T-50Bs Black Eagles to fly at the 2022 Southport Air Show
Photo by Dokunaga

SOUTHPORT is set to host a very special international visit, with the 8 Korea Aerospace Industries T-50B supersonic trainer, light attack jets of the South Korea's Black Eagles, over 9 July to 10 July 2022.

The FA-50 aircraft are being flown in just 3 air shows within UK skies during 2022. The only other opportunities to see these impressive aircraft being flown will be at:- Royal International Air Tattoo, and Farnborough Air Show, making this a very special year for the Southport Air Show.

The 8th Fighter Wing of the Republic of Korea Air Force, also known as the ROK Air Force or South Korean Air Force, will not only be demonstrating their skills but are also in our skies as part of a diplomatic mission to promote the South Korean made aircraft and other South Korean military assets.

We have been told that the Republic of Korea Air Force team are planning, as part of their UK performances, to include the team’s trademark, to draw, with smoke tails, the ‘Taegeuk Mark,’ a signature symbol of South Korea's national flag. they will also be pulling off manoeuvres that will see the pilots experiencing G-force 9 times greater than Earth's gravity!

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council’s Labour Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, welcomed the news, saying:- "To have Southport Air Show as the first stop on a 2022 UK tour of the South Korean Air Force is an incredible feat and goes to show how huge our event is in the calendar. The Black Eagles display is one that cannot be missed and will compliment a fantastic roster of displays already announced including the return of our very own Red Arrows, the RAF Typhoon and the emotive Battle of Britain Memorial Flight display."

The team, who are normally based at Wonju AB, in Gangwon province of South Korea, are also planning to visit 13 other countries, including:- Poland, Slovakia, Egypt and the Philippines following the visit to the UK.

Since 1953 the Black Eagles Aerobatic Team has participated in many Air Shows spanning the Korean Peninsula and across the world, but this year the squad's flight distance before its return home is estimated to be:- 12,427.424 miles (20,000 kilometres), according to the South Korean Air Force.

To hear and see the Black Eagles overhead is a unique experience: we strongly advice you buy your tickets now, at:- SouthportAirShow.com This Southport Air Show on Saturday, 9 July 2022 and Sunday, 10 July 2022… Save the date!

Winners of Voices 2022 writing competition for children in care revealed at awards hosted by Peter Capaldi

ON Saturday, 21 May 2022, charity Coram Voice announced the winners of Voices 2022, its national writing competition for children in care and young care leavers, at a ceremony hosted in London by actor Peter Capaldi and a former winner, Sophia Alexandra Hall.

Now in its 7th year, the Voices competition, sponsored by UK management consultancy Cadence Innova, provides a positive platform for care-experienced young people to express their creative talents and to build understanding around their experiences.

After 2 years of holding the Voices awards ceremony online due to Covid restrictions, the event was held in person once again, and featured members of this year's judging panel including:- authors Patrice Lawrence and Emma Norry, alongside the young finalists reading their winning pieces.

Peter Capaldi, who has hosted the competition since 2017, said:- "I've supported the Voices competition for a number of years and am always blown away by the talent of the children and young people taking part. It's an honour to read their words and the competition is so important in helping us all to better understand their lives and experiences."

The theme of this year's competition was:- 'This is Me,' and 23 children and young people were shortlisted across 4 age categories: primary (age 4 to 10), lower secondary (age 11 to 14), upper secondary (age 15 to 17) and care leavers (age 18 to 25).

The Voices 2022 winners are:-

► Winner of the Primary category:- 'This is Me' by Alex, age 10...  Judges Patrice Lawrence and Jarvis said:- "We loved the original take on the brief. Some unusual language and great touches of humour. It jumps off the page and you can feel the author through their words. You get the feeling the author loves playing with words and phrases, and is really having fun writing, and this makes it fun to read."

►Winner of the Lower Secondary category:- 'This is Me' by Tilesha, age 14.   Judges Jenny Molloy and Chris Wild said:- "We were captivated by this poem as it took us somewhere else emotively. We could feel, hear and see the writer. Great use of words, visceral from the soul. It's punchy, short and sweet, but more than anything, it really makes you think. Incredible piece of creative work."

►Winner of the Upper Secondary category:- 'My Journey' by Sebur, age 15... Judges Mr Gee and Callen Martin said:- "We loved this poem! It has a clever use of repetition that really hammers home the stark imagery of surviving such a dangerous voyage. The opening line "Coming here was not part of the plan" sets the reader on a truly harrowing journey, where every 2nd of life is to be cherished."

►Winner of the Care Leaver category:- 'This is Me' by AP, age 18... Judges Emma Norry and Stacey Halls said:- "We were blown away by the writer's natural talent, they presented a very unique and passionate piece about their experience. Their poem is raw and unfiltered and really expresses their sense of self. It stood out with energy and passion. We loved how it didn't try to encapsulate an entire lifetime, much more of a moment, reflecting back which grounded us in a time and place very effectively."

Brigid Robinson, Managing Director of Coram Voice, said:- "It has been a joy to read the competition entries and see how children and young people have interpreted the theme and responded creatively in their writing. A huge thank you and well done to all the children and young people who took the time to enter the competition and share their voices with us. We are so proud of all of you, and hope so many others will be inspired by their stories."

For more information on the competition and to read the shortlisted pieces, please visit:- CoramVoice.Org.UK.