WIRRAL BIKEATHON 2017
ACCLAIMED FOLK OPERA INSPIRES SONGWRITER ’ S INTIMATE COMEBACK
W L NEWS
WIRRAL BIKEATHON 2017
ACCLAIMED FOLK OPERA INSPIRES SONGWRITER ’ S INTIMATE COMEBACK
Credit : Carl Walker Photography www . walker . gallery
This year ’ s Wirral Bikeathon will take place on Sunday 11th June 2017 . It will be the 19th Wirral Bikeathon and to date the event has raised £ 880,000 for Bloodwise .
The Wirral Bikeathon is a 14 or 28 mile ride around the Wirral and Arrowe Country Park , which is the start , mid-point and finish area . The terrain is on and off road following well designated roads and country paths . The event is suitable for all ages and disabilities using suitable equipment . All children must be accompanied and those under 8 are not allowed to ride independently - suitable tag-a-longs , child seats or trailers must be used . All riders are encouraged to wear helmets . Refreshments are available in the start area . The Red Room Cafe provides hot food and riders and their families can enjoy live music which is provided by Fairground Organ , Peninsula Jazzmen and the Ukulele band .
This annual event is a ride not a race so it is a great day out for families . The route is a figure of eight loop around the Wirral with start , midpoint and finish in Arrowe Country Park . It takes in north Wirral through Caldy and the Wirral Way to West Kirby and Moreton . The second section goes from the Park to Thornton Hough , Storeton and Landican .
The 2017 Bikeathon will be very similar to previous years and will again feature a “ selfie station ” in the start / finish area at Arrowe Park . This was very popular on social media last year due to the help of local Olympic Gold Medallist and cycling legend Chris Boardman - who will be joining in the race again this year !
Chris has been the patron and a huge supporter of the Bikeathon over these many years together with members of his family . Chris said : “ Since the Wirral Bikeathon started 19 years ago we have raised £ 880,000 towards beating blood cancer . We are making a really big push for the Bikeathon in 2017 and next year and aiming to get across the £ 1million mark for funds raised for Bloodwise , the leading blood cancer charity . It ’ s a great family event so do come along and support us .”
This year the Bikeathon will take place on Sunday 11th June 2017 with start times between 9:30 and 11:30 am . Online registration is open at www . wirralbikeathon . com and costs £ 15 for adults and £ 5 for those aged 15 and under . All riders receive a Wirral Bikeathon t-shirt and a medal for crossing the finishing line .
Veteran Wirral singer / songwriter Dean Johnson is set to return to the local stage for a unique intimate solo performance .
The highly anticipated comeback after 25 years is prompted by the critical acclaim of his acoustic ‘ Folk Opera ’ entitled ‘ The Empties ’. A mixture of narration and songs presented in a troubadour style is highly unusual . The influential Record Collector magazine have described it as ‘ A rootsy Romeo & Juliet , an absolute gem ’, while the BBC have praised the ‘ great songwriting ’.
Dean graduated from the local folk scene in the late 1970s . Guitar legend Richard Thompson was an early champion of his songwriting and performing skills . Radio Merseyside music historian Spencer Leigh has described Dean as ‘ The best songwriter in Merseyside ’.
A chance meeting with Chris Difford of Squeeze introduced Johnson into the mainstream , where he wrote and toured , appearing at The Royal Albert Hall and Wembley Stadium with the likes of Paul Carrack , Bryan Ferry and The Beach Boys . Dean also became an unofficial 5th member of Wet Wet Wet . But it was whilst touring with David Essex that the 70 ' s superstar suggested Dean ' s songs would work in a theatrical setting . Dean turned his attention to writing stage musicals . For the first , ‘ Bullets and Daffodils ’, he joined forces with the much loved James Herriot / EastEnders actor Christopher Timothy , to tell the story of Birkenhead war poet Wilfred Owen . The production enjoyed West End runs and featured cast members such as Brookside ' s Dean Sullivan and legendary DJ Billy Butler , who described the 2014 production as ‘ One of the best things I have ever been part of .’
Now in 2017 , The Empties brings Dean full circle to the intimacy of the folk scene and its premiere takes place at the Bromborough Folk Club , a venue that was the scene of Dean ' s earliest live performances .
The event takes place on Wednesday 24th May at The Bridge Inn , Bolton Road , Port Sunlight , CH62 4UQ . Contact John Coleman 0151 334 0759 for more information . wirrallife . com 7