Eyes down! People can enjoy 2 more Comedy Bingo Spring Socials at Southport Market this month, thanks to support from local Councillors

THE popular events have been held this year thanks to Comedy Bingo owners Brendan Riley and Val Brady, who also organise the annual Southport Comedy Festival.

The 2 new shows will be hosted by Brendan Riley, again, on:- Wednesday 31 May 2023, and have been made possible thanks to funding from Southport Dukes Ward Councillors Cllr Mike Prendergast, Cllr John Pugh and Cllr Sir Ron Watson.

Doors open at 1pm with the shows starting at:- 1.30pm.

Tickets are just £3 and include your bingo cards, plus a free cup of tea or coffee, a glass of wine or a pint of beer.

People can pay on the door or you can book in advance via Skiddle.

For more details or for group bookings please call Brendan Riley on:- 07770591625.

The last Comedy Bingo Spring Social took place earlier this month to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III and was supported by Sefton CVS.

Previous shows have been made possible by sponsorship from companies and organisations such as:- Halliwell Jones BMW Southport, Crystal Clear Opticians, Sefton Council's Tourism team and the Community link Foundation.

Anyone else interested in sponsoring future events are invited to get in touch.

Brendan Riley said:- "We are looking forward to 2 more Comedy Bingo Spring Socials coming to Southport Market this month! The previous shows have been a huge success, enjoyed by some great crowds of all ages. The Covid Pandemic has left lots of people isolated and these shows are the perfect way of bringing people together for afternoons of fun and friendship. Anyone is welcome! Nanas, grandads, young mums and dads can bring their kids, it's fun for all of the family, people living on their own, people new to the area. We're very inclusive and welcoming. These shows are helping to prevent social isolation in our community. We have deliberately kept the prices low, with just £3 including a free drink and your bingo cards. You also have the chance of winning some great prizes with a fun afternoon out! As ever, food and drink from around the world will be available to buy from all of the outlets within Southport Market."

For more details about Comedy Bingo Spring Socials please visit:- BigComedyUK.Com.

Liverpool gets ready to raise the curtain on 80th Battle of Atlantic Commemorations

MERCHANT and Naval ships will sail into Liverpool from:- 26 May to 28 May 2023 to begin 3 days of commemorations and celebrations marking the Battle of the Atlantic.

The vessels, led by Royal Navy destroyer HMS Defender, are due to arrive on Friday morning, raising the curtain on a weekend of events to mark the 80th Anniversary of the longest, hardest naval battle in history.

Joining HMS Defender on the prime berth of the Cruise Liner Terminal, at the heart of Liverpool's Waterfront will be the French frigate Bretagne, and Trinity House Vessel Patricia. The American Destroyer USS Ramage will also call into Liverpool during the weekend.

The vessels will provide an impressive backdrop to events on and over the Mersey, while their sailors will join in commemorative events ashore. HMS Defender and the Bretagne will be open to visitors, welcoming members of the public on board throughout Saturday and Sunday.

A new National Memorial to the battle will be unveiled over the weekend with a Private Service of Commemoration, at:- St Nick's Church, next to the Pier Head.

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal will be the guest of honour at the service, which will acknowledge the sacrifice of the thousands of UK and allied sailors involved in the Battle of the Atlantic, both merchant and military.

After the church service, The Princess Royal will unveil a new Battle of the Atlantic Memorial and garden of reflection; the 1st of its kind in the UK:- in the Church Grounds.

The Princess Royal will also open a new Wrens Museum, at Western Approaches Museum, during her visit to Liverpool.

Flypasts, ships open to visitors, and a 1940s themed Military Village at Pier Head will also take place, on all 3 days of the event, weather permitting.

Liverpool's Pier Head will also play host to the:- 'Military Village' feature equipment and a whole host of free family activities from the Royal Navy, Army, and RAF.

The extensive Battle of the Atlantic displays and special family activities will be open for visitors, at Western Approaches Museum, and the Maritime Museum, in the Royal Albert Dock.

Over the water in Birkenhead, Cammell Laird shipyard will run a series of BoA80 themed tours around its yard to celebrate the efforts of shipbuilders in WW2, and to show how things have moved on.

On Sunday, 28 May 2023, there will be a Drumhead service of thanksgiving, at midday, at Pier Head, followed at:- 1.30pm, by a March for the Medals from Exchange Flags to Princes Parade, where a group of Battle of the Atlantic veterans, now all in their 90s, will take the salute from the marching troops.

Other events will also take place around the City including a sell out special commemorative concert at the City's Philharmonic Hall, by His Majesty's Royal Marines Band.

Not forgetting the engaging Battle of the Atlantic themed variety show that has been written and performed by students of Liverpool John Moores University. Performances of:- ‘Blowing a Raspberry at Hitler’ run, from:- Wednesday, 24 May to Friday, 26 May 2023. Tickets, which are free of charge, can be reserved via Eventbrite.

Throughout the weekend, an outdoor stage, at the Pier Head, will host performances from 1940s, and vintage style musicians and performers including:- The Soldiers of Swing, The Lahdidah’s, The Swing Cats, Mersey Swing, Joanne Dennis and Hattie Bee. Sea Shanty band The Jack Tars, will also perform.

Chairman of the Battle of the Atlantic Memorial Charity, Gary Doyle, said:- "No City is more connected with the Battle of the Atlantic than Liverpool, and there can be no more fitting a setting for these important 80th Anniversary commemorations. The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest and most strategically important battle of the Second World War. If the allies had lost the fight, there's little doubt that we would have lost the war. The death toll was; and still is; staggering. Tens of thousands of Merchant Navy, Royal Navy, and Allied Naval seamen, and thousands of RAF and allied aviators lost their lives in order to keep our supply lanes open and our families fed. This 80th Commemoration is extra-special because we will be joined by some of our Battle of the Atlantic veterans at events during the weekend, and they are without doubt the focus of the whole event. It is perhaps the last major commemorative opportunity we will have to come together to say thank you to those remarkable men and women, and to celebrate their great effort and achievement, in the pleasure of their company. We hope that the whole of Merseyside will get behind what we are doing and turn out to join us."

Liverpool's BoA80 weekend of commemorative events takes place during the 3rd Bank Holiday weekend of the month... The Saturday, 27 May, and Sunday, 28 May 2023.

You can find more information about all the Battle of the Atlantic 80th commemoration events at:- BattleOfTheAtlantic.Org.

Flypast times:-

Flypast times (Saturday)

• 1100 to 1110 Seafire and Swordfish display.
   

• 1150 to 1205 Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
   

• 1315 to 1330 Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
   

• 1500 to 1510 Seafire and Swordfish display.

Flypast times (Sunday)

• 1230 to 1245 Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
   

• 1350 to 1400 Swordfish display.
   

• 1720 to 1730 Swordfish display.

Ships open to Visitors time:-

• HMS Defender (Type 45 Destroyer, Royal Navy) Open:- 1000 to 1600 on Saturday, 27 May and Sunday, 28 May 2023.
   

• The Bretagne (D655 Frigate, French Navy) Open:- 1000 to 1600 on Saturday, 27 May and Sunday, 28 May 2023.