‘Families Fighting for Justice’ was set up in 2008 by Jean Taylor a mother whose 2 children were murdered. (I’m sat next to Jean, pictured above who is speaking at the monthly FFJ meetings.)

On Saturday hundreds of people took to the streets in support of the group and its demand for justice for their murdered children.  The march, led by a Scots Piper ended at the steps of St Georges Hall. Many of those who marched were family members whose children had been senselessly killed, and they carried banners and placards bearing the names and photos of their children. People beeped their horns and cheered as the march went through the streets before ending at St Georges Hall for a commemorative service, which began with the release of red and blue balloons into the sky and ended with 2 white doves being released.

These families, through their shared grief, have joined together to call for stiffer sentences that truly reflect the heinous crimes committed on top of which they are calling for a new law on Gang Sentencing.  The current situation were perpetrators can walk free if no one individual from the gang that killed the person can be found responsible is wholly unacceptable.  Families fighting for Justice want to see a group sentence delivered. There is such a law in America and, like Sarah’s law, were Sarah Payne fought for 7 years to have Sarah’s law introduced,  these families are working together to have a new law introduced for Gang Sentences.

Click this link to see the video from Saturday’s march

http://liverpoolstories.blogspot.com/2009/03/families-fighting-for-justice-march.html

The video was made by Tim Brunsden

Councillor Gerry Ellis, myself and Roy Shuttleworth, Secretary of Meols Park

Can you believe it, after 18 years of being in the dark….. Meols Park has its school crossing light switched back on!

Local campaigner and secretary of the Friends of Meols Park, along with myself, chairman of the park and local councillor Gerry Ellis have helped to transform this park over the last 18 months – with a new play area, and a new football area to be and now there is lighting too!

This is a much loved local park and the local community really have come together to rebuild it, as the Friends of Meols Park logo says ‘We’re Going It For the Kids’.

I was delighted to be asked, along with Jane Owens, to be an Ambassador for Girlguiding here on Wirral. With nearly 5000 Girlguides on Wirral and over 580,000 nationally it’s an exceptional organisation and one I’m thrilled to be a part of. 

Pictured above Jane Owens, myself and Sue Dutton, County Commissioner for the Girlguides.

A little while ago Jesse Jackson, pictured above and swamped by well wishes, came to Edge Hill University to give a talk. I was delighted to be able to get a ticket and sit in the audience to listen to him speak. He spoke warmly and eloquently about his life’s journey, his fight for civil rights, his candidature for the Democratic presidential nomination and his delight at seeing Barack Obama become the 44th president of the United States and his tears of joy captured on news footage and shown around the world.  He linked his talk to the words of John Lennon too and the powerful effect such words had on his life and others around the globe. Gee Walker, Anthony Walker’s, mother, a great woman and good friend of mine was invited to meet Jesse. Afterwards they spent time together, maybe comforting and consoling each other in different ways. It was a powerful night and one I was delighted I was able to attend.

Last night after a resident’s meeting in Upton discussing a local fundraiser and summer community event I visited the Novas Gallery to view the 2nd year ‘Gallery Practise’ exhibition art work of Wirral Art students.

Behind the scenes at Sky TV.

I’ve just come back from Sky having done the day’s paper review  and round up of what’s happening in the world.

Yesterday Ken Clarke MP came to Wirral to meet with local residents and business owners.  Heralded as a great figure within the Conservative party and warmly welcomed back into front line politics,  he was met with open arms where ever we went.

Is nothing safe on the Wirral ? Wirral Council seem to be cutting everything at the moment.

Eleven of Wirral’s Lollipop men and women have been axed. This is despite new risk assessments being carried out.   Lollipop men and women do a fantastic job of keeping our children safe. The saving the council is making is £30,000 – a miniscule amount of money that is worth paying if it saves one child being injured or killed.

The decision is based on a complex set of criteria based on a formula (PV²) involving the number of pedestrians and vehicles and then squaring that number. If this falls below the recommended 5 x 106 then the crossing patrol will be disestablished. Applying a complex formula when children’s safety is at risk is absurd. What happened to common sense?