Liverpool taxi charity outing goes world-wide

AN annual charity outing organised by Liverpool’s taxi drivers has launched its own website to ensure more cabbies can sign up.

Organisers from the Taxi Drivers’ Blind Children Outing Fund, which has been running since 1949, have heard that many drivers wanting to join in do not know where to go to find out more.

So this month a website was launched – www.blindchildrensouting.tk – so they can log-on and find out all they need to know about taking part in the July event.

“We decided to set this up for any would-be charity drivers who just might want to get involved but don’t know how to contact us.

The trip has been running for a long time but it was time to bring it into the 21st Century.

My step-daughter, Jodie Goldstraw, has designed it and we hope that it will encourage more taxi drivers to get involved in what is a wonderful event for all involved.

The event sees more than 50 black cab drivers from across Liverpool, with some from further afield, all decorate their vehicles before calling at the Royal School for the Blind, in Church Road North, Wavertree, and St Vincents School for the Blind and Partially-Sighted, in Yew Tree Lane, West Derby.

The excited youngsters are then driven in convoy to Camelot where they enjoy a day of rides at the funfair, food, beach fun and presents, before being taken home.

Prizes are also given to the best dressed taxis." said Phill Carpenter, a long-term member of the outing committee, former cab driver of 19 years and now salesman at Taxifix, the city’s main dealer for LTI Vehicles, manufacturer of the famous London-style cab.

The event is supported by LTI Vehicles through Taxifix, based in Great Howard Street. Managing Director Damian Lynch said:- “We hope this new website will encourage even more of the city’s big-hearted taxi drivers to get involved.

It is a great event always looked forward to by the children and drivers alike and Taxifix is delighted to continue to support it.”

This year’s event will take place on 3 July 2007.

World’s first comedian for kids

WARM up your funny bones as James Campbell, the world’s only stand-up comedian for children brings his Comedy for Kids to Southport Arts Centre on Saturday 9 June 2007 at 7pm. Offering top quality entertainment for children over the age of 6, their parents and anyone who likes comedy without the rude words!

James’ unique style covers everything from parents to Playstations, why we have hair and what he had for breakfast. There might even be an otter - but probably not!

Over the last ten years, James has been bringing comedy for all to theatres, over 1000 schools and festivals all over the world. He has appeared on numerous television programmes from BBC Breakfast with Dermott and Natasha, CBBC’s Exchange Show and was recently described by Iain Rankin on Newsnight as, “The best comedian I have ever seen”.

Comedy for Kids is part of Play Up! Theatre for Young Imaginations, Southport Arts Centre’s first children’s theatre festival. For more information on this and all the events featured in the Play Up children’s festival, please call Box Office on 01704 540011 or 0151 934 2141. Alternatively, book your tickets online at www.seftonarts.co.uk. 

Tickets:- £4children (£5 adults).

Myerscough College Girls’ Football Festival 2007

THE recent Myerscough Girls’ Football Festival was again a great success in its fifth time year of running, with many schools from across Lancashire taking part.

On Friday 25 May 2007, 14 teams from various Lancashire schools came to Myerscough College for a football-filled day.

The weather was much kinder than last year and the girls and teachers both made the most of all of the activities that were going on throughout the day.

Alongside the five-a-side tournament, there were various skill stations run by Myerscough students, who are all qualified to either FA level one or level two standard. This format has always been popular and this was again the case with the girls being kept busy during the whole day. In between their matches the girls had a go at bending free kicks round a wall, took part in a SAQ session, and learned some new skills including dribbling, heading and football tennis.

Following on from previous years the standard was as impressive as ever, as was the enthusiasm shown during the skill stations. For the tournament the teams were split into two groups with the top two in each group progressing to the semi-finals. Penwortham Girls’ had two teams in the tournament and having finished second in both groups, had a team in each semi-final. The group winners were Brownedge St Mary’s and Corpus Christi, who avoided each other in the semis. Whilst the semi-finals were taking place, some of the other girls played more football tennis and had a go at beating the College goalkeeper, while others watched the games which were both very exciting.

Unfortunately for Penwortham Girls’, both teams were edged out by Brownedge St Mary’s and Corpus Christi. This set up a show-piece final, which was watched by all teams and created an excellent atmosphere. The final was very close and it took until the last few minutes for Corpus Christi to break the deadlock. They then added another just before the final whistle to secure their victory.

Both teams played some excellent football and were a pleasure to watch. Corpus Christi’s victory meant that they were the first team to win the cup twice, having claimed it for the first time in 2004.

After the final, all of the girls were given a certificate of participation and a goody bag. The winners and runners-up were presented with trophies by Jenna Carroll of Blackburn Rovers Ladies and Anthony Pilkington, a former Myerscough College student who plays for Stockport County. The schools that attended the festival were Beech House, Broughton, Brownedge St Mary’s, Corpus Christi, Heysham, Lostock Hall, Penwortham Girls’, Penwortham Priory, Skerton and Worden.

Myerscough College offers an exciting range of courses in Football from entry to degree level, including First and National Diploma Football Studies and Foundation Degree Football Coaching.