Galloway's to take over the Beer and Banger Festival in Walmer Bridge

SIGHT loss charity Galloway's is bringing the community back together by hosting its 1st ever family friendly beer festival this August 2021. Galloway's will be taking over the popular Walmer Bridge Beer and Banger Festival, as it returns this year, taking place from:- Friday, 27 August 2021 to Sunday, 29 August 2021. The festival, located in Walmer Bridge Village Hall, had previously been organised by the Rotary Club of South Ribble. However, the club's volunteers announced the much loved 2019 event would be their last, as they did not have the resources to continue. But now Galloway's has agreed to take over the festival as a way of bringing the community together following a year of cancelled fundraising events.

Charlotte Carnell, events fundraiser at Galloway's, which supports people with sight loss across Lancashire and Sefton, said:- "We are so excited about hosting our first Beer and Banger Festival in Walmer Bridge. After months of being in lockdown and being separated from friends and family, this is a great opportunity for people to get together safely and support their local community. The festival is suitable for the whole family and promises to be a good afternoon or evening out. Safety is of course of paramount importance to us and we will be adhering to the Government's guidelines at the time of the event. Please join us for some beer and bangers and help us raise much needed funds to support people with sight loss."

Tony Stevens, President of South Ribble Rotary Club, said:- "South Ribble Rotary Club started the event in 2015 and its success exceeded our wildest dreams, raising significant amounts for local charities. Sadly, after 5 years of very hard work, we had to accept our limited resources were stretched to their limit, and despite huge support from various organisations, we could no longer sustain our involvement beyond 2019. So we are thrilled Galloway's has now seized the opportunity and we are pleased the festival will help to support its valuable work in the community. Galloway's can call on our advice and support as it starts preparations for this year's festival and we are confident the team will build on the success of this very popular event."

Tickets for the Galloway's Beer and Banger Festival, in Walmer Bridge, are ₤7.50 for the whole weekend which includes entrance to event, programme and commemorative glass. There will be more than 40 ales, as well as a large selection of lagers, ciders, gins, and wine. The festival will also include live entertainment from bands and performers.

To get your wristbands, visit:- Galloways.Org.UK/Events or call:- 01772744148. If any business would like to find out about advertising and sponsorship opportunities at the event, or for any other information, email Charlotte at:- Events@Galloways.Org.UK.

Liverpool to celebrate Armed Forces Day with a number of Covid safe activities

THIS years Armed Forces Week takes place from 21 June to 27 June 2021, with Armed Forces Day, on Saturday, 26 June 2021. From Monday, 21 June 2021, the Armed Forces Day flag will be flown from the Cunard Building, the Liver Building and the Port of Liverpool Building. Each evening of the week civic buildings, including:- Liverpool Town Hall and St George's Hall, which will be lit up red, white and blue.

A private service at Our Lady and St Nicholas Parish Church will take place, on Saturday, 26 June 2021, which will be attended by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Cllr Mary Rasmussen, and Deputy Mayor Councillor Jane Corbett as well as a limited number of guests to allow for social distancing.

The service will be live streamed by St Nick's on its YouTube channel and can be accessed via:- YouTube.com.

Following the service the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment will perform in the church gardens.

In December 2020, it was announced that the Army would receive Liverpool's highest honour; the Freedom of the City. This acknowledges the support the Army gave to the City when it established the country's 1st SMART testing programme.

Around 2,000 troops facilitated 200,000 tests at almost 50 Testing Centres, last November, with around a ⅓  of Liverpool's population getting tested.

An official ceremony to award the Freedom scroll will take place when Covid restrictions have eased.

Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Cllr Mary Rasmussen said:- "Armed Forces Day has become an important date in Liverpool's calendar over the last few years. Although we are not quite back to normal yet, this year the date provides us with the opportunity to recognise their contribution to the City and thank them for everything they do. We thank the Army personnel for their professionalism, commitment and good humour during their time in Liverpool last year during the Pandemic. This was a difficult time for the City and there is no doubt our friends in the Armed Forces helped the whole Liverpool City Region move from Tier 3 to Tier 2 in December 2020, the 1st area in the country to do so. We must also remember the support of the Army, RAF and Royal Navy (regulars and reservists) to the City in the early days of the Pandemic. Their planning expertise was invaluable as we moved to support some of the City's vulnerable communities."

Brigadier Joe Fossey, said:- "The UK's Armed Forces have gone above and beyond to protect people across the Region and nation throughout the Pandemic. 8 Engineer Brigade is incredibly proud to have supported the City of Liverpool with co-ordinating and delivering community testing in November 2020. Armed Forces Day is an opportunity for the public to say thank you to our dedicated military personnel, past and present. While current restrictions mean we may not be able to celebrate together in person, I encourage people to take some time to pay tribute to our Armed Forces community, from serving troops to Service families, veterans and cadets."