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

www.lancmag.com

October 2022

£2.45

STONYHURST COLLEGE

We meet Father Christopher Cann, the new headmaster at Stonyhurst St Mary’s Hall

SMOKIN’ V’S REAL BARBECUE

The Restaurant in Preston born from a mutual love of great food and a passion for barbecuing

LOLLYPOP

Celebrating one year in Rawtenstall

TOMAS CLINIC

Manchester’s state of the art orthodontic, cosmetic and implant dental clinic

GROSVENOR CASINO Remarkable renovations at the Blackpool casino

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CONTENTS...

118

Morecambe

Salford

Lake District

Features

8 34

156

Stonyhurst: New Head At The Helm

128 DBACE Award for Convenience Gallery

Grand Theatre Blackpool

130 International Interior Trends

Stonyhurst College Celebrates Remarkable International Baccalaureate Results

132 Grand Theatre: West End Musicals

Lakeland Sofas by Edward James Furniture

138 Mancunian Way

Top 10 Waterfalls In The UK You Need To Visit

140 Basics Theatre School

Transformation of Salford’s MiddlewoodLocks to Continue with £30m Government Levelling Up Deal

142 Viral Videos Helping Craft Young People’s Career Choices In Liverpool

Grand Theatre - Ken Dodd Statue

Grosvenor Casino

‘Northern Stronghold’ For Rare Hazel Dormice Created In Lancashire

Cumbrian Heritage Gardens

Barolo Bar & Restaurant

Blue at Blackpool Lights Switch On

Paul Benson Accountants

Jane Parachutes In To Help Carer Charity Raise Important Funds

Clifton Arms Wedding Fayre Success

Dukes Lancaster

Lakeland Book of The Year Winners

Lake District Estates

Eve’s Story

Comma Press Short Story Competition

Independent Community Advocacy Network North

Zodiac Predictions by Manish

Elizabeth Gaskell

Strictly Hero visits Dance Syndrome

Lollypop

Beatles and Brass

Nancy Fish

152 Halewood Uniform Shop 154 School Netball Teams Score Redrow Support 156 Smokin V’s Real BBQ Restaurant 160 Poet Profile: Dean Fraser 162 Grand Theatre: Wayne Sleep 164 £10,000 Fund Now Open To Help Boost Groups In Hartford 165 Grand Theatre: Rocky Horror 167 Wildlife trust: Downing Street 168 Olaf Stapledon 174 Deep Time 178 Wildlife trust: Wagtails 180 Target Ovarian Cancer: 20,000 Voices Cannot Be Ignored 181 Grundy Art Gallery Summer Programme 184 William Lassell 187 Saba Douglas Hamilton 188 Harold Cunliffe: “Just a Minute, First ThingsFirst!” 194 Try Booking UK 196 Paul Young: St Helen Theatre Royal

102 Mawson’s Traditional Soft Drinks

197 Lulu: St Helens Theatre Royal 198 Michael Parr: St Helens Theatre Royal 199 North Fylde Photographic Society

104 Irlam Live We’re Buzzin Festival

200 Tullie House

106 Camp Coffee and Cake Recipes 112 Humane League: Make Cages History 116 Grand Theatre: When Darkness Falls

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144 Director Promotions at Redrow 148 Art and Craft Guild of Lancashire

100 Lakeland Artisan: Great Taste Awards

124 Science of Attraction

134 Totally Local Lancaster

201 Tate Liverpool: Candice Breitz 202 Biological trauma 204 Romans 208 Pilgrim Hope Solicitors

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

...CONTENTS

Regulars 114

Aiming Higher

182

Balance Counsellor

172

Books - Jay Fortune

Colour Me Beautiful

166

Denise Mullen

Fleetwood RNLI

HayMax Column

Life of Di

146

Lytham Gin Lady

150

Miranda Christopher

122

Positive Change Coach

134

Totally Local Lancaster

Zodiac Predictions by Manish

October 2022 • Volume 45 Number 10

182

146

134

172

150 44

October 2022

www.lancmag.com

£2.45

STONYHURST COLLEGE

We meet Father Christopher Cann, the new headmaster at Stonyhurst St Mary’s Hall

SMOKIN’ V’S REAL BARBECUE The Restaurant in Preston born from a mutual love of great food and a passion for barbecuing

LOLLYPOP

Celebrating one year in Rawtenstall

TOMAS CLINIC

Manchester’s state of the art orthodontic, cosmetic and implant dental clinic

GROSVENOR CASINO

Remarkable renovations at the Blackpool casino

COVER: Stonyhurst College

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

Writers: • Claire Stephenson

• Ken Harcombe

Editorial: 01253 336580 editorial@lancashiremagazine.co.uk

• Denise Mullen

• Manish Kumar Arora

• Dean Fraser

• Marcia Trotter

• Diane Wade

• Margaret Brecknell

• Finest Filters

• Max Wiseberg

• Heather Wignall

• Miranda Christopher

• Harold Cunliffe

• Paul Cusimano

Design Manager: Stephen Mellows-Facer Sales Enquiries: 07918 685673 Accounts: 01253 336588

• Janet Broughton General Enquiries/Subscriptions: Sharon Henry • 01253 336588 • Joan Lind accounts@lancashiremagazine.co.uk • Justine Cooke The Lancashire & North West • Kath Taylor Magazine Ltd, Seasiders Way Blackpool, Lancashire FY1 6NZ

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

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IN THIS ISSUE...

e start this month by meeting Father Christopher Cann, the new headmaster at Stonyhurst St Mary’s Hall. He is set to join the prep school, which offers its young pupils a learning environment that enables them to reach their full potential academically, at the start of the September term. We pay a visit to Smokin V’s Real Barbecue in Preston; born through a mutual love of great food and a passion for barbecuing, the restuarant is run by bothers, Dave and Dan Valentine We take a look at Grosvenor Casino in Blackpool, which earlier this year, underwent a major £879,000 refurbishment, and held a special ribbon cutting ceremony with an appearance from Blackpool’s Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayoress.

Offering a variety of gifts and cards from well known brands; Lollypop are celebrating a year in their Rawtenstall premises, since opening in August 2021. Blackpool Grand Theatre tells us all about this years Panto (oh no they dont’t... actually, oh yes they do!) and some of the delights to keep fans of West End comedy, musical theatre and so much more entertained. We talk to Joan Lind of TryBooking UK, After a successful, global career in advertising, moved to Kendal to run one of the top online events ticketing and booking platforms in the UK. Our featured areas this month are Morecambe, home to a spectacular sandy bay that covers 310 square kilometres and is the perfect spot to experience amazing sunsets;

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

Salford, home to a long list of media organisations, including ITV and the BBC, alongside restaurants, bars, gyms, and a cinema, including the Lowry, a multi-million-pound art and entertainment venue; and the Lake District, one of the UK’s most popular holiday destinations attracting around 16 million tourists every year, where Visitors come from all over to experience the beautiful landscapes, lakes, fells, and mountains and there is something for all ages to enjoy. Sarah Ridgway uncovers the science and psychology of attraction. And of course, as always, we have features on homes, health, books, fashion, entertainment, fascinating history, a bit of wildlife and more - all in our October issue.

www.lancmag.com

H O RA LAR N SH G E IPS O F D AV IS AIL CI PL ABL IN E ES IN . A

All

that they can be. A SPRINGBOARD TO A LIFE OF PURPOSE The leading Catholic co-educational boarding and day school in Lancashire for pupils aged 3-18 years, with full and weekly boarding available from age 7.

2022 | Open Days

Sixth Form Open Evening | 22nd September Prep School Open Day | 8th October College Open Day | 15th October DISCOVER MORE AT: WWW.STONYHURST.AC.UK Please note prior registration is essential for attending one of our open events.

New Head At The Helm at Stonyhurst St Mary’s Hall

Father Christopher Cann is the new headmaster at Stonyhurst St Mary’s Hall, which offers its young pupils a learning environment that enables them to reach their full potential academically, socially and creatively.

he new headmaster of Stonyhurst St Mary’s Hall, Fr. Christopher Cann, is set to join the prep school at the start of the September term. “I am very much looking forward to my move to Stonyhurst and the Ribble Valley, it is a delightful place!” says Fr. Chris, who shares Stonyhurst’s ethos, which gives pupils many and varied opportunities to enable them to become the best version of themselves.

“The ethos of treating each child as an individual is very important to me” A linguist, Fr Chris studied Theology at Oxford and joins Stonyhurst from Ratcliffe College and Prep, a coeducational Catholic independent boarding and day school in Leicestershire, where he was headmaster for 10 years: “In many ways it is very similar to Stonyhurst St Mary’s Hall. “I have always been aware of Stonyhurst as it has an impeccable global reputation and the ethos of treating each child as an individual is very important to me. Whilst academic provision is important, I believe it is essential to have strong pastoral care for day pupils and boarders, this is 8

something that Stonyhurst does very well.

GP, the couple have six grown-up children.

“The extended day beyond the curriculum at Stonyhurst St Mary’s Hall presents many opportunities in terms of clubs and activities, sport, music and drama – Stonyhurst seeks to challenge pupils to discover their passions and support them in finding the confidence to maximise their potential.

On a personal level Fr Chris enjoys cycling, gardening, walking and reading with a special interest in children’s fiction. Over the summer

“Stonyhurst is driven by these values. It is part of the Catholic faith and Jesuit spirit which has great integrity. We all have a shared vision.” He has been part of the Independent Schools Inspectorate for 18 years and is a board member of the Independent Association of Prep Schools and the Catholic Independent Schools Conference. Married to Honor, a

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

New Headmaster: Fr. Christopher Cann

break he has been researching a series of recently published books for Key Stage 2 and 3 children. He is also impressed with the rare offering of specialist tuition available to young pupils at Stonyhurst, who benefit from a broad curriculum that celebrates the individual and offers them countless opportunities to discover their talents. www.lancmag.com

Taking a solid academic approach combined with specialist teaching, children are able to develop a broad range of skills. Prep School pupils also have access to the vast facilities within the Stonyhurst campus including indoor and outdoor tennis courts, a swimming pool, sports pitches, a theatre, observatory and access to the unique historic museum and archives within Stonyhurst College,

which brings history to life for even the youngest of pupils. Highly trained teachers facilitate learning by observing pupils’ interactions and interests, adapting the curriculum to meet the needs of all children making the learning process thought-provoking. Maths, early reading and writing, drama, music, PE, dance, swimming and tennis are

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

“The quality of specialist tuition at Stonyhurst St Mary’s Hall makes this a very attractive school for day pupils and boarders” extended school day. It is a community that has a rich history and we should nurture that.

integral elements of the school day to make learning engaging and fun. At each new Key Stage opportunities are unlocked with access to facilities that broaden pupils’ horizons: “The quality of specialist tuition at Stonyhurst St Mary’s Hall makes this a very attractive school for day pupils and boarders,” says Fr Chris, who is a great proponent of giving girls and boys parity within an educational environment. “I have worked in co-ed schools before and I’m a great believer in

giving them equal opportunities and Stonyhurst is very much a school that allows that.” Fr Chris takes over from former Stonyhurst St Mary’s Hall headmaster Ian Murphy, who was with the school for nine years: “Ian Murphy has done a fantastic job! Stonyhurst is known throughout the world so to keep that sense of it being a wonderful school is important,” says Fr Chris. “Stonyhurst is an amazing place for boarders and day pupils as there are so many opportunities within the

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

“I have been given a very warm welcome and I am looking forward to exploring the area and becoming part of the community.”

Stonyhurst St Mary’s Hall welcomes children of all faiths. Prospective parents are welcome to visit the school and see the facilities that will give their children a great start on their learning journey. To arrange a private tour or for more information about Stonyhurst please call: 01254 827073

www.lancmag.com

Stonyhurst St Mary’s Hall Clitheroe BB7 9PU 01254 827073 stonyhurst.ac.uk

Scan here to register for an Open Day

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LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 11

blackpoolgrand.co.uk blackpoolgrand.co.uk

Get Getyour yourskates skateson! on! Book Book now now forfor Grand Grand Panto Panto starring starring TV’s TV’s Hayley Hayley Tamaddon! Tamaddon! Don’tDon’t missmiss TV sensation TV sensation Hayley Hayley Tamaddon Tamaddon as she asdances she dances backback into her intohometown her hometown to sprinkle to sprinkle somesome seasonal seasonal magic magic as the as the GoodGood FairyFairy in the infabulous the fabulous family family pantomime pantomime Sleeping Sleeping Beauty Beauty at Blackpool at Blackpool Grand Grand Theatre Theatre this Christmas. this Christmas.

T T

Witty wordsmith Philip just Philip lovesjust to play lovesthe to play Panto the Panto ickets are ickets already are already flying out! flying with out! some with someWitty wordsmith Dame live Dame on stage live on every stage Christmas every Christmas and has been and has been performances performances from Friday from Friday 2 December 2 December delighting delighting countless countless pantomime pantomime fans overfans the over yearsthe years to Sunday to Sunday 1 January 1 January alreadyalready offering offering limitedlimited with his with playful hispersona playful persona and magnificent and magnificent costumes. costumes. Philip said Philip of his said new of cast his new mates: cast“Sleeping mates: “Sleeping Beauty isBeauty is availability! availability!

my favourite my favourite pantomime pantomime and it’s so and great it’s to so be great back to be back The much-loved The much-loved local lady local wowed ladyTV wowed audiences TV audiences when whenin Blackpool in Blackpool with Steve with and Steve to work and with to work Hayley withwho Hayley who she tookshe the took top spot the top in ITV’s spot smash-hit in ITV’s smash-hit reality skating reality skating I wrote lots I wrote for when lots for shewhen was ashe Dingle was ainDingle Emmerdale, in Emmerdale, show Dancing show Dancing on Ice alongside on Ice alongside childhood childhood friend Dan friend Dan including including some of her some first of her everfirst scenes!” ever scenes!” Whiston.Whiston. The multi-talented The multi-talented performer performer also scooped also scooped the the Philip also Philip isn’talso giving isn’t much giving away much about away this about year’s this year’s top prizetop in Celebrity prize in Celebrity Stars in Your StarsEyes in Your andEyes has starred and has starred outrageous outrageous Panto Dame Panto outfits, Damebut outfits, he did but lethe slip didthat let slip that in countless in countless West EndWest productions End productions from Chicago from Chicago to to he will be heback will with be back a whole with new a whole wardrobe! new wardrobe! “It’s so very “It’s so very Everybody’s Everybody’s Talking About Talking Jamie About and Jamie top TV anddramas top TV dramas Blackpool,” Blackpool,” he said. “Glamourous, he said. “Glamourous, but not too butabove not too above from Coronation from Coronation St and Emmerdale St and Emmerdale to Shameless. to Shameless. itself. My itself. new frocks My newinclude frocksone include I’m certain one I’mall certain the dads all the dads SleepingSleeping Beauty isBeauty jam-packed is jam-packed with marvellous with marvellous music musicwill find will veryfind hotvery indeed… hot indeed… and a little and number a little that number is a that is a and dance, and fun dance, and laughter, fun and laughter, stunningstunning sets, amazing sets, amazing double tribute doubleto tribute a beloved to a national beloved national institution institution AND a AND a costumes costumes and exciting and exciting special effects specialtoeffects keep audiences to keep audiences community community at the heart at the of heart Blackpool.” of Blackpool.” both young both and young old entertained! and old entertained! This fabulous, This fabulous, feel-goodfeel-good The fantastic The fantastic family pantomime family pantomime at Blackpool’s at Blackpool’s Grand Grand tale is sprinkled tale is sprinkled with lotswith of seasonal lots of seasonal sparkle and sparkle is and is Theatre Theatre is alwaysisaalways laugh-a-minute a laugh-a-minute extravaganza extravaganza with with the perfect theway perfect to experience way to experience the traditional the traditional magic magic stunningstunning sets, top sets, musical top hits, musical amazing hits, amazing costumes costumes and and of Christmas. of Christmas. exciting exciting special effects specialtoeffects keep audiences to keep audiences both young both young Hayley isHayley overjoyed is overjoyed to be joining to beBritain’s joining Britain’s Got Talent Got Talent and old entertained! and old entertained! This year’s This Sleeping year’s Sleeping Beauty isBeauty truly is truly finalist and finalist family andfavourite family favourite Steve Royle Steve asRoyle Silly Billy as Silly Billya magical a treat magical fortreat all the for family all theyou family won’t you want won’t to miss! want to miss! and celebrated and celebrated playwright playwright and top soap and top screenwriter soap screenwriter Once upon Once a time upon a beautiful a time a beautiful PrincessPrincess pricks her pricks finger her finger Philip Meeks Philip(Emmerdale, Meeks (Emmerdale, Heartbeat, Heartbeat, Doctors)Doctors) as the as the on a spindle on awheel, spindle which wheel, has which beenhas cursed beenby cursed the evil by the evil one and only one and Nursie onlyinNursie Sleeping in Sleeping Beauty’sBeauty’s enchanting enchanting Carabosse, Carabosse, on the eve onof the her eve 18th of her Birthday 18th Birthday party. Can party. the Can the tale of magic, tale ofmayhem magic, mayhem and misunderstandings and misunderstandings live on live on Good Fairy’s Goodmagical Fairy’s spell magical break spell the break curse? theThe curse? Princess The Princess the Grand the Theatre’s Grand Theatre’s famous stage. famous stage. can onlycan be awoken only be by awoken true love’s by true kiss. love’s Willkiss. she Will find her she find her She said:She “It’ssaid: such“It’s a thrill suchfor a thrill me tofor beme abletotobeperform able to performtrue lovetrue andlove live happily and live ever happily after? ever Fly after? to Blackpool’s Fly to Blackpool’s in pantomime, in pantomime, not just in not my just hometown in my hometown of Blackpool, of Blackpool,Grand Theatre Grand Theatre and find and out how find out the how storythe ends… story ends… but in the but glorious in the glorious Grand Theatre. Grand Theatre. I have performed I have performed in in SleepingSleeping Beauty isBeauty presented is presented by Martin byDodd Martin forDodd UK for UK many, many many, pantomimes, many pantomimes, but never but here never at home here at and home I and I Productions Productions Ltd, whoLtd, has who presented has presented the Christmas the Christmas can’t wait can’t to step waitout to step on that outfamous on thatstage. famous It will stage. also It will also pantomime pantomime at Blackpool’s at Blackpool’s Grand Theatre Grand Theatre since 1996. since 1996. be so wonderful be so wonderful for my little for my boylittle to beboy abletotobesee able metoon see me on Other productions Other productions presented presented at The Grand at The byGrand UK by UK stage at the stage Grand at the every Grand day every as the day Good as the Fairy Good at such Fairyaat such a Productions Productions include Legally includeBlonde Legallythe Blonde Musical, the Musical, Disney’s Disney’s special time special of year” time of year” Beauty and Beauty the Beast and the The Beast Musical, The Musical, The KiteThe Runner, Kite Runner, Much-loved Much-loved Grand panto Grand star panto Steve star said: Steve “I can’t said:wait “I can’t to wait 42nd to Street, 42ndSouth Street, Pacific, SouthCarousel, Pacific, Carousel, Fiddler on Fiddler the on the work with work Hayley. withShe’s Hayley. a great She’sperformer a great performer and I know and I knowRoof, Oklahoma!, Roof, Oklahoma!, Seven Brides Seven for Brides Seven for Brothers Seven Brothers and and we will have we will loads have of fun loads inof panto fun in together.” panto together.” Anything Anything Goes. Goes.

Blackpool’s Blackpool’s No.1 No.1Panto! Panto! MARTIN DODD forMARTIN UK PRODUCTIONS DODD for UKinPRODUCTIONS association withinBLACKPOOL association with GRAND BLACKPOOL THEATRE GRAND proudly THEATRE presents proudly presents MARTIN DODD forMARTIN UK PRODUCTIONS DODD for UKinPRODUCTIONS association withinBLACKPOOL association with GRAND BLACKPOOL THEATRE GRAND proudly THEATRE presents proudly presents

DON’T DON’T BE BE NAPPING! NAPPING! DON’T DON’T BE CAUGHT CAUGHT BE CAUGHT CAUGHT NAPPING! NAPPING!

Book now now blackpoolgrand.co.uk at BookBook Book now at at now blackpoolgrand.co.uk at blackpoolgrand.co.uk blackpoolgrand.co.uk Join us for Join the usgreatest for the greatest magical magical pantomime pantomime ever toldever told Tickets are already withfast some Tickets are selling alreadyfast selling with some starringstarring TV favourites TV favourites Hayley Tamaddon, Hayley Tamaddon, Steve Steve performances already offering limited availability. performances already offering limited availability. Royle and Royle Philip and Meeks! PhilipIt’s Meeks! never It’s too never earlytoo to book early to book your seats! your seats! Please call the Box onOffice on Please call Office the Box

01253 01253 290190 290190

Sleeping Sleeping BeautyBeauty is at Blackpool is at Blackpool GrandGrand Theatre Theatre from Friday from Friday 2 December 2 December 2022 2022 to Sunday to Sunday 1 January 1 January 2023 with 2023matinee with matineeor visit or visit www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk and evening and evening performances. performances. Accessible Accessible performances performances will also will be available. also be available.

for bookings for bookings and further andinformation. further information.

blackpoolgrand.co.uk blackpoolgrand.co.uk

Death Death Drop Drop is Back is Back In In The The Habit Habit at Blackpool at Blackpool Grand! Grand! Do you Do dare you dare missmiss the killer the killer comedy comedy Death Death Drop: Drop: BackBack In In The Habit The Habit at Blackpool at Blackpool Grand Grand Theatre Theatre in January in January 2023…2023… Condragulations! Condragulations! Death Death DropDrop is back is back and it’s andbetter it’s better thanthan ever!ever!

S S

ashay to ashay Blackpool to Blackpool Grand Theatre Grand Theatre for thefor the wickedly wickedly funny West funnyEnd West comedy End comedy Death Death Drop: Back Drop:InBack The In Habit Thefrom HabitTuesday from Tuesday 3 to 3 to Saturday Saturday 7 January 7 January 2023. It’s 2023. the It’s divinely the divinely hilarious hilarious drag murder drag murder mystery mystery that ‘nun’ that of‘nun’ of you expected… you expected…

‘A DAZZLING ‘A DAZZLING & DELIGHTFUL & DELIGHTFUL CAMP CAMP COMEDY’ COMEDY’

Following Following three sold-out three sold-out West EndWest runs, End theruns, smash-hit the smash-hit Dragatha Dragatha Christie Christie sensation sensation Death Drop Death is back! DropThe is back! The delightfully delightfully daft dragdaft murder dragmystery murder mystery is returning is returning with a brand-new with a brand-new show: Death show: Drop: Death Back Drop: In The BackHabit In The Habit GAY TIMES GAY TIMES written by written Rob Evans by Rob and Evans directed and directed once again once byagain by Jesse Jones. Jesse Jones. • Dragmother • Dragmother - An established - An established drag queen drag who queen mentors who mentors A gaggleAofgaggle glamorous of glamorous nuns arenuns trapped are in trapped their convent in their convent a new queen a new (her queen ‘daughter’) (her ‘daughter’) how to get how started; to get many started; many with a serial withslayer a serial slashing slayer slashing their way their through way through the the queens use queens the same use the lastsame name last as name their drag as their mother, drag mother, Sisters inSisters this fantastic, in this fantastic, all new follow all new upfollow to theup fiveto the five- creatingcreating family lineages, family lineages, sometimes sometimes called houses callediehouses as ie as star West star EndWest phenomenon. End phenomenon. As the clues As the areclues cleverly are cleverly in hit BBC in drama hit BBCPose drama Pose unearthed unearthed by Sis Marple, by Sis you’ll Marple, be you’ll laughing be laughing in the pews in the pews Eleganza • Eleganza Extravaganza Extravaganza - A showcase - A showcase of a dragof queens a drag queens as this fabulously as this fabulously fierce, all-drag fierce, killer all-drag comedy killer comes comedy tocomes•to finest and finest mostand fashionable most fashionable clothingclothing and wigsand wigs its thrilling its thrilling conclusion. conclusion. Fierce - Extremely well put well together, put together, well-performed, well-performed, CreativeCreative DirectorDirector and Producer and Producer Christopher Christopher D. Clegg D. Clegg • Fierce -•Extremely fashionable, fashionable, beautifulbeautiful ie “Her make-up ie “Her make-up looked fierce.” looked fierce.” said: “Wesaid: cannot “Wewait cannot to sashay wait toonto sashay theonto roadthe again road with again with “Her lip sync “Her performance lip sync performance was fierce.” wasUsed fierce.” positively Used positively the nextthe chapter next in chapter the ridiculous in the ridiculous Death Drop Death saga, Drop thissaga, this and highand praise high inpraise the drag in the world drag world time with time a flock withofafabulous flock of fabulous drag NUNS! dragAudiences NUNS! Audiences are are in for a real in for treat a real as this treathilarious as this hilarious comedy puts comedy a whole puts a whole • Garage•Doors Garage - One Doors solid - One colour solid ofcolour eyeshadow of eyeshadow that’s that’s new spinnew on murder, spin on religion murder, and religion of course and ofDrag. course You Drag. will You will heavily applied heavilyover applied the over entire the lidentire and up lidtoand theup to the NOT want NOT to miss wantthis to miss outrageous this outrageous show.” show.” eyebroweyebrow Top TV series Top TV such series as Ru such Paul’s as Ru Drag Paul’s Race Drag have Race brought have brought • Meryl Streep • MerylRealness Streep Realness - Serious-acting, Seriousinstead acting,of instead going of going the amazing the amazing art of drag artinto of drag the mainstream into the mainstream and withand with big during bigaduring performance, a performance, acting more acting reserved more reserved it some of it the some wonderfully of the wonderfully colourfulcolourful terminology terminology used used in drag culture. in drag Some culture. terms Some already terms existed alreadyin existed the drag in the drag • Shade –• an Shade insult – an orinsult negative or negative commentcomment world, while world, others whilehave others originated have originated from thefrom ever-the ever• Spilling• The Spilling Tea The – Sharing Tea – Sharing gossip gossip popular reality popularshows. reality shows. ‘Shante toaway’ Blackpool to Blackpool Grand this Grand February! this February! Here’s our Here’s handy our drag handy talkdrag guide talk to guide get you toready get you for ready for‘Shante away’ The dazzling The dazzling Death Drop Death promises Drop promises to be an ‘eleganza to be an ‘eleganza your extraordinary your extraordinary night with night Death with Drop: Death Drop: extravaganza’ extravaganza’ of a showofthat a show absolutely that absolutely slays… Book slays… Book • BGB/Bye • BGB/Bye Girl Bye Girl – A term Bye –used A term when used one when dragone queen drag is queen is seats your your now! seats now! annoyedannoyed by another by another Death Drop: Death Back Drop: in the Back Habit in the is at Habit Blackpool is at Blackpool Grand Grand • Death Drop • Death – ADrop dance– move A dance where move a queen where a queen Theatre Theatre from Tuesday from Tuesday 3 to Saturday 3 to Saturday 7 January 7 January 2023 at 2023 at dramatically dramatically falls back falls intoback a stroke into a pose, stroke usually pose,at usually the at8pm. the Friday 8pm.&Friday Saturday & Saturday at 5.30pm atand 5.30pm 8.30pm. and Tickets 8.30pm. Tickets end of lip-syncing end of lip-syncing to a songto a song starting starting from £15.50 from with £15.50 concessions with concessions available. available.

THETHE KILLER KILLER DRAG DRAG COMEDY COMEDY NUNNUN OF OF YOUYOU ASKED ASKED FOR... FOR...

Tickets Tickets are already are already sellingselling fast fast with some withperformances some performances already already offering offering limited limited availability. availability. Please call Please thecall Boxthe Office Boxon Office on

01253 01253 290190 290190 or visitor visit

www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk for bookings for bookings and further and further information. information.

STONYHURST COLLEGE CELEBRATES REMARKABLE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE RESULTS

Stonyhurst is, once again, delighted to share the achievements of its International Baccalaureate 2022 pupils who have, this week, received their IB Diploma results.

any pupils have attained exceptional results in their final exams, fulfilling the school’s core aims in the pursuit of academic excellence.. • Stonyhurst have continued to outperform the global average of 31.9 points, with our average score of 34.4 points. • Over a third of candidates achieved 36+ points, broadly equivalent to 3As at A level. • The top points score was 42, a feat achieved by less than 4% of students worldwide and is equivalent to 4 A*s at A level. • Stonyhurst were delighted to see 100% of our International Baccalaureate Career Pathway (IBCP) candidates achieve their 16

certificate conditions. Our top IBCP candidate achieved a UCAS tariff point score of 80 from his IB components alone and is on track for a combined UCAS tariff equivalent of 3 A*s at A level. • University offers have been achieved at a variety of Russell Group and other competitive university destinations in the UK, such as Warwick, Exeter, Manchester and Bath, as well as a range of prestigious institutions across Europe including IE University Madrid and Maastricht University in the Netherlands. • The breadth of the International Baccalaureate curriculum is evidenced in the wide variety of subjects being studied, including Law, Engineering, Economics, Management, Politics and International Relations and Medicine. Commenting on the 2022 results, Olli-Pekka Heinonen, Director General of the International Baccalaureate, said: “After a global pandemic, which has thrown up multiple challenges over the last two years, these grades are a testament to the resilience and dedication shown

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by the whole Stonyhurst community. The character on display illustrates everything the IB stands for.” John Browne, Headmaster of Stonyhurst, said: “The International Baccalaureate Programme at Stonyhurst continues to flourish. These results are a remarkable tribute to our young people who have shown such determination and optimism through the extraordinary events of the past two years. The global nature of some of the university destinations demonstrates the ambition of our Stonyhurst pupils. The IB philosophy promotes international-mindedness and a broad and challenging curriculum which has prepared these fine young people so well for the next stage of their educational journey.”

www.stonyhurst.ac.uk Admissions: 01254 827073 www.lancmag.com

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The Top 10 Waterfalls In The UK You Need To Visit By Finest Filters - www.finest-filters.co.uk

The UK is home to some simply breathtaking waterfalls, with new research carried out by the Finest Filters team revealing the most popular falls in the country.

he team pulled together a complete list of waterfalls located in the UK and, by counting the associated number of hashtags on Instagram, determined which were the most stunning of all. Our marketing director Adam Green commented:

THE 10 MOST POPULAR WATERFALLS IN THE UK Next time you’re planning a trip out into nature or are looking for a new hike trail, check out our list of the best UK waterfalls to clear your mind, breathe in some superfresh air, and get some stunning content to add to increase those Instagram hashtags further.

FAIRY POOLS, ISLE OF SKYE (96,922 Instagram Hashtags)

“If there’s one thing the last two years have taught us, it’s how important spending time out in nature is for our health and wellbeing, and that we shouldn’t take it for granted. “As spring comes in and the weather warms up, now is the perfect time to head out and see what the great outdoors has to offer. These results really showcase the diverse and natural beauty we have in the UK, and really shows us how lucky we are to live amongst such stunning natural wonders. “As we leave a cold winter behind and spring gathers momentum, now is a great time for the UK public to head out and experience some of the UK’s greatest hidden treasures.”

WHERE ARE THE BEST UK WATERFALLS? The Fairy Pools in the Isle of Skye tops our list with 96,922 associated hashtags on Instagram in total, and it’s not hard to see why. Small but mighty, these cerulean pools draw thousands of visitors a year and are a popular spot amongst wild swimmers brave enough to take a cool dip. Aira Force, which can be found nestled in the Lake District, is 2nd with 33,598 hashtags. A stunningly beautiful plunge, the site is also home to two stone bridges that visitors can use to see the cascading falls from both atop and below. High Force in County Durham is 3rd with 33,374 hashtags. Found in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this UK waterfall cuts a striking path through ancient rocks thought to be more than 300 million years old.

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Small in size but mighty in spirit, the spectacular Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye are an absolute must-visit, thanks to their almost enchanted, fairytale-like quality. Crystal clear water reflects the expansive sky at this charming spot, which has captured the imagination of generations of explorers. www.lancmag.com

Located at the foot of the Black Cuillins near the village of Carbost in Glenbrittle to the west of the island, the Fairy Pools are beautifully serene and offer a great place to take a dip for anyone daring enough to give wild swimming a go. If you want to discover the Fairy Pools for yourself, it’s recommended that you park in the Forestry Commission gravel car park, signposted Glumagan Na Sithichean. From there, it’s around a 20-minute walk to the first of the stunning pools. The Fairy Pools are one of the Isle of Skye’s gems, with other walks on the island including the hike up to the Old Man of Storr, and the Fairy Glen, which has a completely unique, other-wordly landscape as the result of a landslip.

close you can get to the falls before you set off, as there has been some tree fall in the area in recent months. Park up in one of the four National Trust car parks within the Ullswater valley - one of these is located at Aira Force itself, with the others to be found at Park Brow, High Cascades, and Glencoyne Bay. Refuel after your walk with a visit to the tea room before your drive home.

HIGH FORCE, FOREST-IN-TEESDALE, BARNARD CASTLE (33,374 Instagram Hashtags)

AIRA FORCE, PENRITH (33,598 Instagram Hashtags)

Barnard Castle has become infamous over the last couple of years, but did you know the surrounding area is actually home to one of the most stunning waterfalls in the UK? Carved out by the River Tees over the course of thousands of years, High Force cuts a striking path through an ancient rock that’s thought to be more than 300 million years old. Located in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty not far from Middleton-in-Teesdale in County Durham, these waterfalls can be accessed by taking a wonderful woodland walk that leads intrepid explorers to the base of the spectacular 21-metre drop. When you reach the waterfall, the roar of the cascading water will take your breath away - it’s a must-visit if you’re in the area. High Force is surrounded by the stunning countryside of Upper Teesdale, and there’s plenty of history to be discovered at nearby Barnard Castle, an ancient market town.

Nestled within the stunning grounds of Gowbarrow Park in Cumbria, Aira Force is one of the most popular waterfalls in the north of England.

ABER FALLS (RHAEDR FAWR), GWYNEDD, WALES (30,055 Instagram Hashtags)

The falls are located on one of the first pieces of land purchased by the National Trust after its founding in 1906. Preserved and protected ever since, two historic stone bridges offer amazing views from both on top of and below the main force, giving you plenty of opportunities to get some breathtaking photos. Other areas of interest within the National Trust site include a landscaped Victorian park, an arboretum, and rocky scenery that’s waiting to be explored. Check how www.lancmag.com

Photo Credit: www.visitsnowdonia.info

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 23

Carved into the northern foothills of the Carneddau, Aber Falls is an essential walk for anyone visiting the beautiful mountain ranges of Snowdonia in North Wales. The path towards the falls takes in several Bronze Age settlements, meaning the area is steeped in ancient history.

INGLETON WATERFALL TRAIL, INGLETON, CARNFORTH (18,476 Instagram Hashtags)

This stunning UK waterfall marks the last leg of Afon Goch’s (also known as Red River’s) journey, as the river plummets from a height of 120 feet, before crashing into a shallow pool and making its way towards the village of Abergwyngregyn, and onward to the Menai Straits. There’s a plunge pool that you can bathe in, but the water is very cold all year round, and the surrounding rocks can be incredibly slippery - a visit to Aber Falls is certainly an adventure. The Aber Falls car park is located at the start of the walk and is accessed by a narrow road in the Abergwyngregyn village - bear in mind that this is a challenging hike and it can get very busy on nice days, so take this into account when planning your visit.

GLENARIFF FOREST PARK, BALLYMENA (23,221 Instagram Hashtags)

Beginning in the picturesque village of Ingleton in North Yorkshire, the 4.5-mile (8km) Ingleton Waterfalls Trail runs through ancient woodland and across part of the Yorkshire Dales via a series of stunning waterfalls and geological features, including Swilla Glen, Pecca Falls Hollybush Spout, Thornton Force, and more. This rich variety of unique geology is one of the key reasons why the site has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and the beauty of the area is said to have been a great inspiration for Turner himself. If you’re planning a visit to the Ingleton Waterfalls Trail, it’s recommended that you book your ticket in advance (free parking is included), and you can access an interactive route map via the trail’s website to keep your walk on track and learn more about the stunning scenery you’re walking through.

PISTYLL RHAEADR, OSWESTRY (14,411 Instagram Hashtags) 

Also known as the Queen of the Glens, Glenariff in Ballymena is one of the nine Antrim Glens located in Northern Ireland, which covers 1,000 hectares of land and is home to planted woodland, lakes and outdoor recreation spaces. The jewels of the park are its spectacular waterfalls, which visitors can reach as part of the Glenariff Nature Reserve Waterfalls Walk. The cascading falls offer ideal conditions for a wide variety of rare native flora. With four trails in total, the park offers a wide variety of opportunities to experience nature in all its glory. View the amazing waterfalls from a pier that juts into the river - the best place to get your Instagram content. There’s a car park onsite, a visitor centre, toilets, and places to buy food and drink to fuel your walk; it’s a stunning place to spend the day.

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 Located in the Berwyn Mountains to the west of Oswestry and Shrewsbury, Pistyll Rhaeadr is one of Britain’s tallest single-drop waterfalls, plunging from a height of 240ft (80m).

THE FALLS OF CLYDE, NEW LANARK (8,817 Instagram Hashtags)

This picturesque waterfall is considered one of the Seven Wonders of Wales, and is formed by the Afon Disgynfa falling in three stages over a 240-foot cliff face, into the Afon Rhaeadr below. This UK waterfall’s unique setting and impact on the local landscape have earned it a designation as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Parking and camping are available onsite, and you’ll find a tea room at Tan-y-Pistyll (little house under the waterfall). Pistyll Rhaeadr is a must-visit if you’re venturing across the Welsh border - the view from the iron bridge that takes you across the base of the waterfall into the adjoining woodland is the perfect photo spot.

WATERFALL COUNTRY, YSTRADFELLTE, POWYS, WALES (14,187 Instagram Hashtags)

Located within the World Heritage Site of New Lanark, the Falls of Clyde reserve encompasses four waterfalls Bonnington Linn, Corra Linn, Dundaff Linn, and Stonebyres Linn. The reserve is home to some fascinating wildlife, including otters, more than 100 species of birds - including ravens and kingfishers - and badger watching experiences available after dark. If you’ve visited Scotland’s National Gallery, you may recognise the Corra Linn from Turner’s painting The Falls of Clyde, which hangs in the gallery, immortalising the falls’ outstanding natural beauty. Park up in the New Lanark village car park, pass the New Lanark visitor centre on your right, then continue until you reach the Falls of Clyde visitor centre, where you’ll start your hike up to the falls.

HENRHYD FALLS, COELBREN, NEATH (8,494 Instagram Hashtags)

Situated within the Brecon Beacons National Park, the falls of Waterfall Country are formed by the rivers Mellte, Hepste, Pyrddin, and Nedd-fechan. These four rivers cut through deep gorges lined with trees, before joining together to form the River Neath. By following the aptly named four waterfalls walk, visitors will be able to enjoy a 3.1-mile (5km) circular loop that cuts through the primeval woodland of the Brecon Beacons and stops by four spectacular Welsh waterfalls Sgwd Clun-Gwyn, Sgwd Isaf Clun-Gwyn, Sgwd Y Pannwr, and the magnificent Sgwd yr Eira. Although Waterfall Country is completely breathtaking to visit, a high number of visitors has taken its toll in recent years. Make sure you park only in designated areas, and check social media before your trip, as updates will be posted on particularly busy days.

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Tucked away on the western edge of the Brecon Beacons, Henrhyd Falls is home to the highest waterfall in South Wales. Start your journey at the National Trust car park at Coelbren; from there, you can enjoy a beautiful walk through the ancient woodland of the Gorge of Graig Llech, which will feel almost like you’re stepping into another world. Look out for wild trout swimming in the lower falls. The National Trust site also encompasses the Nant Llech valley, which is home to a variety of wildlife and woodland birds, and passes a picturesque disused watermill, the Melin Llech. www.lancmag.com

HOW CLEAN ARE WATERFALLS IN THE UK? Despite their breathtaking beauty, the UK’s waterfalls may not be as clean and pure as they first look. In fact, a recent report published by the Environmental Audit Committee found that only 14% of rivers in England meet good ecological status, indicating that many of these waterfalls may be polluted with agriculture, sewage, roads, and single-use plastics. Similar concerns on water quality have also been raised in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

Adam Green added: “If we want to continue to enjoy these natural wonders, and ensure they remain for future generations, the UK government needs to invest in sweeping measures to eliminate the threat of pollution from affecting our rivers and waterways. “Additionally, the UK public should also take steps to reduce their impact on natural spaces as much as possible. Take Leave No Trace to heart when you visit, and make sure to take everything with you when you leave. It can make all the difference.”

SO KEEP IN MIND OUR BEAUTIFUL UK WATERFALLS AND MAKE SURE TO VISIT:

RANK

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

WATERFALL

LOCATION

INSTAGRAM HASHTAGS

Fairy Pools

Glenbrittle, Isle of Skye, Scotland

96,922

Aira Force

Lake District, England

33,598

High Force

County Durham, England

33,374

Aber Falls (Rhaedr Fawr)

Gwynedd, North Wales

30,055

Glenariff Forest Park

County Antrim Northern Ireland

23,221

Ingleton Waterfall Trail

Yorkshire Dales, England

18,476

Pistyll Rhaeadr

Powys, Wales

14,411

Waterfall Country

Brecon Beacons, Wales

14,187

The Falls of Clyde

South Lanarkshire, Scotland

8,817

Henrhyd Falls

Brecon Beacons, Wales

8,494

*Methodology: Using a list of UK waterfalls, the team collated total hashtags associated with the waterfalls, including their names in their country of origin. Data for 30 locations were pulled and ranked to reveal the top 10.

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Whether it’s a waterfall, a fish tank, or a garden pond, clean water is essential for helping fish and plants to thrive and survive. Follow our advice when you’re out and about to keep our beautiful waterfalls and rivers as clean

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LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 27

Transformation of Salford’s Middlewood Locks to Continue

Homes England, the Government’s housing and regeneration agency, has agreed a £30m loan to continue the transformation of Middlewood Locks in Salford.

he agreement with Middlewood Locks KLM, a partnership between Scarborough Group International and its joint-venture partners Metro Holdings and Hualing Group, will see 189 new homes built as the third phase of the 25-acre brownfield site.

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Middlewood Locks is a significant regeneration project in Salford, being created over a number of phases. Once complete, it will deliver over 2,000 homes, 900,000 sq. ft of commercial space, including a hotel and leisure amenities set in a calm canal side environment with 4.5 acres of public realm and event space.

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with £30m Government Levelling Up Deal Housing Minister Rt Hon Stuart Andrew MP said: “The regeneration of our towns and cities is a key part of our levelling up mission. I am pleased to see the progress being made at Middlewood Locks, a major regeneration project for Salford that will deliver vital new homes for the city, create jobs and boost the wider economy. It is a fantastic example of our brownfieldfirst plan to transform disused land into thriving communities.” Planning consent was granted last year for the Railings at Middlewood Locks following the successful completion and sell out of 1,117 apartments in phases one and two. The multi-award-winning new neighbourhood is already thriving with over 1,300 people living and working at Middlewood Locks with a recent report highlighting a £260 million contribution to the Greater Manchester economy so far. Peter Denton, Chief Executive at Homes England, said: “With the first two phases of Middlewood Locks now complete, we’re already seeing the transformational impact that this scheme is having on the local area. This latest funding will help to bring forward the next phase and add a new community to the already vibrant neighbourhoods created there.

Just a stone’s throw from Salford Central station and a short walk from Manchester’s Spinningfields business district, the site includes substantial public realm within the design, incorporating the attractive waterside setting of the restored Manchester, Bolton and Bury canal.

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“It is urban regeneration schemes like Middlewood Locks that will support the levelling up of towns and cities, creating places where people want to live, work and play.” The funding comes from the Government’s Levelling Up Home Building Fund, which provides development finance to smallmedium housebuilders to help diversify the market and build much needed homes and communities.

This deal marks the second commitment made by Homes England to Middlewood Locks, after the first phase of the project benefited from both short and long-term loans to support the creation of 1,100 homes, supported by vital infrastructure. The approval of both of these loans for one project is rare and underlines the agency’s belief in the importance of the project to the community and wider area. Kevin McCabe, Chairman at Scarborough Group International, said: “Securing this funding from Homes England marks a significant step forward in the expansion of our awardwinning, mixed-use neighbourhood at Middlewood Locks. “Not only does it reinforce our long-standing relationship with Homes England, it also underlines our joint aspiration for creating a vibrant city centre community through the delivery of a further 189 high-quality homes, together with supporting amenity space and public realm.” With a broader commitment to place-making, Middlewood Locks is just one of the schemes Homes England is supporting in Salford. The English Cities Fund, Homes England’s long-standing partnership with Legal & General and Muse Developments, has also secured a £2.5bn, 240acre scheme at Salford Crescent in partnership with Salford City Council and the University of Salford, which will bring over 3,000 homes. It will also deliver up to 1 million sq ft of space to innovate and collaborate, 1 million sq ft of offices, retail, and leisure space, and a new multi-modal transport hub with active travel at its heart to the city, all set within swathes of green space.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 29

The Friends of Blackpool Grand are tickled to unveil a tribute to Sir Ken Dodd OBE

Ken Dodd & Lady Dodd

Blackpool Grand Theatre has revealed a specially commissioned bronze bust of Sir Ken Dodd OBE from ‘The People’s Sculptor’ Graham Ibbeson

he Friends of Blackpool Grand Theatre unveiled a tattyfilarious tribute to the Master of Mirth and comedy legend, Sir Ken Dodd OBE, on Friday 22 July. The Friends of The Grand commissioned a special bronze sculpture from renowned artist Graham Ibbeson to commemorate their famous founding member, which will be housed in pride of place in the theatre’s Dress Circle for all to enjoy ‘The People’s Sculptor’ Graham Ibbeson undertook the precious project throughout 2020-21 during the national lockdown and his famed previous works include celebrations of comedy greats Les Dawson, Morecambe & Wise and Laurel & Hardy. This spectacular sculpture of Professor Chucklebutty features Ken’s famous Tickling Stick along with Dicky Mint - one of his most beloved Diddymen, who hail from the jam butty mines of Knotty Ash!

Ken Dodd, Lady Dodd & Comedians Mick Miller, Ricky Tomlinson & Roy Walker

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Friends of The Grand Chairman, John Grady, said of the commission: “Sir Ken was a very important founding member of The Friends and an invaluable supporter of The Grand Theatre, offering his time and talent on numerous occasions to help raise the funds to save the theatre from demolition, back in the 1970s. Every year www.lancmag.com

since the theatre re-opened, he performed on our stage spreading joy and laughter and we wanted to officially recognise his incredible contribution to The Grand and the world of theatre as a whole.” Sculptor Graham Ibbeson added: “To me, Ken Dodd was an absolute legend, and the last of the great comedians of an era that made the transition from music hall to variety theatre and on to television. He was in his element on a stage. He loved live audiences, and those audiences loved him back. He gave me the honour of unveiling my Laurel & Hardy Sculpture (Ulverston) in 2009 and told the audience that I was ‘eyeing him up for my next sculpture’, which brought a roar of laughter from the crowd. It wasn’t the next sculpture, but I was truly honoured to be asked to sculpt one of my absolute heroes in 2020, I just hope I did you justice Sir Ken!” Kenneth Arthur Dodd was born on 8 November 1927 in the Liverpool suburb of Knotty Ash, the son of a coal merchant. He began his lifelong career as an entertainer in the 1950s and was known for his eccentric and lengthy performances and incredible repertoire of oneliners. Ken regularly appeared on The Grand’s famous stage with his inimitable one-man show year on year, until his very last live appearances in October 2017, meeting and talking to fans before and after every show, signing autographs and sharing memories into the early hours of the morning. Sir Ken Dodd received a knighthood from Prince William at the age of 89 for his charity work and his outstanding career in entertainment lasting more than six decades. The investiture came 25 years after he was first awarded an OBE for services to show business and charity. Dressed in a morning suit and top hat the much-loved comedian told press before he entered Buckingham Palace that he felt like ‘a racehorse in the stalls, just sweating a little – apprehensive but highly tickled’. He passed away at his home in Knotty Ash in March 2018 aged 90 years old with his beloved wife Lady Anne Dodd by his side. Lady Dodd said of the new www.lancmag.com

sculpture: “I am truly honoured that the Friends of the Grand want to commemorate Ken in this way and I felt very privileged to be invited to Graham’s studio, along with members of the Friends Committee, to see this wonderful sculpture evolve throughout the creative process. Graham is a brilliant artist and my only input was to ‘tickle up’ Ken’s hair a bit! I am thrilled to bits that Ken will now be back at The Grand – a place I know he loved to be.” Blackpool Grand Theatre Chief Executive, Adam Knight, added: “Sir Ken was incredibly special, not only to the Friends of The Grand, but also to the people of Blackpool. It was wonderful to see so many representatives from across the town and from across the world of entertainment at the theatre today in celebration of this legendary performer. I know many of our theatre patrons will very much enjoy seeing Ken along with Dicky Mint in our Dress Circle every time they come to one our productions and remember the joy he brought to our audiences.” Ken Dodd was beloved by fellow performers and theatre critics alike, as many testimonies to his comic genius confirm: Fellow comedians: Mick Miller - “Ken Dodd was a Comedy Master. When young comedians used to ask me for advice, I always told them to go and watch Ken live as it would be the best seven hours of their lives!” Jimmy Tarbuck - “the greatest stage comic the country has ever seen” Theatre critics: Michael Coveney - The Stage: “Ken Dodd was the greatest live performer I ever saw on stage anywhere.” Michael Billington - The Guardian: “I’ve been lucky enough in my lifetime to see two performers kissed with genius. One was Laurence Olivier who could enthral an audience with his animalistic power and interpretative originality. The other is Ken Dodd who had the capacity to take a roomful of strangers and, through a fusillade of verbal and visual gags that never let up, induce in them a spirit of collective ecstasy.

10 facts you might not know about Sir Ken Dodd OBE: 1. Dodd’s memorable buck teeth came as a result of a dare; his schoolmates challenged him to ride a bicycle with his eyes closed.

2. Ken’s father was a coal merchant in the Liverpool suburb of Knotty Ash and Ken left school at 14 to help his dad with deliveries.

3. Ken performed his first show at the age of ten in an orphanage ‘because the poor little beggars couldn’t get away’.

4. He as a member of the Grand Order of Water Rats - the exclusive British entertainment industry fraternity and charitable organisation.

5. As well as having a successful career in comedy, Dodd also had several number ones – his recording of Tears was the highest-selling single in 1965.

6. He earned a place in the Guinness Book of Records for the world’s longest ever joke-telling session: 1,500 jokes in three-and-a-half hours, undertaken at a Liverpool theatre in the 1960s.

7. He was offered a job as a cub reporter on the Daily Express, but he turned it down to stay in the family business.

8. He had a pet poodle called Rufus

9. His recipe for the perfect jam

butty was to decrust two slices of bread then dip in in a beaten mixture of egg and milk in a shallow dish, before frying in butter or margarine. Make a sandwich with a tablespoon of jam, then also top with more jam and hand-whipped double cream

10. Ken Dodd died in the same home that he was born in.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 31

Allergy Sufferers – Live In Harmony With Your Pet This Autumn And Winter By Airborne Allergens Expert, Max Wiseberg

www.haymax.biz With the onset of autumn, we start to spend more time indoors, which, for pet allergy sufferers, means increased close contact with their pet and pet allergens. This can cause symptoms to flare up and become difficult to manage. However, there are some simple things you can do so you can live in harmony with your pet.

he most common form of pet allergy is an allergy to the tiny particles of dead skin and saliva (known as ‘dander’) shed by an animal that subsequently become airborne. We can be allergic to all sorts of animals. Cats are generally more allergenic than dogs, as the particles shed from them are smaller than those from dogs, so they become airborne more easily and are airborne for longer. Airborne particles can easily fly up the nose, triggering lots of nasty symptoms. Indoor allergy symptoms caused by pets can be very similar to the more well known hay fever symptoms. Common symptoms include:

• Sore, itchy, watery, red eyes. • Sneezing and wheezing. • Cold like symptoms such as a runny nose and sinus pain.

Many people believe they have a ‘winter cold’ when their symptoms are actually a result of spending more time inside amongst pet allergens than in the summer. Asthma can be triggered by many of the allergens found in our homes. In some rare cases, sufferers can experience extreme symptoms such as shortness of breath or even anaphylaxis.

Use an organic drug free allergen barrier balm, such as HayMax (www. haymax.biz). HayMax can be applied to the nostrils and bones of the eyes in the morning and throughout the day, and is proven to trap pet allergens[1], as well as dust and over a third of pollen particles before they enter the body where they can cause symptoms. Less allergen, less reaction! Consider using an air filter/purifier with a HEPA (High Efficiency Particle Arresting) filter to capture the pet allergen particles and cool and circulate the air. Damp dust surfaces regularly (damp dusting prevents particles being redistributed into the air). Vacuum regularly. It may also be beneficial to install “Allergy Friendly” flooring.

There are many treatments available such a saline nasal rinse, antihistamines, which can be bought over the counter as well as on prescription, steroid nasal sprays and eye drops. If your allergy is particularly severe, or you find one product does not quite do the job, you can create your own first aid kit, consisting of one or more natural products (such as HayMax), only one antihistamine, only one nasal spray and eye drops. HayMax organic drug-free allergen barrier balms rrp is £8.49 per pot and they are available from independent chemists, pharmacists and health stores, Holland & Barrett, Booths, Ocado, selected Superdrug and Boots, on 01525 406600 and from www.haymax.biz

Use allergy friendly mattress covers and bedding. Keep cuddly toys and blankets in a cupboard to prevent the build up of allergens on them.

However, unless you are severely allergic to pets, there are lots of ways to avoid the allergens which will enable you to keep an animal in your home. Most importantly, keep pets off your sofas and beds, and preferably out of the bedroom altogether, to reduce your exposure to allergens.

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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1) The offer is valid at Grosvenor Casino Blackpool only. Valid until 29th December only. 2) The offer entitles the holder to have £10, matched when playing Live Table Games. 3) Customers are required to deposit a minimum of £10 to receive the additional credit of £10. The combined value of £20 will be exchanged for a “Promotional Voucher”. 4) The Promotional Voucher can be redeemed at any Live Gaming Table. 5) The full value of the “Promotional Voucher” must be played through. 6) This offer may only be redeemed once and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or voucher and is non-transferable. There is no cash or other alternative to the promotion in whole or in part. The offers are non-transferable. The Promoter reserves the right to withdraw or change this offer at any time.

Remarkable Renovations at

Grosvenor Casino Blackpool E

arlier this year Grosvenor Casino Blackpool underwent remarkable renovations. On 28th May 2022 they revealed a major £879,000 refurbishment, featuring a special ribbon cutting ceremony with the appearance from our local Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayoress. Grosvenor Blackpool is constantly proving that it is more than just a casino. It is the perfect destination for entertainment, sports and dining too. Enjoy a quiet, relaxed environment with afternoon tea on our Monday slots club or dine in style in our fabulous Upper Deck Bar & Grill, with a delicious selection of fresh meat and fish to choose from – including the mouth-watering 36-ounce tomahawk steak. Plus, our team of mixologists are on hand to provide a wide collection of exquisite wines and cocktails in our art deco environment. Big sports fan? Come on down and take a seat in front of our 15-screen sports lounge and bar. We’ll be showing all major sporting events, including the Premier League, UFC, Boxing, Tennis, Cricket, American Football and much more. Our Sports Lounge recently hosted a sportsman Q&A with David Tanner and legendary Blackpool striker Brett Ormerod, and we’ll be showing every single game of the 2022 World Cup, starting from Monday 21st November. If it’s casino games you’re after, then swing by and check out our live tables, including Roulette, Blackjack, Ultimate Texas Poker and Three Card Poker. We have a Poker-dedicated room throughout the year, hosting major tournaments including this year’s GUKPT from 6th - 13th November. With 40 slot machines to choose from, slots fans won’t be disappointed either, with

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Blackpool’s Deputy Mayor Peter Hunter at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening night of The Upper Deck Bar & Grill.

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popular games including Cleopatra and Lucky Lady’s Charm to enjoy. Want to visit but don’t know how to play? No problem. We have a number of private casino experiences to help new customers begin. You can find full details via our website. http://www.grosvenorcasinos. com/local-casinos/experiences And then there’s our entertainment. Our unmissable shows take place every 36

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weekend, featuring a mix of live lounge acoustic performances on Fridays, and upbeat party vibes on Saturdays. Some of July’s performers included James ‘ARG’ Argent from The Only Way Is Essex, The Shane Noland Band and Honeyz star Celena Cherry. Over the next few months, we’ll be welcoming X Factor finalist Che Chesterman on the 29th October, and the incredible Ray Quinn will be performing a sensational set on November 26th 2022. www.lancmag.com

Sportsman’s Q&A in our fantastic new Sport’s Lounge with host David Tanner and former English professional footballer Brett Ormerod.

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Open 24/7

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Over 18’s only venue

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Membership is free

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ID (e.g. passport or driver’s licence) required upon registration

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Live gaming 4pm - 4am daily

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Restaurant open 4pm - 11pm daily Delicious early bird menu Available Monday - Friday from 4pm - 6pm. 2 courses for just £20 or 3 courses for £25 from Upper Deck Bar & Grill menu *Excluding some items*

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Fantastic Sunday Lunch every Sunday from 2pm - 9pm DrinkAware.co.uk | BeGambleaware.co.uk

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Morecambe By Sarah Ridgway Morecambe is home to a spectacular sandy bay that covers 310 square kilometres and is the perfect spot to experience amazing sunsets. Adventure seekers can enjoy various outdoor activities such as kitesurfing, paragliding, windsurfing, mountain biking or horse riding.

ature lovers can explore the local wildlife as the area is one of Europe’s most important wildlife sites for bird and marine life. Morecambe is well known for its flat fishing, plaice, and cockles, and is most famous for its Morecambe Bay Brown Potted Shrimps which are renowned for their unique taste and texture. In its heyday, the resort was a popular spot, and the town was dubbed Bradford-by-the-Sea due to its convenient railway links to Yorkshire. The 1930s grandeur attracted visitors and holidaymakers from all over, who wanted to experience a few days of luxury at the Midland Hotel, afternoon tea at the Winter Gardens, or a swim in the biggest Lido in the UK, the resort offered endless activities to keep the tourists

entertained with an amusement park, two piers, and Europe’s first dolphin arena, Marineland which opened in 1964 The Unlucky 1970s and the 80s & 90s In the late 1960s, the town’s popularity with the tourist started to decline due to the closure of the Lancaster Green Ayre Line from Wennington and the Heysham trains stopping in 1975. By the late 70s, many British seaside towns including Morecambe began struggling, and visitor numbers began to decline. This led to many historical buildings turning into bingo halls and shopping arcades. The Royalty Theatre and Opera House were also knocked down to make way for shopping centres, and in 1967 the Royalty Cinema was demolished and replaced by Morecambe’s Arndale Centre. In the 1970s Morecambe suffered more bad luck; the Alhambra Theatre burnt down, and many original features were destroyed. Due to structural problems the Winter Gardens closed in 1977, and five years later the ballroom was demolished leaving just the theatre intact. The West End pier suffered storm damage in 1977 and was deemed too expensive to repair and was also demolished in 1978.

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Demolitions of historic buildings continued into the 1980s, and Floral Hall, was knocked down in 1983. People began changing how and where they went on holiday, and many opted for package holidays abroad to places such as Majorca, Benidorm, and Tenerife. At the other end of the scale, due to high unemployment rates; the people with less disposable income chose day trips instead of week-long holidays. As a result, guest houses began to close and boarded up or sold on to investors for the buy-to-let market. In 1987 thing were brighter; Frontierland a Western theme park opened, and Morecambe had their illuminations that ran until 1996. Sadly, tourism continued to dwindle; Marineland closed in 1990, the Central Pier was demolished in 1992, and despite installing new rides, Frontierland ceased operation in 1999. www.lancmag.com

Editorial credit: Debu55y / Shutterstock.com

Eric Morecambe A visit to Morecambe would not be complete without being photographed with the beloved Eric Morecambe statue. The popular attraction unveiled by the Queen in 1999; shows Eric in his famous “give me sunshine” pose. The entertainer was born John Eric Bartholomew in 1926 in Buxton Street to parents George and Sarah Bartholomew, known as Sadie. During Eric’s early years, his mother Sadie would take on extra work as a waitress to pay for his dance lessons. Eric won numerous talent shows leading to jobs in theatre and radio. In 1940 Eric auditioned for a talent show where the prize was the chance to audition for Jack Hylton a famous bandleader and impresario. Eric was a success, and Hylton signed the 13-year-old to perform in the Youth Takes a Bow revue at the Nottingham www.lancmag.com

Empire. At the same time, a then 15-year-old Ernie Wiseman had also been signed by Hylton to take part in the revue. The iconic double met that night forming a partnership that would last up until the death of Eric Morecambe in 1984. Due to the show being on during the middle of the Second World War it closed. The pair went their separate ways before meeting again by chance in 1946 after being booked separately to appear at the Swansea Empire. Bartholomew and Wise’s name was not drawing the crowds; and in 1948 Eric changed his surname to Morecambe, and they achieved great success at venues up and down the country. The double act secured their first television roles in 1954 on a show called Running Wild. Five years later, the pair were top of the bill in the Boxing Day special edition of the

variety show The Good Old Days on the BBC. The pair got their first big break in TV on the series Two of a Kind which would run from 1961 to 1968 on ATV. The series was a huge success, and in 1968 the pair began working with writer Eddie Braben at the BBC, and the Morecambe and Wise Show was born. The show ran from 1968-1983 and welcomed special guests including Cliff Richard, Angela Rippon, Shirley Bassey, Sir Elton and many more. The Christmas specials were the most watched shows of their time and are still enjoyed and repeated on television. The pair created iconic comedy sketches, one the most well remembered being Singin in the Rain, where the duo performed Gene Kelly’s dance steps, which left Eric soaked in water and Ernie as dry as a bone. The duo won many television

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comedy awards, were both awarded the OBE in 1976, and more than 27 million viewers tuned in to their Christmas special in 1977. Eric, a heavy smoker, had his first heart attack in 1968, the year the Morecambe and Wise show first aired. After the initial scare, Morecambe vowed to kick his smoking habit, but in 1979 he suffered a second heart attack and underwent a heart bypass operation. In 1984 Eric collapsed moments after stepping off stage at the Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury. He had suffered his third attack and died shortly after at Cheltenham General Hospital, he was just 58 years old. Blobbygate During the 1990s, much of the country was obsessed with a pink blob with yellow spots named Mr Blobby. The character was a fixture on the BBCS Noel’s House Party presented by

Noel Edmonds and caused absolute chaos wherever he went. At its peak the show was watched by 18 million viewers. Mr Blobby was so popular he scored a Number 1 Christmas single in 1993, and a successful line of toys and merchandise followed. In 1994 Edmonds and his production company Unique decided it was the perfect time to capitalise on Mr Blobby’s success by expanding into Blobby-themed amusement parks. The first Blobby Park opened in 1994 in Cricket St Thomas, Somerset, and was not received well by the residents of the small village. But the park’s opening season it saw over 650,000 visitors. After witnessing its success, Lancaster City Council was keen to get in on the act and began discussions with Edmonds. They decided on Happy Mount Park for the venture, and the deal was struck with Edmonds and his production

company Unique in 1994. Lancaster City Council signed a three-year deal hoping the exciting venture would attract 240,000 visitors a year to Morecambe. As sponsorship from big brands followed the whole town braced itself for Blobbymania On Saturday, July 30 1994, Edmonds and Mr Blobby officially opened “Noel Edmonds’ World of Crinkley Bottom.” 5,000 people visited the attraction in the opening two days, and that number hit 50,000 by August. The park appeared to be a success, but the aim for 250,000 visitors by October was starting to look less likely, and customers began complaining about the quality of the park and it didn’t offer value for money. The council slashed the ticket prices to keep the visitors interested, and an alcohol licence granted in August was opposed by locals. A petition to have the park closed garnered 6,000 signatures, and on November 28 the council voted in favour of its closure. A bitter clash of words was launched against Edmonds by the council, accusing him of not marketing the venture properly, and they sued

Edmond for misrepresentation. In 2003 an audit found that the council acted unlawfully in its agreement with Edmonds as they changed their original agreement from a 60/40 share of all the park’s income to offering Edmonds and Unique a fixed fee of £1 million over three years. In the end an out-of-court settlement of £950,000 in damages was made to Edmonds, and the entire debacle equated to £2.5 million losses for the council. The Regeneration of Morecambe Today’s future looks bright as Morecambe gears up to become a tourism hotspot with various exciting projects planned. In 2019 a survey by Best Western Hotels named Morecambe one of the most “up and coming” seaside towns in the UK, and that tourism to the area had increased by 129 per cent. In 2018 Lancaster City Council put in a bid to receive money from the Government’s £1bn Future High Streets Fund to regenerate the town

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and “make Morecambe “a better place to live, visit and trade.” In 2021 the site of Frontier Land was bought by the council, and funding for a £125 million Eden Project North along Morecambe Promenade is shaping up. The attraction hopes to attract 760,000 people a year and boost the local economy by £47 million, with construction to begin later this year. The Grange Lido is the last remaining open-air pool in the North West and sits on the shores of Morecambe Bay. The lido opened in 1932 and after the repairs it needed were deemed too expensive closed in 1993. Campaigners have fought to have the lido reopened, and there is now a multi-million-pound investment project to restore the 50-metre pool and other facilities, due to open in 2024. The Winter Gardens celebrated its 125th anniversary this July and was dubbed the Albert Hall of the North. The impressive structure was built in just nine months and was saved from demolition by a dedicated team who formed the Friends of the Winter

Gardens in 1985. The iconic venue has played host to the likes of Shirley Bassey, the Rolling Stones and The Who, to name a few. Since 2020 over £1.2 million has been raised from various bodies to maintain it, but the project will require millions more to restore it fully. The building is maintained solely by volunteers who put in thousands of hours each month to keep it going. The venue operates during the summer months for private events, guided tours, afternoon tea and ghost tours. The opulent art deco Midland Hotel built in 1933 is known for its iconic architecture, and the hotel has made it onto the big screen. The Entertainer and Agatha Christie’s Poirot have been both filmed there Historically the Midland attracted wealthy and middle-class tourists, but by the late 80s, the building began to deteriorate. Urban Splash bought the hotel in 2003, and it underwent a major refurbishment to bring it back to its art deco glory.

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‘Northern stronghold’ for rare hazel dormice created in Lancashire

A ‘northern stronghold’ of rare hazel dormice will be created in Lancashire. This builds on a previous reintroduction in the same area, in a ground-breaking attempt to create a bigger and better-connected population of hazel dormice in the north west of England.

ast year, 30 hazel dormice were released into a woodland in the Arnside and Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and now a further 39 will be reintroduced into a neighbouring woodland which has been carefully selected to support dormice. The reintroduction is led by wildlife charity People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES), the National Trust, and delivered by the University of Cumbria’s Back On Our Map project, and partners. The annual dormouse reintroductions (which are part of Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme) began in 1993, and have been managed by PTES since 2000. But their ongoing success is only possible thanks to a unique partnership of organisations and volunteers working tirelessly to help bring hazel dormice back from the brink. This year’s reintroduction will be held in a National Trust owned woodland and is also part of ‘Back On Our 42

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Map’ (BOOM) - a multispecies, landscape scale project which aims to return 10 locally threatened or extinct native species, such as dormice, to the area. BOOM is led by the University of Cumbria, Morecambe Bay Partnership and supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Prior to the reintroduction all dormice, which are captive bred by members of the Common Dormouse Captive Breeders Group, including Wildwood Trust, undergo a nine-week quarantine and receive regular health checks by wildlife vets at Paignton Zoo in Devon and ZSL (Zoological Society of London)’s Disease Risk Analysis and Health Surveillance (DRAHS) team. Both organisations ensure that only healthy dormice are released into the wild, taking vital steps to mitigate against disease and ensuring that no parasites can be transmitted from the captive bred population to wild dormice. Ian White, Dormouse & Training Officer for PTES explains: “Hazel dormice have declined by a staggering 51% since 2000 and are considered extinct in 17 English counties. The only way we can rebuild their populations is to continue managing known habitats correctly to ensure the survival of any existing populations and to carefully release healthy, captive bred dormice into well-managed woodlands. We hope this year’s dormice will thrive in their new home, and in time will meet the population we reintroduced last year www.lancmag.com

to create Lancashire’s first self-sustaining metapopulation.” Jamie Armstrong, Ranger for the National Trust says: “Our woodlands have been carefully managed by National Trust rangers and volunteers for decades to ensure that they support a wide range of flora and fauna. This work has led to a diverse woodland structure which makes the chosen area the ideal habitat for dormice. This, coupled with its close proximity to the 2021 reintroduction site, will hopefully create a thriving population which will spread throughout neighbouring woodlands.” Ellie Kent, Species Officer for BOOM, adds: “Last year was a landmark year for dormice, and we are thrilled to report that the 2021 population is doing really well, with several juveniles born last autumn having survived the winter. Reintroducing a further population this year is another pivotal moment for all involved, particularly for our volunteers who give up their time to help us feed the dormice in their first few months, and conduct regular checks to make sure they remain healthy. We are very proud to work alongside our volunteers, local and national partners to create a northern stronghold for dormice on the Lancashire/Cumbria border.”

Reintroductions are crucial to the long-term conservation of any endangered species and are vital to combatting the ongoing decline of hazel dormice. Since the first reintroduction in 1993, over 1,000 dormice (the majority of which have been bred by the CDCBG and Wildwood Trust) have been reintroduced at 24 different sites in 13 different counties across the UK, by PTES and partners. Last year saw the first ever hazel dormice reintroduced into Lancashire, which are now thriving in the neighbouring woodland owned and managed by Natural England. It is hoped that in the future further reintroductions will take place in the Arnside and Silverdale AONB, in a bid to establish even more hazel dormice in this part of the north west. Later this year there are plans to erect a bespoke dormouse bridge over the West Coast Main railway line, connecting the 2021 and 2022 reintroduction sites. To find out more about PTES’ dormouse conservation work, visit www.ptes.org/dormice

Ten days after the reintroduction, volunteers, National Trust and BOOM staff will open the mesh reintroduction cage doors to allow the dormice to start exploring their new home. ZSL’s wildlife vets will be on hand to ensure the reintroduced population is healthy and ready for a new life in the wild.

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The life of Di

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

THE SUMMER THAT NEVER WAS

recently read “The summer that never was” by Peter Robinson. True to form for this author, it was gripping, thought-provoking, insightful, and escapism itself. I also never sussed who done it, and within pages was wanting to drop everything and head for rural Yorkshire, possibly to tramp the dales awhile prior to heading for a hearty meal and pint of the local best at the Queen’s Head. Enthralling read. It also seemed a not inappropriate title given the current summer which wasn’t. I’ll admit, this was largely down to highly personal reasons from my point of view. All the same, “summer”? While the Wimbledon commentators were yet banging on about the delights of the soaring temperatures down yonder, (no doubt cracking flags, and allowing eggs to be poached off pavements for fun), my dad and I took a walk up at Rossall, where within minutes we were zipping up our fleeces, and heartily wishing we’d brought proper coats. I half expected to see polar bears emerging from the mist, and gawped on learning we were actually sharing the prom with a fisherman of England, bravely getting out his rod anyway, and a surfer preparing to launch himself wholesale into the icy swells. Meanwhile, I imagined a distant

ship, apparently heading for Ireland or the Isle of Man, being blown thence whether it would or no, and without the need for anyone to do anything. Suffice to say, there was no danger of heatstroke up here. We were, in fairness, afforded a couple of hot days in July. I know as my parents and I were walking to the dentist’s on the second of them. I know, we do know how to enjoy ourselves - we’re off on a jaunt to the chiropodist’s next week. That said, such had been the past few months that, on the dentist’s not yanking half my teeth out, the trip was almost elevated to a grand day out, notwithstanding an unfamiliar hygienist’s determined efforts to compensate for this by making like a cross between Cruella De Vil and that bloke from the Shining. Based on nothing but my hitherto sweetheart of a dentist having NOT suddenly and unaccountably morphed into the monster from hell, I walked home almost whistling a jaunty tune, the icing on the cake being the sudden inspiration to call at Tesco Express en route for a ready curry to go with that evening’s World Athletics Championships. My spirits were further lifted on my attention being drawn to a display of barbecue paraphernalia. Now there was an idea for next time, not to say a ground-breaking notion altogether, I.E. we might actually MANAGE a barbecue this year: Course the following day, it was back snowing again..

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What I haven’t been able to fault this summer is the sport. Indeed, such has been the quantity of it, I’ve even occasionally spared a thought for anyone who didn’t like it, who must’ve been fairly tearing their hair out. Then again, the quantity was surely matched by the variety: For anyone who didn’t take to the Euros, (seriously? Given everything the Lionesses were doing?), there was always athletics, for anyone who didn’t like athletics, there was cricket, and so on and so forth leading all the way up to the whole new level of choice represented by the Commonwealth Games. I for one was like a kid in a sweetshop, (at Christmas, complete with birthday candles and festive balloons), once THEY got going. Not that I’ve allowed myself to become a COMPLETE couch potato. On the contrary, I can positively attest to the fact that the diving, weightlifting, hockey, beach volleyball, rhythmic gymnastics, (and uncle Tom Cobley and all really in the sporting world), have been as delightful as Fairhaven Lake, heavenly as the cakes in the nearby café, exhilarating as a walk on North Shore prom, satisfying as a Bispham Kitchen toasted teacake, and glorious as the amazing flowers in Stanley Park: Even if this IS shaping to be a summer which never was

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Cumbrian Heritage Gardens Satisfy Gardeners’ Desires to Know

Credit: Levens Hall & Gardens & www.cumbriaslivingheritage.co.uk

Cumbrian-based heritage gardens are embracing the sharing of garden know-how between their head gardeners and the public in the true spirit of ‘Gardeners’ Question Time’, celebrating its 75th radio show birthday in 2022.

he show’s original name was ‘How Does Your Garden Grow?’ - a question heritage garden

members of Cumbria’s Living Heritage have devised means to answer. At Dalemain Mansion and Gardens (www.dalemain.com) near Penrith, garden enthusiasts can gain many insights into the tasks occupying the gardening team at the award-winning gardens, through a series of Garden Days. Bookable events, running from 9am to 4pm with a delicious lunch in the Medieval Hall included in the £90 price, take place on July 4, September 5, October 3, November

Credit: www.rydalmount.co.uk/Cumbria’s Living Heritage

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7 and December 5. All are led by Dalemain’s owner, Jane Hasell-McCosh and horticultural lecturer and plants woman, Shelagh Todd. Each event has its own focus, namely herbaceous perennials, seasonal harvest fruits, autumn colours, evergreen plants and flowers, berries and coloured stems, as well as insight into seasonal tasks in the largely 18th century garden. Each ends with a gardeners’ question time slot, having already taken participants through practical demonstrations into techniques such as propagation and pruning. An ‘edible highlight’ is also discussed, be that lavender, apples, seasonal fruits, walnuts and sweet chestnuts or parsnips and Brussel sprouts. With a maximum group size of 10, there is every opportunity to quiz the two heritage gardeners. At Holker Hall and Gardens (www. holker.co.uk) in the South Lakes, garden insights will be delivered during a Summer Splendour Tea and Tour with the deputy head gardener, at 2pm on July 13, and an Autumn Tea and Tour on October 19. Both will explore tasks undertaken within the 23 acres of heritage grounds and BBC Countryfile Garden of the Year, 2016, whether that is tending to shrubs and pathways or safeguarding the remarkable 400-year-old Holker Great Lime. Both tours cost £27.50, including tea. At Brockhole (www.brockhole. co.uk) near Windermere, former home of Beatrix Potter’s cousin, Edith Gaddum, there are 45-minute garden tours on July 6, August 3 and 17 and September 7 and 28. Participants will be led through the gardens, as the history of the family, house and www.lancmag.com

Thomas Mawson-designed gardens is gradually revealed. Tour participants will learn about the Kitchen Garden, of central importance within Mawson’s design and the location in which Brockhole’s gardeners will answer questions. This will work up an appetite for the special Summerhouse exhibition, focusing on the Kitchen Garden’s history, with the help of materials compiled by local people and schools. The tour is bookable by calling 015394 46601 and, although heading up steep terrain and paths, also has a step-free alternative. At Levens Hall and Gardens (www. levenshall.co.uk) near Kendal, gardeners can gain insight by using new garden audio guides answering many a question gardening buffs may ponder. The garden team, headed up by Chris Crowder, is also always happy to answer questions informally, whether they relate to the world’s oldest topiary garden or other parts of the gardens. On July 14, two special tours will be conducted by Chris, as part of the RHS Lindley Library’s celebration of the 1928 tour of Loyal Johnson and Sam Brewster. Otherwise known as the Bicycle Boys, these two intrepid Americans visited over 80 UK gardens in three months, travelling mainly by bicycle and covering a distance of over 1500 miles. July 14, 1928 was the day they visited Levens Hall and Gardens, only to find the head gardener of the time out playing cricket, making access impossible. To compensate, Chris will offer insight to today’s visitors, giving tours at 11am and 2pm, included with standard admission. Those arriving on bicycles will pay reduced admission of just £5 per person.

Credit: www.cumbriaslivingheritage.co.uk.co.uk/Brockhole

At Rydal Mount (www.rydalmount. co.uk) near Ambleside, home to poet William Wordsworth for 37 years, the gardening team of Chris, Peter, Fiona and head gardener, Helen Green, care for a five-acre garden full of the early 19th century ‘Romantic’ landscaping designed by Wordsworth himself. Visitors posing questions learn of the constant effort to keep the paths and terraces, on which the poet would pace up and down reciting his poetry, clear and beautifully framed. Ensuring sense of place is hugely important, whether on the lawns or in the leafier wooded areas, amidst trees under which William would listen out for the elusive cuckoo mentioned in his poetry. Much tree maintenance is required, especially as many trees were planted as saplings by William, including a great Sycamore, now at least 200 years’ old. Rock pools also need careful attention, but the gardeners must equally keep the vegetable plot productive and compost heaps well-stocked.

Credit: Holker Hall & Gardens/www.cumbriaslivingheritage.co.uk/Val Corbett

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Credit: www.cumbriaslivingheritage.co.uk/ WordsworthTrust

Finally, at Wordsworth Grasmere (www.wordsworthgrasmere.com) and at another home of William – Dove Cottage – those with garden questions have a very special reference point. By arming themselves with the Grasmere Journal of William’s sister, Dorothy, they can read exactly what went into maintaining the stunning fellside garden behind the cottage and the joy Dorothy derived from doing so in what William described as the ‘loveliest spot that man hath ever found.’ Quotes, on little signs dotted around, brings this passionate gardener of the past, right into the heart of today’s garden experience. To find out more about where to pitch questions to some of the most passionate heritage gardeners in the UK, head to www. cumbriaslivingheritage.co.uk where you will find details of other gardens to explore, at venues such as Muncaster, Mirehouse, Blackwell – the Arts and Crafts House, Brantwood and Hutton-in-the-Forest.

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Colour and Style

www.sarahharrisstyle.co.uk

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

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 48

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ctober is here and this month I thought it would be nice to look at Weddings and how to look your best for your big day! Weddings happen all year round and the day and time of year depends upon the couple. Once you’ve decided you will have to look at what to wear and this is when knowing the right shade and style of your dress/ outfit is essential, along with a suitable fabric. A large ballgown made of taffeta with a long train wouldn’t be very comfortable on a Tropical beach!! Wedding guests will also have to consider the location/climate of the wedding before choosing an outfit. Being dressed appropriately is key to making your wedding picture perfect! Many people spend a year or more planning their wedding day, whereas, others just get married on the spur of the moment! Whatever you decide it is your special day and you want to make it most memorable! Here are some tips to help you:

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LET’S LOOK AT COLOUR

CLEARS

WARMS LIGHTS Your look is light and delicate; you will have natural blonde or very light hair; light eyebrows and lashes; pale light coloured eyes; delicate skin, probably porcelain in tone, that burns easily in the sun. You look wonderful in all the traditional softer whites, ivories and creams. Pastels and light colours will also work well. Keep accessories light and delicate to compliment your overall look.

Red toned hair in shades from strawberry blonde to auburn; eyebrows in warm tones; lashes blonde to dark; green, brown or blue eyes; porcelain skin, could have freckles or dark toned skin with a golden glow. Warm’s look wonderful in all the ivories, creams and golden shades that will compliment your colouring type. Your warm colouring will work in harmony with theses shades. Keep accessories in lovely rich warm colours of creams, oranges, greens, reds and yellows.

Your look is dark and strong; your hair will be dark brown to black; dark eyebrows and lashes; skin tone from porcelain to black and all shades in between. For the Deeps choose the deeper shades of cream and your bouquet needs to compliment your look so colours that are richer and deeper work well and will really enhance the depth of colour in your dominant colouring type.  All pictures courtesy of Hamlyn with Colour Me Beautifuls ‘be a beautiful bride’

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Clears need contrast and if your undertone is Cool a white with clarity is perfect for you so choose a Pure White (see above) and add contrast with accessories to balance your look. However, if your undertone is Warm look for Creams and Ivories and add contrast with a warmer bouquet of yellow and rich colours or use accessories in gold.

SOFTS

COOLS DEEPS

Dark hair; dark eyebrows and lashes; bright eyes that are your most striking feature - blue, green, topaz and if you have dark skin there will be a contrast between the white of your eyes and the colour of your iris; skin that can be any tone from light to dark.

Ash tones to your hair if dark brown, blonde, grey or white; eyebrows and lashes from lighter shades of blonde to dark brown; grey, blue, green or clear brown eyes; pink undertones to the skin, porcelain skin that appears translucent, black skin may have a slight blue tinge. Cools look stunning in colours with a cooler undertone, therefore, pure white or a beige with a cooler tone which gives it a slightly grey appearance. If you are choosing cream it will need to have a hint of pink in it or any colour with a hint of rose is perfect for you.

Dark blonde or light brown hair (mousey); light to dark eyebrows and lashes; eyes that are a softer more muted colour in blue, brown, hazel, green, and changeable colour; the Softs characteristics are unrelated and can be confusing and you might have found bits of your features in the other five dominant colouring types but you do not fit into any of them exactly. Softs look beautiful in shades of soft white and most shades of beige. Keep the fabric as matt as possible. The fabulous softness to your look has to be balanced with gentle tonal colours and any accessories need to compliment each other in tones slightly lighter or darker.

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You may prefer to choose a colour for your wedding outfit but keep it in the right shade to compliment your colouring type.

wearing a ballgown style keep the fabric as crisp as possible and avoid gathers and rounded details. The top needs to be straight and fitted with an angled neckline. A Fishtail style in crisp fabric with gentle ruching over the hips and flaring out at the bottom will give you an amazing shape. Column Your svelte figure will be enhanced by using texture and interesting design features on your dress. If you are petite make sure the designs don’t overpower your fine bone structure. ‘A’ line can be made to enhance your upper body by adding a boned bodice to give you a fuller bust, which will also define your waist. The ‘A’ line of the skirt will be achieved by using a crisper fabric or using flat pleats.

Once you find the perfect colour for your Wedding outfit you need to look at the style. Understanding your Style Personality will help you choose what is right for you. There is no point choosing a traditional style wedding dress if your personality prefers a trouser suit! You have to make sure the style is right for you - It’s your special day so don’t ruin it by wearing a dress/outfit that you don’t feel comfortable in! Of course you have to consider the time of year, wedding venue, the type of wedding and your personal preference. Too often we are dragged into other peoples’ ideals of what we should look like when it should be about you and the person you are marrying. Once you have an idea on the outfit you would like to wear you will have to look at the styles that suit your body shape, scale and proportions.

LET’S LOOK AT SOME STYLES THAT WILL SUIT THE DIFFERENT BODY SHAPES Neat Hourglass most styles will look good on you, however, you will need to take into consideration your height, scale and proportions. If you are petite be careful in a ballgown as the volume of the skirt can overpower your bone structure. The ‘A’ line will flatter your balanced body shape and work well whatever your height and proportions. Take into consideration the fabric that will work best on you and for a straight silhouette use a crisper fabric whereas for a softer line choose a silk crepe.

Rectangle Choice of fabric is essential to ensure the best dress style that will compliment your body shape, avoid fine clingy fabrics unless layering. A crisper heavier satin or brocade is best and keep the silhouette simple yet made special by adding embellishments and detail. The straight lines of the Shift dress will follow your body shape and make sure you are comfortable all day. Details such as sleeves and interesting necklines and a train can make this simple dress the most glamourous of all! If you prefer a ballgown keep it as simple as possible with little gathering at the waist. A dropped V-shape bodice will ensure that the skirt lies flat on your tummy.

NECKLINES AND SLEEVES Wearing the right neckline and sleeve length/style is also key. For the neckline look at the shape of your neck, shoulders and size of your bust for the correct style. There are a few examples below. For the sleeve length think about the length of your arms, fullness of your upper arms etc. if you have a large bust a shorter sleeve can make you look fuller especially if the sleeve length finishes at your bust, so think about lowering or shortening the length of sleeve. It is all about getting a style that suits your shape and proportions to enhance your look. Edwardian/ Mandarin this style is better for those with longer/thin necks and smaller busts.

Full Hourglass your voluptuous figure will look best in a close fitting dress in a soft fabric. It’s a great opportunity to show off your figure! The ballgown will emphasise your small waist and if you want to disguise your hips and bottom this is the dress! Make sure the skirt fabric is held in soft gathers rather than pleats. Bias cut is ideal for the average to petite bride. Choose your fabric carefully as it will need to drape over your curves – soft silk crepe is ideal. Triangle giving the illusion on your body being balanced is key for you and you will need to draw attention and detail to the top half – which can be done with fabric, embellishment and layering. If you choose a ballgown you will need a wide shoulder line to balance the full skirt and keep the fabric of the skirt soft and fluid. The empire line dress lends itself to the addition of all kinds of details to the top half and because the skirt is loose fitting, your hips become invisible. Inverted Triangle You have great shoulders and narrow hips which gives you the opportunity to draw attention to the lower half of your gown whilst also showing off your shoulders. Crisper fabrics work well over the straight lines of your body. If you are

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Spaghetti short neck, wide necks, straight shoulders

Scoop Long neck, wide neck, wide straight shoulders, narrow sloping shoulders, full bust, small bust

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DIFFERENT DRESS SHAPES

Ball Gown

Empire Line

Bias Cut

Bardot Short neck, Long neck, thin neck, narrow sloping shoulders, full bust, small bust

A Line

Fishtail

Shift

Fly Away Veil Reaches to the shoulders and can be multi layered, this style is often used at an informal setting. Elbow veil Reaches to the elbows. Finger Tip veil Falls to the tip of the fingers. Double Tier veil Two layered veil where the shorter layer is worn over the face during the first part of the ceremony and the second layer, which is any length remains at the back.

V- shaped Short neck, wide neck, wide straight shoulders, narrow sloping shoulders, full bust

Chapel veil Reaches the end of your dress. Cathedral veil This is the longest and more dramatic veil that falls onto the floor behind the dress.

Halter Wide, straight shoulders

N.B. There are many other necklines but I have just selected a few

TRAINS AND VEILS There are several different styles of Trains from the Sweep to the Monarch and when making a decision about which is best for you think about the type of wedding and the practicality – if you are wanting to dance the night away a large train will add weight and be difficult to manoeuvre so consider a different style or even one that you will be able to detach from your dress. The size and length of your veil will depend on your dress and the type of wedding you are having, below are some different styles:-

Enjoy finding your perfect wedding outfit, find the Colour and Style that compliment you and enjoy your special day! happy ever after... 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

Barolo Bar & Restaurant

he tastes, smells and sounds send you straight to Italy. The fun stems from the chefs chatting and laughing with the tables close by through their hatch as they cook with playful banter to suit every Nationality, to the pasta art on the walls and even the lovely presentation of the biscuits in the big sweet wrappers that sit alongside the coffee.

Barolo is a treat for anytime, with a light, bright and warm Italian atmosphere, plants, smart modern lighting and traditional tiled floors that remind you of times gone by, you can’t go wrong with this little gem. 52

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Based just off the motorway near Chorley with loads of parking, what a great meeting point for friends coming from all directions or business meetings too as the tables are suitably spread apart for privacy. Any celebration would be good at Barolo as well, as the staff are a lovely team of people who will make the effort for whatever the occasion may be. We had prawns which were beautiful in a tasty garlic butter and the garlic bread was generous with the topping. We were on soft drinks and coffee with being in charge of a car but we were happy, the coffee was really www.lancmag.com

good quality and we went for lunch so it kept our drinking in the day rule alive a little longer. With the music and vibrant surroundings you don’t need an alcoholic drink to enjoy this beautiful restaurant. The steaks were cooked to perfection with a side of chips and vegetables with any sauces you wished for, the value for money was fantastico with lots of choice of freshly cooked vegetables on the side. The presentation is worthy of a photo for your social media, this will allow you to pretend you are somewhere in the med, until you are back in work Monday morning of course but a bit of fake tan and you could pull it off, maybe. The dessert selection and ice cream bar looked like you would want to keep coming back just for that, but there was so much food before that we couldn’t find room in our very forgiving jeans to even give a lingering look in that direction. Nobody wants to have to pull their shirt down and walk out of a restaurant with their pants unbuttoned or unzipped so dignity in tact we arranged for the bill and it was back to the car to get home and relax in to the rest of the day. The Current opening times for the restaurant are: Monday: Closed Tuesday - Friday: 5pm to 9:30pm Saturday: 4pm to 9:30pm Sunday: 12pm to 8:30pm M Bolton Road, Withnell, Chorley PR6 8BP N 01254 202222 E eat@barolorestaurant.uk D barolorestaurant.uk

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BLUE LINED UP FOR ILLUMINATIONS SWITCH-ON NIGHT VisitBlackpool channels, and event organisers are also exploring the possibility of streaming the event to an outdoor audience on the Tower Festival Headland. A VisitBlackpool spokesperson said: “We are thrilled to announce that Blue will be part of this year’s Switch-On concert line-up. They are one of the most successful and best-loved bands this country has seen over the past 20 years and we cannot wait to see them perform in the iconic Blackpool Tower Ballroom.”

Blue, one of the most successful British bands of the past two decades, are heading to Blackpool for the Illuminations Switch-On concert.

he band, aka Antony Costa, Duncan James, Lee Ryan and Simon Webbe, will perform at The Blackpool Tower Ballroom on Friday 2 September ahead of a major arena tour and the release of their brand new album, Heart & Soul on September 9. They will be joined at the concert, which is being produced in association with MTV, by singersongwriter Tom Grennan and host Becca Dudley. More talent will be announced over the coming weeks along with the celebrity who will pull the famous switch to trigger four months of Illuminations.

Formed in London, Blue have sold a phenomenal 16m records and have scored multiple number one hits. They have collaborated with some of the world’s biggest music stars including Elton John and Stevie Wonder, received numerous accolades including two BRIT awards and represented the UK in Eurovision. Earlier this year, they announced 12 dates around the UK in December for their 20-year anniversary tour including Cardiff, Glasgow, Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool, as well as a headline show at the O2 in London. This year’s Switch-On concert will feature live music performances in the ballroom with an audience made up of more than 2,000 winners of a freeto-enter ballot. The concert and Switch-On moment will once again be live streamed to a global audience across MTV and

The annual Blackpool Illuminations Switch-On event, one of the biggest in Blackpool’s calendar, moved indoors during 2020 and 2021 due to pandemic restrictions, but has proved so successful that it is being repeated for a third successive year – although this time with a full-capacity audience in the ballroom. Last year’s Switch-On celebration saw Shirley Ballas, head judge of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, pull the famous switch, watched by a worldwide audience with more than 160,000 views from as far afield as Australia, Canada and the United States. Full details of more of the acts that will perform at this year’s event will be revealed over the coming weeks along with the identity of the SwitchOn star. There is still time to enter the ballot for free tickets. The ballot, with an initial allocation of 2,000 tickets to be split equally between Blackpool residents and visitors, will close on July 1. There is a maximum of four tickets per person.

To register, click here: www.visitblackpool.com/switchon

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

GRIMOIRE IN THE ATTIC

EGYPTIAN

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

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USE CODE ‘LANCSYES’ FOR A 15% DISCOUNT

MAKING THE

INCORPORATION DECISION NOW THE PLAYING FIELD IS CHANGING

Whether you are starting out with an idea for a new venture or you’re already running a growing business as a sole trader or partnership, the decision of whether to operate your business through a company is an important one 56

hen starting out in business, the cost of seeking professional help may seem an added burden however getting things right from the start can save you a lot of money in the long run. At Benson accountants we have a dedicated start up team, and it is never too early to talk to us about your plans. Likewise, we have tax specialists that can guide you through

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the ever-changing legislation and ensure you are aware of everything you need to know to make the right decisions for you. With the changes in recent years to dividend tax and the increase to Corporation Tax coming next April, tax motivations for operating through a company are not as clear cut as they were previously. www.lancmag.com

With sole traders and partnerships there is no legal distinction between the owners and the business, the owners are therefore responsible for business liabilities so personal assets are potentially at risk. Additionally with a partnership, one partner can be held accountable for another partner’s actions. Companies however are a separate legal entity and can provide limited liability so that personal assets are protected. However, care is needed if the bank requires personal guarantees to be made as this will counteract the limited liability protection you might be seeking. Whilst business profits may fluctuate year on year a company can set a regular income stream which can be adjusted for tax efficiency, whereas a sole trader or partner is taxable on the whole business profits as they arise. Company shares can often lend to easier succession planning as shares can be gifted to family members with specific rights or restrictions to suit the situation.

The Non-Tax Demotivators

There are of course some cons to operating through a company that you also need to be aware of. •

•

The Non-Tax Motivators

Whilst Tax is an important factor it is by no means the only consideration and ultimately the decision to set up a company depends on your individual circumstances and your business: •

Do you have a lot of personal assets that you wish to protect?

•

What is your attitude and exposure to risk?

•

Is it beneficial for you to be able to control the flow of income you receive?

•

Is succession of your business on the horizon?

•

Is privacy an issue?

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•

A company must meet the legal requirements of Companies House who need to be made aware of certain changes to your business and there are strict annual filing requirements Professional fees are likely to be higher for a company than a sole trader as a result of the increased requirements however this is generally outweighed by the tax savings which we will come to. Your filings at Companies House are in the public domain therefore if privacy is an issue for you, but you still desire the corporate route, an unlimited company may be the solution. Whilst the company being a separate legal entity provides perks such as limited liability it does also add complexity for the business owner accessing the profits.

Withdrawing funds from the company will normally carry a tax cost whereas a sole trader or partner has no need to worry about such issues and can simply use the business funds for personal use.

Now for the Tax issues

Until recently one of the main reasons for starting out as a company or incorporating your existing business was the low tax rate for companies. Now we are faced with a significant increase to Corporation Tax on 1 April 2023 when it will rise from 19% to 25% and for some companies a marginal rate of 26.5% will apply. The first attack on corporate tax savings took place in 2016 when the notional tax credit on dividends was abolished. Until then it was possible for director shareholders to pay themselves a dividend to utilise their basic rate tax bands and no tax would be payable, allowing them to extract roughly £32,000 of profits tax free. Now only the first £2,000 of dividends is tax free and the rate of tax on dividends has itself just increased in April 2022 to rates of 8.75%, 33.75% and 39.35% depending which tax band they fall in. Looking ahead the new Corporation Tax rates will apply as follows: •

Companies with profits under £50,000 – continue to be taxed at 19%

•

Companies with profits over £250,000 – taxable at the new 25% rate

•

Companies with profits between £50,000 to £250,000 – the first £50,000 will be at 19% with the balance at 26.5%

•

All investment companies regardless of profits – taxable at the new 25% rate

Whereas in previous years it was fairly easy to gauge those businesses with profits over a certain level that would gain a significant tax advantage by incorporating, that calculation is now far less clear cut.

The small/start-up business

Let’s look at an example, say a business has profits of £50,000. If they are a sole trader, they would pay roughly £11,500 in total for Income Tax and National Insurance. If they are a Company and they extract all the after-tax profits by way of dividend, they would pay a total of £11,769 for Corporation Tax, Income Tax and National Insurance.

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There is little difference at this point. However, if all the aftertax profits are retained in the company for reinvestment, the company figure drops to £9,500.

The larger business Let’s make the same comparisons but say we have a business with profits of £500,000. If they are a sole trader, they would pay roughly £223,000 in total for Income Tax and National Insurance. If they are a Company and they extract all the after-tax profits by way of dividend, they would pay a total of about £250,000 for Corporation Tax, Income Tax and National Insurance. As you can see, if all the profits are taken from the company, the tax position is worse for the larger business. However, if all the after-tax profits are retained in the 58

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company for future investment, the total for the company drops to £125,000, almost £100,000 of annual savings. Even with dividends of roughly £50,000 taken from the company the total liability would be about £128,000. Therefore, significant savings are still possible, particularly for more profitable businesses.

Confused? A few conclusions can be made from this example, firstly, whether it is tax efficient to incorporate your business or to set up as a company, is not clear cut. It is however clear that the level of profits that are needed to be extracted from the Company is crucial in determining whether a Company will or will not produce significant tax savings. In reality, notional salaries are likely to be paid at National Insurance entry rate and this will increase the tax savings www.lancmag.com

further, then there is likely to be some dividend withdrawals with the balance of profits being retained in the company and doing this is still likely to lead to tax savings for many businesses, albeit the savings will be less than they would have been in previous years. To summarise, it is vital that the forecast profit figures and required withdrawals are discussed in detail with your accountant before any decisions are made. This and discussions about all the other factors involved in operating a company are vital and at Benson accountants we pride ourselves in knowing our client and being ahead of decision making by being involved from the start to ensure we can add value. We strive to be good people doing a good job for good clients and understanding your business and personal circumstances is key to that relationship and key to helping you make the right decisions going forwards.

M The Mill, Station Road, Wigton CA7 9BA N 01697 508925 E info@paul-benson.co.uk D www.paul-benson.co.uk F @paulbensonaccountants

Should you need advice on this, or any other accountancy issues please do get in touch: www.lancmag.com

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Jane Parachutes In To Help Carer Charity Raise Important Funds

A grandmother from South Cumbria says her first ever skydive which has raised over a thousand pounds for charity was “absolutely amazing!”.

ane Eccles, from Flookburgh, made the thrilling leap from 15,000 feet to raise funds for the charity Carer Support South Lakes. While most would quake at the thought of freefalling at speeds of around 120mph, Jane’s main concern was the tandem jump might have to be cancelled due to bad weather! “When we first arrived at the base the people who had gone up earlier landed in the rain and I thought we might not get up” says Jane who is 60. “But the clouds broke and we managed to do an amazing jump! Apparently, I was the noisiest one coming down. All the others were very serene and came down not saying anything while I was whooping, screaming and shouting!” So far, she has raised over £1,300. You can still make donations on Jane’s JustGiving web page. It will stay open until October.

Jane has praised her expert skydive partner Ed Roscoe from Skydive Northwest whom she was attached to during the tandem jump – and photographer Ming. “All the staff at Skydive Northwest were brilliant” she says. The tandem jump took place at Cark Airfield in Flookburgh and Jane’s family were out in force to support her. “My five-year-old grandson was there. I was shouting his name as I was floating down but Ed said he wouldn’t be able to hear me yet!” Jane, who is married with two sons, three stepchildren and 5 grandchildren, took up the skydive challenge for Carer Support South Lakes which supports unpaid Carers of all ages across South Cumbria.

will make a huge difference to the charity and help it to continue its vital work with Carers.” Each year, Carer Support South Lakes works with over 1,000 Carers of all ages. The charity provides access to information, emotional support, advocacy, financial support & opportunities to take a break. It also runs the online support service CarerConnect which helps Carers find support and access vital information at all times of the day and night. To Donate, visit: www.justgiving.com/campaign/ CSSLSkyDive

She works part time for the Kendalbased charity where she helps support Young Carers. “This is Carer Support South Lakes’ 30th Anniversary year so I felt I wanted to do something to highlight the important work it does,” says Jane. “I’m so grateful to all those people who have given money so far. Donations, whether large or small,

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Wedding Fayre Success at

Clifton Arms Hotel

ith over 25 suppliers to talk to and our soon to be refurbished ceremony room on display; Our wedding Fayre was such a huge success and we are hosting another one this September!

This Autumn the hotel will also start phase 2 of its refurbishment programme which will see the makeover of its bedrooms, creating modern, luxurious & comfortable rooms with all the facilities you would require for a restful stay. January 2023, two of our function suites will witness a complete makeover, creating an exciting space to host your special event making it the “perfect venue” for any occasion.

T for read N ions ine U nct gaz 1 O d fu a C s an est M D1 IS ing W E D edd rth W o : lw N al & te off ire h uo as

La s er

KEY DATES STILL AVAILABLE IN 2023 AND 2024 contact the events team: Functions@cliftonarmslytham.com to book your show round

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From Swashbuckling Pirates to Spine Chilling tales, great entertainment arrives at the Dukes! Swashbuckling pirates lead the way this Autumn as the Dukes provide the venues for live events, theatre and cinema to showcase the best that the UK has to offer. You’re in for a wonderful time this Autumn.

icking off the season are the wonderfully hilarious Le Navet Bete who swing into action with Treasure Island, a mad-cap adventure filled with comedy, bellylaughs and an adventure that you won’t forget. Whether you are joining us for crazy pirates, bubble extravaganzas, heartwarming true stories or thrilling cinema showings, you are certain to make incredible memories and have an unforgettable time.

Treasure Island - 22nd September - 25th September Escape to Treasure Island with Le Navet Bete and their swashbuckling, smash-hit comedy for all the family! Set sail with young Jim Lad as he embarks on a riotous journey across the high-seas. Featuring dastardly pirates, tropical islands and a one-ofa-kind mermaid we promise you’ll never forget, Le Navet Bete will get your summer off to swashbuckling start. For their latest collaboration they have teamed up with one of UK theatre’s best comedy writers and directors John Nicholson to reimagine Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic Treasure Island. John is the Co62

Treasure Island

Moor Space - Brand New Pioneering Performance Space

Artistic Director of award-winning theatre company Peepolykus and has previously worked with the likes of Rik Mayall, Nina Conti and Paul Merton. Together they have lovingly condensed Stevenson’s novel into two hours of non-stop comedy gold, featuring high-seas, hilarious heroics and much more.

Moor Space has been one of Lancaster’s best kept secrets since 1995, hosting youth theatre and creating a hub for talent development. Now a stunning renovated church that showcases only the best work from up and coming performers who have performed at festivals such as The Edinburgh Fringe. It’s the perfect chance to see some of the most revolutionary shows before they take the rest of the world by storm.

Le Navet Bete (The Three Musketeers, Dracula: The Bloody Truth) are a multi award-winning physical comedy company based in Devon. Joining forces with one of UK theatre’s best comedy writers and directors John Nicholson (Peepolykus, BBC Radio 4), the company of four play out Robert Louis Stevenson’s legendary tale as you’ve NEVER seen it before! ‘Batten down the hatches for a breakneck and breathless barrels of laugh-outloud hilarity’ - British Theatre Guide ‘Le Navet Bete has created its best production to date’  The Stage

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MP, Aunty Mandy & Me - 21st October: Tickets - £12 Commissioned by Leicester’s Curve Theatre in 2020, ‘The MP, Aunty Mandy & Me’ is a bittersweet tale www.lancmag.com

Female Gothic

of consent and coercive control, exploring the #metoo movement from the point of view of its central character Dom, a gay man in a socially conservative town working for his local MP; a man who uses his power & charm to coerce Dom into a sexual relationship. This one man show also contrasts provincial life with the metropolitan experience, explores the often overwhelming social norms demanded by the gay male community, blends biting comedy with contemporary queer commentary. The narrative is enriched by an abundance of colourful characters that make up the other prominent players in the small fictional, Northern town of Brinton. Female Gothic - 4th November Tickets - £14 There is no better way to finish the Halloween Season than gathering around and listening to Victorian ghost stories. Rebecca Vaughan is back with her hypnotising story-telling skills to leave a shiver running down your spine. An artist, gripped by the clutching fingers of a dead past; a scientist, defying nature in the dark realm of the senses; an expectant father, driven mad by creeping shadows... In the unquiet, stygian darkness between life and death, a lone, haunted woman tells chilling tales of the macabre and terrifying, illuminating the curious frailties of human nature... The Victorian fascination with tales of mystery and the supernatural created an enduring legacy of Gothic fiction; but it is often the male writers that we remember. Many thrilling and www.lancmag.com

eerie stories from the great female writers of that era have gathered dust and been forgotten. Until now. This dark celebration of female gothic is adapted and performed by Rebecca Vaughan (Austen’s Women, I, Elizabeth, Dalloway, The Diaries of Adam and Eve). Directed by Olivier Award Winner, Gus Masterson (Morecambe).

Joshua (and Me) - 6th October Tickets - £12 A captivating story based on the truelife experience of being a sibling to someone who’s autistic. Hannah lives by the seaside with Mum, Dad and two brothers, Ben and Joshua. The brothers are very different. Ben lets Hannah in his room, they play spies together and, sometimes, he even gives her a hug. These things aren’t possible with Joshua. It’s like he speaks a different language. Mum says they have to ‘understand each other’s worlds’.

Fatherhood - 3rd November Tickets - £12 When his son was born Shane was forced to reflect on his relationship with his own father. The pressures of being a father in this modern world were thrown into perspective, Shame uses physical theatre to explore the cultural and gender expectations placed on fathers and what it means to be responsible for a child learning to navigate our complex society. This autobiographical piece sees Altered Skin’s Creative Director, Shane Shambhu portray himself drawing from personal experience with contributions from participants from differing cultural backgrounds, the piece also explores how the migrant experience has influenced fathers & fathering across generations. To book tickets please head to The Dukes website: dukeslancaster.org

Mission accepted. Full of laughter, love, and original music, Joshua and Me explores the writer’s own experience of growing up with an autistic sibling.  “a thoughtful and engaging production that tells the kind of story not heard often enough on stage.” - London Theatre 1 LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 63

The Lake District By Sarah Ridgway

The Lake District remains one of the UK’s most popular holiday destinations attracting around 16 million tourists every year. Visitors come from all over to experience the beautiful landscapes, lakes, fells, and mountains and there is something for all ages to enjoy.

he Lake District National Park is the largest in the UK, and home to Scafell Pike which is England’s highest mountain standing at 978 metres. Lake Windermere is the largest lake in England at 11 miles in length and almost a mile at its widest. Wastwater Lake is the deepest lake in England, with a depth of around 260ft. The world-renowned park has 2000 square kilometres of breath-taking nature and is universally known for its beauty. The Lake District’s namesake derives from its sixteen lakes and the tranquil location has inspired many artists, poets and writers including William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter who made it their home. Before the arrival of tourism to the area in the late eighteenth century, the Lake District was considered a remote and wild place. Daniel Defoe described it in 1724 as “the wildest, most barren and frightful of any I have passed over in England.” In 1778 “A Guide to the Lakes” was published, written by Father Thomas West full of his recommendations on how to enjoy the beautiful landscape. Shortly after poets such as Wordsworth, Southey, and Coleridge arrived at the area, and wrote about its spectacular views and scenery. This especially appealed to city dwellers desperate for an escape. William Wordsworth

moved to Dove Cottage in Grasmere aged 29 in 1799 and wrote many famous poems there. Dove Cottage now serves as a museum and is open to the public all year round. In 1820 Wordsworth published his guidebook “A Guide through the District of the Lakes in North England.” which sold extremely well drawing even more visitors to the area. By 1847 the railway had reached Windermere allowing tourists from further afield to visit the Lake District. The train also enabled working-class visitors who took day trips from Manchester, Liverpool, and Newcastle. The Lake District became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2017 to protect and conserve its future. The National Trust has been protecting the Lake District for the past 120 years, and almost a fifth of the area is in their care. The Brandlehow Estate was one of the National Trust’s earliest purchases in 1902, and writer Beatrix Potter worked tirelessly to preserve her beloved Lake District and left fourteen farms and 4000 acres of land to the National Trust when she died in 1943. Today the trust manages many historical properties and attractions in the area, including Beatrix Potter’s Hill Top House, Wray Castle, and Wordsworth’s former home Dove Cottage. The National Trust’s work also extends to the landscape, and its Path Rangers are responsible for repairing and maintaining the footpaths in the area. Before the National Trust stepped in over twenty-five years ago, the erosion damage was so severe that some paths had suffered ten to twenty metres of erosion which in some cases was the width of an entire path. The huge footfall means the repairs are an all-year-round job, and the work is difficult and slow as it is all done by hand but is essential to preserve the area for future generations.

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Aside from tourism, agriculture is very much at the heart of the community and provides an economic boost to the area. The sector employs over 12,000 people, the main farm type is livestock which makes up just over seventy percent, and the second is dairy. The Lake District is famous for its Herdwick sheep that are native to the area and Beatrix Potter was so passionate about preserving them that she became an award-winning breeder and was the first woman to be elected president of the Herdwick Sheep Breeders Association. The Hawkshead Farm Show takes place every summer and is one of the most important agricultural markets in the area. There is an array of prizes to be won, from the perfect egg, the best sheep to the best fruit cake. The show is also an opportunity for young breeders to showcase their animals, that involves weeks of training to get their animals show ready.

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The Queen of Coniston The steam-powered Coniston Gondola is the oldest steam yacht in the North of England and was built in 1859. In the late eighteenth

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century, tourists flocked to the Lakes, and many came to take a trip on the steam powered Coniston Gondola. Some might ask how a Venetianinspired vessel found its way to the

Lake District. The idea came from Sir James Ramsden, the Director of the Furness Railway company, who saw an opportunity after a visit to Venice in 1850. Ramsden brought

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Venetian glamour to the Lakes and linked the pleasure cruise to the Coniston Railway line to attract a growing number of wealthy workingclass tourists. The European-inspired vessel was a huge draw for people as travel to Europe was an experience previously reserved for the aristocracy. Ramsden’s initiative proved correct, and tourists arrived en masse for packaged tours of scenic tours around the lake by steam train and boat. Visitors would experience a chance to enjoy the luxury of sailing either in its 1st Class Saloon or enjoy the fresh air and scenery from the external viewing and seating areas. Sadly, the gondola ceased service in 1936 and later used as a houseboat before being abandoned in the 1960s. In the 1970s a group of people passionate about the vessel raised enough money to restore her. After a 44-year pause, the restored vessel was re-launched back into public service on Coniston water. Today, visitors can experience the nostalgia of a steam-powered boat trip by taking an hour-long trip starting at Coniston pier, which travels anticlockwise past Coniston Hall, and on to Parkamoor Estate. The gondola

continues across the lake northwards and from this point, passengers are free to hop off and re-join later. The first hop-off point is Brantwood, the former home of John Ruskin and admired Victorian poet, artist, and social revolutionary from 1871 until his death in 1900. Visitors can also stop off at the second stop, Monk Coniston that sits at the northern tip of the lake. The Most Haunted Castle in England Muncaster Castle is in the western Lake District and has been standing for over 800 years. King Henry VI took shelter here from the Scots, and the castle was once part of the Kingdom of Strathclyde. Later, the castle’s main aim was to keep the Scots out. The Pennington family now reside at Muncaster and has done since 1208. In the early 1980s Patrick Thomas Gordon-Duff Pennington and his wife Phyllida moved into Muncaster Castle, Phyllida’ s ancestral home. Phyllida and daughter Iona did a sterling job of transforming the castle from a dilapidated wreck into one of Cumbria’s leading tourist attractions, and Patrick did a fine job promoting it. This year it had double success at

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the Cumbia Tourism Awards winning the Small Visitor Attraction of the Year prize, and was awarded the Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award. Phyllida died in 2011, aged 82, and Patrick, described as “the booming voice of Muncaster Castle ‘’ passed away in January 2021 at the grand age of 90. Patrick was awarded an OBE for services to agriculture and served as a Deputy Lieutenant for Cumbria for many years. Muncaster is run by their daughter Iona and Iona’s husband Peter-Frost-Pennington. The castle and its grounds are open for the public to enjoy from Easter until early November attracting up to 90,000 visitors a year. The attraction hosts a variety of exciting events throughout the year, including a Gunpowder Plot outdoor theatrical show, music festivals, and lots of historically themed events such as Medieval Muncaster. Visitors can watch some Medieval jousting, a bird of prey show and get a closer look at the Hawk and Owl centre, that houses a diverse array of birds. Among its many accolades, the castle is also known as the most

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haunted castle in England. Peter Andre went ghost hunting there in 2017 for the TV show The Hunt for Ghosts on

ITV. Muncaster hosts scientific ghost vigils each year with paranormal specialists for ghost enthusiasts who can sleep overnight in the Tapestry Room, the most haunted spot in the castle.

him in all-weathers including snow. Tom is also known to play tricks on people when he was alive, and his favourite joke was to point travellers towards the quicksand when they asked for directions to Ravenglass.

There are said to be eight ghosts in the castle, and one is the White Lady, believed to be the ghost of Mary Bragg a young woman murdered on the road near the main gate in 1805. Mary was in love with the footman at Muncaster, but so was another housemaid who was jealous of the competition. Mary was falsely lured to her deathbed by two men and killed on a lonely road next to a large tree. Mary’s body was found floating in the river Esk so badly damaged the coroner could not determine how she had died. Her ghost has wandered the grounds ever since.

The Tapestry Room, also known as the Ghost Room, is the most haunted place in Muncaster Castle, and many visitors report feeling an eerie and unwelcoming presence in the room. The brave few who sleep overnight in the ghost room have heard a woman softly singing and a child crying. The cries are believed to belong to Margaret Pennington, a young child who lived there who died of screaming fits. Investigations uncovered that the room had previously been a child’s nursery. People have also reported seeing black figures leaning over them, and others have told of feeling a heavy weight falling on them from the antique four-poster bed, and a black figure has been seen walking into the room only to vanish. Visitors are permitted to spend the night in the room at allocated times in the year but need to be ready for spooky footsteps in the corridors, door handles turning and other things that go bump in the night.

Tom Fool was the jester at the castle and believed to have died around 1600, Muncaster holds an annual Festival of Fools in his honour. Fool is said to have killed the joiner in the tearoom and is known for playing tricks on visitors and staff. Patrick talked of Tom following him up the road and hearing his footsteps behind

2022 Lakeland Book of the Year Winners Announced

This years annual ceremony raised over £700 in support of local charity Women’s Community Matters. The charity offers a variety of one-to-one support, courses, activities, support groups and access to specialist services for vulnerable women and girls aged 12 and over, and to young men/boys aged 12-19.

left to right Judge Eric Robson, Fiona Armstrong, Roger Lytollis, Hunter Davies

Panic as Man Burns Crumpets by Cumbrian author Roger Lytollis has been announced as the 2022 Hunter Davies Lakeland Book of the Year at a charity awards ceremony at the Stonecross Manor in Kendal on Tuesday 12th July 2022.

oger, whose book was chosen from over 50 entries, was celebrated as the overall victor alongside five other category winners at a charity event in support of Women’s Community Matters. The judges - author and columnist Hunter Davies OBE, broadcaster and former Cumbria Tourism Chairman Eric Robson and BBC newscaster and author Fiona Armstrong - entertained more than 80 attendees as they discussed the finalists before celebrating the winners. Following the announcement, Roger said “Looking at some of the books that All Winners & Judges

have won over the years it’s an absolute privilege to be shortlisted and to win the overall award is a dream come true, so I’m very grateful to the judges and everyone involved. Winning the award is a great opportunity to raise awareness of the struggles that local journalism faces, especially over the last 10 years. I hope the people of Cumbria will identify with the book as it portrays a lot of aspects of Cumbrian life.” Gill Haigh, Cumbria Tourism MD, added: “The Lakeland Book of the Year Competition is an annual highlight in Cumbria’s events calendar and we send our warmest congratulations to all the winners. “For me, they underline just why our county continues to inspire millions of visitors each year. I feel excited about the potential crossover into many other outstanding events across Cumbria and in turn to help share the high-quality writing with the greatest possible audience.“

The much-appreciated partnership with James Cropper plc, based in Kendal, continued for this year’s awards. The association is particularly appropriate, as virtually all hardbacked books published in the UK are bound using paper produced by James Cropper here in Cumbria. In addition to financial assistance, James Cropper provided professional advice and, of course, all printed material required for the event was produced on their paper.

The Hunter Davies Lakeland Book of the Year 2022 Panic as Man Burns Crumpets by Roger Lytollis The Bill Rollinson Prize for Landscape & Tradition The Lucks of Cumbria by Andrew Musgrave The Latitude Press Prize for Illustration & Presentation Joss Naylor’s Lakes, Meres and Waters of the lake District by Vivienne Crow with Joss Naylor The Bookends Prize for People & Business Panic as Man Burns Crumpets by Roger Lytollis The Wordsworth Prize for Literature & Poetry Cumbria: A Book of Days by Dawn Robertson The Striding Edge Prize for Guides & Places Peak Bagging: Wainwrights by Karen & Dan Parker The Gilpin Hotel Prize for Fiction Brockenspectre by Caroline Moir

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Lake District Holiday Homes for Sale

Great location just ten minutes from Windermere and Cartmel Just three of the reasons to own a holiday home with us It’s a lifestyle choice • It’s good for your mojo • We’re a family business •

Get in touch or visit newbybridgecaravanpark.co.uk for more information.

part of

An Enchanting Woodland Escape... Discover time for you and your family, away from everyday distractions

estled amongst wild, ancient woodland near the southern tip of Windermere, lies a Lake District location that might just change your life. Imagine waking up to the sound of birdsong in a beautiful, wooded glade and breakfasting alfresco before setting out on a day as relaxing or adventure filled as you wish to make it, and repeat… More and more people are discovering that holiday home ownership is an ideal way to make the very most of their leisure time. At Newby Bridge Country Caravan Park, you can live your dream of escaping to the countryside whenever it suits you.

Why holiday home ownership? Each family or individual has their own reasons for seeking out holiday home ownership as a life-altering style of living. Many are looking to spend more precious time with loved ones and want a place to ‘switch off’ from the pressures and distractions of modern life. Others have too much time on their hands, perhaps after 70

retirement, and want to open the door to a whole new area to explore and enjoy. There are wonderful sights to see in the Lake District and a whole host of exciting activities on offer locally. Now is the time to take up the hobby you’ve always wanted to such as walking, paddleboarding, photography, or golf; a holiday home provides the perfect base. If you would like to improve your fitness and wellbeing, there is no greater incentive than the stunning views around every bend of the area’s many walking and cycling routes. Do you have a four-legged best friend? With your own holiday home, there is no need to worry about finding dog-friendly accommodation. Your pet can enjoy the lifestyle benefits of holiday home ownership just as much as you! From long country walks to splashing about in the lakes, your pup will love their time away with you.

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With the owners’ season at this five star Visit England rated park running from 1st March to 6th January, you can experience the area’s beauty throughout the year, even during the festive period. Springtime is enchanting as the woodland is carpeted with daffodils and bluebells and during hot summer months you can choose to sunbathe in clearings or enjoy gentler dappled sunlight and shaded areas. Later in the year, you can delight in the spectacular autumn colours and dark starry skies.

Indulge your love of nature and the great outdoors This special place is a tranquil haven for wildlife and is situated within UNESCO World Heritage Site the www.lancmag.com

Lake District National Park. Ancient woodland and surrounding open fields provide a variety of habitats for a number of animal, plant, and bird species such as deer, greater spotted woodpeckers, pied blackbirds, and goldfinches to name just a few. The park has taken the David Bellamy Blooming Marvellous Pledge for Nature, an initiative that commits holiday and residential home parks to improving and creating habitats for wildlife, managing green spaces in an environmentally friendly way, involving guests and staff in wildlife conservation, and engaging with local conservation bodies and projects.

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Adventures at your own pace Whether you are an adrenaline junkie or simply want to relax and explore, the local area provides a multitude of things to see and do. It is

a walker’s and cyclist’s paradise with a variety of routes for all abilities. There are also water-based activities, visitor attractions, restaurants, and inns. Windermere lake is just a few minutes’ drive away, offering kayak, rowing boat, and paddleboard hire,

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as well as facilities for launching your own. Days out on the doorstep include Cartmel Races, Lakeside to Haverthwaite Steam Railway, Aquarium of the Lakes, Lakeland Motor Museum, Windermere Lake Cruises, and the National Trust’s Fell Foot Park. Plus, Ullswater ‘Steamers’, the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, and other world-class attractions are not too far away. Discover foodie delights from casual eats to dining decadence. As well as a unique racecourse, the nearby historic village of Cartmel is also home to award-winning restaurants and the famous Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding! 72

Choosing the perfect home from home It’s all about location, location, location… you will find no bustling crowds or late-night noise here, although the vibrant lakeside towns of Windermere and Bowness-onWindermere are just a short drive away if you fancy an evening out or shopping trip. Brand new high-quality holiday homes with a variety of layouts are on offer for those wishing to make this beautiful area their second home. Each private escape offers superb specifications, on-trend interiors, and creative space solutions. You can look forward to returning again and again to a contemporary and comfortable

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retreat provided with outdoor space and allocated parking. There are options to add decking on most pitches and the park offers excellent facilities including an adventure play park and a launderette.

Welcome to the family It’s not just the scenery and surroundings that make this park so special; the community feel and the warm and friendly atmosphere are immediately apparent. Because the holiday homes are all privately owned, with a no sub-letting policy, you can really get to know your neighbours and enjoy exclusivity. Newby Bridge Country Caravan Park is part of Lake District Estates, a family-owned business with a proud www.lancmag.com

and continuing Lakeland legacy, which has been helping families and individuals to discover and experience the Lake District and surrounds for over 80 years. The company’s core purpose is to provide access and connectivity to the great outdoors and tourism experiences whilst protecting, sustaining, and maintaining destinations and surrounding environments for future generations to enjoy.

Ready for a change? Start making memories that will last a lifetime and rediscover the real meaning of quality time. Get in touch today to arrange a viewing appointment and find your own idyllic space in the Lake District.

Sunset over Windermere

Newby Bridge Country Caravan Park is operated by Lake District Estates, a family-owned business based in Kendal. For further information, please call 015395 31030, visit www.newbybridgecaravanpark.co.uk or email newbybridge@lakedistrictestates.co.uk www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 73

Eve’s Story

A family from Burscough are holding a dinner and auction fundraiser on October 6 2022 in Southport, in memory of their young teenage daughter who tragically died last year when she took her own life. A beautiful girl

ve Lewis was a popular and bright 15-year-old student in her final year at Burscough Priory Academy. Her academic record was exemplary and was a valued member of her school. Eve was described by her headteacher, Lucy MacLaren, as a ‘beautiful girl who contributed in every way possible to the school’. She had a strong friendship group and was incredibly close to her family – mum Paula, dad Dave and her older sister, Charlotte.

Eating disorder However, Eve suffered from anorexia and had been in treatment for this. At her lowest point, her weight plummeted below six stone. Although Eve had been making good progress in her treatment following an inpatient-admission period, Eve’s family believe she was still tormented by anorexia and was struggling to overcome the intense internal battle. This resulted in Eve tragically taking her own life whilst out walking her dog, on Sunday 26 September 2021. “Eve was just 15 years, one month and eight days’ old when her life ended,” said her mum, Paula. “All of the superlatives I could come up with would still not do her justice. She was the most caring, loving, funny little girl who was an absolute pleasure to be around. She brought joy into the lives of everyone lucky enough to know her.” During the Covid pandemic in 2021, Eve unfortunately developed an eating disorder – anorexia – and began to lose weight. As the pandemic forced schools to close and pupils 74

had to continue their education from home, Eve’s obsession with food and her weight became a major concern. “Eve was a perfectionist,” Paula continued. “She did everything to the best of her ability. She should have been taking her GCSEs over the summer and was predicted to be graded 8s and 9s. She wanted to be a lawyer. “Unfortunately, in her quest to be perfect, Eve became anorexic. She was receiving treatment and improving daily – even reaching a normal weight range. We thought that she was over the worst of it and had her spark back.”

A life lost On Sunday September 26 2021, Eve and her family had planned to go out, however Eve decided to remain at home as she feared there would be a food situation which would make her uncomfortable and embarrassed. Around lunchtime, Eve went on a dog walk near her home in Burscough.

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She spoke with a friend on the phone for 20 minutes and then sent messages via Snapchat to her friends, thanking them for their support. Eve had also been searching for train times before she tragically ran onto the train line and was killed instantly by a passing train. Paula said: “There was nothing to suggest that when she went out to walk the dog that day, that she wouldn’t be coming home again. There were no cries for help. Eve had so many things to look forward to and so many plans for the future. I don’t believe Eve wanted to die; she wanted to put an end to the torment she was in. That torment was anorexia. I wish Eve knew how wonderful she was. She was loved so much, by so many.”

Close family bond Paula believes that Eve didn’t tell her family how bad she felt because she didn’t want to worry or upset them: “In her right frame of mind, she would never, ever have done anything to hurt any of us. I wish things could www.lancmag.com

All Images: Courtesy of the Lewis Family

be different. I wish that I could have saved her. “Looking back, I believe that as Eve reached a normal weight range, rather than having her appointments with the eating disorder clinic reduced to once a month, she should have continued to be seen and given the opportunity for counselling without a parent present. Medication should also have been considered to help Eve’s mind cope with the changes, as we were told the brain is the last to recover.” Eve was treated at the Eating Disorder Service in Ormskirk, and since Eve’s death, changes have been implemented following the lessons learned from Eve’s care. Young patients are now given one-to-one sessions to discuss concerns with their therapist, away from their family. Eve didn’t get this opportunity and her family believe the outcome could have been different if she was able to speak freely without fear of upsetting her loved ones. Eve’s family hope to raise awareness for changes within the health system guidelines: to ensure young people experiencing eating disorders get opportunities for one-to-one sessions with their therapist as standard; training for health care professionals around appropriate language use in an eating disorder setting; and for dieticians to be freely available for inpatient settings.

funds for an education programme at Eve’s high school - Burscough Priory Academy. The programme will be facilitated by S.E.E.D - a specialist eating disorder charity based in Preston – who will provide pupils with a crucial education and awareness programme. Their aim is to help young people to understand positive self-esteem and body image, along with empowering pupils to develop a positive mindset and self-acceptance. It is hoped that more schools and young people can also be reached with this funding. Eve’s Legacy Charity Dinner event will be held on the 6 October 2022, at Bliss Hotel Southport, and will be a celebration of Eve’s life, with support from her family, friends and school. “Through the fundraising and education programme starting at Eve’s school, if we can save just one young person or family from going through the indescribable nightmare we have faced, then that would be a light in the dark for us,” said Paula.

Legacy event in Eve’s memory Following Eve’s tragic death, Eve’s family are organising a fundraising event to celebrate her remarkable but short life, and in parallel, raise

Further Help Papyrus is a charity specialising in helping young people with suicidal thoughts: www.papyrus-uk.org

Eve’s Legacy Dinner information and tickets available at: www.trybooking.co.uk/BTJH

Young Minds is a mental health support service for young people, and has published a guide to anorexia: www.youngminds.org.uk/youngperson/mental-health-conditions/ anorexia/

Beat is a UK charity helping with eating disorder. They offers a oneto-one webchat service for anyone who would like to talk about eating disorders: www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/ get-information-and-support/gethelp-for-myself/i-need-supportnow/one-to-one-web-chat/

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Comma Press and the University of Central Lancashire open submissions for the sixth year of The Dinesh Allirajah Prize for Short Fiction It is free to submit your entry and the winning writer will receive £500 and all 10 shortlisted authors will be featured in an ebook anthology which will be published by Comma Press and sold online. JUDGES Dr Robin Purves:

Comma Press and the University of Central Lancashire, along with media partner Northern Soul, are delighted to announce that they will once again deliver the Dinesh Allirajah Prize for Short Fiction with the theme ‘Music’.

he Dinesh Prize was set up by Comma Press following the death in 2014 of Comma’s muchloved director and founding board member, writer Dinesh Allirajah. The prize aims to create a lasting legacy out of Dinesh’s love for writing short story fiction during his lifetime. Now in its sixth year, submissions will be open from July 20, 2022 for the 2023 prize until September 22, 2022.

As well as being a poet, Dinesh wrote song lyrics and was also a DJ, as well as a radio presenter at different stations over the years. Author and lecturer at UCLan, Naomi Krüger, said: ‘We are thrilled to continue our work with Comma Press on the Dinesh Allirajah Prize this year and can’t wait to see how the writers interpret the theme of ‘Music’. We know that as our students rise to the challenge of producing the shortlist they grow as readers, critics and negotiators. It is a unique opportunity for them to learn how varied and complex the short story can be as well as gaining valuable insight into the publishing industry.’ The prize is open to anyone 18 years or over who is a resident of the UK, and the story submitted must not have been previously published anywhere else, online or in print.

Dr. Robin Purves is a Senior Lecturer in English Literature at the University of Central Lancashire. He has published more than twenty essays in books and academic journals and his major research interests are in twentieth and twenty first century poetry, philosophy, psychoanalysis and popular music. His most recent publications include essays on musical drones and “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” by The Rolling Stones. Guy Carter:

Guy Carter earns his living as a caricature artist and spends much of his spare time writing short stories. He came 2 nd in the 1985 Sunday Telegraph Mini Saga Contest & won the Jeremy Mogford Short Story Competition in 2014 and 2015. He was shortlisted for the Manchester Poetry Competition in 2014 and the Alpine Fellowship Short Story Competition in 2021. He draws cartoons and was a regular at the Rathdrum Cartoon Festival in Ireland & the Louvier Cartoon Festival in France. PLUS a special guest judge to be announced.

In honour of Dinesh Allirajah, this prize is open to both published and unpublished writers and aims to seek out the best established and up and coming voices in the form. The 2023 theme of ‘Music’ is fitting for a prize in Dinesh’s memory, as he once said of himself (referencing a Sonny Criss sleeve note): ‘I am a jazz writer, which is a full-time creative job’.

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ICANN Aiming to Improve Community Connections in Lancashire for Lonely and Isolated People

The ICANN Community Connections Project is the latest project for which funding has been secured. We would like to thank the Halsall Foundation for funding this project and enabling it to come to life. Without the funding, many lonely and isolated Lancashire residents would miss out on the opportunity to get back into their local community.

meet ups, and where they take place. The ICANN buddy would encourage residents to attend the first few sessions whilst accompanying them. We hope to improve their confidence and wellbeing to become more independent, reducing social isolation and loneliness.

Do you have time to spare and want to make a difference?

ICANN are looking for volunteers throughout Lancashire to be involved with this project.

ICANN Community Connections will involve a volunteer buddy scheme starting with regular friendly phone calls to develop a rapport finding out what the client’s interests are, research suitable local groups or organisations, events and

For anyone interested in becoming a volunteer with ICANN, please telephone 01772 746061 for an informal discussion. Alternatively, email admin@i-cann.org.uk for further information.

CANN is a Lancashire based volunteer led charity who run several successful projects. The funding from the Halsall Foundation will enable us to run a befriending service aiming to help lonely and isolated people to reconnect with their local community.

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Our Volunteer Coordinator will recruit, train and support volunteers. Volunteers will be matched with someone in the area which they live. All volunteers are subject to an enhanced DBS check.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 77

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 It’s time to roll up your sleeves and get to work this month. You’ll find that life is busy and perhaps hectic at times, but the work you tackle now will certainly allow you more freedom to enjoy yourself later. Career matters are also strong, and the roadblocks or delays you have been experiencing recently are lifting. You are also dealing with many emotions this month that have previously been buried. It’s a time for ridding yourself of excess baggage, whether it’s physical or emotional. Favourable Dates: Oct 1, 4, 10, 13, 19, 22 Favourable Colours: Red & Yellow

LEO 23 Jul - 22 Aug There will be a strong influence from others to help you create more personal security in having your material needs met. Money will definitely be coming your way and will greatly influence your personal beliefs, dreams and philosophies. You will get recognition of your merits by the government and higher authorities. Relationships become more supportive by the last week of October. Overspending might be an issue, as you are prone to purchase impulsively. You have no shortage of moneymaking ideas, however. Favourable Dates: Oct 2, 3, 11, 12, 20, 21 Favourable Colours: Blue & White VIRGO 23 Aug - 22 Sept

TAURUS 20 Apr - 20 May

SAGITTARIUS 22 Nov - 21 Dec You’ll have strong motivation and opinions and a fighting attitude. You can hardly wait to struggle for something, to conquer, to evolve. You’re ready at any time to prove your strength and value. You will be very confident with your thoughts and chance of getting promotion is highly likely. Because you mobilize the others extremely well, you’ll be very successful with your teamwork and joint projects. Keep up the tempo and believe in your abilities, the month will see you off in a completely new position. Favourable Dates: Oct 5, 6, 14, 15, 23, 24 Favourable Colours: Green & Blue CAPRICORN 22 Dec - 19 Jan

A tendency of taking risk in profession should be curbed and all kinds of speculations must be avoided. Charm comes naturally this month, and you want nothing more than to find peace with a special someone. An opportunity for a partnership or joint venture is possible. Romantic feelings run high, although you are likely to feel somewhat entangled emotionally, and this is a trend that you will experience for many months. Family atmosphere will be very supporting. A long distance travel will be rewarding. You will take interest in religion and perform charitable deeds.

You can be very successful in expressing your higher principles, whether it is work related or community oriented. Income or the position will be improved and gain of profits from work or the business activities is guaranteed. Long-range goals and plans are taking shape. Travel could figure prominently in your agenda as the month unfolds. You will connect with more people and make the most out of those connections in both giving and taking. Defeat of enemies, increased property, gain of knowledge, favor from superiors and success can be expected during this period.

You can get ahead with your projects and ambitions on the condition that you get involved, struggle and fight. The procedures requiring commitment, courage and spontaneity will be more successful than the planned ones. This is also a period which can create troubles or messy situations due to carelessness or negligence creating worries and unnecessary troubles. Health requires immediate attention as injuries and accidents are on the card. After 23rd, there could be controversy and unnecessary aggression. Sudden losses are also possible. Health problems might disturb you.

Favourable Dates: Oct 1, 2, 10, 11, 19, 20 Favourable Colours: Blue & White

Favourable Dates: Oct 3, 6, 12, 15, 21, 24 Favourable Colours: Blue & Yellow

Favourable Dates: Oct 1, 9, 10, 18, 19, 27 Favourable Colours: Yellow & Blue

GEMINI 21 May - 20 Jun Reaching inside of yourself and pulling out your strength is necessary now. More energy can be poured into professional matters, although partnering matters are certainly demanding your attention and can be distracting. Financially, you’ll have the opportunity to re-equilibrate your budget, but that means not wasting money. There could be chances of getting money unexpectedly but needless to say expenses will be very high. Your sexuality will manifest vigorously. You’ll have a lot of sex appeal, you’ll attract without efforts, but you’ll take great pleasure in provoking, inciting, conquering over.

You will enjoy the life with full optimism and vivacity. There will be ample opportunity for travel, study, and progress in life. You will find that the opposite sex will help you in your sphere. You are learning new ways of maintaining harmony in your individuality at work and around friends and family. Family atmosphere will be very good. Travels can bring you into contact with compatible partners or new friends. You will befriend with political dignitaries or higher officials. There will be happiness from siblings and from the opposite sex.

This is a period of great potential and energy for you. Time brings you fortune, ability and courage. There will be material gains and recognition from superiors nonetheless. So it is a good period for trying out new things, going to new places. You will come up with new ideas for dealing with your challenges. Your friends and family will just make your personal life so much richer and more fulfilling. It’s time to let others assist you with a longrange goal. Don’t be surprised if you are put in command of your own ship.

Favourable Dates: Oct 5, 8, 14, 17, 23, 26 Favourable Colours: Red & Green

Favourable Dates: Oct 3, 4, 12, 13, 21, 22 Favourable Colours: Yellow & Red

Favourable Dates: Oct 3, 7, 12, 16, 21, 25 Favourable Colours: Yellow & White

LIBRA 23 Sept - 22 Oct

SCORPIO 23 Oct - 21 Nov

CANCER 21 Jun - 22 Jul This is a period in which you can arrange for things to work in your favor by diplomatic negotiations, due to your persuading capacity and interaction. The result can materialize in a successful transaction, a contract or a longterm collaboration. Dealings and transactions will work out smoothly and effortlessly for you, as you score one over your competitors. Income will come for you from more than one source. You will have a strong sense of what needs to be done, and you actually enjoy getting yourself back on track. Favourable Dates: Oct 2, 3, 11, 12, 20, 21 Favourable Colours: Blue & White

You’ll care a great deal about intellectual and spiritual matching and your greatest happiness would be to travel or to discover the world along with the person you love. Creative approaches and opportunities for additional earning are on the cards. You will share a very good rapport with seniors and supervisors. A marked increase in your income is indicated. There will be expansion of trade and increase of reputation. You will come out courageous and get professional distinction. There are chances of sudden travel which seems to be very fruitful. Favourable Dates: Oct 3, 7, 12, 16, 21, 25 Favourable Colours: Brown & White

AQUARIUS 20 Jan - 18 Feb

PISCES 19 Feb - 20 Mar It’s a time of greater magnetic appeal–when the world seems to be appreciating your style. This is a very good period coming after a period of difficulties and hardships and at last you can relax and enjoy the success and the results of the hard work you had been doing for a long time. Your financial luck will be excellent provided you avoid dubious speculative activities. However, there is danger of developing egoistic temperament in your personality. This attitude of yours can lead you towards unpopularity. Favourable Dates: Oct 3, 5, 12, 14, 21, 23 Favourable Colours: Green & Red

Manish Kumar Arora, 91-9871062000 | K.P. Astrologer, Numerologist, Tarot Card Reader & Vastu Consultant F www.facebook.com/manishastroconsultant | E manish@manishastrologer.com 78

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Tatton Park

ELIZABETH GASKELL’S North-West Connections By Margaret Brecknell

The distinguished 19th-century novelist, Elizabeth Gaskell, was born in the London suburb of Chelsea. 80

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owever, she moved to North-West England as a very young child and went on to have an enduring connection with several locations in the area, versions of which appear in her fictional work. www.lancmag.com

Above: Elizabeth & William Gaskell’s final resting place in churchyard of Brook Street Chapel, Knutsford. Photo Credit: ironbell - Shutterstock.com

appeared, in 1851, as a satirical sketch in the magazine, Household Words. It was so well-received that the magazine’s editor, one Charles Dickens, encouraged her to write more episodes. Cranford was first published in book form in June 1853.

KNUTSFORD The author was born Elizabeth Cleghorn Stevenson in September 1810. Following the death of her mother when she was barely one year old, Elizabeth was sent to live with her aunt, Hannah Lumb, in the small Cheshire town of Knutsford. Her aunt’s mid-18th-century home, The Heath (now known as Heathwaite House), is still standing today on Gaskell Avenue, renamed in honour of the street’s most famous former resident. Elizabeth later famously immortalised Knutsford in her novel, Cranford. Her fictional account of the everyday life and social customs of a small provincial town first www.lancmag.com

Based on her childhood memories of growing up in Knutsford, Cranford focuses on the lives of the mainly older spinsters who call the “rural backwater” home. Most of the author’s other novels deal with gritty social issues of the day, so Cranford is quite different in this respect. Yet, it touches upon the very real-life concerns faced by inhabitants of small provincial towns like Knutsford, who regarded the impact of the Industrial Revolution on their everyday lives with fear and distrust. In Elizabeth Gaskell’s final novel, Wives and Daughters, the author returned to her Cheshire childhood home for inspiration. The town of Holllingford bears more than a passing resemblance to Knutsford and the grand stately home owned by Lord and Lady Cumnor in the novel immediately brings to mind Tatton Park, which lies on the edge of the Cheshire town. “The little straggling town faded away into country on one side close to the edge of a great park where lived my Lord and Lady Cumnor”, wrote the novelist in Wives and Daughters. The early chapters of Wives and Daughters describe a garden party

held at Cumnor Towers, the grand stately home of Lord and Lady Cumnor, which is attended by the novel’s heroine, Molly Gibson. It is intriguing to think that Elizabeth Gaskell may have herself attended similar functions at Tatton Park during her childhood years in Knutsford. In real-life, the historic estate of Tatton Park was owned by the Egerton family until 1958 when the property was bequeathed to the National Trust. Today, thousands of people visit Tatton each year, particularly during the popular annual RHS flower show. Elizabeth moved away from Knutsford following her marriage to clergyman, William Gaskell, in August 1832. However, both she and her husband would eventually be laid to rest in the town in the churchyard of Brook Street Unitarian Chapel. The Cheshire town has always remained proud of its association with Elizabeth Gaskell and, in the early 1900s, Richard Harding Watt, a glove merchant, decided to create a permanent memorial to the novelist. The Gaskell Memorial Tower, on King Street, was originally home to council offices and a coffee house. The building features a stone bust of the novelist in a niche above one of the windows, together with a bronze relief plaque. The titles of her bestknown works are inscribed down one side of the tower.

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CROSS STREET UNITARIAN CHAPEL, MANCHESTER At the time of their marriage in 1832, Elizabeth’s husband, William Gaskell, was the Assistant Minister at Cross Street Unitarian Chapel. He later became Senior Minister in 1854. The original Cross Street Chapel was constructed in 1694 and was significant for being the first nonconformist place of worship to be built in Manchester. Although technically still a town, Manchester’s development into the country’s first major industrialised city was already well under way by the time of Elizabeth’s arrival in the early 1830s. This rapid growth brought much wealth to a few individuals, but many others, who arrived in the metropolis from the countryside looking for work, ended up living in the most squalid of slum-like conditions. Through the charitable work of the Cross Street Chapel, Elizabeth became actively involved in distributing food and clothes to the poor and, in, 1836, she was moved to write a poem called Sketches of the Poor. Following their marriage, the couple’s first home in Manchester was on Dover Street and this is where their first three daughters were born. In 1842, they moved to a larger home on nearby Upper Rumford Street. Following the death of her baby son, William, from scarlet fever in 1845, Elizabeth began to write her first full-length novel. Mary Barton was published in the autumn of 1848. Subtitled A Tale of Manchester Life, the author drew heavily on her own experiences of the horrendous conditions in Manchester’s slums, which she had witnessed first-hand as she carried out her charitable work. The novel was received enthusiastically by many of the leading literary figures of the day including such luminaries as Thomas Carlyle, Charles Dickens and William Thackeray. Other sections of Victorian society, however, were shocked by the novel’s focus on urban poverty, despite the fact that this was one of the most pressing social issues of the day. 82

Lindeth Tower, Silverdale

SILVERDALE The Gaskell family visited the picturesque coastal village of Silverdale on Morecambe Bay for the first time in 1843, no doubt, driven by a wish to escape the Manchester smog in the heat of summer. Thereafter, they visited Silverdale most years, with Elizabeth making numerous references to the village in her personal correspondence. In an 1852 letter to a friend named Eliza “Tottie” Fox, Elizabeth exclaims, “You don’t know how beautiful Silverdale is!”. The family often stayed on the Gibraltar Farm estate in the village and Elizabeth is known to have used the nearby Lindeth Tower as a writing retreat. The three-storey tower was relatively new at the time, having been built in around 1842 for use as a summer house by the wealthy Fleetwood family, who owned much

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of the land in Silverdale. With its stunning views across Morecambe Bay, Lindeth Tower sounds like the perfect writing retreat and Elizabeth wrote much of her second novel, Ruth, there. However, it seems that, in time, Elizabeth became a little disenchanted with the location, writing to a friend, in 1858 that, “Lindeth Tower sounds very grand but it is a queer ugly square tower in our garden – the latter is full of weeds”. In the early 20th century, Lindeth Tower fell into disuse, but, more recently, it has been lovingly restored by successive owners, as has the beautiful walled garden of which Elizabeth was once so dismissive. Silverdale has never forgotten its connection with Elizabeth Gaskell and, in 1931, the Gaskell Memorial Hall, named in honour of the author, was opened in the village. www.lancmag.com

PLYMOUTH GROVE, MANCHESTER Eventually, the Gaskells moved to a much larger property on Plymouth Grove in Manchester. Built in the 1830s, this grand Regency-style villa still had a view of open fields when the couple moved there in 1850. However, a letter to Tottie Fox reveals Elizabeth’s disquiet regarding the cost of renting the property. “We’ve got a house. Yes! We really have!”, she wrote. “And if I had neither conscience nor prudence, I should be delighted, for it certainly is a beauty… My dear! It’s 150 a year and I dare say we shall be ruined”. It is pleasing to report that the Gaskells were not financially ruined because of the high rent on their new property. Elizabeth wrote many of her most famous works at Plymouth Grove and visitors to the house included Charles Dickens, Sir Charles Hallé (the conductor and founder of the Hallé Orchestra), John Ruskin and Charlotte Brontë. Elizabeth first met fellow author, Charlotte Brontë, at the home of social reformer, James Kay-Shuttleworth, during the summer of 1850. The two women quickly became friends, with

Charlotte describing Elizabeth as “a woman of whose conversation and company I should not soon tire”. Charlotte is known to have visited the Gaskells’ Plymouth Grove home on three occasions before her untimely death in March 1855. Because of her close friendship with Charlotte, Elizabeth was subsequently asked by Patrick Brontë to write his daughter’s biography. Upon its publication in 1857, some people objected to the way in which they were portrayed in the book and even threatened Elizabeth with legal action. She was compelled to make many alterations to her original text and “revised and corrected” second and third editions were quickly published. In November 1865, Elizabeth died suddenly of a heart attack during a visit to Holybourne in Hampshire, where she was intending to purchase a property. The Plymouth Grove home was subsequently bought by two of the Gaskells’ daughters and remained in the hands of the family until 1913. After decades of neglect, the property has undergone a significant restoration programme in recent years and is now open to the public.

Above: Elizabeth Gaskell House, Plymouth Grove, Manchester. Photo Credit: John B Hewitt - Shutterstock.com

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Strictly hero visits local dance charity Members of local charity DanceSyndrome were thrilled when they got a surprise visit from Strictly Come Dancing 2021 champion and dance hero Giovanni Pernice.

he team were attending a special rehearsal in Plungington Community Centre, Preston, which was being filmed for the Channel 4 TV lifestyle show Steph’s Packed Lunch. They had just returned to the session after lunch when they got a big surprise when Giovanni walked into their session!

DanceSyndrome is a multi-awardwinning dance charity that was founded by Jen Blackwell, who happens to have Down’s syndrome. The charity was formed because Jen found it difficult to find opportunities in community dance that were accessible to people with learning disabilities. DanceSyndrome’s ethos is that disability should never be a barrier to following your dreams. All DanceSyndrome sessions are disability led, with people with learning disabilities taking visible Dance Leader roles to inspire people to see what can be achieved when we all become more inclusive.

DanceSyndrome was recently awarded funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK. The charity received almost £180,000 to continue its inspirational work to use dance as a medium to empower and make positive changes for people living with learning difficulties. On arriving at the community centre, Giovanni watched enthusiastically while the DanceSyndrome Team demonstrated the way an inclusive dance session works, then joined in with some dance activities. DanceSyndrome Artistic Director Sophie Tickle asked Giovanni for a stimulus for some creative dance work so he demonstrated some moves, before the team broke off into small groups and devised performance pieces based on Giovanni’s movements. They then shared their performances with friends and family at the end of the session. Dance Leaders John Burrow and Jodie Turner also got the chance to be interviewed by Giovanni on camera.

Speaking after the session, DanceSyndrome Artistic Director Sophie Tickle said “We’re so grateful to the Steph’s Packed Lunch team for coming to meet us to find out what DanceSyndrome is all about. We want to say a huge “thank you” to Giovanni for taking time out of his busy schedule to surprise our dancers and for joining in with us and learning more about inclusive dance with so much passion. We all left the dance space feeling energised and inspired and everyone is really excited about beingZoom: on TV!”

Everybod Dance Session

Mon 7-8pm

£5 per The was person Tues footage 2-3pm from the day compiled for a segment on Steph’s Packed Lunch on Channel 4, which show was aired on Monday 27th June at 12:30pm. If you missed it, you can Chorley: catch up on All 4. Tues 1-2pm

You can find out more about the work Preston: that DanceSyndrome does at Weds 10-11am www.dancesyndrome.co.uk

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Celebrating A Year In Rawtenstall We opened Lollypop Rawtenstall in August 2021 in the centre of Bank Street.

ffering a variety of gifts and cards from wellknown brands such as LSA International, Gisella Graham, Marmalade of London and many more. When the property on Bank St became available, we knew it would be a great location. Rawtenstall has some fabulous independent shops and is a great place to meet friends for lunch, grab a bite to eat, have a walk around the market and visit the various shops for the afternoon.

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textiles, and of course, gives us a great opportunity to showcase our fabulous Christmas goodies. The space also enables us to hold various events to showcase new products and enjoy a glass of something fizzy, which is always welcome. We are always on the lookout for something different to offer our customers, whether in our stores or via our website, where we also offer a click and collect service from Rawtenstall. www.lancmag.com

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We have a wonderful collection of cards and are always searching to find ranges which are that little bit different. Receiving a card through the post feels lovely, and I think we realised how important it is to keep in contact with friends and family, when we couldn’t see them in person. We opened our first shop in Holcombe Brook nine years ago this year, so it has been lovely to be able to expand our business, with the addition of a second floor in Rawtenstall. Our shop has a great community feel to it with many of our regular customers becoming our friends. We’d love to see you and make some new friends, including of course our special furry friends who are always welcome.

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MUSIC FILLS THE AIR AT WOODFORD IT wasn’t a ‘hard day’s night’ for music lovers at an outdoor concert in Woodford.

Above and Right: Over 400 people attended Beatles N Brass at Woodford Community Centre. “The weather was very kind to us, and many people danced the night away, finishing with a ‘Last Night of the Proms’ and a rendition of ‘We’ll meet again!’ “Huge thank you to Redrow for the sponsorship, we intend to hold the event on the same weekend next year.” Sarah Weaver, marketing manager at Redrow NW added: “We are very pleased to hear that this event was such a huge success, congratulations to everyone involved.” To find out more about the homes currently available at Woodford Garden Village visit: www.redrow.co.uk/woodford-garden-village Audiences were treated to the musical event entitled ‘Beatles N Brass’ at Woodford Community Centre, with performances from the Ultimate Beatles and Silk Brass. The first event of its kind held at the community centre, organisers thanked its supporters and sponsors, which included local housebuilder Redrow. Redrow supports communities close to where it builds and this recent donation was made in connection with neighbouring development Woodford Garden Village. It is hoped the event, held to raise money for St Anne’s Hospice, will be hosted annually. “It truly was a fantastic night, we had an audience of over 400,” said organiser Tony Wyatt. 92

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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.

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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.

NANCY FISH

- The Southport Woman Who Married The Greatest Showman By Margaret Brecknell

The story of the 19th-century American entertainment entrepreneur, PT Barnum, has been portrayed many times on stage and screen, most recently in the 2017 Hollywood blockbuster musical, The Greatest Showman. 94

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he film provided an entertaining account of Barnum’s rise to fame, but excluded some notable real-life events, not least the “Greatest Showman’s” second marriage to a Lancashire woman named Nancy Fish. Yet Nancy led a colourful and interesting life in her own right and her story is well worth telling. Nancy Fish was born in Blackburn on 22nd April 1850, the daughter of John Fish, a cotton mill owner, and his wife Martha. In 1858, her father met PT Barnum for the first time after attending a lecture the American businessman gave at Manchester’s Free Trade Hall. Fish had by this time already built up a prosperous cotton manufacturing business and is said to have attributed his success to a self-help book, written by Barnum, on how to make money in business. “He informed me that he was joint proprietor with another gentleman in a cotton mill in Bury, near Manchester”, Barnum wrote in his autobiography, adding that Fish then told him, “Only a few years ago I was working as a journeyman, and probably should have been at this time, had it not been for your book”. Thus began a long association, which Barnum held in such regard that he devoted a whole chapter of his autobiography to Fish. The account of his friendship with Fish includes such gems as the story of the occasion on which, with Barnum at home in the States, Fish was sent on a mission to measure the height of a French “giant”, alleged to be 8 feet tall. Barnum was interested in employing him, but, disappointingly for the American showman, Fish found the Frenchman to be nowhere near as tall as advertised. In the 2017 film, The Greatest Showman, Barnum was portrayed as being still relatively young when he launched “The Greatest Show On Earth”, the hugely ambitious travelling circus for which he is today best remembered. However, Barnum was, in real life, already sixty years of age by the time the project first took shape in 1870. In November 1873, Barnum’s wife of over forty years, Charity, passed away at home in the United

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States whilst the great showman was travelling in Europe. He did not return home for the funeral (in an era when the prospect of transatlantic flights was still just a dream, it would have taken weeks to return to the USA by ocean liner), but instead is known to have travelled to England to spend time with the Fish family. By this time John Fish and his family, including daughter Nancy, were enjoying the fruits of his business success and had moved to the fashionable seaside resort of Southport. Exactly what happened next remains unclear. We do know for certain that just under a year later, in early October 1874, Barnum’s marriage to Nancy Fish, at the Church of the Divine Paternity in New York, was widely reported in the press. Described as “a young lady of 26 summers, lithe and pretty”, Nancy was wearing “a slatecoloured dress…and a black velvet hat with blue feathers”. Barnum, who was nearly 40 years her senior, “was attired in an evening dress suit”. Research has, however, recently come to light that suggests Barnum and Nancy were, in fact, married in London on Valentine’s Day 1874, only a matter of weeks after Charity’s death. Barnum is believed to have then returned to the States without his new wife, before Nancy joined him for the second “official” wedding ceremony in New York, some eight months later. Despite the 40-year age gap and the haste in which they were married,

the couple are reported to have been happy. Nancy moved into Barnum’s sizeable mansion in his hometown of Bridgeport, Connecticut. He had built the house, “Waldemere”, for his first wife, Charity. Following his marriage to Nancy, a new and elegant residence called “Marina” was built next door to “Waldemere”. Aware that she would be likely to outlive her much older husband, “Marina” was designed very much with Nancy’s tastes and needs in mind. However, when Barnum died, aged 80, in April 1891, Nancy did not remain in Bridgeport for long. Matters were probably not helped by the fact that her stepchildren were reported to have been displeased with the terms of Barnum’s will, which left a large portion of his estate to his second wife. Nancy spent a lot of time travelling abroad. On one trip to Egypt in 1894, she met the man who would become her second husband, Demetrius Callias Bey, a Turkish diplomat of Greek descent. Soon afterwards, she put “Marina” on the market and left Bridgeport for good. The couple were married the following year in August 1895. The New York wedding appears to have taken family and friends by surprise. “The ceremony was private”, reported the New York Times, “and there was manifested on the part of those immediately concerned a disposition to keep the affair a profound secret”.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 95

considerably more impressive than his financial status at the time of their marriage. As a Baron, however, the Frenchman was welcome at any fashionable event in Paris. He was, no doubt, glad of the opportunity to use some of Nancy’s considerable wealth to clear his debts, but equally she enjoyed her increased status in Parisian society, added to which she acquired the title of Baroness.

Southport Town Hall. PT Barnum is known to have visited there

Now an extremely wealthy widow, Nancy may have been concerned about the reaction to the news of her second marriage, fearing accusations that her new husband was only interested in her money. Callias was, however, said to have made a considerable fortune from the olive industry. “It was a great surprise that she had selected a foreigner for a husband”, the San Francisco Call recalled, but “when it was said that he had several millions of dollars that settled it”. Following the wedding, the couple travelled to Europe and eventually reached the Callias family’s estate on the Greek island of Melita. According to the San Francisco Call, Nancy was disappointed “to learn the true value of her husband’s possessions”. It seems that he may not have owned quite as many olive plantations as she

had previously been led to believe. She returned to New York alone in March 1896, amidst rumours, according to the sensationalist San Francisco Call at least, that the couple would separate. In the event, the marriage proved to be short-lived anyway. Callias died of liver disease in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) less than six months later. Once more a widow, Nancy settled in Paris, where she lived in an apartment near the Arc de Triomphe. Two years later, in 1898, she wed for a third time in what was viewed from the start as very much a marriage of convenience. Her husband, Lucien Hyppolyte Ferdinand Marie, was a French nobleman, whose title - the Baron d’Alexandry d’Oriengiani – was

PT Barnum monument in Bridgeport, Connecticut Photo Credit “MSact/CC BY-SA 4.0”

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From then onwards, Nancy moved in the highest of social circles, even rubbing shoulders with French royalty in the form of the Empress Eugenie, the widow of emperor Napoleon III. In addition to her Paris apartment, she had residences in the fashionable spa town of Aix-les-Bains and the Mediterranean resort of Menton on the French Rivieria. Yet she never lost contact with PT Barnum’s family, nor, indeed, her own relatives in NorthWest England. In time, Nancy and her French husband led increasingly separate lives, but she was the chief mourner at his funeral when he died in 1919. In her later years Nancy suffered a series of strokes, before eventually passing away in Paris, aged 77, in June 1927. At her behest she was laid to rest alongside her second husband, Demetrius Callias Bey, in Cannes. This suggests that for all the rumours of a trial separation in the more sensationalist American newspapers, Callias, and not PT Barnum, may well have been the true love of her life. The questionable timing of Nancy’s relationship with Barnum goes a long way to explaining her exclusion from the plot of The Greatest Showman, which, it must be said, endeavoured to portray the great American entrepreneur in an unduly flattering light. The former Miss Nancy Fish certainly travelled a long way, both literally and figuratively, from her childhood years in the Lancashire towns of Blackburn and Southport. At a time when women were still barred from most professions and were unable to achieve in the workplace, Nancy Fish was far from being the only woman to adopt this kind of pragmatic approach to marriage. The successful way in which she managed her life suggests that in another age she may well have been a high achiever in her own right. www.lancmag.com

Education: All Round

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BY KEN HARCOMBE -Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, Fleetwood RNLI

WE ARE THE RNLI THE CHARITY THAT SAVES LIVES AT SEA When people decide a change in their life is required, they can draw on a broad church for inspiration. For some, it’s their parents, or a holiday trip, maybe even a television programme. For photographer Jack Lowe, it was a tea-towel.

Using a Thornton Pickard camera built in 1905, Jack was going to use a process called wet collodion. The photography process involves Jack initially positioning his subjects, ensuring the composition and set up is correct, with everybody visible and no background distractions. Everybody needs to keep their positions while he prepares the glass plate, the aim being to get it right on the first attempt. Once the final check of his subject is complete, he asks for complete stillness from his subjects for seven to eight seconds, whilst the plate is exposed. A tense time, because one person’s movement, however unavoidable, can spoil the photograph and Jack has to start again. Compare Jack’s method with his ancient camera and process, to today’s digital technology. They could hardly be more different. Besides the obvious instant check, only possible with a digital device, there are less obvious challenges. For example, on the first day at Fleetwood, it was impossible for Jack to photograph anything, because of a strong wind. The enormous camera was shaking, despite sitting on a sturdy tripod. Jack’s plans were set back almost immediately!

Jack at Hoylake RNLI

o ordinary tea-towel, obviously, but one that was pinned to his kitchen wall at home for years. It was purchased at an RNLI shop and depicted a map of the United Kingdom and Ireland, with their lifeboat stations helpfully pin-pointed and named. Jack, grandson of Dad’s Army actor, Arthur Lowe, was working as a printmaker and digital retoucher for other photographers and had decided a change was needed. He was looking for a personal project that would incorporate all his interests. He also wanted something to get him out from behind his computer screen. He considered what he felt most passionate about and wrote three words on a piece of paper. Photography. Lifeboats. The sea. After a lot of soul searching, he suddenly saw his RNLI tea-towel with fresh eyes. All 238 lifeboat stations screamed at him to be visited. Jack decided to photograph them, and the crews that man them, in order to preserve a vital aspect of our island nation’s culture for generations to come.

In addition, a digital camera can take half a dozen photos, the best selected and available for viewing by friends and family on social media, in less time than it takes Jack to carry the homemade glass plate from his mobile darkroom to the camera and set it ready for exposure. So, why did Jack consider this extraordinarily long process, on a mammoth project? he wanted to return to his childhood love of photography and actually ‘make’ photographs again. Jack’s work, prior to starting The Lifeboat Station Project, was in digital imaging, as a printmaker and retoucher. So, he learnt many skills that he uses today. Using the ‘wet collodion’ process, the images are created on glass plate, with a mixture of chemicals poured over the glass and then exposed to the light. This process dates back to the 1850’s.

Whilst the whole procedure for each photograph takes around 25 minutes, it allows Jack to engage with the volunteers, thus enabling Jack to tell a story in a more compelling way. When a Coxswain has to stay stock still and The inspirational tea towel stare into a very old and large camera, for what feels like an age, you can almost see the stories He had no doubt that other lifeboat enthusiasts in their face. The image is real, truthful and has depth. had already photographed the RNLI lifeboat stations. However, the biggest difference for Jack was that this would be the first Jack has also decided to photograph the same subject at each time anyone has attempted to photograph all 238 RNLI stations lifeboat station. This not only gives continuity, but enables a on the coast of the UK and Ireland, documenting the entire band contrast. For example, capturing the view from the ‘station, of volunteers as one unified body of work. showing the waters that each lifeboat station protects, shows the remarkable differences around our coasts. The Coxswain There was a twist too, as he wanted to work as the Victorians and Helms, the women, the mechanics and, of course, the did, making photographs on glass from a darkroom. Jack’s crews, are also being photographed. darkroom was a mobile version, a decommissioned and converted ambulance called Neena, which was to play a critical Jack’s project started in January, 2015 and other than the part in Jack’s odyssey. enforced two-year break due to the pandemic, he continues

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

A huge turnout at Lytham St Anne’s RNLI for the crew photo

huge Shannon Launch and Recovery tractor, with the D-class inshore lifeboat, Moam, in the middle. It was the largest turnout on the entire project so far!

Lytham St Anne’s crew watching the photo come to life

with what has and will become, his life’s work. Jack plans to publish a stunning book once he has completed The Lifeboat Station Project. It will likely need to be more than one volume, hopefully including the audio recordings along with fold-out map and a foreword by someone special. Never one to think small, Jack dreams of exhibiting the project in a high-profile venue, with Neena (his mobile darkroom) as a centrepiece so that visitors can see where all his photographs were made. If the venue is large enough to accommodate an allweather lifeboat too, then all the better. Here in the North West, Jack has visited six of the seven lifeboat stations in the region. West Kirby, Hoylake, New Brighton, Lytham St Anne’s, Fleetwood and Morecambe, have all been photographed by Jack, with just Blackpool due a visit soon. His first visit to the North West was to West Kirby RNLI. A few days later, he arrived at Hoylake RNLI. Out of the blue, he received a call from former Coxswain, Andy Dodd, who asked if Jack would like to visit the old lifeboat station on Hilbre Island. It was an offer Jack could not refuse. The Hilbre lifeboat station which closed in 1939, was visited as promised. To be on an island in the middle of the Dee estuary, with only the sound of birds to interrupt his thoughts, was a unique experience for Jack.

At Fleetwood, as we discovered earlier, Jack’s schedule was hindered by strong winds blowing in from Morecambe Bay, making it impossible to keep the old camera steady. But once the wind dropped, the volunteer crew headed to the lifeboat station to play their part in Jack’s historic project. The crew crowded around the dish after the photo was taken, whilst Jack poured water over the plate. It was like watching magic, ghostly images first appeared, growing bolder and more distinguishable, until before our very eyes, the photograph on the plate was complete. A monochrome miracle using a process from over 170 years ago. Somehow, the lack of colour made the crew look from a different era, despite the modern clothing. It’s an enormous undertaking for Jack and once complete, will be a snapshot in time of the RNLI’s lifeboat stations and volunteers. The stunning photographs are but a part of Jack’s project, with audio recordings of his time with the crews, and his informative blogs, keeping his supporters up to date with events and proceedings. From a personal point of view, it was an honour for me to play a very small part in it. Current Coxswain at Hoylake RNLI, Howie Owen commented ‘It’s a real privilege to be photographed as part of this project’. His words could well have been spoken by the other 158 Coxswains and their volunteer crew, already immortalised by Jack and his camera, on this mammoth project. 

Many people know The Lifeboat Station Project for the photographs, but people sometimes don’t realise that Jack also makes audio recordings to add to the story. Whilst on the island, he recorded many conversations between Andy Dodd and his father, Davy, as well as Hoylake volunteer, Chris Williams, who helps to manage the island’s bird observatory. All in all, it was pure gold for the project. Jack returned to the mainland to complete his task at Hoylake. He then moved onto New Brighton RNLI. By the time Jack visited the 155th ‘station on his journey, Lytham St Anne’s RNLI, his reputation went ahead of him. 31 volunteers squashed into Jack’s crew photo, along with the Shannon class all-weather lifeboat, Barbara Anne, atop of the

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The developing glass plate with Fleetwood RNLI crew slowly emerging

For further information or to become a supporter of the Liboat Station Project, go to: lifeboatstationproject.com

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Lakeland Artisan wins 10 ‘Great Taste 2022’ awards

Above: Geoff & Mary Monkman of Lakeland Artisan Ltd

Tasted by the Experts, 10 products from Lakeland Artisan are awarded Great Taste Awards, two 2 Star and eight 1 star in 2022.

endal – based, Mawson’s, Cumbrian Delights and Lakeland Liqueurs brands by Lakeland Artisan, have been named among the top food and drink producers globally this year, picking up 10 highly prized Great Taste Awards this year bringing its total to 83 awards. The 2-star awards, “Above and beyond delicious” which less than 10% of entries achieved, were for: Lakeland Liqueurs, Spiced Fruit Rum Liqueur “Christmas pudding in a glass. Loads of steeped fruit and brooding spice. Naughty but very very nice. We absolutely adored this. A real treat”. 100

Cumbrian Delights, Damson Extra Jam ”Deep and dark, garnet red. There is a vivacious flavour to this, both sweet and sour and bursting with that distinctive flavour of damsons. A proper treat. Well-made and showing off this fabulous seasonal fruit very well. The set is just right. Good quality fruit treated well.” The 1-star awards “A food that delivers fantastic flavour.” were for: Mawson’s, Fell Tonic Water ”A very pretty pale amber tonic with good effervescence, we could see this drink standing clearly on its own as a non-alcoholic option with ice and cucumber or as a very successful mixer.” Mawson’s, Sarsaparilla ”The flavour notes are beautifully balanced, and the flavours hold well once diluted. It would make a great marinade added to slow cooked ham or pork.”

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Mawson’s, Dandelion & Burdock ”A lovely deep rich coloured cordial with a good diluting consistency. We liked the natural fragrance of the aroma which followed through to the flavour. This cordial had a lot going on with the flavour and we thought it was very complex. We appreciated the natural ingredients.”

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Right: Lakeland Liqueurs Spiced Fruit Rum with judges comments

Mawson’s, Ginger “Golden cordial with the distinct warming aroma of ginger. There is a good mouthfeel, releasing very good flavour with all the classic characteristics of root ginger.”

Judges Comments Christmas Pudding in a glass. Naughly but very very nice!

Lakeland Liqueurs, Damson Whisky Liqueur ”A lovely colour, we enjoyed the smokiness of the whisky, which works very well with the sourness of the fruit and the deep sweetness of the liqueur. A lovely balance, and an enjoyable sip.” Lakeland Liqueurs, Ginger & Lime Whisky Liqueur ”Citrus and ginger come through clearly with smoky hints from the whisky. The finish is particularly good, with a lovely lingering lime note fading gently away with the whisky gently carrying it on.” Lakeland Liqueurs, Strawberry & Sarsaparilla Gin Liqueur ”An intriguing liqueur with dusty herbal notes on the nose. We loved the rich sweetness of the palate cutting through the medicinal notes. There’s a veritable sophistication here, we loved that aniseed note from the liquorice root in particular. Clever and ridiculously enjoyable.” Cumbrian Delights, Beetroot Chutney “A very well-balanced product with a final gentle warmth from the peppers. This has even converted a beetrootphobe.” ••• More than 14,000 products were put through the competition’s rigorous blind judging process; and dubbed a winner at the world’s most coveted food and drink awards. 4,078 products were awarded a Great Taste 1-star – ‘food and drink that delivers fantastic flavour’, 1,237 were awarded a Great Taste 2-star – ‘above and beyond delicious’, and 241 were awarded a Great Taste 3-star – ‘extraordinarily tasty food and drink’. www.lancmag.com

Geoff Monkman, Managing Director said “We are thrilled to have received 10 awards this year, and highly delighted that our latest product Fell Tonic Water, has been recognised. Fell Tonic is one of 4 Mawson’s drinks that received awards this year and combined with our newly launched Ready to drinks cans, the brand is going from strength to strength.” What is Great Taste? Recognised as a stamp of excellence and actively sought out by food lovers and retailers alike, Great Taste, organised by the Guild of Fine Food, values taste above all else. All products in the line-up for judging are blind tasted: every product is removed from its packaging so it cannot be identified, before entering a robust, layered judging process. This year, the judging took place over 90 days across two judging locations (Dorset and London) with a panel of more than 500 judges. This year’s line-up saw food and drink products submitted from a staggering 110 different countries from across the world. “Being recognised with 10 Great Taste star means so much to independent producers such as us, as it makes all the hard work and determination worth it! Great Taste is the most recognised accolade for taste and quality in the food and drink world, so it really is a big win!”.

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Mawson’s Traditional Soft Drinks Popped Into Cans

investment in machinery for the business means that everything we make in our production unit, is still canned, jarred, or bottled on-site.”

The makers behind Mawson’s Traditional soft drinks have repackaged their sparkling soft drinks and they are now available in cans. The new conveniently packaged soft drink cans represent the latest evolution of Lakeland Artisan by Geoff and Mary Monkman.

ade with only natural ingredients, the line-up consists of eight ready to serve cans, Dandelion & Burdock, Pink Lemonade, Sarsaparilla, Ginger Beer, Elderflower & Rose, Classic Cola, Cream Soda and Fell Tonic Water. The new drinks are delightfully packaged in 250ml lightweight aluminium cans which chill quickly, are crushable and infinitely recyclable, and have a lesser impact on carbon footprint. Perfect for enjoying at home, at parties, on the fell and ideal for a picnic!. 102

All new products are available now in local shops and for our wholesale customers.

The expansion has been made possible by securing a grant for new canning equipment, thanks to the Made Smarter Initiative, that have a mission to build a digital innovation ecosystem that funds and supports UK innovators and manufacturers. Geoff Monkman said “cans are the way forward, as a greener option, the aluminium can is made from part recycled metal, and lighter weight so less carbon footprint. This latest

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All Lakeland Artisan brands and evolving products, whether from Mawson’s soft drinks, Herdwick Distillery, Cumbrian Delights or Lakeland Liqueurs, 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. For more information, visit: www.lakelandartisan.co.uk

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COSMETIC & MEDICAL MICROPIGMENTATION

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SEMIPERMANENT MAKEUP TREATMENTS INCLUDE:EYEBROWS – Natural Hairstroke or Powdered Ombre EYELINER – Natural Lash Enhancement or Liquid Liner Look. LIPS – Lipblush which adds colour and volume or Lip Line to create more definition

FED UP OF YOUR LIPSTICK ENDING UP ON THE INSIDE OF YOUR MASK? Our Lip Blush treatment creates the illusion of volume, replaces lost colour, corrects asymmetry and stops lipstick bleeding! CHECK OUT SCALP NORTH, OUR SPECIALIST TREATMENTS FOR HAIR LOSS AND THINNING HAIR:

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Our most popular treatments are enhancements to the eyebrows which may be a soft powder or fine hairstrokes, eyeliner and lips. All of which are designed and created to compliment the clients hair, skin tone, age and of course personality.

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Marcia Medical & Cosmetic Clinic 10a Shaftesbury Avenue Timperley, Altrincham WA15 7LY

Irlam Live Presents

WE’RE BUZZIN’ FESTIVAL

(Indie VS Old Skool) Takes Place at Manchester – City Airport Saturday 17th September 2022

ciders, wines and spirits. Fab Street Food Vendors with a vast selection to suit all tastes, a funfair, and the cleanest festival toilets ever!! With a small army of cleaners working continuously throughout the day AND because it’s a few miles out of town, FREE shuttle buses from 3 pick-up points in Irlam and

Irlam Live is back sooner than expected following the recent announcement of a second festival for 2022.

E’RE BUZZIN’ FESTIVAL is a brand-new festival taking place at the spacious City Airport in Manchester, M30 7SA, just a few miles away from the Trafford Centre, taking place on Saturday 17th September 2022. Irlam Live presents the first WE’RE BUZZIN’ FESTIVAL, with a similar vibe to the Irlam Live Friday and themed INDIE vs OLD SKOOL. The UK’s leading indie tribute bands line-up on the main outdoor stage, with big original names playing the OLD SKOOL Big Top. Gates open at noon. Playing the Indie outdoor stage are The Subarctic Monkeys, The Runaway Killers, The Complete Stone Roses, Simulation Muse and Scam Fender. Whilst playing the OLD SKOOL Big Top will be Ultrabeat, Flip N Fill, K Klass, Ben from Phats & Small, Scratch and many more. WE’RE BUZZIN’ FESTIVAL will take place 12 months to the day after Irlam Live 2021, that was delayed due to Covid. But if you remember was a glorious day in the Autumn sunshine. WE’RE BUZZIN’ FESTIVAL will have all the key features as you know and love from the Irlam Live Festival. Two huge quality bars with a great selection of draught beers, 104

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Cadishead, and back!!! This is an over 16’s event. Gates open at noon and the party runs till 10pm. One of the final festival events of the season. WE’RE BUZZIN’ FESTIVAL is everything you love about Irlam Live in a new one-day festival in the Autumn sunshine. Your final blow-out before winter sets in, what’s not to like? Tickets for the WE’RE BUZZIN’ FESTIVAL 2022 are available to buy from - werebuzzin.co.uk Prices start at £29.50 plus booking fee. A festival not to be missed! Save the date in your diary.

For further information on the WE’RE BUZZIN’ FESTIVAL 2022, check out the following links: D werebuzzin.co.uk F @irlamlive I @irlamlive www.lancmag.com

Manchester’s state of the art leading orthodontic, cosmetic and implant dental clinic and has been carefully designed to give you the best possible dental experience. Our city centre clinic does not look or feel like any regular dental practice you may have visited in the past.

Let’s make your dream smile a reality today We have a highly experienced team who have carried out a huge number of smile makeovers for people of all walks of life. E tc@tomasclinic.com N 01615275972

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INVISALIGN COSMETIC DENTISTRY

DENTAL IMPLANTS PROFESSIONAL CLEANING

ORTHODONTICS WE CATER FOR ALL YOUR DENTAL NEEDS

CAMP COFFEE & WALNUT CHELSEA BUNS Prep: 20 minutes plus proving | Cook: 20-25 minutes | Makes 12

Ingredients 200ml whole milk 50g butter 450g strong white bread flour 7g sachet dried yeast 50g light brown soft sugar 1 medium egg yolk 3 tbsp Camp Chicory & Coffee Essence 1 tbsp maple syrup Filling & icing: 150g walnuts, chopped 100g sultanas 4 tbsp light brown soft sugar (55g) 1 tbsp Camp Chicory & Coffee Essence + 1 tsp 3 tbsp icing sugar (45g)

CAMP COFFEE CLUB

Method 1. Warm the milk and butter in a small saucepan until butter has melted, set aside. 2. Place the flour, yeast, sugar and pinch of salt in the bowl of a free-standing mixer fitted with a dough hook. S in the milk mixture, egg yolk and Camp essence to give a rough dough the knead for 10 minutes. 3. Set aside in a greased bowl, cover and leave for 1 hour or until doubled in size. For the filling, mix together th walnuts, sultanas, sugar, 1 tbsp Camp essence and 2 tbsp boiling water, set aside. 4. Knead the dough to knock out any air bubbles then roll out on a lightly floured surface to a 40x30cm rectang Spread over the filling and roll up from the long edge. Cut into 12 and place in a lined 28x23cm tin, cut side down leaving space between each one. Cover with clingflim and set aside for 1 hour or until doubled in size. 5. Preheat the oven to 180oC, gas mark 4. 6. Bake for 20-25 minutes until browned, remove from the oven and brush with maple syrup and allow to cool. 7. Mix the remaining 1 tsp Camp essence with the icing sugar and 1 tsp water to give a paste just thick enough drizzle, then drizzle this over the buns to serve.

Your one stop shop for delicious recipe inspiration We’ve got recipes for cakes, bakes, drinks & more,

all with one key ingredient - your trusty baking partner Camp Coffee!

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CAMP COFFEE & WALNUT CHELSEA BUNS Drizzled with a delicious coffee icing

Stir

Serves: 12

Level: Hard

gle.

Prep Time: 20 minutes plus proving Cook Time: 20 - 25 minutes

. to

INGREDIENTS:

METHOD:

For the buns

1. Warm the milk and butter in a small saucepan until butter has melted, set aside.

•

200ml whole milk

•

50g butter

•

450g strong white bread flour

•

7g sachet dried yeast

•

50g light brown soft sugar

•

1 medium egg yolk

•

3 tbsp Camp Chicory & Coffee Essence

•

1 tbsp maple syrup

2. Place the flour, yeast, sugar and pinch of salt in the bowl of a free standing mixer fitted with a dough hook. Stir in the milk mixture, egg yolk and Camp essence to give a rough dough the knead for 10 minutes. 3. Set aside in a greased bowl, cover and leave for 1 hour or until doubled in size. For the filling, mix together the walnuts, sultanas, sugar, 1 tbsp Camp essence and 2 tbsp boiling water, set aside.

•

150g walnuts, chopped

•

100g sultanas

4. Knead the dough to knock out any air bubbles then roll out on a lightly floured surface to a 40x30cm rectangle. Spread over the filling and roll up from the long edge. Cut into 12 and place in a lined 28x23cm tin, cut side down leaving space between each one. Cover with clingflim and set aside for 1 hour or until doubled in size.

•

4 tbsp light brown soft sugar (55g)

5. Preheat the oven to 180°C, gas mark 4.

•

1 tbsp Camp Chicory & Coffee Essence + 1 tsp

•

3 tbsp icing sugar (45g

6. Bake for 20-25 minutes until browned, remove from the oven and brush with maple syrup and allow to cool.

For the filling & icing

7. Mix the remaining 1 tsp Camp essence with the icing sugar and 1 tsp water to give a paste just thick enough to drizzle, then drizzle this over the buns to serve.

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LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 107

CAMP MARBLED COFFEE BANANA & WALNUT AND CAMP CHELSEA COFFEE BUNS LOAF CAKE Prep: Prep:20 15minutes minutesplus | Cook: proving 45 - |50Cook: minutes 20-25 | Serves minutes 8 -| 10 Makes 12

Ingredients Ingredients 200ml 140g butter, whole milk softened 50g 140g butter caster sugar 450g 2 large strong eggswhite bread flour 7g140g sachet selfdried raising yeast flour 50g 1 tsp light baking brown powder soft sugar 12medium ripe bananas, egg yolk mashed (200g) 33tbsp tbspCamp CampChicory Chicory&&Coffee CoffeeEssence Essence 1 tbsp maple syrup Method Filling 1. Preheat & icing:the oven to 180oC, gas mark 4. Grease and line a 900g loaf tin. 150g 2. walnuts, Whisk thechopped butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy, whisk in the eggs, 1 at a time. 100g 3. sultanas Mix together the flour and baking powder and fold into the butter mixture and then fold in the bananas. D 4 tbspthe light mixture browninto soft2.sugar Add(55g) the Camp essence to one half. 14. tbspAdd Camp 3 spoonful’s Chicory &of Coffee each Essence mix alternately + 1 tsp to the base of the prepared tin, repeat the layer making sure the s 3 tbspcolour icing sugar batter(45g) is not underneath. Marble through with a skewer. 5. Bake for 45-50 minutes until a skewer comes out clean. Allow to cool before serving. Method 1. Warm the milk and butter in a small saucepan until butter has melted, set aside. 2. Place the flour, yeast, sugar and pinch of salt in the bowl of a free-standing mixer fitted with a dough hook. S in the milk mixture, egg yolk and Camp essence to give a rough dough the knead for 10 minutes. 3. Set aside in a greased bowl, cover and leave for 1 hour or until doubled in size. For the filling, mix together th walnuts, sultanas, sugar, 1 tbsp Camp essence and 2 tbsp boiling water, set aside. 4. Knead the dough to knock out any air bubbles then roll out on a lightly floured surface to a 40x30cm rectang Spread over the filling and roll up from the long edge. Cut into 12 and place in a lined 28x23cm tin, cut side down leaving space between each one. Cover with clingflim and set aside for 1 hour or until doubled in size. 5. Preheat the oven to 180oC, gas mark 4. 6. Bake for 20-25 minutes until browned, remove from the oven and brush with maple syrup and allow to cool. 7. Mix the remaining 1 tsp Camp essence with the icing sugar and 1 tsp water to give a paste just thick enough drizzle, then drizzle this over the buns to serve.

CAMP COFFEE & CARAMEL BAKED CHEESECAKE

A fluffy cheesecake that is perfect for sharing

m r e

Serves: 8 - 10

Level: Medium

Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 2 hours 10 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

METHOD:

For the base

1. Preheat the oven to 180oC, gas mark 4. Place a sheet of baking parchment over the base of a 23cm springform tin and place the ring of the tin on top and close the catch, trim off any excess paper.

•

75g digestive biscuits

•

75g Biscoff biscuits

•

75g butter, melted

For the filling •

900g cream cheese

•

250g caster sugar

•

3 tbsp plain flour (40g)

•

1 tsp vanilla bean paste

•

Zest 1 lemon

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3 tbsp Camp Chicory & Coffee Essence

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3 large eggs, beaten

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150g tub soured cream

•

100g salted caramel sauce

•

Cocoa powder, crushed Biscoff biscuits and raspberries to decorate

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2. Place the biscuits in a food processor and blitz to resemble fine breadcrumbs, mix in the butter. Press into the prepared tin and bake for 10 minutes, cool. Reduce the oven to 140oC, gas mark 1. 3. Meanwhile, whisk together the cream cheese and sugar until just combined, then mix in the flour, vanilla, lemon zest and Camp essence. Whisk in the eggs along with the soured cream and caramel. 4. Pour into the tin and place on a baking tray. Bake for 2 hours until just set with a slight wobble in the centre, turn off the oven leaving the cheesecake in until cooled, then chill before serving. 5. Serve sprinkled with a little cocoa and Biscoff crumbs and top with fresh raspberries.

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MARBLED BANANA & COFFEE LOAF CAKE Add a twist to the classic banana loaf by adding Camp Coffee

Divide

same

Stir

Serves: 8 - 10

Level: Easy Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 45 - 50 minutes

gle.

. to

INGREDIENTS:

METHOD:

•

140g butter, softened

•

140g caster sugar

1. Preheat the oven to 180oC, gas mark 4. Grease and line a 900g loaf tin.

•

2 large eggs

•

140g self raising flour

•

1 tsp baking powder

•

2 ripe bananas, mashed (200g)

•

3 tbsp Camp Chicory & Coffee Essence

2. Whisk the butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy, whisk in the eggs, 1 at a time. 3. Mix together the flour and baking powder and fold into the butter mixture and then fold in the bananas. Divide the mixture into 2. Add the Camp essence to one half. 4. Add 3 spoonful’s of each mix alternately to the base of the prepared tin, repeat the layer making sure the same colour batter is not underneath. Marble through with a skewer. 5. Bake for 45-50 minutes until a skewer comes out clean. Allow to cool before serving.

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LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 109

MARBLED ICED CAMP COFFEE Serves: 1

INGREDIENTS: • • • • •

2 tsp Camp Chicory & Coffee Essence ½ - 1 tsp light brown sugar 200ml cold water Ice Cubes 1 - 2 tbsp single cream

METHOD: 1. Mix 2 tsp Camp Chicory & Coffee Essence with ½ - 1 tsp light brown sugar and blend with 200ml cold water. 2. Fill a tall glass with broken ice cubes and pour over the coffee. 3. Drizzle over 1 - 2 tbsp single cream to serve.

CAMP COFFEE CARAMEL MACCHIATTO Serves: 1

INGREDIENTS: •

2 tsp Camp Chicory & Coffee Essence

•

2 tsp salted caramel sauce

•

200ml boiling water

•

Frothed milk

•

Cocoa powder (for dusting

METHOD: 1. Mix 2 tsp Camp Chicory & Coffee Essence and 2 tsp salted caramel sauce with 200ml boiling water 2. Pour into a mug 3. Top with hot frothy milk and a dusting of cocoa. 110

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

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PROTESTERS DRESSED AS VICTORIANS, FLAPPERS, AND GO-GO GIRLS CALL TO MAKE CAGES HISTORY

Protesters at Westminster

Animal charity The Humane League UK is marking the 200 year anniversary of the UK’s first animal welfare law by asking the Government to ban cages for egg-laying hens with a demo outside Parliament.

arrying banners saying ‘Let’s make cages history’, each protester represented a historical era which has passed since the first animal welfare law was introduced two centuries ago wearing costumes from Victorian three-piece suits, to flapper dresses and 90s grunge get-ups. According to a survey of 2,000 Brits by Atomik Research, one third of people believe that egg-laying hens 112

have better lives now than they did 200 years ago, despite factory and cage farming not being invented in 1822. The survey also found that of those who eat eggs, 72% say that buying free-range is important to them. Singer Sinitta, who endorsed the campaign, said: “It completely boggles my mind that hens suffer more today than hundreds of years ago. We’ve invented planes, cars, antibiotics, telephones, and the internet but when it comes to our treatment of innocent farmed animals things have arguably gotten worse. This is unacceptable we must ban cages for hens.” Dr Marc Abraham OBE, media vet and author, says: “There’s going to be a change of government soon and, although disruptive, this can present a major opportunity for change. They need to realise that a significantly high

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Protester in Victorian Dress

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Beatrice: a former cage hen, now living with her adoptive family in Wiltshire

Singer Sinitta supports hen welfare protests

proportion of British people want cruel and exploitative cages banned outright, as they should. It’s not fair keeping energetic, intelligent, and curious animals like hens in steel wire boxes, where they suffer unnaturally shortened and miserable lives. If those in power refuse to act on their own pro-animal welfare mandate, the nation’s animal-lovers will just keep campaigning until the health and wellbeing of animals is finally and fully respected.” On July passed The Act which mules and abuse.

22nd 1822 Parliament Cruel Treatment of Cattle protected cows, horses, sheep from beatings and

It was the first piece of animal welfare legislation in the world, and was masterminded by Irish MP and colonel Richard ‘Humanity Dick’ Martin, who defended animals so www.lancmag.com

vigorously he fought at least one duel over cruelty to a dog. Battery cages began to find wide use in farming from the 1940s onwards and, although barren battery cages were banned in the UK in 2012, millions of hens remain trapped in marginally larger ‘enriched’ cages. Around 14 million hens, or 35% of the UK’s flock, are still kept in these cages which frustrate natural behaviours like wing-stretching, foraging and dust-bathing. This is despite strong opposition to such practices.

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The government confirmed last month in the End the Cage Age debate that there would be a consultation on the use of cages for laying hens and farrowing crates for pigs.

Without a ban, members of the public can never be sure that they aren’t purchasing eggs from cruelly caged hens, as even with 80-90% of the egg industry committed to going cage-free by 2025 that will leave 4.2 to 8.4 million birds in cages supplying small single location businesses and restaurants. These protests form part of Beatrice’s Campaign, which seeks to ban cages for hens and is led by UK charities The Humane League UK, RSPCA, and Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation. The campaign is named after Beatrice, a hen who was rescued from a cage and now thrives with her adoptive family in Wiltshire, having regrown all the feathers she’d lost during her previous, stress-filled life.

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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.

Aiming Higher Energy Boost • Two thirds of disabled adults have seen their energy bills rise in the past 3 months

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.

s energy prices and living costs continue to spiral, we are all finding we are having to tighten our belts and make changes. But as with many areas of life, these increased costs are having an even greater affect on disabled people and their families. Figures from an Opinium survey of 1005 disabled adults, and 858 adults in England and Wales from nondisabled households released by Scope in conjunction with Channel 4 News earlier this year found:

• 1 in 3 who have seen rising living costs have spent less on visiting family and 1 in 5 feel lonelyDisabled adults have seen the biggest increase in household costs for their energy bills (67 per cent have seen an increase), food and non-alcoholic drinks (54 per cent have seen an increase) and petrol costs (48 per cent have seen an increase). • Disabled people are more than twice as likely to be unable to heat their home (23 per cent of disabled people vs 10 per cent of nondisabled people) and three times as likely to not have been able to afford food (10 per cent disabled people vs 3 per cent of non-disabled people) • Among those whose living costs have increased over the past 3 months, half (48 per cent) reported such rising prices as having a worsening effect on their long-standing health condition, with a similar proportion (51 per cent) saying their mental health had worsened as a result of recent rising costs

• Just over two fifths of disabled people (43%) said they need to use more energy to meet their needs. This may be due to specialist equipment, or simply needing to do a lot more washing than average or needing to keep within a specific temperature range to regulate their condition. Aiming Higher are doing what they can to help through their “Little Boost” fund. This is part of Blackpool Council’s Household Support Fund, which aims to ease the cost of living crisis for local residents. The charity applied for funding and when successful started the “Little Boost” fund to help families. To date, they have helped families with disabled children purchase essential white goods, provided emergency food parcels and utility top ups. The fund which must be spent by the end of September is helping to ease money worries in the short term but the charity is starting to see more and more people asking for financial help. Another small way the charity are trying to help is with their school uniform exchange. They are asking local families to donate school uniform that their children have outgrown so that it can be passed on to others who need it.

If you would like more information regarding the support offered by Aiming Higher and 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 bit.ly/AHnewsspring2022

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Blue Peter star in Grand premiere of spine-chilling ghost story When Darkness Falls Blue Peter presenter Peter Duncan will lead the chilling cast in the gripping ghost story When Darkness Falls which opens its national tour at Blackpool Grand Theatre this September.

hildren’s TV and theatre favourite Peter Duncan swaps Blue Peter for Black-Pool to premiere the seriously scary ghost story When Darkness Falls at Blackpool’s Grand Theatre from Thursday 15 to Saturday 17 September.

The Olivier nominated actor and popular TV presenter, whose theatre credits include Sebastian Faulks’ critically acclaimed Birdsong, will star as John Blondel in the terrifyingly twisted tale alongside renowned actor Daniel Rainford who most recently appeared in Michael Morpurgo’s Private Peaceful at The Grand. On a stormy night on the small island of Guernsey, a young paranormal expert joins a sceptical history teacher to record the first in a series of podcasts based on the island’s incredible folklore and paranormal history. As the expert regales his horrifying stories, the teacher learns that we all have our own truth, our own story. Ghosts that haunt us; that bring the past, present and future together in unexpected ways; ways that can threaten to unsettle everything we think we know. These are ancient islands, and they are remote. Things have occurred here that would not occur elsewhere, that could not. There are secrets here... Left: Daniel Rainford

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Inspired by shocking true events, this powerful new production by renowned writers James Milton and Paul Morrissey draws us into dark pasts, reveals disturbing truths and explores the power of stories. Perhaps most importantly, the ones we tell ourselves. A Ghost Story – Why do we love them so much? A scary ghost story in the evening has been around for as long as humans have been telling each other tall tales around flickering candles and campfires late into the night. They can frighten us right out of our wits, but we just keep coming back for more! A Ghost Story - Five reasons why it’s

Peter Duncan

good to be scared: 1. Feeling the fear is good for us – a healthy dose of primal fear keeps us safe and aware of dangers that may be lurking all around us. Without fear, we can become complacent and even put ourselves in peril. 2. It’s physically exhilarating – The adrenaline rush of a flood of fear can release naturally occurring opioids like endorphins that signal pleasure, along with a hit of dopamine when the fear subsides, and we know we are safe again. 3. Scary stories are a safe container for us to explore our own emotions. Many of us try to avoid uncomfortable feelings like sadness, worry and fear and never work through them. Creepy tales can give us an important outlet to properly experience those emotions – i.e., we can feel scared because of what a character is going through without being in any actual danger ourselves. 4. A ghost story can be a metaphor for the ‘ghosts’ we are dealing with in our own lives. Many of us can be haunted by things from our past (such as failed relationships www.lancmag.com

or careers). We might even be contending with the ghosts of people we loved who are no longer with us. Experiencing a great ghost story can help give us a sense of closure and much-needed catharsis within our personal stories. 5. A ghost story helps us explain the unexplainable. The human brain is wired to deeply dislike things it can’t explain or doesn’t understand, so humans will search for any sense of reason even if it’s pretty unlikely or farfetched. Ghosts can be a great explanation when we can’t find any other.

The Batman) is at Blackpool Grand Theatre from Thursday 15 to Saturday 17 September 2022 at 7.30pm. Matinee performance on Saturday at 2.30pm. Tickets from £15.50 with concessions available. Please note – This production may not be suitable for children aged under 15 years

And sometimes we just want a really good scare from a great ghost story and there’s nothing wrong with that! Watch the teaser trailer if you dare at www.whendarknessfalls.co.uk

Please call the Box Office on: 01253 290190 or visit www.BlackpoolGrand.co.uk for full listings, bookings and further information. LISTINGS When Darkness Falls Thu 15 Sep to Sat 17 Sep 2022 at 7.30pm Sat matinee at 2.30pm Grand Theatre, 33 Church Street, Blackpool FY1 1HT

and book your seats now for this truly spooky ghost story – it’s best not go alone… When Darkness Falls starring Peter Duncan (Blue Peter, Birdsong) and

Daniel Rainford (Private Peaceful,

N Box Office 01253 290 190 D blackpoolgrand.co.uk F @blackpoolgrand T @Grand_Theatre I - grandtheatrebpl

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Salford By Sarah Ridgway

Salford is home to a worldclass business centre with a long list of media organisations, including ITV and the BBC. Highend apartments line the Quay’s waterfront alongside restaurants, bars, gyms, and a cinema, including the Lowry, a multi-million-pound art and entertainment venue, with a world-class theatre and arts.

he Quays are an incredible waterside attraction showcasing the largest free collection of L S Lowry’s work, the Imperial War Museum North, and an array of galleries, museums, a designer outlet, water sports and luxury hotels to name a few. MediaCityUK provided a huge economic boost for the area and houses BBC North, ITV, and Coronation Street moved from Granada to Salford in 2014, attracting tourists eager for a tour of the Corrie cobbles. The city is home to a very long list of celebrities, and some include actors Albert Finney, Sir Ben Kingsley, Christopher Eccleston, Opera singer Russell, Bez from the Happy Mondays, director, and writer Mike Leigh and not forgetting worldrenowned artist L.S Lowry. The city of Salford covers 37 square metres and is made up of five districts, Salford, Eccles, Worsley, Irlam and Cadishead, and Swinton and Pendlebury. Away from the modern architecture residents can enjoy a multitude of green spaces, nature reserves, forests, parklands, and villages, which make up half the city. Throughout the years Salford has battled tough economic times and hardships but has come out the other side and is thriving. Once deemed one of the worst places to live, Salford has become a valuable part of the North West’s economy with no signs of slowing down.

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A History of Salford

The Industrial revolution

Salford was founded around AD 79 by the Romans, when they left 300 years later it was taken over by the Saxons, and then the Danes. The Angles, who were Germanic people, settled in the area during the Early Middle Ages giving it the name Sealhford meaning “ford by the willows’’. By 1086 the Domesday book stated Salford was an area of 35 square miles with a population of 35,000.

The Bridgewater Canal constructed by James Brindley opened in 1761, and greatly improving the speed of transporting goods and reduced the price of coal by 50 percent. The Manchester Ship Canal was completed in 1894 and was a huge economic and commercial boost as Salford held the largest docks along

In 1230 Ranulf de Blondeville, the 6th Earl of Chester helped to make Salford a free borough which allowed it commercial rights and important advantages over traders that lived outside the boundaries of Salford. This newfound status attracted a stream of wealthy families to reside in the area, and by the Late Middle Ages, there were over 30 manor houses, including Ordsall Hall home to the Radclyffe family and Broughton Hall owned by the Earls of Derby. In 1360 Flemish weavers and cloth makers arrived in Salford marking the start of the textile trade in the area and the area began to emerge as an important centre of textile production. During the civil war, Salford pledged its alliance with the Royalists, while neighbouring Manchester stood with the Parliamentarians. In September 1642 Salford Bridge played a crucial role as the scene of one of the first battles of the Civil War. The Salford Bridge dates to the 14th century but today the Victoria Bridge stands in its place after being rebuilt on the site. The attack was launched from Salford with up to 4000 Royalists attacking Manchester, with the battle fought on the bridge before making its way into Deansgate where Richard Percival, the first casualty of the war, was killed. The attack was unsuccessful, and the siege was lifted a month later.

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Peel Park

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the canal. By 1914 it was handling 5 percent of the UK’s imports and 4.4 percent of its exports making it one of the world’s largest port authorities. By the 18th century Salford, helped by the development of its canals, quickly became one of the most important cotton and textile towns, and by 1818 Manchester, Salford and Eccles had around 80 mills. Engineering and coal mining were also hugely important industries for the town. The success of the industrial revolution turned Salford from a small town into a thriving industrial hub, and by the end of the 19th century, the population grew to 220,000. The large population growth brought large areas of poor low-quality housing, and the density of housing was near 80

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homes per acre causing overcrowding and harsh living conditions. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels came to visit Salford to conduct a study on the British working class during this period, and Engels went on to publish a book on the subject, The conditions of the Working Class in England in 1844. In the book he described Salford as “really one large workingclass quarter, a very unhealthy, dirty and dilapidated district”. During the early 20th century foreign competition led to a postindustrial decline in Salford. The years following the great depression and the Second World War led to unemployment and the population declining significantly.

Coal mining had almost stopped, the cotton spinning industry was no more, and in the 1930s Salford was reported as having some of the worst slums in the country. The area underwent extensive redevelopment during the 1980s and 1990s but had little impact and remained socially deprived with high levels of unemployment. It also gained notoriety as being unsafe due to gangs and organised crime, and in 2005 a survey deemed Salford the 9th worst place to live in the country. Over the past 20 years, Salford underwent extensive regeneration with the Lowry opening in 2000 followed by over £1.4 bn investment in the quays creating jobs and putting Salford firmly on the map as a major player in business and culture.

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The Changing Face of Salford Long before the state-of-the-art buildings and luxury apartments sprung up, Salford was considered one of the most deprived places to live in the UK. During the late 1960s through to the early 1970s many families were living in poor conditions in the slum area of the city. “The Face of Salford’’ was a ground-breaking documentary of its time, which gave the rest of the country an insight into these deprived areas. Filmmaker Michael Goodger filmed Salford over three years from 1967-1970. Goodger was born in India, and he and his family moved to England in 1912, and he became a lecturer at the University of Salford. The film documents the clearance of the slums, and Goodger said he aimed to “examine the life, problems, hopes, and fears, of a typical community of slum dwellers in Salford.” Viewers saw

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children playing on wasteland where terraced houses had been demolished to make way for the new concrete tower blocks, and families living in utter poverty. Goodger talked about his documentary on its 50th anniversary in 2019, where the film had a special screening at The New Adelphi Theatre at the University of Salford. He said there was no budget for the project, and Goodger went to see the Vice-Chancellor in person to ask for the money. His initial request was for around £1853.00, but surprisingly he was given £3000, which the young lecturer used to buy all the equipment he needed. Goodger had no film experience, and during filming, he said it was important he did not become emotionally involved with the subjects, and so he needed to behave like a reporter. Goodger talked about Salford Council’s reaction to the film, that they accepted that it

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was a true record, but they didn’t like it. In April 1971 Salford University’s Council refused to allow the BBC and Granada to show the film. Two Salford MPs later screened the footage in the House of Commons to show them the conditions people were living in. The Working-Class Movement Library The Working-Class Movement Library houses records dating back over 200 years of working-class campaigners. The terracotta red brick building is a former nurse home and is just a 15-minute walk from Manchester City Centre. The library began life in the home of Edmund and Ruth Frow in 1950, who wanted to create a resource for anybody interested in working-class people, their lives, and political beliefs. The couple were both activists and book collectors and passionate

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about working people’s history and preserving the records. The collection was amassed by the couple from second-hand bookshops over a twenty five year period. The pair travelled up and down the country in their Morris van, with their caravan attached. The Frows welcomed anybody who wanted to view their collection into their home, and a charitable trust was set up in the early 1970s. The couple also wrote and created their own material on working-class issues. They were both on the editorial team of the Manchester Region History Review, which was published every year. By the 1980s the vast amount of material meant the couple’s home was running out of space, and Salford Council gave permission for the collection to be moved into a Victorian building called Jubilee House on the Crescent in Salford in

1987. The museum’s oldest items date back to the 1760s and house some of the earliest surviving trade union documents dating from the 1820s. During the 1830s working people were fighting for the right to vote, and campaigns for better pay and working conditions followed, and visitors can read material created on this at the museum. The library has around 40,000 books on its shelves and many leaflets, pamphlets, newspapers, and flyers. There is also a collection of songs, fiction, poetry, autobiographies, cartoons, photographs, and banners. Artefacts from the Peterloo massacre of 1819 and details and stories about the Suffragettes also sit under the same roof. Film directors, playwrights, and actors come to conduct research at the library, and the museum

hosts talks, and events. One event brought the songs from the museum’s collection to life for a public performance. Events run throughout the year, and the museum’s YouTube channel is regularly updated with talks and readings. There is currently an exhibition till September 2022 on Working-Class Readers in Victorian Manchester & Salford. The exhibition explores how working-class readers in the area got access to reading materials, which at that time were a luxury item, with newspaper prices kept high by the government to control the press. The University of Salford and of Central Lancashire awarded the couple honorary degrees for their work for the labour movement. Eddie died in 1997, but Ruth continued to work at the library and fundraising to keep it going until her death in 2008.

Ordsall Hall Tudor Mansion

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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.

These days so many people call themselves Coaches, yet what does that mean and how can you be sure they are able to support you in the way that you need and desire – here are some pointers to this sometimes confusing world. When you choose a coach or therapist how do you know whether they have the skills and experience that they claim to have? Do you just accept what they tell you? Did you know that there are qualifications and professional bodies, and that they must have insurance? When engaging with a Therapist and Coach you are entrusting them with your mental and emotional health and well-being so you need to be sure that they are qualified and experienced and follow legal requirements. Checklist: 1. Training and qualifications - If someone is calling themselves a Coach are they qualified or are they just adding it to their title? If you have an English degree that does not make you a teacher of English you then have to train as a teacher. The skills of a coach include:

• • • • • • • • •

Building trust; Active listening; Asking open-ended questions; Effective goal-setting; Encouraging an outcome focus; Fostering engagement with goals; Providing support on the development journey; Giving constructive feedback; Being able to support a client should they suffer an emotional reaction

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2. Length of training A weekend is not a qualification that is going to be sufficient, as whatever the modality there is a great deal of practice hours and case studies. To train as a DRU Yoga teacher took 2 yrs yet I am often asked if I did any training? You should be offered sight of certificates, if not, ask to see them.

3. Continuing Professional Development Did someone train 20 yrs ago but have not kept their skills up-todate? For Emotional Freedom Technique and DRU Yoga I am required to do a minimum of 30 hours per year for each – this is a minimum I generally reach 100 hrs per year.

4. Professional Registration Check they are registered with the professional body where there is one. Eg. I am registered on the “EFTinternational.org” and “DRUworldwide.com” web sites.

5. Insurance Insurance for the particular modality. I have had people think because they have insurance via their employer for their day job that means they are insured for everything they do. Insurance must state clearly what the person is insured to deliver. Insurance as well as a legal requirement, acts as an extra assurance to clients as insurers want to see evidence of qualifications before they provide insurance for a practitioner.

6. Legal Agreements When money is exchanged for services a legal transaction has taken place. Therefore you should have a written agreement of terms and conditions offered to you and included in that should be an intake form so Practitioners are informed of any issues you may have. For EFT, NLP and Coaching I check for mental and emotional issues and require a health form to be completed for DRU Yoga, in both cases I ask for details of an emergency contact and GPs contact details.

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7. Check a coach is appropriately experienced and qualified to work with your particular needs For example, I am qualified to teach Pregnancy Yoga and Teen Yoga, these are separate qualifications, being a yoga teacher does not give you specialist understanding and skill. Equally check they have their specialities on their insurance.

8. Be particularly vigilant if you want the coach/ therapist to work with children I have Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS – previously CRB), this also applies to vulnerable adults. You can check anyone online to assure yourself that the coach/therapist has had a criminal records check.

9. Consent When I work with under 16’s I have a separate Parental Consent form.

10. Data Protection Since 2018 it has been a legal requirement to provide a Data Protection statement if they hold personal information about you.

11. Process You must be given a full explanation of the process and any techniques that will be used before you enter into a coaching relationship, with the opportunity to ask questions. Ask for testimonials, look for them on web sites, social media posts etc.

12. Professional Behaviour Do they start on time, do they keep a separate space to keep you safe even online – no disturbances etc. Do they criticize other coaches, claiming they are the best? I have seen articles written and been in meetings where other styles and modalities have been critisized.

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.

Having checked all of the above – Do you feel comfortable with the coach, is this someone you want to share your deepest secrets and fears with? And that only you can decide – trust your gut.

I personally welcome the prospective client who does all the checks, as a professional in my field I am open and transparent. I want the very best for my clients providing them with the best service possible.

This all may sound quite daunting however you are going to be spending a significant amount of money, opening yourself up in a way you may not have previously (clients often say to me, “I’ve never told anyone this before”) and putting your trust and faith in this person to deliver what they promise.

If you would like to have a FREE 30 min. 1-2-1 Discussion about how I can help you to overcome the anxiety and stress that keeps you feeling trapped then you can book online www.ThePositiveChangeCoach.com and scroll down to Discovery Session.

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The Science of Attraction By Sarah Ridgway

Why we are attracted to some people and not others are questions people have wondered about for years. When it comes to seeking a partner most of us know exactly what we are looking for and tend to seek out these qualities such as good looks and good sense of humour.

he definition of attraction is: “The power of eliciting feelings of desire, interest, or liking.” .

“What first attracted you to your partner?” is a common question to be asked that prompts various answers. For many people, physical attributes such as lovely eyes or broad shoulders played a factor, while for others it was a quality the person held such as kindness or loyalty. Attraction arises in different ways and different relationships, and depends on social, psychological, and biological reasons, and these factors lead us to different people. The psychology of attraction refers to the study of why we’re attracted to certain people over others. First let’s look at the common types of attraction which are: sexual attraction, romantic attraction, physical attraction, aesthetic attraction, intellectual attraction, and emotional attraction. Sexual Attraction Sexual attraction is led by desire and usually based on the physical attributes of a person. People often describe this as a chemical reaction, but there are scientific reasons behind it. The first reason is biological, which triggers adrenaline when you meet someone you are attracted to, 124

for example liking how someone is dressed or how they smell plays a role in attraction. A person who sexually attracted to their partner may also feel sexually attracted to other people at the same time. This desire can vary from person to person and can increase or decrease over time depending on circumstances. For example, an attractive person could start at your workplace, but over time they display traits of being rude or unkind, and if those characteristics don’t align with you then the attraction will fade. Romantic Attraction Romantic attraction is more meaningful and led by feelings of wanting a relationship with someone. This is separate from sexual attraction, but you can feel both for the same person. Humans are emotional beings and will bond strongly with many people throughout their lives such as with a best friend. This is a platonic relationship based on companionship, and we are attracted to our friends by their qualities but not sexually or romantically attracted to them. There is also less pressure to maintain platonic friendships than romantic ones, and it is normal not to speak to a friend for days, weeks or even months without missing them. Romantic attraction goes beyond friendship and is about creating a connection. These attractions take more time to build than sexual attractions, and you will see the person you are romantically attracted to in their best light and look for the potential. Physical Attraction Physical attraction is also known as sensual attraction and is the desire to be close to other people and to be cared for physically and showered

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with love and affection. This desire is not always romantic or sexual and can include hugging a parent or petting your dog. Physical attraction can be purely platonic and can just be the need for a hug after a bad day. Aesthetic Attraction This type of attraction is something someone might experience many times a day and is what happens when you think another person looks good. An example could be the barista at your local coffee shop in the morning or a person on the train. Aesthetic attraction is the feeling of being drawn to the physical appearance of a person and appreciating them. Many people feel an aesthetic attraction to celebrities and models who appear in advertising campaigns. www.lancmag.com

This type of attraction is not the same as sexual or physical as there is no desire to be touched physically by this person, although it doesn’t mean there isn’t physical or sexual attraction occurring at the same time. Intellectual Attraction Intellectual attraction happens when a person appreciates and admires the intellectual ability of another person and has a desire to interact mentally with them. For example, the ability to have deep and meaningful conversations, and able to connect on and explore various topics. For some people, intelligence is a deal breaker, and they need to feel intelligently attracted to someone to feel any romantic or emotional attraction.

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Emotional Attraction This is when a person is emotionally drawn to a person as they admire aspects of them. This can include a good sense of humour, kindness, a positive attitude or values and beliefs. When you are emotionally attracted to someone you will want to share the things you are feeling, and it is normal to have this attraction to family, friends, and romantic partners. It is beneficial to have several people in your life who you can openly share your feelings and emotions with. Being able to openly share your feelings with others is very important in a relationship and leads to a healthier lifestyle. Psychological factors depend on the mood you are in when you meet the person. If you are having a great

day, that will impact how you receive people. Also, people subconsciously seek out people who reinforce their emotions and values. People tend to search for partners with similar beliefs and values, and who are at similar stages in their lives. Biological and psychological factors are not something within our control, but other factors are. These factors include past experiences, and where you live as this gives you access to certain people. Also, the smaller the pool of people to choose from means it’s more likely you will settle for a person. There are other aspects that play a part in who you are attracted to, and scientists have conducted research to give us an explanation. Below are some determinants of attraction and how they work.

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and believe them to be opposites. Often, when you scratch beneath the surface the couple often shares more similar values and traits than first thought. The marriage of Marilyn Monroe to playwright Arthur Miller in 1956 is a good example of this. The pair were described as one of the oddest marriages of the 20th century, and the press nicknamed them “the hourglass and the egghead.”

Proximity Proximity is one of the most influential factors, as seeing a person can result in liking them. Therefore we often meet our partners in the workplace and why it is common for actors working on films together to form a relationship during the process. Similarity Humans are drawn to people who are like themselves and share things in common. When people have similar attitudes, beliefs, interests, and values, the more likely they will like them. Also, the more things you have in common with someone; then less conflict should arise resulting in an easier relationship.

Familiarity We seek people who are like us or appear familiar to us and this can be in appearance or personality. Our formative years shaped us, especially the people who loved us during that time. For example, if you grew up with someone who was very talented at sports, when you grow up you might be attracted to people like that as it is something you became accustomed to. Do Opposites Attract? 80% of us believe that opposites attract, although many scientific reports beg to differ. We will often see couples who seem to be an odd match

At the couple’s first meeting in 1951, Miller said the following when he first shook the Monroe’s hand “the shock of her body’s motion sped through me.” Marilyn wrote in her diary after the meeting that it felt like “running into a tree……like a cool drink of water when you’ve have a fever.” The physical attraction was there, and over the next four years, they wrote letters to each other. To most, it was clear what a heterosexual man saw in the sex symbol Monroe, but the rest of the world seemed baffled as to what attracted her to him. Despite the “dumb blonde” image, Marilyn had acquired the actress was very well read and had a love of literature, therefore a successful playwright would have been very alluring. Miller was also eleven years her senior, and older men are deemed desirable as they are usually financially stable and providers. Sadly, the union only lasted five years, but despite appearing to illsuited the couple ticked many boxes of the scientific research on attraction.

Physical Attractiveness There is a biological urge within many of us to seek out partners who will be providers and women who can birth the next generation. Therefore, heterosexual men are usually drawn to younger women as they are of childbearing age and fertile. Whereas women seek out older and taller men as they are seeking providers and security. Face symmetry, hip-shoulder ratios and face structure are also deemed influencing factors as they are connected with good health.

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

CONTOURS DAY SPA

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

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Merseyside Based Convenience Gallery Win The Deutsche Bank Awards For Creative Entrepreneurs The Deutsche Bank Awards for Creative Entrepreneurs announce the 2022 winners. 5 young creative entrepreneurs honoured for creating positive social change will receive a prize fund of £60,000.

ondon, UK - 29 June 2022: The Deutsche Bank Awards for Creative Entrepreneurs (DBACE), in collaboration with MeWe360, announce this year’s winners. Awarded for their commitment to driving positive social impact through creative enterprise the 5 young (1830) UK entrepreneurs include: • Chamiah Dewey, Chamiah Dewey Fashion, the UK’s ﬁrst clothing brand for people with dwarﬁsm, offering stylish, timeless pieces, made using eco-conscious fabrics. (Funding awarded: £15k) • Andrew Shaw & Ryan Gauge, Convenience Gallery, an arts organisation based in Birkenhead working with contemporary artists and the local community to build innovative and challenging art projects.(Funding awarded: £10k) • Jem Collins, Journo Resources, a social enterprise that helps underrepresented people into the journalism industry, with free-toaccess tools, resources and support. (Funding awarded: £10k) • Sabella Ibáñez, Alice Moxley & Jason Thompson, Pivot, a social enterprise that empowers people experiencing homelessness to Pivot their lives through making and craftsmanship. (Funding awarded:£15k) • Tumisha Balogun, Shian James & Alvin Owusu Fordwuo, Tag agency, a youth culture & marketing agency that transforms young lives through the power of culture, community and storytelling. (Funding awarded: £10k) 128

Award Winners: Convenience Gallery

The five winners will receive a collective prize fund of £60,000, plus a £100,000 value of bespoke mentorship to develop their vision and leadership skills via the MeWe360 Incubator. In addition to the winners, five strong DBACE 2022 candidates will also receive MeWe360 business support bursaries, benefiting from guidance and industry mentoring. Recognising the increasing need to empower young innovators, the mentor programme will provide individually tailored business and leadership training, 12 months of

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business support through MeWe360’s roster of mentors and Deutsche Bank professionals, access to a host of leading industry contacts and peer to peer support. Focussed on reaching ambitious individuals from all backgrounds, four years ago DBACE partnered with MeWe360, a non-proﬁt that champions and supports entrepreneurs in the arts and creative industries. MeWe360 have worked with DBACE to ensure the awards are open and accessible to all. Applicants from

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across the visual art, design, fashion, architecture and performing arts fields are able to apply at any stage of their entrepreneurial journey from the genesis of an idea to an established business and DBACE makes key resources for young entrepreneurs available for free on its website. This year the applicants were narrowed down to a group of 9 finalists - one more than in previous years - who were then invited to pitch their business models to a set of illustrious judges at the Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. Judged on a set of 4 criteria - social impact, business model, value add and founder and leadership potential - the panel of judges included: Kevin Osborne, Founder and CEO, MeWe360; Lareena Hilton, Global Head of Brand Communications & Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Deutsche Bank; Jackie Davidson MBE, Founder, JD Management; and John Newbigin OBE, co-founder and Chair of Creative England; and Bola Awoniyi, Co-Founder of Black Ballad (DBACE 2019 Winner). On behalf of Deutsche Bank, Lareena Hilton, Global Head of Brand Communications & CSR at Deutsche Bank, says: “DBACE sits at the heart of Deutsche Bank’s social responsibility within our Made For Good social enterprise pillar and today we are proud to be celebrating these five young business leaders. As a judge I saw how all of the winners have consistently demonstrated through their work a commitment to driving change and tackling some of the biggest challenges facing our society. www.lancmag.com

The creative industries remain one of the hardest hit from the pandemic yet these entrepreneurs today demonstrate the talent that is at the forefront of the UK’s recovery. They have presented ideas and businesses that offer exciting new opportunities and ways to create a better future. I look forward to seeing these businesses flourish over the course of the DBACE mentorship programme and into the future.” Commenting on the winners Kevin Osborne, judge and founder of MeWe360 added “This has been one of the strongest selection of applicants I’ve seen in the four years MeWe360 have been supporting DBACE. I’m looking forward to working with each of the five winners throughout the year as we provide them invaluable handson support, networking and tailored mentor programmes alongside the significant financial investment.” “As a judge it is incredible to see each of the applicants and watch these amazing young creative entrepreneurs pitch to us each year. It is also incredible to see our winners develop throughout the year and grow sustainable businesses that will lead the UK’s creative sectors.” Following a gruelling day of pitching the finalists were treated to an awards evening with a keynote speech by Indhu Rubasingham MBE, theatre director and the current artistic director of the Kiln Theatre. Talking to the winners Rubasingham, said: “Culture and creativity in its many facets brings people together, and makes them empathise. It decides whose story is important, whose

views we hear and who defines our sense of self. Your ideas, vision and entrepreneurship can shift this dial. You’ll ensure that those with different stories and voices are heard. You’ll empower others, challenge the status quo and help heal the rift and bridge the differences in our society.” Since 1993, Deutsche Bank has through DBACE overseen the launch and growth of over 230 creative ventures, supporting the work of the business leaders of tomorrow and celebrating those on a mission to tackle some of today’s most significant issues. One of the longest running creative enterprise programmes, the awards are open UK-wide and aim to cultivate young talent, providing them with start-up capital, bespoke business support and expert mentors. DBACE is Deutsche Bank’s flagship CSR programme forming part of the bank’s global Made for Good social enterprise pillar which supports entrepreneurial ventures that create wider social good including microenterprises, start-ups, nonprofits and commercial businesses. DBACE is one of the UK’s longest running creative enterprise programmes. Previous winners include Bethany Williams, founder of Bethany Williams London, a recycled and organic clothing brand; Ryan Mario Yasin, founder of Petit Pli, a pioneering material technology company promoting slow fashion; Anthony Daulphin, founder of Standing Ovation, which empowers youth through arts; and Ndubuisi Uchea & Hayel Wartemberg, co-founders of Word on the Curb, a youth insight and content agency, which stands to connect with underrepresented Millennial and Gen-Z audiences.

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The International Interior Trends By St. Modwen Homes - stmodwenhomes.co.uk

Between food, music, fashion, and films, celebrating a variety of cultures from beyond our borders is a part of everyday life.

nterior design trends are no different. In fact, you may find that your home designs are a combination of styles from around the world without even realising. Reflecting on the innovative designs and deep-rooted culture of home interiors from every corner of the earth can often inspire us to make changes to our own homes.

GERMAN: TERRAZZO Terrazzo is a very popular home interior trend in Germany. The style combines masonry with open plans to create spaces that feel industrial, yet natural and homely. Terrazzo is created using a mixture of marble, granite, quartz, and glass chips that are then polished to highlight a flecked surface with an organic aesthetic. This material and style can be used on floors, walls, and table surfaces.

From eco-conscious European influences to colourful Indian elements, we’ve taken a look at the top trends inspiring interiors across the globe.

Terrazzo can be created in a variety of colours, but its use in interior design clings to brutalist themes that are common in Germany, contrasting against both modern and gothic architecture.

AUSTRIAN: MINIMALISM

CANADA: FARMHOUSE REVIVAL

While the architecture of Austria’s capital is opulent and luxurious, home interiors in Vienna (and elsewhere in the country) strive for minimalism. Minimalist home designs use the bare essentials to create simple and uncluttered spaces, whilst simple designs and monochromatic palettes add to its economic mood. Minimalist interiors are at their most popular. In fact, searches for ‘minimalism interior’ on Pinterest have increased over the past year. Today, searches are 47 per cent higher than the yearly average.

The friendly nature of Canadian culture translates into home interiors with farmhouse revival designs. The style aims to add a personable touch to homes with a cosy, lived-in feel. Kitchens are centred around island worktops, making each meal a communal experience.

Austrian architects such as Adolf Loos helped to establish modernity in the country at the turn of the nineteenth century, with clean lines and austere designs prompting the development of minimalism there and around the world.

This style reflects the large natural wilderness of Canada, and the hand-crafted care that goes into this interior style represents a nation with an altruistic heart.

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Wooden floors and whitewashed walls also add a farmhouse impression to interiors, while upholstery completes warm spaces perfectly suited for relaxing.

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Inspiring Our Home Designs

INDIA: SIMPLE SPACES

FINLAND: ECO-CONSCIOUS

Like Austria, simplicity is the key driver of trends for Indian home interiors. However, differing in culture, Indian homes adopt the elements of nature around them.

Finland is a leader in sustainable design. Spending a lot of time indoors, the people of Finland ensure that their homes are built and decorated with quality, including furnishings that support the well-being of the planet as well as those who live there.

Favouring masonry over wood, reflective surfaces encourage light throughout homes while creating a cooling space against the climate. India’s home interiors do not stray so far toward minimalism. Simple spaces allow for more decoration, with rugs and upholstery adding personable elements that harken back to a proud and colourful design culture.

SOUTH KOREA: MODERN HERITAGE

Here, furniture is made with the view that wood is both an aesthetic and hardwearing material. Eco-conscious interiors add meaning to homes, embracing nature alongside minimalism. This emphasises the links with the world beyond the front door, while reducing the impact of wasted furnishings that often fall out of fashion.

While South Korea is one of the most digitally connected countries in the world, home interiors look back at a proud culture and history of design for interiors that reflect their heritage.

The world is connected through home interiors. We’re constantly inspired by other countries and their eye for design. When decorating your home or viewing houses for sale by St. Moden Homes, consider how far your home interior design has travelled to be enjoyed here and now.

Combined with the motifs of modernity, homes in South Korea are adopting furnishings and designs that represent both the past and the future.

Sources

Screens are used throughout open plan rooms that help to divide spaces for leisure, work, and cooking. Wooden textures are in touch with nature, while clean masonry surfaces add a polished aesthetic more in touch with modern tastes. www.lancmag.com

www.theurbaneditions.com/blogs/news/ the-minimalist-movement www.elledecoration.co.uk/decorating/materials/ a27539859/guide-to-terrazzo/ www.wallsandfloors.co.uk/blog/ a-guide-to-eco-friendly-interior-design/ LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 131

Beautiful West End Musicals at The Grand! Grand full-scale West End musicals will light up Blackpool right through to 2023

ive fabulous West End musicals are packing up and taking a trip to the seaside this season to fill Blackpool Grand Theatre’s famous stage with music, laughter and good times! Cue the music! It’s time to shake off those blues for the rocking return of Dreamboats & Petticoats - Bringing On Back The Good Times from Tuesday 2 to Saturday 6 August with special guest star and 60s sensation Mark Wynter (Venus in Blue Jeans, Go Away Little Girl). Catch up with Bobby, Laura & all the Dreamboats gang, dancing back together for the thrilling third instalment of this much-loved musical inspired by the million selling albums Dreamboats & Petticoats. It’s packed with all the wonderful wit, charm and unforgettable songs from the golden era of rock ’n’ roll. Don’t miss out! Pop on your bobby socks and jive to the Box Office now! Don’t leave it Too Late Baby to book your seats for the powerful production of Beautiful – The Carole King Musical from Tuesday 18 to

Saturday 22 October. Sing along to countless King classics from (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, Take Good Care of My Baby and You’ve Got a Friend, to It Might as Well Rain Until September and Up on the Roof, and enjoy the unforgettable spectacle of 1960s recording star Little Eva performing The Locomotion on roller skates! The magnificent Molly-Grace Cutler (The Worst Witch, Girls Don’t Play Guitars) is chart-topping legend Carole King, whose remarkable rise from schoolgirl singer/songwriter to music legend is brought beautifully to life in this smash-hit show, through the soundtrack of a generation. This show really is Some Kind of Wonderful! Book your tickets now! Three more marvellous West End musicals will dazzle and delight the whole family this season with stunning sets, gorgeous costumes and powerhouse performances. Britain’s best-loved picture book The Tiger Who Came to Tea roars into

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the Grand with a grrreat musical play from Friday 7 to Sunday 9 October that’s a perfect introduction for little ones with oodles of magic, sing-a-long songs and clumsy chaos; Richard O’Brien’s raucous Rocky Horror Show will be bursting at the seams ready to thrill you once again from Monday 13 to Saturday 18 February 2023 with its frothy, fun and much-loved naughty numbers, including, of course, the pelvicthrusting Time Warp, and the fivestar theatrical masterpiece Titanic The Musical will dock at Blackpool Grand from Tuesday 21 to Saturday 25 March. Don’t miss this acclaimed production which has enraptured theatregoers to return time and time again to experience this truly rousing and uplifting tribute to the passengers of the famously ill-fated vessel. Renowned local theatre groups have also got the West End musicals bug with a dynamic duo of sensational shows that are just the ticket for the whole family! Get ready for a www.lancmag.com

real monster of a family show with Shrek the Musical from Blackpool Operatic Players from Wednesday 5 to Saturday 8 April, bringing back all the beloved characters from the hit movie and proving there’s more to the story than meets the ears, and there’s no place like The Grand to be swept away by Blackpool & Fylde Light Opera Company with the Royal Shakespeare Company’s amazing stage adaptation of The Wizard of Oz from Wednesday 31 May to Saturday 3 June, featuring all the most beloved songs and moments from the 1939 classic film. Are you mad about West End musicals and love to sing along to all your favourite songs from the shows? Go Beyond the Barricade on Sunday 12 March for a brand-new production featuring past principal performers from the glorious musical Les Misérables singing the very best-loved songs from Broadway and the West End, with a stunning finale from Les Mis. But what are the best songs from the West End musicals? Theatre musicals have been filled with rousing tunes and memorable anthems since time immemorial, and over the years here at Blackpool Grand Theatre we have heard so many classics it’s very difficult to pick our favourites. In fact, it’s so difficult, we’re not going to even try! Instead, we have compiled a list of 10 great songs that showcase theatre and musicals at their best. 1. (You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman from Beautiful – The Carole King Musical – One of Carole King’s signature songs from her landmark 1971 album Tapestry and the cornerstone of this breathtaking production. 2. ’ve Had The Time of My Life from Dirty Dancing - This www.lancmag.com

Dreamboats & Petticoats Tue 2 to Sat 6 Aug at 2.30pm & 7.30pm The Tiger Who Came to Tea Fri 7 to Sun 9 Oct at 11am, 1.30pm & 2pm Beautiful – The Carole King Musical Tue 18 to Sat 22 Oct at 2.30pm & 7.30pm The Rocky Horror Show Mon 13 to Sat 18 Feb 2023 at 5.30pm, 8pm & 8.30pm Beyond The Barricade Sun 12 Mar at 7.30pm Titanic the Musical Tue 21 to Sat 25 Mar at 2.30pm & 7.30pm Shrek the Musical – Blackpool Operatic Players Wed 5 to Sat 8 Apr at 2pm & 7.30pm The Wizard of Oz – Blackpool & Fylde Light Opera Company Wed 31 May to Sat 3 Jun at 2pm &7.30pm unforgettable song was recorded by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes and used as the theme song for the smash hit 1987 film. 3. Defying Gravity from Wicked - A stunning female duet that concludes Act 1 of Wicked. The complex storytelling and soaring notes are key to this song. 4. The Sound of Music from The Sound of Music - The title song from one of the most successful musical soundtracks ever, and the definitive reason why hilltops are made for singing… 5. America from West Side Story Endlessly covered and featured by Glee, Admiral Insurance, the 1994 FIFA World Cup, Vice and The Simpsons to name just a few! 6. The Time Warp from The Rocky Horror Show – It’s just a jump to the left… arguably one of the most famous songs from a stage musical and a big audience participation number. 7. Seasons of Love from Rent - A stirring ballad from the cast of Rent that questions how we measure our lives. Keep your handkerchiefs close! 8. Alexander Hamilton from Hamilton - The opening song of the outstanding musical that

sets the tone for the rest of the soundtrack and never lets you go after you’ve heard it. 9. The Godspeed Titanic from Titanic the Musical – an emotional and rousing chorus at the opening and finale of this heartbreakingly powerful production. 10. One Day More from Les Misérables - Combining melodies from Who Am I?, I Dreamed a Dream and Master of the House (all individually superb), this is surely the conclusive epic. Visit www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk/greattheatre-songs for all the video clips to sing along! Book your seats now for wonderful West End musicals right here at Blackpool Grand Theatre! Visit blackpoolgrand.co.uk or call the box office on 01253 290 190 for bookings and further information. M 33 Church Street, Blackpool FY1 1HT N 01253 290 190 D blackpoolgrand.co.uk F @blackpoolgrand T @Grand_Theatre I @grandtheatrebpl

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By Paul Cusimano, Joseph Clothing, Lancaster

It must have been around ten years ago our City Council adopt the slogan ‘Small City, Big Story’ for Lancaster. I liked it but it was short lived. The inclusion of the word “small”, some felt, had a negative connotation, so the slogan was dropped. We are definitely living through a time where size, wealth, possessions are of paramount importance to many, but thankfully not to the vast majority. Social media is awash of enhancements, lifestyle images and new everything.

n a previous time it would have been referred to as ‘keeping up with the Joneses’, distributed through the proverbial grapevine, whereas today it spreads in a nanosecond down the digital highway. Small is not necessarily bad; small mortgage is better than big mortgage, small issues often easier to deal with than large issues. But as far as Lancaster goes, it is a small City. Truth be told, it’s a Market Town with City status, and one incredible

J Atkinson & Co - You Won’t Leave Empty Handed

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J Atkinson & Co - A Snapshot Of History

history; hence the “Big Story”.

beauty.

Lancaster dates back to the Roman times and was later inhabited by the Saxons. The River Lune was a great inlet used by both occupiers. The industrial revolution saw Lancaster grow to become one of the largest Ports in the country with most of the old part of the City, the City centre, rich in Georgian architecture from that period. As a little bit of trivia, there were sixty warships built on the banks of the River Lune during the period of the Napoleonic Wars.

Lancaster Grand Theatre is a wonderful example of such architecture, first opened in 1782, the third oldest theatre in Britain, has been in near continuous use ever since, offering comedy

There have been a number of old City centre terrace streets pulled down to make way for shopping arcades, a supermarket and even car parks. Although it has modern additions, the City, by and large, has retained its Georgian feel and

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Range Similar To The One In Our Premises

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Banks Lyon Shoes - Footwear For Every Ocassion

performances, family shows, dance shows, musicals as well as an eclectic mix of live music. Plans are afoot to add a contemporary styled large glass foyer and cafe/bar area to the side of the historic building; a beautiful mix of modern and classic. The year Queen Victoria came to the throne, a young Thomas Atkinson opened a tea and coffee merchants in a warehouse on Castle Hill, competing against six other already established merchants. He called it ‘J. Atkinson & Co’ after his beloved wife, Jane. Their offering also included exotic spices that came from the four corners of the world as well as refined sugar, all landing at the port on St. Georges Quay. The

Lancaster Castle -

One Of The Most Complete Castles In Europe

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Banks Lyon Shoes - Where Tradition Lives

business moved to its present day location on China Street, at the end of the eighteen hundreds. London prepared chocolate was another delicacy and something I loved receiving as a child when I delivered garments to Mr Riley, the custodian of the business during much of my life, after my father had

either made or altered clothing for him. Mr Riley was one of my father’s longstanding customers, who would have suits made regularly. When the elderly, always immaculately dressed, gentleman was in the shop, he would always give me a bar of chocolate for “your trouble”, as he would say with a smile.

The Castle On The Hill - Lancaster Castle

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The Georgian City centre is surrounded by Victorian residential areas, which really has curtailed the centres growth. This for me has always been a bonus because the vast majority of the historic buildings house the independent businesses, mine included. Ours still has the original cooking range, intact, hidden behind a unit.

The Ashton Memorial, Set In 54 Acres Of Beautiful Parkland

Today, the shop is a purveyor of award winning products, and a stunning piece of history that is one hundred and eighty five year in the making. It has stayed true Tom’s vision, it has kept the mark of excellence logo, a grasshopper, and the slogan “The Grasshopper only eats the Finest of Leaves”. This is the oldest retail business in the City. The second oldest is Banks Lyon Shoes, opening in 1887 on North Road before moving to Church Street in 1904 where it has remained. In 1985, nearly a hundred years after opening, the family business expanded into the luxury jewellery and watch market, Banks Lyon Jewellers; Cartier, Breitling, Omega, Hublot are just a few of the brands that were brought to our high street.

James Williamson - Lord Ashton

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James Williamson, Lord Ashton, is another name known to every Lancastrian, because of the legacy the Victorian industrialist left in the City. The Ashton Memorial, which sits in Williamson’s Park, is a lasting tribute to his wife. The ‘King of Linoleum’ sold his versatile lino around the world and amassed a fortune. He improved the living standards of his workers by providing them with decent housing, contributed to the City and its people in many ways, as well as to the country.

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Even as recent as fifteen years ago, pre the financial crash, there were complaints that Lancaster needed bigger premises to attract more of the larger stores. There were plans drawn up, a preferred developer chosen but nothing materialised, thankfully. Independent businesses account for nearly seventy percent of the landscape in the City centre, and that has worked for Lancaster on many levels.

Where the word ‘small’ was chosen, I have always used the word ‘compact’. Lancaster is a compact city. A compact vibrant City. Using the ‘Toll House Inn’ as the first business at the southern entry point to the City centre, and ‘Marco’s Restaurant’ the most northerly, it’s a leisurely ten minute walk; west to east, Lancaster Castle, zigzagging across to the White Cross Pub, again, less than ten minutes. Therefore, from Horseshoe Corner, considered by most as the centre, you’re literally within five minutes walk from everything, except Williamson’s Park, that’ll be a good fifteen minute walk, or a couple of minutes drive. Since the last Lockdown, Lancaster has bucked the trend. A recent business survey, conducted by Michael Hallam of the Ethical Small Trader Association (“ESTA”), underlined this. Lancaster has maintained its level of occupancy compared to pre-Covid times.

Comparitive change in Lancaster City Centre Retail types Spring 2020 - Spring 2022

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A Winters Day Across The Bay

Inside The Ashton Memorial

MH Stainton - The Broadway, Morecambe

Any units that become available are quickly snapped up. Nationals like Zizzi’s and Nando’s have, in the past six months, have opened here, and they don’t do that without first doing their homework, especially in the current economic climate.

Lancaster often appears in various tables for, for example, top schools, top universities, places to start a family and even quality of life. Lancaster District includes Morecambe, which is regularly in the news as we await confirmation of Government funding for Eden North.

Lancaster has a population of around 53,000 (compared to the likes of Harrogate 75,000, Chester 80,000, Bath 101,000, and the major Cities like Manchester 554,00, Birmingham 1,150,00, London 8,983,00) and yet, JDG Estate & Letting Agents won ‘Best Branch’, in their industry awards, competing against fifteen thousand companies and twenty two thousand branches.

We are talking beautiful beaches and one of the best views in the country. The view across Morecambe Bay is simply stunning, whatever the weather, whatever the time of year. By day the mountains of the south Lake District take on different colours, light dependent, and often snow-capped in winter. By night, the mountains disappear leaving the coastline from Grange-Over-Sands to Barrow-in-Furness, identifiable by twinkling lights.

Buccelli’s restaurant walked away with two awards at the Italian Awards, sponsored by the Italian Chamber of Trade & Commerce, ‘Best Authentic Italian Restaurant’ and ‘Best Chef’, as judged by celebrity chef, Aldo Zilli. Buccelli’s also came runner up in a third category, ‘Best Pasta’. Many of our other businesses have also won regional and national awards, including one of our local building companies, M.H. Stainton; from luxury apartment conversions in Mayfair, London to bespoke homes for Premier League footballers in Cheshire, and more recently, The Broadway, Morecambe.

MH Stainton Homes

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Lancaster is more than a blue sign on the M6, and those that care to visit, wonder why they had not done so sooner. Lancaster has an enviable reputation with many local towns and cities looking to emulate it, but that’s not easy, it’s been two thousand years in the making.

Miles Of Sandy Beaches

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North West Charity Celebrates

EVERYTHING ‘MANCHESTER’ At Tenth Anniversary Extravaganza A North West charity, which funds ground-breaking research into brain haemorrhage, is marking its 10th anniversary by hosting a spectacular Manchesterthemed celebration event in October, called ‘The Mancunian Way’.

he Natalie Kate Moss Trust was founded in 2012 following the devastating and sudden death of 26-year-old Natalie, a graduate from the University of Manchester. Since her death, the Trust has been working closely with the University, initially to fund scholarships for students who had suffered a brain injury and, more recently, funding the University’s stroke research team at the Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre. To mark its 10th anniversary, the

Natalie Kate Moss Trust will host The Mancunian Way from 6.30pm on Saturday 8th October 2022 beneath the wings of the worldfamous Concorde in The Hangar at Manchester Airport’s Concorde Conference Centre. Hosted by Manchester-born broadcast journalist, Michelle Eagleton, and Manchester drag queen, Belinda Scandall, The Mancunian Way will celebrate everything that is Manchester, from Canal Street to China Town, the Hacienda to the Northern Quarter. Guests will be immersed in what Manchester is all about. They will taste, listen, laugh, sing and dance their way through the evening, the ‘Mancunian Way’. Entertainment will include Mr Wilson’s street band, live Jazz bands from the Northern Quarter, as well as a live DJ and saxophonist who will enchant the audience with sounds reminiscent of the Warehouse

Below: Natalie Kate Moss

Project. There will also be a unique performance from Manchester poet, Tony Walsh. Fiona Moss, Natalie’s sister and co-founder of the Natalie Kate Moss Trust, said: “We have achieved so much over the last ten years and so we wanted to do something a little different to celebrate that journey and that of our home city of Manchester. “We are planning a whole host of surprises; and this will certainly be a spectacular event. We want to shock, surprise and entertain, celebrating all the colours and textures of Manchester whilst raising important money to support the ground-breaking, lifesaving research taking place at the University of Manchester. “We have experienced the heartbreak of losing a young daughter and sister to a sudden brain haemorrhage and, just last year, we committed to raising a massive £300,000 to fund further research into brain haemorrhage at the University of Manchester. “As a family, we feel immensely proud to be able to make this commitment to them in Natalie’s memory and we hope to encourage lots of Manchester loving people who want to make a difference by supporting what will be life-changing stroke and brain haemorrhage research to join us for what promises to be an incredible evening.” Tickets are now on sale for £130, or £1,300 for a table of 10. Price inc. welcome drink, three-course meal, LIVE entertainment, and a DJ, plus access to a live and silent auction with ‘money can’t buy’ prizes. To buy tickets, visit: uk.givergy.com/NKM/

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To find out more about The Mancunian Way and the Natalie Kate Moss Trust, visit www.nataliekatemoss.co.uk Corporate sponsorship opportunities are available, email hello@nataliekatemoss.co.uk www.lancmag.com

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Basics Junior Theatre School Continues to Deliver Spectacular Shows That Wow Audiences “Basics also provides its students with a positive peer environment and gives these talented youngsters a focus; keeping them engaged, busy and away from street corners!” Basics’ students are happy to spend their free time at the theatre school - the classes are always vibrant and energetic and of course, they’re spending time with like-minded people. Lifelong friendships are forged easily here and it’s heartwarming to see. Many past students have gone on to enjoy successful careers on the West End and perform in professional shows worldwide.

Basics Junior Theatre School is a unique, award-winning and dedicated junior musical theatre and performing arts school.

stablished over 30 years ago and located in the centre of Burnley, the theatre school prides itself on providing a professional yet family-like environment where its young student performers are educated and inspired to deliver performances to the standard the professionals would be proud of.

When we caught up with Andy Cooke, the school’s Principal, it was clear just how much this is a passion of his. “Of course, these young students learn dancing, singing and acting skills but in reality, they learn so much more. A happy byproduct of the work we do with these young people is the level of confidence they build. The classes encourage personal development, enhance learning and inspire creativity”

Having seen the standard of the shows they produce, it’s obvious that they’ve had every opportunity to hone their skills. “By the time our students reach our performers’ group they are in school year 9 and aged 14. Students can stay with us until they have finished their schooling in year 13. “ “Our show costs to produce the standard we do are in the region of £40,000. We invest in these talented young people and provide them with an opportunity to perform on a big stage supported by fabulous costumes, professional sound and lighting.”

Basics offer a safe environment for every young person to grow in confidence and meet new friends whilst providing the foundation that they need to make the most of their emerging talents and abilities and develop transferrable life skills. The school provides a wide range of age/ability-appropriate classes, with each being carefully structured to achieve the perfect balance between learning and fun. Students can begin their training at age 4, as soon as they start school, where they begin to learn skills such as dancing, singing and drama in a fun and inclusive environment. 140

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“Our audiences are blown away every year by the high standard of our annual show. Sometimes they say they thought they were coming to watch a typical school performance. They often cite that the shows we produce beat those they’ve seen in professional theatres in Manchester. That’s exactly what we strive for.”

Many students go on to enjoy successful careers on the West End It’s clear that all students, whether they want to go on to perform professionally or not, simply enjoy reaping the rewards of a well-spent youth. Students graduate from the theatre school as well-rounded, confident individuals with skills that future employers welcome.

Basics’ upcoming show is the fabulous Sister Act and will be taking to the Pendle Hippodrome stage in Colne, 11th to 15th October 2022 and tickets start at just £13.

Don’t miss this hilarious smash hit musical Sister Act. With songs inspired by Motown, soul and disco, it’s a heavenly musical that’s joyous and uplifting. Just what we need to raise the spirits. You certainly won’t believe you’re watching amateurs perform that’s for sure. You can buy tickets online now for Sister Act The Musical Pendle Hippodrome Theatre, Colne 11th to 15th October 2022 Tickets from £13 www.basicsjuniortheatre.co.uk

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Viral Videos Helping Craft Young People’s Career Choices In Liverpool can do in their jobs and also almost three times as likely to be interested in a career in engineering. Dr Leevers adds: “The opportunities within STEM are endless, with some better known than others. In our survey less than a quarter of young people realised that developing TikTok is an example of a career that needs STEM skills. It’s an example most young people are familiar with and being able to show the huge variety of possibilities will hopefully encourage more young people to study and eventually work in STEM.”

Young people across Liverpool are turning to social media videos to learn more about their dream job, according to a new survey.

iverpool parents may be forgiven for limiting access and discouraging their children from spending too much time behind screens on sites like TikTok and YouTube, however according to a new survey ahead of The Big Bang Fair at the NEC in Birmingham, 43% of 11 to 16 year olds say they watch YouTube videos to learn about their future dream jobs compared to those who read books (17%) or attend afterschool classes or clubs (9%). Science and mathematics were voted favourite subjects by both boys and girls in the survey. And with over half (54%) of those surveyed wanting to learn more about the world of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), there’s plenty of ways for them to discover more in the real world, as well as on their laptops. Dr Hilary Leevers, Chief Executive of EngineeringUK, organisers of The Big Bang Fair, which aims to inspire young people to learn more about the world of STEM, says parents should embrace the new ways of learning while seeking out in real life experiences. 142

She said: “It’s really encouraging that young people are embracing STEM at an early age. We need more young people from all backgrounds to understand the role that STEM careers play and for more of them to go on to work in science, engineering and technology. Social media is a great tool and has been particularly useful during the pandemic to help young people gain an understanding of STEM. The Big Bang Fair this year comprised of a live event at the NEC and a digital option, both designed to provide young people with the chance to experience the amazing opportunities a career in STEM can offer and learn more from people already working in science, engineering and tech.” With 11 to16 year olds being more inspired by people like Professor Dame Sarah Gilbert and Sir David Attenborough over well-known influencers like Molly Mae, it’s no wonder children are looking into the world of STEM for a career, with 1 in 3 (32%) 11 to 16 year olds across Liverpool saying a career in STEM allows them to make a positive change in the world. This complements previous research undertaken by EngineeringUK, which demonstrates that young people who attend a careers event with an employer, either online or in person (for example, a tour of a workplace or a careers fair) are around twice as likely to know about what engineers and scientists

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When it came to considering careers, those surveyed, felt studying STEM subjects laid a strong foundation in helping to make a difference and saving the planet, with 42% of children appreciating that a career in Climate Engineering would require a basis in STEM. The Big Bang Fair is aimed at 11to 14-year-olds and the 3-day event (Wednesday 22 June to Friday 24 June) is the largest celebration of STEM in the UK. The free to attend event will feature scores of quality hands-on activities to inspire young people to discover and explore what a career in STEM can offer. For more information about The Big Bang Competition and The Big Bang Fair visit here: www.thebigbang.org.uk The top STEM developments recognised by young people: • • • • •

Vaccines Mobile phones Artificial Intelligence Prosthetic limbs Virtual Reality

The top careers that children think use STEM skills are: • • • • •

Cancer researcher Robotics engineer Climate engineer Machine Learning Engineer Gene Therapy www.lancmag.com

TICKETS SELLING

FAST! Presents...

TUESDAY 11th - SAT 15th OCTOBER 2022

Pendle Hippodrome Theatre, Colne BOOK ONLINE BasicsJuniorTheatre.co.uk Music by Alan Menken Lyrics by Glenn Slater Book by Cheri Steinkellner & Bill Steinkellner Based on the Touchstone Pictures Motion Picture “Sister Act” written by Joseph Howard This amateur production is presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International All authorised performance materials are also supplied by MTI www.mtishows.co.uk

Trio of Director Promotions at Redrow North West HOME builder Redrow has appointed three members of its team as directors within its NW division As land director, Gareth works with land agents and owners, local authorities, consultants and other developers, overseeing the acquisition of sites across the region. “It’s an exciting time to step into the new role, the Redrow North West region is well established and one of the largest across the country. We’re looking to secure additional land to continue its growth,” added Gareth. Gareth works closely with long-term colleague Paul Murray, who has been promoted to strategic land director.

Above: L to R: Gareth Stansfield, Anna Evans-Kerr and Paul Murray Anna Evans-Kerr has been promoted to sales director, Gareth Stansfield to land director and Paul Murray to strategic land director. All three employees are based at the housebuilder’s Daresbury Park HQ and will oversee developments across Cheshire, Merseyside and North Wales. Anna, who has a wealth of sales experience, joined the company as a sales consultant nine years ago and has risen quickly through the ranks. She was promoted to area sales manager in 2015 and later spent several months on secondment as acting head of sales in the Midlands Division in 2019, returning to the North West to take on the role of head of sales in 2020. After returning from maternity leave earlier this year, Anna was promoted to sales director in April.

Paul joined the team straight from university in 2013 as an assistant planner, progressing to planner, senior planning manager and then head of planning in 2020. “Redrow has supported me through my career, enabling me to progress to where I am today, for which I am grateful” said Paul, who lives in Liverpool. “In running the strategic land arm of the business of the North West, I deal with landowners and agents who are looking to secure planning permission on their sites by taking a longerterm view to promote their land through the planning system. “Daresbury Garden Village is a prime example of our recent successes in strategic land. “Bringing the site at Daresbury through planning and the acquisition phases and now actually building homes, represents many years of forward planning work. We are now actively looking for other long-term strategic sites that can come forward over the next two to 10+ years.” Redrow currently has detailed consent for circa 800 homes on 120 acres of land at Daresbury Garden Village; and its first phase named as Gleaves View sits in what’s known as the south phase, featuring 260 of the largest homes.

Anna said “As an ambitious and passionate salesperson, I am delighted to be able to take on this important role within one of the company’s biggest divisions.

They will be accessed via an improved junction where Delph Lane meets the A56 Chester Road between Warrington and the M56.

“The business is targeting significant growth over the next few years, with the number of sales outlets and home completions set to increase. As sales director I have the challenge of ensuring that the team delivers the sales required to meet

The wider development is expected to take around 11 years to complete and homes will be interspersed with open spaces, green corridors and areas for formal and informal play.

these ambitious targets, as well as making sure we provide the highest standards of customer care. I am confident that, with the team we have in place, this will all be achieved.”

Jason Newton, managing director for Redrow (NW) said: “These three promotions highlight Redrow’s commitment to developing its team from within and creating strong career paths for employees.

Redrow’s new land director Gareth Stansfield joined Redrow as land manager in 2013.

“Anna, Gareth and Paul are all long standing employees and I know they will all continue to deliver the sites and sales we need to create vibrant new communities across the North West.”.

“What first attracted me to Redrow was that I knew how reputable the company was and the quality of the homes it built, and that is still very much the case today,” said Gareth. 144

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For details of where Redrow is building see www.redrow.co.uk/northwest www.lancmag.com

AWARD-WINNING CRAFT GIN A Little Bit Of Luxury From Lancashire

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

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

Method: 1) Cook the pasta according to the instructions on the packet. 2) Whilst it is cooking, prepare the sauce.

Penne alla Gin Ingredients: • • • • • • • • • • • • 146

Olive oil Salt Black Pepper Half an onion, finely chopped 2 large garlic cloves, finely minced or crushed 100g Tomato puree A Pinch of red chili flakes, adjust to your taste 100ml Lytham Gin Original Dry Gin 100ml Double cream 200g Pasta 40g Parmesan, grated plus extra to serve Flat leaf parsley, chopped, for garnish LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

3) Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a large frying pan and add the onion. Fry for a few minutes until the onion becomes translucent. Add the garlic, chili flakes, a pinch of salt and a pinch of black pepper and fry for a further minute. 4) Stir in the tomato puree and fry for a further minute or two then add the gin. Bring to the boil and let it bubble for a couple of minutes then stir in the cream quickly and allow to thicken. 5) Drain your pasta, remembering to reserve the cooking water. You’ll need some of this to finish the sauce. 6) Mix your drained pasta with the sauce in the frying pan, adding a splash of the pasta water to loosen it up so that everything is coated. Add the grated parmesan and more water if necessary. Make sure everything is well mixed before serving with a sprinkle of parsley, a good grind of black pepper and more parmesan. 7) Enjoy!

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f you’re a regular reader, hopefully you’ll know who I am by now! I’m Sara, The Lytham Gin Lady! I’m an escaped-chemistry-teacherturned-distiller and have spent the last four years making gin and rum.

Rum is made by fermenting molasses or sugar cane and then distilling a couple of times to produce its unique flavour. Its history is just as interesting as the history of gin, if a little more disturbing. Rum’s story is entwined in slavery and piracy.

My passion is now sharing information about everyone’s favourite juniper based spirit as well as easy to make cocktails using some of my award winning products. This month, I want to ‘ginspire’ you to use gin in a different way to warm up the dark October evenings by cooking with it! Vodka based pasta sauces were all the rage a few years ago but using gin adds an extra depth of flavour to a really simple, easy to make dish which is sure to become a favourite. All the alcohol is evaporated during cooking, leaving just the ginny flavour behind. Serve with garlic bread and a glass of red wine or maybe a gin and tonic to really enhance the juniper.

When sugar cane was ‘discovered’ by European explorers in the 15th century, it instantly became a very desirable and valuable commodity. Sugar production required a huge amount of man-power and at the time, the answer to this was provided by the slave trade. By the 17th century, the Caribbean was the centre of global sugar production. The slaves discovered that by fermenting molasses (waste produced during the extraction of sugar) and then distilling the resulting liquid, they could make a spirit that was just about drinkable. Originally it was called Rumbullion or Kill Devil. This, in itself became valuable because the African slave traders like to be paid in alcohol and rum was highly suited to being transported unlike wine or beer. And anything valuable, like the sugar cane or the gold to pay for it or the rum to pay for the slaves, transported in ships was frequently targeted by pirates. Which is why we still associate rum with pirates today!

Since the evenings are drawing in and the weather is cooler, this month’s cocktail is designed to warm you up, too. Another really easy to make but very impressive tipple made with rum, our take on a Dark and Stormy. I’ve recommended our Gingerbread Rum, but any dark rum will work.

Dark & Stormy Simplest cocktail possible! Combine the ingredients in a glass with the ice and garnish with the lime. Some people like a dash of Angostura’s Bitters which makes the drink a bit orangey.

Delish!

Ingredients: •

50ml Lytham Jamaican Gingerbread Rum

•

25ml Lime juice

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•

100ml Fiery ginger beer

•

Ice and a wedge of lime to serve LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 147

Southport Contemporary Arts

The Art and Craft Guild of Lancashire ArtHouse, 65 Eastbank Street, Southport, Merseyside, PR8 1EJ

13th September – 1st October

hen The Crafts Council was granted its Royal Charter in 1982 “to advance and encourage the creation and conservation of works of fine craftsmanship and to foster and promote those works to the public in England and Wales” it started an avalanche by likeminded artisans up and down the country keen to put into action the Council’s mission statement: “We inspire making, empower learning and nurture craft businesses. We believe craft skills and knowledge enrich and uplift us as individuals, and, in doing so, will change our world for the better”. Founded just four years later in 1986, The Art and Craft Guild of Lancashire are a group of artists, designers and makers still dedicated to the vision, design and expertise that underpin the best in contemporary craft. Since its inception the Guild has always provided a support network for self-employed local professional creatives that represent the best in regional craftsmanship. With a strong focus on exhibitions and showcasing work, members of the association are specially selected for the quality and originality of their skills. Ceramicist, Chris Hughes from Ainsdale explains: “We are a small group of artists who have worked together in the Guild for many years. The Guild has existed for over 30 years with the main intention of organising exhibitions in the NorthWest of England to provide selling opportunities for the artists and an enjoyable experience for our visitors”. 148

Above: Ally Noble - Laying Out

With recent exhibitions ranging from The Atkinson in Southport, The Metropolitan Cathedral in Liverpool, the Lytham Heritage Centre and The World of Glass in St Helens, the Guild prides itself in creating colourful, diverse and interesting exhibitions of high-class 2-D and 3-D art and craft.

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That same proficiency and skill will be on show in Southport at The ArtHouse during September. Chris, who is self-taught, now works from a studio in his back garden: “My output is small as I hand build all my pots using pinching, coiling, slabbing and modelling techniques. I make bowls, bottles, plates, lamp-bases www.lancmag.com

turns drinking or bathing. It amuses me to think what they might be saying to each other”.

Above: ChrisHughes

and clocks. My forms are often sharp edged and finely balanced, the bottle forms frequently twisting as they rise”. Involvement in mountain walking and climbing have now become embedded in Chris’ creative process: “I use features from the landscape on my pots, mountains, streams and beaches occur frequently and also weathered doors, windows and stone walls”. Fused glass artist, Ally Nobel, who has a graphic design degree from Liverpool Polytechnic originally spent over 30+ years working as a computer artist and games project manager: “Once I stopped hands on drawing each day I needed an outlet for my creativity and started working with glass, a medium I’ve always found fascinating”. With the help of a grant from The Crafts Council, Ally was able to buy a large kiln and increase the size and scope of her work. Fusing glass for over 17 years, Ally now works at her practice full time creating and enjoying investigating new techniques and ideas. Ally often takes her inspiration from Nature: “Moving house 7 years ago led to a garden studio which led in turn to observing and drawing garden birds. These glass creations are a mainstay of my creative work. Outside my studio is a fountain and there are often two different birds sitting on the rim taking www.lancmag.com

Colour and creativity also play a big part in Pam Potter’s output. Trained in Fine Art and Textiles at the Harris College of Art in Preston, where her work in textiles was selected for the British Colleges touring exhibition in 1963, Pam has since gone on to exhibit both nationally and internationally and has been awarded many prizes. Always pushing boundaries, Pam is always testing herself: “My latest work shows a further development of the coast, landscape and buildings using experimental techniques of mixed media. Currently, I am trialling the overlay of acrylic on watercolour and other materials on canvas, as well as paper. I find the representation of a scene turns into a fantasy of the mind through colour and texture interweaving with the experiment and the unexpected. Paint straight from the tube, sprays, rollers, collage, ink, and modelling pastes with mark making media, all help to achieve the desired result”. Since retiring from teaching art, Chorley based ceramicist Christine Corthorn has discovered she has now more time to cultivate and exhibit her own work: “My first opportunity to work with clay came about whilst following an Art course at teacher training college. After being offered a post at a school that had a purpose built ceramics studio, the following thirty years were spent sharing my own enthusiasm with literally thousands of students. Retirement has brought with it the time to develop my own work. It has also left me with a wealth of ideas and designs that results in a varied assortment of work”.

piece is unique and although initial sketches are made, work often evolves during construction particularly with the application of final stains and glazes. Because of this continuously experimental method of working, no two pieces are ever alike and work can never be exactly replicated”. Using a mixture of smooth bodied and crank stoneware clays, with the addition of paper clay to strengthen fine edges and provide surface details, each piece is hand-built using both coiled and slabbed techniques: “Surfaces may be textured or carved prior to the initial bisque firing, after which a limited palette of oxides and glazes are used, with special emphasis being placed upon the necks and openings of each vessel”. Also on show will be felt-making from Sharon Shaul, hand crafted fashion accessories by Paula Maxfield and photography by Steve Hitchen. Certainly not one to be missed, this latest showing by The Art and Craft Guild of Lancashire will be on display at the ArtHouse, Eastbank Street, Southport from 13th September – 1st October 2022. The gallery is open Tuesday – Friday 10.00-15.00, Saturday 11.00-16.00 Below: PamPotter

The unpredictability of wet clay always spurs Christine into continually challenging her own abilities: “Each LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 149

MIRANDA CHRISTOPHER There is a ‘test’ that I do with clients to understand their motivation for change; it’s called the rocking chair test. Imagine you are at the end of your life, sitting in your rocking chair watching the world go by, what regrets about your life do you have? It’s an opening question to explore your heart’s desires. And I can tell you now, no-one ever says I wish I worked harder! My new venture came out of using these tools for myself. I now combine my 30+ years as a transformation expert with my Style Coaching practice, Magnetic Mind Coaching and my love of shape, texture and colour to deliver my signature framework My Goddess Style Expression™. As women, we are all Goddesses, it’s part of our true nature. We somehow decided to put on the clothing that society told us to. “The fairer sex”. And even with legal frameworks and equal opportunities, we still keep our true power hidden. As a Goddess, you were born to be powerful; to live a balanced, bountiful and beautiful life.

“So, what are your rocking chair regrets? ”

s a small child I remember dressing up in my gran’s clothes and slipping my tiny feet into what felt like enormous shoes. My gran was my rock in life and sadly she died when I was just eight. I now see those oversized clothes as a metaphor for how we take on the rules of others. They are not ours; they are probably not in alignment with who we were born to be and as we grow up they don’t actually fit us very well. And that’s when dissatisfaction, frustration and feelings of “there 150

must be more to life” can surface. Often badged as a middle age crisis. Looking back to my childhood, it becomes obvious to me now that my natural pathway in life would involve creating clothing that enables people to express who they truly are. Sadly though, like so many others, I was pushed down the route of “get a good career” and so took an alternate pathway, which ultimately led to life changing burnout. Anyway, here I am today in the embryonic stages of my new business, Goddess Style & Design. Getting myself back onto a pathway that aligns with who I was born to be.

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In approaching this new venture, I have followed the ‘Way of the Goddess’. Ensuring that I don’t drop solely into my masculine energy of doing, doing, doing into exhaustion. That way burnout lies. The approach is a forward momentum in a balanced way, simply by taking the next obvious step to my end result. August saw the virtual doors opening to my free community ‘Living My Goddess Life Style’, sharing resources and providing opportunities for women to reconnect with themselves on a deeper level to create their own lifestyle expression. And me being me, of course there is lots of fun on the agenda. In all honesty, I created the community partially for self-care reasons. I am on my own Goddess journey undergoing a course in Fashion Design and I wanted to be surrounded by women who are supportive and undertaking their own transitions and changes. My ultimate intention is to create a www.lancmag.com

My Obvious Next Step... brand that combines transformation with clothing in a way that is sustainable, stylish and has the savvy shopper at heart. Clothing has a massive impact on people around the world. Those who produce the raw materials, those who create the fabric, those who construct the garments all the way through to the disposal of the clothing, when it has been discarded because it is no longer in vogue. All whilst driving down the costs at every step; that’s the agenda of Fast Fashion. I invite you to think about your own clothing. Maybe, it doesn’t matter to you, maybe you don’t need to think about the impact your purchases have on the world; as well as your own purse. Some people are already making a difference by selling or donating their clothing. Swap out events are fabulous for the experience of having something new to wear and they are often used to raise funds for charity. During our time in lockdown, pondering the sourcing of fabrics, I connected with a lady in Cambodia to explore the production of silk. I had previously visited the country in 2011 and purchased a number of silk items from a designer I met. I asked the lady about the people who harvested the silk and what it involved. The silkworm suffers as a consequence, yet they become part of the staple diet keeping the harvesters from starvation. In India, I discovered that a process has been developed that doesn’t harm the silkworm, but the silk is of a very different grade and price compared to the process that involves the death of the silkworm. All our fashion choices have consequences. Some are obvious, others are not. Maybe you are a woman who, like I was, has a very busy life. You visit the wardrobe and one of two things happens: your wardrobe is bursting at the seams yet you have nothing to wear or, you wear the same drab things over and over not being able to deal with having to think about what to wear. Our wardrobes are extensions of ourselves, of that conditioning and the rules that we dressed up in so long ago. Become aware of your self-image (self-conscious) and you’ll develop an www.lancmag.com

understanding of your current external environment. This gives you the freedom to create new rules for yourself. Ones that bring colour and joy back into your life. I am pleased to say that I now have my Goddess Studio in Preston, giving me the opportunity to work with women on a one-to-one and small group basis, supporting them to create their own Goddess Style Expression - from the inside out. So, what are your rocking chair regrets? Imagine, from that place of sitting on that rocking chair, and you are able to travel back in time to this point in the here and now. The path in front of you divides. One fork brings you back to the

rocking chair of regrets, the other to your deepest desires fulfilled with no regrets. Let me ask you then, what is the obvious next step for you to take now? Here is the link bit.ly/GoddessLifeStyle to join my free community. I’d love to welcome you aboard this Goddess voyage of life.

www.mirandachristopher.com

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HALEWOOD’S FREE UNIFORM SHOP OPENS THANKS TO FUNDING A COMMUNITY initiative which recycles donated school uniform in Halewood has boosted its stockpile thanks to funding from Redrow.

Above Left : L to R The mayor of Halewood Barbara Dunn, Redrow’s Julie Madden and volunteer Alison Shacklady Halewood Uni-Wise, which supplies new and nearly new uniforms, received £500 from Redrow’s Halewood Community Fund. The Halewood Community Fund was launched by Redrow to help community groups, charities or other good causes based in, or serving, the area around the housebuilder’s two new developments in the town - The Finches at Hilton Grange, off Lower Road, and Grace Fields at Hilton Grange, off Greensbridge Lane.

“We also accept any donated items, so if anyone does have any unwanted uniform, we would gladly accept it.” Sian Pitt, sales director at Redrow Lancashire, said: “The volunteers do a wonderful job here at Halewood Uni-Wise, helping families with school aged children. “And of course, they are also helping to reduce the number of items heading to landfill. We are very happy to support this project in the heart of the Halewood community.”

Run solely by volunteers, Halewood Uni-Wise, is open at St Nicholas’ Centre Halewood every Saturday until August 20, for people to choose and collect items for free.

For further information visit www.facebook.com/halewooduniwise

“We have found that some items, particularly school blazers, sports and PE kit and larger size shirts and trousers are harder to come by from the donated of items we receive,” said Alison Shacklady, a volunteer at Halewood Uni-Wise.

For more information on Redrow’s new developments see www.redrow.co.uk/developments/the-finches-at-hiltongrange-halewood-112750

“So, we do have to buy these in order to help families who are struggling. The money we received from Redrow has gone towards purchasing these items, so we are hugely grateful for this funding.

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Hearts for Homes was established in 2016 when our shop first opened in the lovely town of Ramsbottom. The shop, spread over two floors, is full of gifts, home decor and kitchenware & is an official stockist of Frenchic paint. We are open every day and stock exciting brands including Agnes + Cat, Sass & Belle, Rex London, Glover & Smith Pewter, Eric Jackson prints & much more…

M 47 Bridge Street, Ramsbottom BL0 9AD | F @heartsforhomesuk | I heartsforhomes N 01706 560462 | E kerry@heartsforhomes.co.uk | D www.heartsforhomes.co.uk

SCHOOL NETBALL TEAMS SCORE REDROW SUPPORT NETBALLERS representing Knutsford Academy can dress the part after netting £1,000 of kit sponsorship from Redrow.

Above: Netball players from Knutsford Academy netted support from Redrow’s Knutsford Community Fund. Sales consultant Rachael Reece is pictured at the school The school successfully applied to the homebuilder’s Knutsford Community Fund, linked to new homes being built less than a mile away at Tabley Park. Head of PE Nikki Walsh said: “Our students feel very proud to represent their school, particularly when they feel they are in smart, logoed attire. With Redrow’s support we’ve been able to purchase netball dresses, in our school colours, for those who represent school in sporting fixtures within Mid Cheshire and Macclesfield & District.” Redrow’s voluntary community fund programme is part of its commitment to creating thriving communities and building responsibly, helping support the growth of the neighbourhoods the company operates in.

Tabley Park will eventually feature 190 new homes, with everything from two to five bedrooms. It will also include a large area of open space, a football pitch, allotment areas, orchard and children’s play area.

In Knutsford £10,000 has been shared with good causes, including £1,000 gifted to Knutsford Academy for netball kits.

Above: Redrow’s Rachael Reece pictured with netball players from Knutsford Academy and head of PE Nikki Walsh

Redrow area sales manager Amanda Hollins said: “Teaming up with Knutsford Academy is the latest way we’ve lent our support to grassroots sport to help encourage young people to lead an active lifestyle. Along with the benefits of physical activity, sport also helps develop other important life skills including communication and teamwork – plus it’s lots of fun.”

If you want to net a new home at Tabley Park, visit the show homes, open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5.30pm and 12pm to 5:30pm on Monday, call 01565 859509 or visit www.redrow.co.uk/tableypark

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smokin v’s real barbecue

49 Guildhall Street Preston, PR1 3NU

Tel: 01772 305353

e m o h s ’ n o t s e Pr

n a c i r e m a f o

e u c e b r a b

WINGS • HOT DOGS • TACOS • LOADED FRIES • BRISKET • pulled pork • RIBS MAC & CHEESE • KIDS MENU • HALLOUMI • PLATTERS • DESSERTS • and more...

Smokin V’s

Real Barbecue in the heart of Preston

Smokin V’s was born through a mutual love of great food and a passion for barbecuing by myself (Dave) and my brother Dan Valentine. I have always been drawn to barbecuing.

t any given opportunity I would be lighting up the coals and grilling steaks and chicken for myself or friends. I’m pretty sure the only reason I was invited to parties in my younger days was so I could take over the grill and cook for everybody! It was Dan who actually introduced me to the American way of barbecuing though a show on Netflix called Barbecue Pit Masters. As soon as I saw these huge hunks of meat slow cooking on a barbecue I knew I had to try it out. After planning out and building a smoker in our back garden, I went to the butchers to get some ribs and a brisket, I had no idea what I was doing, but I rubbed them all down, injected my brisket with beef stock, and placed them in this 156

smoker. 7 hours went by and they were the most awfully dry pieces of meat I’d ever seen!! However, the flavour was there… and I knew if I could nail the timings, they would be glorious. So the next week I we got some more ribs, paid a bit more attention to the smoker, and wow where they delicious. Me and Dan bought a new little smoker and started practising with different cuts, better briskets, pork

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butts and ribs and they just kept getting better and better each time. That is when Smokin V’s was born. We started out as street food traders, selling sliced brisket hoagies and making pulled pork spring rolls. We did 4 events in our first year. Some where amazing and super busy and some where a ghost town, but the feedback we got at every event was incredible and we knew we were on to something great. www.lancmag.com

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After one really bad event which was a wash out as it was wet and rainy and nobody in sight, we were left with a lot of food that would have gone to waste. So we contacted a few local bars and pubs in Preston to see if they would want to host a pop up event with us. One bar got back to us which was Ships and Giggles, they were looking for new food ideas for their bar and offered us their kitchen, full time, to run our little barbecue business from their premises. This was a huge offer for us, and we jumped into it head first. We had a huge launch party and the guys at Ships were great to us. 7 months down the line, we get hit with Covid and the business and rest of the world comes to a halt. We knew there was only two options for us, go big, or go home. So we ended up coming across a property that had been vacant for years and years, 49 Guildhall Street. I knew I recognised it from being The Cocktail Factory and as soon as we viewed the place, we knew we could make it into our dream restaurant. We spend roughly 4 months from getting the keys cleaning, sanding and painting the walls, building tables and the bar, building the kitchen from scratch, all with help from friends and family. Re creating

a new menu, hiring a full team of staff, having the place fully booked for the whole opening weekend. Then getting hit with another lockdown and the introduction of tier 3 which meant we couldn’t open the restaurant for indoor service. We were absolutely gutted but within a week, we had created a x-mas market style takeaway menu and started trading on collection and deliveries. We did that for 5 months, had a little bit of outdoor dining and then the big day came. We could fully open the doors and let everybody in again. We had a huge launch weekend with hundreds of hungry customers. It was incredible to see so many people coming down and enjoying our barbecue. Just over a year later, with a new menu change, we are still here, firing up the smokers and bringing the city of Preston the best barbecue we can. It’s been a bumpy road with highs and lows but we are still going strong and are excited to see where we can take Smokin V’s in the future! We are always planning and looking at new things we can do with the restaurant. From menu changes and new exciting dishes to events and live music. Smokin V’s is a place you can bring the whole family, or come down with your friends and listen to come country rock and sup down a few beers.

All Images: Courtesy of Smokin V’s Real Barbecue

Poet profile - Dean Fraser

Illuminated – A Brighter Kind Of Vibe The uniqueness of Blackpool and a walk provided ample inspiration here.

The Golden Mile beckons exploration Spend well good people…spend well Over a mile and half in length this Golden Mile, erroneous cartography made large This time explored on foot A walk through the wild side Well, perhaps a little A cacophony of revellers fills public houses Families crowd the beach I am here for a show Today my role is spectator Al fresco experience worth the travelling for It is still warm this autumn day Biding my time A tram journey to South Shore The sun bidding adios as it sets over the sea And then it begins A show like no other Blackpool Illuminations

Experienced this time at the madness of street level Strolling through over a century of history This promenade trod by millions before me Victorian ancestors enjoyed this cavalcade of lights Just as I once did long ago Safely ensconced in the back of a Volvo Estate Enchanted and delighted this smaller version of me I think of those far away days Lost a little in the mists of time As I stride out to experience this town once more Overworked retinas struggle to keep up Dazzled by sensory assaults of flashing colours Central Pier is reached Silhouetted big wheel illuminated against the sky Shouts of happiness heard over the sounds of the street Trams pass by bedecked with lights A thousand images vie for attention Crashing waves herald the incoming tide Sat for a while observing I like benches by the sea Reminds me of another moment Another coast not so long ago St Margaret’s Bay, Kent and tranquillity This time a different experience People watching as all life goes on around me So passes by a convivial hour Then setting out to complete my walk Reaching North Pier with comedy theatre in full flow Then relative silence for the final half mile My car patiently awaits my presence Taking my leave of this place Travelling south once more Normally natural landscapes attract me This time I chose English Electric…

Born a month before the Spring Equinox some years ago, Dean Fraser says he feels a connection to all of nature beauteous and green. He is The Quantum Poet, an artist, a public speaker on the healing power of crystals and prolific writer on dowsing. He stands sixfoot one inch tall and enjoys being out amongst nature rather than in cities. So much for the biography. Dean prefers his energy and actions to speak for themselves. www.deanfrasercentral.com

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Last Of The Working Boats This poetic tale was inspired by my mother’s mum, we called her nan. She found herself when barely a teenager working on one of the last of the working canal boats.

She had started working on this canal when aged only thirteen.

The School Board afforded her means of escape She needed to finish her education, they insisted!

Schooling it would seem over for her

Returning once more to classroom

Her education taking place through hard graft from now on.

And she was grateful

She worked for her uncle

Not only for the lessons Her opportunity to be more

Unpaid for her labour Board and food considered ample payment In those half-forgotten times

A year later she left finally left school once more The pattern broken by now In just that one year everything changed

This boat carried coal To fuel the industrial north

Trains and lorries heralded the end of working canal boats

A horse providing motive power to move the loads

Industry demanding quicker means of transport

Irony unnoticed by the boat’s two occupants

Another lifestyle lost to the mists of time

Travelling at walking pace Always on the move Places to collect and deliver

Improvise. Plagiarise?

Taking the boat through endless tunnels

The creative process…and plagiarising one of my own poems to write this!

A plank and foot power seeing them through the darkness

Looking for some poem to plagiarise

In all weather they travelled

Pretend I made it up before your eyes

Her job walking the towpath guiding their equine engine

Got to be profound with deepest meaning

She developed an empathy with this horse

Or through transcendental meditation

They both worked all day against their will

Perhaps even via drugs or medication

They both would rather run free in the fields

Still I cannot seem to find rhyme or reason

If bridges could talk what tales would they tell?

Is adapting one of my own poems treason?

Tell you that it all came through dreaming

She lasted out a long whole year working on the canal

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Wayne Sleep OBE leads the dance at Blackpool Grand An Audience with Wayne Sleep is in first position in a delightful new line-up of dance at Blackpool Grand Theatre this season.

to join him as he looks back over an extraordinary career spanning five fabulous decades. There’s a little bit of dance, lots of insider info and the unique opportunity of a Q&A! It’s an afternoon delight! Using his own rare film footage and photos, Wayne will describe his journey from famously joining the Royal Ballet School at just 5ft 2 in height (the shortest male dancer ever admitted), to becoming a Principal Dancer at the Royal Ballet with numerous leading roles specially created for him. Founder of the Royal Ballet, Dame Ninette De Valois, described Wayne as ‘the greatest virtuoso dancer the Royal Ballet has ever produced’.

ake your partners for spectacular new dance at Blackpool Grand! Step to it and book now for beautiful ballets, thrilling tap, incredible Irish dancing and a dynamic duo of Strictly stars. 162

An Audience with Wayne Sleep will high kick off this dazzling season of live dance shows with a fascinating peek at the gifted ballet star’s glittering career on Monday 10 October from 1.30pm. For the very first time, dance icon Wayne Sleep OBE invites audiences

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Wayne has also starred in the West End – notably in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats where Wayne created the role of Mr Mistoffelees, founded his own dance company and toured the world with it in his show Dash. His first steps into the world of film and TV are illustrated throughout the afternoon with rarely seen clips which cover his own TV series The Hot Shoe Show, the prestige of being a special guest on The Morecambe and Wise Show, starring alongside Sean Connery and all of the off-camera gossip about The Real Marigold Hotel and much more… www.lancmag.com

including, of course, his long-standing association with the Royal Family and his close personal friendship with Diana, Princess of Wales. There is also an exclusive Afternoon Tea Package available for this must-see show! Relax in our magnificent Dress Circle bar from 12 noon and enjoy a tempting selection of savoury and sweet treats before slipping into your seat for a wonderful afternoon with Wayne. It’s the extra special theatrical experience you deserve… Looking for some more dance at Blackpool Grand? Delight the whole family with a captivating new production of Beauty and the Beast from the critically acclaimed Ballet Theatre UK on Friday 14 October; don’t miss Argentine Tango King and Strictly Come Dancing legend Vincent Simone as he returns to the stage with his brand-new show Tango Passions on Sunday 16 October, and enjoy the breathtaking Sleeping Beauty dancing into the Grand on Sunday 20 November as Classical Ballet & Opera House bring the charming fairy story beautifully to life set to Tchaikovsky’s sublime score. Treat your loved ones to a thrilling trio of classic ballets from Varna International Ballet in January 2023 with the heart-rending tale of Giselle on Friday 13 January, the hauntingly unforgettable Swan Lake on Saturday 14 January and the magical fantasy The Nutcracker on Sunday 15 January; join the world champion dancers of Spirit of the Dance on Wednesday 18 January as their precision and artistic showmanship sends shivers down your spine; don’t miss the breathtaking performers in the powerfully potent cocktail of dance, acrobatics, music, hip hop and comedy that is Tap Factory on Tuesday 7 February, and partner up with Strictly champ Giovanni Pernice as he packs up his glitterball trophy and invites you to join him and an outstanding ensemble of dancers and singers on Friday 10 March. Waltz your loved one to The Grand this season for an enchanting dance experience to cherish and remember. Dance at Blackpool Grand – once seen, never forgotten. An Audience with Wayne Sleep is at Blackpool Grand

Theatre on Monday 10 October at 1.30pm.

For bookings and further information visit blackpoolgrand.co.uk or call the box office on 01253 290 190.

Afternoon Tea & Show Package available on Monday 10 October from 12 noon in the Dress Circle Bar for just

£36 per person (includes show ticket) or upgrade to our Prosecco option for just £41 per person (includes show ticket). Bookable through the Box Office. Limited tickets available. Please highlight any allergies at time of booking.Nottingham, the scheme works with groups who often have little or no experience of Shakespeare, with the hope of building a lasting relationship between the community and its theatre.

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LISTINGS An Audience with Wayne Sleep

Mon 10 Oct 2022 at 1.30pm (Afternoon Tea & Show Package available from 12 noon)

Ballet Theatre UK - Beauty and the Beast Fri 14 Oct at 7pm

Vincent Simone – Tango Passions Sun 16 Oct at 3pm

Classical Ballet & Opera House - Sleeping Beauty Sun 20 Nov at 2.30pm & 7.30pm

Varna International Ballet • Giselle Fri 13 Jan 2023 at 7.30pm • Swan Lake – Sat 14 Jan at 2.30pm & 7.30pm • The Nutcracker – Sun 15 Jan at 2.30pm & 5.30pm Spirit of the Dance – Wed 18 Jan at 7.30pm Tap Factory – Tue 7 Feb 2023 at 7.30pm Giovanni Pernice – Made in Italy Fri 10 Mar 2023 at 7.30pm

M Grand Theatre, 33 Church Street, Blackpool FY1 1HT N Box Office 01253 290 190 D blackpoolgrand.co.uk F @blackpoolgrand T @Grand_Theatre I grandtheatrebpl LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 163

£10,000 FUND NOW OPEN TO HELP BOOST GROUPS IN HARTFORD REDROW is inviting its neighbours in Hartford to share a £10,000 community fund.

All Images: A selection of photographs from previous Redrow NW community funds The homebuilder, with developments at Water’s Reach and Weaver Park in Hartford, has launched a new community fund for the area. With the addition of this latest fund, Redrow’s North West business has voluntarily gifted more than £160,000 to the neighbourhoods in which it builds. This is over and above the statutory investment from Redrow linked to planning consents, such as contributions to education, healthcare, public transport and affordable housing. “Our community funds have made such an impact in other areas of the North West, we know there are many groups doing great work in Hartford, so we want to hear from them,” said Sarah Weaver, marketing manager at Redrow NW. Previous Redrow funding across the North West has helped schools, charities, youth groups, sports teams and individuals at the very heart of the community, providing a range of resources including play equipment, defibrillators, furniture, food parcels, counselling and more. Redrow’s Hartford fund is linked to two developments in Hartford, Weaver Park and Water’s Reach; both developments boast all the benefits of quiet country living, while being perfectly placed to access amenities that nearby cities have to offer too. Weaver Park has a range of homes, from three-bedroom semi-detached properties to larger, four-bedroom detached

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family homes. Water’s Reach currently has a selection of four bedroom homes available for purchase. All properties on these developments hail from the housebuilder’s Arts & Crafts inspired Heritage Collection which combines traditional exteriors with much-desired open plan, interiors.

To find out more about Redrow’s voluntary £10,000 Hartford Community Fund and to download an application form visit https://www.redrow.co.uk/promo/hartford-community-fund The deadline for completed applications is midnight on August 31, 2022.

www.lancmag.com

Damn it Janet! What to wear for The Rocky Horror Show at Blackpool’s Grand? Richard O’Brien’s legendary rock and roll musical The Rocky Horror Show is at Blackpool Grand Theatre in February 2023. But please remember to follow the simple three-step guide of clothes that should never be worn to Rocky, as follows: 1. Suits. These are only worn by people who thought they were booking for Phantom of the Opera and called the wrong number. 2. Sandals, anoraks or anything with a touch of the trainspotter. 3. A striped top. That’s just a Rocky Horror no go…

ondering what to wear for The Rocky Horror Show? Dress to impress for a fabulous night of fun, frolics and frivolity as Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show gets ready to thrill you once more at Blackpool Grand Theatre from Monday 13 to Saturday 18 February 2023.

Bursting at the seams with

So, for what to wear for The Rocky

timeless classics, including Sweet

Horror Show remember the golden

Transvestite, Damn it Janet, and of

rule - no matter what you decide

course, the pelvic-thrusting Time

– everyone is there to enjoy the

Warp, The Rocky Horror show is a

evening, pure and simple!

Tickets are already selling fast for

to dress up in fishnet stockings,

the boldest bash of them all! Book

suspenders and a basque! Although

yours now!

you will fit right in if you do and, of

Follow squeaky clean college sweethearts Brad and Janet on

non-stop party that’s ready to thrill

And most important - it’s just a jump

you once again with its frothy, fun,

to the left…

and naughty moments.

The Rocky Horror Show is at

Is it your first time? Don’t worry Rocky Horror virgins, you don’t have

course, females may also wear these items!

Blackpool Grand Theatre from Monday 13 to Saturday 18 February 2023. Monday to Thursday at 8pm. Friday & Saturday 5.30pm & 8.30pm. Visit blackpoolgrand.co.uk or call the box office on 01253 290 190 for bookings and further information.

an adventure they’ll never forget

Be a sexy French maid like Magenta,

when, by a twist of fate, their car

sport a top hat and shorts like

breaks down outside a creepy

Columbia, dress preppy and clean-

mansion whilst on their way to

cut like Brad and Janet or go full Dr

visit their former college professor.

Frank ‘n’ Furter in a glamorous lace

N Box Office: 01253 290 190

There they meet the scandalous Dr

corset and high heels – it’s up to you!

D blackpoolgrand.co.uk

Frank’n’Furter, the rippling Rocky

Or just wear something casual and

and the vivacious Magenta and the

comfortable for the rockiest night of

cute couple’s lives will never be the

your life! Everyone is welcome.

same again… www.lancmag.com

GRAND THEATRE 33 Church Street, Blackpool FY1 1HT

F @blackpoolgrand T @Grand_Theatre I grandtheatrebpl

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

Let’s Go Climbing They Said, Let’s Sleep Under The Stars They Said, It’ll Be Fun They Said. By Denise Mullen

y husband, Johnny ‘The Mongoose’ France returned from a foreshortened ‘Dads n Dogs’ climbing trip last weekend, due to adverse conditions. Turns out, the mosquito’s reputation as one of the most vicious creatures on earth is fitting. Yes, they were the adverse conditions. Johnny, his band of brothers, our dog Harley and her boyfriend Floyd (part Chow, part Carpathian, 100% adorable), had set off jauntily enough in search of thrills, dangling off things, eating things out of packets and camping under a tarp – dogs secured on ‘camp watch’ via a long climbing rope. I never camp, because all of the above. And in order to spare others the misery of being in my company when forced to camp. Of course Johnny will tell you bivouacking is not camping. He’s right. It’s camping’s evil twin and to be avoided at all costs. Dogs did paddling on the way, scrambling and general lolling about. Dads toiled on with their bivouac burdens and enough rations for Dads and Dogs. I had to think twice about including the picture he sent me to alert me to the fact he would be arriving home early. And I decided it was just too disturbing. It was terrifying in fact. He looked like a balloon with a face transplant. I muttered multiple thankyous for the antihistamines they managed to rustle up. Everyone had been bitten relentlessly, they’d had to strike camp, walk down and sleep in their vehicles. Even the dogs were being harassed, although 166

luckily for them, both have mozzie-defeating fur. The vehicle thing went ok for most, well, those with ‘normal’ cars. Those in Range Rovers and Audis, sensible family hatch backs or boy racers got some reprieve, but not Johnny. He drives a pickup (of course he does) with a truckman top on the back. The flap at the back offers healthy gaps either side. Harley, the light of his life, he tucked up in the forward cab to nap unmolested. Things in the back weren’t going swimmingly. The bit that was sticking out of his sleeping bag – his face – got bitten multiple thousand times. And then it swelled, his eyes closed and he looked as though he’d been through an ill-advised 32nd facelift. I was terrified, having seen the picture, that his throat would swell too – not in any way good. Another ‘dog Dad’, Steve, had experienced a zipper fail on his complicated climbing trousers. Don’t panic, it wasn’t in the ‘gentlemen’s area’. They are those zippy pants that you can zip into two or three different layers of leg-length. I hope it’s two (not three) lengths because I don’t think a ‘budgie smuggler’ option would have been to anyone’s advantage, except perhaps the mosquito population of Cumbria. Anyway, where Johnny had a huge head, Steve had what he described as ‘monkey pox’ legs. This was deeply concerning as he and his family were due to fly out to Portugal that weekend,

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so the advice was, if you want to be allowed on the aircraft, wear less complicated pants, ones that go down past your ankles. It’s fair to say I’d never seen that many mosquito bites. So the boys had slumbered on, totally unaware that the ‘Dad’ who was meant to join them, but hadn’t been able to find them, was enjoying a velvety glass of Malbec in a climbing hut about 15 minutes away. He’d booked the hut, and there were beds and room a-plenty. He was the only one there. Neil, let’s call him ‘Sensible Dad’ was of course unmolested by insects, had to force down a second glassful and amuse himself on TikTok in the absence of spirited debate about the brand new route the lads had discovered and climbed. The route was named for the rookie climber who struggled up there with them. To be honest though, I think I’d have gone for something that commemorated the epic trip in its entirety. Biters’ Bluff maybe? www.lancmag.com

Lancashire Campaigners at Number 10 Two young wildlife campaigners from Lancashire were part of a delegation delivering a 60,000-name petition calling for more ambitious Government targets to halt and reverse nature’s decline. Danya Brown and Phillip Gwynn. There were accompanied by our Youth Advocacy Officer Eleanor Lampard. Danya, 15, said: “The youth ambassadors are formally handing over a letter to the Prime Minister about the lack of clarity of the Environment Act, along with thousands of comments from supporters and enabling them to share their views. We, as young people, will hopefully send a key message that parliament’s decisions will affect our generation and that we should have a pivotal role in helping our future.”

Downing Street and Danya (in red) helps to hand over the petition by Eleanor Lampard

The Government will soon set legally binding targets for nature’s recovery. This is urgently needed because the UK is one of the most wildlife-depleted countries in the world and habitat loss and degradation continue to blight people’s lives and affect nature’s ability to store carbon..

Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside, Nottinghamshire, Warwickshire, London and Suffolk. Our North West representatives were

Lancashire Wildlife Trust Chief Executive Tom Burditt said: “I am so proud to see Danya and Phillip campaigning to protect wildlife at 10 Downing Street. Our Youth Council is the conservationists of the future and they are helping to protect nature for generations to come. All they are saying is give wildlife a chance.”

The Wildlife Trusts delegation with Danya and Philip in red

he long-term target currently being proposed for nature’s recovery aims to have just 10 per cent more nature in 2042 than 2030 levels – by which time the state of our natural world is expected to have declined even further. The Wildlife Trusts have written a letter to the Prime Minister expressing serious concern and calling instead for a 20 per cent increase on 2022 levels. The delegation included young people from the Wildlife Trust for

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

OLAF STAPLEDON – SCI-FI PIONEER AND FREE THINKER By Margaret Brecknell

The great science fiction writer, Arthur C Clarke, once said of Olaf Stapledon’s groundbreaking 1930 novel, Last and First Men, that “no other book had a greater influence on my life”. Yet Stapledon is not widely known today, despite being an author, philosopher and peace campaigner of some note.

illiam Olaf Stapledon was born on the Wirral Peninsula in May 1886. An only child, he spent most of his early life in the Egyptian city of Port Said, where his father was working in the shipping industry, but, at the age of six, returned home with his mother. He was educated at the progressive Abbotsholme School in Derbyshire before attending Balliol College, Oxford, where he studied Modern History. Stapledon left Balliol College in 1909, uncertain of the career direction he wished to take. He taught at Manchester Grammar School and then followed his father into the shipping industry, but didn’t stick at either job for long. In 1912, he began work as a tutor at the Liverpool branch of the Workers’ Educational Association (WEA), lecturing in history, philosophy and literature. At around the same time as World War I broke out, his first book was published, a collection of poetry called Latter-Day Psalms. “Father has got it published for me, which is very good of him, as of course I could not have financed it”, Stapledon wrote to a friend. Stapledon supported the cause of pacifism and, as a conscientious objector, refused to fight during World War I. This was certainly not because 168

he lacked courage. He joined the ambulance unit of the Society of the Friends and served on the Western Front for nearly four years. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French in recognition of his bravery. Soon after the war he married Agnes Miller, an Australian cousin whom he had known since childhood, and the couple set up home together at West Kirby on the Wirral. Stapledon resumed his studies and lecturing work and, in 1925, was awarded a PHD in Philosophy by the University of Liverpool for his thesis entitled Meaning. He subsequently

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expanded on the theories covered in his thesis in his first published non-fiction work, A Modern Theory of Ethics. He wished, however, to introduce his ideas to a wider audience and so decided to turn to fiction. In 1930, Stapledon’s first novel, Last and First Men, was published. The breadth of Stapledon’s vision for his first full-length work of fiction is quite breathtaking. The premise of the book is that someone from the far distant future (one of the “Last Men” of the title) communicates telepathically with the author and proceeds to relate the story of humanity. www.lancmag.com

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

Stapledon imagines the history of mankind through the experiences of a succession of eighteen distinct human species, starting in the early 20th century (the “First Men”) and ending in a far distant time some two billion years in the future. As well as becoming a bestseller, Last and First Men received plaudits from some of the literary world’s most influential figures and the author gained some interesting new friends. Stabledon’s novel is credited with inspiring another pioneer of science fiction, HG Wells, to write the 1933 sci-fi classic, The Shape of Things To Come. The two writers corresponded for several years and Stapledon became a founder member of the first HG Wells Society in 1936. Winston Churchill was known to be an admirer of Stapledon’s work and even referred to Last and First Men in one of his own essays, writing that he had “read a book the other day which traced the history of mankind from the birth of the solar system to its extinction”. A sequel to Last and First Men, entitled Last Men In London, was published in 1932, followed by Odd John in 1935. However, it was Stapledon’s 1937 novel, Star Maker, which attracted most attention.

Blue plaque commemorating Olaf Stapledon in Caldy: Phil Nash/CC BY-SA 4.0

Following the publication of Last and First Men, another of the era’s most famous novelists, Virginia Woolf, had written to the Wirral-based author and the two began to correspond on a regular basis. When Stapledon sent Woolf a copy of Star Maker, she replied, “I don’t suppose that I have understood more than a small part – all the same I have understood

enough to be greatly interested, and elated too, since sometimes it seems to me that you are grasping ideas that I have tried to express, much more fumblingly, in fiction. But you have gone further and I can’t help envying you.” The plot of Star Maker is even more ambitious in scale than that of

View from Caldy Hill: ReptOn1x/CC BY-SA 3.0

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Last and First Men in that it imagines a history of civilisation across the whole universe. A human narrator is transported out of his own body and joins a hive mind which is able to travel round the universe observing many different civilisations across the vast spectrum of all time and space. The climax of the book involves the hive mind, including the book’s narrator, making contact with the “Star Maker”, the creator of the universe. This plot structure allows Stapledon to cover a wide range of philosophical themes including the meaning of life and death and the relationship between creation and its creator. The novel attracted much critical acclaim. Arthur C Clarke described Star Maker as “probably the most powerful work of imagination ever written”. Another of the sci-fi genre’s most notable writers, Brian Aldiss, called it “the one great grey holy book of science fiction”. One passage in Stapledon’s book, in which he described “every solar system… surrounded by a gauze of light-traps, which focused the escaping solar energy for intelligent use” was even credited by theoretical physicist, Freeman Dyson, as the inspiration behind his research into artificial biospheres. However, not all the reaction to Star Maker was so positive. CS Lewis was assuredly not a fan of Stapledon’s work. Lewis, an Oxford academic, is best known today as the author of the classic children’s book series, The Chronicles of Narnia, but also wrote extensively on topics relating to Christian theology. He described Star Maker’s ending as “sheer devil worship”. Soon afterwards, Lewis wrote his own trilogy of science fiction novels, The Space Trilogy, explaining in a letter to a friend that “What immediately spurred me to write was Olaf Stapledon’s Last and First Men”, before going on to criticise Stapledon’s “desperately immoral outlook”. During the 1930s, Stapledon became increasingly active in the pacifist movement and campaigned for disarmament. He once wrote that, “Men endured so much for war, but for peace they dared nothing”. Like his fellow author, HG Wells, he also www.lancmag.com

promoted the concept of a “world government” which would bring an end to poverty and war between nations. At the outbreak of World War II, however, Stapledon changed his stance on pacificism and supported the war against Hitler, stating, according to his biographer Robert Crossley, that “My pacifism has been put in cold storage”. In 1940, Stapledon purchased part of a field close to the pretty village of Caldy on the western side of the Wirral Peninsula, a location which provided stunning views of the Dee estuary, and built a house there for himself and his family. A blue plaque, close to where Stapledon once lived, was unveiled in 2019 and this commemorates his time in the village. The author had known and loved the views from nearby Caldy Hill for years. Indeed, it is believed to have been the inspiration for the hillside, from which the narrator of Star Maker is whisked away to begin his journey across the cosmos. Following the end of World War II, Stapledon resumed his campaigning. In 1948, he spoke at the World Congress of Intellectuals in Defence of Peace, which was held in Poland. His appearance at the Cultural and Scientific Conference for Peace in New York the following year caused some controversy. He was the only British delegate to be granted a visa. The event was supported by the

Communist Party and was viewed with considerable suspicion by the US authorities, who regarded it as a propaganda exercise. Stapledon was kept under observation by the FBI throughout his visit and they compiled a dossier on him. He appears to have been unfazed by the attentions of the FBI. In his speech to an audience of some 18,000 people at Madison Square Garden, Stapledon remarked that, “I am no Communist, but I am not afraid of working with Communists when they happen to be right”. In 1950, Stapledon also became an early supporter of the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. Tragically his campaigning was cut short when later that same year, he collapsed and died suddenly at his home in Caldy. He was aged just 64. Today, Olaf Stapledon’s books are not widely read. It seems that the sheer scale and ambition of his most famous novels act as a deterrent to many modern readers. However, his influence on the development of science fiction should not be overlooked. Some of the topics he covered in his work were revolutionary – evolution, genetic engineering and artificial intelligence, to name but three – and he is now rightly heralded as one of the fathers of visionary science fiction.

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ALL FALL DOWN By Jay Fortune ALL FALL DOWN by Jay Fortune ISBN: 9781914529382 is available NOW from store.jayfortune.co.uk, Waterstones, WH Smiths and all good bookshops. Blackpool artist, Jay Fortune, has added another string to his creative bow as an author. His new book, All Fall Down, was picked up by an independent publishing house and is now available in all good bookshops this summer.

ay began writing the novel in 2016, shortly before relocating to Blackpool. ‘When my partner Jen and I decided to move to Blackpool from Devon, I put the half-written manuscript away. During Lockdown, a friend encouraged me to dig it out and finish writing it.’ Jay completed the story in September 2021 when a publisher read it. ‘It was a weird chain of events really. My friend, who is also an author, said he’d like to read it. I sent it to him. He then sent it to his publisher! I was a bit shocked as I had no idea if what I’d written was even any good.’ The publisher, Chronos Publishing, offered Jay a contract when only half-way through the original manuscript. ‘I couldn’t believe it! I initially turned them down… but only until they had finished the story. I didn’t want them to reach the end and then decide they didn’t like it.’ All Fall Down is a dystopian psychological thriller that begins with a character called Micheal Hegessay, proud father, loving husband and pillar of the community, who mysteriously floats into the sky, holding a briefcase which contains a dirty secret that could bring his world crashing down. Gradually, more and more people join him, each with a story to tell. On the

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ground, fighting their own demons, a gang of unlikely misfits come together in this tale of Armageddon. ‘The idea began with a simple image in my mind of a young girl watching her father floating above her in the sky above their family home. It grew from there and ended up as this 540-page beast.’ Being an artist has certainly shaped Jay’s writing. ‘My art is very visual, bright backgrounds with fun compositions featuring figurative portraiture. I imagine things in pictures, usually in full colour with movement, so writing All Fall Down all spawned from one simple clear image.’ Writing and art have both been lifesaving career choices for Jay who was a successful magician until 2018. That summer, Jay suffered a breakdown due to living with a chronic pain condition from birth. ‘I was born with skeletal problems; my feet were facing the wrong way and my hips and back were twisted. Throughout my life, I’ve battled with pain on a daily basis. It got to the stage where I was unable to fly or drive to shows as I was in too much pain.’ Jay’s career as an entertainer gradually proved impossible for him. ‘I had to conserve my energy just to make it through the day. I loved doing shows but it just became unbearable and exhausting. I turned to my art, as I have a degree in Art and managed to start a new career as an artist.’ ‘Then Covid came and the restrictions were brought in. Suddenly, my new art business was struggling as galleries were closed and people

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became understandably wary of spending money on fine art. I have collectors who supported me with private commissions throughout, so I was extremely fortunate to have their support. When we entered another lockdown in 2021, I began to turn to writing to help with my anxiety. Becoming absorbed in the world I had created in All Fall Down allowed me to switch off from my pain and worries. I recommend writing or painting to anyone who suffers with anxiety or depression.’ So, is All Fall Down a one-off or are there more novels in the pipeline? ‘My editor Taryn brought her wealth of experience to All Fall Down and helped me shape characters, explore various threads and plot-lines and we realised that there was a natural sequel to the story. I’m now writing this which will be released, hopefully, 2023.’ Finally, we asked the ex-magician if there’s any Harry Potter style magic in his debut novel. ‘All Fall Down is definitely not for kids! But it does question the illusory nature of reality, so I think my love of magic has crept into the narrative. There isn’t a twist in the tail as such, it’s more of a gradual reveal, like a good piece of magic; what you think you’re seeing isn’t really what’s happening. If you enjoy shows such as Black Mirror, The Outer Limits and Tales of the Unexpected then I think you’ll really enjoy All Fall Down.’

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‘DEEP TIME’: New Public Art Programme FEATURING LEADING CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS ANNOUNCED FOR LAKE DISTRICT COAST • ‘Deep Time: Commissions for the Lake District Coast’ will see newly commissioned artworks by: Marcus Coates, Martin Boyce, Ryan Gander, Atelier Van Lieshout, Susan Philipsz and Yelena Popova. 174

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• Proposals for a major landmark artwork by Olafur Eliasson with Robert Macfarlane; Rachel Whiteread; Roger Hiorns with Tom Emerson (6a); and Piet Oudolf with Nicolas Becker, Tom Piper, Emanuele Coccia, AMI (Artist Moving Image) and vPPR. www.lancmag.com

Impact multiplied programme and Arts Council England.

depending on the tide, light and weather.

This new arts programme will see new artworks installed in coastal locations between the iron ore landscapes of Millom to the South and the Georgian maritime town Whitehaven to the North. This will include:

The programme draws on ideas of time, evoked by the area’s long relationship with geological and mineral exploration. Copeland is home to the world’s first undersea mine, alabaster and gypsum deposits, and - most notably - an abundance of iron ore which lends the landscape its distinctive red hue.

• Six new permanent site-specific art commissions by artists Martin Boyce, Marcus Coates, Ryan Gander, Atelier Van Lieshout, Susan Philipsz and Yelena Popova. • An exhibition of four design proposals for a major landmark artwork in Copeland by Olafur Eliasson with Robert Macfarlane; Rachel Whiteread; Roger Hiorns with Tom Emerson (6A); and Piet Oudolf with Thomas Piper, Nicolas Becker, Emanuele Coccia, AMI / Elena Hill (Artist Moving Image) and vPPR Architects at the Beacon Museum, Whitehaven, and Windermere Jetty Museum from September 2022. • Five new writers’ commissions by Kate Davis, Issi Nanabeyin, Himali Singh Soin, Richard Skelton and Ruth Sutton.

lesser-known stretch of England’s rugged North West coast is the inspiration for a new public art commissions programme announced today and launching in Spring 2023. The project is called Deep Time: Commissions for the Lake District Coast and draws on the varied landscape and rich heritage of West Cumbria, its people and place. Part of a wider coastal improvement project to shine the spotlight on this largely undiscovered stretch of coastline, Deep Time has been commissioned by Copeland Borough Council and is funded by HM Government’s Coastal Communities Fund, Sellafield Ltd’s Six Social www.lancmag.com

• A public engagement programme supported by Arts Council England including three artists residencies hosted by the CNPPA (Centre for National Parks and Protected Areas) to embed artists in Copeland featuring artists Alistair Debling, Jamie Jenkinson and Cristina Picchi. • A curated programme of art works and moving image works at landmarks and sites across the West Cumbrian Coast in spring 2023. • An opening weekend programme of performances, screenings and events in spring 2023. Deep Time will build on and celebrate West Cumbria’s rich and varied terrain, bringing artists into a dialogue with its ecology, history, industry and rugged beauty. This dynamic landscape is where the Lake District National Park meets the Irish Sea and is constantly changing

Although this area is home to four Lake District valleys, along with England’s deepest lake (Wastwater) and its tallest mountain (Scafell Pike), it is much more than lakes and fells. The towering red sandstone cliffs of St Bees Head are the only area of high sea cliffs in the North West and home to one of the largest colonies of sea birds on England’s west coast. The coastal village of Ravenglass has the rare accolade of being in two UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Hadrian’s Wall and the Lake District National Park) and Drigg is a 1000-acre area of internationally important sand-dunes. Meanwhile, the majestic peak of Black Combe towers over a patchwork of farmland and sandy beaches, including Silecroft and Haverigg. This coastline has been depicted for centuries by artists and writers; particularly Whitehaven, with its impressive Georgian architecture and rich history of shipbuilding, seafaring and trade. JMW Turner made works at Duddon Sands and Whitehaven, as did Alfred Heaton Cooper and William Heaton Cooper. The iron ore landscapes of Millom were also the inspiration and home of Norman Nicolson, the area’s bestknown poet. All of the Deep Time project artists have spent time in Cumbria to develop new works that actively reflect aspects of its landscape, people and place, including trips into the iconic Sellafield nuclear site. Sellafield - which is in the process of a decommissioning over some 100 years - raises debates around the role of nuclear energy within a post carbon and post nuclear society, alongside climate change and renewable energies.

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As part of today’s announcement, Deep Time’s site-specific Coastal Commissions artists are being revealed as: • Martin Boyce is a Turner Prize winning artist. He has been working with Edinburgh based architects Konishi Gaffney on the design of a new building for Silecroft beach overlooked by the imposing Black Combe fell. • Marcus Coates has been working in the ecologically rich area of Drigg and the Ravenglass near Muncaster Castle. This area includes over 1000 acres of dunes which are home to the rare Natterjack Toad. • Ryan Gander OBE RA has been commissioned to create a sculpture 176

that comments on time as a new currency and how, perhaps, as a society we need to move away from the accelerated growth of capitalism, to a more instinctive rhythm of the eco-systems in which we have always lived. • Atelier van Lieshout has been inspired by the area’s farming culture. He is creating a new architectural space where the public can take relief from the weather and a quiet space for farmers to use as an outdoor office. • Susan Philipsz is Turner Prize winner who has been working with Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners to develop a new artwork, taking a cue from the Georgian town’s seafaring past,

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including its role as a major port of the rum trade. • Yelena Popova originally trained as a theatre designer and has been investigating the area’s history of textile production. Working with Whitehaven’s Solway Hall, she is creating a giant textile artwork which will be a backdrop for performance and celebration. Reacting to the announcement, Mike Starkie, Copeland’s Elected Mayor, said: “There are already lots of reasons to visit Copeland, and we have a vibrant art scene. Our impressive coastline is the perfect location to inspire creativity. And now, by commissioning this project, we’re providing a way for artists to spotlight our hidden gem. www.lancmag.com

“The wide range of projects shows what we have to offer and celebrate here – the art will be inspired by everything from our World Heritage Sites to our status as an international leader in the nuclear industry. Next spring will be an incredibly exciting time and I look forward to seeing residents and visitors enjoy all the Deep Time projects.” Deep Time has been developed by curator and producer Aldo Rinaldi. He commented, “It has been wonderful to spend time exploring Cumbria’s west coast with the artists and writers involved in Deep Time. Creatives have been visiting this area for centuries, to experience and depict its varied landscape, culture, and people. “The site-specific artworks that have emerged are a direct result of these experiences of ‘place’. From its lost textile industry, to its iconic nuclear status, to its UNESCO World Heritage Status and flora artists are adept at getting under the skin of a place, and making us see things anew. I am looking forward to sharing their ideas with the public over the coming year” The Minister for Levelling Up, the Union and Constitution, Neil O’Brien MP added: “Backed by more than £1

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million from the Coastal Communities Fund, this project will help Cumbria reach its full economic potential through new facilities for visitors and unlocking sustainable employment opportunities for local people. By investing in ambitious projects like this, we’re levelling up communities across the country, boosting tourism and helping communities build back better from the pandemic.” Deep Time is part of a wider coastal improvement project called Connecting Cumbria’s Hidden Coast Programme (CCHC). Spearheaded by Copeland Borough Council, other key elements include the enhancement of the river Irt crossing with Natural England, footpath and route improvements for walkers and cyclists, new signage and interpretation and a major new building at Silecroft beach. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT DEEP TIME, VISIT: D www.deeptime.uk I @deeptimeuk F @DeepTimeUK ALL PHOTOGRAPHY: © Sam Scales

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The wagtail is a bird that wags its tail The wagtail is one of the most recognisable birds in the UK but numbers have dropped over the past 50 years. The Lancashire Wildlife Trust’s Alan Wright delights at encounters with this beautiful bird.

t is always a pleasure to see a wagtail in our towns and countryside, they are certainly one of our most colourful birds, whether they are pied, grey or yellow.

Yellow wagtail in Cadishead by Dave Steel

Wagtails tend to be easy to identify, because of the wagging of their long tails, whether it’s a pied wagtail wandering across a shopping precinct or a grey wagtail, bobbing on stones on a stream.

flutter from stone to stone and wag those tails like crazy on their hunts. That is a woodland river but I have also seen this bird on fast-flowing urban water courses, and I believe they breed close to Ellenbrook Church, in Salford.

Experts haven’t really worked out why the birds wag their tails – it could be social behaviour, helping them balance while preening their feathers or an action to flush insects out of hiding places. It is truly entertaining to watch the pied wagtail waltzing along outside a Wigan coffee shop, like some suited dandy. I watched, during a large cappuccino, as a male and female were involved in a dance of courtship at Robin Park. Another interesting phenomenon on that retail park, is that 500-600 pied wagtails gather on cold winter nights in a couple of trees, gaining warmth from being together and the big Next sign nearby. The pied wagtail is a familiar blackand-white bird, with a white face, white belly and white bars on the wings. The other two breeding species of wagtail in the UK both have yellow underparts. The pied wagtail is a familiar bird across towns and countryside. Its

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Pied wagtail on Little Woolden Moss by Dave Steel

The grey wagtail is not as boring as it sounds, with a black-and-white tail, a yellow rump and a yellow belly. It is grey above with black wings. Males have a grey face with a black throat bib and a white “moustache”.

black and white markings and long, wagging tail make it easy to identify as it scuttles across the road or lawn. I have been watching one this week, keeping just a few yards ahead of me as I walk the dog in Brinscall. Bird recorders are concerned in the Lancashire Bird Atlas, after a fall in numbers of more than 10 per cent in the late 90s, but they admit that it is difficult to count them because they spend a lot of the year apart and then suddenly “clump” together in winter. I get a great deal of joy, watching the grey wagtails seeking tadpoles and insects along my local river. They

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Young pied wagtail by Ken Hayes

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Grey wagtail feeding chicks by Peter Smith

Pied wagtails keeping warm at Robin Park in Wigan by Alan Wright Yellow wagtails by Dave Steel

The Bird Atlas tells me that numbers have increased in the past couple of decades with some birds moving into the region from outside. The other kind of wagtail is the yellow, which is a striking coloured bird, which I have seen on Little Woolden Moss in Salford. The Wildlife Trust nature reserve and surrounding farmland offer perfect conditions for birds dibbing around in the ground for insects. You will certainly be amazed if you see the olivey-green and yellow wagtail against the blackened peat of the moss. It has a yellow face and a blackand-white tail. The Bird Atlas found most of the population of this bird is south of the River Ribble and believes there are less than 50 pairs in the region at this time of year. So you are lucky if you see a yellow wagtail. Wagtails are real characters of both the town and countryside so enjoy your encounters with this charismatic and lively bird in any of its colourful forms.

Grey wagtail bobbing along on a river bank by Carl Partington

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20,000 Voices Cannot Be Ignored with stage Ia mucinous ovarian cancer – a rare type of ovarian cancer – in 2020. Annie added: “If we don’t share our ovarian cancer experiences with our MPs how will they know what we go through? How can we expect change if we don’t speak up?

Target Ovarian Cancer lead march to Downing Street to demand government take action on the ovarian cancer awareness crisis.

nough is enough. These are the words etched onto paper by over 20,000 people in an open letter, published by Target Ovarian Cancer, urging the government to take action on the ovarian cancer awareness crisis – a disease which kills 11 women every day. Today, Target Ovarian Cancer campaigners marched to Number 10 Downing Street to amplify the voices of thousands of people who have signed the open letter demanding that the government take urgent action to save lives. This momentous milestone – the first time thousands have come together to call on the government in this way – comes following the alarming findings of the charity’s latest research which revealed that four out of five women could not name the key symptom of ovarian cancer, persistent bloating. This is in addition to the Ovarian Cancer Audit Feasibility Pilot which revealed 14% of women diagnosed in England between 2013 and 2018 died within two months of diagnosis, and 30% died within the first year. The open letter has been led by Target Ovarian Cancer – the UK’s leading ovarian cancer charity that 180

improves early diagnosis, funds lifesaving research and provides muchneeded support to everyone affected by ovarian cancer. As there is no current effective screening process for ovarian cancer, knowing the symptoms – persistent bloating, abdominal pain, feeling full quickly, and needing to wee more urgently – is essential to survival and early diagnosis. Annwen Jones OBE, Chief Executive of Target Ovarian Cancer, said: “At Target Ovarian Cancer, we know that there is a huge crisis in ovarian cancer awareness and diagnosis and are overwhelmed by the strength of support our open letter has received. It’s extremely sobering to see over 20,000 people come together to demand that the government take immediate action to save lives. 20,000 voices cannot be ignored. “The reality is that too many people are dying as not enough is being done to make the symptoms of ovarian cancer known. The reality is that diagnosis is coming too late because of this. The reality is that we need the government’s support to reach anyone who could be diagnosed early with this disease in order to save lives.”

“The weeks and months that it took to get diagnosed and finally understand what was wrong with me took their toll. I genuinely thought it was middle age, perimenopause, and fibroids. Nothing rang alarm bells, and I don’t want that to happen to other women. That’s why we need more awareness around ovarian cancer, that’s why I’m on a mission to help make that happen.” The charity was outside Westminster today on behalf of 20,000 people, demanding the government take urgent action on the ovarian cancer awareness crisis. Della Ogunleye, 60 from London, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2019, also attended the open letter hand in, added: “Target Ovarian Cancer amplifies our voices. Together, we can reach places and have conversations that we may not be able to achieve alone. The saying goes, if you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go far go together. “We need greater awareness of symptoms now. By standing together our voices will be louder.” To find out more aboutTarget Ovarian Cancer or access its support line visit www.targetovariancancer.org.uk

The open letter tells the government what is needed to combat the crisis: dedicated ovarian cancer symptoms awareness campaigns across the UK. One supporter who joined fellow Target Ovarian Cancer’s campaigners is Annie Griffin, who was diagnosed

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GRUNDY ART GALLERY

Shining Light, 2022. Digital collage by Aliyah Hussain and pupils from Aspire Academy and Highfield Leadership Academy Photo © Grundy Art Gallery

SUMMER 2022 PROGRAMME 9 July – 24 September

This summer, Grundy Art Gallery is bursting at the seams with a range of exhibitions, events and activity taking place both inside and outside the building.

llr. Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council and Chair of Grundy’s steering group said, “From internationally recognised artists based in Blackpool and the wider North West, to the creativity of school pupils from our home town, the Grundy will, once again present a high quality and far reaching contemporary art programme that is a credit to Blackpool”. The programme includes, altered a major solo exhibition of the work

of North West based, internationally recognised sculptor, Tony Heaton OBE. Taking place across Grundy’s ground floor galleries this career-spanning exhibition explores Tony Heaton’s sculptural practice from his early work including his advocacy for disability rights and the initiation of NDACA, the National Disability Arts Collection and Archive, to more recent work including direct stone carving, and neon text pieces establishing his position in a wider art historical context. In addition to altered, exhibitions and artworks will also be presented beyond the four walls of Grundy’s building.

Elsewhere, sited on Grundy’s roof is a new illuminated text artwork by Blackpool based artist, Tom Ireland titled, Blackpool Stands Between Us and Revolution. Visible day and night, this artwork 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 artworks.

Grundy’s summer season is open to the public from 10am – 4.45pm (Last Entry 4.20pm) and will run until Saturday 24th September, open Tues – Sat (Closed Sun, Mon and Bank Holidays).

Continuing Grundy’s Forecourt Exhibition Programme, Shining Light will see a presentation of artwork generated by the artist and designer Aliyah Hussain, in partnership with secondary school children from Aspire Academy and Highfield Leadership Academy. This exhibition is the result of Grundy’s recent partnership with V&A Museums and their Design Lab Nation project.

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Balance Counselling and Coaching Ltd

PUT YOUR LIFE IN BALANCE By Kathryn Taylor

DEALING WITH THE LITTLE THINGS – I DON’T SHOUT.

ne of the most important things I’ve learned in my life is that it’s not always about what we say it’s often about how we say it. It’s difficult at times to understand why people react in ways we don’t expect and many reasons can impact that but quite often it is actually about the way we said it rather than, the words themselves and what we meant. This can be really difficult and confusing when our intentions weren’t to upset anyone or cause conflict. Understanding what drives our reactions and in turn our tone of voice was one of the things that has helped me most in my life and allowed me to build better relationships and deal with situations in different ways helping me create better results. Throughout my life I have had people tell me not to shout at them, which for me was always really confusing as I rarely shout and when I do it’s usually to get someone’s attention. Like my son when he is upstairs. Unlike a lot of people when I am angry, I don’t generally raise my voice, in fact when I am angry, I normally become quieter in the way I speak. What I have recognised was that in certain circumstances especially in work I would sit back and listen to what was going on when the conversation didn’t impact me or my area but find that when I felt someone was being treated unfairly and was not able to defend themselves that I would be having a conversation with myself in my

head about not getting involved as it had nothing to do with me. The sense of injustice about the situation would rise and keep rising and at some point, I would jump in to support the individual. Leading to me getting feedback about not shouting which left me really confused and feeling unfairly treated. As I knew I hadn’t shouted especially after I had feedback and I was now purposely ensuring I didn’t raise my voice yet I still got the feedback. Initially, this just made the situation worse and I started to feel like a victim of other people’s inability to manage or take constructive challenges. As I know now this response didn’t help the situation any and just led to a vicious circle where I felt worse. Then I had a light bulb moment where I finally understood what was going on. I was right I wasn’t shouting but I was altering my tone of voice and the impact of that was to make others feel like I was shouting because of the way I said things in terms of tone of voice, directness, forcefulness/ passion – It wasn’t what I was saying or level of voice at all. My tone expressed I wasn’t happy and others equated that with shouting. What we really don’t realise is that when we are holding back any form of emotion, be it frustration, anger, irritation, anxiety which can be caused by work,

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just asked I didn’t even know I was doing it.” Is what is likely to happen. In the second exchange you can see how both parties are now more emotional in their response.

relationships, trauma etc it builds the levels of stress in our bodies. Or if we are not at our best through, lack of sleep, water, food, exercise etc this can all take a toll on our mental wellbeing and ability to deal with day to day situations. Which all can lead to us reacting more strongly to situations than we realise. A simple example of this would be if you walk into a meeting and notice me clicking my pen top and it irritates/distracts you. If at the beginning of the meeting you asked me to stop you are likely to say something like, “Kath would you mind stopping clicking your pen as its distracting me” in a calm polite tone of voice invoking a response of “yes of course I hadn’t realised I was doing it” and I would put the pen down. The if during the meeting I happened to absently pick the pen up and start again all you would need to say is “Kath, pen” and I would likely respond with “sorry I forgot” and put it down again.

The reason we react like this is because we don’t speak up and say what is bothering us when we feel it’s something small or we think others might think we are being petty/ picky, so we hold on to the emotion and as things repeat or other things happen the stress builds so when we do speak up we are more emotional and stressed so the response is stronger and often inappropriate to the situation. We may find that we are taking out the frustrations and stresses of the day out on people close to us rather than dealing with the situations or speaking to the individuals concerned when they are minor. If we speak up and deal with the little things as they happen then it prevents us from building them up and affecting the way we approach things. This can prevent the outcomes/reactions we imagine or fear become realities.

Both of us would not be phased by either exchange and feel calm and relaxed. However, if you noticed it and didn’t say anything, because you thought it was minor, while I continued clicking the pen top throughout the meeting your level of irritation/frustration/distraction would continue to rise. Then at the point where it had built up to the point you needed to say something. Your response would be likely to be stronger in tone and express some if not all of your emotions. At this point you are more likely to say “KATH CAN YOU STOP DOING THAT ITS REALLY ANNOYING” the response you are likely to get in response again will be stronger in tone and emotion as I may well feel attacked verbally so a more defensive response along the lines of “OK, there’s no need to have a go at me you could have

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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WILLIAM LASSELL

- Far More Than Just an Amateur Astronomer By Margaret Brecknell 184

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During the early Victorian era, a brewer from Liverpool with no formal scientific qualifications took the world of astronomy by storm.

illiam Lassell may have only been a gifted amateur, but, aided by some revolutionary equipment which he himself devised, the Liverpool man made some of the most important astronomical discoveries of the 19th century. The son of a timber merchant, William Lassell was born in Bolton on 18th June 1799. The young William was educated locally, before spending some time at Rochdale Academy. In 1815, the family moved to Liverpool and Lassell was apprenticed for seven years to a local merchant, who is believed to have been involved in the drinks industry. Lassell was said to have had a passion for experimenting with mechanical instruments from a young age. At the age of around 21, he began to construct his own reflecting telescopes so that he could indulge in his other passion in life, namely astronomy. He probably did this out of necessity, initially, as astronomy was not a cheap hobby and at this stage he would have presumably been too poor to afford expensive equipment. Two years or so after finishing his apprenticeship, Lassell established his own brewery. There was a lot of money to be made in the beer-brewing industry at the time, particularly in a busy port like Liverpool, which attracted casual workers from all over the country as well as a constant stream of passengers, either arriving from Ireland and North America, or emigrating to a new land. Within a decade or so Lassell was sufficiently wealthy to move to a home in the Liverpool suburb of West Derby, which he named “Starfield”. Lassell’s house is long gone, but the name of “Starfield” lives on in the name of the street which now occupies the site once occupied by his property. He built his own observatory at “Starfield” and the telescope, which he installed there, included a brandnew feature. Lassell pioneered the practice of attaching an equatorial mount to a telescope. This device allowed the telescope to stay fixed on a celestial object for longer, because of its ability to compensate for the rotation of the Earth by a process known as “polar alignment”. In the early 1840s, Lassell decided to construct a new 24-inch aperture reflector telescope, again to be mounted equatorially. As a preliminary step, he travelled to Birr Castle in Ireland, the home of William Parsons, the Earl of Rosse, who was widely regarded as one of the most accomplished astronomers of the era. Rosse had recently unveiled at his home a huge 72-inch aperture telescope called the Leviathan, which remained the world’s largest telescope in terms of aperture size until the early 20th century. Such was the scale of this piece of equipment that when it came to its construction, the Earl had been compelled to come up with some hitherto untried techniques, particularly with regard to the grinding www.lancmag.com

and polishing of the speculum metal mirror that was then a key component in all reflecting telescopes. According to a later account which appeared in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Lassell is reported to have, initially, begun work on the speculum for his new telescope, using a grinding machine similar to that employed by Rosse. However, the account continues, “After some months’ work he was not satisfied with this apparatus and was led in consequence to contrive a machine for imitating as closely as possible those motions of the hand by which he had been accustomed to produce perfect surfaces on smaller specula”. This enabled Lassell to grind and polish the all-important speculum metal mirror to a higher specification than had been possible previously. Lassell was fortunate in being able to call on the assistance of Scottish-born engineer, James Nasmyth. The pair had first become acquainted in about 1840, by which time Nasmyth was already the proprietor of the Bridgewater Foundry, near Eccles. Nasmyth was himself a keen astronomer and, in addition to the innovative heavy machine tools for which he became well-known, he also turned his hand to constructing his own telescopes. In his autobiography he remembered the occasion when he showed Lassell a particularly fine speculum which he had cast at his own foundry, recalling that “The speculum was so brilliant that when my friend William Lassell saw it, he said ‘it made his mouth water’”. It is hardly surprising, then, that Lassell was keen to use Nasmyth’s expertise when it came to the manufacture of his new steam-driven grinding machine. In October 1846, with the aid of his new telescope, Lassell discovered the largest moon of Neptune, just 17 days after the discovery of Neptune itself by the German astronomer, Johann Gottfried Galle. The planet is now known to have 14 moons, but most have only been identified in recent years and, indeed, it took the best part of a century before even a second moon was discovered. This meant that for many years Lassell’s discovery was simply referred to as “the satellite of Neptune” and it was only eventually given the name of Triton (after a water god in Greek mythology) decades later. Using the same telescope, Lassell enjoyed further success two years later when he identified a previously unknown moon of Saturn. Lassell himself was responsible for the naming of this latest discovery, in honour of one of the Titans of Greek mythology, writing in his report to the Royal Astronomical Society that, “In communicating to you the particulars attending the discovery of an eighth satellite of Saturn, I shall adopt the proper names proposed by Sir John Herschel for the seven hitherto known satellites, namely Mimas, Enceladus, Tethys, Dione, Rhea, Titan and Japetus…The new satellite I have proposed, in conformity with this nomenclature, to call Hyperion”. Known now for its distinctive sponge-like appearance and non-spherical shape, Hyperion was also independently spotted in the same year of 1848 by US astronomer, William Bond and his son, George. All three men are jointly credited with its discovery.  LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 185

 By the time that Queen Victoria made her first visit to Liverpool in October 1851, William Lassell was so well-known for his work in the field of astronomy that the Queen specifically asked to meet him. In the same month he made another major breakthrough, when he found two previously undetected moons of Saturn, which were named Ariel and Umbriel.

He is also known to have dismantled and brought home the great 48-inch telescope which he had constructed in Malta. It was never used again and was eventually destroyed. “I may add that when witnessing the break up of the specula, I was not without a pang or two on hearing the heavy blow of sledge-hammers necessary to overcome the firmness of the alloy”, Lassells wrote in 1877.

In the early 1850s, Lassell travelled to Malta, complete with his 24-inch telescope, in the expectation that the Mediterranean island’s clearer skies would provide him with more favourable conditions for astronomical research than the smog with which he had to contend in the industrial North of England.

Despite ostensibly being an amateur, Lassell was widely respected by his peers and received some of British science’s most prestigious awards. Having been elected a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1839, he subsequently, in 1849, received its highest award, the Gold Medal. He later became the Society’s President. In 1858, he was also awarded a Royal Medal by the Royal Society “for his various astronomical discoveries and researches”.

Lassell subsequently started work on an even more ambitious project, doubling the size of his previous telescope so that he ended up with a huge 48-inch aperture telescope. In 1861, Lassell took this telescope with him to Malta and stayed there for the next four years. During this period he recorded detailed observations of many nebulae, satellites and planetary surfaces, with the assistance of a German astronomer named Albert Marth. During his time on the island, Lassell is known to have discovered 600 new nebulae alone. After his return from Malta, Lassell moved permanently to the Berkshire town of Maidenhead, where he purchased a large home near the River Thames known as Ray Lodge. Here he continued his research, setting up his 24-inch telescope in a specially built observatory in the grounds.

In October 1880, William Lassell passed away in Maidenhead at the age of 81. Following his death, the 24inch telescope, on which he had made his most famous discoveries, was donated to the Royal Observatory at Greenwich. The telescope was installed in a new purposebuilt dome, but was subsequently dismantled in 1895 and some of its parts are known to have been destroyed by the late 1920s. Happily, one of the huge speculum mirrors, of which Lassell was so proud, has survived to this day and has returned home. It now forms part of the impressive collection of astronomy and space science objects at the World Museum in Liverpool.n

Below: Astronomy Centre at Royal Observatory Greenwich including dome originally built to house Lassell’s telescope Photo Credit: Elliott Brown/CC BY 2.0

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Saba Douglas-Hamilton In the Footsteps of Elephants Autumn Tour 2022 Saba returns to the UK for the first time in 3 years for a brandnew tour. She will travel to 22 dates around the UK.

rom warring tribes to ivory poachers, conservationist and elephant expert, Saba DouglasHamilton, takes you on a wild and precipitous journey, meandering from Kenya to the Congo, Namibia to St Tropez, to share the trials and triumphs of what it takes to save a single species - the African elephant. Saba vividly brings to life our fight for nature with moving insights from her life amongst elephants, her childhood in the wild and work as a wildlife filmmaker. This tale of unlikely heroes fighting against the odds is one of courage, hope, compassion, and humour - that cannot fail to inspire us all. For this tour we are proudly sponsored by Yellow Zebra Safaris ‘Ten years ago, elephants across Africa were facing catastrophic declines due to poaching for their ivory. Thanks to a global coalition of scientists, activists, organisations, and nations the ivory trade is now on the back foot and poaching no longer threatens any major elephant population. This is a rare, good news story for the planet. I’m thrilled to be able to bring it to life - and to discuss the challenge of forging harmonious

coexistence between elephants and humans - in partnership with Yellow Zebra Safaris on a speaking tour of the UK in September & October.’ Saba Douglas Hamilton ‘We’ve worked for years with Saba, Save the Elephants and Elephant

Watch itself. It’s really very rare to find a product as authentic and as ‘real’ as Elephant Watch. We’re really very proud to work with Saba for this tour.’ Julian Carter-Manning Director and Co-Founder

TOUR DATES SEPTEMBER 13 BURY ST EDMUNDS THE APEX 14 NORWICH PLAYHOUSE 15 AYLESBURY WATERSIDE THEATRE 17 LEATHERHEAD THEATRE 18 IPSWICH CORN EXCHANGE 19 KINGS LYNN CORN EXCHANGE 20 YEOVIL WESTLANDS 21 EXETER NORTHCOTT

27 LONDON ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY 28 CHESTERFIELD WINDING WHEEL 29 WORCESTER HUNTINGDON HALL 30 ROYAL LEAMINGTONSPA OCTOBER 1 BRISTOL 1532 2 FROME CHEESE & GRAIN 3 BRIGHTON THEATRE ROYAL 4 CHRISTCHURCH REGENT CENTRE

F @sabadouglashamilton I @sabadouglashamilton

7 9 10 11 12 13

FOLKESTONE LEAS CLIFF HALL BUXTON OPERA HOUSE MORECAMBETHE PLATFORM ABERDEEN TIVOLI STIRLING MACROBERT ARTS CENTRE INVERNESS EDEN COURT

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“Just a Minute, First Things First!” By Harold Cunliffe From my observations many people celebrated the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II and the associated holiday too.

t our house both of our granddaughters came to stay for the weekend. My eldest, aged nine, decided to construct a display to celebrate the Jubilee by selecting items of ephemera from my archive of bygone days, those with a Royal connection. The display was placed on a fence close to footpath, next to the garden gate so the passing public could gain access and read retro events. Following a couple of hours of copying and laminating a variety of items were available. This proved popular to those who inspected the efforts made by my granddaughter, our neighbour opposite who had a clear view kept us up to date with the numbers inspecting the items on view. One of the items which were copied from my archive caught my interest; this was the twenty one gun salute which took place on a field on the Manchester Old Road which was located opposite the Old Town

Above: Twenty-One-gun salute from 1953.

Hall. One man who was part of the contingent of Territorial Army officers based at Heaton Park was Henry Mackay, who lived at that period at Oldham Road. On the day of the Coronation the four monster guns were fired at a time to coincide with Her Majesty leaving Buckingham Palace at the start of the Coronation service. Arthur Warhurst who is now in his 90’s requested a copy of this newspaper cutting due to the memories it brought back of his wartime experiences during WW2. He related the time he operated this particular type of gun during WW2

Below: 1977 procession on Manchester Old Rd.

when on Air Raid Precautions, aiming his lethal weapon at the enemy. At the time of the Queens Silver Jubilee in 1977 ironically Henry Mackay was on duty at the very same site on Manchester Old Road, the location of the Jubilee celebrations due to him being the superintendent of the St John Ambulance Brigade. At the time that I joined the brigade during the male members were all of a certain age, apart from one young cadet, it was like entering the cast of Dad’s Army. All the members were lovely to work with, and I soon became friends with many of them. No doubt all the members are now no longer with us. My duties included that of ‘Press Officer,’ which would mean making contact with the press and television to promote any events which took place and First Aid training courses which we ran twice a year. One elderly member who was very active for his age was my namesake. In fact he could have been a double for Godfrey in Dad’s Army. Harold did not require the constant relieving of himself however, but was suffering restricted hearing. This problem was not getting any better so I requested that he visits the clinic to have his ears checked out. It transpired that both were full of wax. The nurse used warm water to syringe out the wax

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which popped out looking like small cigars. All done we made our way back to the car, with Harold now being able to hear my conversation. Next a large lorry drove past and the noise made him jump almost out of his skin, it frightened him to death. Old Harold had done his bit for King and country during the Second World War, and had gained a souvenir, this was a false knee cap, he had his leg injured in action and his knee cap was shot off. During the practical part of a first aid course, the bandaging, Harold would attend without his false knee cap, and then have fun with the person who had been given a left leg injury which would require the locating of a knee cap prior to bandaging. The Brigade purchased an ex Lancashire County Council ambulance. Unfortunately, no member of the division could drive the vehicle so it had stood idle for a few years. Once I became a qualified member of the Brigade I was made the transport manager, the vehicle became my responsibility. The ambulance had a few unforeseen problems which were associated with its lack of use. One of the first events in which we used the ambulance was a pop concert; this was where a group known as “Stephenson’s Rockets” would cause the youngsters in the audience, mainly girls, to suffer bouts of hysteria and then collapse. At one concert I was on duty within the large hall when a teenage boy requested that I take a look at his friend. He claimed that he was in conversation with him but not receiving any response. The young man had placed himself behind one of the large fire doors inside the main hall which was fastened in the open position. Upon investigation the patient had suffered an asthma attack and was losing consciousness. It is amazing where www.lancmag.com

you gather the strength from at times of crisis; Grabbing a firm hold of him with both hands then carrying him up a flight of stairs to the first aid room would normally have been a two man operation. The team were delighted to see that after about an hour he was almost back to normal. In this instance we called for an ambulance which was fitted with oxygen. Many months later at an event a young boy came over to say hello. He just wanted to say “A big thank you for saving my life.” Little did I know at the time, but he was from the Highlands of Scotland, and sported a classic Scottish accent. It was such a pleasure to see him looking so well and enjoying life. One female casualty had to be urgently transported to the children’s hospital

was a teenager who had suffered a pelvic injury by being crushed at the front of the stage. This was the first casualty to be transported in the 1968 ambulance. All seemed to be going fine as we sped towards the Manchester Children’s Hospital with our patient, then a problem reared its ugly head from the lack of use of the vehicle. It came to light when I happened to look out of the rear view mirror to witness smoke bellowing from the rear of the vehicle. Stopping was not an option with having a casualty on board, so reducing the speed was the next best thing. Once at the hospital and with the patient booked in and receiving care, it was time to find out what was wrong with the vehicle. But before this inspection

could take place a nurse from the Accident and Emergency Dept. requested that I move my ambulance because the smoke and fumes was entering the hospital, which is a bit embarrassing. It was the lack of use which caused the brakes within the rear wheel drum to stick in the ‘on’ position, thus causing the overheating incident. This problem was easily solved, so we were good to go again.

“Just A Minute.” June 1977 saw over nine thousand people in our little town turn out to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee event which took place on the field as previously mentioned, the same site which fired the salute. Carnival floats set off from the Vitafoam works, located at Oldham Road. Three marching bands also joined in the procession. The glorious summer’s day saw hundreds of townsfolk line the roads, clapping and cheering as they made their way to the field in the shadow of Alkrington Hall, seen at the top of the hill. The first aid Post was allocated a central position in the large field, which would prove to be a problem if we had an emergency. Brigade member Jim O’Hara and myself relaxed in the rear of the ambulance having polished the chrome fitting and cleaned the leather seating, it did have an interior of quality, we both enjoyed the sound of the bands which were becoming louder as they moved towards the field. We decided to leave the rear doors of the vehicle open due to the build-up of excessive heat; this also gave a clear sound of the marching band, which happened to be a Scottish Pipe Band. The sound of the drum was impressive, the air vibrated to each strike. Then, without warning the music stopped, it stopped rather abruptly. Not the normal ending of a tune, odd notes were still being sounded, it was as if it had no direction.

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I followed procedure, which was to slow down to a safe speed, then only proceed when safe to do so. What happened next left me shocked and stunned. A voice came from behind my seat giving me instructions, “Put your foot down, you are in an emergency vehicle, do not stop, carry on at full speed!” I replied, “You can only proceed if safe to do so, but who are you anyway?” I asked a member of staff to investigate who this man was who had entered the cab. He was an imposter. In all the confusion back at the event, a man who was sporting a pint of beer had spotted the highland dress on our patient and being a fan decided to take a closer look. At the point that he entered the ambulance I had locked the rear doors, so that is how we gained an imposter.

Above: Mayoral Sunday with the St John Ambulance building, top left

Jim and I sat wondering what had happened to cause this interruption, then one of the Territorial Army lads came rushing over, he popped his head round the ambulance door, then announced, “You are needed urgently, a band member has collapsed, could be a heart attack or heat stroke.” As quickly as we could we marched over to the location, which happened to be behind a thorn hedge, then we decided to go through a hole in the hedge rather than walk a quarter of a mile around the fence, the T.A. lads were a great help in enlarging this opening. At first sight we noticed that the drummer had collapsed at the footpath side of the road, no doubt using the kerb stone as a sight line as he marched along. He lay in the gutter with arms outstretched, holding his drumsticks, but looking quite magnificent in his highland dress, and still sporting the large drum on his abdomen held in place with leather straps, which had to be removed immediately to aid breathing. It was when we removed his instrument that I noticed something missing, he only had one leg. In an emergency you 190

do tend to ask daft questions, mine being, “Did he have two legs when he set off?” Lifting the corner of his kilt we found his left leg down a rainwater gulley. It transpired that the cover, made from cast iron, had been stolen the previous night and no doubt sold for scrap. The diagnosis was that of shock due to injury, possibly a broken leg which would require a trip to a Manchester Hospital. Jim and I with the patient securely on the stretcher we retraced our route back to the ambulance. With nursing staff allocated the rear doors were secured, engaging the ‘blues and two’s’ we were off, well, off to a slow start. Member of the public thought that we were part of the display team, until they saw the urgency in my expression. A First Aid demonstration was listed in the itinerary. With half of the nation celebrating the Jubilee traffic was relatively light. Approaching a red traffic signal at a main road junction opposite the entrance to Heaton Park

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As we arrived at the hospital it was the practice to give a quick burst on the emergency air horn as you enter the hospital gate, to alert the A&E staff of your impending arrival with a patient requiring urgent attention, which in this case happened in perfect textbook fashion, two nurses came rushing out holding the doors open. Next we rushed our unconscious patient into the emergency cubicle and placed him on the hospital trolley. Back then, in 1977 we had matrons in charge of hospital wards, white hats and beautiful silver belt buckles, this department was a perfect example. The sound of matrons heals became louder as she approached the cubicle, then the curtain opened in swiftly and in authority, matron had arrived, and with a stern voice announced, “My goodness, what have we got here then?” I explained the situation and how he could have a leg or pelvic fracture, which prompted her to make a second remark, “Just a minute, first things first.” Then, as quick as a flash she grabbed hold of the bottom of his kilt, then lifting she commented, “Oh right, the secret is out, I had always wondered what a Scotsman wore under his kilt, now down to business!” Following a couple of hours of treatment the patient made a full recovery apart from being sore and suffering bruising. He lived at Stockport which left him and his wife stranded at the hospital having left all their belongings back at the fair with friends. It was decided that we would transport them home. As a thank you the band put on a www.lancmag.com

concert on behalf of our organisation which raised much needed funds. But the question remains, which no doubt you are dying to know, what does a Scotsman wear under his kilt? Everyone in the cubicle that day will confirm, because every pair of eyes zoomed in the patients direction at the lifting of the kilt to observe a stout pair of blue “Y” Fronts. But the question remains, do all Scotsmen adhere to this mode of undergarment? As for the inebriated imposter, he however requested that we transport him back to the event and urgently too because his glass was empty and he was worried the beer tent would be closed. He was escorted to the bus stop which was located close to the Accident and Emergency Dept.

“Dyson” had the answer

of the boot was when one of the boys in the group was late for work every day. I did explain that this was not acceptable and he must attend on time, a future employer would expect this. For the next seven working days the young chap was late seven times. Upon confronting him he commented that his mum put him on the 7.50am bus, so he could not arrive at Hopwood until 8.15am. His mother refused to put him on an earlier bus; ultimately I took action which saved his mum the trouble of getting up early and walking her son to the bus stop. There was no shortage of candidates wishing to join this project. On the whole the school leavers were decent and took part in the work we had to

Everyone is given a fair chance, so it was decided to have a word. Naturally this did no good, so a second attempt was made, in which I read him the riot act, and making my point in no uncertain terms too. I did notice that all the time I was speaking to him that he had his hand in his trouser pocket, constantly fiddling with something. Well, you think to yourself, “ What’s going on here then?” It was time to bring this rebuke to a conclusion at which the moment I ended my stern warnings, he gave a smile and produced a paper bag out of his trouser pocket and asked me if I would like a sweetie. My reply is totally unsuitable for publication, then, following the last word of my

Rochdale Council decided to commence a project in the wooded area of Hopwood known as ‘Lord’s Wood.’ This area once had a lake which was used for the production of ice in the winter. Close to the lake, which at this period was just a boggy area of land, was the remains of the old ice house. At the time it was no longer in use, the brick roof section was demolished and was dropped into the disused base. The building once was the shape of an egg, with most of the bottom section being underground. The project in which I was allocated the responsibility for saw the removal of the brick roof which exposed the well preserved interior of the house. Ice was gathered during the cold winter months and stored in the ice house, which the lower part remained cold due to being below ground level. It was noted that the ice, when well packed could be stored for months. The work carried out was financed under the “Job Creation Programme,” which saw school leavers given work experience for what was a small amount of money. On completion of the project those who took part and shown work ethics and enthusiasm would be given a reference which would give them an advantage at job interviews. It was however, only those who acted responsibly that received a glowing report. An instance of my refusal to issue a positive report, plus the order www.lancmag.com

The Dyson ‘Ball Barrow.’

perform. Just a few of the boys tried it on and were disruptive, thinking they were still at school. I did find it amusing how school leavers would call me “Sir,” and others wanted to know when ‘playtime’ was. One young chap sticks out in my mind. He was the son of a successful businessman, but his father was not keen upon having his son as part of his workforce, so was happy to have him out of the way, under my control. The Youth Opportunities officer requested a meeting and it was decided to give this young man a trial, under contract, and subject to conditions. From day one we found out how disruptive this new addition to the team could be.

comment, ending in the word “off,” he grabbed hold of the wheelbarrow, twisting his hands on the handle grip as if he was riding a motor cycle, then ran away making the sound of an engine, “Brum brum brum.” It was a forgone conclusion that he would not run the course, and the day arrived where he was released. This prompted the Youth Opportunities Officer visiting the office once again requesting that I reconsider and give the young man a second chance. I explained that he had many ‘second chances.’ During his time with my section we did give him work experience and taught him some basic skills, especially the use of a garden spade. This was confirmed on the BBC North West evening news which covered an item where burglars had targeted a house in a secluded

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part of Rochdale, but were foiled in their attempts to gain access to the property. It transpired that their son who was home alone chased them away by brandishing a garden spade, using it as a weapon. The main purpose of this scheme was to restore the Lords Wood Lake, which entailed the challenging task of removing years of silt. It was a very unpleasant job indeed with the midges and awful boggy ground to navigate. One problem was the removal of the silt via the use of a traditional wheelbarrow; the front wheel sank into the soft earth. Then we had a breakthrough, an advert in the local newspaper gave the answer. James Dyson had invented a “Ball” wheelbarrow which had a large ball instead of a slim wheel. This transformed the way we worked. Twelve barrows were purchased. The only downside was if the ball lost its pressure we had no way of repairing it.

Safety At Work

It was year two with the project at Lord’s Wood, which saw the scheme being handed to another supervisor, one employed specifically for the purpose. This was a great relief because I had a section to run and did not have the time to give this scheme my full attention. Having a chargehand with a council van would be less trouble. Well that was the plan, until the police visited my home one Saturday morning having stopped that van complete with my man in Essex. The year could have been 1978,

which was the same year that Rochdale Council decided to promote ‘Health and Safety at Work,’ by dedicating a week of events. There is a lot to be said regarding, “letting sleeping dogs lie.” The local newspaper covered two of the Council accidents which took place during this period. The first accident took place at Lord’s Wood when one of the team participants decided to inspect the ice house and accidentally fell into the deep excavation. The Fire Brigade had to erect a hoist to lift the injured young man out. The second serious accident involved a refuse disposal vehicle and an operative. The procedure was that waste was placed in the rear of the vehicle, which was then compacted by the use of a large metal screw mechanism which would compact the waste to the inside of the vehicle. This worked well until a cardboard box was disposed of, which would not be actioned by the screw, would bounce around on top of the screw. It was normal practice for a member of the crew to jump inside the waste hopper and using his feet to stamp on the box until the rotating screw took hold. On the day of the incident the operative lost his grip and slipped sending both of his legs in to the rotating mechanism. The Fire Services once again came to the rescue.

Divi Days

“Coffee morning is a good time to visit,” was the invitation made by the Vicar of Parkfield Church, Rev Marcia Wall to visit when it was announced that the church was to close. The purpose of the visit by myself and Danny Hardman was to document the church and its history for posterity prior to the doors closing for the final time. The town’s only Victoria Cross holder was once a parishioner at this

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church. On the day we both made our first visit we found a group of ladies all enjoying their beverages, all chatting away enjoying themselves. No doubt that this group looked forward to their weekly meetings. In conversation, one of the ladies, Loretta Broxton once worked at the Middleton Coop. Her position was the collating of the members dividend. M a n y housewives looked forward, even depended upon this cash being handed out. A report was published during December 1892 declaring that one Lancashire Cooperative Society was declaring a dividend of 2s 7d in the pound, this is equal to around 13 per cent today. In days gone by people would comment, “When I die, I want the Co-op to do my funeral, just think about all that Divi I will earn.” A supermarket loyalty card today is another form of Dividend, but unlike 1892, the return is 1p for every £2 spent in-store, thus giving a half of one per cent. Once the dividend came to an end many retailers’ enticed shoppers to spend more instore by giving out stamps, one of the most popular was “Green Shield Stamps,” the Co-op produced their own loyalty stamps. During my teenage years I also worked at the Co-op for a short period, at the Furnishing Store, so we both had something in common. But best of all, Loretta had an uncle who was a senior manager within the Co-operative group. During his many years with the society he had collected items which the Co-op handed out as free gifts. How many people remember the “Betterware” salesman, going door to door handing out free gifts, plastic milk bottle covers being the most useful. Our image shows a selection of retro items which the Coop used for promotional purposes, www.lancmag.com

she descended in her parachute. The excited audience witnessed her drift away from the racecourse and land at the Ship Canal Works at Trafford Park. Higgins however was blown towards Regent Road, then with some vigorous steering he encircled the racecourse and alighted within the centre of the course. Both participants received loud cheers from the audience. Airship, R38 over Trafford Park.

including a token worth 2/6d, a safety pin holder, button from the tunic of a CWS fire brigade officer, a 1937 Coronation note book and Jam Works note pad. An item of use to smokers is the cigar cutter. Thousands of pens and pencils were produced by the various factories like the Margarine works at Higher Irlam, Manchester. Loretta donated a number of items to my archive, one item she gifted was a photograph taken by her relative, Mr Houghton, when he was employed at the C.W.S. Wharf near the Manchester Ship Canal. It shows the airship, R.38 heading towards Manchester at 5.35 pm on the 24th August 1921. No doubt the airships used the Ship Canal as a navigational aid. It is the wish of Loretta that this photograph is saved for posterity, this was the reason she donated the original to my archive. Now scanned and digitally enhanced a copy will be offered to

Manchester Library and our local library service.

Freeview

It was thirty two years prior to the photograph being taken of the airship at Trafford Park that thousands of people made their way to a site near the new Manchester Ship Canal, to witness a double parachute descent at the Manchester Racecourse. It was advertised that “Professor” Higgins and Miss De Voy, who became celebrities due to performing this type of work, saw large numbers attend the district to witness the performance arriving by tram, train and omnibus. At the given time both balloons could be clearly seen as they reached a height of 7,000 feet at which all eyes were fixed upon Miss De Voy and a minute later “Professor” Higgins who were liberated from their balloons. Miss De Voy received a loud cheer as

It was reported that of the very large crowd that attended, only 700 to 800 people actually paid the admission fee, the rest were content to wait outside to obtain a freeview of the elevated performance, having an uninterrupted view of the ascent and descent of the parachutists which lasted in total ten minutes. Higgins was cheered when he announced that he would return soon with other parachutes.

Cool Dude

A Manchester businessman purchased a racehorse, and then found that the poor animal suffered bouts of being timid. Upon entering the animal in to a field it would hand around the entrance, and refused to gallop around and explore the field like the other horses did. The owner then began to wonder if the animal required spectacles, he suspected that the horse was short sighted. An oculist was employed to investigate and it transpired that the horse was in fact, short sighted. The test revealed that the animal had a number seven eye condition which required correction via a pair of glasses fitted with concave lenses. A week later visitors to the stable would witness the horse wearing his glasses, being seen with his head over the stable half door contentedly watching the hands performing their duties in the stable yard. The proof of success was when he was taken to the exercise field, where upon approaching he would be heard whinnying, then entering he would no longer show signs of being timid and take off kicking up his heals and to scamper up and down the pasture with delight.

Left: CWS Promotional items. Free C.W.S. gifts.

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Just The Ticket Profile: Joan Lind of TryBooking UK

After a successful, global career in advertising, Joan Lind moved to Kendal with Husband, Henry to run online events ticketing and booking service, TryBooking UK.

riginally from the Highlands of Scotland, Joan is the daughter of a minister who was also a keen traveller and she spent portions of her childhood living in Canada and the United States before studying business and commerce at Napier University in Edinburgh. While she was temping in Edinburgh a headhunter suggested she had the personality to work in advertising, something which saw her take on a role with well-established agency McCallum, whose accounts included the Edinburgh Festival and Drambuie. She enjoyed the experience so much that in 1990 she moved to London to work for Young and Rubicam (now VMLY&R) as an account administrator for clients Colgate Palmolive and United International Pictures (UIP). Then, in 1994 Joan was spotted by the tutor on a course she attended who gave her name to a headhunter searching for new recruits to help agency AMV with its newly-won client BT, where she worked on the high profile ‘It’s good to talk’ campaign. Despite her success in London, in 2000 moved to Sydney to work for M&C Saatchi as a group head, running accounts for clients including Australian airline Qantas and British Airways in Asia. A number of other roles followed before she and husband Henry made the decision to move to England in 2013 to support family.

2006, which Joan had already been using to book events such as school concerts.

“For the six months before we left Australia we were thinking about what we could do,” says Joan.

Before leaving Australia Henry and Joan pitched the idea to the chief executive of TryBooking that they begin running the business in the UK. In July 2014 they launched TryBooking in the UK with Cambridge and Oxford universities as their first clients.

“Do we do a gin company? Do we do holiday lets? What can we do in the Lakes?” The answer came in the form of TryBooking, an online ticketing service launched in Melbourne in

TryBooking, which is now based in Kendal’s Woolpack Yard, is a British company - with all the payment processing and data handling happening in the UK. Although they

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can work with clients organising free events anywhere in the world, they can only cater for paid-for events in the UK due to payment processing. However, the company still works with many international clients which are organising activities here. In the crowded market of online events ticketing and booking platforms, Joan says they chose to focus on marketing themselves to specific sectors. “Our unique selling point is really that we want to support communities, schools, charities and the arts and business,” she says. www.lancmag.com

Locally, TryBooking works with many business, carities and arts organisations including Lancashare, Pink Link Ladies Network, Backup North West, Cancer Care and the Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, while nationally clients can range from everything from universities to visiting comedians touring the UK. Joan says the aim is for TryBooking to be among the top five biggest companies of its type in the UK within the next five years. Despite having lived in cities most of their lives, she and Henry have settled happily into rural living near Kendal with their teenage son and daughter. Above: Joan Lind with Customer Service Team member, Jules

In the last eight years the company has managed millions of tickets and employs staff based across the whole of the North West of the country. The business bounced back strongly as lockdown restrictions lifted in last summer. “2022 has been the biggest year in the history of the business,” says Joan.

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She says a major focus is on working with individual customers to give them advice and develop specific solutions for their events. “One of our main principles is customer service,” “I’ve spent years with exemplary customer service, reading clients, asking questions, really getting to know them. And we take that into our business.”

“We at Trybooking feel privileged to be running a national company from the Lake District with a great customer service skills base and easy access to many parts of the country due to the West Coast Trainline and M6,” says Joan. “I feel privileged to live where I live.” 

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PAUL YOUNG ANNOUNCES NEW SHOW FOR ST HELENS THEATRE ROYAL IN SPRING 2023 Date announced as part of 96-date Behind The Lens major national tour

Iconic 1980s singer Paul Young has announced a major national tour for next year which includes one night at St Helens Theatre Royal in Spring 2023.

Now, on the 40th anniversary of No Parlez, Paul is releasing a remarkable new record and publishing his extraordinary memoir, both entitled Behind The Lens.

ehind The Lens UK Tour 2023 will take fans on a journey of his story through a unique show that will coincide with the publication of his autobiography.

He is also taking this music on tour to mark the milestone – he’ll meet fans, sing hits, and tell stories about his incredible career. Fans can look forward to revelling in classic hits and learn the stories behind them as Paul steps out from Behind The Lens.

Paul Young will perform at St Helens Theatre Royal on Friday 31 March 2023. Tickets are on sale now starting from £31 – VIP tickets, and greet and meet packages are also available.

Paul commented: “I’m looking forward to touring next year as the fans go Behind The Lens.”

Paul Young has been a major star for four decades. He broke into the big time 40 years ago when No Parlez went to Number One, followed by iconic hits including Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home). More success followed with the Number One album The Secret Of Association and the worldwide hit Everytime You Go Away, not forgetting an appearance at Live Aid. Paul sustained that success – while having fun in his tex-mex band Los Pacaminos. 196

Standard tickets are £31; VIP tickets including a goody bag are £46; with pre-show meet and greet tickets plus a goody bag are £81. For full details about the Behind The Lens tour visit https://paul-young. com/ Follow Paul Young on social media channels: F PaulYoungOfficial T @PaulYoungParlez

Follow St Helens Theatre Royal on social media channels: F St-Helens-Theatre-Royal T @TheatreRoyalStH I @TheatreRoyalStH

SHOW LISTING PAUL YOUNG – BEHIND THE LENS UK TOUR 2023 Date: Friday 31 March 2023 Time: 7.30pm Tickets: Standard £31 / VIP £46 / Meet and Greet £81 THEATRE ROYAL BOOKING DETAILS: ST HELENS THEATRE ROYAL Corporation Street, St Helens, Merseyside WA10 1LQ Telephone ticket booking line 01744 756000, lines open Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm. Book online at www.sthelenstheatreroyal.com

I @paulyoungparlez

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LULU HEADS TO ST HELENS THEATRE ROYAL AS PART OF HER 2023 UK TOUR

From Shout to James Bond, from To Sir With Love to The Eurovision Song Contest; Lulu is a bona fide British music legend. On the eve of the 60th anniversary of Shout, she’ll be touring the UK for the first time since Autumn 2019 with her most intimate show to date.

or The Record will combine remarkable stories and stunning clips with song. The show will be a chance to get to know the star, who has entertained legions of fans across 60 glorious years. The tour will start on April 15 2023 at Eastleigh Thornden Hall before visiting Scotland, Wales and all corners of England with 31 dates in Spring. It will resume in Scotland on October 4 for a further 30 dates, ending at Cheltenham Town Hall on November 12th. The show stops off at St Helens Theatre Royal on Friday 10th November 2023. Lulu said: “I’m excited to be sharing my story and my music with my first tour in four years. It’s been an incredible story and I’m looking forward to telling that in For The Record. This is a completely different show to anything I’ve ever done before.” The show will feature stories from Lulu’s remarkable career – from being friends with The Beatles to marrying a Bee Gee, from winning the Eurovision Song Contest to enjoying a colossal hit with Shout, from her relationship with David Bowie to the wonder of Relight My Fire, her Number One with Take That. There’ll be exclusive photography and video footage as well as incredible songs from a pop icon, whose star continues to burn bright.

SHOW LISTINGS LULU – FOR THE RECORD St Helens Theatre Royal Dates: Friday 10 November 2023 Time: 7.30pm Tickets: Standard £36, VIP £51, Meet & Greet £81 *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 Corporation Street, St Helens, Merseyside WA10 1LQ Telephone ticket booking line 01744 756000, lines open Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm. Book online at www.sthelenstheatreroyal.com

Tickets on sale now Follow St Helens Theatre Royal on social media channels: F St-Helens-Theatre-Royal T @TheatreRoyalStH I @TheatreRoyalStH

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ACTOR MICHAEL PARR WILL STAR IN RITA, SUE & BOB TOO! AT ST HELENS THEATRE ROYAL Best known as Emmerdale bad boy Ross Barton, the St Helensborn actor returns to hometown this Autumn. The comedy play will run 8 November to 13 November 2022

inspire someone the way I was all those years ago.” Rita, Sue & Bob Too! is brought to the stage by Regal Entertainments Ltd and directed by Chantelle Nolan, who is also Theatre Manager of St Helens Theatre Royal.

t Helens-born actor Michael Parr – best known for his role as an Emmerdale bad boy – is returning to his hometown this Autumn to star in raucous comedy Rita, Sue & Bob Too! It’s not just a return to his hometown, he will also revisit St Helens Theatre Royal to perform – Michael last appeared at the town centre venue when he appeared in Willy Russell’s iconic stage production Blood Brothers in 2005. Rita, Sue & Bob Too! will run at St Helens Theatre Royal between Tuesday 8 November and Sunday 13 November 2022. Tickets are on sale now from £18. The show is suitable for over 18s only. The hilarious comedy by Andrea Dunbar is based on the 1987 British film, and features a brilliantly funny script, impressive cast, and is bursting with all the best 80s music, taking audiences on a hilarious trip down memory lane through this cult classic. Michael will play the role of Bob. He will be joined by a fantastic cast including comedians Crissy Rock as Mother and Duggie Brown as Dad; and St Helens favourites Tori Hargreaves as Michelle; Olivia Sloyan as Sue; and Kay Nicholson as Rita. Crissy, Duggie, and Olivia reprise their roles of Mother, Dad, and Sue after appearing in the 2016 production of the show. Previous productions of the comedy at St Helens Theatre Royal proved massively popular, breaking box office records in 2011, 2012, 2015, and 2016. Rita, Sue & Bob Too! is a comedy, telling the gritty tale of love, lust, and the ultimate test of friendship. Rita and Sue are two working class 198

girls from a run-down council estate who are about to finish their final year at school. In their spare time, they earn money babysitting for married couple Bob and Michelle. Behind Michelle’s back, Bob embarks on an affair with both Rita and Sue, who take it in turns with him in his car in the countryside. Michelle eventually finds out and leaves lothario Bob. When Bob later develops a preference for Rita, the two girls fall out but when Sue ends up in an abusive relationship, the trio are reunited. It’s a welcome return to St Helens for award-winning actor Michael Parr. After beginning his performing career aged 14, Michael was cast as Amahl in Amahl And The Night Visitors – and has since worked extensively across stage and screen in plays, musicals, TV, and feature films. He is best known for his award-winning portrayal of village bad boy and thug Ross Barton in ITV’s Emmerdale – a role which Michael maintains couldn’t be further from his own real-life personality. Michael is delighted to be performing in his hometown and returning to St Helens Theatre Royal, having last performed there in 2005 as Mickey in Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers. Michael commented: “St Helens Theatre Royal is where it all began for me really – this is where I realised that I wanted to be a professional actor. Being back here, it really does feel like things have come full circle, it’s a wonderful feeling. I can only hope that I can

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Director and Theatre Manager Chantelle Nolan added: “This is a very exciting announcement for us – both the return of one of our most popular comedy productions, and for homegrown talent Michael Parr, who last performed on the St Helens Theatre Royal stage 17 years ago when he was just embarking on his successful acting career. He has since gone on to establish himself as a very accomplished and award-winning actor. I am sure that audiences will give Michael and our fantastic cast a very warm St Helens welcome.” Follow St Helens Theatre Royal on social media channels: F St-Helens-Theatre-Royal T @TheatreRoyalStH I @TheatreRoyalStH SHOW LISTING RITA, SUE AND BOB TOO! Date: Tuesday 8 November – Sunday 13 November 2022 Time: Various times Tickets: From £18* *All prices are inclusive of a £1 per seat booking fee. Online bookings are subject to an additional 50p per seat online processing fee.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE: 8 - 11 Nov 2022 – 7.30pm Sat 12 Nov 2022 – 3pm / 8pm Sun 13 Nov 2022 – 6pm BOOKING DETAILS ST HELENS THEATRE ROYAL Corporation Street, St Helens, Merseyside WA10 1LQ Telephone ticket booking line 01744 756000, lines open Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm. Book online at www.sthelenstheatreroyal.com

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North Fylde Photographic Society Has a star in their midst - Nicki Greenwood.

icki entered the PDI category of the annual L&CPU club competition and was delighted that two of her images were awarded silver and another was commended. Nicki said “Additionally my nature images saw me awarded joint first place in the PDI Nature Category, One of those images was ‘Maori Wrasse on Reef”. Nicki was born into a military family and spent her life on the move seeing new places when travelling. Nicki said “I had a camera in my hand from about the age of seven, my Mum’s old Box Brownie” As an adult she joined the Army to train as a nurse and then went onto working for the Medical Defence Union providing bespoke indemnity so-lutions for healthcare companies. She still loves to travel and always have a camera with her now. Some of her pictures with be in the Cleveleys Library and Anchorsholme Library through September. www.lancmag.com

North Fylde Photographic Society The Church of St Martin and St Hilda, Fleetwood Road, Carleton FY6 7LS.

The Club will Open from September through to April for the new season every Tuesday Evening 7:30pm showing photographs, lectures and Competitions, you can learn a lot of photographic information to help you on the way and you can talk to Nicki, to find out how she did such a good job of some of her splendid pictures.

Please check our programme on our web site for any changes. On line Exhibition showing our pictures from competitions on our web site Dwww.northfylde-ps.co.uk N 01253 734243

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Human change not climate change! Museum urges visitors to protect the planet Street Artist Angry Dan works on his mural

International street artist, Angry Dan’s mural displays the effects of climate change in Cumbria. The mural will be erased from the exhibition gallery when Once Upon A Planet concludes, but a mini documentary of its creation will become part of the Tullie collection. Anna Smalley, Head of Collections and Engagement at Tullie says “We are incredibly proud of this exhibition and the Once Upon A Planet project. We think our visitors are going to come away feeling inspired and motivated to make positive changes for our planet.”

A Cumbrian museum is taking a lead role in urging people to change their behaviour to help limit the damaging effects of climate change.

he new “Once Upon a Planet” Exhibition, at Tullie House in Carlisle, asks for “human change not climate change.” It’s recruited an internationally renowned street artist to create a stunning mural highlighting how climate change is damaging the places in which we live. The Museum has delved into its extensive natural science collection of taxidermy, geology and entomology – some previously unseen by the public - to inform and inspire visitors around the issue of climate change. • Extinct species will be represented by taxidermy from the museum’s collection, supplemented by information on extinction causes, species at risk and conservation. • The exhibition will introduce visitors to the idea of ‘active citizenship’ and suggest actions they can take to live more sustainably.

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Andrew Mackay, Director of Tullie, says: “We want to be a place that fosters ideas and inspiration, a leader for change, and a strong advocate for environmental responsibility within our community. We use our collections to inspire a love of nature and the environment, to advocate for biodiversity, and to highlight the critical issues we must all face before it’s too late.” He says the museum is practicing what it preaches: “At Tullie, we recognise that our day-to-day activity has an impact on the environment, and that it’s our responsibility to do everything we can to address this in response to the climate crisis. “By reducing consumption of non-renewable resources, reusing materials and recycling what we can, we’re helping to look after our planet in its hour of need. “ Tullie’s commitment to sustainability features in the exhibition, with examples of how the museum is working to reduce its environmental impact. The displays are made from materials used in at least one exhibition before and will be used again.

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As the museum strives to be more accessible, Once Upon A Planet will be its first exhibition to use British Sign Language in parts. Thanks to Cumbria Deaf Association, some videos within the exhibition will have BSL interpretation. Visitors can also learn BSL signs for key environmental terms from a looping video, kindly provided by Scottish Sensory Centre. The exhibition is part of a larger two-year project, also called Once Upon A Planet, made possible by the Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund administered by Museums Association. Once Upon A Planet runs from Saturday 25 June until Saturday 10 September. For more information on the accompanying activities programme visit: www.tulliehouse.co.uk/onceupon-planet-events-andactivities

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Candice Breitz: Love Story at Tate Liverpool

Candice Breitz considers global scale of the refugee crisis and whose voices we are willing to listen to in Love Story at Tate Liverpool.

rom 11 July, Tate Liverpool will present Candice Breitz’s Love Story 2016 for the first time in the UK. Her highly topical, thoughtprovoking, seven-channel installation considers whose voices we are willing to listen to in a media-saturated world. Does our need to be entertained harm our ability to pay attention? How does the manner in which a story is told encourage or reduce our ability to feel empathy? Evoking the global scale of the refugee crisis, Love Story is based on interviews with six people from different parts of the world who have been forced to flee unbearable circumstances in their home countries. In a first room, actors Alec Baldwin and Julianne Moore re-perform fragments from these interviews in a fast-paced montage on a large cinemasized screen. Breitz’s edit intertwines www.lancmag.com

the six renditions, plotting the diverse socio-political circumstances and personal experiences that prompted the interviewees to leave their countries. These performances are followed in a second space by the original full-length interviews, presented on six individual screens, as each of the refugees share their lived experiences.

Luis Ernesto Nava Molero, a political dissident from Venezuela; and Farah Abdi Mohammed, a young atheist from Somalia.

Love Story reflects on a media environment that prioritises celebrity over the real-life experiences of people facing adversity. Blockbuster films or celebrity-led charity campaigns may move audiences, but those most affected are seldom given the opportunity to tell their own stories.

Born in in Johannesburg, Candice Breitz (b.1972) is a Berlin-based artist whose moving image installations have been shown internationally. Solo exhibitions of Breitz’s work have been held at Fondazione Modena Arti Visive, Modena; Kunstmuseum, Stuttgart; National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Palais de Tokyo, Paris; Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead; and the South African National Gallery, Cape Town.

The interviews were conducted in Berlin, New York and Cape Town, where each person was seeking or had recently been granted asylum. They feature Sarah Ezzat Mardini, who escaped war-torn Syria; José Maria João, a former child soldier from Angola; Mamy Maloba Langa, who fled sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo; Shabeena Francis Saveri, an Indian transgender activist;

One of the most talked-about works at the 2017 Venice Biennale, this is the first time that Love Story has been shown in the UK since being acquired for Tate’s collection.

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Understanding how Parents Trauma can Leave Biological Traces in their Children By Sarah Ridgway

Extensive research has been conducted, which has produced strong evidence that parental trauma such as PTSD can alter how genes are transmitted through the generations.

his intensive study has been carried out across the world, to understand what experiences have an impact on the next generation. Trauma can be influenced in a variety of ways, and the most obvious route for these changes is behaviour of the parents. But studies have also suggested that an unborn child in the womb can be influenced and any changes in eggs and sperm.

After the collapse of the twin towers at the World Trade Centre on September 11, 2001, clinicians at the Manhattan-based Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai invited people who had been in the area to come in to be checked for toxin exposure. 187 pregnant women were among those who came in for an evaluation, and many were suffering from shock. Due to being at risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder, they were put under surveillance to detect if their foetuses were also at risk. The trauma team led by Rachel Yehuda trained other healthcare professionals to assist them with the evaluation. The women’s pregnancies were monitored, and the babies born were smaller than usual. This indicated that the stress and trauma of the event had made their way into the womb. Nine months later 38 of the women came into the clinic for a wellness visit, and psychological evaluations determined that many of the mothers had developed PTSD. The mothers that had PTSD had abnormally low levels of cortisol. The fact that the saliva of the nine-monthold babies also displayed low levels of cortisol was a disturbing find. The clinic found this was more dominant for babies whose mothers were in their third trimester on the day of the attack. The same team had conducted a study on adult children of Holocaust 202

survivors one year earlier, and also found low levels of cortisol. It was initially believed to be connected to being raised by parents who were still suffering long-term from the trauma, but after this study, it appeared trauma can leave traces in their children before they are even born. The Effects of The Dutch Hunger Winter Famine Many studies have been carried out on significant traumatic events in history, such as the Dutch Famine. During the last months of World War II, the Netherlands was in the tight grip of famine due to embargos on food transport imposed by the Nazis, bitter winters, and bad crops. During this time, the Dutch were forced to live on rations of 400-800 calories per day, and many people resorted to eating grass and tulips to survive. Studies showed the children of women that were pregnant during the famine died earlier than others born just before the food shortages. They also had higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and schizophrenia. Further studies alluded that the children born to parents who had starved early in life, even inside the womb, suffered from more heart disease. What is Cortisol Cortisol is a steroid hormone and is formed by the adrenal glands, which are found on top of each kidney. The pituitary gland located inside the brain determines the amount of cortisol released by the adrenal glands. The pea-sized gland is located at the base of the brain and is also known as the “master gland”.

Cortisol is essential for the fight or flight response which is a physiological reaction when confronted by something frightening, either mentally or physically. This response is also known as the acute stress response. The response is triggered by the release of hormones that equip the body to stay and confront the threat or to run away to a safe place. The amount of cortisol produced by the body is extremely regulated to make sure the balance is always correct. Cortisol is also known as “the stress hormone” and is released in the body during times of stress. The hormone plays an important role in how the body functions. It is essential that the body has the right balance of cortisol if the body produces too much or not enough it can cause problems. There are conditions where the levels being produced are affected, Cushing’s syndrome is one and is where the body produces too much. Another is Addison’s disease and is where it does not produce enough. When too much cortisol is produced in the body it can cause: • weight gain, especially in the face and the abdomen • fragile and thin skin that takes time to heal • in women, facial hair can appear and can experience irregular menstrual periods. When not enough cortisol is produced it can cause: persistent tiredness nausea and vomiting weight loss weakness of muscles abdomen pain

When cortisol is released into the bloodstream it can assist many parts of the body and can help:

• • • • •

• how the immune system works • how the body reacts to stress or danger • increase the body’s metabolism of glucose • control blood pressure • reduce inflammation

If people experience any of these symptoms it is advised to visit their doctor who can perform a blood test to measure their cortisol levels. A doctor can prescribe corticosteroids in these situations which are synthetic versions of cortisol that can treat some of these symptoms and conditions.

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Epigenetic Trauma Epigenetics is where the readability or the expression of genes is altered without the DNA code being changed. Meaning, when there is a change in the environment tiny chemical tags are added to or removed from our DNA in response. These tags can turn genes on and off, providing a method of adaptation and have effects that could be inherited. An example being children and grandchildren of survivors of the holocaust who were found to have increased anxiety, depression, and behavioural problems. Neuroscientist and physician Ali Jawaid at the University of Zurich UZH has started research at orphanages across Pakistan. He aims to explain how early life trauma affects development and doesn’t stop with the immediately affected individual but can be passed on through generations. The research focuses on the brain and body of children who had lost a parent early on in life. The study will check what negative effects linger till adulthood and what impact it has on the germ cells. It will also observe if the effects are transmitted to the next generation. The study will also check if any additional factors such as foster care or taking supplements such as cod liver oil decrease the damaging effects of trauma and passing it on. Jawaid www.lancmag.com

collected blood and saliva from children in the Pakistani orphanages and also from their classmates who live with their parents. Jawaid is a researcher in the lab of Isabelle Mansuy of the UZH and ETH Zurich. He hopes to see if the trauma of loss and being separated from a parent makes a significant mark on cells. The outcome of this process means the orphans will need to be observed for many years until they become parents themselves. In the meantime, Isabelle Mansuy has turned the investigation to mice. Mansuy is exploring the theory that not all inherited characteristics are inside our DNA. This is an idea that was explored half a century ago, where early indications to prove this idea came from the results of studying maize. In 2001 Isabelle Mansuy began studying mice, and one example included separating a mother from her pups while recreating childhood trauma. The pups were separated from their mother at erratic times and created further traumatic experiences such as dropping them in water and keeping the mother in tubes. These incidents stressed the pups, and when the mother returned to the cage, she often ignored her pups. As predicted the pups showed altered behaviour as adults and these changes continued into the offspring’s offspring. Initially,

this was thought to be due to the mice being bad parents caused by their trauma when they were young and were simply replicating this neglect onto their pups. Mansuy wanted to rule out this theory and began a study solely on the male line. The next step was to mate a three-month-old male pup with an untraumatized female to study the effects on their offspring. The male was removed after the pups were born so their behaviour could not influence their offspring. Once the pups were weaned, the mice were placed in mixed groups to stop other mice from enforcing each other’s behaviour. The study was repeated in up to six generations. The results showed their offspring to display signs of epigenetic and changes in behaviour without directly experiencing the trauma. The mice descended from stressed fathers were risk-takers such as climbing uncovered platform areas suspended off the ground. Also, when the mice were dropped in water they were defeated sooner and stopped swimming earlier than other mice, which is a strong sign of depressive behaviour. Thankfully, research continues into this complex subject and is constantly evolving to help understand further how and why parents’ trauma leaves biological traces in their offspring.

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DISCOVERING THE ROMANS - in Lancashire and the North-West By Margaret Brecknell building fragments unearthed during excavation work on the military headquarters (known to the Romans as the “principia”, or “primary buildings”) and the Roman baths.

Above: Chester Roman Gardens

The Romans may have left these shores around 1600 years ago, but evidence of their occupation may still be found all over the country, not least here in North-West England.

he Romans may have left these shores around 1600 years ago, but evidence of their occupation may still be found all over the country, not least here in North-West England. Here are some of the best places to discover the Romans in this part of the world.

CHESTER A fort on the River Dee was established early in the Roman occupation of Britain during the latter part of the first century AD. Known as Castra Deva, a civilian settlement later developed around the military camp and it became one of the most important locations in Roman Britain. Evidence of the Roman occupation may still be found all over the modern city of Chester. Chester’s famous city walls were originally built by the Romans. 204

Although they were significantly upgraded during the medieval period, the foundations of the original Roman structure are still visible in places. Today, they are no longer required to protect the city from the attention of unwanted visitors, but tourists still like to walk around the entire 2-mile length of Chester’s ancient walls and there is no better place to enjoy spectacular views of the modern city. Chester’s Roman amphitheatre lay hidden for centuries, right in the heart of the city centre, until the ruins of its northern half were rediscovered in the early 20th century. Subsequent excavation work has revealed that the amphitheatre was the largest structure of its kind in Roman Britain, with the capacity to house some 10,000 spectators. The Roman Gardens, which are situated nearby, are much more recent in date than their name may suggest. They were established in the immediate post-World War II years to showcase an interesting selection of finds from Chester’s Roman past, effectively creating a free open-air museum. Among the interesting artefacts displayed are

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New discoveries dating to the Roman occupation continue to be uncovered to this day, often as a result of building work. The underground remains of a Roman strongroom, used to store valuables at the “principia”, were unearthed during a redevelopment project in the Northgate Street area of the city. Column bases, which once formed part of the military headquarters, are scattered in various locations around the city centre, as are remains of mosaic floors and in one basement, on Bridge Street, a hypocaust (the Roman equivalent of a modern central heating system).

RIBCHESTER The present-day Ribble Valley village of Ribchester is situated on the site of a Roman settlement called Bremetenacum Veteranorum. The location was of great strategic importance to the Romans. Not only was it the site of an important crossing-point over the River Ribble, but it was also situated at a junction where two Roman roads converged. By the late first century AD, it had become the administrative centre for the region and was home to a thriving civilian settlement as well as a military fort. Its importance is underlined by its use as a place where veteran soldiers were settled (indicated by the “Veteranorum” in its name). Archaeological interest has been shown in Ribchester since the 16th century, but the first proper excavation work in the village took place some 300 years or so later, when the outline of the original Roman fort was discovered. Subsequent archaeological digs have unearthed evidence of buildings including www.lancmag.com

New For Autumn/Winter ‘22

Above: Remains of Roman Bath House in Ribchester Credit: “Trappedinburnley/CC BY-SA 4.0”

granaries, a bath house and a pottery kiln. Today, it is possible to walk round the excavated foundations of the Roman bath house. The site includes useful visitor information boards, which explain the original layout of the baths. Since 1915, Ribchester has been home to Lancashire’s only dedicated Roman antiquities museum. Originally established because of concerns regarding the number of artefacts which were being removed from the village, the museum’s impressive collection tells the fascinating story of the Roman settlement that once occupied the site.

stone fort, probably, historians now believe, because of the increased threat of attack by raiders from across the sea in Ireland. This may well also be the reason why the garrison remained occupied until well after other Roman forts in Lancashire had been abandoned. Sections of the outer wall from this fort survived long after the Romans left and became known by the locals as the “Wery Wall”. Only one piece of the wall remains above ground

today and this may be viewed in one corner of Vicarage Field, just below Lancaster Priory Church. The remains of a Roman bath house may also be viewed here. This was originally thought to have been constructed for use by occupants of the military fort. However, it is now believed to have formed part of a large courtyard house, probably the home of an important Roman official, which was demolished to make way for the new and enlarged stone fort.

Below: Roman Bath House and Wery Wall, Lancaster Credit: “Antiquary/CC BY-SA 4.0”

LANCASTER A Roman fort once occupied the site at the top of Castle Hill which is now the location of the city’s imposing medieval castle and priory church. The first fort on the site is believed to have dated from around AD70 and was timber-built, but this was subsequently enlarged and rebuilt in stone during the early 2nd century. A civilian settlement also emerged in the vicinity of the fort, probably along the line of the present-day Church Street. In about AD330, the decision was taken to build a bigger and better 206

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bath house and hypocaust, with archaeologists suggesting that the building could have been a “mansio” (a Roman hotel).

ST JOHN’S CHURCH, CLIFTON

Above: Reconstructed Roman Fort in Castlefield, Manchester Credit: “Pit-yacker/CC BY-SA 3.0”

MANCHESTER The story of Manchester’s rapid expansion into one of the world’s major industrial cities during the 19th century is well-known. However, the area’s long and interesting history before that date, going all the way back to Roman times, is often ignored or forgotten. In around AD80, the Romans established a fort known as Macumium, or Mancunium, close to two major Roman roads in the NorthWest, in what is now the Castlefield area of the city. As with so many other Roman settlements, the original timber fort was later rebuilt in stone and a village (or “vicus” in Latin) developed nearby. The settlement was abandoned when the Romans left Britain and for centuries stone from the site was plundered for building purposes. Any remaining traces of the Roman settlement were levelled during the early 19th century when construction work on Manchester’s new canal and rail network began in earnest. As Castlefield became ever more industrialised, warehouses and factories populated the area once occupied by the old Roman fort.

The site now includes a reconstruction of the Roman fort’s North Gate, which has been built on its original foundations, as well as excavated remains of some other buildings including the granary. These provide a tantalising glimpse into how Manchester’s original Roman settlement must have once looked.

WIGAN The Roman settlement of Coccium is believed to have been located on the site now occupied by Wigan. The settlement is named as a road station in a late 2nd-century official document known as the Antonine Itinerary, which details the roads of the Roman Empire, but relatively little else is known about it. Various archaeological finds have been made in the Wigan area over the years such as coins and pottery, indicating the presence of a Roman settlement there. However, the most conclusive evidence yet was discovered in the early years of the 21st century during a redevelopment project in the town centre, when the foundations of a major Roman building were discovered. Excavation work revealed the remains of a Roman

The stone font of St John’s Church, close to the Fylde village of Clifton in the parish of Lund, is believed to be of Roman origin. Dancing human figures, which are thought to represent the pagan mother goddesses, are crudely carved on three of its sides. Nobody knows for certain how a pagan altar dating from around 1600 years ago ended up in a Christian church. According to the parish register, the font was first set up in 1688 by a church warden from Kirkham named Matt Hall, much to the displeasure of parishioners who described it as a “scandalous trough”. History does not record how the church warden acquired it in the first place. Worship of the mother goddesses was common in Roman Britain. An altar, made of similar stone, was discovered in Ribchester. As St John’s Church lies close to the former Roman road which ran between Ribchester and the Fylde, it is possible that the “scandalous trough” was originally used as a pagan altar at the Ribchester camp. Alternatively, it may have been associated with a Roman fort, which is believed to have been active in the Kirkham area during the early part of the Romano-British era. All this goes to show that evidence of the Roman occupation of NorthWest Britain may sometimes be found in the most surprising of places.

Below: Ruins of Roman Bath House, Wigan

For nearly two centuries, evidence of Manchester’s Roman past lay deep underground, buried and neglected. However, as the 20th century progressed, use of Castlefield’s transport network declined sharply and its once busy canal warehouses fell into disuse. In urgent need of regeneration, Castlefield was, in 1980, designated as a conservation area. Two years later, plans were unveiled to create the UK’s first Urban Heritage Park and the decision was taken to reconstruct part of the Roman fort, as well as excavating some of its original foundations. www.lancmag.com

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Pilgrim Hope Solicitors We’re On Your Side

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ilgrim Hope provide personal, legal support and advice for people experiencing significant upheaval in their lives, giving them clarity and resolution so they can move forward. We’re a modern firm with traditional values who believe in honesty, integrity and simplicity. We listen carefully, supporting you throughout the whole process. Our one-to-one service means you can be confident you’re always dealing with the same person as we know this means we give you the best service, keeping you up to date on your case and what the next steps are. We don’t believe in using jargon or old fashioned, pompous language, you can rely on us to be clear. Communicating well with our clients is important to us, so we know you understand what’s happening without being overwhelmed by stuffy language. Our experienced and expert solicitors offer services in a number of different legal disciplines: • • • • • • •

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the experience to see the bigger, longterm picture and know exactly what advice to give that will leave you with the most positive outcome. We’ll never give advice or take action without aiming for the best. We’ll always be straightforward and honest, doing the right things on your behalf. People and relationships are our priority and we operate ethically and with integrity, having your case dealt with by the same solicitor means you can rely on us throughout the time you need us and we know you’ll have the knowledge and understanding of every step both now and for the future We offer a holistic service; to listen, advise and help through a difficult time and give you back control. As part of this duty of care we go beyond solely offering legal advice; we recognise you may need additional support and guidance and have a network of trusted advisors we can access; the right people who can help.

We’re flexible to fit around your needs; as we recognise you might need an extra level of discretion when discussing more sensitive issues. We’ll work around you and meet when it’s convenient, so there’s always the option to make evening or weekend appointments. In our family law practice, children will always be prioritised to ensure that they can continue to have a healthy relationship with both parents. As members of Resolution, a group of legal professionals who advocate for dealing with family law in a non-confrontational way, we abide by their code of conduct for a good divorce process. We want the best resolution for all our clients, supporting you through the whole process in a positive, measured and calm way. We’re on your side. To book an appointment visit our website www.phsols.co.uk or call us on 01257 422 500

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