FOCUS MAGAZINE 'The Green Book'
GARSTANG - Scorton - Cabus - Garstang - Catterall - Bonds - Bowgreave - St Michaels - Churchtown
Issue 244 February 2021
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Welcome to Focus Magazine... Covid National Lockdown.............................4
Garstang Arts Centre.......................................22
Garstang Medical Practice...........................6
Coffee Stop............................................................22
The Power of Vitamin D..................................9
Cardiac Risk in the Young..............................23
Babas Baby & Toddler Group......................10
Garstang Camera Club...................................24
Garstang Volunteer Force.............................12
The Rotary Club..................................................26
Garstang Free Methodists.............................12
Garstang Speakers Club................................27
Calder Vale Methodist Church...................14
Garstang Town Council...................................28
Garstang Wine Circle.......................................15
Ben Wallace MP.................................................29
Galloways...............................................................15
Cat Smith MP........................................................33
Lancaster Singers..............................................16
Wyre Flood Forum............................................36
Harmony & Health.............................................16
Soroptimists..........................................................40
Garstang Phoenix WI.......................................17
Forest of Bowland.............................................43
Calder Vale Country Club..............................17
Grey Matter Test.................................................43
Garstang Heritage Society...........................18
Crossword..............................................................45
Fairtrade..................................................................18
Garstang & District Lions...............................46
Scorton Charity Teas........................................20
RSPCA......................................................................46
Garstang Library.................................................21
Puzzle Answers...................................................47
MARCH 2021 DEADLINE DATE
The March deadline for editorial and adverts is 5:00pm on Monday 15th February Deliveries of the March edition of Focus Magazine will commence Thursday 25th February 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 2021 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.
COVID NATIONAL LOCKDOWN •
What You Can & Cannot Do You must stay at home. The single most important action we can all take is to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives. You should follow this guidance at all times. This is the law. Leaving Home You must not leave, or be outside of your home except where necessary. You may leave the home to: • •
shop for basic necessities, for you or a vulnerable person go to work, or provide voluntary or charitable services, if you cannot
• • •
reasonably do so from home exercise with your household (or support bubble) or one other person (in which case you should stay 2m apart). Exercise should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area. meet your support bubble or childcare bubble where necessary, but only if you are legally permitted to form one seek medical assistance or avoid injury, illness or risk of harm (including domestic abuse) attend education or childcare - for those eligible
If you do leave home for a permitted reason, you should always stay local - unless it is necessary to go further, for example to go to work. Staying local means stay in the village, town, or part of the city where you live. If you are clinically extremely vulnerable you are advised to only go out for medical appointments, exercise or if it is essential. It is recommended that you do not attend work. Meeting Others You cannot leave your home to meet socially with anyone you do not live with or are not in a support bubble with (if you are legally permitted to form one). You may exercise on your own, with one other person, or with your household or support bubble. This should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area. Education Colleges, primary and secondary schools will remain open only for vulnerable children and the children of critical workers. All other children will learn remotely until February half term. Early years settings remain open. Higher
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COVID NATIONAL LOCKDOWN (cont) Education provision will remain online until at least mid February for all except future critical worker courses. Healthcare & Public Services Medical services remain open, including: • • • • • • •
dental services, opticians, audiology services, chiropody, chiropractors, osteopaths other medical or health services, including services relating to mental health
Government is supporting the NHS to carry out urgent and non-urgent services safely, and it is vital anyone who thinks they need any kind of medical care comes forward and seeks help. The majority of public services continue and you will be able to leave home to visit them. These include: • • • • • • •
Weddings & Civil Partnerships Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies must only take place with up to 6 people. Anyone working is not included. These should only take place in exceptional circumstances, for example, an urgent marriage where one of those getting married is seriously ill and not expected to recover, or is to undergo debilitating treatment or life-changing surgery. Places of Worship You can attend places of worship for a service. However, you must not mingle with anyone outside of your household or support bubble. You should maintain strict social distancing at all times. Further Information For more details about Covid and the most up-to-date guidance on restrictions, visit: www.gov.uk/coronavirus
Jobcentre Plus sites courts and probation services civil registrations offices passport and visa services services provided to victims waste or recycling centres getting an MOT, if you need to drive when lawfully leaving home
Care Home Visits Visits to care homes can take place with arrangements such as substantial screens, visiting pods, or behind windows. Closecontact indoor visits are not allowed. No visits will be permitted in the event of an outbreak. Funerals Funerals are allowed with strict limits on attendance, and must only take place in Covid secure venues or in public outdoor spaces unless in exceptional circumstances.
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GARSTANG MEDICAL PRACTICE Covid Vaccination The Covid vaccination campaign is now well underway. We are calling patients in age and risk category order in accordance with the current government guidelines. If you know someone within your age group who has been offered the vaccine but you have not, please do not worry; everyone who is eligible will be able to access the vaccine over the coming weeks and months. We will be working very hard to deliver it as quickly as we are able, but we will be limited by the supplies we receive and by the number of appointments we are able to offer each week. We have now attempted to contact all of our patients aged 79 years and over to offer them an appointment for their vaccine. If you, or anyone you know, are in this age
category and have not yet been contacted and would like the vaccine, please call our Covid administration line on (01995) 607370 as soon as possible. Please do not ring the surgery to ask when you will receive your appointment. This blocks the telephone lines which are already extremely busy. You can help to ensure we have your up to date contact details by emailing us with your mobile and home telephone number to us on the email address below. Please include your full name and date of birth and put ‘Contact Details’ as the subject. We would like to say a massive thank you to Garstang Volunteer Force and Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service for providing car park marshals for our Covid vaccination clinics. Also to Garstang Town Council and Kepple Lane Park Trust for giving permission for our staff members to park on the Scout Hut car park, therefore allowing sufficient space for our elderly patients to attend the clinics. Please be aware that the Covid vaccine will always be available free of charge. The NHS will never ask you to share bank details to confirm your identity or pay for a vaccine. For more on the Covid vaccine visit www. nhs.uk/CovidVaccine Appointments The Covid vaccination programme will be a huge campaign lasting several months. In order for us to be able to deliver it safely to our patient population, we will have to reduce the availability of pre-planned services to some extent. This might mean, for example, that your annual asthma or diabetes review is postponed for a few months. There is currently uncertainty around the schedule and delivery of the vaccines so we have been unable to offer pre-bookable routine GP appointments. We do, however, have appointments available every week day so you can ring up any day to book
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GARSTANG MEDICAL (cont) an appointment. Please try to avoid nonessential booking at this time. As soon as we know more about the scheduling of the vaccination programme we will resume our normal routine appointment booking system. We will continue to provide pre-bookable nurse appointments.
into the surgery building during the lockdown, we are currently unable to book appointments for patients who need bloods requested by the hospital. We are not responsible for doing bloods requested by the hospital and need to reserve our appointments for blood tests requested by our clinicians at the surgery.
Please remember that throughout the time of the vaccination campaign we will be available to offer you the medical support and care you need. If you have any concerns about your health you must contact us. Any selfcare you can administer to yourself and your families for minor ailments during this time will obviously help to ease the pressure on our clinicians. Please see our website for advice on appropriate self-care or visit the Self Care Forum.
Hospital blood request appointments should be arranged directly with the relevant hospital blood clinic. Details as follows: •
Hospital Blood Requests
Royal Preston Hospital: Blood clinics are currently running by appointment only. Open 8:30am – 4:45pm Monday to Friday. Call (01772) 524143 to make an appointment. Please take the blood form from your consultant with you. If you do not have a blood form, please give the name of your consultant when booking.
•
Royal Lancaster Infirmary: No appointment needed. Please take the blood form from your consultant with you.
Due to the significant increase in the cases of Covid locally and the need to minimise footfall
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GARSTANG MEDICAL (cont) If you do not have a blood form please give the name of your consultant when booking in. Please avoid attending during the mornings as this is their busiest time. Bookable appointments are available at Dalton Square surgery on Fridays. Please ring (01539) 715700 to arrange your appointment (lines open Monday to Friday 10:00am – 2:00pm). Contacting the Surgery We would like to thank all our patients for your patience and understanding in what continues to be a hugely challenging time for all our staff. The number of telephone calls we are receiving continues to be at unprecedented high levels. Please do stay in the queue and our staff will get to you as soon as they are able. Please try to ring later in the day for nonurgent enquiries. Please do not come down to the surgery with queries if you are struggling to get through on the telephone. We really do need to keep the building Covid secure for all patients and staff, especially at this time given the significant increase in cases locally.
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We do understand it is frustrating when you are held in a queue but these really are extraordinary times and we are doing our utmost to continue to provide a full service even when our own staff are affected by the virus and needing to stay at home to self-isolate. It has a significant impact on the whole team if one or two are off due to situations requiring selfisolation, in addition to ‘normal’ sickness or annual leave. Thank you for your continued support and understanding. t: (01995) 607399 e: fwccg.gmpadmin@nhs.net fb: @garstangmedicalpractice www.garstangmedicalpractice.nhs.uk
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THE POWER OF VITAMIN D
Wishing you all a belated happy New Year! With a new born daughter and a two-year-old over the Christmas period and juggling all the pressures of life, I neglected to get an article out to you last month. I apologise for that. If in doubt, blame the children! So that is my feeble excuse out of the way and here we go into 2021. I thought it would be important at this sunstarved time of year to dwell on the powerful qualities of vitamin D. The sunshine vitamin. It is readily available in good health food shops and I’m sure many of you have had a letter through your doors from the government offering you free vitamin D for a few months. Please take them up on the offer. What is it about vitamin D that is so useful? It has a powerful effect on our immune system, on our mood, it can help weight loss, it is important for the strength of our bones and our body makes it naturally in sunlight. Do be aware that in these northern climes, at this time of year, even if the sun is shining and you’re out in it you do not produce any vitamin D. You only get vitamin D in Britain when your shadow is shorter than you are tall, and that is only a few months of the year! Vitamin D is remarkably good for us and is very safe to take. It is extremely difficult to take too much of it. Given the madness and fear being foisted on us by the media right now, I think it’s important to focus on how vitamin D can have
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THE POWER OF VITAMIN D (cont) a profoundly positive effect on our immune system. I feel the need to reassure given the current extraordinary circumstances we are all suffering. There has been an amazing study in a
hospital in Cordoba, Spain where 76 people had Covid. Twenty-six had standard medical treatment and 50 were given high strength vitamin D. The results of this experiment were remarkable: Of the 25 given standard medical treatment, sadly, two died and 13 had to be admitted to intensive care, but of the 50 given vitamin D all were discharged without complications. I have heard a doctor explain that it is almost as if vitamin D is the most remarkably safe natural vaccination, so please take it. You need plenty of it at the moment so I would say take 5000iu (iu means international units and is a way this vitamin is measured) every day for the next few months until summer arrives. Whilst the study only used a sample of 75 people it had big effects and therefore is quite valid. Most studies have to be larger because the effects of whatever is being studied are tiny, but if you have a big effect on a small group of people it is just as valid.
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So get yourself your vitamin D. You can also get it in your diet from eating eggs, fish and high quality meats preferably naturally reared. At this difficult time I wish you all well and hope you’re all coping. Our shop remains open in Garstang and even if you just need to come in to see someone for a chat in a safe environment please do. Nick Tofolos t: (01995) 602833
BABAS BABY & TODDLER GROUP Just a ‘Hello’ to all the parents, carers and children who have come to our group on a Wednesday morning at the Methodist Chapel. With another lockdown underway, everything is on hold. We’ll let you know when it is safe to return to our group. Dorothy Gorst (01995) 606226
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GARSTANG VOLUNTEER FORCE The Garstang Volunteer Force call centre is currently not operating due to a very reduced demand for our services. But we haven’t been idle - our volunteers are currently working with Garstang Medical Centre’s Covid vaccination clinics, helping to marshal people in and out. We are also running an appeal in conjunction with the ‘Your Garstang’ Facebook page for unwanted laptops and tablets for schoolchildren to use for online learning during lockdown. If you have a laptop or tablet that you have no further use for please consider donating it to the appeal. You can drop off devices at the Bellflower - but please ring first on (01995) 238207 to make sure someone is there as we don’t want them leaving outside for security reasons. If you get no reply don’t worry, they return all missed calls when they get back in. Mary Randles
GARSTANG FREE METHODISTS We trust that during this third lockdown you are all keeping well. If we can help in any way please contact us – our details are on the website where you will also find links to our latest services, details of our kids meetings (that have started up again virtually) and helpful advice on dealing with lockdown. We are pleased to introduce Ian and Jill Heath. Ian is our new lead pastor who took up his role in January. They are both looking forward to getting to know everyone and the area in the coming months. Our building work is almost complete and when we can, we will have face-to-face services following guidance to ensure it will be as safe as possible. We can’t wait to safely welcome you all back to enjoy fellowship in the beautiful improved building. Katie Devany – Administrator e: info@garstangfmc.org.uk www.garstangfmc.org.uk
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CALDER VALE METHODIST CHURCH January saw us say farewell to our minister Rev. Derek Oldham and his wife Judith.
A result of not holding our monthly Coffee Mornings and other activities (especially over Derek has had to retire early due to ill health. the Christmas period) is that many of the Charities we usually support have missed out Unfortunately due to the current situation and on our donations. We were able to support restrictions we have not been able to give Macmillan with our outside cake stall and them the proper send off they deserve. We poppies were sold at the Friday lunches with wish them both a happy and long retirement, donations to The Royal British Legion. we will miss them greatly. Over Christmas we usually support Action For All the protocols were in place for restarting Children (formerly The National Children’s Sunday worship but along with many other Home). Each Lent they produce a leaflet churches in the area the decision was encouraging us to think of those who they taken to wait until the situation is much safer are able to help by giving small donations for to do so than it is now. In the summer I jested things we take for granted and are grateful for. with someone that we would surely be open For example, Day 9 Donate 20p for every bed by Christmas. Now we are thinking it will be in your home; Day 11 Donate 20p if you’ve enjoyed a warm bath or shower today; Day more like Easter. Watch this space. 29 Donate 10p for every cup of tea you have The Friday lunches are up and running today. On other days we are encouraged to again. If you would like one or two courses think about people and various situations and (delivered to Calder Vale by Tony from the maybe do a kind deed. Lunch Box) please do get in touch. If you would like one of the leaflets called ‘Count your Blessings’ do get in touch with M.P.H. ELECTRICAL me and I will make sure you received one. APPLIANCE REPAIRS I’m sure they will be very grateful for anything we can donate.
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Our Zoom services are available and these can also be accessed via the telephone if you do not have online facilities. A reflection is available from Rev. Keith Borwick (in paper form) if that is easier. Please do get in touch about any of these resources and I will be happy to give you the details. In February we celebrate St Valentine’s Day; here is a thought from St. Augustine (who lived from 354 to 430) ‘What does love look like, Love has hands to help others, It has feet to hasten to the poor and needy, It has eyes to see tribulation and suffering and want, It has ears to hear the sights and sorrows of men.’ Just a thought for these troubled times for so many people. Stay well and stay safe. Edith Gorst (01995) 602078
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GARSTANG WINE CIRCLE The Zoom meeting on the 18th Jan took us off to sunny Spain. Anne Whitehead and Jim McVey presented a selection of Spanish wines from Booths. There was a choice for members of three out of four wines as one of the suggested wines was quickly sold out from the store. We therefore tasted one white wine and two out of the three reds. The white, Beronia Rueda Verdejo, is typical of the area and was fresh and citrussy. Two of the reds were Booths own label, Gran Norte, a Crianza Rioja and a Reserva Rioja - this latter was unfortunately in short supply but as an alternative several members tasted another Crianza as a comparison. It was agreed that all of the wines were an excellent choice, especially tasted alongside some Manchego cheese, olives and chorizo! Jim and Anne also presented a selection of photographs of their recent motoring trips to Spain, including their visit to Seville. Thanks
to Anne and Jim for their talk and for reminding us of happy times and better climates! The next meeting will be on Tues 15th Feb when Richard Harrison will give a presentation of New Zealand Wines. Mervyn Stokes
GALLOWAYS It seems such a long time since we last met together, but I do hope that you have all managed to keep well during this dreadful pandemic. Let us hope that the vaccinations work and we can all enjoy a reasonable 2021. Unfortunately I am unable to offer my services regarding shopping etc but to those members who are on their own you can always telephone me if you want to have a little ‘natter’. In the meantime take care, and my best wishes for 2021. Lorna Musgrave (01995) 471319
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LANCASTER SINGERS Would you like to sing? Lancaster Singers have been rehearsing virtually for months with our Director, Duncan Lloyd. He has been working tirelessly to produce new material and recording the ‘click track’ accompaniments to which we sing. We’ve just started on a new collection of songs and pieces and are planning for live performances in 2021. Our stance is to be eternally optimistic. Would you like to join us online? Prospective new members are always welcome to join the virtual rehearsals – please contact Sarah Jackson on 07929 031 466 or email sarah60jackson@yahoo.com for more details. Our usual ‘light-touch’ auditions will resume when we eventually get back together. Lancaster Singers would like to extend warmest thanks to its members, friends and r Open fo & s s busine g in r e adh ty fe a s o t es guidelin
supporters who remain resilient and positive during these challenging times. Chris Haughton Chairman, Lancaster Singers t: 07976 875 586 www.lancastersingers.org
HARMONY & HEALTH Remote Singing Sessions We would like to extend an invitation to anyone out there who would like to join us for our remote singing sessions. 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
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HARMONY & HEALTH (cont)
CALDER VALE COUNTRY CLUB
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.
Yet again, at the time of writing, we are still in the grip of the pandemic, although we have the hope of a successful vaccination programme.
Ann Cameron 07966 126999 Alan Cameron 07825 271344
GARSTANG PHOENIX WI On behalf of Garstang Phoenix WI, I would like to wish all our members belated best wishes for the New Year. We hope that you are all keeping safe and well. Hopefully, it will not be too long before our monthly meetings will resume, when once again we will be able to meet friends both old and new and catch up with all the news over tea and cake. Once again, best wishes to you all. Lesley Wilson
At Calder Vale Club we remain positive that life will return to ‘normal’ sometime in the next few months. To all members and friends of Calder Vale Club, can we reassure you that, as restrictions lift, we can once again enjoy live cabaret, friendly company, dancing, bingo, pool, snooker, darts and even another tractor run. Our club is easily accessible - PR3 1SH - nestled in a beautiful, rural setting. If you haven’t visited us before, (or not for many years), if you are missing a good night out with like minded people or you are just simply bored with the TV, please have a look at our website.
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CALDER VALE CLUB (cont)
FAIRTRADE
Calder Vale Club has been a community asset, pub and entertainment venue for at least 70 years. Please support us as soon as restrictions are lifted. All visitors would be most welcome.
Fairtrade Fortnight Mon 22nd Feb - Sun 7th Mar
Ros Ashworth (01995) 603 776
GARSTANG HERITAGE SOCIETY We are still adding content to our revamped website - please have a look and let us know what you think. We have lots of stuff to get through, and we are constantly researching and gathering information. If you have any history or heritage information or photographs of the former Garstang Rural District you think would be of interest to us please get in touch via the website. Mary Randles e: garstangheritagecentre@gmail.com w: www.garstangheritagesociety.org
For two weeks each year at the end of February and start of March, thousands of individuals, companies, and groups across the UK come together to share the stories of the people who grow our food and drinks and who grow the cotton in our clothes, people who are often exploited and underpaid. In 2021, Fairtrade Fortnight will feel quite different. 2020 has been a hard year and we know that physically campaigning and meeting people will continue to be challenging as we head into the new year, but we have also heard from so many of you that you want to continue to support Fairtrade through this time. The Covid pandemic has shown us more than ever how interconnected we are globally. This interconnection is at the very heart of the Fairtrade message and you have the power
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FAIRTRADE (cont) to drive long term change not only with your shopping choices but with your support in spreading the message. We just must do this a little differently in 2021. Choose the World you Want this Fairtrade Fortnight In Fairtrade Fortnight 2021, we will highlight the growing challenges that climate change brings to farmers and workers in the communities Fairtrade works with. The facts are straightforward. Farmers and workers in the global south, who have done the least to contribute to climate change, are disproportionately affected. They have told us that: •
Climate change is one of their biggest challenges right now.
•
Low prices for their crops mean that they are struggling to fight back.
•
With more money through Fairtrade, they
feel more equipped to meet their everyday needs and deal with the challenges posed by climate change. The climate crisis is an immediate and ever-increasing threat and those in climate vulnerable countries are already seeing its impacts from droughts and crop disease to floods, heat waves and shrinking harvests. With the emergence of the global Covid pandemic, the challenges that farmers face now are bigger than ever before with falling commodity prices and widespread shocks reverberating along our global supply chains. Ongoing poverty in farming communities makes it increasingly hard to cope with the effects of climate change. Fairtrade, Climate and You We need your help to put farmer voices at the heart of tackling the climate crisis and share the reality of their struggles. Our global trading
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FAIRTRADE (cont) system is balanced in favour of the powerful few. Trapped in this system, farmers already struggle to meet their immediate needs. More than ever, they need a fair price for their crops and their hard work. Fairtrade works to raise the voices of producers and prioritise what they need to respond to the environmental crises unfolding in already vulnerable communities. This Fortnight, we are asking you to ‘Choose the World You Want’ and use your voice to tell others about the challenges that farmers face from climate change.
of the Fairtrade campaigners’ calendar, and while there’s great news about vaccines, it’s become clear that we can expect the virus to still be around until at least Easter. That means Fairtrade Fortnight with its programme of stalls, fairs, coffee mornings, religious services and “Meet the Producer” events must be very different in 2021. The vision was of three main events focused on visual arts, spoken word, poetry recitals and music along with a number of ‘fringe’ events which would be more interactive craft and dance workshops, cook-alongs etc.
We will be hosting an online festival bringing together schools, universities, businesses, supporters, campaigners, and farmers from across the world.
The festival is now really taking shape so to check out and sign up for events follow the link below... and remember all the events are free.
Fairtrade Connections – Online Community Arts Festival
www.accessoryfair.co.uk/blog/fairtradeconnections-arts-festival.html
Fairtrade Fortnight is the most important time
Peter Ryder www.garstangfairtrade.org.uk fb: @garstang-fairtrade
SCORTON CHARITY TEAS Would your local charitable group / organisation like to raise funds during the summer months? Every Sunday during July and August we would like to have Teas at Scorton Village Hall. You can book a Sunday at our Village Hall all day for £25. We provide the crockery, table and chairs and you supply the food and serve it to passing customers - all monies you make are yours to keep. Scorton is a very busy spot – why not take up our offer? Get in touch for more details. Joanne (01524) 791818 e: scortonvillagehall@outlook.com
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GARSTANG LIBRARY Access Your Library at Home Did you know that you can access free eBooks, eAudiobooks, comics, magazines and daily newspapers? Find out more and download step-by-step guides through our digital library by visiting the below link: www.lancashire.gov.uk/libraries-andarchives/libraries/digital-library Home Library Service You can use the Home Library Service if you can’t get to a library because of your age, disability, poor physical or mental health, caring responsibilities or mobility problems. You may want to use the service all the time or for a short period, such as only in winter or when recovering from an illness or operation. A friend, relative or carer can collect books for you. If you can’t arrange for someone to collect
them for you, volunteers can deliver your books to you free of charge. If you are interested in joining the Home Library Service get in touch. Six of the Best This service allows you to arrange the collection of a bag of books at the library building entrance which our library staff will select for you. We’ll pick up to six books for you to collect safely from the library. We can’t guarantee that you will get books you like or haven’t previously read but we will try our best. Complete the request form online with details of the type of book you like to read and the number you would like to collect or phone us Monday to Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm. You can also use the form to request ‘Six of the Best’ for up to four other people (all to be collected at the same time).
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GARSTANG LIBRARY (cont)
NEW TREATMENTS AVAILABLE IN OUR CLINICS Verrutop: A new type of treatment for warts and verrucae. Suitable for adults and children as young as six years. 80% of patients saw clearance within four simple applications. Finestra Technique: A new technique for the treatment of fungal nail with clinical trials indicating a high success rate. FULL RANGE OF TREATMENTS AVAILABLE AT OUR CLINICS IN KNOTT END & GARSTANG We would like to reassure our patients that we are taking all precautions to offer a safe clinical environment, following Government guidelines. Our clinics at Knott End and Garstang continue to operate during this time and will remain open unless directed by the Government. Full PPE is in place to protect our patients and employees including hand sanitisers, treatment screens and face masks. Your health is our priority 14 Lancaster Rd, Knott End, FY6 0AR 01253 812555 3 Thomas’s Court, Thomas’s Weind, Garstang, PR3 1LL 01995 601106 e: gillnewhousepodiatry@gmail.com www.gillnewshousepodiatry.co.uk
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t: 0300 123 6703 e: garstang.library@lancashire.gov.uk fb: @lancslibraries twitter: @lancspublib www.lancashire.gov.uk/libraries-andarchives
GARSTANG ARTS CENTRE Poetry Group Gary will have contacted you with details of the poems he has received for our virtual meetings. We would like to ask any member who knows of someone who is in the Poetry Group but does not have an email address if you could pass on any information you receive from Gary or myself? We have details of members but some have not given their telephone number or if they have an email they have not let us know. Marie Whalley t: 01995 603605 e: mj.whalley@outlook.com
COFFEE STOP As the nights draw out and the snowdrops brighten our walks, it’s great to look forward to Spring. Unfortunately Coffee Stop is not yet able to open its doors in Catterall and Inglewhite. Inglewhite Church however continues to keep us connected electronically, by phone or via a postal newsletter. Activities for all ages, older and younger are available. Please reach out to us if you feel we could support you in any way. All contact details are available via our website. Looking forward to being physically together again, keep safe and well until then. Lesley Hardman www.inglewhitechurch.org.uk
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CARDIAC RISK IN THE YOUNG an old note or coin that was found in the bottom of a bag or long forgotten drawer or ‘just because’.Whatever the amount or reason may be, please know that we appreciate your bigheartedness very much. Matthew Hesmondhalgh Memorial Fund Whilst January usually hails a busy time prepping for our February screening event, outwardly this year it’s seemed to have been a more challenging but quiet and reflective month mainly due to the current situation. Yet behind the scenes it’s actually been rather eventful. We’ve had the pleasure of sending a further fabulous donation of £230 to CRY from our friends and their customers at Quilter’s Quarters, who have been busy yet again making and selling more masks. Their lovely crafty shop at Longridge is currently closed (apart from click and collect), but they have a wonderfully informative Facebook page with an inspirational blog from Emma, great telephone advice and a speedy postal service too. Ladies you are munificent!
Many thanks too to all who have donated jigsaw puzzles. They’re a great activity that has enabled folks to find some enjoyment in this time of lockdown and support CRY too. And finally our thanks go to those who have generously donated their unwanted Christmas gifts. They’ll be great raffle prizes when we’re back up and running with events. Keep safe and keep smiling (even if it is behind a mask)! Paula Hesmondhalgh t: 07785 106 976 e: paulahez.ph@gmail.com fb: @The Matthew Hesmondhalgh Memorial Fund
We also managed to have a clothing collection which added a further £106 to the pot. Whilst we’re very grateful for all the donations we receive through the green recycling bank at the village hall car park, the company we deal with will not take pre-loved quilts, pillows or cushions. Prior to the virus any such donations that we were unable to make use of were re-donated to a local animal care centre. However, they are not currently accepting them either so we would be grateful if they are not posted in the bank as we have no storage space. From time to time we receive donations that are given either anonymously or from folks who do not wish to be named and this we greatly respect. However we’d like to acknowledge these acts of benevolent support and thoughtfulness whether it’s a donation in memory of a friend or loved one,
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GARSTANG CAMERA CLUB Welcome to our club’s New Year. We thought it would be greeted with a degree of optimism and so it might - but we still have a disturbing few months ahead of us before we arrive at a new normal. Right... that’s the bile out of the way.
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IRON 4U
We are already into our New Year’s programme having had ‘Creatures of the World’ judged and a presentation of ‘A-Z Back to Basics’ by Dave Bibby. The programme for the rest of February is given below •
Wed 3rd Feb: Judging of the club competition ‘Humanity’
•
Wed 10th Feb: We welcome Roger Geldard on ‘Japan’s Winter Wildlife’
•
Wed 17th Feb Alison Jenkins presents ‘Our Photography - Work and Hobby’
•
Wed 3rd Mar: Starts with our club competition ‘Anything Goes’
All Zoom meetings start at 7:30pm. Anyone wishing to join in by membership, please contact us through the website. As I write this, we are under the instructions to stay at home, so photographic opportunities are diminished unless we happen to live in a rural location where we can carry our camera as we take advantage of our daily exercise. The white tops of the Lakeland hills are, in golfing parlance, ‘out of bounds’. The attendance at our Zoom meetings still impresses me and our presenters come from a much wider radius than before, not having to travel many hours for a two hours session. That is one silver lining I can think of... not many others! We look forward to normal(ish) times in the future. Maurice Barker www.garstangcameraclub.co.uk
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THE ROTARY CLUB
Dec.
Rotary raises £684 for Charity in December 2020 200+ Club Draw
This provided a surplus which covered our expenses and provided a contribution to our Rotary charities.
The Rotary Club of Garstang and Over Wyre held its six monthly 200+ Club Draw on Wed 16th
Due to the Covid lockdown we were unable to hold the traditional event. Rotarians were able to make use of the technology that they have adopted for their regular meetings. Throughout the Rotary organisation we are using Zoom - an application which enables a number of people using a laptop, a tablet or a smart phone to view and speak to one or all members of the group as seen on their own screen in their own homes.
In August last year, on the occasion of the 200 Club 50th Birthday, we issued a press release to say that to partially offset some of the inflation we would offer additional tickets for sale in excess of the 200. At the same time we would increase the number of prizes in the same ratio that is £3.50 for every £6.50 of ticket sales (revenue). As a result of the above on this occasion we sold 230 tickets which raised £1495. From this we were able to supply the following prizes; 15 at £10, 6 at £25 and 1 at £500.
On Wed 16th Dec, Rotarians and their wives tuned in using Zoom. The tombola drum and corks were sited at the home of Rotarian Alan Jefferson and his wife Glynis. Alan, Glynis and the tombola plus corks were fully visible prior to the draw. After an introduction the draw began. Alan displayed the 230 corks on
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THE ROTARY CLUB (cont) its storage boards. Corks were removed by Alan and Glynis and placed in the tombola. After a thorough shake-up, Glynis pulled out the first cork. This was passed to Alan who read out the number and displayed the cork on the screen.
can see our friends, learn a little more about how to get the best out of the technology as well as continuing to develop our speaking skills.
The number was checked against the list of members by the secretary of the 200 Club, sited at his home. He then announced the winner’s name. This process was repeated for all the 22 prizes described above.
The next meeting will be at 7pm Tuesday 19 January when our speaking theme will be ‘Rubbish’, this should give rise to some interesting and often funny talks. If you would like to sit in and listen to what goes on then please use any of the contacts below.
Ticket number 058 was the winning number for the first prize of £500. The President of the Rotary Club of Garstang and Over Wyre, President Geoff Bolland, in thanking the members and the organisers of the draw and stated: ‘The draw has raised £684, which will go towards the Rotary charity account. This will assist a number of Rotary’s local charities including support for young people, assistance in the face of Covid and international charities which includes the world-wide elimination of polio.’ Further information and full details of all the winning numbers are available from the Rotary Club. Don Goodier e: donald.goodier@btinternet.com fb: @rotarygarstangandoverwyre
GARSTANG SPEAKERS CLUB Life has thrown up all sorts of new challenges over the last twelve months and we are all having to learn or adapt to doing things differently. Do you miss face to face contact with others? Do you have to use technology to communicate, for example Zoom meetings? Are you unsure how to do all this new stuff? We at Garstang Speakers Club can help. We hold a Zoom meeting twice a month, when we
We are a friendly group who are all learning and willing to share with you.
If you are interested in finding out more then please contact us. Sue Hubbard t: (01253) 701019 (Sheila Croft) e: barleyfold@madasafish.com (Sue Hubbard) or garstangspeakersclub@gmail.com www.garstangladiesspeakersclub.org
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Mark Bolan t: 01995 917895 e: m.bolan@fineandcountry-garstang.co.uk First Floor, Resource Centre Bridge Street Garstang, PR3 1YB www.fineandcountry.com
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27
GARSTANG TOWN COUNCIL Garstang town councillors and staff would like to wish you a very happy New Year! There is always renewed hope at the commencement of a new year, and we very much hope that we will be returning to a more normal way of life in 2021. At the council’s meeting on Mon 18th Jan, our minds were very much focussed on the future and how this might look during the discussion on the precept for this year. The precept funds the work of the council and the support we give to events and activities in Garstang. The council approved a precept figure of £90,742. This is an annual increase of £8.54 on the 2020/2021 precept which equates to an extra 16 pence per week for a ‘band D’ household. In past years we have been exceptionally cautious about increasing the precept, with no increase made at all last year for a band
D property. However, we wanted to ensure we are in a position to support the town in making a successful and positive recovery post Covid, and we feel the budget assigned to support the Market Town Working Group, (particularly a new town plan), is an integral part of this. In addition, the council’s support will allow us to attract additional funding. We are extremely conscious of the financial challenges faced by many residents but we are confident that the precept has been set following a careful scrutiny of our expenses, it is appropriate for a town of our size and it will allow us to put our best foot forward and come out of the Covid pandemic successfully. As always, we are keen to hear your views on any topic relating to the town. You can contact the town clerk, Edwina Parry by email or phone on and you are welcome to join our next virtual meeting. Please speak to the
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GARSTANG TOWN COUNCIL (cont) clerk to arrange this. Edwina Parry - Town Clerk t: 07592 792 801 e: clerk@garstangtowncouncil.gov.uk w: www.garstangtowncouncil.org
BEN WALLACE MP As I write this article I know some residents have received the first dose of the Covid vaccine and many more will have had it by the time it is published. To say the past year has been challenging is an understatement but we are all now keeping our fingers crossed that there is light at the end of what seems like a long tunnel. As the Secretary of State for Defence, I am extremely proud of the input from our magnificent armed forces and they continue to show great professionalism in this, the latest phase of fighting this terrible virus. Over the years our armed forces have been involved in many civil emergencies and it is great to know we have an extremely high calibre of men and women in times of need. Indeed, this is true throughout the services and for both regulars and reservists.
constituency as soon as it is possible and safe to make contact with the local schools, the emergency services, business, local groups and charities etc. Although the various platforms which have been used to communicate have been great and may shape how many work in the future, there is no substitute for having a chat face-to-face. As always, my mailbag has been full of many issues obviously from the current pandemic to the unpredictable Lancashire winter weather. As I write this we have weather warnings for Storm Christoph and I know ice on the roads has been a concern over the last few weeks. If you would like further information about winter in Lancashire go to www.lancashire. gov.uk/winter Another issue I am often asked about is the A585 Windy Harbour to Skippool project, so I asked for a quick update and received
I do not apologise for highlighting again in these articles the commitment from so many professions which has really shone through during the pandemic. Again our NHS, emergency services, care workers etc, have been amazing. There are far too many for me to highlight but one group I do want to mention this month are school staff. Whether teaching key workers children in school, delivering online lessons or carrying out the many other tasks schools have been asked to perform, they have been outstanding. I really look forward to travelling around the
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BEN WALLACE MP (cont) the following from Highways England. “The scheme is progressing well, we have continued to undertake archaeological digs in the area around Garstang Road where we have found evidence of stone age civilisations. The work to make sense of all the artefacts and evidence will now take place and the results will be published and shared widely with the local community. The works to set up the construction compound are well underway and a new access on to Garstang Road has been created and the cabins will be installed in early February. Roadworks will start at Skippool at the end of January and the initial work to remove traffic islands and the roundabout. This will allow flexibility to move traffic around safely to create working space. Work in the surrounding fields to create temporary flood storage ponds and some haul roads is also underway and major earthworks are due to commence in the spring.” I will ask for further updates later in the year but if you would like to find out more please go to: http://bit.ly/windy-harbourskippool Please remember, for up to date information on the pandemic go to: www.gov.uk/ coronavirus or www.nhs.uk Please also remember your community hub, Wyre Together (01253) 891000. Also, the Department of Health and Social Care helpline for any on-going Covid queries is 0300 303 2713. Lines are open from 7:00am - 11:00pm daily). If anyone is showing symptoms of Covid, they will be able to arrange testing. I welcome letters and emails because it lets me know the issues which really concern constituents on a daily basis whether personal, local or national issues. It is important for me to understand how people are coping whether in their business, work or home lives. I also know some businesses may have questions about our new trade agreement with the EU. Please remember, I’m here to help. The most
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BEN WALLACE MP (cont) effective way to contact me is by email 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 or write to me at the House of Commons. Ben Wallace MP t: 0207 219 5804 e: wallaceb@parliament.uk a: House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
CAT SMITH MP I’d like to start by congratulating staff at our nursing and care homes for the amazing work they’ve done over the last 12 months in keeping their residents as safe as they can. Thankfully many residents are now getting their vaccinations which must be a huge relief to staff and relatives.
on recognising qualifications. Given over 80% of our economy is made of services, the government should have prioritised the sector. The UK will no longer have access to EU databases which allow for real-time data sharing such as the Schengen Information System of missing persons or objects. Until December, police officers were using it daily to try to trace people with warrants issued against them, defendants or witnesses absconding from court, stolen cars, missing people or those under surveillance.
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It is now twelve months since the UK left the European Union and until very recently, 01995 606942 / 07769 884 778 there was no deal yet secured for the pauldodd2169@googlemail.com future relationship between the UK and EU. @PaulatTGWindows Securing such a deal was not only a major promise from the current Prime Minister at the last election, but crucial for the future of our country.
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Not securing a trade deal with the EU would have had a huge impact on workers and businesses across the country - already under so much stress from the pandemic. From protecting our industries and supply chains, ensuring the highest standards in agriculture and the environment to maintaining our current security measures and fulfilling our obligations under the Good Friday Agreement, a deal was needed. However, the deal that was secured falls short on the promises this government made
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33
CAT SMITH MP (cont) But even with these shortcomings, the deal is preferable to the extreme damage which a no deal end to the transition period would have brought. When the House of Commons was recalled at the end of December I was called to speak in the debate. In doing so I raised the issue of fishing. ‘Vote Leave, led by the Prime Minister, promised to secure an even better deal than the one that was tariff-free for fishers and that offered full control over access and quota as well as frictionless trade of course. That is important because we export 80% of what we catch, mostly into the EU, and import 70% of what we eat. The industry has called for free unimpeded trade on fish and fisheries products to ensure that supply chain continuity. ‘As we leave the common fisheries policy, it is clear that the government’s demands KILN DRIED ASH LOGS FROST PROTECTION SMOKELESS FUEL SEASONED LOGS SNOW SHOVELS COAL DOUBLES DEICING SALT KINDLING
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in negotiations have been severely watered down in the final agreement that we see today. ‘The reality is that communities such as Fleetwood - a town that overwhelmingly voted to leave the EU based on bold promises about the regeneration of fishing - will be left very disappointed. ‘[The £100 million promise that has come from the government] will not be enough to truly transform coastal communities up and down these islands who desperately need that investment, and that is the reason why many of them chose to vote to leave the European Union.’ I voted for the bill because the old divisions between leave and remain are over and the two options before us were leaving with a flawed deal or leaving with no deal the very next day. I reserve the right to criticise the deal and fight for better for our communities
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CAT SMITH MP (cont) and our fishing industry. A few weeks ago, the Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, the Commons leader, told MPs ‘We’ve got our fish back. They’re British fish and they’re better and happier fish for it.’ It’s a pity the same currently can’t be said for the fishing industry. I had the opportunity in Parliament to tackle the Environment Secretary, George Eustice MP and I told him how angry, disappointed and betrayed the fishing industry feels over the Brexit trade deal agreed by Boris Johnson. Industry insiders warn the deal will force some firms out of business. The National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations say UK negotiators have won a ‘fraction’ of the fishing quotas the government had promised and warned about the prospect of having to revisit the deal when the transition period ends in 2026, describing it as a ‘can of worms’. In the House of Commons chamber, I told Mr o We als ton in s g lo supply of logs & ets bags, n firegrates g, n li d e kin h mor & muc
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CAT SMITH MP (cont)
WYRE FLOOD FORUM
by the introduction of the post-Brexit fishing regime. Some seafood exporters are warning they face possible bankruptcy amid a suspension of road deliveries due to border delays – problems the environment secretary explained away as ‘teething issues’. With reams of new red tape, they promised they would remove, Ministers are holding British businesses and our economic recovery back. They should close the loopholes in their deal and come up with the investment our coastal communities have long been promised.
As the New Year dawned I wondered what I could write about for the February Green Book having reported, in January, the quarterly December Flood Forum. As the Editor’s deadline approached I still had little to mention and then on the 18th January a new name flashed on our screens - Storm Christophe!
Sadly, with infections still rising as I write I hope any of you diagnosed with Covid recover quickly – and let’s keep sticking to the rules of lockdown so we can get the rates down and protect one another. I send you all my best wishes at this difficult time. Cat Smith MP
Wyre Senior Engineer Paul Long quickly arranged an online Forum for 9:30am Wed 20th Jan and we were off again. A walk along the River Wyre from the Garstang High Street car park painted a grim scene of driving rain and water levels well over the banks but thankfully not threatening the Sports pavilion as it had done twice in the past five years. In fact, at the previous evening’s remote Town Council meeting Cllr Sir Robert Atkins, president of the cricket club, had drawn our attention to the serious consequences of yet another inundation.
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WYRE FLOOD FORUM (cont) Those of you who know the river walk will have frequently seen the martial Heron on sentry duty at the first weir ready to dive for his favourite fish but that day he was nowhere to be seen. The conditions were too much for him but I’m pleased to say he was back a day later patiently waiting to choose his lunch from the deep. Teams in vehicles from the Environment Agency (EA) and United Utilities were on stand by. The EA rep told us he would stay until 8:00pm but the EA control room at Walton Summit would be on 24 hour watch. The Garstang Flood Basin Warning signs were unlocked and displayed but the gates had not been raised and were not yet expected to be although the picture changed over the next few hours and a colleague who overlooks the basin reported that the gates had been raised later that evening. Although the river was full it was not naturally spilling over. Saturated as it was the rugby pitch was still visible apart from one or two pools of standing water.
issue’ but that does not cut the mustard and it is action that is required. There were individual reports of standing water on the road network and a short closure of the A586 through St Michaels but no reports of ingress into property. Householders in vulnerable spots are now savvy to threat and quick to prepare for the danger. A tour of Churchtown on Tuesday Tues 19th Jan demonstrated the vigilance required by the local FLAG and Agency officers. The Ainspool flows a very short distance from Nateby Fields under the Canal and under Longmoor Lane via culverts and finally under the A586 at the Ainspool Bridge. On the 19th Jan the water was level with the underside of the main road carrying bridge and as officers are well aware, and admit, excess water has nowhere to go. When questioned, the Chairman of the Forum said that alternative storage arrangements of excess water ‘are
The potential for flooding at St Michaels arises when a significant volume of water heading to sea meets a similar force heading up stream. The higher the tide the greater the threat. On this occasion the conjunction of Sun, Moon and Earth produced a Neap or low tide “without power” and the threat was averted. Nevertheless, several reports of flooding were received but mostly on farm land. Raikes Road at Gt Eccleston near Moons Funerals and the bus stop was highlighted. Although not as serious as previous occasions signs were required because motorists could not spot the hazard and drove through creating bow waves. In spite of historic problems on Rawcliffe Road being well documented the solution to the serious escape of sewage is no nearer. UU say somewhat blithely that it is a ‘known
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WYRE FLOOD FORUM (cont)
At the riverside mid-day Tues 19th Jan.
being investigated.’ Householders in Ainspool Lane were busy fixing boards to their front entrances and filling sand bags. The Wyre runs strongly here with the added force of a number of tributaries as well as surface water drains. Hard surfaces where ever they are contribute to the threat and more building is not the answer Elsewhere, in Preesall Sunnyside Terrace residents were out in force barricading their
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A much calmer scene 24 hours later.
doors with sand bags and with the help of two council pumps, one of which could be re deployed to Churchtown in an emergency, keeping waters at bay. There are reports of a potential blockage in Cartgate and EA were asked to deal with silting in the river system. Key FLAG member Linda made a plea strongly backed by all present to motorists to act responsibly and to drive VERY SLOWLY through water pools. Linda also reported a lighting standard being out on the corner with
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WYRE FLOOD FORUM (cont) Lancaster Road which should be illuminating a Flood Warning sign. There is, one feels, much to be done by EA and LCC to rectify drainage issues in the historic Sunnyside Terrace. Better news from Hambleton where agencies working in partnership (isn’t that how it should be done?) in Kiln and Marsh Lanes have, according to County Cllr John Shedwick, fixed the flooding issues. It’s not just Over Wyre that feels the effect of heavy weather. In Thornton a development by Wain Homes is adding to the highway problems and although planning enforcement officers have visited the company it might end up with a STOP notice being issued meaning legal enforcement. In Poulton, County Cllr Alf Clempson described the plight of residents where despite LCC providing sandbags - some homes are under threat. Funding for remedial works is now being investigated and the influential ‘Making Space For Water Group’ of officers will meet to find solutions on a multiagency basis. I had intended to write more of the NFM - natural flood management - work being done by Tom Myerscough, the Wyre River’s Trust scientific officer and also the Forest of Bowland Peatland Restoration project funded from the Government’s £80 Million Green Recovery Challenge Fund but Christophe has taken my allotted space so I will make amends in the March issue if I am allowed. Meanwhile we spare a thought to all those in various regions of the UK who have suffered so much as graphically highlighted in our newspapers and television screens. Flooding is a National problem very much associated with land drainage; the government must redouble its efforts to tackle the causes.
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SOROPTIMISTS (cont) Women Inspiring Action, Transforming Lives Happy New Year! Happy New Year (again) to everyone from all our members. We really hope this year will only get better in more ways than one! I’m sure we all had a very different Christmas – we certainly did. The Zoom party was fun and everyone joined in with all the usual activities we normally enjoyed if we had met physically. Here are a few bits of loose ends which we didn’t cover last month. Foodbank We normally do a couple of food collections each year to donate to the Salvation Army in Preston, but due to restrictions last year, we had to improvise. We managed to arrange
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a socially-distanced collection of eight bags containing 110 items from our homes which were then delivered to the bank in Lancaster in time for Christmas. I know we are all fully aware of the strain on these foodbanks in the current climate, so don’t be shy of dropping the odd item into the boxes you find at supermarkets please. Backpacks We also collected a donation from Mrs Bradshaw of Stalmine for the backpack project – four new backpacks (one of them filled) and a donation of £100, as she hasn’t been able to get out to buy more bits for the packs. This was so unexpected but so appreciated. It means that at least another four children will be given the chance to attend school and get a regular meal each day. Thank you Mrs Bradshaw. Stamps Back to our Blue Peter days; a request was received from the RNIB for the collection of stamps to help toward their fund-raising activities. How do stamps make a difference? By collecting stamps you’re helping to break down the barriers that stop people with sight loss living life to the full. The RNIB accept all stamps: new or used, first or second class, foreign, first day covers, presentation packs or albums. Stamps are sold by weight and they raise £20 per kilogramme of stamps, so it’s a brilliant way to raise money. Janet kindly sent off for the collection envelope and we have all parcelled up our stamps, always a bumper number from Christmas time, and posted them over to her to send in. Few fundraising activities are easier than licking a stamp! Laptops for Home Schooling The latest lockdown has meant most children are studying from home, but not every family has a laptop or tablet for the children to use. Step forward the Garstang Volunteer Force
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SOROPTIMISTS (cont) who quickly formed a plan to help tackle this issue by collecting unwanted but working laptops and tablets, getting them tested and reset by a professional firm (for free!) and issuing them to local schools. We at Garstang Soroptimists are pleased to support this and so far have managed to send five laptops and two tablets to the collection point. Coming Up Next We’re busy arranging the activities for this year, we’ve even tentatively booked some physical meetings. We’ve great faith that things really are going to get better. We are stepping up the preparations for our 100th anniversary this year. One of the first projects undertaken by Soroptimists was saving the giant redwood in America and to this end, tree planting is going to feature heavily in this year’s celebrations. A wonderful salute to the original founders of the organisation and an essential tribute to the environmental issues we find ourselves facing in 2021. We attended a webinar last year on the importance of tree planting and will have enjoyed the next stage webinar by the time you read this. In January a Zoom meeting will have taken place with our friendship club in Wakefield. The physical meetings we had planned to take place at Skipton (half way between our two home areas) sadly had to be cancelled, but we’ll not be beaten. So Zoom it is and a chance to catch-up, discuss what we’re up to, come up with new ideas and see what projects we can join forces on. February will see us looking into our own wellbeing. You sometimes forget that it’s just as important to look after yourself as it is others. You can’t fully help others if you’re not in a good place yourself, so don’t forget to be kind to yourself! To that end, we’re taking part in an online yoga session. This will be a first for most of us, so I can’t wait to report back next month.
Plastic-free Supermarkets UK supermarkets currently generate 900,000 tonnes of plastic packaging every year so I can’t be the only one whose bin runneth over from the vast amount of plastic bags and wrapping my food comes in. So head over to the Greenpeace website and with just a couple of clicks you can join us in signing their petition - https://secure.greenpeace. org.uk/page/s/plastic-free-supermarkets Interested in What we Do? Just drop us a line or give our membership co-ordinator, Muriel Burnham-Airey a ring
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SOROPTIMISTS (cont) on (01995) 606604. We’ll be happy to talk to you and answer your questions. w: www.sigarstang.org.uk facebook: SoroptimistsGarstang twitter: GarstangSoropt
FOREST OF BOWLAND Festival Bowland A programme of exciting countryside events has been launched in the Forest of Bowland and it’s a great way to get connected to nature – both during the day and after dark. The new Festival Bowland programme is full of events celebrating the wildlife, landscape and heritage of the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is set to run throughout 2021. Forest of Bowland AONB Project Officer, Sandra Silk, said, ‘Having a connection with nature and the environment can really help
with our wellbeing. Festival Bowland has had to adapt to the current circumstances but, thanks to our partners, we’ve got a packed programme.’ February half-term then sees a host of opportunities offered as part of the third Bowland Dark Skies Festival – including a live stream from the Arctic Circle on Sat 13th Feb. The week continues with children’s storytelling, night sky ID, a live moon watch and a closer look at night time animals – particularly our mysterious and elusive owls. Tips on how to take dark sky photographs with your smart phone rounds the week off on Fri 19th Feb. Sandra explained, ‘We’ve decided to keep all our events online until Easter because of Coronavirus restrictions. After that we hope to introduce some small scale, outdoor events but only if it’s safe to do so. We also aim to keep our virtual events running all year.
GREY MATTER TEST (ans page 47) 1. What name is given to a hill in any Greek city? 2. What city is connected to Manchester by the Manchester Ship Canal? 3. Which store group’s slogan was ‘Never Knowingly Undersold’? 4. Which rock star named his son Zowie? 5. Who painted a ‘Self Portrait with a Bandaged Ear’ 6. In which year did the Americans bomb Hiroshima? 7. Who had a number one hit with her 2010 single ‘A Bad Romance’? 8. Which river is nearest to Balmoral Castle? 9. Which London Park would you be in to ride along Rotten Row? 10. Which English King led the English to victory at the Battle of Agincourt? 11. Who was the last Viceroy of India giving independence to the country?
12. Which American billionaire designed a wood aeroplane called ‘The Spruce Goose’? 13. Which day of the week is named after the Norse Goddess Freya? 14. The 2012 movie ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ documents the hunt for which terrorist? 15. According to the saying, who rush in where angels fear to tread? 16. American states all have nicknames. Which one is known as ‘The Lone Star State’? 17. What is mineral water mixed with quinine called? 18. What was sought by Jason and the Argonauts? 19. In which university city is the Bodleian Library? 20. Which author wrote the ‘His Dark Materials’ trilogy?
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FOREST OF BOWLAND (cont) Birds, bats, bumblebees and amphibians are amongst the wildlife which will be under the spotlight during the season-spanning programme; plus a chance to discover Lancashire’s species-rich, pollinator-friendly Coronation Meadows in Slaidburn.
Highlights in Bowland, between Sat 18th and Sun 26th Sept, will included the annual Foodie Foray, plus Pendle Hill Landscape Partnership’s brand new ‘Together for Our Landmark’ Walking Festival if circumstances allow.
Heritage enthusiasts should keep an eye out for the Pendle Radicals, currently being researched by volunteers with Mid Pennine Arts. These are individuals who were key to the history of the area but may not all be familiar to a wider audience. Later in the spring, English Heritage’s, Dr Michael Carter, will share the history of 12thC Cistercian Sawley Abbey, the ruins of which occupy such a wonderful setting by the River Ribble.
The Festival programme comes to a close with the 10th Lord of Bowland annual lecture, Tramper taster sessions, a fungi foray, bat box making and natural art – all in October. ‘Festival Bowland is a great introduction if you’re unfamiliar with the AONB’ continued Sandra, ‘but we hope there’s also plenty to discover for those who know it well and we’re really grateful to all those who will be organising and delivering events as part of this year’s programme.’
Early autumn marks the return of Landscapes for Life Week. This is a week-long programme of events to help people reconnect with Full details of events, including booking nature by enjoying, and being inspired by, the information, are available on the Forest UK’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. of Bowland AONB website or by emailing
CROSSWORD (ans page 47)
Across 1. Focal point of earthquake (9) 7. Praise; adulation (10) 10. Recollection (6) 11. Sewing fibre; thin string (6) 14. Self-assurance; secret (10) 15. Line of schoolchildren; large amphibious reptile (9) Down 2. Scheme; area of ground (4) 3. ____ of Good Hope; loose cloak (4) 4. Fixed with a hammer (6) 5. Antelope; sports brand (6) 6. Remains; holiday visits (5) 8. Adhere; piece of wood (5) 9. Tool to trim trees (6) 10. Crackpot; enthusiast (6) 12. Grass growing in marsh or pond (4) 13. Bridge bidding system (4)
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FOREST OF BOWLAND (cont) Sandra Silk. Sandra Silk t: 01200 448000 e: sandra.silk@lancashrie.gov.uk www.forestofbowland.com
GARSTANG & DISTRICT LIONS Donations Despite the difficult circumstances, the Garstang and District Lions Club have distributed over £6,000 to various charities and good causes in 2020 with about half of this amount going to specific local or area Covid related activities / projects. It is always nice to have our work recognised and we were proud to be awarded ‘Team of the Year’ by Garstang Town Council.
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In addition to this we have also, again, received from Lions Club International their membership satisfaction banner given to us for the recruitment of new members and the provision of good value to existing ones. Events On the final Sunday before Christmas, Santa Claus and five of his elves arrived by separate transport outside seven of our local care home facilities to deliver both Christmas cards and presents to their residents and the staff. Doing this for the first time and managing to comply with all of the current regulations was ‘tricky’ but it was felt that it all went well. We were very grateful for both the support and welcome received from all at: Abbeyfield, Bowgreave Rise, Bowers Wood, Catterall House, The Cornmill, Oaklands and Westward House. More About the Lions For further information about the range of activities and projects that we have been involved with, please see our website or you can just speak to any of our members about what it is that we do. Chris Wilkinson www.garstanglions.co.uk
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The animal centre has closed to members of the public. We are however continuing to rehome remotely wherever possible. Our phone lines are currently open between the hours of 11:00am - 2:00pm, Tuesday to Sunday and our emails are monitored daily. Our charity shops remain closed and the shop van is not on the road at the moment so we are not able to do collections. Hannah Kirrane - Animal Centre Manager t: (01253) 703000 www.rspcablackpool.org.uk
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GREY MATTER ANSWERS
CROSSWORD ANSWERS
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.
Across
Acropolis Liverpool John Lewis David Bowie Vincent Van Gogh 1945 Lady Gaga The River Dee Hyde Park Henry V Louis Mountbatten Howard Hughes Friday Osama Bin Laden Fools Texas Tonic Water The Golden Fleece Oxford Philip Pullman
1. Epicentre 7. Compliment 10. Memory 11. Thread 14. Confidence 15. Crocodile Down 2. Plot 3. Cape 4. Nailed 5. Reebok 6. Stays 8. Stick 9. Pruner 10. Maniac 12. Reed 13. Acol
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