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Is Liverpool the new Hollywood?
Directors and stars flock to the city to film
TOP: Delia Smith (centre) with (l-r) Dr Roger Levermore, Liz Crolley, Michael Wynne Jones, Director of
NCFC, Dr Geoff Pearson, Neil Doncaster and Andrew Cullen, NCFC Marketing Director
LEFT: The Foresight Centre was transformed into a film set
RIGHT: Cathy Tyson and co-star Stewart Wright at MerseyBio
Forget the dreaming spires of Oxford
or the gritty streets of Manchester,
this year the campus at the University
of Liverpool seemed to be the UK film set
of choice for directors looking for historic
buildings or high-tech labs to feature in their
productions.
The Foresight Centre had its fair share
of fame with the former hospital chapel
transformed into a turn of the century A&E
waiting room for the BBC drama Casualty
1906 starring Cheri Lunghi, which was
screened on 3 December.
The building also doubled as the vaults
of the British Museum in ITV’s The Outsiders,
starring Nigel Harman. Although the drama
was set in such glamorous locations as
Malta, Barcelona, Paris and Rome, most
of the filming actually took place around
Merseyside.
Liverpool-born actor Cathy Tyson filmed
scenes for her latest production, Bonkers,
in the labs at MerseyBio, one of which also
doubled up as a police interrogation room.
Other stars have visited the University
this year in a range of capacities from public
speaking to student lectures to charity events.
TV chef Delia Smith made an appearance
at the Management School in her role as
Director of Norwich City Football Club to speak
to MBA students on the Football Industries
course. Norwich is renowned for continuing
to implement best practice in its management
and Delia and the club’s CEO were happy to
share their expertise with the students.
The 2006 series of Public Lectures brought
some well-known faces to the University
with Alan Hansen, Sir Ranulph Fiennes and
Everyman founder Terry Hands all giving
entertaining speeches.
And our honorary graduates also included
some household names with actors Alison
Steadman and Pete Postlethwaite, and
Liverpool Poets, Roger McGough and
Brian Patten, all awarded honorary degrees
this year.
Filming at the Royal was arranged through the Corporate Communications department and substantial
donations have been made by the companies to the Victoria Building fundraising campaign
ABOVE:
Ian Botham is interviewed before his walk
Beefing up
Staff from the Division of Haematology
helped Ian Botham on his latest walk in
support of childhood cancer charities.
The Beefy Bowls Out Teenage Cancer
Walk 2006 saw Botham visiting 17 cities
across the UK. The Liverpool leg took
him past all the Leukaemia Research
Centres and Teenage Cancer Trust Units
and developments in the city, including
those based on campus.
The team from Haematology not
only helped identify patients to meet Ian
Botham during his stint in Liverpool, but
also rattled tins in the city centre and
along parts of the route.
Professor John Cawley, Head of
Haematology, said: “We see young
cancer patients every day here so
we know the difference this kind of
fundraising can make to their lives. As
Leukaemia Research Fund (UK) is a
major contributor to the research work
of the Division, it was good to be able to
give something back.”
A total of £3,452 was collected on
the day and, to date, over half a million
pounds has been raised for Leukaemia
Research and the Teenage Cancer Trust.
Visit: www.bothamwalk.com to donate.
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