Inside Poynton Issue 62

Issue 62 April - May 2016

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The local magazine our readers love to keep One of six magazines delivered to over 45,000 homes

Welcome to the latest issue of magazines

inside

Issue 62 - April - May 2016

p o y n t o n

This page is always the last piece in our jigsaw, invariably written on the day we go to press. We have carried out all those final checks and are now hoping we’ve done everything possible to create another interesting magazine. But, as always, it’s you - our readers and our advertisers - who will decide!

At least, we can conclude from the numerous replies to our 2016 reader survey that you are generally delighted with our efforts and that thousands of readers do love and use this magazine. We are told this constantly, but it’s good to have it in writing. Thank you for your feedback.

This is just what we and our advertisers needed.

Cover photo: Poynton Station in Spring – thanks to Chris Halsall and Glyn Derbyshire.

Contents Poynton People

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Local Plan for Poynton

6

Copper Lounge

9

Jake’s Perspective In Touch

10 13 & 46

Crossword 16 Bluebell Walk at Rode Hall

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NGS Springtime in the Garden

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This April/May issue wears the unmistakable clothing of spring. Poynton today is a colourful village, imbued with a new-found optimism and pride, as our cover clearly demonstrates. But let’s not be complacent about the future. Read pages 6 and 7 and if you wish to comment on the Local Plan, be sure to let Cheshire East Council know your views before the April 19th deadline.

The Book Group Recommends 28

Have a lovely spring.

Sudoku 31 The Walk

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Discover Cuba

39

Just 4 Kids

43

Children’s Activities

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events in selected & May A guide to during April Cheshire

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Co-Editors Garth Aspinall Claire Hawker

Inside Guide

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Puzzle Solutions

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Useful Numbers

61

Classified Index

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© Copyright Inside Magazines Ltd 2016.

Material from this magazine may not be reproduced without prior written permission from Inside Magazines Ltd.

Design and artwork by Spring Creative www.spring-creative.co.uk | 01925 714203

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Inside Poynton is produced by Inside Magazines Ltd. We cannot be held responsible for views expressed by contributors or any advert content, including errors or omissions, or endorse companies, products or services that appear in this magazine. We endeavour to ensure that all local information given in this magazine is accurate, but we cannot always guarantee this.

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Poynton People Making a Difference Dr Val Hindmarsh - Reading Recovery National Leader Val has lived in Poynton for several years but is based at UCL Institute of Education in London.

She travels widely throughout the country especially in the North. ‘I was born a Glasgow girl,’ she says, ‘and went on to study History at Edinburgh University. At that time, I had no sense of vocation, no passion for education or lifelong learning. I went into teaching because in those days it meant free weekends for socialising!’

Later Val married Paul and they had two children.

She worked as a supply teacher in Stockport in the 1980s and tutored struggling readers in primary schools. ‘I remember a Y5 boy with a Statement (of Special Educational Need),’ she says. ‘He came to me for individual teaching after four to five years in school and no one had succeeded in teaching him to read. This was a real challenge. What was the most effective way of teaching reading, writing and spelling? What could I do? There were lots of ideas about causes but little understanding then of how to help children like him.’

Val became increasingly interested in teaching such children and began to look into research about effective methods. After some fruitful years with the Learning Support Service in Stockport she joined the National Reading Recovery Team (now the International Literacy Centre).

Reading Recovery is a systematic approach to teaching reading developed by Dr Marie Clay in New Zealand. As an Educational Psychologist Marie Clay studied 100 children and observed how they actually learned to read. She developed

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by Jenny Cooke

the daily Reading Recovery lessons, tailored to each child’s needs. This short intervention is now used with Y1 children who are the lowest attaining readers in their class. It has a well-researched and proven track record of bringing 85% of such children up to their class’s average attainment.

‘I remember teaching a bright boy, John, who loved story books. His parents were very anxious, especially his father who had memories of struggling to read at school himself. John began to read daily and became more relaxed.’ Val chose interesting books at the right level for him and he blossomed. These Reading Recovery methods visibly lifted the burden from the whole family.

During those London years Val’s calling to teach, and also to work with teachers, grew.

Her doctoral work researched the impact of professional development on teachers’ thinking about teaching literacy. Out of concern for Y7 and Y8 students who are nowhere near national expectations in reading and writing, Val and a colleague have devised a new programme called GROW@KS3 Literacy.

Why is all this important? 5% to 6% of youngsters leave school without the skills necessary for everyday life. This has an influence on employment opportunities and low selfesteem affects friendships, relationships, marriages and contributes to depression.

‘It took me until my middle years to understand that this was the job God had given me to do in the world. But I’ve loved it,’ says Val. As Kofi Annan said, “Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope. It is a tool for daily life in modern society.”

Both Reading Recovery and GROW@KS3 Literacy are available in Cheshire East. See www.ilc.ioe.ac.uk for further information.

Plans for Poynton Last chance to have your say There are many proposals that directly affect Poynton in the Cheshire East Local Plan, but Cheshire East hasn’t negotiated directly with the Town Council and local councillors or held a Public Exhibition. The consultation ends on 19 April, so to give everyone the chance to review the proposals and comment, Poynton Town Council has organised its own exhibition to keep local residents properly informed.

Please respond and let Cheshire East know YOUR views on the Local Plan. The exhibition is in Poynton Civic Hall, and is open every day except Sundays and Bank Holidays. It will continue until the public consultation ends on 19 April 2016.

Information about how to comment is given below, together with an outline of the proposals.

All the Local Plan documents are available on the Cheshire East website: www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/planning/spatial_ planning/cheshire_east_local_plan/cheshire_ east_local_plan.aspx

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Online Comments You can view the Local Plan Strategy - Proposed Changes and submit comments online using the Local Plan Consultation Portal: www.cheshireeast-consult.limehouse.co.uk/ portal/planning/cs/lpspcv Written Comments A copy of the draft Local Plan is also available in Poynton Library, Macclesfield Town Hall and the Cheshire East HQ at Westfields in Sandbach.

Paper reply forms will be available at Poynton Civic Hall and in the Library.

For further information, please contact Cheshire East: Email: localplan@cheshireeast.gov.uk Telephone: 01270 685893 Address: Spatial Planning Team, Westfields, C/O Municipal Buildings, Earle Street, Crewe, CW1 2BJ

Summary of the Local Plan As set out in their draft Local Plan, Cheshire East Council wants Poynton (and many other towns and villages) to undergo major new development up to 2030 and beyond. In Poynton, Cheshire East now calls for building 650 new houses, many of which will be in the Green Belt. There will also be 10 hectares of new employment sites.

As Poynton currently has about 6,200 houses and flats, Cheshire East is planning a 10.5 per cent increase. They claim not to have calculated the resulting changes in the population of the village.

Cheshire East proposes building in five areas of the Green Belt: ■■ Land off Hazelbadge Road: Cheshire East proposes building 150 houses on land near Lower Park School.

■■ Land off Dickens Lane: This site is near Hunts Vets, opposite the playing fields - Cheshire East wants another 150 houses on this site.

■■ Land off Chester Road: A further 150 houses on land west of the Birds Estate, close to the border with Adlington.

■■ Land by Adlington Industrial Estate: 10 hectares of land, from several small sites, to build offices or factories. This site is actually in northern Adlington.

■■ Former Woodford Aerodrome: Cheshire East want to take the former runway and nearby land out of the Green Belt and “safeguard” it for future development. It could take a further 540 houses at that time, but would not be built on until after 2030.

Cheshire East suggest that more houses would be built on smaller sites, possibly including the Sports Club, to give a total of 650 new houses by 2030.

Poynton Town Council has a number of serious concerns about Cheshire East’s revised Local Plan. Our concerns include:

Local Traffic: The Local Plan ignores the impact of extra traffic on Hazelbadge Road, Dickens Lane or Chester Road. All these roads are already badly congested and dangerous for pedestrians.

Traffic on Major Roads: Cheshire East claim more houses are needed for local economic growth, but it is inevitable that many people moving into Poynton will work in Stockport or Manchester. Anyone who commutes up the A6 or A34 (Kingsway) will know that these roads are already full. How could they possibly take the extra traffic generated by thousands of new houses in Poynton, Woodford, Wilmslow and Macclesfield? Greater Manchester has the worst traffic jams outside London.

Pollution: There is increasing evidence that more traffic will increase air pollution.

Infrastructure: The revised Local Plan gives little information about the extra infrastructure required as a result of large scale development.

This will lead to more traffic on local roads and car parks, and increased flows in sewers and water courses. The Local Plan does not say how extra pressure on our schools, medical services and environment will be dealt with.

No new parks or public recreation areas are mentioned.

Brownfield Land: Government policy is that previously developed “brownfield” land should always be used in preference to the Green Belt. However, Cheshire East has ignored the numerous empty factories and units on Poynton Industrial Estate. We believe that these sites should be redeveloped before any Green Belt land is built on.

The Town Council accepts that some development is necessary, and supports the target in the original draft Local Plan of 200 houses and 3 hectares of employment sites.

Wherever possible, new building should use previously developed land. The impact on infrastructure, increased traffic and local services must be addressed before any development is allowed.

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Copper Lounge – An Authentic Experience of India Visit Copper Lounge where three enthusiastic individuals from Mumbai, Goa and Delhi will take you on a culinary journey of India, bringing you amazing flavours from the streets of Mumbai, clay oven cooking from Delhi and fresh sea food from Goa. Copper Lounge delivers an authentic dining experience, serving real Indian food in great style. That was certainly our experience.

No wonder Trip Advisor ranks Copper Lounge no.2 out of 408 restaurants in the Stockport area.

A cue to book your table early!

At Copper Lounge there is a strong focus on customer service, quality of food and presentation. In fact, a wonderfully imaginative and exotic concept has been created with copper at its heart. Copper dishes, copper glasses, copper plates, copper cutlery and a copper décor add up to a truly unique and enjoyable experience.

Flavours, specially bought in by Copper Lounge, mean that you taste real Indian ‘home food’ of the kind that you won’t find elsewhere around Stockport or Manchester. As Sony explained ‘We use whole spice in our dishes. This gives amazing depth and flavour to the food. Our customers love it.’

For Sunday lunch Copper Lounge serves authentic Indian thali - a very important

development in the evolution of traditional Indian food. The word “Thali” refers to the way meals are eaten in India, where a selection of healthy, delicious and nutritious dishes are served together with accompanying bowls known as Katoris. More importantly, the items in the thali are carefully organized, so that digestion is optimized and one receives the right combination of nutrients.

Copper Lounge recently celebrated its first year anniversary and wants to thank customers for their support. ‘We are really proud to look back at the last year and see what has been accomplished. We have worked hard to maintain our commitment to the product and are so grateful to customers for their support and particularly for their appreciation of our efforts to deliver a truly authentic taste of India. We look forward to welcoming you to Copper Lounge.’

Opening hours: Monday Closed Tuesday to Thursday 5.30pm to 10pm Friday and Saturday 5pm to 11pm Sunday Lunch 1pm to 4pm Dinner 5pm to 9pm 2-3 Dorchester Parade, Hazel Grove, Stockport SK7 5HA. Tel: 0161 425 3070 Email: customercare@copperlounge.co.uk www.copperlounge.co.uk

by Garth Aspinall

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Jake’s Perspective Hey gang it is me again. Sad news since we last met, David Bowie and Lemmy (lead singer of Motorhead) have both passed away. David Bowie’s new album Blackstar got the award of album of the month at Poynton High School (PHS). Dollar Days is my favourite because he was writing the song as if he were dying and even without the singing the words on the page scream emotion. Listening to it makes me feel sad as I have grown up around his music and it is hard to think that there will be no more.

Screaming Sound Control So, the music goes on and my big gig had come around. We played three songs in our set: Out Of The Black (Royal Blood), Get Better (Frank Turner) and Centuries (Fall Out Boy). The room was full and there was that aroma of warm beer in a plastic cup. The nerves were really kicking in in the two- hour build up to the performance.

And as if to add to the pressure, about two mins until we were on my year 6 teacher from my old primary school came (thanks Mr Smythe - when we sell out at Wembley I’ll put you and your +1 on the VIP list). In the end all of the nerves turned to adrenaline and we killed the performance!

Invacuation?

At PHS currently we have this thing called an ‘invacuation’ which means instead of evacuating because of a fire or something we have to go inside because of a flash flood or attack of some sort. However, me and my mate Funny Phil, who has a vivid imagination, were imagining what would happen if there was a fire at the same time as a flash flood when we were meant to be doing algebra. We came to the conclusion that we would rather face the flood and fire than be holed up in a room with Sly Steve and Sassy Sally. All you Sassy Sallies you know who you are!

Apologies Mr Waugh (head teacher at PHS) if there has been an increase in detentions in y7; I may be partly responsible. The thing is loads of people want a mention in this article but I told

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by Jake Crossley

them that they had to do something naughty, funny or memorable. I have a funny feeling most of them are going the first route.

Dress to impress in… CONGLETON! A group of us have being taking part in an upcycling project which involves making cool things out of recycled rubbish. Well, we were invited to the Cheshire East Up-cycling Design Competition Awards at the Congleton Grand Hall. PHS won the best product design for our recycled Christmas decorations! Got a certificate and a trophy but to be honest the best reward of all was pizza and chips on the mini bus on the way back.

Speaking of recycling, my dad’s Valentine card from my mum looked vaguely familiar – we were sure we had seen it before. Well, she is from Yorkshire you know and sometimes I think that she takes this whole recycling thing too far (soz mum just wanted to go public on this one).

Hint hint - anyone who wants a mention in my next article, you know what to do!

In Touch Your Community Noticeboard SONGS AND SWEET AIRS St George’s Singers next concert will be held on St George’s Day, 23 April and they have chosen their ‘home’ church of St George’s in Poynton as the venue. To mark the anniversary of Shakespeare’s death on that day in 1616, they will present a delightful concert of music inspired by the Bard, including settings of his sonnets and songs as well as music from the Elizabethan court that Shakespeare himself may have heard.

The music ranges in style, from 16th Century madrigals to the 20th century classical music of Vaughan Williams and John Rutter, and to the foot tapping jazz rhythms of Ward Swingle and George Shearing. There are also songs from three contemporary composers, Emma Lou Diemer, Nils Lindberg and Jaakko Mäntyjärvi, who may be less familiar to the audience but are certainly well worth getting to know.

The Singers will be joined by soprano Ella Taylor and lutenist James Akers. Ella, daughter of our Musical Director Neil Taylor, was crowned the BBC’s Chorister of the Year in 2010 and gave a memorable performance in Mozart’s Coronation Mass at the Singing day in 2015.

venues so tickets will be more limited and early booking is advisable to avoid disappointment.

For more details and to book tickets please contact the ticket secretary on the Ticket Hotline 01663 764012 or online at www.st-georges-singers.org.uk

PLANT HUNTERS FAIR Why not give your garden a treat and fill those gaps in your beds and borders with some new, unusual and beautiful plants? Sunday 8 May sees the popular Plant Hunters’ Fair return to Adlington Hall with a wide choice of quality, nursery-grown plants. This brilliant plant fair featuring some of the country’s most highly respected nurseries and growers has become a firm favourite with garden lovers.

For this special event Adlington Hall offers half price entry to the gardens and plant fair of just £3. With so much to see, why not take one of the free guided tours of the gardens with the Head Gardener Anthony O’Grady or simply relax, take in the beautiful gardens and enjoy traditional teas and homemade cakes. The fair opens at 10.30am and closes at 4pm.

For further information, please see www.planthuntersfairs.co.uk

The title of the concert is taken from a quote from The Tempest: “Be not afeard: the isle is full of noises, sounds and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not” which perfectly describes the experience offered to the audience at this performance.

Tickets are £12, £10 concession, £2 students/ children, (special rates for group bookings can also be arranged). St George’s Poynton is a smaller, more intimate setting than some concert

Continued over...

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in touch

POYNTON G & S SPRING CONCERT Poynton Gilbert & Sullivan Society will be staging their annual Spring Concert at the Poynton Royal British Legion on George’s Road West, on Friday and Saturday 22 and 23 April. This year’s concert is called ‘’South Sea Island Discs’’ and will feature a medley of songs from the musical ‘’South Pacific’’, such as Some Enchanted Evening and There Is Nothing Like A Dame, as well as a selection of songs from their upcoming annual stage show in October, at the Poynton Civic Hall, which this year is ‘’Utopia Limited’’ which Gilbert & Sullivan also set in the South Seas.

Additional material in the Spring Concert will be the usual selection of traditional and modern English folk songs, as well as a Simon & Garfunkel sing-a-long, featuring several of their famous hits.

The concert will be under the musical direction of Richard Huggett & Catherine Silman.

Ticket prices are £8 for adults and £5 for children. They can be purchased at the door, or at MATES shop on Park Lane, and are also available in advance by e-mailing: tickets@poyntongands.co.uk or telephone 01625 265880. Both evenings begin at 7.30pm

COMMUNITY CENTRE NEWS 2016 started off in spectacular fashion with Alison Hargreaves (www.alisart.co.uk) and Suzy Whitehead organising a charity Ceilidh featuring the fabulous Kellyoddy Ceilidh Band. The event raised a staggering £990 which was donated to the Centre.

WREN’s FCC Community Action Fund has now awarded a £49,900 grant to the Community Centre. This will be used to carry out repairs to the roof and gable end of the main hall and to replace the boarded-up windows. It represents the second phase of the Centre’s restoration and refurbishment project.

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Geoff King, the Chairman of Poynton Youth and Community Centre believes the improvements will make a huge difference to the lives of people living in the area. He says: “This project will provide a real boost to the people of Poynton. It’s fantastic that WREN has awarded us this money

and we’re really looking forward to completing the building work which will ensure that the building remains available to Poynton’s residents well into the future. We are aiming to complete all the work before next winter.”

WREN is a not-for-profit business that awards grants for community, biodiversity and heritage projects from funds donated by FCC Environment through the Landfill Communities Fund. Richard Smith, Grant Manager for Cheshire says: “We’re delighted to be supporting the Poynton Youth and Community Centre project and pleased our funding will provide such a fantastic facility for children and young families across Poynton. WREN is always happy to consider grant applications for projects that make a difference to local communities and we’re really looking forward to seeing this one take shape soon.”

ALL ABOUT MANGOTREES Mangotrees is a charity based in Cheshire and Stockport, which was set up in 2012 and seeks to assist education in The Gambia. Education is the gateway to gaining employment and improving living standards.

However, in The Gambia, parents are expected to contribute towards the costs of providing education, whether their child attends a state school or a school run privately. Many families live below the international poverty level, so finding the money to pay for schooling is very difficult.

Pre-school education enables children to grasp the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic before they start primary school.

Mangotrees provides the financial support for the Christian Pre-School in Sibanor village. Some of

the pupils are from Christian families, but most of the children are from local Muslim or Animistic families, who appreciate the high standard of education provided by qualified staff. The school caters for up to 50 children and Mangotrees tries to find an individual sponsor for every child.

Other aspects of the work of Mangotrees includes helping Gambians to train as teachers and providing funding for educational projects, for example, helping with the expenses of inset days for teachers and contributing towards the costs of building and equipping classrooms.

Recent fund-raising activities have included a ceilidh with music provided by a live band and a garden party with cream teas.

More information is available at www.mangotrees.org If you would like to become a sponsor, or make a donation towards our work, you can contact us by email at info@mangotrees.org or you can write to us at Mangotrees, c/o Poynton Baptist Church, Park Lane, Poynton SK12 1RE

OPENING UP THE PATTERN BOOKS The Silk Museum cares for a significant collection of silk pattern books, deposited in Macclesfield as each silk mill went out of business. The archive contains some fabulous silk designs often pasted into large books which are difficult to display. The museum has been investigating a number of innovative ways for the public to have better access to them and to inspire artists of the future. The exhibition opens up the pattern books for you to find out more about this journey, until Saturday 14 May 2016.

The Silk Museum, Park Lane, Macclesfield.

POYNTON PLAYERS THEATRE INITIATIVE This season, Poynton Players have taken the initiative to widen the use of their theatre and particularly to encourage the development of younger actors.

They are working with Generate Theatre Arts (www.icangenerate.com) to provide week-long drama workshops during the Easter and

in touch

Summer holiday periods for under-16’s. Each week culminates in an on-stage show under professional lighting and sound. In addition, Generate is also using the theatre for one-off showcase productions from some of its courses held further afield across the Stockport and East Cheshire area. For children, the developmental benefits of performing on a proper stage under theatre lighting to a packed audience can be immensely confidence-boosting, quite apart from the excitement factor!

It is also worth bearing in mind that if you were born in the 1970s and 1980s, then the vast majority of acting roles in modern drama productions are written with your age group in mind. By joining Poynton Players you take part in the Poynton Community and help keep local theatre alive, whether acting or helping out in any of the many tasks that are needed to put on a production.

Other events for wider audiences include the BBC Radio Manchester broadcaster Alan Beswick who visits on 6 May for his one-man show “An Audience with Alan Beswick”. Poynton School of Dance (www.poyntonschoolofdance. co.uk) will be holding their biennial dance showcase on 14 to 16 July which will include dancers from infants to senior citizens! We recently staged a drama and music evening with The Conchords and a one act play. In September we are staging a music & poetry/humour evening which will include a performance by the local women’s community N-Choir (www.n-choir.com) Poynton Players’ theatre (capacity 102) is available for hire and has a large, proscenium arch stage, state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems, with an audio hearing loop and modern disabled facilities. The Beverage and Bar facilities can be also made available for the audiences. We welcome enquiries from groups needing to hire a modern and auditorium.

For more information contact us by email through our website www.poyntonplayers. co.uk or leave a message on our theatre ansaphone 01625 875542. We are located adjacent the Poynton Legion Club.

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Quick Crossword

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Funeral Carriage (6) Rosy Lee Container (6) Glass Panel (4) Iniquity (8) Notwithstanding (7) Singer Type (5) Compensate (5) Darling! (7) Infuse (8) Incise (4) Skiing event (6) Middle Eastern Ruler (6)

Greek Letter (4) Reckless (13) 3 Score Years and 10! (7) Arose (5) Kindly (4-9) Convoluted (8) Innards (8) Let go (7) Follows 1 Down (5) A colour (4)

Solution on page 58.

Poynton Music School Local musician and teacher Rik Roberts established Poynton Music School, his music teaching practice exclusively for adults, in 2012 offering guitar and ukulele classes, a series of one-off workshops and 1 to 1 tuition in guitar, ukulele and banjo.

The classes run in 10-week blocks at Poynton Community Centre, with each session based on a main song, highlighting a new playing technique or musical learning point. This song is reviewed at the beginning of the next session, before going on to a new song with new learning points. Sessions 5 and 10 are review lessons, consolidating everything learned so far. All new techniques are transferable across all songs and this is the holistic element which truly makes participants into good players.

The aim of all classes is to encourage adults to participate in music-making. The extra motivation and camaraderie experienced through group learning can be particularly effective and fun: “I have students who started as beginners three years ago and are now playing things which would truly make them stand out at an open mic or acoustic jam evening!”

Rik is a professional performing guitarist and he has drawn upon his years working in various aspects of education to develop these unique courses: “I have worked as a guitar teacher, primary and secondary school class teacher, and as an English teacher overseas for the British Council. These skills have transferred very well into teaching group music classes for adults”.

The guitar/ukulele classes and workshops are amongst the very few exclusively for adults in the country, attracting students from the local area and as far away as Macclesfield and Manchester.

For full information on courses go to www.PoyntonMusicSchool.co.uk or email: info@poyntonmusicschool.co.uk

Bluebell Walks at Rode Hall Experience one of the finest Bluebell Walks in the North West at Rode Hall and Gardens. New for 2016, visitors can enjoy Rode’s carpets of ancient bluebells even more extensively due to the recent discovery and restoration of a path through the Old Wood, previously used by villagers walking to the House in the 1800s.

A magical stroll for all the family, this is one of the finest times to visit Rode’s Grade II listed park and gardens, designed by Humphry Repton, and soak up the incredible colours of bluebells and spring flowers at their best. Walk through the shimmering bluebell carpets covering the ground of the Old Wood; experience the stunning wildflowers in the Wild Garden and the blaze of colours from rare early Rhododendrons, Azaleas and Chilean Fire Bushes. Enjoy the tranquil views over Rode Pool and unrivalled vistas of the beautiful Cheshire and Staffordshire countryside.

Rode’s bluebells are predominantly the endangered and protected native ancient variety.

They flower on one side of the stalk, are strongly perfumed and can also appear as a white or pinkish flower.

Highlights of a visit also include the two acre Walled Garden, resplendent in spring blossom from the many varieties of pear, apple and plum trees and with an abundance of vegetable seedlings. Visitors can also buy Rode Hall’s fragrant Lily of the Valley and bright primulas and pelargoniums to plant at home.

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Round off your visit by calling in to Rode Hall’s Tea Room where everything possible, from soups, sandwiches and oatcakes to cakes, cream teas, biscuits and ice cream, is either grown in the Kitchen Garden, homemade at the Hall or sourced from the Rode Hall Farmers’ Market. At Rode Hall Shop you can buy Rode’s new range of jams, pickles and cordials made with produce from its organic Kitchen Garden as well as plants and dried flowers.

Rode Hall has been the family home of the Wilbraham family since 1669. A fine Georgian Country House with magnificent Humphry Repton landscaped gardens, it first opened to the public in 2002.

Families will love exploring and playing in the different enchanting landscapes. Children’s imagination can also be sparked by the willow animal sculpture trail, 200 year old Grotto hidden in the Wild Garden and the Waterfall. Hunt for the willow animal sculptures along the walk, spot butterflies amongst the flowers and heron and carp in the stews and lake.

Gardeners shouldn’t miss the opportunity to see the emerging fruit and vegetables in the Walled Garden and snap up the rare opportunity to buy Rode Hall’s Lily of the Valley, primulas and pelargoniums to plant at home.

Bluebell Walks are at Rode Hall & Gardens from 30 April to 8 May open between 11am – 4pm. Entry £5 adults, £1 children (under 5s, RHS and HHA members free).

T: 01270 873 237 enquiries@rodehall.co.uk, www.rodehall.co.uk Twitter: @Rode_Hall Facebook: www.facebook.com/rode.hall.3

Springtime in the Garden (with snow) As I type these words on 4 March, the snow is falling steadily – the first proper fall we have seen in many parts of Cheshire East for the entire winter. Until the snow, our own garden was looking sorry for itself except for a few bright spots – patio pots of spring bulbs, with miniature daffodils providing a bright yellow splash of colour and some impressive groups of hellebores that are doing well in sheltered locations.

Flowering cherries and ever-dependable snowdrops are right on schedule, and here’s the odd thing: after such a wet and mild winter, we might have expected that early spring varieties would have flowered early and that gardens offering snowdrop walks would have to issue new opening times. But that’s not really happened.

Maybe many species are more dependent on light levels rather than temperature – perhaps someone will advise on that!

Garden Open Days for Spring 2016 During April and May, 20 NGS gardens will be open to the public on almost 30 days. There’s not enough space here to describe them all, but here are a few with special mentions:

Springtime at Briarfield.

Briarfield (Burton, nr Neston) Liz Carter opens Briarfield, her two-acre garden at Burton near Neston, twice a year in support of the NGS. Liz also has a stall at Neston market featuring many of the rare and unusual plants in her garden. Over £10,000 from the stall has been donated to the NGS - a fantastic achievement.

Briarfield first opening will be 24 April.

Framley (Willaston, nr Neston) This 5-acre garden is new to the NGS and it holds many hidden gems. There are extensive mature wooded areas, underplanted with a variety of interesting and unusual woodland plants - all at their very best in spring. Open on 2 May.

Parm Place (Great Budworth) Located in a stunningly attractive Cheshire village, Jane and Peter Fairclough’s half-acre, plant-packed garden is always an early opener for the NGS. Large collections of spring bulbs and plants. Open this year on 3 April.

From left, Christina & Mike Newton with Rainer Lueoend of GE Power.

Sycamore Cottage (Carrington)

Parm Place, Great Budworth.

A fifth of an acre cottage garden split into distinct areas, with woodland banking, natural spring, well and ponds. For the past 4 years, Christina and Mike Newton have opened their garden in support of the NGS and this year GE Power, a power station right on their doorstep, has donated £500 to the NGS. First opening this year on 22 May.

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More details of these and all other NGS gardens are on the ngs.org.uk website.

Weather footnote: I finished this article on 7 March and the sun is shining from a clear blue sky.

About the NGS This year, around 3800 gardens will open for the National Gardens Scheme (NGS) with over 80 in Cheshire and Wirral alone. Most are privately owned and only open on specific dates. Many also open “By arrangement” to suit group visits and some have evening openings, giving plenty of possibilities.

Where the money goes Admission charges to NGS gardens, mostly about £4 a head, support the charitable aims of the organisation. In 2014, £2.5 million was given to Macmillan Cancer Support and this is likely to be exceeded for 2015. Since the start of a partnership with Parkinson’s UK in 2013, over £520,000 has been raised to help fund specialist Parkinson’s nurses. The new NGS guest charity for 2016 is The Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Finding the gardens Online information about all NGS gardens is available at www.ngs.org.uk. You can also follow us on Facebook (Cheshire NGS) and Twitter (@CheshireWirrNGS).

Smartphone users have a new version of the free NGS App available to download for both Android and iOS. (Don’t use the old App as it will no longer have accurate data.)

“Gardens to Visit 2016” (previously the “Yellow Book”) is a comprehensive guide to all NGS gardens. £12.99 from booksellers or direct from the NGS. County Guides (including one for Cheshire & Wirral) are available free from various outlets, including libraries and larger garden centres.

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by Graham Beech www.ngs.org.uk

Meet Tech Teacher

Some of the areas John can help with are: ■■ basic computer and tablet operations ■■ understanding emails ■■ browsing the internet ■■ online shopping ■■ social media ■■ video calls such as Skype and Facetime ■■ backup and security ■■ organising files and photos ■■ basic word processing

After more than 20 years in the IT industry, working for and with other people, followed by seven years running his own online retail business, John Cudley decided his next career move should involve the best aspects of both; working for himself and also helping others.

“Having spent the best part of 30 years working with computers, I’ve often been the first port of call for family, friends (and friends of friends), who are experiencing problems. Whether they need help understanding how to deal with their emails, how to browse the internet safely or have issues with security and backing up their data, I have enjoyed helping them.”

Aware that there is information out there, but it isn’t always easy to find if you don’t already have a grasp of the basics, John decided to set up Tech Teacher, offering to provide advice and support to anyone in their own home, on their own computer or tablet.

“I find it very rewarding helping someone who has perhaps been given an iPad by a family member, but doesn’t really know what to do with it. Often a child (or grandchild) might have tried to explain the basics but will use baffling terminology or gallop along at a pace that’s too fast to follow! As a consequence it’s easy to lose confidence – some people worry they might break the computer if they do something wrong. I’m happy to help at whatever pace suits, explaining things in simple terms, and I always leave notes for people to refer back to, as we all forget things from time to time.”

So, if you live within a 10 mile radius of Poynton, and feel John may be able to help you, give him a call for an informal chat on how he can help you get the best out of your computer, iPad or other tablet.

John Cudley www.techteacher.co.uk Email: john@techteacher.co.uk Phone: 01625 858582 Mobile: 07920 443018

The Book Group Recommends There have been many memoirs of childhood but Hilary Mantel’s “Giving Up the Ghost” is special. She was 50 when she began to set down her memoirs to “seize the copyright in myself” despairing of the way her life was being written by others. She was born in Glossop in an era when grandmothers had hands “with cracked and harsh palms” from scouring the fireplace with Vim. She was educated in Romiley by the nuns of the Convent of the Nativity at Harrytown School, who tried to knock her into a good Catholic girl - the kind that went on to teach and breed the next generation of good Catholic girls. There are ghosts everywhere in her life. Mantel maintains that they are the parts of our lives that we never got the chance to know - a father who she never sees again, a mother whose pregnancy Hilary never notices, a stepfather who comes to tea and inexplicably stays. As a young adult she stumbles from doctor to doctor to attempt to find a name for the pain sweeping her body, being called neurotic, a malingerer, and eventually losing the chance of having a child, the most poignant of the ghosts in her title.

This is not a cosy memoir. It is prickly, defensive, and unsentimental. As always her writing is clear and true, and maybe in this she has at last managed to get rid of those shadowy presences that have haunted her all her life. Thoroughly recommended reading.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie grew up in Nigeria and has received much critical acclaim.

“Americanah” is our second choice this month.

It is the story of Ifemelu, a spirited young Nigerian girl and her teenage boyfriend Obinze who grows up with romanticised ideas about the west.

Offered the opportunity for post graduate studies in Philadelphia Ifemelu takes it and some years later Obinze, unable to get a USA visa, goes in search of a better life in Britain.

Ifemelu finds it difficult getting part time work.

Turned away from menial jobs, her fellow students speak to her with painful slowness as if she can’t speak basic English. Eventually she starts a blog, posting on her relationship with a white American boyfriend, then a black American boyfriend, body size, hair straightening to conform to white norms, and Barack Obama.

There is no doubt Adiche is particularly good at exposing America’s painful attempts at reconciling itself with its relatively recent past.

Obinze, never gets the green card he was hoping for and has to settle for a harrowing stint working illegally in London before an attempted sham marriage leads to his deportation. After fifteen years Ifemelu returns to Lagos - now an “Americanah”- and they meet again.

Adichie’s perspective on being black in America and Britain is full of great insight and wisdom.

Some novels tell a great story and others make you change the way you look at the world. This book amazingly manages to do both at the same time. A great read and an education.

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Sudoku

How to play Sudoku

2

8 5 9

4 8

4 1

3 9

You don’t need to be a genius.

These puzzles use logic alone.

1

Watch out! Sudoku is highly addictive.

6 2

Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 box, contains the numbers 1 through to 9 with no repetition.

6

3 7

4

7

4

3

1

5

2

8

Solution on page 58 .

The Walk - A Circular Walk from Castleton Distance: 7 miles moderate.

Directions: A6 from Hazel Grove; after far roundabout of Chapel by-pass bear left for Edale and Castleton. Head for Winnats Pass, at the bottom, turn right into Castleton. Park on right before Peak Cavern Car Park. Weekday parking is normally free, and only chargeable at weekends and bank holidays.

OS Map: OL1 Dark Peak Area.

Lying on the boundary between the White and Dark Peaks, Castleton is endowed with historic defence sites, constant spring water emerging from underground caverns and mineral veins supplying its early lead mining and its unique semi precious Blue John wealth. Later bulk quarrying of limestone provides for a prosperous modern cement industry and the stunning scenery, both under and over ground, endows Castleton with extensive and popular tourist attractions. To the north are the contrasting unstable shale ridges, and beyond, the unique Kinder Scout Gritstone plateau with its dark wind eroded edges and deep river valleys.

Castleton’s known history dates back over 3000 years from Bronze and early Iron Age settlements, a small Roman settlement at Navio to the east, and later Norman built Peveril Castle,

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by Barry Wilson Marple District Rambling Club

all designed to protect farming or its important early lead mining economies. Our walk enables you to observe so many of these natural and historic features en route.

Across from the Peak Cavern car park, a fingerpost leads through a gap in the stone wall (SK147829). Go through a narrow passage into a field path and head west with Mam Tor in view at all times. The path goes through stiles and gates, along a small river path before reaching Knowlegates Farm. A narrow path ahead skirts the left of the farm and climbs up steps and paths to the spoil heaps of Odin Mine.

(SK135835) Beware of an abandoned mine shaft if stopping here for coffee. To see the Odin Mine workings, take a short detour to the left and look at the old crushing circle and upturned Gritstone wheel with iron tyre. A model in the Castleton Tourist Information Centre shows how this was operated by horses. In the spoil you may find galena, a shiny grey lead ore, but wash your hands before handling food!

Return over the little stream to the coffee spot and then follow the path to the right and through a gate before climbing up through a fern and marsh grass covered hummocky area; the path can be muddy but is usually passable and eventually opens out into a higher field leading up to Mam Farm. (SK133840) You will have

negotiated the rough ground of the Mam Tor land slips before reaching the abandoned road below Mam Tor. At the farm, climb up through a small gate to the left of the outbuildings and turn left on the farm drive. This emerges on to the broken road, closed in 1979 after repeated landslides had forced the Council’s hand. The depths of tarmac layers, seen as you climb up the road, are up to 7 feet in places and the old cat’s eyes show where the road used to be. Take care up here as the drops are hazardous in places. On your right, you can pick out the alternate layers of shale and sandstone observing how fragile they look, especially in very wet spells. The scar below Mam Tor shows how the old hill fort ramparts have been cut away.

Go through the gate at the top and admire the view back to Castleton and the Hope Valley, picking out the castle, the cement works and the huge Peak Cavern entrance, known as the “Devil’s Arse” until Queen Victoria had the name changed for her visit there!

Follow the road past the Blue John Mine as far as an obvious gate on the right. Go up through this and climb over more lead mining spoils, with Mam Tor on your right, eventually reaching a gate on to Mam Nick and the steps finally up to the summit of Mam Tor. From here the panorama is stunning looking north to Edale and Kinder, east past Lose Hill, Winhill Pike and Stanage Edge, and south across the limestone plateau towards Buxton. In the foreground you can see Winnats Pass, thought to be a former coral reef, and Windy Knoll cave where ice age mammals’ bones have been found; they include bison, bear, cave hyenas and a cat related to the Sabre Toothed tiger, and now lie in Buxton Museum.

Mam Tor, “Mother Hill” is more commonly called the “Shivering Mountain” for obvious reasons below its summit of 517 metres (1696 feet). Bronze Age tumuli have been found here, foundations of early Iron Age houses and the obvious rampart ditches show the defences of a small village protecting itself from cattle thieves probably. After 3000 years it is still well trodden by walkers, and is also popular with para-gliding enthusiasts now. Again, in the Information

Centre, you can experience a simulated hangglide around Mam Tor! This can be a good picnic spot when the wind is not blowing. Or, more wisely perhaps, just follow the stone path down the ridge to the east and settle into the sheltered hollows near Hollins Cross (SK136845). From this meeting point of many pathways, take the east bound track by going through a gate just below the ridge path as this follows the contours at a high level for well over a mile. It goes through woodland just below Lose Hill, another fragile peak and keep heading east above and beyond Castleton over a series of walls until two paths veer south at SK155851.

Stay on the right hand path before heading down a steep descent past a small clump of trees and keeping the cement works in your sights ahead.

Follow the paths past Losehill Farm and Spring House Farm (SK156841). Turn right after the latter and follow a track west towards Losehill Hall YHA. Past the stone wall, take a left down the track and on to the main road from Hope into Castleton. The Caravan Club site is visible through trees on your left as you reach the road.

Turn right and head into Castleton for a well earned beverage of your choice in any of the coffee shops or hostelries! Ice creams or cream scones are everywhere! But, before heading out to your car on the road out, pause to enjoy the wonderful Information Centre which can further enhance the day’s experiences.

Marple District Rambling Club has over 370 members and organises 4/5 led walks every Thursday and 3 walks every Sunday. To find out more, see copies of our programme on www.marple-uk.com/rambling, or ring our Membership Secretary, Deirdre Nolan on 0161 427 7794 to join us. Annual fees are £8 plus a £2 joining charge for new members.

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Cheshire Smokehouse I have said it before. The Cheshire Smokehouse is one of those places you will eventually visit - not just once, but many times. If you spend a day travelling around Cheshire you are likely to encounter some excellent farm shops, some lovely delicatessens and not a few decent eateries. But those who visit the Smokehouse already know that you can enjoy all these things in just one amazing place.

Words can’t describe the warmth you will feel on entering this place, or the variety and quality of everything that surrounds you. A visit is essential to discover the unique character and contribution of all its various departments. The Smokery, which made the Cheshire Smokehouse famous, smokes and cures the produce inhouse! It’s a skill that has been acquired by the business through over 100 years’ experience.

The Smokehouse Shop, arguably the heart of the business, where you will find a huge choice of quality Smokehouse fayre. The Butchery, where locally sourced fresh meat, poultry and game are prepared by butchers who really know their craft.

Food Preparation, where in-house chefs prepare an endless supply of salads, dips, sauces and ready-to-cook-at-home dishes. The Bakehouse, where bread is baked every day – plus quiches, pastries, pies and fabulous cakes. Smokehouse Wines, where you will encounter a superb collection of fine wines, spirits and beers.

And finally, my favourite - Smokehouse Café.

This café is always busy and is worth a visit in its own right. Chef Jayne Walker excels in delivering culinary masterpieces! The ever-changing menu features morning coffee favourites, a full lunch menu and afternoon tea classics, many of which feature Smokehouse products. Just make sure that you leave enough room for me.

by Garth Aspinall

My Experience as a Mentor I recently wrote an article about Intergenerational learning, initiatives in this country and abroad that utilise the skills and life experiences of older people to benefit younger people. These schemes are positive for both parties, giving the older people a sense of purpose and helps to eliminate loneliness, while for the young it promotes respect, tolerance and acceptance (see www.alicechilton.com for the full article).

At a time when we face continued cuts to funding they are also cost effective to implement.

The idea of sharing knowledge and being able to benefit a younger person is something I am really interested in and it’s part of the reason that I have joined a scheme to mentor a student. My job as a mentor is to help a young person develop their confidence, self-esteem, strengths and skills.

I am there to act as an advisor, a motivator and a sounding board to a student who needs support and guidance to help them achieve their goals.

Moreover, as with the Intergenerational initiatives, I also feel that as the ‘older person’ I am gaining a lot. It is very much a two-way street; I can pass on my experience and make suggestions to guide my mentee, but I also gain invaluable insight into the life of someone starting out on their career path and the issues that are relevant to them.

If you have ever considered becoming involved in this type of mentor scheme then I would highly recommend it to you. It is all too easy to become only aware of one’s own environment and wrapped up in the factors that shape it, and this experience has helped to give me a fresh perspective on how I view my own day-to-day pressures.

Contact Karen Perry, Founder alice chilton Limited. www.alicechilton.com

inside magazines East Cheshire’s leading independent publisher of community magazines Connecting local people to local businesses and delivering a quality read to 45,000 Cheshire homes.

With six titles to choose from you can select the areas that suit you best from:

To find out more about our competitive advertising rates call 01625 879611 or email info@insidemagazines.co.uk facebook.com/insidemags twitter.com/insidemagazines

■■ Inside Bollington, Prestbury & Tytherington ■■ Inside Bramhall ■■ Inside Hazel Grove & High Lane ■■ Inside Marple ■■ Inside Poynton ■■ Inside Wilmslow & Alderley Edge

Discover Cuba December 17 2014 marked an historic moment for Cuba as US President Barack Obama announced plans to resurrect diplomatic relations between the two countries. Speculation is rife about what this will mean for life on the streets of Havana and across the rest of Cuba, and we have noticed a big upsurge in interest with many clients wishing to visit and see the real Cuba before it changes.

Museum. No visit to Havana would be complete without a ride in a classic American car of the 40’s and 50’s along ‘The Malecon’, Havana’s oceanfront promenade. Admire the expert skills of a cigar roller at a tobacco factory or catch a performance of the Cabaret Parisien, the Buena Vista Social Club, or visit any of the local bars playing traditional music.

The best time to visit Cuba is in our winter; the largest island in the Caribbean, it offers a colourful heritage, intriguing history, a lush interior and stunning white sand beaches – a perfect winter holiday combination.

However, the combination of a wonderful destination and the political interest has led to such interest that availability for this winter is now almost non-existent! We therefore recommend early booking for 2017.

Havana The old city is a Unesco World Heritage Centre, currently being restored to its former glory with beautiful baroque churches, palaces and convents lining its cobbled streets and squares.

Built on a sweeping bay, we suggest three days here to explore the old city, visit the Museo de la Revolucion to explore Cuba’s history, or find the Parque John Lennon or the Hemingway

The Vinales Valley Located to the west of Havana, the Vinales Valley is a fascinating landscape of fertile valleys, dotted with palm trees and rounded limestone outcrops. Las Terrazas in the western province is a sustainable environmental and development project which is an ideal introduction to Cuba’s

by Kristina Hulme www.travelbydesigngroup.com

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countryside life and landscapes. From here you can visit the local community and a restored coffee plantation.

Travel

Trinidad and Cienfuegos Cienfuegos is a small French influenced city on the south coast of the island, known as the ‘Pearl of the South’. Visit the Bay of Pigs museum and the crocodile farm en route, and the beautiful botanical gardens in the town itself. Trinidad, less than an hour away, is another stunning colonial city and a walking tour here is a must together with visits to the museums and the Casa de la Musica.

Havana. Dates are available in January to March next year, but be warned - dates are already filling fast and early booking is strongly recommended.

Cuba is best discovered either as part of a group tour, or as a private journey with your own driver and guide. Adventure touring, cycle or walking tours are all options and an alternative way to explore this diverse island.

To book your Cuba holiday, please contact Kristina or Irene at Travel by Design on 01625 584195, pop in to the Alderley Edge office, or email info@travelbydesigngroup.com Santa Clara Return to Havana via Santa Clara, the site of the turning point in the Cuban revolution. Santa Clara is the home of the Che Guevara museum and mausoleum, another unmissable stop on any itinerary.

Beautiful beaches From Santa Clara, you can return to Havana and a flight back to the UK or, for some well deserved relaxation head to one of Cuba’s beautiful white sand beaches. Cayo Santa Maria or Esmeralda Beach both have a wonderful selection of hotels.

Most are all inclusive and offer a fabulous range of facilities.

Cruise Cuba For an alternative view, why not fly into Havana for a few days then transfer to the southern port of Cienfuegos where you can join a fully rigged tall ship and cruise around the island back to

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Answers: icing sugar, plate, cream, sponge, tea pot, jam Extra letter answer: coffee

S D I K 4 JUST

Poynton Children’s Activities

Things to do with pre-school kids

Monday St. Paul’s Catholic Pre-School 9-3pm Open Monday – Friday Term Time only. Marley Road, Poynton. A caring and stimulating environment, open to all. Please call ahead from more information – 01625 858222 Playaway 9.30-11.30am Poynton Baptist Church. Contact 01625 859036

Tuesday Wacky Woods 10am-12pm Styperson Quarry Wood, Brookledge Lane, Adlington.

Come and have fun in the woods with your preschooler; even young babies can appreciate the joys of nature. Lots of sensory play activities to enjoy with your children in guided sessions. £5 per child and that includes pancakes or crumpets on the campfire.

Contact 01625 573086.

Story Time 11am Term time only. Hazel Grove Library. Stories, rhymes and songs followed by some colouring.

Contact 0161 217 6009.

Wednesday Pre-School Dance 2-2.30pm Term time only. St Martin’s Church Hall, Shrigley Road North, Higher Poynton. All children welcome from age 18 months. Contact 07903 727763 or email missstephanie1@hotmail.co.uk

Thursday Parent & Toddler Group 9.30-11.30am Term time only, Poynton Methodist Church.

Rhyme Time 10.30am Poynton Library. No booking necessary and no charge.

All babies and toddlers welcome with parents/carers.

Contact 01625 374818.

Friday Wiggle Tots Group 9.15 - 11.15am Term Time only. St Paul’s Pre-School, Marley Road, Poynton, SK12 1LY Maximum 25 children per session, £2 per family. Contact: Clare 01625 858222 or email stpaulspspoynton@gmail.com Baby Sensory 11am, 12.30pm and 2pm The Woodford Scout and Guide Headquarters, Moor Lane, Woodford. A learning and development program for parents and babies.

To book, call Becky on 07503547083 or email eastcheshire@babysensory.co.uk

Saturday Baby Ballet & Tap 9-10am The Hockley Centre, Park Lane. Step Ahead School of Dance, contact Natalie on 07799 614260 for further details.

Who Let the Dads Out? Between 9am & 11am Second Saturday of the month during term time, St. Martin’s Church Hall, Higher Poynton (near the Boars Head Pub).

A dads and toddler group for dads, granddads or male carers and their pre-school children. £2.50 per family which includes a bacon butty & coffee for the dads, and toast & juice for the children.

Contacts Julie Briggs on 07769 938269, or email julie@briggs.me.uk

For more information contact the church office on 01625 871592.

Stay & Play 10-11.30am Term time only, Poynton Children’s Centre, Clumber Road.

Contact 01625 383090 or email poyntonchildrenscentreadmin@cheshireeast.gov.uk

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Compiled by Jenny Riley e: jenny@insidemagazines.co.uk

If you run a local activity for young children and would like to be included on this page please email jenny@ insidemagazines.co.uk

in touch LIFE LINKS Life Links is a free Health and Wellbeing Support Service that covers Cheshire East providing one to one support to anyone over the age of 18. It can offer help and support with: ■■ finding local activities and groups ■■ learning about new technology ■■ managing minor health conditions ■■ staying independent in your own home.

For more information about outreach sessions, or to make a referral to the free service call 0808 281 1052 email info@lifelinksce.org or visit www.lifelinksce.org.uk

CHARGE IN TO SPRING WITH RACE FOR LIFE Cancer Research UK is calling on women in Stockport to get moving, lace up their trainers and sign up now for the 5k event on Sunday 22 May at Woodbank Park.

Now the lighter evenings are here, and with warmer weather on its way, women of all ages, shapes and sizes have the perfect opportunity to kick-start a healthier lifestyle by preparing for the 5k event. By taking on Race for Life, and encouraging their mums, daughters, sisters and friends to join them, participants can improve their fitness as well as help to raise money for life-saving research.

Jennifer Ward, Cancer Research UK’s Stockport Event Manager, said: “Race for Life events are not competitive. They are not about being fit or fast.

It’s about an army of women crossing the finish line together in the fight against cancer. Whether you’re a running pro or novice, every step you take around the course will help bring us one step closer to the day when all cancers are cured. The atmosphere is incredibly supportive and pledging to take part, alongside thousands of like-minded women, is a great motivation. With fire in their bellies and trainers at the ready, we know that Stockport ladies are up for the challenge.”

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Last year, 1186 women took part in Race for Life in Stockport and raised a fantastic £73,146. This year, organisers need 1600 women and girls to stride out to help raise £100,000. Money raised through Race for Life allows Cancer Research UK’s doctors, nurses and scientists to advance research which is helping to save the lives of men, women and children across Greater Manchester.

Free training plans for different levels of ability are available on the Race for Life website. The sixweek plans are designed for walkers, joggers or runners and feature guidance on warming up and stretching, as well as motivation.

To enter Race for Life go to raceforlife.org or call 0300 123 0770

CHESHIRE FIRE CHOIR SING AT GROUND ZERO Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service Choir is back from singing at a world famous New York concert hall and fulfilling its dream to sing for fallen colleagues in the terrible events of 9/11.

Members of this unique choir made the trip to New York to perform Bruce Springsteen’s The Rising at Ground Zero Memorial Plaza in tribute to the 343 firefighters who died in the attacks on the Twin Towers. The song tells the story of a firefighter who was inside one of the towers on that fateful day and realises he isn’t going to survive.

Choir chair, retired Station Manager Steve Flanagan said: “Before we went to Ground Zero we spoke about our emotions and ways to keep them at bay. We wanted to do the fallen firefighters proud and we wanted it to be about them, not us. We’d waited so long to do this so it had to be right.”

in touch They sang, surrounded by the New York skyline, with tears of sadness mixed with rain pouring down their faces, but they stood proud. They could not have sung it any better and afterwards people who had gathered in the crowd came and thanked them, congratulating them on their tribute.

“We were told by 9/11 Memorial that we are the only choir belonging to a Fire and Rescue service that has ever sung at Ground Zero, so when we heard this we sang our song on behalf all of our UK colleagues.”

In 1914 the town of Haybes was virtually destroyed by fire and bombs and it was the people of Stockport who raised funds to help with its rebuilding, which was completed in 1922. Interestingly a nearby town of CharlevilleMézières – the administrative centre of the region – was aided by Manchester in its restoration and there is a Manchester Square named to commemorate that event.

The choir also sang along with choirs from all over the world at Carnegie Hall where they performed Welsh composer Paul Mealor’s piece ‘Stabat Mater’.

It is now raising money for The Firefighters Charity by releasing a CD to help fellow firefighters and their families.

Twinning Association of Poynton The aim of Twinning is to build and strengthen friendships between individuals, local groups and councils, to promote the areas of culture, education, sports and tourism in both communities and to respect each other’s traditions and culture.

A group of seven members of the Committee of the Twinning Association of Poynton visited Haybes in March to meet the Mayor and discuss the idea of Twinning between Poynton and Haybes. Our welcome was very warm and generous. We were met at the airport by the Mayor himself and he accompanied us on all the excursions and for all the meals.

Haybes is situated in the valley of the river Meuse, surrounded by the hills of the Ardennes region of north east France, at the base of the “Pointe d’Ardennes”, (the finger of land that goes into Belgium) and about 75 miles north east of Reims, in the champagne region. It is an area ideal for walking, hiking, cycling, canoeing and kayaking, and there is a good camping site. There are two good hotels and some bed and breakfast places in Haybes and there are plenty of places to stay in the vicinity.

The Twinning Association of Poynton has signed a pre-Twinning Agreement, which should hopefully be ratified soon by Poynton Town Council.

We should like to appeal to any French speakers who live in Poynton to contact the secretary – Glenys Parry-Jones on glenys.parryjones@ ntlworld.com letting us know if they would like to join us and help in any way possible.

The link to the official Facebook page is: www.facebook.com/Twinning-Association-ofPoynton

HIGHER POYNTON SCARECROW SAFARI This event will take place from 10 June to 26 June, with judging during the Summer Fayre on Sunday 26 June.

The theme for this year’s scarecrows will be ‘Best of British’. Maps for the tour can be obtained for a small donation from 7 Prince Rd, SK12 1TW, Bailey’s Trading Post or The Boars Head Pub. Deadline for entries 30 May 2016. Contact Lesley, 46 Green Lane, Higher Poynton with tear off slips and entry fee.

Continued over...

47

in touch FRIENDS OF ST GEORGE’S CHURCH The Friends are arranging a trip to the National Memorial and Arboretum on Tuesday 10 May. Travelling by McCarthy coach and first calling at Lichfield we will leave Poynton at 9.30am and be back about 7pm. Tickets (£16) are available from the Church Office in St George’s Hall, on 879 277.

The Friends of St George’s exist to help to preserve this landmark building, and to provide better facilities in the Church, the Hall and the graveyard. If you value the Church as a part of Poynton’s history or because you and your family have connections through occasions such as births or marriages, or perhaps have a grave in the churchyard, you may like to become a Friend and help to maintain this part of Poynton’s heritage.

The trip to the Arboretum is just one of the events which we hold from time to time and which will help us to support improvements such as the buggy shelter in the churchyard. Do come along and enjoy a day in this very impressive and poignant setting.

INNER WHEEL VISITS CLINK RESTAURANT Inner Wheel Clubs of District 5 were delighted to hold a coffee morning at the Clink Restaurant in HMP Styal. Proceeds from the event went direct to the Clink Charity.

Wendy Unsworth, Manager of the Clink Restaurant, gave an informative talk on the work of the charity which aims to give women prisoners, in the final 6 to 18 months of their sentences, the opportunity to gain qualifications for employment in the hospitality industry on their release. This has been found to reduce reoffending by 85%.

Inner Wheel members thoroughly enjoyed the delicious scones, cakes and cookies baked and served to them by the prisoners. All those attending enjoyed a really interesting morning in the lovely surroundings of the Clink Restaurant which is in the former chapel of Styal Prison.

48

Many are keen to return with friends and family to sample lunch in the restaurant at a future date.

To learn more about the Clink charity and restaurants, visit www.theclinkcharity.org For more information about Inner Wheel in this area visit www.innerwheeldistrict5.com

Anson Engine Museum 2016 season The Anson Engine Museum began its new 2016 season over Easter. Engines are running and boilers are steaming after the winter work. New displays emphasise the Gardner and National engine collections, and new additions have been made to the Steam engine section.

A Heat Laboratory is being prepared to house our range of Dynamometer equipped engines.

Many of these are ex-college engines, and we hope to interest future young engineers to use the test facilities. Engines will include BMC petrol, Crossley and Gardner Diesels, and a Rover Gas Turbine.

The 2016 season sees the Museum opening every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday until the end of October.

Our Volunteers are only too pleased to talk about the various exhibits, but museums are always trying to improve; maybe you can help us with your knowledge and recollections of what was one of the most important British industries!

Special events occur during the year, so keep an eye on www.enginemuseum.org for details.

Don’t forget!

Copy deadline for the next issue:

Thursday 12 May Tel: 01625 879611 email: info@insidemagazines.co.uk

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Inside Guide Tuesday 5 April North Cheshire Photographic Society Big Night Speaker – Developing a Personal Photographic Style

by Doug Chinnery. In this presentation Doug will help us adjust our thinking to create images which go beyond social media and competition judges. For more information visit www.ncps.org.uk Poynton Civic Centre 7.30 for 8pm start

Wednesday 6 April Poynton Philatelic Society. Guest speaker Yvonne Wheatley on Czechoslovakia. The North Room, Poynton Community Centre, Park Lane, Poynton 7.30pm

Saturday 9 April Cheshire Sinfonia. Beautiful Music in Bramhall.

Mozart: Overture ‘Cosi Fan Tutte’, Schubert: Symphony No.3 in D, Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D, op.61 (Soloist – Steven Wilkie). Tickets: £12 (Full), £10 (concessions), £3 (under 18) available from 01282 844906 or at the door.

St Michael’s Parish Church, Robins Lane, Bramhall

Saturday 9 April Northern Chamber Orchestra: NCO Soloists. Winds of Change, including Mozart, Françaix and Schubert.

Tickets: £16/£13; £7 students; 18s & under free (adjacent free parking) From NCO Box Office 0161 247 2220; Macclesfield VIC, Town Hall 01625 378123; Silk Museum Shop Heritage Centre & on the door. www.ncorch.co.uk Heritage Centre, Roe Street, Macclesfield 7.30pm

Tuesday 12 April East Cheshire NT Lecture - ‘North West Air Ambulance Service’ Speaker Victor Crawford. St Michael’s Church Hall, St Michaels Avenue, Bramhall 2pm

Wednesday 13 April Poynton In Business meeting. Venue to be confirmed, to be posted on PIB website. Please visit www.poyntoninbusiness.co.uk for venue details, times, details and membership benefits.

Wednesday 13 April Friends’ Quiz Night. Back by popular demand.

Refreshments included. £4/£3 members, pay on the door. The Old Sunday School, Roe Street, Macclesfield 7.30pm.

Compiled by Claire Hawker e: claire@insidemagazines.co.uk

A guide to selected events in East Cheshire during April & May Thursday 14 April ‘The Rescue Chair’ at Simply Books. Join Sue for storytelling and creative activities. Everyone welcome... mums, dads and grandparents. We entertain the children whilst you sit and relax in the cafe - what more could you ask for? Suitable for children aged 3-7 years.

Tickets: £5 (includes a complimentary drink for an accompanying adult and £2 off any children’s book) To book call in the shop, tel 0161 439 1436 or email events@simplybooks.info Simply Books, Bramhall 10am to 10.45am

Thursday 14 April Worth Probus Club. John Hooley will speak to us on ‘The Royal Yacht Britannia and her Predecessors’.

Please contact Peter Owen on 01625 871574 or peterowen49@btinternet.com for further details.

St George’s Church Hall, Poynton 2pm

Thursday 14 April Poynton Home Gardeners Club. George Pilkington of Nurturing Nature will talk on Feeding Wild Garden Birds.

Further details from Elaine on 01625 871603 or visit www.poyntongardenclub.co.uk Visitors are always welcome at £2 per meeting.

Royal British Legion Club, St. George’s Road West, Poynton 7.30pm

Thursday 14 April Tap Tap Theatre at Macclesfield Library presents: Captain Morgan and The Sands of Time Two actors. Forty-four characters - Captain Morgan and First Mate Hammond quest for the secrets of time-travel in a rip-roaring adventure comedy. All the monsters, sword fights and shivered timbers you would expect from a Hollywood blockbuster, delivered by two actors and one multi-instrumentalist. Tickets: £5 to £10 Family Ticket: £20 Discounts for Library Card Holders.

(01625) 374000 Macclesfield Library, Jordangate, Macclesfield SK10 1EE 7.30pm

Saturday 16 April Prestbury Choral Society performs Handel’s Israel in Egypt, a highly entertaining tour de force produced for an opera audience in 1739. For more information please call our secretary on 01625 262249 St Bartholomew’s Church, Wilmslow 7.30pm Continued over...

53

inside guide

Monday 18 April

Wednesday 20 April

Mart Rodger Manchester Jazz

Poynton Philatelic Society. Guest speaker, Mr Richard Farman, displaying his collecting interest of Napoleonic Prisoners of War. The North Room, Poynton Community Centre, Park Lane, Poynton 7.30pm

Poynton British Legion, Georges Road, Poynton 7.30pm

Mon 18 to Sat 23 April Poynton Players presents ‘One Last Card Trick, a contemporary comedy by Stuart Permutt. Ticket prices Monday only £7.50, Tues-Sat £8.50 Tickets can be booked online, full details www.poyntonplayers.co.uk, or by phone 0333 666 3366 Poynton Players, George’s Rd West, Poynton

Tuesday 19 April Poynton U3A General Meeting. Keith Warrender will give a talk entitled The Battle for Kinder Scout.

Entrance £1 including refreshments. For more information contact enquiries@poyntonu3a.org.uk Main Hall, Poynton Civic Centre 2pm to 4pm

Tuesday 19 April Poynton Flower Club. Flower demonstration by Mrs. Anne Russell from Middlewich - From Dogs to Dogwood.

Visitors welcome, admission £5.

Poynton Civic Hall 7.30pm

Tue 19 to Sat 23 April Join Woodford Players for a hilarious ride on the Titfield Thunderbolt.Tickets are available via the Woodford Players website just click on the Ticket source icon (no booking fee) or by phone on 0333 666 3366 (booking fee of £1.50 ). We look forward to making it a journey that you will never forget!

Woodford Community Centre 7.30pm

Poynton Morning Townswomen’s Guild. Speaker Jo Peters on The Artisan Bakery (The Bramhall Bakery) Contact Kath on 0161 456 5299 Poynton Civic Hall 10am to 12noon

Friday 22 April Poynton Town Mayor’s at Home Charity Night – Glamour Masquerade Evening. Dress to feel as if you were going to the Oscars, with a mask included! Buffet, musical entertainment from Desert Wind, raffle and auctions in aid of the Mayor’s chosen charity of Poynton Community Centre. Ticket only event! Tickets £15, including one drink upon arrival, available from Mates DIY 876 249 and Poynton Civic Hall 872 238 Poynton Community Centre 7pm to late.

Fri 22 and Sat 23 April Poynton Gilbert & Sullivan Society’s Annual Spring Concert. South Sea Island Discs, featuring a medley of songs from the musical South Pacific as well as a selection of songs from the upcoming October annual stage show Utopia Limited. Tickets are £8 for adults and £5 for children, available from 01625 265880 tickets@poyntongands.co.uk MATES (Park Lane) or on the door. Poynton Royal British Legion, George’s Road West 7.30pm

Saturday 23 April

‘Coffee and Conversation.’ Join Andrew for half-an-hour of lively conversation about books in the news. Hear what’s happening in the shop and pick up suggestions for a few ‘good reads.’ Price: £2.50 (towards your coffee and homemade cake!)

St George’s Singers present Sounds and Sweet Airs, a programme of music and song spanning four centuries to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. With soprano Ella Taylor and lutenist James Akers. Tickets £12, £10 concession, £2 students and children. Email tickets@st-georges-singers.org.uk or phone 01663 764012, or book and pay online at www.st-georges-singers.org.uk

Simply Books, Bramhall 11am

St George’s Church, Poynton 7.30pm

Wednesday 20 April

Saturday 23 April

Lunchtime Concert with Elliot Gresty/clarinet and Russell Lomas/piano. Admission by programme £5, light lunches available from 12 noon. For further information telephone 01625 586713

The Laurence Singers present their annual spring concert - ‘GLORIOUS!’ Come and hear all your favourite sacred, choral pieces sung in a beautiful setting.

Tickets £9 (£8 conc) available on the door or call 0161 439 4293 or 0161 928 2769, or email enquiries@thelaurencesingers.co.uk

Wednesday 20 April

Alderley Edge Methodist Church, lunch from 12 noon, performance 1pm

54

Thursday 21 April

Wilmslow United Reformed Church 7.30pm

inside guide

Saturday 23 April

Thursday 28 April

The Houghton Weavers Concert - Keep Folk Smiling.

This is a Charity Concert organised by The Rotary and Inner Wheel Clubs of Hazel Grove. Tickets are £15 from Ian or Julie Tel: 01625 871089

Worth Probus Club AGM. Please contact Peter Owen on 01625871574 or peterowen49@btinternet.com for further details.

Poynton Civic Hall 7.30pm

Saturday 23 April Wilmslow Symphony Orchestra ‘St George’s Day Concert’ Elgar : Cockaigne Overture, Vaughan Williams : Fantasia on Greensleeves, Elgar : Pomp and Circumstance March No.5, arr.Thomason : Rule, Britannia!, Elgar : Symphony No.1. Tickets £12, £10 Concessions, £2 Under 12’s.

Evans Hall, Wilmslow Leisure Centre 7.45pm

Saturday 23 April Poynton Ceilidhs – Monkey Box, caller TBC– traditional dancing to live music, experience not necessary!

Dances are all explained by the callers and walked through before music starts playing. Bar till 11pm.

Tickets £8 on the door, half price for under 16s (cash only). To reserve or purchase tickets in advance visit www.poyntonceilidh.co.uk Poynton Community Centre, Park Lane doors open 7.45pm for 8pm start

Sunday 24 April Eggstravaganza! - The latest show from the talented youngsters of Bollington Festival Music Theatre performed by a cast aged 7 to 18. The performance lasts an hour and is suitable for all ages. More information at www.bollingtonartscentre.co.uk and tickets £7 (children £3.50) are available on the door.

St George’s Church Hall, Poynton 2pm

Thursday 28 April East Cheshire NT Lecture - ‘Urban Wildlife’ Speaker Brian Hallworth St Michael’s Church Hall, St Michaels Avenue, Bramhall 7.30pm

Thursday 28 April Wilmslow Guild Natural History Society is holding an illustrated talk on ‘British Bats’, by Tony Parker. Come and learn about these fascinating, protected creatures.

Visitors are welcome (£4).

Wilmslow Guild, 1 Bourne Street, Wilmslow 7.45pm

Sat 30 Apr to Sun 8 May Bluebell Walks at Rode Hall, and Farmers’ Market on Sat 7 May 9am-1.30pm. Experience one of the finest Bluebell Walks in the North West. £5 adults, £1 children, under 5s free.

T: 01270 873 237, enquiries@rodehall.co.uk, www.rodehall.co.uk Rode Hall & Gardens, Cheshire ST7 3Qp 11am to 4pm

Wednesday 4 May

Bollington Arts Centre 2.30pm and 5pm

Poynton Philatelic Society. Guest speaker Mr Graham Booth from Worthing, Sussex on Admiral Byrd, five Atlantic Voyages. This is an excellent display plotting the voyages into the frozen wastes in the 1930’s and his subsequent findings. Well worth a visit to our meeting.

Mon 25 to Sat 30 April

The North Room, Poynton Community Centre, Park Lane, Poynton 7.30pm

Singin’ in the Rain – a sparkling musical. Call the box office for tickets and more information 0161 439 0505

Friday 6 May

Brookdale Club & Theatre, Bramhall 7.30pm (Saturday Matinee 2.15pm)

Tuesday 26 April North Cheshire Photographic Society – ‘More than Mountains’ with Tom Dodd. Well known for his iconic mountain photography, Tom will take us through landscapes, nature, people and travel with a range of colour and monochrome prints. For more information visit www.ncps.org.uk Poynton Civic Centre 7.30 for 8pm start

Poynton Players presents ‘An Audience with Allan Beswick’, a one man show. Ticket price £8.50 Tickets can be booked online, full details www.poyntonplayers.co.uk, or by phone 0333 666 3366 Poynton Players, George’s Rd West, Poynton

Saturday 7 May Craft Fair. Browse and buy a variety of locally made products. Free Entry.

The Old Sunday School, Roe Street, Macclesfield 10am to 4pm Continued over...

55

inside guide

Sat 7 to Sat 14 May

Sunday 15 May

Wilmslow Green Room Theatre presents ‘Quartet’ by Ronald Harwood, directed by Hamish Lawson.

Duck Race and Family Fun Day organised by Bramhall & Woodford Rotary.

For further information please visit www.wgrsoc.org.uk or call the Box Office on 01625 540 933

Bramhall Park 11am onwards

Sunday 8 May

Mart Rodger Manchester Jazz

Plant Hunters’ Fair. Half price entry to the Gardens & Plant Fair £3

Poynton British Legion, Georges Road, Poynton 7.30pm

Adlington Hall, Mill Lane, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK10 4LF 10.30am to 4pm

Tuesday 17 May

Tuesday 10 May

Poynton U3A General Meeting. Andrew Platt will give a talk entitled `It`s A Prison Life`.

Coach trip to Lichfield and the National Memorial Arboretum organised by the Friends of St. George.

Departure is at 9.30am, we aim to return about 6.30pm. Tickets £16 available from the Parish Office, St. George’s Hall.

Entrance £1 including refreshments. For more information contact enquiries@poyntonu3a.org.uk

Depart from London Road, opposite the Kingfisher at 9.30am

Thursday 12 May Worth Probus Club. Max Clarke will speak to us on ‘The Idatorial Trail (Sled Race)’ Please contact Peter Owen on 01625871574 or peterowen49@btinternet.com for further details.

St George’s Church Hall, Poynton 2pm

Thursday, 12 May Poynton Home Gardeners Club. Kevin Pratt from Hazel Grove will talk about A Plantsman’s Garden. Further details from Elaine on 01625 871603 or visit www.poyntongardenclub.co.uk Visitors are always welcome at £2 per meeting.

Royal British Legion Club, St. George’s Road West, Poynton 7.30pm

Saturday 14 May Northern Chamber Orchestra with Craig Ogden, guitar. Season Finale - Springtime in Italy, including Corelli, Puccini, Vivaldi and more. Tickets: £16 / £13; £7 students; 18s & under free (adjacent free parking) From NCO Box Office 0161 247 2220; Macclesfield VIC, Town Hall 01625 378123; Silk Museum Shop Heritage Centre & ON THE DOOR www.ncorch.co.uk Heritage Centre, Roe Street, Macclesfield 7.30pm

Saturday 14 May Stockport Symphony Hall presents Spectacular Spain.

Tickets on the door £10 (£8 concessions) Stockport Town Hall 7.30pm

56

Monday 16 May

Main Hall, Poynton Civic Centre 2pm to 4pm

Wednesday 18 May Poynton Philatelic Society – change to the issued programme as our guest speaker Mr Edward Klempka is unfortunately away. Our Chairman Mr Jamie Smith is stepping into the ‘limelight’ to display his collection of Egypt. There will be something for all here, with a good selection of Wartime correspondence, etc.

The North Room, Poynton Community Centre, Park Lane, Poynton 7.30pm

Thursday 19 May Poynton Morning Townswomen’s Guild. Speakers Nick and Paul Bianchi on the History of Arighi Bianchi.

Contact Kath on 0161 456 5299 Poynton Civic Hall 10am to 12noon

Saturday 21 May Alderley Edge May Fair - Parade through the village at 11am leading to the park where there will be food, drink, entertainment, stalls, etc. until 5pm. Admission free.

Also free parking on the football field on Chorley Hall Lane.

Alderley Edge Park 11am to 5pm

Saturday 21 May Stitch and Craftsmanship in Cheshire – The Chelford & North Cheshire Embroiderers’ Guild Exhibition & Textile Fair. Highlighting the exciting world of modern textiles and stitch plus traders’ stalls, workshops and refreshments. Admission £4. Enquiries 01625 858172 workshop bookings 01625 860484 www.chelfordstitchers.blogspot.co.uk Chelford Village Hall, SK11 9AS from 10am to 4pm

Sunday 22 May Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life in Cheshire – 5k Stockport Run. Women’s event to raise money in a non-competitive 5k run. To enter Race for Life’s 5k, 10k or Pretty Muddy events in the North West, visit raceforlife.org or call 0300 123 0770.

Woodbank Park, Stockport

Thursday 26 May Worth Probus Club. Alan Clarke will speak to us on ‘Air Crashes in the Peak District’. Please contact Peter Owen on 01625871574 or peterowen49@btinternet.com for further details.

St George’s Church Hall, Poynton 2pm

Saturday 28 May Chorale and Cheshire Sinfonia. Beautiful Music in Bramhall. Beethoven: Symphony No. 4 in B flat, Haydn: Nelson Mass.

Tickets: £12 (Full), £10 (concessions), £3 (under 18) available from 01282 844906 or at the door.

St Michael’s Parish Church, Robins Lane, Bramhall

inside guide

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■■ Inside Bollington, Prestbury & Tytherington ■■ Inside Bramhall ■■ Inside Hazel Grove & High Lane ■■ Inside Marple ■■ Inside Poynton ■■ Inside Wilmslow & Alderley Edge

Useful Numbers Open Hands Transport

Churches Lostock Christian Fellowship

01625 260728

Poynton Baptist Church

01625 859036

Leisure Centre

Poynton Christian Fellowship

01625 859170

Poynton

St Paul’s RC Church

01625 872606

Library

Poynton Methodist Church

01625 871592

Poynton Library

Poynton Parish Church

01625 850524

Local Government

(St Georges with St Martin’s)

MP’s Constituency Office

Dentists

E. Cheshire Council Info Services

London Road Dental Surgery

01625 850828

Poynton Town Council

Park Lane Dental Practice

01625 874667

Chester Rd Dental Care

01625 876900

Pharmacists

Phoenix Dental Practice

01625 875 074

Doctors Priorslegh Medical Centre

01625 872299

McIlvride Medical Practice

01625 872134

Poynton Clinic

01625 875618

Helplines Alcoholics Anonymous

0845 7697555

Al-Anon

02074 030888

Childline Crimestoppers RSPCA Samaritans Citizens Advice Bureau

0800 1111 0800 555111 0300 1234999 116 123 08444 111444

Police Station (non-emergency)

NHS Non-Emergency

101

Post Offices Poynton Post Office

01625 850262

Schools Lostock Hall Primary School

01625 383838

Lower Park Primary School

01625 872560

St Paul’s RC Primary School

01625 383040

Vernon Primary School

01625 872556

Worth Primary School

01625 875900

Poynton High School

01625 871811

Train Information

0161 228 7811 0845 748 4950

Utilities

Hospitals Stepping Hill Hospital

01625 872238 01625 872214

Bus Information

Macclesfield District General Hospital

01625 422848 0300 123 5500

01625 873955

Directory Enquiries

01625 874225

01625 374818

L Rowland & Co

Travel

You & Yours Counselling

01625 876442

Co-op Pharmacy

Citizens Advice Bureau (Macclesfield) 01625 432847 118 500

01625 878589

01625 421000

Electricity – Power Loss

0161 483 1010

Gas – Emergency

111

0800 195 4141 0800 111 999

Water Mains

0845 746 2200

Environment Agency Floodline

0845 988 1188

Classified Index ACCOUNTANTS

Nolan James Chartered Accountants

ADULT EDUCATION

The Cheadle & Marple Adult College

29 Inside Back

BOOKSHOPS

Simply Books

29

Prickly Pear

41

JS Services Ken Wood & Son S.P. Lee & Co Whitehall Builders

25 58 34 12

BUILDING SOCIETIES

Vernon Building Society

26

CARDS & GIFTS Lozziwoo

42

CARE HOMES & SERVICES Alice Chilton In-Home Care CLS Parklands

CARPETS & FLOORING Carpet Creations

CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANING Safeclean Zap-Clean Kidszone

Poynton British Legion Poynton Players Present One Last Card Trick

DELICATESSENS

The Cheshire Smokehouse

DRAINAGE

Pure Clean Drainage Solutions

DRIVEWAYS

Will’s Driveway Cleaning

EDUCATION

Kip McGrath Education Centre

FURNITURE

Kitchen Refinishing

GARDEN MAINTENANCE

62

NRG Garden Services Robinson Garden Maintenance

Simplicity Granite

KITCHEN RESPRAYING Kitchen Refinishing Matt Finish

LAWN CARE

21

LOCKSMITHS

60 24

LOFT LADDERS

Inside Front

Diamond Home Support

Poynton Music School Poynton Pottery

KITCHENS

Greensleeves Greenthumb Jigsaw Lawn Care Lawnkeeper Limited

49

CLEANERS

CREATIVE ARTS CLASSES

Ken Wood & Son Trevor Garner

Crimeguard Security More Than Loft Ladders Ecodazzle

PAINTING & DECORATING

The Back Pain Centre

Mike Knibb Tech Teacher

Diamond Home Support

36 11

45

CHIROPRACTORS

COMPUTER & INTERNET

K&J Home & Garden Maintenance Trevor Garner

OVEN CLEANING

CHILDCARE

CLUBS & ENTERTAINMENT

HOME IMPROVEMENT & PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

JOINERY

BUILDING SERVICES

Poynton Christian Fellowship

Carl Howard Hair Serenity The Cut

HOME SERVICES

BOUTIQUES

CHURCHES

HAIR & BEAUTY

Deano Kathy Shaw

PHOTOGRAPHY

Richard Jackson Photography

51

PHYSIOTHERAPY

57 49

PIANO TUITION

Park Lane Physiotherapy Garth Aspinall Piano Tuition

PLUMBING & HEATING 58 27

Cheshire Heat David Hanson

RESTAURANTS 19 34

Copper Lounge Tom Yam

ROOFING 35

Poynton Roofing

SECURITY 60

Crimeguard Security

SOFT FURNISHINGS 52

Kathy Shaw

SOLICITORS/LEGAL SERVICES 12 50 18 58

Hale Solicitors Manners Pimblett Slater & Gordon

TREE SERVICES

Swift Tree & Arboricultural Services

WINDOW & CONSERVATORY REPAIRS The Window Repair Centre

34 49 42 57 57 51 58 57 8 50 18 5 17 34 38 59 45 52 59 58 31 42 61 24 18 9 22 12 59 58 50 Back cover 30 29 37