Wirral’s top policeman drums up support for community project at Townfield Primary

Jul 16 2008 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

AN ambitious community project aiming to cut anti-social behaviour by teaching youngsters Japanese taiko drumming was visited by Wirral’s top police officer last week.

Area commander, Chief Superintendent Jon Ward, was invited to Townfield Primary School in Oxton to see an ensemble trained by Rock Ferry Community Partnership’s Ken Taylor.

A group of eight children started lessons after the Easter holidays and there are now 17 Townfield drummers, aged between nine and 11.

The community project is the brainchild of Rock Ferry Community Partnership’s Ken Taylor and Jim Cadwallader, who wanted to provide a new activity for young people to enjoy in a safe environment.

Financial support for the project has come from Merseyside Police, with assistance from Community Support Officer Vic Vanderveer.

Jan Ryan, music co-ordinator at Townfield Primary, said: “They’ve developed a real team spirit, they have total focus and all work together so well.

“They’re so enthusiastic about it.”

The Townfield team stole the show with their drumming abilities last week during a performing arts evening at Ridgeway High.

Organisers have also been teaching youngsters in Bidston’s North-Enders Club, The Observatory School in Bidston, Bidston Village Primary and Sandbrook Primary in Moreton.

They say playing the drums improves co-ordination and encourages young participants to see the benefits of working as a team.

Peter Crawford, chairman of Bidston Preservation Trust, has been helping with the project and says more volunteers are urgently needed to expand on its growing success.

He said: “People see what these children can do and just say ‘wow, we want to get involved’.

“There’s no barrier to this and it doesn’t matter if children have disabilities or other special needs - we can take it everywhere.”