Southport and Mersey Reporter  Link to a news item on your local online newspaper for Merseyside (UK).

Updated news stories weekly. Published online only.

Your online newspaper. Your words.

Issue:- SATURDAY 30 May 2015

Ray Quinn is heading home on his UK Tour!

THE TV personality and singer, from Liverpool, Ray Quinn is performing at the Floral Pavilion, Wirral, Liverpool, on the 14 June 2015, at 7:30pm, on his 'Dare to Dream' music tour. Ray will be putting on quite a show, with a mixture of previous jazz swing and some brand new material ready to woo audiences. The new tour across the UK follows a busy 2014 for the born entertainer who, following his 1st platinum selling album 'Doing it my way', has spent the last year recording his new music working with some of the most renowned musicians in the world. If you do not know about him, Ray Quinn is a British singer/songwriter and occasional actor. He began starring in 'Brookside', the infamous British soap based in Liverpool. Ray famously went on to come 2nd to Leona Lewis on ITV's 'X-Factor' in 2006, and he won the 4th series of 'Dancing on Ice' in 2009 and the final 'All Stars' series in 2014. Ray is now back in the studio, where he belongs, writing, singing and recording for his new album. Ray is well known for having what appears to be a boundless talent for singing, dancing, acting and pretty much everything in between, and this will be your chance to see him live, in his home City! Tickets for this show are now available now, online. If you cant see him live, don't forget that he has a new album for you to enjoy. The album will take a new direction away from big band swing with more of a jazzy, soul funk sound and some original ballads focusing on Ray's incredible vocal talents, with which the nation fell in love over 8 years ago, on X-Factor. Working with an in house team of song writers and producers based in London's King Cross, Ray is set to once again wow the nation once, with some amazing new songs he and his team have written. Speaking about the tour, Ray said:- "After the success of my 1st album I've had time to grow as an artist. I'm now doing songs that I'm writing from my experiences and through maturity in the industry. Alongside a great team of producers and writers, I'm helping to produce the music I want; taking myself towards a new direction, creating songs that move people and reaching out to a wider demographic. To be taking my love for music out on the road again, I'm very excited. I'm right at home singing live on stage so it will be as much as a treat for me as it will my fans. This is my passion and I cannot wait!"

Salford couple jailed for Ł3.8m tobacco duty fraud

A couple from Manchester have been jailed for a Ł3.8 million excise fraud, involving over 25 tonnes of counterfeit tobacco, after an investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Feng Gao, 39, and his partner Mingshu Yang, 43, from Salford, were linked to over 28 deliveries of illegal hand rolling tobacco (HRT) across the North West and 8 tobacco seizures in Manchester, Liverpool and the Netherlands.

The pair used 'cover loads' of shoes and shelves to smuggle the tobacco into the UK. Some of the shoe soles and shelf units were hollowed out to hide the illegal tobacco. During searches in Manchester and Liverpool, HMRC seized thousands of empty counterfeit HRT packages and a tobacco processing machine.

Sandra Smith, Assistant Director, Criminal Investigation, HMRC, said:- "Disrupting criminal trade is at the heart of our strategy to clampdown on the illicit tobacco market, which costs the UK around Ł2.1 billion a year. This is theft from the taxpayer, denying public services much needed money, as well as undermining legitimate traders. We urge anyone with information about any other commercial trading of smuggled goods and the associated tax evasion to contact HMRC on:- 0800 595000."

HMRC officers originally arrested Gao in May 2013 outside a property on Teck Street, Liverpool, with over 100,500 fake tobacco packages in his possession.

The couple's home in Salford was searched and investigators found the back garden strewn with debris from the smuggled loads and the garden shed full of boxes of illegal tobacco and fake packaging. Other evidence linked Gao to storage units in Liverpool and Salford.

In 2012, these storage units had been searched by HMRC and UK Border Force (UKBA) officers and were found to contain large quantities of fake tobacco pouches and illegal HRT. In addition, Dutch customs officials had intercepted a large consignment of similar goods hidden in floating shelf units destined for one of these sites. The investigators were able to link all these earlier seizures to Gao and Yang.

Gao and Yang pleaded guilty to UK Excise Duty evasion and fraud offences in March 2015. At their original sentencing in April, Gao failed to attend leaving his partner, Yang, to face the charges alone. The hearing was adjourned until 26 May 2015 and a bench warrant for Gao's arrest was issued. Once again Gao failed to appear, and this week he was sentenced in his absence to five years jail. Yang was jailed for nine months.

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Gao, please contact either HMRC, the Police or Crimestoppers.

Public asked to search for Liverpool's most endangered buildings

THE Victorian Society is asking Liverpool and Merseyside to nominate buildings for its Top 10 Most Endangered Victorian and Edwardian buildings in England and Wales. Appearing in the Victorian Society's Top 10 list draws attention to a building's plight and can help save it. Nominations close on Monday, 1 July 2015.

Individuals, organisations and campaign groups are invited to name the buildings and structures that are most at risk in their local area; whether from demolition, neglect or inappropriate redevelopment. Buildings must have been built between 1837 and 1914.

The last Merseyside building to have featured in the Society's Top 10, was Langton Dock Pumphouse, Bootle in Bootle (2012).

Christopher Costelloe, Director of the Victorian Society, said:- "All over the country fine examples of Victorian and Edwardian architecture face neglect, demolition or unsympethic re-development. We want the public to be our eyes and ears and nominate the Victorian and Edwardian buildings we are most at risk of losing. Whether it's a school building, an empty pub, a redundant chapel or a neglected but impressive feat of engineering, make sure you tell us about it so we can try to save them."

To nominate a building contact the Victorian Society via:- email, tweet
Twitter, Facebook or via sending a letter by post to:- 1 Priory Gardens, London W4 1TT, with brief details of the building(s) on or before Monday, 1 July 2015.

All the buildings nominated will be considered by the Society's architecture and conservation experts before the 2015 list of the Top 10 Most Endangered Buildings in England and Wales is announced.

There has been good news for some of 2014's Top 10:- Emergency repair work has started at the Navigation Colliery in Crumlin funded by a Ł250,000 grant from the Welsh Government. Repair work is also expected to start on the Hammerhead Crane in Cowes following the release of funding from Historic England to appoint a specialist firm.

Since appearing in last year's Top 10, a 'Save the Cardiff Coal Exchange' group has been set up to help secure funding for restoration with use as a hub for media businesses mooted. The Exchange is also due to be used as the set of a new film 'The Crow'. It is thought the fee will be put towards emergency restoration works

Finally, the Society secured a meeting with Sheffield Council to discuss the future of the City's Crimean war memorial which has been absent from the City for over a decade. Although the Council has so far failed to commit to re-erecting the monument plans for a Ł480m retail development in Sheffield Town Centre could perhaps provide an answer to finding both a location and funding.

College Student Wins Top University Scholarship Prize

KNOWSLEY Community College student Mark Connolly is celebrating after winning the Elmes Memorial Prize. Mark, who studies Arts and Design at the College, won the prize after applying for a place at the University of Liverpool. It follows his dedication and success in studying at KCC. Hoping to be accepted for a place on a degree course in the School of Architecture, Mark submitted his portfolio. He was delighted to hear back from the University informing him that not only had he been accepted for a place, he had also been entered for the Elmes Memorial Trust Fund's 'Elmes Prize', which exists to encourage the study of architecture and fine arts. Mark will receive a plaque and an award of Ł1,000 as part of his prize. He said:- "This is such a huge achievement for me both personally and academically, I feel I am on track and making the right kind of progress for a career in architecture based on this award." He went on to praise his tutors, saying:- "I would like to thank my tutors at Knowsley Community College who have helped and stuck by me throughout my time on the Art and Design foundation year." Mark joins a range of alumni who have progressed from KCC to great things. His achievement comes as the College's Pride of Knowsley campaign celebrates the achievements of outstanding students and alumni in all aspects including academia, volunteering, sport and business. Did you know? Knowsley Community College is a Further Education College set in the borough of Knowsley. The College, made up of two campuses, hosts over 4,000 students, and with over 250 courses on offer to both young adults and mature students, it is a thriving place for education and employment in the community.

	Sign up to our Daily Email News Service by clicking here now...
	Did you know we where the UK's first online only newspaper and we still are? Here at Southport and Mersey Reporter we are still at leading the way for local news.	All email addresses and information is held under the UK's Data Protection Act.

Deceased estates notice - Lilian May Jackam

Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1925, any persons having a claim against or an interest in the Estate of Lilian May Jackam (also known as Lillian May) Jackam (Deceased), late of Birch Abbey Rest Home, 55 Alexandra Road, Southport, Merseyside, PR9 9HD, UK, who died on 04/10/2018, are required to send particulars thereof in writing, to the undersigned Solicitors, on or before 24/05/2019, after which date the Estate will be distributed having regard only to claims and interests of which they have had notice. Churches Solicitors, 12 High Street, Fareham, Hampshire, PO16 7BL, UK. Ref:- 'T553015.'

..Paid Advert..

Contact us:- *(+44)* 08443 244 195 *Calls will cost 7p per minute, plus your telephone company's access charge.* Calls to this number may be recorded for security, broadcast, training and record keeping.
	RSS Weekly Headline Update Notices

News24@SouthportReporter.com

4a Post Office Ave, Southport, Merseyside, PR9 0US, UK

	*This online newspaper and information service is regulated by IMPRESS* the independent monitor for the UK's press.**	How to make a complaint
	This is our process:- Complaints Policy - Complaints Procedure - Whistle Blowing Policy