TINBOX ANGEL

By Margaret Brecknell

Based in the historic city of Lancaster, Tinbox Angel are manufacturers of stylish luxury leather handbags and accessories, each handcrafted to an exceptionally high standard.

Tinbox Angel’s extensive range of products offers a carefully blended mix of modern and classic designs, meaning there is something to suit every style and budget.

Amanda Gallagher is the creative talent behind Tinbox Angel, assisted by her husband, Paul, who joined the business in 2020. She comes from a family of professional upholsterers. “My mum, dad, grandparents and two of my uncles all worked in the industry”, she explains. “My grandparents ran a furniture shop with my uncle for many years and every summer I would spend days there.” In 1983 Amanda’s parents moved to Lancaster, where her mother had been brought up, and opened a furniture shop in Caton called Royal Upholstery. Amanda adds, “I knew early on into learning to sew that I had the family gene. I was obsessed with making things, and I had a real passion for making bags.”

Yet, initially, she did not consider making a business out of it, but instead enjoyed a successful career in recruitment. Even when, in 2007, her mother passed away and left Amanda her beloved sewing machine, she had little expectation of using it. “I took it laughing, thinking that will never see the light of day again and pushed it to the back of the wardrobe,” Amanda recalls.

It was only when she took a break to have a family of her own that the sewing machine was brought out and put to good use. Very quickly, Amanda rediscovered her passion for the creative process and by the time she was ready to return to work, she had realised, in her own words, that “the thought of my not using my hands to work was just not an option for me anymore.”

The first step towards starting her new business was to find a workspace, as her conservatory at home was already overflowing with her ever growing collection of craft supplies. “I found a vintage caravan which my husband and my dad stripped out, decorated, added some old carpet, linked to mains electricity and away I went,” recalls Amanda. She worked for two happy years in the caravan, with only her radio for company, but as the business continued to grow, she eventually moved, in 2016, into a purpose-built workshop in her garden.

The memory of her time in that caravan lives on in her distinctive business name. “I loved my time in my little ‘Tinbox’, which was where the name came from,” Amanda explains. “The ‘Angel’ in my business name is my mum and her sewing machine. As soon as I put the two names together, they just seemed to fit.”

Since the autumn of 2019, Tinbox Angel has been based at the Covered Yard, off King Street, in the historic heart of Lancaster city centre. This atmospheric covered courtyard, which once housed the stables for the John O’Gaunt public house, is now home to an eclectic mix of craft workshops and is well worth a visit. Amanda relishes being in such a historic part of the city, believing that, “It really goes with what I do.”

A visit to the workshop provides customers with the opportunity to see first-hand some of the beautiful leather handbags and accessories which are lovingly handcrafted there. However, if you are unable to visit Lancaster in person, Tinbox Angel’s website provides a full online retail service, with free UK delivery on all orders over £30.00.

A glance at the website reveals just what Tinbox Angel has to offer. The range of handbags includes everything from modern clutch bags in vibrant colours or funky animal prints to large classic leather tote bags. Accessories for him and her include coin purses, card holders and leather journals. Nearly all orders are handcrafted individually after purchase, so should you be buying a gift for a special occasion, please check on delivery time. For last-minute shoppers there is also a special “Ready to Ship” section on the website.

The company’s ethos is to supply quality leather goods to people who appreciate work from handcrafted suppliers. Amanda prides herself on the reputation which Tinbox Angel has established over the years for producing handmade leather goods whose quality is second to none. “We do not make mass-produced items. We put our heart and soul into our designs” she says. The process begins with sourcing the raw material from some of the top leather merchants in Britain and Italy. “We believe in using the whole hide and can always repurpose the scraps of leather. We never throw anything away,” Amanda explains.

Whilst Tinbox Angel does not produce one-off bespoke designs, Amanda and the team pride themselves on their ability to adapt their existing range of products to suit individual customers’ needs. Customers may customise their handbags by changing the colour or print, choosing a lining in a contrasting colour, including an extra pocket or even by simply adding a tassel. The options are endless and Amanda is always on hand to offer valuable advice.

Tinbox Angel has also invested in brand new state-ofthe art equipment, which further increases the ways in which items may be personalised. The laser cutter enables engravings to be added to products. “Logos, or even poems, can be added to the leather, making a very special gift or corporate product. We have also invested in a hot foil de-boss machine where we can add initials and logos in metallic colours directly to the leather”, Amanda explains.

Inside the vintage caravan

The simple, but effective, personalised leather bracelets have proved a popular gift over the Christmas and St Valentine’s Day periods and with prices starting from just £12.00 it is not difficult to see why. With a variety of colours from which to choose and perfect for men or women, the bracelet can be embossed with the recipient’s initials or name. Alternatively, with the option available of having lettering engraved on the inside of the bracelet, send that certain someone a special “secret” message.

The following recent reviews from just two of Tinbox Angel’s many satisfied customers speak for themselves.

“I never considered myself ‘a handbag person’ until I discovered Tinbox Angel’s creations. Now it’s hard to resist each new style and gorgeous leather! From dependable everyday cross-body bags to sparkly evening purses which make your outfit, every one of my Tinbox bags makes me happy. Beautiful quality and workmanship without being “designer” prices. I can’t recommend Tinbox Angel highly enough.”

“I’ve now had several things made by Amanda for myself and for presents for family and friends. Amanda’s work is fabulous with real attention to detail and her enthusiasm and passion for her work shines through. She’s so helpful in finding the right leather and colour to suit you. I absolutely love everything she makes!”

Amanda has recently started running special sneaker workshop days at her Lancaster premises on one Sunday each month and these are already proving extremely popular. These all-day sessions make an ideal gift for any family member or friend who loves to create things and likes to learn new skills, as well as being perfect for anyone who just fancies treating themselves to a special one-off experience.

The cost of £155 includes full hands-on tuition and a delicious lunch (special dietary requests can be accommodated if made at the time of booking), plus tea, coffee and soft drinks throughout the day. Don’t forget that at the end of the workshop you will also have your own personal bespoke pair of sneakers to take home with you. There is, of course, the additional bonus of being able to boast that you made them with your own hands.

Amanda is hoping in due course to expand these workshop sessions to include other products such as clutch bags and personalised leather journals, so keep checking the Tinbox Angel website and social media pages for updates.

With Amanda’s eye for business, her ability to innovate and adapt to her customers’ requirements and “bags” of natural creative talent, the future looks bright for Tinbox Angel and it will be exciting to see how the business progresses over the next few years.

VISIT TINBOX ANGEL AT The Covered Yard, King Street, Lancaster LA1 1JN (Please check website or social media for opening times)

D www.tinboxangel.com F @tinboxangeluk T @AngelTinbox I @TinboxAngel

MACCLESFIELD

In 2018 Rightmove’s annual survey named Macclesfield as the happiest place to live in the North West. Influencing factors were safety of the area, services, access to green spaces, parks, and culture.

The Cheshire town is nestled between the Peak District and Cheshire Plain with stunning countryside on the doorstep and strong transport links. Manchester is a quick 20-minute train ride away, the train to London is only 1hr and 45 minutes with good road connections to the rest of the country. The town has two independent schools, Beech

By Sarah Ridgway

Hall School and The Kings School which dates to the 16th Century. The town once famous for its booming silk industry also boasts some notable Maxonians including Ian Curtis of Joy Division, Bargain Hunt’s David Dickinson and Sarah Burton OBE who designed the Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding dress.

A History of Silk

As you wander through the streets you will notice several warehouses and mills dating back to the 18th Century when Macclesfield was the country’s major silk manufacturer. The story began in the 17th Century with button production which were covered with linen or mohair. During Tudor times Spanish silk buttons were the height of fashion but needed to be imported, in response, Macclesfield button makers began covering their buttons in silk to meet demand. The craft was very profitable for the families producing the buttons providing a huge boost to their income. For example, a female button maker could earn four shillings a week in comparison to an agricultural worker on much less. The buttons were traded at local markets and fairs and via merchants in London and Manchester. As the silk button industry began to decline the town’s creatives turned their attention to producing silk instead. By the mid-18th Century, the town’s mills began weaving silk, weavers from Spitalfields in London

Above: Teggs Nose

trained the local crafts people and by 1820 the number of mills had grown to around 70 employing up to 10,000 people. Macclesfield silk was world-renowned for its quality and the industry continued to be a significant part of its economy into the 20th Century. The Silk Museum offers visitors the chance to learn about the town’s fascinating 300 years old silk industry including an intriguing collection of silk maps used by servicemen shot down or captured by the enemy in WW2. As silk is lightweight and easily folded it was ideal material to print maps on outlining escape route. The maps were then sent to the prisoners cleverly hidden inside a variety of items such as a gramophone record, a Monopoly board and even inside a pencil. Macclesfield is believed to be the only mill town to evade being bombed during WW2, and after the war pharmaceutical company, ICI now known as AstraZeneca opened and still manufactures from the town today.

The Demise of Macclesfield Town and Rise of Macclesfield FC

Macclesfield Town Football Club was founded in 1874 and ended abruptly in September 2020 when the high courts liquidated them due to debts of over £500,000. The team were relegated from the English Football league with players also speaking out at not being paid during the 2019-20 season. “The Silkmen” fans were devastated, the team played their last final game against Witton Albion on 14 September 2020 before their beloved club was listed for sale online. Thankfully this was not the end as former footballer Robbie Savage and his business partner Rob Smethurst bought the assets of Macclesfield Town, a huge gamble as it had no players, no league, and a completely worn-out stadium. Smethurst reported the club was making a monthly loss of £100,000 due to a waterlogged pitch and issues with construction. An uncertain challenge lay ahead, to find a team and a league within nine months to be ready for the 2021-22 season. Fast forward and the rebranded Macclesfield FC now play in the North West Counties Premier Division managed by former Macclesfield Town player Danny Whitaker. On 13 October 2020 Whitaker became the first ever manager of Macclesfield FC and played in the club’s first competitive match at home with THINGS TO DO IN MACCLESFIELD

Get Active

Macclesfield is surrounded by beautiful countryside providing lots of spots to hike or ramble. Tegg’s Nose Country Park remains a wellloved walking area due to its stunning surroundings and views. Those who venture to the top will be rewarded with views of Shutlingsloe’s Summit, Macclesfield Forest and if the weather is kind, you can spot Liverpool to the West and the Welsh hills. Tegg’s Nose summit reaches a height of 380m, at the foot lie two reservoirs, Bottoms Reservoir from 1850 and Tegg’s Nose Reservoir from 1971, both were used to supply factories in the nearby village of Langley and are a calming and beautiful site in all weathers. To finish, rest your tired toes and grab a well-earned cup of tea and a cake at the dog friendly family-run Tegg’s Nose Tea Room.

The Middlewood Way

Go for a Ramble

The Middlewood Way follows the old railway line from Macclesfield to Marple and its 11 miles offers walkers, cyclists, and horse riders a congestion-free trail through nature and stunning views over the Cheshire Plain. The footpath extends east to the Peak District and the Cheshire Plain to the west for the more experienced walkers, for those wanting a shorter walk the path runs near the Macclesfield canal, so there is the option for an easier circular walk.

Culture Fix

There are lots of museums in Macclesfield including Paradise Mill where you will get a hands-on experience with the stages of the silk process on a real-life loom and the Silk Museum for an in-depth history. The West Park Museum houses a fascinating ancient Egyptian collection which was gifted by Marianne Brocklehurst the daughter of silk manufacturer John Brocklehurst to the town from her travels to Egypt between 1873 and 1891. Jodrell Bank is to Cheshire what the tower is to Blackpool, a familiar structure and family favourite. Jodrell’s Bank’s world-famous observatory attracts thousands of visitors each year and is home to several radio telescopes including the main Lovell Telescope which at 76m is the world’s thirdlargest steerable radio telescope. The observatory was founded in 1945 and its rural location was chosen to be free from radio interference. Significant scientific work and contributions have taken place here, and it was awarded UNESCO heritage status

in 2019. Today the discovery centre offers a fantastic day out to suit all ages curious to learn about the big bang theory and the universe, there are also many hands-on activities and the chance to view the famous Lovell Telescope.

Retail Therapy

Treacle Market has been trading for 12 years and is one of the biggest artisan markets in the North West. Over 140 stalls set up shop on Market Square on the last Sunday of the month, excluding December. Expect to find antiques, vintage wares, artwork, creative pieces and lots of food and drink to fuel you as you shop. For your retail therapy fix, the Grosvenor shopping centre is packed with well-known brands and plenty of independent outlets and boutiques to choose from. Don’t forget to pop into Macclesfield institution Arighi Bianchi, a luxury furniture destination that opened its Grade II listed doors in 1883.

Whet Your Appetite

There are lots of great eateries and pubs dotted across Macclesfield to pick from including the Picturedrome which opened in November 2019. Originally the town’s oldest cinema it underwent a complete transformation and reopened as a food hall housing independent food vendors.

The Picturedrome was redeveloped by the same team who developed the hugely popular Mackie Mayor in Manchester and Altrincham’s Market and has been lovingly restored to maintain the glorious character of the building. For a sugar fix head to Granelli’s of Macclesfield who has been serving award-winning ice cream in the town for over 120 years. Their Italian style ice cream is all handmade at the Newton Street shop and the neighbouring shop is a small ice cream museum chronicling Granelli’s history, memorabilia, and old ice cream carts they have used throughout their impressive time serving the towns sweet tooth.

Lovell Telescope, Jodrell Bank Observatory

A Very Notable Maxonian

Macclesfield famous son Ian Curtis was born in Stretford, Greater Manchester but grew up in Macclesfield and is buried in the cemetery. He received a scholarship aged 11 to attend Kings School where he further developed his interests in literature and poetry. Curtis was interested in music from a young age and was a member of a church choir as a child, citing David Bowie and Jim Morrison as his inspirations.

During his time at school, he won numerous scholastic awards but teenage years proved quite chaotic including being caught shoplifting records. Despite obtaining nine O-Levels, after a quick dabble at A-Levels Curtis quit and instead sought employment.

He secured a job at a record store in the city centre before starting a career with the civil service including the Ministry of Defence. He later worked at Macclesfield Employment Exchange as an Assistant Disablement Officer. In 1975 Curtis married Deborah Woodruff who started dating when they were both 16, their daughter Natalie was born in 1979. After briefly living with Ian’s grandparents and residing in Oldham the couple returned to Macclesfield and put down roots at 77 Barton Street.

In July 1976 Curtis attended a Sex Pistols gig at the Lesser Free Trade Hall and bumped into three of his childhood friends, Peter Hook, Bernard Sumner, and Terry Mason who talked of their aspirations to start a band. History was made and Joy Division followed, although Mason would later be replaced by Stephen Morris as the drummer after responding to an ad in a local shop. The band were initially managed by Rob Gretton before being signed by Tony Wilson at Factory Records.

In 1978 Curtis began suffering from epileptic seizures and was diagnosed with the condition the following year. His doctors described his case as so

severe it would have a huge impact on his daily life. Doctors tried many medications to bring his seizures under control to no avail. As his condition got worse Curtis turned to alcohol and smoking to help him sleep, the medications began having side effects on his moods which was noticed by his wife and family. His condition was so serious Curtis was advised not to hold his baby daughter in case it compromised her safety. While recording their second album his seizures were so severe, one incident included Curtis being absent from the studio for two hours. Peter Hook later found him unconscious in the bathroom after hitting his head on the sink after a seizure.

In 1980 at a concert in Finsbury Park, lighting technicians used strobe lights against their managers’ instructions causing Curtis to collapse and have a seizure on stage. After recovering that night Curtis was adamant, he wanted to do their planned second gig in West Hampstead. During the show Curtis’s unique and iconic dancing style evolved into one of his most dangerous seizures to date.

Curtis attempted suicide in April 1980 after battling depression and his condition deteriorating, Tony Wilson invited him to recuperate at his Derbyshire cottage. Soon after his wife Deborah began divorce proceedings, and on May 18th, 1980, Curtis wrote a loving letter to his wife and hanged himself, he was just 23. Joy Division released two albums Unknown Pleasure and the second Closer which was released two months after his death.

Manchester Music Tours makes a stop at Macclesfield to honour its towns famous son, visiting his home on Barton Street, the Old Labour Exchange on Peak House where Curtis worked and bears a Joy Division plaque. The tour pays respect to the singer’s final resting place at Macclesfield Cemetery, “Love will Tear us Apart” is written on his gravestone, as chosen by his wife Deborah who was the inspiration for the song.

IAN CURTIS ACRYLIC PORTRAITby Justin Eagleton (below right) presented to Peter Hook (below left) to raise money for Manchester Mind Charity in 2009 D www.justineagleton.com | I @justin_eagleton

MIRANDA CHRISTOPHER

No-one sets out to fail in business, to have a lousy relationship or to quit their job because they hate it. It’s just the nature of life.

But what if I said we actually do? We actually set out to fail. Would you just switch off and think I was a bit strange or would you be willing to explore more?

Each and every one of us has a dual nature. Living life by our ‘hidden rulebook’, the one formed when we were small, designed to keep us safe; and the one outside of the rules as the powerful creator.

Remember that time when your mother told you ’no’ repeatedly because you could get hurt? That got stored in your rulebook, you gave it some meaning of what you needed to do to stay safe and, to gain your mothers approval. This rule about safety shows up later in life as, for example, an aversion to taking risks; to living your life within strict limitations. That rule served you when you were small yet now, it’s not so useful. Especially when it comes to that new business, that new relationship or going for that career you really want.

The core of my work, is to teach people how to develop their awareness of the rules they unconsciously follow. When you have awareness you are able to make different choices in life.

Let’s take the area of business. In my three and half year research project into female entrepreneurship I uncovered so many of the rules that women have unconsciously implemented in their lives, including me.

Imagine investing your life savings, your redundancy package or even taking out a loan to fund your new venture. You are really excited. You’ve wanted to do this for so long. You create your vision, your plan and start your execution. You really want to create a business that works for you and those important to you. You absolutely know what success means for you.

So, why then do you find yourself holding back, not doing the much needed marketing or jumping on those sales calls? We all know that sales are the lifeblood of any business. Why do

My Next Obvious Step...

you find yourself distracted by trivial things, like putting on the washing or eating yet another chocolate biscuit? Why do you struggle to look at your bank account, pretending that your bank balance isn’t rapidly declining? Why do you feel you must have every last detail of what to do completely figured out before you take a step forward?

When we go for something we want, something different, something that has us acting and being different, there is a pattern that plays out to ensure that we don’t change; or that we change within very strict parameters.

It’s like we have a magnet pulling us back to the same old same self; the one that feels like a fraud, that believes they are unlovable or just simply not good enough to succeed. The further we try to move towards what we desire, the stronger the magnet becomes.

Then we just rinse and repeat in life. We try again with another job, another relationship or another business. And get the same results.

What I also observed during my research was the falseness of the vision we believed we wanted to create. When we are truly entrenched and living from our rulebook, the rulebook dictates what the vision should be. “I just want to replace my salary with my self-employment”, not recognising that to do so would take much longer hours and have most entrepreneurs operating on less than minimum wage. Or, “I’ll be happy to earn £x” unwittingly set by the rule that, as a woman I shalt not earn more than my father, to do so would be dis-respectful.

When we develop our awareness and step outside the limitations that keep us safe, we are able to magnetise what we truly desire, no rulebook involved.

But how do we know if our desires are dictated to by the rulebook or are really what our hearts truly desire? Great question.

I like to think that life is like a raging storm, dragging you along at it’s will. Swirling and whirling you around, hoovering up everything in its path, sucking up all kinds of detritus to throw your way.

Stepping outside the rulebook is like stepping into the eye of the storm, it’s calm, serene and you can see all of the storm, everything that is going on. From this vantage point you can see all the possibilities available to you and, even better, you can see the pathway to get there. But there’s a catch, to have what you want you have to go back into the storm, otherwise you become like a monk in solitary contemplation, detached from life. You have to go back into life where it’s easy to lose perspective on what you desire. Getting carried along with the storm of life. It’s important to learn how to step into the eye of the storm at will, to regain our bearings and reconnect with the success we desire.

I found this month that my obvious next step was to look at everything I have been doing, connect into the energy of each activity and really feel it in my body, then ask myself the question, “is this activity really leading me to my heart’s desires”? The feeling reveals it all. Does it feel light, joyful and uplifting in my body or does it feel heavy, maybe uncomfortable and perhaps with awareness of pain? You can use this technique with any area of your life, relationships, finances, business and health and wellbeing to name a few.

And with regards to setting out to fail, use the technique. Did I set out to unconsciously fail in my relationship, in my business or to take a job that I really didn’t want? Tune into the feeling as you ask the question, sit with the feeling and with patience you will know the truth.

Feel free to contact me on www. mirandachristopher.com/contact to arrange an exploratory call on how your rulebook is holding you back from what you truly desire.

www.mirandachristopher.com