The Lancashire & North West Magazine | August 2020

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21pages of

summer

fashion starting from the 1940’s

August 2020

ÂŁ2.45

Justice for

Julius Jones Farage, Brexit

and a political revolution

The story of

Buttercup the rescue horse

Lancashire light pollution

The fight for our green space continues

A Life with

Hedgehogs Tips for stressed men

FUNKY FEMININE & VERSATILE Collections include:

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Baxenden

Littleborough

Mellor

Contents...

Features

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22

16

76

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A life with hedgehogs

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Buttercup’s Story at Penny Farm Rescue

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North West residents want their green space enhanced

28

Sir Simon Towneley

32

William Lever

40

Lancashire light pollution

42

Blackpool Illumination news

48

Spitfire Gin

52

Liz Pullman interview

58

Jane Horrocks, a true Lancashire lass

74

Lakeland book of the year

76

Andrew Harris gives us the great outdoors part 2

92

Care homes decide to go wild

96

David Hatton talks about his new book

98

Cut back on your alcohol

112 Farage, Brexit and a political revolution 116 Young peole using their creative talents

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122 Get cycling 132 Nature reserves are fragile places 140 How men express stress 146 Irene Wignall talks about her new book 152 Maintain a healthy blood pressure 162 Paul Joseph fashion 178 Vivien of Holloway 1940’s & 50’s fashion 186 Show us your pets 192 The trial of Julius Jones 204 The boxer Jack Mckinlay 208 Kates Pad

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Contents Regulars 64

Books

72

Short story winner

92

Wildlife

August 2020 • Volume 43 Number 8

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151

144 Aiming Higher 151 Peter Rutt 158 The life of Di 160 Around the region 166 Colour me beautiful 172 Moo style 176 Nelly’s Blog 194 Recipe 206 Horoscope 210 Business index

Competitions & Promotions This months short story winner is J A Milligan You can see the short story on page 72.

Email us your short story of about a 1000 words. We are continuing on the a new theme of ‘Obsession’.

You could win a years subscription to the magazine.

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92

172

144

194

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21pages of

summer

fashion starting from the 1940’s

August 2020

£2.45

Justice for

Julius Jones Farage, Brexit

and a political revolution

The story of

Buttercup The fight for our green space continues

A Life with

Hedgehogs Tips for stressed men

COVER: Featuring Vivien of Holloway 40’s & 50’s fashion

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Editorial 01253 336588 editorial@lancashiremagazine.co.uk Sales Enquiries • 07918 685673

the rescue horse

Lancashire light pollution

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Design Manager • Hugh Dairy Designers • Maralette Wenham Roger Poole Accounts • 01253 336582

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In this issue...

The Settle to Carlisle Railway crossing the Ribblehead Viaduct

I

t seems we are easing the lockdown restrictions round about now, people are getting out more and at the time of writing, enjoying the hot weather.

So with that in mind, Andrew Harris has produced ‘The Great Outdoors’ part 2, 10 new locations that are both interesting and stunning in their own unique way, he has included relevant information and great photography, so worth a read.

If you love hedgehogs, our article ‘A life with hedgehogs’ is a story of how a person has taken on the task of rescuing and looking after these animals. With tips and tricks on what to do if one wanders into your garden.

Our latest edition, as always, has an in depth look at three Lancashire locations and this month it is - Baxenden, Littleborough and Mellor. Each article has interesting history and good location photography.

The CPRE countryside charity has produced research that shows two thirds of people in the North West would like to see their green space enhanced.

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Because of lockdown there has been an appreciation of open spaces and countryside. The majority want more enhanced plant and animal life.

The same charity also highlights the problem of light pollution in Lancashire, Liverpool and Greater Manchester and is asking local councils to act on it so people can watch the starry skies.

Our regular contributions from the wildlife trust tells of the heightened threat of fires being lit on the moors, due to people having barbeques now they are getting out more. Vandalism and littering is also taking place at the nature reserves, these areas are sensitive to human interference.

We have the heart warming story of Buttercup, the rescued horse at Penny Farm Rescue Centre. From being rescued, Buttercup went on to being rehomed and a show champion.

William Hesketh Lever was born in 1851 in Bolton and along with his brother, James went on to create what would become Britain’s biggest

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company. They produced Sunlight Soap, Vim, Lux and Lifebouy. Even establishing a new town called Port Sunlight to home the workers.

We have interviews and articles on singer, actress and comedienne Liza Pulman, actor and singer Jane Horrocks, singer Reba Mcentire and Lisa Steadman, a paralympian triathlete, and winner of Channel 4’s, Celebrity SAS Who Dares Wins.

Not forgetting the regulars; recipes, book reviews, healthy lifestyle tips from Heart Research UK, men’s and women’s fashion. A new section ‘Show us your pets’ with photographs of pet owners being distracted by their dogs, cats and even lizards while they are working from home.

Anyway, stay safe, hope you enjoy this issue of the magazine,

Love and Best Wishes The Lancashire Magazine

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LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

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A Life With Hedgehogs Only a few years ago, the founder of Hedgehog Rescue Blackpool, Mrs. Jean Turner, had a conservatory in which to sit and enjoy her back garden.

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ne evening, she saw a mother hedgehog with 3 hoglets in her front garden, and shortly after that sighting, Jean’s sister arrived on her doorstep with a hedgehog for safe release in the large back garden, followed by a friend who had a tiny hoglet, 3 weeks old, weighing 82g.

The foundations of Hedgehog Rescue Blackpool were lain.

Many books on hedgehog care later, and with the release of the hoglet, called Eric, in the garden, Jean decided to empty the conservatory and turn it into a hedgehog hospital. Out came the furniture, in went surgical pods, hutches, and all that would be needed to care for injured and sick hedgehogs.

In the first years, Jean nursed many tiny hoglets into adulthood and release, although like all rescues, not all survived. Each and every loss is felt deeply and Jean wont mind me telling you that she cries over every little body.

Jeans conservatory can now nurse 30 hedgehogs, and outside there is room for more! The hen run is now a secure outdoor but under cover space, the end of the garden is an open to the air run, and there are hutches against almost every wall. The construction of the runs has been done by volunteer David, who also has some 16 hedgehogs in his care, and who will collect injured/sick little ones, take them to and from the vet, and also check release sites for the hedgehogs.

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How can you help hedgehogs?

Water. Water is the most important thing that you can provide for hedgehogs. Shallow bowls so that any hoglets won’t drown. If you have a pond, make certain that there is an easy escape area – a plank of wood, a few blocks of stone, Hedgehogs can swim but if they cannot get out of the water, they will drown.

Chicken kitten biscuits. Hedgehogs love chicken kitten

biscuits. Put the food under a covering which cat’s cannot enter!

An old storage box with a hole in it is ideal.

Slug Pellets. NO. If a slug is poisoned by slug pellets and the hedgehog eats the slug, it gets poisoned. Even the so called ‘safe’ slug pellets are lethal to hedgehogs. Please avoid them all.

Low netting. Hedgehogs get trapped in netting and can break or dislocate limbs when trying to escape. Leave at least 4 inches between the ground and the bottom of netting. Remove football nets every night.

Elastic bands/plastic used to keep cans together. Always

pick up elastic bands as hedgehogs get encircled in them and can lose limbs or die. Hedgehogs get caught up in all kinds of litter and rubbish. Pick it up.

A life with hedgehogs. Far richer than a life without hedgehogs, and with the current decline in their numbers, how tragic it would be if future generations could only see live hedgehogs in a zoo. Everyone needs to play their part in helping these spiney creatures remain living wild and free.

An invalueable and dedicated worker, handily living only around the corner from Jean.

This year has sadly been particularly bad for hedgehog injuries. They have arrived with horrendous wounds, broken limbs and starving. One little hedgehog was so hungry that it had been eating soil, and its mouth was full of compacted soil which had to be gently syringed out before actual nourishment could be given.

Luckily, the rescue’s veterinary practice is wonderful. They are learning about hedgehogs with each one taken to them, they have never turned one away, and the trust between Jean and the practice is total. They know that Jean never puts a hedgehog to sleep unless it is absolutely vital. The rescue is able to give long term care to each patient if necessary, although the majority of hedgehogs are released at the very earliest opportunity to prevent stress.

Last year the rescue became a registered charity and took in 545 hedgehogs. With the help of a band of dedicated volunteers and helpers, it coped.

This year, with Covid 19, it has been challenging, but all obstacles have been overcome. There have been a lot of little ones needing hand feeding every 2 hours – a continuous round of hand feeding into little open mouths for Jean. www.lancmag.com

Hedgehog Highways. Hedgehogs need to roam, so make little cd sized holes at the bottom of fences so that they can go in and out of your neighbours gardens.

Don’t pollute the puddles. Hedgehogs drink from puddles, so things like anti freeze and screen wash pollute them and poison hedgehogs. Make sure you don’t allow any drops of these liquids to fall onto the floor.

NO MILK. NO MEALWORMS. NO BREAD.

The public seem more aware of the plight of the hedgehog these days and they will not hesitate to telephone for advice is there is a problem, if they see a hedgehog out during daylight hours, or if they see an injured animal. The earlier a hedgehog is found, the earlier a hedgehog can be given expert care, then the more likely it will be to survive.

People who bring hedgehogs to the rescue are always asked whether they would like to give the animal a name. People who bring in hedgehogs love to follow their progress, so having a name helps Jean to identify which animal is being asked about.

If a hedgehog dies, the person who took the care to take it to the rescue will be telephoned and informed.

Hedgehog Rescue is now a registered charity.

Number 1188161.

You can donate on our Just Giving page. If you find a hedgehog and you live outside of the Blackpool area, please go to our web page:- hedgehogrescueblackpool.com and it will take you to a comprehensive list of rescue centres.

Follow us on Facebook:- hedgehog rescue blackpool.

If you live in Blackpool, ring Jean 07577010011

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Spike weighed in at 96g. Just 96g. I have never had such a small little animal in my care, and it scared the lights out of me.

First thing in the morning, Spike and Dennis were cuddled up together, so Jean decided that I could hang onto him and we would see if he thrived.

Puppy milk every 4 hours (ever tried milking a puppy?

They just don’t stand still!!), weigh regularly, make sure little guy poos and wees, make sure he is warm enough – worry, worry, worry…..

Spike 20 July 2019 In Hedgehog Rescue all over the country, and in Europe, it has been a demoralising few weeks, with little wombles failing to recover from the conditions which brought them to us. Most do make a full recovery, but as I said last week, it is the little ones who don’t who you remember most.

After losing Isla and Denver, I was still questioning everything I did (and didn’t) do whilst they were in my care, when on Tuesday evening a phone call came through on our land line. A couple had found a baby hedgehog just about to dive off the kerb onto the road, and had picked him up. In the background, I could hear angry little squeaks from said hedgehog, so asked that he be brought here so that I could at least get fluid into him.

15 minutes later a still squeaking – well, actually he was giving it all his little lungs could muster and it was quite a resonating sound – Spike arrived in a shoe box with a lovely young couple who had been really worried about what to do when they found him.

Within another couple of minutes, they had headed home, armed with our phone number, to check whether mum was in the vicinity, or other little siblings were out on their own, and also to check on Spike at any time, and I was heating up some puppy milk to syringe feed to the tiny little guy.

After guzzling down warm and comforting milk, Spike did a large poo, and then settled down beside Dennis who, as you know, lost his brother Denver a few days ago. Dennis was the hedgehog nearest to the weight of Spike, and I had separated him from Barney the day before as the two weren’t seeing eye to eye in the same hutch.

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Yesterday Spike felt a little bit cold, and it is vital that they retain body warmth, so I nipped out to the chemist and bought a hot water bottle, filled it about a quarter, wrapped it in a large towel, and popped Spike on top of it, and covered him with a fleece. 4 hours later, there he still was, a complete sphere of spikes, gently snoring, with a smile on his face. Seemed a shame to waken him, but he had to have his milk, so I picked him up and wafted the syringe full of warm milk under his nose. Gradually it began to move.

Up, down, sideways, trying to locate the source. Then his tiny little tongue appeared and his jaws began that sucking motion – so present syringe and see the milk disappear. He loves his milk. His little front feet paddle the air as he sucks and his eyes shine with, I hope, contentment.

It is very early days for Spike. This morning he was 111g, so heading in the right direction, but he has a long road ahead of him if he is going to become a fully grown hedgehog, free and happy. Things can change in a heartbeat.

I tell you this, I am kept busy with Spike. One little hedgehog amongst my larger ones – some of whom give cause for concern by not putting on weight and some of whom are eating for England – and I realise just how stressed Jean must be caring for so many of similar weight.

They all get the same loving attention, the same warm milk and care. She is momma to so many and not one gets less care than the other. She deserves a big round of applause.

As to all the Hedgehog Rescue carers who give their time, their love and their commitment every single day of every single year.

Thank you for being there in this crazy world.

More news of Spike will follow.

Sweet Dreams Little Boy 23 July 2019 Last night, snuggled into my bra, belly full of warm milk, Spike went over Rainbow Bridge, joining Isla and Denver.

Whilst he had been gaining grams each night, and eagerly guzzling down puppy milk and puppy mousse, on Sunday I found him twice off his hot water bottle – which was wrapped in Egyptian Cotton pale green hand towels for complete safety – and in the open of the hutch, not near the straw or the hay rack and well away from Dennis. This is never a good sign, and every time I popped my little womble back under the straw, within half an hour, he was out again.

Yesterday I wasn’t certain that I would find him alive, but there he was, actually tucked into Dennis. Then at intervals www.lancmag.com

throughout the day, there he was, out in the open again.

At 7pm I got Spike’s puppy milk ready and picked him up, wrapped him in a soft towel, and tried to feed him. For the first time, he was reluctant to feed, so rather than force feed him (how can people eat pate knowing that geese have been force fed to get fatty livers which make the horrible stuff?) I tucked him into my bra and rocked him gently, patting his back and humming to him. At 10 past 8, he left the world with a gently sigh.

I kept hold of him for 20 or so minutes, just to make absolutely certain that he wasn’t playing tricks on me, that he wouldn’t suddenly open his eyes and give me a big Spike stare, but my heart knew that he wouldn’t. He had joined Isla and Denver at Rainbow Bridge. move to the next emergency whilst grieving the loss of a little soul who has touched them in many ways. Everyone in animal rescue does. Wild animals, domestic animals, birds and fish, they have less life span than humans, so if we are connected to them, we have to face their loss. In rescue more than in domestic life as we have more in our care. But be in no doubt whatsoever, we mourn every single life that we lose. Every single one. Years later, we can give you the names of each one.

To-day is another day and Jean has several very sick hedgehogs who might go to the Bridge to-day. Remember her when you say your prayers to whichever God you love.

Thank you for being there in this sad, crazy world. And for caring about Spike. RIP.

Ethan

Even meals of the highest quality, served fresh twice a day, failed to impress Ethan, although he seldom left the tiniest of nugget in his dish.

So once Ethan reached 650g, David was urged to find a good home to release him into, although I doubt that Ethan will stay very long no matter what luxury accommodation is on offer.

To-day was release day. I had told Ethan last night that he had only 1 more sleep before he would be free but again yesterday, as for the past several days, Ethan persisted in trying to dig an escape tunnel. I nicknamed him Steve McQueen, but I had to check several times a day that he wasn’t actually stuck anywhere and trying to free himself (straw being twisted and entangling him as he dug) and also that he had done no damage to his nails or teeth by the constant use of them against plastic.

I was taking Ethan and the lovely Dennis – you remember Dennis, he was Denver’s brother – to Jean so that David could pick them up and take them to the release site.

12noon. High Noon! Into a large cardboard box went Nathan and his nest. Folded the flaps at the top over to secure him, and popped him onto the side board whilst I went for Dennis.

The box, naturally, had air holes therein, and my heart sank somewhat when I saw Ethan’s nose appear out of one of them, followed by the now familiar gnawing at the sides of the hole. Ethan wanted out.

I speedily boxed up the very good Dennis and put the pair of them into the boot for the short drive to Jeans. All the way I could hear Ethan gnawing and scratching at his escape air hole.

At Jeans there was a goodly portion of Ethan’s nose visable, so I warned her that he was a man on a mission and to keep an eye on him.

In the time it took us to box up little Elim to come home with me, still more of Ethan’s nose was out of his box. So we put the box into a hutch, the same kind as I have here with the wire roof and plastic bottom, but much smaller than the ones the hedgehogs live in. We watched as Ethan worked away at his hole.

27 August 2019 Ethan is a little hedgehog who came to me about 2 weeks ago having finished his meds and simply needing to grow into his spikey jacket before being big enough to release.

From the beginning, Ethan hated being in a hutch. He was in the second largest you can buy – Wobble Towers being the largest and imported from Denmark – in the UK so he wasn’t at all confined for space. But he always tried to make good his escape. Whenever I took him out to weigh him, I had to keep him covered in a red and white checked tea towel with my hand on him, which I would briefly lift, look at his weight, and then place back onto him. Leaving him unattended resulted in his mad dash for freedom out of the bowl on the scales and in whichever direction he felt he could escape in. www.lancmag.com

I had to get back home with Elim, so left Jean to watch and see if Ethan did escape out of the cardboard box, although he would then be contained in the other hutch which would have really frustrated him.

Got a text a few minutes ago.

‘Ethan managed to get half of his body out and was then wedged, so David had to cut the box open. Ethan was not amused that he couldn’t get his belly out of the hole (that will teach him not to pig out). Wish I’d taken a photo.’

I reckon that Ethan has just the right genes to pass on to future generations of hedgehogs – but I would like some warning if his offspring find their way to rescue next year so that I can reinforce their hutch. I am sure that Ethan and his offspring will lead, shall we say, eventful lives.

Live long and prosper, Ethan.

Thank you for being there in this crazy world.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 11

Work starts on next phase of Talbot Gateway regeneration scheme The next phase of Blackpool’s town centre regeneration is set to get underway as contractors prepare to start on site at Talbot Gateway.

This phase of development will see the demolition of the existing Wilko store, the completion of the new tramway interchange at Blackpool North Station, a new underpass, a four-star Holiday Inn hotel and restaurant, and new retail outlets.

The start of the demolition marks Phase Two of the Talbot Gateway project in Blackpool’s Central Business District. The first phase saw the opening of Sainsbury’s supermarket and the development of offices, which now accommodate more than 1,000 public and private-sector employees.

Robertson Construction Group has been appointed jointly by Blackpool Council and development partner, Muse Developments to start work on Monday 1 June and will initially undertake the demolition of the Wilko store and car park, which ceased trading at the end of March. Demolition and construction work is expected to take around two years.

Dirk Pittaway, Managing Director, Robertson North West, said: “Talbot Gateway’s regeneration continues to gather pace and as a growing business in the region we are thrilled to be playing our part.

Robertson has significant experience in the hotels sector and we will use that to deliver a facility that is best in class and something everyone in Blackpool can be proud of.

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“We will work closely throughout with Blackpool Council and Muse Developments, who have both shown real commitment and drive in continuing to progress the project during recent months. Clear procedures, including social distancing, will be in place to ensure the safety of everyone involved on site.

“We will also put local people at the centre of the project to ensure the wider community can benefit. Indeed, we’ve already started to work with the local college, with the aim of providing real opportunities to people throughout the project and beyond. Talbot Gateway is hugely important to the town and we cannot wait to get started.”

Proposed Schedule of Works: • Demolition of Wilko’s building, Talbot Road - June to December 2020 • Construction of the high street underpass - November 2020 to 30th April 2021 • Construction of the Holiday Inn Hotel - October 2020 to April 2022 • Tram extension and track completion - January to May 2021 All timings are subject to there being no further delays due to the current Covid-19 crisis.

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Talbot Gateway, Blackpool Executive Leader of Blackpool Council, Cllr Simon Blackburn, said: “The team have been working tirelessly around the clock to ensure that the delivery of this flagship commercial development stays on course and goes ahead as planned. We are confident that all the correct procedures have been put in place to secure the health and safety of all the construction workers, which is our top priority at this critical time, and we will be monitoring activity on site very closely to ensure that all the government workplace guidelines are followed.

“As we emerge out of the current emergency crisis and into a period of recovery and rebuilding, it is really important that as a community we stay committed and focused to the successful delivery of the ongoing regeneration projects throughout the town, to ensure the town is in the best possible place it can be to achieve economic recovery, improve long term resilience, create new opportunities and secure long-term jobs for the people of Blackpool.

“Phase Two of Talbot Gateway will transform this key entrance into Blackpool and we are delighted to be one step closer to realising our long term ambitions for the town.”

Blackpool Council and urban regenerator, Muse Developments have been working in partnership to develop the Central Business District since entering into a Development Agreement in March 2009.

Mike Horner, Development Director at Muse Developments, said: “This is currently an unprecedented time for everyone across the country, which is creating new challenges for developers and contractors to maintain construction activity while working within government guidelines. We’re completely focused on this challenge with health and safety at the top of our agenda. At the same time, we’re also working with our partners to make sure we continue to bring forward important developments that will bring both economic and social prosperity to our towns and cities when it’s needed most.

Talbot Gateway - Holiday Inn view 1

“It’s a proud moment for everyone involved at Talbot Gateway, as we take the next step on the journey to transform and re-energise the town centre, by delivering a new landmark hotel and high-quality brand to strengthen the hotel offering in the town. We will also be creating a number of much-needed jobs in the process.

“The renaissance of Blackpool is gathering apace and we’re delighted to be playing an important role with the Council in delivering this vision and making Blackpool a more attractive, more resilient and better place for the future, whatever that may look like.”

Blackpool Council has entered into a franchise agreement with International Hotel Group (IHG) for the 144-bedroom Holiday Inn, which is due to open in 2022, creating up to 50 full-time jobs.

Talbot Gateway - Holiday Inn view 2

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Cllr Blackburn continued: “This next phase of the development will offer brand new retail locations, an improved leisure offer to boost the night-time economy, offer more high-quality accommodation choice for leisure and business visitors alike and promote a more integrated and connected use of our transport system. We hope that all residents, businesses and visitors can enjoy and benefit from the radical improvements being made not just at Talbot Gateway, but right across the town.”

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Buttercup’s story World Horse Welfare’s Penny Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre, near Blackpool, is just one of the charity’s four centres around the country. All the horses at Penny Farm have needed to be looked after, even during the recent lockdown, and so staff have tried to carry on as near to normal as possible to care for them.

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Now approaching its 95th year, World Horse Welfare takes in, rehabilitates and rehomes over 300 horses, ponies and donkeys a year making it the largest equine rehoming charity in the UK. Sadly, due to the on-going neglect and abuse of animals, there are always more horses needing rescue and nursing back to health. Penny Farm is currently looking after 60 ranging from horses ready for rehoming to rescue cases that have just come in and need intense care before their rehabilitation can even begin.

When the coronavirus crisis first hit and the country was pushed into lockdown, Penny Farm had to close its doors to visitors and the restrictions on movement of animals meant a temporary end to rehoming. Inside the closed centre, however, all 60 horses still needed daily care and the grooms worked together to provide that essential, and in some cases life-saving, care, all the while observing social distancing requirements.

Many of the horses were turned out - meaning all their work and rehabilitation stopped - and, where possible, they were put out to grass freeing up some time for the staff to work while

observing social distancing and dealing with new protocols for farrier and emergency vets visits.

Biosecurity is always tight at the farm, but this became even more rigorous and everyone had allotted tasks with much more cleaning of equipment and the staff working in shifts to keep the number on site at any one time to a minimum. Clearing droppings from the fields didn’t really change but other tasks usually undertaken by several people, such as filling hay nets, had to be done in a planned and solitary way.

For Penny Farm, one of the most important changes that the easing of restrictions meant was that once again rehoming could start. The dramatic story of Buttercup, who has just left the farm, is a perfect example of how a neglected horse’s life can be turned around. World Horse Welfare aims to rehabilitate and rehome all the horses which come into its care and, as each horse leaves, their place is quickly taken by others in desperate need of help.

Buttercup Buttercup was rescued in a dreadful state: she was so emaciated that her bones protruded and the skin over them was covered in sores from rubbing as she lay on the ground. She was almost too weak to stand and showed no interest in anything going on around her.

A few mornings later, astonishingly, she produced a foal, a filly which was later named Frieda. Buttercup was so weak that she couldn’t care for her foal and the decision was made to separate them, so they could both receive specialist round-the-clock care.

Little Frieda was hand-reared by the dedicated Penny Farm team and thrived in their care and has now been rehomed as a youngster.

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Buttercup winning her class at Equifest

“When Buttercup first arrived, she stood in the stable with her head hung low, with her spine and hip bones protruding.” reports Karen Wright, Penny Farm Assistant Centre Manager.

“She had sores on both sides, where she had struggled to get up. Being so weak and emaciated, Buttercup had to have a very careful feeding regime to begin building up her strength.

Eventually she was strong enough to go out in a paddock for a few hours at a time and then she began to gain condition slowly but surely.”

Buttercup’s recovery took time but once she was eventually strong enough the Penny Farm team realised that she might do well in in-hand showing and took her to Equifest, a horse show in the east of England, near Peterborough. At the show there are special rescue classes, which are judged on the horse or pony’s previous history, their transformation and their performance. A very well-behaved Buttercup wowed the judges and she was crowned champion, a picture of health and an incredible transformation from the desperately thin animal that originally came into Penny Farm.

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Buttercup on her way to her new home

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Penny Farm Team giving support for core workers

happily and we delivered her to her rehomer, so that social distancing could be adhered to, something that we are obviously having to consider with each rehoming at the moment, but being able to rehome our horses again is enabling us to offer help for other horses in need.”

Opening to the public

Happy Ever After

Despite all the activity still going on with the horses and ponies at Penny Farm, it is an unfamiliar place without the visitors. Zoe Clifford, Penny Farm’s Visitor Officer, can’t wait for visitors to be able to return as soon as restrictions are lifted and we can, once again, welcome people through our gates to see horses and ponies at various stages of their rehabilitation. Thankfully the last few months have seen record numbers of ponies, like Buttercup, being rehomed, enabling even more horses and ponies in need to be rescued.

Now Buttercup’s story has a happy ending, as she left World Horse Welfare’s care on 30 May to move to her new life as a companion pony to a lucky rehomer’s own horse, Tilly, just 15 minutes from Penny Farm.

“It was wonderful to see Buttercup leaving for her new home” said Karen “although we will miss her a lot, she was a real favourite here at Penny Farm. Buttercup loaded on the lorry www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 19

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LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 21

Lockdown lesson for government: over two thirds of people in the North West want to see their local green space enhanced • 75% of adults living in the North West think their local green space, or nearby countryside, could be enhanced; • Majority of these would like to see a greater variety of plant life (54%) and more wildlife (51%) in their local green space; • CPRE, the countryside charity and the HomeOwners Alliance are calling for the government to go further to protect and enhance local green spaces so that everyone has easy access from their doorsteps.

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s lockdown in England eases and many venture out into their local green spaces, new research has found 75 % of people living in the North West think their local green spaces, including the countryside next door to where they live, could be enhanced. Commissioned by CPRE, the countryside charity and the HomeOwners Alliance, and carried out on-line by YouGov as the lockdown started, the research shows that the majority of people living in the North West believe the variety of plant life (51%) and increasing the amount of wildlife (51%) and are top ways in which their local green spaces can be improved.

During lockdown, we have seen a surge in appreciation for local green spaces and a heightened awareness of their role in boosting our physical and mental health and wellbeing[1].

For the one in eight households who do not have access to their own garden, accessible shared or public green spaces are all the more important[2].

CPRE, the countryside charity and the HomeOwners Alliance believe that everyone should have easy access to quality green spaces from their doorsteps and the government should go further to protect and enhance these spaces. Today’s results show that the public agree, and those who were in favour of enhancements in the North West would like to see:

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1. More and a greater variety of trees, shrubs, hedgerows, plants and flowers (54%) 2. More wildlife including birds, butterflies and bees; (51%) 3. Signposted walks in the countryside/ green space (43%) 4. More facilities (e.g. café, toilets, seating, etc.) (36%) and; 5. Better maintenance (e.g. paths maintained, trees pruned, lawns cut, etc.) (34%)

Crispin Truman, chief executive of CPRE, the countryside charity, said: ‘Access to quality local green spaces has hurtled up the agenda as a political issue and for good reason. As lockdown eases, many people are turning to their local patch of green as a place to meet family and friends, subject of course to social distancing, as well as their daily dose of exercise and nature. We’ve been championing local countryside and green spaces for nearly a century, believing they are vital for our health and wellbeing – a natural health service as they’re now being called.

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‘But not everyone has access to green spaces and too many have been lost as the countryside next door to our largest towns and cities faces mounting pressure for development.

If the government is serious about learning the lessons of the pandemic, it must use upcoming planning reforms to protect these precious spaces and recognise their value as a natural health service, as we do. But we can’t stop there - by properly investing in our green spaces we can make these spaces easily accessible to more people and invite wildlife like birds, butterflies and bees back.’

Paula Higgins, Chief Executive of Homeowners Alliance, said: ‘Now that people are allowed to move, new build homes and those with nearby green space are becoming more popular. There is a real opportunity for developers and government to create quality green spaces; and this is much more than a patch of lawn. Planning reform should ensure that green spaces are not considered to be an afterthought or a nice extra given the positive role they can play in people’s lives.’

The full set of results can be found here: https://bit.ly/36Gm1Md

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LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 23

Baxenden

Words: Stephen Roberts

I felt at home immediately when I began writing about the village of Baxenden.

Y

ou see it’s known affectionately as ‘Bash’, which puts me in mind of a place in my own part of the world that’s also known as ‘Bash’. A Lancashire Bash then, not to be confused with a New Forest Bash.

Lancashire’s Bash is a village and ward in the south-east corner of Hyndburn Borough, which also happens to be heading towards Lancashire’s south-east corner. So, this is not so much ‘North by North West’ (a 1959 film) but ‘South by South East’.

I’m warming up nicely here.

Population-wise, the ward is fairly modest, a tad over 4,000 (2011) but it makes up for smallness with some quite interesting history. It’s also a place that has the facilities that you’d hope to find in a village today, although often you don’t (so, for example, a post office on the main A680 Manchester Road, which cuts through the village 24

The Haworth Art Gallery which lies within Baxenden Ward and is situated in Haworth Park on the way to Accrington (author – Alexander P. Kapp / Haworth Art Gallery, Accrington / CC BY-SA 2.0, source – www.geograph.org.uk).

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Grade II Listed St John’s Church, Baxenden (author – David Dixon / St John’s Church, Baxenden / CC BY-SA 2.0, source – www.geograph.org.uk).

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Below left: Site of Baxenden railway station. A view of the surviving platforms in 1963.

The station had closed to passengers in 1951 and to goods in 1961, with the line itself closing in 1966. The station was on the East Lancashire Line (author – Ben Brooksbank, source – www.geograph.org.uk).

Below: Baxenden Cricket Club (author – ‘BatAndBall’, source – www.geograph.org.uk).

Below right: Holland’s Pies vans lined up at the Baxenden factory (author – Paul Anderson, source – www.geograph.org.uk).

towards Accrington, which is slightly less than two miles distant). There’s also a Premier Convenience Store along the same road. There’s a couple of schools too: a high school, ‘The Hollins’, named after the original name of the Haworth home (see below) and a primary school, St John’s, dating to 1880, which replaced an earlier one of 1833.

People have been a round about this area for centuries, but modern Baxenden is really a VictorianEdwardian creation with later additions.

Originally included within the Blackburn Hundred (a sub-division of Lancashire that would have dated back to Anglo-Saxon times) the first recorded mention of Baxenden is actually in 1194 when there was a stock farm or ‘vaccary’ here that was subordinate to Kirkstall Abbey, a Cistercian monastery in Yorkshire, which had been established around 40 years before. The

year 1194 places that farm back in the reign of Richard the Lionheart. The name was the rather long-winded Old English ‘Bastanedenecloch’ back in the day, which roughly translated as ‘a valley where baking stones are found’.

So, we know there was farming and baking going on. The valley bit is explained as Baxenden does sit in a wedge-shaped valley betwixt Great Hameldon and Oswaldtwistle Moor.

Come 1305, and the reign of Edward I, the de Lacy family records confirm that the name had evolved to ‘Bakestonden’ (‘Baxenden’ being now well on the way).

Those records also tell us that there was lead mining going on here too, with the raw material being conveyed to Bradford. Close on two centuries later (1494), the village’s name had been refined further to ‘Baxtonden’ and the Tudors had established themselves on the English throne. That lead mining

would continue right up to 1780 and the long reign of George III (he was the one who lost both his marbles and the American colonies). Industry there may have been, but farming was always pre-eminent here.

Having said that, Baxenden did start to grow during the Industrial Revolution. The main road through this area was the last one built by the engaging ‘Blind Jack Metcalf o’ Knaresborough’, a.k.a. John Metcalf (1717-1810), who, although he was blind from the age of six, became the first professional road builder of the Industrial Revolution. Metcalf was a colourful character who could also swim, dive, play a useful hand at cards, and entertain with the fiddle, oh, and built about 180 miles of road.

The road here was completed in 1791 and immediately stimulated the local area with coal mines, mills and print

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works all sprouting up, which required more housing to accommodate the workers.

Baxenden had two places of worship, now reduced to one. Grade II Listed St John’s Church was founded in 1875, completed in stone and slate in 1877, and is also the site of the village’s war memorial. It was designed by H. Varley in the Early English style and its distinguishing feature is the steeple with three-stage tower. The current Wesleyan Methodist Church was in operation between 1969 and 2011 and has now been converted into a children’s nursery. The site had a longer religious history than St John’s, however, as there had originally been a Wesleyan Sunday School (1835), which was rebuilt as a church in 1859, before being demolished and replaced with the current building in the late-1960s. The modern vicarage (1977) stands on the site of the old Baxenden House and a vaccary (that word again) that belonged to Henry de Lacy, 3rd Earl of Lincoln and Baron of Pontefract (c.12511311). Nobleman, diplomat and soldier, de Lacy was close to King Edward I: the de Lacy family was clearly of some prominence in the Baxenden area.

On the way to Accrington, on the left, is Haworth Park, which lies within Baxenden Ward, and is home to the renowned Haworth Art Gallery. The building dates to 1909, originally as ‘Hollins Hill’, built for the local industrialist William Haworth (d.1913) and his sister Anne (d.1920) by Walter Brierley. With both William and Anne dying without heirs, the house was benevolently left to the Accrington Corporation, becoming the town’s principal museum and gallery in 1921, also being renamed in the benefactors’ honour. Baxenden is also well known as the home of Holland’s Pies, founded in Haslingden in 1851 by John Whittaker. The company moved to its current premises, a disused cotton mill in Baxenden, in 1929, when looms were replaced by specially built ovens, and its pies and puddings are today sold at some 85% of the north-west’s chip shops.

Baxenden once had its own railway station. Baxenden station opened in August 1848 on the East Lancashire Railway line from Bury Bolton Street to Accrington when the line itself opened. The station remained open for passengers until 1951 and was closed completely in 1961, with the line itself being closed five years later. In between Baxenden and Accrington was the notorious two-mile ‘Baxenden Bank’, which had gradients of up to 1 in 38, so was a test for loco drivers and firemen. ‘The lines’ as they are known today have found a new purpose as a popular footpath. The Accrington Corporation Steam Tramways Company also ran a tramway to the station, which opened in June 1886 and appears to have survived until 1908.

All this history can be a bit wearisome for the old ‘plates’ (plates of meat = feet) so it’s always nice to repose somewhere for a while and take stock. One perfect place to do this would be Baxenden Cricket Club (c.1868) where you can listen to the therapeutic sound of willow thwacking leather in Back Lane.

Alternatively, if you fancy a bit more walking, there’s also Baxenden Golf Club (1913), which I’m told has a challenging nine-hole, par-70, 5,734 yard moorland course. Obviously, you go round twice for that competition length.

The Baxenden Allotments and Gardens Society (BAGS) has been going for over 50 years and holds an annual flower show, whilst the fact that Baxenden has its own community radio station (Baxenden Radio) which has been airing since 2013 shows that community spirit is alive and kicking here.

Up the Bash!

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Top: Statue of Blind Jack Metcalf of Knaresborough, Market Place, Knaresborough. It was the blind road builder who was behind the main road through Baxenden, completed in 1791 (author – ‘Mtaylor848’, source – Own work).

Middle: Seal of Henry de Lacy, 3rd Earl of Lincoln. Henry de Lacy held a vaccary in Baxenden during the Middle Ages. The family was prominent locally with Baxenden mentioned in the family records (user – ‘Jungpionier’).

Bottom: The Wesleyan Methodist Church, Manchester Road, Lower Baxenden, which is today a children’s nursery (author – David Dixon, source – www.geograph.org.uk).

References History of England (W. McElwee, 1960) Puddleducks Nurseries (www.puddleduckslancashire.co.uk) – for history of Methodist church.

Haworth Art Gallery (www.haworthartgallery.org) Holland’s Pies (www.hollandspies.co.uk) Baxenden Cricket Club (www.baxenden.play-cricket.com) Baxenden Golf Club (www.baxendengolf.co.uk) The Hollins (www.thehollins.com) St John’s School (www.baxendenstjohns.school)

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Pierce appoint new corporate finance director I

ndependent North Westbased accountancy and business advice practice Pierce has appointed Kevin Steven as its new director of corporate finance.

The key appointment comes as Pierce records its best ever year in terms of fees and continues to widen its expertise for the benefit of its growing client base.

Kevin has a wealth of experience and knowledge in the sector and the appointment is a strong signal of intent from the team at Pierce as it looks to grow and develop its services. Strengthening the firm’s corporate finance offering is an integral part of the Pierce support strategy as the regions SME’s face challenging market conditions.

Managing director Jimmy King, who led a management buyout of the Blackburn-based practice a year ago, said: “Kevin has come on board to help our clients gain access to the right type of finance for them, he has fantastic experience both in traditional banking and alternative finance and has extensive experience is understanding what funders are looking for.

“He will be a major asset, both for the practice and our clients moving forward and we’re really pleased that he has made the move to Pierce.”

A Qualified accountant Kevin, whose CV includes senior roles at RBS and ThinCats, has a strong track record of working in the North of England with owner-managed SMEs – Pierce’s existing and target market.

Kevin, said: “These are exciting times for Pierce and I’m www.lancmag.com

delighted to be a part of it.

“The external funding market is currently very dynamic, and clients will be required to engage with funders in a way that they have not had to historically. My background of direct lending will give clients a clear insight into what funders require of them and how best to structure that support in order for clients to meet their strategic objectives.

“Pierce recognise the importance of having a robust and well invested corporate finance function to support clients from both a day-to-day and succession planning perspective.

“That is what has attracted me to the role, along with the firm’s fantastic reputation and the Board’s very clear vision of where it wants to go.

“The Pierce approach is all about relationship building and that is something I’m looking forward to, working closely with businesses, while bringing a fresh pair of eyes and perspective for the benefit of our clients.

“The funding market has changed dramatically over the last five years. Getting the right information, to the right people, in the right format, is crucial and again, I believe that is where I can make a real difference.”

Pierce and its 65-strong team deliver audit and accountancy compliance services, as well as a range of additional value-added services such as corporate finance, forensic, research and development, corporate and personal taxation.

The firm also provides management and outsourcing services including firm secretarial, online services and payroll.

Contact Pierce on 01254 688100 or visit their new website www.pierce.co.uk LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 27

Sir Simon Towneley

The current patriarch of the renowned East Lancashire Towneley family

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s an avid fan of all things Downton Abbey, Upstairs Downstairs and the timeless Monarch of the Glen, I hope you can forgive me for being just a little bit excited when I got the call to write an article on Sir Simon Towneley – the current patriarch of the renowned East Lancashire Towneley family.

An opportunity to meet a real-life Knight of the Realm; in my head I had conjured images of vast stately homes, fabulously eccentric attire, gun dogs on the lawn, and an ever-soobliging Jeeves in the corner. Whilst upon meeting the man (and for some, the legend) few of these images were disappointed, what truly struck me was the depth of character, the generosity of time, the on one hand traumatic, and on the other jubilant stories to be told – all of which contributed to one of the most remarkable, charming, most gentlemanly of men I have had the pleasure of meeting.

In Sir Simon’s 98 fascinating years of life things haven’t always been plain sailing. Afterall, one could easily lose sight of the role one of the north’s oldest and most distinguished

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families has to play in the 21st Century; how does such a gem of history ensure its relevance today and in the future?

Having lived through some of the most harrowing years of recent European history and come out the other side all the stronger, I would suggest that Sir Simon has this covered – and he and his illustrious family will be with us for a long time to come.

I invite you to join me back in the year 1921, when a certain Simon Peter Edmund Cosmo William was brought into this world by his parents Alexander and Priscilla. Many of you will be aware of, and may even have visited the magnificent Towneley Hall in Burnley, which up until 1902 was the ancestral seat of the Towneley family. Sir Simon talks of the days as a young child when he visited the old family home with his grandmother, which was then under the custodianship of the first curator, Mr Tomlinson. He muses over the sparsity of the interior – the scatterings of furniture in the Long Gallery, the solitary desk with secret drawers in the Great Hall, and the tinge of sadness in his Grandmother’s disposition – the home of her childhood now reduced to the relative shell of its former self. www.lancmag.com

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Whilst the family was adjusting to life away from Towneley Hall, Sir Simon enjoyed a happy childhood with his younger brother Peregrine (the now celebrated journalist Sir Peregrine Worsthorne), being educated in Buckinghamshire at the Stowe School and latterly Worcester College, Oxford.

Even in his student days however, the young Simon was ever conscious that one day he would be responsible for the family estates in Lancashire, which he eventually inherited in 1955.

In 1976, whilst primarily occupied with the day to day running of his estates, supporting his beloved wife in her equestrian pursuits and his 7 children, Sir Simon received a letter from the then Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, stating that he would very much like to recommend Sir Simon to the Queen as her next Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire. This was a recommendation which Sir Simon gratefully accepted and the Queen naturally obliged – with Sir Simon serving her in this role up until 1997.

Before that however, an even greater responsibility fell to the young student – to fight for King and Country in the Second World War with the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, receiving a commission as a second lieutenant in December 1942. Sir Simon reminisced over one fateful day when he and his colleagues set out to rid a small village in the EmiliaRomagna region of Italy of German soldiers. Upon crossing the Ronco river, a tributary of the Po, a terrible storm set in.

The huge rainfall thus made any retreat back across the river impossible – and Sir Simon was captured by the enemy.

He was taken to Mantua in the north of Italy, then shipped to Bavaria, Germany where he would spend 9 months as a prisoner of war in a small hut within the Stalag VII camp.

The role of Lord Lieutenant I discovered, is essentially representing the monarch throughout the county in her absence. With a plethora of tales to tell from his 20 years in the role, I took great delight in Sir Simon reminiscing about one Royal Visit where the Queen arrived on the Royal Yacht in Heysham. With a hectic schedule, Sir Simon tried his best to keep the visit on track, but inevitably things over-ran slightly. Whilst ordinarily this wouldn’t matter, if the Queen were taking her onward journey on an airplane or by road, it became increasingly apparent that even Her Majesty cannot dictate the tide! Following a berating from a particularly angry Captain of the Royal Yacht and a break-neck drive from Preston to the docks, all ended well – but it certainly goes down as one of the more memorable visits for Sir Simon.

Sir Simon’s only complaint of his time as a prisoner was the scarcity of food – but openly acknowledges food was in short supply for the German soldiers imprisoning him too. Needless to say he vowed to himself latterly never to allow himself to be hungry again! Fortunately, the American General George S Patton and his troops liberated those held captive and Sir Simon was able to return to the safety of Oxford once again.

Sir Simon was, and remains, a keen musician. To his delight, upon his return to Oxford the option to read music in its own right had become available – an opportunity which Sir Simon grasped with both hands, completing a DPhil to accompany his existing degree. This qualified him to teach in the faculty at Oxford, where he lectured successfully for a number of years.

However his days in academia were swiftly brought to a halt when he proposed to the love of his life and second cousin, Mary Fitzherbert. In 1955 he returned to Lancashire with his new wife, residing in Dyneley, Cliviger as the new hub of the Towneley dynasty. Here, he was keen to play an active role in public life – becoming a magistrate in 1956 and sitting as a Conservative Councillor on the Lancashire County Council. Never an avid party-man, Sir Simon now laughs at one of his previous faux pas’ – failing to include the party he was standing for in his election campaign leaflet!

Whilst his political career was relatively short lived, this was only the start of Sir Simon’s dedication to public life – becoming High Sheriff of Lancashire in 1971. In this role Sir Simon relished a vast array of experiences; the least enjoyable of these being meeting Myra Hindley when completing an inspection of the women’s wing at Walton Gaol (now HM Prison Liverpool). He talks of the change of atmosphere caused by her very presence, and the affect this had on the staff and inmates alike. His specific words, ‘a very disturbing, nasty but powerful woman’ truly resonated with me.

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His time as Lord Lieutenant and indeed his other notable positions truly epitomise the nature of Sir Simon – a dedicated servant to the nation. And this devotion didn’t end in 1997 when he passed the baton onto the next Lord Lieutenant. In fact his public service continued full steam ahead! Sir Simon became instrumental (pardon the pun) in establishing the Royal Northern College of Music – which to this day remains one of the most prestigious Musical Colleges in the country – a status which his practical and academic prowess have doubtlessly facilitated.

So noted was Sir Simon’s work in establishing the Royal Northern College that when Lord Derby was asked to support the formation of a Northern Ballet, he immediately decided that Sir Simon was a much better man for the job – which he took on and manifestly influenced its success. This is to be considered alongside the work Sir Simon has done with the Civic Trust (of which he remains President) and the support he gave to his wife in her equestrian endeavours – all completed at an age where most of us would be hoping for a somewhat quieter and more sedate tempo of life.

This is a man who truly epitomises all of those qualities we hold so dear – a dedicated and faithful public servant who has managed the multiple roles and expectations of his position like a highly skilled plate-spinner! I began this short history questioning how a gentleman born into perceived privilege can ensure a continued relevance in todays and future society. Having had the honour of meeting Sir Simon I can say with all honesty and integrity that it is the very qualities he simply exudes which do this job for him. He and his family continue to strive to better this fantastic county – and for that, they deserve every credit. In his own words, Sir Simon certainly has been “able to have a very full life”.

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William Hesketh Lever (1851-1925) Words: Stephen Roberts

With the recent reinvention of that onetime ritual of hand-washing, I thought it might be interesting to look back at the career of a soap-maker, and not just any old soap-maker. He managed to build what became Britain’s biggest company at the time and arguably the world’s first modern multinational.

William Lever, 1st Viscount Leverhulme (author – ‘Tagishsimon’ at en.wikipedia, source – www.gutenberg.org).

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illiam Hesketh Lever, 1st Viscount Leverhulme (1851-1925) was a British soap-maker, politician and philanthropist who was to leave a lasting legacy. He would no doubt be regarded today as a controversial figure, being both benevolent, but also an ardent imperialist a la Cecil Rhodes.

Born in Bolton, at 16 Wood Street, Lever’s childhood could be considered privileged, as he attended a small private school, also in Wood Street, until the age of nine, then church schools, this representing a much better education than the vast majority could hope for. His last school was the Bolton Church Institute (1864-67), in the Bradshaw area of Bolton, an establishment that had opened up just a few years previously (c.1855). William was undoubtedly a preferred son, as he was the first to be bestowed on his parents after a run of six daughters (he’d have nine siblings in all). I guess they just kept trying as his father would have wanted someone to inherit his grocery business in the same way that Henry VIII needed a male heir for the throne of England. William seemed to have been fairly robust and hard-working, if not necessarily the most academic: perspiration rather than inspiration perhaps.

Lever would take his first tentative steps to commercial success in his father’s grocery business in Bolton, apprenticed aged 15 and a partner at 21. He helped to expand the family firm, although this may not have been his first choice of profession. He actually fancied being an architect himself, whilst his mother, Eliza, thought he might have a future in medicine. William had the entrepreneurial spirit imbued in him though by his dad, James, and was soon opening his own stores. William married Elizabeth Hulme (1850-1913) in Bolton, at the Church of St Andrew and St George, St George’s Road, in 1874. That marriage was one of locals as Elizabeth lived on the same street and went to the same church, the one where they married, and which bestowed on William many of the principles and ideals that he would adopt in his working life.

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Then along came ‘Sunlight Soap’. Come 1885, when he would have been aged around 35, William was in partnership with his brother James (1854-1916), who was always the less hardy of the two, forming ‘Lever Brothers’, creating a brand that would become synonymous with not just Sunlight Soap but also ‘Lux’, ‘Lifebuoy’ and ‘Vim’ (the company is today part of the Anglo-Dutch ‘Unilever’). Innovation was also in the air: instead of using the traditional raw material of tallow, the brothers made use of vegetable oils. The brothers began manufacturing in Warrington, but then, needing larger www.lancmag.com

The Church of St Andrew and St George, Bolton, where William Lever and Elizabeth Hulme were married in 1874 (author – Philip Platt / Church of St Andrew and St George, Bolton / CC BY-SA 2.0, source – www.geograph.org.uk).

premises, they descended on Merseyside, across the river from Liverpool.

The landscape of Wirral was changed when Lever established ‘Port Sunlight’, effectively a new town, from 1888, and long before the new town concept had been recognised (under the New Towns Act of 1946). Building at Port Sunlight on substantial acres of former marshland continued until 1914. Here was Lever’s philanthropy laid bare. Rather than housing his workers in slum conditions, he aspired to a ‘model community’ where his workers enjoyed not only decent wages and benefits, but also an enviable standard of housing (all with indoor bathrooms) and communal facilities, including a concert hall, theatre, library, gym and healthy open air pool, and bowling greens, and all in an ‘Old English’ style.

The works village also gave the boss control though: workers were expected to participate in activities and behave themselves (loss of your job for some misdemeanour would almost certainly be rapidly followed by eviction from your property). Philanthropy it seems came with a code of conduct although there was no doubt that he believed in ‘co-partnership’ and comradeship with his workers. He advocated ‘sweating the machine and not the worker’ which made possible, and profitable, a six hour day. Sunlight soap meanwhile had gone from strength to strength and was being sold in over 130 countries just ten years after its launch. Port Sunlight was churning out 5,000 tons of soap a week.

Lever was briefly a Liberal MP (1906-09), winning the seat for Wirral in the landslide of 1906 and would later serve in the House of Lords as Lord Leverhulme. Lever argued for state pensions along the lines of the provision he’d made for his own workers (one of many benefits bestowed on the Port Sunlight workforce including medical care, unemployment benefits, profit sharing and free insurance). Given some of the recent controversy regarding imperialism, we shouldn’t avoid mention www.lancmag.com

Sunlight soap packages, 2005 (author – ‘Nieuw’, source – Own work, transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons).

Port Sunlight buildings. Port Sunlight was designed as a model village to accommodate workers at Lever Brothers soap factory.

Work commenced in 1888 (author – ‘Man vyi’, source – Self-photographed).

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of Lever’s other political views. He was a keen advocate of the British Empire and its expansion, especially in Africa and Asia, which supplied large quantities of palm oil, which had become a major ingredient in Lever Brothers’ product lines.

William Lever couldn’t have known of course that the rapacious need for palm oil would cause a crisis in years to come. Today many people eschew palm oil because the need for this edible vegetable oil has been driving deforestation, in the process destroying the habitats of many endangered species. It gets darker too as the desperate need for more palm oil took Lever into the Belgian Congo from 1911, where plantations used forced labour. Although this was a Belgian colony, we nevertheless have to ponder how Lever’s involvement here squared with the ideals and utopia of Port Sunlight. It is said that he tried to create African versions of his Wirral phenomenon, so Lever remains something of a conundrum.

I wouldn’t wish to airbrush out of this story either Lever’s imperialism or his extensive use of palm oil, both of which would cause offense today. As an historian my role is to present the facts, as far as they can be established, but then to leave it to others to form opinions. As for the treatment of workers in Africa, there certainly appears to be a dichotomy here when set against the paternal care showed to workers back in the home country.

As far as his philanthropy went, Lever endowed a school of tropical medicine at Liverpool University, but also gifted Lancaster House (London) to the nation. He was an avid art collector, first acquiring works in 1893 and soon realising that art could be used to promote soap. Business rivals A. & F. Pears (‘Pears’ soap) stole a march on Lever by using a famous painting of John Everett Millais (‘Bubbles’) to market their

A cartoon parodying William Lever and the ‘Soap Trust’, 1906.

Lever had stated the trust’s aims as: to provide ‘a cheaper product, a more abundant product, a better product’.

The cartoon clearly disagreed as the did the press and public (author – William Haselden, source – ‘History of Unilever’, C. Wilson, 1954).

Bolton Church Institute, with St Peter’s in the background.

This was the last school of William Lever in Bolton (author – unknown, source – www.bolton-church-institute.org.uk).

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Sunlight soap advert during WW1 which claims that the British Tommy is ‘the cleanest fighter in the world’, 1915 (author – unknown, source – The War Budget).

Grade II Listed 14 and 16, Wood Street, Bolton. William Lever was born at no. 16 on 19th September 1851. No. 16 is nearest the camera. There is a plaque in between the door and bay window recording that Lever was born in the house (author – ‘Plucas58’, source – Own work).

Lever House, the former headquarters of Lever Brothers, Port Sunlight, Wirral (author – ‘Rept0n1x’, source – Own work).

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wares: see what they did there? Lever retaliated in kind, buying up paintings that he thought could achieve the same result for Lever Brothers. He kicked off with ‘The New Frock’ (William Powell Frith) which he used to promote Sunlight soap. In 1922 Lever founded the Lady Lever Art Gallery at Port Sunlight in memory of his late wife, Elizabeth, who had died suddenly in 1913. The gallery remains one of Port Sunlight’s most impressive buildings. Lever was also a benefactor to his home town of Bolton, its largest park being laid out on land donated

by Lever in 1914.

Lever’s success and wealth was demonstrated by his purchase of the Isle of Lewis in 1918 for £150,000, then North and South Harris for a combined total of £56,000 the following year. These were huge sums of money at the time, the investment representing another dream of Lever that he could transform the communities, basing them on a vastly

increased fishing economy rather than crofting, but this just put him at loggerheads with the locals and the unfulfilled dream died with him, the vastness of South Harris, for example, which had cost £36,000 of that £56,000, being sold off for a mere £900. Lever’s bludgeoning approach to creating a Scottish Port Sunlight was perhaps not one of his finest hours.

William Lever was made a baron in 1917 and a viscount five years later in 1922 (the ‘Leverhulme’ bit was an amalgam of his surname and his ex-wife’s maiden name). After his death (1925 of pneumonia after a trip to Africa), Lever’s remarkable story was told by his son (‘W.H. Lever, Viscount Leverhulme, by his son’, 1927). His funeral was attended by 30,000 mourners by all accounts so there was no doubt that he was a much-admired figure in his lifetime.

Chronology

The Lady Lever Art Gallery, Port Sunlight. The art gallery is one of the great buildings of Port Sunlight. Lever enjoyed showing the villagers his art collection. The gallery was opened in 1922

by Princess Beatrice, the youngest child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert (author – ‘Rept0n1x’, source – Own work).

1851 – William Hesketh Lever born in Bolton (19th September).

1874 – Marriage of William Lever & Elizabeth Hulme at St Andrew & St George, Bolton.

1885 – Brothers William and James Lever go into partnership as ‘Lever Brothers’.

1888 – Construction of Port Sunlight model village begins.

1906 – Becomes MP for Wirral (until 1909).

1913 – Death of Elizabeth Lever (née Hulme) the wife of William Lever.

1917 – William Lever made a baron (Baron Leverhulme of Bolton-le-Moors).

1922 – Lever becomes 1st Viscount Leverhulme.

1925 – Death of William Lever, in Hampstead, London, aged 73 (7th May).

1930 – Lever Brothers becomes a part of Unilever.

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References Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1974) World Wildlife Fund (www.wwf.org.uk) Undiscovered Scotland (www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk) Sky History (www.history.co.uk) Leverhulme (www.leverhulme.net) Today in Science History (www.todayinsci.com) Spartacus-Educational (www.spartacus-educational.com) Britannica (www.britannica.com) www.lancmag.com

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The Liverpool neighbourhood you’ll love living in

ALLERTON is one of THE most desirable areas of Liverpool and if lockdown has left you looking for a new neighbourhood with all of the amenities you want and need close to home, Redrow’s Allerton Gardens could be the ideal place.

Head of sales Anna Evans-Kerr says: “Spending more time at home has given many people time to reflect on their housing situation and whether their current property meets their needs. Since reopening our sales offices we’ve heard from many who have realised they need more space or a bigger garden. Others say their home needs a lot of maintenance or is too far from shops, parks and important services and they want to be at the heart of a community.”

Whatever the reasons for wanting to move, the premium choice of executive homes at Allerton Gardens has plenty to offer.

1. Shop local The importance of access to local shops has become increasingly apparent in the wake of COVID-19. Around two miles away, Allerton Road is home to a range of traditional shops including a fishmonger, a bakery, green grocer and a butcher. Many of these are family businesses that have served generations of families in the local community. For a big supermarket shop, there’s a good selection within a 10-minute drive, including the Tesco Superstore on Allerton Road, Asda, Sainsbury’s and the Co-op. High street stores are just over two miles away at New Mersey Shopping Park, while a wider mix of shops is available seven miles away in Liverpool city centre.

2. Foodie haven * Allerton Road has become a foodie hub with plenty of options to dine out day or night. From independent coffee shops to cocktail bars and gastro pubs, vegetarian and vegan cafes, plus restaurants serving eclectic seasonal produce there’s a wide selection to whet the appetite.

3. Open spaces Life in lockdown made access to outdoor space a priority for many. Allerton is one of Liverpool’s leafiest suburbs and Allerton Gardens is perfectly placed to enjoy the great outdoors close to home walking, running cycling or even abseiling. Almost half of Allerton Gardens’ 33 acres will remain as green space, with 10 acres of publicly accessible parkland, plus informal footpaths and meadow grassland 38

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for informal play and enhanced biodiversity. Less than a 10-mimute walk from the development, is Allerton Towers, a beautiful 35 acre park which is also home to Merseyside Youth Challenge Trust’s outdoor activity centre, offering abseiling, orienteering and nature trails. Picturesque Calderstones Park, home to the famous Allerton Oak – which was named England’s Tree of the Year in 2019 is also nearby.

4. Community The pandemic has put communities in the spotlight, highlighting the good work and neighbourliness of groups and individuals. Redrow has been celebrating the spirit of the North West neighbourhoods it operates in since 2016 with voluntary community funds. Good causes in and around Allerton have shared a £10,000 pot, with funding allocated to a new social club to bridge the generation gap and help fight loneliness; speech and language therapy for children with additional needs, Scout hut maintenance, a school community garden project, South Liverpool food bank, a walking group for parents and toddlers and the Marie Curie Hospice amongst others.

5. Schools For parents with young children, living near a wellrespected school is important and Allerton Gardens has a choice of schools nearby. Booker Avenue Infants and Our Lady’s Bishop Elton Catholic Primary are both rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, with Springwood Heath Primary and Bishop Martin CofE Primary both rated ‘good’.

Alternatively, Carleton House Prep School lies within easy reach, just across Calderstones Park, offering independent education. For older pupils, Liverpool Bluecoat Grammar is a selective school within easy reach and rated ‘outstanding’, plus there is a choice of faith and non-denominational secondary schools close by, including Calderstones School, St Francis Xavier, Parklands High and St Julie’s Catholic High.

6. Sports and entertainment * Liverpool is renowned for sports and entertainment.

Football fans will be eager to get back to watching premiership football at Anfield or Goodison Park; while Aintree is as famous for fashion during Ladies’ Day as it is for www.lancmag.com

Allerton Gardens features large luxurious homes like the Blenheim and the Highgrove, pictured.

the showpiece steeplechase, the Grand National.

The city boasts a huge choice of theatres and cinemas, including the M&S Bank Arena, Philharmonic Hall, the Empire Theatre and the Royal Court. Closer to home, golfers can swing by Allerton Manor or Woolton golf clubs, with the former planning investment to create an improved par-72 Championship course, with a new driving range and putting area.

7. Well connected Liverpool city centre is just a few miles from Allerton Gardens, with regular bus services making for an easy commute. Trains from Liverpool South Parkway or West Allerton stations whisk passengers into the city centre in around 15 minutes.

The M62 is just a few minutes’ drive away, with Manchester around 45 minutes away by car.

9. Friendly faces A recent survey carried out by C-V Library ranked Liverpool as one of the top 10 friendliest cities in the UK. Good neighbours can become good friends and one of the advantages of moving to a brand new home is that you’re not the only newbie, which should make it easier to get to know your neighbours.

10. Choice of award-winning homes Allerton Gardens offers a premium choice of three, four and five-bedroom detached executive homes from Redrow’s Heritage Collection. Externally they look very traditional, taking inspiration from the architecture of the Arts & Crafts era. Step inside and they feature layouts designed to meet the demands of modern living, with a superb specification as standard. Current prices range from £590,000 to £940,000.

8. Music history Liverpool is world renowned as the home of The Beatles and Sir Paul McCartney’s childhood home on Forthlin Road, Allerton, is often billed as the “birthplace of The Beatles”.

Now owned by the National Trust, the property is a popular attraction with fans of the fab four the world over.

It’s thought more than 100 Beatles songs were composed there, including Love Me Do, I Saw Her Standing There and When I’m Sixty-Four. The George Harrison Woodland Walk on the Greenland site opposite Allerton Towers, close to where George was born and grew up, is due to open in spring 2021. It will combine garden and woodland with artistic installations inspired by the life and lyrics of the much-loved Beatle. www.lancmag.com

The sales centre and show homes at Allerton Gardens are now open, with new social distancing measures in place to ensure the safety of customers and staff. For more information see www.redrow.co.uk/allerton or call 0151 391 3737.

Customers can also register for the My Redrow online hub, enabling them to fully interact with Redrow online, including browsing, reserving and choosing options for their new home.

Find out more about Redrow’s coronavirus social distancing measures here: https://www.redrow.co.uk/coronavirus * Some venues may still be temporarily closed due to Government guidance LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 39

Star Count shows almost 80% of local participants live in areas with severe light pollution

• In February CPRE, the countryside charity, asked the nation to count the number of stars visible in the Orion constellation.

• More than 2,400 people took part and the results show that for most of us, light pollution is blocking our view of the night sky.

• In Lancashire, Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester, 78.4% of people taking part counted ten stars or fewer, meaning they were in an area with severe light pollution. The number counting ten stars or fewer nationally was 61%, an increase from 57% last year.

• CPRE, along with the British Astronomical Association’s Commission for Dark Skies, say that councils must act on light pollution so more people can enjoy starry skies.

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his February more than 2,400 people across the country took part in a star counting survey run by CPRE, the countryside charity. By counting the number of stars visible in the constellation of Orion, it helps build up a picture of the nation’s views of the night sky.

CPRE believes that a star filled night sky is one of the most magical sights of the countryside. And throughout the coronavirus outbreak lockdown, gazing up at the stars will have brought comfort to many during an extremely difficult time. Yet light pollution can spread from towns and cities into the countryside, denying many people the chance to experience the wonder and tranquillity of seeing a sky full of stars.

The results of this citizen science survey, carried out annually, suggest that across the UK, 61% of people are in areas with severe light pollution, counting fewer than ten stars. This is a rise of 4% from last year, when 57% of people taking part were in these areas.

CPRE Lancashire, Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester organised a stargazing event with astronomer Robert Ince in January 2020, and participants were amazed at the truly dark skies in the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which is now recognised as a Dark Skies Discovery Site. The contrast between this area and the rest of the county is striking.

CPRE chief executive Crispin Truman said: ‘Gazing up at the heavens can inspire and help lift our spirits, especially when many of us are forced to do so from within our homes at the moment. It is a shame that few of us can see the starry skies in all their glory, without the intrusion of light pollution.’

There was some good news at the other end of the scale, with 3% of people counting more than 30 stars within Orion, meaning that they were in areas with truly dark skies. That’s a rise from 2% in 2019, although in Lancashire, Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester only 2% of respondents saw truly dark skies.

Families who took part and were able to see plenty of stars on the night of their count reported how much they loved the experience. In addition, 99% of star-counters asked said they believed that every child should be able to experience the wonder of a star-filled night sky.

Bob Mizon from the British Astronomical Association’s Commission for Dark Skies (CfDS) said ‘It’s wonderful to hear about families having fun doing the Star Count. Children should be able to see the Milky Way, their own galaxy, by looking up at the sky, not looking online!’

CPRE and CfDS believe that councils have the power to give people better views of the night sky. And when asked, 82% of star-counters responding to a survey said their local council should do more to tackle light pollution.

Crispin added: ‘We’d like to see councils adopting better policies in local plans to tackle light pollution and protect and enhance our darkest skies, where people can still experience the wonder of a star filled night sky. There are straightforward steps councils can take, in consultation with local people, that don’t just reduce light pollution but save energy and money too.’

The map showing the results of CPRE’s Star Count 2020 is online here: cpre.org.uk/starcountresults www.lancmag.com

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Blackpool Illuminations season extended to end of the year. Annual Switch-On celebration goes virtual for 2020 Blackpool’s annual Illuminations display is to be extended by two months to provide an invaluable boost to the resort’s tourism season.

VisitBlackpool has also revealed that the traditional Switch-On concert will be replaced this year by a free-to-access streamed event in association with MTV. The annual Switch-On concert was scheduled to take place on the night of Friday 4 September on the Tower Festival Headland in front of a 20,000 capacity audience.

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However, the social distancing restrictions arising from COVID-19 means it cannot go ahead in its usual format.

It will be the first time in more than 70 years that the resort has been unable to hold a live Switch-On celebration – but also the first time that a Switch-On event has been accessible to a national and international audience.

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Lucy Fallon Switch-On 2019 credit VisitBlackpool

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Road section: credit VisitBlackpool The streamed hour-long concert, which will feature a mixture of exclusive pre-recorded, at-home performances, as well as live performances at a closed event, filmed inside the Blackpool Tower Ballroom, acting as the curtain-raiser for the extended Blackpool Illuminations season, which will now run from September 4 to January 3, 2021.

be able to bring this fantastic night of entertainment for audiences to enjoy at home!”

It will be hosted by Diversity’s Ashley and Jordan Banjo, and will feature a star-studded line-up of talent, leading up to the all-important Switch-On moment.

“Blackpool is very much our second home and we cannot wait to return to the resort to host what will be an amazing experience that people will be able to watch, wherever they are.”

Cllr Gillian Campbell, Cabinet Member for Tourism & Culture for Blackpool Council, said: “The annual Switch-On event is the biggest night in Blackpool’s events calendar.

Sadly, it is simply not possible to stage an event of that scale given the current restrictions around social distancing and mass gatherings.

Ashley Banjo, who has helped choreograph and performed with Diversity at live Switch-On events over the past four years, said: “Jordan and I are delighted to be hosting Blackpool’s virtual Switch-On.

Details of the Switch-On concert line-up will be revealed in the coming weeks, along with details of how you can view the streamed event, plus a sneak preview of the new features in the 2020 Illuminations display.

“However, it would be unthinkable not to launch our Blackpool Illuminations season with an extraordinary event.

Staging the first ever virtual Switch-On concert to a mass audience watching from home does exactly that.

“We are very much aware of how much our tourism businesses are suffering as a result of the pandemic and we hope that by extending the Blackpool Illuminations season by two months, it will give them an opportunity to bring in some additional trade.

“We are planning for a safe, socially distanced Illuminations experience and will be keeping all Government health guidance under review as we move towards the autumn season.”

Virginia Monaghan, Vice President, Events and Experiences, ViacomCBS Networks International commented: “We are delighted that MTV will help launch the first live virtual Blackpool Illuminations Switch–On celebration. While we may not be able to go ahead with the event as originally planned, we are incredibly excited to now 44

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Tableau: credit VisitBlackpool The ballot for tickets for the 2020 event has now been closed.

Watch out for details of how to apply for next year’s event.

Go to www.visitblackpool.com/switchon for regular updates. www.lancmag.com

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Moor fires caused by selfish people Moorland fires are devastating wildlife during the nesting season according the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside.

Sunday - Darwen Moor fire can be seen from Brinscall by Alan Wright

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he Trust has received hundreds of messages from angry and upset nature lovers as two fires are causing severe damage to large hectares of moors above Lancashire and Greater Manchester.

And campaigns officer Alan Wright has blasted the people who caused the fires as “irresponsible” and “selfish”.

It has also meant fire fighters having to battle the blazes, endangering their lives in roasting hot temperatures. If fires get deep into the peat it will mean long and arduous shifts for fire fighters from Lancashire and Greater Manchester, and teams from United Utilities and Bolton Mountain Rescue.

Alan said: “So the lockdown is eased and suddenly people think it’s a great idea to take a barbecue onto the moors, which are tinder dry after weeks of rain. They have a barbecue, which is lovely for them, and then leave the barbecue which is too hot to touch and it starts a fire, which, subsequently, spreads across a dry moor. They love spending time in the outdoors but are not prepared to spend a little time making sure they are not leaving a trail of damage.

Skylark with young by Vine House Farm

“What kind of person thinks that leaving a hot barbecue isn’t going to cause problems in these areas? I think irresponsible is too kind. Instead of pouring water onto the barbecue and taking away their litter, they selfishly leave it for someone else to clear up. In this case, though, they leave it and it damages a vitally important area for wildlife.

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Lapwing by Dave Bennion

“I doubt if they are lying awake at night worrying about the fire fighters who having to deal with this.”

Moorland fires spread quickly and will take wildlife by surprise, destroying nests and killing chicks, and many of the insects they feed on.

Alan said: “Imagine being a parent lapwing, skylark or vole and having to leave your children as a fire rushes towards you.

Many thousands of creatures will have died in these fires over the weekend. Fledglings will have died panicking running for safety but having nowhere safe to go.

“The West Pennine Moors are a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of the rare and wonderful wildlife you find there. Most people are proud of our moors and, with a little thought, most of these fires don’t need to happen.”

The fire on Darwen Moor has destroyed a replanting programme for dwarf cornel and heather, which was started recently after years of planning.

Ground nesting birds, among the heather, like curlew, snipe and ring ouzel, will have suffered losses and well as small mammals, voles, mice and possibly foxes and hares. Farmers may also have lost sheep in the blazes.

Alan said: “Over the past few days I have noticed an increase in litter and now the fires have started again. Surely it’s not difficult to tidy up after yourself or to make sure you aren’t leaving something that can potentially start a fire.

“Of course, we also get people who start these fires on purpose and I have no words to describe those people.”

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust and the Lancashire Peatlands Partnership are looking at new ways to manage the moors to reduce the risks of fires but they need support of the public – www.lancswt.org.uk.

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside is dedicated to the protection and promotion of the wildlife in Lancashire, seven boroughs of Greater Manchester and four of Merseyside, all lying north of the River Mersey. It manages around 40 nature reserves and 20 Local Nature Reserves covering acres of woodland, wetland, upland and meadow. The Trust has 27,000 members, and over 1,200 volunteers.

To become a member of the Trust go to the website at www.lancswt.org.uk or call 01772 324129. For more information about Cheshire Wildlife Trust call 01948 820728 or go to cheshirewildlifetrust.org.uk.

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A Lancastrian abroad in Blighty!

Struggling with the B word This article is in recognition of 2020 being the 8th Anniversary of the Battle of Britian

In 2012 West Lancastrian Ian Hewitt set out on a journey that he would come to term as his Spitfire Odyssey.

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his journey started with the writing of a song and the publishing of a book inspired by said song The Ghost of Cameron Crowe.

Folk music is all about the telling of stories, the passing on of tales. Lancashire’s folk music is drenched in the plight of the industrial revolution, the Mills, the Mines, the sparking of clogs, of playing pitch and toss until the Bobby came and chased us away.... “So I hit him on the head with a bloody big lump of lead and the slimey little B-gg-r ran away.” (Ref: Harry Boardman: Deep Lancashire Songs and Ballads of the Industrial North West) Remember that word, the B Bomb, the word that Lancashire folks use day in day out, the word that your grandmother would use with affection or in anger or with a little bit of both. A word that does not travel well around some parts of Blighty. Hold that thought.

Back to the story, The Ghost of Cameron Crowe, Ian’s tale about a Spitfire hidden away on the plains of Lancashire’s Mawdesley Moss was intended to engage with Fathers and Grandfathers, to inspire them to take their turn in the reading of bedtime stories. To offer a gem of delight at the realisation that the dragon in question was indeed that Great British icon the Spitfire.

The finest gin and Vodka in Blighty. Proud of our Spitfire Heritage

Spitfire Heritage Gin was the requested tipple at Her Majesty The Queen’s Birthday Party at the Ambassador’s Residence in Paris.

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The Lesotho Tribute Spitfire

The book caught the eye of David Spencer Evans the then Chairman of the Spitfire Society. This would mark the beginning of a friendship, in which David would tell Ian another story, the story about Lesotho and how this small African nation had paid more money per head of population than any other nation in the Commonwealth to build Spitfires.

Brought up in Leyland amid the strikes of the 1970’s Ian was an open book. He was drawn through music and its interaction with the politics of the time to the worldly view of Rock Against Racism, of the Anti-Nazi League.

Lesotho’s contribution to the war effort is a great example of international aid not being a one-way street that deserved to be recognised. As does the role of all the Spitfire pilots from around the Commonwealth and beyond. The Spitfire fought two battles, one in the air, the other in the mind, a very real fight for the morale of the country.

So, The Spitfire Heritage Trust was formed. The Spitfire has an important role to play in the morale of our nation, our interaction, our inter-dependency, our comradeship with the nations of the Commonwealth. The Trust’s Mantra being EDUCATE >ENPOWER >ENGAGE. www.lancmag.com

As in all relationships there was to be a period of getting to know each other, of settling in. Evans, a Welch man living in Cornwall, ex RAF and MOD. Hewitt a Lancastrian, musical creative type. It was only a matter of time before Hewitt dropped the B Bomb.

“How was your weekend old chap?” Enquired Evans of Hewitt. “Nowt much, just B-gg-ring about really”. Came the reply. A silence inhabited the phone line from Cornwall.

Hewitt continued unaware. “I did book my train tickets to London, let’s hope that the Lesotho High Commission doesn’t tell us to B-gg-r off!” Finally, the silence was broken.

“Ian old chap, can I stop you there? Have you any idea what that word actually means?”

“Er well I suppose so yes…. it’s derived from AngloNorman bougre, a name given to a sect of heretics who were thought to have come from Bulgaria in the 11th century?”

“Then you’ll also know that is not a phrase to use when referring to His Excellency the High Commissioner of Lesotho, nor is it a term to be banded around in polite chit chat”.

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Well it is in Lancashire.

And it would appear that we are not on our own. The conservative Americans of the South and Mid West are great embracers of the B Bomb, as are the Australians. In New Zealand the term found notoriety in 1956 through rugby player Peter Jones, who, in a live post-match radio interview, declared himself “absolutely b-gg-red”, a turn of phrase considered shocking at the time. But not anymore, indeed the Toyota car company ran an entire Southern Hemisphere advertising campaign in which only one word was spoken.

The super polite Canadians will often drop the B bomb as do the South Africans, Indians, Pakistani, Caribbean, Malaysians and Sri Lankans.

With colloquial idiosyncrasies resolved, the Trust set to work. Happily, the Lesotho High Commissioner did not tell Hewitt and Evans to sling their hooks. And a date was set for the delivery of the Trust’s Tribute to Lesotho.

The Tribute would take the form of a full-sized Spitfire to be presented on Remembrance weekend 2016 to His Majesty King Letsie III in celebration of 50 years of the independence of Lesotho.

The Trust also committed to collect and ship out mountain bikes for Lesotho to enable young people to get to school and engage in community bike based activities.

Funding was required to complete the delivery of the Spitfire and the mountain bikes. Some out of the box thinking was required. Hewitt concluded that the Trust needed a product that the Great British public would happily buy. He was also clear that in paying tribute to the Spitfire one has a responsibility to aim high to be the best.

Whatever the product, it would have to be the best of its kind, like the Spitfire.

Hewitt concluded that Gin was it, the RAF had, after all, had a long love affair with gin. He sought out the country’s finest Artisan Single Estate Distiller John Walters and challenged him to work his alchemy to develop a gin of exceptional quality. In the spirit of the Spitfire created to be the best.

He also wanted to pay tribute to the ladies of the Air Transport Auxiliary, the ATA Girls who were known to carry gin as part of their kit. He commissioned Frenchman Romain Hugault who is something of a rock star in the world of Pin Up aviation art, to design the label and create the brand aviatrix Bunny; and just like that, SPITFIRE HERITAGE GIN and SUPERMARINE VODKA were born.

“Three months after launching we got the call from HARRODS” recalls Hewitt. “I must confess that at first I thought it was a wind-up, I almost told them to B Bomb off.

Mountain Bike to Lesotho Program

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But thankfully something told me that this was indeed for real”.

Spitfire Heritage Gin has become the preferred tipple of RAF Officers Messes and is very much a part of the UK’s thriving aviation scene. Spitfire Heritage and Supermarine were launched as national brands, distilled in Cambridgeshire and distributed from here in Lancashire with the help of fellow West Lancastrian Denise Mullen Spitfire Heritage Distillers tipples are fast becoming Blighty’s secret national brand.

From a song to a book to the building of a full-sized replica Spitfire tribute, the transporting of it and mountain bikes to the Kingdom of Lesotho to present to the King.

The launching of a Distillery, what would be the next chapter in Hewitt’s Spitfire Odyssey?

How does an expedition to Norway to locate, dig up, repatriate and renovate a rarest of breed: Photo Reconnaissance Spitfire sound? …………B-gg-r off!

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FASCINATING LIZA

Singer, actress and comedienne Liza Pulman Q&A ahead of her residency at London’s Riverside Studios in Spring 2021

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iza Pulman brings her latest show The Heart Of It to the newly opened Riverside Studios in London for a week’s residency this Spring 2021, having been rescheduled due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

The singer, actress and comedienne who is also one third of satirical comedy trio Fascinating Aida, will be joined by her six-piece band to perform a set of uplifting and heart-breaking numbers from the 1920s onwards.

Classic songs by the likes of Judy Collins, Randy Newman, Fats Waller and Irving Berlin will be rediscovered and reinvented by the talented performer, who brings her own unique interpretation to both the well-known and lesser-known numbers.

An album release will coincide with Liza’ rescheduled dates at London’s iconic Riverside Studios, running for seven nights from Monday 19 to Sunday 25 April 2021 with tickets on sale soon.

Liza has now also released an EP with 4 tracks from the forthcoming album of the same name, the EP features the tracks Unchained Melody, My Favorite Year, I’ve Got A Feeling I’m Falling and Bye Bye Blackbird. Available to listen to previews and to purchase from www.lizapulman.com/music/ .

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The Heart Of It is based on your new album.

How did that come about?

Chris Porter, the legendary producer, came to see my Streisand show at the Lyric theatre in London’s Shaftesbury Avenue, and we hatched a plan that we’d record an album together at Real World, Studios (Peter Gabriel’s studio) in Wiltshire. So, me and the band packed our bags and off we went to work on this fantastic material and make beautiful music together! It was a real leap of faith to disappear into a studio for a week, but we had the most wonderfully creative time and I am thrilled with the way the songs have come together.

My album was due to be launched in May alongside my shows at the Riverside studios, but obviously everything was cancelled earlier this year when the country closed its doors as a result of the grim pandemic, Covid-19. Having poured so much love and time into these tracks, I didn’t want them to just sit in a drawer until 2021, so we released an EP showcasing four of the tracks, as a taster, if you like, of the album to come. The response has been amazing. Bye Bye Blackbird in particular seems to have captured the emotions of our strange, locked down life.

How do you decide on the songs you want to perform?

They all start with me at my piano in Cornwall, tinkling away and trying to find a way into a song. I do a huge amount of work trying to find the right material. The thing I love to do more than anything is find songs that people don’t know, that are undiscovered, but I also love finding songs that people do know, and then rediscovering them.

I do a huge amount of research, just digging around doing all those things we’re able to do in this modern day and age (that mostly involves using the dark arts of Spotify) until I find the material that excites and moves me. When I do find it, I sit at the piano for hours on my own to try and find my way into it as a musician and as a singer.

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And then hilariously, because I’m a half-decent pianist – but only half, mind– I record something on what I call a ‘comedy voice memo’ on my iPhone, which usually involves me at the piano going ‘ This should be in a different key’, or ‘sorry about that’, or ‘it should sound a bit like this’. I then send it to my Musical Director Joseph Atkins, and we meet and take that nut of an idea and turn it into what it eventually becomes.

It’s 16 years now since you joined Fascinating Aida.

How did that happen?

A mutual friend of mine and Dillie’s (Keane) had been to see me do a little solo cabaret show at Hampstead when I was much younger. He’d gone back to Dillie and said if you need a soprano at any point, I’ve just seen this girl and I think she’d be right up your street.

Years later Fascinating Aida hit a, by now quite familiar, soprano crisis. He rang me and said how would you feel about coming to meet Dillie? I went along the next day to her flat in Chiswick and met her and Adèle (Anderson) who was sitting on the sofa, all austere and terrifying!! I sang a couple of songs for them, and Dillie asked if I read music.

I do, so we then the three of us sang around the piano together and it really was just like coming home for us all.

Why do you think you gel so well?

Musically we blend. And we’re all Geminis! I always say there’s six of us in one dressing room at any point. There’s a total harmony of music and humour. We make each other laugh a lot when we’re working on the material – I think we each make each other better, that’s probably the truth of it.

And again, a bit like my work with my Musical Director Joe, I think our reference points are wonderfully diverse. It really helps if you can connect on reference points when you’re making music or writing songs or performing.

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You originally trained as an opera singer.

Was that always your ambition?

It wasn’t at all, and I can see with the benefit of hindsight how it happened. I was born into this sort of crazily theatrical family. My Dad (screenwriter Jack Pulman) died when I was 10, leaving me, my Mum actress Barbara Young, and my sister Cory, who is six years older than me.

Cory was also an actress at that point (she now teaches and directs drama.)

Looking back, I think I was fighting for my own voice within a family of very strong women and because I could sing, I chose to go to music college rather than drama school – but I always meant to be on stage as an actor.

In fact, I didn’t even listen to opera, we never really had it in the house (apart from a recording of Carmen with Leontyne Price and a box set of Isobel Bailey that my father loved!) I actually grew up on the music of the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s, that was the music I adored. Opera was a real left-field thing for me, but when I got to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, I sort of fell in love with it and, because I was an actress and because I was funny, I discovered that there were a whole host of parts which really suited me.

You were on the Piccadilly line Tube train that was bombed in 2005. How has that informed or affected your outlook on life?

There’s absolutely no denying that it’s a huge part of my history and I was affected in lots of different ways. I certainly felt very vulnerable after it, inevitably I suppose, but the positive things that came out of it were actually remarkable.

None of us let’s hope, ever have to find ourselves in a situation where you are suddenly forced to learn something about yourself very quickly but I can tell you, there’s nothing quite like being on a train that’s been blown up for doing just that.

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I guess it takes us a long time to work out who we really are. I think up until that point I’d always thought of myself as someone who was afraid in life, that I was nervous and a bit fearful, but I realised when I was in that tunnel that I wasn’t afraid at all, and that, in fact, I was a very competent and capable person, a clear-headed person. I was totally calm and was able to look after the people around me and afterwards, rather remarkably, I recalled every detail, so much so that I was able to write a piece for The Guardian, something I remain to this day, incredibly proud of. I also took the video footage that was shown around the world of us being escorted back up the tunnel tracks to King’s Cross.

A regular Kate Adie!

So, in many ways I came out of that tunnel knowing more about myself than I had when I’d gone into it.

Returning to Liza Pulman – The Heart Of It, what can people expect from your Riverside residency?

It’s two hours of beautifully emotive music that’s designed to break your heart or make your heart sing.

It will be a much more personal show than I’ve done before because these songs mean so much to me and I think the show that I thought I was going to write pre-Covid, will not quite be the show that I write after it. We cannot help but be affected and changed by the events of 2020 and when you’re singing songs that are as exposing and as emotional as the tracks on my album, there is little place to hide. I feel like we’ve all been stripped back a bit by recent events and so there won’t be bells and whistles on stage with me, just me, the band and the music. There will, of course, be stories -there are always stories - and there will, of course, be talk, because I love to talk!

www.lizapulman.com https://www.facebook.com/lizapulmanofficial/ https://twitter.com/liza_pulman https://www.instagram.com/pulmanliza/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ7WUhmraMSQ3CdiCMHNoig

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Reba McEntire An American Queen of Country With roots in the UK

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here is little doubt that one of the greatest female singers that America has ever produced is Reba McEntire. She is known as the Queen of Country and is said to be the bestselling country artist of all time.

“But, just a minute”, you could be saying. “This is a regional magazine dealing with English matters, mainly from the North, too.” True, but if you have been with us before you will know that we do go further afield if we have something to say that will interest our readers. Today is a case in point and if you wait awhile you will see why we have extended our normal boundaries to include Reba.

If you have not seen a photograph or a video of Reba I can tell you that she is a striking redhead. I always find redheads striking but perhaps that is another story. She also has quite incredible eyes. She always seems to be looking straight at her listeners, not in an annoying manner but in a way that suggests she is watching and making sure that they are enjoying her singing.

Reb’s range of singing is incredible. I cannot put this into words but if you listen to and possibly watch videos of her singing “Somebody’s Chelsea” and “Turn on the radio” you will see what I mean.

As a matter of interest, in the first video she is showing great interest in a photograph that an elderly gentleman is to showing her. It is a photograph of his late wife. In the second one she ties a rather bemused man to a chair, turns 56

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on a bank of radios and then walks out. The only fault I have with this second one is that I have no idea what the poor soul has done wrong. And why does he quietly sit and take it? Perhaps I don’t understand this modern world or perhaps I am just being thick.

Away from her music, Reba supports or has supported at least 27 charity organisations. Many of these are unknown to us since they are across the Atlantic but we do know the Red Cross and the Salvation Army. The Muhammad Ali Parkinson Centre has a ring to it too.

Now, before I close, I will explain why Reba qualifies to enter our pages. The explanation is simple. Some of her roots go back to Cheshire; to Macclesfield. She is said to be a descendant of a George Brasfield who emigrated to America in 1698, seemingly at the age of eleven. So, Reba has English links which give her the freedom to enter our pages.

Postcript After I had written this article I felt that I really had to find out just what the idea was behind the “Turn on the radio” song.

After a little searching, I discovered what the composer said about it, namely, “The song started with just a simple idea; a strong woman who had been done wrong by her man, and now he wants to get back in touch.” And I am still no wiser what it all really means. www.lancmag.com

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Jane Horrocks A true Lancashire Lass

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orn in Rawtenstall Lancashire in 1964 Jane Horrocks has become one of the nation’s best- loved, and hardest working, actresses appearing in a huge range of plays, TV shows and films. She is instantly recognisable by her distinctive Lancashire accent and has used it to great effect in many voice overs.

Horrocks is the youngest of three children (two brothers) born to Barbra a hospital worker and her Father John a sales rep. She attended Balladeen County Primary School and then Fearns secondary school.

As a child she has said she often felt over-shadowed by her brothers and her way to get attention was by singing along to the tunes on Top of the Pops. But unlike many children her age she had wide musical tastes and also enjoyed singing along to the show tunes of Judy Garland and Marilyn Monroe. Listening to and performing music, was an early passion which would stay with Horrocks throughout her career.

Acting and performing was not in her blood but Horrocks has said that at age 15 she saw Barbra Streisand in, ‘A Star is born’ and decided she wanted to act.

By her teenage years Horrocks was mainly acting up. She was rebellious and desperate to break out of small-town Lancashire. At aged 17 she had dyed pink hair, listened to punk music and Joy Division, and shocked her parents by 58

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wearing motheaten ball gowns to parties.

Horrocks won a place at the prestigious R.A.D.A. (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art) studying alongside many actors who went on to great success including Ralph Fiennes and Imogen Stubbs. Horrocks has told how she was advised to tone down her strong, distinctive Northern accent if she wanted to find work, but she was true to her roots and refused to change it in any way.

After RADA she managed to secure work with the world famous R.S.C. (Royal Shakespeare Company) at the Hampstead Theatre.

After leaving the R.S.C. Horrocks worked hard in theatre appearing in diverse roles including ‘Ash for the Moon’ in 1986, ‘A Collier’s Friday night’ in 1987 and ‘Valued Friends’ in 1989.

But it was in 1986 when she secured a role in the Jim Cartwright play ‘Road’ which was first performed at the Royal Court Theatre, that she got her first big break. The subject material would have been familiar to Horrocks from where she was brought up. It was a gritty play about the Northern working class in times of high unemployment in Thatcher’s Britain.

To warm up for her performance Horrocks used to sing her stage tune impersonations of Judy Garland, Ethel Merman www.lancmag.com

and Shirley Bassey. Cartwright was so impressed with her singing talents that he wrote the play, ‘The rise of Little Voice’ specifically for her to star in.

The play opened in the West End in 1992 and was Horrock’s breakout role. The role of ‘L.V.’ (Little Voice) was written especially for her and involved performing songs by her favourite divas including Gracie Fields, Shirley Bassey and Judy Garland. The play was to be the start of lasting success and she was nominated for the best actress award at the Laurence Olivier awards for her role in the West End performance directed by a young Sam Mendes.

Then in 1995 Horrocks appeared as Lady Macbeth in Mark Rylance’s, ‘Macbeth’. The play was not well received and perhaps influenced her decision to stay away from Shakespeare in the future until 2016 when she appeared alongside Glenda Jackson, in ‘King Lear’. Despite her many Shakespearean roles she has not been afraid to be quite outspoken about Shakespeare saying that it is ‘inaccessible’ to people who have not studied it at school.

Her unsuccessful role as Lady Macbeth was a temporary blip. In 1998 she reprised her role as L.V. in the successful film version. Then in 2000 she realised a musical dream when she recorded the album ‘Further Adventures of Little Voice’ where she sang in the style of her favourite divas alongside stars such as Ewan McGregor, Robbie Williams, and Dean Martin.

But it wasn’t just on the stage that Horrocks was shining.

At the same time as working on ‘Little Voice’ she was busy with television roles as well including roles in ‘Ruth Rendell Mysteries’ in 1988 and in shows by Victoria Wood and Smith and Jones in 1989.

However, it is for her role as lovable air-head P.A. Bubble in the hugely popular series ‘Absolutely Fabulous’ that Horrocks is probably best known. ‘Ab Fab’ as it is affectionately known ran from 1992 – 2012 and Bubble appeared in over 30 episodes.

Bubble was vacuous and dim with a terrible fashion sense, but she was very loveable and quickly became established as a ‘sitcom dummy’ in the mould of Pike from ‘Dad’s Army’ and Trigger in ‘Only Fools and Horses.’ She also played Bubble’s equally dim cousin Katy Grin. In 2016 she reprised her role for ‘Absolutely Fabulous: The movie’.

Horrocks continued to work in T.V. and film for example appearing in ‘Red Dwarf’ in 1992. Her distinctive voice meant she was a popular choice for voice over roles including the voice of Babs in ‘Chicken Run’ (2000) Mrs Plum in ‘The Corpse Bride’ (2005) and the voice of Tubby the phone on Teletubbies from 2015.

Another of her most famous roles is perhaps a little more surprising. For over ten years Horrocks played the long- suffering daughter of Prunella Scales in a series of adverts for Supermarket chain Tesco’s. Horrocks is quite forthright and open about the financial security the Tesco’s job has brought her admitting that it allowed her to buy the Twickenham home she nicknamed ‘Tesco Towers’ where she lived with her husband Nick Vivian and two children Dylan and Molly for over twenty years. www.lancmag.com

Throughout her illustrious career Horrocks has been nominated for and received many awards. Her role as the bulimic Nicola in Mike Leigh’s 1990 comedy drama film, ‘Life is sweet’ gained her the Los Angeles Film Critics Association award for best supporting actress in 1991. She also won in the same category in 1992 at the National Society of film critics.

In 2006 she appeared on the BBC’s show, ‘Who do you think you are?’ where she focused her research on her strong women ancestors like her great Grandmother Sarah Cunliffe who, aged just 32, became head of the family after her parent’s death. She also discovered the ‘black sheep’ of the family Ernest (Sarah’s brother) who had escaped from small town Lancashire life to Australia in much the same way Horrock’s had escaped her small – town upbringing.

Horrocks continues to work tirelessly and from 2011- 2018 she appeared in the Sky 1 series ‘Trollied’. Set in a Northern town in the fictional British supermarket of ‘Valco’ she played uptight deputy interim manager Julie Cook who had worked there since leaving school. Julie always wanted to be liked but inevitably went about it in the wrong way.

She shows no signs of slowing down yet so keep your eyes, and ears, open for this distinctive Northern lass who is sure to be popping up our screens again sometime soon.

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Lauren, lockdown and living again Paralympian triathlete Lauren Steadman has some sporting advice for young people preparing to face life post-lockdown.

The JYSK mental health fitness ambassador, and winner of Celebrity SAS Who Dares Wins, says youngsters will be naturally apprehensive about returning to “normal” life.

They should face new challenges by being flexible, adaptable and accepting life will be different.

“As we slowly come out of lockdown there are bound to be new anxieties and concerns,” says Lauren. “My advice would be just accept that things aren’t going to be exactly as they were. Don’t forget what you had before, you may just have to find a different way of doing things.”

That gritty attitude was what helped Lauren survive what she describes as some of the toughest challenges of her life, in Celebrity SAS Who Dares Wins.

“It was every bit as challenging and gruelling as you saw in the programme. Even though it was edited, it was true to the experience. At times I was battling some real demons, I have never been so tired or so hungry in my life,” she said.

“The mental part was quite easy for me, as an athlete I’m used to intense training, I am determined and resilient. But one of the hardest parts was finding the pain barrier and just pushing through.”

And that’s the attitude she is encouraging young people to adopt as they face the uncertainties of going back to day-today life.

Lauren has joined forces with global Scandinavian furniture brand JYSK www.JYSK.co.uk, to become their Mental Fitness Ambassador. The company’s UK stores are 60

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Lauren, first left in Celebrity SAS Who Dares Wins ©channel 4

concentrated in the North West and it will open its 21st in Liverpool this autumn.

JYSK UK has partnered with the Zero Suicide Alliance, which aims to get young people to open up more about their feelings, and to talk and support each other.

David Ashton, UK Country Manager for JYSK, also trekked up Kilimanjaro earlier this year to raise money for CALM, the Campaign Against Living Miserably.

Lauren added: “This is a role with responsibilities that I take very seriously. I have always admired JYSK for its long-standing support for Paralympic athletes and this is a natural extension of that”.

Her plans for training for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics have obviously been put on hold, but Lauren has used the time during lockdown to focus on her physical and mental wellbeing.

“I’m fortunate that I was able to stay with my parents in the country,” she said. “I have managed to keep up with my training, with a few adaptations, less swimming and more running. But the intensity has been taken out of it. My mum and dad have been keeping me company, my mum comes on bike rides and my dad runs with me. It’s been like a family training camp!

“I have also discovered I like gardening, it helps me to relax. My mum bought 200 little topiary bushes and I helped her plant them all.”

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Lauren in her garden during lockdown

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JYSK announces 3-year sponsorship deal with celebrity sas who dares wins winner Lauren Steadman and reopens stores with customer collection service

Lauren with JYSK Country Manager David Ashton

JYSK this week re-opened stores with a bespoke-designed social distancing customer collection service.

New 3-year JYSK deal for Steadman

The new trading arrangements came as JYSK revealed another new store opening – at Liverpool’s Hunts Cross Retail Park later this year – and announced a fresh three-year contract with Paralympian champion and Celebrity SAS Who Dares Wins winner Lauren Steadman.

The global Scandinavian furniture brand also unveiled renewed support for Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity SAS Who Dares Wins winner Lauren Steadman.

JYSK Country Manager David Ashton said customers, ordering online could now collect their items at stores where they could expect fully covid-secure and compliant measures in place.

Each week saw competitors, which included reality figure Katie Price, Only Way Is Essex’s Joey Essex, presenter Anthea Turner, Strictly pro-dancer Brendan Cole and former footballer John Fashanu face extreme physical and mental challenges.

“Whilst our store teams were already working in the background to prepare stores for a successful and compliant reopening, we re-introduced our Click & Collect services and quickly hit the first 3,000 orders across the UK – with unprecedented demand. It is vital as a retailer and employer that we ensure our teams and customers feel they can trust us [JYSK] to still be able provide a great shopping experience whilst looking after their best interests, because all the signs show us that our customers are missing JYSK. “We will be opening in a phased approach because it allows for successful execution – and to put it simply, get it right for our employees and customers.

“It has been a challenging time for all retailers in the UK and across the world, so we really look forward to welcoming back regular, and new customers over the coming days, weeks and months. So I say, Welcome Back to JYSK, even if it is from a little further away than before.”

JYSK began its sponsorship of the Paralympian triathlete, who won through in TV’s toughest challenge, last year.

Lauren, who made the semi-finals of the 2019 Strictly series, had been in training for the postponed Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

David Ashton had this to say of the sponsorship: “Lauren is an inspiration; she has a great work ethic and is incredibly resilient in the face of any challenge. We’ve seen her succeed at the highest level in triathlon, dazzle on Strictly and, now, getting through ‘above and beyond’ challenges set by the SAS on our TV screens. On top of all that, she is incredibly grounded. It is a privilege to support her through the next three years of her career.”

The three-year deal with JYSK will see the company support her through her training, with Lauren, who has a degree in psychology, acting as a mental health ambassador for JYSK UK.

He added: “All stores will be safely opened for in-store customers by mid-next week.

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LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 63

BOOKS Our roundup of this months literary delights

‘THE VULTURE KING’ Author: Nikki Turner A fantasy novel gives voice to physically challenged children whose animal familiars help them to survive in a dangerous world.

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irst time author Nikki Turner says: My reasons for writing the book were extremely personal. “My eldest daughter has ADHD and my youngest is hearing impaired. I want my girls to read books in which differently-abled characters deal with and overcome the same challenges they face daily.

I believe we sorely need more diversity in fantasy.”

This stunning new fantasy novel was written in the ‘old world’ but has emerged into the horror of our new world beset by Coronavirus, a carrionland of our own. As such, it bears a potent message for our time and the future. Man, disabled by his own greed and blindness, needs to partner once more with nature and wild animals to find salvation.

It is already winning five star literary reviews from respected writers and playwrights, Dawn Hosmer, American Author of Bits & Pieces, The End Of Echoes, Something In Between and Mosaic - psychological thrillers and a book of short stories; and from Karen Jeynes, head writer for Both Worlds Productions, overseeing ZANews: Puppet Nation (winner of 22 SAFTAs, two WGSA awards for Best TV Comedy, and two time International Emmy Nominee for Best TV Comedy).

Author Nikki Turner adds: “I think in our world of climate change denialism and frightening politics, it is easy for children to believe that they can’t make a difference. Children like Greta Thunberg are changing this thinking. The characters in my books, with the physical challenges they face, are unlikely heroes but they don’t let fear hold them back. By standing up, the smallest of us can make all the difference in the world.”

The young adult novel ‘The Vulture King’ takes readers into a terrifying world, the Carrionlands, where magic users are born blind or deaf and bond with bird familiars to provide sight and hearing. Orphan Aram has survived alone for five years; his only friend, the thieving magpie Ryu, acts as his eyes.

When he rescues a voiceless girl, Bina, from being sacrificed to the Vulture King, he is taken in by an underground resistance group. They reveal that Aram’s mother is alive, but the King is using her and other slave magicians to fuel his unnaturally long life.

Blindsided by hope, Aram promises to do anything to save her. The Vulture King rules a world where magic disables then kills its users. But the children overcome and succeed thanks to their partnership with animals from the natural world.

The child characters are courageous and resourceful in a terrifying world that is beautifully realised by this writer from South Africa. Turner has created an absorbing magical universe that is utterly compelling. Early readers say that the book is unputdownable.

About the author Nikki graduated from the University of Stellenbosch with an Honours Degree in Drama and English. She later received a distinction in the Community Journalism course she studied through Unisa.

Her career as a professional actress began with two cabarets which she wrote and performed. Her first show 3D on Broadway went on to feature on MNet’s TV series, It’s a Funny Country! Her second show, It’s a Koch Up!, was featured on Nataniel’s talk show on Kyknet.

Nikki worked for twelve years with children’s theatre company, The Lilliput Players, as an actress, singer and choreographer. She had a two year stint as a script editor and presenter trainer on the eTV children’s show Craz-e. She currently runs CCH Productions, which tours musical theatre shows around the country. Here she wears the cap of director, writer, stylist, producer and choreographer.

She currently lives in Cape Town with her husband Jon, under the benevolent dictatorship of their daughters Sophia and Abigail. She spends what little free time she has writing books filled with magic and adventure. Her hobbies are reading, dancing and adopting as many dogs as she can sneak into the house. She also shoots TV commercials in which she is often cast as an American, despite, she says, being terribly bad at an American accent.

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In April HAPPA (Horses and Ponies Protection Association) rescued three equines following an investigation by a HAPPA Equine Inspector.

HAPPA were alerted to the plight of three horses, whose welfare was severely compromised. On arrival at the scene it was evident that the horses were suffering and had lost a considerable amount of weight. All had evidence of rain scald and sores covering their bodies. An initial veterinary assessment gave two of the horses a body condition score of just 1 and 1.5 and the third equine scored a 2.

Named HAPPA Rainbow, a 17 year old grey gelding, HAPPA Violet, a Palomino 12 year old mare and HAPPA Indigo, a Bay Andalusian gelding, all three are now enjoying bespoke Rehabilitation Programmes in order to begin to gain weight, receive veterinary treatment, and head on the long road to recovery.

Weekly updates on the three appear on HAPPA’s social media every week, and the public can tune in and watch their progress. There is also the opportunity to support their care by Sponsoring HAPPA Rainbow for just £48.00 a year.

Every Sponsorship will ensure a bright future for HAPPA Rainbow and his friends! www.lancmag.com

Give a Second Chance to the vulnerable, neglected and unwanted.

Help a HAPPA horse or pony on their Rehabilitation Journey.

Sponsor TODAY for as little as £1 per week.

01282 455992 WWW.HAPPA.ORG.UK/SPONSOR

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 65

The promenade at Hollingworth Lake (author – John Darch / Promenade

by Hollingworth Lake / CC BY-SA 2.0, source – www.geograph.org.uk).

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Right: View towards Littleborough from the Aiggin Stone and Cairn on Blackstone Edge Moor with Hollingworth Lake and Country Park visible south of Littleborough (author – Steve Partridge, source – www.geograph.org.uk).

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Littleborough A town or village Words: Stephen Roberts

A

small town up in the north-east corner of Greater Manchester, Littleborough has a population of just 7,500 souls. That headcount almost doubles to 14,000 if you include Littleborough’s suburbs, namely Smithy Bridge, Calderbrook and Shore.

It’s situated in the upper Roch Valley by the foothills of the South Pennines, so there’s a nice juxtaposition here of town and country, with Blackstone Edge just to the east. It’s around 12½ miles north-east of Manchester city centre and is closer to Rochdale, just three miles distant, which it’s been a part of since 1974, being within the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale as well as the Rochdale parliamentary constituency.

There’s certainly evidence of human habitation going way back, with Neolithic (New Stone Age) and Celtic

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(pre-Roman) finds. A late-Celtic metal ‘torc’ (necklet) was found in 1832, the year of the Great Reform Act, whilst an Iron Age bracelet was found east of Blackstone Edge, nearly a century later, in 1929. There’s then evidence of Roman and Anglo-Saxon activity within Littleborough and its surroundings.

The name ‘Littleborough’ is probably derived from Old English words meaning either ‘small fortified place’ or ‘small watercourse’. You decide. During the Middle Ages, Littleborough was no more than a hamlet that had emerged where two ancient cross-Pennine tracks met at a crossing of the Roch.

Today, Littleborough retains its ease of communication as it’s on the A58 (Rochdale-Halifax) as well as being the start-point for the A6033 (Todmorden).

Come 1472, during the Wars of the Roses and reign of the Yorkist king, Edward IV, Littleborough had grown to boast a chapel, collection of cottages

and an inn, all supporting a local community that was mostly engaged in farming. There was also some wool weaving going on for the benefit of merchants who were active at markets such as Halifax and Rochdale. With the later introduction of cotton for making textiles, Littleborough grew in size, accommodating incoming families mostly from Yorkshire’s West Riding.

The late-18th to mid-19th centuries would see further developments as firstly canals, and then railways, were in vogue. The Rochdale Canal (completed 1804) used the Summit Gap betwixt Littleborough and Walsden as its route through the Pennines and it was at this time that Hollingworth Lake at Littleborough’s south end (finished 1800, four years before the canal) was constructed as a feeder reservoir for regulating the water level on the canal.

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The 130-acre reservoir is still a feature today with its promenade and boatyard, having first become a tourist resort from the 1860s, and today offering the likes of rowing, sailing and windsurfing.

The Summit Tunnel was excavated alongside the canal tunnel between 1838-41 by the Manchester and Leeds Railway, which was constructing a direct line between London and Manchester.

One of the world’s oldest rail tunnels, Summit Tunnel was also the world’s longest rail tunnel at the time of its building at just over 1.6 miles in length.

Littleborough railway station, which is positioned at one end of the tunnel, the southern end, opened in 1839, so was a terminus until the tunnel’s completion in 1841. The two-platform station remains operational on the Caldervale Line nearly 180 years after its opening, although it was closed for eight months between December 1984 and August 1985 following a derailment and fire that occurred in the tunnel.

These infrastructure improvements (canal and rail) prompted further growth in Littleborough with increasing mechanisation amid the emergence of both coal mines and textile mills as mill town status was achieved (if ‘achieved’ is the right word). By 1848, a year when revolutions were sweeping through much of Europe, Littleborough continued on undisturbed. There were by that time no fewer than three flannelmills, half-a-dozen coal mines, four cotton factories, bleachworks, a stone quarry, and brick makers.

Increased foreign competition would see a reverse deindustrialisation of Littleborough from the mid-20th century. A lot of that industry may have gone, but Littleborough has found a new persona for itself. It retains a commercial diversity which has enabled it to prosper better than many similarlysized places and it is also a commuter town. The town also takes pride in itself.

Its characterful stone-built centre has been designated a Conservation Area because of its historic architectural gems, whilst Hollingworth Lake and the surrounding countryside offers much for those looking for recreation, including horse riding and water skiing.

Above: The Summit Tunnel, which opened in 1841, and at around 1.6 miles in length, was the longest rail tunnel in the world at the time. The train, heading for Manchester Victoria in April 2008, is emerging at the Littleborough southern end of the tunnel and will shortly arrive at Littleborough station. The southern portal is Grade II Listed (author – ‘Ingy the Wingy’, source – www.flickr.com).

Right: Northern Rail service at Littleborough station, 20th March 2009 (author – Ian Roberts, source – Northern Rail 144007 at Littleborough).

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Above: Shore Hall, a Grade II* Listed yeoman’s house of 1605 (author – Bill Boaden / Shore Hall / CC BY-SA 2.0, source – www.geograph.org.uk).

Mention of ‘conservation area’ reminds me of my love of listed buildings and Littleborough is blessed with close on 80 of these. See what I mean about architectural heritage? Although Littleborough has had an industrial past, it sits in a rural area, so many of the listed buildings are related to farms. There are five Grade II* listed buildings, including Shore Hall of 1605, a yeoman’s house, of T-shaped design, with all the remainder being Grade II listed. These include some old mill buildings, such as late-18th century Booth Hollings Mill, a textile mill of the late-18th century, plus locks and bridges because of the canal, pubs and inns, and a couple of spired churches, Holy Trinity (1818-20) and St James (1860-64).

Given the relatively small size of the Littleborough township, it surprises me not a jot that occasionally you see it referred to as a ‘village’. Well, I think it’s a town folks, and a town that has a cricket club dating back to 1839, by which time Queen Victoria had been reigning over us for a couple of years. If you like spectating, there’s a rather nice Pennine backdrop you can take in. Littleborough Sports Centre meanwhile has an indoor climbing wall, plus state of the art fitness suite, three-court sports hall, multi-use www.lancmag.com

Above: The drinking fountain in Hare Hill Park, Littleborough (author – Philip Platt / Hare Hill Park, Littleborough / CC BY-SA 2.0, source – www.geograph.org.uk).

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View over Littleborough, 2008 (author – Mark Henderson / ‘Kram4’, source – Own work).

games area (or MUGA), activity gym and grass pitches. The Hollingworth Lake Activity Centre dates back to 1989 and in addition to what’s already been mentioned offers: kayaking & canoeing; powerboating; more rock climbing (inside & outside); mountain biking; and archery. For a place of its size Littleborough certainly punches above its weight in terms of recreation. I’m sure the long-departed monarch would have been amused by all this.

My good lady and better half, ‘Mrs Steve’, a diminutive lady of five foot, oft says that the best things come in small packages. I’ve never seen any reason to disagree with her. She could well have been speaking about Littleborough though, a small ish place, but whether you consider it a town (as I do) or a village (as some do), it certainly has plenty to commend it, including nearly 80 listed buildings, an expanse of water, Hare Hill Park, which comes replete with octagonal bandstand and old drinking fountain (both of 1902 vintage), and a general bit of history for the likes of me.

Above left: Sign for Littleborough railway station (author – Darren Meacher, source – Own work).

Left: Littleborough station approach (author – P. Hogg at English Wikipedia, source – transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons by ‘Jhamez84’).

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Above: The stone and slate Booth Hollings Mill, a former textile mill of the late-18th century, which had a rear wing added in the 19th century to give it an L-shaped plan (author – Peter McDermott / Booth Hollings Mill / CC BY-SA 2.0, source – www.geograph.org.uk).

Right: Church Street, Littleborough. The church in the background is Grade II Listed Holy Trinity, of 1818-20 with later additions (author – Stanley Walker / Littleborough / CC BY-SA 2.0, source – www.geograph.org.uk).

References Manchester Evening News (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk) Littleborough Cricket Club (www.littleboroughcc.co.uk) Link 4 Life (www.link4life.org) – for Littleborough Sports Centre & Hollingworth Lake Water Activity Centre. www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 71

Jonas Flint smiled happily as he assessed his latest victim across her coffee table. ‘What a beautiful home you have Mrs Triton and in such a stunning location, too.’

Rubie Triton glowed, ‘why, thank you, Mr Flint, my late husband and I bought it in 1965. It’s handy for church and we love the view of the windmill and the old lifeboat station.

‘Please, would you call me Jonas, and may I call you Rubie? So much friendlier, don’t you think?’

‘Oh, yes, Jonas, quite.’

Rubie was dressed in a frumpy twin set, her blue-rinsed silver hair perched above her unworldly face; her watery blue eyes peered out at the world over wire-framed spectacles. Beside her, a cat curled on a book of crossword puzzles.

Flint opened his laptop then produced a glossy brochure. ‘Learning about Lytham-St-Anne’s is fascinating, Rubie, but I suppose we’d better press on.’

Rubie clasped her hands before her and leaned forward eagerly. ‘Oh, yes, please do Jonas, this is so exciting.’

‘The Brazilian project I outlined on the phone, Rubie, is a new but simple concept. The population of Brazil is growing exponentially and their government is hard-pressed to house them, so they are seeking outside investors.’

‘I see, and that’s where your company 72

comes in.’

‘Yes, we’ve bought a large tract of land to the east of the town of Santos where we intend to build investment properties.’ He opened the brochure with a flourish and showed her the neat properties. He omitted to tell her the land was useless swamp and the small print said she was buying land only.

‘The properties will be rented to provide funds to pay you a monthly income.’

‘Oh, that’s good, Jonas, my husband’s final years in the care home took almost all our savings.’

‘That’s why I proposed this scheme, Rubie. Our investors provide the capital to build and the Brazilian Government guarantee the rents, we can pay one per cent per month on your investment.

In your case, three hundred thousand will pay you three thousand pounds per month after the first year, of course.’

A hesitant smile flickered across her face ‘but can I withdraw part of my money in the future, Jonas? I have twin grandsons, orphans now since my poor son died. I want to put them through university, you see. I’ll need about sixty thousand pounds in three years time.’

Flint oozed reassurance ‘of course, Rubie, you may sell all or part of your investment either privately or to us.

We guarantee to repurchase at the market price.’

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‘Oh, that’s marvellous, Jonas.’ A tear formed in the corner of her eye ‘I may appear a prosperous widow, but this money is the very last of my savings.’

Flint made a sympathetic moué, ‘then it’s lucky you found us, Rubie, this is the last sub-tract to be sold. You’re only just in time.’

‘Oh, do I have to make my mind up right away, Jonas?’

‘Gracious me, no, Rubie. Please take all the time you require. However, I do have other appointments today and once this opportunity is gone it’s gone forever, I’m afraid.’

Rubie paused, ‘you know, Jonas, my husband used to say always do business in a business-like manner.’

‘Sound advice, Rubie.’

‘Do you have a copy of your company’s accounts I could see, Jonas?’

‘I’m afraid the company accounts are held in Brazil, Rubie, and written in Portuguese.’

‘Surely you have a bank account in this country Jonas? Perhaps you could show me the balance? One hears so many dreadful tales these days and this investment is crucial for the future of my dear grandsons and me.’

Flint smiled obsequiously, ‘of course, Rubie.’ His fingers rattled the computer keys then he turned the screen to face her. There you are, but it’s only the local operating funds I’m afraid.’ www.lancmag.com

The Con Artist The theme for our last short story is ‘greed’.

Tony Milligan is this months short story winner

Rubie peered over her rims ‘one million seven hundred and… oh, I’m so sorry I doubted you, Jonas, but it is so vital to me.’

She stood up suddenly ‘Come along, Jonas, I always walk before making important decisions.’

They strolled across The Green to the windmill. ‘Such a beautiful old mill, Jonas. It’s had quite a chequered history since it was built around 1805. It burnt out in 1919 then the owner, Squire, John Clifton of Lytham Hall, gave it to the town. Since then it’s been a café, a storeroom and even an electricity sub-station. It was an eyesore before the council rescued it. Now we have a lovely museum along with the old lifeboat station there. Quite the tourist attractions these days.’

Flint forced a smile; he was impatient to conclude his nefarious business and be gone. ‘So interesting to learn the history of the place, Rubie’ he simpered ‘no wonder you love living here, but about the investment...’

‘Oh, my apologies, Jonas, I do prattle on, let’s go back at once and do the paperwork. My mind is quite made up.’

Papers signed, Flint required

payment. ‘I’ll give you our bank details Rubie so that you can transfer the funds now.’ He spun the laptop towards her.

Rubie recoiled, horrified ‘goodness me, Jonas, I don’t use those infernal computer things. I’ll write you a cheque, my dear.’ She dived into her handbag.

Flint felt alarmed until he saw her cheque book. ‘Ah, you bank with Coutts, the Queen’s bankers.’ He knew it took a cool half a million to open an account with Coutts. He still had time to make the bank and special-clear the cheque. The cash would be his by tomorrow. Flint quickly concluded his sting and departed hence, his greedy heart rejoicing. * Fifty-five-year-old Elsa Tweedy sat in the conservatory of the Lakeside Hotel overlooking Lake Windemere. Gone the wig, the wire spectacles, the blue contact lenses and the twin set. Now, she was a smartly dressed, brown-eyed businesswoman.

‘Ah, there you are aunt Elsa, that was so exciting and we got all my mother’s money back plus a nice nest egg for you.’

‘For us, Janice, dearest. It was due in

no small measure to you.’

‘Oh, but my bit was easy aunt.

When you left, I came downstairs, retrieved the hidden camera and got his bank details and password. I simply transferred all his ill-gotten funds into your Swiss account.’

They laughed, then Janice became serious ‘How did you acquire access to that beautiful house and a Coutts chequebook, Elsa?’

‘I answered an advertisement for a house sitter, my dear. As for the cheque book?’ she blushed ‘a forgery, I’m afraid. I have friends in low places. By the way, did you like the name I chose?’

‘Rubie Triton? Yes, an anagram of retribution, you and your puzzles.’ She laughed ‘I wonder if Flint will work it out?’

‘I do hope so.’

‘But your Swiss numbered account, aunt Elsa, that’s real and no one in the family even knew you had it.’

Elsa smiled sweetly, winked and tapped her nose ‘some things are best left secret, my dear.

Now, shall we order lunch?’

The theme for our next short story is ‘Obsession’. send your entries into - info@lancashiremagazine.co.uk by the 20th July. www.lancmag.com

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Lakeland Book of the Year 2020 Due to be held virtually for the first time in its 36 year history, this year’s Lakeland Book of the Year Awards may look different but what hasn’t changed is the staggering breadth and depth of literature inspired by the scenery, history and people of Cumbria and the Lake District.

From fascinating and meticulously researched histories of the area, amazing stories of Lake District characters and top-quality fiction, the Lake District has inspired generations of writers since the time of Wordsworth. 200 years after the birth of this Lakeland icon, the competition recognises the effort of these authors each year, celebrating and highlighting their output over the previous 12 months.

The 60 entries, all published in 2019, have now been whittled down to a shortlist of just 18. Now all that remains is the unveiling of the six category winners, with one then being crowned the overall book of the year 2020.

Due to Coronavirus restrictions the 2020 winners will be announced virtually, with judges Hunter Davies OBE, Cumbria Tourism President Eric Robson and broadcaster Fiona Armstrong coming together through the power of the 74

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The Show Goes On! Recognising Literary Talent in Spite of Coronavirus internet to discuss this year’s entries before crowning one book with the overall title of Book of the Year 2020.

Hunter Davies, awards founder and judge says “Lockdown with Lakeland Books, this is your big chance, hurry hurry.

Find out which books are on the short lists and which are the winners of the 2020 Lakeland Book of the Year Awards.”

Cumbria Tourism MD Gill Haigh added “Whilst the Coronavirus pandemic has affected every aspect of society it’s fantastic to see such the Cumbrian institution that is the Lakeland Book of the Year adapting to these difficult times, and I’d like to warmly thank all the sponsors who continue to make it possible through these difficult times. The annual ceremony is a highlight of the county’s calendar and whilst it is of course a shame not to celebrate the authors in person, moving the ceremony online means that we can bring together Lake District and literature lovers from across the globe later this month.

“I’m glad I don’t have the difficult task of choosing this year’s winner, every book on this year’s shortlist explores a different part of Cumbria. Anyone who reads one of these finalists will be inspired to visit our county for themselves once it is safe to do so.” www.lancmag.com

The 2020 shortlist is: The Striding Edge Prize for Guides and Places • Bob’s Jottings by Bob Jopling • Grasmere: A History in 55 ½ Buildings by Grasmere History Society • Knockupworth – The Story of a Family by John Bainbridge The Bill Rollinson Prize for Landscape and Tradition • Hows and Knotts: A Guide to Lakeland Views by Guy Richardson • I Hate the Lake District by Charlie Gere • Lake District Bouldering by Greg Chapman The Latitude Press Prize for Illustration and Presentation • Cumbria at War by Ruth Mansergh • Embellish with Relish by Maria Whitehead • The Lake District in 101 Maps & Infographics by David Felton The Bookends Prize for Literature and Poetry • A Peopled Landscape by Stephen Matthews • The Cumberland Bard: Robert Anderson by Sue Allan • The Magpie’s Nest by Taffy Thomas People & Business

The awards, one of the most prestigious of their kind outside London, are kindly supported by the Cumbria Community Foundation Hunter Davies Fund, Striding Edge, Bookends, the Bill Rollinson Award Association and Latitude Press Ltd.

• Slightly Perfect by John Cunliffe • A Pennington Pepys (Extracts from The Commonplace & Diaries of William Fleming) by John Graeme Livingstone • My Dad’s Army: The White Gurkhas by Ian Wilson

Literature lovers will be able to tune into watch the announcement on the 30th June at 2pm by visiting www.lakelandbookoftheyear.co.uk, with the news shared by @lakesbookawards on Twitter and Cumbria Tourism’s Facebook page.

Fiction

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• Out of the Deep by Ruth Sutton • Secrets of the Flock by J.B. Browne • Two Days in May by David Clemson LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 75

MORE Great Outdoors Revealed At the end of the article ‘Our Great Outdoors Revealed’ in our July edition readers were invited to nominate other ‘Great Outdoor’ attractions for a later article. Many did and this is it.

By Andrew Harris

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A

s before we were looking for a combination of grandeur – splendour and impressiveness – with accessibility. Interestingly, more of one usually results in less of the other.

The process has become much more democratic so here are the top ten new locations culminating in our winner.

In 10th place is Brockholes Nature Reserve which is owned by the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire and is next to Junction 31 of the M6 at Preston. The Reserve combines many attractions in its huge and accessible site. The most visible is the award-winning Brockholes Visitor Centre which floats and features

shops, an exhibition area, an activity room for schools and community groups, a conference centre and restaurant. The site is a former quarry which has become part of the great outdoors as it has been regenerated as a mosaic of key habitats such as pools, reedbeds and woodland. It attracts huge numbers of people from the urban areas of the north west rather than just dedicated bird-watchers and nature lovers. Brockholes has more than 250 acres of trails and hides and record numbers of breeding wading birds plus visitors such as osprey, otter and bittren. With many and varied

events throughout the year and an outdoor children’s playground it is a big hit with families. Car parking is easy but remember to pay before you leave as there is number-plate recognition system in operation.

For more information visit www.brockholes.org

Brockholes Nature Reserve near Preston www.lancmag.com

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9 Leighton Moss RSPB Nature Reserve near Carnforth The Leighton Moss RSPB Nature Reserve is in 9th place.

It is near Carnforth and in the Arnside and Silverdale AONB Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Leighton Moss contains the largest area of reedbeds in the north west and is home to a wide range of spectacular wildlife including otters, bearded tits, marsh harriers, egrets and red deer. Habitats for many species of wildlife are better established than Brockholes as it has been in the care of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds for more than half a century. There are nature trails and seven observation hides – one of them named after Eric Morecambe. Entry is via a Visitor Centre with a tea room, education centre and shop. The reserve is open daily except Christmas Day and is free for RSPB members and half-price for visitors arriving by public transport, bicycle or on foot from the nearby Silverdale railway station. Entry to the café and Visitor Centre is free for everybody. Leighton Moss is less easily accessed than Brockholes but with greater appeal for dedicated bird watchers and nature lovers.

Below: Red Deer at Tatton Park

8

For more information visit www.leightonmoss.org.uk

Tatton Park near Knutsford in Cheshire is 8th in our top ten. It combines Tatton Hall (a Mansion), Tatton Old Hall (a medieval Manor House ), ornate gardens, a farm and a deer park of 2,000 acres. It is owned by the National Trust and operated jointly with Cheshire East Council. It is a popular visitor attraction and has hosted the Royal Horticultural Society’s annual north west Flower Show for the last 20 years.

The historic building and gardens are major attractions but it is the 2,000 acres of parkland – of which about 1,000 acres are open to the public – which take Tatton Park into our top ten.

The deer park was created by royal charter in 1290 and deer have been present since then. The two species are red deer and fallow deer of which about 400 are for breeding. There 78

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are also two rare species of sheep in the park – Hebridean and Soay sheep. Visitors to the park are able to walk, ride horses, sail, fish and ride cycles which are available to hire.

There is also a children’s adventure playground near the main car park. The long history of Tatton Park includes it being the British parachute training centre in the second world war. About 60,000 allied parachutists were trained in Tatton Park including special agents who were dropped into enemy occupied Europe. Visits today are less challenging and more enjoyable. It is an easily accessed part of the great outdoors.

For more information visit www.tattonpark.org.uk www.lancmag.com

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Stephen Park

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Name of this location: Gisburn Forest Hub, Stephen Park, Gisburn Forest, Slaidburn.

Lancashire BB7 4TS T: 01200 446387.

Yo u a r e h er e

OS Grid ref. SD 745560

Gisburn Forest is an amazing place to discover wildlife, amazing views over the Bowland Fells and Stocks Reservoir, and find peace and tranquility amongst the woodland glades.

Nearest A&E hospital facilities: Royal Blackburn Hospital.

T: 01254 745550.

Nearest phone: Forest Den Cafe.

The walking trails will take you into the heart of the forest, along historic trackways, former railway lines. You’ll maybe see some of the forest’s extensive wildlife from the wildlife hides on the Birch Hills Walk.

Dalehead church and heritage centre

Fishing Lodge

If rescue required call 999.

Rushton Hill

Key to map Board House

Waymarkers

Black House

Car park

Permissive footpath

Toilets Ten Acre Hill

am enth To B

Most of our walking trails start from the Stocks reservoir car park; you can reach them on foot by following the Gisburn Forest Hub Link Trail. Our car parking tickets are valid at both sites on the day of purchase.

Mobile phone: Network coverage in the forest is poor. The EE / Orange network is available outside the cafe building and Cocklet Hill should pick up 999 calls made from other network phones. See map for areas of best reception.

Hollins House

No public ess veh icle acc

Treatment Works a To Sl idbu rn

Caring for Gisburn Forest The Forestry Commission care for Gisburn Forest. We look after forests and woods across England for People, wildlife and timber.

MAP Sca le 0 0

0.5km 0.25 miles

Public footpath

Cafe

di s c o v erl b ea u t i f ued v b r oa d l eaa n d w o o d s ews vi a m az i n g

Cycle trail Walks

Walking Trails

Picnic area Bird hides

Viewpoint Gravel road Forest rides

Biking trail

Wa lki n g t rai ls

Forestry Commission England is recognised and respected as an international leader in sustainable forestry.

stocks circular path Grade: Moderate Length: 13km/8miles.

We are proud to be working together with United Utilities to look after this special place.

Enjoy yourtime in Gisburn Forest & Stocks.

A grand tour, all the way round Stocks reservoir. Great views of the forest, reservoir and the wild Forest of Bowland landscape. For your own safety and to protect sensitive wildlife, please stay on the waymarked route.

For more information go to forestry.gov.uk/england Gisburn Forest & Stocks is cared for by;

GIsburn Forest hub Link trail Grade: Easy Length: 3km/2miles one way A linear trail to Stocks Resevoir car park; with view point, café and toilets. Look in at Dalehead Chapel for local interpretation on your way.

Bi rc h Hi lls wa lk & t ra m per t rai l Grade: easy Length: 2.1km (1.3miles) An easy path through mixed woodland, with views over Stocks reservoir. The old vicarage garden picnic area and two wildlife hides are passed on the way. This trail has been adapted to be tramper friendly.

Dale Head Ramble Grade: Strenuous Length: 5.3km/3.2miles A steady climb through Birch Hills is followed by a descent to Bottoms Beck, with great views over the forest and Hesbert Hall farm. The trail follows the course of an old railway alongside the beck to join with Egg Berry Road, with fine views of Park Wood and Stocks reservoir.

EggBerry trail Grade: moderate Length: 3.5km (2.2miles) Passing through mixed woodland this route follows, in part, an old farmstead track known as Eggberry Road. There are views over Bottoms Beck to the ancient broadleaved woodland of Park Wood.

forestry.gov.uk/gisburn

In 7th place is Gisburn Forest which is a confusing location.

It used to be in Yorkshire -and some people think it still is – but has been part of Lancashire since 1974. It is north east of Slaidburn but nowhere near the village of Gisburn. It is the largest forest in Lancashire and offers different experiences for different people. You can explore on foot, horseback or bikes which can be hired. Gisburn Forest has a network of waymarked forest walks and cycle trails. These are based on existing forest roads and offer a variety of routes – with an amazing total length of 16 kilometres. It is within the Forest of Bowland AONB and is a working and dynamic forest created and managed by the Forestry Commission – and a wonderful place to visit. Apart from current issues with Covid 19 the forest and recreational facilities change from time to time.

For more information first visit www.forestry.gov.uk/northwestengland In our previous article Lake Windermere – the largest and busiest of the lakes in Cumbria – was our runner-up in 2nd place. Many people prefer a more tranquil alternative and voted Coniston Water into 6th place this time. It is 5½ miles long, up to ½ mile wide and goes down to 184 feet deep. With many jetties and places to berth is accessible for sailing and has a 10 miles an hour speed limit converted to knots by all sailors. The setting of Coniston Water is spectacular with the Old Man of Coniston mountain as a backdrop – the highest www.lancmag.com

6 Coniston Water and its mountainous backdrop peak in Lancashire before the area became part of the new

county of Cumbria 46 years ago. The lake is best known for many attempts to break the world water speed record in the 20th Century. These culminated in Donald Campbell’s 1960 attempt to exceed 300 miles per hour. He achieved a speed of 320 mph on his first run but lost control and died on the return leg. Coniston Water is now ideal for kayaking and canoeing at more leisurely speeds.

To know more visit www.lakedistrict.gov.uk

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Number 5 in our top ten is the easiest way to visit and view the best of the great outdoors. It is the Settle to Carlisle railway which can trace its origin to the 1870s. It is the 72mile link between Leeds and Carlisle but the Settle to Carlisle section takes all the prizes for spectacular scenery. It is also considered to be a masterpiece of Victorian engineering achieved through a turbulent process. It is famous for its stunning route that cuts through the beautiful scenery of the Yorkshire Dales, over the 24 arches of the breathtaking

Ribblehead Viaduct, through the Blea Moor Tunnel, before scaling the heights of the Ais Gill in the Mallerstang Valley.

Notices to close the line were issued in 1984 but a campaign to save the route won the day. Today the Settle to Carlisle railway is thriving and carries a combination of passenger and freight trains. Special package trips are available and attract tourists and railway enthusiasts from around the world.

If this appeals to you visit www.settle-carlisle.co.uk

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The Settle to Carlisle Railway crossing the Ribblehead Viaduct

The Lancaster Canal which links Preston to Tewitfield near Carnforth is in 4th place. Apart from the spur to Glasson Dock – with 6 locks - it is without locks and completely level for the 42-mile route. Originally planned to run from Westhougton in the south to Kendal in the north money ran out to achieve a bridge over the Ribble and the M6 motorway cut the canal in the north. There is a campaign to extend the canal beyond Tewitfield but the physical and financial obstacles are huge. The surviving Lancaster Canal offers much with breathtaking scenery and berthing places near many wonderful pubs. For serious canal boaters there is the Ribble Link to the River Ribble and beyond. For more information visit www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/lancastercanal.

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Our June 2016 article ‘The Lancaster Canal – a hidden gem’ can be found under Maritime Topics at www.andreweharris.co.uk.

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The winning location in our previous article was Helvellyn mountain in Cumbria but this is upstaged by Scafell Pike which at 3,209 ft above sea level is the highest mountain in England. There are practical ways to climb Helvellyn but Scarfell Pike is a bigger challenge. For those who are up for it Scafell Pike has many walking and rock climbing routes to the summit. The best routes are from Seathwaite in the north, Langdale in the east, Mickledore or Eskdale in the south west, Wasdale in the west and Lingmell Col in the northwest.

The shortest route is from the Wasdale Head Inn where more than 100,000 people a year have climbed Scafell Pike in recent times. In 1826 Scafell Pike was used by the Ordnance Survey to fix the relative positions of Britain and Ireland. In 1919 it was donated to the National Trust by Lord Leconfield in memory of the men of the Lake District who had lost their lives in the First World War - then known as the Great War. Nowadays it has a majestic presence and there is a general wish to recognise this by making it the 3rd best of our outdoor locations.

To learn more visit www.scafellpike.org.uk

In 2nd place is the Pennine Way which runs for 268 miles and is sometimes known as the backbone of England. For much of its length it could well be an alternative boundary between the counties of the north west and Yorkshire and County Durham to the East. The Pennine Way is popular with walkers and the Countryside Commission reckon that no fewer than 12,000 long-distance walkers and 250,000 day walkers use at least part of the trail each year. This is welcome but creates problems as part of the Pennine Way has been eroded. The response has been to divert sections of the path onto firmer ground. The Pennine Way links with many Youth Hostels, camp sites, bed and breakfast establishments and pubs but upland sections are unaffected. 535 other rights of way connect with the Pennine Way which is a public footpath not suited to horse riders, motor bikes or bicycles. It is now 55 years old and probably the ultimate way of visiting our great outdoors. It defines our region.

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The rocks of Wastwater looking towards Scafell Pike and Great Gable

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For more information visit www.nationaltrail.co.uk and click on Pennine Way. The Pennine Way as it crosses Saddleworth Moor www.lancmag.com

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Hadrian’s Wall east of Carlisle in Cumbria

The winner - by a big margin – in our top ten locations is Hadrian’s Wall. It has history, splendour and is accessible for everybody with splendid new facilities east of Carlisle.

Running for 73 miles from the River Tyne in the north east to the Solway Firth and the Irish Sea it marked the northern extremity of the Roman Empire. It was begun in AD 122 and largely completed 6 years later. There was a fort about every five miles and the structure consisted of the wall and ditches with gates thought to be customs posts. In 1987 UNESCO designated Hadrian’s Wall a World Heritage Site. A significant portion of the wall still stands and can be followed on foot along the adjoining Hadrian’s Wall Path. With echoes of present-day Europe, the main purposes of Hadrian’s Wall are thought to have involved immigration, smuggling – not respecting their single market - and customs.

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All these locations are worth visiting depending upon your interests and mobility.

Many arrangements for visits are affected by Covid 19 but most of their websites give advice about these changes.

Sooner or later we can all make the most of our great outdoors. Meanwhile let our pictures and descriptions do your walking. www.lancmag.com

Andrew E. Harris gratefully acknowledges the help of readers who responded to his invitation. The images are procured from Shutterstock. The previous article ‘Our Great Outdoors Revealed’ can be viewed at www.andreweharris.co.uk under Environmental Topics.

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Office Hours Tales about people often have the rider: The names have been changed to protect the innocent. In this case, some of the names have been changed to keep me out of court.

Offices are thought to be quiet places but there is often more happening just below the surface than you might think.

My old friend Roland and I used to work a fair distance apart in a big office that supported a large industrial organisation. That was some time ago. In fact, it was actually more years ago than I care to remember. I will not say which office it was but my wife always said she had doubts about the sense of people flying whenever she heard Roland and me talking.

Roland and I were chatting one day recently and Roland said “I still often chuckle to myself about Frank Wrightson and the egg.” “What about the egg?” I said. “You know. When he smashed it on his forehead.” I came again, “I still don’t know what you are on about.” “Do you not. Well, he always brought a snack into work for his lunch. There was always a boiled egg in it. He had a daily ceremony of breaking the shell on his forehead. Well, one day someone changed his egg for one straight out of the nest.”

I laughed and then said: “Tom what’s-his-name worked at the other end of the office from Frank and I know a funny tale about him. He was in work one Saturday morning doing overtime and someone said to him, “I have never seen you in on a Saturday.” Tom replied, “It isn’t Saturday. It’s Friday.”

“No. It is Saturday.” ”No it’s Friday. I know because I bring five oranges in every week and I have one left. Oh heck you are right. I went to a meeting on Tuesday and so I did not eat one of my oranges.”

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I followed up with, “Norman Robsworth was another dreamboat. One day an Italian who was working in our office asked, “Is today some special day?” When he was told it wasn’t he asked why Norman was wearing two ties.”

Roland said, “They did not come much dafter than Eddie Jackley though did they? Do you remember how he used to go and wash his cup up in the place in the corner of the office and walk back through tossing it up and down? It was only a matter of time before what everyone was watching out for happened. The applause was deafening when he missed his catch and the cup shattered.”

I replied, “Oh, I remember him all right. He sat behind me for a while and he was always arguing with himself. He used to get angry and tell himself not to be stupid. Until I got used to it, I used to look round to see who he was about to thump. The tragedy was that he always lost the argument.”

I then said, “I don’t think you knew Henry Piptuk did you? He was one person who never got angry. I may not have got the name quite right but it is pretty near. Henry was a well qualified Polish refugee and he started work in the office immediately after the war. He could not speak English and was determined to learn it as quickly as possible. Whenever he needed to speak to someone he asked people what he should say. One day, he was ready to go to lunch but a lady was sitting on his cap which was on a chair. Having learnt the lines he was told he went up to her and said – and the lines here are slightly modified ones - “Do you mind moving your big, fat posterior?”

Henry enjoyed telling that story and always laughed like mad when he did.”

I don’t know which one of us mentioned it, but Roland and I both laughed out loud about an incident that happened one Christmas Eve. That was back in the days when we worked until half past five, even on that day. Well, it is not quite true to say we worked. Half way through the afternoon someone would start singing and the whole office would soon be joining in. One year, Dick Colasavitch brought his fiddle along.

Dick was actually an Englishman with a surname that I have probably not got quite right. Everything was in full flow with “Hither page come stand by me” being belted out when the Managing Director did come and stand by Dick. And the M D was called Page. Honestly!

Lastly here is another pearler. One morning, someone we all knew just as Jack pulled up in his car against the work gates which were shut and asked why they were closed. “Because it’s Boxing Day” came the reply. www.lancmag.com

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Celebrating the Past and Preparing for the Future King George’s Hall has recently been overwhelmed by the memories shared on their social media channels of concerts people have enjoyed in Blackburn in years gone by.

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he shows included everything from the first experience of ballet through to classic performers like the Beatles and David Bowie.

like Andy Mayo’s ticket for The Jam in December 1979, costing just £3 and John Caffrey who has a large collection of tickets from shows as diverse as Magnum to Marc Almond.

Claire Wolstenholme said: “Always wanted to watch ballet & saw my first there a few years ago; Vienna Festival Ballet, they were everything I hoped for.”

As the team a King George’s Hall continue to work on rescheduling shows and adding new stars to the programme for when we can all be together again, they have also added their own tribute to the building to celebrate some of the classic concerts from the past.

Remembering his first ever gig, Terry Brereton said: “One of the first concerts I watched was Andy Williams in ‘79. I was on the front row and shook his hand!”

Tara McDaid told us about her favourite concert: “The Doves! The hairs on my arm stand up just thinking about the atmosphere at that gig.”

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The billboards that usually advertise upcoming shows, are now adorned with a celebration of some of the memories of amazing gigs at the venue. The main entrance now hosts images from shows by Suede, The Courteeners and Kaiser Chiefs and some views of the venue in a different light, waiting for the day when the music returns. www.lancmag.com

New homes across Lancashire How very Redrow We pride ourselves in building quality homes throughout Lancashire

Images typical of Redrow homes. Details correct at time of going to press.

Redrow strive to create environments that will stand the test of time, where people can appreciate and enjoy their surroundings. We create homes that are designed for the way we live today, yet are rooted in the time-honoured traditions of craftsmanship and care.

Discover more about the new homes in Lancashire

Visit: redrow.co.uk/lancashire

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10 good reasons to live at Tabley Green MANY may have enjoyed the opportunity to spend more time at home in recent weeks; but others may have realised the shortcomings of their current property and be ready to make a move!

Redrow’s Lancashire sales director Sian Pitt explains: “Lockdown and social distancing saw many people spend far more time at home than usual. Some embraced it, while others simply realised that their current home has outlived its welcome.

“Maybe you’re one of those who’s decided that your home is too small, too big or needs too much maintenance. Or perhaps the lack of a garden became very apparent during lockdown, or the need to be closer to shops, parks and other important services.” Redrow has been hearing these stories from potential customers as it reopens its sales centres, by appointment only.

“We’ve also heard from first time buyers, who have realised that with bars and restaurants closed and expensive holidays currently off the agenda, they may actually be able to save for a deposit and get on the property ladder after all,” Sian adds.

Whatever the circumstances, for those ready for a new home, here are 10 good reasons to choose Redrow’s Tabley Green, in the Fulwood area of Preston, Lancashire.

1. Location Tabley Green is situated in Higher Bartle, on the edge of Fulwood and less than four miles from Preston city centre.

However, the development is also close to open farmland creating a semi-rural feel and offering homeowners a breath of fresh air.

2. Schools There’s a choice of ‘good’ rated primary schools just a short drive from Tabley Green and several secondary schools in the area for older children, including the ‘outstanding’ Our Lady’s Catholic High School, in Fulwood.

3. Leisure While lockdown has been a time for solitary runs, walks and cycle rides and online fitness sessions, many will be looking forward to when they can get back to the gym and organised sport. The good news for Tabley Green residents is that Fulwood Leisure Centre has a pool, squash courts, gym and fitness studio for group sessions. Ingol Golf Course is even closer.

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4. Green spaces Redrow’s development includes nearly two acres of open space, providing plenty of opportunities for residents to enjoy the outdoors. Features of the green areas include a landscaped attenuation pond, with fertile opportunities for wildlife and biodiversity to flourish. In addition, the Guild Wheel circular cycle route passes close to the development; this 21-mile route is mainly off-road and traffic free, providing scenic and safe cycling and walking options for all the family.

5. Shops & services There’s a Sainsbury’s Local close by and a broader range of shops in Fulwood, including a branch of the upmarket grocery chain, Booths. And, of course, Preston city centre is easily reached. And when pubs, cafes and restaurants reopen, Tabley Green residents will be spoilt for choice with plenty of options in Fulwood itself, and Preston.

6. Connectivity The M6 and M55 are both easily reached for swift connections across the North West of England, making Tabley Green a great base for commuters. From Preston station you can access West Coast Mainline trains to London in as little as 2 hrs 15.

7. Award winning homes There’s a fabulous choice of three and four-bedroom detached family homes from Redrow’s Arts & Crafts inspired Heritage Collection, which combines traditional www.lancmag.com

craftsmanship with bright, family friendly interiors.

In fact, Tabley Green has previously been named ‘Best in Lancashire’ at the UK Property Awards.

New homes at Redrow’s Tabley Green in Fulwood

8. Community feel There’s a real sense of community developing at Tabley Green, fuelled in the past by special events held by Redrow to bring residents together. That neighbourly spirit has no doubt helped get people through lockdown and will continue to grow as the development expands.

9. Readymade Homes Tabley Green includes some homes that are ready to move into almost straight away, including the four-bedroom detached Shrewsbury from £255,995 and the Oxford from £294,995. Badged by Redrow as ‘Readymade Homes’, these properties include valuable extras and upgrades to make them even better value for money.

10. Help to Buy With available homes from £249,995 for the threebedroom Warwick, the development is eligible for Help to Buy meaning customers can apply for a Government-backed equity loan for up to 20% of the property price, leaving them to find only a 5% deposit and a 75% mortgage from a lender of choice. The equity loan is interest free for the first five years. Or for those with an existing property to sell, Redrow’s own Help to Sell incentive uses local estate agents to find a buyer and makes a contribution to your selling fees.

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The sales centre and show homes at Tabley Green are now open by appointment only, with new social distancing measures in place to ensure the safety of customers and staff.

Go to: www.redrow.co.uk/tableygreen for more information or call 01772 507449.

Customers can also register for the My Redrow online hub, enabling them to fully interact with Redrow online, including browsing, reserving and choosing options for their new home.

Find out more about booking an appointment and Redrow’s coronavirus social distancing measures here: https://www.redrow.co.uk/coronavirus

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Over 1,000 care homes sign-up to go wild this June Double number of care homes take the 30 Days Wild challenge in 2020

Dr Amir Khan

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record number of around 430,000 people are, so far, set to participate in The Wildlife Trusts’ 30 Days Wild challenge which begins on Monday 1st June – and over 1,100 care homes have registered to take part, twice as many as last year.

And that includes 3,554 people and 78 care homes in Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside, which is a record for the region.

30 Days Wild is the UK’s biggest nature challenge and encourages everyone to do something that connects them to nature every single day during the month of June. Recent research shows that taking part in 30 Days Wild not only significantly increases people’s happiness, health and sense of nature – but that these positive increases are sustained beyond the life of the challenge – for a minimum of two months after it is over. The people who benefit most are those who have a relatively weak connection with nature at the start.

The Wildlife Trusts provide free online activity packs to help participants of all ages find new, easy ways of noticing

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nature – even while social distancing. Special resources are available for care home residents to help them enjoy their grounds; these were developed after a Derbyshire care home group discovered significant benefits when their residents’ lives included more time outdoors, looking at and talking about nature and wildlife. Another pack has been created to help elderly people explore their wild side from the comfort of their own homes.

Chief Executive of the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, Anne Selby said: “Care homes across the region have been affected by the Coronavirus and residents and staff must feel isolated from the rest of the community. Hopefully, taking part in 30 Days Wild will be something that will give them a sense of being involved while enjoying the amazing wild creatures and beautiful plants that early summer offers.

“Activities will improve their physical and mental well-being at a time that has caused major disruptions in their lives. And we must salute the care home staff members who have seen this as an opportunity to raise spirits. www.lancmag.com

Gardening 1© Penny Dixie

Gardening2 © Penny Dixie

Red admiral © Nick Upton - 2020VISION

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Booklet screenshot

Louise Baker of Your Health Limited says: “The benefits of 30 Days Wild have been far-reaching for our staff and residents and have lasted well beyond June. Residents have been reminded of their own wild childhoods, reminiscing and telling stories of summers gone by. The sensory benefits of nature, of soothing scents and textures, have really inspired us too.

Staff and residents can engage in meaningful conversations and feel much closer to one another. We have also noticed that residents are less inclined to anxiety when they’re engaged with nature; nature has a habit of calming the soul and does wonders for residents’ mental wellbeing.

“We’re taking part in 30 Days Wild for our third consecutive year and cannot wait to get stuck into the amazing activities we have planned. Last year was particularly wild, as residents planted, puddle-jumped, cloud-spotted and birdwatched. Staff and residents had picnics and threw seedballs, created wild art and made bird feeders. This year we have even more ideas, which will span a whole month of wildness.

“We are thrilled that so many care homes are joining us this year, and cannot wait to hear about their adventures. 30 Days Wild inspires us all to take notice of what is around us, to slow down and quite literally smell the flowers. Residents in care

homes are often prone to feelings of loneliness and isolation, however many people may surround them. By engaging with nature, residents are connected to one another, with mutual enjoyment and wonder. They’re also reminded of so many memories, which may be jogged by certain sounds, scents and textures. 30 Days Wild is a fabulous excuse to get outside and experience the fresh air – it’s too good to pass up!”

Leanne Manchester, Communications Manager of The Wildlife Trusts, says: “30 Days Wild is fun for all ages and we provide ideas and activities for people whatever their circumstances – for individuals, families, schools and businesses. Last year we experimented with an activity pack for care homes and we were really delighted that a large number were interested. So many of us are seeking solace in nature during the pandemic but even we were surprised – and thrilled – that double the number of care homes have signed up to do 30 Days Wild this June.

“We have also developed a new guide to going wild for people supporting elderly relatives at home – to help them experience the wild, even if they’re stuck indoors. 30 Days Wild helps people get closer to nature and enjoy the small, everyday things.”

Sign-up, download the inspiration and get ready to share your daily #30DaysWild now! www.wildlifetrusts.org/30DaysWild The Lancashire Wildlife Trust The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside is dedicated to the protection and promotion of the wildlife in Lancashire, seven boroughs of Greater Manchester and four of Merseyside, all lying north of the River Mersey. It manages around 40 nature reserves and 20 Local Nature Reserves covering acres of woodland, wetland, upland and meadow. The Trust has 27,000 members, and over 1,200 volunteers.

To become a member of the Trust go to the website at www.lancswt.org.uk or call 01772 324129. For more information about Cheshire Wildlife Trust call 01948 820728 or go to cheshirewildlifetrust.org.uk.

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A change of scenery

DB&B FROM £125 PER COUPLE Visit www.jamesplaces.co.uk/walking

BOOKS Our roundup of this months literary delights

Lancashire Author, David Hatton, talks about his latest novel, The Catfish.

My latest book is completely different to anything I’ve written before.

The Catfish follows the story of Rachel Walker, who sets up her own independent legal practice after leaving an international corporate chain. Her first client is a lady named Karen, whose son, Charlie, was entrapped online by a vigilante group; The Predator Hunters. Rachel has opened her practice in the village of Horwich, just outside of Bolton, and is trying to build a reputation for herself. She has to juggle with the dilemma of taking on a new client to help pay the bills and risk the neighbourhood look on her as someone who represents child abusers.

Karen’s revelation regarding Charlie’s development disorder sways Rachel to take on the case. Charlie is nineteen but he’s not like other people. His brain works in a different way. He struggles to build innocent friendships and seeks them wherever he can. Unfortunately social media and the tabloids, as they often do, tell a different story. Rachel has to plough through the wrath of social justice and finds that a trial in a court of law is nothing compared to being trialled by the media. I had to do some significant research for this novel on development disorders, vigilante groups and the legal implications of running a social justice operation. Thankfully there is ample information out there online and charities often offer free and useful supportive guides too.

I set the book in Horwich, where I now live. I picked the town because it’s not only somewhere I know so well, but also due to my experiences of living in a village where everyone knows everyone.

On my first day of living in the hamlet, I was surprised by the warmth of the locals and how welcoming people were.

It was a surprise for a city boy who had 96

spent the last eight years in Manchester trying to make friends outside of people he already knew (or worked with) and failed miserably. The people I met on the first night out in Horwich are still friends now and the circle is growing.

But these types of villages, where everyone knows your name, usually hold another side; a side which can be very unforgiving, especially if it regards the safeguarding of our children. You only have to look at any neighbourhood Facebook page to establish how protective the locals can be.

Naturally, as a Lancashire lad, it involves my birth town of Preston too, where I grew up, and the neighbouring town of Chorley, which I’ve only really discovered since moving to Horwich. I realised what a brilliant place Chorley is to eat, drink and be entertained. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the Little Theatre in Chorley centre. However there was another aspect to the tale which made me feature these nearby places other than being held dear to my heart. The notion of The Predator Hunters was based on a Channel 4 documentary which aired over a decade ago. The vigilantes in that programme have lived and made entrapment videos in Preston and the surrounding area. I’m writing this book in a place where the stories are very real.

The group in question were connected to right-wing groups too, which I’ve made a part of my story.

With this, the book covers a range of very sensitive subjects such as abuse, race, social justice, social inequality and trial by media; all themes which are hot topics at the moment. As I sit here writing this piece, America is protesting the death of George Floyd and we’re still mourning Caroline Flack’s death, which has been suggested that her own trial by media is to blame. As such, this book will not be for everybody, but I do hope anyone who does decide to lift the cover and see what it’s about will enjoy it.

The story of Charlie in The Catfish is very real. There was a man with a development disorder who was entrapped online by a vigilante group

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and his life was destroyed. As have other genuinely innocent people. How can they possibly return to their normal lives when they’ve been plastered all over the internet as some who could mean harm to children? At the same time, these groups have managed to get people who are a real danger to society put away. I’ve tried to show both sides of the argument in the book as to whether these groups should be allowed to operate, as there is no simple answer to this very complex debate.

I grew up in Preston and I’m so pleased to find a home which is close enough to visit my favourite places in Lancashire. Last year I was honoured to talk at the Stonyhurst Literature & Film Festival in Clitheroe about the ethics surrounding 9/11 Fiction, which is the central theme in my first novel, The Return. It follows the story of Marty Hahn who fakes his death in the World Trade Centre in New York and returns ten years later to claim his life insurance. Since then I released The Medium, which is about a psychic who approaches an atheist regarding the whereabouts of his missing wife.

Talking at the festival was a proud moment for myself as I got to present at my god-daughter’s school and she attended the talk. Sadly I doubt that event will be happening this year due to the current COVID-19 situation but I hope they’ve managed to implement a virtual intervention.

We have to try and find positives in this current climate. For me, I count my blessings every day for what I do have. I have an income, a partner for company, and a garden to sit in (albeit a small one). Some people don’t have that.

It’s given me time to explore more of the area I live in and have found some fantastic trails across Rivington during my daily exercise allowance, which I’d previously not explored. I’ve also had time to write. Being locked in has given me a discipline I usually have to force myself into. So much so I’ll have another book out later in the year. The Exhumation will begin with the true story of a gang who tried to capture Abraham Lincoln’s body for ransom www.lancmag.com

A walk in Rivington

two hundred years ago; the book then jumps to a fictional modern day where someone has successfully taken his body again and a local Detective discovers the former president’s secrets whilst trying to bring him home.

I think I’m naturally drawn to controversial subjects. People often ask me which side I take as I write about these hot topics. My beliefs usually take a more liberal stance but I could argue any side of a debate, which I think comes through in the books I write as I like to have everyone’s story heard, whether I’m inclined to agree with them or not. Our experiences are the foundations of our beliefs, therefore our stories are important to tell. I’d have made a cracking lawyer had I been more intelligent.

Like everyone else I’m just waiting for life to return to normal. I miss my friends in Preston and Manchester dearly. I miss holidays to the Lake District, my favourite place in the entire world, where I’d usually visit with my partner, who is also called David.

And I miss the simple pleasures of having a pint down at the Bank Top pub with our wonderful neighbours.

We’ve been fortunate to have such good people around us. We’ve had www.lancmag.com

parties in the garden on weekends with our neighbours (all in their respective gardens at a distance, of course). It has been a ball and has really shown the true spirit of people across the North West, who manage to make the best of every situation we can.

As for writing about our current unprecedented times in a future novel, I think whatever fiction is out there regarding a pandemic has been done before and can be done again by people far more imaginative and scientific than I am. And for anyone who is currently living through this situation, people read for escapism and the last thing they want is to be drawn back to is being locked in. But it’s fair to say that any novelist out there will have to avoid 2020 in their timelines. There certainly aren’t many stories I can share about sitting in and watching endless episodes of a Netflix series which will fuel a best seller.

What I will take from this experience is to enjoy the simpler things in life.

We all want a larger house or a better car, but actually the simplistic things such as walking to the nearest pub and seeing friends have suddenly just been revitalised and I hope we don’t forget that feeling too quickly.

All of David’s novels (The Return, The Medium and The Catfish) are all available now on Amazon as an E-book or paperback.

Author, David Hatton

David speaking at Stonyhurst literature festival

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Cut back on alcohol There has been a 21% increase in the frequency of alcohol consumption in the UK since the COVID-19 lockdown. It has been suggested that stress and anxiety, as well as changes to our daily routine, are the reasons why some people are drinking more. Too much alcohol can be harmful to your heart as well as contributing to weight gain and mental health problems.

We have some tips to help keep your alcohol consumption within the recommended limits.

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip,

by Dr Helen Flaherty, Head of Health Promotion at Heart Research UK 98

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How much is too much?

Include more alcohol-free days

It is recommended that men and women do not consume more than 14 units of alcohol each week, spread out over three or more days. The number of units of alcohol in a drink depends on the size of your drink and the alcohol strength. A pint of strong beer contains around three units of alcohol and a bottle of wine contains around 10 units. More information about alcohol units can be found here: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/for-yourbody/drink-less/know-your-alcohol-units/

If you are drinking every day, or most days, you could include more alcohol-free days each week.

Make a plan at the start of the week and decide which days will be alcohol-free. Try to find some low-sugar alcohol-free drinks to enjoy on the days when you do not drink alcohol.

Keep a record of how much you are drinking Many people don’t really know how much they are drinking or whether their drinking is putting their health at risk. By keeping a record of your weekly alcohol consumption, you will be able to work out whether you need to cut down. You can complete the Drinkaware self-assessment to find out if you are drinking too much.

Pour smaller measures When you drink alcohol at home, you are in control of the amount you pour into the glass. Try to control the amount of alcohol in your drinks by measuring it out using a measuring jug. A small glass of wine is 125ml (1.6 units), a medium glass of wine is 175ml (2.3 units) and a large glass of wine is 250ml (3.3 units). A 25ml shot of a spirit is 1 unit.

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Plan ahead Before you pour your first drink of the day, set yourself a limit and make sure you stick to it. You could put a post-it note on the bottle to remind yourself when to stop. Try reducing the amount you drink by having a soft drink in between alcoholic drinks and/or dilute your alcoholic drinks with a mixer to slow down your alcohol consumption.

Get help If you are worried about your own drinking, or if you are concerned about the amount someone else is drinking, you can get advice and support from the NHS www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-support/ You can find plenty more healthy tips and recipes at heartresearch.org.uk.

www.lancmag.com

The Auro app is a personal trainer in your ear from London based fitness technology startup, Auro.

With recent news that the Great North Run has been cancelled and the London Marathon postponed until October, motivation for those who have spent months training may be on the wane. Now is harder than ever to get up and get running, especially for those who are used to training with running partners.

Thankfully, the Auro personal training app includes motivational audio workouts that are guided by expert trainers so runners have someone with them at all times, giving them the nudge they need to keep training hard to reach their fitness goals and stay in shape for any running events when the world returns to some sort of normality.

The app currently includes race training plans for everything from running the first mile to training for a half marathon and from July, Auro is launching additional GPS tracking so runners can track all their metrics (Pace, distance, routes, calories, time splits) on the app LIVE and after they complete a run.

The Auro app is a personal trainer in your ear from London based fitness technology startup, Auro. The app includes motivational audio workouts that are guided by expert trainers and tailored to an individual’s fitness goals and level. Within the app, there are hundreds of world-class workouts and recommendations are provided for suitable classes based on the users own ability. Using the app means that there is no reason to skip a workout anymore as all the classes are on-demand so all that is required is a set of earphones/headphones and a smartphone. Classes can even be downloaded in advance so can still be done when Wi-Fi isn’t available.

For an affordable monthly subscription fee, Auro users can have the benefit of a fitness studio or personal trainer at times, locations and a price that is better for them. The fitness classes available on the Auro app include outdoor running, walking, treadmill, X-trainer, strength training, spin, rowing, yoga and stretching and are curated with a www.lancmag.com

Easily downloadable and requiring only a phone and earphones, the app integrates with Apple Watch, Garmin, Myzone and a range of other wearables to provide detailed heart rate based analytics and personalisation so progress can be tracked over time. Users can also overlay their own music or Spotify playlists.

killer playlist but users can also overlay their own music from Spotify if preferred. The personal trainers offer professional fitness advice throughout the class and guide users through their workout to keep motivated and using the right techniques. Using AI based algorithms, Auro analyses multiple input streams to hyper-personalise fitness experiences like a real PT. It also integrates with Apple Watch, Garmin, Myzone and a range of other wearables to provide detailed heart rate based analytics and personalisation.

The audio based style of the app is to encourage users to learn the correct form and technique but afterwards allows users to concentrate fully on the activity without having the distraction to look down or at a screen as they are exercising.

Auro – The Personal Training App – Available from App stores for £11.99 a month or £59.99 annual subscription (equivalent to £4.99 a month) Currently 50 percent off for NHS workers LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 101

View of Mellor from Mellor Churchyard. It’s hard to credit that it’s a village in Greater Manchester (author – Ian Roberts, source – ‘Looking towards Mellor from Mellor Churchyard’)

Mellor

Words: Stephen Roberts

Mellor & Marple: it sounds like a firm of solicitors.

I

t may well be somewhere, but I’m not in need of legalistic help, I’m actually heading for the small ish village of Mellor, which just happens to be a short trot from its rather larger neighbour of Marple. Although my main focus will be on the village, you can’t really do Mellor without Marple and neither should you wish to.

A modest village of just under 2,500 souls, Mellor is actually a settlement within Greater Manchester, which just shows the spread achieved by the metropolitan county and combined authority area, which has slightly more heads at around 2.8 million. Mellor lies right down in its south-east corner in the foothills of the Pennines and is Greater Manchester’s most isolated village.

It’s had an interesting, peripatetic past, as it was historically in Derbyshire, then ending up in Cheshire, before finally, at the time of the 1974 boundary changes, becoming a part of Greater Manchester. It lies around two miles east of Marple, a canal town of approaching 25,000 citizens and Marple railway station is the nearest rail head for the village. This is on the Trans-Pennine Hope Valley Line connecting Sheffield with Manchester, which opened in 1894. Mellow and Marple are separated by the River Goyt, which lies just east of Marple. A trip to the shops might well involve ‘crossing the Goyt’.

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of St Thomas’s, which is Grade II Listed and dates back originally to the 15th century. The oldest portion is the square tower, with the remainder being of the 19th century. One intriguing grave here is that of Thomas Brierley (1785-1855), the treasurer of the local freemasons’ lodge, who had his grave memorial engraved or carved with a masonic cypher dubbed ‘Pigpen’, apparently the only grave in the UK to be thus marked, and mysteriously using this cypher, which was reputedly used by freemasons of the time to keep their secrets, well, secret. There is a story, possibly apocryphal, that Brierley fell to his death from the church tower. The plot thickens as they say.

Another notable building is the late-17th century Mellor Hall, which has a completion date believed to be of 1688, during the year of the Glorious Revolution, when Protestants William and Mary overthrew the Catholic-leaning James II, ensuring a Protestant ascendancy thereafter. The hall, plus an adjoining farmhouse (previously a smithy), of 1691, have both been Grade II* listed. Mellor Hall was historically the seat of the Mellors (no surprise there), so there would have been an earlier house, which later passed to the Radcliffes, who sold it to James Chetham, who embarked on the late-17th century rebuilding. Church and hall are both atop a ridge, separated from the village by a stream and gully. www.lancmag.com

Marple railway station, which is the closest station to Mellor. The station and the village of Mellor are only about two miles distant from one another down Longhurst Lane (author – El Pollock / Marple Railway Station / CC BY-SA 2.0, source – www.geograph.org.uk).

Above: Grade II* Listed Mellor Hall, near Marple, Greater Manchester (author – David Dixon / Mellor Hall / CC BY-SA 2.0, source – www.geograph.org.uk).

Left: Grave memorial of Thomas Brierley, St Thomas’s, Mellor (author – Mark Brierley).

As well as its church and hall, the village has a primary school, a trio of pubs, including the 16th century ‘Oddfellows’, sports facilities (e.g. golf course, sports club and riding school), that station within walking distance, well, for me at any rate, but certainly not for everyone, and a football club, Mellor FC (1923), whose home ground is actually in Marple. It sounds like my kind of place, as I prefer to get around by train (much preferred to driving) and I do love my footie. www.lancmag.com

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And then there’s history. Without history I am bereft.

Mellor Hill Fort dates back to the Iron Age (so pre-Roman Britain) and as the name suggests, and as is customary for hill forts, it sits atop a hill in Mellor. There’s evidence of Bronze Age activity here, which takes us even further back.

Apparently, the fort was occupied into the Roman period, but then abandoned, most probably in the 4th century AD, as the Roman occupation began to head towards its end game. The site was not rediscovered until the 1990s.

The origin of the name ‘Mellor’ is uncertain, but may be of Celtic antecedence (so, pre-Roman Britain again), with its derivation possibly being from an ancient word or words denoting a bare or rounded hill, which would tie in with the hill fort perhaps. There is no mention of Mellor in William the Conqueror’s Domesday Book, that inventory of everything that he’d conquered, although nearby Ludworth was listed and it is posited that this might have included Mellor at one time, which would explain the lack of a separate entry.

The Anglo-Saxons constructed a church at one end of the Iron Age settlement sometime around the 7th of 8th centuries which has been superseded by today’s St Thomas’s. In addition to what’s already been noted about the church, we can’t move on without mentioning its wooden pulpit, which it is claimed is the oldest in the country and possibly even in the whole world.

It dates to the reign of Edward II, who was on the throne from 1307-27 and allegedly met his end via a contretemps with a red-hot poker. Please don’t try this at home.

There’s a bit more history two miles up the road at Mellor’s big brother of Marple, where the ruins of Marple Hall lie close to Marple Hall School. This was the ancestral home of 104

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Above: The Coronation Parade in Mellor, 22nd June 1911. The parade was celebrating the coronation of King George V (author – unknown, source – from the Stockport Image Archive).

Above: Model of Samuel Oldknow’s 1790 mill and the ‘Roman Lakes’, at Mellor, Greater Manchester, which is a part of the collection at the Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester (author – Clem Rutter, Rochester, Kent).

the Bradshaws, who had become pre-eminent in this area by the mid-17th century, as had Marple itself. John Bradshaw (1602-59) was Lord of Marple Hall, a jurist, and President of the High Court of Justice for the trial of King Charles I, becoming in the process the first regicide, i.e. the first person to sign the death warrant of the king. Marple continues to be the draw around here with Mellor quaintly off to the side.

Later on, during the Industrial Revolution, Samuel Oldknow (1756-1828) became a significant mill owner and businessman in and around Mellor. The confusingly named ‘Roman Lakes’ have nothing to do with the Romans, but were constructed as reservoirs for Oldknow’s Mellor Mill, which was destroyed by fire in November 1892. Opinions differ as to whether this was just an unfortunate accident (a common enough occurrence) or whether mill-owning turf wars had resulted in a nasty bit of arson. A model of the mill and lakes can be seen in the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester. www.lancmag.com

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Pastureland at Mellor in July 1978. There’s still some farming today, mostly livestock grazing (author – ‘Braveheart’, source – Own work).

Contemporary William Radcliffe (c.1761-1842) was born in Mellor and was both a mill-owner and inventor of devices that benefited the cotton industry that became so important in this part of the world. We know that in 1789, the year of the French Revolution, he owned a large cotton weaving factory in Mellor. Coal mining has also taken place in and around Mellor in the past and it was in the Victorian era, so just after the time of Oldknow and Radcliffe, that Mellor put on an industriallyinspired growth spurt. Previously just a few habitations, it spread, swallowing up neighbouring Moorend in the process.

There are things going on today which attest to a community spirit, which I’m always in favour of. I understand that there is a four-yearly (quadrennial) Mellor Gardens Open Day when a number of local gardens are opened to the public with moneys raised benefiting Cancer Research UK, whilst there’s also the Mellor March, which is a sponsored walk following the boundaries of Mellor, so a bit like ‘Beating the Bounds’. Mellor clearly knows its boundaries.

Path to the Parish Church of St Thomas, Mellor, which is built on the crest of a hill overlooking the village (author – David Dixon / Mellor Hall / CC BY-SA 2.0, source – www.geograph.org.uk).

References Book a Table (www.bookatable.co.uk) – for Oddfellows.

Manchester Evening News (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk) 106

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BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED KITCHENS DESIGNED JUST FOR YOU

BEAUTIFUL BESPOKE KITCHENS & BEDROOMS Showroom:

6 Kingsway, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 1PJ www.wellsandhewitt.co.uk

0161 279 1670

‘Little Mermaid’ is enjoying living in her very own ‘show home’ IT was a happy and emotional homecoming for Sophie Mallon, more than two years after being diagnosed with a potentially fatal rare brain condition.

Redrow administrative assistant Sophie, 24, was left unable to speak, swallow or breathe for herself, and had to be resuscitated more than 20 times, after being struck down by the illness in January 2018.

She has now been allowed home to a bungalow in Liverpool, which a team from Redrow Homes, including many of their suppliers and sub-contractors, transformed to show home standard just before lockdown so she can continue her convalescence.

Sophie sees inside her new home for the first time Anna Evans-Kerr, head of sales for Redrow Homes in the North West, and colleague Tony Gordon, area construction manager, co-ordinated the makeover project to turn the empty bungalow into a lovely home for Sophie.

Sophie, from Garston, says: “No words can describe how grateful my family and I are for everything that’s been done with my new home. Everyone has gone above and beyond, and turned a house into a home for me.

“I couldn’t have asked for a more special work family. Ever since I was first admitted they have been there for me and supported me. I’ve had birthday cards, Christmas cards, they’ve always thought of me.”

And she says: “I couldn’t be more appreciative or grateful for the support they’ve given me through it all.”

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Anna Evans-Kerr, head of sales at Redrow Homes (NW) www.lancmag.com

Interiors photos show how hard Redrow staff and their subcontractors worked to turn Sophie’s bungalow into a home And there was no shortage of help in the form of cash, gifts in kind and labour from Redrow employees, suppliers and sub-contractors, who came together in a ‘DIY SOS’-style operation to ensure it was ready for Sophie when she was finally well enough to leave hospital.

Anna says: “Sophie had worked for us for four months before she became ill with this awful condition and we couldn’t imagine what her family went through, having been first told to prepare for the worst and then fearing, many times, that they might have lost her.

“What a traumatic time for them, and how hard must it have been for them to go through it. It is incredible that Sophie remained so positive throughout her ordeal, which reduced viewers to tears when she featured in BBC2’s Hospital series – ourselves included.

“The episode which featured Sophie’s story and captured the moment when, after months of round-the-clock www.lancmag.com

treatment, she was finally able to speak her first words to her grandad was incredibly emotional and inspirational. No wonder staff at the Walton Centre gave her the nickname Ariel after the Little Mermaid who got her voice back.

“After all she has gone through, the least we could do is help create a home where she can continue to recover and get back to full health.”

Cash donations were given by Eurogold, DHI Excavations, City Excavations, Hardcore Crushing and Loftus Construction.

Ideal Electrical made a cash donation and installed all the lighting; Smalley North West Ltd., decorated throughout; Mears Flooring Specialist fitted full flooring and LW Cole Ltd supplied the fridge, freezer, oven and microwave.

After Blue Sky Plumbing installed all the appliances, Show Business Interiors provided furniture and Landstruction Ltd landscaped the front and rear gardens.

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Anna adds: “Redrow North West staff raised £1,780 from donations, cake sales and dress-down Fridays, which paid for accessories, curtains, bedding, kitchenware and all the things that help make a house a home. And Derek and Brian from our customer care team made shelving and rails for wardrobes in their own time and hung curtain poles and pictures… in fact they did anything we wanted them to do.

“Tony Gordon hired vans and supplied the curtain poles and gave a lot of his time too. All of it was worth it to know that Sophie has got the best possible home and environment so she can continue to convalesce and fully recover.”

Sophie’s nightmare began when she noticed her vision was blurry but she put it down to problems with her contact lenses. When her vision didn’t improve after she took them out her optician referred her to St Paul’s Eye Unit where tests were inconclusive and she was booked in for a CT scan.

It was an appointment she never made because within days she was unable to keep food down, her speech became slurred and the right side of her body had a pins and needles sensation.

Not wanting to miss a day of her new job with Redrow Homes at Daresbury, near Warrington, Sophie still asked her grandad to drive her to work but by the time she arrived her face had started to droop and her manager sent her straight home and on to A&E at the Royal.

It was first feared she’d had a stroke but MRI scans revealed a lesion on her brain stem and she was transferred to the Walton Centre where she began to deteriorate fast.

Sophie started having seizures and an inflammation on her brain was spreading, causing her rapid decline.

from having life-threatening episodes: “It’s a miracle I’m here today,” says Sophie.

The treatment that saved her was Alemtuzumab: a type of chemotherapy that wipes out the immune system to reset it and get rid of any inflammation. Sophie had to have it in 2018, February 2019 and she’ll need it again in 2022.

Her family have been a constant support, not least grandad Norman who featured in the episode of Hospital as Sophie managed to finally speak again.

“I wasn’t sure about appearing on the show at first but I realised how much my story could help anyone who was going through something similar,” says Sophie. “I was so, so nervous but just thought it was worth it if it helped others.”

Intensive physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, as well as the support of a psychologist, have helped Sophie make an extraordinary recovery, regaining her strength and balance, as well as use of her vocal chords.

Sophie adds: “My mum still gets asked how I’m doing, and it’s really nice that people remember. I’m excited to move onto the next chapter in my life, I’ve got my own place and I aim to get back to work at Redrow within the next year.

“I have to adjust to being back out in the wide world first and, once I feel ready, my consultant is happy for me to return. Redrow has made everything so much easier for me because they’ve taken the stress of worrying about work off my shoulders.

“I built a close bond with so many people within those four months and I’ve missed them and seeing their faces every morning. I can’t wait until the day I return.”

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Poets corner

We have two poems by Dean Fraser this month Different Pace of Life Lancaster Canal she lived upon Or was she berthed there?

Can never really decide Why are boats always “her”?

Eighteen years she resided there Providing home to her guardians Shelter, home and hearth All life going on Around and within her Journeying Preston to Garstang Taken at walking pace Somehow so civilized Watching motorway traffic Frantically rushing to destinations afar Enjoying drinking tea at four miles an hour…

Come Work in Our Factories Long hours spent toiling the land, his family had done for generations Living in tune with the seasons, never thinking of other occupations Farmers his father and grandfather before him had been, what else to be?

Of his sons he was proud, he said “one day you will take over from me” Come work in our factories, leave your village, leave your land Come work in our factories, live in our town, live as we planned 1820 was the year, November the month it happened He’d stored his grain for winter, his calf it was fattened “Father we must leave, we’re promised work in the mill” Slowly the village emptied, leaving old timers and the ill Come work in our factories, take our money, take your pay Come work in our factories, work in danger, work as we say Factories filled with young farmers along with their wives Children knowing only noise and danger all their young lives Living in the towns, surrounded by bricks and by stone Their farms but a memory, now forlorn and alone Come work in our factories, low income, low rewards Come work in our factories, make us rich, make us Lords Long hours spent toiling in factories, his family had done for generations Living working men and women, never thinking of other occupations Factory workers his father and grandfather before him had been, what else to be?

Until modernisation and mechanisation, he said “what will become of me?”

Come work in our factories, learn new skills, learn computers Come work in our factories, live in villages, live as commuters www.lancmag.com

Dean Fraser – The Quantum Poet www.deanfrasercentral.com

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Farage, Brexit and a political revolution a once in a lifetime journey from the inside. Part 1.

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ames Barker knew he was destined for an interest in politics from an early age. At 7 he would read the Observer on Sundays after his grandfather had read it. He became aware that he could improve his vocabulary and spelling while learning about what was happening in the world.

By the time he was 9 he was listening to the Today programme on Radio 4.

It shouldn’t have been a surprise, his family had served the Foreign Office with distinction. Great uncle Bill was Ambassador to Czechoslovakia and his cousin Lt Col Mike Barker had been military attaché to 3 Baltic countries.

However it took a long time before he got involved, having many normal jobs before taking the plunge. But in his 40s he’d returned to the north west and set up his own business and property portfolio and was caught up in the enthusiasm for Clegg s LibDem campaign in 2010,promising electoral reform and abolition of tuition fees.

Something a lot of forward thinking voters and students believed in. Alas when the LibDems got into coalition the 2 main policies were sacrificed for share in a coalition government.

So in 2014 James decided to take an active involvement “ I d spoken to several local politicians in my home town who knew I had an interest in politics, they wanted to get me to take councillor positions, but the LabCon view of the world wasn’t mine. I believed in Brexit purely out of a distrust of a Federal Europe and still believed in Electoral Reform.” After looking at UKIP’s policies and doing research on manifesto, he joined his local branch and became an activist.

The hard yards of pounding the streets and knocking on doors became part of his education. Campaigning in 2 local elections he showed his enthusiasm and took the Chair of his Branch. Within 6 months he was County Chair and preparing for a General Election.

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In 2015 James fought the Labour safe seat in Preston, increasing UKIP’s vote share from 4.5% to 22%. “Most of the public don’t realise how hard it is to break the stranglehold of LibLabCon domination of British politics. They have years of data and experience of where their vote is. Postal voting is also in their favour. With first past the post and limited resources it’s a David v Goliath contest”.

However by this time his efforts had been noticed by a rapidly growing UKIP and its hierarchy. During the run up to the Referendum James met Nigel Farage for the first time. “ I’d been invited to a small private dinner at Spago in Lytham. Peter Street of Cardboard Box company was there with David Haythornthwaite. What struck me about Nigel was his intrinsic knowledge of EU policy and his work ethic. Most mornings he left home at 5am in Kent not returning till midnight.

That’s dedication “From that meeting the contact had been established and grew into a long-standing friendship that perseveres to this day”. If you have integrity and loyalty, Nigel’s a staunch

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supporter. If you deviate from those qualities, he’ll cut you off completely“.

Next James fought off competition to become Regional Chair and compete for Lancashire s Police and Crime Commissioner. “Nigel had asked me to contest at short notice and had no resources. But we used social media and appearances on That’s Lancashire TV to compensate. Getting 50 000 votes was one of UKIP’s highest vote numbers, something to be proud of ”.

By now the Referendum campaign and Farage s popularity was at it’s peak.

James organised a series of rallies at his beloved Bolton Wanderers. “I still knew people at the club and wanted to bring big events to their superb conference and event facilities. We ran 3 events with up to 4000 attending a time. To be on stage was electric. Being part of the biggest Referendum ever was truly inspiring “ Amalgamating with Vote Leave for the Referendum campaign, James got to meet privately with Boris Johnson, Michael Gove and Priti Patel. “I was looking forward to it. The future PM didn’t leave a huge impression on me www.lancmag.com

which was disappointing. He’s more like an Oxford lecturer, huge academic but no way a leader. Maybe I’d been spoiled

by Farage s charisma and enthusiasm, but Gove and Patel were just spouting the same sound bites and lacked any authenticity. “ Still the Referendum was won by the Leave side and James had returned to taste victory against Hendrick (Preston’s MP) in the Guild Hall 12 months after losing the General Election 12 months previous. It was a momentous, unbelievable victory by the people, against the Establishment.“ Whatever your conviction, and I have friends on both sides of the argument, Brexit was a David and Goliath moment.

The immigration issue was a big thing for many, but for me it was Brussels largesse and waste. I’d spent 2 days in the EU Parliament leading up until the Referendum and was staggered at the attitude towards governance of sovereign states.“ After the Referendum there was a period of transition in UKIP but by then they had built a solid organisation, had the second biggest membership www.lancmag.com

of any political Party in U.K. Things were looking good and James’s region continued to lead the way with fundraising and innovation.” I knew Nigel needed a well-deserved break and deservedly so after 20 plus years to the cause. They had good infrastructure and an excellent Party Chair in Paul Oakden. The question was who would succeed Farage”. In the space of 12 months they had 3,Crowther,James and Nuttall. None having the charisma or leadership qualities to push UKIP to become a long term 3rd political force in U.K. Then came Henry Bolton, hugely impressive CV with UN and O.B.E. to boot. Endorsed by Nigel and James thought a real breakthrough.” Henry was a great coup for UKIP. He was extremely knowledgeable, had fantastic organisational skills and a background that couldn’t be touched by hostile media. Perfect” After supporting his successful campaign and getting several events organised for Henry, a cataclysmic blow. “Henry who I liked and respected, had an Achilles heel, his love for a much younger woman was his

undoing. The Party faithful didn’t like it or the fact he’d left his wife with 2 very young children. Henry had to go to a huge National Executive Committee meeting and plead his case. The night before he’d asked me to be his Party Chairman. Unfortunately for Bolton he lost the leadership. UKIP from that point were doomed”.

Next time; The Brexit Party and the reconstruction of the Conservative Party

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Blackpool Zoo confirms reopening Blackpool Zoo is set to reopen to members and the public before the end of June

Capybara

Visitor numbers will be limited each day and everyone, including members, will need to book online to guarantee entry.

A

visit to Blackpool Zoo will look very different for a while but people will still be able to see their favourite animals, enjoy the beautiful surroundings, reconnect with nature and leave their worries behind.

The 35-acre parkland has burst into life since it temporarily closed its gates in March.

Keepers kept on keeping and there have been many births, including Emperor Tamarin twins, capybara, kangaroo and wallaby joeys, King Colobus monkeys, plover chicks, porcupettes and a Red Titi monkey made sure there was still plenty to do!

From feeding to cleaning and health checks to enrichment, the teams have continued to give the best possible care to their furry, feathered and scaly friends.

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King Colobus www.lancmag.com

Above: Porcupette

Right: Red Titi monkey will still be able to see lots of new arrivals, along with all the other residents, outside enjoying the early summer.

People will be required to follow social distancing guidelines, onsite signage and make regular use of the additional hand sanitation points that have been installed.

A new Visitor Services Hub and Visitor Services Team have been set up to help with queries and questions.

There will be enhanced and increased cleaning and disinfecting of all areas and toilets will be open and manned by attendants to manage numbers within the facilities.

Short podcasts will replace the suspended daily talks, feeds and displays.

Play areas, activities, the miniature train and children’s rides will also be closed but new, imagination-driven play trails around the zoo have been developed to keep little ones busy. They can be downloaded on the website or collected from the Visitor Services Hub. The main café and some kiosks will be open with a reduced menu on a takeout only basis.Outdoor eating areas have been increased and redesigned to ensure social distancing.

Screens have been installed at all staff interaction points www.lancmag.com

and the gift shops will be open with limited capacity.

Tickets and visitor numbers will be closely monitored and increased when appropriate in the coming weeks.

Management is asking that visitors be patient as one-way systems and restaurant regulations could lead to queuing.

Darren Webster, Zoo Director, said: “I am absolutely delighted to announce that Blackpool Zoo will once again open its gates.

“It has been very strange and sad to see the park in the glorious sunshine without any visitors, so we can’t wait to welcome them back!

“Our teams have been working hard to get ready to safely reopen in a Covid-19 secure manner.

“We would ask visitors to be patient and understanding when booking and visiting while we all get used to the temporary way of working. There will be plenty of trained staff onsite to ensure everyone can safely enjoy their visit.”

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Young People using their creative talents and building businesses in Lockdown Lockdown has been a hard time for all but I really feel it for the younger generation who are starting college, work or applying for jobs.

Like so many their lives are about studying, socialising, eating, drinking and partying the night away, however, even though the doors of ‘normal’ adventure and opportunity have changed I have seen a wave of entrepreneurship !

Gone are the restaurants, bars and clubs – life has changed there is a new vibe on the horizon a new generation of competent quick thinking young adults. It’s almost as if they have grown up overnight! It doesn’t seem like yesterday that we were looking at the clock to see if they were coming home or trying to get them up in the morning!! Lockdown has changed the dynamics.

The shift in thinking has probably come about with worry from adults. The stress the economy is under and also thoughts around how we are going to survive the covid19 virus!

Such a frightening and confusing time but with all this I have been inspired as I am seeing buds of talent growing and flourishing.

How many have turned to social media, TiKTOK, You Tube, Instagram to showcase their skills and indeed are doing a great job of showing off their talents in all art forms.

Jacob Shrewsbury Jacob Shrewsbury is one such talent, a twenty year old student from Leeds Beckett University who is currently studying Graphic Arts and Design. Thankfully he can continue his studies at home and in his most recent project he’s been looking to highlight the struggles of mental health, especially around OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) illness. He has designed an immersive installation that allows the viewers to physically, rather than mentally, understand the complexity of the illness through a real life experience.

Very impressive and intuitive and it could be a way forward in educating us about conditions that go unnoticed, that we have little or no understanding around.

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In the coming year Jacob is hoping to work in partnership with a local charity in Leeds. He said ‘I will assist in a range of projects such as; advertising for a volunteer week, setting up creative workshops and promoting the third sector. In my work I try to take a step back to understand the concept of my work to then move forward with process-led ideas and experimentation. Working with a hands on approach allows me to express my ideas freely over a page, not being constrained by a screen, using mistakes to spur on new ideas. I do this through a range of experimenting such as paint, print and typography.”

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Writing on the persons back is part of the development work leading up to the mental health installation programme.

Jacob has recently set up his own art business alongside his studies. He has already completed a range of commissions, ranging from portraits to pet drawings. I asked Jacob how it came about “ … I’d been given a brief from Uni about submitting artwork to HMV and although I hadn’t done any portraits since I was at school, I posted a picture of John Lennon onto social media and I had a lot of interest. People were asking me how much to do a portrait!

And that’s how it started.”

Jacob knew that he wanted to study art as a GCSE at senior school, however, his studies at university are based more around design. He isn’t sure what direction his degree www.lancmag.com

will take him and he is open to different creative pathways and has an interest in fashion design.

I asked Jacob where he sees his future with his art “….I have really enjoyed setting up my business and I’m using it to get my work into the public eye and build up my name as an artist, however, I’m not sure of the direction it will take me at the moment and I’m open to new ideas.”

But whatever direction Jacob decides to take it is without a doubt that he is already a very talented artist and one day who knows but for now he is doing very well.

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John Lennon portrait sent to HMV as part of a proposal to open a drinks bar within its store.

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier dog that Jacob was commissioned to draw through his social media platform.

Artwork showing the history of HMV throughout time, sent along with the John Lennon portrait as part of the proposal to HMV

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Yasmine Ballout Yasmine Ballout is another inspirational 18 year old and up until last month studied sociology, music performance and photography at Cardinal Newman College in Preston.

In her free time she plays the guitar, sings and reads specifically about the sociology of representation, justice and social conflict of which she has a big interest.

Yasmine’s business opportunity came about from her enjoyment of painting, finding herself with a large quantity of canvas bags and her concern for the environment as she explains “….Over the past two years I have amassed quite a lot of free tote bags from university open days and after a particular ‘future fair’ where I was given around 15 bags, I decided to rework them so that I could use them in my everyday life. I painted them with abstract strokes and bright colours and went on to gift some to friends. Over last summer I worked with Safi Jouni, a successful artist from my family’s village in Lebanon. There I got advice and learnt constructive skills while practicing painting still life artwork on canvases. When lockdown happened and I completed all my final college work I started experimenting with painting still life artwork onto the bags.

Yasmine Ballout with one of her creations

Another of Yasmine’s creations modelled by her sister Bismah www.lancmag.com

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It felt gratifying to put them to use instead of throwing them away; hearing that 300,000 tonnes of used clothing goes to landfill in the UK every year really motivated me to find a better home for the bags, as to not contribute to fashion industry waste. I then gauged a positive reaction from my family and decided to start selling them. I have now sold all my university tote bags, and use new plain canvas tote bags, which hopefully helps buyers reduce their use of single-use plastic carrier bags. I love to paint them as it feels very satisfying, usually I copy elements of nineteenth century pieces from the post impressionist and fauvist eras, particularly inspired by Paul Cezanne, Henry Matisse and Emily Charmy.�

Yasmine is going on to university to study sociology and liberal art and although a very talented artist her real passion is to solve social issues in the community. I can see Yasmine going on to a bright and flourishing future.

You can take a look at Yasmine’s bags on her Instagram @theheartofyas

We need to respect and give credit to the young generation of creative minds that are proving to be inspirational and although times have been hard they are showing us the light of the future.

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Dr. Bronner’s Launches New Peppermint Organic Hand Hygiene Spray For Fresh MintScented Hygiene On-The-Go Organic Peppermint Hand Hygiene Spray Will Wake Up Your Senses! RRP: £5.25/60 ml www.drbronner.co.uk Dr. Bronner’s has launched a new Peppermint scented Organic Hand Hygiene Spray for on-the-go. Certified organic and fair trade, the active ingredient, ethyl alcohol, is 99.9% effective against germs while the peppermint oil leaves behind an uplifting scent. Organic glycerin, which naturally draws moisture into the skin, is added to the hand spray rather than synthetic petrochemical thickeners, and this yields a smooth after-feel that is not sticky or drying. Excellent for use on-the-go, in public bathrooms, classrooms, on buses and trains, the Peppermint Organic Hand Hygiene Spray can even be used to clean display screens. Packaged in 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles, the Peppermint Organic Hand Hygiene Spray is the latest addition to Dr. Bronner’s Hygiene product line, alongside the company’s Lavender Organic Hand Hygiene Spray launched in 2008, but now offered in the classic Dr. Bronner’s peppermint fragrance.

Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Organic Hand Hygiene Spray is available at www.drbronner.co.uk and retailers nationwide.

“We are thrilled to launch our Organic Hand Hygiene Spray in Peppermint in the UK” says Mike Bronner, President of Dr. Bronner’s.

“Peppermint is our classic Dr. Bronner’s soap scent, which stimulates the senses and focuses the mind. Additionally, this product celebrates the regenerative organic agriculture practices that successfully supply the organic and fair trade peppermint oil we use in all our products.

This Peppermint Organic Hand Hygiene Spray is one more example of how we can build regenerative and fair supply chains and give consumers options for products that lift up rural communities and help mitigate climate change.”

INGREDIENTS: Organic Fair Trade Ethyl Alcohol (62%)*, Water, Organic Glycerin, Organic Fair Trade Peppermint Oil* (*Certified Fair Trade by Ecocert IMO) The organic and fair trade peppermint oil in this product is sourced from Pavitramenthe, Dr. Bronner’s partners in Bareilly, India, where more than 1,500 farmers utilize regenerative organic agriculture practices, such as minimal tillage, diverse crop rotation, composting and cover cropping, to build healthy soils and sequester carbon. All the mint grown for Dr. Bronner’s Organic Peppermint Hand Hygiene Spray comes from farms that average less than 2 acres each in area. Pavitramenthe has made significant contributions to community development in the area, via such projects as funding medical camps, construction of home toilets, and distribution of water coolers for drinking water. These projects were paid for by the fair trade premium Pavitramenthe receives from Dr. Bronner’s, which also works directly with Pavitramenthe farmers to increase knowledge and skills for implementation of regenerative organic agriculture practices. www.lancmag.com

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Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip,

by Dr Helen Flaherty, Head of Health Promotion at Heart Research UK

Get cycling this Summer Regular physical activity will help you to maintain a healthy weight and keep your heart healthy. Cycling is a fun way to improve your overall health and wellbeing as well as enabling you to get out and explore your local area. We have some tips to get you started with cycling this summer.

If you currently don’t own a bike...

You can check whether your employer offers a Cycle to Work scheme as this can make buying a bike more affordable.

Travelling around by bike may help you to make savings on travel costs. If you don’t have access to a cycle to work scheme, you could check out the deals available from your local bike shop or look out for a cheap second hand bike. You can get advice online or at your local bike shop about which bike is most suitable for you and what extra equipment you might need. If you are unsure whether cycling is for you, why not find out whether you can hire a bike in your local area to try it out first.

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Start off small Don’t try to do too much too soon. If you try to cycle for too long the first time you go out, you may get fatigued or injured and this may put you off continuing. Build up gradually, starting with a short cycle on fairly flat ground, building up to longer and more challenging cycles slowly.

Make sure you allow yourself adequate recovery time in between cycles.

Fuel and fluid As you build up to longer rides as you get fitter, you should always remember to take food and a drink on your bike rides. A snack, such as a banana or a cereal bar, and a bottle of water strapped to your bike frame will help to keep you going for longer.

You can find plenty more healthy tips and recipes at heartresearch.org.uk

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Follow the Countryside Code Words: Mark Bateman

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riginally known as the Country code it dated back to the 1930s and was envisaged as a set of rules for visitors to agricultural and rural areas.

It was updated and replaced in 2004 by the ‘Countryside Code’. In the 1970s and onwards it was widely publicised in public information advertisements on T.V. and at the cinema. Although now quite dated these videos are available on YouTube and can be a fun way for children to get a bite-size idea of what is involved in the Countryside Code.

The original Countryside Code gives the following rules to help everyone enjoy the countryside: • Enjoy the Countryside and respect its life and work. Remember the countryside is a working environment for many people including farmers.

• Guard Against all risk of Fire: Avoid dropping lit cigarettes or matches on the ground, be especially careful in dry grassy areas. Barbeques are not a good idea – save these for home. Do not light fires for any reason.

• Leave gates as you found them: As a general rule gates should be closed especially when they are there to 124

contain livestock. However, if they are propped open the landowner probably wants them leaving this way.

• Keep pets under close control: Keep your dog on a lead if there is any livestock around. Every year sheep are killed, or abort their lambs, because they have been worried by dogs. Even well -behaved dogs can act unpredictably around livestock.

• Keep on public paths and rights of way across farmland: Stick to marked pathways (usually the best route anyway) and use the gates and stiles provided to cross walls and hedges. Gates marked ‘Private’ are not rights of way. Protect structures to contain livestock by not climbing over walls or locked gates.

• Don’t touch livestock, machinery, and crops: crops and livestock are a farmer’s livelihood so it’s a good idea to stay away from them.

Livestock can be aggressive in defending their young and farm machinery can, by its nature, be dangerous.

• Please take your litter home: Litter is unpleasant to look at, but it can also harm wildlife and livestock.

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Animals can die if they eat plastic packaging and ducks and other birdlife can get stuck in the plastic that holds canned drinks together.

• Help to keep all water clean: Keep streams beautiful and sparkling clean by not tipping any waste into them.

• Protect wildlife, trees, and plants: Enjoy their beauty and leave them un-touched for other people to also enjoy.

• Take special care on country roads: These can be narrow with high hedges and poor visibility. If you have to walk on roads walk facing oncoming traffic preferably wearing high visibility gear or carrying a torch if you will be out after dark.

• Make no unnecessary noise: We all love the peace and tranquillity of nature; let’s all help keep it that way.

The Countryside code has now been up-dated to contain the following additional points due to the Covid- 19 pandemic. These can be found in full at: www.gov.uk/government/ publications/the-countryside-code www.lancmag.com

Now that the Covid-19 restrictions are starting to be lifted people are once again venturing back into rural areas to enjoy, the fresh air, wide open spaces, and breath- taking scenery. There has never been a more important time for us all to be aware of and follow the ‘Countryside Code’.

These additions include: • Respect other people – Consider the local community, those working in the area, and other people enjoying the outdoors • Park Carefully so access to gates and driveways are clear – This is so important. It’s vital if you’re thinking of parking on a road (ideally try not to) to leave room for emergency vehicles to get through. Think, can a fire engine fit through here? If it can’t don’t park there. Many rural villages only have one through road leading in and out. If you block this road and an emergency vehicle can’t get through it may have to go all the way round to access an emergency. As we all know in emergency situations time equals lives.

• Follow pathways: But give way to people where necessary to preserve social distancing rules.

• Protect the natural environment: Try to leave no trace of your visit. If no bin is available, please take your litter home. Barbeques and fires are a bad idea as these can start dangerous wildfires. Keep your dog under effective control, bag dog poo www.lancmag.com

and bin it.

• Enjoy the outdoors by planning ahead: Check what parking facilities are open. A lot of places do not yet have toilets open again, could this be a problem? If you’re planning on climbing a mountain, make sure it’s one you’ve done before and a route you know well. Don’t walk it alone and tell someone else where you’re going.

Make sure you have an up to date map. Always carry bad weather gear even in the height of summer, rural weather can be very changeable and the weather up a mountain can differ significantly from weather at ground level. Now is not the time for trying a new or unfamiliar route. Mountain Rescue teams do an excellent job, but they are under pressure the same as all other emergency organisations, their resources are precious.

Follow any advice given by local signs and obey social distancing measures: These are there to inform you, keep you and your family safe and help you enjoy the fresh air and countryside.

There’s quite a lot of don’ts in that advice, so how about some ‘do’s’? Do go

and enjoy the countryside, do take lots of photos, do make happy memories and do enjoy exploring exciting new places. Who knows, you may find somewhere that could become your new favourite place to get away to in any season, or the perfect wedding venue, you never know until you head off exploring Tim Farron the MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale since 2005 is a passionate advocate of making the countryside accessible to all but protecting it at the same time. On his Facebook page Mr Farron gives good, sensible clear advice on how to behave in and enjoy the countryside, it’s well worth having a look at.

The countryside is there for us all to enjoy, but we all have a duty to respect it and look after it even if we are only visiting for a few hours.

As the great Indian Chief Si Ahl (so great Seattle was named after him) said about the countryside: ‘Take nothing but memories, leave nothing but footprints.’

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10 summer rugs to lift your lockdown spirits While the lockdown might be easing (a little), homeowners are continuing to find new ways to create a happy home environment with ‘mood boosting’ home interiors. From colours to design, there are lots of ways interiors can lift the spirits.

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Summer Sunsets – Monetti Rugs Bring the warmth of a beautiful summer sunset into the home with the Monetti range at The Rug Seller, from £160.

Ice Cream Shades I scream, you scream we all scream for “Ice Cream shades” in our home. Get the look with the Rocks Shaggy rug, £114 from The Rug Seller

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All Things Bright & Beautiful – Abstract Collage Runner, £90.90 Give a hallway or kitchen an instant pop of bright summer colour with this runner from The Rug Seller.

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‘Rock’ candy stripes Take inspiration from the traditional British stick of rock for some vibrant colour combinations!

Rock the look with this aptly named Sunshine rug from The Rug Seller, £199.99

3 Beautiful Summer Blooms – Rose and Peony Rug, £485

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6 Laid Back Summer Vibes With A Bit Of Boho, Nahla Runner, £44 Sustainability is at the heart of The Rug Seller’s Nahla runner, made from abundant, recyclable cotton. Perfect for hallways or in front of double doors. www.lancmag.com

Undoubtedly, a rug is one of the easiest ways to make a big impact with minimal effort in a room. No sticky wallpaper paste or dripping paint brushes needed – take delivery of your rug through your front door and ‘kapow’, the mood of the room is lifted with a lovely large expanse of colour and style.

Here are 10 brilliant buys from The Rug Seller, each with that summer-inspired feel good factor!

9 The Shores collection – inspired by coastal lines all around the world For British consumers longing for a return to overseas shorelines, introduce the latest collection designed by Louis De Poortere.

The Shores collection is modern and contemporary, a stunning interpretation of land meets the sea in five bold colours, £374

7 Sunshine yellow - Zira Jute Rugs, £229 With the Zira Jute Rug in yellow, it’s like having a big bold summer sun in your room everyday.

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A Taste of Istanbul – Lunara Jute Istanbul Circle Rug, £100

Bring the outside in - Asella Natural Jute Chenille Kobo Rugs, £90 Soft chenille is interwoven with super sustainable Jute for the perfect summery design, pairing natural shades with on-trend accent colours. The ideal option for high-traffic areas jute rugs are perfect for any kitchen or living room.

Daniel Prendergast offers this advice for using mood boosting colours and designs in the home: “Warm pinks, oranges and yellows will evoke feeling of optimism, happiness and energy.

“Yellow is the colour of happiness and sunlight – so it will help you feel upbeat, friendly and creative. It is also reported to promote the release of serotonin, a neurotransmitter

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chemical that contributes to a feeling of well-being and so can lift your spirits.

“Oranges and pinks support an optimistic and positive outlook on life. Pink tends to inspire those who are surrounded by it, for its fun and energy. It reminds us that life is for living! Warm colours like pink are thought to stimulate conversation and make people feel connected.

“Overall, blue is a calming, serene colour and people have been found to be more productive when in a blue room because they are calm and focused. Some say it can boost efficiency and intelligence. It is a colour known to help lower blood pressure, clear the mind and help to feel balanced.

“Green is another calming colour and, being located at the centre of

the colour spectrum, it’s considered the pigment of balance, stability and restoration. In its softer forms, green helps us feel relaxed and refreshed, but bolder greens are the sign for ‘go’ – providing energy and supporting a natural love for life and nature.”

For more information and inspiration for the home visit www.therugseller.co.uk

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10 compelling reasons to make Woodford Garden Village your home IF lockdown’s left you disenchanted with where you live, then now might be the perfect time to invest in a new home; and award winning homebuilder Redrow can name at least 10 good reasons to choose Woodford Garden Village, in Cheshire.

Homes like the four-bedroom Grantham mid-terrace are eligible for Help to Buy

North West head of sales Anna Evans-Kerr says: “Since reopening our sales offices by appointment only we’ve heard from many people who’ve realised over the last few weeks that their existing home is no longer right for them.

“They’ve maybe realised it’s too small or needs a bigger garden; or it’s too big and takes too much looking after; or it’s too far from shops, parks and important services and they want to be at the heart of a community.”

Whatever the circumstances, for those ready for a new home, here are 10 compelling reasons to choose Woodford Garden Village.

1. Location Close to Cheshire’s ‘golden triangle’ of Wilmslow, Prestbury and Alderley Edge, the village of Woodford is nestled between the larger towns and villages of Handforth, Bramhall and Poynton, each with a good selection of local amenities. It is just five miles from Stockport, and boasts good road and rail links to the nearby city of Manchester and the whole of the North West.

2. Placemaking at its best Sensitively replacing the site of the old Woodford Aerodrome, Redrow’s development is the first garden village of its kind to be built in the north of England for decades.

The sensitive blueprint combines 920 new homes with a retirement / extra care facility, a pub, primary school, shops and an extensive network of green spaces. “It’s the perfect community within a community,” Anna says.

3. Green spaces Woodford Garden Village is designed around tree-lined boulevards and a network of green corridors for recreation.

There will be children’s play areas, cycle pathways, parks, meadows and extensive tree planting. In fact, there are 19 areas of play, parks or public open space planned or already in existence, including a village green. For even wider green spaces, the outer edges of the Peak District National Park are less than 10 miles away.

4. Shops & services Woodford Garden Village will have its own small, local shops and there’s a convenience store a short walk away.

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The larger villages and towns of Poynton, Handforth and Bramhall have shops and supermarkets aplenty, including a Waitrose in Poynton, while the designer shopping destinations of Wilmslow, Prestbury and Alderley Edge are also within easy reach. All of these places are hot spots for high quality cafes, bars and restaurants too once dining out becomes a reality again.

5. Schools The development will have its own primary school, scheduled to open in September 2021. In the meantime there’s a good choice of primary and secondary schools in the area, including some rated Outstanding and Good by Ofsted.

6. Leisure While lockdown has been a time for solitary runs, walks and cycle rides and online fitness sessions, many will be looking forward to when they can get back to the gym and organised sport. Poynton Leisure Centre, less than three miles away, has a pool, gym, fitness classes and amenities for badminton, cricket, squash and more. There are also weekly badminton sessions, pilates and dance classes in the nearby Woodford War Memorial Community Centre; plus private gyms in the area such as David Lloyd just a few miles away in Cheadle. This part of Cheshire is famous for its fabulous choice of golf courses, and homeowners could potentially enjoy a challenging round at Adlington, Avro and Bramhall, as well as the Championship course at Mottram Hall. www.lancmag.com

Large and luxurious homes at Woodford Garden Village, including the Highgrove show home (far right), which is available with all its furniture included.

7. Connectivity Trains from nearby Poynton Station reach Manchester Piccadilly in less than 25 minutes. Stockport is only five miles away and there will be a new, dedicated bus service from the development. The new A555 Manchester Airport Eastern Link road brings the airport within a 10 minute drive.

8. Extensive choice of homes There are several phases of development underway at Woodford Garden Village and everything from a threebedroom Ludlow semi at £377,995 to a large five-bedroom detached Highgrove home at £1,030,000, with designs from Redrow’s Arts & Crafts inspired Heritage Collection. And, coming soon, there are 30 high specification, luxury twobedroom apartments with a gated entrance. Each property has a private garage and a balcony or terrace.

9. Readymade Homes Woodford Garden Village has some large, luxurious four and five-bedroom homes ready to move into almost straight away. These included the four-bedroom Welwyn from £584,000 and the fabulous Highgrove showhome with everything included – even the furniture - at £1,030,000.

Badged by Redrow as ‘Readymade Homes’, these properties include valuable extras and upgrades to make them even more desirable and better value for money.

10.Help to Buy With available homes from £479,995 for the four-bedroom Grantham mid-terrace at Tudor Grange, several homes at www.lancmag.com

Woodford are eligible for Help to Buy, meaning customers can apply for a Government-backed equity loan for up to 20% of the property price, leaving them to find only a 5% deposit and a 75% mortgage from a lender of choice. The equity loan is interest free for the first five years. Or for those with an existing property to sell, Redrow’s own Help to Sell incentive uses local estate agents to find a buyer and makes a contribution to your selling fees.

The sales centre and show homes at Woodford Garden Village are now open by appointment only, with new social distancing measures in place to ensure the safety of customers and staff. Go to: www.redrow.co.uk/promo/woodford for more information or call 0161 636 0798.

Customers can also register for the My Redrow online hub, enabling them to fully interact with Redrow online, including browsing, reserving and choosing options for their new home.

Find out more about booking an appointment and Redrow’s coronavirus social distancing measures here: https://www.redrow.co.uk/coronavirus LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 129

Swinging its way! Lock Down Live!

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The team behind “Lock Down Live” at King George’s Hall, Blackburn, are joining forces with local professional jazz musician, Arthur Geldard, for a concert live from his home in Clitheroe in the Ribble Valley.

Arthur has been entertaining people in Clitheroe every Sunday during lockdown, with socially-distanced groups taking their place on the street outside his house, with thousands more joining in online.

Arthur’s love of music started at an early age, learning to play the piano at the age of 6, and joining Blackburn Cathedral Choir as a chorister where he rose to the rank of head chorister. This gave him the opportunity to sing for royalty, famous

figures, and perform in Notre-dame Cathedral, Berlin Cathedral and St Paul’s Cathedral.

Arthur gained his love of jazz and swing music through playing Trumpet and Trombone in Swing Bands, where he first encountered the likes of Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Cole Porter and Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack. He even took a sabbatical from university to sing with Big Bands in Chicago, in order to refine his style and listen to a wide breadth of music in one of the founding cities of the genre.

Inviting you along, Arthur said: “I’m really excited that I am joining forces with the teams in Blackburn & Darwen.

King Georges Hall Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/ KingGeorgesHallBlackburn at 5pm.

Arthur releases a new CD on 19th June, recorded with local musicians in Blackburn.

A mix of his own original jazz songs, and standards such as Lady Is A Tramp, At Last and It Don’t Mean A Thing.

Find out more about Arthur on his website https://arthurgeldard.com/

Photo: Arthur Geldard (Credit Julie Swan Photography) www.lancmag.com

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Nature reserves are fragile places Nature reserves are fragile places that should be treated with care and consideration to protect the wildlife that lives there.

Meadow Lake Brockholes, autumn, Les Price

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Brockholes Nature Reserve

The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside believes some of the vandalism and litter problems on its reserves are caused by people not realising the importance of these special areas.

And with a little more care visitors would not spoil wild habitats that, in some cases, have taken decades to create.

Wildlife Trust Campaigns Manager Alan Wright said: “We have seen an increase in the number of littering and vandalism incidents on our reserves during the Coronavirus lockdown.

There have even been raves, dance events where people have just selfishly left litter and caused damage.

“Some of this is down to the fact that these areas are isolated and people involved believe they can misbehave without being caught.

“However, in many cases it is just people not realising that nature reserves are not their local park – so they play games and go for a swim in areas that are clearly fenced off for wildlife.”

As the Wildlife Trust prepares to start opening its most popular reserves in the region in the next couple of months, they are hoping to speak to visitors and explain how their actions can affect the wild plants and creatures that live there.

Alan said: “These are vitally important environment for mammals, birds, insects and plants, allowing them to breed and bring up young in ideal conditions. Of course, this means these areas are sensitive to any kind of human disturbance.

They are fragile and need to be left alone and viewed from a distance.

“Climbing over a fence and wandering through grassland, for instance, could mean you are destroying hidden nests, causing fledglings to run away, or destroying plants that are vital food sources for insects.

“If there is a fence, it is there for a reason, so you - or your dog - shouldn’t be running through it. Similarly, swimming in a nature reserve lake is only going to disturb the birds that live and feed there.”

Incidents have included illegal swimming, dogs killing wildlife and lambs and people starting fires because they did not tidy up after themselves. Reports of youths encouraging dogs to chase birds in these sensitive areas have also been reported to police.

The Trust is hoping that the reopening of the reserves will bring in more people with wildlife knowledge to stop these incidents.

Alan said: “Our officers and other regular visitors to our reserves will speak to people and explain why they are doing wrong and report criminal activities. As we open our gates some of these problems will be solved because our reserves will not be as isolated as during the first months of the lockdown.

“In the ideal world people who visit our reserves will think before taking actions, whether deliberate or accidental, which could damage wildlife or create dangers for human visitors, including themselves.”

If anyone sees anti-social behaviour in any wild places they can contact the police or the Wildlife Trust.

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside is dedicated to the protection and promotion of the wildlife in Lancashire, seven boroughs of Greater Manchester and four of Merseyside, all lying north of the River Mersey. It manages around 40 nature reserves and 20 Local Nature Reserves covering acres of woodland, wetland, upland and meadow. The Trust has 27,000 members, and over 1,200 volunteers.

To become a member of the Trust go to the website at www.lancswt.org.uk or call 01772 324129. For more information about Cheshire Wildlife Trust call 01948 820728 or go to cheshirewildlifetrust.org.uk.

www.lancmag.com

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Rod licence sales boom as lockdown eases • Over quarter of a million licences sold after lockdown restrictions lifted • People across England appear to be turning to an age-old pastime with built-in social distancing

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etween 13 May 2020, when the restrictions were lifted, and 9 June 2020 over 335,000 licences were sold compared to 142,000 licences sold from the start of the year to end of March 2020, a rise of over 230% in less than two months. This also represents a rise of over 200,000 more than the same period last year.

The Environment Agency and the sport’s governing body, the Angling Trust, believe the rise is due to existing anglers embracing the opportunity to start fishing again, together with those taking up the sport for the first time or returning to the sport after a long absence – prompted by the pursuit of new hobbies during lockdown.

Fishing licence income is vital to the work of the Environment Agency to maintain, improve and develop fisheries. Revenue generated from fishing licence sales is reinvested to benefit angling, with work including tackling illegal fishing, protecting habitats for fish and improving facilities for anglers.

Last year alone, the revenue generated by over 800,000 anglers contributed to the cost of building more than 100 fish passes, allowing the free movement of fish through rivers. Other work covered by the licence fee included nearly 2,000 fish surveys and improvements to over 1,000 kilometres of river and 87 hectares of stillwater fisheries.

In Cumbria and Lancashire, a programme of work, funded through fishing licence sales has resulted in ten years of successful soft engineering along Cumbria rivers that has improved habitats and water quality, protected fish and got more people fishing throughout Cumbria.

The series of work has included many different soft engineering techniques at different locations throughout Cumbria including river restoration, tree planting and habitat creation. Over the last ten years, the Environment Agency, as part of the works, have coordinated the planting of 31,995 trees across the county with 10,000 planted in 2019, creating an additional 17 hectares of new habitat last year. This provides river bank stabilisation,

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creates shaded areas to help boost fish populations and slow the flow of the rivers. All completed with the help of hundreds of school pupils, local angling clubs, associations and environmentalists adding up to thousands of volunteer hours.

The programme has introduced of over 2072 meters of willow to protect banks from erosion as well as 44,141 meters of fencing along water courses. This helps to create riparian strips (area where land meets water) and wildlife corridors. It also allows natural rejuvenation of the river banks, contributes to natural flood management due to reprofiling of the river banks and also decreases the amount of sediment that goes into the river. Along with this the introduction of 58 sections of woody material debris and management of gravel beds provide shelter for young fish and creates channel diversity, enhancing fish to naturally breed leading to a higher number of fish in our rivers The rise in interest in fishing comes at a prime time for anglers with the end of the close season for coarse fishing on rivers just around the corner. The annual close season, which runs from the 15 March until 15 June helps to protect coarse fish stocks across England during spawning.

Dr Graeme Storey, Environment Agency Acting Deputy Director for Fisheries and the Natural Environment, said: “Since the lifting of restrictions on recreational angling it has been encouraging to see not only anglers returning to the sport, but also people trying fishing for the first time. Responsible fishing is an excellent way to engage with nature and enjoy being outdoors, which in turn can provide positive health and welfare benefits. As a consequence of the revenue generated through the sale of rod licences, anglers are at the heart of protecting and improving the very things they care about.

“Fishing really is an activity that most people, of any age, can participate in and enjoy. Whether looking for a moment of solitude or a family day out, I would encourage anyone thinking about it to give it a go. It is important to remember that if you decide to return to fishing or take it up for the first time, you must have a valid fishing licence www.lancmag.com

Environment Agency figures released today show a huge surge in fishing licence sales after the government lifted restrictions on outdoor activities.

and adhere to current government guidelines on social distancing.”

Jamie Cook, Angling Trust CEO, said “The Angling Trust is delighted that ministers embraced the recommendations in our When We Fish Again report and authorised an early resumption of angling in England to COVID compliant guidelines. We are also delighted to be witnessing something of a renaissance in angling with former anglers returning to the sport and newcomers trying fishing for the first time. In these difficult times we believe that our sport has much to offer in terms social, health and economic wellbeing.

In England and Wales you need a fishing licence to fish for salmon, trout, freshwater fish, smelt or eel with a rod and line. Anglers found fishing without a licence can face fines of up to £2,500. www.lancmag.com

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Benyon review of Highly Protected Marine Areas published today Lancashire Wildlife Trust back new form of protection for the sea and calls on Government for ambitious delivery plan for Highly Protected Marine Areas within a year

The Benyon review of Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) is published by Defra today. The Lancashire Wildlife Trust backs its recommendations that HPMAs should be an essential part of the UK network for protection and recovery of the marine environment, and the government should introduce HPMAs within existing protected areas.

The review is published on World Oceans Day by an independent panel of members from academia, industry and conservation backgrounds and chaired by former MP and Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon. The Wildlife Trusts believe that there is an overwhelming case for HPMAs across our seas which would see a ban on all damaging activities and are calling for an ambitious HPMA delivery plan within a year.

The North West Wildlife Trusts’ Marine Conservation Officer, Dr Emily Baxter, says: “Our seas are becoming increasingly threatened by pollution, unsustainable exploitation and infrastructure development, and, increasingly, the effects of global climate change. These pressures are altering the ecological balance, depleting resources beyond safe biological limits and jeopardising what we can take from the sea. Our seas are in need of recovery and this will require swift action to be taken.

“Today’s report proposes one of the vital steps needed towards the recovery. We urge the Government to take on board the recommendations and commit to a HPMA recovery plan before World Oceans Day 2021 “Existing Marine Protected Areas like Fylde Marine Conservation Zone are limited in their ability to restore habitats and marine life as their remit of these sites is to maintain these habitats in their current condition. In these 136

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areas only some of the most damaging activities are prevented, and only in some parts of the site” “Importantly, today’s report recommends that Highly Protected Marine Areas should allow the protection and recovery of marine ecosystems by prohibiting extraction, destruction and deposition, and only allowing non-damaging levels of other activities to occur. It also highlights that these areas should protect all species and habitats within their boundaries – allowing nature to recover properly.

“Another important recommendation is that HPMAs should be designated in all areas of English Seas, both inshore and offshore, covering a range of habitats. Over the next year we will be working hard to ensure that important areas off the coast of Lancashire and Merseyside receive full consideration based on robust ecological evidence. We will also be encouraging HPMAs to be monitored closely to allow us to understand what a thriving seabed and restored marine ecosystem really means” In October 2019 The Wildlife Trusts submitted evidence to the panel saying: • A selection of well monitored HPMAs that are sufficient in size and number are needed to understand what happens when damaging activities are removed and how our seas can recover. In turn this will help us determine appropriate management for the rest of the Marine Protected Area (MPA) network • Highly Protected Marine Areas provide a higher level of protection than other types of MPAs - this means marine areas will be able to return to as natural a state as possible with more marine wildlife www.lancmag.com

Left: Manx shearwater_Amy Lewis (need our seas to recover for marine life) Far Left: Common_starfish_digging_for_prey.

Paul_Naylor_Fylde MCZ supports variety of marine life.

Bottom Left: Ocean Quahog (rare in Irish Sea) Angus Robson

• Highly Protected Marine Areas act as a natural solution to climate change in the form of carbon capture, whilst at the same time helping to conserve the animals and plants living there • Highly Protected Marine Areas have the potential to generate direct benefits through increased tourism and recreational activities while indirect benefits will improve people’s wellbeing for decades The designation of HPMAs would be the first of their kind in the UK. HPMAs can act as an ecosystem tool for recovery and significantly contribute to the Government’s aim of achieving a well-managed and ecologically coherent network of protected areas at sea.

Emily continues: “By removing all pressures and damaging activities, HPMAs will give parts of our sea the best opportunity to recover to as natural and healthy condition as possible.”

Just over a year ago, the Government announced the creation of six new Marine Conservation Zones in the Irish Sea. All six of these sites contain vulnerable or rare habitats and species in urgent need of recovery to a healthier ecological condition, after years of suffering from damaging human activities.

Above: Wyre Estuary

Whilst the designation of these sites was a significant step towards the UK achieving an ‘ecologically coherent’ network of Marine Protected Areas, management measures are yet to be implemented in these sites to prevent further damage and destruction. The management of existing Marine Protected Areas and the introduction of well-enforced Highly Protected Marine Areas (offering the highest standard of environmental protection) is urgently needed if we are to see the recovery of marine life in our seas.

We are asking everyone to take one simple action this World Oceans Day, to support our ask to Government for an ambitious delivery plan for Highly Protected Marine Areas within a year. Raise your hand and support our ask through our quick and easy e-action now: http://action. wildlifetrusts.org/page/61642/data/1

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside is dedicated to the protection and promotion of the wildlife in Lancashire, seven boroughs of Greater Manchester and four of Merseyside, all lying north of the River Mersey. It manages around 40 nature reserves and 20 Local Nature Reserves covering acres of woodland, wetland, upland and meadow. The Trust has 27,000 members, and over 1,200 volunteers.

To become a member of the Trust go to the website at www.lancswt.org.uk or call 01772 324129. For more information about Cheshire Wildlife Trust call 01948 820728 or go to cheshirewildlifetrust.org.uk.

www.lancmag.com

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‘Fusion Kitchen’ with new Bronze & Cuban Oak finishes by Daval

New Bronze Mayfair & Cuban Oak Varenna kitchen by Daval

Daval, leading British designer and manufacturer of quality fitted furniture unveils a new sense of kitchen-artistry with the launch of two special textured finishes: Bronze: a supermatt metallic finish with stone surface texture exclusive to Daval Cuban Oak: a rich woodgrain effect with the look and feel of natural wood – laminate solution Designed for the contemporary kitchen and ultramodern homeowner, each new finish has been introduced so that Daval can answer the growing trend for combination interiors, which present a fusion of different raw materials, finishes and textures.

Simon Bodsworth, Managing Director at Daval Furniture explains “Open-plan living continues to influence the latest kitchen designs and with the space needing to serve a variety of disciplines like cooking, dining, entertaining and more recently home office work, mixing materials is a great way to create a zonal scheme that is well-panned, custom engineered and urban in style.”

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“In terms of colour then darker surface textures, metallic accents and warm timber effects continue to rival more subtle options and in the kitchen, are being used to create an industrial-glam look like the featured Bronze and Cuban Oak kitchen” says Simon.

The new Bronze finish is seen upon the contemporary Mayfair furniture collection by Daval, and is designed with slab doors and knurled industrial bar handles in Brass. Extremely versatile, Mayfair Bronze is seen here as a flush-fitting, double wall unit with full height doors and space to house a twin-set of appliances with low-level custom drawers. Exclusive to Daval, Bronze boasts a rich metallic finish that changes its appearance when different levels of ambient or natural light hit the surface. www.lancmag.com

New for 2020 - Bronze & Cuban Oak finishes by Daval Furniture: concept shown with Mayfair & Varenna furniture

New Bronze Mayfair & Cuban Oak Varenna kitchen

by Daval

Perfectly paired with the metal-look Bronze finish is the new Cuban Oak wood décor, as shown on Varenna. Defining the work area of this u-shaped kitchen are striking white worktops and new Cuban Oak finish seen across three handleless wall units, a run of base cabinets, island end panel and outwardfacing credenza. The new Cuban Oak finish not only breaks-up the distressed mirrored splashback, it also provides high contrast when compared to the black marble effect peninsula that creates a two-person breakfast bar, as pictured left.

•Varenna Kitchen Furniture Collection - Wood effect laminate finishes, horizontal woodgrain = Blonde Wood + NEW Alaskan Oak, Grey Oak and Cuban Oak, as pictured.

The featured kitchen furniture includes:

• Colour matched cabinets: this feature avoids additional cladding on the end panels for a highly luxurious finish.

Built from sustainable materials and precision engineered in Britain, every kitchen by Daval is made-to-order and madeto-measure. Its Mayfair & Varenna Kitchen Furniture is priced from £10,000 +vat.

• Mayfair Kitchen Furniture Collection - Supermatt UV lacquer finishes, vertical striations. = Cashmere, Charcoal, Dove Grey, Frost White + NEW Dust Grey, Marine Blue, Hunter Green, Talpa and Bronze, as pictured.

• Brass details: knurled bar handles, vertical & horizontal and C-spout kitchen mixer • Lighting: under-cabinet spot lights, peninsula feature lighting and LED suspension light

For further information, please contact Daval Furniture: t 01484 848 500 e enquiries@daval-furniture.co.uk | w www.daval-furniture.co.uk Daval House, Spa Fields Industrial Estate, New Street, Slaithwaite, Huddersfield, HD7 5BB www.lancmag.com

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How Men Express Stress & The Increasing Challenges of Covid-19 on Men’s Mental Health From boyhood men are told to be brave and ambitious, as they grow older, they strive to become good fathers, partners and providers. Throughout the pandemic, the traditional role of man has changed and with this has come new pressures.

Psychotherapist Noel McDermott explores how men express stress and offers stress management techniques to help handle these new demands.

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www.lancmag.com

What Men Fear Most The biggest fear for many men is that they will not be able to return to full economic productivity and earning capacity and this is still a large part of men’s identity and role in our culture. Men who act as the primary breadwinners in their household feel the financial burden and responsibility within their relationship. For those that are now returning to work, many are reporting anxiety with the loss of family time and others are feeling the pressure to make up for lost earnings and secure an economic future. Numerous studies show men feel financial stresses both as a status issue and as a provider, this can lead to relationship difficulties, drinking and substance misuse and mental health issues.

These concerns increase significantly during times of economic downturn and this can be seen during the lifting of lockdown.

Psychotherapist Noel McDermott comments: “For many men their whole lives have been turned upside down, the vast majority still can’t go to work, to the gym, play sport with a team or to the pub with pals. Men in general have fewer social and emotional support systems and the places where men used to go and talk about their problems are closed and they’ve found themselves in new, unfamiliar circumstances. For those that are fathers, they have been at home all day with more exposure to the household demands and domestic responsibilities balancing both work and family. This has created even more demands and pressures”.

Mask of Masculinity Despite being at home with loved ones, many men don’t speak to their partners or wives about their problems as they feel the pressure to be role models and talking about their worries doesn’t fit the mask of masculinity that has been thrust upon them from an early age. However, not talking about their problems and going without social interaction has created a surge in stress, depression and anxiety in men.

How Men Express Stress Stress is a big factor in health and mental health for both men and women and these times of transition are very stressful. Typically, we see men express stress in a number of ways: • Sexual performance issues and loss of libido • Emotional dysregulation (irritability and anger) • Sleep issues, appetite issues • Withdrawal and bottling things up • Increased drinking • Mood shifts and mood swings Self-help for Men: Stress Management Techniques As these are stress responses the single biggest thing folk can do to help themselves is learn better stress management techniques which are:

• Spot it, know your signs that you are experiencing problems and have your ‘fire escape’ plan in place to ensure you manage better such as increased self-care, asking for help from others, getting professional help, talking to your GP. • Ensure general wellbeing hygiene practice to increase resilience: exercise, sleep well, good food, talk to friends and family about your worries, hydrate well, get outside regularly, ensure you do fun things!

• Increase your time as a family and with your partner in discussing the worries and providing reassurance and support, ensure you normalise your experiences of stress and understand everyone is feeling this and it’s not a sign of failure to be feeling overwhelmed.

Signs that there may be need of professional help are if there are problems in functioning that are persistent over a two-week period. Periodic anxiety or depression lasting a short period of time is to be expected and will generally shift of their own accord if your general mental hygiene/ lifestyle is resilient. If it continues for days and weeks, then there is likely to be a problem needing proper diagnosis and treatment and asking your GP for advice is a good idea.

Noel McDermott is a Psychotherapist with over 25 years’ experience in health, social care, and education. He is the founder and CEO of three organisations, Psychotherapy and Consultancy Ltd, Sober Help Ltd and Mental Health Works Ltd. Noel’s company offer at-home mental health care and will source, identify and co-ordinate personalised care teams for the individual. They have recently launched a range of online therapy resources in order to help clients access help without leaving home - www.noelmcdermott.net/group-therapy/.

Reasons to buy a new home in Barrow

WITH more time spent at home in recent weeks than ever before, it’s no surprise that people are starting to reconsider their housing needs.

“For some homeowners having their children off school and working from home themselves has made them realise that they have outgrown their current property,” explains Lesley Myers, sales manager for Redrow Homes (Lancashire).

“There are also twenty and thirty-somethings who are craving the freedom and privacy of their own home after being in lockdown with their parents, no matter how strong their relationships are. One advantage for them is that with restaurants and bars closed and foreign holiday plans on hold they’ve been able to save money towards a deposit and could find they’re able to buy sooner than they expected.”

Whatever the circumstances, here are some of the reasons why those looking for a new home near Clitheroe should choose a new Redrow home at Oak Leigh Gardens in Barrow.

1. Happy valley The sought-after Ribble Valley is officially the happiest place in the UK, according to the Office of National Statistics.

Personal wellbeing for the borough ranked at 8.3 out of 10 in an ONS survey, compared with a national average of 7.56.

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Redrow’s Heritage Collection homes at Oak Leigh Gardens, Barrow

Nestled between Pendle Hill and the Forest of Bowland, Oak Leigh Gardens’ rural location has proved to be an attractive selling point for commuters and young families, especially as it’s also so well connected.

2. Go outdoors Access to outdoor space became increasingly important during lockdown, with many discovering a new passion for walking, running or cycling. Residents of Oak Leigh Gardens can look forward to exploring the myths and magic of historic Pendle Hill or miles of trails at the Forest of Bowland, perfect for hiking, biking or simply picnicking.

3. Shop local The importance of access to local shops has become increasingly apparent in the wake of COVID-19. There’s a Co-Op convenience store on the outskirts of Barrow for residents’ needs, with several major supermarkets in nearby Clitheroe, including Booths, Aldi and Tesco. Around a mile away, Whalley has a small selection of independent shops, with a larger range available in Clitheroe, including family businesses that have served the area for generations. www.lancmag.com

The Holly style property from the Harwood Homes collection at Oak Leigh Gardens 6. Exquisite eateries * When it comes to dining out the Ribble Valley has plenty to offer including the Michelin starred Northcote at Langho, just 10 minutes from Oak Leigh Gardens by car. Other awardwinning options include the Assheton Arms and The Inn at Whitewell. Closer to home, Barrow is home to The Eagle, The Great Land Chinese, The Dao Siam and the No1 Restaurant and Bar. 7. Choice of award-winning homes Oak Leigh Gardens was named the Best Residential Development in Lancashire in the 2019 UK Property Awards.

The development features a good selection of three and four-bedroom homes. Buyers can choose from the Harwood Homes collection priced from £254,995 to £279,995 or the Arts & Crafts inspired Heritage Collection, available from £319,995 to £424,995.

8. Help to Buy or Sell

Clitheroe also has a popular market three times a week and a monthly farmers’ market.

4. Connectivity Balancing rural living with access to amenities and commuting to work is simple with a move to Oak Leigh Gardens. Situated just off the main A59 Preston Road, the homes are within easy reach of the M6 and M65; Clitheroe is less than three miles away and places like Blackburn, Burnley, Preston and even Manchester are all easily reached.

Trains from nearby Whalley station connect to Blackburn in 15 minutes and direct to Manchester in just over an hour.

5. Schools For parents with young children, living near a wellrespected school is important. Barrow Primary was rated as “outstanding” by Ofsted and is just a short walk from Oak Leigh Gardens. For older pupils there’s a choice of two “outstanding” senior schools St Augustine’s RC High and Clitheroe Royal Grammar within a couple of miles.

www.lancmag.com

All of the homes at Oak Leigh Gardens fall within the threshold for Help to Buy. It means customers can apply for a Government-backed equity loan for up to 20% of the property price, leaving them to find only a 5% deposit and a 75% mortgage from a lender of choice. The equity loan is interest free for the first five years. Or for those with an existing property to sell, Redrow’s own Help to Sell incentive uses local estate agents to find a buyer and makes a contribution to the selling fees.

The sales centre and show homes at Oak Leigh Gardens are now open by appointment only, with new social distancing measures in place to ensure the safety of customers and staff.

Go to: www.redrow.co.uk/oakleigh for more information or call 01254 865167.

Also visit www.harwoodhomes.co.uk/oakleigh.

Customers can also register for the My Redrow online hub, enabling them to fully interact with Redrow online, including browsing, reserving and choosing options for their new home.

Find out more about booking an appointment and Redrow’s coronavirus social distancing measures here: https://www.redrow.co.uk/coronavirus * Restaurants and pubs may still be temporarily closed due to Government guidance LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 143

Aiming Higher

You can donate to Aiming Higher using the following methods Website | www.aiminghighercharity.org.uk/get-involved/donate/ Just Giving & PayPal | Found on Aiming Higher website

Post | Aiming Higher. 231 – 233 Church Street, Blackpool, Lancashire FY1 3PB. Please ring 01253 206447 further information

Aiming Higher are able to support social work university students by working with their universities to offer placements with the family support team in Blackpool. Even during lockdown Amy Williamson, the charity’s practice educator has continued to support students to continue their professional development in unique circumstances. In this month’s article, student Holly McMahon reflects on her time Vitalka Wilson speaking to Aiming Higher’s Development Project Manager Amycharity Gunniss as her placement comes to with the an end:

What I have learned from being on placement with Aiming Higher?

The team from Headstart

Holly at work at home during lockdown.

A

develop new possibilities for creative practice in comparison ll children need love, encouragement, and support, and to the increasingly regulated statutory system. for kids with learning disabilities, positive reinforcement I was able to learn my own way of working with families can help ensure that they emerge with a strong sense of and children, finding my own social work values and what self-worth, confidence, and the determination to keep going approach best fitted me as a student social worker which I even when things are tough. Aiming Higher is a charity Development Worker Darren Foy with one of the Trustee Andrew Wareing with Mayor of Fylde Councillor Angela think is important. that promotes positive reinforcement within family systems information boards from the event Jaques and Deputy mayor Richard Redcliffe.

The supervisions with my practice educator allowed me to and the work they do with children with disabilities is andwhere she taught me howNatalie to prioritise my cases well. mesmerising as they put the child’s voice first; meeting providing activities andreflect days out patron Christopher, trustees iming Higher for Disabled The supportive team structure allowed me to ask lots of section one of the Children Act 1989 which states the child’s families can meet others in similar John Child, Hilary Ainge, Andrew Children & their Families is a questions without being embarrassed and I will miss the welfare Blackpool should always be paramount. circumstances.

Wareing, Anthea Dawson, Alison based charity that team’s enthusiasm andGilmore positive and attitude. thingasI well will as The team recently held a welcome NorryOne Ascroft supports hundreds of local children always remember is that when going to meetings with Fromtheir working at Aiming Higher, I have witnessed personday foraother professionals and local professionals from the BlackpoolcoSEND and families.

The charity supports workers at the start of my placement, Aiming HigherBetter centred and creates strengths-based approach. The welcoming businesses toteam explain more about what team, Headstart,the Portage service, families happy memories worker had so much to say about the service user as draw on families’ strengths to achieve Aiming Higher offer and how always they can Start,Advocacy service, local special for children with life limitingand andempower them they had built such a positive relationship. their goals and believe in themselves. placement, The event was well attended and schools and more. complex conditions.

Raising a disabledOn thishelp. by working parents experience, and children their experiences gave all who visited the chance to see Vitalka Wilson, a local resident child can bewith a wonderful Firstly,and thisitsplacementwho taught me the importancejump of for the have shaped myalso learning and isolating taught me howthe to be a better newly refurbished centre is doing a parachute however it can be lonely, professionalism; everything is confidential and in a safemore. space student social worker. with childrensensory with disabilities room. charity also came along to learn and overpowering.

TheWorking friendly and where parents and children are comfortable.

Secondly, this taught me allteam about SEND, ECHP were the Mayor In attendance If you’d like to support the charity and professional at SENDIASS, Aiming Higher are SENCO, placement the powerfor of his values and ethics in and DLA, I did not know about previously.

This of Wyre Councillor Ann Turner taught me about reward Vitalka bravery you can always closewhich at hand and able to support practice, Aiming Higher promote families’ human rights and placement given me thethem, freedom to haveand a caseload of Councillor Andrea Mayoress do so by visiting his justgiving page the familieshas registered with easing draw on the social justice model. This means we manage 20, which really me to develop as itof Fylde, we Kay; Mayor Councillor at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ them through anyhelped anxieties.

The serviceprofessionally situations of potentially or conflicting prepared varies me forwith my future role as a statutoryAngela social worker.

Jaques and Deputy mayor vitalka-wilson1 or competing values, provided each families’ and, with guidance, recognize, reflect on, and work with I believe the experiences and opportunities this charity gave with the Mayor of needs – from supporting families to Richard Redcliffe integrity with ethical dilemmas.

Thirdly, I learned all about me allowed me to getatmy socialhospital, worker job whilst still onrepresentative Councillor attend appointments school, Blackpool’s the importance of equality at Aiming Higher, we understand placement.

Aiming Higher charity,to gave meKim opportunities social services, benefits and housing Critchley, to along with the charity’s

A

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how an individual’s identity is informed by factors such as culture, economic status, family composition, life experiences and characteristics. Fourthly, my knowledge base has widened as working with parents and families has allowed me to learn about different disabilities and the legislative background surrounding this.

Additionally, I have been taught new skills such as being a reflexive practitioner, this means looking at ourselves in a situation and recognising our influence in certain situations.

This placement has given me the opportunity to work with hundreds of different organisations, working together with different agencies and organisations provides a better outcome for families.

Finally, this situation has taught me all about leadership because I have my own case load and lead my own cases.

Aiming Higher has given me the responsibility and challenge I need to learn and grow on placement. Seeing the children’s smiles from the groups and events we run make my job extra worthwhile. Aiming Higher has had such a positive impact on the community as you can see a real positive change in people’s lives.

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BOOKS Our roundup of this months literary delights

debut Author, Irene Wignall’s, new book, Look for the (effin) Rainbows.

A little bit about me.

I am new to this author malarkey, I only attempted writing when I realised my head was full of randomness and I needed to off load some of it. When I started writing I was dealing with some very big events in my life and writing became like having a counselling session without the cost.

I am a Detective in the Police for my day job, a mum, a wife.

I am 44 years old and live in Bolton with my family which consists of, my husband Adam, our sons, Ted 7 years old and Albie 5 years old, affectionately known as The Stinks, my step son Callum,15 years (lives in his bedroom so I don’t know what he looks like anymore) and baby Dusty who lives in heaven.

My interests include wasting time on social media, I often find myself looking at someone’s wedding photos and no idea who any of the wedding party are, dieting for three week durations, repeating week three of couch to 5K every month and procrastinating.

My writing career started around seven years ago when I lost Dusty, I struggled a lot after losing Dusty, he decided he was arriving when I was twenty – seven weeks pregnant and during the labour stopped breathing.

I am a big believer in everything happens for a reason and I could just not understand why this would happen to me. Each night I wrote what I was grateful for in the day, this progressed to writing blogs and posts on my social media pages, which then progressed to a book of thirty – five thousand words and I haven’t stopped there. I am currently writing book two. I’ve just too much ‘stuff’ in my head!

My debut book is called Look for the (effin) Rainbows.

The reason I gave it that title was 146

I am always seeing everywhere that I should be positive, but when atrocious things happen to you, it’s effin hard to remain positive. I do try and find the positive in each situation. I like to call myself a positive realist.

Your atrocious doesn’t need to be the same as another person’s atrocious.

We’re all different and handle events differently.

A quote I love by Charlie Chaplin, “If you walk with your head down you will never see the rainbows.”

A quote I love by me, is, “Look for the effin Rainbows,” I was born in 1976, I got my first tan that Summer, as I sunbathed in a white terrys nappy. I am one of three girls. Me being the eldest.

I was brought up in Bolton and went to St Ethelbert’s primary school and then onto Mount Saint Joseph’s secondary school. I was taught by many nuns!

I wasn’t particularly good at English at school, but now I have Google!

I played the clarinet for a year but then sold it for a pair of shell suit pants.

I went to sixth form as that was what was expected of me. I stayed six months then got a job in an office. I needed holidays, cars and clothes. My sixty

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pound a week wage went a long way.

I had no idea what I wanted to do so went to night school which comprised of handing in a couple of assignments about business and marketing and then spending the other evenings in the pub.

At twenty three years old I decided I needed job security so looked at which jobs could offer me that. The Police force stood out, so I applied and was accepted in August 1999. I started to work ‘the streets’ in the city centre of Manchester, where I was a very naive twenty- three year old. I grew up fast.

I went on to become a Detective, which I still am, twenty one years later.

In 2008 I met my husband, Adam, I knew he was ‘the one’ on our first date.

I didn’t tell Adam until further down the line.

We moved in together within six months. We got married, had three boys Ted and Albie, our middle son, Dusty was born asleep.

Our lives are pretty normal.

I am very honest to people about my struggles in life. I like to be real.

Initially after having children I thought I was failing at motherhood, if only I had read a book like mine at the time. I felt like I had been hit round the head with a cricket bat and it was only when I started to tell people this that I realised everyone felt the same.

I am a big believer in everything happens for a reason, you meet people in your life for a reason nothing is a coincidence. Even the bad stuff! And believe me I have had my dose of this.

I don’t feel sorry for myself as everyone has their own struggles, it’s just I choose to talk about mine, as that’s what helps me, and hopefully others too.

Since writing my book I have had so many messages from people telling me that my book has helped them and that’s amazing. The more people it can help the better, and then we may become a nation of ‘real’ people. Ok maybe I’m over selling myself a bit there, but even if it helps a handful of people that’s amazing in my eyes.

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I have two dreams; one is my book being sold at WHSmiths in airports

Reviews A modern day ‘Some Mothers do ‘Ave ‘Em’ real life story. I can’t recommend this book highly enough. I literally laughed out loud so many times reading about Irene’s real life antics. I didn’t want the book to end and I hope she comes out with more books in the near future. An outstanding debut.

And number two a comedy drama being made from my story

Don’t miss this….aww inspiring.

What an excellent inspiring account of real, true to life experiences told in such a compassionate and colourful way. Laughter and tears throughout.

Loved it. A must read.

I recommend that you don’t start reading this book if you haven’t got the time to finish it in one sitting as once you start you won’t want to put it down The best book you’ll ever read Amazing. Such a heartfelt and brutally honest read. You will not be able to put it down. It will make you laugh, cry, laugh some more and even cry while laughing. I loved it so much I am going to read it again and again. www.lancmag.com

Contact Twitter- @IWignallauthor Instagram- Irene_Wignall_and_the_stinks LinkedIn – Irene Wignall Facebook- Look for the rainbows – Irene Wignall – Author The book is on amazon kindle £4.99 and paperback for £8.99 LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 147

Can you bring a species back from extinction? The return of the Manchester argus butterfly The first Manchester argus butterfly on Manchester’s peatlands by Andy Hankinson

This year will see the return of the Manchester argus (also known as the large heath) butterfly to the peatlands of Greater Manchester, for the first time in over 100 years.

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Large Heath Caterpillars at Chester Zoo by Jenny Bennion

Manchester argus pupa in their release enclosure by Andy Hankinson

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he large heath butterfly is perfectly adapted to living in the acidic peat bogs and mosslands that once stretched for miles to the west of Manchester, and it was once a common sight across the region, hence its name.

However, due to the destruction of its peatland homes, through drainage for uses such as agriculture and peat extraction, throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, it had become locally extinct, with only a few isolated populations hanging on in other parts of the country.

Following a successful reintroduction of large heath butterflies onto Heysham Moss between 2014 and 2016, last summer Lancashire Wildlife Trust staff collected six pregnant butterflies from a surviving population at the Trust’s Winmarleigh Moss near Garstang and took them to Chester Zoo, where a special breeding enclosure was awaiting them.

After settling into their new home, the butterflies successfully laid their eggs which hatched into extremely tiny caterpillars in August last year. The caterpillars then overwintered in tussocks of cotton grass (their preferred home in the wild) which had been brought to the zoo for them, before emerging in March to start feeding in readiness for pupation.

Heather Prince, part of a team of four specialist invertebrate keepers at Chester Zoo, said: “Breeding and rearing butterflies in an incredibly delicate process that requires a fine balance of conditions at each part of their lifecycle. Countless hours have been spent inside our specialised breeding centre nurturing the tiny eggs, rearing the larvae and caring for their host plants as well as monitoring their final pupation period.” www.lancmag.com

The secret release site on one of Manchester’s peatlands For more information see: • • •

Species Reintroduction Project - https://www.lancswt.org.uk/species-reintroduction Great Manchester Wetlands Project - https://www.lancswt.org.uk/greatmanchesterwetlands Contact Jenny Bennion, Peatlands Comms Officer: jbennion@lancswt.org.uk

“It will be incredibly rewarding to see large heath butterflies fluttering around in their new home - a place where they’ve been missing for more than 100 years – and know that we’ve contributed to preventing their extinction in this area.”

Around 50 caterpillars pupated and were then transported to a special release site on Lancashire Wildlife Trust’s Astley Moss, situated between Wigan and Salford, where they completed their magical transformations before emerging to start a whole new population.

Once a common sight on the peatlands of Manchester (hence its name), the Manchester argus is unlikely to recolonise the area on its own, as even the most intrepid specimens rarely fly more than 650m.

The reintroduction of the large heath butterfly has been made possible due to the significant habitat restoration works undertaken by Lancashire Wildlife Trust at the release site, and the combined efforts of other partners in the Great Manchester Wetlands project, including significant support from Natural England. Species reintroduction work has also been supported by funding from Veolia Environment Trust and the Casey Group Ltd. Over the past years huge amounts of work have gone into restoring lowland peatlands across the area as part of the project’s aim to create a living

landscape between Greater Manchester and Merseyside.

Great Manchester Wetlands Project Co-ordinator, Jo Kennedy, said, “Across our region we have lost 98 per cent of our lowland raised bogs, creating a huge hole in our biodiversity. To function as a healthy ecosystem, we need a tapestry of different and connected habitats each supporting a variety of plants and animals.”

“Boggy, healthy peatlands not only support that precious biodiversity, but also provide a vital natural resource in the fight against climate change. Healthy peatlands store huge amounts of carbon, but as soon as they are damaged this carbon is released into the atmosphere contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.”

However, through all of the restoration work done by the Great Manchester Wetland partners some of our lowland peatlands are now at the point where more lost species are ready to return. In the future the project hopes to reintroduce the large heath butterfly to areas including Risley Moss, which has been lovingly restored by Warrington Borough Council Ranger Service, and also to return other lost species such as the bog bush cricket, white-faced darter dragonfly and a number of rare plant species including the carnivorous sundew.

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside is dedicated to the protection and promotion of the wildlife in Lancashire, seven boroughs of Greater Manchester and four of Merseyside, all lying north of the River Mersey. It manages around 40 nature reserves and 20 Local Nature Reserves covering acres of woodland, wetland, upland and meadow. The Trust has 27,000 members, and over 1,200 volunteers.

To become a member of the Trust go to the website at www.lancswt.org.uk or call 01772 324129. For more information about Cheshire Wildlife Trust call 01948 820728 or go to cheshirewildlifetrust.org.uk.

www.lancmag.com

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Thank Cod for Fish and Chips!

Following the incredible resilience and innovation shown by the fish and chip industry to find ways to keep serving the nation their favourite dish while protecting their staff and customers and keeping everyone safe, National Fish and Chip Day, will go ahead in 2020, but a little later than planned on Friday 4th September!

As well as being one of the most popular awareness days of the year, we want National Fish and Chip Day this year to be even more special as we say a very big thank you to this amazing industry who are at the centre of every community, and who have, when able to do so safely, adapted to keep us fed, and when that wasn’t possible have kept us all safe by remaining closed at great sacrifice to their business. We are delighted that nearly all shops are now back up and running.

So let’s make National Fish and Chip Day 2020 the best yet as we bring together everyone involved in creating this iconic British dish; from Fish & Chip shops, pub chains, restaurants, retailers, to the fishermen and farmers who provide the sustainable and natural ingredients needed to create this family favourite.

Last year National Fish and Chip Day was a day like no other, with everyone talking about the nation’s favourite dish from first thing in the morning until late at night!

People across the country came together to celebrate their love of fish and chips. Shops reported their highest footfall of the year…even higher than Good Friday in many cases.

62 million people would have seen, heard or read about National Fish and Chip Day and our hashtag was #1 on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook from 8am until 8pm.

This is the biggest food awareness day of the year and we would be delighted to help you generate some fabulous content. We can introduce you to shops who have innovated in a huge variety of ways to ensure they could continue trading while putting the safety of their customers 150

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and staff first during lockdown. Shap Chippy in Cumbria said ‘We are a huge part of our local area and although we did close during the beginnings of lockdown we knew we had to support our community. So, we launched our app and online ordering ahead of schedule and installed plastic screens within 2 weeks of lockdown. We got back open delivering food contactless on bikes and cars and have been a cashless business ever since. Our team have been a huge support to us and the local community and we couldn’t do our amazing work without them!’

We have the UK’s best fish and chip shop - winners of the National Fish and Chip Awards, The Cod’s Scallops - on hand to be interviewed and give you an insight into what it takes to be crowned the Number 1 shop in the country at the Awards; the shop was created by John Molnar, who used his 30 years of chef and business experience to get onboard a skilled crew, source the finest produce and set sail a fish and chip concept like no other.

We also have the current Young Fish Frier of the Year champion, 24 year old Charlie Collins from Frydales in Syston available for interviews and demonstrations.

We know the celebrity chefs who embraced the event so wholeheartedly last year would be delighted to offer recipe features.

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A catch up with Peter Rutt Our monthly coloumn by Peter Rutt.

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B

artin1April of 3. 2019 Regular readers will ack I wrote about know I love weird and wacky our resident ghost that roams about even if they aregarden. not true. where stories, she died, in our back So imagine my pleasure when I came When I say back garden, I mean to say across the sensation of alleged time when she died, it was just a field.

Sheslips is in Liverpool. young Little Rosie.

Various people claimupthey slipped She would just turn walking back in time, usually to the 1950’s through our house in Leyland and or 1960’s. One claimed he slipped became an odd occurrence onceback in a to early 1900’s.

He said as he walked down while. But this year her visits became Bold Street theI sky veryshe dark more often so saidwent “I think is and what had been year in the decade trying to tell us that something.” of the 1990’s changed to early 1900’s I decided to go upstairs, close all the judging by the fashion he spied. Also curtains to a room, find a hard back the shops were old fashioned. Gone chair, sit and meditate, to see if I could were the modern day stores as were contact her. Quite quickly she came into modern day cars, replaced by horse my mind. She looked and was dressed drawn carriages. There was air there in the same attire as when I saw her last was sound and if he felt more confident year. She explained she was stuck. he would have interacted with a person.

After her death while in asmartphone state of Imagine whipping out your confusion she travelled fromearly the 1900’s! field to show someone from the she died to her parent’s The Or go a step further andhouse. take photos family notyou know was, or film did what see.where What she would your despite little Rosie pleading she was phone record? right there in front of them but they There is the story of a man who could not see her. She kept visiting until walked near to Bold Street and he one by one, her parents eventually died. alleges as he turned a corner, was You would think they should have met faced with a dead end. An old wall up with her but earth bound spirits are that wasn’t there the previous day had apart from those in Heaven. Then she suddenly appeared. Like the previous felt very alone and unloved. man he said the sky became suddenly Earth bound spirits tend to spend darker prior to this obstacle being there. their time where they died as they He even touched the construction have and unfinished to sort out andback it was solid.business Confused, he headed usually know how to leave until the waydon’t he came. they confront the point. And that point Most of the stories centre on a is quite simply admitting one is dead so period of 1993-1997 apart from the the connection to their physical body one in the next paragraph. They may has ended. She knew she was no longer well be Urban Tales and tall ones at flesh and blood, but that’s all. that. But it is thought provoking. But I asked her ifparticular she wanted to see her there are three stories I will mum centreand on. dad. Her face lit up and she nodded eagerly.

This one allegedly occurred in 2006 I asked spirit guide of mine to when a ladacalled Sean admitted hehelp Rosie ascend to be with her family.

I shoplifted an item and ran out of the did the little start to Guard. rise quite shopsee pursued bygirl a Security As quickly guide.

Shethe waved Sean gotwith to amy corner (and sky went goodbye and herand facecarried beamed they dark) he turned onasrunning sped off down that tunnel which is but when he looked back he noticed

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actually a worm hole. For the record her name was Rosie Coleman. Her father was a farmer or worked with one whose name was Manny Coleman.

That should be the end of that story but another one was about to begin.

As remained a meditative his Ipursuer wasinnowhere to bestate, seen.I became of a lad, more Relieved,aware he stopped andnotook in than his sixteen years ofEverybody age standing to surroundings. wasnext wearing me.

I asked who he was, he replied clothes from the 1960’s and cars were “Alfred.”

He was joined by more boys old fashioned from this era.

Starting of a similar age.

I felt a dark energy to worry he brought out his modernthat these individuals with them. mobile phone, butbrought it displayed no Alfred explained they had beenthe killed signal. As he walked back past store by foreign people, ones who he some robbed he noticed it wasn’t the were one older.

This earlier. confused first because he entered Asme he at looked ahead Ihedocould tend see to see what the person was the modern world. When wearing to try and get a clue from the he took a look behind him it was still fashion of the day.

He was dressed the 1960’s. Frightened by his experience in and loose heslacks, caughtshirt a (modern) busjacket. to get1914 away. popped into my head.

These localhim lads The Security Guard that chased fought and died in the First World War. asserted that he was only a few paces They about their to that see behindhad thelied thief but as he age got to some action andhad were killed early on corner, the lad vanished.

He was in the war.

They were angry at being bemused by this.

killed and wanted to wreak havoc now.

With my other guide we managed to move them into that tunnel and closed the door like a ships hatch. My guide who went with Rosie would find an alternative route back to me.

When a spirit Earthinthey The other twoleaves storiesthe appear need portal or gateway to travel.

May’sa edition and a plausible answer to While it was openBut forgoing Rosieback thesetoothers the conundrum. an snuck earlierin. point, which is of interaction, I did say on local.

AllIfI you got talk was to Lancs I pondered this. and Fusiliers. because I used someone fromAnd a long ago era and a ships hatchthem to describe thecourse link, I influence to take aclosing different surmise onehistorically or two dreamed of would to one they did take, being sailors but they were senthere to the that have ramifications on the and front now?line.

Also if you collect an item from theThere 1950’s, it travel with youinback is does an ornate memorial Bury to the present day? that recognises their sacrifice.

However someone else had come through the hatch when these individuals were sent back. A very famous woman came through and spoke to me. She will be in the next book, 50 Ghosts.

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Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip,

by Dr Helen Flaherty, Head of Health Promotion at Heart Research UK

Maintain a Healthy Blood Pressure High blood pressure puts extra strain on your heart and blood vessels and this increases your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. High blood pressure affects around 1 in 3 people, however there are usually no symptoms and many people are unaware they have high blood pressure.

The only way to know if your blood pressure is high is to have it measured. This can be done by your GP or you can use a blood pressure monitor at home. This healthy heart tip explains what high blood pressure is and it provides tips for maintaining a healthy blood pressure.

What is high blood pressure?

When blood pressure is measured, two numbers are generated. An ideal blood pressure is 120/80 millimetres of mercury (mmHg). The first number is the systolic blood pressure (higher number), which is the force at which blood is being pumped around your body. Ideally, this will be below 120. A systolic blood pressure of 140 or more is regarded as high.

The second number is the diastolic blood pressure (lower number) which is the pressure when your heart is at rest, in between beats. Ideally this will be 80 or lower. A diastolic reading of 90 or above is regarded as high. The lower your blood pressure, the lower your risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

What can I do to maintain a healthy blood pressure?

• Reduce the amount of salt in your diet to no more than 6g a day (1 teaspoon). Look at the amount of salt on food labels and avoid choosing snacks that are high in salt.

• Maintain a healthy weight by eating a healthy diet and getting plenty of physical activity. You can check whether your body mass index (BMI) is within a healthy range using the online BMI healthy weight calculator from the NHS - https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-weight/bmicalculator/ • Eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables every day.

• Keep your alcohol consumption within the recommended limits of no more than 14 units a week, spread over three or more days.

• Aim to do 150 minutes of moderate activity (e.g. brisk walking) or 75 minutes of vigorous activity (e.g. running) each week plus some strengthening activities (e.g. lifting weights) at least twice a week.

Lots more healthy tips, exercises and recipes can be found at heartresearch.org.uk.

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Garstang’s cathouses did not house cats

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s you possibly already know, Garstang is an old rural market town. It is equidistant from Preston and Lancaster, being just under eleven miles from each place. You may be aware of the township because of the 79 meter - 260 feet - high wind turbine that stands by the side of the A6 road. The A6 is the main road in the area for local traffic whereas through traffic uses the nearby M6.

Until well into the last century the main road actually ran down narrow streets in the heart of the village. A bypass was eventually built by way of a combination of road improvements and new road builds. One example of a new stretch of road is on the western edge of the village. A new length was built there because a narrow bridge over the Lancaster Canal made improvement of the existing one difficult. If we are being perfectly correct, both of these stretches of road are just outside Garstang in the parish of Nateby.

Unsurprisingly, the old stretch of road is still there, as is the narrow bridge. The bridge has a name; the Cathouse Bridge. Do not get confused into thinking that there was an old cattery nearby. Cat is an old name for a woman of easy virtue. The bridge is so called because it stood close to where these women worked. In the cathouse, of course. You will doubtless be a surprised at the open acknowledgment of such a place. As can be seen, it attracted the new activity of coach outings and it appears that it was often photographed. And how about this? Not only could one buy a

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postcard of the New Cathouse, but one could buy a postcard of the Old one too. And the Old one had its ladies standing outside.

This does not sound very Victorian does it? Well, I wonder about that.

Many men would work on large farms. Farms that were productive because of men’s sweat. Sweating would start at dawn when the live-in workers would be roused from their beds. Many of those men would live-in for life and remain unmarried. Well, they would still want to have some “enjoyment” in life, wouldn’t they? Presumably, people accepted that. I do not think that the Victorian days were just how the old Queen thought they were.

Mind you, I am still surprised that postcards of the Cathouses were published and presumably sent. And you thought that some of our seaside postcards were a bit near the knuckle, didn’t you?

Old Cathouse

New Cathouse www.lancmag.com

Redrow replaces stolen Nantwich defibrillator

LIFE-SAVING equipment stolen from Nantwich town centre has been replaced by Redrow.

Redrow’s Sarah Weaver pictured with PCs Matt Stonier & Marc Harley and the replacement defibrillator outside the Market Hall in Nantwich

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t’s unclear when the Community Public Access Defibrillator was taken from its cabinet outside the Market Hall, but within hours of finding out about the theft Redrow offered to replace it.

use in the event of an emergency was an obvious solution.

While we hope it won’t need to be used, it’s reassuring to know that there will be a defibrillator available should anyone suffer a cardiac arrest.”

Town Clerk Samantha Roberts said: “We were really disappointed that someone had stolen the original defibrillator, which had been there for four years without any problems. It’s unclear when it was taken but it’s extremely lucky that it hadn’t been required in an emergency situation as someone’s health could have been seriously affected.

The defibrillator will be reinstalled in a secure case in the next few days. In the event of an emergency the person calling 999 will be given an access code to unlock the case once they have confirmed that they are dealing with a cardiac arrest.

“We’re extremely grateful that Redrow quickly intervened to offer a replacement defibrillator. Without their help, replacing it would have been a significant extra cost to the council during the COVID-19 lockdown, although we have had offers of donations from the local community.”

The replacement defibrillator was delivered by Sarah Weaver, North West marketing manager for Redrow Homes, well known for its Kingsbourne housing development on the edge of the town, as well as the support it has previously given to local charities and organisations through its £10,000 Nantwich Community Fund.

Sarah said: “We were shocked to discover that a potentially life-saving piece of equipment had been stolen from Nantwich town centre. Transferring a surplus defibrillator from our Kingsbourne site for the community to www.lancmag.com

If combined with effective CPR within a few minutes of the incident, the use of a defibrillator increases the potential survivability of an out of hospital cardiac arrest from just 5% to 75%.

Redrow has more than 100 defibrillators across its live developments and regional offices in England and Wales, which can be accessed by staff, contractors and the local community in the event of a medical emergency. Redrow has also created an eLearning module about the use of the defibrillators, which is available to all staff.

In some areas Redrow has partnered with Hand on Heart to provide defibrillators in schools. Support from Redrow’s voluntary community funds attached to the company’s housing developments across the North West have also helped provide defibrillators including those in Sandbach, Little Sutton and Congleton.

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Disruption at nature reserves

The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside is asking nature lovers not to drive to its reserves until its car parks are open.

Sunset at Lunt Meadows by Alan Wright

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he Trust is concerned that visitors’ cars are causing obstruction and some dangers for local residents around Lunt Meadows, Mere Sands Wood and Brockholes.

We are in the process of preparing a gradual opening of our reserves but we must ensure the safety of our visitors and staff. There is no point opening a car park if we do not have the resources to protect and engage members of the public.

Initially, we will open car parks in the coming month depending on staff availability, then visitor centres and cafes will open but only after Government guidelines permit.

We are conscious that people want to visit our nature reserves to see the spring wildlife that has done so well under the lockdown, but if this is causing concerns to people living nearby - and the police - then we need to ask people to show a little more consideration and not to drive to these sites.

We assure everyone that wonderful wildlife will still be around our reserves in summer and there will be lots of opportunities to learn more about our plants and creatures, but we must all be patient and wait until restrictions allow us to open up. Trust staff and volunteers are just as keen to get back to our nature reserves.

Again the Trust would like to stress that we will not open car parks at reserves until we can ensure the safety of our staff and visitors.

Families are keen to return to Brockholes by Alan Wright

Mere Sands Wood

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside is dedicated to the protection and promotion of the wildlife in Lancashire, seven boroughs of Greater Manchester and four of Merseyside, all lying north of the River Mersey. It manages around 40 nature reserves and 20 Local Nature Reserves covering acres of woodland, wetland, upland and meadow. The Trust has 27,000 members, and over 1,200 volunteers.

To become a member of the Trust go to the website at www.lancswt.org.uk or call 01772 324129. For more information about Cheshire Wildlife Trust call 01948 820728 or go to cheshirewildlifetrust.org.uk.

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Hearts for Homes began in 2016 when we opened our quaint shop in the lovely town of Ramsbottom.

The concept of Hearts of Homes was to bring affordable yet charming home decor and gifts to our customers. We also offer a selection of locally handmade crafts and work by local artists and are stockists of Frenchic furniture paint

We pride ourselves on offering a friendly welcome to all of our customers who visit us from far and wide.

47 Bridge Street, Ramsbottom, BLO 9AD I 01706 560462 I www.heartsforhomes.co.uk

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The life of Di A monthly column by Di Wade, the author of ‘A Year In Verse’ Sammy the seagull’s squawking, As though for his mother, Next door’s kids’ve just come out, And appear to be killing each other.

Someone’s got their mower out, And someone else their saw, Someone else’s dog is barking, For half the commonwealth, if not more.

Someone’s snipping and strimming; And from the language, cannot hack it, Someone’s building a shed, Or so I’m figuring from the racket: And who knew there were, So many motorbikes about, Doves, and emergency vehicles Still, it IS nice sitting out..

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’ve certainly spent more time in the garden lately, and with greater leisure so to do, have appreciated such things as birdsong and blossom as though they were new discoveries: Or as though someone had opened a door onto a secret world.

Then again, the whole world’s been a bit like wonderland lately. One friend has started talking to her fish, who’ve started talking back, and another keeps banging on about dwarf beans being actually giants, and tomatoes dancing in the wind, for all the world as though they were Wordsworth’s daffodils.

Her texts aren’t usually like this, so far as I can remember. She’s simply gone from extreme redecorating to extreme gardening, or more specifically an apparent desire to grow every vegetable known to man. I myself have largely carried on regardless.

I celebrated St George’s Day with full compliment of bangers, mash and Vera Lynn, did the obligatory poledancing on Mayday, (till my socially distant accordionist was hit on the head by some out of date veg by an irritated neighbour, and had to retreat), and put my flags out for the wonderful VE Day anniversary celebrations, feeling thoroughly humbled by all the stories of the veterans.

I have however got so into a rereading of the Lord of the Rings, my precious, that I’m thinking of rechristening my house Rivendell. This wouldn’t have happened only the braille library shut down upon lockdown, and although the Talking Book service continued, it was clearly experiencing some problems as lengthy waits tended to end in books which wouldn’t play, or were in double Dutch.

I’ve also scribbled enough poetry to produce another book, which is very silly as I’m still trying to flog the first one. Then again, we’re already getting innumerable bulletins, updates, adverts and Q and A’s a week about the current situation, so maybe “Coronavirus in Verse” isn’t such a daft idea. They’ve certainly been interesting times:

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Home free, away from tinker, tailor, soldier, spy, I’m living the midsummer night’s dream, Via the life of pie.

And a well-known fairy-tale or two, I mean to say, My hair’d SCREAM Rapunzel, Were it not fifty shades of grey.

My other looks perhaps recall, That Rumpled Stiltskin feller, Or since the cleaners haven’t been for a while, Possibly Cinderella.

But through all I’ve kept, My sense and sensibility of mind, With all the pride and prejudice, One could hope to find: As those flying five little pigs, Could attest, Except four flew to the mill on the floss, And one flew over the cuckoo’s nest..

Oh and to complete the wonderland theme, I definitely have one or two items in my wine rack screaming “drink me. Trouble is, they’ve got to last till the next big shop a week on Thursday, so I’d better not.. Stay safe.

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‘The Lockdown’ bar A London dad of two who decided that if he can’t go to the bars, he’d bring the bar to him - so he’s spent isolation building a stunning gin bar in his garden, called ‘The Lockdown.’

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he bar itself was handmade, with concealed lights, shelving, a bar fridge and painted in dark blue Farrow and Ball.

need lockdown to be over to throw the biggest party.

Dan Pearce had the bar top made in real copper with an aged patina finish.

“We had a family meeting at the start of lockdown to decide what the garden shed should be, my two boys wanted a gaming room, my wife, Wendy wanted a room to do her gym sessions and I wanted my very own bar.

And Dan - an artist - covered the front of the bar with his artwork. He went for a music theme, painting his favourite music icons, such as Bowie, Hendrix, Amy Winehouse and John Lennon.

He also painted some original artwork for the walls to compliment the bar artwork and traded some of his artwork with another artist for some cool, handmade swallow lights.

He said: “I have named my bar ‘The Lockdown’. Now I just www.lancmag.com

“I’ve always wanted a bar, growing up my parents had a bar and were well known for throwing the best parties.

“So I’ve made sure the bar serves all of our requirements.

We had to re-plaster all the walls, lay new floors, install new electrics, fit new lighting and decorate throughout. At one end of the room I fitted storage for gym equipment, gaming devices and a TV for the boys gaming requirements and Wendy’s gym sessions.”

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Around the region Visitors welcome back at Martin Mere Wetland Centre in Lancashire

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onservation charity WWT has announced it is to re-open its Martin Mere Wetland Centre on Wednesday, June 10.

Members of the public and WWT members will have to pre-book online for the day they want to visit as part of measures to keep everyone safe.

WWT’s priority is to ensure the public can access its beautiful waterscapes to help boost wellbeing and people’s connection with nature in the area.

In order to help protect visitors, staff and volunteers, daily numbers will be restricted and both WWT members and nonmembers are requested to book on digitickets beforehand so that the charity can monitor numbers. Social distancing and additional safety measures will be in place.

WWT’s Chief Operating Officer Kevin Peberdy said: “We are delighted to be able to welcome people back to our wetlands after this extended period of lockdown.

“The lockdown has forced many of us onto the side lines while spring’s great spectacle plays out, and what better way to catch up, than with a visit to our wetlands to see what nature’s been up to. It’s certainly been busy - above water and under water, our

wetlands are teeming with wildlife.

“We’ve made a number of changes to help everyone stay safe. Most importantly, we’re asking everyone to book online so that we can limit numbers and make sure there’s plenty of space to enjoy the wetlands in peace and comfort.”

In line with government guidelines, Martin Mere Wetland Centre’s indoors areas and areas where people may gather will remain closed, this includes play areas, cafes and shops.

All events, presentations, activities and

New work starts on the £45m Preston and South Ribble Flood Risk Management Scheme The Environment Agency, Lancashire County Council and partners are working together to develop phases 3 to 5 of the Preston and South Ribble Flood Risk Management Scheme. This scheme will provide flood risk mitigation for around 3,600 residential properties as well as over 300 businesses from Preston Riversway up towards the M6 and Higher Walton. To progress the scheme ground investigation works are underway in Frenchwood, Walton le Dale, Higher Walton and Golden Way. Investigations will be complete by July 2020.

Andy Brown, Flood Risk Manager for the Environment Agency said: “Ground Investigation work is a key milestone in the £45m Preston and South Ribble Flood Risk Management Scheme. Our team are currently focused on refining the design of the scheme following engagement with residents and businesses throughout 2018 and 2019 on the initial proposals.

“Ground investigations provide critical data which helps us to test assumptions we’ve made to date when planning the scheme, costing the scheme accurately and they ensure we can move into the construction phase with a full understanding of conditions on the ground.

“In these unprecedented times, the safety of our staff, contractors and the public is paramount. We are following Government’s guidelines and continue to protect people and the environment, working alongside our partners.”

talks are postponed until further notice.

The charity’s wetland centres in Arundel (West Sussex), London (Barnes), Slimbridge (Gloucestershire), Washington (Tyne and Wear) and Welney (Norfolk) will also open their doors to the public on June 10.

WWT hopes to open its wetland centres in the devolved nations: Caerlaverock (Scotland), Castle Espie (Northern Ireland) and Llanelli (South Wales), once permitted.

Please visit your Martin Mere Wetland Centre’s website page for further information or click wwt.org.uk/visit.

Blackpool Zoo confirms reopening Blackpool Zoo is set to reopen to members and the public before the end of June.

Visitor numbers will be limited each day and everyone, including members, will need to book online to guarantee entry.

Tickets will be available on Tuesday 23rd June, with member bookings going live in the morning and general tickets in the afternoon.

A visit to Blackpool Zoo will look very different for a while but people will still be able to see their favourite animals, enjoy the beautiful surroundings, reconnect with nature and leave their worries behind.

Tickets can be booked at www.blackpoolzoo.org.uk More information in the magazine

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Keeping you up to date with events around the North West On Friday 5th June the Morecambe & Lunesdale Labour Party hosted its first ever virtual public meeting to discuss Morecambe’s future as a visitor destination as the Covid crisis passes.

The meeting was attended by over 90 people from across the community including entrepreneurs, artists, elected officials and members of the public; hundreds more watched live on Facebook.

The first speaker, Dr David Jarratt, painted a picture of a world post-Covid where domestic tourism is set to increase, and rural and coastal holidays are the big winners when it comes to pulling in visitors. He predicts consumer confidence is likely to increase toward the end of this season, with self catering, caravan and camping holidays favoured by younger travellers set to recover fastest. Dr Jarratt identified Morecambe’s extensive open public spaces and glorious promenade as essential attractions to visitors who remain mindful of social distancing – giving us an edge over many other domestic destinations.

Loz Kaye from More Music made the second contribution to the meeting, delving into the role cultural offerings have in drawing in and entertaining visitors. He highlighted the asset we having in the existing network of arts organisations which put on hundreds of performances and festivals locally each year – and their capacity to reach hundreds of thousands of people. A key takeaway was the economic benefits that come with tourism driven by culture based regeneration projects nationally.

Lancaster City Council’s own Cllr Jean Parr, cabinet member for Arts, Leisure, Culture and Tourism was next on the bill.

Speaking at the meeting Cllr Parr said, “The council has been working flat-out since the lockdown supporting local businesses and jobs, including giving out money from its own coffers weeks before funding was forthcoming from central government. However the real challenge isn’t to distribute grants, but to regenerate tourism and create jobs. We need

to invest in arts and culture because you get real ‘bang for your buck’, it comes back many fold.”

Having attracted significant interest from across the region the meeting was joined by Alex Sobel MP, the Shadow Minister for Tourism & Heritage. Alongside the other speakers Mr Sobel discussed issues dear to the hearts of many Morecambians, such as the closure of the Strathmore, the disused Frontierland site and the exciting plans for Eden North. He also touched on several areas in which the Labour Party is looking to draft policy that will support the regeneration of coastal communities nationwide.

Lancaster City Council will be hosting an advisory meeting with Councillor Parr on 10th July, wherein those interested in local culture and tourism can discuss policy and plan coordinated action in further detail.

To register email jparr@lancaster.gov.uk

East Lancashire Railway on the right track as donations hit £100,000

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he future of The East Lancashire Railway has taken a step closer to being secured as donations to ensure its survival passed the £100,000 mark.

The cherished heritage attraction launched a £200,000 emergency fundraising drive in March after the Coronavirus crisis forced it to close its doors.

Backed by steam enthusiast and East Lancashire Railway Preservation Society President Pete Waterman, contributions to the East Lancashire Railway Support Fund have poured in from as far afield as Australia, America and the United Arab Emirates, pushing its total to £100,000.

But, without reaching its target the railway risks remaining closed for good.

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To mark the milestone and celebrate the great memories made at the railway, volunteers have united to record ‘Dreams of Steam in East Lancashire’, a poem written in tribute by Chairman Mike Kelly.

Mike said: “It’s been really heart-warming to see the support for our emergency appeal from every corner of the globe.

“On behalf of everyone at the East Lancashire Railway I would like to say how grateful we are for each and every contribution.

“We’re making great progress towards our

£200,000 target which will secure the future of the railway for generations to come. But we’re not quite there yet.

“Our volunteers have come together to create a fantastic tribute to our railway. To make sure we can survive and everyone can return to enjoy it with us, I urge anyone yet to donate to do so now.

“We look forward to welcoming visitors once more when it is safe to do so.”

Running a heritage railway is an expensive activity - with it costing £2,000 just to get a steam engine down the track each day.

Since closing its doors, the railway - a registered charity - has drastically streamlined operations, with just a minimal core team remaining to carry out essential operational processes and maintain the security of the site.

Operating from Bolton Street Station in Bury, East Lancashire Railway is a longstanding favourite for children and adults alike, running a host of events all year round including a Sping Bank Holiday 1940s weekend, murder mysteries, ale trails and the Santa Special Christmas trains - as well as well as regularly playing host to the iconic locomotive The Flying Scotsman.

To support East Lancashire Railway in this difficult time visit: www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk.

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By the end of Twenty-Nineteen, I was really looking forward to, not only another year, but another decade.

The business had endured the effects of the major drainage upgrade in the City centre which paralysed the City for 20 months. A year later, we were flooded in ‘Storm Desmond’, and just for good measure, a further two years later, we were flooded again during another storm. This is before we even mention ‘Brexit’

Forever the optimist, Twenty-Twenty was going to be different. A trouble free decade was sought. Well, “different” it certainly has been. The phrase ‘be careful what you wish for’ springs to mind !?!?!?

February was a month of Storms and as we edged through March, the threat of this new virus began to be taken seriously here. This wasn’t something that was just effecting some distant land that we didn’t need to worry about. No, northern Italy became the epicentre of this highly contagious and deadly virus.

March Twenty-Twenty will forever be remembered for ‘Coronavirus’ and ‘Lockdown’; the time our borders were breached. This was to be unprecedented, surreal, challenging and tragic. We end the month in ‘Lockdown’, along with many other countries around the globe.

April in ‘Lockdown’. By this time in any other year, the main topic of conversation would be about the weather, but for the months that were to follow, the weather was glorious.

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miserable and raining - the normal Spring weather - that would have heightened the feelings of claustrophobia, being trapped, isolation and loneliness.

For those that were able to take the daily walk, make use of their garden, yard or terrace, the clothes that you will have been wearing would have been few and chosen to feel comfortable and cool in. No need for smarter attire.

So, as many of us who have had an enforced break from work begin to return, with non-essential retailers now opened up and the Leisure, Beauty, Health and Hospitability sectors about to re-open, we are entering a new normal way of life, that will last for a undetermined period of time.

I, for one, was really looking forward to dressing smarter again. Not necessarily suit, shirt and tie; rather, a nice shirt, pair of smarter jeans and some shoes. The shop had been readied for re-opening and on the Monday morning, I put on my Tramarossa jeans, an Eton shirt and Paul Smith trainers.

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Eton Shirt

PS Trainers

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Emporio Armani Shirts from £110

Emporio Armani Knitwear from £145

PS Polo from £70

PS Shirt £120

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TedBaker Suit from £345

Armani Suit from £599

Armani Ties

ETON Shirts from £110

My hair however, well there was no smartening that up. It was four months since the scissors had graced this unruly, chaotic mass. Having lost 10kg in weight, I felt like I was starting a new job, filled with both excitement and nervousness.

As if a switch had been flicked, a sense of normality had returned. Yes, ‘social distancing’ measures were firmly in place, but I was back in my Castle, seeing and speaking to people I had not seen for some months. I felt alive again. My sense of purpose was returning. www.lancmag.com

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Colour and Style

www.sarahharrisstyle.co.uk

Our section on Colour and Style with Sarah Harris from ‘Colour Me Beautiful’

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’m Sarah Harris and I’m a Colour and Style Consultant who trained with Colour Me Beautiful the world’s leading Image consultants.

My background is in fashion and after leaving school at 16 I travelled to London to work as a Fashion/photographic model, I enjoyed the life and it allowed me to travel the world, during my career I also worked in wholesale/retail within the fashion industry. I learnt all about fabrics, business, international companies and trying all those clothes on – the quality, cut and fabric. I took a break from the business when I married and had our two children. I retrained as an Image consultant with Colour Me Beautiful who have been changing the lives of women and men for over 35 years.

I’d like to inspire you with Colour, Style and skincare tips and every month I’m hoping to give you an interesting read.

If there is something that you would like to know about please email me and I will do my best to help.

Email: sarah@sarahharrisstyle.co.uk Last month I had a wonderful time de-cluttering my wardrobe and shopping it! I am now wardrobe ready for my summer holiday.

During lockdown I have seen people doing all sorts of wonderful things to make lockdown easier and I think that it has been such a creative time and I feel that summer holidays will be the same.

We all have different types of holidays but whatever we choose to do on holiday it is a time for you and your family to do the things that you enjoy.

Holidays are about getting away from routine and for many (me included) the excitement of packing your suitcase with holiday items:- swimsuits, kaftans, shorts, dresses, sunglasses, sandals, suncream ……… clothes that we probably only wear on holiday.

Let’s look at our Holiday Wardrobe

I’ve been looking into the wardrobe of fellow Colour and Image Consultant Sarah Van Dort of Abfabimage down in Berkshire. www.abfabimage.co.uk Sarah who recently appeared in the Daily Mail’s ‘This is what 54 looks like’ has been kind enough to share some of her holiday styles. I asked Sarah what her plans were for this year’s summer holiday “It’s so important, even during lockdown, to feel fabulous and not lose your unique Style.

We’re not going to have a foreign holiday this year so I decided to bring my ‘holiday’ wardrobe into my everyday wardrobe.

Wearing my ‘holiday’ clothes gives me that feel good feeling as it brings back memories of happy times. So even my holiday evening dresses have made it into my own garden. Some of these items I’ve had for years but still love them and enjoy wearing them.”

The new vacation ‘Staycation’ I would like to make this month’s article about enjoying a holiday at home or ‘Staycation’ as people are calling it. I’ll be looking into fellow Image Consultant Sarah Van Dort’s holiday wardrobe and I’ll be giving some tips on taking care of your skin with a skincare routine and facial workout.

August is the month when many of us would have been jetting off to some exotic location, cruising around the Med or enjoying a holiday in Britain. And when you’ve been working hard all year you need a break from routine. Whether that means at home or away we all need a change.

Let’s see the benefits of a Staycation:• No stress of travelling and traffic or queues • Saves money • Makes you use your creative imagination •You don’t have to pack a suitcase • No immunisation 166

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Sarah’s all sorted for her staycation and is looking stunning in her swimsuit with a lovely red sarong and sunglasses!

The swimsuit is last years from Pour Moi, there are some in the sale this year! The sarong is from Simply Be and is several years old.

Istanbul with kebabs and colourful materials and they’ve danced the samba and drank cocktails in Brazil! It has been inspiring to watch. So where are you travelling to?

Many people have been living in comfortable clothes as that’s what we do at home, however, if we are on ‘staycation’ we need to step it up and dress for dinner or have drinks in the garden. I know of a couple who take a flask to the sea front and watch the sun go down and I think that’s just lovely. Try something different as it really does make you feel better.

Sarah wears a red polka dot wrap dress from Hobbs which is a handme-down from her sister so a lovely pre loved item!

The wrap dress is a must for your holidays, at home or away, originally created by fashion designer Diane Von Furstenburg in the 70’s it is such a clever design and can be worn in many different ways depending on your body shape and proportions. It is a timeless piece of genius and so easy to pack!

Sarah who at 5’2” and a size 16 is a fabulous full hourglass this means her shoulders and hips are in line and she has a defined waist. She needs to wear styles that complement her body shape and the wrap dress is perfect for her figure as seen above.

Now in the evening of your ‘staycation’ why don’t you dress up. We’ve all seen Amanda Holden taking the bins out and mowing the lawn in her evening gowns! There is such a need to dress up at this time, as without being able to go to restaurants or shows I think we really want to put on our glad rags and pretend!

I know someone who has been to every part of the world in lockdown and it has been wonderful hearing her adventures!

Of course she’s been at home but every week with her husband they have created Spain with paella and flamenco, www.lancmag.com

Sarah looks gorgeous in her vibrant turquoise maxi dress enjoying a glass of wine on a warm summer evening and she tells me it is a very comfortable dress, it’s the perfect glamourous evening or day dress. This maxi dress was bought last year from Quiz and Sarah had to take it up quite a lot, but I think it is fabulous on her!

Once we’ve found our holiday wardrobe for our staycation we can add a little spa therapy to help us relax or maybe your perfect holiday involves a spa treatment.

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Sustainable tip When I am cleansing my face or body I use babybambooandbeyond make up pads or face cloths as they are highly sustainable, and are hyper allergenic, resistant to pests and mites and once they come to the end of life they biodegrade. I’m an advocate for local businesses and I purchase my cleansing pads from Lynne Webster of Baby Bamboo and Beyond via Facebook and Instagram @ babybambooandbeyond

Facial Exercises

Colour Me Beautiful Skincare range

Massage and Facial exercises can really help relax and tone your facial muscles. We workout our bodies and often forget our faces, these exercise can be done anywhere. It is good to incorporate them into your daily skincare routine.

Staycation - Home Spa

Eye Drainage

• Make your bathroom your spa add some lovely candles • Clean dressing gown (if you went to a spa they would provide you with a lovely gown) • Headband or clip to tie hair back • Start by cleansing your face - a hydrating cleanser is great in the evening to help you relax • Exfoliate – remove dead skin cells from the outer surface leaving the skin refreshed.

This is something that should be done weekly, however, we all have busy lives and some people only exfoliate when having a facial spa • Face mask – Clay face masks are perfect for all skin types and really help the skin by absorbing and removing toxins. Leaving the skin soft and supple • Toner – often we forget to use a toner but this is essential as it closes the pores and tightens the cell gaps which reduces the penetration of impurities and therefore it protects your skin from breakouts.

If you have dry skin I would recommend only to use toner once a day, at night.

• Facial Oil – this nourishes and hydrates the skin and has a soothing quality. When applying the oil I would advise that it is massaged into the skin using upward and outward movements.

• Finish off with a lovely night cream or if it’s a morning spa use day cream with SPF protection.

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This exercise stimulates lymphatic drainage around the eye area and helps to reduce puffiness.

Looking straight ahead, using your ring fingers, gently tap along the eyebrows, starting at the inner end and working outwards and continue to tap your finger along your cheekbones and up the side of the nostrils ending back at your eyebrows.

Eye Lift

This exercise helps to reduce frown lines. Curve your index fingers along your eyebrows and gently push upwards.

Hold your fingers firmly against your forehead, looking straight ahead. Close your eyes very slowly, feeling them pull downwards away from the brow. Squeeze very tightly and hold for a count of 5. Relax slowly and repeat twice more. www.lancmag.com

Frown Pinch

I hope you all have a wonderful summer and if you are having a staycation be creative, use your imagination and you’ll have a wonderful time!

The frown pinch will help soften visible lines. Relax your face then, using your index finger and thumb, gently pinch any frown lines you have on your forehead – these may be vertical or horizontal. The pinching will increase blood flow.

Chin toner

The chin toner helps to prevent jowls. Gently bring your teeth up to rest on your top lip with your head tilted slightly backwards and your chin thrust forwards, start to smile slowly, hold for a count of 5 and then relax slowly bringing your mouth back to its normal position. Repeat twice and you will feel the muscles around your neck and jaw pull slightly.

Smile Lift Please look after yourselves and I’ll see you all again next month. If you have anything you would like me to talk about please email me at sarah@sarahharrisstyle.co.uk I love hearing about your style and colour stories and please let me know about your staycations!

Take care of yourselves and each other.

The smile lift helps to tone the muscle around the mouth and firm the cheeks. With a relaxed bite, look into a mirror and smile on one side of your mouth, pulling your mouth up as far as it will go. Hold for a count of 5, relax slowly and repeat on the other side. www.lancmag.com

Warm Wishes, Sarah x

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A few items to get your Summer fashion wardrobe started These online retailers have everything you need for those new additions to your wardrobe.

Empreinte www.empreinte.eu/en/ Empreinte is a premium French lingerie brand, specialising in corsetry and catering especially for women with larger cup sizes.

Empreinte was founded by Jean Le Her in 1946 in Brest, France.

As the son of a pharmacist with medical training in bandages and supports, Jean Le Her was often approached by female pharmacy customers suffering from back pain caused by their

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fuller busts. This caused Le Her to collaborate with a seamstress who had a passion for lingerie to combine his technical ingenuity with her design skills to create bras in cup sizes A to C. This revolutionary bodysculpting style offered women beautiful bras that not only fitted their individual body shapes, but most importantly, supported their bust and protected their backs.

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Chie Mihara www.chiemihara.com/en/ A free spirited shoe for an everyday wear. Feminine, bold, unique, well made and with an unconditional attention for maximum comfort. Chie draws on facets of her multicultural background when creating her collections: Brazil informs the feminine details; Japan influences her design approach; the U.S. contributes practicality; and Spain is the source for the

high quality of construction.

Chie wants women to visually and emotionally connect to her shoes, while she takes care of the practical side with careful attention to architecture and craftsmanship.

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ZAVI - https://shop-zavi.com Using the brand’s exclusive organic and sustainable fabrics, ZAVI strives to provide conscious fashion that is relevant, desirable and affordable while ensuring that all their garments are 100% sustainable. The exciting new season collection offers an array of men’s and womenswear

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designs, with everyday classics, as well as work wear, athleisure and eveningwear. Showcasing a range of wardrobe staples in a soft pastel palette, with designs that display interesting tailoring details and draping of fabric. ZAVI will release new drops to their collection every three weeks, continuing to cater to every fashion need.

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Our award-winning style guru, Moo, has worked in television for over 20 years with presenters including Natasha Kaplinsky, Kirsty Young, Kirsty Gallacher and is now a personal stylist to us ‘normal women’ sharing all the inside tricks of the trade. If you’d like any personal styling advice or to see more tips please visit www.moostyle.co.uk

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’m sure your mum always told you to eat up your greens. Being green has taken on a whole new meaning with sustainability.

This means there are lots of ways to access our super greens. Incredibly they can make a lot of difference to how you’re feeling.

Do you strive to be greener? At this time in the year, the gardens are looking lush and reminding us. Just the colour itself has an impact. Green makes us feel more youthful as it connects us with nature. At a subliminal level, when we see green in nature we know that it’s an area of growth and there must be a water source nearby so we are in a safe area.

It is understood to be the most restful and relaxing colour for the human eye to view. It can affect us physically and mentally by helping sooth and relax.

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Surrounding yourself with the colour green or wearing it can also help make you feel less anxious, depressed or nervous.

Her Majesty The Queen wore a fabulous emerald turquoise for her address to the nation during lockdown. Green was a perfect choice as not only did it represent nature it also speaks of tranquility, good luck, health and a sense of calm.

The perfect choice in such stressful times. Not only were her words carefully pitched, as ever, so was her wardrobe and her choice of colour.

A lot of my clients don’t naturally have a lot of green in their wardrobes…until they meet me! Different strengths and hues of colours suit different colouring. If you haven’t had a colour consultation and don’t know which shades of green are ‘your’ colours, be confident using turquoise, teal, kingfisher, emerald turquoise and aqua as generally those hues are universal. When I say universal, I mean they suit all of the colouring types.

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If you do know your colouring type, you can chose confidently from your colour wallet of your best greens.

As a great guideline: LIGHT – select lighter, clearer versions DEEP – choose deeper shades or create contrast with a dark colour WARM – opt for the warmer or more ‘yellow’ shades COOL – choose the ‘bluer’ based peppermint hues CLEAR – the brighter the better SOFT – the more muted versions of these shades will work best for you.

If you are a fan of wearing denim, there is a great ‘green’ way to update your look. How about trying a khaki jacket?

They are a great replacement for a denim jacket or a leather one. They come in lots of different shapes to flatter differing body shapes so you can find ones for example that helps emphasise your waist if you’re pear shape, or one with hip pockets if you’re an inverted triangle. If you’re looking for a more stylish update instead of jeans, then combat trousers have had a refresh from the slouchy 90’s. They now even come in much dressier options with super soft fabrics and gathers around the ankle that look fabulous when dressed with heels. They are uber comfortable to wear – much more than jeans in hot weather.

As in nature, fabulously there isn’t a colour that green doesn’t work well with. My mother always quoted that “red and green should never be seen”, but I don’t see many roses or poppies listening to her! This means you get even more outfit options from your green clothing. If you are a SOFT dominant colouring then layering different shades of green together can really flatter your look and CLEAR dominant colourings always look stunning contrasting their greens with options such as hot pink or orange.

with heels. Try different looks with dresses, with or without a belt or swopping out the belt it came with for a wider or slimmer one – that can really give you different looks.

Shopping sustainably is also important. You can do this in a number of different ways. Firstly by only buying items that will add flexibility to your wardrobe you will reduce how many purchases you make. This is when a capsule wardrobe really comes into its own and ensures that you can easily mix and match different items. Stylists aim for each ‘bottom’ to have at least three different ‘tops’ for maximum uses. Knowing your own wardrobe as well will prevent you continuing to buy the same item again and again – after all how many grey jumpers does a girl need?

The time of fast fashion is hopefully passing, as we are all more aware of the impact of the fashion business on the world and its resources. Choosing where, from what and how a garment is made is another way to shop environmentally. You really can make a difference with your fashion choices. Organic cotton, for instance, is kinder to the planet as cotton is one of the world’s most heavily polluting crops and yet with organic farming it actually removes the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and keeps the soil full of nutrients, as well as helping those oh so important bees. It also helps protect the workers as it is shockingly estimated that 77 million cotton workers suffer poisoning from pesticides each year. 20% of industrial water pollution comes from textiles treatment and dying. Organic cotton helps keep your skin free from harsh chemicals. It has been shown that toxic dyes can be absorbed through our largest organ, the skin.

Wearing green can also extend to your make up. Now don’t turn away in fear now, it’s not only WARM dominants that can wear green eye make up! Teal eyeliner for instance is amazing at lighting up every colour of eyes. Trust me on this one, it is my best seller. Eye shadow can stretch from the very light pistachio to the more pigmented olive before the hard hitting bayleaf. If you visit www.moostyle.co.uk I can help you chose the ones that flatter you the most.

Being green is becoming much more important in these growing times of sustainability. This is amazingly important when it comes to fashion. The fashion industry is the second larger polluter on earth, just after the oil industry. I know sometimes it can seem overwhelming and you wonder what one person can do. How about starting by shopping your own wardrobe rather than the shops? A wardrobe edit, professional or your own, can help reveal gems that you have forgotten you owned or different ways to wear items.

We want to make sure you get the maximum wear from each item of your wardrobe. A dress for instance can be worn open over a pair of trousers as a jacket, as a casual dress with trainers and a denim (or khaki!) jacket or dressed up www.lancmag.com

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Choosing green can also extend to our skincare. I like to choose organic skincare as I appreciate that my skin absorbs what I put on it. Accordingly to a 2004 study American women use an average of 12 products a day with nearly 200 chemicals. A 2016 study found women averaged 16 products a day on their face alone. Scarily it’s unknown how all these chemicals react with one another in your body once they absorbed through your skin. I love Colour Me Beautiful’s skincare as they are crammed full of organic essential oils so not only does it smell fabulous but they are hard working.

All the products are organic, not tested on animals and recyclable (another big green point).

Being green and keeping green is something that we can strive to be aware of in all parts of our lives (as well as eating our broccoli!) Finding out which colours bring out the best in you can bring so much confidence and ease of dressing every day. I always say I’m in the confidence business not the fashion business. I’m also here to help if you need any more advice at www.moostyle.co.uk. I can even do colour and style consultations on line, as well as wardrobe weeds and make up lessons from home if you need a ‘lift’. Now I live you with some homework…try and wear green every day of this week. And let it help you feel more restful.

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Antonella Talks Fashion

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ello & welcome to my blog where I talk all about fashion and bring you my favourite picks of the month from my boutique Ruby & Daisy. Well 2020 hasn’t quite turned out as we expected it to has it? With so much uncertainty about what the future holds it can be quite unsettling at times with guidelines constantly changing. However no matter what happens you can always guarantee that we at Ruby & Daisy will remain a constant force and will continue bringing fashion that is accessible for everyone , easy to wear and exceptional value for money.

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Never has easy wearing fashion been as popular as people crave comfortable yet stylish clothing from printed joggers to flattering jumpsuits which are comfortable enough for a day lounging at home yet stylish enough to wear on a zoom meeting for work or a catch up with friends on an evening at the weekend on a video call. Let’s kick off with The Printed Joggers which have literally been walking out on their own as their popularity is second to none.

They are available in a multitude of prints from floral to Camouflage and from stripes to checks. All feature a ribbed Elasticated waistband, an adjustable drawstring and pockets. At only £18 they are incredible value and gone in a regular fit up to a size 18 and a curvy fit which starry from a size 16/18 to 22. The ones I’m wearing here are The Flower Power Joggers and available in pink, grey, navy, light blue & dark blue.

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Dresses are an essential part of your summer wardrobe and here at Ruby & Daisy we have a superb collection of flattering styles from parachute maxi styles to knee length classic linen dresses and even simple t shirt dresses which make a great cover up in ‘ costa del Garden’. Our parachute dresses have been a wardrobe staple for our loyal customers year in year out. They are simply the most flattering style dress with a semi fitted upper and tuck sides which can be worn as they are or tucked in to create pockets. They can even be tied at the waist or front for a more fitted look. Wether your looking for a plain version or a vibrant patterned one , we have it covered. They all fit from a size 10 and fit up to a size 22-24. The Plain Bayview Dress is £20 and The Painted Parachute £29.

If your in search for an ultra flattering , comfy yet stylish top then look no further than our infamous Desoto tops.

They come in plain colours as well as one with stars, hearts & angel wings emblazoned across the front. They all feature flattering capped sleeves, taper down after the hips and cover the bottom and tummy area perfectly. Not only that they also feature ‘hidden pockets’ which is an added bonus. The plain versions are £16, available in every colour of the rainbow & the printed ones vary between £20 & £24.

These pieces are only a snapshot of the extensive collection we have on our website & instore. At present as a an expression of our gratitude towards the NHS and keyworkers we are offering 20% discount on all purchases. Simply message our Facebook page and we will forward you the code which can be used multiple times. On top of that mainland U.K. delivery is only £2, so if you like what you’ve seen already then please visit our website www.rubyanddaisy.co.uk On top of that there is simply no escaping us on Facebook, we go live nearly everyday showcasing our clothing and bringing it to real life.

Thankyou for taking the time to read my blog, I hope you’ve enjoyed it and I shall see you next month.

Bye for now Love Nelly xxx www.lancmag.com

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Vivien of Holloway is dedicated to making the world a more elegant place with the best of 1940’s and 1950’s clothing. Born from a love of the golden age of glamour, our beautiful range of women’s dresses, separates and men’s shirts are inspired by silver screen starlets and rock n’ roll hunks. Our garments are designed to flatter curves and advocate vintage glamour at all times.

All our clothes are made in London and our Holloway Road Boutique is a hub of vintage styling tips thanks to our expert fitters. Based on sizing from the 1950’s and updated to suit modern shapes, our garments create stunning silhouettes which make women look and feel fabulous. Customers receive a unique fitting service with extra care taken to ensure they leave with their dream outfit.

We are constantly introducing new styles to please the growing demand for show-stopping formal and everyday attire.

We are shipping worldwide via our website www.vivienofholloway.com 178

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Betty Sun Top Cover Girl Pink - £75 Button Betty Skirt Cover Girl Pink - £89 Shorts Cover Girl Pink - £75 www.lancmag.com

Betty Sun Top Sombrero - £75 Circle Skirt Sombrero - £89

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Sarong Dress Bolero Set Cover Girl Blue and Cover Girl Pink £179 Nashville Deluxe Leather Bucket Handbags Turquoise and Pink £249

Runaround Sue Dress Domino £149 180

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Betty Sun Top Cover Girl Blue - £75 Button Betty Skirt Cover Girl Blue - £89 (in her hand) Shorts Cover Girl Blue - £75

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Betty Sun Top Riviera - £75 Culottes Riviera - £89

Betty Sun Top Riviera - £75 Shorts Riviera - £75 Tea Timer Riviera - £89

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Betty Sun Top Cover Girl Pink - £75 Shorts Cover Girl Pink - £75

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Betty Sun Top Cover Girl Blue - £75 Tea Timer Cover Girl Blue - £89 Culottes Cover Girl Blue - £89

Our models are @missalba.banana @katiepedlow and @sarahmaiofficial

Jezebel Dress Red Brocade - £99

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Pure Style

Bathrooms & Kitchens

At Pure Style Bathrooms and Kitchens, we have a variety of bathroom designs to suit all budgets and preferences. We can offer all types of bathrooms within your budget. Feel free to discuss your bathroom requirements so that we can come up with a design to meet your expectations.

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A full package for bathroom installations

When you hire us for bathroom designs, you can rest assured that everything will be taken care of from start to finish. Our bathroom products include but are not limited to suites, furniture, concealed cistern, mirrors, cabinets, period dĂŠcor and freestanding baths. Let us know if you want to have certain features or fixtures not covered by our experts.

Hyndburn Road, Accrington, BB5 1PY • Email: shop@purestylebathrooms.com

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Rochdale teen set to join team of international drivers with autism in 24 hour race

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“my teammates have already shown me that you should never give up on your dreams”.

Sandro Ballesteros

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n Saturday 20th June, 13-yearold Sandro Ballesteros joined the team in its inaugural race, testing the competition on the virtual track in an online version of the iconic endurance race.

Sandro was diagnosed with Autism when he was three and had his first experience in a kart aged five. He began racing in Daytona Bambinos, and won his first Bambino Championship in his second year of karting, aged 7. In his first year of junior championships he managed 4th and 5th place. He has been sim racing for three years and helps others into motorsport through his Able Racing Project, sharing his experiences with his Autism presentations in schools.

Team ‘Racing with Autism International’ has been put together by all-disabled racing team, Team BRIT, which is a champion for raising awareness and understanding of autism, and also supports ‘Racing With Autism UK’, a team of young karters, by helping them into

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competitive racing events across the UK. Sandro, who’s autism is often dubbed his ‘super power’ on the race track, has raced regularly with team ‘Racing with Autism UK’ and is a driver for eTeam BRIT, Team BRIT’s sim racing arm. Sandro will take the second stint in the 24hour endurance race, alongside his teammates, the top autistic drivers across the globe: Team BRIT driver and team captain, 20-year-old Bobby Trundley US NASCAR racer, 21-year-old Armani Williams Canadian ‘Radicals’ racer, 20-yearold Austin Riley The team is managed by Max Spooner, manager of eTeam BRIT, who also lives with autism.

Long term, the aim is to enter ‘Racing with Autism International’ in some of top 12 hour and 24 hour sim races, showing the world just how competitive it can be.

Team BRIT also hopes to bring Armani Williams and Austin Riley to the UK later this year to join Bobby Trundley in some real track races as part of the Britcar Endurance series.

Sandra said: “Thanks to eTeam BRIT online events, during the lockdown I have been lucky enough to get to race with some of my heroes. The practice sessions with my Autism International teammates have been a lot of fun. We are hoping to get a good result and show the world what we can do... My dream is to drive at the real Le Mans one day, and my teammates have already shown me that you should never give up on your dreams.”

The race can can be watched at www.iracing.com/specialevents/ Further information on Team BRIT can be found at www.teambrit.co.uk

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Show us your Pets

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ith the recent rise in people working from home we want to see what you and your new fuzzy coworkers are getting up to.

Send us your photos for a chance to be featured in our ‘Show us your Pets’ feature - the best one each month will win a free years subscription to the magazine, the photos will be judged by our editor Mew Dairy, pictured below.

Email your pet photos to Mew at info@lancashiremagazine.co.uk - marking the subject as ‘Show Us Your Pets’

Sue Gerrard, ThorntonCleveleys, in isolation with Norman the Chameleon who’s observing her making her lunch ...... no locusts in there Norman

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Sharon Henry, Bispham, trying to meet deadlines with Millie the French Bulldog wanting all her attention, now Izzy the German Shepherd wants to join in Leanne Ball, Blackpool runs a dog walking and home boarding business but was in isolation when lockdown began so Bella, her beautiful Cocker Spaniel is getting all the hugs and kisses ..... one happy Spaniel Everything up and running now, so Bella cannot wait to see some new playmates.

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An App created to help founder’s own son take his inhaler medication now recommended for use during Covid-19 outbreak

Rafi and his Dad

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free smartphone app, originally created to help its founder’s son to take his inhaler medication, has been recommended for use during the Covid-19 outbreak by ORCHA, the world’s leading health app evaluation and advisor organisation[i].

The Rafi-Tone app was initially developed by University academic, Professor Tariq Aslam, to help his son, Rafi, by using specially designed games and cartoons to encourage and monitor correct inhaler technique. After impressive results in hospital studies, it was further developed by University of Manchester through a spin-out company, Cline-cal to produce the current version of the app.

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Tariq says, “When my son Rafi was 4 years old he was diagnosed with viral induced wheeze, which meant that he would experience breathing difficulties whenever he caught a cold. He would be prescribed an inhaler with a spacer device and mask when this happened, but never got used to it because the condition only came on intermittently. He would always be fighting off the mask and the apparatus that came with it.”

“We knew that his fear and resistance to the treatment meant that he was in danger of not getting all of his medication properly, and we dreaded whenever the time for his inhaler came up as it always caused him so much distress. It was especially terrifying because we knew how www.lancmag.com

important it was he took it properly, as his condition could get so severe that he needed hospitalisation.”

“After a nurse was once able to distract Rafi by blowing bubbles while he was using the spacer, I began to wonder if my research experience could help him. I programmed a basic game we could use on a tablet which analysed the signals of sound from his inhaler and played a cartoon game only when he used it correctly.”

“When I first used it one night at 2am with Rafi I was shocked as he silently took the inhaler and then turned over in bed to go to sleep saying “that was good Daddy, could we do it again tomorrow.” It was our best ever session with the spacer. It was the turning point for us, and he began to actually look forward to using his spacer.”

“I initially thought that perhaps it was just Rafi who got so distressed about using a spacer, but after speaking to a number of respiratory physicians I realised that it is actually a very common problem. That is how the Rafi-Tone app was born, because I knew how amazing it would be if it could help other parents and children out there who were struggling.”

“Rafi, who is now 13 years old, has recently started using the Rafi-Tone app again to track his inhaler regime during the Covid-19 outbreak. His breathing difficulties are triggered by cold viruses, and so he has been trying to take his preventer inhaler every day. As a doctor myself, I know how many clinics have been closed and how services are limited with appointments cancelled, so we are being extra careful.” www.lancmag.com

The Rafi-Tone app is designed for young inhaler users, enabling parents to overcome the distress often associated with treatment and allowing them to log and monitor use.

Rafi Robot, the star of the app, helps to engage the child whilst promoting effective inhaler technique through a series of fun games. Positive inhaler technique means that medication is likely to be far more effective; something that is even more crucial during the Covid-19 crisis as those with asthma are advised to be particularly vigilant about taking their medication as prescribed.

In large studies, 51% of children reported becoming upset when using their standard spacer, but this reduced to only 22% by switching to the Rafi-tone system. Similarly, the number of parents confident that the spacer had delivered the right dose more than doubled from 42% to 89%. The study also saw improvements in children’s own perceptions, and strong endorsement from independent specialist nurses who took part in the study. A 2019 study also found that the Rafi-Tone app has a significant impact on children’s acceptance of their inhaler medication, which could lead to an improvement in reported symptoms and a reduction in A&E and GP appointments[i].

The Rafi-Tone app is a registered medical device and can be downloaded for free from the Apple App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android) for patients using the Able spacer with whistle mask.

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Julius Jones In the summer of 1999, Julius Jones was 19-years old and had just completed his first year at the University of Oklahoma on an academic scholarship. One fatal night would shatter his future as a star athlete and engineering major, and land him on Oklahoma’s death row, awaiting execution.

The Murder of Paul Howell Mr. Paul Howell was a well-known businessman and adoring father to two daughters. He had just pulled into his driveway after shopping for back-to-school supplies when an assailant approached the car, demanded the keys, and fired a fatal shot. Word of that heinous crime quickly rippled throughout the suburbs of Oklahoma City. Howell’s sister, who witnessed the murder, said that the assailant was a black man with a red bandana across his face, and a least a half inch of hair hanging from underneath a cap.

According to Julius and his family, he was home eating spaghetti and playing monopoly with his sister and brother at the time of the crime. They give vivid detail about the events of that evening, including how the siblings bickered about who had eaten the last of Julius’ birthday cookies.

Together, the family says they watched the news flash across the television screen announcing a brutal murder had just taken place miles away. The next day, Julius says he received a phone call from a neighborhood friend, Ladell King, asking for his help moving a Chevrolet Suburban to a new location. Knowing that King was known to be involved in a network of car thefts, Julius says he knew there was a chance the car could be stolen, but did not ask any questions. Julius offered to drive the friend’s car instead, and follow him to an auto repair shop.

It would later be discovered that the Chevrolet Suburban was Paul Howell’s.

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That night, Jones received a call from another friend, Chris Jordan, asking for a place to spend the night because he had been locked out of his grandmother’s house. Mr. and Mrs. Jones allowed Chris to sleep in Julius’s room, while Julius slept downstairs on the couch. When the Jones family awoke the next morning, Chris was already gone.

A sequence of phone calls later, and Jones understood that the police were looking for Chris. Julius left his home to find out what was going on, and was arrested soon after for Paul Howell’s murder.

Tunnel Vision on Julius Jones Corroboration and cooperation between well-known chop shop owner Kermit Lottie, confidential police informant Ladell King, and Chris Jordan left the police convinced that Julius Jones was the one guilty of this crime, as all three of these men pointed to Julius as the perpetrator.

King and Lottie, at the time, were facing other charges, serving as a motive for them to provide the police with information in exchange for shorter sentencing. They both told the police that Julius killed Howell for his car. This testimony was corroborated by Jordan, who claimed he was with Julius, but that Julius pulled the trigger that killed Howell. By testifying against Julius, Chris Jordan made a deal with the district attorney, ultimately serving a 15-year sentence for first degree murder. www.lancmag.com

Ineffective Counsel & Unfair Trial Julius and his family believed what most people believe -- that the American criminal justice system is fair and just.

However, they would soon find themselves spiralling down a dark hole, rudely awakened to the reality to the system’s flaws. A short time before Julius’s trial started, his hired attorney suddenly passed away. Unable to afford a new attorney, Julius was assigned public defenders who knew little about the facts of his case and had no previous death penalty experience. The lead attorney, David McKenzie, said he was handling between 70 and 80 cases during Julius’s trial proceedings.

At trial, the defense team failed to present any evidence at all, and did not effectively cross-examine witnesses, including Chris Jordan, who had given at least six different accounts of the crime to investigators. The attorneys felt a jury would not believe family members who said Julius was at home during the time of the crime, and subsequently decided not to call a single person to the stand. Had they done a thorough investigation of their own, the attorneys would have discovered a booking photo of Julius that was taken 9 days before the crime, after he had been stopped for a traffic infraction. That photo would have shown Julius with a cropped haircut, not enough hair to hang from underneath a cap, as the witness described.

Because of the ineffectiveness of Julius’ legal team, Jordan was never questioned about how he was able to lead police to the weapon, or the many discrepancies in his statements. Had they dismantled Jordan’s credibility, they would have unraveled the prosecution’s case, which relied on the corroboration and integrity of Jordan, King, and Lottie’s statements to the police and testimonies in court.

It was Chris Jordan who had guided police to the murder weapon hidden in the attic of Julius’ room. In one of his statements to police, Jordan admitted to hiding the weapon in Julius’ room. The family believes Jordan planted that weapon in their home the night he was allowed to spend the night.

On top of being ill-prepared, the defense team was up against one of the most powerful District Attorney offices in the country. At the time that Julius was charged,“Cowboy” Bob Macy led the District Attorney’s office with a fierce reputation as being “tough on crime”. A 2016 study conducted by Harvard Law School’s Fair Punishment Project named Mr. Macy the second deadliest prosecutor in the United States, with 54 death row convictions. Eventually, Mr. Macy would fall from grace after an astonishing review of his office’s malpractices. In the aftermath, 33% of his 54 death row cases would be overturned.

A Racist System Years of scientific evidence and wrongful convictions across the United States, have shown us a startling reality -America’s criminal justice system is riddled with inequality, prejudice, and racism. In Oklahoma, these realities are ever present, as the state has had the highest rates of mass incarceration in the country for years. Wrongful convictions www.lancmag.com

are regularly brought to light, and 10 individuals have been exonerated from death row since 1974 in Oklahoma.

After a botched execution in 2015, the State of Oklahoma implemented the Death Penalty Review Commission to examine the flaws in the state’s execution practices. After a year of examination, the commission concluded that Oklahoma’s death penalty is flawed by racism, informant testimony, and ineffective legal representation. They further concluded that these factors place the state in jeopardy of executing innocent people. In the report, they referenced a Northwestern University study, which found that, in Oklahoma, a death sentence is nearly three times more likely when the accused is black and the victim is white.

In 2017, a white juror contacted Julius’s current legal team, saying that during the 2001 trial, another white juror said of Julius, “they need to take this nigger and shoot him, and take him and bury him underneath the jail.” The juror says she told the bailiff, who she believed told the judge, yet the biased juror remained on the jury. Another juror allegedly referred to Julius’s family as “their kind”. In addition, Julius says that upon arrest, a police office took off his handcuffs and said, “run, nigger. I dare you.” Julius believed that if he had run, the police officer intended to shoot him.

Supporting Julius Many other issues have impacted Julius’ ability to receive a fair chance in any Oklahoma court. But, in 2017, Academy Award winner, Viola Davis, and Julius Tennon came to Julius’ rescue. Working closely with the NY Innocence Project, Davis and Tennon produced the “The Last Defense” -- an outstanding docu-series illuminating flaws in the justice system, particularly in Julius’ case. This film has become a crucial tool for those in Oklahoma and throughout the United States who are fighting for Julius’ life.

Because of “The Last Defense” and the efforts of fierce advocates, Julius’s case has generated waves all across the United States. Celebrities such as Kim Kardashian-West, Lava Records CEO, Jason Flom, and ‘Just Mercy’ producer Scott Budnick, have joined forces to give the #justiceforjulius campaign a powerful, national platform. Through Represent Justice, headed by Scott Budnick, an incredible group of experts have come together to engage the Oklahoma Pardon and Pardon Board and raise public awareness. Additionally, NBA players Blake Griffin, Russell Westbrook, Buddy Hield, Trae Young and others have written letters to the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board and to Governor Kevin Stitt, in support of Julius Jones’ commutation application.

Julius has been on Oklahoma’s death row for 21 years now, and is currently awaiting their response. In the meantime, the State of Oklahoma has announced plans to resume execution by lethal injection soon. We hope it is not too late for Julius Jones.

To sign the change.org petition, learn more, and join advocacy efforts, please visit: www.justiceforjuliusjones.com.

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Our Sharon’s quick recipe’s

Potato and vegetable pancakes

Ingredients 2 Potatoes 2 Carrots 1/4 Celeriac bulb 1 Sprig of Rosemary 1 Egg

Method Peel the potatoes, carrots and celeriac and grate coarsely into a bowl.

Strip off and add rosemary leaves.

Season with salt and black pepper.

Break the egg over the seasoned vegetables and mix together with a fork.

Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a non-stick frying pan and make small round pancakes with a spoon.

Fry over a medium heat and turn after 5 minutes.

The pancakes should be golden and crisp.

Now serve them on plates, with meat or fish or just with salad.

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Salmon Burgers Ingredients 300g skinless salmon fillet 2 Sesame seed buns 2 Tbs mayonnaise or horseradish 1 tomato 1 small onion 8 slices of cucumber

Method Dice the salmon fillet into small cubes, then until fine pieces.

Put the chopped salmon onto greased proof paper and shape 2 even burgers about 1 cm thick.

Place the burgers in a non-stick frying pan with 1 Tbs of oil, pull out the Greased proof paper and fry the burgers on both sides for a total of 2 - 3 minutes.

Halve the sesame seed buns, toast them briefly and spread the bottom half of each with a little mayonnaise or horseradish sauce.

Cover with slices of tomato and place the fried salmon burger on top.

Spread a little more sauce on the salmon burgers. Cut the onions into rings. Put the onion rings and slices of cucumber on top of the salmon burgers and crown with the tops of the sesame seed buns.

Can also use lettuce leaves, red onions, cherry tomatoes and rocket as trimmings.

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Creamy yoghurt and blueberry ice lollies Ingredients 500g full-fat yogurt 150g blueberries 4 Tbs caster sugar

Method Put the yogurt and blueberries into a blender.

Sprinkle with the caster sugar.

Blend slowly until all the ingredients are well mixed.

The mixture is ready when the blueberries are finely purĂŠed and the yogurt is an intense purple colour.

Now pour the mixture into ice-lolly moulds and put into the freezer compartment for at least 3 hours.

The mixture makes enough blueberry lollipops for 7 people and will keep in the freezer for 3 months.

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Staycation

A wine tasting “tour” of Sussex from your own dinner table A special celebratory wine collection that gives people a unique taste of England’s own “Champagne” region has been launched.

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o mark English Wine Week and Sussex Day this June, Sussex Modern has put together three bespoke wine cases that showcase some of the best and most beautifully-crafted wines in the world, delivered to your door. All profits from sales of the wine cases will go towards supporting the 13 arts partners that make up Sussex Modern which, like so many other local businesses and organisations, have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and are making steps towards recovery.

Sussex Modern is a collaboration of 36 destinations across East and West Sussex that celebrate the county’s contribution to modern culture and showcase its incredible landscape.

The launch of the wine collection celebrates the fact that sunny Sussex is the UK’s premier wine-making region, with over 50 vineyards and more wine production than any other county. The chalk of the South Downs National Park is the same chalky seam as the 198

Champagne region – giving the English sparkling wines world-class quality – while the sandier soils of the Sussex Weald produce wines of remarkable fruitiness.

Mark Driver, co-owner of Rathfinny Wine Estate, said: “It’s been a challenging time for venues across the county, but we still wanted to do something to mark Sussex Day. We have several award-winning wineries in the Sussex Modern partnership and we thought a celebration of the amazing wines of Sussex seemed very fitting.

Each case is a unique experience – evocative of the rolling South Downs, of fresh air, sunshine and picnics, and of good times with family and friends.

This is a great way to go on a winetasting tour of Sussex without having to leave the comfort of your own dinner table! It will also be supporting local businesses that really need a helping hand at this time.”

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Kat Beer www.lancmag.com

Sussex Modern is a collaboration of carefully curated galleries, artist houses, wineries performance venues and independent cinema all designed to celebrate Sussex’s contribution to modern culture and to showcase the county’s natural landscape. It brings together a unique experience of 36 memorable places with the creativity that defines the county’s modern, independent spirit.

Contemporary art, ancient landscapes and innovative winemaking are all on offer in Sussex and are to be explored and enjoyed.

If you fancy a break to visit everything mentioned in this article, visit - www.sussexmodern.org.uk for more information.

Kat Beer, who leads sustainable tourism for the South Downs National Park, which is one of the supporting partners of Sussex Modern, added: “The pandemic has undoubtedly had a huge impact on the tourism, hospitality and cultural sector and many venues are now making the first tentative steps towards a long and uncertain recovery.

One of the real trends to come out of this pandemic is more people shopping locally and seeing what’s available on their doorstep. Sussex has really made a name for itself for the quality of its wines in recent years and I would encourage wine-lovers to make the most of the wonderful variety of wines being grown here.”

Three different wine cases – sparkling, still and mixed – are available and will be delivered to your door.

Each case contains six bottles.

For more details see www.sussexmodern.org.uk/sussex-modern-wine-case-tasting-notes/ www.lancmag.com

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Anatolia Sea View: 01253 789 551 Pleasure Island, 1st Floor, South Promenade FY8 1LS

A traditional Turkish Ocakbasi (open barbecue) with hot and cold Meze, marinated and grilled meats, vegetables and kebabs plus authentic Turkish pizza Anatolia, a contemporary Turkish barbecue restaurant.

Positioned at Pleasure Island, South Promenade, the focal point is the large Ocakbasi, an authentic Turkish-style charcoal grill which infuses the marinated meats and vegetables with a trademark smoky taste. The menu offers traditional Turkish classics for eating in or to take away. The menu sees a range of hot and cold starters such mixed Meze, Imam Bayildi, stuffed vine leaves and plenty of vegetarian choices. Mains offer marinated Shish kebabs, lamb chops, ribs, wings and slow-cooked dishes like Mousakka and lamb shank.

More saucy Iskender kebabs, marinated and finished with yoghurt, are also on offer as are a choice of traditional Turkish pizzas called Pideler, a stone-baked, boat-shaped dough with a crispy outer crust filled with a mixture of toppings. Desserts feature Baklava and Turkish Dream. And why not finish with Raki and Turkish coffee? Anatolia is a great choice for a party or celebration with several set meal choices

Planning for relative calm How planning can make a relative’s passing the gentlest goodbye

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ne generally doesn’t use the word passion when describing funeral directors. You can’t help it when talking about Mark Simpkin.

Passion is not the only thing that sets apart his approach to looking after families as they contemplate the loss of a loved one. He is prepared to break rules where rules need breaking. And he says that within his industry - in his opinion - some of them do.

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He took on 26 acres of beautiful, unspoiled natural parkland at Adlington Hall in Cheshire and turned it into a memorial park like no other. He felt saying farewell should be individual; personal. It shouldn’t and didn’t have to conform to an outdated set-piece Victorian formula. And, says Mark, goodbye shouldn’t have to be the end of the conversation – friends and relatives should feel comfortable and comforted every time they come back to visit.

Adlington Memorial Park https:// adlingtonmemorialpark.co.uk/ couldn’t be further from a traditional cemetery or crematorium setting. Big specimen shade trees, naturalised planting, birds and wildflowers abound. There are quiet areas for reflection, tasteful grasslain stone markers and small gardens hosting family plots.

It’s all about choices. Services from humanist to those of any faith, caskets from natural, woven materials to the more familiar and nowadays biodegradable coffins and places to inter ashes.

At some point most of us will have to plan a relative’s funeral. It’s easier if everyone knows what everyone wants –

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yet still some of us find it difficult to talk about.

Not knowing what your loved one wanted and trying to do your best to organise things you believe they would have liked while contemplating one of the worst days is something that should be avoided if at all possible.

Breaking rule number 1: You don’t have to do it like it’s always been done, just because that’s how it’s always been done.

What Mark has found is that for many of us, thinking about elements we’d like at our funerals - because we know it will resonate with those left behind, trigger a smile, a memory or offer a flourish of personality - is often a great comfort.

“I was talking to a lovely couple.

They had come in to organise a funeral plan. The husband wanted a quiet ceremony, a few friends, low key and simple. When I turned to his lively Jamaican wife and asked if she wanted something similar, I was met with a hearty laugh before she shared her own plans for a Caribbean steel band, ‘My Boy Lollipop’ as her soundtrack, curry goat and to be laid to rest looking a lot www.lancmag.com

Adlington Memorial Park Mill Ln, Adlington, Macclesfield SK10 4LF

like Whitney Huston. My answer – well of course we can do that for you.”

Different cultures have different ways of celebrating a life. In Asia the colour of mourning is white. In the West it’s black.

“Hearses don’t have to be black; hearses don’t have to feature if formality isn’t you. Our greenest services are often riots of colour – or offer the optimism of colour to come.

When we took over at the park, we planted thousands upon thousands of wild flower seeds. If families want to commemorate something particularly, we’ll find a way to do it, in a way that’s sympathetic with the surroundings.

“And we don’t do back to back services. I don’t like them; I don’t think they work, and I don’t think they show enough respect. This is the least appropriate time to rush someone. And yes, there are some rules I’m happy to break, if that’s what families want.”

He completed his professional training but from there, for him, it has always been about offering emotional support too. He’s a people person, he can’t help it. www.lancmag.com

Breaking rule number 2: If you ask for a hug, you’ll get a hug.

“While we act in accordance with the guidelines set out by SAIF, The National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors, and operate the highest levels of professionalism, we are happy to step away from ‘the traditional’ on the day.

For some head to toe black or grey formal wear can be forbidding. Again, we want people to feel the goodbye they’re saying is their goodbye.

“Current times have added restrictions for sure. Before the pandemic when people needed some genuine reassurance, my response has always been from the heart. In my industry that would be frowned upon, but in my world if someone’s in distress and needs a hug, they’ll get one.”

Some of those he’s met with recently have been somewhat lost; survivors overwhelmed by a pandemic that wrought its unexpected devastation on them – leaving them confused, angry and unsure about the next step.

At times like these, some will want formality, others will want quite the opposite.

“I am proud of the people in our industry. They are caring, compassionate and utterly professional.

My own ‘breath of fresh air’ is just a different way of doing things that we are finding is increasingly welcomed, not only in the North West, but nationally too.”

Adlington Memorial Park is set in 26 acres of rolling Cheshire parkland. It offers unique, personal and natural funeral services, peace and tranquillity in one of the country’s most beautiful settings.

Mark Simpkin and his team listen carefully and with compassion to make sure last wishes are clearly understood and flawlessly granted while relatives are fully supported.

The Park also offers funeral planning which allows people to make sure everyone involved understands their wishes to ensure they receive the funeral they want - and protect their relatives from additional stress when it’s least welcome. #SHARELASTWISHES

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 203

Jack McKinlay reveals why lockdown arrived at the perfect time for him

The 30-year-old talent defeated ‘The Congo Leopard’ Michael Likalu (0-1) on points on February 28 at the Grand Central Hall in Liverpool on a Black Flash Promotions event.

His fearless opponent was one of the most enthused fighters coming out of the away corner that night and rallied hard to upset the home fighter, but McKinlay was technically better, landing more eye-catching shots to prevail on points.

However, McKinlay, who was an Under 20’s ABA champion, injured his right hand in the second round of the four-round contest.

He explained further, “There wasn’t any feeling out process, the lad came to win and we went at it from the first bell. He tried to put it on me and had a high work rate but I 204

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Trained by Paul Stevenson at the thriving Everton Red Triangle Gym in Liverpool, unbeaten welterweight, Jack ‘The Ripper’ McKinlay (2-0, 0KOs), has spent lockdown recovering from a hand injury sustained in his last fight.

landed the cleaner shots.

“I felt my jab was landing well and I landed some solid right hands, but then I hurt my right hand in the second round.”

McKinlay suffered thereon from the hindered fist but managed to win 39-38 on the referee Jamie Kirkpatrick’s scorecard to move up to 2-0 within five months of his pro debut back in September 2019.

“Yeah, I enjoyed that fight,” he reflected. “I got off to a good start to the year but because I hurt my hand, lockdown actually came at a good time for me to give me chance to rest my hand, so it wasn’t a bad thing for me at first, in my position.” www.lancmag.com

Then Prime Minister Boris Johnson declared a state of lockdown towards the end of March, which Jack spent the first couple of weeks off from training, but very quickly got back into it to keep close to his fighting weight on the advice of his trainer, Paul Stevenson.

European flyweight titles when he trained there, retiring unbeaten in 2016.

“Yeah, the first couple of weeks of lockdown, I had nothing to aim for, but I feel better now. I couldn’t do much punching anyway because of my hand.

He said, “I think the boxing insiders know all about the Triangle, the people in the know already know about our gym and it’s talent.

“I’ve been training quite a bit to be honest, I’ve been doing loads of cycling. I already had a bike before all this, but never really used it until now, but I’ve been going on twoand-a-half-hour bike rides.

“I’ve got punch bag in the back and been doing pads with my mate. I’ve been running with a heavy rucksack on my back with my mate who is ex-army.

“A lot of people can’t wait to get back to the gym, but I’ve found that you can use what’s around you. During my last fight camp, I was mixing it up because I don’t like doing one thing all the time, as it gets repetitive.

“Whenever we get back in the gym, I’ll just take it as it comes. My hand is still not 100 per cent but been getting better, and I’ve been doing light pads, but not too heavy punching.”

Despite having no fight date to focus on, or even the daily visit to the gym to look forward to, ‘The Ripper’ is still managing to keep himself motivated.

McKinlay was victorious in 26 from 32 amateur fights and won the ABA Under 20’s national title, all while wearing the famous red ERT vest.

“We’re just under the radar, but not out of sight, if that makes sense. Everyone knows about us, but we are just waiting for that big break, I think we need for someone to win another pro title. I certainly don’t think people don’t recognise us, but it just takes time to be famously recognised.

“I think it works well in our favour though – no distractions, just pure training. Maybe that’s a good thing, it’s just business and keeps your eye on it, and that’s all that matters.”

Everton Red Triangle Gym, in association with Black Flash Promotions, plan their entire year’s events ahead.

Unfortunately, due to the pandemic and subsequent ban on all boxing events under the jurisdiction of the BBBofC, May and July’s events were cancelled. The remaining planned dates are September 5 and November 14.

Follow Everton Red Triangle on Facebook.

“I’ve been waking up earlier than normal because when you’re in training camp, your body is sore and it is hard to get out of bed sometimes, but now the training is not as intense, I’ve been getting up nice and early.

“When I wake up, I don’t have a set routine, I just do whatever training I feel like that day, to be honest.”

Although Jack’s good start to the year has since been thwarted, he remains positive that 2020 could still have a bit of hope ahead.

“I’ll be happy to just get one fight in,” he shrugged. “I’d like to end the year on a win, although two fights would be great, but realistically, just to fight once more this year would be good. It’s out of my hands though, so just got to go with the flow.

“It’s going to be hard selling tickets, but it’s not about the money, even if we fight for nothing for a few fights because I think it will be hard to sell tickets after this, people want to spend their money wisely because you never know what’s around the corner. But could go the other way, because people are desperate for a night out!”

McKinlay trains at the century-old Everton Red Triangle Gym in Liverpool with six other unbeaten teammates. One of the UK’s brightest prospects, European and Commonwealth gold medalist Peter McGrail, who was the last Briton to qualify for the 2020 Olympics, also trains there.

The gym is well known in the amateur code but has yet to receive the same recognition in the professional ranks, despite Kevin Satchell winning British, Commonwealth and www.lancmag.com

Jack McKinlay in the ring LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 205

Your star horoscope

Manish Kumar Arora is a renowned KP Astrologer, Numerologist, Tarot Reader & Vastu Consultant. He has been rendering professional advice to clients with a reasonable degree of success. He has been conferred with the title of ‘Jyotish Varahamihir’ and ‘Jyotish Aryabhatt.’ He has been writing monthly astrological columns for many international magazines.

Aries: Mar 21 – Apr 19 There will be greater maturity and depth to boot and Aug will bring an opportunity to benefit from a muchneeded step back to optimise your considerable chances of using your potential to create a few sparks! If you are in a relationship, it will be time to face the reality of your feelings and in particular, examine your commitments and choices more objectively. A desire to commit for the longer term; have a family or extend the one you have; or rekindle the flame, which could well keep you warm very powerfully and for a long time would be felt.

Favourable Dates: Aug 3, 8, 12, 17, 21, 26 Favourable Colors: White & Blue Taurus: Apr 20 – May 20 Your talents will be as of gold, as long as you come out of the shadows and make a difference.

It could also win over those above you or in high places, who will be looking for new ideas and original personalities.

This month will favour your self-expression and your excellent creative impulses will enable you to achieve your ideals and look after your love-life.

Being at one with yourself, you will easily express your desires and develop greater closeness to those you love in a smooth, harmonious existence.

Favourable Dates: Aug 2, 5, 11, 14, 20, 23 Favourable Colours: Yellow& Blue Gemini: May 21 – Jun 20 You will be overflowing with energy and creativity, eager to exploit your great talent. You will be communicative and more convincing than usual. Now will be the time to declare your feelings and outline your plans. You will lack neither the persuasion skills nor the charm to head exchanges in the right direction, especially as you see it, if the debates are related to financial affairs or the distribution of possessions.If you are in a relationship, you will accumulate all the necessary assets for moving on a stage and fully enjoying the moment.

Favourable Dates: Aug 2, 4, 11, 13, 20, 22 Favourable Colours: Red & Green Cancer: Jun 21 – Jul 22 Your mind would be full of plans and your heart aflame. An agenda of charm, which should reconcile you with the light-hearted side of life also with your deeper feelings. If you are single, you will be keen to offload certain family obligations which are weighing you down, raise the level of debate and free up solutions, so that harmony can return and you can then devote.

Make the most of your increased power at the moment to spread your wings and put yourself in the right position for take-off!

Favourable Dates: Aug 4, 5, 13, 14, 22, 23 Favourable Colours: Red & White

Leo: Jul 23 – Aug 22 You will feel a need to mobilise your imagination in a constructive way and bring your ideas to fruition, so they can be used and in tune with your deepest aspirations this month. You will refocus on yourself and be better able to appreciate your achievements at their just value, while being on the centre-stage. You will want to be happy, and your radiance will touch everyone around you and light up your love-life. You will gain in maturity and surf along on the good vibes of this month to envisage a love-life where you won’t repeat past mistakes.

Favourable Dates: Aug 2, 6, 11, 15, 20, 24 Favourable Colours: Blue &Yellow

Sagittarius: Nov 22 – Dec 21 This month is going to recommend you roll up your sleeves and make the most of the clear skies to deploy your talents and lay down the foundations for future success. You won’t hesitate to use your formidable energy to develop your resources and start to impose your abilities, which should quite naturally inspire authority on a day when evidence of your talent could stand out. After 21st, the stars will encourage you to look after your private life in preference to your social life and could bring up related matters.

Favourable Dates: Aug 4, 5, 13, 14, 22, 23 Favourable Colours: White & Green

Virgo: Aug 23 – Sep 22 You will defend your initiatives with conviction and a certain talent. This won’t fail to astonish or retain the attention of those watching you and waiting to pounce. You will be blessed by the gods and your love-life touched by divine grace. You will be more confident of your potential and endowed with incredible charm Make the most of this to regain the closeness that has been adversely affected recently by too many responsibilities and don’t hesitate to whisk off your partner on a romantic interlude as soon as you can.

Favourable Dates: Aug 1, 2, 10, 11, 19, 20 Favourable Colours: White & Brown

Capricorn: Dec 22 – Jan 19 New ideas, bold propositions and exciting encounters would come. Business will pick up and discussions will go as you wish. You will be overflowing with energy and your powers of persuasion should open quite a few doors.A sharp sense of strategy, powerful but contained and controlled energy levels, with an irrepressible desire to fire on all cylinders and get that well-earned recognition would be there.You will defend your initiatives with conviction and a certain talent. This won’t fail to astonish or retain the attention of those watching you and waiting to pounce.

Favourable Dates: Aug 1, 7, 10, 16, 19, 25 Favourable Colours: White & Red

Libra: Sep 23 – Oct 22 You will assert your desires and emerge from the shadows to seize all opportunities to live life to the full. If you are in a relationship this period will increase your appetite and give you the desire to savour life’s pleasures with intensity.You will take a necessary step back to identify what action to take and not miss your chance to reach your goal in your love-life and on all fronts. You will end the month on a high note, with greater confidence in yourself and your potential, determined to make the most of everything.

Favourable Dates: Aug 1, 3, 10, 12, 19, 21 Favourable Colours: Red & Yellow Scorpio: Oct 23 – Nov 21 Your huge ambitions will seem to be in the process of being realised and you will make an impression and score points with your irresistible charm and ability to show off your talents. Thanks to effective support, you will progress in the right direction and regain confidence in your destiny. You will focus on your enormous potential, as well as on your consistency and steadfastness to make an impression You’ll have a desire to invite love to your table and your other half to the festivities, where you will share in sensuality for a long time.

Favourable Dates: Aug 4, 5, 13, 14, 22, 23 Favourable Colours: White & Green

Aquarius: Jan 20 – Feb 18 You will savour your rediscovered peace of mind on the family front and could now appreciate a rich and constructive everyday life. If you have been feeling somewhat held back or prey to doubts you will regain your self-confidence after 21st and business and negotiations will pick up and head in the right direction. This will encourage you to open your arms and rekindle the flame, if you are searching for a soul mate, and have a good look at what is happening around you, coming out of your cocoon and surfing on the excellent frequencies.

Favourable Dates: Aug 1, 7, 10, 16, 19, 25 Favourable Colours: White & Red Pisces: Feb 19 – Mar 20 You will be super-confident and manage to get things moving both at work and on the family front, where your word will be law. It will be time to determine in all consciousness what you can be bold enough to attempt or not.You will act wisely and get your message across smoothly.

The chemistry will be good, enabling you to reassure those you deal with and unblock solutions on all fronts. You will deploy all facets of your abilities discreetly but effectively and will know how to rally support in your love-life.

Favourable Dates: Aug 3, 9, 12, 18, 21, 27 Favourable Colours: Blue & Yellow

Manish Kumar Arora, 91-9871062000 | K.P. Astrologer, Numerologist, Tarot Card Reader & Vastu Consultant www.facebook.com/manishastroconsultant | manish@manishastrologer.com

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Small Shopping

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Kate’s pad

By Bevan Ridehalgh

208

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Eagland Hill church

I

suppose it had to happen. A brief mention of Kate’s Pad in my recent article on Pilling village had people asking various questions. “Who was Kate?” “Has she a ghost?” “What is a pad?” “What was Kate’s Pad used for?” I will try to answer these questions but, be aware, some of these questions do not have answers.

Who was Kate? Apparently, no one knows which is rather strange in view of the fact that she only entered onto the scene around a couple of hundred years ago. Up until that time, a term that was being used was Monk’s Pad and then this changed to Kate’s Pad. I don’t know why Kate should have a ghost and I have not heard of her having one. If you want, you could perhaps find out by roaming around Pilling on some dark nights. Just a minute, perhaps not. Most ghosts stay indoors, don’t they?

Amazingly, my dictionary has twenty definitions for pad ranging from the mention of a piece of soft material to a description of a launch pad but none of the twenty make much sense in the present case. I believe that the expression “Padding along” is well known but that does not make it into my dictionary. This clearly leads us to pad, meaning walk. Thus Kate’s Pad is a path named after an unknown lady.

There are claims that this Pad is Roman in origin and linked Lancaster with the River Wyre port of Wardleys. This is rather a strange claim since the two places were already linked by water. More believable is the thought that this path led south east from Pilling to Rawcliffe thus giving the monks of Cockersand Abbey access to their lands in that area. This meant that it went across mossland and could only ever have supported light traffic. It would often have been difficult to cross in summer and impossible to cross in winter. The present traffic road route still does not make that crossing. It heads west to Pressall, and then turns south, going inland to Stalmine and on to Rawcliffe.

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In the past, this longer, west-south, route would not have been much easier since some would also have been over mossland. It is believed that the whole mossland area was originally a bay of water that was part of Morecambe Bay. It is thought that the mouth of this bay silted up, that vegetation grew and rotted for many thousands of years, eventually resulting in the forming of marshland. This marshland originally began right at the edge of the sea which why there was no easy route at all in the old days.

Of course, the construction of the path across the mossland would have been a monumental task. Nowadays, lengths of track are occasionally uncovered and these are usually seen to have been built on riven oak trees. Unfortunately the lengths of track which are uncovered are usually on farm land which is being worked and so they are soon covered over again.

Pilling Historical Society has usually been active along any exposed roads and its members have made several finds. Relics found alongside the track date from the Neolithic Period (4000 BC to 2500 BC) and the Iron Age (500 BC to 800BC). Carbon dating also suggests that the age ranges of the various lengths of track are tremendous but we have to be careful when considering this. It is the age range of the timber that is measured not the age range covering its present use.

Man has obviously been in this area for some time. Names such as Bone Hill, Cogie Hill and Eagland Hill indicate that there were always dry places on the mosslands where he could settle. These three places all sit on roads which pass by; roads which are some distance from Kate’s Pad. The presence of these roads is not really a surprise; the settlements had to be reached somehow. However, I do consider the fact that the roads are through roads to be rather surprising.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 209

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