'Powerful Words' have been read out in Liverpool Town Hall on Holocaust Memorial Day

ON Friday, 25 January 2019, at Liverpool Town Hall, a series of poems written by local people were read out at a service marking Holocaust Memorial Day. The theme for for 2019 was 'Torn from Home,' which is common to all genocides and persecutions, and also acknowledges the 25th Anniversary of the start of the genocide in Rwanda, in 1994. Before the service the Lord Mayor, Cllr Christine Banks, will join other civic leaders and Jewish community representatives to lay a wreath in St Johns Gardens, behind St George's Hall, before heading to Liverpool Town Hall.  

3 poems written by young and old where chosen to feature within the service. There was also be music and a presentation from King David High School Choir, along with prayers read by members of the Jewish community.  Also a selection of the poems entered will in the competition called:- "Powerful words" that ran last year, where also included in an anthology, that was be presented to entrants, in Schools and Libraries, within the City.

Lord Mayor, Councillor Christine Banks, said:- "It is vital that on Holocaust Memorial Day we not only remember the millions who died in the Holocaust and subsequent genocides, but also the impact that hate crime and prejudice is still having on people from all walks of life to this day. At a time when our world seems more divided than ever, we must redouble our efforts to keep reminding people that there is far more that unites us and that we are 1 human race."

Liverpool City Council's lead on Holocaust Memorial Day, Councillor Jeremy Wolfson, a member of the City's Jewish community, said:- "The poetry competition gives everyone an opportunity to reflect on the Holocaust and raise awareness of not only what happened but also to help make sure there is no repeat of it. With the 'Torn From Home' theme, we have received some very emotive poems and I thank everyone who entered. It's fantastic that we have a new category this year for adults, building on last years' competition. Holocaust Memorial Day gives us an opportunity to reflect on the Holocaust and subsequent genocides and raise awareness of not only what happened, but to try and ensure that the attitudes which led to them are not repeated."

Howzat! Development plans for an all weather practice facility at Sefton Park Cricket Club are nearing completion

THE future of 1 of Liverpool's oldest Cricket Clubs is set for a healthy innings as an ambitious plan to install an all year round practice facility has taken a step closer. The Sefton Park Cricket Club was established in 1860 and have been twice winners of the top tier championship of the Liverpool and District Cricket League, has been working to install the all weather facility, with 3 artificial wicket strips, for the past 2 years.

Now the expansion plan has been given a boost by Liverpool City Council which has agreed to grant a new long term lease for the club, incorporating a new parcel of land to house the facility. The new 80 year lease, as part of the Landlord and Tenant Act, will be completed following the expiry of the advertisement of a public notice to redraw the club's boundary, to include the new practice area.

The historic club, based at its Croxteth Drive/Ullet Road ground since 1876, identified the need for the new facility to assist its teams, grow community engagement and support youth development and after this final piece in the jigsaw is complete, will look to install the pitches, in March 2019.

The facility is welcome timing for the new season as the 1st Team seeks to build on its 3rd place in the 1st Division of the Liverpool and District Cricket Competition, narrowly missing out on promotion to the region's ECB Premier League, and for the first time the club will have a women's team for the 2019 season to accompany its 6 senior sides and thriving junior section.

The Club, which already has planning permission and unanimous support from the:- "Friends of Sefton Park," has also received financial backing from Sport England to partially fund the development and has launched a fundraising campaign to complete payment for the facility, which will also be available for community use. The Club will also be planting 2 new trees as part of the project, which has been validated by a Tree Survey and Heritage Report.

Councillor Wendy Simon, Deputy Mayor of Liverpool and Cabinet Member for Sport, said:- "Sefton Park Cricket Club is a fantastic institution and has been a leading light in the Region's amateur cricket scene for more than a century. This new all weather practice area will not just be of huge benefit to the Club's own teams and their future development and success on the pitch, it will also be a great community resource too. With a new lease and boundary the City Council is fully supportive of the Club's plans and we look forward to seeing this new facility open and attracting new players of all ages, both male and female."

Richard Forsyth, First Team Captain at Sefton Park Cricket Club, said:- "We are delighted that the City Council has approved our long term plans to develop a new practice facility. We have the largest playing membership in Liverpool and this new inclusive facility will provide both our existing junior and senior members with a first-class area to develop and practice. We also expect the new facility to attract new members, young and old from the community to join our club and increase participation in the fantastic sport of cricket. Everyone is really excited about the project. As a club we are fortunate to be playing cricket in a heritage park and we're committed to ensuring this project has a positive impact on the park and its users. The Club would like to express its gratitude to long serving member, Dr Naj Ahmed who led the project on behalf of the Club to make the Club's vision a reality."