Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution has visited Southport

SEFTON Council were delighted to have played host to Jim McMahon MP, the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution, when he visited Southport recently.

We are informed that the Leader of Sefton Council, Cllr Marion Atkinson, has been engaging with the Minister for several months in advance of the National Spending Review which included the announcements about both the:- Southport Pier and the Southport Town Square and Gardens projects.

Both have recently had confirmation of Government funding and Cllr Atkinson visited the sites with the Minister and presented updates on each project.

They also discussed the recent announcement of Bootle South as:- 1 of 25 Trailblazer Neighbourhoods, and the potential opportunities that such status and funding will support, as well as our wider ambitions for Sefton in:- housing, regeneration, economic growth and beyond.

Please do let us know your thoughts on this news topic by emailing our Newsroom at:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com, alternatively please send us a message on:- Mastodon, Facebook, or Twitter.

Singer, actress, and writer to entertain the crowds at this year's Southport Flower Show

TOYAH Willcox will be joining us on:- Friday, 15 August 2025. Tickets into the show will get you access to see a Q&A with Toyah and our show compere Paul Crone.

Alan Adams, General Manager said:- "We can't wait to welcome Toyah to this year's show. She will be doing 2 Q&As in the Garden Theatre at 11am and 1pm. I am sure it will be busy so make sure you get your seats early".

Toyah Willcox has spent over 5 decades captivating audiences as a singer, actress, and writer, earning multiple awards. She received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Central England in 2001 and was recognized in 2018 by Paul McCartney with a LIPA Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts Companionship for Outstanding Achievement in music, drama, performance, and media.

From punk icon to celebrated stage performer, Toyah has released 25 albums, recorded 13 Top 40 singles, authored 2 books, and starred in over 40 stage plays and 20 feature films. Her success continued in 2021 with Posh Pop, which topped the independent charts and entered the UK Top 30. Recent album reissues have further cemented her impact.

With hits such as It's A Mystery, I Want to Be Free, and Brave New World, along with platinum selling albums Anthem and The Changeling, Toyah remains an influential figure in British music. She won Best Female Singer at the British Rock and Pop Awards, now known as the BRITs, and her 1981 live concert at Drury Lane was broadcast to over 10 million viewers.

Beyond music, Toyah has starred in films such as Give Them Wings, Quadrophenia, Jubilee, and The Tempest, earning recognition at The Richard Harris International Film Festival and a nomination at the Evening Standard Awards. Her YouTube performances with husband Robert Fripp have gained global attention, even featuring in Rolling Stone Magazine.

Toyah has also won Celebrity Mastermind and The Great British Sewing Bee:- Celebrity Christmas Special. Toyah showcased her artistic versatility by participating in the 20th-anniversary series of Strictly Come Dancing.

This year's Southport Flower Show will be held at the wonderful Victoria Park, Southport, over:- Thursday, 14 August to Sunday, 17 August 2025. It will be a celebration of floral beauty, fresh flavours, and family fun.

Make sure the show is a highlight of your summer.

Buy your tickets early and save at:- SouthportFlowerShow.Co.UK. Children under 16 are welcomed free when accompanied by a paying adult. Well behaved dogs on leads are allowed into the show.