The Lancashire & North West Magazine | May 2022

May 2022

www.lancmag.com

£2.45

Ultimate Driving Experiences From Age 11 Up

Mama Shar

Cooking the Caribbean Way

CALM YOUR OVERWHELM TO LIVE A ZEN LIFE with the Purpose Pusher

FRANCHISEE FEVER Flexible Holiday Childcare and a choice of work-life balance with Fun Fest

I knew I wanted to be a someone

From not feeling worthy to running two successful businesses

THE PEOPLE’S PALACE

GRAND NEW SEASON WINTER | SPRING 2022

March Much Ado About Nothing Sing-a-long-a The Greatest Showman The Illegal Eagles Father Brown The Murderer in The Mirror An Evening With Wayne Sleep James Wilton Dance - The Four Seasons David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny

June Tue 15 to Thu 17 Sat 19 Sun 20 Tue 22 to Sat 26

Seven Drunken Nights Two Pints Podcast - Live!

Julian Clary - Born to Mince Aida Kinky Boots The Musical Animal Farm Ed Byrne if I’m Honest…

ELO Again On Broadway

Private Peaceful The Legends of American Country Show Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em Craig Revel Horwood Dead Lies Marty Wilde Dreamboats and Petticoats Rob Beckett - Wallop!

Count Arthur Strong

The Rise and Fall of Little Voice 80s Live

Sun 12 Mon 13 to Sat 18 Sun 19

Boogie Nights

Tue 29

Housewives On Holiday

Sun 26

Bowie Experience

Thu 30

Thu 31 to Sun 03

Wed 22 to Sat 25

July Onwards Tue 05 Wed 06 Thu 07 Fri 08 Sun 10 Wed 13 to Sat 16 Tue 19 to Sat 23 Sun 24 Wed 27 Sun 30

May Jason Manford: Like Me

The Magic of Motown

Sun 05

Sun 27

April Pinocchio

Red Hot Chilli Pipers

The Lancashire Hotpots

Sat 09 Jul

Steve Steinman’s Anything For Love

Sun 10 Jul

Peppa Pig Jongleurs Legends Twopence To Cross The Mersey

Mon 02 to Sat 07

Sun 02 Oct Tue 04 to Thu 06 Oct

Milton Jones

Thu 13 Oct

Harry Hill Pedigree fun!

Sat 15 Oct

Vincent Simone - Tango Passions

Sun 16 Oct

Elkie Brooks

Sun 30 Oct

Sleeping Beauty Ballet

Sun 20 Nov

Sleeping Beauty Panto

Fri 02 Dec to Sun 01 Jan 2023

Jon Richardson Sun 01

Sat 16 to Sun 17 Jul

Sun Records The Concert Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap

Fri 03 Feb 2023 Sun 23 Apr 2023 Mon 19 to Sat 24 Jun 2023

Sun 08 Tue 10 to Sat 14 Sun 15 Tue 17 to Sat 21 Sun 22 Fri 27 to Sat 28 Sun 29

To book visit blackpoolgrand.co.uk or call 01253 290 190

CONTENTS...

118

136

186

Burnley

Preston

Southport

Features 10

Junior Boys’ Charity Calendar Raises £1,231 for Urban Outreach

114 The Dukes Award-Winning Outdoor Theatre Returns With The Jungle Book

12

THE LOST CASTLES OF THE NORTH-WEST

16

Memories from Jubilee Year

22

Girls Join National Water Polo Training Academy

126 THE JESUITS AND STONYHURST COLLECTIONS LAUNCH THE ‘HOT, HOLY LADIES’ EXHIBITION

24

Presenting: Edward James Furniture Ltd

132 The kids are in the driving seat

32

Tommy Fleetwood Announced as England Golf Ambassador

140 Newt Beginning For Nature Reserve

36

Community Responders Kitted Out With Coats

38

Husband and Wife Franchisee Dream Team!

146 Herdwick Distillery expansion

40

Leanne Horrocks, Fun Fest Chorley

152 The White Tower Restaurant

42

Fun Fest Holiday Club

46

Creating a Beautiful Bedroom

158 Lou Sanders Announces Her Biggest Tour Yet

48

PRIME MINISTERS - The Earl of Shelburne to The Duke of Portland

162 Springing Forward With a Celebration of The New

52

SPRING STEAMINGS at Bolton Steam Museum

168 Mama Shar’s Caribbean Cooking

54

Family Law Assistance

56

The Grey Door

58

Org Gen

62

Hope Menswear and Womenswear

78

International Women’s Day Festival 2022

82

Six Health Conditions an Eye Exam Can Reveal

84

Lancashire And South Cumbria Cancer Alliance Part of an Innovative Programme to Make New Cancer Blood Test Available

94

The Moment I Realised That I Could be a “Someone”

98

Global Grooves Named as Queen’s Pageant Parade Contributor

142 148

62

158

78

106 Manchester has had the Most Businesses Created in the Past Two Years Than Any Other City 112 Women Lead The Way at The Dukes

www.lancmag.com

142 One-of-a-kind Long-Distance Hiking Event HIGHLANDER is Coming to the Lake District 148 IRLAM LIVE MUSIC FESTIVAL

172 CALM YOUR OVERWHELM TO LIVE A ZEN LIFE 176 HAPAG-LLOYD AG TO RECEIVE FRIEND OF THE SEA’S WHALE-SAFE AWARD

102 Easy to make cocktails using awardwinning spirits from Lytham Gin

102

130 The Big Move

113 BERYL BURTON: Quite Possibly The Most Successful Woman You’ve Never Heard Of

178 Natural England Launches New Countryside Code Guidance to Support Farmers and Land Managers 182 Northern Ballet Announces New Artistic Director 190 Women Dying of Ignorance as Ovarian Cancer Crisis Continues 192 Hall for Nothing 198 Joe Pasquale Heads Cast in Some Mothers Do ’Ave ’Em at St Helens This Summer 200 May to Bring Gardeners a Clipping Marvellous Celebration!

202 New Talking Chair Telling Stories of Local Women Installed in Accrington Library 204 Eating Everyday ‘Cupboard Heroes’ Can Save Your Life 206 Large Number of Ponies Pose Challenge for Rescue Charities 208 Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip Getting Active

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

3

...CONTENTS

Regulars

May 2022 • Volume 45 Number 5

74

116

Aiming Higher

110

Balance Counsellor

31

BOOKS: Graham Bandy

28

BOOK: Jason Greenwood

108

Catherine Dean Coaching

74

Colour Me Beautiful

60

Denise Mullen

128

Fleetwood RNLI

95

HayMax

150

Laura Pearson

34

Life of Di

166

Mama Shar

44

Miles Consult & Construct

160

Miranda Christopher

184

Positive Change Coach

156

She Inspires Award Winners

72

Talk of the Town Boutique

88

Totally Local Lancaster

112

UFO

209

Zodiac Predictions

128

72

116

112

160

166

May 2022

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Managing Director: Natalie Christopher natalie@lancashiremagazine.co.uk Editorial: 01253 336580 editorial@lancashiremagazine.co.uk

Ultimate Driving Experiences From Age 11 Up

Design Manager: Tanjé Beach Sales Enquiries: 07918 685673 Accounts: 01253 336588 Mama Shar

Cooking the Caribbean Way

CALM YOUR OVERWHELM TO LIVE A ZEN LIFE with the Purpose Pusher

FRANCHISEE FEVER Flexible Holiday Childcare and a choice of work-life balance with Fun Fest

I knew I wanted to be a someone

COVER: Land Rover

4

From not feeling worthy to running two successful businesses

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

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Writers: Aiming Higher Alijan Kirk Catherine Dean Claire Morton Denise Mullen Diane Wade Dr Andy Hepworth Emma Holt Gulnaz Brennan Harold Cunliffe Janet Broughton Jason Greenwood Julia Riewald Kate Gostick Kath Taylor

Ken Harcombe Laura Pearson Manish Kumar Arora Margaret Brecknell Max Wiseberg Megha Seth Miranda Christopher Olivia Crosher Paul Cusimano Sajedah Maka-Ismail Sarah Harris Sarah Ridgway Sharmen Frith-Hemmings Sophie Rishworth Zara Harris

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IN THIS ISSUE...

W

e start this month with an insight into all of the fun and games to be had with Fun Fest Holiday Club, which believes that children should always have the freedom to choose and the power to play. With their varied activity sessions on offer at your local Fun Fest Holiday Club, there is something to appeal and inspire every child!

Tina Penswick from Talk of the Town Boutiques shares her love of the sun, how dresses are her favourite item of clothing, ultimate feminine look and flattering too and how linen culottes are back and are a big hit, once again.

Catherine Dean Coaching teaches us about the health benefits of eating fat, Sarah Harris from Colour Me Beautiful shares the new colours on the block for Spring and Alijan Kirk 6

continues in his series of profiling our nation’s Prime Ministers.

pictures and descriptions to help you identify British Army cap badges.

We spoke to Emma Holt, a very talented, passionate photographer who tells us about her beginnings and her two businesses, Emma Holt Brand Photography and Emotive Capture Photography School.

Our featured towns this month are Burnley a town proud of many things of its own with two of the most prominent ones being their famous football club Burnley F.C. and the other one being its breathtakingly beautiful Pennine countryside, Preston, which was officially granted city status by the Queen in 2002 becoming England’s 50th city and Southport, which lies on the Irish Sea coast and is one of the most popular seaside resorts.

We have a couple of book recommendations for you: ‘Devilston’

by Jason Greenwood about 3 friends that become unwittingly embroiled in a tangled web of smuggling, espionage and ancient ritual. At its centre lies a daring plot which - if successful - will determine the outcome of the War, and the very future of humanity...; and ‘Identifying Cap Badges - A Family Historian’s Guide by Graham Bandy - a clear, concise and easy to follow guide with

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

And of course, as always, we have features on homes, health, delicious recipes, fashion, entertainment, fascinating history, and a bit of wildlife and more - all in our May issue.

www.lancmag.com

‘Hilarious!’ ‘Truly Amazing’ THE STAGE

UK THEATRE

Joe Pasquale Written & Directed by Guy Unsworth

Based on the TV series by Raymond Allen

Susie Blake Sarah Earnshaw

10 to 14 May Blackpoolgrand.co.uk 01253 290190 www.somemothersdoaveem.com

somemothersuk

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Photo by Michael Wharley

Starring

Junior Boys’ Charity Calendar Raises £1,231 for Urban Outreach

Above: Urban Outeach’s Dave Bagley receives a cheque from the young photographers who contributed to the charity calendar

to the calendar. Thirteen of the best were chosen by guest judges.

The cost of printing was covered by the generous sponsors featured in the calendar, allowing 100% of the money raised to go to Urban Outreach.

The Junior Boys at Bolton School put together a charity calendar which went on sale in December to raise money for Urban Outreach.

T

he project began in January 2021 when the country went into the second lockdown. Boys in Years 3 to 6 were encouraged to get outdoors, appreciate the natural world on their doorstep and take interesting photographs. The whole school joined in and every month seasonal photographs were submitted

10

Dave Bagley visited the school to receive the cheque for £1,231 on behalf of Urban Outreach, which was presented during morning assembly.

Dave said, ‘Well done and thank you. We are so grateful that you made this calendar. It’s excellent and the photos are fantastic. You should be incredibly proud of what you’ve achieved.’

He went on to tell the boys how their donation has already helped those in need in the local community.

In December, Urban Outreach gave roughly 36 tons of food to 9,580

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

people. 1,644 Christmas Hampers were sent out and helped thousands of people, including children, and the charity also topped up gas and electricity meters. The proceeds from the calendar assisted these projects and went towards making people’s lives better over the Christmas period.

In December, when the calendar went on sale for £10 each, Junior Boys’ teacher Mrs Winstanley said: ‘The enthusiasm for this project and the quality of the submissions has been outstanding and the final product reflects this. The calendar is certainly worthy of a place on any study or kitchen wall!

‘Thank you to everyone who has continued to support this project throughout the year as photographer, supportive parent, judge or sponsor.

Your contribution has been enormous and is much appreciated.’ www.lancmag.com

17-21 MAY 2022

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24/02/2022 16:26

THE LOST CASTLES OF THE NORTH-WEST

By Margaret Brecknell

not hold some piece of it. Having acquired significant tracts of land as a result of backing the winner, King Henry VII, at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, Stanley was then given further estates in the county by the monarch for successfully quelling an uprising two years later.

Greenhalgh Castle Garstang

North-West England is home to some of the most wellpreserved castles in the country. Lancaster, Chester and Clitheroe Castles immediately spring to mind.

H

owever, some similar once impressive structures in this region have been largely lost to posterity. Here are the stories of five of them.

GREENHALGH CASTLE, GARSTANG Now little more than a few stones in a farmer’s field, Greenhalgh Castle once played an important role in the defence of lands owned by the influential 15th-century nobleman, Sir Thomas Stanley. Such was the extent of Stanley-owned territory in the county during this period that it was once said there was not a single part of Lancashire where he did

His new property included lands between Lancaster and Preston, previously held by Sir James Harrington. In August 1490 Stanley was granted a licence by the King to build a castle on the site of Harrington’s former manor house, close to the town of Garstang. The fortification was constructed on top of a small hill which was surrounded by marshland, with only one narrow causeway providing access to firmer ground. This position fulfilled two allimportant requirements, providing good views in every direction and making it easily defendable in case of attack. The castle’s outer stone walls are believed to have formed a rectangle around a central courtyard, with a tower at each corner.

Sir Thomas Stanley is not thought to have stayed at Greenhalgh Castle for any significant period, but it served as an important garrison for his own private army of soldiers.

Successive generations of the Stanley family continued to wield considerable influence at court and when the English Civil War broke out in the early 1640s, it was little surprise when Sir James Stanley sided with King Charles I in opposition to the Parliamentarians. By 1643, however, the enemy had largely seized control in Lancashire and Greenhalgh Castle remained as one of the few Royalist strongholds in the county.

Footpath leading to Greenhalgh Castle

12

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The castle was placed under siege

by Parliamentarian forces, who are believed to have made their headquarters in nearby Garstang, www.lancmag.com

The castle’s origins date all the way back to the port of Liverpool’s earliest years. During the first part of the 13th century, the then monarch, King John, was looking to expand his interests in Ireland and was looking for a suitable location on the North-West coast from which his fleet could operate. The site on which the city of Liverpool now stands was identified as being an ideal location and in 1207 the King issued a Royal Charter, which granted the area official status as a free borough.

Bury Castle Excavations – Credit “Jolmartyn/CC BY-SA 3.0”

probably on the site of what is now the Royal Oak pub. The garrison at Greenhalgh Castle, which was led by Captain Nicholas Anderton of Claughton, resisted the siege for well over a year and only finally surrendered, in May 1645, following Anderton’s death.

Wars of the Roses. His concerns proved to be well-founded. He was an active supporter of the Yorkist cause and when the last monarch from the House of York, Richard III, was defeated at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, Pilkington was stripped of his lands including Bury Castle.

Under the terms of their surrender, the soldiers at Greenhalgh Castle were allowed to return home unharmed. Sir James Stanley fared less well, as did the castle itself. Following the end of the Civil War and the Parliamentarians’ ultimate victory, Stanley was executed for treason at Bolton in October 1651.

As for Greenhalgh Castle, orders were given for it to be dismantled so that it could not be used for military purposes again.

It will probably come as little surprise to discover that the Pilkington family’s estates were then handed to Sir Thomas Stanley. Stanley had little need for Bury Castle and when a historian called John Lleland visited the area half a century later, he described the castle as a “ruin”.

The building may have just been left to rot, or it is quite possible it was deliberately vandalised to prevent any further use as a fortification.

Today, only a part of the western tower remains standing. The ruin is located on privately owned land, but it is possible to view it from the nearby public footpath.

For centuries the remains of Bury Castle lay hidden from view. Victorian workmen discovered a section of the building’s foundations, whilst laying new drains in 1865, but it was more than a century later before members of the Bury Archaeological Group carried out a proper excavation of the site and uncovered some remarkable finds, with artefacts dating back to medieval times. Following more recent restoration work, a section of the castle’s foundations is now on permanent public display.

BURY CASTLE When, in 1469, Sir Thomas Pilkington sought permission from the king to fortify his medieval manor house in the town of Bury, the property was probably already around 150 years old. The royal licence gave Pilkington permission “to construct walls and turrets with stone, lime and sand… and to embattle, crenellate and machicolate those towers”.

Pilkington’s desire to fortify his property may well have been motivated by his involvement in the www.lancmag.com

Work on building a castle to protect the new port began soon after this date under the supervision of royal favourite, William de Ferrers, the 4th Earl of Derby. No records of the original plans survive, but Liverpool Castle is described in a 1347 document as being moated with four towers.

The castle is known to have undergone significant restoration work before the visit of King Edward II in 1323. However, the expenditure involved in keeping a structure of this kind in a good state of repair was prohibitive. A survey of the castle two centuries or so later concluded that it was in a state of “utter ruin and decay” and was in need of significant restoration work, as “otherwaies it were a grate defacement unto the saide towne of Litherpole”. The cost of the repairs was estimated to be the then considerable sum of £150.

Like so many other of the NorthWest’s fortified buildings, Liverpool Castle’s fate was decided by the role it played during the English Civil War. At the start of the war Liverpool was firmly in the Royalist camp, but after a bloody battle in May 1643

LIVERPOOL CASTLE A bronze plaque on the Victoria Monument in Derby Square, close to the city centre, marks the spot once occupied by Liverpool’s impressive medieval castle.

Liverpool Castle Plaque on Victoria Monument – Credit “John Bradley/CC BY-SA 3.0”

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 13

MOTE HILL CASTLE, WARRINGTON Once claimed to be the largest motte and bailey castle in Lancashire, no trace now remains of this once impressive structure which it is believed occupied a site close to the town’s historic St Elphin’s Church. Little is known about the precise history of the castle, but archaeological evidence seems to suggest that it was built sometime shortly after the Norman Conquest and a document, dated 1228, refers to it as the residence of the manorial Lords of Warrington, when the then owner, William le Boteler, was granted timber for its repair.

Liverpool Castle Ruin at Rivington

Parliamentarian forces took control of the town. In what became known as the “Siege of Liverpool”, the Royalists regained control of the castle, but following the conclusion of the Civil War the victorious Parliamentarians gave the order for Liverpool Castle to be partly destroyed to ensure that its days as a military stronghold were over.

By the early 1700s the castle was in ruins and, in 1726, was demolished completely so that a new church (which is itself no longer standing) could be constructed on the site.

In the early 20th-century, a project to construct a replica of the castle ruins, close to the village of Rivington, near Chorley, was commissioned by wealthy industrialist, William Hesketh Lever. Work on the replica Liverpool Castle proceeded slowly and had still not been finished by the time Lever died in 1925. However, this building, itself now a ruin, provides an insight into how one of Liverpool’s lost architectural treasures may have once looked.

artificial mound of earth (known as the “motte”). The “bailey” was the enclosed area at the foot of the motte, which was surrounded by a tall wooden fence called a palisade.

The castle’s domestic buildings, such as kitchens, stables and workshops, were situated within the bailey.

Roger de Poitou’s aim was to secure an important crossing over the River Ribble near Preston. However, by the mid-13th century the castle was already beginning to fall into disuse, with its strategic importance possibly declining as a result of the construction of Lancaster Castle a little further north.

Today, the site on which Penwortham Castle was once situated is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

However, only the mound, which once formed the “motte” of the castle, remains, with the churchyard of St Mary’s Church occupying the position where the former castle’s bailey once stood.

Not long after this date, the castle is believed to have been badly damaged by fire (a frequent hazard for large timber structures of this kind) and the lords of the manor relocated to Bewsey Old Hall. The site then appears to have been left to decay and Lord Lilford, the author of a survey carried out in 1587, describes Mote Hill as “the scyte of the manor nowe decayed, and no byldings thereupon”.

The motte, or mound, was subsequently used during the English Civil War by Parliamentary forces, who used it as a raised platform from which they could fire their cannons in the direction of the Royalist garrison near St Elphin’s Church. Thereafter little reference is made to Mote Hill until two archaeological digs at the site in 1832 and 1841, which uncovered evidence of a settlement there predating the Norman castle.

The site was largely demolished shortly after these excavations to make way for a school, which itself was destroyed by fire in 1923.

PENWORTHAM CASTLE Penwortham Castle was built only decades after William the Conqueror’s victory at the Battle of Hastings by 11th-century Norman nobleman, Roger de Poitou. Under the Domesday Book entry for Penwortham in 1086 it is noted that “now there is a castle”.

The Norman castles of this era usually followed the same “motte and bailey” design. A wooden keep was constructed on top of a huge 14

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

Castle Hill Motte, Penwortham – Credit “Devadude2/CC BY-SA 3.0”

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MON 13 – SAT 18 JUNE blackpoolgrand.co.uk | 01253 290190

Memories from Jubilee Year  BY HAROLD CUNLIFFE 

This year we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Coronation of HRH. Queen Elizabeth II.

I

have no recollections of this event due to my age, but I was reminded of the celebrations during the 1960’s when I started work age 15 at a cabinet woks in Heywood. I must admit to not paying much interest to the conversations related by the older tradesmen as we sat round our workbench at lunch time, because it was mainly the subject of wartime experiences.

But there was one conversation which I remember clearly. This was the recollections of the Coronation of 1953. Television was in its infancy I believe, with television sets being expensive and few and far between. One of the cabinet makers I worked with was a wizard with electronics having gained this knowledge from the time he did his bit for his country in World War 2. He related that he purchased an ex-military oscilloscope which he converted in to a television set. Mazel Radio, who had shops dotted around Manchester sold all the valves and paraphernalia required to perform this task. The problem was that the screen was round in shape and was very small in comparison with today. Many people related watching the Coronation in a neighbour’s house. Stories related of living rooms being packed with friends and neighbours all attempting to catch a glimpse of the action on a six inch television screen.

 Arthur Horridge with his wonky vegetables

J.P. had a wonderful sense of humour. He was not fussy about ‘wonky vegetables,’ as seen in the photograph.

Should you wish to visit his shop during the mid-1950’s, it was very easy to find, especially on a Saturday afternoon.

All you had to do is look for the shop which had a crowd of men huddled together on the footpath, all peering intently into the window display all watching the televised football match on a demonstration television set. It is obviously a football match being shown in the photograph judging by the lack of interest shown by the women who are seen standing next to the shop window having a good gossip.

 1953 Television with 12 inch screen

At the time of the Coronation, Mr Arthur Horridge was in business who became well known in North Manchester for stocking the most up to date television and radio sets. Arthur who later became an Alderman, Mayor and 16

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

 Punters eagerly watching the match

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“VICTORIA’S GOLDEN JUBILEE YEAR” “Turkey in June.” Regular readers may remember the character which I featured recently, John Thomas Evans, who was very well known in town by his alias, “Turkey.”

This chap was a keen follower of ‘Bacchus’ which caused him to appear in the local courts with great frequency. In fact he was on first name terms with the magistrates and court officials. 14 May 1887 the police were called to the home of Mr Evans by his daughter. Evans it transpired was so incapacitated with drink that he could not conduct himself in an orderly manner which was the reason his daughter requested that the police attend to put him out of the house. “Turkey” carried his disruptive behaviour in the street outside his home so the police had no other option than to lock him up. In court the magistrate, Mr Dickens stated, “These complaints had been going on for a very long time. (This was his 53rd summons for drunkenness), I suppose this is the way that you are celebrating this Jubilee year. How many times have you made me a promise to do better?” Evans replied, “Well sir, I went down to Manchester to see the Prince of Wales and could not help getting drunk.”

Dickens decided to give him another chance seeing that he had only just been released from Manchester’s Strangeways Prison and with the promise that he would not get so drunk again. Also adding that the prisons were quite full at this time. “Turkey” had to pay a fine of 10s-6d, plus court costs.

At the Petty Sessions on the 11 July 1887 the magistrate, Mr Barlow had a case in front of him for drunkenness. This was the 54th summons for John Thomas Evans. He was charged with being drunk and disorderly at half past eight the previous Saturday night. The question was put to Evans, “Are you drunk every night?” “Turkey,” replied, “That is a lie; I will bet you a shilling on that. I was not drunk, I am as right as any man on that bench.” Clerk, Mr Heap; you do not look it. In summing up Mr Barlow announced, “We have tried every means we could with you but it does not seem to do you any good, it shows the great need of something like an asylum for such people like you. We will send you to prison for one month without the option of a fine.” Evans (throwing up his hands): that’s all right, I guess that I will have my 12s-6d refunded from which I paid from my last do here, it is the Jubilee. He did not receive a refund of his previous fine.

Within the court case John Thomas Evans mentioned visiting Manchester to see the Prince of Wales. This relates to the opening of the Royal Jubilee Exhibition at Trafford Park which was officially opened on the 3rd May 1887 by the Prince and Princess of Wales. A souvenir of this event is reproduced. Thanks to Danny Hardman, both sides of the coin can be seen having been photographed and digitally spliced together.

MANCHESTER’S JUBILEE EXHIBITION The general public were keen to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of HRH Queen Victoria. At Manchester we discover that large numbers of people visited the vast exhibition.

It was stated that the Manchester Exhibition was the best in the country. The Whit Monday holiday enabled a great influx of visitors. Numbers published state that on this day alone 49,873 entered the turnstiles, and the total admissions since the exhibition opened was 539,669. We have a www.lancmag.com

 Manchester’s Jubilee Exhibition

 Manchester’s Jubilee Exhibition

 Souvenir from Manchester’s Jubilee Exhibition

glimpse of what the exhibition was like from magazines and newspapers from that period. One image shows a ‘fairy fountain,’ which is ironic, during this period Lancashire was suffering a drought. This was a serious drought too. At the exhibition there was a shortage of water to maintain the plants on display and those who exhibited in the fruit and vegetable shows had a problem obtaining water for their prize specimens. The large reservoir at Hollinwood, Oldham, which supplied the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Canal with water, was empty which caused restrictions and stoppages to the canal traffic. The town of Heywood in Lancashire entered into an agreement with its neighbour, Rochdale, which would see 600,000 gallons of water a day entering the Heywood filtering system for use by their customers. Lake Windermere was at its lowest level ever seen in living memory. Relief to Manchester’s water famine about came when someone mentioned the LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 17

problems associated with Moston pit. Parts of their network of mines had to be abandoned due to flooding. Water flowed in at such great volumes that the pumps could not keep up with demand. Manchester Corporation with its rapidly diminishing water reserves took up the idea of extracting water from the mine shafts, but, first of all the water had to be analysed. The colliery engineer stated that due to the vast volume of water there must be an underground stream, in which their records documented such a prolific supply of water. The test result of this abundant supply of water showed it to be of splendid quality and was suitable for both domestic and manufacturing purposes. Then nature changed the situation in a dramatic way which ended the water famine. Suddenly during the first week of September 1887 violent thunderstorms hit Lancashire. 30 days’ supply of water fell within a short period of time. At the height of the storms a considerable amount of destruction was caused by the torrential downpours, public houses lost beer when their cellars became flooded. Many homes suffered considerable water damage at ground floor level along with the roads being covered with surface water. This caused problems with traffic due to horses refusing to enter the water. On the 10 September the newspapers published details of the location where the heaviest thunderstorms hit, the area which suffered the most damage, was Warrington.

The Barracks suffered considerable damage by a strike of lightening. At the height of the storms there were concerns for the Jubilee Exhibition buildings. Many engineers had concerns that the structure, which was not designed for longevity would not stand the pounding of the storm. The local newspapers did not report any damage taking place.

A testament to Victorian engineering.

THE OLDHAM MONUMENT At the time of the 1887 drought, two Lancashire towns decided to celebrate the Jubilee by erecting drinking fountains. Oldham celebrated the Jubilee by erecting a magnificent ornate fountain complete with four illuminated lamps at the junction of George Street and Manchester Street. The cost of the drinking fountain was borne by the Oldham Industrial Co-operative Society, (one of the most prosperous in the country), which combined the useful and practical adding beauty to the town in which the residents were proud to celebrate Her Majesty’s 50 years of reign.

Other happenings which made the news during this period being an incident at a public house on Henshaw Street.

It transpired that a farmer was moving his prized bull along the highway, which was the normal way of transporting animals back then. I suppose the hot dry weather made the rather large bull a little grumpy. Passing this hostelry at Henshaw Street the beast noticed the door was open, so took it upon itself to enter the building. Imagine enjoying a beverage in your local and you’re faced with a huge bull. I would do exactly as the customers did, jump over the bar and exit as soon as possible. The main problem was, how do you turn a bull round to face the opposite direction?

Or make it walk backwards? It transpired that a route was made out of the building without the animal having to manoeuvre itself inside the pub. Folk who lived at Oldham were early risers from what we can gather. It was around six o’clock in the morning when a number of persons were making their way to work that panic prevailed. A beast had escaped from a menagerie at Tommyfield Market and took 18

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 Queens Jubilee Monument at Oldham

to running around the streets. The problem encountered was that many members of the public could not identify the species, the animal was a camel which made good its escape, but the screams heard on Lord Street were, “Big lion.” The camel could move at speed, then, in an attempt to slow its progress a resident offered the animal his breakfast. P.C. Smith seized the camel by the neck, he was bent on its capture, then was carried away eventually letting go his hold he fell to the ground, unhurt. Being on the run for several hours the animal set off on route to Ashton. When at Bardsley Brow, the poor animal became tired and was captured. The facial expression of a camel is totally different to that of a lion. Camels seem to look down in the mouth.

THE MOONRAKERS FOUNTAIN The combined fountain and shelter erected at Middleton was gifted by Mrs T.B.Wood, the wife of Thomas Broadbent Wood, Esq. J.P. and mill owner at a cost of £400. The fountain was designed by her son, Mr Edgar Wood in the 14th century style of architecture. The interior provides drinking water for public use. On either side of the building stone troughs were placed at which horses or other animals could have a drink. This gift was to commemorate the Jubilee reign of Her Majesty. An inscription was engraved on the front of the structure which read: “The gift of Jane Ann Wood, daughter of the late James Haigh of this town.

Jubilee year, 1887.” This fountain was of great benefit in providing passing animals with water, then as technology provided a different form of transport, the introduction of steam and motor traffic we find that the fountain caused congestion. A policeman was required constantly at the road junction to keep the traffic moving. There are reports of officers being in danger due to the high volume of traffic, www.lancmag.com

the shelter, it was stated became an obstruction. I think the act of trying to run over a policeman’s toes who were on point duty by lorry drivers was a bit of a joke, a game. You would hear drivers in transport café’s chatting about how close they came to running over a bobby’s feet. I remember my late father sitting at the breakfast table relating how he had almost scored a hit in flattening a policeman’s size 9’s.

The highways Committee decided to widen the road in the centre of town and relocate the fountain to a site on the road to Oldham in 1925. The final demise of the 72 year old shelter designed by architect, Edgar Wood came about in January 1960. The Highways Committee decided to scrap the structure because it had outlived its usefulness and had attracted young people at night in which their actions were not socially acceptable. It was stated that decay had set in and was becoming a danger. It is a shame that the stone was not saved, especially the troughs. Our image of the demise

of the fountain was captured by newspaper photographer, Alan Halkyard, who at this period lived near the fountain.

At the time that I produced the memories of yesteryear for a local paper I covered architect, Edgar Wood. I had acquired letters and correspondence between the editor and the architect where Mr Wood commented that he did not like old stonework being cleaned, so much so he did not like to see the housewife cleaning masonry with a mop and bucket. He was of the opinion that the stone should age gracefully. At one period of time there was a revival of interest in this architect, a purge on renovating and restoring Edgar Woods work. The bank designed by him at Market Place was cleaned, sand blasted. Each week I would write snippets in my column which I would try to ‘get passed’ the editor. Just for my amusement really. At the time the bank was being cleaned, being blasted with sand I thought that Edgar Wood would be horrified if he was alive today, no doubt Edgar would not associate with the people who admire this architect today. With this in mind I wrote, “If Wood was alive today, he would turn over in his grave.” It must have ticked the editor because he left it in. In 1887 a notice was visible at the entrance of a Lancashire cemetery, it stated, “Only the dead who live in this Parish are buried here.”

CAMPANOLOGY AT ITS BEST A Middleton “Moonraker,” is a person who was born within the sound of the bells at the church of St Leonard.

The bells at this church had been re-tuned and re-hung during 1886-87, the work was completed just in time for the Queens Jubilee. On the 3 June a party of bell ringers arrived from Saddleworth and Glossop being invited to ring several peals on the restored bells. It was acknowledged that the party who climbed the tower were very experienced at the art of campanology. It was stated that the bells rang in a first rate manner as not been heard in Middleton for many years. The visitors upon leaving the church commented that the bells were the best toned bells they had ever rung upon. Maybe this was because they had just been tuned.  The Middleton shelter and fountain

COW WITH AN IRON TAIL There are many court cases recorded in the Victorian period which sport this title. Back then everyone knew what the title referred to. They expected to read the case where a local farmer had been prosecuted for adding water to his milk. The ‘iron tail’ refers to the handle from a water pump which was above a well. Farm fresh milk really is a delight. Helping out at haymaking time I have experienced the taste of milk fresh from the cow. It is thick so I can understand water being added. But the courts came down hard on anyone found adding water to their milk. Many local farmers were prosecuted.

 1960 the demise of the shelter

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Bob was a young boy who liked to help his mum.

One day he called at the grocers for some potatoes. As he selected half-a-peck of potatoes the grocer decided to educate the young lad. “Did you know that those potatoes contain sugar, starch and water?” Bob replied, “No I did not, but I heard mother say that you put peas and beans in your coffee and about a pint of water in every quart of milk you sell.” The lesson on natural philosophy ended promptly.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 19

IN THE NEWS A most shocking story was published at the time of the Jubilee. The details were received by letter. The terrible news was that a boat arrived in the Solomon group of islands to collect a number of labourers who belonged to the island of Malaita. Their contract had expired, then on their way home they ate the entire crew of the vessel, then plundered the boat. This news brought great excitement because it was thought that this occurrence could not happen. In America we would know about scalps being taken by the Indians in western films. But what was thought provoking was when a necklace was found which consisted of human fingers. The ghastly adornment was once owned by the “big medicine man” of the Northern Cheyenne’s and dates to 1876 uprising we are informed. Hard to believe that cannibalism existed at this period.

EXECUTION OF ELIZABETH BERRY Oldham made the national news in the early part of 1887. Very well documented was the execution of Mrs. Elizabeth Berry who was convicted for the murder by poisoning of her 11 year old daughter on the 1st January 1887 at the Oldham Union Workhouse. Berry however claimed that the medication she administered to her daughter was prescribed by a doctor. In a twist to the story Mrs. Berry’s mother died the previous year following being visited by her at her home. The neighbours became suspicious at this sudden death, then, when the news of the death of Edith Ann Berry, Elizabeth’s daughter broke they reported their suspicions to the police. The Coroner gave an order for the body of her mother to be exhumed from Moston cemetery. The press covered this story in great detail; a Manchester newspaper reporter attending the exhumation commented that at the time the lid of the coffin was removed, “It presented a ghastly appearance.”

The report gives graphic details of the post mortem, which is not suitable for publication. Details on the gravestone read, “Mary Ann Finley. Died 13th February 1886. Aged 55 years.” Mrs. Berry however, up to the time of her execution pleaded her innocence at the demise of her daughter. The very last words spoken by this distressed woman prior to the bolt being drawn sending her body down a six foot six inch drop was, “Pray God forgive Dr Patterson.” The executioner was James Berry of Bradford, Yorkshire. The execution took place at eight o’clock Monday morning, with executioner, Berry arriving at Walton prison at five o’clock on Saturday afternoon. James Berry had to make his calculations, in which he estimated the weight and height of the condemned woman. When arrested Elizabeth Berry weighed 10 stone, but owing to her confinement and state of mind she had lost one and a half stone in weight. Considerable interest was shown in this case by the public and press alike. On the day of the execution, 14th March 1887, with around 800 people attending the streets outside the prison. On this occasion however there were no unauthorised spectators. The execution was carried out in a converted shed. Two prison warders were to be 20

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seen awaiting a signal at the tower, then at the moment of execution the signal was sent and the morbid flag was hoisted with which almost all of the spectators dispersed in a business-like manner.

THE BERRY EXHIBITION It would be around Easter time that an exhibition toured the towns of Lancashire giving graphic details of the execution of Mrs. Berry. From the reports we find that the exhibition was a concise representation of the ghastliness of this execution. Items of clothing worn by the deceased woman were on show to the public. The exhibition had a chaplain in attendance reading prayers and prison warders who performed the death penalty. The audience, which were considerable, eagerly watched the performance with satisfaction and in some cases delight. The decent folk who make up the Liverpool Watch Committee did not agree with this type of exhibition and did their best to ban the event, but had no powers to interfere or prohibit the performances. The conduct of exhibitions was brought to the notice of the Home Secretary.

Oldham Corporation took a different view of the exhibition. At Tommyfield Market, three large screens were displayed which documented the demise of Elizabeth Berry. First scene depicted the monstrous parent holding out her hand, looking away as she administered the poison to her daughter young daughter. Painting number two gave the impression of her making a confession with the executioner seen in the background holding the pinioning apparatus. Number three image, being the most dramatic showing the woman dangling from a rope with the parson and executioner James Berry standing close to the lifeless body. Inside the exhibition the whole affair was related with the use of waxworks figures. During Easter the proprietor made a good profit, this amounted to £16. Not a great deal of money by today’s standards, but back in 1887 the annual cost of renting a house was £5.

It was stated that on Jubilee day one London borough gave a breakfast to 73,977 day school and other children in need, and 1,600 people over the age of 68 years were entertained to tea at the Free Trade Hall.

As a result of the Queens Jubilee the town of Middleton gained a library and park.

Special appreciation to Yourtrust, Rochdale, for their support in providing research material.

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

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

Discover more about the new homes in Lancashire

Visit: redrow.co.uk/lancashire

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

Girls Join National Water Polo Training Academy

Three pupils at Bolton School Girls’ Division have been selected for the National Water Polo Training Academy following trials.

E

mily Whalley (Year 10) has joined the 2007 Age Group Academy. Lucy Blenkinship (Year 9) has joined the 2006 Age Group Academy and Amelia Crompton

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(Year 9) has been invited to the 2007 and 2008 Age Group Academy. The academies are divided according to birth year rather than academic year group.

Emily, Lucy and Ameilia are also members of the Under 16 North West team: they have all successfully trialled for selection to the relevant age group team annually since Year 7.

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Thinking of a New Sofa for Christmas?

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Our Lakeland range of sofas are crafted from the finest materials, and constructed for strength and durability. With all components extensively tested for your peace of mind.

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01539 734439

Presenting:

Edward James Furniture Ltd

By Zara Harris

Discover the story behind Edward James Furniture in our interview with the founder, James as he gives us an insight into what the company is all about, why he set it up and his core values. Here’s what he had to say...

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR COMPANY. We are a furniture shop in the centre of Kendal, selling high quality furniture for an affordable price. I started the business Edward James Furniture Ltd in 2012. This was after coming back from Australia in 2008 and trying to buy some decently priced, good quality furniture to no avail. This led me to opening up my own business to fulfil such a need.

The name was derived from the middle names of my two boys, Charlie Edward and Harry James.

WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT EDWARD JAMES FURNITURE? It’s a family run business located in Kendal, specialising in high quality British made furniture. Our Lakeland range of sofas are crafted from the finest materials. The furniture is constructed for strength and durability, with all components extensively tested for the customers peace 24

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

of mind and all of the money goes back into Britain. I am proud to be British and our furniture is hand-crafted and tailored here in the UK. The furniture has a free upgrade of Aquaclean fabrics on all sofas, as opposed to most selling this as a feature! Aquaclean® technology is a revolutionary fabric treatment that allows you to clean stains using water only. This provides you with simple fabric maintenance in the minimum amount of time.

Aquaclean helps to remove the majority of household stains (wine, ink, sauce, fat, mud, chocolate, cream, etc) making life easier and giving you more time for the more important things. And it really does work.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE FURNITURE YOU SELL? (For example classic, neural etc..)

We have a variety of collections in all types of designs, in 100’s of quality fabrics and are all very comfortable, and will stay comfy! No cheap materials used whatsoever.

Even the cushions are made of quality materials with duck feather inners. The furniture combines traditional techniques with modern technology to ensure the highest quality construction and superior comfort.

WHAT AREAS DO YOU COVER? We have nationwide delivery and free local delivery. People come from all over the UK as they can’t buy the quality www.lancmag.com

near them. We do direct home delivery from the factory to the client and free local delivery is to: Kendal, Windermere, Ambleside, Kirby Lonsdale, Ingleton, Sedbergh, Kirby Stephen, Coniston, Hawkshead, Ulverston, Grange over Sand, Arnside, Carnforth and Milnthorpe.

HOW DO YOU GO THE EXTRA MILE FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS? We don’t pressurise our customers, we are there for the customer’s needs. I take the pressure off of the customers by listening to their needs and making sure their purchase is the right choice. Old fashioned quality with old fashioned service. We offer a free set-up service with delivery to the room of your choice, and the removal of all packaging.

WHAT PRICE ARE YOUR PRODUCTS? I am proud that the furniture isn’t necessarily the cheapest, but by paying that little more, you’ll get furniture that will last over 15 years! I don’t want to sell a person a cheap sofa that only lasts 4 years. I know that in buying the right sofa, the best quality will please customers enough that they will then recommend us to their friends and family, and that’s better than a repeat purchase.

WHAT ARE YOUR BEST SELLING PRODUCTS/ SIGNATURE STYLE? We have seven best sellers, with a further five new models being introduced after Christmas, so stay tuned!

WHAT TRENDS HAVE YOU NOTICED? Blues are very popular right now, with rusty orange and khaki following closely.

HOW DID THE BUSINESS ADAPT DURING THE PANDEMIC? My business did OK during the pandemic as we already had orders to fulfil when the Kendal shop was closed.

When it opened again, all those who had refunds from their holidays etc had money they wished to put into their homes, so business is doing well.

WHAT IS NEW FOR THIS YEAR AND NEXT? We will be extending due to continued success with more choice, styles while still keeping the more traditional designs people know and love.

WHAT IS THE CURRENT CHRISTMAS DELIVERY LEAD TIME? If you are thinking of a new sofa for Christmas, please consider ordering your sofa as soon as possible to guarantee Christmas delivery as due to the current circumstance and demand, the current lead time is 14 weeks from date of order.

Their full collection is available to view now at the Kendal showroom at: 37 Highgate, LA9 4ED N 01539 734439 F Edward James Furniture E enquiries@edwardjamesfurniture.com www.edwardjamesfurniture.com www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 25

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With us, you’ll find the perfect design for your home. Whether you prefer a traditional or contemporary design, we have more than 40 years of experience with over 50% of our business being from referrals and returning customers. You can relax in the knowledge that you’ll receive a truly personal and professional service with no high pressure sales, so call us now!

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DEVILSTON

BY AUTHOR JASON GREENWOOD Devilston by JJ Greenwood ISBN: 9781723926723, is available to purchase as an e-book or paperback on Amazon

Autumn 1940.

The noose is slowly tightening.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

For how long can Britain survive against the Nazi scourge consuming Europe?

Jason Greenwood was born and raised in the Lake District of Northern England and won a scholarship to Giggleswick School, a boarding school in North Yorkshire which contributed to some of the background detail of Devilston.

T

hree friends embark on their final year at a boarding school on a wild Cornish island: a bookish refugee, a charismatic prince and the world-weary son of a fighter pilot. Seeking respite from the school’s brutal and corrupt regime, they search for a legendary secret tunnel to the mainland.

Jason passed out of Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth and served on HMS Intrepid and HMS Fife. After two years service he resigned his commission to study History and Philosophy at the University of Liverpool. He gained a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education at the University of East Anglia and now works as a special needs teacher and tutor in Lancashire. As well as writing Jason loves to travel and has journeyed overland from Britain to Australia, India to Europe and Argentina to Alaska.

But the three become unwittingly embroiled in a tangled web of smuggling, espionage and ancient ritual. At its centre lies a daring plot which - if successful - will determine the outcome of the War, and the very future of humanity...

The spirit of the book was inspired by family holidays on the wild and beautiful coast of Cornwall, and visits to the mysterious St Michael’s Mount which provided the perfect setting for Devilston School.

For one historic moment, the most important place in the world is Devilston.

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Jason lives in the Ribble Valley in Lancashire, in the shadow of Pendle Hill, and he’s sure its dark history of witchcraft was another subliminal ingredient in the cauldron of the book’s creation. Devilston is his first published novel.

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QA &

DEVILSTON

BY JJ GREENWOOD

What is Devilston about?

It’s the story of three teenagers in their final year at a boarding school on a Cornish island, run by a cruel headmaster and his sadistic son who is head boy. The three are all outsiders in different ways (an Indian prince, a Jewish refugee and a boy who is bullied). They forge a strong friendship and seek a legendary tunnel to the mainland to escape a brutal regime. In their quest they discovery many revelations about the staff, the locals and the school’s secret history, and a plot even darker than Devilston herself…

Devilston is about the adventures of three young people at a very quirky boarding school, the wider struggle between good and evil, and you also have two initials in your name. Should J.K. Rowling’s lawyers be informed?

I have great admiration of Rowling’s work but I’m afraid there’s no magic in Devilston other than the thrill of a good yarn, though I suppose history is a kind of magic in the way that it can bring the inanimate to life.

Three is often the magic number when it comes to main characters in classic stories (eg The Three Musketeers, The Wind in the Willows, The Three Little Pigs…) and this venerable number is itself celebrated in Devilston School’s motto: ‘Usquequaque Tria Via’: Always Three Ways.

As for my initials, ‘J.J. Greenwood’ was stencilled on my trunk and tuck box at boarding school so it seems somehow appropriate.

You live in Lancashire, went to school in Yorkshire and yet the story is set in Cornwall?

Every year my family went on holiday to Cornwall and I have many memories of exploring its wild coast and the magical St Michael’s Mount (shamelessly plundered as the setting for Devilston).

For most of my life I’ve lived in the shadow of that great big mystic pudding that is Pendle Hill in Lancashire so I’m sure my subconscious has absorbed much of its supernatural radiation over the years.

At the age of ten I won a scholarship to Giggleswick School in North Yorkshire. Though not quite as brutal as Devilston, my time there provided plenty of grist to the gruel.

Why did you set the story in 1940?

This was the year Britain has come closest to being invaded in modern times, and by a power rivaling Sauron in its malevolence: the darkest of backdrops to what is essentially a gothic story. I also liked the idea of setting it in a time of

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scarcity, when food was rationed and the black market was thriving; such a contrast to our modern age of consumerism.

I went to boarding school in the 1980s: a world of drafty floorboards and iron beds where mobile phones were the stuff of sci-fi and entertainment was a film on an old projector on Saturday evenings if you were good. Not a million miles from 1940 then…

What creative works influenced Devilston?

I suppose my book is a spicy curry of literary influences, from Robert Louis Stevenson to Daphne du Maurier, The Famous Five to Lord of the Flies. And I’ve always been drawn to scenarios with a strong sense of place, whether it be Wuthering Heights, Dracula or the board game Escape from Colditz.

The island of Devilston is a major protagonist in my book, an almost living and breathing influencer of proceedings.

You have worked as a teacher for many years. What influence have your experiences had on the book and do you think private schools should be abolished?

Schools are weird and fascinating cultures in their variety of fauna and flora, and my teaching experience has provided the rich humus in which Devilston has grown, though detractors might use a different word...

I trained as a teacher of history – in my humble opinion, the king of academic subjects – and I‘ve taught in the state sector all of my working life, mostly in special education. Like a deep-fried coelacanth Devilston is positively dripping with history, from the Stone Age to the Atomic.

As for abolishing private schools, I’ve been programmed to explode should I diss my alma mater, but it irks me that the public sector remains the Cinderella service next to the private. However, rather than close those posh bastions of privilege, I’d like to see them provide more opportunity to the disadvantaged so that their charity status actually means something. Ultimately I’d like to see the state sector properly funded so that private education becomes - like Devilston - an historical curiosity.

There is a subtext about fascism that underlies Devilston like its subterranean mines, and the way in which history can be exploited by the unscrupulous in order to hoodwink the gullible. Was this meant as a warning?

I sat down to write a thriller not a political philosophy, but in telling a story you also open yourself up to the mercy of your own subconscious and so your own deep anxieties are bound to manifest themselves.  LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 29

 The rise of authoritarianism is something I fear as much as environmental destruction, not just in Russia and China but in western democracies previously considered immune.

Ordinary people are disengaging from the complexities of democratic politics and opting for off-the-peg easy answers, allowing others to do their thinking for them. And mainstream politicians are flirting with this fast-fashion fascism, and that scares me.

It is said that there is a little bit of fascism in all of us: the part that secretly admires strong leaders on horseback pointing the way forward. We should be ever-vigilant of this enemy within.

In your book the Headmaster talks passionately about the importance of Devilston prevailing as an autonomous entity, no matter what chaos prevails beyond the island. Is this a veiled reference to Brexit?

I think a sense of belonging is important to all humans, whether it be to family, community, society or the human race itself. However there’s quite a porous border between a patriot’s love of country despite its faults and the toxic idea of racial supremacy enshrined in nationalism. Readers of my book will quickly understand in which camp the Headmaster resides.

As for Brexit, we seem poised as a nation between a responsible internationalist relationship with the rest of the world or a new age of jingoism and xenophobia. I probably don’t need to state my own preferred choice of direction.

Devilston is self-published.

Did you try to find a publisher?

I sought an agent and received plenty of positive feedback but no offer. There seemed to be a struggle over how to classify Devilston. Children’s? Adult? Crossover…?

I tried to write a thriller that would appeal to readers like me, who could cope with a story with some young characters but with a darker, more adult theme in the tradition of classics like Oliver Twist, Treasure Island and Lord of the Rings.

Unfortunately modern publishers seem to be particularly obsessed with allocating pigeon-holes for writers and they couldn’t seem to find the right hole for me. Maybe they need to consider other birds, not just pigeons?

Self-publishing is hard graft, requiring an author to do everything themselves: not just writing the bloody thing, but proof-reading, downloading, marketing, putting the bins out, etc…But it’s been a generally enjoyable journey and I’ve surprised myself with what I can do. And being in control of everything has pleased the little dictator inside of me, no end.

Who designed the cover?

My mother Nuria created the distinctive artwork, a talented amateur artist. She’s also a fierce patriot who wasn’t happy about changing the colours of her beloved Union Flag. Red and black happen to be the colours of my old school, but in terms of the story they have a much more sinister connotation…

My mother was born and bred in Calcutta, of AngloIndian extraction, and I was lucky enough to spend some considerable time travelling round India, travels that inspired the charismatic character of Jai Rana. And my mother’s father was from Catalonia, from where the mysterious Elena Montserrat originated.

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Have you written any other books?

Quite a few. My first was a science fiction novel which I wrote when I was a history student at Liverpool University.

And before I’m hailed as some literary genius who can write novels between lectures, while the book had some interesting ideas it was mostly rubbish.

I like to think - perhaps deludedly - that each book I write is an improvement on the last. In fact I managed to acquire an agent for a book I wrote before Devilston (a fantasy about a journey to Heaven and Hell) but alas he couldn’t secure a publisher. It was admittedly a very weird story, though not unentertaining.

Of all my fiction Devilston is probably the most rooted in reality, if that helps…

Did you write Devilston with the reader in mind at all times, or was it simply an indulgent flight of fancy on your part?

This is the dilemma all authors must face: to speak the ugly truth and starve in the garret, or give ‘em bread and circuses and pay off the mortgage.

My first novel was very much aimed at the commercial mass market, complete with stale stereotypes and tired tropes, and it deserved to fail. The novel I wrote prior to Devilston was at the other extreme: a story I wrote to please myself and to hell with the rest of the world. It didn’t get very far either.

And so to Devilston which lies somewhere between these two poles, shackling the quirks and idiosyncrasies of my imagination to the conventions of an adventure thriller. I suppose it’s the Goldilocks Principle of not-too-cold but nottoo-hot.

Whether Devilston gets any further than my other books remains to be seen. But whatever the outcome I’ve enjoyed the adventure so far, though I’m not sure it ended well for Goldilocks…

What will you write next?

Having written an historical novel , albeit with a modern subtext, I’d next like to write something set in the present. The world is in a strange place at the moment, in the midst of a kind of flux as humans become increasingly conscious of their impact on the planet while at the same time seeking to escape from reality down the rabbit holes of alternative politics and the metaverse.

After that - and if we’re still around - I’d like to try my hand at another science fiction novel, hopefully a little less rubbish than my first attempt.

So anyway, why should I give up my hard-earned treasure and hours of my precious life to read your offering?

I guess life at its best is a risk. But, if nothing else, Devilston is a rollicking read stuffed with interesting characters and more twists and turns than a snake on a sugar rush; a snake with a dark underbelly…

But if you really don’t like it I can offer your money back, though I’m afraid lost time can’t be refunded.

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IDENTIFYING CAP BADGES

BY AUTHOR GR AHAM BANDY Identifying Cap Badges - A Family Historian’s Guide

by Graham Bandy, ISBN: 9781526775979 is available NOW in hardback from www.pen-and-sword.co.uk RRP £25

Clear, concise and easy to follow pictures and descriptions to help you identify BritishArmy cap badges.

• Pictures of almost all the cap badges of the British Army, past and present • Original photographs to help date and contextualise your own • Short regimental histories for each badge, alongside a ‘family tree’ of amalgamations • Foreword by Richard Kemp, former head of COBR “This book is an invaluable ‘tool of the trade’ for anyone trying to identify or interpret photos” - Peter Hart, Military Historian “This fascinating and impressively-researched volume will become an invaluable resource for all on a quest to find out about family members who served as well as those who have a fascination with the details of British military history” - Col. Richard Kemp CBE former military head of COBR and commander British Forces, Afghanistan

I

dentifying Cap Badges is the book that has been missing from the bookshelves of family historians, military enthusiasts, and badge collectors alike.

It is quite easy to find an erudite book on military cap badges, but you could spend hours, if not days, plodding through hundreds of pictures to find a match for the one you hold.

Sometimes you may not find it at all! These learned badge collector’s books have one major flaw; they are pictured and

www.lancmag.com

discussed in ‘order of precedence’, that is to say, from the earliest formed regiments to the latest, with separate sections on medical, engineers, cavalry, infantry, etc. This can be most confusing to those uninitiated into the ‘dark arts’ of military badges. Thus, if you do not know the name or ‘original number’ of your regiment in this order of precedence, you can be flummoxed! This, combined with all the different crowns, laurels, animals, mythological beasts and castles, can prove more than a little daunting, even to ex soldiers themselves!

In this book you will find badges ordered by what is on the badge itself; be it a dragon, sphinx or castle, horse, lion or tiger.

This is badge identification in minutes, rather than hours, with added information on dating badges and many comparison photographs alongside all the pictures of the badges. Added to these pictures are short histories of the regiments and ‘family trees’ plotting the antecedents of today’s units.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Graham Bandy has spent most of his life in the army, nursing, or both. He has been identifying military badges since he was at school, and is now a much sought after asset at both county and national family history fairs, such as WDYTYA Live and Family Tree Live and has also appeared on BBC’s WDYTYA. Graham also gives many talks and lectures on the subject of badge and photographic identification and sits on the Heritage Committee of the QARANC Association. He is married and lives in Sussex with his wife and an ever growing collection of militaria and military photographs, under which they are both slowly drowning.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 31

Tommy Fleetwood Announced as England Golf Ambassador

By England Golf

The Englishman is incredibly proud of his amateur background and the role England Golf played in helping him achieve his goal of becoming one of the best players in the world.

the governing body spread positive messages about the game to a wide and diverse audience as well as lend his support and knowledge to England national teams.

He already plays a huge role in promoting and developing golf in his hometown of Southport, having opened the Tommy Fleetwood Academy at Formby Hall in 2019. To date, almost 600 kids have taken part at the Academy.

“Coming on board with England Golf to help promote the game in whatever way I can is just pretty cool,” smiled Fleetwood.

“I’m coming into that part of my life where I want to, and I’m in the fortunate position of being able to, give something back to the game,” said Fleetwood.

“I’m doing that already with my own academy, but I have such a long and happy association with the English Golf Union, as it was known when I played, that I wanted to get more involved.

“I feel a great affinity to England Golf because of the times I enjoyed as an amateur.

Above: Tommy Fleetwood at the English Men’s Amateur championship in 2010

Tommy Fleetwood has been appointed an ambassador for England Golf, the amateur governing body which gave the 31-year-old the platform to become a Ryder Cup star, a British Olympian and a five-time winner on the DP World Tour.

F

leetwood joins LPGA Tour winner and former English Women’s Amateur champion, Bronte Law, as an England Golf ambassador, with the pair keen to see as many people as possible - from elite amateur players to beginners of all ages - participating in the game they love.

32

“I got to travel the world, make friends for life, and represent my country. I see becoming an ambassador as a chance to be a part of it again and help others to enjoy what I did as a younger golfer.”

As a team player at amateur level, Fleetwood was an outstanding success with England in the Home Internationals for both boys’ and men’s squads - as well as winning a European Team title with England in 2010.

Individually, Fleetwood is as proud of his victory in the 2010 English Men’s Amateur Championship and his ascent to number one on the World Amateur Golf Rankings as he is of any of his professional wins.

As an ambassador for England Golf, Tommy will use his profile to help

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

“Even now on Tour, whenever I come across players from my England amateur days, we always have that connection and bond, so to be able to impart any help I can to the young English players will be something I think I will really enjoy.

“Golf is now what I do for a living and allows me to provide for my family, but you don’t have to be one of the best players in the world for golf to make you feel good.

“If you are five or 95 there’s something in it for everyone.”

Jeremy Tomlinson, chief executive of England Golf, is thrilled to have Tommy’s full backing as the governing body steps up its drive to encourage more and more people to get into golf.

He said: “For us, it’s an honour that Tommy has decided to become one of our ambassadors and help current and future generations of golfers develop their love of the game.

“Tommy plays the game with a smile on his face – but has that inner steel possessed by all great winners.

“It’s exciting for England Golf to be able to work alongside a man and golfer of his calibre and to have him play a part in amplifying the message that golf is a sport for anyone and everyone.

“Every golfer – from a beginner to those at England squad level – can only be inspired by what Tommy does, both inside and outside the ropes, as a true champion of the game.” www.lancmag.com

Based in the rural village of Goosnargh, Laurel Farm Kitchens has been recognised as one of only a few truly bespoke kitchen manufacturers in the North West receiving a reputation, second to none, on quality and craftsmanship over the past 25 years.

“Our aim, through the creativity of our kitchen designers and their ability to bring out the best in our client’s ideas is to create the most imaginative and workable kitchens from the canvas supplied.”

The life of Di

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

DASHING BACK TO THE CURLING China - or equally impatiently waited – several miles from where I was.

S

port’s a dangerous business and no mistake – and that’s just when you’re watching. Dashing back to the curling recently, I tripped over a corner of the rug, sending myself sprawling, and my lunch into orbit – before a distant thud indicated the latter’s crash to earth like one of our speedskaters, somewhere across the room: So while on screen, our curling guys swept and hollered their way through their latest Olympic round robin match, that was me down on my hands and knees for the next hour and a half, scraping cheese and tomato pizza off the carpet, and all but blowing a gasket. Well it was even more maddening than our defeat

by Scotland at Murrayfield t’other week – and so much for the quiet Sunday afternoon with the Winter Olympics.

I couldn’t even relax on finally calling it a day as, with my meagre eyesight, and zero sense of smell, who knew if there weren’t still strings of cheese, and splodges of tomato sauce embedding themselves deeper and deeper into my unhelpfully beige floor covering.

But then my Winter Olympics were already going not dissimilarly to the summer. True there was no accompanying racket of a bunch of premature workmen on the roof this time, whose presence also put paid to any ideas of lolling around in my 34

nightie till midday – even if I’d been up till the wee small hours watching triathlon relays and the like. I had however again taken the relevant time off work, been looking forward to it for weeks, and had ideas only of copious games-watching punctuated by the odd invigorating walk, and all enjoyed in pure unadulterated relaxation – so that bit at least hadn’t quite gone according to plan.

With the abandonment of the Covid plan B, I’d naturally been delighted in one respect, but deeply troubled in another: Working from home had not merely achieved the desired social distancing, but been a revelation from my point of view - guess there’s just no accounting for the relief of not having to worry about taxis to work dropping one in entirely the wrong place, or driving ceaselessly round and round one’s work complex, the driver getting madder and madder ,and oneself getting more and more frazzled. The arguments! And the discomfiture as my painstakingly procured directions fell on resolutely uncomprehending ears, and people who didn’t know me from Eve were rudely stopped and asked if they knew where I worked. And that was just the journey TO work. T’other way, there were long cold waits in the dark while again the driver took himself all round

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

Well anyway, after 21 happy months without such shenanigans, I was as keen to return to them as an escaped zebra to the lion’s den. So I’d taken a leaf out of a fellow disabled colleague’s book, and applied to work from home permanently. He’d been successful, and my own case had more for it than against it - but different manager, different department, so who knew.

Except I likely WOULD be knowing soon. So every day saw me checking the post with trepidation, before breathing more easily again once it was clearly just the usual detritus of utility bills, and Fred Olsen brochures - and returning my focus to ski-jumping, big air, and Nordic combined, like you do.

Till the next day.

Meanwhile, the weather was typical half-term. My parents and I cut short a nice walk up at Nott-End one day as a bunch of onrushing black clouds threatened all sorts if we didn’t, and we’d already been half-drowned twice that week.

On the other hand, and another day, we went to Lytham Hall, where twice the rain emptied onto us wouldn’t have dampened my enthusiasm as I finally got to see the snowdrops I’d been trying and failing to for years. True they might have looked even better in a bit of sunshine, but here they were nonetheless, in an already enchanting setting, to which we vowed to return in the summer.

Nearly four weeks on, with the Winter Olympics sadly over, and the work thing as yet unresolved, I’m still chuffed to bits at having got to see them – and next up, crocuses, daffodils, Easter eggs, and a shedload of other sport – provided I can avoid tripping over anything and missing it. www.lancmag.com

(A6) Garstang Road | Brock | Nr Preston | Lancashire | PR3 0RD Tel: 01995 643455 | Email: info@rockform.co.uk | Web: www.rockform.co.uk

‘That’s not my bowl!’

Importers & stockists of exceptional tiles, stones & wood flooring

Community Responders Kitted Out With Coats Northwich Community First Responders have been enjoying a warmer winter after Redrow came to the aid of volunteers

left: Northwich Community First Responders Gemma Da Silva and Chris Railton pictured wearing their new jackets with Redrow’s Kirsty Hughes

The group successfully applied to the homebuilder’s Hartford Community Fund for help to buy six coats to keep volunteers warm and dry when responding to emergency calls.

Team leader Chris Railton explained: “We’re a local group of volunteers who are trained and dispatched by the ambulance service to calls within our community for the highest priority of patients, such as cardiac and respiratory arrests as well as unconscious people. A lot of our calls are to people outside and by keeping our volunteers warm and dry it will enable them to remain on duty longer, thereby providing emergency cover to the community over a longer period.

“During the pandemic our ambulance service is under even more pressure than ever so having local people based within the community ready to respond to emergency calls offers an essential lifeline to some of the most critically ill patients.”

The team of volunteers covers the Hartford and Northwich area including Redrow’s Weaver Park and Water’s Reach developments, in Hartford.

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LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

The donation of almost £500 for the new jackets was part of the latest £5,000 voluntary fund offered by the homebuilder to support the neighbourhood. In recent years, Redrow has gifted more than £25,000 to the Hartford area through community funds, which are in addition to its obligations as part of the planning process.

Redrow area sales manager Caroline Thompson-Jones said: “The community responders provide fantastic support to our emergency services. When we heard that they were in need of jackets to keep them warm while they’re tending to patients we were eager to help.”

For more information about Northwich Community First Responders see https://www.facebook.com/ CFRNorthwich.

To discover more about Redrow’s homes in Hartford see http://www.redrow.co.uk/hartford. www.lancmag.com

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CHE IRE SH

HOLIDAY CLUB

A

fter a 3 month house move delay from Lancashire to Cheshire in 2018, I came across a Holiday Club advert based in Hartford looking for staff. I was appointed Club Manager for the Summer and felt instantly inspired by the Fun Fest brand and core messages.

I had never considered a franchise as a working opportunity for me; I never really even understood what one was!

My husband and I became co-directors of our own franchisee business FF Pink Pineapple Ltd in January 2019, with our first Fun Fest territory based in Cheshire West. With full support from the Fun Fest Franchising UK Ltd Head Office team, we started on our Holiday Club journey!

3 years and counting, we are well established at Fun Fest Hartford as the number 1 Holiday Club in the area.

Taking the leap of faith in myself and the brand, I quit my full time job working in A levels in July 2021 and we look to expand our Holiday Club empire. I have a varied background working with children across Europe and the UK; roles include SEN TA, Nursery Play Worker, Entertainments Manager with Thomas Cook and the Specialist Services Executive managing over 44 Holiday Club sites for Eurocamp.

Fast forward to March 2022 and we own 3 Fun Fest territories covering the area from South Manchester to Crewe.

We operate 4 clubs based in Northwich, Cheadle and Altrincham; providing an exciting menu of activities for children aged 3 – 12 years. We rent a small office in Crewe and employ 2 members of staff full time. I work full time wearing all hats as a small business owner, and Wez supports the financial growth of

Husband and Wife Franchisee Dream Team!

the business. We have outsourced our HR and recruitment service with the excellent Sue Love at Ladybridge HR Consultancy Ltd to support our growing team.

Club Hub Awards 2022 – I have been nominated as a finalist for both Female Entrepreneur of the Year award and Franchisee of the Year Award categories.

The Club Hub awards are the only national awards for activity providers with entry by application form only, no voting. The awards are independently judged by a panel of expert judges, who are children’s activity professionals or specialists in their field. The winners will be announced at the Club Hub Event on May 14th in Birmingham.

We will continue to find new venues for Fun Fest Holiday Clubs and support the local community with their childcare needs. Fun Fest Parties will launch from September 2022, and a trial run of weekend clubs. Who knows what the future will hold for us – for now we are exactly where we should be.

Happy Holidays!

HELEN WILSON, DIRECTOR OF FUN, Fun Fest Cheshire (FF Pink Pineapple Ltd) WESTLY WILSON, MANAGING DIRECTOR, Fun Fest Cheshire (FF Pink Pineapple Ltd)

Hartford The Grange Junior School Beechwood Ave, Northwich CW8 3AU

Altrincham Altrincham Prep School, Marlborough Road, Altrincham WA14 2RR

B U L C Y A HOLID Cheadle

Lady Barn House School, Schools Hill, Cheadle SK8 1JE

Chorley Euxton Euxton Primrose Hill Primary School, Primrose Hill Road, Chorley PR7 6BA

Chorley Eccleston Eccleston Primary School, Doctors Lane, Eccleston, Chorley PR7 5RA Northwich Sandiway Primary School, Weaverham Road, Northwich, CW8 2ND

Where children

To see our latest timetables and to book your children’s chosen activities go to:

fun-fest.co.uk Ofsted registered

CHO

Y RLE

Leanne Horrocks

HOLIDAY CLUB

L

ife can take unexpected twists and turns and the choices we make along the way can only make us stronger. I know it’s because of past events I am where I am today. And I couldn’t be prouder.

I have worked with children for a number of years, thriving in a TA role at a local Primary School for over 10 years as one fine example.

In 2018 I wanted additional work during the holidays so I could comfortably support my 2 children as a single parent. I heard about Fun Fest Cheadle and became a successful applicant as a Play Leader. It didn’t feel like a job as we were having so much fun! With such a vibrant menu of activities on offer, it was never a dull day at Fun Fest and I really felt in tune with the company values.

I had never considered Franchising and certainly didn’t have the confidence in myself to believe I could run my own business. Once explained, I could see the benefit of becoming a Franchisee – owner of my own business yet with a support network around me of like minded people. I wanted stability for my family, and I took the plunge in May 2019 to become a franchisee for Fun Fest!

I own the Chorley territory and opened my first club with just 8 children attending. We asked children for feedback on what they loved to do in the Holiday Club and grew to the thriving business we now are today – with 70 children daily enjoying our program of activities every holiday.

Due to the success of my first club I was approached by another local school, who asked us to set up a Fun Fest on their premises. We opened in October 2021 to low numbers, but as we experienced before – time and quality sessions will lead to a club that children will choose to spend their holidays.

I have now quit my full time role and support Fun fest Cheshire part time during term time, whilst managing a work life balance I never had the opportunity to do before. My confidence is improving daily, and I am learning skills that others would’ve never dare believe I could achieve. I will expand

my business within the Lancashire area, and I am quite open to new opportunities that being a Fun Fest Franchisee has offered me. I have a new partner and extended our family unity, so my life is certainly never dull! And I wouldn’t want it any other way.

It’s never too late to live your best life – now in my early 40’s I know I am!

Come and see us in Chorley soon!

LEANNE HORROCKS, MANAGING DIRECTOR, Fun Fest Chorley

HOLIDAY CLUB Holiday Club solution for schools and academies in Lancashire and the North West Fun Fest operates in numerous schools across the UK where it delights its customers with high quality, child-centred care for children from 3 years old.

Contact us if your school needs a holiday club Email: cheshiredirectors@funfestholidayclub.co.uk

Phone: 07465 249169

HOLIDAY CLUB What do children want to do in the school holidays?

The answer depends upon the child that you are asking; their age, their past experiences, the latest craze, their preferences and abilities and many other factors will affect their choices.

A typical answer is simply they want to play outside with their friends; something which previous generations took for granted but which has become less available and more precious to our children.

At Fun Fest we believe that children should always have the freedom to choose and the power to play, but it is even more important during the school holidays so that children can get the most benefit from the break of their school routines.

Fun Fest Holiday Clubs have been designed to give children opportunities they may not otherwise encounter, together with the power and freedom to explore them in their own way.

Opportunities: During a week with Fun Fest Holiday Club, we can give a child the chance to play Quidditch (Harry Potter Experience), hold a snake (Animaltastic), bake a cake (Cupcake Heaven), build a den

(Great Outdoors), juggle (Circus Skills), score a goal (Football Camp), design a bag (BLING), solve clues (Escape Room), paint a canvas (Picturesque Painting) and drive like Lewis Hamilton (Go-Karting). With our varied activity sessions on offer at your local Fun Fest Holiday Club, there is something to appeal and inspire every child!

Power: Children are given a choice about how they spend their holidays as they design their own unique holiday programme on the Fun Fest website, by choosing from a menu of activities every morning and afternoon.

Freedom: Children are supported to immerse themselves in playing freely with their friends and are encouraged to be outside as much as possible so that they can be as loud, fast and messy as they wish!

Organised in this uniquely child-centred way, we ensure that the children love spending time at their Fun Fest Holiday Club and are in no hurry to leave. We consider our customers’ needs as a family when we plan our programmes.

Parents and working parents have complete peace of mind that their children enjoy their time with us and our clubs suit their family’s needs.

To find your nearest club, see the latest timetables and to book your child’s Fun Fest Holiday experience go to:

fun-fest.co.uk

Fun Fest Holiday Clubs are Ofsted registered and run by qualified and experienced childcare practitioners, alongside sports coaches and enthusiastic students. This creates an energetic and fun atmosphere within a safe, controlled environment.

Clubs welcome children from 3 – 12 years and are open for full working days.

Parents can book any combination of mornings, afternoons or full days – we fully support flexible childcare options.

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ASK MILES CONSULT & CONSTRUCT...

Construction Material increases in 2022

T

hroughout “COVID Times” there was a huge increase in construction work within both the domestic and commercial sectors. Despite there being a shortage of materials and an increase in costs, people have not been put off commissioning projects Construction materials costs in the UK continue to escalate, reaching a 40 year high based on the annual growth of the BCIS (Building Cost Information Service).

Increased global demand in the construction sector, combined with the multiple and complex impacts of the pandemic and logistic issues, have resulted in unprecedented shortages, delays and ultimately, increased prices of materials and labour across the economy.

Within the UK, complications resulting from Brexit have exacerbated this situation, affecting all aspects of trade and labour availability. The repercussions are acutely impacting the UK construction sector.

Other factors affecting construction demand include significant lifestyle changes triggered by the pandemic, with many people continuing to work from home reassessing their housing needs. A booming domestic housing market, substantially increased demand in repair maintenance and improvement (RM+I) sector, combined with large infrastructure projects have all significantly contributed to recovery in construction demand.

Unfortunately, it isn’t just the pandemic that has caused this huge increase, but there is more to come our way, with the invasion of Ukraine by Russia the consequences are yet to be hit.

Europe is facing shortages of building materials as companies have stopped production because of surging energy costs. British contractors are already reporting shortages of materials including bricks, roof tiles and plastic products that could worsen if the war in Ukraine causes further increases in energy prices, which could then lead to delays in the building of houses and industrial plants.

As well as the fighting in Ukraine and record-high gas prices, building contractors across Europe are battling with increasing inflation and shortages in skilled labour.

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LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

This has led to bankruptcies in countries such as the UK, where hundreds of construction businesses are going bust every month owing to the jump in materials prices and the shrinking pool of skilled workers.

As much as the construction industry has boomed during COVID, the public sector construction has really struggled, due to delays in frameworks and resources.

Just to give you a flavour of the extent of increases, take a look at some statistics: • Steel prices rose by 67% • Brass and copper costs increased by 49% www.lancmag.com

...A DEDICATED COLUMN

FOR ALL YOU DIY LOVERS AND PROFESSIONALS

WITHIN THE CONSTRUCTION

AND DESIGN INDUSTRY

will certainly be a mission to find reputable and reliable builders.

Unfortunately, the climate that we live in is currently the biggest contribution to the risks that I have just highlighted above.

This unpredictability simply calls for a bit more time shopping around, waiting for the right material to come back in stock, or speaking with local contractors for advice about the current market.

For example, prices may change quickly, even in the short time between receiving a quote from a contractor and accepting the offer. If a contractor needs to source a notoriously tricky material right now—like wood for new construction—the process may look slightly different than it did in the past.

Items that include a range of materials—such as appliances with wires, steel, and plastic all in one—may encounter the bottleneck effect. In other words, your dishwasher would be built and ready to ship if it weren’t for the holdup of essential parts across the country or even across the world.

In conclusion to all the above, I hope I am not disheartening those enthusiastic builders and Homeowners. However, it is important to focus our minds on what risks there are currently, to help you all plan better and manage those risks.

Next month I will talk about “Upcycling” and other ways on how to try and save money on your build projects.

HAPPY PLANNING EVERYONE! • The price of aluminium jumped 20.5% • Plastic construction materials—PVC piping, moisture barriers, vinyl siding, paints, adhesives—even went up more than 12%.

HOW TO PLAN? As it stands things are situation is very volatile and costs are not looking to stabilise anytime soon. It is very important for homeowners to make sure they allow for an extra contingency on time, cost, and quality.

If you are planning any type of construction work, whether it be minor or major, it is guaranteed to cost you more than you budget for, will take longer than you hope and www.lancmag.com

YOU CAN ALWAYS GET IN TOUCH WITH ME FOR ANY FURTHER HELP OR ADVICE: E N N D

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

FOLLOW US ON: I T F L

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

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 45

Creating a Beautiful Bedroom

Olivia Crosher, Interior Designer for Naturewall (www.naturewall.co.uk), shares her advice for designing a restful bedroom scheme.

T

he master bedroom is your personal relaxation space.

To create warm, soulful surroundings, layer natural materials with plush, textural fabrics. Choose tones that bring you a sense of serenity.

will act as a cosy cocoon, while lighter colours evoke an airy feel and expand the space. Introduce different light sources such as bedside, floor, and overhead to ensure that the space can remain functional as well as atmospheric.

Choose tones that bring you a sense of serenity. Darker shades

The final piece of the puzzle is the right amount of storage.

Keeping the space clutter free will help you get a more restful night’s sleep and keep the room looking its best.’

Naturewall’s new ‘Peel and Stick’ collection features four new finishes ranging from a fresh ‘Oiled Oak’ to a rich ‘Rustic Brown’.

PRIME MINISTERS

- The Earl of Shelburne to The Duke of Portland

By Alijan Kirk In all honesty, when I saw the term lengths of the Prime Ministers covered last time, I was worried that the article wouldn’t be long enough.

Imagine my surprise when it became my longest. I can only expect that each forthcoming article will get progressively longer too. Especially when we get to the twentieth century and I shift away from pure history and interject more politics. But that isn’t a concern for now.

We’re still in the 1780s. The Marquess of Rockingham has died and he needs a successor.

48

THE EARL OF SHELBURNE With Rockingham dead, the King decided to invite the Home Secretary, William Petty, The Earl of Shelburne to form a government. Shelburne’s appointment wasn’t well received by everyone however. The Foreign Secretary, Charles James Fox and his supporters all decided to resign their posts in protest. Their resignations did allow Shelburne to appoint some younger blood to the government, including a young 23 year old called William Pitt as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Of course that name should be very familiar by now, and

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

the age clarifies that this is not the same William Pitt who became Earl of Chatham, but instead his son.

Shelburne and Chatham had been close political allies while they were in Opposition to the North government.

Shelburne’s main priority on taking office was to end the American War for Independence and recognise American independence. In fact, Shelburne was so in favour of American independence that he would only join the Rockingham government on the condition that the King recognised the United States. The government got to work by negotiating www.lancmag.com

The Treaty of Paris was signed in September of 1783, formally ending the American War for Independence, although this can’t be credited to the government as it was all organised

by Shelburne’s government. Like Shelburne’s government, the Portland government was brought down in less than a year and by Fox and North if you could believe it! The East India Company was in trouble and to remedy this, Fox proposed nationalisation, which passed in the Commons. The King however, was deeply opposed and informed the House of Lords that any peer who voted for the bill would be regarded as his enemy. The King’s intervention led to the bill being defeated, giving the King a reason to immediately dismiss the government, sending Fox and North back into opposition. It’s not really possible to assess the Duke of Portland from this government, as he was merely a figurehead and held no actual power.

Maybe Portland could get a chance to return to government…

WILLIAM PITT THE YOUNGER

the Peace of Paris treaties, with Richard Oswald as chief negotiator.

The conclusions of these negotiations led to Shelburne agreeing to generous borders in the Illinois Country but rejected Benjamin Franklin’s demands for the cession of Canada and other territories. The concession of the Appalachian areas was to allow growth of the American population and create lucrative markets for British merchants, while remaining cost free for Britain. This would allow the United States to become a major trading partner with Britain, as well as fitting with Shelburne’s vision of close economic ties between the two nations, explaining his generosity to the Americans.

Shelburne’s time in office wasn’t to last though. Charles James Fox, who had resigned the previous year, had formed a coalition with former Prime Minister Lord North, and this allowed the Opposition to force Shelburne’s www.lancmag.com

resignation. Shelburne would not return to government again, although a year after his resignation, he was created Marquess of Lansdowne. It also couldn’t be bad for him that his lasting legacy was securing peace with America.

THE DUKE OF PORTLAND Having secured the resignation of Shelburne, Fox and North chose as the titular head of their government William Cavendish-Bentinck, His Grace the Duke of Portland. Although Portland was the head, Fox and North were really in charge. King George III despised the government, especially Fox and tried to get William Pitt the Younger to form a government, but no government could. Therefore the coalition of Fox and North were able to form their government but had to look elsewhere for patronage as the King refused to provide it.

After the dismissal of the previous government, William Pitt the Younger finally accepted the King’s offer to form a government of his own. Pitt was the youngest person ever to become Prime Minister, he was only 24 years old. Many saw Pitt as too young and inexperienced and therefore predicted that the new government would not outlast the Christmas season. It survived for seventeen years, the longest government since Robert Walpole’s.

One of Pitt’s first moves was to reduce the power of the Opposition.

He offered Charles James Fox and his allies posts in the Cabinet, but his efforts were unsuccessful as a result of Pitt’s refusal to include Lord North.

Pitt’s government then faced a motion of no confidence, which they lost. In an unprecedented move, Pitt refused to resign, retaining the support of the King and the House of Lords. In addition to this support, Pitt was also granted the Freedom to the City of London. On the return journey from

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 49

the ceremony, men from the City pulled Pitts’ coach home themselves, as a sign of respect. As the coach passed a Whig club, a group of men tried to assault Pitt. When the news spread, it was assumed that Fox and his allies were trying to bring Pitt down by any means, weakening their reputation.

In March 1784, a general election took place with a massive victory for Pitt and his supporters. Furthermore, Pitt had changed his constituency from Appleby to his long coveted constituency, Cambridge University, which he would represent for the rest of his life. Now his position was secured, Pitt got to work and passed the India Act of 1784, which created a new Board of Control to oversee the affairs of the East India Company. In contrast to Fox’s failed India bill, the India Act specified that the board would be appointed by the King. This centralised British rule by reducing the powers of the governors of Bombay and Madras and increasing the powers of Governor-General Charles Cornwallis.

Another issue was the issue of transporting convicts. Previously, convicts were sent to what is now the United States, but the now independent country refused to accept further convicts. The government therefore took the decision to settle what is now Australia and send convicts there.

In regards to foreign policy, Pitt sought European allies to restrict the influence of France, forming the Triple Alliance with Prussia and Holland in 1788. This was beneficial for Britain during the Nootka Sound Controversy two years later, as Pitt was able to use the alliance to force Spain to give up its claim to exclusive control of the west coast of North and South America. Aside from this, the alliance didn’t bring any other important benefits for Britain.

Also in 1788, the King fell victim to a mysterious illness. Famously, this illness, now believed to be porphyria, 50

severely mentally incapacitated him.

This created a constitutional crisis, as if the sovereign was incapable of fulfilling his duties, Parliament would have to appoint a regent to rule in his place. Everyone agreed that the only suitable candidate was the King’s eldest son, George, Prince of Wales. However, the Prince was a supporter of Charles James Fox and if he were to come to power, Pitt would almost certainly have been dismissed.

Fortunately for Pitt, just as a Regency Bill had been passed, the King made a recovery, eliminating the need for a regent.

In 1792 the French Revolution began. Republican revolutionaries had enough of the divide between France’s royal elite and the rest of the people and overthrew the monarchy, as well as executing King Louis XVI. Most of the European countries allied together to fight the French Republicans, mainly for the purposes of trying to take French land for themselves. This became known as the War of the First Coalition, fought by an alliance of countries including Great Britain, the Dutch Republic, the Holy Roman Empire, Portugal, Prussia and Spain. The war was extremely expensive, having a tremendous impact on Britain’s finances. Furthermore, the British Army was very small at this point and thus could only contribute to the war effort through Naval support and by supplying funds to the other coalition members facing France.

While this was going on, Pitt faced yet another problem when the longsimmering unrest in Ireland exploded into outright rebellion when the Society of United Irishmen launched a revolt to win independence for Ireland. Pitt had a strong reaction to this, having 1500 United Irishmen executed. Pitt sought an Act of the Union that would make Ireland an official part of the United Kingdom, which he regarded as a national security matter especially when the French made two expeditions to support the United Irishmen, which Pitt worried could provide France an

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

Irish base to attack Britain. The Irish parliament did not want to disband however, so Pitt used what’s known as “pork barrel politics” to essentially bribe Irish MPs to vote for the Act of the Union, which passed in 1800, creating the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, coming into effect in 1801.

As the 1800s began, Pitt faced several failures. The French continued to defeat the First Coalition which collapsed in 1798. In response to this, Great Britain, Austria, Russia and the Ottoman Empire formed the Second Coalition, which also failed to overcome the French, collapsing in 1800. The collapse of the Second Coalition, as well as further defeats for Austria left Great Britain facing France alone.

Following the Acts of the Union, Pitt sought to integrate the new United Kingdom by granting concessions to Roman Catholics, who formed the majority of the Irish population.

However, the King was strongly opposed to Catholic Emancipation, believing it would violate his coronation oath, where he had promised to protect the Church of England. As Pitt could not change the King’s views on the matter, he resigned on February 16, 1801. However as the King was suffering from a renewed bout of his mental illness, Pitt remained in office for another month until the King recovered.

HENRY ADDINGTON Both the King and Pitt agreed that Pitt’s replacement should be Henry Addington, the MP for Devizes.

Addington himself had objected and tried to reconcile the King and Pitt to no success, so Addington formed a government, of which foreign policy was the centrepiece.

By now, the Napoleonic Wars had already commenced and by 1802, Addington had already managed to secure the Treaty of Amiens, which temporarily ended hostilities between www.lancmag.com

Britain and France. The treaty’s terms were the bare minimum the British could accept but Napoleon Bonaparte would not have agreed to any terms that were more favourable to the British and the British economy was doing so poorly that the government could not afford to fight for any longer.

Within a year, Britain had recovered their finances sufficiently enough that Addington was able to declare war on France again, when it became clear that the French would not settle in regards to the defences of Malta. Addington also worked to gain allies, as Britain’s lack thereof limited Britain to a defensive stance, for which Addington received a great deal of criticism for. Addington was successful in making better relations with Russia, Austria and Prussia, which would later form the Third Coalition.

In 1804, Addington was hit with criticisms from three major factions, all supporters of William Grenville, Charles James Fox and William Pitt, who decided that they would do a better job running the country. Addington simply did not have the support he needed and his parliamentary majority was shrinking fast. He had no choice but to resign.

After leaving office, Addington remained politically important, reconciling with William Pitt and joining his Cabinet in 1805. In addition to this, Addington was also given a peerage, elevating him to the House of Lords as the Viscount Sidmouth. He remained active in politics for a long time after this, serving as Home Secretary for ten years and participating in the House of Lords until his death in 1844.

William Pitt the Younger (Part Two!) With Addington gone, William Pitt the Younger returned to the premiership. His initial plan was to form a broad coalition government, but the King objected to the inclusion of Fox. Furthermore, many of www.lancmag.com

Pitt’s former supporters, including Addington’s allies, joined the Opposition, leaving Pitt’s second administration weaker than his first.

Napoleon Bonaparte remained a problem and Pitt was fast to place pressure on him. Pitt got Britain into the Third Coalition which had a considerable success that is still remembered today. In October 1805, Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson won a crushing victory in the Battle of Trafalgar, ensuring British naval supremacy for the rest of the war and for more or less the considerable future. Despite this amazing victory, the rest of the alliance’s efforts were not successful, facing significant defeats in the Battle of Ulm and the Battle of Austerlitz, resulting in the collapse of the Coalition.

These setbacks had its effects on Pitt’s health, since he had always suffered from poor health since childhood and his fondness for port wine did not help. It was likely expected that this 46 year old man would recover. Therefore it must have been quite sudden for the government when Pitt died in office.

THE LORD GRENVILLE Upon Pitt’s death, his cousin William Grenville, the Lord Grenville was chosen to succeed him. Not only was Grenville related to William Pitt, but as his surname suggests, he was also the son of former Prime Minister George Grenville.

Grenville’s government became known as the “Ministry of All the Talents”, as the government was a coalition between Grenville’s supporters, Charles James Fox’s supporters and Viscount Sidmouth’s supporters. This was a result of Grenville’s aim to form the strongest possible government since the country remained at war.

The inclusion of Fox was a surprise to some as the King had been very hostile to him in the past, but the King was willing to put their differences aside for the sake of national unity, which encouraged many others to join or support the government.

Although some of Pitt’s followers, such as George Canning, were not convinced.

The government had one major success in 1807 when the Slave Trade Act was passed, prohibiting the slave trade in the entire British Empire. Aside from this, Grenville’s government did not achieve anything else. They failed in bringing that sought after peace with France and when the question of Catholic emancipation proved to be something the government couldn’t sort out either, they were dismissed after only one year in office. Grenville never returned to government and died in 1834.

THE DUKE OF PORTLAND (PART TWO!) After twenty four years out of office, the longest gap between terms for any Prime Minister, the Duke of Portland was back! After the collapse of Grenville’s government, Pitt’s supporters returned to power and the fractious group that included George Canning, Spencer Perceval, Lord Castlereagh and Lord Hawkesbury could all agree on Portland being the head of government. As the new government started out Britain was completely isolated within Europe although this wasn’t to last as they allied with Spain and Portugal when the Peninsular War broke out, a result of Napoleon’s France attempting to invade the Spanish Peninsula. By 1809, Britain’s government had not taken an active role in the war and Portland’s health was poor. To make matters worse, the government’s reputation took a hit following a scandalous duel between George Canning and Lord Castlereagh. With that, Portland resigned on October 4, 1809 and died at the end of that same month. 

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 51

SPRING STEAMINGS at Bolton Steam Museum

Volunteers from the Northern Mill Engine Society have rescued and restored 30 old stationary steam engines - some of the engines which once powered the cotton mills and woollen mills of the North of England.

S

ome of the engines are now unique - the only one of its kind to survive anywhere in the world! Our oldest is now 180 years old and most are well over 100 years old! Most will be running in steam on these 2 days only, and admission is free.

There is an activity sheet for the children, and hot & cold drinks and snacks in the Engine View Cafe.

Full disabled access and free unlimited parking on Morrison’s Supermarket car park next to the Museum.

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LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

The Museum is normally closed at other times except for the volunteers’ working days most Wednesdays and Sundays, when visitors are welcome, but the engines will not be running in steam.

SPRING STEAMINGS: Sunday May 1st, Monday May 2nd: 10.00am - 4.00pm JUBILEE STEAMINGS: Saturday June 4th, Sunday June 5th: 10.00am - 4.00pm VENUE: Bolton Steam Museum, Mornington Road, off Chorley Old Road, Bolton BL1 4EU. D www.nmes.org N 01204 846490

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I had “given up” my career in Law. I gave it all up… for a man! I thought he loved me, I mean, we were getting married and I was having his child. He showered me with romance and charm; I thought he was “The One”.

I wanted the Fairy Tale!

W

hat I got was a relationship built on falsehoods and isolation from my friends and family in a move from Lancashire to Surrey. A newborn baby, and little to no help at all. The cracks didn’t just start to show, they tore the whole thing down.

A year on, and a few calls later, I had a new job in Family Law lined up and I was moving home to Preston! I got a first in Family Law in my degree and I loved studying it and helping people. I excelled in this job. It was a new start for me and my one-year old daughter. I have never looked back.

© Vicki Head

Dejected, I turned to the flexibility of self-employment – I had been working as a singer for over a decade so it didn’t seem like too daunting a move. Fortunately, I had been observing and learning over my 12 years as a paralegal, how to run a business. I joined forces with my new husband and set up a family-run electrical services business. But I was lonely working alone. My friend, Dani Wallace (I Am The Queen Bee) introduced me to one a business development and mentoring group run by Brad Burton. The work of Michaela and Steven Wade at Family Law Assistance soon caught my eye.

They were not solicitors, but they were legal advisors, helping people

to represent themselves in the Family Court, bridging the gap in “access to justice”. We quickly became wellacquainted, and when they set up their franchise in 2020, I wanted in! I completed their course in November 2020 (6 months’ pregnant with my fourth child!) and was up and running as a business with their help and guidance 6 months post-partum.

I have quite literally been there, done that and got the Court Order. Lived experience and a legal background. I can help people who want to represent themselves in Court to do so capably and effectively, and I will emotionally support them through the process, too. And I still sing!

Call us now on N 01704 320710 or book a free 15 minute consultation at D www.familylawassistance.co.uk/kim-antrobus

Now a divorced, remarried mum of four, and a child from a broken home with a child from a broken home, I am running my own business as part of Family Law Assistance, but my journey here wasn’t smooth sailing.

I had to leave my former job in 2019. I loved that job. I loved my employers and colleagues. But I loved my children more. At this point, my third child was 18 months old. She has a genetic disorder, and the recurrent illnesses associated with that forced me to give up my job. It hit me hard in the feels – I had had to give it all up yet again!

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© Steve Heatherill

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e start off this month with a questions too! The UltraSpace Garden Cross Guns Inn Rooms, based in the village And as always who pride themselves of Egerton reopens our regulars. on supplying that with a brand new The towns this month extra room that look, boasting a are: Bolton, you need with a brand-new art deco Penrith and Wilmslow. variety of sizes cocktail lounge, and styles to suit your completely overhauled Deborah Hatswell purpose. Dave has a few strange outdoor Gregson shows drinking and dining and unusual witness us that in area as well as reports of everyday life, suddenly ordinary a 60-cover private unexplained phenomen function space. something a. Sarah We magical can happen urge you to sign Harris Style talks the petition to block and about National begins. Paul Cusimano an adventure the reintroduction Handbag Day and takes of animal testing from Totally Local Lancaster in Lancashire, the our skin care routines a look at tells us about the co-founder of Twitter as the weather biggest single day helps is launch becoming new social platform event in Lancaster’s cooler, Denise Mullen calendar - ‘Lancaster to rival Clubhouse tells us hilarious Festa Italia’. called Roomkey. stories about snow We have a delightful co. Harold Cunliffe angels and bodies article on tells us a few being a temple, spooky stories, Nicola Parker talks we celebrate alongside about using herbs gallery set on the Lancashire’s schools for cholesterol, edge of the Yorkshire Ken Harcombe and colleges with the Dales - this former their fantastic results Victorian Woollen on GCSE’s and Mill has gallery A Levels, The Dukes RNLI tells us about spaces, artists’ studios, Theatre present the RNLI’s two and weaving looms their Autumn 2021 main assets: its is the perfect free volunteers and Season, we learn to visit attraction. about sharks and their lifeboats, and The Lancaster Bed why we need to Miles Consult Company shows protect them, and & Construct are us that everybody there is a new in the mood to needs a good night’s permanent exhibition decorate. And of sleep, we course - homes, at Manchester’s feature a fabulous Pankhurst Centre health, delicious review on the Dr called “At Home recipes, fascinating Yusra Clinic and with the Pankhurst history, and a bit ask Dr Yusra a few Family”. of wildlife and more, all in our October issue.

6 LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

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udith trained in Beauty Therapy, Aromatherapy and much more many years ago, she loves Aromatherapy and uses this every day. Judith cannot physically do the treatments as she suffers from Rheumatoid, but the blending and advising is now her niche.

Judith has also been assessing and advising for many years and when Covid hit, this came to an end. Judith also creates websites for others and decided it was time to do one for herself. As being in the vulnerable category due to Rheumatoid treatment, Judith decided to create something she loves, which is to create an online safe shop where people can purchase beautiful items for their home or as a gift. Judith said she was fed up with either the cheap copies or high-priced items out there on the market with no

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personal touch at all, Judith thinks this stems from assessing businesses and helping to create an ambience in Salons and spas where people could relax. Judith wants you to make your house a home… with items which are not in every household in the United Kingdom.

So, The Grey Door was born…

Judith brings new items into the shop frequently, not wishing masses of the same item, so Judith does advise people to purchase as soon as they see something they love, as it may sell out!

Judith also loves to find bespoke items for customers which never reach the website. Judith also creates be-spoke gifts either personal or corporate and this has been gaining momentum recently.

Judith brings her knowledge of essential oils into The Grey Door as so many people are misinformed about essential oils. Judith only uses 100% pure essential oils to create blends for retail. These oils Judith has used for more years than she cares

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to remember, and people who know Judith and have worked with her know she would not use anything but pure.

Judith can create a whole gift package for you, from a personal bespoke gift, with an eco-friendly card and wrap, Judith can send this directly to the person or the package can be sent straight to you.

Judith has had so many comments about how her customers love to open their orders from The Grey Door due to the way they are packaged!

You can find Judith on social media, and she has a private group on Facebook where customers can have the option to view products coming into the shop and purchase first.

Judith also hosts lives on a Sunday Evening in this group, so you can get a closer look. This group is called The Grey Door Exclusive Club, she hopes to see you there soon!

D thegreydoor.co.uk F TheGreyDoor.uk I thegreydoor_uk

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Organisational Genetics was born out of the real- life experiences of the founders to address the challenge of nurturing a more open reporting culture in the NHS and other organisations.

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fter years for working in the NHS, Bolton born, Tracy Boylin, witnessed several situations that inspired her to set up the business. She wanted to devise a culture which allows concerns to be raised safely in the knowledge that those concerns cannot be ignored or denied, and, that the person raising those concerns is respected and supported and does not suffer retribution as a result.

For Tracy, it was the start of a vicious persecution campaign that drove her to suffer PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and even to losing her voice at one point. Its virulent nature meant all avenues of internal complaint were closed to her. She was abandoned and left to fight not just her cause but the ethos of bullying that regularly drove staff away and caused them to remain silent rather than highlight poor patient care.

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Tracy Boylin, CEO Organisational Genetics Ltd. 58

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TERRY’S CHOCOLATE ORANGE... IS THE NEW BLACK?

By Denise Mullen

I

’m old enough to remember the days when whistles and cat calls from building sites were the norm for any young lady attempting to navigate her way to, well, wherever in an urban environment really.

I don’t miss those days.

So, a friend of my husband’s tale of him, and two of his technicians, visit to a women’s prison, to service the heating and ventilation arrangements did give me a huge belly-laugh, followed up with that ‘there you go!’ feeling.

Steve (the boss and friend of husband) took with him a seasoned operative - a loud, confident Birmingham chap in his 40s - and an 18-year-old apprentice.

Already I know what you’re thinking...

They went through all the checks and proceeded, carrying their toolbags, through one of the main prison thoroughfares to get themselves to the kitchens and ‘back of house’ areas that are home to all the equipment they were there to see to.

The cat calls, whistles and pithy comments from the inmates were full on from the get-go. No warmup needed then ladies. This group of ladies see something they like the look of, or the possibility of some sort of negotiation for contraband and they’re in, right?

Right.

Steve noted the kerfuffle and, professional hat on, strode on with a friendly smile and a few nods in acknowledgement.

It was not going so well for the 18-year-old. He was, it’s fair to say, like a cat on a beach. Panting slightly, head down, face and ears bright red, he was now ‘creeping’ behind his boss, trying to make himself as small as possible. And that just wasn’t working.

By now the gathering has found out that they are baiting two Liverpool lads and a Brummy. ‘Ooooh, Scouser’ comes the shout, aimed at the poor youngster.

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Ladies’ night was in full swing, even though it was 9.20am, and this receptive audience showed no sign of giving any quarter. This was, by a country mile, the best show in town for quite some time. The heckling shot up a notch.

Following the mortified lad, who was now clutching his toolbox defensively in front of him, was our big, bold Brummy bloke. And he was lapping it up.

His running commentary to his colleagues went thus: “Whoar, she’s a bit of alright isn’t she. Look at that one. I wouldn’t mind doing all the work in here.”

Apprentice manages to fold himself into an even tinier outline while Steve suggests Brummy Lad knocks it off.

Then it comes. The coup de grace of all heckles from one of the ladies in question. It’s aimed at the smiling, waving Brummy.

“If you give us a Mars Bar, I’ll touch yer bits.”

Steve grabs the bent double young lad by the arm and quickens pace to the next division barrier and relative safety. Brummy Lad swaggers on like the late Liberace on a third encore. The ladies love him.

Over a mug of builders’ tea later, and in a lady-free zone, Brummy Lad ponders: “What do you think she’d do for a four finger Kit Kat?” I noted, with a smile, that, whereas I presume men’s prisons would be a hotbed of negotiating for cigarettes or drugs, the ladies stayed true to their sisterhood, and went directly to petitioning for chocolate.

Brummy Lad has a new moniker.

Although, clearly, he sees himself as some sort of Milk Tray Man superhero with his powers of attraction (and let’s face it, there wasn’t a lot of male competition in there – Steve being the boss and a professional and the boy unable to raise his desperate eyes from the floor).

That’s not what his colleagues chose. Disappointingly for Brummy Lad - it’s ‘Selection Box.’ www.lancmag.com

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By Tina Penswick Wide leg trousers are very en vogue as well, the Paisley print palazzo pants (purple! Try saying that with a mouthful) are a big hit, with an elasticated waistband they’re just so comfortable and elegant too.

A very elegant alternative to classic eveningwear is silks. I’m loving the new trends in with slash arms and the colours that clash ever so slightly are the way forward this season. See how the salmon and saffron colours compliment each other perfectly? 2 colours I wouldn’t have thought to put together but they set each other off brilliantly. Couldn’t you just imagine sauntering along the terrace on the pier of St Tropez harbour with a glass of fizz, ahh we can dream can’t we..?

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ashion wise, it’s out with the roll neck jumpers and in with the dresses. Dresses have to be my favourite item of clothing, ultimate feminine look and flattering too.

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Gone are the days where we owned one pair of white or cream linen pants, the choice now is nothing short of exciting! From tie dye to ink blot, pastel to bright fuchsia, dress to culottes, printed to asymmetric it’s about time to update your collection and help is at hand at TOTT boutique.

Our linen culottes are back and a big hit, once again. Everyone loves the elasticated waistband and they have pockets, of course, because what is an outfit without pockets? I like to team them with a crisp white tshirt for a smart casual daytime look or a blazer for evening.

One thing I’ve not mentioned is maxi dresses. We’re just starting to see them coming through and I think next month is the perfect time to talk about the beautiful new colours and styles.

The only problem you’ll have is which cruise to wear them all to!

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

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Why not treat yourself in the meantime, here’s 15% OFF use code LANCS001

Colour and Style

www.sarahharrisstyle.co.uk

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

M

ay is a lovely month, it is a month of preparation – Summer is on its way, the flowers are blossoming, and it is much needed after the cold wintry weather we have had! And of course, this brings with it a whole host of fresh, new colours Let’s look at some of the Colour Trends this season for each dominant, you may already have them in your wardrobe!

The Pantone Colour for this year is Very-Peri which is a lovely bluey-purple and if you look back four years the Pantone colour of 2018 was Ultraviolet which is in the purple family!

So, take a look inside your wardrobe and have fun!

The trend this season is leaning towards ‘Shopping your Wardrobe’ with lots of Stripes, Spots, Animal Prints popping up everywhere re-cycling is very fashionable as these are classic items which could already be in your wardrobe.

Two years of staying in and working from home has changed our values, we have learnt to make do and use what we have although there is still that feeling of wanting to go into a shop and feel the fabrics it’s a very enjoyable experience for most.

So, before you rush out to the shops or trawl the internet (if that’s what you prefer) have some fun in your wardrobe and follow the Colour and Style trends to create your Seasons Wardrobe!

As well as Veri-Peri there is an array of beautiful colours to make you look and feel wonderful and a shade that will suit everyone, let’s have a look;

NEW COLOURS ON THE BLOCK

I’m Sarah Harris and I’m a Colour and Style Consultant who trained with Colour Me Beautiful the world’s leading Image consultants. My background is in fashion and after leaving school at 16, I travelled to London to work as a Fashion/Photographic Model, I enjoyed the life and it allowed me to travel the world, during my career I also worked in wholesale/retail within the fashion industry.

I learnt all about fabrics, business, international companies and trying all those clothes on – the quality, cut and fabric. I took a break from the business when I married and had our two children. I retrained as an Image Consultant with Colour Me Beautiful who have been changing the lives of women and men for over 35 years.

I’d like to inspire you with Colour, Style and Skincare tips every month, I’m hoping to give you an interesting read.

If there is something that you would like to know about please email me and I will do my best to help.

E sarah@sarahharrisstyle.co.uk D www.sarahharrisstyle.co.uk 74

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Two Colours to look forward to this Spring are zingy green which Pantone have named Fragile Sprout, which at CMB we call Lime and Bubble Gum which we call Hot Pink! It doesn’t really matter what they are called as the colours are everywhere and everyone has a different name, what matters is that you find the right one for you! Lime and Pink have very different undertones so keep this in mind when shopping as the Lime is for a warm undertone whereas the Hot Pink is for those with a Cool undertone. Knowing your undertone is essential when making these decisions, if you need any help, please let me know. You might have had your colours done some time ago and just need a refresh.

www.lancmag.com

COLOURS ON TREND LIGHT

DEEP

Light Periwinkle, Primrose, Pastel Pink, Taupe, Light Aqua, Soft White

Teal, Chocolate, Stone, True Red, Lime, True Blue

Lights (Light & Delicate): Keep your look light and delicate by teaming with similar light shades. Don’t be tempted to wear a dark colour under your face or it will overpower your look.

Deeps (Deep & Strong): Your look is strong so make sure you add depth and always wear a lighter colour like the Taupe with a darker shade as a pale colour on its own will wash you out!

COOL

WARM

Daffodil, Terracotta, Lime, Chocolate, Taupe, Teal

Cornflower, Light Aqua, Charcoal, Hot Pink, Periwinkle, Light Teal

Warms (Warm & Rich): Your look is warm and golden so keep to the warmer shades of colour with a yellow undertone of medium depth. This seasons Lime and Daffodil are great colours for you. Don’t be tempted by this season’s Pink and blue-based colours as they will dull your look.

Cools (Cool & Contrasting): Cool is the opposite to warm so remember if your best friend is a warm don’t be tempted to wear her clothes! You look better in cooler, blue-based colours. Pinks are a perfect choice for you this season and keep away from Yellows, Limes, and warmer tones.

CLEAR

SOFT

True Red, Lemon Yellow, Bright Periwinkle, Light Grey, Blush Pink, Royal Blue

Taupe, Mint, Verbena, Light Periwinkle, Teal, Buttermilk

Clears (Clear & Bright): You will always look your best in bright, vibrant colours but remember your undertone could be Cool or Warm. If you’re a Cool you’ll look great in this season’s Hot Pink whereas if your undertone is Warm you’ll look fabulous in Lime! You need contrast don’t be tempted to wear dull colours on their own!

Softs (Soft & Tonal): You look your best when you mix colours tonally. Wear similar depth shades for a very chic look. Be careful of this season’s Bright Colours, remember to look for shades that are softer and more muted!

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LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 75

CLASSIC STRIPES Stripes are a Classic and never date but remember if you’re purchasing a stripe choose one that doesn’t have anything added as this is what will date it – the simpler the better, like this beautiful classic dress from Community Clothing to the left, it is made of cotton and linen and will keep you cool in the summer months and not only are the fabrics natural it has pockets!!

Striped wide leg trousers and white & red skirt

by Madeleine www.madeleine.co.uk

Crew Neck Gathered dress in Navy and white by www.communityclothing.co.uk

Sia Silk Scarf www.kettlewellcolours.co.uk

Cotton X African Sky www.roodle.com Monaco Stripe top in charcoal & true red and the Multi Zesty Stripe Breton by www.kettlewellcolours.co.uk Breton tops are a great item they come in many forms If you have fuller hips and narrow shoulders balance out your look by wearing one with a plain pair of trousers (as seen above) But stripes don’t just come in tops and dresses there are trousers, skirts, and accessories!! The vertical stripe will give the impression of lengthening so are great for someone with shorter legs or are petite, they create the illusion of longer legs. And horizontal striped skirts are great for balancing out an inverted triangle. The striped trousers and skirt by Madeleine are beautiful, as seen above!

And don’t forget accessories you can lift a plain outfit with a striped bag, hat or scarf! You don’t have to spend a fortune to be on-trend simply adding a scarf or bag to your outfit is all you need!

Have fun with the seasons Colours and Styles and if you need any help, please let me know!

Look after yourselves and each other!

Warm Wishes, Sarah x

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

Style

International Women’s Day Festival 2022

By Sarah Harris

Young Women, Community Leaders and Businesses from across the Fylde Coast come together to make a difference.

T

he Washington Group held its 4th International Women’s Day Festival at the Blackpool Sixth Form College. The event was sponsored by the Mina Group, Beaverbrooks, Wyre and Fylde council, BIU, Blackpool Transport and Victrex.

Businesses, community leaders and young women from across the Fylde Coast attended the event on what was a fun, interactive day. Each young person attending received a goody bag and food vouchers.

Assembling in the theatre where the day began Deborah Terras, director of The Washington Group, opened the event with Jill Gray Principal of The Blackpool Sixth form college.

Deborah Terras explained “The IWD22 Festival summit was four years in the planning, we now have the foundations to make a difference on the Fylde Coast, to make it a kinder and fairer place to live. This youth-led 5-year strategy will be the connection between what is positive about the assets in our community and where the gaps are, linking to the amazing projects and strategies across all three areas Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. Today is just the start of having young women’s voices elevated onto the platforms that need to listen to young people to help shape their services.

The plan requires businesses and organisations to help it succeed for all young people”.

Director of the Washington Group,

Deborah Terras

Jill Gray, Principal of Blackpool Sixth Form College

Bethany Richardson, Triple BTEC Musical theatre Student

Sarah Harris Colour and Confidence workshop with Armfield Academy

Sam Richardson and Elsi-May Caroll of Headstart

Ellen Morgan and Emily Whitehead of Little Voices www.lancmag.com

Little Voices Workshop LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 79

Jill spoke of how she’d originally trained in hospitality management before unexpectedly changing direction to the world of education. Showing that the path you start down doesn’t necessarily mean it is one you will end up on. Jill is passionate about education and providing opportunities for young people.

After Jill’s inspirational welcome Musical theatre student Bethany Richardson captivated the audience with her magical opening number!

After which the workshops were opened and young women were directed by their teachers/chaperones to the five themed rooms;

1

RAINBOW – a theme encompassing all the colours of the world! Let’s talk being the best we can, believing in yourself, making your voice heard and being counted for. How can we gain a new cultural visibility and ensure young women’s voices make a difference and have the equity that they deserve?

Workshops - The Lancashire Constabulary, Headstart, Ruth Cockburn and Little Voices.

2

HAPPINESS – Happiness and Kindness make the world go round. Interactive workshops to explore how young women can support their own wellbeing and self-care through a variety of tools, finding what works for them to help influence their happiness.

Workshops - Sarah Harris Style and Colour, Melissa Toland of Time For You, Fylde Coast Women’s Aid, Vanessa Rodgers & Kip Education CIC.

3

INNOVATION – Science is a woman’s best friend! A field with imagination, innovation, and exploration. Looking at what part women play in an ever-changing world of opportunities, digital, IT etc. Let us all be creators and not just consumers.

Workshops - Victrex, Code Galaxy, ICG Brandbuilders.

4

THIS WOMAN CAN – The active theme supporting young women to explore opportunities in sport and physical wellbeing. What does it mean to be active?

How can young women be leaders and change the world of sport, what part do we play and what part should we play?

Workshops - Dr Nicola Robinson of Liverpool John Moores University/North West Pentathlon Hub, Fleetwood Town Community Trust, Blackpool FC Community Trust and British Army.

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5

GREEN FIELD – Everything you ever wanted to know about how you can save the environment and so much more! Interactive workshops were held to explore how young women can participate in protecting our world and making small changes with huge impact.

Workshops - Blackpool Transport, Tracey Hope / Tossers in Lytham St Annes, Environmental Nanas UK), Pot Bound.

After lunch, TWG had invited businesses and organisations to play an active role in this part of the summit. Dame Julia Cleverdon opened the session recognising the need to have young people drive forward the development of the Fylde coast to make it a better place to live. Following Julia outstanding comedian Ruth Cockburn set the scene with her thought-provoking poem, afterwards, discussions were held around the room to find out what the young people of the Fylde Coast needed. The aim was to support and drive forward the identified needs of these young women to cement action for the 5-year strategy.

Baines English teacher Mrs H Gibson “Having been part of the International Women’s Day project for the last 4 years, I have left every event inspired, motivated and truly in awe of the incredible people we have along the Blackpool and Fylde Coast. Every year I have had the chance to bring a group of young women from Baines school and give them the opportunity to have their voices and concerns heard. Debbie and her team have continued to provide phenomenal workshops and place our future generations in front of some key decision-makers, really giving the young women the chance to adapt, enhance and develop the area in which we live. This year has been an incredible success, can’t wait to see what 2023 brings!”

Karen Cooper, organisational development director at Blackpool Transport “International Women’s Day festival is about empowering our young women of tomorrow and Blackpool Transport are proud to be part of that. Women growing up on the Fylde Coast deserve opportunities to prosper and thrive and the event is invaluable on so many levels, not least for the opportunity to gain first-hand understanding and feedback about our services, as well as supporting the journeys of multiple young women” For more information on how you can sponsor or support the IWD 5 year strategy, please contact Deborah Terras: E Deborah.terras@twguk.org Photography with thanks to Susan Wood and Becca Terras: E susanwoodphotography1@gmail.com

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St Bede’s College Lazer Shoot NW

Hub

Izzy Durose’s Workshop

ICG Brandbuilders Julie Hackett, Account Director and Lucy Wignall

Izzy Durose of Pot Bound

Julie Brotherton and Fiona Reed with some of the young women www.lancmag.com

Phil Orme Mayor’s Consort, Ma yor and Wyre Elaine Silverwood, and ’s of the Fylde Andrea Kay.

Dr Nicola Robinson NW Pentathlon

Hub Summit

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 81

Six Health Conditions an Eye Exam Can Reveal

By Dr Andy Hepworth, Essilor.co.uk

Dr Andy Hepworth from optical lens specialists Essilor.co.uk explains what eye examinations can reveal beyond short or long sightedness and common eye conditions.

TV

Celebrity Sue Perkins recently revealed that her father was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour as a result of an eye examination

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at an optician. This is one example of why it’s vital for people to get their eyes checked regularly by a professional, at least within the recommended timeframe of every two years minimum, even if your vision seems fine.

Eyes are like a magnifying glass into the inner workings of our blood vessels, nerves and connective tissues throughout the body. So eye examinations are an important health check for overall wellbeing – and a potential way to identify an underlying potentially life-threatening issues. www.lancmag.com

6

SIGNS OF OTHER HEALTH ISSUES THAT EYE TESTS CAN REVEAL:

1

BRAIN TUMOURS: Tumours on the brain can cause increased pressure that results in swelling near the back of the eyes – meaning that an optometrist can see these abnormalities. Changes in pupil size or double vision are also potential signs of a brain tumour. Other cancers that might affect the eyelids and outer surfaces of the eye can also be found during a detailed eye exam.

2

DIABETES: Diabetes affects eye tissue and thus can be identified with an eye exam. Tiny blood vessels in the retina that leak yellow fluid or blood can be a sign of diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy happens when the blood vessels in the eye are damaged by high blood glucose levels, which is a serious condition if left undiagnosed. Early signs are usually picked up during diabetic eye screening – this is when photographs of your eyes are taken to check for damage.

3

CARDIOVASCULAR CONDITIONS: Eye exams can detect a number of cardiovascular conditions, including clogged arteries or decreased blood flow due to heart disease. These conditions can leave plaque deposits or show as damage within the eye area to indicate a more significant health issue.

4 5

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE: A very slight bleed in the eye, that presents itself as a tiny broken blood vessel in the white of the eye, can be associated with high blood pressure.

HIGH CHOLESTEROL: Eye tests can detect some warning signs that point to the presence of high cholesterol. For example, sometimes people with high cholesterol have small deposits of fat (called xanthelasmas) that can occur on the eyelids. Similarly, by examining the cornea – the dome shaped clear structure in front of your iris - it can show what’s called an arcus that can relate to cholesterol levels.

6

THYROID EYE DISEASE: Thyroid eye disease is a condition in which the eye muscles, eyelids, tear glands and fatty tissues behind the eye become inflamed. This can cause the eyes and eyelids to become red, swollen and uncomfortable and the eyes can be pushed forward (‘staring’ or ‘bulging’ eyes).

There are lots of age-related eye conditions, including cataracts and glaucoma, that an eye examination can also identify at an early stage - so it is crucial to get your eyes test regularly, especially as you get older.

Many opticians will carry out an Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) scan as part of the eye examination.

This hospital-quality scan uses cutting-edge technology to look more closely at your retina. OCT technology uses light waves to take images of your retina; similar to how an ultrasound scan uses sound waves. During an OCT scan, you will be asked to sit in front of a small machine with your chin placed on a support. The instrument then takes a picture of your eyes, revealing to the optician what is going on beneath the surface of the eye. They will review this information as part of your eye examination.

An optician will also ask you questions about your general health in order to build up an overall picture if your lifestyle and any issues they should be aware of.

Other common stages of an eye exam include tonometry test – this uses puffs of air to measure pressure inside your eye, again this can help to identify any early signs of glaucoma. A slit lamp is used to check the health of your cornea, your iris and your lens. Your optician will use a powerful microscope to assess each eye.

The sight part of the test is known as refraction – this is where the optician will ask you to read letters on a chart in front of you whilst different lenses are out in front of your eyes to fine tune your prescription.

WHAT SHOULD PROMPT YOU TO GO FOR AN EYE TEST - BEARING IN MIND THIS MAY NOT BE JUST FOR SIGHT, BUT IF YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE? If you are experiencing any changes to your vision or pain, redness and discomfort for more than a couple of days then you should get your eyes tested. Symptoms such as eye pain, burning, blurred / double vision, floaters with flashing lights and droopy eyelids could all be signs that something isn’t right.

Redness and irritation are often an early warning signal that your eyes could do with a bit more looking after. This can be caused by a range of factors including fatigue, allergies, over-wearing contact lenses or an infection such as conjunctivitis. Your option can advise and recommend treatment if it’s needed.

WHAT WILL AN OPTICIAN TEST FOR AND CHECK (BEYOND LONG AND SHORT SIGHTEDNESS)?

Headaches could also be a sign that you need to pay your eyes some attention – eye strain (either from an outdated prescription or too much time spent looking at a screen), can lead to headaches. If you are experiencing headaches regularly it can be easy to overlook eyes as the root cause.

A close inspection of the lens, retina and optic nerve can reveal a host of disorders, high blood pressure and diabetes among them, even if the patient feels fine and shows no other symptoms.

It really is important to book an eye examination if anything at all is concerning you.

For more advice visit: www.essilor.co.uk www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 83

Lancashire And South Cumbria Cancer Alliance Part of an Innovative Programme to Make New Cancer Blood Test Available The Innovation Agency will work with the Lancashire and South Cumbria Cancer Alliance and the Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance to spread the diagnostic test in the region.

Jon Hayes, Managing Director of Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance, said it was an NHS priority to fast-track high-quality cancer innovations.

“PinPoint has been validated in West Yorkshire where the health service and industry have worked very effectively together. We’re looking forward to making sure the benefits of the test are felt in our area.”

Plans are under way to make a new cancer diagnostic test with the potential to save hundreds of lives available across Lancashire and South Cumbria.

T

he PinPoint Test analyses a blood sample using an artificial intelligence-based algorithm that will allow clinicians to identify patients both at high risk and at very low risk of developing cancer.

Data specialists PinPoint Data Science have developed the test and the Innovation Agency, the NHS organisation that supports the spread of health and care innovations, will oversee work to enable its rollout in Lancashire and South Cumbria, as well as Cheshire and Merseyside.

Significant investment has been secured to support this programme, with around £750,000 being awarded by the Small Business Research Initiative, a fund that helps innovators in the cancer field bring their work to the front line.

The diagnostic test was developed using data taken from hundreds of

84

thousands of patients investigated for cancer between 2011 and 2019.

It uses machine learning, a branch of artificial intelligence, to measure 33 biomarkers in the blood sample.

This information is combined with other data, such as age and gender, to generate a single number – the chance that an individual has cancer.

Using the PinPoint Test in the earliest stages of clinical investigations means that doctors will be able to determine within 72 hours how likely it is a patient has cancer and either prioritise them for hospital testing or rule them out of the cancer pathway entirely.

Mike Kenny, Acting Co-Director of Enterprise and Growth at the Innovation Agency, said: “The test promises to have a significant impact on cancer care in our area: it takes the pressure off health services at a time when the pandemic is causing backlogs, and it helps reduce anxiety among patients by shortening the wait to a diagnosis.

“Our role at the Innovation Agency is to make sure healthcare innovations have a tangible impact on patient care so we’re delighted the funding was made available.”

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

Mr Hayes added that while GPs around the country refer thousands of patients for urgent cancer tests every day, only around seven per cent turn out to have cancer.

“This new tool for intelligent triage will allow us to safely remove patients from those urgent referral pathways, reducing backlogs and allowing highrisk patients to access the specialists and facilities they need sooner,” he said.

Amanda Short, Associate Director of Transformation and Innovation at Lancashire and South Cumbria Cancer Alliance, said: “It’s clear that technical innovation is going to be crucial to improving cancer services so we’re delighted to be involved in the early stages of such an exciting project.”

SBRI Healthcare is an NHS initiative, supported by the AHSN Network, which includes the Innovation Agency.

It aims to support economic growth while meeting health priorities.

PinPoint Data Science was one of eight organisations, among 51 that applied, to win funding for late-stage cancer projects that improve cancer diagnosis.

www.lancmag.com

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The Best Jeans In The World

For Her

By Paul Cusimano, Joseph Clothing, Lancaster

I never quite ended up doing exactly what I want to do.

I have incorporated what my father taught me and used it in a job that comes a very close second I have always encouraged my children to follow their hearts when it comes to their career choices. To be happy in your work is both a must and a privilege.

I love all that I do and have no real regrets. It keeps me feeling close to my father now he is gone.

I

f you are passionate about something and it comes natural to you, it is easier, more enjoyable and invariably, one is better at it.

At the back end of last year I Shared a post of some stunning coloured wine glasses one evening on our Facebook page. They looked antique in style but appeared in new condition. I don’t even drink (alcohol) but these glasses were so beautiful I just had to have them. I messaged the business and went to collect them the next day.

88

‘Penny Street Collectables’, owned by Jess Tubman, is to be found on the upper part of Penny Street in Lancaster.

I had shared many of their fantastic Facebook posts but had never actually visited. Their posts showed a wonderful eclectic mix of new and antique goods, ranging from jewellery to small furnishings, and everything between.

The Award Winning Jess Tubman

The shop is beautiful and fresh. Absolutely brimming with an amazing array of items that invite your eyes to explore in shear excitement. Full yet not cluttered.

Everything displayed carefully and with purpose.

Merchandising is an art, especially with such a varied mix of products, and which can so easily look like ‘noise’; a mess, a blur.

There They Were

So, to the wine glasses. When Jess showed them to me, I was astonished by both their beauty and condition.

“These are Tall Hock glasses by Nachtmann, Germany

Now They Are My ‘Bohemian Crystal’ Wine Glasses

Pride & Passion, In Abundance

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

in the ‘Traube’ pattern with stars and grapes. They are multi-sided with notched stems which is a design dating back to the nineteen forties” Jess explained, adding “they’re called Bohemian Crystal in the trade.”

To say that I was taken aback by what had just been imparted on me, is a complete understatement. It was not so much the product knowledge that Jess was demonstrating about the set of glasses, that left me so shell shocked, rather the knowledge base she clearly had about such a massive collection of varied items, modern, antique, pottery, glassware, jewellery, furniture, soft furnishings and so on. That is what stunned me. As I glanced around the shop, I was asking myself how could someone so young have such knowledge and experience to be running such a business !?!?

things turned into buying and selling at antique fairs and quickly into her having her own shop which she has ran now for over 25 years, in Wareham, Dorset.

I worked there as a teenager helping out in the shop, ‘Yesterday’s Antiques & Collectables’, at weekends and school holidays. This is where I learnt about the different makes and designs of pottery, glass and jewellery.

The way a piece is made, how it is glazed, different styles and techniques. We formed a formidable team me

I simply had to ask Jess about her background and how she got into such a niche and specialised business, I needed to make sense of it, “So my mum Joyce, a keen potter herself, has always loved ceramics and glass and has beautiful taste. Her love of collecting beautiful

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LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 89

and mum, I absolutely loved our buying and selling trips together, we went all over the country. Amazing days and happy memories! We still go together to the bigger fairs as often as we can.

After working in her shop I was hooked from then onwards - collecting, bargain hunting, antiques and selling - it is a passion and definitely gets in your blood.

Even my final show at Art College was named ‘Curiosity Cabinet’. In 2017, I decided I’d talked enough of having my own shop one day and took the plunge opening ‘Penny Street Collectables’.”

On exploring this complete haven you will be hard pushed not to come away with something. There are the modern collections from the likes of Two Bad Mice, Susie Watson and Emma Bridgewater. Then you have the timeless vintage classics like Moorcroft, Lalique and Beswick, to name but a few.

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It was after Jess commented on a Facebook post of David Harper, the BBC’s Antiques Road Trip expert, that he contacted her and asked if he could visit her shop.

With the date set an Event was arranged. On the 17th October 2021 David visited, not only to look around ‘Penny Street Collectables’ and all that it had to offer, but to also value other peoples items and sign copies of his book.

It is all cleverly mixed and presented. Jess has achieved her goal in creating a relaxed and friendly shopping experience where there is an abundance of contemporary, classic, vintage and quirky. “A go-to place when you need a lovely gift or just a little treat for yourself. I believe strongly in the ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’ ethos and source ethically whenever possible.”

Jess’s degree in ‘Surface Pattern & Textile Design’, which she attributes to being her grounding for colour and form, her childhood introduction and time shared with her mum in her shop and buying at fairs and markets, all served as her apprenticeship.

www.lancmag.com

“Running a small business is like spinning lots of plates” Jess replies to my question about having her own business. She is of course referring to being the buyer, the seller, the book-keeper, the merchandiser, the housekeeper, maintenance manager and the teas person.

These are just the business related plates that require constant spinning.

BBC’s Antique Road Trip Expert David Harper Visiting Penny Street Collectables

The more we spoke on that day, and during a couple of subsequent conversations, the more I was able to make sense of what I initially couldn’t.

I have always considered myself a ‘people person’; happy to be around people, help people, understand people. For me a shop front is only a small snippet of the story of any business. It’s the people behind the frontage, their story, the paths and experiences that brought them to that given place and what it takes to nurture that business.

This business is only in its fifth year, yet has attracted the attention of a celebrity expert, has been nominated for a number of business Awards, winning ‘Shop Front Of The Year’ at The Bay Business Excellence Awards, and is considered one of the jewels in Lancaster’s crown by all that visit it.

‘Penny Street Collectables’ has a very charming and even romantic feel about it. The type of shop that would make the perfect setting for a film like ‘Notting Hill’, if they hadn’t already chosen to portray Hugh Grant as a Book Shop owner – their loss.

Jess Is A Big Fan Of David

M Penny Street Collectables 74 Penny Street LANCASTER LA1 1XN N 07917 762546 D pennystreetcollectables.com F pennystreetcollectables www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 91

How the Food You Eat Affects Your Hay Fever

by Airborne Allergens Expert, Max Wiseberg

www.haymax.biz

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MUSHROOMS Mushrooms contain higher levels of polysaccharides, which encourage the body to switch off the part of the immune system that reacts to antibodies and cause those unwanted hay fever symptoms. Reishi mushrooms, if you can get hold of them, contain high levels of polysaccharides.

AVOID THESE… Chocolate and alcohol contain histamine, the chemical that sets off allergy symptoms in your body. So whilst you might not want to give these up completely, reducing your intake might help.

early morning sneezing with allergies or hay fever.

Many hay fever sufferers may be unaware of the enormous impact that the food they eat can have on their hay fever. Here are my top 10 foods that sufferers should eat, ones to avoid plus a balm that can help…

4

ating healthily may help keep the immune system strong – a major benefit if you suffer from hay fever.

Some foods are believed to ease blocked nasal passages, helping you to breathe more easily.

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E 1

NUTS Eating foods rich in antioxidants is believed to be helpful. For example, nuts are a great source of magnesium and vitamin E, an antioxidant that protects the body from damaging free radicals. These can cause oxidative tissue damage, triggering inflammation that could contribute to problems like allergies and asthma.

2

ONIONS Eating foods rich in quercetin, a natural antihistamine, such as red onions, can be helpful. And if you eat pineapple which contains bromelain, it can help the body absorb the quercetin.

3

LEMON AND HONEY Drinking hot tea with lemon and honey first thing in the morning activates movement of the hairs in the nose, which some people believe will prevent

LEGUMES Zinc has an antibacterial and antiviral effect in the body and fosters immunity. Legumes are high in zinc. Examples of legumes are lentils, chickpeas, peas, beans, soybeans, and peanuts.

HOT CURRIES! Spicy foods can have natural decongestant effects.

Use with caution though, as they may also irritate the throat, resulting in excess mucous and cough.

6

GARLIC Fresh, raw garlic contains quercetin, a natural antihistamine.

It’s also anti-catarrhal and contains vitamin C. Best not to eat this before meeting people though!

Avoid dairy drinks which may encourage the body to produce mucus.

Excess mucus is exactly what you don’t need if you suffer from hay fever.

Instead, drink water, fruit tea, herb tea or any non-caffeinated tea.

LAST BUT DEFINITELY NOT LEAST reducing the amount of allergen getting in, in the first place, has got to be a good idea. HayMax is a drug-free, nondrowsy organic allergen barrier balm which is even suitable for children and pregnant as well as breastfeeding women. It has been proven to trap over a third of pollen particles before they enter the body[1] where they can cause symptoms.

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NETTLES Nettle tea can also be beneficial. Stinging nettles are thought to be able to reduce the amount of histamine in the body and can help with unwanted symptoms such as a stuffy nose, itching eyes and sneezing.

8

ROSEMARY Season your food with rosemary as it is believed to open up the respiratory system, helping to reduce inflammation and encourages better breathing.

9

PEPPERMINT Peppermint tea may help to ease a blocked nose.

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

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www.lancmag.com

Emma Holt Brand Photography BA(Hons) The Brand Photography Expert

Helping Female Entrepreneurs and Their BRAND Become Visible.

By Providing Stunning Unique Imagery.

D www.ehbrandphotography.co.uk N 05858 024479 10% OFF* A FULL BRAND SHOOT! - QUOTE; LMAG10 *OFFER ENDS: 30th June 2022

Emotive Capture Photography School Awarded Best Photography Tuition in the North West

Tuition From Complete Beginners. From Children Through to Adults.

Photography Workshops & 1:1 Photography Tuition.

D www.emotivecapture.co.uk N 05858 024479 10% OFF* 1:1 ADULT TUITION - QUOTE; LMAGPHOTO10 *OFFER ENDS: 30th June 2022

The Moment I Realised That I Could be a “Someone”

By Emma Holt

The Secret Garden.

From the body of work titled ‘The Spirit Within’. ©Emma Holt BA(Hons) .

Time & Reflection.

From the body of work titled ‘The Spirit Within’. ©Emma Holt BA(Hons) .

Yes, I was a victim of bullying.

Something which has been part of not only my childhood but my adult life too. My bullying was not just name-calling, it was severe physical bullying too, the type that makes you want to circle up in a corner and cry, or maybe even take your own life.

I felt the back of my chair being kicked and then my hair being pulled aggressively... ...I knew that today was going to be another horrendous day 94

A

sharp, painful punch to my side and another big kick to my chair… I wanted to escape the torment of the classroom, to fling open the classroom door and to run down that long, narrow corridor and to escape… to actually take a breath of freedom, to have this heavyweight of ridicule and torment, finally taken away from me.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

I remember, being pushed from person to person, as a large gang of kids circled me, calling me disgusting names and spitting in my face, then a sudden push from behind and I was pushed down an embankment into a pile of broken glass bottles. The fear overpowered me as tears came rolling down my face… yes, this was actually during lunchtime on my school playing field.

WHY AM I TELLING YOU ALL THIS? You see I grew up feeling like I was average, perhaps even worthless, as a teenager I felt like I couldn’t strive to become a someone. To be accepted. www.lancmag.com

I now realise I was wrong! Really wrong!

My Mum sadly passed away when I was just fifteen of breast cancer, so I spent several years being a mother to my younger siblings. I still felt inadequate, like I just wasn’t good enough. In a nutshell, I hated myself.

I not only had negative feelings about myself, but I now had to cope with the feelings of grief. I became the bottom of my list, and my siblings were the top.

I often wish I could go back to my younger self and explain to her just how incredible she is and show her everything that I would achieve.

If you had told my 12-year-old self that I would one day be running two successful businesses, I would have laughed! I completely doubted my ability; I thought I would never account to anything.

How wrong was I, after a severe traumatic period in my life, I decided rather blindly to enrol at a local University on a Photography Degree Course, if I am honest, I was so scared I nearly turned around and walked away several times. Walking up to those large shiny doors of the brand new University was one of the scariest things I have ever done. I was 35 and a nervous wreck, with a hatred for all things to do with education, Just the thought of sitting in a classroom filled me with dread!

Thank god, I had my wonderful Husband Chris, who has and keeps on supporting me to be the best version of myself. Honestly, without his support, I would probably never of managed a week at University, let alone three years!

Images of Brand Photography Client.

(Jacky Walker, Informed Woman). ©Emma Holt BA(Hons) .

I had studied Fine Art at college and had always been really creative from being a child, this was one thing that the bullies couldn’t kick out of me, my ability to draw and create art.

Art, music and photography is in my family; my Dad is a retired Artist and Musician, I found myself looking up to him, hoping that if I could be just as amazing as him, I would succeed.

I knew that I always wanted to do something creative as a career, I guess I just didn’t know what.

I had many jobs in retail, standing behind a till, customers moaning they had to queue up or complaining that I wasn’t serving fast enough. 

Image of Brand Photography Client.

(Laura Blackburn-Edwards, Irreverent Artistry). ©Emma Holt BA(Hons) .

Ivy Cross.

From the body of work titled ‘The Spirit Within’. ©Emma Holt BA(Hons) .

Image From the body of work titled ‘Without You’ ©Emma Holt BA(Hons)

www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 95

Images of Brand Photography Client.

(Wendy Caunce, The Mindful Empowerment Coach). ©Emma Holt BA(Hons) .

had to also display some of my images via a projector; my images were larger than life as they were displayed on the wall behind me.

I remember that day when my Tutor rang me and said, “Emma you have been chosen to exhibit in South Africa”. I cried, screamed and danced around the house, like a woman possessed, I couldn’t believe that I had been chosen… ME! Emma Holt, little old ME! To this day, I still think exhibiting in South Africa, was life-changing. I am so grateful for having the opportunity.

Images of Brand Photography Client (Louise Westra Health Mastery) ©Emma Holt BA(Hons)

I actually owe a lot to those Tutors, they saw something in me that no one ever bothered too. I received countless distinctions for my work. (I had never received a distinction in my life before!).

And in 2011, I received the Student of the Year Award. No other Student from the Arts department had ever received one before! I couldn’t believe what was happening, me a girl who once hated herself, had won an award that was for the entire University! I think that was the moment I realised that I could be a “someone” and achieve whatever I wanted to.

I wasn’t happy, I longed to be a “someone” I guess again I doubted my ability. I never for one minute thought I was capable of setting up my business.

It was during my first year, that my Tutor said, “Look, why don’t you do the course next year, we have accepted you. We will keep your place open for you.”

Although I knew deep in my heart, that he was right, I never wanted to give up! I am not sure why, but I had an overwhelming feeling to carry on!

My Tutor would often say, “You’re like a deer in headlights, Emma. We will support you, we are there for you.”

Those words are still edged in my mind even to this day…

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My Dad, often says I have a light inside, that refuses to go out! That’s the thing, I never knew I was capable of achieving anything… but I never gave up!

During my second year, I won a place to exhibit my work in South Africa.

This was simply amazing! I remember having to pitch for the place in front of 4 Tutors, all sitting in a row at a table.

It was the most daunting and nervewracking moment ever; my anxiety got the better of me and I couldn’t even get my words out properly. At that moment, it actually felt like I was back at school, I could have opened that classroom door and fled, I didn’t need to put myself through this, I kept hearing that inner voice cry… but I carried on, delivering my pitch, half the words missing and my sentences all jumbled up.

I really didn’t think I would get chosen. Not only did you have to explain why you should get picked and what you were going to exhibit, I

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

In 2012, I graduated from University with a 1st class Degree in Photography.

Walking across that stage, as my Tutor read out my name to a chorus of cheers, from my Dad and Husband, was one of the best moments in my life. It truly was something I will remember forever!

Shortly after graduating, I was diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder and PTSD. Brought on by the years of being bullied and my Mothers passing. I always remember, my Counsellor saying “I have never known anyone go to University and graduate with a 1st class degree and have PTSD.” I have now realised that I have an inner strength, not sure where that comes from, but I do think it’s helped me, especially at times when I have hit rock bottom Once I had sought the help I needed, I set up a Wedding Photography Business with my friend, but I dreamed of teaching Photography. I didn’t want to teach in a College or University setting though, I wanted to teach my way. I was also lucky enough to create Exhibitions across the North West & London. I love exhibiting my work and inspiring others.

I decided to set up my own Photography School, the Emotive Capture Photography School. With the emphasis on not only getting individuals off automatic camera settings but to connect with nature and the countryside. I knew that getting creative really helped me with my mental health, so this was really an important aspect and one of my core values.

During the Covid-19 lockdown, I ran a twelve-week Photography Course www.lancmag.com

Image of Brand Photography Client (Dawn Baxter, Beyond the Dawn) ©Emma Holt BA(Hons)

for a Wonderful Charity, ‘Veterans in Communities’ I helped their members who were lonely, isolated or suffering with a mental illness, through being creative with Photography and connecting with their surroundings.

It was a funded Project by Lancashire County Council. I even managed three in-person Workshops too, once the restrictions had eased.

My Photography School has gone from strength to strength, and last year, I won Best Photography Tuition in the North West. This is something I am super proud of!

I love teaching and teach children and adults through to advanced level and everything in between. It’s an amazing feeling not only getting individuals off Automatic settings and to learn more about Photography but to get them to really connect with nature and the countryside around them. I teach on 1:1 Tuition on location as well as running Photography Workshops across the North West, Cumbria, Wales and Yorkshire. I am hoping to also run Photography Workshops further down South too.

But when I am not holding Photography Workshops, I work alongside female Entrepreneurs as a Brand Photography Expert. I am particularly known for my ability to help camera-shy women, as I feel my upbeat personality really makes them feel at ease.

I love helping my Brand Photography Clients become visible and really step into their zone of genius. I believe we all have a story www.lancmag.com

Images of Brand Photography Client (Wendy Caunce, The Mindful Empowerment Coach) ©Emma Holt BA(Hons)

to share, one that will resonate with your ideal client and audience.

For me though, the days of static, boring corporate images are so dated.

Brand imagery now has a modern natural feel.

It’s important for me that every Brand Photography Client, has a unique bank of imagery, that’s as individual as their business and themselves, we are all unique so your Brand Images should reflect this too. 

MY BRAND PHOTOGRAPHY; Emma Holt Brand Photography BA(Hons) D www.ehbrandphotography.co.uk F emmaholtbrandphotography I @emmaholtphotography N 07858 024479 MY PHOTOGRAPHY SCHOOL; Emotive Capture Photography School D www.emotivecapture.co.uk F emotivecapturephotographyschool I @ecphotographyschool N 07858 024479 LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 97

Photo Credit: C Dyson

Global Grooves Named as Queen’s Pageant Parade Contributor A Mossley, Greater Manchester, carnival arts organisation is celebrating after being invited to perform in front of a global audience of hundreds of millions.

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G

lobal Grooves is to be the only creative contributor from northern England to produce a section of the procession for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant in London this June.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

Although plans are only in the early stages, Global Grooves says it will wow audiences across the globe with a colourful carnival influenced spectacle called A Sharing of Gifts.

Involving over 200 participants from the Greater Manchester region, the www.lancmag.com

Manchester in front of the expectant eyes of the world.

Local communities across the region will be involved in every aspect of putting the parade together, from behind the scenes tasks like puppet making and silk printing, to taking part in the event as a dancer, musician or flag bearer.

Support from Greater Manchester Arts will fund two ‘dance ambassadors’ from each Greater Manchester borough to travel to London to take part in the event.

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant will take place on Sunday 5 June 2022. It will feature participants from every corner of the Commonwealth and be televised around the world. Winding its way through the streets of Westminster and along the Mall, past Buckingham Palace, it will tell the story of HRH’s record 70-year-long reign, longer than any other British monarch.

The pageant will be one of the final events across a four day bank holiday weekend and will have three acts - ceremonial, celebration and finale. Global Grooves is one of 22 professional arts organisations participating in the celebration section, alongside emerging artists and key workers.

Leon Patel, CEO, Global Grooves, said: “Our parade piece celebrates

the deep cultural exchanges that take place when people travel and meet others who have vastly different experiences, ideas and ways of living and being.

“It also focuses on our talented, diverse communities in Greater Manchester, showing that when we are open to new friendships and cultural collaborations anything is possible.

“We are of course delighted to be able to share Global Grooves’ creative, celebratory and inclusive vision with audiences all over the world.”

Kirsty Connell, network coordinator, Greater Manchester Arts, said: “The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant offers a fantastic opportunity to showcase to the world some of the talent we have here in Greater Manchester.

“We’re really pleased to be able to support Global Grooves in ensuring that all of Greater Manchester is represented.”

Since 2003, Global Grooves has inspired people all over the globe to take part in carnival-style events, working across Greater Manchester as well as in Gambia, Brazil, New Zealand, Singapore, and Trinidad & Tobago. In 2021, Global Grooves launched the Northern Carnival Centre of Excellence within The Vale arts centre in Mossley.

parade will draw inspiration from across the Commonwealth, including the Caribbean, Africa and the Indian subcontinent. It will also feature readily recognisable music, fashion and dance influences from closer to home.

At the head of Global Grooves’ promenading entourage will be a glorious carnival queen in her own chariot, followed by giant walkabout puppets, a 100-strong young people’s carnival music group, 50 lavishly costumed dancers and a sea of giant flag bearers.

Though Global Grooves is based in Tameside, at Carnival arts centre The Vale, the organisation is briefed with representing the whole of Greater www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 99

using music to work with children in Sao Paulo’s poorest areas, the favelas.

Inspired by the group’s ethos, we founded sister project Meninos do Morumbi Oldham. We worked with young people and local communities in the aftermath of the Oldham riots, using music and dance to bring people together. Eraldo and Brazilian choreographer Adriana Rosso decided to come to Greater Manchester to work on our project. It was such a success, they stayed and we set up Global Grooves in order to continue the work with wider communities.

T

When we think of carnival, we think of Brazil. Where else in the world has a carnival tradition?

his June sees the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant in London and Global Grooves is the only northern arts organisation selected to create a section of the parade. The region’s premiere carnival arts crew, they have been tasked with showcasing Greater Manchester’s talent and diversity in front of a global audience of hundreds of millions. We caught up with them at their home The Vale, in Mossley, Tameside, to find out who they are and what they have planned.

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Who are Global Grooves?

We are Leon, Holly, Eraldo, Freya, Jane, Ciara, Sarah, Kate and Emily. We have worked with communities across the north - and all over the globe - since 2003 so they can experience the joy of making and taking part in carnival.

Global Grooves was founded by friends Holly Prest, Eraldo Marques, and Leon Patel. Leon and Holly met at a community music project in Mossley when they were 13-yearsold. They then encountered Eraldo when he visited with his youth group Meninos do Morumbi, celebrated for

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

Carnival is a global phenomenon and processional performances happen in almost every region of the world. Carnival influences come from Africa, the Caribbean, Asia, Amazonian tribes including the caboclos, riberenos, mestizos and campesinos as well as from European traditions.

Arguably Rio has the most famous carnival in the world. But every state in Brazil has its own varying carnival traditions, some actually even larger and more extravagant than those in www.lancmag.com

Rio. Rio’s carnival is for one weekend, whereas in the north east of Brazil, carnival lasts for a whole month!

Street parades are also a huge part of the Indian tradition. Some of the biggest processional events in the world happen there. They wouldn’t necessarily be called ‘carnival’ but the spirit is the same. In Gujarat, where some of our CEO Leon’s family is from, there are said to be more that 2,000 festivals a year, a large number of which have carnival elements.

The most famous carnivals in the Caribbean tradition are in Trinidad and Tobago, held the week before Lent, the Carnaval of Santiago de Cuba, which takes place every July and of course Notting Hill, which will be back on 28 August for the first time since 2019.

Tell us about some of your favourite performances?

The very best performances we do are those that really mean something to the communities who take part.

We think the Jubilee will be one of these. Greater Manchester will shine on those streets and give it all they have. The participants we have spoken to really want to show the world what Manchester is about in its widest sense. And this is a platform to do that.

We’re regulars at the Blue Dot Festival at Jodrell Bank, which is always lots of fun. Further afield, in 2018 we took 40 artists on a skills swap to the Gambia, working with local people on the Kartong Festival.

We’ve also worked with local communities towards performances all across the north of England, in Brazil, New Zealand, Singapore and Trinidad & Tobago.

What are you planning for the Pageant?

We are taking a colourful carnivalinfluenced spectacle called A Sharing of Gifts to London. It will involve over 200 participants from Greater Manchester, drawing inspiration from across the Commonwealth. It will also feature readily recognisable music, fashion and dance influences from closer to home.

At the head of our entourage will be a glorious carnival queen in her own www.lancmag.com

chariot, followed by giant walkabout puppets, a 100-strong young people’s carnival music group, 50 dancers and a sea of giant flag bearers.

Our partners Cabasa Carnival Arts will be working with local volunteers to hand print miles of beautiful silks to then turn into our costumes and to use in the creation of giant puppets.

Our parade piece celebrates the deep cultural exchanges that take place when people travel and meet others who have vastly different experiences, ideas and ways of living and being.

It also focuses on our talented, diverse communities, showing that when we are open to new friendships anything is possible. And that Mancunians know how to throw a party!

How does the Pageant fit in with the other Jubilee bank holiday weekend activities?

The Pageant is part of four days of celebrations over an extended bank holiday weekend, from 2-5 June. On the Saturday there’s a live concert featuring some massive names from Buckingham Palace. The Big Jubilee lunch encourages communities to organise their own street parties, picnics, afternoon teas and barbeques.

On Sunday 5 June, dancers, musicians and other performers will join military personnel and key workers to tell the story of The Queen’s record-breaking reign in the Platinum Jubilee Pageant.

Televised around the world, to audiences running into hundreds of

millions, it will wind its way through the streets of Westminster and along the Mall. We will be there in force to show the world what Greater Manchester has to offer.

Why is carnival so special?

Carnival is not just about the incredible spectacle that appears on the road. In fact that’s just a tiny moment that comes after months of preparation and thousands of hours of time from the individuals that are involved in creating it.

It’s the process of creating carnival that nurtures that magic. Each and every person is involved for different reasons. Perhaps it’s to feed their artistic and creative thirst and display their art with the world. Or it could be to build confidence and meet new friends. They may have a political and social message they want to share with society. Or maybe they want to contribute to a community celebration and help others smile, be happy and be healthy.

Carnival is a great leveller. In our carnivals you have bankers next to key workers next to children next to artists next to elders next to activists.

It’s a place where everyone can come together and create a new, safe and progressive community that becomes an unlikely family. It’s a place for all: for the disenfranchised, for the misfits, for the stars, the experts, the children and the grandparents.

But to really ask why carnival is special we have to ask those that contribute to it. For this parade you would have over 200 stories to share all with a different angle.

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I’m Sara, The Lytham Gin Lady! I escaped from teaching Chemistry and have spent the last four years making gin and my passion is now sharing easy to make cocktails using some of my award winning spirits.

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ere are two absolute beauties. The first is a classic Martini using my punchy Navigator’s Gin. I like it with the savoury flavours of olives and a splash of brine to make it ‘dirty’, but it is just as delicious with a twist of lemon.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

The second is The Lytham Lady. Developed by the very talented Johnny Stuchberry at Northcote, it’s a frothy, flavoursome cocktail that never fails to impress.

Made with our Bee’s Knees gin to add a little bit of lancashire honey to every drop.

www.lancmag.com

• 50ml Navigator Gin • 15ml Dry Vermouth • 2 Olives

Dirty Martini Pour gin and vermouth into a cocktail shaker, add ice and shake.

• Teaspoon Of Brine From Olive Jar

Strain into a martini glass, add a teaspoon of brine and two olives.

• ice

If you don’t like it dirty, omit the brine and garnish with a twist of lemon peel instead.

www.lancmag.com

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• 45ml Bee’s Knees • 20ml Cointreau • 20ml Lemon Juice

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The Lytham Lady

• 20ml Sugar Syrup

Place ingredients into a cocktail shaker without ice and shake.

• 1 Egg White

Add ice and shake hard for 10 seconds.

• ice

Strain through a fine sieve into a coupe or martini glass and garnish.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

LYTHAM GIN Inspired by Lancashire’s coastline.

Distilled with love in the Ancient Parish of Lytham.

Find out more at: www.sandgrownspirits.co.uk and get 10% OFF all purchases in our online store using the coupon code LANCASHIRE2022 at checkout

Manchester has had the Most Businesses Created in the Past Two Years Than Any Other City After such many challenging years for businesses across the UK, Instant Offices has analysed Companies House data to work out which UK cities are fighting back with the strongest entrepreneurial spirit?

I

nstant Offices analysed the population to startup ratio across the country’s top cities to discover which locations saw the highest concentration of entrepreneurs in the last 12 months. The data revealed the top locations for entrepreneurs launching new ventures.

Type of Company

Manchester came out on top as the UK’s most entrepreneurial city, with a 23% increase in the number of businesses registered in 2021. This means one company was registered per every 31 people living in the city.

Ecommerce and real estate businesses have seen the biggest boom in Manchester

Number Registered

Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet

972

Buying and selling of own real estate

678

Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate

416

Other retail sale not in stores, stalls or markets

404

Take

385

Other business support service activities n.e.c.

338

Other service activities n.e.c.

336

Management consultancy activities other than financial management

285

Freight transport by road

269

Development of building projects

221

Full list of other cities are dominating their entrepreneurial growth: City

%Growth(YoY)

Population

Companies started in 2020

Companies started in 2021

554400

14083

17442

But what types of businesses are thriving in Manchester and how many have been started in the past year?

Well, it looks like Ecommerce and Real Estate have taken the top spot.

Manchester

23.9

Preston

24.6

99198

2316

2889

Doncaster

26.9

114900

2416

3067

Bedford

1.9

92405

2172

2214

Stockport

12.3

110000

2080

2336

The widespread switch to remote working and online shopping fuelled a digital transformation in the UK. This has also given aspiring entrepreneurs the final push needed to start their own businesses from home.

Oldham

3.3

105402

2114

2184

Salford

20.4

116361

1928

2321

Milton Keynes

14.8

184105

3021

3469

Bolton

21.6

202369

3090

3756

St Albans

28.1

86961

1311

1597

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LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

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 diets, 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 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 HEALTH BENEFITS OF EATING FAT Worried that eating fat causes weight gain?

This article is for you

Catherine Dean is a Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach supporting women feel better, have more energy and ditch diets.

Her approach to health and wellbeing isn’t about quick fixes or fad diets. It’s about helping you to create healthy habits that fit around your busy life, make a real difference and, most importantly, last in the long term.

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Do you check food labels? What do you look out for? A client just told me she always chooses the lowest fat option and I immediately had a flashback to my dieting days where I would do exactly the same.

Back then, you would find me in the supermarket aisles, scrutinising all the nutrition labels, making sure there was absolutely nothing high in fat in my trolley. I mistakenly thought that fat was not only unhealthy but would cause me to put on weight. Fast forward a few years and thankfully my approach to fat has completely changed. Now? I include healthy fats in my diet most days. In this month’s article I’ll be sharing with you why I’ve had a complete turnaround, what we mean by healthy fats and their health benefits.

When it comes to fat, it’s the type of fat we eat that matters and it matters a lot. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega 3 and omega 6 fats) are known as essential fats; our bodies can’t produce them, so it’s essential that we get them in our diet. Omega 3 and 6 fats produce hormone like substances known as eicosanoids

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which carry out functions, such as supporting brain function, cell growth, regulating inflammation and supporting our sleep cycle. Omega 3 fats are also thought to promote hearth health.

Monounsaturated fats, which are found in foods such as avocado and olive oil, also have numerous health benefits and have been shown to support weight loss, decrease insulin resistance and reduce inflammation.

When we add these healthy fats to our meals or snacks it helps us to feel more satisfied after eating, feel fuller for longer and can help to balance our blood sugar. Balancing our blood sugar is important when are trying to manage our weight and impacts on our long-term health.

Foods such as nuts, seeds and avocado are also good sources of fibre which further increases feelings of fullness, regulates blood sugar and supports gut health. Eating foods that contain healthy fats can also support hormone health, which is especially important for us women. www.lancmag.com

Not all dietary fats have health benefits, however. The trans fats that we often find in highly processed foods can increase the risk of heart disease and increase insulin resistance, which can lead to type2 diabetes (look out for the words partially hydrogenated on packaging).

Similarly, some saturated fats can be harmful if we combine them with a high-sugar diet and sedentary lifestyle.

WHAT ABOUT CALORIES? Fat contains 9 calories per gram compared to 4 calories per gram of protein or carbohydrates, so you get more calories from high fat foods than foods high in carbs or protein. Purely looking at the calorie content of food doesn’t tell the whole story though.

Some foods that are in high fat, such as nuts, seeds and avocado, are also good sources of fibre which increases feelings of fullness, regulates blood sugar and supports gut health. Don’t be scared of adding healthy fats into your diet, even if weight loss is your goal. www.lancmag.com

If you’re looking to including more healthy fats in your diet, these delicious, nutrient dense foods would be a great place to start:

• CHIA SEEDS contain omega 3 fats, fibre and magnesium, essential in several different stages of metabolism.

• AVOCADO is a great source of fibre and the monounsaturated fat, oleic acid, which has been shown to reduce inflammation.

Healthy fats can support brain health, help to promote hormone health and help our body to absorb the fat-soluble vitamins, A, D, E and K, which have a whole host of health benefits. If these foods aren’t already part of your diet, make it a priority to start adding them in. Don’t be scared to add these foods into your diet simply because they may be more calorie dense than food high in carbs and protein. The calorie content of food only tells a small part of the story.

• SALMON is rich in omega 3 fats and an excellent source of B vitamins, many of which are essential in the process of metabolism. If we’re not getting enough of these nutrients in our diets, it means our metabolism isn’t able to work efficiently and can contribute to weight gain.

• EGGS are incredibly nutritious and a fantastic source of protein. Buy pasture-fed, free range eggs for a high amount of omega 3. Eggs also provide us with B12, essential for fat and carbohydrate metabolism.

• WALNUTS are a fantastic source of omega 3 and omega 6 fats, particularly if you don’t eat oily fish, as well as B6 which is essential in protein metabolism.

If you’re ready to ditch diets, feel less stressed and have more energy a Nutrition & Coach could be exactly what you’re looking for. To find out how fully personalised nutrition coaching could help you to achieve your health and weight loss goals, head to: www.catherinedeancoaching.co.uk or email me: info@catherinedeancoaching.co.uk

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Balance Counselling and Coaching Ltd

PUT YOUR LIFE IN BALANCE

By Kathryn Taylor

TAKING THE FIRST STEP?

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have learnt over many years that it is our fear of the unknown or the fear of not being able to cope that is the cause of our anxiety. We cannot be anxious about things that are in the past, only about what is yet to come.

Many times in my life I have wasted time and missed opportunities focusing on what could be or what might be rather than taking action and doing something.

It may have been fear of failure in terms of putting myself forward for career progression, fear of rejection in terms of relationships or… fear of not being liked that made me anxious and held me back.

Anxiety can hold us back What I have come to realise is that it is the anxiety that holds us back and keeps us stuck in the situation.

It was like that for me whenever I thought about doing something I hadn’t done before that put me in a position where I felt people could/would judge me and even though over the years I have faced up to and dealt with many challenging moments in my life, I still get those feelings when it comes to doing something inventive or new.

Most recently for me, this has shown up when I started to write my blogs and that is when the anxious feelings came straight back in.

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‘Why would anyone want to read what I had to say?’

‘Would people think I was stupid?’

‘No one will be interested in what I have to say.’

‘If people don’t like what I have to say, it will negatively impact my business’ ‘Why should anyone trust what I have to say about it’ ‘Other people know more than me and are better at this, so whatever I do won’t be any good’ ‘It’s too big a challenge, I will never be able to do that’ I could go on - thoughts like these can just keep building and circulating in your mind and all they serve to do is keep you stuck in a place where the anxiety builds, and you feel as if you’re immobilised and stuck.

What I do now when the feelings of anxiety hit I listen to myself and ask myself the question ‘so what?’

‘So what’ if that happens? What am I afraid of? What would I do then? Have I faced this in the past? Did I get through it? (the answer is yes, because you’re here now.)

What did I do then? What have I faced that is similar?

What can I do now? What one thing would make me feel better right now? What else would make this better?

And keep repeating the process and questions until I have a response and action to every possibility.

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This takes the anxiety out of the situation because now I have a plan, I have a response.

I know what I can do in each situation. I know it’s not the unknown anymore which automatically reduces the tension around it.

Doing the above allowed me to stop procrastinating and get to a point where I could actually sit down and start to think about the process of writing the blog, something previously I had found every reason ‘under the sun’ not to start – including ironing, which I hate… however, I did need to also break it down into smaller steps, so as not to allow the anxiety back in and my feelings to spiral. So I processed it in bitesize sections.

What was my plan for writing a blog?

I took it one step at a time. I put a plan together and broke it down into realistic portions.

I chose a topic.

Yes, I hadn’t published it yet and that had its own challenges, but I had achieved it which made me feel good about myself and as always happens in these situations, I wondered why I had put it off for so long and allowed myself to get so worked up about it.

Posting it was my next challenge and having sent it to someone I trusted to read and let me have their feedback, I reminded myself of all the reasons I wanted to do this and how I would deal with anything that came back from it and pushed the button and posted it.

The response was completely the opposite of everything I had worried about, people thanked me for sharing my personal experience, they thanked me for sharing the tips on how to deal with difficult situations and focus on the issue, how to focus on facts and not emotions. They told me they couldn’t wait to read the next blog. They even asked where they could find my earlier blogs as they didn’t realise it was the first one I had done.

I set a deadline to complete it by.

The blog I’m talking about is titled ‘What I learned from my son’ www.balancecounsellingandcoaching.co.uk/ post/what-have-i-learned-from-my-son

I set a target of one paragraph a day for a week.

What are the things you feel anxious about today?

I set a date to post it by.

What one thing could you do now that would make a difference to you and when are you going to do it?

I told someone I was going to do it.

What happened next?

I chose my topic and started writing the first paragraph.

If you like the inspirational quotes included, they are from my ‘Moments of Inspiration’ card deck available from my website.

An hour later, I stopped and realised I had the first rough copy of my very own blog. Yes, it needed tweaking and tidying up before I felt it would be ready for sharing fully.

But the thing I had put off for months and worried about doing and completing, that I had used every excuse I could think of not to do when it came to it had actually been quite simple.

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

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Women Lead The Way at The Dukes Our Voice GRT Event

Karen O’Neill

Celebrating the creative, passionate, amazing women of the creative arts sector.

Lou Sanders

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he Dukes’ very own director Karen O’Neill spoke recently with Creative Lancashire on the strides the creative sector in the North has taken and the work that is still to be done.

“I think women in the North are made of good stuff and our creative sector does offer opportunities for women to engage and develop creative careers.

I think the northern cultural sector is working hard to recognise the achievements of women and there are many female arts leaders in the north. However, there is still more to be done – there are still issues with regards to pay gaps and the work of women being sidelined which needs to be addressed across the industry.”

Karen spoke about her own experiences within the arts sector and how she is implementing change within her organisation.

“The creative industries are uniquely placed to be a powerhouse for change in creating a more inclusive world. As a theatre director, my role is to open space up to a range of voices and experiences and encourage audiences to come and listen, learn, absorb, and reflect on the lives and encounters from all parts of our community. Theatre is an incredibly powerful tool to bring people together and challenge opinions in a safe and supportive way. Through creativity, we can express who we are to the world. The other side of my role is to create opportunities for others to develop either through training 112

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and skills, mentoring or leadership within the sector. As a woman from a working-class background who had an untraditional journey to where I am now, I can share that story and encourage others to take untraditional journeys too.”

The Dukes strives to present more diverse and inclusive theatre and film and are constantly finding ways to connect with audiences and communities to share stories.

Their spring season has seen artists from all communities represented on stage with a large proportion of those stories being female-focused -

with audiences showing their support with sell-out shows of Black Is The Colour Of My Voice and Josephine.

There is a real sense from The Dukes of incredible pride to be able to bring wonderful female-focused stories such as Josephine, Black Is The Colour Of My Voice, Kin, Bloody Chamber and Beryl to their audiences, whilst supporting the artists of the future.

KIN is a continuation of The Dukes ambition of ensuring incredibly talented women are held-high & given the opportunity to shine as this all-female production (both cast and creative team) shows.

M The Dukes, Moor Lane, Lancaster LA1 1QE D Website: www.dukeslancaster.org E Booking Enquiries: tickets@dukeslancaster.org E General Enquiries: ask@dukeslancaster.org N Box Office: 01524 598500 OPENING TIMES: Sunday: Closed | Monday - Saturday: 10:30am – 4pm

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BERYL BURTON: Quite Possibly The Most Successful Woman You’ve Never Heard Of In 1957, Beryl took her first national medal, a silver in the national 100-mile individual time trial championship, and before the decade was out Beryl was competing internationally.

Burton won the women’s world road race championship in 1960 and 1967 and was runner-up in 1961. On the track, she specialised in the individual pursuit, winning world championship medals almost every year across three decades. She was world champion five times (1959, 1960, 1962, 1963 and 1966), silver-medallist three times (1961, 1964 and 1968), and winner of bronze in 1967, 1970, 1971 and 1973.

When actress Maxine Peake was given cyclist Beryl Burton’s autobiography as a gift she questioned why no one had ever written a play about Britain’s unsung sporting legend, and so she wrote it herself.

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he result is an inspirational tour de force fuelled by rhubarb, northern charm and fierce determination.

But just who is Beryl Burton?

As a child, doctors told Beryl that she could never take part in strenuous activities due to a heart condition. When she met future husband Charlie, and he introduced her to the local cycling club, her life changed forever.

Charlie described her development as a cyclist as follows: “First of all, she was handy but wasn’t that competent: we used to have to push her round a bit. Slowly she got better.

By the second year, she was ‘one of the lads’ and could ride with us. By the third year, she was going out in front and leading them all. By then it was 1956 and she decided to do a bit of time trialling because I was dabbling at it.”

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In 1967, Beryl set a new 12-hour time trial record of 277.25 miles– a mark that surpassed the men’s record of the time by 0.73 miles and was not superseded by a man until 1969. While setting the record, she caught and passed Mike McNamara who was on his way to setting the men’s record at 276.52 miles and winning that year’s men’s British Best All-Rounder.

She is reputed to have given him a Liquorice Allsort as she passed him.

Proving that she can do anything she put her mind to, Beryl went on to become the greatest woman on two wheels, dominating the sport in the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s: five times world-pursuit champion, thirteen times national champion, twice road-racing world champion, twelve times national champion, British record-holder, world-record holder, MBE, OBE. “If Beryl Burton were French, Joan of Arc would have to take second place as the nation’s most revered female icon” H H H H H – The Guardian Sometimes it’s the stories that are true that are the most unbelievable.

Beryl by Maxine Peake will be show at The Dukes, Lancaster from Tuesday 7th to Saturday 11th June.

Tickets can be purchased online D dukeslancaster.org or by contacting the Box Office N 01524 598500 or E tickets@dukeslancaster.org

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The Dukes Award-Winning Outdoor Theatre Returns With The Jungle Book Previous Park Show

Previous Park Show

The Dukes award-winning outdoor walkabout theatre season returns to Lancaster’s Williamson Park this Summer.

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ollowing on from last-years sold out performances of Grimm Tales, The Dukes will delight audiences once again when it presents The Jungle Book from July 22nd - August 28th.

Step into the jungle of Lancaster’s Williamson Park as this adventurous story is told by our heroic wolves, cheeky monkeys and jungle creatures as our audience are led through all the twists and turns of this famous story adapted

by Andrew Pollard.

With the enchanting park as their backdrop, this epic setting for the story of Mowgli, Baloo and the infamous villains Shere Kahn & Kaa is told as the audience follow the drama by moving from one wonderful location to another.

Previous Park Show: The Three Musketeers

Previous Park Show: Grimm Tales

Full of catchy songs, wondrous characters and clever costumes, this laugh out loud adventure will sprinkle magic on your summer.

The Jungle Book is directed by Sarah Punshon who also directed The Dukes outdoor production of Grimm Tales in 2021 Is sponsored by Lancaster BID who are supporting with Jungle Book themed arts workshops at 10 Lancaster & Morecambe schools, as part of a city centre Jungle takeover of shops & local businesses.

The Dukes has been entertaining generations of families with their summer promenade shows since 1987, attracting a total of more than a half a million people. In 2016, its outdoor version of The Hobbit won the UK Theatre Award for Best Show for Children and Young People.

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The Jungle Book runs on Tuesdays-Sundays from July 22-August 28 at 7.15pm. Tickets must be booked in advance. Group bookings negotiable.

Please contact The Dukes Box Office on N 01524 598500 or E tickets@dukeslancaster.org

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

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

Please ring us on 01253 206447/8 for further information.

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

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n recent months the charity has brought families back together with family events at Bounce Soft Play, the Odeon Cinema and the Ice Arena, as well as parties for Christmas and Halloween. These events are always incredibly popular with many selling out in a matter of hours – showing the need for such events is high.

For many families with children with extra needs, getting out and about can be a challenge, logistically and emotionally. Whether it is because they struggle to manage their child’s equipment or feel people are judging their child’s need-based behaviour as “naughty”, many families don’t feel able to go out alone. This can mean siblings miss out on social interaction and experiences too. At the Aiming Higher events families have the reassurance of the Aiming Higher team being there, and that the other families have had similar experiences.

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The charity recently requested feedback on these events from parents and were delighted with the response from parents and carers. A staggering 82% reported that the events made them feel less isolated, 75% said they had met and chatted with new people in similar situations to their own and 70% reported they met up with old friends that they had met through Aiming Higher. Several parents and carers added comments to the form with answers like these: “The event exceeded all my expectations and both the children and the adults loved it.”

“The whole team at Aiming Higher are fantastic. They make the groups so warm and welcoming – you’re absolutely amazing!!!”

“Thank you so much for all you do for our families.

We are blessed to have your support.”

If you would like more information regarding any of the sessions or activities offered by Aiming Higher or would like to join our email mailing list please give us a call on 01253-206447 or email info@ aiminghighercharity.org.uk You can also view our new newsletter by visiting https://bit.ly/Aiminghighernewswinter2022

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PHOTOS BELOW FROM THE RECENT EVENT AT BOUNCE 

Like all charities, Aiming Higher saw fund-raising activity decrease in 2020 and 2021, so if you can support them in any way possible, any assistance will be gratefully received.

Please send your ideas to: heatherholt@aiminghighercharity.org.uk www.lancmag.com

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Burnley

By Megha Seth

Burnley is a proud town of many things of its own with two of the most prominent ones being their famous football club Burnley F.C. and the other one being its breath-takingly beautiful Pennine countryside.

In fact, most of the parks of Burnley have been awarded Green Flags for their evidently high standards offering vast stretches of greens for various outdoor sports.

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urnley is a thriving market town with 80% of it being rural and the rest is surrounded by the stunning countryside. It has been named one of the friendliest towns in England and has also once been awarded as the “most enterprising area in the UK” with its largest production of cotton cloth in the world alongside being a major aerospace manufacturing and engineering centre.

As dreamy as it sounds with all the greenery around, Burnley provides for an excellent quality of life making it an even more fantastic place to visit. If you are the adventurous type and keen on any land or water sport such as windsurfing, hiking, kayaking, cycling, sailing, golf or horse riding, you don’t have to look any further as you can do it all right in Burnley. www.lancmag.com

Photo: The Singing Ringing Tree Credit: Pete Stuart / Shutterstock.com

HISTORY OF THE TOWN Similar to the other towns of Lancashire, Burnley grew rapidly from the end of the 18th century. With its cotton textile industry, it gained eminent recognition and popularity in the early 19th century by being the largest producer of cotton cloth in the world. The development was fuelled by the construction of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the presence of coal reserves.

Located 34 kilometres north of Greater Manchester and 32 kilometres east of Preston, Burnley is situated at the junction, where the two rivers Burn and Calder meet.

Apart from being a town and borough in Lancashire, it’s also an administrative and historic county of England.

The town had managed to create strong economic links www.lancmag.com

with neighbouring cities of Greater Manchester and Preston, allowing for the first direct rail line between Burnley’s Manchester Road station and Manchester’s Victoria station.

BURNLEY F.C. Besides the thriving economical contributions, Burnley’s contribution to the football league is also remarkable, being one of the twelve founding members of The English Football League. Burnley F.C. was one of the first to become a professional football club in 1883 and later played a huge role in putting pressure on the Football Association to permit payment to players for matches. Not only that, they also have major contributions in bringing back the English League club not once but twice, which without a doubt makes it the pride of the town.

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PLACES OF INTEREST With the beauty that Burnley is, there’s so much to see and do there.

Here’s a list of places you can’t afford to miss: The Singing Ringing Tree The Singing Ringing tree that sits on a higher plane overlooking the town on Crown Point, is a unique masterpiece of a sculpture, made from pipes of steel stacked in layers taking the shape of a tree. It harnesses wind energy to create a low and melodious sound, winning it the National Award for architectural excellence by the Royal Institute of British Architects In 2007.

Designed by Tonkin Liu, this masterpiece of architecture along with its stunning view, makes it a lovely place to take walks around and enjoy the natural music that it offers.

Towneley Hall The Towneley Hall located in the Towneley Park is a truly historic building built in the late 12th century.

It was originally home to the catholic

Towneley Family which is now open to the public for visits and often booked as a wedding venue for its beautiful interior and exterior.

Apart from that, the building also holds fine collections of 19th-century artwork, regional furniture collection exhibitions, events, and programs throughout the year.

With lots of “hidden” rooms and mysteries to explore and unravel in this place, Towneley Hall makes for a place of must-visit in Burnley. It is free for students and children under 12.

Thompson Park Thompson Park is known to be the best park in East Lancashire, with a really big play area for children having both water and sand areas. It has a lake large enough for boating and kayaking along with an Italian garden and also a rose garden. You can also find a pavilion cafe inside the park and a cute miniature railway that takes you halfway around the park.

With its scenic view and variety of wildlife, it makes it a beautiful place to unwind and relax from the daily

rush of activities. The sunset in the park is one of a kind and really cannot be missed.

Burnley Town Centre Burnley’s town centre is a great place to shop with big branches of wellknown chain stores, nightlife, cafés along with small independent shops in the Burnley Market.

SHOPPING IN BURNLEY The Charter Walk Shopping Centre that is located in the heart of Burnley, has over 80 brands under its roof, while the other part of the town centre is packed with unique independent stores and businesses.

Whether you’re looking for fashion outfits or technology or just window shopping, Burnley Town centre has it all.

Enjoying the Town Centre When it comes to exploring the local culture in Burnley, the Town Centre is the place to dig. With its historic Burnley Mechanics Theatre that was opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth itself in 1987, it presents

Towneley Hall

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the best entertainment, special events, and community activities in town. There is usually always a full program of shows throughout the year including comedy, music, theatre, musicals and dance showcasing the local talents of the town.

FOOD IN BURNLEY Not just scenic views and architectural beauty, Burnley offers great food, as well.

Here the must-try places in Burnley: The Cafe The Cafe at Shares Hey Farm is a charity run Cafe by HAPPA (Horses and Ponies Protection Association) with a combination of a stunning country setting with beautiful horses and ponies to love and appreciate.

The second floor of the cafe provides you with a beautiful view of the farm and running horses. They have outdoor seating arrangements for people to enjoy their food while soaking in the fresh air.

The cafe is top notch in serving local food and is one of the busiest in town

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so it requires prior booking for a seat.

With two large breakfast platters they also serve an extensive variety of brunch and lunch items for different kinds of pallets. The most ordered item on the menu is their Homemade Cheese and Onion Pie. Bistro 197 Bistro 197 is arguably the best restaurant and bar that you can find in Burnley. Loved by both the natives and visitors, they are famously known for serving breakfast and lunch.

Although they need not do much for the returning customers, Bistro 197 are always launching new menus for every season and occasion along with their constant “Classic Menu”.

For a full three course meal it would cost less than £19 per person, while a full English breakfast would only cost about £8, making it one of the best in town, without making any compromises in quality, quantity, and affordability. They also have outdoor seating arrangements along with an extensive bar accompanied by a light snacks menu. The must try items are: The Quiche, All English Breakfast,

and Sea Bass. Vegetarian and vegan options are available here too.

Aroma Asian Restaurant Aroma is a family run business known for its authentic Asian cuisines, friendly staff, cosy atmosphere and contemporary surroundings. They pride themselves on high standards and aim to be the finest example of Asian cuisine in the North West region of England.

With an extensive menu of Eastern Spices, they have earned the name of “The best curry in Lancashire” along with winning the country’s highest health award, the “Recipe 4 Health Certificate” and numerous awards over the course of 40 years.

The most ordered items off the menu are Shashlik Nawabi Lamb and Tikka Balti served alongside Butter Naan Bread.

All in all, Burnley is a place that offers almost everything you can expect in a popular town and more. With regular cultural events and lots of live music events across the town, there’s always something to see or do in Burnley.

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Frequency - Frequencies - Music - UFO’s The music is not in the notes but in the silence between them ~ Mozart

Physics definition:- the number of times that a wave is produced within a particular period, esp. within one second.

By Jason Gleaves, international author of ‘UFO PHOTO’ and ‘The Ufology Umbrella’ plus Ufonly on Facebook, Twitter and Onstellar. New Documentary ‘Multidimensional’ available on Amazon Prime, iTunes, Apple tv, Google Play, Microsoft Store.

So we are talking about the fascinating link between musicians and Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO’s) seen worldwide plus speed and time in relation.

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any famous Musicians and not so famous who have claimed to have seen UFO’s and other strange unexplained ariel phenomena all appear to have one main important thing in common, an accelerated or heightened ability to obtain or decipher frequencies which appears to make them susceptible to have ‘frequency’ experiences leading to sightings of craft and alike, it’s basically similar to tuning into their favourite Radio station eliminating all other frequencies (radio stations) and seeing the UFO’s in its true form and possibly dimensional original form or state.

This phenomenon is not exclusive to only famous musically talented people but all musicians gifted to read and understand music and especially the complicated multilayered frequencies in which all types of music has with it’s various pitches and tones.

It’s also remarkably similar to the animal kingdom in which animals can hear certain frequencies out of the normal human hearing ranges 122

and frequencies. Musicians etc are perfectly synced like animals in receiving the various acoustic variations and because of this would be more likely to have an unidentified flying object (UFO) sighting or experience.

An increasing number of people are reporting hearing a ringing tone in their ears often reported and linked to UFO sightings and phenomena alike, some say just their left ear appears to ring and others say the right ear and of course some say both ears at once (but this isn’t as common). This can be caused by a natural medical condition called Tinnitus where the affected person has similar irritating symptoms. Another cause to the ringing condition could be the excessive use of heavy noisy machinery or high impact/pitched pneumatic equipment over a long period of time without the use of ear defenders for protection, and could cause permanent damage but this is not always the case.

Also relating to Unidentified Flying Phenomena (UFP’s) are the growing number of craft and anomalies which have been captured on video footage and digital media of various craft appearing to morph shape, this strange visual phenomena when witnessed can leave the experiencer bewildered and possibly confused as to what they are looking at...?

Observing it’s strange and peculiar actions raising the question that it’s

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not from this world, as this kind of craft has been described by many researchers in ufology as interdimensional or multi-dimensional in nature and use this unknown concept of ‘frequencies’ - Hertz to change shape as it moves in and out of dimensions giving the illusion of Morphing and distorting in its general appearance.

If you research and look for yourself on youtube etc you can find videos of this ‘frequency phenomenon’ which have been scientifically setup using mercury and placed on a music sound speaker and preset frequencies introduced in a controlled environmental manner, which vibrates the mercury from 120Hz down to a controlled 10Hz. As the frequencies change you can visibly see the mercury change shape depending on the various tones and pitches applied.

During this controlled experiment the high density and overall surface tension causes the mercury to resonate at different frequencies in different precise ways, the higher the frequency the more ‘nodes’ it will form on its edge causing the constant visible change in appearance. (similar to the UFO’s seen and acting in this exact same fascinating manner).

Scientists need to pursue and research this unknown phenomena in more depth to understand the potential physics involved. www.lancmag.com

Mercury when it is at its closest point to the Sun, the Sun would appear more than three times as large as it does when viewed from Earth.

This is why I believe, Frequency Frequencies - Music - UFO’s, are all connected with each other and maybe everything in our cosmos.

Later that year, DeLonge announced a crowd funding campaign for his organization, To The Stars Academy Of Arts & Sciences, in order to launch a spacecraft and possibly contact extraterrestrial life.

There’s no better way to clear a party than by telling people that you’ve witnessed a UFO or strange unexplained phenomenon in the skies. That’s why musicians who have seen and experienced UFO’s especially famous musicians are brave to come forward and step up to the plate to tell all about their amazing experiences.

During 2013, singer-songwriter Ryan Adams was driving through Glendale, CA one night when a huge object that was being chased by helicopters flew over his head. Unfortunately, Adams didn’t snap a picture, but as he said, “Enough people are dead from texting and driving.”

Here are just a few famous musicians who have come forward to tell of their quite often life changing experience.

Monaural - Pure - Frequency of Mercury - 141.27 Hz. In 1978 Hans Cousto, a Swiss mathematician and musicologist discovered the natural law of the ‘COSMIC OCTAVE’ as the important link between many different kinds of periodically occurring natural phenomena, such as the orbits of the planets, the weather, colours, and especially rhythms and tones.

Using the scientific formula of the Cosmic Octave f . 2n (= multiple doubling of a certain frequency) Hans Cousto firstly transposed astronomical periods into distinguishable audible frequencies.

Mercury is the planet next to our Sun, its rotation around the Sun lasts approximately 88 days. Its tone oscillates in the 30th octave with 141.27 Hz. tone is a C#.

The corresponding colour is a blue with a wavelength of about 480 nanometers. Mercury, which is, according to astrological and hermetic tradition, the morning star of Gemini and the evening star of Virgo, which stand for communication and cleverness.

Effect: supports the speech centre and the communicative intellectual principle. Mercury’s eccentric orbit takes the small planet as close as 47 million km (29 million miles) and as far as 70 million km (43 million miles) from the Sun. If one could stand on the scorching surface of www.lancmag.com

Nick Jonas Nick Jonas claims that he witnessed a UFO during 2007 while he was hanging out with a close friend in his backyard in Los Angeles, U.S. He told the hosts of British U.K. ITV’s This Morning show, “I looked up in the sky and there was three Unidentified flying saucers. I looked at my friend and said ‘Are you seeing this or am I losing my mind?’ He was seeing the identical same thing.”

Tom Delonge The ex Blink 182 guitarist might be the most vocal proponent of that UFO-Lifestyle.

One of Delonge’s most famous UFO sightings happened during 2015 when he was camping out under the stars near the famous UFO Hotspot Area 51 (Groom lake) and witnessed a close encounter. “My whole body felt like it had static electricity running through it, and I open my eyes and the fire is still going, and there’s a conversation going on outside the tent. It sounded like there were about 20 people there, talking, and instantly my mind goes, OK, they’re at our campsite, they’re not here to hurt us, they’re talking about sh*t, but I can’t make out what they’re saying. But they’re working on something.”

In 2017 he was awarded the UFO Researcher of the year by Open Minds Production.

Ryan Adams

Kacey Musgraves The country singer from Golden, Texas may have placed seventh on Nashville Star, but she’s the numberone country star when it comes to seeing UFO’s. Her first experience with extraterrestrial craft occurred after a friend’s wedding ceremony in Mexico. “I was with several other people. I was on the beach after my friend’s wedding, after midnight, and it was the craziest movement of light in the sky. All of us watched it for like 20 minutes. It changed shape, it flew across the sky. It did wacky sh*t that nothing normal would do. I was completely sober, swear to God!” According to Musgraves, the UFO sightings continued in Nashville, and later in Los Angeles.

Lemmy Kilmister Leave it to Lemmy to make a visit from extraterrestrials seem like small potatoes. At Rock in Rio in 2011, Lemmy saw a ship flying over a mountain and he was pretty chill about the whole thing. “Came over the horizon at a thousand miles an hour and stopped dead. I know they’re out there. I don’t have a problem with it.” It sounds like the aliens just wanted to hear “Damage Case.”

Elvis Presley According to Elvis’s biographers, and even The King himself, Elvis had many encounters with aliens. In fact, the first UFO he ever encountered visited him on the day of his birth in 1935. Or so says Larry Geller, hairstylist and friend to Presley. “His father told us he’d gone out to have a cigarette at 2am during the delivery

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and when he looked up into the skies above their little shack, he saw the strangest blue light. He knew right then and there that something special was happening.” But that wouldn’t be the last time Presley was surrounded

by ET’s. Once when he and Geller were driving through the desert the duo saw some unusual lights. “They were moving far too quickly to be airplanes, so we just chalked it up to UFO’s.”

Arizona on again and the ball turned back up. It happened four times.” It’s not that it’s impossible that Robbie Williams saw a UFO, it’s just that no one (especially not an otherworldly being capable of intergalactic travel) would want to hang out with Robbie Williams while he listened to his own music.

Or just in general.

Sammy Hagar

Shaun Ryder of the Happy Mondays first saw a UFO in the late 1970’ when he was 15 years old. He was up early for a messenger job and he got buzzed by the alien equivalent to Top Gun’s Maverick.

“At first it was still, and then it went, ‘Voooooooom!’ And then again: ‘Voooooooom!’ Classic zig-zag, hovered, then went off at 10,000 miles an hour. Like Star Trek. Boom.

Gone. Yeah!” That first sighting twisted his melon enough to send Ryder on a lifelong search for the unknown.

Ace Frehley

Russell Crowe

Tila Tequila

While Russell Crowe was on a break from his internationally famous pub rock group 30 Odd Foot of Grunts (and also being a super famous movie star) in 2013, he set up some cameras to take time lapse photos of fruit bats outside his home in Australia. What he found when he reviewed the footage was nothing less than 100 percent proof of extraterrestrial life.

It’s hard to know if Tila Tequila really believes any of the nonsense that she spouts on social media all day long, but if she’s not trolling, it’s possible that she knows something we don’t. In 2010, Tequila made a Facebook post about being visited by “3 DARK MAN-MADE GREYS” who were trying to scare her into something. If you’re super confused, the Greys are essentially the aliens that landed at Roswell, and while they do technically have clones, we don’t know what all this “manmade” nonsense is about. Maybe it’s best that we don’t know.

Sammy Hagar might not be the best Van Halen frontman, but he’s the only one that had his consciousness downloaded by extraterrestrials. In his 2011 autobiography, Red: My Uncensored Life in Rock, Hagar got into it about his alien encounter in the ‘70s. “It was real. [Aliens] were plugged into me. It was a download situation. This was long before computers or any kind of wireless technology. There weren’t even wireless telephones at the time.

Looking back now, it was like, ‘F*ck, they downloaded something into me!’” He also mentions seeing a “car with no wheels,” which is less cool than having your consciousness downloaded.

Lupe Fiasco When rapper Lupe Fiasco was living in Chicago in the early 1990’s, he allegedly saw something out of this world. Fiasco was 11 when he woke up one morning surrounded by blue light. He was being shocked by electricity. Then, Fiasco saw a “black disc” fly outside his window around 7 a.m. The whole encounter left him with a scar on his ankle.

Robbie Williams British pop star Robbie Williams claims that he’s had multiple encounters with UFO’s starting when he was a child. The most outrageous claim he’s made is that while he was listening to his song “Arizona,” which is about aliens, he was visited by a nosy ball of light.

“I stood on the balcony and there was this big ball of gold light that turned up - we thought it was Venus or Mars or something.

Then the song stops playing and it disappears. But then we put 124

Shaun Ryder

Isaac Brock If you know Isaac Brock’s band Modest Mouse, you’re probably surprised to find him on a list of UFO fanatics, but apparently, while he was floating on in the lonesome crowded west he saw something.

In 1997, while he was in a plane flying over Arizona he had a firsthand encounter with the Phoenix Lights. He told a reporter that he kept his story a secret for years because he “Didn’t want to be that dude with the alien, with the UFO.” Good thing he didn’t tell anyone, it would have been, could have been worse than he ever knew.

Gin Blossoms Nineties alt-rockers Gin Blossoms have a string of hits under their

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belt, but one of the most interesting things about the band happened during the recording of their first single “Follow You Down.” Guitarist Jesse Valenzuela said, “One of the guys in the band stepped outside to smoke a cigarette. He looked up and saw a couple of flashing lights or something, so we all went out and took a look for about 20 minutes. And there you go - UFO sighting.”

While playing in KISS, Ace Frehley invented the persona of “the spaceman,” because he’s far out or something? But maybe his personal space-age branding has attracted a few out-of-this-world visitorsto his home in upstate New York. “As far as UFOs, I see them all the time in upstate New York where my place is. I live in a wooded area and objects that can’t possibly move in anyway a man-made craft can, have flown over me.”

Felix Burton In 2014, dance band member of Basement Jaxx, Felix Burton told New! magazine and The Observer about a UFO that he saw while recording songs for their album Junto. “(I saw) something very still and glinting in the sky, like light reflecting off a car… it looked like a flying saucer, basically. I didn’t see aliens waving at me. It was in the middle of the afternoon last April.

I was having a cup of tea with a singer and we were chatting and outside the window there was this thing hovering over London.” www.lancmag.com

John Lennon

before his 1980 murder.

(Over New York)

The song includes the following lyrics:

In 1967, when John Lennon wrote his classic Beatles hit, “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds,” everyone assumed the psychedelic song was about drugs.

Few would have guessed that several years later, a sober Lennon would see something far different in the sky -- a UFO -- and it would have a profound influence on his life.

A drawing of that 1974 sighting, sketched for his “Walls and Bridges” album, depicts what appears to be a classic flying saucer with the word “UFOer” written on the bottom of the object.

On the album’s liner notes, the famed musician wrote: “On the 23rd Aug. 1974 at 9 o’clock I saw a U.F.O. J.L.” Lennon, one of the most outspoken celebrities of his time, claimed he saw the alleged spacecraft above the Manhattan skyline. At the time, he was living on the East Side of the city.

During the UFO sighting, Lennon shared an apartment with a girlfriend, May Pang, who, along with other eyewitnesses, also saw the UFO. Lennon subsequently mentioned the event in the song “Nobody Told Me,” recorded several years later. It was one of the last songs he would record www.lancmag.com

Everybody’s smoking and no one’s getting high, Everybody’s flying and never touch the sky.

There’s UFOs over New York and I ain’t too surprised.

Nobody told me there’d be days like these.

Strange days indeed.

Kim Wilde Kim believes aliens are keeping an eye on humanity because they don’t treat each other well.

Her music today is based on the paranormal following a harrowing experience with a UFO. She confessed on British U.K. ITV’s Loose Women: “It was 2009 and I was in our garden with my husband and my girlfriend called Edwina and we saw some helicopters and bright lights come towards us from the south west.

“We looked of course to see maybe they were after someone and they were running through our garden but that didn’t happen and the helicopters left.”

When quizzed by Ruth Langsford how close they were, Kim explained they were “very” near to her home.

After reasoning the helicopters were most likely called to investigate the alleged paranormal sighting, Kim continued to explain what she saw.

“The light remained in the sky and we went to investigate and the public had taken this snap and it went in the Welwyn Garden newspaper.

“People thought I’d been on the Pino Grigio but actually I hadn’t - I’d been in A&E all night but that was another story,” she added.

The 80s icon added: “Anyway, we’re looking up and all of a sudden it goes from 11oclock to 2oclock and then it went back and forth and then a smaller one joined it.

“Hal Fowler was there and he went running in to find something to film it and we thought it would finish at any second and what I saw really inspired me and I know it was a UFO.” As you can see the list goes on… a few more people who have had their own experiences are: Kate Bush, David Bowie, Dan Ackroyd and this is just the tip of the iceberg and just increases the authenticity of this phenomenon.

By Jason Gleaves, Ufonly

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THE JESUITS AND STONYHURST COLLECTIONS LAUNCH THE ‘HOT, HOLY LADIES’ EXHIBITION community support networks during a time of massive upheaval for their families and society.

Blazing a trail through these islands’ religious turmoil, and witnessing some of its most dramatic events, the Hot Holy Ladies nurtured and preserved Catholicism, even as England’s ties with Rome were cut and those around them faced persecution and death.

Their stories reflect the ingenuity and startling courage of a wide variety of women, from young girls to elderly widows.

The Jesuits and Stonyhurst College Collections invite you to discover the ‘Hot, Holy Ladies’ who caused a religious and political stir in 16th and 17th century England and Scotland.

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he phrase ‘Hot, Holy Ladies’ was first used as a sarcastic insult in 1602, aimed at an impressive and effective group of strong-minded female supporters of the Jesuit Catholic mission.

Disavowing the traditional restrictions on the movements and interests of their sex, these women used their intelligence and skills to enable the dangerous work of underground priests, and create widespread practical and spiritual

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www.lancmag.com

Chief among them was Helena Wintour, whose male family members were deeply involved in the Gunpowder Plot, the plan to assassinate King James I by blowing up the Houses of Parliament. Orphaned at a young age as a result of this failed plot, Helena nevertheless went on to become the heart of a network of Catholic women who defied the authorities. Allied to the Jesuits, Helena deployed her wealth to help those less fortunate than herself, sheltered priests risking capital penalties, and used her skills in highly sophisticated, symbolic embroidery to create beautiful vestments for clergy who had to practice their faith in secret. Defying the severe state penalties for sewing these subversive chasubles, Helena further dared to sign many of them with her name and family crest.

In this exhibition, Helena’s entire surviving life’s work will be on display,

illustrating the life, inspiration and legacy of this extraordinary woman.

The exhibition will also feature high profile relics such as Mary Queen of Scots’ Thorn. Artistic commissions associated with royal women from the 16th to the 17th centuries such as the sumptuous Henry VII Cope, and Elizabeth of York’s Prayer Book will also be on display, alongside a gold, enamelled and pearl crucifix belonging to Thomas More’s wife, Lady Alice and a series of silver gilt reliquaries commissioned by Anne Vaux, who was instrumental in rescuing the Jesuit missionary, John Gerard, in the aftermath of the Gunpowder Plot.

The artefacts draw on the rich collections of the Jesuit Province and Stonyhurst College, with significant www.lancmag.com

loans from Douai Abbey Library.

The exhibition will open online on 16th April, and for visitors at Stonyhurst in July and August 2022, with supporting films and podcasts online from March 8th onwards.

www.stonyhurst.ac.uk Admissions: 01254 827073

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BY KEN HARCOMBE -Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, Fleetwood RNLI

WE ARE THE RNLI THE CHARITY THAT SAVES LIVES AT SEA May is one of the most important fundraisings months for the RNLI. The month not only marks the start of the summer season, but gives its name to their annual fundraising campaign, Mayday.

But mayday carries another more important message and one that, whilst familiar to mariners, has its origins in aviation.

I

n 1923, there were very few commercial airlines, but there were regular flights between Croydon and Le Bourget airport, near Paris. The Officer in Charge of Radio at Croydon, Frederick Mockford, was asked to find a word that would indicate distress and be easily understood by all pilots and ground crew at both these main airports. He proposed mayday, the phonetic equivalent of the French m’aidez (help me) and it was adopted, following tests, in February 1923.

The previous distress signal was the morse code message, SOS, but this was not considered suitable for telephone and radio communication. Mayday was adopted as the radiotelegraph distress call by the International Radiotelegraph Convention in 1927, for radiotelephone, in addition to the morse code SOS, for radiotelegraph messages.

Mayday is now used world-wide to signal a life-threatening emergency and has been adopted by both mariners and aviators.

Traditionally, the message is repeated three times, to ensure all who hear it are under no illusions that there is an emergency, whilst it also adds a note of urgency.

Every day is a Mayday to our volunteer lifeboat crews. They are willing to drop everything at a moment’s notice to save lives at sea when their pager beeps. In 2020, the RNLI volunteer lifeboat crews launched over 8,000 times.

So, when the RNLI in Ireland were looking for a focus to launch a fundraising campaign in 2013 to replace much needed crew kit, they chose Mayday and campaigned throughout the month of May. Besides highlighting the fundraising period, it also added a note of urgency, which at the time, was important, as new crew kit was essential.

Because of its success, it was adopted by the whole of the RNLI two years later and early each summer, the RNLI embark on their most important fundraising campaign of the year.

Queueing at the Mayday car wash, Hoylake RNLI

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Whilst originally focusing on crew kit, funds raised now can be used across the organisation, which during the pandemic when fundraising ceased, was important in filling financial gaps.

The Mayday appeal now, not only helps fund vital kit for the volunteer crew, but essential equipment and training, to ensure the lifeboat crew and any potential casualties, make it safely home.

In addition, it also helps fund important water safety activity for all who visit the coast, especially families with children.

One of the main activities during the Mayday appeal, is the Mayday Mile Challenge. Encouraging members of the public to cover one mile, however they want, is not only more inclusive than the traditional sponsored run, but can also be arranged as more of a social event. Families and friends, groups of dog walkers, as well as the usual ‘runners’ in fancy dress, all form part of the Mayday Mile.

This year, the charity is calling on supporters to put their best foot forward in their biggest annual Mayday fundraising event.

Launching on Sunday 1 May and running for the whole of the month, the RNLI’s annual Mayday campaign asks people to sign up to support lifesavers around the UK and Ireland. The charity will be asking members of the public to join The Mayday Mile and cover at least one mile in any way they like in order to raise vital funds for the lifesaving charity. Every penny raised during Mayday will go towards supporting the RNLI’s mission to save lives at sea.

We are incredibly fortunate and privileged in the RNLI, to have fantastic support from local communities and over the years, there have been many successful local campaigns. At the RNLI station at Hoylake, they held a sponsored car wash in 2019 and in three hours, the volunteer crew, dressed in their yellow waterproof gear, washed 152 cars and raised an incredible £1,115.

RNLI Hoylake also accepted the Mayday Mile challenge in 2021 following the cancellation of the sponsored car wash.

Covid restrictions postponed all public participation events in both 2020 and 2021, but the volunteer crew decided they would undertake the Mayday Mile challenge themselves. Fortunately, last year they were dressed in full RNLI water-proof gear, which was just as well, as the weather was awful. But the volunteers always respond, regardless of the conditions, whether it’s saving lives at sea, or fundraising. The Hoylake RNLI volunteers raised a fantastic £2,000.

Is there another car wash with a better view in the world?

www.lancmag.com

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

One of the longest running fundraising efforts occurs each year in Lytham St Anne’s. The ‘Leg it for Lytham’ sponsored walk, started in 2014. Unusually, RNLI Lytham St Anne’s has two boathouses, three and a half miles apart. So, originally, the idea was to ensure both lifeboat stations in Lytham and St Anne’s were involved. The initial ‘Leg it for Lytham’ walk was so well attended it has continued ever since. Of course, to widen the appeal, Lytham RNLI encouraged all members of the community to join in and by now walking or running isn’t the only exercise included. The volunteers’ welcome fundraisers who are dog walkers, wheel-chair wheelers, push-chair pushers and even those who just fancy a saunter. It isn’t a race and the event allow fundraisers the opportunity to appreciate the views, meet new friends and even take part in fancy dress.

The pandemic meant ‘Leg it for Lytham’ was in danger of being postponed, as they didn’t want to encourage crowds at the start and finish. The Lytham RNLI team used their initiative and agreed to ‘Leg it for Lytham’ for the whole of May. They also decided that fundraisers could travel either way, from boathouse to boathouse, thus eliminating large groups forming. Indeed, this new approach was even more successful that the original ‘Leg it’ principle and has been adopted for 2022 as well.

Comedian Phil Walker joins RNLI’s Stormy Stan at the start of last year’s ‘Leg it for Lytham’

All are welcome to join Lytham’s annual fundraiser

‘Leg it for Lytham’ this May, will be started by Lytham farmer, TV personality, social media presenter and long-term supporter of the RNLI, Tom Pemberton.

Last year, RNLI Lytham St Anne’s raised an astonishing £9,500 with their ‘Leg it’ campaign. So, why not join in, enjoy the walk and help the team beat last year’s total!

As Covid restrictions ease and the threat of further lockdown’s diminish, we look forward to our RNLI shops reopening and helping to raise much needed funds for the volunteer crews.

The Mayday merchandise, available for a donation in many local shops and pubs, includes the RNLI’s famous yellow welly badges.

The yellow welly has become a symbol of the RNLI volunteer crew and is instantly recognisable. The yellow welly even took centre stage during the Mayday appeal in 2017, as it featured in the ‘Yellow Welly Relay’. The ‘welly’ set off from Silloth in Cumbria and finished its eventful trip in West Kirkby on the Wirral peninsula. It travelled by various means of transport, including hovercraft, bike, ferry and tram.

The Fleetwood RNLI fundraisers met up with the welly at Knott End, where it crossed the River Wyre to Fleetwood by Lancashire’s only ‘in-county’ ferry, the ‘Wyre Rose’. It was met by members of the Dream Team Singers, who sang appropriate sea shanties, before the ‘welly’ boarded a tram with the volunteer Fleetwood fundraisers and departed to their next destination, Blackpool RNLI. One can only guess what the visitors and tram travellers in Fleetwood thought, as the ‘welly’ was serenaded on its way by the Dream Team Singers.

The Dream Team Singers with Fleetwood fundraisers and ‘the welly relay’

To date, the RNLI’s Mayday campaign has raised a staggering £3.5 million since 2014. I hope you feel inspired to help raise this total even higher and help us to continue to save lives at sea.

To sign up for The Mayday Mile, or to make a donation in support of the RNLI’s lifesavers, visit:

RNLI.org/Suppor tMayday www.lancmag.com

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The Big Move

By Kate Gostick

You only ever regret the things you don’t do, and I didn’t want to live a life of regrets. So when my husband, Dominic, was offered a job in America, we decided it would be a fun adventure for a couple of years.

I

always painted naked, but for a pair of old grey knickers, I saved for painting and a hotel shower cap to prevent getting paint in my hair. It never really mattered because the house backed onto fields that were not used, so nobody was ever there. Even in the rooms in the front of the house, our windows faced the courtyard, some garages beyond, and a walled garden beyond that, so I was safe to lead a nudist life with paint roller in hand. I was painting the one plastered wall in the conservatory, thinking of how I had my dream job and how we had only just finished building the conservatory and a new beautiful inglenook fireplace with a log burner, making the house just perfect. Was I making the right choice to leave this behind? I had almost bought James a school uniform for a school I knew he would not go to. We had been here before when Dominic had had a job offer rescinded at the last minute, so giving up James’s place seemed so risky. It was frightening for me, and I struggled to let go of the safe and familiar life we had built. In the end, a woman I hardly knew who had heard from a friend of a friend that we may be moving told the school, and I had to give up his place before I was ready.

For some reason, other people, however distant from you, still think your choices are their business. In this way, your environment tries to restrain and control you, either pushing you away before you are ready or using guilt to pull you back.

As my paint roller mover up and down the wall, I could only think of what I was losing, be it drinking tea in the conservatory watching the kids play in the garden or having the chance to take a first day of school photo of my children in an oversized school uniform with room to grow.

I didn’t know then that all this would be eclipsed by new

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exciting adventures that would allow us all room to grow. It takes a lot of willpower to break free and let go, but when we had done it once, it became easier for our other moves.

I climbed the ladder and placed the paint tray on the top step, clutching the roller in my right hand. I adjusted the shower cap and started to roll. As I stretched to get the top bits, my boobs squished into the paint on the lower walls and formed a strip framing the upper edge of my nipples.

This was why I painted naked. My boobs always became embedded in the paint like handprints on the walk of fame!

I have that kind of chest that enters a room five minutes before I do and always seems to be on every man’s eye level, be he 4 foot 8 or 6 foot 8. Despite me being on the next to top wrung of the ladder and my boobs, therefore, being about ten feet off the ground, they still seemed to be at eye level for the window cleaners as they unlatched the gate and came into the back garden. Our eyes met a second after their eyes met with my paint framed boobs and greying example of M&S’s finest. All of them managed to hide the shock of what had just happened as one of them asked me if I wanted them to add cleaning the new conservatory to their existing routine. I replied, “that would be wonderful”, finished the last bit of the wall, pretending that I had no problem with what had just happened, as they started to soap up the glass, partly I feel, to hide my modesty. Maybe, now was the right time to leave the country!

We decided that we needed to be confident that this next job was for real, so we decided Dominic would go out first for a few months, and I would follow on later with boys once we knew our situation was secure.

Those few months were chaotic, to say the least, as I continued to work whilst preparing for an international move on my own with two children under five. Dominic had emigrated (escaped) ahead of our departure. During those eight months, I flooded the garage, ran out of petrol in the middle of nowhere and split James’s head open when I pulled the boot/trunk down on his head. The difference in words between American and British English was to cause www.lancmag.com

us problems over the next twenty years, although I did not know that then. When we arrived in Massachusetts, James seemed to want to tell everyone how he had had to go to hospital to have his head stitched after mummy hit him on the head with the boot. This was interpreted by American’s as footwear, not the trunk of the car. It didn’t get any better when James shouted out in the supermarket that I must not forget that daddy needed more rubbers!

I explained very loudly that, “In America, we call those erasers,” hoping people would realise my four year old had not been asked to remind me to buy condoms by his father.

A little respite came, or so I thought, when we went out to America to visit Dominic. My mum came to stay with me and the boys so she could take us to the airport, and as we tucked the boys into bed, she whispered to James that he would see his daddy in the morning. Unfortunately, James did not deal well with excitement. He had spent his third birthday in hospital with an asthma attack overcome by the delirium of his Fireman birthday party. The same thing happened again that night. I woke up to hear him coughing and gasping for breath, so I bundled him in the car and took him off to casualty. After a fairly long wait, we got to see the doctor, who said that he was fine and that we should go back home. A nurse, who seemed to have clairvoyant skills, told me if it happened again when I got home to call an ambulance rather than driving him myself.

Not sure her ability to see into the future had revealed that I would have no choice but to find alternative transport as my car slammed into a badger crossing the road on the way home, and the front of the car fell off.

As the sounds of uncontrolled coughing filled the air once again, I did as she said and called the ambulance.

The ambulance man gave James something to help his breathing, but it made him as high as a kite, and he had to be restrained when he jumped around the back of the ambulance shouting, “Put the nee naws on! Put the nee naws on!” They kept him in overnight, and the airline agreed to delay our flight for a day, but I could not help but wonder if my life was typical of every new mum or if I brought these predicaments on myself.

I had pushed myself way beyond my comfort zone, and I was taking a massive risk on the unknown in the hope of reaping the rewards and being able to spend more time with my children. I accept that I was lucky to have this opportunity, but we had grabbed the opportunities afforded to us that others would have turned down, deeming them too risky. As my father would say, “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it!”

People back home would later tell me regularly how lucky I was, how they could not afford for their kids to ski every week, play golf after school, or go to Maine for a week as a family on vacation. In their eyes, I was lucky, and they were unlucky, as if these things just came to me like presents from Santa on a Christmas morning. However, the reality was quite different. I had challenged the conventions, reached for my dreams, grabbed opportunities with both www.lancmag.com

hands, fought for acceptance to fit in, and did it alone, far from family and the traditional support network. The lady who had forced me to give up a school place before I was ready had not appreciated the fear that needed to be overcome to take such a giant leap into the unknown. My life was not handed to me on a plate. Instead, we searched for opportunities, took that leap into the unknown, and managed to overcome our fears to reap the benefits. Moving to another country is never easy and, in my experience, is the result of hard work and never just luck.

It was hard for my children too. They had just about managed to survive “mummy care” when most of our belongings had disappeared off in a big container which we had no idea when we would see again. After reports from Dominic that my kids would be safe and not shot in the street (I‘ve seen Cagney and Lacey, so it was a worry), we decided to follow him.

We got out of the car at Manchester airport with all our remaining belonging that we couldn’t manage without, you know, the kind of thing, Hulk hands, a complete set of the Bob the Builder toys and a box of English tea. At this point, I realised that maybe we should have sent more in the container, but the boys were now four and two, and it was time they pulled their weight around here, literally in this case. So I loaded up the back of Edward’s pushchair with so many bags that it would tip backwards if not held firmly enough and set off to the gate.

“James! Will you please hurry up” I yelled.

“I’m trying”, came the reply. James had fallen backwards from the weight of a huge backpack and was now rolling around like an upside-down turtle. On his way to the plane, the pilot noticed that James was being exploited and used as a packhorse, so he asked him to go into the cockpit to help him with the pre-flight checks. I think he really just wanted to save the poor kid from the mother from hell. As I put my bag in the overhead locker, a little voice came over the tannoy and said, “This is your pilot, James. I love you, mummy!” and I knew at that point all would be well.

Eventually, we arrived in the land of the free and waited for three months for our remaining belongings to arrive.

What a happy time that was. I realised how much stress belongings cause. We had garden furniture to eat off, a mattress for us and camp beds for the boys to sleep on, and a giant, inflatable car ball pit just because we had nothing else to put in our living room!

Five years later, and with the addition of our all-American son, Henry, I no longer longed for British sausage and bacon, and when people told me to have a nice day, it didn’t grate on me. In fact, as an ex-pat comedian once said, it is better to be told to “have a nice day” by someone who doesn’t mean it than to “f**k off” by someone who does!

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THE KIDS ARE IN THE DRIVING SEAT

By Sophie Rishworth

I must point out at this point that my nephew is 12 years old and one of the smallest in his class. We thought he would be far too small to be trusted behind the wheel of a Range Rover, but having measured him against the wall, he was luckily slightly above the 1.45m minimum height restriction for the Young Off Roader experience!

After a beautiful drive down through The Broughton Hall Estate to the Land Rover Centre, we were welcomed in with teas and coffees and introduced to Andy - the brave soul who would be riding alongside our little thrill seeker for the hour session.

My husband has never been one for backseat driving so opted to stay in the safety of the centre whilst we hit the track. Tea and coffee on tap, views for miles over Broughton Hall Estate, and vintage Land Rovers to look at…he was in his element!

Land Rover Experience on the Broughton Hall Estate are now offering driving Experiences for 11 - 17 year olds... and it’s going down a storm. www.lancmag.com

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f like me you have computer obsessed children, finding activities to entice them away from their beloved Fortnite or Roblox without a huff or a grunt can be a challenge. So when I mentioned to my nephew that he would be driving off road in a new Range Rover vehicle, his attention quickly turned to the day ahead.

Little did we know how much fun lay in store.

Meanwhile, I hastily strapped myself into the backseat of the Range Rover Velar, adapted with dual controls specifically for the young driver experiences. Our instructor Andy was calm and patient as we moved the electric seat as close to the dash as possible so that my nephew had a chance of seeing out of the car. Andy explained the principles of driving and soon we were slowly travelling down through the estate.

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My nephew’s smile was clearly visible in the rear view mirror.

As his confidence grew so did the challenge. As we approached each section of track, Andy clearly explained what was involved. Had I known the angles that the car would be taking us before setting off I would not have believed it and all under the control of a 12 year old! We both loved driving through the deep water track, a fun challenge for my nephew and great passenger experience for me.

Seeing the water levels rise out of the window was truly exciting!

Along with a new passion for driving, we took away a certificate of attendance and a video of the session to show his friends and family.

My nephew absolutely loved his Land Rover Experience and was talking about it well into the following week at school. The only problem is he now wants a go in my car!

YOUNG OFF ROADER DETAILS Land Rover Young Off Roader Sessions make great gifts for any child aged between 11-17 and at least 1.45m tall 1 Hour Young Off Roader sessions are £150 Up to two drivers can share the session Sessions can be booked 7 days a week Gift Vouchers can be purchased by calling the centre or online www.yorkshire. landroverexperience.co.uk 01756 611 060

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PRESTON

By Sarah Ridgway

Preston is located on the River Ribble and its name derives from Priests Town most likely referencing an early settlement of monks in the area.

The city has a varied and interesting history dating back to 1086 where The Domesday Survey cited Preston as an important market town,1000 years later the city’s Market Place still occupies the same spot.

n 2002 Preston was officially granted city status by the Queen becoming England’s 50th city. The bid to be recognised as a city was part of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee celebrating her 50 years on the throne.

Preston’s contributing factors included its rich heritage, the university, and its position as the traditional administrative centre of Lancashire. In 2021 Preston was named the best city to live and work in the North West by Demos-PwC Growth for Cities Index and ranked 16th overall. Determining factors included health, housing, jobs, and recovery from the pandemic.

In 1179 Henry II granted Preston its First Royal Charter giving them the right to have a Guild Merchant. The Guild is an organisation of craftsmen, traders and merchants that meant any newcomers could only trade once receiving permission from the Guild.

Due to the lack of regular meetings

by The Guild, since 1543 the Preston Guild meetings have only taken place every 20 years. In 1790 the Guild was abolished, and trade became free, however, the festivities remained and Prestonians still gathered in force to celebrate, the last Guild City Festival in 2012 welcomed over 900,000

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visitors. The city is home to more than 750 listed buildings including the Harris Museum which is currently closed for a three-year renovation project and St Walburge’s Church which holds the record for the tallest spire of any parish in England standing at a whopping 309ft.

In 1958 Preston became home to the country’s first motorway, the Preston By-pass was opened by Prime Minister Harold MacMillan and would later become a part of the M6 motorway. The UK’S first KFC opened its doors on Fishergate High Street in 1965 under the management of Harry Latham. After a meeting with the legendary Colonel Harlen Sanders two years earlier Latham secured the rights in the UK and brought fried chicken to Preston. Today the vibrant city continues to expand with funding www.lancmag.com

secured for an exciting Youth Zone Project, the renovation of the Harris Museum, and plans for Animate Preston a state-of-the-art leisure venue that will include a cinema, bowling alley and food and drink venues.

A Popular University City The University of Central Lancashire was founded in 1828 and is ranked 801 in the world and 2022 will mark 30 years since the Privy Council awarded it university status. Originally known as the Harris Art College from 1932, today UCLan has grown to be the 19th largest university in the UK based on enrolled students attracting over 35,000 to the city each year.

The university also has a campus in Cyprus for international students and is the country’s only private British university. In 2015 the Preston Campus was awarded a £200m investment known as the Masterplan 2020 to be used for expansion, new green spaces, creating jobs and attracting further investment to the region. The university will benefit from new £8m social spaces, a £32m Engineering Innovation Centre, and a £60m Student Centre and impressive University Square.

Harris Museum and Art Gallery

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The Ground-breaking Dick, Kerr Ladies FC

Oscar-Winning Animator Nick Park

The country’s first football museum opened in Preston in 2001 and was housed in Preston North End’s Deepdale Stadium, aptly placed, as the stadium is the world’s oldest continuously run football association club. In 1889 Preston North End FC was the first team to win the double, (League and FA Cup.) The museum attracted more than 100,000 visitors each year, but funding was constantly an issue, and it was sadly moved to Manchester in 2010. The Dick, Kerr Ladies FC founded in Preston in 1917 were one of the earliest known women’s association football teams in England. Named after the locomotive manufacturer Dick, Kerr & Co which during WW1 diversified to ammunition manufacturing. The formation of the team initially aimed to boost the morale of the women employed there, but the team would go on to play for over 48 years, losing only 28 of their 833 games played.

Their matches would attract huge crowds of between 4,000 and 50,000 spectators. In 1920 The Dick, Kerr Ladies played the first international association women’s football match against France winning 2-0, the match made history and was attended by 25,000. In 1920 The Football Association banned all women from playing at their grounds deeming them not physically able to play the sport.

The ladies continued to play on nonFA pitches although the FA’s official ban would not be lifted till 1971 when women’s football was fully recognised.

In 1922 the ladies departed for a tour of Canada and the United States, The Dominion Football Association in Canada also opposed women playing football and the team was banned from playing there on arrival.

In 1926 after a disagreement, the team’s name was changed to Preston Ladies FC and they continued to play until 1965. Before hanging up their boots for good the ladies raised over £180,000 for charity, the equivalent of £10 million today throughout their memorable 48 years on the pitch. The women’s courageous story has been told through television adaptations, many theatre productions, including a dance piece by “About Time Dance Company” which was performed as part of the 2021 Lancashire Encounter Festival.

Oscar-winning animator Nick Park grew up in Preston with a passion for drawing cartoons, citing The Beano as one of his favourite comics. Filmmaking also sparked his interest, and the young creative used his mother’s home-movie camera to record films. Parks went on to study animation at the National Film and Television Studio in Buckinghamshire.

During his time here the young animator developed the characters that would later become the iconic Wallace and Gromit. Nick invited Bristol-based Aardman Animation to the screening of his graduation film, A Grand Day Out. Peter Lord and David Sproxton who had just recently founded Aardman were seeking an animator to assist with their various projects and after meeting Nick invited him to work at their Bristol base over the next two summers to help. Park worked on Morph; the company’s well-loved TV character moulded from clay, in 1985 Park was offered a permanent position on Morph and other ongoing projects.

The Aardman team also helped Nick develop his graduation project, the film A Grand Day Out and together created the film Creature Comforts. In 1989 the two finished films were both nominated for an Oscar in the short animated film category, with Creature Comforts snagging the award at the 1990 ceremony. This was not the end of the Creature Comforts journey as in the same year Aardman joined forces with advertising agency GGK for the “Heat Electric Campaign”. They were hugely popular and have since been independently regarded as one of the best adverts on British television.

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character. In 1995 the duo returned in A Close Shave which was also hugely successful. The film featured the character Shaun the Sheep, a very cute animal that spawned his own line of merchandise, two feature films and his spin-off television show.

The Wrong Trousers and A Close Shave both went on to win Oscars for Best Animated Short Films. In 1996 Nick Park received a CBE and four years later in 2000 released his first feature-length animation Chicken Run, the main character was voiced

by Hollywood actor Mel Gibson.

Another feature-length followed in 2005 starring Wallace & Gromit, The Curse of the Were-Rabbit which took 5 years to develop, shot to number one at the box office and won another Oscar. Bristol-based Park still spends a lot of time in his hometown and got married at nearby Gibbon Bridge Hotel in 2016 and is an Honorary Freeman of the City of Preston. In 2021 a bronze statue of Wallace and Gromit sculpted by Park was unveiled in Preston markets. The animator was over the moon with how the 7ft tall sculpture turned out and was assisted

In 1993 a short new Wallace & Gromit film made its debut called The Wrong Trousers, the Wigan-based man and his dog duo battled against an evil penguin capturing the hearts of the nation. The cheese-loving Wallace was originally voiced by the late Peter Sallis with Ben Whitehead taking over in 2009. The inspiration for the iconic duo came from Park’s own family, saying Wallace was like his father in many ways, especially his attitude to life. A local postman named Jerry inspired Wallace’s aesthetic and the name came from a Labrador Nick met on a bus in Preston, although Gromit is the animator’s favourite

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at the unveiling by Preston Mayor Javed Iqbal who revealed how proud Preston was of the Oscar-winning animator. The sculpture was funded

by Preston City Council and hopes to attract visitors from all over for a selfie with the beloved duo.

THINGS TO DO IN PRESTON Escape the Noise at Brockholes Nature Reserve The tranquil nature reserve is managed by Lancashire Wildlife Trust and is a haven away from noise. Start your day at the Visitors Village, a collection of wooden buildings that float on the lake. The village was designed by Adam Khan Architects and the buildings rise and fall with the water level and have received an accolade of design awards. Once you have your map, head out onto the walking trails to get back to nature and spot the local wildlife, including its ever-changing species of birds.

There is a play area and a climbing forest for the children to clamber on to their heart’s content and a varied

calendar of events throughout the year including free guided walks, workshops, and fairs to enjoy. The reserve is open seven days a week with an on-site restaurant and gift shop.

All Aboard at the Ribble Steam Railway and Museum Reopening March 26th, 2022, the Ribble Steam Railway and Museum is raring to go and the whole family can enjoy a ride on a steam train around Preston’s Docklands. Train enthusiasts can explore the museum which is jam-packed with exhibits including a miniature railway. Head out to the workshop to view all the industrial engines being restored and be spoiled for choice by a full calendar of events including the hugely popular Santa Specials, a magical train journey with a hand-delivered present from Father Christmas.

Walk or Cycle the Preston Guild Wheel

route goes past rivers, canals, woodlands, dockland, and nature reserves. There are many entry points for those wanting a shorter route, so grab your walking shoes or bike to attempt as much as you want. Don’t forget to stop off for a drink and a bite to eat to make the most of the great array of pubs on route.

Dance into the Night at Preston’s Caribbean Carnival Founded in 1974 Preston’s Caribbean Carnival is one of the largest and oldest cultural celebrations in the city and attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year. This year’s festivities will take place in May instead of August and are suitable for all age groups. Marvel at the colourful costumes in the procession through the city which ends at Moor Park.

Here you can enjoy food stalls with delicious authentic Caribbean food, a licensed bar and fantastic music to dance the night away.

The scenic 21-mile circular route surrounds Preston and the Wheel

The Visitors Village at Brockholes Nature Reserve

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Newt Beginning For Nature Reserve Motorists on a busy Wigan road and rail passengers traveling between Manchester and Liverpool may not have noticed some noisy improvements to a local nature reserve.

Volunteers at Cutacre

by Stephen Cartwright

was discouraging the highland and longhorn cattle that tear up the grass leaving clumps of vegetation and muddy areas, which are perfect for birds like the lapwing and curlew.

Martyn said: “The work we have done has transformed an area that was just a little bit scruffy and not serving a purpose, into a place where wildlife can thrive. The plants growing there will add lots of colour which should delight anyone visiting Cutacre.

“Without funding these areas would deteriorate but local people and visiting naturalists now have a wild and lovely area which will literally be buzzing and croaking with wildlife in spring and summer.”

But Cutacre has changed from a poorly maintained agricultural area into a nature reserve that is buzzing, croaking, and twittering with life.

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t is safe to say that the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside has literally breathed new life into this plot of land in Tyldesley, on the border between Wigan and Salford.

While the Trust has been creating improved habitats for six years now, recent funding into the project from the Government’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund, Viridor Environmental Credits, the Landfill Communities Fund, and Wigan Council’s Brighter Borough Fund.

“Staff and our amazing volunteers, have installed five water troughs and a water connection, with more than 600m of underground pipe, within the fields. This will allow our cattle to graze the fields in a way that benefits wildflowers and wading birds.”

The hard-working team has also cut back an amazing eight hectares of dense rush, opening up more areas for birds to breed and flowers to become established. That dense rush

Over the past six years, management of the reserve has been aimed at encouraging rare farmland birds such as lapwing, oystercatcher, redshank, and skylark to breed. Areas are now opened up for flowers such as cuckooflower, lesser spearwort, ragged robin, and marsh bedstraw.

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

Restored Pond at Cutacre

by Stephen Cartwright

Conservation Officer for Greater Manchester, Martyn Walker said: “Four, overgrown and silted up ponds have been restored to create areas of open water. These will support breeding amphibians, including the rare and protected great crested newt.

These newts, along with smooth and palmate newts, have been recorded in ponds on Cutacre.

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Volunteers Joe, Ann & Sheena hedgelaying

by Stephen Cartwright

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.

This project is part of the Greater Manchester Environment Fund initiative which is being supported by The Green Recovery Challenge Fund.

Cutacre nature reserve on the Wigan and Salford border

“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 scarce bird, can be found within the 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.”

Visitors to Cutacre also get an opportunity to see the magnificent cattle that have grazed the British countryside for centuries.

Restoration of a pond at Cutacre

by Stephen Cartwright

The Fund was developed by Defra and its Arm’s-Length Bodies. It is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England, the Environment Agency, and Forestry Commission.

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.

To become a member of the Trust go to the website at www.lancswt.org.uk or call 01772 324129

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One-of-a-kind Long-Distance Hiking Event HIGHLANDER is Coming to the Lake District

• First UK event of the global series announced for the Lake District • Event will take place from 22nd to the 26th of June 2022 and have three formats: HIGHLANDER (100 km), HIGHLANDER (50 km), HIGHLANDER (25 km) • Become a HIGHLANDER and experience the ultimate hiking journey designed to push your limits

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IGHLANDER, a global long-distance hiking event series with 15 countries on its global map, has announced the launch of a new event in it’s roster for the Lake District, UK. HIGHLANDER was founded in 2017 when friends - Jurica Barac, Igor Mlinarevic and Andrej Mlinarevic - decided to share their love and passion for long-distance hiking with Croatian hikers, hiker enthusiasts and nature lovers.

From there, this phenomenon grew to become what it is today.

HIGHLANDER’s potential was also seen and recognised by the world’s leading event brand, the Spartan Race, which became a strategic partner in 2021.

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There’s no better location to become a HIGHLANDER than in this stunning national park in the north west of England that is crowned with the UNESCO World Heritage status. The UK’s second largest National Park will become HIGHLANDER’s home from the 22nd to the 26th of June 2022.

Hikers who are ready to test their physical limits, while living in perfect harmony with nature for a few days, can choose between three different distance formats: HIGHLANDER (100 km), HIGHLANDER (50 km), HIGHLANDER (25 km) which will lead them through Patterdale, Thirlmere, Langdale and Borrowdale. www.lancmag.com

With its breathtaking vistas, lush valleys, and sunlit passes, the Lake District will pull on the heartstrings of each and every HIGHLANDER participant during their Adventure of a Lifetime. Since the geological character of the Lake District took over 2 million years to form, every bend in the trail will become a fresh celebration of the region’s natural splendour.

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The most important mountaineering event in Croatia has long since exceeded its borders.

Therefore, nature lovers from around the world can explore some of the most amazing and untouched places on Earth. Because every HIGHLANDER event has its own iconic location to appeal to modern day nomads - from expansive deserts to snowy mountain tops, 

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 sandy dunes to lakes and pastures everyone can find their perfect hiking challenge and format to become a HIGHLANDER. How a person starts their day determines their future. Instead of starting it by scrolling through social media, looking at photos of stunning mountains, and hiking trips that others embark on, start it by experiencing it all for yourself this June in the Lake District National Park. ‘’Our vision and main goal is to motivate people to go hiking, spend more time in nature and thus change themselves for the better - both mentally and physically,’’ said HIGHLANDER Adventure CEO and co-founder Jurica Barac. ‘’That is why we are beyond happy and proud that HIGHLANDER is finally coming to England, a country that embraces nature and how the great outdoors can benefit your health and lifestyle. That is why we are sure the long-distance hiking event series HIGHLANDER will be a big hit.”

HIGHLANDER truly is a oneof-a-kind experience. During the HIGHLANDER hiking journey, each participant connects with nature, breathes fresh air, and disconnects from the ordinary world overcrowded with technology to start a fresh look at life from a different perspective.

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“HIGHLANDER is a long-distance hiking adventure open to anyone who wants to push their limits while learning about sustainable living,” Barac added. “So I invite everyone to embark on this hiking journey with us from the 22nd of June and, start making a change with us.’’

In 2021, Spartan, the world’s leading endurance sports and extreme wellness brand, recognised HIGHLANDER’s potential as a strategic partner, paving the way to bring this unique, long-distance adventure-hiking event to America and the United Kingdom.

The trail will test participants’ endurance, but in order to become a HIGHLANDER they will need to conquer it, making new friends and experiencing a sensory exploration along the way.

Since HIGHLANDER is not a race and there are no winners or losers, with participants - even perfect strangers - cheering each other on.

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The vision, mission and values shared by these two brands come from the same core: building mental and physical toughness to bring about positive lifestyle changes. ‘’Spartan’s partnership with HIGHLANDER allows us to encourage even more people around the world to participate in physically demanding activities that they think are beyond their reach,’’ said Spartan Race founder and CEO Joe De Sena. “This is about finding our limits and then pushing past them.”

HIGHLANDER has also partnered with Mind Over Mountains, the mental health charity offering immediate and accessible support through therapeutic outdoor events.

Mind Over Mountains believe this time in nature, coupled with professional support is a powerful way to build resilience, talk without pressure and re-find stillness.

Restoring mental health, naturally.

Every HIGHLANDER event has its own unique and iconic location.

Event locations include the USA, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Egypt, France, Greece, Montenegro, Morocco, North Macedonia, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia and the UAE. Participants are encouraged to put down their smartphones and fully immerse themselves in nature, while joining the international HIGHLANDER community of hikers.

Early bird registration for HIGHLANDER Lake District is open, but space is limited. Learn more at: highlanderadventure.com/ lake-district/en-gb

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Herdwick Distillery expansion

Two New Gins and Artisan Cocktail’s Perfection in a Can Following the success of Yan Gin launched last year, Herdwick Distillery has added two new gins to their range.

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armalade Yan Gin and Berry Yan Gin unites two sides of Lakeland Artisan, Herdwick Distillery – the gin distillery side and Cumbrian Delights – the fruit preserves and marmalades.

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Marmalade Yan Gin is based on Cumbrian Delights St Clements Marmalade, Yan Gin is infused with a hand-selected bouquet of over 10 botanicals, it has then been blended with their Marmalade Syrup to give a citrus punch. www.lancmag.com

Made with only natural ingredients, the line-up consists of four ready to serve cans, Yan Gin with Fell Tonic, Rhubarb & Ginger Yan Gin with Ginger Beer, Berry Yan Gin with Pink Lemonade and Marmalade Yan Gin with Lemonade.

This new range unites two sides of Lakeland Artisan; Herdwick Distillery - the gin distillery side and Mawson’s - the range of traditional soft drinks, both of which are lovingly made onsite by the Lakeland Artisan team in Kendal, Cumbria.

The new drinks packaged in 250ml lightweight aluminium cans which chill quickly, are crushable and infinitely recyclable, have impacted less on carbon footprint.

Perfect for enjoying at home, at parties, on the fell and ideal for a picnic! With 100% Natural ingredients and an ABV of 6.3%, made with gins from the Herdwick Distillery range which launched in 2021.

Mary Monkman said, “We know our customers love our Yan Gin and Fell Tonic, so it was only a matter of time before we made a ready to drink version for those on the go.”

Photo by Glynis Bland Photography

Berry Yan Gin is crammed full of Cranberries, Strawberries, Raspberries, Redcurrants and Blackcurrants giving it its deep berry colour and fruity flavour but still retaining its distinct gin taste.

Geoff Monkman said, “We are delighted with our award-winning Yan Gin and these new Gins are part of the planned development of Herdwick Distillery in Kendal.” www.lancmag.com

Artisan Cocktail’s perfection in a can The makers behind Yan Gin, Herdwick Distillery have also extended their range and tapped into the rising demand for pre-mixed cocktails with the perfect serve in a can. The new conveniently packaged cocktails represent the latest evolution of Lakeland Artisan by Geoff and Mary Monkman.

All new products are available from Mid-March in local shops and wholesale.

All Lakeland Artisan brands and evolving products, whether from Mawson’s soft drinks, Herdwick Distillery, Cumbria Delights or Lakeland Hampers, are based on a combination of traditional craft, innovative research, responsible sustainability, and strong customer feedback. They are lovingly made by locals on the outskirts of Kendal.

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IRL s M

IRLAM LIVE 2022 IS BACK FOR IT’S SIXTH YEAR

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great days – one awesome festival.

Headliners for this year include Bananarama and The Feeling. Also playing the main stage is Heather Small, Hue & Cry, Nadine Coyle, N-Trance, Abz from 5ive, Ben from Phats & Small and lots, lots more.

It all kicks off on Thursday 2nd June with ‘Cool Britannia’.

This is the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee day, where we have a full day of fun for the whole family including a host of the UK’s finest tribute bands. Queen (of course) will headline Thursday’s main stage with lots of flag waving, and we have one of the best with Real Magic Queen. Also playing the main stage is Revival Abba, Aladinsane (Bowie), Take Off That, LMX (Little Mix) and Tony Lewis as Robbie Williams.

Lots of things happening off stage too, including a fantastic model making workshop from the Oscar-winning Aardman Animations, the team behind Wallace & Gromit, Chicken Run, Shaun the Sheep, Morph and Creature Comforts.

Four days over the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend - Thursday 2nd - Sunday 5th June 2022 - at Manchester’s Prince’s Park looks set to be it’s biggest year yet!

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Friday 3rd June is ‘Totally Tributes’. Friday generally has an indie feel. We have the UK’s leading Oasis tribute band NOASIS headlining the main stage for the second time.

Also playing is Runaway Killers, Ultimate Stone Roses, Bob Marley Experience, Small Weller and Amy Winehouse Alive. And once again lots of things happening off stage too. The dinosaurs are coming to town, with Chomp the UK’s largest T.Rex making a terrifying walkabout.

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MUSIC FESTIVAL

Saturday 4th June sees Banarama headlining the main stage with a great line-up playing throughout the day. N-Trance, Brutus Gold’s Love Train, Abz Love from 5ive and Ben from Phats & Small will also make a welcomed return. Manchester Ska Foundation and Scratch completes the line-up.

Sunday 5th June – Playing the main stage are The Feeling, Heather Small, Nadine Coyle from Girls Aloud, Hue & Cry and Doctor and the Medics will play for the first time since 2017.

The Grassroots Stage is back for 2022 with ten hand-picked unsigned local bands and singers. It’s a real thrill for us to give the local bands the opportunity to play the Irlam Live Music Festival.

As well as everything on the main stage, there is lots going on off-stage too. There is a funfair, Princesses and Superhero walkabouts, Bubbleologist, Street Ping-Pong, a fab DJ workshop and James & Dobby are back with their awesome pop-up silent discos.

A spokesperson said, “We’re excited that Irlam Live 2022 is returning and attracting big names that brings so much enjoyment to many of us. The response to this year’s event has been positively overwhelming and just confirms that Irlam Live is now firmly on the Summer festival map for an unmissable weekend of incredible live music and entertainment for all ages”. www.lancmag.com

A FESTIVAL YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS! Over the past five years, Irlam Live has had some incredible acts performing, some of which you may recognise: Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Scouting For Girls, Vernon Kay, D:Ream , Space, Dodgy, Billy Ocean, Alexander O’Neal, The Stranglers, Tony Hadley, The Wailers, Toyah, Bay City Rollers, The Commitments, Marc Almond, Jo O’Meara, Since September, Sweet Female Attitude, T’Pau, Odyssey, Katrina and the Waves, Real Thing, Jason Donovan, Republica, Aswad, Imagination, 5ive, Blow Monkeys, Curiosity Killed the Cat, The Christians, From The Jam, The Farm, The South, Toploader, Owen Paul, Go West, Kenny Thomas, Dr and the Medics, K Klass, Phats and Small, 911 and The Lancashire Hotpots.

Tickets for Irlam Live 2022 are available from: irlamlive.co.uk/tickets Gates open at noon, first band 2pm.

For more information on Irlam Live 2022, please visit the following links: D irlamlive.co.uk F irlamlive T irlamlive I irlamlive

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How to Declutter Your

Laura Pearson is an Intentional Life Coach, Meditation Teacher and Professional Declutterer & Organiser, based in Lancashire.

Her mission is to help people to consciously create, live and love their own version of an intentional life and clutter-free, organised space.

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W

hen we think about clutter, we typically think about physical things or stuff in our space. But clutter is so much more just than physical stuff. We can have cluttered minds and lives too.

One thing that many of my clients complain about is feeling cluttered mentally. Having a cluttered mind may look different to each of us, but ultimately feeling mentally cluttered often shows up in how we feel.

When we have cluttered minds, we typically find ourselves feeling stressed, overwhelmed, heavy, burnt www.lancmag.com

Mind This Spring out or something similar along these lines. When we have cluttered minds, we often also feel like we’re unable to enjoy the present moment or stop ourselves from overthinking.

Whilst lots of us are gearing up for a Spring Clean (which is fantastic!), in this month’s column, I felt called to share some simple ways that you can Spring Clean your mind.

Here are three simple and easy ways that you can declutter your mind. I use these techniques personally on a daily basis too!

1

WRITE IT DOWN The process of writing things down can be extremely powerful. In terms of decluttering your mind, one of my favourite techniques is to simply grab a pen and piece of paper or my journal and do a “brain dump”. I like to think of it as emptying my head and getting everything down on paper. Write a list. Write several categorised lists. Write whatever feels good. But give yourself the luxury of not having a mind full of thoughts or to-do lists for just a moment.

2

TRY MEDITATION I started meditating years ago back when I was mentally not in a good place. I was feeling stressed, burnt out and stuck in a corporate job that was not in alignment with my values. I’d heard about the benefits of meditation and felt curious to give it a go. I first tried meditating at home using an App and I felt like I was “doing it wrong”. Seven years later and here I am: a qualified Meditation Teacher, teaching others about meditation and guiding people through meditation classes, whilst enjoying my own daily meditation practice. Everybody can meditate and everybody can benefit from meditating, even if it’s just a few minutes a day. (You can join me and try meditation in my monthly online meditation class from the comfort of your own home! Everybody is welcome!)

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3

GET OUTSIDE There are so many benefits to getting outside and taking in a big breath of fresh air. With the arrival of Spring and lighter mornings and evenings, there’s no better time to get outside and clear your mind in nature. Try to challenge yourself with being fully present on your walk. Take in the sights and sounds around you. Notice the weather and the colours of the sky. Listen to the sounds of the birds or passing cars. Pay attention to the little things. Walk mindfully and give yourself the gift of being fully present in nature, rather than thinking about your To-Do List.

Happy Spring Cleaning and Decluttering!

I’d love to hear if you try any of these techniques.

If you’d like some support in decluttering your mind, get in touch by emailing: laura@intentionalwithlaura.com or connecting with me on social media: @intentionalwithlaura If you want to try meditation for yourself, save your seat at my monthly online meditation class at: www.intentionalwithlaura.com/shop

CONNECT WITH LAURA D www.intentionalwithlaura.com I @intentionalwithlaura F @intentionalwithlaura E laura@intentionalwithlaura.com Download Laura’s free guide – 5 Steps to Start Decluttering your Life at: www.intentionalwithlaura.com/ 5-steps-to-start-decluttering-freebie LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 151

The White Tower Restaurant

delicious appetisers including warm duck salad, classic prawn cocktail and pan-seared scallops. For your main course choose from slow-cooked feather blade steak, roasted chunky cod fillet with crushed new potatoes and lobster sauce to lamb cutlets in a Dijon and mint crumb. For dessert enjoy a delicious crème brûlée and shortbread biscuit, raspberry chocolate brownie and vanilla ice cream or a creamy Lancashire and Garstang blue cheese plate. Whilst dining enjoy fabulous piano music on the first and last Saturday of every month from our resident pianist.

The White Tower restaurant is situated within the Casino Building at Blackpool Pleasure Beach and offers diners the opportunity to take in breathtaking views of the famous promenade and the Irish Sea.

T

his stylish penthouse restaurant with a private lift entrance, has a calming neutral tones decor and features a sunken bar, private outdoor terrace and real open fire.

If you’re looking for a unique dining experience join us at the White Tower.

Serving the finest local produce, the à la carte menu includes a host of

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The à la carte menu is available on Fridays and Saturday evenings from 5.00pm and our traditional Sunday lunch menu, serving roast sirloin of beef or slow roasted leg of lamb accompanied by Yorkshire pudding with vegetables and roast potatoes, is available from 12 noon until 4.00pm.

The White Tower runs various events throughout the year which combine fine foods and sheer indulgence which include a champagne afternoon tea to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee on 2nd June, celebrate Father’s Day in style on 19th June, enjoy lunch and have a great view of the Blackpool Air show on 14th August to festive Christmas lunches in December.  www.lancmag.com

WHITE TOWER RESTAURANT

BLACKPOOL PLEASURE BEACH

This award winning penthouse restaurant is situated in the art deco Casino Building.

A unique dining experience where you can relax in style.

A penthouse dining experience with panoramic views OPEN FOR EVENING DINING FRIDAY & SATURDAY and SUNDAY LUNCH

For reservations please call

01253 336403 CASINO BUILDING, BLACKPOOL PLEASURE BEACH

or book online www.whitetowerrestaurant.com

OPEN Friday and Saturday evenings from 5.00pm Sunday lunch from 12 noon

Credit Sean Conboy, view from the White Tower

 WHY NOT BOOK A SHOW & DINE PACKAGE? Dine in the White Tower with a two course meal before taking your seats at Hot Ice. The world’s most spectacular ice show is on at The Arena from 7th July to 10th September with the very best performers taking to the ice in this year’s production, Rapture. Show & Dine packages available opening night then every Friday and Saturday evening.

For details of all forthcoming events visit the restaurant website: whitetowerrestaurant.com Menus are subject to change.

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SHELEADS.ORG.UK

SHE

Leads

Global Facing Leadership Academy Blossoms in Bolton SHE LEADS may be the single most important outcome from the astonishing history of She Inspires, according to its founder Gulnaz Brennan. “Following seven years of exponential growth of She Inspires Awards” says Gulnaz, “the burgeoning leadership of our inspiring women is calling out to be harnessed.”

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Following the success of the book ‘100 Women 100 Stories’ written by Gulnaz in 2020, a new book ’22 Leaders’ will be published in 2022. The extraordinary women featured will also become the core of a new Leadership Academy. And all of them have made their mark in Bolton.

“Our awards have now become both National and Global” says Gulnaz. “Perhaps it’s no accident that when the world needs leadership most, we have seen it for ourselves. Women who recognise that cutting through the stagnation of nation inertia is the only option that will bring change. Real change.”

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K Register to be part of our team of inspiring women leaders and help the next generation of female leaders break the bias.

So each astonishing woman featured in the ’22 Leaders’ book will combine to become the SHE LEADS ACADEMY. Communities, businesses, educators, government offices and individuals can dip into this rich well of opportunity to learn and make progress with the achievement of their goals. And if anyone is ever unsure, the mantra is to ‘reach out’ and discover how they might be helped.

The world stage is not what it used to be. The biggest fear is that we have learned too little from history. We seem to make the same mistakes with impunity.

But the world is now less forgiving than ever it was. We need courage combined with wisdom, and held together with inspiration. It is exactly the right time for the SHE LEADS ACADEMY. And whilst the opportunity for communities and nation pillars is great, so it is for individuals. That’s how our leaders became who they are. When there’s something wrong that needs fixing, when there are disenfranchised groups and individuals, when they see a danger that our hearts have been separated from our heads, it takes a certain kind of boldness and clarity of thought to step forward.

The SHE LEADS ACADEMY will prove to everyone that leadership does not always have to be judged by size and numbers.

For each of us, the opportunity to step out of the shadows and make our voice

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22 Leaders

The voice of 22 inspirational women

heard is as extraordinary a demonstration of leadership as any.

Our featured leaders are both special and ordinary. They are who we all are, or who we want to be.

Our 22 leaders need to multiply into 220, 2200 and 220,000. If they do, perhaps the world has a chance.

For more information on SHE LEADS ACADEMY or the SHE LEADS BOOK email us at;

admin@sheleads.org.uk

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 157

Lou Sanders Announces Her Biggest Tour Yet

Critically-acclaimed stand-up and co-host of Broadcast Digital Award winning Unforgiveable, Lou Sanders announces her biggest tour yet with 45 dates nationwide performing the brandnew show One Word: Wow.

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he unique comedian is set to tour from 3rd March to 29th May 2022, including two performances at London’s Leicester Square Theatre. Tickets go on sale on at 10am on Friday 5th November and can be found at Lousanders.com.

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It’s time for a little get together; so pull up a chair, get all cosy and let Lou Sanders (aka Dr Giggles) tell you about the time she gave this horse a boner. She’ll bring her skates, you bring your wallet and you can all take some piccies. Perhaps this show is the real vaccine?

Consistently a critic’s and audience favourite, Lou’s previous celebrated show Say Hello To Your New Step-Mummy was selected as a top show to see in The Times, The Sunday Times, The Guardian, The I Newspaper, The Evening Standard, The Mirror, Time Out, and Joe.co.uk. www.lancmag.com

It played to sold-out audiences every day of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2019, with extra dates added to meet overwhelming demand for tickets, as well as across the UK with a sold-out run at London’s Soho Theatre.

While Lou’s hit 2018 show Shame Pig was selected as a top show to see in The Mirror, The Guardian, Guardian Guide, The Times, The Scotsman, Evening Standard, Time Out, The List, The Daily Express, and Edinburgh Festivals Magazine and played to sold-out audiences throughout the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2018 and across the UK where she picked up a Comedian’s Choice Award and an Edinburgh Poster Award win. Away from the stage, Lou writes regular columns for The Guardian and Metro.

On TV, Lou is the co-host of Dave’s Unforgivable which was recently crowned Best Entertainment Programme at the Broadcast Digital Awards 2021, while she has featured on The Late Late Show with James Corden (CBS), starred in the Emmy nominated and BAFTA winning comedy game show Taskmaster (Dave), has appeared on Live At The Apollo (BBC One), 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown (Channel 4), QI (BBC Two), Travel Man (Channel 4), Hypothetical (Dave), 8 Out of 10 Cats (Channel 4) Karl Pilkington’s sitcom Sick of It (Sky One), Roast Battle UK (Comedy Central), The Russell Howard Hour (Sky One), Jon Richardson’s Ultimate Worrier (Dave), Red Nose Day Stand Off for Comic Relief (BBC One), Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled (Dave), Stand Up At BBC Wales (BBC Two), and Lou can regularly be heard on The Unbelievable Truth (BBC Radio 4).

APRIL 01 Friday

Ipswich, Corn Exchange

02 Saturday

Cheltenham, Parabola

03 Sunday

Exeter, Exeter Phoenix

06 Wednesday

Reading, South Street Arts

07 Thursday

Reigate, Harlequin Theatre

08 Friday

Camberley, The Camberley Theatre

09 Saturday

Swindon, Wyvern Theatre

10 Sunday

Birmingham, Glee

22 Friday

Ilkley, Kings Hall

23 Saturday

Liverpool, Playhouse

27 Wednesday

Cambridge, Junction

28 Thursday

Nottingham, Glee

29 Friday

Eastleigh, The Point

30 Saturday

Lancaster, Dukes

WHAT THE PRESS HAVE SAID ABOUT LOU SANDERS:

MAY 01 Sunday

Sheffield, Leadmill

06 Friday

London, Leicester Square

“Lou Sanders deserves a Comedy Award nod for this show… her best show yet” - Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard HHHH

08 Sunday

Cardiff, Glee

12 Thursday

Northallerton, Forum

“The breakout star is clearly Lou Sanders, an unexploded bomb of a woman who manages to introduce an element of violent jeopardy into everything she does” - Stuart Heritage, The Guardian

13 Friday

Barnard Castle, The Witham

14 Saturday

Alnwick, Alnwick Playhouse

15 Sunday

Newcastle, Newcastle Stand

19 Thursday

Leamington, Royal Spa Centre

20 Friday

Leicester, Y Theatre

21 Saturday

Northampton, Royal & Derngate

22 Sunday

Portsmouth, Wedgewood Rooms

25 Wednesday

Peterborough, Key Theatre

27 Friday

Colchester, Colchester Arts Centre

28 Saturday

Salisbury, Playhouse

29 Sunday

Bexhill, De La Warr Pavilion

“Enormously enjoyable hour of stand-up from one of comedy’s most unique voices… Irresistibly good” - Alice Jones, The I HHHH

“Say Hello To Your New Step-Mummy, should cement her as a comic who is unique and to be treasured… another impressive show from Sanders: courageous, funny and unique” - Paul Fleckney, Chortle HHHH “Brilliantly funny, at times throwing away improvised jokes that are better than you’ll see in another act’s show… stand-up gold” - John Stansfield, The Skinny HHHH “It’s bold and empowering and it’s absolutely, resolutely Lou Sanders at her best“ - Chiara Margiotta, Edinburgh Festivals Magazine HHHH “Punchy and wild anecdotes prove honesty is the best policy” - Craig Angus, The List HHHH www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 159

MIRANDA CHRISTOPHER life, group or business at the same time as teaching them the tools I use, they can apply the knowledge for themselves and, where appropriate, for others. My approach creates a ripple of transformation bigger than I would be able to do on my own.

Why might making myself redundant be perceived as bad business practice?

Because it tends to go against the philosophy of traditional business which is of keeping a customer for life.

It’s a big learning curve that so many entrepreneurs become overwhelmed with. You often hear the new entrepreneur saying, “But I can help anyone” and technically it may be true until you look from the perspective of the client.

When we learn to connect to the results that our heart really desires, it becomes so easy to “niche” and see those obvious next steps that are not so obvious when viewing from the starting point.

Your next question might then be, “why do people need support on the journey?” and to answer this thoroughly we would need to get into the subject of how our beliefs and personality are formed and how these are encoded in our bodies.

B

eing a Transformation Leader sounds very grand, yet what I do is very simple. Imagine you are setting off in your car to a new destination. You’ve never been there before but you have heard it’s a really great place to go. And there is one thing you already know, your starting point. Once upon a time, you would have used a printed map and worked out the roads you needed to traverse to arrive at your chosen destination.

These days, it’s quite likely you’d just use an app on your phone to guide you.

The principle however is the same, you use resources to navigate the way.

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Consider me as the resource, helping individuals, groups, and businesses to check that what they want is really what they want; verify the starting point and then help them create the route map to get there, one obvious step at a time. The difference in every situation is the tools I use.

The way I operate is to create frameworks that enable people to learn as they are on their transformation journey, thus at some point I make myself redundant.

By helping people to transform their

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Suffice to say that when we move away from who we believe we are towards being the person who already has what we desire, then the psychological resistance shows up in the form of sabotage. Our current identity (aka ego) seeks to keep us safe by keeping us the same, even if where we are now is extremely painful. By helping people, groups, and businesses to recode themselves, removing that psychological resistance in the transformation process, means they can create success so much easier.

Think about a time that you have wanted to achieve something, it might be for you personally, for a group or team you belong to or for your business. It could be weight www.lancmag.com

My Obvious Next Step... loss, a new relationship, a higher performing team or maybe a business re-organisation. You may have got a long way towards your outcome, you may have even achieved your outcome yet, somehow, you ended up back where you started or possibly in a much worse off place.

One business I worked with undertook, what appeared to them at the start, a straightforward business re-structuring transformation. They costed it out at somewhere between £2 and £3 Million. When I was engaged to do a turnaround piece, the programme had achieved part of what it set out to do but had blown the budget with a spend of £52 Million. Yes, you read that right.

Their philosophy had been that they had spent this much so they just had to continue with it. Much like the person who continues in the relationship because they have been together for so long, even though both parties are unhappy.

When a new Finance Director was appointed, he wanted to know if the future predicted spend would actually achieve what they had set out to do.

Hence, my turnaround gig. What I actually helped them do was to create a new starting point, re-connect with their end game, which we discovered had changed in the 3 years the programme had been running (2 years beyond its original date) and create a new strategy and plan for getting there – looking at the situation with fresh new eyes.

You don’t have to throw out the ‘baby with the bath water’, you just have to step back, re-assess and use all the information available to then make new choices. A simple statement which is often challenging to do.

When we are embedded in the current situation; in an unhappy relationship, running an underperforming team or struggling to get the results in business, it can, to use another saying, be difficult to ‘see the wood for the trees’ and hence why you may require an external fresh eyes perspective. www.lancmag.com

And this is where my tried and trusted approach of taking time out and just “sitting with it” is useful. It’s what I did for myself at the end of 2021. As a result, I have clarity on my role of Transformation Leader offering services to people that I feel connected to.

Now for my obvious next step, getting back to live in-person events.

Activate the Goddess Within™ is a framework I have developed over the last two years which helps women to gain balance in life, in work or in business; giving them the time to

do more of what makes them happy.

It’s an approach that I have been piloting for the last year with a chosen number of private clients and I am now ready to deliver as a live inperson workshop in Preston. I have to say that I am beyond delighted to be running in-person events again. More details are available on my website. www.mirandachristopher.com

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Springing Forward With a Celebration of The New

Above: Rachel Goodyear: Concentration 2022. Courtesy and copyright the artist. Photo: Michael Pollard.

Grundy Art Gallery is delighted to announce details of its upcoming spring 2022 programme.

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pring season at Grundy Art Gallery is always a time for celebrating the ‘new’, new ideas, new artworks, and new experiments as well as an invitation to our visitors to come and see things in new ways.

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Cllr Kathryn Benson, Cabinet Member for Community Engagement, Aspiration and Community Assets, said: ‘’With its focus on new discoveries, spring is always an exciting time at Grundy Art Gallery. With its range of new exhibitions and artworks being presented both inside and outside the gallery, I am looking forward to seeing what this consistently exciting art gallery has to offer.”  www.lancmag.com



EXHIBITIONS:

RACHEL GOODYEAR: STIRRINGS c 26 March – 11 June 2022 PGrundy Art Gallery: - Ground Floor Galleries 2, 3 + 4 This spring Grundy Art Gallery will launch ‘Stirrings’ by the internationally recognised, north-west based artist Rachel Goodyear. ‘Stirrings’ will be the first major solo exhibition by the artist in a north-west museum and art gallery. It has been co-commissioned by Grundy Art Gallery and the University of Salford Art Collection and will include new large-scale drawings and a new animation. While the animation shows Goodyear experimenting with structure and sound, the new works on paper see the artist working at a scale larger than ever before. Elements from the exhibition will be jointly acquired into the permanent collections of Grundy Art Gallery and the University of Salford Art Collection. The exhibition will also tour to Salford Museum and Art Gallery from 15 July 2022.

Over her 20-year career, Goodyear has retained a core commitment to the act of drawing, as well as a commitment to the expansion of drawing as a medium. Throughout her practice, her drawings have found their way onto bus tickets, diary pages and envelopes; as well as onto more conventional sources of paper; while her experiments with drawing as a form, have seen her works take shape as sculpture, animation, performance and installation. For this new exhibition, Goodyear has experimented with scale, making her largest and most detailed drawing to date. With heightened detail, bodies contort, a wolf-pack is tangled into a single entity of snarls and fur and figures explore sensations that hold an ambiguous balance of pleasure and discomfort.

Goodyear often describes her drawings as ‘fragments’ – like glimpses from a half remembered dream or a distorted memory – frozen in a moment. For ‘Stirrings’, alongside new works on paper, Goodyear has also developed a major new installation. With nods to mythological journeys into the Underworld, Dante’s levels of Hell and our continuous scrolling through social media, Goodyear’s animation takes the form of a never-ending descent. With a specially commissioned soundtrack by Matt Wand, Goodyear’s frozen moments are locked in time to be repeated forever.

COLLECTION SPOTLIGHT: PATTI MAYOR Part Two c 26 March – 11 June PGrundy Art Gallery – Ground Floor Gallery 1 Collection Spotlight exhibitions are an opportunity for Grundy Art Gallery to highlight individual artists or showcase a specific selection of works from the Grundy’s collection. In 2022, Grundy Art Gallery is marking the 150th anniversary of the birth of the Preston born artist and suffragist, Patti Mayor, with a Collection Spotlight exhibition 164

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presented in two parts. While Part One previously focused on Patti’s painted portraits, Part Two takes us behind the scenes. Along with the 28+ paintings by Patti, Grundy Art Gallery also holds a large number of the artists’ works on paper. These works in pen, pencil and watercolour fill numerous sketchbooks, loose pieces of paper and torn out diary pages and show the artist at play, testing out different subject matters and materials. Presented together for the first time here at Grundy Art Gallery, these pieces show how drawing was central to the artist’s practice as a way to record observations, capture ideas and to refine her technique.

WE’RE STILL HERE!: STUART LINDEN RHODES c 14 February – 11 June PGrundy Art Gallery Exterior – Forecourt Commission Continuing Grundy Art Gallery’s forecourt exhibition series is a solo exhibition of the work of Stuart Linden Rhodes.

The exhibition is presented as part of a project called We’re Still Here! developed by Blackpool based artists, Garth Gratrix and Harry Clayton-Wright. We’re Still Here! seeks to create a visual and oral histories archive of LGBTQIA+ communities in Blackpool. To celebrate LGBT History Month, We’re Still Here! has commissioned Stuart Linden Rhodes to present a selection of archival photographic studies of 90’s LGBTQIA+ nightlife culture in Blackpool to coincide with the launch of the artists’ new publication.

Coming soon…

BLACKPOOL STANDS BETWEEN US AND REVOLUTION: TOM IRELAND PGrundy Art Gallery Exterior Blackpool Stands Between Us and Revolution, is an illuminated text-based artwork for Blackpool’s civic space.

The work is a large-scale rendering of a quote from the 1920s that underlines Blackpool’s vital role within the lives of working people as a site for recreation and release. The work is the result of a 2019 open commission opportunity led by Blackpool Council’s Arts Service to provide Blackpool with a number of new permanent and temporary public realm art works. Tom Ireland is a Blackpool based artist and curator, whose work has been exhibited locally, nationally and internationally.

WORKSHOPS / TALKS AND EVENTS: The spring programme will be supported by a range of activities and events that will provide opportunities to find out more about the art and artists on display, as well as exploring and developing the participants’ own creativity.

Sign up to the Grundy newsletter via the Grundy website www.thegrundy.org and keep an eye on the website and watch out for posts via Grundy’s social media channels to find out more. n www.lancmag.com

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A Beach for Every Day of the Year

By Sharmen Frith-Hemmings

National Flag 

Imagine a place where you can spend literally every day of the year on a different beach! imagine the feel of sand between your toes and imagine the look of the glistening white or pink sand as you sink your toes into it…

Y

esss! we are back in the Caribbean and this time the nation of Antigua and Barbuda.

Antigua has 365 beaches a very unique point for such a small island, and they all have different features. Take Fort James for instance, it has a real history. It was built by the British in the 18th century and the old cannons are still in place. There’s also a great view of the surrounding harbour. pigeon point is on the South of the island it’s one of the most picturesque beaches that you can imagine on the island. Barbuda beaches have pink sand perhaps one of the only places in the world with pink sand beaches, also there’s Rendezvous beach a place where you can relax in your birthday

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suit. Although not visited by many tourists because the access is pretty rough terrain, and you would need a four-wheel drive. Once you are there… it is such a tranquil place that you just want to stay.

Apart from the large hotels that Antigua is home to, some of the greatest and the best attractions are the little street food shacks that can be found on the beaches and in the town and the villages. These are the best places to venture out to sample the local food.

You can sample the Fungi and Pepper Pot which is Antigua’s national dish. you can also sample a whole range of local dishes including, fish, soups, and stews. On the beaches, you would find great seafood so places like Millers by the Sea on Fort James beach and on crab hill beach they specialise in seafood, and oh my goodness is it tasty or what?

So, what else does Antigua have to offer? Antigua is home to Sir Viv Richards one of the greatest fast

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bowlers of all time in the history of cricket. Sir Viv Richards played cricket in the 70s and the 80s for Antigua and spent some time here in England playing for Somerset. Vivian He is an ambassador for his Island and will not hesitate to take every opportunity to promote Antigua. Antigua’s twin island Barbuda produces some of the best lobsters in the Caribbean and is home to the black pineapple. This pineapple is the sweetest pineapple that you will ever taste. Barbuda is not as easy to get to but there’s a ferry that sails from Antigua to Barbuda and the hotel there is absolutely gorgeous it is secretive and secluded and many celebrities would visit to get away from the rest of the world and the paparazzi.

Antigua has little Rum shops where you can sample some of the best rum, it’s important that if you visit Antigua that you take the opportunity to visit some of these rum shops and enjoy the variety of alcoholic drinks that the island has to offer. This is where you will meet the local legends that will

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that are all too willing to let you know about the history of Antigua and the things that are on offer.

Antigua plays host to a week of sailing competitions with sailing drills and competitions during the day followed by rum boat parties and concerts to a reggae soundtrack through the night.

Antigua’s sailing competition is a week-long yacht regatta held at English harbour, the home to residents and visitors’ yachts. You can see several

of them in all their glorious display, it is just so picturesque. This is usually held between late April and early May, we’re talking about 1,500 participants and over 5,000 spectators, it welcomes sailors from all over the world. Over the last decade, the Antigua sailing week has become one of the largest sailing events in the international sailing calendar. It attracts competitors of the highest calibre, top Olympic yachtsman, and keen sailors alike. The week consists of six days of racing in what is quite easily described as the best sailing conditions in the world.

As a young woman in the 90’s Cassada Gardens racetrack was one of the most popular places to be on a weekend buzzing with life and enjoyment. I spent many a Sunday hanging out by the track with friends, watching our favourite horses cruise by.

There are so many things to enjoy in Antigua but none greater than the annual Antigua carnival. This is held

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the last week in July to the first week in August. A full two weeks of festival loaded with fun. A true expression of culture. The timing is set to celebrate the emancipation of slavery and boy! do they really celebrate. The party goes on till the wee hours of the morning. Prepare to get soaked with water as revellers spray water all over the crowd in true Antiguan style.

The carnival costumes are crafted by the locals in ‘Mas Camp’ a mustvisit for anyone wanting to see the hard work that goes into the sea of colour on J’ouvert. Other highlights of the carnival season include beauty pageants, calypso shows, steel bands, children’s activities, and cultural shows. The list can go on but it’s safe to say that the Antigua Carnival is the largest in the Caribbean and attracts visitors from all over the Caribbean and beyond. It is something that once experienced never forgotten. It has been said that the Antigua Carnival is an unforgettable spectacle of fun, excitement, and colour.

Carnival is not the only splash of colour that Antiguans enjoy, the National Flower Dagger Log (Agave Karatto) is a radiant splash of sunshine yellow. The National bird is the magnificent Frigate a red chested species.

The national dress is a vibrant Madras and the national flag is a combination of red, yellow, blue and white. These all combine as an expression of the vibrancy of a people who are proud of their heritage.

Antigua Carnival Parade 

Antigua & Barbuda’s National Dish 

The Vibrant National Dress 

Antigua is literally the gateway to the Caribbean it hosts the VC Bird International Airport and almost all international flights land here for changes to other island destinations.

So next time you want to relax stop and smell the rum and the lobster in Antigua and Barbuda.

M 5 Brennand Street, Burnley BB10 1SU

National Bird - The Magnificent Frigate 

E info@mamashars.com N 07988 890974 F @mamashars I @mamashars

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Mama Shar’s Caribbean Cooking

Introducing our amazing Foods of the Caribbean columnist Sharmen Frith – Hemmings, who every month whisks us away and transports us to a different beautiful Caribbean Island and helps us experience the culture, the uniqueness of each island and introduces us to the beautiful cuisine.

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e get to learn all about the Caribbean and their traditional but tasty recipes.

So far, we have visited Montserrat, Dominica, the Island of Anguilla and Antigua.

After leaving the beautiful Island of Montserrat in 1997 because of the devastation caused by a volcanic

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eruption, Sharmen, then a young lady, joined her mother, who was already living in Burnley, Lancashire. After re-educating herself at university, she achieved a degree in law and worked as an Administration Supervisor at the Courts. She then went on to study a Masters in Social Work and practised as a Social Worker for over 10 years.

Unfortunately, Sharmen’s Mum became ill during this time and she could only work part-time as she had to look after her mum. Being adventurous as she is, she then trained to be a personal trainer, teaching weightlifting but after receiving an injury she took some time out.

But Shar’s passion has always been cooking...so she started making healthy Caribbean food for her friends

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and that gave her the idea of starting her own catering business.

In December 2017 she started food prep in Preston and 2 years later hired a kitchen in Burnley where she recycled the kitchen with her family, which took almost 8 months but unfortunately a few months later, Lockdown happened and created a massive setback for business. During the lockdown, she took the time to study again and putting herself through 3 diplomas in Food Production, Team Leading, Human Resources and Infection control. Social Media went from strength to strength during the pandemic, so Sharmen took advantage of Instagram to promote her business.

She purchased her van and has had it decorated in vibrant colours to

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promote her vibrant way of cooking.

Sharmen runs lots of courses too.

In May she is starting her popular ‘’Cooking the Caribbean Way’’ and she is offering an amazing discount to our readers... normally the course which runs over four Wednesday evenings is £197pp but the first 10 people to sign up will be able to join in for only £100pp. This can be done over Zoom too, so if you want to create mouth watering recipes- spice up your cooking using different techniques and culinary skills, contact Sharmen.

You will learn how to make authentic Caribbean food from Jerk Chicken, Fried Dumplings to Special Fried Fish and Sautéed Cabbage - you provide the ingredients and Sharmen will provide the spices and show you how to make the best of them!

During the winter, Sharmen has been helping the homeless people of Burnley by offering them free hot food and drinks from her shop on Brennand Street. Sharmen loves to go to church and wanted to give back to the community.

Now that Summer is fast approaching us, this is the time of the year when Mama Shar’s Caribbean cooking brings sunshine into our lives. They like to boast that they bring authentic, delicious, and affordable Caribbean meals and Celebration Cakes to give amazing flavours. They provide event planning, catering, and street food with an altogether high service to their customers.

You will find Mama Shar’s at lots of festivals and events this year. The Burnley Artisan Market with over 50

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producers of local food, drink, art and craft. Plus street food and live music there will be something for everyone!

You can find Sharmen on St James’s Street on the first Saturday of each month until the end of the year. 10am to 4pm. Colne Artisan Market every 2nd Saturday of the month.

You will also find her at: Colne Soapbox Rally June 12th 2022 Alongside the Artisan Market there will be a full funfair, street food, music, entertainment and more.

Festival of Nelson June 18th 2022.

Windrush 74 in Preston June 19th 2022 The Festival started in 2013 and is a full day of music, entertainment and street food. Yorkshire Food and Drink Festival 2022 on July 22nd until 24th July - Yorkshires biggest festival at Funfirk Farm, Skipton. There are also live celebrity demos by The Hairy Bikers and James Martin, workshops, masterclasses and of course Mama Shar’s Caribbean cuisine.

Mama Shar’s can cater for all your Al Fresco needs, boasting a beautiful mobile catering van and gazebo, which can fulfil all your outside catering plans from office parties, weddings, events, and private dining. Bookings are now being taken, so if you are looking for something different, a taste of the Caribbean. If you are looking for a Celebration Cake, Sharmen loves to bake and has catered for many of her friends weddings.

She has also recently introduced a selection of own-label special seasonings which are available to buy online at mamashars.com

You can find her takeaway business on Burnley Eats and Just Eat and they are planning to be on Deliveroo in the future. They also do plant based cuisine.

You can also visit her shop at 5, Brennand Street, Burnley, BB10 1SU It opens Monday to Saturday from 4pm until 9pm. They have recently revised their menu and new opening times.

M 5 Brennand Street, Burnley BB10 1SU E info@mamashars.com N 07988 890974 F @mamashars I @mamashars

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An Authentic Taste of the Caribbean

COOKING THE CARIBBEAN WAY A 4-week step by step guided course, run by an experienced qualified Caribbean Chef LEARN THE SECRETS, SKILLS & INGREDIENTS OF CARIBBEAN COOKING WEDNESDAYS | MAY 4TH - MAY 24TH 7:00PM - 9:00PM

TO REGISTER

& MORE INFORMATION

contact us 07988890974 @mamashars

An Authentic Taste of the Caribbean

WHATS INCLUDED Over 10 hrs of guided cooking sessions 1-1 session with an experienced Caribbean Chef 2 complimentary bottles of Mama Shar's specialty Caribbean Seasoning (1 meat, 1 multi purpose) Learn about the history of Caribbean Cooking Learn to use spices to create mouth watering meals Learn techniques to improve your every day cooking Cook popular Caribbean dishes from Day 1 Learn some of best techniques for bringing out the flavour of food

...and much much more!

LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE!

CALM YOUR OVERWHELM TO LIVE A ZEN LIFE

Overwhelm... the amount of people who are coming out as life coaches or something similar. There is so much choice out there that you could almost be overwhelmed (another reason for me writhing this article) once again with the amount of information getting thrown out there. My advice is to make sure if you’re going to work with a Coach, ensure they are qualified, check out their testimonials and see if their energy and personality resonates with you so you are engaging in a trusted and accountable relationship.

Have you or are you currently experiencing this feeling?

This is a topic that crops up in conversations most days in my work with clients, students and chats with friends and family.

T

he past two years has been monumental in playing a part in change – and that change can affect us in different ways, some people move more quickly with it and adapt and others come completely from the opposite end of the scale and can let it take them down, almost consuming every cell in their body.

However you choose to deal with change – it can be partly down to your personality, and genetic makeup but if you have self-awareness, and learn to cultivate this, you will begin to and understand more about how you think and how you feel and how it impacts your behaviours and the results that you get in your life, and that this is the life you are giving yourself.

You don’t have to be stuck in the life, the job, the relationship you are in. You can move, you have choices, they may not good choices but knowing you have them gives you a sense of hope and a doorway to a new life. So by knowing you can choose different ways to navigate yourself through life instead of trudging through treacle is a game changer.

More and more people are talking about personal development, personal growth or personal transformation.

You can see on social media people posting positive quotes, inspirational reels and pictures. From my perspective as a Coach for 20 years I have noticed a huge increase in

The world of personal development is all about growth mindset, and coming away from being fixed to just your own beliefs, values, thoughts and feelings. It’s also about none judgment of yourself, it’s about truly connecting to who you are, learning from life, making mistakes and trying again. No one is perfect but if you look at social media hours for hours on end each day then that’s what your comparing your life to. A lot of people posting the perfect life, perfect home, perfect baked cakes even.

Guess what perfection doesn’t exist– there’s no such thing.

So leave that one right there or even throw it out the window. Part of why we may feel overwhelmed is down to many things as mentioned but the more we realise what we can’t control and let go of things, such as; people, places, experience, events the more we can move forward in our lives with less baggage, therefore feeling more in flow.

SO LET ME HELP YOU BY EXPLAINING EMOTIONAL OVERWHELM… It is a state of being surrounded by intense emotion that is difficult to manage. It can affect your ability to think and act rationally. It could also prevent you from performing daily tasks. Emotional overwhelm may be caused by stress, traumatic life experiences, relationship issues, and much more.

It can affect you in any area of your life from career, finances, mental, physical, environmental and relationships.

So do you recognise this? It’s not a nice emotion to experience, however this is a part of life. The best thing for you to firstly recognise that you’re in overwhelm, or that you’re on your way to it and then when you can do something about it to help you and the situation you are in. This comes through being self-aware and becoming conscious of your thoughts, feelings and behaviours.

This is something I used to suffer with a lot. Being an ESFJ in my Myers Briggs personality type I like to be on the go all the time, doing, helping, pushing, achieving, organising however this leads to overwhelm, low energy, sickness and burnout. 

D thepurpose-pusher.com I the_purposepusher L Claire-morton-high-performance -coach F https://bit.ly/thesuccessfulkindset

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Performance Spiritual Business Coach

 Hence I discovered yoga, meditation and energy Are youwhen a high performing leader?

Bio for consideration for: *Expert Comment * Radio/TV Interviews *Features * Q&As *

Profiles CLAIRE MORTON - THE PURPOSE PUSHER

work in 2013 I decided to change my life. My life has become more Zen over the last 3 years in particular, if you’d have known me 5, 10 or 20 years ago, I’m a completely different person today than what I was. I was a crank, not one who showed it outwardly, it was all inside my head and body so I was a complete stress head and constantly overwhelmed and burnt out.

Are you tired, stressed and burnt out?

A multiple award winner with over 20 years of coaching experience in the private and public sector, Claire is an expert in meditation, mindfulness, emotional intelligence, yoga, and wellbeing care as well as being a fully qualified yoga teacher.

Are you longing for transformation?

Do you feel lost?

I decided to leave my corporate job in 2017 to leave the Do you want who overwhelm and findto the reconnect Zen, its taken meto a while but you I got really are? here. I will also admit that I am a human being and I still

Do want changebutyour life? canyou get stressed andto overwhelmed I now have the tools,

skills and techniques to pull me out pretty quick. I’m able to respond effectively as opposed to react like a knob head.

She is an expert in meditation, mindfulness, emotional Would you like to invite in love and light?

One of the UK’s most sought-after transformational well-being coaches, bestselling auth

intelligence,andyoga, and wellspreading as the message podcast host Clairewellbeing is a highly qualifiedcare, woman onas a mission banish burnout and that living a life of reduced stress is not only possible, being a fully qualified yoga teacher alongside her but well within - and she believes it’s the responsibility of high achievers to find this balance, so that the work as a Master practitioner and leadership harness their NLP true potential and make impactful changes in their worlds. Advocating ‘Con she is passionate about halting the hustle culture, something which saw he developmentConnection’, specialist. anxiety, depression and an alcohol dependence and now uses her coaching and leadersh

SO HERE ARE MY 7 TIPS TO TAKE YOU FROM OVERWHELM TO ZEN

Are you looking to create space and balance in your life?

1 If you answered YES to most or all of these questions then I invite you 2 with open arms to connect with me.

3you. I understand where you are at. There were many points in my life where I just needed a break or change from I feel Rise Early. Now, we are well aware that this is one of those tips that’s way easier said than done. ...

experience combined with her meditation and Master NLP qualifications to help high pe “sort their head out” and become stronger in body and mind, so they can fulfil their true with confidence and clarity.

Exercise. We all know that exercise is important and that we could be doing more of it. ...

She is passionate about working with people to help them leave the world a better place they found it, as a result of increasing collective consciousness as a wider community.

Declutter. ...the home, the car, the office - create space Someone who struggled herself with being constrained to corporate and societal bounda so energy can filter through, start with a simple task free spirit who in her youth embraced new adventures and her freedom of expression - s that to constrain us is to kill us, and that it doesn’t have to be this way! Having struggled each day, empty 1 drawer at a time or 1 cupboard a day the place I was in, whether that be physically, mentally, emotionally, financially oridentity, spiritually.

When I sought outthatform with her having an outer body experience in herit teens made her question e

4

masters all aover the world, my breathing, journey and lifeform transformed Take Breather - try deep any of breath completely.

and had her believing she had gone ‘mad’ for many years as she challenged the meaning

work to allow the body to come into balance - rest and digest So who am I ???

5

Meditate. ...focus on a mantra,I’m a Claire candle,Morton a guided - Coach, Author, Podcaster and Meditation Teacher and I work meditation - note -its not about clearing your mind, its with high performing leaders, creative artists and entrepreneurs to facilitate the observing your mind (with no judgement)

6 7

creation of space and balance to allow them to connect to their truth, working a blend of neuroscience, coaching and spiritual education. With a focus on mindset, energy healing and the body to allow them to accelerate with confidence and purpose in their life and business.

Treat Yourself... with to something that brings you joy

Give time for sleep - recommended is 8 hours

Advocating ‘Conscious Connection’, I am passionate about halting the hustle

These are techniques I cover in my teachings, we go deeper culture, something with meditation, basic yoga practice, breath work, energywhich saw me suffer anxiety, depression and an alcohol dependence andinnow work and transformational sub conscious coaching my I use my coaching and leadership experience combined with retreats and leadership workshops. These events are and where my meditation Master NLP qualifications to help high performers “sort their n the transformational changes take place. head out” and become stronger in body and mind, so they can fulfil their true

purpose with confidence and clarity.

Always remember you are safe, you are loved, you are enough If you’d like to know more about Claire offerings, services and free resources, check the link: D https://thepurposepusher.com/resources/

My services include One to One bespoke Coaching, Transformational Wellbeing Retreats, Keynote Speaking, Coaching Masterminds and Modern Meditation Courses.

If any of this resonates with you, reach out to me on the following social media handles. I look forward to connecting with you. Check out my free resources on my website.

Namaste, Claire.

WEBSITE: https://thepurpose-pusher.com | INSTAGRAM: https://bit.ly/the_purposepusherinstagram LINKED IN: https://bit.ly/linkedinclairemorton | PODCAST: https://bit.ly/honesttogobpod

Performance Spiritual Business Coach

 Hence when I discovered yoga, meditation and energy work in 2013 I decided to change my life. My life has become more Zen over the last 3 years in particular, if you’d have known me 5, 10 or 20 years ago, I’m a completely different person today than what I was. I was a crank, not one who showed it outwardly, it was all inside my head and body so I was a complete stress head and constantly overwhelmed and burnt out.

I decided to leave my corporate job in 2017 to leave the overwhelm and find the Zen, its taken me a while but I got here. I will also admit that I am a human being and I still can get stressed and overwhelmed but I now have the tools, skills and techniques to pull me out pretty quick. I’m able to respond effectively as opposed to react like a knob head.

SO HERE ARE MY 7 TIPS TO TAKE YOU FROM OVERWHELM TO ZEN

1 2 3

Rise Early. Now, we are well aware that this is one of those tips that’s way easier said than done. ...

Exercise. We all know that exercise is important and that we could be doing more of it. ...

Declutter. ...the home, the car, the office - create space so energy can filter through, start with a simple task each day, empty 1 drawer at a time or 1 cupboard a day

4

Take a Breather - try deep breathing, any form of breath work to allow the body to come into balance - rest and digest

Bio for consideration for: *Expert Comment * Radio/TV Interviews *Features * Q&As *Bus

Profiles CLAIRE MORTON - THE PURPOSE PUSHER

A multiple award winner with over 20 years of coaching experience in the private and public sector, Claire is an expert in meditation, mindfulness, emotional intelligence, yoga, and wellbeing care as well as being a fully qualified yoga teacher.

She is an expert in meditation, mindfulness, emotional One of the UK’s most sought-after transformational well-being coaches, bestselling author, intelligence,andyoga, and wellspreading as the message tha podcast host Clairewellbeing is a highly qualifiedcare, woman onas a mission banish burnout and that living a life of reduced stress is not only possible, being a fully qualified yoga teacher alongside her but well within ou - and she believes it’s the responsibility of high achievers to find this balance, so that they ca work as a Master practitioner and leadership harness their NLP true potential and make impactful changes in their worlds. Advocating ‘Consci she is passionate about halting the hustle culture, something which saw her su developmentConnection’, specialist. anxiety, depression and an alcohol dependence and now uses her coaching and leadership

experience combined with her meditation and Master NLP qualifications to help high perfor “sort their head out” and become stronger in body and mind, so they can fulfil their true pu with confidence and clarity.

She is passionate about working with people to help them leave the world a better place tha they found it, as a result of increasing collective consciousness as a wider community.

Someone who struggled herself with being constrained to corporate and societal boundarie free spirit who in her youth embraced new adventures and her freedom of expression - she that to constrain us is to kill us, and that it doesn’t have to be this way! Having struggled for with her identity, having an outer body experience in her teens that made her question ever and had her believing she had gone ‘mad’ for many years as she challenged the meaning of

5

Meditate. ...focus on a mantra, a candle, a guided meditation - note -its not about clearing your mind, its observing your mind (with no judgement)

6 7

Treat Yourself... to something that brings you joy

Give time for sleep - recommended is 8 hours

These are techniques I cover in my teachings, we go deeper with meditation, basic yoga practice, breath work, energy work and transformational sub conscious coaching in my retreats and leadership workshops. These events are where the transformational changes take place.n

Always remember you are safe, you are loved, you are enough If you’d like to know more about Claire offerings, services and free resources, check the link: D https://thepurposepusher.com/resources/

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siness

speaker at we CAN ur reality an ious uffer

rmers urpose

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People come to stay with us when an aspect of their life is overwhelming all else.

Whether it be their relationship with alcohol, substances or behaviour, we help guests heal and take back control. Delamere Health Ltd is the UK’s only purpose-built behavioural health clinic. Set discreetly amidst six acres of grounds beside Delamere Forest in Cheshire, we offer exemplary care in a dignified setting.

To find out more, visit Delamere.com or contact our admissions team on 0330 111 2015

HAPAG-LLOYD AG TO RECEIVE

The first company to receive recognition owning to their outstanding practise, commitments, and concern towards the protection of endangered whale populations from lethal ship strikes.

F

riend of the Sea, a conservation project by the World Sustainability Organization is pleased to award Hapag-Lloyd, one of the world’s leading shipping companies, the highest level of Whale-Safe recognition for its outstanding degree of engagement and effort towards the conservation of endangered whales under ongoing threat from whale-ship collisions.

Whale-ship collisions remains a neglected yet concerning issue 176

onset by the maritime industry.

Studies have shown that collisions with ships represent one of the most salient threats to whales, prompting concerns that continual neglect may dwindle the already endangered species’ pass the tipping point towards extinction.

With the shipping industry steadily expanding by 3% annually, Friend of the Sea initiated the WhaleSafe campaign out of concern for corresponding surmised rises in collision induced mortalities.

The initiative, launched in 2020, was motivated after internally conducted research exposed the severity of the issue, which has since garnered encouraging media attention over the last two years clearly outlining its neglect and subsequent significance. The culminating Friend of the Sea Whale-Safe award is intended to attract further critical awareness and to spur collective dialogue towards

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designing effective solutions, and ultimately imperative change within the maritime industry.

“Friend of the Sea strives to amplify the voices of shipping operators who outspokenly recognise the sea, not merely as a convenient venture, but as a resource of intrinsic value that we must respect and protect” Paolo Bray, Founder and Director of Friend of the Sea Friend of the Sea assessed the top 20 shipping and cruise line operators globally according to their level of compliance, engagement and efforts directed in abating whale-ship collisions.

Through meticulous scrutiny of internal environmental reports & policies, direct engagement with relevant sustainability associates and exhaustive inspection of all available information online, Hapag-Lloyd was found to have achieved the highest score for its www.lancmag.com

FRIEND OF THE SEA’S WHALE-SAFE AWARD

active involvement in numerable voluntary initiatives underscoring its distinguished efforts.

Hapag-Lloyd actively advocates in collaboration with the World Shipping Council (WSC) for the movement of one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes that currently intersects with high densities of blue whale population. It is suggested that a mere 15 nautical mile refinement of the current route situated on the southern top of Sri Lanka would see whale-ship collisions reduce by 95%. Hapag-Lloyd also participates in the Enhancing Cetacean Habitat and Observation (ECHO) research program, an initiative aimed at better understanding the effects of shipping towards whales migrating the coast of British Columbia and building possible solutions for underwater noise reduction. www.lancmag.com

Hapag-Lloyd also led the Protecting Blue Whales and Blue skies scheme by cruising 89% of the distance travelled in the San Francisco Bay and the Santa Barbara at a whale-safe speed of 10 knots or less, earning them the highest ‘sapphire’ award, shared with only one other shipping operator.

Other recognised efforts of tangible engagement are evident with Hapag-Lloyd’s participation in the Shenzhen Green Ports Program, the EcoAction program, the Voluntary Vessel Reduction Program, the Green Flag Incentive Program, avoidance of artic shipping routes, and maintaining

a zero-tolerance policy towards transporting controversial goods that remain unregulated by shipping institutions.

Hapag-Lloyds’ first prize in Friend of the Sea’s ranking comes with little surprise given its comprehensive internal sustainability policies. By issuing an unparalleled level of transparency and acknowledgement of the environmental impacts of shipping, Hapag-Lloyd have showcased its holistic approach by accompanying its successful business practise with formidable environmental performance, setting a precedent in the industry with its sustainable maritime stewardship.

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Natural England Launches New Countryside Code Guidance to Support Farmers and Land Managers

• New guidance to support farmers and land managers released to help the public enjoy the countryside in a responsible and respectful way • Guidance includes advice on making rights of way more accessible, clearer signage, and how to report anti-social behaviour • Advice follows the newly refreshed Countryside Code for the public, over 70 years since the first booklet was published in 1951

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ith more people enjoying the outdoors than ever before, Natural England, in partnership with Natural Resources Wales, has today (8 February 2022) set out new guidance for land managers to help them ensure that visitors to the countryside can enjoy it in a responsible way.

Published under the Countryside Code, the update provides recommendations to land managers on making rights of way accessible, creating safer environments and installing clear signage to help the public respect, protect and enjoy the countryside.

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The new guidance advises farmers and land managers on how to make land more accessible, for example by adding self-closing gates instead of stiles where possible and using better signage, and how to report anti-social behaviour, fly-tipping, littering, livestock worrying and other offences correctly. These changes will allow more people to access nature safely whilst also supporting land managers and helping to avoid damage to property, livestock and wider anti-social behaviour.

As well as advice for protecting livestock, using machinery in public spaces and the safe storage of chemicals, other key changes include: • Clearer guidance on keeping rights of way usable, including recommendations for cutting back vegetation and keeping public waterways clear • Instructions for where visitors can walk freely on open access land or in a coastal margin • Information about common land and understanding that horse-riding rights are applicable • The process of reporting anti-social behaviour – criminal damage and threatening behaviour will not be tolerated, and farmers and land managers are advised to contact the police to report any such incidents www.lancmag.com

• Advice on reporting noise disturbances and fly-tipping to the local authority • Guidance on managing and protecting livestock, and a reminder of responsibilities when using firearms and fencing • Advice for creating a safe environment, including the safe storage of bales, logs and the management of trees • Information on using and storing dangerous substances responsibly Marian Spain, Chief Executive of Natural England, said: “With more people than ever before spending time in nature, this refreshed advice for land managers has never been more important in helping to ensure we work together to protect our outdoor spaces.

“I urge all land managers to follow this new advice and continue to help make nature accessible to everyone, so people of all ages and backgrounds can enjoy the invaluable health and wellbeing benefits that nature offers, while giving it the respect it deserves.”

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Lord Benyon, Minister for Rural Affairs, said: “We want to ensure that nature is accessible for all, whilst also supporting people to do the right thing when they are visiting the countryside.

“The new advice in the Countryside Code will help farmers and land managers to help the public enjoy the outdoors in a responsible way. I am grateful to all of those stakeholders who have helped shape this updated guidance.”

Natural England and Natural Resources Wales have worked alongside stakeholders, including the National Farmers Union (NFU), Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Country Landowners Association (CLA), to develop advice which offers clear guidance to land managers and ensures the public can enjoy the countryside in a safe and respectful way.

The new advice for land managers follows the publication of the refreshed Countryside Code last year, which was revisited following a growth in people spending time outdoors during the pandemic.

The Countryside Code now covers all green spaces, waterways, the coast, and parks in urban areas. To help people of all ages and backgrounds enjoy the countryside responsibly, the public code encourages people to ‘be nice, say hello, share the space’ and reminds visitors to not litter and avoid feeding livestock, horses, or wild animals.

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Who Really Dictates Your Life?

5 Top Tips to Make The Power of Your Gut Microbiome Work in Your Favour Have you ever followed your ‘gut feeling’ or experienced ‘butterflies in the gut’?

Described disappointment as being ‘gutted’ or called overeating a ‘greedy gut’?

is like filling up your car with holes in the tank and dirty filters, i.e. you simply would not get the fuel to the engine.

5. Genes; the behaviour of your genes can be altered by lifestyle (see next month’s article) and knowing your genetic codes can help prevent inflammation and illness.

Not just old sayings: our mind and gut are strongly connected and the gut has tremendous powers to transform our lives - our decisions, behaviours, feelings and actions negatively and positively. A balanced gut is the key to living your best day every day.

Your gut is the largest host to an ecosystem of bacteria and micro-organisms which generally make up about 90% of who we are, the microbiome. Two-thirds of the body’s microbiome lives in your gut and keeping it balanced is critical for optimal health.

“All disease begins in the gut” Hippocrates said this over 2000 years ago. It’s not 100% true, but your gut bacteria strongly affect your health. A damaged gut lining allows undesirable bacterial products (endotoxins) and undigested food-particles to ‘leak’ into your bloodstream (‘Leaky Gut’). These harmful ‘invaders’ are attacked by your immune system leading to inflammation and chronic inflammation can lead to common ailments.

See a list of the common ailments above right.

THE POWER OF YOUR GUT There are 5 main areas of health that are affected by your gut microbiome: 1. Immunity; over 70% of your immune system stems from the gut.

2. Hormones; over 70% of hormones are produced in the gut - an imbalanced microbiome leads to bad sleep, low energy, lack of ‘umpf’, menopausal symptoms, cravings and mental health issues like depression (90-95% of Serotonin come from the gut!), anxiety or brainfog for example.

3. Brain Health; the gut is called your ‘second brain’. Gut microbes use the Vagus nerve to send 9x more messages to the brain than the other way around! Gut badies’ send negative messages – feel low, don’t do that, cravings – whilst the good microbes tell the brain to make positive choices – sleep well, be alert, do more, eat healthier.

So, who REALLY dictates your doings??!

4. Digestion & Metabolism; Making good food choices is important but if your gut cannot extract the nutrients from the foods or activate specific vitamins for example, then this 180

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5

TOP TIPS FOR A ‘HEALTHY GUT = HAPPIER YOU’ Many factors influence the balance of your microbiome, with our lifestyle – diet, exercise, medication - and the environment – pollution, chemicals - probably being the biggest ones.

So let’s look at how we can make a difference.

1. FOOD CHOICES Consumer habits have changed dramatically. Foods need to be easy to prepare and eat, have a long shelf-life and we are told to choose “low-fat”, “low-sugar” or “high protein” to control our weight. We have sacrificed good quality nutrition for ease and convenience. This attacks our gut health daily.

TOP TIP: Buy fresh, local, seasonal as it is least stored and transported. Eat a variety of foods – the more colours on your plate the better mix of nutrients you will get.

Read the label, ‘low anything’ usually means (unhealthy) ‘artificial additives’. Plain yoghurt with fruit and honey or cinnamon is cheaper, healthier and delivers more than the supermarket shelf alternatives.

Consume plenty of probiotic foods and fibre (= prebiotics = food for good bacteria) like fermented foods, legumes, pulses and wholegrain. Quality supplements may help, too. Alcohol kills good bacteria, drink responsibly.

2. UNDERSTAND MEDICATION Medication can be life saving; but medication unsettles your gut and routine over-use can cause serious digestive issues. It takes your body approximately six months to restore the loss of good bacterial balance after just 1 course of antibiotics, for example. Antidepressants affect the gut’s ability to produce serotonin, the hormone depression sufferers lack. www.lancmag.com

TOP TIP: Enrich your gut with probiotics (good bacteria) and research holistic healing methods to help deal with and prevent pain and inflammation in addition to medication.

3. REDUCE HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS “Kills 99.99% of bacteria” grabs our attention on cleaning products. But WE are made of 90% bacteria… think about who you are really attacking when you use those killing agents. Air fresheners deliver 24/7 toxic chemicals in your home/car which will sit on your respiratory system.

TOP TIP: Open doors and windows 2x per day for 10minutes to get fresh air; send air fresheners and scented anything with a no-return ticket to the bin! Use pure essential oils sparingly in diffusers if you fancy a fragrance in your rooms. Replace the killer-soaps in the kitchen and bathroom with normal soap. Just a few ideas.

4. RELAX AND MOVE Stress shuts down digestion, immune response and the nervous system. Whilst stress response, fight-andflight mode, is a healthy survival mechanism for specific situations in life, we live lives of 24/7 stress.

TOP TIP: Create a routine of down-time and daily exercise to allow all systems to re-balance. Little slivers of de-stress throughout the day make a massive difference to your gut health.

5. DETOXIFY REGULARLY Exposure to polluted water and air, in addition to chemical additives used to improve product characteristics of standard household or beauty products, means, that even with the best of intentions to avoid toxins, we simply cannot escape them. This is a compounding burden to our (gut-)health.

TOP TIP: Regularly detoxify your body and help restore good gut-balance. Do simple detoxes (ie. cut out ‘the bad’ for a period of time) 3-6x per year. It’s like a Spring-Clean at home.

 Send me your questions / feedback.  Book your no-obligation 20minute ‘Explore’ Call to find out how you can level up  Do a FREE Lifestyle Analysis online: https://julia.influencersoftconnect.com/la?utm_source=FB

In addition, do at least one cellular detox every year, which is more like a refurb of your home. Such detox should help to draw out toxins and negative elements from deep inside the cells, help heal existing damage (like leaky gut) and replenish your gut with important nutrients that help rebuilt the mucosal lining, add plenty of good bacteria and ‘feed’ those with good fibres.

FIX THE GUT = FIX THE PROBLEM Take one step at a time towards living your best life.

In my clinics I combine the power of Science, Nutrition and Mindfulness to help you become the best version of yourself, with a series of transformational programmes, designed around you and your lifestyle. www.lancmag.com

CONTACT: Julia Riewald – Success & Health Coaching N +44 (0)7902 214534

E Julia@percent-edge.com

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Northern Ballet Announces Northern Ballet has announced Federico Bonelli as the Company’s new Artistic Director.

F

ederico is currently a Principal dancer at The Royal Ballet where he has enjoyed a career at the

highest level, dancing the company’s leading roles. He trained at the Turin Dance Academy and danced with Zürich Ballet and Dutch National Ballet before joining The Royal Ballet in 2003. He has performed as a guest dancer with many leading companies around the world and has received several awards.

In 2019 Federico graduated from the Clore Leadership Programme (The Clore Fellowship) and he is a non-executive director and member of the Board of Parents and Carers in Performing Arts (PiPA). He curated the programme for The Royal Ballet activities in Doncaster as part of the Doncaster Creates festival, prior to its pandemic postponement and has coached Royal Ballet repertory, helping to nurture and develop the high standards of the company’s dancers. He co-facilitates The Royal Ballet’s Inclusivity Focus Group and is a member of the external steering group of Chance to Dance, The Royal Ballet’s outreach talent development programme that aims to remove the barriers to a diverse talent pipeline into vocational training and the ballet and dance profession.

On announcing the appointment Sir David Wootton, Chairman of Northern Ballet, said:

‘The Board of Northern Ballet is delighted that Federico Bonelli is joining us as Artistic Director.

Succession to David Nixon OBE, after the massive achievements of David’s 21 years as Artistic Director, has required and received a prolonged, thorough, wide-ranging and diverse search, supported by the best advice, which has resulted in an appointment of the highest quality.

Federico joins us at the height of his career as a dancer with The Royal Ballet and he will bring to us the benefit of his experience there and at his previous companies, his manifest wish to establish a career with us in artistic leadership and a clear vision for the artistic future of Northern Ballet, enhancing and building on its classical foundations and taking us forward with new perspectives and new ideas.

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New Artistic Director I am grateful to those of my Board colleagues who have worked hard on this search, to the Northern Ballet dancers and staff who have also been involved, to our advisers and to Arts Council England for their engagement in the process.

We are all very pleased with this appointment, which will do so much to set the direction for the brightest of futures for Northern Ballet.’

of his calibre will be joining us in this role and look forward to working with him to take Northern Ballet to even greater heights over the coming years.’

Last year Northern Ballet announced that Artistic Director David Nixon OBE would be stepping

down after more than 20 years at the helm. Federico will now begin to work closely with colleagues at Northern Ballet on vital future planning alongside fulfilling his existing commitments with The Royal Ballet. His tenure will begin formally on 1 May.

Federico himself said:

‘I am thrilled to be joining Northern Ballet as its new Artistic Director and I can’t wait to begin working with this exceptional group of dancers and creatives. Through its history and most recently under David Nixon’s distinguished directorship, Northern Ballet has rightly been renowned for its bold approach to narrative ballet, and it is an honour to build on this legacy.

We are at an exciting moment for the Company, which is based in Leeds and across the north, yet rooted in the whole of England and the UK. I cannot wait to leverage its wide-ranging touring to connect with wider audiences and bring outstanding ballet to as many people as possible.

I have been very impressed by the Board and team’s vision and I am excited to lead on how best to bring a diversity of perspectives and experiences represented in the stories we tell on stage. I can’t wait to bring my ideas and contribution to the Company’s vibrant offering and propel it to its future successes.’

Mark Skipper, DL, Chief Executive of Northern Ballet, added:

‘I could not appointment as Northern Director. I am

be happier with the of Federico Bonelli Ballet’s new Artistic delighted that an artist

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

“Pain in the neck” “Weight of the world on my shoulders” “Butterflies in my tummy” “Sick to my stomach” All these and many more describe how we feel about different situations in terms of our bodies. We do actually experience pain in the neck, aching shoulders, sickliness etc.

Many times, in my yoga classes students will ask for exercises for certain aches and pains, and my first question is “When did this start?”

My second question is “What was going wrong in your life at the time?”

Cue light bulb moment!

We are so good at Carrying on or Battling on and other such descriptions.

But all we are doing is pushing down the emotions in order to deal with the practicalities of our situation. You either experience the aches/pains/ sickness at the time or after the crisis is over.

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www.lancmag.com

This is called Somatic Theory, that our bodies reflect how we are feeling, treatments that work on this principle are called Somatic Therapies.

I refer to your body as your barometer, it is an indication as to how you are feeling, the longer you ignore it the worse it will get as it is saying “Houston we have a problem!”

You may think that it is the physical issue that is causing stress, however, this is another layer on top of the original issue. You have a stressful situation; your body reacts then you get stressed over the problems with your body.

The first time I knowingly experienced this I had spent four years running my own catering business and I lived alone in the flat above. I was between a pub and a chip shop, and a bus stop was placed outside my door shortly after moving there. As a young woman on my own, I became a target as they rolled out of the pub got their fish and chips and waited for the bus, causing damage, and threatening me.

The doctor informed me I was suffering from stress. I was taken aback, I thought stress was having a breakdown – this was 1990 and we were not as knowledgeable as we are now about emotional/mental/physical connections and another eight years before I found yoga.

When I am working with clients with the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT/Tapping), they have not mentioned any physical problems but as we remove their negative emotions, they often tell me that they normally have a stiff – neck, shoulder, back etc and now they can move. We become so used to the physical issues we accept them as part of who we are. People say “Just old age”.

Make friends with your body, get to know it, and listen to it.

I was open six days a week, on a Sunday I was always ill and back up and running on a Monday. When I sold my business I experienced violent headaches, constant heartburn, aching joints, and exhaustion. Eventually, I went to the doctors and explained the symptoms and brought her up to date with the last four years.

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

www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 185

SOUTHPORT

By Megha Seth

Southport is the eleventh most populous settlement and a large seaside town in Merseyside. It lies on the Irish Sea coast and is one of the most popular seaside resorts.

F

rom award-winning actress, Miranda Richardson to author David Mitchell, this town is the home to many celebrities, as well.

It has gained a reputation for leisure and recreation and is a hotspot for tourists from different locations who come here for a relaxing visit and a happy fulfilling time with family.

The town wasn’t always this famous.

In the late 18th century, Southport was covered with sand dunes, making it a relatively unpopulated area. As the 19th century approached and canals were built, the area became populous and grew in popularity rapidly.

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Its growth was during the same time as the Industrial Revolution and Victorian Era. The era’s effect is evident in the architecture of the town as there are many examples of Victorian architecture on the town, along with town planning examples.

Before the land was made available for development in the 19th century, the Hesketh family put a condition of extensive tree planting in the town.

Today, this is observed as a special feature of the town.

Some of the country’s best golf courses can be found in the northwest of England. From the Wirral right up www.lancmag.com

from Manchester, Liverpool, Wigan, and even Bolton had an easy time reaching Southport.

Woodvale and Birkdale, the southernmost part of the town, are surrounded by extensive sand dunes.

Sand dunes in Ainsdale are a Ramsar site as well as a national nature reserve.

The Southport Pier has gained the reputation of being the first “pleasure pier” built with the usage of Iron. But the port of Southport has had its share of unfortunate accidents, as well.

As the year 1886 was just going to end, on 9th December, the country’s worst lifeboat disaster happened on its shore. Mexico, a cargo ship, ran into difficulty while sailing towards South America. Lifeboats from not only Southport but also neighbouring coasts like Lytham, St. Annes were sent to rescue Mexico. Unfortunately, even after struggling with the raging winds, they couldn’t save Mexico.

Along with the St. Anne crew, the Southport crew became the victims, as well.

In total, 28 lifeboatmen were lost on the night. A memorial was built for them in Duke Street Cemetery. The sad part is, Mexico was amongst the many shipwrecks of Southport.

LORD STREET, THE INSPIRATION BEHIND PARIS’ BOULEVARDS

to Blackpool, there are so many golf courses in the area that it has been dubbed “England’s golf coast.” The Southport area is close to four golf courses including Royal Birkdale, which has hosted the British Open Championship among other championships.

A short distance away from Royal Birkdale is Hillside Golf Course, while Southport & Ainsdale Golf Course lies further down towards Formby. A short drive north of Southport Station brings you to Hesketh Golf Club, a local fixture since as early as 1885. www.lancmag.com

HISTORY OF SOUTHPORT

The celebrated Lord Street of Southport shows an excellent and intricate Victorian architectural style.

But the same can be seen on the streets of Paris, mesmerizing neoclassical architecture standing tall.

Southport is a historically rich town.

Mesolithic hunters hunted red deer and elk were recorded as the earliest human activity of this period.

If you take a short walk on the boulevards of Paris, you’ll see striking similarities between the famous Lord Street of Southport and the boulevards.

The seaside town of Southport grew rapidly in the 19th century as it gained a reputation as a more sophisticated resort than its coastal neighbour, Blackpool. With its easier access to the canal system, Southport already had an upper hand over other coasts on Lancashire. As the Leeds and Liverpool canals were built, people

The story goes as Prince Louis Napoleon of France spent extensive time in Southport in 1838 during a short break. He was in awe of Southport’s town planning, its long and straight roads. Upon returning to France and becoming the emperor, he tried to replicate the street design across the city.

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ANNUAL EVENTS IN SOUTHPORT To get a closer look at this culturally rich place, one must visit this town during summers for its annual events.

The Southport Flower Show and Southport Air Show have been going on for a long time. The former involves flower displays, cookery demos, music.

The latter include flying helicopters, civilian and military aircraft. Both these events involve fun family activities honouring age-old traditions and a perfect treat to the eyes as well: SOUTHPORT FLOWER SHOW If you are visiting this town during summers, then you’re in for a perfect treat to the eyes with this Flower Show which is held annually in Victoria Park, Southport. It’s 94 years old! This event attracts tourists and even celebrities. It features live music, dinners, cookery demos and more. This show includes spectacular show gardens and floral displays.

SOUTHPORT AIR SHOW This is also a great tourist attraction held annually here during summers and is hailed as North West’s largest air show. This was started by Mark Brammar, an employee of Tourism & Attractions. It is a day where you can come with your family and have fun with the various activities that take place. You can get early bird tickets at discounted rates and enjoy the

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fun on the beach. The flying involves helicopters, civilian and military aircraft, aerobatics by Red Arrows and many more. There are simulators and interesting children’s activities as well.

PLACES WORTH A VISIT IN SOUTHPORT Being a seaside town, Southport has many beaches you can visit, according to your taste: SOUTHPORT BEACH This is a pristine and clean beach here with long stretches of clean white sands. You can visit the place early in the morning to witness the sunrise or even in the evening for the beautiful sunsets. You can also come here for a swim and even get your kids as it is an ideal place for young children as well. It offers snorkelling, scuba diving and surfing opportunities ideal for the adventurous ones. You can witness the serene views of the clear blue sea meeting the white sands in perfect harmony. The beach is usually not overcrowded and is litter-free.

The wind in your hair and the feeling of sand touching your feet will surely make you feel relaxed without burning a hole in your pocket.

FORMBY BEACH This beach is one of the coastal gems in Merseyside. There are no charges for entering this picturesque beach with high sand dunes that give an amazing view of the Irish Sea. It is an ideal place

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where you can go with your family, friends and loved ones for a picnic or a serene walk. If lucky, you can even spot the different habitats found here as well like the native red squirrel, butterflies, birds and even the Natterjack Toad which is a nationally endangered amphibian. On a clear day, you can also get a glimpse of the mountains of Cumbria. You can also walk through the woodland surrounded by bushes and pinewood trees. A visit to this clean beach will be a perfect breather after a hectic week.

AINSDALE BEACH The town is surely full of some stunning beaches and Ainsdale beach is one of them. It has been recognised with the Blue Flag certification on multiple occasions which tells a lot about the management of the beach which is of high quality. It is one of the premier beaches that offer facilities like kite activities, kitesurfing and more. The Ainsdale & Birkdale Sandhills Local Nature Reserve provides a venue for various events and provides free cycle hire. You can even bring your dog here for a lovely walk - don’t forget to check out the shell collection which is added to daily by members of the public and learn about the flora and fauna here of the coast.

SOUTHPORT PLEASURELAND This is a famous amusement park which is everyone’s favourite and a must-visit when in town. The park

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offers different rides like ‘The Rocket’, ‘Grand Canyon’ which are some of the roller coasters; there are other thrill rides as well like ‘Devastator’, ‘Speed Buzz’ and more. It is perfect to get that adrenaline rush. There are different food and drink outlets here to cater to your needs.

BRITISH LAWNMOWER MUSEUM If you want to visit a place that’s a bit away from the seaside, the British Lawnmower Museum will be a great fit. The British Lawnmower Museum, which has been based in Southport since 1987, is a museum with a niche focus, but it is by no means limited in what it can offer. One of the most eyecatching exhibits is Prince Charles and Diana’s ride-on lawnmower, which commemorates the continuing history of the lawnmower. You don’t need to be fascinated with the art of grass cutting to visit this place.

BEST PLACES TO STAY THE VINCENT It’s a four star chic hotel with contemporary style rooms and bathrooms and good lighting. It has a classic exterior and is within the reach of good restaurants and shopping areas. The rooms are spacious and well lit up with clean linen sheets. The hotel also has its own restaurant which is rated well. It provides gym facilities as well. The Modern Railway Village is situated nearby and makes a fun visit

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for tourists.

N’ISTA BOUTIQUE ROOMS Situated in Birkdale, this boutique hotel is situated above the Cafe Bar N’ista. It is a perfect place to stay for couples especially due to the romantic ambience of this place and the rooms.

It gives off that country vibe and is an escape from the hustle and bustle of metropolitan cities. It has a restaurant as well and is child friendly. Pets are not allowed here. It is a perfect hideaway from the daily stresses, and you can even go for long walks along the Southport beach. The rooms here are very aesthetic providing you with the authentic feel of the place.

LORD STREET HOTEL With simple modern furniture and plush headboards, this hotel provides contemporary and stylish rooms with serene views of the surroundings.

Despite not having any restaurants available, they have three bars that host a variety of events. The hotel is positioned in a way that many attractions are within a walking distance. Wi-fi, room service and various other amenities are available.

You can even go paddleboarding on Marine Lake for some water sports activity.

WINE AND DINE PREZZO ITALIAN RESTAURANT As the name suggests, this place is a must for all Italian cuisine lovers. The

place has a very contemporary decor with gorgeous lighting. The service here is top-notch. They also provide vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options on their menu. You can try the spaghetti carbonara, variety of pizzas, lobster and crab ravioli, sea bass fillet, deep-fried calamari strips, honeycomb cheesecake for dessert. You can also choose from a variety of soft and hard drinks available on their menu.

BISTRO BAR MED For all Mediterranean food lovers, this is a must-visit. The place also hosts belly dancing evenings. The place is lit with subtle lights and wall paintings. Reservations are accepted.

Tea lovers can select from a variety of tea selections. The place also offers wine and alcohol and healthy options.

They offer a variety of Greek, Turkish and Spanish tapas. The prices are also very reasonable here. The food is made fresh. The mashed aubergine, meatballs, chorizo, goat cheese fried balls with caramelised onions and stuffed peppers minced is a must-try.

Also, don’t forget to try out the Turkish coffee and the baklava for desserts.

With so many places to explore, activities and things to experience, Southport is the perfect destination for a rejuvenating getaway. Treat yourself by planning a trip here to feel closer to nature and away from the everdynamic city space. You absolutely deserve it. Bon Voyage!

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Women Dying of Ignorance as Ovarian Cancer Crisis Continues New data from Target Ovarian Cancer shows how women are being failed as the awareness crisis in ovarian cancer deepens. Key symptoms are being ignored – both by those experiencing them and their GPs.

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n a survey of 1,000 UK women Target Ovarian Cancer found that awareness of key symptoms is still too low. Four out of five women (79 per cent) do not know that bloating is one of the symptoms. Lack of awareness is just as bad for the others: abdominal pain (68 per cent of women do not know it), feeling full (97 per cent) and needing to wee more urgently (99 per cent)[1].

When symptoms are ignored or passed off as more common conditions like IBS, ovarian cancer

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has time to advance before it is found.

The number of treatment options decreases, as do the chances of longterm survival. Because it is diagnosed late, the disease kills 3 in 10 women in the twelve months after diagnosis[2].

Further compounding the issue is that 40 per cent of UK women think cervical screening (a smear test) detects ovarian cancer[3]. Worryingly, this is up from 31 per cent in a 2016 survey. Confusion between cervical cancer and ovarian cancer can be fatal. Thinking that a smear test also helps prevent ovarian cancer stops people from looking out for the key symptoms of this deadly disease.

The new data comes as figures from the NHS show a shortfall in the number of people being diagnosed with cancer – risking an epidemic of late diagnosis and early death[4].

Target Ovarian Cancer is urging the public to sign open letters to governments across the UK and tell

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them what is needed to combat the crisis: dedicated symptoms awareness campaigns across the UK so we can finally make progress in people’s knowledge of the symptoms.

Annwen Jones OBE, Chief Executive of Target Ovarian Cancer, said: “These figures are incredibly disappointing. We know we’ve shifted the dial in the past 10 years, through the dedication of thousands of Target Ovarian Cancer’s campaigners.

But it is not enough. Knowing the symptoms is crucial for everyone. We need to make sustained and largescale government-backed symptoms campaigns a reality. Progress is possible. If we do this, fewer people will be diagnosed late, fewer will need invasive treatment, and ultimately, fewer will die needlessly from ovarian cancer.”

Katy Stephenson, 47, from Bury St Edmunds, was diagnosed with early-stage ovarian cancer in 2021. www.lancmag.com

She said: “I had been experiencing symptoms like bloating and needing to wee more urgently for a few months, but I’d put it down to being perimenopausal. I had a fluke diagnosis when I was admitted to hospital with appendicitis. If that hadn’t happened, the cancer probably would have spread, and I hate to think about what would have happened. I was actually told that I wouldn’t have symptoms in the early stages of ovarian cancer – but I did. I want everyone to know the symptoms of ovarian cancer. The only person that will catch them is you, so be aware of your own body, speak to a GP. And don’t be afraid to mention ovarian cancer if you’re worried.”

Dr Victoria Barber, a GP in Northamptonshire and advocate for early diagnosis of ovarian cancer in the primary care community said: “Symptoms do appear early on in ovarian cancer, and your GP wants to hear from you if you’re experiencing any of them, if they are new for you and if they do not go away. Similarly, it’s vital that GPs are knowledgeable on ovarian cancer and know how to advise patients who have concerns.

Target Ovarian Cancer has a GP education programme that can help you do this.”

Target Ovarian Cancer is the UK’s leading ovarian cancer charity. We work to improve early diagnosis, fund life-saving research and provide much-needed support to women with ovarian cancer. www.targetovariancancer.org.uk Ö @TargetOvarian G TargetOvarianCancer ú TargetOvarianCancer

SYMPTOMS OF OVARIAN CANCER What are the symptoms?

• Persistent bloating - not bloating that comes and goes • Feeling full quickly and/or loss of appetite • Pelvic or abdominal pain (that’s your tummy and below) • Urinary symptoms (needing to wee more urgently or more often than usual) Occasionally there can be other symptoms: • Changes in bowel habit (eg diarrhoea or constipation) • Extreme fatigue (feeling very tired) • Unexplained weight loss Any bleeding after the menopause should always be investigated by a GP. Symptoms will be: • Frequent – they usually happen more than 12 times a month • Persistent – they don’t go away • New – they are not normal for you

REFERENCES The Ovarian Cancer Awareness Measure was used to measure awareness of ovarian cancer among women in the general population. The Ovarian Cancer Awareness Measure is a validated tool based on the wider Cancer Awareness Measure developed by Cancer Research UK, University College London, King’s College London and Oxford University. The survey of 1,002 UK women was done by Survation using the measure. The survey was conducted via telephone interview between 4-23 Jan 2022.

[1]

Knowledge of the symptoms of ovarian cancer among UK women

Symptom

Percentage of women who can name it as a symptom of ovarian cancer

Persistent bloating

21 per cent

Abdominal pain

32 per cent

Feeling full

3 per cent

Needing to wee more urgently

1 per cent

[2]

Office for National Statistics (2019) Cancer Survival in England: adults diagnosed between 2013 and 2017 and followed up to 2018. One-year age-standardised survival for ovarian cancer is 71.7 per cent, meaning the remaining 3 in 10 do not survive longer than the first year after diagnosis. Available at: www.ons.gov.uk/ peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/datasets/ cancersurvivalratescancersurvivalinenglandadultsdiagnosed

[3]

Does a cervical screening test detect ovarian cancer? Data from survey of 1,002 women

by Survation (see reference 1)

Answer

2016

2022

Yes

31 per cent

40 per cent

[4]

NHS England, cancer waiting times data, December 2021.

Available at: www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/cancer-waiting-times

HALL FOR NOTHING

By Harold Cunliffe

It was a sad day back in early June, 2007, when an ancient hall in North Manchester suffered an arson attack.

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he picturesque black and white Tonge Hall was quite amazing, not only historically, but for sporting many original timbers, but all is not lost, restoration has been slowly taking place to save the ancient building.

Above: Tonge Hall, 1907

Above: Tonge Hall prior to the arson attack

Above: The hall at the time of the devastating fire

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Growing up in town, observing this interesting ancient building from the exterior one wondered what the inside would be like. This hall had been in the hands of the Wolstencroft family for many years, then one day Captain Norman Wolstencroft invited yours truly for a guided tour. Over the years the building had remained untouched due to the previous owners not having the finances to chop, change and remodel the building, unlike many places which were occupied by the wealthy who constantly made many changes. Evidence of this is in an old craftsman’s diary which came to light.

The information it contains details the work carried out at Heaton Hall, Hopwood Hall and other ancient manor houses in their quest to “keep up with the Jones’s”. It looks like this carpenter was the entrusted master craftsman to the wealthy. At Tonge many of the original ancient timbers still existed within the structure. On the day I toured the hall Norman took great pride in pointing out various historical items of interest made by former occupants. On one of the timbers were the initials prominently carved into the wood, made by the Tonge family, J.T. carved next to a fireplace, referring to John Tonge. You really felt the history of the place as you proceeded along the uneven floors and walls showing their age by being out of plumb. The relevance of previous ownership and tenants who occupied the building was brought to life once I was told about the several ghosts who frequented the hall. A film crew once captured a spirit as it walked around the exterior of the hall. www.lancmag.com

Another hall in this district which is on the ‘At Risk’ register is Hopwood Hall.

This hall is currently owned by the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale.

Recently I unearthed a comment in a retro, Middleton Corporation Watch Committee minutes made by one of the elected representatives at the time the hall came up for sale.

He questioned the wisdom and the purpose of acquiring the hall, he asked, “Who would maintain it? I am surprised that the money men of this Borough have not made their thoughts known. If we look at Alkrington Hall which the Council were keen to own, this became a white elephant to the ratepayer until it was sold off.” Hopwood Hall was purchased by the authority at that time despite the councillor’s comments, but, at that period it was in a good state of repair, but by 1969 the building suffered so much dry and wet rot it had to be gutted, with nearly all of the timbers being replaced by recycled timber. On a personal note I remember being in the Clough close by collecting bracken which was use as frost protection by the gardeners at the greenhouse complex. This material was placed over the cold frames each night to protect the plants from cold. Timbers from the hall were dotted around the grounds,

Above: Hopwood Hall in a good state of repair

Above: Hopwood Hall. New roof in the 1969 facelift

Above: Aerial shot of the construction of De-La-Salle College.

The hall is visible at the top of the image.

each sporting an identification tag which recorded the location in which the beams were located in the hall.

I seem to remember that reclaimed timber, oak, was imported from the South of England with the timbers dotted around the hall, being in a state of advanced decay, were used as templates. The late Les Lord related that the Lancashire Cotton Corporation Ltd purchased the hall

when it came on the market during the Second World War. It was used as offices by the Corporation due to the Christmas blitz over Manchester causing a shortage. I find it amazing what turns up. During the period when I produced a weekly nostalgia column a woman who was associated with the Catholic Brotherhood who took over the hall at the end of the war, donated an interesting collection of documents and photographs which detailed the work carried out when the De-La-Salle training college was constructed. The file contained the original aerial photographs which show the site being developed.

LOST FOREVER Two people documented the final days of the hall, the action taken in preparing the building prior to being offered for sale. A family descendant of the Gregge Hopwood’s wrote to say that in tracing his family connections it had been a hard task. At the time that the hall was being vacated instructions were given to the caretaker to clear the building, dispose of the entire contents. A large bonfire was made outside the hall being fed with paintings, tapestries, carpets, furniture and all of the Hopwood documents, a vast archive being lost. These not only included the items we use in genealogy today, but the Tote records of their horse racing. A local related the time he had assisted the caretaker in clearing the hall. Being of a tender age he did not realise the importance of the material which he was burning.

He did however rescue a gun case from the fire which he used to store his fishing gear. It is interesting to note that Colonel Hopwood realised that following his demise and that of his wife, no Hopwood family members existed to inherit the hall, its grounds, mineral rights, and considerable income from rents. Robert Hopwood had listed the males of his bloodline and discovered no heir. Mr Edward Gregge of Chamber Hall was in the militia along with his friend, Mr Hopwood. It was when the Scotch rebels arrived in Preston in 1714 that Hopwood made an agreement with Mr Gregge, in that should he not survive the conflict then Gregge would become his heir. Edward Gregge in fact did acquire the Hopwood estate following the eventual demise of Mr Hopwood. The Gregge’s however 194

could not believe their luck and decided to adapt their name as a mark of respect to the Hopwood family; they adopted the name of “Hopwood” being then known as “Gregge Hopwood.” In the past a number of people have made contact by stating that they were related to Mr Gregge Hopwood. Confusion would arise when I asked “Which one? This is a surname; Gregge is not a Christian name.” I was at the local studies one day when a chap stated that he was related to the architect, Edgar Wood. I have a vast archive so my interest was aroused as to where this gentleman fitted into the family line. My interest was short lived however when he commented, “My name is Wood, I was born in the same town as Edgar so I am related. “Plus, he added, “I have found another relative too, He is also called ‘Wood’ and has a wooden leg.” I explained that he required a family tree, and one which contains no gaps in its lineage.

been searched, but upon starting the opposite side he was in for a surprise.

I personally know this policeman, this is a true story, he said, “I searched the room like I did the others, a set of drawers, the bed, cupboard then when I opened the wardrobe I found a young girl standing bolt upright as if to attention and totally naked. Being a little surprised I paused for a moment to gather my thoughts, (I bet you did) then, closed the door without a word being spoken. It is not normal to stand in a wardrobe in this state, but it is not against the law to be naked in a wardrobe. The poor lass stood with her eyes tightly closed, she never opened them. Another tale was that Lord Byron once stayed at the hall, he left his mark by carving his initials onto a book case. Then one summer the De-La Salle brothers had a cleanup and chopped the bookcase up for the fire.

CAUGHT RED HANDED (OR BARE FACED)

In newspaper terms, reporters feel that everyone has an interesting story to tell, and it is up to their expertise to retrieve it. No doubt this is true to a degree. It was following the death of a neighbour that an amazing story came to light which was related by his wife. Little did I realise at the time I greeted this elderly gentleman in his retirement, exchanging pleasantries as he tended his garden, washed his car and other tasks as I passed his home on my way to work, that this man and

At the time Hopwood Hall was used as a Catholic Teacher Training College, a hostel was used two miles away on the Rochdale border. This was sold when dormitories were created at the hall. The students at the college were very well cared for.

A chef complete with white hat was employed to provide the meals. The food was of the best quality I am reliably informed. As ever, boys will be boys. The chef became well known, and would provide refreshment to anyone passing, like the local bobby on the beat. It was better that left over food was not wasted. But it was disappointing when food disappeared out of the kitchen, especially the fridge or freezer. One morning the chef noticed the piece of beef he had been thawing was missing from his fridge. He mentioned the theft to a policeman who had visited the kitchen and had become friends. The culprit was identified by the trail of blood stains which led the officer to the room of the thief. Upon entering the dormitory the item was quickly discovered. To make the investigation fair, all the other rooms had to be searched. The P.C. carried out the search in what you could call, ‘autopilot’ as every room had the same layout. One side of the corridor had

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INTERESTING NEIGHBOURS

Above: Three neighbours who each had an interesting tale to tell

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his wife knew Queen Elizabeth II and her sister, Princess Margaret as young ladies during the Second World War. Mr Noon was one of the people based at Buckingham Palace during the period of conflict to protect the Royal family. Bob would relate the time spent at the Buckingham Palace to his close friends, when, during the long winter nights a group of those in service would put on plays, play games to entertain the Royal children. At times Princess Elizabeth and Margaret would join in. Mr Noon remembered the time when both the Princesses could not be found. It transpired that when the news broke announcing the end of the war in Europe (V.E. Day) they both left the Palace to mix with the celebrating crowds outside Buckingham Palace.

Amazingly no one in the crowd recognised the Royal sisters. My daughter, wife and myself would keep an eye on our delightful elderly neighbour, helping her where we could, groceries, shopping, posting letters, collecting prescriptions and the like. Then one day when my daughter happened to call to see Tess she commented, handing her a large album, “Give that to your dad to look at, I am sure he would like to read it.” Normally a third party photo album containing family snapshots is of little interest, but this album was an exception, it was amazing. Bob had made a scrap book type album filled with items relating to his time at Buckingham Palace. Best of all were items made from gold thread. These items came from the Kings tunic, and contained actual ‘pips, emblems and badges.’ Bob would relate that the household would be in a frenzy when a new tunic arrived, this was because the moment the King disposed of his old tunic the staff would be in a rush to acquire items from the jacket before it was destroyed. First come, first to grab a memento. Other items in the collection were newspaper cuttings from the period, and one cutting stood out from the rest. This was taken from a Manchester newspaper and documented a post war Royal visit to Manchester, around the 1950’s or 60’s. An image within the article has the Royal couple on a platform with Mr & Mrs Noon standing close by. The text commented that upon visiting Manchester the Queen was keen to meet someone from this are who she had spent the war years www.lancmag.com

with, this being Mr Noon. This was no doubt a proud moment for this humble couple who lived in North Manchester. Mrs Noon however had a claim to fame. While employed at an Oldham based outdoor weather wear manufacturer she became the model demonstrating their clothing as featured in their magazines. This came about by accident. One day when a model failed to turn up for a shoot at the factory, Tess Noon stood in. The management soon realised that they had a woman on their staff who could model their product, in which a considerable saving could be made. As a result, Hollinwood based, ‘Pack-A-Mac’ had a new pin up girl.

“SOMEWHERE? MY LOVE” Mrs Alma Morris, (nee Ward), the woman seen in the centre of the photograph, lived in a small house, known as a two up and two down terraced house in the Monsall area of Manchester during wartime along with her husband Tom and her parents. Monsall is in close proximity to the centre of Manchester.

At the time of the Manchester Blitz Tom helped out with A.R.P. on fire watching, firefighting and was a member of the rescue parties. On duty one night during the blitz the party found an air raid shelter which had suffered damage by being hit by a high explosive. Tom would never relate what he witnessed that night, he never mentioned to anyone, not even his wife the image of horror he experienced that night. In an attempt

to make a little cash for his family Mr Morris would hire an ice cream cart, a type of cart with wooden wheels which had to be pushed from an Italian ice cream maker who lived close by.

Mr Pessagno left Italy to make his way to England for a better life. He landed at Liverpool and walked to the Ardwick area of Manchester known as “Little Italy,” this being where a number of Italian’s had settled. Mr Pessagno would hire out his hand carts for a small amount of cash. The system worked by the person who hired the cart would be provided with a full tub of ice cream, plus wafers, which would be sold, the vendor would keep the profit made once the hire charge was deducted. Tom would often hire a cart and make his way to Piccadilly Gardens to sell his product. As the war progressed Tom was called up being entered in to the R.A.F. He was miles away from home during his service, serving abroad.

Disaster struck one night when a German bomber destroyed the street in which they lived. Mrs Morris along with her parents upon leaving the air raid shelter witnessed the devastating scene of their home being reduced to a pile of rubble. Tom who was on active service had no idea that his family had lost everything, all of their belongings had been destroyed, and they only had what they stood up in, the items they had with them, mainly the clothes that they stood up in. The war at this time was coming to an end, but Alma managed to send a letter to her husband informing him that they

Above: One of the original ice cream hand carts restored by the Pessagno family

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were fine and had been offered a house at the new estate at Alkrington Garden Village, around five miles north of where their old home once stood. The estate was given the name of, “Pines Estate.” A second letter was sent to Tom detailing the new address of his family, but this did not arrive prior to him being demobbed. Mr Morris made enquiries and made his way to the “Pines Estate,” thinking that someone would know his family. He arrived around 5.30pm on a Sunday evening, to find the streets empty.

Next he walked slowly around the area shouting his wife’s name every few yards. As it was teatime I suppose many residents were listening to the radio. Then a ‘Brief Encounter’ moment followed, Alma happened to take refuse to the bin outside the back door and heard a voice in the distance, “Alma, Alma.” Instantly she recognised that it was the voice of ‘her Tom’ so quickly made her way along Oak Avenue to its junction with Brierley Drive, where she spotted her husband in the sitance. You can imagine the scene of them both running towards each other with arms wide open, followed by an emotional embrace. The war was over, they were both together again, and, would you believe it, they embraced outside the home of Mr and Mrs Noon.

The lady to the right of the photograph is Mrs Deakin. Her husband Bert was a lovely man. Bert Deakin became a friend of my family.

He was a retired solicitor but kept his hand in by working part time. He once related that he would do the boring jobs like conveyancing, which was a well-paid job. Another duty Bert enjoyed was ‘snatch backs.” This was when the bailiffs would retrieve items in which the customer had failed to keep up their finance payments. This was the way Mr Deakin acquired his motor vehicles. He would pay the outstanding balance. I was his handy man who would check the car over, and other little jobs, like; change his tyre should he have a puncture. One day we were chatting in his dining room and I spotted a little sketch which depicted a man in a raincoat standing at a bus stop. I asked him about the drawing, wondering if he had produced it. “Oh no Harold, L.S.Lowry would pop in our Salford office from time to time. One day I said that I would sort out his request 196

if he would wait ten minutes. He sat opposite me at my desk. After a couple of minutes he asked for a piece of paper to doodle upon, so I passed him a sheet. As Lowry was leaving the office he handed me his drawing, it depicted a man in the rain stood at the bus stop outside our office.” On my way home one night I noticed a fire engine outside his home, it transpired that a fire had started in the kitchen.

As I passed by one of the firemen was next to the engine in breathing apparatus, I asked him to rescue the small drawing which is in the dining room, located on the chimney breast, he did not take me serious, until I mentioned that it is an original Lowry.

Within a minute or two the valuable drawing was rescued. At this period the house was valued at around £7,000, the Lowry sketch exceeded this.

THE MALL As a youngster I have vivid memories of being with mum on the shopping trips before the advent of the supermarkets and shopping centres. Back then everyone had a set of bags for this purpose. This was prior to the introduction of carrier bags. One of the bags allocated to myself was the “potato bag,” a dirty bag used for the vegetables, in which its weight turned me into a ‘beast of burden.’ I can still remember the conversation, the words spoken in the greengrocers, “Can I have some peas,” enquired my mother, “Yes my love, what would like? A pint?” The grocer would scoop a pint measure of peas out of a large drum and deposit the contents into a brown paper bag. No self-service, nothing was prepacked and nothing available out of season. It was during the winter

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months however that the shopping trip became a task. Walking to the shops and back in the bitter cold, made that much harder following a fall of snow. Winter’s in those days seemed to be much more severe than today. We were always so glad to be back home seated around a roaring coal fire. In the early 1970’s many Lancashire towns gained a new way of shopping, this did away with going from shop to shop and being battered by the elements of winter. The age of the shopping centre had arrived.

The centre which was constructed in the centre of Middleton, Manchester was named the “Arndale,” and I think others were also given this title. One in Morecambe I seem to remember was given this name.

Within the Middleton Centre a frieze was created in which events from the towns past was depicted. The artwork is still visible today. Recently the manager of the centre, Marie Gribben, made contact, and with the centre’s 50th anniversary being celebrated this year, she wanted to have an information board installed opposite the frieze which would explain the history of the artwork and what it depicted available for members of the public. Naturally we both got our heads together and the project is now progressing. Looking at the images which were made via the use of a high pressure sand blasting technique, we find that the “Luddite Movement” is documented; they visited this area and along with locals attempted to burn down a local mill. A decade ago I was requested to carry out some research into the “Luddite” period and the activities which took place. The following, which is very sad and shocking in parts, is taken from my research from that period.

Above: An example of the frieze in the Middleton Shopping Centre

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An ancient diary recalled, “The sun blazing hotly as I endeavoured my journey along Manchester Old Road, with the balmy winds scented with the scent of hawthorn and fresh cut grass. The scenes around Alkrington Hall are of the most enchanting, but all the beauty and history of the neighbourhood does not centre there.

The roadside around (Manchester Old Road) in fact teams with the most charming pictures of rural scenery.”

Around this location there was a time when there were scenes of great excitement, destruction and loss of life.

At a certain period of time when people were out of work and starving, numerous food riots took place in various parts of Lancashire. This was caused by the heavy war taxes, depression in trade and the high cost of provisions. Many families went without food for days on end.

In true Luddite style, the Burton and Sons factory located at Wood Street became the target of an ignorant mob. They assembled in Middleton with the intention of destroying the mill which was run by machinery.

The crowd, which the newspapers of the time stated was in the region of two thousand people, smashed the windows to pieces by throwing stones, but should the mob gain entry to the mill it would have been totally destroyed.

In anticipation Burton had assembled a defending party who fired shots in the direction of the rioters, but not to fatally wound, they fired blanks, with no projectile being loaded into their weapons. The mob soon realised that they had suffered no loss of life so mounted a second attack, this however was short-lived when the next round of shots took upon a deadly effect. Ten people were wounded and four lay dead in the street. Those killed were named as Daniel Knott (20) and Joseph Jackson of Oldham (16), John Siddall of Radcliffe (22) and local man, George Albison of Boardman Lane, Rhodes.

MILITARY ACTION The mob having witnessed the killing of four of its members decided to take no further action that night, but decided that they would return the following night being well prepared for a fight. The rioters arrived at the mill www.lancmag.com

well-armed, brandishing everything they could muster including firearms. Upon arrival however they encountered opposition in the form of highly trained soldiers which had been introduced; at the slightest sign of trouble the mob would have suffered a great loss of life. Next the rioters marched to the home of the mill owner, Mr Emmanuel Burton, which was situated on Manchester Old Road. It was here that the mob crossed the line, they broke in and set fire to the house, causing total destruction. The rioters cheered as the house was ablaze, but little did they realise the ultimate consequences to their actions. A member of the group shouted a warning that the military were coming. Many tried to escape, but others foolishly remained. The military fired shots and five more men lost their lives, with many others being seriously wounded. The following day two bodies were found in a field. It transpired that they had been wounded and tried to make their way home, but consequently bled to death.

RIOTERS SHOCKED AND STUNNED It is totally unacceptable to have a mob of rioters roaming around Lancashire intent on destroying property, risking lives and causing hardship. The powers that be decided to put a stop to those who behaved in this manner, their actions having a life changing effect upon many families, ultimately arriving at a most unexpected and dramatic conclusion. The Luddite rioters decided to destroy a mill fourteen miles away at Westhoughton, the town only had one mill. This town hit the news when a new mill was proposed, a silk mill. Businessmen were negative, one commented, “Why on earth build a mill in that town? It was a bold man who dust build a mill at Westhoughton.” A secret meeting was held during the month of April 1812 to discuss plans for the destruction of the Westhoughton factory. It transpired that as the mob made their way to the mill that a number of them were concerned that local people in the area could identify them, so another date was set. This time the rioters assembled in the Market Place and proudly marched along the streets to

the mill, four abreast. Upon arrival at the mill they found the door was impenetrable, next the windows were broken to give access. A barrel of tallow was found which enriched the flames of the wood which was used to set alight the building; this timber once formed the frames used for weaving. Laughter and dancing took place as the building was destroyed by fire. It was not long after that the Scots Greys arrived and successfully arrested many of the culprits, who were transported to Lancaster. They were all brought to justice at a special session at the Lancaster court. In the holding room the men showed little fear, they expected to lose their freedom for three to six months, possibly with hard labour. The contingent from Middleton who supported the rioters expected to be incarcerated too. In fact, it was only those rioters who did not take an active part in the arson attack who were given custodial sentences. The mood in court changed dramatically when the sentences were announced by the Judge, Sir Alexander Knight.

Returning from the court room many were in shock, some threw themselves on the floor, actually pulling their hair out. They were cursing those who gave evidence against them. Prisoner Job Fletcher is quoted as saying to one of his cell mates that as he was getting some dinner ready for his friend who was in court being sentenced, “He returned, grabbed my arm, and said,” with a look of total desperation, “Oh dear, dear, I must be hanged.”

Prisoners at the Jail stated that those sentenced were taken away to the condemned cell, never to be seen again by the inmates or their families.

The sentences were carried out into execution on June 11. One of those who was executed was a boy named Abraham Charleston, he was only twelve years of age, when on the scaffold he became very distressed and cried out for his mother, his pleading voice was heard moments before his execution. Family and friends travelled to Lancaster with a cart wanting to collect the bodies of their loved ones, their wish was to return them to the town of their birth. This request was refused. In court it was stated that the loss of the factory at Westhoughton had retarded the prosperity of the town.

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Joe Pasquale Heads Cast in Some Mothers Do ’Ave ’Em at St Helens This Summer The cast also features Nick Wray and Alice Osmanski.

Some Mothers Do ’Ave ’Em comes to St Helens Theatre Royal from Tuesday 2 August to Saturday 6 August 2022, for seven performances only.

Performances are 7.30pm, with two 2.30pm matinee shows on Thursday and Saturday. Tickets are on sale now.

Hilarious mishaps and DIY disasters are bringing the house down – quite literally – as Some Mothers Do ’Ave ’Em hits the road with Joe Pasquale at the helm of the cast.

Betty has exciting news for Frank, but he’s preoccupied by possible new-found fame as a magician.

With guests arriving for dinner and crossed wires all round, priceless misunderstandings are on the menu.

Based on the 1970s classic TV comedy by Ray Allen and directed by the award-winning Guy Unsworth, Some Mothers Do ’Ave ’Em is the ultimate feel-good night out, washed down with lashings of nostalgia and Mother’s prune wine.

Joe Pasquale as Frank Spencer in Some Mothers Do ‘Av ‘Em. Credit: Scott Rylander

The highly acclaimed UK tour of Some Mothers Do ’Ave ’Em is heading to St Helens Theatre Royal this Summer with a starstudded cast.

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omedian and actor Joe Pasquale will appear as the loveable but accident-prone Frank Spencer, with Sarah Earnshaw as his long-suffering wife Betty.

Susie Blake returns as Frank’s disapproving mother-in-law Mrs Fisher; Moray Treadwell as Mr Luscombe/Mr Worthington; James Paterson as Father O’Hara; and Ben Watson as Desmond/Constable.

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The 2022 UK Tour is produced by Limelight Productions, it opens late March in Stevenage before touring nationwide throughout Spring and Summer, arriving in St Helens in early August. The production is designed

by Simon Higlett, with lighting design

by Matt Haskins, sound design by Ian Horrocks-Taylor, and choreography

by Jenny Arnold.

Joe Pasquale is a firm TV and stage favourite, and has delighted audiences with his stand-up tours for more than 30 years. He has continued to win legions of fans appearing in all manner of entertainment from New Faces, Spamalot and The Producers, and was crowned King Of The Jungle in I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of www.lancmag.com

Here. A man of many talents – Joe has qualified as a pilot, and has also taken up boxing and running.

Sarah Earnshaw’s theatre credits include Yes, Prime Minister (Theatre Clwyd); The Argument (Theatre Royal Bath); The Nightingales (Theatre Royal Bath and UK Tour); Nativity! The Musical (Birmingham Rep and UK Tour); Spamalot (Playhouse West End and UK Tour); Wicked (Apollo Victoria, part of the original West End cast); and The Royal Variety Performance.

Susie Blake regularly appeared in the TV series and comedy specials of Victoria Wood, Russ Abbot and Stanley Baxter, and is perhaps particularly loved as the Continuity Announcer in Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV. She recently appeared in Silky Hotel (BBC iPlayer); Kate & Koji (Series 1 and 2, ITV); Not Going Out (BBC One); and The Real Marigold Hotel (BBC One). She played Bev Unwin in Coronation Street from 2003 to 2006 and again in 2015; and Hillary Nicholson in Mrs Brown’s Boys. Films include Fierce Creatures and Nativity 3: Dude, Where’s My Donkey?!. Theatre credits include Fisherman’s Friends: The Musical (Dominion Theatre and Hall For Cornwall); My Fair Lady (Grange Festival); The Mirror Crack’d (UK Tour); Grumpy Old Women Live 2 and 3, When We Are Married (West End); Pygmalion (Chichester Festival Theatre); Wicked (West End); and Noises Off (National Theatre).

Moray Treadwell recently finished filming The Witcher: Blood Origin (Netflix). Theatre credits include No Man’s Land (UK Tour); Hysteria (National Tour for London Classic Theatre Company); The Railway Children (King’s Cross Theatre); The Beatles LOVE Show (Cirque Du Soleil, Las Vegas); Waiting For Godot (Italian tour); The Importance of Being Earnest (Vienna’s English Theatre); and The Ruling Class (Frankfurt’s English Theatre).

James Paterson made his London debut in the original production of The Phantom Of The Opera. During his long association with the show he played the title role when Michael Crawford was indisposed and also played M.Andre, and later became Resident Director for the national tours and the London production. Other theatre credits include Sunset Boulevard (London Coliseum); Half A Sixpence (Chichester Festival Theatre); Cats (UK and International Tour); Cinderella, Dick Whittington and Snow White (The London Palladium).

James most recently appeared in Cabaret (ARTS Aberdeen).

Television credits include London’s Burning, Close To Home, and Birds Of A Feather.

Ben Watson is an actor, writer, director, and comedian who recently starred in Around The World In 80 Days (Blackpool Grand Theatre). He regularly performs his own solo comedy show The History Of Everything In 60 Minutes. Theatre credits include Aladdin (White Rock Theatre, Hastings); I Capture The Castle (Watford Palace, Bolton Octagon, Oxford Playhouse); Blue Brothers Party (UK and Japan Tour); The Jungle Book (UK Tour); and A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Comedy of Errors (Cambridge Shakespeare Festival).

Some Mothers Do ’Ave ’Em runs at St Helens Theatre Royal between Tuesday 2 August and Saturday 6 August 2022. Tickets are on sale now, starting from £31. www.lancmag.com

Sarah Earnshaw, Moray Treadwell & Joe Pasquale. Credit: Scott Rylander

Left: Sarah Earnshaw as Betty. Right: Susie Blake as Mrs Fisher.

Credit: Scott Rylander

Find out more about Some Mothers Do ’Ave ’Em: D www.somemothersdoaveem.com F www.facebook.com/somemothersuk/ Ö @somemothersuk Follow St Helens Theatre Royal on social media channels: F www.facebook.com/St-Helens-Theatre-Royal Ö @TheatreRoyalStH I @TheatreRoyalStH SHOW LISTINGS SOME MOTHERS DO ’AVE ’EM St Helens Theatre Royal Dates: Tuesday 2 August – Saturday 6 August 2022 Time: 7.30pm / 2.30pm matinee shows on Thursday and Saturday Tickets: From £31 *All prices are inclusive of a £1 per seat booking fee. Online bookings are subject to an additional 50p per seat online processing fee.

THEATRE ROYAL BOOKING DETAILS ST HELENS THEATRE ROYAL M Corporation Street, St Helens, Merseyside WA10 1LQ N Ticket booking line 01744 756000, lines open Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm.

D Book online at www.sthelenstheatreroyal.com LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 199

May to Bring Gardeners a Clipping Marvellous Celebration!

Gardeners should pop May 12th in their diaries and reach for the garden shears if they wish to share their topiary delights with their global counterparts on World Topiary Day 2022 200

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ounder, Levens Hall and Gardens, based near Kendal in Cumbria and home to the world’s oldest topiary garden, will be sharing Tweets from topiary-mad gardeners worldwide, not to mention formal gardens in the UK, France, Spain, Madeira, and the USA, who have signed up to participate in the global celebration.

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half of its topiary trees celebrating 150 years or more in their Cumbrian haven.

Participants include the Palace of Versailles in France and Longwood in the USA, both renowned for their stunningly clipped trees, whilst the event has somewhat enamoured French gardens in general, more than 40 of whom are taking part.

Levens Hall and Gardens is the spiritual home of topiary, having specimens dating back more than 300 years, all the way to 1694, and over www.lancmag.com

These are in a variety of geometrical shapes or present themselves as ‘character’ trees with enormous personalities. These include the Great Umbrella trees, Queen Elizabeth and her maids and the Toppling Wedding Cake, not to mention peacocks, Homer Simpson and even Darth Vader!

On the day, as well as on Sunday May 15, Levens Hall and Gardens is promising special topiary themed activities, talks, quizzes and challenges, and foodie treats for visitors and has even created a special chutney to celebrate.

But World Topiary Day is for all enthusiasts of the art of clipping and trimming trees and also allows home gardeners to show off their muchloved creations, so get involved!

Find out more at www.levenshall.co.uk, follow Levens Hall on Twitter @LevensHall and start planning what you will share with fellow topiary enthusiasts!

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New Talking Chair Telling Stories of Local Women Installed in Accrington Library

Above: Hyndburn born celebrity and television actor Julie Hesmondhalgh was one of the first to enjoy the new Talking Chair at Accrington Library

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Women’s Work, a Hyndburn based heritage project which has listened to and collated stories from women who lived and worked in the local area in the 1960s and 70s, have now installed a ‘Talking Chair’ in Accrington Library, giving you the chance to hear those very stories.

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rom standing up against men who thought women should not be in business and being asked to do a pregnancy test at a job interview, to needing their husband’s permission to open a bank account, the stories showcase the experiences of a generation of women whose voices are long unheard and whose stories often go untold.

The interviews were gathered after the culmination of 12 months’ work during the first UK lockdown and the stories were even used in a short film, which was shown to the public back in September 2021, with more than 120 people gathering at Accrington Market Hall to tune in.

Now the History in Action (CIC) project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, have introduced the ‘Talking Chair’ which when sat on, automatically activates an audio loop of extracts from the funny but also sometimes shocking experiences from Accrington’s working women.

The interview clips, which are grouped by theme - early life and childhood, first job, as well as marriage, finances and childcare - last from one to six minutes, with interviews in Urdu and Punjabi at the end of the loop.

The chair was designed by Jane Revitt Talking Furniture http://www.janerevitt.co.uk/story_chairs.htm in collaboration with the women, many of whom had worked in Accrington’s textile industry.

Each woman contributed three words which described their working lives and these were incorporated into the fabric design. The fabric was printed by Lantex in Accrington and the chair was upholstered in Preston by Mike Ward of Verve Designs.

Hyndburn-born celebrity and television actor, Julie Hesmondhalgh, said: “We have so many reasons to thank the working women of our town from the 1960s and 70s. It’s because of their hard work, determination and campaigning, that we can enjoy a more equal society today. www.lancmag.com

“The chair looks absolutely wonderful and just sitting down in it for a few minutes really does inspire you and also entertain you, with some fantastic stories from so many lovely women.”

See what Julie thought of the Talking Chair when she popped in to Accrington Library to take a look, here: https://youtu.be/7oPe3Ue_V_0 Oral history researcher/project Work, Trizia Wells, commented: absolutely thrilled that the talking in Accrington Library, almost two Women’s Work began.

manager at Women’s “History in Action is chair is being installed years to the day since

“Library visitors will be able to sit in the chair and hear the women talking about their struggles to be treated fairly and build a career on an equal footing with men. Their stories may sometimes shock but what shines through is these women’s strong personalities, a sense of humour and a determination to stand their ground despite the setbacks.

I don’t think anyone will be able to listen without laughing out loud or a sharp intake of breath!”

Trizia added: “Women’s Work started out as a ten month project, but the pandemic obviously put paid to that. Many local organisations and individuals helped to bring the project to fruition in the light of changing circumstances.

“We are especially grateful to Katherine Walsh, manager at Accrington Library, for agreeing to host the chair. The library is absolutely the right place for it and a great way for Accringtonians to find out what it was like to be a woman in the early days of equality. We hope the chair will spark lots of conversations between the generations and give today’s young women an appreciation of the battles fought by those who went before them.”

Murray Dawson, Chair of #AmazingAccrington and Managing Director of Scott Dawson Advertising, the latter providing marketing and videography support for the project, commented: “This is a fabulous free attraction for the people of Hyndburn to celebrate the women who have helped to shape the borough.”

To hear the stories remotely in full and to watch the film about the project, produced by History in Action’s playwright/producer Mick Martin, visit www.stanhillvillage.co.uk.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 203

Eating Everyday ‘Cupboard Heroes’ Can Save Your Life

By World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) - www.wcrf-uk.org

Phil Vickery, the campaign ambassador Photo from Tim Sutcliffe

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www.lancmag.com

New research from World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) reveals that 97% of Brits already own the foods that could help to prevent cancer • Brits who spend the least on their weekly food shop own the most cancer preventative staple foods • Nation’s favourite staples revealed as tinned tuna and pasta • Nation’s least favourite voted as dried pulses, seeds and tinned carrots

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orld Cancer Research Fund, the leading authority on cancer prevention, is urging people to look in the back of their cupboards and make heroes of their forgotten basics.

While 40% of cancers could be prevented by lifestyle changes including diet, only 10% of Brits realise this, and 7% of people think that no cancers can be prevented.* However, you don’t need to eat goji berries or other ‘superfoods’ every day to help prevent cancer. The basic foods that often languish in our cupboards can hold the key to improving our health. Even better, most of us already own them.

Rachael Gormley, CEO of World Cancer Research Fund said, “We have seen the power of prevention first-hand.

Healthy eating can often feel unattainable, but our evidence shows we don’t need to rely on heavily marketed, expensive ‘superfoods’. Whilst canned, dried and frozen items often get a bad rap, the good news is they are also packed full of vital nutrients and can help to reduce your risk of cancer.

This Cancer Prevention Action Week, we want to provide people with the tools and information that can help them reduce their cancer risk. Our latest research shows that people already have the right ingredients they just need some inspiration to turn them into delicious dishes.”

World Cancer Research Fund’s recipe generator enables people to input up to two basic ingredients and discover an array of nutritious meal ideas at the click of a button.

Recipes include lentil & tuna salad - mixing the nation’s least favourite store cupboard staple with one of its favourites, vegetable pasta bake - a simple and budget conscious option from the charity’s Family Flavours cookbook, and a chickpea & bean casserole. For all recipes fresh ingredients can also be swapped for tinned. www.wcrf-uk.org/healthy-eating/recipes Find out more at www.wcrf-uk.org/cpaw and watch the campaign video here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXRUDT3tlys *Based on a nationally representative survey of 2,000 UK residents

Respondents were asked to select from a long list of common, nutrient rich staple foods including tinned tomatoes, rice and pulses, that all aligned with one of the charity’s key cancer prevention recommendations: ‘Eat a better diet’. 97% of people owned at least one of these items. www.wcrf-uk.org/preventing-cancer/ our-cancer-prevention-recommendations The nation’s most loved staples were revealed as tinned tuna and pasta (both 27%), while the nation’s least loved foods included dried pulses (4%), seeds and tinned carrots (both 6%).

To help people make the most of these ingredients, the charity has developed a Cupboard Heroes recipe generator www.wcrf-uk.org/healthy-eating/recipe-generator where people can type in their cupboard (or fridge, or freezer) basics and discover an array of delicious and healthy recipes that can also help reduce the risk of cancer.

Interestingly, the research shows that the majority (42%) of people spend £20-30 per person on their weekly shop.

And it’s those who spend under £30pp who were shown to own the most cancer preventative foods, proving that eating a healthy diet doesn’t have to break the bank.

Best-selling author, chef and ambassador for Cancer Prevention Action Week 2022, Phil Vickery, said, “I’m thrilled to be partnered with World Cancer Research Fund to raise awareness of these important findings. Eating fussfree staple foods has so many benefits, particularly in the current context. It’s never too late to change your diet and improve your health and you really can make showstopper meals which are full of flavour using unexpected ingredients.” www.lancmag.com

WCRF’S LIST OF ‘CUPBOARD HEROES’ TINNED SWEETCORN TINNED TOMATOES TINNED CARROTS TINNED PEAS DRIED FRUIT TINNED FRUIT IN JUICE TINNED PULSES (BEANS, PEAS AND LENTILS) DRIED PULSES UNSALTED NUTS (EG ALMONDS) SEEDS (EG SUNFLOWER) WHOLEGRAIN CEREAL (EG PORRIDGE) OATS WHOLEMEAL PASTA WHITE PASTA BROWN RICE WHITE RICE TINNED TUNA (IN WATER) COOKING OILS (EG OLIVE, RAPESEED)

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 205

Large Number of Ponies Pose Challenge for Rescue Charities A large herd of 40 ponies has been taken in by rescue charities after the sudden death of their owner.

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orld Horse Welfare was contacted about the ponies late in 2021 and it quickly became clear that the owner’s distraught family was unable to take 206

on their day-to-day care. Despite this, however, the family was concerned for the ponies’ welfare and extremely keen to do the right thing for them and consequently signed them over into the charity’s care.

Finding space to take in 40 ponies at once is a huge challenge and so through NEWC (National Equine Welfare Council), World Horse Welfare began immediately to liaise

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

with other animal welfare charities to arrange suitable accommodation. In December, World Horse Welfare and HAPPA worked together to round up the Welsh Mountain Ponies from the farm in North Wales and, after a vet had checked that they were fit to travel, their journeys began.

World Horse Welfare was able to take in 14, which were moved to the charity’s Penny Farm Rescue and www.lancmag.com

difficult thing: what will happen when we are no longer there? - and making plans for the provision of your animals once you are gone.”

Rehoming Centre near Blackpool.

HAPPA took in six ponies, and two other charities stepped in to house the remaining ponies, with five going to Bransby Horses and the remainder to Blue Cross. One pony was re-homed directly to a friend of the family.

Rae Andrews, Field Officer from World Horse Welfare said: “Cases involving large numbers of horses or ponies are unfortunately frequent, and always pose a logistical problem to find spaces to take them all in at one time. The fact that we were able to find places for them is testament to the way all the different organisations involved through NEWC work together. This case also highlights the importance of considering that www.lancmag.com

Tracy Heaton, Equine Inspector from HAPPA said: “It is always a pleasure working alongside my World Horse Welfare colleagues supporting them offering our resources and enabling such great teamwork.

Especially in today’s difficult equine welfare climate, working in collaboration is key to getting the job done. The task involved in the round up of large groups can be extremely challenging and is reliant on a knowledgeable, proficient team working in harmony with each other; likewise, HAPPA equally works with World Horse Welfare calling on their resources to assist us on equine operations where necessary. The ponies have really settled into HAPPA’s Rescue Centre, Shores Hey Farm, where they will continue on a Rehabilitation Journey, learning to interact and socialise under the guidance of our Equine Team”.

Bransby Horses’ Equine Welfare Manager, Rachel Jenkinson, said: “As members of NEWC we understand the importance of joining forces as a collective to respond to large welfare cases such as this. We are forever grateful to our loyal supporters for the regular donations that make it possible for us to able to provide these animals with the care and love they deserve.”

Maria Kavanagh, Manager at Blue Cross animal re-homing centre in Rolleston, Staffordshire said: “We are happy to join other charities whenever we can when large groups of vulnerable horses need re-homing.

This family did absolutely the right

thing in getting help for this group and no owner should find themselves abandoning horses when they can no longer cope as charities will always offer support whenever possible.

Eleven geldings went to our Burford Centre and a mare and foal are with the Rolleston team and will soon be looking for loving new homes.”

All the ponies have been given thorough health checks and the 14 at World Horse Welfare’s Penny Farm are now well on their journey towards rehabilitation. They are becoming used to being handled and can be seen by visitors to the centre. It is also believed that some of the mares are pregnant, so the team at Penny Farm is expecting some more pint-sized ponies to be born in the coming months.

The aim for each pony at World Horse Welfare is that when they are fit and ready they will be able to be rehomed. Re-homing a horse is an immensely rewarding experience and offers the horse or pony a vital second chance, as well as making space in the farms for more horses that desperately need help to be taken in.

World Horses Welfare’s re-homing website sets out the re-homing process clearly and make applying straightforward.

Re-homers receive an honest assessment of their chosen horse and their capabilities, as well as ongoing support and the reassurance that if their circumstances change, the re-homed horse can be returned to World Horse Welfare.

Visit the re-homing website: www.worldhorsewelfare.org/ rehome

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 207

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip

Getting Active

Regular physical activity is strongly associated with a reduced risk of chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, obesity and type 2 diabetes as well as improving mental health. Even small increases in physical activity can positively impact on health. Heart Research UK have some tips to help you keep active.

Don’t be a couch potato

Avoid long periods of inactivity

Now that many of us are heading back to the workplace, try not to jump straight for the car as the main choice of travel. If you do need to drive to work, then why not park a little further away once you arrive in order to get some valuable steps in.

Set a timer to go off at specific times throughout the day to prompt you to do ten (or more) minutes of physical activity.

Any activity is better than none. You can include a variety of light, moderate and vigorous activities. E.g. a brisk walk, sit-ups, weight-lifting, gardening or housework.

Rather than spending your evenings sitting on the sofa without moving much, why not try a few gentle exercises, such as leg raises, while watching your favourite TV show. Try opening YouTube and searching for a quick 10- or 20-minute workout video.

Change your daily commute

For more tips on how to stay healthy, sign up for our weekly healthy tips at

www.heartresearch.org.uk/health-tips

To help keep your heart healthy, why not try out some of our Healthy Heart recipes from our website: heartresearch.org.uk/ heart-research-uk-recipes-2

Or have a look through our Healthy Heart cookbook filled with recipes from top chefs, celebrities and food bloggers: heartresearch.org.uk/ heart-research-uk-cookbook

Reduce screen time for kids It is common for children and young people to spend too much time sitting in front of a screen. Why not talk to your children about the importance of staying active and agree on a set amount of screen time each day/week and schedule in some time for getting active.

If you’d like to support Heart Research UK’s vital work into the prevention, treatment and cure of heart disease, please visit www.heartresearch.org.uk for inspiration on how you could help.

Kate Bratt-Farrar, Chief Executive Officer at Heart Research UK

MANISH’S ZODIAC PREDICTIONS

Manish Kumar Arora is a renowned KP Astrologer, Numerologist, Tarot Reader & Vastu Consultant. He has been rendering professional advice to clients with a reasonable degree of success. He has been conferred with the title of ‘Jyotish Varahamihir’ and ‘Jyotish Aryabhatt.’

He has been writing monthly astrological columns for many international magazines.

ARIES 21 Mar - 19 Apr

SAGITTARIUS 22 Nov - 21 Dec

LEO 23 Jul - 22 Aug

You will be motivated by exciting plans with the support of friends or family, on whom you can count to bring your projects to fruition. It will be a time when you will be listened to and heard by your friends. You will have considerable assets for coming together around a real desire to share and assuage your sensuality, which will currently be explosive. However, focus more on the serious and being pragmatic, rather than on a tendency to exaggerate and demand more than people appear ready to give you.

You’ll be worried about your finances and your doubts and sense of vulnerability will be increased by a persistent feeling of precariousness, but one which will tend to dissipate. Drained by an emotional crisis, however, this is a month when you will be able to come up with constructive answers at work and within the family after 21st May. It will encourage you to broaden your horizons, stand above things and raise the level of debate. Beware of making blunders, flailing around to no avail, or other misunderstandings which could cause you problems!

There will be a difficult gap to bridge between your long-term view of your future and the reality of your finances and when you will come up against opposition and management difficulties.

You will be all the more appreciative of the backing of those who will support you through thick and thin, offering you valuable advice and listening attentively. You will tend to get ideas into your head, which won’t be borne out by reality. You can count on lasting agreements to set things back in motion and steer your vessel wherever you want.

Favourable Dates: May 3, 6, 12, 15, 21, 24 Favourable Colours: White & Purple

Favourable Dates: May 2, 5, 11, 14, 20, 23 Favourable Colours: Grey & Blue

Favourable Dates: May 3, 5, 12, 15, 21, 23 Favourable Colours: Red & White

TAURUS 20 Apr - 20 May Your ambitions are in the process of being realised and your horizons will be clearer.

This month will involve you communicating with all and sundry, but also being flexible.

You will also be keener on looking after your love life. You will also link up with people who will join your clan and could integrate into your world for the long term. You will aspire to widen your horizons and realise your dreams, but negotiations underway in high places will tend to bring you back down to earth with a nasty bump.

Favourable Dates: May 3, 8, 12, 17, 21, 26 Favourable Colours: Red & Yellow GEMINI 21 May - 20 Jun Your ambitions will be hampered by an adversary, who will remain nameless, but will stand in your way and spread rumours about you. Fortunately, you will manage to stay in control of the situation by relying on your intuition or falling back on your inner resources. You will succeed in disarming people when tensions mount and exchanges become tense. Love will play tricks, but you will end up triumphing over difficulties, especially in raising the level of debate. Things will pick up in the last week, and your plans will take off.

Favourable Dates: May 2, 4, 11, 13, 20, 22 Favourable Colours: Red & Grey CANCER 21 Jun - 22 Jul You could spend this month on the edge of hot passion and respond voluptuously to the exciting temperature ups and downs, which will give you a lift throughout and could transport you delightfully to seventh heaven. Your other half should respond favourably to your expectations unless family quarrels have really affected your close relationship. You should make haste to build bridges between you and exert your charm to restore a feeling of togetherness. If you are single, you will expend lots of energy on pushing yourself forward and attracting attention.

Favourable Dates: May 3, 4, 12, 13, 21, 22 Favourable Colours: Red & Blue

CAPRICORN 22 Dec - 19 Jan

VIRGO 23 Aug - 22 Sept This period will serve your interests well and encourage you to replenish your coffers or ask for a promotion or a rise with your long-term vision and the will to repair the damage on the family front, to make exchanges with those around you more harmonious. You will start to lay down the foundations of a life which will be more in tune with your ideals and more financially secure. You will be able to count on consensual insight to create purposeful solutions. You will manage to break the deadlock by being doubly enthusiastic and efficient in your everyday life.

Favourable Dates: May 1, 2, 10, 11, 19, 20 Favourable Colours: Red & White

Community connections and groups are vying for your time and attention. After mid-month, partners step up to assist you on your journey. You will succeed in stabilising your emotions. It will help you out of relative isolation, to communicate your feelings and express your doubts, trying to open up a constructive dialogue and keep it open with those you love. You will be given proof of love and feel appreciated and respected. Setting your intention toward a goal is half the challenge…the rest is supporting it with your intuitive hits.

Favourable Dates: May 1, 2, 12, 13, 19, 20 Favourable Colours: Grey & White AQUARIUS 20 Jan - 18 Feb

LIBRA 23 Sept - 22 Oct Some great prospects of success will come for you to make the most by opening up dialogue and focusing on your original approach. This month will place you centre-stage and highlight your potential. You will be radiant and should be able to profit from your increasing personal magnetism to move your pieces around the chessboard. This will be a time when you will demonstrate your abilities as a skilful negotiator for getting out of a crisis, situation or boosting your financial interests. It should give some sense to your quest and help you end the month on a smooth note.

Favourable Dates: May 1, 2, 10, 11, 19, 20 Favourable Colours: Green & Blue

This month will highlight your way ahead and free up some space for dreaming, pointing you on the route to an inspiring future, which you will want to shape in your own way. The challenge is responding with what you know and letting others contribute, rather than going solo. The information you need will surface by the end of the month. You may crave additional quiet time to wind down and relax. In your love life, commitment will also be the order of the day. Watch burning the candle at both ends once you meet that special someone.

Favourable Dates: May 2, 4, 11, 13, 20, 22 Favourable Colours: : Purple & Blue PISCES 19 Feb - 20 Mar

SCORPIO 23 Oct - 21 Nov This month will favour and encourage dialogue and agreements. This will be worth exploiting on all fronts, both at home and at work, to head the current in the right direction, one which will be right for you!

It will be a period when you will succeed in calming family conflicts. It will be a time when you will focus on goodwill, which has been tried and tested, and an innate sense of negotiation to turn the corner and reverse the trend in your own direction. Your perseverance could bear fruit soon.

You will be focused on your ambitions and keen to realise them. You will be able to count on your popularity, creative flair, and ability to rally support now, in order to give full rein to your dreams. You’ll benefit from valuable help to improve your life and keep things running smoothly. Love will essentially be on the agenda in all discussions to make. You may ask yourself instead where your commitments are leading you, how you want to see your relationship develop, or to test whether you really want to forge a lasting one.

Favourable Dates: May 3, 4, 12, 13, 21, 22 Favourable Colours: Red & Blue

Favourable Dates: May 6, 7, 15, 16, 24, 25 Favourable Colours: White & Blue

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

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 209

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Try Something New this spring Driving Experiences for the whole family.

Land Rover Young Off Roader It's the kids' turn to get into the driving seat!

We are inviting 11- 17 year olds to learn to drive in a safe off road setting, tackling slopes, negotiating obstacles and driving through deep water. Get behind the wheel of a brand new, dual-controlled Range Rover Evoque, with tuition from a specialist Land Rover Instructor.

Learn new skills, impress your friends and have loads of fun.

1 hour Off Road Driving sessions are available 7 days a week, may be purchased as a pre booked session or gift voucher

Land Rover Heritage Drive Perhaps the Ultimate day out (we think so!)

Experience 4 Iconic Land Rover Vehicles spanning 67 years of Land Rover technology on purpose built tracks designed to test the vehicles and drivers to the limit.

Full day adventures for up to 4 people.

Half day adventure sampling 2 vehicles also available .

Why not combine your driving Experience with a night away in our onsite holiday cottage?

Please contact us for details.

01756 611060 - info@lre3.co.uk yorkshire.landroverexperience.co.uk Land Rover Experience North Yorkshire Yellison Farm Barns Broughton Hall Estate

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