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Remembrance
Service to honour Zeebrugge action
RETIRED Royal Marines from
all over the country will march on Seacombe on Sunday, 21 April 2013, to
commemorate one of the most heroic actions of the First World War in
which the Mersey Ferries played their part.
The annual Zeebrugge Remembrance service, organised by the
Merseyside branch of the Royal Marines Association, is held at
Seacombe Ferry Terminal and on board one of the ferries.
Councillor Liam Robinson, Chair of Merseytravel said:- "We
should never forget those who lost their lives at Zeebrugge nor the
bravery of the crews of our own ferries who took part.
Merseytravel takes its Corporate Responsibility seriously and we are
delighted to be able to host the memorial service on board the
running boat, maintaining the significant historic link between the
Royal Marines and The Mersey Ferries."
The original Daffodil and Iris acted as both landing craft for
marines and tugboats to HMS Vindictive. They came under heavy fire
but, battered and intact, both ferries returned, and King George V
awarded them the title of "Royal" ferries, a unique
distinction that remains to this day.
It was an action that saw vicious hand to hand fighting, incredible
heroism and the award of 200 medals for gallantry, including eight
Victoria Crosses, the highest military honour for bravery.
The memorial service, which marks the 95th anniversary of the
Zeebrugge landing, will take place on board the 10.30am sailing from
Seacombe Ferry Terminal and includes the casting of wreathes into
the River Mersey preceded by a memorial ceremony at the Zeebrugge
Memorial at Seacombe from 9.15am.
Mersey Ferries will also be marking the 70th anniversary of the
Battle of the Atlantic, over 24 May to 28 May 2013, with special sailings during the
4 day celebrations, which will see warships from around the world
taking part in a series of commemorative events on the River Mersey.
The Waterloo Beer Festival is on
now! THE Waterloo
Beer Festival is running until Sunday, 21 April 2013 and is well
worth a look at if you like your beer! To see full times of
each session and to find out more about the event, please visit:-
waterloobeerfestival.com.
Please note that entrance to this event is by ticket only. |
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Sports and
recreational programme helps spinal patients get on track
THE North West Regional
Spinal Injuries Centre at Southport and Formby District General
Hospital has launched a sports and recreational programme to help
patients remain active following a spinal injury.
The programme is the brainchild of Helen Gillan, a Physiotherapy
Assistant on the unit, who wanted to raise awareness of the all the
activities patients could do despite their injuries. Helen said:-
"A lot of our patients are young and were physically active
before they sustained their injury. It is my aim to show them that,
despite their injury, they can still play sport, take part in
recreational activities and remain active."
Helen works closely with Diane Sutton and Kathy Hey, both therapy
assistants, to host the events.
Each session focuses on a different sport or activity with the most
recent session showcasing golf. The Disabled Golf Society supported
the day by bringing along a golf simulator and buggy to the delight
of the patients. An indoor golf game called SNAG (Starting New At
Golf) was also provided by the West London Golf Centre.
The golf day was the 2nd in the programme and followed on from
the success of the adapted rowing day earlier in the year. Future
events will showcase lawn tennis and adapted skiing, recreational
activities such as bird watching are also on the cards with more
still to be confirmed.
Helen further explained:- "The response we've had from
participants has been fantastic and the benefits are clear to see
both emotionally and physically. I'm so pleased they are able to
experience first-hand just how much they can achieve."
If you are involved with any sports or clubs that would be
interested in getting involved with the programme, please contact
Helen on:- 01704 704560. |
