Yep, that’s the Tardis at Red Rocks and yes, Dr Who is coming to Hoylake!

Here’s a date that many kids (of all ages) will want to circle on the kitchen calendar: Saturday, 28th July, 2012 – otherwise known as Who In Hoylake.

I spotted details of this interesting event so I contacted the event organisers. Fans Like Us is a Wirral-based Dr Who fan group and promote Dr Who convention events. Here’s what they say about Who in Hoylake, along with venue and ticket details:

From the team who brought you six sell-out events at the Cavern and the Fab Cafe…

We bring you our first event in our home town – Who at Hoylake!

Who at Hoylake is an event celebrating all things Who, past, present and otherwise timey-wimey. As always, this will be an entertaining and fun event, once again at a world-class venue – Jack Rabbit Slim’s in Hoylake.

Guests confirmed to date (subject to work commitments) include:

6th Doctor COLIN BAKER (pictured) – a firm Fans Like Us favourite. He’s not just a pretty face; Colin’s sharp mind and razor wit make him an unmissable guest.

MARK STRICKSON – a fantastic guest. Mark’s work and family life take him away from the UK most of the year, so it’s no exaggeration to say this appearance is a Fans Like Us exclusive.

LOUISE JAMESON – a much-loved stage and television actress. Louise is making her Fans Like Us debut, and we trust you’ll welcome her with open arms!

SOPHIE ALDRED – local girl Sophie makes a return to her homeland to be with her people.

TERRY MOLLOY – the most evil genius the galaxy has ever seen, intent on spreading race war to the farthest sectors of the universe. He once played Davros, you know.

CHRIS JURY – as if being in Dr Who were not enough, Chris was also a star of TV’s Lovejoy. These days he works behind the camera, and this is a rare convention appearance.

And the wonderful COLIN SPAUL, actor, raconteur and all-round great bloke

The day will be MC’d by JOHN COOPER, veteran stand-up and inveterate Dr Who fan!

And these are just the guests we’ve already confirmed. Look to the website below for our updated guest list.

We guarantee, you will be in for a great day, with panels, signings, dealers and so much more, and you won’t miss a thing.

Tickets are a snip at a mere £25:

• for the full day
• to meet the guests
• for personal signings

No hidden costs; if you got a ticket, all you pay for is the merch you take away.

In addition, children under 12 will be allowed in free as long as they’re accompanied by a paying adult.

Tickets are available on the website, further information and updates will be available at our Facebook group, Who At Hoylake, or Twitter

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Dr Who in Hoylake

The redevelopment of The Kings Gap Hotel is nearing completion now and from most aspects the building is completely unrecognisable.

The porta-cabins were removed a couple of weeks ago enabling a much better view of the hotel, with what I guess is a new side entrance and car park. If you look through the windows overlooking the garden, you’ll see stacks of new chairs and tables.

The hotel and Frankie’s restaurant is due to open in the next few weeks. I wonder if Frankie Dettori and Marco Pierre-White will attend an official opening?

Meanwhile, around the corner on Meols Drive, there doesn’t appear to be any further progress on the Royal Hilbre Hotel.  You might recall that firm behind the development hoped to secure additional funding in order to complete the works.

Anyway, what do you think of the new Kings Gap building?

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Friday Photo: Nearly finished

• lower food miles involved
• supports the local economy
• prices can vary but are often less than eggs sourced from non-local

And here is a list of Hoylake shops that sell locally-sourced eggs:

• Bill Page Butchers
• Hoylake Fisheries
• Three Sisters
• Cost Cutter (Grove Road)
• Lifestyle (Market Street)
• Newsmag Extra (Albert Road)

I do know that a few locals keep ex-battery hens in their gardens and enjoy a steady supply of fresh eggs …you might try a spot of bartering if you’d like some! We’ve had some ourselves and you can’t half bake some great sponge cakes!

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Eggs: Locally sourced

Do feel free to have a look at the tubs you pass when shopping and remove any litter, cans, glasses or anything else you may find (Jan Foster found a bikini top once!).

Timetable:

Next Sat, 4th Feb, we will be cutting back the grass bed and weeding the long beds in the parade gardens. Please could all those who have offered to help meet at 11am by the tennis courts. You will need hoe, rake and/or something to cut the grasses. If it is raining please ring me. There is no point getting soaked at this time of year!!! You can contact Jan Foster by email at jan@valleybreak.co.uk

As mentioned we are hoping to have a work party at the parade gardens on the frst Sat of every month. I don’t have a list of names for this yet. Perhaps you could let me know on Sat who would like to help.
Barbara and Pete Singleton have kindly offere to keep the edges in trim but everyone is welcome to pop down there to do a bit of weeding there at any time if the mood takes them!

12th May: de plant-10am at either your tub or at the coffins (brick raised beds by Home Bargains)
17th May: plants arrive (I hope) at my house at 2pm if you can help please call me as we won’t have room for too many.
19th May: Planting day-10am-At your tub or by the coffins. Followed by a social at my house. Please bring some food and/or drink. (Please let me know what you would like to bring)
9th June: Garden party at Jan Foster’s house 12-4pm. If you would like to help please let Jan know.

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Hoylake in Bloom: Forthcoming timetable

This cheeky piece of artwork has been commissioned for a new cafe that’s soon to open in Hoylake.

Painted secretly (I think) this weekend by Hoylake artist Micheline Robinson the cupcake can be seen on what will be the Cupcake Cafe, located in the building next to the Holy Trinity School car park. Micheline has wondered if the artwork manages to create the strong 3D effect that she was after? Have  you popped along and had a look …what do you think?

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Hoylake’s Cupcake Cafe

A recent, not too scientific, survey by Hoylake Village Life on facebook, resulted in The Dolphin (pictured) being ranked the No 1 chippy in Hoylake. What do you think of that, a worthy winner or are there just as good chips elsewhere in Hoylake?

While we’re on the subject of fish and chips, I’ve heard a few recommendations for Baxter’s chippy in Moreton (just off Moreton Cross somewhere I think), though I gather they’ve swapped from using beef dripping to vegetable oil.

There must have been several fish and chip shops in Hoylake over the years and I guess some will have been down the side roads like The Dolphin – some old photos would be much appreciated!

Just me, or is anyone else feeling peckish?

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Friday Photo: The best chips in Hoylake?

Hoylake RNLI crew, (left to right) Geoff Ormrod, Dave Dodd, Dave Whiteley, Steve Armitage.

As reported by John Curry, Lifeboat Operations Manager in the RNLI press centre.

Hoylake RNLI Lifeboat Station is delighted to announce that four of the crew have been awarded a bar to their twenty year long-service badges.

The RNLI has for some time been thinking of recognising service beyond the original twenty year service badge, and in the last week has announced the names of the serving crew, who in some cases have doubled this service time in the interest of saving lives at sea.

At Hoylake, four serving crew members qualify for the bars. Two long serving members: David Dodd MBE and Geoff Ormrod qualify for the forty year bar. Both men have served with distinction as Coxswain of the Hoylake Lifeboat.

At present, David holds the position of Head Launcher and Geoff is Shore Crew. Both men have served well in excess of forty years.

Two other serving members of the crew: Deputy Second Coxswain Steve Armitage, and last but certainly not least, is the present Coxswain of the Hoylake Lifeboat David Whiteley.

Both these men have been awarded the thirty year bar, and again both have served well in excess of this time.

The Hoylake RNLI Lifeboat Station is very proud of its history of saving lives at sea, and all four men are no exception. Despite the hardships experienced on occasions, and the ever present danger of being at sea in heavy weather conditions in a small, but extremely seaworthy craft, none would have had their life any other way.

They are all dedicated lifeboat men and, despite the hardships, have found their roles of lifeboat crewmen to be both rewarding and not without times of great pleasure and fun within the camaraderie of the Lifeboat Service at Hoylake, which to a man they have been proud to serve.

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Hoylake RNLI Long Service Awards

Here’s an important press release from The Parade, Hoylake Community Centre:

The first part of the major exterior renovation of the Parade, Hoylake Community Centre has now commenced with the complete roof replacement. The [Wirral Council] Asset Transfer scheme is transferring this building to the Community.

The new charitable company, formed from the Joint Management Committee which has run the building for over 20 years, has secured finance from a charitable fund for the replacement of the slate roof, new drains and car park.

The work will take several months to complete but will result in a wonderful facility for local people.

Vaughan Williams, Chairman of the JMC said:

“It is hard for us to believe that we have come from fighting for the very survival of this wonderful building to the position where we are now confidently looking to its being here for the next 100 years. Nearly £2m has been spent over the years in creating this fantastic facility for the use of all local people for recreation, education and entertainment. The original committee and the new board are all unpaid volunteers and I am very proud of what they have achieved for the local community.”

History

The Edwardian building on the promenade was opened as a school in 1909 and was saved from demolition by local groups over 20 years ago. It is now a thriving and well used hub for the Community hosting Food Fairs, Film Nights and many classes and is a Centre for Dance and Music. All rooms and halls available for hire by the Community.

For further information contact the Centre Manager Gill Norris on 632 2889 or hoylake.parade@hotmail.co.uk

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Community Centre: Improvements in progress

Screening of Fargo (18)

Friday 27 January

Doors open at 6:30 pm, the film starts at 7:30 pm

At The Parade, Hoylake Community Centre, Hoyle Road, Hoylake

Licensed bar and homemade snacks available

Tickets cost £5

Available online at www.hoylakevillage.org.uk (click “What’s On”);
Or at Urbane, Market Street; The Parade Hoylake Community Centre, Hoyle Road;
Or on the door on the night

Hoylake Community Cinema continues to grow from strength to strength as another film night comes to Hoylake this month. The community group Hoylake Village Life are showing their fourth film in the year-long schedule with the screening of Fargo, a thriller by Joel and Ethan Coen, on Friday 27 January.

The last film, It’s a Wonderful Life, shown before Christmas, attracted a sell-out audience. HVL member Richard Stowe said: “Our film nights have gathered momentum, and to have achieved a full house with only our third film is remarkable. We are anticipating a large turn-out again for Fargo as word of Hoylake Community Cinema spreads.”

Hoylake resident Melanie Bird said: “It was sad to see Hoylake’s only cinema, The Classic, close in the 1990s, especially since members of my family used to work there. I think Hoylake Village Life have done a great job by introducing monthly film nights to Hoylake. Some complain that there’s nothing to do, but this addresses that head-on. People feel there is a real buzz in Hoylake now.”

HVL is also looking to bring Saturday Matinees for the kids to The Parade, Hoylake Community Centre. Plans are being put in place to offer parents the chance to leave their children with CRB-checked childminders to watch a film, and then collect them later. Parents will be free to shop or have coffee in one of the many cafés and restaurants in nearby Market Street.

Tickets for Fargo cost £5 and are available from gift shop Urbane, The Parade, Hoylake Community Centre, on the door, and online at www.hoylakevillage.org.uk. Doors open at 6.30 pm; the film starts at 7.30 pm sharp. There is a licensed bar and the added attraction of a quiz after the film, with prizes for the winner and runner-up. Early booking is advised.

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Hoylake Cinema Night: Fargo

Many thanks to Chris Hankin for this week’s Friday Photo which happens to be a follow-up to the one I published last week. As we’ve seen a few old photos of male football teams and even an English Championship winning basketball team, it’s good to address the balance with some sporty females. Chris comments:

My nan Edith Hankin (nee Smith, kneeling on left) bowled for the Melrose Bowling Club for decades, and became their President for many years – I enclose a few photos with lots of the members – I’m afraid I can name only a very few of them – perhaps others can chip in?

Now I’m not sure if those are Hoylake houses in the background – they look like they could be but I’m struggling to place them. Any guesses?

[UPDATE: Sat 21st]

Chris has just sent me the photo below (click for larger) of a bowling team from the 1940′s, taken on the bowling green that was behind the former YMCA building in Hoyle Road.

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Friday Photo: Melrose Bowling Club Ladies