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