Look out for Pudsey Bear as he makes his much-welcomed BBC Children In Need comeback in Southport this Friday – and please be generous!
Pudsey, like all of us, was sadly under lockdown this time of year due to Covid restrictions.
But the good news is that this Friday he is back out again, and looking forward to meeting local people as he shakes his collection bucket at places around Southport.
Please post your pictures into Stand Up For Southport if you spot him!
Pudsey will be accompanied by members of Southport Hesketh Round Table on his travels.
He will start his day at Southport Train Station at 8am on Friday morning.
Pudsey is due at Element 5 Hairdressing on Tulketh Street at around 4pm and at Morrisons supermarket in Southport at around 4.25pm, although times may change.
In between, Schools which Pudsey aims to be visiting today include: Churchtown Primary School, Southport College, KGV College, Linaker Primary School, Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School, Farnborough Road Infants School, Kingsmeadow Primary School, and others.
In a separate initiative from the Round Table tour, you can also look out for Pudsey Bear arriving at ASDA supermarket at Central 12 retail park in Southport at 4.15pm this Friday, with local people invited to come and meet him in the foyer.
Tablers were inundated with responses after they invited local businesses and schools if they would like to enjoy a special visit from the big yellow teddy bear.
Southport Hesketh Round Table is the local charity that manages some of the largest family events in Southport including the Grand Bonfire and Fireworks, the Santa float and the Southport Mad Dog 10K run.
Vice Chairman Marc Foreman said: “2020 was a tough year with restrictions due to Covid so we couldn’t take Pudsey out and visit schools and local businesses, but this year he’s back and going to be bigger and cheekier than ever.
“This year is the first year we opened up for new schools and businesses to visit and we were inundated with replies, pretty much all from schools!
“So, the only time we are about in public is in the morning at Southport Train Station or at the end of the day.
“There are lots of schools we’re trying to visit within the day. It’s going to be a huge task but we’re confident if we keep moving we should be okay. “
The next fundraising drive from Southport Hesketh Round Table will be their annual Santa Sleigh around town.
Marc said: “It’s coming up to that time of year when Southport Hesketh Round Table will be organising our annual Santa float routes so we are also on the search for local charities and community projects that would like to assist us on our nightly routes across the town.
“Last year was the first time we had various sponsors for the routes, so if any local businesses would like to sponsor a night with a ‘shout-out from Santa’ please contact us on our Facebook page.
“We’ve been busy with building our Santa Float and will be releasing the dates and routes next week.”
If anyone would like to join, volunteer or assist in the future please get in contact via the Facebook page Southport Hesketh Round Table 1199.
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