Garstang Focus Magazine - May 2021 by Focus Magazines

FOCUS MAGAZINE 'The Green Book'

GARSTANG - Scorton - Cabus - Garstang - Catterall - Bonds - Bowgreave - St Michaels - Churchtown

Issue 247 May 2021

CORONAVIRUS

“Getting tested is a really easy way to help keep my family and my workmates safe.” STEPHEN, TRADE PERSON

Get free, rapid tests if you have to leave home to work. Get tested, even if you don’t have symptoms. Around 1 in 3 people who have Covid-19 don’t have any symptoms and can spread it without knowing. Test regularly – twice a week.

REGULAR TESTING FOR SAFER WORKING IS HERE

Welcome to Focus Magazine... Covid Roadmap Step 3...................................4

Cardiac Risk in the Young..............................24

Catterall in Bloom..............................................5

The Inner Wheel Club.....................................27

Plant Sale...............................................................5

The Immune System Miracle......................29

Cherestanc WI.....................................................6

Cat Smith MP........................................................31

Coffee Stop ...........................................................6

Ben Wallace MP.................................................34

Babas........................................................................6 Scorton Food & Gift Fair.................................7 Calder Vale Country Club..............................7 Calder Vale Methodist Church...................7 Garstang Free Methodists.............................8 Garstang United Reformed Church.........8 Garstang Quakers..............................................9 Garstang Arts Centre.......................................9 Garstang Library.................................................10 Garstang Wine Circle.......................................12

Garstang Town Council...................................37 Over Wyre Art Society.....................................39 Grey Matter Test.................................................39 Garstang Camera Club...................................40 RSPCA......................................................................41 Garstang in Bloom............................................43 Fylde Coast YMCA.............................................45 Knott End Golf Club..........................................46 Garstang Tennis Club......................................47

Garstang Medical Practice...........................14

The Green Homes Grant................................47

Covid Testing is Now Easier.........................16

Garstang Walking Festival............................49

Fairtrade..................................................................17

Harmony & Health.............................................49

Garstang AFVBC.................................................19

Crossword..............................................................49

Rotary.......................................................................20

Grey Matter Test Answers.............................51

Soroptimists..........................................................21

Crossword Answers..........................................51

JUNE 2021 DEADLINE DATE

The June deadline for editorial and adverts is 5:00pm on Monday 17th May. Deliveries of the June edition of Focus Magazine will commence Thursday 27th May. 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 | © 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.

ROADMAP STEP 3 So what will life look like as we enter Step 3? Social Contact

From Mon 17th May, people in England will hopefully see restrictions continue to lift as we enter the third step of the government’s four-step roadmap. The decision to continue easing restrictions will be based on four tests: •

the vaccine deployment programme continues successfully

•

evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated

•

infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations

•

assessment of the risks is not changed by new Variants of Concern

As part of Step 3, no earlier than Mon 17th May, the government will look to continue easing limits on seeing friends and family wherever possible. This means that most legal restrictions on meeting others outdoors will be lifted - although gatherings of over 30 people will remain illegal. Indoors, the rule of six or two households will apply. As soon as possible and by no later than Step 3, the government will also update the advice on social distancing between friends and family, including hugging. But until this point, people should continue to keep their distance from anyone not in their household or support bubble. Business & Activities Most businesses in all but the highest risk sectors will be able to reopen. In all sectors, Covid-secure guidance will remain in place and businesses may not cater for groups bigger than the legal limits. Indoor hospitality will reopen. Customers will have to order, eat and drink while seated. Other indoor locations to open up in Step 3 include indoor entertainment venues such as cinemas and children’s play areas; the rest of the accommodation sector, including hotels, hostels and B&Bs; and indoor adult group sports and exercise classes. The government will also allow some larger performances and sporting events in indoor venues with a capacity of 1,000 people or half-full (whichever is a lower number), and in outdoor venues with a capacity of 4,000 people or half-full (whichever is a lower number). In the largest outdoor seated venues, where crowds can be spread out, up to 10,000 people will be able to attend (or a quarter-full, whichever is lower). Events Up to 30 people will be able to attend

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ROADMAP STEP 3 (cont) weddings, receptions and wakes, as well as funerals. This limit will also apply to other types of significant life events including bar mitzvahs and christenings. Review of Social Distancing Finally, before Step 4 begins, the government will complete a review of social distancing and other long-term measures that have been put in place to cut transmission. This will inform decisions on the timing and circumstances under which the rules on 1 metre plus, the wearing of face coverings and other measures may be lifted. This will also inform guidance on working from home – which should continue wherever possible until this review is complete. www.gov.uk

CATTERALL IN BLOOM It’s been a fantastic beginning to the new season, meeting up with old friends and greeting new volunteers who have joined us (whose contribution and hard work has been much appreciated).

7:00pm at Stone Cross Gardens. You are welcome to join us at either venue. The main task ahead of us this month will be watering the newly-planted perennials and vegetable seeds, so bring a bottle of water with you please! Netta Parker t: (01995) 605385 e: annettaparker@hotmail.co.uk

PLANT SALE Sat 15th May 10:00am - 1:00pm Croston House, Garstang Plant sale hosted by Cancer Help Preston Ltd at Cancer Help, Croston House, Croston Rd, Garstang. For more details, please contact Vine House on (01772) 793344. Judith Law

The good weather has meant that we’ve been able get an early start on weeding the flower beds and sowing vegetable seeds. We have also upgraded the raised flower bed at the entrance to the village hall, so that it includes a smart Bee Hotel, kindly made by Bernard Robinson, and a variety of insect friendly perennials donated by Barton Grange. How lucky are we to have such generous neighbours?! The Bloom team - along with Bernard Pendleton, Chair of North West in Bloom has recently paid tribute to Bill Blackledge, the previous Chair of NWIB by planting a crab apple tree in his name. Bill was a great supporter of Catterall in Bloom and awarded us our first Gold in 2018. The Bloom team meets on Tuesdays 10:00am at Catterall Village Hall and on Wednesdays

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CHERESTANC WI 2020 marked 100 years since the formation of the Lancashire Federation of Women’s Institutes. To celebrate this milestone, 100 Tete a Tete daffodils were planted outside St Thomas’s Parish and Community Hall in September 2020 by members of Cherestanc WI. The daffodils, which started to bloom in March 2021, were a joyful sight.

late June when we hope to have clarification about the rules lifting and we can invite you back in the safest way possible.

Linda Bark

We look forward to opening our doors and sharing a warm welcome with you all as soon as restrictions allow.

COFFEE STOP It’s great to be enjoying sunny days, haircuts and meet-ups with friends and family outdoors. Sadly it would be difficult to reopen our community cafes in Catterall or Inglewhite just yet, though an outdoor Coffee Stop event is something we should be able to enjoy soon. Because gatherings of over 30 people are not yet allowed, we will be best waiting until

We have, however, restarted Sunday worship in the church building. Please view the church website to book your place in advance of attending. Details of online services and activities for all ages are available there too.

Lesley Hardman

BABAS Baby & Toddler Group Hello to all parents, carers and children. We’re still not sure about opening times but we will keep you updated. Hope you are all safe and well. Dorothy Gorst (01995) 606226

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SCORTON FOOD & GIFT FAIR Mon 3rd May, 10:30am - 4:00pm Scorton Village Hall Featuring 25 stalls selling tasty foods and fabulous gifts including cheese, preserves, textiles, jewellery and soaps, traditional crafts, sweets, chocolate, glassware and candles. Entry is free. There’s sadly no cafe this year and we are operating as an indoor market so face coverings must be worn. There will be a one-way system and track and trace details will be taken. Joanne Golton e: scortonvillage@outlook.com t: 01524 791818

CALDER VALE COUNTRY CLUB At Last - Grand Opening! •

Fri 21st May, from 7:00pm: Opening night with live entertainment from popular, local singer Will Procter.

•

Sat 22nd May: Live entertainment from Club favourite Eddie P, bingo, bonus ball and Play Your Cards Right.

•

Sun 23rd May, 8:00pm: Social Bingo.

17th May so we hope to have a celebration on Sun 16th May. Sadly we will not be able to have our usual invited preachers and a lunch together, but we will make it a celebration of the life of the church. Our usual Take-Away Friday lunches continue. They are open to all but do need to be pre-ordered. Please give me a ring if you would like a two course meal delivered to outside the chapel any Friday at approximately 1:00pm. Sadly it will be a little while before our coffee mornings and CAMEO group start again. We will watch the lifting of restrictions and hope that it will be sooner rather than later. We all know how the charities have been missing the normal fundraising efforts. For more details of Sunday services or to order lunches please contact me. Edith Gorst (01995) 602078

All openings will be subject to Government Guidelines. All welcome - please support your local Club! Ros Ashworth (01995) 603776

CALDER VALE METHODIST CHURCH We are open for Sunday Worship again with our first Sunday worship for over a year held on Easter Day. What a great day to meet together and celebrate the good news of the risen Jesus. We are holding regular services but the times may vary. Some Sundays we join the Zoom service from other churches which starts at 10:30am. On other Sundays it will at our usual time of 10:45am.

7 Rope Walk, Garstang, PR3 1NS

We celebrate our 121st Anniversary on Mon

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GARSTANG FREE METHODISTS We are so thrilled to be holding in-person services in our improved and extended building. Our first service was on 18th April with limited numbers and socially distanced, but to be back face to face after over a year was wonderful. These services are family-friendly with a children’s talk and short message. They last approximately 40 minutes. Booking - which is essential to ensure we are Covid-secure - is open from Monday morning until 5:00pm Thursday for the following Sunday. Anyone that doesn’t secure a space is put on the top of the list for the following week. This will continue until all restrictions are lifted, hopefully in late June. To book, please email or ring the church office and leave a message. As we understand not everyone is able to or doesn’t feel comfortable to meet in person, we will continue to produce an on-line service – all details on our website. We are looking forward to being able to get our regular meetings running as soon as we are allowed and trust we will all keep safe and well as the government reduces the restrictions. Katie Devany t: (01995) 602852 e: bookings@garstangfmc.org.uk www.garstangfmc.org.uk Est. 1970

GARSTANG URC

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Garstang URC will be resuming their weekly Sunday morning services on Sun 23rd May at 10:45am at the church hall (Croston Road, Garstang). The hall is well-ventilated and social distancing will be observed with a maximum of 28 people. If you wish to attend, please contact Stella Clarke on (01524) 791292. We look forward to welcoming you. David Ralphs

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GARSTANG QUAKERS Quakers in Garstang are very happy to be able to announce that we opened our Meeting House again for worship on Sun 25th April with it now open every Sunday at 10:30am. You would be very welcome and every care has be taken to make the Meeting House Covid safe. We hope that these small things that we can do again are the new green shoots of return to a more normal life - something we all long for. If you need more information please get in touch. Judith Taylor (01995) 602974.

GARSTANG ARTS CENTRE Arts Centre Update We still cannot open our Arts Centre but if the roadmap goes to plan, infections keep subsiding and vaccinations continue to roll out, then summer may see us able to meet up again and the groups and art exhibitions usually hosted at the Arts Centre recommence. Tentative plans are being explored for a ‘grand reopening’ - so watch this space. You will see it in ‘The Green Book’ first! Anne Marie Whitehead (01995) 603311 Songbirds Hello ladies hope you are all keeping well and coping. Life seems a little more normal - at least, shops opening and being able to meet up with friends for a natter and brew does help. We don’t have a date for meeting up again yet but hopefully it wont be long. Keep singing to the radio etc and look forward to getting together again. In the meantime take care and stay safe. Avril Bevan (01995) 602904

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GARSTANG LIBRARY All our libraries have reopened and have reverted back to their normal opening hours except they will close for lunch from 1:00pm - 2:00pm. Browsing & Six of the Best You can browse and borrow without an appointment, but you may have to queue. If you aren’t comfortable coming into the library you can return your items at the door. If you still want to use our Six of the Best collection, complete the online request form phone the library with details of the type of book you like to read and the number you would like . Public Computers Forty-five minute sessions on public computers are available on the hour on a firstcome-first-served basis. In some libraries we have been able to make a space available for you to sit and study or use our free Wi-Fi.

PLUMBING & HEATING

Fines and charges will be re-introduced from Tues 4th May. Access your Library at Home Remember you can still download eBooks and audiobooks using BorrowBox, which is available at any time. Download national, regional and world newspapers from RBdigital PressReader. Download audiobooks, magazines, graphic novels and comics from Overdrive – Libby. Find out more and download step-by-step guides through our 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.

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If you are interested in joining the Home Library Service or for more information call the library.

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There are some changes to the service to keep everyone safe, so please call Glenys on 0771 754 3763 or email garstang.mobile. ml3@lancashire.gov.uk to find out more information and to find out times of stops near you.

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GARSTANG WINE CIRCLE The attendance at our Zoom meetings suggest that Wine Circle members are prepared to support the committee’s attempts to keep the club alive. This month’s meeting is a very good example, with three of our members stepping in to each present a wine, and give committee members a break from doing the presentations. Lynne Ridings presented Fish Hoek Chenin Blanc from South Africa. Chenin Blanc is the grape variety associated with the Loire Valley, an area where she and her family have spent many holidays in the past, hence the choice. Chenin Blanc was amongst the first varieties of grape that were taken to South Africa by the Dutch East India Company for the production of wine in the late 1600s, and continues to be grown there in quantity for wine production. A lovely white wine suitable for summer days and eating with seafood or chicken, it represents good value for money. Debbie Hewitt presented Cattle Baron Zinfandel from the Lodi Area of California. Debbie has happy memories of time spent in California, and Zinfandel has always been the variety associated with that US State. Zinfandel is not grown in significant quantities elsewhere in the world for wine, and the Lodi Area, just south of Sacramento, has a reputation for the best wines from this grape. The wine presented was a ‘big’ wine full of fruit and 14.5% alcohol. Excellent for accompanying barbecued food during the hoped for summer evenings to come. Barbara Staff likes both chocolate and wine (why wouldn’t anyone?) so her wine choice was the result of much research into finding a red wine that will accompany chocolate. She chose the Botham 81 series Shiraz from the Barossa Valley in Australia. Shiraz is the grape variety grown most widely in the country to produce wine. Once again a ‘big’ wine with 14.5% alcohol, a typical Australian Shiraz and well worth trying. The suggestion was to try a dark 70% cocoa solids chocolate

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GARSTANG WINE CIRCLE (cont) with this wine. Did it work ? As it was a Zoom meeting I found it difficult to judge the consensus view. Another entertaining meeting and our thanks go to Lynne, Debbie and Barbara for their presentations. The next meeting will be on Mon 17th May with details to be announced. Mervyn Stokes

GARSTANG MEDICAL PRACTICE Appointments From Mon 10th May we will be changing our appointment system to re-introduce prebookable, timed, GP appointments. Feedback from a recent patient survey showed whilst many people like telephone consultations and being able to have a ‘same day’ appointment, many of you prefer to be seen in person and have the ability to book ahead.

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Understandably, as more people have returned to work, the ability to be able to book a time for an appointment has become more important. Although it is essential that we provide the best care for our patients, the pressure the ‘same day’ appointments put on our telephone system and reception team is considerable. However, this system has been necessary and has generally worked well whilst we have been working very hard to deliver a tremendously successful Covid vaccination programme (as of 16th April we had vaccinated 90% of our patients aged 50+). We only know a week in advance how many vaccines we will get and when, which makes planning these clinics and all other services very difficult. Each time we run the clinics we have to re-plan the running of all our other services and the rooms available for providing other services is significantly reduced. This will continue to be the case over the coming months and therefore we will only be able to plan GP appointments one week in advance. We ask for your patience and understanding, but we hope that re-introducing pre-bookable, timed, appointments will help as we all start to enjoy a bit more freedom of movement as lockdown measures start to ease. We will be offering three different types of GP appointments: New Telephone Consultation: This will be for any new problem that you may have, or a problem you have had previously, but not in the past six months. These will be available to book within one - three days and will be timed appointments. Follow Up Telephone Consultation: This will be for any problem you have already had a consultation for within the last six months. These will be available to book within three days to a week and will be timed appointments as above.

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GARSTANG MEDICAL (cont) Urgent / Acute Telephone Consultation: These will be for more urgent types of problems that you feel cannot wait 24 hours. These will not be timed appointments. The doctor who is on duty for urgent problems will ring you back either that morning or afternoon. All GP face-to-face appointments will remain at the discretion of the doctor. Continuing Covid Measures at the Surgery Although lockdown restrictions will be lifting over the coming months, we will need to continue to ensure we provide a Covidsafe environment for patients and staff and this will mean continuing with Covid control measures within the surgery. Screens will remain in the waiting areas and the number of patients who can wait at any one time will continue to be restricted. Please be assured that, as now, you will

have a face-to-face consultation arranged if the doctor decides this is necessary. You will need to continue to wear a face mask if you are asked to come to the surgery. We will continue to offer a full range of nursing services. We have been very fortunate to have been able to do this throughout the Covid vaccination campaign thanks to our dedicated team of volunteers to whom we continue to be extremely grateful. A ‘Thank You’ from Surgery Staff We would like to say a huge thank you for all the positive feedback, messages of support and kind donations of cakes and biscuits that patients have given us over recent months. These really do mean a lot to the whole team and are a real morale boost. Patient Courtesy Sadly, we are seeing an increase in the number of patients who are becoming

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GARSTANG MEDICAL (cont) intolerant of the restrictions we have had to impose on our services and who seem to think it is acceptable to reflect this intolerance when talking to our staff. Rudeness and verbal aggression are not acceptable and will not be tolerated. Our staff have worked tirelessly over the last 13 months in what has been a very stressful time for everyone. Many have worked long additional hours in order to run the Covid vaccination clinics or to cover for colleagues who are doing so. Whilst we have had to limit the number of face-to-face appointments being provided, our daily workload has significantly increased throughout the pandemic: telephone calls into the practice are between 500 and 600 every day; doctors and nurses are working long days providing telephone consultations and arranging face-to-face consultations in between as needed. We would ask r Open fo & s s busine g in r e adh ty fe a s o t es guidelin

all patients to treat staff with respect and courtesy as they do their very best to help you. Thank you from all the Team at Garstang Medical Practice. t: (01995) 607399 fb: @garstangmedicalpractice www.garstangmedicalpractice.nhs.uk

COVID TESTING IS NOW EASIER Do your bit – get tested and keep those you’re meeting up with safe Coronavirus testing is helping to stop the spread of the virus. One in three people don’t have symptoms and can pass the virus on without knowing. Regular rapid testing is a quick and easy way you can play your part and help stop the spread.

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COVID TESTING NOW EASIER (cont) Everyone can now access rapid coronavirus testing and the Government is encouraging people to take a test twice a week. Now that we are able to meet up with more people outside, it’s more important than ever to get tested as a way of protecting those you plan to see – even if you’ve had your vaccine. There are lots of ways you can access test kits: •

•

You can collect home testing kits at your local test site during specific test collection time windows.

•

Through your school or college.

•

You can also get tested at our lateral flow test centres at Poulton YMCA and Kirkland and Catterall Memorial Hall.

Remember that if you do have symptoms you must self isolate immediately and book a PCR test through the NHS. Do not visit a lateral flow test centre or a collection point. www.wyre.gov.uk/testing

FAIRTRADE

There is now a new ‘Pharmacy Collect’ service, where people aged over 18 without symptoms can visit a participating local pharmacy and collect a box of 7 rapid tests to use twice a week at home - find your nearest site. Many business now offer workplace testing programmes, on-site or at home.

Events The Royal Lancashire Show is currently planned to go ahead from Fri 30th July to Sun 1st Aug where Fairtrade Lancashire volunteers hope to run

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FAIRTRADE (cont) a Fairtrade stall.

Meetings

On Sat 8th May Garstang Fairtrade is planning to mark World Fair Trade Day by putting on a display in the Market Hall window and hopefully set up a stall outside to raise awareness of Fairtrade, climate change and World Earth Day.

Whilst we still cannot hold our normal meetings, we have embraced technology and met several times using Zoom. Moving Forward It was agreed that our AGM will hopefully take place in September.

Schools Update

We are putting together some new Fairtrade recipes to update our website cookbook and, if possible, include them in our monthly Focus article. So, roll on June when you can try Masterchef finalist 2015, Tony Rodd’s Banana Souffle and Vegan Chocolate Mousse

From information which had been sent out by the Fairtrade Foundation we approached ten local schools concerning climate change and Fairtrade from which we could offer various talks and support. We were really delighted and encouraged by their positive responses. We were also approached to see if we could help with a Fair Trade project that is being planned to mark Fairtrade Day at a special needs school in Preston.

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FAIRTRADE (cont) in schools, encouraging local businesses to make more of a commitment to Fairtrade, liaising with other Garstang community groups, organising events, and helping us to develop our use of social media. All whilst making new friends and helping some of the world’s poorest people to use Fairtrade as a means of improving their quality of life. For more details just email us. Peter Ryder garstangfairtrade@gmail.com

GARSTANG AFVBC

Armed Forces & Veterans Breakfast Club The next Garstang Veterans Breakfast Club walk will take place in the Winmarleigh area on Sat 8th May at 9:30am.

The walk will start from St Luke’s Church Car Park, Church Lane, Winmarleigh, PR3 0LA and will take approximately 1 – 1.5 hours. All local veterans are welcome to take part, including family members. Most of the walk is on footpaths but there is one part across open fields, so a slightly shorter and easier alternative route has been arranged for buggies and wheelchairs. The walk will finish at the church (built by Lord Winmarleigh for the people of the village). Although small, it has a unique history and some rare stencils on the walls. If anyone is interested in seeing inside and hearing a little about its history, subject to socially distancing rules, this will be available at the end for those who may be interested. Important details (may be subject to change): •

We can walk in groups of up to six (or two households).

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GARSTANG AFVBC (cont)

ROTARY

•

Calvert Bear’s Five Peak Challenge

•

Whilst on the walk you should maintain two metres social distancing or one metre if you wear a face covering. We may not be able to meet and socialise with members of the other groups during or after the walk, if that means you are now in a group of more than six (or two households). We will ask for your contact details before the walk for the purpose of Track and Trace i.e. name and phone number. If you have been at all unwell or in contact with anyone who may have Covid, you must not take part in the walk.

We look forward to seeing you. Roger Dunn f: Garstang Armed Forces & Veterans Breakfast Club www.afvbc.net/clubs/garstang/

The Calvert Trust was established 45 years ago in the heart of the Lake District. It has been welcoming men, women and children, with physical, mental or sensory disabilities, along with their carers to their specialist facilities and accommodation. The aim is to provide the opportunity for them to participate in a vast range of outdoor adventures and challenge themselves to change their perceptions to make positive and lasting changes to their lives. There many activities including climbing, horse riding, canoeing, sailing, orienteering, hand bike and cycling, and a wheelchair challenge course, to name but a few. There are indoor facilities for relaxation in the evening plus a games room and a hydrotherapy swimming pool. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, the trust has suffered a £1m shortfall in income. In December the Calvert Trust launched their bounce-back appeal to stay in business. Rotary Clubs have been a major supporter of the Calvert Trust since its inception as they have been able to provide the funding to send many local individuals to the Trust. The Rotary Club of Keswick has teamed up with the Lake District Calvert Trust to launch an appeal named ‘The Calvert Bear’s Five Peak Challenge’. The target is to raise a minimum of £25,000 towards the project with the assistance of Rotary Clubs throughout Lancashire and Cumbria. As Garstang Rotary Club is hopeful and full of optimism as we see the possible end of the lockdown and pandemic restrictions lifted, it

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ROTARY (cont)

SOROPTIMISTS

is time for the ‘Old Bears of the Garstang Rotary Club’ to come out of hibernation. Four club members have set themselves the task of completing part of the route the Rotary Club of Keswick have set themselves. They are planning to climb Skiddaw in the Lake District to sponsor contributions for this cause. This is planned to take place in June, and this appeal is to ask you to put your paws into your pocket and dig deep into the piggy bank. Any amount would be really appreciated. If you are able to donate £5 or more to support the challenge and help us to achieve our goal, please could we ask you to do so by using the fundraising page at: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/ TheCalvertBearChallenge Stephen Iles - Event Organiser t: 07484 298854 e: stephen.iles1@btinternet.com www.calvertlakes.org.uk

Women Inspiring Action, Transforming Lives Another month and the light is getting clearer at the end of the tunnel and we are getting busy preparing for a new Soroptimist year. AGM We had our AGM at the end of April and had the great pleasure in welcoming another new member, Fiona to our group. Fiona’s already hit the ground running, taking an active role in the recycling project we’re supporting for blister packs. You know, those annoying tablet strips that don’t go into any of the regular recycling schemes and end up in landfill. Why don’t you get involved, take a look at our Facebook page which has all the details?

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SOROPTIMISTS (cont) The AGM is always a special meeting as it’s the time we get together, recap on the year and our achievements just passed. We welcome the new management team and club President Kathy and get the first glimpse of our exciting new theme and programme for the new year. The theme this year – Soroptimist 100th year – is 100. So lots of our activities will involve providing, collecting, planting etc and you will hopefully see the link coming through. Beyond FGM (Female Genital Mutiliation) Since our last publication, we’ve had two exciting and very absorbing speakers In March we welcomed Felicity Jones, founder of Thinking Philanthropy and co-founder of SDG Changemakers, who presented ‘Moving Beyond FGM: Building Futures for Girls and Women in Kenya’ (www.linkedin.com/in/ felicity-jones-7001988).

Felicity provided an overview of the recent impact of Covid and what it means to women and girls in Kenya – ‘The crisis is creating circumstances that have already contributed to a surge in reports of violence against women and girls, and may increase child marriage and FGM.’ (UN Report on SDGs 2020). She provided an insight to the work in the West Pokot County of Kenya (the Kenyan Government are committed to ending FGM by 2022). It could have been a dispiriting session but the work of Beyond FGM, CICR and AfriReuse, even during the pandemic, is making a difference. The key is local, community-based conversations alongside developing alternative social and economic support mechanisms. The Alternative Rites of Passage ceremonies are a positive example. AfriReuse’s Dignity Packs are also a powerful and positive symbol of the change that women can create locally. The overall spirit of the presentation was captured by the words of Everlyne Prech, the Executive Director of CICR (and a local midwife): ‘We believe that when our girls are protected from FGM, early marriage and other forms of violence, when they can claim their right to health, to education and to decent work, then they can become powerful agents for change.’ To read the full report, please take a look at our Facebook page, not only an interesting article but also lots of links for you to go and find out more. Derian House In April we had fantastic talk by Mick Croskery, Community Fundraising Manager at Derian House (one of our chosen charities for 2020/21). www.derianhouse.co.uk

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SOROPTIMISTS (cont) We had a comprehensive overview of the work of Derian House and the support and facilities it provides to children and young people who need palliative or end of life care. Despite it being an extremely sensitive subject, Derian House is there, not only for the child/young person. It’s also there to support the parents, families and siblings with respite care, toddler groups, music therapy, sensory garden, sibling support groups, and holiday lodges, the list just went on - suffice to say the mantra of ‘big smiles on small faces’ rang true. Mick’s presentation touched on the impact of the pandemic in terms of Derian House’s fundraising efforts – fund raising has been severely curtailed so it was a pleasure to be able to inform Mick that through our Soroptimist fund raising efforts we have raised over £1350 to date (and we are still counting up the pennies). Quite an achievement when we haven’t been able to run our usual fundraising events – but fingers crossed, the parched peas will be back this year. Again, a more comprehensive report can be found on our Facebook page. But instead of just reading about what we do - why not come along to a meeting or just Zoom in, and find out for yourself just how easy it is to make a difference and to be a part of 100 years of history and achievement. Meetings One major thing we’ve learnt this year is the flexibility we can have by embracing technology. Although we have now provisionally booked our meeting room at our favourite venue, Garstang Golf Club, so we can once again

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SOROPTIMISTS (cont) meet in the flesh later in the year, there’s still the option to use Zoom in our meetings and enable people to be involved even when they physically can’t get to a meeting.

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Matthew Hesmondhalgh Memorial Fund Forthcoming Event (How nice does it feel to be able to say that?): Team Matt will be hosting a new and pre-loved stall outside Garstang Market Hall, on Sat 15th May from 9:00am – 3:00pm. Thank you to everyone who has donated goods over the past year for this. We are so looking forward to meeting friends old and new at this event. From time to time activities develop and happen before we get a chance to tell everyone about them in this little green book. The beautiful pebbles that were kindly painted by Trisha Barker and entrusted to Ruth Forshaw of ‘Longridge Highland Cow’ (Facebook page) fame to fundraise for CRY was one such instance. Ruth and her team displayed and offered the delightful pebbles in exchange for a donation with an amazing £329.68 being raised and shared equally between Matt’s fund and that of Andrew Key, a young man from Longridge who so sadly passed away from SADS in January this year. Our thoughts have been very much with the family since we heard

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CRY (cont) of his untimely death at just 32 years old. It really is so heart breaking. Some of you may have seen the documentary ‘Sudden Death: My Sister’s Silent Killer’ on BBC1 recently. Watching it we cannot help but recognise the parallels between Patrick’s experiences and our own. It is so frustrating when these mostly preventable deaths are still happening to over 600 young people every year in the UK some 9 years after Matt died. The major messages of the programme highlighted the huge value of screening but also evidenced the dire need for more research, something we have always backed wholeheartedly. Matt’s fund was set up solely to provide local screening events to try and prevent other families suffering the same tragedy and the screenings also provide CRY with data which is invaluable for their research. We also try to raise awareness where we can. Over the years we have been asked if contributions can be made towards Matt’s fund that would also benefit research but we haven’t been able to accommodate this, signposting those who wished to support research to CRY directly. However, after further chats with CRY we can now offer this choice with funds being made in Matt’s memory as long as we know at the time the donation is made. Whilst our priority is - and always will be - screening, this is a great complement to our fund and a lovely tribute to mark what should have been Matt’s 32nd birthday last month. Another fantastic homage comes from our terrific Milk Bottle Challengers. Literally hundreds of people support this initiative, some at home and some in shops and workplaces, and we’re delighted to say a further £5,000 has been raised in this way – enough to pay for a 2nd full day of screening at Garstang when we are permitted. It proves the old adage that small actions really

This small handful of gold jewellery is worth about £1000! It’s time to spring clean the drawers & cupboards. Brian Chesters will buy all your old & unwanted jewellery, even vintage costume jewellery. Rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, chains etc.

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CRY (cont) can made a big difference. A tremendous thank you to all! One of the lovely things about where we live is the enchanting displays of wool craft that sporadically appear around the village. When passing by most days we see young families exploring and having photos taken with them. Recently Matt’s Fund received a surprise donation of £15 directly linked to these delightful creations. The anonymous donor had loved the knitted Easter chicks so much she had requested some for her family from the ‘Crazy Daisy’ team (part of Catterall in Bloom), the instigators of the displays. Generous as ever with their skills, the ladies fulfilled the request and suggested the donation of cash received for them go to CRY. Thank you for this and for all your hard work and creativity that brighten the village and uplift the soul. Thank you also to those who choose to help through the use of the recycling bin on Catterall Village Hall. A further £195 has been sent to CRY from your much appreciated donations. Well done. Take care, keep safe and hopefully we’ll meet soon. Paula Hesmondhalgh t: 07785 106 976 e: paulahez.ph@gmail.com fb: @The Matthew Hesmondhalgh Memorial Fund

THE INNER WHEEL CLUB Garstang & Over Wyre Inner Wheel was founded in 1924 by a group of ladies in Manchester. It has grown to the extent that there are now clubs in over 100 countries throughout the world. It was formed on the principles of friendship, service and

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THE INNER WHEEL CLUB (cont) international understanding. today totals over 106,000.

Membership

In these challenging times members continue to uphold these three principles wherever and whenever they can, and in order that the organisation remains fit for purpose, a triennial conference is held to examine and amend the constitution, each club having one vote. This year the convention should have been in Jaipur in India, eagerly anticipated by delegates from all over the world looking forward to renewing old acquaintances and making new ones. Because of the pandemic, this was not allowed to go ahead and the host nation took the brave decision to ‘go virtual’. It was an amazing undertaking in a very short time and was a wonderful success. 4500 attendees enjoyed a feast of Indian culture and hospitality. From national dances and cooking demonstrations to travelogues there was even a selfie booth.

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For those of us in Great Britain and Ireland the good news is that Manchester has been awarded the 2024 Convention in our Centenary year. We are delighted to be hosting this event right back where Inner Wheel started nearly 100 years ago. Closer to home, our club hopes that it won’t be too long before we can meet again in person, but in the meantime we continue with our virtual meetings. Please be in touch if you feel you would like to join one of our meetings. You would be very welcome. Mary Mason t: (01995) 603447

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LYTHAM, ST ANNES, BLACKPOOL, STAINING, POULTON, BISPHAM, THORNTON, CLEVELEYS, FLEETWOOD, HAMBLETON, STALMINE, PREESALL, KNOTT-END, PILLING, GARSTANG, ST MICHAELS, SINGLETON.

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THE IMMUNE SYSTEM MIRACLE Nature Knows Best We humans, for all our inspiration and creativity, often interfere with nature in such a rudimentary and short term way that it comes back to bite us. The desire for convenience that created the ingenious and versatile plastics has well and truly poisoned the entire planet. It is such a clever invention but has now made its way into every single living creature and water course on the planet with its potential to be toxic and dangerous. Clever huh? There is a powerful intelligence at work in nature that we cannot truly grasp. Our attempts to mimic nature can never truly replicate it. An example of this is breastfeeding. Mums generally know all about the benefits they bestow upon their child by giving them nature’s finest food. The profound and lifelong positives from being breastfed are truly miraculous. Breast milk changes as the baby develops to meet its needs every step (or crawl!) of the way. When a mother sniffs her baby within 20 minutes the mother’s milk has created antibodies to help the baby stay healthy, the feel of the baby even signals the volume and concentration of the milk required. This is astounding and miraculous biofeedback in action. For those who have to bottle feed for whatever reason, we have formula milk. This provides nutrients but cannot possibly be as intelligent a food as breast milk. That is not a criticism of bottle feeding by the way, it’s just a fact. In the end we all know that nature knows best and the intelligence that has evolved to allow such miraculous attention to detail without us even realising it is astounding. This applies to our remarkable immune system. The first line of defence is our skin but let’s take a look at our second line of defence, our nose.

Your nose has mucus and hairs which act as highly effective filters, it also warms the air we breathe so that in cold weather we do not shock our system by breathing in ice cold air. However, that’s the basic mechanics. There are astounding things going on inside your nose. When viruses or bacteria are breathed in they are transferred to microscopic channels in your nose that provide an immediate immune response that kills the invader. The cells responsible for this also then send messages to your internal immune system to prime itself to attack. Your body is highly aggressive towards invaders. I have mentioned it before but it is worth saying again; we are not a sitting duck waiting to become ill. In fact, if that was the case the human race would have died out long ago. Nick Tofolos (01995) 602833

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CAT SMITH MP Dog Thefts My heart goes out to the thousands of pet owners who, in the last 12 months, have had their dogs stolen by callous thieves. Even in rural areas like Over Wyre, dog owners have been targeted. It’s estimated that dog thefts have risen by a staggering 250% since the pandemic began. It’s a deeply distressing crime and one that Labour MPs believe should be made a specific offence. That’s why we’ve tabled an addition to the Policing Bill to make it a separate offence. At present, dog theft is not defined as a specific crime - instead pets are classed as ‘property’ under the Theft Act of 1968. This means that people who steal animals can currently be punished in the same way as someone who steals a mobile phone or a laptop. And according to the Kennel Club, as it stands, less than five per cent of cases result in a criminal conviction. For example, several years ago, a gang of four were tried at Lincoln Crown Court for stealing 15 Cavalier King Charles spaniels from a Lincolnshire breeder. Only one of the dogs was later recovered and reunited with its owner, having been thrown from a moving vehicle. All four of the accused pleaded guilty to theft – and the gang members received suspended sentences of between 12 and 16 months. A few months later, a dog thief who pleaded guilty at Leicester Magistrates Court to stealing two pugs was ordered to pay £200 compensation, £400 costs and received a drugs rehabilitation order – the stolen dogs remain missing. The amendment to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill would create a specific offence for pet thefts. Offenders could face up to two years in jail and factors

such as if the pets are stolen for commercial gain and whether distress is caused to the pet, its owner or dog walker would aggravate the offence. In the meantime the Dogs Trust says that many dogs are taken from homes and gardens and are urging all dog owners to make sure their gardens are secure and to never leave your dog alone in the garden. They also say owners should never leave their dog unattended when out and about, always keep them in sight and also make sure they are trained to come back to you. By law all dogs must be microchipped, but make sure you keep your contact details up to date which gives you the best chance of having your dog returned if the worst happens. Westminster It’s been a busy month at Westminster. I’ve

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CAT SMITH MP (cont) tackled the Government in the chamber of the House of Commons over why university students can get a haircut, work in nonessential retails and watch their siblings head off to school each day, whilst they’ve been told they can’t return to in-person teaching at university when they’re paying more than £9,000 a year for their further education. I was successful in calling for a debate on local government reorganisation in the north of the constituency and delivered my speech directly to the Local Communities Minister. Remembering the Duke of Edinburgh I was also pleased to add my voice to those from across the world to remember the Duke of Edinburgh. Thousands of young people in the Lancaster and Fleetwood constituency have benefited over the years from taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh awards scheme – and long may it continue.

Local Elections - Thurs 6th May In the next few days, we’ll all have the opportunity to vote in our local elections to choose our next representatives to serve on Lancashire County Council. Councils spend a lot of our money. Local government spending amounts to about 25% of all public spending in the UK. The largest slice of budgets goes on education, followed by social services - much of which is spent on elderly care - and the police, as well as council staff. But councils are having to make do with less cash - and who is in power will determine where savings are made. Councils get money from a variety of pots but central government funding is being cut each year. In this climate, some authorities are trying to reduce their bills by handing over services to private companies. Do you feel strongly about this? Should elderly care be

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CAT SMITH MP (cont) provided by the council or at arm’s length by the private sector? Would rubbish collection be more efficient if it was done by a profitmaking refuse company? Your vote could help determine how much say you have over local services in the future. Also, small things that bug you are probably the responsibility of the local authority. Potholes for example which I know are a real problem in Over Wyre. Local authorities build, manage and maintain about 96% of roads in England and when budgets are tight, road maintenance is the sort of thing which often gets squeezed. The ballot box is not just the place to have your say on the quality of local services. It’s also where you decide who the person will be on the other end of the telephone if you need to be re-housed or appeal to get your child into the school you wanted. Make sure you choose the person who you believe will listen

to you and act on your behalf. What your area will look like in ten years’ time is also to some extent determined by the local authority. Lancashire County Council is responsible for strategic planning, such as where housing and industry should be built. You’re putting your faith in councillors to make decisions on your behalf – so make sure you choose the person most likely to do this honestly and effectively. Finally, equal voting rights for men and women in the UK have only been around since 1928, following a long campaign for female suffrage. So, in thanks to all those amazing women who risked their lives for democracy I feel the least I can do is go and vote – and I hope you’ll join me on Thurs 6th May. Cat Smith MP

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BEN WALLACE MP HRH The Edinburgh

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I was deeply saddened by the news of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh’s passing recently. The Duke of Edinburgh dedicated the majority of his life to serving this country, be it in our military as a Royal Naval Officer, as a patron to many charities (notably founding the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme which so many of our young people have benefited from), and in supporting HM The Queen as her Consort. I am sad to see his passing and will remember his life of service and devotion to our Queen and country. I would like to thank all constituents who have written to me about the passing of the Duke of Edinburgh and for sharing their thoughts and tributes. LOCAL INDEPENDENT BUSINESS SINCE 2008

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Looking Ahead On a more cheerful note, I am delighted to say I have been enjoying the Lancashire sunshine recently and long may it continue. I think we all deserve a long, hot summer this year. As the vaccination programme continues I am greatly encouraged by how many constituents have been in touch praising the way it is being rolled out. The number of cases of Covid continue to go in the right direction but, once again, I would like to say please follow the guidelines so the great progress made can continue. Covid Testing Everyone in England is now able to access free, regular, rapid coronavirus testing. These lateral flow tests are for people with no symptoms. They can be collected from pharmacies and are easy to take, with results in just 30 minutes. One in 3 people with COVID-19 do not experience any

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BEN WALLACE MP (cont) symptoms and may be spreading the virus unwittingly. This rapid testing detects cases quickly, meaning positive cases can isolate immediately. They can also bring great peace of mind. I know that as well as taking these tests on a regular basis, some people are taking these tests ahead of spending time with vulnerable friends and family members. Hopefully these tests are another tool in helping us return to a more normal way of life.

Supporting Local Businesses

You can find your closest collection point online here: https://maps.test-and-trace. nhs.uk For up to date information on the pandemic 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 for any on-going Covid queries (0300) 303 2713. If anyone is showing symptoms of Covid, they will be able to arrange testing.

The fund is aimed at helping culture and heritage organisations across the country survive the biggest crisis they’ve ever faced.

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The Government has worked hard to protect jobs and livelihoods throughout the pandemic. At the start of April, I was pleased to see that five businesses from the constituency (Knight Rigging Services Ltd, Blitz, Highest Point Festival, Arranpaul Audio Ltd and KRS Productions Ltd) are to benefit from over a million pounds worth of investment from the Culture Recovery Fund.

We have some amazing cultural businesses in Wyre and Preston North and I’m pleased that I have been able to offer my support. April also saw the launch of the Government Loan Scheme which should ensure that businesses continue to have access to the finance they need.

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BEN WALLACE MP (cont) If you have a business and need support, a good starting point in looking for funding is www.gov.uk/business-coronavirussupport-finder Please contact me if you think I can be of any assistance. Overseas Travel Anyone hoping to travel abroad once the Covid travel restrictions are eased might find it helpful to check now whether their passport needs to be renewed. HM Passport Office is predicting a significant increase in applications over the coming months and is recommending that everyone think ahead. Read more here: https://www.gov.uk/ government/news/people-urged-to-applynow-for-british-passport Building Flood & Coastal Resilience In other news, I am delighted that Wyre Council has been successful in its bid for funding to trial a new approach to building

flood and coastal resilience. Wyre Council aims to enhance coastal resilience to the consequences of climate change by creating Ecological Community Owned Coastal Buffer Strips, such as natural wooden barriers to capture sediment, the seeding of plants or by establishing saltmarshes. I would like to congratulate Wyre Council on this success. You can read more about the funding programme here: https://www.gov.uk/ guidance/flood-and-coastal-resilienceinnovation-programme Get in Touch As always, my mailbag has been full of letters covering many issues. I say it often but, please do keep the letters coming. Although I do pride myself on travelling around the constituency listening to residents, I can’t speak to everyone and it is vital for me to know the issues that concern people on a daily basis.

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BEN WALLACE MP (cont) As we continue to come out the other side of the pandemic, I know business will take time to recover and 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 effective way to contact me is by email with a brief description of the issues you wish to raise, along with your contact details (including home address). You can also ring my office at the House of Commons or write to me at the below address. Ben Wallace MP e: wallaceb@parliament.uk t: 0207 219 5804 a: House of Commons, SW1A 0AA

GARSTANG TOWN COUNCIL Councillor Peter Ryder We are sorry to report that Councillor Peter Ryder has resigned from the Town Council, effective 31st March 2021. Peter has been an integral part of the council for nearly seven years, serving his time as mayor in 2017, alongside his wife Lyn. Amongst Peter’s achievements as a councillor, of particular note is his setting up and running the Town Council Awards, which have been a great success. The awards are a valued opportunity for us to celebrate those that contribute their time and energy to making Garstang such a wonderful town. Peter has also focussed on communication, working on the set-up of the council’s first website, and developing a presence on social media. More recently, Peter was part of the project to redevelop Moss Lane Playpark. He has also been a strong advocate for Fairtrade, acting as the council’s Fairtrade representative, raising the profile of the group in the town and beyond.

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It has been a real pleasure to work with Peter on these, and other projects.

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GARSTANG TOWN COUNCIL (cont) Since they moved to the areas in the 1980s, Peter and his wife Lyn have contributed so much to the life of the town. We greatly appreciate all the work Peter has put in over the years, he will be much missed and we wish him all the best for the future. Remembrance Sunday The council has agreed to undertake organising this important event in the civic calendar. It will ensure the high standard of past events is upheld and will retain good relations with the Royal British Legion and Churches Together. Meetings The May Town Council Meeting and Annual Town Council meeting (also known as Mayor Making) will be held on Tues 4th May. The mayor, Councillor Elizabeth Webster, will stand down as mayor having served two years and the new mayor will be elected

Tues 4th May. Please apply to the clerk if you’d like to attend. Market Town Working Group - Strategy, Planning and Funding Team (SPF) The SPF team were tasked with establishing the Greater Garstang Partnership Board drawing on expertise from around the borough. We have secured board members from Myerscough College, Lancaster University, Blackpool Transport, local businesses and many other disciplines. The Partnership Board had its first meeting in April and it will be concentrating on the development of a 15 year vision for Garstang and the surrounding districts. This will need significant consultation with people in the local community, residents and businesses over the next 12 months. The board will be instrumental in the development of a regeneration framework which will identify the

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GARSTANG TOWN COUNCIL (cont) major projects that will need to be delivered to realise the vision. Get in Touch We are keen to hear your thoughts on how the town council is doing and about any issues or concerns that you would like us to look into. Much of our information is available online or you can contact our town clerk, Edwina Parry. Edwina Parry - Town Clerk t: 07592 792 801 e: clerk@garstangtowncouncil.gov.uk www.garstangtowncouncil.org

back weekly at St Oswald’s Church Hall on Lancaster Road Knott End on Wed 19th May at 2:00pm. You will be welcomed from 1:30pm to observe hygiene and social distancing regulations. We have a spacious hall with attractive gardens for outside painting, also toilet facilities but you will need to bring your own refreshments for a tea break at 3ish finishing at 4:00pm. Forthcoming Programme •

Wed 19th May: Settling in and Starting a Painting (bring art materials) Wed 26th May: ‘Quick Sketches of Members’ (bring materials and any props)

OVER WYRE ART SOCIETY

•

Are you interested in painting and drawing? Over Wyre Art Society is a friendly and helpful group which regularly welcomes visiting professional demonstrators. We also have work-along and group activities.

You are invited for a one week trial before joining. Contact me for more details.

So, are you ready to join us? We start

Sandra Langhorne - Secretary t: (01253) 813739

GREY MATTER TEST (ans page 51) 1 In which city would you find the Gorbals?

12 According to Paul Simon, how many

2 Which Tropic runs through Namibia, Botswana and Mozambique?

ways are there to leave your lover?

3 Who founded the first US detective agency in 1850? 4 What type of animal is a macaque? 5 What is the name of the Professor in the game ‘Cluedo’? 6 Of which Dickens novel is Pip the central character? 7 How many yards in a furlong? 8 Who played Baldrick in the Blackadder comedy series? 9 On which metallic element does verdigris form? 10 Who was the first woman MP to sit in the House of Commons? 11 What was the name of Dorothy’s dog in the Wizard of Oz?

13 Baffin Bay lies between Canada and which other country? 14 What was Robert Burns’ “wee sleekit, cow’rin’ tim’rous beastie”? 15 What is the capital of Austria? 16 Whose book of Household Management was published in parts from 1859-60? 17 Which hill in Paris is the gathering point for artists and portrait painters? 18 Who is the patron saint of travellers? 19 Who wrote the Enigma Variations? 20 Who were given to the destruction of new technology in the Industrial Revolution?

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GARSTANG CAMERA CLUB

Greetings to all readers. By the time you read this (hopefully), we will be in the merry month of May. If all of Boris’s plans go to order, alcoholic drinks may be served outdoors and, if the weather permits, then it may well be a merry month! We are approaching the end of the Club’s year with just a few meetings remaining as listed here: •

Wed 5th May: Kylie-Ann Martin ‘My Journey so Far’

Fencing Panels & Posts Natural Stone Paving Compost, Soil & Bark Gravels & Cobbles Porcelain Paving

•

Wed 12th May: AGM Presentation Evening.

•

Wed 19th May: Chris Upton ‘Travels with my X (Fuji Cameras)’

and

our

As I mentioned in my last article, we hope that ‘proper’ meetings may be held again at the Arts Centre in September and, with a degree of optimism and a following wind, we may achieve our goal. However, we will still be using Zoom for many of the presentations but at least we will be able to converse with each other (whilst social distancing) much more satisfactorily. As I write this, a spell of stable weather is predicted (kiss of death?) and so photographic opportunities should present themselves more readily. Our Summer outings will have started. These were listed in the April magazine and they can also be found on our website (below).

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GARSTANG CAMERA CLUB (cont) We have said goodbye to an enthusiastic photographer, a keen amateur for many years, HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. We send our sincere condolences to all the Royal Family at this sad time. Good shooting, but still stay safe through the new stages. Maurice Barker www.garstangcameraclub.co.uk

WYRE FLOOD FORUM The weather in April has been benign with plenty of sun and clear blue skies. One feature of pandemic restrictions has been the absence of vapour trails which have been a constant sign of Atlantic travel for the post-war years. Today, you struggle to find one when raising your gaze upwards. One wonders what all those high flyers now do with their time but less stellar pollution will do us no harm. Back with our feet on the ground there has been no recent flooding incidents and our statutory authorities are, we hope, working hard to fix the long list of issues that have accumulated as a result of the quarterly Flood Forum. The forum has proceeded, undaunted, by electronic means despite our inability to meet face-to-face. We next meet in June and I suspect it will be from the comfort of home and office. I have mentioned in previous bulletins that the Environment Agency are planning to replace the west gate at the Garstang Flood Basin and this is the latest news from senior engineer Graeme Kelly; ‘We are hoping to start the work to replace the west gate ram cylinder around the end of June. The cylinder is in working condition but we’ve decided to replace it in light of the leak that developed on the east gate cylinder, which has now been repaired, as they were both installed at the same time.

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WYRE FLOOD FORUM (cont) ‘We’re also commissioning a report to identify what steps can be taken to increase the resilience of the Garstang flood structure. The report will look at all the main elements of the defence to determine their current condition and set out the future maintenance programme. This report will be delivered by the end of the current financial year.

recurring capture and storage of carbon by retaining water in the site of special scientific interest, simultaneously sowing several varieties of sphagnum moss which takes carbon out of the atmosphere.

Although we rely on ‘hard engineering’ to control flood water, there are more and more schemes to replicate the natural world that previous generations would have taken for granted.

Keeping Winmarleigh well and truly at the forefront of research, the BBC released a short programme in April (which can be accessed on the BBC Sounds App) under the widely advertised ‘39 Ways to Save the Planet’. The programme featured jaunty interviews with scientists and volunteers who are creating six hectares, or 15 acres in old money, of wetland covered in brightly coloured sphagnum plugs, 150 thousand in total, which will be monitored for its impact on greenhouse gasses.

The March edition of Lancashire Life featured an account of experimental work being pioneered by Lancashire Wild Life Trust at Winmarleigh to regenerate the naturally-

Apparently, the surface of the planet contains

‘That is good news for all the settlements downstream who can be confident that the crucial storage basin behind the old railway line will do its job in an hour of need.’

It is also critical for the storage of surface water run off into our rivers and the control of flood water in our vulnerable low lying areas.

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WYRE FLOOD FORUM (cont) only 3% of peatland and is a precious commodity. We can see for ourselves that parts of Wyre have had peat stripped away for fuel and fertilizer as well as agricultural use leading to campaigns to prevent peat being cut and sold. A drive through the centre of rural Wyre demonstrates with imagination what the landscape would have looked like centuries ago before its removal. The success of the Pilling potato has everything to do with the nutrient free soil below the peat.

going ahead this summer and, as Garstang is entered, we’re working towards a judging date sometime in July. There are all different kinds of tasks to be done in preparation, from hard digging to snipping heads off dead blooms, so there’s some gardening activity to suit everyone.

An unexpected but very welcome consequence of the Winmarleigh Project is the discovery of six varieties of dragonfly laying their eggs in this eco system. Nature is kind to those kind to it.

This is the perfect time of year to refresh your garden or plan your troughs and planters so look out for our sale of plants on Saturday 22nd May, 9:00am to 1:00pm. There will be lots of small to medium pots containing perennials, shrubs, vegetable plants, houseplants and herbs, all at bargain prices. We’ll be on the High St by the Market Hall. If you have any spare plants to donate to the stall, please bring them along. It’s all to raise money towards blooms for Garstang.

Roger Brooks - Garstang Flood Action Group & Garstang Town Council

Gill Bergman - Secretary e: gill.bergman@hotmail.co.uk

There is a balance between having enough land from which to feed ourselves and looking after the planet.

FOCUS MAGAZINE

GARSTANG IN BLOOM The Bloomers are back! Though, in truth, we’ve never really been away. The past year has meant that our normal meetings and social activities haven’t been able to take place but we were still able to garden individually, in pairs or under the “rule of six”, according to the regulations at the time, so that we could keep the beds, planters, pots and barrels looking tidy and colourful. The last twelve months have shown us the importance of getting outdoors, being and working in the fresh air and appreciating our green spaces, so why not come and be part of our team? Currently, we meet every Wednesday morning at 9:30am at the car park on the High St - look out for our yellow vests. You don’t need to have gardening knowledge, just a desire to help, along with a pair of gloves and a trowel. The RHS North West in Bloom competition is

2021 Deadline Dates Issue

Deadline Date

Delivery Starts

June

17/05/2021

27/05/2021

July

14/06/2021

24/06/2021

August

19/07/2021

29/07/2021

September

16/08/2021

26/08/2021

October

13/09/2021

23/09/2021

November

18/10/2021

28/10/2021

December

15/11/2021

25/11/2021

January 22

13/12/2021

06/01/2022

Editorial: editorial@focusmags.co.uk Advertising: helen@focusmags.co.uk

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FYLDE COAST YMCA

Wyre Council and Fylde Coast YMCA are celebrating the reopening of the borough’s leisure centres. After the huge public interest in the reopening of the centres, the YMCA is offering their best ever membership at their lowest ever sale price to help people make an easy choice to invest in their health, fitness and wellbeing. Residents can make huge savings until Mon 31st May this year, gaining a full year Y: Active Adult Membership for just £199 reduced from £299. That’s unlimited access to every gym, swimming pool, fitness class and more across the YMCA Fylde Coast network for less than £4 a week. Residents can take advantage of this £199 Y: Active Adult Membership offer until Mon 31st May, with memberships also available on a monthly direct debit plan, also on offer until Mon 31st May for just £25 per month. It’s easy to sign up at www.ymcayactive. org or by calling into one of the open centres. With national lockdown restrictions easing steadily in the coming weeks, Wyre Council and the YMCA are excited to once again offer residents the chance to get back into the gym and the pool followed by their favourite fitness classes in just a few weeks. The gym and pool at Fleetwood and the pool at Garstang on track to reopen on Sat 1st May.

the leisure centres in Wyre on behalf of the council. To keep up to date with information about reopening and membership offers go to www.ymcayactive.org

NAME THAT BEE! Do you know your white-tailed from your bufftailed or your early from your bilberry? If not, these Festival Bowland online bumblebee ID sessions could be just the ticket. Bumblebees are fascinating creatures – and play a key role in producing our food - but sadly, along with other pollinators, their numbers have seen a decline in recent decades. One way we can help in their conservation is by learning how to identify and record them. Why not join the Forest of Bowland AONB and Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust to learn about the bumblebee lifecycle, why they are important and how to recognise the species we find in Bowland? Bumblebees for Beginners Thursday 6th May, 12noon – 1:00pm New to the world of bumblebees? Come along to find out the basics and learn how to identify our seven more common species. Free event. Booking is essential. For more information and to book a place, contact carol.edmondson@lancashire.gov.uk Bumblebee Identification - Intermediate Friday 14th May, 10:00am - 12noon

In the meantime Poulton leisure centre is being used as a coronavirus testing centre, providing a vital service for people leaving home to work. Fitness classes at the open centres will start again on Mon 17th May in line with the current roadmap.

This session is intended for people who already have a grasp of basic bumblebee identification. The workshop, delivered by Ben Hargreaves from Lancashire Wildlife Trust, will introduce you to identifying the scarcer bumblebees and the cuckoo species. This event is free. Booking is essential. Please email catherine.mercer@ydmt.org for more information and to book a place.

Fylde Coast YMCA is contracted to operate

Sandra Silk

The YMCA will keep the centre at Poulton under review, with a view to reopening it before September.

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KNOTT END GOLF CLUB Ladies – Interested in Learning to Play Golf? Can I invite you to take advantage of ‘Get into Golf’ under the Women in Golf Charter, a new initiative launched by England Golf and the R&A. It encourages clubs to support women of all ages, abilities, race and ethnicity to come and try golf and hopefully join a progressive club. Free starter lessons and free hire of equipment is often available to help you try the game. Interested? As a lady golfer and ‘Charter Champion’ I would be delighted to meet you, email or chat on the phone about coming along and trying out the facilities available at your local golf club. Ladies’ sections at golf clubs are usually very social (coffee mornings, days and overnights away, fashion shows, Spring and Christmas fairs, speaker lunch and all manner of fun

things). Golf clubs can also offer a diverse selection of mixed social events e.g. quizzes, dinners and dances (Covid permitting). Social membership is normally available at golf clubs for those not inclined to venture onto the course. Golf is great for both physical and mental health, you can walk four or five miles without realising. I’m not a gym person so I get my exercise at the golf club. A full membership can cost not much more than joining a gym. Golf is a game that you can play by yourself, with friends and family, in competitions, at home and abroad. Why not give it a go? You’ve nothing to lose and a whole lot to gain. Don’t be scared of coming along and becoming part of this fantastic sport right here in your community. Keep an eye on Focus Magazine for details of Golf Club Open Days and other invitations in your area.

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KNOTT END GOLF CLUB (cont)

THE GREEN HOMES GRANT

If you would like more information, please get in touch with me or just visit/ring your local golf club. We will be pleased to help.

Government’s ‘Green Homes Grant’ is Available to Wyre Residents

Joyce Wright - Women in Golf Charter Champion for Knott End Golf Club t: 01253 700875 e: charterchampion@kknottendgolfclub. com www.knottendgolfclub.com

GARSTANG TENNIS CLUB Ready to Start the Season Like all clubs, Garstang Tennis Club’s competitive season was wiped out in 2020 due to Covid. However, it is now preparing its teams for the Ribble and Fylde Leagues which are due to get underway on Mon 17th May and Mon 24th May. Of course, there will still be rules and precautions that will need to be observed but it will nice for the club to hopefully enjoy matches again both in the Summer and in the Autumn.

Qualifying residents in Wyre can access this energy-efficiency grant scheme which is worth up to £10,000 per property. The grant scheme is available to owners-occupiers, private tenants and social tenants, although a contribution from a landlord will be required for all rented properties. Green Homes Grants are now available via ‘Cosy Homes in Lancashire’ (CHiL) the Affordable Warmth initiative established by the 15 Local Authorities in Lancashire with the aim of reducing fuel poverty across the County. ‘CHiL’ can help you access the scheme which covers the cost of installing energy saving measures, such as solid wall insulation and renewable heating technologies, to make your home warmer now and in the future and ‘CHiL’ will pick up the bill.

There is still social tennis available on Thursday mornings. For the time being, social tennis on Monday evenings will not be taking place but will hopefully recommence later in the season if not sooner. Anyone interested in playing on Thursday mornings to get a feel for this friendly club should contact Pam Heatley on (01995) 602839. Coaching is still available through the club for both adults and juniors. Further information about coaching and joining can be found by going to https://clubspark. lta.org.uk/GarstangDistrictTennisClub/ Contact Andrew Ragsdale

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THE GREEN HOMES GRANT (cont) them nothing.’ Properties eligible for the grant are those with a low Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D,E,F or G. If the property meets the criteria then the household must also be eligible to access the grant. Eligible households will have a combined income of no more than £30,000 with savings of less than £16,000. Anyone in receipt of benefits is likely to qualify. This funding does not cover gas boiler replacements. Councillor Roger Berry, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Services and Community Safety said: ‘We’re really encouraging all residents who are struggling to heat their homes in winter to get in touch and find out if they’re eligible. It takes minutes and costs

Councillor Berry added: ‘Residents need to hurry though. The scheme closes in December so I’m urging people to find out today if they’re eligible and the quickest and easiest way to do this is by visiting the CHiL website - www.chil.uk.com or contact their friendly team on 03306 061 488.’ www.wyre.gov.uk

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GARSTANG WALKING FESTIVAL

HARMONY & HEALTH

We’re back!

Remote Singing Sessions

After having to cancel in 2020 due to the national lockdown, we are busy making plans to hold the festival in August 2021.

Harmony and Health would like to extend an invitation to anyone out there who would like to join us for our remote singing sessions.

Look out for further announcements in Focus Magazine, on the Garstang Walking Festival Facebook page and information boards at local tourist information centres. The walking festival has activities for people of all levels of fitness and is a great way of getting out into the fresh air and discovering more about our beautiful area. We look forward to welcoming old friends and new. Keith Montgomery fb: @garstangwalkingfestival

CROSSWORD (ans page 51)

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. Anyone joining our relaxed sessions does not have to commit 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 Across 1 Stiff paper; one of the pack (4) 7 Still available (6) 8 Whoop; uplift (5) 9 Feature; appearance (6) 11 Blackberry creeper (7) 14 Thwarting; avoiding (7) 17 Badge; symbol (6) 18 Started (5) 19 Cheat; violin (6) 20 Schedule; roster (4) Down 2 Stage; stadium (5) 3 Hard-wearing (7) 4 Knocked lightly against (6) 5 Guiding light (6) 6 Covering over a wound (4) 10 Sleep (7) 12 Stay (6) 13 Tune (6) 15 Metal bar (5) 16 Hereditary unit (4)

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GREY MATTER TEST ANSWERS

CROSSWORD ANSWERS

1 Glasgow 2 Tropic of Capricorn 3 Allan Pinkerton 4 Monkey 5 Professor Plum 6 Great Expectations 7 220 8 Tony Robinson 9 Copper 10 Nancy Astor 11 Toto 12 50 13 Greenland 14 A Mouse 15 Vienna 16 Mrs Beeton 17 Montmatre 18 St Christopher 19 Edward Elgar 20 Luddites

Across 1 Card 7 Unused 8 Cheer 9 Aspect 11 Bramble 14 Eluding 17 Emblem 18 Began 19 Fiddle 20 Rota Down 2 Arena 3 Durable 4 Bumped 5 Beacon 6 Scab 10 Slumber 12 Remain 13 Melody 15 Ingot 16 Gene

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