in research conducted by Dr Emma Vickers, Senior Lecturer in History, at Liverpool John Moores University. This is King’s second exhibition at a National Museums Liverpool venue.

from Liverpool, said: “When I was fourteen, I attempted suicide. I felt alone and isolated as a young gay man. Had I felt that I was able to be open and access support from my teachers and my friends I do not think I would have attempted such a drastic measure to end my own life. Feeling isolated is not just because of a blanket refusal of help but can be because of a subtle acceptance of homophobia and homophobic language.” Aaron also added: “If every pupil and every teacher visibly tackled homophobia when they saw it schools wouldn’t be such an isolating environment.”

The guitar strings tell a $2.4m story By HANNAH HODSON John Lennon’s 1962 Gibson J-106E that was used to write some of The Beatles’ most famous and memorable songs was sold for £1.7m at an auction in California last weekend. The acoustic guitar, purchased by Lennon in Liverpool, went missing in 1963 during the Beatles’ Finsbury Park Christmas Show. It then turned up 50 years later after it was purchased by John McCaw in a junk shop in America. The guitar’s authenticity was verified by Andy Babiuk, after he matched the guitar’s serial number, scratches and wood grain to pictures and videos of Lennon playing the instrument. Lennon played

the guitar on recordings of Beatle’s classics such as ‘P.S. I Love You’ and ‘Love Me Do’. Lennon is also said to have strummed it whilst writing several of the band’s hits with Paul McCartney, such as ‘I Want to Hold Your Hand’ and ‘All My Loving’. The Californian-based auction house, Julien’s Auctions, describes the instrument as “a rare and significant guitar to John Lennon’s history.” The historic instrument was not the only piece of Beatlemania memorabilia that was sold at the Icons and Idols Rock ‘n’ Roll Auction. A signed album cover of ‘Please Me Please’ sold for £17,747. A letter from John Lennon to a fan was auctioned for £3,169. Another piece of Beatles history was a signed baseball.

Give a journalist a pen and you’ll teach them for life Team

Bringing you the news every Wednesday Editor-in-Chief Mark Thomas Editor Emily Curren Chief Sub-Editor Beth Hughes News Tiernan McGee Charlotte Mann Nathan Burgess Stephanie Sweeney

Transgender veterans won’t be forgotten

Features Editor Christy Jade Biggar Features Amber Pritchard Jessica Arnell Sports Editor Lewis Price Sports Jack Whitehead Michael Henry

By KAMARA SAMUELS After spending 40 years in the industry, the former Editor of The Liverpool Daily Post, Mark Thomas joined journalism undergraduates yesterday to guide them through their busy newsday. Mark’s strong background and knowledge was passed onto the students of Liverpool John Moores University. He said: “Students should build a reputation and develop skills. Make yourself useful and valuable to the organisation you’re working for. “Shorthand is very important and learning newspaper law. Build an audience on social media and practise video journalism and taking pictures. We are

WORDS OF WISDOM: Mark Thomas at the Liverpool Life ofﬁce © Tiernan McGee

going into the digital age.” Job opportunities in the industry have shrunk in recent times but even Mark himself struggled at first. He said: “Even back then it was difficult. We still had more job oppor-

tunities but it was still very competitive.” Mark decided to step down from his position as a journalist in June in order to peruse a number of new opportunities and projects.

During his career, Mark was also the deputy news editor of the Echo and covered some of the biggest stories of our time, such as the murder of James Bulger. However, Mark believes print journalism is under enormous pressure. He said: “I believe print journalism has a future but sensible journalists need to be multi-media and feel comfortable working online. The days of print media are somewhat behind us and we need to adapt. “The good thing for journalists is that journalism is still about telling great stories, but the industry is changing. I think being flexible and adaptable are the most important qualities to have.”

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Half a century of love and care By JENNY KIRKHAM

A Merseyside couple who have fostered more than 60 children have been presented with a Long Service Award for their dedication to 50 years of foster care. Helen and Eddie Brown were among ten winners from across the UK who were recognised at the annual FosterTalk Foster Carer Awards in London. The awards were presented by acclaimed poet Lemn Sissay MBE, who has experienced time in care, and comedian and adoptee Rhona Cameron. Mrs Brown said: "It is a privilege to win this award but more so to be able to care for these children as they bring so much fun and laughter into my life. This made us and our birth children more willing to embrace other people's needs and feelings." Mr and Mrs Brown were nominated by their supervising social worker Vivienne Taylor for their commitment to caring for children and young people in Sefton over 50 years. Vivienne said: "They have always been very open and honest with their approach and always take into account the children that are already placed in their care. They care very much for the children they look after, many of which have lived with them into adulthood." Cllr John Joseph Kelly, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Safeguarding, said: "Everyone at Sefton Council is absolutely delighted that Helen and Eddie have been recognised for their service to fostering. Completing 50 years of service in any role is a significant achievement but even more so as foster carers.”

Friday 13th almost here

By KATIE BRAITHWAITE

As we get ready for the third Friday the thirteenth in 2015 this remarkable date is already getting people talking. According to the Stress Management Centre and Phobia Institute in North Carolina, an estimated 17 to 21 million people in the US are affected by this, making it the most feared day and date in history. But what do people think today? The #Friday13th has been a trend on twitter: Mason Cook, tweeted: “This week is #Friday13th. Get ready for me to grow some fangs and hair all over my face. Mike Hand: “Just watched #Friday13th for the first time, can I come out from behind the couch yet? Is it safe?” Sophie Scope tweeted: “54 days till I turn 23 on Friday the 13th but I don’t care coz LIVERPOOL”

STRIKE: UCU strike rally at The City of Liverpool College Arts Centre

College staff strike over pay freeze

By JENNY KIRKHAM

Further education staff were on strike in Liverpool yesterday in a row over an imminent pay freeze. Staff from further education institutions are angry that the Association of Colleges have recommended a pay freeze, despite staff suffering a pay cut of 17.1% in the last five years. Three-quarters of University and College Union (UCU) members voted for strike action after the employers

rejected the trade unions' pay increase of £1 an hour for staff. Nina Dorin, UCU rep for the The City of Liverpool College Arts Centre, told Liverpool life: “The last time educational staff felt the benefit of a pay rise was 2008 so this freeze just seems like a huge insult. Our main concern is our students and although they support our actions today it is ultimately their education that will suffer in the long run if educational staff are not treated better by those in charge.”

The national strike action has organised rallies across the country. After attending picket lines from 8am, staff in London made their way to Westminster for a rally at the Emmanuel Centre that started at 1pm. Speakers included shadow chancellor John McDonnell, shadow minister for further education Gordon Marsden and UCU general secretary Sally Hunt. In Birmingham UCU members attended a rally at 11am where speakers included UCU

president Liz Lawrence. In response to yesterday's strike action, Marc Whitworth, Director of Employment Policy and Services at the Association of Colleges (AoC), said: “The pay recommendation made earlier this year by the Association of Colleges reflects the stringent financial circumstances in the sector and the significant external pressures on college pay bills. Our position reflects the feedback we had from our members. No further dialogue has been

scheduled with our union colleagues regarding this cycle of negotiations. “Strikes are very disruptive for colleges and more importantly for students. We would encourage UCU to consider how we might better work together to represent our respective members collectively. There is a willingness from the employers’ side to work together to protect the prospects of further education, its skilled workforce and the students it serves.”

recognition in the UK by celebrating their most successful year yet. Mark Hall, Development Manager, FareShare Merseyside, said: “ Families residing in such areas as Speke, Garston, Croxteth and Norris Green have some of the highest level of deprivation in England according to the IMD 2010. “We believe deprivation leads to children missing meals, impacting on health and wellbeing and also educational achievement. Liverpool is the most deprived city in England and we reach out to families who cannot financially commit to purchasing ingredients for nutritious meals.”

By making sure good food is not wasted, the charity turns an environmental problem into a social solution. Partnerships with organisations to save good food include Tesco, Aldi, and Asda. As well as families, Fareshare also support the local charities and organisations. Lindsay Boswell, FareShare Chief Executive, said: “By working with more food businesses and diverting more surpluses we are able to support so many more charities. But there is still so much more to do.” One of the organisations they supply to is Garston Urban Village Hall (GUYH) which is currently running a campaign,

'Good Food to Go'. In an effort to support the local community and their families, GUVH distributes bargain family food bags every Friday for a donation that is re-invested into the sustainability of the service. Lisa Williams, Project Support and Volunteer Coordinator for GUVH, said: “Most people who come to us for the food bags are deprived families. “When we first started ‘Good Food to Go’ it was mostly aimed at young families, but the number of deprived families are increasing around Christmas time when parents are struggling.” To make a donation for Fareshare call 020 7394 2468.

A helping hand to pay the winter bills By KAMARA SAMUELS

A new scheme has been launched across Wirral to support those struggling to pay gas and electricity bills. Energy company Npower has set up a ‘fuel bank’ at local food banks providing vouchers worth £30 to households using pre-payment meters. It is clear the number of deprived families are increasing as people are also struggling to put food on the table, and there is an upward trend in the number of people accessing the foodbank. Richard Roberts, of the Wirral Food Bank, said: “The first full year we fed and supported 7,459 and last year we saw an increase

of 55% with 11,623 people accessing the foodbank, this was a particularly high year. This year we fed and supported 11, 623.” Mr Roberts’ advice to deprived families is to seek help as soon as possible. He said: “Organisations are there to help and can assist across a wide variety of areas.” A fighting-hunger charity in Garston supplies food to the most deprived areas in Liverpool in an attempt to stop poverty. The Fareshare Garston suppliers has saved nearly 8,000 tonnes of good food within the last year, which is over 20% more than the previous year. The charity is marking the 100th Anniversary of food waste

Liverpool girl is crowned Style Scout 2015 By ELLE SPENCER

WINNER: Gabrielle,right, with model Molly. © Gabrielle Finnin

A personal stylist from Liverpool has been named Style Scout 2015 in an inhouse fashion competition. High street brand Oasis set their stylists the challenge to scout, style and photograph a member of the public in and 18-year-old, Gabrielle Finnin, beat out stylists from all over the

country when she was voted fan-favourite on social media websites. High street brand Oasis set their stylists the challenge to scout, style and photograph a member of the public in order to showcase local fashion and talent. “The competition [was] great because I got to see how others style and bring their creative thoughts together.

Working as a stylist, I get to see different styles every day, it inspires me in my work and life –I love that everyone has their own way of dressing.” Gabrielle styled her model Molly Kirk, in the winning burgundy and neutral pallete which she felt not only suited her model, but are the colours currently displayed across catwalk and high street.

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Merseyrail to run Boxing Day trains

Peking Opera takes the stage By KATIE BRAITHWAITE

By BETH COLLINS

Merseyrail have announced plans to run Boxing Day trains for the first time. The transport operator says the thinking behind running the trains is to allow the people of Liverpool to bag bargains in the post-Christmas sales. Trains will begin at 9am and the last train will leave the city centre at around 6:30pm. Jan Chaudhry-van der Velde, Merseyrail’s managing director, said: “Boxing Day trains are still not widespread across the country and we are delighted to offer this service to our passengers. “With the city increasingly open for business on this day, it was the right thing to see what we could do to support local people and local businesses.” The services will run every 30 minutes at a selection of stations, calling at Southport, Birkdale, Formby, Waterloo, Sandhills, Liverpool Central, Liverpool South Parkway, Ormskirk, Maghull, Aintree, Kirkdale, Kirkby, New Brighton, Conway Park, James Street, West Kirby, Leasowe, Birkenhead North, James Street, Hooton, Bromborough, Rock Ferry and Birkenhead Central. MerseyRail will also run late night trains on the last two Fridays and Saturdays before Christmas.

Corbyn talks to students By ELLE SPENCER Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was in Liverpool to give a talk to students at the sold-out Liverpool guild. Corbyn spoke on the tragic death of Liverpool student Liam Fletcher and called for more to be done in working towards ending the stigma attached to mental health issues. The politician claims that the Government must begin spending more of its budget in mental health services.

Ten years after their last visit to the UK, the great China National Peking Opera Company returns to the UK for a limited two venue tour visiting the Echo Arena this weekend before heading to London. Established in 1955, China Peking Opera Company, is one of the national ensembles of performance arts directly under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture and the first President of the theatre, Master Mei Langfang. Peking Opera represents the essence of traditional Chinese value – whatever you would like to achieve, you must work hard through sweat and tears and resist from material temptation. Since its founding, the theatre has brought together a large number of outstanding performing artists and playwrights,

directors, composers and stage artists. Over the three days, CNPOC will be performing two masterpieces: Warrior Women of Yang and the full-length premiere of Farewell my Concubine. Critic Jan Parry, has described the show as “an epic charmer” and added: “It is elaborately choreographed and an epic charmer.” Warrior Women of Yang includes a cast over 50 who tell a story about grief, courage and family loyalty. Farewell My Concubine is a renowned classical piece, a story of political unrest, love sacrifice and honour. The Peking Opera is a unique art form. To achieve the highest level of performing skills often requires a lifelong dedication to practising the art and learning from masters at a young age. Most artists have trained from a young age learning from masters.

New £25m lab set to open in 2017 ACTION: Warrior Women of Yang

By HANNAH HODGSON

A new multi-million pound laboratory is set to be built at the Liverpool Royal Hospital to carry out research into antibiotic resistance. The £25m Liverpool Life Sciences Accelerator will be a 70,000 square foot building, providing state-of-the-art research space and offices on the Daulby Street site. The Royal Liverpool Hospital will share the building with Broadgreen University Hospital NHS Trust, the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), and relevant small and medium sized enterprises. Professor Janet Hemingway CBE, Director of LSTM, said: “LSTM was one of the first institutions in the world to recognise the importance of studying and understanding the phenomenon of drug resistance. The collaboration with the Royal and SMEs will benefit global health by

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taking research and innovation from the lab to where it is needed most and will encourage further investment in Liverpool.” The Accelerator will have five floors. Two floors will be used for commercial laboratories and office facilities for small and medium sized enterprises involved in developing products that will improve patient care and treatment outcomes. Another two floors will be devoted to LSTM’s resistance mitigation portfolio, which is playing a leading role in the global fight against the growing threat of antibiotic resistance. The Chrysalis fund, which supports commercial regeneration in the city, has invested £11.5m in the new project. John Tatham, fund manager at the Chrysalis Fund, said: “This investment marks an important landmark for the fund. It demonstrates our ability to invest in projects that drive forward the city’s key strategic priorities of

ARTIST’S IMPRESSION: Liverpool Life Sciences Accelerator creating and retaining high value jobs and delivering economic growth. We’re delighted to be able to provide the loan for this

development which will further bolster Liverpool’s reputation as a centre for global excellence in life sciences which represents a

£1.7bn economy.” Building will start this month and the new faculty is due to open June 2017.

Winter event offers warm support to public By SOPHIE CORCORAN Wirral’s Winter Warm campaign came to New Brighton to help local residents stay warm and well as the weather turns colder. The event, which took place at The Floral Pavillion, involved a variety of businesses from across Merseyside who offered support and advice to help the public keep safe and healthy. Organised by Wirral Council, the event was presented by local radio host and singing tenor, Johnny Kennedy, who provided laughs all round. Visitors were encouraged to take part in a Zumba class, a cooking demonstration and a chair-based exercise class.

Bingo and raffle prize winners were called out at the end of the day and free giveaways included fleece blankets, thermometers and fresh vegetables. Businesses which attended the event included Magenta Living, mediaquip UK and Alpha Homes, who were all on hand to give visitors advice on how best to live through the winter months. Paul Millward, a housing officer from Alpha homes, said: “This event is a chance for us to introduce ourselves to potential new residents. We offer residential living for those not quite ready for a nursing home. We offer independent living but still offer that unique support network used in resi-

CAMPAIGN: Visitors taking part ©Sophie Corcoran dential care if needed”. The NHS, Merseyside fire and rescue service as well as

various charities attended the event and the NHS offered a demonstration of chair-based exercises and also provided free blood-pressure tests for all who attended. Helen Kennedy, 86, Prenton, said: “The information has been really helpful. It’s very good and there’s plenty on offer. I’ve been given advice from the council about an issue I’ve had for a while but I didn’t know where to go. It was well worth coming to.” The information seemed to be appreciated as visitors found out the best ways to keep safe this winter when making their way around Merseyside. They were also treated to a few games of energy efficient bingo.

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Prince taking tour to town

By SAM DAVIES

Rock ‘n roll legend, Prince is reported to be performing in Liverpool as part of a 16-date European tour. The enigmatic musician will exclusively play solo sets at the piano for the first time in his career. The Prince Spotlight: Piano and a Microphone tour is expected to kick off in Vienna on November 21st before coming to the UK to play four different cities before the end of the year. Liverpool, Glasgow, Birmingham and London are being touted as the selected British cities. In a statement, the 57-year-old hinted at a different set list every night. He also explained his reasons for embarking on a solo piano tour. He said: “Why do this now? For several reasons. For starters it is a challenge. I rarely get bad reviews because this is something that’s been perfected for over thirty years. You have to try new things. With the piano it is more naked, more pure. You can see exactly what you get.” Prince is renowned for hits including Purple Rain and When Doves Cry. The musician has recorded 38 studio albums, selling over 100 million records worldwide. The popstar played the UK in 2014 as part of his Hit N Run Tour with rock trio 3rdeyegirl, but has never played Liverpool. He was reportedly set to play an intimate gig at the Cavern but rumours have since been quashed, while online speculation has suggested the Philharmonic Hall would be a suitable venue. None of the UK dates have yet been confirmed, but Prince will be playing Barcelona’s Teatro Liceo and Brussel’s Royal Circus on December 13th and 22nd respectively.

Homeless shelter petition

By BETH COLLINS

A petition has been set up to unlock unused buildings in Liverpool for the homeless to take shelter over the winter period. A growing number of homeless people in the city face freezing conditions sleeping alone on the streets. Liverpool City Council own numerous locked buildings across the city and as the winter period is upon us, getting these people off the streets could save someone’s life. Ex-Manchester united star Gary Neville has opened the doors to his building in Manchester just for the winter months and has also offered jobs to homeless people, when he plans to renovate it next summer. The website 38 degrees so far currently has 5,343 signatures and needs 6000 in order to get the homeless out of the cold.

Awards recognise green team talent By KATIE BRAITHWAITE

Employees at a specialist green services provider will be honoured in the fifth annual Liverpool Recognition awards ceremony. The event will be held tomorrow, at Liverpool Town Hall to reward employees, new recruits and apprentices for achievements over the last year. Glendale is a joint venture between a specialist green services provider and Liverpool Council. They are the UK’s leading supplier of specialist green service solutions for the management and maintenance of the green environment. They look after the city’s parks, cemeteries and recreational green open spaces, covering 170 sites and around 10 million square metres of green space such as Calderstones Park in preparation of the annual tennis tournaments. Liverpool presenter Jimmy Day is set to host the evening, while the assistant mayor and cabinet member for education, Cllr Nick Small, will open the ceremony. Over the last nine years, Glendale has built an award-winning

HONOUR: Glendale staff apprenticeship programme and a pre- apprenticeship scheme for 16-17 year olds who are not in education, employment or training (NEET). Peter Cosgrove, general manager of Glendale Liverpool, said: “Offering training and life-long career opportunities is important, particularly to those who leave formal education with few-

© Gemma Bond Screenboo er qualifications. “From day one it’s our mission to nurture and guide each and every one of our young people, and seeing them now, ready and prepared to take on new challenges is so rewarding. Our programme is one to be proud of and is something to be celebrated.” Those in each stage of the apprenticeship programme will be

recognised. This includes six young people who are about to join Glendale and begin the 12-month pre-apprenticeship programme, three advanced apprentices and four individuals who are graduating from the scheme and progressing in to permanent positions in the company. It will also recognise 80 skilled

employees who make an outstanding contribution to Glendale Liverpool and the service provided. Mr Cosgrove, said: “I couldn’t be more proud of all the team members here at Glendale Liverpool. Each individual is key to our success, and it’s their dedication, spirit and drive which makes us so successful.”

Rally to save cherished local pub By CALLUM SMYTH A rally has taken place in support of a campaign to save the Roscoe Head pub in the Roscoe street area of Liverpool at the weekend. The event, organised by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), was attended by hundreds of CAMRA members and local ‘Save the Roscoe Head’ campaigners. The rally highlighted the opportunity for pub-goers to support their local pubs by nominating them as Assets of Community Value. The Liverpool pub has been named as one of CAMRA’s ‘Famous Five’ best pubs in Britain. At a time when 29 pubs are being lost a week, Assets of Community Value (ACVs) have a vital role to play in ensuring that local communities are consulted before local pubs are lost. National Chairman of CAMRA, Colin Valentine, addressed the crowd and said that everyone has a role to play in the effort to keep local pubs open and “at the heart of community life”. He said: “The Government need to support pubs through ensuring the tax burden pubs face is sustain-

CAMPAIGNERS: Locals rallying to save the Roscoe Head able. Pub owners need to support pubs through investment and pub goers have a role to play by using their local pub on a regular basis and by listing those pubs that they really value as Assets of Community Value.” The aim of CAMRA’s ‘List Your Local’ campaign is to

have pub-goers across the country list their valued local pub as an Asset of Community Value (ACV), which then gives the pub a degree of protection against proposals for change of use. The subsequent requirement for owners to seek planning permission if

©CAMRA they wish to convert any pub to another use gives local people an opportunity to challenge the proposal and develop alternative proposals to retain the pub. CAMRA hope to have over 3,000 pubs listed as ACVs by the end of 2016. The Roscoe Head is currently the only pub in Liverpool to be listed

as an ACV. The ‘Save the Roscoe Head’ campaign started as a result of the sale of the pub by Punch Taverns to retail property investor, NewRiver Retail, who now own 350 pubs. Liverpool CAMRA’s Press Officer, Geoff Edwards said that the aim of the ‘Save the Roscoe Head’ campaign protect the future of the pub by persuading owners NewRiver Retail to sell the pub to its licensee, Carol Ross. Her family have run the pub for over 30 years and have made it the venue it is today He said: “It is fitting that the rally is taking place at the Roscoe Head, as the pub symbolises the importance of our Great British Pubs. It has been sold to a retail investment company giving rise to concern about the long-term future of the pub and the current license. If that can happen to one of the Famous Five pubs, the pub goers need to wake up to the threat to their local pubs.” The pub has just celebrated 43 years in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide, one of only five pubs in the whole of the UK to have that accolade.

Life|Celebration|6

watch out, turkeys!

Burgers, bagels and, more recently, Black Friday. The list of American influence on British Culture is growing by the year but is adopting Thanksgiving a step too far? Elle Spencer investigates the emerging trend in Liverpool.

(Thanksgiving’s coming)

rts.co

IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO INDULGE IN #B RITSGIVING THIS YEAR , WHY NOT TRY YOUR HAND AT OUR PERFECT PECAN PIE RECIPE ?

e’ve finally overcome lingering Halloween hangovers, our ears have only just stopped ringing from Bonfire Night, and today, on Armistice Day, we pay our respects to the fallen. The next event on most Brit’s calendars would probably be gearing up to decorate their Christmas trees and write their resolutions - but a new study suggests that turkeys may have more than just December 25th to worry about. Thanksgiving is celebrated on the last Thursday in November in the US and now, surprisingly, in the UK too. Sales of turkeys during November have risen by 95% in recent years at Waitrose and the chain have estimated that one in six Britons now partake in the American tradition. #Britsgiving and #Happythanksgiving have both trended on UK Twitter and some of Liverpool’s restaurants have now embraced the holiday by inviting patrons to dine on a belly-busting feast in honour of our American Cousins. Free State Kitchen on

Perfect pecan pie © Twitter: @fsk_liverpool FESTIVE: Thanksgiving decorations in Free State Kitchen, Liverpool © Twitter: @fsk_liverpool

Maryland Street is just one such restaurant. The eatery serves up a contemporary twist on American classics which are made from locally sourced produce. Manager, Kate Hughes said: “We started our thanksgiving feast the year we opened, as a way to celebrate with both our local and American diners. It’s a perfect reason to get together on a cold autumnal night and we enjoy a hearty traditional meal. We find the same diners come back year after year and it seems thanksgiving kicks off their winter party season! “Many of our ex pat diners have thanked us for making

them feel less home sick at an important time of the year. It’s great that Americans can celebrate their largest holiday with friends in this country.” One explanation for this American import may the huge number of expats in the UK. According to census data, almost 200,000 Americans live and work in Britain today. Deb MacLain, a press officer at the American Embassy in London, told Liverpool Life she is delighted by the emerging trend: “Thanksgiving is a wonderful tradition back home that primarily celebrates all that we’re thankful for with our family and friends. The fact that

this tradition is being taken up by one of our closest allies and friends is a fantastic tribute to the long and lasting relationship between our two great nations.” But it seems not everyone is as keen as Brits and Americans alike take to social media to express their outrage. Twitter user @LondonLee62 said: “Stop it Britain, your own holidays are just fine!” Others were quick to point out the historical irony in these turn of events “Did the war of independence mean nothing to you?” tweeted @catherinebouris. “After all, the pilgrims were fleeing English persecution when they entered the New World.”

Ingredients: • 500g pack sweet shortcrust pastry • flour, for dusting • 75g butter, softened • 100g golden caster sugar • 175g golden syrup • 175g maple syrup • 3 eggs, beaten • ½ tsp vanilla extract • 300g pecan halves • double cream, whipped, to serve

(or rice for a cheaper alternative). Bake for 15-20mins until the base is set and the pastry has turned a lovely golden colour. 3. Leave your base to cool, meanwhile increasing your oven’s temperature to gas mark 6 or 190C fan. Whisk butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl and add both syrups. Once the mix is light and fluffy you can gradually add the eggs, a pinch of salt, vanilla Method: and the nuts. 1. Lightly roll out your pastry and Mix until combined and pour into use it to line a baking tin of around your pastry case. 25cm. Then using a fork, pierce 4. Bake for 10 minutes before the base with a number of small turning the heat down to gas pinpricks. Leave to chill for 30mins mark 3 or 140 fan. in a fridge. 5. Bake for a further 30 mins or 2. Pre-heat your oven to gas mark until the pie is golden brown. 5 or 170C fan. Next line the pastry Leave to cool once more before case with baking parchment and dishing out and serving with weight it down with baking beans whipped cream. Enjoy!

Life|Arts|7

New era, and a new challenge for Chris N

ROCHELLE BEIGHTON speaks to graduate Chris Shaw about his career and life after LJMU

o two days are the same in the life of Chris Shaw since he celebrated graduating on the steps of the Anglican Cathedral in 2010. Currently doing his dream job writing for his home club Liverpool FC, life for Chris almost went in a different direction. Initially an English and Language student at Lancaster University his love for Liverpool called him home and set him on an incredible career path working for football governing body FIFA and football giants Liverpool FC. Prior to his time at university Chris always had an interest in newspapers and current affairs. He said: “In the end journalism seemed like the ideal path to choose. I love language - my family tell me I could spell words way beyond my years when I was very young - and thought I could make something of my writing

I started working for FIFA in September of 2010.” His journey with FIFA started when he was offered a two month work placement during a sports journalists dream – the 2010 World Cup. The job saw him moderating comments for the FIFA.com website as well as subbing and preparing stories before the tournament began. This put him at an advantage when a permanent position with the FIFA team became available. He said: “To land a job like that so soon was beyond anything I’d hoped for. The absolute need for accuracy and concentration was balanced with the pleasure of being involved in a tournament I have loved for many years.” Already working a dream job it was Chris’s ambition that drove him to land a job with his first love- Liverpool FC. He said: “I worked freelance while I was still at FIFA because I really wanted to earn a job there. I think 31

‘Your work will sometimes be changed, your suggestions will sometimes be rejected. But accept it and learn from it and you’ll make an impression’ ability.” Chris’s journalism career began with the JMU Journalism website, which was first launched during his second year of university. It gave him the platform he needed to grow from a shy student to a confident, experienced journalist. He said: “I felt well prepared from my three years on the course. I spent some time at the Liverpool Echo on a placement shortly after graduation and then fortunately

days working on the run was my record, though I don’t advise it! “I wrote news and features for the website, conducted interviews and provided match reports throughout the Reds’ summer tour of North America all during a period of immense scrutiny and excitement following the appointment of Brendan Rodgers as the new manager at the time.” When a permanent job as a website journalist with Liverpool

What’s On FILM The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2 Thursday 19th November The fourth and final film in the Hunger Games quadrilogy based on the best- selling series by Suzanne Collins. As the war of Panem escalates to the destruction of other districts by the Capitol, Katniss Everdeen, the reluctant leader of the rebellion, must bring together an army against President Snow, while all she holds dear hangs in the balance. Directed by Francis Lawrence, it will be released on November 19th.

FOOD & DRINK Ormskirk Christmas Craft, Gift and Food Fayre Friday 13th November The second annual Ormskirk Christmas Fayre is taking place on Friday 13th November. Over 40 stalls offering bespoke and beautiful gifts at the best prices. Stalls include: jewellery, fashion, health &beauty, candles & home wares, cheese, fudge, cakes & biscuits, spicy food gifts, cards, arts and crafts, premium teas, bespoke items and more.

THEATRE High School Musical on Stage Friday 13th/Saturday 14th November LHK Youth Theatre will present their all singing, all dancing stage spectacular - High School Musical – at The Epstein Theatre on Friday, 13th November and Saturday, 14th November. High School Musical on Stage follows the antics of East High’s most popular student, Troy Bolton as he meets the girl of his dreams in the school’s newest student; Gabriella Montez. Tickets are £14.50 for adults and £12.50 concessions and are available at www.epsteinliverpool. co.uk. SUCCESS: Chris Shaw scores his dream job © Liverpool FC FC arose in 2012 Chris jumped at the chance and now reports for the official website from most Liverpool home fixtures. His job involves covering away matches, interviewing players before and after games and meeting former Reds stars. He said: “It’s a new era with a new manager at the helm and how we work evolves all the time, with more and more ways to connect with fans. This season, for example, we’ve added Snapchat to our extensive match coverage, which comes with its own demands and challenges. I’ve got no plans to leave LFC any time soon.” Chris believes his journalistic success is down to his work ethic and thick skin he’s developed. He said: “your work will sometimes be changed, your suggestions will

sometimes be rejected. But accept it and learn from it and you’ll make an impression.” “I’d always advise students to be as enthusiastic as possible when working in the industry. Have ideas, be brave enough to share them, It’s easy to spot the people who are aware of the news and showing that you’re interested goes a long way.”

‘Have ideas, be brave enough to share them, think of new and different angles’ Liverpool is well and truly home for Chris with his dream job in the bag, he is now looking forward to his wedding in June.

COMEDY Stewart Francis: Pun Gent Wednesday 11th Novermber Surreal and deadpan one-liners from the Canadian stand-up and TV regular seen on Mock The Week and Live At The Apollo. The show starts at 8pm on Wednesday 11th November and it is to be held at the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.

ARTS Works to Know by Heart: Matisse in Focus Friday 20th November 2015 -Sunday 1st May 2016 This autumn Tate Liverpool presents one of the most iconic works ever made by Henri Matisse (1869 - 1954), The Snail 1953. Due to the delicate nature of the work, this is your only opportunity to see The Snail outside of London, as it will not tour any other venues in our lifetime. The expedition will be on display from the Friday 20th November until May next year.

Life|Remembrance|8

Liverpool reporter: SAM DAVIES

he city centre’s main tribute at St George’s Hall showcased the ‘Weeping Window’ artwork where Lord Mayor Tony Concepcion led the memorial. Before the firing of the gun

signified the beginning of the silence, the Band of The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment performed and the Archbishop of Liverpool, The Most Reverend Malcolm McMahon OP, delivered his ‘Thought for Remembrance Day.’

To conclude the service, members of the armed forces marched from the St George’s Hall Plateau to salute at the cenotaph, where wreaths were laid by ex-service organisations, business representatives and Liverpool schoolchildren.

LOVED ONES: Wreaths laid for those lost

©Ryan Jones

Merseyside remembers St Helens reporter: KAMARA SAMUELS

HONOUR: Memorials for those lost ©Kamara Samuels

undreds of people gathered in St. Helens on Sunday to commemorate those who fought in the two world wars. There was a memorial of crosses at the cenotaph in Victoria Square where locals had written heartfelt messages for those they had lost in war. There was a two minute silence at 11am followed by words of commemoration by Trevor Howard from the Royal Naval Association.

MEMORIAL: Cadets at cenotaph Presbyterian Church, who urged Moreton reporter: those gathered to remember the CHRISTY JADE BIGGAR

BIRKENHEAD: Memorial at Hamilton Square

ver 150 people gathered for the Remembrance service at the new cenotaph location in Moreton last Sunday morning. The service was led by Vicar Redmoor, formerly of Moreton

fallen, to pray for an end to the destructive hate of war and for the future of our world. After leading the military parade in the wind and bitter cold, Major Sam Andrews said: “There were rumours the cenotaph would be put over by

©Christy Jade Biggar

the library on the grass verge. But it’s here now, and people will have to get used to it and there will be a parade every year. “We had a good attendance, there were over 350 people last year, this year over 100, but I’m still very impressed with the turn-out today considering the weather.”

Life|Culture|9

The echoes of war Conor Allison and Hannah Hodgson report from a new exhibition that tells the shocking true stories behind a notorious prisoner of war camp

n exhibition of one of the most notorious Japanese prisoner of war camps has come to Liverpool, giving visitors the rare chance to see for themselves how imprisoned soldiers lived. The photographic exhibition of the Shenyang WWII Allied Prisoners Camp, originally known as Mukden POW Camp, at St Georges Hall, marks the 70th anniversary of the end of the war. At the launch of the exhibition on Saturday the great hall was filled with black and white pictures of prisoners in the POW barracks, showing eight people using a bunk at the same time, captured soldiers eating together, sick prisoners taking a rest outside the camp’s hospital ward and many other emotional moments from the camp. The Hall in Liverpool was chosen to host the event because of the city’s vital role in Britain’s survival and victory of WWII. Cabinet member for Culture and Tourism in Liverpool, Cllr Wendy Simon, said: “We’ve had massive commemorations since 2014. Liverpool, in particular, has been doing a lot about the history of the First World War

and the Second World War. “It’s really important to us that people understand the significance Liverpool played, the buildings in Liverpool played and the port of Liverpool played. “I think there’s no more fitting place in Liverpool to have this exhibit than St George’s Hall, given its significance in both World Wars, and also our commemoration service that’s held every year to remember those lost in conflict all over the world.” The camp, in North-East China, is the best preserved camp of over 200 POW camps established by Japan. There were over 2000 captured soldiers at Mukden, with prisoners from the United States, UK, Canada, Australia, France, the Netherlands and more.

inister Ms Shen Beili, on behalf of Chinese Ambassador Liu Xiaoming, said: “We hope that the exhibit will help the British people and visitors to learn about the history and the sufferings of the POWs, as well as the unyielding spirit; their

PRISONERS: One of the many images on exhibit

optimism in hard days. “At the same time, we hope that visitors will witness the profound friendship between the people of China and other countries, joined in the fighting against fascist enemies.” The launch of the exhibition brought many people from all over the world together. One of these people was Alan Joy, son of Ronald Joy. Ronald was prisoner number 1178 in Mukden. He was a soldier in the Royal Artillery, captured in Singapore when Singapore surrendered. He spent three

and a half years there and then made his journey back and told his story to Alan’s mother. Alan said: “He didn’t speak a lot about his time at the camp, and as children we didn’t really connect to that experience. We knew he had nightmares and we knew he’d suffered frostbite. In winter, sometimes his fingers would turn white. I did have one talk to him about the camp. He told me of some of the brutality that went on, but also of the camaraderie. When he was in Singapore he wrote a short piece about his time there. “I think he intended to write about his whole time, but unfortunately he died at the early age of 59 and we only have six pages of his writings.” This free exhibition will be open until November 15th in the Catacombs Galleries of St George’s Hall.

‘He didn’t speak a lot about his time at the camp, and as children we didn’t really connect to that experience. We knew he had nightmares and we knew he’d suffered frostbite. In winter, sometimes his fingers would turn white’

Right: Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Anthony Concepion speaking to Chinese guests Left: Gallery of striking photos at St George’s Hall

Cruelly beaten and then executed

ar removed from the horrors it witnessed in World War II, the Shenyang Prisoner of War Camp is remembered once again in several white-painted, spotlight-filled rooms in the catacombs of St George’s Hall. With harrowing photographs of the camp, its conditions and what the prisoners were exposed to on a daily basis the exhibit is a moving tribute to the more than 2,000 people incarcerated there. Featured throughout the rooms are caricatures of prison life and an insight into the reality of working as slaves for the Japanese. One, drawn by

Prisoner No. 1475, depicts how the prisoners would attempt to make things hard for their captors in the factories; tirelessly and creatively working at new ways to slow down production. Alan Joy, son of Prisoner No. 1178, Ronald Joy, was at the exhibition launch to hand over his late father’s personal items he brought back from the camp — known then as Mukden. One item included a Japanese Manchurian campaign medal, gained from looting an empty house in Mukden once the camp had been liberated in August 1945. Many prisoners, unless

deemed a medical emergency, were not rushed home until later on in the year. Ronald’s other souvenirs included spare prisoner hair cut tokens, of which he had collected three by the time he left the camp, and his attendance card for the canteen hall. Whilst these items may seem secondary, in comparison to a personal prison plate or worn New Testament, they help to lay the context of the brutal existence. These were the articles which, although small, were used in the everyday life of the camp. A hair cut token, as Alan explained,

could have been used as prison currency, as is often the case. One of the more insightful pieces is a Christmas card from 1944, sent from the camp to prisoners, wishing them a “Merry Christmas and a happier New Year”, which, as Alan speculates, would suggest the direction of the war was well known at that point. The exhibit highlights the brutality throughout, and many of the photographs were on display at the launch, forming a rectangle around the Great Hall. One showed the faces of three US soldiers who had escaped

from the camp, then captured and returned to Mukden. They were cruelly beaten and eventually executed. The exhibit gives evidence of this through a grisly picture of the record of executions. However, the prisoners’ resilience, despite their struggle, was something that Joy took away most, he said, from infrequent conversations with his father about the camp. He told a short story of a way in which they would try to shift focus, saying: “Three of the inmates had made a bet with each other about when

the war would end. They were betting each other bottles of whiskey — if the war ended at this time, one of them would win a bottle of whiskey, but if it ended another time, the other one would win instead. This shows us the resilience coming through; the determination not to be kept down and not to lose your spirit.” In a month of remembrance, this exhibit, using articles by Alan Joy and photographs that give an insight into the PoWs’ time at camp, helps us keep in mind the lesser talked about heroes of the war in the Far East.

Life|Education|10

Story time like no other LAMBY: Jude storytelling for a group of young children who wait on her every word in Liverpool. Pic © Amy Mehaffy-Holcroft

BY CONOR ALLISON

hance encounters can often spring a person’s life into a new direction, and for former teacher Jude Lennon, her case was no different. Now 18 months on from setting up her business, ‘Little Lamb Publishing’, Lennon offers storytelling in schools and at events, a tablet application dedicated to children’s phonics, and, just recently, a picture book inspired by a famous oak tree in Liverpool. However, before the more recent developments, her initial inspiration came, surprisingly, on a teacher’s conference in the Lake District. A talk by the UK’s first Laureate for Storytelling, Taffy Thomas, influenced Lennon to pursue the same path. “I looked at him and thought, ‘That’s what I’m going to do.’”, said the 41-yearold. “I’d always told stories, because I’d taught little ones. Whilst I was still teaching I wrote the collection of poems to make phonics more interesting in school, and not long after that I actually came out of teaching. It was becoming increasingly more stressful and it wasn’t the job I went in to.” After spending 18 years teaching, and relating to a younger generation, Lennon’s next endeavour would be represented by a Christmas gift from her partner — a microwaveable lamb plush toy. “When I was setting up the business I needed something that kids can relate to, and,

obviously, over the years, I learnt that they like puppets and things like that. It just seemed to sound right — ‘Little Lamb Tales’ and ‘Little Lamb Phonics’ — and I chose the name ‘Lamby’ because that’s exactly the kind of name that children would pick. With a range of stories involving her new face of the business, Lennon would later expand from reading out her tales, to helping young fans enjoy phonics through an application. However, she admits that her primary focus remains on the print aspect of her work. “I do always say to parents and staff when I go into schools, or if I’m doing the storytelling, about the app, but it’s not the be-all and end-all for me. Kids learn in lots of ways, and most two-year-olds know how to work a tablet more than I do, but, interestingly enough, picture books are still the biggest sellers across all the genres.” Imagination and creativity had spurred Lennon on to a new career path, while still allowing her to positively influence the minds of children. Oral stories and the digital side of her work were taken care of in the form of Lamby, but a walk through Liverpool’s Calderstones Park, near to where she lives, gave Lennon the inspiration for her most recent project. “I walked past the Allerton Oak one day and actually just thought, “A dragon has done that”, as you do. I started to tell it as an oral story at events I was going to, and kids really seemed to latch onto it.

LOST IN WORDS: A baby lamb teddy poses with a little lamb tales t-shirt and book by Jude. Pic by © Jude Lennon “I’ve got loads of stories written about Lamby, but I think because it had such a local interest it made sense to do this story first, and it’s a real tree and you can send people to look at it. A lot of people, with the book being sent all over the world, have messaged me saying their kids want to come to Liverpool and see the tree, so that’s been really great.” The famous Allerton Oak

.Peppa Pig: Peppa’s Christmas Peppa, George, Mummy and Daddy Pig are getting ready for Christmas! Read along in this sturdy, cosy board storybook as they choose a Christmas tree, decorate the house and meet a surprise visitor.

.The Jolly Christmas Postman It’s Christmas Eve and the Jolly Postman is delivering greetings to various fairy-tale characters - there’s a card for Baby Bear, a game appropriately called ‘Beware’ for Red Riding Hood from Mr Wolf, a get-well jigsaw for hospitalised Humpty Dumpty.

is estimated to be over 1,000 years old, with its eye-catching state said to be due to the explosion of a gunpowder ship, the Lottie Sleigh, over three miles away on the River Mersey in 1864. However, another legend is that the tree was struck by lightning. It is dependent upon a number of props that hold it up, but has (yet), despite Lennon’s imagination. She admits that she didn’t

Five children books for this Christmas

.Where’s Wally? Santa Spectacular Join Wally and his friends in this sensational Santa themed sticker activity book. A new format for the Where’s Wally? programme, with 24 pages of wintry sticker-based activities and six sticker sheets bursting with hundreds of stickers to complete them.

expect the path to lead this way, but is enjoying the way her business has diversified. Lennon said: “It’s a bit like the oak tree really, it’s spread its branches. I offer staff training in school, I offer parents workshops, I offer creative writing classes for adults, and obviously the storytelling, as well, at festivals and schools. I really enjoy what I do.” The future is seemingly

.The Polar Express: 30th Anniversary Edition Late on Christmas Eve a boy boards a mysterious train that waits for him: the Polar Express, bound for the North Pole. When he arrives there, Santa offers him any gift he desires.

bright for Lennon, Lamby, and other projects, but the Liverpool native maintains she will stick to her original message. “My chief message to get out there is: books, reading, stories and imagination are for everyone. That for me is a really important thing. Nobody suffered in life from having a good imagination or from reading a good book; you’re only going to expand your mind further.”

.The Dinosaur That Pooped Christmas Danny wants everything for Christmas.But what he gets is a dinosaur, a very hungry dinosaur. Danny’s new dino eats up all of Christmas, but as we all know, what goes in must come out . . . Danny is about to have the most EXPLOSIVE Christmas

Life|Sport|11

Women urged to take up netball

By ELLE SPENCER

Go Mammoth, the biggest organiser of social netball leagues in the UK, has come to Liverpool and are looking for women to get involved. The company organises both recreational and intermediate leagues to suit any ability. Members can join as a team or individual to take part in the leagues which will take place across Liverpool. Spokesperson, Bronwen Dalley Smith told Liverpool Life: “GO Mammoth exists simply to make your life more fun, without the seriousness and commitment of joining a specialist sports club and a hundred times more social than joining a gym!” Go Mammoth offers members the chance to take part in leagues across the city with all equipment and umpires provided and to meet new people while getting physically fit. Felicity Sullivan rated Go Mammoth 5 stars on their website, commenting: “I’d been wanting to get back into Netball for ages, but wanted a league which was going to be fun, social and of a good standard. Go mammoth offers all of the above. The league is really well organised and you can choose the level which best suits your ability.” The company describes themselves as the ultimate club for busy and active adults looking to maximise their spare time through playing sport, keeping fit, and socialising with friends. Bronwen Dalley Smith said: “whether you’ve played a lot of netball, or are just wanting to get back into it socially, GO Mammoth leagues provide a friendly environment to get fit and have fun.” For more information on Go mammoth, their projects, and how to get involved, visit www. gomammoth.co.uk/netball/ liverpool/

Local lad hits ring for charity ﬁght

By LEWIS PHILLIPS-CALVERT

A hopeful Scouser will be taking to the boxing ring for the first time to raise money for charity. Jay “Knockout” Normile has already raised over £700 for Cancer Research UK and will make his debut at Liverpool White Collar Boxing at Omnia, formerly known as Envi, on December 6th One of the reasons Jay is fighting is very close to his heart. He said: “There’s two reasons I’m doing this. Firstly, cancer has

been eating away at my family for many, many years. Still now, a family member is fighting the good fight. So the first reason is to raise much needed funds for a very good cause.” The other reason, admittedly, lies a little closer to his stomach. He said: “The second reason is pretty simple... I’m fat... So what could be better than to couple saving lives, with saving myself?” The West Derby lad weighed 23 and a half stone before he started training four weeks ago and has lost over two stone in a month. He said: “A week after starting training, three runs and a swim

down, my body seemed to be getting used to it. All the aches have pretty much gone. “Training is going brilliantly now, just blasting through it five or six times a week. Seeing photos of before and after, and still very much during training, has spurred me on even more.” Despite his build, Jay is known to have nimble footwork and has even coined his own “Normile Shuffle” in homage to former heavyweight champion of the world Muhammad Ali. The Liverpudlian is also keeping to a strict diet. “I woke up on my wife’s birth-

day and cooked a full English. It was horrible! Not greasy at all, but I felt ill. I think that’s me well and truly done with crap food like that. I just wanted my protein.” The 33-year-old is hoping to raise as many pounds as possible, as well as lose them. He said: “All donations big or small are gratefully received. And the more I raise, the harder I will train, that’s a promise! The next few weeks are going to be a mountainous task for me and my ever supporting family: working two jobs, with five kids, a dog and a wife to keep happy, whilst

still training so that I don’t look like even more of a muppet than I already am!” Jay will not find out his opponent for two weeks but said: “Me, a guy who has never boxed in his life and is in pretty horrendous shape is boxing in front of a crowd of restless Scousers. Well what a bright idea eh?” To donate go to: https://www. justgiving.com/James-Knockout-Normile Tickets are available at: https:// www.ultrawhitecollarboxing. co.uk/product/liverpool/

Merseyside stars in international action By LEWIS PHILLIPS-CALVERT Liverpool and Everton will not be in action this weekend but the Merseyside clubs have no fewer than 22 players away on international duty. Everton’s Seamus Coleman, James McCarthy, Darron Gibson and Aiden McGeady will face off against current team mate Muhamed Bešić in Republic of Ireland’s European play-off game away to Bosnia and Hercegovina on Friday. England travel to Spain in a friendly match against the current European champions. Nathaniel Clyne, Adam Lallana and James Milner make up the Liverpool contingent, whilst Everton’s John Stones and Ross Barkley have also been picked. Ex-Liverpool players Raheem Sterling and Jonjo Shelvey are also in Hodgson’s team, as is former Blue and England captain Wayne Rooney. Belgium have selected five

players from both clubs for their game at home to Italy: Romelu Lukaku, Kevin Mirallas, Simon Mignolet, Christian Benteke and Divock Origi have all been selected in their 23 man squad. A host of young Everton players will also feature this weekend with Gerard Deulofeu, Brendan Galloway and Tyias Browning chosen to represent their countries at under-21 level. As for Liverpool, Martin Skrtel captains Slovakia against Switzerland, meanwhile France host Germany in a game where Mamadou Sakho has been ruled out with an ACL injury and Emre Can will hope to feature for the World Cup winners. Adam Bogdan is likely to be on the bench as Hungary face Norway in a crucial play-off game on Thursday, whilst Joe Allen should start for Wales who are at home to the Netherlands. Domestically, Tranmere Rov-

INTERNATIONAL BREAK: Despite the International break, players from all corners of Merseyside are involved in games across the world this weekend. ers go to Lincoln City who beat them 2-0 in the FA Cup just two weeks ago. Lincoln were then drawn against semi-professional outfit Whitehawk FC and lost 5-3 last weekend. In an interesting turn of events, Manchester-born Tranmere

midfielder Lois Maynard will miss this weeks game at Lincoln after being handed his first call-up to the St Kitts and Nevis national squad for the games against Estonia and Andorra. Maynard qualifies for the Caribbean island nation

through his family history and will be hoping to make his international debut this weekend, despite playing his whole careeer to date in the lower reaches of English football.Finally, Chester FC take the long trip down south to Boreham.

Horse show set for Liverpool after Olympic success By BEN CUMMINGS The Liverpool International Horse Show will be coming to the Echo Arena at the beginning of next year, running from 1st to 3rd January 2016. The show is being sponsored by Equestrian.com and will feature six shire horses taking part in a “Grand National” like race across the arena. The event will build on the city’s equestrian and entertainment heritage by combining both show jumping and entertainment. Liverpool Life spoke to organiser of the event, equestrian promoter Nina Barbour, to find out

her motivation for starting the event. She said: “We want to bring equestrian sport to the heart of the city. We see this as our Olympic legacy. I watched the equestrian events in the heart of London at the 2012 Olympics and I wanted to bring that kind of world class sport to the north west of England”. Liverpool-born Peter Charles, who was a gold medallist in show jumping at the London 2012 Olympics, launched the new show by clearing the London Olympics ‘Abbey Road’ show jumping fence on the Liverpool waterfront. He said: ‘The Liverpool Inter-

national Horse Show will be the hottest event for the world’s best showjumpers who are all preparing for the Rio Olympics... I can’t wait to perform in front of a Merseyside crowd in such a spectacular setting.’ Joe Anderson, the Mayor of Liverpool said: ‘I’m absolutely delighted that Liverpool is to stage a brand new, world class sports event. The city has a proud sporting heritage and to see the world’s best riders in action on the Liverpool dockside will confirm our status as one of the leading global sports cities. It will be a great start to the New Year and the event will contribute a huge amount to the city’s economy’.

NEIGH PROBLEMS: The Liverpool International Horse show will take place at the Echo Arena for the ﬁrst time ever at the beginning of 2016.

Liverpool

LifeSPORT OLYMPIC DREAMS 11 November 2015

Local athlete hopes to be selected for GB’s 2016 Olympic squad By LEWIS PHILLIPS-CALVERT One of the few Scouse Olympians hoping to compete at Rio 2016 has spoken to Liverpool Life this week ahead of the French Open on Saturday. European and world medallist in taekwondo, Martin Stamper, is one of a select group athletes from Liverpool - including Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Anyika Onoura - who could compete in the Rio Olympics. When asked about whether he felt the pressure of a city on his shoulders, he said: “I’ve not really thought like that. Especially with my sport being quite small compared to others. Plus we don’t get much media or TV coverage, so that probably helps in a way. Martin, who finished fifth at the London 2012 Olympics, has been busy coaching the GB Taekwondo Junior Squad at the ETU European Junior Championships in Latvia and has always had a passion for the sport. He said: “I got into taekwondo when I was 6 years old. My mum took me over to a local club. I love the tactical side of taekwondo and have always enjoyed coaching, plus it’s good to get

Inside Sport

some experience for when I decide to retire as an athlete and hopefully move in to coaching.” His focus now though, has switched to his own career. He said: “Training was going really well for the [World Taekwondo] Grand Prix but unfortunately I didn’t get the result I wanted there. “Now I’m training for the French Open which is on Saturday. “My training is generally six sessions of taekwondo and three sessions of strength and conditioning a week, plus usually one recovery session.” The 29-year-old also knows he will face some stiff competition if he is to do well this weekend. He said: “I don’t really like giving fighters too much respect, especially if they’re in my weight, 68kg, but Lee Dae Hoon, a Korean, is fighting amazingly at the moment and in my opinion is the best athlete across all weights. He’s got a great mix of old school TKD [taekwondo] and modern TKD.” As for his future ambitions, Martin was very clear about what he wanted: “Hopefully I’ll be selected to compete in the Olympic qualifiers in January and then gold at Rio!”

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