BROADCASTER Peter Sissons will be master of ceremonies at this year's Regional Business Awards. The one-time head boy of Liverpool Institute said: "I am looking forward to the awards evening very much. "The industrial face of Liverpool has changed so much in the past few years. You only have to drive along the dock road towards South Liverpool to see the difference." Born inSefton General Hosital in Smithdown Road, Sissons's childhood home was on Ingleton Road, near Penny Lane. He went to Dovedale Primary School and the Liverpool Institute where he was head boy, and studied alongside the likes of Sir Paul McCartney, with whom he still keeps in touch. Other fellow pupils were John Lennon at Dovedale Road and George Harrison at the Institute - whom he caught up with shortly before his death to reminisce about old times. He went on to read philosophy, politics and economics at University College, Oxford, before taking a job at ITN in the 1970s when he covered Liverpool's dock disputes. He presented the news programmes and News at Ten before joining the BBC in 1989 as a presenter on Question Time. The after-dinner speaker will be Michael Caulfleld, a sports psychologist. He has a masters degree in sports science from Brunel University. He has spent the last 14 years championing the cause of jockeys, male and female, to put them on a par with other sporting figures like footballers. He has won awards for his work on weight loss among jockeys. He was the guest speaker at the Professional Cricketers Association annual meeting at Edgbaston in April and spoke at a Trinity Mirror conference for its advertising sales staff. The musical entertainment will be provided by jazz artist Toni James. She specialises a jazz theme into modern favourites like the Beatles song Hard Days Night. Toni will be performing at the pre-dinner drinks reception with pianist Pete Watson, who she has worked with regularly at restaurants and clubs around Liverpool. Later in the evening she will be supported by a band including Marcus Bonfanti on guitar, Mike Smith on saxophone and Chris Pye on drums. tonymcdonough@dailypost.co.uk | 
