Scouse back on the menu with R Charity

IN March, supporters of the Royal Liverpool Hospital's R Charity will be dusting off their tried and trusted scouse recipes once again, to celebrate Merseyside's favourite comfort dish.  The 2nd annual Scouse at R House event from R Charity encourages Merseyside residents to don their aprons and host a party to celebrate all things scouse.  The charity, who raise money to provide the very best treatment and comfort for patients in the new Royal Hospital, are calling for local businesses, pubs, community centres or individual fundraisers to get their friends together for an evening to celebrate our great City. As part of their scouse celebration, R Charity have called in the help of top local chefs Dave Critchley of the London Carriage Works and Paul Fuller from Mister Miyagi's to provide their own tried and trusted recipes for others to cook for themselves.  Aimee Clare, senior community fundraiser for R Charity, is hoping as many scousers as possible sign up to take part in March 2017.

She said:- "Our Appeal aims to raise £10million to provide patients with stroke, breast cancer and other serious illnesses, with the best and most effective treatments in a comfortable setting. The Royal is a place that every person on Merseyside will have been to or been treated in and this is why we want you to help support us to give the very best care that we can to fellow scousers.  Scouse at R House events don't have to focus around the scouse food dish; parties can celebrate everything and anything that makes this City great. So dig out your old Merseybeat records, or your old Everton and Liverpool scarfs out the loft and let's have some fun!"

R Charity's Scouse at R House fundraising packs are filled with fun ideas and games to help make your scouse themes night a special 1, including a 'Scouse Nous' quiz by BBC Radio Merseyside's Tony Snell. To pick up your free pack email:- FundRaising@RLBUHT.NHS.UK.

Johnstone's Trade calls on Merseyside residents to nominate local charity projects

JOHNSTONE'S Trade has opened nominations for its Community Spirit competition, and is asking the residents of Merseyside to put forward a deserving local community organisation or charity building that could benefit from a redecoration.  Following a successful launch in 2014, the Johnstone's Community Spirit competition has returned for 2017, with charities and community groups; and their supporters; from across Merseyside being urged to enter for the chance to win a makeover of their premises to the value of £10,000.  Entrants have until Friday, 24 February 2017, to submit their completed application form and a minimum of 4 high resolution images, including:- 1 external and 3 internal shots.  Please send them to:- etaylor@ppg.com. The application form can be downloaded from the Johnstone's Trade website.  Once all nominations have been received, a judging process will take place and a shortlist of 4 will be announced. The decision then falls to members of the general public, who will be asked to vote for their favourite entry to win. The finalists will be invited to the Johnstone's Painter of the Year event, where the winner will be announced.

Richard Mazurkiewicz, Marketing Manager at Johnstone's Trade, commented:- "We've always maintained a strong commitment to working closely with, and making a difference among, local communities. Following the success of the competition in previous years, we're excited to have the opportunity to transform another building that is close to the hearts of people in local areas. Whether the project is big or small, we're looking forward to helping create a space that the whole community can benefit from."

Note:- The makeover is a paint redecoration and does not include furniture, landscaping or construction work.

Southport couple win national search for lovers who met at the bingo

THOSE who say romance is dead need look no further than Southport's own Katherine Jackson, who 1st locked eyes on her new partner, John Reynolds, at their local Mecca Bingo club.  The couple are the winners of Mecca Bingo's search to find couples who fell in love while playing bingo. Nominated by Katherine's daughter Lisa and John's sister Lynda; Katherine and John met at Mecca's club in Southport in 2014. Both were widowed and had been single for a few years. After exchanging nervous glances at the bingo for several nail biting weeks, Katherine plucked up the courage to cheekily ask John for a chip after he smiled at her. The pair soon started chatting and found themselves heading out for a drink after they'd wrapped up their game of bingo.  3 years following the first date at the bingo and John and Katherine are now very much in love. While the two laugh at talk of marriage, John's sister Lynda Reynolds says:- "Watch this space." John and Katherine even celebrated Valentine's Day, at Mecca Southport, where they 1st met. The team members in the club were delighted that they won Mecca's national competition and presented the lucky couple with a beautiful bouquet of flowers and selection of chocolates to enjoy.