Former political journalist John Sergeant who would often be ready outside the front of Number on some the great occasion has pulled out of BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing because winning would have been “a joke too far”, he has said.  

However, in the spirit of democracy perhaps he should have let the public decide. The 64-year-old has received strong support from the public since the show started, but the judges have been critical of his dancing. And, this is where the problem appears to have started in my opinion; it was simply a case of the public disliking the comments of judges. They phoned in their thousands to support our ‘Honest John’, but at the same time they were showing their displeasure at the judge’s comments.  

Perhaps, he should now consider turning his energy to a new political role, and instead of fighting for telephone votes he should seek his votes through the ballot box. How about it, John Sergeant MP? 

    Lord of music Andrew Lloyd Webber has taken on “mission impossible”. His aim is to win the Eurovision song contest for Britain for the first time since 1997, when Katrina and the Waves beat the Irish runner-up by 70 points with “Love Shine a Light”. Since then, British entries have performed miserably.

Lord Weber is arguably the most successful composer of modern times with hit musicals such as Evita and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Lord Lloyd-Webber said: “I have never shied away from the impossible and this looks like the biggest mission impossible of all time. But with the might of the British public behind me who knows what will happen?”

In 2003 the duo Jemini made Eurovision history by scoring the UK’s first “nul points”, and last year’s entrant, “X Factor” finalist Andy Abraham, went into the competition as one of the bookies’ favourites but came joint last.

Hopefuls for the contest in Moscow - dogged by claims of “bloc voting” by East European nations - can upload entries to the BBC by November 21. They will then be whittled down to a shortlist of six in a series of live shows fronted by Graham Norton. But history is against an unknown singer – and previous UK winners, such as Lulu, were already well-known stars.

Lit.Com is a celebration of the written and spoken word with the best in UK stand up thrown in. This year, the event runs from October 9 to 19, at various venues throughout North East Lincolnshire.  Lit.Com 2008 highlights include: 

 Ø       Five professional theatre productions over one weekend from five national touring companies. A range of styles and stories for all ages (Friday 10th & Saturday 11th October at various venues)                

Ø       A stand-up comedy triple bill for children! (Wednesday 15th at Parkway Cinema)

Ø       Two Coen Brothers film nights with interesting introductions from guest speaker and author John Ashbrook (Tuesday 14th and Thursday 16th at Fishing Heritage Centre)

Ø       The chance to meet and hear from much-lauded Booker long-list author Jon McGregor (Thursday 16th at Hotel Elizabeth)

Ø       Laugh your socks off at the Lit.Com Comedy Café, a triple bill, this time for adults, with Junior Simpson, Mick Ferry and Roger Monkhouse (Thursday 16th at ibar, Grimsby)                                                                                                              Ø       The opportunity to hear about ‘Multiculturalism in the UK’ from BBC News presenter George Alagiah, himself a former Tamil immigrant boy from war torn Sri Lanka (Friday 17th Whitgift Film Theatre) 

Download the PDF guide for full details of all events, which also include writing workshops, heritage trails, Black History month events and live poetry! 

As promised the Park Event is back on after the event was originally cancelled due to heavy rain!!! 

Fun and games will fill Grimsby’s People’s Park this Sunday as the revamped site is officially reopened.

The park - which has been restored to its Victorian glory following a £2.7-million facelift - will see a host of activities laid on to celebrate the occasion.

Attractions will include live music, Victorian-themed children’s games, food stalls, magicians, balloon modelling, donkey rides and a Punch and Judy show at 12.30pm and 3pm.

The Park has just celebrated its 125 year anniversary, therefore the event will have a Victorian theme. At midday the Mayor of North East Lincolnshire, Councillor Colin Eastwell, will officially declare the park open and the Grimsby Majorettes will perform.

 The park’s bandstand will stage performances by the Kingsway Players Brass Band at 11am and 12.15pm, Merlin’s Keep Folk Band at 1.15pm and Dixieland Jazz Band at 2.15pm and 3.15pm.

Traditional children’s games, organised by the Friends Of People’s Park, will include large snakes and ladders, a teddy bears picnic, and a best dressed teddy competition at 1.30pm.

For those who get peckish during the day there will be a number of food stalls and the Park’s cafe centre will be open serving hot snacks.  

 Park Pride Day runs from 11am to 4pm, on Sunday.

The Arts Forum Festival presenting an action packed programme including the Rocky Horror show; Street Dancing; and Hula Hoop Workshops. There is something for all of the family.

There is a month of artistic events including workshops, performances, exhibitions, film and installations across North East Lincolnshire. This event showcases local, national and international talent with something for everybody. Various charges throughout the festival apply. 

Events include: A thousand Cranes by Fusion Youth Theatre; A Tribute to Atlantic Jazz; Battle of the Band’s Final; Comedy Night, Dance with MOTHER; Film Night with the Rocky Horror Picture Show; etc. 

Workshops include: Hula Hoop Workshop; Mask Workshop; Poetry Workshop; Puppetry Workshop; Pottery Workshop; Samba Workshop; Stop Motion Film Making; Street Dance Workshop, etc.

CLEETHORPES new events arena will play host to the hugely popular classical open-air concert on Saturday, August 23 at 7.30pm - an event which continues to grow year-on-year. Advanced adult tickets are priced at £16.00 and can be purchased on the evening for £18.00. Childrens tickets cost £10.00 (booking/transaction fee may apply).

Tickets are available from the Tourist Information Centre at Cleethorpes Library, Caxton Box Office at Grimsby Library and Grimsby Auditorium Box Office.

The concert forms part of the Arts Forum Festival 2008 which showcases local, national and international art and cultural practitioners.

 Returning by popular demand, Manchester Camerata will take centre stage at the arena for a night of wonderful classical music - Cleethorpes very own proms.

Manchester Camerata has been presenting live music for over thirty-five years and has established an enviable reputation as an orchestra which delivers high quality concerts in a refreshingly relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

As always, the concert will be brought to an extravagant close with a spectacular firework finale.

Tickets are now on sale for the concert which promises to provide an evening of entertainment for the whole family.

Conducting the 51-piece orchestra is Timothy Redmond, whose programme blends known ballet favourites with popular songs from various operas, finishing with a rousing finale in the traditional Last Night of the Proms style.

With pieces from Tchaikovskys Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake; through to favourites like Jerusalem, 1812 Overture, Elgars Pomp and Circumstance March No1 (Land of Hope and Glory) the audience will have a good flag waving time!  

I was interested to read this morning about the man who blasted Cher and U2 from his home has had his stereo equipment, and music collection destroyed.  

Karl Wiosna of Graig, near Pontypridd, was warned to turn down his music by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council after complaints were made. He was served with a noise abatement notice, which he later admitted breaching.  

As a result, his two tape and record decks, his radio and his tapes and CDs were seized by the council.  

All of Wiosna’s equipment has now been destroyed and he was also fined £265 by local magistrates after he admitted the charges against him.  

I often listen to Cher (and at times a little loud) on my CD player, but I must admit that I prefer her earlier hits from the sixties when she was Sonny. Therefore, I do sympathise with Mr Wiosna because Cher is truly a superb artiste. I remember going to Sheffield to see her live a few years back and she was absolutely fantastic.  

Unfortunately, I am not really a fan of U2 but give me anyone from the 60’s and they will do me fine. But my favourites are: The Beatles, The Stones, Donovan, Dylan, Simon and Garfunkel, and of course Cher. And, I am definitely not a Cliff fan like my fellow Councillors Doug and Sue Pickett who are even members of his fanclub.

A Date has been set for next year’s Cleethorpes Carnival - but more help is needed.

The carnival will take place on Saturday, July 25, 2009, but only if significant funding and support can be mustered.

This summer’s event saw thousands of people line the streets and in places people were standing three and four deep on the pavement. The parade started at 4.30 pm and was led by the Mayor’s Car along with a whole host of exciting floats, marching bands, and many people who just took the opportunity to get dressed up in fancy dress outfit - enter the revived parade.

Chair of the Parade Committee, Cllr. Leanor Pidgen, said it was a struggle to pull it all together, it was extremely hard.

She said: “It was a superb day. The weather was great and we could have never guessed how many people would turn out to watch, but there were cracks.

“We would like it to go ahead next year but we need more hands on deck, more people behind the scenes doing work.

“There was so much paperwork to do - risk assessments, road closures, health and safety forms.

“If we want it doing better than this year we need people to commit to certain roles, such as fundraising or administration.”

Leanor was determined to see the Parade succeed after North East Lincolnshire Council had decided withdraw the Parade in 2007, following end of European Funding after they decided to re-prioritise some of their budget commitments. She managed to set up a small committee of five members who were all committed to making it happen, but now recognises that more help is required.

It is also important to say that more committee members and volunteers alone will not bring the carnival back for another year. Funding also needs to be found. Leanor said: “The council was very generous this year and they let some of the councillors put their ward funding towards it.“But with a new chief executive about to start and with rising costs, we need to secure sponsorship.“We have proved we can put the event together from nothing - now we need companies to come forward and back us.

The LP Caribou was released in 1974. The lyrics on all the tracks were written by Bernie Taupin who was born a few miles away from Grimsby.

The LP contains the well known singles “The Bitch is Back”, and “Don’t let the Sun Go Down on Me” which he also had hits with. There were lesser known tracks – one of which was the third track on side one, and was titled “Grimsby”.

I have wondered how much Bernie knew about our area. In the song he wrote about trawlers, (which I can understand), but then he talks about the Skinners Arms. I cannot find anyone who has heard of its existence. There is a Wellington Arms in Freeman Street were the regulars are more likely to eat fish and chips, but definitely not pies and peas as the song suggests.

After all that fun, “Grimsby” is actually one of my favourite Elton records, and I have never understood why he never released it as single – it’s worth getting out your old record player. The words are listed below:

As I lay dreaming in my bed
Across the great divide
I thought I heard the trawler boats
Returning on the tide
And in this vision of my home
The shingle beach did ring
I saw the lights along the pier
That made my senses sing

Oh oh Grimsby, a thousand delights
Couldn’t match the sweet sights
Of my Grimsby
Oh England you’re fair
But there’s none to compare with my Grimsby
Through nights of mad youth
I have loved every sluice in your harbour
And in your wild sands from boyhood to man
Strangers have found themselves fathers

Take me back you rustic town
I miss your magic charm
Just to smell your candy floss
Or drink in the Skinners Arms
No Cordon Bleu can match the beauty
Of your pies and peas
I want to ride your fairground
Take air along the quay