The Mersey Beatles Announce Lytham Festival 2018

ON Monday, 16 July 2018, the world's most successful musical theatre group Collabro will perform on the Pavilion Stage at Lowther Pavilion. Their last Lytham Festival performance saw them close last year's event with the hugely successful West End Proms show.

On Tuesday, 17 July 2018, The Mersey Beatles, who played a sell out show at the Pavilion Stage, in 2017; will return to the venue to perform a special show celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Fab Four's ground breaking 'White Album' as well as classic Beatles hits.

The past year has been huge for Collabro. They enjoyed a sell-out autumn tour following a summer tour with Cliff Richard. Most recently, they have just returned from a two-week sell-out tour of Asia wowing audiences in Japan, the Philippines and Taiwan.

Since winning Britain's Got Talent in 2014, Jamie Lambert, Michael Auger, Matt Pagan and Thomas Redgrave have performed across the globe to standing ovations, from the US, Asia and Canada and released their third studio album:- 'HOME' which reached the Top 10.

Collabro's Lytham Festival show will be followed by the return of The Mersey Beatles.

50 years after the release of the Fab Four's ground breaking 1968 album 'The Beatles,' known the world over as:- 'The White Album,' the world's favourite Liverpool born Beatles tribute band are bringing a 2 hour live show to the Pavilion Stage.

This stunning 2 part show will see the band, who this year are touring America, Europe and the Far East, perform seminal tracks and hits from the White Album including such legendary tracks as Revolution, Helter Skelter, Back In The U.S.S.R, Yer Blues and While My Guitar Gently Weeps. And they will also play a sensational set of Beatles classics which will take the audience on a journey through the Fab Four's legendary hit packed back catalogue; from the songs of Beatlemania to Sgt Pepper and Abbey Road.

Collabro and The Mersey Beatles join a mega line up for Lytham Festival 2018 which includes headline performances, over 5 nights, in the Lytham Green Main Arena, from pop superstars:- Steps, DJ Pete Tong with the Heritage Orchestra conducted by Jules Buckley, award winning musician George Ezra and singer songwriter Emeli Sandé, legendary musician Nile Rodgers and his band CHIC and the world's most successful classical crossover group Il Divo.

Lytham Festival Director Peter Taylor said:- "We had so many requests to bring both Collabro and The Mersey Beatles back to Lytham Festival, following their sensational performances in 2017, so we just had to do it. Collabro show time and time again why they deserve the title of the world's most successful musical theatre group. They continue to wow audiences wherever they perform, and we're delighted their fans will be able to enjoy their return to Lytham Festival this year. To follow Collabro's performance with the brilliant band that is The Mersey Beatles is further proof of the diversity that Lytham Festival offers audiences. They perfectly capture the spirit and sound of The Beatles and this new show; which has a special section dedicated to The White Album; will be a must see for Beatles fans. There will be a huge demand for tickets for both these shows so I would advise fans of musical theatre and The Beatles to act quickly to avoid being disappointed."


Tickets are now on sale from:- LythamFestival.Com and via:- LowtherPavilion.Co.UK or by you can buy them via calling:- 0844 8154874.

Letter to the Editor:- "The Garfield Weston Foundation"

"DEAR Editor, as 1 of the UK's largest charitable funders we want to highlight the amazing work that is being carried out by many small community organisations and charities in the Southport area. However many of the vital services that these charities provide, such as meals on wheels, disability support and mental health services, are at risk if they don't receive the funding they need. Every year hundreds of charities apply to us for support as funding gets even tighter and Council cuts continue to bite. At a time when communities are struggling to support those in need, we felt it was important to launch a fund that would help bring local communities together. By funding capital projects, such as a minibus for a local youth group or a new kitchen for the Community Hall, we want to ensure that charities have the facilities they need to do more of their great work. So in our 60th Year, we have launched the Weston Anniversary Fund, which will award up to ₤150,000 for each charity that successfully applies for help to improve their existing facilities, or provide new ones. We have ₤5 million for this 1 off scheme, so we can support as many charities as possible. You only have to look at what's happening to youth services across the country to see how vital good community support is. Without these services many vulnerable people will be at risk. We want to help small, local charities give people a safe place to go to get the help that they need, at the time that they need it. Anyone interested in applying for this unique fund can find out more via visiting:- Anniversary.GarfieldWeston.Org The deadline for applications is 30 June 2018." Philippa Charles, Director, Garfield Weston Foundation.

HGV cab's final patrol after catching over 5,000 careless drivers

AN unmarked HGV cab is taking to the road for the final time after catching over 5,000 careless drivers in the past 3 years.

The cab has travelled 99,000 miles on Motorways and Major A-Roads since the safety initiative began, spotting an average of 1 driving offence every 16 miles.

Highways England is now funding 3 new HGV 'supercabs' after the single cab, which has been used by Police Forces across the country, stopped a total of 5,408 drivers in relation to 6,257 offences.

Greater Manchester Police was 1 of the 1st Police Forces to use the cab when it was introduced in April 2015, and will be the final Force to use it before a new dedicated cab for the North goes on patrol.

The still with this report was taken from new footage that has been released after being filmed by Greater Manchester Police Officers using the cab.  It clearly shows a lorry driver making notes on an A4 pad, while travelling along the M6, near the Junction with the M62.

John Walford, Incident Prevention Manager at Highways England, said:- "We began the HGV cab initiative 3 years ago as part of the work we're doing to improve safety on Motorways and major A roads, and we've been impressed by the impact it's had. Police officers have pulled over more than 5,000 drivers for offences which could have resulted in serious collisions, either because road users have got into bad habits or are simply ignoring the law. We've found that the vast majority of drivers are sensible behind the wheel, but some are putting themselves and others at risk, so we've therefore decided to fund 3 new HGV cabs to continue to improve road safety."

The 3 new 'supercabs' will patrol Motorways and main trunk roads across England, and have been fitted with wide angle cameras to capture unsafe driving behaviour.

They also have a derestricted speed limiter which means they can travel at speeds up to the national speed limit, and flashing lights have been installed for use by Police Forces in an emergency.

The cabs allow Police Officers to film evidence of unsafe driving behaviour by pulling up alongside vehicles. Drivers are then pulled over by Police cars following behind.

Chief Inspector Tariq Butt, who leads Greater Manchester Police's Traffic Unit, said:- "The use of the HGV cab as part of Operation Tramline has been a huge success across Greater Manchester over the last 3 years. The 'supercabs' will be a welcome addition and are crucial in raising continued awareness of a driver's responsibilities, improving road safety and more importantly reducing road casualties."

In total, 28 Police Forces have taken part in the HGV cab safety initiative in its 1st 3 years. Over ½ of the drivers who were stopped were illegally using a mobile phone while driving, despite the latest statistics showing that mobile phone use is a factor in an average of 2 deaths on the roads every month.

Officers gave verbal advice to 537 drivers, issued 1,014 fixed or graduated penalty notices, and filed 4,180 traffic offence reports; usually requiring drivers to attend a driver education course. There were also 194 prosecutions for more serious offences.

The most common offences filmed using the unmarked HGV cab included:-

► Using mobile phones - 2,971.

► Not wearing seatbelts - 1,227.

► Speeding - 331.

► Not in proper control of vehicles - 310.

1 driver was pulled over by Devon and Cornwall Police was found to have sent 10 replies to 10 texts within 1 hour.  In another incident, a driver in Surrey was seen trying to put toothpaste on a toothbrush; and a driver in the East Midlands was spotted steering with his knees while he ate his lunch and used his mobile phone.

In 2017, the Government doubled the penalty for drivers caught using their phones at the wheel. Motorists now receive 6 points on their licence and a ₤200 fine; up from the previous 3 points and ₤100 fine.  More details about the law on mobile phone use are available online.