IN BRIEF
WIRRAL FREEMASON
AWARDED LEGION
D’HONNEUR BY
FRENCH GOVERNMENT
SANTA DASH TO INCLUDE
THE ROYAL ALBERT DOCK!
The Royal Albert Dock in Liverpool is set to become part
of the BTR Liverpool Santa Dash route for the very first
time.
Freemason Ronald Frederick Balshaw from Birkenhead,
was recently presented with the ‘Legion D’honneur’
issued by the French government in recognition of his
service prior to and during the D-Day Landings.
The Rt. Hon Frank Field MP, was pleased to present Ron with the Medal, the
highest honour bestowed on any Non-French citizen. The MP spent time
with Ron and his family where Ron reminisced about the part he played
in the D-Day landings on minesweeper the MMS280, where he swept the
channel off the Normandy coast in heavy seas and storms in the days prior
to and including D-Day itself ensuring a safe passage for the D-Day fleet
across the channel and onto the beaches. Ron was overwhelmed to receive
the medal and his family were obviously very proud. It took 60 years to be
recognised but it’s very poignant that it was presented to Ron around the
time of the 100th Anniversary of Armistice Day.
RADIO CITY GRANTED
FREEDOM OF CITY
After broadcasting to the area for the last 44 years, Radio
City has been granted Freedom of the City by The Right
Worshipful, the Lord Mayor of Liverpool.
Radio City began broadcasting to Liverpool, Merseyside and beyond in
October 1974 from its birthplace in Stanley Street. Since that date, the
station has kept its audience entertained and informed, 24 hours a day
reporting on the events and the people that have made this city the place
it is. A trusted voice; a best friend, a shoulder to cry on. A prestigious
ceremony took place at the Hilton Hotel in Liverpool ONE for the station
that continues to cheer with the fans, champion the city and stand proud
with its people to accept this accolade.
10 wirrallife.com
The 15th annual festive spectacular takes place on Sunday 2 December
– when up to 10,000 festive runners will make their way through the
estate of the Grade I Listed attraction. Organisers BTR Liverpool have
changed the established route due to the closure of Churchill Flyover
for essential works – and are delighted to welcome Royal Albert Dock
Liverpool as part of this year’s event.
Clare Rawlinson, Head of Marketing & Business Development at the
Royal Albert Dock said: “The BTR Liverpool Santa Dash is one of
the most iconic events on the city’s annual calendar, with many local
families seeing it as the official start to their Christmas celebrations.
Royal Albert Dock Liverpool is thrilled to be supporting the event
and becoming part of the route for the first time. We look forward
to welcoming thousands of jolly Santas through the estate on 2
December!”
For the second successive year, Arriva North West has also got into
the festive spirit by kindly offering Santas free travel on the Arriva
bus network across Merseyside throughout Santa Dash day. To claim
complimentary bus travel to or from the city centre, Santas must be
wearing their Santa suit and race number or afterwards their finishers’
medal.
Lisa Pearson, Head of Marketing, Arriva North West and Wales, added:
“The Santa Dash is such a great event that really unites the people of
Liverpool, which is why we are so delighted to be able to help support
the city by offering free travel to all those in their Santa suits and race
numbers on the day of the dash.”
The BTR Liverpool Santa Dash on Sunday 2 December starts at 9.30am.
Santas will gather on the start line at Pier Head Liverpool, part of the
city’s iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site. Radio City Breakfast Show
hosts Leanne and Dave will officially start the event.