Liverpool Remembers
Photos by Major (RTD) Roy Bevan MBE..

ON Sunday, 14 November 2021 Liverpool held its annual Service of Remembrance, but unlike in previous years it was held at the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral. Around 1,200 military personnel, veterans and families of the fallen from recent conflicts, plus civic dignitaries from across the Liverpool City Region gathered inside the Cathedral for the service and big screens were set up within the Cathedral's grounds so that members of the Public could gather and take part in the commemorations. The service started at 10.40am with a 2 minute silence taking place at 11am, followed by a poignant poppy drop outside the venue. During the service, readings, prayers and music contributions by The Band of the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment where heard. Former Lance Corporal Craig Lundberg, who was blinded during a tour in Iraq, also took part in the event. He delivered a very moving, personal account of his experience on the theme of 'sacrifice.' Sadly, due to the incident at the Liverpool Women's Hospital, the other parts of the days events had to be cancelled.

Churchtown Village in Southport will bring Christmas to life

THIS year Churchtown Village, Southport, will be bring Christmas to life when the annual festive 'Switch On' event returns on Thursday, 18 November 2021. The Churchtown Village Lights Switch On wasn't able to take place last year due to the Covid Pandemic. But families will be looking forward to seeing it return this year, with preparations now underway. From 5pm, people will be able to enjoy carol singers performing throughout the Village, Christmas Carols, from:- The Salvation Army band, Hayley Murray singing Christmas classics at La Tabella, and a special Elf Hunt with some superb prizes on offer.

Lighting company IllumiDex UK Ltd has been busy installing Christmas Trees above the doors of many of the businesses which will be wrapped with lights to make the Village glow at night. People can enjoy a Christmas Tree and decorations in the green outside St Cuthbert's Church and The Hesketh Arms Pub. It is a great time for people to start their Christmas shopping, with the doors open at some superb independent local businesses. The event this year will be Covid secure and lower key than the last event, in 2019, with no fairground rides, no big stage and no road closure, although there will still be lots to enjoy.

Dot Howell, owner of the Dorothy Mae salon, on Botanic Road, in Churchtown, said:- "We are looking forward to running a huge elf hunt this year! A total of 21 local businesses will have elves on display. Children will be able to find them all in different situations in the windows of shops, cafes, restaurants and other venues around the Village. We have a sheet which people can collect for ₤2 from the Vintage Tea Room on Botanic Road which contains a map of the Village and the names of all 21 elves. Children then have to match the right names to the elves, before handing it in to The Hesketh Arms where there will be a bag of sweets for each winner. They will also be entered into a grand draw with some superb prizes. Families could win a bottle of gin from Remedy, Christmas decorations from Angels, a stuffed bear door stop from Checkers, or vouchers from businesses such as La Tabella, Grapevine, Lucy Lou's, Dorothy Mae, the Hesketh Arms, Churchtown Deli, the Garden Room, Bump of Churchtown, and others. We'd love to see people come down and enjoy the event with us. The Village is looking so pretty and there are so many unique, independent businesses here. It's a lovely place to enjoy Christmas. Everyone in the Village is excited about our Christmas Lights Switch On. They are all super enthusiastic, we want to involve the whole community."