ELIZABETH SCOOPS TOP ACCOLADE AT SOUTHPORT'S AMBASSADOR AWARDS

Local hotel and charity worker Elizabeth Radcliffe has been awarded the top honour at the Southport Ambassador Awards 2001.

For Elizabeth, who works behind the bar at the Metropole Hotel in Portland Street, Southport, has just received the 'The People's Award' after being nominated not only by the hotel customers for her cheerful and friendly manner but also by members of public.

Elizabeth, who has worked at the Metropole for 12 years, was also recognised for the huge amount of work she does through various fund raising events for most of the local charities.

"I was absolutely stunned to win," said Elizabeth, of Bright Street, Southport. "In fact I still am. It's a wonderful honour."

Regulars at the hotel and readers of the Southport Visiter, which sponsored the category, nominated Elizabeth for the award.

During the evening held at the resort's top conference venue the Southport Theatre and Floral Hall Complex, eleven other people were also recognised for going that little bit further to contribute to the success of Southport.

This was the second year of the Southport Ambassador Awards and the event has proved so successful and the awards so coveted that it is now one of the major fixtures on the Southport tourism calendar.


"The evening was a huge success and celebrated the importance of the tourism product in Southport," said Richard Hughes, chairman of the Southport Ambassador Group. "It was nice to see so many people recognised for their work in helping to make Southport such a pleasant and welcoming place to visit.

"I would also like to thank all the sponsors for their support and the local businesses for nominating the people who are at the delivery end. They are meeting and greeting people to the resort every day and making a real difference, often in difficult and demanding circumstances. They really are Southport's true Ambassadors."

Other categories were: the most professional waiting on person; most welcoming receptionist; most cheerful bar person; most helpful retail assistant; most memorable porter; most friendly taxi driver; most efficient temporary/seasonal worker; most professional chef; most promising chef; most conscientious student and finally an award for an unseen hero.

Article by Julia Brough.

SOUTHPORT GUIDE LAUNCHED AT BIGGEST TRAVEL TRADE FAIR IN THE WORLD

Officers from Sefton Council's tourism division who attended the world's biggest travel trade fair in London last week say it was the most successful yet.

On the first day alone more than 100 enquiries were received on what Southport has to offer by visitors to the World Travel Market at Earls Court.

And on Tuesday Lord Fearn of Southport, Sefton's Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Tourism, took the opportunity to officially launch the Southport Holiday and Accommodation Guide for 2002/3.

He said: "What better place to launch next year's holiday guide than at the biggest travel trade fair in the world. The guide is packed with information on Southport's wide range of attractions including the fun-packed line-up of events, our unbeatable golf courses as well as details of the first-class accommodation available in the resort. It is the ideal reference guide for anyone looking to visit the town on holiday or for a short break."

Although the event took place in the aftermath of what has been a difficult year for tourism in the UK, Southport has been bucking the trend and has had a particularly successful year in terms of tourism with enquiries for the resort almost doubling. 

Sefton's tourism division and The Mersey Partnership joined forces on an impressive stand in a prime location at the World Travel Market in the England Pavilion. Southport's golfing product was one of the main sources of interest to the many visitors to the stand.

Article by Julia Brough.

 

LOCAL YOUNGSTERS TO STAR IN AWARD WINNING MUSICAL

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Children from Southport have won parts in an award winning, smash hit musical based on one of Liverpool's best-loved classic tales.

Stephanie Rawson (11), a pupil at Norwood Primary School, Emma Arends (14), who attends Formby High School and Stanley High School pupil Ryan Prescott (12) have all landed parts in the heart rending play 'Her Benny' to appear at Liverpool's Empire Theatre early next year.

The youngsters beat off competition from more than 500 hopefuls to secure parts in the play, written and composed by Southport writer Anne Dalton. Her Benny portrays the lives of two Liverpool waifs and their struggle for survival on the streets of Victorian Liverpool.

Based on the book by Silas K. Hocking, the play tells the rags to riches story of Benny Bates and his little sister Nell. Against the odds Benny fights poverty, crime and injustice to find love, respect and success.

"The response to the auditions was absolutely incredible," says Anne. "Hundreds of youngsters turned up at the Empire hoping to get a part. The standard was extremely high and we had a hard job picking the 56 children we needed. We now have an extremely talented cast and I'm convinced the show will be a sell out again."

When Anne last showed this well loved story at the Empire in 1993 it was a huge success and a sell out for every performance.

This new show will take place from Tuesday, February 19th to Saturday, March 2nd next year.

Tickets are already on sale and selling fast. They are available from the theatre in Lime Street, through Ticket Master on 0870 606 3536 or online.

Article by Julia Brough.

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