The biggest and best Sidney Road Lights Show is coming to Southport this Christmas!
Photos and report by Andrew Brown

FAMILIES will be able to enjoy the warm glow of over 100,000 lights and a variety of designs in the front garden of a home on Sidney Road, Southport, specially created by enthusiastic local engineer Steve Henshall. The money raised from the spectacular display will go towards the Freshfields Animal Rescue charity.

People are invited to a special Lighting Up Party hosted by Sandgrounder Radio, on Saturday, 17 December 2022, at 6pm. The displays will then run from:- 4.30pm to 9pm, every night, with the last shows on New Year's Day.

Having run a very successful Halloween Show back in October the team at Sidney Road Lights consisting of:- Steve, Jan and Tim (not to mention Jaffa the cat) have been mad busy redesigning the show into:- "the biggest and best Christmas light show to date."

This year there are many new props most of which are high density, ie lots of lights in a small area able to display complex patterns.

They include:- a nutcracker, a new much larger screen and a 5m long steam train which whilst it doesn't move, requires careful programming of the lights to bring it to life.

Designer Steve Henshall said:- "We're not entirely sure how many lights there are this year as we've not had time to count them, but I estimate there to be around 35,000 excluding the 3 matrix panels. Add those in and you'd be well over 100,000."

Steve's son Tim has been working into the night programming all the lights and making sure all the computerised elements work together. He said:- "The whole show is controlled by one Raspberry Pi4b which streams the data to the bespoke controllers over a LAN network. The main challenge is keeping everything dry outside in the winter weather."

This year the show is sponsored by Chocolate Whirled, the artisan chocolate shop on Manchester Road in Southport by the traffic lights.

Owners Simon and Laura are donating a truckload of sweets to hand out alongside hot chocolate, Santa hats and many other goodies to be given out during the shows. Chocolate Whirled has a gorgeous dessert cafe and workshop and a superb range of delicious chocolates for your Christmas gifts.

Since its inception Sidney Road Lights has always supported Freshfields Animal Rescue and this year is no exception.

Jan who organises the many helpers and loves dressing up in the dog costume said:- "Freshfields is facing a triple threat this year. Donations are down, expenses are up and there are more abandoned animals than ever before. Freshfields needs our help now more than ever."

Sandgrounder Radio is hosting the Lighting Up Party on Saturday 17th December 2022 at 6pm, thereafter the shows will run every hour and half hour from:- 4:30 to 9pm every night with the last shows on New Year's Day. Everyone is welcome.
The event is free to attend, no booking required but please be considerate to the neighbours.

For more details please visit:- SidneyRoadLights.Co.UK or Like the Sidney Road Lights Facebook Page.

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra to Play Eurovision Hits in Concert

HELLO Europe, Hope Street calling! From folk to power ballads, heavy metal to Europop, Eurovision has it all, and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra is ready to embrace the musical madness when the much loved Song Contest comes to Liverpool in May. Ahead of the competition, on Friday, 12 May 2023, the Orchestra will perform iconic Eurovision songs at its:- 'Douze Points!' concert.

The Orchestra, conducted by Richard Balcombe and joined by incredible vocalists, will take you on a trip around the continent, performing Eurovision favourites such as:- 'Waterloo,' 'Boom Bang a Bang,' 'Rise Like A Phoenix,' 'Stefania' and many more.

The concert will be hosted by the wonderful broadcaster Owain Wyn Evans, the host of Radio 2's Early Breakfast show in 2023, who raised more than �3 million for BBC Children in Need with a 24 hour drumathon. A glass of bubbly is included with every ticket to kick off the night. For more details, please visit:- LiverpoolPhil.Com.

Majority of over 50s plan on returning to work amid cost of living crisis

THE overwhelming majority of workers aged over 50 in the UK will not have the luxury of retiring early, new analysis from Handelsbanken Wealth and Asset Management shows, with 86% of those aged:- 50 to 54, and 65% of those aged:- 55 to 59, considering a return to work. The research, which investigated employment trends for workers aged 50 and over since the start of the Coronavirus Pandemic, found that just 38% of adults aged between:- 50 to 54 are confident that their retirement provisions will meet their needs, with this figure only rising to 55% amongst those aged:- 60 to 65 years. Those aged:- 50 to 54 were found to be generally less financially resilient, with just half (49%) debt-free excluding a mortgage, compared with those aged:- 60 to 65 (62%). 39% of workers aged:- 50 to 54 were found to have credit card debt compared to 24% of those aged:- 60 to 65. The research suggests that the number of 50 somethings looking to return to work has risen throughout the year, up 14% in just 6 months. 72% said they would consider a return to work in August 2022, compared with 58% in February 2022.

Christine Ross, Head of Private Office (North) and Client Director at Handelsbanken Wealth and Asset Management said:- "As the cost of living crisis continues, many people in their fifties will notice that they don't have enough in their pension pot currently to live a comfortable retirement. It is now more important than ever to take the necessary steps to ensure that you are in the most financially robust position possible. For adults in this age bracket, it's worth considering maximising your pension contributions with any unforeseen pay rises or bonuses and checking to see if you have any unused annual allowances that will enable you to make larger 1 off pension contributions if you have additional funds, for example, from an inheritance. A wealth adviser can help you to understand your tax position in this regard. Some homeowners might start thinking about selling their property and downsizing to boost their retirement income. You could also consider an equity release scheme, if needed. Although this option involves some risk and will reduce the inheritance you leave behind, it can be a good supplement for your pension."

Reversal of National Insurance Increase

SINCE 6 November 2022 employees and employers would have noticed that National Insurance rates have been cut. The tax cut was announced by the UK Government on:- 22 September 2022, as part of the reversal of the Health and Social Care Levy. This means most employees will start to receive this tax cut directly through payroll. This will show up in employees payslips between:- November 2022 and February 2023. The move to reverse April National Insurance increase follows the rise in National Insurance thresholds back in July 2022. As a result, the Chancellor says that both measures will see working people �500 better off, on average, in 2023. Funding for health and social care services will be maintained at the same level as if the levy were in place. It takes effect in all parts of the UK and HM Treasury says that it now means working people will be able keep more of the money they earn. What are your thoughts on this? Please do email us to:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com or send us a message on:- Facebook or Twitter.