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.
‘Ron’s Place’ saved by mystery benefactor
After a 33-year transformation by artist Ron Gittins, a flat in Oxton filled with a range of fascinating art has been purchased following a campaign to preserve it.
Until his death in 2019 aged 79, Ron Gittins obsessively painted walls, ceilings and floors of his rented flat, creating an idiosyncratic living monument to his passion for ancient history.
The Saving Ron’s Place group revealed that the mystery donor had loaned the necessary £335,000.
Pensby Women’s Institute share their ‘Show the Love’ campaign with local MP
Pensby Women’s Institute has shared their ‘Show the Love’ campaign with Wirral West MP Margaret Greenwood at a meeting at St Michael and All Angels Church in Pensby.
Members of the group have been creating green hearts as part of the campaign which aims to raise awareness about the impact of climate change on the planet.
Nationally, the WI is the largest voluntary women’s membership organisation in the UK with around 190,000 members and prides itself on being a trusted place for all women of all generations, to share experiences and learn from each other.
Upton earmarked as priority location by Aldi for new store
Aldi plans to invest more than £400 million in store development over the coming year as it targets new and refurbished stores across the UK.
Upton is one of the towns Aldi is treating as a priority for a new store.
Slightly further afield, Aldi is also looking to build new stores in Liverpool and Formby as part of a 40 store expansion programme.
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New volunteers needed in Wirral to help RNLI save lives at sea
The RNLI is looking for new fundraising volunteers to join its teams at New Brighton, Hoylake and West Kirby.
Just like the charity’s lifeboats, the RNLI’s fundraising team need a dedicated volunteer crew.
Volunteers are the heart of the RNLI and make up 95% of its people. They are ordinary people who do extraordinary things and without them, the organisation couldn’t continue to save lives at sea.
A Level dance students impress at university show
Birkenhead Sixth Form College A Level Dance students have received praise for their performance and choreography skills, which were on par with those of university-level students, while showcasing their classwork at an esteemed theatre in Higher Education.
Liverpool Hope University’s Creative Campus is home to the Capstone Theatre, where Birkenhead Sixth Form College was invited to showcase their dancers alongside undergraduate students and other dance schools from Merseyside.
‘We Love Dance’ was a student event management project that included groups from toddler to the over 50s, and involved working with other choreographers, lighting and sound technicians, videographers and more in a professional environment for hands-on experience.
Wirral Mencap celebrates 60 years of supporting people with learning disabilities
Wirral Mencap has been supporting people with learning disabilities and their families since 1963.
It was a different organisation then. The parents and families who formed the volunteer committee met in each other’s houses and in the very early days the newsletter was handwritten. But lots of things were different back then. A pint of milk was eightpence ha’penny. That’s the equivalent of 7p.
The organisation has changed a lot since then but what hasn’t changed is the passion and commitment to support people with a learning disability in Wirral to have healthy and happy lives.
Wirral Country Park to celebrate 50th anniversary with busy program of events
Wirral Country Park will mark the 50th anniversary of its official opening with a busy programme of events this year.
The Green Flag Park, which opened on 2 October 1973, was Britain’s first designated country park.
In celebration of the golden anniversary, a variety of activities will be offered, including miniature traction engines, a teddy bear picnic, and wildflower art displays. Additionally, there will be a photographic exhibit and scheduled walks, horse riding, and bike rides.
Inside the apartments helping Wirral residents onto the property ladder
One Vision Housing has marked the completion of its Conway Point development, a new apartment complex helping residents of Wirral to become homeowners.
Conway Point is on Conway Street, Birkenhead, between Cathcart Street and Watson Street.
By utilizing the Rent to Buy initiative offered by the housing association, customers can take advantage of reduced rent that is approximately 20% lower than the market rate. This assists them in saving money for a deposit and ultimately purchasing the apartment in which they live.
Aggers and Tuffers bring stage show to the Floral Pavilion
Cricket commentator, Jonathan Agnew, and partner in crime Phil Tufnell are bringing their popular stage show, An Evening With Aggers and Tuffers, to the Floral Pavilion, New Brighton, on Wednesday 22 March.
This brand-new show is as ever, full of the humour, energy, and rapport that these two share on stage.
Aggers and Tuffers are key figures in the world of cricket, both as former professional players and world-renowned commentators on the game.
Wirral Conservatives oppose Council Tax increase before voting for it anyway
Wirral Conservatives said they opposed putting up council tax to keep much-needed services running – before voting to increase the bills facing households anyway.
At Monday’s full council meeting, the Conservative group voted against the Labour budget – which included saving community policing patrols, libraries, leisure centres and play schemes – saying it would require a council tax rise.
But immediately after voting against saving those services, they voted to approve the 4.99% increase in the charge anyway.
Hoylake and New Brighton RNLI aid stranded dolphins
The Hoylake RNLI hovercraft and New Brighton RNLI lifeboat were called upon to aid marine mammal medics in rescuing two dolphins that had become stranded and injured on a sandbank in the River Mersey.
On Sunday 26 February, a birdwatcher at Speke’s Oglet Shore spotted two distressed animals, prompting the Crosby Coastguard Rescue Team to summon the two Wirral RNLI crews.
Upon confirmation from a team of medics from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) that the animals were common dolphins, the Coastguard called for assistance from the Hoylake RNLI hovercraft and New Brighton RNLI lifeboat. As the sandbank was inaccessible due to the tide’s condition, the teams headed to the scene.
Tranmere Rovers donates clothing to Refugee Assist for refugees and asylum seekers in Wirral
Tranmere Rovers last week contributed more than 300 articles of clothing to Refugee Assist, a local organisation that provides assistance to refugees and asylum seekers who are establishing themselves in Wirral and nearby regions.
Established in 2021 to aid Afghan refugees, Refugee Assist has quickly expanded its services to include individuals from various parts of the world, including those affected by the Ukrainian conflict.
Chris Young, the founder of Refugee Assist, said, “We set up on 3 September 2021, initially just as a Facebook group to support Afghan refugees and asylum seekers who sought sanctuary in our local communities.”
28 Emergency Help Points launched in Wirral
On 1 March, a system of public safety emergency contact points was introduced in the busiest areas of Wirral.
There are a total of 28 Emergency Help Points located in various spots throughout Wirral, including town centres, coastal regions, and other popular gathering places.
At each help point there is a direct, two-way audio connection with the council’s Emergency Control Centre that people can use if they find themselves in difficulty or danger. The help points are backed up by CCTV surveillance cameras so control centre operators can immediately monitor the situation and alert emergency services if necessary.
Sunshine themed poetry competition now open for entries
The Christopher Salmon Poetry Competition for 2023 is now accepting submissions, thanks to the collaborative efforts of The Christopher Salmon Foundation, Wirral Poetry Festival, and Wirral Libraries.
The event’s previous year was a resounding triumph, attracting over 500 entries.
In memory of Chris Salmon, a poetry enthusiast and former Calday Grammar School student who tragically died at the age of 15 from a rare streptococcal infection in February 2009, the annual poetry competition was established in 2010.
Anselmians snatch victory in hard-fought match against Birkenhead Park
Another big week in the Saints season, a full clubhouse and perfect conditions for an open game.
This match was played between two evenly matched sides. Park have been on a good run of form of late and Saints knew they were in for a tough day.
Again, Taff and his merry band of helpers had provided a great surface for open rugby and Saints played away from the Car Park (Kop) end first half.
Tranmere salvage draw against Hartlepool
Josh Hawkes’ penalty in the second half helped Tranmere Rovers salvage a 1-1 draw against Hartlepool United at Prenton Park.
The draw potentially earned a crucial point in Hartlepool’s efforts to evade relegation.
During the early stages of the game, Rovers had the upper hand, as Harvey Saunders and Josh Hawkes had promising chances to take the lead.
Wirral Police weekly news round-up
This is the birkenhead.news weekly round-up of police activity in and around Wirral during the previous seven days.
What’s On? Guide
Visit our “What’s On?” guide for Wirral and the surrounding areas in the coming weeks.
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