My Midweek Visiter column- first week in February

Spontaneous applause broke out during the Holocaust Memorial service in Southport last week after the Imam of Southport Mosque, Soyful Alam, had spoken. There were extraordinarily powerful and moving presentations during the afternoon including one from Rabbi Ariel Abel who told the congregation that he had recently discovered the details of how the genocide had directly impacted on his family.

Soyful Alam spoke of his despair at our failure to learn the lessons of the holocaust. The world stands aside and fails to act. It is hard to find hope when night after night we see images of genocide and we know how many hundreds of thousands of innocent people have been killed. Soyful warned this failure to act undermines our common humanity and the bonds that should link us all together.

Pupils from St John’s Ainsdale working with their teacher Sarah Myers and Pauline Collier-a fellow of the Imperial War Museum- acted out a drama exploring the concerns of children who escaped to Britain during the last war through the kindertransport scheme. They were followed by students from KGV and Runshaw VIth Form Colleges who had researched the plight of individual victims of the holocaust after a recent visit to Auschwitz.
The Holocaust memorial came at the end of a busy week. I attended Chinese New Year Celebrations with the Chinese Government’s NW Consul, cut the 10th birthday cake at the party for the Formby Swimming Pool, cut a ribbon tied over a new park bench to mark the 50th Anniversary of Formby Rotary and attended Diana Beldam’s 100th Birthday tea party in Southport. There are lots of pictures and information on the Mayoral Blog http://themayoralblog.blogspot.co.uk
Crosby Scouts held a Burn’s Night Supper at Sacred Heart School. I have been very impressed by the work of local scouts. Having seen them in action I fully understand why more and more young people are opting to join up. The Explorer Scouts in Crosby put on a great night and raise money for their chosen charities.
In the Mayor’s office we are gearing up for the Annual Charity Ball that will be held in Southport on 1st of April this year. All the proceeds will go to local charities. It promises to be a great night. If you would like to come along and support this event drop me a line at Southport or Bootle Town Hall. I will announce further details shortly.