Garstang Focus Magazine - April 2022 by Focus Magazines

FOCUS MAGAZINE 'The Green Book'

Gornall’s Garage by David J Ansell

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

Issue 258 April 2022

TRUSTED LOCAL BUILDER | FREE NO-OBLIGATION QUOTES

• • • • •

All Aspects of Rooﬁng Construction Design Remodelling Property Maintenance

All aspects of home design & maintenance, from rooﬁng, conservatories, extensions, driveways, fencing & full house remodels. No job is too big or small for our experienced & reliable team.

ROOFING SPECIALISTS • • • • • • • • •

Rubber Roofing GRP Roofing Roofing Repairs Strip & Re-tiling Tiling & Slating Flat Roofing Felt Roofing Roof Valeting Leadwork & Flashings

t: 07989 000955 e: gary@homedesigndevelopment.co.uk www.homedesigndevelopment.co.uk

Welcome to Focus Magazine... Sequence Dancing........................................ 4 Bleasdale Heritage Room Open Day.... 4 Garstang Knit & Natter................................. 4 3Ls......................................................................... 4 Garstang Events Team................................. 5 St Michael’s Over 60’s Club....................... 5 Coffee Stop........................................................ 5 Garstang in Bloom......................................... 6 Catterall in Bloom.......................................... 7 Catterall Gardening Club............................ 8 Garstang Memory Cafe................................ 8 Garstang Walking Festival......................... 9 James Dodding Poetry Awards................ 10 Babas................................................................... 12 Scottish Country Dancing Group............ 12 Time to Chat..................................................... 12 Fairtrade............................................................. 12 Garstang Millennium Green...................... 15 Garstang AFVBC............................................. 17 Garstang Wine Circle.................................... 19 Join Your Local Cropshare.......................... 22 Garstang Trefoil Guild................................... 23 Garstang Library............................................. 23 Garstang Arts Centre ................................... 26 Cabus Theatre Group................................... 29 Lancaster Choral Society............................ 30 Church But Not on a Sunday..................... 31 Garstang Quakers.......................................... 31

Calling All Organists .................................... 32 Garstang Free Methodists.......................... 32 Calder Vale Methodist Church................. 34 Garstang Medical Centre............................ 35 Garstang & District Lions............................ 37 The Inner Wheel Club.................................. 38 Rotary................................................................... 40 Garstang Speakers Club............................. 42 Harmony & Health.......................................... 43 News from the WI Claughton-on-Brock WI............................. 43 Cabus WI................................................................ 43 Garstang Phoenix WI.................................... 43 Kirkland WI........................................................... 45 Cherestanc WI................................................... 45 Garstang Camera Club................................ 45 Garstang Town Council................................ 46 Easter Crossword............................................ 47 Sudoku................................................................ 49 Greater Garstang............................................ 50 Wyre Flood Forum......................................... 51 Grey Matter Test.............................................. 52 Ben Wallace...................................................... 54 Cat Smith............................................................ 55 Soroptimists...................................................... 57 Puzzle Answers.............................................. 58

MAY 2022 DEADLINE DATE

The May deadline for editorial and adverts is 5:00pm on Monday 18th April. Deliveries of the May edition of Focus Magazine will commence on Thursday 28th April 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 David J Ansell | Printed by Moulton Printing | © Focus Magazines 2022 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.

SEQUENCE DANCING

HERITAGE OPEN DAY

Everyone is welcome to enjoy our dances. Admission, which includes tea/coffee and biscuits, is only £4. We have now been featured on Youtube. Just log on to Alan Cookson where you will find his lovely music.

Sun 3rd April, 2:00pm until 4:00pm The Heritage Room, Bleasdale Parish Hall PR3 1UY

Saturdays 7:45pm - 11:15pm Barton Village Hall, PR3 5AL •

Sat 9th April - Music by Alan Cookson and his now-famous keyboard.

•

Sat 16th, 23rd & 30th April: Music by John Lancaster and his CDs.

No charge for entry. Refreshments are available at a small cost. If you find any old photographs of Bleasdale, we are always pleased to receive any material you may have. Either contact Jean or Sue via telephone or email.

Please note: no dance on 2nd April.

t: 01995 606511 (Jean) / 01995 643499 (Sue) e: fonejean@outlook.com / philipandsusanmcdade@yahoo.co.uk

Tuesdays, 7:30pm Claughton Memorial Hall, PR3 0PL

GARSTANG KNIT & NATTER GROUP

•

Tues 6th & Tues 19th April Music by John Lancaster and his CD collection.

PR3 1UY is the correct post code for Bleasdale Farmers Ball on Sat 2nd April. Freda Parker 01995 605322 / 07714 092 495

We are slowly coming back together following the pandemic and we’re back to our regular Tuesday afternoon sessions at the library. Easter knitting for Brian House Children’s Hospice is well under way and we hope to have our usual flock of creme egg chickens and Easter bunnies for the children. We’ll post pictures of them on our Facebook page before they go off to the hospice. Mary Randles

3LS Fri 1st April, 2:00pm Garstang United Reformed Our speaker will be from the North West Air Ambulance. This important and lifesaving service is probably something we often take for granted, but how many of us know how it is financed or even where it is based. These and other questioned will, hopefully, be answered by our speaker. Visitors are welcome to come along to any of our meetings, so come and join us for an interesting afternoon and pick up our programme for the coming months. If you have any queries please contact Jack or Ruth. Jack 01995 238075 / Ruth 01995 602006

Are you using a product or service from an advertiser?

GARSTANG EVENTS TEAM

COFFEE STOP

Our Giant Book Festival was a huge success and raised over £1000! The profits will go to towards the Garstang Christmas lights fund and a donation will also be made to St. Thomas’s Church. Thank you to all who donated books and to all those who helped us to stage the event. We hope to do another one next year, so save your books please!

Coffee Stop welcomes you this spring.

Mary Randles

We welcome everyone and invite walkers, cyclists, locals and visitors to call in for a cuppa. There is disabled access and free parking at both venues. We are staffed by volunteers from Inglewhite Church and both communities.

ST MICHAEL’S OVER 60S CLUB Yes, we’re up and running again! We invite you - plus/minus a friend - to join us on our coach trip to the Lakes on Tues 19th April. Don’t think you have to be over 60 or live in St Michael’s to come! The Brethertons coach will depart at 10:00am from St Michael’s Village Hall, where cars can be left in the large village hall car park. There will be a coffee stop (and scones!) at Haverthwaite station in the Lakes, then we continue along Windermere lakeside to Ambleside. Here you can have lunch or shop or do both. After lunch we go onto Coniston where hopefully there will be time for a short stop and cup of tea before we return home.

We’re open as a community cafe on most Tuesday mornings, 10:00am - 12 noon and invite you to come along for coffee and company. We aim to offer a safe and friendly place where you can come along alone or with friends.

We will be open on Tues 5th & 19th April in Inglewhite Church Hall. Our Easter event will be Tues 12th April in Catterall Village Hall. We look forward to welcoming you during April. Lesley Hardman 01995 641175

Please book a place/places by contacting Frances on 01995 603909 by Tues 12th April. For the day’s coach fare it’s £12 per head if you’re already a club member or £15 if a non-member. You’re very welcome to become a member. The annual sub for 2022 is £10. This entitles you to book on our trips and come to our regular meetings throughout the year. These take place on every 1st Wednesday of the month at St Michael’s Village Hall from 2:00pm - 4:00pm where we meet to play a game (eg beetle, dominoes) or hear a speaker, and we always enjoy a chat and a cuppa. We next meet on Wed 6th April, 2:00pm at St Michael’s Village Hall. Heather Hamblin

Tell them you saw it in the Green Book

GARSTANG IN BLOOM The Bloomers have been back gardening whilst the weather has been dry in March. We are currently tidying up all our perennial beds and borders plus preparing new ones for the coming season. The area behind the bus stop at the top end of the High Street is one of our new projects. We will fill the area with plants in a colour scheme mainly consisting of red, gold and blue to match the arms of the House of Windsor to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. On Wed 6th April we will help Wyre Council with the Great British Spring Clean by doing a litter pick. Anyone can come along to help and all equipment is provided. It starts at 10:00am at the High Street car park and lasts about an hour. Garstang in Bloom needs new members! Are you willing to help us? Do you want to contribute something to your local community? Would you like some fresh

air and healthy exercise? Do you want to improve your environment? Would you like to meet some new people? If you would like to join our friendly team, come along and be part of the group. After our gold medal success last year, we will be entering the North West in Bloom competition run by the RHS, so all help will be greatly appreciated. You don’t need to have any knowledge of gardening or horticulture, just some enthusiasm to make the town look good by lending us an hour or so of your time. We meet every Wednesday at 9:30am at the car park at the top of High Street. If you see anyone wearing a yelllow vest, on thier hands and knees in a flower bed, or wielding a spade or a brush, then it’ll be us! Come and say hello. Gill Bergman e: gill.bergman@hotmail.co.uk

M I L LW O O D P L U M B I N G & H E AT I N G •

Gas & LPG service, repair & installation engineers

•

Bathrooms supplied & installed

•

All general plumbing work undertaken WE ARE A FAMILY BUSINESS THAT CARES

millwoodheating@ymail.com

07925 570991 6

Are you using a product or service from an advertiser?

CATTERALL IN BLOOM Hello everyone and welcome to spring at last! The Catterall cart is back after refurbishment thanks to Tim Hoyles and the team. Tim spent nearly every day working on the cart but it became remaking rather than repairing as a lot of wood rot was revealed. Thanks also to Haldane Fisher for timber and Barton Grange for soil and plants, which will soon bring the cart back to its glorious best at the heart of the village. In honour of the Queen’s Jubilee this June, the Bloom team has planted a hedge for wildlife. I’m sure she would approve! The hedge plants are a mixture of native species such as dog rose, hawthorn and hazel which will benefit both insects and birds for years to come. We had a community spring clean last month as part of the Keep Britain Tidy initiative, which Sandra Byrne from Wyre Borough

Council organised. Thank you to everyone who attended. You help us keep our village looking lovely. Would you like to join our brilliant team of enthusiastic volunteers? The Bloom tasks are varied and we need help with all kinds of activities, so why not come along and join us whenever you can? We are a friendly bunch! We meet on Tuesday mornings at Catterall Village Hall car park, starting on Tues 12th April at 10:00am. This special Queen’s Jubilee year is the perfect time to do something memorable and fill the village with beautiful plants and flowers. After Easter, the Bloom team will also be meeting on Wednesday evenings 7:00pm at Stone Cross Community Garden, which is at the junction with Cock Robin Lane. See you soon and happy gardening! Netta Parker 07508 144 181

Now Open

Joint Pain • Back and Neck Pain Sports Injuries • Rehabilitation Sports Massage • Pilates Podiatry • Acupuncture Vestibular and Balance Problems Neurological Physiotherapy

7 Rope Walk, Garstang, PR3 1NS

Tell them you saw their advert in the Garstang Focus

CATTERALL GARDENING CLUB Tues 19th April, 7:00pm - 9:00pm Catterall Village Hall

Est. 1970

Ladies & Gents Barbers Excellent cutting & styling We pride ourselves on perming, colouring & setting Put-ups for special occasions Walk-ins welcome

As I write this, we are yet to hold our first meeting of 2022, but I am very much looking forward to seeing all the friendly faces of current and hopefully some new members of our gardening club. I am sure the evening will be a big success and enjoyed by everyone. At our meeting in April we will be listening to Tom Atherton speak about how to grow and care for that wonderfully scented flower that really has to be one of the most beautiful delights of summer, the sweet pea. Young sweet pea plants will also be on sale so that you can take them home to grow and practise all you have learned. As usual there will also be a plant stall and refreshments with home made cakes. The raffle will be raising funds to contribute towards buying plants to keep Catterall looking beautiful all year long. Membership is £15 to attend all meetings until September 2022, or you can choose to pay £3 per visit if you prefer. Put the third Tuesday of the month in your diaries and we look forward to seeing you. April Haxby 07712 341 123

GARSTANG MEMORY CAFÉ

DS FLAT ROOF SERVICE Felt roof repairs & full re-roofs All other types of roof catered for For a no obligation quote contact Dave

07840 534 223 davesooty@outlook.com ALL WORK GUARANTEED

Work has begun on creating our dementia friendly community garden area situated behind the library with Sandra Perkins cutting the first piece of the turf in late February. So far there has been an initial planting of some boundary hedging, a centrally featured tree and a line of border shrubs. We are very grateful for the support given for this community lottery funded project from the Garstang in Bloom team so please do watch out for the ongoing development of this green and quiet space. Our last meeting, held in March, was very well attended with a total of 34 guests and also several volunteers present for our

Are you phoning an advertiser for a quote?

GARSTANG MEMORY CAFÉ (cont) afternoon buffet tea. There was a dress code of hats for all of the ladies and ties for all gents with prizes being awarded for these and the winners of various quizzes . These regular drop in meetings are designed to provide much needed support and advice for those who are experiencing dementia symptoms in any form and also their carers; being delivered in a very safe but highly sociable environment. The group have returned to having their sessions on the first Monday (2:00pm to 4:00pm) and the third Wednesday (10:00am to 12 noon) of each month in the Free Methodist Church hall with refreshments being provided free of charge. The dates arranged for the next three meetings are Mon 4th April 2:00pm and Wed 20th April 10:00am. As always we are very grateful to all of the organisations and families who continue to support our work in a variety of ways. Chris Wilkinson

GARSTANG WALKING FESTIVAL These Boots are Made for Walking We are really looking forward to welcoming people on our array of walks from Sat 30th April to Sun 8th May. Please bear in mind that a number of walks will cross muddy paths and fields, so make sure you wear appropriate footwear. Similarly, do check the weather forecast to choose the right clothes. Many events start in Garstang, but on a number of days walks start in the villages. For instance, there is a Winmarleigh day which is the start of a testing walk over Winmarleigh Moss with its carnivorous plants. There are some easier options that maybe combined. Also, have in mind that refreshments may be available in some delightful settings, both in Garstang and in

Tell them you saw their advert in the Garstang Focus

WALKING FESTIVAL (cont)

JAMES DODDING POETRY AWARDS

the villages.

Entries are invited from young people who live, or attend schools, in the greater Garstang area for the James Dodding Poetry Awards. There are two age categories: Senior - ages 12 to 16 (on Thurs 30th June) and junior - ages 7 to 11 (on Thurs 30th June)

We mentioned the Wyre Way Walk last month, but for those who just appreciate the joy of Spring with a gentle stroll through the bluebells, get your walking shoes on and come to Calder Vale on either Sunday. So, check out the programme, find some walks that suit and start booking. We know many people have enjoyed the very different walks over the years. We look forward to seeing you again, and why not bring friends. Contact details are given above. Information is available from the wesbite below. Also, information is available from the Visit Garstang Centre 01995 602125. Colin Sills - Chair of Friends of Garstang Walking Festival www.wyre.gov.uk/garstangwalkingfestival

M.P.H. ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE REPAIRS Fast Reliable Service 30 + Years Experience Washing Machines Tumble Dryers Dishwashers Cookers Vacuum Cleaners Small Electrical Repairs Call Michael Hall Mobile 07703 193667 Home 01524 792824 mphelectrical@live.co.uk 10

The prizes are: Senior: first prize £30 cash, shield and poetry book. Second prize £15. Third prize £10. Junior: first prize £30 cash, shield and poetry book. Second prize £15. Third prize £10. The theme/topic for this year’s award is open, i.e. it can be on any topic of the writer’s choice. There is no maximum or minimum length of poem. It should have a title. It can be in rhyme or free form. It can be typed or handwritten but must fit on one side of A4 paper. Only one poem per entrant. This must not have previously been entered for any other award and must not have been published elsewhere. Closing time and date for entries is noon on Thu 30th June. Judging will take place during summer. The prize presentation will be held at Garstang Arts Centre on Sat 10th Sept. Full details and official entry forms are available from Garstang Arts Centre, Croston Road, Garstang, PR3 1HQ or Market Place News, 50A Market Place, Garstang, PR3 1ZA. Entry forms can also be downloaded by scanning this QR code or from the Garstang Arts Centre website (under ‘Our Groups’, then Poetry Appreciation Group headings). James Dodding was a founder member of Garstang Poetry Appreciation Group. He played a major role in arts and theatre education in the United Kingdom, the USA and Canada. Many of his students went on to become household ‘names’ including David Bowie, Gary Oldman and Benedict Cumberbatch. James died in 2018, aged 87.

Did you know that you can read the ‘Green Book’ on line?

See our website : www.focusmags.co.uk

POETRY AWARDS (cont) These awards are in his honour to encourage creative talent among local young people. Anthony Coppin

BABAS Parent, Carer & Toddler Group Open Wed 20th & 27th April, 10:00am - 11:30am. Closed Wed 6th & 13th April for Easter. We meet at Garstang Methodist Church. Join us for a chat, brew and play. Dorothy Gorst 01995 606226

SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCE GROUP We meet on Monday evenings at 7:30pm from September to May at the URC hall on Croston Road. Our programme includes a range of dances to suit all abilities. New members are always welcome. Just come along and have a go! Ian 01995 603998 or Pam 01995 603536

TIME TO CHAT Would you like to have someone to talk over issues with, make friends or just spend some time chatting? Netta and Jenny would like to invite you to come join us every last Friday in the meeting room of Garstang Library 10:30am - 12:30pm. Netta 01995 604131

FAIRTRADE Fairtrade Fortnight We ran several events to promote Fairtrade Fortnight including holding a Fairtrade stall at the Arts Centre, running a Fairtrade quiz and a children’s treasure trail. We supported the Co-op at their Fairtrade Live event and Garstang Cycle Club energised by Fairtrade bananas cycled from the Market Cross on their Saturday run. We also visited several

Focus advertisers support this community magazine

Why not keep it local and support our advertisers?

FAIRTRADE (cont) local primary schools and held an activities morning at the library. As the stall was so successful and with cooperation from the Arts Centre the Fairtrade stall ran again on Sun 19th March. During this time, we presented the prizes to the winners of the quiz and the Children’s treasure trail We would like to thank all the children who took part but a special thank you to those children who battled through the snow and sleet to complete the trail in February. We would like to acknowledge and thank all those who gave us their support during the Fortnight: The schools who invited us to take assemblies and workshops, the library and the Visitors Centre for mounting displays of Fairtrade and Climate Change, The Royal Oak for displaying our banner, The Art Centre for hosting us, and a special mention of the Co-op for the donation of bars of chocolate to all the children who took part in the treasure

Are you using a product or service from an advertiser?

FAIRTRADE (cont)

GARSTANG MILLENNIUM GREEN

trail and all the businesses that displayed the clues for the treasure trail. Thank you also to the mayor of Garstang for his support.

A New Dipper for Garstang Needed

Fairtrade Steering Group Twinning We have received an invitation from Fairtrade Totnes to form a twinning arrangement with Garstang to join them to work together to forward the message of Fairtrade. They have formed already a link with Malton. We are hoping to arrange a meeting with one of their members during a visit to Garstang at Easter. Great Big Green Week in September In the autumn we are looking to hold a sustainable fashion show to raise awareness of climate change, Fairtrade cotton, exploitation of cotton workers and the benefits of recycling unwanted/vintage clothing. Peter Ryder e: garstangfairtrade@gmail.com www.fairtrade.org.uk

The trustees of Garstang Millennium Green appeal to you all for some financial help. We are very proud of the green and all the volunteers who give freely of their time to help to maintain the grounds. We are a voluntary organisation and all funding is through donations and grants. We plan for the day to day management of the grounds but we have at the moment some challenges and unbudgeted expenditure that threaten our future plans. The dipper is the iconic emblem of the green and to some extent Garstang, but it collapsed with age. It has rotted from the centre and is totally unrepairable. The replacement will cost about £1500 and before it is commissioned we must seek finance. Additionally throughout lockdown the green has been very well used and it is suffering

Tell advertisers that you saw them in the Green Book

MILLENNIUM GREEN (cont) because of this. The wet weather and recurrent flooding have further added to the expenses and the time asked of volunteers for clearing up the mud and silt. We plan some protective pathways, similar to board walks to ease the pressure, and have received a grant to cover most of the cost. Can you please help by making a special one off donation to help us re build The Dipper? You can do this in several ways. You can make a bank transfer into our account the details are as follows. National Westminster Bank Garstang Millennium Green Trust Sort code 01 03 33 Account number 13310593 You can send to us a cheque or cash and post or deliver it to me at 12a Rivermead Drive, Garstang, PR3 1JJ. If you would like an acknowledgment and receipt please send an email to ronfreeland@talktalk.net All

donations can be anonymous. If you wish for this please say so. Thank you in anticipation. If you would like to discuss the help that you may be able to give please contact our chair of trustees Michael Halford on 01995 238925 or me, Ron Freeland. AGM Tues 14th May, 7:30pm The Royal Oak Please come along and join us, share your ideas, listen to what we have been doing and join in discussions about our plans for the future. Sandwiches will be provided. If you have any queries please contact Glynis Jefferson (acting trust secretary) gjeffe7502@aol.com Dog Free Area If you go down to the green regularly you may notice that a few changes have taken place within the ‘dog free area.’ Our volunteers,

TREE SURGEONS

OVER 20 ye a exper rs ience

TREE PRUNING TREE FELLING SITE CLEARANCE HEDGE & SHRUB PRUNING STUMP REMOVAL TREE REPORTS & PLANNING APPLICATIONS UNDERTAKEN

FREE

no obligation quotations

FULLY QUALIFIED & INSURED Tel: 01253 810360 Mobile: 07711545069 Email: jhtreesurgeons@gmail.com 16

Are you phoning an advertiser for a quote?

MILLENNIUM GREEN (cont)

GARSTANG AFVBC

along with help from the Wyre rangers have installed a new boardwalk.

Armed Forces & Veterans Breakfast Club

During Garstang Walking Festival the Millennium Green team will be pleased to welcome families on Bank Holiday Monday from 10:00am until 12:30pm to explore the green at their own pace using the trail map.

Our purpose is to facilitate veterans and serving armed forces personnel to meet faceto-face in a relaxed, safe, social environment to enjoy breakfast and banter, to combat loneliness and allow veterans to ‘return to the tribe’. There are no fees or subs, you just pay for your own breakfast – simple!

Board Walk

Next Meeting

At the green we try to make our children/ family area as welcoming as possible. However, parts of it can get very boggy. With support of the Lancashire Environmental Fund, with a £1000 grant, we have created a board walk over the worst of the ground. The Environment Agency have also been supportive and our own team of volunteers have done a sterling job.

Our clubs are on the 1st Saturday of each month, with the next one being Sat 2nd April at 9:30am at the Wheatsheaf, 1 Park Hill Road, Garstang PR3 1EL. Come and enjoy a breakfast menu ranging from full English breakfast, sausage or bacon butty to beans on toast - all with free tea and coffee. Most of all, you can enjoy the opportunity to catch up with your fellow veterans and their families, and once again, enjoy some good-natured banter.

Garstang Walking Festival

Carol Wood www.garstangmillenniumgreen.org.uk

Ascension & Cliff Small

Independent Family Funeral Directors Owned & Run by Robert & Kathryn Caunce & Family Garstang’s only independent family owned & family run funeral directors • Private chapel of rest • Monumental masonry • 24 hours - 365 days • Funerals tailored to individual needs • Golden Charter funeral

plans 5 - 6 Pringle Court, Thomas’s Weind, Garstang PR3 1LN t: 01995 605548 e: info@ascensionfunerals.co.uk w: www.ascensionfunerals.co.uk

Tell them you saw it in the ‘Green Book’

Also located at Caton, Morecambe & Bolton-le-Sands

GARSTANG AFVBC (cont) March Round-Up March was a busy month for the breakfast club with a quiz night on the 15th and the monthly walks, which began again on the 19th after a temporary break for the winter. The meeting at the beginning of the month saw a continued increase in numbers and we were fortunate to welcome our oldest Veteran yet, at the mere age of 99, a Veteran from the Second World war. It is pleasing to note that whilst our numbers are increasing, the strong communal spirit is high and everyone who comes to join us is sure of a very warm welcome. Monthly Walk We invite you to join us on one of our popular monthly walks that are held regularly on the 3rd Saturday of each month. The next walk will be on Sat 23rd April (St George’s Day) at 9:30am. The meeting place

is by the river, at the High Street council car park. All local veterans and their family members are welcome to take part. Welcoming New Members The breakfast club is now fortunate to be attracting people from further afield, rather than just Garstang. This allows visiting veterans the chance to explore all the fantastic things the Garstang community has to offer, and for us to receive feedback on our breakfast club from a wider area. We look forward to welcoming even more new members in the future and we can ensure them of a very warm welcome, friendly banter, a chance to meet friends old and new and a very hearty breakfast. fb: Garstang Armed Forces & Veterans Breakfast Club www.afvbc.net/clubs/garstang

WINDOWS • DOORS • CONSERVATORIES • CLADDING

HAMBLETON UPVC A local family company trading throughout Wyre

t any We’ll bea ote qu genuine

Over 20 years’ experience Accredited for quality assurance Quality Composite Doors from just £700 fitted!

Conservatory Refurbishment & Replacement

Fast & reliable upvc products & services All jobs fully guaranteed

www.hambleton-upvc.co.uk info@hambleton-upvc.co.uk 01253 700902 / 07930 406257

Are you using a product or service from an advertiser?

GARSTANG WINE CIRCLE At the February meeting, circle member, Jennifer McNamee presented a selection of South African wines, obtained from the Wine Society as a mixed case, which consisted of a rosé, three whites and three reds, giving us the opportunity to taste a selection of reasonably priced wines from that country. The star white wine was a chenin blanc, made from old vines in an area to the north west of Capetown. Hardly surprising as chenin blanc is a signature grape for South Africa and may have been amongst the first grapes planted to produce wine by the Dutch in the late 1600s. Two of the reds were particularly good, a syrah, which represents how the South African Wine industry has successfully used international grape varieties in wine making over the recent years, and a pinotage. The pinotage grape variety was developed in South Africa, and after rejection by the

international wine trade for many years, has now found favour with wine drinkers. We had an interesting and enjoyable evening, with good wines and excellent food from Jena and Richard Pearson. The circle’s meeting for this month is after the print deadline for the April edition of Focus, so the report of the March meeting will be in May’s edition. At the March meeting we welcomed Stuart Rothwell from the Vineyard Wine Shop in Ramsbottom. Stuart presented a selection of wines from Portugal. The April meeting will be a ‘Call my Quaff’ competition, presented by members of the committee, as a quiz to see how good members are at identifying grape varieties. Details of the meeting can be obtained from Alan Jefferson on 01995 601842. Mervyn Stokes

Tell them you saw it in the ‘Green Book’

Are you using a product or service from an advertiser?

CARDIAC RISK IN THE YOUNG Matthew Hesmondhalgh Memorial Fund Despite a wet start, the day of our ‘Kaleidoscope of Colour’ pop-up shop proved to be a wonderfully bright, colourful and successful event blessed with a real rainbow over the park when the skies cleared. Matt would have loved that! Many thanks to all who donated or participated. A fantastic £260 towards heart screening was raised and I hope some little treats were enjoyed too. Extra CRY Screening At very short notice we have secured an extra screening day at Garstang following an invitation from CRY. This will be held on Sat 2nd April at the academy. All the appointments for this were allocated within two and a half hours of being available online. I think that must be a record time! Many thanks to our Milk Bottle Challengers who have so generously raised the £5,000 to fund this additional day. This is the second such event, paid for through the perseverance of numerous folks collecting or dropping coins in countless milk bottles either at home or in locations around the area. Well done everyone.

clothing alongside tasty treats and, as ever, so much more. The following day we are taking part in a table top sale at Out Rawcliffe Village Hall from 10:00am - 2:00pm. This is usually a lively, bustling event with delicious cakes, brews and bacon butties available too. We know from your comments that one or two of you are looking forward to the day when Sarah’s diminutive, but delightful, wayside stall makes its re-appearance in the village. Well, as the drier weekends arrive, you may want to keep an eye out on Cock Robin Lane for the little box with plants, puzzles and books at bargain prices. Here’s to a lovely Easter and spring like weather!    Paula Hesmondhalgh t: 07785 106 976 e: paulahez.ph@gmail.com fb: @The Matthew Hesmondhalgh Memorial Fund

All the best to those who have places at the screening. Please don’t forget to take all your paperwork with you and if you’re unable to make it please do let CRY know. Upcoming Events Many folks are amazed at how tiny the popup shop is, but those who join us will know it’s packed to the rafters with all kinds of wonderful goodies. You never know what little gem you might find as all our goods are so kindly donated from far and wide. Our next pop-up shop is on Sat 9th April, 10:00am – 3:00pm at Catterall Village Hall. It will be a seasonal celebration of springtime with plenty of pastel coloured delights with flowers, rabbits, eggs, chicks, ducklings and more adorning beautiful gifts, jigsaws and

Tell them you saw it in the Green Book

JOIN YOUR LOCAL CROPSHARE The Plot, near Garstang is looking for people to join their cropshare community and receive weekly, local, seasonal veg boxes from w/c Mon 18th April - w/c Mon 7th Nov. The Plot is a new initiative growing organic fruit, vegetables and herbs. It also trains new growers who want to set up their own enterprises to produce local food. By becoming a cropsharer, you are helping to strengthen the current local food system and are support future growers in the area! The cropshare will provide you with one size box with at least six different vegetables every week (usually more) for just £13. There are three payment options available; £26 every two weeks, £53 every month or £370 as a one time payment. The 30 week cropshare period includes 29 veg boxes (weekly except 3rd June due the bank holidays). All the produce from The Plot is grown close to Lancaster, Morecambe and Garstang

and is grown to the principles of the organic certification standards. There are three collection points: two residential points in Lancaster LA1 5BH or LA1 3JE or you can collect directly from the site at Old Holly Farm (PR3 1AA) . The veg boxes will be available to collect at 4:00pm from Old Holly Farm and 6:00pm in Lancaster every Friday. The Plot is keen to grow a community alongside vegetables, so when you sign up as a cropsharer you will also receive regular updates about events you can join on site. The Plot and the FarmStart Programme is co-ordinated by LESS (a non-profit registered community interest company based in Lancaster) in partnership with FoodFutures and the FoodFriends small society lottery. Joanna Poulton www.the-plot.uk LOCAL INDEPENDENT BUSINESS SINCE 2008

NPD Curtains & Blinds WE BRING THE SHOP TO YOU

Made to measure & fit in your home or workplace Blinds Roller - Venetian - Vertical - Perfect Fit Pleated - Night & Day Fitting service available for customer’s own blinds

Curtains & Roman Blinds Made to measure in customer’s own fabric Or choose from our range of fabric books. Contact Nigel Phillips on

07776 016 303

AVAILABLE DURING LOCKDOWN RESTRICTIONS or email nigel@npinteriordesign.co.uk www.npdcurtainsandblinds.com

Are you using a product or service from an advertiser?

GARSTANG TREFOIL GUILD Trefoil Guild - ‘guiding for adults’ - is a nonuniform branch of Girlguiding and is open to anyone over the age of 18 who supports the aims and principles of Guiding. We have a local programme of speakers, activities and outings and help out at guiding events. We meet on the fourth Thursday of each month, from 2:00pm – 4:00pm in the meeting room in the library. We are a small, friendly group and all are welcome. You do not need to have been a guide or scout previously.

Spring into Stories Mon 4th - Thurs 14th April

GARSTANG LIBRARY

During the school holidays join us for weekday story related crafts and games. Mon and Fri 2:00pm - 4:00pm. Tues, Wed, Thurs 10:00am - 12 noon. Free to attend. Just come along.

The library will be closed on Fri 15th & Mon 18th April for the bank holiday.

Garstang Walking Festival Sat 30th April 11:00am - 12:30pm

Chair Based Yoga Tues 19th & 26th April, 10:00am - 12 noon

Join us for a walk and story time as part of the Garstang Walking Festival. Find out more information and book your place by contacting the library.

Brenda Allen 01995 601979

A two week course delivered by Lancashire Adult Learning. This course is designed for

GARSTANG STORAGE

A personal service from experienced staff

BRAND NEW SHIPPING CONTAINERS FOR

CLEAN, DRY, SECURE STORAGE CONTAINERS AVAILABLE PACKAGING MATERIALS • Storage Boxes • Bubble Wrap • Parcel Tape / Tape Guns • Padded Envelopes • Mattress & Sofa Covers • Indoor / Outdoor & Armoured Locks

Shipping container sales & hire Indoor Secure Storage Available: 30 sq ft – 100 sq ft Portable toilets for site & event hire

Open 6 days a week Domestic & business customers welcome Local family business established for over 15 years

Thai at Pilling authentic cuisine

Take Away Open 12 - 9pm Every Day at the Elletson Arms Lancaster Rd, Pilling, PR3 6AH

6 FOOT - 40 FOOT

� � �

those who wish to understand yoga and who choose a seated version of the regular standard yoga practice. During the course you will get to experience the poses and gain an understanding of yoga and its benefits. This event is free to all adults over 19 and booking is required.

Parcel deliveries & drop offs

01995 601810 | Green Lane West PR3 1NJ office@garstangstorage.com www.garstangstorage.com

FREEon

y deliver after orders imum in M . t 6pm iremen u q re order on g in d n depe n locatio

Run by Chef Wan & her team • Menu available at www.thaiatpilling.co.uk and facebook/thaiatpilling

Call 01253 790333 to order

Tell them you saw it in the Green Book

GARSTANG LIBRARY (cont) Spot on Lancashire Fri 13th May, 7:30pm Gus Glynn - Routes to Classics Join classically trained fingerstyle guitarist, Gus Glynn as he traces the development of the music we love today from its roots in traditional folk and blues, right through to contemporary classics and all-time favourites. Journey through Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Carole King, Mark Knopfler and Lou Reed. Visit modern favourites from artists such as Amy Winehouse and Arctic Monkeys all with a selection of pit stops along the way as Gus showcases his own songs. A music lover’s must, complete with original fingerstyle guitar arrangements of John Lennon and Turlough O’Carolan, ‘Routes to Classics’ is not to be missed. Suitable for ages 10 plus. Tickets £10 adults / £8 child.

Electrical Team

James Branson Local electrician covering all of Wyre All jobs to a high standard. We are small enough to care, yet large enough to cope

Mobile: 07494 046 057 Ofﬁce: 01995 670533 24

Baby Bounce & Rhyme Mondays & Fridays, 10:00 - 10:30am: A fun filled session with songs and music. Suitable for babies up to around 18 months of age, but older pre-school siblings welcome. Toddler Rhyme Time Tuesdays, 2:00pm - 2:30pm: An energising session of singing and dancing for toddlers and carers. Singalong songs and rhymes with movement and actions for pre-school children from around 18 months upwards. Story Time Fridays, 2:00pm - 2:30pm: A weekly story reading session for pre-school children. Saturday Stories, 10:00am - 12 noon: Discover and enjoy a new story each week. Get inspired to write your own stories, be creative with crafts and drawing and play games together. There’s something new every Saturday. Come along and join the fun! Lego Club & Board Games, Saturdays 10:00am - 12 noon. Knit and Natter Tuesdays 2:00pm 4:00pm. Bring your knitting or other craft for an informal gathering of likeminded people. Beginners welcome. Get Online at Your Library: Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:00 - 11:00am. Learn the basic digital skills which will enable you to keep in touch with family and friends, shop safely online, take up a new hobby, find work, save time and money, find information about your health and much more. We provide bite-size courses and one to one help. It doesn’t matter how young or old you are; it doesn’t matter if you’ve never used a computer; we can help you! Booking required, numbers limited. One-to-One Digital Support: Please get in touch to book a one to one digital support session for using a computer, smart phone or tablet.

Are you using a product or service from an advertiser?

GARSTANG LIBRARY (cont) Fun Arts (delivered with Wyre Council) Thursdays 9:30am - 11:30am. This is a dementia-friendly activity led by an experienced instructor and is suitable for those living with dementia and their carers. Make new friends and have a go – it’s fun! Please bring something to protect your clothing from paint splashes e.g. an old shirt. Mobile Library For further information about times and stops near you contact Glenys on 0771 543 763 or garstang.mobile@lancashire.gov.uk Friends of Garstang Library We’re happy to announce that we are meeting once again and planning some exciting events for 2022. This month we have used the funds raised from previous events to purchase some new board games. These have been very popular with visitors on Saturday mornings.

The Friends of Garstang Library meet the first Thursday of the month 2:00pm - 3:00pm. Come along to find out how we support our local library and to share any ideas you have. The Long Nights Thurs 14th April, 7:00pm Tickets are £10 can be ordered at the library or by calling 01995 602795. ‘The Long Nights’ are Alan and Lynne Hempton from Bilsborrow and Susie Clegg and Jacob Phelps who aren’t. Together they play an exciting blend of bluegrass, country and modern folk music with both songs you’ll know and some of their own. t: 0300 123 6703 www.lancashire.gov.uk/libraries-andarchives e: garstang.library@lancashire.gov.uk facebook: @LancsLibraries twitter: @LancsLibraries

Established 1991

t: 01995 670792 e: sales@nortechsecurity.co.uk INTRUDER ALARMS • CCTV • FIRE ALARMS Domestic & Commercial Design Install Service Repair Takeovers Wireless Wired

MAINTENANCE OFFER Does your external siren look like an active deterrent? Has it begun to fade? Our new siren is LED back-lit for increased visibility at night. The image is laser printed & ﬁtted internally to prevent fading & discolouarion.

50% OFF EXTERNAL SIRENS Supply & install of external siren while on service visit

NOW JUST £40+VAT (RRP £80+VAT)

CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF PROVIDING QUALITY SECURITY SYSTEMS Tell them you saw it in the Green Book

GARSTANG ARTS CENTRE The Art Centre’s AGM is due to be held on Wed 6th April, 7:30pm. Why not come along and find out what goes on at the Arts Centre? The Charles Flatt Quiz Sat 23rd April, 7:30pm Teams are needed. Bring your own nibbles and drinks and enjoy a sociable and fun evening. The spring draw for the Arts Centre’s 200 Club draw will also take place in the interval. Do you have a number yet? Have you paid your annual subs of £13 per number yet? Top prize is still £400. Don’t miss out. Art Exhibition It is always a pleasure to host an exhibition by Leyland Artists. Their aim is to foster the artistic talents of local people and to encourage a general interest in art within a friendly club setting. The exhibition runs from Tues 12th April to Thurs 5th May. Sheila Tearle 01995 603816.

Garstang Ukulele Group The WI season has begun and these are usually really good gigs. Not only do we get to play to appreciative audiences, we usually get fed as well. We played Calder Vale before Christmas and in March we played Barton and Wrea Green. So if you’ve missed us in the Hotpot, please ring me on 01995 604621. Bookings are picking up and we will have our first care home gig in over two years in June. It’s good to be getting back, but we are still being careful. Have a look at our website at www.garstangukulelegroup.co.uk to see where we are playing. Several of our events are public and it would be lovely to see you all. Bob Sapey Poetry Group Meetings are at 2:00pm on the fourth Friday of the month with the exception of December when it is the third Friday of the month.

Local family business with over 40 years experience BATHROOM SPECIALISTS

PLUMBING & HEATING SPECIALISTS

Bathroom Adaptations for Assisted Living Complete Bathroom Suites Washbasins/Toilets/Baths/Showers Wet Rooms Tiling/Decorative Wall & Ceiling Panelling Park Home/Static Caravan Specialists

Replacement/Repairs/Servicing of all your Gas Appliances and Central Heating Systems

We can provide a complete bathroom installation service from the initial design through to the ﬁnishing touches, no matter the shape or size.

Leaks and bursts Repaired 12yr guarantee on selected boilers installed Landlord Gas Safety Certiﬁcates/Inspections All aspects of Plumbing works carried out Park Home/Static Caravan Specialists Oil - Gas - LPG

CALL FOR A FREE ESTIMATE 01995 638041 / 07968 310352 Email: ecplumbing@yahoo.co.uk www.ecplumbingandmaintenance.co.uk

Are you using a product or service from an advertiser?

GARSTANG ARTS CENTRE The poems for April are about celebration and will be led by Hilary McGrath. The poetry group is very friendly and welcomes visitors. You can just sit and listen or join in if you wish. For more information contact Marie Whalley 01995 603605. Bridge A course of five lessons are being considered for complete beginners, ‘An Introduction to Bridge’. The five lessons would be carried out at Garstang Arts Centre. Should you be interested please contact Bob robertburns12140@gmail.com Garstang Bridge Club meets every Monday 7:00pm 9:30pm. Arts Centre Bridge group meet every Tuesday 1:30pm - 4:00pm. Garstang Musical Productions Save the date: We are so pleased to announce GMP will be performing the award winning Calendar Girls on Wed 5th - Sat

8th Oct. Based on true events, this heart warming musical tells the story of a group of ordinary women who achieved something extraordinary. Rehearsals will start in April. Rebecca Sudell 07985 372234. Book Club We were very fortunate at our March meeting as we had a visit from local author David Birtwistle. We had been circulating his book ‘Oonny Road Up’, short stories based in East Lancashire. David was as interesting to listen to as his book was to read! We all enjoyed the meeting. We also discussed ‘The Familiars’, a book about the Lancashire witches. This promoted views and discussion about witches at the time and why many were punished. A few people read or were reading books by Mrs Gaskell and these were shared. Our next meeting is on Tues 12th April when we will be discussing ‘Shuggie Bain’ by Douglas Stuart and ‘The Four Winds’ by Kristin Hannah. For UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP

BLINDS

Beautiful Blinds Made to Your Requirements

VENETIAN - VERTICAL - ROLLER - PLEATED - VELUX - MIRAGE - ROMAN - CURTAIN 100’s of British-made fabrics to choose from. Blinds repaired • Replacement Louvres Free Measuring & Fitting J.R & D Sillis will be open as normal and will continue to provide the high level of service and quality products that Jack has produced over the last 50 years. Jeff, the new owner of the business, has over 10 years’ experience within the blinds industry. His experienced team are always happy to advise and quote for your blinds free of charge and without obligation

Est

1972 Tell them you saw it in the Green Book

Est

1972 27

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

Are you using a product or service from an advertiser?

GARSTANG ARTS CENTRE (cont)

PERSONAL TRAINING & FITNESS

more information contact Linda 07795 064 266 or Sandra 01995 603436. Scrabble Group The Scrabble Group meet on Tuesday afternoons, 2:00pm - 3:30pm. Everyone welcome. Jean Mavin 07501 704 385. Needlework Group We meet on Wednesday mornings from 10:00am - 12 noon. If you enjoy knitting, crochet, embroidery, patchwork, applique or would like to learn, do come and join this friendly, helpful group.

by Helen M Brookes FORTON, SCORTON & GARSTANG 121, 221 & Group personal training • Nutrition & hydration advice • Weight management Mental health & wellbeing in ﬁtness Classes at Scorton Village Hall on Tuesday’s / Wednesday & in Garstang on Fridays

@helenmbrookespersonaltraining Call/WhatsApp 07523 213 130

Judy Osborne 01995 600996 fb: artcentre.garstang twitter: ArtsGarstang www.garstangartssociety.org.uk

CABUS THEATRE GROUP Rumours Thurs 12th, Fri 13th, Sat 14th May, 7:30pm. Sun 15th May, 1:30pm Cabus Village Hall Cabus Theatre Group is delighted to be back on the stage again and we welcome you to join us for this production ‘Rumours’ by Neil Simon. This classic farce centres around an epically disastrous dinner party to celebrate a 10th wedding anniversary. However, everything changes when the first couple discover that the host Charlie has shot himself, the hostess and the servants are nowhere to be seen and dinner not prepared. As more guests arrive, there are cover ups, deceptions, mistaken identities and a lot of huge laughs. We do hope to see you at one of our performances. Tickets available from Mace, Croston Road, Garstang News, High Street, Garstang or phone Rob Knowles on 01995 605608. Amanda Marriott

WAX AWAY TODAY Why wait for a GP appointment? No GP referral required

Qualiﬁed clinician with over 20 years in the NHS. Specialising in safe ear wax removal from the canal. Ear wax removal (Microsuction) - £60 Covering Preston, Lancaster, Garstang, Lytham & Blackpool

Call 07970 066 881 to book an appointment

Home Visits

All aspects of internal and external carpentry and joinery undertaken. No job too small. Over 30 years’ experience. Free estimates.

Mob: 07846 510 953 Tel: 01995 606 179

Tell them you saw it in the Green Book

LANCASTER CHORAL SOCIETY Singing Praise 200 Years of Magnificent Musical Styles Sat 2nd April, 7:30pm Lancaster Priory, Lancaster LA1 1PL Franz Schubert - ‘Mass in G Major’. John Rutter - ‘Magnificat’. Gabriel Fauré ‘Requiem’. Conductor - John Perrin. Chamber orchestra and professional soloists. Tickets cost £15 (benefit claimants / students £12). School children aged 18 and under are free. Online booking is available here: www.ldcschoral.org.uk/future-concerts We are one of the leading non-auditioned choirs in the North West of England. We have an average membership of around 50 singers, ranging from novice to very experienced, and everything in between. The choir had its origins in the Lancaster Grand Theatre, which was built in 1782. The owner and local entrepreneur, Edmund Sharpe, decided the theatre required a choir to enhance it’s

image, so in 1836 he created the Lancaster and District Musical Society. This eventually became the Choral Society. More than 175 years later, the Lancaster and District Choral Society (LDCS) is still going strong and now conducted by John Perrin. We perform choral concerts that incorporate an eclectic mixture of classical, sacred and secular music. To celebrate our Queen’s platinum jubilee our smaller summer chorale, ‘A Special Celebration - Music Fit for a Queen’ will provide a lighter, fresher feel to our repertoire. This will be performed on Sat 25th June at Bolton-le-Sands Community Centre. If you fancy a good sing yourself, do come and join us for rehearsals starting Mon 4th April. For more information, visit our website or contact our secretary. e: l_cook@sky.com www.ldcs-choral.org.uk

Garstang’s local independent family-run funeral service 24hr Personal Attention Assured

THE GARSTANG FUNERAL HOME Castle View - Bridge Street - Garstang - PR3 1YB Tel: 01995 601 600 30

Are you using a product or service from an advertiser?

CHURCH BUT NOT ON A SUNDAY

GARSTANG QUAKERS

We invite you to join us for community ‘church’. Everyone is welcome . Join us in the smaller room at Kirkland & Catterall Memorial Hall on Thurs 28th April, 7:30pm. There will be music, discussion and light refreshments for all. Our speaker will be Paul Davies, pastor at Inglewhite Church. You can be sure of a very warm welcome at this informal style of church. We plan to continue meeting on the last Thursday of each month until July. We hope you might feel able to come and see if this might be for you. Everyone welcome at weekday church in our own fantastic community. For more information contact Lesley Hardman via the church office. Lesley Hardman 01995 641175

This Easter, we will be decorating eggs in the Ukrainian tradition. Eggs have been decorated in this way from before the Christian era. There are many types and methods but the best known is probably the Pysanky egg. This is created by drawing intricate patterns onto eggs using molten beeswax and dyes. Successive layers of wax and darker dyes create intricate patterns. When finished the wax is melted off revealing the result of the hard work.

ALL ASPECTS OF TREE WORK UNDERTAKEN Large Tree Removal Pruning Felling Site Clearance Hedge Trimming Stump Grinding Tree Planting Fully qualiﬁed, fully insured crew happy to help. For more info please visit our website or contact Ben for a free quote. 07496 155 789 tyrertreecare@hotmail.com www.tyrertreecare.co.uk Tell them you saw it in the Green Book

GARSTANG QUAKERS (cont) Encouraging an Independent Lifestyle A local private business offering

HOME SUPPORT Meal Prep • Light Cleaning • Shopping • General Assistance• Paperwork & Calls Appointment Accompaniments Socialising & Enjoying Life

“Thank you so much…I honestly don’t know what Dad and I would do without you.” Mrs D ‘Carpe Diem’ ‘Seize the Day’

While working on our eggs we will think about and share the cultural richness of this Ukrainian tradition. But more especially we can think of the suffering of the Ukrainians at this tragic time, and ‘hold them in the light’. You are welcome at our meeting for worship every Sunday 10:30am to 11:30am. Judith 01995 602974

CALLING ALL ORGANISTS

Tel: 07553 426800 / 01995 604290 www.abletohelpgarstang.co.uk

St Luke Church’s wonderful organist, Nigel is retiring at Easter and we need someone to replace him. We are lucky to have a Willis organ which is in excellent condition. If you would be willing to play weekly, or occasionally, please get in touch for a chat. Irene Connick 01524 792037 Revd Gary Lewis 01524 791390

GARSTANG FREE METHODISTS Ukraine Crisis

PAUL @ TG WINDOWS

All Joinery Work • UPVC Windows & Doors • Kitchens • Floors • Decking • Cladding Fascias • Guttering • All Work Considered Over 30 Years’ Experience • Time Served Free Estimates & Quotes 01995 606942 / 07769 884 778 pauldodd2169@googlemail.com @PaulatTGWindows

We want to say a huge thank you to all who contributed to our appeal for Ukraine. We have sent two vans full of food, toiletries and medicines to International Aid Trust to be forwarded to Eastern Europe. We have more clothing and bedding ready for when they are able to receive and send more goods. We have also sent funds to our partners in Ukraine to help them directly. It’s been a privilege to serve at this worrying time. We have held special prayer meetings for the situation in Ukraine and will continue to do so whilst the war continues. Friday Focus Our Friday Focus meetings continue during April at 10:30am

• • Based • in Garstang • •

Fri 1st April – Focus on Prayer Fri 8th April – Focus on Film – Risen Fri 15th April – Good Friday Fri 22nd April – Focus on the Bible Fri 29th April – Tea and Chat

Are you using a product or service from an advertiser?

SUPERIOR PROTECTIVE & PERFORMANCE COATINGS SPECIAL OFFER ON GARDEN FURNITURE Is your garden furniture looking tired? Flaky paint? Fancy a colour change? This is the perfect time to dig and get it revamped and refreshed for spring in time to enjoy it!

Offer Prices •

Bistro set (table and 2 chairs) - £130+vat

•

Table & 4 chairs - £180+vat

•

Bench Ends - £60+vat per set (Additional charge may apply for special/one oﬀ colour choices - however we do have a wide range of colours in stock to choose from which you are more than welcome to browse through).

OTHER SERVICES WE OFFER: •

Alloy Wheel Refurbishment

•

Powder Coating (commercial and domestic)

•

Aqua-blasting

Collection & Delivery Service Available

Units 9 & 10, Ripon Hall Farm, Catterall, PR3 0PA info@northcoat.co.uk • 01995 676163 • www.northcoat.co.uk Tell them you saw it in the Garstang Focus

DISCOUNT UPVC &

GLAZING uPVC Windows & Doors Replacement Double Glazed Windows Conservatories Cladding, Gutters & Fascias Caravan & Park Home Specialist

m: 07789 498 572 t: 01253 892849

Easter Services We will be holding a Maundy Thursday service at 7:30pm on Thurs 14th April and a Good Friday morning service at 10:45am on Fri 15th April. Our Easter Sunday morning service will include believer’s baptism. For all details of our regular Sunday services and mid-week events, see our website. Katie Devany t: 01995 602852 e: info@garstangfmc.org.uk www.garstangfmc.org.uk

CALDER VALE METHODIST CHURCH With the daffodils in full bloom, the crocuses making a carpet of colour and the sparrows gathering nesting materials before disappearing into crevices in the barn walls it is time for us to think of Easter. In Psalm 84 verse three we read ‘even the lowly sparrow was invited to make her home in the Lord’s temple’. As a Christian symbol, the sparrow represents the concern of God for the least among all people, who are, nevertheless, under the protection of God the father. This is a very special time in the life of the church as we focus on the events of Holy Week culminating with the resurrection on Easter Day.

5 years’ With over 2 in experience , we y r the indust ndly, oﬀer a frie nd vice a reliable ser e for valu guarantee money.

Ring Nigel on...

FREE METHODISTS (cont)

In April our all-age worship on Sun 3rd April will be led by Deacon Jane Gibson.

Typical Back Door from just

£430

On Sun 10th April (Palm Sunday) we will have our next family time starting at 2:00pm. We will focus on Easter for our crafts and the story will be Jill Murphy’s ‘Peace at Last’. Why not bring along your Teddy Bear to join in the story. More details will be circulated soon. All the family are welcome to share together. On Fri 15th April (Good Friday) the Church will be open for quiet reflection from 10:00am to 1:00pm. And then at 7:30pm Deacon Jane will lead our service for Good Friday. Sunday 17th April (Easter Sunday) at

Are you using a product or service from an advertiser?

CALDER VALE METHODISTS (cont)

GARSTANG MEDICAL CENTRE

10:45am our service will be led by Mr Lyndsay Williamson and the church will be decorated with spring flowers.

My Way Diabetes

CAMEO (Come And Meet Each Other) will be on Fri 22nd April at 2:00pm. Our usual supply of cakes and a cuppa will be available and, of course, lots to chat about. On Sun 24th April we have a special visit of Rev. Paul Davis who is the chair of the Lancashire District. He is often heard on Radio Lancashire’s Sunday morning service. Calder Vale Bluebell Teas: We are back this May for two Sundays only; Sun 1st & Sun 8th May from 12 noon to 4:00pm at Calder Vale Village Hall PR3 1SH. We are playing it safe this year and hope to be back to normal in 2023. More details from 01995 602615 / 603838. Edith Gorst 01995 602078 o We als ton in s g lo supply of logs & ets bags, n ﬁregrates g, n li d e kin h mor & muc

My Way Diabetes is an online service that helps support people with diabetes to improve the way they self-manage their condition, thereby improving health outcomes. It’s available at no cost to patients, those at risk, and their families and carers. For more information and to register please see: https://lsc.mydiabetes.com To gain access to all the support available, you will need to have online access to your medical records set up at the surgery. This will enable you to securely access your own up-to-date diabetes clinic results, to help you manage your condition more effectively. Please see our ‘online services’ page on our website for more information, a copy of the required application form and list of identification documents required to apply for this service. MyWay Diabetes also provide NHS accredited

COAL

OPEN SACK FUEL

Coal from £15.50 per 50kg bag Ovoids from £17.50 per 50kg bag

PREPACKED FUEL

015 PHON 24 E 32 fo 01 r coa 176

lo 5 for 24 84 r bott 969 6 led gas

Coal from £7.50 per 20kg Ovoids from £8.00 per 20kg Union Briquettes (wood coal) from £9.00 per 20kg We also supply logs in ton bags, nets of logs & kindling, ﬁregrates etc We are the main stockist in this area for Homeheat and Calor bottled gas, barbeques, patio heaters and mobile gas ﬁres for sale.

FREE DELIVERY

(minimum order: open sack 2 bags, pre-packed 5 bags)

We deliver to your area every 2 weeks and if required the driver will call to see if you need any fuel

V Catlow & Son Ltd

White Lund Industrial Estate, Morecambe LA3 3BS The company is into the 3rd generation of the Catlow family | “A Diploma Coal Merchant”

Tell them you saw it in the Garstang Focus

GARSTANG MEDICAL CENTRE (cont) eLearning courses and open-access multimedia diabetes resources covering Type 1, Type 2, Gestational Diabetes and Diabetes prevention.

condition in the long term. Blood pressure monitors can be purchased from around £15. Most pharmacies will have these in stock to buy and of course they are also easily available online from stores such as Amazon. Your local pharmacist can give you some advice about how to use the machine.

Blood Pressure Monitoring Lots of people take medication to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). It’s recommended that all adults over 40 years of age have their blood pressure tested at least every five years so any potential problems can be detected early. If you are on treatment for high blood pressure, you will be asked to undertake monitoring more often, at least annually.

Retirement Nurse Lesley Hardman retired at the end of March after 34 years of service at Garstang Medical Practice. We would like to wish her a long, happy and healthy retirement and thank her for her many years of outstanding contribution to patient care in our community. She will be missed by colleagues and patients alike.

We know that home blood pressure monitoring can provide a clearer, more accurate picture of your true blood pressure and give a better overview of how well any medications you take are controlling things, allowing you to keep a closer check on your

Appointments We continue to experience staffing difficulties due to the ongoing pandemic. We would like to apologise to all patients if your appointments

DOOR TO DOOR REPAIRS WE COME TO YOU! & REPAIR AT YOUR DOOR

Repairs carried out in our mobile workshop outside your home or workplace at a time to suit you.

MAIL-IN REPAIRS Mail your device to us and we will repair it and post it back to you.

CLICK & COLLECT

Our team will collect your device and take it to our workshop to be repaired. It will then be delivered back to your desired location.

WE DON’T JUST REPAIR APPLE PRODUCTS We ﬁx all smart devices including phones, tablets & laptops SCREEN REPAIRS • BATTERY REPLACEMENT • REAR GLASS REPAIR • CAMERA & SPEAKER • CHARGER PORTS & MORE

RAPID RESPONSE

MOBILE REPAIR UNIT SERVICE CALL 07497 558240 • WWW.ISCREENMAN.CO.UK 36

ENTER DISCOUNT CODE FOCUSMAGS FOR £5 OFF WHEN BOOKING THOUGH OUR WEBSITE

Are you using a product or service from an advertiser?

GARSTANG MEDICAL CENTRE (cont) are rescheduled at short notice. We will always do our best to accommodate you on the same day, but occasionally this is not possible. We would like to thank you for your ongoing patience and understanding. Whilst appointments are affected by staff sickness, pressure is also put on appointment availability when patients fail to attend prebooked appointments. In the past month alone there have been 154 patients who have booked an appointment but did not attend or cancel. This includes both face-to-face and telephone appointments. We respectfully request that you contact the surgery to inform us if you are unable to attend your appointment. This will free appointments up for patients who need to access our services. We would like to wish all our patients, staff and volunteers a lovely Easter. The Garstang Medical Practice Team t: 01995 607399 fb: @garstangmedicalpractice www.garstangmedicalpractice.nhs.uk

GARSTANG & DISTRICT LIONS Donations The club has agreed a donation of a sum of £550 to the national Kids Cancer Charity group to facilitate respite breaks supporting specific families. This sum represents the average cost of such much needed caravan breaks. Members were informed of a small group who are planning a cycle ride from Lands End to John-O-Groats to raise monies towards future accommodation costs for families where children are receiving intensive therapy treatments. The Club have agreed to pledge a sum of £250 to support this worthy cause which is an extension of the original ‘ Thumbs up for Charlie ‘ appeal .

Treatments

ROUTINE NAIL CUTTING CLINIC • Nails cut and ﬁled • Slight callus removal • Nail beds tidied & oiled • Dry skin removed • Professional foot cream applied

ROUTINE PODIATRY

All the above plus • Heavy callus & corn debridement • Treatment of verrucas • In-growing toenails • Fungal nails

COMPLEX PODIATRY

• Nail surgery • Minor ops • Biomechanical assessment • Ultrasound therapy • Plantar fasciitis

New to Laura Austin Podiatry MLS Laser Treatment - For treatment of pains, sprains and muscular disorders. B12 Injections - Treats pernicious anaemia, fatigue, headaches and has many other health beneﬁts. Prende Wax Treatment - Deluxe parafﬁn wax soothes arthritic pains and promotes tissue viability.

Knott End Clinic 14 Lancaster Road FY6 0AR 01253 812555 CH35517

Garstang Clinic 3 Thomas’s Court, Thomas’s Weind PR3 1LL 01995 601106 @LauraAustinPodiatry

www.lauraaustinpodiatry.com lauraaustinpodiatry@gmail.com

Tell them you saw it in the Garstang Focus

GARSTANG & DISTRICT LIONS (cont) The Garstang and District Lions decided to contribute to the local efforts to support the wider international movement for relief to Ukraine residents and have agreed to donate £500 to be spent on the items deemed to be in urgent need at the moment. In addition to this it was agreed to temporarily suspend our usual support for Fylde Women’s Aid and ask instead that at this difficult time any items such as new toiletries, nappies, dry food etc now be sent as part of the wider Ukraine appeal - with our collection point being the Resources Centre (the old Liberal Club ) on Bridge Street. Events & Activities Twenty large luxury Easter eggs decorated with the Lions logo have been distributed to many of our local public houses, cafes and other venues now giving their customers the chance to win one. Entry costs £1 each using

CH MORTGAGES CHRISTINE HOLMES

A LOCAL WHOLE OF MARKET MORTGAGE ADVISER •

MORTGAGES / REMORTGAGES

•

LIFE INSURANCE

•

CRITICAL ILLNESS COVER

•

INCOME PROTECTION

•

BUILDINGS & CONTENTS

07955 637100

cholmes@ch-mortgages.co.uk ch-mortgages.co.uk 38

the cards provided and the winner will be notified by the venue itself. Please look out for these and do take part. A large number of our members will be assisting in the tractor run which has been rearranged for Sun 3rd April (with registration at 10:00am and the race starting at 12 noon). Approval has been given to move our bonfire circle to a site slightly further away from the new build development by the High Street car park. Club members will do this work in early July and it should improve future safety and offer even better viewing of our annual spectacular display. General Our club continues to grow and if you are interested in joining then you will be made most welcome - we encourage you to attend three of our sessions before making a final decision. Further information is available on the website. You can also speak to any member about what we do or come along to our regular meetings held on the third Tuesday of the month in the Royal Oak at 8:00pm. Chris Wilkinson www.garstanglions.co.uk

THE INNER WHEEL CLUB Garstang & Over Wyre A year ago International Inner Wheel should have held its three yearly convention to amend the constitution. Jaipur in India was to be the host city. For obvious reasons this convention was moved to a very successful Zoom format, but deprived many members of the opportunity to experience first hand the rich culture of India. One of our members, Jan was beyond excited anticipating a long planned trip of a lifetime. One year on the

Are you using a product or service from an advertiser?

The Aromatherapy Room

My name is Jackie Wareing. I am an experienced, qualified, insured and registered aromatherapist and reflexologist.

At The Aromatherapy Room I welcome you to a serene, relaxing environment to nurture and restore harmony and create a greater sense of well-being. Aromatherapy incorporates essential oils and pure plant essences, combined with a massage oil or lotion specific to your skin type which is applied to your skin through gentle massage techniques. Reflexology is a specialised foot and hand massage technique that stimulates the nerve channels of the body. These channels correspond with the energy meridians found in traditional Chinese medicine. I offer bespoke holistic treatments, tailored to suit your unique needs. Both gentle therapies bring balance, harmony, and promote the health of body, mind and spirit. They support your health and wellbeing and provide relief from many stress-related conditions such as insomnia, tension headaches and muscular aches and pains. My treatments may take slightly longer than the average time for a treatment because I spend time taking a comprehensive medical history and I always adapt treatments as things change. I am also passionate in making a special effort to achieve client well-being, whether that is suggesting self-help techniques or researching latest developments*, with the objective to meet clients’ needs as much as possible. It is such a joy for me helping clients with ailments and stress reduction. By understanding my clients and their needs, and addressing issues in a holistic way, I am able to provide a wholly individualised, comprehensive and inclusive treatment that has proven to be greatly beneficial for many, and in some cases life changing. A lovely lady came to me suffering from painful plantar fasciitis and had tried many conventional treatments with limited success. So, she decided to try reflexology to which I incorporated an essential oil blend to alleviate nerve pain, reduce inflammation and promote circulation. A common symptom of plantar fasciitis is severe debilitating foot pain, which particularly affects the sole of the foot, and strikes immediately upon getting

out of bed. Following her first treatment, to her surprise, and for the first time in many years, the pain improved remarkably. Since this is a chronic ailment, the lady has returned periodically to maintain and reduce the pain, which has had a positive impact on her life. See https://youtu.be/ QPJwj_CYCiY for more details. It isn’t just about pain relief or physical issues. The client-to-therapist relationship is of great importance. So, to establish a trustworthy and confidential person-centred care, can make all the difference to the progress and outcomes. Helping my clients is a privilege and is the reason that I do what I do. If you would like to know more, or arrange a consultation get in touch. Live your best life today. Jackie Wareing Tel: 07769 834 524 (Based in Garstang) * www.reflexology.report

The Aromatherapy Room

Establishing links to your inner journey in supporting your emotional wellbeing and good health. Aromatherapy Massage Reflexology Aroma-reflexology

Jackie Wareing | 07769 834 524

I’m a registered therapist so you know I’m qualified & insured

Tell them you saw it in the Garstang Focus

THE INNER WHEEL CLUB (cont) club decided to have our own Indian evening. We had food from a local restaurant and heard a very interesting account of what might have been. We also had an insight into the intricacies of a virtual convention. An excellent evening was enjoyed and we look forward eagerly to the next convention which will be held In Manchester in 2024. A fitting choice of venue as it is the city in which Inner Wheel was founded 100 years ago. On Wed 20th April the club will be assisting Rotary in an event to raise funds for the people of Ukraine. Why not join us at Cabus Village Hall and for a small fee get some of your treasures valued by Adam Partridge and his team? There will be lots of posters around the district with all the details. Tea, coffee and home-baked scones will be for sale. Remember every penny will go towards helping the people of Ukraine. Also during April several of our members

will travel to Hunday Manor in Workington to celebrate the District 19 rally. The event will provide an opportunity to catch up with friends they haven’t seen for quite some time. Then towards the end of the month we will celebrate our 52nd Birthday. Quite an achievement. If you are new to the area or indeed if you aren’t and would like to learn more of Inner Wheel please get in touch. Mary Mason t: 07789 011 559 e: marytmason@icloud.com

ROTARY Garstang & Over Wyre Rotarians in Garstang and Over Wyre have two major events planned for April. Charity Antiques Roadshow

Bring your antiques & collectables to a charity...

ANTIQUES VALUATIONS ROADSHOW with Adam Partridge & Team

This event, supported by Inner Wheel, will be at CABUS VILLAGE HALL WEDNESDAY 20TH APRIL 12.00 NOON - 5.00PM Cost: £2 for one article, £5 for three Tea & coﬀee will be available & there will be a tombola All money raised will go to the Rotary Ukraine Disaster Fund 40

Firstly, on Wed 20th April, supported by Inner Wheel, there will be a charity antiques valuations roadshow with Adam Partridge and his team held at Cabus Village Hall between 12 noon and 5:00pm. The cost will be £2 for one article and £5 for three. All profits will go to the Rotary Great Britain and Ireland Ukraine Disaster Fund. While waiting for your valuations there will be teas and coffees and a tombola. We cannot arrange any collections for large items and owners are responsible for the safety of their items. Cabus Village Hall is on the A6, PR3 1WL. It has good parking and easy access to the hall. Please check your lofts and come along with your antiques and collectables. Launch of ‘Connections’ Booklet Secondly, on Thurs 28th April, 3:00pm at the Garstang Arts Centre (music room)

Are you using a product or service from an advertiser?

Tell them you saw it in the Garstang Focus

ROTARY (cont) we will be launching our free ‘connections’ booklet. This will have an extensive list of the clubs, societies and social organisations in the Garstang area. The listings show that if you want to try something different or just want to meet and make new friends there are organisations in Garstang just for you. Copies of the booklet will be available on the day but you may well receive one through your door in the days and weeks to come.

Garstang is a very friendly speakers club which meets in the comfortable surroundings of the Garstang Country Hotel & Golf Club on the first and third Tuesday of each month from September to May. Meetings commence at 7:15pm for 7:30pm.

Roger Mason 07789 013 259

If you would like to enjoy a convivial evening you are welcome to come along and join us as a visitor for two or three meetings to get a taste. Think about it now; our meetings will be held on Tues 5th April and Tues 19th April.

GARSTANG SPEAKERS CLUB Don’t be put off by the title. If you come and join us you won’t be put under any pressure to speak. You can just enjoy listening to others. However, I doubt you’ll be able to resist the opportunity to be heard for very long as the themes for each meeting are all subjects about which we have something to say.

Although our meetings have a formal structure they are friendly and enjoyable with speeches ranging from the serious and thought provoking to the hilarious.

Sue Hubbard t: 01995 600357 e: garstangspeakersclub@gmail.com www.garstangspeakersclub.org www.the-asc.org.uk

In 2022, Her Majesty The Queen will become the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee after 70 years of service. Get involved in celebrating Her Majesty’s historic reign, either by coming along to one of our Jubilee events in Wyre, or by hosting your own celebration! We've simplified the application process for anyone wishing to host a street party, to encourage as many people as possible to get involved! Find tips on how to host a street party and how to make an application at www.wyre.gov.uk/jubilee

CELEBRATE WITH YOUR STREET

Are you using a product or service from an advertiser?

HARMONY & HEALTH An opportunity to sing - make 2022 the year when you discover the joy and health benefits of singing with others at the following locations: Garstang: Monday afternoons from 3rd January throughout the year from 2:00pm 3:15pm at the United Reformed Church hall, Croston Road. £2.00 per session to include tea/coffee and biscuits Hambleton: Tuesday afternoons from 4th January throughout the year from 2:00pm - 3:15pm at the Village Hall, Church Lane. £2.00 per session to include tea/coffee and biscuits We are not a choir and no previous singing experience is necessary. We extend a warm welcome to all. Further details from Ann Cameron t: 07966 126999 e: ann.cameron@mac.com

NEWS FROM THE WI Claughton On Brock WI Tues 5th April Thank you to everyone who helped with last month’s meeting and for the delicious cakes as always! We are looking forward to our next meeting as it is our 102nd birthday party meal at The Crofters. After missing two years due to Covid, this meal will be a special one. Please remember to arrive in good time to enjoy a glass of wine or a soft drink before the meal begins at 7:30pm. The competition is for ‘A Pretty Necklace’. Netta Parker 01995 605385 Cabus WI Wed 6th April, 7:30pm Cabus Village Hall The speaker will be Caroline James on ‘A

Glimpse Behind the Celebratory Pinny’. The competition is ‘An Apron’. Don’t forget your cakes, cookies and candy for the trading stall. Cabus WI meets on the 1st Wednesday of the month at 7:30pm. We would love to welcome new members to our group. You can come for three meetings before joining. Margaret Swift 01995 606676 Garstang Phoenix WI Wed 13th April, 2:00pm Garstang United Reformed Church Hall Prospective new members and visitors are very welcome to join us for the afternoon. After the necessary notices are read we are always pleased to welcome our speaker for the afternoon. These cover a wide range of topics from the fairly serious to the very amusing so hopefully there is something of interest for all members. During social time refreshments are served

GEOFF CREER DRIVEWAYS

Indian Stone • Tarmac Flagging & Paving • Pointing

LANDSCAPING & MAINTENANCE

Fencing • Garden Walls Drainage • Man & Digger Hire Reasonable Rates • Call Geoff for a Free No Obligation Quote

01253 701853 / 07850 528670 geoff.creer@icloud.com www.geoffcreer.co.uk

Tell them you saw it in the Green Book

07542 400 360 360

FIRST LAWN CUT FREE! OFFER EXPIRES 1ST JUNE 2022

LAWN & HEDGE CUTTING - RIDE ON MOWER NO JOB TOO SMALL DOMESTIC & COMMERCIAL WORK HONEST, TRUSTWORTHY & RELIABLE SERVICE

EVOLUTION GARDENING TEXT OR CALL ANDY

07542 400 360 44

ra n o f o all gati c se obli a e Ple no uot e q fre

Are you using a product or service from an advertiser?

NEWS FROM THE WI (cont) and this gives everybody the opportunity to chat to friends or hopefully make new ones. Why not come along and join us for the afternoon we would be delighted to meet you. Lesley Wilson 01995 605274

night. •

Every Saturday entertainment.

evening

live

•

Every Sunday evening - Social bingo 7:30pm.

Kirkland WI Wed 13th April, 7:30pm Kirkland Memorial Hall

The club is open to all and we are available to book for family functions at great rates, spacious rooms and well stocked bar.

Kirkland WI meets at Kirkland Memorial Hall, The Avenue, Churchtown at 7:30pm on the second Wednesday of the month. New members are always welcome. See our website for more information. This month’s speaker will be Steven Parkinson from Adam Partridge Auctioneers. Bring your antiques for valuation! www.kirklandwi.co.uk

Ros Ashworth

Cherestanc WI Wed 27th April, 7:30pm St Thomas’s Parish & Community Hall Edith Rigby (Preston’s most famous Suffragette) will be the subject of our talk by Judy Beeston. We meet on the 4th Wednesday of the month (except December). We are a friendly group. Take a look at our new Facebook page to see some of our activities and outings. If you had thought about joining the WI, come along as a visitor and give us a try. If you would like someone to meet you at the door please contact Marion on 01995 600590. Linda Bark fb: Cherestanc WI

CALDER VALE COUNTRY CLUB What’s On •

Fri 1st April - Meat Bingo. Eyes down 7:30pm. Please note only one session this month.

•

Fri 22nd April - Boogie Nights with DJ Tony Greenwood. Tickets £5 or pay on the door from 7:30pm.

•

Thurs 28th April - Replugged Singers

01995 602611 / 01995 603776

GARSTANG CAMERA CLUB Hello to all our readers. We have now only two months remaining of our 2021/2022 programme. Where has the time gone? Our last competition of the session, ‘Anything Goes’, was judged on Wed March 2nd, and so we now have a list of all winners for the year. These can be found on our website,

RESOURCE RECYCLING SOLUTIONS LTD

SOIL IMPROVER / COMPOST BAGGED BULK OR LOOSE LOADS Collection or delivery available t: 01253 799910 e: weighbridge @rrs-ltd.co.uk Iron House Farm, Lancaster Rd Out Rawcliﬀe PR3 6BP

Tell them you saw it in the Green Book

GARSTANG CAMERA CLUB (cont) along with the their images. Since my last report, we were subjected to some horrendous weather with winds and incessant rain. Certainly not the best conditions to be out with your brownie! Our next meeting is on Wed 6th April when we will have a presentation(s) by Stan Pearson/Mike Jenner/Lewis Thompson (who are club members). This is followed on Wed 13th April with a presentation by Peter Smith on ‘Wildlife Sea Shore to Mountain Top’. Our last one of the month is ‘Talk to Me’ by Steve Proctor on Wed 20th Apr. Advance notice: On Sat 7th May we will explore flash photography with George Franks.

LIVE OUTSIDE OUR DELIVERY ROUTE? SUBSCRIBE & RECEIVE A COPY OF FOCUS MAGAZINE THROUGH THE POST EACH MONTH If you or someone you know would like to receive Focus Magazine but currently live outside the areas in which we deliver, sign up for our new subscription service.

1 Month - £4 3 Months - £11 6 Months - £20 12 Months - £36 For more details or to register, please contact e: cassie@focusmags.co.uk t: 01253 342992 Please note: monthly door-to-door deliveries will continue as usual & will not be aﬀected by the subscription service

Our first exhibition of 2022 opens on Sat 9th April at Garstang Arts Centre and runs until Sat 7th May. It consists of members’ prints which did not gain a 1st/2nd/3rd in this year’s competitions. When you view these you will be left champing at the bit, so to speak, to see this year’s winners at our next exhibition in September! Do take the opportunity to visit Garstang Arts Centre whilst it’s on and avail yourselves of a coffee and light refreshments. As I write this, the venues for our next events season are being chosen and, I might add, promise a varied selection which should suit everyone. I will publish the complete list of venues and dates in the next issue. Also, the harbingers of spring are becoming more and more evident, with the local A6 giving us it’s usual lovely show of daffodils. I hope this augurs well for a good summer. Maurice Barker www.garstangcameraclub.co.uk

GARSTANG TOWN COUNCIL Spring is definitely in the air. There are renewed signs of life everywhere around town with spring flowers giving a great display of colour. We are ever so fortunate to have our dedicated ‘bloomers’ volunteers tending to all the beds and planters around the town. Town Council Awards 2022 The town awards are a great opportunity to celebrate all that is great in our town and encourage others to play an active role within the local area whether this is helping others or the community as a whole. We are really passionate about rewarding individuals and groups for a wide range of reasons. Awards will be given at the annual town meeting on Thu 28th April at Booths with refreshments served afterwards. Platinum Jubilee Celebrations There are a number of events being planned

Are you using a product or service from an advertiser?

EASTER CROSSWORD (ans p59)

Across

Down

7 Bent fruit (6)

1 Without shoes (8) 2 Zone aimed for, for instance in archery or shooting (6, 4) 3 Young sheep (4) 4 Principal Christian verse of appeal to God (3, 5, 6) 5 Pacific nation (4) 6 Adapt; harmonise (6) 8 Safe place when under attack (3-4, 7) 13 Loose shirt or blouse (5) 14 Firmly; forcefully (10) 18 Apes; copies (8) 19 Shirks; escapes (6) 21 A type of fruit (4) 22 A type of cereal (4)

9 Non-believers (8) 10 Ice___, nemesis of the Titanic (4) 11 Uncooperative; unruly (10) 12 Card game (8, 6) 15 Mix; agitate (4) 16 Sand hills (5) 17 Facial feature (4) 19 Crime writer (6, 8) 20 Mandatory (10) 23 Calf meat (4) 24 Next to (8) 25 Easing; respite (6)

Tell them you saw it in the Green Book

GARSTANG TOWN COUNCIL (cont) for the platinum jubilee bank holiday weekend running from Thurs 2nd June to Sun 5th June. Our celebrations will start on Thursday afternoon when the town crier will deliver the platinum jubilee cry. Further details about locations and performers will be provided when confirmed. We would love to see a huge turnout in honour of our Queen. Great British Spring Clean The Town Council are taking part in the Great British Spring Clean in Garstang organised by the bloomers. You are all invited to come along on Wed 6th April at 10:00am High Street car park, Garstang. No need to book just come along. You will be most welcome to join us. Wear sensible footwear for the weather and bring your own protective gloves. All other equipment will be provided. Neighbourhood Plan The neighbourhood plan sets out planning

polices for a local area and is written by the local community to ensure that it gets the right type of development. It is supported in principal and financially by central government through the Localism Act 2011. It is administered by Locality, a registered company limited by guarantee. The government body responsible is the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, which makes available grants to local communities to consult, prepare, publish and promote local plans. We await the announcement by the department of funding arrangements for the year beginning this April. The grants are for general funding of £9,000 and an additional sum if a specialist consultant is required. The first step is to request for Wyre Council to agree the neighbourhood area. A neighbourhood area consistent with our parish boundary has been approved. We

JOIN FOCUS MAGAZINE ON

facebook www.facebook.com/focusmags • • • • •

Keep up-to-date with local news and events Connect with other local people Post details of your own events See oﬀers from trusted, local businesses Get in touch with us!

Are you using a product or service from an advertiser?

GARSTANG TOWN COUNCIL (cont) have informed our neighbouring parishes Cabus, Barnacre with Bonds, Kirkland and Nateby of our intentions. We will apply for grant funding as soon as the DLUHC announces the funding programme. Once funding has been agreed we will collect evidence. First, a statement of the physical characteristics of Garstang parish. We will then consult with the community before moving on to the next stage which is drafting a vision and plan. We will keep you abreast of further developments. Community Orchard Hereford Avenue – Queens Jubilee Canopy Planting After a public consultation was held by Wyre Council in November 2021 with a letter drop to neighbouring residents in February, a community orchard was planted on Wyre’s land off Derbyshire Avenue. Under the expert leadership of Wyre senior countryside ranger local volunteers (including several young children) planted around 40 apple trees, creating a great asset for the town for present and future generations. After listening to concerns from some residents the town council and Wyre Council agreed to reposition some of the trees.

ball will be going to the 150th anniversary of Garstang Children’s Festival. The mayor of Wyre will be attending. Tickets are priced at only £35 which includes a three course dinner and with the entertainment being provided by the amazing local band, the Flatlanders we are looking forward to an excellent night. Dress code will be lounge suits. Tickets are available from alec.allan@ garstangtowncouncil.gov.uk Next Meeting Our April Full Council meeting will be held on Tues 19th April at 7:30pm. If you’d like to attend the meeting, contact the town clerk. Edwina Parry - Town Clerk t: 07592 792 801 e: clerk@garstangtowncouncil.gov.uk www.garstangtowncouncil.gov.uk

SUDOKU (ans page 58) The object of sudoku puzzles is simple; fill the blank squares, using all the numbers 1–9 exactly once in each row, column, and the nine 3 × 3 subgrids. Good luck!

Keyworker Homes & Envidia Homes The paving and landscaping works are almost complete. I have been advised that as soon as the building has had final safety certification and has been commissioned some residents will be given keys for their flats. There has been no update on the number of flats sold or on the ground floor commercial units. Envidia Homes, another keyworker group company, owns the building and site management has been passed to Envidia Homes. Mayor’s Charity Spring Ball The mayor will be hosting a charity spring ball at Garstang Golf Club and Country House Hotel on Sat 9th April. There are still tickets available but be quick! All proceeds from the

4 2

4 3

6 9

Tell them you saw it in the Green Book

UKRAINE HUMANITARIAN APPEAL DONATE NOW.

TEXT ‘SUPPORT’ TO 70150 TO GIVE £10* CALL 0370 60 60 900 OR VISIT DEC.ORG.UK Lines open 24 hours every day. *Texts costs £10 and the whole £10 goes to the DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal plus your standard network charge. You must have bill payer’s permission. Any donations received after 31st August 2022 could go to our emergency fund. Customer Service number 01204 770 822. Reg Charity No. 1062638.

Are you using a product or service from an advertiser?

WYRE FLOOD FORUM The Flood Forum - comprising officers of Wyre Council, Lancashire County Council and those agencies who support us including the Environment Agency, United Utilities, Natural England, Wyre River’s Trust together with over a dozen parish and town councils and individual members of the public gathered in the Civic Centre or remotely on St Patrick’s Day to report local issues and give thanks for good work when it was due. There are more than sixty issues on the formal Log which records and tracks what is going on in the Borough and believe me the number of issues is increasing due, in part, to the unpredictable weather. The technical officers meet a week or so before the Forum as the aptly named Making Space for Water Group and work through a list of incidents brought to their attention by Flag Action Groups and at the Forum we use the minutes of this Group of experts as our agenda. Our meeting starts at 1:00pm and generally runs through beyond 4:00pm. We were joined by a senior officer from the planning department, Len Harris, who gave us a thorough review of his responsibilities including the reappraisal of housing numbers and how dealing with flooding is a big issue in his world. Development is a huge issue with residents and flooding is often a direct result. We were also joined by a group of three landowners from West Lancashire who having heard of our forum wanted to know more about it. In a discussion after our formal business forum members confirmed in strong terms how much they valued being able to bring issues to the officers responsible for dealing with them and how a non-political forum could get things done. It would be a feather in Wyre’s cap if other councils adopted our format. We were concerned to learn from the Environment Agency that Garstang flood basin was again in the wars. As readers will

know the East Gate has only recently been repaired and re-hung after a lengthy refit but during monthly checks was discovered that the gate was scraping against the central concrete wall which seemed to indicate a problem with a hinge or play in the bearings necessitating the installation of the stop logs already on site and de-watering the chamber to allow a thorough inspection. The West Gate is fully operational and should there be a need to operate the basin in the interim the officers are confident that it will be up to the task. It is disappointing but information on progress will be published as and when. LCC confirmed that resurfacing work on Lancaster Road would be done over the Easter holiday. County Councillor Matthew Salter and the Highways officer had called on residents to explain what was happening. Churchtown It was reported that the FLAG had conveyed their thanks to officers regarding inspection works to identify and thereafter clean drainage at The Avenue and in Green Wood and also for the proposal for further work in the good weather when the watercourse level had fallen. Trees had been seen in the river below Kirkland Bridge and reported. A significant number of blocked gullies had been identified and the Highways officer agreed to include them in his programme. He also reminded members that the LCC website should be used for reporting. A leak was reported in the Ainspool embankment 140 meters downstream of Ainspool Bridge. The Environment Agency will investigate and it was noted that the position is close to the sand lenses location. The large Flap valve 10m downstream of Ainspool Bridge has worked loose. Churchtown Flag took the matter into their

Tell them you saw it in the Green Book

WYRE FLOOD FORUM (cont) own hands and replaced it but asked if LCC could check to see that it is secure. During a periodic check a FLAG member noticed twin peaks in the river Telemetry from Six Arches Caravan Park to St Michaels and wondered if new control system had been installed. Officers were unaware of changes and agreed that the calibration of the gauges would be checked. The FLAG reported no nuisance flooding in the previous quarter even during the high levels of Wed 9th Feb. Four significant findings were recorded as a result of joint investigations of Wyre, LCC and EA but that jetting has been delayed due to high levels. A full technical report compiled by Roger Weatherell on activities in Churchtown can be obtained on request. St Michael’s on Wyre The village suffered inundation of homes

twice in December. Meetings had taken place and investigations undertaken by LCC Highways, UU and Flag members regarding drainage in the village centre. Temporary pumping facilities provided by LCC have proved of benefit in reducing surface water at the junction of the A586 and Rawcliffe Road corner and a local farmer has exposed a clough from a private drain on the river bank to the North of the Bridge which was blocked. They are awaiting the findings of UUs investigations on the drainage system. During December the sewage pipe leading from St Michaels Pumping Station to the Garstang Waste Water Treatment Works had fractured for the twelfth time and although UU attended promptly to clean up and repair the fault residents were severely inconvenienced. The FLAG has contacted their MP, The Rt Hon Ben Wallace to ask him to meet senior executives of United Utilities and request

GREY MATTER TEST (ans page 59) 1.

In which country is the city of Medellin?

What was the codename for the 1941 German plan to invade the Soviet Union?

Which Greek island is the remnant of an ancient eruption of a super volcano?

What title was given to King Edward VIII on his abdication in 1936?

What runs from Edale in Derbyshire to Kirk Yetholm in the Borders?

What does a barometer measure?

Who has recently been dubbed with the nickname ‘Carrie Antoinette’?

On what lake’s shore is the city of Chicago situated?

Who is the current Chancellor of the Exchequer?

10. Which country is the setting for the TV series ‘The Good Karma Hospital’? 11. Who directed the film ‘Psycho’?

12. In which city would you find the Hermitage museum? 13. What was the Emperor Nero reputed to be doing as Rome burned? 14. How was the Romanian Ceausescu executed in 1989?

dictator

15. Which pier gave its name to a novel by George Orwell? 16. What important mineral has recently been discovered in large quantities in Cornwall? 17. What annual event is the Cumbrian town of Appleby noted for? 18. On what date does the grouse season legally start? 19. Which Order is the highest Order of Chivalry in Britain? 20. What name is given to a bump in the road placed there to slow down traffic?

Are you using a product or service from an advertiser?

WYRE FLOOD FORUM (cont) them to deal with the problem without delay. The FLAG thanked EA for resolving the situation of the river bank at Wild Boar Farm as promised. Garstang FLAG LCC Highway Officers are consulting drainage maps to locate the pipe work which drains the junction of Lancaster Road and High street, Garstang. The original suspect turns out to be Not Guilty but the hunt is on. Contact details of the landowner have been passed on to officers hoping to solve the mystery of the deep and lengthy stretch of water that always appears on Longmoor Lane following heavy rain. The officers are convinced that it is a private, Riparian, matter but only a digging spade will find the answer. Although not in Garstang Parish, Roe Bridge on the River Brock just out of St Michaels was the only instrument recording an above normal level on the EA’s flooding web map for Wyre. When mentioned at the Forum someone announced that it always was! Officers went away promising to check their instruments.

LCC have one of their pumps permanently deployed in St Michaels and suggested that a working group should be deployed to operate it. At this point, Paul Long mentioned that John and Pamela Nickols , long time stalwarts of the FLAG had moved out of the village and would be sorely missed. Replacements need to be sought. United Utilities: Flowmeters are being installed in throughout the foul network to determine where the main issues are. The supply- demand investigation for Great Eccleston and St Michaels is ongoing. Finally, David Walmsley a Wyre District councillor who reports to the forum on his weather records told the March meeting that a week or so after the earthquake that occurred on the other side of the world in Tonga registered on his home graph! Roger Brooks - Garstang Town Council

CREATIVE PRINT & DESIGN FREE DESIGN

Matters Raised by Agencies Wyre: Although storms Dudley, Eunice and Franklin had come and gone, Wyre had escaped lightly. The Council had been wellprepared with equipment and officers in a state of readiness. The Met Office warnings were crucial in getting prepared. Environment Agency: It was reported that the river bank repairs at Wild Boar were complete and work to White’s Brook and Stockenbridge were due to start and be completed by the end of March. On being questioned on the impact of flooding EA said they would not have a significant effect and ways of holding water back upstream were being considered. LCC Highways: They had completed work in Hambleton to reduce flooding on Kiln Lane, Carr Lane and Paul’s Lane. It was noted that

on all print orders over £200

Established in 1927, Moulton Printing is a local family business providing design & print services. From brochures and business cards to magazines and poster printing, we love what we do and hope that the passion and creativity we pour into our work is evident on every page that leaves our print works.

Moulton Printing

Leaflets Brochures Business Cards Letterheads Posters Magazines Booklets Folders

01253 342992

info@moultonprinting.com

www.moultonprinting.com /moulton.printing

@moultonprinting

Tell them you saw it in the Green Book

/moulton-printing

GREATER GARSTANG

BEN WALLACE MP

Regeneration Framework

Firstly, I would like to thank all constituents who have taken time to write to me concerning the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. Many are outraged and saddened to see what is unfolding on our TV screens every night. The suffering is heart breaking and still the resolve of the Ukrainian people is amazing. I know many groups and individuals throughout the constituency and country are helping in their own way from donating to fundraising and organising aid. I am proud of how we as a country are supporting Ukraine. It always amazes me how we come together during adversity. This week the government announced the UK-wide sponsorship scheme, ‘Homes for Ukraine’. This scheme will allow people seeking sanctuary with no family ties to the UK to be sponsored by individuals or organisations who can offer them a home, such as a spare room or unoccupied residential self-contained unit. Further details on the scheme can be found at: www.gov.uk/ homes-for-ukraine

I mentioned in my last update that the draft regeneration framework was accepted at the February meeting of the board and that individual theme leads were busy fine-tuning the interventions listed under their respective themes to make sure they are clear and that everything is covered. Wyre Council’s senior managers have also had a look at the draft document and have made a number of additional suggestions on the draft framework. These are still being discussed with the consultants and the time frame for the publication of the draft document being published for public comment has therefore been put back to early April. Once again, I would urge you to keep a look out for further details and timings on local social media channels and the Greater Garstang Partnership Board’s own website. Once we have completed the public comment phase, the final regeneration framework (with any amendments deemed necessary) will be formally adopted and published by the board. This document will give us the basis for working up detailed project plans and funding bids in the months and years ahead. Broadband for the Rural North In addition to discussing the draft regeneration framework the board received a very interesting presentation from B4RN (Broadband for the Rural North) with which some of you are undoubtedly familiar and an update from Wyre Council on the Levelling Up grant and UK Shared Prosperity Fund. We will be looking in detail at these funding streams as more information on the next rounds of applications becomes available. Jan Finch - Chair www.greatergarstangpartnership.co.uk fb: TheGreaterGarstangPartnershipBoard twitter: @greatergarstang

I know many are concerned about rising energy bills. As a result the government has announced a package of support worth £9.1 billion in 2022-23. This includes a £200 discount on their energy bill this autumn for domestic electricity customers in Great Britain. This will be paid back automatically over the next five years. There is also a £150 non-repayable council tax rebate payment for all households that are liable for council tax in bands A-D in England. In addition, there is £144 million of discretionary funding for local authorities to help households who need support but are not eligible for the council tax rebate. Why is the government providing support? The government recognises many households will need support to deal with

Are you using a product or service from an advertiser?

BEN WALLACE MP (cont) the rising energy costs, which are being affected by global factors. From Fri 1st April, the energy price cap will rise from £1,277 to £1,971 – an almost £700 increase in energy bills for the average household. Wholesale gas prices have quadrupled in the last year. Because gas is used for electricity generation this pushes up retail electricity bills as well as retail gas bills. A full explanation of how the government is helping with the cost of living is available at https://bit.ly/energy-support or by scanning this QR code. Keep in Touch While, of course, at the moment my mailbag is dominated by world events, I always keep a close eye on local issues from the state of the roads to flooding and from supporting local businesses to improving transport links. Please keep your letters coming and remember I’m here to help. It is so important for me to know what constituents think about local, national and international issues. The most effective way to contact me is by email with a description of the issues you wish to raise, along with your contact details and home address. You can also ring my office or write to me at the House of Commons.

campaign conducted by myself, Labour councillors, our public health lead Dr Mark Spencer and an amazing group of women in Fleetwood, we have persuaded the NHS to return the mobile breast screening unit to Fleetwood - which makes it easier for women living in Over Wyre to access the service. At present it’s going to be in the town for just five weeks – so we need to make sure as many women take up the opportunity for breast screening as soon as they are invited to do so by their GP. Just 60 percent of women are taking up their screening invitation and almost one million fewer women in England were screened for breast cancer in 2020/2021. Screening saves lives – its imperative you make an appointment – it’s mildly uncomfortable but takes just a few minutes to complete, so please, if you’ve received an invite, book now, and if you’re the loved one of someone who’s had an invite –

Ben Wallace MP t: 0207 219 5804 e: wallaceb@parliament.uk a: House of Commons SW1A 0AA

CAT SMITH MP At the time of writing, the sun is streaming through my office window and it definitely feels like spring has arrived! Mobile Breast Screening You may have heard that, following a high-profile

Tell them you saw it in the Green Book

CAT SMITH MP (cont) encourage them to make their appointment today. Ukraine Crisis I popped into Carters Charity Primary School in Preesall to drop off some donations the school was collecting for Ukrainian refugees – toiletries, medicines and sanitary products. There was a huge response from parents to the appeal and the children dressed in the colours of the Ukrainian flag for the day. Thank you to everyone for doing what they can to help the Ukrainians at this awful time. Vladimir Putin’s attack on Ukraine is an

ARE YOU STRUGGLING TO RECRUIT? WHY NOT PLACE A RECRUITMENT ADVERT IN FOCUS MAGAZINE? Delivered to over 10,000 homes in Garstang & Over Wyre. Advertising space available from as little as £1 a day. Cheaper than a recruitment agency or job boards.

helen@focusmags.co.uk 01253 813433 www.focusmags.co.uk 56

unjustified, unprovoked outrage. We stand united with the government and our NATO and European allies in condemnation of this heinous violation of international law. The hardest possible sanctions must be levelled against all those linked to Putin and against the Russian government’s interests, so the regime faces the severest possible consequences for its actions. We believe we can and must go further, and faster, cutting Russia out of the Western financial system and tackling the wider challenge of illicit finance. An attack on Ukraine is an attack on democracy. All those who believe in the triumph of democracy over dictatorship, good over evil, freedom over tyranny must now support the Ukrainian people. Britain has a long tradition of standing up to dictators and tyrants. Our country believes in the rule of law, in freedom, in democracy and we must stand in solidarity with Ukrainians now. There can be no space for equivocation when faced with the evil that Putin has unleashed. His actions pose a grave threat to the international order on which we all depend. Local Matters Back to more local matters and I really enjoy visiting local businesses – we have some great entrepreneurial flair in Over Wyre. I was ridiculously excited to get the opportunity of driving a tractor when I visited Siromer Tractors in Pilling. The family run firm has been importing tractors from China since 1999 and have sold over 4000 in the UK – this means you’re never less than 10 miles from a Siromer Tractor anywhere in England, Scotland and Wales! Such is their popularity that Emmerdale actor-turned-farmer Kelvin Fletcher recently bought a Siromer and even built it himself as part of a flatpack package! The company is also acting as a drop off point for the Ukraine Emergency Appeal. They’re hoping for donations of food, medical

Are you using a product or service from an advertiser?

CAT SMITH MP (cont)

SOROPTIMISTS

supplies and toiletries. More details: www. siromerblog.com/post/ukraine-appeal

Women Inspiring Action, Transforming Lives

I also had a lovely visit to Wallings who as you all know produce the most amazing ice cream!

March was a bit of an ‘upside down’ month – we swapped our two meetings around so the first one saw a visit from two very experienced Soroptimists from our Region to talk about the wider Soroptimist picture. It was certainly enlightening and thought provoking. For the second meeting we had the usual business session including lots more planning for the year ahead.

The farm was purchased by great grandfather Tom Walling back in 1948 when farming and the countryside was a thriving place to live and work – and then things changed. Many farms have had to diversify to survive and Wallings is no exception. There is still a working farm which provides the ice cream production with its major raw material, fresh milk, ensuring a true ‘cow to cone’ experience. The farm also provides the animals; calves, sheep, hens and alpacas which are enjoyed by many of the visitors. As always I left with some work to do on behalf of the company – but at least it gives me an excuse to return again sometime soon! I hope you all have a lovely Easter break. If you are buying chocolate as a gift please consider purchasing Fair Trade. Here in the UK we consume an estimated 660,900 tonnes of chocolate a year. This averages out at around 11kg per person per year, or around 3 chocolate bars a week! Chocolate is one of the world’s favourite treats, but growing it requires very specific environmental conditions. Behind every chocolate bar there are 6 million growers, farmers, and cocoa processors across Africa, Asia, and Latin America who depend on growing cocoa for their livelihoods. Buying Fair Trade means they earn a living wage – meaning we’re all winners!

International Women’s Day WOW Women On International Women’s Day we released the first batch of 10 profiles in our WOW Women campaign on Facebook. The video containing the profiles highlights a diverse group of local women who are involved in business, science, technology, engineering or maths, or are pioneers in their field. If you haven’t already seen the video, please do take

If you’d like me to visit your business, you have issues you’d like me to raise on your behalf or you have an event you’d like me to attend then please drop me a line. I look forward to hearing from you! Cat Smith MP t: 01253 490440 e: cat.smith.mp@parliament.uk

Tell them you saw it in the Green Book

SOROPTIMISTS (cont) a look on our Facebook page to discover the successful women we have in our community and hopefully the younger female readers will feel inspired to follow their dreams. These profiles represent women who have been/are successful in a male dominated world and there’s nothing stopping the next generation being equally or even more ambitious.

as a reminder, can you leave an approximate margin of about 1cm around the stamps. This will ensure the perforations of the stamp aren’t damaged but will leave sufficient paper for the collector to hold and utilise. And again, a huge thanks to these collection points for helping us with this project – a true community effort.

Are you or do you know a woman who meets the criteria for these profiles and you feel should be included and celebrated in the next video? Contact us and let us know. We’re always happy to talk.

Making Plans

Tree Planting After a long time in the planning, we finally reached the date to plant our 100 trees to celebrate 100 years of Soroptimism and to make a very small contribution to our climate change priorities. The sun shone, the spades were busy and we ended up planting over 180 tree whips with help from the mayor of Garstang, Cllr. Alec Allan and some younger members. A big thank you goes out to Ryan Arrell, Janice, Alison and Graeme from Wyre Borough Council and to the Woodland Trust for donating the trees. Job well done! Stamps Update As outlined last month, we decided that this project could continue to run after the initial haul of over 6lb (about 3kgs) was collected. We received an even bigger boost to the collection when we were handed two large bags full of stamps at the beginning of March. We weighed the bags and estimate that there is over 7.5kg for the two bags combined (16.5lbs). Perhaps we should have done a ‘guess the weight’ competition. Thank you to everyone who has been collecting, and please do keep the collections going. Our boxes are still in place at the Garstang Information Centre, the Market Hall, Garstang Art Centre and Best Wishes card shop. Just

Going back to the start of this report, as soon as our projects for the next club year have been finalised, we will give you the full run down and hopefully encourage you to join in helping or even join us in our efforts as a full member. There’s always something for everyone when you join the Soroptimists What Next? The next meeting is Wed 13th April, 6:30pm at Garstang Golf Club. Until next month, take care and enjoy friendship. t: 01995 606604 (Muriel Burnham-Airey) facebook: SoroptimistsGarstang twitter: GarstangSoropt www.sigarstang.org.uk

SUDOKU ANSWERS 8

Are you using a product or service from an advertiser?

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

Down

7 Banana 9 Atheists 10 Berg 11 Rebellious 12 Contract bridge 15 Stir 16 Dunes 17 Chin 19 Agatha Christie 20 Compulsory 23 Veal 24 Adjacent 25 Relief

1 Barefoot 2 Target area 3 Lamb 4 The Lord’s Prayer 5 Fiji 6 Attune 8 Air-raid shelter 13 Tunic 14 Decisively 18 Imitates 19 Avoids 21 Pear 22 Oats

Colombia Barbarossa Santorini Duke of Windsor Pennine Way Air Pressure Carrie Johnson Lake Michigan Rishi Sunak India Alfred Hitchcock St Petersburg Playing a fiddle He was shot Wigan Pier Lithium Horse Fair 12th October Order of the Garter A sleeping policeman

We’d like to wish our readers, advertisers & contributors a very happy Easter.

Tell them you saw it in the Green Book