Wirral's independent local news website
Welcome to “Sunday Snippets” a weekly feature from birkenhead.news. It is a round-up of important local news stories from the last seven days. Click or tap on each story to read the full article.
A Liverpool woman with an extraordinary family connection to The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre has been helping Cheshire and Merseyside’s specialist cancer hospital to celebrate its 65th birthday.
Helen Blanchard’s mother, Maureen Duncan, was only 21 when she moved from Glasgow to Merseyside in 1957 to be part of the team that would open the spacious new cancer hospital in a beautiful rural setting in Clatterbridge, near Bebington. Cancer care in the region would relocate to the new hospital from a smaller Victorian building in Liverpool city centre.
Maureen was a bright and highly-intelligent young woman who had recently dual-qualified in therapeutic and diagnostic radiography at Weston Hospital in Glasgow. She was fascinated by radiation treatment for cancer because she had received radiotherapy herself as a very young child for a very different reason – she had a portwine stain on her forehead and, incredibly, irradiation was offered as a cosmetic ‘cure’ back in the 1930s.
Read more …
Wirral Labour leader Janette Williamson has added her voice to the campaign to get a statue of Paul O’Grady in his hometown of Birkenhead.
“We are so proud of Paul and all he achieved, and I would love to see a statue of him in Birkenhead. The work he did for animal charities made such a difference and it would be lovely to have a lasting memorial to Paul, a friend to so many, here in his hometown. Maybe he could be joined by some of his many rescue animals too. I will be raising it at the council, and asking them to look at the options.”
A petition calling for a statue of Paul O’Grady to be put up in his hometown has now attracted more than 137,000 signatures.
Energise Cycles is a community-oriented business based on Dock Road on the Wallasey side of Wirral Waters.
Joe Grant and Hollie Burnett started Energise Cycles with the aim of helping members of the local community to be able to afford to cycle and give them the freedom that cheap, personal transportation provides.
Additionally, the project promotes active travel for families and children, helping people live healthier lifestyles.
Like us on Facebook …
Steph Aldwinckle was convinced that moving from London to Wirral would offer her family a better quality of life but when she made West Kirby her home at the end of 2019, nobody could have predicted what 2020 had in store.
Steph has always had an interest in art but after graduating with a degree in illustration and animation, Steph’s career took a different path and painting became more of a hobby.
So, at the start of lockdown, when half the world seemed to start painting to pass the time, Steph’s focus was on settling her kids in their new house, which had fast turned into their place of learning too.
Cultural and natural heritage sites including Birkenhead Park are a step closer to becoming UNESCO World Heritage Sites after gaining Government backing for their bids.
The Tentative List has expanded to include five new sites from the UK and Overseas Territories, bringing the total to seven. These sites will now be proposed by the Government for inscription on the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage list.
Published approximately every decade by the UK Government, the Tentative List identifies sites deemed to have strong potential for UNESCO World Heritage status. The government will collaborate with local authorities and devolved administrations to refine these sites’ bids.
The Martin Gallier Project, a charity focused on suicide prevention based in Wirral, has revealed plans to establish a new location in Chester city centre.
The new facility, which is set to open in late April, will be based on Werburgh Street.
The Martin Gallier Project will offer immediate non-clinical support to anyone over the age of 16 who is affected by suicide, with no waiting list and no criteria to access support. The mission of the charity is to create a suicide safer community by preventing suicides, breaking down stigmas and supporting families.
It has been revealed that last year the Conservatives allowed over 147 days’ worth of raw sewage to be dumped into Wallasey’s water ways.
Analysis of Environment Agency data shows that in 2022, raw sewage was discharged in Wallasey for 3547 hours – the equivalent of a continuous flow running for almost 5 months of the year.
Raw sewage was dumped in Wallasey 666 times last year, roughly once every 13 hours, a damning indictment of the Tory’s willingness to turn a blind eye to sewage polluting the places people live, work and holiday.
West Kirby restaurant and bar, Hickory’s Smokehouse, is marking its 10th Birthday by hosting a Southern state inspired ‘BBQ Fest’ for the whole family on Saturday 22 April.
Since opening in 2013, the BBQ restaurant has become a go-to spot for Wirral locals and visitors alike. Renowned for its exceptional blend of genuine BBQ classics, slow-cooking techniques, refreshing cocktails, welcoming atmosphere, and Southern-style hospitality, the restaurant in West Kirby has become a significant feature of the local community.
To celebrate the 10th birthday, General Manager Tom Schofield and his team have organised an authentic Hickory’s celebration for the whole community.
Despite the gusty winds and occasional rain, spirits were high and the runners turned out in their droves to support the Warriors Claire House fun run on Tuesday evening.
Wirral Borough Council helped Warriors Pentathlon and Athletic Club to deliver the event, Fiona Hanik from the Council was on hand offering first aid support, and the wardens at Wirral Country Park opened the visitor centre for registrations and tea and coffee.
Activity 4 All in Arrowe Park supplied marshals and all the medals for young runners. Brad and Elliott Greenall were on hand to make sure everyone kept to the course, and the team from Warriors managed registrations, results and photographs.
This is the birkenhead.news weekly round-up of police activity in and around Wirral during the previous seven days.
Visit our “What’s On?” guide for Wirral and the surrounding areas in the coming weeks.
See the What’s On? Guide …
Why not follow birkenhead.news on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter? You can also send story ideas to news@birkenhead.news
Sign up for our FREE newsletter using this form:
Facebook comments