The Lancashire & North West Magazine | August 2021 by The Lancashire & North West Magazine

www.lancmag.com

cable & Blake Fabrics of the Lakes

August 2021

£2.45

A Toast in the Post A UNIQUE GIFT FOR ANY OCCASION

Domus by Design house • home • residence

DAISIES FURNITURE DESIGNS Transforming Furniture into Stunning Showpieces

LIGHTWEIGHT Roofing Solutions

Quality craftsmanship at an affordable cost

A Pawsome Experience AT PETS COUNTRY MANOR

“A MUST SEE FOR ANYONE WITH A LOVE OF 80s MUSIC!” WEST END WILMA

★★★★ ★★★★ THE SMASH HIT ★★★★ COMEDY MUSICAL ★★★★ BLACKPOOL GRAND PRODUCTIONS LIMITED PROUDLY PRESENTS

WHAT’S ON STAGE

BRITISH THEATRE GUIDE

BLACKPOOL GAZETTE

THEATRE REVIEWS NORTH

Based on THE acclaimed novel BY Jules Verne Written AND Directed by

Ian McFarlane

MUSICAL ARRANGEMENTS by LAURIE DENMAN

FRI 8 OCT – FRI 5 NOV 2021 01253 290190 • BLACKPOOLGRAND.CO.UK/80DAYS

178

Bury

Crewe

Hawkshead

CONTENTS...

Features

137

118

www.lancmag.com

Live Like Ralph - Skate Fundraiser in Memory of Talented Artist & Skateboarder

108 SHOE MAKER - Reebok and the Untold Story of a Lancashire Family Who Changed the World

Feeling Grand - A New Dawn, A New Day

Treasure Your River Launches to Clean up The Mersey

118 Jordana Ticia Cosmetics Q&A - An Interview with Founder, Jordana Banks

Event guide and ticketing outlet Skiddle this week celebrates a whopping 19 million ticket sales as it hits the 20 year anniversary of its launch

124 Harley Street Aesthetics Expert, DR YUSRA, Debuts Northern Clinic In Blundellsands 132 Keeping a Check on Cholesterol 137 International Diplomats Welcome World’s First Children’s Embassy

Pawing The Way

OT Art Trail

138 Totally Local Lancaster - Expressions of Lancaster

A Pawsome Experience

142 Karate Mama!

Campaigners ask people of the North West to ‘Save a Baby’

150 Liverpool’s Ian Prowse BACK ON THE ROAD

Cash Splashed for Thirsty Volunteer Cows

Redrow Branches Out with New Phase of Oak Leigh Gardens

156 The Intrepid Sir Henry Segrave

Lancashire Couple are Raising a Glass to Their Award Winning Drinks Business

Pioneering Research is First in UK to Transform Imaging for Infants with Congenital Heart Disease

152 Karla McCulloch, travel counsellors 160 Five Star Podcast Series Babble & Froth Releases Ten Episode Series and Launches Website 162 Morecambe Bay to Play Key Role in Pandemic Recovery 166 Flavours Exhibition 168 Penniless, Foodless, Friendless

New heritage project at Lunt Meadows Nature Reserve to connect people with nature and history

PAUL COLLIS Virtual Finance Director Services

A Critique of Climate Change

Petite Weddings

Heartbeat and Holby City actor Sophie Ward joins Booker Prize winner Douglas Stuart on Society of Authors literary shortlist

domus - house • home • residence

Lightweight Roofing Solutions

Council Tax Reform

Daisies Furniture Designs by Abbey Nugent

Frodsham U-9S Football Team Boosted by Redrow Kit Sponsorship

The Real North South Divide Revealed and it’s in our sandwich fillings!

One Fine Dine Partner with Bloomsbury Estates for Elite Holidays in the UK

Delicious BBQ Recipes Exclusively for Del Monte

205 Kargi Bay Ceramics & Gifts

The Stress Edition - How stress affects us and simple steps to help you feel better

207 Balance Counselling and Coaching Ltd PUT YOUR LIFE IN BALANCE

28 12

108

102 Kilty and Co - Eddie Kilty

172 Jessie Fothergill – a forgotten northern novelist 180 Could the UK Help Save the Future of the World’s Rainforests? 188 Historic Railway Pullman Camping Coaches Unveiled as Quirky Staycation Accommodation 190 Local groups get growing at RHS Garden Bridgewater 192 pro-manchester - Build: Marketing Strategy Fundamentals 2-day Accelerator Programme 194 Government plans for nature and net zero announced today – what does this mean for Lancashire? 196 Windermere Jetty Museum Reopens with New Stories of Shipwrecks and Ruins in the Lakes 198 Flying the Flag for Golden Sands 204 Your Local Firm for Family Law 206 Caribbean Passion

208 Freckle Boutique 209 Photo + Flourish

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

...CONTENTS

Regulars

August 2021 • Volume 44 Number 8

200 Aiming Higher 60

BOOKS: The Pixies by Anna Claire

Cable & Blake

128 Colour Me Beautiful 182 Deborah Hatswell 136 Denise Mullen 112 Essentialise 184 Fleetwood RNLI 134 HayMax 202 Life of Di 78

Miles Consult & Construct

114 Nicola Parker, Herbalist

116

122 Peter Rutt

112

116 PT Health 87

Recipes by Helen James

144 Jason Gleaves, Ufologist 186 Zodiac Predictions by Manish

184

August 2021

www.lancmag.com

cable & Blake Fabrics of the Lakes

£2.45

A Toast in the Post A UNIQUE GIFT FOR ANY OCCASION

Managing Director Natalie Christopher natalie@lancashiremagazine.co.uk Editorial 01253 336588 editorial@lancashiremagazine.co.uk Sales Enquiries • 07918 685673 Accounts • 01253 336580

Domus by Design house • home • residence

DAISIES FURNITURE DESIGNS Transforming Furniture into Stunning Showpieces

LIGHTWEIGHT Roofing Solutions

Quality craftsmanship at an affordable cost

COVER: Cable & Blake

A Pawsome Experience AT PETS COUNTRY MANOR

General Enquiries/Subscriptions Sharon Henry 01253 336580 accountslancsmag@yahoo.com The Lancashire & North West Magazine Ltd, Seasiders Way, Blackpool, Lancashire FY1 6NZ

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

200

Design Manager • Tanjé Beach Writers Nicola Parker • Helen James Kate Gostick • Deborah Hatswell Denise Mullen • Richard Sagar Sarah Harris • Peter Rutt Paul Thompson • Harold Cunliffe Mark Bateman • Sarah Ridgway Margaret Brecknell • Jason Gleaves Catherine Dean • Norman Harris Lee Chambers • Max Wiseberg Manish Kumar Arora • Diane Wade

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

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.

www.lancmag.com

Skate Fundraiser in Memory of Talented Artist & Skateboarder UK couple fundraise to help skateboarders in memory of their talented 26-year-old son Ralph Roberts THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF A SKATEBOARDING ENTHUSIAST, WHO DIED SUDDENLY AT THE AGE OF 26, HAVE LAUNCHED AN APPEAL TO HELP OTHER SKATEBOARDERS AND CREATIVES IN HIS MEMORY.

alph Roberts, who worked as a graphic artist for Vans, was 26-years-old when he died suddenly at his parents’ home in Lytham-St-Annes in January this year.

His parents Neil and Fiona Bayntun-Roberts have launched a JustGiving appeal to raise money to help others in Ralph’s memory. “We were amazed at the outpouring of love,” says Neil. “But we weren’t surprised because Ralph was one of the most caring, giving and generous people. He always took the time to support others. His overriding loves were skateboarding and creativity and his talents were admired by the skate community, which brought him so much joy, freedom and the means to express himself.” The appeal called LIVE LIKE RALPH aims to: n Help build and repair skate parks n Provide skate equipment to underprivileged kids n Encourage more females to skate with confidence n Support creatives - there will be a shop on the site selling artwork by Ralph’s peers www.livelikeralph.com www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ralph-roberts

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

‘A MASTERPIECE’ THE GUARDIAN

‘A GHOST PLAY GUARANTEED

TO SEND SHIVERS DOWN YOUR SPINE’ DAILY EXPRESS

DAME SUSAN HILL’S THE WOMAN IN BLACK

MONDAY 20 – SATURDAY 25 SEPT 2021 To book call 01253 290190 or visit our website blackpoolgrand.co.uk

ADAPTED BY

STEPHEN MALLATRATT

Du de fu Cu En Es no an th in br op

Th ov ye W W In

Feeling

A New Dawn,

rand A New Day

Blackpool Grand Theatre will be rolling out the red carpet again this autumn to welcome back theatre goers to the prettiest theatre in all the land.

he team at the theatre have been busily preparing the Grade II* listed building to ensure customers enjoy some fabulous productions in a safe and secure environment.

The Blackpool Grand Theatre, like much of the regional theatre and entertainment industry, has been closed for nearly 17-months, its biggest closure in the theatre’s 126-years history.

Th ac Da po 80 re cla fr

Ruth Eastwood, Blackpool Grand Theatre CEO said: “It’s been an extraordinary time. We’ve had to adapt fast, find our resilience work harder than ever as a much-reduced team, to get through this challenging time. We could not have done it without the support of an incredible group of people: our trustees, friends, supporters and the artists and producers with whom we work.

W hi ca Gr tim ge m

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

Th by su ill of ni

www.lancmag.com

www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk

During this time, we were absolutely delighted to receive all-important funding through the Department of Culture, Media & Sport, Arts Council England, Blackpool Council, the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, and not forgetting residents, customers and individual supporters around the globe. The support has been incredible and has allowed us that breathing space to adapt and plan to open up the theatre this autumn.” The theatre has now programmed over 50 new productions for this year including the incredibly spooky West End hit Dame Susan Hill’s ‘The Woman Is Back!’, sorry The Woman In Black! ‘A MASTERPIECE’ © Guzelian

THE GUARDIAN

‘A GHOST PLAY GUARANTEED TO SEND SHIVERS DOWN YOUR SPINE’ DAILY EXPRESS

DAME SUSAN HILL’S THE WOMAN IN BLACK

ADAPTED BY

STEPHEN MALLATRATT

MONDAY 20 – SATURDAY 25 SEPT 2021 To book call 01253 290190 or visit our website blackpoolgrand.co.uk

This gripping production, directed by Robin Herford, is a brilliant, successful study in atmosphere, illusion, and controlled horror full of thrills, suspense making a great night out. The return of the theatre’s critically acclaimed Around the World in 80s Days – a musical comedy adventure, powered by a play-list of fantastic 80s musical hits which gained 5-star reviews and had audiences laughing, clapping and stamping along, is back from an October run. Writer and director of the smash hit, Ian McFarlane, said: “I simply can’t wait to be back in the beautiful Grand Theatre. It’s been a difficult time for artists and creatives and getting to tread the boards once more is a dream.

www.lancmag.com

“A MUST SEE FOR ANYONE WITH A LOVE OF 80s MUSIC!” WEST END WILMA

★★★★ ★★★★ THE SMASH HIT ★★★★ COMEDY MUSICAL ★★★★ BLACKPOOL GRAND PRODUCTIONS LIMITED PROUDLY PRESENTS

WHAT’S ON STAGE

BRITISH THEATRE GUIDE

BLACKPOOL GAZETTE

THEATRE REVIEWS NORTH

Based on THE acclaimed novel BY Jules Verne Written AND Directed by

Ian McFarlane

MUSICAL ARRANGEMENTS by LAURIE DENMAN

FRI 8 OCT – FRI 5 NOV 2021 01253 290190 • BLACKPOOLGRAND.CO.UK/80DAYS

“We’re auditioning at present and some of the original cast will be returning. We promise an even bigger and brighter production with more music, more costume changes and more laughs, which I feel we can all do with at the moment.” Other full runs include a Father Brown mystery, Bring It On, the Musical, Kinky Boots, Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em, Boogie Nights and of course, pantomime is BACK with Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs, starring panto legend and Britain’s Got Talent finalist Steve Royle. The Blackpool Grand Theatre has a full selection of great shows and is even programming way into 2022. Musical highlights include Beyond the Barricade; The Rolling Stones; Blackpool Symphony Orchestra; Joe Brown; Sound of Springsteen; Maximum R’n’B The Manfreds; Sun Records the Concert; The Greatest Love of All - a tribute to Whitney Houston starring Belinda Davids; Grand Christmas Concert; Lost In Music; You Win Again, celebrating the music of the Bee Gees; Johnny Cash; the return of Steve Steinman’s Vampires Rock - The Ghost Train; and Anything For Love, The Meatloaf Story. Ruth added: “Lifting our spirits and our wellbeing, has been a key element to get us through the lockdown, so the Grand created their very own AtHomeWithYou.co.uk YouTube channel. This is a place for people to connect, comfort and help uplift.

“We uploaded great ways to connect from yoga lessons, Steve Royle talking through his years in the Blackpool Grand pantomime, how to learn new skills or listen to great classic stories, plus lots more. It was our way of staying in touch and offering a little light relief and it’s still available, for free, for anyone to enjoy”. Everyone needs a laugh with comedy favourites returning to the Blackpool Grand including Alan Carr in Not again Alan!; Jonathan Pie: Fake News (Corona Remix); The (Steve) Royle Variety Performance; Frank Skinner Showbiz; Omid Djalili Good Times; Ed Byrne If I’m Honest; Julian Clary Born To Mince; Jason Manford Like Me!; Rob Beckett – Wallop; Count Arthur Strong; and local lads, the Lancashire Hotpots with their Chips & Giggles Tour. Ruth added: “Personally, I’m looking forward to the Adventures of the Yorkshire Shepherdess, a frank, funny and informative new show featuring TV’s Yorkshire Shepherdess Amanda Owen, who will share her heart-warming tales from remarkable farming to her great family life and much more.” Who doesn’t love dance? The Russian State Ballet presents the delightful Sleeping Beauty, a truly spectacular fairy-tale with a live orchestra and over 30 musicians. King of Ballroom, Mr Craig Revel Horwood and his All Balls & Glitter Tour will see him talking about his life from Australia to the West End and Strictly. The Blackpool Grand Theatre has worked extremely hard to make everyone who visits feel safe and secure in their own way. Regular deep cleaning will continue, as will the providing of sanitiser stations throughout the theatre and free masks will be available from members of the team should you need one.

BOOK NOW For a full list of shows and What’s On 2021/22 visit www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk or call 01253 290190. PS. to keep staff and customers safe and to avoid ‘bunching’, if you need to call in person, our Box Office will be temporarily relocating further up from the theatre on Church Street (next to M&S).

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

Event guide and ticketing outlet Skiddle this week celebrates a whopping 19 million ticket sales as it hits the 20 year anniversary of its launch.

ince Skiddle began, the business has reached over £300m in gross revenue from ticket sales, with a large portion of this within the last five years. Despite the pandemic, the company which started in Lancashire has reported a growth/steady business, with a 30% rise in ticket sales since February this year. Starting as a what’s on guide in 2001, Skiddle began selling tickets to events five years later (2006) paving the way for online ticket sales as users shifted to digital platforms. In the last two decades, over 140k promoters used Skiddle to list more than 979,000 unique events, and Skiddle is now the leading Ticket Sales, Clubs Listings, Events & What’s On Guide website in the UK, with established offices in London, Lancashire and Liverpool. The ticket sales and what’s on guide continues to grow and has now increased its portfolio of events to include new genres including Food & Drink, Sport, Comedy, Theatre and Family events. This month Skiddle also celebrates its 10,000 customer review mark, all

while maintaining high star ratings by keeping a customer first perspective, particularly impressive in a year that saw masses of events cancelled, and many disappointed customers. As well as its commercial growth, Skiddle has also been working to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support and has almost raised £300k for the charity through ticket sales and special events. Richard Dyer, Co-founder of Skiddle said “It’s amazing to think that in the same year that brought us iTunes, Wikipedia and the Game Boy Advance, myself and Ben (relative strangers to each other at the time) were excited to launch Skiddle, in a tacky nightclub in Preston, with Paul Bleasdale on the decks. 20 years on and what a journey! So many great stories to tell and friendships made. We are so lucky to have had the support of event promoters up and down the country and millions of fantastic customers.

“The next few months and years are an exciting time for the event industry and it’s great to think about the role that all of us at Skiddle play in people having fantastic days and nights out.” As confidence grows in the future and putting the horrendous year and a bit behind us, we are excited to be building our workforce, partnering with new events and offering an

even wider selection of events for our customers. The next few months and years are an exciting time for the event industry and it’s great to think about the role that all of us at Skiddle play in people having fantastic days and nights out.” Skiddle is a primary ticket outlet, offering promoters a full ticketing service with the latest technology through its Promotion Centre. There are a huge number of solutions for customers choosing the ticketing outlet, allowing promoters to list tickets to events via the Skiddle website, via their own websites or selling out events via white labelled box offices. As a company built by fans, the Skiddle team places live events lovers at the heart of everything they do, and continuously grows its tech to make events more accessible to audiences. Last week the brand announced that it had taken the proactive measure to block e-ticket downloads from its website until 24 hours before an event in a bid to stop the rising issue of ticket touting. Skiddle now releases tickets as short as 24 hours before an event in its bid to combat the unauthorised duplication of tickets, and to prevent both fans and promoters being left disappointed or out of pocket. Richard is very open to chat to and after 20 years and a pandemic he does not appear to have lost any enthusiasm for Skiddle, in fact quite the opposite as he is clearly eager and excited to be coming out the other side of the virus and getting back to

“ON YOUR SIDE SINCE 2001, BECAUSE WE BELIEVE TRUE FANS DESERVE A FAIRER AND SMARTER WAY TO DISCOVER EVENTS THEY LOVE.”

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

doing what he and his team do best: bringing people together to make ever lasting memories. Richard tells of how he and partner Ben Sebborn were overwhelmed when the team put together a really special video to commemorate their time in business, he tells how his colleagues are the future of skiddle and how their hard work and dedication keeps Richard and Ben motivated to continue to work on big new deals and collaborations.

sight of putting their customer first and they are trailblazers in offering refunds without quibble and making on sale dates in favour of customers and not ticket touts so their events remain affordable. The last 18 months have been trying but they have stuck together, in fact they have been instrumental in engineering their industry working together to help other companies navigate the recent unchartered waters.

Ben and Richard are still both quite hands on and have managed to keep their friendship as well as their business relationship in tact through recognising one another’s skills and having very different and well defined roles within Skiddle. They share the same goals and both like to put back in to the community in various innovative ways. They have never lost

From a college project to the success of today, the pair could not have foreseen their unforgettable journey full of highs and lows and as Lancashire Lads (well one of them adopted as a Lancashire Lad now) they are proud to call Preston their HQ. As they continue to push ahead creating their own unique events as well as promoting artists and performers

globally they use their experience together with the drive and passion which they are grateful has never left them to find new paths to keep them at the forefront of their industry as their platform tries to give customers the best experience possible. To celebrate its anniversary, Skiddle has just launched its newest marketing campaign placing customer tweets at the centre of the brand’s promotion. As events open up again the business is using its hugely positive customer feedback from the last few months as the creative for its new campaign, leveraging its happy customers as brand advocates by sharing their honest reviews. As well as digital advertising, Skiddle has also taken out a number of billboards across Manchester, Liverpool and London.

More information on Skiddle can be found at www.skiddle.com

GIGS • CLUBS • FESTIVALS • THINGS TO DO

SKIDDLE’S EASY-TO-USE MOBILE TICKETING APP (AVAILABLE VIA APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY) IS A TOP 5 FREE MUSIC APP AND THE TOP RATED TICKETING APP IN THE UK

www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 13

‘PAWING THE WAY’

The Kennel Club

The Kennel Club Issues Advice To Protect The Nation’s Dogs As Restrictions Continue To Lift Across England The organisation’s postlockdown ‘Paw-by-Paw Guide’ offers advice and guidance for new and seasoned dog owners to navigate newly found freedoms.

ith Covid-19 restrictions easing further from Monday (17 May) and the relaxation of rules around overnight stays, indoor dining and socialisation, The Kennel Club has issued advice to help dog owners enjoy their newly found freedoms responsibly, alongside their four-legged friends. Launched earlier this year to support responsible dog ownership as the UK began to open up after a year of restrictions, The Kennel Club’s ‘Paw-by-Paw Guide out of Lockdown’ provides information and advice on exploring further afield, travelling and staycations, and planning dogfriendly adventures, as the country continues to open up. Mirroring the four nations’ plan to ease lockdown, the guide aims to help the UK’s much-loved canine companions to adjust as normality 14

begins to resume and advise owners as they re-discover the wider world with their dog, after months of staying at home. It includes tips on walking in the countryside, guidance on navigating dog-friendly establishments and warm weather advice, including if you’re travelling or going away with your four-legged friend, to ensure dogs are safe and comfortable wherever they go. “Whether you have a wellbalanced dog or a new puppy, a year of pandemic restrictions means that our pets have missed out on lots of socialisation opportunities, walks to new or further afield places, trips away and generally life as we knew it,” commented Bill Lambert, Head of Health and Welfare at The Kennel Club. “In fact, many puppies may have only experienced life in lockdown, and we can’t expect them to immediately adapt to what ‘normal’ life is like; we need to ease them in and help them to learn about the wider world. “Many puppies, and even older dogs, will have lost vital socialisation and training opportunities due to lockdown restrictions and need their owners to lead the way, recognising their

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

responsibilities and preparing them as the world continues to open up. “With some new-found freedoms from today in England, it’s great that we can start introducing, or reintroducing, our dogs to the wider world and discover it by their side again. Our ‘Paw-by-Paw’ resource doesn’t only help all dog owners to adjust to the new normal happily and safely, but also provides useful advice about seasonal dangers, dog-friendly holidays and ‘petiquette’ at pubs, cafes and restaurants. Our guide is an excellent checklist to make use of before any trip to make sure your four-legged friend will enjoy this adventure safely and comfortably.” The ‘Paw-by-Paw Guide’ includes expert advice on getting your dog used to being around other people, dogs and animals, navigating certain situations and environments, as well as how to find dog-friendly holidays and places to visit, so owners can make future plans with their dogs as we enter the third stage of the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown: thekennelclub.org.uk/ pawbypaw. www.lancmag.com

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

Above: Robert Peel statue, Market Place, Bury. Credit - Curtis Delaney / Shutterstock.com

BURY By Richard Sagar

The thriving northern market town of Bury has much to offer – be it its deep and varied history, or the town it has become today - there really is something for everyone woven into Bury’s rich tapestry. Join me as I examine the past and present of this remarkable town.

ituated on the banks of the River Irwell in the North West of England, this large market town once fell within the boundaries of Lancashire, but (as a proud Lancastrian myself!) we sadly lost this gem to Greater Manchester in more recent years. Rising to eminence as a textile manufacturing town in the industrial revolution, Bury is a northern mill town with a difference. Not many towns have a former prime minister as one of their past residents, whereas lots of Bury’s notable landmarks are dedicated to its very own Sir Robert Peel (twice PM of the UK). If history, memorials and architecture aren’t your bag however, there is always the charm of the bustling Bury Market to stimulate the senses – perhaps sampling some 16

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

local delights such as the internationally acclaimed Bury Black Pudding amongst others. The eclectic mix of attractions Bury has on offer are to be enjoyed and appreciated by all – and I invite you to delve a little deeper with me now. INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION At the start of the 18th Century, things took a dramatic turn for the town of Bury. Previously an area dominated by sheep farming and wool, a change in the world of textiles had a profound affect on this once sleepy area. Much of this change was instigated by Mr John Kay who was born in the Lancashire hamlet of Walmersley, just north of Bury on 17 June 1704. In 1733 John Kay received a patent for the ‘flying shuttle’ – an invention of his allowing for a significant increase in productivity with weaving. This and other inventions led to the Industrial Revolution entering full swing. Not only because of John Kay’s connections to the area, but also because of its abundance of soft water and American cotton brought in from the port of Liverpool, a vast number of mills were built in and around the town of Bury – leading to a dramatic increase in the size of the town at an astonishing rate! www.lancmag.com

SIR ROBERT PEEL Peel was born in Chamber Hall, Bury into a wealthy family – their fortune made from the textile industry in the industrial revolution. Initially educated in Bury, Peel then moved onto Harrow School and latterly Christ Church, Oxford where he became the first student to take a double first in Classics and Mathematics. Clearly an astute individual, Peel entered politics as an MP at the young age of 21 and in 1822 entered the cabinet as Home Secretary. In this position, Peel made several law reforms to modernise the somewhat archaic legal system. Alongside legal reforms, in 1829 Peel established the Metropolitan Police Force for London, based at Scotland Yard. At this stage, the MET was 1,000 constables strong – often taking the name of their founder as Peelers. Hugely successful in cutting crime in London, by 1857 all cities in Britain were forced to form their own police forces, rendering Peel the ‘father of modern policing’. In 1834 Peel first became Prime Minister, where in his statement of policy he introduced the Tamworth Manifesto, which is the document on which the modern Conservative party was founded. Despite being leader of the largest party in parliament, from 1835 until 1841 Peel actually served as leader of the opposition, irritated that the continuous attempts of other

parties to de-rail the policies of Peel’s large (but not majority-holding) party. Nonetheless, Peel served again as Prime Minister between 1841 and 1846 where he implemented a number of financial and social reforms. Sadly passing away in 1850 following a riding incident, Peel left behind him a great legacy; twice Prime Minister, originator of the modern Conservative party and founder of modern policing – not bad for a young lad from Bury. PEEL TOWER AND MEMORIAL Standing 128 feet high on Holcombe Hill, the Peel Tower is an impressive sight. Opened in 1852, this imposing structure was erected to celebrate the life of Sir Robert Peel, discussed above. If you’re feeling energetic enough to climb the 148 steps up it, the views are incredible – on a good day you can see as far as North Wales! Despite its impressive stature and location, this beautiful monument sadly isn’t open overly often, with a small group of volunteers opening on various Sundays throughout the year. If there is a white flag flying, then you’re in luck and it is open for visitors! If not, you can always make the most of the impressive views even from the base of the tower, and the plethora of beautiful walks around it to suit all ages and abilities.

Above: Peel Memorial Tower on Holcombe Hill. Credit - Andi111 Shutterstock.com

www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 17

LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS An infantry regiment of the British Army for some 280 years, the Lancashire Fusiliers (now part of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers) has a wealth of history and distinguished service – and had its head quarters at Wellington Barracks, Bury! Officially named the Lancashire Fusiliers in 1881 having had several other names prior, the Fusiliers played an important role in the First and Second World Wars, and into more recent history too. There is now the Fusilier Museum on Moss Street in Bury – with collections including the uniforms, medals and artefacts of the Lancashire Fusiliers.

But despite her early years being troubled, Victoria went from strength to strength in her education and career. At the age of 15 she joined Rochdale Youth Theatre, where she developed her comic and writing skills and then went on to the University of Birmingham where she studied Drama. Victoria had a fabulous run of success over several decades – being appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1997, given an honorary Doctorate in 1994, and being appointed Commander of the

Order of the British Empire in 2008. She won numerous awards, such as ‘Funniest Comedian’, ‘Best Live Stand up’, ‘Best Female TV Comic’ to name but a few. Wood was also a 14-time BAFTA TV Award nominee, and won an incredible 4! Sadly, as all great things have to come to an end, Wood was diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus in late 2015 and sadly passed away in April 2016. But, what a legacy she left behind her – an absolute comedy legend, and a true credit to the great Northern town she grew up in.

Opened by the Duke of Kent in 2009, this impressive war museum currently holds no less than 5 Victoria Crosses awarded to past members of the regiment. For anybody with an eye for history and a desire to understand the lengths our forefathers went to in order to protect and secure our way of life, this is an absolute gem. VICTORIA WOOD Born in nearby Prestwich but brought up in Bury was one of comedies finest; Victoria Wood CBE. A wonderful satirist, much of her understanding of life and the humour one can find in it came from those early days in Bury – a time when she didn’t quite fit into her surroundings and instead, spent time watching life and how it played out, “The good thing about being isolated is you get a good look at what goes on” is how she described it. Victoria studied at Bury Grammar school where she explained her time thus “I was always top of the class, and when I went to grammar school I could not deal with everyone being as clever... I went under. I was a mess, a bit of a misfit. I didn’t have any friends, let alone try to be funny...I didn’t do any work, didn’t have clean clothes and didn’t wash. If I didn’t have any money I’d steal from people, and if I hadn’t done my homework I’d steal someone else’s. I was envious of all the groups: the horsey group, the girls who went out with boys, the clever ones. Looking back, I feel really sorry for that little girl.” 18

Above: Victoria Wood statue in Library Gardens. Credit - John B Hewitt / Shutterstock.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

BURY MARKET For over 500 years, Bury Market has dominated retail across the area – not just in Bury itself but throughout the North West! It is critically acclaimed, winning ‘Market of the Year’ in 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2015, along with being voted ‘Britain’s Favourite Market’ in 2019. Open each Wednesday, Friday and Saturday (every day but Sundays for the inside market) this is a real feast for the senses as thousands of shoppers swarm to the area – hungry for a bargain or a culinary treat. An interesting section of the market’s own website describes a period of adversity faced by the market and its traders and its swift recovery as follows, “In November 1968 a fire devastated Bury’s Market Hall and the building was razed to the ground, but this did not stop trading. Outdoor traders gave up parts of their stalls to indoor traders demonstrating camaraderie by everyone. A new temporary Market Hall was built at a cost of around £30,000 and opened in March 1969 then on 6 October 1971, the new Bury Market site opened. The New Market Hall, described as one of the best equipped and most architecturally striking market halls in the north-west with its ‘bird-wing’ roof, and Open Market were built at an estimated cost of £900,000. It is this magnificent hall that is still the home of the indoor market’s 60 stalls which offer a wide variety of goods and services including; giftware, hardware, linens, haberdashery, clothing, electrical goods, food, hairdressing, manicures, shoe repairs, key cutting - we could go on!”

www.lancmag.com

All in all, this is a market with a difference. Whether it is down to its heritage, its impressive size, the theatre of the meat and fish sellers or the sheer variety of what is stocked here, Bury Market is a fine way to spend a day with the family. BLACK PUDDING A true northern delicacy, black pudding and Bury go hand in hand. Usually boiled and served with vinegar, you really haven’t sampled Bury at its finest ‘til you’ve tried this. Historically a way of using by-products of the pork industry to their best effect, this Bury institution has filled the stomachs of many a hungry local since the 15th century (and possibly before!). So celebrated a part of life in Bury, neighbouring Ramsbottom hosts the annual World Black Pudding Throwing Championships each September, drawing thousands of competitors and spectators to the town. Yet again, another example of the charm and unique nature of this fantastic town and its surrounding areas. I do hope you’ve enjoyed my whistle stop tour of the remarkable town of Bury – the home of Prime Ministers, comedians, nationally renowned monuments, museums and food markets, this Northern gem has something for everyone – why not take a look for yourself!

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 19

OT Art Trail T

he trail, masterminded by OT Creative Space and funded by Arts Council England, has seen local artists work with the community to create six individual large scale murals. Their designs have been painted onto walls and buildings around the area, including in Seymour Park and on Ayres Road. Botanical Garden on Henrietta Street is a mural by Northern Quarter favourite Qubek (Russ Meehan). It remembers the 19th century Manchester Botanic Gardens that once thrived on land that is now the White City retail park. The birds and butterflies represent the people of Old Trafford. The glorious Gladys - Earth Child (Gladys Street) by Jamie Rennie was adapted from drawings by local children. It uses motifs from other elements of the community response to form the dramatic strawberries and hearts design that sits behind her. On Stamford Street, Donna Michelle Griffith and Lynda Sterling have combined traditional painting

techniques with more contemporary street art styles to create the Tree of Life, whilst Martene Rouke’s Voices of The World on my Doorstep (Cross Street) presents a jigsaw-like image out of bold colours showing the community connecting with each other. It features the words “Hello, how are you?” in a number of community languages.

design features bold colourful letters that form the word ‘Together’. Each letter design is unique and connected to each other to celebrate the diverse communities that live in Old Trafford.

OT is Jam Packed with Love (Sam Owen Hull) on Blackburn Street represents a number of ideas generated by community consultation, including rainbows, jam, marmalade, bees, blossom and nature. Strawberries are a recurrent theme throughout the artworks, a reference to the strawberry fields that used to cover Old Trafford and to the old Duerrs’ jam factory on Prestage Street, which was demolished in 2010.

Lynda Sterling, trail coordinator, said: “After what has been a very difficult time for everyone, the OT Art Trail has enthused, engaged and brought together people in a way that has exceeded all of our expectations.

With five murals painted directly onto local residents’ houses and a convenience store, the sixth, Together We Are One by Robert Lomas and Becki Miller, resides on a wall in Seymour Park. The mural

“We feel confident that the art trail will bring pleasure and be a talking point for many years to come.”

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

A piece of spoken word by Old Trafford-born artist Isaiah Hull connects the six murals and can be heard on the trail’s website.

“The artists, working closely with the local community despite successive lockdowns, have produced six highly individualistic pieces of work that the whole community can feel proud of.

You can see the trail map online at: otcreativespace.co.uk

www.lancmag.com

Visitors to the new OT Art Trail, which launched in Old Trafford on Saturday 15 May, are invited to wonder at the 30ft high tree of life, marvel at beautiful technicolour earth child Gladys, and take in a cornucopia of birds, bees, rainbows and strawberries.

The OT Art Trail Artworks: TREE OF LIFE

BOTANICAL GARDEN

LOCATION: Stamford Street/Norton Street ARTISTS: Donna Michelle Griffith and Lynda Sterling

LOCATION: Henrietta Street/Park Ave ARTIST: Russell Meehan AKA Qubek

Donna Michelle Griffith and Lynda Sterling have combined traditional painting techniques with more contemporary street art styles to create a ‘tree of life - heart of the community’. It represents Stamford Street resident Rebecca whose house hosts the mural, her family and the wider community roots in Old Trafford. The mural explores the idea of people from different backgrounds and faiths coming together to blossom and celebrate each individual’s uniqueness.

VOICES OF THE WORLD ON MY DOORSTEP LOCATION: Cross Street (between Stamford Street and Shrewsbury Street) ARTIST: Martene Rouke Both a graffiti artist and architectural photographer, Marten’s work is greatly influenced by the shapes and forms used in graffiti lettering in addition to the urban environment she documents with her camera. In this mural, Martene creates a jigsaw-like image out of bold colours showing the community connecting with each other. It features the words “Hello, how are you?” in a number of community languages.

Qubek is a street artist and muralist whose work can be seen across Manchester’s Northern Quarter and further afield. In this mural, he has been inspired by community responses to the history of Old Trafford and the strawberry fields that were once here. The work references the 19th century Manchester Botanic Gardens that thrived on land that is now the White City retail park. The birds and butterflies represent the people of Old Trafford.

TOGETHER WE ARE ONE LOCATION: Seymour Park ARTISTS: Robert Lomas and Becki Miller Informed by community feedback, Roberts and Becki’s mural design features bold colourful letters that form the word ‘Together’. Each letter design is unique and connected to each other to celebrate the diverse communities that live in Old Trafford. Visual themes that run through the piece are rainbows, clouds and a strawberry, relating to Old Trafford’s previous history as an area strawberry fields.

OT IS JAM PACKED WITH LOVE

GLADYS - EARTH CHILD

LOCATION: Blackburn Street/Henrietta Street ARTIST: Sam Owen Hull

LOCATION: Ayres Road/ Gladys Street ARTIST: Jamie Rennie

In Sam Owen Hull’s mural, she represents ideas presented by the community in abstract form; rainbows, jam and marmalade, bees, blossom and nature, alongside urban landscape seen in the black and white lines. The title of the work was influenced by local residents’ memories of the Duerr’s jam factory. The eagle-eyed will spot within the mural a tribute to a small piece of graffiti it has covered over, which read ‘Cyclops was right’.

Jamie adapted local children’s drawings to create magnificent earth goddess “Gladys” and used motifs from other elements of the community response to form the strawberries and hearts design that sits behind her. His mural also showcases the architectural heritage of Old Trafford.

www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 21

A Pawsome Experience By Victoria Corcoran of Pets Country Manor

he Pets Country Manor is a luxury cattery in Liverpool. We serve a niche market providing luxury high end accommodation for cats. Our premises comprises of 69 suites - 61 of these rooms are for up to 2 cats and 8 of these rooms are for up to 4 cats. We have lots of customers from surrounding areas using our cattery such as Warrington, Widnes, Southport and the Wirral.

HOW WE STARTED Myself (Victoria) and my fiancé Craig were going away on holiday in 2007 and couldn’t find anyone to look after our guinea pigs so once we returned we looked into it further and realised that there was no one who catered for small animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens, bearded dragons etc so we decided to build the small animal hotel in our back garden. We went onto win numerous awards and were featured in local magazines and newspapers and soon we were receiving calls from people wanting to book their cats in with us but we didn’t cater for cats and the feedback we received

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

indicated there was a gap in the market for a truly luxury hotel for cats in Liverpool. We built our first cattery in 2009 in our back garden which had 14 rooms and four poster beds, within 18 months of opening we had turned away 984 customers due to being fully booked so we realised we needed to expand. In 2012 we moved house to somewhere just 10 minutes down the road and built the Pets Country Manor luxury cat hotel, we started with 40 rooms and have since expanded to have 73 rooms. (the place we bought was a derelict country pub, this former pub is now our family home and we built the pets country manor in the former beer garden of the pub). www.lancmag.com

ABOUT THE PETS COUNTRY MANOR

Trust and traveled to Westminster to meet HRH Prince Charles.

owners want them to return for another holiday with us.

The Pets Country Manor is a luxury, five-star licensed hotel for cats based in Tarbock Green, Merseyside.

We have since been featured in the Daily Telegraph and subsequently we have customers that travel from all over the UK to use our cat hotel.

We are definitely one of a kind in Merseyside and have no other competition.

We look after around 100 cats on a daily basis and were titled the number one boarding establishment for cats in the UK several years ago at the Pet Industry Federation Awards. Our standard room is 40 square foot, plus has an additional 25 square foot ceiling height climbing wall in each playroom and an extra 8 square foot raised platform in each bedroom. We also have 8 family suites which are 50 square foot with the same facilities of the climbing walls.

We have customers from Edinburgh, Croyden and Norfolk who will book flights out of Liverpool or Manchester airport so they can travel to us the day before to drop their cats off! Each cat we look after is an individual and whether they want to be groomed, cuddled or played with, we are on hand to make sure every furbaby settles in brilliantly and goes home happy and content, ensuring

During lockdown which was obviously really quiet, we decided to start a YouTube channel about the Pets Country Manor and also cat care/advice videos. We upload videos on a regular basis and offer tips such as ‘how to introduce a new cat into your household’ or ‘how to help your cat start using its litter tray’ and virtual tours and behind the scenes at the pets country manor.

The bedrooms have thermostatically-controlled slimline radiators and we provide beds, blankets, toys, scratch posts, bowls plus a wide selection from our a la cat menu. Our rooms have panoramic windows overlooking our landscaped countryside gardens and customers can choose from either a sunrise or sunset view. We have thousands of reviews on our Google, Yell and Facebook pages, all of which are 5 Star and we are very proud of our 98% repeat business. We were initially supported by the Princes Trust when we first started and were asked to represent the North West on behalf of the Princes www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 23

We also introduced luxury upgrades into our cat hotel during August last year, so if owners would like their cat to have a little bit of extra luxury, they can simply select some optional upgrades on the booking form. Some of the upgrades we have available are Pawsome Afternoon Tea which is served to guests on a raised bamboo dining table complete with a picture sent to owners, we offer orthopaedic four poster beds, daily iPad interactive entertainment, fresh filtered water fountains and a wide range of snacks from our onsite mini bar – kitty tapas meals include things like: fresh white fish, juicy prawns and succulent ham. Our drinks menu include: kitty cataccinos and your catsastar martinis, served with a side order of chicken strips, mini fillets and a toy catnip mouse, and our dessert menu include: holiday cupcakes, puddycat pudding with kitty custard, and home made ice cream kitty lollies in a variety of flavours. We also provide a chauffeur service, so if clients would like us to collect or drop off their cat, we can offer this service too – complete with uniformed cat chauffeur!

CMY

Due to our rooms having lift our panels, it is also possible for customers to upgrade their cats room up to a whopping 400 square foot! So far we have had one customer book 4 rooms (160 square foot room) for their 1 cat to give them extra space. WWW.KITTYHAMPURRS.COM At the Pets Country Manor, we also have an onsite cat-lovers gift shop. However, due to covid we have now set up an online business called Kitty Hampurrs, so now we sell individual items or pre-designed kitty package hampurrs including subscriptions, to these hampurrs online and we send them out via the post or local people can arrange collection. So whether customers would like a birthday kitty hampurr, spa day, or date night kitty hampurr or they’d like a hampurr for a friend or themselves we have a wide range of quality and unusual cat themed gifts for cat loving humans too! 24

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

Winners of the No 1 Cat Hotel in the UK

Gifts for Cats Lovers & Cats

Pets Country Manor

kittyhampurrs.com

Luxury 5 Star Cat Hotel

• Peace of Mind! • Kitty Tapas • Kitty Cattucinnos • Your CatsAStar Martinis • Four Poster Orthopaedic Beds • Peaceful & Tranquil • iPad Entertainment • Cuddles go Without Saying • Multi Award Winning Cattery

400 sq ft Room Upgrades

• Panoramic Windows • Room Upgrades up to 400 sq ft • Sunrise or Sunset Views • Fresh Filter Water Fountains • Large Playrooms • Heated Bedrooms • Pawsome Afternoon Tea • Grooming & Playtime • Nightly Turndown Service

Winners of the Number 1 Boarding Establishment for Cats in the UK

Pets Country Manor, Netherley Road, Prescot, Merseyside, L35 1QE www.petscountrymanor.com 07746-741-382 petscountrymanor@hotmail.co.uk www.kittyhampurrs.com SPECIAL OFFER FOR LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE READERS! FREE Kitty Tapas Meal on arrival at The Pets Country Manor with this Advert FREE gift when you order a Kitty Hampurr online with coupon code: LANCASHIREMAG21

Kitty Cattuccinos

Pawsome Afternoon Tea

Your CatsAStar Martinis

MERSEYSIDE’S FELINE FOOD BANK At the beginning of the year we decided to set up as Merseyside’s Feline Food Bank, so people can either drop off donations of food to us, have cat food delivered, or buy boxes of cat food from ourselves to donate to the feline food bank. All the food that we collect is then split between cat rescue centres across the Merseyside region (such as Liverpool Cat Welfare, Boote Home for Cats, Carla Lane, Freshfields, Warrington Animal Welfare, Laurel Animal Rescue, Garston Animal Rescue, Animal Aid and County Cats Rescue – are to name just a few!) Or if someone has a particular favourite rescue that they would like all their donations to go to they can just let us know or write it on their donations and we’ll make sure that this donation goes to that specific rescue centre. During lockdown lots of people ended up getting pets – sadly as restrictions start to lift, lots of people are deciding a cat is no longer for them and dumping them at rescue centres. Rescue centres are normally full at the best of times, so unfortunately this year they are going to be past bursting point. We decided to help in anyway we could, so set up as Merseyside’s Feline Food Bank. It also saves the rescue centre having lots of people calling in to drop off food donations when they are usually very busy caring for the cats in their care, so this way if everyone uses us a drop off point, we can then make one trip every couple of months to each rescue centre which can help free up their time. The Merseyside Feline Food Bank is going great and we’ve had hundreds of donations from people including some cat food manufacturers, so were really pleased with the kindness and generosity of people.

KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR OUR MONTHLY COLUMN IN FUTURE LANCASHIRE MAGAZINE ISSUES, IN WHICH WE WILL ANSWER THE MOST POPULAR QUESTIONS ABOUT CATS, SUCH AS: • How to Smoothly Introduce a New Cat to Your Existing Cat • How to Help Your Cat to Start Using Their Litter Tray • How to Encourage Your Cat to Drink More Water/Take More Fluids • Keeping Indoor Cats Entertained/Occupied • How to Choose a Good Cattery for Your Furbaby • Tips to Help Your Cat to Stop Scratching the Furniture

M PETS COUNTRY MANOR Netherley Road, Prescot, Merseyside L35 1QE D www.petscountrymanor.com | www.kittyhampurrs.com N 07746 741 382 E petscountrymanor@hotmail.co.uk

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

Campaigners ask people of the North West to

‘Save a Baby’

Today Viva!, the UK’s leading vegan campaign charity, launched a new billboard campaign across the North West of England which aims to reach a staggering 10 million people. The campaign which is called ‘Save a Baby’ highlights the devastatingly young age at which most farmed animals are slaughtered.

he campaign leads with a powerful message which appeals to the good nature of the public. Lambs are the epitome of spring and most of us love watching these cute babies frolic in the fields and waggling their little tails. Despite this, millions of these beautiful creatures are taken to slaughter each year when they are around 6 to 7 months old - many are just 12 weeks. About one billion baby animals are slaughtered every year. Viva! are asking the public to be compassionate and to consider not eating animals. Juliet Gellatley, founder and director of Viva!, talks about the importance of the campaign: “About one billion babies are slaughtered every year. Just you, on your own, can make a big difference, saving over 100 babies every year – over 10,000 in an average lifetime. At whatever age you go vegan you’ll be saving baby animals.

www.lancmag.com

None of us want to incarcerate chicks, ducks, turkeys and piglets inside factory farms. Even the short life they are allowed is one of pain, suffering and squalor. It’s so bad that many die before they even get to the slaughterhouse. If we really want to end cruelty to animals there is only one answer – stop eating them. We’ll be better for it, so will the environment and the animals.”

England including Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Eccles, Oldham, Stockport, Liverpool, Birkenhead and Bootle.

Keep your eyes peeled for billboards placed across the North West of

Visit save-a-baby.com to find out more.

Viva! will be simultaneously releasing a compelling campaign video, conducting radio interviews in the area and carrying out local street actions (adhering to government guidelines of course!) across the North West.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 27

Cash Splashed for Thirsty Volunteer Cows Large, hairy, long-horned volunteers are helping to create a sanctuary for wildlife but they are getting thirsty.

nglish longhorn and highland cattle have been grazing the grassland at Cutacre Nature Reserve for six years now, creating perfect conditions for some of our best-known farmland birds. And the Lancashire Wildlife Trust reserve, on the WiganSalford border, close to Tyldesley, has been boosted by a grant from waste management company, Viridor, and Wigan Council Brighter Borough to provide the hefty volunteer cows with water troughs and a water supply.

Management of the reserve is also aimed at encouraging rare farmland birds such as lapwing, oystercatcher, redshank and skylark to breed. However, some of the fields are overrun with rush and this can not only prevent some of the birds breeding, but reduces the diversity of the wildflowers. This wet grassland is an important habitat and the funding will allow us to improve it for wildlife by cutting back some of the rush opening up areas for flowers such as cuckooflower, lesser spearwort, ragged robin and marsh bedstraw.

Reserve Officer Stephen Cartwright said: “This will help us to get water to the cattle so that they can graze the fields more effectively by allowing us to concentrate the grazing. The way the cattle “grab” the grasses creates a lumpy and bumpy field, with lots of clumps where insects nest and long-billed birds can dip for food. The way the cattle graze also helps to reduce the dominance of grasses and open up the area for wildflowers to set seed and flourish.” At the moment however, some of the fields have no water supply which means cattle cannot be kept there in dry weather to do their amazing work for the wildlife of the reserve.

Stephen said: “We also get the double benefit that this will provide more succulent rush growth, so we are keeping our work force happy while reaping the benefits. And all this is good for wildlife.”

The funding will also allow us to restore ponds on the reserve, a site which has gained a reputation for its collection of amphibians. “If the ponds are left to dry out with invading scrub, this will be bad news for the amphibians, including the protected great crested newt, which still breeds at the Cutacre reserve,” said Stephen.

Of course, visitors to Cutacre will also get an opportunity to see the magnificent cattle that have grazed the British countryside for centuries.

“This new funding will allow the Wildlife Trust and its human volunteers, who are just as important, to restore the ponds to their former glory, enhancing biodiversity around them and allow the newts, frogs and toads to thrive.”

The site offers some amazing opportunities to see wildlife, with grasshopper warbler, reed bunting, linnet and stonechat being found in the scrubby areas of the site. Bullfinch, now a scare bird, can be found within woodland, whilst snipe, a long-billed wading bird, can be seen foraging around the edge of pools, which is exciting being so close to an urban area.”

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust is creating fantastic habitats on its 37 nature reserves across the North West, but also helping to maintain Nature Recovery Networks connecting these and other wild areas so wildlife has corridors to increase and thrive. If you are interested in supporting nature in the North West you can find out more about the work of the Wildlife Trust at www.lancswt.org.uk

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 30,000 members, and over 1,200 volunteers. No matter where you are in Britain, there is a Wildlife Trust inspiring people and saving, protecting and standing up for the natural world. With the support of our members, we care for and restore special places for nature on land and run marine conservation projects and collect vital data on the state of our seas. Every Wildlife Trust works within its local community to inspire people to create a wilder future – from advising thousands of landowners on how to manage their land to benefit wildlife, to connecting hundreds of thousands of school children with nature every year. wildlifetrusts.org

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

From Crag to Cloth Cable and Blake design, create and sell locally produced Herdwick fabrics, that have been inspired by the surrounding Lakeland landscape. Fabric of the Lakes. Our fabrics are made from Herdwick wool, sourced from local farms and woven on traditional hand looms. We have a Book of Bloom, a Book of Thought and a Book for Madam which showcase our fabrics. We are combining traditional skills and industries to develop this undervalued wool into a high quality, bespoke fabric. Our unique designs and prints bring a modern twist to the Lake District heritage, as well as bringing value to the local community. We have collaborated with a number of local producers to create a range of products which can be purchased from our store or online shop.

CABLE & BLAKE, 177 HIGHGATE, KENDAL, ENGLAND, LA9 4EN, UNITED KINGDOM N 07834 485 657 | E hello@cableandblake.co.uk T cableandblake | I cableandblake-fabrics | F cableandblakefabricsofthelakes WWW.CABLEANDBLAKE.CO.UK

By Sarah Ridgway

THIS MONTH WE CAUGHT UP WITH RACHEL CABBLE FROM KENDAL BASED CABLE & BLAKE. The company designs and creates beautiful fabrics from the local Herdwick sheep fleeces that are inspired by the landscapes of the Lake District.

HOW DID THE BUSINESS BEGIN? My friend and co-founder Alice, who sadly passed away 2 years ago, both had a passion to do something with Herdwick fleece. The Herdwick fleece was achieving a tiny price in the marketplace and farmers were burning it as a consequence. It was primarily used for insulation and carpets, whereas other sheep’s fleeces were sold for profit, Herdwick was not due to being quite hardy and itchy. We thought it was such a shame and decided it was a challenge where a solution was long overdue. I had always wanted to produce my own fabric and so this seemed the perfect opportunity to merge sustainability and creativity. We were both living and working in Cumbria and with a soft spot for our native Herdwick sheep the journey began, a journey that was not for the faint hearted. Thankfully our dedication and determination paid off and after two years of research, we found the way to keep the best and leave the rest. We took the prickle out and we took advantage of the hard wearing feature of the wool making it both soft enough and strong enough for soft furnishings, upholstery and everything else in between. Cable and Blake was born, a new and innovative local business, excited to work with individuals and companies large and small. WHAT MAKES HERDWICK SHEEP AND WOOL UNIQUE? The fact that we print on it makes it incredibly unique as not many other companies really print on wool.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

TELL US ABOUT YOUR UPHOLSTERY SERVICE? We offer an upholstery service, and we receive about 5 requests each week. We upholster in our own fabric or anything the customer chooses. We can ship our fabric directly to customers or their upholsterers and have wholesale agreements with many companies. All Cable and Blake fabrics are available through www.cableandblake.co.uk. HOW HAVE YOU INCORPORATED SUSTAINABILITY INTO YOUR BUSINESS? Sustainability is incredibly important at Cable & Blake. The Herdwick fleeces were traditionally burnt or thrown away and the main thing we wanted was to find something useful that was workable and sustainable to stop them going to waste. Everything is produced locally which reduces the carbon footprint and supports the local economy, not just the Herdwick farmers but also local makers, everything we sell is made within 20 or 30 miles from Kendal. Living in such a picturesque environment we see part of our role as harnessing the natural beauty that surrounds us in a beneficial way that preserves something very special and lessens the waste. When a piece of furniture is well made, it will last and this also helps people to avoid throwing out items. ARE THERE MANY OTHER COMPANIES USING HERDWICK WOOL? There are a few other companies that make handbags and other companies are making rugs, and throws etc. We however wanted to do something different and The colours we use for the fabric reflect the Lakes, but still maintain the character and tones of the Herdwick fleece. Also, it is an extremely durable fabric and remarkably diverse so is not just limited to upholstery. What we have found is that the hardness of the fleece can be a blessing because of the nature of the fleece and yarn it is incredibly hard wearing. A key selling point for our upholstery fabric is the rub test. If you rub most woollen fabrics it takes less than 25,000 rubs before the fabric starts to break up. With Cable and Blake Herdwick fabric you get up to 50,000 rubs, so our fabric has significantly increased durability. HOW INVOLVED ARE YOU WITH THE DESIGN PROCESS? My late business partner Alice was from a banking background and was more the financial side of the business, whereas I am the creative one, so I produced our printed designs. I have always loved the creative side of things, but I am not originally from a creative background and got into it later in life. My husband and I moved to the Lakes after I took voluntary redundancy and the first 15 years were spent raising a family, but after that I wanted to get back into the creative side of things and was interested in upholstery. My upholstery journey started when I took an old egg chair for a quote to get upholstered and they said well why don’t you come and do it yourself, so I did. I enjoy working with the customer on their ideas as much as I enjoy creating my own work and ideas. www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 31

contemporary, so we thought let’s print on the fabric as other companies were just using the natural grey of the wool. It was a challenge initially as not many companies would print on wool, but we found a company that would, and we created our first two prints based on photographs taken around the Lakes. Then we thought wouldn’t it be fantastic to dye the fabric, we chose not to dye the yarn, so we get to keep those beautiful tones, we have the fabric woven on the grey and then we dye it from there and that is how we have differentiated ourselves from the other people that are using Herdwick tweeds. Our colours represent the tones and seasons within the Lake District, so the Autumn tones are the darker ones, the Spring tones are paler and represent the colours in the area at that time of year. I have taken photographs directly to the dyeing company and they take a reading from the picture and reproduce those exact colours. WHAT ARE YOUR BESTSELLING AND MOST POPULAR PRODUCTS? We opened our original shop three years ago as a place to showcase the fabric as predominantly we are fabric producers. As we grew, local makers would come in and say, “we love your fabric”, so we asked them to come back and show us their stuff, and if we liked it, we would sell the products in the shop for them as we very much wanted to help local crafters and promote their work. Our fabric is remarkably diverse so we can make all sorts of things, we have local companies making bags for us, door stops and things for pets. We also work with local furniture makers who use our fabric, and we can sell their furniture in the shop. It is really lovely to meet new people and help strengthen our unique and very special community.

we have increasingly been able to support local creative people too. So much so that we have now created The Creative Quarter, Kendal (www.thecreativequarterkendal. co.uk), with the aim of encouraging more visitors to our end of town, but also to make Kendal a destination for everybody interested in the creative arts. YOU SAID YOU WANT TO PUT HERDWICK FABRIC ON THE MAP, HOW IS THAT GOING WITH REGARDS TO TRADE? It is going well, and it is constantly growing, we want the Cable & Blake brand to be synonymous with the Lake District. With anything it takes time to become established, but we are now starting to get enquiries from all over, so word is getting out there. We are happy taking a slower approach, especially over the last year as it has been hard for everyone and we are still expanding the Cable & Blake story further afield. Our business is about the story and the journey to educate people about the importance and beauty of the Herdwick sheep as many people see a sheep as just a sheep and don’t understand the different breeds. HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC BEEN FOR BUSINESS? One of the positive things out of covid is that more people are shopping online, so we are getting more orders that way. This makes us more accessible as it is not always

I SEE YOU HAVE DONE COLLABORATIONS WITH YOUNG DESIGNERS; HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THEM? Yes, one collaboration was with Izzy Castle, a young designer who is currently at the Glasgow School of Art. We have created the “Izzy Castle Collection,” where we have created five new prints, which we are just about to launch. The prints are based on Lake District themes. Izzy was able to quickly understand what Cable and Blake represented, so we were thrilled to be able to collaborate and offer her the opportunity. HOW IMPORTANT IS WORKING WITH LOCAL BUSINESS AND BEING BRITISH MADE? We started off thinking that we would be supporting local farmers. It is crazy that such a fantastic resource is being destroyed or thrown away. As we have grown, 32

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

easy for people to come up to the Lakes, and slowly but surely, we have had orders from other parts of the country. We also have a distributor in Hollywood, so our fabric is now being sold in a shop in LA. The pandemic gave us the time to get the website up to speed, we also moved to a bigger shop which was a bit of a risk, but the smaller shop didn’t have the visibility we wanted. The larger shop now is double fronted, and we are getting so many more people popping in which is such a positive. Ultimately it has given us time to think about where we want to go and focus on the fabric and getting our name further afield. WHAT IS NEW FOR CABLE & BLAKE? We are going to start promoting the new prints. We have also launched a new product called’ Petal Wool Print’. We have partnered with a floristry company called ‘The Floralistas’ and an eco-print company called ‘Leaf’. A bride will be able to preserve her wedding bouquet and turn it into a printed fabric keepsake. We can take the foliage and roses from the bride’s bouquet and steam them onto our Herdwick fabric, from there we can make unique and memorable items like cushions, or a piece of upholstered furniture.

www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 33

Redrow Branches Out with New Phase of Oak Leigh Gardens HOMEBUILDER Redrow has announced the release of more new homes at Oak Leigh Gardens in the village of Barrow, near Clitheroe.

Above: The Shaftesbury and Leamington Lifestyle are two of the four new house styles available at Oak Leigh Gardens’ latest phase A collection of 21 properties will be built in the latest phase, with a new range of three and four-bedroom styles that weren’t previously available. However, like phase one, all the homes will hail from Redrow’s Heritage Collection which combines a traditional Arts & Craftsinspired exterior with an open plan, contemporary interior. The four-bedroom homes that will soon be available are among Redrow’s most popular – the Shaftesbury, Welwyn, Henley and Canterbury. But joining them is the equally desirable Leamington Lifestyle, a three-bedroom home built on the footprint of what would normally be a four-bedroom. Instead all three bedrooms are larger and, taking luxury to a new level, each one has its own en-suite bath or shower room and the main bedroom enjoys a magnificent walk-in wardrobe too.

The spacious downstairs accommodation includes an openplan kitchen, dining and family area stretching the full 25ft width of this stunning property, and with patio doors that create a light and airy feel as they open out onto the garden. A separate lounge with a beautiful bay window is a welcome space for relaxation and quiet, while a cloakroom and utility add to the convenience of life in a busy household. With prices expected to start from £420,000, the Leamington Lifestyle is a home any purchaser would enjoy spending time in but so too is the location of Oak Leigh Gardens, close to the Forest of Bowland, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and within that, Pendle Hill. “The setting is hard to beat, a lovely semi-rural village in the Ribble Valley, an area which regularly tops lists of the best or happiest places to live in the UK” says Sian Pitt, sales director for Redrow Lancashire. “In fact, from a recent survey

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

we conducted asking buyers about their preferred location, it ticks every box. “More than half of those we surveyed said their dream home was in the countryside, with 45% saying they’d love to be near a national park or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty; 39% considered a village to be the ideal place to live and Oak Leigh Gardens fulfils every one of those wishes. “The development has been very popular, which is why we are moving onto a new phase with more styles to offer, and we’re looking forward to welcoming more would-be homeowners to show them what high-quality homes we have, and what an amazing place to live this is.” To find your dream home at Oak Leigh Gardens visit www.redrow.co.uk/oakleigh or call 01254 865167 to arrange an appointment with Redrow’s sales team. www.lancmag.com

A Unique Gift for Any Occasion

Pre-order

˜ Same Day˜ Dispatch ˜ 100% Recyclable Packaging ˜ so much more when A favourite tipple means chosen and sent with a thoughtful message! Personal Touch

E toastoffice@atoastinthepost.co.uk | Follow us On FTI @atoastinthepost M A Toast in the Post Ltd, Unit One, Hunter House, Amy Johnson Way, Blackpool FY4 2FJ

www.atoastinthepost.co.uk

Lancashire Couple are Raising a Glass to Their Award Winning Drinks Business

An entrepreneurial couple from Blackpool are celebrating their online drinks gift business A Toast in the Post, after it sells more than 6,000 drinks and wins two national awards in their first six months. 36

life when they cannot be together by sending a drink of your choice through the post together with a personalised photo message card.

A Toast in the Post allows people to celebrate the special moments in

The couple have just sent their 6500th drink and won Dragon’s Den star Theo Paphitis’ national Small Business Sunday (SBS) award. ‘A Toast in the Post’ has also had other celebrity endorsements, with Britain’s Got Talent start Amanda Holden praising their venture when being

avid and Jane Charnley have worked in the events industry for more than 20 years and set up the online gift company last year, when realising the extended long-term impact COVID-19 would have on their exhibitions and wedding businesses – creating a much-needed lifeline and focus for them in difficult times.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

David and Jane working in their temporary store room as they complete the build of the new premises

The new build - created for events businesses, Love Expo and Weddingtableplans, but now also home to A Toast in the Post

sent a toast for her 50th birthday, as well as winning the national Women of Wednesday (WOW) award, set up by Jaqueline Gold of Ann Summers. David said: “It’s been a whirlwind six months, seeing daily orders triple from our original expectations and trying to keep up with demand for people wanting to let loved ones know they are thinking about them in these difficult times. www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 37

“Coming out of lockdown, online sales are very much here to stay and it’s lovely seeing a rise in engagement and wedding greetings returning. We also have more and more companies enquiring for corporate gifts, sending hundreds of colleagues A Toast in the Post to celebrate the successes of their workforce.” The couple met at university and launched straight into their exhibitions business, LoveExpo, in 1997 building bespoke stands for national and international clients at large trade shows. They invested and moved in to new purpose-built premises in Blackpool in March 2020, just as the pandemic hit.

“It’s not been easy - we’ve gone from running an exhibition and a wedding business for more than two decades, to setting up an e-commerce website in a few months, with all hands on deck sourcing 100 per cent recyclable packaging, the right miniature alcoholic drinks and posting from our storage cupboard in our Blackpool warehouse. But seeing sales grow and winning a national award by a well-renowned Dragon’s Den entrepreneur certainly makes all the long nights of packing worth it.”

to help keep the nation connected through sending personal sentiments when people couldn’t be together.

A Toast in the Post went live in November 2020. Every order has the option to have bespoke photos added, as well as personalised greetings and David and Jane are constantly building the selection of drinks available, including those from local artisan producers such as Lytham Gin and internationally renowned Black Powder Gin.

Jane thought of ‘A Toast in the Post’ on a car journey two years ago when she was unable to attend a close relative’s funeral and thought it would be nice to send the family his favourite drink with a message and a treasured photo of him, to celebrate his life when she couldn’t be there in person. “The idea has been with us ever since,” Jane adds. “But with our successful exhibition stand business and my wedding table plan business, the time was never right. Neither of our industries are back on their feet yet, so we are so pleased we took the plunge and turned the pandemic into something more positive. Both for us as business owners, but also in being able 38

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

To Find Out More, Visit:

www.atoastinthepost.co.uk www.lancmag.com

“We are constantly building the selection of drinks available, including those from local artisan producers such as Lytham Gin and internationally renowned Black Powder Gin”

“Winning a national award by a wellrenowned Dragon’s Den entrepreneur certainly makes all the long nights of packing worth it”

www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 39

Pioneering Research is First in UK to Transform Imaging for Infants with Congenital Heart Disease • The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Leeds host the first UK research project focused on improving magnetic resonance imaging of infants with congenital heart disease using 4D flow. • The 4D Flow MRI prototype software provided by Siemens Healthineers allows rapid acquisition of anatomical and functional data in a single imaging session to reduce image acquisition time. • Children’s Heart Surgery Fund, amongst others, raise funds for advanced MRI-safe equipment designed to improve imaging outcomes and patient experience. The Leeds Children’s Hospital’s Congenital Heart Unit is the first in the United Kingdom to undertake pioneering research addressing challenges in the diagnosis and monitoring of infants with congenital heart disease. The project aims to establish a new approach to imaging these patients by using a 4D Flow MRI prototype software from Siemens Healthineers, reducing scan time to under ten minutes whilst infants sleep in an MRI safe incubator. Congenital heart disease is one of the most common types of birth defect and whilst survival rates have improved, diagnosis and imaging of newborns can be challenging. Traditionally, CT imaging has often been preferred over MRI, due to reduced acoustic noise and faster scan times, while MRI has necessitated breath holds and patient sedation with the associated risk to infants. The use of CT however, requires X-rays and produces a less comprehensive dataset than MRI. The University of Leeds project pushes the boundaries of 4D Flow and cardiac MRI to establish an approach which could provide greater data at a high speed and transform the way imaging is performed on infants. Acquiring a full set of MRI images which provide both anatomical and functional information, can take up to an hour, however, with the application of the 4D Flow technology from Siemens Healthineers, the project aims to achieve this in under ten minutes. 4D Flow provides a comprehensive, non-invasive assessment of the heart in just one acquisition, allowing paediatric cardiologists greater insight with potential to predict which patients may need surgery in the future. Donations led by Children’s Heart Surgery Fund, including Heart Research UK and other generous funders have helped to equip the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit with innovations designed to optimise scanning infants. The new equipment includes an MRI coil and an MRI safe closed incubator, which reduces the noise the infant is exposed to, allowing scans to take place as the baby sleeps in a safe and comfortable environment – supporting improved diagnostic outcomes.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

Dr Malenka Bissell, Clinical Lecturer of Paediatric Cardiology at the University of Leeds and Consultant at Leeds Children’s Hospital alongside the MAGNETOM Prisma from Siemens Healthineers with the MRI safe closed incubator “The research we are currently undertaking makes the University of Leeds the first in the UK to scan babies with congenital heart disease this way,” states Dr Malenka Bissell, Clinical Lecturer of Paediatric Cardiology at the University of Leeds and Consultant at Leeds Children’s Hospital. “In combination with the equipment funded by the charity, 4D Flow MRI technology is paving the way to improve diagnostic pathways for these patients. Uncertainty can be one of the most stressful elements for parents, so we’re now looking at how we can use advanced imaging methods to improve our ability to predict when and if a patient will need surgery.” “4D Flow MRI is an exciting advancement, offering the ability to measure and visualise the temporal evolution of complex vascular systems,” states Dr Craig Buckley, Head of Research and Scientific Collaborations at Siemens Healthineers GB&I. “We are pleased to support Leeds with its research and further evaluate the potential of this model to translate into real-world application. Not only could this make for a safer experience for infants, but 4D Flow acquisition has the potential to enhance anatomical imaging, providing the clinician with a much better dataset to help inform diagnosis and treatment.” James Oliver, Congenital Cardiologist and Children’s Heart Surgery Fund Trustee adds: “This exciting new equipment is revolutionising congenital cardiac MRI. For the first time, even our youngest congenital patients can benefit from important research into improving early diagnosis.” Kate Bratt-Farrar, Chief Executive at Heart Research UK said: “We are so thrilled to be supporting this pioneering research, which will make Leeds one of the true centres of excellence for this type of procedure. As a Leeds-based charity, we’re passionate about supporting our local area, and about funding projects that bring about tangible benefits for patients. By reducing risks associated with traditional imaging methods and increasing diagnostic accuracy, this project will have a real effect on how capable we are of providing better care to patients, in this case often very unwell babies.”

If you’d like to support Heart Research UK’s vital work, please visit www.heartresearch. org.uk for inspiration on how you could help www.lancmag.com

Want more from your retirement years? Many retirees find themselves equity rich, but cash poor. Currently with the interest amount fixed at very low rates for life, now could be the best time to release the equity locked up inside your home; either as a lump sum or in small drawdown amounts, as and when you require.

Unlock tax free cash from your home for... • Home improvements • Gift to family members • Medical needs

Helping you choose the right equity release plan, leaving you to enjoy retirement. Equity release allows release tax free cash...

you

• without selling your home (lifetime mortgages only) • remains your home for life • never leave a debt for your family • still possible to move home • you can repay all or part of a lifetime mortgage at any time but early redemption penalties may apply

Think what equity release could do for you!

• Repay loans / credit cards • Holiday of a lifetime • Clear outstanding mortgage Alison has been working in financial services since 1989 and has extensive experience not only in equity release but also in residential mortgages and protection. She started out as a customer services adviser with Halifax but has worked as an independent financial adviser since 1995, specialising in equity release since 2007. As a member of the Equity Release Council, Alison is keen to explain equity release clearly to her clients, give the best service and support her clients throughout the process.

Call Alison Martin Equity Release Specialist for a non-obligation chat

Proud member of

07866 965 441

alison.martin@thelaterlifelendingnetwork.co.uk www.lendingforlaterlife.com

This is a lifetime mortgage. To understand the features and risks, please ask for a personalised illustration. Check that this mortgage will meet your needs if you want to move or sell your home or you want your family to inherit it. If you are in any doubt, seek independent advice. The Later Life Lending Network is a trading style of TRM Financial Ltd which is an Appointed Representative of The Right Mortgage Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales no. 09832887. Registered Address: 70 St. Johns Close, Knowle, Solihull, England, B93 0NH. A fee may be charged for equity release advice. The exact amount will depend on your circumstances, but we estimate this will be £995 on completion.

New heritage project at Lunt Meadows Nature Reserve to connect people with nature and history The Lancashire Wildlife Trust are launching a new project at Lunt Meadows Nature Reserve in Sefton, thanks to generous support by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Below: The archaeological site at Lunt Meadows by Ron Cowell, Curator of Prehistoric Archaeology at National Museums Liverpool

unt Meadows Wetlands Nature Reserve and Flood Storage Reservoir is a unique site, a haven for wildlife, a rare archaeological secret and a flood storage reservoir protecting homes from a changing climate. With approximately 30000 visitors a year, the reserve is popular with dog-walkers, bird-watchers and as a place to socialise or exercise, but many visitors do not realise what a fantastic, multi-purpose resource Lunt Meadows really is. The Presenting Mesolithic and Modern Life project, will be a 5-year long partnership between several North West organisations; Lancashire Wildlife Trust, the Museum of Liverpool, the Dept. of History and Archaeology, University of Chester, Soroptimist International Crosby and the Environment Agency. The project aims to present Lunt Meadows to visitors and the extended community, giving them an understanding of how humans have interacted with the landscape over thousands of years, how landscape changes affect human lives and how these choices influence our future. Owned by the Environment Agency and managed by Lancashire Wildlife Trust, Lunt Meadows is home to many rare and protected birds, such as barn owl, lapwing and bittern. Within the site is also the remains of a 9000-year-old Mesolithic settlement, discovered by Ron Cowell, Curator of Prehistoric Archaeology, from National Museums Liverpool 42

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

Above: Barn Owls can be seen almost daily at Lunt Meadows by Andy Pryce

www.lancmag.com

in 2012. Since then, the Museum of Liverpool have unearthed over 6000 artefacts, some of which can be seen on display in the museum’s Lunt Meadows exhibition, giving a glimpse into the lives of some of the region’s earliest residents. Cheryl Ashton, Lunt Meadows Project Manager, from Lancashire Wildlife Trust says, “Between ourselves and our project partners, we have a wealth of skills and knowledge about many different aspects of the site that we would love to share with visitors. We know how people want to engage with Lunt Meadows and we know that current users don’t want change that will damage the wildlife and peace that they enjoy at the reserve now. So we have developed engagement programmes that we hope will encourage use of the reserve, but more importantly will deepen and enrich people’s experience at Lunt and connect them with the landscape, wildlife and history.” The team will be putting on a variety of events, including plant and animal identification workshops, guided wildlife walks and stargazing. Working in partnership with the Museum of Liverpool and the University of Chester, the Trust will offer opportunities for public involvement in archaeological workshops, experiences, talks and guided walks, relating to research

Above: Lunt Meadows is a haven for wetland birds by Graham Roberts

and discoveries within the reserve. Archaeologists from the University of Chester will also train the Trust’s staff and volunteers, so that they will be able to lead workshops in the longer term. An outdoor education area will be developed too, along with a reconstructed Mesolithic house, that will enable people of all ages to really experience Stone Age life at Lunt and develop a deeper understanding of that time.

Above: Volunteers have been vital in improving the site for visitors and wildlife by Adam Graham

www.lancmag.com

Dr Amy Gray Jones, Senior Lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Chester said: “We are very excited to be a part of this project. The Stone Age Experience workshops that we ran during the pilot phase were really well-received by all who participated in them – increasing knowledge of the archaeology of Lunt, an understanding of the Stone Age, and promoting mindfulness and a sense of wellbeing.” Dr Barry Taylor, also a Senior Lecturer in Archaeology at the University added: “Lunt Meadows is a wonderful place, and we are looking forward to working with the Wildlife Trust, and the other project partners, to help more people learn about its rich prehistoric and natural heritage.” Thanks to the £1.1 million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the team will also be able to bring some much-needed advancements to the site. Paths, gates and bird screens will be updated to improve accessibility for visitors, while a new centre will be built containing a staff office, volunteer space, visitor toilets and a classroom. This will allow the Trust to increase their staff presence on the site, which in turn will make it easier for the team to carry out conservation and engagement work, and monitor the wildlife’s wellbeing. The new classroom will also enable the Trust and partners to offer an alternative indoor space for learning, wellbeing and leisure opportunities

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 43

for the general public, educational facilities and special interest groups. Cheryl adds, “Events in the past have been ad hoc due to the unpredictable weather and lack of facilities. Feedback from visitors and volunteers often includes the desire for toilets and shelter on site. That Lunt is so popular despite its lack of facilities is a credit to our volunteers who, come rain or shine, give their time to make Lunt Meadows an ideal habitat for wildlife. We are pleased that we will be able to provide a base on site now, and make visits more comfortable for all.” Many events will be kindly supported by Soroptimist International Crosby, who are part of a world-wide organisation of women who aim to advance human rights and the status of women – at local, national and international level. SI Crosby have experience of working with organisations that will be new to the Trust, providing opportunities for the project to engage different communities and audiences with Lunt Meadows.

Terry Francis, Programme Action Officer at SI Crosby, says “Our initial involvement with the project’s development was through an email from Lancashire Wildlife Trust staff in 2018. The Lunt Meadows site was a hidden gem known only to a couple of members at the time. Since then, through site visits, meetings, volunteering and supporting the project’s development, we have all realised the potential of having such a resource on our doorstep.” Lancashire Wildlife Trust are starting off the project with a series of free online talks running from the end of February into April. As well as an introduction to the project and opportunities for involvement, attendees will hear from experts about the wildlife at Lunt, how it works as a flood storage reservoir and the rich Mesolithic history it is home to. Each talk will be a great opportunity to find out more about these fascinating aspects of Lunt Meadow’s heritage.

Above: The bird hide at Lunt, built by volunteers. New paths and a ramp will make it more accessible by Adam Graham

Above: Visitors will be able to learn Stone Age crafts, like making arrow heads, and archaeological skills by Cheryl Ashton

To find out more about these events and to book onto talks, visit: www.lancswt.org.uk/events

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside is dedicated to the protection and promotion of the wildlife in Lancashire, seven boroughs of Greater Manchester and four of Merseyside, all lying north of the River Mersey. It manages around 40 nature reserves and 20 Local Nature Reserves covering acres of woodland, wetland, upland and meadow. The Trust has 27,000 members, and over 1,200 volunteers. To become a member of the Trust go to the website at www.lancswt.org.uk or call 01772 324129. For more information about Cheshire Wildlife Trust call 01948 820728 or go to cheshirewildlifetrust.org.uk.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

What is a Virtual Finance Director? A Finance Director (FD) is responsible for the overall financial health of a business. This includes managing the company finances on a day to day basis, financial planning, management of financial risks, recordkeeping and financial reporting. A good quality full time FD can come at a big cost, especially for start-up businesses and SMEs. This is where a ‘virtual’ or part-time FD can be invaluable. Utilising a Virtual FD, you have access to a top class FD at a fraction of the cost of a full time FD and one that works to your schedule.

Contact us today for a FREE 40 minute consultation and find out how we can assist you and your business today paul@virtualfds.com | www.virtualfds.com | +44 (0)333 050 9664

PAUL COLLIS Virtual Finance Director Services By Sarah Ridgway

This month we caught up with Lancashire based Paul Collis, founder and director of Virtual Finance Director Services which offers a flexible, and affordable finance service to businesses. TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF? I left school at 18 and was in two minds about going on to university, one of my tutors told me that the ‘big 4’ accounting firms were offering employment opportunities to A-level students, so I decided to apply. I was offered a job and in 2001 I started with PwC in Manchester where I did my AAT qualification and then ACCA, qualifying as a chartered certified accountant. Three years into the role I was offered the chance to move to the London office, I was 22 at the time 46

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

and it was a fantastic opportunity. Also, while people my age were leaving university and starting out their careers, I was at a huge advantage with three years of professional experience already under my belt. I left PwC in 2007 as I was more interested in working with businesses as opposed to within an accountancy practice. I applied for roles and was offered a position with the property group Savills and worked at their head office for two years. I then progressed to a role at property competitor DTZ which was a promotion and another step up. www.lancmag.com

After being in London for 6 years I decided to make the move back to the North West where I am originally from. Unfortunately, in 2010 there were not a lot of opportunities in the region and a recruiter asked me if would consider moving to the Caribbean as there were a lot of opportunities out there. Within three weeks I had moved to the Turks & Caicos Islands to work as a Group Finance Manager for a supermarket chain. I worked in the Caribbean for six years and in the last four years of that I set up my own consultancy working as a part time finance director for a variety of different businesses. Typical clients included a boutique hotel, bar, restaurant and a construction company. These companies had an existing finance team but needed a senior person to work alongside the senior team which is where my services came in. In 2016 I moved back to the UK and have since done various interim roles. When the pandemic hit in early 2020 I felt the need to diversify and used the opportunity to set up my Virtual Finance Director business, which was always my long-term plan - the pandemic simply sped up the process. WHAT IS A VIRTUAL FINANCE DIRECTOR? It is a very affordable solution for small and medium enterprises and owner managed businesses. You are getting the same expertise as what you would get from a full-time finance director for a fraction of the cost. I can also mentor and coach an existing finance team, and if there comes a stage where a company does need a fulltime finance director then I can help with the recruitment and transition period. HOW DID THE BUSINESS GROW IN THE PANDEMIC? I am not a natural salesman, but I am aware you need to sell yourself in this industry, so I used the time to get to grips with sales and marketing and I enrolled in some courses. Tapping into my existing network was key in growing the business, I have been in this industry for many years, and have amassed a large network. Therefore, I contacted people I have worked with over the last 10 years and immediately picked up three clients. I also set up my website, wrote blogs and utilised LinkedIn but found a lot of my clients came via word of mouth and that is how I have built up the business. WHAT DOES YOUR FREE CONSULTATION INVOLVE? I am usually contacted when a client has got a problem which might involve reaching their monthly numbers, or help looking for investment and need someone experienced to lead them through the process. After the Initial conversation I will go away and put a proposal together based on their requirements. Sometimes a client does not know what they want so the consultation can highlight other services they might not have realised they needed. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A VIRTUAL FINANCE DIRECTOR? The biggest benefit of having a virtual Finance Director is the value for money, a full-time finance director can cost in the region of £100k plus a year, so you can cut that www.lancmag.com

cost dramatically by having a part time Finance Director. Your business gets access to the highest level of expertise and professional advice, and I also offer a coaching service for less experienced member of the team. So, rather than hiring an external expensive accounting firm I am on the phone or email and they can consult me on any problem. This goes back to my PwC days where there was a huge emphasis on coaching which was a huge positive and this ethos has always stayed with me. Also, I can represent the client in the board meetings every month, which I offer so taking pressure off the MD and CEO. I usually offer an initial three-month period, to check we are a fit for each other long term and then see how it goes with no obligation. This service is perfect for SMEs and an ideal client is one where they already have a finance team in place, and need someone more senior to come in. It is fantastic value for money, and it is flexible, so the days can be upped or decreased as required to fit the budget. Most of the work is done remotely but I can meet clients once or twice a month as I don’t think you can beat that face-to-face interaction and contact. Contact Paul today for a FREE 40 minute consultation and find out how we can assist you and your business today.

E paul@virtualfds.com D www.virtualfds.com N +44 (0) 333 050 9664 LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 47

A CRITIQUE OF

CLIMATE CHANGE By Norman Harris

INTRODUCTION I believe that engineering and science are mitigating climate change and that it should be more recognised and encouraged. I have been banging the drum for more than 2 years with examples of Engineering & Science mitigating climate change, which is much better than banning normal human activities. So far I have posted 265 examples, now a group of scientists are calling for a steering body to prioritise the cost/ benefits of such research. GREAT!!

BE IN THE LEAD BUT NOT TOO FAR AHEAD. It is great that the UK can be leader in this subject, but we must be sure that the economic gains are realised and not sacrifice the economy on the altar of climate change. We produce about 1% of the world output of

Green House Gases (GHG). The US and China dwarf our output in the range of 35% each and whilst the US under President Biden will now be active in the quest for reductions, China has stated that they will lag 20 or 30 years behind the West. India’s GHG output is still growing, and they have just recently rebuffed Biden and

As the recent, but temporary, drop in atmospheric CO2 content during the first pandemic lockdown shows, climate change may not be such an intractable problem as its protagonists claim. Fuel changes to surface transport (e.g., hybrid, electric, a different petrol mix available in September and hydrogen) are already gaining pace and will keep the growth in UK CO2 output lower than in the past. But note the electric power still has to be generated by one means or the other. I am not convinced that we need high speed trains to take 15/20 minutes of the journey to Birmingham or Manchester. As we are always told for cars, higher speed means more fuel used. Believe it or not the same is true for trains. Like electric cars they transfer the carbon emitted into the atmosphere to nonrenewable power station sites. Even the big polluter of marine transport is also addressing the issue of their emissions, long thought improbable as it is largely out of the sight and control of individual Governments. 48

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

HEARTS FOR HOMES THE QUAINT SHOP IN THE LOVELY TOWN OF RAMSBOTTOM The concept of Hearts of Homes is to bring affordable yet charming home décor and gifts to our customers.

amsbottom gift shop Hearts for Homes celebrates it’s four year anniversary this April as owner and busy mum of three boys’ Kerry Khan reflects on how life has changed since she opened. When Kerry first launched this beautiful, unique gift emporium back in 2016, little did she know

that within two years she would be outgrowing the original premises on Bolton Street and moving into a shop with three floors right on the corner of Bridge Street. This prime spot formerly the Bridge Street News is now well established as Hearts for Homes and it’s pretty pink window display keeps the crowds coming

MADE IN THE UK, LARGE SELECTION OF COLOURS...

STOCKIST OF THE ORIGINAL ARTISAN RANGE • NEW & IMPROVED LABY RANGE • AL FRESCO INSIDE OUTSIDE RANGE • CHALK WALL PAINT • TRIM PAINT • EASY GRADE WAXES • BRUSHES • FRENSLEEN • FINISHING COAT • FRENCHIC SUGAR COAT • STENCILS • ACCESSORIES & OTHER

w www.heartsforhomes.co.uk e kerry@heartsforhomes.co.uk 47 Bridge Street l Ramsbottom l BL0 9AD t 01706 560462

in as it opens seven days a week in peak seasons. Kerry’s passion for upcycling furniture snowballed into a gift and homeware boutique packed with treasures from floor to ceiling including gifts for mum, dad, baby and even mum to be. From stunning silver jewellery made with real flowers ideal for Mothers Day to elegant scarves by Shruti. Books, Manchester Bee unique giftware, wedding gifts, homewares from the Just Slate Company. From clocks to cushions, pebble frames made to order, quotes on cards by Claire, The Mudlark local pottery by Lynn and artwork by another Ramsbottom artist Julian Cohen. “We have an incredibly loyal local customer base but our customers come from as far as Cheshire to shop here, we source all our suppliers individually and we’re proud to showcase local craftspeople and talent. I am delighted that we have already started holding craft workshops on our newly refurbished top floor too. Local artists have offered their services by popular demand including furniture painting and stained glass craft” adds Kerry. One of the newest additions to the Hearts for Homes range is the environmentally friendly ‘Frenchic’ furniture paint. A firm Pinterest favourite, Frenchic is a chalk and mineral paint, toxin and solvent free with no odour with a creamy and rich coverage. Designed not to peel or chip, the paint can be used literally anywhere including nursery furniture and in bathrooms. “Frenchic has been so popular since we started to stock it” says Kerry. We have sold so much, the colour palette is fantastic and prices start at £8 for a small tin”.

the world on the topic. Clearly India has more urgent issues at this time. There are many small “oil rich” states where oil costs extraordinarily little and they top the rankings in harmful outputs per capita. The UK can lead but cannot solve world problems alone as we could in the days of gunboats. GREAT NEWS FOR GOVERNMENTS, MARKETEERS AND EXTREMISTS Climate Change has been good news for Governments because it gives another avenue for taxation. Governments can tax for it, marketeers can promote for it, the believers can scoff the disbelievers. But there is more! We must stop eating beef, in fact it could turn into a luxury food to rival Beluga caviar so only the super-rich can have it and not you and me. The environmentalists may even score the Coup de Grace and stop all power station building and shut down the dirty ones, returning us to the Middle Ages. Germany is in a bind, shutting down its nuclear stations after Fukushima, then its coal and now more reliant than ever on Russian gas. Except perhaps in the USA, few doubt that we must save resources, but many such mandatory measures are counterproductive and add cost not value. Householders have to sort it, needing multiple bins to be collected to help the economics of the process. How much does that cost the Council Taxpayer? And the times of opening of Recycling Centres are one of the restrictions. There are often lines of traffic with a lone driver in their small SUV (engine running of course) waiting to gain entry to take 2 bags of green waste, which in my youth I would have composted. The economics of Recycling is complex. It is sustained at source by free labour by each household and charged for disposal at landfill by a £95 per tonne of tax. There are approved steps in the lifetime of rubbish and one, product design, is also backed by tax, Producer Responsibility (shortly to be extended into Extended Producer Responsibility or EPR). 50

This means that consumer pays for environmentally unfriendly product design and the Council Taxpayer covers the shortfall at the end of the item’s lifetime. Energy extraction is one of the approved steps in the lifetime of waste. So, Waste to Energy (WtE) is sustainable and requires no sorting by householders and no harmful landfill.

They underestimate the adaptability of mankind. We already exist from minus 40C to plus 40C. And survive relatively normally from -5C to +25C. Climate Change is also great for marketeers as they can promote their products as good for the climate and environment and make you feel guilty and jeopardising the future of your children, if you do not use their brand. I also think that certain sectors of the scientific community have gained ever more generous research grants by dramatic, even scary, headline claims. The UN’s Climate Change Committee, the IPCC usually develops scenarios and chose the most pessimistic and not the median. Those who earn their research grants have a vested interest in dramatising the impact, + 6C just before Copenhagen, it dropped to +3C during the conference. They underestimate the adaptability of mankind. We already exist from minus 40C to plus 40C. And survive relatively normally from -5C to +25C. They scare us; make us guilty, the poor Pacific islands that may disappear with climate change if an earthquake or tsunami does not get them first as Nigel Lawson suggested in his book “An Appeal to Reason” 2008 and was scorned for it.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

And of course, it is manna from heaven for protestors of all types. Think of any major initiative and some group will protest. Examples are HS2, lockdown or a local development project. There is no problem with protesters holding strong and sincere views (though it all too easy for their efforts to be infiltrated by people with other agendas) but when it is at the expense and great inconvenience of others trying to live their often difficult, pressured lives, some restrictions must be applied. I am thinking of ER gluing themselves to key transportation systems or blocking Oxford Circus for a week with the police dissuaded from “kettle-ling them”. I also have concerns of schoolchildren on the streets and missing lessons, although these instances of this seems to have receded. Give the children both sides of the story and perhaps more of them will be stimulated into taking engineering and science at higher levels of education rather than the over-populated subjects of media or business studies.. Excessive Environmentalism will certainly take much pleasure out of our lives and could be harmful to our wellbeing, by going back to the living conveniences of decades ago. Is it not wonderful that a carnivore, the wolf, has been released into the wild in the ultra-environmental State of Oregon? They are now prospering and straying south into California causing some concern in that green, but more populated state. It is all so convenient. DO NOT BAN The only ban that should be in place is the one on landfill. We should follow Sweden and Denmark who have a landfill ban and only put 1% of their waste into landfill. The Greens in Germany will perhaps provide the next Chancellor and were once known as the “party of bans” from which they have distanced themselves. They will have challenges as both nuclear and coal-fired power stations are being phases out. So, rather than politicians trying to change the habits of billions of people by setting blanket bans on www.lancmag.com

what we can drive & what we can burn & how often we can fly & next on what we can eat, it is far easier to invest in Engineering R&D. THE IMPACT OF ENGINEERING RESEARCH I believe that engineering and science are mitigating climate change. The UK is leading the way in decarbonising electricity. But that is relatively easy, given the rapid engineering developments that are reducing the costs of energy generated by solar and wind. Good progress is also being made in changing the fuels used in transport, but there is still a large amount of private investment in legacy vehicles. Electric Vehicles (EV) are not the answer everywhere. Certainly, in surface transportation in less developed, and larger countries, such as the USA, Russia, and Australia where distances are great and installing a comprehensive charging point infrastructure is impractical. It will be costly and challenging even in developed and densely populated countries like the UK. At the present we have 37.200 charging points in 11.000 locations, but 32 million cars on the road. There is no suggestion that changes in fuel will reduce the number of cars. The ambition to have one’s own private means of transport has been constant throughout the human history. But the electricity required for every car park and even street charging point has to be generated. And the fact does remain that there are dull days with little wind, the Germans term them kalte Dunkelflaute, that could restrict the power generated from wind and solar, necessitating energy drawdown from the still under development renewable energy storage plants or a spinning reserve from fossil fuels as nuclear is not suitable for the spinning reserve, although smaller modular units are being researched. The shutting down of nuclear in many countries is a political/ emotional decision, which some may regret. There is much scientific research being made into other sustainable sources of energy, which may result www.lancmag.com

in alternatives for the spinning reserve. Experts on wind generation say correctly that there is always wind blowing somewhere, but that means long transmission lines crossing international borders causing security of supply concerns as there is with the intention of Germany to require themselves to take gas from Russia.

sunspots activity. I totally accept more human activity will have an impact the climate, but the question is how much and how certain. And is it irreversible, or could some climate change be put into reverse by technology?

THE ROLE OF MOTHER NATURE I have doubts on whether man is the only contributor to any Climate Change that may be taking place. Indeed, the IPCC has acknowledged this possibility, that the sun’s activity has some impact. We are not investigating the role of Mother Nature. I read with interest the relative suddenness of the last Ice Age, only 11,000 years ago, which physically separated Britain from the Continent and turned a green Egypt, into a desert. Doggerland is a “lost land” that existed in the present-day North Sea, between England, the Netherlands, and Denmark. Doggerland existed towards the end of the last Ice Age, about 11,000 years ago, when glacial ice in northern Europe had melted but sea levels were still low enough that the area was not flooded as it is today. Sea levels were about 120 m (394 ft) below current levels. Doggerland was a rich habitat in its heyday, a paradise for humans and other animals. Being a low-lying area, it had abundant swampland and water for drinking, and was frequented by many animals. It formed a land bridge from mainland Europe to England.

UK Weather forecasts are rarely better than 80% correct 25 hours ahead, so how can climate predictions 25 years hence be regarded as the basis of immutable polices. Climate Change, manmade or not, should not dictate Energy Generation Policy when the mitigation of carbon outputs, by Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS) and Direct Air Capture (DAC) is possible. The really hard bit will be private housing. Retrofitting poorly insulated homes using gas to heat and cook is a mammoth task, and the Government does not have a comprehensive plan for this. Hydrogen is in the frame for being the “white knight” to replace gas, but it has a much lower energy density than gas, so requires major investment in larger mains and pumps, by whom?. So, I suggest that we must keep our domestic restrictions for climate change in line with the major polluters, the USA, China, and India. Local groups are already beginning to object to multi-acre solar farms and objections that will grow when technicians coming knocking at the door to rip out domestic gas appliances. The UK is just 1% of the world output of Green House Gases (GHG). The latest figures in The Economist, page 16 Feb 20th, 2021 show that China produces 5 times more than the EU27 and the USA over twice as much as the EU. The UK’s CO2 output is puny in comparison.

www.wisegeek.com/ what-is-doggerland.htm An event quite impossible to be caused by man. Mother Nature regularly shows her overwhelming power, volcanoes, tsunamis, and more recently variations in sunspot activity have come into the frame to cause some variations in climate on Earth. I recall picking up an Italian radio station whilst driving on the M5, during a period of intense

As I have noted I have posted 265 messages so far on social media citing examples of mitigations to Climate Change by engineering and science developments. I also send informative emails on Waste to Energy (WtE) and Direct Air Capture (DAC). The former will need to use gas scrubbing and the removal of the CO2 by the now proven CCS techniques. Iceland is constructing a 4,000 Tonne per day DAC plant.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 51

weddings

Petite

Photo Credit: www.veritywestcottphotography.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

his month we spoke to Jane Caterer founder of Petite Weddings, the only UK platform dedicated to elopements and intimate weddings for 2-50 people. By Sarah Ridgway

Photo Credit: www.veritywestcottphotography.com

HOW LONG HAS PETITE WEDDINGS BEEN GOING?

WHAT DOES THE PLATFORM OFFER?

We started Petite Wedding 6 years ago after previously working in investment management as a marketing director. After selling the business, it allowed my husband and I to go off and do something different, we left London for Cornwall and during that time we built Fallen Angel and started Petite Weddings.

Petite Weddings brings together the best small wedding venues and businesses that provide relevant services to couples wanting an intimate wedding. Within those services, we work with wedding planners, photographers, florists, and caterers and many more service providers that share our passion for elopements and intimate weddings. Couples can access this information on our website that’s carefully curated by size of wedding and also by location in the UK. We also have a blog with lots of advice, ideas and tips for couples looking for inspiration.

WHAT’S UNIQUE ABOUT PETITE WEDDINGS? Petite Weddings is the only UK wedding platform focused purely on elopements and intimate weddings and our core market is weddings for 2-50 people, although some of our venues can take a little more than 50. www.lancmag.com

For those that need more of a helping hand or have a particularly complex or ambitious plan, or just don’t know where to start then we

can help and guide to find the right solutions for them. Although a lot of couples can use our services to help them find a venue, we can also help assist with the more non-traditional requests such as kayaking or a boat trip to a remote beach, we can help them plug those gaps to create the day that they want. WHAT AREAS DO YOU COVER? We currently cover Cornwall, Cotswolds, Devon, Midlands, Somerset, Yorkshire Dales, and Scotland. We are talking to businesses across the country and will shortly be opening up East Anglia and Dorset areas on our site. Our ambition is to work with the best 100 venues for small weddings and elopements across the UK. It will never be more than

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 53

this as we are keen to develop long terms relationships with businesses that provide value to all. We are especially keen to work in the Lancashire and Lake District region as we receive high levels of enquiries for this area, yet we have no business partners here just yet. HAVE YOUR BOOKINGS CHANGED THIS YEAR? An estimated 220,000 weddings were postponed in 2020 due to the pandemic. This time last year when lockdown first happened, we saw a jump of about 50% in our website traffic. At that point last year we worked with 16 wedding venues, now we work with 28. Even though we have increased capacity, our venues are fully booked which leaves us with a bit of a problem, so we are constantly seeking the right business partners to work with in areas where we see demand. Finding the right fit for the platform is essential.

WHAT WEDDING TRENDS ARE POPULAR, OR YOU THINK WILL INCREASE IN POPULARITY? Due to the trauma of the lockdown last year a lot of people are telling me this is the perfect opportunity for them to do exactly what they wanted as opposed to what they felt they needed to do. People are walking away from the big weddings and making a smaller wedding a positive choice, rather than it being driven by COVID restrictions. There are many reasons for this ranging from couples seeking a more authentic experience through to some still having concerns about spending life-changing sums of money on a wedding in the current environment and this continues to be a key driver in the wedding market. Equally, we are hearing from lots of couples who are actively choosing to spend more per head and have a Photo Credit: www.veritywestcottphotography.com

really special time, either just as a couple or surrounded by their inner circle of friends and family. We’re seeing wedding styling is more relaxed and fun than ever, e.g. boho wedding dresses, rustic styling and lots of outdoor ceremonies and celebrations. Again, something that may be driven by the austerity of numerous lockdowns. We’re also seeing decadence and luxury woven into plans e.g. long weekend weddings rather than just a wedding day. YOUR BUSINESS SEEMS PERFECT FOR ACCOMMODATING THE RESTRICTIONS OF THE PANDEMIC, HOW WAS LAST YEAR FOR YOU? Actually, it was exceedingly difficult due to most of our venues being fully booked with weddings, we had a whole tsunami of people wanting to explore elopements and smaller weddings, but we just didn’t have the availability. On top of that, we had to stop completely for 4 months in 2020 and 3 months in 2021, so all the businesses we worked with were closed for a third of last year and a quarter of this year. So there has been lots of work helping people replan and rethink their weddings and trying to make something happen at a time when it is possible across the UK. Positively, we have been able to help more couples than ever and the situation has “normalised“ smaller weddings and elopements, which is something we are passionate about! WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE COUPLES WHO ARE WANTING TO GET MARRIED THIS YEAR? Get in quickly. Many wedding venues are already near to capacity in 2022 as well as 2021, so if you want a wedding in the next 18 months, book now to avoid disappointment. Also, consider a winter wedding. They have a natural intimacy about them, and they also have some great practical advantages. Venue hire, accommodation and travel costs can be cheaper and provide better value for money, wedding service providers are less busy so you will

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

Discover the Magic of Intimate Weddings & Elopements

www.petiteweddings.co.uk or contact jane@petiteweddings.co.uk

get more choice and more of their time and energy, local amenities will be less busy, making your wedding stay more enjoyable and a winter wedding offers you the chance to create a truly unique wedding experience, surrounded by those who are dearest to you. HOW IMPORTANT IS BEING AN ETHICAL AND SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS? It has a significant focus, and regarding trends, we have seen that more people are looking at the carbon footprint of their wedding. Smaller weddings help reduce this as it involves fewer people travelling and less waste, vegan menus and more. It is especially important for us that whatever we build needs to be sustainable. We work with a range of venues and businesses who share our sustainability ethos and have great eco-credentials, we even have one venue that’s re-wilding 30 acres of former farm land to create a totally unique wedding venue, whilst helping the planet. Demand in this area has increased as people now are more conscious, not just with their wedding, but across the board which is encouraging.

up there due to how relaxed it is. England is not as relaxed. To have a legal wedding you still must have the registry office before you can have a wedding just anywhere you want, although there are still many stunning intimate wedding venues in England that offer indoor and outdoor weddings in licensed premises to choose from. DO YOU HAVE PLANS TO EXPAND INTO OTHER REGIONS? As I said we have a huge demand for weddings in the Lakes and the Lancashire area, and we receive daily requests for elopements and small weddings. Currently we don’t have any business partners in this area so all I can do is point people in the right direction based on my knowledge and understanding of the area and the options that are generally available. This area ticks a lot of boxes for our couples as it’s

a place of natural beauty and holds special memories for many. There is also a great hospitality sector in the Lake District, so in theory, we should be able to find lots of venues to work with. Due to the pandemic, there seems to be an awful lot of bigger venues that are currently accommodating the smaller weddings, but are not necessarily committed to this model longer term. This is understandable, but we wouldn’t work with these venues because we are all about long term relationships. We’re looking for like-minded businesses who are committed to hosting small weddings and elopements as part of their business plan and as excited about this as we are! E jane@petiteweddings.co.uk WWW.PETITEWEDDINGS.CO.UK Below Photo Credit: www.veritywestcottphotography.com

HOW HAS THE COMPANY GROWN AND EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS? Petite Weddings started 6 years ago with one venue in Cornwall, due to the demand being so high for that venue we expanded and started to seek business partners in Cornwall. As it continued to grow, we moved into other areas of the UK. The business has doubled in size in the last year. Overall the traffic to our site in year one was 10,000 and this year we are tracking it at just below 80,000. So our growth has been accelerated by COVID, but was strong before this too. SOME PEOPLE HAVE A PERCEPTION THAT THE UK IS QUITE LIMITED, WHAT ARE YOUR UNIQUE WEDDING LOCATIONS AND OPTIONS PEOPLE MIGHT NOT BE AWARE WERE AVAILABLE? The UK certainly isn’t limited! In Scotland, you can get married anywhere if the landowner permits you to, so there are some great spots 56

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

Heartbeat and Holby City actor Sophie Ward joins Booker Prize winner Douglas Stuart on Society of Authors literary shortlist Actor and writer Sophie Ward and Booker Prize winner Douglas Stuart are among six writers shortlisted for the 2021 McKitterick Prize.

Sophie Ward - ©Leo Holden

total of 34 authors have been shortlisted by the Society of Authors for five annual awards and a prize fund worth over £100,000. The shortlists also include prize-winning children’s author Kiran Millwood Hargreave, former Scottish gang member turned novelist Graeme Armstrong, lawyer turned children’s author Rashmi Sirdeshpande, Ghanaian Londoner, podcaster and blogger Maame Blue, and 76-year-old debut novelist Elfan Jones. “Successful authors’ careers can and should begin anywhere at any time, regardless of background or age” Ward’s acting career began in the 1970s and has included film, television and stage work. Her debut novel Love and Other Thought Experiments was published in 2020 to critical acclaim and was longlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize. Stuart’s Shuggie Bain went on to win the 2020 Booker Prize and on 13 May this year was announced as winner of the 2021 British Book Awards.

Douglas Stuart - ©Martyn Pickersgill

Karen Raney, The Apparition Phase by Will Maclean, As You Were by Elaine Feeney, and Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line by Deepa Anappara. Nick Rennison said: “The titles on the shortlist vary greatly in subject and setting, from a young Glaswegian’s love for his deeply damaged mother to a teenager’s encounter with the potentially supernatural, from the dark underbelly of an Indian city to middle-class American suburbia. “What unites them all are energy, inventiveness and a commitment to the novel as an endlessly rewarding, and inspiring, literary form.” The McKitterick Prize is one of the nine prizes which make up the Society of Authors’ Awards, worth over £100,000. Each year, the Society of Authors say they aim to “celebrate the transformative power of the written word” and to demonstrate through the Awards that successful authors’ careers can and should begin anywhere at any time, regardless of background or age (the youngest shortlisted writers this year are in their twenties, the oldest in their seventies).

The McKitterick Prize, judged by novelists Sabrina Mahfouz, Nick Rennison and Christopher Tayler, is an annual award from the Society of Authors for debut novelists over 40.

Scottish novelist Graeme Armstrong embodies this more than most. Shortlisted for the Betty Trask Prize and Awards for debut novelists under 35, his novel The Young Team is inspired by Armstrong’s own teenage experience of North Lanarkshire gang culture and addiction. He was inspired to study English Literature after reading Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting at the age of 16 and seeing relatable characters on the page for the first time.

Also in the running for the prize are All the Water in the World by

Armstrong said he was “thrilled” with the unexpected shortlisting,

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

saying, “Working class voices and themes are still viewed by many as not befitting of literary recognition. This goes some way to challenge that and to convince other young people with greatly managed expectations, that they too can achieve dreams they have been told are above their designated station.” Betty Trask Prize judge Vaseem Khan said: “Exploring dark themes with a deftly humorous touch, Armstrong takes us inside lives blighted by drugs, drink, the class barrier and chronic poverty, but never allows us to forget the essential humanity of these unforgettable characters. Comparisons will be made to Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting, but this novel stands on its own two feet.” Armstrong has been shortlisted for the Betty Trask Prize and Awards alongside Bad Love by Maame Blue, The Last Good Man by Thomas McMullan, The Liar’s Dictionary by Eley Williams, The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave, and Nneoma IkeNjoku’s not yet published novel The Water House. Meanwhile, lawyer turned children’s author Rashmi Sirdeshpande has been shortlisted with illustrator Diane Ewen for the Queen’s Knickers Award for their Never Show a T-Rex a Book. The Award, now in its second year, was founded by Nicholas Allan, author of The Queen’s Knickers, for outstanding original illustrated books for children aged seven or under. Sirdeshpande and Ewen’s book is up against The Diddle That Dummed written by Kes Gray and illustrated by Fred Blunt, The Gobbledegook Book written by Joy Cowley and illustrated by Giselle Clarkson, Mr Penguin and the Catastrophic Cruise written and illustrated by Alex T. Smith, The Pirates are Coming! written by John Condon and illustrated by Matt Hunt, and Liftthe-Flap Questions and Answers About Plastic written by Katie Daynes and illustrated by Marie-Eve Tremblay. The winners of all nine Society of Authors’ Awards will be announced on 9 June in an online ceremony introduced by novelist Joanne Harris. A series of free online events themed around the Society of Authors’ Awards, featuring past and present winners and judges, runs from 25 May to 18 June. www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 59

The Pixies

A Magical Story of Pixies and Martians Cooperating to Inprove Lives By Children’s Author, Anna Claire

Anna Claire

ISBN: 978-0-7223-5065-2 | £7.95

s, during recent decades, the world population has become increasingly concerned about flora, fauna and the sustainability of the planet I decided to write a book raising these issues in a way for children to understand and so “The Pixies” came into being!. The pixies began their adventure leaving their home on the moon by sliding down moonbeams to visit planet Earth. They landed with a bump disturbing earth pixies who were resting quietly under the night sky. The moon pixies learnt about the environment and the work of the scientists who thought of ways to assist the people of developing countries and, hopefully, ensure food security.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

Even the bats and moths discussed how they were loosing their homes to developers. Along the way the pixies made new friends and enjoyed playing in Vienna, the surrounding woods and riding high above the streets of Vienna on painted horses. “The Pixies” is my tenth book having previously written, under my former name of Ashton, little books of poetry and children’s stories including a trilogy about the adventures of the forest elves of Scandinavia where I lived for several years. I now live in Fleetwood, Lancashire. The Pixies is available in hardback on major online bookselling sites or from any good boodshop and also in e-book format on all of the major platforms.

www.lancmag.com

Domus houses a mixture of beautiful hand-selected furniture, lighting, mirrors, wallpaper, accessories and soft furnishings alongside carpets, wooden flooring, laminates and vinyl flooring. Most of our upholstery is hand made in the UK mixed with some lovely ready made pieces. 21 PRINCES CRESCENT BARE, MORECAMBE LA4 6BY info@domusbydesign.co.uk | 01524 417300 | www.domusbydesign.co.uk

paint we supply is made to order in Norfolk & more often than not is with me by the next day. I have seen a definite shift in people wanting to spend more & get better quality as opposed to the disposable eras of the 90’s & 00’s, where people bought cheaper and threw away more. So, I am there to cater for the people that are thinking well, you know what, I’m just going to do things a little bit differently. Without exception, I only bring items into the shop that I have handpicked. This includes the fabrics & wallpapers that we have in the Studio too. It is time consuming but it ensures we keep true to our vision. TELL US ABOUT THE DESIGN SERVICE

TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF AND DOMUS For as long as I can remember I’ve always had a passion for interior design and all things related to that. My parents were far ahead of the times and I was used to living in homes where there was always a renovation project or at least a refurbishment going on in some way or another. Then, when my husband and I met we renovated & refurbished a couple of homes ourselves. For many years I worked with clients from home, mainly supplying bespoke window treatments and room styling advice. Then finally, I got to the point where I decided it was time to follow my heart and that was when I opened Domus in 2016. Domus is a Latin word meaning House, Home, Residence. Hence the tag line. As you can see from the old photograph my father had an Interiors Business with the same name back in the 70’s, so when we were rebranding 62

our businesses (prior to opening on Princes Crescent) it made sense to reconnect with that & resurrect the name. Domus caters for the mid to highend market. It was important to me to create a unique environment which showcases what we do. The showroom houses a mixture of beautiful hand-selected furniture, lighting, mirrors, accessories and soft furnishings. All our curtains are hand made to measure & most of the upholstery we offer is hand made in the UK too. Although, we have some lovely ‘ready-made’ pieces as well.

The initial consultation is done in the client’s home where we work through a questionnaire & look at what needs to be done. We consider items that are worth keeping in the room(s) & things that the client particularly likes or doesn’t like. I collate all this and produce a mood board which I present on a beautiful acrylic tray, this can include wallpaper, paint and fabric samples for your cushions and your drapery, flooring & furniture, art work - it all depends on the brief. The client can also arrange an appointment to come to the studio and view our fabrics and wallpapers & designer paint.

As I only have a small Showroom I am very selective about what I bring in and am lucky to deal with a host of wonderful suppliers. I work with several family-owned companies including a wallpaper company that prints everything in Lancashire. Another local company I work with produces gorgeous digitally printed velvet & wool to order & the designer

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

I enjoy creating and thinking outside the box, I also love making people happy, by helping them to achieve what they really want rather than what they think they should have. It is all about daring to be yourself and creating a home you love rather than just something that you’ve copied from a magazine. Money is always a tricky issue isn’t it, but a budget is important. It helps to establish what is realistic and achievable, as it needs to work for the client and it needs to work for me. So, it doesn’t matter whether you’ve got a budget of £1,500 or £15,000 if I know what I’m working with I can adapt and work to my best potential. When we are working with our client’s we recommend tradesman and we can also project manage if required. Our other company Domus Flooring which specialises in carpets, laminates, vinyls & LVT has now merged with Domus so we advise there too. Regarding a timescale, we are a small person to person-based business, so it all depends on how

www.lancmag.com

busy we are at any given time. My husband Harry has got more & more involved over the last six years and I defer to him regarding the practical side of things. He is an integral part of the business. HOW HAS DOMUS EVOLVED? The Interior Design & Styling Service has grown significantly. I think it’s all about taking the mystique out having an Interior Designer. I like to think I’m making it accessible to people. Paying a fee for a design service isn’t silly, it’s a brilliant way to get things right & can help to avoid potentially making costly mistakes. Each commission is different, every home I go to is different and every client I work with is different and I treat them as such. I have also learnt a great deal on the job and my confidence in my ability has grown. I know that I am good at what I do. I guess over the last few years we’ve put a lot of meat onto the bones with the business in general. There is a lot more substance to the business and are just in the process of seriously considering

adding a new team member to help in the Showroom & with the social media. Harry and I are delighted to be back up and running again and are receiving lots of inquiries. It’s been a difficult time for everyone hasn’t it but people are choosing to invest in their homes again. Domus trades on reputation and recommendations, our clients and customers are genuinely important to us and we are excited about the future of our business.

info@domusbydesign.co.uk 01524 417300 | www. domusbydesign.co.uk

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 63

CREWE A ‘RAILWAY TOWN’ By Mark Bateman

Crewe is a ‘railway town’ and civil parish in Cheshire East located about twenty five miles south of Manchester City Centre. Not much is known about the early origins of Crewe although it is believed that the name of the town comes from the old Welsh word, ‘criu’ meaning a ‘weir’ or ‘crossing.’ The first recorded mention of it comes in the 1086 Domesday Book ordered by William the Conqueror.

ntil the arrival of the railway Crewe was a small agricultural village with a tiny population of roughly seventy people. But then in the late 1830’s Grand Junction Railway chose Crewe at the site for its locomotive works and railway station. Workers flooded into the new yards firstly from the old works at Edge Hill. The men brought their wives and children with them boosting the population by over eight hundred people. In order to house these workers the railway company built over two hundred cottages, as well as chapels, churches and shops to serve them. Some of these houses still survive to this day. There are grade II listed cottages in Betley, Dorfold, Tolitt and Victoria Streets as well as a manager’s house on Delamere Street. The company seemed to have a progressive attitude towards staff welfare and provided a doctor’s surgery and a company health

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

insurance scheme. They also built a gas works, provided drinking water and a public baths. In 1843 the engineer Joseph Locke officially founded the town of Crewe next to the railway station in the old area of Monks Coppenhall. By 1871 the population had reached around forty thousand people. Meanwhile back at the engineering works, the first locomotive made at the site, ‘Tamerline’ went into service in 1843. The works grew quickly with further sites being opened while the Crewe site continued to produce the boilers and other engineered parts for the locomotives. By 1848 the site employed over one thousand workers and produced one locomotive a week. Crewe rapidly became an important railway junction as well as engineering works. Lines from Birmingham and the South ran through it and on to rapidly growing industrial centres including, Chester, Manchester and Liverpool. www.lancmag.com

The Crewe site continued to ramp up production and by 1853 Crewe was also making its own wrought iron to construct rails. This was expanded further when in 1864 they started to manufacture their own steel and by 1868 they were the first locomotive works to use open hearth furnaces to produce their steel on a huge industrial scheme. At the height of its productivity the site employed around twenty thousand people. Production at the site increased so much that when the works sold ten 2-4-0 engines and eighty six 0-6-0 locomotives to the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway privately owned manufacturers took out an injunction in 1876 to stop the yard producing anything other than what it required to meet its own needs. In its bid to provide a relaxing environment for its workers in 1887 the railway engineer Francis Webb, the Mayor of Crewe and the garden designer Edward Kemp built a park as a place for relaxation and recreation for the workers. There were, however, rumours that it had been built purely to prevent the proposed Great Western Railway line proposed to run across the site.

Next came an improved version of the ‘Princess;’ known as the ‘Jubilees’, of which one hundred and ninety one locomotives were built between 1934- 1936. Unfortunately, the success of the locomotive yard and the presence in Crewe of the Rolls Royce engineering firm meant that the town became a target for German bombers during World War II. Crewe lost thirty five civilians to bombing raids including a terrible night on 29th August 1940 when around fifty houses were destroyed. After the war, the site continued to grow, and evolve, and from 1959 they began to produce the new diesel locomotives with the first one being the D5030 and the last one being the class 56 which was last produced in 1984. Alongside this Crewe helped produce electrical locomotives until 1991. Production at the site decreased gradually and much of the Crewe works were cleared in a major redevelopment in the 1980s with parts of the site now occupied by a supermarket, a leisure park and a health centre. However, the importance of the site to the town is now commemorated in the popular Railway Heritage museum.

The park featured a Victorian clock tower, a man made waterfall and fountains. It also included monuments to soldiers killed in the Boer War and later to those killed in the first world war. As well as this it was to become home to ‘Verdun trees’ which were trees grown as memorials from acorns and chestnuts sent back from the battle at Verdun (France 1916).

The Crewe Heritage Centre is located on the site of the original Crewe Locomotive Works. It was officially opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, on 24th July 1987 to mark the 150th anniversary of the first train to arrive at Crewe Railway Station in 1837.

These days the park is still popular with local residents as it features the largest lake in the area which is popular for boating on. In 2014 a multi-million pound renovation took place which as well as the restoration of bridges and pathways included a new children’s playground, a café and a bowls pavilion.

Originally forming part of the Crewe Heritage Festival which was an eight week-long event with activities and celebrations taking place all over the town of Crewe, members of the public were also invited to visit the historic Locomotive Works and see how railway locomotives were constructed and maintained by British Rail.

To return to the railway yard, in 1932 William Stainer the chief mechanical engineer for the London, Midland and Scottish Railway was tasked with finding longer trains and more powerful locomotives to pull them, this was due to an ongoing increase in passenger numbers. Stainer turned to Crewe where they continued to produce bigger and better locomotives. To meet his demand the site was involved in the construction of twelve of the ‘Princess Royal Class’ trains between 1933- 1935 for use on the West Coast main line.

After a successful festival, Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council decided to open the Heritage Centre again in 1988. The Heritage Centre’s popularity grew, and it continued to attract visitors from all over the United Kingdom and even the world. In 1989 Crewe Heritage Trust took over the running of the museum and continue to run it today. After the pandemic problems, the site will be re-opening in July offering a fascinating insight into a town built on the success of the railways.

www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 65

Lightweight Roofing Solutions Ltd is a family run firm that believes quality craftsmanship should be available at an affordable cost. Every replacement conservatory roof that we install is individually designed and tailored to suit your property and your needs.

he whole team at Lightweight Roofing Solutions Ltd in Lancashire and Greater Manchester are experts in providing owners of tired and energy inefficient conservatories with a radical solution to extreme temperature fluctuations.

With bases in the North West and South West of England along with coverage for the Midlands and North & South Wales, we are leading experts in the lightweight replacement roof sector, specialising in the SupaLite roof, the most advanced and comprehensive roof on the market for conservatory replacement roofs.

ALL SERVICES IN ONE PLACE

We have recently completed some fabulous installations in Lancaster, Garstang, Fylde, Preston, Lytham, Blackburn, Bolton, Wigan, Liverpool, Greater Manchester and Cheshire. We can show you examples of our designs or can arrange for testimonials or references from our overjoyed homeowners.

Years of research and constant product development along with investment in the latest machinery ensure only the highest quality roofs.

Dedicated Professional Design Service Our team of professional designers tailor make every SupaLite roof to ensure the perfect accompaniment to your home. Quality Performance Engineering

Advice, Support & Guarantees We are always more than happy to help and discuss any concerns, queries or questions that you may have. Please give our offices a call where our friendly team will be on hand. SUPALITE ROOF A SupaLite Roof is the premium choice when it comes to lightweight conservatory replacement roof. Each one is individually designed and manufactured in a state of the art factory to guarantee a perfect fit for your perfect room. When you specify a SupaLite Roof, you will benefit from in depth research and enormous

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

LIGHTWEIGHT Roofing Solutions Ltd

BEFORE

AFTER

Fully insulated U Value 0.18 Aluminium framed SupaLite system Choice of tiles Vaulted ceilings Plastered finish Lighting options 3/4 days fitting Building Regulations

Compliant JHAI LIGHTWEIGHT Roofing Solutions Ltd

www.lightweightroofingsolutions.co.uk Email: lightweightroofingsolutions@gmail.com

investments that have arrived at the perfect replacement roof for your conservatory.

Every SupaLite roof is tailor made for each individual conservatory. Precision surveyed and factory made ensuring a perfect fit to every size and configuration of roof. CONSERVATORY ROOF SYSTEM

The SupaLite roof has undergone exhaustive testing, design and re-design to arrive at a product for every conservatory roof design and configuration. With changes to Building Regulations in September 2010 it is now possible to specify a tiled, solid and lightweight roof for your conservatory. Our aim is to ensure that you specify the correct solution for your conservatory and do not breach Building Regulations by choosing the wrong roof or modifications to your existing roof that will not meet Building Regulations and will therefore be potentially unsafe and be a waste of your time and money.

BENEFITS:

The SupaLite Roof System has been designed to be installed as a retro fit onto existing conservatory window frames, converting your conservatory into a usable all year round sunporch. If you have an existing conservatory, you will probably agree that it is too hot in summer and very cold in the winter. By installing a SupaLite Roof, with an Incredible U-Value of up to 0.18, you will never experience these extreme temperature changes ever again!

High Performance - An incredible U-Value of 0.18 is achievable which exceeds all current building regulation requirements; Building Regulations Compliant Every SupaLite roof is fully compliant with Building Control Certification for complete piece of mind; Guaranteed - 10 Year Guarantee on SupaLite Roof components with a life expectancy of 60 years on ExtraLight tiles; Tried and Tested - Aluminium structural core designed to take the stress away from existing frames.

Our knowledge and expertise allows us to carefully consider each individual roof or situation and custom design the perfect engineered lightweight replacement roof for your home and family. Insist on the best, insist on a SupaLite tiled roof, a tried and tested replacement roof which carries full JHAI type approval. SupaLite gives an incredible u-value of 0.18 and complies with all building regulations.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

SUPALITE ORANGERIES

INTERIORS

Introduce a little luxury indulgence in to your home with an orangery or glazed panels.

From interior LED lighting to decorative roof bars, we have the perfect interior for your family.

CUSTOMERS REVIEWS “I’m delighted with my new conservatory. From initial booking phone-call to job completion was five weeks, the removing of the roof to building a new roof and plastering took 5-6 days. All of the workmen involved turned up early, worked very hard, they were professional, polite, and worked as a team, each workman stepping in to do their job as and when their colleague finished; there was no waiting around for workmen to turn up. I would highly recommend this company. They’re experts at what they do, they just come to work, get on with the job and go home.” Pete Beech - Preston

PITCHED ROOF ORANGERY The ultimate luxury addition to any conservatory or extension. Our unique vaulted orangery creates space and grandeur.

LIGHTING Our unique soffit feature allows you to install exterior LED lighting for stunning results.

SKYVISTA GLASS PANEL Introducing the NEW SkyVista panel. Capture the light by replacing any one or more roof sections with a thermal glass panel.

ROOF VENTS Beautiful state-of-the-art roof vents can be installed in a range of sizes. Even opt for remote operation.

“The installation engineers have recently completed the installation of our new Lightweight conservatory roof. We are extremely delighted with the professional service throughout. The installation team of Steve & Craig were very efficient, extremely tidy & hard working, even when the temperature was well below zero most days they did the installation. Paul the plasterer complete the interior work to a very high standard and left the conservatory in a clean tidy state. We are very please with the final results and would highly recommend Lightweight Roofing Solutions to anyone, we put this work off for several years but now wish we hadn’t waited so long.” Gregory Bolton - Leyland “I am absolutely delighted with my lovely transformed conservatory. Going to call it my `garden room` from now on. It no longer feels chilly when the sun goes down, making it far more likely to use into the evenings. The standard of work is excellent. My special thanks to the lovely blokes who worked through deluges and hail storms to leave my house waterproof. Dedication. Once we are able to have the family round I shall be proud to show it off - and recommend.” Jean Finney - Widnes

LOCATIONS: North West England North Wales South West England South Wales Derbyshire & Nottinghamshire OUR HOURS: 9:00 AM – 5.00 PM Monday – Friday 9:00 AM – 12.00 NOON Saturday

FINISHING TOUCHES Our roofing system is compatible with a whole range of options and finishing touches to create your perfect space. www.lancmag.com

CONTACT US: N 0333 456 5776 E lightweightroofingsolutions@gmail.com D lightweightroofingsolutions.co.uk LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 69

Council Tax Reform By Norman Harris

INTRODUCTION In the recent Local Elections, the percentage turnout was in general in the 40s. Apathy is the worst enemy of a democracy. Also, there was considerable clamour from many quarters for more devolution. This essay explores these two issues. The clamour for regional devolution, which may be a good thing. But those who wish for it should recognise that it would suit this Government, which is a low tax party by nature, and faced with a massive deficit to devolve more revenue generation for local services. Central government would fund the glamourous, large, infrastructure projects. The route to more local funding should be the reform of Council Tax to be levied on the area of the land controlled by its owner and the use to which it is put. I favour the principle that more of what is spent locally should be decided and raised by local taxation. This has the advantage of stimulating the interest in local governance. Demands for more or different services can be put directly by local authorities to voters (or the reverse) and agreed or otherwise by the voters and local Council. Essential spending on Education, Health and Social Care would be under-pinned, as now, by Legislation. It is time to explore this, as the trend of central government policy, for reasons of ideology and to reduce their deficit, is to reduce the amount of financial support that they provide to local government. With the budget deficit as high as it is the cuts in local government support could be increasingly painful. This paper covers the replacement of Council Tax and Business Rates. I favour a tax based on the area of land controlled by the owner, rather Local Income Taxes. Local Sales Taxes would be counterproductive, as it would drive buyers and potentially business over a border to a lower tax regime. As was seen on the island of Ireland. 70

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

This land area basis is fairer, as there is no subjective judgement of land value, just the area owned, which will leave little room for debate. The change should produce more local voter interest in the policies and decisions of their local councils. It will also release land for home building or other uses and make lease holding less attractive. Regrettably at this time of pandemic and the recovery from it, potential savings of Income and other Central Government taxes will go to reducing the large buildup of UK Government debt. So, the populace will not be paying less income tax, when called upon, in many instances, to pay more local tax. But in time this should reverse. THE ADVANTAGES The advantages of the reform are: • It frees up underutilised land for housing or other desired uses. • It forces badly used land back into line with local community wishes. • It encourages community living. • It encourages high rise living. • It allows Councils to encourage/discourage types of land use. • It makes it more likely that local communities will engage more with their Councils. • Councils and their voters can, over time, shape their area. THE PROPOSITION The reform of local Council Tax suggested is based upon LAND AREA. People or corporate entities controlling the use of a specific area of land should pay for that privilege. It is important that there is little room to for argument about the area of land controlled by the owner of the land. www.lancmag.com

SALE

up to

Opulence Bed

from £449.99

25% off

Cotton Motion Bed

Opulence Bedframe from £399

Adjustable Beds from £699

Now open as normal and ou r deliverie s

The Mill, Cottam Street, Chorley, Lancashire, PR7 2DT sleepyhollowbedroomcentre@gmail.com

01257 265793

Our shop is following the government guidelines regarding social distancing, with a one way system in place, and hand sanitiser stations in use.

THE MECHANICS All local authorities have jurisdiction over an area of land. One of the characteristics that they have in common. The first step is to calculate the area of land in their control. No exclusions for say Defence Estates or Crown Lands should be made, as an objective of this reform is to free up all underutilised or badly used land. You see below that this multiplicand is open allowing the local authority to attract or deter Central Government and any other facilities that do not fit in with their long-term goals. The next step is to determine the desired revenue budget. The simple division of desired budget and area of land provides the Basic Rate of Tax per square metre. The person (or persons when in community living) or corporate entity controlling the use of the land would be liable for this rate. There are refinements that should be made. A scale of multipliers could be applied. The suggested scale of multipliers is as follows, although local authorities would be free to vary it. LAND USER CLASS

MULTIPLICAND

which their building stands on. But that is not nearly as important as the ability to drive out land usage which is not in line with the needs of the locality. Say a scrapyard or waste dump in the middle of a residential area. Cases of which have figured in the news. Leaving empty or letting the house of garden fall into disrepair would also increase the multiplier factor on a temporary basis until the property was put back into use and good order. Central Government should decide and define the Classes of Usage. But local governments would be free to apply the multiplicand that they think suits their area, but in a totally transparent way.. APPEALS PROCESSES Appeals about the land classification would be handled by national governments and thus refine the classifications. For example, rail stations on the rail corridor would be at zero, but major hubs would be considered a Business. Shops or cafes sited on say, a National Trust parkland would still be classed as an amenity, the basis of this being that 90% of the classification area is the governing class. On a similar 90% basis, parking lots intended for the use of an office block or a factory would be classed as Business and Industry, respectively.

Transport Corridors + Footpaths

Nature Reserves

0,1

Agriculture & Horticulture

0.2

Amenity & Parks

0,2

Health & Care Homes

0,2

Retail Business

0.3

Appeals against the assessment of property area will handled by locally based Chartered Surveyors. In the case of all appeals, the settlement would be back dated to the original date of the appeal.

Indoor & Outdoor Sport

0.5

AND SAFEGUARDS

Domestic Housing

1,0

Central Government/Defence

Non-Retail Business

1.5

Warehouse

2.0

Transport Hubs & Airports

2.0

Non-Polluting Industry

3.0

Polluting Industry

4.0

A more penal category is suggested. Where land is underutilised, dilapidated or the land use is out of character with its surrounding area would have a multiplicand of 5.0 or even more applied. This would drive controllers of land to bring the land up to the required standard or into release to new owners or allow it to revert back to nature. It would also remove the need for Compulsory Purchase Orders, as the multiplicand is progressively increased from 5. In an earlier draft I considered a parameter based on the distance from a local development centre. This was rejected as it brings in a judgement call of the value of distance form a centre. Poor use of land in a City/Town Centre can be dealt with by a penal multiplicand. The reform would also encourage building higher. There is nothing wrong with this is the designs are to the highest standards. One can see that flats would pay less as multiple owners share in the control of the land on 72

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

Greater refinement of suggested definitions will be required in many cases.

There has to be safeguards in such a reform. This would be that no person or entity pays more twice the rate of inflation of their latest annual Council/Local Tax Demand. This could be time limited to say, 5 years in order that the benefit of improved land use could start to be realised. Similarly, Central Government must be constrained not to reduce their grants to any local authority by more than the rate of inflation in any year compared to the previous year. Government must also ensure that the Statutory requirements required of local authorities continue to be covered and if not they risk being put into “special measures”. Homeowners with large gardens will be able to release the land for development subject to Planning Approval. Small gardens are not likely to have any development value, so owners will not be able to avoid the tax if the land cannot be sold. MORE ON TRANSPORT Land dedicated to transport is fully covered in this pass at the policy. But rail marshalling yards and large areas of parking will need further consideration. These functions probably control some underutilised land. There is a potential issue with this land could be narrow, possible tapering strips that may only have utility in reverting back to nature. www.lancmag.com

stablished in 2019 Tyron Ash Real Estate is now the leader of the UK real estate revolution. With innovation in our hearts and motivation in our minds, we unite the connoisseurs of life with their aspirations through prestigious real estate, and a deeply connected network of only the most exceptional buyers. With a worldwide collection of top brokers representing the finest luxury properties across the UK, we’re dedicated to those who are in the real estate market, and are always open to discovering new trends and interior solutions. Whether you’re looking for a luxurious suite in the busy streets in a central location, a mansion tucked away into the glorious nature of Lancashire, or even a penthouse in a modern city, Tyron Ash has the largest selection of luxurious homes to offer in the most chic and renowned places in the UK.

SARAH JANE LANGTON NORTH WEST DIVISION TYRON ASH REAL ESTATE

N 07577 740 473 E sarahjane.langton@tyronash.com I @tyronash_realestate I @sarahjanelangton_realestate D www.tyronash.com

Daisies Furniture Designs by Abbey Nugent By Sarah Ridgway

We caught up with Abbey from Daisies Furniture Designs who is transforming old and tired pieces of furniture into stunning showpieces with her unique style and designs. FIRSTLY, TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF? I live with my seven-year-old son in a little village in Lancashire called Clifton, I have lived here for four years and really like being somewhere rural with access to the city when needed. WHERE AND HOW DID YOU LEARN YOUR CRAFT? It began as a hobby from home three and a half years ago. I am all self-taught and started out by watching online tutorials and speaking with other furniture professionals. I also do upholstery which again is self-taught, and I have booked to do an advanced course in September. HOW LONG HAS DAISIES FURNITURE DESIGNS BY ABBEY NUGENT BEEN UP AND RUNNING? I officially registered the business at the end of last year after building it up from scratch. I started out doing a lot of my work in the garden which is full of daisies so that was the inspiration for the name. A lot of my business comes through my Instagram so the focus now is to continue being as active as I can on social media to reach a bigger audience. Also, reputation is important, and I am very reliable, approachable and friendly and I always try and go the extra mile for clients. AT WHAT STAGE DID YOU THINK WHAT YOU WERE DOING HAD THE POTENTIAL TO BE A BUSINESS? In the beginning, I was selling refurbished furniture and was getting really good feedback. People then started to approach me wanting similar pieces for their homes and asking would I be able to do something like that for them. As my reputation grew, I started to get a lot more clients through word of mouth. 74

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO USE A PROFESSIONAL REFURBISHING SERVICE AS OPPOSED TO PEOPLE JUST GIVING IT A BASH THEMSELVES? By being self-taught I am very aware of the mistakes that can easily be made and through experience I know the exact products that need to be used. Common mistakes include not prepping the furniture properly, not stripping it down enough, so old paints and products are still on the furniture, also buying the wrong topcoat or not applying it correctly is often done. BEING A WORKING MUM HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED YOUR BUSINESS AND PRODUCTIVITY? I would say it has been a really good advantage for me as last year being furloughed from my part-time job allowed me to focus all my time and effort on the furniture. I also www.lancmag.com

Daisies Furniture is here to help!

Do you have that old piece of furniture and you just don’t know what to do with it, yet you can’t bring yourself to part with it?...

Let’s restore that beloved piece and give it a new lease of life!!

hatever your style or colour choice, were here to restore that particular piece or even help you look for something completely new! My passion is to help you achieve your perfect space, whether its advice on furniture styles, colour schemes or restoration work being carried out on those much loved pieces. FURNITURE LARGE OR SMALL FOR YOUR HOME, OFFICE OR SHOP.

Client Feedback All the work Abbey has done with our furniture is always to a very high standard with time and care spent on every detail. Thank you.

- Michael and Gemma Rafferty

Client Feedback Thanks Abbey at Daisies Furniture, i have just purchased a beautiful dressing table for my daughter. Abbey was lovely and communication was great. The dressing table was wrapped for us to ensure safe transit and great aftercare advice given to preserve the beauty of the dressing table. Will be highly recommending you to friends and family and will be happy to use Daisies Furniture Designs again in the future.

- Jessica Davies

Daisies Furniture Designs Est 2017. Based in Clifton, Lancashire, also offering the option of a personal visit to your home or workspace. Collection and delivery of furniture can also be arranged.

N 07718 235 751 | E abbey.nugent@outlook.com DAISIES FURNITURE DESIGNS | CLIFTON | LANCASHIRE

used this as an opportunity to build the website and grow my audience on social media and most importantly I had the time to get more jobs booked in my diary. I did find the homeschooling hard at first, but we got into a routine by getting it done and dusted leaving the rest of the day for us to do other things. My son is used to me being busy on a job and he is really good and patient about it, he also helps sometimes by carrying things which is lovely.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE BEST PIECE OF BUSINESS ADVICE YOU WERE GIVEN OR HAD TO LEARN ALONG THE WAY? To build yourself up as a business you need to put the extra time and effort into it, and I have had to work extremely hard and often work late into the evenings. Being active on social media and having a website is also especially important to reach a bigger audience. I have also adapted my prices as in the beginning, I was doing things for friends and not charging as much as I should. I was working hard, and people kept telling me to charge more, I think it took me time to realise what the work was worth. I now know more about pricing, for example, estimating how long jobs will take, the spend on products and factoring in mileage charges so I am no longer underselling and making more profit as a result.

put the time in and gaining experience is also very important. Be prepared to put some of your own money into the business to get it up and running this can be hard at first but with the return, it pays off. YOUR BUSINESS IS REFURBISHING WHAT PEOPLE ALREADY HAVE, IS BEING ETHICAL AND SUSTAINABLE IMPORTANT TO YOU? Yes definitely, if you can re-use something instead of going out and

SO, WHAT IS THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE TO SOMEONE THINKING OF STARTING A BUSINESS? Be patient with it, it is not going to happen straight away. You will need to 76

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

spending a lot of money, then try and use what you already have and enhance and transform it. I love working with unique vintage pieces as they tell a story and come with history. Unfortunately, there is a lot of furniture on the market that is massproduced and not as high quality as the older pieces which were built to last. I easily fall in love with vintage pieces, their old smells, scratches, and nicks give them character making them unique. If you want something to stand out and impress, then it is worth getting a second-hand piece and having it restored to your taste.

I NOTICED YOUR USE OF STRIPES, IS THIS ONE OF YOUR SIGNATURE STYLES? I always loved art and it was my favourite subject at school, I was always drawing as a child and remember entering a few colouring competitions and winning a couple of them. I then went on to do graphic design at college and this comes through into my sketches and designs. I am also very much about bespoke and unique furniture that you can’t just go into a shop and buy, it is all about putting my stamp on things while also meeting the brief from the client and making sure they are happy with everything. HOW HAVE YOU BEEN MARKETING YOUR BUSINESS AND WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND TO BE EFFECTIVE? I have an Etsy shop and I put things on Facebook Marketplace, Shpock and eBay. I have also learned with these sites that when you are patient, the right customer will come along. I also attract clients of a similar age to myself as it is more on-trend to have bespoke pieces. Social media has been a huge help and have had a lot of clients come through there. I am trying to post and be as active as I can on social media, and I have started doing community loops to get further engagement. I also make the effort to engage with the people who like my posts as people want to see and interact with someone real and not just sat behind a screen, I want to connect with my community as it is important. www.lancmag.com

WHAT IS YOUR PLAN FOR THE BUSINESS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS? My goal is to have this as my fulltime job as I love doing it so much. I was getting to a point in my life where I was ready for a change and fell in love with furniture and interiors, so I want to push my business as much as I can to break further into the industry. I also want to get a workshop in the garden so I can separate work from home life and of course have more space. In the future, my goal would like to have my own shop and also run courses and workshops from it. It would be nice to stay rural and close to home as people will travel and I don’t want to be on a generic high street. WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON NOW? I am currently working on transforming a Victorian floral garden set. It was lime green originally and I am in the process of stripping it back which is taking time due to the design and age of the piece. The client wants it painted a minty green I am planning to put a gliding colour on there to make the florals really pop, it is too pretty to just mask with paint it needs a bit of love putting back into it. The client found me in the village, so reputation and word of mouth is definitely helping.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 77

Ask Miles Consult & Construct... A DEDICATED COLUMN FOR ALL YOU DIY LOVERS AND PROFESSIONALS WITHIN THE CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN INDUSTRY

Buying an Unfinished Property - PROS AND CONS

hope everyone is in the best of health and have been keeping safe. We have finally experienced some beautiful weather and the barbeques have been out. Unfortunately, we still haven’t still managed to all get away for a holiday. Let’s hope we can all get away for a break somewhere this summer! As promised, this month I will be writing about pros and cons of buying an unfinished property. Some of you may ask the question, “Is it even worth considering?” Yes, it is… Especially with the current pandemic, there have been a lot of companies that have gone into liquidation and they haven’t been able to complete projects, forcing them to sell on properties that haven’t yet been completed. A lot owners have lost their jobs, forcing them to sell up their properties and downsize. Sabiha… This article is dedicated to you! WHAT DO YOU NEED TO CONSIDER? Purchasing an unfinished home can be daunting for the majority, especially if the buyer has little experience in buying and selling properties. It is especially important to do your research, ask the right questions and do not be impulsive.

1. Building certificates and insurance Who is the designer, i.e., the registered architect, architectural technologist or engineer who designed the house and oversaw the building stages? What is his/her contract? Has s/he Professional Indemnity (PI) Insurance and does it cover the build to date and to completion? What certificates have been issued? You will need an undertaking from the architect/ builder/owner that Building Regulations have been complied with so far. What insurances are in place if any, and can they be transferred to you? 2. Warranties Get and check structural warranty and warranties for any specialist items installed, e.g., solar panels; are these transferrable? Get contact details of main tradesmen and query their warranties. Check the builder’s warranty and if it too is transferable. 3. Local Council Permits and Approvals Planning Permission details: check that these have been complied with, also anything that might be a problem in the future. Watch out for things like visibility splay requirements. Also check what’s happening round about in terms of future development. Check for wastewater and sewage permissions. Check for necessary

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

road opening licenses, etc. Check for agreements regarding connections to the electricity, water and sewage networks where required. 4. Do your Research Remember, the home may be unfinished because the current owners were unable to obtain proper planning permission or perhaps proceeded without permission and were shut down. Therefore, check and research why the current owner is selling up and moving on. 5. Have the Building Inspected If you plan to finish the existing property as per the existing plans, it is essential you consult with the existing design team before progressing the team. It is advisable to stick with the same team, to avoid abortive costs. Everyone will have their own opinion and it may end up that you repeat any unnecessary work. You should have an independent surveyor inspect the building, including foundations, before the purchase. Get the full working drawings from the builder. If first fix electrics or plumbing has been completed, obtain the name of the contractor, and contact them to complete the job as it’s better to get the same person to do the rest of the work. Many builders do not want to take up where someone else has left off and www.lancmag.com

may charge a premium to do so. The best plan is to get one or two builders to quote for the job before signing the purchase agreement. 6. Why are they selling up? Anything from shoddy workmanship, or poorly designed plans could be a reason for a current builder or homeowner to abandon their project. 7. Be Prepared for Harder Financing Many banks are hesitant to offer full financing for an unfinished home. The value of the property is devalued, and they are at a greater risk during a resale should you default on the mortgage. Without a substantial down payment, most first-time home buyers will be unable to obtain financing for both the sale price and the building costs of an unfinished home. 8. What will Mortgage Lenders ask for? Even previous homeowners with good credit will need to provide: • Full building plans • A programme of works outlining the completion dates • Estimated budgets • Evidence of planning and building regulation approvals

www.lancmag.com

• Most banks will expect for there to be a living room, bedroom, and other rooms finished. If the home is lacking quite a bit in terms of being unfinished, most banks won’t give you a mortgage. 9. Design Changes and Saving money If the home you are looking at has plans for a garage, you can save thousands if you decide not to go with the garage. On the other hand, if there is another attached room that is planned to go onto the house, you can save just as much if you decide to forgo it. There are always ways that you can save money just by looking at the plans. Unfinished homes may have other planned on additions as well, in which you can save a lot of money just by leaving them out. As most of us already know, buying an unfinished home provides an excellent way to get into the housing market and get your very own home.

Unfinished homes also allow potential buyers the chance to grow into their home along with their family. If you are interested in saving money, you should be sure to talk to the builder. This way, you can go over the plans and decide what does not need to be there. In most cases you can save a lot of money and still get a home that will provide years and years of memories for yourself and your entire family. If you have anything specific you want me to talk about or have any other queries, then get in touch and I will address them in my future columns. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL

10. VAT Watch out for properties that are liable for VAT, you might think you’re getting great deal until you add the tax to the price. 11. The Deeds Check the title to the property - it must be registered with the Land Registry. Check you have complete possession and that no one has any claims on any part of the build or site or materials.

OR SEND AN EMAIL TO: sajedah@milescc.co.uk www.milescc.co.uk +44 (0) 1772 759345 +44 (0) 75810 14867 FOLLOW US ON: N +44 (0) 75810 14867 I @milescc2021 F Sajedah Maka-Ismail T @milescc2021 L Sajedah Maka-Ismail

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 79

Frodsham U-9S Football Team Boosted by Redrow Kit Sponsorship FRODSHAM Junior Football Club’s U9s teams have kicked off their return to matches post-lockdown in style after scoring new kit from homebuilder Redrow.

Left: A Frodsham JFC player in the new kit

The club is benefitting from a £1,000 sponsorship deal with Daresbury-based Redrow NW, responsible for new homes across Cheshire, parts of Merseyside and North Wales. Redrow’s Cheshire developments include Hartford Grange, in Hartford, Ledsham Garden Village and Kings Moat Garden Village, in Chester, and it will soon be launching a brand new garden village alongside its regional offices in Daresbury. Frodsham JFC agreed an exciting new deal with a local kit supplier which has seen the creation of a brand-new, bespoke kit, with the final shirt design being chosen by Club members. Eventually, all the teams at Frodsham JFC will wear the same style kit and, thanks to Redrow’s sponsorship, players in two under-9 teams are the first to model the new style. Frodsham Juniors is one of the largest junior football clubs in the Cheshire FA with 27 teams from under 7s through to under 18s. The Club has over 450 registered players and one of the largest girls’ sections of any local grassroots club with over seven teams and in excess of 100 girls registered to play. The girls’ section is also an official sister club of Manchester City Ladies FC. The club is also awaiting a brand new state-of-the-art 3G-football pitch that is due to open in September this year 80

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

at Helsby High School. Jointly with the school, the club was a driving force behind the £1.2 million project, and they fundraised £100,000. The Football Foundation and Cheshire West and Chester Council also made significant contributions. Jason Newton, managing director at Redrow NW said: “Frodsham Junior Football Club is a club that brings so much opportunity to its players. I know that the players have fantastic talent, with some of its past players being scouted and going on to train with the academies of professional teams.” Club Chairman, Nigel Cunniffe stated: “We can’t thank Redrow enough for their kind and generous support. The new kits look fantastic and I know the Under 9s teams are proud to be the first to wear them. Major purchases such as these are only made possible through the fantastic support and contributions given by our Club’s very generous supporters and sponsors.”

See https://www.frodshamjfc.co.uk/ for more information and to track the progress of the club. For details of Redrow’s award winning homes and where to find them locally visit: www.redrow.co.uk/northwest www.lancmag.com

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

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

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.

Treasure Your River Launches to Clean up The Mersey

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

businesses, community groups, residents and other organisations situated along the River Mersey to get involved. The campaign will run over the remainder of the year and the programme of activities for this Summer, unveiled today, includes a silent disco litter pick, art installation, paddle and picks and robot litterclearing pirate boats. From displaying posters and taking part in litter picks to hosting new bins, there is a part to play for everyone. Offices, pubs, bars, cafes and community groups are encouraged to sign up to access materials, join events and get further information about how they can get involved. Hundreds of volunteers across the UK from organisations including the Angling Trust, Canal & River Trust, Keep Scotland Beautiful, Keep Wales Tidy, Mersey Rivers Trust, Sustainable Hive, Thames21, The Rivers Trust and companies like Coca-Cola and Costa have already pledged to do their bit. And in the North West, the campaign has already secured the support of Salford City Council, with plastic fishing trips set to be run from the council’s watersports centre in Salford Quays during early July.

Mersey Rivers Trust and Hubbub unveil Summer programme of litter clearing activities. Communities called on to join UK’s largest ever collaboration to reduce river litter.

major new campaign, Treasure Your River, launches today to help reduce the huge amount of litter entering the River Mersey and subsequently the ocean. Sustainable Hive and environmental charity Hubbub are calling for www.lancmag.com

Treasure Your River aims to be the UK’s largest ever collaborative effort to prevent and reduce the amount of litter in our waterways, tackling seven of the UK’s largest river systems: the Mersey, Avon, Forth, Severn, Taff, Thames and Trent and their tributaries. The campaign is being run by environmental charity Hubbub and supported by The Coca-Cola Foundation. It will initially focus on preventing litter from entering the rivers and clean-up activities in major cities based on these rivers and the waterways that flow into them – Manchester and Salford, Liverpool, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, London and Nottingham, which between them are home to 1 in 6 of the UK population. In 2019, Hubbub’s polling1 found that 75% of UK adults wanted to do more to help tackle marine litter. After a year of lockdown people’s appreciation of nature has risen further and Treasure Your River

will provide more opportunities for people around the UK to get involved and help protect our rivers and seas. Treasure Your River will engage the public on how they can make a difference through simple changes such as taking their rubbish home with them, providing tools and guidance for litter picks and responsible disposal of fishing tackle. As well as tackling littering behaviour with eye-catching bins and activities, the campaign aims to create a legacy for each river, with an army of regular volunteers and litter-clearing infrastructure. Mike Duddy from Mersey Rivers Trust said “Since the early 1990s the waterways of the River Mersey have been in rapid recovery mode – with species of plants, fish and mammals being recorded after absences of over 200 years. “Despite these improvements, there is more to do to clean up the Mersey, including tackling litter in our urban rivers. The Mersey Rivers Trust is delighted to be involved in the Treasure Your River campaign which will focus on cleaning up litter in local rivers in Manchester, Salford and Liverpool and working with local communities to stop litter from entering our rivers in the future.” Gavin Ellis, Director and Co-founder of Hubbub said “As lockdown restrictions are lifted there is increased concern about the amount of litter in our public and green spaces. Treasure Your River aims to make the connection between litter in our towns and cities and plastic in the oceans, and to offer people something positive they can do about it. The majority of plastics in the oceans are carried there by rivers; the River Mersey for example has proportionately higher levels of microplastic pollution than the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. We invite any individual or organisations along these rivers to come together and help halt the flow of litter into the sea. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re a local business, a sailing club, a school, a charity or a resident.” To find out more and sign up to the campaign visit: www.treasureyourriver.co.uk

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 83

THE REAL

NORTH SOUTH

DIVIDE REVEALED and it’s in our sandwich fillings!

The real issue splitting the nation is our sandwich fillings, according to the organisers of British Sandwich Week, which took place on 16th to 22nd May.

urkey Salad and Plain Cheese are the top two favourite sandwiches of Northerners, while Brie and Bacon and Chicken and Stuffing are favoured by the South. The results come in from a nationwide survey to find the nations sandwich preferences. Overall, the BLT (bacon, lettuce, and tomato) is officially the UK’s most popular sandwich filling in 2020/21 for the second year running, but the survey also uncovered some interesting findings. For the first time, tuna didn’t make the top ten, being replaced with chicken salad. Looking at age groups, it seems the traditional Ploughman’s sandwich is in danger of extinction as it was relegated to the bottom of the pile for the under 25s, while more mature munchers (over 55s) prefer a classic Cheese and Pickle. The under 25s age group also loves a Christmas dinner sandwich, a relatively new addition to sandwich fixtures and only available during the festive season. 64 per cent of them were bought by the under 45s so is this a sign there needs to be a call for a year-round Christmas dinner butty?

Jim Winship, Director of The British Sandwich & Food To Go Association behind British Sandwich Week said: “Every year we take a full view of the UK sandwich market for British Sandwich Week and this year there are some real surprises. While we know we’re a nation of bacon lovers, as it features in four of the top sandwich fillings, we didn’t expect there to be such a divide between the North and South, but it shows there are totally different taste preferences across the country. “British Sandwich Week celebrates the sandwich in all its glory as well as the contribution that the sandwich industry makes to the economy. This year, it has the even greater aim of supporting the industry as it comes back after a year of lockdowns. Sandwiches are a British staple to be enjoyed at any time of the day, and as we can see in the latest statistics, it’s very clear that as a nation we still love our sandwiches. “We’d encourage Brits to support their local sandwich shop, bakery, supermarket and meal deal outlet during British Sandwich Week to help the industry bounce back as lockdown restrictions gradually ease.”

Nationally, the sandwich is still the go to lunch option for the vast majority of Brits – with 72% of spending at lunchtime going on sandwiches. 84

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

TOP FIVE SANDWICH FILLINGS IN THE NORTH 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Turkey Salad Plain Cheese Tuna & Sweetcorn Plain Ham Cheese & Tomato

TOP FIVE SANDWICH FILLINGS IN THE SOUTH 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Bacon and Brie Chicken & Stuffing Beef & Horseradish Smoked Salmon & Cream Cheese Tuna & Cucumber

British consumers manage to munch their way through over 11.5 billion sandwiches each year. If you laid each one end to end, they would go around the world about 44 times. More than half of these were made and eaten in the home. Well over 3.6billion sandwiches are purchased from retail or catering outlets each year and we paid over £8 billion for them – that’s as much as 475,765 brand new Vauxhall Corsas (2020’s most popular car). The average price of a sandwich is conservatively estimated at £2.20. WHAT IS A SANDWICH? The British Sandwich Association defines a sandwich as: Any form of bread with a filling, generally assembled cold - to include traditional wedge sandwiches, as well as filled rolls, baguettes, pitta, bloomers, wraps, bagels and the like, but not burgers and other products assembled and consumed hot. Hot eating sandwiches are also included. www.lancmag.com

TEAR

WHY NOT SUBSCRIBE TO THE

Get 12 issues for

JUST £25 SAVING YOU £4.40

or you could save even more... HIRE



INE

AG T M

ES H W

& NO NE

• JU 21

20 ME

• VO 44 R 6

MBE

NU LA NC AS TE R • RO SS EN DA LE • SA LF

THE PERFECT GIFT TO YOUR FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES

TEAR

...extend your subscription to: 2 YEARS for £48 SAVING £10 or 3 YEARS for £73 SAVING £15 or 5 YEARS for £115 SAVING £32 These offers apply to UK mainland only

COUNTY NEWS PLACES • PEOPLE PROPERTY • HEALTH SEE REVERSE FOR DETAILS OF HOW TO SUBSCRIBE

TEAR

EASY WAYS TO SUBSCRIBE

1 2 3

ORDER ONLINE

SPECIAL OFFER SUBSCRIPTION FORM PAYER DETAILS Title: Mr/Mrs/Ms/Other: Surname: Address:

Initials:

Visit our website at thelancashiremagazine.co.uk

ORDER BY POST Fill in this form to get the special offer price

ORDER BY PHONE Call Mon-Fri 9:30-17:30 on

01253 33 65 80

ASHI

LANC RE

Postcode: Contact Number (in case of query): Email:

& NOR JUNE E •

AZIN

T MAG

WES 2021 ME

• VOLU 44 BER

NUM 6



LA NC AS TE R • RO SS EN

IF IT'S A GIFT, PLEASE SEND TO (UK mainland only) Title: Mr/Mrs/Ms Initials: Surname: Address:

DA LE • SA LF OR D

CHOOSE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION

Postcode: NB. Subscriptions start with the next issue to be published.

12 ISSUES FOR £25 CREDIT/DEBIT CARD/CHEQUE

PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING PAYMENT DETAILS (please tick): n Cheque Enclosed for £ Payable to: The Lancashire Magazine OR n Please Charge £ to my account as follows: Card Number (We do not accept AMEX):

Valid From:

Expiry Date:

1 2 3 5

YEAR (please tick)

More magazine gifts? If you wish to send more gifts, please supply the name and addres details with this form.

REDUCTION OF

15%

YEARS (please tick) 24 ISSUES FOR £48 CREDIT/DEBIT CARD/CHEQUE

REDUCTION OF

CVC Number (3 numbers on Reverse of Card):

All POSTCODES are essential - please ensure all are provided.

YEARS (please tick) 36 ISSUES FOR £73 CREDIT/DEBIT CARD/CHEQUE

REDUCTION OF

17%

YEARS (please tick) 60 ISSUES FOR £115 CREDIT/DEBIT CARD/CHEQUE

REDUCTION OF

21%

TEAR

Signature: PLEASE SEND THIS COMPLETED FORM IN AN ENVELOPE TO The Lancashire Magazine Ltd. Seasiders Way, Blackpool FY1 6NZ

18%

HELEN JAMES HEALTHY HAPPY COOL DOWN WITH FRESH AND ZINGY, LOW SUGAR MOCKTAILS These healthy combos of citrus and sparkling water make keeping hydrated tastier when we have hot summer weather. As a plus, you are also getting some vitamin C from the citrus juice which your immune system and liver will love. I use a little maple syrup to take the edge of the zing and hep presto, you have some very refreshing drinks. I have included options for making them alcoholic but that will go against hydration!

Mellow Mojito

Grapefruit Marguerita

SERVES 2

INGREDIENTS: • 1 tbsp maple syrup • A small handful of mint leaves • 10 ice cubes • 1 Lime (1/2 juiced, 1/2 sliced) • 600 ml of sparkling or soda water

INGREDIENTS: • 1 large pink grapefruit (juiced) • 2 limes (juiced) • 1 tbsp maple syrup • 10 ice cubes • salt (garnish) • 250 ml sparkling water or soda (you may need more to taste)

Method Combine the maple syrup and the lime juice in a glass jug or pitcher.

Method Combine the citrus juices and the maple syrup in a jug.

Tear up the mint leaves into this and ‘muddle’ using a wooden spoon to release the mint.

Dip the rim of 2 long glasses in a saucer of water to wet the rim then dip into a saucer of salt.

Add the ice cubes and water.

Add the ice cubes to the glasses and pour over the grapefruit juice mixture into each glass.

Serve into 2 glasses and garnish with slices of lime. Want to make it alcoholic? Add a 25ml measure of white rum into each glass or something different like lychee liquor goes very well. www.lancmag.com

Top with sparkling water. Want to make it alcoholic? add a 25ml measure of tequila into each glass. LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 87

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

One Fine Dine Partner with Bloomsbury Estates for Elite Holidays in the UK

Planning your great escape this year has just got much easier as refined at-home dining experience, ONE FINE DINE, announces its partnership with BLOOMSBURY ESTATES for a truly magical staycation like no other!

aking all the hassle out of your holiday preparation, this dream partnership combines the luxurious lodgings from Bloomsbury Estates, with the elite dining know-how of One Fine Dine, to offer unique and bespoke packages for those wanting to put their feet up and staycation like a king (or queen). Helping you create fond memories that last; the fine-dining phenomenon carefully curates’ exceptional menus to cater to every type of vacation. From a lavish family get-together to a romantic staycation, or a more elaborate celebration where you really want to enthuse your lucky guests, One Fine Dine is the easy way to bring haute cuisine into your residence with zero cooking skills required. “We make entertaining at-home an effortless triumph, enthralling diners with our exceptional cuisine that is akin to that of a Michelin star restaurant. So, as the UK plans for the big British staycation, I wanted to ensure that gourmet food was still very much on the menu – we deliver nationwide so reach all corners of the UK. Our partnership with Bloomsbury Estates was a no-brainer, connecting the very finest in UK properties with our first-class dining experience made perfect sense.” - Daniel Hulme, Founder and CEO, One Fine Dine Presenting a hand-picked portfolio of exceptional properties within the UK (and the South of France), Bloomsbury Estates has hosted thousands of guests from around the world in absolute discretion and comfort. Unlike other property rentals, the family-run business provides hotel-style concierge, personalised check-ins, daily housekeeping, hotel linen, and all the comforts expected from a 5-star stay and property. In addition, Bloomsbury Estates offers a small fleet of highly desirable classic cars for hire, including a Jaguar E-Type, Triumph Stag, and a Rover P5 Coupe. www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 89

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

“I met Daniel in Geneva at a private jet convention, I was blown away at the quality and ease of his food so several years later after I set up Bloomsbury Estates it was obvious who I would partner with to offer our guests an incredible dining in experience” - James Cornwell, CEO, Bloomsbury Estates Reaching new heights with deluxe at-home dining, One Fine Dine is the luxury expert in delivering freshly prepared and exquisite dishes to your chosen residence, ready for you to heat, plate, and serve as a Master Chef. For a super-luxe treat, you can engage one of the highly-trained chefs to come and take over your kitchen entirely, allowing you some real R&R time. Using first-class ingredients from locally sourced producers, each menu comprises a selection of sumptuous courses, to offer a culinary experience to impress everyone at the dinner table. Mouth-watering dishes include Whipped Ashlynn Goats Cheese & Heritage Beetroot Salad, a succulent Gressingham Duck Breast with Celeriac Puree, Crispy Leg Bonbon, Purple Kale and Mead Glazed Carrots, and a gloriously good Elderflower Crème with Champagne Poached Strawberries, Meringue & Oat Crunch.

www.lancmag.com

In addition to the sublime food offering, One Fine Dine presents a fully-stocked drinks menu, including an enviable selection of prestige wines, Nio pre-mixed cocktails, beers, and soft refreshments. Moreover, the company’s dedicated concierge team is on hand to personally source any additional items to further enhance your dining experience. From flowers and candles to table decorations and glassware, accessorise to your heart’s content with fast and efficient service.

“After I set up Bloomsbury Estates it was obvious who I would partner with to offer our guests an incredible dining in experience” - James Cornwell, CEO, Bloomsbury Estates Synonymous with luxury, One Fine Dine is fast becoming the leader in superior home-dining, presenting a delectable selection of dishes, each one made-to-order and handdelivered to your door. No cooking skills are needed as One Fine Dine’s team of accomplished chefs carefully prepare the Michelin star-quality

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 91

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

food on the day, requiring you to simply heat and plate - helpful cards and online video tutorials are provided to offer reconstitution steps and tips. Now delivering Nationwide, One Fine Dine is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Easy to use and delivered at a preferred time slot (up to 12 hours prior to your at-home prep), everything can be ordered simply online. The hardest part is choosing what dishes to have! One Fine Dine is available to order online, with prices from £65 per person, with free delivery offered on orders over £185. Vegetarian and Vegan options are available.

Heat, Plate, And Serve Like A Master Chef

www.onefinedine.com For superior UK properties, please visit Bloomsbury Estates:

www.bloomsbury-estates.com

Above: The Ridge, Bath - Bloomsbury Estates www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 93

DELICIOUS BBQ RECIPES EXCLUSIVELY FOR DEL MONTE by Jack Monroe JACK MONROE’S DEL MONTE® MANDARIN, PICKLED BEAN, FETA & HERB SALAD

Vegetarian, Gluten-Free Serves 2 to 3 as a main dish 6 - 8 as a side dish

PREP TIME: 30 minutes to prepare the bean pickle, 4 days for the bean pickle to settle, 20 minutes to prepare the salad Ingredients for pickled beans: • 1 can (400g) borlotti beans • 1 can (400g) cannellini beans • 1 small onion • 6 fat cloves of garlic • 1 tsp mixed dried herbs or a few sprigs of fresh thyme or rosemary • 2 bay leaves • 400ml light coloured vinegar • 100ml light cooking oil • 1 tbsp of salt • Plenty of black pepper

In a saucepan, combine your vinegar, bay leaves, salt and pepper, and place on a medium hob ring on a high heat. Bring to the boil, then reduce to a simmer. Add the bean mixture you prepared earlier and pour over the oil. Continue to simmer for four or five more minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir the contents together well. Ladle evenly into clean, sterilised jars, filling to the neck to create an airtight seal. Fasten the lids immediately and leave to cool completely before transferring to the fridge. Gently turn the jars a few times at least once a day to redistribute the ingredients, before returning to the fridge.

To make the dressing: strain the mandarins through a fine-mesh sieve into a mixing bowl to separate the juice from the fruit. Pour the juice into a jar or bottle with a tight-fitting lid. Add an equal amount each of light-coloured vinegar and

oil. Add a few pinches of salt and some pepper, and seal the vessel tightly. Shake well to emulsify and make your dressing and set it to one side.

To make the salad: Add your salad leaves to a large mixing bowl, along with most of the chopped parsley and whole basil leaves. Using a slotted spoon, add a generous amount of the pickled beans, then add your drained mandarins and crumble in your feta. Dress generously with the mandarin dressing, toss briefly to coat everything. Serve with more black pepper to taste and any reserved herbs to garnish. Tip 1: The beans will keep for two months in the fridge unopened, but use within a week of opening. Tip 2: The salad dressing will keep in the fridge

Ingredients for the salad and Mandarin dressing: • 1 can (300g) Del Monte® Mandarin Segments in Juice • Light-coloured vinegar • Light cooking oil of your choice • Salt and pepper • A handful of fresh basil • A handful of fresh parsley • 100g mixed salad leaves • 100g feta or other Greek-style salad cheese The pickled beans will need to be made well in advance of the salad - they start to come into their own around four days after bottling them, so this recipe takes some planning but it is worth the wait! Method:

Drain and thoroughly rinse your beans, and transfer to a large mixing bowl. Peel and very finely slice your onion and garlic, add these to the beans. Measure in the dried herbs, and mix everything together briefly. Set it all to one side for a moment.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

JACK MONROE’S DEL MONTE® UPSIDE-DOWN PINEAPPLE CHICKEN

Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Serves 4

PREP TIME: 24 hours, Cook time: 60 minutes Ingredients: • 1 onion • 4 cloves of garlic • A thumb-sized piece of ginger • 1 tsp mixed dried herbs or fresh or dried thyme or rosemary • 1 tbsp lemon juice or lime juice • 1/2 tsp chilli flakes or 1/4 tsp hot chilli powder • A few pinches of cinnamon and nutmeg • 1 tbsp soy sauce • A good grind of black pepper • A few pinches of white pepper (optional but incredible) • 2-4 cloves • 2 tbsp light cooking oil • 2 tbsp sugar • 1 can (435g) Del Monte® Pineapple Slices in Juice • 8 skin-on chicken thighs

www.lancmag.com

Method:

Peel and dice the onion and garlic, and slice the ginger. Put it all in a bullet blender/food processor. Add the herbs, lemon juice, chilli, cinnamon, nutmeg, soy sauce, black and white pepper, cloves, cooking oil, and sugar (or any other sweetener) to taste. Blitz with the pineapple juice from the can to a smooth paste.

Once the marinade is made, pop your chicken thighs into an airtight container with a lid, or a sealable freezer bag and pour the marinade over. Seal tightly and shake generously to coat. Leave to marinate for up to 24 hours - no longer as the acid in the lemon juice can start to cook the chicken if it hangs around too long! Give it a shake every now and then to re-coat. Transfer the pineapple to a fridgesafe container, bowl or bag to use in the cooking stage.

When the chicken is marinaded, turn your oven on to 190 oC, gas mark 5. Transfer the chicken to a tightly fitting roasting dish, skin side down. Pour all of the marinade over the chicken evenly and pop a pineapple ring onto each thigh. Add an extra grind of pepper, then pop the tray into the centre of the oven for 50-60 minutes to cook. Oven temperatures may vary, so ensure the chicken is cooked through. Serve hot. Tip 1: Leftovers are delicious finely chopped and mixed with a little plain yoghurt or mayo as a sandwich filler, or can be stretched out with warm rice or couscous for a delicious lunch. Tip 2: If you used bone-in thighs, simmer the bones with the remaining marinade, an onion and a carrot or two, to make a gorgeous spicy stock base for a future soup, stew or casserole - or even a gravy starter to pep up plain chicken another time!

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 95

JACK MONROE’S DEL MONTE® SPICY PORK BELLY WITH PRUNE CHUTNEY

Gluten Free, Dairy Free Serves 4 -6

PREP TIME: 6-24 hours, Cooking time: 12 minutes, plus 10 minutes cooling time Ingredients: • 1 (425g) can of Del Monte® Prunes in Juice • 2 fat cloves of garlic • 1 tbsp light coloured vinegar - cider, red, white or rice are all fine • 1 tbsp light cooking oil • 1 tsp Chinese five spice • 1 tsp fennel seeds • 1/2 tsp coarse salt or 1/4 tsp table salt • Plenty of black pepper • 800g pork belly, sliced • 1 large onion • 2 large stalks of celery Method:

Strain the prunes, separating the juice into a large jar with a lid for the marinade. Set the prunes to one side while you make the marinade for the pork. Peel and crush (or mince) your garlic and add to the juice, along with the vinegar and a little oil. Mix together the Chinese five spice, fennel, and salt and pepper. Add most of this seasoning to the marinade jar, keeping a little to one side. Screw the lid on tightly and shake well to mix and emulsify the

marinade. Pop the pork into the smallest food-safe sealable bag or container that will hold it and pour three quarters of the marinade carefully all over. Refrigerate for 6-24 hours, but no longer.

When it’s time to cook the pork, remove it from the fridge and leave for 20 minutes to reach room temperature. Preheat your oven to 210oC, gas mark 6, ensuring there is a shelf in the middle of it or just below. Transfer the pork to the small roasting dish and pour over the marinade to just below where the top fat layer starts. Rub the remaining salt-andspice marinade onto the exposed fat. Pop the pork belly in for 10-12 minutes to crisp the fat to crackling. Turn the heat down to 140oC, gas mark 1 and cook for a further 90 minutes. Note, oven temperatures may vary, so do check your dish every now and again.

Place a wire cooling rack on top of a roasting or baking tray (with sides) for when the pork is ready. Remove from the oven and place each piece on the wire rack to rest for 10 minutes before serving. For the gravy:

Combine one tbsp each of oil (or butter) and flour in a small saucepan over a low heat. Gradually add the juices, stirring the whole time, and thin with a little stock or water as desired. Taste and season. Serve hot - it will thicken as it cools

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

For the chutney: While the pork is marinading, it’s time to make the accompanying chutney.

De-stone the prunes by gently squeezing them - the stones should pop right out. Discard the stones and pop the prunes into a medium saucepan.

Peel and halve, then very finely slice your onion and celery. Add to the pan along with the remaining marinade and an extra tablespoon of vinegar. Bring to the boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook until the veg is very soft. You may need to add a splash of water here and there, so keep an eye on it and make sure it doesn’t dry out, but it should take around 25 minutes.

Remove from the heat and transfer to a clean, heat proof jar, screw the lid on while it’s hot and leave to cool completely, before labelling and popping in the fridge. Tip 1: When adding the fennel you can either use a large heavy knife or crush it in a pestle and mortar leaving it whole works fine too. Tip 2: If you’re planning on keeping the chutney for longer than a fortnight, you should use a sterilised jar. Tip 3: If you don’t want to use the left-over juices to make a gravy, you can use them as the base for a casserole or stew with any leftover pork, beans and root vegetables - it’s far too good to waste!

www.lancmag.com

Are you fed up of yo-yo dieting? Do you ever think, "the diet starts on Monday", but don't actually know where to start? Confused and overwhelmed by all the conflicting nutrition information online? If you're ready to ditch dieting, feel less overwhelmed and reclaim your energy - I can help!

I'm Catherine, a Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach, helping you to ditch diets and create healthy habits that last. If you're ready to create sustainable habits that will make a difference to your weight, health and energy levels, a Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach could be exactly the help you need to finally achieve your goals. We’ll sort the facts from the fads when it comes to diet and nutrition and you'll gain the skills needed to apply your new knowledge to your life. One size doesn't fit all when it comes to diet. Together we'll create a fully personalised nutrition & lifestyle plan that works for you. If you're looking to create lasting change with simple steps that fit in with your busy life, get in touch. I can also help with: Simple steps to eating well Effective weight management Increasing your energy levels Reducing sugar cravings Stress management Your confidence & mindset Motivation and accountability

Book a free, no-obligation, 30-minute call to find out how we can work together on your health and weight loss journey

Contact me on 07901072895 or online at www.catherinedeancoaching.co.uk @catherinedeancoaching @catherinedeannutrition

The Stress Edition How stress affects us and simple steps to VEGANISM help you feel better

lthy & Vegan

Hello! I’m Catherine Catherine Dean I’m a from Nutrition & Lifestyle Coaching, a Nutrition h diets, have more energy & Lifestyle Coach who about quick fixes or fad works with women that fit around your busy that are ready to ditch term. he long diets, have more energy

that leaves you feeling exhilarated or excited. This type of stress helps to keep us motivated towards our goals. It makes us feel good about ourselves when we step outside our comfort zones and achieve something we didn’t think we were capable of. However, in this month’s article, I’m focusing on the negative side of stress, distress. I believe most of us deal with some level of distress daily and it can have a huge impact on our health and wellbeing.

and feel better. My approach to weight loss isn’t about number which has quadrupled since 2014 and is quick fixes or fad diets. It’s about between 1-2% you of the are vegan and helping to population create healthy habits that gan milk, cheese and ready meals in the UK than fit around your busy life, make a real in ne of the top UK supermarkets hadlong theirterm. own vegan difference and last in the

that it’s here to stay. In 2019 there were 600,000

e part in Veganuary, promising to go vegan for one you’re feeling stressed rightis now, youto arestay not alone. In asons it Ifseems that veganism here and it’s February 2021 research by the Mental Health Foundation evalence is growing rapidly. found that the resilience of adults in the UK was still being tested as a result of the pandemic, “The number of people that felt they were coping well with the stress of the pandemic has fallen slowly and steadily across the year”. The pandemicYou’ve has impacted all of us in e page pandemic with some definitions. probably heard some way and continues to do so. Whether you’re worried used interchangeably, what do mean? about returning to thebut office or anxious about visiting crowded bars and restaurants, after the last 18 months or so, you probably don’t need me to tell you how it feels to products at all. You probably know that vegans be stressed.

sm?

me things gelatine and some beers & We like often honey, think of stress in a negative way, but the flip to this stress, eustress. This is clothing, the healthy aboutside food it'sisapositive lifestyle. It or also includes response to stress, like when you take on a challenge

How Does Stress Affect Our Body? Our bodies are constantly dealing with internal and external stressors to help keep us in balance. Stress is any kind of disruption that takes our body out of balance and activates what is known as the stress response. The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is the part of our body that controls many functions including our heart rate, blood pressure, digestion and breathing.

plant-based diet means eating in a way that

animal products such as toiletries tested on

any plant-based foods in your diet as possible, so

, beans, wholegrains, nuts and seeds.

ducts, but you may not be eating whole foods. This

d that you can now find in most supermarkets. A

While it can be healthy, it wouldn’t be the case if convenience or processed foods.

en by many as a less extreme option than

ucts and products such as gelatine from your diet. 98 LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE ou also choose to include fish in your diet, you’re

www.lancmag.com

The beauty of this system is that it carries out many of these functions without us even being aware of them. There are two parts to the ANS, the sympathetic nervous system which is activated when we are stressed and the parasympathetic nervous system which is activated when we are relaxed. When the sympathetic nervous system is activated, many changes occur in our body: our heart rate increases, our breathing becomes shallow and quick, our body sends energy away from our digestive system as it’s no longer a priority and glucose is sent to our arms and legs, so they are ready to deal with whatever threat we are facing. Our body is literally preparing us to be able to run or fight for our life. This is also known as fight or flight mode. Many things can activate fight or flight mode including everyday

www.lancmag.com

stresses like traffic jams and work deadlines, emotional stress from arguments, anxiety as a result of watching the news or even nutritional stress caused by dehydration or eating a lot of highly processed foods. Our bodies can’t tell the difference between the many different types of stress we regularly experience and it reacts in the exact same way no matter what the cause. So, whether we are running away from a sabretoothed tiger, as our prehistoric ancestors may have done, or we’re running to the office because we’re late for work, our body reacts in the exact same way. On the flip side, when our parasympathetic nervous system is activated or we are in what’s known as rest and digest mode our breathing is slow and deep, our heart rate slows down and energy is sent to our

digestive system so we are able to better absorb nutrients from our food. Unfortunately for many of us in today’s busy world, we spend most of our time in fight or flight mode and not much, if any, time in rest and digest mode. Being constantly stressed over a long period of time is known as chronic stress and it’s chronic stress that can cause many issues in relation to our health and our weight.

How Does Stress Affect Us? Everyone responds differently to stress, but some common effects of stress are headaches, worrying, impaired judgement, fatigue, frequent infections, irritability, apathy or an increase in behaviours like drinking alcohol or smoking. Stress affects the way we eat. When we’re stressed we are more likely to eat on the run, not chew our food

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 99

properly or eat too quickly. When you combine these behaviours with the fact that our body doesn’t prioritise digestion when dealing with stress, it’s no surprise that stress can affect the way our body absorbs nutrients from our food. So, even if you are eating a healthy diet, managing your stress still matters because high levels of stress means your body might not be absorbing all the nutrients it needs from your food. Stress can affect our food choices. You may already be aware that when we’re stressed we are more likely to make poor dietary choices. We are more likely to choose more processed foods and foods that are high in sugar. Of course, it isn’t a problem when we eat these foods from time to time but, it can affect our weight when we eat them regularly. Stress can impact our sleep. Stress can keep us from getting to sleep in the first place, as we lie awake worrying about the events of the day or what’s to come the following day. If cortisol (the stress hormone) is active in our body late at night it can affect the quality of our sleep. This means we are likely to wake up feeling tired and stressed which can lead to a vicious cycle of feeling like we don’t have the time or energy to take care of ourselves. Stress impacts on our behaviour. When we’re tired and stressed we are likely to exercise less and adopt poor nutrition habits. Over time this can impact on our weight and our overall health. Chronic stress can put us at added risk of several health issues including anxiety, depression, digestive problems, heart disease, sleep issues and weight gain.

100

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

How Can I Reduce My Stress Levels? While we can’t control what’s going on in the outside world, there are always things we can do to reduce our stress levels, activate the parasympathetic nervous system and get back into the rest and digest state. The good news is that these things don’t have to be expensive, complicated or difficult. They also don’t need to take a long time. Taking steps to manage our stress, no matter how small, can make a big difference to our overall health and can help if we’re trying to lose weight. As things return to normal (or as close to normal as they can be) after lockdown, you may find yourself a little bit tight for time. No matter how much free time you’ve got, there is always something you can do to reduce your stress levels.

Do You Have 15 Minutes? If you’ve ever found yourself saying, “I don’t have time for lunch” or eating a sandwich as you run from one meeting to the next, gifting yourself 15 minutes to sit down and eat your lunch each day could be a game changer for you. Mindful eating is the practice of slowing down and paying full attention to your thoughts and feelings as you’re eating. Mindful eating can support our digestion and even weight loss. It can also help us to enjoy our food more which is important because, particularly in the dieting world, we are often told that food is nothing more than fuel. Of course, food does fuel our bodies, but I believe we should also enjoy what we eat. Here are some tips to get you started with mindful eating:

www.lancmag.com

ting to see the rapidly increasing range of vegan convenience foods in that eating these foodsbefore will helpmatter you what meet nutritional needs.they Ofcan course, (although definitely help it is, your what matters is that • Take a few deep breaths you start eating, to help move you

to reduce stress levels!). Try using

you enjoy it.

from time time (for me life without chocolate or wine would besimple a miserable these small, tips daily to help fromto fight or flight to rest andadigest mode

Call a friend. As social beings,

nt that they don’t make up the majority ofcrave your diet. humans connection. • Put your ‘phone away and move away from your desk, so you’re eating without distraction

and changing your diet is no

manage your stress levels effectively.

Reaching out to a friend, even just for a few minutes can help to increase feelings of connection and reduce ourAnimal stress levels. different. products

are in many foods, so if

• Savour your food, paying full attention to theand flavours and These tips not only help to animal products, don’t etarian or vegan inadvertently eatfive food containing textures reduce our stress levels but can also positively impact other aspects of our Learn •from it and move on. Notice how you feel when you are health as well. eating your food and how you feel be adding more plant-based whole foods their To diet, regardless of whether afterwards Only Haveinto A Minute If you’re looking to lose weight in Spare? a way that willcan help be you to feel less Five Waysof Toanimal Feel Better ing your intake products or not. Eating more whole foods stressed and more energised, take a In Five No matter how busy you are, you look at my coaching packages. My egardless of our ethical or environmental stand point. Of course, you are very definitely have a minute to take care Set a timer and give yourself five holistic approach to weight loss is of yourself. Earlier I mentioned the to dobut something you love.ready If r more minutes details, if you’re to start moving towards a more plant-based diet, perfect for you if you want to create autonomic nervous system and how you’re not sure if five minutes a day healthy habits that last. For fully it carries out many functions without lp too:could make a difference, think about personalised nutrition & lifestyle us being aware of them. We don’t it from another perspective. If you advice that works for you, get in have direct control over many aspects did something you knew was harmful touch. I’d love to hear from you. of this, but one thing do have control Meat Free Mondays: www.meatfreemondays.com to your health for five minutes every over is our breathing. When we start If you’ve enjoyed reading this day, such ascommit smoking, you ry Challenge, towouldn’t being vegan forslowly a month: to breath and deeplywww.veganuary.com we are article, keep an eye out for more be surprised if this had a negative signalling to our body that we are advice from me in future editions of impact your health. The samewww.vegansociety.com can The on Vegan Society: safe which can help us to activate Lancashire Magazine. I’ll be joining work when we do something positive the parasympathetic nervous system. you every month throughout 2021. for our health. Five minutes a day can It’s because of this that breathing make a difference. techniques are one of the simplest Why not head to my website: and quickest ways to move from fight www.catherinedeancoaching.co.uk Get out in nature. Being outside or flight into rest and digest mode, where you’ll find my weekly blog in nature has been shown to helping our bodies to become more and can sign up to receive my lower stress levels and evidence relaxed. weekly email. shows we tend to keep going for longer when we exercise outdoors vs Box breathing (also known as You can also email me if you indoors. square breathing) is a really effective have any nutrition & lifestyle technique that you can do any Move your body. Exercise is one questions you’d like me to where or at any time. To practice box of the best ways to reduce stress answer in future columns: breathing: levels. If you feel like you don’t info@catherinedeancoaching.co.uk weight in way that will toFind feel less stressed and haveatime to get to the gym help or fit in you a a comfortable position, “full” workout, take the stairs instead roll your shoulders back and look atof the mylift,coaching My holistic approach to dance to yourpackages. favourite close your eyes song or find a 5 minute workout on you if you want create healthy •habits Then takethat a deeplast. breath For in for afully YouTube. It all to counts. count of 4 ifestyle advice that works for 5you, get in touch. I’d love to Write a gratitude journal. Take • Hold your breath in for a count of 4 minutes each day to write down hear from 3 things you areyou. grateful for. This • Breathe out for a count of 4 can help to shift your focus from the trials and tribulations the day to for • g this article, keep anofeye out more advice from me in Hold your breath out for a count anything positive that has happened. of 4 hire Magazine. I’ll that begets joining you every month throughout This is a practice easier with time, the more you practice gratitude Repeat as many times as you need 2021. the more easily you find things to be until you start to feel calmer. grateful for. Stress impacts every aspect of our ite: www.catherinedeancoaching.co.uk where you’ll find Do something you love. For at life and can have a negative impact least 5 minutes day, do email. on our health, & weight.me ign up to receive myevery weekly You canwellbeing also email something you love without It’s not all doom and gloom though. distraction. It could be reading, Managing stress doesn’t n & lifestyle questions you’d like me to answer innecessarily future colouring, dancing, sewing, crochet, mean spending time or money on drawing, listening to music. It doesn’t spa treatments and weekends away s: info@catherinedeancoaching.co.uk

Shutterstock photo 514689250

www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 101

This month we are talking to Eddie Kilty from catering company Kilty & Co. The talented chef has been in the industry since he was 15, worked for Michelin star chefs and headed up many kitchens throughout his career. Kilty & Co is a catering company bringing contemporary and exciting food to the North West.

102

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

Kilty and Co - Eddie Kilty By Sarah Ridgway TELL US A BIT ABOUT HOW YOU BECAME A CHEF? / HOW LONG HAS THE BUSINESS BEEN GOING? I got into the industry through school, my food technology teacher entered me into a competition which was a version of Junior MasterChef with other schools in Liverpool. We had to design a menu to take to the Marriott hotel and do a presentation to the head chef as to how we would lay it out and did a mini- cook off. I got all the way to the final and from that won an apprenticeship with what was Whitbread at the time, I would go to college one day a week and then worked five days a week in a working kitchen. This benefited me massively as I got to be in a working environment every day and experience the actual pressures of a working kitchen alongside experienced chefs, so I got the best of both worlds. I was 15 so I started young, and I just worked my way up the ranks in many different places. In my whole career I have only ever applied for two jobs as the rest have been via word of mouth or by being headhunted. I also moved the Lake District and was there for 8 years, working as a head chef in a couple of hotels, I also worked for Andrew Pern at Star Inn, and Tom Kerridge at Pub

www.lancmag.com

in the Park, I have been lucky to work with extremely talented chefs and it was a huge learning curve. I founded Kilty & Co three years ago, and began offering private dining at dinner parties, the second year grew quickly and was busy and last year I was fully booked but the pandemic led to the loss of all those booking. The company also offers event catering and pop ups, and I am extremely interested in doing more weddings as there is a strong demand for good food at weddings.

Modern British with seasonally led ingredients

is very contemporary and on trend. I also have a pop up in May and I am planning to do more throughout the year to get the brand out there, I am just waiting to see what happens regarding restrictions. WHAT TRENDS AND REQUESTS ARE YOU GETTING? Last year I did a small wedding, and the bride and groom were vegan and wanted the whole menu as such. I created a menu and all the guests with many being meat eaters were blown away by the quality I offer a three course but with more creativity and flair as that is my expertise. I don’t offer the traditional buffet style food as I am all about contemporary seasonality, locally sourced products, working with artesian suppliers and creating good and memorable food. TELL US ABOUT THE PRIVATE DINING SERVICE

I offer diversity as opposed to the traditional three course menu of soup, roast dinner, and a sticky toffee pudding. People want new options and street food and BBQs with the sharing element are extremely popular. I have a few booked in this year and I am keen to grow this to showcase what I offer as my food

The minimum number we usually cater for is six, but I can adapt and do smaller dependent on costs and labour. I offer two styles of menu, the three-course option that comes with canapes and snacks so by the time you have finished it is actually works out at about 5 or 6 courses. This option starts at £85 per head depending on location and size etc

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 103

but I work with the client to give them what they want. The second option is a tasting menu which starts at £125 per head. WHAT BROUGHT YOU BACK TO LIVERPOOL? It is where I am originally from although when I started the company 95% of my business was outside of Liverpool but I would like to get more work here. Eventually, I would love to give Liverpool a restaurant and I still probably will if the time were right and location. HOW DID YOU ADAPT THE BUSINESS DURING THE PANDEMIC? I quickly flipped my business from going to people’s houses to offering a 3-course meal delivery service which changed every week. It came 95% prepared with cooking instructions

104

was restaurant quality with wine options. It was great at getting the name out there and keeping my profile up for when everything opened again. I have been doing private dining again since April although the restrictions on numbers have made it hard. WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON THE FOODIE SCENE IN THE NORTH WEST? In the last five or six years there has been a lot more variety with street food, plant based and vegan options etc. When it comes to fine dining restaurants, I would say it has improved but again still room for more. Manchester got its first Michelin star at Mana restaurant which is positive for the city, but my favourite restaurant is More Hall in Ormskirk which has two Michelin stars, and the food is amazing as is the setting.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

WHAT IS YOUR SIGNATURE STYLE? My food is Modern British with seasonally led ingredients although I take inspiration from other genres such as Asian, Italian, and French. My food is based around a memory, so could be something I have eaten as a child that I have flipped and updated into a modern dish. One of my current signature canapes is a beef dripping popcorn and people love it. The idea derived from the of cooking a roast beef and the caramelisation it creates at the bottom of the tray. I wanted to capture and recreate that burst of beefy flavour you get from a dipping a piece of bread into the tray. I like to take people on a journey and give them a taste experience. I view food as not just something you eat but also about the surroundings, how it is served and how it looks. I also don’t enjoy food that is all just one texture like a soup as it is boring there is no crunch or acidity, I like to create food with freshness, crunch that provide an exciting taste sensation.

www.lancmag.com

WHO WE ARE Kilty & Co. is your neighborhood Catering Company, cooking all of your favorites with a hip new spin on traditional cuisine. Using fresh ingredients with a side of rock ‘n roll, we make real food for real people. Whether you are interested in breakfast, lunch, dinner or anything in between, we’ve got you covered. For your next event, choose Kilty & Co. and enjoy a home-cooked meal without the home-cooked fuss. Kilty & Co. are trusted and tested and deliver on quality and value. Eddie’s team of highly trained and gifted chefs, kitchen staff and front of house professionals, can cater for every situation and manage every request with flair.

WHAT IS YOU PLAN THIS YEAR AND OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS? Continue to grow and establish Kilty & Co including more events and weddings, I want it to be known as the best go to private dining in the North West. If next year gets improves then I may look at opening a restaurant in Liverpool or somewhere in the local area. I am open to location as people will always travel for good food. I prefer the neighbourhood feel and the suburbs as opposed to the city centre. The kitchen is the engine room and should be open plan as chefs are part of the dining experience. I like to go to the table and explain what people are eating, as I feel the personal interaction is welcome and it adds to the journey. 106

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

Cocktail Innovation

An experience that's not to be missed...

Don Alberto's @ The Loom Derby Street, Leigh 01942673858

The remarkable story of how Joe Foster developed Reebok into one of the world’s most famous sports brands, having started from a small factory in Bolton.

ince the late 19th century, the Foster family had been hand-making running shoes, supplying the likes of Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams - later immortalised in the film Chariots of Fire - as well as providing boots to most Football League clubs. But a family feud between Foster’s father and uncle led to Joe and his brother Jeff setting up a new company, inspired by the success of Adidas and Puma, and so Reebok was born. 108

At first, money was so short that Joe and his wife had to live in their rundown factory, while the machinery that made the shoes was placed around the edge of the floor, because it was so weak it could have collapsed if they’d been positioned in the middle. But, from this inauspicious start, a major new player in the sports goods field began to emerge, inspired by Joe’s marketing vision. By the 1980s, Reebok had become a global phenomenon, when they were the first to latch onto the potential of the aerobics craze inspired by Jane Fonda. Soon, Reeboks were being seen on Hollywood red carpets and even in the film Aliens, where Sigourney Weaver wore a pair of Reebok Alien Stompers.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

Above: Reebok advertisement

Like the international bestseller Shoe Dog, by Nike’s Phil Knight, Shoemaker is a powerful tale of triumph against all the odds, revealing the challenges and www.lancmag.com

SHOE MAKER

Reebok and the Untold Story of a Lancashire Family Who Changed the World

Above: Jo

e Foster w

ith his me

dals

Joe Foster - The Founder of Reebok | Published 10th June 2021 | Paperback | £9.99

sacrifices that go into creating a world-beating brand; it is also the story of how a small local business can transform itself, with the right products and the right vision, into something much, much bigger. From Alan Pascoe, Geoff Capes, celebrity tennis matches in Monaco with actress Jane Seymour to today seeing collaborations with Victoria Beckham and superstars from around the globe, one man and his brother were there from the beginning when the first pair of Reebok’s were created and though he sold his shoe empire in the mid 80’s and retired from daily life at Reebok in 1989, he remains loyal to this day as the founder brand ambassador for the billion dollar iconic brand that will forever be a part of him and he a part of it. www.lancmag.com

work while Joe enjoyed to get out there and do the deals and be the innovator in the business progression and in all their time never a cross word was spoken.

“Don’t listen to too much advice or you’ll never do anything” Joe Foster was and is a trailblazer and a man of exceptional strength of character and heart as he left a quarrelling uncle and father behind to carve his own path. A natural self improver competing against himself at all times, Joe also squeezed in two years of National service where he recalls playing a lot of badminton and sharpening up his discipline. He and brother Jeff were blessed to enjoy different roles, Jeff loved the factory and enjoyed the detail of the

When Joe tells of his journey, he credits his team who were incredibly loyal, even through difficult times when there wasn’t enough work and tough decisions had to be taken, the staff would offer to work for free, Joe did not let this happen but when the business scaled back up again everyone came straight back to Reebok. It was where they wanted to be, a work family full of respect, honesty, integrity and friendship and this theme carried heavily in everything Joe did in the community, in his business relationships and within his partnerships.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 109

Above: Inside the Olympic Works, Joe is on the far right, Foster’ s Originals and De-Luxe in production

The internet is full of different tales and ideas of Reebok, a giant in our sporting, fashion and country’s history which is why Joe decided it was time to put the true story in his own words in to a format to be immortalised for generations to come.

Above: The formidable Nellie Halstead smashed several records in Foster’s

So from sleeping in the factorys small living accommodation to champagne with Prince Rainier and fun with Frank Sinatra we can confirm that this Bolton lad is unchanged by his magnificent achievements. When asked about advice for other entrepreneurs he says ‘’Don’t listen to too much advice or you’ll never do anything‘’ which echoes of his first days in business where vision, enthusiasm, determination and old fashioned hard graft was the way to do it, less planning and more doing by the sounds of things. 110

We think it will inspire the next set of leaders and in fact any person who experiences tragedy and loss as amongst everything you will find in the book, Joe’s courage and grit to hang on in there and overcome some severely difficult times as his pain becomes a part of him as he continues to live and honour the people he lost along the way. Speaking to Joe and his wife Julie was a real treat, the words genuine, kind and caring would be the first words we would associate with them both, they are a great team and Joe has an amazing zest for life that we hope continues for many years to come. This book is for everyone, we promise whatever you do and whatever your background you will take something away from the read that will inspire you and push you along in your own story.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

Above: British athlete Cyril Holmes competed in 1936 Olympics in Foster’s running spikes

Our recommendation is the hard copy, so you can get a Lancashire cuppa and sit in a comfy chair whilst you dive in to Joe’s life, Reebok’s beginning and business at it’s best.

Above: Early advertisement for Foster’s running shoe

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Joe Foster was born in Bolton, Lancashire, in 1935 and with his brother founded the sports shoe manufacturer Reebok in the late 1950s. By the late 1980s, Reebok had overtaken Nike and Adidas to become the number one sports brand globally. Foster remains a global ambassador for the company.

www.lancmag.com

HEALTHY BEHAVIOUR TIPS FOR WELLBEING THIS...

By Lee Chambers - Environmental Psychologist and Wellbeing Consultant

ummertime should be a time for individuals, families and friends to spend together doing what makes them laugh, enjoy each other’s’ company, and contribute to everyone’s overall wellbeing. In the middle of holidays or weekend getaway planning, or just carving time out of your busy schedule for some fun activities, keep these healthy behaviour tips in mind.

112

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

GET ACTIVE OUTDOORS With a preponderance of good-weather days to take advantage of, why not do just that? Get outside with friends and family and participate in the wealth of activities summertime seems to invite. Science shows that being outside in nature has wide-ranging health benefits, everything from reducing the risk of heart problems diabetes, stress, high blood pressure, premature birth and premature death to an increase in overall wellbeing. A popular health practice in Japan is “forest bathing,” and the desire to commune in greenspace has rapidly caught on in the UK. With all the parks and countryside, as well as conscientious homeowners planting trees, shrubs and gardens, there’s ample opportunity to get outside and take in what nature has to offer. Exercise, play sports, go to the beach or amusement park, have a picnic, fish, go for a walk. The choices are endless. www.lancmag.com

HYDRATE AND EAT LIGHT Water is your body’s best friend when it comes to effectively combatting summertime heat. The sun is extremely dehydrating, along with challenging or vigorous physical exercise and activity when the temperatures soar. You may not realize you’re thirsty until the damage is already done. Avoid the risk of sunstroke and other medical complications, some of which can be life-threatening, by regularly drinking water and other non-alcoholic fluids. Health experts say to start by drinking half a litre of water 1-2 hours before exercising, and 250ml of water every 15 minutes when you’re outside. When you come back inside, you’re still not done rehydrating. Drink another half a litre. While you’re at it, avoid stuffing yourself in the heat. You’ll feel sluggish, unmotivated to get moving, and your digestive system will have to work harder to process all that food. Instead, eat light and avoid too much sugar and carbohydrates. You’ll sleep better at night too.

PUT AWAY THE SMARTPHONE WHILE DRIVING You might think you’re wonderfully ambidextrous and adept at multi-tasking, yet the science is not on your side. It’s impossible to fully devote your attention and focus to more than one activity at once. Something’s going to give. When you’re behind the wheel, put away the smartphone, say all the experts. Even though you firmly believe it’s not all that dangerous to sneak in a quick text, call or peruse social media at the stoplight or while idling in traffic, the obsession to engage in this unhealthy behaviour may do more than cause other drivers to honk their horns at you. You could very well cause or be in an accident because your concentration isn’t where it should be – on your driving. Research shows that talking on a smartphone or other mobile device increases risk of a crash by 2.2 times, while texting increases that risk by 6.1 times. The researchers also found that females are more likely than males to use phones while driving, and more years of experience driving decreases distracted driving. They noted that drivers, while usually able to selfregulate in certain instances, such as in heavy traffic or curving road conditions, they’re less likely to be able to identify where it’s safe to use the phone. The strong recommendation: put the phone away until you can pull over to safely use the device.

hats, as do various sun protection factor (SPF) creams and lotions. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends choosing a higher-protection broad spectrum SPF sunscreen (30 or 50) that’s water-resistant for the best protection. Summertime cookouts on the barbecue have long been a favourite, yet new research shows that the skin (in addition to the lungs) absorbs harmful carcinogens from compounds released during smoking and grilling. Just because you’re wearing a shirt and pants, or other protective clothing doesn’t eliminate the exposure. For this reason, experts recommend washing those barbecue-smoke exposed clothes right afterward.

DO YOUR BEST TO STAY COOL Excessive heat and high humidity are extraordinarily dangerous to your health, responsible for heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and organ and other bodily systems failure as the circulatory and central nervous systems shut down. When temperatures climb into the 20s (rather rare if were honest!), the humidity skyrockets, and remains there for days on end, you feel depleted, drained, unmotivated, dull and it takes longer to concentrate and focus. Keeping the body cool is a must, so make sure you have access to somewhere indoors where the temperature is controlled and cool. Whether that’s an air-conditioned room at home, a shopping mall, movie theatre, restaurant, sporting event or entertainment venue, do your best to stay cool.

LAUGH A LOT Nothing makes you feel immediately better like a good laugh. In fact, laughter is such an excellent medicine, if it could be packaged and sold, it’d be worth millions. Since you can’t buy laughter, however, it’s priceless. Tell some family-friendly jokes at your next get-together to spark congeniality in the group. Be on the lookout for a good comedy on TV, through a streaming service, or at the movies. Sit back with those you care about and let yourself enjoy the humour. Go ahead and laugh out loud. Laughing helps you effectively cope with stress, make more of social relationships, helps in coping with distress, reduces feelings of anger and helps boost happiness. Smiling and laughing may even help you live longer. Lee Chambers MSc MBPsS is our resident psychologist and founder of Essentialise Workplace Wellbeing.

PROTECT YOUR SKIN FROM UV RAYS AND EXPOSURE TO CARCINOGENS FROM BARBEQUING

As a director of Wellbeing Lancashire, he will be keeping us updated with the work they are doing across the region.

Relaxing at the beach can be a prosocial way for friends and families to get in some quality time, yet it’s always wise to bring along several layers of protection against the sun’s harmful ultra-violet (UV) rays. Clothing you can add or shed certainly helps, including wide-brimmed

Have a question or topic you would like Lee to cover in a future issue? Email him on info@leechambers.org and he will include you where possible.

www.lancmag.com

Lee Chambers

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 113

CAMPING FIRST AID By Nicola Parker MNIMH

Like many people this summer, my partner and I have decided that we will be taking our holiday time in the UK. Due to the uncertain nature of things, it feels like a sensible option and it will be nice to put our money back into some smaller, more local businesses.

114

ith that decided, we have chosen to go on a hiking holiday in the lake district. We are both quite outdoorsy and I’m not afraid of roughing it for a few nights while we camp out. As long as we go well prepared of course, which for me, always involves adding my essential remedies to a first aid kit. First things first, I’ll be taking a neem based insect repellent. I personally struggle with the smell of some of the chemical ones available in camping shops. I also find that they leave

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

my skin feeling dry and unhealthy afterwards. Neem oil is a natural insect repellent and is incredibly moisturising, so with neem, I never have a problem. A few years ago, I used a neem oil rub on all exposed skin just before one of those long distance mud runs that have become so popular. We’d been warned about ticks in the area and having helped patients with Lyme disease, I was extra paranoid. In any outdoors event, neem has treated me well so it is my go to herb for this. As a topical oil,

www.lancmag.com

it’s also antimicrobial and anti itch, so if I do get bitten because I’ve forgotten to use it, I can use the same preparation to treat the bite too! Aloe and lavender are my two essentials for burns. Lavender is one of the few essential oils that can be used neat on the skin and mixing it with aloe creates a cooling and healing treatment for sunburn or for burns picked up at the cooking fire. I’m not used to heating water and cooking around an open flame, so an aloe and lavender gel will definitely be coming along. Both are incredibly cheap and lavender can be used as an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory oil in case of bites or stings from the flora and fauna. Arnica is my herb for injury. Homeopathic arnica come as tiny tablets that can be chewed after injury and has been traditionally used to help speed up the healing process. The gel or cream can be used topically to bring out bruising, so perfect for application on bumps and sprains. Arnica gel is my main recommendation for topical treatment of joint pain, in my own practice. My knees are not what they used to be and with an old hip injury,

I certainly expect to experience some joint stiffness after a long day’s hike. Cramp is the other problem that can ruin a long walk. I am not prone to cramp unless I’m exercising but years ago, a walker gave me an excellent tip. She used to take Mag Phos tissue salts with her on her long hikes, explaining that a couple of tiny tablets dissolved in the mouth can relieve cramp almost instantly. I do use magnesium, in either large tablets or as a topical spray to manage cramp, but Mag Phos tissue salts are tiny and pocket sized, making them perfect for long journeys, when I may only need them occasionally. My final addition to my first aid kit, will be sachets or capsules of a probiotic called Saccharomyces boulardii. The remedy used to be called Diarr-Safe because it’s used for infections that cause diarrhoea and of course, because Saccharomyces boulardii is quite the mouthful. While out camping, I do worry about not cooking food thoroughly or drinking unclean water while we are out in the wilds, if taking it from natural sources. Diarrhoea can ruin any holiday but the idea of getting it while out on a long walk doesn’t bare thinking about!

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT WITH NICOLA, CONTACT HER CLINIC ON 01524 413733

www.lancmag.com

So that’s my natural first aid kit all packed and ready for the British summer. Now, if only I had remedies to keep the sun shining and the rain at bay, but perhaps that might be asking too much of my herbs.

Nicola Parker MNIMH has a herbal medicine clinic located on the picturesque coast Morecambe Bay where she offers face to face and virtual appointments. For more information on the topics she writes about or to book an appointment, contact her clinic on 01524 413733 or via email at helpmebehealthy@gmail.com

Stock photos by Vecteezy

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 115

MINDFUL Hi, I’m Paul, your Resident Health Coach... Paul is a successful and multi-award nominated health coach working for PT Health Coaching, based in Darwen. With over 15 years experience in the field of health, fitness and wellbeing, Paul takes a holistic approach to helping people make positive lifestyle changes.

EATING It is a well-known fact that most weight loss programs don’t work in the long term. Around 85% of obese individuals who lose weight return to or exceed their initial weight within a few years. Chronic exposure to stress may play a large role in overeating and the development of obesity. The vast majority of studies agree that mindful eating helps you lose weight by changing eating behaviours and reducing stress. A 6-week group seminar on mindful eating among obese individuals resulted in an average weight loss of 9 lbs (4 kg) during the seminar and the 12-week followup period. Another 6-month seminar resulted in an average weight loss of 26 lbs (12 kg), without any regained weight in the following 3-month period. By changing the way you think about food, the negative feelings that may be associated with eating are replaced with awareness, improved self-control and positive emotions. When unwanted eating behaviours are addressed, the chances of long-term weight loss success are increased.

116

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

BINGE EATING

HOW TO MINDFULLY EAT

Binge eating involves eating a large amount of food in a short amount of time, mindlessly and without control (think of the Cookie Monster from Sesame Street!).

To practice mindfulness, you’ll need a series of exercises and meditations. Many people find it helpful to attend a seminar, online course or workshop on mindfulness or mindful eating. However, there are many simple ways to get started, some of which can have powerful benefits on their own:

It has been linked to eating disorders and weight gain, and one study showed that almost 70% of b inge eaters are obese.

• Eat more slowly and don’t rush your meals – put your knife and fork down

Interestingly, mindful eating has been shown to drastically reduce the severity and frequency of binge eating.

• Chew thoroughly

MINDFUL EATING AND UNHEALTHY EATING BEHAVIOURS

• Eat in silence (if you eat alone)

In addition to being an effective treatment for binge eating, mindful eating methods have also been shown to reduce:

• Stop eating when you’re no longer hungry

• EMOTIONAL EATING: Eating in response to certain emotions

• Drink water with your meal

• EXTERNAL EATING: Eating in response to environmental food-related cues, such as the sight or smell of food Unhealthy eating behaviours like these are the most commonly reported problems among obese individuals. Mindful eating gives you the skills you need to deal with these impulses. It puts you in charge of your responses, instead of you acting on them without thought.

• Eliminate distractions by turning off the TV and putting down your phone

• Focus on how the food makes you feel

• Ask yourself why you’re eating Are you actually hungry? Is it healthy?

• Eat at a table To start with, pick one meal per day, to focus on these points. Once you’ve got the hang of it, mindfulness will become more natural. Then you can focus on applying these habits into more meals. Our minds are powerful tools allowing us to thrive or suffer. Let’s shape them so that we do more thriving!

Until next month… Paul

Paul is a Health and wellbeing coach and consultant for individuals and organisations and is Lancashire Magazine’s resident Health Coach. To find out more or to get some support contact him on: Tel: 07495 89298 Email: paul@pthealthcoaching.com www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 117

Q&A AN INTERVIEW WITH FOUNDER, JORDANA FRANKS

What did you want to do when you were younger and what steps did you take to follow those goals ? When I was younger I always wanted to do something creative. I wasn’t fully set on any job in particular but I knew I wanted to do something that satisfied my artsy side. I remember sitting and drawing dresses when I was around 9 years old, so from then on I just pictured myself in the fashion industry doing something like buying or even designing. I studied Fine Art at A Levels so decided I

118

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

wanted to go to university to do a fashion degree as I couldn’t find any other creative courses that peaked my interest other than art or fashion, but I was persuaded by my school that I was ‘too smart’ to go along that path and that a business degree would suit me best. So, I ended up studying Business Management, which I really didn’t enjoy. In my first year of university I decided I needed to do something creative as I was so bored of the analytical coursework, so I began doing makeup at the weekends on clients! From there everything just snowballed and I found my passion. I had always loved makeup and spent hours watching Youtube tutorials teaching myself the skill since the age of 14 but never realised I could make a career out of it. Essentially, I turned my love of painting with oil paints on canvas, to painting faces with makeup - which gave me a great creative outlet whilst I was miserable studying for my degree…(yes, I ended up dropping out of university in my final year!) www.lancmag.com

However, I do have an amazing insight to the beauty industry by still being a working makeup artist. I do makeup on clients every weekend and I pay close attention to what looks they ask me to create on them. This helps me when developing products as it is a direct insight into what consumers want.

Have you always been passionate about make up and the way it makes a person feel, if so why and what is your bond with the beauty industry ? I was always fascinated by makeup. I have photographs of myself when I was 7 years old with bright red lipstick, as I used to sit in my Grandma’s bedroom for hours, going through her makeup drawer and transforming myself. I have never had a makeup lesson, but I taught myself how to do makeup from the age of 14 by watching Youtube tutorials, it was just something I loved to do and had a natural flair for. Of course I wasn’t great when I first started to teach myself, but with plenty of practice I improved. I think the reason I loved the beauty industry from such a young age is simply because I am a very creative person. I have always loved to paint and make things, so makeup just felt like a natural progression for me. www.lancmag.com

How do you predict the next trends and stay ahead of competitors ?

One thing I really beat myself up over internally is not being a strategic thinker, I simply do what feels natural to me, so I can’t say I ever follow trends closely and plan product launches strategically.

My goal with the brand is to bring makeup artist techniques to every persons makeup bag. So, I try to lead trends as opposed to following them; why follow the crowd when you can do something totally different and make your brand stand out from the rest! I found my brands niche by following my instincts, noticing that when I do clients I always layer different textured products in one area to provide a long wearing, flawless finish. This insight helped the development of all my duo products, including the Base & Sparkle Eyeshadow Duo, Face & Sparkle Highlighting Duo and our Set & Brighten Powder Duo - they all incorporate the layering technique in a simple way that is easy for customers to use.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 119

Being a Northern girl, do you think Lancashire has more advantages or disadvantages for women in business ?

Being brought up in Manchester, I genuinely feel has had a great advantage on me in the beauty world. Northerners are beauty pioneers. We love to get glam when going out, and this has been majorly helpful to me, with a lot of our first customers being locals who love makeup. I am so lucky that I live in a place where it is so normal to get your makeup done professionally to go out for the night, as being a busy makeup artist gave me the ability to create my own brand - without that MUA experience I doubt I would have ever started a makeup business.

What is your favourite product and why ?

That’s a tough one! I love every single product I have ever created. But, I think if I had to choose my favourite it would be our Set & Brighten Powder Duo’s. They are a totally innovative concept of a pressed and loose powder in one compact which really makes me proud to have created something different. And the formula is just incredible. I apply it to my face every time I do my makeup and I’m like wow, this is genuinely the best powder I have ever used…and I promise I am not biased, I am my biggest critic!

We notice your brand is cruelty free, how important is this to you and is it difficult to achieve ?

Being cruelty free is so important to me! In this day and age it is crazy that brands are still testing on animals. It isn’t necessary to test on animals anymore, the world is so much smarter than it was even 10 years ago, science has become so advanced, there are many ways to develop safe products without animal testing. It just seems to cruel to me to test beauty products on an innocent life. I would say it is pretty easy to achieve a cruelty free brand, as long as you are working with reputable factories you simply tell them you’re cruelty free and testing on animals should not be permitted. Luckily, I work with UK based factories to make all of our products which makes the cruelty free aspect so simple and easy for me. My factories have the same views as myself and are against animal testing. 120

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

Did you have any role models / mentors when you were younger and how did they inspire you on your journey to the woman you have become today ? My biggest role models and mentors were my family. I come from a super close family and all my immediate family members are my biggest cheerleaders. My Grandpa and Dad are both entrepreneurs and have a lot of business experience, so they have helped me so much along the way. My Grandpa is in fact my business partner, we started the company together, with me being the creative and him being the brains when it came to crunching the numbers and making smart business decisions. I honestly couldn’t have built Jordana Ticia to where we are today without my Grandpa Ivor; he believed in me from the very beginning and encouraged me to keep going even though I started the business at 19 years old and have constantly felt like a fish out of water when it comes to the nitty gritty of business.

What is your most difficult time and also your proudest moment in your business life ?

The most difficult times for me happen on a regular basis! This is my first ever job and what a big responsibility it is at that. I never expected such success with the business, and I often feel like I am running the business with my eyes shut as I’m still relatively young, and without previous work experience. But I just have to push myself through those moments of self doubt and remind myself that surely I must know what I am doing to some degree as I’ve not got to the position I am in today with just pure luck, there must be some brains in there somewhere!

My proudest moments are every single time my phone pings with an order notification. Yes, they’re more often now but the excitement never fails. The fact that people all around the world are ordering products that I have developed and brought to the market is just mind boggling to me. It really is amazing.

What advice can you offer to someone starting out at the beginning of creating their own business ?

My biggest piece of advice is just be fearless. Don’t worry about failure. Don’t worry about what people may think of your endeavours. Don’t worry about competition, focus on yourself. As long as you have passion and drive, you’re bound to succeed.

Can you tell us a little about your future plans and goals ?

Going forward, my biggest goal is to just keep growing the business! I am hoping to hire more people to help build the business in the near future and delegate some of the things that aren’t my strong points to people who are experts in those fields. As a start up it is essential to take on all the roles yourself, for both experience and to cut costs, but I am now at the point where I have grown the brand a successful level with myself and my Grandpa, but now to scale it is all about handing over the areas we struggle with over to people who are skilled in those fields to help the business to grow further. I just want to make my family proud!

www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 121

A catch up with Peter Rutt Our monthly column by Peter Rutt.

art 1 of 3. Regular readers will know I love weird and wacky stories, even if they are not true. So imagine my pleasure when I came across the sensation of alleged time slips in Liverpool. Various people claim they slipped back in time, usually to the 1950’s or 1960’s. One claimed he slipped back to early 1900’s. He said as he walked down Bold Street the sky went very dark and what had been that year in the decade of the 1990’s changed to early 1900’s judging by the fashion he spied. Also the shops were old fashioned. Gone were the modern day stores as were art 2 of 3 He submitted the picture to the modern day cars, replaced by horse In the summer of 2008 over a Lancashire Evening Post newspaper drawn carriages. There was air there period of three months there who printed an article on this and was sound and if he felt more confident was an upsurge in people reporting other sightings. he would have interacted with a person. UFO’s in the UK. The claims came Imagine whipping out your smartphone Another two people I know saw a from Ramsgate, Birmingham, to show someoneBristol, from the early 1900’s! large red orb in the sky above Bolton Wales, and and Lancashire. Or go aLondon step further take photos in 2019. I was nearby but by the time or July film what see.Pat What would In of thatyou year Regan wasyour I arrived and surveyed the night sky it phonehis record? with young daughter and they had gone. It shook these two men up There is theon story a man who were walking theofbank next to after the event while trying to logically walked near to in Bold Street andnear he Rufford Canal Scarisbrick process what they both saw at the alleges as heHis turned a corner, was him Southport. daughter alerted same time. This was not publically faced with a dead end. An old wall to a weather phenomenon coming reported and I reckon there are that wasn’t the previous day had down fromthere the dark clouds. A twister many who have not reported suddenly thebe previous or start ofappeared. a tornadoLike could seen their sightings as well. man he said thebut skyitbecame suddenly coming down never reached histhe pursuer to be seen. In samewas yearnowhere a woman was driving darker prior to this obstacle being there. the ground. As the funnel spiralled Relieved, he stopped and took in her car up the M61 north boundhis He even touched the construction and downward and was too far away to surroundings. Everybody wearing and saw a flash overheadwas in the sky it was solid. Confused, he headed back harm these two, he took a photograph clothes from the 1960’s and cars the way he came. and something disappear whichwere of this rare occurrence. old afashioned from this era. Starting left lightening trail although there Most of the stories centre on a to worry he brought out modern After returned home studied was no storm this night.his Weather periodthey of 1993-1997 apart he from the mobile phone, but it displayed no the of theparagraph. twister and noticed phenomenon? one photo in the next They may signal. As he walked back past the store something to the leftand of this funnel. well be Urban Tales tall ones at In I was told of itanother, thisone he2020 robbed he noticed wasn’t the that. But it is thought provoking. But When he zoomed in as far as his time in Leyland. The person wishes he entered earlier. As he looked ahead there arewould three particular stories I awill camera allow, it showed to remain anonymous too. TheyWhen said he could see the modern world. centre on. yellow craft was hovering right next to ithewas thirtyhim at night the tookabout a lookten behind it wasinstill it. He it wasoccurred not a helicopter Thissurmised one allegedly in 2006 the 1960’s. by at histhe experience winter. TheyFrightened glanced up dark or airplane as thisSean thingadmitted had no he rotor when a lad called he caught a (modern) bus towhite get away. sky and noticed a curious light blade or wings. mayout have shoplifted an itemThere and ran of the The was Security Guardquite that chased that travelling rapidlyhim from shop pursued by athat Security Guard. As been something the twister had thatdirection. he was only a fewclose paces aasserted southern It came Sean got to a corner (and the sky went earlier sucked in and this was perhaps behind the as ithewas got round to thator enough thatthief theybut said dark) heafter turned andreleased. carried on running debris it was However corner, the ladThe hadcraft vanished. oval shaped. came He to awas stop. but when he looked back he noticed no other debris was apparent and bemused by this. So that rules out a meteor as some the craft was far too big anyway. 122 LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

contest. In an instance it rapidly flew noiselessly over where this person was standing to another point in the distance and came to another dead stop before dissipating from view, like a flame being snuffed out. They explained when it went from dead stop to immediate acceleration it left momentarily a white lined trail. In that split second the witness judged the craft to have travelled well over a mile as it went south to north. A triangle shaped noiseless craft was seen near Winter Hill last year which again worried the one who saw it. And another triangle craft was seen in west The other appearOne in said Lancashire bytwo twostories witnesses. May’s edition and a plausible answer he was seeing things and kept quiet to as thewas conundrum. But going to an he not prepared to be back ridiculed. earlier point, which is of interaction, The other person told me. I pondered on this. If you talk to Military someoneestablishments from a long agoare erainteresting and to these beings who fly in their air influence them to take a different course space impunity. to onewithout they historically didObviously take, would people who witness and that have ramifications ondocument the here and these are forbidden to from say now? sightings Also if you collect an item anything todoes Joe public. the 1950’s, it travel with you back to the present day? In the final instalment next month I channelled a being with startling revelations. I am wrestling with the revelations revealed as I don’t want the men in black knocking on my front door telling me to say nothing before neuralising me! www.lancmag.com

ic n i l C G et a r s u B a ck Y r Your Glow at the D Harley Street Aesthetics Expert Launches Merseyside Clinic Redefining the art of aesthetics, the new Dr Yusra Clinic is home to empowered transformations. A medically-led practitioner, Dr Yusra takes a holistic approach to the art of aesthetics, utilising the latest and most effective evidence-based techniques. Her clinic specialises in anti-aging, fat freezing, acne and skin pigmentation, weight loss, skincare, injectables, non-surgical rhinoplasty and hair restoration treatments.

THE CLINIC FEATURES 5 WELLNESS SUITES INCLUDING: •Sculpt Suite - utilising the latest beauty tech, including CoolSculpting and ULTRAcel, to deliver results •Aesthetics Suite - home to aesthetic treatments including botox, fillers, nonsurgical rhinoplasty and bioremodelling •Skin Suite - where Dr Yusra delivers her signature glow and anti-ageing treatments

Get Your Glow Back by Booking a Wellness Consultation F @dryusraclinic I @dryusraclinic E info@dryusra.com N 03332244666

(Mon-Fri 9.30am - 5pm)

D dryusra.com

DR YUSRA

Harley Street Aesthetics Expert, DR YUSRA, Debuts Northern Clinic In Blundellsands

The Glow Dr Opens First Clinic in the North West By Lyndsey Evans

As lockdown eases, non-surgical aesthetic procedures are high on the list of most-requested treatments, with Google searches on “aesthetic treatments” up since April 2020.

or anyone looking for some serious post-lockdown loving, internationally-renowned Harley Street aesthetics and wellness expert, Dr Yusra has opened her first ever, northern outpost in Blundellsands, Merseyside. The Dr Yursa Clinic in Blundellsands is the hot new place to get pampered. This cutting-edge aesthetics wellness clinic utilises the latest, most gentle and effective evidence-based, medically proven techniques to support empowered transformations, specialising in treatments for anti-aging, fat freezing, acne and skin pigmentation, weight loss, skincare, injectables, non-surgical rhinoplasty and hair restoration. 124

An expert in aesthetics artistry, Dr Yusra moved to Liverpool in 2016 and has been practicing facial aesthetics from a clinic in Harrow on the Hill since 2013 and Harley Street, London since 2019. Often referred to as the Glow Dr, Dr Yusra’s philosophy is ‘radiance on the outside, wellness on the inside’. This approach has made her a firm favourite with those looking for more rejuvenating, elegant and fresh-looking enhancement, as her ‘empowering transformation’ ethos avoids the cookie cutter ‘overdone’ and ‘duck pout’ looks that have become popular, particularly in Merseyside, in recent years. Often referred to as the Glow Dr, Dr Yusra’s philosophy is ‘radiance on the outside, wellness on the inside’. This approach has made her a firm favourite with those looking for more rejuvenating, elegant and fresh-looking enhancement, and avoids the cookie cutter ‘overdone’ and ‘duck pout’ looks that have become popular, particularly in Merseyside, in recent years. Dr Yusra is known for creating “empowering transformations” and leaves her patients not just looking great, but feeling great too. As part of the wellness journey, Dr Yusra’s patients are educated

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

on the procedures and armed with enough knowledge to enable them to make the best personal aesthetic decisions. Treatments are meticulously planned and carefully delivered to keep patients looking fresh but never “overdone”. Dr Yusra’s clients include celebrities and footballers wives, as well as many who travel internationally to access her services. A centre of aesthetic excellence, the discreetly-located Blundellsands clinic is medically-led and features state-of-the art FDA approved technology for proven results. It hosts five specialist treatment rooms, all offering a luxury experience, alongside world-class treatments. This Sculpt Suite is focused on helping clients to enhance their silhouette. It is home to one of 30 ULTRAcel machines in the whole of the UK and one of only 110 CoolSculpting® machines in the country. Ultracel is a next generation, multi-platform device offering non-surgical facelift and body skin tightening and lifting procedures, completely needle and surgery free. It also addresses fine lines and wrinkles. CoolSculpting® is the number one cryolipolysis system on the market – a non-surgical technology that www.lancmag.com

freezes fat cells in the abdomen, thighs, back / bra strap areas, chin, flanks/sides, arms, male chest, buttocks and knees to permanently get rid of fat. The Aesthetics Suite is where Dr Yusra’s aesthetic artistry comes into its own. Here she offers Botox anti-aging treatment and dermal fillers that support the structural components that maintain a youthful face, addressing volume loss such as flattening of the cheeks (midface), hollowing under the eyes, line formation around the nose, mouth and chin, as well as lip definition. The bio remodelling treatment, Profhilo, which works to cure wrinkles from within, rather than just fill them, is also available here. Dr Yusra is also a specialist in medical rhinoplasty, a corrective treatment to straighten the nose performed with medical intervention via injections to the nose instead of surgery. A nose job, but without the surgery. The procedure involves using a dermal filler and is performed in the Injectables Suite, where patients can have their treatment and leave within the hour. The Skin Suite delivers Dr Yusra’s signature glow, brightening, hightech and anti-ageing treatments. These include INTRAcel micro needling and radio frequency treatments, which use proven technology to reduce the signs of aging, eliminate wrinkles and correct scarring with little or no downtime, and the six-step HydraFacial treatment, which uses the latest technology to cleanse, exfoliate, extract and hydrate the skin.

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

Having personally struggled with acne in the past, Dr Yusra also offers leading acne and acne scarring treatments in the Skin Suite. Treatments include Dermaroller, skin peels, skin boosters, volite, skin rejuvenation and chemical peels, using leading medical-grade brands that include Obagi Nu derm and Skinceuticals. Skin Suite clientele are also provided with treatments to administer at home, supported by a continual journey of care, which includes virtual and in person checkins to ensure accountability. A keen advocate for mental wellbeing, and a strong believer in www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 125

the connection between external and internal wellness, Dr Yusra also offers every patient at the Blundellsands clinic access to a free session with the resident psychologist as part of their treatment. Currently Dr Yusra’s practice is the only UK clinic to offer this. Dr Yursra says: “Merseyside is the most natural next location for me; I have such a large clientele in London but Liverpool is home, and the patients here are among the most discerning in the UK when it comes to their beauty regimes, forever searching for the latest innovations and ingredients. I am thrilled to be launching my new brand of aesthetic wellness in

126

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

Blundellsands and, as Lockdown restrictions ease, we are excited about helping those that visit our new centre of excellence, to get back their glow.” She adds: “The Dr Yusra clinic is CQC registered and offers the latest FDA approved technologies, as well as new aesthetic practices, many of which are exclusive to our medically-led, luxury clinic in Blundellsands. These include the highly sought-after CoolSculpting® and ULTRAcel procedures, where we are leading the way in the north west. We will also be launching a cosmetic dentistry suite in the coming months.” 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

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 127

Colour and Style

www.sarahharrisstyle.co.uk

Our section on Colour and Style with Sarah Harris from ‘Colour Me Beautiful’ Summer at Last! August is here and after last months talk on capsule wardrobes I hope that you have managed to build yourself a seasonal wardrobe! But don’t worry if you haven’t as it isn’t always something that happens fast, it takes time to develop. This month I would like to look at some different style personalities and also body confidence. If we can dress in clothes that flatter our shape and reflect our personality we will feel so much better. As we have had a year of staying in and a more relaxed dress code it is a good time to look at our image to enable us to step out with style and confidence. Let’s look at some of the reasons as to why people lack confidence; “I’ve been comfortable at home and I’ve put on weight” “my clothes don’t fit” “my body is changing due to the menopause” “I can’t get into my wardrobe as it is full and overpowering me!” “I’ve been working out and my body has changed shape and my clothes don’t seem right” “I am a busy mum and I’m so tired at the end of the day that I don’t have time for myself”

....the list goes on.

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. Email: sarah@sarahharrisstyle.co.uk www.sarahharrisstyle.co.uk

128

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

If you are feeling overwhelmed you need to sit down preferably somewhere that you can be calm with no distractions, make yourself a hot drink and just be in the moment. Be kind to yourself and breath. We are always so busy ‘living’ that we sometimes forget to love ourselves and we have to love ourselves in order to love others. Therefore, take time to just be in the moment and give yourself space to re-evaluate your situation. All of the above can be addressed in time but you have to feel relaxed to take control of your life. Do your clothes still fit or has your shape changed, with lockdown, and your confidence is low? For many of us our body shapes have changed, and these slight changes will make a difference to the clothes that we are wearing. The once hourglass figure has a few extra pounds and the waistline has expanded! Even those that exercise have found a change in their body shape, I have a friend who went from a rectangular shape to inverted triangle! I always recommend hourglasses figures to wear belts and show off their figure, so with extra weight we need to be very careful and if your shape has changed be aware. You have to emphasise the positive and putting a belt around a waist that has expanded will only exaggerate it and make you feel uncomfortable. Wearing ‘A’ line dresses are great or a wrap dress with patterns to distract the eye. www.lancmag.com

Therefore, if we can dress ourselves in clothes that fit us correctly and flatter our shape it will make us feel more confident about ourselves.

www.kettlewellcolours.co.uk We change throughout our lives in puberty, pregnancy, menopause and many reasons. However, knowing that it is natural should help us to accept this. I am trained to help people look and feel their best, which gives them Image confidence. Women and men do lack body confidence and a lot of it is to do with media. All the pictures of people looking perfect, perfect families, perfect bodies, perfect lives! Wow we are under so much pressure!! I’ve been around media all my life and believe me it is far from perfect! In fact it can seem very fake! The pictures in the magazine, on television and social media are made to entice you in. The lighting has to be right, the angle of the shot, the product for example if clothing - has to fit, every little detail has to be right. I’ve been on photo shoots and because the dress is too big I’ve had to have a bull clip or masking tape to hold it together or I’ve stood in a certain way to hide something. And every few seconds the make-up artist is touching up your shiny face. I could write a book on it! And back when I was modelling they didn’t have the technology they have today! They can do some amazing things to any picture, film etc. So let’s get real and accept ourselves for who we are. Everyone has something that they aren’t happy with but we have to accept it - there is really no such thing as perfect as we all see things different.

Body Confidence Body confidence is about understanding your bodies scale, proportions, your style personality, your colours, fabrics and how to wear them to enhance your figure. Knowing this will enable you to dress in a way that works in harmony with who you are and therefore giving you your unique style. You might be very tall or very small, your bone structure may be tiny or large and you could have long or short legs; long or short torso… We are all different. Have you noticed that when you buy trousers sometimes they are really tight in the crotch area or baggy? This is because you have either a long rise or a short rise. Trousers might be too long on you as you have short legs… or too short as your legs are long. These are the details that I look for when I am doing a style consultation. www.lancmag.com

Above: courtesy of Hamlyn

The model in the picture looks far better in the red top that flatters her curves, whereas the shirt is too stiff a fabric for her body shape. Once you find the styles that suit your body shape you need to look at your style personality and how you wear clothes and colour. • Do you like strong contrasting and bright shades or prefer pretty pastels? maybe you don’t think about it. • What kind of a shopper are you - do you buy investment pieces or fast fashion? • It could be that you love shopping or really can’t stand it! • Are you neat and organised or relaxed and casual • Maybe you like the eclectic look and are sometimes classed as creative! Think carefully about yourself and what you like. Or are you dressing the way you do because you have inherited it from family members. It’s not unusual to become like our ‘mother’s’ you’ve heard people often say ‘I’m turning into my mother!’ or maybe you are the complete opposite and always rebelled! Whatever you dress like is based around your background, society and of course how we feel but when you actually take the time to look you will be surprised to find where your choices come from. And we have a choice of how we portray ourselves to the world. The image we put out to the world is our brand and as with any brand what is it that you are showing to people? We can of course change our image for different situations:• A job interview • Day out with family and friends • Relaxing at home • Gardening • Our Job • Going to a concert/show LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 129

However, even though we change our image we are who we are and we will have our own take on each situation we find ourselves in. Many aspects of our Image come from what we have learnt, who we mix with, images that we like and our take on life. We are drawn to certain images and some we don’t feel comfortable with.

CITY CHIC • You shop with care and rarely make rash purchases

What’s your style personality?

• You follow trends rather than high fashion • Your clothes are stylish with a twist, you may add a bright accessory with a simple shift dress

DRAMATIC • You have the latest styles and trends in your wardrobe • Your clothes have to make a statement • You love to shop

www.madeleine.co.uk

www.reiss.com

ROMANTIC • You love pretty detail whether in patterned fabrics or detailed accessories • You like to go into the shops and feel the fabrics, silks, lace, velvets CLASSIC

• You like pretty colours

• You prefer a co-ordinated look • Your clothes are elegant and timeless • Your hair and make-up rarely change www.hobbs.com

NATURAL • You like comfortable clothes • Your jewellery and make-up will be minimal (if any at all) • You like clothes that aren’t too fussy and easy to wear www.next.co.uk

130

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

Look at these images of Nicole Kidman, she has beautiful long, wavy, red hair and her make-up looks very pretty. Her clothes are complimenting her complexion with the lovely warm colours which are in luscious fabrics with very romantic shapes and textures. Her style personality is romantic, pretty and feminine.

www.lancmag.com

CREATIVE • Your wardrobe is full of items from different sources including vintage shops • Shopping is an artform to you • You can mix old with new and clashing prints

Now look at Zandra Rhodes, here seen collaborating with Happy socks for an exclusive selection of bright, cheerful socks. Zandra said “When teaming up with Happy Socks, I said, ‘let’s create something that can cheer us up and make our day just by wearing it,” Rhodes said in a statement. “I hope the

socks spread a little joy and they stand out as a statement piece for everyone!” This is one for the creative ladies and men but I also think we all need some Happy Socks!!

Zandra Rhodes collaborating with Happy socks www.happysocks.com

I hope that this will encourage you to look at your wardrobe and find the clothes that suit your body shape and style personality and if you need any help please let me know. Remember everyone’s style is different, enjoy finding yours and creating your capsule wardrobe! Look after yourselves and each other!

www.lancmag.com

Warm Wishes, Sarah x www.sarahharrisstyle.co.uk sarah@sarahharrisstyle.co.uk

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 131

KEEPING A CHECK ON CHOLESTEROL WHAT IS CHOLESTEROL?

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

Cholesterol is a fatty substance made in the liver and it is present in foods, such as eggs, liver and prawns. Cholesterol is needed in the cells of our body. It helps to make vitamin D and some hormones which keep our bones, teeth and muscles healthy. Cholesterol also helps our digestive system process the fats we eat. Having too much cholesterol in your blood can lead to a build-up in your arteries, which puts you at a higher risk of having a heart attack. There are two main types of cholesterol

Cholesterol travels around the body in our blood and it is present in our cells. We all need some cholesterol to stay healthy, but high levels of cholesterol can increase our risk of heart disease. Nearly half of all adults in the UK are estimated to have high levels of cholesterol in their blood. Many people are unaware that their cholesterol is high because there are usually no symptoms. In this healthy heart tip, we explain what cholesterol is and we provide some tips for keeping your cholesterol levels healthy. 132

Low density lipoprotein (LDL) more commonly known as “bad cholesterol” and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) more commonly known as “good cholesterol”. Too much “bad” LDL cholesterol can increase your risk of heart disease. The role of “good” HDL cholesterol is to transport excess cholesterol back to the liver. Therefore, it is important that you have enough “good” HDL cholesterol and not too much “bad” LDL cholesterol in your blood.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

WHAT CAN I DO TO MAINTAIN A HEALTHY CHOLESTEROL LEVEL? The cholesterol we eat in food has little impact on the level of cholesterol in our blood. Making some simple changes to your lifestyle can help reduce your cholesterol. Reduce the amount of fatty foods you eat Saturated fat increases the amount of “bad” LDL cholesterol in your blood. Saturated fat is found in foods, such as meat pies, sausages, cakes, biscuits, butter, lard, hard cheeses (e.g. cheddar), and foods containing palm or coconut oils. Replace foods that are high in saturated fat with foods containing unsaturated fats such as, olive oil, rapeseed oil, nuts, seeds and oily fish (e.g. salmon and mackerel). Aim for at least one portion of oily fish each week.

www.lancmag.com

Eat more fibre

Reduce your alcohol intake

High fibre foods can reduce your risk of heart disease and help lower the amount of “bad” LDL cholesterol in your blood. Good sources of fibre include fruit and vegetables (eat at least five portions every day), brown rice, wholemeal bread, oats, beans and pulses.

It is recommended that men and women avoid drinking more than 14 units of alcohol each week. Information on alcohol units can be found on the OneYou website: www.nhs.uk/oneyou/for-your-body/drink-less/know-youralcohol-units/

Get active

Take a test

Aim to do 150 minutes of moderate exercise (e.g. brisk walking, swimming or cycling) or any activity which gets your heart beating faster. Active people have increased levels of “good” HDL cholesterol meaning their bodies are good at removing the “bad” LDL cholesterol away from the arteries.

It is recommended that adults over the age of 40, or anyone at high risk of heart disease should get their cholesterol levels checked. If you want a cholesterol check, you should speak to your GP. Anyone can have high cholesterol and it is very common. There are usually no symptoms so, unless you get a test, you may be unaware of your risk of developing heart disease.

Stop smoking Smoking reduces the levels of “good” HDL cholesterol in your blood and this can result in higher levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol. If you would like to stop smoking, you can get help from your GP or the NHS Stop Smoking Service. www.lancmag.com

You can find more healthy tips, recipes and advice at:

heartresearch.org.uk LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 133

WHAT TO DO IF HAY FEVER IS AFFECTING YOUR SLEEP BY AIRBORNE ALLERGENS EXPERT, MAX WISEBERG

f you’re finding that your hay fever is affecting your sleep and impacting on work, study or school, a simple prevention strategy and night time routine could be the answer to your dreams. It’s actually quite easy to get out of this cycle of poor sleep and feeling worse the next day, on top of debilitating hay fever symptoms. Here’s how…

134

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

Z Z

ommon hay fever symptoms can lead to tiredness, fatigue and exhaustion in many people. The condition can also affect how we sleep, cause sleep disturbance and make it difficult to get to sleep in the first place. These symptoms can in turn zap your energy levels, leaving you feeling low and sluggish.

PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE Preventing pollen getting into the bedroom and into your body, together with a simple night time routine could lessen your symptoms and help improve your sleep. DON’T LET THE POLLEN IN! A good start is to keep your bedroom windows and door closed to prevent pollen blowing into the room. If this makes the room too hot, consider using an air filter/purifier with a HEPA (High Efficiency Particle Arresting) filter to capture the pollen and dust particles, and cool and circulate the air.

Vacuum the bedroom regularly, including the bed, curtains and other fabrics to remove pollen particles. Pollen grains come indoors and stick to bedding. So frequent washing, covering the bed with a sheet – which is carefully folded and stored away from the bed during the night, before you get into bed – and turning pillows just before you get in, can help. Damp dust surfaces; damp dusting removes pollen particles without dispersing them into the air where

they can be breathed in. And keep blankets and cuddly toys in a cupboard to prevent the build-up of allergens on them.

Pollen sticks to clothes, too, so taking clothes off and leaving them outside the bedroom can help.

DRY WASHING INDOORS Dry your bed clothes indoors rather than on a clothes line to prevent pollen particles being blown onto the clothes by the outside wind (this also applies to your other clothes). If you do dry outdoors, then only put them out in the middle of the day when pollen counts are lowest. PETS CAN SPREAD POLLEN TOO If you own a pet then ensure that you keep it out of the bedroom. Keeping it well groomed and shampooed will remove pet allergens and pollen particles from its coat.

WASH AWAY THE POLLEN Take a shower or bath before sleeping to remove pollen particles from your hair and body. This will also make you feel more relaxed, which will help you to sleep.

GO BALMY Apply a small amount of HayMax organic drug-free allergen barrier balm (www.haymax.biz) around the nostrils and bones of the eyes before sleeping. HayMax has been proven to trap over a third of pollen before it enters the body [1]. Less allergen, less reaction. Keep a pot next to the bed so it can be re-applied as and when needed. I hope these ideas are helpful to you – do let us know. I’ll be back next month with more info. HAVE A GREAT MONTH!

DRINKS TO AVOID Don’t drink alcohol before bed. Beer, wine and spirits all contain histamine, the chemical that sets off allergy symptoms in your body. In addition to making you more sensitive to pollen, alcohol also dehydrates you, making your symptoms seem worse. And avoid mucus-producing dairy drinks. Excess mucus is exactly what you don’t need if you suffer from hay fever; drink water, fruit tea, herb tea, or non-caffeinated tea instead.

REFERENCE:

[1] Chief Investigator: Professor Roy Kennedy, Principal Investigator: Louise Robertson, Researcher: Dr Mary Lewis, National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit, 1st February 2012.

www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 135

Denise Mullen is a journalist, writer and entrepreneur.

FLIRTASTIC 50TH?

y husband Johnny ‘The Mongoose’ France had been contracting in Cornwall, projectmanaging an enormous dairy that was being refurbished, and working in temperatures of between 30-50 degrees, all in hairy socks, steel-toed boots and padded hi vis jacket. Grumpy . Doesn’t . Cover . It. I recall this interlude in our lives fondly. I remember our chats. It appeared ‘the chafing’ was something for wifely debate during our long-distance calls. I would hear my mother’s voice as I advised him to wear cotton undies, eat plenty of fruit - and tried to talk him out of encasing his feet in some sort of industrial kilt-grade Harris Tweed. Actually I heard someone else’s mother; mine would just encourage him to hit the beer and chafing be damned. Anyway, because of his furry-footed journey to Dante’s Cornwall, I was left to attend a good mate’s 50th bash solo. As ever, terrific company, he and his lovely Mrs were putting on a great night. Knock out food, a bar from Lancashire’s own Spitfire Heritage Gin, lots of interesting folk to talk to, a few of whom I knew, so didn’t feel too shabby about being the one uncoupled middle-ager. That is, until I was approached by a friend of said mate. I always look forward to a good chat with him at the bar of their local pub when J-t-m-F and I are in attendance as he always has something surprising to 136

talk about. Usually the chat wanders hither and thither from wildlife and countryside issues to house clearance vintage finds. Surprising. I was not disappointed. Having referenced the fact that my lovely husband was hot-foot (literally) in the very toe of England said mate-of-mate was straight in with a proposition that had nothing to do with birdlife. He paid me a couple of compliments. OK, that’s fine. Unusual and out of our normal range of topics, but we were at a party, I was on my own, perhaps he’s just being nice I thought to myself. Briskly moving on he offered a few scenarios that were completely left of field. One was going out to dinner. Apparently just the two of us. The other little gem was ‘no one needs to know’. I could see my lovely mates’ eyes riveted on us. Looking after me bless ‘em. I can remember a creeping feeling of, what I can only describe as ‘hoity toity-ness’ rising in a swathe. In fairness it may have been that second G&T, I can’t be sure. Drawing myself up to my full 5ft 6ins – a bit of shallow posturing in hindsight, the man himself is 6f 5ins – I reminded him that J-t-m-F, the man I’m married to, was still my husband. I did so thus. ‘He’s not dead, he’s just in Cornwall!’ He embellished his proposition. Still less than engaged with

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

his suggestion for alternative entertainment, I reminded him that I’m in the kind of marriage where the particular diversion he was suggesting is exclusively reserved for those who’ve signed ‘the contract.’ And that I didn’t recall a third signature on the marriage certificate. He then commenced shouting his mobile number at me. I hiked an eyebrow and announced, loudly: ‘I’m not making any effort to remember that, nor am I writing it down – duh!!’ He flounced out. Having missed the bbq I was now officially squiffy. For some reason I decided to phone J-t-m-F. It was gone midnight. He was now hot – REALLY TIRED – and still grumpy. I didn’t mention the incident. Although in subsequent trips to our mates’ local, said lofty Romeo has endeavoured to hide behind various pillars. I have an etiquette question though. When offered casual sex, does that mean no tie for the gentleman? www.lancmag.com

International Diplomats Welcome World’s First Children’s Embassy Tunisia, Germany, Italy, Romania, Iceland, Denmark, San Marino and Finland support Children’s Embassy at Southport Pleasureland

Merseyside’s international diplomatic community offered its congratulations and well wishes for the opening of the world’s first children’s charity embassy.

Merseyside-based consuls for Tunisia, Germany, Italy, Romania, Iceland, Denmark, San Marino and Finland all formally recognised the new Embassy, with Romanian Hon Consul Mr Viorel Raducanescu attending the inauguration.

longside acceptances from senior diplomats and politicians for Alder Hey Children’s Charity Embassy’s inauguration at family attraction Southport Pleasureland, the ‘world first’ initiative saw a swell of support from foreign Honorary Consuls on a shimmering June morning.

Honorary Consul of Tunisia, Robert Burnett-Hughes wrote: “I know that the improvements at Pleasureland have been a real boost to the resort’s attractiveness and wish that your event and the association with Alder Hey will be very successful. Thank you and good wishes.”

The Embassy was built by Southport Pleasureland CEO Norman Wallis to underpin its partnership with the charity and put the work it does at the heart of a place where so many happy family memories are made.

J.A.Brown, Consul of Iceland wrote: “Best wishes for a successful Embassy launch event.” Honorary Danish Consul to Liverpool, Colin Turner, wrote: “I wish you to have a great and successful day and the weather is kind for you.” Honorary Consul San Marino, Dr Maurizio Bragagni MBA, wrote: “[I was] very pleased to learn about the establishment of the first ever children’s charity embassy and would like to extend [my] warm wishes and every success toward fulfilling its noble mission. The Alder Hey Children’s Charity Embassy at Southport Pleasureland will play an important role in making sure park visitors will consider supporting a charity that is so important to us all and has proven to do such incredible work to improve healthcare.” See the full letter on the next page.

In carriage: Frankie Bowen and his mum. Left to right standing: Pleasureland CEO Norman Wallis, Oli, Alder Hey Children’s Charity CEO Fiona Ashcroft and Southport MP Damien Moore

www.lancmag.com

Pleasureland CEO, Norman Wallis shared a platform with Alder Hey Children’s Charity CEO Fiona Ashcroft as the child-scale Embassy was declared open and the Embassy’s new flag, bearing the new crest, was raised by one of the charity’s child ambassadors. LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 137

By Paul Cusimano, Joseph Clothing, Lancaster It was early March when Linda told me that they had decided to open a second retail store in Lancaster. This was on the back of a torrid twelve months for retailers. “Fortune Favours The Brave”.

Above: ‘Expressions of Lancaster’ Gifts For Every Occasion

Above: ‘Expressions of Lancaster’

‘Expressions of Lancaster’, a beautiful store. Another of Lancaster’s plethora of high quality independent businesses that make Lancaster a fantastic shopping experience.

This is the beauty of owning your own business. You make the choices of which brands to stock. There is often criteria to meet to become stockists of certain brands. To reach agreement with a supplier to have ‘Shop in Shop’ you have to be at the top of your game. Opening a second store in Lancaster gave Linda, Steph and Jeff, the three partners, the space needed.

Opened in 1999 in Marketgate Shopping Centre, it has a real presence. You cannot walk past the double fronted business without looking in their beautifully merchandised windows. Always eye catching.

his gift, jewellery and fashion accessory business, also houses Lancaster’s longest established piercing studio on the first floor. Over the twenty years, the business has grown and more space was required to fully represent the fantastic brands stocked. This was something I understood, as in my business I’m a believer in ‘brand representation’. If you believe in a brand, then you offer your customers a good selection from their range.

138

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

With less than two months to ready the new premises before the end of Lockdown 3.0, it was all hands to the pumps. The physical works and the planning were all being juggled. It had to be right, there was no room for error. The twelfth of April was fast approaching. The day had arrived, and I don’t know how, but ‘Expressions & Co’, sister shop to ‘Expressions of Lancaster’, was ready and open. I called in. Linda and Steph were calmness personified. Jeff was industrious. What a transformation. The shop was beautiful. I was blown away and for once rather speechless. www.lancmag.com

I asked how they had split the ranges between the two shops, which conveniently, are literally a minutes’ walk from each other. Linda explained “In ‘Expressions of Lancaster’ [in Marketgate] we’ve now expanded our range of home and giftware. We’ve now added an adorable new range of baby clothes from ‘Dandelion’ as well as increased the range of ‘Steiff’ teddies, which will include the Collector’s Editions.” Steph told me that there were also new ranges of glasses, frames, home accessories and wellness gifts, adding “With the Piercing Studio still being there, we’ve now the space to increase both our Sterling silver jewellery and ear piercing/body jewellery ranges.” The bookings for their famous piercing studio had gone crazy, so anyone wanting any piercings are advised to ring (01524 380404) to book an appointment. I asked what ‘Expressions & Co’ was and about the timing, given the fact that we were still in a Pandemic. Linda explained, “Following last years two Lockdowns, we were completely overwhelmed by the support we had received from our customers. We had been struggling for space really. When we first opened, the shop was plenty big enough, but as the business has evolved and grown, space became an issue. In order to allow the growth, some hard thinking had to be done.”

www.lancmag.com

Steph added “Lancaster is a City that is full of quality independent businesses. Moving into a bigger store was considered but we feared losing that feel and experience that comes uniquely from the independent businesses. A bigger premises with ‘shop in shop’ collections could have made it more of a ‘department store’ feel for our customers, and we didn’t want to lose our identity.” “It was when we spotted these premises in Sir Simon’s Arcade, which is literally a minutes’ walk away from our store, that everything seemed to make sense, now was the right time to expand. The two stores are connect by Everard’s Way, a short walkway. A second premises in Lancaster, a third overall. Once we secured the new premises, we sought to maximise the time we were afforded by being closed due to the third Lockdown.” This brave move, in the current climate, has allowed the Expressions business to really showcase these two great brands in the way they deserve to be. Like the business, these brands maintain their personal feel, a very exclusive feel.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 139

Left: (L-R) Georgia, Steph, Linda and Molly (Jeff is a little camera shy)

Lancaster is a unique and beautiful City, come and experience all it has to offer. EXPRESSIONS OF LANCASTER 13 - 15 Marketgate, Lancaster LA1 1JF EXPRESSIONS & CO 18 Sir Simons Arcade, Lancaster LA1 1JL

expressionsoflancaster.co.uk 140

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

Our Biggest

SALE

Treat Yourself To A Bargain

Karate Mama! By Kate Gostick

s an over weight, uncoordinated, mother of three, young sons, with a bad back, a husband who works away from home and a chest which no undergarment has yet managed to control during a dogo jog, I was not the ideal candidate for black belt excellence. I’ve never been a natural athlete.

loved them so I decided to give it a go, but didn’t expect to last more than a few months. During my introductory lesson with Sansay Jason, a smily chap with a lot of enthusiasm, I just felt ridiculous. I was so uncoordinated I even struggled with the jab cross. As Jason and I pranced around with the occasional, “hiya” I dreaded my first proper class.

had learnt. My husband, Dominic, started to dread my return as he would be relaxing on the sofa and would be greeted with a, “Can you just strangle me against the wall?” or, “Would you mind just mounting me so I can see if I can buck and roll someone your size?”. Begrudgingly he always obliged as long as he didn’t have to turn off the rugby match he was watching.

At age seven I was expelled from ballet as my lack of coordination apparently put off the other girls in the class. At school I was always the one left when people were picking teams and after several collisions in various aerobics classes, when I bounced off in the opposite direction to everyone else, I came to the conclusion that I should just give up on fitness.

During that first class I never looked in the mirror once. It was bad enough everyone else seeing how terrible I was without it being reinforced by a mirror! I longed for it to end. As I gathered up my things and attempted to make a quick get away someone came up to me to ask if I had enjoyed the class. I said I knew I was terrible and didn’t think I would come for long, but everyone just encouraged me and each week I improved a little bit more.

It was hard to juggle the needs of my kids and my need to go to class. If they had school the next day it seemed unfair to keep them up too late. Then I got glandular fever and had to stop going to class for six months while I got better and even when I went back my energy levels still weren’t what they were.

After the birth of Henry my blood pressure never really went back to normal from my pre eclampsia and my cholesterol was through the roof so I realised if I didn’t want to have a heart attack and I did want to be around for my grandchildren I needed to do something. Several friends had taken up karate classes at a local school and

142

By the first belt test I was actually starting to enjoy myself and by the second belt test I was slightly dedicated, a little bit more motivated and definitely on a quest to do my best, even if that wasn’t quite as good as everyone else’s best. I would go home after class full of energy and excited at what I

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

So there were times when I wanted to quit, but I felt I would be letting people down. If I gave in what sort of example would that be to my kids? By this point I regularly partnered with Evelyn, a tiny Chinese woman who smelt fantastic which is really important when you spend most of the evening with your head in their armpit! Neither of us liked to work with anyone else, so I felt I would be letting her down.

www.lancmag.com

Unfortunately, my glandular fever meant that Evelyn got her black belt before me and I had to struggle through the last part of the programme without her. Karate is the first physical pursuit I have ever stuck at for more than

a couple of months. I was lucky to have a husband who never moaned at me coming to class and would come from work to pick the kids up when he wasn’t travelling. My children have spent many an evening watching their mum being kicked, punched and

generally abused and actually said they quite enjoyed it. Poor little Henry has spent so many hours in his pushchair beside a karate mat that he actually learnt many of the moves and James and Edward have had to do the job of parenting during class time which allowed me to concentrate on what I was doing. My goal was never to be a black belt or a dedicated martial artist, it was just to lower my blood pressure and manage to fit some sort of exercise into my hectic chaotic life so that I could live a longer and healthier life. I may not have looked graceful in my form, or like I could defend myself against even my three year old, but I managed to find time to get fitter. My black belt, therefore, meant everything to me because hopefully I would have many more years of my wonderful and blessed life than I would have done before starting karate and also have more energy to enjoy my time with my amazing little men at home even if it doesn’t help me to control them! Karate made me realise that pushing your boundaries brings with it boundless rewards. Being a full time mum and a trailing spouse means that it is easy to loose who you are as a person and with that your confidence. That feeling of achieving things you thought you never could is empowering. When I later went on to do a master’s degree and learn German, I think it was getting my black belt that made me realise I was more capable than I thought I was and gave me the confidence to power through when things got tough.

www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 143

PASCAGOULA – THE CLOSEST ENCOUNTER

One of the Most Famous UFO Abduction Cases in Modern Times By Jason Gleaves, Ufologist.

In 2015 fellow Ufologist Philip Mantle set up his own small one-man-band publishing outfit called FLYING DISK PRESS, which I have had a few publications.

oday’s easy modern digital technology allowed him to publish on a print-on-demand basis philip’s own books and books by other authors as well. In 2017 he was able to re-publish a book that had originally been published in 1983 by American Ufologist, Wendelle Stevens. This book was ‘UFO CONTACT AT PASCAGOULA’ by Charles Hickson and William Mendez. Charles Hickson was one of the two witnesses to the close encounter at Pascagoula, Mississippi in 1973 and William Mendez was an author and researcher during that period. The other witness involved in this close encounter was Calvin Parker and while he is mentioned in this book it was largely a book by Charles Hickson. Charles Hickson died in 2011 so Philip had the idea of trying to locate Calvin Parker and perhaps asking for an interview which I could use in the re-published book. Eventually Philip managed to track down Calvin Parker and speak to him over the phone. To Philip’s great surprise Calvin was considering writing his own book. That of course caught his attention. But before I tell you what Philip was going to learn about this case from Calvin I think an outline of their encounter might be appropriate to bring you up-to-date. PASCAGOULA, OCTOBER 11TH, 1973. On the evening of October 11, 1973, 42-year-old Charles Hickson and 19-year-old Calvin Parker — co-workers at a shipyard — were fishing off a pier on the west bank of the Pascagoula River in Mississippi. They heard a whirring/ whizzing sound, saw two flashing blue lights, and reported that an oval shaped “craft”, some 8 feet across and 8 or more feet high, suddenly appeared near them. The ship seemed to levitate about 2 feet above the ground. A door opened on the ship, they said, and three creatures emerged 144

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

and seized the men, floating or levitating them into the craft. Both men reported being paralyzed and numb. Parker claimed that he had fainted due to fright. They described the creatures as being roughly humanoid in shape and standing about five feet tall. The creatures’ skin was pale in colour and wrinkled, and they had no eyes that the men could discern, and slits for mouths. Their heads also appeared connected directly to their shoulders, with no discernible neck. There were three “carrot-like” growths instead - one where the nose would be on a human, the other two where ears would normally be. The beings had lobster-like claws at the ends of their arms, and they seemed to have only one leg (Hickson later described the creatures’ lower bodies looking as if their legs were fused together) ending in elephant-like feet. Hickson also reported that the creatures moved in mechanical, robotic ways. On the ship, Hickson claimed that he was somehow levitated or hovered a few feet above the floor of the craft and was examined by what looked like a large footballshaped mechanical eye, about 6 to 8 inches in diameter, that seemed to scan his body. Parker claimed that he could not recall what had happened to him inside the craft, although later, during sessions of hypnotic regression he offered some hazy details. The men were released after about 15-20 minutes and the creatures levitated them, with Hickson’s feet dragging along the ground, back to their original positions on the river bank. Both men said they were terrified by what had happened. They claimed to have sat in a car for about 45 minutes, trying to calm themselves. Hickson drank a small amount of whiskey. After some discussion, they tried to report their story to officials at Keesler Air Force Base, but personnel told them the United States Air Force had nothing to do with UFO reports and suggested the men notify police. At about 10:30 p.m., Hickson and Parker arrived at the Jackson County, Mississippi Sheriff’s office. They brought the catfish they’d caught while fishing; it was the only proof they had to back up their story. Sheriff Fred Diamond thought the men seemed sincere and genuinely frightened and he thought Parker was especially disturbed. Diamond harboured some doubt about the fantastic story; however, due in part to Hickson’s admitted whiskey consumption. www.lancmag.com

THE “SECRET TAPE” Sheriff Diamond interviewed the men, who related their story. After repeated questioning, Diamond left the two men alone in a room that was, unknown to Hickson or Parker, rigged with a hidden microphone. Sheriff Diamond assumed that if they were lying, that fact would become immediately apparent when the two spoke privately. Instead, they continued to talk in the voices of the terribly distressed. This so-called “secret tape” was held on file at the Jackson County Sheriff’s department and has since earned wider circulation amongst UFO researchers and enthusiasts. Parker, who seemed particularly shaken, spoke repeatedly of his wish to see a doctor. A partial transcript of their interrogation and of the “secret tape” is available; immediately below is part of the conversation on the “secret tape”, as transcribed by UFO researchers:

CHARLIE: I don’t know how it opened, son. I don’t know. CALVIN: It just laid up and just like that those son’ bitches-just like that they come out. CHARLIE: I know. You can’t believe it. You can’t make people believe itCALVIN: I paralyzed right then. I couldn’t moveCHARLIE: They won’t believe it. They gonna believe it one of these days. Might be too late. I knew all along they was people from other worlds up there. I knew all along. I never thought it would happen to me. CALVIN: You know yourself I don’t drink.

CHARLIE: I know that, son. When I get to the house I’m gonna get me another drink, make me sleep. Look, what we sittin’ around for. I gotta go tell Blanche... what we waitin’ for? CALVIN: (panicky): I gotta go to the house. I’m gettin’ sick. I gotta get out of here. Then Charlie got up and left the room, and Calvin was alone. CALVIN: It’s hard to believe... Oh God, it’s awful... I know there’s a God up there... Seeing that the police were sceptical of their story, Hickson and Parker insisted that they take lie detector tests to prove their honesty.

CALVIN: I got to get home and get to bed or get some nerve pills or see the doctor or something. I can’t stand it. I’m about to go half crazy. CHARLIE: I tell you, when we’re through, I’ll get you something to settle you down so you can get some damn sleep. CALVIN: I can’t sleep yet like it is. I’m just damn near crazy. CHARLIE: Well, Calvin, when they brought you out-when they brought me out of that thing, goddamn it I like to never in hell got you straightened out. His voice rising, Calvin said, “My damn arms, my arms, I remember they just froze up and I couldn’t move. Just like I stepped on a damn rattlesnake.” “They didn’t do me that way”, sighed Charlie. Now both men were talking as if to themselves. CALVIN: I passed out. I expect I never passed out in my whole life. CHARLIE: I’ve never seen nothin’ like that before in my life. You can’t make people believeCALVIN: I don’t want to keep sittin’ here. I want to see a doctorCHARLIE: They better wake up and start believin’... they better start believin’. CALVIN: You see how that damn door come right up? www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 145

as the most terrifying event in his life, he also noted that he had seen combat in the Korean War, and that he thus had some familiarity with a terrifying experience. The younger Parker, on the other hand, had never suffered through a terrifying encounter, let alone a bizarre confrontation with something that was not even supposed to exist. On 9th September, 2011, Charles Hickson died at age 80, but never backed off the alien abduction story despite ridicule. As noted above, both Parker and Hickson volunteered to take polygraph exams to prove their stories. In the end, only Hickson did so, and the examiner determined that Hickson believed the story about the UFO abduction. AFTERMATH Hickson and Parker returned to work the day after the encounter (Friday, 12th October). They did not initially discuss their purported UFO encounter, but coworkers noted that Parker seemed very anxious and preoccupied. Within hours, Sheriff Diamond telephoned the men at work, stating that news reporters were swarming in his office, seeking more information about the UFO story. An angry Hickson accused Diamond of breaking his confidentiality pledge, but Diamond insisted he had not done so, and that the case was too sensational to keep quiet. Hickson’s foreman overheard Hickson’s side of the conversation and asked what had occurred. Hickson related his story to the foreman and to shipyard owner Johnny Walker. After hearing the tale, Walker suggested that Hickson and Parker contact Joe Colingo, a locally prominent attorney (who was Walker’s brother-in-law and also represented the shipyard).

observing the proceedings. Colingo drew up a contract to represent Hickson and Parker. However, nothing came of this, and Hickson would later have nothing to do with Colingo, charging the lawyer with base financial motivations: Colingo, said Hickson, “just wanted to make a buck.” Within days, Pascagoula was the center of an international news story, with reporters swarming the town. Professor James A. Harder (a U.C. Berkeley engineering professor) and Dr. J. Allen Hynek (an astronomer formerly with Project Blue Book) both arrived and interviewed Parker and Hickson. Harder tried to hypnotize the men, but they were too anxious and distracted for the procedure to work—Parker especially so. Hynek withheld ultimate judgment on the case, but did announce that, in his judgment, Hickson and Parker were honest men who seemed genuinely distressed about what had occurred.

Colingo met the men, and, during their conversation, Hickson expressed fears about having been exposed to radiation. Colingo and detective Tom Huntley then took Parker and Hickson to a local hospital, which lacked the facilities for a radiation test.

Tiring of the publicity, Hickson and Parker went to Jones County, Mississippi (about 150 miles north of Pascagoula), where both men hoped to find relief with family members. Parker was eventually hospitalized for what was described as “an emotional breakdown.”

From the hospital, the men went to Keesler Air Force Base, where they were examined extensively by several doctors. Afterward, reported Huntley, Parker and Hickson were interviewed by the military intelligence chief of the base, with the “whole base command”

In an interview several years after the claimed UFO event, Hickson speculated that Parker fared worse after the encounter because he had never previously experienced a profoundly frightening ordeal. While Hickson described the UFO encounter

146

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

Calvin Parker has avoided most public attention since the event. Hickson appeared on Dick Cavett’s TV talk show in January 1974 and spoke at occasional UFO conferences; he co-wrote a book about the event with William Mendez titled UFO Contact at Pascagoula (1983). CALVIN PARKER – MY STORY As soon as Philip began talking with Calvin he made it abundantly clear that he had never, and I mean never told his side of the story and he now wanted to set the record straight. It wasn’t long before Calvin and Philip decided to work together on his own book which we entitled ‘PASCAGOULA – THE CLOSEST ENCOUNTER, MY STORY BY CALVIN PARKER’. The first thing that Calvin wanted to put straight was his statement that at the beginning of the close encounter in 1973, when he and Charles Hickson saw the 3 humanoid entities ‘float’ out of the craft that he ‘passed out’. This was not true as Calvin had not passed out at all and he had a full recollection of being taken on board the UFO and was subject to a similar ‘examination’ as Charles Hickson was. So why did he and Charles Hickson say that Calvin has ‘passed out’ and they had no recollection of what took place onboard the UFO. Well, the reason behind this was to protect Calvin. He was only 19 years old at the time and Hickson was 42. Throughout this whole affair Charles Hickson had always sought to protect his young friend and he thought to say that he ‘passed out’ and therefore had no www.lancmag.com

memory of the abduction then this would help protect him over time. This is the story that is in Hickson’s book and it is in all the articles written about them. But it was not true. Calvin Parker did not pass out and he had a full recollection of being taken onboard the UFO just the same as Hickson had. Calvin’s recollection of this event features in chapter 2 of his book but it pretty much mirror’s what Charles Hickson had to say and how he described their daunting close encounter. BUDD HOPKINS IN 1993 Calvin had, down the years, lost most of his documentary information about his encounter especially when his home was under 8 feet of water after hurricane Katrina. One thing that Calvin did tell Philip was that in 1993, twenty years after his encounter, he was persuaded by a friend to visit alien abduction researcher and author Budd Hopkins in Florida. Budd was speaking at a UFO conference in Florida and Calvin somewhat reluctantly agreed. For those who are not aware Budd Hopkins was New York artist who probably became the world’s leading researcher of alien abduction cases and he was trained in and used regressive hypnosis to help abductees reveal more of their encounters. He was also an author of such books as ‘MISSING TIME’ and ‘INTRUDERS’. Sadly, Budd Hopkins passed away in 2011. Calvin went on to tell Philip that at his meeting in 1993 with Budd Hopkins that he was offered the chance to have Budd conduct a regressive hypnosis session with him back at his hotel. Again, somewhat reluctantly Calvin agreed. Calvin had no recollection of what transpired during the hypnosis session, but he did inform Philip that the session was tape recorded. Budd had passed away, so Philip decided to asked his long-time friend and colleague Peter Robbins what had happened to all of Budd’s research. Peter informed Philip that it had all been given to another abduction researcher, Dr David Jacobs. So Philip quickly sent an email to Dr Jacobs asking him if he had a copy of the tape from Calvin’s hypnosis session with Budd and thankfully he did and with Calvin’s permission Dr. Jacobs sent Philip a copy. www.lancmag.com

Now this is an old cassette tape and most people don’t have the means to play them as most modern day media is digital today. Thankfully a new one wasn’t that expensive, and Philip was now able to listen to the cassette tape and transcribe it for inclusion in Calvin’s book. The full transcript is in Calvin’s book. The hypnosis session with Budd and Calvin took place on the 14th of March 1993. The first thing that was obvious when listening to the tape was hearing Budd’s voice. Philip knew Budd pretty well and had stayed at his home on one occasion and he was a lovely guy. So slowly but surely Philip managed to painstakingly transcribe the two sides of this tape. There are bits and pieces in the tape where the talking can’t be transcribed as it is just too quiet, but the majority of the tape was good enough to transcribe. There is one section of the tape that was very unpleasant and that’s when you hear Calvin screaming. I mean literally screaming in pain. Thankfully this didn’t last long, and Budd was able to calm Calvin down. To Philip’s surprise and amazement the hypnosis session produced quite a lot of information that had not previously been available. Calvin goes on to describe his encounter with a ‘female alien’ on board the UFO who he believed was going to kill him. I’m currently working on a new graphic novel with Calvin on his abduction experience, Calvin at one point attacked this female alien in an attempt to kill her first and allow him to escape. Calvin also claims that this female alien hurt him and here is a quote from the transcription: CALVIN: And she has something in her hand, (inaudible) …. she’s takes the thing down my nose (inaudible) around my nose and she’s reaching for my lip. And she pulls my lip up and I feel a stinging and my, my blood pressure, I don’t know what it is, and I can’t catch my breath and I’m bleeding and my lip is bleeding and I remember my prayer (inaudible) …what it is. And then the blood just starts rolling, it rolls and (inaudible)……face and she grabs me by the side of the face (inaudible). And all I could think of was killing her, but I knew that I was gonna die in there, (inaudible). Then everything just settles down, so, I just kinda, lowered back down.

BUDD: Now your senses are very, very sharp and clear. Now you know that Charlie has been with you. Do you hear any sounds that would suggest that Charlie is somewhere nearby? Any noises? CALVIN: No sounds, no noises except for, sounds like rain dripping into a bucket, just a steady drip, drip, drip, drip. BUDD: Let’s just see if you could hear Charlie call you. CALVIN: I don’t hear Charlie. BUDD: Okay. (inaudible)…What’s this dripping is this close to you (inaudible)? CALVIN: Close, real close. I’m thinking its blood, my right hand. That bitch just cut my right hand now, I’m bleeding, just a steady drip of blood onto the floor, I can see it, she’s sat there. On the outside of my right hand, she’s cut it. She’s really just pushing me now too far, I will get out of these straps, I will get a hold of her now. There’s no doubt and I’m just fighting with everything I got in me now, because this is getting like, this strictly is not right. BUDD: I’m sure it’s not. She has no right to do this to you without asking your permission. CALVIN: And I don’t know what it is she put in my right hand. And I remember seeing it and I see it now, black and it almost resembles a needle. And there’s a serious cut and now she’s cutting it, it’s really bleeding now; she’s cutting into my right hand, right on the outside. And then, it’s like a miracle, it’s just quit bleeding and it’s healed. BUDD: Okay. CALVIN: But there’s some object, definitely still there, it’s in my hand. BUDD: There’s an object inside your hand? CALVIN: Yeah, she put it in there. BUDD: Okay, you will be able to tell us exactly where that is, and you can point that out to me. Okay, just concentrate where that is in the hand and you can point that out to me. (Inaudible). CALVIN: She’s cleaning my feet and I can see her; she’s pulling and tugging, and I don’t know, I don’t know what she’s doing, she’s, but I feel a real

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 147

BUDD: All over your whole body? CALVIN: Even the bottom of my fingers felt like they’d just exploded. Well she’s done it now; (inaudible)…. She’s leaving now. I’m able to move, I start to feel a little bit better. It still hurts; oh boy does it hurt bad. BUDD: Does it hurt all through your body or is it just in the one place where she injected? CALVIN: All over. BUDD: The whole body? CALVIN: Uh, uh. All over. I’m able to get up now, I’m getting up now and I look at the table but it’s not a table, I don’t know what it is, it’s clear, all the way, but it’s not glass. I put my shoe on and I pull up my pants. BUDD: There’s one thing I want you to do when you’re getting ready there, Calvin, look around and you might see something similar that looks like writing, some kind of funny writing, you might see something like that or maybe you don’t see anything like that, look around and see if you notice anything. On the table or on the wall, or anything, something that looks like kind of funny writing.

serious pain in my left foot where she’s pulling (inaudible)…. she’s really pulling me with some little, and my shoe fell off. And now she’s undone a strap, all the straps, she’s taking the straps off and this is my time to get out of here now, time to go. Tell her adios, I’m going and now I can’t move, just here, the straps are gone but I can’t move. She’s trying to pull my clothes off, and I still can’t move, yet for some reason I just pushed up on my heels and helped her, I’m in total agreement with everything she’s doing now. I don’t care what she (gap in tape for some unknown reason.). I don’t know what this is, I don’t know what she’s trying to do now but it looks pretty serious to me. I can see her sitting her head up and I’m looking now, staring at her. Clothes is down, got blood all over the front of my shirt, and I guess she’s a little (inaudible……..I just wish she’d go ahead and leave me alone, ugh, (inaudible)…..oh, damn, it’s burning all over, it’s going all over. It does, it’s burning. It feels like the blood was pumped out of me, lead inside. She put hot.

(Calvin’s can still be heard making a noise as if in great discomfort and pain). I’m gonna put my hand on your shoulder, as soon as you feel my hand on you shoulder you can breathe, feel my hand on your shoulder you can breathe now, feel, the breath is coming back, your breath is coming back, feel my hand on your shoulder, breath is coming back. Okay, it feels much better, that was bad but now easing off, easing off, easing off (in the background you can hear Calvin’s breathing returning to normal), easing off, you can breathe. That was tough but it’s in the past, now it’s in the past, you’re okay. Tell me what you think happened there; we don’t have to do that again. Just what you feel happened, what do you think happened?

BUDD: Were you (inaudible)?

BUDD: Easy, easy, you’re okay Calvin.

CALVIN: Oh yeah, it was going in and then I felt blood coming out, warm blood. I feel like she changed all my blood out of my veins, I’ve never felt anything that hot (inaudible)….in all my life.

CALVIN: I’m looking at, I’m looking around, I’m looking at the ceiling, I’m looking at the floor and I’m looking around for a door to get out, I know I came through a door. But I see me in a mirror, but I also see something else in the mirror, I’m not there by myself. I have a real strange feeling that I’m being watched, I’m being watched, that’s what I’m feeling, it’s more than that.

CALVIN: (Still makes an awful noise as if suffering in some way).

BUDD: Did you feel it all the way in your hands, your arms and your feet?

BUDD: Do you think one person’s watching or two, or more?

BUDD: Easy, take a deep breath.

CALVIN: It was all over.

CALVIN: No, watch, just watching.

CALVIN: (inaudible)… Christ, oohhhh. (Calvin makes an uneasy noise as if he’s in severe pain).

148

CALVIN: She’s injected something (inaudible). BUDD: Where did inject it? CALVIN: In the side of my hand. BUDD: Did you feel something going in?

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

CALVIN: Ain’t writing. BUDD: You don’t see anything, okay. CALVIN: No writing. BUDD: Okay. Maybe there’s nothing to see then, okay. CALVIN: I see me. BUDD: Okay. You see you. You’re getting up there and you get your shoe back on? CALVIN: Uh, uh. BUDD: You get your pants back on and everything. What do you feel like doing now?

www.lancmag.com

BUDD: Just watching?

BUDD: Right, so it’s hard to tell?

CALVIN: Electricity is bouncing off of the walls (inaudible)…little balls of electricity just bouncing and bouncing. I remember dodging them; I was dodging them there from one side to the other.

CALVIN: Right.

BUDD: When you look in that mirror do you think you can actually see faces in there? CALVIN: Oh yeah there’s faces all in there. BUDD: What do they look like? CALVIN: I don’t know but there’s faces in there. There’s faces all in there. But she’s coming back in the room, the door opens, and I can leave. She walked in and I grabbed her. I got her round her skinny - ass little neck and I’m choking her right now and she’s fixing to go with me. And I’m beating her head against this mirror and there’s some kind of black stuff, yuk, coming out. And then through the door the thing that brought me in and I felt a stinging again. BUDD: Where’s that black stuff coming from, look at the face? CALVIN: She’s got ears; it’s coming out of her ears. BUDD: She’s got big ears, little ears? CALVIN: Oh, she’s got ears like, like us guys, (inaudible)…. bigger, she’s skinny, a skinny little thing. BUDD: What color hair does she have? CALVIN: Her hair was bluish-green, but the lights were bluish-green.

www.lancmag.com

BUDD: Was her hair loose and curly? CALVIN: Yeah, yeah, loose and curly, a lot less of it though. This is just a sample from the entire transcript that is published in full for the first time in Calvin’s book. Whether you feel that regressive hypnosis is a useful tool when investigating such encounters or you are of the opinion that it should not be used at all, you can’t fail to see how it can affect the subject, in this instance Calvin Parker. Calvin’s book brings to light a great deal of new information for the first time. New information on one of the classic close encounters cases of all time. Just to give you an example of what this book contains: 1: Calvin Parker tells his full story for the first time. 2: Not only does Calvin Parker detail the full story in full, he now also supplies details of his other close encounters. 3: Added to this he provides a personal insight into how this event affected him and his family. 4: The book includes a full transcript of the Sheriff’s Departments ‘secret tape’ made only hours after the event. 5: Along with this the also books includes the full transcript of their interview at Keesler Air Force Base the day after the encounter.

6: A real asset for this book is the full transcript of the hypnosis session conducted on Calvin Parker by the late Budd Hopkins in 1993. This tape has never been published before and is a real eye-opener. It is published here exclusively for the first time in full. 7: The book of course is also be fully illustrated. As a UFO researcher for over 40 years now the Pascagoula encounter is one that has always fascinated and intrigued me in equal amounts. As a result, it was real pleasure to work with Calvin Parker and help bring his side of the story to the public domain. Calvin Parker’s full story is told here for the first time and I sincerely hope that you will be as fascinated and intrigued by it as I am. PASCAGOULA – THE CLOSEST ENCOUNTER is out now in paperback and kindle formats on Amazon. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Philip Mantle is a long-standing UFO researcher and author from the UK. He was formerly the Director of Investigations for the British UFO Research Association and the MUFON Representative for England. He is the founder of FLYING DISK PRESS and can be contacted at: http://flyingdiskpress.blogspot.co.uk/ Jason Gleaves, author of ‘UFO PHOTO’ and ‘The Ufology Umbrella’ published by Flying Disk Press- available on Amazon in paperback and kindle format.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 149

Liverpool’s Ian Prowse

BACK ON THE ROAD

FRIDAY 23RD JULY - LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC - ACOUSTIC SATURDAY 24TH JULY - LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC - FULL BAND The Merseyside songwriter and frontman from Amsterdam and Pele is a cult figure with music fans and stellar musicians. With hits such as the John Peel favourite ‘Does This Train Stop on Merseyside’ and the mighty singalong ‘Fireworks’ track.His 2019 album ‘Here I Lie’ was released to widespread critical acclaim.

is 2019 album lead to Elvis Costello personally inviting Ian to be main support on his UK tour starting on the album release day. Available online and at his UK shows, The Story of Ian Prowse is packed with eighteen tracks of golden songwriting spanning thirty years. Heartache, Injustice and the maddening wonder of this life 150

has been the driving force behind the story of Ian Prowse’s career as a musician, singer and song writer. If you could boil the last 30 years and eight official albums down to one word it would have to be… conviction. The absence of a big hit single means Ian isn’t necessarily in the hearts of the masses, but his songmanship has kept him firmly in the minds of songwriters like Elvis Costello, Christy Moore, Baz Warne (from the Stranglers), Miles Hunt (from The Wonder Stuff) and Damian Dempsey. Both Elvis Costello and Christy Moore sing duets with Ian on this album. The people who have welcomed Ian Prowse into their own stories have become fierce devotees of his music. Whether it be from his first band Pele, Amsterdam or as himself.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

As Ian himself says “Pele, Amsterdam, me, it’s all the same thing, they’re all a vessel for my songs”. “I hit the opening A minor chord of Funeral Pyre by The Jam at my very first gig in 1982, there began my musical journey, I’ve been hitting every chord through hundreds of shows with the same passion ever since.” Here’s some of his best recordings so far, it’s a story of one man’s music. And we’re sure he’s not done yet: https://soundcloud.com/user32311047/sets/the-story-of-ianprowse/s-cWulg For more information on Ian Prowse, go to: www.amsterdam-music.com. www.lancmag.com

From the pristine white-sand beaches of Thailand’s idyllic islands to the sprawling wide-open roads of the USA; the historic and breathtakingly beautiful architecture of India to the crystal-clear turquoise waters of the Maldives – there’s a world of wonder out there and it’s just waiting to be explored. Why not head to my website; www.tctravelmanagement.co.uk/karla.mcculloch where you will find all the fantastic offers I have available for you. You can also email me: karla.mcculloch@travelcounsellors.com or pick up the phone on 0161 744 0025, where I will be available to help with any questions, help or advice. Karla McCulloch, Travel Counsellor Your personal Travel Expert N 0161 744 0025 E karla.mcculloch@travelcounsellors.com D www.tctravelmanagement.co.uk/karla.mcculloch

Karla McCulloch

f all the things that could have gone wrong, this could only have happened to me! 10 days before our much needed and planned Christmas holiday I broke my leg while playing netball. I will never forget the moment I was told that I needed an operation and would therefore be unable to travel. The feelings of guilt, disappointment and upset that my family wouldn’t be able to, as planned for over a year, actually travel was huge. However,

152

after a few days of tears and pain I realised that there are so many more important things such as health and my family all being together that were so much more important and that there would always be next year’s holiday to look forward to and plan. Thankfully, my travel insurance covered the full cost, so we did not lose out financially and as soon as I was on the road to recovery, I immediately stated planning the next vacation. Once you have the

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

travel bug in your blood it is one of the most important factors, as we all work so hard, we also must have those special locations and memories to make it all so much more worth it. After the bad start to the year, I was determined to make the next holiday the one that would be the best so started thinking here would be the place to go. With so many amazing destinations which are open to us in the UK the selection process is sometimes harder because we have

www.lancmag.com

so much choice with the world being so much more accessible on every aspect now. So, we finally agreed that Jamaica would be the one, we had visited for a day on a cruise a few years ago and fell in love with the people and rum of course! So we booked in the January and then Covid hit in the March. We couldn’t have been so unlucky could we? Obviously travel came to a grinding halt and I then spent the next 6 months focusing on my customers bookings rearranging, cancelling, then rearranging again, chasing refunds again and just making sure that all my wonderful clients knew exactly what was happening with their dreams and plans at all times. Unfortunately the whole experience was beyond anyone’s control and truly has to be the hardest times ever in the travel industry for everyone concerned. Having worked in travel for 20 years I have worked through carious country strikes, Ash clouds stopping travel in Europe for days upon days, Tsunami’s, tornadoes, hurricanes bit nothing could be compared to the Covid Pandemic. However the network that we have supporting us at Travel Counsellors is absolutely fantastic with over 1900 of us globally if there was something I needed help with it was never an issue. I made sure that all my clients and friends knew I was available to help at any time even if a friend of a friend had not booked with me but someone else and they were having issues with getting answers that I would help them as there were so many people who were struggling to even get a call answered due to the sheer volume of enquiries from everyone. I can say the only really

www.lancmag.com

bad experience I had was with one of our suppliers unfortunately whom would not permit a refund or even a date change on a villa (we no longer use this commonly thankfully). After many calls and emails to them I eventually got them to agree that they would give me a travel voucher to be used for future travel. After speaking to my client I agreed I would refund them for their full value and I would retain the voucher as I could easily repackage this once the travel routes permitted travel again of course. I believe this is why we are now all seeing a surge towards people booking with travel agents and away from the online DIY booking systems as with a trusted travel expert such as myself all the stress and worry everyone has experience over the last 15 months is taken out of your

hands. I began my career nearly 20 years ago working for CO-OP travel on the worldwide and tailor made department. After a few years there I then moved into the corporate business travel sector for a company called Key Travel. This company was a specialist company whom dealt with Charity travel for organisations such as Save The Children, Comic Relief, Samaritans Purse, Amnesty International to name just a few. So my daily bookings at this time would not be to mainland Spain for a week or two but tickets for missionaries to Kabul or to Africa to help with aid relief, to all the places where aid where is essential and drastically needed. We also dealt with many academic organisations such as University’s, medical organisations, religious organisations and a few corporate engineering companies also. I stayed her for 10 years and

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 153

during my time here I also worked on the emergency 24 hours call out service where I would take calls in emergency aid situations. One of them I remember was when the Tsunami hit Asia in 2011. The whole team were on hand to help get as many people home as possible but also get as many relief workers out to help rescue people for days! This was just one major situation I assisted to get people help and believe after 6 years of working on this team I have pretty much encountered most travel situations that you could possibly think off! So after many years of working in this field I took the plunge and at the end of February 2020 I took the plunge and opened my own business travel franchise with Travel Counsellors. With nearly 20 years’ experience in travel you can be assured that you are in safe hands. The year of 2020 started with a boom for me as I had a couple of clients whom started booking business travel with me immediately but obviously once the pandemic really took hold and travel was halted , things slowed down considerably. So the

154

months of April, May and June were spent helping clients and colleagues rearrange or obtain refunds for our clients and as you can imagine the sheer volume of these were in the thousands. I am pleased to say not one of my clients was not left with an option of a refund however, even if it meant it coming out of my own account as I truly believed that even if some suppliers were being awkward their was no way this would impact my customers! Since then we have obviously had travel corridors reopen a few times so I have still be working throughout helping people get that holiday overseas where possible, if not possible abroad we really do have some of the most beautiful hidden gems within the UK for a staycation. In fact the surge for stay cations this past year has been massive and why not. Not only are we giving a boost to our own economy which has suffered significantly during the pandemic but we have so much to offer from caravans, camping, luxury lodges with hot tubs, quaint charming cottages to castles and amazing scenery to hike in, would be crazy to not take this precious

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

time out with our loved and cherished and make those special memories while adhering to travel guidelines. So did we make it to Jamaica? No I am afraid not but we did reschedule it to travel this Christmas instead. After the initial disappointment again after a few weeks we decided we would take the plunge and book that bucket list destination, the Maldives for December 2020 instead. So within 3 weeks of booking and departure I had to arrange the required paper work and PCR testing requirements for both leaving the UK, arriving into the Maldives and then returning. Which I can assure

www.lancmag.com

you was a little stressful but actually ran smoothly with some expert help from myself of course! I can say that flying over the crystal clear blue sea and stunningly beautiful islands on the seaplane we arrived at our final destination finally. Remembering the feeling of climbing down the steps and being hit by the heat and smells of sunshine and sea, well this was amplified even more when surrounded by exotic palm trees and the noises of the bats in the background of the lush Jungle that surrounded the beach bungalows. At last we could finally relax and begin the holiday of a lifetime. So if you’re on the lookout for an experienced trusted travel agent to help you navigate this new normal as we head towards a brighter future then please do not hesitate getting on touch with me. With regular offers, updates on all the latest travel news, advice and inspirational plans for your bucket list vacation, I am here to help and

www.lancmag.com

make those dreams come true! With still so many mixed messages from the Government on international travel please rest assured I am able to help, give advice or just confirm if you are doing the right thing , then please do get in touch. I truly believe the skies are going to be open again soon for us all to go and get that just off the plane hit of sunshine and smell of holidays in the air. Why not head to my website; www.tctravelmanagement.co.uk/karla.mcculloch where you will find all the fantastic offers I have available for you. You can also email me: karla.mcculloch@travelcounsellors.com or pick up the phone on 0161 744 0025, where I will be available to help with any questions, help or advice. Please keep your eye out for my monthly travel news and top tips as I will be joining you every month through 2021.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 155

THE INTREPID SIR HENRY SEGRAVE By Margaret Brecknell

Above: Sir Henry Segrave at the 1921 French Grand Prix

On Friday 13th June 1930 a tragic accident occurred on Lake Windermere during an attempt to set a new water speed record. The famous racing driver, Sir Henry Segrave, was killed, together with one of his mechanics, Victor Halliwell. The other mechanic on board, Michael “Jack” Willcocks, was seriously injured, but survived the crash. The news of Segrave’s death, at the age of just 33, sent shockwaves across the entire racing world, where he was a highly respected and popular figure. 156

orn 125 years ago on 22nd September 1896, Henry Segrave packed a lot into his sadly all too brief life. A British national, Segrave was born in Baltimore, Maryland, of an Irish father and American mother. He spent his early childhood years in Ireland, before coming to England to be educated at Eton College. Segrave turned eighteen as World War I was breaking out in September 1914 and was soon displaying the same courage and determination that would later serve him so well in his racing career. Having been commissioned as an officer in the British Army, he was seriously wounded on the battlefield in May 1915 during a hand-to-hand fight with a German soldier. Undeterred

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

by this near brush with death, Segrave decided to join the fledgling Royal Flying Corps (the forerunner of the RAF) and became a fighter pilot. Only a few months into his flying career Segrave was involved in another hair-raising incident when the fighter plane which he was piloting was struck by enemy gunfire and plummeted some 7000 feet to the ground. Miraculously he was found in the plane’s battered cockpit, which had lodged in a tree, and survived the crash, but because of his injuries was compelled to spend the rest of the war working as a technical adviser on the ground.

www.lancmag.com

k! oo K ur b O ce nU e Fa Se n ee s o Cl ew vi EE

Professional & Reliable Cleaning Solutions

Providing High-Quality Cleaning Services to Domestic and Commercial Properties

UPVC & Window Cleaning

Jet Washing Driveways & Patios

Professional Gutter Clearing

Internal Commercial Cleaning

Why Choose EE Cleen UK?

Here are just some of the many reasons why our customers choose us:

• We build customer relationships based on reliability and integrity • Our team are uniformed, fully trained and compliant • We text our customers prior to a service Scan here for our so they know when to expect us contact details! • We are passionate about what we do

Contact Our Friendly Team! For a free and competitive quote, get in touch with us via telephone, Facebook, Instagram or our website.

N +44 (0)79 8375 8000 E hello@eecleenuk.co.uk

www.eecleenuk.co.uk

By the time the war finished in 1918, Segrave had risen to the rank of Major. On leaving the armed forces, it soon became clear that he was looking for a new challenge. The young daredevil had shown a keen interest in cars and motorcycles since his teenage years and now, in his early twenties, Segrave began to boast that he would be the first man to achieve a speed of over 200mph in a purposebuilt motor vehicle. So preposterous did this claim seem at the time that some of his critics suggested that the war had driven him mad. In the spring of 1920 Segrave raced for the first time at the Brooklands circuit in Surrey, then the premier venue for British motor racing. He quickly rose to stardom in his chosen sport, winning only his second race, and the following year he hit the headlines when at Brooklands he won the 200-Mile Race, the first longdistance race to be held in Britain. His impressive performances earned him a highly coveted place in the prestigious Sunbeam-TalbotDarracq racing team and the driver began to enjoy success in Europe as well as at home. In 1923 he became the first driver to win a Grand Prix in a British-made car with his victory in the French Grand Prix at Tours. However, after two further Grand Prix wins, Segrave stepped back from motor racing to take on the challenge of breaking the world land speed record. In the spring of 1926 the driver arrived in Southport to make an attempt on the record. The resort’s long sandy beach was ideal for motor racing and had been a popular venue for the sport since its earliest days. Segrave himself was no stranger to Southport. He had first raced in the town some six years earlier and only two months previously, in January 1926, had competed successfully in the Southport Speed Trials, winning all four races which he had entered. On 16th March 1926, watched by a large crowd on Ainsdale Beach, Segrave set a new land speed record in a Sunbeam Tiger, nicknamed “Ladybird”, which had been specially built for the occasion. His speed of more than 152 mph surpassed the record which had been set the previous year by his great friend and 158

rival, Malcolm Campbell. Segrave’s name lives on in Southport to this day in the form of the JD Wetherspoon pub on Lord Street. His record was broken just a month later by the Welshman, John Parry-Thomas, but in regaining it the following year at Daytona Beach in Florida, Segrave achieved his longheld ambition of becoming the first person in history to travel on land at over two hundred miles per hour. The driver set his third and final land speed record in March 1929, when, racing in the iconic Golden Arrow at Daytona Beach, he travelled at 231.45 miles per hour. Only two days later, as Segrave looked on, the American driver, Lee Bible, crashed at the same venue whilst trying to beat the record. The Englishman was one of the first people to reach the scene, but Bible had been killed instantly, together with a cameraman, Charles Traub, who had been filming the record attempt. Segrave’s tribute to the American driver on the day after the tragedy provides a fascinating insight into his own attitude towards the risky business of motor racing, “Deeply as I regret the sad occurrence, I wish to say that Mr Lee Bible, like others who have lost their lives in motor racing, has not died in vain. High-speed racing has been the chief source of the development of safe and efficient motor cars for general use.” Segrave would not make another attempt on the land speed record, as by this juncture he already had another target in his sights. The Englishman had first stated his intention of aiming for the water speed record some two years previously, declaring that “We’ve won the records we wanted on land and in the air. What England wants now is the water speed record.” Throughout the 1920s the American powerboat racer, Gar Wood, had been dominant in the water and had set a string of new world records in the process. Now, after his third successful shot at the land speed record in Daytona, Segrave travelled to Miami with a view to competing against Wood. In a boat which had been specially constructed for the occasion, Miss England I, the British

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

racer became the first person to defeat the American on the water in over nine years. Following his accomplishments in the USA, Segrave returned home as a national hero and was awarded a knighthood. The telegram he received from the then monarch, King George V, read, “On your arrival home I send you my hearty congratulations on your splendid achievement in winning for Great Britain the World’s Speed Record for motorcars, and on your success in the race for the International Speed Boat Trophy.” The following June, Segrave headed to the Lake District for an assault on the water speed record in Miss England II. Like its predecessor, the finance for the development of this boat, which is estimated to have cost the then substantial sum of £25,000, had come from Lord Wakefield, the English businessman who had founded the Castrol lubricants company. An early hint of the tragedy which was to follow came on the day before the record attempt when during a test run the blade of the propeller snapped off and grazed the bottom of the boat. On returning to land, Segrave remarked that, “We were very lucky that the blade did not come right through the bottom.” Segrave was fully aware of the risk involved in racing on the water at high speed and the fact that if his boat turned over during the attempt, he might well be killed, bearing in mind the impact with which he would hit the water. He is known to have previously had at least one narrow escape when in 1928 his boat overturned in the Solent during a practice run, although he himself maintained that one of his luckiest escapes came not during one of his speed trials on land or water, but on The Strand in London when he had stopped the car to light a cigarette. A lorry crashed into the back of his stationary car, almost smashing it to pieces, and Segrave was only saved from serious injury by the fact that he was thrown from the car on impact. On the early afternoon of Friday 13th June 1930, a large crowd gathered on the shores of Lake Windermere, in glorious weather, to witness Segrave’s attempt on the water speed record. www.lancmag.com

As Segrave took the helm, he quipped, “I will break the record or the propeller this time”. After covering a measured mile up the lake, the boat turned and successfully covered a second mile back down the lake. Miss England II turned to make its way back up Windermere again and it was on this third lap that disaster struck. An eye-witness account from the time reported that suddenly the boat “seemed to swerve violently and plunge beneath the water. The people on either side screamed. A huge mass of white spray went up and it was several seconds before the graceful craft was seen again. Then the sight was worse than the greatest fears. The boat emerged bottom upwards, with a large hole in the hull.” Immediately a dozen speedboats rushed to the scene. Sir Henry Segrave was dragged from the water with serious injuries, together with one

of his engineers, “Jack” Willcocks, who was also badly hurt. The body of the other engineer on board, Vic Halliwell, was only recovered several days later. Segrave was taken to a private home on the west side of Lake Windermere, where he was attended by three doctors, but died of his injuries later the same day. Shortly before he died, he is said to have been given the news that he had successfully broken the water speed record, clocking up an average speed of some 98.8mph over his first two completed runs. Only the following year the American Gar Wood would regain the record. The cause of the accident has never been fully established. When the wreckage was recovered a couple of weeks later, a large hole was discovered in the boat’s hull, implying, perhaps, that whilst travelling at top speed the Miss

England II had collided with a large object, such as a tree branch, floating on the water’s surface. It has also been suggested since that the tragedy may have been caused by a defect in the boat’s design. At the opening of the inquest into Segrave’s death, the Coroner commented that, “Some may think this is a case of a life being recklessly thrown away, and perhaps there may be something in that.” There seems little doubt that Segrave himself would have vehemently disagreed with this remark. Shortly before his death he is known to have been making plans for his own attempt on the air speed record. Possibly his only regret would have been that having achieved the distinction of holding the land and water speed records simultaneously, he did not live long enough to fulfil his ambition of holding all three records at the same time.

Above: Sir Henry Segrave pub in Southport

www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 159

Five Star Podcast Series

BABBLE & FROTH

Releases Ten Episode Series and Launches Website

omedy/drama audio series set within a bustling local cafe, Babble & Froth has released its 10-episode series and launched its website. Running between 9-12 minutes, audiences are invited to be a fly on the wall and experience the diversity of individual conversations with each episode. Created within the parameters of lockdown, producing team Nick Bacash and Rebecca Jo Hanbury were inspired to develop a new project - one that kept social distancing realistic without compromising on story and characters. Set in a café, Babble & Froth invites audiences to be a fly on the wall and listen in on a diverse range of compelling and engaging conversations with a multitude of characters. Covering themes of the global pandemic, online dating, breakup revenge, the terms of modern relationships, parental dynamics, Nick Bacash said of the series, “Within any conversation there are range of emotions that we experience, and we wanted the audience to connect with as many as possible, so their listening experience was memorable. And what better place to have these discussions than a café, a familiar setting for a range of diverse conversations.”

Babble & Froth cast includes acclaimed comic Tiff Stevenson, Suzanne Ahmet (Adult Material, Doctors, EastEnders), Garnon Davies (Hollyoaks, Holby City), Dan March (Johnny English Strikes Back), Renee Alleyne (KISS FM radio artist), Damian Lynch (Acclaimed Audio Books Narrator), Peter Ashmore (Holby City, The Bill) along with the two creators Nick Bacash and Rebecca Jo Hanbury. “We’re both fans of Podcasts so the idea of developing an audio project was a really exciting prospect, and the perfect (remote working) creative outlet for us. It was important for us to be inclusive and diverse without being tokenistic, but also representative; it’s a fine line and something that is always in the back of our mind when casting. The beauty of audio is that anyone can play anyone, and we tend to write a lot where characters gender, ethnicity, accent and age are all completely open. It’s much more fun casting that way and it’s far more interesting to listen to,” said Rebecca Jo Hanbury.

A B O V E : Rebecca Jo Hanbury B E LO W : Nick Bacash

Available on Apple Podcasts and all major podcasting platforms, Babble & Froth has received five-star ratings on Apple Podcasts and have charted high in US Comedy and UK Performing Arts. The series is also available on http://babbleandfroth.com

BABBLE 160

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

BA B BL E & F R OT H C AST:

Charlotte Jo Hanbury

Damian Lynch

Dan March

Garnon Davies

Jo Kemp

Karise Yansen

Kelsey Griffin

Pete Ashmore

Renée Alleyne

Suzanne Ahmet

Tiffany Stevenson

Tom Mumford

REBECCA JO HANBURY Originally from South Wales Valleys, Rebecca trained Classically in singing and as an actress at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic art, graduating from the same class as Natalie Dormer, Rupert Friend and Tom Mison. Rebecca has worked in theatre and television in both the UK and Australia. Acting credits include It’s A Date, EastEnders, Holby City, and TV movie Black Book. Rebecca has written and produced a number of short films, pilots and a wide range of online content, working predominantly in comedy. NICK BACASH Nick trained at the Melbourne Actors Studio, then headed to London to pursue his passion for performing. Acting credits include the awarding winning Sweet As, Blind Date and Into the Sea.

Upon returning to Melbourne, he developed more screen credits, appearing in Neighbours, The Meeting, Behind Closed Doors, A New Beginning and various TV commercials. His passion for writing inspired a theatre production he cocreated with Rebecca called Stolen Moments - short scenes performed in a monthly showcase – that also featured in the Melbourne Fridge Festival. Nick moved into directing once returning to the UK, where his credits include various commercial content with celebrity talents such as David Walliams, Helena Christensen and Laura Jackson. PRODUCERS’ STATEMENT Creating a podcast with zero budget, no previous experience, while raising two children and dealing with the uncertainties of a pandemic was a challenge. Yet it provided a much-needed distraction,

enabling us to channel our passion for writing and performing. We knew we wanted to create scenarios and characters that reflect a diverse range of common and unfamiliar themes that people from all walks of life experience. It felt like an exciting approach to inspire an audience to listen. We had some equipment, but no budget and given the fact most actors are currently out of work, we weren’t sure if people would be willing to volunteer their time. We asked around and had such an incredible response to the concept and scripts; it wasn’t long till we were in full rehearsal mode, then into recording and postproduction. We’re so excited to have launched the podcast, and hope audiences have an enjoyable listening experience. For further information Contact Sanam Hasan on: E shasanpr@gmail.com D babbleandfroth.com

&FROTH www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 161

Morecambe Bay to Play Key Role in Pandemic Recovery • Pioneering project to fight lockdown loneliness in the north west by harnessing natural beauty of Morecambe Bay • Health and environmental organisations join forces, with support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery

etails of a project at Morecambe Bay designed to fight the isolation and loneliness caused by the Covid-19 pandemic have been announced today, after it was awarded £880,000 in funding raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. Around 400 people experiencing poor mental health will be prescribed nature by GPs and other health care professionals. People referred to the project will spend time surrounded by the natural beauty of Morecambe Bay, with growing evidence showing that more time in nature helps improve mental health.

162

Known as “The Bay: A Blueprint for Recovery”, the initiative brings together Lancashire Wildlife Trust, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, the Eden Project and Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust. It has been funded by players of People’s Postcode Lottery and awarded as part of the Postcode Recovery Fund, which is designed to help communities recover from problems exacerbated by the pandemic. Activities participants will take part in include guided walks to discover marine life, beach cleans and coastal art, enabling local people to take advantage of the therapeutic benefits of the coastal environment while encouraging conservation of this internationally significant site, which is under threat from climate change. Recognised as a Special Protection Area, Morecambe Bay is one of the most important areas for birds in all of Europe. With over 250,000 birds flying in every year, there are more birds in north west England in winter than summer because so many overwinter at Morecambe Bay. The mudflats from Barrow to Fleetwood provide a vital feeding ground for the lapwing, curlew and redshanks. Warton Crag, which overlooks the whole bay, is home to rare butterflies including the Pearl-bordered fritillary and the world’s fastest creature, the peregrine falcon.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

Above: Purple Sandpiper by Peter Smith

www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 163

Steve Finch Photography

Laura Chow, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery said: “The past year has seen people across the country face many challenges, including struggling with loneliness and isolation. “We are excited to be a part of this inspiring project, which will give local NHS services an added support system and make the most of Morecambe Bay, by protecting its natural habitats and promoting positive mental health across the local community. Above: Oystercatcher by Peter Smith

Tom Burditt, the Chief Executive of Lancashire Wildlife Trust said: “Our wildlife at Morecambe Bay is internationally important and the spectacular vistas and cacophony of bird sounds across the bay are genuinely awe-inspiring. “At the moment we are facing challenges environmentally and socially, in terms of climate change and our mental health. This project offers an ambitious solution to address both. 164

“Re-connecting with nature can have a positive impact on people’s wellbeing. Taking time to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the seaside together is a wellknown method of helping combat depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. “Thanks to support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, The Bay will celebrate what nature can offer us and create an exciting range of opportunities for the whole community to come together and enjoy.”

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

“Player funding, through the Postcode Recovery Fund, supports the immediate community needs intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic.” Conservation and protection of Morecambe Bay’s wildlife will also play a large part in the project. The area has gained international significance due to its biodiversity with a huge variety of species, including curlew, redshank and sanderling among others. The two-year project will recruit a team of 12 and offer six traineeships to young people and the long-term unemployed. www.lancmag.com

Above: Turnstone by Peter Smith The Lancashire Wildlife Trust The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside is dedicated to the protection and promotion of the wildlife in Lancashire, seven boroughs of Greater Manchester and four of Merseyside, all lying north of the River Mersey. It manages around 40 nature reserves and 20 Local Nature Reserves covering acres of woodland, wetland, upland and meadow. The Trust has 30,000 members, and over 1,200 volunteers. To become a member of the Trust go to the website at www.lancswt.org.uk or call 01772 324129. For more information about Cumbria Wildlife Trust email: mail@cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk or go to www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk

www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 165

“FLAVOURS”

The Atkinson, Lord Street, Southport PR8 1DB 7th August - 4th September 2021

www.theatkinson.co.uk Experienced textile artist, Carole Dawber, has been stitching the midnight oil away preparing for her forthcoming exhibition at The Atkinson in Southport.

A graduate of the celebrated Liverpool Art School (now Liverpool John Moores University) from the 1970’s - a time when John Lennon’s autograph was still in evidence on the Lecture Theatre desks – Carole describes her time studying in Liverpool as ‘magical’.

lthough Carole experiments across many different mediums and artistic styles, she is best known for her authentic and detailed stitch portrayals of garden flowers. The honesty of her rendition is testament to her perseverance to generate fabric renditions of nature.

“All I did all day was draw and paint, work with fabric, design clothes, and create by taking risks and having fun. The most inspiring artists, tutors and musicians surrounded me. It was awesome. There were no limits to imagination. I met such amazing people, all of whom just loved creativity for the idea of invention.”

Carole comments that her exhibited stitch pieces will form part of her ‘Bouquet in a Vase Series’ of embroideries that revisit the joy of an unexpected gift or the insight that flowers endow on the recipient. The fragility of reclaimed Sari Silks have been skilfully manipulated to capture the fleeting beauty of heady bouquets of flowers that all too often quickly fade. The colour and freshness of these blooms is inherent in Carole’s reinvention through mediums of hand dyed, reclaimed Sari Silk and expressive hand stitch. 166

During the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977, Carole’s research into fabric dying from natural sources while still a student at Liverpool, earned her the accolade of being awarded a lifetime Fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts. Carole’s degree garment collection at Liverpool was subsequently put on display in London at Dickens and Jones store in Regent Street and was applauded by fashion editor, Prudence Glynn, in a TIMES’ editorial. However, she confesses that her lasting memory

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

will always be selling knitwear samples at the subsequent ‘INDIGO’ trade fair in Paris to none other than Yves Saint Laurent Couture. “I loved every minute of it!” Attention to colour has always played a vital role in Carole’s design ethic. “I love the alchemy of colouring cloth through dye. Even before undertaking my journey through Art School I learned to stencil and print images on my own clothes. Using my mum’s twin tub washing machine (causing a myriad of tints in the weekly white washing load!) I experimented with very rudimentary tie-dye techniques. The Aladdin’s cave that the Dye Lab opened up at the Art School was just further encouragement in my need to colourise fabrics for my art practice. The training I received in mixing commercial dyes, and extracting and experimenting with natural dye stuffs, has lead to a life long passion of transforming yarn and fabric into jewel-like colours.” As a freelance fabric designer during the 80’s, Carole regularly exhibited at trade fairs in Europe. “Dying my own yarns rekindled my www.lancmag.com

love for the inner glow that Acid Dyes brings to wool and silk fibres. The luminosity in the shades of colour that emerges within the fibres is so intense that it often takes my breath away. Often in a week of dying I would become addicted to what would emerge from the next dye test. It was at this point that I finally let go of the rulebook and allowed instinct and, perhaps experience, take over.” Twenty years later, Carole, has now thrown off the commercial demands of industry and believes she has discovered her ‘own’ artistic voice that allows her to unrestrictedly articulate her personal concepts and ideas. “Composition and content have been a struggle because design training focuses on pattern, rhythm and repeat rather than allowing a single unified image the indulgence of its own space. In developing ideas I usually work within linking themes. Often they overlap, or emerge from previous stimuli, that I have exploited throughout my creative journey.” Carole is amused she has retained the imagination and ability to dream from childhood and frequently wonders what she will do when she grows up. “Sometimes I forget how thread and needle has become like pen and ink to me. My earliest memories revolve around my Nana teaching me to crochet using just my fingers and then showing me how to peg a rag-rug using real ‘dolly’ clothes pegs. I treat thread and yarn as familiar companions often using the rhythm of stitch as a mind sanctuary to daily worries. It has been my companion www.lancmag.com

for so long I often forget its importance to my creative practice.” Acknowledging the pivotal role that flowers have played in the history of textile design, Carole feels she has charted her own course. “My floral textile pieces over the past few years have developed from simplified graphic depictions of garden and flower forms to more emotive still life captures of colour, form and expression. I love the variety of colour that flowers offer together with their uniqueness of form, petal structure and leaf. It is often too easy to generalise about a flower often resulting in a cliché, childlike representation. When interpreting a flower form I undertake an almost a forensic approach. Does the flower have 5 or 6 petals; are there additional inner forms; what shape is the leaf; what is the bud like?” Carole relies on her meticulously chronicled journals as support for her later reinventions. “I like to draw from life or photograph the various positions that the flower head can be viewed as I find this adds dynamic to my portrayal. Recording all of this as sketches, notes and now digitally, I am also subconsciously thinking how the increased visual depth created with thread can be added through hand stitch forms.” Carole has constructively responded to the challenges forced by the recent lockdown on all practicing artists. “During this time of enforced reflection I have revisited my artistic

journey over the last two decades resulting in a re-examination of the subjects and influences of earlier work. After a hesitant approach, and often disappointing result of the depiction of cut flowers, I resorted to previous methods of silk cut appliqué. Time and experience resulted in a more confident and critical approach to my interpretations. Certainly I have used more consideration about placement and composition in the overall image.” Explaining her current ‘Bouquet’ series, Carole’s clear-cut procedure remains crucial to achieving the required result. “In this series I have revisited silk fabric appliqué technics to express the exuberance of the cut blooms. Each flower is created using hand dyed, reclaimed Sari Silk, which is hand cut into individual petal and leaf forms, before being bonded together using transfer adhesive. These are then assembled into individual floral stems that are used in a similar way to any cut bloom is traditionally arranged in a vase. Once the whole composition is complete hand stitching is used to enhance and anchor both silk blooms and silk backgrounds.” Carole sums up her ‘Bouquet’ journey as providing a unique opportunity of “re-looking at the world I inhabit and how I wanted to capture nature in stitch.” Naturally, all of this revolved around exploiting colour this time assisted by an increased understanding, that Carole admits, was the result of “a new garden that allowed me a new, if unruly palette, for creativity.”

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 167

Penniless, Foodless, Friendless. By Harold Cunliffe had, but not for them. God help me, but I have no other choice.” He concluded the letter with these lines: “So, He who formed me in the womb. He shall guide me to the tomb. He will guard me, he will keep. He never slumbers, never sleeps.” I remain yours in sorrow. Edward Bowden. The Coroner returned a verdict of “Suicide during temporary insanity.”

Above: Manchester Assize Court

intage newspapers and magazines hold a wealth of interesting information relating to life in bygone times. Reporters back then covered events in great detail and paint a vivid picture of what life was like. Looking back at what made the news makes interesting reading, even though the first two cases reported here are of a sad nature. Manchester in the 1920’s. The City Coroner read a remarkable letter which was left behind after taking his own life by a 67 year old gentleman who lived alone in the district of Blackley, Manchester, who ended his life by inhaling town gas. A neighbour passing the home of Edward Bowden discovered a strong smell of gas. As quickly as he could he forced the front door to find Mr Bowden lying dead on the floor. As the neighbour entered the living room he was met with a warning notice which had been written by Edward in chalk on the dining room table, “Beware of the gas, Gas disconnected.” In not having any money to feed the gas meter Edward Bowden had removed the gas inlet pipe from the meter to enable an unlimited supply of the poisonous gas to fill the front room of his terraced house. 168

It transpired that the reason Mr Bowden took his own life was due to total desperation. In a letter found in the house, which was addressed to the Coroner, he stated, “I am almost 68 years of age and can no longer live in a cruel and merciless world. I am unable to pay my rent, deserted by my relatives, and will be homeless before the week is out.” His family had driven him from their home five months earlier and forbidden him to return, also being refused by them a little help to buy food. It was stated that he found work but after only three days he broke his arm and wrist. He was granted unemployment pay at the Openshaw Labour Exchange, of eight weeks pay at 15 shillings a week (75p). His final payment was 2s.6d, this amount was all he had to support himself for a total of 23 days. Edward wrote, “I have always vowed that I would not die in the workhouse, so I beg you will forgive me the trouble I am causing you. I wish to ask you to kindly give my grateful and humble thanks to Mr. and Mrs Callaghan, Old Road, Blackley, for their noble and generous assistance during the last two years. Many a hungry day would I have

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

Edward Bowden started work in 1853 and lost very little time during his working life. All through the 1914-18 war he was employed in shell making. In a final twist to this sad case, Edward wrote a note for the attention of the Corporation apologising for stealing the gas which took his life. “I had not enough money for the gas meter to supply the quantity of gas required.”

Above: Valentine Brow, Blackley. * shows the location of Old Rd, which leads to the village, just prior to the tram office.

Left His Wife For Better Life An old woman named as Mary Wilson was in front of the Manchester Police Court charged with attempted suicide. When brought in to the dock she appeared www.lancmag.com

first bullet was found in the sleeve of the garment.

Above: Postcard of the Manchester Workhouse at Crumpsall

to be in an extremely neglected and exhausted state. She informed the court that she was a married woman and had not lived with her husband for many years. Her husband had supported her by contributing a few shillings a week towards her upkeep, this allowance had ceased when he had immigrated to America in 1886, hoping to start a new life for himself. Mary had found employment at a costume manufacturer as a finisher. Reading the police report it transpires that this company paid a very low rate of pay. A weeks pay was 2s-2d. (around 11p), out of this she had to pay six pence for cotton and hot water, leaving her with only 1s-2d., her lodgings were 2s-6d per week. Employees at the firm would take work home with them to increase their wage. They worked late into the night for a few coppers more. Hungry and concerned for her future, Mrs Wilson claimed that she had travelled to Hulme to try to find a relative, but was unable to find her. Mary could not manage and was in desperation. She was unable to seek a loan because she could not pay it back. On her way home she took a route along the canal bank, “looking at the water I fell in.” She denied that she had attempted suicide. Once in the cold water she may have had a change of heart and was unable make it back to the embankment and was in fear of drowning. Close by a young man named as George Green was walking his dog, a small fox terrier. The dog heard the distressing calls made by Mary which attracted the attention of the animal, the terrier speedily went off in the direction www.lancmag.com

of the canal. George missed his dog and set off to locate it. Next he heard splashing sounds and spotted his dog in the canal; he witnessed it dragging a bundle of old rags towards the embankment, then on closer inspection he saw it was a woman. He succeeded in getting the old woman out of the canal, where she was then taken to the police station. She made a statement, “I did it through want.” In summing up The Chairman of the court, expressed the opinion that the life of Mary Wilson was saved by the actions of the fox terrier, and gave the opinion that the animal should be awarded a medal by the Humane Society. Mary however promised to go to the workhouse, the Magistrate agreed to discharge her on this understanding.

The police constable told the court that last November he was on duty at Hyde Road. He spotted the prisoner looking in to a shop window, commenting, “There are some nice looking pictures in there.” She replied by asking him if he was an Irishman. He did not reply so she asked the question again, “I am an Englishman.” He turned to walk away when he heard a loud crack, then a second sound was heard. Looking behind him he saw Mary with her right arm raised, holding a gun close to his head. A struggle took place with which the gun broke in half. She was then arrested. In court the jury found her guilty of the attempted murder of a policeman. In summing up, Justice Shee, sentenced Mary to five years penal servitude, but, upon hearing this she became agitated and demanded to be hung for her crime. She had no desire to go to jail, no desire to live, she wanted and demanded to die at the gallows. She commented upon hearing the verdict, “Thank you my Lord, I prefer hanging, let me be hung if the rest are hung.” Leaving the dock she shouted in a tone that reverberated through the courtroom, “Allen! Allen! Allen!” The ‘others’ she refers to are the three Finian members, Allen, Gould and Larkin, who were to be hung for their part in the death of Sergeant Charles Brett at Hyde Road, Manchester. Irish Mary it transpires was emotionally involved with Allen.

An Attempt to Shoot a Policeman

First Policeman to be Killed

It was while I was reading a case which was brought before the Manchester Assize Court in an original copy of a Manchester newspaper dated 1867 that prompted me to sit up in my seat and take notice, when I read the comment made by a prisoner following summing up by the judge. In fact I took a double take by reading the item twice. A 19 year old servant girl, known as “Irish Mary,” was in court charged with attempted murder. For some reason or other she desired to shoot and kill a policeman. Unfortunately Mary was not a good shot, also had little idea of how to load a revolver, resulting in one bullet entering the policeman’s tunic, the second blowing off his helmet. In court his tunic was examined and the

Sergeant Charles Brett was the first Manchester policeman to be killed while on duty. A police van was making its way from a police court to Belle Vue prison on the 18th September 1867, which contained, along with other prisoners, two members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood. As the police van approached the railway bridge at Hyde Road a group of Finians ambushed the horse drawn vehicle with the intention of releasing Timothy Deasy and Thomas Kelly, known as Captain Deasy and Colonel Kelly. A prisoner who was also inside the van gave evidence, he stated that the vehicle pulled up with a jolt. This was followed by many voices making demands upon the release of the two Finian members. Banging on the side of the police van and climbing onto

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 169

the roof a voice was heard from the rear door instructing Brett to, “Open the door and let your prisoners out.” Charles Brett made no comment. “Where are the keys, turn em up?” Brett refused, “If you give up the keys we will not kill you,” was made by a female voice. Sergeant Brett stood his ground. “Dare Not I Must Do My Duty.” It is reported that one of the mob fired a shot through the lock on the van at the same moment as Brett was looking through the keyhole to observe what was taking place, he was fatally wounded. The keys were extracted from the pocket of Charles Brett which prompted the release of Kelly and Deasy, who made good their escape finally avoiding capture by making their way to America. Five people were the first of many to be arrested in connection with this outrage. Larkin, Allen, Shore, Maguire and Brett were before the court, Mr Justice Mellor who presided found them guilty and announced the sentence. He addressed the convicts, “I now only have to perform the solemn duty which devolves upon me to pass upon you the sentence of the law.” Placing the black cap upon his head, “That sentence is that you, and each of you, be taken hence to the place whence you came and thence to a place of execution and that you be there hanged by the neck until you shall be dead.” Interestingly, the name of Mr Shore was an alias for Connor (or Condon). In court he stated that his real name was Edward O’Meagher Connor of Cork County, who was later given a respite along with Maguire. Condon had an American accent, stating in court that he was an American citizen from Ohio. He travelled to Ireland where he was given training by the Federal Military Service; he was seen to be helping the escaping prisoners, Deasy and Kelly assisting in the removal of their handcuffs. I now find that Mr Condon is a distant relative, but not biological, a link via marriage.

executioner Calcraft arrived at the jail the roads surrounding the area were closed off with barriers to prevent the crowds from reaching the gallows and making any preparations to storm the building. At the time of the execution no one was allowed into New Bailey Street, from which the gallows were visible, the houses opposite was taken over by the police so to avoid any spectators. It was anticipated that the Finians may try to free their members prior to or at the time of the execution. Hundreds of troops were brought in to safeguard against any attack. A garrison inside the jail totalled 114 men of the 72nd Highlanders. Also providing protection was the 57th Foot Regiment, 8th Hussars and two batteries of artillery.

Above: Retro postcard showing how the monument once looked

By eight o’clock on that fateful day it was estimated that 12,000 people had turned up to witness the event. In fact the demise of the three men was witnessed by a very small number of people. 10,000 special constables were drafted in to maintain law and order. Manchester Martyrs Monument Caroline, Dowager Marchioness of Queensberry wrote to the Rev. Father Gadd, including £100 with her letter. She expressed her concern at the demise of the three men and desired that the money be of help to the wife, or wives and children on their irreparable loss. A monument exists to this day at St Joseph’s Cemetery, Moston, Manchester.

Above: Recent photograph of the Martyrs Monument

Our two images show the monument as it once was and how it is today. I discover that this impressive monument was paid for by public subscription. The Martyrs Monument can be seen from the Moston Lane side of the cemetery.

The Execution It was a Saturday morning when the three men were to be hung at the New Bailey Jail, Salford. A few days prior and at the same time the 170

Above: Martyrs Monument towers above other memorials. Visible from the lane close by

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

Above: Rochdale Road entrance to Manchester General Cemetery, Harphurhey

Funeral of Sergeant Charles Brett The murdered policeman, Sergeant Charles Brett is buried at Harphurhey General Cemetery, Rochdale Road. In the course of researching this item I decided to visit the grave. I had never visited this cemetery before, even though I once worked for an insurance society close by. A famous comedian also worked at this office. Upon arrival at the cemetery I was fortunate to meet three members of the ‘Burial Services’ of Manchester Council who were just about to make their way out of the cemetery. I enquired if they knew the location of the grave of Sergeant Brett. One of the group, a pleasant lady was keen to help, commenting that it was a coincidence, that they had just visited the grave and had discussed the story regarding his demise. One of the group kindly escorted me to the grave, then having noticed it was covered in leaves cleaned the memorial stone so the inscription could be read. This heavy stone is now broken in two sections and is placed on the grave for safety reasons. On the day of the funeral we find that a large number of people turned out to pay their respects. The Mayor and members of the city council headed the long train of vehicles which was a third of a mile long, occupied by council officials and members of the public was witnessed by the family of Charles Brett. Both sides of Rochdale Road was packed with residents too. It was stated that they were overwhelmed by the magnitude of the demonstration in his honour. www.lancmag.com

Sundays. The inscription on the grave reads; In Remembrance of Charles Brett of the Manchester Police Force who died in the Discharge of his duty at Hyde Road. Sept 18th 1867 in the 52nd Year of his age. “I Dare Not, I Must Do My Duty.” You know what they say, “When the cats away.” Burglars took advantage of the succinct police presence in Manchester by entering a warehouse in the heart of the city. The burglars made good their time in the premises by entering and ransacking every room and also helped themselves to the contents of two safes. Upon leaving the building they treated themselves to a cask of wine. A Very Big Issue

Above: The grave of Charles Brett

Above: Inscription reads; “I Dare Not, I Must Do My Duty.”

Brett was a kind and well-liked man who instilled over 400 Manchester policemen attended the funeral to pay their respects. It was said that Charles Brett was a Christian man, a good man, keen to help anyone even though he did not frequent church on

Following the executions of Allen, Gould and Larkin, there was a huge demand for newspapers, which covered the story in great detail. Manchester publications related the facts to the letter. As an example, reporters in court accurately recorded the statements made by the convicted men. The national press also covered the “Finian Outrage” with great interest. The Manchester Examiner and Times did a roaring trade. In total 192,645 copies were sold, this consumed fourteen and a half tons of paper, with one and a half million printed pages. The edition covering the execution sold at a rate of 35,000 copies an hour to readers in Manchester, Yorkshire and the towns of Lancashire. This was a world record.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 171

Jessie Fothergill – a forgotten northern novelist By Margaret Brecknell

Manchester-born novelist Jessie Fothergill may have once appeared in a Victorian publication called Notable Women Authors of the Day, but today she and her literary works have been largely forgotten.

Above: Jessie Fothergill

172

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

Jessie was born 170 years ago in June 1851 in the Cheetham Hill area of Manchester, the eldest child of Thomas and Anne Fothergill. Her father Thomas came from a Yorkshire family of Quakers, whose ancestors featured some noteworthy characters. These included John Fothergill, an 18th-century physician who is said to have given the first lecture on mouthto-mouth resuscitation, and Samuel Fothergill, who wrote extensively about his travels across the United States as a Quaker preacher. Thomas himself was eventually compelled to leave the movement for marrying a non-Quaker. Jessie’s father worked as a cotton merchant in Manchester in partnership with another businessman called Alexander Harvey. In 1858 the pair bought Sladen Wood Mill at Summit near Littleborough with a view to producing their own cotton cloth. This proved to be an astute move. The business thrived, with significant sales to overseas customers as well as those closer to home. As a result the Fothergill family enjoyed a comfortable lifestyle, moving to Bowdon in Cheshire where Jessie attended a private school before continuing her education at a Harrogate boarding school. However, the family suffered a downturn in fortunes when Thomas died in 1866. Shortly afterwards Jessie moved with her mother and siblings to live at Sladen Wood House in Littleborough, which was situated near to the cotton mill purchased by her late father and his business partner in 1858.

www.lancmag.com

inspired by the area around Littleborough. The town itself appears in the novel thinly disguised as “Hamerton”. In writing the novel Jessie also drew heavily on her observations of everyday life there, recalling later how she took note of “the routine of the great cotton and flannel mills, the odd habits, the queer sayings and doings of the workpeople”.

Tellingly, Jessie herself seems to have shared her heroine’s disregard for conventional femininity

Jessie appears to have taken this change in the family’s circumstances in her stride. When Victorian writer Helen C Black interviewed her in 1890 for Notable Women Authors of the Day, Jessie recalled her first impression of her new home, “I quite well remember going home to this place for the first Christmas holidays after my father’s death and being enchanted and delighted – despite the sorrow that overshadowed us – with the rough roads, the wild sweeping moors and fells, the dark stone walls, the strange, uncouth people, the out-ofthe-worldness of it all. And the better I knew it the more I loved it, in its winter bleakness and its tempered but delightful summer warmth”. The first of Jessie’s novels to be published, Healey, was

Above: Portrait of John Fothergill (1712-80), Jessie Fothergill’s ancestor

The main female protagonist in the novel, Katherine Healey, is portrayed as a successful businesswoman who manages her brother’s large business and property on his behalf. This flies in the face of the conventional view of the role of women at the time, where it was generally considered “unfeminine” to be involved in business. Jessie’s heroine, Katherine Healey, is portrayed as being all too aware of how society views her, “A masculine person (I must be masculine, you know, I do a man’s work), one so strong-minded in appearance as I am, can never be liked”. Tellingly, Jessie herself seems to have shared her heroine’s disregard for conventional femininity, remarking to Helen C Black of her younger self, “There was little of the young lady about me”. Healey received several enthusiastic reviews. The Manchester Examiner even compared Jessie to literary great Elizabeth Gaskell, commenting that “Since Mrs Gaskell’s unrivalled story of Manchester life, there have been written few more powerful Lancashire stories than Miss Fothergill’s Healey”. However, neither Healey nor

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 173

its successor Aldyth proved to be commercial successes when first published. In 1874 Jessie travelled to the German city of Dusseldorf to study music, along with her younger sister Caroline and two friends. She stayed for a total of fifteen months in Germany, and it was here that she started writing the novel which eventually brought her most commercial success, The First Violin. This Victorian romance may seem remarkably tame by today’s standards, but one of its subplots featuring a sympathetic depiction of a married woman’s affair with another man, for whom she eventually leaves her husband, caused much consternation at the time. Henry King, the publishers of Jessie’s first two novels, declined to publish The First Violin, and at least one other considered it too hot to handle, before it was finally accepted by another and published in 1878. Unlike all of Jessie’s other work, the first edition of The First Violin was published anonymously. Bearing in mind her Quaker background, it has been suggested that some members of the Fothergill family were unhappy with the way in which the extra-marital affair was portrayed in the novel and insisted that the Fothergill name not be attached to it. 174

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

Jessie’s own views on religion appear to have been liberal for the time. In Notable Women Authors of the Day Helen C Black recalled how at one point Jessie showed her the motto engraved on the ring she was wearing, which read “Good fight, good rest”. This motto, explained Jessie, “embodies all I have of religious creed”.

Above: Blackstone Edge, near Littleborough

Despite the early difficulties, the publication of The First Violin proved to be the turning point in Jessie’s writing career. Its popularity with the reading public ensured that she would never have any difficulty in finding a publisher for her books again. In many ways The First Violin, which was predominately set in Germany,

Left: Elizabeth Gaskell’s former home on Plymouth Grove in Manchester

www.lancmag.com

tel 015242 62455

your luxury haven in the dales

lodges for sale 2 & 3 bedroom lodges

amid the fairways

designed to order

from £155,000

• • • •

12 Month holiday licence Golf, fishing, walking, cycling Village amenities Views of The Three Peaks & Lake District Fells • Stunning interiors

www.wenningdale.co.uk

robin lane, bentham, lancaster LA2 7AG

was atypical of her work. In later novels Jessie returned to her northern roots for inspiration. Probation, set in the early 1860s during the time of the Lancashire cotton famine, is a prime example, which features again the fictional mill town of Hamerton. The success of Jessie’s novels enabled the family to move back to Manchester. By the time of the 1881 census they were living in Chorlton-OnMedlock, not far from the home on Plymouth Grove where Elizabeth Gaskell had lived towards the end of her life. In total, Jessie Fothergill produced thirteen novels during her lifetime, plus one published posthumously. Her work was generally well received, with one review in The Spectator comparing her to another of the 19th century’s literary greats, “There is in it enough genius...to entitle it to equality with, let us say, Charlotte Bronte’s Shirley, if not with the greater Jane Eyre and Villette...Where Kith and Kin is strong, and it is strong in many places, it would be difficult to say that Jane Eyre is stronger”. The novel to which this review refers, Kith and Kin, is another of Jessie’s works to feature a strong female lead character. Its forthright heroine, Judith Conisbrough, decides to pursue a career in nursing rather than to offer herself in marriage to a man “in exchange for a home and clothing”. Jessie was never afraid in her work to challenge the traditional Victorian view of the role of women in society. It comes as little surprise, therefore, to discover that Jessie, together with one of her younger sisters, Caroline (herself a published author), appears to have become actively involved in the votes for women movement, which was then still in its infancy. Evidence for the sisters’ involvement in the campaign comes in the way of two newspaper reports from 1891. In one Caroline Fothergill is described as taking “an active interest in woman’s suffrage” in her role as “travelling lecturer for the Central National Society for Women’s Suffrage”. In another, on the same subject, Caroline is described as the “sister of Jessie Fothergill, the novelist and herself not unknown in a similar field of work”. Jessie could well have written more novels, were it not for the chronic respiratory illness which plagued her for much of her life. 176

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

Right: Image from 1880 edition of Probation featuring the book’s heroine Adrienne

Increasingly she travelled abroad to milder climes during the winter to escape the worst of the Lancashire weather. During 1884-85 she spent thirteen months in North America, staying at a mountain resort in Pennsylvania. She later published a memoir, Some American Recollections, based on her time there. Soon after her conversation with Helen C Black in 1890, Jessie travelled to the continent in another attempt to improve her ailing health. Sadly it proved to be to no avail. The author died in Berne, Switzerland, on 28th July 1891 at the age of just 40. Despite the high praise and flattering comparisons with the likes of Elizabeth Gaskell and the Bronte sisters during her lifetime, the work of Jessie Fothergill, like so many of the once popular Victorian novelists, has for the most part been lost to posterity. Sladen Wood House, where Jessie and her family once lived in Littleborough, has long since been demolished, but in recent years a blue plaque has been erected nearby to commemorate the novelist. It seems an entirely appropriate spot to remember the author who chose to write so vividly about the life of the people in this area some 150 years ago. www.lancmag.com

WE ARE STILL HERE WORKING ON YOUR BEHALF ONLY IN A DIFFERENT WAY Our teams are working from home, taking calls and answering any questions you have about moving home, family matters, Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney. We can still do all of these things for you and more, just in a slightly different way.

www.vincentssolicitors.co.uk

To find out more call us on 01772 555 176 to speak to any of our team or email enquiries@vslaw.co.uk. We are here for you.

HISTORICAL HAWKSHEAD By Mark Bateman

Located in the South Lakeland area just north of Esthwaite water Hawkshead includes the hamlets of Hawkshead Hill and Outgate. For a small village it has a strong and rich history with literary connections to writers including William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter.

illiam the Conqueror’s grandson, the last Norman king Stephen 1st included Hawkshead in his 1135 endowment of Furness Abbey. Amongst other structures the Cistercian monks built a ‘grange’ just north of the village. Parts of it such as the ‘hall’, the ‘Courthouse’ and the Mill Pond for their corn mill can still be seen. The monks were extremely industrious and kept flocks of sheep on the hills known by the old Norse term, ‘herd-vik’ whose descendants are the famously hardy local black-

178

woolled sheep the Herdwick. For four hundred years the monks ran Hawkshead as an early market centre for raw wool, yarn and the coarse homespun cloth worn by the labouring poor and known as ‘hodden grey.’ The small tarn at the end of Esthwaite water was believed to have been their fishpond and is still known as the ‘Priest Pot.’ In the 1530’s King Henry VIII set about the dissolution of the monasteries as part of his ‘divorce’ from the Catholic church. Local merchants moved in quickly to take over the wool, flax and hemp production and trade started by the monks. These products were used in the manufacture of sails, clothing, ropes, cords, and halters. Flax and linen were also supplied to Kendal for their growing ‘linsey-woollen’ (a plain coarse twill) production. The town was granted its first official market charter by King James in 1608 and the importance of

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

the market can be seen in the very construction of Hawkshead’s streets and houses. In fact, there are no less than thirty eight known buildings of historical interest many dating from the 17th and 18th century when the town grew as a market town. Local oak was used in the construction of town houses and their ‘pentices’ which was an extension of the area of a roof. The main function of them was to balance out heavy slate roofs but they also served a useful role for hanging fleeces, yarns and cloths that were for sale. Many of the streets, and houses, in the village are named after their function, or appearance. For example Flag Street took its name from the Brathay flagstones that were used in the bridge to span the beck where fleeces, yarn and cloth was worked. In a similar way Spout House on Fountain street provided water for brewing and domestic use. The cobbled, Leather, Rag and Putty

www.lancmag.com

street’ was once busy with cobblers, cloggers, saddlers, harness makers and clockmakers. Hawkshead’s ‘Market House’ was built in 1650 and featured an open arched shambles area beneath which local Butcher’s carried out their trade. One of the most notable buildings in the town is the Hawkshead Grammar School which was founded in 1585 by Archbishop Edwin Sandys of York who petitioned Queen Elizabeth 1st to set up a governing body for a school. The school taught Latin, Greek, Arithmetic, Geometry, and the Sciences. The school closed in 1909 but now it is open to the public as Hawkshead Grammar School Museum from April to October and offers guided tours of the school rooms bringing the past to life. Perhaps its most famous alumni was the Lakes poet William Wordsworth whose initials can still be seen carved into the desk he sat at. Wordsworth makes reference to childhood time spent at the school and in the hills around Hawkshead in his epic poem, ‘The Prelude’. Wordsworth spent his whole life from the age of twenty eight working on this poem to rival Milton’s, ‘Paradise Lost.’ The final version of the poem was published in fourteen volumes three months after his death and was only titled ‘The Prelude’ by his widow Mary, he had simply referred to it as ‘the poem.’

Fans of Beatrix Potter will find plenty of Potter- related places to visit in Hawkshead such as the Beatrix Potter gallery. Various locations in the town can also be spotted as appearing in her books such as the Johnny- Tow mouse archway between what is now the Co-Op and The King’s Arms. Hawkshead is also well known for its churches and chapels. Its main church, ‘St Michael and All Angel’s’ was built in 1578 replacing a twelfth century chapel. It features twenty six distinctive biblical texts originally painted on the walls in 1680 and 1711. The village also has a Methodist chapel opened in 1862. The Quakers also established a burial ground at nearby ‘Sepulchre Corner’ in 1658 at Colthouse where the remains of slate benches which show where meetings were once held. On a slightly more gruesome note, both the Parish Church and Sepulchre Corner overlook the field known as ‘Gibbet Moss’ where the corpses of law breakers were hung as an example to other would be criminals. These corpses no doubt came from a gallows erected on a drumlin in the area still known as ‘Gallow Barrow.’ These days Hawkshead is a thriving market town offering something for everything. There is a wide range of shops including, galleries, book shops, craft shops, artisan food

including the famous Hawkshead relish shop, and outdoor activities shops. As well as this there are pubs, B&B’s and guesthouses. There is always something going on throughout the year including National trail running races (open to all) and cultural events including classical music recitals at the church as well as jazz programs. Those who prefer to get active will find plenty of mountain biking and walking in Grizedale forest as well as national rally car stages. Hawkshead is a great starting point to visit many great areas for walking for example at nearby Tarn Hows, Latterbarrow and Blenham Tarn. So when you’re looking for an interesting place to visit, with plenty to see and do, keep a beady eye on Hawkshead.

Wordsworth is not the only famous writer associated with Hawkshead; the world renowned children’s writer Beatrix Potter lived at Hill Top Farm Near Sawrey. Most of Potter’s tales (over thirty of them) concern the lives of animals including, ‘The Tale of Peter Rabbit’ (now a major film) and ‘Jemima Puddle duck.’ Not only was Potter a prolific writer but she was also an avid farmer and bought much of the land surrounding Hawkshead to breed Herdwick sheep. She was also instrumental in helping to set up the National Trust and after her death in 1943 she left four thousand acres, sixteen farms and her herds of prize winning Herdwick sheep, and cattle, to the National Trust.

www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 179

Could the UK Help of the World’s By Compost Direct - www.compostdirect.com

As the deforestation crisis continues, world tracker the World Counts reveals that in 78 years, rainforests will cease to exist if we continue the harmful practices we have been relying on for decades.

t goes without saying that in the last decade, the Amazon rainforest has had more than its fair share of crises. Plus, the ongoing events of the COVID-19 pandemic have even wrought havoc on the planet’s lungs. Through increased illegal clearance operations that exploited the distracting circumstances of the global pandemic, deforestation in the Amazon increased by 55 per cent in the first four months of 2020. Recent reports suggest that only three per cent of the world’s ecosystems remain healthy and intact, therefore it is crucial we all band together to tackle this crisis. With 22nd June marking World Rainforest Day, we need to question how we can save the Amazon. But just how bad is the rainforest crisis? Here, we explain the scale of the problem by posing this question: could the UK plant enough trees to help tackle the deforestation crisis in the Amazon?

ONE TREE FOR ANOTHER Let’s look at the numbers. Between August 2019 and July 2020, 11,088km2 (2,739,904.5 acres) of rainforest was destroyed. In comparison to the previous year, this had increased by 9.5 per cent. There are around 200 trees per acre in the Amazon. Taking this as a base, to replace what was lost in 2020 alone, 547,980,900 trees would need to be planted to cover those 2,739,904.5 acres lost.

SO, IN THEORY, WOULD THE UK BE UP TO THE CHALLENGE? Let’s say, hypothetically, we could get all 68,000,000 UK residents on board with the idea. We would all have to commit to planting eight trees each - which doesn’t sound too much. Even if half the UK got involved, 16 trees is manageable, depending on if we have the space. 180

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

SO, DO WE HAVE THE SPACE? In short, yes, we do. The UK covers 242,495km2, which is enough space to plant 2,739,904.5 acres of additional trees (which would cover 11,088km2, or 4.57 per cent of the UK). We wouldn’t have to knock down any of our homes or buildings either, with Northern Ireland, England, Wales, and Scotland each comprising of less than 10% “built-up” areas. As for farmland, however, it might be a struggle to fit in all 72 per cent of it in England – and that’s before the following year when we would need to plant another 547,980,900 trees.

THAT LEADS US TO THE REALISTIC PROBLEMS: • Deforestation is increasing every year – so much so, recent reports by the Woodland’s Trust found that only seven per cent of the UK’s native woodlands are in good condition. • Eventually, we would run out of space in the UK to counter the yearly loss of trees in the Amazon. • Cutting down trees and replacing them with new ones does not provide an equal counter. With this in mind, we discuss why planting a tree to make up for cutting or burning one down is not an equal counter.

OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW One great example of age bringing experience to a job is with trees. In an interview with the BBC, Dr Erika Berenguer of Oxford University explained: “The older and larger the tree, the more carbon it stores.” The doctor continues to explain that a family car that emits three to four tonnes of carbon over the course of four years that can be stored in a tree with a three-metre circumference. As for young trees, they absorb around 5.9kg of C02 per year. So, the problem isn’t just losing one tree and replacing it with another, rather, it is the fact a newly planted tree cannot store the same amount of carbon as the large, older tree it is replacing. Dr Berenguer explains: “Many people believe that to make up for what we’ve lost in the Amazon, we just need to plant trees elsewhere. But that is not the case”. www.lancmag.com

Save the Future Rainforests? HOW WE CAN MAKE A CHANGE Prevention is better than a cure. To regrow the trees that are lost in the Amazon would take years and years, therefore the best solution is to prevent any more of the rainforest from being lost to deforestation. As outlined by World Rainforest Day, there are seven key actions we can take to help save the future of the world’s rainforests.

Donate to rainforest protectors - no one expects you to ditch your job, sell all your belongings, and move out to the rainforests to fight the good fight. But you can do your bit by donating to rainforest protectors, who will help protect wildlife, fight deforestation, and develop sustainable economies alongside Indigenous communities.

Get educated about rainforests - there are so many resources online to get clued up about the beautiful biodiversity of the planet, and the rainforests are no exception. The rainforests contribute so much more than just the air we breathe (though that really ought to be motivation enough!).

Make sure your products are rainforest-friendly - dodge unsustainable sources of palm oil in the product you buy, such as cosmetics and cleaning products, as palm oil production is the bane of Southeast Asian rainforests! Look out for the Rainforest Alliance Certified sticker - you can’t miss the little green frog. Other alliance logos can let you know if the palm oil in a product is from a sustainable source or if it is palm-oil free.

Eat less meat and more plants - the sad fact is, beef production is the largest cause of tropical deforestation in the Amazon, with around 2.71 million hectares being removed every year across all of Latin America to create more ranch land.

Spread the word - hashtag this, hashtag that. Love them or hate them, hashtags are a great way to spread a message. Hop on social media and start following rainforest protection accounts.

Commit to sustainable travel - from electric cars to purchasing carbon offsets before flying, there are so many ways to reduce your travel carbon footprint in 2021.

www.lancmag.com

Hold leaders and corporations accountable you have the chance to vote for leaders who highlight global issues such as deforestation and climate change. Plus, with a digital platform at most of our feet, call out companies who aren’t doing their bit! As the warmer months commence, if you’re looking for a way to spend your time in the garden, then planting a tree and providing it with the care it needs is something the environment will appreciate. So, when you’re working on improving your garden this summer, be mindful of how deforestation is happening as we speak and think of ways you can play your part this World Rainforest Day!

COMPOST DIRECT BIO COMPOST DIRECT is an online retailer of sustainably sourced compost, mulches, plant feeds and more. The UK based company has partnered with 1% FOR THE PLANET, a global organisation that is currently working to support REWILDING BRITAIN in its vision to restore and connect up areas of rich natural habitat across at least 30% of Britain’s land and seas by 2030.

www.compostdirect.com

SOURCES: www.bbc.com/future/article/20200518-why-lockdown-isharming-the-amazon-rainforest www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-51300515?utm_ source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_ campaign=Feed%3A+bbc_news+%28BBC+News++Home%29 www.theworldcounts.com/challenges/planet-earth/forestsand-deserts/rate-of-deforestation www.compostdirect.com/information/47-1-for-the-planet sites.google.com/site/hraikesamazon/natural-uses-of-land www.regnskog.no/en/news/the-highest-amazon-deforestationrates-in-over-ten-years www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41901297 worldrainforestday.org/act-now/ countrymeters.info/en/United_Kingdom_(UK)

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 181

MY WIFE ALWAYS SAW THEM. THEY LOOK VERY HUMAN, BUT ALSO LIKE ANIMALS. Eventually I did find others and I will share their stories with you in the coming months. On the day my life changed in May 1982 I saw an upright, hair covered horror, that looked like a man and an ape combined. A Troglodyte of sorts, all covered in reddish brown hair. He stood around 7ft tall and had amber eyes and teeth I will never forget. One of the people I came into contact with, who understood me completely was a chap named Derek who lives along the River Medway in the south east of England. Derek is originally from Lancashire. This is his experience in his own words.

n the early 1980’s I had an experience that was life changing and it set me on a search that has lasted 40 years. I saw a creature I cannot explain, in an ordinary town in Lancashire. I had nowhere to turn to, no-one to ask the many questions I had. So I set out to search for answers myself. When I started looking for people who like me had experienced phenomena they could not explain or had seen something impossible, I would search in libraries and books shops in the hopes some ancient text would explain what I saw for me. Another resource I would use was the old AM/FM radio. I would chat with drivers and people in far away places across the UK trying to find a witness who saw the creature I saw in 1982.

182

“It’s funny how me and you met Deb, my wife never had any interest in the CB radio, she would spend hours each day going back and forth to the garden or off into the woods to watch the ‘Caretakers’ . In the beginning I thought she meant an actual caretaker. So as you can imagine I didn’t understand that, why did we have caretakers, who paid them, was it a country thing? And my wife didn’t understand my interest in radios, transmitters and receivers. We met in our early teens and I was away in the army for most of our first decade. The wife lived here with her Mum back then, when her Mum passed we took over the house. My wife’s family have farmed here close to the River Medway for hundreds of years. When I first moved into the farmhouse, I’ll be honest I didn’t really take to the place, it’s in the middle of nowhere and there was not much happening, I’m from the North of England and I was used to cobbled streets and terraced houses. It was a good 4 mile walk to the village, and it only had one pub. But we managed somehow and I was away for most of the early years unless I was on leave. So the army is where I learned to fix and make radios, and it was doing that at night in one of the outbuildings which stopped me packing up and moving us out years ago. Of course now I’m in my 70’s and I have spent many enjoyable decades growing old here, the last 11 yrs alone since my wife passed. I say alone, but I am not the only widower on this property.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

I’ll try and make this as short as I can, for now, as you know it’s taken me a few years to come to terms with this, and so much has happened. But I’m not one for writing as you know. Much easier over the radio or the phone. Almost everyday my wife would leave half the eggs the chickens laid for the ‘caretakers’ If the bushes fruited and she went picking she only ever brought home half, everything on that farm was used to its enth degree, so I couldn’t understand her leaving food like that? She stretched a penny well did my wife Lilly, but in this respect she would stubbornly say, ‘you have to leave those for the caretakers’ Over the years I learnt to fish, it was my second favourite hobby, but if I caught anything my wife would split what we had, and take half into the woods, this really started to get on my ‘wick’. One day about four years after I had left the army I asked her who the Caretakers were? Who employed them? Did we pay them? She looked at me like I had 3 heads and said “can you not see them”?? I was dumbstruck. What here? now? I said in utter disbelief. But she said Noo like I was a child, when you’re out on the land or when you’re fishing? I had to admit that I hadn’t. She seemed genuinely upset at this. I was a bit disturbed to see her upset about some man who coppiced a few trees and kept the weeds down. What she told me next blew my mind. She explained that there were other ‘families’ that shared the land. They lived wild in the woods and fished in the river with their hands.They were a large group and they lived spread out over the woods, a few in each family. One group lived just after our pond, that’s the reason we left that be and used the stream at the bottom of the spill she told me. I asked her if she meant tinkers? or homeless folk from the town and she said No firmly and went on to explain they were like cave people, or really clever apes. I was utterly shocked. My wife said she had always known about them, that her Mother and Grandparents did too. The farm had never failed, year in year out they did fine, they were convinced this was because they shared the food with the other family. Her grand dad would be left brightly coloured feathers if one of his prize ducks was

www.lancmag.com

taken. He was grateful for the gift but not so happy about the ducks going missing. I thought she was having me on and didnt feel like being played for an idiot. She was adamant and said if I went with her she would show me. So I did.

beyond me? I shot across the field upto the house and no-one was there. I took my boots off, crept in and walked softly round the house, nothing, no-one!!? I was flummoxed, I made myself a cuppa before heading back to the pipe.

We went into the woods just after the pond and my wife waited and waited and nothing happened. She was talking outloud and explaining it was ok as if she thought something would hear her and come out? I was truly worried about her sanity. I then dropped a clanger, I put the back of my hand to her forehead, like you do to check if someone is ill and she completely lost her temper with me. We had a huge row that night, worse than any row we have had before or since. She was so upset for days and days after that we formed a truce and just said we would not discuss it again. She went back to the woods each day and I ignored it.

As I’m sitting there warming myself next to the Aga I suddenly see the shadow pass the window again. I jump up to look, slide in my socks and take a fall onto the flag stones. I made a right mess, but I did manage to get to the window just in time to see the bare end of what I presume was a teenager? move under the hedge and promptly run off to the woods, I could see him? it? as clear as day. I didn’t know where to look. I was so confused. He looked like a gangly teenage boy, all elbows and knees and stick thin, he was naked and really hairy. I didn’t see his face, just the back of him as he made off.

Years went by, we had kids, and grandkids and there would be the odd talk of the hairy goblins or the furry kids, my wife would hush them up and change the subject when I frowned. And then we ran out of time. In May we found out my wife was sick, by December I was alone. I had the kids and the grandkids of course, but for the first time ever I felt truly alone. Returning from the hospice to that empty house was the worst journey of my life. For days I didn’t leave my bed. The house was a tip and the outside didn’t even enter my head. I stayed in that stupor for weeks, drinking helped me sleep and anger and loss filled my hours. Until one day about 9 yrs ago, everything changed that day for me. I just have had no way of voicing it or sharing it in the intervening years until you convinced me people would understand. It took me a few years to adapt to a new routine, I knew my wife would be upset if I let the house go to rack and ruin, and she loved her garden, so I used that to fill my time. One day I was down at the brook unclogging a pipe after heavy rain caused floods when I saw out of the corner of my eye something run past the side of the house. I thought it was someone trying to rob me, although how they would get out here without a car was

www.lancmag.com

Now all these years on I know he was one of many, it started with him, but then I would see them more and more, as if they were getting bolder or used to me? I’m not too sure. I’d be fishing and catch one peeking around a tree at me, or I would see them suddenly run across the track. I would catch them through the window at night as I sit in the dark listening to my shows on the radio or chatting with other radio enthusiasts. As the years went on I got used to it. We became used to each other. I started to recognise each individual, for instance there was a huge male, old and grey and what I assume was his wife? A number of others varying in ages and every now and again one would leave, or a female would join them and more young ones would appear. They look very human, but also like an animal at the same time, they have hair everywhere but only the old males have it on his face, the young are far less hairy, they are curious and really good at vanishing in front of your eyes just using the light against you. I can not believe I am sharing this with someone who looks at me with understanding Deb? How do you do what you do? Over the years I have always wanted to broach the subject with the kids but I just can’t bring myself to do it. I still feel guilty about that row me and Lilly had and

how upset my wife was. She must have felt so betrayed by me that night for not believing her, and betrayed by her hairy friends for not showing themselves? We could have spent a lifetime enjoying them together, instead I turned it into a dirty secret for her. I don’t know how to discuss that with the kids? So for now I just keep it to myself, but I’m clocking on a bit now Deb and the daughter has offered to move in here and help me around the house and it would be nice to have family around me for my last few years, so I suppose it will crop up when she moves here. I saw the old grey one today Deb, he was alone for the first time ever, and it suddenly struck me. I had not seen his wife for a few weeks, I just put it down to the weather, thinking about it, I haven’t seen any of them for a few weeks now? I felt something deep inside as I was watching him standing there alone. I think he had returned from somewhere? Do they go somewhere when one of them dies? I couldn’t put a name to him or his species but I recognise the loss of a loved one when I see it. I had an old tree Burl that’s been polished by the weather I intended for the house, but I put it next to the pond where I would see his female companion picking rushes over the years. So the old chap had somewhere to sit and remember her. As I did for my Lilly. Thanks for tonight Deb, I think for the first time in years I feel like I’ve let out some feelings that were crippling me inside. One day when Im ready I will let you share this, all of this with people, but for now Im ok if you just share this letter. Take care Deb Derek Rendell.

...Until next time, Deborah Have you experienced anything strange in your area? If so please get in touch via our new website: debhatswell.wordpress.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 183

A FAMILY DAY AT THE SEASIDE IS WHAT MEMORIES ARE MADE OF Imagine the scene. It’s a nice summer’s day and you and your family are having a fun day at the beach. The children are running in and out of the sea, having the time of their lives. The children seem oblivious to the cold water. They clamber aboard their inflatable flamingo, paddling for all their worth, whilst you take photos of this joyous family occasion.

hey appear to be drifting out a little, so you encourage them to return to shore, but their efforts seem to be having no effect. They drift further. The wind seems to have whipped up out of nowhere and the children are now a little scared, calling for you. You look around desperately for help, this is getting serious. Such was the situation on many occasions last summer and the volunteers of the RNLI in Lancashire were called upon, more than ever, to rescue children on inflatable toys. Over the past few years, there seems to have been a proliferation in these incidents, no doubt due to these toys being readily available in supermarkets. They are ideally suited to swimming pools, rather than the beach or sea. Whilst a child riding a brightly coloured unicorn

184

may look like fun, the unicorn becomes a giant sail in any gusts of wind and can quickly leave the safety of the shallower water. Blackpool RNLI rescued a child astride an inflatable toy a few years ago, that was nearly one mile from shore. That’s a long time to hang on to a flimsy bit of plastic, drifting in the wind ! An even longer time for the parent to watch the drama unfold, helpless. Even here in Fleetwood, we’ve witnessed children carried away by inflatables and launched the lifeboat to return the frightened child back to their relieved parents. So, as the schools close for their annual summer break, the volunteers from the RNLI brace themselves for another hectic period. Summer is traditionally

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

the busiest time of the year for the Saving Lives at Sea charity. Whilst the RNLI’s fleet of over 400 lifeboats often grab the headlines, they also have over 1,500 lifeguards patrolling our beaches. Here in the North West, local authority lifeguard teams operate closely with the RNLI, Blackpool being an excellent example. Not only do the lifeguards partake in practise exercises with Blackpool RNLI, but they also help publicise the RNLI’s important water safety campaigns. Children are not alone when it comes to casting inhibitions to one side when on a beach. Dogs, man’s best friend, faced with a wide expanse of flat sand and seagulls to chase, often charge off, focused on a new game to play, unable to hear the frantic calls from their owner. www.lancmag.com

BUT THEY CAN QUICKLY BECOME DAYS YOU WANT TO FORGET The RNLI are often asked why they launch to dogs cut off by the tide, or to be retrieved from being swept out by the tide. It’s mainly because owners often risk their own lives to rescue their favourite pet and it frequently ends in disaster. There is something quite therapeutic about watching dogs’ career around the beach, chasing waves, digging holes, finding the smelliest seaweed to roll in. But should your dog get into difficulty, you should never put yourself at risk, whatever your instinct tells you and call for help from the Coastguard. So, if you’re planning a day on the beach, follow these SIMPLE GUIDELINES:

1 2 3 4 5

CHECK THE TIDE TIMES AND WEATHER CHECK ANY LOCAL WARNING SIGNS

KEEP A CAREFUL WATCH ON YOUR CHILDREN ENSURE YOUR PHONE IS FULLY CHARGED AND

The message from RNLI is simple. Enjoy your day at the seaside, but RESPECT THE WATER.

Ken Harcombe Volunteer Press Officer Fleetwood RNLI

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

www.lancmag.com

DON’T USE INFLATABLE TOYS IN THE WATER

If you or your family get into trouble or see someone else in trouble, DIAL 999 AND ASK FOR THE COASTGUARD LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 185

MANISH’S ZODIAC PREDICTIONS

anish 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) This is a time of opportunity. Be prepared to make necessary adjustments and work with what’s going on around you. Cooperation and understanding are the doorways to success. Relationships and the changes they bring will have a profound impact on your life. It may be that a new partner opens up a new vista in one or more of these areas. For those of you in a relationship, there may be a call to travel or study together, seeking the lure of a new horizon that you can share. Favourable Dates: Aug 1, 3, 10, 12, 19, 21 Favourable Colours: Red & White TAURUS (20 Apr - 20 May) There may be unexpected developments that alter the way you think or surprising events that alter the course of your lives. These can be exciting times but they will require a process of adjustment. If you’re in for the long haul and set something important and meaningful in motion, you’ll be richly rewarded in time. You might find that partners or close associates from the past will come back into your life. There may be outstanding matters between you to be dealt or it may simply be that you can take pleasure in an old friendship renewed. Favourable Dates: Aug 3, 4, 12, 13, 21, 22 Favourable Colours: Blue & White GEMINI (21 May - 20 Jun) You may have an astounding revelation. You may be inspired to begin new creative or spiritual work. New people and opportunities will open the doors that you’ve been knocking at for some time and you could really sail ahead. Changes of belief may take you away from a partner and onto a new road. Some of you may have to give time and effort to care for someone close. This can be an uplifting experience, but it may take you away from the normal pattern of your life. Favourable Dates: Aug 7, 9, 16, 18, 25, 27 Favourable Colours: Blue & Yellow CANCER (21 Jun - 22 Jul) There may be a rise in status, one that will ask more than you’ve had to give before. There are rewards for the sustained efforts you make in either doing what’s required or in setting new directions. Skill, the art of negotiation and attention to detail will be the focus. In dealings with authorities, make sure you have a sense of respect for their position in the scheme of things, as well as your own. You may share new knowledge or beliefs with a partner. Favourable Dates: Aug 4, 9, 13, 18, 22, 27 Favourable Colours: Blue & White

LEO (23 Jul - 22 Aug) Matters of career or professional status may come to an unexpected hitch or change. A cycle of dealings with authority or taking authority may come to an end. A new responsibility may fall to you by default as someone leaves or makes an end to their situation. For singles, there may be romance or a dose of outright lust. Some may go chasing the rainbows of romance only to find there’s nothing of substance to hold onto. Others may be drawn into a new and enticing partnership that gives both warmth and depth. Favourable Dates: Aug 2, 7, 11, 16, 20, 25 Favourable Colours: Green & White

SAGITTARIUS (22 Nov - 21 Dec) This is a good period to mix business with pleasure in that you can make strong advances through socializing and social contacts. Some may find new romance through professional encounters. There may be home improvements for some. For others, there may be a relocation, one that could take you overseas. Some will find that housing conditions improve or change dramatically. You may need to dwell on past emotional patterns in order to understand relationships now. There may be a process of discussion to sort out what needs doing. Favourable Dates: Aug 5, 6, 14, 15, 23, 24 Favourable Colours: Red & Grey

VIRGO (23 Aug - 22 Sept) Your focus will be on career, responsibility and a sense of status that comes from doing what you do. New vistas open with ideas and communications and this period calls you to responsibility and a deeper understanding of the patterns in emotional and family relationships. Some will want to study or travel or both and thus open new horizons. There will be intensity and stress, but many of you will find that extraordinary new possibilities or dimensions will emerge as a consequence of a new sense of destiny. Favourable Dates: Aug 2, 5, 11, 14, 20, 23 Favourable Colours: Red & Yellow

CAPRICORN (22 Dec - 19 Jan) You may need to look at shared goals or interests with your nearest and dearest. For some, there could be a feeling of wellbeing as you work towards a common purpose. There can be benefit, excitement and stimulation through the efforts of a partner or loved one. For some, travel or study will touch the partner’s lives while for others there may be a rise in status for the partner as opportunity comes and contracts are negotiated. If single, new love may be found in the far climes or in a new environment. Favourable Dates: Aug 3, 6, 12, 15, 21, 24 Favourable Colours: Red & Green

LIBRA (23 Sept - 22 Oct) This period marks the start of an era. Step into it, undeterred by what must be done and you can set patterns and structures that will carry you into the future. Responsibility, the serious endeavour and dealings with authoritative bodies or people will be the milestones. Some of you may take on new partnership duties. Others may have to carry burdens alone because partners or associates may step back or choose a new direction. New knowledge combined with a good orderly approach and effective health routines will see you flourish. Favourable Dates: Aug 3, 5, 12, 14, 21, 23 Favourable Colours: Blue & Yellow

AQUARIUS (20 Jan - 18 Feb) New ideas will come for some, and there will be new ways of communicating and thinking. Education may play a role for some, taking you in new and different directions. Outmoded lines of thought will have to go. You may find new paths that call you to independent action as you discover something new about yourself outside the mantle of a relationship. Shared ideas, interests or friends may be the glue that strengthens that bonds between those of you already committed. New or unusual friends or people may enter the arena of your relationship. Favourable Dates: Aug 3, 8, 12, 17, 21, 26 Favourable Colours: Red & Blue

SCORPIO (23 Oct - 21 Nov) This can be a fortunate period for you and you can flourish through new ideas and connections. There are blessings to come in August, but there will be challenges as well. Learn to be adept with the scales of balance and you’ll have grasped something important about the days ahead. There will be friends around and benefit may accrue from the contact. Those you’re in contact with could have links with overseas or they may be people of standing or professional accomplishment. Financial obligations and emotional ties may become intertwined. Favourable Dates: Aug 2, 4, 11, 13, 20, 22 Favourable Colours: Purple & Yellow

PISCES (19 Feb - 20 Mar) You may immerse yourself in creative projects or spiritual activities or you may develop a project in secret for a time. You may simply step back from life to get a new perspective. Solitude may serve a need for deeper considerations. Issues of love or money that have troubled you in the past may flare up again, requiring further attention. There may be an end or a change in your relationship with a sibling. There could be an unexpected reversal or change with finances or love life. Ride out the waves without being too concerned. Favourable Dates: Aug 2, 9, 11, 18, 20, 27 Favourable Colours: Purple & Yellow

Manish Kumar Arora, 91-9871062000 | K.P. Astrologer, Numerologist, Tarot Card Reader & Vastu Consultant www.facebook.com/manishastroconsultant | manish@manishastrologer.com

186

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

£335,000

RESTORATION:

HISTORIC RAILWAY PULLMAN CAMPING COACHES UNVEILED AS QUIRKY STAYCATION ACCOMMODATION Ravenglass in the Western Lake District is home to some new quirky ‘railway holiday’ accommodation, following the remarkable transformation of two near derelict Pullman Camping Coaches dating back more than a century.

riginally built in 1917 as part of a World War One Ambulance Train, ‘Elmira’ and ‘Maid of Kent’ are the UK’s oldest Railway ‘Camping Coaches’ still in their original location - uniquely situated at Ravenglass in a coastal setting within two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: The Lake District National Park and Hadrian’s Wall (Frontiers of the Roman Empire).

188

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

Using £250,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and a private investment of £85,000, the innovative transformation of these two historically important vehicles into striking new visitor accommodation for up to 6 persons has painstakingly preserved many of the carriages’ original highly-crafted features. Sited at Ravenglass Station, a new sensory garden will also support the natural ecosystem and enhance visitors’ stays. As well as being easily accessible for the Cumbrian Coastal Way, the location sits alongside one of the UK’s best-known heritage railway lines - Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway - and links in with the main rail network, opening up new possibilities for fully sustainable travel experiences where people can leave the car at home.

www.lancmag.com

As the roadmap out of lockdown progresses, the coaches will also be opened up at selected times for prebooked, socially distanced visits – giving people a new perspective into their unique heritage and helping to share stories and memories of the so-called ‘Carriages off the Rails’. Rachel Bell, from Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway, says, “Bringing these nationally significant Camping Coaches back to life has been a real labour of love and it is fantastic to be giving staying visitors the chance to soak in their rich heritage for the first time in many, many decades. “We think it’s a fantastic way of reinvigorating a unique slice of railway history and raising awareness of the Western Lake District and the lesser-known Lake District coast to a new generation of staycationers who want to travel in a more eco-friendly way and enjoy authentic family experiences.” David Renwick, Director, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, adds: “Investing in heritage means investing in the community it belongs to, which is why we are delighted to support this project. Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, more people will be able to enjoy the rich heritage of these Pullman Camping Coaches. Attracting visitors from further afield to explore the stunning landscape using this quirky accommodation as their base will also play a role in boosting the local economy.” Dawn McGough, Community Rail Manager for Community Rail Cumbria, comments: “I am so pleased and excited by the prospect of these two wonderful Pullman coaches being restored to their former glory. In the mid-1930s, this new ground-breaking concept took off on Britain’s railways as a unique way of staying in remote picturesque locations accessible by the train. By bringing back to life the two camping coaches at the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, guests will not only have fantastic accommodation but also be on the doorstep of one of the most beautiful parts of the Lakes.

www.lancmag.com

“My challenge to all the people and families who stay in the coaches is to plan their holiday using only the railway and leave the car at home. There are a host of attractions and interesting places to visit along the Cumbrian coast railway, very easily accessible from stations along the route, and much quieter than the tourist hotspots in the heart of the Lake District.” The renovation of the Pullman Camping Coaches has been made possible with £250,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. It was awarded to a partnership between a charity - the Ravenglass Railway Museum Trust – and the commercially-run Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway with a private investment of £85,000. ONLINE BOOKINGS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR BOTH ‘ELMIRA’ AND ‘MAID OF KENT’ AT

ravenglass-railway.co.uk/self-catering/list

PULLMAN CAMPING COACHES FACTFILE: The story of the ‘Carriages off the Rails’ dates back to after World War I where they were used as ‘homes for heroes’. Some became animal shelters and barns, while other redundant carriages in attractive locations – often coastal – were turned into affordable holiday accommodation linked to the railways in the 1930s. During World War II, many were pressed into the war effort. By 1958, they saw a revival as British Railways were able to offer ‘delightful inexpensive holidays’ in more than 130 locations. Branch line closures following the Beeching Report, combined with cheaper overseas travel in the 1970s meant many of the carriages did not survive.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 189

Local groups get growing at RHS Garden Bridgewater

• Fifth RHS Garden opens on 18 May 2021

features hexagonal raised beds to bring people together to work collaboratively, make friends and get gardening experience.

• Seven local charities and schools have their own plots in the Community Grow garden

The groups taking part in the scheme are all local to the garden and come from a range of backgrounds and ages. Most have limited gardening experience and have never grown their own food before. They are:

• Groups will receive support and advice from the RHS Bridgewater team, apprentices and volunteers

• Secondary school pupils from Co-op Manchester and Co-op Academy, Walkden

• The Yemeni Community Association Greater Manchester

even local groups from Salford have been chosen to ‘take over’ a brand new garden where they will develop their growing skills together. The Community Grow garden at RHS Garden Bridgewater is a first for the Royal Horticultural Society, where a purpose built space has been created for people from the community to use and grow whatever they choose. In a radical departure from traditional allotments where people garden individually, the specially-designed garden 190

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

Academy,

• Salford Loaves and Fishes

• Salford Foundation Women’s Centre • Central YMCA, Salford • Social adVentures, a social enterprise who run Kids adVentures childcare nurseries and forest schools. Pupils from Co-op Academy, Walkden were the first to visit the garden this week and teacher Thomas McAndrew shared the group’s reaction: www.lancmag.com

“The pupils were blown away by the size of the gardening scheme and the huge meticulous lawn with giant spherical shrubs. Comments I heard were “I can’t believe that lawn, it’s better than the Etihad stadium!” They were keen to ask if they could visit again. They enjoyed planting the vegetables, leeks, red and white cabbage and were excited to see their school plots. In fact I have never seen them so quiet and in awe of being in such a beautiful place. All the pupils learned something very personal in such a short space of time as they interacted with adults from outside school and they felt welcome. They are excited to be going again next week and I feel that the link with the RHS will broaden their experience of the world outside of school and home and will generate personal confidence.” Another group of younger children are visiting this week and Kate Simpson from Social adVentures shared her hopes for the project: “Kids adVenture has an outdoor ethos but at our Salford nursery on Chapel Street we’re really limited with any growing space. Although our children are just 4 and 5 years old they have a great love for learning and finding out where their food comes from. “We’re really excited about the opportunities that visiting RHS Bridgewater and Community Grow will give them in terms of both learning about growing and food but also social skills and boosting their confidence. And bringing that knowledge and enthusiasm back to nursery and their own families.” Each group has their own designated plot in Community Grow, which they will come in and work on weekly with

www.lancmag.com

support from the RHS horticulture team, apprentices and volunteers. Chloe Ellis is a RHS horticulturist leading the project and has a background in community gardening: “For me the most exciting thing about Community Grow is giving people the opportunity to grow food, especially people who don’t have a garden of their own. The mix of people is also really good, we have a range of ages and life experiences. I’d love to see people meet and become friends with people who they would never otherwise get to know in everyday life. “We’re here to support our community gardeners but my hope is that we become less needed as their confidence and skills grow and they take real ownership of the space. It’s quite experimental too, so in a year from now who knows what transformation will have taken place - both in the garden and in the groups who are participating.” The Community Grow area, the Community Wellbeing Garden and Peel Learning Garden are just some of the community-focused spaces that can also be found at RHS Garden Bridgewater which will open its gates on 18 May 2021. The 154-acre RHS Garden Bridgewater garden is the biggest hands-on horticultural project undertaken in Europe since planning permission was granted in 2017. Community Grow sits within the Weston Walled Garden, the jewel in the crown of RHS Garden Bridgewater and home to the spectacular Paradise Garden by renowned landscape architect Tom Stuart-Smith. The nearby Kitchen Garden by award-winning Harris Bugg Studio showcases a variety of productive growing techniques and both familiar and more unusual edibles.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 191

DATE: Tuesday 13th July 2021 TIME: 09:30 AM - 04:30 PM LOCATION: Manchester City Centre, Manchester CATEGORIES: • Key Events • Marketing • Member Events • pro-manchester • Sector events • Skills • SME Club WHAT IS BUILD Build is a strategic programme featuring educational content, interactive, actionable workshops and a community for business owners serious about marketing. A practical approach for campaigns that deliver growth, Build is more than a programme that gets your business ready to deliver the marketing that fits your goals. It is a methodology and a mindset that gives business owners the tools, the strategy, and the accountability to make it happen. A wealth of know-how and resources built for businesses who are ready to take marketing seriously. No hacks, quick fixes, shortcuts or waffle. Build is all about the hard work you need to do if you’re serious about driving your business forward. It’s about channelling that hard work effectively, so you’re not just busy, you’re doing the activity that matters in a way that makes a difference. Build empowers you to develop clarity, consistency, structure, long term thinking and attention to detail (yes, we think sweating the small stuff matters). 192

Build: Marketing Strategy Fundamentals 2-day Accelerator Programme THE BUILD ACCELERATOR The Build accelerator programme is aimed at founders, owners and senior business leaders who need to implement growth campaigns grounded in commercial thinking and business strategy. You’ll gain: Two days of straight-talking, practical marketing education - delivered through interactive, engaging, and challenging masterclasses, covering a range of topics and methodologies. Comprehensive learning resources - to help you implement the methodology quickly into your business and gain valuable input and buy-in from your wider team. A collaborative learning experience - join like-minded entrepreneurs and leaders for group, activities and problem-solving. Who knows, you may even widen your network in ways you didn’t expect.

WE’LL GUIDE YOU THROUGH THE FUNDAMENTALS OF THE BUILD METHODOLOGY:

is for the ‘building blocks’. We’ll make sure you have solid foundations in place so all your marketing campaigns efficiently and systematically deliver on their objectives.

is for ‘understand’. We’ll guide you through the power of a ‘campaign mindset’, help you find your business’s ‘SO WHAT?’ factor, and help you understand what you need to put in place to create tangible results.

is for ‘interrogate’. It’s about digging deep into your audience, messaging, channels, resources, skillsets, and reporting. You’ll learn to make sound decisions based on meaningful research, taking the stress, delay & back and forth out of decision making.

Monthly accountability sessions - our experts guide you through monthly live strategy deep-dive sessions giving you that much-needed guidance, insight and support as you implement your strategy.

is for ‘launch’ and ‘layer’. It’s about planning, processes, people and performance. Get ready to implement campaigns that create the energy and momentum to drive your business forward.

A suite of templates, activities and tools - to make it more than a methodology and help you get your best ideas and plans out of your head and into structured, actionable ideas.

Peer support - join an online community to collaborate with peers and benefit from exclusive Build content.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

is for ‘data’ and ‘delving deeper’. We’ll share our approach to testing, deployment and learning, meaning you can spend time gathering the most important data and making informed decisions. Essentially creating a culture of continuous improvement and maximised performance. www.lancmag.com

pro-manchester are the Greater Manchester Business Community and the largest business development organisation in the North West. Connecting, sharing and collaborating across GM and the North West for 35 years. We host a wide and varied events programme of over 150 events each year, attracting over 10,000 delegates. As a member, our events are generally free of charge so keep an eye out for areas of interest to you and your business.

WHO IS THIS EVENT FOR? From mid-tier, fast-growth businesses to newly founded SMEs, Build is aimed at founders, owners and senior business leaders who need to implement growth campaigns grounded in commercial thinking and business strategy. At the end of this 2 day cohort, you’ll walk away with: A better understanding of how to drive your business forward through marketing – including key marketing principles and what they look like in action through real-world case studies. More clarity on the strengths of your current strategy and what areas need more of your attention. Worksheets, activities, planners and resources you can use time and time again, based on the BUILD methodology’s timeless principles. “Taking two days out of your business for any director, founder or marketing professional can be a hard call at times. The last two days with Mike and his outstanding team proved that it is not only a great idea, but it is essential to take time out and work on your strategy. My measure of the success of the Build workshop, was that I felt we could have stayed longer and continued to explore ideas to continually improve our marketing. The mix of presenters, individual and team workshops and group learning made for a fantastic event. I wholeheartedly recommend these workshops to any business owner, business development lead or anyone who just wants to refresh their approach to better customer relationships.” - Ian Hutchings, Managing Director, Vita Safety www.lancmag.com

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS: Mike Pye - Mike Pye + Co: Mike is a commercially focused marketing strategist with nearly 15 years of experience in businesses big and small. With vast experience across brand, digital, content and CRM, and a stickler for process, Mike builds results-driven multi channel marketing campaigns and excellent, high performance teams. AJ Handley-Rowe ACIM - Mike Pye + Co: AJ is an awardwinning, innovative, results-focused digital campaign and creative content specialist, with over ten years of experience across a range of sectors. What AJ doesn’t know about digital strategy isn’t worth knowing. Sarah Wilde CIM - Mike Pye + Co: A commercially driven marketer and brand specialist, Sarah excels in brand & marketing strategy and content marketing delivery. A passionate marketing professional with a CIM Professional Postgrad Diploma in Marketing, Sarah brings brands to life through creative campaigns.

“The whole workshop was really fantastic, interactive and vibrant. It shows that all three of you really know what you are talking about.” - Vanessa de Rudder, Marketing Manager

“I think my biggest take away from the programme was a core understanding of how to structure campaigns with strong fundamentals & measurement processes along the way.” - Adam Parker, Senior Business Development Manager, Totally Local Company

“Working with Mike is nothing but smooth-sailing. I know I can count on him to deliver consistently exceptional training, wherever and whenever it may be. The content he shares is current, engaging and adds true value to our clients. The feedback received from courses he is delivering on is always positive and often used as a benchmark against other sessions.” - Becci Nelson, Workshops & Events Manager, GC Business Growth Hub

INTERESTED IN THE EVENT? If you’re interested in attending, visit: www.pro-manchester.co.uk/events For any further enquires about this event, contact: shaun.gibb@pro-manchester.co.uk

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 193

Government plans for nature and net zero announced today – what does this mean for Lancashire? Seeds of hope planted but root and branch change on mammoth scale still needed, say The Wildlife Trusts

oday the Environment Secretary set out plans to restore nature and “build back greener” after the pandemic. The Secretary of State, George Eustice, made the speech at an online event hosted by The Wildlife Trusts during which the public could ask questions. The event can be viewed here: www.youtube. com/watch?v=SPFJnhq0bvo Much focus was given to plans for tree planting, species reintroduction and peatland restoration in England, including a ban on peat sales subject to a public consultation. While it is widely acknowledged that there is a big opportunity for a ‘green recovery’ from Covid19, The Wildlife Trusts fear that there is a real danger of ‘building back’ just as before – for example by investing in damaging new road building and destructive developments such as HS2 rail and Sizewell C nuclear power station, rather than investing in nature on land and at sea on the scale that is urgently needed. What does this mean for Lancashire? The Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside region is abundant with wildlife, but it could be so much more – and it needs our help to achieve that. Today’s announcement could spell great news for our peatlands; our uplands such as the Pennines and the Forest of Bowland, getting a share of £50m towards their restoration, and plans to support more climate friendly ways 194

of managing our lowland peat, such as Chat Moss in Greater Manchester, much of which has been converted to agricultural use. We also hope that our region will benefit from a slice of the £500m that has been pledged to triple woodland creation (hopefully through a mixture of natural regeneration and tree planting) and further protection of our existing woodland. However, it’s about more than just peat and trees. Our region hosts some amazing coastline and there is currently a lack of specific support for our marine and coastal environments. Wildlife havens such as salt marshes, mud flats and dunes pepper our coasts, along with the wonders of the Ribble and Mersey Estuaries. But there is no mention of further protection and funding for these amazing habitats in the announcements. Craig Bennett, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts, says: “This is an important step today on a long journey for nature’s recovery. It’s exciting to hear talk of reintroducing wildlife such as wildcat and golden eagle but the success of such projects entirely depends on making a huge amount more space available for nature. What we need is all nature to be abundant once more – humming and buzzing all around us – and we hope that a new legally-binding target to achieve this will step up action across Government. So, while seeds of hope were sown today, root and

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

branch change is still needed on a mammoth scale. “The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world and we got into this mess because natural places have shrunk to tiny, fragmented pockets of land, often too far from communities for people to benefit from contact with nature. Much of our land and sea is degraded and unable to store carbon in the quantities needed to help tackle climate change. “Vast restoration projects need funding by Government to help it reach their declared ambition of 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030. Doing so will help wildlife fight back and enable repaired habitats to store carbon once more. At the moment, only 10% of our land is protected for nature and only half of this is in a good state.” The Wildlife Trusts are calling for urgent implementation of: • A Nature Recovery Network to be at the heart of the future planning system to enable new nature www.lancmag.com

• A ban on selling peat in compost before the UK hosts the global climate conference COP26 in Glasgow in November this year. The planned consultation must also set an early date for the phase-out of peat use altogether. • A tenfold increase in peatland restoration, an end to all upland peat burning and better controls to stop drainage of peat soils for farming. Peatlands are one of the UK’s most precious wildlife habitats, capable of storing huge amounts of carbon, but over 80% of them are in poor condition. It is disappointing that the Government’s initial target is only to restore 35,000 hectares of them; its own advisors have estimated that ten times that – 300,000 hectares – should be repaired in England.

places to be carefully mapped out, joined up and put where they will work best for nature and people. A healthy and connected natural world will ensure that species have enough space to survive, thrive and move if they need to, in response to climate change. • A future planning system that does not jeopardise nature. Defra should hold the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to account so that faster planning does not mean poorer protection for nature. The planning system must help address the wildlife crisis with a new Wildbelt designation to protect land in recovery for nature. Furthermore,

there is an enormous threat to marine life from the huge expansion of offshore wind development and we must not forget the role that our seas play in mitigating climate change, locking away carbon. Strategic planning at sea must ensure green energy does not increase the threat to nature. • Highly Protected Marine Areas across at least 30% of our seas’ protected network. It is disappointing that in a speech which highlights plans to protect and restore nature, and tackle the climate and biodiversity crises, that no mention is given to the marine environment. We need to restore seagrass and saltmarsh for wildlife and carbon storage as much as we do trees and peat.

• A Tree Action Plan which firmly puts habitat creation and nature protection at its heart, creating natural, joined-up woods that are good for wildlife and accessible to people. Important wildflower meadows, peatlands and speciesrich grasslands should not be damaged by tree planting. A move towards natural regeneration, where woods naturally grows f rom fallen seeds, should be a priority because they are better for wildlife. Craig Bennett continues: “Today we face a twin nature and climate emergency – these crises are entirely interlinked and one cannot be tackled without addressing the other. The time for procrastination is over and greater urgency is needed on all fronts. The UK hosts the global climate conference COP26 in Glasgow in November this year and speed is vital: now is the time to accelerate nature’s recovery – for wildlife, for people and for the climate.”

The Wildlife Trusts The Wildlife Trusts are here to make the world wilder and to make nature part of everyone’s lives. We are a grassroots movement of 46 charities with more than 850,000 members and 38,000 volunteers. No matter where you are in Britain, there is a Wildlife Trust inspiring people and saving, protecting and standing up for the natural world. With the support of our members, we care for and restore special places for nature on land and run marine conservation projects and collect vital data on the state of our seas. Every Wildlife Trust works within its local community to inspire people to create a wilder future – from advising thousands of landowners on how to manage their land to benefit wildlife, to connecting hundreds of thousands of school children with nature every year. wildlifetrusts.org

www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 195

Lee Mann Photography

WINDERMERE JETTY MUSEUM

Reopens with New Stories of Shipwrecks and Ruins in the Lakes

• Windermere Jetty Museum reopens on Friday 28 May with a new season of displays, activities and events that embrace the outdoors and extend to more areas of the museum. • WRECKED! inspires a sense of adventure for all by exploring the hidden depths of Windermere through lost ships and revealing the human impact on the lake. • Fully restored heritage boat Motor Vessel Penelope II returns to the water for passenger trips.

indermere Jetty Museum reopens on Friday 28 May, with a new season of family-friendly activities, uncovering the hidden treasures and sunken 196

secrets of Windermere’s most intriguing shipwrecks. This world-class museum, embedded in the Lake District, is thrilled to welcome visitors back for the start of half term with a new and unique experience that makes the most of its outdoor spaces and reveals an immersive, interactive visitor journey inside. WRECKED! reveals a fascinating insight into the perils of Windermere’s long-lost ships, it prompts new thinking about the human impact on the lake and surrounding landscape and embraces a spirit of adventure with a family trail covering all corners of the museum. With new displays and narratives across its remarkable and spacious galleries, visitors do really become part of life on the lake. WRECKED!

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

delves into the story of The Mournful Marriage, a tragic ferry accident that took place on Windermere, and will draw visitors into a space of chaos, calm and the deep through an immersive installation reflecting layers of icy waters of the lake. Senses will ignite through touch, colour, light and sound to reveal intriguing stories, myths and tales of the lake. From early accidents of the first steamboats, to the amazing rescues of boats pulled from the depths of Windermere, WRECKED! will share new stories of the region’s internationally important boat collection and will highlight the practice and evolution of boatbuilding over time. See Steam Launch Dolly, the world’s earliest mechanically powered boat which succumbed to the icy pull of Ullswater in 1895. www.lancmag.com

While your with us, take a trip on our newly conserved Motor Vessel Penelope II built in 1930, that gives you a unique opportunity to enjoy the lake onboard an exceptional historic vessel. The WRECKED! experience has been created in collaboration with immersive theatre company The Knotted Project and designers field.studio, and concludes with a pledge to deliver an amazing community project that highlights the opportunities we all have to reduce our carbon footprint and reinforce our Green Manifesto in the community. Rhian Harris, Chief Executive said: “We are thrilled to reopen Windermere Jetty Museum with a brand-new family experience. “As restrictions ease, we are confident visitors will want to appreciate the wonderful local landscape and to also support cultural attractions who have been so badly affected by the pandemic. “WRECKED! will elevate our internationally important collection in new ways and will provide a unique Covid-safe experience to all who visit. We can’t wait to welcome visitors over the coming months and create a path to working with local communities to protect our wonderful region.” Sophie Terrett, Collections Curator said: “The WRECKED! experience will explore for the very first time the unusual stories of the wrecks of Windermere, and we can’t wait for visitors to enjoy delving into these hidden histories. Many of the boats in the museum collection spent part of their lives underwater. For some, it was only a few weeks before they were brought back to the surface, but others were lost beneath the waves for decades. WRECKED! will tell the amazing true tales of these internationally important boats.”

Lee Mann Photography

Natalie and Simon, Co-Directors of The Knotted Project said: “We are extremely excited to be working with Lakeland Arts on their new, interactive experience, WRECKED! “The Knotted Project have been commissioned to create a brand-new trail and visitor experience for families so they can explore the museum in new ways and have loads of fun! We are very lucky to be collaborating with field. studio and the team at Lakeland Arts and look forward to bringing this new experience to life for 2021.” The museum will reopen with an exciting calendar of events, giving visitors more opportunities to embrace local culture in an area of outstanding natural beauty and with the backdrop of the museum’s award-winning architecture. On Saturday 1 August, Lake District Summer Music an international arts festival with chamber music at its heart - will head to Windermere Jetty Museum and then to Blackwell – the Arts & Crafts house on Friday 6 August. On Saturday 7 August, The Steamboat Association of Great Britain celebrates its 50th anniversary with a parade of some of the UK’s finest historic vessels, and proud owners will come dressed in period costumes for a truly authentic experience. From 26-30 August the museum will also host an outdoor cinema experience and will screen a variety of family-favourite films overlooking the lake. www.lancmag.com

TICKETS TO WINDERMERE JETTY MUSEUM ARE NOW AVAILABLE TO PRE-BOOK ONLINE: lakelandarts.org.uk/windermere-jetty-museum The museum is open daily from Friday 28th May, 10am-5pm. Please check our website before visiting for up-to-date opening times. JOIN IN THE CONVERSATION: @windermerejetty using the hashtag #wrecked and #WinderemereJetty on FIT LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 197

Flying the Flag for Golden Sands

Gregg Wolstenholme Photography

198

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

All of Blackpool’s prestigious beaches have been granted Seaside Awards.

he national awards, announced by Keep Britain Tidy, have rewarded Blackpool South, Blackpool Central, Blackpool North and Bispham for their high standards of beach management, as well as their nearby facilities and water quality.

Blackpool has more than 800 litter bins, including 250 large capacity bins on the Promenade alone. They are emptied daily under normal conditions, and collections are increased whenever there is good weather and high visitor numbers. Reminders are in place to prompt everyone to get rid of their rubbish in the nearest available bin or take it home with them. This summer anyone visiting Blackpool will see “Don’t be a scruff, bin your stuff” posters displayed along the Promenade.

Blackpool is part of Turning Tides the cross-agency partnership working together in north west England to do everything possible to improve the quality of our bathing waters. Through infrastructure, planning, campaigning, volunteering, educating, engaging and hard work, the aim is to make sure everyone enjoys our beaches for generations to come.

To find out more visit www.lovemybeach.org

The four beaches make up the town’s entire stock of bathing water beaches which are currently rated as: Bispham - Excellent Blackpool South - Good Blackpool Central - Good Blackpool North - Good Cllr Jim Hobson, Blackpool Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment, said: “This is great news for local residents and visitors to Blackpool. “When people come to visit us, most will make a trip to the beach part of their holiday, so it’s really important that we can welcome them somewhere that is clean and welllooked after.

Gregg Wolstenholme Photography

“Receiving this award proves that, wherever you go on our coastline, you are sure of an award-winning beach. “We take great pride in keeping our beaches clean and I want to thank everyone who plays their part. From our dedicated Streetscene and Beach Patrol teams, to the many volunteers who litter pick, to every person that does the right thing and disposes of their litter responsibly. “It’s a collective effort and we know how passionately local residents feel about the cleanliness of their beaches.” www.lancmag.com

VisitBlackpool

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 199

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. Please ring us on 01253 206447 for further information.

Helping to make life a little easier at Aiming Higher In mid-2019, before any of us knew what lockdown or shielding was, Aiming Higher for Disabled Children & their Families, the Blackpool based charity that supports hundreds of local children and their families, received a request for help from a family who were in affect already doing this.

he family’s new baby, Toby was born with Pierre Robin Sequence and a recurrent 16p11.2 microdeletion, rare genetic conditions that cause issues with feeding and breathing. At just 37 hours old he had had a tracheostomy and his parents were watching him 24 hours a day as he was unable to be intubated. The family had not left the house since his birth and were feeling overwhelmed and isolated. Aiming Higher staff hear words like ‘overwhelmed’ and especially ‘isolated’ a lot when first talking to new families. While this is a feeling that lots of people can relate to now having experienced lockdown, for families like Toby’s the challenge has been far greater. Toby has an older sister Tia, who at just 11 was struggling to adjust to family life with all Toby’s extra needs and requirements. One of the first things Aiming Higher were able to do was to take her out to join in with some activities with her peers, giving mum and dad more time with Toby and

200

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

Above: Toby’s first birthday celebrations allowing big sister the chance to relax and spend time with others her age. Aiming Higher are always very aware that the whole family need to be included in the work they do as brothers and sisters lives and freedoms are often affected by the needs of their disabled sibling. During lockdown, Tia has continued to access online activities through the charity, taking part in baking and craft sessions on Zoom. Since that first call, working closely with their Family Support Worker, Lisa Cassidy, the family have been able to move forward. Mum Kerry says, “Throughout lockdown, the Aiming Higher Team have checked up on us as a family and provided support where possible. They dropped off activities for the children and held zoom sessions to keep people connected. They really have been a lifeline and we can’t thank them enough.” www.lancmag.com

can apply every year if necessary) should they need more help to meet Toby’s changing needs. Another grant from Freedom for Kids was successfully achieved with Lisa’s help for a specialist push-chair for Toby. This enables the family to get out and access the community in a way they wouldn’t have been able to in a typical buggy purchased from the usual high street stores. The family needed a much stronger, roomier pushchair with lots of storage for his suction machine and other medical equipment for his tube feeds.

Above: Toby helping dad unpack his new pushchair The team supported the family in claiming Disability Living Allowance and, because of all the bulky medical equipment that Toby requires, were able to secure a Motability car for the family. This involved applying for a specialist grant as Motability cars are virtually unheard of for children under 3. Until Toby was 9 months old he was fed via an NG tube. At 9 months he had his cleft palate repaired and a gastrostomy at the same time. Because of the gastrostomy, Toby also needs specialist equipment to process his food, which Lisa was able to help them acquire through a Family Fund application. The family now feel confident to apply to Family Fund again (they

Kerry says, “We are so grateful to Lisa and the team at Aiming Higher for all their help and support. Without Lisa we would never have known about the extra help we were able to apply for, or have found the time to complete the forms. Lisa’s help ranged from practical to personal, enabling us to create the amazing memories we had longed for for Toby’s first birthday.” Family Support Worker Lisa said “Everyone at Aiming Higher was delighted to be able to help the family to celebrate this very special birthday in very strange times! Toby might not have been able to have a party with lots of people due to the restrictions and his need to shield but we made sure that the family were able to create precious memories and enjoy the day. It was lovely to be able to provide his cake and decorations. We all loved seeing the photos of his day and his happy face!”

Above: Toby’s first birthday celebrations with a cake and decorations sourced by the charity

Like all charities, Aiming Higher saw fundraising activity decrease in 2020, so if you can support them in any way possible, be that by volunteering, or by donating, any assistance will be gratefully received. Please send your ideas to: heatherholt@aiminghighercharity.org.uk www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 201

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

Last week was one of them...

t wasn’t as if I’d expected it to be a walk in the park, (Stanley naturally), complete with picnic of beer, skittles, and an enormous piece of cake. But still... It should’ve started with a spot of mental health training - and ended up challenging the mental health of a saint - and that was just after Monday. Undeniably, the prospect of the training, electronic and in the cause of work, was infinitely more palatable linked to the comfort of one’s own kitchen as opposed to an institutional old office, but I’d nonetheless procured a year’s supply of coffee and hobnobs, and hoped it’d be enough. I’d learned the hard way that if a course was supposed to last, as in this case, six hours, it would probably take at least twelve by the time my own peculiar technology had had its say: The specialist software I’m obliged to use in order to read the screen cleverly converts the contents of the said screen into braille, and is brilliant – with Word, Outlook, Internet Explorer, and all your usual suspects. Anything else it MIGHT read seamlessly, but could just as easily reduce it to a snail’s pace, precipitate an uncontrollable fit of the jitters, or render it unable to read anything else on the computer. In the event however, I’d to phone the doctor’s first thing on Monday – not part of the plan at all. I’d then to wait for an emergency call-back, before phoning my mum, - dragging her away from her 44th spring-clean since lockdown, - and engaging her services to get me to the surgery for half an hour’s time: Fortunately, she lives barely ten minutes off, and it took us only a further ten minutes to walk to the doctors. It was nonetheless a tad annoying that the heavens should have opened as we set off. I always feel they might’ve waited, not least as any rainfall has me hanging onto my hood for dear life - to prevent the inevitably accompanying winds whipping it off within seconds and exposing my hearing-aids to an unhelpful soaking. On the way back however, my prevailing sensation was a flood of relief rather than rainwater, a weekend’s worry and morning’s anxious wait in a fast steaming-up facemask, (which I’d constantly to keep hitching back up again as it kept wanting to escape down my face), evaporating under the influence of a diagnosis exceeding expectations. It might have occasioned a full-on party mood, except ten minutes after logging onto my computer at last, I was given something else to think about. Not waiting for the excuse of an uncertain training course, my computer’s

202

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

braille capacity suddenly died. Moreover, though I could think of no reason for this, far less a solution, the onus seemed to be on me to FIND an answer as there seemed no one better placed so to do, most people simply not using computers with dotty extra bits. Thus I diligently pressed buttons, read the manual from cover to cover, (which proved as useful as employing a chocolate teapot), and bombarded Google - for what felt like an eternity. My ideas were definitely dwindling when finally, via means having absolutely nothing to do with logic, and everything to do with bloody-mindedly refusing to be beaten, I hit pay dirt - but with no lie down in a darkened room as a reward. I’d now to turn my attention to the delayed training – which turned out to be a cross between Bullseye and a sadistic roundabout. Having apparently successfully enrolled on it, I then couldn’t get any further than a virtual loop taking me round and round the same unhelpful information, including that I HAD successfully enrolled on the thing, and what it’d likely be teaching me could I only open it – which several hours later it seemed clear I wasn’t going to be able to. Bitterly conceding defeat, I was still seething about the time-wastage affected by technology when the doorbell announced a would-be electricity meter-reader. She was the sixth or seventh recently, despite: A, Covid; B, my only recently supplying a reading; C, my being as blind as a bat, (as must have been inferred from the braille bills I received), so unlikely to be flinging my door wide to anyone unexpected; and D, the fact that my parents, customers of the same company, hadn’t had anyone round to read theirs. So suffice to say, I phoned my electricity providers like the ultimate woman on a mission. Having been cut off twice, then thrice forced to abandon the call as I could hear the person on the other end like a pin drop in a thunderstorm, it was beginning to seem like mission impossible. However, I did finally reach someone I could hear well enough to hope we understood each other. The best bit though was my parents’ receipt, two days later, of a letter requesting they supply a meter reading, and advising that the company weren’t themselves carrying out such tasks at the moment due to Covid. Well, you couldn’t make it up – and all I can say is roll on the Olympics as the past couple of weeks have felt like them with knobs on, but in terms of pain rather than any kind of satisfying gain. www.lancmag.com

Bring the warmth, colour, history and unique style of the Mediterranean to your home with beautiful hand crafted and hand painted ceramics

S pecialists in Family Law UNSURE OF THE TYPE OF LEGAL SUPPORT YOU NEED? Contact us today for a free no obligation discussion: N 01257 228027 E rachel@rjtsolicitors.co.uk

www.rjtsolicitors.co.uk

E hello@kargibay.co.uk F @KargiBayCeramics I @kargibay www.kargibay.co.uk Please use code LANCMAGKB10 at the checkout on our website for an exclusive 10% OFF* your order *T&Cs Apply

Balance Counselling and Coaching Ltd

PUT YOUR LIFE IN BALANCE At Balance we offer a variety of coaching and counselling services that will help you overcome personal challenges, and allow you to achieve your individual goals. We Boast Authentic, Delicious and Affordable Caribbean Meals and Celebration Cakes. We Provide Catering for all Occasions and Our Mobile Catering Truck is Available to Book.

I can help you to discover the wider spectrum of options available to achieve your desired outcome.

We can work with any budget and give you amazing flavour and homemade taste

info@balancecounsellingandcoaching.co.uk or call on: 07794 143 171

E info@mamashars.com N 07988 890974 FI @mamashars

For a confidential discussion email:

www.balancecounsellingandcoaching.co.uk

YOUR LOCAL FIRM FOR FAMILY LAW RJT Solicitors understand that contacting a solicitor for advice about personal aspects of your life at a time when you are at your most vulnerable, can be particularly daunting.

Rachel Taylor - Solicitor and Director

s an experienced family law solicitor with a reputation for excellent client care, Rachel wanted to offer specialist legal services to the people of her hometown. She established RJT in September 2017. Solicitor Donna Gamble joined Rachel in 2018 at their newly renovated office at 44 High Street, Standish, Wigan. With over 50 years’ legal experience between them, they offer a wide range of family legal services at the heart of the community. The firm has gone from strength to strength, welcoming new clients in all aspects of family law, providing specialist legal advice in a sensitive and approachable manner, with outstanding professional client care.

Donna Gamble - Solicitor

Rachel knows from her extensive experience that taking the decision to end a relationship is one of the most difficult and stressful decisions that people can take, with far reaching consequences for everyone involved.

Choosing the right solicitor to guide you through all aspects of the legal process is so important and that is why RJT Solicitors offer a free 30-minute consultation on all aspects of family law. This can take place either by telephone, video call, or by a face-toface meeting in the office, whichever is more convenient for you. This provides an opportunity for you to ask questions and to be confident that you have chosen the right firm to guide you through your legal problem. Rachel explains that at the initial meeting, “we will listen to you and advise you of all your options, in order to empower you to make the best choices for you and your family.” As members of Resolution, the largest organisation of family justice professionals in England and Wales, RJT Solicitors are committed to a non-confrontational approach to all family matters and aim to settle family disputes sensitively and in a constructive manner. This approach helps to achieve the best possible outcomes for separating parents and their children. Whether you need help in relation to the breakdown of your relationship, making arrangements for your children, or sorting out your finances following a family breakdown, the specialist solicitors at RJT can guide you through the legal process to allow you and your family to move on with your lives. RJT Solicitors offer a fixed fee for a divorce and a competitive hourly rate. We are happy to discuss payment plans where appropriate. If you wish to have a free, no obligation discussion regarding any family matter, then please do not hesitate to contact RJT Solicitors on: 01257 228027 or by email: rachel@rjtsolicitors.co.uk or visit: www.rjtsolicitors.co.uk RJT Solicitors are open Monday – Friday from 9am – 5pm

204

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

Bring the warmth, colour, history and unique style of the Mediterranean to your home with Kargi Bay Ceramics and Gifts.

small Lancashire based company with a huge passion for beautiful Turkish products. Owner Suheyla, (half Turkish on Dad’s side) is passionate about Turkey, its colourful ceramics, food and people and is fulfilling a dream bringing delight to customers across the country. Visiting family in Turkey was a frequent summer activity growing up, spending time both in the bustling city of Istanbul and the contrasting calm and peace of the quaint villages in Bursa with its friendly, caring people and their homemade crafts and arts. This is where the love, passion and inspiration for Turkish ceramics and gifts comes from. Once you have visited, you never forget the aweinspiring Grand Bazaar in Istanbul with its colourful streets and characterful traders selling everything from leather goods, herbs and spices, textiles, gold jewellery and of course ceramics. This inspired Kargi Bay Ceramics and Gifts and turned a dream into a reality. The website launched in October last year amidst the pandemic when owner Suheyla Brown-Kenna decided to fulfil a life’s www.lancmag.com

long ambition to source beautiful authentic products from Turkey and make them easily available to browse and buy online from the comfort of your own sofa. All the beautiful ceramics are hand crafted and hand painted adding to the individuality and uniqueness of every piece and Suheyla looks forward to being able to visit Turkey again once it’s safe to source new products, meet local artisans and bring more beautiful creations to the UK. On the website, there is a fabulous choice of colourful handmade ceramic plates, dishes and bowls in a range of sizes, from super cute pinch pots, meze sharing platters to family friendly size serving dishes. As well as a whole range of kitchen accessories that are great for parties, BBQs or dinner dates and look stunning in contemporary or traditional homes. A real favourite gift for friends and mums are the pretty glass candle holders, which are created by hand with glass beads and mosaics in a variety of different styles and colours, they light up the room at night with dazzling patterns. If you are looking for a special and unique gift, you’ll find exquisite pieces such as the Daisy Bowl, Iznik Meze sets and classic blue and white serving plates that have been lovingly handmade and hand crafted following the ancient 16th and 17th century style of pottery that was made

exclusively in Turkey for the Ottoman empire with its carnation and tulip floral patterns. Whatever the occasion Anniversaries, Weddings, Birthdays, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day or Christmas you will find something truly unique for that extra special someone at Kargi Bay Ceramics and Gifts. “Since launching the business, the support and feedback from customers has been amazing and it really makes me smile and brightens the day to know that our products are loved” “It would be great to be able to open a physical store one day, however in the meantime plans are underway to take our ceramics on the road to makers markets, events and fairs across the North West with announcements, details and special offers to follow on our website, Facebook and Instagram pages, so please give us a like and follow us for all the latest news!” Please use code LANCMAGKB10 at the checkout on our website for an exclusive 10% OFF* your order *T&Cs Apply

Kargi Bay Ceramics and Gifts E hello@kargibay.co.uk F @KargiBayCeramics I @kargibay www.kargibay.co.uk

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 205

CARIBBEAN PASSION

Somewhere in Burnley, Sharmen Frith Hemmings is fulfilling her passion of creating beautiful, authentic Caribbean food and spices with her company Mama Shars Caribbean Cooking

harmen arrived in the UK with her daughter from the exotic Island of Montserrat in 1997, shortly after a volcanic eruption, which covered everywhere with ash. She found herself joining her Mum, who was already living in Burnley, Lancashire. Unfortunately, the educational qualifications Sharmen had, were not recognised in the UK, so she set about re-educating herself and went back to college and university. Here she achieved a degree in Law and worked her way up to an Admin Supervisor at the Courts, then went back to University and studied a Masters in Social Work. She practised as a social worker for over 10 years. During this time her Mum became ill and had a stroke, Sharmen had to work part-time to care for her Mum, after training to be a personal trainer, teaching weight lifting, she received

206

an injury and took some time out. Sharmen found a passion for cooking and learned her skills helping her brother with baking at home. She started cooking some of her Caribbean recipes for her friends and they loved them and that is how Mama Shars was born!!! In December 2017 she started food prep in Preston. Then in 2019 ahe hired a kitchen in Burnley. Everything in the kitchen was recycled and took her and her family 8 months to get it functioning properly. She started deliveries. Using leaflets and social media to advertise her business then Lockdown happened….this created a massive loss and set back! She took this time to re-educate herself again and set about doing 3 diplomas in Food Production, Team Leading, Infection Control and Human Resources. In addition she learned how to set up Social Media and use Instagram to her advantage. She also kept herself busy doing The Lean Programme Diploma, which is geared up to not have any waste in food production... Now her business was all ready to run successfully. Based in Burnley, although her shop is not open just yet, she has a mobile van and can attend any events or celebrations. Also, with her enthusiasm she has launched a new range of cookery classes,

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

which you can join on Facebook or on Trybooking.com. Here you can learn how to create mouth-watering meals, using different techniques and culinary skills. YOU WILL FIND HER AT: Yorkshire Dale Food Festival - 23rd - 25th July 2021 Preston Windrush Festival - 25th July 2021 Preston Caribbean Carnival - 1st August 2021 Read Cricket Club - Every Saturday from 2pm

Sharmen is also creative in another field… in 2000 she designed and made her own wedding dress. Her daughter was Preston Carnival Queen for 2 years and she designed and made all the costumes. From this she set up a business called Sharfrith Events where she does bespoke venue decorations, table cloths, sashes and chair covers, made to your own specification. You can find this on Facebook & Instagram. What’s next for this vivacious, hard-working lady? She plans to write a book! E info@mamashars.com N 07988 890974 F @mamashars I @mamashars Look out for Sharmen’s regular column with us in the New Year!

www.lancmag.com

Balance Counselling and Coaching Ltd

PUT YOUR LIFE IN BALANCE By Kath Taylor

I had an award-winning career spanning over twenty years working in the logistics industry being recognised by the industry in the top 100 list several times and having the honour of winning leader of the year award in recognition of the work I did supporting, mentoring, coaching and developing individuals within the organisations I worked for.

On the coaching side I work with businesses and their employee’s at all levels from first line managers right up to executives, enabling them to become confident individuals who are able to manage and drive change programmes, improve/develop their management and leadership, influencing and engagement skills. I help them secure stakeholder support and build teams that deliver, gaining clarity on goals and setting strategic plans for the future.

help all my clients achieve sustainable and lasting results and my background as a senior executive at director level enables me to understand the motivations and challenges of working in large organisations, leading teams of people and delivering targets, dealing with conflicts and achieving work life balance.

I work with individuals on a variety of topics, including career advice, building better relationships, motivation, goal setting, health and fitness, spirituality to name a few. I help clients achieve success.

I have been qualified as a coach since 2011 and a behavioural analyst in 2013 due to more and more employees presenting with personal/ mental health issues I decided to learn more and became a qualified counsellor in 2013. I am an NLP master practitioner and trainer which when I started my training I hadn’t intended to become as I was originally doing the initial training out of a personal interest in how the mind works and why we do the things we do, I was that engrossed with what I learnt I didn’t want to stop and it has supported me in my own life both personally and on a business front as well as supported my client work.

On the counselling side I work as an integrative counsellor, which means I am trained in multiple disciplines of counselling and flex my style to suit different individuals and situations. I work with many individuals and businesses dealing with issues ranging from, general stresses of life, work, relationships issues and breakdowns, bereavement, abuse, depression, anxiety amongst others.

Below is a sample of the things my clients have said about me: “Balance Counselling and coaching has provided an exceptional standard of service, I have found the sessions engaging, supportive and informative. Kathryn has an outstanding set of skill based on well researched knowledge and empathetic expertise. I will forever be grateful for the insight and understanding she provided to me in the sessions.”

“Kathryn is an incredible mentor who helps me to understand where I want to drive my career to. She also motivates me to achieve any goal that I have in mind but be kind to myself even if things don’t turn out how I like them. I am so grateful to have found her.”

“Kathryn is top! Throughout he many sessions I have had with her she’s enabled me to open up comfortably and naturally. This overall has allowed me to understand many things about myself and form the ability to control my emotional state in a calming way.”

In 2017 I decided I wanted to focus more on the areas of my career I found most fulfilling so set up my own business as a Counsellor and Coach supporting individuals and businesses. For a confidential discussion email: info@balancecounsellingandcoaching.co.uk or call on: 07794 143 171 or visit: www.balancecounsellingandcoaching.co.uk www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 207

Freckle Boutique

Situated in the glorious Lancashire countryside, Freckle Boutique is one of those rare finds, a ladies clothing boutique that really does provide a joyful shopping experience.

he owner, Linda Monk, clearly loves what she does but also recognises that clothes shopping is not necessarily a positive activity for lots of women. She states, “Contrary to popular belief many women simply don’t enjoy the process. It can be intimidating and frustrating particularly for ladies who don’t fit the mold that is portrayed so much in the fashion media. This is a huge bugbear of mine.” Linda started her own business from nothing seven years ago to address this situation and show women that no matter what their age, shape or size, they can look fabulous and enjoy fashion and style with all the confidence of the bright, young things who grace the pages of the glossy mags.

The clothes at Freckle are a great range of differing sizes so I can shop with my friends who are much smaller than me and I no longer feel left out.” Alison Roberts, Southport. A quick glance at the reviews on Google shows that whatever she is doing, it seems to be working and the customer base is growing daily. Since the beginning of March 2020 Freckle has seen turnover grow by over 800% bucking the trend of more established boutiques who have really suffered financially. “When the first lockdown was announced we realised that a lot of women would be experiencing loneliness, anxiety and a whole range of negativity so we set up a Facebook group to support these ladies. We created a fantastic community of women who share fun as well as fashion and also are incredibly supportive of each other. It was started to provide ladies with a safe and friendly environment not to sell

The boutique itself is bright and airy and very welcoming. It is the largest ladies’ clothes shop within Heskin Shopping Village and has a massively loyal and customer base. “I used to hate shopping because I could never find anything to fit me as I’m a size 20 but now I love it! 208

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

clothes and it has really taken off growing to over 1000 members. “

Freckle now has an online presence with the website www.Freckle.Boutique in the top 5% of online shops launched at the same time. It’s quite an achievement and Linda is quick to point out that she has had more than a little help from her niece Beth Skapars. “It’s a real family business now. Beth has been my rock and we wouldn’t be where we are now if it wasn’t for her. She pushes me to be better and I can never thank her enough.” And the future? “We have massive plans” laughs Linda, “But we will never lose who we are. Our aim is to make everyone who walks through our doors feel amazing before they leave. Life can be a struggle but shopping for clothes doesn’t need to be.”

www.Freckle.Boutique info@freckle.boutique www.lancmag.com

I am Jodie from Photo + Flourish I’m a Photographer that empowers women to feel confident in front of the camera and I help SME’s to flourish!

HELLO! M

y approach to taking photographs is friendly, relaxed and fun! I take photographs using natural light across the North West and UK. My aim is to help you build confidence in front of the camera, as I strongly believe that everyone can look great in photos, no matter age or shape, it’s our mindset that needs to change. I take portraits of women in natural settings to build body confidence and self-esteem. As well as portraits, I offer affordable, high-quality Brand and Headshot photography for use on business websites, social media and more! I established Photo+Flourish in 2019. After 5 years of working as a Photographic Stylist with top fashion and Interior brands, I decided it was time for a change. I loved my job but I gradually became aware of the negative impact that some brands have on the environment and how much over-consumption affects the planet. Now I use my skills as a Photographer, to work with people who are contributing positively to the planet and with women who want to learn how to look and feel great in front of the camera. www.lancmag.com

I’ve even started capturing love, by offering wedding photography. I love to capture natural, colourful and positive images, celebrating people, love and businesses that do good! Many of my clients say “I hate having my photo taken!” “I don’t know how to pose!” That’s where I come in. I believe that everyone can look and feel great in front of the camera but this takes time, practice and a change of mindset. When I’m photographing clients, I love to take photographs in gorgeous locations with a relaxed approach so that my clients walk away looking and feeling amazing, with a beautiful set of photographs!

Nicola - Landscape Architect

It’s so important to me to make sure my clients feel at ease, before and during their photoshoot; which is why I love to meet for a brew beforehand to get to know you! Want to find out more, or book a free 30 minute consultation? Go to my website: www.photoandflourish.com for more information

Charlotte - Yoga Teacher

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 209

Where fashion is fun and style comes as standard

H E L P I N G WO M E N , C O U P L E S A N D B U S I N E S S E S TO F L O U R I S H T H R O U G H P H OTO G R A P H Y !

Linda started Freckle Boutique 7 years ago to bring back the fun of fashion for women of all ages and sizes. Why not visit the website and have a great shopping experience!

Headshots from £100 | Portraits from £200 Personal Brand Photography from £450 | Weddings from £750

Visit: freckle.boutique Email: info@freckle.boutique

Book a free 30 minute consultation with Jodie at www.photoandflourish.com or email hello@photoandflourish.com to find out more!

ADVERTISER INDEX A Toast in the Post Ltd Balance Counselling and Coaching Ltd Bury Denture Clinic Cable & Blake Catherine Dean Daises Furniture Designs Domus Don Alberto Dr Yusra EE Cleen Freckle Boutique Grand Theatre Hearts for Homes Hedges House Hogarth Jewellers Joseph & Co Kargi Bay Kilty and Co Land Rover

35 203 111 29 97 75 61 107 123 157 210 2&7 49 187 57 141 203 105 211

Later Life Lending Network Lightweight Roofing Mama Shar’s Caribbean Cooking PAD Petite Weddings Pets Country Hotel Photo + Flourish Redrow Riverside Caravan Park RJT Solicitors Rolex Sleepy Hollow Bedroom Centre Stokers Travel Counsellors Ltd - Karla McCulloch Tyron Ash Real Estate Vincents Virtual Finance Director Services Wren Kitchens

41 67 203 15 55 25 210 81 175 203 212 71 05 151 73 177 45 10

To advertise with us please call

01253 336580 or email: info@lancashiremagazine.co.uk 210

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

The Lancashire & North West Magazine | August 2021

Articles inside

Photo + Flourish

Freckle Boutique

Caribbean Passion

Balance Counselling and Coaching Ltd PUT YOUR LIFE IN BALANCE

Kargi Bay Ceramics & Gifts

Your Local Firm for Family Law

Flying the Flag for Golden Sands

Windermere Jetty Museum Reopens with New Stories of Shipwrecks and Ruins in the Lakes

Could the UK Help Save the Future of the World’s Rainforests?

Jessie Fothergill – a forgotten northern novelist

Government plans for nature and net zero announced today – what does this mean for Lancashire?

Local groups get growing at RHS Garden Bridgewater

pro-manchester - Build: Marketing Strategy Fundamentals 2-day Accelerator Programme

Penniless, Foodless, Friendless

Karate Mama

Morecambe Bay to Play Key Role in Pandemic Recovery

Liverpool’s Ian Prowse BACK ON THE ROAD

Five Star Podcast Series Babble & Froth Releases Ten Episode Series and Launches Website

Karla McCulloch, travel counsellors

The Intrepid Sir Henry Segrave

Flavours Exhibition

Totally Local Lancaster - Expressions of Lancaster

International Diplomats Welcome World’s First Children’s Embassy

Harley Street Aesthetics Expert, DR YUSRA Debuts Northern Clinic In Blundellsands

Keeping a Check on Cholesterol

SHOE MAKER - Reebok and the Untold Story of a Lancashire Family Who Changed the World

Kilty and Co - Eddie Kilty

Jordana Ticia Cosmetics Q&A - An Interview with Founder, Jordana Banks

Delicious BBQ Recipes Exclusively for Del Monte

One Fine Dine Partner with Bloomsbury Estates for Elite Holidays in the UK

Frodsham U-9S Football Team Boosted by Redrow Kit Sponsorship

Petite Weddings

Council Tax Reform

A Critique of Climate Change

PAUL COLLIS Virtual Finance Director Services

Lightweight Roofing Solutions

Heartbeat and Holby City actor Sophie Ward joins Booker Prize winner Douglas Stuart on Society of Authors literary shortlist

domus - house • home • residence

New heritage project at Lunt Meadows Nature Reserve to connect people with nature and history

Pioneering Research is First in UK to Transform Imaging for Infants with Congenital Heart Disease

Lancashire Couple are Raising a Glass to Their Award Winning Drinks Business

A Pawsome Experience

Cash Splashed for Thirsty Volunteer Cows

Campaigners ask people of the North West to ‘Save a Baby’

OT Art Trail

Redrow Branches Out with New Phase of Oak Leigh Gardens

Event guide and ticketing outlet Skiddle this week celebrates a whopping 19 million ticket sales as it hits the 20 year anniversary of its launch

Live Like Ralph - Skate Fundraiser in Memory of Talented Artist & Skateboarder

Pawing The Way