Liverpool City Region and Louisville Announce Cultural Exchange

TO celebrate and strengthen cultural links between the Liverpool City Region and Louisville, Kentucky, exemplified by the iconic photograph of 'The Beatles' meeting Muhammad Ali, on 18 February 1964, a musical and sporting exchange is being established between these 2 great City regions.

Through the exchange, a group of boxers from the Liverpool City Region will travel to Louisville to train at the TKO gym and visit the Muhammad Ali Centre, whose mission is to preserve and share the legacy and ideals of Muhammad Ali, to promote respect, hope, and understanding, and to inspire adults and children everywhere to be as great as they can be.

In return, Carly Johnson, an up and coming singer from Louisville, will travel to the Liverpool City Region to play gigs at the influential Liverpool Sound City festival.

Talking about the exchange, Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram said:- "In The Beatles and Muhammad Ali, Liverpool City Region and Louisville produced 2 of the biggest cultural icons of the 20th Century. More than ½ a Century on from the famous photo that brought these icons together, we are determined to build on those links to create a strong cultural and sporting partnership that will bring our 2 regions together, paving the way for future cultural and commercial collaborations."

Greg Fischer Mayor, Louisville Metro Region, said:- "This exchange builds on the Transatlantic connection that Louisville and Liverpool established through the meeting of world changing artists and a barrier breaking athlete. The Champ and the Fab 4 were committed to making the world a better, more compassionate place; a common bond that's always worth celebrating."

When asked by BBC Radio Merseyside for her thoughts, Carly Johnson said:- "I think it's genius; it makes complete sense. It's definitely a great way to keep the connection alive."

St Helens Mayor signs up for Safer Driving Scheme

ST HELENS Mayor Councillor Joe Pearson has signed up to take part in a special initiative to help senior drivers further improve their driving skills. 'The Drive Safely for Longer Scheme,' run by Merseyside Road Safety Partnership, provides free tuition to drivers in Merseyside and has already attracted 2,000 drivers to sign up since its launch in March 2016.

Among the benefits the scheme offers are fresh guidance on updates on:- road traffic laws, road layouts, traffic signs and vehicle design, as well the opportunity to identify any special requirements participants may have as drivers.

At a Senior Road Users event held at Rainhill Village Hall, St Helens, Councillor Pearson signed up to try the scheme for himself, while also volunteering to try the new Satsafe initiative which allows users to track their own driving performance via a 'black box' recorder placed in their vehicle.

The Satsafe scheme aims to help road users manage their own diving performance and skills while also allowing family members to discreetly track their journeys and driving data.

Councillor Pearson was among over 100 people who attended the event and was one of around 20 drivers who signed up for the Satsafe initiative at the Rainhill event.

Rebecca Power from Merseyside Road Safety Partnership, said:- "We are delighted that the Mayor has chosen to show his support for both the Drive Safely for Longer scheme and Satsafe initiative in this way. Both schemes are an excellent way for older drivers to not only refresh their driving skills, but also improve their knowledge of road safety issues and more recent developments. The new Satsafe initiative is particularly useful as not only does it help drivers measure their own performance behind the wheel but it can also provide important reassurance for family members as well."

The next Senior Road Users event will be held in Liverpool, on 6 March 2018, at Everton Football Club (Alex Young Suite), Goodison Road, Liverpool, between 10am and 2pm.  To attend the event please contact:- 0151 233 3073 or send an email to the Merseyside Road Safety Partnership.

A further event will be held on 27 March 2018, at St Helens Church, Crosby. For further details contact:- 0151 934 4541.