Crosby resident raises funds for patients iPads

A fundraiser from Crosby has raised £4,500 to benefit some of the most critically ill patients in the region.

Rita Tarleton, 72, from Blundellsands, held a series of fundraising events to buy iPads for patients in Aintree University Hospital’s Critical Care Unit.

Patients in critical care have usually had major surgery and are in a vulnerable or unstable condition. Their ability to communicate can be greatly reduced if they have lost mobility or are using a ventilator to assist their breathing.

An iPad, with communication applications installed, can help improve a patient’s experience and gives a voice to those who otherwise wouldn’t be able to articulate themselves, either to doctors and nurses or to visiting family and friends. The devices will also help patients keep in touch with the outside world by enabling them to read newspapers or even just check the weather reports.

Shirley Brady, Clinical Manager in the Critical Care Unit, said: “This money will make a huge difference to some of our sickest patients. Everyone on the unit is so grateful.”

Rita, with the support of her close friends, is one of the hospital’s most prolific fundraisers, having raised more than £15,000 since 2009. Her late husband, Brian, received treatment for leukaemia at Aintree and spent his final hours in the Critical Care Unit.

Rita said: “The staff were fantastic with Brian. Nothing was too much trouble for them and they went out of their way to try to save my husband. Even when there was nothing else to be done for him, they were patient and kind. As I left the unit I said to my sons, I want to do something for them.”

All funds raised by Rita have been matched by Barclays Banks’ Community Banking Partnership Project.

The money raised by Rita brings the total raised for the iPad appeal to more than £20,000. The appeal was launched last summer by five Critical Care nurses, calling themselves The Voice, who were sponsored to take on two of Scotland’s toughest physical challenges – the West Highland Way and Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest mountain.

For more information and to make a sponsorship donation, visit www.justgiving.com/TheVoice

Another Place- is Southport Sefton's only tourist attraction?

'Visit Southport' -a travel blogger on Twitter announced-' it's my home town and worth a look.' True, but on further investigation and following the link to the Facebook page the would be visitor is told that Southport is a "Classic Resort" and seemingly the only place in Sefton worth listing .https://www.facebook.com/visitsouthport A small photograph on the home page shows Another Place at Crosby beach by sunset, with no explanation as to where or what it is.
So in the 21st century what constitutes tourism and how should local authorities be promoting it? Surely the days of "resorts" being the focal point as a visitor attraction are long gone. A discerning and well informed population are flocking to places for all sorts of reasons -art, music festivals,nature reserves,vintage sales,street theatre, museums,shopping.
An art installation such as Another Place has massive tourism potential.On several occasions recently whilst there I've met visitors from Spain, coach parties from Bath, film crews from national and international companies.This presents scarce and valuable opportunities for the struggling local economy, but where are the signs to Crosby village or the promotion from Sefton tourism department? Perhaps it would have been more convenient if it had been located on Southport beach, but it's not.
The controversy surrounding the Antony Gormley statues has surely long been laid to rest and it's success as an attraction is evidenced by the numbers of visitors at the site daily in all weathers. Just follow @ironmencrosby on Twitter and read the delightful interactions from visitors (including some celebrities!) to get an idea of their popularity.
So come on Sefton Tourism department (recently stating because of cuts, they're concentrating on the "big four" Southport events) let's see some commitment and vision for the rest of the borough please! But what do YOU think?
@ABetterCrosby

Norma Farrell
PS did I mention theTitanic centenary on the horizon and all the Crosby connections with that?

Where there's a will....supermarkets can do better and smaller

Affluent Ripon's historic square where Sainsbury's have tailored their store to fit  in sympathetically with the surroundings 

Working town Colne in Lancashire - have a similar designed store to the one rejected by Sefton last year

ABetterCrosby's birth was a painful and sudden one in 2010 when it was brought it kicking and screaming into the world (over a pint in the Crows Nest). Initially a group campaigning to stop an ill conceived plan to plonk a white retail park styled monster on top of Crosby village, since then the group has taken its first tentative steps towards becoming a community group to promote the interests of Crosby and its residents and businesses.

We had our first AGM last Feburary, a workshop event 'Re-imagining Crosby Village', responded to the Councils rather dull but important Core Strategy and just this month organised the Christmas Tree and some celebrity support.

Most recently we have re-aquainted ourselves with Sainsbury's team from last year and been introduced to their new member Laurie Chetwood Architect in a series (well three) "charettes"- a device used by architects to throw up ideas for projects and buildings. This of course should have happened last time around but didn't and so expectations this time are high that Sainsbury's really are listening and not just trying to "shoehorn"in their wishes for a very large shop into out town.

Size certainly matters in the world of supermarkets and the definite impression has been given that 50,000 square feet (80000 overall) is a must for a new Crosby store to be viable (the present store is viable at 20000 sq ft if viable = profitable)

So is there a genuine will to lead regeneration of a thriving bustling "High Street" in Crosby village( see Mary Portas review published todayhttp://www.bis.gov.uk/news/topstories/2011/Dec/portas-review) by Sainsbury's, or just a cosmetic exercise in wrapping up a huge store in acceptable packaging, leaving independent traders without affordable premises in which to continue trading and offering diverse, sustainable, individual and local shops.

Watch this space...carefully.

David Morrissey Lights Up Crosby Village!

Choirs,dancing girls,fairground rides,hog roasts and Hollywood film stars all made their way to Moor Lane Crosby on Friday December 2nd for the annual lights switch on, organised this year by ABC and in particular Peter Harvey.
Hundreds gathered around the tree in high expectation as David Morrissey arrived, unbelievably punctually, no waiting around in the cold for this mega star. It was as though he had just popped by on the off chance that the Christmas tree lights needed switching on and after a few words in his familiar and friendly way the lights were lit! Of course we might have expected him to rush off again, as Friday was a busy day for him, but no, he chatted, posed for photos and signed autographs, he seemed to have time for everyone.
                                                           Thanks David, a true star.

Sevenstreets support ABetterCrosby events

The ever inventive and informative Sevenstreets, Liverpool based website has included our Christmas events in their latest piece here-

http://www.sevenstreets.com/events-and-attractions/radar-david-morrissey-visits-crosby/

Thanks to them for their support and long may they continue to inform and entertain us.

Crosby 365

Have a look at Crosby in a unique way,every day of the year- the brilliant idea of local photographer Andrew Hoban @hobanphoto on Twitter. Crosby 365 is a series of photographs taken of the places we pass all the time but maybe don't notice or have forgotten about.
Here's one we all know - with the "Great" in Crosby!

David Morrissey( in conjunction with ABetterCrosby ) celebrates Christmas!

Times are hard in Crosby and elsewhere, but the spirit of Christmas - giving, community, togetherness, lives on and this year as a group of hard working residents, the committee of ABC have worked tirelessly to organise a Christmas tree for the village. We will be collecting outside Sainsbury's and near Boots on Saturday 26th November from 10am -4pm so please donate if you can
We do however need lots of help with funding and here are the details of an event organised to support the Plaza and Christmas in Crosby on Friday 2nd of December. Please try to attend one or both events and show you care about the community you live in and make it a BETTER place to live
http://www.crosbyherald.co.uk/news/crosby-news/2011/11/17/david-morrissey-to-light-up-crosby-68459-29790234/