LOCAL MP JOHN PUGH BACKS REACT CAMPAIGN

THE Southport MP, John Pugh has signed an Early Day Motion, against Michael Gove's decision to omit RE from the list of key humanities subjects in the new English Baccalaureate. He joins a host of celebrities, top academics, Church leaders and MPs who have already signed up to support RE.ACT agenda.

The aim of the campaign RE.ACT: putting religious education at the heart of humanities is to mobilise the Christian community to put pressure on Rt. Hon Michael Gove MP to include GCSE RE in the English Baccalaureate curriculum.

Pugh joins over 90,000 people who have joined the campaign UK wide. The drive encourages people to sign up to the petition online, and to write to their local MPs on Religious Education, asking them to not only support the Early Day Motion 1375- RE and the English Baccalaureate but to ultimately put pressure on the Government to make RE an educational priority once again.

To date, over 83 MPs have signed the Early Day Motion1375.

The campaign organised by Premier Christian Media and which also includes prominent Christian voices including Rt. Revd John Pritchard, Bishop of Oxford, Professor Trevor Cooling, Bishop Dr. Joe Aldred and Steve Clifford, General Director, Evangelical Alliance and Nola Leach, Chief Executive of CARE.

Peter Kerridge, CEO of Premier Christian Media Group said:- “The campaign is gaining more supporters by the day. This is an issue that’s close to everyone’s heart, whether you’re a Christian, Muslim or Hindu, we need our kids to learn about their neighbours and squash this escalating cycle of religious illiteracy.”

Email us your views and thoughts about this topic to news24@southportreporter.com and let us know what you think!

Liverpool Sound City Announced Day By Day Programming

THE Liverpool Sound City has just announced its full day-by-day programming as the city-based festival takes over the UK’s music capital this May for a music, arts and cultural showcase like no other.

Another batch of names have just been announced too, including Frankie & The Heartstrings, The Computers, Ghosting Season (former worriedaboutsatan), Our Mountain (Australia), DZ//Deathrays (Australia), Woodhands (Canada), Marques Toliver, The Big House, Maverick Sabre and Funeral Suits to go with the 300+ bands already taking part at the spectacular city-centre festival.

David Pichilingi, the festival’s director, says that:- “This year we have again produced a world-class festival line-up that is reflected in the scope of artists we are bringing to Liverpool in May. We have continued our diverse programming to include people from all over the world converging on our city for a true showcase of some of the hottest talent out there and many of the next generation of stars who you will see breaking through the ranks in the coming months. It’s great to be back in so many iconic venues, not least returning to one of my person favourites, St George’s Hall, but also for the first time the Cathedral Crypt and the spectacular Bombed Out Church setting too. Also this is the first time we are going fully for one wristband gaining entry to every show, or single day passes for those who wish to pick and choose who they want to see of if time is tight. All offer incredible value for money.”

To find out more information and for the full LSC gig programming, go to:- liverpoolsoundcity.co.uk/gigsearch.

Toxteth Church invites couples to renew vows on Royal Wedding eve

A newly re-opened church in Toxteth is inviting couples to renew their vows on the eve of the royal wedding.

St James in the City, on Upper Parliament Street, is offering the renewal of vows to all couples, but is particularly interested in attracting those who married in the church before 1972, when the church first closed. Some couples may have moved out of the area since then, but they are warmly invited back.

The church re-opened in 2009, and has since secured a funding boost of £407,343 from English Heritage for key renovations to the roof. There are also plans to expand and build community facilities.

The renewal of vows service will take place at 7.30pm on 28 April 2011, the night before the royal wedding, with a drinks reception from 7.15pm. Couples can come on their own or bring family and friends along and opt for a celebratory meal at 60 Hope Street after the service.

Couples are also asked to bring along photographs of themselves from their wedding day and throughout their marriage, to be used in the service. The first wedding at the church since it re-opened is also due to take place in May 2011.

Rev Neil Short, vicar at St James in the City said:- “With the royal wedding coming up, marriage is very much in people’s minds. We wanted to hold this renewal service the night before the royal wedding for those who want to thank God for the past, admit mistakes made, and look to the future with hope and optimism. We would especially love to welcome couples who married here first time around, before the church’s closure in 1972. The idea of renewal is very much in keeping with what we are doing at St James in the City, as we contemplate the church’s past and look at how we can serve the community in the future. We hope that couples who married here will enjoy coming back and seeing what the future holds for the church as they also look to their own future together.”

To book your place at the renewal service please contact Rev Neil Short on:- 0151 708 8559 or via email before Wednesday, 20 April 2011, at the latest.

DEMICK INSTRUCTS NOLAN REDSHAW ON SOUTHPORT INDUSTRIAL SITE

THE London based Demick Shipping has appointed North West independent property consultant, Nolan Redshaw, to market an industrial site in Southport, Merseyside. The site, which offers 15,000 sq ft of industrial accommodation with a large secure yard, is situated on Crowland Street Industrial Estate in Southport. Demick is looking to dispose of its long leasehold interest or, alternatively, may consider sub-letting the property. The premises are in a high profile position within the estate and offer easy access to Southport town centre and the motorway network. On the instruction, Mike Redshaw, Director of Nolan Redshaw, said:- “This site has excellent potential and we believe that it would be of great appeal to builders’ merchants, trade counters and all industrial type users. We expect to see strong interest in the site.” So what do our readers think of this? Email your views to:- news24@southportreporter.com and let us know what you think.