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Vol 26 l Issue 14
3 April 2019
Residents living alone invited to enjoy a brew RESIDENTS in Maghull who live alone and would like more company are being invited to a regular coffee morning in the town. The Community Connectors event is held between 10am and midday every Wednesday morning at the Frank Hornby Wetherspoons on Eastway. People are invited to turn up to meet new people and make new friends over a hot drink costing just £1.25 with free refills. The event is organised by the Sefton CVS Community Connectors Team who aim to help people get out and about more in the local community by accessing local groups and social activities. Community Connector Hannah Bland commented: “We set up this weekly coffee morning after realising there was a gap in provision for this type of social event in the area. “We offer a warm welcome to anyone looking to meet new friends and neighbours, and already the group has grown from a small handful of people to around 16 local residents who attend regularly. However, we’d like to see even more people coming along and joining us.” Hannah added that the meeting is very informal – just an opportunity to chat with likeminded residents, and share information. However, on occasion the group welcomes a guest speaker. Residents are also offered advice on subjects such as how to get the best out of their mobile phones, for example by setting up a WhatsApp group to help them keep in closer touch with what their family are doing. For more information about the coffee morning or what the Community Connectors Team can offer in general ring 051 920 0726.
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MEMORIAL TREE TO TEENAGER IS WRECKED BY YOBS
INSIDE THIS WEEK...
Mother devastated to find park tribute had been uprooted
Peace Garden ‘shellshock’ display plan
Report by Kenny Parker A MEMORIAL tree planted in a Lydiate park in memory of a teenager has been destroyed in what the parish council said was a “shocking” act of vandalism. Matthew Jones was just 19 years old when he sadly died suddenly in 2011. Five years ago his grandparents planted a blossom tree in Sandy Lane Park in his memory. But when Matthew’s mum Lynn visited the park last weekend she was devastated to find that the tree had been uprooted. In a letter to the Champion, she said: “The tree was planted by my parents in memory of our son Matthew who we lost in 2011. “It was a young sapling tree so the park wardens kindly put a protective cage around it until the tree was able to withstand wind etc. “On visiting the park over the weekend of March 23/24 the tree was nowhere to be seen. “I contacted the park warden who told me the tree had been broken into pieces and thrown across the park with just the stump left in the ground. “I cannot understand the mentality of why such destructive behaviour is acceptable by anyone and would ask parents/guardians if they can read this letter to make the people who carried out this vandalism aware of the hurt and upset this has caused my family as the tree would have blossomed this year.
The memorial bench to Matthew near to where the memorial tree was planted.
“We will be planting another blossom tree as I will not let the minority spoil our lovely park which we are so lucky to have on our doorstep.” The vandals also damaged a memorial bench for Everton fan Matthew along with a defibrillator and solar powered weather vane. Park attendants again showed their kindness by telling Champion photographer, Patrick Trollope, that they would fix the bench with the family’s permission and also help with the planting of another tree. A spokesperson for Lydiate Parish Council which manages Sandy Lane Park said: “We are so disappointed that this has happened in our park. “The vandalism was undertaken when our staff were not on site. The tree was damaged so badly that we had to remove what was left of the tree stump. It’s very shocking that people can act in this way.”
Success for school safety campaign The bench when it was unveiled.
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