The launch of the Annual River Festival Photographic Competition is soon to be underway... With £2,000 of prizes and aim to highlight the Mersey massive transformation this is going to be one of the best yet. Leaping salon and sunbathing seals might be the two of the Merseyside's images captured by ammeter snappers in this annual and increasingly prolific photographic competition. This year their will be a special selection called Water Revival, that will ask photographers to focus on the massive £1million award winning clean up of the river. The clean up has seen salmon for the first time in more than 120 years coming back to the Mersey. 

Just a few years ago notices were in place asking people not to throw lit cigarettes into the river for fear of lighting vapors, now anglers are scrambling to buy fishing rights on the river and Kingfisher and Damselfly survey was launched. Seals and octopuses have been seen swimming in the estuary.

Liverpool City Council organise the River Festival. Executive member for the leisure and culture Warren Bradley said, "The river's been the lifeblood of this city and always has been. It's fantastic to see it so improved. More than 200,000 people came to the River Festival last year to enjoy a feast of maritime sites, from model boats to majestic tall ships. We hope to beat those figgers again."

"There's so much out there on the river to inspire photographers, and it'll be fascinating to see what they come up with."

Sir Bob Scott is leading Liverpool's Bid to become Capital of Culture in 2008. he added "Liverpool has transformed itself in resent years and the renaissance of the river is a wonderful achievement. Photographers wouldn't have found many anglers, sailors, walkers and cyclists just a few years ago, but they are back in force. Of causes as well as the people and wildlife using the river, don't forget the wonderful architecture on the waterfront. This is truly an exciting time for Liverpool and a wonderful chance to capture this on film."

If you wish to enter there are two main themes in the competition, Main Section - Merseyside People, Places and Events. Special Section - Water Revival, sponsored by the Mersey Basin Campaign.

Entries in both sections can be monochrome, colour and slide format. Photographers will be competing for trophies, certificates and more than £2,000 in vouchers and prizes.

Competition closing date is Friday 9 May and entry forms are available by phoning 0151 707 2566

A selection of prints and slides from the competition will be displayed in the Atrium of the Royal Liverpool Building, Pier Head, Liverpool from 16th to the 4th of July. 

The River Festival will run from the 13th to the 16th of June in the Albert Dock and Pier Head, Liverpool.

Enquiry

RECENTLY my father died and whilst going through some old papers, I came across an old post card showing a young man seated at a cinema organ

The caption to the picture is ''Dixon Burrell at the organ of the Trocadero Cinema Southport''. My father used to work for Cranes Music in Liverpool in the 1930's and I am pretty sure he was well acquainted with said Mr Burrell. I would think the picture dates from between 1932 and the early 1940's. 

What I am trying to find out is if anyone can throw any light on this person. Was he the resident organist at the Trocadero? Did he become famous or was he maybe just a local celebrity? What happened to him and if
there are any living relatives, also what happened to the Trocadero cinema, I assume it has long since closed?

I would be most grateful for any information you may be able to discover and I can be contacted on email or on telephone number Pembroke 01646 684036 after 6 PM.

Bob Jones.

In Favour!

WE are in favour of full pedestrianisation for the following reasons- freedom of movement, safer pleasanter environment, more enjoyable shopping, putting pedestrians before vehicles.
don't most towns and cities have some pedestrianisation leading to a better shopping experience and an increase in business not a decrease as some traders here seem to think will happen?
shops are for shoppers after all - not vehicles! So full pedestrianisation please and not before time!

Yours S. Belshaw.
Full address supplyed.

 

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