September Walrus 49th edition

barney256 on Sun Oct 04, 2009 6:31 pm

WALRUS – 49TH EDITION

The last edition of the Walrus completed 12 years of producing and delivering our community newsletter. I think you’ll all agree that the WALRUS is now in better shape than ever thanks to the help of RICHPRINT,
We’d also like to thank all those people who have delivered it over the years. It is a superb community effort, providing a free service to everyone who lives in New Brighton. Let’s hope we can keep it going for at least another 12 years!
The Walrus comes out four times a year – in March, May, September and December.
If there is something you want to put in it or if you want to advertise in it, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. The deadline for the December edition is Monday 16th November.
For news items, stories or comments ring 639 5798 or email rustyk92@sky.com.
The WALRUS also has its own website - more about this below.

Mayor of Wirral visit cut short by rescue

A visit to RNLI New Brighton Lifeboat station by the Mayor of Wirral, Cllr Andrew Hodson was dramatically cut short when the volunteer crew were paged to attend a rescue recently.

RNLI New Brighton boat house was full of people – including as part of our open weekend when the lifeboat was requested. Onlookers had a rare glimpse of exactly what happens in the lifeboat station to prepare the boat and the crew to go to sea.

Cllr Andrew Hodson, Mayor of Wirral said:

“I really enjoyed my visit to RNLI New Brighton Lifeboat station and meeting the volunteer crews and their families. The service that they provide is absolutely vital to the people of Wirral and beyond and that’s why the RNLI is one of my chosen charities this year. As the boat went to sea I stayed and chatted to some of the fundraising volunteers and sampled some of their delicious cakes. Seeing the crew in action was absolutely fantastic!”

Car wash success!
Many thanks to everyone who supported our car wash in early August. The crew worked really hard washing nearly 150 cars and thanks to your generosity raised over £800 for the RNLI!

ROTARY CLUB

The Rotary Club of Wallasey was founded in November 1928, the off-spring of the Rotary Club of Liverpool, many of whose members lived over the water in Wallasey. By making their home in the borough they felt their work for local charities could be better focused and this band of dedicated and highly distinguished men settled down to a period of steady development and ever greater public service. Part of the now enormous organisation of Rotary International, the Club still flourishes and continues to provide an extraordinary range of services through the men and women who make up its present membership.

Forty or so dedicated Rotarians meet together and on a weekly basis, enjoy a meal and each others’ company while planning the many projects and events which make up the Club’s year. A lot of hard work goes into these projects but the fun and fellowship this generates makes it all more than worthwhile. The activities are divided into four main areas, Club Service, Vocational, International and Community and members are divided amongst these committees according to their particular talents and expertise.

Club Service aims to promote friendship within the Club by providing a wide range of enjoyable activities. Snooker and golf matches, theatre visits, ten pin bowling matches, alongside more formal occasions such as the Club birthday party (Charter Night) and The May Ball. All the events conspire to making membership of the Club a very enjoyable experience.

Vocational Service is on a lower key as it aims to foster the highest standards in a member’s business and professional life. This may sound stuffy but this Committee also provides “mock interviews” for senior pupils at the town’s schools to prepare them for future job and university interviews.

The International Service committee, as you would expect, concentrates on projects over seas such as, shelter boxes for disaster zones, clean water initiatives, eye clinics and book provision. Above all however, we have made many contributions to Polio Plus which has gone a long way to eradicating polio throughout the world.

I have kept Community Service to the end because this is where you have probably seen Wallasey Rotary in action. The older persons’ dinner in April where a night of food and entertainment is provided. The carol concert at the Town Hall in December, again in April, Stroke Awareness where we test peoples’ blood pressure at the Cherry Tree Centre. Other projects include the new Rotary room at VCH medical centre, a place for patients and staff to meet in private, and others too numerous to mention, but above all the Wirral Show, where a highly dedicated team work with Wallasey Lions to provide what we believe to be the biggest free to enter show in Britain.

If all this activity doesn’t make you feel worn out, you can become a Friend of Rotary, or through a member, can be invited to join the Club itself. Our website is www.wallasey.rotary1180.org

WALLASEY SEA CADETS

Wallasey Sea Cadets is a uniformed youth organisation open to young people aged 12 to 18. By offering activities based on a nautical theme young people are able to obtain recognised qualifications whilst having fun. In 2009 Wallasey Sea Cadets was nominated the best Sea Cadets Unit in the North West receiving the Stephenson Trophy.

Wallasey Sea Cadets T S Astute (formally T S Revenge) not only has a new name, a new Patron, HRH The Duchess Of Cornwall but a New OIC (Officer In Charge). CPO (SCC) Garry Pink RNR. Garry recently retired from the Royal Navy specialised in Communications and an ex Wallasey Sea Cadets himself brings a wealth of skills to the Unit.

The cadets have spent a happy and rewarding summer at the boathouse having fun and achieving nationally recognised qualifications and winning the Junior Boys, Junior Girls, Senior Girls & Senior Boys Pulling. Good results at the Area Regatta mean the Senior Boys will be representing the Area at the National Sea Cadet Regatta in London.
Wallasey Sea Cadets also has representatives in the National Kayaking and Sailing competitions. Cadets have also been away on courses gaining Diving qualifications.
Summer holidays concludes in a Weekend Camp with 40 cadets & staff to Edinburgh and a Joint District camp of 120 Cadets staying on HMS Bristol in Portsmouth.

The winter programme sees not only the start of football, swimming and netball training for the district competitions but training for the Guard for the Trafalgar Day Parades in London, Communications and Seaman Ship for area competitions.

The Committee have arranged a much needed fund raising programme, which includes Flag Day on 3rd October and the Charity Shop in Liscard mid November. Wallasey Sea Cadets is a Registered Charity and receives not funding from MOD or Royal Navy. All monies needed for the upkeep and running of the Unit and Boathouse is raised by the cadets, staff and committees and from grants and donations.

Wallasey Sea Cadets headquarters is at T.S.Astute, St James School Hall, Victoria Rd, Wallasey. 01516391743
Sea Cadets, open to both girls and boys aged 12 and above, meeting every Tuesday and Friday at1900. Marine cadets open to boys aged 13 and over meeting every Monday and Friday at 1900.
If you are interested in joining please call at our Unit HQ. On your first visit please bring a parent to sign the insurance paperwork. Adult volunteers welcome, (Enhanced CRB checks will be carried out.)

New Brighton Primary School

Monday 6th June was a very special and exciting day for the environmentally friendly Key Stage One children and teachers from New Brighton Primary School. It was the start of a fantastic, two week community project centred around the beautiful grounds and surroundings of Vale Park. The children began their work with a visit to the park to gain an appreciation of the plant life, wildlife and layout of the park, which of course had to include a quick playing session on the swings and climbing frames, just to test them out! During the first week of this project, the children were treated to guest speakers who are vital to the running and upkeep of the park; special thanks must go to Rusty and Matty for their enthusiasm, knowledge and patience with us all. Over the course of the two weeks, all the children’s work was inspired by specific features of the park.

The children produced some amazing and detailed pieces of art work, which were motivated by the plant and animal life found in abundance. The children also used their knowledge of the playground equipment to good effect as they designed, created and evaluated their own playground ride. Minibeasts were the focus of our science work and the children were engaged in hunting for these little critters amongst the foliage and under logs and stones. Much of our maths work was centred around the café in Vale Park and the children had great fun ordering, paying and giving change for items off the menu. After a thoroughly enjoyable and educational two weeks, the children concluded their work with a picnic in the park, which celebrated all their hard work and new found knowledge of all things green. I am sure that the valuable learning experiences gained from this project will ensure the children continue to respect Vale Park, its wildlife and its future conservation.

Friends of Rake Lane

In a brief ceremony on Sunday, 28th June, 2009 the new Air Raid Memorial Bench, provided by Vauxhall Motors Employees Charity Committee, was unveiled by Mayor Andrew Hodson. Reverend Bailey of St James & Emmanuel led those present in a short prayer in which she remembered the people who had died and those who had given help and support, during the blitz on Wallasey.

On Saturday, 18th July, 2009, the Friends were delighted to see the chapel’s rebirth when it was dedicated to St Elisabeth the New Martyr as part of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad. Father Paul and his parishioners celebrated with a three hour service which included processing three times around the chapel.

During the summer the Friends conduct monthly guided walks. The next walk will take place on Sunday, 20th September. This year, for the first time, the chapel will be open as part of the Heritage Open Days on Sunday, 13th September from 1 pm to 4 pm. There will also be two short guided walks. Please phone Wirral Country Park on 648 3884 or 648 4371 for further details.
The next meeting of the Friends is on Monday, 7th September 2009, at Earlston Library, Wallasey at 7.00 pm. All welcome.

Eating Out

Peninsula Dining Room
3 Grosvenor Road, New Brighton, Wirral, CH45 2LW
Telephone: 0151 639 8338
Website: www.peninsula-dining-room.co.uk

We decided as a family, to celebrate my birthday by visiting the recently opened Peninsula Dining Room at 3 Grosvenor Road, New Brighton. We were pleasantly surprised at the contemporary modern feel to the restaurant and we appreciated the many excellent pictures of the New Brighton local area as we entered the restaurant. The restaurant certainly had a friendly atmosphere with an excellent cross section of diners from couples, to families to groups. Upon arrival the four of us were warmly greeted by the front of house manager and the Chef, Ross, who between making dishes took the time to talk to diners and clearly had a passion for the food he was preparing. After being seated at our table we were served with complimentary olives with pickles together with warm home made bread, which had a brioche taste. We had second helpings as it was so delicious.

The starters we chose were the very tasty mug of soup, the Heller’s Cheshire Cheese and leek tart, duck spring rolls with Asian dipping sauce – this was actually from the specials board but we all agreed were so good they should be on the menu full time. My daughter also chose from the specials board and enjoyed the Scottish black pudding served with a fried egg and mushrooms. I am not personally a lover of black pudding but with much insistence by my daughter, I was encouraged to try it and found myself pleasantly surprised. It had a beautiful creamy taste and texture. For our mains two chose the beautiful rib eye steak which was cooked to perfection and so succulent that it cut like a hot knife through butter and melted in the mouth! There was also a juicy chicken breast served on a potato and spinach cake with a wonderful Madeira and mushroom jus and from the specials board the cod fillet served on a bed of puy lentils, which complimented the fish so well. Although I opted for the panacotta with raspberries and damson liqueur I could not resist tasting the delightful chocolate truffle torte that everyone else chose. My husband who does not usually do desserts, after just one mouthful stated he wanted to bury his face in it proclaiming it heavenly! Finally there was a very sophisticated cheese slate with ample quality cheeses and home made chutney all of which were delicious and well presented.

The overall experience was heightened by the very professional and attentive staff that had a good knowledge of their dishes including an excellent choice of wines, of which the white and Rose where served in a funky gift bag filled with ice. Attention to detail is key and this includes the fact that all the food is cooked in house and as much of it a possible is sourced from local suppliers. When the bill arrived instead of the usual chocolate mints we were given delicious home made fudge. The staff aware I was celebrating my birthday gave me a lovely treat filled party bag to take home with me. We intend to dine at the Peninsula again soon.

Floral Pavilion

New Brighton’s newly refurbished Floral Pavilion theatre and conference centre scooped a prestigious best practice award at the Northwest Regional Construction Awards..
The Cheshire, Warrington & Wirral Best Practice Award went to construction group Kier North West and other partners involved in the £11million project including Wirral Council, Neptune Developments, architect Ken Martin, Tweeds and Bingham Davies.
The judging panel felt that the Floral Pavilion was “A transformational project that is helping to change the image of New Brighton and kick start further regeneration” and was therefore a worthy winner in its category.

Kier North West contracts manager, Justin Williams said: “Kier North West is proud and delighted to have received such a prestigious award for the construction of this landmark building for the community of New Brighton. The award recognises the hard work of all the team involved, who ensured that the project was completed to the highest quality, on time and on budget.
Rob Smith, Wirral Council’s Project Manager for the Floral Pavilion said: “The Floral Pavilion has been a real team effort and its great that it has been recognised through this award. Everyone’s hard work has paid off with visitor numbers far exceeding our expectations as the venue has been embraced wholeheartedly by the community. Hopefully, the Floral Pavilion will continue to act as a catalyst for the wider regeneration of New Brighton.”

VALE PARK CELEBRATIONS

Children from New Brighton Primary School joined the Mayor and Mayoress of Wirral, Councillor Andrew Hodson and Mrs Kathryn Hodson , on 20th May this year to re-enact the opening of Vale Park in 1899.

The weather was damp, as on the original occasion! But this didn’t spoil everyone’s enjoyment of the occasion. The musician’s played a fanfare, the Mayor cut the ribbon and declared the Park open to the public and we all sang Happy Birthday to the Park. It was great fun!

Vale Park – surely the best and most used Park on the Wirral – has been awarded the national Green Flag Award again this year. The Flag will be raised in the Park on 6th September by the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Alan Jennings and Deputy Mayoress – Mrs Cath Jennings, at the Massed Brass band Concert which brings to a close the Vale Park 2009 Band Festival.

Stay Young with Yoga

Hello to my New Brighton community! My name is Chelsea and I’m a local mother of two, yoga teacher and hypnotherapist. I am excited about being asked to write some articles for the Walrus about one of my greatest passions – Yoga. I have over 15 years experience of practicing yoga and have the pleasure of teaching yoga to children and adults in Wallasey and beyond.Unlike some forms of exercise, yoga is suitable for everyone regardless of age and level of fitness. Many people think that yoga is just about stretching and getting the body into strange looking poses! To some extent this is true, however yoga is about so much more than keeping the body flexible. The ancient holistic practice of yoga works not only on a physical level, but also on the mental, emotional and spiritual parts of the self as well.

With advances in medical science, we are now living nearly twice as long as our ancestors a few centuries ago. The average life expectancy for men is now 75 years and about 80 for women. But what is the quality of our life if we are feeling old? Biological ageing affects our joint flexibility which actually starts to diminish in our 20’s. In our 30’s, bone and muscle strength and size tend to reduce. In our 40’s, sight, hearing and balance begin to fade. Our immune systems become less efficient to fight off disease with cancer rates rising in the over 50’s. By the time we are 65, we have usually lost 10% of the brain cells we had as a young adult and short-term memory often becomes more difficult. Although biological ageing is inevitable, we can make an important contribution to the quality of our lives by making some simple lifestyle changes. In the Netherlands, you can actually get cheaper health insurance if you practice yoga.

Yoga can make a big difference in your life to help you stay feeling young and healthy. Yoga practice usually involves some action on the spine, whether it be extending, flexing, twisting or inverting. This keeps the spine healthy and flexible like a piece of elastic, and helps to prevent the stiffness that old age brings. Besides relieving back problems, the twisting and bending movements of the torso massage the internal organs and increase blood flow and nutrition, keeping everything healthier. Yoga’s weight-bearing postures help to prevent osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. Yoga stretches stiff joints to increase mobility and it lengthens muscles to prevent tightness. Yoga works to improve the circulatory, endocrine, immune and nervous systems.

My yoga classes always include a form of meditation and relaxation to calm the body, mind and emotions. Emotional well-being is a state of mind in which we are able to cope with the problems of our daily lives better. Yoga aims to give you a balanced and positive outlook. If you think of yourself as old, then your attitude will influence how you age physically. The inner power of the mind can be used not only to sometimes cure disease, but can be part of a preventative programme too. A flexible attitude can help to keep you staying ‘young at heart.’ An example of the value placed on deep relaxation and meditation is the scientific research that proves the positive impact that this practise has in cancer recovery programmes. Developing a yoga practice helps to counter the effects of ageing by increasing joint and muscle flexibility, keeping the organs healthy and increasing vitality and helping to keep a youthful outlook on life.

If you are interested in coming to a yoga class, I teach on Wednesday evenings 7.00 -8.30pm at St. Mary’s College in Wallasey Village. A new 6 week beginner’s course starts on Tuesday 8th Sept. at the same time and place. I also offer individual yoga programmes to suit your requirements. You can email me at karmatimewallasey@yahoo.co.uk or phone me on 630 0864 for further details. Information about my Karmatime children’s classes can be seen at www.karmatime.com/chelseacanovas

Chelsea is organizing a Yoga Festival in Vale Park for summer 2010.

Hand in Hnad Theatre productions

After their trip to the ALL WINNERS FINAL of The National Drama Festival Association in Woking, multi award winning Hand in Hand Theatre Productions will be returning to the Gladstone Theatre on 17th September with a final performance of REMEMBRANCE DAY. This poignant drama written by Bev Clark has won a clutch of awards at national festivals over the past six months and is now intended for radio broadcast sometime in November.

Hand in Hand in association with Rox Music Theatre will also be presenting an excerpt from their new production The GEORGE HARRISON SUITCASE as part of a double-bill of entertainment on that evening. Originally a concept idea by John Gorman,(the actual suitcase left by the Beatle in Irby Village Hall in 1962 now resides in the Perch Rock Museum )- so the play has a real local flavour. Bev has teamed up with writers Mike Lockley, Don Webb and producer David Crosby to present two short playlets with a backdrop of Harrison's music as a showcase. If well received it is intended to develop the project to a full length musical production for 2010.

Further details can be found at www.gladstonetheatre.org.uk - Box office 0151 643 8757 tickets £6.00 or visit www.handinhandtheatreproductions.co.uk

FIRST AIDER ON EVERY STREET IN THE WIRRAL

Do you have a little bit of spare time to be trained for free in first aid?

We have been funded by Tesco to train at least one person on every street in the Wirral in first aid. If you are willing to act as the ‘First Aider’ on your street in an emergency than please contact our office to discuss the programme.

All of our approved First Aiders will undergo an enhanced CRB check.

Services Coordinator
British Red Cross
Wirral District Office
(0151) 666-8227
Tuesdays/Wednesdays 9:00-5:00 pm

PARISH OF ST JAMES WITH EMMANUEL

ST JAMES CHURCH, 16 ALBION STREET
EMMANUEL CHURCH, 154 SEABANK ROAD

SERVICES: SUNDAY 8am at St James
9.45am at Emmanuel
10.30am at St James
6.30pm alternating
THURSDAY 9.30am at Emmanuel

SUMMER ACTIVITIES
Vicar’s Quiz Night, Care Link Minibus Outings.
CHOIR – Sea Sunday, Singing in Bakewell and Tenbury Wells.
MUSIC GROUP – played in Floral Pavilion Plaza.
YOUTH GROUP – Sleepover in church, Trip to Radio City Tower Studio, Crocky Trail, Weekend away at Mawdesley.
BROWNIE GUIDES – Coastal Walk, Pack Holiday at Tatton Park.
GUIDES – Beach Party, BBQ, Swimming, Bead Lady.
CUB SCOUTS – Sleepover in church, Summer Camp to South Yorkshire.
SCOUTS – Summer Camp in North Yorkshire, Patrol Camp at Ormskirk, Boating in Penny Bridge Dock and West Kirby Marine Lake.

For further information on any of the above,
please phone 638 9849.

HARVEST FESTIVALS ON SUNDAY 11TH OCTOBER

WELCOME TO EITHER:
ST.JAMES CHURCH, ALBION STREET
AT 10.30 AM OR
EMMANUEL CHURCH, SEABANK ROAD
AT 9.45 AM

The Talismen

The Talismen will be appearing at Vale Park in September, this will be their 5th appearance, for a rocking day in the park, with many guest singers. The Talismen reformed in 2007, a 60's pop band, who toured Germany and played with many of the bands in that era,featuring two of the original members Tony McDonough bass guitar Alan Jeacock percussionist and new member Mike Chapman lead guitar, they have a jam night every Thursday at The Clarence hotel, Albion Street New Brighton from 9 pm till 11 pm. its a very busy night and you really have to be early to get a seat, the Clarence also does excellent meals, so to have a nice meal in friendly surroundings then enjoying the free music makes such a good night out. The Talismen also take private function bookings, along with charity gigs.

The last show at Vale Park was Saturday 8th August, the weather was perfect and it was so nice to see lots of families out enjoying the park, some having picnics and enjoying the free concert, and looking around that day you realise how lucky we are to have this little facility with a wonderful promenade leading into such a little gem, Vale park with a friendly cafe for ice cream's, teas coffee and lovely food, then the free music !! As I came into the park that day, my first joy was to see six ladies line dancing, they just said 'join in love', they all seemed so happy I knew then it was going to be a lovely day, and it was.

Weather permitting the Talismen will be on again on Saturday 12th September, 1 pm till 4 pm. they have Graham ( Mr Smile )compere, the Talismen will back anyone who would like to get up and sing,we might even find the next X factor star (see Mr. Smile )he jokes along with the crowd, but is also there to help and put you at ease before you go on stage, for some people it has been their first time to sing in public, and they usually come back for more, so come along and see Mr Smile, I'm sure you will go away smiling.[/size][/size]