City’s Heritage open for all

MORE than 60 of Liverpool’s architectural gems will open their doors, free of charge, to the public this September as part of Heritage Open Days 2011.

Liverpool’s Town Hall will open for 1 day only on 15 September 2011 from 10am to 4.30pm, and St Georges Hall, one of the finest

Neo-Classical buildings in the country will be open on 14 September from 9.30am to 4.30pm.

Grand Designs is 1 of 4 themes for the annual open days and will see great and unusual buildings, such as the 18th century meeting place - The Athenaeum, and the Port of Liverpool Building opening their doors to the general public for just 11 days from 8 September to 18 September 2011.

Cabinet member for culture and tourism, Councillor Wendy Simon said:- "Heritage Open Days are a great opportunity for members of the public to explore some of Liverpool’s historic and often hidden places.  Whether you are interested in classic buses or steam tugs, Grade II listed churches or transformed lock ups, these open days offer something for everyone and bring local history alive for young and old."

‘The Great Outdoors’ offers people the chance to get a breath of fresh air, for example a guided walk between the 2 great cathedrals taking in Liverpool’s Georgian heritage on 10 and 11 September or a regeneration tour of the Ropewalks area. There’s also the chance to sign up to the Royal Institute of British Architects Inside and Out tour, which will open the doors of some of Liverpool’s normally guarded buildings.

For a more relaxing time "Choirs in the Crypt" at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King offers the opportunity to listen to a range of musical performances in the majestic setting of the Lutyen's Crypt on Saturday, 17 September 2011.

The other themed open days are ‘Innovation and Industry’ which includes the engine room at the recently refurbished Bascule Bridge and ‘Sacred Sites’ which gives visitors the chance to look around some stunningly ornate places of worship and discover the history behind them.

For a full list of events please use this link or pick up a brochure at the 08 Place Tourist Information Centre.

POOR PERSONAL HYGIENE HITS SCHOOL ATTENDANCES

1 in 4 parents admits their child was absent from school for up to a week last year because of contagious illnesses that can all be prevented by hand washing according to new research.

With 1 in 10 children under the age of 10 missing between 1 and 2 weeks of school because of illnesses such as vomiting, sickness and flu, The Co-operative Pharmacy, which commissioned the research has called the absenteeism worrying and unnecessary.

As the new school term begins, the UK’s 3rd largest pharmacy is urging parents to educate their children about the importance of basic hand hygiene practices as one in seven parents have never taught their children how to wash their hands properly. Despite this, more than half of those questioned recognise that poor hand hygiene contributes to the spread of illnesses such as flu.

Alison Lyons, a pharmacist at The Co-operative Pharmacy, said:- "It is never too early to educate children about the importance of hand washing. The new school term will see many children in one place all sharing resources and as the classroom can be a breeding ground for germs that cause colds and flu, it is the perfect time to promote good habits in the home.  Parents often don’t realise that they are putting their child at risk by not teaching them the basic principles of good hand hygiene. Introducing all family members to a hand washing routine reduces the risk of contracting serious infections, but also spreading them amongst family and friends."

In addition to highlighting the impact of hand washing and sanitation on children’s health in local communities, The Co-operative Pharmacy is also championing sanitation in the developing world through a 3 year partnership with UNICEF.

For every sale of the Co-operative’s antibacterial ‘Life-saving hand wash’ at participating Co-operative pharmacies, a donation of 15 pence will help UNICEF improve sanitation and reduce water-borne diseases in Togo, one of the poorest countries in Africa.

Authors Head To Formby

THE author, John Boyne, will be at Quo Vadis in Formby Village, on Wednesday, 14 September 2011, from 6pm. Also Joseph Delaney will be in Formby on Saturday, 17 September 2011, from 10:30am to 11:30am at Derbyshires, in the new Formby Books section. That’s not forgetting Damien Dibben who will be in Formby Village, thanks to Formby Books on Tuesday, 22 September 2011, in store in Derbyshires, from 3:30 to 4:30pm, with a live band! -- Not 100% how they will do that mind, so well worth taking a look! "The Southbound Attic Band will entertain us as we meet Damien." we are told by Formby Book's Tony Higginson. Damien Dibben’s book is dubbed as:- "The best new fantasy since Michael Scott’s Alchemist." So if the band did not win you over, we hope that will!!