Dr Floella Benjamin was in Liverpool to give an evening talk in celebration of International Women’s Day and here she is, in front of the Black Achievers Wall, in the International Slavery Museum on the Albert Dock.  Since her rise to fame on Playschool and Playaway, she has gone on to write over 20 childrens books, ran 9 London marathons for children’s charities, a guide to Caribbean cookery and a book about her experiences of being raised in the UK after being born in Trinidad.  She nows run her own television company which she set up with her husband and campaigns tirelessly for a Minister for Children to oversee government policy.  And if that’s not enough, she also happens to have opinions and a vast knowledge about a whole host of subjects and in the 15 minutes I was in her company she talked passionately about property developers and their avoidance of producing affordable housing, the state of Russian prisons and football!

Woolton market is an organic mecca. On a Saturday morning you can happily meander through the stalls and taste the delights of our wonderfull locally reared meats, fresh vegetables and get happily plump on the most wonderful chocolate pudding with hot custard. But for me the highlight of this Market is the Cheese Stall. Fiona Haughton of Mrs Kirkham’s cheeses is totally and utterly passionate about cheese, her eyes light up when she describe’s the joys of stirring a huge vat of cheese, too waiting for two months to taste the final, wonderful Lancashire flavours. I have to agree, this was some of the best cheese I have ever tasted so I’ve stocked up the Larder and made ready with the crackers!

Woolton Village holds a Farmers Market every 2nd Saturday of each month. With over 30 stalls with a wide range of produce the farmers Markets provide a crucial income for the local farmers, growers, bakers and brewers who sell at them. Farmers Markets are good for the environment too, reducing packaging, storage, food miles and therefore pollution. Farmers Markets are good for you because the food is fresher and will not have been stored or transproted for miles before you buy it. The Travelling Pig Hog Roast Company from Lancashire is a popular stall selling Hog Roast, Apple Sauce and stuffing for £3.00. Yum Yum !

Bill Page is a Master Butcher - based on Market Street in Hoylake he serves the local community and prides himself with providing a bespoke service. Attention to detail is his by-word. He started his trade when he was only 13 years old and served as an apprentice until he was 21. On a saturday the line of people waiting for his meat and other delicacies stretch out of the door and onto the street, and whilst chickens for example don’t cost £2.50 as you might find in other big name supermarkets, I wouldn’t eat anything else.