Lancashire local 37

Issue. 37 - November 2017 www.facebook.com/LancsLocal | www.Lancashire-Local.com | www.twitter.com/@lancslocal

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Sex offender, 64, wanted

POLICE are appealing for information to trace a sex offender who is now wanted. Francis Doherty, 64, formerly of Rawtenstall, was jailed for three years in 2005 for sexual assault on a boy under 13.

He is now wanted for breach of notification requirements and for recall to prison.

Doherty is known to frequent Burnley, Accrington, Rossendale and Manchester. He was sighted in Manchester earlier this month and may still be in the city centre.

Detective Sgt Steve Munro, of the East Sex Offender Management Unit, said: “Doherty is wanted for a breach of the notification requirements and for recall to prison.

I would appeal to anyone who sees him or knows where he might be to get in touch with us.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting log 0430 of October 27th.

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University dean and his partner

jailed for half a

million pound fraud

A former university dean and his lover have been jailed after being convicted of several counts of fraud.

Robert Smedley, 52 and Christopher Joynson, 34, both of Frankby Road, West Kirkby, were each given five years in prison at Liverpool Crown Court today (Monday, October 30) after previously being found guilty earlier this month.

Between autumn 2009 and summer 2014, the pair managed to scam Edge Hill University out of £513,000 after Smedley created a job for Joynson, without conducting the adequate background checks, claiming they were not relevant to the role. Had these checks been completed, they would have revealed Joynson had previously received two police cautions for lying on previous job applications. He had also embellished his application for the Edge Hill role of Partnership Development Officer, claiming he had work experience relevant to the position which was false. Smedley, who was the Dean of the Faculty of Education at the time, failed to declare to his employers that he was in a relationship with Joynson when he applied to work at Edge Hill.

During their trial, the pair continued to protest that they were just friends.

During Joynson’s employment he invoiced the university for several

hours of work that he had not completed, transferring around £200,000 into Smedley’s bank account.

Finance workers at the university became suspicious when an accountant noticed a large consultancy payment being made to the same bank account as a member of staff's salary.

DC David Wainwright from Lancashire’s Economic Crime Unit

said: “Smedley was a member of senior management and abused that position for personal gain. He deceived the university, in particular colleagues he had known for many years and employed Joynson, his lover, in a position that he had simply devised himself.

“Joynson invoiced the university for hours and hours of work that he had not undertaken, sharing the

money with Smedley. They used the cash towards expensive home improvements including a luxury kitchen.

“The financial impact on the university - the innocent victim in all this - cannot be underestimated; between the pair of them, they managed to defraud Edge Hill of over half a million pounds which could have been put to much better use.”

Man charged with murder

Detectives have charged a man with murder following a shooting in Oswaldtwistle.

Police were called around 8.25pm on Wednesday (October 25) to a report a man had been shot in Barnard Close.

The victim, Lee Holt, 32, from

Accrington, suffered a single shot wound to his chest.

He was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital where he sadly died a short time later.

After the incident a 14-year-old boy from Oswaldtwistle was arrested on suspicion of murder.

A day later a second man, aged 49 and also from Oswaldtwistle, was arrested on suspicion of murder.

The 49-year-old man was released on Saturday (October 28) but following further enquiries re-arrested.

Matthew Moseley, 49, of Barnard Close, Oswaldtwistle, was last night

(Monday, October 30) charged with murder.

He has been remanded to appear at Blackburn Magistrates' Court this morning (Tuesday, Oct 31st).

The 14-year-old boy was earlier bailed to November 22 by police.

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Pendle marks its commitment to ending

violence against women and girls

Pendle Council joined forces with a number of organisations to mark their commitment to ending violence against women and girls.

All councils in Lancashire have been awarded White Ribbon status making Lancashire the first White Ribbon county in the UK. On Tuesday 3 October Councillor Mohammed Iqbal, Leader of Pendle Council, Dean Langton Strategic Director and Philip Mousdale, Corporate Director signed a white ribbon at Nelson Town Hall.

By doing so they pledged never to

commit, condone, or remain silent about men’s violence against women in all its forms.

They were joined by representatives from organisations including Lancashire Victims’ Service, Police, Homestart Pendle, Positive Action in the Community and Pendle Women’s Refuge.

Councillor Iqbal said: “The White Ribbon Campaign is the largest global effort of men working to end male violence against women and we’re very proud to join Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner to

support it. “It’s important that we work with partner organisations to spread the word that we won’t stand for it in any form.”

Councillor David Whipp, Chairman of Pendle Community Safety Partnership; Philip Mousdale, Corporate Director; Geoff Whitehead, Community Safety Manager and Nick Harbour, Business Support Officer, are Pendle Council’s White Ribbon ambassadors.

Councillor Whipp added: “Supporting vulnerable people is a key priority for us and our Community Safety

Partnership plan has a particular focus on domestic violence. “One in four women will encounter it in their lifetime - not only does its devastating reach become clear, but so does the silence surrounding it.

“Our White Ribbon action plan raises awareness of the Campaign, encourages people to take a stand and ensures people who need support know where they can get it. “ Men who support the Campaign wear a white ribbon as a symbol that they oppose violence against women.

Anyone affected by domestic violence is urged to contact Pendle Domestic Violence Initiative on (01282) 726 000.

More information is available on the website – www. pdvi.org.uk. Residents can pledge their support for the campaign online and find out more at www.whiteribbon. org.uk/pledge

Lancashire Disability Champion launches Safety in Town scheme A scheme to improve safety for people with disabilities and anyone who feels vulnerable when out and about in Lancashire was launched this week.

County Councillor Peter Steen, Lancashire County Council's champion for disabled people, launched the Safety in Town programme at an event in Plungington Community Centre, Preston , yesterday.

Safety in Town, which has been developed by the Lancashire Learning Disability Partnership Board (LLDPB), ensures people can access welcoming and safe places to get help when they need it.

Libraries, shops, bus stations, community centres and other organisations have signed up to the scheme. They display the Safety in Town logo to let people know they are part of the programme.

County Councillor Steen said: "Safety in Town is an excellent idea. It's designed to reassure people as they will know there is always somewhere close by they can go for help if they need it.

"When they see any shops, bus stations and other buildings displaying the Safety in Town sticker, they can be reassured they will be welcomed by understanding people

in a safe place who have had training about the issues that people with disabilities and anyone else who feels vulnerable may face.

"Staff will help by contacting your friends, family members or carers who can come to get you if you need support or by calling the police if you need to report any crimes or incidents. They will wait with you until help arrives."

Safety in Town has been developed by people with disabilities who worked with LLDPB to outline what type of support they need while getting around.

Officers from Lancashire County Council, Lancashire Constabulary, Self Advocacy in Lancashire and other organisations who make up the board have been working with businesses, shops and other agencies to get the scheme up and running over the last two years.

They have also produced cards where people can keep their details handy in case they need to use them in a Safety in Town place.

County Councillor Steen added: "Shops, businesses and a range of organisations have shown tremendous support for Safety in Towns.

"They've been happy to display the signs and taken on board the tips we've given them about the type of support people will need.

"The more organisations who are on board with this scheme, the better it will be and I'd encourage even more to get in touch to support Safety in town.

"We hope this scheme will help disabled people and anyone else who may feel vulnerable when getting around to stay safe while they're out and about around Lancashire."

For more information about the Safety in Town scheme, visit : the LLDPB website http://www.lldpb.org/stay-safe/ safety-in-town/

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Council receives special commendation at National

Energy Efficiency and Healthy Homes Awards Blackburn with Darwen Council has received a special commendation for its work around energy efficiency for residents in the borough.

The Council received the plaudit in the ‘Council/Local Authority of the Year’ category at the National Energy Efficiency and Healthy Homes Awards 2017. The Council was nominated for the award by Firefly Energi who worked in partnership on the Central Heating Fund project. The Council received a special commendation and were presented with the award for their work in leading the Central Heating Fund project and for thier work with Cosy Homes in Lancashire (CHiL). CHiL provides people with access to cost effective ways of keeping their home warm. CHiL is a partnership of 15 Local Authorities in Lancashire, led by Blackburn with Darwen Council, offering residents in the region

Pictured with the award are: (back row, left to right) Cllr Suleman Khonat (Assistant Executive Member, Neighbourhood and Prevention Services), Sayyed Osman (Director Adult Services, Neighbourhoods and Community Protection) and (front row, left to right) Cllr Arshid Mahmood (Executive Member, Neighbourhood and Prevention Services), Peter Cooke (Service Lead, Strategic Housing).

Blackburn’s Grace Davies makes it through to X-Factor live shows

Congratulations to Blackburn’s Grace Davies who is through to the X-Factor’s live shows. Grace made it through after a nervewracking audition at the judge’s houses on Saturday’s TV show.

Grace is one of Sharon Osbourne’s three finalists, along with Holly Tandy and RaiElle Williams.

The Council is backing the 20-year-old singer from Langho and showing its support with ‘We’re backing Grace Davies’ messages on the digital screen in Blackburn town centre.

Outstanding rating for West

Lancashire Short Breaks Service

West Lancashire Short Breaks Service has been rated as outstanding by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

This service, run by Lancashire County Council, provides support to adults with learning and physical disabilities.

It gives their families and carers the opportunity to have a break from their caring role.

The centre is based at School Lane, Skelmersdale and can support up to six people at a time.

The length of time people use the service varies from single overnight stays to more extended breaks.

A team of caring and highly-trained staff supports people at the centre.

The single storey building has accessible accommodation with six spacious en-suite rooms. The specialist equipment ensures that people can live as independently as possible during their stay.

County Councillor Graham Gooch, cabinet member for adult services, said: "The outstanding rating is fantastic news for everyone involved

with West Lancashire Short Break Service. "Carers who support people with learning or physical disabilities put so much hard work and effort into what they do.

However, they sometimes need a break from their caring role, which is where services like this can help.

"The team at West Lancashire supports around 70 people and the outstanding rating shows they are providing the very highest standards of care.

"It's important that we have so many services across the county rated as good and outstanding.

"Well done to the staff at West Lancashire Short Breaks service, they have worked extremely hard and I'm pleased their efforts are paying off."

The inspectors praised West Lancashire Short Breaks service for its exceptional employee training programme, the positive and professional attitude of staff, an excellent standard of care and range of activities for guests who use the service. They also highlighted good

safeguarding procedures, excellent modern facilities and systems that ensure people who use the service have an opportunity to share their views and make a difference.

Nicola Clear, head of the county council's adult disability service, said: "It's tremendous that the hard work of the team at West Lancashire has been recognised, and that the service has been rated as outstanding.

"It's particularly pleasing to see the very positive comments from guests who use the service and their families.

The fact that inspectors found the service to be safe, well-led and effective is also great news and very encouraging to the whole team.

"Everyone at the service shows 100% commitment and they should be proud of playing their part in this latest success. Congratulations to everyone involved."

To view copies of the CQC inspection report for West Lancashire Short Breaks Service, visit the CQC website http://www.cqc.org.uk/ location/1-339944250

access to grants, advice and support on a range of money saving energy measures, to help them heat and insulate their home.

The National Energy Efficiency Awards were launched in July 2015 following the changes in Government Energy Efficiency Policy. The aim

of the awards is to provide public recognition for work on energy efficiency schemes.

To find out more about grant assistance for energy efficiency contact Cosy Homes in Lancashire (CHiL) on 0330 6061488 or visit www.chil.uk.com

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Free exhibition event for

blind and visually impaired Towneley Hall in Burnley has joined forces with a local Lions club to stage an exhibition with a difference.

The historic hall will be hosting a one-day only exhibition for blind and visually impaired people on Saturday, 18th November, which has been organised by members from Burnley Lions Club.

The free exhibition, running between 10am and 4pm, will bring together an array of service providers and leading technology developers to offer a onestop shop for information, support and advice.

Ken Darwen, Towneley Hall manager, said: “We are delighted to be working with Lions Club to stage this event, which will be offering a combination of advice, support and social activities.

“This will also be a great opportunity for people to find out more about the services that are available, and to chat to others in a similar situation.

“We’d like as many people as possible to come along to our exhibition event.

Whether you have sight loss yourself,

or you know someone who has, this is an opportunity not to be missed.”

There will be representatives from Braille IT, who will be giving simple demonstrations in the use of Braille as well ‘brailleing’ out complimentary personal Christmas cards.

The falls prevention team from 5 Falls Unit will share their top tips on keeping safe and how to avoid tripping over. It will also be changing ferrules, the bottom of walking sticks, free of charge.

Sight loss support organisations and charities including Blind Society, the Royal National Institute of Blind People, Macular Support and Guide Dogs for the Blind will be on hand to offer their help and advice.

A range of businesses will be showcasing their latest inventions such as electronic magnifiers, text-to speech readers, Bluetooth-based apps for easier mobility, and accessibility software for computers and tablets.

For more information please contact Frank from Burnley Lions Club on 01282 702348.

New home identifed for church

A town centre church that is in need of repair is set for a new home on Friday Street after a lengthy search for a site that will help them to put more back into the community.

Chorley United Reformed Church, ​ on Hollinshead Street, had

commissioned a report on how to develop its future ambitions to extend the services it offers and had made the decision that it needed a new church building with additional facilities for its expanding outreach programme.

It turned to Chorley Council for help

in finding an alternative site and it looks like a deal will be offered that will benefit the church congregation and provide much-needed parking spaces close to the shopping streets.

The Minister, the Rev Martin Whiffen, said: “We have been looking

into various options for a number of years now and I believe we have found the right site for us on Friday Street. “We have been talking to the council about a land swap and building a new church which will cut our costs considerably enabling us to expand our outreach work such as wrap around care for the elderly and vulnerable, healthy eating courses, IT literacy sessions and much more.

“We’re looking forward to progressing this move, but I can reassure everyone that we will be taking the important parts of the building with us, such as the stained glass, war memorials etc and we plan to create a new memorial garden at the new church so for those who wish, ashes of their loved ones will be reverently disinterred and then reinterred in the new garden as part of a Service of Dedication. “We are very fortunate to have a council which is committed to improving our town and the development will be a great for the local community.” The new location for the church looks set to be on Friday Street north car park (adjacent to the main car park on Friday Street). The church and council are now working through a detailed design process in preparation for submitting a planning application.

The church congregation could move as early as next Easter with the council’s Bengal Street offices a potential temporary home until the new church is built.

Councillor Alistair Bradley, Leader of Chorley Council, said: ““Having been contacted by the church, we were more than happy to try to help them find an alternative location and their current site is an ideal one for us.

“It is a prime area within our town centre and although there won’t be any gain in spaces as the new site will take up spaces on Friday Street – it moves those spaces to within a 30 second walk of the Market Walk development.

“The church looked at a number of sites and they have chosen Friday Street because it meets their criteria of visibility, being close to the town

centre and in an area undergoing development and modernisation.

“We are pleased we are able to help the church move forward with their plans as I’m sure it’s not a decision

they’ve taken lightly.”

Work to open up the existing church car park to shoppers is about to be completed creating more spaces on the Hollinshead Street car park.

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Further consultation on proposed Parliamentary boundary changes

A new round of public consultation has been launched by the Boundary Commission for England as part of a national review that could change the shape of Burnley’s Parliamentary boundary.

Interested parties have until 11th December to comment on the revised proposals. The best way to do this is via the Boundary Commission website www.bce2018.org.ukwhich also has further information about the review.

Details about proposed changes to the Burnley Parliamentary boundary are on display in the reception area of Burnley Town Hall.

The review only affects the Parliamentary boundary – the area represented by an MP. It does not affect the borough boundary or the ward areas represented by local

councilors. An initial consultation was held in 2016 which generated almost 20,000 responses nationwide. Those responses were reviewed earlier this year and the proposals amended. It’s the revised proposals that are the subject of this latest consultation.

In Lancashire it is proposed to reduce the number of constituencies by two, to 14.

In the constituency of Burnley the revised proposal is to move Gawthorpe, Hapton with Park (both covering Padiham), and Rosegrove with Lowerhouse, wards into what is now Hyndburn, but change the constituency name to Accrington.

Initial plans to transfer Coalclough with Deerplay ward have been amended because it was argued the area had better links to Burnley rather than Accrington. Instead Rosegrove

with Lowerhouse is proposed to be transferred. The Burnley constituency would expand northwards, taking in eight wards currently in Pendle and stretching up to, and including, Brierfield and Nelson.

The changes would not affect the borough boundaries or representation on Burnley Council.

The Boundary Commission for England is considering constituency areas across England as part of a periodic review of the boundaries of all Parliamentary seats. The overall aim is to have constituencies that have between 71,031 and 78,507 people eligible to vote living in them.

The Boundary Commission is due to make its final report in September 2018. Any changes would come into effect at the next scheduled general election in 2022.

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Art & Soul Tattoo Studio

Art & Soul Tattoo Studio, a Leyland based, well established studio Nick opened in 2001. Through all the changes Leyland has seen this particular shop has weathered every storm.

With many, many regulars and more clients being added weekly this studio is very well settled. Nick Bleasdale found his passion in art at a young age, influenced by his \father, also a talented artist.

He spent many years travelling most of the country, often requested for personally, he could be on a journey to the top of Scotland at the start of the week and in devon by the end !

He settled in Leyland and attended Preston University of Central Lancashire where he obtained his degree in fine art and illustration.

By 1998 he and a friend were commissioned to paint a large 19ft mural in St. Georges shopping centre, Preston.

Nick’s first passion may well be tattoos, he is also accomplished with various other mediums including - airbrush, paintbrush, pencil or charcoal and loves to do portraits, murals, recently completing a full wall in the local Unicorn pub, Preston.

Nick’s studio is a friendly place, you are more than welcome to drop in for a chat, provided of course he’s not snowed under, as he often is, you can have a brew and get involved in some interesting discussions on many subjects !

In his spare time he enjoys playing numerous instruments, including guitar, mandolin, banjo, drums, penny whistle, flute and will often turn his hand to whatever instrument that has been passed to him. He also has being more than exemplary in the art. piece of art, you are more than a passion for magic and card tricks, So if you’re thinking of that special welcome to pop in for a chat.

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Sales E: sales@jac-media.com | T: 0115 8456423

Call for pubs to claim £1,000 relief towards their business rates bill

The relief is being offered as part of a government scheme to help reduce the cost of business rates for pubs in England with a rateable value of less than £100,000. The council has written to all 223 pubs in the city - with a rateable value of less than £100,000 – with details of the scheme but fewer than 50 have so far claimed the relief.

To be eligible for the relief the pubs

must be an occupied property with a rateable value of less than £100,000, be open to the public, allow drinking without the purchase of food, allow free entry other than when occasional entertainment is provided, and permit drinks to be purchased at the bar.

Councillor John Flanagan Manchester City Council’s Executive Member for Finance and Human Resources, said:

“I would urge all eligible pubs to take advantage of the scheme. It’s quick and easy to apply and it could save you up to £1,000 from your business rates bill. “ Details of the scheme are available online and applications for the relief can be made here: www. manchester.gov.uk/info/200012/ business_rates/2042/relief_and_ exemptions

Man jailed for life for murdering partner

A man has today (Tuesday, October 31st) been jailed for life for the murder of his partner.

Craig O’Sullivan, 40, of Chorcliffe Mews, Hollinshead Street, Chorley, admitted the charge when he appeared at Preston Crown Court yesterday (Monday, October 30th).

He was jailed for life with a minimum term of 17 and a half years before he will be eligible to apply for parole.

Police were called at around 10.25pm on Tuesday, May 23rd after the body of 30 year old Gemma Leeming (pictured below right) was found deceased in a bed at her room at an address on Hollinshead Street.

A post mortem examination showed she had been strangled with a ligature.

A ten pence piece had been placed on her right eye and the words ‘no brain’ written on her face in mascara and ‘you can’t have my brains’ on her chest. Police established that the writing on Gemma’s chest was written in her own blood.

O’Sullivan tried to cover the ligature marks on Gemma’s neck with makeup and bought new clothes the day after the murder to try and negate forensics linking him to the killing.

Police also recovered a bag of

clothing that he had tried to get rid of, including some of Gemma’s clothes stained with her blood.

Detective Inspector Paddy O’Neill from the Lancashire Police Force Major Investigation Team said: “Craig O’Sullivan is a vicious, manipulative and parasitic man, whose greed drove him to take Gemma’s life in the most sickening manner; all so that he could satisfy his addiction to Class A drugs.

“Witnesses told us that in the few weeks Gemma and O’Sullivan were together Gemma had been really happy.

Other witnesses told us that at the same time O’Sullivan had openly told them that he was only with Gemma because she had a ready supply of controlled drugs. In the hours prior to Gemma’s discovery, O’Sullivan spoke to a local officer and showed her a picture of someone other than Gemma, claiming that this lady was the love of his life.

“On the night of the murder we understand Gemma had been

paid a sum of money in O’Sullivan’s presence, and had also received a quantity of drugs that she was to sell on. Later that night we believe O’Sullivan strangled Gemma and stole the drugs and the money.

He then went to considerable efforts to hide what he had done and to avoid detection.

We believe he desecrated Gemma’s body in an attempt to persuade those who may judge him in the future that he was suffering from some sort of psychotic break-down.

“Gemma’s life story is indeed a sad one and it is clear she made some bad choices. However, she had two children and a wider family who loved her and who hoped one day for a reconciliation with her. O’Sullivan’s actions have robbed them of that opportunity.”

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Northlight welcomes Witnesses sought following

1.75m Lancashire

Adult Learning Centre

The 32m Northlight complex is welcoming Lancashire Adult Learning (LAL) as the first centre to open at the former Brierfield Mill this autumn. Funding organisations and partners who’ve made the new £1.75m centre possible saw behind the scenes on Wednesday 27 September, before the official opening in October.

Lancashire County Council and Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP) provided a total of £1.4m to support the relocation of Lancashire Adult Learning’s (LAL) from Chorley to Northlight thanks to LEP’s £750,000 of Growth Deal Skills Capital and £650,000 from Lancashire County Council.

The LEP has also invested £4.2million of Growth Deal funding into the overall Northlight scheme.

And Lancashire County Council is providing a total of £2.15m for Northlight including improved access from the M65 and re-developing part of the canalside for leisure.

Leader of Pendle Council, Councillor Iqbal said: “Thanks to the massive support we’ve had it’s been full speed ahead since October 2016.

“I’m delighted this fantastic facility has found a new home in Pendle in the beautiful Victorian office buildings of our iconic mill. What a location!”

“The fast pace of development on our ambitious project proves it has a great future,” explained Councillor Iqbal, who also chairs Pendle Enterprise And Regeneration (PEARL). PEARL is the joint venture company of Pendle Council and Barnfield Investment Properties which owns Northlight and more details on this and other transformational projects are on www. pearlpendle.co.uk. “It’s fantastic to see Northlight taking shape to create a new learning, living, working, leisure and cultural destination for the North West,” Councillor Iqbal stated.

The new LAL Centre will support a staggering 22,000 adult learners in Lancashire across 120 venues in the county. An official VIP launch event

will be held in October. Amanda Melton, Principal of both Lancashire Adult Learning and Nelson and Colne College, said: “The facilities at Northlight are of the highest standard and I am extremely impressed with the transformation that has taken place here over recent months. “I’m delighted that Lancashire Adult Learning is part of such an exciting project, one that will really enhance adult learning. “Our base will now be at Brierfield, but our provision will remain the same – providing adults across the county with an opportunity to re-discover a love for learning in one of our many community venues across Lancashire. “We have an extensive and exciting programme of courses designed to meet the needs of the local community.”

County Councillor Graham Gooch, Cabinet Member for Adult Services and Lancashire County Council, said: “We are delighted to be able to support the investment into the redevelopment of Northlight and improved access from the M65 will make it a prime site for the area.

“I am equally pleased that Lancashire Adult Learning will be the first centre to open as part of the complex, offering a wide range of courses and learning opportunities for the local community. “As Lancashire Adult Learning is one of the UK's largest adult education providers it is great for the people of Pendle to have this centre on their doorstep,” he said.

Tim Webber, Managing Director of Barnfield and a PEARL board member said: “We’ve worked intensely and with great care to sensitively restore and refurbish this elegant building for a new purpose.”

Tim Webber announced the next new developments for Northlight at the preview as work continues on the rest of the site to transform the whole complex. These include a residential planning submission in for 52 apartments. “As Pendle developers with our HQ within sight

of Northlight, it’s been a labour of love for us and we’re immensely proud of what we’ve achieved so far.

“It’s full speed ahead with Burnley FC in the Community which opens fantastic facilities here in the spring and In-Situ opening their innovative garage site as an arts and culture hub,” he said. Graham Cowley, Chair of the LEP Growth Deal Management Board said: “The £5million Growth Deal investment in the Northlight scheme reflects how the LEP supports projects which add real value to the county’s economy at both a local and regional level.

“Brierfield Mill is gradually being transformed into a thriving hub of education, leisure and residential services, which will benefit the whole of the local community, while the new LAL office will be able to deliver vital adult learning provision more effectively and efficiently across all of Lancashire.

“It’s a great example of how the Lancashire Growth Deal can help unlock investment and drive regeneration,” he said.

David Graham, Site Manager at Northlight for Barnfield described how his team has created the new modern and accessible LAL Centre whilst protecting some elegant period features. “Luckily for us the Victorians built it very robustly so there were no challenges to overcome!

“We’ve restored the curved oak staircase and the main feature window with its stunning view over the northlights of the weaving shed to the historic clock tower,” he said.

“We’ve kept parts of the vaulted ceiling intact, reconstructed curved windows and plaster work,” he explained. “It’s been wonderful to see how delighted Amanda Melton and her team have been with their new centre!” For anybody interested in joining LAL or finding out more about what we offer, please visit our website at www.lal.ac.uk and download our latest course guide.

collision in Blackburn

We are appealing for information following a collision in Blackburn in which a car collided with a lamppost.

The incident, involving a Mercedes 220, occurred at around 5.35pm on Saturday (October 28th) on Eden Park.

The 49-year-old driver of the vehicle was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital before being transferred to Blackpool Victoria Hospital, where he remains in a serious condition.

We would now like to speak to anybody who saw the incident and has not yet been spoken to, or who saw the vehicle in the moments before the collision occurred.

Sergeant Lee Harris, of the Roads

Policing Unit, said: “A man is in hospital following this collision and first and foremost we would like to wish him all the best with his recovery.

“We are now trying to piece together exactly what occurred and would like to hear from anybody who witnessed the incident but has not yet been spoken to by officers. Similarly, anybody who saw the vehicle in the moments before the collision occurred is asked to make contact, as they may be able to shed some light on what led

to it.”Anyone with information can contact Lancashire Police on 101 quoting log number 1092 of October 28th.

Alternatively the independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.

If you’re looking for a compassionate but affordable cremation service provider then look no further than Cremation Specialists - Simple Sendoffs.

Tom Neal, co-founder of Simple Send-offs explains “With many years’ experience in the funeral industry we were aware that there was an increasing demand for a low-cost cremation provider, hence Simple Send-offs was created”.

Joint co-founder Liz Blackmore continues “Since the company was launched in early 2016 we’ve gone from strength to strength and over that time we have found that people have used us for lots of different reasons; They liked the personal, simple, fussfree approach we provide. They felt that a traditional funeral would be a

‘waste of money’ and would prefer to leave their money to others They liked the fact that our Simple Cremation package offers all the practical elements for a cremation at a fraction of the cost of a High Street Funeral Director It suited the wishes of the deceased Many families liked the flexibility it provided and wanted time to organise a separate celebration at a later date It reduced the cost of repatriation” Tom stated “Over the past ten years the cost of a basic funeral has more than doubled to an average of £3,897 and as the ‘cost of dying’ has continued to rise we see the demand for our services continuing to increase.

There are big differences in what funeral directors charge and the lack

of clear, comparable information about prices makes an already stressful time, much worse for many people. At Simple Send-offs we have signed the Fair Funerals pledge (part of the Quaker Social Action campaign) therefore, we can reassure our customers that our transparent and low-cost pricing is genuine.”

Liz concluded “The feedback from our customers shows that they were delighted to receive the same service they would have expected from a High Street Funeral Director for a fraction of the cost and many have gone on to purchase our fully guaranteed prepayment plans”.

Please call Liz or Tom to discuss your needs on (0151) 630 0050 or 0800 246 5292

Simple Send-offs

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International conference to

launch Museum’s new study space A new study space that will give the public greater access to the collections at Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery is set to open with a special launch event and international conference. The new research room funded

by Arts Council England, incorporates an area for indepth study of the museum’s extensive collections by students, academics and visitors and a separate space where visitors can handle historic items and learn more about their history.

It will be opened on Thursday, November 9 with a special reception attended by Council representatives and academics including Dr Eric White of Princeton University, New Jersey.

A talk will be given by Ed Potten of Cambridge University on important new finds in the collection.

The event will then be followed by an international conference called ‘Something for my native town’: Recent Discoveries and New Directions in the R.E. Hart Collections.

It will be held on Friday, November 10 at the Blackburn University Centre and will look at the collection left to the town by Edwardian industrialist, Robert Edward Hart.

The Blackburn rope manufacturer bequeathed what has been described as ‘an almost entire history of the written word’ from Assyrian tablets dating back as far as c.2000 BC to works by William Morris, and a collection of Roman coins only rivalled by the one held by the British Museum.

The conference will include speakers from some of the world’s most respected institutions including Professor Nigel Morgan of the University of Cambridge, Dr. Scot McKendrick of the British Library, Dr. Catherine Yvard of the Victoria and Albert Museum, Dr. Rebecca Darley from Birkbeck College, University of London, Professor David McKitterick, Honorary Professor of Historical Bibliography at Trinity College, Cambridge and US based Dr Eric White of Princeton University, It has been organised by Dr Cynthia Johnston of the Institute of English Studies, School of Advanced Study,

University of London.

Dr Johnston and her colleagues have worked with Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery since 2015, leading academic research on the manuscript and rare book collection left to the museum in 1946.

Executive member for Culture, Leisure and Young People, Councillor Damian Talbot, said: This is a very exciting project and we’re delighted to be working with the University of London and the Arts Council to see that our wonderful collections are celebrated and made more accessible to the public and academics alike. I would like to thank Dr Johnston for helping to drive this project and highlighting the fantastic

legacy that was left to the people of Blackburn. Dr Cynthia Johnston from the University of London, said: The generous grant from Arts Council England will enable the museum to share the treasures of the Hart collection with the people it was intended for, the community that Edward Hart called, ‘the people of the town’. Our new research on the collections by internationally renowned scholars has shown that Edward Hart has indeed left his native town a gift of great historical significance. It’s just beginning to reveal its secrets to us.

Tickets for the conference are £15 | £10 concessions – book online: bit.ly/ blackburnhart

12% smoking target in new Lancashire Tobacco Plan A plan to cut smoking rates across Lancashire to 12% by 2022 has been approve today.

The Lancashire Tobacco Control Plan, which was agreed by the county council's cabinet, sets out a number of measures to build on the work that has been delivered so far to encourage people to quit smoking.

It highlights how Lancashire will support the national target of working towards a smoke-free generation.

Smoking is the biggest preventable cause of premature death and ill health in Lancashire. It kills more than 1,600 people aged 35 or over across the county each year.

This is greater than the total number of deaths from alcohol, obesity, illegal drugs, murder, suicide, road traffic accidents and HIV infection combined.

County Councillor Shaun Turner, lead member for health and adult services, said: "Smoking is one of the major factors that contributes to the huge health inequalities across our county.

"It leads to thousands of premature deaths and causes people to live in ill health for many years. In financial terms, the costs associated with it are astronomical too.

"The costs of smoking to Lancashire's economy are over £291m each year, including £50m to the NHS. "We've been successful in reducing smoking rates down to 16%, but we need to build on this.

"The measures set out in the tobacco control plan will help us cut smoking rates to 12% by 2022."

Some of the ways the council will reduce smoking include: • Commissioning new digital services

u s i n g cutting-edge technology to encourage people to quit • Carrying out more targeted work to encourage specific groups to quit. These include reducing smoking rates for pregnant women to 6% or less by 2022 and cutting smoking for manual and routine workers. Rates for this group are 23.9%, which is significantly higher compared to the rest of the county's population.

• Continuing to provide support to help people change smoking behavioural and nicotine replacement therapy to help them quit. For people who still struggle to stop, supporting people to use e-cigarettes as one of the tools to help them quit. Although not risk free, these cause significantly less harm to people's health than conventional cigarettes.

County Councillor Turner added: "We're continuing to commission our Quit Squad stop smoking services to reduce smoking rates. We'll also continue clamping down on underage tobacco, e-cigarette liquids and illicit tobacco sales.

"We're also bringing in new measures such as increasing the use of digital technology to help people quit and supporting the use of e-cigarettes as an alternative to help people stop smoking.

"Together with work to target specific groups where smoking rates are particularly high, we hope to achieve our aim to make Lancashire's next generation a smoke free generation."

For more information about the Tobacco Control Plan for Lancashire, visit the cabinet web page To quit smoking or find out more about Quit Squad, visit http://www. quitsquad.nhs.uk or call 0800 328 6297.

The Quit Squad service is commissioned and funded by Lancashire County Council and delivered by Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust.

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New Blackburn Restaurant

Italian Food and Drink with a love of the town at its heart A new restaurant is set to open in Blackburn at the end of November, to add to the growing choice of places to eat, drink and meet in the town.

Gioia Italiano will be based on Church Street in the building which many people will remember as the Blackburn Visitor Centre or the Blackburn Rovers store.

With around 70 covers, the venue is offering an authentic Italian experience, with a wine bar and uniquely, a deli counter that will offer quick service and take-away meals including piadina using cured meats and cheese with fresh salads and pastas.

Mike Hajewskyj, owner and partner in the project, said: We are thrilled to be bringing Gioia to Blackburn this year. I am Blackburn born and bred and we can see that Blackburn is at a very exciting stage in its rejuvenation.

We have been searching for the perfect venue and love the amount of space the new venue will offer including its conservatory and garden that backs onto the Cathedral grounds.

We hope that Gioia, with it’s relaxed atmosphere, will attract people who

want to meet for a quick drink, need a speedy lunch in the restaurant or want to grab a lunchtime bite from the deli counter, as well as a great evening venue for romantic meals, get-togethers and celebrations.

Our authentic Italian cuisine will also draw on lots of local produce from people that you already know and love. Much of our fish will be from Mayers and our meat from Tom Wood, both on Blackburn Market. We have such amazing suppliers on our doorstep, it’s great to be celebrating fantastic local suppliers too.

Gioia, along with its sumptuous selection of wines and cocktails, also plans to serve local craft beers, including those from Three B’s Brewery, Hopstar and The Big Clock

Brewery.

Mike added, We’ve had tremendous support for the project from other local businesses as well as the council and we are very excited to be bringing this concept to Blackburn. We hope to bring around 20 new jobs to the town too. With more restaurants and bars opening in the heart of town, Blackburn is finally rediscovering its heart and we want Gioia to be a key part of the town’s success.

Gioia opens at the end of November 2017 and will soon be taking bookings. For more information, you can follow Gioia on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter by searching for GioiaItaliano. You will be able to find their website at gioia-italiano. co.uk.

Pendle Council continues to give good value

for money says independent watchdog

Pendle Council’s accounts have once again been given a clean bill of health by an independent watchdog.

External auditor Grant Thornton looked at how well the Council managed its finances and whether it provided good value for money for residents.

And the Audit Findings report for 2016/17 states that the Council had proper arrangements in place to ensure it delivered value for money.

Vince Green, Financial Services Manager, said: “This is an impartial and objective report on our financial performance and accounting for our use of public funds. “The report gives the public an opportunity to learn how we manage public funds.

“Summing up our accounts the auditor considered that our draft accounts were of good quality and supported by excellent working papers.”

Councillor Tony Greaves, who oversees the Council’s finances, added: “It’s good to be officially recognised for managing our money well.

“These are difficult times - we have to balance our budget each year with fewer resources, but I’m happy the auditors acknowledge we do a good job.

“Our excellent staff once again produced the audited accounts ahead of the deadline.”

The auditor’s report is on Pendle Council’s website – www. pendle.gov.uk/auditletter

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Rat infested business

shut down by Pendle Council A Nelson business has been forced to close immediately after Pendle Council’s environmental health officers found rat droppings in the food preparation area. Dial a Samosa in Leeds Road, Nelson, makes samosas for businesses to sell on to their customers. The Council carried out an unannounced inspection on Tuesday 10th October and found rat droppings, gnawed wood, dirt and debris. Officers also spotted holes which gave rodents access to the building.

Philip Mousdale, Corporate Director, said: “We’re committed to ensuring businesses operate safely in our borough and we’ll take tough action where they’re found to put the public at risk. “It was clear that the building was rat infested so we had no option but to serve the owner with a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice to close the business with immediate

Winter is coming!

Winners have their gardens spruced up

Two Pendle residents have won professional garden tidy-ups thanks to a competition open to everyone on Pendle Council’s green bin scheme.

One of the winners, Brierfield resident Nigel Murray, said: “I’ve been on the garden waste scheme since the beginning and find it useful and good value. “It saves us time as you don’t have to take your garden waste to the tip!”

Nigel added: “I was shocked when I heard we’d won the garden tidy up – I didn’t even know we were automatically entered!”

Eric Phair and Thomas Johns, two of Pendle Council’s experienced gardeners, came out and did a two hour professional tidy-up to prepare Nigel’s garden for winter.

Councillor David Clegg who leads the Council’s Environmental Services explained: “Our team of gardeners are now offering their services to help local people spruce up their gardens.

“This competition gave our team a chance to show what a difference they can make in such a short time.

“They’re green-fingered experts

in tree maintenance, turfing, grass cutting, hedge trimming and keeping shrub and flower borders looking good,” he added.

Keith Higson, who’s in charge of Pendle’s park gardeners, said: “Anyone who’d like to find out about our gardening services can ask us for a free quotation without obligation.”

“Simply visit our website www. pendle.gov.uk/gardening or give us a ring on 01282 661600. “Because of our experience and equipment, we can carry out small and large gardening jobs for residents, businesses and organisations such as schools and sports clubs, too,” he explained.

Eric, who’s worked as a gardener for Pendle Council for 18 years said:

“We’re enjoying working in smaller gardens for local people as well as taking care of Pendle’s beautiful parks and other public greenspaces.

“Although our team has been doing this for years, we take enormous pride in it - and you get used to the weather!” He added. Nelson resident, Anne Martindale was also picked out at random to win a garden tidy up and the team removed an old tree stump & levelled her front garden.

Anyone who’d like to see if Pendle Council can add them to the garden waste rounds to tackle the deluge of autumn leaves and garden waste all year round, can fill in an online form on www.pendle.gov.uk/gardenwaste or ring 01282 661743.

effect.” Last Friday (20th October) the Council presented Burnley Magistrates’ Court with evidence of the findings, which included photographs.

The Council was granted a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order and costs totalling £1,300.

The Order means that Dial a Samosa can’t reopen until Pendle Council is satisfied the premises are clean, free from rats and there is no imminent risk to health.

Councillor Asjad Mahmood, who oversees Pendle’s Housing and Environmental Health, added: “This is a serious and concerning case and I’m pleased our officers took action quickly - rats carry diseases which pose a serious risk to public health. "The Order will remain in place until the matter is resolved. “It’s pleasing that the owner of Dial a Samosa is working with us to eradicate the problems. “We’ve given them clear instructions on what they need to do to remove the health risks and help them reopen the business.” Before Dial a Samosa can reopen, Pendle Council will re-inspect the premises to make sure that the issues have been resolved.

Pendle Council has clear advice about food handling and food safety to help businesses comply with food safety regulations on its website – www.pendle.gov.uk/ foodsafety

Fake emails claiming you've been caught speeding

Last year, GMP became aware of a fake email claiming to be a Notice of Intended Prosecution for speeding from Greater Manchester Police.

Today, Police also became aware of a modified version of this, with the email claiming to be from GOV. UK. Following on from this, Police are reissuing advice from Detective Inspector Martin Hopkinson, of

GMP's Serious Crime Division.

"This email is fraudulent and may ask you to give your personal or financial information or attempt to infect your computer with malware.

"Once your computer is infected with malware cyber criminals may be able to access your personal and financial information which could be used to defraud you. "GMP would never

send out correspondence via email requesting payment of fines nor will we ask for your personal and financial information. "I would urge people to delete any such emails and ensure they always have the most up to date security software. You can report any such activity direct to action fraud at www.actionfraud.police.uk or phone 0300 123 2040.

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Phenomenal Fireworks

Wedding Fireworks & Civil Partnership Celebration Firework Displays. Wedding fireworks displays are now becoming increasingly popular and a must have addition to any wedding celebration. Phenomenal Fireworks were one of the pioneers of wedding fireworks and have been offering our services in this field for many years. We have had the pleasure of providing the fireworks for many couples wanting to make their day

special and finish with a bang. Our expertise in the wedding fireworks area has become so highly recognized that many venues and party organisers recommend our fireworks for weddings service to their clients in the knowledge that they will be receiving excellent service and true value for money.

Low Noise Displays. With more and more venues now asking for ‘low noise firework displays’ we are

pleased to say we can offer a wide range of low noise display options, which can either be with or without music. Whatever your budget, we can create a unique, intense and spectacular display for you that will create an unforgettable fireworks display to celebrate your big day and also keep your venue happy! Using our specialist low noise fireworks such as gerbs, display candles, waterfalls and spectacular multi-shot barrages – we can create a spectacular fireworks display, without the need for loud bangs and crashes and filled with vivid colours and intense effects.

Our low noise firework displays really are something special. We have low noise firework displays starting from only £595 inc VAT. Every show staged is unique and will be crafted to your individual needs, and with wedding fireworks displays starting from only £595 including all operator charges, Isn’t it time you thought of adding that touch of class to your wedding day?

So, are you ready to set a date?

So, are you ready to set a date? We suggest that, before doing so, you double check this list of potential periods or specific dates you may wish to avoid when booking your wedding.

Personally Significant Days It’s important to ensure that you don’t set your big day on the date of any other personally significant date. Make sure that you check your own calendar for any upcoming family weddings, anniversaries or any other events or group gatherings.

It is important that you check the dates of your most wanted attendees upcoming holidays and check to see if there are any festivals in your city around the date you are looking it.

Holiday Weekends We know – Bank holiday weekend weddings have both positive and negative connotations. A HUGE positive is that you will usually have the following Monday off from work, and whether you choose your extra day by being productive and wrestling through those wedding gifts or solely for recovery time – that’s your decision.

With a holiday weekend, the wedding could also take place on a Sunday which is usually significantly less expensive than a Saturday date.

However, ensure that you consider costs of travel and hotels for your guests as these are usually higher over bank holiday periods.

Likewise, Valentine's Day weddings are wonderful, however, be mindful

that many of your decorations, especially flowers, will likely become more expensive due to the time period, especially if you want red roses. You also have to consider the fact that many of your guests will have family or friend traditions around holiday weekends that they won’t want to miss out on. Ask around before scheduling your date so that your guests won’t have to pick one over the other.

Mother's Day It’s important to consider whether, if and/or when, you have children you will want to spend your anniversary the same weekend as Mother’s Day? Also, reflect on how your mother or mother-in-law might feel about this.

Father's Day As with Mother’s Day, you need to ensure you are prepared to spend your anniversary the same weekend as Father’s Day. Again, reflect on how your father or father-in-law may feel about sharing this date.

Halloween Lovers of Halloween may be tempted to book this date, however, be mindful that your guests may just turn up in fancy dress. Unless you want to add a sprinkle of light-hearted fun to your big day and that’s what you want, of course!

New Year's Eve Similarly to holiday weekends, it’s hard to ensure that your attendees won’t already have traditions or plans of their own around New Year’s and

it may be a difficult process asking them to give up any plans for you and your partner. Prices for venues are also likely to be more expensive around this time frame, too.

Religious and Cultural Holidays Be mindful of religious and cultural holidays (both your own and those of your guests) when you select your wedding date. Restrictions may also occur at your house of worship debating whether or not a ceremony can take place during these times.

E.g. Christmas, Ramadan and Eid Again, like holiday weekends and New Year’s, it can be deemed insensitive to pick such a date. Ensure you are inclusive of all of your guests’ religious and cultural beliefs when selecting a date.

Days of Remembrance Think about historically significant days, like the 11th of November or the 11th of September, which may be out-of-bounds. However, if this date is a date of important remembrance

for you and your family it may make the date all the more meaningful. You have to consider what is right for you and your family.

Unlucky Dates If you're superstitious, you might want to steer clear of the typical unlucky dates. Of course, we make reference to Friday the 13th! Some historians say the superstition of bad luck stems all the way back from 1700 BC, but don’t let that put you off selecting this date.

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Blood pressure campaign sees 1 in 5

Blackburn residents with stroke risk symptoms

One in five Blackburn residents who had blood pressure checks as part of a free health clinic at Vision Express were advised to seek further medical attention.

The drop-in was hosted at the Blackburn Mall store as part of an award-winning initiative between Vision Express and the Stroke Association, to highlight high blood pressure as a contributing factor in around half[1] of all strokes in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

It educated locals on the risks and signs of stroke, and saw two individuals advised to seek urgent GP attention within a week due to elevated readings.

Connie Pattinson, Vision Express Blackburn store manager, also took the chance to have her blood pressure checked. With no family history of high blood pressure and stroke, Connie was tested three times after her reading was identified as slightly too high by local Stroke Association volunteer John Gott. Connie said: “He recommended I see a GP within the month and mentioned that anyone aged between the age of 40 and 74 can have an NHS health check – almost like a health ‘MOT’, which is an all-over check of general health.

I’ve never heard of this before and it’s something I’m keen to get done.

“Everyone has stress in their life busy weekend, young children, work and that sort of thing, but it’s very

quick and easy to get a test done,” Connie reassures. “I’ve put it off and now I know I need to take further action, I will definitely advise other people to have a check up, including my husband.”

Vicky Cheshire, a communications support officer from the Stroke Association, has personal experience of the devastating impact of stroke, as two of her grandparents suffered from the condition. “My nanna has had three previous strokes and my grandad as well. Both were quite badly affected, especially their mobility. My grannie now has to care for my grandad, so strokes don’t only affect the person who has had one, their families lives can be changed too.”

Commenting on the Know Your Blood Pressure event, she added: “It’s not painful to have a check. If you don’t know your blood pressure, you should come and get it done. It’s just two minutes out of your life.”

Store Manager Connie said: “We’re so pleased our customers and local residents were given the opportunity to have their reading taken at the store and we hope it has encouraged them to consider the importance of regular health checks.”

National statistics[2] highlight that within the Blackburn CCG (clinical commissioning group), 2,946 people are stroke survivors, a figure that represents 1.7% of the local

population. Supporting the event was Stroke Association representative, 70-year-old John Gott from Colne. A local volunteer for fourteen years, he was inspired to get involved with the charity after meeting a stroke survivor when he was a volunteer driver in the area. “I really didn’t know anything about stroke until I used to take a gentleman to the local stroke communication support group,” explained John.

He has been shocked recently to see how many young people are affected by stroke. He wants to raise awareness and help to improve the support for people of all ages. He said: “At one time, in the UK one person every five minutes was having a stroke, and that went down to one every three and a half minutes. I believe that due to the Stroke Association’s research and development it’s now back up to one every five minutes again, which is good.”

Vision Express forged its partnership with the Stroke Association to educate customers about stroke and its impact on sight. Up to 60% of people that have had a stroke will experience visual problems, yet one in three are not warned that sight loss could be a problem - or that treatment and support is available. Over half of strokes can be caused by high blood pressure, meaning having the simple check is crucial. It is also possible to identify whether someone has high

blood pressure during an eye test.

Offering an eye test to best practice guidelines of the College of Optometrists (COO), each Vision Express optometrist is a qualified eye

health professional. To book an eye test at the Blackburn store call 01254 660652, visit The Mall Blackburn, 25 Church Street, Blackburn BB1 5AF or make an online enquiry at: www.

visionexpress.com/book-eye-test/ [1] Stroke Association ‘State of the Nation’ report, January 2016 [2] Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) in 2015/16

From L-R: Vision Express Blackburn store manager Connie Pattinson, Stroke Association representative John Gott, Vision Express team leader Stacey McCann, Stroke Association representative Vicky Cheshire and Vision Express optical assistant Farah Mali

L’EAU DE CHRIS? NO, LUDICROUS

- Star's ludicrous ruse was designed to encourage UK men to open up - #DontBottleItUp launches as it’s revealed 84% of men say they bottle up emotions - And yet 52% of people feel comfortable when a man opens up - Show support by sharing the #DontBottleItUp film shot by RANKIN – London, Tuesday 10th October 2017: Just 24 hours after revealing he was about to launch a new bottled mineral water infused with his own tears, Love Island star Chris Hughes has revealed that ‘L’Eau de Chris’ was, in fact, Ludicrous. At an event hosted this morning to mark World Mental Health Day, Chris admitted that L’Eau de Chris and his shoot with world-renowned photographer, RANKIN, was designed to symbolise the fact 84% of UK men say they bottle up their emotions (YOUGOV), and to raise awareness for CALM, the male suicide prevention charity for which Chris is now an Ambassador.

To mark his new ambassadorship, Chris is today joining forces with CALM and TOPMAN to launch the #DontBottleItUp campaign to show it’s ok for men to open up rather than bottle it up.

Speaking at the event in TOPMAN's central London HQ, Chris said: “Yesterday everyone was shocked that I had literally bottled my emotions in a water bottle infused with my tears.

And as the L’Eau de Chris name suggested, doing that would have been ludicrous; yet this is what men across the UK are doing every single day. "What's really ludicrous is that suicide is still the single biggest killer of young men in the UK. We live in a culture that encourages men to

‘man up’ and bottle things up. That’s why I’ve become an Ambassador for CALM and why together with TOPMAN we want to show men across the UK that it’s okay to open up instead of bottling it up. I’ve got personal experience of the benefits of opening up and expressing emotion, which is why I want to work with this incredible charity in its mission to making life less miserable for thousands of other men who are suffering inside their own heads. Our message to all guys is: however, you open up, just #DontBottleItUp.” The #DontBottleItUp campaign aims to highlight how men across the UK often bottle up their emotions at the expense of their mental health. It comes as new research by CALM shows that 84% of men in the UK say they bottle up their emotions with nearly half saying they suppress their emotions often or at least once day.

This even more stark for younger men, with almost two in three (63%) 18-24 year olds saying they regularly hide their true feelings.

The most common reasons men cited for not opening up about their emotions were not wanting to worry anyone (43%) and preferring to sort it out themselves (49%). Men were also found to be much less likely than women to open up face-to-face (63% v. 72%), over the phone (16% v. 27%) or by text (17% v. 27%) about their feelings.

The research also shows many men are feeling the pressure to ‘man up’ and bottle up their emotions, despite the fact the majority of people (52%) feel comfortable when a man opens up to them about his emotions, and half of us say we’re glad that a man has opened up to us. This

shows just how ludicrous it is for men to bottle it up. Together, Chris, CALM and TOPMAN are calling on the UK to show its support for the #DontBottleItUp campaign by sharing the #DontBottleItUp film shot

by RANKIN on World Mental Health Day. The limited edition promotional run of L'Eau de Chris water bottles created for Chris's campaign launch will now be auctioned at thecalmzone.net/dontbottleitup, with all proceeds going to support the charity. Additionally, TOPMAN has committed to donate £2 from every pack of TOPMAN boxers sold from 10th – 31st October to CALM, in support of the #DontBottleItUp campaign. To find out more, visit www.thecalmzone.net.

James Scroggs, Chair of CALM, said: “Both on and off screen, Chris has been widely praised for opening up about his emotions. As an Ambassador for CALM and the face of the #DontBottleItUp campaign, Chris will use his profile to help us to challenge a culture that prevents men from opening up and seeking help when they need it. With suicide continuing to be the single biggest killer of young men in the UK, it’s vital that we show that it’s okay to open up and ask for help if you need it.”

Jason Griffiths, Marketing Director of TOPMAN, said: “Men’s mental health is a hugely important issue and it's ludicrous that so many British men find it so hard to talk about their feelings. As a brand with a unique connection to the nation's men, TOPMAN is proud to have worked with Chris in support of this initiative, as part of our long-standing partnership with CALM."

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Havoc reveal their 3 top tips for

remaining positive every day

With the Christmas season looming, Havoc, this week are preparing their contractors for the sales season ahead with some top tips on remaining positive The firm sees Q4 as a period of high potential with an opportunity for a huge number of sales in a short period of time. However, they also understand their commission based structure means they rely on their performance to reach targets, a prospect which can induce stress during the lead up to Christmas.

This week, the firm is providing their contractors with some of their key tips to remaining positive in preparation for this Christmas season.

About Havoc: http://www. thisishavoc.co.uk/about/ The managing director recently spoke out on this topic, stating:

“I want my contractors to be performing to their maximum each and every day. To me, the sign of a good sales representative is someone who can see the challenges of his role and quickly overcome them.”

The firm is adamant that those who enter their job with a positive mindset are more likely to thrive and be able to counteract the challenges presented by the Christmas season. With this in mind, Havoc has laid out their top tips on maintaining positivity: Find an optimistic viewpoint in negative situations “If something doesn’t go your way, try and turn it into a positive” claims Havoc’s Managing Director. He argues that his contractors should look for the things they did wrong and understand how moving forward they can correct these, whether this

is the tone of the pitch or the way in which they responded to questions, there is always something a negative situation can show sales representatives.

Surround yourself with positivity Whether this is by choosing to hang out with your more positive social circles, or watching comedies, there is a large body of evidence to suggest that positive external emotions can trigger positive internal emotions.

Havoc is imploring their workforce to utilise the positive people in life to influence their own mindset.

Don’t be scared of failure Often the fear of failure can lead to half or more of the negative emotions

an individual feels during their time in the field. Havoc understand that failure can have an impact contractors but they also want their workforce to realise that dwelling on failure only gets in the way of their positivity. The firm want their workers to accept failure and move forward in order to reach their targets.

Havoc is confident that these tips will help their contractors understand how they can help themselves remain positive. The firm is keen to continue the history of growth they have experienced throughout 2017 and know that the wellbeing of their workforce is directly correlated to this. Source: https://www.positivityblog. com/how-to-stay-positive/ For more information on Havoc follow @ HavocMarketing_ on Twitter and ‘like’ them on Facebook.

Colette Counselling and Wellbeing services

Counselling and Wellbeing is a very personal journey and it is different for each individual. At Colette Counselling we like to work holistically with the individual to explore their needs.

In todays society we are under more pressure than ever before. People are often under immense amounts of stress and our bodies go into the fight, flight or freeze mode. These stresses can show in many different ways, anxiety, depression feeling stuck and many more. When asked who comes to counselling Colette said that

people often ring and say “ I’m not sure if I need counselling. I tell them counselling is a very personal journey and if the issue is troubling them, it is important.

It doesn’t matter how big or small the issue is. If it is a problem for them, counselling or one of the wellbeing services can help.”

Counselling can be individual or couples.

Couples counselling is a safe place for couples to explore their issues, giving each individual the time to speak, listen and reflect.

Whilst talking to Colette she spoke passionately about pain. She said “ I have been no stranger to pain throughout my life. The important thing is to make friends with your pain. Once you have made friends with your pain you can start to listen to the messages it is giving you, then you can work with the pain rather than against it. If you have had pain for longer than two weeks it turns into chronic pain. With the new therapy Old Pain 2 go, it is possible to release that old pain and as a result you only feel the new pain which is giving you

the warning that you need to do something.” In a lighter note, Colette is now doing Laughter Yoga sessions. If you are looking for a fun wellbeing activity Laughter yoga is for you. Laughter Yoga is a mixture of yogic breathing exercises with playful laughter exercises.

If you would like something quieter mindfulness or meditation might be for you. There is often confusion between meditation and mindfulness. With meditation you set out with the intention to do something and mindfulness is about being in the moment.

At Colette Counselling we also provide clinical supervision.

If you would like to know more or would like to book an appointment, call Colette confidently on 01254 828160 of 07762970024. Discount code Whalley

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World War 1 exhibition highlights global perspectives of trench life A dramatic exhibition at Clitheroe Castle Museum is helping people to discover what life was like for eight front line soldiers from different armies during World War 1.

The 'Trench Brothers' display tells the story of eight typical soldiers from the Indian Army, the British West Indies Army and the British Army.

The exhibition is supported by a programme of family events.

The exhibition, which runs from Sunday 5 November until Sunday 7 January 2018, includes maps tracing the routes taken by the soldiers to the battle and photographs showing their military life and experiences.

The display also includes audio recordings of typical letters home from the soldiers, which have been written by children as part of a school project and set to music.

The exhibition includes an additional interactive event on Saturday 11 November. Typical meals that the soldiers would have eaten on each day 100 years ago will be displayed, and compared to the menus of a soldier today. Soldier's uniforms from 1917 and 2017 will be showcased, and visitors will have the chance to wear these. Military experts will also be available to answer any questions.

A Meet the Curator event will take place on Tuesday 28 November.

Visitors are welcome to bring along their World War One items to this event. All items can be brought along to the event, but objects specific to the Indian Army, British West Indian Regiment or Black Soldiers in the British Army during World War One will be of particular interest. County Councillor Peter Buckley, Lancashire

County Council's cabinet member for community and cultural services, said: "This is an imaginative and inspiring exhibition which shares stories of incredible bravery.

"Soldiers from all corners of the British Empire played an important role in World War One and this exhibition highlights one of the least developed aspects of the conflict's history by relating their experiences."

The display has been created by Lancashire County Council on behalf of project partner, HMDT Music, an award winning organisation, who develop inspiring music and arts projects to support learning.

Admission to the exhibition is free,

but charges apply for entry to the museum. Museum Admission is £4.30 for adults, £3.20 for concessions.

Accompanied children go free.

Limited car parking is available for disabled visitors.

For more information about the exhibition or the family events please phone 01200 424568 or email clitheroecastle@lancashire.gov.uk.

More information about Clitheroe Castle and other Lancashire County Council museums is available at www.lancashire.gov.uk/museums Clitheroe Castle Museum is managed

by Lancashire County Council's museum service, on behalf of Ribble Valley Borough Council.

New £28 million train

depot gets big opening

A light maintenance depot has opened in Blackburn as part of the ‘Great North Rail Project’ and has created 26 new jobs.

The multi-million pound King Street Depot maintenance hub is part of a major investment in the borough which will also see rail operator Northern Rail move 70 train crew into the One Cathedral Square office block. The depot was officially opened by Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Transport), Paul Maynard MP, the junior government minister responsible for rail matters. He was joined by Blackburn MP Kate Hollern, Councillor Mohammed Khan, Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council,

Denise Park, Deputy Chief Executive of the Council, and Northern Rail’s regional director Liam Sumpter.

The depot, which was constructed

by Network Rail, is a key part of the Great North Rail Project and will help maintain up to 30 Northern diesel trains. Work on the depot began in August 2016 and was completed in October 2017.

It holds a six-track train stabling and maintenance building, train washing and fuelling equipment, as well as offices, and will maintain up to 30 diesel trains that will be permanently rerouted from their current Blackpool depot when the upgrade of the Preston to Blackpool North line starts from 11 November.

Mr Sumpter said: This project has been delivered on time and on budget and lets us look after our growing fleet of trains in Blackburn.

We are really proud to have been able to bring in 26 highly skilled jobs and to be able to open this depot here in Blackburn.”

Councillor Phil Riley, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, said: It is great to see the depot being unveiled, it looks really fantastic and it should be very good for the area. £26m has been invested and that has created 20 new jobs and workspace for over 100 people and that can only be good for the local economy.”

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Begin planning your festivities now!

Organising your Christmas party

There is no uncertainty that the mention of a Christmas party has already cropped up in your work place by now, even despite the desperate pleas from those who state, “It’s too soon to start thinking about Christmas!”. The dreaded headed email alone can occasionally stir up a wave of sheer panic to those who desperately attempt to keep Christmas and all common denominators at bay until, at least, December.

Fear not, readers! Whether you are the hapless individual that has somehow

been landed with the responsibility of organising the party, or in fact an attendee of the party gathering ideas to help said hapless individual; we are on hand to provide an easy to follow guide which will smooth the process of organising a Christmas work party.

Firstly, it is vital that you gage the successfulness of the previous Christmas party. You need to find out from your colleagues whether they were happy with the venue and arrangement of last year’s party and find out what, if given the opportunity,

they would have changed. Big or small, all suggestions will assist in your role of finding the best suited venue for your party. It’s essential to discuss ideas with your colleagues to try and find out what they would like, or expect, to see this year.

Secondly, before you go booking any venues, you will need to find out just how much money your colleagues are willing to spend. It is also important to consider if your company will contribute towards the cost of the Christmas party. Is there

a budget to be reckoned with? Not all companies are able to provide this luxury, however, so you must make the evening affordable for everyone.

The budget will respectively facilitate limitations as to what you are able to get organised for your team, so ensure

that you gather this information quickly. Ask all your colleagues for their desired party date. This will allow you to narrow down on dates whilst also enabling you to confirm numbers, which will provide you with more sureness when contacting

the venues etc. A few venues offer discounts for early bookings, like in November, so this may be something to consider if you are on a tighter budget. Work your way through the list of venues that has been suggested by your colleagues, contacting each one – or visiting their website – to see what they are able to offer you and your team and for what price. Also enquire as to whether you will need a deposit for your party or not, what time the DJ runs until, also directions on the venue if it is typically difficult to find. Check to see if the venues are easily accessible via public transport as the taxi fares to and from the party may put your colleagues off wanting to attend. Once you have obtained this information from your colleagues and the venues, it is time to present the information to your colleagues, concisely, with a narrowed down list of best picks. Outline in the email that the choice of the venue will be decided upon a majority vote and ensure you give your colleagues a date to respond by!

Of course, as designated party planner, you mustn’t forget those allimportant cheesy images to spread Christmas cheer along with every email!

Have you considered

volunteering?

Many charities are desperate for volunteers in the build up to Christmas – have you thought about the impact you could make to just one person?

The festive period can be particularly gruelling and isolating for homeless people and shelters are likely to be filling up quickly with those requiring relief meaning that general assistance is always welcomed. This can mean assisting with serving food and cleaning up, to chatting to those in the shelter and trying your best to ensure that they know that there is someone for them to talk to. Skilled help is often overlooked in shelters.

Businesses like beauty therapy and hairdressing services are often highly desired within shelters and these are often the businesses that are needed the most, too. Regardless as

to whether you have a skilled trade, there will always be an opportunity for you to help. Volunteers often leave knowing that they have helped make a difference to somebody’s day, possibly brought festive cheer to those that need it the most.

How can I find volunteering opportunities near me? As you would probably expect, Christmas day is the most popular shift over the Christmas period and these shifts are usually filled weeks in advance. However, shelters often struggle to cover their night shifts, so please do bare this in mind. The best place to start enquiring about volunteering opportunities is with your local council. They should be able to provide details for organisations in your area that are in need of volunteers. You could also

try to contact organisations directly.

Below are a couple of examples: Do-It is a volunteering database with hundreds of opportunities all over the country. Visit their website to see if you could help: [www.doit.org] The Salvation Army offers support and companionship to those must vulnerable all over the country.

Visit their website to see if you could help: [www.salvationarmy.org.uk] Thinking of something smaller?

If the Christmas period is rather chaotic, do not worry as you can still help with the following, smaller opportunities for volunteering this Christmas: Pack a giftwrapped shoebox full of items for a disadvantaged child to receive at Christmas. Visit their website for more information to see if this is something you could possibly contribute towards: [www. samaritans-purse. org.uk] Contribute to charity buckets by supermarket tills. Regardless as to whether the amount you add is small or large, every involvement will help somebody in need.

Locate and buy charity Christmas cards rather than buying commercial cards. The money you spend will go to charity and the cards are just as beautiful.

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Revealed: 1 in 3 Brits find

Christmas Stressful

The lead up to the festive period can be emotionally and financially demanding, often having serious implications in people's health and wellbeing. Leading bingo comparison site bingosites.co.uk conducted an independent survey of over 2,000 UK residents to find out how people really feel about Christmas.

The independent survey looked at individual's attitudes, priorities and behavioural changes regarding the Christmas period, with some revealing insights.

The findings include: 1. One in Three people find Christmas Stressful (Stoke-on-Trent is the top place within the UK where people find the lead up to Christmas stressful and feel anxious during the 3-day event) 2. One out of 6

Brits find Christmas “depressing” (We asked 2,000 people to describe the festive season in one word) Over 33% of families will use shortterm loan companies such as Wonga to cover their festive expenditure, Birmingham is the top city within the UK where these adjustments are made.

3. Over 85% of parents said they can't afford to give their children everything they ask for.

4. 75% of people said they do NOT enjoy the company of their own family during Christmas day. Uncles and in-laws are the top two family members to cause animosity while tucking into your Christmas turkey.

5. It's not all depressing! 80% of parents said their most enjoyable moment was seeing their children

unwrapping their presents on Christmas morning.

6. 80% of single men aged between 18-55 said the most enjoyable thing during the festive period was watching the English Premier Leagues busy festive football fixtures on TV. Alex Hammond, Commercial director said: “It's time for people to start thinking about their Christmas preparation; whether that is buying presents and decorations, organizing family reunions or planning the iconic Christmas dinner timings. The run up to the holidays can be emotionally and financially demanding, often having implications in people's health and wellbeing."

Budgeting for Christmas is much easier said than done, granted. It is an element that many of us attempt in the earlier stages of our shopping ventures but rarely actually follow up on. However, budgeting early can avoid unnecessary last-minute spending and can help you reign in the overall amount you’re dishing out, too. Make a list and most importantly – stick to it. Outline those that you are planning to buy for along

with an approximate amount that you wish to spend on this person. Keep this list with you always! This way, if you do happen to nip in to the shop on the way home from work and see that lovely bath set that your sister would like, you can tick her off your list right there and then! You can choose to save the list on your mobile phone if you are tech savvy or on a piece of paper in your wallet or purse if you prefer. If you can, buy early. Smaller

items, like wrapping paper and Christmas decorations, are in shops from September and they are often a fraction of the price at this time of year when compared to December.

Stock up on these items as early as possible, but avoid splurging on bows and ribbons as, although pretty, it’s money that is being unnecessarily spent. Although not for everybody, shopping online can be a great help when trying to avoid extra spending

Budgeting for Christmas and simultaneously getting more organised for Christmas. Not only do many shops offer online discounts on certain items, but you may also discover ideas for gifts for your family or friends whilst browsing. This almost one-dimensional approach can save you money long term too, as shops are privy to our tendency to pick up ‘last minute extras’ whilst waiting for the queue to go down and, of course, when shopping online

these extras are not sat waiting for you near the checkout!

Shopping online can also spread out the cost of gift buying as you can add items to your basket and buy one or two online. Of course, you must be mindful that these items may become out of stock or increased in price during these two time frames, however, this will hopefully avoid the panic of checking your bank balance after wandering around the

city centre for hours! If you like to gift the children in your family with letters from Santa, small presents in the build-up or a Christmas eve box, why not help Santa out with a little bit of D.I.Y.? these small purchases may not seem like much at the time, but you can cut a fraction off the price of these items by making them yourself.

You can go to almost any craft shop to pick up items to assist with these gifts.

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Merry Christmas with

Hutschenreuther

Gift collection „Merry Christmas“ by Hutschenreuther Merry Christmas! That is also the name of the new Christmas collection from Hutschenreuther, with finely detailed decorations, eye-catching greetings and three exquisite and traditional colour schemes.

Nordic Red, for example, features accented lettering, stars, sledges and reindeer, beautifully positioned on the cream-coloured material of

the collection. For a more refined look, the Shiny Gold colour scheme presents angelic figures and a black band around the circumference, with gold stars and lettering.

Charming Grey joins the new Christmas collection with typical Scandinavian reserve. In soft greige (a mixture of grey and beige) snowflakes and crystals float over cups, plates, bowls and Advent candlesticks. A stylised stag and branches are also

present, along with striking lettering.

All three colour schemes can be combined in any way you like, and you can complete the collections with the appropriate napkins, candelabra and baubles.

A selected range of undecorated, cream-coloured pieces such as animal figurines, two new house façades with tealight inserts and various tree ornaments offer more ideas for decorations.

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Celebrating Christmas

abroad is becoming more

popular, research reveals

∙39% of Brits have made the choice to spend Christmas outside of the UK previously ∙Almost a quarter of those escaped the British Christmas to avoid family or traditions A study* carried out on behalf of Travelbag.co.uk, the tailormade long-haul holiday specialist, shows that 39% of UK adults have spent Christmas abroad with almost a quarter admitting they did so to escape their families, traditions such as cooking and even the idea of Christmas altogether. While 37% leave the UK to visit family who live abroad, a further 18% follow the sunshine as they leave the UK because of the weather. 15% like the idea of spending Christmas in a different country to experience different traditions. Interestingly, almost a quarter of those spending Christmas abroad travel by themselves, while 40% take their partners with them. A further 28% bring the whole family while only 4% travel with their friends. Over a third of those surveyed admitted avoiding Christmas in the UK every year, followed by a third who escape every other year, and 22% who say

they've spent Christmas abroad a couple of times. When asked what people miss the most when travelling, almost half said they wish they were with their families, followed by 27% who miss the festive TV programs.

Interestingly, just over 10% claim to miss the British weather. This might be why over two thirds of those who spend Christmas abroad decide to keep taking part in Christmas traditions.

A further 12% are not so fond of traditional activities as long as they exchange presents, and 12% always adopt the traditions of the country they are visiting. On the other hand, there are other elements of the holiday season that the public don't miss.

Cooking Christmas dinner was voted to be the least favourite aspect of the whole festive season, while second place goes to family visits, followed

by Christmas advertising.

Commenting on the results, Travelbag's spokesperson Paul Hopkinson, says: "It's interesting to see how many people are travelling abroad over Christmas to either visit their families, discover new countries or just to make sure they are not

spending Christmas in the UK as some feel the festive season is getting too commercial." Spending habits When it comes to spending cash to celebrate the festive season abroad, people from Northern Ireland and those aged 55+ don't seem to mind turning their wallets inside out.

The findings show that respondents based in Northern Ireland invest on average £1,039** into celebrating Christmas outside the UK. Compared to, for example, savvy Scots who pay only £704. Looking at the age groups, those aged 55 and over don't mind forking out almost £1,000. On the other hand, young professionals (aged 25-34) are more careful and spend just £663.

Women are keen to take £798 out of their budget, while men are prepared to splash £882 during the winter holidays. Hopkinson adds: “It's interesting to see the different attitudes towards spending money when travelling. There is nothing wrong with treating yourself when celebrating Christmas abroad, but everyone should make sure they won't struggle financially and spend within their means."

How to pick the best bottle

of bubbly for Christmas

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without bubbles. But with 10 zillion options vying for a place in your festive fridge, which bottle should you take home? 2015 was the year that our collective zeal for Italian prosecco reached its zenith (Brits spent £41m on own-brand versions of the stuff last year). But it was also when bright, fresh English wine started to be taken seriously (HMRC has seen a 41% increase in applications to produce English sparkling wine this year).

And let's not forget the original. The fanciest. Bone-dry, golden-toned champagne.

First up, let's talk basics. Prosecco – This is a lovely lighter style of fizz. It's fresher and fruitier than champagne and cava, which makes it easier to drink and therefore great for parties. It's also the fizz of the moment, very trendy and obviously a cheaper alternative to champers. Cava – From Spain, cava is a great all-rounder. It’s much cheaper than champagne (about £6 a bottle) but made in exactly the same way, so the flavour profile is similar with those yeasty notes that come from the second fermentation in the bottle. Champagne – Naturally, the king of fizz, and the price reflects that. It can only be made in the Champagne region of France, and only from certain grape varieties. It has delicious brioche notes from its extended time ageing in bottle. English Sparkling – The home-grown stuff is having a great time at the moment as consumers are coming to realise its excellent quality. It tends to have similar traits to champagne as the climate of southern England, where most of the vineyards are, is very similar to that of the Champagne region in France – although the notes are more appley rather than lemony.

And buying it helps the English wine industry, which is a good thing.

And which fizz is best for which occasion​? For Christmas nibbles and antipasti platters: prosecco wins Shellfish starter or any fried fish: try cava – the acidity cuts

through the oiliness. Smoked salmon: perfect with blanc de blancs champagne. The citrus notes work beautifully with the strong flavour. For pudding: try asti, the sweet sparkling white Italian wine.

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Your guide to the perfect Christmas dinner:

CHOOSE YOUR MAIN ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------TURKEY: it’s all in the preparation…

[A JAMIE OLIVER RECIPE: https://www.jamieoliver.com/ recipes/turkey-recipes] The turkey is often perceived as the central part of the Christmas dinner. Food lovers from all over the country will defend their chosen method to the ground, however, here we prefer to keep things simple yet effective with Jamie’s turkey recipe.

1. Check the main turkey cavity for the bag of giblets, and if they’re in there, remove and tip them into your roasting tray, discarding the bag.

The added flavour they’ll give your gravy will be incredible – trust me.

2. Peel the onions, wash the carrots and roughly chop with the celery, then add to the tray with the unpeeled garlic cloves.

3. Halve the clementine and chilli and place in the turkey cavity with

most of the herbs – not filling it too full allows hot air to circulate, cooking the bird from the inside out and from the outside in.

4. Place the stuffing in the neck cavity (click here for my meat stuffing recipe, or you could use any veggie stuffing), then pull the skin back over it and tuck it under the bird. You’ll get a good contrast between the soft, juicy stuffing here inside the turkey, and the crispier stuff you can bake in a dish, as well.

5. Scrunch and warm the butter in your hands so it’s soft enough to spread all over the bird, getting into all the nooks and crannies. The butter layer serves two purposes – natural basting, plus keeping the seasoning away from the meat until it hits the oven, so the bird stays nice and juicy.

The butter will melt off as it cooks, adding to the flavour of the gravy, and you’ll also be able to skim off

that tasty fat and save it in a jar in the fridge for delicious cooking another day.

6. Generously sprinkle the turkey from all sides with sea salt and black pepper, pick over the remaining herb leaves and pat them on to the butter, then finely grate over a nice coating of nutmeg.

7. Cover the turkey snugly with tin foil and place it on top of the trivet in the tray. You can now either leave it for 1 hour until the bird comes up to room temperature, ready to cook, or pop it into the fridge or another cold place until you need it.

8. Have a clear down, and your prep is done. Click here for how to cook your bird...

9. Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF/ gas 4.

10. You want to cook a higher-welfare bird for 25 to 30 minutes per kilo, and a standard bird for 35 to 40 minutes

ROAST DUCK with Marsala gravy…

[A JAMIE OLIVER RECIPE: https://www.jamieoliver.com/ recipes/duck-recipes] Attempt Jamie’s crispy roast duck fuss-free substitute to the traditional roast this Christmas.

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/ gas 4.

2. Remove any excess fat from inside the cavity of the duck, then using a sharp knife carefully score the breast and legs all over in crisscross fashion, roughly 1cm apart.

3. Season the duck with sea salt, black pepper and the five-spice, then rub all over so the flavour catches in all the nooks and crannies.

4. Halve the clementine and place into the cavity along with the bay leaves. Transfer the duck to a medium roasting tray and roast for

around 1 hour 20 minutes.

5. Meanwhile, halve the bulb of garlic across the middle, then peel and roughly slice the carrots and onions.

6. When the time is up, remove the roasting tray from the oven. Carefully lift up the duck and scatter the veg into the tray to make a trivet. Sit the duck on top of the veg, then return the tray to the oven for a further 40 minutes, or until the duck is beautifully crisp and the meat falls easily away from the bone.

7. Once cooked to perfections, remove the duck to a plate to rest while you get on with the gravy.

8. Add the flour to the vegetables, then mash everything together with a potato masher, scraping up all the sticky goodness from the bottom.

9. Place over a medium-high heat, pour in the Marsala and leave to bubble and cook away, stirring well.

10. Add the stock, then bring to

the boil and reduce to a simmer for around 15 minutes, or until thickened and reduced. Strain through a coarse sieve, skim away any fat from the surface, then season to taste.

11. Shred or carve up the duck, then serve with the gravy on the side.

Nice with duck fat roast potatoes, seasonal greens and cranberry sauce.

VEGETARIAN NUT ROAST… [A EMMA GOSS-CUSTARD RECIPE VIA JAMIE OLIVER WEBSITE: https://www. j a m i e o l i v e r. c o m / r e c i p e s / vegetables-recipes] Emma’s innovative take on the standard vegetarian nut roast is outstanding. Ourselves and Jamie Oliver alike praise her roasted veg,

crispy potatoes and redcurrant gravy.

1. Preheat the oven to 180C/gas 4. For the nut roast crust, spread out the nuts and seeds on a baking tray and toast in the oven for 5–6 minutes.

Transfer to a food processor, along with the chestnut purée, suet and maple syrup, and blitz until the mixture comes together into a ball.

It will be very sticky to begin with, so stop and scrape the sides as you go.

2. Place a large sheet of baking parchment on a work surface and sit the dough on it.

T h e n , with lots of glutenfree flour on your hands and rolling pin, roll out the dough as thinly as possible (less than 5mm).

3. If you’re making individual

tartlets, oil and flour four 10cm loose-bottomed tart tins, then cut out the pastry to size. Or roll out the dough and cut to the size of a large baking tin, then transfer to the tin using a fish slice. Prick the dough all over with a fork, cover with baking parchment, fill with baking beans or rice and bake blind for 12–15 minutes.

Leave to cool completely in the baking tray, as it will be quite delicate straight from the oven.

Keep the oven on.

4. For the topping, pop the sweet potato on a baking tray, toss with a little oil, then bake for 25 minutes, or until soft.

Meanwhile, melt the butter in a frying pan over a medium heat, add the mushrooms and 1 tsp cracked black pepper, and sauté for 6–8 minutes, until the mushrooms brown.

5. Blitz the roasted sweet potato in a food processor with the crème fraîche, nutmeg and ½ tbsp cracked black pepper (or to taste) to a smooth, creamy consistency.

6. To assemble your tart, crumble the blue cheese over the base, arrange the sautéed mushrooms on top, then finish with the sweet potato mix. Sprinkle with linseed, pistachios and sunflower seeds and add a drizzle of rapeseed oil, then pop back in the oven for 6–7 minutes until it just starts to brown.

Serve hot with the accompanying vegetables.

per kilo. Higher-welfare birds generally have more intramuscular fat, which means they cook quicker than standard, lean birds. If you’ve got a 7kg bird, like I had here, do it for just over 3 hours, based on the guideline timings above.

11. Just under 1 hour before the time is up, get the tray out of the oven and remove the tin foil.

12. Cover the bird with your rashers of bacon, stretching and weaving them into a criss-cross pattern however you like. Return the turkey to the oven for the remaining time, or until golden and cooked through.

13. The simplest way to check it’s cooked is to stick a knife into the thickest part of the thigh – if the juices run clear, it’s done. If you’re worried, use a meat thermometer. You want to reach an internal temperature of 65ºC for a top-quality bird, such as Paul Kelly’s turkeys, or 70ºC for

a supermarket higher-welfare or standard bird.

14. Use heavy-duty tongs to lift up your bird so all the juices run from the cavity into the tray, then transfer the turkey to a platter, cover with a double layer of tin foil and a clean tea towel, and leave to rest for up to 2 hours while you crack on.

15. Use your tray of trivet veg and juices to make your gravy. Place the turkey tray over a medium heat on the hob. Skim away most of the fat from the surface into a jar, cool, and place in the fridge for tasty cooking another day.

16. Stir the flour into the tray, mashing up all the veg and scraping up all the sticky bits from the base.

Pour in up to 2 litres of boiling kettle water and simmer until the gravy is the consistency of your liking, then stir in the cranberry sauce.

17. Strain the gravy through a coarse

sieve, pushing all the goodness through with the back of a spoon, then season to perfection.

18. Keep warm over the lowest heat until needed, adding any extra resting juices from the turkey before serving.

ROAST CHICKEN… [A JAMIE OLIVER RECIPE: https://www.jamieoliver.com/ recipes/chicken-recipes] If you fancy venturing away from the turkey this year, why not try our roast chicken recommendation?

Birds are typically larger around this time of year so take advantage and stuff with fresh herbs, some porcini-and-pancetta butter smeared under the skin.

1. Preheat the oven to 190ºC/gas 5. Leave the chicken to come up to room temperature while you make your butter.

2. Pop the dried porcini into a small bowl, cover with boiling water and allow to sit for 5 minutes, then use a slotted spoon to remove the mushrooms, and reserve both them and their soaking liquid.

3. Put your butter into a bowl and finely grate in the lemon zest (reserve the lemons for later) and half of the nutmeg, then peel and crush in the garlic.

4. Pick in the thyme leaves, chop and add the pancetta, then add the soaked porcini along with a good pinch of sea salt and black pepper.

5. Mix everything into the butter until combined, then divide into two. Set aside in the fridge until needed.

6. Take the chicken and use your fingers and a spatula to gently work

your way between the skin and the meat. Start at the side of the cavity just above the leg and work gently up along the breastbone, towards the back, until you create a large cavity.

7. Poke half of the butter into it, using your hands to push it through the skin right to the back, so it coats the breast meat as evenly as possible. Do the same on the other side with the remaining butter, and if there’s any left, rub it over the outside of the bird.

8. Halve the reserved zested lemons and pop in the cavity of the chicken along with the thyme, rosemary and sage sprigs – this will add extra flavour while the chicken cooks.

9. Peel and halve the onions, peel and roughly chop the carrots, then trim and roughly chop the celery.

10. Pile the veg into a large roasting tray, smash and add the whole garlic cloves along with the bay leaves and chicken wings, then drizzle with oil.

11. Place your whole chicken on top, drizzle with oil and season with salt and pepper.

12. Roast the chicken in the oven for about 2 hours, or until the skin is golden and crispy and the juices run clear when the thigh is pierced with a sharp knife, basting twice during cooking. If the vegetables start looking dry, add a splash of water to the tray to stop them burning.

13. Remove the tray from the oven and transfer the chicken to a board.

Cover with a sheet of tin foil and a tea towel and leave to rest for 15 minutes.

14. To prepare the gravy, spoon away any excess fat from the mixture in the roasting tray, then place on the hob over a low-medium heat.

15. Add the flour, stirring constantly, then pour in the wine and let it reduce down. Lastly, add the stock and stir continuously, until thickened.

16. Sieve the gravy into a clean saucepan, pressing down on all the solids to extract as much as you can. Keep the gravy warm in the saucepan, skimming off any fat that rises to the top. Serve with your roast chicken.

HAM… [A JAMIE OLIVER RECIPE: https://www.jamieoliver.com/ recipes/pork-recipes]

the flavours to really penetrate the meat.

4. Preheat the oven to 170°C/325°F/ gas 3.

5. Carefully remove the meat to a board and, using a knife, take off the skin. Depending on the breed and quality of the pig, you should have a nice layer of fat. Remove some of the fat as well, to leave you with about 1cm. The extra fat can be kept in the freezer for roasting with potatoes another time.

6. Score the fat left on the meat in a criss-cross fashion, and season generously with 3 tablespoons of black pepper.

7. Place the ham in a roasting tray and roast for 20 minutes, or until the fat renders and becomes slightly crispy.

8. Remove from the oven, stir the marmalade to loosen, then rub it all over the meat,

and strip over the rosemary.

9. Return to the oven for about 1 hour and baste frequently until beautifully golden and crisp. Serve as you would a roast dinner or as part of a picnic.

Whether you choose to serve this as part of your Christmas dinner or save it for your evening meal, Jamie Oliver strikes again with his roasted marmalade ham.

1. Place the gammon in a large, snug-fitting pot and cover with water. Roughly chop and throw in the carrots and celery, with the bay leaves, peppercorns and bouquet garni. Peel the zest from the oranges and add to the water, then squeeze the juice.

2. Place the pot over a high heat, bring to the boil, then turn the heat down and simmer for 1 hour 15 minutes with a lid on, skimming away any scum that rises to the surface, as and when needed.

3. When the time's up, remove from the heat and allow to cool for half an hour in the broth – this will allow

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Your guide to the perfect Christmas Sides:

Choose your Sides -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ROAST POTATOES… [A RECIPE BY JAMES MARTIN FROM SATURDAY KITCHEN: http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes] The perfect roast potato is an essential part of winning over your family with the Christmas dinner.

Potatoes need to be crispy on the outside and fluffy and light on the inside.

1. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.

2. Simmer the potatoes in a large pan of salted boiling

water for 4-5 minutes, or until the outside of the potatoes are beginning to soften.

3. Thoroughly drain the potatoes and briefly shake them around in the colander or pan to roughen up the edges.

4. Melt the lard in a deep flameproof roasting tray on a high heat and fry

BRUSSELS SPROUTS… A RECIPE BY RICHARD CORRGIAN FROM GREAT BRITISH MENU: http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/ recipes/creamedbrusselssprou_84835 Love them or hate them, Brussels sprouts are an integral part of Christmas lunch. An effortless beauty which will help to convince the most determined of sprout-haters.

Entice them in with cream and bacon.

1. Cook the Brussels sprouts in a saucepan of boiling salted water for 8-10 minutes. Drain and refresh in a bowl of ice and water.

Drain again when the sprouts have cooled.

2. Add the bacon lardons to a nonstick frying pan, and fry over a medium heat until crisp.

3. Add the cream and crushed garlic to a small pan and bring to the boil.

4. Stir the sprouts into the crisp bacon; then stir in the hot cream.

5. Season with salt and pepper and serve straightaway.

PARSNIPS AND CARROTS… [A DANNY BLOOME RECIPE VIA RESCUE CHEF: http://www. foodnetwork.com/recipes/dannyboome] 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. 2. Peel the carrots and parsnips and cut them in half lengthwise, larger ones can be quartered. Place them on a large rimmed baking sheet.

3. Drizzle the carrots and parsnips with the olive oil and honey.

Season with salt and pepper and toss to coat. Scatter the thyme sprigs on top. Place them in the preheated oven.

4. After 10 minutes, give the veggies a toss and put back in the oven for another 10 minutes until the vegetables are soft and slightly caramelized. Serve warm.

PIGS IN BLANKETS… [A JAMIE OLIVER RECIPE: https://www.jamieoliver. com/recipes/pork-recipes/pigs-in-blankets/] 1. Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4.

2. Working one at a time, lay the bacon out on a board and run the sharp side of your knife along the length of the rasher to stretch it out – this will make it even crispier.

3. Dot with a few herb leaves, then place a sausage at one end and roll the bacon around it until it’s totally wrapped up. Place in a roasting tray and repeat till they’re all done.

4. Cook for 30 minutes, or until golden, gnarly and cooked through.

5. Using a fish slice, scrape the pigs in blankets from the bottom of the tray, leaving them in there, then add the Worcestershire sauce and give it a good shake, scraping all that sticky goodness from the bottom of the tray.

6. Drizzle in the honey then place on a medium heat on the hob and bring to the boil until caramelised, shaking continuously to coat. Serve immediately.

the potatoes on each side until they begin to brown.

5. Sprinkle with salt, to taste, and roast for 30 minutes, or until starting to colour.

6. Turn the potatoes and return to the oven for a further 20-30 minutes, or until golden-brown and crisp.

LEMON AND THYME PORK STUFFING… [A MARY BERRY RECIPE: www.maryberry.co.uk/recipes/ christmas/lemon-and-thyme-porkstuffing] Make the stuffing the day before and use it to stuff a 7.2kg-8.1kg turkey in the neck end, providing it will fit in the fridge.

Do not put a meat stuffing in the body cavity of a bird. The stuffing can also be made and frozen for up to a month in advance.

1. Cook the onion, covered, in the simmering oven for about 15 minutes until soft.

2. Melt the butter in a saucepan, add the onion and cook gently until soft, about 10 minutes.

3. Stir in the remaining ingredients and mix well together. Cool before stuffing the turkey.

4. This is now ready to stuff the neck end of the bird.

5. Breadcrumbs are often used in recipes over Christmas. Some time in advance, whiz a whole loaf to breadcrumbs in the processor and keep in the freezer. You will then have them at the ready, and they defrost in minutes.

Choose your dessert continued on page 51

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GET IN THE FLOW ON A CHAPTERS EXPERIENCE

HOLIDAYS’ EUROPEAN CHRISTMAS BREAK

With Christmas often fraught with preparations, why not put aside the usual chores and unwind this festive season on one of Chapters Experience Holidays expert led European city breaks over Christmas.

Atmospheric at any time of year, but even more so at this time of year, get in the flow for a relaxing Christmas with one of the following holidays floating through the misty waterways in Venice, soaking up the grandeur of the Danube River or ambling along the River Rhône and the Pont du Gard where one can do as the song says and dance on the ancient spans of the Pont d’Avignon.

Venice - La Serenissima Magical at any time of year, Venice’s gondola festooned canals and impressive venetian treasures, such as the Doge’s Palace and St Mark’s Square, take on an invitingly eerie feel at Christmas when the mist rolls in off the water into the stylishly lit and near deserted alleyways to uncover beautifully decorated shops and a less touristy Venice with local Venetians festively going about their business. Exploring the city with a side trip to Padua, highlights of this one week holiday include exploring Piazza San Marco when only the pigeons are there, a boat trip across the lagoon to Murano, Burano and Torcello and contemplating Tintoretto’s amazing paintings in the Scuola di San Rocco. In addition, time also spent meandering around the Christmas markets, with their lovely selection of Murano glass, marbled paper gifts and gourmet goodies,

makes for the perfect opportunity to pick up that special gift. Chapters Experience Holidays (01707246666, www.chaptersholidays.co.uk)Venice - La Serenissima one week half board holiday starts from £1,065/person including return flights, dinners in local restaurants, an expert leader and local transport. Departures: 21 December 2017 A Danube Christmas Delight Celebrate in Vienna and Budapest, two of the finest cities on the Danube and discover the festive Tale of Two Cities. Wrap up warm for strolls through cobbled courtyards and bustling Christmas markets surrounded by twinkling fairy lights, traditional decorations and elegant architecture. Explore a museum or two before inviting smells from the numerous coffee houses tempt you in for a treat. Beginning in Vienna, this 8 night holiday takes in the city’s historic old town, the Opera House at Karlsplatz and magical Christmas

markets which take place in front of the city hall. Transferring by train to the Hungarian capital, Budapest, a wonderful city divided by the Danube with the historic Buda on the right bank and modern Pest on the left, time is spent here exploring the Hungarian Parliament, Heroes Square, the Buda Royal Palace, Castle district and the beautiful Fishermen’s Bastion as well as the traditional Christmas market on Vörösmarty Square in the heart of Pest. Chapters Experience Holidays (01707246666, www. chaptersholidays.co.uk) ‘A Danube Christmas Delight’ 8 nights half board holiday starts from £1,199/person including return flights, local guides for half a day in each city, dinners in hotels and local restaurants, an expert leader and local transport. Departures: 24 December 2017 Romantic Avignon. On the tree lined banks of the River Rhône, surrounded by the 800-year-old ramparts, the medieval city of Avignon is steeped

Budapest at Christmas

in ancient lore and mystery and even more so during the festive season when Christmas lights, and a possible light dusting of snow, add to the city’s enchanting ambience. Regarded as one of France’s major artistic centres, dating back to the Pope’s court in 14th century, its narrow cobbled streets uncover a rich history with impressive sites such as the Place St Pierre, Place de l'Horloge and the Promenade

des Papes. Surrounded by beautiful French countryside, the week also includes trips to the Roman city of Arles where Van Gogh lived and painted; the small market town and birth place of Nostradamus, St. Remy de Provence; and a five mile walk up to Pont du Gard, the most spectacular aqueduct in France, where there is the opportunity to do as the song says and dance on the remaining spans of the

Pont d’Avignon. Chapters Experience Holidays (01707246666, www. chaptersholidays.co.uk) Romantic Avignon one week holiday starts from £1045/person including return rail travel, en suite accommodation, half board meals with dinners in hotels and local restaurants, half day with local guide, an expert leader and local transport. Departures: 21 December 2017.

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Share the magic of Christmas

with Armathwaite Hall Hotel and Spa A festive hideaway Get wrapped up in the true magic of Christmas this season in our festive hideaway, where you will be welcomed by blazing log fires and tantalising decorations, oozing with an unmistakeable traditional charm.

Our enchanting location offers idyllic country walks and is the perfect place to indulge on gourmet food, seasonal beverages and spellbinding entertainment, whether you are looking for a romantic getaway

Ja Windermere German

Christmas Market

Windermere is hosting a brand new German Christmas Market on the 10th & 11th December and we're proud to be a major sponsor.

Come along to the Victoria Street area of the village and get into the festive spirit with a whole day of activities that the whole family can enjoy.

• A wide range of festive stalls selling fantastic seasonal gifts from knitwear to soaps.

• Delicious German food & drinks offerings available all day

• Live music & on street entertainment.

• Santas Grotto and reindeer!

• The festivities will continue into the evening in the bars & pubs in the area.

Sail and ride to the German Market Get to the market easily from Ambleside, Bowness or Lakeside or combine a scenic cruise with your day out.

A special sail and ride service will run the entire weekend and will be provided by Mountain Goat Tours.

This special shuttle bus service will

run throughout the day and connect Bowness Pier to the German market in Windermere village.

• Cost: Adults £2, Children £1 (one-way) • The first departure from Bowness will be 10:30am and the last departure from the German market will be 3:15pm.

Get your free Local Resident Discount card from our stand Windermere Lake Cruises & Lakeland Motor Museum will have a stand at the market. If you're a 'local' (living in the LA or CA postcode areas), bring along a recent bill and we'll give you a FREE resident discount card.

or a festive family gathering this Christmas.

If you’d prefer to enjoy the Christmas period at home, why not join us as we welcome in the New Year? Or, simply immerse yourself in luxury between the two dates with a mid-festivity break.

Each of our carefully tailored packages boast an unforgettable programme of activities including clay pigeon shooting, black tie dinners, ‘meet the hawk’ sessions and much more!

For more information on our festive breaks, contact Armathwaite Hall Hotel and Spa via the details below: Hotel Telephone: 017687 76551 The Spa Telephone: 017687 88900

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Christmas Breaks

in the Lake District

Thinking about having a Lake District Christmas break? The warmest of welcomes awaits at any of our seven Lake District Hotels this Christmas.

Get into the festive spirit as you walk through the doors to one of our hotels in the Lake District adorned with traditional decorations and the aroma of mulled wine lulls you into a feeling of pure relaxation.

Enjoy the cosy atmosphere and delicious food, combined with our friendly service you will feel at home from the moment you arrive for Christmas in the Lake District. The only hard part is deciding which hotel to choose!

Lodore Falls Hotel Unwind by the roaring fires before spending the rest of the Christmas break indulging in the delicious feasts, such as the famous Gala Buffet, whilst relaxing in beautiful surroundings or enjoying the variety of entertainment.

Inn on the Lake For a magical and memorable Christmas break in the heart of the Lake District the Inn on the Lake is the place to be. Feel relaxed and at ease amongst the courteous staff, abundance of entertainment and fantastic festive local fayre.

Borrowdale Hotel What could be better than roaring fires in the cosy lounges whilst sipping hot Winter Punch with a mince pie, before spending the rest of the Christmas break relaxing and unwinding in the comfort of the Borrowdale Hotel.

Inn on the Square. Indulge yourselves this Christmas in our brand new hotel and make the most of the jolly season with a luxury stay at the Inn on the Square. Whether you’re planning a relaxing quiet one or some fabulous festive fun with family and friends – we’ll make you feel welcome from the moment you drop your bags.

Skiddaw Hotel Situated in the centre of the beautiful market town of Keswick and adorned with traditional decorations, this hotel has enjoy delicious food, attentive staff and great entertainment everything you need for a special Christmas break.

George Hotel Trees adorned with twinkling lights, decorations that illuminate the rich wood panelling in the lounges and roaring fires - not forgetting all the delicious food, the warmest of welcomes awaits you at the George Hotel.

Kings Arms Hotel. Throughout your Christmas break at the Kings Arms Hotel you can enjoy a delicious variety of festive fayre, awardwinning ales and an abundance of entertainment and the opportunity to take Christmas at your own pace.

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There has been a market

in Nantwich since 1500.

The present building, at the junction of Market Street and Churchyardside, dates from 1867 and offers over 50 stall with a wide variety of fresh food, fashion, gifts, art, cards, essentials and bespoke services.

Open weekly on Tuesday, Thursdays and Saturdays, the present market building is located in the centre of town and sits next to the lovely St Mary's church (the "cathedral of South Cheshire").

Stallholders sell a wide variety of goods including fresh produce and household items. The cosy Tea Chest cafe serves hot and cold snacks, drinks, breakfast and lunchtime

specials.

Complementing the traditional town market, Nantwich boasts a number of ‘pop-up’ markets in the Town Square, each featuring over 35 stalls.

On the last Saturday of every month you will find the town’s Farmers Market stocked with an array of fresh, local produce and dotted throughout the year Artisan, Antiques and Collectors and Seasonal markets are not to be missed.

Opening times for Nantwich Market are: Tuesday 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.

Thursday 9.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m.

Saturday 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.

Winter looms and council highways

teams geared up for all weathers

Cheshire East Council’s highways teams are all geared up to face whatever winter weather throws their way in the coming months.

Cheshire East highways’ dedicated winter service starts at the end of October and preparations are well underway should the temperature plummet or strong winds impact on driving conditions.

Recent autumn storms saw gangs clearing the roads of fallen trees and other debris and from next month, the service’s full-on cold-weather response programme swings into operation. Salt stocks are high and the service’s fleet of 19 gritters are on standby and ready to be mobilised throughout the winter season. Gritting routes are planned and include the recognised high-level roads to the

east of the borough, where snow and ice tend to have the most severe impact in extremely cold weather.

Councillor Glen Williams, deputy cabinet member for highways and infrastructure, said: “Using digital technology and Met Office weather warnings, we constantly monitor changes in weather and are able to anticipate sub-zero temperatures and the need to grit our roads. Major transport routes and access routes for emergency services and other key routes, are a priority.

“Although we grit a significant proportion of the borough’s 2,700 kilometres of highway, we cannot ensure that all roads will be clear of snow and ice. “Residents and motorists can be reassured that if things turn unpleasant we are ready to

respond. This is also the case where storms and heavy rain can lead to fallen trees and flooding.

“We urge residents to take care in adverse driving conditions or when out walking.”

Cheshire East highways work closely with neighbouring authorities to ensure that a consistent level of service is provided to roads that cross council boundaries.

Residents and commercial operators can keep up to date with gritting operations by following Cheshire East highways on Twitter @ CECHighways or they can go to the winter service webpage.

The service can also be contacted on 0300 123 5020 for any enquiries, or to report debris on roads and other hazards.

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FIERY CHRISTMAS FOODIE

GIFTS FROM FLAMING LICKS!

What do you give someone who’s looking for excitement, adventure and daily stimulation in their lives?

This Christmas sign them up to a world of flavour and creativity with a subscription from Flaming Licks, the world’s premier fiery foods club.

The UK company delivers the best from quality British and European producers, not readily available in supermarkets, straight to your door anywhere in the world. Each monthly subscription box will ensure spicy

food addicts are never without their fix! Chilli fans will discover how variety is truly the spice of life. Each month your delivery will contain exciting secret delights to unravel to ensure you are fully stocked with thrilling new discoveries to provide inspiration and flavours for a more creative cooking and food experience.

Sign up to a choice of subscriptions to include one, three, six or twelve deliveries during the year. Choose the best matched subscription box

for your foodie companion to best tingle their taste buds: Snackers can get their chompers around the Munch Box subscription (from £8.99 per month including free shipping to the UK) with its range of four spicy treats which includes a combination of snacks including knock out nuts, dips and salsas, dried meats (UK subscribers only) or a veggie option, and sweet treats such as extra fiery brownies. Keen to try new things but the kitchen is cluttered with half empty bottles?

Featuring in the Taste and Crave boxes, the newly launched Hot Shots pack means you’re never caught short when it comes to flavour. Each month one selected hot sauce producer will pick their finest top three products to fill a triple pack of 41ml shots – a staple for any dinner table and easy enough to take around with you adding a dash of excitement to any meal.

The original Taste Box subscription (from £13.49 per month including free shipping to the UK) has received a serious upgrade and is perfect for the sauce fiends and adventurous cooks. Bursting with flavour the box contains a Hot Shots triple pack, a mix of two full sized sauces, condiments or cooking products and recipes cards to collect.

And finally, the monumental Crave Box subscription (from £19.99 a month including free shipping to

the UK) is for the truly committed spicy food addict, cramming no less than nine fiery foods into one epic box. Every month, you’ll receive a Hot Shots triple pack, a mix of four snacks, dips, dried meats (UK only and with an alternative veggie option), and c o n f e c t i o n e r y.

The box will also include a mix of two full sized sauces, condiments or cooking products as well as recipe cards providing inspiration and ideas around the products.

Subscribers can join the Facebook community for reviews, share recipe ideas and learn more about the producers and their creations.

Plus, they will also receive a further 15% discount for the online shop.

Sign up, subscribe and enter a world

Give something special this Christmas

This year the Lake District National donation today, you can help us look in the future. If you would like to find out more about Park is offering a Christmas present after this spectacular place now and donations, please visit www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/donations with a difference giving you the chance to sponsor a piece of the spectacular landscape. A new online sponsor system where you can sponsor bridges, gates, signs and other work within the National Park has just been launched.

Photo shows a fingerpost at Howtown in Glenridding which was installed using sponsorship money.

National Park Project Ranger, Phil Clague explains the benefits of the new scheme: “We maintain more than 3,100km of paths and bridleways.

Millions of visitors, combined with our Cumbrian climate, means we are constantly carrying out improvements and maintenance.” “This new, online system will allow you to choose a location or item which is special to you, with an option to have a small plaque, showing initials and dates.

Alternatively, you can sponsor one of our larger projects, or the valuable work of our apprentices and rangers.

You can pay for your donation online, and choose a message that will be shared on our website’s message wall.” “It is easy to use, and will provide people with the opportunity to sponsor something in a place which might be special to them, perhaps in memory of a loved one, to celebrate a special event such as a wedding or birthday – or even as a unique Christmas gift.” By making a

of fiery flavour by visiting www. flaminglicks.com For further media information, more hi-res images and samples to review

please contact Kristel Valaydon at KV Communications Tel: 07884 335734 (preferred)/ 0203 239 7959 Email: kristel@kvcomms.com

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Christmas Markets and Fairs in Wales 2017

Christmas markets are popping up all over Wales. The scent of mulled wine and roasting chestnuts fills the air. Artisan food producers and craftspeople are donning seasonal knitwear and filling their stalls with tempting goodies. Santa is in his grotto, checking his list to see if you’ve been naughty or – we confidently predict - nice. Let the festivities begin! Here’s just a selection of the many markets, fairs and seasonal shopping opportunities coming your way…

Llandudno Christmas Fayre 16 – 19 November 2017 The ‘Queen of Welsh resorts’ hosts North Wales’ biggest Christmas market, with more than 165 stalls lining Madoc Street, Augusta Street and Trinity Square Street for Llandudno Christmas Fayre. There’ll be a feast of local food, handmade gifts and arts along with craft demonstrations and a Santa’s grotto for the children to enjoy. There’s a distinctly Dickensian charm to the proceedings, which also includes the World Bara Brith Championships,

a hotly-contested tournament to find the champion baker of Wales’ speckled tea time favourite.

Portmeirion Food and Craft Fair 1 – 3 December 2017 The stunning Italianate fantasy village opens its doors for three days to a whole load of Welsh merriment and wonder. Portmeirion hosts a range of exhibitors specialising in local produce, music makers galore and plenty of cooking demonstrations to inspire your Christmas feast. There’ll be more than 120 Welsh artisan stalls to tempt you, a magical Christmas Grotto, a giant gingerbread village and an elf dash (that’s a fun run for kids, in case you were wondering…).

Wrexham Victorian Christmas Market. 7 December 2017 This year Wrexham’s Victorian Christmas Market is bigger and better than ever, with around 100 stalls alongside Victorian themed rides and entertainment. It all happens in the most picturesque part of the town centre, where local producers will be on hand to take orders for Christmas turkeys or geese or to

sell everything from pies, sausages, cakes, brownies, chocolates to local cheese, beers, cider and preserves, and toys, candles, clothing, jewellery, handbags, books, cards, crafts, gifts, seasonal plants and Christmas decorations. The parish church of St Giles becomes a real haven of warmth on a cold winter’s evening, with yet

more stalls and refreshments served up with music and carols.

Conwy’s Winterfest 9 December 2017 Here’s how Conwy gets everybody into the real spirit of Christmas: the Winterfest kicks off with a grand parade, led by the town’s jester, followed by armoured knights

carrying blazing torches. There’s entertainment in the town square, the excellent array of shops stay open well into the evening, and the local pubs and restaurants are primed to offer sustenance to weary shoppers.

Surf Snowdonia Christmas Market 10 – 11 December 2017 Surf Snowdonia will be playing host

to a hip and happening Christmas market celebration at the centre’s glamping village on the edge of the surf lagoon. So even if you don’t fancy dipping your toe in to the chilly water for a bit of snowy surfing, you can stay warm in the real ale tent, try the tasty festive foods and let the kids enjoy the carousel and fair rides.

Join the festivities at Dyffryn over the holidays as we celebrate traditions past and present with a new magical 12 Days of Christmas display and family fun events over the winter season.

12 Days of Christmas Trail Dates: 18 November - 7 January* Time: 10am - 4pm (Last entry 3pm) *Closed 25 and 26 December Normal admission prices apply Launch weekend - 18 and 19 November The popular winter trail is back, but with a difference. A new magical display will be placed around the gardens bringing the much loved Christmas carol to life.

Take a 12 Days of Christmas trail sheet and sing your way around the gardens as you marvel at the new family fun display.

Our launch weekend on 18th and 19th November is set to be an extra festive experience, so see what magical memories you will make this winter season with the National Trust. You might even get to see a very special guest around the gardens from 12pm - 2pm.

Visit Father Christmas and his Elves Father Christmas is kindly taking time away from his busy schedule with a few of his helpers to meet lots of boys and girls in Dyffryn House.

Would you like to share your Christmas wish list with the special man in red in person? Make sure to book your visit in advance on one of the dates available to avoid disappointment.

Dates: 9 and 10 December 16 and 17 December Price: £5 per child / present Normal admission prices apply Booking essential: Call 02920 590813 Breakfast with the Elves Dates: 9 and 10 December 16 and 17 December Time: 9am - 10am Prices: £7.95 per child / £10.95 per adult Enjoy a cooked breakfast, play games and do some colouring with our Elves in the Garden’s Café. Adults get free refills of tea and coffee and every

child receives a gift.

Soak up the festive spirit Escape the tinsel-decked chaos of the high street and admire the

beautifully adorned Dyffryn House with its Christmas trees, mistletoe and twinkling lights.

You can pick out a few special

Christmas presents for loved ones from our Gift Shop, which will also be open until 7:45pm for a spot of late night shopping on the evening of our popular Christmas concert on 8 December.

Spend your Christmas in North Wales

It’s the most magical time of the year – so why not spend it in the most magical of destinations?

Landscapes around North Wales change (sometimes overnight) to a glorious bright white. The untouched snow makes it look like a photograph, but there’s no need to rub your eyes, this is North Wales at Christmas.

We like to think North Wales is Santa’s favourite destination. He makes plenty of stops in North Wales leading up to the big day, including an incredible zip wire entrance at Zip World.

He even makes a stop off at Llechwedd Slate Mines, where you’ll jump on a train and be taken right into

the grotto to see Santa and his helpers.

So that’s the kids sorted, what about the adults? Well, a break in a snowy Snowdonia lodge might be just the way to relax and unwind before the big day. The perfectly situated lodges are the perfect opportunity to explore the region in its snowy beautifulness.

Plenty of Christmas markets take place around the region, including Llandudno’s popular event, an ideal chance for some last minute Christmas shopping!

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2017 Santa Steam Specials Every weekend from the 25th November through to Christmas Eve

Every year the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway run Santa Specials.

Join us for a journey behind one of our iconic steam locomotives for festive fun when Santa Clause travels along the Railway spreading goodwill all round. Tickets will go on sale on 24th July.

Keighley & Worth Valley Railway Santa Specials – the original and best.

As soon as you board our Santa Special, it feels like Christmas with specially decorated coaches and festive music to get you into the

mood. You will be greeted by your steward, who will check your tickets and show you to your seat, before explaining what will happen during the journey (and where to find the bar!)

Join the Santa Special at Oxenhope, Haworth or Keighley Stations for a ten-mile return journey on our steam train, lasting around an hour.

Experience nostalgia and the magic of Christmas in our specially decorated coaches, with festive music to get you into the mood. Santa and his pixies

visit each child during the journey, delivering presents and the grownups are served with a mince pie and seasonal drink: the perfect way for you and your family to start the Christmas season.

All our Santa Specials have a buffet car serving real-ale, hot and cold drinks and a variety of snacks, with entertainers on board to make sure you get the most out of your day. Your ticket also allows you free travel on our connecting diesel services. Our hugely popular Pixies Pantry Cafe

and Winter Wonderland display will be available in Oxenhope Exhibition Shed throughout the Santa Special period.

When do they run?

Saturdays and Sundays November 25th/26th (Availability both days) December – 2nd / 3rd (Availability both days) December 9th (No seats from Keighley on any train) / 10th (Limited Availability, only single or double seats) December 16th (Limited Availability, only single or double seats) / 17th (Limited Availability, only single or double seats) December 23rd (Limited Availability, only single seats) & Christmas Eve (Sold Out) Please note that 10th, 16th, 17th and 23rd December have only limited availability with only single or occasional double seats. Call Haworth Station on 01535 645214 if you wish to book these seats on these dates.

You may book to travel from Keighley, Haworth or Oxenhope stations at the times below. Whichever station you choose, your Santa Special train will take you on a return journey over

the whole railway. When booking please specify your chosen station and the time you wish board. NOTE: the last train of the day, marked *, is not available on the first weekend of November and will not run on Christmas Eve to give Santa enough time to get his sleigh and reindeer prepared for the night’s work ahead.

Booking is now open, To ensure you reserve the day and time you want, go to ON-LINE BOOKING. or call o1535 645214 Fares Adults & Children, 3 years of age and over – £18.00

Toddlers, 6 – 35 months – £8.50 Under 6 months – Free Special First Weekend Promotion For the first weekend of Santa Specials we are offering 25% discount with special prices as follows: Adults & Children, 3 years of age and over – £13.50 Toddlers, 6 – 36 months – £6.40 Under 6 months – Free Want to know more?

If you want to know more about the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway’s Santa Specials go to the Santa Special page http://kwvr.co.uk/events-andexperiences/festive-santa-specials/

the Red-Nosed Reindeer?

Rudolph likes visiting the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, so you might be lucky enough to see him when you’re on the Santa Special train!

Why not have your photo taken with

him so you can show it to all your friends? You could even bring him a carrot!

Ebeneezer Scrooge Scrooge hates Christmas and everything it stands for, so he tries to

stop Santa from coming to see all the boys and girls. The one thing Scrooge hates most is Christmas Cheer, so make sure you’re all smiling and laughing, so you can see him off and make way for Santa!

Festive Santa Specials

Happy children and smiling faces all round, but not when Mr. Scrooge comes walks through the train trying to spread gloom and doom.

But Santa’s visit always brings back smiles and joy.

Your Journey As soon as you board our Santa Special, it feels like Christmas with specially decorated coaches and festive music to get you into the mood. You will be greeted by your steward, who will check your tickets and show you to your seat, before explaining what will happen during the journey (and where to find the bar!)

Don’t forget to watch out for nasty Mr Scrooge, who doesn’t like Christmas and wants to throw all the presents off the train. Perhaps if you sing a really jolly song, we can frighten him away, so that Santa will be able to come and see you?

Of course, this is where you’ll need to bring your shouting voices – so that Santa knows you are on the train. http://www.kwvr.co.uk/wp-content/ uploads/2014/09/Santa-Song-Sheet. pdf to download your Christmas song sheet.

Next comes the man himself – Mr Santa Claus – with presents for all the boys and girls, as long as you’ve been good. You could even have your photo taken with him as a souvenir of your magical day. After Santa has been to see you come the mince pies and sherries for the grown-ups.

When you’ve had your train ride (or before), why not visit our Pixies’ Pantry and Winter Wonderland at Oxenhope? Your Santa Special ticket gives you unlimited free travel on our connecting diesel railcar service, so even if you boarded the train at Haworth or Keighley you can see our superb display and gingerbread house!

Santa Claus Also known as Father Christmas, Pere Noel and many other names; Santa

Claus is known worldwide as the jolly man in the red suit with presents for all the good boys and girls.

He’s been making a list and checking it twice, so if you’ve been good you might find yourself with a stocking

full of goodies on Christmas Day. Santa will visit every child during the journey (as long as you can shout loud enough!)

Rudolph Do we all know the story of Rudolph

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Make special memories at

Nunnington Hall this Christmas Discover the Hall as it could have been throughout history, from the 18th century to the memorable war years.

You’ll be welcomed to the 1920s by the Butler with a tot of sherry to enjoy by a roaring fire, before stepping back to an indulgent feast of the 18th century, to the memorable rationed years of the war.

A special visitor is on his way

Saturday 25 November - Sunday 17 December (weekends only) Christmas is on its way and we have a special visitor coming to Nunnington Hall. You'll receive a personalised invitation for your visit and a festive gift to put under your tree. Normal admission prices apply. £7 per child to visit Father Christmas. Booking essential, call 01439 748283.

Winter Wonderland by the Ryedale Embroiderers Guild Saturday 18 November – Sunday 17 December (weekends only) The Ryedale Branch of the Embroiderers' Guild will be presenting their exhibition of winter and Christmas themed work to celebrate the season. Showcasing a variety of needlework and textiles,

both 3d and 2d. Join us each Sunday to meet some of artists and have a go at making your own embroidery decoration. No previous experience necessary. Joyful carol singing Saturday 10 December from 12.30pm Celebrate the lead up to Christmas with the Driffield Middle 8 Singers,

while they bellow out festive carols in the hall for all to delight in. There’ll be plenty of opportunities to get involved before enjoying the hall's festive decorations.

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Xmas Markets

What’s on in Lancashire?

The Spa Christmas Market: 9th of November The Spa Christmas Market kicks off the festivities in our Christmas guide.

The evening includes demonstrations and taster treatments from a range of their products. They will also include complimentary hand and arm massages, a gift wrapping station, exclusive offers and of course products and gifts for you to buy for your family and friends. Bubbles and festive nibbles will also be supplied!

The Spa Hotel at Ribby Hall Village.

Ribby Road, Wrea Green, Preston, Lancashire, PR4 2PR. https://www.ribbyhall.co.uk/the-spahotel/welcome-to-the-spa-hotel East Lancashire Hospice Christmas Fayre 2017: 11th of November Get into the Christmas Spirit at East Lancashire Hospice's Christmas Fayre taking place on Saturday 11 November at Oswaldtwistle Civic Arts Centre & Theatre from 11am 3pm. There are prizes to be won in the raffle as well as festive cards on sale! Enjoy mince pies and warm, mulled wine too! Under 12’s are free and adults are £2. For £10 you can pre-book for your child’s place for the Father Christmas Experience, where tales of the North Pole will be spilled, wishes can be made, and the naughty and nice list can be checked… Twice if you wish! Finish the experience with ELF training to gain your official ELF certificate, collect your gift from Father Christmas with plenty of photograph opportunities along the way. Civic Arts Centre and Theatre, Oswaldtwistle, BB5 3HZ https://eastlancshospice.org.uk/ christmas-fayre-2017

Lancaster Brewery Christmas Market: 24th-26th of November The Christmas Market returns to the Lancaster Brewery again, selling seasonal treats for potential last minute gifts!

You could also use this opportunity to treat yourself, too. There will be delicious hot festive food along with the celebrated Lancaster beer available to be sampled, and a special guest appearance from Santa can also be expected!

Lancaster Leisure Park, Wyresdale Rd, Lancaster LA1 3LA http://www.lancasterbrewery.co.uk/ Christmas-Market Ulverston Dickensian Christmas Festival: 25th- 26th of November The Ulverston Dickensian Christmas Market and Festival returns again to the traditional market town where attendees can revel in the atmosphere of a previous time.

Expect a variety of events and entertainment as well as costume competitions, horse drawn carriages and a Christmas market with unusual gifts and festive food.

Ulverston Town Centre, Ulverston, Lancashire http://www.dickensianfestival.co.uk/ Christmas in Rossendale: 26th November – 31st December (Date TBC) An array of festive events will be available up and down the Valley celebrating the festivities in the picturesque valley setting.

Expect Christmas markets, choirs with brass bands and local talent.

Various locations across Rossendale, Rossendale, Lancashire, OL13 0BB

Etsy Made Local Lancashire: 2nd-3rd of December The community-led market event runs for its second year at the Harris Museum & Art Gallery. Local Etsy sellers bring their products and inspiration directly to the local public.

Expect a mass of arts and crafty bits and bobs.

Harris Museum & Art Gallery, Market Square, Preston PR1 2PP www.facebook.com/Etsylancashire Christmas Floral & Table Decoration Demonstration: 4th December If you enjoy creating a beautiful center piece for your dining table on Christmas day, this is the perfect event for you. Enjoy Christmas floral demonstrations at the Gibbon Bridge Hotel.

The event takes place between 1001400 at a charge of £32.50 per person inclusive of coffee, demonstration and two course lunch.

Gibbon Bridge Hotel, Green Lanes, Chipping, Preston, Lancashire, PR3 2TQ Leighton Hall Christmas Fair for Cancer Care: 6th December Take part in a fantastic, seasonal opportunity to carry out some Christmas shopping in this beautiful stately home whilst also supporting Cancer Care.

There is a £4 entry charge, however, this includes coffee and a mince pie!

Browse home produce, jewellery and scarves, Christmas floral decorations, clothing, fragrances, gift ideas & more.

Leighton Hall, Peter Lane, Carnforth, Lancashire, LA5 9ST

Whalley Pickwick Festival -7th of December Whalley Pickwick Festival is back again this year bringing Christmas joy to Lancashire once again. Providing entertainment from live pipe and brass bands, reindeers, as well as a visit from Father Christmas himself! An array of market stalls will be available with many special Christmas treats available.

Whalley Village Centre, King Street, Whalley, Lancashire, BB7 9SW https://sites. google.com/site/ whalleypickwick/ home Windermere Christmas Markets: 9th 10th December Wi n d e r m e r e ' s German themed

Christmas market returns to the Lake District this festive season.

The two day extravaganza will provide a broad range of unique stalls promoting seasonal gifts perfect for last minute Christmas presents. Enjoy a variety of delightful food and drink, as well witnessing exciting street entertainment and even a special visit from Santa and his reindeers. The festive celebrations will be continuing into the night in some of Windermere’s brilliant bars and restaurants.

Victoria Street, Windermere, Cumbria, LA23 1AD http://windermere-ja.co.uk/ Annual Christmas Tree Festival at Carnforth Station: 10th December20th December Take part in the traditional annual Christmas Tree festival taking place at Carnforth Station! The tea rooms have been restored to resemble the set used in 'Brief Encounter', filmed at Carnforth Station, and they serve refreshments daily. Admission is free; donations are welcome.

Carnforth Station Heritage Centre, Warton Road, Carnforth, Lancashire, LA5 9TR

Garstang Victorian Christmas Festival – 11th-12th of December The historic market town in Garstang with a vast history will be transformed into a ornamented display of festivities! Experience live bands, singers, stilt walker, Punch and Judy!

Don’t forget to enjoy a visit from Santa in his grotto on High Street!

High Street, Garstang, Lancashire, PR3 1EA. http://www. garstangchristmas.co.uk/info.html Christmas Farmer's Market – 17th of December The Hoghton Tower’s Great Barn will host the ‘Merchant of Hoghton’.

Expect a celebration of fresh local produce where local producers will partner up with bakers, confectioners and crafts stalls.

The house, tea room & gardens will be open and Father Christmas will be in the Banqueting Hall! Charges apply. The market will be open from 1000-1400 with a £1 charge per car and 50p for pedestrians.

Hoghton tower, Houghton, Nr Preston, PR5 0SH www.hoghtontower.co.uk/event/ christmas-farmers-market-2

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Your guide to the perfect Christmas dessert:

Choose your dessert --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------CHRISTMAS PUDDING [A RECIPE BY SARA BUENFELD VIA BBC GOOD FOOD MAGAZINE 2008: https://www. bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/8370/ christmas-pudding-with-citrus-andspice] A fruity pud creates the perfect ending to the traditional Christmas meal.

1. Mix the fruit, almonds, citrus zests and the carrot with the brandy and orange liqueur in a large mixing bowl. Cover and leave to soak overnight.

2. Mix all the dry ingredients together, then add to the soaked fruit mixture. Grate in the butter, then add the eggs and stir. Don’t forget to make a wish!

3. Grease a 1.5-litre pudding basin

with butter and line the base with greaseproof paper. Spoon in the mixture, press down well and make a hollow with the back of the spoon in the centre. Cover the surface with a round of greaseproof paper, then cover the bowl with double-thickness greaseproof paper and foil and tie at the rim with string. Lower the pudding into a pan with an upturned saucer in the base, then fill with water until it comes halfway up the sides of the bowl. Steam for 6 hrs, topping up with water as necessary.

4. Alternatively, steam in the oven. Stand the pudding basin in a roasting tin filled with water, then cover with a tent of foil and cook for the same length of time at 160C/ fan 140C/gas 3. Check roasting tin occasionally as the water may need

to be topped up.

5. To store, allow to cool, then store in a cool, dry cupboard. The pudding will keep for up to a year.

6. On the day, steam for 1 hr before turning out, decorating with holly and serving with extra-thick double cream or vanilla ice cream.

CHOCOLATE YULE LOG [A RECIPE BY JAMIE OLIVER: https://www.jamieoliver.com/ recipes/chocolate-recipes/ chocolate-log/] Paired with a Sweet chestnut purée, honeyed cream & crushed honeycomb filling, this dessert is sure to get tongues wagging!

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/ gas 4. For the sponge, line a 25cm x 30cm baking tray with greaseproof paper.

2. Separate the eggs. In an electric mixer, whisk the egg whites to

stiff peaks with a pinch of sea salt.

Gradually whisk in the icing sugar, then, one-by-one, whisk in the egg yolks until really pale and light.

3. Sift in the flour and cocoa powder, add the vanilla bean paste, then fold everything together with a large metal spoon so you keep in as much air as possible.

4. Spoon the mixture into the lined tray, gently and evenly spread it out, then bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until just cooked through and springy to the touch.

5. Place a large sheet of greaseproof

paper (35cm x 45cm) on a flat surface and evenly sprinkle over the caster sugar from a height.

6. While it’s still hot and flexible, turn the sponge out on to the paper. Peel off and discard the baked piece of greaseproof.

7. With one of the longest sides in front of you, fold up the excess paper, then roll up the sponge with the paper inside (as it cools, this will set the shape but prevent the sponge from cracking). Leave to cool.

8. For the filling, mix the chestnut purée and cinnamon together. In a

TRIFLE… [A MARY BERRY RECIPE: http:// www.maryberry.co.uk/recipes/ desserts/classic-oldfashioned-trifle] This reliable traditional recipe is always a popular dessert. There are now some very good readymade fresh vanilla custards in the supermarket, but of course you can make your own fresh custard if you prefer. This is an ideal dessert to make a day ahead as the flavours have time to mingle. Keep in the fridge. Scatter over the almonds just before serving.

1. Drain the pears, reserving the juice, then cut the fruit into small pieces. Split the trifle sponges in half and sandwich together with the strawberry jam. Measure the sherry into a jug and make up to 150ml

with the reserved pear juice. If you don’t wish to have sherry in your trifle then use all of the pear juice – about 150ml.

2. Put half the chopped pears into the base of a glass serving dish of about 20cm in diameter and 6cm deep.

Arrange half the trifle sponges on top, then add the remaining pears and finally the remaining sponges. Scatter the ratafias on top and pour the sherry and pear juice mixture over evenly.

3. Carefully pour the custard over the top. Lightly whip the cream until it just holds its shape and spoon carefully over the custard. Smooth or fluff the surface. Serve chilled.

Sprinkle with the toasted flaked almonds just before serving.

4. TIP - Flaked almonds can now be bought ready toasted but,

separate bowl, whisk the cream to soft peaks, then fold in the honey.

9. To assemble, unroll the sponge so it’s flat, removing the paper. Spread all over with the chestnut purée, followed by the cream, then smash and sprinkle over the Crunchie bar or honeycomb.

10. Re-roll and pop into the fridge.

Meanwhile, make your buttercream.

11. Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of gently simmering water, then remove and leave to cool.

12. Beat the butter in an electric mixer until pale, then, with the mixer still

running, gradually add the icing sugar and cool melted chocolate.

13. Take the log out of the fridge, chop off a quarter at an angle – that’s the branch – and position it on your serving board like in the picture, using a splodge of buttercream to keep it in place.

14. Evenly cover the whole log with buttercream, then use a fork to decorate it. Dust with extra icing sugar and a pinch of sea salt, shaved chocolate, sprinkles, plastic Bambi figures, whatever you like – go to town!

if you do need to toast them yourself, put them in a dry pan over a medium heat on the hob. Move them around with a wooden spoon and watch them like a hawk as they can quickly burn.

Chorley markets

Chorley is famous for its markets, which date back to 1498 - the most popular market day in the Lancashire town is Tuesday.

There are two main markets in Chorley. Chorley covered market, which makes up the heart of the town and operates five days a week and Chorley’s Tuesday market, which is now located along the streets of Chorley town centre.

The Tuesday market sees everyone’s favourite stalls lining Fazakerley Street, Chapel Street, New Market Street, Cleveland Street and the bottom half of High Street every Tuesday.

Traditionally, this market was held on the Flat Iron (sometimes known locally as the 'Cattle Market'), however, in July 2017, the market moved to the streets to make way for the extension to Market Walk shopping centre.

We have more than 150 stalls on our busiest day and Chorley markets can prove to be a great place to sell your goods. Our stalls are always in demand but we welcome new traders and casual traders who wish to trade on Chorley markets.

We have a covered market consisting of lock-up cabins and table top stalls, open five days a week, as well as an outdoor market under gazebos along the streets of Chorley town centre held every Tuesday. Please download the Tuesday market layout map for further information.

Both markets are situated in the centre of town with excellent transport links and ample parking.

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Go Nuts for a Healthy Heart

It’s that time of year when supermarkets are displaying an abundance of nuts which provide many of the nutrients and goodness that support a heart-healthy diet.

Unsalted nuts are a great source of healthy monounsaturated fats, protein, fibre, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, and eating them regularly has been shown to reduce ‘bad’ LDL-cholesterol levels.

According to the New England Journal of Medicine, studies suggests that nut eaters are likely to have healthy lifestyles, including being less likely to smoke or be overweight and more likely to exercise and during the study showed that people having a daily handful of nuts cut their death rate by 20%. Other research published in Diabetes Care found that replacing carbohydrate foods with two ounces of nuts daily also improved blood sugar control and blood lipid levels in people with Type 2 diabetes, a risk factor for heart disease. Nuts are incredibly versatile so, unless you have a nut allergy, try out these great nutty tips: • keep your taste buds ‘salt-tamed’ by choosing unsalted versions and remember that dry roasted contain salt, whilst the honey-roasted types are high in sugar too; • snack on nuts mixed with dried fruit for extra taste and to give your body even more vitamins and minerals and a convenient fruit boost; • walnuts go nicely with chopped orange and chicory leaves and are a good source of omega-3 so sprinkle them on your salads or add them to apple, raw cabbage and carrot for an alternative coleslaw;

• add chopped or flaked almonds to your cereal, porridge or low-fat yoghurt. Give your crumble toppings or cakes a nutty twist by using ground almonds and use less sugar and fat as ingredients; • make your own muesli packed with pistachios, pecans, hazelnuts and walnuts; • a nut-based sauce will make a nice accompaniment to chicken or turkey or you could go one step further and rustle up a filling nut roast; • add sweet chestnuts to stuffing or stir them with Brussels sprouts sautéed in olive oil and garlic; look

out for the hot chestnut stalls at the when out shopping or at your local Christmas market; • to keep that waist trim, chomp on nuts instead of less healthy snacks – nuts will also help keep you fuller for longer than sugar confectionary; • stir cashew nuts into stir-fry, curries or risottos for an added crunchy dimension Eating a handful of mixed nuts per day is a simple step towards a healthier heart and makes a perfect healthy alternative to crisps and chocolate bars whichever way you choose to eat them.

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Top Tips on Toys

this Christmas

With Christmas rapidly approaching and children already circling their must-have gifts this year, Smyths Toys Catalogue has published their list of the top toys for Christmas 2017. Smyths reveal their broad range of gifts for children of all ages, from old classics like LEGO to the newest plush toy collections.

Paw Patrol Sea Patroller PAW Patrol returns to the top toys list with this year’s Sea Patroller.

Kids will love saving the day with Ryder with the land-to-sea rescue vehicle featuring flashing lights and a working crane for all rescue missions.

Also includes a Ryder figure and his Rescue ATV.

PJ Masks Deluxe Talking Figure 4-Pack The PJ Masks Deluxe Talking Figure 4-Pack is the perfect gift for little superheroes. Smyth’s set features Catboy, Owlette, Gekko and Romeo as 15cm poseable figures. Hear iconic phrases from the show by pressing t h e characters’ amulets!

Luvabella Doll The unique Luvabella is making an impact this year! Luvabella is a lifelike interactive doll who responds affectionately to love by changing her expression just like a real baby. Luvabella is capable of over 100 words and phrase, giggles when tickled, plays peek-a-boo and responds to her accessories.

Cozmo by Anki Cozmo is an intelligent little robot with a mind of its own and a one-of-akind personality that grows the more it is played with. Cozmo responds to its environment and will nudge you when it wants to play! Drag and drop blocks help to make coding Cozmo’s functions accessible and fun for all children and adults alike.

Imaginext DC Super Friends Batbot Xtreme The Batbot Xtreme is over 2 feet tall and packed with several epic features!

The Batbot Xtreme boasts projectile launchers, extendable wings, a hidden Batcycle, a lift for the included Batman figure and an awesome voice changer. Squeeze the trigger to unleash a super-charged one-two punch!

Fur Real Roarin’ Tyler the Playful Tiger FurReal’s adorable Roarin’ Tyler the Playful Tiger loves to play—as much so that when kids roar, he roars back!

With over 100 sound and motion responses, he’s incredible play value.

The soft plush fur makes Tyler a super huggable friend for your child.

Bush Baby World Dream Tree Bush Babies is the newest line of collectible plush toys.

The toys wiggle their ears, waggle their eyes, and come in their individual delightful hanging sleepy pods, and the Dream Tree helps kids give Bush Babies a home for their collection. The Dream Tree playset has seating for 5 Bush Babies and hanging loops for even more.

It also has a basket lift, swing seat and light up flower crown for your inhabitant Bush Babies! The Bush Baby World Dream Tree comes with exclusive Bush Baby Niki in her sleepy pod.

Toilet Trouble Game A new f a m i l y b o a r d g a m e which is a game filled with suspense…

H a s b r o ’s To i l e t Trouble allows players to take turns s pinning the toilet paper roll, flushing the toilet handle in the hope that they don’t get sprayed with water from the game’s loo! Who doesn’t love toilet humour?!

Our Generation Healthy Paws Vet Clinic Our Generation’s take on a classic veterinary clinic is a stunning, high quality playset for your children’s favourite dolls. The Our Generation Healthy Paws Vet Clinic features a waiting room, an exam table, and an X-ray light box that really lights up! It contains over 50 accessories, leaving the kids enjoying hours of imaginative role play fun.

Sky Viper Stunt Drone Drones are at the top of every techie’s wish list. The Sky Viper Stunt Drone is a high-quality model which is able to perform 8 breathtaking stunts at the touch of a button! Flight assist features include auto takeoff, hover and land, while the included guardrails protect the drone whilst learning to fly it.

Thomas & Friends Super Station Thomas & Friends impresses once again with their Super Station, featuring over 10 metres of track, as well as iconic Sodor locations such as Tidmouth Sheds, Brendam Docks, Knapford Station and the Search and Rescue Centre, all in one set. With endless opportunities for different routes and, with room for over 100

engines and a new track design that will work with any Thomas engine, the Super Station is sure to impress!

L.O.L. Surprise Big Surprise The L.O.L. Surprise Big Surprise is a gift in which kids can discover 50 layers of surprises as they unbox their L.O.L. Surprise, uncovering new accessories and clues at every layer.

The glittery outer container can act as a purse or a display case once the gift has been unraveled, while the exclusive (or maybe rare) dolls inside have secret features, for even more surprise fun!

NERF Modulus Regulator NERF blasters allow children to create a blaster for any mission with the fully motorised Regulator.

Three different firing modes can be chosen due to the SwitchFire Technology, while the included swivel handle and the 2 versatile barrel-scopes allow for blastercustomisation.

Laser X Laser-tag… at home!

Laser X contains a 2 player pack which has everything needed for the first head to head match. The receiver vests will gradually change colour as they are hit… Get hit ten times and you’re out! This high-tech gaming experience comes with 2 Laser X blasters and 2 receiver vests.

LEGO Ninjago Movie Destiny’s Bounty Based on the LEGO Ninjago Movie, Destiny’s bounty, Master Wu’s flying ninja training base, is able to be the new platform for your children’s adventures. With 7 minifigures, weapons and accessories this LEGO ship allows kids to either recreate their favourite scenes from the movie or imagine brand new adventures of their own!

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Spread Christmas

Cheer with a Gift from Sony

Dazzle your loved ones with a little help from Sony Twinkling trees, festive feasts and yuletide carols – Christmas is here and it's time to draw up a wish list for Santa. This festive season, Sony has a fantastic range of gift ideas for your nearest and dearest - dazzle those close to you with a premium gadget or ultimate stocking filler.

Ultimate stocking fillers and pocket-sized gifts Sing along to your favourite festive tunes with Sony’s colourful XB10 portable speaker. From carols to children's favourites, Christmas pop tunes to funny festive songs, fill your house with all the classics. The XB10 is both compact and wireless, meaning you can listen to music whilst unwrapping presents in the living room, or whilst sat at the dining table tucking into Christmas lunch.

It’s the ultimate stocking filler.

No occasion is complete without great action shots. Relive festive moments for years to come with the X3000R 4K Action Cam with Wi-Fi and GPS. Capture blur free pictureperfect memories with Balanced Optical SteadyShot even in 4K, as well as high-speed recording modes.

The Action Cam also features a ZEISS® Tessar wide-angle lens and time–lapse movie feature.

Un-interrupted festive music listening with Noise Cancelling technology The WH-1000XM2 noise-cancelling wireless headphones are the perfect accessory for listening to Christmas tunes on the move. With the new

Three angels

for Christmas

- New designs

for the popular

figurines

Rosenthal angels The Rosenthal Christmas angels coveted by collectors and fans alike are available to order right now in three new designs. The specially created angel collection available in small, medium and big size continues this traditional series. The designs comprise an angel with cat, one with a skateboard and an angel with binoculars. All angels feature the Rosenthal stamp on the bottom of the item, which is important for collectors and guarantees excellence and quality. High-quality, sentimental gift packaging rounds off the concept perfectly.

Headphone Connect app you can control the noise you let in with Ambient Sound Mode and Personal NC optimiser, allowing you peace at this busy time of year without missing the important details. The ‘Quick Attention’ mode lets you place the palm of your hand to the outside of the headphone to have a conversation, without taking the headphones off.

For those flying over the Christmas period, the new Atmospheric Pressure Optimising feature analyses you’re surrounding atmospheric pressure and improves the NC performance to make a difference to the comfort of your flight.

The innovative and stylish WF1000X are perfect for lovers of real minimalism. The compact wireless ear buds fit perfectly into your ear with the help of the ergonomic ear hook, ensuring they stay in place no-matter what you are doing. With a 6mm driver, the sound from these headphones is dynamic despite their miniscule size.

The perfect gift, the stylish WI-1000X wireless noise cancelling headphones are ideal for the style-conscious with their behind-the-neck design.

The headphones bring together both functionality and class, and are the perfect flying partner when using Atmospheric pressure optimising mode.

A gift for the fashionistas this Christmas, the NW-A35HNWalkman allows you to enjoy music in style with immaculate audio clarity thanks to High-Resolution Audio.

Conveniently portable, you can enjoy

up to 45 hours of music anywhere you go.

With the WH-H900N, enjoy wireless noise-cancelling technology with touch control in the around-ear style.

Perfect for jetting off to see loved ones over the festive period, key features include Ambient Sound and Quick Attention mode. The H900N are a smart way to control your listening experience on the move.

Impress your friends with the powerful XB40wireless speaker with EXTRA BASS™ technology. Perfect for Christmas parties, the XB40 features club-like lighting effects with an LED line-light, a strobe flash and speaker light. Take your party to the next level with the XB40s bigger brother, the new XB60. Use the Wireless Party Chain feature to connect up to 10 speakers together, and with up to 14 hours of battery life the party can go on all night.

Give the gift of your very own personal assistant this Christmas with the stylish LF-S50G. This compact voice controlled speaker from Sony harnesses the power of Google Assistant. Be the envy of all your loved ones as the 360° sound fills the room with festive tunes. Be the life of the festive party season with the high power VD90DW audio system. Turn the fairy lights off and illuminate the room with the towers multicolour space illuminating lights, which move to the beat of the music.

Impress your guests with your DJing skills by adding effects and sampling your favourite Christmas songs with a wave of a hand, through gesture

control. Christmas parties have never been better with the VD90DW. Capture precious moments this holiday season The season of warmth, joy and good cheer is here. Make memories with Sony’s α6500, perfect for the imaging enthusiast. With lightning fast autofocus up to 0.05 seconds, you won’t miss a single moment. Capture every falling snowflake, with 4K recording and release your Christmas creativity with up to 5x slow motion capture and 60x Quick Motion[i] Have a snap-happy Christmas and capture special memories with the RX0. Perfect for thrill-seekers, its miniature dimensions and all-around versatility lets you capture the action no matter where you are, always with the assurance of high quality results.

RX0 redefines how small and light a premium compact camera can be and is waterproof[ii], crushproof[iii] and shockproof[iv], meaning performance is assured in rain, underwater, or in sandy or dusty environments. Its miniature dimensions also mean it can be hidden in the Christmas tree to capture the delight of present opening.

Tune into your favourite festive movies

Create the ultimate home entertainment experience with Sony’s range of AV products. The stylish A1 Series OLED TV offers a unique combination of superior picture quality, the world’s first Acoustic Surface™ sound system that turns the screen into a speaker, 4K HDR Processor X1 Extreme™, and a cutting-edge stand-less form factor.

With over 8 million self-illuminating pixels, unprecedented black levels and rich and lifelike colour, you can create a truly cinematic experience in your living room. The A1 OLED is perfect for a movie marathon of Elf, Home Alone and Gremlins.

The X800 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Player is perfect for watching festive films in uncompromised picture quality. With High Dynamic Range every detail is brought alive with more brightness, shades and colours revealed than ever before. For interiors fans, create your own home theatre experience in high quality audio with the sleek MT300 Compact Sound Bar. The MT300 fills every inch of the room with sound thanks to S-Force PRO Front Surround. The sound bar stylishly matches your living room so is made for those following the latest design trends. Don’t like your technology on

show? Simply tuck the MT300 under your sofa and place on sofa mode for optimised bass frequencies.

Stunning wish list gifts to make Christmas extra special this year Perfect for those taking a holiday over the Christmas period, the RX100 family introduces users to an incredible world of superspeed shooting. All cameras in the family come equipped with a 1.0type stacked CMOS image sensor, a ZEISS® lens for creating DSLR like portraits, and an enhanced image processing system. The RX100 family reveals Christmas wonders in up to 40x super slow motion, as well as super high-speed shooting and 4K movie capture. There is a camera to suit every photographers needs in the family, so you can capture a flawless festive photo every time.

For the design conscious, the LSPX-S1 Glass Sound Speaker will fit seamlessly into any part of the home, with warm illumination and minimal design. The speaker plays crystal clear audio through organic glass creating a uniquely lifelike sound experience to transform any space into an ambient setting. The ultimate gift for that extra special someone.

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Nearly 50% of employees do their

Christmas shopping whilst at work

spending on average 72 minutes of company time

As the Christmas shopping season starts an online voucher code website looked into when and where people do their Christmas shopping, they were particularly interested in looking at shopping during working hours. 48% of employees in the UK admitted to Christmas shopping on work time, spending on average 72 minutes doing so.

There is a lot of planning and organisation that goes into Christmas, with time in short supply to do these tasks. With experts predicting more shopping will happen online this

month than ever before an online voucher code website investigated if people do their Christmas shopping at work whilst on company time. w w w. m y v o u c h e r c o d e s . c o . u k surveyed 2157 men and women in the UK aged over 18 who were in full time employment (not self-employed) asking: “Have you ever shopped for Christmas presents whilst at work during work time?” They found that 48% of respondents admitted they had, whilst 2% would prefer not to say and 50% stated they never had.

The results also showed that men

were more likely to spend work time shopping for Christmas presents than women, with 50% admitting to doing their Christmas shopping when they should have been working.

As many companies opt for policies which restrict which sites can be viewed online at work, My Voucher Codes investigated further to see what device people were using to shop on in work.

They asked those who had answered yes to the first question: “Did you shop via your computer or mobile device?”

They discovered 59% of people used

mobile devices such as their phone or tablet, whilst 38% used their work computer. To work out how much time employees spent online shopping for Christmas on work time they asked: “On average per shopping session how long did you spend shopping for Christmas presents?” The majority of respondents (28%) only spend around 20 minutes Christmas shopping in work time, however 17% admitted to spending nearly 2hrs shopping and 10% admitted to spend over 3hrs shopping for Christmas presents.

This meant the average the amount

of time workers spent Christmas shopping online during work time was 73 minutes. Mark Pearson said: “At Christmas there doesn't seem to be enough time to do everything we need, from planning and shopping to visiting friends and family, so it's no surprise that people try and sneak some time at work to reduce some of the stress of the festive period. Taking into consideration being able to do shopping away from a spouse, you may need to shop for them at work, however as a business owner I would suggest using the lunch break for that!”

He added: “Obviously for businesses, shopping during work hours can be a concern. Some will have taken matters into their own hands and ban access to many unessential websites including retail, but combatting access on mobile devices is harder.

This may lead employers to be even more vigilant, checking that their employees aren't on their mobiles or tablets, however perhaps it is up to the employee to be better organised and perhaps taking time off work with their holiday allowance to do these tasks.”

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2017 Poppy Appeal to accept contactless card donations

This year the British public will be able to donate £2, £3 or £5 to the Poppy Appeal via contactless card.

This year’s Poppy Appeal will give the British public the chance to donate via contactless card, alongside cash, for the first time on such a large scale.

The Royal British Legion, in partnership with card payment services provider Cardnet, is piloting the scheme with 200 mobile donation terminals across the UK. The terminals, featuring the familiar Poppy design, will have three preset donation levels of £2, £3 and £5 enabling donors to quickly and securely make their donation for the traditional poppy or for a lapel pin.

As well as accepting contactless donations by credit or debit card, the terminals also accept Apple Pay, Android Pay and Samsung Pay providing the donor’s device is linked to a Visa or MasterCard debit or credit card.

Poppy Appeal ambassador, Nell McAndrew said: “Hopefully this fantastic move from the Royal British Legion and Cardnet will make it easier for millions more Britons to make a donation this year then wear their poppy with pride.”

The contactless terminals will be used across the UK alongside the traditional cash collecting tins to make it as easy as possible for the public to donate for a poppy.

Tony Nash, Lloyds Bank Cardnet

MD said: “Contactless has revolutionised how consumers pay for goods and services, and with fewer and fewer people carrying cash, using these contactless terminals should lead to more donations this year’s Poppy Appeal.

We’re really proud to be supporting the Legion and hope this pilot will lead to a hugely successful 2017 Appeal.”

Simon O’Leary, Assistant Director, Community and Mass Events at The Royal British Legion said: “This partnership with Cardnet is another great step in making it simpler for the brilliant British public to support our Armed Forces community. It’s vitally important that we continue to adapt to changing consumer behaviour and make it as easy as we can for the public to donate for a poppy.”

The Legion introduces modern take on

‘In Flanders Fields’ for 2017 Poppy Appeal By re-creating John McCrae’s poem in seven locations the Legion aims to bring ‘In Flanders Fields’ into modern-day consciousness, encouraging people to Rethink Remembrance and consider the meaning of the poppy as a symbol both of Remembrance and hope for the Armed Forces community, past and present.

‘In Flanders Fields’ was written after poppies bloomed on the battle fields of the First World War, despite the death and destruction around them.

It’s that life force growing in the most difficult of circumstances that connects the poppy with a message of hope. “”The Poppy Appeal 2017 is encouraging the public to recognise that your poppy supports the Armed

Forces community past and present”” Claire Rowcliffe, Director of Fundraising The poem lines are located at Royal Hospital Chelsea in London, on Dunkirk Beach, on the White Cliffs of Dover, at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, in Cardiff Bay, at Salford Quays in Manchester and outside the Sage in Gateshead.

The individual letters of the poem are made up of clusters of poppies, giving the impression the lines of the poem have grown from the ground, and when viewed from a height or at ground level will bring a new perspective to the famous poem and its meaning.

The Royal British Legion’s Director of Fundraising Claire Rowcliffe

said: “The Poppy Appeal 2017 is encouraging the public to recognise that your poppy supports the Armed Forces community past and present, and is a symbol of both Remembrance and hope.

“The work of the Legion is as relevant and vital today as it was in the aftermath of the First World War when the charity was founded. The donation for your poppy will help the Legion support today’s Armed Forces community through hardships, injury and bereavements.

“We’re encouraging people to dig deep for this year’s Poppy Appeal to help us raise £47 million. The Legion’s work is entirely dependent on the public’s generous support – so please wear your poppy with pride.”

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One of Cumbria’s top

destinations gets £2m makeover

A ribbon cutting ceremony took place at the Glebe, Bowness on Windermere, today to formally mark the completion of road and public realm improvements in this popular lakeside location. Approximately £2 million has been invested in a package of improvements, making it much easier and safer for people to access one of Cumbria’s most popular destinations. The project has upgraded the Glebe with a series of public realm and access improvements, enhancing the area as a top destination for visitors.

Works have included: • Road and footway improvements on Glebe Road.

• On-street parking bays rearranged to reduce the ‘barrier effect’ of parked cars and more crossing opportunities for pedestrians.

• Public realm improvements to the foreshore area.

Cumbria County Council led the project, with funding secured from Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership through the Growth Deal and from South Lakeland District Council.

Councillor Keith Little, Cumbria County Council Cabinet member for Highways and Transport, said: “The Glebe Road scheme has significantly enhanced this key lakeside destination, with public realm improvements to the foreshore area,

enhanced footways and surfacing, and improved parking provision. The project has made a big difference to the Glebe Road area and will benefit both local residents and visitors.

This scheme is part of the wider Optimising Connectivity project, which has also brought improvements on the A591 at Town End, Grasmere.”

South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) funded improvements to the promenade and the shingle beach area, including new surfacing for footways, new street furniture and planting along the highway.

Councillor Graham Vincent, SLDC’s portfolio holder for economy and assets, said: “The work at the Glebe progressed well and the end result is very impressive. We are delighted to have helped fund the work as part of an overall investment in this world class waterfront destination.”

Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership director Graham Haywood said: "It is good to see a key element of the Optimising Connectivity programme being completed. Better transport links and connectivity support business growth and a more diverse economy for the South Lakes area.

Cumbria LEP has invested £2m in this project overall to increase the range of sustainable transport options available in the Lake District, including highway improvement

schemes in key tourist hotspots at Grasmere and this one for the Glebe in Windermere. The project has also included cycleway improvements on Dunmail Raise in the heart of the

Lake District." James Daplyn, Project Manager at Capita, which designed the improvements, said: “As one of five Local Enterprise Partnership projects which Capita are delivering

for Cumbria County Council, we are extremely proud of the project at the Glebe. The works have transformed areas of the Glebe waterfront for locals and visitors alike.”

Ribbon cutting picture caption: Cllr John Bell, Chairman of Cumbria County Council (left) and Cllr Graham Vincent, South Lakeland District Council’s portfolio holder for economy and assets, cut a ribbon to mark completion of the Glebe improvements, watched by invited guests below.

County council secures £1.67m for Whitehaven highways improvements

The Department for Transport has today confirmed that Cumbria County Council has been successful in a bid to secure funding for the Whitehaven North Shore Access project.

The £1.67m has been allocated from the government’s National Infrastructure Productivity Fund (NPIF). NPIF is a £23bn source of central government investment for areas that are key to boosting productivity, including transport, digital communications, research and development, and housing. The council submitted its bid for this latest round of funding in June.

The funding for Whitehaven will help deliver highway improvements linked to redevelopment proposals at Whitehaven North, including junction and pedestrian improvements. They are also linked to the redevelopment of the Bransty area, so were aligned with the NPIF economic growth criteria.

The full scheme is estimated to cost around £2.5m, with the outstanding £0.8m of funding coming from Britain’s Energy Coast.

The funding is for the years 2018/19 and 2019/20.

Cllr Keith Little, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: “This is excellent news for Whitehaven and the county. The council is proactive in bidding to these government funding streams so it’s great to see the effort we put in to making our case paying off.

This money is all about helping unlock economic growth and the plans we have will help make real improvements to an area in need of investment. I look forward to seeing work start on the ground in the future.”

Michael Pemberton, CEO, Britain’s Energy Coast, said: "Successful physical regeneration is about so much more than bricks and buildings.

Creating the supporting infrastructure is a critical component as we look to develop North Shore into an area that the people of Whitehaven and beyond can be proud of.

"This is a crucial early step forwards in the exciting regeneration of Whitehaven’s North Shore. Britain’s Energy Coast has worked hard with Cumbria County Council (CCC) to build a successful case to the NPIF and we are delighted to see this hard

work and collaborative approach pay off. It is particularly pleasing to see more central government funding making its way in to Cumbria to support these key schemes.

"BEC is committed to working with partners including Cumbria County Council, Copeland Borough Council and the Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners to bring forth a £300m+ connected development at North Shore including offices, hotel, leisure, residential and supporting car parking infrastructure. The works made possible by CCC’s successful bid will create a critical infrastructure gateway to support the development, ease congestion and improve pedestrian accessibility surrounding the scheme."

Kendal, Weds 1 Nov to Sat 9 Dec – FREE for locals

Exhibition of colourful embroideries created by thousands of people from around the world.

Locals are invited to see a FREE exhibition of 40 colourful embroideries made by 4,000 men, women and children from around the world at the Quaker Tapestry Museum in Kendal between Weds 1 Nov and Sat 9 Dec. Many of the embroideries displayed attracted crowds of over 3,000 people whilst on show in Taunton and London this summer. Whilst others tell stories of amazing Cumbrians, including Arthur W Simpson, master craftsman of the Arts & Crafts movement, Jonathan Dodgson Carr, miller and founder of Carrs and famous scientists John Dalton and Sir Arthur Eddington. Museum manager Bridget Guest says the colourful and

vibrant tapestry panels will interest anyone who loves embroidery, social history and stories.

The famous Quaker Tapestry is a modern stitched masterpiece in storytelling which began in 1981 in a children’s meeting in Taunton, as an alternative to colouring-in. A total of 77 panels were created, taking 15 years to complete. Some of the panels made journeys of thousands of miles as they passed from one group of embroiderers to another.

Forty panels are on permanent display in their Kendal home - the Arts Council accredited Quaker Tapestry Museum, a VisitEngland Hidden Gem and a charity housed in a 200 year old, grade 2* listed building.

“Since the dawn of recorded history, craftspeople have used their skills to tell stories,” explained Quaker Tapestry Museum manager Bridget Guest.

“Such a record is the Quaker Tapestry. As with the famous Bayeux Tapestry, it is a hanging with a compelling historical narrative, 350 years of social history from a Quaker perspective” added Bridget.

Free entry is for up to two adults on production of a utility bill with an LA postcode, and as usual, anyone under the age of 16 automatically goes in free.

For more information visit www. quaker-tapestry.co.uk or telephone 01539 722975

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Caravan sites

and curfews

Based on the lovely Lancaster canal in the Northwest of England. Water-babies provides holidays afloat allyear round. Our fleet of steel hull narrow boats have full central heating, luxurious soft furnishings and everything you could want for a comfortable and cosy cruise even in the coldest times of the year.

Operating from landscaped private moorings, Waterbabies is ideally located to cruise north to the medieval City of Lancaster and beyond to where sea, canal, mountains and the forest form the perfect backdrop.

The City of Lancaster offers culture in the historic castle and Cathedral. Lancaster offers an abundance of venues to enjoy a pub lunch or something a bit special.

There is an opportunity to see the wildlife from a different position, Kingfishers , Herons and many more can be seen along the canal as it meanders ,following the contours of this land. You can feel miles away from the hustle of modern life. For those whom enjoy fishing, there is the opportunity to relax on the quiet banks of this canal.

61% of caravanners believe that all caravan sites (touring and static home) should have curfews according to new research from Cover4Caravans. co.uk.

The caravan insurance specialists asked over 400 of their customers* what their views are on caravan site curfews and found that: • 45% of those who were in favour of a curfew said that 11.00pm was a

Happy Lancashire Day!

Lancashire Day allows us the opportunity to declare that we are proud to be Lancastrians. The Lancashire Day proclamation will be read out by town criers throughout the county on Monday 27 November 2017. Lancashire Day commemorates the day in 1295 when Lancashire sent its first representatives to Parliament

by King Edward I of England to attend what later became known as The Model Parliament.

On this day in 1295 the first elected representatives from Lancashire were called to Westminster by King Edward I to attend what later became known as "The Model Parliament".

The Lancashire Day proclamation is read out by town criers throughout the county on 27th November: To the people of the city and county palatine of Lancaster Greetings!

Know ye that this day, November 27th in the year of our Lord Two Thousand and Fourteen, the 63rd year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Duke of Lancaster, is

Lancashire Day Know ye also, and rejoice, that by virtue of Her Majesty's County Palatine of Lancaster, the citizens of the Hundreds of Lonsdale, North and South of the Sands, Amounderness, Leyland, Blackburn, Salford and West Derby are forever entitled to style themselves Lancastrians.

Throughout the County Palatine,

from the Furness Fells to the River Mersey, from the Irish Sea to the Pennines, this day shall ever mark the peoples' pleasure in that excellent distinction - true Lancastrians, proud of the Red Rose and loyal to our Sovereign Duke.

GOD BLESS LANCASHIRE AND GOD SAVE THE QUEEN, DUKE OF LANCASTER.

sensible curfew for a family site; • 25% said 10pm.

When asked: What time do you think is a sensible curfew for an adults-only site?

• 42% said 12pm; • 27% said 11pm; • 24% said there shouldn’t be a curfew.

Commenting on the study, Richard Burgess, Director at Cover4Caravans,

says: “On the one hand, this could suggest that caravanners are a conservative bunch but when you consider that the government standards for noise at night is 11pm**, we can see that the majority of caravanners like to have fun whilst still showing consideration for other. This reflects our view that the caravanning community is a great community to be a part of.”

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“One of the country’s most significant

collections of Modern British Art”

exhibited at award-winning Abbot Hall Art Gallery this Autumn

Friday 20 October 2017 - Saturday 17 February 2018 This Autumn, Abbot Hall Art Gallery stages one of its largest shows in the last ten years with over seventy works, by forty-eight artists. The gallery has gained a national reputation for showing work of the highest quality particularly focusing upon work from British artists working in the twentieth century. Building on this reputation the LAND | SEA | LIFE exhibition highlights the very best of twentieth century art from The Ingram Collection of Modern British Art. Chris Ingram, a serial entrepreneur and philanthropist, began collecting in 2002, and quickly created one of this country’s most significant collections of Modern British Art. Ingram has been described as, “one of the most active and thoughtful collectors of Modern British Art today.” (Stephen Deuchar, Director, The Art Fund.)

The exhibition will explore a broad range of themes, representing what the artists were engaging with in terms of subject and developments in artistic practice. Featuring paintings, sculptures and works on paper, visitors are taken on an individual journey of discovery from Henry Moore’s Reclining Figures to Laura Knight’s breath-taking Sea & Rocks.

The diverse selection of subjects covered in the exhibition include Landscape featuring atmospheric scenes by Alan Reynolds and Edward Burra, and urban landscapes by Keith Vaughan, Frank Auerbach and Carel Weight. Works by Dame Laura Knight, John Piper, Terry

Frost and Patrick Heron focus upon Boats and the Sea. The final subject of Life brings together several sub themes including Still Life and the Figure displaying work by significant artists from the period such as Dame Barbara Hepworth, David Bomberg, Henry Moore, Eduardo Paolozzi, Ben Nicholson, Bryan Winter, Henri Gaudier-Brzeska, Eric Gill and Christopher Wood. The exhibition will investigate the notion of collecting, comparing the personal motives of Chris Ingram with the Gallery Collection and exploring why we collect? Ingram himself has given advice on collecting, “The golden rule is only buy what you like and enjoy.

Regardless of what people tell you and whatʼs fashionable. Always start with what you like. As in any walk of life you need to study and learn – practice makes perfect! So build up a bit of expertise. Of course you can have an eclectic collection, but if you focus in you become more of an expert, you learn the ins and outs more. It really becomes a collection then.”

Abbot Hall Art Gallery will further explore this notion encouraging visitors to share their experiences of collecting, or to discover their own collections they never realised they had. Helen Watson, Director of Programming, Lakeland Arts said, “Abbot Hall Art Gallery is delighted to be working in partnership with The Ingram Collection, to present a unique opportunity to see work by leading artists from the twentieth century. With over seventy pieces and featuring work by artists never

shown at the gallery, there really is something for everyone.”

Jo Baring, Director of the Ingram Collection said, “We are thrilled to bring the Ingram Collection to Cumbria this October and see the collection presented in an entirely new way. Last year we lent over 400 works from the collection to be shown publicly, and we are delighted to ensure that the collection remains as accessible as possible.”

Events. Accompanying the exhibition will be a series of events. This includes a talk featuring Jo Baring, Director and Curator of the Ingram Collection, to learn about the collection’s founder Chris Ingram, how he started collecting and how it has evolved over the years. There will also be a talk from Kerri Offord, Curator at Abbot Hall Art Gallery to learn more about the gallery's impressive collections.

More information about these events can be found on the Abbot Hall website.

Abbot Hall Art Gallery is open Monday – Saturday. Entry for adults costs £7.70 (including Gift Aid) / £7, while ‘Friends’ of Abbot Hall, Under 16’s and full time students are free.

For more information on Abbot Hall visit abbothall.org.uk.

For further information or images, please contact: Jess Barrowclough at Abbot Hall Art Gallery on 01539 888053 or at jbarrowclough@ lakelandarts.org.uk Anya Harrison at Kallaway PR on +44 (0)20 7221 7883 or at anya.harrison@ kallaway.com | ingramcollection@ kallaway.com

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Want to own your own piece of tranquility?

Open all year round Penpont Park is offering you the opportunity to purchase your own holiday home in one of the most picturesque parts of the U.K Set in the beautiful Dumfriesshire countryside,Penpont has just 26 beautiful homes to offer which you can either buy or why not test the water by booking a holiday in one of the stunning lodges?

It is just 2 hours 30 minutes from Preston so your tranquil holiday home is well within reaching distance and with prices from as little as £18,000 your dream of owning your own idyllic holiday home can soon be a reality, part exchange is even welcome!

Owning your own holiday home at Penpont Holiday Park gives you and your family the perfect opportunity to escape from the hustle and bustle of daily living to enjoy a gentler pace of life whenever the mood takes you.

The park has Security gate access for added security as well as free Wi-Fi and laundry facilities.

So weather your looking to invest or need a well deserved break from

the every day world please contact 07512123321 or 01848330470 Penpont Holiday Park, Penport, Scaurside, Dumfries & Galloway DG3 4BH

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Excitement building for Armed Forces Day

Momentum is building ahead of Llandudno’s Armed Forces Day event next summer Armed Forces veterans from across the UK gathered at Surf Snowdonia for an Adaptive Surf Championship for those with injuries sustained whilst serving.

The event at Dolgarog was supported by the charity Help for Heroes and featured a range of water-sports competitions.

Defence Minister, Earl Howe, announced in the summer that Conwy County Borough Council were successful in their bid for Llandudno to host the prestigious event on June 30th 2018. Staged as a ‘thank you’ to those serving in the forces and veterans, the week of events will include a flag-raising ceremony, Reserves’ Day, a special sporting event at Surf Snowdonia, a gala dinner at Venue Cymru, and the big day itself.

At the event, Conwy’s Armed Forces Champion, Cllr Liz Roberts, was speaking to veterans from across the UK who were already looking forward to travelling to Llandudno next June.

Cllr Roberts said the event was a huge success.

“The facilities at Surf Snowdonia are brilliant,” she said.

“It was a wonderful day and great to see so many Armed Forces veterans accomplishing success through sport.

“I spoke with many of the competitors.

Some of the veterans have suffered serious life-changing injuries, but this didn’t hamper their determination to succeed.

“It can be isolating for ex-service men and women when they leave the Forces, but events like these are so very important because they help ensure veterans are included and feel valued.

“Already the excitement is building for Armed Forces Day. There was quite a buzz in the air at the event, and many of the veterans who had travelled from all over the UK told me they are planning to travel up on June 30th.” She added: “Events like this will only help build momentum to the big day itself.”

Gareth Davies, 35, came second in an event for veterans suffering with spinal injuries. Gareth served with the Royal Navy between 2003 and 2011 but had to retire from the Forces when he suffered a serious injury.

Gareth now lives in Tauntan with his wife, Jess, and two children but took up surfing 15 years ago. The medical equipment technician, though, switched to body boarding when his injuries made it difficult for him to surf standing.

Gareth explained why surfing was important to him: “It was incredible.

Surf Snowdonia is incredible. All the staff there work hard to promote a positive vibe. They make it a really positive place. It was all about highlighting my derivative of surfing with the help of Help for Heroes because there was so many people there who could see how enjoyable it is,” he said. “I didn’t really expect it to be so well attended, and everyone

was really nice.”

Gareth explained how surfing was important to his recovery and said he was already looking forward to returning to Conwy next year.

“For me, my physical recovery was never that hard. My recovery was all about the mind. All I had ever wanted to do was to be in the Navy.

So to have that cut short was quite traumatic. When I left, I got in a bit of trouble. Then one day I was surfing in Bournemouth, and I suddenly realised that surfing levelled me out.

There is a relief with surfing. When you are surfing, you don’t think about anything else. “I think these events are tremendously important. When you leave the Forces, you lose a sense of identity—a huge feeling of pride.

When somebody asks you what you do, you are so proud. And when you leave, you lose that sense of pride.

It’s a huge feeling of loss. So when you attend events like these at Surf Snowdonia or Armed Forces Day, it’s a bit of recognition. It’s almost like an ego boost.

They are hugely important as is the work that Help for Heroes does. I’m hoping to bring my wife and kids up to Llandudno for Armed Forces Day and take the kids to Surf Snowdonia.

I’d like to thank Help for Heroes and my sponsors, Newquay Activity Centre and Bodyboard Depot.”

Andy Ainscough is the managing director of Surf Snowdonia and said, “We’ve worked closely with Help for Heroes since we launched in 2015.

Conwy’s Armed Forces Champion, Cllr Liz Roberts, is pictured with Gareth Davies, a Royal Navy veteran, and Surf Snowdonia Managing Director, Andy Ainscough.

They use surf therapy to recover from mental and physical injuries and seeing the transformative effect that surfing has had on these guys

has been really powerful. Events like this and the Armed Forces day are important as it shows our appreciation to veterans and attempts

to give something back. We’re hoping a lot of the competitors will be back in June for the Armed Forces day in Llandudno.”

North Wales Named One of

Top Regions Globally for 2017

There’s cause for epic celebrations in Wales as North Wales has made it on to Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2017 list – the only destination in the UK to do so.

A playground for thrill seekers, a haven for foodies, a hideout for stargazers and a goldmine for heritage seekers, North Wales has a holiday for every kind of traveller. But what caught the eye of the Lonely Planet, the world’s leading travel authority, is the way the former industrial landscape has been reinvented and repurposed to create a series of truly world class attractions, from high speed zip lining and inland surfing to underground trampolining in a 176-year-old disused slate mine.

Alongside UNESCO World Heritage Sites as Conwy, Beaumaris, Harlech and Caernarfon Castles, North Wales is home to some of the best walking

and cycling in Britain, as well as a range of industry-leading attractions, all set against the spectacular backdrop of the Snowdonia mountains. On the flanks of Snowdonia National Park, Zip World boasts 11 different attractions in total including the everpopular Bounce Below, a colourful underground world of bouncing nets, slides and rope bridges. Zip World Velocity in Bethesda is the world’s fastest zip line with two 500 ft. (152 m) high courses that enable riders to exceed 100 mph (161 km/h), while Zip World Titan in Blaenau Ffestiniog offers Europe’s first four-person line – perfect for thrill seeking families. A short drive east is Surf Snowdonia, a world-first man-made lagoon where amateurs and professional surfers alike can surf a powerful 6.5 ft. (2 m) wave, under the watchful eye of Welsh National Surfing Champion,

Jo Denison. It’s not hard to see why North Wales is becoming known as the adventure tourism capital of Europe.

With enough to keep even the most hardcore adrenaline junkies quiet, North Wales has a full range of accommodation and services to complete its tourism offer, from five star Chateau Rhianfa to yurts and cabins at Graig Wen, and for the extra brave, cliff camping suspended high above the sea with Gaia Adventures.

And if it’s food you’re after, North Wales now has two Michelin-starred restaurants: Sosban & The Old Butcher's on Anglesey, and Tyddyn Llan in Denbighshire, not to mention the multitude of local producers, delis, cafes, restaurants, farm shops, markets and micro breweries who ensure that north Wales is full of excellent places to eat and drink.

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CALL FOR YOUNG TO BE INVOLVED IN FIRST DIOCESAN YOUTH COUNCIL

The Church of England in Lancashire is to set up its first Youth Council; an opportunity for young members of the church across the County to champion the voice of the younger generation.

The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education is proposing a 16-strong group of 13 to 18 year olds, recruited by direct application, that will raise awareness of youth culture and how this might be harnessed and engaged

with by churches.

The Council will also collate and discuss the key issues affecting young people across the Diocese; act as an advisory body for the Board of Education on matters relating to youth work in churches and act as an advisory body for the Diocese on new initiatives and their impact on young people in parishes.

Members will also be asked to support churches in creating youth-accessible

worship, and developing a voice for young people at parish level.

And a big challenge will be to create and assess an approval system for churches similar to The Child Friendly Church Award.

The Board of Education has put together an application form and criteria, as well as the ‘terms of reference’ for the new group.

Through the Director of Education, Stephen Whittaker, members of the DYC will also be able to advise and give feedback to the Bishop’s Leadership Team, the Bishop’s Council, the Board of Education, the Diocesan Synod and Diocesan Youth Committee.

Members of the DYC aged 16+ will also have the opportunity to serve on the Board of Education and the Youth Committee. One will serve as Vice Chair of the committee.

Members will be expected to attend six meetings in a year, including one overnight residential meeting, and additional meeting times may be needed. Meetings will usually take place on a Monday evening from 6.30-8.30pm, and will be held at different venues across the Diocese.

Stephen Whittaker said: “The DYC

is an amazing opportunity for young people to champion the voice of their generation. It creates a forum in which they can raise awareness of key issues for young people and constructively challenge and advise the Diocese on how best to respond.

“One of the big hopes for the DYC is to be a catalyst for seeing change in worship to increase its accessibility for young people within the context of a multi-generational church, regardless of tradition.”

Ben Green, Diocesan Youth Adviser, added: “It will be exciting to see the impact that such a group of young people can have when given the tools to effect change in the Diocese. With the right members, the DYC can be a positive influence in helping the Church of England in Lancashire adapt to meet the needs of young people, and those of all ages, both in and outside the church to reveal God’s love, grace and hope in local communities.

“The Board of Education hopes to support the members of the DYC in their desire to offer something of value and benefit to Blackburn Diocese with integrity and credibility.

If you would like to know more about the new Youth Council, please contact youth@blackburn.anglican. org, or visit the Youth Council page on the Board of Education website for more information and an application form.

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Tips for Playing Ready Golf

There are many ways golfers can help combat golf’s greatest scourge – slow play – but not many can help speed up the pace of play more than Ready Golf. While many debate whether the professional game is to blame for amateur golfers seemingly playing slower and slower, others are taking on the Ready Golf concept to ensure they have a swift but enjoyable round.

Some arguments suggest that the amount of time a round of golf takes is driving people away from the sport rather than down the fairways. Ready Golf offers a great way to speed up the game, without impacting heavily on the rules and integrity of the sport.

Here are some of our tips to get the most from Ready Golf.

Play as soon as it is safe to do so How many times have you reached your ball before your playing partners have and stand around waiting despite the green being clear, purely because you “shouldn’t” play out of turn?

Ready Golf suggests that golfers disregard ‘playing in turn’ and instead play when it is safe to do so. It makes sense doesn’t it? Why waste time stood staring at an empty green when you could have played the shot in the time it takes your playing partners to select a club?

First to the tee goes first Never mind “I made birdie, I’m going first,” whoever makes the tee first tees off first in Ready Golf. It is quite common to reach the next tee, yet be waiting for the person whose honour it is because they’re messing around in their bag, cleaning their ball and marking their card despite the fairway

being clear. Does any amateur golfer really feel that “honoured” that they made the lowest score on that hole?

Let’s stop waiting around and get on with it.

Let the shorter hitters tee off first If the group in front of you are in reach for just one golfer, then surely it makes sense to let the shorter hitters go first? Often when someone thinks they can reach the group in front, they tend to hit their worst tee shot of the day. You could argue this could mentally help the longer hitter as they won’t have to worry about reaching

the group in front if they tee off last, nor will they have to try and justify that they can in fact hit it that far.

Hit your ball before helping search for one Many golfers spend time going back and forth to their ball and looking for their partner’s. Why not save time walking backwards and forwards by going straight to your ball, playing it, and then going on to help find the lost ball?

Putt when you’re ready A lot of time is spent on the greens during amateur golf, so anything to

help speed up the process is a bonus in my eyes. If you’re 10ft away, ready to putt and won’t impede on anyone’s line, then it makes sense to play your putt if one of your partners is still lining their putt up. As you watch from the fairway 150 yards away, you often see someone play out of a greenside bunker and their playing partners wait for them to rake the bunker, clean their club, mark their ball, line up the putt, then play it.

With Ready Golf, the golfers waiting on the green should play while their partner in the bunker rakes the sand

and marks their ball. The proposed changes to the rules that come into play in 2018 will also help with this side of Ready Golf. This is because you will be able to putt with the pin in. If you’re in a two-ball and your partner has just played onto the green, but you are 50ft away, you will no longer have to wait for your partner to clean their club, go mark their ball and then go and attend the pin.

Mark your card at the next tee Another way to speed up play is to mark your card at the next tee, except for the person who is going to play

first. By doing this, you eliminate two things: 1) You’re not blocking the previous green by marking your card on the fringe and 2) you’re not all just stood around the tee box marking your scores when someone could be teeing off.

You may be thinking that these tips hardly speed up play but when you put them into play over 18 holes they all add up. With golfers showing more awareness, a four-ball could speed up their round by five minutes a hole, which in turn equates to 90 minutes a round.

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Why are golfers deciding to be non-club members?

In part one of Josh Carr’s series on golf club memberships, he looks at why golfers are choosing to be casual golfers over members, and what factors are stopping these golfers from joining on a permanent basis.

One noticeable factor to come out of the 2016/2017 Golfshake survey, which was responded to by 4,500 people, was the fact that more than 2,000 of the respondents classed themselves as “non-club members.”

In fact, 48% of the respondents said that they were not attached as a member to a golf club.

There are many factors that have been suggested as to why people aren’t joining golf clubs, including the argument that golf clubs are failing to embrace demographics across society.

However, the Golfshake survey suggests the simple reason people aren’t joining golf clubs is because they simply “prefer to be a casual golfer.” That was the response of 1,088 (54%) non-club members; with 20% of respondents saying they “hope to join a club soon.”

One respondent said: “I don’t pay membership because I don’t want to be tied to one course. I want to experience varieties and the challenge of other courses.”

However, it is worth noting that 11% of these respondents claimed that financial restraints were there reason for not joining a golf club permanently.

When it comes to joining golf clubs, the importance of affordable membership was a strong outcome.

In fact, 37% said it was very important that membership was more affordable, and 39% believed flexible memberships that reflected

the amount of golf they play would be an important factor if they were going to join a club.

You could argue that a membership that allows you to play at numerous courses in the region would be a good idea as 26% of non-club members said they would consider joining a club if there were more reciprocal offers with other clubs.

One respondent said: “It would be more appealing if golf club membership allowed you to play

Evans in

Northern Ireland squad Rovers midfielder Corry Evans has been included in the Northern Ireland squad ahead of their upcoming World Cup play-off matches in November.

Michael O'Neill's side will play Switzerland in the knockout round as they aim to qualify for a first finals since 1986.

Evans and Northern Ireland will be home for the first leg on November 9th, with the away leg in Basel three days later.

Northern Ireland finished second behind world champions Germany in Group C, while Switzerland lost to Portugal in their final group game to drop into the play-offs.

Meanwhile, Rovers captain Charlie Mulgrew has been called up by Scotland ahead of their

friendly against Holland in Aberdeen on November 9th.

As always, we will continue to provide updates on Corry and Charlie's progress throughout the international break.

The Rovers

man will face two

crucial

games with

his country in November

other clubs for free on occasion.

Playing the same course every week isn’t too exciting,” with another adding: “It would be great to pay a fee which would allow golf at a number of local clubs, then you wouldn’t get bored with the same one.”

“Some costs of joining fees on top of member fees,” was one response as to why people don’t join clubs, as well as a further comment of “golf needs to drop the rich man’s game tag, and banish the snobbery.” The latter is

a key problem courses face, as it is widely regarded that golf clubs do not do enough to advertise the fact golf is no longer a “game for the rich,” or an “old person’s sport.”

One response to the survey backs up the suggestion that golf clubs should offer flexible membership as they said: “the availability to join on a monthly basis, rather than yearly would encourage more golf.” Flexible memberships could be anything from summer memberships, April to

September, to weekend memberships.

The amount of time available to potential members is also a key problem golf clubs face when trying to recruit new members. 10% of respondents said they haven’t joined a golf club because they don’t have to time, but 25% would join if they did so.

One suggestion that is often put forward to battle this the introduction of six and nine-hole golf courses.

However, it is interesting to note

that the Golfshake survey found that shorter forms of the game were not of importance to the 4,500 who responded.

In fact, it was once again the topic of slow play that was deterring golfers from heading down to their local club, as 21% of respondents suggested it would be important for golf clubs to enforce rules around slow play, with one respondent arguing: “Clubs need to get serious about slow play.”

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Don’t miss our next issue for the festive football fixtures

Dyche: 'My Five Years'

Boss Sean Dyche reflects on five years of progress at Turf Moor Sean Dyche celebrated five years as Burnley manager on Monday (30th October) His reign at Turf Moor has brought a remarkable period of sustained success. Watch his detailed assessment of his time as Clarets’ boss in a near 30-minute free video by visiting https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=y53X_26lzDc Dyche picks out the key moments and highlights of his time in charge, which has brought two promotions to the Premier League and back-to-back top-flight campaigns at Turf Moor for the first time since the mid-1970s.

His anniversary coincides with the visit of Newcastle United and as part of his media briefings before the game, Dyche admitted the level of achievements during that five years has been a surprise even to himself.

Dyche – who took over when the Clarets were 14th in the Championship and financially starting to feel the pinch – said: “When I got here it was more a case of a club coming back into control financially after two or three seasons before in the Premier League and then coming out of that. “There was a lot of trimming to be done and a lot of re-organising.

“I thought there was some good work when I first got here in other departments, with the sports science side of things, the analysis side of things, strength and conditioning, some of the planning for games that me and my staff put in. “You get the first promotion against all odds really, after a fine season and a group of players who were amazing for us.“And then all of a sudden it’s a different world. We’re in the Premier League, a big challenge first time round, re-organise the club off the pitch, while trying to have a go at it. “And then to come down and go back up again is a marvellous achievement. And to do it in the fashion we did – 23 games unbeaten to take the title – is something I will reflect on in many years to come, without a shadow of a doubt. “And then to continue the journey from there really. So, yes it has surprised me. “I thought we could plan and move it forwards, but probably not so quickly to the level it’s got and everything that has brought. So, I’m really, really happy with the overall five years.”

FA Trophy: Dollies Get Home Draw The Dolly Blues have been awarded a home draw against Evo-Stik Southern Premier side Stratford Town in the 2nd Qualifying Round of the FA Trophy.

Lancaster City, who progressed in the competition after Saturday's 1-0 away victory at Mossley, will face their Southern League opponents on Saturday 11th November at Giant Axe. The prize money for the victors of this tie will be £4000.

The upcoming visitors, who are based in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, are currently placed 19th in the Southern counterpart Evo-Stik league after an indifferent start to the campaign.

The match will take place the weekend after the away Lancashire Trophy fixture against West Didsbury and Chorlton due to be held on Tuesday 7th November.

In other cup news, we have been drawn away against Warrington Town in the next round of the Integro League Cup, which will be played on Tuesday 28th November.

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