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September 2007 Archives

Hannah leads by example

Posted by Digital Editor on September 27, 2007 9:00 AM

FOR a seven-year-old girl, she certainly does have a big heart.
Hannah Gregg, from Kew, deservedly earned headlines in the Southport Visiter earlier this year when she was awarded one of our ‘Community Heroes’ awards.
The Kew Woods Primary School pupil was lauded after saving her mum’s life.
Now, she is literally dashing to the aid of her family again.
After hearing that her Auntie Julie had cancer, Hannah was quick to sign up for the Southport Visiter 3K fun run, an event in which young people – and indeed family members of all ages – will be doing their bit to raise funds for Queenscourt Hospice.
Hannah’s is one of many entries we have received here at Tulketh Street, and though her motivation for taking part is incredibly noble, the reasons behind other participants donning their running shoes are varied.
Many of them enjoyed the fun run we held in Victoria Park last year and want to come back and do it all again, others are big supporters of Queenscourt, a few fancy a bit of keep-fit, some want to be part of Southport’s latest community event.
Nearly everyone we have spoken to though just wants to come down and join in what is guaranteed to be a fantastic, family fun event in a picturesque town centre park.
They will be launched on their way by Everton Football Club player Alan Stubbs and geed on by Southport racing legend Michael Rimmer, before older and keener athletes limber up for the Dune fm 10K Seaside race.
To anyone who has not yet signed up for either event, please get your entries in as soon as you can, for what will be a great day out for families in Southport – and hopefully a great boon also for Queenscourt Hospice.
We look forward to seeing you there!

Beat stress after air show

Posted by Digital Editor on September 21, 2007 9:00 AM

IT’S a worrying time, the Southport Air Show.
Scores of some of the world’s most incredible flying machines, from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight powered by those renowned Rolls-Royce Merlin engines to the thrill of the lightning-quick Typhoon or the gravity-defying stunts of the world famous Red Arrows.
Even the oldest planes on show can get from one end of Southport to another in a matter of seconds.
Not so lucky the crowds that leave the packed beaches following the event. It’s a fantastic, world class show – but once the joy of the spectacle ends, the worry of the motorist (and his back seat family) begins. The roads in Southport town centre and all roads surrounding quickly become gridlocked as thousands of people try to leave at once. Last year, despite heavy rain and depleted numbers, some people reported two hour trips just to get to the town boundary.
Mind you, it’s a shame for all the visitors to our resort – and the locals – to depart so early. They’re missing out. Today, members of Southport CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) lament the recent closure of a number of fine hostelries in our area.
They are now urging people to keep the imbibing jewels in our town open by increasing their patronage.
In trying to kill two birds with one stone, the answer is simple – take your time getting out of town after the Air Show, sit back and enjoy stretching out your weekend in any of a number of superb restaurants in Southport town centre or one of the pubs lauded by their entry into this year’s Good Beer Guide, or indeed any of the other fine establishments that ply their trade on or near Lord Street.
You will beat the stress of competing with the post-Air Show crowds, and, you never know, may even save a local pub into the bargain.

Chris is a true local hero - shame we don't have more like him!

Posted by Digital Editor on September 14, 2007 9:00 AM

SOUTHPORT teenager Chris Fraser-Perry is just 19.
He has not settled for an easy life, whiling away his hours in a part-time job, he doesn’t go out and get drunk at weekends, he doesn’t vandalise other people’s property whenever he gets bored.
Despite his years he has already earned his place in the Royal Marines, the world’s toughest regiment.
Serving out in Afghanistan, he earned national applause earlier this year when he was among troops who selflessly strapped themselves onto the sides of Apache helicopters as they braved Taliban fire to retrieve the body of a fallen comrade.
Sadly, he has not been awarded a medal for his heroism – but his bravery can only be applauded.
Contrast his strength of character with the cowardice sadly shown by the vandals who threatened, spat at and then threw bottles at local man Geoff Scott after he tried to discourage them from smashing bottles on a quiet residential road in Birkdale.
One of the culprits was hauled before the courts earlier this week, and it is hoped that being named and shamed in the Southport Visiter may make him think twice about what role he should be playing in the community in which he is so fortunate to live.
We all have choices to make in life, the destiny of each of us is of our own making.
Chris Fraser-Perry meanwhile is a true role model for youngsters not just in Southport but everywhere.
He may not have been awarded the medal his courage so clearly deserved.
But in the eyes of everyone in his home town, he is a true hero.

We must beat these cowards

Posted by Digital Editor on September 7, 2007 9:00 AM

YOU cannot underestimate how much it affects people when they become victims of crime. Especially when they are victims of violent crime.
Over the past week the Southport Visiter has received phone calls from people who have been attacked in Southport town centre, with some similar themes beginning to emerge.
Mostly, the attacks have been carried out by teenagers, in many cases by females, and in all cases they have attacked in larger numbers, and preyed on those they have perceived to be vulnerable targets.
In every case, of course, those who carried out the attacks were cowards – they must be caught, sooner rather than later, and must be punished.
Here is where we feel great sympathy for the police. In many areas, officers in Southport and across Merseyside are recording fantastic results when it comes to crime. Recent figures show that prolific and priority offenders are being taken off the streets, violent incidents are down, burglaries are down, drug dealers have been hit hard.
Much of this is down to intelligence-led policing – officers identify crime hotspots, prolific individuals and crime trends and dedicate resources to tackling them. However, they cannot do this alone.
A number of people who contacted us had not reported the crimes against them because they were too afraid.
This is a great shame. The police must be hugely frustrated at not having the information or the witnesses needed to go out and either catch those responsible directly, or focus resources on problem areas.
And if they are not empowered to catch the thugs in our town – then those thugs will be free, and emboldened, to strike again.
If any of our readers feel they can help catch the young yobs making life a misery for the unfortunate few who fall victim to them, please give the police whatever help you can.
Contact Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111.

This page contains an archive of all entries posted to Visiter Newsdesk in the September 2007. They are listed from oldest to newest.

August 2007 is the previous archive.October 2007 is the next archive.

Many more can be found on the home page or by looking through the archives.