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Giant images
mark Chinatown history
A row of terraced houses in
Duke Street has formed the backdrop to a unique piece of public art
reflecting an important part of the City's history.
Giant photographs which tell the story of Chinese sailors and their
families have been installed on the houses which are next door to
the Wah Sing Chinese School.
The buildings, next to Iliad's development East Village at the top
of Duke Street have been derelict for many years, but the properties
have now been given a new lease of life.
The artwork "Opera for Chinatown"; has been created as part
of a year long project to create a digital archive of oral histories
and family photographs of the Chinese community by artists and oral
historians John Campbell and Moira Kenny also known as:- 'The Sound
Agents'.
The project is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund with the City
Council providing additional funding for the Duke Street project
which was completed in time for the International Festival for
Business which will attract thousands of visitors to Liverpool.
Liverpool property developers Iliad have also worked on the Duke
Street project
John explained the background to the oral history project
"Liverpool Chinatown Oral History focussed on 3 themes: The Blue
Funnel Sailors, the Forced Chinese Repatriation and the Liverpool
Chinese children who took part in the Hollywood film The Inn of
Sixth Happiness starring Ingrid Bergman in 1958 based on the
missionary Gladys Alyward who at one time was based in Nelson
Street. Gladys went to China and saved hundreds of Chinese children
from a Japanese invasion."
The centrepiece of Opera for Chinatown features a photograph of
opera singer Grace Liu in a beautiful costume. "Grace performs
internationally with the Cantonese Opera.
We are aiming to write an opera based on the art work on the
buildings and we are in talks with the Cantonese Opera to bring the
group over to Liverpool next year for a special performance." commented Moira.
Another person featured is Mr Sing Zhay Woo who was 90 years old on
8 June. He is one of a handful of surviving Shanghai sailors who
came to Liverpool during or just after WW2. "We are so lucky
as they all live in Liverpool and have told us stories about their
time working deep sea and coasting around Europe. I suppose we could
say Opera for Chinatown is an early birthday present for Mr Woo."
said
Moira.
The arts duo have worked with Jim Kenny, Individual Graphic Design,
Moira's brother on the designs for the building. Mr C.K.Cheung
Headmaster of the Wah Sing provided the calligraphy for the art
work. They have also worked with the terrace owner Iliad.
An app for people to access the stories and music behind the images
is being created.
The Sound Agents are aiming to set up a living Museum in Nelson
Street in the Nook Pub to create a base for people to pop in to
Chinatown and tell their story adding to the archive of the oldest
Chinese community in Europe.
More immediately, they have written a play, "The Curious
Disappearance of Mr Foo", It will be performed at the Unity
Theatre on 21 June and stars Tina Malone of TV's Shameless and
London actor Simon Wan and is directed by Rosa Fong .
The Verbatim Theatre work reflects on the hardship and strength of
Liverpool Irish women left behind after the Forced Chinese
Repatriation that took place in Liverpool in 1946 and the parallel
journey of a young man deported after WW2.
This performance has already sold out.
What they say about Opera for Chinatown
"This is a fantastic way for Liverpool to show an important
part of its history to the World when the IFB comes to Liverpool. As
a Council we wanted to dress the City for the IFB and the Sound
Agent's record in bringing back to life the history of Chinatown
made them a perfect partner. It's been good to work with them and
Iliad to tell this story at a perfect location in Duke Street."
-
Councillor Steve Munby, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods
"We're really pleased to support this Duke Street artwork as
an IFB Cultural Commission. It tells a significant story in a
beautiful way and really improves the look of the area. Many local
people have been involved in the research, and many more residents
and visitors will enjoy the finished work". -
Nick Birkinshaw, IFB Culture Programme Co-ordinator
"This artwork is a fantastic asset for the Duke Street area of RopeWalks, adding a splash of colour and brief photographic history
of Liverpool's important Chinese community and marine heritage.
These buildings have become a beautiful and thought provoking piece
of artwork, completely transforming the top end of Duke Street to
become a much more vibrant landscape for diners in the opposite
restaurants and residents living within Iliad's surrounding
developments. Iliad are proud to have been a vital part of the
installation with the talented and inspirational Moiraand John,
along with our partners at Liverpool City Council, IFB and Liverpool
Vision. We look forward to hosting Anna Chen at Il Forno on China
Day as part of the IFB on 18 June."
Ryan Cullen of Iliad
"I can't believe it, thank you all very much. It looks lovely
some of our children have never seen these photographs" -Mr Lang Kong Lau, Blue Funnel Shanghai sailor
"It is very nice, very good" - Mr Te Hay Yue' Blue Funnel Shanghai sailor
"My niece Stephanie came to see me and said 'your picture is
on a building in Duke Street'. I did not think it would be so big. I
said 'it must have been Moira and John who put it there'. It looks
all right like!" -
Mr Sing Zhay Woo ,Blue Funnel Shanghai sailor
"I cannot tell you how happy I was to see my dad's documents
on display and photographs of my Mum and Dad, Aunty Em, Uncle Wong
and other family members on the wall for all to see". -
Viv Smith
"I am totally gobsmacked!" - Joan Peterson (nee Ku Loi) |
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Tax credits
claimants warned over scam emails
TAX credits claimants are
being warned about scam or "phishing" emails sent out by
fraudsters in the run up to the 31 July renewal deadline.
During last year's tax credits renewal period, which runs from April
to July, nearly 24,839 phishing emails were reported to HM Revenue
and Customs (HMRC). And May this year has already seen a 131.32%
increase in phishing email reports on the same month last year, with
11,219 being recorded.
Although HMRC worked with other agencies to shut down 611 scam
websites during the tax credits renewal period last year, others
continue to be created.
HMRC took action to close down 1,740 illegal sites in 2013, most
originating in Turkey, Spain and Bulgaria. Phishing emails also came
from the UK and USA.
Phishing emails often promise money back and, if the recipient
clicks on a link, they are taken to a fake replica of the HMRC
website. They are then asked to provide credit or debit card details
or other sensitive information such as passwords. The fraudsters
then try to take money from their account.
They often ask for the recipient's name, address, date of birth,
bank account number, sort code, credit card details, national
insurance number, passwords and mother's maiden name.
In addition to money being stolen from victims' bank accounts, their
personal details can be sold to criminal gangs, leading to possible
identify theft.
Nick Lodge, Director General of Benefits and Credits, HMRC, said:-
"HMRC will never ask people to disclose personal or payment
information by email. We are committed to claimants' online security
but the methods fraudsters use to get information are constantly
changing, so people need to be alert."
HMRC is asking people to be wary of emails with attachments which
might contain viruses designed to steal personal or financial
information, and not to open them.
One scam is contained in an email circulated from:-
taxreturn@hmrc.gov.uk, telling recipients about a 2013
tax refund report. The email appears to have been issued by "Tax
Credit Office Preston", but it is a scam. It includes an
attachment that contains a virus. Recipients are urged not to
respond and to delete it immediately.
HMRC asks people to:-
1.
Check
online
for its internet security advice.
2. Immediately forward suspicious emails to HMRC via this dedicated
email address:-
phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk and then delete them
Avoid clicking on websites or links in suspicious emails, or opening
attachments
Further advice can also be found at:-
getsafeonline.co.uk.
This year, as well as being able to renew by post and by phone, tax
credits claimants with no changes to report might be able to renew
online using the official GOV.UK website or via an HMRC mobile app.
SINGALONGALIVERPOOL: A walking tour with a big difference!
THERE'S a walking tour with
a difference happening on Sunday, 29 June 2014, at 8pm. Combining Liverpool's
love of music, comedy and fascinating history, this is SingalongaLiverpool!
Locals and visitors alike will have the opportunity to learn more
about the amazing history of Liverpool, see the sights and have a
good old fashioned singalong with live professional musicians, guide
and performers. The tour is described by the organisers Wanderpool
as 'part guided walk, part community sing-song, part
mini-flash mob with just a hint of 1960s 'happenings' thrown into
the mix of fun, laughter and community spirit'.
It really is a case of the more the merrier with SingalongaLiverpool,
so there is a very special offer on the first 30 tickets. They are
being offered at 70% off the full price and cost just £3. They are
available in advance only on
wanderpool.co.uk. Substantial group discounts are
also available and tickets may be available on the night at £10 or
£8 concessions. For more details call:- 07446 14750 or via
email.
Meeting place is the Steble fountain outside Walker Art Gallery,
William Brown St and end point is Derby Square. Whether coming with
a group or alone; young and old alike will be made very welcome,
with the chance to get to know people and socialise all built into
the tour.
Participants on the musical romp through Liverpool's streets and
history, will be regaled with interesting facts and stories about
the buildings en route, be led in singing well-known relevant
classics from across the decades. They'll be accompanied by local
musicians Tom George, Mycroft Milverton and Dan Hill.
SingalongaLiverpool was the brainchild of Wanderpool director
Jacqueline Boylan, a tour guide, children's entertainer and former
actor (and Superlambanana artist). She happily admits she is no
singer. "From the very start of doing the walking tours,
I always felt there were bits that sounded like cues for songs, but
sadly I wasn't a singer so when the chance to do something for Light
Night came up, I thought now's my chance do try something a bit
different. I thought of all sorts of hi-tech ideas before it
suddenly struck me – why not go back to basics with some live
acoustic musicians and a good old-fashioned singalong?"
Singer/songwriter, performance poet and professional busker Tom
George jumped on board alongside fellow guitarist Dan Hill, with
piratical performer Mycroft Milverton adding a touch of ukulele
magic to the more traditional songs and a touch of eccentric mayhem
to the proceedings.
The simple but effective formula was trialled during 2 tours (the A
and B sides) at Liverpool's Light Night last month and proved a huge
success with one of the participants giving the following review.
"With SingalongaLiverpool, it doesn't matter whether you're a
born and bred Scouser, visiting the City for the first or thousandth
time or just tagging along because you have nothing better to dol
you are guaranteed a gusty, lusty lung busting couple of hours of
real pleasure. Come and join Jackie and gang; and learn some new
things about one of the favourite cities of the world; you already
know the songs; this is street performance at its best!"
There are 2 SingalongaLiverpool tours in the current Wanderpool
repertoire (the A-side and the B-side). The tour on 29 June is the
B-side which covers St George's Hall cultural quarter, town centre
and Cavern Quarter, before the finale at the Queen Victoria
monument, and unsurprisingly given the route, it contains a fair few
60s numbers (not just those of the Fab Four but other Merseybeat
groups), as well as traditional favourites, a WW2 song, a 50s number
1 and a couple of well loved 80s pop and rock classics. |
