St George's Day was a knight to remember!

Posted by Visiter Newsdesk on April 25, 2008 8:41 AM

IT was all red and white on the night in the end.
After fears that Southport people cared little for England's patron Saint, he was honoured in true style at the Fun Fest St George's Day Bowling Challenge on Wednesday.
Premier Bowl staff, Kim Johnson and Chris Booker particularly, led the way superbly by decorating the venue with St George's flags, bunting and other regalia, really getting everyone in the party spirit.
The Southport Swords were superb in launching the event in Southport with their traditional slaying of the dragon morris dance, before they took on their customary tour of real ale pubs such as the Barons Bar, the Windmill and the Guest House.
Teams like the Southport Scooters, the Royal Mail Rogues and the Foghorn Bar were resplendent in red and white.
As well as celebrating Saint George, the event was also great at raising a grand sum of £1,072 for Southport-based charities. A great knight was had by all, a hugh thank you to all of you who attended.
It was such great fun we have now decided to do it all again next year - so put a date in your diaries for Thursday, April 23, 2009, starting at 7pm - St George's Day celebrations in Southport are here to stay!

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Is St George really our Patron Saint?

Posted by Visiter Newsdesk on April 21, 2008 1:41 PM

St George's Day takes place this Wednesday. It could well be Southport's, and indeed England's, biggest secret.

To celebrate the day of England's Patron Saint, I teamed up a few months ago with Premier Bowl in Southport to organise the Southport's Charity Fun Fest St George's Day Bowling Challenge.

Staff there have been fantastic. Delighted to mark the event themselves, some have been taking time off to help organise it, with staff members vowing to wear St George's fancy dress on the night.

I have visited many places in both Liverpool and Southport yesterday and today trying to find St George's flags and bunting in order to suitably decorate the venue for the occasion.

I would have had more chance finding a real-life dragon. To date, the search has proved impossible - but I will keep looking!

Apart from our bowling night, St George's Day celebrations in Southport are sparse.

The Southport Swords morris dancers are preparing to dance their traditional 'slaying of the dragon' routine at Barons Bar, the Windmill and the Guest House. Southport CAMRA members will celebrate the event at the Scarisbrick Hotel.

Few people know the date of St George's Day - more people are probably aware of St Patrick's Day, which is incredible - and for most people in Southport the event will pass unnoticed.

What has happened to our national pride?

Thank you to all those who have signed up to the bowling challenge this Wednesday, it promises to be a fantastic night - and on a date that well deserves to be celebrated.

Here's to St George!

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Excuse me - where's Southport Bus Station?

Posted by Visiter Newsdesk on April 21, 2008 1:33 PM

I was on my way to meet John Pugh after work on Wednesday.

Myself and two colleagues were walking down Chapel Street when we were stopped by three ladies from Chorley who asked us for directions to Southport Bus Station.

"I'm afraid we don't have one," I said, apologetically. "As a tourist town, we should do."

They set off for the Merseytravel office on Eastbank Street for advice on which bus stop they should head for.

It wasn't a very good advert for our town. Sadly, after plans for a bus stop adjacent to Southport Rail Station were shelved, there are no new plans on the horizon.

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Help Southport FC do a "Smash 'n' Brab" at Haig Avenue

Posted by Visiter Newsdesk on April 17, 2008 2:01 PM

SOUTHPORT FC are entering the final straight in their push to qualify for the play-offs and win promotion back to the Conference.
On Tuesday night they won a crucial victory over Alfreton Town 1-0, meaning their chances of going up have increased - but they still rest on a knife-edge.
The game was new manager Gary Brabin’s first in charge of the team at Haig Avenue, and he lead them to their first home win in nine games.
Sadly, the atmosphere was subdued as just 757 souls turned up to cheer on the Sandgrounders.
Just three games are left for the ‘Port to climb back into the play-offs, and they need the support from local people now more than ever.
Bringing back the roar to Haig Avenue can only help the team - so if you’re free on Tuesday night, head down and help them overcome Leigh RMI.
We are all keeping our fingers crossed that new manager Gary can do a ‘smash and Brab’ to make sure we’re all cheering Southport in a higher leage next season.

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Why British Lawnmower Museum boss Brian is a cut above

Posted by Visiter Newsdesk on April 17, 2008 2:00 PM

WE are proud of our eccentrics in this country - and rightly so.
Whether it be Sir Francis Drake finishing his game of bowls before taking on ther Spanish Armada, or the image of mad Englishmen and dogs in the midday sun, people in our ‘sceptered isle’ revel in being a breed apart.
This week, a new book is published marking 21 years of IKEA and, despite the firm being Swedish, the fly on the wall social commentary celebrates people at home - and highlights their quirks and eccentricities.
Among them is Southport’s own British Lawnmower Museum curator Brian Radam, whose remarkable collection of grass cutters - some owned by luminaries such as Brian May, Charles and Diana and Stirling Moss - has spread from his museum and into his home.
Brian, we salute you - long may your obsession continue to put Southport on the map.

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All the fun of the (country) fair in Southport this weekend!

Posted by Visiter Newsdesk on April 10, 2008 6:38 PM

MEOLS Hall used to be a fantastic setting for events.
Two of the year’s highlights were the spring fair they had there and the huge bonfire they hosted each autumn.
The decision to cancel both events was a great loss to our town.
Now, happily, it seems that gap may have been filled. Last October Hesketh Round Table performed miracles in hosting the Grand Bonfire & Firework Display at Victoria Park, which promises to be the first of many. This weekend the 1st Southport Plant, Food & Country Fair takes place in Marshside, with pursuits such as ferret racing, sheepdog displays, fun dog shows, falconry, morris dancing and steam engines.
It will be great to see such local heritage celebrated once again.
The brains behind the event is Kelvin Pye, a local man who has organised successful similar shows in North West venues such as South Wirral and the Ribble Valley.
Now, like members of Hesketh Round Table last year, he is seeking to start a new chapter in great Southport events and capture just what local people have been missing. Good luck to him, we wish him all the best in establishing it as a regular event.
It promises to kick-start another superb year of events, with Southport Food & Drink Festival (May 15-18), Southport Jazz Festival (May 29-June 2) and Southport’s Charity Fun Fest (June 7-8) among the fabulous forthcoming attractions.

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How many managers have Southport FC had?

Posted by Visiter Newsdesk on April 10, 2008 6:32 PM

ARE you a Southport FC fan? Can you name all the managers who have been in the hot seat over the past decade...?
Whatever their strengths or failings, the one thing that no Southport manager has enjoyed for a while is time. And as many people in football know, success seldom comes overnight. Let’s hope Gary Brabin can break that sequence, and that fans will be singing his name for some time to come.
If they are it means the club will be succeeding in bringing the success that the fans, and everyone at the club, are so desperately hoping for.

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Southport - the true thoroughbred of seaside resorts

Posted by Visiter Newsdesk on April 3, 2008 7:29 PM

AS races go, it’s hugely competitive.
Millions of pounds will be lavished, many obstacles hurdled.
For the few, glory awaits – others may fall at fences they never expected.
As the world famous Grand National meeting began today and visitors cascaded into the region, the chase to become the area’s favourite resort gathered pace.
Morecambe may stumble, after Blackpool fell at the fence when its casino bid was blocked – at least Cleveleys has a rusting ship to draw in its tourists. But Southport now has even more to celebrate in our determination to race over the finishing line and collect the trophy that is the nationwide recognition of our town as England’s Classic Resort.
Today we reveal £38m plans by KGV College to demolish most of the current facility and replace it with a state-of-of-the-art, world class landmark that further enhances the image of our town for visitors.
An official announcement is due shortly which is expected to name Ramada Plaza as the operator of the hotel on The Promenade.
More details of ambitious plans by Urban Splash to transform much of Southport’s seafront are also emerging, with project manager Patrick Sheridan sharing his vision for the site with readers in an exclusive interview on page 29.
The Vincent Hotel is promising to wow local people and visitors alike when it opens its doors soon.
Southport is galloping ahead in its bid to forge a reputation as England’s Classic Resort.
With all the multi-million pound developments currently taking place, our town really is proving to be the true thoroughbred of resorts.

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