Queen Mary 2 Visit to Liverpool

CUNARD’S flagship Queen Mary 2 will make her maiden visit to Liverpool on Tuesday 20 October as part of her first round Britain voyage.

She will be the largest liner to visit the Mersey and the 15th liner to call at the city’s cruise liner terminal this year.

Councillor Warren Bradley, Leader of Liverpool City Council, said:- “The visit of Queen Mary 2 is going to be a historic occasion for the city and for the Mersey. She is the largest cruise vessel ever to visit and is bound to cause a huge amount of interest and excitement. I am sure her passengers will have a wonderful time in Liverpool and the visit will be on of the highlights of her birthday tour.”

It is anticipated that the Queen Mary 2 will arrive in the Mersey at approximately 11.30am and after turning in the river will berth at the cruise liner terminal at approximately 12.30pm.

She will depart the City of Liverpool Cruise Terminal at 2300 after a five- minute firework display planned for 2250.

For banks, sorry seems to be the hardest word

A year after the financial sector bailout, Which? has found that there is still widespread consumer resentment against the banks.

As the consumer champion launches a major new campaign, ‘Britain Needs Better Banks’, its latest research* shows that almost two thirds of people are still really angry with the banks for causing the financial crisis.

Consumers feel that, for most banks, sorry seems to be the hardest word, with three quarters thinking the banks aren’t genuinely sorry for causing the financial crisis. Three out of five people don’t feel that banks have learnt their lessons from the crisis, and four out of five believe that senior level bankers have got away without having to pay the price for their mistakes.

Such is the frustration with banks that a third of people think that, in future, the government should allow them to go bust rather than bail them out, and just under four out of five believe the banks have not done enough to ensure a credit crunch doesn’t happen again.

Which? has published a shortlist of songs on its ‘Britain Needs Better Banks’ website – www.bnbb.org - from a national poll that sum up peoples’ views of the banks.

o Gold Digger - Kanye West

o Hey Big Spender - Shirley Bassey

o I Hate You So Much Right Now - Kelis

o I’m Paying Taxes, What Am I Buying - Fred Wesley and the JBs

o Money For Nothing - Dire Straits

o Smooth Criminal - Michael Jackson

o Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word - Elton John

o Take The Money And Run - Steve Miller Band

o That Don’t Impress Me Much - Shania Twain

o The Winner Takes It All - ABBA


Which? wants to find the one song that the nation feels best sums up its view of the banks and is inviting people to visit bnbb.org and vote for one of the shortlisted titles, or nominate their own suggestion.  Which? head of campaigns, Louise Hanson, says:- “Whether you reckon banks are Smooth Criminals or Big Spenders, everyone has a view on the banking crisis. People tell us they’re angry – a year after the bailout, banks are still treating them like second class citizens with poor customer service and shoddy sales tactics. Consumers are wary of what the banks say. It’s not going to be easy for the banks to regain the public’s trust, but a good start would be for them to say sorry - and mean it.”

Northwest schools get sneak preview of Olympic Park

TEN lucky students from schools and colleges in Cheshire and Merseyside had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see first-hand the progress being made in preparing for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

Students at Altrincham Boys Grammar School, Malbank School and Sixth Form College, Ellesmere Port Catholic High School, St John Plessington Catholic College (Wirral) and Kirkby Sports College, won a competition to visit the Olympic Park yesterday, and see the construction of some of the iconic facilities which will play host to the world’s greatest athletes in 2012.

The tour also highlighted the many ways in which the Northwest is getting involved with London 2012. Manchester-born Olympic Gold and Silver medallist Darren Campbell was on hand to tell his story of living the Olympic dream, while Shaunna Thompson (100m Commonwealth Youth Games record-holder and Sale Harrier) shared her ambitions for competing at London 2012. Students were also given a sneak preview of the Olympic Stadium, whose steelwork was manufactured by Bolton firm Watson Steel, highlights of which included being driven around where the running track will eventually be laid.

Launched by Jonathan Edwards on a visit to Manchester in May 2009, the competition aimed to encourage schools and colleges to sign up to Get Set, the London 2012 Education Programme which over 660 Northwest schools have registered to be part of. Winning students wrote blogs explaining how they were living the Olympic and Paralympic values, or how they planned to live the values in the future.

Jonathan Edwards, Olympic Triple Jump Gold medallist, Board member of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) and Deputy Chair of the London 2012 Nations and Regions Group said:- “Each individual on the tour of the Olympic Park has a connection to our work preparing for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Northwest sporting, business and education contributions being recognised on this tour are examples of the region’s many successes in winning gold from the 2012 opportunity.”

Andy Worthington, Chair of the Northwest Steering Group for the 2012 Games, said:- “Capturing the imaginations of young people is a major part of what the Games is all about, whether that be through sport participation, volunteering or other opportunities. The tour was a great opportunity for them to see the Park coming to life, and also the major part that the Northwest is playing in helping to deliver that.”

Mark Mazier, a talented football, basketball and tennis player at St John Plessington Catholic College, said:- “It was really exciting seeing the Olympic Park. I think it’s brilliant that London is hosting the Games. My favourite Olympians are Mark Foster and Usain Bolt and I think London 2012 will inspire lots of young people my age to follow their ambitions and dreams and maybe one day be an Olympian themselves.”

GET READY FOR "Vampire Vault"

TICKETS for this creepy night, at Croxteth Country Park, Croxteth Hall Lane, Liverpool, are on sale from the Hall Gift Shop or by calling:- 0151 233 6930).

Adult tickets are £8.00, concessions £6.50.

The night is suitable for children aged 10 and above...

The event starts at 17:00 on both 20/10/09 and 21/10/09. For more information go to croxteth.co.uk/events/