9/10/40 – 9/12/80

FRIENDS and artists who worked with the late, great John Lennon will come together for the first time in a historic memorial concert to commemorate 30 years since his untimely death. The one off concert entitled:- ‘LENNON REMEMBERED – The 9 Faces of John’ is being held at Liverpool’s Echo Arena on Thursday, 9 December 2010 at 8pm. It will present artists and friends who span the whole life and career of the ex-Beatle from Liverpool to New York.

The CMP Entertainment and Cavern Club production will focus on the significance that Lennon believed the number 9 had on his life. It will see 9 periods of John’s life represented by those who were there, including John’s first band The Quarrymen, the Beatles fellow Hamburg musician and lead vocalist on ‘My Bonnie’ Tony Sheridan, art school friend and editor of Mersey Beat Bill Harry and Beatles Press Officer, close friend and ex CEO of Apple Tony Bramwell. Also appearing are Joey Molland, guitarist with Apple signed Badfinger who played on Lennon’s Imagine, Grammy award winning sound engineer Dennis Ferrante who worked on a plethora of Lennon’s albums during his New York years, as well as Liverpool born actor Mark McGann who is famed for his honest and powerful portrayal of John both on stage and film. He will present a special performance of his award winning stage show, John Lennon – In My Life.

Co-event organiser and Cavern Club owner Bill Heckle says:- “Anyone who loves the music of John Lennon and The Beatles should not miss this night. You will be witnessing history with contributions from those who helped John create it.”

With more very special guests to be announced, one artist who will be stepping up to the stage to perform and share anecdotes on the night is Plastic Ono Band member Alan White who played drums on Lennon’s classic hits including ‘Instant Karma’ and ‘Imagine’.

Alan White says:- “working with John was truly one of the highpoints of my career. The world lost not only an amazing musician but a great man when he died and I’m honoured to be involved in such a fitting tribute to a dear friend.”

And if that wasn’t enough – US Beatles artist Shannon and artist to Hollywood stars has been drafted in to produce an exclusive piece of art entitled ‘The Nine Faces of John’. The professionally crafted piece will be used in the show to depict the stages of John’s life from Liverpool to his final days in New York.

Profits from the entire night are going to local charities Alder Hey Imagine Appeal, Radio City’s Cash For Kids and the Mathew Street Festival.

John’s sister Julia Lennon says:- “John would be very proud that the concert was bringing together so many of his friends and colleagues. I am delighted that ‘Lennon Remembered’ is such an historic and relevant tribute to my brother’s life and career. It’s wonderful that the proceeds for such a celebration can also give a little back to the city that he loved.”

Director of 'LENNON REMEMBERED' Jon Keats said:- “We are pleased to be announcing the first guests for Lennon Remembered. Talks are ongoing with many more of John’s friends and fellow musicians so watch this space as it promises to be a memorable evening.”

PERFORMANCE DETAILS

LENNON REMEMBERED - The Nine Faces of John
Location:- Liverpool Echo Arena
Thursday:- 9 December 2010,
Doors open:- 6:30pm, show starts 8pm.
Tickets:- £27.50 (plus a limited number of higher priced gold circle tickets)

LENNON REMEMBERED tickets are on sale now from the Echo Arena on 0844 8000 400 and via:- echoarena.com.

‘LIVER BIRD’ RETURNS TO HER ROOTS

HAVING achieved international fame as an inspirational Christian speaker, Liverpool girl Jill Briscoe is returning to the city where she was born to speak for one night only at an event sponsored by Premier Radio.

Jill, along with her husband Stuart and son Pete, who is pastor of a mega church in Dallas, Texas, will host an evening of teaching and storytelling. Joining them on the night will be popular UK singer/songwriter Noel Robinson.

Based in the US, Jill is a globe-trotter who lives out of a suitcase most of the year. The couple’s work takes them around the world and last year alone, they travelled to 18 countries on 5 continents.
Raised in Liverpool, Jill graduated from Cambridge University and returned to teach in Liverpool and work with young people at night.
After getting married and moving to the US, Jill and Stuart began an international teaching and speaking ministry. In 1998 they started a Bible-based radio broadcast called Telling the Truth which is popular in the US and UK.

Telling the Truth is now broadcast on dozens of radio outlets throughout the US as well as in London, Seoul in South Korea, and via satellite across Europe and ten countries in southern Africa.  Jill has written more than 40 books. Her vivid relational teaching style touches the emotions and stirs the heart.

An Evening with the Briscoes is at the Liverpool Lighthouse in Anfield on Saturday, 30 October 2010, from 7pm to 9pm. A free booklet, written by one of the Briscoes, will be given to everyone who pre-books their tickets to the event via their website.

ADULT LEARNERS’ WEEK 2011 SEEKS PREVIOUS WINNERS

TO mark the 20th Adult Learners’ Week next year,  from 14 May 2011 to  20 May 2011, the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE), the co-ordinator of the UK’s largest festival of learning, is looking for past winners to get in touch, share their stories and inspire more adults to take up learning and transform their lives for the better.

Since the first Adult Learners’ Week in 1992, tens of thousands of adults have been nominated for awards, with 1,500 of them winning. The winners come from all walks of life, vary in ages – this year’s oldest winner is 94 years old - have been soldiers, nurses, musicians, artists and have overcome all kinds of barriers to take up learning and improve not only their own lives, but the lives of their families and communities.

Richard Crabb, Head of the Adult Learners’ Week Team at NIACE, said:- “Since 1992 millions of adults, through Adult Learners’ Week, have been encouraged to take up learning. It’s often the incredible stories about our winners, who have completely transformed their lives and achieved beyond their expectations, that inspire others to discover more about themselves, and the world around them, through learning.  We want to hear from everyone who has won an Adult Learners’ Week award since 1992 and we’d be really interested to hear about their achievements since winning their award. Every one of our winners had even more ambitious plans for their future following their remarkable achievements which had won them the award in the first place. We want to see how far they have gone towards achieving those ambitions.  We know that learning transforms lives for the better. We want to see how our past winners have continued their learning journeys and how their stories can continue to inspire others.”

Past Adult Learners’ Week winners can get in touch with NIACE by email, also by visiting their website or even by phoning the Adult Learners’ Week team on:- 0116 204 4200.

ROBBERY BETULA CLOSE, WALTON

POLICE Detectives in Liverpool North are appealing for information following an armed robbery on Saturday, 9 October 2010, in the Walton area of Liverpool. Two men had arranged to meet at Betula Close, Walton to sell a motorbike. According to Merseyside Police at around 4pm, the pair met and were then approached by two offenders. The men were then threatened by the pair, who were then joined by five further offenders and told to hand over the motorbike. One of the offenders also threatened the pair with a handgun before another took the bike and rode off . The victims then managed to wrestle the handgun from the remaining offenders, who then ran off. The two men were uninjured and officers have since recovered the handgun, which was an imitation. The motorbike is still outstanding and is described as a Black Yamaha, off road motorbike. The offenders are described only as being in the late teens to early 20s and all wearing black clothing.

"Merseyside Police Officers would appeal to anyone who has any information about this incident or who has seen the stolen motorbike to come forward and contact officers on:- 0151 777 4809 or Crimestoppers on:- 0800 555 111." said Merseyside Police.

Entrepreneurs identify health & safety concerns in new research

ENTREPRENEURS want a Government review of health and safety laws to focus on removing the excessive bureaucracy stifling their businesses and threatening economic growth, according to the Forum of Private Business.

The Forum’s latest research shows that almost 1 in 5 businesses are sceptical that the probe will deliver what they want – freedom from the bureaucratic barriers and a more ‘common sense’ approach.  Ahead of the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) on 20 October 2010, the Forum is arguing that reducing regulatory waste could help the Government cut the budget deficit and remove some of the annual £12 billion per year that costs small businesses to comply with the law.

At the Conservative Party Conference this week Prime Minister David Cameron insisted “slashing red tape” will be central to freeing the UK’s small business “wealth creators”.  His comments followed the Conservative Peer Lord Young’s announcement of a review of the UK’s health and safety culture – addressing a range of issues including local councils banning events out of health and safety fears – but some have criticised the review for appearing to focus on specific, well-publicised incidents of ‘health and safety gone mad’ rather than real concerns.

In all, 59% of respondents to the Forum’s Health and Safety Member Panel survey are confident such a review will be beneficial – but 18% are sceptical that it will have any positive impact on reducing the burden of red tape. The remainder are unsure.  The same number are not confident that their businesses are complying with current health and safety legislation, reflecting concerns about the legislation rather than their own internal procedures. Just 4% of Forum members are not sure their staff understand the firm’s health and safety procedures.

“We welcome any commitment to remove the barriers created by excessive health and safety laws, many of which appear to have little practical purpose and seem to be directed at large companies but tie up small firms in the process.  But many of details of where the Government will focus its efforts have yet to be fully outlined. Having seen similar initiatives in the past, some small businesses we represent are understandably sceptical.  Also in the Comprehensive Spending Review we have a genuine opportunity. Forget all the scare stories, our members have identified the real problems of health and safety they find most burdensome and we are suggesting positive ways of redressing the balance by removing red tape for the sake of efficiency and in order to free up entrepreneurship.”  said the Forum’s Research Manager Tom Parry.

Business owners consider health and safety insurance to be the most burdensome area of health and safety law, with 28% believing the requirements expected of them are excessive.  Many are concerned that requirements in this area have been devised solely with big businesses in mind and others reported that restrictive bureaucratic standards are often considered higher than ‘industry norms’.

Some business owners feel that the cost of insurance is also prohibitive and that some organisations (particularly in the public sector) demand excessive insurance levels. Others feel that ‘insurance’ is often used as an excuse to avoid carrying out work.

Fire regulations are deemed to be excessive by just over 1 in 5 members surveyed (21%) and those relating to ‘other workplace hazards’, ranging from working with Visual Display Units (VDUs) to manual handling and varying by industry sector, by 19% of respondents. In all, 17% consider electrical safety laws to be excessive, with cost and regularity of checks major concerns.

A total of 56% of respondents are concerned that public sector cuts, for example any affecting public procurement or emergency services, could hinder their ability to comply with health and safety. However, 22% feel that cuts could be useful if they result in less complicated law, more stability in the culture of regulation and less duplication between agencies.

On potential solutions to the problem of excessive red tape, in the area of government policy 34% of respondents said fewer regulatory bodies would help small businesses and 25% called for a moratorium of some kind on new regulations. In addition, 20% Forum members feel computerised risk assessments are beneficial. 

Of possible legislative reforms, most popular would be those leading to greater support over risk assessments and on other areas of legal compliance, which found favour with 63% of Forum members. Just 3% believe this would have a negative impact. Reducing the level of form filling and other written administration for businesses with fewer than 20 is viewed as a positive proposal by 50% of all members surveyed,  but 31% disagree.  Further, 44% of respondents would welcome tougher penalties for health and safety prosecutions proven to be motivated by malice (just 6% disagree), 33% feel an accreditation scheme for health and safety consultants would be beneficial, while 7% think would not be, and 23% agree that better marketing of accreditation systems to reward SMEs for best practice would help (7% feel it would not).

While 27% of respondents welcome removing health and safety legislation office environments, and also making health and safety laws more industry-specific, 33% disagree. On the subject of separating the advice and enforcement roles of the Health and Safety Executive, members are split with 24% believing this to be a good idea and 25% a bad idea. The reminder feel such a separation would have no impact. 

In September, the Government launched a new ‘one-in, one-out’ system of regulation, which is welcome providing complying with the incoming laws does no prove to be even more onerous than outgoing legislation and that the newly-strengthened Regulatory Policy Committee’ is able to enforce a real culture of ‘regulation as a last resort’.

The Forum is submitting its CSR proposals on red tape via the organisation’s Communications Director business support solution. In addition to streamlining the tax system to make tax compliance easier and more cost effective, the Forum is calling on the Government to:-

► Work to limit further EU social regulation, particularly legislation which has a debilitating impact on small firms' abilities to trade profitably, treat their employees equally and compete in a global market.

► Give the mediation body Acas powers to throw out unreasonable claims by employees against employers before they reach the tribunal stage.

► Clarify what small businesses are required to do on a practical level so that all businesses undertake similar workplace processes.

► Rebalance the rights of employers and individual employees.

According to the Forum’s ‘cost of compliance’ research, which was carried out in 2009, complying with red tape costs the UK’s small employers £12 billion per year.  Employment law is the costliest bureaucratic burden at £2.4 billion per year, health and safety administration costs £2.1 billion and tax £1.8 billion per year. Overall, small business employers devote an average of 37 hours each month to complying with regulations.

Business owners taking part in the latest member panel research recognised the benefits of putting in place good health and safety policies and procedures. In all, 86% cited ‘reduced risks’, 74% ‘fewer accidents’, 70% ‘reduced threat of legal action’, 34% ‘improved standing among competitors and suppliers’ and 34% ‘better reputation of corporate responsibility’.  In addition, 29% said ‘lower employee absence’, 17% ‘increased productivity and staff motivation’ and 14% ‘higher employee retention rates’.

In order to provide business owners with support, guidance and reassurance over complying with legislation, the Forum publishes Practical Health and Safety and Practical Employer, two regularly updated guides covering every aspect of employment and health and safety law.

Available online or as hard copies, the guides are provided as part of the Forum’s Health and Safety Director business support solution and HR Director business support solution.  The Forum also provides its members with legal expenses insurance worth as part of its Legal Director business support solution.

For further information on the Forum’s business support services, the full Health and Safety member panel survey report and the CSR submission call:- 0845 616 6266.