FOCUS MAGAZINE 'The Green Book'
GARSTANG - Scorton - Cabus - Garstang - Catterall - Bonds - Bowgreave - St Michaels - Churchtown
Issue 240 October 2020
We must keep on protecting each other.
Welcome to Focus Magazine... Local Restrictions..............................................4
Telephone Befriending...................................30
COVID-19 FAQs....................................................7
Cat Smith................................................................30
Garstang Medical Practice...........................10
Garstang Trefoil...................................................36
Garstang Library.................................................17
Soroptimists..........................................................36
Garstang Wine Circle.......................................18 Millennium Green..............................................19 Fairtrade Report..................................................20 Christmas Dinner at St Thomas.................21 Coffee Stop............................................................21 Garstang Arts Centre.......................................22 Calder Vale Methodist Chapel....................22 Scottish Country Dance.................................22 Garstang Free Methodists.............................23
Grey Matter Test.................................................38 Cardiac Risk in the Young..............................39 Help Beat Cancer...............................................42 Garstang Quakers..............................................42 Harmony & Health.............................................42 Garstang & District Lions...............................43 Preparing for Winter.........................................45 Garstang Camera Club...................................46
South Lancaster Speakers Club................23
Garstang Town Council .................................47
Wyre Flood Forum Report............................24
Crossword..............................................................49
Ben Wallace MP.................................................28
Grey Matter Test Answers.............................51
Calder Vale Country Club..............................30
Crossword Answers..........................................51
NOVEMBER 2020 DEADLINE DATE
The November deadline for editorial and adverts is 5:00pm on Monday 19th October Deliveries of the November edition of Focus Magazine will commence Thursday 29th October Over Wyre & Garstang Focus Magazines www.focusmags.co.uk | (01253) 813433 | www.facebook.com/focusmags Event Advertising & Editorial: editorial@focusmags.co.uk Business & Commercial Advertising: helen@focusmags.co.uk Postal submissions: Focus Magazine, 132 Highfield Rd, Blackpool, FY4 2HH Cover design by Phil S Clarkson | Printed by Moulton Printing | Š Focus Magazines 2020 While every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine to ensure accuracy, Focus Magazines cannot be held responsible for editorial content supplied by contributors. Our acceptance of an editorial item or an advertisement does not necessarily indicate our endorsement of the products, services or views contained within it.
LOCAL RESTRICTIONS Please note, the following guidance and FAQs are correct at the time of publication - Mon 21st Sept. Further government announcements made after this date may supersede the below guidance.
The new measures will affect all of Lancashire, apart from the Blackpool area, and came into effect on Tues 22nd Sept. They will: •
Prohibit households from mixing in homes and gardens
Tackling Rising COVID-19 Infection Rates
•
New measures are to be introduced in Lancashire as part of a combined effort across the county to help fight COVID-19.
Limit bars and restaurants to table service only
•
Prevent leisure and entertainment venues, including restaurants, pubs, and cinemas, opening between 10:00pm and 5:00am
Following a significant rise in the number of cases, and initial signs that hospital admissions are starting to increase, more stringent measures are to be introduced. The measures are designed to protect residents in the county from the spread of COVID-19, especially our more vulnerable residents. They are also aiming to prevent a much tighter lockdown.
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A number of areas of guidance have also been introduced which residents are strongly urged to comply with. These are: •
Only use public transport for essential purposes, such as travelling to school or work
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LOCAL RESTRICTIONS (cont) •
Not to attend amateur and semiprofessional sporting events as spectators
weeks after the cases increased. If we don’t act now we could be facing another lockdown. The situation really is that stark.
•
Residents are urged to only visit indoor locations such as pubs and restaurants with other members of their household or support bubble.
‘We are particularly seeing a high rate of positive cases in the 15 to 44 age group, and our concern is that this will spill into the older and vulnerable groups.
Lancashire County Council’s Director of Public Health, Dr Sakthi Karunanithi said: ‘The past six months have been really tough for everyone and so many people have made personal sacrifices for the good of their loved ones and the communities where they live and work.
‘Please do not mix between households indoors and keep outdoor mixing as low as possible. Use public transport only for essential journeys like school, work and health appointments. Try to stay and shop locally.
‘But we have seen really worrying signs of the infection rate increasing in Lancashire. The daily cases have doubled from 75 cases on Sun 6th Sept to 144 on Mon 14th Sept.
‘I would also say that we should be setting as good an example as possible for our children to encourage them to also be better at following the guidance now that pupils have returned to school.’
‘Although still in small numbers, we are also seeing that hospital admissions rise two
Angie Ridgwell, chair of the Lancashire Resilience Forum, which is leading the
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LOCAL RESTRICTIONS (cont) response to coronavirus in the county, said: ‘The rates of the virus across Lancashire continue to increase and for the safety of all our residents we need to take more wide reaching action to get this under control. While hospital admissions are low at the moment, they are rising and deaths will follow unless we all step up. ‘We know that the virus is spreading in social settings and therefore we need to reduce social mixing. ‘We have to do this so our children can go to school which is so important for their future, key workers can go to work and provide vital services and wherever possible we can keep our local businesses up and running. ‘I want to thank everyone who has already played a big part by adhering to these asks and now everyone needs to help. Please do this to protect yourself, your family and those
you love. Don’t mix outside of your household and ensure these new restrictions are lifted as soon as possible.’ Leader of Wyre Council, Cllr David Henderson said, ‘I know it’s really disappointing that we find ourselves in this position, but the health of our residents must come first. ‘We really do appreciate all the efforts made by our communities and businesses so far and now we need to pull together once again to help bring the infection rates in Wyre down and follow these new restrictions. ‘It’s only two weeks ago that the rate in Wyre was 4 in 100,000 and this has risen quickly. It’s more important than ever to remember hands, face, space. Please continue to wash your hands regularly, wear a face covering in enclosed public spaces and abide by social distancing guidance. ‘We want to get past this and return to normality as soon as possible and sticking to these new rules is going to help us all achieve this quicker.’ Emma Lyons - Wyre Council
LOCAL RESTRICTIONS - FAQS What areas do the new measures cover? The new measures cover everywhere in Lancashire except Blackpool. What are the new measures? •
• •
Residents must not socialise with other people outside of their household or support bubble in homes or gardens Hospitality for food and drink must operate table service only Leisure and entertainment venues, including restaurants, pubs and cinemas, must close between 10pm and 5am
Residents are also advised to follow the below guidelines to further reduce the spread:
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COVID-19 FAQS (cont) •
•
Only use public transport for essential journeys – such as travelling to school or work. A face covering must be worn on public transport unless you are exempt. Avoid attending amateur and semiprofessional sporting events as spectators.
Residents are urged to only visit indoor locations such as restaurants and pubs places with other members of their household or support bubble. Why do we need new measures? These measures will help to address the significant rise in coronavirus cases in the region in recent weeks. There is an increased risk of transmission the more people who gather together. Our data shows an increased rate of transmission in homes, hospitality venues and through grassroot sports.
We are doing everything we can to protect our most vulnerable, keep businesses open and children in school, which these measures will help with. How long will it last? The measures started on Tues 22nd Sept. They will be monitored closely and reviewed on a weekly basis. The next steps will depend on the impact the measures have. Who is allowed into my home? You must not meet people who you do not live with or are part of a protective support bubble inside your home. However, there are a number of exceptions to this rule listed below: • • •
To provide emergency assistance To attend a birth at the mother’s request To visit a person who is dying
Now Open
Joint Pain • Back and Neck Pain Sports Injuries • Rehabilitation Sports Massage • Pilates Podiatry • Acupuncture Vestibular and Balance Problems Neurological Physiotherapy
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COVID-19 FAQS (cont) • • • • • • •
To fulfil a legal obligation For work, volunteering or charitable purposes For education or training purposes For the purposes of childcare provided by a registered provider To provide care or assistance to a vulnerable person To facilitate a house move (this includes viewing a property) To continue existing arrangements for access to, and contact between, parents and children where the children do not live in the same household as one or more of their parents.
Do these measures affect education? No. Schools, colleges and universities remain open, operating in a COVID-secure way. Can I travel for work or schools? Yes. People can travel in or out of Lancashire for work and education purposes. Workplaces and schools should be implementing COVIDsecure measures. Do these measures affect childcare?
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You can continue to use early years and childcare settings, including childminders and providers offering before or after school clubs or other out-of-school settings for children. You can also continue to employ nannies, including those living outside of the region. Children of parents who are separated can continue to move between households. Can I visit someone’s house in an area not subject to restrictions? You must not visit anyone’s home either within or out of the restricted area except for your support bubble or for the excepted reasons listed above.
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COVID-19 FAQS (cont) Why can I visit the pub but not my relative’s house? This is because the hospitality industry has enhanced measures, such as risk assessments and test and trace, which private homes don’t have. What are the changes for hospitality venues? Hospitality venues must close between 10:00pm and 5:00am. During open hours they must operate table service only. Can I go to the gym, a gym class or a swimming pool? Yes, as long as these venues are following COVID-secure guidelines. What about furlough for people who won’t be able to work as a result? The government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) is due to continue during September and October. The government will pay 70% of wages up to a maximum cap of £2,187.50 for the hours the employee is on furlough. Employers will top up employees’ wages to ensure they receive 80%. Can I meet people outside of my household or bubble in public outdoor spaces? The government advice is to avoid mixing with any additional household in any location to decrease the risk of spreading the virus. What are the changes to playing sports? Unless formally organised by a sports club or similar organisation, team sports should not take place with people who you don’t live with. You should not spectate at amateur and semi-professional sports events.
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COVID-19 FAQS (cont) Can I have someone in my house to do repairs or other work? Official/registered tradespeople can go to other people’s homes for work purposes as long as you follow national guidance on how
to work safely there. What about public transport / car sharing? Residents are advised to only use public transport for essential purposes, such as travelling to school or work. Face coverings must be worn unless exempt. You are advised not to share a car with those outside your household or support bubble, and to use public transport for essential journeys instead. Can I still go on holiday? You can still go on holiday within the UK or abroad, but you should only do this with people you live with (or have formed a support bubble with). www.gov.uk
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As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, we would like to thank our patients for their continued understanding and support in what have been very difficult times for us all. We would also like to address some frequent frustrations that have been expressed by patients over the past couple of months. We have had to make a number of changes to our policies and procedures to comply with changing government and NHSE advice. Telephone Consultations When you telephone us to seek advice regarding a medical problem, you will not be able to book a face-to-face appointment. You will be able to book a telephone consultation. These are offered in the same way as appointments were previously - either as a routine appointment or within a week if necessary and within 24 hours if urgent. Please do try to book these appropriately. Only a clinician can book you a face-to-face appointment if they need to see/examine you.
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GARSTANG MEDICAL (cont) It is imperative that we limit face-to-face consultations to protect clinicians, patients and staff. There are significant limitations on the number of face-to-face appointments we are able to offer in the surgery. This is due to a number of reasons: •
Appointments take longer than usual due to the need to wear and change PPE
•
Additional cleaning clinical rooms
•
Limited space in our waiting rooms due to social distancing measures
•
The need to ensure a safe footfall within the premises.
requirements
of
However, please be assured that if the clinician deems a face-to-face consultation necessary, it will be arranged. If you are asked to attend the surgery you must wear a face covering unless you are unable to do so for medical reasons. You must also not enter the building until invited to do so. We have an intercom system at both receptions and you must press the button and wait for assistance. This is imperative to ensure we can manage patient footfall and keep the building COVID-19 safe. We understand it is frustrating that we are unable to provide a set time slot for telephone consultations but where we have trialled this, it has been unsuccessful due to the unpredictable environment we are working in. We are offering morning and afternoon telephone consultations between 8:30am 11:30am and 2:00pm - 5:30pm. We are can consider requests for smaller time windows if needed, e.g. due to work commitments. Calling the Surgery A number of patients have raised the length of the introductory messages on the telephone line as an issue. These are important messages to patients that we feel need to be reinforced. Hopefully
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GARSTANG MEDICAL (cont) many patients only need to contact us on an infrequent basis and therefore the wider message to patients outweighs their slight, occasional inconvenience. Please note you can order repeat prescriptions online via accessing online services such as Patient Access or the myGP App; if you are not currently registered for online services our receptionists can help with this over the telephone. We are aware that patients are currently having to wait longer than usual to get through to us on the telephone and your patience is appreciated. Our phone lines are experiencing unprecedented demand due to patients’ concerns re COVID-19, or any issues they may have delayed seeking advice for at the start of the pandemic. Getting the Most out of your Telephone Appointment
When you speak to the clinician, it can be difficult to remember everything you want to say especially on the phone. These tips will help you get the most out of your appointment. • •
•
• • • •
Find a quiet part of the house to take the call. Ask someone to listen in for support – they could also ask questions and help you remember what the clinician says. Before the call write down your symptoms including when they started, when they happen and how often you have them. Write down if anything makes them worse or better. Tell them if you are worried about cancer in particular. Tell them if you have any family history of cancer. Ask them to explain anything you don’t understand.
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GARSTANG MEDICAL (cont) COVID-19 Testing If you have COVID-19 symptoms we advise you to self-manage symptoms at home (unless you feel you need medical advice) and to book a COVID-19 test. We receive a lot of enquiries regarding arranging COVID-19 testing. Please note this is not something we are able to do. You can seek advice and book a test online at: www. nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-COVID-19/ testing-and-tracing If you are having difficulty booking a test you simply need to keep trying; there is nothing the surgery can do to expedite the process. Self Care We advocate self-care as much as possible for other coughs and colds and minor illness and there are a number of useful resources available on our website:
www.garstangmedicalpractice.nhs.uk/ pils.htm Continuous Coughs One of the symptoms of coronavirus is a new continuous cough. It is important that you tell your GP everything about your cough and whether you have any other symptoms such as unexpected weight loss, fatigue or loss of appetite. In some people, a continuous cough can also be a symptom of cancer and not coronavirus. Flu Vaccination Clinics NHS vaccines are available for patients who have diabetes, are pregnant, are aged 65 and over, and for those patients who are under 65 with a long-term condition affecting the lungs, heart, kidneys, liver, brain or nervous system, the immune system or the spleen. NHS vaccines are also available for anyone
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GARSTANG MEDICAL (cont) who is the main carer of an older or disabled person whose welfare would be at risk if the carer falls ill. If you are eligible for a flu vaccine, please contact the surgery to arrange an appointment. Once again there will be two different vaccines available: one for patients under the age of 65 (via Red Reception) and one for patients aged 65 and over (via Blue Reception). Flu clinics available for booking are on Sat 10th & 24th Oct. You can call us on (01995) 607399 to book your appointment, book online via Patient Access if you are already registered, or use the MyGP app which is available to download from both Google Play and the App store. Patients are asked to wear a face covering and only arrive for their appointment at their given time. On arrival, patients will be asked COVID-19 symptom screening questions
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prior to check in. Please contact the surgery to cancel your appointment if you feel unwell or if you or any member of your household are displaying symptoms of COVID-19. Nasal vaccines are also available on the above dates for children aged two, three and four (who have not yet started school) and for older children who meet the above criteria. Nasal vaccines are also available for patients with learning difficulties. These patients will be asked to attend via the Blue Reception. All school aged children up to and including Year 7 who do not have a long-term condition will be offered nasal flu vaccination via their School Nurse. We are unable to offer vaccination via the surgery for this category. The government has indicated that they are hoping to expand the flu vaccination programme to include people aged 50 to 64. We are awaiting guidance regarding this. Operating through the Pandemic Our clinicians and staff have been working tirelessly throughout this pandemic and will continue to do so in order to provide you with the best possible care. We face great difficulties when staff need to self-isolate and this puts even greater pressure on our team. We anticipate this will be a bigger problem over the coming months when there will naturally be a greater level of respiratory illness throughout the community whether COVID-19 related or not. We do ask for your patience and understanding that we are doing our absolute utmost to provide you with the care that you need whilst trying to keep everyone safe in very difficult circumstances. Sarah Pierce-Jones t: (01995) 607399 f: @garstangmedicalpractice www.garstangmedicalpractice.nhs.uk
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GARSTANG LIBRARY We’re open again and looking forward to seeing you. You don’t need an appointment to visit and we are open at the following times:
in advance. Computer sessions start on the hour when the library is open. All computers are cleaned between sessions.
Mon: 9:00am - 1:00pm / 2:00pm - 5:00pm Tues: 9:00am - 1:00pm / 2:00pm - 5:00pm Wed: 9:00am - 1:00pm Thurs: 9:00am - 1:00pm / 2:00pm - 7:00pm Fri: 9:00am - 1:00pm / 2:00pm - 5:00pm Sat: 9:00am - 1:00pm
Six of the Best
You may need to queue as we’re limiting numbers in the Library. You can return books at the door if you don’t want to come in. If you are coming into the Library, please wear a face covering.
This service allows you to arrange a collection time for a bag of up to 6 books which our library staff will select for you. We aim to find you books that you will really enjoy reading, and maybe to introduce you to some new authors. We can’t guarantee you won’t have read any of them previously. We need 48 hours’ notice for this service.
Public Computers Our public computers are available but to be able to maintain social distancing and keep safe we don’t have as many available at the moment. One booking per day is allowed and bookings may be made up to one week
If you still want to use our Six of the Best collection, email or call us with details of the type of book you like to read and the number you would like to collect.
Fun Palace Story Sessions Join us for our Tiny Fun Palace on Sat 3rd Oct! Book an exclusive story session for your
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GARSTANG LIBRARY (cont) household. Find more information and book your space on Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/garstanglibrary-8485266981 We’re Going on a Book Hunt! Celebrate Libraries Week by going on a book hunt on the high street. How many books can you find in shop windows and can you work out the hidden word? Pick up a sheet from Garstang Library and complete the challenge to earn your passport to reading and a prize, kindly donated by Friends of Garstang Library. The hunt is running from Sat 3rd – Mon 12th Oct. Details can be found on Eventbrite or contact us for more information: www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/garstanglibrary-8485266981
with Glenys looking forward to welcoming borrowers, old and new, on to the van. There are some changes to the service to keep everyone safe, so please call Glenys on 0771 754 3763 to find out more information and to find out times of stops near you. t: 0300 123 6703 e: Garstang.library@lancashire.gov.uk www.lancashire.gov.uk/libraries facebook: @lancslibraries twitter: @lancspublib
GARSTANG WINE CIRCLE The Garstang Wine Circle will hold a zoom tasting on Mon 19th Oct at 7:30pm.
Mobile Library
Alan will circulate details of the meeting, and a list of wines that will be included, after the information is finalised at the committee meeting on Tues 6th Oct.
The mobile library is also back on the road
Mervyn Stokes
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MILLENNIUM GREEN Garstang’s Breathing Space Garstang’s Millennium Green was created as part of a national programme to provide ‘Breathing Space’ as people lived their hectic ways and, of course, as a lasting statement to the new millennium. In the last few months the Green has served a purpose for the opposite reason, being a local refuge during lockdown and the slow experience of coming back to normality. As soon as the Lockdown was reduced our team of volunteers got to it. The first task was getting the grass back under control. We then built a new picnic table near the Wyre Lane entrance. As with an earlier one it is designed with spaces between the benches for pushchairs and wheelchairs. The pond is well established and we are most grateful for an interpretation board that has been donated highlighting some of the
creatures now settling in. To make it easier to watch the wildlife we have built a viewing platform. We have been pleased to note how many new faces have found the Green in the last few months. As noted above, it has been described as an idyll by many. It is a pity that a few have not been able to respect that and volunteers have had to give up time and effort to clear up behind them. In the last couple of years we have planted more native daffodils and bluebells, which were generously donated. We are now pushing ahead with a programme to plant some more trees on the Green as our part towards the environment. We had planned to start the work this Autumn, but no surprise, it is likely to be Spring before this work gets underway. Now is an opportunity for users of the Green
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MILLENNIUM GREEN (cont) to make a contribution. We have already received some sponsorship, and the new trees will also replace some damaged and dead trees and provide greater cover for birds using the Green.
COVID-19 has meant that organised events taking place throughout the summer have had to be cancelled. However, we did have a 20th Anniversary and Fairtrade Fortnight exhibition in the Market Hall window.
Please email us if you wish to become a Friend of the Green- only £10 for a family or register your interest in buy a tree or trees.
Prior to all the restrictions several events did however take place. As part of Fairtrade Fortnight, we held a family quiz, a chocolate making demonstration and workshop and an African Drumming evening. We also had a Fairtrade display in the Library.
Each tree will be £25 to include support, protector etc. (trees will not be marked for individual donations). We look forward to hearing from you. Colin Sills- Chair of the Management Team e: garstangmillenniumgreen@gmail.com
FAIRTRADE REPORT Garstang, the World’s First Fairtrade Town, would have been celebrating its 20-year anniversary this year, but r Open fo & s s busine g in r e adh ty fe a s o t es guidelin
Throughout this time the group had been working on a Fairtrade Directory which is now available from the Visitor Centre and on our Fairtrade website. We are pleased to confirm that our updated website is well and truly live. Please have a look. But there is some good news: we are manning a Fairtrade stall outside the Market Hall on Sat 10th Oct between 10:00am and 2:00pm.
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FAIRTRADE REPORT (cont)
COFFEE STOP
So please come along, meet some of your Fairtrade team, find out more about Fairtrade and hopefully take the opportunity to buy some Fairtrade Products.
It’s been good to reconnect with Coffee Stop friends this month by email, message and phone after our August break.
It is hoped that the steering group can meet later this year and plan events for 2021. Peter Ryder www.garstangfairtrade.org.uk
It’s been especially great to start the autumn term with two outdoor church services and the opportunity to meet together in a socially distanced way.
St Thomas Church
The church leaders are steering us through a gradual and safe reopening of some church activities for all ages so please keep checking the website for updates and booking details.
It is with great regret that due to the COVID-19 crisis, we are cancelling our Christmas Day dinner for people on their own.
We are here to support you in any way we can so please contact the church office by email or telephone if we can be of help.
This decision has not been taken lightly. We hope to be able to put this event on next year. Please keep safe everyone.
Online services and events will continue until it is safe for us to resume a more ‘normal’ programme so please join us whenever you can.
CHRISTMAS DINNER
All at St Thomas Church & Sweets Garstang
Lesley Hardman
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GARSTANG ARTS CENTRE
CALDER VALE METHODIST CHAPEL
The Garstang & District Arts Society Executive has taken the decision to reopen for small groups as from Mon 5th Oct.
As yet we do not have a date for the reopening of the Church for Sunday worship.
The cafe will remain closed and the kitchen should not be used. Sanitizer will be provided and all surfaces used must be sanitised at the end of each session. Details of all those attending must be left in the diary provided, to comply with track and trace. For ease of cleaning, only the accessible toilet should be used. Social distancing must be in place and government guidelines adhered to. Small groups wishing to use the Arts Centre should meet at their normal day and time or contact Hilary if necessary. The 200 Club draws took place, the winners have been notified and prizes have been distributed. Thank you everyone for their continued support for the Arts Centre. Anne Marie Whitehead (01995) 603311
We continue our take away lunches each Friday. They are available to all who can get to Calder Vale at 12:45pm on a Friday. They are two courses (just one if you prefer). They do need to be pre-ordered. The printed material for Sunday worship or details of services that are on Zoom are available. Please contact me for details and to order the lunches. Do keep well and keep safe. Edith Gorst (01995) 602078
SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCE GROUP Classes will resume when it is safe so to do. For further information contact Ian (01995) 603998 or Pam (01995) 603536. Marlene Towns
GARSTANG FUNERAL DIRECTOR Greg Hodgkinson, proud to serve Garstang and the surrounding communities • • • •
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www.greghodgkinsonfunerals.co.uk 22
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GARSTANG FREE METHODISTS
S. LANCASTER SPEAKERS CLUB
Although we still can’t meet all together how we would wish, we are continuing to produce weekly services that can be accessed through our website and we trust they are a blessing to all that view them.
Zoom into South Lancaster Speakers Club
We are planning to start an Alpha online course that will run for 10 weeks, every Tuesday at 7:30pm starting on Tues 6th Oct. Details on the website. Alpha gives you a chance to explore your questions about life, faith and God - highly recommended.
The club is ‘meeting’ via Zoom. It is amazing how successful the Zoom meetings have been. Friendly and welcoming with no pressure. People join us to help themselves become more confident - in work and everyday life situations. People join us to socialise. People join for a variety of reasons. There are no bounds.
Our building work is in full flow with the old roof being removed as I write this piece! You can see before and during photos on our website and in good time – the after!
The South Lancaster Speakers Club usually met 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at 7:30pm at the Methodist Church Schoolroom, Hollins Lane, Forton, PR3 0AB but currently we meet via Zoom.
We are still here if you need us and contact details are also on the website.
We can help you join us in a Zoom meeting if you are unfamiliar with the software.
Katie Devany e: info@garstangfmc.org.uk www.garstangfmc.org.uk
To confirm whether meetings are by Zoom or
Next meetings: Wed 30th Sept, 14th Oct & 28th Oct at 7:30pm.
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S. LANCASTER SPEAKERS (cont) at the venue and for more information, get in touch using the details below.
C L I N I C S N OW OPEN Our clinics at Knott End and Garstang are now open. All treatments available. To arrange an appointment, please phone: • Knott End: 01253 812555 • Garstang: 01995 601106 Full PPE is in place to protect our patients and employees. Your health is our priority.
Become a better speaker, better presenter and better leader or just make new friends! Give us a try. You will be made very welcome. It could be your new hobby. t: (01995) 600621 / (01524) 805554 e: louisej333@gmail.com / davidknox49@ hotmail.co.uk www.southlancasterspeakers.club
WYRE FLOOD FORUM REPORT My report for the October edition of Focus Magazine is based on the events of what is known as Summer. A meeting of FLAGS, an acronym for Flood Action Groups, took place via Microsoft Teams, a virtual means similar to Zoom. It was attended by reps from Wyre and Lancashire Councils, the Environment Agency, United Utilities and Wyre Rivers Trust plus members of Garstang, Churchtown, St Michaels, Pilling, Preesall and Thornton Flags. The flooding events of Tues 11th and Thurs 13th Aug were given a good airing and although the worst hit areas affected were in the urban area of the borough there were many reports of standing water on the road network and on agricultural land as well as some residential properties. St Michaels raised the long standing issue of sewage erupting onto the public highway, namely Rawcliffe road which was completely flooded with raw sewage floating in the water. Eight incidents have been reported this year with fifteen last year. A lively exchange with United Utilities followed the later undertaking to serve a formal notice on the owner of the land through which the faulty pipe passed. The FLAG had even gone to the national press and Panorama to get their problem addressed. At the conclusion of this discussion the Environment Agency
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WYRE FLOOD FORUM REPORT (cont) was thanked for successfully completing the repair to the Garstang Flood basin which was so crucial to settlements downstream.
EA responded by referring to the Review and also the EA policy ‘EA2025 Creating a Better Place’.
In response to a question about the Upper and Mid Wyre Review EA confirmed that they would provide an update by Thurs 10th Sept to members of Flags (not issued when this was written).
EA also referred to a forthcoming meeting on Wyre Natural Flood Management Investment Readiness to which all members would receive an invitation. Finally, EA confirmed they are consultees to the Governments proposed planning changes which can be viewed at www.gov.uk/government/ consultations/changes-to-the-currentplanning-system.
Garstang Flag also acknowledged that the Flood Basin Gates had been restored giving crucial confidence to residents along the river. The team of unpaid observers who constantly passed back what they had seen on their travels about the River and its moods to EA were thanked for their important input to the intelligence picture. EA were asked about the ever-increasing rise in house building and how long it would be possible for the government agency to be able to defend vulnerable parts of the landscape where building was planned.
Preesall Flag Reported two incidences of inundation in the period Mon 10th -Thurs 13th Aug in Sunnyside Terrace and noted that the fire brigade refused requests to attend and pump out water until Wyre officers could get on site. Wyre officers liaised with the brigade and also noted that changes to the catchment area had been as a result of actions of landowners
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WYRE FLOOD FORUM REPORT (cont) and this needs addressing. The pumps would remain on site pro tem. Churchtown Flag had discussions with County Highways about Ainspool ‘hot spots’. Officers expressed caution about moving problems ‘down stream’ but will discuss further with other flood management authorities. Highways had received £250,000 Government money following Storm Ciara to carry out flood related works in Wyre by 31st Mar 2021. The Flag were considering the installation of a pumping station opposite the Memorial Hall. County officers agreed they would continue to discuss how issues in Churchtown could be achieved. Great Eccleston suffered flooding to Hall Lane and Raikes Road and reports had been sent to Wyre. They opined that failure to remove vegetation from around gullies could be a cause. They requested signs to warn motorists who otherwise simply turned into Raikes Road from the A586 straight into water creating bow waves and flooding residential properties. The chairman suggested the cause of this flooding could lie in a blocked outfall from Raikes Road to the River. Highways confirmed that they had cleared highway drains following flooding. The meeting noted that 400 dwellings were to be built in the village which is likely to cause issues particularly with foul drainage. Pilling Flag were concerned about the volume of water being held in the system which might be the result of a blockage close to the church and the requirement of a replacement flap valve on the watercourse opposite the school. The lengthsman was due to install the flap but the structure requires attention by EA who will ‘chase’. Pilling is also concerned about high water levels in the tidal outfall. EA informed the meeting that they had been flushing the outfall to drop siltation levels and water levels had dropped but had risen and then fallen
back during the recent storm. A flooding issue had arisen on Moss House Lane adjacent to a new housing development. The site had since been inspected by Wyre Officers and as a result the planning department have required the developers to provide up dated drainage plans. Residents reading this report may think that much of Wyre is permanently underwater. It is certainly true as we all know merely walking our own gardens that we are experiencing both warm and wet weather and due to the combined efforts of professional officers and the residents who make up FLAGs the situation is kept under control. If you want to know more about FLAGs contact me on rogerwilliambrooks@ outlook.com or Wyre Council on (01253) 891000. Roger Brooks or rf e te fre a c n s We lute iet g d
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BEN WALLACE MP As we enter the last quarter of what has been a strange and challenging year I find myself looking forward to Christmas, and I am sure like me you have seen shops that are gearing up already. While it may be a bit early, I think we can be forgiven for looking forward to some seasonal cheer. Around the Constituency I am delighted to say that over the last few weeks I have really been getting back to some normality as far as getting out and about in the constituency is concerned - always taking into account local and national restrictions of course. It is great to once again visit schools, local authorities and residents etc. I know, checking my mail bag, that people are finding some local restrictions difficult and I do think that many areas will be affected in the future but, I do urge everyone to adhere to all restrictions as we are going through this unprecedented situation. I have said it in this column before, that I do believe locally the vast majority apply common sense to the present challenge and along with following the rules this is how we will get through it. Breck School I would like to thank the Head Teacher (Cheryl Brindle) and all at Breck School in Poulton for welcoming me recently. It was clear to see that like all schools the staff have worked very hard to ensure a safe school environment. Of course there will be challenges in schools and it may well be difficult at times but, it was great to see children having fun again in a school environment. Local Councils I am also catching up, where possible with face-to-face meetings with many agencies,
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BEN WALLACE MP (cont) recently meeting with local councils including Wyre and Lancashire County Council. Obviously the current situation with regards to COVID-19 was high on the agenda but we also discussed many other issues including recent localised flooding, highways, etc. Hambleton Doctors Branch Surgery It is fair to say there is a great deal going on locally. One issue which is particularly concerning to local residents is the closure of the Hambleton branch of the Over Wyre Medical Centre. I understand many have had their say in a recent survey and I have received a number of letters on this subject. I have also heard from the local County Councillor, John Shedwick on this issue and I will continue to look into the closure and its impact on the local community. o We als ton s log in supply of logs & ets bags, n firegrates g, kindlin h more m & uc
Further Information & Advice Please remember for up to date information on COVID-19 go to: www.gov.uk/coronavirus and www.nhs.uk Please also remember your community hub, Wyre Together (01253) 891000. Also, the Department of Health and Social Care helpline number for any on-going COVID 19 queries is 0300 303 2713 (lines are open from 7:00am - 11:00pm daily).If anyone is showing symptoms of COVID 19, they will be able to arrange testing. Get in Touch The most effective way to contact me is by e-mail, at wallaceb@parliament.uk with a brief description of the issues you wish to raise, along with your contact details. You can also ring my office at the House of Commons on 0207 219 5804 or write to me at the House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA. Ben Wallace MP
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CALDER VALE COUNTRY CLUB We are open to all on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. We are a friendly, spacious, COVID-19 safe Club, selling a good variety of beers, spirits and soft drinks at competitive prices. Come and visit us in the picturesque village of Calder Vale. Sat nav PR3 1SH. Date for your diary: Sat 10th Oct 11:30pm 2:00pm. Registration form 9:00am. Ros Ashworth www.caldervalecountryclub.co.uk
If you would like to consider volunteering by sparing up to an hour a week to talk to someone who is feeling lonely and isolated by phone then please contact me. However if you feel that you would appreciate because you are feeling lonely and isolated and having someone to call you then again please contact me. Mark Trent m: 07887 831672 e: mark.trent@lancashire.gov.uk
CAT SMITH MP
TELEPHONE BEFRIENDING
Hello everyone. I hope you’re all managing with the constantly fluctuating times. As I write, more restrictions have been put in place and there are grave concerns over what
My name is Mark Trent and I am the Wyre Volunteer Officer with the Lancashire Volunteer Partnership. We are a public service right across Lancashire and I support local people with telephone befriending.
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CAT SMITH MP (cont) the winter will bring. Look after yourselves and if there’s anything I can help with, please call my office on (01253) 490440. Foodbanks We can always measure the impact of economic distress by how busy the foodbanks have become. The Trussell Trust which provides food parcels across the Lancaster and Fleetwood constituency are expecting a 60% surge in demand meaning it will distribute 846,000 emergency parcels between now and Christmas – this equates to 7.5 million meals during Oct, Nov and Dec. Coronavirus Jobs Retention Scheme The feared spike in demand in the run up to Christmas comes as the Government prepares to end its COVID-19 furlough scheme at the end of this month – potentially unleashing an unemployment ‘tsunami’ as firms lay off staff.
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CAT SMITH MP (cont) My Labour colleagues and I are doing all we can to persuade the Prime Minister to extend the furlough scheme.
PAUL @ TG WINDOWS
Over four million UK jobs across the country were still fully furloughed by their employer in the middle of August. This means nearly All Joinery Work • UPVC Windows & Doors half of all workers who were moved onto the • Kitchens • Floors • Decking • Cladding government’s Coronavirus Jobs Retention Fascias • Guttering • All Work Considered Scheme (CJRS) in the early phase of the Over 30 Years’ Experience • Time Served Free Estimates & Quotes COVID-19 crisis remain fully furloughed by their employer over four months later. 01995 606942 / 07769 884 778 Based Regional breakdowns show that over 450,000 in pauldodd2169@googlemail.com jobs in the North West are at risk. Garstang @PaulatTGWindows Businesses in the hardest-hit sectors are still operating well below capacity and, with coronavirus cases rising again, it looks highly unlikely that they will be back to normal in just Supporting an four weeks’ time. Independent Lifestyle October’s deadline is a cliff-edge that could lead to a massive spike in unemployment. Labour is calling for targeted income support to businesses and self-employed people in the sectors of the economy hardest hit. The FareShare Project Another charity that provides food to those in need is the FareShare project in Preston which I visited a couple of weeks ago. It’s shocking that hundreds of thousands of tonnes of good food is wasted by the UK food industry every year. At the same time, millions of people are struggling to afford to eat. FareShare addresses these two issues by redistributing food industry surplus to the people who need it most.
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The organisation is the UK’s longest running food redistribution charity. Every week across Lancashire and Cumbria, FareShare distribute enough food for 100,000 meals. It was amazing to visit the warehouse and see the astonishing amount of food that otherwise would have been chucked into landfill. The team told me that 80% of people now requiring food support are in work. Short term
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CAT SMITH MP (cont) contracts, zero-hour contracts, low incomes and the pandemic have had a devastating effect on thousands across the county. The team at FareShare do an amazing job and many in the Lancaster and Fleetwood constituency now rely on them to stop their families from going hungry. If you are experiencing food poverty and need support then please call my office on (01253) 490440. There’s no shame in needing help and there is discreet provision available in rural villages like Preesall, Pilling and Knott End, so don’t suffer in silence. Carehomes & COVID-19 During the last coronavirus peak I had regular contact with the many care homes across who struggled getting the government support they needed. I hope by the time you read this that the government has put a winter care home plan
in place - or we risk a repeat of past mistakes. We’re already getting reports of the increased spread of COVID-19 in care homes so Liz Kendall - Labour’s Shadow Social Care Minister - has written to the health secretary , Matt Hancock to set out five key areas where action is needed from the government to protect care homes this winter. The letter calls for a guarantee that weekly, rapid testing of care staff will take place, that all care workers get the PPE they need, that urgent additional support is provided for families as well as support for families to be able to safely visit care homes, a commitment that care homes should be supported by the NHS and that social care must have the additional resources it needs throughout the winter and beyond. With winter and the flu season fast approaching, it’s vital that the government now puts in place a clear winter plan to
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CAT SMITH MP (cont) support social care. COVID-19 has taken an unimaginable toll on elderly and disabled people, and their families. I believe families should be treated as keyworkers to ensure they can safely visit care homes this winter. The government must learn the lessons from mistakes that have been made so far, and show users, families and staff that social care will be a top priority in the months ahead. Getting on top of challenges faced by social care ahead of winter is vital – we cannot afford for action to protect care homes and other services to be as slow and chaotic as it was at the start of this pandemic. Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs Many in our care homes will be as thrilled as I am that Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs has officially launched - a first for the North West! The town now boasts a fleet of specially adapted chairs available to hire, free of
charge, from Central Promenade, just along from the Marine Hall. The wheelchairs have been designed to be light and manoeuvrable on sand and shingle and give access to the coastline for individuals with limited mobility. If you’d like to hire a chair they are available from the rear of the Central Prom café. Car-parking is available by turning onto Promenade Road off the Esplanade, opposite the Mount Hotel, postcode FY7 6QE. If you want to book a chair or you’d like more information, telephone the Freephone number 03000 111 003 or mail fleetwoodbeachwheelchairs@outlook.com It’s brilliant that all residents of Over Wyre and visitors to our fantastic coastline are now able to enjoy Fleetwood’s beautiful beach and I hope you’ll all create fantastic memories! Cat Smith MP
JOIN FOCUS MAGAZINE ON
facebook www.facebook.com/focusmags • • • • •
Keep up-to-date with local news and events Connect with other local people Post details of your own events See offers from trusted, local businesses Get in touch with us!
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GARSTANG TREFOIL We hope to meet again when it is deemed safe.
has in fact made our world bigger and opened up so many more opportunities to us all.
Whenever that is, our meetings will be held in the Library on the fourth Thursday of the month in the afternoon. For further information please contact Brenda Allen (Chair) on (01995) 601979
Our annual Federation Conference will be taking place at the end of this month and for the first time, will be virtual. This has allowed our regular business to continue and has made it possible for more members to attend.
Marlene Towns
We will still have the amazing speakers that were lined up, and there will be live Q&A sessions for each speaker. We will also still have Celtic Storm to entertain us after the Change of Insignia as part of the closing ceremony, although we must say that some of us were looking forward to visiting in person.
SOROPTIMISTS Women Inspiring Action, Transforming Lives Meetings Our virtual world continues and is gathering momentum. We hosted our first guest to one of our virtual meetings and we all thought it went very well, so no excuses not to get involved ladies – COVID
Mary’s Meals / BackPacks We regularly tell you about and ask for donations for the Backpack project/Mary’s Meals that we are involved with and now we want to share a recent letter from them with you.
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SOROPTIMISTS (cont) ‘Thank you so much for your generous donation of 15 backpacks and for supporting Mary’s Meals. For many of the children who receive a donated backpack, it will be the only gift they have ever been given. We love The Backpack Project because it complements our school feeding programme by providing children with items that support their education’. Tadala, 12, from Malawi, tells us: ‘I’m very happy I’ll be able to keep my exercise books and pens safely in my new bag. I’m going to cherish everything within my bag. It will all help me learn. It’s like I have won a prize.’ Mary’s Meals is a simple idea that works. Through the provision of a daily meal in a place of education, chronically poor children are attracted to the classroom where they can gain a basic education that provides an escape route from poverty. Our vision is that every child in the world receives a meal a day in their place of education. Supporting Mary’s Meals through The Backpack Project is a practical way to enable children to make the most of their education. On behalf of the 1,667,067 children around the world receiving Mary’s Meals every day, I thank you with all my heart for your kindness.” As you can see, this is such a worthwhile project – every child deserves an education and every child deserves at least one good meal a day – it’s only what we want for our children. Web references: • •
www.marysmeals.org.uk www.marysmeals.org.uk/getinvolved/campaigns/the-backpackproject
Petitions Another thing for you to get involved with is our ‘Petition of the Month’. With a couple
of clicks on the computer you can add your voice to petitions that can change the outlook for so many people, and this is a tool we have had very good results with. This month is ‘End Child Marriage’ – no child under the age of 16 is ready for marriage and the assault on her body that the marriage will incur – and it does apply to the UK as well. To view the petition see: www.freedomunited.org/advocate/ safeguard-futures There’s a short video in the centre of the screen which you can watch for further details. To the right is a black panel for you to simply complete your name and email address. If you want to receive further emails about this campaign etc you can put a tick in the
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GREY MATTER TEST (ans page 51) 1 Which animals took Hannibal over the Alps? 2 Which Italian city was painted by Canaletto? 3 What is the outer layer of the skin called? 4 What is the name of the TV soap pub in Albert Square? 5 Who had a No 1 hit with the song ‘Wuthering Heights’? 6 Does the male or female cuckoo make the “cuck-oo” call? 7 Which major river flows through Cairo?
11 How many seconds in a ¼ of an hour? 12 Williams and Conference are types of what? 13 What name is given to poisonous fluid from a snake? 14 In rhyming slang what is a ‘dog and bone’? 15 How was known?
Eric
Bartholomew
better
16 Caracas is the capital city of which country?
8 Which musical direction means ‘at ease, at a slow comfortable pace’?
17 What is the Duke of Argyll’s stately home called?
9 What colour pottery Wedgewood noted for?
18 The Lutine Bell is housed in which London institution?
was
Josiah
10 Which Derbyshire town is noted for its church with a crooked spire?
19 Jonquil is a shade of which colour? 20 Windsor Castle is in which county?
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SOROPTIMISTS (cont)
CARDIAC RISK IN THE YOUNG (CRY)
box. Then click the big orange SIGN button. If you haven’t ticked the further info box, it may stop and put a message up to encourage you to agree to be contacted. Just ignore it and click the orange ‘sign anyway’ button. If you sign, please let us know – it’s good to know we have your support.
Matthew Hesmondhalgh Memorial Fund
Derian House We’ve already missed our first normal fundraising activity for the year (bric-a-brac stall) and we know the next big one of parched peas at the Victorian Festival is also off the agenda. We’ve still managed to raise £360 so far for local charity Derian House, and are currently coming up with ideas for something new! Hopefully we will be able to offer more opportunities to support us with this project once we firm up some plans
September was a surprising month in so many ways. At the beginning of the month we were able to re-open the recycling box on Catterall Village Hall car park and this has already seen good use, with the first collection already away and adding a super £160 to the fund. Thank you all for your donations. Unfortunately we have learnt that due to the impact of COVID-19 payment for future collections will be reduced by over 60%, but as the saying goes, every little helps and recycling helps protect our environment too. Two completely out of the blue contributions made my day. These very welcome donations, one ‘just because….’, and the second made by a neighbour (who realised that with less places accepting cash, fewer donations were being made to the Milk Bottle
And Finally…
The Countryside
...the results of the Rosebowl competition. The President’s Rose Bowl was presented to the Region in 1980 by the then Regional President Mrs Margaret Parr and is given each year to the winner of the current Regional President’s challenge) The questions were answered and the tie breaker question on what we have learnt from COVID-19 and how we adapted had been answered and, well we took part and had fun in the process – congratulations to Preston Soroptimists! Take care everyone.
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CRY (cont) Challenge) will together almost see another young heart tested. This was followed by a delightful invitation from Marion and Mark at Best Wishes, Garstang to accept a cheque for £156, this being the wonderful amount they have donated from the sales of 2019 Christmas cards. The surprises continued with the incredible news that, together with kind donations, Sarah was able to send almost £800 to CRY, mostly from the community Wayside stall that has operated throughout the spring and summer months. Churchtown in Bloom also helped bring local folks closer through the difficult months of lockdown with books, plants and fruit and veg on the village ‘cross’ and providing refreshments at a family fitness day on the church field, resulting in enough raised to screen two young people. And as if this wasn’t proof enough of the generosity of our community, throughout September local man Mark Jones has been cycling 300 miles, raising funds for Cancer Research UK and for CRY with the help of Andrew at the Wheatsheaf and Amy at Clockwork Bars. If you’d like to offer him a little support I’m sure he’d appreciate a few coins in the tub at Clockwork or on his sponsor form on the bar at the Wheatsheaf. Mark also has Cancer and CRY giving links that can be accessed through his facebook page Marrick Tree Care and Firewood Supplies.
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Many thanks to everyone who is helping Mark achieve his goals & joining us in keeping our vision of local CRY heart screenings for 1435 year old’s thriving. For further information see below: Paula Hesmonhalgh t: 07785 106 976 e: paulahez.ph@gmail.com fb: The Matthew Hesmondhalgh Memorial Fund
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HELP BEAT CANCER Many thanks to Main Street Grill, Inskip Camp and Hambleton Hardware Shop for their support with our collecting goblets. The amount collected is very much appreciated. Thanks to everyone who contributed.
all the best - stay safe and well.
Our evening event due to take place on Sat 17th Oct has now been postponed, due to the current situation, until Sat 13th Feb. The venue is still The Villa at Wrea Green. We will keep you updated.
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We hope to re-open the Meeting House on Sun 4th Oct with precautions in place to keep everyone safe. Worship starts at 10:30am. Please contact me for more information. I look forward to welcoming you soon. Julie Valentine t: (01995) 601863 e: garstangquakers@gmail.com
HARMONY & HEALTH Singing Sessions A couple of weeks into lockdown, we realised that we were going to be in this for the long haul and being able to meet in person to sing was just not going to happen, so we started off with a few of our regular singers to try out remote singing sessions instead, which has turned out to be a good alternative. Five months on and we are still no closer to being able to get together, so we would like to extend the opportunity to anyone out there who would like to join us. You will need to have a device with internet connectivity and my husband and I will fully support you, if you are unfamiliar with the technology. Words and music are provided through your computer/tablet/laptop and there is no cost for joining in. Our sessions are held on Tuesday afternoons from 1:30pm - 2:30pm and on Wednesday mornings from 10:00am - 11:00am. You are not committed to attending for a specific number of sessions. If you are interested, please get in touch. Ann Cameron 07966 126 999 Alan Cameron 07825 271 344
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GARSTANG LADIES SPEAKERS CLUB
PREPARING FOR WINTER
Here we are in October and not much has changed.
Once upon a time as summer was fading we would be preparing our homes and larders for winter with lots of pickling and conserving going on as the harvest of apples, blackberries and all the other loveliness nature provides came to fruit.
As I write this there is a possibility that we may be able to resume meetings by the middle of October but we await notification from the Garstang Country Hotel that they are ready to host meetings. Please keep in touch with us through Facebook or our web page. We are a friendly group and have certainly missed the good company and the speaking opportunities. If you would like to make new friends and perhaps learn something new, we could be the club you are looking for. t: (01253) 701019 (Sheila Croft) e: barleyfold@madasafish.com (Sue Hubbard) www.garstangladiesspeakersclub.org
GARSTANG & DISTRICT LIONS Events Because of the current regulations and guidance around COVID-19, sadly we have had to take the decision to cancel the Annual Lions Community Bonfire. Its disappointing but we have no choice. There is very little activity to report again although a number of our Lion members did continue with the work to restore an outside memorial garden area at Oaklands Care Home to provide a place for quiet reflection and remembrance. Further information about the range of activities and projects we have been or are involved with is available on the website or you can just speak to any of our members about what it is that we do. Chris Wilkinson www.garstanglions.co.uk
It appears some people have started doing this again as it’s nigh on impossible to find Kilner jars at the moment. To those of you who have rediscovered this simple joy I say, ‘well done!’ Because we get all our food all year round shipped from far flung places we have turned our back on the seasons. It comes as no surprise that the seasons are now turning their back on us with the cost of eternal strawberries and tropical fruits coming in CO2 emissions and climate change which is coming down the track like an express train. This is also a time when people may get colds, runny noses and sniffles. Often this LOCAL INDEPENDENT BUSINESS SINCE 2008
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PREPARING FOR WINTER (cont) is a simple cleansing of your body as the seasons change and is harmless and healthy. Do not suppress this action with absurd cold remedies that reduce your temperature and stop this cleansing.
system be efficient.
The temperature rise harnesses your immune system to help you, why would you want to inhibit this? For convenience? Well you know my thoughts on the cost of convenience from last month.
Ensure you are eating a little fermented food every day, kefir, kombucha or sauer kraut all help your gut function well and the gut is very important both for your immune response but also for your mental wellbeing.
The most useful remedy for any cold is to stay hydrated and rest to allow your body to follow its natural processes. Of course, any cold or cough will be greeted with extra alarm this year but you are not a sitting duck waiting to be attacked. It is nigh on impossible to catch a contagious disease in the open air or even a well ventilated room. You certainly cannot catch one in a room on your own or in your car on your own either – the air intake in a car does not draw in diseases. Your skin is your first line of defence, followed by your saliva which can kill viruses and your nose hair and mucus also catches virus. Basically you have to be overwhelmed by lots of virus which requires you to be close to someone who is ill, have them cough lots and be in a poorly-ventilated space. Most of these factors can be managed and controlled by your own behaviour. There are simple ways to maintain a strong immune system too. We are now at the time of year where even if the sun shines we do not absorb Vitamin D so make sure you are taking at least 400iu a day and if you have a health problem already then take 800iu minimum. Sugar suppresses the normal action of your immune system so avoid it and eat a piece of fruit instead, or some nuts or berries. Some people start taking Echinacea every day from now on and this appears reasonable to me, it is a herb that helps your immune
If you take CBD, ensure you’re using a little every day and if you’re curious about this relative newcomer to the health market then now is the time to try it.
There are some excellent immune boosting supplements available. And please, even in the shorter days to come make sure you do 30 minutes movement every day – the most powerful way to maintain your body effectively is movement. As we move into the deep reds and golden browns of autumn with those lovely misty mornings I wish you well. Peace be upon you. Nick Tofolos (01995) 602833
LIVE OUTSIDE OUR DELIVERY ROUTE? SUBSCRIBE & RECEIVE A COPY OF FOCUS MAGAZINE THROUGH THE POST EACH MONTH If you or someone you know would like to receive Focus Magazine but currently live outside the areas in which we deliver, sign up for our new subscription service.
1 Month - £4 3 Months - £11 6 Months - £20 12 Months - £36 For more details or to register, please contact e: cassie@focusmags.co.uk t: 01253 342992 Please note: monthly door-to-door deliveries will continue as usual & will not be affected by the subscription service
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GARSTANG CAMERA CLUB Well folks, here we are again at the start of another year in the life of Garstang Camera Club and an unprecedented one at that!
Cup (deadline Wed 14th Oct) which will be judged on Wed 11th Nov.
What could have turned out to be, in cricket parlance, out for a duck, has in fact in my opinion, been successful, thanks to our joint Chairmen who have worked exceedingly hard in organising events and visits throughout lockdown. I know the work they have put in has been widely acknowledged by all. Thank you and well done.
All club meetings up to Christmas will take place via Zoom. Meetings are on the first three Wednesdays of each month and start at 7:30pm (make your own tea/coffee or perhaps something a little stronger).
I hope that you have all had as good a summer as was possible. The club enjoyed three outings: Garstang in July, Fleetwood in August and Levens Park in September. Images taken on these dates may be entered for the Events
As you may recall, we have had six monthly themed competitions, the first and second places of each going to the Grand Final. We await the results of these excellent images. Skills have not suffered in spite of COVID-19!
Meetings • • • • • • • •
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Wed 2nd Oct: Kieran Metcalf BPEI ‘Chasing the Light’ Wed 14th Oct: Roger Hance FRPS ‘Nature in Macro Photography’ Wed 21st Oct: Graham Dean AFIAP ‘The Camera Does Not Lie’ Wed Nov 4th: Stve Myall EFIAP ‘100 Stranger’s Portraits’ Wed 11th Nov: Events Cup Comp Jane Lines (Judge) Wed 18th Nov: Philip Medcalf ‘Alpha Marine Photography’ Wed 2nd Dec: Environmental Cup Comp Wed 9th Dec: Christmas Meeting
Don’t forget, if you wish to join the club, membership this year has been reduced to £30. Please send a cheque payable to Garstang Camera Club to: Mr. R Shorrock, 17 Canterbury Way, Garstang, PR3 1XE. And although meetings are by way of Zoom, you will be made most welcome. Best wishes to all and remember keep safe. Maurice Barker
GARSTANG TOWN COUNCIL Mayor’s Annual Report 2019-2020 The Town Council has had another interesting year to say the least! This report should have been presented at our Annual Town Council Awards which of course were cancelled. It was
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GARSTANG TOWN COUNCIL (cont) also a great shame to learn of the cancellation of the North West Stages car rally ceremonial night. Let me take you back to May 2019. We had a busy year with almost a full team of 12 Cllrs. Former Mayors, Cllr Gordon Harter stepped down May 2019 and Cllr Sandra Perkins are few months later. I was very sorry to see two hard working Councillors leave the council. We would like to thank you both for your time and dedication. Wishing you both all the best. We were successful in securing funding for the new play area at Moss Lane Play Park, which was organised by the Clerk and Cllrs Hynes and Ryder supported by Cllr Allan. I hope you are enjoying the new equipment. Picnic benches and entrance path to be finalised. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Garstang in Bloom team who work tirelessly to keep our town looking so magnificent and scooped so many awards at the Britain in Bloom and North West in Bloom awards ceremony. A big thank you to fellow Town Councillor, Cllr Pearson who has led his team to Gold! Garstang won gold in the Small Town category of the nationwide Britain in Bloom competition. They also won the RHS discretionary award, Wise Ways with Water and the presenter also mentioned Garstang as the home of the famous Scarecrow Festival! I was saddened to learn of the death of RHS judge, Bill Blackledge who judged the town many times over the years. He loved visiting Garstang and Hamlet’s pork pies! Last year the Council and a number of local volunteers helped the Royal British Legion organise Remembrance Sunday. I would like to thank all the volunteers who helped, in particular Carl Boardman and David Lewis. Garstang Town Council was proactive in setting up the Garstang Academy Road Safety Group and were delighted when the hard work paid off and the works were completed on Garstang Road. The pavement was widened
and the camber was improved. This had been a long standing issue for over 20 years. I would like to thank our neighbouring parishes for their support and a particular thank you to Cllr Norman Howell, Chair of Barnacre with Bonds Parish Council, Cllr Shaun Turner, Mr Ashcroft from Garstang Community Academy, Lancashire County Council and Wyre Council. A new event was added to the calendar in Garstang last year, Garstang’s first ever Santa Dash. I organised this event along with the committee members of the Scarecrow Festival and the invaluable help from Team
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GARSTANG TOWN COUNCIL (cont) ShazzAnn, Garstang YMCA, Wyrebank and local DJ, Darrell Edwards. It was a wonderful sight to see so many Santa’s raising money for my mayoral charities. Roll on 2020 and things certainly changed! The world was hit with the COVID-19. The council moved to Zoom meetings and agreed on the delegated authority to myself, the Clerk and Deputy Mayor. Around the same time, Charlie Collinson, the founder of Garstang Volunteer Force contacted me asking for the Town Council’s help in setting up what became a lifeline for so many vulnerable and isolated people. I called an extra-ordinary meeting which led to the council donating £200 to GVF to help them set up. I was proud to be involved in this initiative and looked forward to my weekly shift helping out at the HQ. The Garstang centre received 2447 calls, 1518 delivered prescriptions, 682 lots of shopping were delivered, 30 cash
transactions and nine chat buddies. Well done and congratulations to the volunteers. I have had a wonderful year fundraising for my three charities: Cardiac Risk in the Young; North West Air Ambulance and Rosemere Cancer Foundation. I am extremely proud and excited to share with you my total fundraising amount of £5000 despite having to cut short my fundraising activities and cancel two upcoming events. A big thank you to everyone who has supported me. I was expecting to finish my term as Mayor in May 2020 however due to COVID-19, I have remained in my position for another year. Finally I would like to thank Edwina, our Town Clerk, for her advice and guidance and keeping us on the straight and narrow; Martyn, our Lengthsman, for keeping the town looking neat and tidy and Hilary, our Town Crier, who lets everyone know what is going on locally. Last but not least, I would like to thank my
CROSSWORD (ans page 51) Across 3. European mountains (4) 5. Pacified (6) 7. Greek letter; river mouth (5) 8. Assessor; estimator (6) 10. Theatre set; background (7) 13. Gush; inspire (7) 15. Shrewd; clever (6) 16. Mob (5) 17. Followed orders (6) 18. Mumble; slander (4) Down 1. Sir ____ and the Green Knight; King Arthur’s nephew (6) 2. Take by surprise (6) 3. Location (7) 4. Heartbeat (5) 6. Cautious (4) 9. South American country (7) 11. Lower (part or region) (6) 12. Instead; by choice (6) 13. Every; apiece (4) 14. Scandinavian monster; social media nuisance (5)
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GARSTANG TOWN COUNCIL (cont) fellow councillors for their support over the last year and in particular my Deputy Cllr Alec Allan who has been simply the best! Cllr Elizabeth Webster - Mayor Market Town Working Group The Town Council formed the Market Town Working Group (MTWG) bringing businesses and Garstang organisations together to work at raising confidence in Garstang town centre being a COVID-19 safe shopping environment. Businesses in the town centre have adapted their way of working to give shoppers
confidence that they can visit safely. The MTWG has been working with Wyre Council who have reviewed the business readiness for safe re-opening and the feedback was that Garstang businesses were extremely well prepared. Cllrs Allan and Dyer had a meeting with Keyworker Homes MD Eian Bailey and discussed amongst other things the concern that had been raised about the loss of car parking spaces earmarked for retail use only. Mr Bailey has assured us that he has not pre-let any spaces for retail use. He has also advised that there are no extra car park spaces required for the additional five flats on the first floor created from retail storage space. Cllr Alec Allan - Chair of MTWG The BIBAS & Heather Brandwood Well done to Heather Brandwood and the team at the Bellflower being one of eight finalists in the BIBAS Heroes Awards. This is an amazing achievement, recognising the fantastic work they did in supporting the local community through the early months of the pandemic. Garstang Town Council were very pleased to put Heather, manager of the Bellflower, forward for the award run by the North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce. The Be Inspired Business Awards or BIBAS recognises businesses that make a difference in Lancashire. Heather and her team have certainly made a difference with everything they did during lockdown. Cllr Alec Allan Next Meeting Via Zoom on Mon 19th Oct. Anyone wishing to join the meeting should contact the clerk by 3:00pm on the day of the meeting. Mrs Edwina Parry - Town Clerk t: 07592 792 801 e: info@garstangtowncouncil.org w: www.garstangtowncouncil.org
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GREY MATTER ANSWERS
CROSSWORD ANSWERS
1 Elephants 2 Venice 3 Epidermis 4 Queen Victoria 5 Kate Bush in 1978 6 Male 7 Nile 8 Adagio 9 Portland Blue 10 Chesterfield 11 900 12 Pear 13 Venom 14 Phone 15 Eric Morecambe 16 Venezuela 17 Inveraray Castle 18 Lloyds 19 Yellow 20 Berkshire
Across 3. Alps 5. Calmed 7. Delta 8. Valuer 10. Scenery 13. Enthuse 15. Astute 16. Crowd 17. Obeyed 18. Slur Down 1. Gawain 2. Ambush 3. Address 4. Pulse 6. Wary 9. Ecuador 11. Nether 12. Rather 13. Each 14. Troll
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