Award-winning humanitarian, inspirational speaker and tennis coach Sam Jalloh will be appearing at Southport Flower Show for the first time this week.
Sam will be hosting a Tennis Skills area near the Show Gardens and the Morrisons entrance to Victoria Park on all four days of the Show (Thursday 14th August to Sunday 17th August 2025).
He is a civil war survivor, a BBC Inspirations Awards 2020 recipient, a TEDx Speaker, an ex Sierra Leonean Tennis player, a globe trotter.
The acclaimed author, who has published books including How Tennis Saved My Life and You Can’t Break the African Spirit, will also be giving a talk about his incredible life in the Garden Theatre from 2pm this Saturday (16th August 2025).
Sam will be happy to chat about his newest book – Yes I Can – which is due to be published this October.
The dad-of-two grew up in poverty in Sierra Leone in west Africa.
He had a passion for tennis and his incredible determination saw him become an international tennis star for his country.
He moved to Southport in England 22 years ago and has enjoyed calling the town home.
Sam has visited 98 different countries so far in his lifetime, giving inspirational talks to children and adults around the world, and coaching some of the game’s biggest talents.
At Southport Flower Show, children or adults will be able to walk up to Sam’s tennis skills court and challenge him to a game – with great prizes on offer for anyone who can win against him!
Sam is the proud dad to twin daughters Sahara and Sierra, both 19 years old.
Sam said: “I love the Southport Flower Show! It’s one of my favourite events.
“I have enjoyed taking my daughters to the Show over many years, from being little, to now. It’s been a real family tradition.”
Sam is delighted to be taking a position on centre court at Victoria Park.
He joked: “It’s taken them 21 years to ask me to take part in the Southport Flower Show but I’m really pleased to have made it there finally!
“It’s a real honour to be part of a show I’ve been to so many times over the years. I will be there all four days.
“I met with Flower Show General Manager Alan Adams and spoke with him about being involved.
“There is so much for children to enjoy this year, including my Sam Jalloh Tennis Skills challenge. It will be free. Just come and enjoy it.
“Anyone can come and challenge me, children or adults.
“I will have lots of prizes that children can win if they win against me! If they win a ‘set’ against me, seven points, they can win a copy of my new book.
“I will also be raising funds for a charity which is very dear to me, the Liverpool Heartbeat charity, which was founded by the incredible Robin Baynes MBE.”
Sam has delivered talks all around the world and he is looking forward to speaking in the Garden Theatre from 2pm this Saturday (16th August 2025).
He said: “My talk will be in two parts. The first part will be humorous, looking at the funny things about the English language and some of the strange phrases and sayings people have!
“I grew up speaking English in Sierra Leone and thought I knew English well, but it was very confusing for me to get used to when I arrived in England and heard some of the phrases that people say!
“The second part of my talk will be more about my life story, with a positive message of hope for everyone.”
Sam is looking forward to launching his new book, Yes I Can, with a book signing at Waterstones bookshop on Chapel Street in Southport town centre later this year.
He will also be hosting an event and a talk about his life at The Atkinson on Lord Street in Southport, hosted by BBC reporter Richard Askam, with more details to be released soon.
Sam survived civil war in Sierra Leone, and against all the odds managed to escape and build a successful career in tennis and motivational speaking.
Sam grew up in Sierra Leone where food was scarce, dangers were rife and the challenges many.
Tragically he saw the cruel realities of civil war first hand when he saw his best friend shot and killed while he was next to him. His outlook on life changed instantly.
He left the war-torn country and eventually settled in Southport, where he married and has enjoyed raising twin daughters Sierra and Sahara.
He has travelled the world coaching some of the biggest names in tennis.
He has also toured a huge number of countries across the globe sharing his story and his message for the future. He particularly enjoys speaking to and spending time with young people as he seeks to help them to understand the world they are growing into.
He said: “After surviving my birth in Sierra Leone, a country that continues to have one of the highest neonatal and infant mortality rates in the world, I went on to be the first boy in my family to celebrate my second birthday – unlike my three brothers born before me.
“At the age of six, I was adopted from my biological parents to a new home where I faced constant punishment.
“After my best friend got shot, that really changed me.
“When it happened, I looked at my Mum and she looked at me in a way that said ‘I don’t want to see that happen to you’.
“To this day, I ask myself ‘what if’?
“What if we had been standing just 10 yards away from where we were when my friend was shot?
“When I was growing up, I suffered many beatings from my adopted family, and then saw the brutality of the civil war in Sierra Leone, where a quarter of a million people lost their lives.
“In a small way, this is my story, but in a greater sense this is our story. Regardless of my origin or where you come from, we are connected through history and the deeds of those who came before us.”
Southport Flower Show is at Victoria Park, Southport, PR8 2BZ from Thursday, 14th August to Sunday, 17th August 2025.
Expect to see some familiar faces as celebrity guests, such as Children’s TV favourite Justin Fletcher; Kelvin and Liz Fletcher from ITV’s Fletchers’ Family Farm; gardening experts David Domoney, Carole and George from Beechgrove Garden and Nick Bailey; TV chefs and presenters Rosemary Shrager, Phil Vickery and Cherish Finden; plus Zack George aka Steel from Gladiators.
Children under 16 go FREE with a paying adult.
Southport adults can enjoy an impressive £11 off the price of a gate ticket.
People living in the PR8 and PR9 postcodes can pay for their tickets for just £19 each – a substantial saving on the £30 gate price once the event starts.
You can buy your discount tickets in advance from:
The Atkinson, Lord Street, Southport town centre
Waterstones bookshop, Chapel Street, Southport
The Engine Room, Wayfarers Arcade, Lord Street, Southport town centre
Southport Flower Show office, Victoria Park, Southport
Checkers DIY, Botanic Road, Churchtown Village
Lions shop, Liverpool Road, Ainsdale Village
BusyBody’s, Liverpool Road, Birkdale Village
Residents must be able to show proof of address. Tickets are available until Wednesday 13th August 2025.
- Read more about Southport Flower Show: Southport Flower Show
- For more about Sam Jalloh visit: www.spjalloh.com
Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Do you need advertising, PR or media support? Please message Andrew Brown or email: mediaandrewbrown@gmail.com
