The Lancashire & North West Magazine | August 2022 by The Lancashire & North West Magazine

www.lancmag.com

August 2022

£2.45

This is What Homelessness Looks Like at Backup 4 Residents Dressing Up as The Beatles For Our Charity Calendar 2022

ESCAPE ROOM CENTRE What’s it all about?

Surviving to Thriving

How Astrology helped me navigate my way through trauma

BETHELS PROPERTY SERVICES LIMITED - a property renovations company with an enviable innovative reputation

Whitehall Hotel & Distillery The perfect venue for any occasion At the heart of Darwen since 1968

INSIDE BOLTON KIA – Europe’s No.1 Kia Dealer

CONTENTS...

102

134

Birkenhead

Chorley

South Lakes

Features

52 60

178

www.lancmag.com

Looking to the Future in Film

Relax and Buy New in Woodford

Fit for the Queen! Jubilee Flag Flies on Her Majesty’s Favourite Windermere “Steamer”

SURVIVING TO THRIVING - How Astrology Helped Me Navigate Through Trauma

SUMMER FUN BY THE SEASIDE It’s a Super Summer of Sound at Blackpool Grand!

THE FABULOUS FLYING MAN

Escape Room Centre - A Review

Escape Room Centre

Southport Contemporary Arts ‘I’m not a onetrick pony!’ – solo exhibition of artwork by Angela Birchall

Get Up Close to the 60th Annual Birkett Trophy Yacht Race Onboard an Exclusive Spectator Cruise

112 Loyal Lancashire Contractors Awarded By Housebuilder 114 Awards, Partnerships, National Race Titles, Community Support and an Electric Future 118 THE UK’S FAVOURITE HOUSEPLANTS REVEALED WITH EXPERT NURTURE TIPS 120 Living in the Stone Age 124 Visit Fleetwood Market, an Award-Winning Traditional Market in Fleetwood on the Fylde Coast

THE DOS AND DON’TS OF CAMPING FESTIVALS: A Beginner’s Guide

Cumbria’s Living Heritage Highlights Bake Off, Cake and Tearoom Credentials

Do you need a Divorce Coach?

142 Black Pines Announce Their New EP ‘Talk of The Devil’, and Release New Single ‘Saint’

Female Business Network

144 Outdoor Theatre is Coming to Bolton School

The Man on a Mission to Make Cacao the New Coffee

160 Inaugural Platt Fisher Lecture at Bolton School

Infinity Apartments, Liverpool... Who fancies a weekend away in style?

162 Dr Yusra Clinic - Mental Health Awareness

The Declutter Lady

Pebelles Boutique

168 Hartford Community Will Benefit for Years to Come

SUE ALLEN GRANTCHESTER

GRASMERE SPORTS IS READY TO BOOM!

Award-Winning Kathryn Takes The Lead

From Oliver Cromwell to Football Deep in the Heart of Darwen, Lancashire

Astronomy in the UK

Budding Florists Learn the Art of Arranging

Tackling Homelessness Amongst Young People

Beryl Marsden Celebrates 60 Years of Music in Epstein Concert

Bethels Property Services

Black Eddy Take on the Doom-Scroll With Internet Addiction Single Repost

Halewood Returns to Kia to Grow Electric Car Fleet

The Preston Memorial Which Remembers a Tragic Event 180 Years Ago

HOW RIVERS CAN BE THE KEY TO SOLVING OCEAN POLLUTION: NEW PROJECT OFFERS INNOVATIVE SOLUTION

128 5 Thrifting Hacks That Will Help You Snap a Bargain at Your Local Charity Shop

164 KAREN’S STORY

170 Gainsborough Flooring Pull Businesses Together to Support Local Church 172 The Cross Guns Inn Set To Launch New Summer Menu 174 Create Homes Supports Pilling St. John’s Primary School With its Construction Expertise 178 Locals Can Save Money at Blackpool Pleasure Beach 180 England Golf 182 National Lottery Funding Boost For Lancaster Slave Trade Project 186 ‘FROM THE ASHES; SHE IS IGNITED!’ 192 MENOPAUSE MANAGEMENT HOW TO BUILD YOUR MENOPAUSE TOOLKIT 200 TREASURE HUNTING: Forgotten Safes and Shocking Finds 206 New Fool of Muncaster! 207 New Grant To Boost Domestic Tree Production Opens

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

...CONTENTS

Regulars 130

Aiming Higher

132

Balance Counsellor

158

Books - Anthony Nicholas

152

Books - Chris Rowe

156

Books - Dave Critchley

159

Books - Rachael Clegg

148

Colour Me Beautiful

146

Deborah Hatswell

176

Denise Mullen

108

Fleetwood RNLI

208

HayMax Column

184

Laura Pearson

122

Life of Di

166

Lytham Gin Lady

194

Margaret Bell

188

Miles Consult & Construct

190

Miranda Christopher

204

Percent Edge

198

Positive Change Coach

196

She Inspires Award Winners

202

UFO by Jason Gleaves,

209

Zodiac Predictions by Manish

August 2022 • Volume 45 Number 8

130

188

166

108

156

148 196

August 2022

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£2.45

Managing Director: Natalie Christopher natalie@lancashiremagazine.co.uk

Writers:

• Manish Kumar Arora

• Alice Bradshaw

• Margaret Brecknell

• Denise Mullen

• Max Wiseberg

• Diane Wade

• Miranda Christopher

Design Manager: Tanjé Beach

• Harold Cunliffe

• Sajedah Maka-Ismail

Sales Enquiries: 07918 685673

• Janet Broughton

• Sara Dewhurst

Accounts: 01253 336588

• Kate Gostick

• Sarah Harris

• Kath Taylor

• Sarah Ridgway

Editorial: 01253 336580 editorial@lancashiremagazine.co.uk

This is What Homelessness Looks Like at Backup 4 Residents Dressing Up as The Beatles For Our Charity Calendar 2022

ESCAPE ROOM CENTRE What’s it all about?

Surviving to Thriving

How Astrology helped me navigate my way through trauma

BETHELS PROPERTY SERVICES LIMITED - a property renovations company with an enviable innovative reputation

Whitehall Hotel & Distillery The perfect venue for any occasion At the heart of Darwen since 1968

INSIDE BOLTON KIA – Europe’s No.1 Kia Dealer

COVER: BACKUP North West

General Enquiries/Subscriptions: • Ken Harcombe Sharon Henry • 01253 336588 accounts@lancashiremagazine.co.uk The Lancashire & North West Magazine Ltd, Seasiders Way Blackpool, Lancashire FY1 6NZ

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

• Sharon Henry

UK Only Subscription Rate: 1 year £25 – saving of £4.40 2 years £48 – saving of £10 3 years £73 – saving of £15 5 years £115 – saving of £32

F @lancmag I @lancashiremagazine Visit our website at www.lancmag.com

Note to contributors:- While every care is taken with manuscripts, drawings, photographs and transparencies, no responsibility is accepted during transmission or while in the Editor’s hands. The contents of this magazine are fully protected and nothing may be used or reproduced without permission.

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blackpoolgrand.co.uk

BLACKPOOL GRAND THEATRE

TUE 02 - SAT 06 AUG

TUE 18 - SAT 22 OCT

MON 13 - SAT 18 FEB 2023

TUE 21 - SAT 25 MAR 2023

To book now visit blackpoolgrand.co.uk or call our Box Office team on 01253 290 190

www.lancmag.com

August 2022

£2.45

This is What Homelessness Looks Like at Backup 4 Residents Dressing Up as The Beatles For Our Charity Calendar 2022

ESCAPE ROOM CENTRE What’s it all about?

Surviving to Thriving

How Astrology helped me navigate my way through trauma

BETHELS PROPERTY SERVICES LIMITED - a property renovations company with an enviable innovative reputation

Whitehall Hotel & Distillery The perfect venue for any occasion At the heart of Darwen since 1968

INSIDE BOLTON KIA – Europe’s No.1 Kia Dealer

IN THIS ISSUE...

e start this month with the Escape Room Centre in Blackpool, featuring 8 fantastic escape games right in the heart of Blackpool - are you ready for the challenge? We had a great chat with Bethels Property Services Limited - a building renovations company that has built up an enviable reputation through years of experience in the industry.

Porsche Centre Preston celebrates their third birthday where Porsche Cars GB managing director Marcus Eckermann joined more than 500 guests to celebrate the official opening. The Whitehall Hotel which is nestled at the base of the Pennine Moors and situated on the outskirts of Darwen, near Blackburn, now boasts its own gin and rum distillery.

The new Bolton Kia showroom is officially open and is the first dealer in the UK to feature Kia’s full new corporate identity. We talked with Rozanne Kay, an Astrologer and Spiritual Life Coach who combines Astrological wisdom with reality creation techniques to support you to begin to create the life experience you really want - look out for her future column in our magazine!

Backup North West celebrates it’s 30 year pearl anniversary. Three decades of turning grit into pearls. It is a charity based in Bolton tackling homelessness amongst young people aged 16-25 years. Established as Bolton Young Persons Housing Scheme, the charity was formed to address rising concerns that young people were experiencing disproportionate levels of homelessness.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

Our featured places this month are Birkenhead, which sits on the River Mersey opposite Liverpool and is in the metropolitan borough of Wirral and is the birthplace of the multitalented Paul O’Grady; The traditional market town of Chorley which sits in the county of Lancashire surrounded by beautiful green spaces; and The South Lakes, which was formed in 1974 and sits in the county of Cumbria. The area consists of towns including Kendal, Ulverston, Windermere, Ambleside, Bownesson-Windermere, and villages such as Grasmere, Coniston, Hawkshead and Sedbergh. And of course, as always, we have features on homes, health, books, fashion, entertainment, fascinating history, and a bit of wildlife and more - all in our August issue.

www.lancmag.com

blackpoolgrand.co.uk

BLACKPOOL GRAND THEATRE

THU 15 - SAT 17 APR

TUE 01 - SAT 05 NOV

TUE 15 - SAT 19 NOV

MON 19 - SAT 24 JUNE 2023

To book now visit blackpoolgrand.co.uk or call our Box Office team on 01253 290 190

A M E L IA

E N GAG E M E NT

RI N G

CO L L E C TI O N

DISCOVER OUR COLLECTION OF LUXURY ENGAGEMENT AND BRIDAL JEWELLERY 12/ 14 ST AN N STRE E T, MA N CH E STE R , M2 7L F

mappinandwebb.com

Looking to the Future in Film Young people’s visions for the future was screened at a shopping centre in Morecambe.

uture 5 is a video exhibition by five groups of young people in Morecambe who were asked to explore what their future might look like by 2027. Morecambe was chosen for the project because the town is likely to see significant change in the next five years if the Eden Project North goes ahead and the climate emergency affects the bay. The environment is one of the major concerns expressed by the young people in the videos, along with equality and education for all. ABOVE: YOUNG PEOPLE FILMING FOR THE FUTURE 5 PROJECT

The exhibition is the culmination of a series of workshops organised by creative producer, Joseph Rynhart who brought together a team of filmmakers, a sound artist and poet to work with about 50 people aged 1217. “We asked them to consider some of the biggest challenges they think we’ll all be facing - both in the immediate future and over the next five years,” said Joseph. “The films are a chance for them to explore social issues, engage with professional artists - and think about their hopes and fears for the future. Their work is abstract and thoughtprovoking, and we’re all exceptionally proud of how they engaged with difficult topics.” The young people participating were from Morecambe Bay Academy, Bay Leadership Academy, Lancaster & Morecambe College, Stanleys Community Centre and Lancashire Youth Challenge. They have all received educational packs as part of the project.

ABOVE: A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS LED TO THE FUTURE 5 VIDEO EXHIBITION IN MORECAMBE’S ARNDALE CENTRE

Future 5 was the last of this year’s Our Place In The World projects, a cultural and creative education programme managed by Lancashire Youth Challenge (LYC) and Lancaster District Cultural Education Partnership(Culture Co-op).

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

The project was funded by Lancaster University, Curious Minds and the the Venus & Cupid Arts Trust.

www.lancmag.com

blackpoolgrand.co.uk

BLACKPOOL GRAND THEATRE

SUN 25 SEP

SAT 15 OCT

WED 01 FEB 2023

TUE 07 FEB 2023

To book now visit blackpoolgrand.co.uk or call our Box Office team on 01253 290 190

Fit for the Queen!

Jubilee Flag Flies on Her Majesty’s Favourite Windermere “Steamer” The Queen first travelled on MV Teal in August 1956 when she and The Duke of Edinburgh cruised from Ambleside to Bowness. Nearly sixty years later, in July 2013, Her Majesty enjoyed a second cruise on the vessel when she was joined by The Princess Royal for a trip from Bowness to Brockhole. “Windermere Lake Cruises has a long connection with the Royal family,” says Sales and Marketing Director Jennifer Cormack. “We thought it was only right to mark this Platinum Jubilee year by raising the special flag on MV Teal. We are always delighted to welcome Her Majesty to Windermere. It was clear she enjoyed her twin cruises on MV Teal. We hope visitors will follow in her footsteps and enjoy a similar right royal experience throughout Platinum Jubilee year.” A photograph marking the 2013 visit (see below) is part of a new interactive map created by Historic England to highlight important heritage sites the Queen has visited during the last 70 years. It shows her Majesty being shown around Bowness Pier by Windermere Lake Cruises’ Chairman Bill Bewley. Windermere Lake Cruises has celebrated many Royal links over the years. In June 2012 one of its smaller historic vessels, Queen of the Lake, was transported to London to join hundreds more boats making up a flotilla on the River Thames to celebrate Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee. The Queen of the Lake is also sporting a special flag to mark the Platinum Jubilee.

The Queen’s favoured Windermere Lake Cruises’ vessel, MV Teal, is sporting a new flag in honour of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.

he Platinum Jubilee flag has been raised on the vessel to celebrate her Majesty’s 70-year-reign and mark the fact she has twice travelled onboard the “steamer”.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

Earlier this year, Her Majesty became the first British Monarch to celebrate a 70-year reign – having formally acceded to the throne on the 6th of February 1952 following the death of her father King George VI. D www.windermere-lakecruises.co.uk T @Windermereboats F windermerelakecruises

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blackpoolgrand.co.uk

BLACKPOOL GRAND THEATRE

FRI 07 - SUN 09 OCT

TUE 08 - WED 09 NOV

FRI 02 DEC - SUN 01 JAN 2023

SUN 18 JUN 2023

To book now visit blackpoolgrand.co.uk or call our Box Office team on 01253 290 190

SUMMER FUN BY THE SEASIDE It’s a Super Summer of Sound at Blackpool Grand! Live music shows for everyone at Blackpool Grand Theatre this Summer

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

ive music takes centre stage once again at Blackpool Grand Theatre with a sensational Summer of Sound announced! It hits just the right note for Summer Fun by the Seaside!

Grab your tickets now for

Summer has never sounded

fabulous feelgood nights

so good…

out with Showaddywaddy, A Country Night in Nashville, A Spectacular Night of Queen, the Pop Princesses and the rock and roll musical Dreamboats and Petticoats - Bringing On Back The Good Times.

Dig out your crepes and drapes! Rock and roll favourites Showaddywaddy are back in town every Wednesday from 27 July to 24 August! Formed in the 1970s in Leicester from several local bands, Showaddywaddy have sold more than 20 million records and toured the globe for the last four decades! Their legendary live show is a truly dynamic and uplifting experience featuring all of their biggest hits. Come and join the Dancin’ Party with Under the Moon of Love, Three Steps to Heaven, Blue Moon, Pretty Little Angel Eyes and many, many more. When should you book your seats for Showaddywaddy in Concert? Right now! Tickets from £26.50. Under 16s £13.25 Working 9 to 5? Take a well-earned trip to A Country Night in Nashville on Thursday 28 July and Thursday 11 & 25 August for an incredible night celebrating the joy of country music. This toe-tapping show perfectly captures the infectious energy and atmosphere of an evening in a buzzing honkytonk in downtown Nashville, with hits from Johnny Cash to Alan Jackson, Dolly to The Chicks and Willie Nelson to Kacey Musgraves, all showcased by the amazing live band Dominic Halpin and the Hurricanes. Sing along with all the top country hits including Ring of Fire, Crazy, Follow Your Arrow, Need You Now and The Gambler to name just a few. Tickets from £26.50. Under 16s £13.25

www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 15

Go Radio Ga Ga for A Spectacular

Trainor and Miley Cyrus, plus

hit songs ever written from Roy

Night of Queen! This high-energy

all the best songs from all your

Orbison, The Shadows, Eddie

concert features fantastic lighting,

favourite films and musicals. This

Cochran, Billy Fury, Chuck Berry,

staging and sound that perfectly

magical show is the perfect mix

The Supremes and many, many

captures the pomp and brilliance

of sparkle and song and is perfect

more. This fantastic feel-good show

of Freddie Mercury and his iconic

for your little pop princes and

for all the family is guaranteed to

British band and will transport you

princesses! Come and join the fun!

have you rolling back the years and

back to the days when Queen ruled

Tickets £18.50 VIP

singing out loud!

the airways! Performed by the

Meet & Greet (front row stalls)

Tickets from just £17,

renowned and extremely talented

£28.50

member discounts available.

Shake off those wet weather

Attending a live music event this

blues and bring in the sunshine

summer? Here’s some handy info

with the rocking return of the

for concert goers:

bands -Majesty on Saturday 30 July & Saturday 13 August, Supreme Queen on Saturday 20 August and The Freddie & Queen Experience on Saturday 27 August - all performing non-stop Queen anthems including Don’t Stop Me Now, We Are The Champions, Bohemian Rhapsody and many more! They WILL rock you! Tickets from £26.50.

smash-hit musical Dreamboats & Petticoats - Bringing On Back The Good Times for ONE WEEK ONLY from Tuesday 2 to Saturday 6 August with special guest and 60s sensation star Mark Wynter (Venus in Blue Jeans, Go Away Little Girl).

Under 16s £13.25

Catch up with Bobby & Laura,

Bring your little pop star to a

gang as they dance back together

fun-packed children’s concert

for the thrilling third instalment of

with a big difference on Sunday 31

this much-loved musical inspired

July and Sunday 28 August! Four

by the million selling albums

fairytale Pop Princesses sing a

Dreamboats & Petticoats. Don’t

soundtrack of top pop hits live

miss out! Jive down to the Box

on stage from Little Mix, Ariana

Office and book your seats now

Grande, Taylor Swift, Meghan

to enjoy some of the greatest

Norman, Sue & all the Dreamboats

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

It may have been a while since you last attended an exciting live music event. The Grand is here to help out with a handy refresher on event attendance, which might come in handy… • Remember your ticket. You know the feeling - you’re in a busy queue and you can’t find your ticket to get in. Don’t worry! If they’re on your email or mobile app just show that to our ushers and you’re good to go. PS – remember to charge your phone before leaving home. www.lancmag.com

Want a physical ticket? Pop into

Blackpool Grand is thrilled to

the Box Office and we will

be presenting even more live

happily print them off for you.

music shows this season with

• Get your drinks and snacks in plenty of time before the event starts. Don’t be frantically checking the time and worrying, so to avoid hearing those first few iconic moments from the foyer, get here early or book your drinks in advance! • Don’t throw drinks – We know it’s exciting, but no-one wants to be that person, keep those cups in your hands! • Don’t talk over quiet songs - Goes without saying really! • Have fun! Live music is a massive part of our lives and is so good for our wellbeing. It has been missing for so long, so enjoy every second! See you at the theatre!

LISTINGS Showaddywaddy in Concert Wednesday 27 July v 7.30pm

something to suit every taste and

Wednesday 10 August v 7.30pm

genre. Pick up your tickets now

Wednesday 17 August v 7.30pm

for Magic of Motown, 80s Live,

Wednesday 24 August v 7.30pm

Bowie Experience, Anything For Love – The Meatloaf Story, Some

A Country Night in Nashville

Guys Have All The Luck – The

Thursday 28 July v 7.30pm

Rod Stewart Story, One Night in

Thursday 11 August v 7.30pm

Dublin, and not forgetting our

Thursday 25 August v 7.30pm

Summer Rock shows Rock for Heroes and The Rock Orchestra by

A Spectacular Night of Queen

Candlelight! Rock on!

Saturday 30 July v 7.30pm

Check out BlackpoolGrand.co.uk for more details and bookings. Even more live music nights to be announced very soon… A sensational Summer of Sound at Blackpool Grand Theatre.

Saturday 13 August v 7.30pm Saturday 20 August v 7.30pm Saturday 27 August v 7.30pm Pop Princesses Sunday 31 July v 6pm Sunday 28 August v 6pm

Book now by visiting

Dreamboats and Petticoats –

www.BlackpoolGrand.co.uk

Bringing On Back The Good Times

or call the box office on

Tuesday 2 August

01253 290 190

- Saturday 6 August v 7.30pm Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday matinees v 2.30pm

M Grand Theatre, 33 Church Street, Blackpool FY1 1HT N Box Office 01253 290 190 D blackpoolgrand.co.uk F @blackpoolgrand T @Grand_Theatre L grandtheatrebpl www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 17

A Review by Annie Atherton

ringing in our ears and a couple of our team lanterns in hand, we climbed the rickety staircase. Our mission, find the book, escape and save mankind! Actually set in a real attic, it was very atmospheric. Various objects around the room were the kind of things you would expect to find in an attic and the decoration was spot on. It was dimly lit but after a few moments our eyes adjusted and we began searching, soon finding objects to ‘light our way’. A spooky tune played in the background throughout the adventure adding to the experience.

Myself, my partner, my parents and friends met up at the Escape Room Centre Blackpool, eager to try our first escape game.

he venue opened up especially for us on a Tuesday, one of only the two days they are closed, the other being Wednesdays. Stepping through the entrance door it straight away felt as if we were entering a mysterious and different world. Up the stairs we were greeted by our host and ‘gamemaster’ Jacob who took us through a health and safety briefing along with particulars unique to our chosen game room, Grimoire in the Attic. Before we entered the room Jacob told us ‘the story so far’ and our mission; “The Grimoire, an ancient book of powerful spells has been stolen. We know it has been hidden somewhere in the abandoned mansion we stand in now. Tonight, at midnight, a ritual will take place to invoke evil spirits who could well destroy the world as we know it. Having searched everywhere, and the time approaching 11pm, there is only one place left to look... the attic, and that’s where we are going now!”. With these final words still

Communication, we found, was very important with sometimes the silliest of ideas turning out to be the right idea. I believe they call it ‘thinking outside the box’ and never has that been more true than in an escape room. We soon also realised how important it was to work as a team, gathering information and cutting out repeating what somebody else had tried five minutes earlier. There was plenty of giggling along the way as we progressd through the puzzles. Hung high on a wall a large screen displayed a sixty minute countdown timer announcing every ten minutes our time remaining, injecting a constant sense of urgency, no pressure! In the moments we got stuck Jacob was on hand to give us a gentle nudge in the right direction, never revealing the answer. With the gamemaster able to see and talk to us throughout the game we were never completely ‘alone’. Did we escape? Well yes, with a few added minutes we managed it. Would it have mattered if we had not escaped? Not really, we had such a fun time it didnt really matter. We all agreed it was a great experience and nice as we were a mixed age group. Would I recommend it, absolutely!

M Escape Room Centre, 44-46 Church Street, Blackpool, FY1 1HP N 07482 738553 | E info@escaperoomcentre.com T @TheEscapeCentre | F @EscapeRoomCentre

www.escaperoomcentre.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

8 GREAT ESCAPE GAMES RIGHT IN THE HEART OF BLACKPOOL! ARE YOU READY FOR THE CHALLENGE? GRAND SCHOOL OF SORCERY

GRIMOIRE IN THE ATTIC

EGYPTIAN

GET. ME. OUT.

SECRET OF THE TOMB

THE BOMB EYE OF FIRE

M Escape Room Centre, 44-46 Church Street, Blackpool, FY1 1HP N 07482 738553 | E info@escaperoomcentre.com T @TheEscapeCentre | F @EscapeRoomCentre

www.escaperoomcentre.com

USE CODE ‘LANCSYES’ FOR A 15% DISCOUNT

By Margaret Brecknell

John Cutler was hooked from the moment he visited his first escape room and since then has played escape games all over the world, before eventually deciding to open his own escape room business in Blackpool some seven years ago.

ohn’s main business, Premier Cabs, is an award-winning electric taxi company, but he was keen to become involved in running his own escape rooms because, he says, “it is unlike any other business”. “People come out and they’re elated and buzzing”, he explains, adding that, “they talk about the experience for weeks afterwards”. An escape game is usually played by a team of between two and six players, who must work together to uncover clues, solve puzzles and accomplish tasks, usually with the aim of escaping

a room before time is up. Games are set in a variety of fictional locations including everything from dungeons and attics to Egyptian pyramids. The concept of escape rooms first became popular in the Far East and North America in the early years of the 21st century, before taking off in Europe at the start of the 2010s. The Hungarian city of Budapest is Europe’s undisputed capital of escape games, with over 80 escape room sites. John explains that he spoke to “the very best of the best” in Budapest and invited them to come over from Hungary to build the Escape Room Centre’s first four games. “That gave us a grounding on what makes a fantastic game”, John says, and since then he has created further games, always looking to “exceed the basic in the business”. John stresses that you don’t need to escape to have a great time, nor do you have to be academically bright to succeed. “It’s about thinking outside

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

the box”, John explains. The best players work well together through communication and teamwork. He tells me that when families do an escape room together, it’s often the children who are the first to spot a clue and success hinges on whether their parents are prepared to listen. The centre’s main gamemasters, Jacob and Conor, are always on hand to offer some friendly guidance during the game, should it be required. Escape rooms are also popular with businesses as a team building exercise. Not only does it offer colleagues a chance to collaborate and bond away from their usual working environment, but it also allows business managers to see how their employees interact with each other and who works best in a team. The Escape Room Centre is situated at 44-46 Church Street, not far from Blackpool’s North Pier. There are currently seven different rooms, with another under construction, offering www.lancmag.com

various degrees of difficulty. Most games are one hour in duration, although the most recent addition, the Grand School of Sorcery, lasts 90 minutes. There is something for everyone, with games suitable for all age groups from 8 to 88. If a game has a particular physical requirement, visitors will be informed of this at the time of booking. For those who are new to escape games, the centre offers a 30-minute challenge named the Eye of Fire. Players are challenged to search for the Eye of Fire, a huge orange sapphire. This legendary jewel was said to have been unearthed during an archaeological dig deep in the Peruvian jungle more than half a century ago, but has never been seen since.

gods and hieroglyphs which cover the walls and replicas of the kind of artefacts you would expect to find in a pyramid, it really does feel like you are entering an Ancient Egyptian tomb. Players of this game are challenged to take on the Pyramid of Mysteries. Several millennia ago, the Egyptian Pharaoh, Horus, devoted years to building the Pyramid of Mysteries. Upon its completion, he lay down a challenge that whoever could enter the pyramid and escape within one hour would inherit the whole of Egypt. Failure would result in being entombed in the pyramid forever. Players are challenged to take on the

Pyramid of Mysteries and succeed where everyone else has failed. In Secret of the Tomb, players enter a mysterious dimly lit room, where they are given one hour to find an urn of ashes, put it in its rightful resting place and escape before the psychopath, whose room it is, returns. Please note that this game contains strobe lighting. Players of The Bomb are members of an elite “Bomb Disposal Unit”, who are given one hour to find a bomb, deactivate it and escape the room. Two of the one-hour games on offer at the Escape Room Centre are

As regards the one-hour games, three are graded as suitable for beginners and more experienced players alike and may be played between teams of two and six people. The Egyptian is one of the Centre’s most popular games. As with all the escape rooms here, the room has been beautifully created with plenty of attention to detail. The aim is to allow players to become totally immersed in the game. With the images of Egyptian www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 21

As with the other games here, the room has been imaginatively decorated with a view to creating an appropriately eerie and unsettling atmosphere. The room is dimly lit with furniture and other props covered in dust sheets. It is easy to imagine that you really are in an abandoned attic somewhere, particularly as this escape room is located in the actual attic at the top of the building.

graded as being suitable for more experienced players, although this would not necessarily rule out anyone else who is prepared to take on the challenge. John Cutler remarks that, “It can be hard to grade difficulty levels, as what seems obvious to one individual, someone else may find difficult”. The games are suitable for all but if you have any questions simply call or email.

Grimoire in the Attic is designed for between three and seven players and is not recommended for children under 14 years of age, nor for anyone with a pacemaker. An ancient book of spells, The Grimoire, has been stolen by thieves, who plan to unleash the evil within it. Players have one hour to find the Grimoire in a forgotten attic of an abandoned mansion before the evil spirits are unleashed on an unsuspecting world.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

The Escape Room Centre describes Get Me Out as “our ultimate challenge” and is designed for teams of between two and six players. A disqualified doctor is terrorising the local area, combing the streets for victims on whom he can conduct tests to discover the outer limits of pain. Handcuffed to the wall, players need to escape the room within an hour before the evil Doctor Theodore Kaminsky returns to begin his diabolical experiments. The Centre’s most recent game, the Grand School of Sorcery, promises players “90 minutes of magical fun and

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Owner, John Cutler’s, passion for escape games is plain to see in the business he has created. It is exciting to imagine where this passion and enthusiasm may take it in the future.

challenges for witches and wizards of all ages”. Guided by the school’s headmaster, Elijah Maelstrom, teams of between two and six players have an hour and a half to pass through the classrooms, solving mysteries, riddles and puzzles on a quest to earn the Scrolls of Wizardry. A lot of planning and imagination goes into the development of the games and each one usually takes between six and twelve months to create. Intriguingly, John Cutler reveals that he is currently in the process of building a new game, which is “cloaked in mystery” at present. He hopes that the game will be ready to open by early next year. John is constantly looking to make improvements and it is not just the escape rooms which are updated and refurbished. The entrance to the Escape Room Centre has recently undergone a major refit.

M Escape Room Centre, 44-46 Church Street, Blackpool FY1 1HP E info@escaperoomcentre.com

One of the biggest escape room venues in the country, Blackpool’s Escape Room Centre is as popular with locals as with visitors to the resort. Escape room fans come from all over the country to visit the attraction. This is hardly surprising, as it offers a wide range of original escape rooms, all of which have been beautifully designed to create a special atmosphere in keeping with the theme of each individual game.

Book an escape game online at: www.escaperoomcentre.com or N 0748 2738553 T @TheEscapeCentre F @EscapeRoomCentre

M Escape Room Centre, 44-46 Church Street, Blackpool, FY1 1HP N 07482 738553 | E info@escaperoomcentre.com T @TheEscapeCentre | F @EscapeRoomCentre

www.escaperoomcentre.com

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LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 23

Southport Contemporary Arts ‘I’m not a one-trick pony!’ – solo exhibition of artwork by Angela Birchall best suits the subject. I usually draw pet portraits in pastel but prefer to paint people portraits in acrylics. With watercolours you can get a wonderful translucent quality while oils have a jewel-like richness of colour as well as the thick, impasto texture that is so tactile. Acrylics is the most versatile, it can be used to mimic both watercolours and oils and is my most ‘go-to’ medium for landscapes”.

Angela painting Adios Armada

‘A one-trick pony!’ is certainly not an epithet that can be applied to Southport professional artist and mentor, Angela Birchall, who has more strings to her bow – or brushes to her palette – to exhaust the most fervent practitioner.

from landscapes, portraits, birds, animals, flowers and still life, I need to be able to use whichever medium

Although currently living only four roads away from where she was born in Southport, from the ages of 3-18 she grew up in Africa: “Growing up in southern and central Africa was absolutely amazing and gave me my love of landscape painting - the vast open landscapes, the incredible African sunsets, the amazing wildlife and the opportunities that you had. I played with more big cats than I did little domesticated cats!” Angela has lasting memories of her formative years of art training

paint in acrylics, watercolours, oils, tinted charcoal paint, metallic watercolours and Brusho, while I draw in pencil, charcoal, soft pastel and oil pastel and even burn my designs on wood with pyrography. Each of these media has its own qualities and will create effects that you can’t get in another medium. Not content with her regular commissioned artwork, she also offers face-to-face classes in painting and drawing as well as currently providing two online teaching programmes, ‘Landscape painting in acrylics’ and ‘The Art of Stress-busting’. The success of Angela’s broad portfolio is the result of carefully pre-selecting the best media to best benefit the finished artwork: “Because the subjects I create vary

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Swan family 2022

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ArtHouse, 65 Eastbank Street, S outhport, Merseyside, PR8 1EJ 2nd – 13th August 2022 in Rhodesia: “I was so lucky as a teenager to get a place at art school. I went to Salisbury School of Art, which was run by Peter Birch who was Royal Academy trained and THE most inspirational teacher one could ever ask for. He gave us all the confidence to know that we could draw or paint anything and we loved it. Fortysix years later, I’m still drawing and painting, and still loving it. I still use his techniques today both in my own work and in my own teaching methods to help my students to realise that they, too, really CAN draw and paint”.

For her exhibition at The ArtHouse, Angela has divided the work into five thematic stories: (1) Landscapes & Seascapes build around the large canvas, ‘Adios Armada’: (2) Birds & Flowers linked to the ArtHouse window painting of swans; (3) Nightime and Sunset scenes; (4) Panoramic canvases and (5) Portraits, usually commissions, ranging from pets to people.

This latest showing by Angela Birchall is certainly not one to be missed. Catch it while you can. ‘I’m not a one-trick pony!’ will be on display at the ArtHouse, Eastbank Street, Southport from 2nd – 13th August 2022. The gallery is open Tuesday – Friday 10.00-15.00. Saturday 11.00-16.00.

Another important influence on Angels’s own work has been the work of the French Impressionists, in particular, Claude Monet, who’s last home in Giverny was only a few hours drive away when she lived in the Normandy region of France from 2014-19: “I always say that I understood more about what Monet was seeking to achieve from 40 minutes sat in front of his water lily ponds than I did from 40 years study of history of art books”. Although art has always been a lifelong passion, Angela’s career path has taken her on a roundabout route, not only across continents but through a portfolio of jobs that put her own practice on the back burner: “I did teach art in secondary schools for a while after graduating with my first degree but then became a journalist and editor, then went on to teach journalism, during which time art was my passion, my hobby and my relaxation. When we went to France I went back to art full-time and we ran a holiday business where artists could come out on tutored painting holidays. I also taught weekly art lessons to local artists plus started doing my own work and commissions”. Gregarious by nature, it seems that there is nothing that intimidates Angela’s talent: “I will happily do commissions on any subject - my most unusual to date was creating one image that summed up all the aspects of Peruvian Shamanism”. www.lancmag.com

Adios Armada

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Get Up Close to the 60th Annual Birkett Trophy Yacht Race Onboard an Exclusive Spectator Cruise From national champions to novices – Sailors from across the country will descend on Ullswater next month for the 60th annual Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy Yacht Race, one of the most spectacular sailing events in the North.

You can get a piece of the action onboard a special ‘Birkett Trophy Cruise’ chartered by Ullswater ‘Steamers’. The three-hour exclusive charter leaves Pooley Bridge Pier at 12pm

on Saturday 2 July, and includes an up-close viewing of the mass start where guests can experience all of the on-water excitement, plus onboard commentary from members of the UYC as the cruise follows the dramatic race down the lake.

eld to commemorate the ‘Lakes’ Great Advocate’, Lord William Norman Birkett, the Ullswater Yacht Club is planning exciting diamond celebrations for this prestigious action-packed event, which is rated number eight in the top 50 ‘must do’ sailing regattas. Taking place over the weekend of 2 and 3 July, more than 200 different types of sailing boats will kick off each day with a dramatic mass start at 1pm before racing the full length of Ullswater and back, as they battle it out to take home the prestigious Birkett silver trophy. 26

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A devoted Cumbrian, it was his role in the House of Lords which helped saved the stunning Ullswater for future generations, after the Manchester Corporation Waterworks Department promoted a parliamentary bill to turn it into a reservoir. This year marks the 60th anniversary of his heartfelt speech in the House of Lords, which condemned the bill and secured public access to the stunning waters of Ullswater to this day. Sadly Lord Birkett died two days after his speech, and to commemorate him and his success the first Cup Trophy Race was sailed in 1963, soon becoming one of the biggest sailing events in the UK.

Rachel Bell, Head of Marketing, Ullswater ‘Steamers’, says, “The Birkett Trophy Cup is the biggest event of its kind in the North of England, and this cruise offers unparalleled viewing of the race. A great day out for families and friends, there is no better spot to get a slice of the action than from on the water, as you watch boats of all sizes and skill battle it out.” Secure your tickets online: www.ullswater-steamers.co.uk/ events/birkett-trophy-cruise. Visitors to Ullswater owe a huge debt of gratitude to Lord Birkett, who was the 1st Baron Birkett of Ulverston, born in the town in 1883.

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THE DOS AND DON’TS OF CAMPING FESTIVALS: A Beginner’s Guide BY REENA MISTRY, HEAD AT MARKETING AT FLOGAS Summer is upon us, and many of us have ideas of embracing the outdoors while the weather is good.

or many, the summer doesn’t start until the festivals do. If this is your first time camping at a festival, you’ll want to know what you need to prepare. Some of the essentials are a no-brainer, such as a tent, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Here, we’ve created the camping festival dos and don’ts so that everything runs smoothly.

Wellies are a must-have for your camping festival. You don’t have to worry about ruining your wellies in the inevitable mud, and they’ll even keep the bottoms of your trousers safe from splashes. Remember to pop them in a bag when you get back to your tent, though – this will keep your sleeping area mud-free.

DON’T SPLASH THE CASH ON FESTIVAL FOOD Unless you’re eager to break the bank, it’s sensible to bring your own food with you rather than purchasing it at food stalls. The average festival goer will spend a staggering £46 a day on food, making it the largest daily spend at a festival. Bringing your own food doesn’t mean opting for multipacks and eating something tasteless for the entirety of the festival. Many festivals allow portable gas BBQs, so you can cook up a storm for you and your fellow campers. Sausages for breakfast will go down a treat, and BBQ burgers at lunchtime will keep you going all day.

PREPARE FOR BAD WEATHER AND PACK YOUR WELLIES Although we’re all eager to soak up the sunshine, UK weather is unpredictable – so it’s best to be prepared for the worst. Rain is a possibility, and given the amount of time you will be spending outdoors, you’ll need to be ready for a possible downpour.

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COMFORT IS KEY: BRING AN AIRBED Sleeping outdoors isn’t as easy as just pitching your tent and lying down there and then. You may think that the quality of your sleeping bag is going to determine how cosy you can be during the night. While it will keep you toasty, sleeping directly on top of the ground, no matter the quality of your sleeping bag, is going to be unbearable. An air bed is an essential item to take with you as it provides a soft, even, and cushioned surface for you to rest your head on, as opposed to settling for a restless night on the hard and bumpy ground.

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DON’T BRING TOO MUCH CLOTHING When the day arrives for the festival, you will likely be overjoyed – but if you’ve taken too many items to carry, this will certainly dampen your mood. Festival goers typically must brave a long walk to their campsite upon arrival, not to mention the mile-long queues for ticket checks, and this can feel like a lifetime when it is paired with heavy bags. Camping requires a considerable number of essentials, but you mustn’t go overboard. It’s a given that clothes are essential – but only opt for an appropriate amount. Back-up options are needed to prepare for unwanted weather, such as a raincoat and a thick jumper, but consider items that you can re-wear during the festival to prevent carrying too many items of clothing that you simply won’t wear.

be far from your camp, and it can be used for festivals in the future. It’s vital to ensure that your phone has charge throughout the festival in case of emergencies, and if your device features a flashlight, it can be used during the night to prevent you from stumbling into tents and tripping over the pegs.

BRING A REUSABLE BOTTLE Staying hydrated is important at a festival, especially if you’re feeling the heat. However, bringing plenty of water bottles is not only a waste of plastic, but it’s also going to be extra weight for you to carry on the way to the festival. A reusable bottle is handy so that you can take a trip to the water stand if you’re ever feeling unwell – but that’s not all. While wipes are an option to keep clean, pouring a bottle of water over yourself might be the closest thing you get to a shower at the festival. Plus, you’ll need a splash of water for your toothbrush.

DECIDE YOUR CAMPING SPOT CAREFULLY

DON’T FORGET YOUR SUN CREAM

The excitement of the festival may distract you from thinking logically when you arrive. Additionally, you may be sick of the walk from the car park or drop off point, resulting in you picking the first campsite spot you can find. However, the spot you choose can make or break your experience.

If the weather is on your side for the festival, you’ll be grateful to be absorbing the rays all day – but this gratitude can soon turn to regret if you haven’t prepared for the heat. A high-factor sun cream will reduce the risk of sunburn. After all, a harsh burn will be an uncomfortable experience that could ruin your whole trip!

Avoid setting up your tent next to a footpath at all costs. If it happens to rain, it can get particularly soggy around your tent if you’re next to a footpath, as well as the risk of many people falling into your tent at night due to the combination of darkness and alcohol.

With our top tips, your camping festival is bound to be an unforgettable experience. Which festival are you heading to this year?

DON’T LET YOUR DEVICE RUN OUT OF CHARGE Your phone running out of battery won’t only be a pain when you wish to take photos and videos. It’s also a risk to your safety, too, as you never know when you’ll need to make a call. Some festivals offer stands to charge your device, although this can be costly. Investing in a portable charger saves you from a walk to the stall, which may

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SOURCES www.thesun.co.uk/money/9427124/festival-goers-shellingout-67-a-day-as-the-cost-of-food-and-entertainment-racks-up www.t3.com/features/festival-camping www.mountainwarehouse.com/expert-advice/festivalcamping-hacks thatfestivalblogger.com/2021/04/27/my-8-festival-mistakes

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Cumbria’s Living Heritage Highlights Bake Off, Cake and Tearoom Credentials As chefs from Levens Hall and Gardens’ eatery, Levens Kitchen, compete in Bake Off: the Professionals, Cumbria’s Living Heritage is highlighting that other tearooms, cafés and restaurants within its vibrant membership have similarly impressive things to boast about. 30

obert Stacey and Mireia Ferreres Luna are two of the talented chefs behind Levens Kitchen’s main menu, breakfast delights, pizzas and exquisite patisserie and cakes. Visitors to Levens Hall and Gardens do not have to pay admission to access the culinary pleasures of Levens Kitchen – something true at many other tearooms and eateries within Cumbria’s Living Heritage.

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“Combining a cultural, art, garden, historic home visit, or special event attendance, with a trip to a venue’s catering facility, gives the visitor a memorable experience. But if you just want a taste of heritage, there are some delightful options and atmospheric cafes and restaurants to explore within Cumbria’s Living Heritage,” says its Chair, Peter FrostPennington. www.lancmag.com

one of many other reasons to visit its delightful mansion and awardwinning gardens, known for the Chinese wallpaper that came over by Tea Clipper, Himalayan Blue Poppies and links to Lady Anne Clifford. The Terrace Café, at Brantwood on Coniston, is housed in a former coach house that once served the philosopher, writer and philanthropist John Ruskin’s household. The menu promises to be quirky and original and this is communicated through elements like the haggis butter that accompanies the Brantwood bacon bun breakfast treat. Lunch could be a toastie with Blengdale blue cheese, or something tasty like marinated coconut and like chicken. At Mirehouse, near Keswick, tearoom goers can tuck into cinnamon gingerbread, Cumberland sausage served in a roll with apple sauce and mouth-watering lemon cake, at the Old Sawmill Tearoom, just by the Mirehouse gates, in the Dodd Wood car park. At Huttonin-the-Forest, the serving of ‘cultural cuisine’ is in the Cloisters Tearoom, whilst at Rydal Mount, a former home of William Wordsworth, the calories can be knocked up in what was once a saddlery.

Whilst Levens Kitchen is housed within a contemporary building just a short walk from the entrance to Levens Hall, other tearooms in the group are found in rather older premises. The Tudor barn tearoom at Dalemain is one example. Here, sandwiches are not just served on bread but on artisan tomato focaccia bread and afternoon tea scones come with a choice of strawberry jam or rhubarb marmalade. The latter provides a big clue to Dalemain’s love of marmalade, with ‘Jane’s marmalade’ also glazing the pork sausage roll served and a range of delicious marmalades on sale. This is because Dalemain is home to the world-renowned Marmalade Festival, although marmalade is just www.lancmag.com

This was above the ancient stables and was converted into a schoolroom by the Wordsworths, as they sought to educate their daughter, Dora. She remained a tearaway, however! The tearoom today serves cheese, blueberry and plain scones, and traditional Cumbrian tea bread, homemade by Rydal Mount’s tea lady Pauline and head gardener, Helen. It offers a dozen choices of cakes from Staveley-based, Ginger Bakers, and serves Farrer’s tea and coffee. This is the UK’s oldest coffee roaster and the heritage home believes Wordsworth himself may have served Farrer’s tea. Local produce is important to all of the eateries in the venues within Cumbria’s Living Heritage and at Café Ambio, nestled on the banks of the River Leven and next door to the Lakeland Motor Museum, that can be

seen in ingredients such as Cartmel Valley smoked salmon and Cartmel Valley smoked Cumberland hotdog. Many eateries also put the emphasis on homemade, this including the café at Wordsworth Grasmere, Blackwell the Arts and Crafts House, in Bownesson-Windermere and Creeping Kate’s – the Stables Café at Muncaster Castle and Gardens. The quintessential English delight that is afternoon tea can be enjoyed at many of the heritage eateries, including Holker Hall and Gardens, near Cartmel. Those wanting a graband-go meal, will find takeaway options at Keswick Museum and Art Gallery and at Levens Kitchen, where the GOAT – Greatest of All Takeaways – can be found. At the Windermere Jetty Museum, where the story of boats and steam soon builds up the appetite, the emphasis is on branding, with Jetty honey roast ham, Jetty slaw and Jetty bread all tickling the taste buds and nestling alongside regional delights such as Borrowdale Teabread and Penrith Pepperpot Sausage. However, perhaps the place to which to head for a more complete dining experience, is The Gaddum Restaurant. This is one of the eateries at Brockhole on Windermere and housed in Brockhole House, the former 19th century home of Edith Gaddum, cousin to Beatrix Potter. Here, diners take their seats in a venue boasting a truly gorgeous arts and crafts interior, whether they wish to enjoy a wonderful two or three-course lunch, from Tuesday to Saturday, or a Sunday lunch, or a sophisticated afternoon tea, for which booking is required. Heading to any of these eateries may well sharpen the appetite for a visit to their accompanying heritage venue, where you can discover all manner of things about Cumbrian heritage of the past, as well as its present-day interpretation. Details of locations and things to do can be found at www.cumbriaslivingheritage.co.uk

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Do you need a Divorce Coach? You are getting divorced and worrying about many things: • I don’t have enough hours in the day • I am worried about how much this is costing • I have lost my confidence • I want to improve communication with my Ex • I feel like I am constantly fighting fires without making progress • I am sick of others telling me how I should think, feel and act • I want to protect my children • I want to have a clear plan of where I am going • I want to feel like me again Firstly, you are NOT alone, and many women feel just like you. I am passionate about community and set up The Divorce Village, which is a FREE online community providing women with access to experts in coaching, family law and finance.

Dr Lucinda Homer has a portfolio career as a doctor and executive coach. In January 2022 she founded Dr Homer – Divorce Coaching and helps professional women to get divorced and stay sane.

The Divorce Village is a place where busy women can take time out to recharge, learn something new and make friends. It is a group of women, who really get what it means to juggle work, home and the demands of a divorce.

If you want to work with me directly, I provide one-toone coaching packages and work with women remotely all over the country.

he has a 30-year career as a doctor working in the specialty of Anaesthetics and latterly Aviation Medicine. 24 years’ working in the NHS honed her survival skills and she really gets what it is like to be a woman in a stressful job. 14 years as a Consultant Anaesthetist and trainer led to a passion for coaching and nurturing talent.

You will learn to be proactive rather than reactive, powerful rather than powerless, confident to make good decisions and build a network of support around you. Divorce does NOT mean lonely.

Lucinda had her first mid-life epiphany at the age of 40 and decided to train as a private pilot. This experience taught her a lot about herself and what she could change. Now she uses all her experience to help other women break free from divorce and thrive again. OK so that’s my Bio, but what can I do for you? This chapter in your epic story is not about me, it is all about you. I am ready and waiting to be your guide. I will listen, show you new skills and allow you to find your own way. Every divorce is different and yours is the worst one that you can imagine. No one can tell you what you should think, feel and do, although plenty of people will try. You already have all the answers; a good coach, like me, helps you to find them. 32

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Website: drhomer-divorce-coaching.com The Divorce Village: thedivorcevillage.com L www.linkedin.com/in/drlucindahomer I @drhomer_divorce_coach www.lancmag.com

HANDCRAFTED ELEGANT HEADWEAR CREATED JUST FOR YOU

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N 07772 876482 I Pebellesboutique E pebellesboutique@gmail.com Pebelles Boutique D www.pebellesboutique.co.uk

Helping women in business to be CONFIDENT in networking and GROW their businesses Are you working from home and want a supportive community around you? FUN, FRIENDLY AND PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING

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Get in touch to ﬁnd out more at E janine@femalebusinessnetwork.co.uk or visit www.femalebusinessnetwork.co.uk

N 07900 823 927 | E team@fullpowercacao.com I @fullpowercacao | F @fullpowercacao

- helping you achieve more in your business

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Female Business Network “I know how daunting it can be to walk into a room for the first time, not knowing many people. Female Business Network events are welcoming, friendly and always have great variety of businesses.” “I want our members to go from networking-hesitant to networking confident, so that they can grow their audience, grow their business and achieve their goals.”

Janine Friston is a Mum of 2 boys, ex-management employee, who decided to start her own business in 2018, so she could be there more for her children.

n October 2021, Janine launched the Female Business Network to help women in business to have the opportunity to attend networking events that were professional, yet informal and welcoming for all as well as mentoring them to create and achieve their goals. And what a few months it’s been! After running her own online business directory since 2018, Janine felt there was a gap in the market, between the structured, corporate networking and the really informal meetings. And, having hosted local events since 2018 she is now expanding, and wants to have more local groups across the UK under the Female Business Network banner.

As Janine advocates, networking doesn’t have to be stuffy, you don’t have to be in suits to be serious about growing your business. Passion, dedication and an openness to want to meet new people is networking.

Later this year sees the launch of the Female Business Festival, and the FBNA’s - an event to help women take practical steps to grow their business and gain insights from expert and inspirational speakers and mentors, as well as the Female Business Network Awards. Janine is excited for 2022 and beyond - “I can’t wait to showcase more amazing business owners as part of the Festival and Awards, and build a community of like-minded business owners who support and help each other. This is what women in business are good at.”

Wanting to learn, to have conversations and perhaps challenge yourself a little to help you grow is about being a business owner. All these attributes are what the Female Business Network members have. The Female Business Network has online and in person events, as well as accountability mentoring and groups to help you create and achieve your goals. Janine has been featured on the radio, in newspapers and podcasts celebrating the growth of female entrepreneurship, how you can gain confidence in networking and meeting new people to help grow your business.

Do you want to join this fast growing network and community? Maybe run your own Female Business Network group? Or, find out more about the Festival and Awards? Get in touch with Janine at: janine@femalebusinessnetwork.co.uk

A festival and awards are coming…

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or check out:

www.femalebusinessnetwork.co.uk

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For Her

Shirts & Jackets by ‘Claudio Lugli’ Jeans by ‘Tramarossa’

The Man on a Mission to Make Cacao the New Coffee Liam said: “I cannot recommend cacao and its health benefits enough. I first started testing and researching different origins thoroughly in 2019. After searching throughout the Central and South American regions, I ethically sourced the authentic, powerful, magical, and heartopening plant medicine from Venezuela and set out to share it with as many people as possible.”

A man from Withington, Manchester, is on a mission to make cacao the new coffee. Spiritual healer and founder of FULL POWER CACAO, Liam Browne, has been a pioneer of the South and Central American ceremonial drink ever since discovering its healing properties in Guatemala in 2012 and is now one of the biggest suppliers in the UK.

iam Browne, known by many as ‘The Cacao Guru’, is a spiritual healer, yoga teacher, author, podcaster, Founder of Stone Cold Sober Retreats and Festivals and a cacao advocate. When on a visit to Guatemala for the end of the Mayan calendar in 2012, he met the ‘Chocolate Shaman’ on the majestic Lake Atitlan and after being introduced to the magic of cacao, his life was forever changed.

Cacao comes from the edible seed of the cacao tree, which is native to tropical regions such as Central and South America and has been used by indigenous people for centuries due to its healing properties and health benefits. Its Greek name, Theobroma Cacao, literally means ‘Food of the Gods’ and is now classed by many as a superfood that can be enjoyed in warm drink form.

Cacao can ease anxiety, apathy, depression, headaches, insecurity, irritability and more and is good for your mood, blood, and the heart. Liam explained: “There are so many benefits of cacao. It’s a natural antidepressant due to the magnesium and potassium and it also has beneficial natural compounds such as serotonin, phenylethylamine and anandamide — which enhance moods. It’s also packed with flavonoids that lower blood pressure, improve the blood flow to the heart and brain and help reduce the risk of dementia.”

Liam is on a mission to share the medicine with a website and an online shop and commercial supply to cafes, restaurants and shops. He also hosts Cacao Ceremonies, incorporating sacred shamanic and yogic traditions with his own twists, and offers Cacao Teacher Training Courses. He has Teacher Training courses scheduled for the rest of the year. For more information about Full Power Cacao and for the online shop visit fullpowercacao.com Use code FULLPOWER2012 for 20% off your first order! F@fullpowercacao I fullpowercacao Check out Liam Browne’s personal website D www.liambrowne.com F @liambrownelove I @liambrownelove

He continued: “Cacao contains 23% natural protein and 33% fibre. It has 15 times more antioxidants than blueberries, is great for the skin and is also a powerful aphrodisiac. The benefits are endless and it’s becoming more popular as a healthy alternative to coffee.” 36

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Set in the beautiful Lancashire countryside, Contours Day Spa is quite simply the next generation of Spa. Offering a holistic approach to wellbeing and relaxation with experienced therapists. Spread over two floors; the spa features seven treatment rooms, a private spa suite and a stunning thermal floor with an outdoor hot tub, steam room, sauna, marble heated loungers and a private relaxation area. Whins Green Kitchen, specialising in vegan/vegetarian plant based cuisine, complements the overall offering by serving light meals, afternoon tea and refreshments.

CONTOURS DAY SPA

M Whins Barn, Whins Lane, Wheelton, Chorley , Lancashire, PR6 8HN N 01254 831111 E contoursdayspa@hotmail.co.uk F @contours.dayspa T @contoursdayspa

www.contoursdayspa.co.uk

Born out of my personal experience of downsizing for my parents and in-laws, I became interested in professional organising and decluttering many years ago.

set up my business to help other busy professionals, who are experiencing the stress of a disorganised home or workplace. By working with individuals and the whole family I work to create order and effective spaces and systems to suit everyone. I understand the emotional connection to belongings and I work with respect, empathy, and consideration. If it is important to you; it is important to me. Are you feeling stressed by the disorganisation in your life? Or maybe you too are facing downsizing of family or a house move? Sorting through a lifetime of possessions can be overwhelming

and I can be there to ease the burden during this particularly stressful time. I love to see the difference I can make to people’s lives. Whether it is one room, a whole house or a special project. I have additional training in hoarding tendencies, and I am now undertaking an additional specialism in Photo Decluttering, which I find fascinating and much in demand. I am a member of APDO (the Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers in the UK, ensuring high industry standards. Many people say “I couldn’t let you see my home, but the messier it is the happier I am.” To see the joy of transformation is what makes this a truly rewarding profession. D www.thedeclutterlady.co.uk E help@thedeclutterlady.co.uk F @DeclutterLady I @declutterlady3

Infinity Apartments, Liverpool...

Who fancies a weekend away in style? We have twinned with numerous bars and restaurants, to bring you the best discounts and availability so your night out is sorted! Or if you want to bring the party to you, we have lots of local suppliers to cater to every Hen and Stag party need with various packages to give you the best weekend away!

Located in the heart of Liverpool City Centre, situated on a quiet tree–lined street just a few minutes walk from the lively and iconic Matthew Street, the best bars, clubs and restaurants with Liverpool Lime Street Station, 7 minutes away.

here is a plethora of shops situated nearby in Liverpool One, lots of tourist attractions, you will be spoilt for choice to keep you occupied.

The striking interior has the feel of a New York loft complete with exposed brick walls and state of the art kitchen and bathroom facilities. Our Liverpool party apartments are revamped and of a high standard of design in a variety of styles and sizes. Some apartments have a jacuzzi bath and our Famous apartment even has a spa tub for up to 6 people! Features include Wi-Fi, coffee pod machines, and a Bluetooth speaker system all included in the price. We welcome large groups of up to 30 people.

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Now is the time to book direct for the best price! We are offering readers of The Lancashire Magazine a discounted price starting from £45 per person per night.

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Free your home & mind Restoring the balance and harmony within your home and mind through smart decluttering & organisational services N 07818 114 235 E help@thedeclutterlady.co.uk F @DeclutterLady I @declutterlady3 www.thedeclutterlady.co.uk

Located in the heart of Liverpool, Infinity has a number of Self-Catering Serviced as well as unique Party Apartments to perfect Stag, Hen and Group parties

Apartments Apartments make your memorable.

Our magazine has been writing about Lancashire for over 50 years. We cover everything from people to places, Lancashire’s history to Lancashire’s future. 5

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Now is the time to book direct for the best price! We are offering readers of The Lancashire Magazine a discounted price starting from £45 per person per night.

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Pebelles Boutique

jenniferthoburnphotography

My name is Nicola, a Lancashire-based milliner. After spending 28 years as a primary teacher, I decided to leave the profession and follow my passion and dream of making hats.

@karennashphotography

Millinery is a heritage craft and I feel passionate about keeping this going. Every piece I create is handstitched, carefully designed and considered for the client with great care and attention to detail. I love to create unique headwear and feel very honoured that I have the skills to do this. Most of the hats I create are made from natural materials like felt, silk, sinamay and straw.

rom a very early age, I was creative, and my love of hats stems from wonderful childhood memories. One Christmas morning, I was given a ‘My Fair Lady’ doll, she had a beautiful dress, a large brimmed hat and a lace parasol. This led to me making other hats for my dolls and I remember that I would search my feather pillow at night and pull out the feathers to add on as trims. As a child, I often saw my grandmothers wear hats and women at our local church. In 2020, I took the opportunity to train with London Hat Designer Katherine Elizabeth at the Business and millinery academy and set up my millinery company Pebelles Boutique. I work from my home studio and love designing various styles of hats for special occasions. Many Mothers of the Bride come to me with their dresses and shoes so that I can create something special to match and coordinate with their outfits. In March 2021, I was encouraged by fellow milliners to enter the Mad Hatter’s Society 10th Annual Millinery competition. I created a felt hat in a beautiful orange colour and created a feather trim from tartan fabric. 40

My influence and inspiration for my headwear designs are from nature. I love to add personality to my designs and will add special touches to emulate the client and coordinate beautifully with their outfit and occasion.

It was so eye-catching that it was chosen for second place by the Judge Haute Couture designer Lars Nilsson. He likened it to the style of designer John Galliano and commented on the fact that he could see British model Kate Moss wearing it. This was an amazing honour for me and really instilled confidence in my ability and that following my passion was the right thing to do. In October 2021, I entered the Inspiring Creative Milliners Award and won with my hat design inspired by the Victorian train station at Grange over Sands.

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I was recently approached by Suzy Orr from Unique Ladies and Susan Morris of Dynamic Neuro Physiotherapy, asking could I create a hat to help a Mother of the Bride who had recently had brain surgery. It was a fantastic make and it was wonderful to see the beautiful memories that were created at the wedding and how delighted she was, wearing a hat I had designed specifically for her.

N 07772 876482 Pebelles Boutique I Pebellesboutique D www.pebellesboutique.co.uk E pebellesboutique@gmail.com www.lancmag.com

We are passionate about flowers, natural ingredients, and wellbeing by offering a collection of flower-based products that is close to nature. We are a manufacturer of craft-brewed soft drinks, cordials and health shots from flowers, fruit and spices for people who want to stay healthy and feel amazing. Our traditional craft-brewing process extracts huge amounts of nutrition and flavour from organic flowers, fruits, and spices, to create products that positively impact wellbeing and taste naturally delicious. All products are manufactured in our own SALSA approved facility in Burnley, and we offer third-party co-packing for other brands too. All products made at our site are of the highest quality and all ingredients are completely natural. No preservatives, artificial colours or flavours are used, and we source raw materials from organically certified suppliers. All our drinks are vegan approved, naturally gluten free, naturally caffeine free’

D calyxdrinks.co.uk | E hello@calyxdrinks.co.uk | FIT calyxdrinks

SUE ALLEN GRANTCHESTER

CEO Her World Online Empowerment + Life Transition Coach, Intuitive Energy Healer.

Sue is a powerful Transformational Coach and Spiritual Guide working with entrepreneurs to become the best version of themselves, and to live incredible lives.

nce upon a time, a little girl had dreams so big, filling her with awe and wonder. She grew up, people started to point out differences in her, and she dimmed her light to try to fit in. Peoplepleasing so others would like her, so men in her life would stay, attracting unhealthy relationships and living a life for others and losing magic within. Choosing work, food, alcohol, shopping, sex, and men to numb the feelings and pain within. There comes a time in every woman’s life when she wonders how she got here and decides to change. Sue is your secret weapon to design the life you deserve and are ready to claim. Having experienced breaking point after baby loss and acrimonious divorce, she declared to help others overcome the past in empowering ways. Overcoming many obstacles in her life that have shaped her. After a tough childhood, she became the first in her 42

family to attend university and went on to have success as a Lawyer. Training with the world’s best mentors, Sue is certified in mindset, empowerment, spirituality and healing modalities. “Negative thoughts and beliefs we form as a child, keep us from getting what we want and deserve. Causing blocks within and an imbalance in the body and mind. Starting as feelings of shame, anger, guilt, fear and turn into chronic conditions e.g. stress, depression or auto-immune disorders. Shifting mindset, unconscious beliefs start to change, complimenting the healing tools I share and teach to become your own healer. ”. She tailors everything for the client’s emotional, physical, and mental health needs whilst offering a safe unconditional space allowing the transformation to occur. Sue supports during relationship difficulties, menopause, divorce, and trauma to help re-define identity and life journey. Helping clients to rebuild the most important relationship - with themselves. Supporting business leaders using astrology and human design, who are seeking energy alignment, healing limiting beliefs, and tapping into their intuition and spiritual gifts are where the magic happens.

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“I love being a woman’s secret weapon to stepping into their magnificence. Activating and Empowering” She supports children with their emotional and mental health needs, helping them sleep, overcoming bullying, separated families, tics, emotional upsets, and giving them tools to support themselves. Also pets with emotional needs from anxiety to trauma healing. Sue has two teenagers and five Cockapoos, is in a loving relationship and has a blended family. She offers Free Wellness Consultations at her home clinic or at The Extensa Clinic in Alderley Edge. Sue offers one-off coaching sessions, healing sessions, human design readings and natal charts and three or six month life mentoring packages (phone, Zoom or face to face). There is something for everyone no matter the situation, age or budget. This is your permission slip to live the life you crave and desire. The question is will you claim it? To book your free wellness check message “freedom” to Sue on: I @iamsueallen E info@ladygrantchester.com www.ladygrantchestercourses.com

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GRASMERE SPORTS IS READY TO BOOM!

The event, which takes place on The Showfield, at Stock Lane, Grasmere, is determined to enjoy the best possible renaissance, kicking off its 2022 campaign as part of a podcast, which communicates the show’s essence through audio.

There is everything to go for with the Seniors’ race in particular, as the record of Fred Reeves has stood for 44 years! The show is keen to see whether new runners have emerged, who might be able to take this, and the five-year-old ladies’ record, on.

he show, which started in 1868, has only ever been cancelled three times – during the Second World War and, due to Covid, for the last two years. It was so missed in the calendar that some fell runners turned up to run last year, even though there was no official race!

The podcast is focused solely on Grasmere Lakeland Sports & Show and various facets of Grasmere village, and is available for download at major podcast libraries, as part of the ‘Poodling Around’ podcast. The intention is to attract new visitors, but also help promote tourism in the wider Lake District and World Heritage Site, at the time of the event.

Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling will make a welcome return and the show expects to welcome Breton, Scottish and Icelandic competitors once again. This ancient sport is very much part of local heritage, but not something everyone has had the opportunity to enjoy.

To come back with a bang, it has created a special extra-low advance ticket price for locals only, details of which are posted around the village. From July 1, it will have discounted advance tickets for other visitors, including a family ticket, exclusively available online.

The show also feels very strongly about ensuring that the fell racing – or the Guides races as they are known – are particularly well-supported, as their long-time organiser, Pete Bland, passed away from Covid and his son, Matt, has now taken over.

Iconic Lakeland event, Grasmere Lakeland Sports & Show is back with a bang on August 28, 2022 (Bank Holiday Sunday) and going all out to rekindle its engagement with local Lake District residents.

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Grasmere Lakeland Sports & Show is also appealing to all the pandemic pet parents, now often firm staycationers. It will offer dog lovers and owners the huge fun and noise associated with the stunning spectacle of the hound trails and also allow on-the-day canine visitors, of all breeds, to have a go in the terrier racing ring, once www.lancmag.com

Starting at 10am August 28th 2022 at The Showfield, Stock Lane Grasmere, Cumbria LA22 9SL www.grasmeresports.com The child-friendly event will let little ones shine in sack, egg-and-spoon and track races and allow budding Greg Rutherford’s to take on the ‘long leap’ long jump competition. the ‘Little Nippers’ terrier display has run. They can enter what is a fun dog show, albeit one judged by a former Kennel Club judge and, with a prize for a child handler, young owners can get fully involved. Brand-new for 2022 is a Wheelbarrow Garden competition, with the show encouraging locals to plant up a floral wheelbarrow display and bring their barrow along, to contend for prizes. Locals with a keen interest in ancestry can also view a large number of photos from the Armitt Museum’s Hardman photographic collection. Taken by a former Westmorland Gazette photographer, and dating from the 1930s to the 1960s, these feature many local people who could be grandparents, uncles and aunties, or other relatives, of younger people visiting today. www.lancmag.com

A range of children’s bicycles can be tried out as part of a Wonder Wheelers display, with kids getting the chance to try everything from a toddler’s balance bike, to penny farthing, unicycle and even a bike that pedals backwards! Falcons will be on-hand in static and aerial flying displays, the Fell Gather Roadshow will be talking all things Herdwick and shepherding, and trade and craft stalls will tempt the purse. Swill maker Owen Jones will no doubt cause a stir and the Fat Cat Brass Band, who debuted in 2019, will return with stilt walking drummers and all the razzmatazz that thrilled last time. As always, the show will open with the atmospheric ringing of a bell by the Bellman and the playing of the national anthem. Never before, however, may it have symbolised

such a rebirth for Grasmere Lakeland Sports & Show. The show’s Sports & Field Manager, Deborah Black, who features on the podcast, says: “We will be leaving no stone unturned in making this year’s show one of the best ever enjoyed on the field. We wish to convey the essence of our unique and historic event to as many people as possible, welcoming back long and loyal supporters and saying ‘hello’ to new faces, experiencing this inimitable insight into Lakeland life for the very first time. Who knows, we may even attract more foreign visitors. “We hope that everyone will take up the heavy early-bird discounts available and come along and join us on the day, and that various local businesses will exhibit their wares on a trade stall. It’s time for us all to get back to the things we used to do and appreciate them all the more.” To listen to the podcast and discover more about the event, head to https://bit.ly/3w8vwlQ

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Award-Winning Kathryn Takes The Lead

winton-based Kathryn Taylor, who had a long career in the logistics industry, became a coach and behavioural analyst in 2011 before launching her own counselling business Balance Counselling and Coaching in 2017. Now, she is taking over the Salford group of Unique Ladies Networking next month and looking forward to meeting other local women to help boost their business. Explained Kathryn: “We want to give businesswomen the chance to make new and useful contacts in a pleasant atmosphere with no crippling membership fees.” The formula for Unique Ladies has already proved popular across the North-west after it was launched in 2015 by Suzy Orr. Now, there are groups across Manchester, Bolton, Preston, Blackburn, Kendal, Hyndburn, Ribble Valley, Preston and Stockport. Commented Suzy Orr: “I’m delighted to have Kathryn heading our Salford group. She not only has a proven business track record but is passionate about helping other women to do well.” The launch meeting takes place on Zoom from 9.30am to 11.30am on Friday 17th June when astrology coach Roz Pilling will be the group’s first inspirational speaker.

AN award-winning entrepreneur is helping other businesswomen in the Salford area to success with an established networking group. 46

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To attend the group and for more information call: N 07794 143171 or email E kathryn@uniqueladies.co.uk

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The Whitehall Hotel & Distillery The Whitehall Hotel dates back to 1898 and enjoys many period features from the sandstone frontage to the panelled sweeping staircase, decorative ceilings and an open fireplace complemented by an impressive 16-foot chandelier. From the moment you drive up to The Whitehall Hotel, you realise that the claim to be the perfect venue for any occasion is well-founded. A majestic Victorian manor house lovingly transformed into a traditional country house hotel. The Whitehall Distillery is a Darwen distillery committed to the grain to glass philosophy, meaning we are involved in the whole process from milling, mashing, fermentation and distillation. The result is a premium product that has been strictly monitored during each step in the production process. Batch by batch, from grain to glass in Darwen, Lancashire.

www.whitehallhotel.uk.com

From Oliver Cromwell to Football Deep in the Heart of Darwen, Lancashire By Sharon Henry

Nestled at the base of the Pennine Moors and situated on the outskirts of Darwen, near Blackburn, Lancashire stands the Whitehall Hotel, which now boasts its own gin and rum distillery. 48

Victorian manor house built for a wealthy cotton mill owner in 1898, it was converted tastefully into a hotel in 1968. The Whitehall, is the oldest hotel in Blackburn with Darwen and it enjoys many period features from the sandstone frontage to the panelled sweeping staircase, decorative ceilings

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and an open fireplace complemented by an impressive 16-foot chandelier. From the moment you drive up to The Whitehall Hotel in Darwen, you realise that the claim to be the perfect venue and retreat for any occasion is well-founded. www.lancmag.com

The Whitehall, is and has been a destination wedding venue for over 50 years. The current custodians, Neil and Tracy Bullows have retained the charm of the original features with a stunning events room which will accommodate wedding parties for 200 plus guests. There are several other smaller rooms which cater for bridal couples who prefer a more intimate setting. Several of the rooms are licensed for civil ceremonies with a team knowing how to recognise the sanctimony of marriage. Adjacent to the main room there is a sizable Indian stoned patio area with comfortable seating for reception drinks and canapés. Surrounded by mature gardens, a bridal arch and Cinderella carriage provide the

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perfect backdrop for capturing that photographic moment in time to be treasured. The sitting room and public areas feature a balcony staircase with a stunning ornate chandelier. Either sit back and relax in the cosy sofa´s or explore the landscaped gardens, and the woodland beyond. Not only a popular venue for weddings, the Whitehall caters for christenings, associations dinners, birthdays and an array of other occasions and events for both business and pleasure. You can dine at the award-winning restaurant - recently named Best Hotel Restaurant in Lancashire. Menus incorporate the highest quality ingredients from farmers, growers and

their own on-site distillery. Comprised of dishes that are easily recognizable and feel simple but eat complex. The hotel aims to make all guests feel the warmth of familiarity within its doors, from friendly and knowledgeable service, to the glow of a wood-fire stove, to the comforting aromas of home, coming from the restaurant. The Whitehall also offers an extensive afternoon tea program that features a selection of sandwiches, fresh-baked cakes and scones from their kitchen. There is a variety of guest bedroom styles which include a host of thoughtful extras. Bedrooms in the main house are more traditional in keeping with the heritage of the

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house with several having four poster beds and spa baths. Modern rooms are located on the ground floor and include flat screen televisions with hospitality trays and peace and quiet as standard. The Whitehall’s legendary service has set the stage for spectacular weddings and milestone celebrations. Whether hosting a black-tie gala in one of their timeless ballrooms or reciting your vows in the landscaped gardens, the indoor and outdoor venue is designed to inspire. You will also enjoy the expertise of a team dedicated to making your experience unforgettable. The Hotel Features include: • Complimentary high-speed wireless, high-bandwidth access • Recently refurbished en-suite luxury accommodation • On-site complimentary guest parking • Exclusive In-Room & Restaurant Dining options • Walking distance to some of Lancashire’s favourite walks

The Whitehall, has been family managed by Neil and Tracy since 2003 and their two children Matthew and Jenna, have both been involved. ‘’With over fifteen years working in four star hotels I became quite despondent with conflicting values and pressures and felt it was time to pursue an alternative career.’’

We have enjoyed almost twenty years of hospitality and delighted that we have established an enviable reputation for service and standards. So many of our guests over the years have now become close friends and we feel that a professional and friendly service will see us through the challenging times ahead.’’

Neil said. ‘’We attended a friend’s wedding and following a high stool bar chat it was mentioned there was a hotel for sale in Darwen and we should take a look at.

As with many in the hospitality industry the Whitehall continues to be challenged with the impact and after effects of the Covid 19 pandemic. “It was such an awful time trying assist our bridal couples with their wishes and that of being able to keep the business open” Tracy stated. “With rising costs and the current economic climate, we are still very much in the storm”, Neil affirmed.

We requested the particulars and arranged to view and immediately taken by the Whitehall’s grandeur. Tracy, had worked in banking and with her connections and alongside the kitchen sink we secured the bulk of the asking price. We were saddened as shortly afterwards our offer was rejected in favour of another. We looked at other hotels in the North West but non comparable to the vision we had for the Whitehall. A year to the day of viewing we were contacted by the sellers to inform us that several offers had fallen through and were we still interested?

The spirited couple have seen their fair share of challenges over the years and knew that they would

The rest as we say is “Our” history.

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www.lancmag.com

need to pivot the business to survive. This is where there innovation and determination has been awarded with their concept of moving into spirits distillation. The Whitehall Distillery, was a concept conceived by their daughter Jenna during lockdown as her favourite tipple of choice. Neil contacted a childhood friend Paul Sheerin a master distiller based in Oldham, who is the owner of awarding winning Defiance Spirits. In November of 2020, under the watchful Zoom eye from Paul and his team the Whitehall’s Signature gin was completed. The Whitehall, now has several hand-crafted gins available and awarded the contract to distil gin for Blackburn Rovers Football Club. There is a story behind the design of the label which features Darwen Tower but a wrap taken from Oliver Cromwell’s lace who stayed at the

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nearby Whitehall cottage. A bar has been opened up in his name featuring house gins and an extensive rum collection with gin inspired sharing food platters. Gin Making Experience classes are available to all and have become very popular especially with bridal couples making their own as personalised wedding gifts. The Whitehall is open all year round serving the best of Northern Hospitality. They are offering fantastic Christmas party nights throughout December and bookings are also being taken for Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve, for you to celebrate the festive season at the Whitehall where you and your family can experience a choice from a specially created menu to ensure your Christmas 2022 is one to remember. Details of events can be found on their website and social media.

M Ross Street, Park Road, Darwen, Lancashire BB3 2JU N 01254 701595 E info@whitehallhotel.uk.com D www.whitehallhotel.uk.com F @whitehallhotel

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Milky Way Panorama - Malham, Yorkshire

Astronomy in the UK By Stephen Cheatley

Astronomy is a fascinating subject to learn as it opens up a vast range of interesting things that are beyond the earth that we all live on. There are many questions as to how things in the universe are the way they are, and how our own planet and life on it got started.

hese are the big questions that got me into astronomy in the first place. Since as long back as I can remember, I was always interested space, possibility of life on other worlds including aliens and UFOs.

In November 2009 I booked an aurora sightseeing flight from 52

Blackpool Airport after seeing an advert in an astronomy magazine. The 90 minute flight was booked full, and we flew up to the far north of Scotland, and circled around the Shetland Islands so that the passengers might get a sighting of the famous Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights. The fact that we were flying at 35,000ft altitude over a dark part of the UK and all the lights in the plane were turned off really helped us to see the amazing night sky outside much easier because our eyes could adapt to the darkness. This is where I learned how important it is to avoid light pollution and how to let my eyes adapt to darkness, so I could see faint things, like the Milky Way easier. We did not get a very strong aurora, unfortunately, but I was blown away by the sight of the Milky

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Way and the sheer amount of stars I could see through little window of the plane. I had never seen so many stars in my life, and it was this sighting that really got me interested in taking astronomy much more seriously. www.lancmag.com

Orion Constellation Venus & Zodiacal Light - Silecroft, Cumbria

In early 2010 I watched the first series of BBC Stargazing Live, which was the first interactive astronomy program I had seen. After watching this program and following some of the advice, I decided I would join an astronomy www.lancmag.com

society, and later that year I joined Blackpool & District Astronomical Society (BADAS for short!). Joining the society was the best thing I ever did because we got to see different speakers at the monthly meetings

who spoke on different subjects about astronomy, but the best thing about going the society was that I got to go to my first star party in August 2010, which was timed for the peak annual Perseid Meteor Shower. 

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usually in a dedicated area as far away from light pollution as possible, so it gives them a better chance of seeing the night sky. It certainly is different from spending an evening in front of the TV, and you also get to learn amazing things about the universe and how it all works.

Society Star Party - Pilling, Lancashire

 I got to see quite a few amazing ‘shooting stars’ zip across the sky on that night and I learned that they are actually caused by specks of dust entering the earth’s atmosphere and burning up. If you are reading this before August 12th, you may have a good chance to spot some of these amazing meteors yourself as they reach peak on the evening of the 12th into the morning of the 13th. Unfortunately this year the moon is full around that time and this will affect the amount of meteors we can see, usually up to about 20-30 per

hour if you have perfect conditions and are watching constantly. I recommend highly that anyone interested in astronomy, and wants to learn more, that they join a local society like I did. There are many throughout the UK. Members of astronomy societies have all different interests within the field and are always happy to help new members learn how to navigate the sky or maybe how to setup a telescope. The star parties are even better because people get chance to meet outside,

As we are now in the month of August, its a great time to be getting into astronomy as the nights are getting longer after the lingering twilight of June & July. Spotting the Milky Way is difficult during June & July, especially if you live in northern UK as the twilight overpowers the faint light of the galaxy. Good news! August through September is also a great time to see the Milky Way as the brighter part of the galaxy is visible and the silvery glow of the galactic plane rises overhead in the evenings. Look out for the Summer Triangle as Milky Way passes right through this large group of stars. It is an amazing sight from dark places such as the Lake District, Snowdonia National Park in Wales, Kielder Forest in Northumberland and Galloway Forest Park in Scotland. All of these places have recognised dark sky areas which are great for Milky Way spotting, especially Galloway, as this area was the first to become a designated international Dark Sky

Aurora Borealis over Glencoe, Scotland - February 2019

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Milky Way over Durdle Door, Dorset - June 2018

Park in the UK due to the night sky lacking light pollution and steps by the local authority to protect the night sky from man made light. There is so much to take on board

with astronomy, but the moon & planets are very popular subjects among astronomers, and are great sights to see with your own eyes or maybe through a telescope. I have photographed many full moons since I

started astronomy, and there is nothing more amazing than seeing a huge, full moon rising above the landscape. The moon tends to look much bigger when it is close to the horizon, but this is an optical illusion.

Aurora over Catlerigg Stone Circle, Keswick - April 2017

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Galactic Core - Lulworth Cove, Dorset - April 2018

The moon is the same size wherever you see it in the sky, although it does change size slightly depending on how close it is to earth during it’s elliptical orbit which takes 27.3 days. When the moon is at it’s closest to earth it is given the name supermoon, but although the moon is around 12% bigger than it looks when it is at it’s farthest, the size difference is not really noticeable by eye. We had two supermoons this year in June and July, did you spot them?

Andromeda Galaxy

Full Moonrise, St Annes Beach Huts

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The bright planets like Jupiter, Venus, Mars and Saturn are another great sight to see in our night skies as they stand out very well compared with much more distant background stars, but due to their different orbits there are good times to see a particular planet, but sometimes it may not be visible at all. We are in luck in 2022 as Saturn, Jupiter and Mars all being well placed to see in the evening/ morning skies for the rest off the year, particularly Jupiter and Mars will be very prominent & easy to see as they rise higher in the sky. Saturn is visible for the rest of the year although fairly low down. To see Saturn, pick a spot with an unobstructed view to the south to give yourself the best chance of spotting it. It only rises to around 1/4 of the way up the sky, but it will be bright and easy to spot if you have the right conditions. Planets all reach their highest positions due south. You may even be able to tick off the www.lancmag.com

Saturn Imaged via Telescope

Milky Way and the planets in one go as they are all easily visible during August to October. As we approach winter we will see the return of the famous constellation of Orion, and Orion has a famous nebula which is easy to see with the naked eye and makes for an amazing photograph. Photographing the Orion Nebula, which is a star forming region 1,300 light years away, is classed as Deep Space Astrophotography, another aspect of astronomy which some people specialise in. I don’t specialise in Deep Space, but I have touched on it a few times in my YouTube videos, including photographing distant galaxies using a regular camera. I recommend that anyone interested in astronomy/astrophotography joins a local club as it is the best way to learn about all things night sky. If you cannot join a club, make sure you go out with a friend to view the night sky as going alone to a remote location is not a good idea. You can also follow my channel on YouTube where I give tips on many aspects of astronomy photography. Good luck and clear skies! n

The Orion Nebula

D stephencheatleyphotography.co.uk Y Starman Astro F stephencheatleyphotography T Stephencheatley I starman_1969 www.lancmag.com

Perseid Meteor

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Budding Florists Learn the Art of Arranging EVERYTHING’S coming up roses for residents of new luxury apartments in Woodford, Cheshire.

Woodford Flower Arranging Event: Gabriella Agnello, left and Patricia Lee (top left), Jeanne Hobson, left, and Sylvia Spurrell (top right) and Patricia Lee (right)

Home owners at The Courtyard, part of Redrow’s Woodford Garden Village development, are not only settling into their new homes – but making new friends and finding new hobbies. That includes an afternoon of flower arranging with Wilmslow based florist Chelsea Flowers, organised by Redrow. “The Courtyard is a lovely development with a very friendly, communal feel” said Amanda Hollins, area sales manager at Redrow NW. “Areas like the landscaped courtyard, which is for their exclusive use, encourage homeowners to meet up and forge friendships. “We decided to host the flower arranging event to help new residents get to know one another. The afternoon went well and we are planning to hold similar events in the future.” Redrow’s Woodford Garden Village is flourishing, with hundreds of new homes already occupied and many of the green spaces that surround them taking shape.

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Within this environment The Courtyard features 30 twobedroom luxury apartments with their own gated entrance, balcony, garage, lift access and a superb specification that includes Amtico flooring, kitchen appliances by Siemens and Zanussi, underfloor heating, downlighting, USB charging points and ultrafast broadband. Current prices are from £386,995.

For your pick of the properties call 0161 636 0798 or go to www.redrow.co.uk/the-courtyard www.lancmag.com

Tackling Homelessness Amongst Young People

t started with one 2 bedroomed house which was shared by two young women, the first ever residents, and supported by a part time worker who worked to ensure they were living independently, preparing them for moving on into their own place. The name changed to Backup in 2018 and now has 112 units of self contained accommodation and the level and type of support that goes with that has increased massively. Maura Jackson, CEO since 2012, says that this is no ordinary housing service. The accommodation is of good standard, all owned by housing associations but managed by Backup. It contains white goods, furniture, furnishings, along with being decorated and cleaned to create a home, not a hostel. Every resident is offered a new bed and 2 sets of bedding which they can take with them when they move on. Why 2 sets? We need young people to get in the habit of changing and washing bedding as soon as they move in. One set is brand new, one is donated.

Above: Maura Jackson, CEO

Backup North West celebrates it’s 30 year, pearl anniversary in 2022. Three decades of turning grit into pearls. It is a charity based in Bolton tackling homelessness amongst young people aged 16-25 years. Established 30 years ago, as Bolton Young Persons Housing Scheme, the charity was formed to address rising concerns that young people were experiencing disproportionate levels of homelessness. 25% of young people support by Backup during 2021/22 had slept rough before reaching our services. This is the highest that’s ever been. 60

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“No young person will remember the type of curtains or wallpaper we provided but they will remember forever how they were treated and made to feel.” - Maura Jackson. This is why we provide extras and fundraise to do so; chef whites for catering college, a trowel for an apprentice plasterer, acrylic nails for the prom night, flowers for a still born baby’s funeral. We have a fund – young people can access internally, once a year for up to £80 for something that is connected to improving their wellbeing. The results are always priceless. Every young person is given a tailored support package; we assess the needs and current circumstances and we move from there. All of the services are different; ranging from very intensive round the clock support and security through to medium through to lower semi independent living. Collectively 6 projects accommodate 112 young people at any one time. Young people can move through the services as their needs decrease. The final stage being a managed flat in the community which we support through a visiting support ‘Outreach Service’, they experience almost complete independence but have a backup. Pardon the pun.

5% of the young people supported by Backup in 2021/22 had sex with someone in order to have somewhere to sleep, overnight before reaching our services. This is a depressing statistic. www.lancmag.com

The support workers are employed for their life experiences as much as their qualifications, they range from social workers to former teachers, health care, criminal justice and social care colleagues but also include people who have retrained – an ex gardener, chef, plumber, website designer, insurance broker, banker and painter & decorator. What they have in common is a willingness to make a life changing difference for young people and they share the company values; Commitment, Honesty, Empathy, Empowerment, Resilience, Respect and Support. Backup now employs 71 staff, support workers, managers, business staff and a small fundraising team with a common goal of tackling homelessness but for those young people who do experience it and whilst they experience it, giving them a great quality service and safe option . They are an Investors in People GOLD employer and have been for 7 years, successfully completing assessments every 3 years. They employ 6 ex residents, 2 as service managers.

I am homeless because I have never had a stable home, always lived at different houses, my Mum abused drugs and alcohol and kicked me out. 16yo. The ultimate aim is to ensure the young people move on in to their own safe and secure accommodation. 250 young people move on every year, we have a 91% success rate. The young people are amazing, so diverse and resilient. In our 30 years of operation we have seen young folk go on to be prison officers, bankers, charity founder, artists, managers, solicitors, teachers, support workers, business owners, local government staff, civil servants and a (double) BAFTA winning comedienne and writer; Sophie Willan. There are also parents, carers and community activists. We have a few ex residents who became lifelong users of services, didn’t succeed in their efforts to stop offending, drinking or using drugs, became trapped in sex work, couldn’t leave the abusive relationships they formed and occasionally we see a familiar face in Bolton Most Wanted page in the local paper. This isn’t Disney, but when it works, it’s magical.

The Chances team within Backup offer specialist support to hundreds of young people. There are 2 employment support workers, 2 mental health practitioners, a care leaver worker and a sexual exploitation worker. Between the 6 of them they offer additional support to young people who have extra support needs and are at risk of losing a placement with Backup – we do not want to see young people experiencing repeat homelessness; once is too much.

If it wasn’t for Backup I would be dead. The charity sector is under pressure to deliver fantastic outcomes with little or no resources. So Backup are using creative approaches to secure and diversify income. These include The Van, a social enterprise designed to generate profits for the not for profit. It is a mobile coffee and cake service trading with Rijo42 drinks and bespoke homemade cakes. It can be used at community events, corporate/private functions or trade anywhere where our license permits. We use volunteers to staff it alongside paid workers and many of these are residents. Win-win opportunity for us to train and develop young people with skills for future employment whilst trading.

There are hundreds of ways you can help us. One is by checking out the “Cooking with Maura” project. It is a program of tutorials to cook authentic Indian dishes with the Backup CEO and Head Chef at Spice Valley (Horwich) restaurant. 12 different dishes have been selected, cooked, deconstructed, written up, reconstructed and filmed so it can be shared with the public. The owners of the restaurant have provided their experience, knowledge and the spices for each dish, packaged with the recipe and method and are for sale. Every time you purchase one Spice Valley spice pack and make your meal for 2, you are paying for 2 meals for a homeless young person at Backup. www.lancmag.com

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He’s getting ready to move to his own place. He has maintained both his placements with Backup, engaged with the support, continued at college and worked part time throughout and paid his bills. He has secured an apprenticeship degree place with a company by approaching them direct and using his initiative, he has been a good tenant. He is safe.

Other ways to support us include fundraising events. We have gala balls, ladies lunches, golf days and comedy nights and more. We have a charity calendar for sale featuring the CEOs dog, a shihtzu called Che, who is often found snoring in one of the offices. You can also become a Guardian (sponsorship of £500 a year) and fund items needed by young people in crisis. Check the website for more details.

This is what homelessness looks like at Backup. (4 residents dressing up as the Beatles for our Charity Calendar 2022)

We can’t save everyone but most endings are positive ones. Backup prides itself on being much more than housing, addressing housing and homelessness is the first step in a long and complex journey of unpicking 16 + years of emotional damage and trauma. “Without the accommodation you can’t succeed but providing it is only the tip of the iceberg”. Maura. Advice, advocacy, support, encouragement, guidance all contribute to preparing an individual for independence. A young individual who is expected as a teenager to take responsibility for a tenancy, bills, cooking, cleaning and laundry because they have been unfortunate enough to find themselves homeless.

100% of young people in Backup have not come here by choice. But over 75% wouldn’t leave if it was their choice.

How a Shihtzu called Che dressed as Boy George helps end youth homelessness in Bolton

For some it’s the first time they’ve had responsibility but also the first time they have been treated with respect, eaten (regular) meals at a dining table, not been exploited, felt safe. They are all traumatised, either by something that’s led to them becoming homeless or as a result of experiencing homelessness. Either way the damage is lasting. Most of our outcomes are successful, over 85%. The fundraising pays for many extras that Backup try and deliver as standard. Optional days out, kayaking, wall climbing, cycling, cinema, art or animal therapy, theatre are delivered regularly. Free TV licenses and wifi are also subsidised.

HELP US BY:• Following us on social media

Jim was 17 and working part time in a supermarket. His supervisor was worried about him and telephoned the Backup CEO, someone she knew as a friend of a friend. Long story short she asked someone to help Jim and that night Backup gave him a temporary place whilst we worked out what his options were. He’d approached the relevant agencies previously but hadn’t been able to access any help. His primary parent had physically assaulted him and he didn’t want to stay at home. The overnight emergency placement continued for 2 years. 62

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• Supporting our events • Buy our merchandise • Donate • Book The Van • Be a Guardian (financial patron £500 a year) Backup are a multiple award winning service with a multiple award winning CEO. We work with 400 young people a year. www.lancmag.com

HERE IS OUR “WHY... EXCERPTS FROM THE SERVICE USERS SURVEY 2021/2022 WHY WERE YOU HOMELESS? - Aggressive family, I had to hide my sexuality, they still don’t know I am gay. - My mums drinking

- Loneliness - I felt disgusting, depressed - I feel guilty about what I had to do to survive - I wanted to kill myself WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO YOU IF BACKUP DIDN’T EXIST?

- Had to leave the children’s home when I turned 18

- I would have killed myself

- Death of a parent

- In hell

- Probably selling drugs

WHAT POSITIVE DIFFERENCE HAS BACKUP MADE TO YOU? - Backup taught me how to be positive, even in difficult situations - They spoke to me like an adult - They show me respect - Taught me to believe in myself - They are real life angels - I’ve stopped doing drugs

WHAT’S THE WORST PART OF BEING HOMELESS?

- In prison

- I have somewhere to sleep, I am safe

- Sleeping in a car park

- Dead

- I am more confident

- On the streets

- They are kind

- In hospital

- They’ve built me up as a person

- Having hypothermia on my 23rd birthday

Peaky Blinders Ball; March 2022. Maura, The Mayor and Consort Councillor Linda Thomas and Mr Len Thomas and Bafta winning writer/actress (2021 and 2022) and ex Backup resident Sophie Willan.

www.backup-charity.org.uk www.lancmag.com

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Beryl Marsden Celebrates 60 Years of Music in Epstein Concert including a wonderful Christmas playing the Fairy Godmother in panto. It’s an intimate space and I love the sound and the atmosphere in the auditorium, so I can’t wait to present this very special concert which is produced by my good friend Bill Elms”. “It’s going to be a great evening, full of music, stories and good fun, with some great images and a couple of special guests too.” Follow the Epstein Theatre on social media channels:

Liverpool singing sensation Beryl Marsden is set to celebrate an amazing 60 years in showbusiness with a very special one-off concert at the Epstein Theatre this summer.

on their final UK tour, witnessing Beatlemania at first hand, and the following year she joined British R&B outfit Shotgun Express where fellow bandmates included Fleetwood Mac founders Peter Green and Mick Fleetwood, and a young Rod Stewart.

She subsequently sang with bands including The She Trinity and Sinbad to name just two, while in the 1980s she performed with Martha Reeves and the Vandellas.

he Merseybeat star will appear at the Hanover Street venue on Saturday, 27 August when she will be joined on stage by a live band and special guests. Tickets for the show, hosted by Liverpool legend Billy Butler and which takes place during International Beatleweek, are now on sale. It was in 1962 that the then 15-yearold Beryl Marsden made her Cavern Club debut, appearing at the worldfamous Mathew Street club with Liverpool band The Undertakers. She also sang with Lee Curtis & The All Stars and was a hugely popular performer on the Merseybeat scene – becoming one of the only truly successful female singers of the time. The Toxteth teenager went on to appear at the Star Club in Hamburg where because of her young age she was chaperoned by Beatles’ booking manager Joe Flannery. She signed a deal with Decca in 1963, releasing two singles, and then later with EMI’s Columbia label. In 1965 she supported the Fab Four

In 2013, a new musical about her life titled One Dream – named after one of her albums - was premiered at the Cavern Club with the singer herself performing as part of its finale. And she was also featured in the award-winning TV mini-series Cilla and in the smash hit Cilla the Musical.

F EpsteinTheatre T @EpsteinTheatre I @EpsteinTheatre BERYL MARSDEN IN CONCERT: CELEBRATING 60 YEARS OF MUSIC Venue: Epstein Theatre, Hanover Street, Liverpool, L1 3dz Date: Saturday, 27 August 2022 Time: 7.30pm Tickets: £24 and £22 Book online: www.epsteintheatre. co.uk Telephone bookings: 0844 888 9991 (calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge) All transactions are subject to an additional booking fee per ticket.

Beryl Marsden says: “I can’t believe it’s 60 years since I first stepped on a stage when I sang with The Undertakers at the Cavern. I was only 15 and had just left school. I didn’t tell my mum and dad at first, not until I was asked to join the band and it became a proper job. “It was a very exciting time, and for me, my heart is still with the 60s music, even though of course I’ve written plenty of other things since. It was real, and simple, and straight from the heart. “The Epstein is a wonderful theatre; I’ve appeared there several times,

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• KITCHEN FITTING • BATHROOM FITTING • JOINERY/ CARPENTRY • LANDSCAPING • PLUMBING • ELECTRICS • GENERAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE • BRICKWORK • GROUNDWORKS • TILING • PROPERTY RENOVATIONS We have a proven track record of innovating designs, effective problem solving and attention to detail. Our goal is to meet and exceed the expectations of every customer. We take on most types of jobs from small domestic repair work to large full house renovations including structural alterations. No job is too small for our team.

For a quote or any advice, please contact: N 07793 543983 or E office@bethelsps.co.uk www.bookabuilderuk.com/profile/bethels-property-services-limited

Bethels Property Services Limited

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If you live in the North West area and need any D.I.Y. or renovating jobs you are struggling with and do not have the time or the skills to deal with them, then Bethels Property Services are the team for you.

Bethels Property Services Limited are a building renovations company that has built up an enviable reputation through years of experience in the industry. They pride themselves on their commitment to provide a professional and speedy service at all times, whilst maintaining the highest quality of work. So if you are looking to landscape your garden with new decking, stones, fence panels, have a new kitchen, need extra wardrobe space and let’s face it the ladies never have enough wardrobes. Or if you want to create open spaces by removing walls or retile your bathroom in a fast and professional way Bethel’s would love to hear from you. Their team of experienced joiners, electricians and gas engineers can meet all your needs. They have a proven track record of innovative designs, effective problem solving and attention to detail and their goal is to meet and exceed the expectations of every customer. They take on all types of jobs from small domestic repair work to larger renovation projects.

ased in Leyland and covering the surrounding Areas, they provide all aspects of Building Renovations, which they carry out to the highest of standards and at very competitive prices!

www.lancmag.com

Damian Lee, the founder and owner of Bethels Property Services was born in Harrogate but lived in Ripon, his family then moved to Germany and then spent the first 9 years of his life travelling around the world due to his father being in the Army. 

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 Living in Germany, Brunei, Hong Kong and then based back in the UK where his Dad was finally stationed in Preston, Lancashire. This is where Damian decided to settle down. When he left school, Damian went to work for a national kitchen company building bespoke kitchens along with some fitting. At this time he had no family restrictions, so Damian decided to change professions and went into hospitality working in pubs and restaurants. He decided to challenge and progress himself more and trained in a degree in Hospitality Management for Hotels. During his first and second years of University, Damian went travelling all over the world, including Hong Kong, New Zealand, U.S.A. and Australia. After working in hotels all over the country before his final one in the Ribble valley, Damian decided he needed a change from the unsociable hours having met his partner and deciding to start a family. His father had a workshop in Blackburn and with his experience in woodwork, Damian chose to go back to working for a construction firm based in Lancaster, learning a new set of skills to take into his new venture. Unfortunately in 2018, Damian had to have a double back operation due to a bulging disc. He was out of action for 2 years, his little boy also had health issues but after gaining strength he decided to work closer to home and set up his own property renovation company. His first job was a project at his Mum’s, replacing ground floor joists and floorboards. He also had to take down a wall and the end result pleased his first customer. He looked into a government scheme – New Enterprise Allowance, where you get help, advice and some funding setting up your own business. He started doing work for friends and family and advertising on Social Media Platforms to get the word out there, gaining work and building relationships. He was soon signed up to Book A Builder, a site which advertises local tradesmen. From this he gained lots of work. Although the last 2 years with the Pandemic, work has flowed in because people have had more expendable income having either being furloughed or nowhere open to go out or be able to holiday, they have been spending on their homes and gardens. It has been difficult to source materials. Timber has gone up in price by 50 percent, Copper is on the rise but Damian has used local suppliers rather than the big chains and found this lots more sustainable and had very few problems. This is great news for the local community all helping each other. Damian prides himself on his Customer Focus in building relationships and takes pride in his work as he loves what he does. n

OUR SERVICES INCLUDE: Kitchen Fitting, Bathroom Fitting, Joinery/ Carpentry, Landscaping, Fencing, Plumbing, Electrics, General Property Maintenance, Brickwork, Groundworks, Tiling and Property Renovations 68

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A customer wanted us to sort their garden out as they had lots of dead space. So we decked it and put a stone border along the edge as well as levelling the lawn with new turf. #HappyCustomer

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FOR A QUOTE OR ANY ADVICE PLEASE CALL:

N 07793 543983 www.bookabuilderuk.com/profile/ bethels-property-services-limited

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RELIABILITY &

NO PRESSURE · NO DEADLINES · NO UNREALISTIC DISCOUNTS

M ROSSENDALE INTERIORS 352-358 Newchurch Road, Stacksteads, Bacup OL13 0LD | N 01706 252122 M OSWALDTWISTLE MILLS Colliers Street, Oswaldtwistle BB5 3DE | N 01254 304068 M KITCHEN HOUSE Brogden/Market Street, Ulverston LA12 7AH | N 01229 581828

& INTEGRITY

JUST GENUINE PRICES AND EXCELLENT SERVICE

Rossendale Interiors is the retail division of J & J Ormerod PLC. With roots tracing back to 1876, we’re a family run business with 6 experienced designers and a reputation that we’re proud of. For generations we’ve provided quality products and services to customers in Bacup, Lancashire, and the local area. With us, you’ll find the perfect design for your home. Whether you prefer a traditional or contemporary design, we have more than 40 years of experience with over 50% of our business being from referrals and returning customers. You can relax in the knowledge that you’ll receive a truly personal and professional service with no high pressure sales, so call us now! From our free planning and design service to the fitting of the last tile, our high-quality products are all realistically priced. We are backed by one of the UK’s leading kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom manufacturers, Rossendale Interiors PLC who have won many awards including the 2009 Gold Award ‘Green Apple’ for being environmentally friendly. We offer 12 months interest free or Buy Now Pay Later subject to status, or longer interest-bearing packages.

High quality products made by our parent company JJO in the Rossendale Valley. Financially secured through JJO. Plus risk free 12 months ‘Buy Now Pay Later’ option (subject to status)

Showrooms open 7 days per week with over 60 displays to see

www.rossendaleinteriors.com

Black Eddy Take on the Doom-Scroll With Internet Addiction Single Repost

chants that challenge increasingly heated free speech debates, while also lovingly surrendering to it with a rally cry to storm Area 51 that is out of this world.

Blackpool 4-piece Black Eddy confront madness with glee in their mentally charged upcoming album Home of the Mad and the Shameless.

art exercise in emotional vulnerability, part self/social satire, all hard alt. rock fun, the 6-track, 34-minute album holds nothing back with its explosive and cathartic expression. Nowhere is this more evident than in the project’s lead single Repost. From its opening crowd-rousing riff, the ode to internet addiction channels the energy of tumbling into a Web 2.0 Wonderland. The single lovingly satirises new-age pop culture with lyrics that are either memes or based on memes, all to a thrashy, punk-infused score. Repost revels in its criticism of internet culture with

“With Repost we wanted to soundtrack the doom-scroll. It’s no secret that millions around the world struggle with internet and phone addiction (ourselves included). Like all the songs on the album, we wanted to tackle a real issue that we’re going through by making as much noise and having as much fun with it as we can!” This subversion of mental health tropes is what defines the concept album. Stemming from realworld mental health struggles with schizophrenia, addiction, and memory loss, Black Eddy reflect on their battles in the only way they know how – with a smile. The album’s accompanying literature extends the lore established by their legendary live shows that have made them staples of the Blackpool scene.

Between rivalries and infatuations with other bands, facing off with a bouncy castle in a battle of the bands, and unforgettable Halloween parties, Black Eddy build a world in their gigs which is expanded upon here. With each member of the band held within a mental asylum by the shadowy CIA (Coop Insane Asylum), Black Eddy’s songs from Home of the Mad and the Shameless are calling cards to others who have struggled similarly but choose to reflect on it with a tongue in their cheek. With rave reviews from their previous releases praising them for their ‘spirit and raison d’etre’, seamless flow between grunge, alt. rock and punk, and undeniable musical talent, Black Eddy are perfect cult hero material that are all but primed to take the mainstage too. For anyone who revels in the examinations of fringe, playful dark humour, or just bloody good rock, Black Eddy and their album Home of the Mad and the Shameless are a must listen.

FA N S CA N LO O K FO RWA RD TO L I STENI NG TO TH E AL B U M ACROSS A L L PL ATFO RM S F R O M 2 5 TH J U NE 2 02 2 FACEBOOK: @blackeddy SPOTIFY: open.spotify.com/artist/4NCs7LfcEoljsKiIcfjsvw SOUNDCLOUD: soundcloud.com/black-eddy-888 YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/channel/UCSscWgI-50IWHjQBa-cfbUg BANDCAMP: blackeddy.bandcamp.com

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The new showroom at

Bolton Kia is

NOW OPEN on Middlebrook Retail Park

Bolton Kia Bolton Kia - Europe’s No. 1 Kia Dealer

79 The Linkway, Middlebrook Retail Park, Horwich, Bolton BL6 6JA 01204 664800 | www.kia.co.uk/bolton

Halewood Returns to Kia

• Beverages firm chooses Kia to continue its transition to electric vehicles • Six Kia e-Niro and one Kia EV6 join the company’s already 32-strong Kia electric fleet • The electric cars replace diesels and plug-in hybrids • The Kia e-Niro ‘2’ Long Range is capable of up to 282 miles from a single charge • The Kia EV6 is capable of up to 328 miles range 74

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to Grow Electric Car Fleet Chris Rowan, Facilities & Fleet Assistant Manager at Halewood Artisanal Spirits, said: “Here at Halewood Artisanal Spirits we pride ourselves on our long-term commitment to reduce our carbon footprint, working alongside Kia we have been able to make the desired impact. Our staff members up to and including director level, have been impressed by the driving range of the E-Niro and EV6 along with the build quality. The charging capability and speed has reduced the staff waiting for the vehicles to charge when comparing with other marques. We look forward to continuing our long and successful partnership with Kia and wish to thank Alex Grindrod and all the team at Bolton Kia for their continued support in our long-term plans”.

olton Kia has delivered a new set of electric cars to the pioneering beverage firm, Halewood Artisanal Spirits PLC. The latest order grows the company’s 32 electric Kia e-Niro and EV6 to 39 cars. Halewood chose Kia’s electric cars for their blend of practicality, range and generous equipment levels. The EV6 is capable of up to 328 miles range, while the ‘GT-Line’ RWD chosen by Halewood offers up to 314 miles per charge. Charging takes just 18 minutes from 0-80 per cent at the fastest chargers, thanks to 800V technology that comes as standard on the car. The e-Niro ‘2’ Long Range offers up to 282-miles range from its 64kWh battery. This model also benefits from the same 451-litres of cargo space www.lancmag.com

and high power 201bhp (150kW) electric motor, ensuring effortless performance and excellent efficiency. Halewood Artisanal Spirits is one of the UK’s leading independent distillers, producing an award-winning range of spirits. Family-owned, Halewood’s brands are distributed in 75 countries, with a turnover of £400m+ and 450+ employees. The company has used the Kia electric cars to help transition its fleet from diesel and plug-in hybrid vehicles, to fully electric power. To facilitate the switch to electric vehicles, the company committed to installing workplace chargers at each of its UK facilities to allow its electric fleet drivers to charge up when on site for work or while attending meetings, or travelling between Halewood’s own locations.

Alex Grindrod, Fleet Sales Manager at Bolton Kia, added: “We’re delighted to welcome Halewood back to buy more of Kia’s award-winning electric cars and help the company achieve its carbon reduction goals. The EV6 keeps winning the hearts and minds of customers, and it’s great to see it being put to use by such a forward thinking company as Halewood. Leading by example, Halewood is proving that now is the time to switch to electric, which can save money and importantly recognises that the latest Kia electric cars answer the typical fears about driving electric.” Bolton Kia is proud to be Europe’s No.1 Kia dealer and a Business Specialist Dealership, located in the Middlebrook Retail Park, Bolton, close to Junction 6 of the M61. To speak to a member of the Fleet and Business User Team, contact them directly by emailing fleet@boltonkia.co.uk or calling 01204 664 800 (option 3).

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The New Bolton Kia Showroom

• The new ‘Kia Store’ showroom was officially opened by the Kia UK Limited Directors on 12th May 2022 • First dealer in the UK to feature Kia’s full new corporate identity • Showroom reopened to public following complete refit 76

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is Officially Open

olton Kia has become the first dealer in the UK to feature Kia’s new corporate identity and was officially opened at a Grand Opening Evening on Thursday 12th May, by Kia UK Limited’s Commercial Director and Sales Director. The Bolton Kia Grand Opening Evening was an invitation-only event for staff, customers, and suppliers, culminating in a celebration with key speakers, entertainment, and refreshments. Continuing the excitement on the evening, the all-new Kia Niro was unveiled – marking its first appearance in Bolton. Kia’s new brand identity was introduced at the start of 2021, featuring a new logo that reflects its position as a leader in electrification. As a part of this rebranding, Kia designed the ‘Kia Store’, which revolutionises the look and feel of dealerships to embrace a bold, warm and natural feeling. This comprises clear zones within the dealership, such as a customer zone featuring plenty of warm wood accents and comfy seating areas. A display zone complements but contrasts this area with Kia’s latest models showcased throughout the rest of the showroom. These two main areas are divided by an ‘infinity loop’ – a lighting feature that runs along the floor, up the walls and along the ceiling to form a continuous loop, visually separating the zones with a constant soft warm hue. Bolton Kia is proud to be Europe’s No.1 Kia Dealer. Customers are invited to see the new showroom for themselves by visiting Bolton Kia at 79 The Linkway, Horwich, Bolton BL6 6JA, located on Middlebrook Retail Park. Alternatively to speak to a member of our Sales Team please contact them directly by calling 01204 664800 (option 1), emailing sales@boltonkia.co.uk or using the online chat system via our website: www.kia.co.uk/bolton www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 77

The Corn Exchange Building with Memorial in foreground. Photo Credit: Francis C Franklin/CC BY-SA 4.0

The Preston Memorial Which Remembers a Tragic Event 180 Years Ago By Margaret Brecknell

An imposing statue outside the Corn Exchange building on Lune Street in Preston commemorates one of the most tragic and shocking events in the city’s history, which took place in August 1842. 78

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 Above: Preston Martyrs Memorial Detail Soldiers Opening Fire.  Below: Preston Martyrs Memorial Detail The Victims. Photo Credits: Bruce Lamberton/CC BY-SA 4.0

ivil unrest was rife in the Britain of 180 years ago. The Chartist movement had been formed in 1836 by those who were looking to establish a fairer and more democratic society by reforming the way in which Parliamentary elections were run. In early May 1842, over three million people, including many Lancastrians, signed a Chartist petition calling for a reform of the electoral system by giving all men over the age of 21 the right to vote. The petition was summarily rejected by Parliament, an outcome which in itself caused great anger among the working classes. However, the country was in the grip of a recession and workers were soon also hit by stringent pay cuts of up to 25%. This led to a General Strike, which began with coal miners in Staffordshire and soon spread to factory workers in the www.lancmag.com

northern mill towns. The jobs of mill workers were also threatened by the introduction of new machinery. In what are now known as the Plug Plot Riots, protestors began to travel from factory to factory, removing the plugs from the new steam boilers which had been installed, so that all work ground to a halt. They then encouraged the workers to join the strike. By mid-August, the strike had reached the Lancashire town of Preston. The town’s mill owners were known for paying some of the lowest wages in the country, so it is hardly surprising that Preston became a focal point in the struggle for better rates of pay. On Saturday, 13th August, the first edition of the Preston Pilot reported that, “We sincerely regret to state the turnout mania has broken out in

Preston, but as yesterday was the first period of its appearance, and that in no very formidable form, so we must devoutly hope that the time for reflection which has since transpired may have been so profitably spent by the unfortunate, but still culpably misguided victims, as shall enable them to return at once to a sound and better state of mind”. The pro-Chartist newspaper, Northern Star, reported a slightly different version of Friday’s events, namely that, “Before night every cotton mill was turned out without any resistance; and all done chiefly by boys and girls”. A large meeting was held at Chadwick’s Orchard in the centre of Preston (today this is home to Preston’s Covered Market) and a resolution passed to refuse to return to work “until they had a fair day’s wages for that work”.

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Whatever the truth of the situation, the hopes expressed in the Preston Pilot’s report early on Saturday 13th August proved to be entirely in vain. The paper’s second and third editions related the catastrophic events which occurred in Preston later that same day. By 6am on Saturday, large numbers of protestors were already assembling again in Chadwick’s Orchard. On hearing that some of the mills had resumed work, they began to go from workplace to workplace, sabotaging machinery as they went and encouraging workers to join the strike. A large mob had been formed by the time the protestors began to gather at the bottom of Lune Street outside Preston’s Corn Exchange. By this stage the Mayor, Samuel Horrocks, had arrived on the scene, together with the Town Clerk, two local magistrates and members of the Lancashire County Police. They had also enlisted the help of soldiers from the 72nd Highlanders, who had been stationed in the town to assist in case of any civil disturbance. Women and children had joined the throng of protestors and were sent to the nearby canal wharf to collect loose stones. These were then thrown at the police and soldiers with increasing regularity. In a last-ditch attempt to retrieve the situation, local mill owner and magistrate, John Bairstow tried to reason with the crowd, as did the Mayor, but to no avail. Mayor Horrocks then read the Riot Act, ordering the mob to disperse. This Act had been in force since the early 18th century and gave local authorities the right to order the dispersal of any gathering of twelve or more people who were “unlawfully, riotously, and tumultuously assembled together”. If members of the crowd did not then go their separate ways, the authorities were permitted to use force to disperse them. By all accounts, this action only served to increase the barrage of stones being thrown by the protestors. Indeed, the Mayor himself is said to have been struck by a stone as he endeavoured to read the Riot Act. Horrocks was a member of one of Preston’s wealthiest mill-owning families and his presence only seemed to enrage the crowd further. His father and uncle had established a cotton mill in the town way back in the 1790s and had subsequently both served as MP for 80

Preston. Horrocks Junior had only a few months previously moved into the family’s large mansion, Lark Hill House (now part of Cardinal Newman College), following his father’s death earlier that year. Just to make matters worse, a group of protestors had detached themselves from the main mob and had made their way to the upper end of Lune Street, meaning that the police and soldiers now faced being beaten back by stones on all sides. With the situation now escalating out of control, the soldiers of the 72nd Highlanders were given orders to open fire. Many crowd members may have expected blanks to be used, but, in a chilling echo of the Peterloo Massacre which had occurred in Manchester just over two decades previously, live rounds were fired. The crowd fled in shock, but at least four men are known to have been killed and several more were seriously injured. The Northern Star reported that, “People could scarcely believe their senses. Riots have before happened in Preston but never before was the military ordered to fire”. With townsfolk threatening to seek revenge for what had occurred that day, the 72nd Highlanders soldiers were given orders to leave town immediately and were replaced by another military detachment. In the event, the mills reopened on Monday morning and most people had returned to work by early the following week. The names of the four men who are known to have died were Bernard McNamara (aged 17), George Sowerbutts (aged 19), William Lancaster (aged 25) and John Mercher (aged 27). Of the injured, one had to have a leg amputated and another a hand. A subsequent inquest ruled that the killings had been “justified homicide”. On reading the local Preston newspaper reports of the evidence given at the inquest, it soon becomes apparent that a concerted effort was made on the part of the authorities to heap blame on the dead men, emphasising the supposedly significant part that they played in the riot. One witness testified that, “On Saturday, at about eight o’clock in the morning, a party, to the number of 500 or 600, came to the factory and forced

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their way into the factory yard…I saw Sowerbutts coming from the old boiler house. He had a brick-bat and a cinder called a ‘clinker’ in his hand. I did not see whether he did anything with them. He appeared to be taking an active part in the disturbances”. This is, perhaps, not the most convincing of witness statements, particularly, when the same witness later attests to having seen Sowerbutts, shortly before the fatal shots were fired, throwing stones at the military “with a www.lancmag.com

Goya’s Painting The Third of May

view of doing them an injury”, before adding that, “I had not known him before Saturday, but I am sure he was the person”. Accounts vary as to who gave the order for the shots to be fired, but the Mayor, Samuel Horrocks, was widely blamed and became the subject of much public disapproval. The Northern Star even went so far as to suggest that the Mayor “ought to be tried for wilful murder”. Horrocks would himself die only four years after the tragedy. www.lancmag.com

In the end, the Reform Act of 1867 led to greater democracy, giving working class men the right to vote for the first time and paving the way for fairer working conditions. The Preston Martyrs Statue was built in 1992 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the tragic events which unfolded outside the Corn Exchange on Lune Street that fateful day in August 1842. The large stone sculpture depicts the shooting and the four protestors who were killed. Its designer, Gordon

Young, is renowned for his big, bold artwork - his later work includes Blackpool’s famous Comedy Carpet. In creating the Preston Martyrs Memorial, he was inspired by Goya’s famous painting, The Third of May 1808, which depicts French Napoleonic soldiers firing on unarmed Spanish civilians. The inscription on the Preston Martyrs Memorial plaque speaks for itself, reading “Never without sacrifice have gains been made towards justice and democracy”.

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HOW RIVERS CAN BE THE KEY TO SOLVING OCEAN POLLUTION:

River Cleaning, a solution developed by the Italian firm Mold S.r.l., receives Friend of the Sea sustainability certification for its efforts to free the ocean from plastic pollution.

here is an answer to the urgent ocean pollution crisis, and it is not in the ocean but in the rivers. 80% of plastic waste in the sea comes from rivers. This finding led the Italian company Mold to conceive a sustainable solution to remove the plastic and oily waste directly from the watercourse. This is how the River Cleaning Plastic & Oil project was born.

River Cleaning Plastic & Oil works 24 hours a day, seven days a week, intercepting floating waste on the river course. Buoy-like 82

modules form a diagonal barrier along the river, filtering the debris and directing them to a collection point on the bank. The floating buoy modules have specific characteristics according to waste, whether plastic, oil, or industrial waste, and can intercept up to 85% of floating garbage. An entirely self-powered solution with no environmental impact, River Cleaning achieved the Friend of the Sea sustainability certification after demonstrating that the system preserves the aquatic environment while respecting the well-being of native species. The recognition granted by Friend of the Sea, the preeminent international certification for products and services that respect and protect the marine environment, is a first for this type of product. The system is designed to offer a standardized solution to different

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waterways, both in terms of width and depth. Mold’s River Cleaning technology is unique compared to conventional techniques as it does not interfere with inland navigation. The passage of vessels is always allowed. River Cleaning uses an independent power source, harnessing the water’s current to generate renewable energy with zero impact. Targeting the waterways is a much more effective and sustainable solution than recovering waste from the sea, which has higher energy costs and lower results. Additionally, around 95% of garbage sinks when reaching the ocean. Recovering waste from rivers also proves to be a better way to recycle, as recovered material from the sea usually is highly corroded, substantially reducing the possibility of recycling. www.lancmag.com

NEW PROJECT OFFERS INNOVATIVE SOLUTION

“It is estimated that there are currently about 150,000 tonnes of plastic floating in the sea,” said Paolo Bray, Founder and Director of Friend of the Sea. “This is an enormous problem that needs to be tackled with new perspectives and updated tools. Just like Mold has done with River Cleaning”. “For us, the Friend of the Sea certification is a starting point towards an ever-increasing dialogue with partners who share our vision, who can help us make our voice heard and be more present in the area through a relationship of mutual growth. Together, many drops can make an ocean. Possibly without plastic.” said Vanni Covolo, CEO of Mold S.r.l.

E info@friendofthesea.org D www.friendofthesea.org TF @friendofthesea I friendofthesea_official www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 83

Relax and Buy New in Woodford RENOVATION stress can be avoided if homebuyers secure a brand new luxury apartment in a desirable gated community.

Above: The Courtyard apartments have been a huge hit with visitors Redrow is aiming to save buyers time, money and worry by offering new apartments for sale at The Courtyard at Woodford Garden Village, Woodford, which are ready to move straight into. And with just a handful of properties remaining, buyers are urged to act quickly to secure one before they sell out. Whether buyers are first timers or looking to downsize, moving into a brand new home removes the stress and hassle of organising multiple projects and room renovations that come with revamping an older property. Redrow NW sales director, Anna Evans-Kerr, says the fact that these homes come with so much included as standard, is a huge appeal over buying a ‘doer upper.’ She says: “The Courtyard apartments have been designed with luxury in mind. They each include a single garage, underfloor heating, bi-fold doors to a spacious balcony or terrace area and flooring throughout.”

bathroom, which include half-height tiling. Each apartment also boasts fittings such as a Siemens 60cm induction hob, combi oven and single oven and integrated dishwasher and Zanussi free-standing washer/dryer. Downlighting and USB charging points are also fitted, along with ultrafast broadband, ensuring they’re fully up-to-date. “These apartments will appeal to a whole range of buyers, those just starting out or those who may be looking for a more manageable home all on one level. Whoever the buyer, they can rest easy knowing when they move in, they won’t need to lift a finger as everything will be done,” says Anna. They are positioned around a central landscaped courtyard with seating areas for residents’ exclusive use and, unusually for apartments, each property has its own private garage. There is also a gated entrance for added security.

It is predicted that it costs on average £50,000 to bring an old home up to a new build standard. By the time things like new windows and doors, a new boiler, replacing the kitchen and complete redecoration are factored in, the costs can really add up.

Woodford Garden Village features a diverse range of new homes from mews style properties to large and luxurious five-bedroom executive detached houses. It will also have its own shops, children’s play areas, a pub and primary school. It is close to popular places like Wilmslow, Poynton and Bramhall, as well as being within commuting distance (13 miles) of central Manchester.

Anna adds: “The main benefit of buying new is that all the work is done, plus a new home is protected by the NHBC Buildmark or equivalent 10-year warranty giving buyers extra peace of mind.”

Apartments in The Courtyard at Woodford Garden Village are currently available from £366,495. A fully furnished show apartment is open seven days a week.

The individual apartments at The Courtyard vary in size between 947sq ft and 1060 sq ft – equivalent space to some houses – and benefit from an open plan lounge, kitchen and dining area, as well as two good sized bedrooms, the main with en-suite, and a

For more information call 0161 636 0798 or go to www.redrow.co.uk/the-courtyard.

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ASTROLOGER & LIFE COACH

• Have you ever wanted to understand yourself on a much deeper level? Why you are the way you are? Why you act, or react, in the way that you do? Why you attract certain situations, or types of people, into your life? • Have you ever wondered what your hidden gifts, skills and talents are and how to go about uncovering them? • Have you ever felt that life should offer more than what you are currently experiencing? • Do you often feel stuck, unfulfilled, and wishing for more? • Have you ever wanted to understand the secrets of the universe, learn spiritual wisdom and begin to create your best, most fulfilling experience in life?

ASTROLOGY & SPIRITUAL LIFE COACHING CAN GIVE YOU THE ANSWERS AND DIRECTION YOU ARE LOOKING FOR. Coaching with Astrology is much more than reading the horoscopes and generic life coaching - it is a deep dive into Self and Soul. We will analyse your unique birth chart and through the wisdom gained from self knowledge we learn how to become self empowered and begin to create a life with more meaning, love, passion and joy. ROZANNE KAY IS AN ASTROLOGER & SPIRITUAL LIFE COACH – she combines Astrological wisdom with reality creation techniques to support you to begin to create the life experience you really want.

Contact now to begin your journey of discovery N 07738 167802 | D www.rozannekaycoaching.com

SURVIVING TO THRIVING

- How Astrology Helped Me Navigate Through Trauma By Rozanne Kay

Have you ever paused to contemplate the brilliance of yourself as an individual? Or pondered the complexity of humanity and the multifaceted interactions between us? Have you ever stopped to congratulate yourself on your resilience? Trauma can make us resentful and defensive. Alternatively, we can choose to work with our pain to open our hearts to greater love, joy, and wisdom.

s an Evolutionary Astrologer I include past lives - contemplating past life stories is helpful in healing; it connects us with the more mythic part of our psyche. Multiple varieties of struggle, trauma, chaos, pain, and loss as well as untold amounts of joy, knowledge and love - the resilience of the soul is immeasurable; with all this experience it’s clear that the soul has wisdom beyond intellect.

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I have suffered more trauma in recent years than I thought possible to survive. I didn’t realize it at the time, but my soul had prepared me for it. Primarily, a few years before the waves of chaos descended, life introduced me to an Astrologer. Life put me in touch with healers; life encouraged me to be a seeker of spirituality, faith, and philosophy. Life taught me the beautiful - sometimes merry, sometimes sombre – dance between fate and free will. Dr Glenn Doyle, psychologist, recently tweeted “The best minds in mental health aren’t the docs. They’re the trauma survivors who’ve had to figure out how to stay alive with virtually no help. Wanna learn how to survive under unfathomable stress? Talk to abuse survivors.” One evening after I couldn’t take the stress of abuse any longer, I went to A&E; the reality-bending gaslighting I had suffered had broken my mind, and I thought I’d gone crazy. I spoke with an amazing nurse; she listened to me, she asked me about my situation, my lifestyle, and how I managed stress; she asked me about my beliefs, thoughts and feelings and she responded with, “you know how to heal, I don’t think you need hospitalizing, you need faith in yourself.”

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Those few hours were transformative. Her reassurance that my survival responses were perfectly normal considering the amount of stress I was under helped me greatly. She had held the emotional space enough for me to gain clarity - I felt strong enough to go home. Following this day, I suffered another three years of abuse. I would like to offer an alternative perspective on trauma and those aspects of life that leaves our heads spinning and wondering, “What just happened?” I would like to offer a perspective that supports the empowerment of those who have been victims. That perspective is moving away from questioning “Why is this happening to me?” towards “How is this here to help me?” This simple switch in perception can help us to wholeheartedly embrace life. When traumatic events occur it’s so easy to get stuck in the mind; focusing on our losses, injustice, blame, trying to figure it out, trying to find a solution - to regain a sense of peace. When our minds are in that space, we’re so focused on our loss that the ability to consider what we may gain as a result of our experience goes astray. Our perspective narrows. When we’re traumatized, equilibrium and objectivity go out of the window. Anger might rise within us. We’re taught that anger is wrong, so we push it down, deep down where it turns in on itself and begins to attack us from the inside, bringing on depression and anxiety; often creating more difficulty in our lives.

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Eventually, we surrender – one way or another. Sometimes we surrender when our bodies say “no”, becoming sick with the trapped emotions held within it. Sometimes we surrender when we can’t take the pain of carrying the struggle anymore. Surrender is where the sweet spot is – completely letting go and allowing our emotions to overwhelm us, to be released, to set us free. Three years after my visit to the hospital I finally surrendered. My abuser, offended by my existence, had gathered an army of flying monkeys. People I’d known 20 years had turned their backs on me and believed the lies of a stranger. Throughout lockdown, I received frequent hate mail, bullying and abuse. I had no escape. I surrendered. I stopped trying to justify my right to exist. I stopped trying to defend myself against the web of lies. I let go of all the bitterness, anger, and resentment from the years of abuse and I resigned myself to giving them what they wanted. I resigned myself to giving up everything I loved and moving to another part of the country just to survive - I feared that they wouldn’t stop until I was dead. That moment of surrender felt like dropping a heavy bag of weights – that’s when the help came, seemingly out of nowhere. I was referred to victim support, I was recommended a solicitor who, through their intervention, has provided safety for me to begin to rebuild my life and to live again with love and joy in my heart. 

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 89

their abuse. Within 12 hours of that painful morning, I was getting emails accusing me of horrendous things, these false accusations were also sent to half of the community. Uranus and Mars together can bring violent shock; transiting exactly opposite my ascendant indicates that the shock is experienced through relationship. Transiting planets to our birth charts can bring about fated events. It is our free will to choose whether to understand what these events are teaching us and how they are helping us to grow. I can’t ever know why this person had to die so young, but fate conspired to involve me in his death; my abuser conspired to use his death as an opportunity to begin their full assault. I don’t wish to create fear, so I must stress that not all such transits will create this situation; my experience was a result of the complex interactions of transiting planets alongside the interactions of the energies of the people involved.

VIEWING IT ALL ASTROLOGICALLY  In 2017 I visited my Astrologer to discuss the planetary interactions in my chart. Being well-schooled in the language of astrology I was aware of a particularly transformative energy at play. Transformation is often brought about as a result of painful experiences. I asked him, “How am I going to survive this?” his response was, “View it astrologically.” That is what I committed to doing. Every event that occurred I consulted the charts for deeper understanding – what is this experience here to teach me? Each time I looked at the chart my perspective widened to see that there was something I was being given the opportunity to learn. I was able to understand that everything that was happening would help me to grow, expand, and become more authentic and more in alignment with soul wisdom. Soon after this astrology session, open-hearted and somewhat naïve I let my abuser in my life and welcomed them into my inner circle, confided in them with trust. In my naivety, I hadn’t seen that the trust was merely information gathering and I had become a target. It began with bullying, gaslighting and double binds. Life began to resemble living inside an Escher painting where the normal rules of life no longer exist. A few years later – as Uranus and Mars connected with a critical part of my chart – I was with my partner who had gone to check on his sick friend. With no response and a feeling that something wasn’t right the police were called, the door knocked down – he had died unexpectedly in the night. We sat with his body in a state of complete shock. My abuser took this as an opportunity to really amp up 90

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I chose to understand my experience from a spiritual perspective. I understood that Uranus not only destroys what it touches but also provides us with the opportunity to upgrade – in my case, Venus. Venus represents, along with relationships, what we consider to be valuable, not only our material wellbeing but our values in general. My values have expanded to include healthy boundaries alongside compassion. Importantly, I learned to value and have compassion for myself enough to fully heal from the trauma. Life is so much more fulfilling and empowering when viewed through the lens of an open heart. The experience has not only been a profound lesson in forgiveness but also the awakening of a part of me that desperately wanted expression - the part of me that is an Astrologer and a Healer. Before my years of tribulations and chaos, I was living a relatively quiet life. ‘Shy and retiring’ is a good description of me back then, I was painfully shy. If anyone had told me a few years ago that my written work and photographs of me were going to be published in a magazine I’d have laughed them out of the room. Through understanding the astrology of these experiences, I became aware of how little I valued myself before. I was a people pleaser; afraid of judgment, feeling not good enough, afraid of upsetting or hurting anyone, afraid of conflict, afraid of standing out from the crowd, and afraid of publicly sharing my skills and knowledge. So, in between the traumatic events and chaos that sought me out, I kept my head down and out of the limelight. My abuser was targeting my deepest, unconscious fears; energetically hooking into my own deeply held negative beliefs about myself and bringing them into conscious awareness. They were my fears, I owned them. With each attack, I witnessed the emotions that surfaced. Through astrology I gained an understanding of where these fears and beliefs originated; both in this life and past lives. Each time I did that, it removed a hook for the abuser to target. In this sense, my abuser gave me the wonderful gift of greater self-knowledge and as a result, self-empowerment. Prior to my abuse, it was my own self-judgment keeping me in a shy and retiring existence, afraid to raise my head above the parapet. I feared rejection and ridicule from the www.lancmag.com

people I called friends. I denied myself to fit in, I’d rejected myself so that I could be liked by people who would not only believe but contribute to abuse and smear campaigns. My abuser stripped away all the people, places and things that were preventing me from living my best life and making my best contribution in life and I was left with only the authentic friendships. Understanding astrology means understanding the dance between fate and free will. Prior to being a victim of abuse, I was using my free will to ignore and suppress such a huge part of who I was. I rejected, betrayed, and abandoned myself. I gaslighted and abused myself. All because of an unwillingness to look at my own fears – my abuser showed them to me. I will never keep myself small to please others again, no more hiding away living a ‘quiet life’ avoiding my truth – I am devoted to my craft; I am dedicated to helping people improve their lives, using the same tools that helped me. As Pluto (God of the underworld) meets my natal South Node, I meet the death of my old self - the quiet, shy, martyr to be reborn into its opposite North Node in Leo; the proud, visible, empowered person that I am becoming. Rozanne Kay is an Astrologer & Life Coach. She helps people become empowered through greater self-knowledge. She uses a variety of techniques to help clients integrate their experience, remove blocks, fears and limiting beliefs and begin to create the life they want. She is trained in Hypnosis, Neuro-Linguistic Programming and Emotional Freedom Technique and is a Reiki Master/Teacher. You can enquire about her work at info@rozannekaycoaching.com n Portrait photography by Alison McMath - alisonmcmath.co.uk

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LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 91

BIRKENHEAD By Sarah Ridgway

Birkenhead sits on the River Mersey opposite Liverpool and is in the metropolitan borough of Wirral. The area began as a hamlet with only 106 inhabitants until 1810 and only began to expand with the arrival of a shipyard in 1824 opened by William Laird. By 1847 the first set of docks had been built enabling Birkenhead to trade and became the largest milling centre in Europe.

n 1847 Birkenhead Park the first publicly funded park in the UK opened in the town. The park was designed by Joseph Paxto and is a muchloved landmark known as the People’s Garden. Paxto wanted to create a place that replicated the countryside, and the park is filled with bridges, and a boathouse to create a tranquil place of beauty. It is also home to a variety of wildlife including Canadian geese and bats.

On 30 September 1860, the first street tram in the UK began operation in Birkenhead. The short route operated from Woodside Ferry to Birkenhead Park, with the concept quickly spreading across the country and into Europe. It was initially a sixmonth trial but would operate for 77 years. The trams were originally horse-drawn until the 1900s when they switched to electricity. The Wirral Heritage Tramway is giving people the chance to experience history for themselves and has resumed the vintage tram route between Taylor Street and Wirral Transport Museum. The Williamson Art Gallery opened in 1928 with funding from the Birkenhead Council and philanthropist John Williamson and his son Patrick. The gallery is free to visit and houses artworks, ceramics, sculptures, and maritime history. The gallery is also home to the largest public collection of Della Robbia pottery in the UK.

Birkenhead Priory Photo Credit: Philip Brookes - Shutterstock.com

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The Della Robbia factory was opened by Harold Rathbone and Conrad Gustave Dressler after Rathbone was inspired after a trip to Florence. Here Rathbone saw Luca Robbia’s designs from the 15th and 16th centuries whose designs were known for their bright colours and opened a factory that began to replicate them. Due to its short production span of just twelve years the pottery is in high demand and even damaged pieces are known to sell.

 THE HMS THETIS SUBMARINE DISASTER

 THE BIRKENHEAD PRIORY AND ST MARY’S TOWER

Thetis’s first attempt to dive was unsuccessful due to being too light. Lieutenant Fredrick Woods decided to allow seawater into the torpedo tubes to add weight. Unfortunately, Woods was unaware the outer torpedo doors were open and the tubes were filled with seawater. One of the tubes also could not be opened due to a dried patch of enamel paint, when the crew tried to open it manually, the enormous pressure began to flood the front part of the vessel which sunk it to the seabed 160 feet below. Four men including Lieutenant Frederick Woods managed to escape through an escape chamber and after they tried to form a rescue plan for the remaining crew.

The Priory is 870 years old and the oldest building standing on Merseyside offering a peaceful haven amid the hustle and bustle. The Priory was founded in 1150 for Benedictine monks by Hamon de Massey, the third Baron of Dunham Massey. Here the monks welcomed travellers to the monastery for nearly 400 years. Edward II granted the monks’ ferry rights allowing them to construct a house which they used to offer shelter to travellers when the weather was too bad for ferry crossings. Today the Priory is a designated Grade I listed building and is protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. In 1318, Chapter House which is a part of the Priory is owned by the Church of England and is a working chapel serving the local community. St Mary’s tower is all that remains of the first parish church in Birkenhead which was built in 1821 and demolished in the 1970s. Visitors can climb the tower’s 101 steps to be rewarded with impressive views of the River Mersey and the surrounding area. The tower also serves as a memorial to the victims of the HMS Thetis submarine disaster.

On June 1, 1939, HMS Thetis took a test run around the waters of Liverpool Bay; the submarine was carrying 103 men which was twice the capacity it had been built for. Most onboard were sailors while the rest were engineers from the Cammel-Laird shipyard and others invited to experience an exciting opportunity.

Many options were considered including pumping the water out and raising the stern as much as they could to enable an escape route closer to the surface. Working through the night the crew managed to pump tons of water out of the vessel, and by the morning the submarine had risen to about 35 degrees meaning the stern was now above sea level. Tragically the rear escape chamber hatch was still 20 feet below and the plan could not be implemented. 99 men lost their lives from drowning or carbon dioxide suffocation. The disaster occurred just 40 miles from where it was built in the Cammell-Laird shipyard.

HMS Thetis memorial stone and Liverpool skyline, Birkenhead Photo Credit: Philip Brookes - Shutterstock.com

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LEADERS OF THE SHIPBUILDING INDUSTRY Shipbuilding has been a large part of the town’s economy since the 19th century, and Cammell Laird is the town’s most known shipyard. The company began as John Laird, Son & Co shipyard and gained its reputation due to its advancements made in iron ship construction. The company was founded by William Laird who established the Birkenhead Iron Works in 1824. William was joined by his son John in 1828, and the company ventured into constructing vessels using iron. John took over the company in 1841 after the death of his father and was joined by his three sons prompting a name change to John Laird, Sons & Co. By 1860 their vessels were well-known for being structurally sound and admired for using innovative technology. Using iron was not common during the 1830s and 1840s but the risk propelled the company to leader in the British shipbuilding industry. In 1903 the company merged with Sheffield Johnson Camell & Co who produced iron and metal for the railways to become Cammell Laird.

The newly formed company produced vehicles for the London Underground and innovated a design, so the doors were operated by compressed air in 1919. In 1927 they had an order from India to produce 160 passenger coaches and over 1,100 vessels were crafted between the period 1829 and 1947. Some of their notable builds include HMS Caroline which holds the record for having the fastest build time, the warship was constructed in just nine months, and HMS Ark Royal which was the largest Royal Navy ship at that time. The company also built submarines and played a key role in World War Two, In 1977 alongside the rest of the shipping industry in the UK, the company was nationalised. In 1984 the company made up to 1000 redundancies which led to protests, and 37 workers were arrested and sacked as a result. In 1993 Cammell Laird announced the shipyard was to close. In 2007 Northwestern Shiprepairers & Shipbuilders acquired the rights to the Cammell Laird name because it was a world-renowned brand with trust and assurance. The company went on to win multi-million-pound contracts offering a boost to the local economy and providing job security.

Shipyard crane, Cammell Laird docks, Birkenhead. Merseyside ship building company. Photo Credit: Philip Brookes - Shutterstock.com

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BIRKENHEAD MARKET During the 19th Century, Birkenhead grew and expanded from a small town into a major maritime location. Birkenhead Market opened in July 1835 and was originally built on the site where the existing Town Hall stands. The land was donated by Francis Price and was built for £4,400. A few years later the town’s population had grown from 2,569, and by 1841 reached 8,223 outgrowing the smaller venue. The “Old Market”, the larger site, opened on 11th July 1845 and was then Europe’s second-largest market. Fox, Henderson & Co constructed the Market and were responsible for building many important structures and built the Crystal Palace in 1851. Micheal Marks of M&S opened one of his first “Penny Bazaars” in 1901 at Birkenhead market. Despite the structures being fireproof the market caught fire in 1969 and again in 1974, this resulted in the market being moved to new premises in 1977 alongside the Grange Shopping Centre. Today the town is home to a modern indoor and traditional outdoor market with stallholders who have been there trading for years.

BIRKENHEAD’S FINEST: PAUL O’GRADY Paul O’Grady was born in Birkenhead in 1955 and has many talents including comedian, presenter, actor, radio host and producer. Born to working-class Irish migrants, his father Paddy Grady was from Ballincurry, and his mother Molly Savage was born in England to parents from County Louth. His father moved to England in 1936 and upon joining the RAF, there was a paperwork error of a name change from Grady to O’Grady, one which he decided to keep. Paul was the youngest of three with a sister and a brother and recalls a happy childhood full of love and affection. Paul kept busy as a child, he was a cub scout, a Marine cadet, a member of the local boxing club, and an altar boy at the local Catholic church where he was removed after laughing during a funeral.

After a brief stint working as a barman in a brothel in the Philippines, O’Grady returned to London and things started to look up. O’Grady performed in a variety of drag acts and in 1983 he undertook an acting role at the Donmar warehouse. His drag double act with his friend Vera “The Playgirls” began receiving bookings across London and Lily Savage was resurrected. He quit his job to focus full time on Lily, and the act took him across the country and abroad. He then proceeded to the Edinburgh festival, which resulted in sell-out shows and television appearances that brought mainstream success in the acting and presenting field. In 2000 O’Grady decided to hang up Lily’s sequins and pitched a travelogue series to ITV where he would travel to East and Southeast Asia. The tabloid reviews were weak but were popular with the viewers and were renewed for a second series. O’Grady has achieved huge success in the entertainment industry winning many awards and was awarded an MBE in 2008. The entertainer is also an advocate for the LBGTQ community and a famous animal lover. He is an ambassador for the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home and lives at his farmhouse in rural Kent with his dogs, animals, and husband Andre Portasio.

Paul left school at sixteen and got a job in the civil service as a clerical assistant in Liverpool, which he commuted to from Birkenhead. Due to lateness O’Grady lost the job and aged seventeen he moved to Surrey to work in a hotel but moved back to Birkenhead shortly after. The teenager immersed himself into the Liverpool gay scene and worked at the gay bar the “Bear’s Paw”, although his parents were not aware of his sexuality at this time. O’Grady has a brief encounter with his friend Diane Jansen who became pregnant as a result. This news was revealed the same week both his parents suffered heart attacks; his father sadly died. In May 1974, Sharon Lee Jenson was born, and Paul agreed to financially support his daughter but did not wish to marry Diane. After a few lower-paid jobs Paul decided to move to London to earn more money to better support his daughter. O’Grady worked menial jobs such as a waiter, cleaner and barman, before taking a role as a care officer with elderly people and dysfunctional families at Camden Council. At the same time, O’Grady was creating a drag act, and on 7 October 1978, he debuted with Lily Savage who was inspired by the many women in his childhood. www.lancmag.com

Paul O’Grady at the Attitude Magazine Awards 2013. Photo Credit: Featureflash Photo Agency - Shutterstock.com

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THE FABULOUS FLYING MAN By Harold Cunliffe

Left: Black Charley in the centre of the image. Outside his local.

Last month I related “Mr Big,” John Hulbert, a businessman who was well known and respected throughout Lancashire.

hortly after publication a family friend enquired if I had any information on the first black man who lived in this town known as “Charlie.” It is thought that he was the first black man, but I feel there were others prior. It could be that this man was the

first black person to be documented. I suppose it was a coincidence that the man in question was once employed by scrap metal merchant, John Hulbert. “Black Charley,” as he was affectionately known to the locals, lived at 37 Wood Street, Middleton, who died on the 8th February 1935. His full name was Charles Dennis and was 76 years of age when he passed away in hospital. It was noted that at the time of his death he bore on his back the slavery marks of being whipped. Charles was born in Virginia, America; his early memories

Below: 37 Wood St, on the right. Former home of Charles Dennis.

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were of the cruel days of slavery. His father died when he was a baby, both he and his mother were sold as slaves. In a twist to the story it was his stepfather that inflicted the wounds made by a whip on his back. The slave master became his stepfather who after whipping him placed him in a barrel of salt and then wrapped him in a blanket which ultimately stuck to the wounds on his lacerated body. Education did not play a part in his early life and he never learned to read or write, but we find that he had an adventurous life. Before coming to England he went to sea, there he was shipwrecked three times. Charles Dennis was like most men who had little or no education; they made a living from whatever employment was on offer. We discover that he once was part of a group of people known as “Hague’s Minstrels,” was also a watchman at a spinning and cotton mill, and also worked on the construction of three cotton mills in his home town. One his final places of employment during his retirement was that of caretaker for Mr Jack Taylor, a corn merchant.

Below: The corn dealer where Charles once worked.

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THE FLYING MAN One man in Victorian Britain had a liking for tall structures. Such was his fascination he provided entertainment for the public by climbing tall structures and factory chimneys at a record speed, like a human spider. It is recorded that he could descend a chimney at a great speed, reaching, we are informed speeds of almost 100 miles an hour. Many fans of the late Fred Dibnah would observe him ladder a huge smokestack and erect staging around the top to provide a safe working environment. Chimney specialist, James Duncan Wright would carry out the same type of work as Fred Dibnah, but his method of climbing the tall chimney was rather unique. Amazingly Duncan Wright never used a ladder. This seems hard to believe, the fact that a chimney could be climbed without a ladder. Wright it is said used ropes. The method in which he fixed the ropes was quite ingenious. Initially he would fly a kite over the tall structure with a fine rope attached, then when the kite was high enough he would engage the rope over the top of the chimney. The next stage was to attach a slightly thicker rope which was pulled over the top. This procedure was carried out a number of times until the required safe rope diameter was in place, one which would support his weight, which would be fixed to go up one side of the structure and down the opposite side. One end of the rope was securely fixed to the ground. Once the apparatus was in place he could entertain the public by speedily ascending the high structures using a unique method. He was like a human spider running and gliding up the side of a factory chimney in

Lancashire, which was made possible by the use of a counter weight on the opposite side of the chimney. It all sounds very dangerous to me, but the public loved this act. Massive crowds would gather to watch this feat. In Lancashire their were no shortage of factory chimneys, so this was the most popular structure in which to witness Mr Wright. Upon arriving in town he would place an advert in the local newspaper to inform the public of the location of where he was to perform next. He stated in his advertisement “I will go through my wonderful and astonishing performance as the “Flying Man,” I can descend from the top of a mast measuring 150 feet high in only eight seconds. Also sail in a boat to the top of the mast and back amidst discharges of fireworks,

guns, etc.” He also gave a concert from high above ground supported by a rope using a concertina, which was stated as “wonderful and most daring feat ever performed.” Tickets to watch were priced at 6d each. We also discover that Mr Wright was an expert chimney repairer. One newspaper report detailed the work which he carried out on a Lancashire factory chimney using only ropes. The chimney required the replacement of a cast iron crown; this is the iron ring at the top of a chimney which holds the top row of bricks in place, the crown which was replaced weighed fourteen tons. It is amazing back then how he carried out this procedure. Recently I featured the massive Schwabe’s chimney which was once located in the village of Rhodes.

Below: The huge landmark Rhodes chimney.

Below: Demolition of the chimney by Arthur Warhurst.

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Following publication Mr Arthur Warhurst, who lived in the village at the time that the chimney was being demolished, made contact. He said, “One Sunday morning I could hear the rumbling sound of falling bricks, which also made the ground vibrate. I grabbed my camera and went to investigate.” The result was that Arthur managed to take a several shots of the chimney being knocked down by the use of an iron demolition ball. Taking a close look at Arthur’s photograph you can see the thickness of the brickwork of this chimney at its base. Mr Warhurst kindly donated copies of his photographs to the local studies section at the local library for future generations to view. The previous report which stated that the chimney was built within 16 weeks I feel is incorrect. I have found a report which states that it took four years to build. A few years following the completion a fearful storm hit the village in which lightning struck the metal crown and also destroyed the lightning conductors. Two weeks later the residents of the village witnessed the start of repair work. Never before had they witnessed the flying of a kite which eventually flew to the great height over the top of the Above: Delivery coal carts awaiting to unload.

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Below: Cotton being delivered via the power of horses.

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deposited their cash within a few hours. But back then you could not pay electronically or by card, it was all manual accounting. The bank had engaged twenty five clerks who were at work constantly receiving money. It was stated that over £100,000 had been deposited in response to the call. Many investors paid their shares in full at the time of issue.

ALONG THE SHIP CANAL

Above: Mrs & Mrs John Cooper, manager of Barclays Bank, standing at the rear, took pleasure trips on the ship canal during summer months.

chimney, thus throwing the thin rope over the top. One week later work was well underway, this report was published in the local newspaper which documented his work. “The famous Steeple Jack may now be seen daily swinging on the outside of the immense chimney of Salis Schwabe and Co, Rhodes Works. His business at present is with the huge metal cap which he is now scraping and painting. Ultimately he is to fix, we understand, new electric conductors down the outside of the chimney. James Duncan Wright it was stated seems to be an active merry fellow and the ease and epilation of his movements are really surprising. On one or two occasions he has, in order to give those all-round him an opportunity of a good stare, ascending the chimney during meal times, solely to perform his feats and astonish all those in the area.” The Rhodes Works consumed hundreds of tons of coal. Each day carters constantly arrived at the works with a horse drawn cart filled with coal to feed the massive boilers. They would travel back and forth from the railway station around two miles away to keep the boilers fed. The carts were of the two wheeled variety which would save time due to the tipping nature of the vehicle. Cotton was delivered via horse power too. There was great excitement when the plans were made public that a new canal was to be constructed between Manchester and Liverpool, where the cotton arrived at the docks. The Manchester Ship Canal would bring the goods directly into Manchester which would ultimately save time and money. www.lancmag.com

THE NEW CANAL I am at the age when I remember the time when shops and businesses only accepted cash or cheques, but mainly cash unless you were known by the business. All the takings were listed and cash counted before being banked, where the same procedure took place. Hours upon hours were spent counting money, keeping records. Imagine today at a petrol filling station with the fuel duty and VAT if digital technology did not exist. I doubt if the chancellor would be able to collect the vast amount of revenue which is created with fuel sales each day. An army of clerks would be required. With this in mind we look back to the start of the New Year of 1888. The Manchester Ship Canal was underway and the call went out for those who had invested in this venture to now make their second instalment. So much had been said about this new concern that many people wanted to be in on the action. The canal was going to be a great success. If you take Oldham for an example, using the Ship Canal would save over £40,000 a year in transport costs alone. The National Provincial Bank opened a branch at the St James’s Hall, in Manchester for the purpose of receiving the payment of the second instalment. It is amazing to discover that a vast amount of cash was carried through the streets of Manchester. For those behind the construction of the canal there was no better tribute of loyalty to witness the financial support entering this branch. Hundreds of shareholders

This was the title of a talk by Mr Robert Parkes at the Co-operative Hall. He projected views of some of the lengths of the canal showing the deep excavations being made, and the difficulties and obstructions being encountered by the navies. Images of the machines being used were also shown. He paid tribute to the eminent engineer, Mr Walker who had lately passed away. Mr Walker was very well known in the field of engineering. A self-made man he looked after his staff. It is noted that he constructed chapels in which his employees could maintain their religious beliefs. Some of the works he undertook was the Underground Railway, Manchester Ship Canal, the Buenos Ayres Harbour, the Barry Docks and the Salford Docks.

TOO POOR TO EAT Around 150 years ago a man who was named as William Naden, alias “Bill Naden,” was spotted sleeping in a barn at Higher Coppice Wood. This area is now part of the vast Manchester Overspill Estate. (See our image which shows the estate under construction during 1955, with the housewife walking down the hill to the centre of town to collect her groceries.) The farmer allowed the man to stay in the barn to rest himself, so little notice was taken. At this period it was illegal to sleep out of doors. The following day the man was still in the barn, still resting. One of the occupants of the farm decided to approach him and to her astonishment, found him very weak, so helpless he was unable to speak. Immediately the farmers wife provided some nourishment, which after a short time he became somewhat revived. It transpired that Bill had travelled from Buxton in search of work, at that time of year there were, any farmers wanting help with bringing in the crops and haymaking, unfortunately he did not

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secure any employment. In making his way to Manchester he became so hungry and weak that he was forced to sell his shirt for three pennies in which he purchased some food. When he arrived at the farm he was very hungry and, with no means of obtaining food decided to throw the towel in and end his life. He chose a comfortable spot in the barn and decided to starve himself to death. This poor fellow must have lost all hope. The owners of the farm realised that he was still in a dangerous condition so made contact with the police. Upon arrival immediate medical assistance was obtained. The towns Relieving Officer found a place for him to reside at a bed and breakfast in the Little Park area of town, but with him being so weak a cab was provided. When Mr Naden was well enough he would be taken to the Workhouse to be cared for. At the time of writing we hear reports of people today who are unable to afford food due to the effect of the price increases and the high cost of energy and road fuel with inflation increasing at record levels. The price of road fuel is at record levels.

OWN UP, WHO DID IT?

TOO MANY TURN TO DRINK

At a special meeting of the Board of Guardians the matter of the outrage against the matron was discussed. A nest of young rats were placed in her bed. The Board desired to know who the perpetrator was, but none of the staff owned up. It was then announced that the whole staff of nurses would be dismissed along with the officials and servants if the perpetrator failed to come forward. All members of staff at the institution were interviewed and denied any knowledge of the incident. Afterwards the Guardians discovered that one of the patients had carried out this act. The person was on the ward named, back then as the “Imbecile ward,” an outdated reference not used today. A Guardian stated, “That the Board, having learned that the insult offered to the matron was the work of a maniac hereby withdraws and regrets it has issued the threat of dismissal of the staff of nurses and expresses sincere sympathy with them, and confidence in them in the future.” The report was accepted and the meeting ended.

“There are 60,000 people dying each year through drink,” it was stated. “We must take the pledge,” was the cry from the Providence Temperance Society and Band of Hope, which was announced at their meeting, held in the Providence school which adjoined the chapel. Around 160 people partook a cup of the liquid that cheers, but does not cause inebriation. After the tables had been removed Mr John Mills gave a talk relating to the evils of drink. He believed it to have been the greatest curse and bane which had fallen to the lot of humanity and hoped to see a time when this monster would be banned from the land. He said: “There was a prevalent notion that drink was nutritious and served as food for the body. There never was a greater fallacy in existence.” After the lecture the rest of the evening was enhanced by a singing class. As the 160 persons left the building the message of, “All those present to abstain and take the pledge at once.” I wonder how many did?

Below: Farm location.

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NINE GALLONS OF BRANDY I feel that those who partook in manual labour would not sign the pledge. In many cases spending a little of their hard earned wage on a pint or two of beer was one of their pleasures after spending hours grafting at work. Many an argument between husband and wife had resulted after the husband had spent more than his fair share of the weekly wage on beer. Imaging the situation when free liquid spirit was on offer, that of a more potent strength than the odd pint of mild or bitter. The year is 1889. At the Miles Platting Railway Station, Manchester it was noticed that the staff were a little jolly, jollier than they normally were. Upon investigation it transpired that a barrel of brandy containing 36 gallons began to leak in one of the freight wagons, this was due to it being damaged in shunting operations. The damage was brought to the attention of the staff when a distinctive smell was discovered emanating from one of the wagons, then upon investigation decided that to let this commodity run through the wooden floor, thus being a waste of good brandy, they decided to sample the raw liquid. Maybe it could have been a wise decision to save the liquor in containers, but the workmen decided to grab a cup and can and drink some of the contents instead. Being free the workmen enjoyed themselves, so much so they became incapable in carrying out their duties. Reading the court case it looks like they consumed the brandy until they could not stand up. Inspector McGee of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Co., took two men into custody charged with the theft of brandy. McGee went in search of other missing members of staff who were absent from their place of employment. At a platelayers cabin down the main line from Miles Platting Station towards Newton Heath he discovered six men, all were dangerously intoxicated. Next he sent for six constables to assist him with the arrest of the drunken employees. www.lancmag.com

Then it was found that one of the workmen was motionless, sitting with his tongue out, tragically he had died from alcohol poisoning. All the men were taken to the police station, in which it is recorded, was filled with the smell of brandy. Medical assistance was summoned and two of the men had to have their stomachs pumped. In court the following day the magistrate decided to suspend the case 24 hours due to the suspects still being inebriated. The next day they were brought up at the Manchester Police Court, charged with stealing brandy. Out of the original 36 gallons only 27 remained. The names of the culprits were read out to a courtroom which, three days after the offence, was highly scented with the odour of brandy. Out of the ten men arrested, one, Mr Peers did not drink any of the brandy, he was a teetotaller, but had taken part in the theft by filling bottles with the potent raw brandy. Two of the men were in deeper trouble. Upon the search of their homes along with bottles of brandy, other goods were found which had been stolen from the railway were discovered. The case was further adjourned for seven days. The prisoners, now three days following the offence were said to be in such a state that they could hardly comprehend what was going on in court. The dead man was named as 32 year old James Grant, a single man who lived at Princess Street, Newton Heath. He was a platelayer employed by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company.

IN THE NEWS Items making the news at the time that the Manchester Ship Canal was releasing shares was this curious tale regarding Madame Sarah Bernhardt. The newspaper quotes that she is happy once again. The reason being is that she now has a replacement coffin! It transpires that Bernhardt when on tour would take along with her a coffin in which to sleep in. I wonder why? Did she not get along with her husband? The coffin was to be seen in her dressing room, stood in the corner of the room. It is spooky that when she slept in the coffin she

dressed herself in a shroud. Sarah was distressed when her previous coffin was seized by her relentless creditors, but the replacement was described to be daintily lined with blue silk. And at the head has a soft little pillow trimmed with Valenciennes lace.

MEDDLING WITH A MUMMY Captain Ingram unwound the cere-cloth of a Egyptian mummy. Inside he discovered a tablet which, once translated sent a tingle up his spine. The message prophesized that whoever profaned the clothes would meet a violent death. The message stated that the bones of the culprit would be scattered to the winds. A time limit of three months was noted on the tablet. Within the three month period Captain Ingram was in fact killed by an elephant in South Africa. The search party in seeking out his remains only ever found his thigh bone.

TATT WHO? A sailor was arrested in the centre of town for exhibiting himself to the public. In court he claimed that his name was, “Tattooed King.” But in fact he was Daniel King who deserted from H.M. ship Northumberland seven years prior. He was taken to prison awaiting an escort back to his ship. For a long time he had been exhibiting himself at music halls and hotels under his stage name as Captain Dan Fisher. His body was covered in tattoos, from his neck to his ankles, beautifully executed with over 400 designs. Among the images were the Prince of Wales Feathers, a snake charmer, bunch of grapes and plums, a peacock and cockatoo, St George and the Dragon. A moon and stars, Irish and German harp, warships and a man smoking a pipe, plus a host of others. He commented that he had a contract in America for 23 weeks and had performed at music hall. No doubt once in front of his captain his performing days will be suspended.

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Chorley By Sarah Ridgway

The traditional market town of Chorley sits in the county of Lancashire surrounded by beautiful green spaces.

he town boasts a whole host of historic houses including Astley Hall and Houghton Tower. Rivington Pike is the area’s most notable landmark, with Sir Bradley Wiggins claiming it’s his favourite place to cycle. Chorley is also the birthplace of Myles Standish who was aboard the famous Mayflower voyage to America in 1620 and played an

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integral role in establishing modern America. Once known for cotton production today the bustling town houses big companies such as FedEx, BAE Systems and Leyland Trucks who provide employment to the area. Chorley is surrounded by charming villages such as Adlington, Anglezarke, Bretherton and Heskin with excellent transport links to Manchester, and to other parts of the region. Chorley’s market operates every Tuesday from the city centre streets and is the perfect place to buy a local icon the Chorley Cake which is a flattened pastry filled with fruit.

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For entertainment head to the Chorley Theatre, which was built in 1910, and has a varied array of musicals, plays and comedies throughout the year. This small Lancashire town is also home to the largest Latter-day Saints temple in the UK.

HISTORY During the Roman era, a Roman road ran close to Chorley between Wigan and Walton-le-Dale, objects dating from that time have been discovered nearby in Whittle-leWoods and Heapey. Chorley is not listed in the Domesday Book and www.lancmag.com

Chorley was also an important part of the coal mining industry due to its proximity to the Lancashire coalfield and had many working pits in the area. Ellerbeck Colliery was the last working pit and closed in 1987, there are still abandoned quarries on the outskirts of town. Chorley began to thrive like most Lancashire towns during the industrial revolution and most of its wealth came from the cotton industry. Up until the late twentieth century many mills were a feature of the town’s skyline, but most of them were demolished between the 1950s and 2000s. The last working textile mill Lawrences’ ceased production in 2009. During the Second World War Chorley played a significant role as it was home to the Royal Ordnance Factory in the village of Euxton. The factory employed over 1,000 local workers at the start of the war in September 1939, by June 1940 that number had risen to 15,000. At its peak over 28,000 employees were recorded in employment which was a tremendous figure for one location. THE LEGEND OF CAMELOT Camelot theme park opened in 1983 and took its inspiration from Camelot, King Arthur, and the Knights of the Round Table. Sir Lancelot’s parents, King Ban of Benwick and his queen, were said to have escaped from France, and found sanctuary in Lancashire. The park spread makes its first appearance in historical records in the mid-thirteenth century. The parish church of St Laurence is the oldest remaining building in the town and got its first official mention in historical records in 1362. The church is believed to be named after the Irish Saint Laurence whose bones were brought to the church after his death in Normandy in the 12th century. The building also holds historical significance in America due to its connection with Myles Standish who was one of the country’s founding fathers. Visitors from America still visit the church to sit on the family pew. www.lancmag.com

across 140 acres, and the Medieval attraction operated for nearly thirty years. Children’s entertainment included a Merlin’s Magic show, Birds of Prey, Jesters, and live jousting competitions. By the late 80s, Camelot’s popularity was at its height, and more rides opened including the iconic rollercoaster Knightmare. The park was taken over by the Granada Group in 1986, who then sold it to Prime Resorts Ltd in 1998. From the mid-90s, the park’s numbers started to fall, and in 1995 the attendance was half a million visitors a season, dropping to 336,204 visitors by 2005. In February 2009, the park fell into receivership, and in April that year was bought by Story Group, who leased it to Knight’s Leisure. The final closure of the park was announced in November 2012, and Camelot was abandoned and lay derelict for years. This made it fair game for urban explorers who came to explore abandoned sites across the UK, so security was put in place. In 2020 the park was demolished, and its iconic roller coaster Knightmare that could be seen from the M6 was torn down. In February 2022, the park reopened and was given a new lease of life as a “zombie experience “called Camelot Rises. The immersive event was a drive-through experience with a mile-long track filled with zombies on a mission to scare. Further events have since taken place with plans for more in the future.

Camelot Theme Park - Camelot Rises

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The old tudor house on Astley Hall grounds

MYLES STANDISH The Mayflower voyage set sail from England in 1620, and 2020 marked its 400-year anniversary. The famous ship carried the Pilgrims from Plymouth, England, to Massachusetts to set up the first permanent New England Colony. The group of pilgrims fleeing religious persecution attracted other settlers to the New World and became the foundations of the United States of America. On board was Chorley resident Captain Myles Standish who is credited as one of the founding fathers of America. Myles was born in 1584, and his family had owned lands in the area since the 14th century. Some of his family had at one time owned and lived at Duxbury Hall. A Duxbury Town was established as part of the Plymouth colony, and most likely given its name by Standish. The puritans hired Captain Standish to accompany them on the voyage to act as a military advisor, and implement the defence of their new colony from attack. Standish and his wife Rose boarded the ship on August 5 at Plymouth, and the journey lasted around two months. There were 102 pilgrims aboard with around 30 crew members, which meant very cramped conditions below deck. The first month of the voyage went well due to calm seas and good weather, but by October the winds picked up causing leaks and damage. This threw the Mayflower off course, and the first piece of land spotted was Cape Cod, Virginia, which was 200 miles northeast of their desired destination. Due to the bad weather and the death of four settlers, the pilgrims chose 104

to start their new lives here. One night in December, the Puritans and Standish first encountered the Native Americans who set upon them as they slept. Standish managed to get the situation under control, but many conflicts between the groups would follow. That same month the pilgrims selected a site near Plymouth Bay to form their settlement. Standish played an important role advising on its defence strategy and where to build houses. Sadly, an outbreak of smallpox halted the progress and half the settlers, including Standish’s wife Rose died. In February 1621 the pilgrims formed a Colony militia, and Standish was voted in as the first commander; he would hold this position for the rest of his life. Standish trained the pilgrims on how to use weapons in case of attack. In March a treaty was arranged between the Native Americans and the governor of Virginia, John Carver forming an alliance between them. Standish later learned the language of the local Native Americans and led battles against invading hostile tribes. In 1624 Standish married a woman named Barabara, who arrived at the colony on a ship named Anne; they went on to have seven children together. In 1627 Standish received a farm from the pilgrims of 120 acres in Duxbury where he built a house. Standish died on October 2, 1656, and was buried in Duxbury’s Old Burying Ground, which is now known as the Myles Standish Cemetery. He played a leading role in the foundations of the Plymouth Colony, which established modern America and left a legacy.

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THINGS TO DO DISCOVER ASTLEY HALL The stunning Grade I listed property spread out over 43.75 hectares and remains a popular family day out. Visitors can learn about the families who lived here through its 400-year history, and marvel at the original furniture and impressive plaster ceilings. It is also perfect for explorers who can amble through the surrounding woodlands or wander through the Walled Garden. There is an adventure playground for the children to get in on the fun and lots of exhibitions throughout the year. The hall houses a museum and a cafe in the refurbished coach house to enjoy a cup of tea and cake. www.lancmag.com

Astley Hall from accross the lake

Astley Hall

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SPEND THE DAY AT YARROW VALLEY COUNTRY PARK

Yarrow Valley Country Park

The tranquil 700-acres park is home to wildlife and ancient woodland and is just a short drive from the town centre. The park has a visitors’ centre and the Treeface Cafe for a refreshment stop. Children can enjoy the challenges of the Yarrow Rocks adventure playground including a giant rope swing and climbing wall. Visitors can enjoy extended walks along the woodland pathways going past sights such as Duxbury Woods, Big Wood and Copperworks Wood.

Hoghton Tower. Photo Credit: Poliphilo

GO SHOPPING AT CHORLEY MARKET The market dates to 1498 and has been hosted in the town on a Tuesday ever since. There are two main markets, the covered market is in the centre of the town and is open five days a week. The outdoor market held every Tuesday has over 100 stalls along the streets of the town centre, and is the perfect place to grab a bargain. VISIT THE HISTORICAL HOGHTON TOWER A volunteer guide will show you around the legendary Lancashire site which dates to 1109. Strategically 106

built on a hilltop location to spot potential attacks, visitors can now soak up the incredible view of the Lakes, Wales, and the Irish Sea. The tower has welcomed many regal and famous visitors throughout the years including George V & Queen Mary, Shakespeare, and Charles Dickens. The ancestral family the de Hoghton’s still own the Grade I listed building HAVE AN AWARD-WINNING BOWEN PIE Based in Chorley, Bowens has been making delicious traditional homemade pies and puddings since 1994. Head to a Bowen Pie Shop to

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taste their best-selling meat and potato pie or whichever award-winning pie that takes your fancy. EAT A FAMOUS FREDERICK’S ICE CREAM If you want some delicious Italianstyle ice cream, then Bolton Road is the place to go. Fredericks has been making its award-winning ice cream for over four generations and its origins go back to Italy. Today the family produces delicious ice cream with over 120 flavours including sherbet, liquorice, and salted caramel but luxury vanilla remains their most popular. www.lancmag.com

People come to stay with us when an aspect of their life is overwhelming all else. Whether it be their relationship with alcohol, substances or behaviour, we help guests heal and take back control. Delamere Health Ltd is the UK’s only purpose-built behavioural health clinic. Set discreetly amidst six acres of grounds beside Delamere Forest in Cheshire, we offer exemplary care in a dignified setting. To find out more, visit Delamere.com or contact our admissions team on 0330 111 2015

BY KEN HARCOMBE -Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, Fleetwood RNLI

WE ARE THE RNLI THE CHARITY THAT SAVES LIVES AT SEA The RNLI’s Respect The Water campaign is well established and has been adopted by many open water related organisations.

reached Anne, she was waist deep in water and was holding her two dogs aloft, to prevent them being swept away by the tidal current.

he objective was to reduce the number of accidental drownings in the UK. But restrictions brought on by the pandemic has increased the number of ‘staycations’, with seaside resorts, such as Blackpool, enjoying bumper tourist visits. This, in turn, has increased the participation in water sports, like open water swimming and stand-up paddle boarding, accelerating the increase in the number of incidents requiring an RNLI response. Unfortunately, there was an increase in the number of accidental drownings in 2021. Last year, 277 people accidentally drowned. 40% of those drowned, had no intention of even getting wet. Most were victims of slips, trips, falls, being cut off by the tide, or swept into the sea by waves.

Fleetwood RNLI rescuing Anne Brooks Lili Pup and RuffRock happy to be on shore

But not all accidental drownings were coastal incidents. 62% of accidental drownings happened on inland waters, such as rivers, lakes, ponds or canals. 83% of those drowned, are male. Clearly, there’s still a lot of work to be done by the RNLI and other water safety organisations, to help reduce the number of deaths and injuries on our waters. The RNLI’s Respect the Water campaign is a positive start. There have been many high-profile rescues around our local shores recently, because of people being cut off by the tide. At Fleetwood in April 2021, local dog walker, Anne Brooks, took her two canine friends, Lili Pup and RuffRock for their morning walk on the sands opposite the marine lake. It was a regular exercise routine for them and Anne was well aware of the high tidal range at Fleetwood. But on this particular day, possibly distracted by the dogs, she was caught out and suddenly realised the tide had encircled her, cutting her and the dogs off from the shore. Fortunately for Anne, the volunteers at National Coastwatch, at Rossall Point had spotted Anne’s predicament and had alerted the Coastguard, who instructed Fleetwood RNLI to launch immediately. By the time Fleetwood RNLI’s inshore lifeboat, Harbet, had 108

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT FLEETWOOD RNLI GO TO: www.fleetwoodlifeboat.org.uk TO DONATE OR SUPPORT THE RNLI GO TO: https://rnli.org.uk/support-us Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), a charity registered in England and Wales (209603), Scotland (SC037736), the Republic of Ireland (20003326) and the Bailiwick of Jersey (14)

Anne and her dogs were pulled on board the lifeboat and returned to shore, cold and wet, but none the worse for their ordeal. Anne said ‘I was so relieved to see the lifeboat. The crew were fantastic with the dogs and we were so grateful to them for picking us up. It was quite a frightening experience.’ Helm on the lifeboat that day, Skip Frith, was more concerned about how the dogs would react to being picked up by the volunteer crew! Skip said ‘You hope the dogs aren’t going to be too distressed and snappy being picked up by strangers and put in a boat, but they were great. They looked as relieved as Anne.’ But the incident illustrates how even someone who is aware of the tides and an experienced local dog walker, can get caught out. Of course, if you are completely oblivious to tidal flows, then you can imagine how much of a shock it can be to see water flooding around you in a seemingly unstoppable advance and showing no signs of receding.

Each lifeboat station has a common type of rescue. In Blackpool, the local RNLI station unsurprisingly, sees its fair share of people in difficulties on inflatable toys, on their busy, family friendly beaches. For Morecambe RNLI, they are often called out to cars being cut off and swamped by incoming tides. The causeway at Sunderland Point, is a particularly dangerous road, as it floods during high tide and occasionally drivers will attempt to beat the tide. Some are unfortunate and are forced to take to the roof of their car, whilst awaiting rescue. Sunderland Point isn’t the only area where Morecambe RNLI are tasked to respond to vehicles stuck in mud and under water. Bolton le Sands is another notorious area where the lifeboat is requested to launch to help drivers stuck in mud. The advice is always the same. Check the local tides and be on-shore at least three hours before high tide. You should also consider if the ground looks muddy, it will be muddy!

Such was the case in September 2020, when a family visiting the region from South America were informed by friends of the wildlife at Hilbre Island. The family set off on the two-mile walk from West Kirby, but were soon in difficulties. As the tide raced in, the family of five were cut off on a ridge of rocks. Fortunately they had been spotted by a dog walker, who herself was also cut off on Middle Hilbre and had already called for help. West Kirby RNLI volunteers launched their D class inshore lifeboat, Seahorse to the potential life-threatening incident, with a volunteer crew member entering the water to look after the grandmother and aunt, whilst the lifeboat went to the aid of the parents and child, as the child was now being held aloft by her father.

Morecambe RNLI rescue people from a vehicles caught out by the tide

Once the family of five and volunteer crew were aboard the inshore lifeboat, they rescued the dog walker, her dog and another couple, who the crew also discovered were also stranded. The eight casualties and dog were returned to West Kirkby. Fortunately, nobody required hospital treatment. The RNLI volunteers administered attention to counter the effects of mild hypothermia and they were all able to return home. www.lancmag.com

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BY KEN HARCOMBE -Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, Fleetwood RNLI

WE ARE THE RNLI THE CHARITY THAT SAVES LIVES AT SEA Morecambe RNLI are taking a preventative approach to this particular problem and have been working with Overton Parish Council to warn people of the dangers at Sunderland Point. Using photographs taken by the RNLI volunteers from their D class inshore lifeboat, Margaret Mary Timpaney, safety signs have now been made to highlight the risk people take when the tide is in flood. It is hoped these signs will mitigate the risk to the public. New warning signs at Sunderland Point

more informative signage, strategically located, once the necessary funding and landowners’ permissions have been obtained.’ It’s not only the RNLI lifeboats that have seen the increase in incidents over past two years. New Brighton RNLI lifeguard, Max Evans, was on hand to rescue three open water swimmers in the River Mersey, in July 2021. The RNLI lifeguards had finished their ‘watch’ for the day and Max was closing down the lifeguard unit, when he noticed three swimmers in difficulty. A jet-ski helped rescue two of the swimmers, whilst Max took his rescue board to the third and returned the distressed swimmer to safety. Wirral lifeguard on the Mersey

Open water swimming has become a more popular pastime recently and swimmers are keen to seek new experiences. But if you decide to swim in the sea, Max’s advice is to choose a lifeguarded beach and swim between the red and yellow flags, where the lifeguards will keep watch on you. Colin Midwinter, volunteer Community Safety Officer at Morecambe RNLI said, ‘Overton Parish Council are to be congratulated on their generous and positive response. Given the increased local tourism to Sunderland Point and the use of home delivery services, both the Parish Council and the Sunderland Point Community Association, share our concerns regarding the number of serious, potentially life-threatening, incidents on the causeway. We hope that these large photos, illustrating the danger, will draw driver and pedestrian attention to the other warning signs already in place and intend to supplement these with

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As summer approaches and schools close for the holidays, it is inevitable that families will consider visiting our coasts and countryside. If the weather is good, there will be thoughts of cooling off in the sea, river or lake. Regardless of the time of year, or how hot the weather is, rivers, lakes and sea temperatures are always cold. Last year, RNLI lifeguards in the North West of England aided more people than anywhere else in the UK – with nearly 18,000 people assisted during the summer period. So, how can you help keep your family stay safe over the summer holidays? www.lancmag.com

Adopt the ‘Starfish’ position when affected by cold water shock

IF YOU SEE SOMEBODY ELSE IN DIFFICULTY, RING 999 AND ASK FOR THE COASTGUARD DO NOT ENTER THE WATER TO TRY AND RESCUE THEM

Whatever you are doing, don’t take risks. Know your limits, be aware of the dangers, go in a group and look out for one another and always ensure your phone is fully charged. Always check the local tide times and remember to be safely ashore three hours before high tide. If you do enter the water, either by choice or by accident, there’s a good chance you could suffer from cold water shock. Your instinct will be to get out as quickly as possible, but thrashing around, whilst trying to catch your breath is an instinct you should fight. The RNLI’s Float to Live campaign, launched this summer, urges everyone to remember what to do if in difficulties in the water. Lean back, using your arms and legs to stay afloat, starfish style, until you can control your breathing. Then call for help or swim to safety. The RNLI also instructs everyone to preferably only enter the sea where there are lifeguards present, who are trained to watch over swimmers and help rescue them if they get into difficulties. Always swim between the red and yellow flags on lifeguard patrolled beaches.

AND IF POSSIBLE, THROW SOMETHING THAT WILL HELP KEEP THEM AFLOAT UNTIL HELP ARRIVES RNLI Lifeguards will be on patrol over the summer at West Kirby, Moreton, Harrison Drive, The Plateaux, New Brighton and Perch Rock on the Wirral peninsula. There will also be RNLI patrols at Formby, Ainsdale, Southport and Crosby. On the Fylde, the lifeguards are provided by either the local council or the YMCA and can be found at Fleetwood, Cleveleys and Blackpool. You should always check if the lifeguards are on duty, as times and days differ between locations. All at RNLI hope everybody has a wonderful, but safe summer. But please don’t become a tragic statistic. n

For further information of keeping safe around our coasts, visit; rnli.org.uk/safety

Three lifeguard units in the North West – Crosby, New Brighton and West Kirby, will have a new innovative approach to safety, using QR codes at the lifeguard base unit. Once scanned with your mobile, it will give the latest safety advice particular to that beach, including specific risks in that area. It is hoped this will give families the safety information that they need, at their fingertips. www.lancmag.com

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Loyal Lancashire Contractors Awarded By Housebuilder ONE of the UK’s largest housebuilders has recognised its local Lancashire contractors at an annual awards ceremony. The event, hosted by Redrow Lancashire, honours the efforts and commitment of employees within the business as well as external companies who play a part in delivering homes.

Redrow Lancashire’s managing director Claire Jarvis presents awards to W S Electrical (top left), S G Window Systems LTD (top right) and C & W Berry LTD (right). This year’s external winners were Lancashire based businesses W S Electrical, S G Window Systems LTD and C & W Berry LTD. Chorley based electrical contractors W S Electrical, described by Redrow as a ‘great team to work with’, were named as Customer Service Subcontractor of the Year. “We’ve worked with Redrow since day one therefore winning this award means a lot because myself and my team of nine work hard and do our best for Redrow and its customers,” said Steve Wright, owner of W S Electrical. Construction Subcontractor of the Year went to window installers S G Window Systems Limited. The Atherton company were described as going a long way to ensure they provide the service and quality that Redrow require. Managing director Steve Welch said after working with the Redrow team for over 40 years, winning the award couldn’t have meant more to him. “At S G Window Systems we consider ourselves part of the Redrow family because that is how they make us feel,” said Steve. “Our relationship runs deeper than simply installing windows in their homes and so personally I’m incredibly touched that we won.” Supplier of the Year was won by Leyland based builders’ merchants C & W Berry Limited. “We feel honoured to have 112

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won Supplier of the Year to Redrow Lancashire,” said Gary Nelson, key accounts manager at C & W Berry. “We work closely with the commercial and site teams to deliver quality products and even though the last year or so has been unprecedented in terms of materials availability, we have been able to maintain product delivery. Ultimately helping them to continue to build their homes.” Redrow Lancashire’s managing director Claire Jarvis added: “As a company, we truly believe the smaller local businesses we work with are part of the Redrow family. They are passionate about what they do, and our award winners are prime examples of this. We have long-standing relationships with many of the contractors we work with, and they understand the quality we require and deliver every time.” For information about where Redrow is building homes in Lancashire visit www.redrow.co.uk/lancashire www.lancmag.com

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Porsche Centre Preston Centenary House Watery Lane, Preston Lancashire PR2 1QJ 01772 911 911 info@porschepreston.co.uk www.porschepreston.co.uk

Awards, Partnerships, National Race Titles, Community Support and an Electric Future

Porsche Centre Preston Celebrates Third Birthday On Thursday 13 June in 2019 Porsche Cars GB managing director Marcus Eckermann joined more than 500 guests to celebrate the official opening of Porsche Centre Preston. During the previous 18 months, Prestonians had watched the iconic metallic silver-clad centre take shape, helping to regenerate a busy area of Preston in much need of investment. 114

hree years on, we talk to Porsche Centre Preston’s centre principal, Tom Fox, about some of the highlights for the automotive dealership. It was in early 2018 that Bowker Motor Group chief executive Paul Bowker first shared the news; he revealed that the family-owned company had been chosen by Porsche GB to represent them in Lancashire.

At the time, it was an excited Paul who revealed: “The brand needs no introduction to drivers. It’s synonymous with engineering excellence and

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the production of some of the most exciting cars on the planet. At Bowker, we have already established awardwinning motor retail experiences with some of the world’s most prestigious motoring brands and now we’re looking forward to building another exciting new dealership worthy of the Lancashire motoring community. “I also believe that there are reasons for everyone, not just drivers, to be delighted that Porsche Cars GB Limited has chosen Preston as its Lancashire base. Porsche is a global brand and the decision to build the new centre is a huge endorsement of www.lancmag.com

the city’s commercial reputation and future ambitions.” No-one could have predicted the uncertain times that followed. But the mix of Lancastrian enthusiasm, the transformation of a key Preston location plus the award-winning stewardship of the respected Bowker Motor Group offered the resilience and drive needed for success. In its first year, more than 10,000 people visited the new 43,000 square feet retail centre on Watery Lane in Preston. Porsche Centre Preston centre principal Tom Fox takes up the story: “There was much pre-publicity around the centre; a real buzz about the new showroom helping to regenerate this area. At just under 600 people, Porsche told us our official opening celebration attracted a record attendance for a centre launch.” Porsche Centre Preston was the 42nd in the Porsche Centre network in the UK, demonstrating a major www.lancmag.com

investment in the Porsche business and the local region. The spectacular centre features a 35-car showroom and a 13-bay workshop. There are two customer handover bays; two direct dialogue bays which enable service advisors to demonstrate the scope of technical work from every perspective; and, also electric vehicle charging points. The centre also offers the full range of Porsche services including new and approved pre-owned car sales, servicing, parts, a service loan fleet and a full range of Porsche demonstrators. A showroom display holds a wide array of items from the Porsche Design Driver’s Selection range of clothing and accessories. In addition, Porsche equipment personalisation options from floor mats to Aerokits are available and can be fitted on-site.

AWARD-WINNING FROM THE START From day one the team quickly set about building a reputation and relationships throughout the county. An award-winning commercial partnership between Porsche Centre Preston and two-star Michelin restaurant Moor Hall Restaurant with Rooms in Aughton, West Lancashire was launched in September 2020. With over 50,000 social media followers between the two businesses, they collaborated on digital content, bespoke VIP client events and services. They also worked together to cross promote relevant news and offers. Porsche GB recognised the initiative as the Best Partnership in the UK; noting the collaborative innovation and creativity. At the same time, Porsche Centre Preston was ranked first throughout the country for all aspects of operation by Porsche GB. The centre received

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BREAKING NEW GROUND FOR AN ELECTRIC FUTURE Whilst the new Porsche Centre meant a change for Preston, Porsche were also making changes with the launch of the first all-electric Porsche - the Taycan. The mission to expand electric mobility quickly followed. Porsche Centre Preston has played its part. In October 2020, commercial partner Moor Hall Restaurant with Rooms was officially unveiled as Lancashire’s first Porsche Destination electric vehicle charging point. Ribby Hall Village in Wrea Green followed as the Fylde’s first Porsche Destination electric charging point in 2022. a personal note of congratulations from Porsche Cars GB managing director Marcus Eckerman who acknowledged the team’s hard work across all departments despite the added challenges of Covid-19. Tom reveals: “The two accolades were a credit to the whole team during a challenging period and only our first full year of operation. We were grateful to staff, customers and partners for their support. The partnership with Moor Hall was a great example. We were always optimistic we could work well together.” In its first year, Porsche Centre Preston had created over 10 new automotive retail and technician jobs. One new member of the team joining in late 2019 was a former Our Lady’s Catholic High School pupil, who became the first Porsche Preston apprentice.

Described as the dream job for an automotive apprentice, 17-yearold Paddy O’Flaherty from Ashton near Preston enjoyed on the job training alongside approved Porsche technicians. Paddy regularly visited the Porsche vocational training centre in Shrewsbury for two weeks in every six. His course continues, and will take three years to complete in total; culminating in an ‘Automotive Retail Standard - Motor Vehicle Service and Maintenance Technician’ qualification. When he joined, Paddy said: “This is a great opportunity for me. Like everyone else in Preston, I watched the centre being built. It was exciting to see it take shape. Back then, I had no idea that this might be where I’d start work. I hope that one day my course will help me achieve a full-time role as a technician. I’ve already learned a lot. And every day I’m working with some of the most exciting cars on the planet.”

Ribby Hall Village and Moor Hall have joined an exclusive group of more than 3,000 destinations worldwide with charging points listed locations on Porsche.com, satellite navigation system and Porsche App. Two local businesses - PEI-Delta Limited in Poulton Le Fylde and Preston-based Smart EV - joined forces to install the chargers. Tom said: “The Porsche Destination charging programme means that - in addition to charging at public charging points; at home; and, at a Porsche Centres - Porsche electric and hybrid owners can also charge their vehicles at a global network of luxury hotels, fine restaurants and premium venues; just like Moor Hall and Ribby Hall Village.” The investment in infrastructure continues. This year, Porsche Centre Preston became the first Porsche Centre in the UK to install new ultra high speed CBX 150kW Turbo charging points. Each charger takes only five minutes to give a Porsche Taycan enough power to travel 100km. Such is the high power charging available, the chargers have to be liquid cooled from a main control unit. Tom reveals: “We were proud that Preston was chosen as the first Porsche Turbo Charger installation in the UK. Our new ultra high speed charging points offer a glimpse into the future of electric motoring here in the North West. This is the very latest technology meaning cars can be charged much quicker than before. And a fully-charged battery on the new Taycan, for example, is capable of a range of 225 miles.”

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MEMORABLE MOMENTS IN THE CENTRE AND ON THE TRACK Porsche Centre Preston offers a wide open retail space with the backdrop of some of the most exciting cars on the planet. It is no surprise that it has gone on to establish itself as the perfect venue for partner events. Porsche Club Great Britain and business networkers have all enjoyed the pristine facilities. Last November, more than 400 invited Lancashire racing enthusiasts packed into Porsche Centre Preston to celebrate UK racing driver Dan Cammish’s historic third Porsche Carrera Cup GB victory. As Dan’s lead sponsor, Porsche Centre Preston hosted the ‘Top-Gear style’ evening. The event was fronted by TV, BTCC and Porsche Carrera Cup commentator Tim Harvey who interviewed Dan on his racing career. The 991 GT3 Carrera Cup car and Porsche GB’s new-for-2022 992 GT3 Carrera Cup car were on display in the centre on the night. Porsche Centre Preston’s relationship with the Porsche Carrera Cup GB drivers will continue this season too. The centre is sponsoring Angus Whiteside in his first season driving the Porsche Carrera Cup GB for the 2022 season. 25 year-old Angus will be driving for Rochdale-based Toro Verde GT professional racing team in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB. Last year, Angus won the Ginetta GT Academy; his first ever season in cars after previously racing karts for a number of years. Angus secured his rookie title with three races to spare. He even won the overall championship at the final round. Angus’s season

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highlight was when he took pole position at Snetterton by over half a second. Tom added: “Angus is an amazing prospect. We are especially excited to be supporting him in his first season at this level. His performances so far give us every confidence that his Porsche Carrera Cup GB adventure will be a season to remember. “Andrea, his mum, is a valued friend of the centre. So, there is an element of good fortune that we were able to support Angus. To be involved at this early stage of his career feels like a genuine partnership; with both him and his team Toro Verde. Like Angus, we are excited for the season to begin.”

SUPPORTING THE COUNTY’S FUTURE For Bowker Motor Group, sport has always been a perfect fit with the family’s local community support. And those long-held traditions have continued with Porsche Centre Preston. The centre sponsor’s Fylde Rugby Community Foundation initiative encourages more local young people to participate in sport. The three-year deal to sponsor the Foundation’s Rugby Pathway Programme helps up to 25 young players each year, and 75 in total, to enjoy the benefits of rugby club membership. Each young beneficiary receives help with practical measures such as transport and kit. They also enjoy training support focused on a smooth introduction to playing rugby as part of a club. The centre’s agreement to support Elite Performance Academy helps ambitious young local footballers to

take their game to the next level. Elite Performance Academy is a private Preston-based professional coaching company offering high intensity elite level one-to-one and group sessions for talented young footballers. The academy focuses on technical skills whilst also developing tactical, physical and psychological aspects of their game. But support for the local community goes beyond sport too. Last Christmas, Porsche Centre Preston donated a bumper bundle of food and necessities to The Foxton Centre in Preston’s Christmas appeal. Throughout December, staff, customers and suppliers shared donations. The Foxton Centre chief executive officer Jeff Marsh visited the centre to pick up the donated goods in person. Tom Fox said: “As a proud Prestonian I know all about the great work of The Foxton Centre. For over 50 years they have helped to give the homeless a bed and a voice to people at the margins of society in our city. Their mission really struck a chord with our staff and customers; especially at Christmas. We were only too happy to help with their appeal. We hoped it would help to make a small difference.” The difference to Preston and the wider motoring community in just three years has been anything but small. But, with an exciting focus on the future, it feels like Porsche Centre Preston is only just getting started. Porsche Centre Preston Centenary House, Watery Lane Preston PR2 1QJ Tel: 01772 911 911 www.porschepreston.co.uk

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THE UK’S FAVOURITE HOUSEPLANTS REVEALED

ith there being more remote workers than ever before, hydroponic specialists, National Greenhouse, wanted to find out what the nation’s favourite houseplant was. From freshly sourced search data, the indoor gardening experts discovered the UK’s top 10 houseplants, and are here to give some handy tips on caring for the top three. For those working hybrid, fully remote, or simply looking to add a touch of nature into their homes, there’s a suitable plant out there for just about anyone.

MONSTERA

In at number one is the Monstera, also known as the Swiss Cheese Plant. With an average monthly search volume of 98,000, it’s easy to see why from the pages of images showing big deliciously green leaves broken up by unique slits - hence its colloquial name. TIPS: Being a tropical plant, make sure to keep it in bright conditions but not in direct sunlight. You want to replicate a tropical environment as much as possible, where higher trees would cover these more ground-level plants in warm climates. They love moisture in their soil, so as soon as you see the top of the soil in the pot dry up, get ready to serve it some water. You can also get moisture meters to help with monitoring. Tropical plants also love humid environments, naturally. This means you can give it a daily mist treatment.

BONSAI

Runner-up in the UK’s most popular houseplants list is the Bonsai, with around 95,700 searches a month. Famed for its imitation of an adorable tree, Bonsai translates to “planted in container” from Japanese. TIPS: For indoor types, they need a staple temperature all year round as they are generally a subtropical species. Make sure they get plenty of sun, so place them on window sills but keep them away from direct heat and any drafts. They thrive in humid environments, so ensure the soil in the container is constantly moist. Again, you can use moist meters or use your finger to check. 118

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WITH EXPERT NURTURE TIPS

CHINESE MONEY PLANT

Taking third place is the Chinese Money Plant, aka the Pilea Peperomioides, with an average monthly search volume of 72,800. With quite the niche name, this plant’s label derives from Southwest China, with beliefs of a link to good fortune due to the leaves being shaped like coins. TIPS: To help keep it in tip-top shape, and to ensure plenty of good fortune, let it soak up plenty of sunlight. However, be mindful of the summer season, as this plant can burn if left in very hot, direct sunlight for too long. Typically, these need watering once a week. Always check the soil before doing so to check if it is dry. With plantcare, plants do tend to tell you. Look out for signs of yellowing in the leaves; this can mean it’s been overwatered. If any leaves that are nearest to the soil have turned yellow, just carefully pull these off to help the plant concentrate on its main healthy structure.

THE UK’S TOP 10 FAVOURITE HOUSEPLANTS HOUSEPLANT:

MONTHLY SEARCH VOLUME:

Monstera / Swiss Cheese Plant........................................98,000 Bonsai ...........................................................................................95,700 Pilea peperomioides / Chinese Money Plant ............72,800 Orchid ...........................................................................................58,500 Peace Lily ....................................................................................49,400 Snake Plant / Dracaena Trifasciata ................................45,100 Spider Plant ...............................................................................42,250 Dragon Plant .............................................................................41,700 Yucca.............................................................................................41,700 Venus Fly Trap ..........................................................................39,900

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Living in the Stone Age Lunt Meadows Nature Reserve in Sefton was once home to Merseyside’s earliest-known residents – stone age hunter-gatherers. Today, the Lancashire Wildlife Trust is connecting visitors with our ancient ancestors. Heritage and Conservation Trainee Amy Birtles explores their world.

An archaeologist from University of Chester stitches a coiled basket from rushes and red deer bone by Julia Simons

hen most people hear “prehistoric humans” or “stone age people”, they think of cavemen who had just discovered fire. Conversely, people alive 10,000 years ago (in the Mesolithic period) were remarkably advanced, using skills and techniques which were passed down through countless generations before they were lost in the modern age. It’s truly amazing what people were able to achieve without any of the technologies that we are so reliant on today. They were nomadic too – remains of shelters and ‘everyday’ activities at Lunt Meadows tells us that the site was not a permanent settlement, rather a place which groups of travelling huntergatherers returned to several times over many years. Recent discoveries have taught us that prehistoric humans probably had more leisure time than people today. It

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A late-Mesolithic arrow replica – the flint is glued to the stick using birch tar glue by Molly Toal

was previously thought that ancient peoples spent their lives fighting hard for survival. In fact, they were so skilled and knowledgeable about the world around them and how to utilise their resources that they had plenty of time to socialise, create, and develop culture. The lives of Mesolithic humans were so advanced that archaeologists are still trying to figure out how they did it. The methodology and purpose behind stone circles are an example of stone age technology we’re still debating. Theories range from solar calendars to ancient rituals, but we still don’t really know how or why these monuments were built. Experimental archaeologists and bushcraft experts have worked out some of the more practical technologies though, and we can re-create them in the modern day. Mesolithic humans knew how to braid cordage and weave baskets from

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Participants at a prehistoric skills workshop show off their glass arrowheads. These were made by knapping, a skill Mesolithic people used to make stone tools by Julia Simons

numerous plants, create precision tools from chunks of flint, and manufacture ultra-strong glue from the tar and resin found in trees. Tree glue, namely birch tar and pine resin, was a vital part of any stone age toolkit. It was used to haft flint shards and feathers to arrows, knife blades to handles, and more. Both pine resin and birch tar may have been used for medicinal properties too. Birch tar is extracted by burning birch bark and collecting the evaporated vapours on a smooth stone. We can only guess how our ancient ancestors realised this technology, but we know for certain it had many vital applications in their lives. A 5,700 year old chunk of birch tar was found in Denmark which showed teeth marks, evidence that it was used as a chewing gum.

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An experimental Mesolithic house made from reeds at Lunt Meadows by Cheryl Ashton

Birch tar needs to be softened with heat before it’s applied, so chewing could have been a way of preparing the tar for use. It also has mild antiseptic properties, so may have been chewed as a form of pain relief for toothache. This piece of birch tar is particularly special as it has preserved the DNA of its chewer; a young girl who suffered from gum disease. Perhaps this prehistoric chewing gum was an early form of dental treatment. The other form of Stone Age glue commonly found is pine resin, or pine pitch. Pine resin also has antibiotic and antiseptic properties. Many bushcrafters today still use it in the same way as Mesolithic people would have; as a makeshift band aid. Smearing a small quantity of pine Woven baskets would have been used to store and collect food in when foraging by Julia Simons

resin on a cut or graze will help seal the wound, as well as drawing out infection. It could even be used to draw out splinters. Like birch tar, pine resin may have been used as a chewing gum to soothe mouth pain and sore throats. Pine resin in its raw form is much softer and stickier than birch tar, so it would have gone through a relatively complex process before use as glue. Stone Age humans figured out how to heat resin to remove impurities, and add tempers like crushed charcoal and animal fur to increase strength. Staff and volunteers at Lunt Meadows are learning prehistoric skills with project partners at Soroptimist International Crosby, with the aim of offering workshops to the public.

It’s only in the last 5000 years that humans have developed a new relationship with the world around us, losing the vast knowledge and intimate closeness which was developing for millennia. The Mesolithic and Modern Life project at Lunt Meadows seeks to explore this past relationship, and reintroduce some of the skills back into our lives. Thanks to our partners at the University of Chester History and Archaeology Department, we’re discovering more about the skills and technologies of our local ancestors all the time. At the Museum of Liverpool, archaeologists have been working with LWT to reconstruct the Mesolithic settlement at Lunt Meadows, offering a rare window into the homes and daily lives of Mesolithic people. Through partnership collaboration, the project is able to share the skills and knowledge of our heritage with visitors to Lunt Meadows. Of course, none of this work would be possible without support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund too, which keeps our research into Lunt’s past and people going, while also ensuring the nature reserve remains a refuge for wildlife. To keep up to date with the work, wildlife and what’s on at Lunt Meadows, follow the team’s Facebook page at ‘Lancashire Widllife Trust – Merseyside’ or sign up to the Trust’s e-newsletter at:

www.lancswt.org.uk The peeling bark of a birch tree can be used to make glue and would have been readily available in woodlands of the stone age by Mark Hamblin/2020VISION

The Wildlife Trusts 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

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The life of Di

A monthly column by Di Wade, the author of ‘A Year In Verse’

A SUCKER FOR NOVELTY

’m a sucker for novelty, whether it’s painted eggs at Easter, cute Nott-End post-boxes commemorating the NHS – or big daft hats for the Jubilee If it’s different, and the difference means bright, cheery, or otherwise pleasant, for no other reason than the heck of it, and unashamedly, it gets my vote. As for any festival days, Mayday would’ve seen me sticking up a pole, and having a bunch of blokes show up with bells, tassels, and a squeeze box, had I only known how to manage it. Instead, my parents and I took ourselves to Starr Gate, and from there strolled up past the glitter ball, and to gawp at carriage after carriage-load of people being hurled into the abyss courtesy of the Big One. Well whatever floats your boat. The past couple of years have unquestionably altered the landscape as regards novel experiences. Heck it felt like novelty enough just to be able to nip into Herons and grab a cheese and onion butty without needing to wear a facemask the other day: And don’t get me started on the whole facemaskdonning thing. My sister finally managed to find me one which didn’t require me to take my hearing-aids out every time - huge relief, and improvement.

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However, I still couldn’t get the thing on unaided on account of being unable to bend my elbows, so unable to reach the back of my head: I know, I’m just plain awkward. Anyway, the faffing about this occasioned would’ve been hilarious but for the fag of it. I’d end up with the mask round my neck, atop my head, covering my eyes, halfway up my left nostril, you name it, before we got it in the right place, whoever was assisting me getting ever more frantic as we neared our destination. Getting back to the point however, it IS great both to be able to move around freely, and see attractions, pubs, restaurants, - anything really - back open again. Abandoning the spectacle of the Big One, we wandered onto South Pier, and watched people bungee-jumping over the sea, and riding carousel horses, and dodgems, the latter two transporting me back to another era. The following weekend, we returned to Burnside for the first time in a couple of years, and whiled away a pleasant morning revelling in gorgeous flowers, gawping at impressive coy carp, and coveting choice garden furniture. Then we headed to my parents’ – where my dad roasted a pheasant, and we watched a cracking match between Wigan and Saint Helens. Like you do. As for the Jubilee, I couldn’t have been more ready - or at least in spirit. Turned

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out I was too late for the miles of bunting, and red, white, and blue cupcakes I’d had half an idea of getting. Or then again maybe not: Over the course of the weekend, I was surprised how many places had chosen to recognize the event like Scrooge recognized Christmas. There wasn’t so much as a streamer in the Houndshill on Thursday, while in Cleveleys on Saturday, the main exponents of festive decoration seemed to be the charity shops. Surely a missed opportunity. Did people think the next Platinum Jubilee’d be along with the next No. 7 bus? By contrast, it was pleasing to see the comedy carpet dotted with striped deckchairs as people waited for live entertainment, charming Swiss chaletstyle huts offering giant hotdogs, and Eton mess. Was almost sorry I’d just had a lemon muffin in Café Nero, another treat I’d not enjoyed in a year or two. Besides lemon cake, my own jubilee included sunshine and strolls, rain and scrabble, go-karts, flags, and the letting off of red, white, and blue party poppers. I’m sorry it’s over, and am now waiting for the next royally good, and novel diversion from routine everyday life: Perhaps we could have a Wimbledon winner for Platinum Jubilee year such as my namesake provided for the silver. OK, I’ll not hold my breath.

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“

A beautiful traditional market... there is something for everyone and lots to see and do

”

AWARD WINNING VICTORIAN MARKET WITH 250 STALLS

VISIT

A day out for everyone to enjoy! From gourmet street food to the freshest fruit and vegetables, ﬁnely-crafted jewellery to designer clothing, bargain household goods to hand-made gifts and haberdashery - you’ll ﬁnd it all and more at Fleetwood Market.

NEW STREET FOOD COURTYARD!

· Open ·

9am to 4.30pm

Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday

· Fully accessible and dementia friendly · Easy to ﬁnd by tram, bus, coach or car! Victoria Street / Adelaide Street, Fleetwood, Lancashire FY7 6AB

Cash machine on site Fully accessible

FleetwoodMkt

www.ﬂeetwoodmarket.co.uk

Free coach parking

Visit Fleetwood Market, an Award-Winning

ith over 250 stalls to browse and five individual areas to explore, this beautiful, huge Victorian Market has something for everyone to discover! Commonly known as one of the oldest markets in Lancashire, Fleetwood Market opened its doors in 1840 and has held onto its Victorian heritage ever since. Fleetwood Market is over 180 years old and is one of the largest and most popular Markets in the North West of England. Located in the beautiful, historic town of Fleetwood, right beside the seaside and filled from top to bottom with terrific stalls, amazing products and friendly stallholders.

From gourmet street food to the freshest fruit and vegetables, finely crafted jewellery to designer clothing, bargain household goods to hand-made gifts and haberdashery – you’ll find it all and more at Fleetwood Market. 124

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Fleetwood Market is an incredible asset to the town and continues to attract visitors from near and far due to the continuous improvements to the building, creating a brilliant shopping experience for all visitors. www.lancmag.com

Traditional Market in Fleetwood on the Fylde Coast

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Fleetwood Market has just been awarded almost £1 million to install renewable energy technology as part of the Government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme ensuring the historic building transform into a green and sustainable building for years to come. In recent years, there has been significant investments and exciting works helping to evolve the Market and improve the offer for all of their guests. An example of this development is the transformation of the outdoor courtyard into a vibrant street food hotspot for the town. Be sure to visit this newly extended outdoor Street Food courtyard complete with award winning food stalls and beautiful covered seating areas. The Street Food courtyard offers a huge range of delicious, locally sourced and freshly made to order food, all at great prices! Try clean, green Health Juices and delicious Meal Prep at the Wok Box. Or traditional fish & chips straight from the sea from the Three Fishes! Fancy a sweet treat instead? You’ll find scrumptious ice-cream, waffles, crepes and more at Scrummies and specially selected luxury fudge from the Fudge Factory. There’s something for everyone to enjoy, gourmet hot dogs at Humdinger Dogs, speciality cheese, crackers and chutneys from the Great British Cheese Company not to mention our popular Café al Fresco too! With sheltered outdoor seating, even more market stalls as well as delicious food on offer, it’s the perfect place to pick up some dinner and grab a bargain buy before you leave! There is also the newly renovated Market House Studios to explore with commercial gallery space, an accessible studio, community studios and even a dedicated Gallery in the Main Hall to enjoy some beautiful professional artworks… with the opportunity to purchase the sophisticated artworks too… there is so much to discover at Fleetwood Market! Fleetwood Market is fully accessible, welcomes well-behaved dogs on leads and with regular free events, entertainment, exhibitions and community activities there’s a day 126

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out for everyone to enjoy! Thousands of visitors enjoy the packed out events calendar throughout the year with the most popular events being the Easter Dinosaurs Alive event, the spooktacular Halloween half term fun events and of course the magical Christmas events, all free for visitors to experience. Don’t miss a visit to Fleetwood Market on Fleetwood’s greatest event; the Fleetwood Festival of Transport on Sunday 17 July, the largest FREE event of its kind, attracting crowds of 70,000+ to fill the town and affectionately known to locals as Tram Sunday. With events, activities, special offers and more Fleetwood Market is a must visit on this special day!

offers an excellent meet and greet service with their dedicated host and special offers on pre-booked coach trips too!

Fleetwood Market welcomes loads of coach trips throughout the year,

Easy to find by tram, bus, coach or car with parking nearby and open

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The feedback from visitors is always superb, with guests saying, “great market, great people, great humour and dog friendly – what more could I ask for!” “Wow it’s huge inside with so many stalls, everyone is so pleasant and we spend hours in there and always buy loads – we love Fleetwood Market.” “Me and my partner go at least twice a week the prices are amazing and the food is amazing!”

every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday between 9am and 4.30pm. Whether you want to indulge in some delicious street food, pick up some unique gifts, or simply spend the day exploring there is a day out for everyone to enjoy at Fleetwood Market. Be sure to check out their website and online marketplace where you are able to buy some of the fabulous products that their traders have on offer: D www.fleetwoodmarket.co.uk. Follow us on socia media: F @FleetwoodMarket T @fleetwoodmkt

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Thrifting Hacks That Will Help You

https://blog.betway.com/casino/the-thrifting-capitals-of-the-world

Following Love Island’s decision to dress contestants in second-hand clothes from eBay, fashion experts suggest that this could spark a change in viewers’ shopping habits.

As part of their new Thrifting Capitals of the World Campaign, the team at Betway have provided a beginners’ guide for thrift shopping by outlining five valuable hacks that will help consumers snap a bargain at their local charity shop.

ith the upcoming festival season just around the corner, many of us are turning to second-hand clothing websites and thrift shops to purchase those flashy summer garms.

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LOOK OUT FOR DE-TAGGED STOCK - When dealing with stock from big-label brands, charity shops will often remove the labels of these clothes in order to prevent returns to the original store.

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Snap a Bargain at Your Local Charity Shop That said, if you spot an item with no label, this could be a donation from a high-end brand. When dealing with these sorts of items, it is important to know how to spot top quality material, even if you don’t recognise the brand. For example, you can check whether the shoes you’ve picked out have a genuine leather sole, or whether the sunglasses you’ve got your eye on have thicker lenses and heavy duty hinges.

GO OFTEN TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF FINDING A BARGAIN - Popping to your local charity shop on a regular basis and knowing the kind of stock that is available will increase your chances of finding a bargain. A top tip here is to shop regularly on weekdays when the shop won’t be as busy. It will also pay to visit the shop first thing in the morning, too. What’s more, it would be a good idea to chat to a member of staff to find out when the shop’s restock day is to bag your next gorgeous top at a discount.

It also pays to do your own research on the charity shop outside of social media, looking for incentives such as reward programmes. For example, the British Red Cross offers a Give and Gain Loyalty card, which gets you 20% off your first purchase, alongside various discount vouchers and offers.

RUMMAGE THROUGH THE RAILS - Unlike a high street store, a charity shop won’t have all the hottest buys displayed on one clothing rack. Rather, items are organised by colour or size, so it’s important to be patient and rummage through the rails in order to find a bargain. When it comes to selecting clothes, be sure to try them on first in order to check for any faults with the item. Even though you can return your clothes, you’d ideally want to get value for money the first time round.

CHECK OUT GLASS COMPARTMENTS TO SEE IF THERE’S ANYTHING VALUABLE OR COLLECTIBLE - When shopping at a charity shop, it’s easy to get distracted by the giant clothing rails and endless stacks of books, CDs and vinyls. But it is also important to pay attention to the little things - one of these being the glass compartments that are typically near the tills. These tend to be loaded with an assortment of the hottest jewellery, watches and even cameras - typically at a discount. So, if you’re on the hunt for some new accessories, be sure to check these out.

FOLLOW YOUR LOCAL CHARITY SHOP ON SOCIAL MEDIA - Before you head into town to thrift shop ‘til you drop, it may be worth having a look on social media to see if your local charity shop has any special sales or discounts on items on. These typically tend to be posted on social media pages like Facebook and Instagram, and is a great way to get in the know of what a particular shop has to offer.

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Aiming Higher YOU CAN DONATE TO AIMING HIGHER USING THE FOLLOWING METHODS:

WEBSITE | www.aiminghighercharity.org.uk/donate JUST GIVING | www.justgiving/aiminghigher/donate/ PAYPAL | Found on Aiming Higher website or call to make donations by phone POST | Aiming Higher, 231 – 233 Church Street, Blackpool, Lancashire FY1 3PB. To see more of what we do please visit our website www.aiminghighercharity.org.uk or follow us on facebook @aiminghighercharity, Instagram @aiming_higher_charity or twitter @ahcharity. Please ring us on 01253 206447/8 for further information.

About Aiming Higher Aiming Higher for Disabled Children & their Families is the Blackpool based charity that supports hundreds of local children and their families. The charity has been bringing the families of children with disabilities together for 10 years.

or lots of the families Aiming Higher support, it can be difficult to enjoy a family day out with friends because of the extra challenges their children face. Aiming Higher take a lot of this stress away with their monthly family trips and visits. One such trip saw the charity take 150 family members on a trip to Chester Zoo in May.

Three coaches, including one specially adapted for wheelchair users, made their way to Chester, with several other families choosing to travel by car and meet up at the zoo. Families could then choose to enjoy the day in a small family unit or with other friends they have met through the charity and with the option to join the Aiming Higher team for an informal picnic lunch. At 51 hectares, the zoo might have been a challenge for some families but with the adapted coach allowing for wheelchairs and pushchairs and ramps making even the highest parts of the zoo accessible it seems everyone had a great day! Some even borrowed the zoo’s own buggies when little legs got tired. Everyone reported that they had enjoyed the day out, would like to go

back again and were looking forward to the next event. Parents filling out the feedback form commented: “We have been isolated for a while. And this trip was just what we needed. We all had a great time. Thank you very much” “Aiming Higher Staff are amazing, very accommodating and professional. They work extremely hard to ensure families have a great day.”

If you would like more information regarding the support offered by Aiming Higher or would be interested in fundraising please give us a call on 01253-206447 or email info@aiminghighercharity.org.uk You can also view our new newsletter by visiting bit.ly/AHnewsspring2022

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Balance Counselling and Coaching Ltd

PUT YOUR LIFE IN BALANCE By Kathryn Taylor

IS IT TIME TO HAVE A REVIEW OF OUR FRIENDSHIPS?

hanges in personal relationships are often hard to deal with, as when we have a strong personal relationship it can be difficult when they change. When someone you have been close to, shared experiences with, supported and been supported by them, through good and bad times and spent so much time with either disappears from your life or is no longer there for you when they were before it can be difficult to deal with and quite stressful. We talk about relationships where people grow apart and if this is in equal measure on each side then it can still leave a tinge of sadness and loss but is relatively stress-free. When it is unexpected then it can cause feelings of stress, loss and even feel like a bereavement. It can generate self-doubt in terms of what’s wrong with me? Why don’t they want to spend time with me anymore? Where did I go wrong? What did I do? I have had many friendships that have changed over time and been in the situation where it’s been a mutual drifting apart, where I have been the one who pulled away and where I have been the one who has felt left behind. What I have come to recognise is that as relationships change over time, so do we and what we get out of them or give to others also changes. Sometimes we stay in friendships for old time’s sake, or

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because we feel obliged to, not recognising the negative impact they can be having on our lives in terms of stress. When a relationship is one-sided it can cause feelings of anger, resentment and frustration and even shame. LIFE CHANGES US AND OUR PRIORITIES When I was in my late teens and early twenties, I used to enjoy going out socialising, which really means going out drinking to the local pubs and clubs and generally went out at least six nights a week. I had a large group of friends, and we were always out together but the person who was my closest friend who at the time I would have said would be in my life forever, was the one I was always with. If you saw one of us, then you could guarantee the other one was somewhere close by. I was the quiet one whilst she was the one who didn’t care and would talk to anyone and approach anyone. She knew what she wanted and expected to get it. I have so many happy memories of that period, laughing together, going on holiday, shopping, and just generally enjoying ourselves. I also have the memories of the times things weren’t so great for either of us and had always looked back and thought that we supported each other through those times. Over time the relationship changed and by the time we were in our thirties, we had completely drifted apart. WHY DID IT CHANGE? What I recognise now, when I look back is that my values

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in life shifted and what was important to me changed. I no longer wanted to be out partying all the time, I was happy to stay in and curl up with a book or watch a good film. I became more discerning about where I wanted to go and would go. Previously my desire to go out and have an enjoyable time was the priority, and I didn’t really care where we went, so I went along with whatever was suggested. Now I refused to go to places I didn’t like, I started to say no to things. I wasn’t someone who would just do anything they wanted to anymore or agree to go places or do things just because the other person wanted to, I had to want to do it too. That didn’t mean I only did what I wanted and didn’t care about my friends’ wishes, I just wouldn’t do it all the time. This changed the dynamic of our friendship, initially, she blamed other people for influencing me and accused me of letting her down and not being a good friend, because if I was, I would do what she wanted. I also started to recognise that as long as everything went her way then she was great, and if she had any issues or struggles, she expected me to drop everything and be there for her until she got through it or I worked out a solution for her, but if it was me that was struggling or had any personal issue she wasn’t really interested and would turn things round to be about her again. This made me re-evaluate the friendship and over time I spent less and less time with her until we just stopped staying in touch.

• What connections and relationships have changed in your life? • What does the friendship provide me with? • If the friendship has changed, what purpose did it serve at the time? • How do you feel about them now? • Do you look forward to seeing them? • How do you feel when you have spent time with them? Do you feel enriched or drained? • Do you have a sense of dread about them? • What do you give/do for them? • What do they give/do for you? • Does the friendship enhance your life or take away from your own self-worth? When you have your answers consider whether you want to surround yourself with these individuals or want to change the dynamics of the friendships you have. You may want to use the above questions or your responses to them to generate a conversation with your friends to help you both recognise how you feel and potentially make some of your friendships stronger and more fulfilling for each of you.

When I look back, I realise that at the time the friendship served a purpose but as I matured and the things that were important to me in life changed the relationship had to alter too. IS IT TIME FOR YOU TO RE-ASSESS THE FRIENDSHIPS YOU HAVE WITH THE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE? Now maybe the time you want to sit down and ask yourself the following questions about the people in your life.

For a confidential discussion email: info@balancecounsellingandcoaching.co.uk or call on: 07794 143 171 or visit: www.balancecounsellingandcoaching.co.uk www.lancmag.com

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By Sarah R id gwa y

THE SOUTH LAKES The South Lakes district was formed in 1974 and sits in the county of Cumbria. The area consists of towns including Kendal, Ulverston, Windermere, Ambleside, Bowness-on-Windermere, and villages such as Grasmere, Coniston, Hawkshead and Sedbergh.

he population is under fifty thousand, and there are six times as many sheep as people. The Kendal and Windermere Railway, also known as the Lakes Line, extended to Windermere in April 1847, opening it up to tourism from the rest of the country. Today, up to 15 million people visit the Lakes every year, and tourism is the main source of income employing many locals. Despite being one of the wettest places in the UK, it remains

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a firm favourite with visitors. The area receives around thirty-five metres of rain each year, totalling an average of 200 wet days. The area of outstanding beauty became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017 and has inspired poets and writers such as William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter. Bowness-on-Windermere is the town on the shore of the lake and a thriving tourist spot. It is the South Lakes’ most popular tourist destination and people come to enjoy the town’s atmosphere and the water sports on the lake. During the Victorian times, wealthy business owners built large properties in the area, and many have now been converted into hotels. The World of Beatrix Potter is a huge draw for all ages who want to learn about the much-loved writer’s life and of course a souvenir from the gift shop to take home. Lake Windermere is 10.5 miles long, 1 mile wide and 220

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feet deep, and is the largest natural lake in England. In 1895 the lake completely iced over for six weeks, and visitors would walk across.

AMBLESIDE  Ambleside sits in the beautiful Rothay valley and has a population of around 2,600. The bustling market town is in the national park and surrounded by fells making it popular with walkers and climbers. Home to one of the most photographed scenes in Lakeland, The Bridge House, a tiny house over Stock Beck. The small house has just two rooms and is free to visit and owned by the National Trust. The poet William Wordsworth had an office on Church Street, and the Armitt Library & Museum Centre is a great place to learn more about the town’s history. www.lancmag.com

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GRASMERE 

KENDAL 

The village of Grasmere is nestled at the foot of some stunning fells and is home to the famous Grasmere Gingerbread. Sarah Nelson invented Grasmere Gingerbread in 1854, the gingerbread shop is next to St Oswald’s church and can only fit a few people so expect to see queues outside the door. The unique spicy and sweet snack became very popular and today the business is run by third-generation owners Joanne and Andrew Hunter. The village is picture perfect with cobbled streets, oil lit lamp posts and full of tea shops, cafes, and independent shops. Grasmere was home to poet William Wordsworth who described it as “the loveliest spot that man hath ever found”. His home Dove Cottage is now a museum about the poet’s life welcoming tens of thousands of visitors each year, and in 2020 the Wordsworth Museum also opened. The poet is buried alongside family members in St Oswald’s church.

Kendal is the gateway to Lakes and boasts an impressive shopping scene with a blend of independent and modern high street brands. The Creative Quarter showcases the very best businesses based in Kendal. Many brands take their inspiration from the surrounding area including Cable & Blake who use the local Herwick wool to create their fabrics.

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Kendal Mint Cake is an iconic sugary piece of confectionery with a peppermint flavour originating from the area. The recipe is a secret and is said to have been created by accident in 1869 by Joseph Wiper who was trying to make mints. Quiggin’s is the oldest surviving company producing the cake and moved its premises from the Isle of Man to Kendal in 1880. Wilsons founded in 1913 and Romney’s founded in 1918 also still produce the confectionary. The mint cakes proved

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a popular snack for mountaineering, and in 1953 Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay fuelled their attempt to ascend Mt Everest with them. The cake is high in glucose and provides a source of energy and has been touted as the world’s first energy bar! www.lancmag.com

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THE LEGEND OF THE TIZZIEWHIZIE The Lakes is full of historic buildings, castles, and mysterious woodlands, with a host of folklore, tales of witches and mystical creatures mainly around Lake Windermere. Scotland might have the famous Loch Ness monster, but the Lakes have the Tizzie-Whizie. This elusive creature was said to have the body of a hedgehog, a bushy tail, and a set of wings likened to a butterfly. The shy creature was spotted along the shores of Windermere, and the first sighting was in 1900 by a Bowness boatman. It wasn’t until 1906 that a Tizzie-Whizie was captured and taken hastily to a photographic studio to prove its existence. The photographer took a picture before the creature made a dash for freedom and flew out of the window. The hunt for the creature continued, but was never spotted again, so keep an eye out when near the lake because you never know.

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THE WINDERMERE CHILDREN This little-known tale of the Windermere children was brought to life in a BBC drama in 2020. It is estimated that approximately 90 per cent of Jewish children were murdered in the Holocaust and in 1945, three hundred orphaned child survivors were welcomed by the people of the Lake District. The children who arrived in August had been through a very traumatic time and came to recuperate and get back to normality. The children were housed at Calgarth Estate where they were free to regain their lost childhoods with volunteer therapists on site to help and treat the children for trauma. They were encouraged to join in with local sporting opportunities such as swimming in the lake and playing football. The children arrived with no English but were said to have quickly caught up. Over a six-month period, the children were gradually re-homed across the UK and the estate was empty by early 1946.

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 THE TALE OF BEATRIX POTTER  The beloved children’s writer remains a huge part of the Lake District and attracts thousands of visitors every year from all over the world. Born in 1866, she grew up in a house full of animals, and she and her brother loved to draw and paint them. When she was sixteen years old, Beatrix and her family spent their first summer in the Lake District. The family stayed at Wray Castle which lies on the western shore of Windermere. The young girl spent an idyllic summer sketching the stunning surroundings and its local wildlife. The budding writer spent many more summers in the Lake District, and it was here she first began writing picture stories which she gave her friends and relatives to read. In 1905 after publishing her first book The Tale of Peter Rabbit, she used the proceeds to buy a small farm in the village of Near Sawrey named Hill Top. Beatrix would often travel to Hill Top from London to write and paint, and acquired an interest in farming, especially the local breed of sheep, called the Herdwick, native to the area. The writer did not live at Hill Top; but she wrote thirteen of www.lancmag.com

her twenty-three books here and took much inspiration from its garden. The National Trust manages the property as a museum and the interior and furnishings are just as the writer left them.

THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT The well-loved tale was inspired by a letter she wrote to the son of one of her friends, and surprisingly was rejected by several publishers. The writer was undeterred and had 250 copies printed herself for friends and family. In 1901 Frederick Warne & Co, a publisher who had originally turned the book down decided to publish it, and by 1902 was an instant best seller. The following year The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin and The Tailor of Gloucester was published, and a Peter Rabbit doll went on sale. The doll had a registered patent and is believed to be the oldest patented literary character in the world. The writer went on to invent a Peter Rabbit board game, tea sets, and other books followed. In 2016 a first edition of The Tale of Peter Rabbit sold at auction for £43,4000 and remains as popular as ever with today’s children

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In 1923 the writer bought Troutbeck farm, then one of the largest in the area to save it from development. With the help of the local shepherd, Tom Storey she began breeding Herdwick sheep to protect them as the breed was under threat. Beatrix and Tom would go on to win awards at local agricultural shows, which are still on display at Hill Top. Over the years Beatrix would purchase more land across the area and went on to marry local solicitor, William Heelis. The pair lived in Castle Cottage, in Near Sawrey from 1913 until the author died in 1943. During her marriage, Beatrix wrote fewer books as her passion was farming, protecting the local land and community. Beatrix was a good friend of Canon Rawnsley who set up the Lake District Defense Society in 1883. 140

Beatrix worked closely with the National Trust intending to preserve the Lake District for future generations. Beatrix bequeathed Troutbeck Park to the National Trust and supported the trust by raising funds from selling signed drawings of Peter Rabbit to American fans. Beatrix Potter died in 1943 and left 4,000 acres of land, which included buildings and fifteen farms to the National Trust; many of the farms at her request are still in operation today.

THINGS TO DO IN THE SOUTH LAKES TAKE A BOAT ON LAKE WINDERMERE You can hire a boat to go at your own pace or opt for a cruise and sit back and enjoy the stunning views of the famous lake.

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VISIT THE HOME OF BEATRIX POTTER

GO STARGAZING

Wander through the rooms of the beloved author’s home, to get close to her favourite things including paintings, photographs, and memorabilia. Finish your visit in the picturesque garden which inspired many of Potter’s books. GET WALKING The South Lakes are a walker’s paradise who can enjoy the many fells, ambling through tranquil woodlands, historic castles and round the area’s picturesque villages.

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The Lake District makes the perfect spot for star gazers as it is one of the darkest places in the UK. Take your pick of places to view the sky at night from looking up at the stars. KENDAL CALLING This music & arts festival is held every year at Lowther Deer Park. It began in 2006 as a two-day event with a capacity of 900 people and has evolved into a four-day event for up to 25,000 people. The multi-awardwinning summer favourite is back this year after being cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, and the impressive line-up includes Craig David, Stereophonics and Sophie Ellis-Bextor to name a few.

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Black Pines Announce Their New EP ‘Talk of The Devil’, and Release New Single ‘Saint’

Following on from a flurry of releases over the last few years, which has included their breakthrough singles ‘Heaven’s Son’, ‘Power’ and ‘Hope’ in 2020, and their stripped-back collection ‘Isolation Tapes’ in early 2021, Essex band Black Pines have now returned to announce the details behind their eagerly-awaited new EP ‘Talk Of The Devil’, showcased by the new lead track ‘Saint’.

eaturing the previously shared cuts ‘Chains’, ‘Fire And Stone’ and ‘Get What’s Coming’, their newest collection ‘Talk Of The Devil’ aims to cement their blistering legacy of the last few months. Speaking about the EP, they said, “For our debut EP, we wanted to create something that never ceases to develop, evolve and excite. We wanted to make five songs that sounded huge, told a unifying story and stayed fresh and new with each song. “Themes of oppression, claustrophobia and control all take their place in the EP, but not always in the way you’d expect. Some tracks lift you up and others feel more vulnerable - I think an emotional journey is vital with any record worth listening to. “Whether we’re singing about relationships, society or grief, I think there’s songs in the EP everyone can relate to and jump onboard with.” 142

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Much like what we have heard so far, the new single ‘Saint’ continues that rich and shimmering alt-rock direction the band have cultivated for themselves. Jam-packed with raw and passionate emotion, they look to create a more heartfelt addition to this new EP, gifting us some of their most captivating songwriting to date. Adding about ‘Saint’, “Saint is definitely the most personal and darkest song we’ve written to date. In its conception, the lyrics were written as a kind of therapy, whilst dealing with grief and loss. “Though the song starts sad, there’s definitely a mounting aggression or frustration that forms thematically and sonically. That was important to me when the song was developing, it’s the notion that the day you lose someone isn’t the worst - it’s all the days after that they stay lost; this song is about dealing with that permanence. “The track began as an acoustic voice-note from our guitarist, who had lost a few close friends in the years before, during and after lockdown. The title ‘Saint’ pertains to one of those individuals, as a kind of homage to him, his family and all those that have lost someone dear to them.” ‘Talk Of The Devil’ will be released on the 29th July with ‘Saint’ available to stream from the 3rd June. https://soundcloud.com/blackpinesmusic/black-pinessaint-master/s-Gj3aaY8VQPv?in=blackpinesmusic/sets/ talk-of-the-devil-ep//s-XxmLDfUBEdg www.lancmag.com

Outdoor Theatre is Coming to Bolton School

Local primary school children and their teachers are invited to Bolton School to enjoy a new magical outdoor theatre production called ‘The Lost Words: Told in Gold’.

he production is the official adaptation of the book ‘The Lost Words’ by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris and has been adapted and directed by Collette Murray. It will be performed by UnderSong Productions and has been described as suitable for family audiences and the young at heart of any age. A woodland theatre-trail for all ages, ‘The Lost Words: Told in Gold’ production takes it audience through a giant goldfinch nest through to a woodland, featuring stunning 3D installations of Morris’ golden illustrations and Macfarlane’s words. Audiences are invited to seek, find and speak the lost words; spells wrapped around trees, words to be discovered in the undergrowth and perched on branches like starlings. Let new words take and root and thrive and grow!

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Recommissioned by Bolton School and supported by Arts Council England, ‘Told in Gold’ will come alive in the school grounds and then tour across the local area visiting Bolton at Home community centres.

and when there will also be a Gala as well as two public shows on Saturday 16 July.

UnderSong Productions’ exciting new show will take place across the school day in their huge goldfinch nest dome, with the School’s beautiful woodland as the backdrop.

‘If a three year old can be totally taken by it without understanding the deeper meaning of it and me to be in tears watching it, it is the perfect package.’

Ticket numbers for each show are limited to 50 in accordance with the dome’s capacity and are on sale now (£10 each) via the email mentioned. A free ticket for accompanying staff is available per every 15 pupil tickets purchased.

‘If you hear of this being performed anywhere near you, go see it!’

The shows run times are 10am, 12.30pm and 2.30pm on every day between 11-15 July and 18-22 July. Bolton School’s own pupils from Infant School to Year 7 will enjoy the production from 27 June to 8 July. There will also be two weekend days when the show is open to non-school groups: 2nd July when it airs for Youth Zone and Bolton School’s Saturday Social club with the Octagon Theatre

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Positive audience feedback about the show includes:

‘An immense theatrical performance that captivated adults and children alike.’ Primary schools are also encouraged to get involved. UnderSong Productions would love attending primary schools to take part in a mass art exhibition and costume parade that will decorate the inside of their huge Goldfinch nest theatre. Please contact UnderSongProductions@ hotmail.com to book your tickets and for further information and they will send you a digital pack with some ideas for becoming an honorary ‘Goldfinch’ school. www.lancmag.com

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DEBORAH LILITH HATSWELL is a phenomenonist, writer, podcaster, Investigator and the founding member of the Being Believed Research and Investigations group. Deborah is the UK’s leading expert on the British Bigfoot and Dogman phenomenon and she has taken or researched over 3,000 personal witness reports from all across the globe. Deborah is based in Lancashire and has formed a team of volunteer investigators researching the many witness reports that are reported each week to BBR. Deborah is a witness herself to an impossible creature that she saw in 1982: “It took 30 years for me to find an official body that would take myself and my experience seriously. During those years, I found thousands of people in a similar position. Their experiences were with Reptilian or Cryptid Creatures, Alien Beings and Shadow People, Invisible Entities and all manner of Dimensional Entities. Many of the witnesses are abductees who have had a lifetime of interaction. Some families have had to deal with phenomena for generations. There are cattle mutilations and missing people all across the UK.”

WAS IT PEGGY LANTERN THE BOGGART OF CRIME LAKE?

There is a ghost called ‘Peggy’s Lantern’, in the village of Woodhouses, just outside Failsworth. It’s said the ghost can be seen walking with a lantern or you will hear the ring of her bell along the lake. Peg is sometimes called the Boggart of Crime lake. The lake is man made and was made as a result of flooding caused by a canal culvert blocking the Crime Valley, Crime Lake was formed in 1795. It is said there are two cottages set beneath the murky depths. Peggy’s lantern was a name known by our first witness, Claire is local to the area and her parents still live close by. Peggy Lantern or Peg ‘O’ Lantern is a local tale, told to children who dared to visit the Crime lake area. As a child Claire would play there with others and the children would hear things moving around in the woodland. Many years later in her teens Claire had an experience she has never forgotten. Close to Crime lake and the Daisy Nook nature reserve there is a small public house. No longer used as a pub, it is now an Italian Restaurant but the building remains the same. This is the pub Claire visited that night, and the old red phone box is still outside. Claire explains what happened to her that night in her own words: “As a child we used to come down here to play, we would often hear strange noises in the bushes and we just put it down to the local legend of Peg ‘o’ Lantern. We would all think it was just older kids trying to scare us. If you played near the canal you would hear the bell or the lantern and we would all run for home. There would sometimes be rustling and sounds of movement, but nothing you could see or make out. When I was around 19 I was on a date with a lad that I was seeing and we went to the pub that has the little phone box next to it. It was called The Crime View at the time. Now it’s an Italian restaurant. If I remember correctly I had maybe half a larger and we had both been playing pool. It was still early and we left the pub and walked a little ways down the road. We were both standing there just chatting on the pavement close to the trees. Then from nowhere came this mighty ‘roar’. I don’t know how to describe it, it wasn’t a growl or a roar, more a mixture of the two. It was nothing that myself or the lad I was with

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recognised. It wasn’t your usual wildlife, it wasn’t a fox or a deer or anything like that. The ‘roar’ was coming from a place on level with us, but the land has a steep embankment here. So whatever growled was either really, really tall or it was in one of the trees close to us. I can’t describe just how deep this roar was. It was like a lion’s roar, a very deep baritone roar. It was so shocking. We both just froze to the spot, and I turned to the lad and asked him, “did you hear that”? and he said “that big roar, yes I did”? At this point he suggested we go and wait in the old phone box and call my Dad to come and get us. As I was ringing my Dad we were both holding onto the small glass partitions on the box in the hope of keeping the door shut, tight. For all we didn’t see anything that could have made that roar, it was so deep and so loud it had to be close. I have asked myself over the years if we really did hear it, and I know we did. People have asked me if it was just a person, or a sick animal. Iv never heard anything like that roar before or since. It was a deep guttural ‘raaaaaaaah’. I have tried to recreate it over the years but I can’t. The slope on the embankment is really steep and it could not have been a person from the pub or any human playing a prank. When I got home I told my Mum and Dad what had happened and my Dad said ‘don’t worry about that, it’s probably nothing, but he did say not to go there again at night. I remember gripping that phone box door and holding on tight which is pretty impossible to do” At this point I asked our witness to tell me some more about the experiences she had close by when she was a child. I wanted to know if the rustling noises she heard playing as a child had any connection to the experience close to the pub. She explained: “If my parents had known I was playing down near Crime lake at night I would have been in big trouble. One particular day I remember there was a group of us, a mix of girls and lads. I was about 10 years old then and we were all hearing these large rustling noises coming from the trees close to the path and behind the fence. It was dark in there as there wasn’t much light within the trees. It was just this one noise and we all set off running like rockets. All we could think about was the legend of Peggy

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Deborah set up BBR to help those people find somewhere they could report their experiences to and encourages them to investigate the cases and theories for themselves. Now it is time to bring all of the socalled ‘alternative subjects’ under the same roof and let’s share our knowledge bases in the hopes of answering some of the still unanswered questions...

and that she was coming to get us. I know most towns have a legend that scares kids and Peggy Lantern was the one we heard about the most back then. I did tell my parents what happened and I was grounded for being down near Crime lake at night.” I went out and met Claire in early May 2022. It was lovely meeting up with the witness at Daisy nook, we were able to sit in the cafe and have a coffee while we chatted about similar paranormal events we had as children. Claire remembered being very small and asking her Mum to move the ‘raggedy witch’ who would be crouched under the unit at night. Claire explained “Mum would come in and remove her, and then I could settle down and sleep. I remember playing ‘dead’ under the covers so the things in my room would leave me alone.” I think like many of us our witness has had a lifetime of strange events, and these experiences run in families as we know. I chatted with Claire’s daughter about an event she remembers when on some nights at home as a young child something would caress her hair and gently tuck it behind her ear, in what at first was a frightening experience that over time became less scary. I wonder just how many people experienced strange things in their room as children? And I wonder if those people are still experiencing the Paranormal as an adult.

...Until next time, Deborah

E debbiehatswell@gmail.com | D debhatswell.wordpress.com | T BbrDeborah PATREON: www.patreon.com/DeborahHatswellBigfootReports YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/channel/UCYGn8pR90PO_oBzO jiZ23tA/ SPREAKER: www.spreaker.com/show/british-bigfoot APPLE PODCASTS: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/british-bigfoot-dogman/id1480592906?uo=4 www.lancmag.com

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Colour and Style

www.sarahharrisstyle.co.uk

OUR SECTION ON COLOUR AND STYLE WITH S A R A H H A R R I S F R O M ‘ CO LO U R M E B E AU T I F U L’ HOLIDAY VIBES

I’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 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. E sarah@sarahharrisstyle.co.uk D www.sarahharrisstyle.co.uk 148

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ugust is here and summer is at last upon us! Holidays are at the forefront of most people’s minds whether ‘home or away’ it’s a chance to re wind and enjoy the warmer weather.

I've decided to dedicate this month to all things holiday, to ensure that you look your very best on the beach, by the pool or drinking a cocktail at the bar!

TRAVEL IN STYLE THIS SUMMER After two years of not being able to travel very far it’s time to re-look at Holiday Packing, dust your suitcase and prepare for that long awaited beach holiday! And instead of packing everything but the kitchen sink let’s look at what to pack and clever packing tips that will make your holiday less stressful. Having a wardrobe full of clothes and nothing to wear is awful but taking it with you on holiday is even more stressful! How often do you find you take a suitcase PACKED with outfits, only to return with (at least) half of them un-worn? This Summer, I’m giving you my top tips and insider tricks to ensure you can travel LIGHT and in STYLE and no more excess baggage charges!

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PLAN IT OUT If you're going away for a two week beach holiday ask yourself honestly how many daytime outfits you really need. Chances are you'll be spending most of your time in swimwear and a cover-up. If you plan to wear each cover-up three times then really you only need four or five daytime outfit options to see you through a two week holiday. The same applies to evening outfit options too; wear each item three times and take separates so you can mix and match them, as well as a few accessories to ensure you can keep variety throughout your trip.

1. BE BODY CONFIDENT Remember we are all in this together. Everyone will be in swimwear and no-one will be scrutinising our wobbly bits. Treat yourself to a fabulous new bikini or one-piece. It’s worth paying a little extra for the hidden support and good cut. I love this one from Fantasie, a brand that offers different styles and cuts to suit every shape. Each range has a variety of bikini tops, bottoms, one pieces and tankinis. The asymmetric pattern is very flattering on all body shapes, see below.

You can always treat yourself and use the hotel laundry service during your stay too. DOWNSIZE There's no need to take full-size beauty products away with you. Decant them into smaller bottles which will take up much less space in your suitcase. I would recommend taking minimum make-up products. Stick with your tried and tested favourites. Go for a more natural look on holiday as it will allow your skin to breathe and your natural beauty to shine through. PACK SMART Get organised with separate garment bags for your clothes. I recommend using separate bags for each type of clothing so you can easily see what you have and ensure you wear it, it is like having a portable well organised wardrobe!

 La Chiva Twist Front Swimsuit - www.fantasie.com

Another good pattern is the animal print and I found the perfect one in next whilst out shopping www.next.co.uk which has tummy control and comes in different patterns and colours.

They are also great for keeping accessories separate from your clothes so that they can’t pull or damage clothing. You can purchase them from Amazon, Etsy, Shein and Mull amongst others.

 White Animal Print Tummy Control Swimsuit - www.next.co.uk

 Cotton Travel Storage Bags - www.shein.co.uk

For those more conscious and in need of more cover a swim dress is perfect and this one by Next comes in three different colours and goes up to a size 30.

 Linen Eco-friendly Dust Bag Travel Bag - www.etsy.com

 Animal Print Swim Dress - www.next.co.uk

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This tropical print tankini is very flattering especially for those who are concerned about the tummy area.

If you prefer more cover this beautiful lightweight Maxi dress from Kettlewell Colours is perfect as it is easy to pack and will take you from the beach to the bar!

 Langkawi Tankini - www.fantasie.com

Joules have a great selection of Bikinis Bottoms which can be worn with a Bikini or Tankini top as seen below.

 Melissa Maxi Dress in Apple - www.kettlewellcolours.co.uk

3. BAG IT A chic beach bag is a must for any seaside retreat. Use it to complement your poolside wardrobe. Jute or straw is a good option. It’s sturdy enough to keep its shape, even if the bottom gets wet, and the neutral tones work with most colours. Consider your scale when you’re selecting the perfect bag. Generally the larger your frame, the larger you can go with your bag.  Left: Sandy Tie Front Bikini Top & Tie Side Bottoms in Bee Stripe Right: Sandy Tie Front Tankini & Bottoms - www.joules.com 

2. COVER UP A pretty beach cover is a stylish staple with a multi-purpose. As well as protecting you from the sun, it’s useful to pop over your swimwear at lunchtime and a great confidence booster if you really don’t like to walk around the pool in just a bikini. Choose a shape and colour that flatters you and you’ll feel a million dollars!  Sam Ubhi Wicker Basket & Tiff Tiffy Scarlett

Silk Kaftan - www.saharalondon.com

 Crochet Embroidered Kimono Cover Up - www.next.co.uk

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 Pure Cotton Longline

Beach Cover Up Shirt - www.marksandspencers.co.uk

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Straw Mini Tote Bag & Cotton Embroidered Beach Dress  - www.marksandspencers.com

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4. MAKE A STATEMENT WITH YOUR SHADES Sunglasses are functional but they don’t have to be boring. First think about the shape of your face. I usually suggest to go opposite, so for example, a round face will look best in squarer frames. Then choose a colour that flatters your skin tone. This will also depend on your Style personality. Eva Dave of Style Optique in Market Drayton has a wonderful collection and her customised styling advice will find you the perfect pair of sunglasses that will not only suit your Colouring but also complement your Style Personality.

6. ACCESSORISE  Weave Panama Hat - www.next.co.uk  Aviator Sunglasses - www.ray-ban.com

Hats are also a summer essential as they shade you from the strong sunlight and are a really stylish accessory especially when worn with chic pair of sunglasses! The model above left looks stunning in her relaxed chic style but remember to choose a style that suits your face shape, size and proportions. There is nothing worse than seeing a petite in a large sunhat that drowns their dainty features or equally a tiny hat on someone of larger scale! The eye is drawn to the jewellery which means we can use this to our advantage. Divert the eye away from your not-so-good bits by layering pretty bracelets on your wrist. Choose your best metal. Warm skin tones suit gold, whilst cool skin tones look gorgeous in silver.

 Sunglasses Courtesy of Eva Dave - www.styleoptique.co.uk

Finlay and Co. also have a great selection and they have a new sustainable collection which are handcrafted from Italian Mazzucchelli acetate which is not only better for the environment but also stronger.

 Rose Gold Charm Bracelet -

www.kettlewellcolours.co.uk

 Vivian with Marmalade / Green Lenses - www.finlayandco.com

5. BARE MINIMUM MAKE-UP

Don’t forget to pack a scarf! I always take one in my hand luggage as the temperature changes when flying, also it is useful for over your shoulders when the evening gets cooler and it adds a pop of colour to your outfit! Cashmere Gauze Stole  - www.kettlewellcolours.co.uk

Have a wonderful Summer and whether you are holidaying in the United Kingdom or going away on a beach holiday think carefully about what you are packing! If you need any help please do contact me.  Colour Me Beautiful Make-up - www.colourmebeautiful.co.uk

No-one wants to wear a full make-up by the pool, but a light application can give you that extra confidence boost. Our tinted moisturiser is lightweight and packed with conditioners to hydrate the skin. Add a sweep of golden sand or galactic frost highlighter across your cheeks and forehead and you’ll be oozing poolside glamour. Top up with a slick of lip gloss in your best colour before you head to the bar for a lunchtime cocktail!

Look after yourselves and each other! Warm Wishes, Sarah x

E sarah@sarahharrisstyle.co.uk D www.sarahharrisstyle.co.uk

Style

CARMEN POMIÈS Football Legend and Heroine of the French Resistance By Chris Rowe

armen Pomiès (1900-1982) is a significant figure in the history of women’s football in the interwar years. Carmen was in the first generation of women’s sport in France, first in athletics, winning medals throwing the javelin in international competitions, and playing football for Fémina Sports and France from 1920. Her life in sport is intertwined with key personalities such as Alice Milliat and Violette Morris.

Mlle Carmen Pomiès, captain of the French football team, prepares to dive from the high board into the pool at Blackpool, watched by Marjorie Thomas of the English team. (Getty)

• Carmen Pomiés’ life is terrific life story, linking a fascinating individual to the events of the 20th century: two world wars, the advance of women’s rights; society in France; migration; culture and society in post-war America. • She is a significant figure in the history of women’s football in the interwar years, playing an important role in the game in England as well as France. • Much of the history written about women’s football so far has been interesting but rather parochial. The story of Carmen Pomiès is genuinely international, though it links closely with the familiar history of women’s football in England. • 100th anniversary of the FA ‘ban’ against the women’s game in 1921.

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Carmen also played a huge part in the story of women’s football in England: she played many times for and against the famous Dick, Kerr Ladies of Preston, including their 1922 football tour of the United States. Carmen became almost an honorary Englishwoman, making lifelong friends of important footballers such as Florrie Redford, Lily Parr and Lizzy Ashcroft. During these years, Carmen was not only a player but also an important influence in promoting the game and fighting for equality. Carmen also had fascinating siblings: her brother Georges was a film star and famous modern dancer who died tragically young, her older sister Hélène was a left-wing author and translator. From 1940 Carmen was secretary to a famous film star, Renée SaintCyr, and was active in the French Resistance. In 1946, she settled in Rochester NY before moving to New York to work for the United Nations. From 1956, her life is shrouded in mystery because of gaps in the evidence. She died in France in 1982. So her life is about much more than just football!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Chris Rowe was born in Liverpool. He studied at Liverpool University, followed by postgraduate studies in London, Vienna and Providence, Rhode Island. He was a lecturer at the University of Victoria, Canada, specialising in the Age of Discovery before returning to England as Head of History at Winstanley College for 30 years. He was a Chief Examiner, setting A level History examinations, and author of textbooks, mostly on 20th century Europe. From 2003, he worked with the Council of Europe and Euroclio, training history teachers east of the former Iron Curtain. He joined Historiana as assistant editor in 2010 and from 2016 has authored materials for Football Makes History. This is his first book for Pen and Sword.

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Carmen Pomiès by Chris Rowe, ISBN: 9781399091701 is available NOW in hardback from www.pen-and-sword.co.uk RRP £25

QA & WITH CHRIS ROWE

Who was Carmen Pomiès? Carmen was a ‘posh girl from Paris’ who became one of the outstanding female footballers in the years between the two world wars. Carmen was many times captain of France, played on tours abroad, to England, Portugal and the United States, and was an important ambassador for the women’s game. Carmen also had a fascinating life outside football. Her older sister was the editor and author of several books. Her younger brother was a film star and an internationally famous modern dancer. Carmen herself was secretary to a famous film actress, Renèe Saint-Cyr. During the German occupation from 1940, Carmen was active in the French resistance. After the war, she went to live in the United States before returning to France at the end of her life.

You have said that you had never even heard of Carmen Pomiès until you were 78 years old; how did you come to write a book about her? It’s an intriguing question, even for me as the author. By 2002, when I retired from classroom teaching, I’d had two careers in History: first as a lecturer at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, specialising in the Age Discovery; then as head of the History department at

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Winstanley College near Wigan, mostly teaching modern European history. On the side, I was a senior examiner for History A levels, and wrote textbooks on 20th-century history. None of this had anything to do with Carmen Pomiès, though I did start teaching and writing about social and cultural history – and this often involved looking at the importance of sport in society. It was in my third career, as a freelance consultant working with international history projects for the Council of Europe and EuroClio (based in The Hague, EuroClio links together national history associations across Europe) that I became involved with History educators working on issues relating to history and citizenship. This took me to many places in Europe, such as Moldova, Ukraine, Cyprus, Estonia, Bosnia, and Tomsk in Siberia. The purpose was always to encourage History teaching that was transnational and from many perspectives, not just one-sided nationalism. A central theme was the value of social and cultural history as something universal, shared by people everywhere, and how it could be less divisive than studying wars, revolutions, and national histories Sorry for the lengthy History teacher’s explanation here! But working around Europe really changed my life and the ways I thought about History.

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Can you tell us how all this connects to Carmen Pomiès?

Trust me, it really does! By 2016, at a EuroClio conference in Belfast, a group of friends and colleagues was ready to launch our plan to use football as a way of enticing young people to look deeper into history. The result was a new website, footballmakeshistory.eu – a way to showcase stories, videos and learning activities that would provide, we hoped, a ‘toolkit’ full of attention-grabbing sources that would use enthusiasm for football as a ‘hook’ to get students and educators thinking about big themes like politics, migration, identity, diversity and equality. My special role was providing Football Makes History with 100+ football life stories, and that’s where Carmen Pomiès came into my life. Hers was one of the first of these life stories to go online.

What did you hope to achieve through your 100+ life stories? And why was Carmen one of the first? Choosing names for the life stories was not about ‘rounding up the usual suspects’ – the football stars everyone already knew about. Instead of a ‘Hall of Fame’, the idea was to get young people interested in the hidden histories beyond who won the most trophies or scored the most goals. Every life had to have an important backstory: Black players and coaches held back by racism, Jewish footballers who died in Auschwitz, football people who were victims of discrimination, alcoholism, or depression. Because we wanted to be inclusive and promote equality, it was obvious that a number of the life stories selected had to be women. Some of those selected, like Lily Parr, Florrie Redford and Violette Morris were obvious choices but, as I began collecting evidence about them, Carmen Pomiès was featured over and over again. At first, I was just curious, but it did not take long for me to be absolutely hooked.

What made Carmen’s story stand out as the one you wanted to write a book about?

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Partly, it was just the fascination of discovering somebody absolutely new to me but there was more to it than that. Carmen seemed to be everywhere. As I researched my life stories on women in football, great English names like Lily Parr and Florrie Redford, great French names like Violette Morris and Alice Milliat, known in France as the ‘Suffragette of Sport’, Carmen Pomiès cropped up over and over again. She was best friends with Lily and Florrie. Her life was intertwined with Violette’s, competing with her on the football pitch and in athletics, as a javelin thrower winning medals in international competitions. Carmen’s story drew me into things I’d only half grasped about the history of women’s football. I belatedly realised how widely the women’s game spread after the First World War and how much interest it generated. More significantly, I discovered the extent and intensity of the nasty antifeminist backlash against women’s football – how women footballers came under attack from maledominated organisations, from social conservatives, from unkind cartoonists, from the churches, from right-wing politicians. It became clear that women like Carmen were not just fighting to keep playing football; they were warriors in a culture war, fighting for equality. This search for equality became a key theme of my book.

How satisfying was the experience of researching and writing your book? I didn’t do it on my own! I was also lucky enough to have help from inspiring friends and colleagues in my quest to find out about women’s football and about Carmen. Marcel Put, a Dutch member of the Football Makes History team, has been a terrific researcher digging for new information and documentary evidence. Helge Faller from Germany, probably the best-informed expert on the history of women’s football in interwar Europe, has generously shared his vast specialist knowledge. Steve Bolton, the grandson of a famous Dick, Kerr Ladies player, Lizzy Ashcroft, has become a valued new friend, as obsessively enthusiastic as me about Carmen and owner

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of a wonderful archive of historic documents and photographs. My older brother, Ian, a French teacher who has travelled more widely around France than anyone I know, has been my minder as I collected books and articles in French and acquired copyright permissions from the National Library of France. At a conference in Eindhoven in January 2020, I met Petra Landers, one of the top players for Germany in women’s international football in the 1980s. Having Petra as a new friend has been inspiring, because she is not only a famous football player of the past but goes frequently to Zambia and Ghana to coach young African girls on how to play the game and how to train a new generation of coaches. Petra also took part in the Climb to Equality, when international women footballers trekked up Mount Kilimanjaro to play in the Level Playing Field match at the summit of the mountain. Working with these marvellous helpers has been a pleasure and a privilege. Also, writing the book has coincided almost exactly with the pandemic. My travels around Europe were halted. People of my age went into a sort of house arrest, meeting friends and family only online or on the phone. So, Carmen became my lockdown therapy, something to think about and look forward to every day. How lucky is that?

How do you feel about your book now it’s finished?

Very happy, I think. It’s good that now I’ve finished the book I like Carmen just as much or even more than when I started, which is not always the case when authors write about someone they did not know much about before. I also like the way Carmen’s life fits in with the twentieth-century history I taught my students about. On a personal note, I like the way Carmen’s life has some parallels with my own. Like Carmen, I was mad about sports, especially team games. Like Carmen, I sailed across the Atlantic in my early twenties. (She sailed from Liverpool to Quebec in 1922, and I sailed to New York with Queen Elizabeth in 1965). She went to live in North America, in Rochester and New York, in 1946 but later

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returned to France; I lived five years in Western Canada from 1967 but came home to England a few years later. Finally, I even quite like the fact that I have not been able to find

everything about Carmen’s life. There is a lot of mystery about what happened to her after 1960, or when exactly she returned from America to France. This might seem frustrating

but part of being a good historian is understanding the things you do not know. It’s quite comforting there are things for someone after me to find out and finish the story.

The Deepdale Memorial to Dick, Kerr Ladies, installed 1917 Carmen is third in the line, Lily Parr is first; Florrie Redford sixth (Lancashire Photography)

 DAMEN FUSSBALL – WETTKAMPF MIT KÛSSEN | [Sporting Contest With Kisses] International Competition in London. In a new fashion, instead of shaking hands, the lady captains kiss each other before the kick-off Ball in hand, French captain Carmen Pomiès leads her team out onto the field of play with enthusiasm for the battle to come. A German postcard from 1925 shows Carmen Pomiès with Florrie Redford at the kick-off, France v England, Herne Hill, London, 1925. (Ullstein Bild/Getty)

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CHERRY BLOSSOM By Dave J Critchley bosses, brings his unique personality to each page. He shares anecdotes of his time in China, while many of the recipes are also influenced by Dave’s expanding knowledge of flavour combinations. The book’s title ‘Cherry Blossom’ reflects its strong association with China. Each spring it coats the Far East nation in blankets of pink – filling the air and fragrance and offering a sense of new beginnings.

New book from award-winning chef Dave Critchley reveals the influences of Chinese culinary art and Lu Ban recipes.

Cherry Blossom captures that feeling – with eye-catching photography of the mouth-watering dishes, while Dave’s journey into the world of Chinese food and culture is still very much at its start.

hef Dave Critchley is a whirlwind of creativity – in the kitchen, in business, and in the community.

The last apprentice of Master Wu, Dave continues to learn the culinary arts and his expanding knowledge of flavours influence the food and menu at Lu Ban restaurant, which distinguishes it from any other restaurant in the country.

Now, the western world’s first and only apprentice to a Chinese Master chef has found time to turn author – with Cherry Blossom (hardback, 224pp).

The recipes in the book are inspired by Dave’s travels and experiences in China and each recipe in the book has featured on the Lu Ban menu.

It plots his rise and dedication to Chinese culinary arts and also features more than 75 recipes created and served at Liverpool’s award-winning Lu Ban Restaurant, for readers to recreate at home.

Across more than 200 pages, Dave, in partnership with Lu Ban director and fellow chef Mike Mounfield, delivers a wealth of appetising options across defined chapters and catering for all tastes with meat, fish and vegetarian dishes.

The award-winning chef, who has just seen Lu Ban named Liverpool’s best restaurant by the city’s tourism

Chapters include snacks, soups, dim sum, small plates, large plates, side dishes, dumplings and desserts.

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Cherry Blossom by Dave J Critchley is available NOW in hardback from www.awaywithmedia.com/buy-books/ cherry-blossom RRP £35

There is also a chapter to recreate the kitchen’s sauces and seasonings while Cherry Blossom also includes a section dedicated to the restaurant’s cocktails. DISHES INCLUDE: ·

Five flavour cucumber – Dave’s very first Chinese dish

Jasmine smoked pork baby ribs

Kung Pao Cauliflower

Poached Chinese Pear and Jinhua Ham

Chicken Wings Critchley Style

Bok Choi GBM -

Cherry Blossom – Lu Ban’s signature dessert

He has played a key role in setting up various initiatives in the city of Liverpool, including Well Fed Boxes, Liverpool Independent Delivery Service and Global Scouse Day, which celebrates the city’s famous stew. More recently, Dave’s creative culinary skills have come to the wider attention of the public via the BBC’s Great British Menu, having appeared in the regional heats in Series 16 and 17. Cherry Blossom is Dave Critchley’s first book.

The book, published by A Way With Media, is priced at £35 (plus P+P) and is available to buy online or in person from the restaurant.

ABOUT DAVE CRITCHLEY Dave Critchley is one of the best-known chefs in northwest England. A one-time graphic designer, he has found his creativity in restaurants across Manchester and his home city of Liverpool. Bestowed the honour of being the UK’s only apprentice to one of China’s Master chefs – Master Wu – he is continually expanding his knowledge and appreciation of Chinese culinary art.

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KEY FIGURES ABOARD RMS TITANIC Superstars and Scapegoats By Anthony Nicholas KEY FIGURES ABOARD RMS TITANIC Superstars and Scapegoats by Anthony Nicholas, ISBN: 9781399086004 is available NOW in hardback from www.pen-and-sword.co.uk RRP £20 • 110 years after the sinking of Titanic, the book reveals a series of key characters who affected the fates of the ship and its passengers. • For the first time ever, the book explores each of these individuals’ history, background and life experiences. • Provides context for their actions on the night that Titanic sank. • Discusses how their combined decisions, actions and omissions impacted the events of that night.

itanic. The Marilyn Monroe of ocean liners. A sleek, sultry beauty, taken out way before her time. A kind of 21st century Flying Dutchman, with interiors by Cesar Ritz, still striving to achieve the waters of a port she can never reach. Fuelled by a subtle mixture of horror, fascination and sheer, fatal glamour, she surges heedlessly across the still, starlit calm of our collective subconscious, hell bent on achieving her chilling, near midnight rendezvous with her killer. Titanic is a brilliantly lit stage, carrying her cast of exotic, terminally endangered extras toward an abyss at once both unfathomable and inconceivable. Here’s where any similarity with any other tome about the Titanic ends. For the first time ever, a succession of key characters and groups of individuals come to the fore. Centre

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stage, over seventeen chapters, we meet the men whose decisions, actions and omissions combined like some slow burning powder trail to trigger a final, cataclysmic conclusion; the foundering, in mid Atlantic, of the biggest moving object ever seen on the face of the planet. One by one, a series of individuals take a bow. Seemingly omnipotent owners and hugely experienced ship’s officers. Engineers and designers. Would be rescuers and embattled wireless operators. We meet them as individuals, not supermen. Their histories, backgrounds and life experiences are assessed for the first time ever, putting their actions on the night that Titanic sank into a context, a light as stark as that of the distress rockets, arcing into the sky… ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anthony Nicholas has been writing about cruise ships, ocean liners and sea travel for some thirty years. His work has featured in newspapers such as The Times, The Independent, The Mirror and The Scotsman, as well as magazines such as Ships Monthly and World of Cruising. To date, he has made more than two hundred ocean cruises, river cruises, and transatlantic crossings. These have taken in destinations from Copenhagen to Curacao, and Tromso to Tahiti.

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Over the course of these, an almost inevitable fascination with the Titanic gradually surfaced. Over four decades, he tracked the saga of the great, lost leviathan, and those whose fates became enmeshed with her sad story. This book is the result of those decades of considered reflection, tempered with a desire to flesh out certain, long held perceptions with an even handed sense of perspective. The intention of the author was to create a kind of ‘immersive engagement’ experience for the reader; to make them consider this most sensational of stories in a way that they might not, perhaps, have done before. Anthony Nicholas is also a keen fan of medieval and more contemporary military history, as well as modern, popular mainstream music of the Sixties and Seventies. In time, his stated ambition is to compose a series of travel volumes from past trips. To date, these have spanned four full decades, and covered over half a million miles, encompassing an area from the Arctic to the Amazon. The travel bug remains a terminal condition to this day...

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RACHAEL CLEGG: BOOK ONE (THE ISLE OF MAN TT) RACHAEL CLEGG: BOOK ONE (THE ISLE OF MAN TT) is available NOW RRP £89 from www.rachaelclegg.com/rachaelcleggboo1

rtist Rachael Clegg is releasing a hardback coffee table book featuring her iconic artwork along with rarely seen Isle of Man TT racing images. The book celebrates ten years of Rachael Clegg’s Milestones art photography – shot on the iconic TT course – and a collection of very special archive images dating back to the first TT in 1907. The new 280-page book, simply known as Rachael Clegg: Book One (the Isle of Man TT), features a striking collection of photography celebrating the island’s unparalleled racing heritage, and is now available for pre-order. Rachael Clegg, a renowned artist and motorcycle journalist, and daughter of a former TT racer, has compiled the book including never-before-seen sketches, behind the scenes images and a section dedicated to the history of the TT. The historical section features incredible, rarely seen archive images dating back 115-years to the first Isle of Man TT, courtesy of the Mortons Archive – a treasure trove of motorcycling history. Rachael Clegg: Book One (the Isle of Man TT) also incorporates the main body of Clegg’s highly collectable back catalogue of Milestones photographs, which have gained a cult following since the launch of the first edition a decade ago.

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The series is directed by Clegg herself, who also appears in the nude, choreographed shots to illustrate real-life stories from the Isle of Man’s rich racing history, with almost all photographs shot at the same spot where a significant racing moment occurred. Clegg began her Milestones series following her background as the daughter and granddaughter of TT racers Noel Clegg and Tom Clegg and a career in the visual arts. The unique nature of the images regularly contain props loaned to her from TT legends, like 23-time winner John McGuinness, podium finisher and TV personality Guy Martin, multiple TT winner Phil Read, and current lap record holder Peter Hickman, as well as objects and bikes from the Murray Museum and the National Motorcycle Museum. Clegg’s work won her a place in the FIM’s Book of Women Motorcycling last year.

Gallery, with further details being confirmed soon. For those not able to attend the Isle of Man TT, pre-orders of Rachael Clegg: Book One (the Isle of Man TT) can be made here: www.rachaelclegg.com/ rachaelcleggboo1 Rachael Clegg said: “The Isle of Man TT has been incredibly close to my heart since childhood. It began when I would watch my father competing in the races, in complete awe of him, and I’ve been addicted to the island and its racing ever since. My grandparents also lived there, and my uncle (Manx Leathers) made leathers for the likes of and Robert and Joey Dunlop, so there’s a sort of umbilical chord that connects me to the TT and the Isle of Man.

A dedicated exhibition stand showcasing the book and its work will be present at this year’s Isle of Man TT races – the first TT racing the Island has seen since the COVID19 pandemic – alongside a selection of some iconic modern classic race bikes.

The book is a special edition passion project, which I think will resonate with the droves of avid TT fans around the globe. The photographs – my own collection and those from the Mortons archive – have been carefully selected to tell the TT’s story.

Clegg will be taking pre orders for the book and showcasing her art-prints at the TT Exhibition prior to the official launch at a London

This book has been a long time in the making, and I am very excited to be finally releasing it out into the world for fans to enjoy!”

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Inaugural Platt Fisher Lecture at Bolton School

Above: The Platt Fisher Lecture was held in the Girls’ Division Great Hall with guests also joining virtually via a live stream

Bolton School Girls’ Division was pleased to begin a new tradition this April with the first ever Platt Fisher Lecture.

Governor, minister and more. She took the audience on a captivating review of her life so far, focusing on each decade in turn and sharing her life lessons along the way.

his annual public talk aims to inspire current and former pupils as well as the wider community in Bolton, and began with an address from its namesake: Old Girl Dr Sheila Fisher (née Platt, Class of 1970).

She began with her childhood and early school years and the impact that her primary school headteacher had on her life. She reminded the hall that ‘teachers change your life’ and added, ‘Without his inspiration, I wouldn’t be standing here.’

Mrs Lynne Kyle was delighted to inaugurate this new Bolton School institution in her first year as Head of Girls’ Division. One of the positives to have come from the pandemic, and something the school is keen to continue going forward, is hybrid events: the Platt Fisher Lecture was held both in person and virtually, and Mrs Kyle extended her welcome both to those in the Great Hall and to the many guests watching online. The Head Girl, Summer Kay, then introduced Dr Fisher as the speaker for the evening.

Dr Fisher recalled the friends she made at Bolton School, who have remained friends for life. She said that her time at the Girls’ Division gave her so much more than a good academic education: not only hobbies that she still finds joy in today, but also the ethos of the school, the qualities taught and the confidence to believe in herself. It was a decade about ‘learning to live life in all its fullness’ and grasping the ‘goodly heritage’ of the school. She mentioned a line in the school prayer, ‘much is required of those to whom much is given’, which is an attitude she has carried throughout her life.

In her lifetime, Dr Fisher has held many roles: maxillofacial surgeon, wife and mother, Bolton School 160

She offered the audience her advice

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Above: Dr Sheila Fisher spoke about her life and career in an entertaining and engaging address

for ‘the time life goes pear-shaped’ through her own, deeply personal experience. Two of her uncles died of cancer and her father became seriously ill during her final years at Bolton School, and she went to work helping with the books at the family business. As a result, she didn’t achieve the grades to study medicine. She accepted an offer to study dentistry instead, but knew she somehow had to find a place within cancer treatment. She recalled looking at her options at that point: she could give up, or endure and see where the path would take her. She did the latter, and in her final year she discovered the field of maxillofacial surgery, which required not only a full surgical training but also a dental degree. She therefore encouraged the audience to recognise their dreams and never give up on them. The next decade of surgical training was everything she had dreamed of, particularly because it was a time of revolutionary inventions and innovations within the field, and she was able to be at the forefront. She recapped her career as a surgeon, eventually becoming a www.lancmag.com

consultant, training surgeons and pioneering a new microvascular cancer service at Nottingham. The success of this was celebrated and her team was featured in a documentary called ‘Intensive Care’ in 1997, though she had to firmly negotiate for the use of the word ‘maxillofacial’ in her title! She also talked about her ‘very different but equally rewarding second career’ when she took a senior lectureship position at Leeds, teaching and conducting more research in addition to working in the NHS. Dr Fisher also spoke in depth about being a woman in a traditionally maledominated profession. In her first interview after qualification, she found herself up again two women, both her friends. They were appointed, the first time all three House Surgeon posts had been held by women. However, this was the only time in her career that she was interviewed against a woman, as there weren’t any in her field. Dr Fisher noted that, despite much progress, ingrained perceptions and misogyny are unfortunately not dead, but also that working with men has been a real pleasure through her career! She advised girls wishing to move into male-dominated spheres to gain respect by showing commitment and skill to prove they are not just a token presence. She talked about asking herself after she married, ‘Was I Mrs Fisher, the wife, or Miss Platt, the surgeon in training? Do we wish to be identified through our union with someone we love, or does our own identity from our own family matter? Does it even need to be the same in all settings?’ She ultimately decided that she wanted to show aspiring young women that they could be both a Mrs and a surgeon, so took her husband’s name. However, she also advised that the answer is different for everyone and encouraged girls to think about it rather than taking a married namechange as a given. Dr Fisher also discussed balancing work with motherhood: within twelve weeks of her first son’s birth, she was back enjoying cancer surgery. She said, ‘It may be controversial of me, but I certainly feel that for me, and for many other women, you’re actually better following your own vocation … than you would be at home, feeling that you have to look after this tiny www.lancmag.com

child, when actually your heart and soul wants you back at work.’ However, she also told the audience that her children are her ‘greatest blessing’ and she was determined to have time with them. She therefore worked flexibly, taking them to school in the mornings before heading in to the hospital, then being back at home for tea and to tuck them into bed before returning to the hospital again to finish off her work day. This allowed her to both do her job and live her life with her family. Meanwhile, her male colleagues felt tethered to a traditional way of working and too often missed out on their children’s childhood years. She told the audience to ‘do your job fully, but make your life work for you’. Finally, Dr Fisher addressed retirement, not as stepping back but as a time when there is ‘so much to offer, so much still to do, so much more life to be lived to the full’. This time the unexpected element was Covid, and Dr Fisher spoke about the rewarding experience of being recalled by the NHS to help out with the vaccination programme. She talked about the amazing commitment of elderly people coming in to get their vaccines and avoid wasting precious doses, as well as the stories of heartbreak and hope that have come out of the pandemic. She also spoke about her work in ministry and her position on the Bolton School Board of Governors. She said, ‘It is a great pleasure now to see the new structure come into being, to bring coherence to the Foundation whilst supporting the flourishing of all three schools.’ Looking forwards into the next decade of her life, as a Trustee of Wigan and Leigh Hospice, Dr Fisher hopes to see the amazing end of life care that is available in hospice brought out into the wider world. She said that no matter how old we are, we still have an awful lot to offer. Addressing the young people in the audience to bring her address to a close, Dr Fisher said: ‘Know yourself. Know what matters most to you. Value your friends. Go for your dreams and never be afraid to pursue the opportunities that life offers. Treat others, and treat our world gently and with respect, and always strive to do good for others as well as for yourself. Despite the challenges of today, and

we don’t live in an easy world, we know that, you are the ones who hold our hopes for a better world, and you all have the skill and the confidence to make it so. So, I wish you all every blessing as you go forward, learning from your own lives.’ Mrs Kyle offered her thanks to Dr Fisher for her fascinating range of anecdotes before passing over to audience questions from around the Great Hall. Dr Fisher spoke about how luck and happenstance have shaped her life, particularly the fact that her life went in a direction that took her hope away but ultimately led her to become a maxillofacial surgeon, and this turned out to be her perfect career. She said that with the more flexible lives that exist now, her advice would be to notice those moments, capture them and go for the opportunities that present themselves. She also talked about the benefits of doing her practical career in surgery first before returning to academic afterwards, particularly how her practical experience was useful in the research she was doing. When asked if she would recommend medicine, she did so enthusiastically, and her one piece of advice to those wishing to become surgeons was to build relationships with people because, particularly in surgery, patients need to trust their doctor. Finally, she was asked how to respond when people disparage you. She said that belief in yourself is important, and advised those listening to ‘prove that you’re good, always be courteous, always be firm’ and ‘try to work with people’. However, she also said to push back if someone tries to pull you away from your dream. Finally, she encouraged the audience to always try to lift each other up. The inaugural Platt Fisher Lecture ended with a vote of thanks from Deputy Head Girl Manahil Masood, before guests in the Great Hall were invited back to the Leverhulme Suite for refreshments. Watch the inaugural Platt Fisher Lecture: www.boltonschool.org/ i-am-looking-for/boltonschool-tv/?video= wsJUF-bP0hU

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Mental Health Awareness H

ere are a few tips from Dr Yusra Clinic’s resident psychiatrist Dr Hassan:

1. SOCIAL CONNECTIONS The Science behind this is clear. Positive social connections mean a longer life and better mental wellbeing. Go and reach out to a friend today. Talking in itself is therapeutic. Better out than in! 2. SLEEP Good sleep improves mental wellbeing significantly. Try getting 8 hours of sleep every night this week and see how you feel. 3. GET ACTIVE Exercise and activity stimulates the body mind and contributes to feeling better and boosts your happy hormones. Even a walk in fresh air and nature can help. 4. BE KIND TO YOURSELF Sometimes we can be kind to everyone around us and understand how difficult it is for them, but then we don’t do that for ourselves. Be as kind and understanding to yourself as you are to your friend. Rest and recovery is important to boost productivity and wellness.

Dr Yusra has put together some top tips to help with your mental health. As with all things, practicing positive mental health is as important as practising positive physical health.

5. SPEND MORE TIME SEARCHING FOR MEANING AND PURPOSE A life with purpose is more fulfiling. A person with purpose can tolerate more pain and adversity. Find and do what fills your happy cup.

6.SKIN-PSYCHE CONNECTION The connection between how our skin behaves and how we feel emotionally is the brain-skin connection. It is well known that many dermatological problems can be made worse by stress, but the pandemic has accelerated the links being made between stress and how it disturbs the equilibrium in the body and skin, with conditions such as Pandemic Droop and Stress Face being identified by Dr Yusra. We are treating more and more skin related disorders and reactions which are exacerbated by stress, and the good news is intervention can help, and we address this holistically. Dr. Yusra says “The findings of Beautified Britain Index: The skin report show that 2021 was The Year of Skin, with an enormous increase in people searching for skincare brands, ingredients, products and new technologies. With the stresses imposed by months of lockdown, it is no surprise that, in a pandemic world, more people have been prompted to look to restore their glow.” Dr Yusra has noted stress face to have the following attributes and has broken it down into F.A.C.E:

Frowns and furrows between the brows and increase in headaches. Atrophy of fat pads and loss of volume in the temple and midface. Changes in the skin including breakouts and blotchy sensitive patches. Eyes; squinting and blinking and dark circles under the eyes.

If you feel you have signs of ‘stress face’ or skin related concerns associated with stress, please do not hesitate to reach out. Our team of skin therapists are all trained on the skin psyche connection and will support you on your journey back to you.

THE DR YUSRA CLINIC is a centre of excellence, offering a range of wellness clinics covering skin care, weight loss, hair restoration, aesthetics, injectables and mind therapy.

TO BOOK A CONSULTATION: Email: info@dryusra.com Call: 0333 224 4666 (Mon-Fri 9.30am - 6pm) FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit: dryusra.com FOLLOW I F : @dryusraclinic For some brilliant tips and to see examples of her work www.lancmag.com

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KAREN’S STORY

From a very early age Karen, who has olive skin, was always so dark-skinned, especially in the Summer.

ften bullied, and suffering verbal abuse she once went home crying and asked her mother why she was so dark. Her mother and father sat her down and told her that the reason was because she was half Italian and that was it… nothing more was ever spoken about it and she knew not to ask. Her mum was only 18 when she fell pregnant and was sent to Brettargh Halt in Kendal six weeks before the birth for her baby to be given up for adoption, but she decided to keep her. Sadly, she never spoke to her parents ever again. This explained everything, but by the time she reached her twenties, she started to wonder who he was and as it didn’t feel right to ask questions… she started to secretly look for him. The search was difficult because she had very little information apart from that he was Italian, his name was Tony and the street he lived on at the time (this information was passed to her by her grandmother, who advised Karen never to look for him). The search would always come to a dead end so she would stop and then restart the search until one day in 2016 she decided to knock on every single door of the long road he lived in. She prepared her speech and repeated it at each answer of the door and nothing until she got to the very end and a lovely lady invited her in! Yes, she said, an Italian man named Tony used to live here in the mid ’60s… I think his name was Tony Babba. She also provided other little bits of information so with what she had; Karen continued her search. 164

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This was now becoming more and more important as the years went on as time was running out and with running her own business, it was very difficult to find the time to carry on the search. Thankfully she was offered help from her mum’s cousin David. In October of 2019, following many disappointing leads and unsuccessful DNA tests, David called Karen to say he thought he had made a breakthrough. He, along with Karen, had placed many adverts on Facebook over time and with the news following an Ancestry update that Karen was half Sardinian which narrowed the search, a conversation was started … “Yes I did work in Preston in the mid ’60s and yes I did know Karen’s mother”… it was then over to Karen. Now from the very start, all she wanted to know was two things about him… what he looked like and to let him know she knows but whilst the DNA tests from both were in progress, they had already struck up a lovely relationship! On the 31st of January, 2020 it was confirmed Antonio Paba from Sardinia was her father. She broke the news to him whilst he was on holiday in Zanzibar … he called her ‘my little miracle’ as she was his only ‘child’! So, in a second he learned he was a father, grandfather and great grandfather and after asking Karen for a few minutes to gather himself together, they had their very first telephone conversation. Antonio will be 82 in July, and has now met all of his new family who has travelled to Sardinia and been welcomed with open arms. Although there has been plenty of sadness over the years, they continue to look forward and enjoy their new families together from both sides. Karen hopes her mum, who sadly passed away in 2003, would understand her discovery, if not completely happy about it. www.lancmag.com

Raise a Glass to Lytham tham St Annes as the Town Celebrates its Centenary Year. 100 Years of Unity. From Sandgrown Spirits, Distillers of Lytham Gin.

Find out more at: www.sandgrownspirits.co.uk

I’M SARA, THE LYTHAM GIN LADY! I escaped from teaching Chemistry and have spent the last four years making gin and my passion is now sharing information about everyone’s favourite juniper-based spirit as well as easy to make cocktails using some of my awardwinning products.

Summer Negroni The Negroni is a classic gin based cocktail. Invented around 100 years ago in Florence by Count Negroni it is traditionally made with equal parts of gin, Campari and sweet red Vermouth. It’s a powerful cocktail and although delicious, does not lend itself to summer drinking. A summer version is a little lighter, made with Aperol. It’s delicious and very simple to make.

Ingredients: • 45ml Gin • 45ml Aperol • 45ml Sweet White Vermouth (eg Lillet Blanc) Mix the ingredients directly in a lowball glass filled with ice cubes. Stir, garnish with some a twist of orange peel and serve.

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his month I thought I’d tell you a bit about cocktails. Thought to have developed from British fruit punches in Shakespearean times, 400 years ago they were considered the mark or a wealthy connoisseur. However it wasn’t until 1806 that the word cocktail was first used and the mid 19th Century that recipes began being written down as their popularity increased. This probably had a lot to do with the availability of ice, which began being harvested from ice-bergs in the 1850s. Jerry Thomas or Professor Thomas, an American bartender, helped define the art of bartending. Using

the experience he gained from working all over Europe and America, he wrote “The Bartender’s Guide (or How to Mix Drinks).” It was one of the first comprehensive recipe books that became a standardbearer for new and experienced bartenders alike, becoming a significant milestone from the Golden Age of the history of cocktails. Today, there is an endless variety of cocktails to suit every taste. They are usually made from some kind of spirit mixed with other ingredients such as liqueurs and fruit juices, bitters or cordials.

Sapphire Martini Another twist on a classic, the Sapphire Martini is made with a dash of Blue Curacao. Keep your bottle of gin and the glass in the freezer for this one. It’s made without shaking!

Ingredients: • 60ml Dry Gin • 15ml Dry Vermouth • 15ml Blue Curacao

Add the vermouth and curacao to an ice cold glass. Pour in the gin and garnish with a twist of lemon.

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Hartford Community Will Benefit for Years to Come A HARTFORD housing development launched over nine years ago may have taken its final sale – but its legacy will last much longer.

One of Hartford Grange’s community fund receivers Northwich Community First Responders (top left), Hartford Grange (top right), Weaver’s Park (right) Even though Redrow has sold-up at the award-winning Hartford Grange, off Walnut Lane, local people can still reap the benefits. As well as building 270 new homes, Redrow has made community contributions totalling circa £900,000*, including amounts for education, train station improvements at Hartford and Green Bank and off-site playing pitches. It’s also provided 83 affordable homes for shared ownership or social rent. Above and beyond the Section 106 commitments attached to the planning applications, Redrow has also given voluntary donations totalling more than £25,000 to a raft of good causes in the area. In fact, the very first Hartford Community Fund was the beginning of a grant-giving programme which has seen Redrow give away more than £160,000 across the north west of England.

of the quality of our homes and the efforts we’ve made to be a part of – and support – the local community,” Anna added. They say as one door closes another door opens and that is certainly the case in Hartford where Redrow has two other successful developments ongoing – Weaver Park and Water’s Reach. Like Hartford Grange, they feature homes from Redrow’s Arts & Crafts-inspired Heritage Collection, combining quintessential character and timeless exteriors with effortlessly modern interiors and contemporary living spaces. They boast all the benefits of a country village location, while being perfectly placed to access amenities that nearby towns and cities have to offer, including places like Manchester, Chester and Liverpool.

Anna Evans-Kerr, head of sales at Redrow NW said: “In Hartford itself we’ve helped to fund a diverse range of projects and activities, from sports equipment for primary school pupils and tables for use by a memory café for people with dementia, to winter jackets for community first responders, kits for sports teams, a defibrillator for a local cricket club, and many more.”

Weaver Park offers a range of three and four-bedroom family homes and current availability includes The Shaftesbury, a four-bedroom detached property priced from £449,995. It boasts an open plan kitchen/diner and living area, a separate lounge, ground floor cloakroom, utility and en-suite to the main bedroom.

Over the years at Hartford Grange, Redrow has also hosted a series of five hugely popular Christmas events, bringing villagers together on the village green and raising thousands of pounds for charities, including The Joshua Tree, Meningitis Now, St Luke’s Hospice, Hartford Young NSPCC and Chesnut Lodge School.

“Both Weaver Park and Water’s Reach, which has some large three and four-bedroom homes coming soon, offer exceptional settings for our homes, and we look forward to continuing our work in the community,” said Anna.

“Winner of a UK Property Award in 2019 for best residential development in Cheshire, we feel that Hartford Grange is now firmly part of the local landscape and that’s due to a combination

For the latest on Redrow’s new homes in Hartford visit www.redrow.co.uk/hartford

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* Shared with another development off School Lane, Hartford

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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.

Discover more about the new homes in Lancashire

Visit: redrow.co.uk/lancashire

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.

Gainsborough Flooring Pull Businesses Together to Support Local Church www.gainsboroughflooring.co.uk

 AFTER

 BEFORE Julia Blacklett, Church Steward, was already familiar with Gainsborough Flooring as they’d previously replaced two carpets in the Church’s meeting room and One to One Listening Room about five years ago.

The Olive Grove Cafe in Central Methodist Church in the heart of Preston acts as a welcoming hub for the local community.

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fter nearly 30 years the cafe and foyer area have had new flooring installed thanks to the support and innovative thinking of local flooring specialists Gainsborough Flooring.

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Always keen to ensure there is as little wastage as possible when installing flooring and trying to find creative ways of utilising any excess stock rather than it going to landfill, Vicky Brown from Gainsborough Flooring spoke to Julia and suggested collating excess stock of Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) including Amtico, Karndean and Polyflor from all the local flooring suppliers including Mears, David Hall Carpets, CFS and the Modern Flooring Company, and using it for their café and foyer. Once Gainsborough had collated the excess flooring and donated any extra that was required, it left the church to raise funds for the installation only. www.lancmag.com

Julia commented, “We worked closely with Vicky from Gainsborough who gave us various options and prices for new flooring. The church then held a gift day to raise some money and at the open day the options were available to discuss The idea of an eco floor where we could reuse flooring that would otherwise go to landfill was explained to those present. The concept perfectly complements the church’s values, and as it would also save us money, it was the perfect solution.”

 BEFORE

 AFTER

 BEFORE

 AFTER

Over coffee and cake at the Olive Grove Cafe the specific flooring requirements were discussed with Vicky and her brother Ed, and the gift day sealed the deal once the money was available. They agreed that they required robust commercial flooring that was hard wearing for the busy coffee shop and church entrance, wanting a nonslip easy-clean surface, and of course for this to look great too as part of a total refurbishment that the church is planning. The installation ran incredibly smoothly and the flooring looks absolutely stunning. The church is over 200 years old with a long history of social action. The coffee shop is a welcoming hub for people to meet up and make friends, and new volunteers and customers are always welcome in the community cafe. With cinema style seating and refurbished meeting rooms there are lots of opportunities for community groups to meet and also enjoy the new coffee shop . Currently the coffee shop is open on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10am -1pm, however, as they get busier they are looking to expand their opening hours. Why not pop in for a coffee, volunteer and make some new friends? The church is situated in the centre of Preston on Lune Street. Central Methodist Church Lune Street Preston PR1 2NL www.lancmag.com

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The Cross Guns Inn Set To Launch New Summer Menu

The Cross Guns Inn, based in the beautiful village of Egerton is set to launch its new summer menu this June with the kitchen headed up by owner Jon Peek, who trained with the legendary three Michelin star chef, Marco Pierre White for over 10 years.

he new menu launches the first week of June and is inspired by Jon’s time with Marco. Taking things back to basics and focusing on the quality of ingredients and food and giving our guests value for money is our focus. Jon Peek said: Working with Marco Pierre White for over ten years was a huge pleasure and honour. He is a real inspiration and his style and obsession with flavour and presentation was a major influence behind this new menu.

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Dining out today must be a memorable experience and also affordable and I feel that’s what we have created with our new menu - affordable luxury with no compromise on the quality. The new summer menu will offer a selection of modern and traditional English dishes, cooked to an exceptional standard. With pub favourites at the forefront, the menu has been re-designed to tempt and delight all tastebuds whether an intimate meal for two or a family get-together. Some of our new dishes include LANCASHIRE HOTPOT Overnight braised lamb shoulder topped with sliced potato served with braised red cabbage priced at £15, ROASTED PORK BELLY Roasted pork belly, served with creamy mash potato, buttered kale, proper gravy priced at £16 and HOMEMADE CHICKEN KIEV Garlic butter stuffed chicken breast, served with roast vine tomatoes, buttered peas priced at £16. www.lancmag.com

Create Homes Supports Pilling St. John’s Primary School With its Construction Expertise

Above: Site Manager at Create Homes’ St. William’s Gate development Jason Dandy, Regional Sales Manager Georgia Bridge, Acting Headteacher Lisa Hill and Pupils of Pilling St John’s CE Primary School

Above: Create Team with Acting Head Teacher and Pupils in the school Hall

Quality residential housebuilder Create Homes, currently constructing new homes at St William’s Gate on Garstang Road, offered its expertise to Pilling St John’s CE Primary School & Nursery to improve the look of the school hall and provide easier access to their outdoor facilities.

curricular activities such as music and arts. Staff believe the upgraded facilities that the Create Homes team provided will help them deliver their high-quality curriculum in a better environment, therefore contributing to the children’s wellbeing and development.

ite Manager Jason Dandy and his team of contractors from SML Painters and Decorators Ltd and LUXE Brickwork Limited gave their time and expertise to help Pilling St. John’s during the school holidays. The decorating team painted the school hall, whilst the brick contractors created a new opening in the playground wall for a gateway at the back of the school, allowing easier access to a running track and the ‘Forest School’ area, which provides an opportunity for child-lead learning through exploration and interaction with nature. The work took the two teams four days to complete. The school children had previously engaged with Create Homes when they presented the Sales Team with a show board welcome new residents to the housing development and advertise their school to new families. Throughout the duration of the building work, Create Homes made sure that children were kept safe when walking to school across the site, by providing a secure fenced pathway. Pilling St John’s CE Primary School & Nursery is a creative, forward-thinking Church of England Primary School, and school hall is utilised for assemblies, sports and extra174

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Acting Headteacher, Lisa Hill wrote to Create Homes to thank the team for their hard work: “Please pass on my thanks to the workers who completed the work. They were professional, friendly and very approachable. They explained what they were doing and what they needed clearly to us and put us at ease. They worked with us to ensure that they had access to school and have done a brilliant job in the work they carried out. The children have been very excited to see the hall painted and the hole in the wall has already made a massive difference to access to the field and Forest School area.” Georgia Bridge, Area Sales Manager at Create Homes commented: “St William’s Gate development has proved very popular with buyers and I feel that our connection with the local community can only get stronger as more new families move onto the development. We wish everyone at the school the very best for the future and we are really happy that you like the improvements.” To find out more: APPOINTMENTS: createhomes.com/stwilliamsgate ENQUIRIES: stwilliamsgate@createhomes.com www.lancmag.com

Based in the rural village of Goosnargh, Laurel Farm Kitchens has been recognised as one of only a few truly bespoke kitchen manufacturers in the North West receiving a reputation, second to none, on quality and craftsmanship over the past 25 years. “Our aim, through the creativity of our kitchen designers and their ability to bring out the best in our client’s ideas is to create the most imaginative and workable kitchens from the canvas supplied.”

Denise Mullen is a journalist, columnist, writer and entrepreneur.

HUSBANDS, HOSPITALS, HOUNDS AND HOT POTATOES

By Denise Mullen

usbands, they can be quite challenging. I’ve only got the one, so my generalisations are not exactly wide scale.

However, domestic day-to-day at home is never routine. Take last week for example. Said husband had to be rushed into hospital, by ambulance, with breathing problems at 5am. The drama was the result of a chest infection colliding with an asthma attack. Not good. The NHS staff were amazing, and Johnny is fine now, but there was whiff of the bizarre about the whole process.

neck thing, and the husband insists that she cannot be left. I call the boy on his mobile for updates as he lies on a trolley in the circus that is routine at any busy A&E. By midnight he’s admitted. I still can’t convince him to tell me what ward he’s on. He can’t remember. Imagine my surprise when I decide to outwit him by phoning the hospital, next day, to ask them, instead, what ward he’s on so I can leave the dog for an hour to visit him.

I’d called 111 and they’d advised the ambulance was the best way forward. I gave detailed instructions as to how to find us as our postcode takes people to a different address.

Oxygen was produced, the boy’s stats are examined, and hospital recommended. Of course, he doesn’t want to go. The man’s just been fighting for breath, yet his first response is to avoid hospitalisation.

They can’t find him.

I over-rule him with no apology and stuff him in the ambulance. Knowing him well, as I do, I don’t include his wallet or keys in the little bag I pack for him. I don’t want him doing a runner – he’s a definite flight risk – but at least he’s in PJs and slippers.

‘Where is he then?’ I ask. ‘He’s got no money and no keys and he was brought in by ambulance,’ I say. ‘We don’t know.’ is the answer.

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Note to self, I think, next time I’ll take his ruddy shoes too. Once home the battle begins where I put my foot down and tell him to rest and he starts talking about splitting some logs and doing a little light welding. It’s a no from me. By now I have his chest infection and I’m in bed, fortunately without the breathing problems. He yells upstairs, ‘What are we doing with these potatoes in the big pan?’ I shout, well whisper hoarsely as loud as I can, ‘Planting them, they’re all sprouty and I didn’t have anything else to put them in. I’m going to plant them in tyres at the weekend.’

I got the call from the ambulance, telling us they were outside the house, number 49, and would I please let them in. I explained that wouldn’t be possible as we don’t live there, hopped in the car and drove like a madwoman to find them and give them a lead to our unremarkable farm track.

Meanwhile I’m staying home because the dog has just had a general anaesthetic and is being syringed water thanks to the big plastic cone

And he’s doing it down the canal bank so I’ve no way of picking him up in any kind of vehicle.

Twenty minutes later it’s established he’s been discharged at his own request. And that was half an hour ago.

All stealth-stalking abandoned I call his mobile with fingers crossed he’s still breathing and hopefully sitting on a bench about to call me. No, he answers cheerily instead. He decided to walk home from the hospital. It’s about four miles.

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I’d been inspired by Mawdsley’s Red Lion’s Rufforth Run vintage vehicle potato version of a Boujolais Run – featuring Rufford’s finest spuds that weekend. Before all the blue flashing lights and paramedics – yes, and in the spirit of thrift - I’d been planning to ‘grow my own crisps’. Since himself has arrived home, he’s been asking what’s for dinner. And recounting longingly his order for dinner from the NHS menu that he left behind. Pie. Meat and Potato Pie. Men really like pie. The boy mountaineers up the stairs to my sick bed an hour later looking smug. He hasn’t done any big physical work, but he’s cleaned two small bags of sprouty potatoes and boiled them for supper. My dreams of thrifty, homegrown snacks next season have clearly had their chips. www.lancmag.com

Asian Fusion Cuisine | Street Food | Eclectic, Vibrant Décor

118 Promenade, Blackpool FY1 1RA 01253 627368 | www.michaelwanswokinn.co.uk

Michael Wan's, Blackpool One great name, two unique venues

Traditional/Modern Cantonese Cuisine | Fine Dining Refined and Relaxed Atmosphere

27 Clifton Street, Blackpool FY1 1JD 01253 622687 | www.michaelwansmandarin.co.uk

Locals Can Save Money at Blackpool Pleasure Beach Blackpool Pleasure Beach is launching a new residents discount scheme which will see everyone with an FY or PR postcode receive a fantastic money saving offer at the gate.

he Wylde Coasters scheme will see local residents in the FY and PR postcode areas receive the online price anytime they visit Blackpool Pleasure Beach – a saving of up to £9 per person, or £36 per group, on the gate price. In order to take advantage of this fantastic offer, proof of residence will be required. This can be a utility bill, bank statement or any other official document with the individual’s full name and postcode clearly visible. Each person can purchase up to four wristbands in any one transaction and can do this as many times as they like each season. Blackpool Pleasure Beach has so much to offer this summer with amazing rides, stunning shows and fantastic events. There is something for everyone, from thrilling rollercoasters to fun family rides. Pleasure Beach is always ahead of the game when it comes to thrills. In total the park has 10 amazing rollercoasters including the UK’s first double launch rollercoaster, ICON, the classic Big Dipper, and the thrilling Revolution. Guests can turn their world upside down on Infusion and even experience the thrills of the bobsled run with Avalanche.

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Visitors to the park who might want something a little more sedate can enjoy classic rides such as the River Caves, Alice in Wonderland and the world’s first Wallace & Gromit ride, Thrill-O-Matic. There’s also Nickelodeon Land for the youngest park fans, where they can see all their favourite Nickelodeon characters, meet and greet with SpongeBob and PAW Patrol, take a spin on SpongeBob’s Splash Bash or ride on the Bikini Bottom Bus Tour then browse around the UK’s only Nick shop and pick up some fabulous Nickelodeon goodies! Guests can enjoy their favourite rides in the dark with five Late Night Riding events taking place over the summer. The world’s most spectacular ice show, Hot Ice, opens this July and runs until September. From 25th to 28th June, guests can take part in a whole host of fun challenges and games and compete for the chance to be a Blackpool Pleasure Beach record holder with Summertime Games. Amanda Thompson OBE, CEO of Blackpool Pleasure Beach, comments, “The Wylde Coasters discount scheme has been launched as we are always grateful for the support of people in the local area and wanted to be able to offer something back. I hope many people will take advantage of this scheme and enjoy discounted fun filled family days out with us.” The Wylde Coasters discount scheme is available now and is valid for every day of the season. For more information on Blackpool Pleasure Beach, please visit:

www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.com

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BEAUTIFUL FURNITURE FOR THE LIVING ROOM, BEDROOM & DINING ROOM AND LIGHTING SOLUTIONS FOR THE WHOLE HOME CELEBRATING 14YEARS OF BEAUTIFUL LIVING

UNIT 4 | MILLENNIUM COURT | POULTON BUSINESS PARK FURNESS DRIVE | POULTON LE FYLDE | FY6 8JS

N 01253 893334 E paula@padcl.co.uk F @PadPoulton WWW.PADCL.CO.UK

Catherine Rawthore became a two-time English Senior Women’s Amateur champion to cap a week of outstanding performances at High Post Golf Club.

ix years after her first triumph in the competition, the Sale golfer deservedly added her name to the winners’ list once again with 2&1 victory over Tracey Williamson in the final. The match was played in a terrific spirit with the Wiltshire course bathed in sunshine as the tournament came to a fitting conclusion. As she held the Wendy Taylor Salver for the second time, Rawthore said: “I’m elated. In the early part of the week I didn’t have the game to challenge but I do go away and work hard on parts of my game so I’m pleased that it all came together in the end.

Catherine Rawthore (Sale Golf Club) holds the Wendy Taylor Salver at High Post Golf Club Photography credit: Leaderboard

Rawthore’s route to the final was secured with a 1up victory over fellow previous champion Aileen Greenfield in the first of the semi-finals. The match was nip and tuck with both players exchanging 1up leads but Rawthore did enough to hold on and edge past her close friend to take her place in the final. Meanwhile in the other last-four tie, Williamson saw off a spirited challenge from Sundridge Park’s Kim Morris and clinched a 1up victory. Morris had held a 2up lead through the first eight holes but Williamson

showed her trademark consistency and determination to fight back and take the victory on the 18th green. In the over 60s competition, Sandy Hallet (pictured below) became the new name on the Ann Howard Trophy. The Prince’s golfer produced a dominant display to claim a 7&6 victory over Lesley Fox in the final on Friday afternoon. Hallet’s success capped a superb week where she qualified as the top seed from the stroke play rounds before her wins over Irene Brien, Sheree Dove-Wilde, Bet Sworowski and Fox.

“It wasn’t a golf course that you could bully your way through so I needed my short game to get me out of trouble a few times. “I’ve had tough match play rounds all through the week. Jane Sly played some terrific golf, Jackie Foster is a tremendous player and then I had difficult games today against Aileen and Tracey who are both experienced and talented players.” 180

Sandy Hallet (Prince’s Golf Club) holds the Ann Howard Trophy at High Post Golf Club Photography credit: Leaderboard

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THE RAKE TAPAS RESTAURANT, BAR & BOUTIQUE HOTEL We believe in serving beautiful tapas, with the freshest ingredients from local producers. Our pizza oven creates the most mounth-watering pizza to tantilise your tastebuds. We have a excellent drinks menu, with local ales, mediterranean wines and we’re also quite partial to a G&T. If you’d like to stay with us, we offer four superb rooms with access to a private outdoor area. The Rake is an exceptional place to eat, drink and stay, especially with The Quay Side fish and chips shop located next-door!

Blackstone Edge Old Road | Littleborough | OL15 0JX N 01706 379689 | D theraketapas.co.uk | F @theraketapas

National Lottery Funding Boost For Lancaster Slave Trade Project

Art workshops were one part of the first stage of Facing The Past last year

The National Lottery Heritage Fund has given significant backing to Facing The Past 2, a major project reflecting on Lancaster’s links to the transatlantic slave trade.

he £242,979 project will build on the work of Facing The Past 1 which took place last year.

This significant funding boost, made possible thanks to National Lottery players, will strengthen the public understanding of Lancaster’s connections with the slave trade. The project will achieve this with a festival, a digital trail, training for primary school teachers, heritage and arts organisations across the district, and undertaking further research into this important history. It will also create 16 freelance roles. 182

Lancaster Priory Commissioning Group (LPCG) is steering the project, bringing together a wide range of community, heritage and faith groups from across the city including Lancaster Black History Group. LCPG chair, Andrew Nicholson, said: “We are very grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for this generous grant which will enable us, through a variety of ways, to make the people of Lancaster more aware of our city’s historic involvement in the Atlantic slave trade. Importantly it will spur us on to recognise and resist modern slavery and contemporary abuses of human dignity however and whenever they occur.” David Renwick, Director, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund said: “We’re proud to support

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Facing The Past 2 in exploring Lancaster’s links to the transatlantic slave trade. It is important we look at all aspects of local heritage, including those that can be difficult, to help people better understand their history and broaden understanding in the wider community. Thanks to National Lottery players, we are able to support these stories being told.” The 14-month project, which begins this June, will involve commissioning research on Lancaster Priory Church, where enslaved people and families involved in the slave trade were baptised. There are also memorials to slave traders inside and outside the Priory. As part of the project, expert historian, Dr Melinda Elder will produce a booklet and interpretive panels for the Priory. www.lancmag.com

All the research will be consolidated into a new, openly accessible digital trail available to visitors, schoolchildren, residents and heritage organisations. This digital map of Lancaster will focus on its global connections with the slave trade and build on an existing popular tour, initially developed by the city’s Global Link. Teachers from 53 primary schools across the area, which have supported the project through significant donations, will receive training on using and adapting the trail so that all their pupils, aged 8-9 will experience it.

Educating primary school children about the slave trade will be an important element of Facing The Past, Phase 2

Heritage and arts partners will also receive a training package in talking about slavery, race and modern slavery provided free by The Museums Association. It will be one of the first times this programme has been delivered nationally. Another aim of Facing The Past 2 is participation by the wider local public so a community festival is planned. Facing The Past 1, which began last year and was funded by Arts Council England, involved arts and creative learning workshops and visits to the Judges Lodgings for young people and the development of a creative resource pack for schools. Arts workshops open to the community at Lancaster Priory and More Music in Morecambe also took place. Public consultation on responses to learning about Lancaster’s deep engagement with the slave trade was carried out too. The main aim of Facing The Past is to reflect, reveal and redress omissions in the way the city has so far commemorated its role in the transatlantic slave trade. From 1736 to 1806, Lancaster was the fourth largest port in England for transatlantic slavery, a trade which made several Lancastrians very wealthy. Their names are reflected in the city’s buildings, institutions and streets. www.lancmag.com

A new booklet and interpretative panels will be produced for Lancaster Priory during Facing The Past, Phase 2

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Laura Pearson is an Intentional Life Coach, Meditation Teacher and Professional Declutterer & Organiser, based in Lancashire. Her mission is to help people to consciously create, live and love heir own version of an intentional life and clutter-free, organised space.

What is meditation and who is it for? 184

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WHAT IS MEDITATION? If you aren’t familiar with it, meditation is a mind and body practice that enables you to change your mental, emotional, energetic and physical state. Meditation is about coming back to your breath and connecting within to yourself. It isn’t just a nice feeling though! Meditation is a powerful tool that can actually change your brain through a process called neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to rewire itself. Mindfulness plays a significant part in meditation. Mindfulness is the ability to be fully present, to allow yourself to be here in the present moment, and entirely focused on whatever it is that you are doing, feeling or being right now. THE MISCONCEPTIONS OF MEDITATION Meditation is something that most of us have heard of, but have never tried. For those of us that do go ahead and give meditation a go, most of us experience the misconceptions that almost all new meditators face in our first few sittings. The feeling that we are “doing it wrong”, “can’t stop thinking” or “are struggling to switch off our thoughts”. We tend to give up on our attempt to introduce a meditation practice into our lives early on. Experiencing these doubts and misconceptions is completely normal and natural. Meditation can indeed feel strange if you haven’t done it before. But the beauty of meditation is that it is a practice. And more importantly, meditation is a personal practice, which means that you can’t do it right and you can’t do it wrong. Generally, when people struggle to connect with meditation it just means that they haven’t found a practice or created a meditation practice that works for them. But there is one out there for everyone! As a Meditation Teacher, I am really passionate about making meditation accessible and easier for people to bring into their lives, so that they can experience the long list of benefits that meditation can offer. THE BENEFITS OF MEDITATION Meditation can offer a range of physical, mental, emotional and lifestyle benefits. From better sleep, to enhanced focus and concentration, to managing stress and anxiety, to developing a strong sense of self-awareness and self-love, to feeling calm and clear, to thinking more positively, and slowing down the ageing process of your brain, there are so many benefits that you can experience from having a meditation practice. I recently delivered a Meditation Masterclass to share more about the benefits that meditation can offer and to guide people through a relaxing Mindfulness Meditation.

Many of the attendees were really surprised to learn that meditation can positively impact so many areas and aspects of our lives and it was the perfect way to show some meditation critics that they can meditate, even if they have struggled with it in the past! (You can catch the masterclass on my website). One of the things that I most love about meditation is that meditation is for everyone and everybody can benefit from introducing a meditation practice into their lives, even if it is for a few minutes a day. Put simply, if you can breathe, you can meditate! MY MEDITATION STORY I first started dabbling in meditation in 2015, during a time when I was feeling stressed, overwhelmed and burnt out from a busy graduate job where I worked 70 hours a week. I felt disconnected from myself and was questioning almost everything in my life. Meditation gave me the space to slow down, to connect within, to make sense of my mind, and to find the answers within me. In my seven years of practice, Meditation has become my inner compass. I can’t quite imagine my day without meditation now. I meditate every morning and find that it helps me to start my day in the most intentional and positive way. I also love falling asleep listening to Sleep Meditations and have never slept better since I started meditating! After experiencing the benefits of meditation first hand, I trained to become a Meditation Teacher so that I could share this powerful tool with other people and ultimately, help them to live more intentional and fulfilling lives. START YOUR MEDITATION JOURNEY If you want to start meditating, exploring meditation or deepen your current meditation practice, come and join The Mind Snug! The Mind Snug is my online Meditation Membership that helps you to make your mind a clear, comfortable and cosy place to be, for less than the price of an average person’s daily dose of caffeine! The Mind Snug makes meditation an accessible, empowering, daily practice, that is easy to fit into your lifestyle, regardless of how busy you are. Inside The Mind Snug, you will get immediate access to 44 meditations that last from 2 minutes to 30 minutes. There are lots of bitesize meditations that you can fit easily into your day, and longer ones for when you have more time to explore and dedicate to your practice. Find out more and join at www.intentionalwithlaura.com/the-mind-snug Connect with The Mind Snug on social media @themindsnug

CONNECT WITH LAURA D www.intentionalwithlaura.com I @intentionalwithlaura F @intentionalwithlaura E laura@intentionalwithlaura.com Download Laura’s free guide – 5 Steps to Start Decluttering your Life at: www.intentionalwithlaura.com/5-steps-to-start-decluttering-freebie www.lancmag.com

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‘FROM THE ASHES; SHE IS IGNITED!’

aura Rowe, 39, from Liverpool has united with 7 other female entrepreneurs in best-selling book ‘From The Ashes; She is Ignited!’ – in a bid to collectively inspire others to find the courage and resilience to rise up and leave behind the challenges of our history… these honest accounts reveal the depths of despair and provide significant keys to navigate trauma and like the phoenix, rise from the ashes.

Entrepreneurial Mum And Breathwork Expert, Laura Rowe from Liverpool knocks New York Times Best Seller Wim Hof, off top spot as she becomes Best Selling Author. • Three Top Tips On How To Rise From The Ashes From Global Wellness And Empowerment Coach • Liverpool Based Motivational Speaker And Meditation Expert Knocks The IceMan Wim Hof Off The Top Spot With Her Latest Book To Help Women Overcome Adversity and Bloom Like The Lotus. 186

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Laura Rowe is the owner and founder of Align Lifestyle. She is a global Wellness and Empowerment coach, an ex-NHS theatre practitioner, a health science specialist, and a trauma and cancer survivor, on a mission to help people rediscover who they are at their core, to see how truly powerful they are, and gain emotional freedom by living intentionally and finding calm in the chaos of life. Because after struggling for years with anxiety, depression and eventually cancer, Laura learnt the hard way that if we don’t make time for our wellness, we’ll be forced to make time for our illness. In the book Laura Rowe shares how she overcame living a highly stress induced life, filled with multiple health conditions, in her chapter, The Lotus. Having set her business up as a result of overcoming a cancer diagnosis, this book is a part of Laura’s mission to inspire, educate, and motivate others towards a better understanding around the impact stress can have on our overall health. www.lancmag.com

“I am passionate about creating a society with less burnout, anxiety & stress, so we can be a nation more focused on health, wealth & happiness.” Using science backed holistic modalities such as meditation, breathwork, yoga and mindset practices, Laura is here to help more of us embrace better health without it feeling like a chore. Launching globally From the Ashes She is Ignited, available now via https://bit.ly/weareignited went straight in at number 1 on the Amazon best seller charts in ten categories including; mental health, personal health and personal transformation, knocking New York Times best-selling author Ice Man Wim Hof from the top spot. Laura Rowe courageously put pen to paper to share her experiences of trauma, illness, and a stressful life filled with anxiety and depression, said:

LAURA ROWE’S TOP 3 TIPS ON RISING FROM THE ASHES INCLUDE:

Take time to pause and breathe. One of the quickest ways to slow the heart rate and activate a relaxation response in the brain is with the breath. As little as 6 deep and full breaths can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, switch your mind-set, and initiate calm. Deep breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth, almost like a sigh, for as long as you can. Really making those exhales longer than the inhales is a key ingredient in maintaining a healthy stress response.

Remember you are never alone. Understanding the power of your words can really help you gain a deeper understanding of where you are, where you want to be, and also, what you need to get you there. No matter how overwhelming things may feel, asking for help and support is a sign of strength and bravery.

“I’m delighted to be a part of this collaborative project. I decided to take part in this book because it one hundred percent aligns with my message of overcoming adversity, finding strength and power within, and using that as a driving force to achieve your desires. I’m excited to be a best-selling author and hoping that in our shared accounts, many more women will find the courage and confidence to believe they are enough no matter what challenges life may send their way.”

This collaboration book has been brought together by former secondary school teacher, now Mindset and Positive Psychology Empowerment Coach and the Founder of The Mamas Ignited Movement, Louisa Herridge, she said:

In celebration of the book launch Laura is offering a free pdf guide on how to create more balance and harmony when life feels overwhelming, you can download it here at alignlifestyle.ac-page.com/busy-to-balanced

Knowing you are enough - that your thoughts and feelings are valid, all of them. Making a list of healthy boundaries to protect your peace is a firm favourite with my clients, also reframing negative statements into positives can really help create a healthier mindset. For more information about Laura Rowe please visit; www.alignlifestyle.co.uk

“One thing that all of the women who have contributed to this book have in common is resilience. Life sends us unexpected horrors at times and the only thing we can do is carry on. Being resilient is often not on purpose, it is something that we find when we have no other choice. Resilient people are strong enough to adapt and change… and we can’t despair if we feel like that’s an uncomfortable place to be. It comes with experience. I often think of the palm tree - able to bend in the storms, but rarely uprooted. You may feel like that today, but don’t be troubled. The storm makes you stronger! Resilient people know who they are and accept themselves, both the good and the bad. Resilient people have a strong support network, family, friends, peers, work colleagues. We don’t need an army of support, just those significant individuals we can turn to when life gets rough, or the waves feel too strong to navigate. Resilient people are honest with themselves and others. They don’t sweep things under the carpet and pretend their way through life. I’ve learned that if you don’t deal with something, it will eventually deal with you.” Founder of Authors & Co, Abigail Horne who has brought the book to life, said the book is for women at every stage of life. She said: “At Authors & Co we work with entrepreneurs who want to make an impact through leaving their legacy. Our authors always lead their readers to reflect on their own lives and if aligned, make use of the teachings to move forward themselves.”

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ASK MILES CONSULT & CONSTRUCT... This month... It’s all about Green again!!!! Last month I talked about Green Architecture…. With the summer months and the big drive for all things Green! I thought the theme should continue. So let’s talk about, creating a burst of colour with green bathroom tiles.

type of rooms. Green is directly linked to nature and, as a result, it evokes calm and relaxation. Therefore, it is not difficult to understand why these tones offer a wide range of possibilities for decorating a bathroom. It should also be noted that the colour green in interior design conveys the idea that a space is relaxing and refreshing, at the same time as it promotes the harmony of the space. In addition, the subconscious directly relates the colour green to everything natural and organic, which is why it is one of the colours that most attracts the eye and produces a sense of balance.

HOW TO INCORPORATE THE COLOUR GREEN IN BATHROOM DECORATION?

1. Why choose green in the bathroom? 2. How to incorporate the colour green in bathroom decoration? 3. Is it a good idea to use green tiles in the bathroom? 4. Different types of green tiles for the bathroom 5. Aqua green tiles for the bathroom Immersed in spring and already thinking about summer, colour is invading everything. Fashion catwalks, trends, and, of course, decoration. With colour you can create sensations and project inspiring atmospheres. WHY CHOOSE GREEN IN THE BATHROOM?

You are probably wondering why green is such a popular colour for the bathroom and why it fits perfectly with this 188

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The simplest and most eye-catching thing to do is to choose the flooring or wall tiles in this colour, so that the whole room is infused with the sense of calm and nature. Another option that is on the rise is to choose the colour of the washbasin in green to give a touch to the bathroom. There are also those who choose to combine all the sanitaryware in this way. You can also introduce green into your bathroom with paint or waterproof wallpaper. (I will talk about waterproof wallpaper in another article). You can choose this shade for one of the walls or to highlight a specific area. Remember that, as the bathroom is a room exposed to humidity and temperature changes, you should choose the right paint. Finally, if you do not want to change the appearance of the room too much, you can choose green for textiles, such as towels, shower curtains or carpets, or for bathroom accessories. www.lancmag.com

...A DEDICATED COLUMN

FOR ALL YOU DIY LOVERS AND PROFESSIONALS

WITHIN THE CONSTRUCTION

AND DESIGN INDUSTRY IS IT A GOOD IDEA TO USE GREEN TILES IN THE BATHROOM?

Of course it is. This colour is not only on trend and design, but also creates the perfect setting for relaxation. This tile option to decorate your bathroom is, without a doubt, the best one to take if you want to create your own little paradise without leaving your home.

So, biophilic design is an applied solution to appease this desire for nature by integrating natural elements and processes into the built environment. The sense of nature in the bathroom is the most amazing sense of feeling, as that is the one place you would expect no disturbances. Therefore, to feel nature would allow the mind to relax, with green being one the best relaxing colours you can get. AQUA GREEN TILES FOR THE BATHROOM

In terms of trends, the colour mint burst onto the decoration scene a few years ago and is here to stay. Therefore, aqua green tiles for the bathroom are a perfect option if you want this room to look trendy. This chromatic option allows you to create an environment that mimics the marine inspiration, recreating patterns that invite you to disconnect.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF GREEN TILES FOR THE BATHROOM

If you go for small profile tiles, then you have the option of a multiple possibilities for the bathroom. However, although large profile tiles are on trend, there is nothing stopping you from creating a feature wall with large porcelain tiles. Furthermore, one of the possibilities that ceramics offer for your bathroom are mosaics. These types of pieces are also a great option for wall coverings or bathroom showers. BIOPHILIC DESIGN

I mentioned Biophilic design in one of my previous articles. It is where the biophilia hypothesis proposes that most humans have an innate love of nature, we long for it and without connecting with it, our health could suffer.

Let me have your views and ideas on your current bathroom projects you may be working on. If you have any questions or need advice on any of your projects you are working on then do not hesitate to get in touch for any of Miles Consult & Construct Services. E N N D

sajedah@milescc.co.uk +44 (0) 1772 759 345 +44 (0) 7581 014 867 www.milescc.co.uk

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@milescc2021 @milescc2021 Sajedah Maka-Ismail Sajedah Maka-Ismail

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MIRANDA CHRISTOPHER It’s the same when it comes to our bodies. Pause for a moment and think back to the time before the dissemination of information through the mass media. Obesity was not the norm, taking antidepressants was not the norm and seeking outside instructions on what to eat in order to have the perfect body was certainly not the norm. The humans of the last fifty-plus years have been indoctrinated with so much information from “experts” that we have stopped listening to ourselves; to our bodies. These bodies contain the blueprint to repair themselves and grow another human. When I studied for my diploma in Style Coaching™, I started to understand how this external source of information was being conditioned into our identities, to the degree that we have become so disconnected from who we truly are. We each have an internal style essence, part of the essence of who we were born to be, which manifests externally as our style expression, known as the Goddess Style Expression for the women who choose to rediscover their authenticity by working with me.

remember looking down at the freshly chewed shoes and the wagging tail of my dog called Bobby thinking “but I never even got to wear them, Bobs”. I couldn’t stay angry at my best friend for long. The shoes were black patent leather with a green trim and I was six years old. For some reason, they had found their way into the space where Bobby had his night-time dog bed. Well, he must have thought all his Christmas’s had come at once. New shiny shoe chew toys. I remember trying the shoes on in the shop. I was so pleased they had my size and I felt like a princess wearing them.

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What struck me when this memory was triggered into my recollection recently was two things. How our perspective colours our experience, me vs. Bobby and how we can give away our power so easily, believing the shoes made me feel like a princess. But, you know that’s how people create their identities based on what they have and have not got. Whether it’s the love and affection of our parents, the attitudes and emotions of those around us, or in the last halfcentury by the messages shared about perfection through the media. Even at that very early age, I had given my power away to a pair of shoes.

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Working in corporate organisations for so long, I became well versed in the uniform of the norm. I reflect on how I would rebel against those unwritten rules. I’d add a string of pearls here, a bright coloured waistcoat there and guess what, patent shoes often featured – simply because I loved wearing them. What’s really interesting is how our style essence is suppressed from a very early age, we are dressed according to our sex and then we have little choice in wearing school uniforms. The mum in me understands the perceived upside of wearing uniforms, however, what we are really teaching our children is that they have to conform and fit in. It’s not okay to be themselves. As I have already shared, I have always been an independent thinker and I loved to push the boundaries with my hideous bottle green school uniform. Much to the chagrin of my teachers. www.lancmag.com

My Obvious Next Step... A former client, who had been a corporate lawyer, really struggled to find her feet when she moved to be self-employed, she would show up for networking and prospect meetings in the suits she had always worn. Yet she felt so uncomfortable, believing she would be found out for not being good enough to operate on her own. And all this baggage showed up at the meetings and in her lack of sales. It was only when we did a deep dive into her style essence that she was able to adjust her self-image and create her true external identity; the one that said, “you really want to work with this woman, she really knows her stuff”, without saying a word. Too many women have ‘body confidence’ issues that are holding them back in life. I personally know how this felt, like an ongoing battle. And now our young women and girls are using apps to reshape their appearance online believing the real thing is not good enough. Is this the legacy that we really want to leave for generations to come? Probably not, so how do we change the trajectory we are currently on? Awareness is the first step. Awareness of the ‘rules’ we live our lives by, is taken from the external influences we have experienced. The key is to go inward to ourselves and reconnect with who we truly are, with the wisdom of our bodies and take that expression into the world. Be it with your style, how you run your business or how you simply choose to show up each and every day in your life. I no longer teach people what rules they have to follow to create an image that is aligned to their authentic selves, much like my Minerva Manifesto™ and my Activate the Goddess Within ™, I have created a framework which helps you explore and create your unique Goddess Style Expression for yourself. This is not a “this is what you must wear approach”, this is life transformation. I have set the intention to create my next book ready for publication in the www.lancmag.com

Autumn, sharing the framework, tools and techniques with women who are ready to express their own Goddess Style. I remember my mum’s face when she saw the shoes. She got really mad at Bobby. As a small child, I jumped in front of him to protect him from her wroth. In my little head, he was just being a dog. Dogs like to chew, it’s natural to them. Yes, I was sad about the shoes for ten minutes, remember I was six and six-year-olds move on easily. What I understand now about that situation is how my mum was actually angry at herself for leaving the shoes where she left them. And, when we don’t have the level of self-

awareness about ourselves, taking responsibility for our actions, we can often hit out at those around us. Behaviour is the highest form of information about what is going on inside. Like to learn more? Check out my website, summarising the work I do with women as The Goddess Activator and feel free to reach out for an exploratory conversation.

www.mirandachristopher.com

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MENOPAUSE

HOW TO BUILD YOUR -

B Y

P S Y C H OT H E R A P I S T,

Menopause can be an emotional rollercoaster for many women, with hormonal changes impacting both mental and physical health.

ere, psychotherapist Noel McDermott advises women to prioritise self-care and offers tips on how to create a menopause toolkit.

N O E L

• Take regular exercise, not only will it boost your mood but will also help prevent weight gain, reduce the risk of cancer and other diseases, and strengthen your bones • Stay well hydrated, during menopause dryness is often an issue as oestrogen levels decrease. Hydration is key in improving a whole raft of menopause symptom

BIOLOGICAL TRANSITION

• Staying connected to loved ones is also one of the cornerstones of self-care at any time. Talk to people who love you about how you are feeling

There are medical issues that may occur during the biological transition of perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause. During this time, it’s important to seek medical advice and regular check-ups to ensure you remain well.

• Sleep issues are common, try and follow a regular sleep schedule and keep good sleep hygiene (night sweats etc permitting) or ability to rest during the day. Getting good sleep helps boost your mind and mood

Anxiety and depression are common during this process and will at times need specialised help from a CBT therapist for example. As is the case with anxiety and depression in general there are many things you can do to reduce the intensity and longevity of them.

• Behavioural activation when you lose motivation through depression (doing activities, hobbies, meals, meeting friends even if you don’t feel like doing them)

MENOPAUSE TOOLKIT & SELF-HELP TIPS • Look closely at what you eat and how to eat a nutrient-rich diet (such as increasing of food sources rich in calcium, magnesium and vitamins D and K to maintain integrity of your bones), a healthy balanced diet will not only make you feel good but can also help reduce symptoms 192

• Understand unhelpful thinking patterns and look at the positives in life • Practising yoga or meditation may help during this time. Both are known to improve physical and mental flexibility, ease symptoms of stress/anxiety and help with weight loss When going through the change of menopause or dealing with unusual life circumstances, prioritizing your own mental and physical health becomes even more important.

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M C D E R M OT T

HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR PARTNER DURING MENOPAUSE What’s always lost in the medical model of menopause is the role and impact on the non-menopausal partner if they exist. Loneliness in menopause can be a significant complicating factor and indeed loneliness in general is psychologically and physiologically distressing. It’s a major mortality issues in later life. Experiencing love and compassion from others is crucial to our health and especially so when we possibly experience major stressors. It can be difficult though for an intimate partner watching their loved one suffer and also behave in anti-social ways towards them. Psychological distress is rarely if ever pro-social and pleasant and if your loved one does experience psychological distress during menopause it’s important to look to your own needs. Utilising the ‘put the oxygen mask over your own face first’, advice you get when you fly.

REACH OUT FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT If you have a history of post-natal depression, previous periods or major depression, anxiety disorder, eating disorder, bi-polar, addiction issues then it’s a good idea to think about your psychological support needs if you are peri-menopausal. Simply put your body/psyche may go through significant stress during this time and especially if it’s prolonged. www.lancmag.com

MANAGEMENT MENOPAUSE TOOLKIT

Stress can and does cause relapse of previous problems. Planning for the possibility of a relapse and doing preventative work is always sensible. Waiting till you’re in a hole is never sensible. Prevention doesn’t mean you won’t have a relapse, but it will always mean that your relapse will be better managed, less intense, and less damaging.

PSYCHOTHERAPIST NOEL MCDERMOTT COMMENTS: “Menopause is a major life change and a biological transition for women with a functioning uterus. It’s often presented as a series of symptom from a very medical point of view, but it is of course something that is subjectively experienced and happens in wider social, cultural, political, and psychological context. Defining a woman by her ability to bear children is increasingly seen as reductionist and biologically as well as culturally and politically suspect. The meaning of menopause has in this context shifted quite radically over the past few decades.” Noel McDermott is a Psychotherapist with over 25 years’ experience in health, social care, and education. He has created unique, mental health services in the independent sector. Noel’s company offer at-home mental health care and will source, identify and co-ordinate personalised care teams for the individual.

www.noelcdermott.net

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How Can You Tell You Are An Emotional Eater? I

n these present crazy times emotional eating is certainly on the rise, and should be discussed, but do you recognise the signs?

As a past emotional eater, here are some of the signs I could relate to: • REACHING FOR FOOD WITHOUT YOU REALIZING YOU’RE DOING IT • EATING MORE FOOD THAN NORMAL WHEN YOU’RE STRESSED • EATING WHEN YOU’RE FULL • REACHING FOR FOOD WHEN YOU FEEL THERE IS NOTHING ELSE TO DO • OR EVEN CRAVING CERTAIN FOODS WHEN YOU ARE DOWN Emotional eating simply put is eating when you are not physically hungry, you know that feeling when your stomach rumbles or you have that empty feeling in your stomach, that is physical hunger. So emotional eating is eating when your stressed, when you’re bored, to give you comfort, eating for distraction, compulsive eating or binge eating can all be described as emotional eating as you don’t feel that physical change, it’s more of a mental change and when we eat for emotional reasons, that type of ‘hunger’ can never be satisfied with food. Quite a lot of us, due to emotional eating AND diets have lost that link between our mind and body, how many of you have been on a few diets, I’m guessing a lot – me included! But did you know on average a woman goes on a diet at least 4 times a year, how many is that in a lifetime – I shudder to think! A diet is about deprivation from ‘bad’ food, whether it’s a red food or a syn, its considered bad, but think about it, food has no personality, it has no agenda so how can it be good or bad?

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If we eat too much of anything it's gonna give us some kind of body reactions, but to think of food as bad, it’s the diet industries way to get you to feel bad about yourself, and how do you feel better, go on a diet! Diets disconnect us from our natural intuition, you’re measuring everything, eating foods a certain way and even at certain times. We’re human, not robots and we shouldn’t treat our bodies as such. Have you heard the saying ‘breakfast is the most important meal of the day’? It isn’t if you have been eating all the way through the night! And here is my point, we are told certain things again and again until we believe them, how many of you know the saying was actually cornered by the breakfast cereal industry in the 1940’s to market their products, and it worked! But things like this move us away from our own natural queues, our own intuition.

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Breakfast is simply breaking the fast, so this doesn’t necessarily have to be first thing when you wake up, start tuning into that physical hunger feeling eating when is best for you and break free from the breakfast rules – it doesn’t have to be cereal, very often I have hummus, mackerel, eggs and some blue cheese for breakfast, because I know what is best for me at certain times of the day to fill me up and more importantly keep me going longer. Which is what my coaching reignites – that natural intuition, knowing what is best to eat for you at any time, knowing when it is something else that needs love and attention, and being able to know intuitively what your body needs at any one time so you are naturally nourishing you mind, body and soul. However we can be eating the most healthiest food in the world, but if our body is under stress, physical or mental, our food will not be absorbed properly and will end up as fat around our middles. And this is where intuitive eating comes in, eating when relaxed, focussed, connected. In tune with our mind, body and soul. So, here’s something to think about, to start that reconnection, rekindle that intuition: • When was the last time you felt physical hunger? • What is physical hunger to you? Does physical hunger scare you, for many of my clients it really does as they say if they feel physical hunger, they won’t be able to stop eating and that alone can cause stress. I encourage you to sit with that physical hunger for a short while so you can decide what foods are best for you physically at that point. Hunger is our bodies natural way of letting you know it needs fuel, so why replace that with a diet that goes against that natural response? Hunger is not to be afraid of or ignored as a badge of honour, so get used to that feeling of hunger to start planning when to eat, something your body will appreciate and love. Hunger is the first and the best indicator to start intuitive eating but also knowing when to stop is key, let’s face it we’ve all been there! When we overeat, 9 times out of ten it’s because we are eating far too quick and our mind hasn’t caught up with our body, so let’s work on that mind and body connection and just slow down. Start with extending your mealtimes by 5 minutes, notice the food on your plate, smell it, savour it, every single mouthful. It’s the slowing down and savouring of food that will help you gauge when you’re full AND reduce overall stress as you are focussing on one thing and taking your time with it. Eating when stressed has been proven to add fat around our middles so let’s slow down, breath deep, and enjoy the smells, tastes, and texture of food again. My 1-1 coaching, corporate wellness workshops where we increase employees energy, morale, focus and productivity and my book True Taste cover intuitive eating as a tool to eliminate emotional eating, reduce stress, improve food habits and create healthy solutions that stick.

CONNECT WITH MARGARET: D www.nehhub.com I @naturallyempoweredhealth L www.linkedin.com/in/ emotionaleatingcoach E margaret@nehhub.com

Poet and novelist Sahana Ahmed, who has been helping shine a light on remarkable women through various initiatives, will lead the global judging panel for the Agent of Change category at the eighth annual SheInspires Awards.

aving been associated with the awards in 2021 as a judge for the Couple of the Year category, she said, “It is a privilege to get to know nominees from such diverse backgrounds. It is enriching and heartening, and I thank SheInspires for the opportunity to participate in their journeys.” Ms. Ahmed, who currently serves as the National President of the Rural Tourism Council of WICCI (Women’s Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry), says an Agent of Change, is “someone who has a unique perspective, takes steps to create new pathways, and has the perseverance to reach set goals.” In her other roles, she works as the India Country Chair for the World Peace wing of G100 Club, the West Bengal Coordinator for RBTC (Rising Beyond the Ceiling) – an initiative to highlight the achievements of Indian Muslim women ¬– and the Global Lead for the Leaders Library with SheLeads Academy. She will be joined in the judging panel by Blessing IraborOza, President of OWIT (Organization of Women in International Trade) Nigeria, Captain Dolly Kushwaha, an Indian Army veteran, Rahul Akhaury, Chairman of Vernajyoti Educare, Sukirti Gupta, co-founder of Sipping Thoughts, and Vinita Agrawal, well-known poet and editor.

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The organizer of SheInspires, Gulnaz Brennan, commented: “We are so grateful to all the Category Leads and judges. Their enthusiasm and professional expertise make a real difference to not only choosing the right people for all these awards but for helping us expand and develop every year.” Through the Agent of Change award, SheInspires Awards aims to celebrate the hard work, inspiration, and dedication of a lady whose efforts have brought about a positive change in society. Her work could be around championing the rights of women and girls, the preservation or enhancement of culture and heritage, policy change at the workplace, challenging inequality and injustice experienced by women, and advancing the awareness of specific concerns. Last year, the awards attracted nominations from across the UK as well as countries such as Denmark, Pakistan, South Africa, and the USA. The presentation ceremony was live streamed across the globe to an audience of thousands. The 2022 Awards have received more than 2,000 nominations for its 16 categories, which include a new Health and Medical Services award. For more information, please visit www.inspirewomenawards.org.uk You may contact Sahana Ahmed via her website: www.sahanaahmed.com

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Top Left: 2021 Local Winner Agent of Agent Stephanie Sherratt Middle Left: 2021 National Winner Agent of Agent Lisa Edge puorgseripsniehs@

Bottom Left: puorgseripsniehs@ 2021 Global Winner prgseripsniehs@ Agent of Agent Lauren Jacobs

“We are so grateful to all the Category Leads and judges. Their enthusiasm and professional expertise make a real difference to not only choosing the right people for all these awards but for helping us expand and develop every year"

@sheinspiresgroup @sheinspiresgroup @sheinspiresgrp

sheinspires.org.uk

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Hi I am Janet and I am your resident Positive Change Coach bringing you techniques and insights to help you navigate the changes in your life positively. I have 15 years experience and now work globally from Costa Rica to New Zealand and everywhere in-between.

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU? Why do some people stay in the same job for life and others change careers multiple times and jobs at the drop of a hat? The developers of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) established a number of patterns of behaviour in terms of motivation, I am going to discuss 3 of them. TOWARDS AND AWAY When making a decision the Towards people have a goal which they work towards and a clear idea of where they wish to go in all aspects of their life. They are good at prioritising. Without a goal they become demotivated and lethargic. Typical language will be – gain, achieve, win, obtain, initiate, conquer, get, have. Away people are motivated to get away from a person, place, situation as a way of solving a problem, they use avoidance as a tactic. They work best under threat/pressure, and are good problem solvers. They have difficulty in maintaining focus or deciding upon a goal. Typical language – steer clear, avoid, get rid of, get away from, looking over my shoulder. When I recognised that most of my decisions had been Away – leaving jobs in particular - I became aware that whilst looking over my shoulder to run away from I wasn’t looking where I was going and would often jump from frying pan to fire! 198

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As I understood myself more I realised that what I was running away from was myself. I can remember feeling this way when I moved from primary school to Grammar school. I had been bullied at Primary school so I saw the move as enabling me to get away from the bullies. But history repeated itself. When I emigrated to a hot country I met many people who saw their move as a new start but of course you are the same person and you bring your problems with you. In my case I lacked confidence and that vulnerability is what made me a target for the bullies. By learning to love myself I overcome the low confidence and vulnerability and now I am full of confidence. When I decided to emigrate I really checked myself out that I was going Towards something I wanted and not running Away. My natural self is Towards but my insecurities held me back, when I was able to remove these then I became powerful and the author of my own life. OPTIONS AND PROCEDURES Do you approach daily work with a preference for using established procedures or do you want to establish new ways of working? Options people are motivated by opportunities and possibilities, always seeking to improve, however whilst good at inventing new procedures they are not good at following them. They believe they create their own life. www.lancmag.com

Typical language – break the rules, never miss an opportunity, the possibilities are endless, choice, variety. Procedures people are at their best when following an established routine or procedure. They feel lost without a procedure to follow and will start what they finish. They believe life happens to them. Typical language – I’ve started so I’ll finish, tried and tested, routine, method, procedure, pattern. Neither is right or wrong, the important thing is to recognise your pattern of behaviour and therefore your strengths. Every employer needs both types of people to be a success. I was running an Introduction to NLP course and one lady had her light bulb moment when she recognised that whilst she was an Options person the majority of her staff were procedures driven which is why she often felt frustrated and they were overwhelmed by her. So she knew she had to change her approach in order to get the best out of them. INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL Do you gain motivation from internal values and beliefs or from outside influences? Internal people are self-assured and confident of their own values and beliefs and don’t need approval from others. Typical language – it’s up to you, only you can decide, you be the judge, what do you think, trust your own judgment. External people need approval from others to keep motivated. They worry about what other people think and struggle to make decisions. Typical language – what will people think? so-and-so thinks, what do you think? I’ll check that out. Many of my clients need external approval, their anxiety causes them to question themselves, one word of doubt from anyone will cause them to question their decisions and therefore remain stuck in a place they don’t want to be. www.lancmag.com

I often work with clients who believe it’s all their fault, they constantly say sorry when there is nothing to be sorry for, they are apologizing for their very existence. Worrying about what other people think is exhausting mentally, emotionally and physically. My job is to remove my client’s doubts and develop their inner confidence. The more you understand your motivations in life and then use that knowledge to improve your life then the more powerful you become and will live your life in the way you choose.

Head to my website for more information D thepositivechangecoach.com For a complimentary 30 min., 1-1 Positive Change Discovery Session contact me E janetbroughton@ thepositivechangecoach.com DRU Yoga classes available live online or via YouTube Y Janet Teaches DRU Yoga Claim your FREE Positive Change Personality Quiz to discover your Change personality, how it affects your life and how we can empower you to live your Best Life.

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TREASURE HUNTING: CAN YOU THINK OF ANYTHING MORE EXCITING THAN FINDING LOST TREASURE?

ell, one social media user was lucky enough to find a locked money safe in a junk yard. In the video posted on TikTok in March, they use heavy machinery to crack open the treasure chest, finding a thick envelope full of money. If you think that is exciting, here are some more examples of forgotten safes and shocking finds.

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Forgotten Safes and Shocking Finds A STOLEN COIN COLLECTION

A GOLDEN LUNULA

The world is full of long-lost safes. If you’re as lucky as Leigh Webber, you might discover one full of treasure someday. On February 22nd 2021, ‘Bondi Treasure Hunter’ posted a Tik Tok of his legendary discovery. Lost and forgotten at the bottom of an Amsterdam canal, he had found a mysterious collection of copper coins that read ‘Hortus Bonaticus 1682–1982’.

What could be better than finding diamonds and jewels? Well, unearthing precious historical jewellery might do the trick. During the late 20th century, a golden lunula was discovered in a stolen safe. This has been traced back to the Bronze Age, anytime between 300 BC and 1200 AD!

To find out if his treasure was worth any real gold, he researched the origin of these coins. It turns out that this safe was stolen over 20 years ago. The coins were also part of a commemorative collection for the beloved botanical gardens. And only 500 were made! Do you think this modern-day copper rush is shocking? A MYSTERIOUS TREASURE MAP If you’re renovating your kitchen, you might expect to find a creepy crawly or two beneath the floorboards. But what would you do if you discovered a hidden safe? One couple found themselves in this exact situation, and they unearthed $51,000! As well as finding thousands of dollars, the couple discovered a mysterious treasure map in the safe. The original owners of the safe had underlined sentences within a book and used bookmarks with telling locations. We can only imagine what the map leads to – another $51,000 maybe? A COLLECTION OF DIAMONDS AND JEWELS One couple, Matthew and Maria, found a rusty safe buried in their back garden. Once opened, they found a collection of diamonds, gold rings with jade, engagement rings, and a stash of cash. Overall, the safe was estimated to be worth more than $50,000! Nestled between precious pieces of jewellery, they also found a piece of paper with an address written on it. Matthew and Maria tracked down the owners (luckily, they lived locally) and passed over their long-lost possessions. It turns out the was stolen from their home and they had given up on any hope to find it.

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The story of this shocking find is even more unbelievable. Believe it or not, the original criminals who stole the safe accidentally threw this in a bin. Luckily for everyone who wants to see this lunula for themselves, the item is now stored in the National Museum of Ireland. A FIRST AID KIT FROM WWII The last of our shocking finds is another one from the history books. In 2020, after moving into a 1950s stone farmhouse, Jacqueline Antonovich found a forgotten metal box behind the stove. Inside was a first aid kit from the Second World War filled with medical equipment specifically for gas casualties. This is a goldmine for anyone, never mind the fact that she is a historian of medicine herself. These are some of the most shocking finds in safes. Whether they are moments in history buried and forgotten or valuables returned to their owners, finding treasure troves is always exciting. Will you go treasure hunting? SOURCES www.statista.com/statistics/956906/burglaries-in-englandand-wales/ www.statista.com/statistics/956906/burglaries-in-englandand-wales/ www.newsweek.com/treasure-hunters-huge-safe-stolencoins-magnet-fishing-1582837 liveplayeat.com/hidden-safe-treasure-map/ shareably.net/couple-find-hidden-safe-backyard-treasure/ www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/irish-treasuresdiscovered-chance crafty.diply.com/6497058/people-share-the-fascinatingthings-theyve-found-when-opening-o

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Was this the First UFO/UAP-Eye-Witness Recorded By Jason Gleaves, international author of ‘UFO PHOTO’ and ‘The Ufology Umbrella’ plus Ufonly on Facebook, Twitter and Onstellar. New Documentary ‘Multidimensional’ available on Amazon Prime, iTunes, Apple tv, Google Play, Microsoft Store.

The described papyrus surfaced in documentation from the former director of the Vatican collection of Egyptian antiquities, Professor Tulli. Tulli is said to have discovered it in 1934 with an antique dealer named Tano, deep in the Egyptian capital Cairo. To date however it is doubtful and difficult to authenticate whether he ever acquired it at this time, or if he just created a copy of the original.

Was this the First UFO-Eye-Witness Recorded Over the Skies of Ancient Egypt.

n Ancient Egypt, strange depictions and recordings of what we in modern times would describe as flying cars or vehicles freely cruised the skies, during the time of Pharaoh Thutmose III (approximately 14831425 BC) of the 18th Dynasty, who apparently ruled for a long duration as a Pharaoh of the Biblical Exodus period. Overtime, the Illustrious ruler lead his loyal people over seventeen glorious campaigns as far as Asia and to the south of Egypt. Through these campaigns, Egypt was a wealthy and powerful territory and the Pharaoh endeavoured to complete a vast construction project. Recorded on the so-called Tulli Papyrus (document) taken from this period you can find a strange fascinating report of unidentified flying objects (UFO’s/UAP’s) unidentified flying objects & unidentified aerial phenomena) sighted.

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Boris de Rachewiltz published a translation in the first U.S. magazine Doubt (issue 41) during 1953. Although de Rachewiltz was just a free researcher in his own right the publications are used in universities still to this day. The text of the damaged piece of writing reports of a very interesting sighting which occurred over the Ancient Egyptian skies, which had been recorded and documented meticulously, So says a translation of the Egyptologist Donald J. Long (USA) from 1993. Here is a Translation:In the 22 Year, third month, the first day, at the sixth hour... it happened that the writers were in the house of life, as a circle of fire appeared in the sky, without a head. Flowed from his mouth a breath smelled terrible. His body was one rod long and one rod wide. He was silent (or he did not speak?). The Egyptian witnesses “were filled with fear and confusion, they fell on their bellies,” the papyrus continues. A reaction for people of the time period when they saw something unexplainable unknown to them in the sky. However, after the Initial event, Pharaoh Thutmose III meditated reflecting on the supposedly divine appearances, which after they continued to appear for a further three days later, apparently in larger numbers over the land of the pyramids. www.lancmag.com

The objects in their spherical shape appeared more numerous than ever seen before. These spectacular objects in the sky shone like the Sun! And described as travelling to the four corners of the sky where the army of the king watched the spectacle with him. After supper they looked up, and these objects were all about them in the skies. Also described the Objects flew up at high altitudes in the south region and then flew away. This is a truly extraordinary document of Ancient Egypt times, which also states that “fish and birds” fell from the skies. This extraordinary phenomenon is known today also described in the para-science realms and baffles scientists and alike. The nature of the detailed wording of the text actually corresponds to the Egyptian dynasty writings (particularly during the 18th Dynasty) Repeating time and again, this is considered not to be genuine, maybe from the twenties time period. But also considered one of Thutmose III originating inscription in Jebel Barkal taken from the Sudan region today, in which it describes a similar momentous event, So it could probably be authentic. These unexplained objects obviously left their mark on the Great Pharaoh and his people especially for them to record this in Egyptian history. So what were the spectacular objects witnessed by thousands of Egyptians that flew nearly 3,500 years ago over the skies of Ancient Egypt...? Possibly Cosmic visitors you decide. Jason Gleaves, Ufonly, international author of UFO Photo, The Ufology Umbrella, and Close Encounters, Up close and Personal www.lancmag.com

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Discover Your One Superpower That Will Help You Feel Happier, Healthier and More Confident on what we might die of, but on how (un-)well we feel. And that’s fantastic: the focus on wellness is a focus on the source of good health, it’s the focus on preventing and curing illness.

YOUR GUT HAS SUPERPOWERS

IF YOU COULD CHANGE 1 THING ABOUT YOUR HEALTH TO ENJOY LIFE MORE EVERY DAY, WHAT WOULD THAT BE? Most people nowadays live with life-impacting health conditions like bad sleep, low energy, brain fog, depression, allergies, pains, weight issues, high blood pressure, diabetes, or strokes, for example. Asking “Why do you accept those conditions?”, I hear “I’m used to it now. Nothing can be done. It’s down to age / menopause / stress…!”

I CAN NOT ACCEPT such reasons AND NOR SHOULD YOU! A survey at the end of 2020 asked people what they want to improve about their health and wellbeing. The top 5 answers were: 1. Stress / Mood 2. Weight and Body Shaping / Building 3. Sleep 4. General Health / Immunity 5. Energy Given that the No. 1 cause of death in the world is Heart Disease. [see table top middle column], the survey showed that we do not actually focus 204

WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF GOOD HEALTH? When we feel unwell, it is a sign that one or more of our bodily systems are out of balance. Holistic medicine offers a myriad of specific treatment options for the total body, for example, its:  Structure, e.g., physiotherapy, massage, fitness training  Mind, e.g., NLP, hypnotherapy  Energy fields, e.g., Reiki, EFT, acupuncture Such healing methods are powerful, but their effectiveness can be limited or time-delayed if the body struggles with one underlying condition:

INFLAMMATION Inflammation is the root cause of most health issues and can impact vital organs or systems in the body from functioning properly. Research is revealing every day more proof that inflammation starts in an unhealthy, out-of-balance Gut Microbiome.

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Our body is like a large business that needs highly skilled workers like security, HR, messengers, engineers, cleaners, and decision-makers to run productively. Your GUT is a system that hosts and trains many super skilled ‘specialists’ for your body so it works at its best and you feel fit and healthy: 1. Over 70% of our Immune System (= security and special forces) gets trained in the gut by bacteria. These teach the immune system, to know right from wrong. Lack of exposure to bacterial variety can lead to ‘misunderstanding’ and something as harmless as dust or pollen triggers allergic reactions. 2. Hormones and your Nervous System are vital messengers throughout the body and to the brain aiding good sleep, giving you stamina, and influencing your decisions, moods and behaviours so that you can deal well with challenges that life throws at you. Over 70% of hormones stem from the gut. 3. Bacteria, Antioxidants, and Amino Acids have cleaning and maintenance jobs and are critical for optimised absorption of nutrients. They also help to prevent ‘leaky gut syndrome’, the root cause of inflammation. www.lancmag.com

It’s easy to see, that keeping the gut microbiome in balance is critical for total body wellness.

HEALTHY GUT FOR A BETTER LIFE

HOW DO WE KEEP A GOOD GUT BALANCE?

These can be signals your body is sending you to say:

Think of gut health as maintaining your vegetable garden. You need to:

“Hey, listen, I’m out of balance, I am not working at 100% anymore!”

1. Pull weeds – remove refined, processed, and unhealthy foods from your diet as they feed the ‘badies’

We must be alert for early signs of imbalance, as sadly, by the time you experience illness symptoms, the damage can be irreversible or even fatal.

2. Repair, prepare and sow seeds – good nutrients and good bacteria (Probiotics) help to repair gut wall damage (Leaky Gut), restore the mucosal gut lining, and help good bacteria to grow; eat fermented foods or use supplements 3. Probiotics feed on Prebiotics, indigestible plant fibres like inulin; eat Jerusalem artichoke, beans, onions, chicory root, asparagus, or green leafy vegetables

I showed above that, the body has outsourced vital functions to the microbiome, and we simply cannot live without it.

4. ‘Eat the Rainbow’ to further nourish your gut and body – the more colour variety on your plate the more phytonutrients (cell-protective nutrients) you get 5. Every garden needs maintaining and so does your gut. Toxins, stress, medication, alcohol, sugars… these are ‘weeds’ that our bodies get exposed to all the time. A deep cellular detox once or twice a year is important to help your gut stay in balance and work in your favour

 Do a FREE Lifestyle Analysis now; this is an easy to do questionnaire giving you instant results to show how your bodily systems perform at the moment: https://julia.influencersoftconnect. com/la?utm_source=link I hope I have given you food for thought and ideas to start making changes now so you can live your best life every day. In my clinics, I combine Science, Nutrition and Mindfulness in a series of transformational programmes designed around you and your lifestyle to help you live your best life.  Send me your questions and feedback  Book your no-obligation 20 minute ‘Explore Call’ to find out how you can level up  Join my private Facebook group HETAMO VIP LOUNGE for daily lifestyle advice and inspiration:

An imbalance of ‘goodies’ and ‘badies’ inside your gut may lead to constipation, bloating, diarrhoea, IBS, hormonal imbalance, or weight issues, for example. But much more damage is done if the gut walls are damaged so that toxins and undigested food particles can ‘leak’ into your bloodstream (Leaky Gut Syndrome). Once in the blood, these ‘badies’ can stop anywhere in your body and will trigger inflammation, your body’s natural immune response. It is the constant underlying inflammation everywhere in the body, that leads to illnesses like diabetes, arthritis, lack of concentration, mental health struggles or aches and pains.

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 Listen to lifesaving stories: https://whypurify.co.uk/?tm=jr

GUT HEALTH = GOOD HEALTH Take good care of your Gut and look out for early signs of imbalance. Tiredness, bad sleep, sudden intolerances and even pains are not necessarily down to age or too much work out in the gym the day before.

CONTACT: Julia Riewald – Success & Health Coaching N +44 (0)7902 214534 E Julia@percent-edge.com

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New Fool of Muncaster!

A new Fool of Muncaster has just been announced at the finale of Muncaster Castle’s highly successful ‘Funcaster Festival of Fools’.

an Douglas, storyteller extraordinaire from Huddersfield, was mantled in Tom Fool’s coat and crowned with his hat by Gary “Gacko” Bridgens, Muncaster’s Fool since 2019. Muncaster Castle is recognised as the traditional home of “Tomfoolery” ever since the legendary Thomas Skelton, the original “Tom Fool,” was jester there in the early 17th century. Peter Frost-Pennington of Muncaster enthused; “We are delighted that Ian has accepted the challenge of being our new Fool of Muncaster. Storytellers maintain our cultural heritage and enliven the treasury of folklore handed down through the mists of time. We know that Ian will be a fabulous ambassador for Muncaster and a thoughtful yet highly entertaining Fool. He has been at the heart of our Halloween ghostly castle tours for 10 years and delighted our visitors at many other events with his fabulous tales and richly deserves his new role.”

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Since 2005, 18 top street theatre performers have won the coveted title “Fool of Muncaster”, whose duties include entertaining the Pennington family and the thousands of visitors who flock to the Funcaster Festival of Fools each year in late May. Ian Douglas said; “I am chuffed to bits to be appointed to this prestigious and historic responsibility. I am looking forward to bringing to life more of the tales and legends that have swirled around Muncaster for centuries and sharing them with local communities and at least some of Muncaster’s many visitors. It is a great honour to be entrusted with this ancient office.” As part of the ceremony Ian was presented with the trophy, a replica of Tom Fool’s hat, carved from a branch of the great tree at the front door of the castle under which Tom Fool used to sit 400 years ago telling tall tales to passing travellers. The trophy will have Ian’s name added to the long list of previous incumbents. He was also presented with a symbolic crate of local beer. In the royal court the Fool was paid in ale while the Poet Laurette was paid in wine.

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Simon Armitage, the current Poet Laurette is also from Huddersfield and will soon be returning to perform at the Krankenhaus Festival at Muncaster over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

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New Grant To Boost Domestic Tree Production Opens

• Almost £9 million available for tree and seed suppliers of all sizes to expand and modernise • Funding will help to increase the quantity, quality, diversity and biosecurity of tree seed and sapling supply.

new £8.8 million fund to support domestic tree production in England has been opened by the Forestry Commission in partnership with Defra. The funding will help tree nurseries and suppliers to invest in projects which improve, expand, automate or mechanise their operations. This will support efforts to build nursery capacity and grow longterm tree seed and sapling supply – delivering on a commitment within the England Trees Action Plan, the Government’s long-term plan for the nation’s trees, woodlands and forests. Successful projects will be awarded up to £175,000 in grant funding to cover up to 50% of costs, with money www.lancmag.com

coming from the Tree Production Capital Grant as part of the Government’s £750 million Nature for Climate Fund. Example projects suitable for funding could include investments in machinery such as transplanting systems and grading machines, improved polytunnel infrastructure and irrigation systems, or in biosecurity through improved water treatment and refrigeration equipment. The grant is open to tree seed and sapling suppliers of all sizes, as well as new entrants looking to diversify into the sector. Forestry Minister Lord Goldsmith said: “With demand for trees set to grow dramatically over the coming years as we pursue our ambitious tree planting targets, fostering a robust forestry industry is critical. “Supporting the sector with this new funding will safeguard sapling supply chains, create new green jobs and help to realise our long-term vision for our trees and woodlands.”

Forestry Commission Keith Jones Area Director for the North West and West Midlands said: “The Tree Production Capital Grant will help to build the forest nursery sector of the future. “This Grant will increase the quantity of trees produced domestically and enhance their diversity so that forests, woodlands and treescapes which are resilient to stresses like pests, diseases and climate change can be grown. “I encourage nurseries and suppliers of all sizes, as well as organisations in allied sectors looking to diversify into tree seed and sapling production, to apply.” Up to £8.8 million is available through the Tree Production Capital Grant, subject to sufficient highquality bids being received. The fund will enable suppliers to bolster production at pace and has been designed to complement the Tree Production Innovation Fund, which provides support for research projects that enhance tree production methods.

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HOW TO AVOID THE SNEEZES ON HOLIDAY By Airborne Allergens Expert, Max Wiseberg

www.haymax.biz

heck the pollen calendar (try Accuweather) for your destination beforehand, so you can plan ahead. Usually coastal areas have lower pollen counts. You can create your own holiday hay fever first aid kit, consisting of one or more natural product (such as an organic allergen barrier balm), one antihistamine, one nasal spray and eye drops. Never take 2 antihistamines together, never take 2 steroid nasal sprays together, and consult your pharmacist or doctor about it if you are already taking another medication.

Use an organic, drug-free allergen barrier balm such as HayMax (www. haymax.biz) around the nostrils and bones of the eyes in the morning, throughout the day and at night to trap more than a third of pollen before it enters the body[1]. Less allergen, less reaction. Keep allergens off your clothes and body. Wear wraparound sunglasses when outdoors to prevent pollen particles coming in contact with your eyes, and tie your hair up and wear a hat to prevent pollen particles being caught in your hair. Wash your face as soon as you get back to your room, apartment or villa to wash away allergens so that they can’t cause a reaction. Rinse your eyes regularly with a saline eye wash to help flush away pollen. Once you’ve arrived at your hotel or apartment, use the air conditioning. With the air conditioning on and the windows closed, you can considerably reduce

indoor pollen exposure. Time your outings so they’re not when pollen counts are highest, during the peak morning and evening periods. Pollen is released early in the morning then travels upwards as the air warms up. In the evening, as the air cools, it moves back down again and the pollen grains reach nose height. Symptoms are usually worst at these times, so avoid going outdoors then. Taking a shower and changing your clothes after returning from outdoor activities helps remove pollen from your hair, body and clothes, and reduces the amount you breathe in. There may be different tree, grass and weed pollens or mould to the UK, which you may be allergic to, so pack a pot of HayMax just in case! Mosquitoes and midges can be a real pest in summer. Try spraying yourself with incognito Insect Repellent (www. incognitospray.com) which contains PMD, is plant-based and 100% natural. PMD is NHS, WHO and Public Health England approved. You could also try burning incognito’s citronella incense sticks which repel 72% of insects outside and 100% inside. And to protect your skin from the sun as well as biting insects, try using a combined sun cream and insect repellent, such as incognito Mineral Suncream Insect Repellent SPF 30, a tri-action suncream, moisturiser and insect repellent.

More people will be travelling abroad this summer, after travel restrictions over the past two years. If you suffer with hay fever and are planning a trip or holiday abroad, there are things you can do to help minimise the impact of pollen. And for those who don’t suffer at home, there may be different tree, grass and weed pollens or mould to the UK, which you may be allergic to. And don’t forget to protect yourself from mosquitoes and biting insects and the sun! Here’s my top tips for holidaymakers… REFERENCE: [1] Chief Investigator: Professor Roy Kennedy, Principal Investigator: Louise Robertson, Researcher: Dr Mary Lewis, National Pollen & Aerobiology Research Unit, 1st February 2012.

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MANISH’S ZODIAC PREDICTIONS

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 21 Mar - 19 Apr

LEO 23 Jul - 22 Aug

SAGITTARIUS 22 Nov - 21 Dec

Your instincts for finances improve this month and you might enjoy a pay or income increase. Career and professional matters are in strong focus, and you’re ready to take charge of this area of your life. Your reputation improves after the 18th when you bring more warmth to your professional manner. If single, you will surely meet your long-awaited love, and this can happen soon near the house or during one of the trips. If married, you will enjoy harmony in a relationship with your spouse and will spend free time together, spending everyday life, taking care of children.

Your financial sector remains unstable, and expenses will continue to increase, which will lead to a significant reduction in budget, meaning a reduction in financial capabilities. It is not recommended to enter financial contracts, take long-term loans, or lend money because there is a very high risk that the commitments made in this unstable time will become fetters in the future because of low paying capacity. Reasonable economizing coupled with good planning must be carried out correctly. At times you can speak quite rashly, or you could find that you’re impatient with slowness or passivity in others.

You are more communicative after the 8th. Home and family matters improve greatly from the 18th. You might receive news of securing a new residence or property, or your domestic situation is more satisfying and comfortable. Love matters move forward, and confusing emotional situations begin to dissipate. It’s also a strong time for creative pursuits, educational or legal matters, and travel. Conflicts are lessened if you take the lead and work towards a common goal with others. Romantic opportunities might present themselves through your friends or group associations.

Favourable Dates: Aug 2, 8, 11, 17, 20, 26 Favourable Colours: Red & Blue

Favourable Dates: Aug 5, 9, 14, 18, 23, 27 Favourable Colours: Black & Blue

Favourable Dates: Aug 2, 5, 11, 14, 20, 23 Favourable Colours: Brown & White

TAURUS 20 Apr - 20 May

CAPRICORN 22 Dec - 19 Jan

VIRGO 23 Aug - 22 Sept

In business and profession, teamwork is emphasized, although there can be some strife with friends if you are pushed into the background or you are unable to set your own pace socially. Improvements in your love relationships and partnerships are likely this month. A partner is easier to understand from the 7th forward, and love dynamics are more direct and straightforward from the 18th. Increased activity on the home front is likely now, and you can use this energy positively by working on reorganizing, renovating, or otherwise improving your domestic life.

You are enthusiastic about your beliefs and wear your ideas with confidence and authority this month. You are more assertive now as well, and your ability to trust your intuition is heightened. Ideas are flowing and you express them more freely. You are putting more faith in your instincts and your judgment. The result is more spontaneity and possibly more adventure or risk-taking in your life than there has been recently. You might present your ideas with much enthusiasm and confidence, which can increase the likelihood that they’re accepted and admired.

You will relate with other people well, although your ambition and desire to excel can bring a lot of communication problems in the first half of the month. You should have a very good idea of your scope of work, and not take someone else’s, so as not to be guilty and not justifying someone else’s expectations. Finances are a strong focus, and around the 21st, you might settle some debts or obtain a loan. The pace of the month is very busy and dynamic. Romance improves considerably. A partner or lover is easier to understand in the second half of the month.

Favourable Dates: Aug 2, 4, 11, 13, 20, 22 Favourable Colours: White & Yellow

Favourable Dates: Aug 2, 9, 11, 18, 20, 27 Favourable Colours: Purple & White

Favourable Dates: Aug 2, 3, 11, 12, 20, 21 Favourable Colours: Red & Green

GEMINI 21 May - 20 Jun This is not the best time for major projects and will nullify all the efforts. Restriction of freedom at the workplace, and open disregard for colleagues will form a very strong challenge, which could negatively affect the immediate performance of work and relationships with others and even health. From 21st August, you need to think very seriously about how to improve your health after experiencing emotional stress, and it will be good if you turn to methods of alternative medicine, as well as begin to exercise - this will give you strength. Favourable Dates: Aug 3, 4, 12, 13, 21, 22 Favourable Colours: White & Green CANCER 21 Jun - 22 Jul

AQUARIUS 20 Jan - 18 Feb

LIBRA 23 Sept - 22 Oct You are more assertive and direct when you are going after what you want. Renewed stamina, energy, and confidence are with you this month. While your love feelings remain deeply personal and private, you begin to trust your instincts about love matters more faithfully. However, the desire to always be in the spotlight, attribute all achievements earned collectively only to yourself, and obvious “intrigue” against the person in whose position you aim can bring a clear conflict with people around. It is not advisable to rise above people as a good relationship with colleagues is the foundation of success.

There is a provocative energy surrounding you that tends to pull previously buried issues with others to the surface for resolution. You are taking charge of your work and daily health routines this month. You might have more energy and confidence to pursue a new relationship. It’s a strong period for starting a new program or routine to improve your health or work, especially after the 18th when career matters become clearer. More credibility on the job is likely now. Your humble confidence will go a long way toward improving your reputation and professional status.

Favourable Dates: Aug 6, 9, 15, 18, 24, 27 Favourable Colours: Yellow & Blue

Favourable Dates: Aug 1, 3, 10, 11, 19, 21 Favourable Colours: Red & Yellow PISCES 19 Feb - 20 Mar

SCORPIO 23 Oct - 21 Nov

You will be full of vigour and energy especially in the first half of the month when emotion and energy will overwhelm you. The period will be intensive and bring good luck. You will be covered with real enthusiasm and will happily attend courses or read special literature with the hope that this knowledge will be useful in future activities. Passion for a change of places, to new experiences, will be prominent. You will gladly prefer an official journey to a stifling office space, outdoor recreation to leisure time watching television, evening walks to sitting in a cafe.

This month brings better energy for all money and practical matters. Financial matters, particularly those shared with a partner or money sources other than your basic income, become clearer and move forward. Work matters are illuminated around the 21st when your job demands special attention. Family life improves dramatically later this month, which helps you to let your hair down and enjoy yourself without guilt. Part of you craves some solitude as you instinctively pull back from putting your heart into new endeavours. Admirers and love interests make their interest in you known.

Despite a busy social agenda this month, you are moving into a more introspective cycle in which you crave more time to yourself, more sleep and rest, and more solitude in general. Outright pressure in the professional field will force you to seek a place where you are loved and supported by family and loved ones. Normally reserved, you will begin to unfold in relationships after the 15th, experiencing an extraordinary need to feel sensual, emotional connection with loved ones. Also, you get motivated to make money and you feel, for the most part, on top of your game.

Favourable Dates: Aug 3, 4, 12, 13, 21, 22 Favourable Colours: White & Green

Favourable Dates: Aug 1, 3, 10, 12, 19, 21 Favourable Colours: Yellow & White

Favourable Dates: 5, 7, 14, 16, 23, 25 Favourable Colours: Green & Yellow

Manish Kumar Arora, 91-9871062000 | K.P. Astrologer, Numerologist, Tarot Card Reader & Vastu Consultant F www.facebook.com/manishastroconsultant | E manish@manishastrologer.com www.lancmag.com

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