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

September 2021

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THE GRAND THEATRE | BLACKPOOL

IS BACK!

The K’s ...are on Fire!

IT’S STRAIGHTFORWARD With Stonebrook Mortgages

ROSSALL SCHOOL

Shaping Lives, Inspiring Excellence

BOARDING AT STONYHURST

Where Friendships Are Formed That Last A Lifetime

Must Read: Fast-Moving Medical Thriller: Duty of the Gods By Dr Vishal Sahni

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informal B&B (bed and breakfast) located off the A591 road built with a nineteenth-century stone design that offers complimentary wiﬁ and breakfast. It offers everything you may need for your stay and is affordable.

around the city. Locals often like to take a walk instead of using transport and take a look at the beautiful corners this town conceals.

Sandbach

Windermere

angling/ﬁshing, orienteering, and birdwatching.

CONTENTS...

also a variety of other activities you could partake in such as canoeing,

Accrington

Cragwood Country House, located 2.5 miles away from the town, offers a spectacular offshore view of the lake with 20 acres of land as their garden. Their Saxon Crosses, or Sandbach Crosses are two large Anglo-Saxon stone crosses that

rooms are well-furnished and equipped with ﬂat-screen TVs and wiﬁ. There’s a are said to have been built in the 9th century, situated in the lively Market Place,

restaurant with a garden terrace that serves lunch, dinner, and breakfast for a

Features

“Accy” as per how the inhabitants of the town refer to it, is a fairly underpo

and peaceful place to live in. It’s not very far from the central business dis 7only What’s On Guide takes a 20-mile

Advocacy Focus drive north to89reach Manchester City center.

The K’s ...are on Fire!!!!

Around The World in 80s Days

Blackpool’s BIGGEST Panto IS BACK! History of Accrington The Woman In Black

12 13 14

Feeling Grand

Harness the Power of Technology with Sundown Solutions

Make a Bold Move Today

Life Behind the Lens

A Little Gem in Chorley

96 Lynn Meadowcroft Positivitygeographical Pioneer Accrington a particularly history with- both 15 Andrew Lloydhas Webber Symphonic Suitesenticing 97 Chorley Pilates Live In Concert

and

industrial signiﬁcance that is fairly98interesting. According to the people of Feeling Like Trash! Pre-Raphaelite Artist of Hope: Evelyn De

114

Morgan 100 BOARDING AT STONYHURST: Where town, earlier there were two townships: the Old Accrington and the New

Forestry England and the Royal Society of

friendships are formed that last a lifetime

Sculptors Announces the Winner the the incorporation Accrington. But later on, of with borough council, th 104 Counting Crows of andthe their Cousins Annual 2021 Grizedale Residency

merged 20 Made in together Manchester

100

76 172

208

40 www.lancmag.com

106 A Statue for Emily Williamson

into one town. The southern part of Accrington, the tow

Even The Smallest Coffee Morning Really Can Make the Biggest Difference...

Be Our Guest This Summer!

Laura Evans Announces Headline Shows

Joanne Harris hails ‘writing as a force to be reckoned with’ as she introduces the Winners of the 2021 Society of Authors’ Awards

108 How sustainable video is saving Greater Manchester’s peatlands 110 The Mystery of ‘Patchwork Grazing’ by Giraffes

112 Collisions with Vessels - The Deadliest Threat for Whales 114 Things We Can Do to Save Endangered pecies and Prevent a New Wave of Extinction

Call of the Sea Statue Celebrates Blackpool’s Award-Winning Coastline

116 Think Your Half-Term Visit to the Zoo will Support Threatened Species? Think Again...

Lancashire’s Lost Piers

120 How to Mitigate Impostor Syndrome

New Race Track Opens at Westcliff Primary Academy in Bispham

121 5 Steps to a More Mindful You

Hall Caine - A Forgotten Celebrity

Life Could Be Shocking in the 1950’s

The Heart of Every Business

To Franchise, or Not to Franchise?

Multi Award Winning Artisan Food Anybody?

Q & A with Pam Molyneux, Smart PA

140 Keep Hydrated!

Dame Floella Benjamin’s Virtual Visit

146 Redrow Support Mental Health Charity

Alumni Share Their Perspectives on Engineering

152 Students Celebrate Stunning Results at Rossall School

Gold and Silver Duke of Edinburgh Achievements

From Tech to Skincare... The journey to becoming true to myself

154 Amanda Owen - The Yorkshire Shepherdess Opens Rossall School’s State-of-the-art New Pre-Prep and Nursery Provision

Bolton Whites Hotel & Events - Out with the old and in with the new...

Cornerstone Resources Ltd

The Body Shop at Home with Treena Hughes

Bolton Homelessness Charity Appeals for Volunteers

Sweet Reminiscing by Sharonrose

124 Empath: a Gift or a Curse? 130 Shana’s Story 133 On Your Bike! 136 New treatment significantly improves mental health in heart disease patients, study finds 138 Gardening for Good Health

156 If Team LM Got Married 162 FOK HING GIN - A Celebration to Remember 164 An interview with Raphael Ogunrinde 172 Honeymoons at Wenningdale Escapes 178 It’s Straightforward With Stonebrook 186 Baxter Homes 200 Presenting: Edward James Furniture Ltd 208 Don Alberto’s at The Loom

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

...CONTENTS

Regulars

Aiming Higher

Books

September 2021 • Volume 44 Number 9

148 Colour Me Beautiful 46

Deborah Hatswell

Denise Mullen

119 Doris & Friends 48

Fleetwood RNLI

204 Food Critic 128 HayMax 176 Karla McCulloch - Travel Counsellor 30

Life of Di

142 Marcia 196 Miles Consult & Construct 134 Nicola Parker, Herbalist 45

148

Peter Rutt

170

118 Pets Country Manor 126 PT Health 170 Recipes by Helen James 82

Reubens Retreat

206 Zodiac Predictions by Manish

118

142

September 2021

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Managing Director Natalie Christopher natalie@lancashiremagazine.co.uk Editorial 01253 336588 editorial@lancashiremagazine.co.uk

THE GRAND THEATRE | BLACKPOOL

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Sales Enquiries • 07918 685673 Accounts • 01253 336580 The K’s ...are on Fire!

IT’S STRAIGHTFORWARD With Stonebrook Mortgages

ROSSALL SCHOOL

Shaping Lives, Inspiring Excellence

BOARDING AT STONYHURST

Where Friendships Are Formed That Last A Lifetime

Must Read: Fast-Moving Medical Thriller: Duty of the Gods By Dr Vishal Sahni

COVER: The Grand Theatre, Blackpool

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

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204

Design Manager • Tanjé Beach Writers Nicola Parker • Helen James Kate Gostick • Deborah Hatswell Denise Mullen • Richard Sagar Sarah Harris • Margaret Brecknell Peter Rutt • Paul Thompson Harold Cunliffe • Jason Gleaves Catherine Dean • Norman Harris Lee Chambers • Max Wiseberg Manish Kumar Arora • Diane Wade Megha Seth • Dr Helen Flaherty Ken Harcombe • Cllr Don Clapham Chris Lewis • Doris Dearden FOK HING GIN • Zara Harris couriermedia.com • Sharon Henry

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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 off this month with a fabulous wedding and honeymoon section including what our own team’s dream weddings would be, great beverage ideas for wedding favours and how Wenningdale Escapes could be your perfect honeymoon destination. Catherine Dean Coaching talks about how mindfulness can help us feel less stressed and more content. We have a brand new monthly column - Doris and Friends, Doris is a Border Terrier and the column is about her and her friends adventures! We also have another exciting new pet column by Pets Country Manor - and they advised us on the best way of introducing a new cat to your home. We spoke to Dr Vishal Sahni about his new book, Duty of the Gods - please take the time to read this book - it will make you cry but it will make you laugh as well, the balance is just right.

We quizzed James from Edward James Furniture who gave us an insight into what the company is all about, why he set it up and his core values. We have a new What’s On Guide for you, including bands, panto’s and exhibitions - great news now we are allowed out to play! The Grand Theatre, Blackpool talk of the return of the spectacular 80s comedy musical, ‘Around the World in 80s days’ and this year’s much anticipated pantomime, ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ and how ‘The Woman in Black’ is back and will be haunting audiences! Stonyhurst talks to us about boarding at school, where friendships are formed that last a lifetime. Marcia tells us that the Lip Blush is the new treatment craze - they’ve never had such a demand for the lip tattoo! We got excited about eating cakes for MacMillan’s Coffee Morning and we even feature a recipe for apple cake with pecan nut streusel! Mmm...

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

And as always - our regulars. The towns this month are: Accrington, Sandbach and Windermere. Deborah Hatswell has a witness report of a Loup-garou. The Food Critic, Richard Sagar sampled a true selection of tastes from the orient at the Beijing Cantonese Restaurant in Clow Bridge. Sarah Harris Style takes a look at the change of season within our wardrobes, Denise Mullen tells us a hilarious story on the key to relationships, Nicola Parker talks about using herbs for headache, Ken Harcombe the Volunteer Press Officer at Fleetwood RNLI tells us about a few inspirational volunteers of the RNLI, Paul Thompson talks about digital detoxing and Miles Consult & Construct focuses on planning for the future. And of course - homes, health, delicious recipes, fascinating history, and a bit of wildlife and more, all in our September issue.

Hope you enjoy the magazine! www.lancmag.com

WHAT’S ON GUIDE www.lancmag.com

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The K’s ...are on Fire!!!! By Sharon Henry

ABOVE: DEXTER, JAMIE, RYAN & JORDAN

Late in 2017, two school friends, Jamie and Dexter started a band in Earlestown (a suburb directly in between Manchester and Liverpool), now they have become impossible to ignore, one of the biggest underground successes.

radio including Radio X and have now been play-listed on XS Manchester prime time. They have also recently been featured on several American radio stations in LA and Laguna Beach, California including The Rodney Bingenheimer Show, SiriusXM.

nfluenced by The Clash, The Jam, Squeeze and The Libertines, originally named the Kaleidoscopes, after their local record shop, they added the apostrophe and shortened it to the K’s. Now a four piece band, the current line - up is Jamie Boyle (Vocals/ Guitar), Ryan Breslin (Lead Guitar), Dexter Baker, the comedian of the band (Bass Guitar) and Jordan Holden, from sunny Blackpool (Drums).

In the last few years, The K’s have sold out every headline show they have played, including venues such as the O2 Ritz Manchester (1,500 capacity) and were set to headline Manchester Academy (2,600 capacity) in October 2020 as part of their UK tour before COVID meant postponing. They’ve caused festival tents to be closed due to over capacity crowds, such as Kendal Calling 2019, with hundreds locked out trying to join the 2,000+ fans within.

Before the pandemic, the lads had given up their day jobs to start their amazing music adventure and fortunately were able to return to them.... Jamie is a Teacher/Teaching Assistant, Ryan a Building Surveyor, Dexter a Mental Health Nurse and Jordan does charity work. With just six singles released, their streaming numbers are comfortably in the millions, with 37,310 monthly Spotify listeners and self-released debut single ‘Sarajevo’ a head-banging tune, notching 2.2 million streams. The K’s are being played on national

The K’s also made their TV debut in 2019, performing live on Sky Sports Soccer AM and this year making it onto a film set. Starring as the band and providing the soundtrack for the new film ‘To Be Someone’, which was released on July 9th. This is a follow up to the cult 1979 film ‘Quadrophenia’ and is a modern day gangster comedy. Because of their love of Paul Weller and The Jam, it made them a perfect fit! It also stars original cast members Leslie Ash, Toyah Wilcox, Mark Wingett and Perry Benson.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

The start of 2020 saw The K’s embark on their UK tour and they sold out every single date months in advance before going into the national lockdown. Keen to not rest on their laurels, the band quickly released ‘Valley One’, an acoustic ballad recorded at home in isolation, before releasing the latest single ‘TV’ in October 2020, both sharing hundreds of thousands of streams, with the limited edition 7” vinyl selling out within 48 hours. The band also featured on the 2020 Recording Academy GRAMMYs and have hosted two live streamed shows since the start of last summers lockdown, which sold in excess of 3,000 tickets. The online attention drawn from these shows and the weekly hosted “Friday Night with The K’s” Facebook live streams has also led to the band receiving brand deals from various companies, notably Gibson Guitars, Scotts Menswear and Lyle and Scott, all of which are still on going. The band have recently been signed to Solo Music Agency with John Giddings and Charly Beedell who represent James, Iggy Pop, Blondie and on behalf of Live nation the likes of Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga and Madonna. They find themselves unsigned with a record label at the moment... but I am sure, it will not be long before their talent is snapped up. Through the lockdown, they have continued to write an abundance of songs and will find it difficult to choose what to play at their gigs. Hopefully an album will be in the making. The K’s 2021 full UK tour went on sale during lockdown and has already sold over three quarters of all available tickets, scheduled to start July 2021, along with 20 major bookings including main stage slots at some of the UK’s biggest festivals. Do not expect to lay dormant at one of their gigs... be prepared for an electric and inspiring atmosphere!

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The K’s

OCTOBER 01

Coventry - Kasbah

Liverpool - Baltic Triangle

Southampton - Heartbreakers

Bournemouth - Madding Crowd

Cardiff - Clwb Lfor Bach

Oxford - The Billington

AUGUST

Stoke - Sugarmill

Preston - The Ferret

Sheffield - Leadmill

Manchester Academy 2

UK Tour Dates - ALL DATES CORRECT AT TIME OF PRINTING -

Moseley - Dark Horse

SEPTEMBER 04

Warrington - Neighbourhood Weekend

16-19 Isle of Wight Festival

NOVEMBER

Dublin - Upstairs at Whelans

Glasgow - King Tuts

Leicester - The Cookie

Dundee - The Hunter

Brighton - Prince Albert

Edinburgh - Stag and Dagger

St Albans - The Horn

Newcastle Upon Tyne - Riverside

ENQUIRIES - Nikki@theksareonfire.com | BOOKING ENQUIRIES - Charly@solo.uk.com TOUR TICKETS - theksareonfire.com/tickets/Earlestown | FACEBOOK - @theksofficial · Musician/Band

theksareonfire.com

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LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

blackpoolgrand.co.uk

Around The World in

80s Days. One of the highlights of the new season is the return of the spectacular 80s comedy musical, Around the World in 80s days.

he show is Blackpool Grand’s very own production which is back at the iconic theatre for a second year following rave reviews before lockdown. A musical based on Jules Verne’s acclaimed novel Around the World in 80 Days, it’s one of the world’s most popular stories, mixed with some of the best songs from the 80s. One of the greatest adventure stories retold, you will meet ‘Phil’eas Fogg, one of the most fabulous men on the London party seen. He has it all – the looks, the girls, the notoriety…. until disaster strikes and Daddy cuts him off from the family fortune! Penniless and in a bid to regain his wealth, he accepts an outlandish bet – to travel the world in just 80 days! As he takes to boats, trains and even hot air balloons, this hilarious race against time performance is packed with toe tapping, clap your hands, stamp your feet and sing along music that will have you dancing at your seat!

“We’re auditioning at present and some of the original cast will be returning. We promise an even bigger and brighter production with more music, more costume changes and more laughs, which I feel we can all do with at the moment.” Around the World In 80s Days - 8 October to 5 November 2021. Book early to ensure you secure the best seats by calling 01253 290 190 or visit blackpoolgrand.co.uk

From the Locomotion to Loveshack and so many more hits from the 80’s, it will be a comedy musical throwback bursting with energy on stage! Writer and director of the smash hit, Ian McFarlane, said: “I simply can’t wait to be back in the beautiful Grand Theatre. It’s been a difficult time for artists and creatives and getting to tread the boards once more is a dream.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

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OCTOBER The (Steve) Royle Variety Performance Sat 02 Frank Skinner - Showbiz Sun 03 Around the World in 80s Days Fri 08 to Fri 05 Nov Dragons and Mythical Beasts Thu 21 and Fri 22 Joe Brown The Farewell Tour Sat 23 NOVEMBER Harpy Sound of Springsteen Maximum R’n’B with Manfreds Sun Records The Concert Amanda Owen - Yorkshire Shepherdess Sleeping Beauty The Greatest Love of All

Sat 06 Sat 13 Sun 14 Thu 18 Fri 19 Sat 20 Sun 21

DECEMBER Snow White Fri 3 Dec 2021 to Sun 2 Jan 2022 Grand Christmas Concert Mon 13 JANUARY 2022 Romeo & Juliet Swan Lake The Nutcracker Lost in Music You Win Again Johnny Cash Roadshow

Fri 7 Sat 8 Sun 9 Sat 15 Thu 20 Sun 23

FEBRUARY 2022 Carmen Madama Butterfly Vampires Rock Tim Vine is Plastic Elvis Omid Djalili Ed Byrne: If I’m Honest Islands In the Stream Bring it on the Musical

Wed 02 Thu 03 Fri 04 Sat 05 Sun 13 Fri 18 Sat 19 Tue 22 to Sat 26

MARCH 2022 Father Brown

Tue 22 to Sat 26

APRIL 2022 Seven Drunken Nights Julian Clary - Born to Mince Aida Kinky Boots

Wed 06 Fri 08 Sun 10 Wed 13 to Sat 16

MAY 2022 Jason Manford : Like Me Sun 01 Legends of American Country Show Sun 8 Some Mothers Do ‘Av ‘Em Tue 10 to Sat 14 Craig Revel Horwood Sun 15 Marty Wilde Sun 22 Rob Beckett - Wallop! Fri 27 and Sat 28 Count Arthur Strong Sun 29 JUNE-OCT 2022 Red Hot Chilli Pipers Sun 05 June Magic of Motown Sun 12 June 80s Live Sun 19 June Boogie Nights Wed 22 to Sat 25 June The Lancashire Hotpots Sat 09 July Anything for Love Sun 10 July Peppa Pig’s Best Day Ever Sat 16 & Sun 17 July Vincent Simone - Tango Passions Sun 16 October

blackpoolgrand.co.uk

Blackpool’s BIGGEST Panto

IS BACK!

at Blackpool Grand Theatre From the cobbles of Coronation Street to the shores of Blackpool, Vicky Entwistle is set to join the cast at Blackpool Grand Theatre for this year’s much anticipated pantomime, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

t’s 10 years since Vicky last performed at the iconic Blackpool Grand Theatre where she is reviving her former role as the Wicked Queen once again. Vicky will join panto legend and Britain’s Got Talent finalist, Steve Royle for his annual performance at the theatre playing ‘Muddles’ in the most wicked of pantomimes produced by Martin Dodd of UK Productions. Set to take panto season by storm, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs has incredible sets and costumes and is jam-packed with laughs and familyinteraction which really is one the family can’t afford to miss! Commenting on her return to the seaside resort, Vicky said: “It’s been a decade since I last appeared at Blackpool Grand Theatre and I can’t wait to take to the stage there once more! It’s a simply stunning venue and the crowds always get into the true spirit of pantomime so after being off stage for so long now, I am really excited to be back and shouting ‘Mirror, Mirror on the wall’ in one of my all-time favourite pantomime villain roles.” The spectacular, fun-packed family pantomime will open its curtain on Friday, 3rd December with 51 showstopping performances running throughout December and the first week of January. Martin Dodd, Producer at UK Productions Ltd, who work in collaboration with the Grand to bring

the pantomime together said: “After a challenging year in theatre, we are just delighted to be back with a panto that goes from strength to strength, which is testament to the great cast, creative team and fantastic partnership with the Grand Theatre and of course the beautiful Grand Theatre itself. “We are hoping that, as usual, the pantomime will attract family audiences and schools from far and wide as we promise to bring you a laugh out loud pantomime performance leaving you ‘happy’ not ‘grumpy’ at the end.” Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs promises to be another UK Productions pantomime packed with incredible magic, musical hits, but above all huge laughs! It’s fun for all the family. A laugh-a-minute extravaganza, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs features stunning sets, fabulous costumes and one very poisonous apple! Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs - 3 Dec 2021 to 2 Jan 2022. Book early to ensure you secure the best seats by calling 01253 290 190 or visit blackpoolgrand.co.uk

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

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blackpoolgrand.co.uk

The Woman In Black The Woman is back and will be haunting audiences at Blackpool Grand Theatre!

usan Hill’s acclaimed ghost story The Woman In Black comes dramatically alive in Stephen Mallatratt’s ingenious stage adaptation which will be visiting Blackpool Grand Theatre this September as part of a UK wide tour having celebrated three decades in the West End. Not for the faint hearted, this dark, gripping production, directed by Robin Herford, is a brilliantly successful study in atmosphere, illusion, and controlled horror that is certainly set to haunt its audiences. Those brave enough to watch will see Robert Goodale star as ‘Arthur Kipps’ and Antony Eden as ‘The Actor’.

the fear that grips his soul. It all begins innocently enough, but then, as they reach further into his darkest memories, they find themselves caught up in a world of eerie marshes and moaning winds. “The most brilliantly effective spine-chiller you will ever encounter.” Daily Telegraph.

Awards and as part of the show’s commitment to young people, those aged 18 to 26 will be able to purchase a £13.50 ticket on Monday to Friday. The Woman In Black - 20 to 25 September 2021. Book early to ensure you secure the best seats by calling 01253 290 190 or visit blackpoolgrand.co.uk

“One of British theatre’s biggest – and scariest – hits.” The Guardian. Thanks to the School Travel Organiser, Woman in Black was recently awarded ‘Best Theatre Production for Schools’ at the School Travel

Arthur is a lawyer obsessed with a curse that he believes has been cast over him and his family by the spectre of a Woman in Black and he engages a sceptical young actor to help him tell his terrifying story and exorcise

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LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 13

A New Dawn,

rand

blackpoolgrand.co.uk

Feeling

A New Day

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

As Blackpool Grand looks forward to its first show on 4 September, the team at the theatre have been busily preparing the Grade II* listed building to ensure customers enjoy some fabulous productions in a safe and secure environment. Every precautionary measure has been considered in view of the guidelines and we are confident that our returning audiences will feel relaxed and ready to enjoy their chosen show. Blackpool Grand Theatre will reopen it’s Sales office on Tuesday 3 August, but in a different location, don’t worry how it find it – it’s just a few doors down on Church Street. Opening times will be limited (and available online). The theatre also plans to distribute a season brochure far and wide across the Coast as well as realise confidence in returning to theatre. The theatre will still operate with many safety measures in place such as extensive cleaning, hand sanitiser stations and the encouragement of facemasks. Contactless payments will be encouraged also across all areas of the theatre from the bars to the Sales Office.

ow, thanks to the easing of restrictions, the theatre will finally be rolling out the red carpet once again this autumn to welcome back theatre goers to the prettiest theatre in all the land. It’s certainly been a challenging time for everyone but the team are delighted to re-open the doors and welcome everyone back - not just the invaluable audiences but the cast and crew too.

Ruth Eastwood, Blackpool Grand Theatre CEO said: “It’s been an extraordinary time. We’ve had to adapt fast, find our resilience work harder than ever as a much-reduced team, to get through this challenging time. We could not have done it without the support of an incredible group of people: our trustees, friends, supporters and the artists and producers with whom we work and I want to extend an incredible thank you to each and every one of them. “During this time, we were absolutely delighted to receive all-important funding through the Department of Culture, Media & Sport, Arts Council England, Blackpool Council, the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, and not forgetting residents, customers and individual supporters around the globe. The support has been incredible and has allowed us that breathing space to adapt and plan to open up the theatre this autumn.”

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

The roster of shows we have for the coming season is sure to be a big hit with everyone. From comedy to musicals and celebrity stand up to dark drama, we can’t wait to get our seats filled and for the stage to come alive! Ruth added: “Personally, I’m looking forward to the Adventures of the Yorkshire Shepherdess, a frank, funny and informative new show featuring TV’s Yorkshire Shepherdess Amanda Owen, who will share her heart-warming tales from remarkable farming to her great family life and much more.”

To check out what the theatre has planned, visit blackpoolgrand.co.uk for more details of all the performances.

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Andrew Lloyd Webber Symphonic Suites - Live In Concert London 2021 Show PLUS 2022 UK Tour Announced This Autumn, prepare to hear the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber like you have never before.

hree newly-orchestrated symphonic suites from a selection of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s best loved musicals – Evita, The Phantom of the Opera and Sunset Boulevard – will be performed for the very first time by the 81-piece Andrew Lloyd Webber Orchestra at London’s Royal Festival Hall on 8th September. The concert will follow the release of the accompanying album, Andrew Lloyd Webber Symphonic Suites, by Decca Records on 3rd September. A vinyl version will follow on 29th October.

“It is wonderful and very moving for me to see brilliant musicians back where they belong.” This year Phantom of the Opera celebrates 35 years in the West End, while the filmed production of Sunset Boulevard, which first opened in London in 1993 at Leicester Curve, was re-released for audiences to view between 10th to 15th May. Evita has been running in the West End for 43 years.

TICKETS FOR 2021: Southbankcentre.co.uk ticketmaster.co.uk myticket.co.uk TICKETS FOR 2022: ticketmaster.co.uk ticketline.co.uk myticket.co.uk and from venue box offices.

The orchestra performing the Symphonic Suites, conducted by Andrew Lloyd Webber’s long-time collaborator Simon Lee, brings together some of the world’s most skilled musicians, united in an event which will mark the triumphant return of live music after the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Symphonic Suites will also tour the UK during 2022. Accompanied by local orchestras, these dates include Manchester Bridgewater Hall on 17th September 2022, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on 18th September 2022, Cardiff St Davis’ Hall on 24th September 2022, Nottingham Royal Concert Hall on 30th September 2022 and Liverpool Philharmonic Hall on 1st October 2022. Andrew Lloyd Webber comments: “For over a year now, we have lived without the joy of live music. “As we fight to bring performers back to work and theatres back to life, I hope that this album might now take on a new meaning: the music which represents the triumphant and hopeful return of live music, theatre and entertainment across the world. www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 15

Pre-Raphaelite Artist of Hope: Evelyn De Morgan OPENS SATURDAY 17TH JULY 2021 TOWNELEY HALL | TOWNELEY PARK | HOLMES STREET | BURNLEY | BB11 3RQ

Above: Night and Sleep (1878) by Evelyn De Morgan ©De Morgan Collection, courtesy of the De Morgan Foundation

An exhibition reaches hopefully towards the end of the rainbow. Pre-Raphaelite Artist of Hope displays Evelyn De Morgan’s symbolic paintings alongside contemporary stories from those who have lived through warfare and from NHS staff who have served on the frontline during the pandemic. 16

t has been curated with the help of community partners including Blind Veterans UK, Child Action North West, local Syrian refugees and asylum seekers, and nurses from Royal Blackburn Hospital.

Above: Evelyn De Morgan with her Husband William (c.1900) ©De Morgan Collection, courtesy of the De Morgan Foundation

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

Their voices are heard against the deeply symbolic First World War paintings of iconic artist Evelyn De Morgan (1855 – 1919). The exhibition explores the way De Morgan’s work presented profound fears and heartfelt hope that better days would come. Syrian refugees living in Lancashire and Second World War veterans have shared their experiences of living through war which bring these www.lancmag.com

Above: Study of a Boy for Our Lady of Peace (c.1907) by Evelyn De Morgan ©De Morgan Collection, courtesy of the De Morgan Foundation.

pictures to life. There will be an audio guide available in English and Arabic to hear their stories by scanning the pictures with your phone camera through the app Smartify. De Morgan was an artist who always had hope. She painted until her death in 1919, when it was other global crises - Spanish Flu and the First World War - that held the World in a vice-like-grip. Defying the conventions of the deeply conservative Victorian society she was raised in, she dared to be different and studied at the prestigious Slade School of Art, before being invited to exhibit at the exclusive Grosvenor Gallery when she was just 20 years old. This was an astonishing achievement for a woman at the time. Her hope for a feminist future is highlighted in the paintings on display in the exhibition. De Morgan knew the pain of loss and grief. She lived through the Boer Wars and First World War, and was horrified at the mechanised killing and destruction. Motivated to use the power of her brush to spread a pacifist message of hope, she was possessed of a strong belief that art should have a moral purpose. She fashioned an artistic response to war using deliberate symbolism rather than realism, so her paintings are relatable today. Hopeful symbols we recognise – rainbows, light, dawn – make De Morgan’s paintings relevant to our shared experience of navigating the pandemic. “That hope and strength has been given to us by the loving support of the public. Their use of rainbows to show their support to the NHS and its workers has boosted morale and provided encouragement when needed most.” Vicky Ramsden, Ward Manager, Royal Blackburn Hospital. www.lancmag.com

Above: Our Lady of Peace (1907) by Evelyn De Morgan ©De Morgan Collection, courtesy of the De Morgan Foundation

To say thank you to our NHS heroes they will be able to enjoy free entry throughout the show. 45 works have been lent by the De Morgan Collection for the exhibition in Lancashire for the first time. Some of De Morgan’s stunning sketches are on display which bring her working process to life and allow us to get a glimpse of how she made the paintings. The paintings include De Morgan’s striking oil on canvas Night and Sleep recently shown at the National Portrait Gallery’s blockbuster PreRaphaelite Sisters exhibition and Our Lady of Peace which has undergone specialist conservation to be included in this show. Towneley Hall’s own mysterious painting Destiny by John William Waterhouse is also on display as it was painted for the artist’s war fund, and a sketch for The Golden Stairs by Edward Burne-Jones is included to showcase De Morgan’s Pre-Raphaelite contemporaries. This exhibition will help us to discover hope as society recovers from a pandemic which brought isolation and fear. LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 17

in the magnificent art but also our veterans’ stories.’ - Blind Veterans UK CEO, Major General (Rtd) Nick Caplin CB ‘The art work in the exhibition is inspirational and hopeful and involving the young people we support will provide a focus to show how in even the most difficult of times there is always hope and that we can all overcome difficulties to achieve amazing things. We are so proud to be involved in such a positive exhibition and the opportunities it provides to young people who have been so adversely affected by the pandemic.’ - Sue Cotton, Chief Executive Officer, Child Action North West ‘Art can provide a great medium to allow people to recognise and express their emotions. Just like grief, the interpretation of art will be unique for each individual, seeing ‘in’ the artwork what is thought provoking to them.’ - Tracy Shutt, Operations Manager, Cruse Bereavement Care FULL LIST OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS • BLIND VETERANS UK, the charity that provides lifelong support to veterans with severe sight loss, are ensuring the exhibition is accessible to those with a disability. Further to this, a number of their beneficiaries have provided their story of ‘war and hope’, to be displayed alongside the art at the exhibition. If you or someone you know is entitled to Blind Veterans UK’s free support then please call 0800 389 7979 or visit blindveterans.org.uk. • BURNLEY HIGH SCHOOL Above: S.O.S. (1914) by Evelyn De Morgan ©De Morgan Collection, courtesy of the De Morgan Foundation

QUOTES ‘De Morgan’s works could have been painted in response to the pandemic. S.O.S. is one painting in particular that resonates so profoundly with our collective experience of needing hope in the face of crisis. It depicts a woman in white robes reaching out towards a rainbow, while demons snap at her ankles. De Morgan used the demons to represent the First World War, but today we can see those demons as the pandemic, and the woman as all of us reaching towards the rainbow’. - Sarah Hardy, Curator, The De Morgan Foundation ‘We are delighted to bring the work of an inspirational female artist from an exclusive collection to Towneley Hall. Due to traditional collecting of male artists, only 3% of Towneley’s vast collection is by a female artist so this exhibition helps reset the balance.’ - Alison Cooper, Towneley Hall ‘Arts and crafts have played such an important role in the rehabilitation of our veterans from the First World War to the present day so we are delighted to be involved with the exhibition. After the last year and a half I am sure people will be inspired by the hope represented not only 18

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• CHILD ACTION NORTH WEST is a charity with a Big Heart. The work we do helps to strengthen individuals, families and communities so that children and young people can lead healthy and meaningful lives, with the opportunity to succeed in school, grow up to enjoy healthy relationships, to have access to training and employment opportunities and to be successful. • CRUSE BEREAVEMENT CARE is the leading national charity for bereaved people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Cruse offers support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies, and works to enhance societies care of bereaved people. Cruse offers telephone and website support and, until Covid-19, had been providing face to face support for 60 years. It has a free National Helpline (0808 808 1677), local services, an online chat service, and a website specifically for children and young people called Hope Again. Its services are provided by trained volunteers and are confidential and free. Cruse also provides training and consultancy for external organisations and for those who may encounter bereaved people in the course of their work. • STAFF WORKING ON THE ACUTE STROKE WARD AT ROYAL BLACKBURN HOSPITAL • SYRIAN REFUGEES LIVING IN LANCASHIRE SUPPORTED BY LANCASHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL. www.lancmag.com

Forestry England and the Royal Society of Sculptors Announces the Winner of the Annual 2021 Grizedale Residency Susan Stockwell FRSS and early-career artist Florian Houlker will be the latest artists joining the list of leading international artists who have been invited to work in Grizedale Forest. Susan and Florian will be residing and working in the forest this summer, producing work inspired by, and of, their surroundings.

udges, President of The Royal Society of Sculptors, Clare Burnett, artist David Nash, art project manager, Nia Roberts and the arts development manager for North England at Forestry England, Hazel Stone said they were delighted by the diversity of applications and all the artists enthusiasm for the project. They were selecting two artists who had responded to a ‘call for artists’ earlier this year; one ‘early year’s’ sculptor and one member of the Royal Society of Sculptors, to be based at Grizedale Forest for six weeks, 30 July – 11 September. During that time, they will be free to explore how creative and new ideas and innovative thinking can evolve without interruption. Hazel Stone, Arts Development Manager, Forestry England said: ‘There was such an optimistic sense of continuity as we gathered to consider the artist’s applications. It seemed perfect that David Nash, the second residency artist at Grizedale back in 1978, was on the panel to help select who would be amongst the next generation of sculptors to benefit from this amazing opportunity. David has often spoken of how influential spending time in the forest has been on his practice. www.lancmag.com

Above: Susan Stockwell FRSS in Studio Photo ©Jonathan Turner 2020

It will be exciting to see how Susan and Florian’s residency will influence their work.’ David Nash has previously said of his residency in 1977-78: ‘Being in the trees coming out of winter into spring for 3 months without teaching commitments meant that for the first time since college I could fully engage with “making”. There were fallen oaks to work with where they fell and daily, I could experience the season changing. Many themes I still work with were discovered there.’ Susan Stockwell FRSS and Florian Houlker join notable sculptors Richard Harris (the forest’s first resident in 1977-78), David Nash (1978), Robert Keonig (1981-83), Andy Goldsworthy (1984, 1985 & 1990) and Sally Matthews (1988) as artists who have left permanent and temporary work or have added in some way to the creative legacy of Grizedale Forest. Susan graduated from the Royal College of Art in 1993 and she is based in London, England. She

Above: Early-career artist Florian Houlker

is represented by Patrick Heide Contemporary Art and works with The Artists Agency. Clare Burnett, President of The Royal Society of Sculptors said: ‘I hope Susan and Florian’s residency will encourage a shared verbal and visual dialogue between them. This is an exciting opportunity for them both to explore how creative ideas can evolve and how new ideas and innovative thinking can cross generations of artistic practice.’ Forestry England are committed to supporting creative enquiry in the natural forest and are pleased to see the relaunch of the Grizedale Residency which has been made possible through Grizedale Forest’s partnership with the Royal Society of Sculptors and generous funding by the Brian Mercer Trust. Together they are supporting artists and fostering experimentation and innovation in response to the natural environment. Artist David Nash returns to Grizedale next month with a solo show titled Return to the Forest. 17th June – 12th December.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 19

Tribeca Last Race Home by SIMON LEE

MADE IN MANCHESTER

LAST RACE HOME By Sharon Henry

Formed in 2017, Last Race Home are a six piece band that are all about playing great songs. They play them live, up close and natural.

heir style ranges from beefy foot stomping tunes, hard bitten northern melancholy and uplifting anthems with bold storytelling lyrics. Featuring harmonica, trumpet, infectious guitars and lots of vocals. Singing songs of hard drinking, love, gritty Northern realism, romanticism and heartbreak. Influenced by The Doors, The Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, James, Arcade Fire, The Zutons and The Fratellis. Lead singer Denis is credited with all their original songs.

MEET THE BAND:

DENIS FERRIGE - (known as Den) With his broken-nosed Lead Vocals, he is the passionate lyricist and poet of the band. Den is known for telling a great story. He helps the band out by playing his instinctive Harmonica and a beaten up Acoustic Guitar. Den also co-hosts The Big Slice Radio show with Paul Owen on Sunday evenings 6-8pm for THEBUZZMCR.COM

JAMES CORRY - (known as Jim) Plays Drums emphatically. Plays for the song. Can walk into a damp cold rehearsal room on a gloomy Monday night and it’s like the lights have just come on - Captain Sunshine. The heart and the soul of LRH. Everyone knows him, Everyone loves him, There’s only one James Corry.

STEVEN O’TOOLE - (known as Tooley) Enigmatic Lead Guitarist. Hooks and melodies at the drop of a hat, no fear. He is a deep thinker and super organised. Has been close friends with Den since the age of 11 and they still bicker and fight like brothers. Guitar hero. A brilliant singer and genius songwriter in his own right.

PHIL MCARDLE - (known as Phil) Aggressive skilful Bass Guitarist. Phil buys bass guitars like normal people buy shoes. Great singer in his own right. An ex-boxer, not to be messed with lol. Wears his heart on his sleeve, will do anything for you. You will hear him. You will see him!

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STEPHEN GREENHALGH - (known as Trumpet) He has a background in Brass bands (probably why he’s the ‘Keith Moon’ of the band). Genius in cool selective playing. Another great singer with natural harmony. Immediate melodies from his head, straight to his lips. With his unpredictable flare, he is a social hand grenade and loves the craic. LEANNE LEDGER - A little powerhouse of a Backing Vocalist and the most recent addition to the band after describing herself as a ‘fangirl’ of LRH. Leanne also plays with The Plimp Souls, a funky soul fuelled 9-piece band also from Manchester.

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Phil and Tooley both left the band) in 2018. They were replaced, but within a year they were both back in the band. They both missed it like mad and couldn’t wait to get back in. You don’t know what you’ve lost until it’s gone, I guess. The band have lost more than one close friend to suicide and the theme of embracing life and being there for your friends is very much a running theme within their songs. More joyous though than maudlin. SO FAR THE BAND HAVE PRODUCED 5 SINGLES: • CORNBROOK STATION • HOW CLOSE • MASOCHIST BLUES • THE WAKE • LAST NIGHT ON EARTH Regarding getting out there and playing to a live audience again, they are really looking forward to supporting John Bramwell (formerly of I am Kloot) and The Full Harmonic Convergence at The Yard in Manchester on 25th July, 2021. JB is one of Den’s heroes. Though he has played alongside him before, with a previous band Sandboy. OTHER GIGS LINED UP ARE: • Saturday 28th August

Below The Bridge (Acoustic Set)

• Saturday 10th September Whittles Oldham • Saturday 6th November

Whittles Food Bank Oldham

The Music Industry has been hit really hard during the pandemic and we all need to be reminded of the wonderful ebb and flow adventure of live music. Den was asked to write some words to a piece of music written by Maria Jordan, that captures a strange and significant moment in human history, the poem is called Corona. A band all about making the most of the good times and a band you can believe in. TO CONTACT THE BAND: E lastracehome@gmail.com F @lastracehome · Musician/Band

TOP ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Phil, Steven. Stephen G, (guest appearance Kylie Minogue) BOTTOM ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Jim, Denis & Leanne

CORONA Corona virus they call it Because it’s shaped just like a crown And it’s managed to keep the world indoors In every country in every town It’s brought us to a global standstill This virus that we’ve had Can’t go and hug the ones you love Like your Mam or your Dad I’ve seen four walls I’ve kept my hands clean I’ve turned off the news As the death toll is obscene Funerals with no congregations Birthdays with no friends Big occasions have gone unmarked No proper send off for a loved one’s end Children’s Rainbows in the window Finally love for the NHS Don’t forget to clap on a Thurs night As if that will repay a nurses debts Go to work, Don’t go to work No words of real conviction We could be victims of a global crime Like a type of Orwellian fiction But here’s what we’ve realised In this time spent with our kids It’s the cleaners, nurses and Asif in his shop That keep track of what day it is And all the ones who have grafted All the whole way through You’re the backbone of this world We’d be nothing if we didn’t have you And I now know who is a my neighbour He’s a geezer who lives next door And I know his daughter Lisa Who I never saw before And I know they’ve got my back And I sure as hell have theirs I know so much about the place I live And how not to cut my hair Like the Admirable Crighton There’ll be a social seismic shift Through quizzes streamed on laptops We’ve healed long family rifts Food parcels and late night calls We’ve looked out for each other Listened to more music than I ever have And spoke more to my brother For some we’ve had some breathing space Some contemplation and reflection The house looks good There’s cleaner air We’ve had a rest and found connection The signs say Stay Safe Stay Alert As normality returns in stages And as soon as I can hold your hand I won’t let go for ages.

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Even The Smallest Coffee JOIN IN Morning Really Can Make WITHthe oUR Biggest Difference...

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Every penny we raise means M there for more people livi In person or online?

Above: Credit - Steve Adams/Blanc Creative

Every Coffee Morning, no matter how big or small, will help Macmillan support people affected by a cancer diagnosis.

his September, Macmillan Cancer Support’s iconic Coffee Morning event is back, and bigger than ever, with those attending set to raise millions to ensure Macmillan can continue to support the growing number of people living with cancer. Unfortunately, the reality is one in two of us will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in our lifetime. However, the smallest gesture really can make the biggest difference to those affected, and every year Macmillan supporters up and down the country help raise millions of pounds just by taking part in Coffee Morning.

The money at raisedthe goes towards funding Macmillan s and cash ready!

who rely almost entirely on donations - and their services across the country. This means absolutely every penny raised at a Coffee Morning is cherished and appreciated and really helps us be able to provide vital support to people with cancer.

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Where: Date:

Time:

For example, just £17Contact could me helpfora details: member of our Cancer Information and Support team on our Macmillan Support Line deal with a call or web enquiry. Can’t

make it?a one-off £350 could pay for a Macmillan Grant, Scan this your costs QR code living with payment that helps with the Place extra that with QR code your phone Cakes, cu sticker here. to make a cancer can bring. donation now.

They can be used to buy specialist equipment or to meet other unmet needs, including paying for hospital travel, extra clothing or to help cover the cost of a muchneeded break.

Rob Turner, Macmillan’s Area Fundraising Manager for Cumbria, Lancashire, Merseyside and Isle of Man, says: “The countdown to Coffee Morning is officially on, and it’s always so fantastic to see so many people get involved as every penny makes a huge difference to those affected by cancer. “Every single Coffee Morning hosted or attended enables Macmillan to support more and more people living with cancer and their families.” This year’s Macmillan Coffee Morning will ‘officially’ take place on Friday 24 September, but please do just get involved whenever and wherever you can. Raising a mug and a few quid for Macmillan really can improve someone’s life.

https://coffee.macmillan.org.uk

so operating in Northern Ireland.

MAC18414

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Macmillan Cancer Support, registered charity in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of M

DO SOMETHING AMAZING TODAY SIGN UP TO HOST A WORLD’S BIGGEST COFFEE MORNING AT

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Apple Cake with Pecan Nut Streusel

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uppas and cash at the ready!

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Preparation time: 30 minutes Cooking time: 1 hour 15 minutes Serves: 6-8 INGREDIENTS • 400g Cooking Apple (peeled, cored and diced) • 1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon • ¼ Teaspoon Ground Cloves • 1 Eating Apple (cored and roughly chopped) • 1 Teaspoon Lemon Juice • 165g Butter • 275g Self-Raising Flour • 1 Tablespoon Demerara Sugar • 100g Pecan Nuts (or Hazelnuts) (roughly chopped) • 225g Light Muscovado Sugar • 2 Large Eggs • 2 Teaspoons Icing Sugar • Natural Yogurt or Cream to Serve

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HOW TO PREPARE APPLE CAKE WITH PECAN NUT STREUSEL

Preheat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Grease and line a 20cm spring form cake tin.

Beat the remaining butter and muscovado sugar together until lighter in colour and fluffy. Gradually beat in the eggs then the apple puree. Sieve the flour into the bowl and fold into the mixture with the remaining nuts.

Put the cooking apple into a pan with 1 tsp of water. Cover and cook over a low heat until softened. Beat well to form a puree. Stir in the cinnamon and cloves and set aside. Toss the eating apple pieces in lemon juice, set aside. Rub 15g of butter into 25g of flour. Stir in the demerara sugar and half of the nuts, set aside.

Spoon into the prepared cake tin. Scatter the eating apple pieces and the pecan nut streusel mixture over the top. Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean. Cool in the tin for 10 minutes then release and cool on a wire rack. Dust with icing sugar and serve with a little yogurt or cream.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 23

BE OUR GUEST THIS SUMMER!

The biggest, best and most affordable pantomime in Bolton - brought to you by Joseph Purdy Productions

over the side of evil this year as ‘Le Hun’ and ‘Gaston’ We’re also delighted to welcome RICHARD AUCOTT for a third Summer of Bolton Panto.

Currently on sale socially distanced with the view to opening more seats if restrictions ease!

olton Panto are delighted to confirm your Bolton Favourite from Cinderella all return this Summer to The Victoria Hall, Bolton!

ANTONELLA THE UNCENSORED REVIEWER plays the magical ‘Polly Flowerpots’ and Ibiza Weekenders DAVID POTTS and Bolton Faveourite STEPHEN SULLIVAN take

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ALL TICKETS • ALL SHOWS £5 EACH! On sale at: www.ticketsource.co.uk/victoriahallbolton Victoria Hall, Bolton, BL1 2AS | www.boltonpanto.co.uk

www.lancmag.com

LAURA

EVANS

ANNOUNCES HEADLINE SHOWS This will be the first run of live performances for the welsh songstress Laura Evans since early 2020. Eager to get back on stage to showcase all her new music with a full band, these power-house shows will be something you do not want to miss!

aura kicks off the first run of summer shows at The Sound Lounge, Sutton on 2nd July. Paul Sexton writer and broadcaster (BBC Radio 2, The Sunday Times, Billboard, Music Week) and patron for the successful grassroots venue said “We really hope to see you on July 2nd some fine British talent, Laura’s sassy country-pop has taken her from the valleys of south Wales to the C2C Festival, a guest slot with The Shires and numerous Spotify playlists” Following on from that Laura will double headline the Theatre On the Steps in Shropshire 10th July, with young Blues artist of the year Conor Selby before playing the Main Stage at Buckle & Boots Festival Manchester on 2nd August and then heading back to London for a headline show 13th August at Pizza Express Live, Holborn.

like Larkin Poe and Dave Stewart ‘Very Nearly Nashville’ and Apple Music’s ‘New In Country’ playlist alongside Taylor Swift & Eric Church. The EP racked up thousands of streams in the first week of release resulting in this latest single being acquired and distributed worldwide by U-NXT c/o Universal Music. Laura has received continued support from BBC Radio Wales, with 4 A Listed singles airplay on Planet Rock, Chris Country Radio, Country Hits Radio and Absolute Radio Country. All the shows will also feature an excellent band “The Company” featuring Nat Martin, Carl Hudson, Martin Johnson and Steve Watts. ALL TICKETS AVAILABLE ON THE LINK BELOW: www.songkick.com/artists/ 5492488-laura-evans/calendar D www.thelauraevans.com I @lauraevansuk T @laurajevansUk

Laura will continue her second run of shows in the Autumn with a headline show at the Uckfield Civic Centre on 1st October, playing the Mowlem Theatre at the Swanage Blues Festival on the 2nd October, supporting Jo Harman in concert at the Exeter Phoenix 21st October as well as being confirmed as part of a very impressive line-up for the January Blues Festival with APMG early next year. It was quite an astounding year for Welsh, Nashville loving songstress Laura Evans with the release of her debut EP that saw her truly making her mark on the country/blues scene. Laura’s first single from the EP charted straight at number one on the UK Blues Chart and peaked at 43 on the US Blues Chart as well as follow up singles “Drag Me back In” & “Solo” following suit, acquiring several Spotify & Apple music editorial playlists including ‘Nu-Blue’ & “Blues Drive” curated by Heidi Shenk, alongside US artists www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 25

Accrington By Megha Seth

New Accrington, was earlier in the Forest of Blackburnshire. Most of its places got their names from here, such as Broad Oak or Oak Hill, due to the oak trees in this forest. Are you curious about the past of this town? In that case, you will come to hear various stories—how it turned out to be the way it is from a “considerable village”—stories about the Industrial Revolution of the late 18th century and how it changed the face of this town forever.

History of Accrington’s Industries

“Accy” as per how the inhabitants of the town refer to it, is a fairly underpopulated HISTORY OF ACCRINGTON’S INDUSTRIES Accrington, or as people popularly know this small town Accrington and peaceful place toas live in. It’s not very far from the central business district and Stanley, is considerably famous for only takes a 20-mile drive north to reach Manchester City center. its football club Accrington Stanley F.C. that competes in EFL League One.

History Accrington t is located inof the heart of Hyndburn borough of Pennine

Lancashire county of North West England. The Hyndburn River flows through this town, primarily through culvert Accrington hasaapretty particularly enticing history with both geographical and tunnels which offers sight, here and there around the city. Locals often like to take a walk instead of using industrial signiﬁcance that fairly interesting. According to the people of the transport to stop and take a look at theisbeautiful corners this town conceals.

town, earlier there were two townships: the Old Accrington and the New “Accy” as per how the inhabitants of the town refer to it,

Accrington. But later with the incorporation of the borough council, they were is a fairly underpopulated and on, peaceful place to live in. It’s not very far from the central business district and only takes

Accrington has a rich history of being home to a variety

Accrington has a rich history of being home to a variety of different industries in merged together intoManchester one town. part of Accrington, the1900s. township of a 20-mile drive north to reach City The center.southern of different industries in the early Many small the early 1900s. Many small and large-scale industries were heavily dependent on

HISTORY OF ACCRINGTON Accrington has a particularly enticing history with both geographical and industrial significance that is fairly interesting. According to the people of the town, earlier there were two townships: the Old Accrington and the New Accrington. But later on, with the incorporation of the borough council, they were merged together into one town. The southern part of Accrington, the township of New Accrington, was earlier in the Forest of Blackburnshire. Most of its places got their names from here, such as Broad Oak or Oak Hill, due to the oak trees in this forest. Are you curious about the past of this town? In that case, you will come to hear various stories—how it turned out to be the way it is from a “considerable village”—stories about the Industrial Revolution of the late 18th century and how it changed the face of this town forever. 26

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

and large-scale industries were heavily dependent on Accrington’s array of productions to run their businesses. formerly famous for its machinery industry that produced heavy machines for the Accrington used to be formerly famous for its machinery cotton and textile industries. However, the entire sector died in time, and industry that produced heavy machines for the cotton and Accrington up its name for The Accrington NORI. sector died in time, textile held industries. However, the entire and Accrington held up its name for The Accrington NORI.

Accrington’s array of productions to run their businesses. Accrington used to be

The Accrington NORI (or bricks, which is palindrome for the word “iron”) manufactures metal-hard bricks specially engineered to provide a strength similar to iron. These bricks are considered the toughest and densest bricks in the world. They have been in production since as early as 1887 but halted in 2013, only to restart again in 2015. These bricks have been used to build the foundations of the famous tourist attraction, Blackpool Tower in Blackpool, Lancashire, and the world-famous Empire State Building of Manhattan, New York. www.lancmag.com

almost presiding over the scene, as nature races against our efforts to be tamed by it. The whole place almost feels like a dreamy escape from the daily hustle and

Accrington Stanley F.C.

ACCRINGTON STANLEY F.C.

To the world, Accrington is known for its professional football club, Accrington Stanley F.C, formed in 1968. home Crown Ground, Accrington. The ground, club has spent itsin entire history playing in their home ground, Crown Ground, in Accrington.

bustle of one’s life.

EXPLORE ACCRINGTON TOWN CENTRE AND TOWN HALL

Explore Accrington Town Centre and Town Hall

To the world, Accrington is known for its professional football club, Accrington

Stanley F.C, formed in 1968. The club has spent its entire history playing in their

The current Accrington Stanley team has been competing in League One, the

The current Accrington Stanley team has been competing in League One, the second-highest division in the English happened be in 2002-2003 won tier the Northern League. This footballto league and when the they third in thePremier entire English Football League system. The prime highlight of the club’s was followed by their promotion to the League in 2005-2006 for thewon ﬁrst career happened to be inNational 2002-2003 when they time the history ofPremier Accrington’s football club. Accrington Stanley’s latest theinNorthern League. This was followed bywin their happens to be in the EFL League Two, where they were winners for the 2017-2018 promotion to the National League in 2005-2006 for the first matches. time in the history of Accrington’s football club. Accrington Stanley’s latest win happens to be in the EFL League Two, where they were winners for the 2017-2018 matches. second-highest division in the English football league and the third tier in the

entire English Football League system. The prime highlight of the club’s career

Things to do in Accrington

THINGS TO DO IN ACCRINGTON A visit to Haworth Art Gallery and Park

A VISIT TO HAWORTH ART GALLERY AND PARK

Accrington is home to the Haworth Art Gallery, particularly famous for possessing Europe’s most extensive rich art, it also offers the space for an But entrancing through Haworth Park.rich It collection of Tiffany glass. apartwalk from the museum’s has on one’s andfor soul.an entrancing walk through art,a calming it alsoeffect offers the mind space Haworth Park. It has a calming effect on one’s mind and The Park has a profusion of natural ﬂora that grows along the margins of the park soul.

Accrington is home to the Haworth Art Gallery, particularly famous for possessing Europe's most extensive collection of Tiffany glass. But apart from the museum’s

amidst the tantalising greenery spread over the entire area. You can spot around

The Park has a profusion of natural flora that grows along the margins of the park amidst the tantalising greenery spread over the entire area. You can spot around Amidst all this magniﬁcent natural beauty, Haworth museum stands still, as if 50 species of wildflowers around the park that naturally attracts wildlife and occasional birdsongs and antics of the squirrels scurrying around this place. 50 species of wildﬂowers around the park that naturally attracts wildlife and

occasional birdsongs and antics of the squirrels scurrying around this place.

Amidst all this magnificent natural beauty, Haworth museum stands still, as if almost presiding over the scene, as nature races against our efforts to be tamed by it. The whole place almost feels like a dreamy escape from the daily hustle and bustle of one’s life. www.lancmag.com

The Accrington town centre along the Accrington Acorn Trail calls for exploration. The Town Hall was originally The Townas Hallan was assembly originally built hall as an assembly hall to commemorate built to commemorate the the former former Minister, Sir Peel, in the 18th The building is PrimePrime Minister, SirRobert Robert Peel, incentury. the 18th century. The designed in ais neoclassical style was built at the prime of Accrington’s building designed inand a neoclassical styletime and was built at cotton and textile industries when its success was booming and was at its highest the prime time of Accrington’s cotton and textile industries peak. when its success was booming and was at its highest peak.

The Accrington town centre along the Accrington Acorn Trail calls for exploration.

Located in Blackburn Road, it leads down to Willow Street, full of houses with striking features, and past the along Warner Street. Carnegie Library to the oldest part of the town along Warner Street.

Located in Blackburn Road, it leads down to Willow Street, full of houses with striking features, and past the Carnegie Library to the oldest part of the town

CYCLING ROUTES IN ACCRINGTON Any visit to Accrington is pretty much incomplete without exploring its picturesque landscapes in and around its countryside. There are many cycling routes around Accrington that interest wheel enthusiasts and dedicated cyclists alike to revel in the long mile circumvent of this small town. Hyndburn Clog happens to be one of them, which passes through a flamboyant countryside that includes pastures, moorland villages, and lowland close to the reservoirs that offer one exquisite sight of the scenic Hill Country. Hyndburn Greenway is another excellent cycling route that is almost free of traffic with upgraded canal towpaths and links Accrington Town Centre with Blackburn, Rishton, and Church over Baxenden. One can also find a link to Great Harwood from this route. The next route commonly taken up by cyclists is the White Path - Rishton - Great Harwood cycle route. As the name suggests, it is the route of the White Path that connects Rishton with Great Harwood. Following this route, most two-wheelers often end up having an enjoyable ride along the old railway line that links to the canal towpath, ideally used by people for leisure or to go to school or work. Canal Clog connects some parts of Hyndburn Clog with the towpath of Leeds and Liverpool Canal. ACCRINGTON’S SHOPPING CENTRES Accrington is East Lancashire’s best shopping district with exceptional independent boutiques. It offers a wide range of products, from modern Arndale Shopping Centre to 19th century Victoria Market Hall. If you have a quest for antique items, you can tick off pretty much every item in your shopping list. LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 27

The grand Victorian building has local market traders selling fresh Lancashire produce. Oswaldtwistle Mills produce. Oswaldtwistle Mills Shopping Village and Garden Centre are Shopping Village and Garden Centre are Accrington’s Accrington’s highest-rated shopping centres with a wide range of products in the highest-rated shopping centres with a wide range of home & lifestyle category. Housed in ﬁve former weaving sheds, it happens to be products in the home & lifestyle category. Housed in five the bargain hunters’ place with over 80 discount outlets. It is full of furniture former weaving sheds, it happens to be the bargain hunters’ stores, bookstores, garden works, clothing and apparel, gift shops, and houses place with over 80 discount outlets. It is full of furniture four choices of restaurants. stores, bookstores, garden works, clothing and apparel, gift shops, and houses Appetising Meals four choices of restaurants. The grand Victorian building has local market traders selling fresh Lancashire

If you are someone with an aesthetic eye, Gallery Kitchen would not be one to disappoint you. Housed in the famous the best place as it is said to be the “Best Chinese Restaurant in Accrington”. Its Haworth Art Gallery, Gallery Kitchen, besides its delicious menu is extensive and allows for customisations and combinations of dishes, food, boasts a spectacular view and an ecstatic interior where one chooses the meat to go with the choice of sauce. The most popular decor — perfect place for brunch and an afternoon tea!

If you are looking for Chinese cuisine around Accrington, then Oriental Delight is

dish here is the ‘Aromatic Crispy Duck.’

APPETISING MEALS The highlight of any place that is embedded into memory is usually the palette

The highlight of any place that is embedded into memory is usually the palette that the site serves. Accrington has multiple restaurants, all with different cuisines to offer.

that the site serves. Accrington has multiple restaurants, all with different cuisines to offer.

The Park Inn is the highest-ranked restaurant and bar in Accrington that serves British cuisine and is vegetarianfriendly with vegan options. The most favoured items ordered are under its “From the grill” section of the menu. You can always go for their heavenly grilled steak of your choice served with grilled tomatoes, chips, side salad, egg, and onion rings - a classic!

Accrington also serves a variety of Indian cuisine, all from various parts of India.

If you are someone with an aesthetic eye, ‘Gallery Kitchen’ would not be one to disappoint you. Housed in the famous Haworth Art Gallery, Gallery Kitchen,

One that the people of Accrington would recommend for its aromatic Indian curries and excellent dining experience. They pride themselves on their attention to detail and dishes such as Murgh Spice Special, Lamb Kuvani, and Tandoori Specials.

besides its delicious food, boasts a spectacular view and an ecstatic interior decor

— for brunch and an afternoon isperfect The place Spice Room, which istea!known

The Park Inn is the highest-ranked restaurant and bar in Accrington that serves

If you are looking for Chinese cuisine around Accrington, then Oriental Delight is the best place as it is said to be the items ordered are under its “From the grill” section of the menu. You can always “Best Chinese Restaurant in Accrington”. Its menu is extensive go for their heavenly grilled steak of your choice served with grilled tomatoes, and allows for customisations and combinations of dishes, chips, side salad, egg, and onion rings - a classic! where one chooses the meat to go with the choice of sauce. The most popular dish here is the ‘Aromatic Crispy Duck.’

Accrington, on its own, is an incredibly peaceful place to live in. From basic amenities like grocery centres, schools, One that the people of Accrington would recommend is The Spice Room, which hospitals spread across this small town to leisurely areas is known for its aromatic Indian curries and excellent dining experience. They alike, there is nothing Accrington does not offer to pride themselves on their attention to detail and dishes such as Murgh Spice someone who wishes to come and stay here, whether for Special, Lamb Kuvani, and Tandoori Specials. travel or long term.

British cuisine and is vegetarian-friendly with vegan options. The most favoured

Accrington also serves a variety of Indian cuisine, all from various parts of India.

amenities like grocery centres, schools, hospitals spread across this small town to

Accrington, on its own, is an incredibly peaceful place to live in. From basic

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

leisurely areas alike, there is nothing Accrington does not offer to someone who wishes to come and stay here, whether for travel or long term.

The life of Di

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

AH THE JOYS OF SUMMER...

ust back from watering the plants, (for which read soaking myself to the skin, painfully trapping my finger in the back gate, and I don’t know what else), and I’ve no idea why as on the evidence of recent times, the beggars’ll probably snuff it just to spite me. Through my parents’ neighbours’ son-in-law, (twenty-four times removed and counting), I’d been expecting a guy round to inspect my blown-down fence, and quote me for putting it back up again. So when the doorbell rang first thing last Monday 30

morning, I assumed it was him. Instead, I found myself embroiled, first via a Polish man, then an Englishman, (not the start of a joke, however much it sounds like it), in discussions about a rubbish collection I was supposed to have booked. Well I hadn’t. On the contrary, the only kind of rubbish collection I knew of was that involving the hauling of one’s bin down one’s back passage once a week - so that, dutifully parked up by one’s newly demolished gatepost, it could next day be emptied, and left somewhere completely different - halfway to

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Glasgow for apparent preference. My multi-national guests had their info however, and seemed reluctant to accept that it wasn’t the same as mine – to the tune of different hymn sheets not coming into it. I even at one point found myself asking what kind of rubbish they were expecting - as though that would make any difference – as though when they named it, I’d suddenly remember I’d a tonne of the stuff out back just clamouring for disposal. As it happened, they couldn’t name it, apparently not knowing, which www.lancmag.com

seemed a further curiosity: Surely if you were collecting something, you’d have an inkling what. However, my capacity for selfdoubt never ceases to amaze me, and directly they’d gone, I was on the phone to my mum, just in case I could somehow have confused talk of rubbish with the proposal to erect a brand spanking, all-singing, all-dancing new fence. It seemed I hadn’t however as the fencer was now coming round at midday, to be preceded by my dad, who, being better both with fences and social distancing, would kindly do the honours in terms of explaining what needed to be done. My star of a dad duly arrived at ten to twelve – and had built two rockeries, a hammock, a summerhouse, and winter house by the time it was clear the fencer wasn’t coming. This gentleman arrived at four o’clock next day - went round the back, couldn’t see what needed doing, and was seemingly none the wiser after I’d phoned my dad and thereby provided a blow-byblow account. It was clear from his www.lancmag.com

questions that he was waiting for me to describe matters as I was seeing them - except of course I wasn’t, hence all the referring to my dad. I doubt I’d even have noticed my fence was no longer in the upright position had it not been pointed out to me. At length I’d no choice but to admit to being as blind as a bat, and agree to have him shove his number through my letterbox so my dad could ring it and arrange to meet him here. Hang about though, hadn’t we already been there and not done that? Oh well, it was late in the day, plus I’d now to email my manager and explain how my computer had inexplicably conked out mid-task, that I’d tried everything I could think of but been unable to get back in again, but hey, I’d try again in the morning – just in case some unsuspected computer fairy had happened to pitch up in the night. The following day brought no evidence of fairies, just a wouldbe roofer, who came as planned, photographed my dodgy roof tiles, promised to be in touch later with a quote - and hasn’t been heard of

since. Still this was practically a result compared to two days later, when another roofer was supposed to be coming any time after two, and hadn’t appeared by six: I mean, if I’d known he wasn’t coming, plus that there’d bee no word regarding the morning’s failed computer-resuscitating attempt, I could have so-and-so’d off into the garden, and forgotten the lot of it. As it was, the only light on the horizon was the fencer’s assurance to my dad that he’d been told nothing about anything, I.E. what needed doing, coming round at midday on Monday, anything. Seemed he was properly apologetic, keen to make amends by getting himself round as soon as - and let’s face it, we’ve all been on the receiving end of failures from on high. The only other thing is that things not working are a TAD easier amid a sizzling summer of sport – I.E. at the end of the day, they can all just silly-mid-off, get netted – and serve ‘em right..

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 31

Joanne Harris hails ‘writing as a force to be reckoned with’ as she introduces the Winners of the 2021 Society of Authors’ Awards

Novelist Joanne Harris presents the 2021 Society of Authors Awards from her home in Yorkshire

The Society of Authors has revealed the names of the winning writers, poets and illustrators from around the world who will share in the UK’s biggest literary prize fund, worth over £100,000, in an online ceremony. “Graeme Armstrong: ‘I hope this prize speaks volumes to the young men and women in my community about the distinct possibility of their impossible.” The acclaimed author of Chocolat Joanne Harris invited an international audience to celebrate the 2021 Society of Authors’ Awards run digitally for the second year because of Covid-19 restrictions. Speaking from her home in Yorkshire, Harris previous award recipients to announce the 2021 winners of ten prizes for debut novels, poetry, historical biography, illustrated children’s books, and lifetime bodies of work. The trade union - which counts such household

literary names as Philip Pullman, Hilary Mantel, Kazuo Ishiguro, Neil Gaiman and JK Rowling among its members, as well as 11,500 jobbing writers, translators, illustrators and journalists - shared £105,775 between 35 writers, poets and illustrators in a celebration of the ‘phenomenal depth and breadth of books and words’ The winners included Thomas McMullan, who won the £10,000 Betty Trask Prize for his dark dystopian debut The Last Good Man; poet Paula Claire who this week celebrates 60 years of creating poetry as well as her Cholmondeley Award; Graeme Armstrong, who won both a Betty Trask Award and a Somerset Maugham Award for The Young Team; lawyer turned children’s writer Rashmi Sirdeshpande and illustrator Diane Ewen who won the Queen’s Knickers Award, now in its second year, for Never Show a T-Rex a Book; Waterstones Children’s Book Prize and British Book Awards winner Kiran Millwood Hargrave who won a Betty Trask Award for her debut adult novel The Mercies; and Pulitzer Prize winner Fredrik Logevall who won the Elizabeth Longford Prize for

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Historical Biography for JFK Volume 1. Gboyega Odubanjo, Milena Williamson and Cynthia Miller were among the young poets celebrated in the Eric Gregory Awards, while other award recipients included Forward Prize winner Kei Miller, award-winning columnist Lola Okolosie, playwright and education worker Lamorna Ash, and short fiction author and literary reviewer DM O’Connor. Introducing the Awards, Harris reflected on the current challenges facing the author community, saying, ‘for authors, whose careers are precarious at the best of times, the challenge to sustain themselves right now is more acute than ever.’ She continued, ‘that is why all of us are here to celebrate the phenomenal depth and breadth of books and words. Authors at the very beginning of their careers. Authors that are well established. Fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and everything that lies in between. Literature as a treasure at the centre of society. Writing as a force to be reckoned with.’ In his acceptance speech, Kei Miller described his Cholmondeley Award as ‘a wonderful reminder that we belong to so

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many societies and so many countries’. McKitterick Prize winner Elaine Feeney spoke of the ‘lovely boost’ the prize has given her, confirming ‘signs of life off the West coast of Ireland!’ Queen’s Knickers Award winner Rashmi Sirdeshpande thanked ‘everyone who has helped [Never Show a T-Rex a Book] find its way into the hands of a child’. And Graeme Johnson whose novel The Young Team mirrors his own experiences of addiction and Scottish gang culture said he hopes his two awards will ‘speak volumes to the young men and women in my community about the distinct possibility of their impossible.’ As she closed the ceremony, Joanne Harris said, ‘There’s no better way to support authors than to read them, so I urge you all to pick up tonight’s winners from your local bookshop and discover their worlds.’ THE WINNERS FOR EACH AWARD ARE: The ALCS Tom-Gallon Trust Award

The Cholmondeley Awards are awarded for a body of work by a poet. Judged by Moniza Alvi, Grace Nichols and Deryn Rees-Jones. Past winners include Seamus Heaney, Carol Ann Duffy, John Agard and Andrew Motion. Total prize fund: £8,400 • Kei Miller • Paula Claire • Maurice Riordan • Susan Wicks • Katrina Porteous Elizabeth Longford Prize for Historical Biography The Elizabeth Longford Prize for Historical Biography is an annual award for historical biography which combines scholarship and narrative drive. Judged by Roy FosterFlora Fraser, Antonia Fraser, Richard Davenport-Hines and Rana Mitter. Past winners include D.W. Hayton, Anne Somerset and Philip Ziegler. Total prize fund: £5,000. • Winner: Fredrik Logevall for JFK Volume 1 (Viking) Eric Gregory Award winners

• Winner: DM O’connor for I Told You Not to Fly So High Awarded £1,000 • Runner-Up: Sean Lusk for The Hopelessness of Hope Awarded £575

• Phoebe Walker for Animal Noises • Michael Askew for The Association Game • Gboyega Odubanjo for Aunty Uncle Poems • Kandace Siobhan Walker for Cowboy • Cynthia Miller for Honorifics • Milena Williamson for The Red Trapeze • Dominic Hand for Symbiont

The Betty Trask Prize and Awards are presented for a first novel by a writer under 35. Judged by Sara Collins, Elanor Dymott and Vaseem Khan. Past winners include Zadie Smith, David Szalay, Hari Kunzru and Sarah Waters. Total prize and award fund: £26,200. Betty Trask Prize Winner • Thomas Mcmullan for The Last Good Man (Bloomsbury) Awarded £10,000. Betty Trask Awards Winners Five winners, each awarded £3,240. • Maame Blue for Bad Love (Jacaranda Books) • Eley Williams for The Liar’s Dictionary (William Heinemann/Cornerstone Prh) • Kiran Millwood Hargrave for The Mercies (Pan Macmillan/Picador) • Nneoma Ike-Njoku for The Water House (Unpublished) • Graeme Armstrong for The Young Team (Pan Macmillan Picador) Cholmondeley Award winners 5 winners each awarded £1,680

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Total prize fund: £1,000. • Winner: Kathy O’shaughnessy for In Love with George Eliot (Scribe Uk) Awarded £1,000 • Runner-Up: Karen Raney for All the Water in the World (John Murray/Two Roads) The Queen’s Knickers Award

Sponsored by the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS), the ALCS Tom-Gallon Trust Award is awarded for a short story by a writer who has had at least one short story accepted for publication. Judged by Claire Fuller, Sophie Haydock, Billy Kahora, Ardashir Vakil and Mary Watson. Past winners include Benjamin Myers, Lucy Wood, Grace Ingoldby and Claire Harman. Total prize fund: £1,575.

Betty Trask Prize & Awards

Anne Youngson and Donald S Murray.

7 winners each awarded £4,050 The Eric Gregory Award is presented for a collection of poems by a poet under 30. Judged by Vahni Capildeo, Andrew McMillan, Sarah Howe, Jamie McKendrick and Roger Robinson. Past winners include Carol Ann Duffy, Helen Mort and Alan Hollinghurst. Total prize fund: £28,350.

McKitterick Prize The McKitterick Prize is awarded for a first novel by a writer over 40. Judged by Sabrina Mahfouz, Nick Rennison and Christopher Tayler. Past winners include Helen Dunmore, Mark Haddon and Petina Gappah. Total prize fund: £5,250. • Winner: Elaine Feeney for As You Were (Harvill Secker, Vintage) Awarded £4,000 • Runner-Up: Deepa Anappara for Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line (Chatto & Windus, Vintage) Awarded £1,250 Paul Torday Memorial Prize Now in its third year, the Paul Torday Memorial Prize is awarded to a first novel by a writer over 60. The prize includes a set of the collected works of British writer Paul Torday, who published his first novel Salmon Fishing in the Yemen at the age of 60. Judged by Paul Bailey, Roopa Farooki and Anne Youngson. Past winners are

Now in its second year, this annual prize, founded by Nicholas Allan, author of The Queen’s Knickers, is awarded for an outstanding children’s original illustrated book for ages 0-7. It recognises books that strike a quirky, new note and grab the attention of a child, whether in the form of curiosity, amusement, horror or excitement. Judged by Alexis Deacon, Patrice Lawrence and Tony Ross. The inaugural winner of this award in 2020 was Elena Arevalo Melville for Umbrella Total prize fund: £6,000. • Winners: Writer Rashmi Sirdeshpande and Illustrator Diane Ewen for Never Show a T-Rex a Book (Puffin) Awarded £5,000 • Runner-Up: Alex T. Smith for Mr Penguin and the Catastrophic Cruise (Hachette) Awarded £1,000 Somerset Maugham Award winners 4 winners each awarded £4,000 The Somerset Maugham Awards are for published works of fiction, non-fiction or poetry by writers under 30, to enable them to enrich their work by gaining experience of foreign countries. Judged by Fred D’Aguiar, Nadifa Mohamed and Roseanne Watt. Past winners include Helen Oyeyemi, Julian Barnes, Zadie Smith and Jonathan Freedland. Total prize fund: £16,000. • Lamorna Ash for Dark, Salt, Clear (Bloomsbury Publishing) • Isabelle Baafi for Ripe (Ignition Press) • Akeem Balogun for The Storm (Okapi Books) • Graeme Armstrong for The Young Team (Pan Macmillan Picador) Travelling Scholarships 5 winners each awarded £1,600 The Travelling Scholarships are awarded to British writers to enable engagement with writers abroad. Judged by Tahmima Anam, Aida Edemariam, Anne McElvoy, Adam O’Riordan and Gary Younge. Previous recipients have included Dylan Thomas, Laurie Lee and Margaret Drabble. Total prize fund: £8,000.

• Clare Pollard • Guy Gunaratne • Yara Rodrigues Fowler • Tom Stevenson • Lola Okolosie

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Nightfall in New York By Lancaster author Katherine Woodfine I’d already written about Sophie and Lil in a previous series of books, The Sinclair’s Mysteries - detective stories set in Edwardian London, inspired by the likes of Enid Blyton, Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. In this new series beginning in 1911, my heroines would now be putting their detective skills to work as secret agents for the mysterious British Secret Service Bureau.

Lancaster author Katherine Woodfine tells us how she approached writing and researching a children’s book set in New York City at the height of the pandemic.

hen I first set out to write Taylor & Rose Secret Agents, I knew that travel would be a key element to the series. Set in the years just before the First World War, the books are inspired in part by the early spy and espionage adventures of the 1900s and 1910s. Written by authors like John Buchan or Erskine Childers, these stories usually centred around brave young men, but in my books, it would be two intrepid teenage girls - Sophie Taylor and Lil Rose - who would be at the heart of the story.

This scenario is not perhaps quite as unlikely as it might at first seem. The real-life Secret Service Bureau really was set up by the British government in 1909 - and although initially small, it soon grew, going on to become what we know today as MI5 and MI6. In its early days, the Secret Service Bureau often hired private detectives to help with its important work - and in this period, there were quite a number of ‘young lady detectives’ operating in London, including Kate Easton and Maud West. While there’s no evidence she ever worked for the Secret Service Bureau, Maud West certainly hinted that she was involved in important government work. In their new role, my young detectives would be plunged into the thrilling world of Edwardian espionage. Like James Bond and so many other spies before them, I knew their secret missions would take them to a variety of exotic locations - travelling in disguise by plane, train and automobile, encountering all kinds of dangers along the way. The first three books in the series took Sophie and Lil to Paris, St Petersburg and Venice. For each new location, I immersed myself in research - seeking out books and visiting museums and art galleries.

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I looked at images ranging from old photographs and paintings to fashion illustrations and advertisements, and spent spent time at the British Library studying materials from the period, including travel guides, maps and even railway timetables. A hugely important part of the research process was a visit to each city. Although I already knew Paris reasonably well, I spent a few days there scouting out specific locations for Peril in Paris, which takes my characters all over the city, from a grand hotel to a shabby Montmartre cafe and even a glamorous nightclub inspired by the legendary Moulin Rouge. Spies in St Petersburg required more in-depth research - I’d never visited St Petersburg before, so I spent a memorable week in St Petersburg getting to know the city and visiting as many different places as I could. Even more important was soaking up the atmosphere, taking in all the key details from the precise colours of the buildings to the tastes of Russian food. In Venice, a boat trip out to the cemetery island of San Michele inspired the final climactic scenes of Villains in Venice, which take place in an underground tomb beneath the lagoon. Although the modern-day cities were of course very different from their early 20th century counterparts, these visits gave me valuable opportunities to imagine what they would have been like over 100 years ago. What’s more, walking the streets allowed me to work out all the twists and turns of each action-packed adventure. But when it came to writing the fourth and final book in the series, Nightfall in New York, things were very different. In the midst of the

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Taylor & Rose; NIGHTFALL IN NEW YORK by Katherine Woodfine (8th July, Farshore, £6.99, paperback) Covid-19 pandemic, I knew there would be no chance of a research trip to New York. What was more, museums and galleries were closed, as was the British Library where I’d done so much of my research. Sitting at my desk in my home in Lancaster, how could I possibly expect to conjure up the streets of New York in 1912? Of course, it was books that came to my rescue - often ordered from one of my favourite Lancashire independent bookshops, Storytellers Inc (Lytham St Annes) and Ebb & Flo (Chorley). There are of course, a wealth of books about New York City, including some wonderful books for young readers - such as Robin Stevens’ The Guggenheim Mystery which centres around a puzzling art theft, or Katherine Rundell’s The Good Thieves which takes us back to the 1950s for a thrilling heist. I read classics like The Mixed Up Files of Mrs Basil E Frankweiler by E L Konigsburg, and Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh, as well as books by contemporary children’s authors such as Rebecca Stead and Renée Watson. Meanwhile Libba Bray’s spooky and supernatural young adult series The Diviners, set in the 1920s, helped me imagine the New York of the past. I also turned to books for adults, including novels by everyone from Edith Wharton and Henry James to Alice Hoffman and Elizabeth Gilbert. It was in fact, Alice Hoffman’s novel The Museum of Extraordinary Things that gave me the idea of setting part of my story at Coney Island. Immersing myself in reading both fiction and non-fiction about New York provided lots of inspiration. There was more help to be found online, where I scoured Youtube for www.lancmag.com

early film clips of New York, and used Pinterest to collect dozens of images. The websites of some of New York’s cultural institutions, such as the Tenement Museum and the Museum of Chinese in America, offered valuable information, and I discovered podcasts such as ‘The Bowery Boys’, which allowed me to delve more deeply into specific aspects of New York’s history, discovering intriguing facts and unusual details along the way. Meanwhile, Google Maps allowed me to work out routes and distances - and while I couldn’t explore the streets of New York myself, as I went for my daily lockdown walk, I found I could still think out the details of my story, by imagining that I was walking through Manhattan. Soon, the story began to evolve. Nightfall in New York sees Sophie and Lil travelling across the Atlantic on a grand ocean liner, before arriving in New York and embarking on a mission which takes them from the elegant Waldorf-Astoria to the enticing amusement parks of Coney Island. As they follow the twists and turns of Sophie and Lil’s adventures, I hope that young readers will feel they too have been whisked away across the ocean to New York - which is perhaps more important than ever, at a time when travelling remains unavailable to most of us. While reallife globe-trotting is impossible, books like Nightfall in New York can offer children the chance to experience some of the joy of travelling and discovering new places, through the power of stories and imagination.

In the end, while writing the book in a pandemic was certainly a challenge, researching New York certainly provided a great imaginative escape. When I’m able to go back and visit New York again, I know I’ll be doing so with a new-found knowledge of and appreciation for the city. Yet whilst I loved writing Nightfall in New York, staying close to home over the last year has also given me a new-found appreciation for what’s right outside my front door. During the first lockdown, I wrote a short piece ‘The Green Road’ for the anthology The Book of Hopes edited by Katherine Rundell - a collection of words and pictures intended to comfort, inspire and entertain children, with proceeds donated to NHS Charities Together. Far from distant cities, my contribution was instead inspired by my the daily lockdown walks I’d been taking along local footpaths. I’d love to see more children’s books with a northern setting, and Lancaster is a city full of fascinating history, surrounded by beautiful landscapes. So perhaps for my next children’s book, I may find myself taking inspiration from somewhere a little closer to home…

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DUTY OF THE GODS By Dr Vishal Sahni

• A fast-moving medical thriller set during the global Covid-19 pandemic, and written by a UK-based surgeon, that invokes the real-life turmoil and dedication of the medical community. • An expert epidemiologist’s hunt for a cure uncovers an evil plot by a ruthless organization that places money above the lives of millions. Moving quickly from London to Wuhan, China to the prisons of Iran and beyond, nowhere is safe and everything is at stake.

ruthless organization is determined to profit from the COVID-19 pandemic at the expense of millions of lives, but two doctors refuse to give up and race to find the answers. Dr Rebecca Hartley-Jones, an expert epidemiologist of the GHO, is used to dealing with unknowns. But when her professor sends her to Wuhan, China, she is stunned by what she finds and even more troubled by what it could mean for millions of innocent people around the globe. Her hunt for answers takes her to Iran, where she is thrown behind bars and subjected to spinechilling torture. Indian virologist Dr Raj Kumar, who also seeks answers about the lethal coronavirus, accompanies her on her quest. Will their mission to find a cure and root out the truth lead to disaster? Or will they find the answers they seek and find love? 36

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ishal Sahni is an orthopaedic surgeon and author based in the Manchester area. In 2017 he won the best innovation in health care award for developing and performing the firstever Robot-assisted keyhole surgery on the shoulder joint. He was born and raised in Nagpur, India, known as the tiger capital of the world. Vishal Sahni is anguished by loneliness amongst the elderly and organises regular tea parties at his residence for them to share stories and sing songs from the 1950s like Que Sera Sera. So far he has resisted their calls to dress as Doris Day though! He lives with his wife and little daughter in a charming seaside village in the North West of England. Dr Vishal is a wonderful man of many talents and with his own unique blend of science and heart he has created a story of hope for our time. We have missed the book since we all finished reading it so quickly and it is our hope that there is a soon a sequel, if he can find the time! it would also be great to see his book progress on in other forms. All of us in the office have found it to be an inspiring read and all of us have appreciated different elements. There isn’t a page that doesn’t keep you guessing and wondering, there

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is something inside both of the main protagonists that we can all identify with so we were rooting for them the whole way through. When discussing Duty of the God’s with Dr Vishal, what shone through the most was his love of the North of England and how he considers it to be home. His respect and admiration for the Northern grit and determination, especially the Doctors and nurses showing extreme bravery in the face of severe adversity was something that he wanted to include. Dr Vishal’s inspiration for his feisty and big hearted character Rebecca comes form all of these women he has met locally and who have helped in the fight against the pandemic. The Inspiration for Raj is not hard to see either as Dr Vishal pays homage to his other home and roots and merges cultures and personalities beautifully. Take the time to read this book, it will make you cry but it will make you laugh as well, the balance is just right and feel free to send us your thoughts and feedback as we will be recommending more good reads from the team soon: info@lancashiremagazine.co.uk Duty of the Gods is available in paperback (£9.99) and ebook (£3.36) at all good bookshops and online retailers.

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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. Please ring us on 01253 206447 for further information.

Fundraising @ Aiming Higher After a year and a half of lockdown, the Charity Sector has seen a huge downturn in donations and fundraising events and Blackpool based Aiming Higher is no exception.

he charity supports families with children who have disabilities in Blackpool, Fylde & Wyre and has remained pro-active with activities and support throughout the pandemic. Unfortunately, the normal sponsored events like fun runs and marathons have been cancelled for some time and large fundraising events such as the Aiming Higher Annual Ball have obviously not been allowed due to Covid-19 restrictions. This has meant a substantial reduction in the amount of money raised for the charity who are keen to get fundraisers on board again and ensure that all their services are able to continue. Charity Manager Hayley Kay said: “If you’d like to raise money for Aiming Higher then we’d be delighted to hear from you. Over the years our fantastic supporters have undertaken a wide and varied range of fundraising activities that raise vital funds for the 38

children and families we support. We’re also happy to supply collection tins to small businesses who wish to fundraise for us on their countertops.”

Whatever your idea, we’d be delighted to talk to you about it, call any of our team on 01253 206447 or email info@ aiminghighercharity.org.uk

There’s an endless number of ways to raise money for Aiming Higher, but if you’re looking for inspiration, may we suggest:

Two brave individuals who didn’t let lockdown stop them from fundraising were Katie Gledhill and Vitalka Wilson who both undertook a skydive for us at Black Knights Parachute Centre in Cockerham. Aiming Higher is one of the charities that Black Knights promote on their website to those wanting to do something for a good cause whilst skydiving. Vitalka’s jump was delayed several times due to weather and restrictions but he described it as an “absolutely amazing” experience when he completed it in August. Katie finally jumped in October and said it was “literally one of the best things I’ve ever done!”

Sponsored: Walks, Runs, Cycles, Silences Daytime Activities: Coffee Morning, Cake/Bake Sale, Dress-Down Day, Raffle, Tombola, Baked Bean Bath, Charity Car Wash, Charity Lunch, Supermarket Bag Packing, Car Boot Sale Quitting Something: Smoking, Chocolate, Alcohol or Technology for 24 Hours! High Energy Challenges: Skydiving, 3,000-Mile Trek or Distance Challenge Evening Activities: Quiz Night, Disco, Bingo, Karaoke Night A-thons: Swimathon, Spellathon, Danceathon, Stepathon, Readathon

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

The team at Aiming Higher are also making plans for another fundraising ball in 2022 – three years since the last 1950’s themed event in May 2019. Over the years these have proved very popular and have raised significant sums for the charity. If you would be interested in purchasing a table, donating prizes or sponsoring any aspect of the event please contact the team who will be happy to speak to you. www.lancmag.com

PICTURED ABOVE: Katie Gledhill during her parachute jump

PICTURED RIGHT: Katie Gledhill after her parachute jump

PICTURED ABOVE: Families from Aiming Higher enjoying a recent trip to the park

PICTURED ABOVE: Party goers at the 2019 Charity Ball www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 39

Call of the Sea Statue Celebrates Blackpool’s Award-Winning Coastline A new statue celebrating the importance of protecting Blackpool’s beautiful natural coast and marine life has been unveiled today on Talbot Square.

he sculpture is one of a number of unique works commissioned as part of the ongoing regeneration plans to make the town centre more attractive to shoppers, residents and investors. The ‘Call of the Sea’ sculpture is sited close to the popular new heritage tram benches by artist Andy Hazell. Artist Laurence Payot wants the life-sized statue to become a new local character inspired by sea goddesses and heroes across cultures. Covered in replica shells and sea life based on those found locally, the statue gives a message of hope for the marine environment that is threatened globally by climate change. The funding for the statue has come to Blackpool from a grant through the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership under its Growth Deal. The design was developed from the results of a community consultation led by the artist and plays with Blackpool’s link to performers using magic and illusion to entertain people, and in particular the traditional street performer disguised as a statue.

Above: Call of The Sea

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During the consultation phase, Laurence spent time with fashion students from Blackpool and The Fylde College, pupils from Blackpool Gateway Academy and the council’s www.lancmag.com

beach patrol team in creative workshop sessions before finalising her design. Laurence wanted to find a suitable female model for the sculpture and Charlotte, who was born in Blackpool, was chosen due to her passion for the environment and her interest in marine conservation. Charlotte said: “I was born in Blackpool and I couldn’t imagine living away from the sea – it has intrigued me from a very young age. The sea has so many hidden features, it is a beautiful and mysterious world. “I was delighted to help Laurence create this work, from seeing the initial children’s designs, to testing outfits and positions, and being 3D scanned! It was fascinating seeing the process from casting in wax, to bronze, and painting. “I’m representing my generation, who have become more aware of the problems we now face. We live at a turning point – we need to take action, and this is what this statue represents, looking after and fighting for our environment and our future.” The sculpture has been made by Castle Arts Foundry using a state-ofthe art 3D scanner on the live model so that the statue looks as realistic as possible. It has then been cast in bronze and painted an array of colours reflecting the natural vibrant colours of an undersea coral bed. Laurence said: “Call of the Sea will mark a turning point for Blackpool which has declared a climate change emergency and send a positive and optimistic message about the town’s progress to maintain its quality sea water and clean beaches. “She was carefully designed with and for Blackpool, and emerges out of the sea, like a magical and surreal apparition. I hope people will accept her and care for her, for she represents hope, change and kindness. “She is a motherly figure, caring for local sea life found in the Irish Sea, holding it tight to her heart. But she is also a powerful figure, a fighter with a determined position, moving forward and raising a bright red conch shell www.lancmag.com

Above: Call of The Sea - Laurence (L) with Charlotte (R)

as if raising an emergency call, inviting us to follow her path. She is a call for the sea, and for the young and future generations. “Her body, the sea, and the fauna and flora she is holding are all intertwined into a colourful web of life. Reds and blues, opposite colours, sit together, representing the contradictions she embodies, and the choices we have to make. “I cannot wait to see her in situ. I hope she will surprise passers-by, and make children dream of a beautiful future.”

“Call of the Sea will mark a turning point for Blackpool which has declared a climate change emergency and send a positive and optimistic message about the town’s progress to maintain its quality sea water and clean beaches” - Laurence

Cllr Lynn Williams, Blackpool Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Tourism and Culture, said: “We are a forward-thinking town and as we recover from the impact of the pandemic, I am pleased we have a statue that local young people wanted to represent their passion for protecting our natural environment. “I’m sure the statue will prove to be a popular landmark for people to meet at before going and enjoying the many attractions including our wonderful beach and piers where you can get close to nature. “Our seaside resort is proud to have recently received the Keep Britain Tidy Seaside Awards for the high standards of all four of our beaches and bathing waters so it is very fitting that the statue celebrates our beautiful natural coastline and our award-winning beaches. “This project is just one element of our wider plans for the town centre regeneration and is part of the ongoing work taking place to create a resilient resort for the 21st century.” Be the first to hear about new developments in the town. Sign up to news alerts at: www.blackpool.gov.uk/ BetterBlackpool

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 41

Sightseeing in Sandbach

and Ad-hoc indoor market.

also a variety of other activities you could partake in such as canoeing, angling/ﬁshing, orienteering, and birdwatching.

Charter Market is the traditional market of Sandbach held in the town center every Thursday for as long as 1547 when it was ﬁrst granted by Queen Elizabeth I. The market provides for an extensive variety of quality products at an affordable price which has attracted generations of traders with a passion for trade and value for money. It is open from 9 AM to 4 PM during summers and 9 AM to 3 PM during winters in the Market Hall and Market Square.

Brereton Heath Nature Reserve is a 50-acre silver birch and oakwood land surrounding a 15-acre lake with a variety of animal habitats and bird species. It also consists of a beautiful wildﬂower meadow and heathland which is best enjoyed during the late summer when the ﬂowers are in bloom. The overall landscape provides an aesthetic contrast that is noticed during sunrise and sunset, making it a perfect place for an early morning or evening walk. There are

The Friday Market is held on every Friday indoors in the Market Hall in a compact and efﬁcient manner. A variety of essential goods such as meat, dairy, sweets, and other hand-produced locally grown products are sold from 9 AM to 2 PM. There is also a Saturday Market that is regularly held on every Saturday of the week, selling things in and around the Market Hall from 9 AM to 4 PM. Makers Market, held on the second Saturday of each month, is a market for award-winning local food, drink, art & crafts producers, and artisans to showcase

Sandbach

their trade. It also offers a variety of children’s activities, live music, and street food to add to the already lively atmosphere. The timings of the market happen to be from 10 AM to 2 PM, held at Sandbach Market Square.

By Megha Seth

Sandbach is a town in Cheshire that is particularly popular for being a market town with excellent road connections to its neighbouring townships.

both of which unfortunately do not exist any longer. The town is also famous for its Scheduled Ancient Monuments such as the Sandbach Saxon Crosses that is situated in the Market Square. Other renowned places in Sandbach happen to be Saxon Brereton Heath Nature Reserve, Crosses, or Sandbach Crosses are two Wheelock large Anglo-Saxon stone crosse Farm, and Sandbach Hall. are said toTown have been built in the 9th century, situated in the lively Market P The people of Sandbach are known to have a strong community spirit and the schools in the town have a sound reputation for providing quality education. In fact, Sandbach school is a school in Cheshire that educates children without having to pay any fee. HISTORY OF SANDBACH

he easy commute is what primarily makes the town ideal for trade and businesses andserves as a commercial hub for most of the marketeers from the adjoining towns. The visitors are often surprised at finding quaint shops and half-timbered Tudorpubs at almost every street corner.

Sandbach has always been a part of one of the four civil parish settlements that included Sandbach itself, Elworth, Ettiley Heath, and Wheelock. Traces of the settlements are found as early as Saxon times when the town was called sand bæce. Sandbach originally derived its name from the Anglo-Saxon origins which referred to the land as “sand stream” or “sand valley”.

Sandbach, also being one of the four civil parishes of Cheshire, is located in the North West region of the country. It is prominently known for being the original founding homes of the ERF and Foden trucks company,

Sandbach has a rich history and most parts of its town date back to the 16th century, including a number of halftimbered Grade II listed buildings inside the conservation area. Its official history is recorded from as early as the

T 42

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www.lancmag.com

delicious lunch and afternoon tea at a reasonable price. Wheelock Farm

Potters Barn Food in Sandbach “hidden gem” for its small infrastructure and location but masterful service and Deciding where to eat in Sandbach is quite a paralyzing task due to its wide range fantastic food. The

most popular dishes here are their sandwiches, cakes, “caesar

of cuisines and restaurants. The reason for this is the increasing number of regular

salad box” and “all day breakfast”

traders and new faces that come to visit the town. From a quick bite to a

ﬁve-course meal, the town has food for every kind of pallet and stomach.

Minshull’s Country Kitchen

Casa Mia

If you have kids or love animals then Wheelock Farm might sound like a fun place to you. They have a variety of farm animals that can be fed, along with a large

es that

Place,

With all these provisions, the town is just one mile from junction 17 of the M6 motorway and only 34 miles away from Manchester City Centre, so, commute from Sandbach would never be a problem. The basic amenities and excellent

recreational facilities in Sandbach make the town a truly desirable place to live in.

The Potters Barn is fully operational pottery open to the public to witness the complete process of how pottery is made from start to ﬁnish. Here you can choose to partake in any stage of pottery making such as playing with clay, pot painting, or molding the pot on the Potter's Wheel. If crafting in general really piques your interest, then you may consider taking up their courses on silversmithing, upholstery, stone carving, and longbow-making to name a few.

Casa Mia is an authentic Italian restaurant specializing in dishes such as gnocchi,

carbonara, ravioli, and pizza. The Italian owner Lello and his staff strive to give the Doomsday a significant of Sandbach’s Thefeel Market Squarespecial has been the center of attention in Minshull’s Country book Kitchenbut is rated as the bestpart restaurant in Sandbach, serving Italian restaurant by holding There is also a showcase of finished itemsan on display in the gift shop to seeevents and exploring the different dishes history took place prior to William the Conqueror. It was Sandbach for several centuries. It is the main marketplace homemade local British cuisines and desserts. The locals refer to this place as a each region of Italy hastown, to offer. It is safe to say that they purchase drawlocal inspiration as early as the 9th centuryor when Saxonsfrom. erected of the hosting several markets, fairs,have andsuccessfully festivals, earned bejeweled Crosses to proclaim the Christian message. This including the Charter Market. There are many recorded the name “Italy in Sandbach” is the same famous Saxon Crosses that is still seen to be high-grade buildings and structures, one of the most massively standing on the cobbles of the Market Square notable ones being the Saxon Crosses. today, that serves as a local landmark in Sandbach. Sandbach Market Hall located in the Sandbach Town Phathong Hall is another marketplace that is home to over 20 EXPLORING SANDBACH If you are looking for something different the usual fish and in chips or rib-eye individual merchants withthan businesses specialising meat, fish, dairy, sweets,come arts and crafts. The most popular areas in Sandbach includesteak, Park Lane, perhaps Asian food might to your mind. One of the countries that Congleton Road, Bradwall Road, Offley Road, Crewe TYPES OFspices MARKETS IN SANDBACH have mastered the art of and flavors is Thailand which is why Phathong is Road, and Middlewich Road, primarily due to the close proximity of the local schools that are situatedprobably in and the best There Thai food restaurant can find in the country, with are four kinds ofyou markets found in Sandbach heldthe finest around these areas. Smaller villages on the outskirts of on selective days of the week, boasting over 80 stalls: Thai food in a comfortable and fresh ambience and attentive but not intrusive Sandbach (such as Elworth) offer a peaceful and soothing Charter Market, the Friday Market, Makers Market, and environment that makes them truly desirable places to live Ad-hoc indoor market. Charter Market is the traditional in Sandbach. market of Sandbach held in the town center every

MARKETPLACES IN SANDBACH

Thursday for as long as 1547 when it was first granted by Queen Elizabeth I.

Being a traditional market town, Sandbach holds a variety of different markets every day of the week. The locals from the three neighbouring parishes of Elworth, Ettiley Heath, and Wheelock along with traders and bargain hunters of all kinds support the community business and their economy.

The market provides for an extensive variety of quality products at an affordable price which has attracted generations of traders with a passion for trade and value for money. It is open from 9 AM to 4 PM during summers and 9 AM to 3 PM during winters in the Market Hall and Market Square.

www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 43

The Friday Market is held on every Friday indoors in the Market Hall in a compact and efficient manner. A variety of essential goods such as meat, dairy, sweets, and other hand-produced locally grown products are sold from 9 AM to 2 PM. There is also a Saturday Market that is regularly held on every Saturday of the week, selling things in and around the Market Hall from 9 AM to 4 PM. Makers Market, held on the second Saturday of each month, is a market for award-winning local food, drink, art & crafts producers, and artisans to showcase their trade. It also offers a variety of children’s activities, live music, and street food to add to the already lively atmosphere. The timings of the market happen to be from 10 AM to 2 PM, held at Sandbach Market Square. The fourth type of market is an Ad-hoc indoor market that is held at the Market Hall on selective Sundays. It is generally a market for fairs, crafts, records, and indoor car boots displaying many fancy products by the local sellers. SIGHTSEEING IN SANDBACH

POTTERS BARN The Potters Barn is fully operational pottery open to the public to witness the complete process of how pottery is made from start to finish. Here you can choose to partake in any stage of pottery making such as playing with clay, pot painting, or molding the pot on the Potter’s Wheel. If crafting in general really piques your interest, then you may consider taking up their courses on silversmithing, upholstery, stone carving, and longbow-making to name a few. There is also a showcase of finished items on display in the gift shop to see and purchase or draw inspiration from. FOOD IN SANDBACH Deciding where to eat in Sandbach is quite a paralyzing task due to its wide range of cuisines and restaurants. The reason for this is the increasing number of regular traders and new faces that come to visit the town. From a quick bite to a five-course meal, the town has food for every kind of pallet and stomach.

Brereton Heath Nature Reserve is a 50-acre silver birch and oakwood land surrounding a 15-acre lake with a variety of animal habitats and bird species. It also consists of a beautiful wildflower meadow and heathland which is best enjoyed during the late summer when the flowers are in bloom. The overall landscape provides an aesthetic contrast that is noticed during sunrise and sunset, making it a perfect place for an early morning or evening walk. There are also a variety of other activities you could partake in such as canoeing, angling/fishing, orienteering, and birdwatching.

MINSHULL’S COUNTRY KITCHEN

Saxon Crosses, or Sandbach Crosses are two large Anglo-Saxon stone crosses that are said to have been built in the 9th century, situated in the lively Market Place, and surprisingly still in great condition. The elaborate carvings are of animals and scenes of biblical origin. There are placards around each side of the cross describing and deciphering the carvings. The sheer intelligence and detail put into the building of these crosses to make them last over a thousand years are mind-boggling and definitely worth visiting.

Casa Mia is an authentic Italian restaurant specializing in dishes such as gnocchi, carbonara, ravioli, and pizza. The Italian owner Lello and his staff strive to give the restaurant an Italian feel by holding special events exploring the different dishes each region of Italy has to offer. It is safe to say that they have successfully earned the name “Italy in Sandbach”

THINGS TO DO IN SANDBACH Sandbach offers a plethora of activities you can do while on a visit here. Some of them are: WHEELOCK FARM If you have kids or love animals then Wheelock Farm might sound like a fun place to you. They have a variety of farm animals that can be fed, along with a large outdoor and soft indoor play area for the kids. There is also a cafe that serves delicious lunch and afternoon tea at a reasonable price.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

Minshull’s Country Kitchen is rated as the best restaurant in Sandbach, serving homemade local British cuisines and desserts. The locals refer to this place as a “hidden gem” for its small infrastructure and location but masterful service and fantastic food. The most popular dishes here are their sandwiches, cakes, “caesar salad box” and “all day breakfast” CASA MIA

PHATHONG If you are looking for something different than the usual fish and chips or rib-eye steak, perhaps Asian food might come to your mind. One of the countries that have mastered the art of spices and flavors is Thailand which is why Phathong is probably the best Thai food restaurant you can find in the country, with the finest Thai food in a comfortable and fresh ambience and attentive but not intrusive service. The best dishes served are “Po Pia Tod” (Thai Spring Rolls) and “Geang Panang Gai” (Thai coconut milk dry chicken curry). With all these provisions, the town is just one mile from junction 17 of the M6 motorway and only 34 miles away from Manchester City Centre, so, commute from Sandbach would never be a problem. The basic amenities and excellent recreational facilities in Sandbach make the town a truly desirable place to live in. www.lancmag.com

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

art 1 of 3. Regular readers will know I love weird and wacky stories, even if they are not true. So imagine my pleasure when I came across the sensation of alleged time slips in Liverpool. Various people claim they slipped back in time, usually to the 1950’s or 1960’s. One claimed he slipped back to early 1900’s. He said as he walked down Bold Street the sky went very dark and what had been that year in the decade of the 1990’s changed to early 1900’s judging by the fashion he spied. Also the shops were old fashioned. Gone were the modern day stores as were modern day cars, replaced by horse drawn carriages. There was air there was sound and if he felt more confident he would have interacted with a person. Imagine whipping out your smartphone to show someone from the early 1900’s! art 3 of 3 Or go a step further and take photos This is the final part of the UFO or film what you see. What would your phenomenon sweeping the phone record? globe and the hotspot of Lancashire. is the about story ofley a man IThere mentioned lineswho and there walked near to Bold Street and he are the converging ones in the ground alleges as he turned a corner, was and water and another set located in faced with a dead end. An old wall the sky. When I wrote that I was aware that wasn’t there the previous day had of it existing but had suddenly appeared. Likenot the physically previous seen it. That was until now. man he said the sky became suddenly darker prior to thissouthbound obstacle being I was driving onthere. the HeM61. evenIttouched the in construction and was early the morning it was he headed and solid. trafficConfused, was extremely light.back The theweather way he was came. partly cloudy and not Most of Ithe stories on ain raining. guess thatcentre is a story period 1993-1997 apart Something from the itself of about not raining. one in themy nexteye paragraph. maythe caught to the leftThey against well be Urban Tales andAnd tall as ones at blanket of darkness. I looked that. is thought provoking. up But intoitthe sky I could clearlyBut see there are three particular will a huge curved mesh orstories frameIgoing centre on. as far as the eye could see. The lines This onetoallegedly occurred in 2006and seemed cross forming triangles when a lad called Sean admitted it was coloured black. I couldhe see shoplifted an item ranseconds out of the it for about five and to ten and shop pursuedifbyothers a Security Guard. As wondered had seen it too, Sean got to a corner (and the sky went but I am yet to find out. Ah, but did dark) turned and carried on mirror runningI youhe see it in your rear view buthear when he looked back he noticed you say? Yes.

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Now the interview with A.I alien. After I finished communicating with this being I studiously wrote down everything while it was fresh in my mind. I went back to read it a week or two later and it looked like a piece of science fiction. Almost as though someone else wrote it. The information was startling. So much so I think it wise not to divulge major We covered Covid-19, before hispieces. pursuer was nowhere to be seen. and during the dinosaur era,inthe Relieved, he stopped and took his reason beings are here,was technology, surroundings. Everybody wearing geometry other alien races and clothes fromand the 1960’s and cars were worlds. old fashioned from this era. Starting to worry he brought out his modern I was shown a planet called Naburu. mobile phone, but it displayed no While we slowly travelled, the signal. As he walked back past the store I saw appeared human. heinhabitants robbed he noticed it wasn’t the one I recognised this one man who was he entered earlier. As he looked ahead waiting on a white station terminal he could see the modern world. When to public vehicle. Hewas was heboard took aalook behind him it stillvery famous on Earth until his death. But I the 1960’s. Frightened by his experience saw him on Naburu very much alive. he caught a (modern) bus to get away. I was told this happens from time The Security Guard that chased him to time to fulfil the master plan. Where asserted that he was only a few paces there the is athief needbut to correct behind as he gotsomething to that in order the thelad paths all live He eventually corner, hadwe vanished. was bemused this. outcome. lead to by a desired

His path extended there. He has no memory or awareness of what he did and how he died. I know I’m weird but that beggars belief! To get a rough idea how this works, watch the fictional movie called The Adjustment Bureau starring Matt Damon and Emily Blunt. There is an element of truth in there. If you think this is strange, be thankful the other info was not included. The other two stories appear in May’s edition and aI plausible You may think made allanswer this upto the conundrum. But going back to an but my imagination could never have earlier point, which is of interaction, managed to turn this into a fictional I pondered on this. If you talk to piece of work. You are entitled to someone from a long ago era and any opinion you wish to make. But influence them to take a different course from what I saw and felt I have every to one they historically did take, would hope forramifications our future asona the species. Our that have here and children are that future and they now? Also if you collect an item fromwill master this ultimate which the 1950’s, does it traveldestiny with you backis positive and bright, while the ground to the present day? work is laid here very soon. Positive changes are coming and hopefully these chariots of the Gods will return en masse one day in the near future. If they do, it will mean a stellar upgrade in our lives.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 45

THE ‘DOG-MAN’ OF FRANCE A MODERN DAY REPORT OF A LOUP-GAROU

was born, raised and still live in a small town in Lancashire called Salford, home of the Manchester ship canal, cobbled streets and L.S. Lowry the famed artist. Back in 1982 when I first started to collect and share stories that were centred around strange Creatures or unexplained events, I would be contacted by people from my local area. I have shared some of those stories and experiences with you already in previous issues. These days I receive personal reports globally, I map these reports and share them on an interactive map. I have logged reports from Skegness to San Francisco, Cannock chase to Canada and some of my favourite stories are from Europe. Many of you will know the tale of the Beast of Gévaudan,a terrifying werewolf-like creature sometimes known as the loup-garou. The loupgarou is one of the historical names associated with a man-eating animal or animals which terrorised the former province of Gévaudan, in the Margeride Mountains of south-central France between 1764 and 1767. Described as a snouted Wolf that stood upright like a man, the fearsome creature was known far and wide. Modern day reports of Werewolves in France are not common but there are some out there. I received an email from a lady in France who wanted to share her experience with what she described as a ‘Dog-man’ “Sorry for my poor English. I am French and English is my second language. I would like to share what happened to me in mid-April of 2018. It was the end of the afternoon and the light was good. I had decided to take a little walk into the forest with a friend of mine and my little dog Léo. We chose a place where I parked my car and we began to walk in. It didn’t take long before I began to feel

nervous. As we were walking we heard a horrible noise, it sounded like Doves, but they were not singing, it sounded like they were screaming loudly in fear or as a warning. It was the first time I have heard this noise. I laughed and said to my friend, “I feel like they don’t want us in the forest for some reason” We pushed on and the path was wide and we walked on further. Suddenly I noticed something dark in colour moving down the track to the side of us. I realized it was an animal and I thought it was a large dog. The color was very black. I was upset, this startled and scared me and I told my friend I’d rather go back to the car. I didn’t want my little dog to cross what I thought was a big dog off the leash. There have been some awful attacks in France by packs of dogs on humans, cattle and smaller animals. Luckily, I had my little dog on his leash. I started to turn around and return to the car, but my friend stayed and watched to see if she could place the rogue dog without an owner. I was walking for a few minutes when I heard my friend screaming “Evelyne, run! Run!”. Without looking back, I accelerated my pace and arrived at the car out of breath. I put Léo, my little dog, into the car. Before I got in the car I looked down the aisle (woodland path) and I saw to my horror a deep black coloured Creature impossible to describe walking into the forest away from us. I was so surprised and shocked, I couldn’t believe it. I could only see the top part of the animal from the shoulders up. My friend who joined me at the car explained to me what she saw,”this creature moved by “slipping” at high speed along the alley, then It seemed to get Its momentum and straightened up onto Its hind legs. My friend told me, and this is what I can confirm, that the creature was over two metres tall. It was slipping diagonally on its right foot then on its left before standing up on Its “legs”. (I think Evy is describing a skating or sliding motion)

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We couldn’t see Its eyes at first. The Creature stopped suddenly when It saw my friend. They looked at each other for a few seconds, then the Creature decided to turn away from us and go off into the woods. My friend told me It had what looked like a dog’s head. Its ears were down. This Creature had a muscular body (thick torso and thighs) and it was covered with deep black hairs. We were very shocked and I thought about the event even into the next week. I asked my friend to come back to the forest with me and see if there was a simple explanation to all this but we didn’t notice anything strange or out of place that would answer this puzzle on our second visit. And then I told my friend, we should try to get back to this place just before nightfall, so we did this a few months ago. It’s strange, you see, because, when we got out of the car on the evening visit we immédiatly felt something was wrong. The atmosphere this time was very different. There was complete silence this time, no bird or animal noises. We began to walk in and after a few minutes I felt anxious again. I decided to go back and my friend tried to push on into the trees alone but she also came back running after a short time. The creature was there again. It was standing in the woods, looking at us. I had not seen the creature this time. We would like to be courageous enough to take a picture of the creature to prove to people what we saw. I know that we are not the only ones to have seen this ‘dog-man ‘ (and we are sure that is what we saw). We learned that someone else saw It as well a few days later. So I tell my friends to be careful if they decide to go into any forest especially if this forest is abnormally silent” As I do with everyone who comes forward I asked Evy if she had ever experienced anything else unusual or unexplained either in this area or at another point in time.

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“My first encounter with what I think was a ‘dog-man’ took place 10 years ago in a forest located in the East of France. I must first of all say that I have always loved nature. As a child until I was a teenager. I used to get up early in the morning before everyone else around 6am. I went outside in muffled steps to avoid waking my parents and my brothers. I went for a walk every morning in the wilderness for two hours before returning to have breakfast and go to school. So I was used to my solitary walks for a long time. Later, I had to give up this habit because I had to leave to continue my studies as I was a boarder in a high school. The years have passed. In 2009, as in previous years, I used to go to a forest near Ornans to look for mushrooms. I could go in quite far without ever feeling the least bit of concern. It is a beautiful coniferous forest and a place I loved to visit. That week, it was August but this visit felt different to the other times I had been here. I was nervous without understanding why, my senses were on alert. The weather was beautiful but something bothered me without me being able to explain it to myself. Several times, I rushed to pick up my mushrooms and I quickly went out of the wood to jump into my car and leave quickly. On the way back, I said to myself “what’s wrong with you?” But hey, I forgot and came back anyway the next day. I finally understood the reason for my concern. After picking up some mushrooms, I got up and understood what was bothering me: I realised the woods had no sound, there was total silence. I listened and felt that my heart was beating hard. Once again, I left the forest quickly. Then one morning, I arrived around 7:30am. It’s the best time to go mushroom picking before other people get there and find the best mushrooms before me. I embarked on a trail that I had not explored yet. I noticed a dark mass in the

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middle of the path about 60 meters away but I could not tell what it was. I thought it was a tree stump. I started walking while looking at the floor. I picked up some mushrooms. And I kept going, until I got up and looked in front of me. I tried to understand what I saw. It was not a tree stump. It was obviously an animal curled up on itself, a muzzle resting on the chest. The posture was very strange. It looked like someone was crouching. He slept with his muzzle on his chest. His coat was black gray like that of a boar but darker and above all, it was not a wild boar. I know what a boar looks like, my companion being a hunter. My heart started beating like crazy and resounded in my ears. I was afraid he would hear it. I started to recoil but what was incredible was the panic I felt. How to explain that in words? A visceral fear that I had never felt in my life. I ended up spinning and running out of the woods without daring to return. I got in the car and pressed the accelerator. Back home, not daring to tell my companion the fear I had just had, I simply asked him if he had seen a boar sleeping sitting upright. Of course he laughed in my face. During the day, I decided to return to the scene and I cautiously advanced by car up the trail. I leaned over to see if I could spot the ‘stump’. The ‘stump’ was gone. From that day, I did not dare to go back deep into the forest and if I went back to pick mushrooms, it was just a few meters from the car. I have never been able to return to the forest until April when I made the observation of the Creature I saw with my friend. As far as the ‘dogman’ is concerned, it’s a very real creature. This story disturbs me. I really want to know more but I’m scared to go back. Yet at no time did he show any aggression

towards us. He could have pounced on us without a problem if he wanted to. He was moving fast with long strides and covering ground quickly. I know that I will return to this forest despite my fear, but I will not go alone. My friend went back to her home in the north of France. When she was face to face with this creature, a small inner voice pushed her to go with It into the woods, but thankfully her survival instinct took over and she refused. My friend told me she remembered a past life experience where she was hunted in the forest by humans. She had two wolves that accompanied her, a white one and a black one that protected her. When she was captured as a witch the people killed the wolf in front of her cruelly. - Evy.” Evy described in depth to me what the Creatures she saw looked like. They were both stockily built with thick muscles. Their coats were dark, almost black in colour. The head and snouts were like a German Shepard Dogs and the ears were placed on top of their heads like a Wolf. They moved down on four legs and also raised on two like a human. They had paws not hands and feet. This description fits that of the Loup-garou of old. Is he still out there in the wilds of France, seldom seen? Next month I will bring you a very similar story from the UK.

...Until next time, Deborah

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

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 47

By Ken Harcombe - Volunteer Press Officer, Fleetwood RNLI

Nobody really knows how many volunteers there are giving their time to the RNLI.

e do know that there are over 5,600 volunteer operational crew, over 3,500 volunteer shore crew and 140 volunteer lifeguards. We have also estimated there are over 23,000 volunteer community fundraisers. But there are thousands more dedicated volunteers, who raise awareness, give safety advice, help in the offices, museums, shops and visitor centres. Whatever their role within the charitable organisation, they are all dedicated and committed to helping save lives at sea. But there are many who are also inspirational. Here in Lancashire, we can focus on two. First, we have Jonathan Davies, who’s early into his career with the RNLI as volunteer crew at Fleetwood. Then we have the late Harry Roberts, of Morecambe RNLI, who sadly passed away just recently. Harry gave 35 years of voluntary service to the charity, but left a legacy that will be remembered by the organisation for years to come. The family of the young Fleetwood born Jonathan Davies had a long affiliation with the sea. Indeed, his Great Grandfather was Skipper on the trawler named ‘Cevic’, which is now seen on every packet of Fleetwood’s world famous ‘Fisherman’s Friend’ lozenge. But even his Great Grandfather couldn’t have predicted that Jonathan would end up as First Officer on Cunard’s newest cruise ship ‘Queen Elizabeth’.

Above: Young Jonathan

When Jonathan was growing up, he knew all about the Pandoro boats which frequented Fleetwood at the time and had ambitions to be a Captain of one of these ferries. So, it was no surprise when he attended Fleetwood Nautical College in 2010. He soon qualified as Officer of the Watch, before further studies took him to Chief Mate certificate in 2016 and this year, he passed his Master Mariner certification. Jonathan’s links with the Nautical College continue to this day, as he is now a Lecturer in Maritime Studies. Jonathan’s first ship posting however, gave little evidence as to where he’d end up! He joined the Clyde Fisher, a 127-metre-long tanker on the Manchester Ship Canal, its destination, Holland. Then in 2014 Jonathan joined Carnival UK, a cruise ship company and operator behind P&O and Cunard cruise ships. In the midst of the pandemic, he joined Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth in 2020 and has been sailing in the rank of First Officer. So, how did Jonathan become interested in the RNLI? He often watched the local lifeboat launching when on family visits to the beach, but in 2009, he and his family attended the local lifeboat station’s

Above: Jonathan’s current posting, Cunard’s ‘Queen Elizabeth’

Above: Jonathan as Second Officer

150th Anniversary celebrations. The attraction to join was too strong to resist and at 17 he became a volunteer with the RNLI in Fleetwood. Jonathan is now a qualified Navigator on the all-weather Shannon class lifeboat, Kenneth James Pierpoint and ironically, whilst qualified to helm the 294-metre-long Queen Elizabeth, he is still in training to helm the Fleetwood RNLI’s 5 metre long in-shore lifeboat, Harbet. Jonathan said “Being in the RNLI is about more than just saving lives at sea. The term Lifeboat Family is often used at stations to describe the relationship between crew members. The RNLI is not just a part of my life when the pager goes off, but a cornerstone to the life that I have built since joining

As if traveling the globe on one of the world’s most prestigious cruise liners wasn’t enough, on his return to his home in Fleetwood, he turns on his RNLI pager and is ready to help save lives at sea. But how did Jonathan get to this enviable position? 48

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Above: Jonathan’s first posting ‘Clyde Fisher’

Above: Jonathan with ‘Harbet’ at Fleetwood RNLI

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the crew. Fundraising and social events are equally as important in forming a successful crew as the exercises and services that we undertake.” Jonathan remembers his first callout to a small boat with two people onboard, which had broken down and was drifting out to sea. He also recalls Ernie, the horse stuck in mud at Knott End and Poppy the dog, which had been swept out two miles by the strong tide and current. Both had favourable outcomes. But it wasn’t all animal rescues. He also remembers the family of four, cut off by the tide and by the time the in-shore lifeboat reached them, the children were being held out of the water by their parents. Definitely four lives saved that day!

Above: Harry, receiving a Certificate of Service from Mark Dowie, CEO, RNLI

In 2018, Harry became Deputy Launch Authority, retiring from his Commander and Station Mechanic roles, which saw him looking after the D Class inshore lifeboat and the Hurley Flyer, the pioneering hovercraft at Morecambe.

and draw their own inspiration from them.

Jonathan’s ambitions are still strong, not least with his colleagues in the RNLI, where he hopes to one day be Coxswain of the town’s lifeboat.

Of course, Jonathan and Harry both relied on the incredible support they receive from their local communities and the general public. The donations and legacies the RNLI rely on each year help keep 238 lifeboat stations operational and 248 beaches patrolled.

Jonathan’s achievements are testament to his hard work, commitment and dedication to his ambitions and serve as an inspiration to other young people, looking for a real challenge. But before Jonathan was even born, Harry Roberts was a volunteer with Morecambe RNLI. He joined the RNLI in 1986 and quickly worked his way through the ranks to become Senior Helmsman. Above: Harry Roberts, MBE

Above: Harry, with daughter Amy

However, things became really interesting in 2002, as Harry became a pioneer within the RNLI, when he became involved in the initial building of the Griffon in-shore hovercraft, a first for the charity. He went on to become the first Hovercraft Commander for the RNLI, before becoming Senior Hovercraft Commander a few years later. In 2004, Harry was Commander of the hovercraft the night of the cockling tragedy and was on service for 22 hours. He was awarded the MBE by Queen Elizabeth II in 2008 for services to maritime safety. www.lancmag.com

Above: Harry Roberts, MBE

Harry was a driving force at Morecambe RNLI and will obviously be missed, following his passing in April. But his legacy continues in the form of his daughter, Amy. Amy joined the crew for 10 years, before stepping down from the operations side after moving away from Morecambe for employment reasons. Despite no longer living in Morecambe, Amy still supports by volunteering as Press Officer at the lifeboat station. Harry’s family said “We are all very proud of what Harry achieved. People always called him a hero, which he never saw himself as. But we all agree. He was a hero. Our hero.” Let’s hope future volunteers for the RNLI can look at Jonathan and Harry

This October, the RNLI will be launching their annual fish ‘n’ chip fundraiser and are looking for people to ‘host’ suppers to raise funds. Obviously, the hope is that current restrictions are lifted and family and friends can meet, eat and fundraise on the evening. There is a fundraising guide, full of tips and tricks to make your event successful, as well as quizzes and colouring sheets for children to help keep the RNLI’s younger supporters entertained. Just go to https://rnli.org.uk/fish-supper for further information. It’s a great excuse to meet family and friends over Britain’s favourite tea and help save lives at sea! There are also a number of volunteering opportunities available across the RNLI. Some supporters think that you can only volunteer as crew and aren’t aware of ‘land-based’ roles that are essential to saving lives at sea. To find out more on how you can support the charity visit https://rnli.org.uk/support-us

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

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 49

Lancashire’s Lost Piers By Margaret Brecknell

Above: West End Pier Morecambe c. 1900

No trip to the seaside during the Victorian era was complete without a stroll down the pier and the chance to enjoy the entertainment on offer.

later came to be known, boasted a large pier-head, which made it an ideal pick-up point for the pleasure steamers that operated in Morecambe Bay. Such was the new pier’s popularity with holidaymakers

that within a couple of years the decision was taken to extend it. In April 1896 the first section of a new pier located at the West End of Morecambe’s Promenade

oday’s visitors to the northwest coast still like to tread the boards at Blackpool, Southport and St Annes. Sadly, however, several of the region’s other once grand seaside piers no longer exist. Here are those which have been lost to posterity. MORECAMBE’S CENTRAL & WEST END PIERS In November 1867 a meeting was held at the King’s Arms Hotel in Morecambe, at which it was agreed to make plans for a pier to ensure that the resort would remain “on a footing with other watering places”. Morecambe’s first pier was opened to the public in March 1869. Measuring some 912ft (278m) in length, the Central Pier, as it

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Above: West End Pier Morecambe c. 1900

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was officially opened by local MP, Colonel Foster of Hornby Castle. The work was completed by the following year and in 1899 the pier became one of the first places in Morecambe to be installed with electric lighting. The West End Pier is reported to have cost the then not inconsiderable sum of around £23,000 to build, with its impressive 2000-seater pavilion costing nearly £9,000 alone. The new pavilion was soon being put to good use. A local Lancaster newspaper reported on August Bank Holiday Monday 1898 that “Despite the torrents of rain that fell, thousands braved the elements and passed through the turnstiles to be present at the excellent entertainment provided in the pavilion”. The performers included Fratelli Riccobono, who appeared “with a troupe of performing horses and bulldogs” and “the premier lady gymnast”, Victoria Dagmar. Not to be outdone, a new pavilion was also built at the Central Pier during the 1890s, which was considered so impressive that it became known as the “Taj Mahal of the North”. On that same Bank Holiday Monday in 1898 variety performers at the grand new venue included Lieutenant Albini, who, assisted by two female assistants, gave “a wonderful performance of the vanishing lady type”, and the three Delevantis, who were “boneless wonders, in their clever and graceful contortions”. The star of the show was said to be Mademoiselle De Dio, the serpentine and fire dancer, who “seen in her voluminous drapery, with the kaleidoscopic lights thrown upon her, made a captivating picture”.

At the time that the Central Pier’s pavilion burnt to the ground in July 1933, the resort itself was enjoying something of a renaissance after a difficult period when visitor numbers had declined. The iconic Midland Hotel, designed by architect Oliver Hill in the then fashionable “Streamline Moderne” style of Art Deco, had opened earlier the same month and Morecambe was once again becoming a fashionable place to visit. Ambitious plans were made to construct a replacement pavilion and ballroom in the modern Art Deco style. When the new buildings on Central Pier were opened in 1936, they were considered a triumph. It was fortunate that the planners had the foresight to construct them using largely fireresistant materials, as only a month after the grand opening a fire broke out in the new pavilion. On this occasion disaster was averted. Sadly, in the years following World War II Morecambe’s popularity as a tourist venue rapidly declined, along with the fortunes of its two once fashionable pleasure piers. In November 1977 the West End Pier was wrecked by gales and declared unsafe. With repair costs estimated at around £500,000, the decision was taken to demolish it. The Central Pier survived a little longer, but after years of neglect appeared to be in terminal decline when in 1986 it partly collapsed and had to be closed to the public. Its fate was sealed when the ballroom caught fire in 1991 and the pier was demolished the following year. LYTHAM PIER

The pier at its close neighbour, St Annes, still attracts visitors today, but the upmarket resort of Lytham once boasted a pleasure pier of its own. Lytham’s pier was opened by Lady Cecily Clifton on Easter Monday 1865 in front of an estimated crowd of around 5,000 people. It was the first pleasure attraction in the town and not all of Lytham’s residents were in favour of the new development, which had been proposed following the success of similar ventures at other seaside resorts such as Southport and Blackpool. Eugenius Birch, who designed Lytham Pier, had also been responsible for the construction of Blackpool’s North Pier in 1862/3. In its early days the facilities on the pier amounted to little more than a waiting room at the pier-head for the convenience of passengers using the pleasure steamers which called there. However, following an extensive reconstruction project a grand new pavilion was opened in June 1892. The rapid growth in popularity of Lytham’s close neighbour, St Annes, which had only been established some 20 years previously, may well have been the motivation behind this move to improve Lytham’s own visitor attractions.

Above: Lytham Pier Pavilion

Unfortunately both these fine pavilions were lost in catastrophic blazes during the first half of the 20th century. The West End Pier, which lost its pavilion in 1917, was doubly unlucky in that it was also badly hit by storm damage on three separate occasions, which meant that by 1927 the pier had been reduced to just half of its original size at around 900ft (274m) in length. All was not lost, however, as it remained a popular open-air venue for dancing and roller skating for many years to come. Above: Lytham Pier c. 1920

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In October 1903 disaster struck when two large barges, which had come loose from their moorings during a fierce storm, crashed through the pier and effectively sliced it in two. The barges, used for sand dredging, were owned by Preston Corporation. Subsequently, the pier owners successfully sued the Corporation for negligence and were awarded damages to cover repair costs of around £1,400. Popular attractions on Lytham Pier in the early years of the 20th century included George Kingston’s Minstrels and Dorothea Vincent’s Cremona Ladies Orchestra. The performances of the professional divers, who each summer dived off the pier-head at high tide and staged spectacular swimming displays, also thrilled the crowds. Like the two once impressive structures which graced Morecambe’s piers, the pavilion at Lytham was destroyed by fire in January 1928. By this time the pavilion no longer hosted the popular variety acts of the pre-World War I years, but instead was primarily in use as a cinema. The pier was re-opened in time for the summer season and plans for a new pavilion were submitted by local architect, Arnold England, but they never came to fruition. In hindsight, this marked the beginning of the end of Lytham Pier. A year before the start of World War II the pier was closed to the general public except for anglers. In October 1949 it was purchased at auction for £6,250 by a St Annes based developer called Harry Kamiya, who proposed to make improvements which would “bring it in line with any at Blackpool”. Sadly, Kamiya died two years later and the planned redevelopment never materialised. By the late 1950s the structure had become such an eyesore that the decision was taken by the Council to remove it and Lytham Pier was demolished in March 1960. FLEETWOOD PIER Fleetwood’s Victoria Pier opened its doors to the public for the first time in 1910, making it the last new pier to be built in the UK. Plans for a pier at Fleetwood had first been proposed as long ago as 1892 and then again in 1899, but on both occasions had been rejected on the grounds that the new structure would be hazardous to shipping. Eventually a new scheme for a slightly shorter pier of some 700 feet in length was approved in 1906. By the time the pier was completed in 1910, financial constraints meant that, in fact, the finished structure amounted to no more than 492 feet (150m) in length.

In July 1937 the same newspaper carried a feature on another major reconstruction project at the pier, reporting that “In the space of the last 12 months the pier, which was already unrecognisable as the commonplace affair that the company took over a few years ago, has been metamorphasised, and the entrance is now one of the most notable features not only of Fleetwood Promenade, but of the Fylde coast”. Unusually for the time the pier did not charge an admittance fee, added to which it was the only pier on the Fylde coast that offered a full programme of entertainment throughout the winter season. In 1938, when the UK tourism industry as a whole was facing a crisis, not least because of the prospect of another war looming in Europe, Fleetwood Pier Company recorded an increase in annual profits of over £1,000, a particularly impressive feat bearing in mind 1937 had also been a bumper year. Disaster struck in August 1952 when the pavilion was destroyed in what has been described as one of the largest fires that Fleetwood has ever seen. The blaze, which started in the cinema, was said to have been visible twenty miles away. The pier suffered catastrophic damage and did not fully reopen until 1958. Unlike the piers at Morecambe and Lytham, investment in Fleetwood Pier continued even as the number of holidaymakers visiting the nation’s seaside resorts began its inexorable decline. As late as 1972 the pier received a £70,000 facelift. Popular attractions on the pier at the time included Jollies Bar, a cafeteria, an amusement arcade and a large bingo hall, as well as a vintage handwound What The Butler Saw machine. The pier eventually closed in 2000 after its then owners, Fleetwood Amusements Ltd, went into liquidation. It was reopened in late 2003 under new management, but later was compelled to close again for safety reasons. As, in 2008 a fierce debate raged over yet another new owner’s planning application to convert the structure into an apartment complex, fire broke out in the early hours of 8th September. The pier was severely damaged and later demolished because of safety concerns. These four Lancashire piers are not the only ones in the North-West to have been lost. New Brighton, on the Wirral, also once boasted its own Eugenius Birch designed structure. As in these unprecedented times the region’s seaside resorts seem set to enjoy a bumper summer season, spare a thought for all those once popular visitor attractions which have been lost to posterity.

A pavilion was soon added at the pier’s entrance, its opening ceremony being timed to coincide with the coronation of the new monarch, King George V, on 22nd June 1911. The pier was revamped on several occasions over the years such as in 1930 when following a change in ownership the Fleetwood Chronicle reported that “the pier is being redecorated and will shortly be available for open-air dancing or other forms of enjoyment. A remarkably fine automatic telescope is one of the latest novelties to be introduced at the pier head”. 52

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Above: The remains of Fleetwood Pier in 2008. Credit - Alexander P Kapp/CC BY-SA 2.0

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New Race Track Opens at Westcliff Primary Academy in Bispham By Cllr Don Clapham

Westcliff’s pupils and parents have warmly welcomed these new facilities thanks to a generous donation from councillors.

Above: The Race track was opened by Cllr Don Clapham (cutting the tape) and Cllr Paul Wilshaw along side the Principal Amanda Stokes with a very enthusiastic group of pupils

he £25,000 race track was officially opened by Bispham Councillors Don Clapham and Paul Wilshaw, who donated from their Bispham Ward Fund £20,000 to provide pupils with this unique track. Without their generous donation, the scheme would not been affordable. Councillor Don Clapham said: “Westcliff is our only school in Bispham Ward and along with the excellent teaching and learning at the Academy we wanted this unique track. We believe that the pupils need to be fit and this track will support their health and well-being. These young pupils are our future in Blackpool and what better way of helping to make a difference as Ward Councillors.”

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LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 53

Windermere By Megha Seth

Windermere, located in the North West region of England in the South Lake district of Cumbria, is arguably one of the most beautiful places in the country.

his is essentially due to the presence of the majestic Windermere Lake which happens to be the largest lake in England. Windermere’s pleasant temperature during its summer

season is attractive to almost everyone in England. Because of this, Windermere is a perfect summer holiday destination, and every year, tourists flock to the town to enjoy the sunny weather. The town of Windermere, located a kilometer away on the east shore of the lake, is indirectly named after it. Normally people would think that the lake is named after the town which is the case for most lakes, but for Windermere, it is actually the opposite.

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A BRIEF HISTORY OF WINDERMERE Historically, Windermere has always been a part of the county of Westmorland, northwest England. The small town of Windermere, before being named “Windermere”, was customarily known as Birthwaite. But after the launch of the Windermere Railway, the town was renamed as Windermere, due to the growing popularity of the lake. The Kendal and Windermere railway project built a line branching from www.lancmag.com

WINDERMERE LAKE

Holehird Gardens

Windermere Lake, the largest natural lake in the country, is about 18 kilometers long and about 1.5 kilometers wide and has its surface scattered amongst 18 distinguished islands. The lake was formed approximately 13,000 years ago, by the water from the melting glaciers, that was held in place by the moraine rocks.

Holehird Gardens which is supposedly the ‘Home of the Lakeland Horticultural Society’ is 12 acres of land with stunning gardens that are run and maintained solely by volunteers throughout the year. The garden consists of a variety of species of plants that are particularly suited to the local climate of high rainfall. On a regular visit, you can find the entire place made up of extensive rocks and heather gardens, alpine houses, and a walled garden of herbaceous borders. The garden was built as a private home in 1860 and has been once voted as one of the UK’s most favourite gardens by the BBC gardeners.

These moraine rocks are essentially a special kind of rock that has been deposited by the glaciers around the lake during the Ice Age. Windermere Lake, with its mesmerizing view of the infinite lake horizon, naturally happens to be a popular tourist attraction. At that time of year when Winderemere is at its best, people come here in order to enjoy the incredible summer sunshine and the variety of recreational activities to do on the lake such as wild swimming, sailing, boating, and fishing. PLACES WORTH A VISIT IN WINDERMERE The beautiful town of Windermere has many incredible places you can’t miss visiting. Some of them are:

Orrest Head is the closest hilltop viewpoint that you can find from a 20-minute walk from the famous A591 road from the village of Windermere. The walk down follows through the bucolic St Catherine’s Wood via High Haywood and back to Windermere.

Brant Fell is a must-visit for people who are particularly interested in hiking. Hikers or not, you are bound to enjoy the immensely beautiful natural landscapes on this walk in Bowness on Windermere. It is a reasonably easy 2-mile walk that leads you up to the fell top that has the most splendid views that you definitely cannot miss out on.

Rydal Water

Hill Top

In contrast to Windermere Lake, Rydal Water happens to be one of the smallest lakes in Cumbria which is only about 3/4th mile long and 1/4th mile wide. The water body has a maximum depth of 55 feet and offers a natural green scenery that makes this place fairly popular apart from its connection with William Wordsworth. Apparently, the steps from the western end of the lake that lead upwards to “Wordsworth’s Seat” are reputed to be the famous poet’s favourite viewpoint.

When the famous beloved children’s book author Beatrix Potter died in 1943, she left her home Hill Top and thousands of acres of land in the Lake District to charity. To date, the property and her lovely little house with all its contents are maintained and open for public interest for people to explore.

Orrest Head

the main railway line to Kendal, which in turn also connected to Windermere. The construction of this new railway line led to the mutual growth and merging of Windermere Town and the adjacent village of Bownesson-Windermere. Although both these places now identify as one town, each of them still has its own individual town centers. The opening of the railway station turned Windermere into a popular tourist hotspot connecting the world to its stunning natural attractions apart from just Windermere Lake. www.lancmag.com

Brant Fell

Located on the western shore of Windermere Lake, the roads at Hill Top are narrow with limited parking space. So, instead of driving up to the place, it would be ideal if you could just take a pleasant stroll through the countryside to the house.

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Located on the western shore of Windermere Lake, the roads at Hill Top are

Food in Windermere

narrow with limited parking space. So, instead of driving up to the place, it would be ideal if you could just take a pleasant stroll through the countryside to the

The delight of eating in Windermere comes not only from the food but also from the distinct raw scenery each restaurant has to offer. Almost every restaurant has an Food in Windermere outdoor seating arrangement which makes it perfect to enjoy breakfast or brunch under the gentle morning sun. house.

The delight of eating in Windermere comes not only from the food but also from theOne distinct raw scenery each restaurant hasFolk to offer. Almost everyis restaurant has such place happens to be Cafe which a

If you are looking for Asian food then Gilpin Spice is the best you can find in Windermere. The interior design of this place and the food are both fulfilling to the eyes and the stomach. A dish you might not want to miss out on is their “Chicken Tikka Flatbread” and the “13 spice mixed vegetable curry’’. It is a perfect place for lunch and dinner and is vegetarian friendly, serving many good vegetarian dishes to indulge in.

their breakfast and dessert menus. Their service is said to be “sweet” too.

If you are looking for Asian food then Gilpin Spice is the best you can ﬁnd in

Windermere. The interior design of this place and the food are both fulﬁlling to

the eyes and the stomach. A dish you might not want to miss out on is their

“Chicken Tikka Flatbread” and the “13 spice mixed vegetable curry''. It is a perfect

place for lunch and dinner and is vegetarian friendly, serving many good

brunch the gentle makesunder it perfect formorning brunchsun. or

vegetarian dishes to indulge in.

an outdoor seating which makesarrangement it perfect to enjoy breakfast or small cafe witharrangement an outdoor seating that

breakfast. They are quite popular in town for their chicken wings and burgers.

Sugar and Spice Cafe and Bistro is another excellent option you if you happen towhich haveisaa small sweet tooth. One such for place happens to be Folk Cafe cafe with an outdoor This place offers a wide variety of items, especially seating arrangement that makes it perfect for brunch or breakfast. They are quite from their breakfast and dessert menus. popular in town for their chicken wings and burgers. Their service is said to be “sweet” too.

Now, just in case you are craving pizza and beer together, The Smith serves the best pizza and beer combination you can find in the town. It is the second highest-rated restaurant here in Windermere with a variety of vegetarian and vegan options to choose from their widespread menu. The best-selling pizza here is the “Smoked chicken, crushed tomatoes, chillies, artichokes, parmesan & mozzarella 13 inch pizza”.

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Applegarth Villa & Restaurant

Sugar and Spice Cafe and Bistro is another excellent option for you if you happen

to have a sweet tooth. This place offers a wide variety of items, especially from

If Applegarth Villa may seem a little expensive then Holly Lodge Guest House is a place that is right up your alley. It is a four-star hotel alongside Applegarth Villa but is comparatively cheaper with the same amenities the location has to offer. Hotels' steep prices tend to make travelers on a budget shy away from going to

Places to stay in Windermere

certain places, which led to the introduction of B&Bs. Rockside Cragwood Country House, located 2.5Guest milesHouse away is an

from the town, offersoff a spectacular view informal B&B (bed and breakfast) located the A591 roadoffshore built with a of the With so many sites to visit in Windermere, the location lake with 20 acres of land as their garden. Their rooms Applegarth Villa & Restaurantnineteenth-century is a ﬁve-star stone hotel with own restaurant that design thatits offers complimentary wiﬁ and breakfast. It and place of your stay may determine the convenience are well-furnished and equipped with flat-screen TVs and everything may need for your stay and is affordable. and overall experience of the town. There is offers a wide range you wifi. There’s restaurant with a garden terrace that serves serves complimentary breakfast to its residents. It isa located right in the heart of of options for every kind of traveler—from fancy five-star lunch, dinner, and breakfast for a small surcharge. There hotels to informal B&Bs all around the town. is also a casual bar that offers a lake view with several

Windermere and is only a walk away from the Orrest Head hill and a few minutes Applegarth Villa & Restaurant is a five-star hotel with

lounges equipped with sofas and a log fire.

drive the popular Lake, its ownto restaurant that serves Windermere complimentary breakfast to Brockole, Wray Castle. its residents. It is located right in the heart of Windermere and is only a walk away from the Orrest Head hill and a few minutes drive to the popular Windermere Lake, Brockole, Wray Castle.

If Applegarth Villa may seem a little expensive then Holly Lodge Guest House is a place that is right up your Windermere and is only a walk away from the Orrest Head hill and a few minutes alley. It is a four-star hotel alongside Applegarth Villa but drive to the popular Windermere Lake, Brockole, Wray Castle. is comparatively cheaper with the same amenities the location has to offer.

Applegarth Villa & Restaurant is a ﬁve-star hotel with its own restaurant that

serves complimentary breakfast to its residents. It is located right in the heart of

Windermere is an extremely beautiful place not just the itslake overwhelmingly beautiful natural landscapes, spectacular offshoreyear viewwith of the with 20 acres of land as their garden. Their rich historic architecture, and warm accommodation. The rooms are well-furnished and equipped with ﬂat-screen TVs and wiﬁ. There’s a people of the town are extremely warm and welcoming restaurant with a garden terrace that serves lunch, dinner, and breakfast for a due to the tourist visits all year round. Hotels’ steep prices tend to make travelers on a budget shy away from going to certain places, which All in all, it makes for an enticing place to visit for led to the introduction of B&Bs. Rockside Guest House nature lovers and also equally alluring for people is an informal B&B (bed and breakfast) located off the who just wish to take a break from their usual busy A591 road built with a nineteenth-century stone design everyday life to get a taste of one of the most that offers complimentary wifi and breakfast. It offers beautiful places in the Lake District. everything you may need for your stay and is affordable. Cragwood Country House, 2.5 miles from the every town, offers a during located the summer, butaway pretty much time of

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LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 57

Hall Caine - A Forgotten Celebrity By Margaret Brecknell

At the time of his death 90 years ago in August 1931, such was the celebrity of author, Hall Caine, that his family received messages of condolence from King George V and the then Prime Minister, Ramsay MacDonald.

homas Henry Hall Caine was born in Runcorn on 14th May 1853. His father John, who originally hailed from the Isle of Man, had moved to Liverpool to find work in the shipbuilding industry, but at the time of his son’s birth was working temporarily at Runcorn

Docks. The family soon returned to Liverpool and “Hall”, as he came to be known (the author is said to have disliked his given first name “Thomas”), grew up in Toxteth. On leaving school Caine was apprenticed to a Liverpool architect who was a distant relative of the famous Victorian Prime Minister, William Gladstone. From a young age Caine had been sent to visit his father’s family in the small village of Ballaugh on the west coast of the Isle of Man and it was to the island he fled when, three years into his apprenticeship, he began to suffer from what he later described as “the

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first serious manifestation of the nervous attacks which have pursued me through my life”. On this occasion he headed to Kirk Maughold in the north of the island to stay with an uncle, James Teare, who ran the local school there. Tragically Teare fell ill with tuberculosis and died soon afterwards. Caine took on his role as schoolmaster for a year before being reportedly persuaded to return to Liverpool on receiving a letter from his former employer which read, “Why on earth are you wasting your life over there? Come back to your proper work at once.” www.lancmag.com

Back in Liverpool, Caine resumed his training and began to contribute articles on architecture to trade journals such as The Builder. One of his pieces caught the eye of the prominent artist and critic, John Ruskin, and the pair began to correspond. Ruskin was closely associated with the 19th century art movement, the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, and another member of the group was destined to play a crucial role in the next stage of Caine’s life. In November 1878 Caine gave a lecture at the Liverpool Free Library on the work of the renowned poet and artist, Dante Gabriel Rossetti. By this time he had started a new job, which, he later recalled in his 1908 autobiography, My Story, that “Making no particular demand on my intellect, left me free to read more and more books of many sorts and to write stories and dramas and essays and articles”.

Above: William Holman Hunt Painting of Dante Gabriel Rossetti

The following year the lecture was published in a literary magazine and came to the attention of Rossetti. The great man wrote to Caine and the two began to correspond regularly. Caine described his association with Rossetti, who was twenty-five years his senior, as his “first great literary friendship”. By the time the two met, Rossetti’s health was already in serious decline because of a longstanding addiction to chloral hydrate. When in the spring of 1881 Caine took the decision to leave his job and focus his attention on pursuing www.lancmag.com

his literary ambitions, Rossetti asked him to join him as his secretary and companion. Caine moved to London and lived with the poet until his death in April 1882. Rossetti’s influence on the ambitious young man’s development as a writer was considerable. Caine had begun to find regular work as a freelance journalist and was employed as a leader-writer for the Liverpool Mercury, but with Rossetti’s encouragement he also began to contribute literary reviews to prestigious periodicals such as The Academy. Caine’s association with Rossetti also brought him into contact with many other leading literary figures of the day. One friend whom he first met around this time was Irish author Bram Stoker, who would later dedicate his most famous novel, Dracula, to Caine. In the autumn of 1883 the now 30-year-old Caine rented a small bungalow close to the sea at Sandown on the Isle of Wight with the intention of writing his first novel there. In the year since his mentor’s death he had gradually come to the realisation that, in his own words, “nobody would go on writing about other people’s writing who could do original writing himself”. He felt the pressure from the start, aware that he only had enough money to last four months and if he did not progress satisfactorily with his work, he would be compelled to return to London penniless and with nothing to show for it. Unsurprisingly, bearing in mind the circumstances, he did suffer at the outset from a serious case of writer’s block. However, he did complete the book and in February 1885 Caine’s first novel, The Shadow of a Crime, was published. The story of his first novel was inspired by a Cumbrian legend, first told to Caine as a young boy by his maternal grandfather who came from the area, and his second book, A Son of Hagar, was also set in the same area. For his third novel the writer turned to the Isle of Man for inspiration. According to Caine, Rossetti had been the first to suggest that the island would make a good setting

Above: Cartoon of Hall Caine by Harry Furniss

for a book, even going so far as saying that Caine had the potential to become “the bard of Manxland”. Caine certainly pulled out all the stops in The Deemster, a dramatic family saga set around the turn of the 18th-century, with a doomed romance, a fight to the death, the exile and redemption of one of the main characters and a deadly plague just some of the plot devices used by the author to entertain his readers. The Deemster proved to be a huge commercial success upon publication in 1887 and such was its popularity that the following year it was adapted for the stage under the title Ben-my-Chree. Several more novels set on the Isle of Man followed. Together with Caine’s colourful descriptions of the Manx landscape, his novels made regular use of the local dialect and borrowed heavily from local culture. Interest in the locations used in his books is said to have boosted the island’s tourist trade, but, surprisingly, on the Isle of Man itself his work was generally less well-received. Whilst writing The Scapegoat in 1894, Caine had rented a property on the island called Greeba Castle and in 1896 he purchased it outright so that he and his family could

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with only the Registrar and two local witnesses in attendance. By the turn of the 20th-century Hall Caine was one of the bestknown authors in the world. In the current age he would probably have been a huge social media star. He was more than happy to court publicity, inviting reporters over to his home on the Isle of Man to conduct interviews and take photographs. Postcards of Greeba Castle and its famous resident were produced in huge quantities to be purchased by fans who would turn up at his Isle of Man home in an attempt to catch a glimpse of their hero. Caine took great pains over his personal appearance, cultivating a distinctive look which some commentators likened to William Shakespeare. Knowing Caine’s instinct for attracting publicity, his seeming resemblance to the Elizabeth playwright was probably no coincidence. When, in August 1902, King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra visited the Isle of Man whilst touring round Britain on the Royal Yacht, it was Caine who was invited aboard and accompanied them on their tour of the island the following day.

Above: Newspaper advert for 1915 film version of Caines book The Eternal City

take up full-time residence on the Isle of Man. He threw himself wholeheartedly into Manx life and was subsequently, in the early years of the 20th-century, elected on two occasions as a member of the House of Keys (the Isle of Man’s Parliament). However, some islanders considered his tales of sexual intrigue and violent conflict to portray the inhabitants of the Isle of Man in a bad light. Others criticised him for overplaying his connection to the island for the purposes of publicity. Certainly, Caine’s assertion in My Story that in writing The Deemster he called on his knowledge of Manx 60

lore “acquired during eighteen years of my youth” does seem to suggest an upbringing on the Isle of Man which simply was not the case. This appears not to be the only instance on which Caine proved to be somewhat economical with the truth. When Caine’s first child, Ralph, was born out of wedlock in 1884 (then viewed as a heinous crime in the eyes of respectable Victorian society), Caine gave the name of the baby’s mother as “Mary Alice Caine formerly Chandler” when registering the birth. The couple were not actually married until two years later in a secret ceremony in Edinburgh,

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Bearing in mind his huge popularity, it came as no surprise when Caine’s novels were among the first to be adapted for the big screen during the silent movie era. Caine’s younger son, Derwent, even starred in a couple of the films. Probably the best-remembered today is the 1929 adaptation of Caine’s best-selling novel, The Manxman, which was directed by the great Alfred Hitchcock and was the last of Hitchcock’s films to be a non-talkie. It would be all too easy to dismiss Caine as an egotistical selfpublicist with a flair for producing melodramatic novels. However, there was another side to the author which is sometimes overlooked. Caine travelled widely, making research visits for background information to use in his novels to places such as Iceland, Morocco and Egypt, whose customs and way of life would have been little known to most of his readers. The plot of his 1891 novel The Scapegoat is www.lancmag.com

Above: Blue plaque outside Caines birthplace in Runcorn - ©Stuart Allen/CC BY-SA4.0

based around a Jewish family in Morocco and the persecution they face because of their faith. As a result of his sympathetic portrayal of the Jewish plight in Morocco, which he had witnessed first-hand, Caine was approached by Hermann Adler, the Chief Rabbi and Chairman of the Russo-Jewish Committee in London.

The writer showed his philanthropic side again early on in World War I when in December 1914, he edited King Albert’s Book. This publication, which was said to be Caine’s own idea, was produced by The Daily Telegraph with the aim of using the sales proceeds to assist Belgian refugees in the UK.

Adler wished to send support to Jewish communities in Eastern Europe, who were also being persecuted, but realised that, as a Jew himself, he would be refused entry. According to The Illustrated London News, he asked Caine “to visit Russia for the purpose of ascertaining the facts, with a view to fairly and faithfully illustrating the condition of the Jews in that country”. Caine readily accepted to undertake what the newspaper described as “a serious responsibility”, funding the expenses for the trip out of his own pocket.

During the war Caine was recruited by the British Government to help with the propaganda effort. A wellknown figure in the United States, who had visited there on several occasions previously, Caine wrote extensively for the New York Times, urging the Americans to join the war on the side of the Allies.

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Caine was rewarded with a knighthood in 1918, but, in truth, by this time his literary career was already in decline. Increasingly, he came to be viewed as a relic of the Victorian era, whose style was now considered out-of-date.

When he died, aged 78, at Greeba Castle in August 1931, some 60,000 people were reported to have turned out to witness his funeral procession. However, one newspaper obituary comments that “he will be remembered as a popular rather than a great novelist”, adding that “His obsession with moral problems gave much of his work a meretricious appeal, and led him into cheap sensationalism and hackneyed situations”. Today the man, who once associated with royalty and had legions of fans around the world, is little remembered, even on his beloved Isle of Man. Perhaps therein lies a message for today’s stars of social media regarding the fleeting nature of celebrity.

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Life Could Be Shocking in the 1950’s By Harold Cunliffe Life today is totally different from when I was a child; technology has changed our lives dramatically.

ack then, should a member of the family be require to make a telephone call you had to travel to the end of the street to use the public call box, then placing pennies in to the coin box, pressing button “A” to be connected or “B” for a failed call and the return of your money. Many occasions having to wait for its use, plus standing next to the call box in inclement weather. No central heating, no running hot water, a gas wall heater would provide water for use in the kitchen. No bathroom; our family used a ‘dolly tub,’ to bathe which was easier to empty than the tin bath. I remember the arrival of the television in 1957 watching my parents dancing round the room with the aerial trying to obtain a decent signal, all for the sake of two (part time) stations which were available. But the thing which was hard to cope with was the outside toilet;

especially in winter. During the night if you took short you could use the receptacle, known as the ‘Edgar Allen,’ (Poe), which was located under the bed. During the mid 1950’s I can remember vividly my first day at school, St Wilfred’s at Newton Heath, an old Victorian building, which unfortunately retained one of its original facilities. It was strange that no one ever gave directions to the whereabouts of the toilets, they had no need too, it was a case of follow the smell. The Victorian toilet arrangements frightened me to death, ultimately bringing me into conflict with the teaching staff. A passage existed linking the playground with the adjoining street. A row of about ten old wooden doors were located on the left hand side from the school yard which carried evidence of previous use, thus being covered in names and graffiti carved into the wood by past pupils which had been preserved for posterity by being overpainted many times. Opening the closet door you encountered a box like structure which sported a flat wooden seat, in fact it was a painted plank with a hole in it. There were no means of flushing this facility after use, unlike a conventional toilet,

Above: Raymond Cunliffe. Metal coating engineer by trade also a wizard with the internal combustion engine.

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similar to the one we had at home. Should you be brave enough to look down the toilet the waste was visible in the sewer deep below. The waste from previous use rested in this position until a device known as a ‘tippler’ came into action. A tippler was shaped like a small wheelbarrow receptacle which would fill with around two gallons of waste water from the kitchen sink. Once the required level of water was reached the container would over balance and tip, thus emptying its contents down the drain which would cause a rush of water to flush away whatever was in the drain below the toilet seat. Upon my first visit I happened to glance through the hole in which you had to sit upon, observing the drain below. To my horror I spotted a school cap. My young mind gave the vivid picture of a poor child who had fallen down the drain and sunk up to his neck in this filthy muck, he was unable to get out and perished, and to make matters worse no one cared, everyone was going to the toilet on top of him! I thought that the base was a pit, having no idea that the tippler would wash whatever was in the gulley below away, including on this occasion a cap.

Above: Outside W.C.

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Should I encounter the call of nature during school time I would leave the classroom, run as fast as I could to our home which was in the next street. There I would climb over the back gate to use the toilet. This practice however was to come to a sudden halt when the teacher became suspicious. Whenever I was given permission to use the latrine she noticed that I was away twice the length of time as the other children. I realised that the game was up one warm sunny morning. I had left school and made my way home, settled myself into the outside toilet in the back yard, which was 47 Bennett Street, when I heard someone banging on the back yard gate. Still seated on the loo I overheard my mother having a conversation with my teacher, “I have come for Harold,” she exclaimed, my mother replied that her son was not at home but at school, “I took him there myself this morning.” This conversation promptly ended when they heard a flushing sound, I opened the toilet door, where I witnessed my mother and the teachers head spin round, both looking, without comment in my direction. Should you have been unfortunate enough to have used a tippler type of toilet there was one thing that was consistent, the smell, they all had a distinct smell. A carter who worked for the local Co-op would offer advice upon how to restrict the smell in summer, he would advise the housewife to leave the cold water tap running at a low rate, which would keep the tippler active and would flush the drains a number of times throughout the day.

The description I have given is based on my own experience. Upon researching this form of waste disposal I find that it had a serious effect upon the health of the user. In one part of a Manchester suburb a young couple had put their baby in to its cot, and then to their horror the child was found to be dead the following morning. The child was left in the warm kitchen overnight. An inquest was held in which the Coroner found that the child had died from inhaling sewer gas which had made its way into the kitchen via the Belfast sink. A recommendation was given for this type of sink to have its outlet disconnected from the drain. Other types of sink had a trap fitted to prevent the poisonous gasses from entering the homes of users. Children by their very nature will be mischievous. A tale was related to me some years ago by a user of the tippler toilet. He related that young boys would make paper boats. Choosing a block of four or six cubicles they would wait until two or more toilets were occupied, next with perfect timing, as one of the gang operated the tippling mechanism, others would ignite the boats, floating them along the drain thus subjecting the users to a hot flash upon their bare bottoms. One of the images used shows the rear gate of the Cunliffe’s Bennett Street home along with ‘the old fella,’ my late father, Raymond Cunliffe. He and his other two brothers were once well known in the district of Newton Heath. Harry and Norman owned flower shops, my dad worked at the Liver and Simpson Galvanising Works (Opened 1954, taken over in 1980), was known for his expertise

Above: Communal toilets, tippler type can be seen in the centre of the image.

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in repairing motor vehicles. I really appreciate the advancement in technology within the motor vehicle industry, I only wish it had come sooner. As a young boy I remember the ‘old fella’ repairing cars in the back entry next the gate featured. At times I would assist him in the tuning of the engine. We left Newton Heath when I was seven, so I was at a tender age at this point. Dad would sit me on the bulbous wheel arch of the vehicle where I would be encouraged to put my finger in a hole in a certain part of the engine. Next dad would rotate the engine slowly using a handle which slotted in to the front bumper of the car. To enable him to ascertain the position of the top dead centre, at which a spark was emitted, I flinched; this then indicated the optimum point to set the ignition timing in the number one cylinder. Being a quick learner, whenever he turned up with a car to fix, Harold went missing. One of our neighbours had a three wheeled vehicle. Dad fixed that one day too. What was strange however was the procedure for starting the engine. The owner had to lift the bonnet, put his right leg inside the engine compartment and use a kick start like a motor cycle mechanism. The owner found this procedure embarrassing should he stall the engine at traffic lights. For some reason back then motor vehicles used a lot of water. Dad was always filling the radiator. “Pure water and pure air are necessary to the well-being of the human race, without which life is hindered or destroyed,” was stated by Reginald E. Middleton, a member of the Institute of City Engineers during

Above: A typical scene of a kitchen in the 1950’s, showing a water heater.

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Above: Work commences of the new reservoir at Greenbooth

the Victorian period. Middleton also commented, “Many towns and villages are in urgent need of a public water supply delivered to their homes or into a stand pipe situated near the houses.” At this period many people depended on a well. The most common size of bucket used was that which contained three gallons of water. This must have been an arduous task. In a house containing five persons this would require the bucket to be lowered and raised down a deep well over seventeen times a day to provide the family of five persons with the minimum quantity of water necessary for cleanliness. Residents who were of a more affluent position could pay to have their water supplied by a professional, a water carrier. Philip Kay was well known in a certain part

of Manchester for supplying water to its inhabitants using, for fifty years, an old tin can! Kay would obtain his water from “Parsons Well, Parsons Field,” which I was informed many years ago was once an ancient burial ground. It is recorded in a 200 year old diary that the well at Parsons Field is famed as having an inexhaustible pure stream of water, which has supplied the inhabitants of the small village upon the hill overlooking the well. Carrying out a search of my archive I find that the Kay family became well known with the community over the decades. Their professions include; an organ blower, farmer, solicitor, musician and a watch and clock specialist which included being the custodian of the ancient

Above: 1966. Under construction. Hatters six million gallon covered reservoir at Hopwood

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clock at the local church. Philip Kay who it was stated was of an eccentric character died at the age of 87 in the year 1862. His trade was of a hand-loom weaver, which he ceased when he was unable to make a living following the introduction steam power to the looms. In order to make a living he, in company with his wife became a water carrier. It was recorded at the time of his death that Philip would relate many a pleasing anecdote to his customers. Mr Kay is listed as the organ blower when the local Parish Church of St Leonard gained an organ. Kay who was dressed in a long black cloak, bound with red braiding, supplied by the church, would be seen each Sunday morning proudly heading the scholars from the local school to the church. There must have been a considerable number of wells dotted around which supplied the inhabitants of towns and villages with water. Many may exist today being capped over. Becoming obsolete once mains water was available. On the road which leads to Rochdale stands a public house named the New Inn. This pub is situated in close proximity to an ancient burial ground. It was when workmen started structural alterations at the rear of the pub in the 1960’s that they discovered an old well which had been covered over with stone slabs. The well which was said to be in a remarkable state of preservation was five feet in diameter and had a depth of over thirty feet. I do wonder if anyone ever gave a thought to the purity of the water being positioned below a cemetery. During the Second World War pedestrians had a shock as they made their way towards Oldham. An ancient hostelry called the “Old Cock Inn” suddenly revealed a facility from its past, a large hole suddenly appeared which was seven feet wide and filled with water. The location of the well had been lost in time, until one elderly resident contacted the local newspaper, he remembered the location of a number of former wells within the centre of the town; some located inside buildings which still existed at that period. It is well known that a brewery requires a constant supply of pure water. At the John William Lees www.lancmag.com

Above: Water Board manager is visible next to a silt trap

Above: Central trench being built at Greenbooth

Above: Mr Alex Herd, Manager of the Heywood and Middleton Water Board.

Brewery, Middleton Junction a well was sunk by a well-known master of his trade. Once completed it supplied a constant supply of pure cold water, even during spells of hot weather. Mr Joseph Malpas who was employed at the brewery did not return home from work at the specified time. His wife became concerned and a search was made. Malpas was nowhere to be found. The following day he did not turn up for work, but his coat and hat were in his room at the brewery. An exhaustive search was made of the premises and it was discovered that the board covering the well was broken. The well was eighty feet deep. The only way to inspect the well was to lower a member of staff down on a rope. At the bottom the employee witnessed the awful sight of the deceased, mutilated by the fall.

In an interesting twist to this tragic story, the brewery was visited by a television crew which would seek out haunted buildings. A canteen now stands on the site of the disused well. British spiritual medium, Derek Acorah, when investigating this room froze at a certain spot and commented that someone had lost their life below where he was standing in a well accident. Derek Francis Johnson (Acorah) died in 2020 aged 69 years.

grounds. A steam engine replaced manual labour and would drive a pump which would fill a large holding tank located at the top of the building. A tank was used at some height to maintain a constant supply to all the taps during heavy demand. The water supplied the outlets via gravity. A 36 year old painter was admitted to the male ward suffering from ‘delirium tremens.’ He was apprehended and considered not fit to be at large after he threatened to kill his wife and take his own life. No doubt the large quantities of lead used in the production process of paint in those days could have had some effect upon his wellbeing. It was normal procedure at the workhouse to keep a constant watch on patients who suffered this condition. But, he managed to escape. It was not unusual for those at the institution to escape. A search was made, also inquiries made with his wife, friends and family, but he had made good his escape, no one had seen him. Over two weeks had passed with no sightings of the missing painter. Then one Saturday evening a nurse reported to the governor of the workhouse that the water had a horrible and offensive stench; this was having an effect upon all those who consumed it, many had become unwell. The governor, Mr Mine, gave instructions for the water in the tank to be drained off and the supply stopped until investigations had taken place and the tank cleaned. The following morning the tank was empty of water, a party of workmen

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What follows is a true story. Looking back to the Victorian period it would seem that the quality of drinking water for many was very poor. The water quality available to the inmates in this next item was as bad as it can get. The water supply at a Manchester Workhouse was provided by a well within the

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Above: Water Board officials attend the opening ceremony at Greenbooth in the Naden Valley.

was sent to investigate. The workmen upon entering the tank room were met with a sickening sight; the legs of a man were seen sticking out of the cistern. The body, in an advanced state of decomposition was removed. There was no doubt that the corpse was that of the missing painter who it was believed could not face his family and friends for being of a drunken and delirium state. The jury at the Coroner’s Court returned a verdict, “He committed Suicide while in an unsound state of mind, brought on by drinking.” I suppose we give little thought to the luxury we encounter in living in our modern homes. Central heating, internet, mobile phones, and a

little box we can ask a question and receive an instant answer. She can also turn your lights on and off. The Victorian housewife must have had a hard life always having to gain a supply of water. Today we have quality drinking water on tap, and unlike other utilities the water companies take back their used product for treatment. For many years I have been a researcher and have documented local history. It is interesting to unearth the names those who did so much to improve the quality of the lives in the district. One such man, Mr Alexander Forbes Herd, had a great insight into the future of supplying clean safe water. He

came to Lancashire from Yorkshire to take charge of the Heywood and Middleton Water Board. Mr Herd could foresee that the demand for water was going to be great in the post war years of the North Lancashire towns. It was amazing logistically how he undertook the supply of water to the vast new (Overspill) housing estate known back then as “Bowlee Park,” then later named “Langley Estate.” One of the projects Alex undertook was the construction of a new reservoir at the Naden Valley which would see the village of Greenbooth lost under millions of gallons of water. Just prior to his retirement he carried out the construction of a covered reservoir known as Hatter’s Farm Reservoir which held six million gallons of water. Personally I am grateful to him for documenting the work he was involved in; today a record exists for future generations. The Greenbooth images used in this feature were made available by the family of the late Mr Herd, taken from his personal archive courtesy of his granddaughter, Mrs Helen Stubbs This is very much appreciated. Building a new reservoir is a costly undertaking. Originally the estimated cost of the Greenbooth reservoir was one and a quarter million pounds, the final total showing that it cost half a million pounds more. Subsequently in one way or another, customers of the Water Board have to cover the cost by an increase in the price of water. An article was published in a local newspaper giving details of the increase in the price of the water supply. One licensee commented that the price of water was too high and objected most strongly, “Once we would put water in the beer, but now it is cheaper to put beer in the water.” The new Greenbooth reservoir covered an area of one thousand feet in width, completely submerging the village. Legend has it that on cold and stormy winter’s nights the church bell can be heard to ring out along the valley of Greenbooth. This is rather strange; the church did not have a bell.

Above: Filling commences of the new reservoir

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Special appreciation to the staff of Link4Life at Rochdale Local Studies for the use of images and their proactive attitude to researchers. www.lancmag.com

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T 01772 367122 M 07966 190743

www.customerlove.co.uk

GROUPS NOW LIVE IN: Blackburn, Bolton, Bury, Chorley, Hyndburn, Kendal, Liverpool, Preston, Ribble Valley, Salford, Sefton, Stockport, Wigan

To join the group to meet some amazing ladies in business or enquire about a Unique Ladies Franchise, please contact:

Suzy Orr E Suzy@uniqueladies.co.uk Follow us F @uniqueladiesnetwork

Multi Award Winning Artisan Food

Pam Molyneux Supporter and promoter of shop local and small businesses with My VIP Reward @myviprewardsboltonandwigan www.myviprewards.co.uk

N 07968 504925 F @sushmasnack E sushma.snacks.uk@gmail.com

Solver of distractions to keep business owners focused on their business with SmartPA @pammolyneuxsmartpa www.smart-pa.com | 07977 459177

The Heart of Every Business

Above: Anne Williamson

Customer Service is at the heart of every business and if a business gets it right, they stand out from their competitors.

ORDER HERE: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Are-you-night-stand-business/dp/1788083199/

ethical suppliers, and the number of customers who are willing to pay more for excellent service has grown to 32%.”

Anne’s 25 years+ of marketing experience, alongside her desire to see companies realise how they can increase sales and customer retention through improvements to customer service communication and processes has seen her work with organisations including high street banks, estate agents and engineers. Many of those she works with have grown and realise customer service has slightly dipped.

MYSTERY SHOPPING

LET CUSTOMER LOVE HELP YOU BE RATED AS EXCELLENT FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE

Many of the stories we hear and read about are based on a customer’s negative experiences with organisations. Anne Williamson, MD of Customer Love is the author of ‘Are you a one night stand business?’ which highlights the various ways in which companies come into contact with customers (online and offline) and the impact their customer service processes have on future growth. Her book is packed with tips and action points, with real life good and bad examples.

Whether you are providing a service, have a business that customers visit, are selling products through a retail outlet or carry out transactions online let Customer Love show you where you could make improvements to your customer services processes and communication.

Just one of the services from Customer Love. Mystery shopping includes reviewing website user experience, ease of placing of orders, visits to premises and customer communication via email/ phone. You’re then provided with a report with findings and recommendations. Other services include customer service training, consultancy for customer service process mapping, customer service communication review and suggestions for improvements. If you’d like to find out more about how you can improve customer service within your organisation give Anne a call on 01772 367122 or email anne@customerlove.co.uk

In July 2021 the Chief Exec of the Customer Service Institute said “Almost a quarter of customers believe that some organisations have used Covid-19 as an excuse for poor service. More customers have made online purchases or chosen to buy from local or

HERE ARE WHAT OTHERS HAVE TO SAY: “After mystery shopping my team, Anne spent the morning training the team in how to love customers even more. The team came out of the training buzzing and full of ideas, it really motivated them. We’ve now a clear plan in place of how we are going to implement Anne’s training. We would highly recommend Anne to anybody looking to better themselves and their business.” Estate Agents “Even if you think you have your customer service nailed I’d really recommend that you have a chat with Anne and see if what you think is what your customers think; you may be surprised!” Audio Visual Company

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To Franchise, or Not to Franchise? A great way to run your own business with support from a Dream Team!

Photo Credit: Phil Garlington Photography

Unique Ladies UK Limited was started back in 2015 when Suzy Orr felt that women in business needed a platform to be women, and do business!

rior to that time Suzy felt that as a woman in a senior role within a corporate extremely male environment, it was expected that she dressed a certain way, and often felt like “the token blonde” in a networking environment which was, and still is to a large extent, a very male dominated arena. This set Suzy off on a journey which was never expected, or planned for, but is now a huge part of her life, a life she has created and loves. Her first network saw 45 ladies gather at the Lancashire Manor Hotel, all keen to share experience and opportunities. It was a huge success. Within a month Suzy had been asked to do something similar in Bolton, followed closely by Media City, Liverpool and Preston. This prompted a complete re-think, as Suzy was working tirelessly to manage four great groups, this is when she had the idea to Franchise. Initially this was done through the network, and Suzy “gifted” her Preston group to a Unique Ladies member. Once she realised that she could “hand over her baby” and after speaking with Kathryn Orange, a Franchise expert, and taking some excellent legal advice, Suzy launched the Unique Ladies Franchise model in 2018. www.lancmag.com

It was an immediate success, with interest from three ladies within the network; Jo Perruzza, who runs Stockport, Lynn Meadowcroft, who launched Wigan, and has since launched in both Salford and Bury, then Dawn Roberts launched Hyndburn, her home town being Accrington. Dawn also jumped straight in when the team at Blackburn Rovers wanted to discuss having a women’s business network there, Unique Ladies Blackburn was born. Recently as we lost our Preston franchisee, so Dawn also jumped in to rebuild the Preston group up too!! Since the initial launches more franchisees have been recruited and we have groups running in Kendal, with Tracy Boylin and in the Ribble Valley with Nicola Sheard. Suzy herself continues to run Bolton, launched one in her home town of Chorley and is currently managing Sefton & Liverpool until new franchisees are in place. Unique Ladies now have a database of over 2000 women across the region, and the idea is to take one to every town across the UK!!! These groups do so much more than “give women a platform” They are supportive, full of knowledge and experience and support many local charities in the process. Now a multi award winning network, recently voted the Most Outstanding Women’s Business network 2021 by Global Business Awards. Suzy says, we have a great “Mission Statement” which epitomises our groups, and the women involved. “Our mission is to support all Women

in business, no matter which part of their journey they’re at, to achieve their full potential through support, encouragement, knowledge share and friendship. We are proud to provide a selection of great practical networking opportunities and introductions to inspire them reach their goals. In order to facilitate this, Unique Ladies offers a flexible approach with free membership and a pay as you go option of networking including a series of incredible inspirational female speakers.” Suzy’s initial plan was not to “rip people off” with hefty memberships, and to this day the membership is absolutely FREE!! Each session costs just £20, which includes tea and coffee, great organised networking, a first class inspirational speaker, and so much more!! A franchise is a great part time opportunity, one which can easily run alongside a second business (all of the other franchisees have multiple businesses) The basic cost is just £2,500, and comes with a great package including a photoshoot, PR, support, and a transparent plan of how to get a return on your investment within 8 months. If you are interested in either going to one of these fabulous groups, joining the ladies for one of many Ladies Lunches to support local charities, or getting involved with a Franchise in your town, please visit: www.uniqueladies.co.uk or email: Suzy@uniqueladies.co.uk

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Multi Award Winning Artisan Food Anybody? ...look no further than Sushma’s Snacks you a range of unique products that allow you to create authentic food experiences in the comfort of your own home through event planning, cookery classes and bespoke catering. One of her objectives was that she wanted adults and children to learn the art of healthy cooking as it is a misconception that Indian food is difficult and can be unhealthy.

The owner Sushma Solanki, was born and brought up in Nairobi. She moved to Bolton in 1995, where now runs her catering business.

he is passionate about food and has taken inspiration for ingredients and recipes from her roots in Kenya and through over 30 years in the travel industry. Sushma says “I truly believe in the power of food to bring a little sunshine, good times, and comfort to our busy daily lives.” Using her knowledge of world cuisine and passion for creativity, she is delighted to be able to bring

She Says “On one occasion, I was asked by a friend if I could cater for a Macmillan Coffee and Cocktails Evening with canapés, that would take them into the next morning. I put my thinking cap on and created an English breakfast on a stick (everyone is still talking about it) as well as other different canapés to help them all through the night. It went down a storm and that’s the moment I thought, “this could be the start of a good thing” and the orders kept coming in.” Sushma is passionate about what she does and creativity is her strong point. She loves to be challenged in different areas. “When I started the business, I was not sure how well it would take off, as it was a very different concept on food. Today when I walk into a room and someone sees my name badge, they say we have heard a lot about your food. I am now known all over the North West and not just Bolton,

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which makes me very proud of what I have achieved in this short time.’’ Sushma volunteers every Sunday to help the homeless and works alongside a wonderful team. She also helps the Girl Guides and The Bolton Interfaith Council. In February 2017 she was nominated for Women in Enterprise @ the WIN Inspirational Women Awards and took part in the Bolton College MasterChef competition. She has been nominated in three categories in the Inspire Women’s Awards - Anna Kinley Interfaith Award, Entrepreneur & Start Up and Women in Hospitality, which she won in May 2018. In April 2018 she won Theo Paphitis Small Business Sunday Award. A finalist for 2 Eva Awards years 2018/19, Queen of Canapes 2018, Influential Businesswoman and in 2019 won Most Successful Foodservice SME Owner in N.W. England and Bolton New Family Business. This year she has been nominated for Women in Networking, Events and Hospitality for the SHE Inspires Awards. You can contact Sushma on: N 07968 504925 E sushma.snacks.uk@gmail.com F @sushmasnack

www.lancmag.com

Q&A I HAVE A PLAN! And I am working on it every day. WHAT IS THE PLAN? To have a business that I can work anytime and anywhere. You see, I love to explore as does my husband although planned around the children’s school holidays and clubs, oh and let us not forget the confines of the travel sickness distance. We love food, sun, being near the sea, trekking through a wood or up a hill and there be a nice establishment at the end with a rewarding drink and some tasty food or a slab of cake – I’m not fussy. I have a passion of taking photos, at the great annoyance of my family, as they say I take a photo at what seems like to them every flower, bird, tree and our bonkers beagle. To me, not so, there is just so many interesting things to take photos of.

www.lancmag.com

Pam Molyneux

WHERE HAS THIS COME FROM? I have been very fortunate to have worked in corporate HR for 25 years. But I always knew I would do something else. I just did not have the finer detail or know when it was going to happen. Roll on to the Summer of 2019, now in my mid-40’s, I came across a beauty products company, Oriflame and fell in love with their values and products and still to this day you will find me talking about skin care, testing new products and embellishing my love for Face Yoga. This opened another door around networking with the wonderful Unique Ladies and Mums in Business International. I was very fortunate to be a networking leader for 12 months with MIB where a local community of amazing business ladies trusted me to facilitate their networking journey. Those two big

networking opportunities helped me to get clear on what I wanted to do. Through MIB, I was introduced to My VIP Rewards, the amazing money saving app that rewards people for supporting their community, where I support local businesses showcasing the tremendous work they do. I then added a final piece to my plan in March this year, my franchise with SmartPA. I now get to work with companies on outsourcing all the things that detract them away from what they are good at, their business! Admin, social media management, bookkeeping, HR, event planning, research projects and anything else they find for me. I am still employed too in a privileged position of supporting HR professionals achieve their CIPD qualification and when that contract finishes in May 2022, that is it, I am flying solo and will be fully fledged self-employed. SO, MY LEARNING FROM ALL OF THIS? It’s OK if you are still working it out as you go along. Being flexible and spotting opportunities as you go can mean things can work out for the better. I would love to connect with local businesses and anyone who loves to explore, so do get in touch and let’s grab a cuppa in person or virtually. pam.molyneux@ smartpasupport.com

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Dame Floella Benjamin’s Virtual Visit By Alice Bradshaw Bolton School’s Junior Boys and Junior Girls joined children from 170 schools to hear from Floella Benjamin in a Zoom call that reached 1,000 classrooms.

he performer, television presenter, producer and author spoke to the huge virtual gathering about her life, from her earliest memories of her childhood in Trinidad to receiving her Damehood in 2020. In particular, Floella shared her experience of moving from Trinidad to England when she was 10 years old, which is also the basis of her book ‘Coming to England’. Unfortunately, it was ‘not quite the experience she hoped for’. Although her new home was full of love, at school she faced bullying because of her skin colour. She spoke poignantly about getting into fights with other children who called her names, until one day she realised that if someone had a problem with the colour of her skin it was their problem, not hers. Rather than fighting, she decided to be herself and ‘show the world the real Floella’. Her advice to pupils was to ‘keep smiling, because winners smile’. She went on to share her mother’s saying: that education is the passport to life. She said that she saw her teachers as ‘like Santa Claus, bringing the gift of education’.

Above: Bolton School Junior Girls listening to Dame Floella

Above: Dame Floella Benjamin speaking on Zoom

Floella went on to talk about working for a bank after leaving school, and her dream of becoming the first Black woman bank manager. This was impossible at the time, but she looked positively on how much things have changed now! She also shared her move into the theatre and then into television, including her experiences on Playschool. She loved inspiring children on that programme, and campaigning on behalf of children has been a huge passion throughout her life. Above: Bolton School Junior Boys listening to Dame Floella

Moving on, she recapped just a few of the leaders she has had the opportunity to meet, including Obama during his time as President of the US. She also explained how she became Baroness Benjamin of Beckenham in 2008 and what this means for her: she said that she is now in the House of Lords, making a difference in the same room where, 400 years ago, slave owners and plantation owners were making decisions about her ancestors. This led her to talk about how things have changed for Black people in the UK during her lifetime.

The schools had submitted their questions ahead of time, and a small selection were posed to Floella after the main talk. She revealed what it was like to meet the Queen; shared memories of dancing in the rain in Trinidad and how she keeps her Caribbean culture alive through music and food; explained how her mother’s approach to education has meant that she and her five siblings have had very different but successful lives; and spoke about her love of different seasons in England.

Bringing her talk to a close, Floella spoke about her philosophy of the Three Cs: consideration, contentment and confidence, rounded out by the fourth C, Courage. She told the children to strive to be happy people and to ‘never give up, trust your instincts and be kind’.

Finally, Floella gave an amazing rendition of ‘Smile’ without accompaniment. The song perfectly complemented her final message: ‘You’ve got to believe that things will get better. It will get better. Have hope in your heart.’

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www.lancmag.com

Education: All Round

Bolton School

With consistently high examination results, outstanding inspection reports, excellent extra-curricular opportunities and incredible facilities, our friendly independent day school (0-7 co-ed, 7-18 single sex) will enable your child to realise their potential.

WHOLE SCHOOL OPEN MORNING Saturday 9 October, 9.30am-1.00pm

Call 01204 840201 for further details or to arrange a private tour during term-time.

www.boltonschool.org

Depending on Covid restrictions we may also run a virtual event on Friday 8 October, please consult our website for further details

Alumni Share Their Perspectives on Engineering By Alice Bradshaw

Top Left: Ray Ball | Top Right: Radhika Sharma | Bottom Left: Khadijah Ismail | Bottom Right: Amy Williams

The latest Perspectives Lecture hosted on Zoom by Bolton School Girls’ Division brought together three alumni (Old Girls) to speak about their varied experiences in the field of Engineering.

he audience gathered virtually to enjoy an interesting and informative evening. After a brief welcome from Mrs James, Head of Lower School Careers, Year 12 student Laweeza Ali introduced the trio of speakers: Khadijah Ismail (Class of 2017), a fourth year aerospace engineering degree apprentice currently working at BAE Systems; Radhika Sharma (Class of 2015), a Mechanical Engineer with the British Antarctic Survey; and Amy Williams (née Worsell, Class

of 1997), a Chartered Civil Engineer and senior manager at Highways England. Khadijah was the first to share her route into engineering, which began with the positive experience of receiving an Arkwright Scholarship. She went on to explain why she chose a degree apprenticeship, the challenges of balancing university with work commitments and the opportunities she has to work with world-class engineers and both see and help implement real-world applications of theory. Moving on to highlights from her workplace experience so far, she shared some of the exciting projects she has been part of and how her work placements allow her to see ideas in all stages of the ‘engineering life cycle’. She also

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recently met with Prime Minister Boris Johnson alongside a group of other apprentices and graduates to showcase the opportunities within the technology sector and at BAE Systems. Her key takeaways were to ‘be real and be proud of who you are’ and to always be enthusiastic, as an enthusiastic person can learn the technical skills needed, but a competent person cannot be taught enthusiasm. She also said that there is strength in saying, ‘I don’t know’ as doing so can create another opportunity to learn. Finally, she shared a poem about engineering that she wrote for her first public speech. The evening’s second speaker was Radhika, who studied Mechanical Engineering at Newcastle University. www.lancmag.com

She gave the audience a whistlestop tour of her university projects, including the group project in her final year to design and build a Mars rover, before moving on to her current role with the British Antarctic Survey, focused on science support. Her job is to facilitate scientists’ experiments on-site and touches on climate science, ecology and geology. She is currently shadowing a colleague on an ice drill project and shared how her work is helping to make real changes. She also talked passionately about how engineering is about ‘designing a world to include everyone’ – for example, to address the fact that crash test dummies, bags of cement, bricks, and even PPE were originally based on the average size of a man. She said, ‘It’s a world designed for men, and that’s something that I wanted to be able to change.’ Throughout her talk, she emphasised that engineering is used in a huge range of fields and can lead practically anywhere, including beyond engineering itself as the skills involved are hugely transferrable. She mentioned teamwork, problem solving, the ability to effectively communicate ideas, flexibility and adaptability, but also said that many skills are dependent on job role and so concluded: ‘Engineering is such a broad field that there’s something for everyone, really.’ Finally, Amy spoke about Civil Engineering: one of the oldest specialisms, which is about providing core infrastructure such as water, roads, railways and buildings. She talked about the usefulness of work experience during her time at university, and how she targeted her career experiences to facilitate becoming a Chartered Civil Engineer fairly quickly after graduation. She also encouraged the audience to take advantage of awards to gain contacts and support, as well as talking about opportunities to develop further after a degree, and her involvement in mentoring graduates and apprentices. What appealed to her about engineering was the opportunity to help people and build things that will last. She described some of the projects she has worked on during her career, including working on motorway bridges and helping to www.lancmag.com

maintain strategic road networks. She said: ‘Engineering for me is all about balancing conflicting priorities. There is a rarely a perfect answer. It’s about using technical skills and knowledge to help people to get the infrastructure that they need.’ Amy agreed with Radhika that engineering is extremely broad and there are always new challenges, such as sustainability and netzero carbon. She highlighted key skills such as flexibility and openmindedness, but specified that the most important thing is having a passion for problem-solving, as that passion will make it an enjoyable career. The evening continued with a question and answer session moderated by the Girls’ Division’s Head of Physics Mr Ball, who picked out audience questions from the chat to pose to the three speakers. They discussed Arkwright Scholarships, the worst parts of their jobs, potential opportunities in the amusement park industry, and the future of engineering. All three speakers weighed in on their experiences as women in a traditionally male-dominated field, though they all agreed that they haven’t felt that being a woman is a problem. Khadijah said that she doesn’t like to highlight being a woman because at the end of the day she is just an engineer, and Radhika reminded the audience that there are now many schemes, scholarships and groups supporting women in engineering. Amy also noted that she has worked in an environment where diversity is valued as different people bring different strengths, all of which are recognised. They also offered advice to those who are choosing between a university place and an apprenticeship: they agreed that it depends on the person, and recommended looking at both options to see what would best suit. They also reminded the audience that they are different routes to the same destination.

The whole discussion, including the Q&A, is available to watch again on Bolton School TV: www.boltonschool.org/i-amlooking-for/bolton-schooltv/?video=zmoPu1SQ6qI This event was the latest in a series of Perspectives Lectures hosted by the Girls’ Division. Previous events have featured Old Girl Sally-Anne Huang speaking about leadership and panel discussions on careers in journalism and careers in the fashion industry.

Above: Khadijah Ismail

Above: Radhika Sharma

Finally, Laweeza brought the evening to a close by offering the speakers her thanks for a helpful, insightful and interesting look at the wide range of options that engineering opens up. Above: Amy Williams

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Gold and Silver Duke of Edinburgh Achievements By Alice Bradshaw

Above: Year 11 girls who have achieved the Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award or Certificate this year

Despite the challenges of the Coronavirus pandemic, a significant number of Bolton School Girls’ Division pupils have completed their Duke of Edinburgh Awards at Gold and Silver level.

n Year 13, nine girls have completed the full requirements of the Volunteering, Physical and Skills sections of the Award. This was no easy task in the midst of lockdown, especially for the volunteering section! Seven girls also managed to complete the four-day Expedition and five-day Residential sections that form part of the Gold Award. Shreya Kamath and Fatima Naeem wisely completed those sections in 2020, ahead of tackling the rest of the Award requirements, while Aaliyah Bax, Katie Couriel, Ashley Sprott, Elizabeth Warburton and Sanjana Vijaya-Kumar achieved theirs in 2021. These girls will receive the full Gold Award for their efforts. Ella Harkness and Olivia Stubbs were unfortunately unable to complete their the Expedition and Residential due to the pandemic, but will receive the Gold Certificate of Achievement for completing all other

sections, which is still an impressive achievement. In Year 11, three girls have already completed their full Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award: Hollie Asquith, Ruby Broughton and Blake Owens managed to go on their biking expedition already despite the challenges posed by the pandemic. A further sixteen are currently completing their walking expedition and are on track to also receive the full Silver Award. Twelve girls will be awarded the Silver Certificate for completing the all aspects of their Duke of Edinburgh Award apart from the Expedition.

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Congratulations to all the Year 11 pupils who have achieved the Silver Awards or Certificate: Khadijah Ahmed, Ananya Ajit, Fatima Bagas, Martha Brennan, Lauren Bunting, Kelly Chae, Rosemary Crowther, Amelie Duncalf, Isabella Grainger, Molly Holt, Divya Kallat, Mia Kitching, Isabella Li, Anika Maini, Jessica Martin, Hannah McKee, Halimah Natha, Shriya Pindoria, Millie Price, Alicia Quinton Taylor, Teja Reece, Elizabeth Rogers, Lucy Sackfield, Saba Salim, Avneet Singh, Kareena Singh, Humairah Thagia and Alara Unsal.

Above: The nine Year 13 girls who have achieved the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award or Certificate this year

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TROPIC WITH MIA

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Vegan skincare and makeup that’s cruelty-free and freshly made using sustainably-sourced, natural ingredients from around the globe. Each product is freshly made using powerful, natural botanicals, harnessing the latest in green beauty innovation to be kinder to your skin and the planet. E mia.nicoll@icloud.com I tropic_with_mia

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From Tech to Skincare...

The journey to becoming true to myself

Being selected for a coveted place on The Women In Leadership programme at one of the UK’s biggest mobile network operators should by anyone’s standards be a proud moment.

places and hundreds of amazing female leaders, and I was one of the chosen ones. A years investment in my personal development, one to one leadership coaching, exposure to some of the very best female talent in UK Tech and the opportunity to jump higher on the career ladder - what more could a women wish for? But inside I was done. A four hour commute each way to slough each week left me exhausted. Sadness was part of my daily feelings as I left my two young children with a nanny. Missing valuable moments in their precious lives like sports day or picking them up from a swimming lesson was really taking a toll. The office politics, the ever changing strategy, restructures and demands to do more and be more. Having to fill out a holiday request form for a day out with my friends, I honestly felt life was passing me by.

And so I decided one night I was done with the grind, and it was time to find something new. Something that would reinvigorate my desire to do more and be more, but all on my own terms. The opportunity to be involved with something I am truly passionate about, and something that matched my personal values, beliefs and goals in life. The opportunity to share all I had learnt in my 30 years corporate life but in a fun informal relaxing way about a subject I cared about. The opportunity to be a mum and be there for my family more whilst still earning a decent income was top of my list of priorities. And my “Aha! moment” came when I supported my friend and bought a Tropic cleanser from her. This single minuscule purchasing decision has literally changed my life. Voted the fastest growing beauty business for the fifth year running this award winning ethical planet loving company was my ticket to a new-found success. I fell in love with the fresh, clean and very effective products. The business is founded on values that are close to my heart. Still in a corporate role I joined as an ambassador and enthusiastically set about sharing all the knowledge I had amassed about clean beauty

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and women’s health. Quickly I built a customer base from my friends, family and wider networks and enjoyed helping them make a change in their purchasing decisions. I then started to attract like minded women to my team, people who had the same can do spirit and a desire to do something new. Today in a short space of time I have a wonderful business and a team and income that’s growing month on month. What joins us together is a genuine love of the products and a desire to live a more flexible life. Two years in and I have a business that is truly thriving, one that fits around my family and life and one that is growing exponentially year on year as clean beauty is predicted to accelerate super fast over the next 10 years. The self serve, online model is pandemic proof and I am really enjoying spending my time empowering other women to build their own businesses using the same model and support that I have. If you are reading this article and feel burnt out by the corporate life, or need a change of direction I want you to know there is always another way and what’s more you can have it all. Please get in touch to know more: E mia.nicoll@icloud.com I tropic_with_mia www.lancmag.com

Bolton Whites Hotel & Events Out with the old and in with the new...

Above: Bolton Whites Hotel, University of Bolton Stadium

It’s a new start at Bolton Whites Hotel and Bolton Wanderers Football Club.

ollowing a turbulent 2 years, administration and national lockdown, now under new ownership, the Hotel and Football Club have lots to look forward to. Positivity is in the air around the entire building, from the Management team through to the casual staff. With Bolton Wanderers winning automatic promotion back in May, they have just got underway with the new season in League 1, this has created an aura of excitement which has been missing in previous years.

Fans couldn’t wait to get back in the stadium after being absent for over a year due to COVID-19, experiencing unprecedented demand for season tickets, with 8,000 purchased on presale alone, they are looking forward to watching an exciting season unfold. Integrated in to the University of Bolton Stadium, Bolton Whites Hotel is an iconic venue in the heart of the North West. Boasting 125 stylish bedrooms, with pitch view rooms and penthouse suites. Also on offer is more than 50 meeting spaces with capacities from 2 to 3,000 attendees, alongside the spacious, contemporary and comfortable Pure Bar & Grill. With New Menus, Happy Hours, Early Bird Offers, Bottomless Brunch and Festive Fridays to choose from it’s the perfect place to meet friends, family and colleagues. Behind the scenes there’s been lots of activity, working with clients, planning and booking events including Gala Dinners, Fashion Shows, Boxing, Beer Festivals, Darts, Snooker and Christmas, as well as welcoming new staff. With a new General Manager and Executive Head Chef on board it is definitely the place to be!

Above: The Eddie Davies Chairman’s Suite

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Working and engaging with the local clients is Paula Pilling, who joined the hotel in May 2021 to build and develop relationships and share the positivity surrounding the Hotel

Above: Paula Pilling

and Club. With more than 20 years of experience in hospitality, Paula can help with accommodation, events or hospitality enquiries and works closely with the in house sales team to deliver the best experience and customer service to all her clients. It looks like it’s going to be a busy and positive future for both the football club and hotel and the teams can’t wait to welcome guests old and new! CORPORATE ENQUIRIES:

E ppilling@boltonwhiteshotel.co.uk

MEETING AND EVENT ENQUIRES: E events@boltonwhiteshotel.co.uk N 01204 673610

F Bolton Whites Hotel T @BoltonWhitesHtl I @boltonwhites www.boltonwhiteshotel.co.uk

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Cornerstone Resources Ltd T

heir combined passion for all things people, as well as their drive to provide fair, flexible and pragmatic support to small businesses and charities, led to Nicci firstly moving out of the in-house corporate world to set up Cornerstone. Fast forward to today and the business has grown considerably, working with over 120 customers since 2018 and growing to a team of three, with more planned for the near future. MEET THE TEAM NICCI has 20 years of experience working for a variety of national and international organisations and charities and has been a charity trustee for over seven years. She specialises in management coaching and development, recruitment, change management and loves improving organisational performance. ROB also has over 20 years of experience working for differentsized companies in varying sectors, ranging from Professional Services, Pharmaceuticals, Financial Services and Manufacturing. Rob specialises in complex employee issues and salaries, pensions and employee benefits. JULIE is their newest recruit, who joined in May 2021. With over 25 years HR experience gained in generalist HR roles in Corporates, Charity and SMEs, Julie has a passion for helping employers deal with difficult people issues to a positive outcome.

All the team are chartered members of the CIPD and hold post-graduate qualifications in HR. Nicci is also an accredited member of HR Independents, a body supporting standards, quality and ethics across HR Consultancies. Having worked with all sizes and types of businesses, Nicci explains “We are pragmatic and don’t try and sell services that employers don’t need. Integrity is a fundamental principle for us in everything we do. We do not tie customers into lengthy contracts, but instead provide flexible HR advice, when it is needed. We want customers to stay because of the quality of the service we give, not the rigidity of our contracts.”

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WHY CORNERSTONE? A cornerstone is the first stone set in the construction of a building - all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure. Nicci explains that they believe that people are the cornerstone of any organisation and that the service that Cornerstone offers to employers is invaluable to their success. They believe that their flexibility, integrity and pragmatism set them apart

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Cornerstone Resources Ltd is a HR consultancy founded by Rob & Nicci Birley in 2018.

While HR is their area of expertise, they recognise that every employer needs more to keep them running efficiently. Cornerstone have therefore carefully selected strong business partners to bring a joined up offering to their customers, in areas such as HR systems, Recruitment, Accountancy, Business Workflow Management, H&S, Safeguarding and Occupational Health. Cornerstone are shortly launching a new offer for Start Up businesses and today are offering Lancashire Life readers a FREE no obligation HR Health Check (quote: LANCS2021).

Above: Nicci & Rob Birley

Contact us today on N 0161 647 7990 to see how we can help your business grow. Check out our Google Reviews to see how our customers rate our friendly, pragmatic advice. www.cornerstoneresources.co.uk Above: Julie Welling

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

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The Body Shop at Home with Treena Hughes

At the age of 16 I landed my dream job of working in a Bank. I steadily climbed the career ladder taking on a variety of job roles in various branches. The last 20 years I spent as a Branch Manager-a role I absolutely loved and was incredibly proud of. I will be forever grateful for the development opportunities I had whilst working for the Bank.

ast forward 31 years and I was able to transfer all of those skills to my Body Shop at Home business. “I originally joined the Body Shop at Home as an Independent Consultant as a way to top up my income and to learn about skincare and makeup. I instantly fell in love with the Values and our incredible ethical, cruelty free products. Through sharing my love of the business with others I have built a team and last year through hard work and determination I promoted to Senior Regional Manager. It wasn’t easy but I have enjoyed every step. I have recently been asked what I love most about working for the Body Shop at Home. The list is endless but the freedom and flexibility it gives me has to be top of the list. I work on my own terms, choosing my own working hours. I don’t need to ask for a day off. I can work from

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anywhere and even worked from Tenerife for five weeks last year! I have always loved helping people and enjoy running pamper evenings in peoples homes-demonstrating products and sharing my top tips. I love that I can show people how to look after their skin. More recently these have taken place online which have been really great fun! The most popular experience has being a guided facials evening where everyone follows my lead and has a pamper. I also love that I can help others to build their own business-everything from showing them how to do a facial or apply a makeup product to building their own team. Nothing makes me prouder than seeing others doing well.

from pollution and leaving it feeling healthier. Incredibly hydrating Its lightweight, fast-absorbing, gel texture leaves skin moisturised and plump. It’s also suitable for sensitive skin. Body Yogurt - Perfect for summer: A lightweight, fast-absorbing body moisturiser perfect for dry, sensitive skin. Get hydrated, fast! A cocktail of ultra-moisturising ingredients, all blended into a fresh gel-lotion texture for 48 hour hydration without the greasy feel. Camomile Cleansing Balm: A make-up melting butter, designed to dissolve impurities and leave skin feeling cleansed and nourished. If you need any advice about skincare or makeup or would like to book a pamper experience then get in touch:

I am excited that we have expanded into the USA and by reaching into my years of experience I am able to support Consultants build their businesses there.

N 07976 972 689 E treena.hughes@icloud.com

Have I mentioned the products? They are amazing and contain Community Fair Trade ingredients.

D www.facebook.com/ groups/142836169143248

Some of my favourite products: Drops of Youth Concentrate - A little bit of magic in a bottle: A fast-absorbing concentrate enriched with natural antioxidants and 99% natural ingredients, protecting skin

Join my customer group for demos, reviews and deals:

If you would like to find out more about joining contact me or you can join direct through my link: UK - www.thebodyshopathome. com/WebPWS/treenahughes USA - thebodyshopathomeusa.com/treenahughes

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 81

Classic European Cars Ltd. Importers of classic 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s cars from dry states 07767 392053 www.classiceuropeancars.biz www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 83

Bolton Homelessness Charity APPEALS FOR VOLUNTEERS

EMMAUS BOLTON supports 22 formerly homeless people by providing a stable home, meaningful work, and support for as long as they need it.

olunteers are needed to help at the charity’s Derby Barracks base, new Recycling Centre and in Lucie’s Pantry social supermarket. Tony Stephenson, Director at Emmaus Bolton, said: “We’re looking for people who want to use their time, skills and passion to drive our charity forward and make a real difference to the lives of people who have been homeless. Volunteering with Emmaus Bolton is a great way to meet new people, get involved with the local community, and learn new skills. No two days are the same and we can promise a fun and rewarding volunteer experience.” Emmaus Bolton’s social enterprise is spread over the site of a former military barracks and is home to Bolton’s largest charity shop, selling second-hand 84

furniture, household goods, clothing, toys, plants, books and upcycled items. From its site, the charity also runs Lucie’s Pantry, a social supermarket that provides food and household essentials to people in need. Sue Green, a volunteer at Emmaus Bolton, said: “I was in awe of Emmaus Bolton when I first visited as a customer and immediately knew that I wanted to be part of the charity. I typically volunteer one day per week and my role is varied. I can usually be found in Lucie’s Pantry, helping customers choose food items, or knee deep in the bric-a-brac sorting room where many treasures can be found. “Since retiring early, I have gained so much from my experience volunteering for Emmaus Bolton. I have made so many friends and it’s a real pleasure working alongside everyone. I’ve always felt welcomed and included and have a sense of purpose and belonging. My advice to others thinking about becoming a volunteer is to just do it. I feel like I am the fortunate one to have found Emmaus Bolton.”

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

Volunteers’ Week is a chance to celebrate and say thank you for the contribution millions of volunteers make across the UK. Volunteers benefit charities and groups across the country, but volunteering has been shown to improve volunteers’ wellbeing too. Volunteering can also help people gain valuable new skills and experiences, and boost confidence. The charity has a variety of roles on offer and is appealing for people to help with social media and online sales, recycling, bric-a-brac sorting, administration and serving customers of the pantry. To find out more and get involved as a volunteer with Emmaus Bolton visit: https://emmaus.org.uk/bolton/ volunteer-roles www.lancmag.com

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WE’LL LISTEN TO YOU WHEN YOU FEEL LOST IN THE HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE SYSTEM At Advocacy Focus, we will go above and beyond to support you in whichever way you may need us. Our Advocates work independently from any local authorities or health/ social care professionals, and so you can be confident that our main focus is to support you in the first instance. WE CAN SUPPORT YOU BY: • Listening to you • Being non-judgmental • Providing you with information and guidance • Genuinely understanding your concerns • Exploring your options • Helping you think about outcomes and consequences • Respecting your decisions • Helping you to communicate your thoughts, needs and wishes

Call: 0300 323 0965 Text: 07886 744 634 Email: admin@advocacyfocus.org.uk www.advocacyfocus.org.uk

Let us help you make the most of technology. Headquartered in Lancashire but operating across the globe, we help clients improve their organisations by making the most of technology. If you’d like to know more about how we can help you, visit

MAKE A BOLD MOVE TODAY Photo Credit: Liz Henson Photography

COACHING

www.sundownsolutions.com

CONSULTANCY

PUBLIC SPEAKING

Experienced personal and professional coach. Passionate about helping people and businesses in Lancashire to make bold moves, achieve their goals and develop their potential so they can become the very best version of themselves. If you want some help achieving your goals in 2021 contact Liz now to arrange a FREE 30 minute discovery call

Technology that works for you.

N 01254 443460 | 07896 950017 E liz@lizpollardconsultancy.com D lizpollardconsultancy.com

FLIT

Can you remember when you were young and going to the sweet shop with your pennies and seeing an array of scrumptious delights?

rilliant memories….well that’s what you will get if you visit Sweet Reminiscing by Sharonrose in Accrington, a Confectionery Florist, which also sells delicious Desserts, Milkshakes and all the old fashioned sweets. Being born 1976 in Belfast and moving to Accrington when she was young. Her Mum, Patsy told her it was the ‘Hottest Summer Ever’… that is where her love of reminiscing and wanting to give memories that last a lifetime started. She learned all her strengths from her being a single parent. At school, Sharonrose always wanted to own her own business, so drove herself to do integrated business studies, bookkeeping, word processing and bizarrely, construction. Sharonrose married and became a young Mum and now has Chad, Nicole-Dion, Kylie-Alexandra, Preston and Stefan-Blake. Her children are her world. She kept up with her education at night school and thought about being an architect but family had to come first. So she became a debt controller and accountant. In 2016, on the estate where she lives in the heart of Fern Gore, was a shop that she used to dream of starting her business if it became empty and it did. Her children and husband Wayne encouraged her all the way. She took over the contract in February 2017 but the shop needed some work doing and her construction knowledge came in handy. On 10th April, Sharonrose Allison Howard opened the doors to her new Sweet and Gift shop, 88

as she felt that’s what was needed in the area. When the pandemic hit, struggling to survive, she had to diversify, so she started making old school hot puddings, warm fresh baked Belgian waffles and crepes, also cold milkshakes, slush and delicious cheesecakes and advertised on Just Eat to deliver to her customers. She also started making bespoke gin bars, planters, t-shirt printing for parties and personalised gifts, and offers candy cart hire and a mobile shop for celebration and events. Her passion is inspired by her children. One of her logos is six sweets with initials of her children on but there is an extra one, a B for Babe, the little one that sadly did not make it into this world but will never be forgotten. The heart shaped logo is her initials S.R. and symbolise what family brings and creates. All her life she wanted to make Patsy proud, who unfortunately died a few years ago and now she can say she has achieved that by being the proud finalist in 2018 for 4 categories and 2019 for 2 categories at the Hyndburn Business Awards, winner of Sole Trader in the Hyndburn Business Awards 2020 and the Finalist of Independent Retailer and Made in Hyndburn this year at the Hyndburn Business Awards. To thank her customers, she sponsors the local football club and gives a lot to charity. Three words to describe Sharonrose are; Determined, Ambitious and Thoughtful. She is very proud of her business and her family and brings great memories to her customers. SWEET REMINISCING BY SHARONROSE M 29 Fern Gore Avenue, Fern Gore, Accrington BB5 0NF N 07547 910170 E sweetreminiscing@yahoo.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

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Where next for mental health and workplace wellbeing? Maybe Advocacy Focus can help… and Footasylum to deliver tailored, in house training and support. Our Gold Workplace Award from the charity Mind, shows our commitment to delivering wellbeing initiatives that work.”

Mental health has suffered because of the pandemic with 1 in 5 people now experiencing some form of depression, more than double the numbers pre COVID19. Experts have called on all organisations and sectors to ‘ramp up’ support as they warn of an impending mental health crisis.

ancashire based charity, Advocacy Focus, offers mental health training for employers and has been helping businesses support their employees during the pandemic - but there’s still a long way to go. CEO Justine Hodgkinson says: “We are encouraged by the businesses who have reached out to us to help them with their workplace wellbeing initiatives, but as restrictions ease, it’s something every employer needs to plan and budget for.”

Statistics show that employers could be doing more Statistics from early this year, show that 28% of home workers say working from home due to the pandemic has negatively affected their mental health and nearly half of all critical workers experienced anxiety because of their work. Justine continues: “The past year has been challenging for many, with a quarter of the working population furloughed, 37% of critical workers with too much work, and many of us adjusting to hybrid working, we really need to make workplace wellbeing a priority.” Almost half of the workforce that returned to work after furlough, felt that they had not been communicated with effectively or consulted with and many felt anxious. How can Advocacy Focus help? Our charity offers its own unique and interactive mental health training for employers, as well as accredited Mental Health First Aid (MHFA England) training for Adults and Young People.

Above: CEO Justine Hodgkinson

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Justine says: “We can work with you to help you get to grips with a new working world. We have worked with the likes of Citizen’s Advice

“With Advocacy Focus you are in a safe pair of hands. We have over 20 years’ experience of challenging stigma and encouraging conversations, and a dedicated team committed to changing the story about mental health. Never has this been more crucial.”

• For more information on Advocacy Focus’ Mental Health Training, visit: www.advocacyfocus.org.uk or email: training@advocacyfocus.org.uk • Advocacy Focus also deliver free Mental Health in the Workplace Webinars, sign up at www. advocacyfocus.org.uk/newsletter to learn more. SOURCES:

“Impact of COVID19 on working lives, CIPD. co.uk” “Working from Home – 28% say it’s negative to their mental health, onrec.com” “Emerging Evidence of Health Inequalities and COVID19 – March 2021, healthy.org.uk” 5 Star Training  “Really beneficial for myself and knowing what to discuss with my staff.” - Attendee, May 2021 “I really liked how open the speakers were with their experiences and that there isn’t necessarily a ‘perfect’ way to deal with this area” - Attendee, May 2021 “I loved every minute” - Attendee, May 2021

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 89

Harness the Power of Technology with Sundown Solutions

Accrington-based technology company Sundown Solutions is helping clients across the globe make the most of technology and help improve their organisations. The expertise at the business is fuelling its growth, and Sundown is now looking to double its workforce.

he business was established in 2009 by the husband-and-wife team, Kelly-Ann and Heath Groves, to deliver specialist IT consultancy and services to public and private sector organisations across the UK. Over the years, it’s developed a reputation in the UK and US for specialising in providing high-level technology products and services to the NHS and public sector, life and bioscience, pharma, financial services, banking, and legal and FMCG sectors. Kelly-Ann Groves, Sundown’s Chief Operations Officer, said: “Our founding principles are based on making technology easy for people to use. It’s quite understandable that people can get frustrated with IT, so our objective is to make dealing with technology as simple as possible. We remove the jargon, never over-complicate how we work and solve the problems our clients face.” This ethos has led to Sundown developing unique technology that saves the NHS money by helping patients avoid unnecessary overnight stays in hospital. Sundown has created the Yellow Bracelet, a wearable QR code that, when scanned by health care professionals, provides 90

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secure access to an individual’s care package in seconds. With this knowledge, it means health care professionals can make informed decisions and transform patient care. This innovation and technical expertise have ensured Sundown is only one of a handful of IT consultancies in the UK, a quadruple Microsoft Gold Partner. An accolade that demonstrates the software house is home to the finest technical experts in the country. Sundown has also underpinned its relentless pursuit of exacting standards by securing its second ISO certification in May. Kelly-Ann added: “The ISO accreditations demonstrate that we have rigorous quality and information security standards and put our clients at the centre of everything we do. We’re a rapidly growing innovative business, and for the clients, we’re working with, they need to know we have robust systems and standards in place.” After securing a raft of prestigious clients, Sundown is now embarking on a recruitment drive. Kelly concluded: “Although technology is at the heart of what we do, we’re essentially a people business. We’re always on the hunt for talented people who share our passion for making technology work for our clients.” For Sundown, the future is very bright indeed.

www.sundownsolutions.com www.lancmag.com

Make a Bold Move Today A business coach, do I really need one? I have survived so far. But do you want to just survive or do you want to thrive?

very great sports star, businessperson, and superstar is surrounded by coaches and advisors, apparently even the founders of Google and the computing giant, Apple – love them! Just look at Barack Obama – he had a business coach and look at the success he had! Having a coach is no longer a luxury; it has become a necessity, as the world of business gets faster and more competitive and the boardroom more demanding. Of course, you can survive in business without the help of a coach, but it becomes far more difficult to really flourish. Liz Pollard knows only too well the challenges that come with being in a senior position within an organisation. Liz who enables bold moves at her Oswaldtwistle based consultancy, is an experienced coach, trainer and a public speaker. “I’ve been working in business development for over 25 years and know what it takes to improve performance on an individual level. For the last 12 years I’ve been coaching business leaders, directors and senior managers to help them to be more bold, raise their game and lead high performing teams.” We all have challenges, in our personal and our working lives, having to keep up with constant change or to make your voice heard amongst those louder and more selfassured. Does the boardroom feel like a battlefield? Or are you struggling to climb a career mountain, only to be stuck

either at the bottom or half-way up? For business leaders, life is always incredibly busy firefighting today’s problems, but there comes a time when a step back is the only way to move forward. Battles, personal and professional, can be conquered head-on. “I was terrified of heights, but on a tour of Australia a few years ago, I decided to attempt to climb Ayres Rock, all 1,142ft of it. I was shaking, trembling, terrified nonetheless determined, but I conquered it. The feeling was absolutely exhilarating!” “Everyone’s mountain climb is different. If you are feeling overwhelmed or can’t make your presence felt - don’t struggle alone. There comes a time when we all need to ask for a little help.” Liz’s Bold Moves Coaching is very much a personal experience. Every leader’s goals are different, their strengths are different, and their definitions of success are different. “Coaching is about identifying those things you need to do but either don’t want to do or just don’t have the time to do. Coaching helps you move forward making your more efficient, effective and productive – a win, win!” Liz recommends trying her 30 bold moves, one of which is - be prepared for success – create an expectation that you will achieve your goals. Talk about them, visualise them and imagine how you will feel when you achieve them. If you would like a free copy of Liz’s 30 bold moves just give her a call. Bold moves were needed indeed when we had to respond to the Pandemic. For Liz it was cancelled workshops, so like many others, she had to go online. Her long-term plans were to go virtual, but the virus meant the move was made a little sooner. Needing to be more creative she took digital marketing by the horns and launched a brand-new podcast. “For me choosing a podcast was a brave decision, but I wanted to give listeners something that was easily accessible, if they were out for a walk or in the car, they could tune in anywhere any time. It features guest speakers who have made bold moves, ambitious leaps in their business and life. I wanted something that inspires other small businesses like me.” Liz is also a keen supporter of her local community. She is a Patron of Lancashire charity Community Solutions and for the fourth year running, a judge and sponsor for the prestigious Hyndburn business awards. “I have lived in Oswaldtwistle for a number of years and was welcomed so warmly be the local people and businesses. I wanted to give something back as well as making a difference. The well-being and ongoing success of this fantastic community is incredibly important to me.” If you want some help achieving your goals in 2021. Contact Liz now to arrange a FREE 30 minute discovery call

Photo Credit: Liz Henson Photography

www.lancmag.com

N 01254 443460 | 07896 950017 E liz@lizpollardconsultancy.com D lizpollardconsultancy.com LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 91

Denise Mullen is a journalist, writer and entrepreneur.

The key to a happy relationship

know that all received wisdom on the key to a happy marriage involves never going to sleep on a row. Well, we didn’t. We woke up at around 3.30am and got stuck right into one.

It started quite snoozily, which gave way to incoming snottyness. This was followed by an unanticipated, but overwhelming tsunami of righteous indignation which saw us pulling jumpers on over our PJs, shouting, and then marching onto the stable yard (in slippers) to carry on the row in low hisses so as not to wake Satan’s handbags … (the miniature Shetlands). I don’t think I’m unusual in this. I’m not good with big, chunky locks, or any lock that has ‘a knack to it’, for that matter. I think they should ‘just work’. And my ineptitude with keys was the topic of this particularly enlightening debate (conducted in increasingly acid whispers). Any lock with a ‘knack’ means I’m pretty much knackered – and locked out. I do try. JF, on finishing building our beautiful barn and luxurious tack room facility (now known on the yard as ‘The Hilton’), had doled out the keys to his hand-crafted metal door with pride. I’ve pretty much never been able to unlock it since. Hence the row. Why hadn’t I told him? he yelled. Truth be told, the last time I mentioned I struggled with the key he told me I 92

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simply ‘wasn’t trying,’ and stood over me while I made furtive attempts to unlock the door. He might as well have given me a blunt spoon. I yelled back that, the reason I hadn’t told him was because, guess what, he starts yelling that it’s just me not ‘applying myself’, and that, I think, you shouldn’t have to ‘apply yourself’ or ‘really try’ to open a door, you should just turn the ruddy key, first go, and ta daah. So, that went well. Anyway during the wee small hours’ pyjama-hissing incident we swapped keys. (I struggle with his key too by the way – shhh). We went back to bed. Me in the spare room in high dudgeon, him conciliatory but me having none of it. As we were snickering about it the following day he put the whole incident down to tiredness. I thought, but didn’t say, ‘well you were in ruddy bed when you started (and yes, you did start it, but don’t get me started), so why didn’t you just go back to sleep? (you Muppet!). Now, I’m pretty sure this constitutes both going to sleep on a row, and waking up in one. All very confusing. He’s planning to change the lock, not, I think, because I can’t get in, rather because I’m – just – plain – irritating. He has a point. However what I find is that when the lock won’t work, me being irritating does. This one turns like a dream. www.lancmag.com

Coffee • Tea • Cakes & Sweet Things • Sandwiches & Toasties Soup • Jams & Chutneys • Locally Sourced Produce Afternoon Tea • Home Made Gifts • Event Services At Woodchats, we provide a warm and friendly welcome, a great atmosphere, together with fabulous coffee and delicious homemade cakes, treats and freshly made sandwiches/toasties. We opened our doors in June 2012 and have built up a really loyal customer base. Our customers have literally made friends within the shop! Our location is perfect for those using public transport. We are also buggy and wheelchair friendly with two level entrances and plenty of space inside to manoeuvre. We Proudly Support the Rosemere Cancer Foundation

WOODCHATS COFFEE SHOP Chorley Interchange, Clifford Street, Chorley, Lancashire PR7 1AQ N 01257 230996 FP woodchats I @woodchatscoffeeshop www.woodchats.co.uk

Feel Energised, Focussed and Improve Your Mental Wellbeing! Transformational Workshops, Online Courses, Transformational Coaching, Retreats for Women, Bespoke Training Programmes for Organisations ‘Managing With Heart and Minds’ “I would like to thank Lynn for her support, encouragement” - Jess “Lynn is just so easy to talk to and non judgemental which encourages me to be open and honest which is not always easy when you are struggling.” - Ruth CERTIFIED AND LICENSED HEAL YOUR LIFE TEACHER AND COACH If you need help with: Self worth • Self esteem • Deservability • Self - belief Then contact Lynn for an initial complimentary consultation. BECAUSE YOU ARE SO WORTHY

N 07513 770404 E lynnmeadowcroft@googlemail.com

www.lynnmeadowcroft.com

Chorley Pilates @ The Healing Well 17-23 Gillibrand Street | Chorley | PR7 2EF N 07505 100622 FI chorleypilates E hello@chorleypilates.co.uk

www.chorleypilates.co.uk

Life Behind the Lens Sue encouraging her young (and not so young clients) to participate and enjoy a healthy snack or two from her bottomless snack basket tucked away in a corner of the studio.

Businesswoman and Entrepreneur Susan Darwin created her successful photography business on the back of her early childhood memories.

s a young child you would often find Sue with the ‘Kodak’ Box Brownie camera draped around her neck joyfully snapping away taking photographs and creating memories that would evolve into her passion for photography and camerawork in her adult life and ultimately her career. Sue’s passion for focussing on children and their families acted as a catalyst for her love of photography combined with a career spanning 20+ years as an Early Years Educator. An ideal combination that allowed her to specialise in Newborn, Child, and Family photography.

Sue, like many photographers, prefers to be behind the lens rather than in front of it, and she totally understands how nerve-racking and uneasy it can be for many of her clients when they attend a photo shoot. Sue has also qualified as a Certified NLP Practitioner allowing her to be able to put her clients at their ease in the studio and enabling them to bring out their true character and personality on camera. Another side of Sue’s photography business is to work alongside commercial businesses, under the guise of ‘Susan Darwin Brand Photography.’ She works together with trades and organisations to create a portfolio of bespoke brand imagery that can be incorporated as part of their marketing collateral for both social media and advertising campaigns.

Again, the NLP Practitioner element comes to the forefront and Sue’s specialisms allow her to have the advantage of her NLP knowledge to successfully help her commercial clients to really distinguish and identify their target audience and reflect on their marketing and business. Sue’s Commercial Packages include a concise workbook and face to face appointments (usually with coffee and cake) or an optional Zoom meeting to allow both parties to plan the photo-shoot and to discuss designing, styling, and adapting for the session. If you are interested to talk to Sue about a photo session email her to arrange an appointment:

E susandarwinphoto @btopenworld.com

Understanding the ‘wants and needs’ of children and using her expertise, knowledge and vast amount of experience, Sue has the foresight and the perceptiveness that ensures all her photography sessions are both childfriendly and supportive, guaranteeing the perfect picture that families can treasure forever. Sue operates with a calm approach and takes every scenario in her stride allowing plenty of time for each photography session so that her clients never feel under pressure, or anxious. The results speak for themselves, and Sue’s photography emulates the relaxed sessions in her client portfolio. Customer experience is paramount to Sue, and her studio offers a welcoming and warm environment combined with a relaxing atmosphere. When at work you will often find 94

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A Little Gem in Chorley

As you walk towards the Interchange on Clifford Street, you will come across Woodchats Coffee Shop where you will find a warm and friendly welcome by Ruth Phillips and her team.

oodchats opened it’s welcoming doors in June 2012 by Ruth Phillips. Ruth was previously a National Marketing Director for a Professional Services Training Provider. She says “I got fed up of the 70+ hour weeks and decided to have a break. I decided to take a punt on being my own boss, I love coffee, I love baking (and cooking), I love people and I knew how to manage a business, so set about finding the perfect premises for a coffee shop. I live in Chorley so it’s an ideal commute. Fi, my manager has been with me from the start, she started when she was at college on a part time basis. She has worked full time with me since she graduated, and she is now part of our family. Whilst the shop is owned by myself, my parents and nieces do and have played a significant part. My Mum and Dad help out and are known

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and loved by our regulars. My middle niece worked for me from the age of 14 to 22 and my youngest niece, Hannah, has just finished school and works for us every Saturday.

are vegetarian and gluten free. We have a wide choice to suit all dietary requirements. We source from local suppliers wherever possible and we make all our own jams and chutneys.

We’re a community hub and support various local charities Rosemere Cancer Foundation, Derian House and Inspire Youth Zone. Each month 5p from every hot drink and coffee sold is donated.

Our products are also available to be ordered for wedding favours ’spread the love’ and we also offer a catering service - whether you’re planning for a small or a large event, we will help make it memorable and beautiful.

We also host Green Living Chorley Meetings and act as a ’swap shop’ for GLC members to exchange no longer needed items. As a business we aim to be as sustainable as possible and choose suppliers that have the same thoughts as us. We also run a suspended coffee scheme with Chorley Help the Homeless. Our customers can purchase a virtual coffee, we give vouchers to Chorley Help the Homeless and they give these to their clients to exchange for a free coffee or tea.

We love meeting new customers and welcoming in our regulars. I feel so privileged to come to work and be in my happy place. We have the best team, we are colleagues, but also friends and I think that is felt by everyone who chooses to visit us.”

All our cakes, cookies, and sweet things are homemade and baked by us on the premises. They contain no preservatives and are made using pure butter and free range eggs to ensure a great taste. All our soups are homemade by us. They are all beautifully thick. All

We have a range of retail items which align with coffee and food and nature - The Bee Centre Honey, Mama Shar’s Caribbean spices, Kargi Bay’s wonderful Turkish ceramics, Bees Country Kitchen Seasoning, flavoured oils and recipe mixes etc.

Chorley Interchange, Clifford Street, Chorley, Lancashire PR7 1AQ N 01257 230996 FP woodchats I @woodchatscoffeeshop www.woodchats.co.uk

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Lynn Meadowcroft - Positivity Pioneer

‘Empowering women to be seen, heard and valued in ALL areas of their life’

Above: Louise L.Hay

n the verge of a nervous breakdown, feeling desperate, unloved, depressed and invisible. Responsible for two sons aged fifteen and twelve. Becoming a single parent after eighteen years of marriage, and being involved in a tribunal at work as a manager, Lynn found herself off work for six months with work related stress. Thankfully, one of Lynn’s sisters, Sand, gave Lynn a book by a lady called Louise Hay, ‘The Power is Within You’. Lynn read this book and couldn’t stop crying. She knew her life didn’t have to be this way. That Lynn could make changes. (Louise is most famous for her book, ‘You Can Heal Your Life’ which has now sold over 50 million copies worldwide). In a nutshell, Louise Hay’s philosophy is ‘It’s only a thought and a thought can be changed’. You see, we are only really ever dealing with thoughts. And it is said that we have around 75,000 thoughts a day!! Most of them we are completely unaware of because we are not in our conscious mind most of the time, rather, we are in our subconscious mind which means we are on auto-pilot. When we become more conscious of our thoughts, we can begin to change them. Especially if they are negative thoughts. You see, our thoughts lead to how we are feeling which leads to our behaviour. If we can break this cycle of continual negative thoughts or 96

fear-based thoughts which lead us to feel sad, depressed, and fearful to more uplifting positive thoughts which lead to us feeling more happiness, joy, love and gratitude then we can begin to change our life and begin our transformation. After years of feeling unworthy, not good enough, not deserving, not clever enough, not loveable, Lynn began to apply Louise Hay’s philosophies to her own life and began to see her life change completely. Her transformation had begun! Lynn wanted to share Louise’s work with others and so in 2011 Lynn completed the Heal Your Life Teacher training and the Heal Your Life Coaching training in 2012 and became a Licensed Heal Your Life Workshop Leader and Coach. These intense training courses are approved by Hay House Inc; and approved by Louise Hay. Since 2011 Lynn has facilitated hundreds of Heal Your Life Workshops and coaching sessions, which now also include online workshops. And has seen some incredible results with the people she has worked with. Lynn mainly works with women to help them to feel worthy, deserving, listened to, seen heard and valued. Lynn helps women to be their true, authentic self with everyone. Most people are afraid to do this as they don’t feel good enough or confident enough to show people who they really are. When we wear different

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‘masks’ for different people it is exhausting!! Lynn helps women to stand in their own power instead of giving their power away to others and to let go of the need to be a people pleaser. Lynn teaches people that who they are is good enough and to let go of the need to compare themselves to others. And that you are worthy of love and that you don’t have to ‘earn’ love. Lynn also helps you to connect with your Inner child as most of our adult issues can be as a result of our childhood experiences. Lynn helps you to ‘find’ your voice and to speak up for yourself. (Standing in your own power). The most important work Lynn does is she teaches you how to love yourself exactly as you are. Because who you are is amazing!! To connect with Lynn and to find out more about the work Lynn does you can go to her website: www.lynnmeadowcroft.com F www.facebook.com/ Lynn-Meadowcroft-InspiringPeople-216976095144602 Women only can ask to join Lynn’s facebook group: Worthy Women’s Empowerment Group: F www.facebook.com/ groups/243871234086584 E lynnmeadowcroft@googlemail.com N 07513 770404 for your 30 minute complimentary consultation. www.lancmag.com

Chorley Pilates one of the herd. We need that sense of belonging and to feel that we are noticed and our needs acknowledged. When I began teaching Pilates I knew straight away what I wanted to create. I wanted a beautiful, clean space that was light and welcoming. A place full of smiling faces and friendly chatter. A place where mind and body could be healed and nurtured. That was my inspiration behind creating The Healing Well. A place where you can find all the support you need to build a strong, healthy body and a calm and resilient mind.

I have three enduring memories of attempting to keep fit by going to the gym and none of them are good. Feeling judged, abandoned, ignored and unimportant.

didn’t like that feeling, it wasn’t like my dance class where the teacher welcomed you in by name, everyone smiled and was supportive and friendly. Where we shared problems and successes. Where on your birthday week everyone sang to you. That was my kind of place. Nobody should ever feel unwelcome or small, or have to put up with being treated like

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I have brought together exercise instructors, therapists and well-being practitioners from many different disciplines to give you access to physical activity, complementary therapies, advice, workshops and retreats. From Pilates and Yoga to meditation, massage, counselling and much more. We are sure to be able to offer you just what you need to restore heart and soul. The building itself is located on the site of what was the Matron’s Garden for the first cottage hospital ever built in Chorley. The old hospital is still standing and is now The Chorley Surgery. You can still see the balcony opposite where patients would sit and enjoy views of the green, healing space whilst they convalesced.

For myself, at Chorley Pilates, I will be welcoming you into our brand new, bespoke Reformer studio. Despite being around since the 1970’s, it is only now that these amazing machines are being hailed as the latest fitness revolution. Instagram is studded with celebrities showing off their moves from film stars to sports stars and models. But it isn’t just about looking good. My classes are designed to help you build a strong, mobile body that moves without stiffness or pain, not just in class, but always. I believe that everyone deserves to feel fit, strong and confident no matter what your age, size, shape or ability. Along side the reformer we offer mat Pilates classes, Back Care for Blokes, junior classes, antenatal Pilates, a Post-Natal recovery course and our fabulously fun Barre Pilates class where you get to channel your inner Darcey to tone, strengthen and stretch like nowhere else. To book a class or personal training/rehabilitation appointment, please follow the links on the website www.chorleypilates.co.uk For more information, please email hello@chorleypilates.co.uk or message us on Facebook or Instagram. Together we will thrive, not just survive.

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Feeling Like Trash! By Kate Gostick

I am never late for anything! I remember as a child the feeling of panic knowing that we were about to walk into an event and we were so late that everyone would turn round and look at us as we shuffled in trying not to be noticed.

his meant when I was old enough to have control over when I set off to get somewhere I would always leave at least fifteen minutes emergency time. This would drive my husband, Dominic, crazy as we would turn up to someone’s house for dinner, as he put it, “so early that they were scrambling to get dressed” in order to open the door fifteen minutes before we were expected. Getting to work was no different. I would often find myself sitting in the car park reading a magazine or sorting out some paperwork waiting for an appropriate time to go into the optician’s practice I was working in that day. This was such a frequent occurrence that I always had something in my car that would occupy me for the time it would take to be regarded as punctual rather than ridiculously early. Therefore, on a crisp spring morning in Sheffield on the passenger seat of my car lay a small pile of white and brown envelopes, each containing a bill to be paid or a cheque to be paid in. I wrote cheques for each of the bills and placed them in envelopes which I then addressed and placed a stamp in the top right-hand corner. On top of these envelopes to be posted I placed the three or four cheques which had arrived over the few previous days and which I intended to take to the bank during my lunch hour to deposit in our account. Just as I finished it became the appropriate time to go into work so I picked up the envelopes and cheques in one hand and the empty envelopes and waste paper in the other. Just by the door at the back of the practice was a huge industrial wheelie bin which sat on the edge of the car park waiting to be emptied by the council. It had obviously only just been emptied because as I reached up over the top to throw in the waste paper it fluttered down to the bottom where it landed against the dirty, slightly wet plastic. Just as the paper left my hand and landed, I glanced down at my other hand to see all the waste paper clutched tightly in my fist and the horrific realisation dawned on me that several hundred pounds worth of cheques to be paid into my account now sat at the bottom of a very tall wheelie bin with all my bills to be paid. I could not afford to just lose this money to the depths of the bin and was horrified at the thought of trying to get replacements. Even if I did get replacements it would be time-consuming and, at this point so early in my career and with Dominic still doing his PhD, money was tight and we didn’t have time to wait for new cheques. I knew I couldn’t just reach into the bin and pull them out as the lip of the huge receptacle was on level with my eyes, in fact, I had had to stand on my tiptoes to peer in and confirm the inevitable reality that the cheques were indeed far from my grasp. I looked for something to stand on to try and reach in, but there was nothing around so I decided the only thing to do was to pivot myself on the edge of the bin so that I could reach down and pick up the cheques which mercifully lay close to the side nearest to me. I dragged the bin which was on four sturdy wheels over to a wall and pulled myself up on to its edge, walking my feet up the wall until my stomach was resting on its lip and I was stretched

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out like a human see-saw. I began to pivot downwards into the bin, stretching my arms out before me and towards the cheques. As my fingers reached to within a couple of inches of the papers below the inevitable happened. The weight of my body pointing towards the bottom of the bin was just too much and I slid headfirst into the abyss below. Now it had not been too difficult to get myself into the bin, even though that was not my intention, but like the cheques, it was proving a little more difficult to get me out of the bin! The edge which I had been pivoting on was made up of a fairly narrow sheet of heavy-duty plastic. It had been fairly easy to pull myself up using the wall and having a firm dry rough surface to lodge my feet against, but there was no wall in the bin and since it was several feet wide and made of slippy smooth plastic I was unable to use the opposite side as I had the wall. I tried and tried to pull myself up until I fairly soon realised my life may come to an end with me as a pile of trash! Shivering, dirty and despondent, I crouched down in the corner of the bin and let the feelings of hopelessness overcome me. Suddenly the cheques seemed less valuable now that I had given up my freedom to retrieve them. Then the bin began to move. I toppled over into the filthy puddle of god knows what that inhabited the bottom of the bin and then fought to get to my feet. As my eyes peeked over the top of my refuse prison they met with the eyes of Mark, the dispensing optician, who had just arrived to start his day. His progress had been blocked by the bin which was up against the wall and blocking the path. The Sheffield practice was in the dodgy end of town so it was quite feasible that a drunk or a tramp may have somehow ended up in the bin. However, it was still quite a shock for Mark, who gave a sharp intake of breath, which then became a loud, “What?” as he realised that the crazy person in the bin was in fact his work colleague. After a short interrogation to ascertain that I had not spent the whole of the previous night in amongst the rubbish and just how I had come to the conclusion that a large council wheelie bin would be a suitable place for a professional woman to begin her workday, he then found a way to help me out. The small amount of workplace teasing as I attempted to clean myself up should have been the end of the matter, but that was not to be. When the Co-op monthly employee’s newsletter arrived a few weeks later, nestled amongst the stories of record profits and reports of employee fun runs was a poem that told of one of the professional members of staff who spent their mornings at the bottom of a council bin. My new national fame was far from welcome and my fear of wheelie bins was not one I would easily overcome!

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All

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

2021 | Open days Sixth Form Open Evening | 23rd September Prep School Open Day | 9th October College Open Day | 6th November

Scholarship sittings start in November 2021 DISCOVER MORE AT: WWW.STONYHURST.AC.UK

BOARDING AT STONYHURST: Where friendships are formed that last a lifetime

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As increasing numbers of parents face the dilemma of balancing hectic work lives with ensuring their children are fulfilled, many families are seeing the benefits that weekly boarding at Stonyhurst has for both the child and the parent.

tonyhurst provides a happy home environment designed for the fulfilment of pupils, and weekly boarding means that parents are able to focus on the demands of working life during the week and make the most of family time together at the weekends. Removing the school run and transport to afterschool activities frees up a great deal of time for both parties, allowing parents to maintain their careers while ensuring their children get the best possible start in life. “The main benefit is taking out two hours of travel time each day and replacing it with a whole host of activities. They get their homework or revision done in structured study time as part of their evening routine, with teachers available to help, and then they spend time with friends being active. It is a very healthy way of life, full of sport and fun, and I think in this way it really extends their childhood.” Rebecca, current parent. Weekly boarding also has many benefits for deeper personal growth in children. Learning never stops at Stonyhurst and children are immersed in an educational environment, learning many important life skills. Children take part in a structured programme after the academic day including dedicated, supervised study time with academic staff on hand and social, active and fun down-time for round-the-clock education and development.

“I find the friendships with people from all over the world the most enjoyable part about boarding. You have so many friendship groups, from classes, sports teams and your boarding house.” Sam, current pupil. Stonyhurst endeavours to recreate a family home environment, with adult role models in loco parentis who are teachers and specialists in the personal development of young people. There are also plenty of home comforts like toast and hot chocolate in the evening, taking bubble baths and watching movies. “The movie nights helped me settle in, and snack times in the evenings were a really nice way to get to know each other, chatting over muffins and cocoa. My best memories are the simple things – dancing with friends in the boarding house, movie nights and staying over for the whole weekend to go on trips.” Isabelle, former pupil.

“There are so many distractions and activities we don’t really have time to miss home.” Sebastien, current pupil. Stonyhurst has a diverse and extensive extra-curricular programme for children to discover their individual talents. Children can pursue many interests as well as additional enrichment opportunities including talks and presentations. Boarding comes with a built-in social life, living with friends and forming lifelong friendships. At Stonyhurst, children make global links to overseas pupils in the friendships they make and learn to get along with all different personalities and cultures. Peer support is important for their personal development socially, spiritually and academically. www.lancmag.com

“For all of my children, immersing themselves in school life has allowed so many opportunities. It is an extraordinary school for any pupil, joining in and finding your interests is part of the culture. Boarding has helped with independence and confidence. The school has also prepared them so well that I can take them into any environment and be proud of their behaviour. Sharing all that time together forms strong friendships – the children form lifelong bonds that will be with them forever.” Rebecca, current parent.

Weekly boarding encourages independence, offering opportunities to become more self-reliant. Routine, consistency and discipline are all built in with compassion and tolerance at Stonyhurst as pupils navigate adolescence. The experience of boarding makes the transition from school to life at university easier and equips young people with the independence they need to succeed in the future. “I wasn’t fazed at all to go off to university and have found it easier than others to be away from home and share living spaces. This meant I was able to concentrate straight away on my studies and joining societies. I’m still in touch with my friends from Stonyhurst – it is easier to catch up

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with those who live locally but I’ve kept in touch with my friends from France and Sweden too.” Isabelle, former pupil. There are still plenty of opportunities for parents to be involved in life at Stonyhurst. Through the use of many levels of communication, whether it is face to face, attending events or through social media, parents are very much part of their child’s journey at school. “The staff are amazing and the Headteacher is incredible. If you embrace Stonyhurst life even for a short time, you will be caught up in the magnetism of the place. I see Stonyhurst as an extension of our family, a part of us. I am always made so welcome and have countless memories of sharing in my children’s successes, from watching plays or sport to listening to my son’s speeches as Head Boy.” Rebecca, current parent. Stonyhurst Scholarship applications now open, visit the website to learn more:

www.stonyhurst.ac.uk

2021 OPEN DAYS THURSDAY 23RD SEPTEMBER 2021: Sixth Form Open Evening (16 - 18 year olds) SATURDAY 9TH OCTOBER 2021: St Mary’s Hall Open Day (3-13 year olds) SATURDAY 6TH NOVEMBER 2021: College Open Day (13 - 18 year olds) Call Stonyhurst Admissions:

01254 827073 102

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Counting Crows and their Cousins

Above: Carrion crow Photo credit: Amy Lewis

As we get closer to autumn, I will be seeing more and more carrion crows getting together in trees and on fields in East Lancashire. The carrion crow is a magnificent bird growing up to half a metre long and with a wingspan of a metre. Above: Rook at a service station Photo credit: Terry Whittaker 2020VISION

Lancashire is blessed with many species of bird, The Lancashire Wildlife Trust’s Alan Wright meets some of our larger than life characters, the corvids.

s I write this latest memoir, I am watching a jackdaw hopping along the wall towards my bird table. It gives me a wonderful opportunity to study this beautiful bird, grey body, black cap and back and startling blue-grey eyes.

The jackdaw is our smallest crow, a member of the corvid family which will nest in holes in trees, and on cliffs and buildings. You may even find one is nesting in your chimney.

While we can recognise the black crows, their hoarse cawing call can be heard coming out of solitary trees as they mass together in a collective “murder of crows”. You will see crows if they are in your patch because they are not really afraid to come up close to take food. Crows are also super clever and some studies claim they have the intelligence of a seven-year-old child. This results from the fact that crows have been seen to use tools to crack

You will see jackdaws in gardens, parks and fields and by the seaside, generally in small flocks in summer and larger “clatterings” in colder months, sticking together to keep warm. It eats bugs, fruit, seeds and carrion, and will take eggs and nestlings but it will happily raid your bird table or break into your bird feeders, giving it a reputation as a thief. Its name is made up of “jack” meaning thief and “daw” because that is the noise it makes. With all wildlife though, even though this roguish behaviour may upset a few sensitive souls, it is not such a terrible thing it is all about survival. 104

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Above: Raven Photo credit: Alan Price

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open food and will drop stones into a container to raise the water level so they can drink. One expert claims that crows actually talk about each other and about us. US Professor John Marzluff says that if you think two crows are talking about you, they probably are! Don’t let that make you feel uncomfortable on your daily walk. Carrion crows will feed on dead animals, as their name suggests, but also have pretty much the same diet as the jackdaw. The crow is all-black, with a glossy sheen, it has a black bill with no bare patches, and bare legs. Crows and jackdaws are common in Lancashire as are their corvid cousins, the wonderfully black and white magpies. There are so many around that my arm is sore from saluting single magpies.

moustache and black and white wings with a brilliant blue patch. I often get glimpses of jays flying off into woodland and it’s not often I get to see one close up. We did have a visit to our bird table a couple of years ago which was a real treat. We also have ravens in the county, which are obviously bigger than crows or magpies. They have been seen nesting on Wigan Town Hall and the town’s DW stadium roof.

We are so lucky to have such a wonderful variety of corvids in the county. These birds are real characters and one of our most intelligent creatures. I suggest that instead of saluting the magpie for good luck that we salute all of our magnificent corvids who add to the wonderful patchwork of nature in Lancashire.

You may also come across rooks in the countryside or at motorway service stations, where they will wait patiently for you to finish your sandwiches. Rooks have a paler bill than the crow and have feathery “trousers” to distinguish them from the carrion crow.

Above: Jackdaw on cobbles Photo credit: Alan Wright

The song says “One for sorrow, two for joy..” and my partner, Julie, warned me that I should salute them to fend off the bad luck of a single magpie. Again, this does not help the reputation that this beautiful bird has as a thief and a vagabond. You will see them in your garden, in parks and in the countryside happily chattering while looking for the same food as other corvids. And if you find a magpie’s nest you will be amazed at the collection of shiny things they have collected to decorate their home. Unlike most other corvids the jay is a shy bird, despite its bright colours – a pinky brown, with black tail and

Above: Hooded crow Photo credit: Darin Smith

Above: Jay Photo credit: Peter Smith

Above: Jackdaw Photo credit: Alan Wright

Above: Magpie bothering a black-headed gull Photo credit: Dave Steel

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.

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A STATUE FOR

EMILY WILLIAMSON • Activist • Feminist • • Bird Lover • • Founder of the RSPB •

1 July 2021 marked the centenary of The Plumage Act – the triumph of wildlife activist and RSPB founder Emily Williamson who lived in Manchester. The Plumage Act banned the import of exotic bird skins to Britain, ending the 50-year fashion for elaborately plumed hats and saving countless bird species around the world from extinction. For 30 years, Emily and her female colleagues campaigned for legislation to protect birdlife from the cruel plumage trade. This date marks their important and hard-won victory.

mily Williamson’s inspiring story in starting Britain’s biggest conservation charity has gone largely untold and unrecognised until now. The Emily Williamson Statue Campaign, working in partnership with the RSPB, aims both to put her name back into the conservation narrative, and to use her legacy to inspire change-makers of today and in the future. On Thursday 1 July 2021 four different bronze maquettes of Emily Williamson were unveiled, the 106

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Above: Fletcher Mosss Park, Didsbury. Heather garden

work of four shortlisted female sculptors: Clare Abbatt, Billie Bond, Laury Dizengremel and Eve Shepherd. The event will take place in Fletcher Moss Park in Didsbury, Manchester, Emily’s former garden. Emily and Robert Williamson lived at The Croft 1882-1912; the statue will overlook the wildlife haven that the Victorian couple created. Emily’s campaign started simply over teacups in 1889 with a call for female friends to join her pledge to ‘Wear No Feathers’. It was an unpopular appeal. She and cowww.lancmag.com

campaigners, Eliza Phillips and Etta Lemon, were jeered at by the mighty plumage trade and by Victorian fashion victims alike. But over time the movement snowballed – to a victorious conclusion. As Emily showed, in calling out the cruel fashion for feathers, one voice can make a difference.

Gillian Burke, BBC wildlife presenter, says, “This statue of Emily Williamson will be a game-changer. It will change how the RSPB is viewed today, and how birding is perceived. People think it’s very male-dominated. We’re updating, retelling, rethinking the culture around being a naturalist, a birder and a nature enthusiast.”

A statue of Emily Williamson will be a catalyst for change: a symbol of what can be achieved, and a reminder that we can all play our part in bringing change.

Introducing the four shortlisted sculptors for a statue for Emily Williamson:

Tessa Boase, social historian and author, says, “I was astonished to discover that the RSPB was started by women. Uncovering the RSPB’s eco feminist roots has been an inspiring journey for me, both as a feminist and a nature lover. I want to see Emily Williamson, Eliza Phillips and Etta Lemon entering the national curriculum. I want them to become household names. A statue of Emily will kick-start an important wider debate about how women get remembered.”

a robin. It’s a symbolic offering: the robin represents rebirth.” LAURY DIZENGREMEL (lives in France)

CLARE ABBATT (lives in Northamptonshire)

“I was so inspired by Emily’s relationship with Sir Patrick Bateson and Melissa Bateson, and really like the thought of this connection going through the generations. It’s so important to take this forward. In my entry, Emily and her great, great niece Melissa will both be looking to the skies, where the bird will be released. They’re also looking to the future.”

“With Emily Williamson, there’s so much more to it than that little photograph. I want people to have an emotional response to my sculpture of Emily. I want it to have an emotional impact. I want people to be able to walk up to it, like a person, and say, ‘Hi there.’” EVE SHEPHERD (lives in Brighton)

BILLIE BOND (lives in Essex)

Andrew Simcock, Chair of the Emily Williamson Statue Committee, says, “There is so much to learn from Emily’s story that people will find empowering, particularly at a time when we face such huge environmental challenges. Her efforts to transform attitudes and behaviours took time, drive and dedication, but she didn’t give up and as a result has created an incredible legacy that deserves celebration.” www.lancmag.com

“To me, the feathers, the hats and the birds were the most important part of the story. The statue needs to shock; to show what was happening. But I wanted the hat to also tell a different story. By turning it upside down, Emily is giving it back to the birds. The little bird perched on the rim is

“I’ve sculpted quite a few birds before, but this is different. This is about making all the birds work with the piece as a whole. The challenge lies in making this area, from a distance, look like Emily’s crinoline. Getting closer, you’ll see that the birds are growing out of her, and she’s growing out of them. It’s telling the conservation story.” For further information on the Emily Williamson Statue Campaign visit: www.emilywilliamsonstatue.com

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How sustainable video is saving Greater Manchester’s peatlands

Above: Little Woolden Moss drone still Photo credit: Standby Productions

Above: Standby Productions Managing Director, Simon Owen, and Producer, Ellen Bounds, visit Little Woolden Moss - Photo credit: Lancashire Wildlife Trust

Commercial video shoots; hundreds of disposable plastic water bottles, left over props heading straight for the bin. Peatlands; drained, damaged and leaking carbon into the atmosphere. But one company is aiming to change all of this...

tandby Productions, an ethically minded, environmentally forward looking, Manchesterbased video production company has teamed up with The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside (LWT) to help save our precious peatlands. Standby Productions will be donating one per cent of their turnover to LWT’s peatlands project, to support our work restoring these precious habitats and fighting climate change. Peatlands are the unsung superheroes of our natural world, not only providing homes for lots of rare and specialised plants and animals, but also being able to absorb and 108

store huge amounts of carbon from the atmosphere. In fact, peatlands are able to store twice as much carbon as forests, making them a vital natural resource in the fight against climate change. However, as soon as a peatland is drained or damaged in any way that carbon gets released, contributing to harmful greenhouse gas emissions. And that is where LWT’s partnership with Standby Productions comes in. By supporting our peatland restoration projects, Standby Productions can help to make a real difference in carbon emissions. Simon Owen, founder and managing director of Standby Productions, said: “We’re really

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passionate about nature and the environment and this past year has highlighted how important it is for us to do our bit to protect it. We initially approached Lancashire Wildlife Trust to donate trees, but they informed us that conserving peatland was in fact far more crucial due to the vital role it plays in the ecosystem - something I knew nothing about until now. “On top of the financial donation, we’re going to be producing video content for LWT to use in awareness campaigns to help support its mission and make people aware of something I also didn’t know was so important” Check out their video at https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Dd0cg4zhFv0&t=3s Standby’s team of directors, producers and creatives will also be volunteering for LWT helping with restoration and conservation work in the region. Sarah Johnson, Lancashire Peatlands Initiative Project Manager said, “We are absolutely delighted to be working with Standby Productions. A large part of Greater Manchester was once a huge peatland called Chat Moss, but sadly now only fragments of it remain. By working to restore these we are not only recreating helping to boost biodiversity, but also helping to halt the release of huge amounts of carbon into the atmosphere. However, this crucial www.lancmag.com

“On set, we’ve banned plastic water bottles and made refillable bottles mandatory; any leftover props, food or costumes are donated to foodbanks or charity organisations; and all call sheets and meetings are digital, for example.

work is simply not possible without the support of our companies such as Standby Productions. This partnership will help us make a real difference to the fight against both our climate and biodiversity crises.” The environmentally-focussed studio is also planning on becoming the first fully sustainable video production agency in the north.

Simon Owen added: “We’ve implemented a series of changes to help us achieve this goal, and this is just the beginning. So far, the way we run our shoots and office have been revolutionised and we hope others will follow suit. It’s not often you hear a company calling for others to copy them, but in this instance, that’s exactly what we’re doing.

“In the office, we’ve switched to sustainable suppliers so we don’t waste any energy and support ethical providers as well as using all natural, chemical-free cleaning products that don’t harm the environment. Perhaps the biggest thing of all though is that we’re actively looking to work with others who share our goal. We’re encouraging all businesses to talk about their own environmental achievements or targets as now is the time to act and the more of us that are making positive changes, the better chance we have of saving the planet.” Further information about Standby Productions’ corporate partnership with The Lancashire Wildlife Trust can be viewed on its new website’s dedicated environment page, by visiting www.standbyproductions.co.uk

Above: Sphagnum moss - Little Woolden Moss - Photo credit: Standby Productions The Wildlife Trusts The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside is dedicated to the protection and promotion of the wildlife in Lancashire, seven boroughs of Greater Manchester and four of Merseyside, all lying north of the River Mersey. It manages around 40 nature reserves and 20 Local Nature Reserves covering acres of woodland, wetland, upland and meadow. The Trust has 27,000 members, and over 1,200 volunteers. To become a member of the Trust go to the website at www.lancswt.org.uk or call 01772 324129.

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The Mystery of ‘Patchwork Grazing’ by Giraffes Giraffe Numbers Double in South Africa Even as They Decline on The Continent of Africa

The mystery of ‘patchwork grazing’ by giraffes may hold clues to why they are threatened with extinction say Scientists at the University of the Free State in South Africa who are using drones and GPS in their studies.

o understand why giraffes have lost more than 80% of some of their subspecie populations in Africa and are facing extinction in the wild researchers at the University of the Free State in South Africa are looking into their strange ‘patchwork grazing’ habit – eating in one area but avoiding an identical area. Researchers at the University of the Free State in South Africa are using drones and GPS tracking devices to establish giraffe eating and movement patterns. This has

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shown that giraffes will eat in some areas and avoid others with exactly the same vegetation. This strange behaviour lies at the heart of the research and researchers hope it may offer insights into why giraffe numbers are plummeting. The UFS is the only Africa based institution that has contributed the most to giraffe research and conservation strategies in Africa. It is the leading university in the collection and analysis of information about giraffes and their habitats, increasing conservation education awareness about giraffes and African biodiversity and to develop national and/or regional plans aimed at giraffe conservation. On the UFS campus there are seven different departments involved with giraffe research or post graduate projects. These Departments include, Zoology, Chemistry, Food Science, Microbiology, Genetics, Physics, Animal, Grassland and Wildlife Sciences.

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Dr Marietjie Schutte-Smith, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry, says the unique collaborative research being done in South Africa could help save Giraffe subspecies from the brink of extinction – as South Africa has managed to double its giraffe numbers whilst subspecies have declined tremendously. REASONS FOR GIRAFFES STRANGE GRAZING PATTERNS Wildlife habitat expert, Dr Francois Deacon says until recently they have captured 70 giraffes and most were fitted with GPS satellite units to aid ecological research through remote collection of data on their movements and home ranges. “Giraffe numbers on the continent are declining fast, demonstrating the lack of knowledge about their required habitat needs, space use www.lancmag.com

and diet. With habitat destruction and fragmentation of resources we realized that few quality resource areas still exist that is available for roaming by giraffe and habitat selection, principle and preferred food species will surely play a significant role in home range size and overlap between individuals. “For example from our collared giraffes they used an average annual home range of 206 km² (20 602 ha) with a core home range calculated by a 50% MCP of 10.1 km² to try and meet their annual needs for survival and reproduction in their preferred vegetation. In the wet, hot season (summer: December to February) when food was abundant, giraffes frequented smaller areas (average 177 km²), while in the dry, cool season (winter: June to August) the mean giraffe home range size increased to approximately 245 km². Rainfall influenced giraffe spatial distribution since it determined vegetation productivity and leaf phenology,” explains Dr Deacon. He adds: “Giraffe numbers in SA have doubled in the same time giraffe numbers in the rest of Africa have plummeted tremendously. It’s simply because of the wildlife industry where a private game ranch or reserve can own any wildlife species. This way we have breed and protected them in a sustainable manner for eco-tourism. Basically all these private game ranches and reserves want to own giraffe and maintain them sustainably as basically all tourists and visitors on these ranches and reserves want to see a giraffe. It’s a win win situation that’s well regulated with permits, nature conservation approvals and legislation”. According to him the different seasons influenced giraffe movements, while different vegetation types and season influenced their home range size. Season and food availability also influenced home range overlap between different giraffe herds. “Home range overlap occurred when giraffes were forced to roam in overlapping areas during the dryer months when the winter deciduous nature of the majority of the tree species resulted in lower food availability.” www.lancmag.com

In winter, the overlap was approximately 31% and in autumn approximately 23%. During the wet and warmer months, overlapping was 15% in summer and 19% in spring, respectively. The percentage of time spent in different vegetation type areas was influenced by the abundance of the principal food species of that plant community, according to Dr Deacon. WHY SOME ANIMALS PREFER OR AVOID SOME HABITATS “By using modern analysis techniques and instruments (such as drones and GPS devices), it is possible to study complex environments on a spatial ecology scale and has created the opportunity to investigate why some animals prefer or avoid some habitats,” explains Deacon. “This in turn opened the door to explore geographic, soil and nutritional qualities the giraffe might prefer or avoid. This is one of the main reasons why we are exploring the different factors and driving forces behind a large herbivore’s habitat selection, well-being, body condition parameters and physiological adaptations,” Dr Deacon says. Veld conditions, plant species composition, tree densities and other available resources such as production yield and water quality determine reproduction successes and how animals disperse, move and distribute over an area. Spatial and ecological distributions of giraffe specifically depend on habitat resources and qualities that in turn affect their complex behavioural tactics and survival. STRANGE HABITS The research was started back in 2010 by Dr Deacon and Prof Nico Smit from the Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences at the UFS with the pioneering of GPS devices to investigate giraffe spatial ecology and habitat use. The current study was initiated as to why the giraffe would utilise one area more than the other, even if the two habitats had the same tree species, says Dr Schutte-Smith.

Dr Deacon contacted Prof Hendrik Visser and Dr Schutte-Smith from the Department of Chemistry for a possible collaborative effort. Ms Jeaneme Kuhn started her MSc research degree on this project in January 2019 and completed her degree in August 2020 with distinction. Dr Schutte-Smith says from research done at Rooipoort Nature Reserve it was found that a certain group of giraffes had the strange habit of only eating from specific trees, avoiding similar trees a few metres away. “We wanted to see if this behaviour was due to chemical influences, i.e. if there are specific minerals that are possibly in excess at some places which they avoid, especially since there are mines close by.” AIM OF THE RESEARCH The main aim of this MSc Chemistry degree, according to Dr Schutte-Smith, is to validate an analytical method for testing leaves and soil samples, using IPC, to see if heavy metals (in excess) are present in the soil, leaves and water and whether this has an influence on the browsing pattern of the giraffes. “Then as secondary aims (for the collaborative effort) we would like to investigate if the giraffe can select one area above the other (core home ranges), to understand what the qualities are that they would select for in the preferred area and what the qualities they avoid are in the other. And lastly to understand what the minimum requirements are to keep the animals happy and healthy, but also to investigate how they search for these qualities,” says Dr SchutteSmith. GIRAFFE CONSERVATION MODEL FOR AFRICA Besides creating awareness of the plight of giraffes, the researchers also aim to create a model for conservation via research and education to be used as an example for other countries. This model incorporates students, academia, professionals, sponsors and stakeholders that cover various topics relating to giraffe education, management and conservation.

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COLLISIONS WITH VESSELS

Friend of the Sea Launches the Whale-Safe Certification to Stop the Death of 20,000 Whales Every Year.

t’s a silent massacre most people are unaware of. Every year, up to 20,000 whales die because of lethal collisions with vessels. The image of a dead whale stuck in the bow of a vast container symbolizes this tragedy. However, most of the time, their bodies sink without leaving a trace that could show the magnitude of this phenomenon. Whale ship strikes have now become a significant threat to big cetaceans. Collision skill 20 times more whales than the controversial practice of whale hunting or whaling.

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To stop this bleeding, Friend of the Sea, a program from the World Sustainability Organization, has created the Whale-Safe international certification standard to raise awareness of this problem, engage the world shipping industry and reduce lethal collisions. THE VALUE OF A WHALE Whales are the biggest animals on the planet. Unique, magnificent, and diverse. Some facts and figures give an account of their importance: - Scientifics are still discovering new species and subspecies. Currently, they estimate there are 90 species of cetaceans. That includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises - A single great whale is worth

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more than $2 million, according to a study by the International Monetary Fund, which takes into account the whale’s contribution to carbon capture, the fishing industry, and the whale watching sector. - Whales help us fight climate change. A great whale can accumulate an average of 33 tons of CO2 during its life. When they die, that stock of CO2 sinks to the bottom of the ocean. A NEW THREAT Ship traffic has increased more than 300 percent since 1992, according to research with satellite data. It doubles everyten years, putting under pressure the entire ecosystem where whales travel, feed www.lancmag.com

THE DEADLIEST

THREAT FOR WHALES

and breed. Worse still, modern vessels have augmented their speed, making it more difficult to avoid a strike if, by chance, they can spot a whale in their path. It is a worldwide phenomenon. Friend of the Sea has identified 11 high-risk areas for collisions: the Mediterranean Sea, Sri Lanka, Patagonia, Panama, and the Western Arctic. (check out the map on our dossier). MAKING WHALES SAFE We can prevent this tragedy with the commitment of the shipping industry, partners, and consumers at the end of the supply chain. For this reason, Friend of the Sea has created the Whale-Safe certification logo to engage all parties in saving the whales. www.lancmag.com

This certification is awarded to companies that comply with criteria including: - Implementing a permanent system of thermal cameras to detect whales.

Cruise lines, ship operators, and fishing fleets that implement these measures will be identifiable by the Friend of the Sea logo. In turn, everybody can help protect whales by choosing certified operators. Together we can stop the bleeding.

- Be part of the online reporting systems to alert of whale presence in a determined zone.

Find a complete dossier with information, pictures, and a free to use video on our website:

- Agree to shift shipping lanes and slow speed to reduce the risk of collisions.

https://friendofthesea.org/ marine-conservation-projectsand-awareness/save-thewhales-2/

Tel.: +39 02 8707 5166 Fax: +39 02 8707 5169 E-mail: info@friendofthesea.org Website: www.friendofthesea.org LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 113

Things We Can Do to SAVE ENDANGERED SPECIES and PREVENT A NEW WAVE OF EXTINCTION More than 37,000 species are threatened with extinction. On Endangered Species Day, help us save together the species at risk by supporting the World Sustainability Organization conservation projects.

THE RED LIST But, which are the most threatened species? The main reference to answer this question is the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Established in 1964, it’s the world’s most comprehensive information source on the status of animal, fungus, and plant species.

The list is being continuously updated by scientists who so far have assessed more than 134,000 species. THEIR STUDIES REVEAL SOME SHOCKING FACTS:

Here’s what you need to know about the most threatened species on the planet and how to help them.

rom an adorable panda to a white shark, from a Tristan albatross to the Titicaca water frog and pangolins, these are all endangered species, which means they are under a real threat of extinction if nothing is done to prevent it. As we look at images of dinosaurs and wonder what these incredible creatures looked like, one day, our sons and grandsons might stare at the picture of a tiger and ask why didn’t we make enough to save them. For this reason, every third Friday of May, we mark Endangered Species Day. It’s a date to raise awareness about the species in danger, but most importantly, to take action to protect the biodiversity of our planet. The World Sustainability Organization supports conservation projects to restore the population of species under threat and prevent others from becoming endangered. 114

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- In the last 500 years, more than 900 species have been forced to e xtinction by human activity. - Currently, more than 37,400 species are threatened with extinction. That’s 28% of all assessed species. - The endangered species are 41% amphibians, 26% mammals, 14% birds, 36% sharks and rays, 28% selected crustaceans, 33% reef corals.

Extinction is not a remote possibility. For species in a critical situation, it could happen as sooner as in the next ten years. In December 2020, the IUCN announced 31 new extinct species. SOME GOOD NEWS However, extinction is not inevitable, and we shouldn’t be discouraged from acting. Good news from conservation projects shows that endangered species can recover. As recently as last year, the European Bison, Europe’s largest land mammal, came out of the threatened category thanks to conservation efforts.

This is why the World Sustainability Organization supports concrete action to save endangered species around the globe. We create campaigns to raise the public’s awareness and pressure the authorities; we also commit to conservation projects, and we need all the help we can get. THINGS YOU CAN DO TO SAVE ENDANGERED SPECIES - Preserve natural habitats by supporting sustainable agriculture, fishing, and aquaculture. You can search for Friend of the Earth & Friend of the Sea certified companies and products - Make sure the products you consume are not responsible for over-exploitation, hunting, trafficking, or extraction. - Choose one (or several) of our campaigns and help us spread the word. You can sign the petitions, share on social media, talk to a friend. - Support WSO conservation projects. Here’s a short list, but you can find more on Friend of the Earth & Friend of the Sea. 1) Whale-Safe Project. 2) Global Butterflies Census. 3) Albatrosses at Risk. 4) Save the Turtles. The World Sustainability Organizationis a Non-Governative Organization whose aim is to protect critical habitats and endangered species globally by means of the sustainability certifications Friend of the Sea and Friend of the Earth and the related conservation and awareness projects.

Tel.: +39 02 8707 5166 Fax: +39 02 8707 5169 E-mail: info@friendofthesea.org Website: www.friendofthesea.org www.lancmag.com

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Think Your Half-Term Visit to the Zoo will Support Threatened Species? Think Again... Do Zoos put the Con in Conservation? By Chris Lewis, Captivity Research Officer, Born Free Foundation

New research published by leading wildlife charity BORN FREE shows majority of species kept in charitable UK zoos aren’t threatened with extinction.

nly a quarter (26.6%) of species housed in Consortium of Charitable Zoos (CCZ) member organisations are threatened with extinction

• Over half (52.4%) of species housed by CCZ members are categorised as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, including the two brown bears shot at Whipsnade last week • Only a third of species (35.4%) born at these zoos are classified as threatened • CCZ members house more domesticated animals (360) than animals from species which are categorised as Extinct in the Wild (64) • CCZ members have fewer species in European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) breeding programmes than they did 15 years ago (212 vs 218) 116

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28th May 2021. Shocking new report published today by Born Free highlights that the majority of species found in the UK’s Consortium of Charitable Zoos (CCZ) are not classified as threatened species, and it appears that these zoos have made little effort to adjust this imbalance since it was first identified by Born Free 15 years ago. Will Travers OBE, stated: “The truth about zoos is hard to expose, as layers of self-justification wrap themselves around these institutions. Just how many species have been bred successfully in zoos and returned to the wild? And while an elephant enclosure containing a tiny number of often un-related individuals costs many millions, field conservationists are crying out for even a fraction of those resources to protect wild elephants and their habitats. Bluntly, the multi-billion-pound zoo world promises much but delivers very, very little.” The British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) has stated that without government action “organisations [BIAZA members] could close for good” due to the pandemic, and headlines have warned that “species could face extinction”. But would they? Born www.lancmag.com

Free’s new report (Conservation or Collection? Evaluating the conservation status of species housed and bred in charitable UK zoos) clearly shows that such claims are, at best, grossly exaggerated. The minority of species found in CCZ zoos are threatened with extinction, and the majority are on the lowest rung of the IUCN list – the category of Least Concern – including the two European brown bears tragically shot at Whipsnade Zoo on Friday the 21st May 2021. Astoundingly, CCZ zoos housed more domesticated animals (360) than animals belonging to species classed as Extinct in the Wild (64) for whom, you might have thought, conservation is the highest priority. Born Free is calling on the government to review the now 40-year-old Zoo Licensing Act (1981) to ensure more stringent and meaningful conservation criteria are required of zoos, criteria that are transparent, measurable and in the public domain, and against which zoos can be held to account, both for their implementation and for meeting stated targets. This would require specific follow-up actions by zoos to demonstrate real conservation benefits which should meet at least three of the five conservation measures set out in the Zoo Licensing Act (1981) in order to meet their conservation obligations. Currently, zoos only need to fulfil one of the five. (www.legislation.gov.uk/ ukpga/1981/37) While zoos do not claim to house only threatened species, they do use ambiguous terms when describing their animals, such as, ’rare‘, ’rarest‘, and ’extraordinary’. The fact that threatened species are in the minority suggests a species selection process which is focused more on species that are perceived to be attractive to the public, rather than those which are threatened and might benefit from being managed outside their natural habitat for conservation purposes (known as ex-situ breeding). “Claims by zoos that they contribute to species conservation and public education require careful scrutiny and cannot be taken at face value as justifications for the keeping and breeding of wild animals in captivity. We challenge the zoo industry to live up to its conservation claims and we continue to lobby for policy change in the UK”. - Chris Lewis, Captivity Research, Born Free Foundation “Born Free’s forensic analysis clearly demonstrates that the great majority of species housed in some of the UK’s best-known zoos are not classified as threatened. Far from focusing on species of Conservation Concern, for which ABOUT BORN FREE Born Free was established by Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna - who starred in the movie classic, Born Free (1966). Founded in 1984 with their eldest son, Will, Born Free’s mission is to ensure that all wild animals, whether living in captivity or in the wild, are treated with compassion and respect and are able to live their lives according to their needs. Born Free opposes the exploitation of wild animals in captivity and campaigns to keep wildlife in the wild. Born Free promotes Compassionate Conservation which strives to enhance the survival of threatened species in the wild and protect natural habitats, while respecting the needs of and safeguarding the welfare of individual animals. Born Free seeks to have a positive impact on animals in the wild and protect their ecosystems in perpetuity, for their own intrinsic value and for the critical roles they play within the natural world. For more information about Born Free, please visit: www.bornfree.org.uk

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captive breeding has been identified as a conservation priority, these zoos - which self-identify as amongst the best - appear to be more intent on keeping species that they hope will attract the public, a situation that hasn’t changed for over 15 years. Our report raises serious questions about the conservation credentials and commitment of some of Britain’s best-known zoos. It’s time for a radical rethink!” said Dr Mark Jones, Head of Policy, Born Free Foundation For the full report - Conservation or Collection? Evaluating the conservation status of species housed and bred in charitable UK zoos - please visit: www.bornfree.org.uk/conservation-or-collection-preview ZOO LICENCING ACT 1981 - CONSERVATION MEASURES www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/37 The following are conservation measures to be implemented in zoos in accordance with this Act— (a) participating in at least one (emphasis added) of the following (i) research from which conservation benefits accrue to species of wild animals; (ii) training in relevant conservation skills; (iii) the exchange of information relating to the conservation of species of wild animals; (iv) where appropriate, breeding of wild animals in captivity; and (v) where appropriate, the repopulation of an area with, or the reintroduction into the wild of, wild animals;

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Wondering How to Introduce a New Cat? By Victoria Corcoran, Pets Country Manor

Here at the Pets Country Manor we look over 100 cats on a daily basis and have done so for many years. There’s so many questions that we get asked and we thought it may be interesting to share our experiences with you.

re you wondering if you should get another cat but are unsure about how your existing cat will feel? The idea of your cat having company whilst you’re out at work and, having another cat to play with seems like a nice idea but a lot of cats prefer to be the only cat and like their own space. Its important to know that they may not necessarily be the best of friends and snuggle up with each other, so you’ll need to be prepared for this situation and separate your cats if needs be. We have our own 5 cats who we adopted from various rescue centres across the North West at different times and these are the steps we followed to successfully introduce our cats to each other. The most important thing to remember is first impressions count and can last a lifetime so the process needs to be slow and not rushed.

STEP 1: SCENT SWAP Before you bring your new cat home ask if you can temporarily swap some items, take your own cats favourite bed/ blanket/throw they sleep on into give the new cat and take this new cats blanket home to put in your home for your existing cat to get used to their scent. The Same goes for bowls/toys and ideally even the litter tray if you can swap all the items over so that the new cat an get used to your cats scent and your existing cat can get used to the new cats scent. (if its possible try to swap the items over every couple of days)

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STEP 2: CALMING PLUG IN Here at the Pets Country Manor we use a product called Pet Remedy which is a natural calming and distressing aid, we use this product because its 100% natural and pH neutral and doesn’t contain any chemicals. We recommend plugging in 1 or 2 pet remedy plug ins around your home a couple of days before you bring your new cat home, this will give enough time for the pet remedy to be diffused around your home. Once your new cat arrives this will help them settle in and feel relaxed and calm as well as helping to prevent your existing cat from becoming stressed by the new arrival

STEP 3: QUIET AND SEPARATE ROOM When you bring your new cat home put them into a room in your house that’s quiet –a spare bedroom would be ideal. Put everything into this room that your new cat will need –bowls/litter trays/ toys/ pet remedy plug in/ scratch post, let them stay in this room for a couple of days but keep going to see them as much as you can –try to play with them, groom them and stroke them to help them feel more at ease.

STEP 4: SEE BUT CAN’T TOUCH If you have a glass door internally in your house then great –put your two cats on either side of the door so they can see each other and give each cat some treats plus have feeding time right by the glass, if your cats like playing then play with them and give them their favourite toy. Do this for a couple of days, this way your cats will see each other as a positive reinforcement because when they see each other through the glass they get treats, fed or played with. –if you don’t have a glass door but you have a door with a gap underneath it try this or if not trying renting/borrowing a dog crate. –

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put your new cat into the dog crate with an igloo bed or blanket positioned over half the top/side this way if your new cat is feeling a bit intimidated they have somewhere to hide. Let your existing cat into this room and let them smell each other through the wire cage, try giving them treats and playing with them to distract their full attention away from each other and try this for a few minutes a couple of times each day

STEP 5: NEW CAT EXPLORATION TIME Try swapping your cats over, so your existing cat can go into this spare room for a few hours and your new cat can come out and explore their new home without any worry that their sibling may chase them, once your new cat seems confident enough in their new home you can try physical introductions

STEP 6: PHYSICAL INTRODUCTIONS With your new cat being back in their safe quiet room and if the glass door / dog crate introductions are going well then you can try letting your existing cat into the bedroom with your new cat but stay in this room with them. Have a towel ready in case a serious fight does break out so you can safely break it up –hopefully its not needed. Keep giving each cat treats and seeing if you can draw their focus away from the other cat by playing with them. You may need to try this room introduction a few times or it may go really well! If it’s the latter then its time to let them both out into the main house, remember to keep all your windows and doors closed as your new cat shouldn’t go out for the first couple of months until they’ve completely settled into their new home.

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DORIS & Friends

Hi, my name’s Doris, howl you all doing? I’m a very pup-ular girl with my very own Facebook Fan Page and this is my column of me and my friends adventures. NAME: Doris Dearden

So take a paws from your busy schedule, grab yourself some pup-corn, get yourself com-fur-table and enjoy my tails!

BREED: Border Terrier

DATE OF BIRTH: 18/07/2010

PLACE OF BIRTH: Doncaster

CURRENT TOWN: Preston

HUMAN DAD’S NAMES: Lee Dearden & Lee Gethings

OFFICIAL FACEBOOK FAN PAGE: Doris Dearden (The Border Terrier) Fan Page. I have over 1,400 members!

CHARACTERISTS: I sing to certain TV show theme tunes, ‘The One Show’ for example, I have many, guises (see photos below), I’ve been on many adventures and I love having my photo taken

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MY LONG LOST SISTER, DAISY!

ecently, we managed to find my gorgeous sister by asking if any of my siblings were members of my Facebook fan page. One gentleman contacted us with details of his Border Terrier, Daisy’s date of birth and parents names. All the details matched and the uncanny part of it is, my humans have been Facebook friends with Daisy’s dad James Wilkinson through my Facebook page for years!

My Sister, Da

isy!

We only live 30 minutes away from each other. Daisy and her dad live in Lancaster, so we plan to have long-lost sister reunion very soon.

Daisy & Doris’

1st Re-union

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HOW TO

MITIGATE

By couriermedia.com Maybe you consider yourself a phony who’ll be exposed at any moment; you’re a perfectionist who’s never happy with what you’ve created; or you think you need to do everything yourself to avoid looking incompetent.

ound familiar at all? Impostor syndrome comes in many shapes and sizes – and it’s a particularly common affliction for those running their own thing. Making it disappear is the aim, but keeping it in check is a more realistic goal – doing so is essential for your mental health and the health of your business. Here’s what you can do to minimise its impact.

HERE’S HOW 01: IDENTIFY THE SIGNS Consider the five key impostor types (see below) and reflect on any persistent and intrusive negative thoughts you have. 02: FIGURE OUT WHERE IT MIGHT COME FROM Consider, for instance, whether you’ve had bad treatment from managers in the past, or how you respond to others’ successes. Do the work and think about why you’re experiencing those kinds of feelings. 03: UNDERSTAND WHY OTHERS MAY BE CRITICAL Social conditions and expectations can make impostor syndrome worse 120

be aware of stereotypes, especially when they confirm your own negative thoughts. 04: USE YOUR SUPPORT NETWORK Confide in your co-founder, a family member, mentor or a close colleague, or look to external communities. Surround yourself with people who are as willing to talk about their flaws as their successes. 05: CONDUCT A PERSONAL SWOT ANALYSIS Analyse your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Consider your qualifications and achievements to end up with a more rational and objective picture of what you’re good at, and areas you need to improve. 06: REFLECT PROPERLY ON YOUR SUCCESSES AND FAILURES Write down your wins and losses and think about them objectively. Figure out the real reasons things went wrong while taking a note of things you’ve done well – no matter how small they might seem.

TIPS AND TRICKS There’s a difference between impostor syndrome and humility Impostor syndrome is when you begin confusing fact and fiction – for example, when you think your successes are luck or a mistake, and your failures validate the narrative you have in your mind.

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It’s rife among business owners Harvard Business Review once asked CEOs about their biggest fears, and ‘being found to be incompetent’ came out on top. People are often reluctant to talk about their professional failures, and the media doesn’t exactly paint a picture of reality. Hearing other business owners’ true experiences is often a big first step to realizing you aren’t an impostor after all. It’s more prevalent if you’re under-represented Impostor syndrome is particularly common among women, people of color, people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and other demographics that aren’t adequately represented in business. Business owners that fall into these groups may have internalized elements of systemic oppression or stereotyping. For these people, tackling impostor syndrome on an individual level is important – but the real solutions are more systemic. There are five key types Valerie Young, an expert on impostor syndrome, defines them. The Perfectionist focuses on how well things are done; The Expert feels a need to know and understand everything; The Soloist needs to complete tasks alone; The Natural Genius criticizes themselves for failing to get things right on the first attempt; and The Superhero views competence in terms of the number of roles and responsibilities they can juggle. www.lancmag.com

STEPS TO A MORE MINDFUL YOU

ORE HOW MINDFUL YOU MINDFULNESS CAN HELP US FEEL

Less Stressed More Content LESSand STRESSED AND

MORE CONTENT

Hello! I’m Catherine a Nutrition & Lifestyle

from Catherine Dean

diets, Coaching, have more energy a Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach out quick fixes or fad

who works with women that are ready e long to term. ditch diets, have more energy and feel better. My approach to weight loss isn’t health.about This quick fixes or fad diets. It’s about r new helping you to create healthy habits that fit around your busy life, make a real nges and it’s difference and last in the long term.

hat fit around your busy

ctation that last month’s article I talked about how stress can affect possiblyIncan our health. This month I’m looking at ways to help us r even manage our stress in our new “normal”. The pandemic has

provided us with different challenges and it’s affected all of us in one way or another. There is a lot of expectation that as things get back to how they used to be, or as close as hat have they possibly can to how they were pre-pandemic, we will feel relieved, happy or even excited. e people

It’s not necessarily that simple though. Some of the eady craving, changes that have occurred during the pandemic have been her notbeneficial. do. For some people working from home may have been the change they were already craving, photo so heading Shutterstock r the back to the office full time is something they’d rather not do. vel abroad 1831544638 In terms of travel, staycations may have reignited your aken time to love for the beautiful parts of the UK. You may also have invites you can focus could be has given o take

realised that travel abroad isn’t always necessary. In terms of socialising, maybe you’ve taken time to reassess your priorities and now feel more able to turn down invites you would have previously felt obliged to attend. This means you can focus your time on the people that really mean something to you. It could be that surviving a pandemic, which is no small feat by the way, has given you a greater appreciation of your health and you’ve started to take better care of yourself. If any of this sounds familiar, you may not be feeling a rush of excitement as workplaces start to open up, people return to the office and travel abroad becomes the norm again. You may be feeling apprehensive, worried or anxious. Whatever the impact the pandemic has had on you, it’s important to acknowledge your feelings and know that, however you feel, it’s okay.

excitement as workplaces start to open up, people gain. You may be feeling apprehensive, worried or u, it’s important to acknowledge your feelings and feel, it's okay. www.lancmag.com

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There are two main types of stress; eustress and distress. Eustress is when we do things that push us outside of our comfort zone and we experience stress in a positive way. Eustress can help us become more resilient and confident and increase feelings of satisfaction and contentment in our lives. Distress, on the other hand, is the type of stress most of us are probably more familiar with. This is where the physical or emotional demands being placed on us are too much for us to deal with, leaving us feeling overwhelmed. Acknowledging when we are feeling stressed and taking steps to reduce our stress levels can help us to feel calmer, improve our sleep and even help us to absorb more nutrients from our food. There are many things we can do to manage our stress and mindfulness is one way we can do this.

them going smoothly or being successful. It’s the balance that’s important. When we spend the majority of our time focusing on the past or the future it can increase our levels of stress and anxiety. We have a tendency to focus on the past or future above the present moment. It’s easy for us to focus on the negative elements of our past. We also tend to worry about what could go wrong in the future instead of focusing on what could go right. In last month’s article I mentioned that stress affects our body in the same way no matter what the cause. Dwelling on negative past experiences or worrying about what could go wrong in the future can both trigger the fight or flight response in our body and send us in to stress mode. Here are five mindfulness techniques to help you move from fight or flight, stress mode into the more relaxing, rest and digest mode::

What Is Mindfulness? Mindfulness is our ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us (www. mindful.org). Staying in the present moment is important if we want to feel happier and more content. Being present and learning to live in the moment can reduce anxiety, stress, and help us to deal with negative or difficult situations more easily.

Mindful Breathing

The more time we spend focusing on the present moment, the more we become aware of how we feel and what is going on around us. This can help to improve our levels of happiness, enjoyment and even help us to connect more deeply with others.

Breathing exercises are one of the quickest ways to help us move from fight or flight mode, where the sympathetic nervous system is activated to rest and digest mode, where the parasympathetic nervous system is activated. Any time you’re feeling stressed or anxious about the past or the future, bring yourself back to the present moment by focusing on your breath. Breathing in for a count of 3 and then out for a count of 3 can help to focus your mind on the here and now.

How To Be More Mindful

The Mindful Body Scan

Being more mindful and living in the present isn’t necessarily easy, but like everything, the more you do it the easier it will become.

This simple exercise is a great way to practice being more mindful and help you to feel more connected with your body. You can do this exercise any time you feel you need to calm down and feel more grounded. First, find a relaxing position:

After the uncertainty of the last 18 months some level of anxiety, stress, and unhappiness may even feel normal.

Practising mindfulness doesn’t mean that you’re ignoring what’s happened in the past or avoiding dealing with the future. It simply means they’re not dictating how you feel in every moment. Thinking about past experiences can help us to learn from our mistakes and grow stronger. Reminiscing about the past can help us to feel better and is a great way to bond with others. Looking forward to and planning for future events can be exciting. Preparing for future challenges or events can also improve the chance of 122

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• Take a few deep breaths. Notice the way your breath feels as you breathe in and out. • Focus your attention on one part of your body at a time. Starting with your toes, pay attention to how that area is feeling and notice any sensations that you are experiencing. www.lancmag.com

coming attached to them. Apps such as Headspace, Calm or Insight Timer all have o help you get started.

brought a lot of uncertainty and, for some of us, it continues to do so. It’s taught us a able and we can’t be certain of what tomorrow will bring. Our family, friends and health valuable possessions. The present moment is all we can be certain about. Being more sent can help us to feel calmer, more relaxed and less stressed. It can even help us to indfulness techniques mentioned throughout this article could help to reduce your to adapt to our new normal.

• After a few moments of focused attention, move to the next part of your body. From your toes, focus on your feet, then your ankles, followed by your shins and calves. Continue this until you have spent time focusing on each different part of your body.

mindful eating, put your phone away, sit down and enjoy your food without distraction. Pay particular attention to the taste and texture of your food as well as how you feel.

Mindfulness Meditation

ShutterstockMeditation photo is a great way to practice mindfulness. There are different types of mindfulness meditation, but the 750083887 simplest way is to sit and focus on

• Completing the mindful body scan can help you to feel more relaxed and notice when your body is feeling different to normal.

Mindful Walking

your breathing, a specific word or a mantra. Allow your thoughts to come and go without judging them or becoming attached to them. Apps such as Headspace, Calm or Insight Timer all have short, guided meditations to help you get started.

Walking is a fantastic form of exercise that can also help to reduce stress levels. To make your walk mindful, engage all your senses and focus on what’s happening within For many of us coronavirus brought and around you as you are walking. a lot of uncertainty and, for some of us, See what’s around you, focusing on eight in a way that will help you to feel less stressed and it continues to do so. It’s taught us a lot any objects or colours you can see, though. Life is unpredictable look atnotice myany coaching holistic approachand towe sounds youpackages. can hear and My can’t be certain of what tomorrow will pay attention to your sense of smell. bring. Our that family, last. friends For and health you if you to hitting create habits fully Noticewant your feet the healthy ground are without doubt our most valuable with every step you take. Walking ifestylein advice that forouryou, get in The touch. loveis all to possessions. presentI’d moment this way can helpworks to improve we can be certain about. Being more appreciation and awareness of our hear from you. mindful and living in the present can environment. help us to feel calmer, more relaxed Mindfulkeep Eating less stressed. It can even help to this article, an eye out for and more advice from meusin enjoy our food more. The mindfulness Mindful eating is the practice of techniques mentioned throughout hire Magazine. I’ll be joining you every month throughout paying attention to your thoughts this article could help to reduce your and feelings while you eat. It’s about 2021. stress levels as we continue to adapt taking the time to eat slowly, without to our new normal. distraction. Noticing the flavours and te: www.catherinedeancoaching.co.uk where you’ll find textures of the food you’re eating can If you’re looking to lose weight in a way help you to appreciate & enjoy your that will help you to feel less stressed gn up food to receive my weekly email. You can also email me more. Paying attention to how and more energised, take a look at you feel when you eat certain foods my coaching packages. holistic n & lifestyle questions you’d like me to answer in My future can help you to eat more healthily and approach to weight loss is perfect can support weight loss. To practice for you if you want to create healthy s: info@catherinedeancoaching.co.uk www.lancmag.com

habits that last. For fully personalised nutrition & lifestyle advice that works for you, get in touch. I’d love to hear from you. If you’ve enjoyed reading this article, keep an eye out for more advice from me in future editions of Lancashire Magazine. I’ll be joining you every month throughout 2021. Why not head to my website: www.catherinedeancoaching.co.uk where you’ll find my weekly blog and can sign up to receive my weekly email. You can also email me if you have any nutrition & lifestyle questions you’d like me to answer in future columns: info@catherinedeancoaching.co.uk

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Empath: a Gift or a Curse? By Megha Seth

Have you ever been called highly sensitive or too emotional? Can you feel the energy of someone when talking to them? Can you easily form deep connections with people? If yes, chances are you might be an empath.

mpaths are like an emotional sponge where they tend to absorb other people’s emotions and energy into their own body. They are highly sensitive and very intuitive, which leads them to take on the stress of the world. This is because, as Dr Judith Orloff says, they don’t have filters like other people. Particularly in a stressful work environment, empaths face difficulty when they’re next to someone uncomfortable. Empaths can face many such challenges in life; hence, it’s essential for them to understand how to hold the space to others but not take on others’ emotions. The present times are even more difficult for empaths. The sadness and pain present in the world currently can push an empath down and make them feel confused. Although empaths struggle much, they have an extraordinary power to connect with their surroundings. They can feel and understand the vibrations around them. 124

An ‘unawakened empath’ (person who has not yet realised their power) might feel anxious and confused because of feeling ‘too much.’ On the other hand, an ‘awakened empath’ understands their feelings and can navigate their emotions better. They have learnt to regulate and navigate their emotions, and experience the surroundings without getting lost. The story of psychiatrist Dr Judith Orloff resonates with almost every empath. As a child, she was always anxious to go to crowded places and shopping malls because it would bring exhaustion that she didn’t have earlier. As a little girl, she says that she didn’t realise she was picking up the energy and emotions of other people and the environment. The phenomenon of ‘emotional contagion’ was unknown to her then. Emotional contagion is an unconscious transfer of emotions among people. It is a natural tendency of human beings to take on the emotional expressions of others. For example, notice how in a hospital, if a baby starts crying, others start crying, as well. In a work environment, you will often feel the negativity of one person rapidly spreading to other employees. For an empath, this phenomenon of emotional contagion is more intense.

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ARE YOU AN EMPATH? You can only manage what you know of. Empaths can get very frustrated with themselves because of their inability to handle their own emotions. Here are some signs you might be an empath: • You rely on the ‘vibe’ of your surroundings. Different environments make you feel starkly different. • You are easily hurt. • You feel others’ emotions like your own. When you are talking to an upset person, you feel sadness. • People often turn to you for advice. • You are called a good listener. • You can strongly sense when something is not right. Your intuition is mostly correct. • You are emotionally drained in crowded places and even physically exhausted. • Sometimes, you experience a sudden rush of overwhelming emotions which you can’t explain. • You feel extremely guilty when you say ‘no’ to someone, even when you don’t want to do the task. • You can easily spot lies. www.lancmag.com

THE SCIENCE BEHIND EMPATHY Breaking down the science and looking at the various aspects of empathy can be useful in explaining what you’re feeling and why you’re feeling it. It is believed that empathy has its own spectrum. While ordinary empathy, as beautiful as it is, is where you can feel something for someone else, but you don’t necessarily take it on your own body. But higher on the empathy spectrum are highly sensitive people who have sensitivity to light, sound, noise, and replenish themselves by being alone. They are the empaths who have the ability to absorb energy from other people. The science behind it includes ‘mirror neuron’ research. Neuroscientists have recently discovered ‘mirror neuron’, which makes the understanding of empathy a bit clearer. These neurons are thought to form the fundamentals of the social interaction of humans. In essence, mirror neurons allow us to respond to the actions of others – in the same way as we would respond to the actions if they were our own. Mirror neurons have different levels of activity in different people. They are thought to be hyperactive and hypoactive. Its hyperactivity is observed in people with extreme empathy, where they feel compassion for everybody and the world. The mirror neurons, in this case, are working overtime. In contrast is the case of a narcissist or a sociopath who is believed to have Empathy Deficit Disorder (EDD), where their mirror neurons are thought to be hypoactive. The other explanation is the activity of the dopamine hormone. Dopamine is a pleasure hormone in our body. It is believed that empaths need a smaller amount of dopamine compared to extroverts to feel the same level of happiness. Empaths are satisfied by little things and little interactions. In fact, it gets overwhelming for them when they are present in the company of many people. This is because they love to connect on a personal level.

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They get filled with happiness quickly and get drained in a social situation where they get stimulated too much.

Learn to be kind to yourself

The electromagnetic energy from the heart and the brain giving off information also plays a role. Empaths are sensitive to this and can feel it on a deeper level. The problem is – empaths don’t know how to manage this HOW TO MANAGE YOUR EMOTIONS AS AN EMPATH Only 2% of the population is true empath. It is a gift, and learning to manage it well could go a long way. Here’s how you can manage your emotions in overwhelming times: CONNECT WITH YOURSELF Even if you are not an empath, most likely, you are affected by people around you, as well. For example, if you come in contact with an angry person, you are bound to feel a sense of discomfort or uneasiness. Practising mindfulness can help you manage this feeling. Start with a 3-minute meditation session. You can do this by focusing on your breaths. In an overwhelming or stressful situation, meditate for three minutes by focusing on the most positive aspect of your life. As an empath, it is easy to get triggered or get disappointed. In such situations, come back to yourself. Learn how to breathe, for it can help you breathe out stress and take in calmness and positivity. It will help you foster creativity, as well. LEARN TO SAY ‘NO’ Empaths naturally care and feel deep compassion for others, so much so, they face difficulty turning anything or anyone down. This happens due to their wish to not hurt anyone. But as an empath, learning to say ‘no’ is crucial since it allows you to preserve your emotional energy and not get overcommitted. You can care for others only when you are taking care of yourself.

Empaths are sensitive to the emotions of others but face the risk of not having their feelings reciprocated. This can lead to them feeling rejected and misunderstood. Ignoring the feelings of sensitivity will only lead an empath to the road of getting drained and exhausted. The best thing that an empath can do for their own selves is to show compassion to themselves. They often get too compassionate for others that they forget to reflect the same emotions on themselves. Acceptance is the key here – acceptance of their emotional power. Learning to understand and work with these emotions will give you a sense of relief. This only starts with kindness that you show to yourself. CONNECT WITH NATURE Empaths feel at home in nature. In a profound situation where you feel overpowering emotions, escape to the nearby garden or a spacious and open place. Go barefoot in the grass and nature. Feel the electron exchange with the earth and how your body is connected with the earth. Go out and connect. CAN YOU BECOME AN EMPATH? Although it’s not known if a person can become an empath, we all can practice developing a higher empathy for people around us. Start with learning more about people who have faced many challenges in life and how they overcame them. Couple this with volunteering for people experiencing different challenges. These experiences can help you become more understanding of others’ emotions and connect with them on a deeper level. Last but not least, even if you’re not an empath, you possess a gift that is unique to you, which is your offering to the world. There’s a Buddha and demon inside everybody; it’s just about what we feed. We want to feed the best part of ourselves – the most sensitive, compassionate, and loving, to make the world a more caring place.

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Digital detox

IS IT TIME TO SWITCH OFF? For the best part of 18 months, we have spent most of our time communicating to others via technology. The global pandemic has meant that we have had to find alternative methods for keeping in touch with family, friends and work. Technology is the main reason why business and our lives have been able to continue. If the pandemic had happened 20-30 years ago, it may have been a very different picture… So, this article isn’t an attempt to criticise technology, but more to raise awareness of the impact that excessive screen use, including work computers and mobile phones has on our sleep, stress levels and our health and wellbeing overall.

Not all addictions are linked to drugs or alcohol. They are on a spectrum and can exist without destroying your life. Addicts show a loss of control of the activity, despite negative consequences and develop tolerance so they require higher levels of stimulation for satisfaction. They will experience withdrawal if they can’t consummate the addictive act. Have you ever felt anxiety, stress or discomfort being without your phone? It’s either broken, lost or misplaced and you start to feel uneasy? These are all signs that you have an unhealthy relationship with your phone. WHY IS IT A PROBLEM FOR OUR WELLBEING AND PRODUCTIVITY?

Since the invention of the smartphone, there has been 151% increase in young girls (aged 10-14) committing suicide – The Social Dilemma, 2020.

• Smartphones engage in disruptive behaviours – they cause distraction. They are designed to get you to look at them. That decreases your productivity and concentration levels.

LET’S TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF OUR MOBILE PHONE USE…

• Smartphone use releases dopamine, a brain chemical that activates pleasure receptors in the brain. You then begin to crave it. Have you noticed how seeing someone else check their phone can make you want to check yours?

• The average smartphone user touches their phone 2,617 a day. • On average, Britons spend more than 2 hours per day on their phones. That’s 14 hours per week, 60 hours per month and 30 full days a year! • 66% of the world’s population shows signs of ‘nomophobia’ – a fear/discomfort of being without their phone. • 71% usually sleep with or next to their mobile phone. • 75% of people have used their mobile phones in the toilet. • More than a third of UK adults look at their phones within 5 minutes of waking and over half do so within 15 minutes. - Tech Jury, 2020 ARE PHONES ADDICTIVE? If we consider what addiction means; many people feel uncomfortable describing a compulsive habit as an ‘addiction’. 126

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• It is making us more and more lazy. We can have a fresh, calorie dense meal delivered to your door in just a few clicks of your device. We burn less calories preparing food and we are becoming more reliant on our devices bringing our food. • ‘Text neck’, ‘phone thumb’ and ‘phone elbow’ are becoming medical diagnoses. • We seek the distraction to not be ‘with our own minds’. Instead of listening to our thoughts and feelings, we look for distractions, which unfortunately means we don’t process our emotions in a timely and effective way. • Facebook is the biggest surveillance-based enterprise in the history of mankind. It now far, far more about you than the most intrusive government has ever know about its citizens. www.lancmag.com

• Numerous studies have found that the more we use social media, the less happy we will be. Liking others content and clicking on links significantly predicted a subsequent reduction in self-reported physical health, mental health and life satisfaction. • Devices such as smartphones, tablets and computers emit blue light, which stops the production of melatonin (our sleep hormone), therefore reducing the quality and quantity of our sleep. HOW CAN YOU IMPROVE THE RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR PHONE OR DEVICE? Firstly, to increase your chances of your behaviour change being successful and sustainable, you need to engineer your environment to support that change. Here are some of the ways you can do that: • Switch off notifications / vibrations on your phone - That way your phone can’t control your actions, you control when you choose to pick up your phone. • Emails – unless you are an ‘email responder’, your emails shouldn’t be your core work. Check emails a few times a day, but don’t start the day with emails and remember to switch off notifications on those too. • Clear up your apps – delete the apps you hardly use. Move them to a folder or hide them, to avoid the temptation of wanting to click on them in the pursuit of satisfaction. • Make your phone less attractive – you can set your phone to move out of blue light mode or even ask it to go into ‘greyscale’ (this basically makes your phone lose it’s colour and go black and white). It certainly is less enticing and you’re more likely to not bother looking at it. • Change where you charge your devices – not in the bedroom! Have a charging station away from your bedroom, that way you are reducing the likelihood of your phone being the last thing you look at before you go to sleep and the first thing you look at when you wake.

• Set household boundaries / rules – “no phone zones” or no ‘phubbing’ are good rules to implement as a family. Have accountability partners that support you not using your phone. • Set a time for your phone to wake up and go to sleep. If it’s switched off or operating at a minimal capacity, you’ll be less likely to use it. • Keep your phone out of sight – whilst driving it could be in your glove compartment. At home or in the office, it could be on charge in a different room when you are trying to work or focusing on something else. Catherine Price, author of the fantastic book ‘How to break up with your phone’, said: “If you wanted to invent a device that could rewire our minds, and create a society that is perpetually distracted, isolated and overtired, if you wanted to weaken our memories, and damage our capacities for focus and deep thought, whilst simultaneously reducing our ability for empathy and encourage self-absorption, you’d likely end up with a smartphone.” WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF SPENDING LESS TIME ON OUR PHONES? • More time – less time on phone = more time on something more productive • Improved relationships – you have real conversations with real people, in person. Actually listening to what someone is saying rather than people talking to the top of your head! • Improved sleep – reducing the use of your phone will allow you to switch off and produce more sleep-inducing hormones. • Less anxiety and improved mood – feeling constantly switched on can be stressful and is linked to mental health problems. Switching off your device will help you maintain optimal mental wellbeing. • Living in the moment – you’ll get to properly experience things, instead of living life through a lens. Until next time, take care, Paul.

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

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

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BACK TO SCHOOL Managing Allergies with Routines BY AIRBORNE ALLERGENS EXPERT, MAX WISEBERG

fter a summer of fun in the sun and barbecues, your children will have to get ready for another school year. While many kids will get that butterflies-in-the-pit-of-the stomach feeling that comes with having to make new friends and tackle new challenges at the start of the academic year, others will have the additional challenges of dealing with issues such as allergies. This month I’m taking a look at what parents can do to help…

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BEGIN AT HOME It’s easier if your child can adhere to a good routine if it is being consistently practiced at home. You should therefore ensure that your children’s allergic issues are being properly managed in the home environment. When your children are old enough, they should be properly instructed, preferably by their family doctor or some other healthcare professional, on how to use products for their allergies. You can also make your home safer for your kids by reducing allergens like dust, pet dander, and mold. Things like swapping carpets for laminate or hardwood and buying bed covers that are resistant to dust mites can help. If your child has an autumn pollen allergy, make sure they remove their shoes once they get in the house, put their clothes in the washing machine, and get a good bath before retiring to bed. CHECK OUT THE CLASSROOM In order to reduce the sort of stress that can come from any adverse allergic reactions your children may experience at school, you should notify the school of your desire to examine the classrooms where your children will be taught. You’ll want to inform the school of your children’s allergies and any medication they take so that they are fully aware. If your children are allergic to pollen, you’ll want to know if the teachers like to keep the classroom windows open. Open windows, of course, will result in more pollen in the classroom. EARLY TO BED… It goes without saying that your children will need a sufficient amount of sleep in order to be alert during the school day, and this is all the more important if they have

allergies. When your children breathe in allergens in the air, they can inflame and irritate their nasal passages, which will make it difficult for them to get a good night’s rest. You can help to reduce these problems by regularly washing sheets, disinfecting mattresses, and filtering the air in your home. It will also make sense to have specific screen-free time – be it smartphone, laptop, or tablet. The reason for this is that children who are already having a hard time getting enough sleep might get even less sleep if they are tethered to their devices. CHOOSE A CHILD-FRIENDLY PRODUCT Prevention is better than cure! HayMax (www.haymax. biz) is an organic allergen barrier balm that’s drug-free, very simple to use and comes in tiny plastic pots, so children of all ages at school can happily keep a pot in their school tray or in their pocket, and self-administer when necessary, without the need for a parent permission letter. HayMax is applied around the nostrils or under the eyes to help reduce or prevent the symptoms of dust allergy. It has been proven in independent studies to trap dust allergens in the air before they enter the body [1]. As long as this is enough to keep your child below their sensitivity level, the symptoms won’t be triggered. Applying the balm two or three times a day provides a highly effective, invisible barrier to airborne allergens. It’s also highly cost effective, as one pot can last several months. Visit the NHS website or the HayMax website (www.haymax.biz) for useful information on how to recognise hay fever in children, how to distinguish it from other allergies, and how to help your child or children cope with the symptoms.

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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Shana’s Story I

was born into a family where domestic abuse was prevalent on a day to day basis. South Asian communities were – and some still are – very patriarchal. Coercive control was programmed into us from a young age and physical violence and emotional abuse were normalised. I ran away from home twice at 11 and 13, yet was let down by services and returned home to the abuse. I became involved in gangs – the culture and mindset was where I felt I most belonged. Although each of my six siblings, and my mother experienced domestic abuse, not all of them took the same path. Why was that? I was forced into a marriage at the age of 17, because I was considered too ‘Westernised’. I was tricked into going to Bangladesh, and was abandoned there for over a year. When I returned to the UK, I plucked up the courage to leave my marriage. In the name of honour, my father tried to take my life because, in my culture, my father’s behaviour was acceptable, as women are seen as a possession of the man. I fled, with an unborn child inside me, and was relocated by the police. Now I’d entered ‘the system’, I was fed a story that I was a victim, and reassured that I would be looked after. I lacked confidence and self-worth, was shy and timid. Leaving the women’s refuge, I was rehoused and my first child was born. Yet whilst I focused on raising my child as a lone parent and put that unresolved trauma to one side, my experiences meant I was still vulnerable to predators. I learnt how to drive, pushed into university, studied for an honours degree in business management and became president of my university student union. But I still yearned for the family that disowned me. I would visit my mother in secret, with my young child. From the outside, it looked like my life had been transformed, but that unresolved trauma was still present. In 2012, I was stalked online by someone who later became my abuser. I entered into this abusive relationship by myself, naive and without any question. My abuser used religion to control and coerce me and – although there were signs that the perpetrator had a history of abusive behaviour, stalking and violence – I didn’t notice the red flags. He was suicidal and never took personal responsibility for his behaviour. I felt responsible and justified his behaviour. I thought I could change him. Giving him another ‘last chance’ saw me pressured into a second religious marriage. He used community pressure to trap me, while I became an expert in managing the abuse to protect my reputation. Shame, guilt and fear of blame consumed me.

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Above: Shana Begum

He tried to take my life. I experienced sexual abuse, physical abuse and coercive control, but felt I couldn’t reach out to anyone due to the shame and stigma. Noone asked me, “is everything OK at home?” Instead, friends often commented that I should feel lucky, with comments like “which Muslim man would take on another man’s child?” He tracked my phone, hacked into my emails and social media accounts. Any male friends were deleted from my phone contact list. I was forced to wear certain clothes. I was recorded, and these films used to blackmail me. The cultural bias to domestic abuse was shocking. ‘Victim blaming’ was normalised. Two more children came from the abusive relationship, but I was often told that, as a mother of three, should stay. In 2017 I slowly took back control of my life. I slowly built my confidence. My abuser now abused other members of my family, because he’d lost control of me. I fled my home of 17 years, leaving everything behind. And, while I finally reported him to the police, I still couldn’t expose everything, because of the shame attached to domestic abuse. We lost everything. Our home, friends, family, business – my children’s friends. Three innocent children entered ‘the system’. www.lancmag.com

But I’d been here before, and rejected the victim narrative, fighting and struggling for answers. I educated myself around domestic abuse and had time to reflect on past traumas. Nobody had ever explained to me that it was domestic abuse. I didn’t understand the dynamics, or the cycle of abuse. I never knew there was a choice. I turned my life around and my children re-built their lives in new schools. They stopped living in fear. Traditional methods didn’t work for me – understanding myself and the cycle of domestic abuse helped me overcome it. Traditional methods of overcoming abuse are traumatising – they create codependency and disempower you. So I developed a programme to help others in the community, the ‘Best Me’ programme. It uses neuro-linguistic and the Duluth Model to empower and educate people. ‘The system’ doesn’t understand domestic abuse from a victim’s point of view – especially domestic violence around certain cultures. I know first hand the justice system isn’t fit for purpose – it isn’t trauma-informed, it’s underfunded, overstretched and out-of-date. My method was to take personal responsibility for my life and everything that’s happened, good and the bad. Then, only I had the power to influence my present and future.

Above: Shana Begum (top Right) and family

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Above: Shana Begum with Councillor T. Long

Above: Shana Begum and family with Metro Mayor, Steve Rotherham

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1. BEST ME Our national award winner is a twelve-week programme based around the bespoke and specific needs of the small group we work with. We align the course to meet the needs of the audience, covering content like: • healthy relationships • brain science • behaviour change • self esteem and self worth • building confidence • emotional regulation • coercive control The Best Me course has an audience of both women AND men, with a personalised mission for each attendee. 2. EMPOWERING WOMEN – GROUP COACHING Our women-only group coaching is run alongside a holistic therapist, to address personal experiences and challenges.

The ‘Best Me’ Programme

It provides a peer support group for attendees, and can be accessed both online and off. Empowering women focuses on issues like post-traumatic growth and resilience. 3. EMPOWERING YOUNG PEOPLE

St Helens The Best Me runs transformational coaching and training online around domestic abuse and healthy relationships. We provide a range of self-help groups, training, one-to-one and group coaching in a safe space, working with both individuals and organisations. Alongside the work we do supporting women and men living with domestic abuse, we help raise awareness and create more trauma informed society. With more than 25 years of lived experience, we help increase awareness and influence policy. We help others understand what to do if they spot domestic abuse. Founder Shana Begum is a SafeLives Drive Pioneer, and has won awards for her grassroots work in the community, raising awareness around domestic abuse, helping others free themselves from abuse and those who perpetrate domestic abuse. St Helens The Best Me has delivered training to nearly 800 people, across the UK and overseas in Bangladesh, India and parts of Africa. We work with individuals, community groups, local authorities and NGOs. For more information on the ‘Best Me’ programme, please contact us at: bestme2020@icloud.com. Our four core programmes to create permanent change, with a network and WhatsApp support group of more than 100+ women.

We know young people go to peers for support. This sixweek course supports young people to become more selfaware. We work with and in community centres, schools and local authorities, to help young people get ready for the new school year. Whether you’re just starting at secondary school or heading back after a long break, this course – delivered by our young volunteers – focuses on: • confidence building • identifying emotions • healthy relationships We use feedback from participants to continually improve this course, and help young people measure and track how they’re feeling during the process. 4.TRAINING FOR PROFESSIONALS AND SOCIAL WORKERS Our trauma informed approach shares years of lived experience with professionals and social work teams. Following the ‘do no harm’ code, we share vital lived experience of domestic abuse, to help social workers better understand the issues around abuse, its causes and repercussions. Contact us at: bestme2020@icloud.com for more information about any of our courses

TESTIMONIALS FROM PROGRAMME ATTENDEES “Shana is a remarkable, courageous positive role model to all.” “As a woman who lived at the more extreme marginalised ends of domestic abuse, Shana knows how important practice being grounded in the outcomes for survivors and their children is. This means acknowledging the ways they thrive and protect their children even in the most horrific abuse.” 132

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Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip

On Your Bike!

Get on your bike

Social cycle

During lockdown many of us ventured into the shed and dusted down our old bikes to escape from the house and get our daily exercise. Cycling is a fun way to improve your overall health and wellbeing as well as enabling you to get out and explore your local area. As cycling is a low impact activity it is safer on your joints, whilst still strengthening your muscles and improving your cardiovascular system. We have some tips to get you started with cycling this summer.

Cycling can be a great way to meet up with friends or make new friends and be active together. Evidence shows that we are more likely to complete exercise when doing so with a partner or in a group. Additionally, we work physically harder when surrounded by others than when exercising alone. Look up your local cycle groups, or have a look at Ride Social www.letsride.co.uk/social to help you find a group.

If you don’t currently own a bike… Check whether your employer offers a Cycle to Work scheme as this can make buying a bike more affordable. If cost is the issue have a look at some stationary pedals. These are pedals that can be used indoors without having to buy a full homeexercise bike or road bike. Additionally, this way you can watch your favourite TV show whilst cycling and don’t have to be worried about getting caught in the rain.

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

Enjoy Nature Get outside with your bike. Perhaps take the bike to a local cycling trail, woodland or park. Being outdoors will enable you to be more aware of your surroundings, thoughts, feelings and body. This is a way to actively practice mindfulness without even realising you’re doing it. It doesn’t have to be a super-fast cycle, you’re still doing physical exercise, so go slow and take in the beauty of the world around you.

If you’d like to support Heart Research UK’s vital work into the prevention, treatment and cure of heart disease, please visit www.heartresearch.org.uk for inspiration on how you could help. www.lancmag.com

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HEADACHES By Nicola Parker MNIMH

For some people, headaches are a plague of discomfort, occurring numerous times a week or even daily.

f you get frequent headaches, it is a good idea to get checked with your G.P. as they can often offer various diagnostic tests to discover why the headaches are occurring. If you have already done this and been told everything is fine, then it may be wise to look into different methods of dealing with chronic headaches. While pain killers can be provided on prescription or bought over the counter, not everyone is comfortable using them long term and many people prefer to look towards prevention, rather than symptom treatment.

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The most obvious way to prevent headaches is to make sure you drink enough water throughout the day, ideally a litre and a half, which is about 6 average sized glasses. Also, check with your optician to ensure you are wearing the correct prescription glasses or contacts. If you work at a desk all day, make sure you check your posture and consider seeing a physio or an osteopath if you are getting neck, back and shoulder pain too.

Headaches related to low magnesium tend to be dull aches that last for many hours or even days at a time. You may find the pain is there when you wake up and lingers as a dull background ache not responding well to normal pain killers. Tea, coffee, cola and salt all deplete magnesium, so if these foods are present in your diet on a daily basis, taking Magnesium citrate tablets for a short period may help very quickly.

If you have checked all these things but are still getting regular headaches, the next thing to check is your magnesium levels. This isn’t a something that your G.P. will usually test, but it’s easy to check on your own. Cramping muscles, restless legs or twitchy muscles are key signs of low magnesium. Other symptoms may include bad period pain or a sluggish bowel. Magnesium helps to relax the muscles and many headaches are caused or aggravated by tension in the back and neck muscles. Low levels of magnesium can prevent this tension from releasing.

Not all headaches are caused by muscle tension and in severe cases, the problem isn’t headaches at all, but rather migraines. Migraines can be especially aggressive. They often happen on one side and can occur with nausea, visual disturbances and debilitating pain that makes day to day activities impossible. Some migraines can be related to a womens menstrual cycle, so it can be difficult to put your finger on the cause and get the right treatment.

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For migraines I use a herb called feverfew. In my clinic, I often blend feverfew with powerful pain relievers, as well as looking into and attempting to manage causes and triggers. Over the counter, I keep in a feverfew remedy called MigraEeze®. MigraEeze® is a licensed herbal remedy, to aid the relief of migraine pain. Feverfew has long been known as a migraine herb, a classic remedy mentioned in much of our traditional literature. Feverfew is anti inflammatory and many herbalists use it for the treatment of menstrual cramps, especially in cases where period pain is accompanied by migraine. In fact, I have yet to make a mix for menstrual cramps without feverfew playing a starring role.

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People who use MigraEeze® use it in one of two ways, depending on their goals. It’s possible to either take 1 tablet a day to prevent the symptoms or to keep them in your cupboard and take one as you need it when you feel the symptoms coming on. For severe migraines, I recommend trying the first approach for at least a month, to see if the herb is right for you. Magnesium and MigraEeze® work brilliantly together, easing muscle tension, reducing inflammation and promoting circulation to the area of pain. If you’re just starting out on your journey into natural remedies for headache or migraine, consider pairing the two up for a month and monitor your progress. Alternatively, for a more in depth look at the problem, consider consulting a herbalist who may be able to dig a little deeper and offer something stronger for long term support.

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

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New treatment significantly improves mental health in heart disease patients, study finds A study, led by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH) and the University of Manchester (UoM), and funded by the National Institute for Healthcare Research (NIHR), has found that a mental health treatment called Metacognitive Therapy significantly improves symptoms of anxiety and depression for heart disease patients.

and Experimental Psychopathology at UoM, who had developed a mental health treatment called Metacognitive Therapy (MCT), adapted this treatment for cardiac patients. MCT helps people to manage worries and low mood through reducing unhelpful styles of thinking, such as rumination (dwelling on the past) and worry (concerns about the future). It helps people to discover new and more helpful ways to react to negative or distressing thoughts so they are less likely to dwell on them, resulting in improved anxiety and mood.

The PATHWAY study evaluated the effectiveness of delivering MCT, alongside normal CR services, in treating symptoms of anxiety and depression in heart disease patients, in comparison to just receiving normal CR services alone.

hese findings, published today in the American Heart Association journal, Circulation, are a huge step towards better informed and well-rounded care for heart disease patients, with the potential to improve not only mental health, but also the physical health of those recovering from heart disease. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) services aim to improve heart disease patients’ health and quality of life, and reduce the risk of further problems with their heart. Around 90,000 patients attend CR every year in the UK. After a serious cardiac event, such as a heart attack, it is common to develop mental health problems; and around one-third of patients accessing CR services experience anxiety and/or depression. Research shows that this type of distress reduces quality of life, and increases the risk of further heart problems and even death. Whilst CR services do have an educational component and an exercise component, they don’t currently include any specific mental health treatment to support patients with symptoms of anxiety and depression. Added to this, mainstream mental health treatments, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), are not very effective at improving the mental health of heart disease patients. One of the reasons for this is that CBT focuses on challenging negative thoughts and beliefs, which can be completely valid and realistic in people suffering from chronic and life-threatening heart conditions. In response to this, Professor Adrian Wells, Consultant Clinical Psychologist at GMMH and Professor of Clinical

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Half of the 332 participants were randomly allocated to MCT plus standard CR treatment, and the other half were allocated to the standard CR. For those who were allocated to MCT, the therapy was embedded into their regular CR, and delivered by CR staff such as CR nurses, occupational therapists, and physiotherapists. This took place at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, East Cheshire NHS Trust, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust and Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. Findings showed for the first time ever that MCT plus CR is significantly more effective in improving symptoms of anxiety and depression in heart disease patients. It also proved to be more effective in helping patients reduce unhelpful thinking patterns and trauma symptoms. Debra was referred to group Metacognitive Therapy, following open heart surgery. She said: “I found the MCT to be very interesting, informative and beneficial. It’s not a type of therapy I had experienced before; it was a very gentle and subtle therapy that, over several weeks, slowly changed my attitudes and beliefs around worrying and fretting. “It was very interesting and useful to hear how people’s beliefs changed over the weeks. To see the differences at the end was quite impressive. www.lancmag.com

“Although the therapy was quite some time ago, it has stayed with me and it’s something I naturally practice now, almost subconsciously. “Although it’s human nature to have concerns about certain situations, I don’t spend time worrying and fretting about things as I know that it’s wasted energy that does not change the outcome. “I think it’s a very useful life skill that anyone would benefit from, but particularly those who have suffered from any traumatic event, be that physical or mental and those that suffer with anxiety.” Effectiveness of the therapy was measured with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The HADS questionnaire is often used to determine the levels of anxiety and depression in a person with physical health problems, using a scale of 0 to 21 for both anxiety and depression. A score of 0-7 is considered normal, with 8-10 being borderline, and 11 or over indicating clinical anxiety or depression. The 163 individuals who were randomly allocated to MCT plus standard CR treatment showed a significant average decrease in their HADS score for anxiety and depression of 3.24 after 4 months and 2.19 after 12 months. This compares to the 169 who only received standard CR treatment, who had an average decrease of 0.52 after 4 months and 0.33 after 12 months. Overall, there was an improvement in the mental health of one in three heart patients who received MCT alongside standard CR treatment, in comparison to only one in five of those who received standard CR treatment. A further finding was that MCT appeared to prevent some patients from developing mental health problems. The link between mental and physical health has long been known, and these findings signal a major step in understanding and improving the overall recovery of heart disease patients. Professor Adrian Wells, PATHWAY Chief Investigator said, “Living with serious physical illness has profound effects on emotional wellbeing, how sufferers view themselves, their future and their quality of life. “Through the generous time of patients, staff, co-investigators and service users, we have made a breakthrough in improving mental health outcomes in heart disease patients. www.lancmag.com

Metacognitive therapy offers an effective way of treating both anxiety and depression. We found that heart patients benefitted no matter whether they had mild or severe symptoms or a previous history of mental health issues, supporting the versatility of this treatment. We have demonstrated that MCT can be translated to medical settings and this opens up the way for more effective integrated physical and mental health care with the potential to improve thousands of people’s lives.” Paula Bithell, Nurse Consultant at Pennine Acute NHS Hospitals Trust said: “For some patients the psychological impact of being diagnosed with a heart condition can be just as significant as the physical implications. “MCT is a method to address the thoughts patients may have following their cardiac event in a familiar environment, in a group setting with patients who are experiencing similar thoughts and feelings to themselves. It is delivered by their recognised health care professionals who are experienced in cardiac care. “My colleagues and I found that patients benefited hugely from the group therapy, with patients reporting that attending the group MCT supported them in overcoming the psychological barriers that were preventing them from resuming normal activities. “Following the treatment, patients reported feeling more confident to go out and socialise again, resume hobbies and employment.” Professor Kathryn Abel, NIHR Clinical Research Network National Specialty Lead for Mental Health and Domain Lead for Mental Health at NIHR Clinical Research Network Greater Manchester, said: “Findings from this research are incredibly encouraging and present the first evidence that a psychological treatment may both prevent development of common mental disorder in cardiovascular disease as well as be effective in reducing psychological symptoms once developed in cardiac patients recovering from heart disease. Understanding the links between mental and physical disorders is an incredibly important aspect of the research endeavour for the NIHR mental health specialty and a priority for the Medical Research Council (MRC) Mental Health Research Framework. I would like to thank all the study participants and research team members who have made this research possible.” LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 137

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip

Gardening for Good Health

Gardens and greenspaces have been hugely important to many people during the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, with many people finding their refuge through gardening. Here we explore some of the health and mental wellbeing benefits of gardening. Stress relief Gardening is a fantastic stress reliever and can cultivate feelings of empowerment, connection, and calm. Being in touch with nature and the great outdoors can help you feel more removed from the daily stressors of life. Work out Gardening is exercise and working in a garden can use every major muscle group in the body. While activities such as raking and cutting the grass may be light exercise, shovelling and digging can be counted as vigorous exercise.

Grow your own There is nothing quite like eating your own fresh home grown produce! Not only are many fruits and vegetables very easy to grow, but they are also more nutrient-dense, free of pesticides and tasty. By growing your own, you are also helping to preserve the environment. Get the kids involved It can sometimes be a challenge to get children to eat healthy foods and enjoy them. Growing vegetables not only teaches children valuable lessons about the work that it takes to grow them, but it can also help them to gain a keen interest in eating them too.

Happy gardening! You can find lots more tips, recipes and health advice at https://heartresearch.org.uk/

Work with what you have Whether your patch is large or small, a raised bed, a community garden or window box – make the most of it by researching the best plants for your space and sunlight exposure. You can grow a range of things with very little space and maintenance, whilst still reaping the benefits.

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

If you’d like to support Heart Research UK’s vital work into the prevention, treatment and cure of heart disease, please visit www.heartresearch.org.uk for inspiration on how you could help. 138

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FEELING STRESSED? STUCK OR AT A CROSSROADS? STRUGGLING FOR MOTIVATION? I’M LEE, PSYCHOLOGIST AND LIFE COACH, AND YOUR HAPPINESS, HEALTH AND SUCCESS IS MY PRIORITY FUNCTIONAL COACHING THAT GIVES YOU THE CLARITY, DIRECTION AND ENERGY TO TAKE BACK CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE.

I recently took part in a course with Lee which has totally changed the way I view my life. He is very motivational and highly skilled at explaining things to help you understand why you have certain thoughts and feelings and helping you overcome limiting beliefs. Thank you Lee, your coaching skills are amazing and I am so grateful.

THAT MEANS A BESPOKE STRATEGY DESIGNED TO MOVE TOWARDS THE IDEAL YOU.

Craft your mindset

Target your ambitions

www.essentialise.co.uk

ALFIT

N +44 7912 690856

Optimise your energy

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Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip

Keep Hydrated!

Staying hydrated is important for keeping your heart and circulatory system healthy. Thirst often feels similar to hunger, so drinking plenty of fluid can prevent over-eating and weight-gain. We have some tips to help you stay hydrated. Am I dehydrated? Symptoms of dehydration include headaches, tiredness, irritability and difficulty concentrating. If your urine is pale and clear then you are hydrated. If your urine is more yellow, brown or dark in colour with a strong smell, you are probably not drinking enough.

How much should I drink? Aim to drink six to eight cups or glasses of fluid every day. You may need to drink more during hot weather, or if you are doing a lot of physical activity.

You can find lots more tips, recipes and health advice at https://heartresearch.org.uk/

What should I drink? Water is best, but if you don’t like water, you could try herbal teas or sugar-free squash. Coffee and tea also count, but try to cut out any added sugar. You can get water from fruit and vegetables, such as cucumber, watermelon, tomatoes, oranges and apples. Avoid drinking too much alcohol as it causes you to urinate more, which can lead to dehydration.

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

If you’d like to support Heart Research UK’s vital work into the prevention, treatment and cure of heart disease, please visit www.heartresearch.org.uk for inspiration on how you could help. 140

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

Move Over Brows IT’S THE TURN OF THE LIPS! By Marcia Trotter

As Audrey Hepburn once famously said: “I believe in primping at leisure and wearing lipstick”.

ow you can follow in the footsteps of the famous Hollywood icon – but with none of the daily maintenance. Move over eyebrows, the Lip Blush is the new treatment craze. We have never had such a demand for the lip tattoo, a semi-permanent solution to the daily application of lipstick. Gone are the days when visions of a lip line tattoo conjured up a conker brown harsh line outlining the natural lip. The treatment now is so subtle and natural, replacing colour that has been lost with age or re-defining pale coloured lips. The impact is immediate, giving the illusion of volume and fuller lips instantly. It is a perfect alternative for ladies who do not want to have filler, but likewise it can also work hand-in-hand with aesthetic treatments to create a very personal and individual look. 142

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The treatment will also balance any asymmetry or lopsidedness in the lips to create the perfect pout. The correct terminology is Micropigmentation, but is more commonly referred to as semi-permanent makeup. It is not a new treatment; it has been around for decades and has proved to be safe and highly effective. The first question I usually get asked is “Will it hurt?” The lips have more than a million different nerve endings, they are one of the most sensitive parts of our body and are 100 times more sensitive that our fingertips. So yes it’s a reasonable question to ask. But with the new advanced techniques and fine needles we use it’s possible to reduce the discomfort level to just a tingling sensation. Many of our clients report no discomfort at all, it’s just an unusual sensation if you haven’t experienced it before. The process involves inserting medically graded pigment into the upper layers of the skin using a specialised micropigmentation device and sterile needle. www.lancmag.com

COSMETIC & MEDICAL MICROPIGMENTATION

Specialising in Medical Micropigmentation, working closely with Consultants to achieve life changing treatments both medical and cosmetic. Marcia has assisted many clients with their road to recovery after cancer treatment or helping improve the appearance of a burn or scar. The treatment is forever evolving as needles, pigments, machines and techniques are constantly improving. The procedures are more flattering when they are a natural enhancement of the features. We practice a ‘less is best approach’. I know that I have done my job well when clients tell me their family and friends could not tell what they have had done but say they look really well.

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:

www.scalpnorth.co.uk

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.

N 07773 229 229 E Email: info@marcia.co.uk www.marcia.co.uk

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

The colour can be matched or enhanced to be brighter and more vibrant. However, it is not possible to make the lip paler or use nude shades with this treatment. The lips are an essential aspect of the face and play a critical role in facial expression, speech, sensation and physical attraction. As the eyes are the gateway to the soul, the lips reveal your moods; a smile says happy, a frown says sad, pursed lips say angry and open lips say shock. So it’s important they look their best. When creating a look, we take the colour back to the very edge of the vermilion border, this the area where you would normally line your lip with a cosmetic lip pencil. There should be absolutely no cross over into the surrounding skin as the pigment would hold in the skin and be a different colour to what it would in the lip tissue.

The skin on the lips is much thinner and more delicate than other parts of the body. It has only three to five layers whereas other parts of the face could be as much as 16 layers thick. Lips are very vascular giving them their pink/red shade because the skin is translucent the blood vessels are more visible. The beauty and convenience of having a semi-permanent lip colour is evident but it doesn’t mean you are stuck with the same colour tones. By adding a lip gloss you can create a different look for different occasions. It’s such a versatile treatment and a great beauty investment.

We then recreate a soft, rounded Cupid’s Bow, this is the two raised areas in the centre of the upper lip. Then the coloured pigment is gently shaded into the lip and blended into the natural lip colour. The initial treatment is a two-step process, the second layer is added six weeks after the initial treatment. It can then last for several years. Lifestyle and age can affect the longevity of the treatment. Smoking and sun exposure will speed up the fading process, also excessive use of exfoliating products can cause the pigment to fade. As we age collagen and elastin depletes every decade. The skin thins, becomes more fragile, the fatty tissue beneath the skin decreases and the production of natural oils is less which make the skin drier. Lips will gradually become thinner and their natural colour fade. External factors like sun exposure will cause premature aging so it is important to protect the lips from UV rays with a balm containing a SPF. 144

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Marcia Medical & Cosmetic Clinic 10a Shaftesbury Avenue Timperley, Altrincham WA15 7LY N 07773 229 229 E Email: info@marcia.co.uk www.marcia.co.uk www.lancmag.com

Redrow Support Mental Health Charity A Community Project set up to support parents and carers of children with mental health difficulties has received vital funding from Redrow that will enable them to purchase a number of self-help booklets and group resources.

Left: Susie Marsden from Lancashire Positive Minds and Redrow’s Paul Fishwick holding some of the booklets purchased

Lancashire Positive Minds is currently the only group in the South Ribble area that shares strategies, advice and guidance for parents and carers whose children struggle with mental health difficulties. Children may be suffering from things such as depression, anxiety, autism, suicidal thoughts or eating disorders and the housebuilder’s donation of £500 will allow the group to purchase resources such as leaflets, action plans and journals that parents can use with their children at home. Susie Marsden, founder of the group that started on social media says parents and carers come together to talk and gather tips to deal with various situations at home: “Within a five-week period of starting the group, we ended up with over 70 members and we are currently supporting over 180 local families. In March 2020, we commenced with face to face meetings and South Ribble Borough Council have very kindly paid rent and bills on a venue to support the meetings. The venue can hold up to 150 people.” The group usually hold monthly face to face meetings, and during the various lockdowns they have also offered regular virtual sessions; scheduling Zoom sessions and guest speakers. Susie is aiming to continue to offer virtual sessions 146

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until lockdown eases but virtual support will continue. “We are also working alongside Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services so the groups are parent- led but professionally supported,” Susie adds. “Parents often feel alone and isolated when guiding their children through difficult times and through facilitating parents with strategies and tips to use at home, this will also ease pressure on the professional services but give that early intervention.” Lancashire Positive Minds is one of twelve groups and good causes that have shared £5000 from Redrow’s Leyland community fund. These funds are set up to provide support to communities close to where they build. Sian Pitt, sales director at Redrow Lancashire adds: “This group is vital in providing support to those who need it most so they can help members of their family through challenging circumstances.” For more details about Worden Gardens, see www.redrow.co.uk/wordengardens, call 01772 340818 or visit the sales centre, open daily. www.lancmag.com

Let’s Talk

‘Jeans’

Collections From; Armani, Baldessarini, Bugatti Jacob Cohen & Tramarossa

Colour and Style

www.sarahharrisstyle.co.uk

Our section on Colour and Style with Sarah Harris from ‘Colour Me Beautiful’ September is here and it’s hard to believe the summer is coming to an end, I don’t know about you but I love an Indian summer – when the warm weather carries through into September and we wake to sunny skies, hazy weather and a twist of autumn freshness! With this in mind this month I’d like to look at the change of season within our wardrobes! If we are lucky we can continue wearing our summer clothes up until the end of September when layering becomes the key to transitioning from Summer to autumn. Also with an Indian Summer in mind I’d like to show you a beautiful night wear collection with colours and prints that will keep you in the holiday spirit throughout the coming months! Nightwear so attractive that you’ll want to wear them all day long!

CHANGING SEASON’S JACKETS, CARDIGANS AND WRAPS ARE GREAT ITEMS FOR SEPTEMBER! September is a time when you hear people say ‘I just don’t know what to wear! One minute it’s hot and the next it’s cold!!’ This is the time you need to have your jackets, cardigans and scarves at hand. Adding a light weight top might be sufficient it just depends on the weather. However, it’s good to remember when adding clothes to keep in mind our body shapes and how best to wear clothes that will flatter them. Below is an example of two ways of wearing a wrap. I’m Sarah Harris and I’m a Colour and Style Consultant who trained with Colour Me Beautiful the world’s leading Image consultants. My background is in fashion and after leaving school at 16 I travelled to London to work as a Fashion/photographic model, I enjoyed the life and it allowed me to travel the world, during my career I also worked in wholesale/retail within the fashion industry. I learnt all about fabrics, business, international companies and trying all those clothes on – the quality, cut and fabric. I took a break from the business when I married and had our two children. I retrained as an Image consultant with Colour Me Beautiful who have been changing the lives of women and men for over 35 years. I’d like to inspire you with Colour, Style and Skincare tips every month, I’m hoping to give you an interesting read. If there is something that you would like to know about please email me and I will do my best to help. Email: sarah@sarahharrisstyle.co.uk www.sarahharrisstyle.co.uk

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www.kettlewellscolours.co.uk The above short tie wrap from Kettlewells is so versatile as it can be worn tied or loose depending on your body shape. If you have an hourglass figure the wrap worn tied is better as it will show off your curves however for those with a more rectangular body shape, the semi fitted cascade wrap is perfect worn loose as it has some shape in the design, therefore giving the appearance of a waist. (see above) www.lancmag.com

SCARVES ADD INTEREST AND WARMTH

www.kettlewellscolours.co.uk Adding a scarf when it’s cooler not only keeps you warm but adds style, however, remember that if you have a short neck make sure it is a finer fabric. Above you see the model on the left in a smaller scarf which is perfect for someone with a shorter neck or bigger bust whereas the scarf on the right would be too much. It depends on how you wear a scarf. Remember if you add interest with a scarf it will take the eye to it so if you are top heavy it will add more bulk and won’t be a good look. I can help you understand how to dress to flatter your body shape based on your scale, proportions, colours and style personality if you would like more information please contact me. DRESSING IS VERY MUCH ABOUT HOW TO WEAR RATHER THAN NOT BEING ABLE TO WEAR! At Colour Me Beautiful we have some beautiful scarves that will see you nicely from Summer to Winter and can be purchased from my website www.sarahharrisstyle.co.uk

INDIAN SUMMER INSPIRATION! COLOUR – FABRIC – PRINTS

www.rowancharles.co.uk

An Indian Summer casts my mind to a culture of great Colour and diversity from the pastel shades of the North to the vibrant hues South. Colour is big in India and also fabrics and the ones most associated with India are Cotton and Silk. India supplied cotton cloth to the world for many centuries. If you get the chance to visit the Victoria and Albert museum in London they have a great collection of Indian fabrics. It takes highly skilled artisans to process and produce fabrics, prints, weaves and embroideries like these. Skills that they are still using today. And you can have a taste of India in your own home from Local business woman Lindsey Cooper, also known as The Pyjama Lady!

Lindsey sells the most beautiful colourful Lindsey in her Frida Kahlo Pyjamas Nightwear and kaftans which are made in India! www.rowancharles.co.uk The fabrics are made of cotton or silk which are perfect for sleepwear as they naturally regulate your temperature, which helps your skin to breath. I spoke with Lindsey about her fascinating story from her earlier profession as a lawyer to becoming ‘The Pyjama Lady’! She tells me her story of travelling to India with such passion and love for its people, culture and landscape she builds a picture that is a dream to me as I haven’t travelled abroad in such a long time, with lockdown! It feels like she has managed to bring a piece of this beautiful country home.

The Teal and Purple are suitable for any skin type whereas the Hot pink is one for the Cool’s and the Scarlet, Apple Blossom and Coral Pink are for those with Warmer skin tones. Scarves are inexpensive and a good way to add a pop of colour that will keep you warm and brighten up your wardrobe! www.lancmag.com

Lindsey was a solicitor in Blackpool for many years and on retirement travelled to India where she became completely besotted with the wonderful colours and designs of the fabrics, and she tells me that block printing is an ancient art that is still widely used! She initially brought tablecloths and bags back home for herself but soon she was being asked by friends if she’d bring them items back! So instead of retiring she started a new business and added Nightwear and kaftans! Lindsey now lives in Cumbria with her husband and has set up a shop at home in one of her rooms which is like an Aladdin’s cave of colour and interest. Nightwear, bedding, tablecloths, plates all sorts of wonderful pieces! A few months ago I managed to catch one of her Facetime Lives where Lindsey talks you through her vibrant collection LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 149

showing you her beautiful pieces. She also goes live on Facebook and Instagram so I advise you watch out for The Pyjama Lady, I highly recommend especially if you like colour, style, travel and quality fabrics! I have ordered several pieces from Lindsey and I must say they arrive perfectly packaged! There is something for everyone from vibrant, bold colours to delicate and softer shades. Lindsey also does bespoke packages, so if you see a fabric you like she can have it made into Pyjamas, Dressing gowns or kaftans of your choice and size. IT IS THE PERSONAL TOUCH THAT YOU GET WITH A SMALL BUSINESSES THAT IS SO ATTRACTIVE! The collection is absolutely beautiful, the prints and colours really do capture Lindsey’s love of travel, diverse cultures and beautiful fabrics. They are responsibly sourced, carefully selected and hand crafted.

You can join Lindsey’s Facebook group “The Pyjama Lady – Unique sleepwear lovingly made in India” which for me is like escaping to somewhere beautiful rich in colour and culture. Also take a look at Lindsey’s website:www.rowancharles.co.uk I really do like to shop local and support small local businesses and this is a wonderful way of supporting your local community. I hope that you have a colourful September and remember when adding items of clothing on those cooler days make sure that the size and pattern is in proportion with your scale and proportions. Look after yourselves and each other!

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

I wanted to let you into this little secret as for me Lindsey’s collection is so colourful and joyful that everyone should have a piece In their wardrobe!

Lindsey and model in the bright red safari theme pyjamas with zebras, cheetahs, tropical birds and plants!

Blue mandrill patterned pyjamas or crisp white with blue elephants

Frida Kahlo Design of bold vibrant colours inspired by the Mexican Artist, also comes with a pink background

The light delicate colour of the pink flamingo with its lush tropical foliage is perfect for a lighter, softer colouring

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NURSERY & P R E PA R AT O R Y SCHOOL NURSERY FROM £ 4 2 . 5 0 A D AY 15 AND 30 HOUR FUNDING A VA I L A B L E

BOOK A TOUR: ROSSALL.ORG.UK 01253 774321

STUDENTS CELEBRATE STUNNING RESULTS AT

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Students at Rossall School are celebrating after achieving a fantastic set of results in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.

he IB diploma programme provides an intellectually rigorous curriculum for Sixth Form students, who study no less than six subjects and must demonstrate a commitment to creativity, action and service. Globally, the programme is offered by over 3,000 top performing schools and 170,000 candidates are entered for the diploma each year. The Diploma is scored out of a possible maximum of 45 points with a worldwide average of 31 points. At Rossall, students achieved an average of 35 points which places this year’s cohort amongst the highest performing cohorts within the UK. Furthermore, almost a quarter of students achieved 40 points or above, the equivalent of achieving A*AA at A-level. Individual subjects achieved spectacular success. English, German, French, Spanish, Economics, History and Music all achieved a straight set of 6/7s (the equivalent of A*/A). Indeed, more than half of all subject entries achieved the equivalent of an A*/A (52%). Unsurprisingly there were some stunning individual results. Terje Mildner achieved no less than 44 www.lancmag.com

points which places him within the top 1% of candidates in the world. Terje achieved the equivalent of an A* across all six subjects. He will now head off to the University of Warwick to study mathematics and commented “I’m delighted that I got such excellent results. Thank you Rossall and my teachers for believing in me and helping me throughout the last two years.” Anna-Sophia Mäckel likewise achieved a clean sweep of 7s in all of her subjects and is planning to study Medicine. She is grateful to all at Rossall for the wonderful time she has had. Joey Warwick achieved 43 points and had the following to say “This result is reflective of my ambition and perseverance throughout these difficult two years. Though I have been nervous and somewhat stressed about my grades, I am now relieved and very grateful.” Joey is heading to the University of Edinburgh to study International Relations. Headmaster Jeremy Quartermain commented, ‘This is a phenomenal set of results and we are incredibly proud of our wonderful students. During the most challenging of years, they have worked very hard and the results that they have achieved are reflective of their determination and resilience. Most importantly, they are kind, compassionate, and engaging they are brilliant young people and we will be sorry to bid them farewell. I should also pay tribute to our teachers who have provided an outstanding quality of teaching and learning both in class and online. These sorts of results occur within a vibrant and dynamic Sixth Form community where there is a synergy between the School’s high

expectations and students’ ambitious aspirations. In a year during which we have been shortlisted for two national awards and achieved the highest student roll in the School’s 177 year history, these results really are the icing on the cake’. Rossall School offers A levels, the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and BTECs. Situated on the Fylde Coast, the School provides a holistic education which combines world class teaching and learning with a vibrant co-curricular programme and a quality of pastoral care judged by inspectors to be excellent (ISI Report, 2019). The School’s offering is unique in this part of the world and provides young people real choice within a community that is inclusive and diverse. Over 65% of students progress to Russell Group/Top 20 universities in the UK whilst a growing number now head off to the States on full sporting scholarships. The School is also Number One in the country for Golf and in the Top Ten for Hockey and Football. 2021 sees the launch of the girls’ football programme (headed up by English footballer, Millie Bright) and an International Piano Academy. Last week the School learned that it has been shortlisted for two categories in the Independent School of the Year Awards. The School offers a number of Sixth Form scholarships and bursaries and welcomes enquiries from potential applicants throughout the year. If you would like to find out more about Rossall then please contact admissions E @rossall.org.uk or phone N 01253 774201

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AMANDA OWEN

- The Yorkshire Shepherdess

Opens Rossall School’s State-of-the-art New Pre-Prep and Nursery Provision love with its many unique features such as the bespoke purpose built play equipment. Rossall is an incredible community and today marks the summation of so much hard work and dedication upon the part of our staff. Throughout lockdown, our support staff have been our absolute heroes, and this building provides a tangible expression of their love and dedication to our community. In particular, I should thank Andy Edwards for his spectacular creations’.

With the highest pupil roll in the School’s history, Rossall has opened a fantastic new Nursery and Pre-Prep to cope with the unprecedented surge for demand in places.

he stunning new facilities have been designed by Rossall School’s own Head of Design and Technology, Lee Hodgetts and students in the Senior School have contributed to some elements of the design. The original building was constructed in the early 1990s but burgeoning numbers meant that a radical redesign was needed to ensure bright contemporary learning spaces reflective of the School’s commitment to inquiryled learning. The striking design of the interior spaces embraces much of the latest thinking in terms of classroom design. The provision of a technologically enriched environment is complemented by the free flow of spaces that fully exploit the beautiful natural landscape within which the building is situated. Headmaster, Jeremy Quartermain states that, ‘Our ambition was to design a building that would provide young children with a wonderful space within which to learn and play. Lee’s creative response to the brief that we provided has resulted in the creation of a building that undoubtedly has the ‘wow’ factor. Most importantly our pupils and their parents have fallen in

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The Nursery, which now includes a baby room, currently has a waiting list and regularly receives rave reviews across a range of media platforms. 2021 will see a record number of pupils enter the School’s Reception Class. Parents are drawn to the wonderful environment which includes a School petting farm (Graeme’s Garden) and both a beach school and a forest school. The emphasis upon wellbeing and the provision of a holistic curriculum is reflected in every aspect of this new building. It is clear that the provision has resonated very well with current parents. One parent commented, ‘the staff in the Nursery and Pre-Prep have always been amazing but these new facilities provide such an excellent environment. The sheer variety of activities on offer means that we are confident in the knowledge that Rossall is providing the very best possible start in life for our children’. Amanda Owen stated that she was honoured to open the new building and enjoyed meeting the children in the Pre-Prep School. Amanda presented prizes at the Prep School Prize Day and her observations on childhood resonate with much of the philosophy underpinning the curriculum in the Prep School. Rossall School has had a bumper year of success which has been capped by outstanding academic results in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and being shortlisted (twice) in the Independent School of the Year awards. Prep School Headmaster, Matt Turner concludes that, ‘Our purpose is to provide the very best possible start in life for all of our children. The strength of our provision, coupled with the warmth and kindness of our staff, is why we are viewed as the nursery and school of first choice for families across the Fylde and in this part of Lancashire’. The Nursery and PrePrep welcome visitors all year round and families that would like a private tour of the new facilities should contact Lisa Rhodes, Prep School and Nursery Registrar E l.rhodes@rossall.org.uk www.lancmag.com

NURSERY PREPARATORY SCHOOL SENIOR SCHOOL SIXTH FORM

ROSSALL.ORG.UK/OPENDAY

If Team LM Got Married From the coolest venues to the dreamiest décor, this is how we would plan our ultimate big day!

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QUIRKY, YET STYLISH “Two Weddings - One Groom, one in London at a hotel with a great bar and cocktails that make you forget your name and one at home with some black swans, foxes and cats in their best outfits” Natalie, Managing Director

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1920’s

‘Ettia’ by Maggie Sottero www.maggiesottero.com

“Ideally my wedding would be set in a stately home like Highclere Castle where Downton Abbey was filmed Everyone must come themed as a flapper girl or suited and booted. I would arrive in a classic Rolls-Royce. My dress would have lace, diamonds and beads embroidered in it and I would wear a vintage headband. Massive feathers throughout the aisle and used as centrepieces along a long table where everyone would sit after the ceremony. The theme of gold, black and white to be spread throughout the room. A champagne fountain surrounded by vintage styled, shabby chic Art Deco signs directing people where to sit. A huge dance floor which would be used by everyone. If you aren’t going to dance at my wedding you aren’t invited, even the grandmas! Jazz music would be played throughout the wedding and then later at night all of the pop songs would be played.” Zara, Marketing Executive

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BOHEMIAN “Autumnal Outdoor Wedding, in the Lake District, glamping in tipis with fairy lights, firepits, vegan/vegetarian BBQ food, warm blankets, colourful flowers, lace dreamcatchers and plenty of macramé, polaroid cameras aplenty, with seating on the floor with cushions, colourful rugs, lots of candles, a bar made from wine barrels and reclaimed wood, party favours of bottles of gin/non-alcoholic hibiscus & apple drink and mini cactuses, a live acoustic band, an unstructured flowing wedding dress, loose long hair with a flower crown headpiece, and everyone in Converse, Vans, flipflops or just their bare feet!” Tanje, Design Manager

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‘Anice’ by Jenny Packham www.jennypackham.com

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Formal & Casual “I would have two wedding ceremonies The first would be a traditional Iraqi Muslim wedding ceremony. Everything will be gold and white. Everyone I know would be invited. Women would have to wear hijabs. Henna would be done for all those in attendance. Often jasmine incense is burned. I would most likely wear a traditional wedding garment. They are large princess-style dresses with hair and face veils in white adorned with crystals. The second would be a destination wedding on a beach. With just me and my partner. I wouldn’t wear shoes. I would have a simple rose bouquet. I’d wear a long flowy dress that comes in at the waist and let my partner wear whatever they wanted. I would invite two guests - I would choose one and let my partner choose the other.” Georgie, Marketing Executive

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tropical turquoise dream “I’d like to get married on the beach in the Bahamas, which is truly the most perfect setting with sapphire blue skies, turquoise sea, pure white or pink sandy beaches. I would wear a nice lightweight white summery wedding dress, with the groom in white shorts and shirt, and the bridesmaids in turquoise dresses and best man in a turquoise shirt. There would be cocktail bars with fairy lights draped on all surfaces and colourful tropical flowers scattered everywhere. For the evening entertainment there would be a authentic steel pan band playing, and a scrumptious selection of food to suit everyone’s tastes” Katie Ellison, Marketing Manager

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a celebration to remember

WEDDING GINSPIRATION By FOK HING GIN

for the special occasion A FOK HING WEDDING

party of the year WEDDING FAVOURS

Need to booze up the guests and get them dancing wildly on the dance floor? (Or let’s be real, just something hard to knock out cold feet nerves?). Brace up with some FOK HING GIN and make your wedding a party, for the guests with a sense of humour and to make a memorable night out of our FOK HING deliciously crass gin. Great for bachelor and hen parties too.

Stuck on wedding favours? Let’s be real, you can never go wrong with some FOK HING GIN. Gift our miniature bottles - a very generous 200ml one, not those stingy hotel minis! to your guests and you’re bound to win best wedding party of the year. Also great for a cheeky tipple on a bachelor/ hens night out.

Order 6 or more to get wholesale price, email trade@fokhinggin.com for more information.

Order 12 or more to get wholesale price, email trade@fokhinggin.com for more information.

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hat’s in a name? What’s in a bottle? The name FOK HING GIN might get you a little flustered. But when you open, pour and taste the contents of a bottle, we’re sure you’ll exhale in a relaxed fashion and nod in approval at what is a finely crafted, superior tasting drink. It’s inspired by Hong Kong, in case you didn’t already know, and is named after a street the locals have long since stopped guffawing at. But visitors from all over the world still seem to enjoy its similarity with a western profanity. Almost as much as people are enjoying the fok-hing fine quality gin that bears it name. Distilled & bottled in the UK.

THE MIX Infused with the beautiful chaos of the place we call home, FOK HING GIN is a simply delicious drink from a pretty complicated place. All the light, colour, sound, atmosphere, variety and mayhem of the city, we’ve tried to distill it all into a drink. No easy task, but our Gin Master is convinced he’s cracked it. In fact, it’s so good, our Gin Master fok-hing swears by it.

Our quality botanicals are sourced right here from this hole in the wall, and the finest of our jasmine green tea leaves from a local tea emporium, concocting into a harmonious mix that tastes authentically like Hong Kong. All botanicals then make the long journey to the UK, ready to be distilled into our unique and flavourful gin.

fun facts DID YOU KNOW?

grain to glass THE DISTILLATION

9,629km For Perfection

Arriving at the doorstep of our Northampton distillery, our master distiller prepares the base spirit and infuses it with our Asian botanicals to macerate in a traditionally crafted, hand-beaten Portuguese copper still. When heated, the infused spirit distillates and is proofed with water to achieve the desired 42% ABV. The result? A crisp and clean taste, yet with a bold and worldly flavour.

Small Batch Production We only craft 250 in every batch we produce to ensure quality over quantity. The number at the back of each bottle is uniquely identified to their batch production.

That’s the combined distance our botanicals and raw materials travel - from both Hong Kong and local suppliers in the UK - just to make some fok-hing good gin.

Lucky 13 Whilst unlucky for some, the number 13 is our lucky charm. Why so? For after 13 formulations, we finally cracked the perfect botanical blend for our legendary EDITION 852 gin.

What [he] puts in the mix? Well, the Colonel never told anyone his secret recipe chicken, so our Gin Master isn’t about to spill the beans or pure green jasmine tea. Oops. OK, that’s one of the secret ingredients. The rest? Let’s just say they are a selection of ten 100% natural botanicals, harvested from sustainable sources native to the Pearl of the Orient.

savour the aroma THE BOTANICALS The discovery of our spice merchant was very much like the voyagers of the silk road back in the days. Except for us, it was hiking up the cobbled roads of Sheung Wan’s stone steps and through Hollywood Road to discover a small century-old family-run spices shop. The pungent smell of Szechuan peppercorns and exotic spices are mixed in the air, wafting out of giant burlap sacks with a shop cat guarding over the cinnamon sticks. www.lancmag.com

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An interview with Raphael Ogunrinde

Founder and CEO of

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Q Q A

What led to the creation of your brand?

Long story short, when we lived in Nigeria my mum always made the drinks. So I brought over her love for making them when I moved to England. I started taking them to work to give to my colleagues and friends. After getting positive reviews and comments from my peers, it only seemed right to start a business. I began slowly brewing the hibiscus on the stove and peeling mountains of ginger. As the products are 100% natural, I saw a gap in the market and took my chance. I then pitched my idea to Chester University and our first commercial products were created. We derived our name from the ‘calyx’ of a flower which is the green outer whorl of a bud that encloses the petals to form a protective layer around the bloom.

What is unique about your brand? What makes you stand out?

As I said before, all of our products are made with 100% natural ingredients and we use real flowers (not extract like other brands). Our traditional craft-brewing process extracts huge amounts of nutrition and flavour from organic flowers, fruit and spices to create soft drinks that positively impact wellbeing and taste naturally delicious. The result is as close to nature as you can get in a bottle.

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Additionally, looking after the environment is important to us. To contribute to a cleaner planet, we have used glass bottles which can be recycled. People will choose Calyx Drinks to enhance significant moments throughout their day because they know each drink will be enjoyable and good for their overall wellbeing.

How would you describe your products to a potential customer?

As a lot of Generation Z are looking for healthier options, our drinks provide lower fat and sugar alternatives. The drinks are also vegan friendly, caffeine free and eco-friendly. Our drinks are made from organic flowers, spices and fruits and can be consumed on their own, served chilled or even warm. They can be used as a mixer with alcoholic drinks such as gin but are equally a great alternative to alcohol.

Do you have a favourite flavour of your drinks? Why do you love it so much?

The Calyx Zobo Original is my favourite. The complexity of the flavours tick all boxes. It is a drink that you either love or hate. There is no in between as it is a very rich flavour. You can use the product five different ways including cooking with it and using it as a mixer. It really is a versatile product and that is why I love it.

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With the recent new branding of your company, how did this come about? What made you decide to change the branding and website?

We listened to what our target audience wanted. Our packaging and branding has become brighter to represent the amazing flavours we use. It represents more of our story and helps identify our ingredients we use as images are now included on our packaging. Funnily enough, a lot of people didn’t know what ginger looked like. We now provide pictures of our ingredients. The branding has also included answers to our most asked questions.

Q A

What does a typical day look like for you?

Two days are never the same. A good day consists of brewing products in the factory. I always love going out and talking to our customers as well as our suppliers. After a long day, a bike ride or playing basketball with my son is what I look forward to.

Has your company been affected by the pandemic?

It has absolutely been affected by the pandemic. We were affected by over 90%. The whole of the hospitality industry was. It was a heavy shock for everyone.

Where do you see yourself and your business in 10 years?

We want our brand to be recognised as a lifestyle brand as we offer an alternative drink which

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helps the health and wellbeing of our consumers. We already supply a lot nationally and our products are being sold in mainstream shops such as Booths and TKMaxx as well as online. We have also begun exporting our products to the USA and finalising the exportation to Eastern Africa. A big goal for our company is to export to more international countries. Hopefully this will be happening soon.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to start their own company?

There are no blue prints to creating your own brand. The process will be different for everyone. All I can say is that if you believe in yourself and work hard then you can achieve anything. But you must try your very hardest.

Personally, how do you switch your mind from business mode to relaxation mode?

I try to spend as much time with my son as possible and we both like playing basketball together. I must admit it is hard to switch between work mode and relaxation but I try my hardest. I do drink some of my products when trying to relax, as a mixer. Along with playing basketball and going on bike rides, I also love to swim. You can now buy Calyx Products with a click of a button at our online shop: calyxdrinks.co.uk If you would like to become a certified Calyx Stockist please contact our sales team via email at: hello@calyxdrinks.co.uk www.lancmag.com

NATURE BOTTLED

We might be made in Lancashire but we’ve not forgotten our roots. We were born on the streets of Nigeria, where drinking hibiscus brewed with fruit and spices is the nation’s daily ritual. Which is why you’ll find flowers, fruit and spices in every one of our craft-brewed drinks. We like to take things slowly. Our organic flowers, fruits and spices are given time to mature in their natural surroundings before we use a gentle craft-brewing process to extract all the goodness. The result is as close to nature as you can get in a bottle. Life is full of compromises. Why should your wellbeing be one of them? Our drinks prepare you for whatever comes your way. Flower power your day the Calyx Drinks way.

CRAFT-BREWED NON-ALCOHOLIC SOFT DRINKS

Our traditional craft-brewing process extracts huge amounts of nutrition and flavour from organic flowers, fruit and spices to create soft drinks that positively impact wellbeing and taste naturally delicious.

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

CALYX WILD A delicious and intriguingly moreish, beautifully balanced blend of red hibiscus flower, not from concentrate apple juice and ginger.

CALYX BLUSH A luscious and uplifting medley of culinary lavender flower and delicious natural strawberry with a refreshing twist of not from concentrate lemon juice and warm cinnamon spice.

CALYX SHINE A beautifully balanced blend of red hibiscus flower, not from concentrate pineapple juice and lemon. Your natural no added sugar, flower-powered health boost.

CALYX ZOBO A blend of delicious white grape with hibiscus flower and four ferociously fiery natural spices.

CALYX CALM A blend of soul-soothing camomile, not from concentrate apple juice and (heart) warming botanicals.

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LYTHAM GIN Inspired by Lancashire’s coastline. Distilled with love in the Ancient Parish of Lytham.

Find out more at: www.sandgrownspirits.co.uk and get 15% OFF all purchases in our online store using the coupon code Lancashire2021 at checkout

HELEN JAMES HEALTHY HAPPY Why you might want to include chia seeds in your daily diet: BENEFITS OF CHIA SEEDS There are many reasons why you may want to start eating chia seeds; they are a source of soluble fibre to aid digestion, they are rich in anti-inflammatory omega 3’s, as well as being nutrient dense (high amounts of protein, calcium, manganese, magnesium, phosphorous, zinc and B vitamins)

Strawberry and Chia Seed Jam INGREDIENTS: • 180g Fresh Strawberries • 2 1/2 Tablespoons Chia Seeds • 1 - 2 Teaspoons Maple Syrup or Honey • 1 Lime (1/2 juiced, 1/2 sliced) • Squeeze of Lemon Juice This is super easy, fresh and low in sugar. It is not like normal jams that contain high amounts of sugar as a preservative which means it will only last a week in the fridge. Method Mash up the berries with a fork or potato masher, alternatively blend in a food processor. Mix in the chia seeds and the other ingredients. The mixture will need an hour in the fridge to set or leave overnight before using. Keep in the fridge for up to a week. Use as you would normal jam.

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Overnight Chia Yogurt Breakfast Pudding SERVES 2 INGREDIENTS: • 1/2 cup (125g) Greek Yogurt or Coconut Yogurt • 1 Tablespoon Chia Seeds • 1 Tablespoon Milled Flaxseeds • 1/4 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract • 1 Tablespoon Pumpkin Seeds • Handful of Fresh Raspberries Method Mix together the yogurt, milled flaxseeds, vanilla extract and chia seeds. Leave in the fridge overnight. Before serving top with pumpkin seeds and berries. If the mixture is too thick for your liking, add a little milk to thin.

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from £155,000

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

www.wenningdale.co.uk

robin lane, bentham, lancaster LA2 7AG

Honeymoons at Wenningdale Escapes By Isabel Marshall

Where the Lake District, Forest of Bowland and Yorkshire Dales unite, Wenningdale Escapes offers the perfect honeymoon location in The Three Peaks area with stunning scenery and access to a host of outdoor activities.

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ith luxurious lodges perfectly capturing the surrounding views and posh pods nestled amongst the trees, you can wind down after the whirlwind that a wedding is and enjoy your first few days as Mr & Mrs. Based at the border of North Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cumbria, it’s easy to access and experience all there is to see and do in the area with fabulous walking routes, cycling, climbing and fishing all on offer close by. And if you’re just wanting to wind down for a few days after wedding madness, then you can do that too.

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Located on the edge of the village of High Bentham, newly-weds can enjoy access to a host of local pubs and eateries, all within a safe walk of their luxury lodge or posh pod. High Bentham itself is steeped in agricultural history. As a traditional market town, there is still a wellsupported and bustling livestock market every week. The surrounding landscape tells the tale of decades of farming heritage and a well worked backdrop. Heading out of the village on to Burnmoor, the moorland has an iconic feature embedded on the North Yorkshire and Lancashire border line. www.lancmag.com

Big Stone, as its locally known, is the old stone of four stone. The local myth is that the devil dropped the large rock on his way to build Devil’s Bridge in the nearby town of Kirkby Lonsdale. This glacial deposit is the only remaining stone of four originally found in the area. It’s a must visit for any trip to Bentham and affords views across the Yorkshire Dales, Lancashire and on to the Lakeland Fells. Artfully set amongst the fairways of an 18-hole parkland golf course, the lodges are a golfers haven but the backdrop and location is ideal for anyone. Providing the perfect base for outdoor enthusiasts, each lodge comes ready for muddy walking boots or much-loved golf clubs. There is an endless list of things to do, regardless of what you are interested in. Whether you are looking for a relaxing mini-moon or an adventure filled trip with your new spouse, there is something on offer for everyone. You will find yourself surrounded by miles of excellent footpaths suitable for gentle, easy strolls as well as those looking for some challenging routes, such as the Yorkshire Three Peaks. The famous Yorkshire 3 peaks is a 24 mile walking challenge encompassing Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough. The challenge aim is to walk all three peaks in under 12 hours, a feat completed by many from far and wide. However, all three peaks offer scenic individual walks so if you didn’t quite fancy taking the test, you can enjoy each route individually and experience the distinct characters of the peaks. With views to the coast and Lakeland fells on clear days, the rewards for the hard climb are there to be reaped. If walking isn’t your hobby of choice then you can navigate the rural roads on 2 wheels or visit one of the many local hot spots for mountain biking. Fishing is in abundance with popular spots for both fly and coarse fishing within easy reach. Wenningdale Escapes guests have access to fishing on the river Wenning. www.lancmag.com

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The popular dales market towns of Hawes, Kirby Lonsdale, Settle and Ingleton are all within close driving distance, with a host of things to do all year round, whatever the weather, from tourist attractions to craft galleries and specialist shops. Travel by train from the village to Lancaster or Skipton, or experience the magnificent Settle-Carlisle Railway line. The seaside is also within easy reach for a day out on the coast. High Bentham is a gateway town to the Forest of Bowland, an area of outstanding natural beauty. As a protected area, there is a wealth of beauty and nature only a stone’s throw away. With gritstone fells, deep valleys and peat moorland, this area offers jaw dropping view points and nature hotspots. With five dark sky discovery sites, the area is a star gazers dream. As true dark sky locations become harder to find due to increasing light pollution, these hot spots allow gazers to get lost in a night time world of mythical creatures and mysterious beasts. M Robin Lane High Bentham LA2 7AG E hello@wenningdale.co.uk N 01524 262455 www.wenningdale.co.uk

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www.lancmag.com

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ello again and let me introduce myself, my name is Karla McCulloch and I am a trusted travel advisor with 20 years working in retail and business travel sector. I have been running my own travel franchise now for around 18 months and what an 18 months it has been! Thankfully I have managed to keep myself going throughout the pandemic and we are now beginning to see some real movement back into the world of travel. The past month has really seen a surge in confidence again in booking travel overseas and 2022 is fast becoming the option for everyone to start booking that bucket list vacation. On top of this I am seeing a huge rise in people who just want some clarity and answers to the options which we have to now abide by to permit travel to begin again. So I am using this month’s article to try and cover the most popular questions I am being asked and hopefully this will help you with your future travel decisions.

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www.lancmag.com

VACCINATION VACATION So with the recent news that anyone who lives in the UK and has been double vaccinated ( plus 14 days) by the NHS will no longer need to quarantine upon arriving into the UK from 4am on Monday the 19th July 2021. Children under the age of 18 are to be exempt from quarantining on return to England from an amber country. With the recommendation for people not to travel to amber countries will also be removed on this date also it does feel that international travel is again becoming a possibility. Of course the FCDO travel advice must still be checked and adhered to and once the NHS certification system is linked to the EU digital Covid Certification it will allow freer movement within Europe, hopefully this should be for around mid-August.

Although there is no need to quarantine after this date for those who have been double-jabbed, they will still ned to take two covid tests. One test will be required for your destination countries entry requirements and one PCR test on or before day two when you are back in the UK. The costs vary for these but would usually add an additional cost of at least £120.00 per person to your holiday however I do have access to discounted rates with a few of our suppliers which would reduce the cost to around £80.00 approximately when booking with myself.

There are so many more questions and scenarios that I can answer so if you are planning the next dream vacation and would like any help please do not hesitate in contacting me for my help as always happy to guide you through the current situation and ever changing landscape of travel regulations.

With this news regarding the relaxation of Amber countries I would recommend that you must ensure you have valid travel insurance and ensure that the FCDO advises it is safe to travel as if they do not the insurance will not valid.

E karla.mcculloch@ travelcounsellors.com

KARLA MCCULLOCH TRAVEL COUNSELLOR N 01617 440025 07515 945781

D tctravelmanagement.co.uk/ karla.mcculloch F facebook.com/KarMcC06

Why not head to my website; www.tctravelmanagement.co.uk/karla.mcculloch where you will find all the fantastic offers I have available for you. You can also email me: karla.mcculloch@travelcounsellors.com or pick up the phone on 0161 744 0025, where I will be available to help with any questions, help or advice.

www.lancmag.com

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It’s Straightforward With Stonebrook

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www.lancmag.com

PROFESSIONAL

HONEST

APPROACHABLE

IT’S STRAIGHTFORWARD WITH STONEBROOK Whether you’re buying a new property, raising capital or looking to remortgage, we can help. At Stonebrook, there’s no pressured sales pitches or confusing jargon. We take a fresh, modern approach to mortgage and protection advice tailored to your personal needs. With over 12 years experience, we pride ourselves on providing a straightforward & honest service that leaves clients happy.

WE SPECIALISE IN: • First Time Buyers • Home Movers • Buy to Let* • Help to Buy & Shared Ownership • • New Build • Remortgage • Life Insurance • Critical Illness & Income Protection • • Accident Protection • Home & Landlord Insurance •

W W W. S T O N E B R O O K M O R T G A G E S . C O . U K 0 1 94 2 8 3 0 4 5 8

info@stonebrookmortgages.co.uk

YOUR PROPERTY MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON A MORTGAGE OR ANY OTHER DEBT SECURED ON IT. SOME BUY TO LET AND LET TO BUY MORTGAGES ARE NOT REGULATED BY THE FINANCIAL CONDUCT AUTHORITY.

orking from home is something many of us have become accustomed to over the last 17 months due the pandemic and spending quality time with family is precious. This became obvious to Paul and Laura Barrett a little earlier in 2019 and Laura joining Paul to start a family business was a no brainer. The couple met in 2006, after spending 7 years at the same school, having never spoken to each other. They got married in 2011. Paul began his career in finance and banking almost 20 years ago. He detoured into the world of Sports Science for a while, but for the last 12 years, he has been in the Financial Services Sector. Prior to becoming selfemployed in 2016, he was an award winning Senior Mortgage & Protection Adviser, working for a national network of estate agents. Laura had a 15 year long successful career as Criminal Defence Lawyer in Manchester. This was always a 24 hour a day, 7 day a week role. Being in a police station at 3am was the norm. Having taken voluntary redundancy when she was pregnant with Olivia, now 5, she fell pregnant again with Sophie when Olivia was just 5 months old. The 3am police station trips were no longer an option, and Laura decided a change in career path was necessary. She completed her CeMAP qualifications, and joined Paul, becoming a self-employed broker with Just Mortgages. Laura has been working closely with Paul in the mortgage industry for almost 2 years now, and has gained an extensive knowledge of lender criteria. She takes great pleasure in finding client’s positive solutions when they find themselves in challenging situations. Given everything that’s happened in the last 18 months, they feel now is the time to drive their family business forward and expand, making it their own brand, Stonebrook Mortgages, in order to provide a more personal service to their customers. The name Stonebrook Mortgages comes from the fact their home is in the beautiful Borsdane Wood, an ancient semi-natural woodland in Aspull, Greater Manchester. Borsdane Brook runs through it, and provides a beautiful setting for their home office. Along with the rebrand, the family business is growing and they have welcomed two new brokers to the business. Amy Hunt joined Stonebrook Mortgages after completing her CeMAP qualifications in May 2021. Previously she had spent ten years as a sales agent within the cycling industry, and four years before that as a professional cyclist, representing Great Britain at the Commonwealth Games and World Championships. She was nine times national champion, and achieved silver and bronze in the Commonwealth Games in Australia. Her background means that she is a tenacious and focused broker, who goes the extra mile to ensure that her clients achieve their goals, offering excellent customer service along the way. When she isn’t helping clients, she enjoys keeping fit and spending time with her husband, Gareth, and daughter, Sienna. Hannah Barrett, Paul’s sister, is the newest recruit to Stonebrook Mortgages joining in 2021 following completion of her CeMAP qualifications. Prior to this she 180

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spent 13 years working in finance and management for a Housing Association, whilst also fulfilling a personal goal to project manage and renovate property in her spare time. She is highly organised, passionate about helping people and strives to achieve the best possible solution for every client. Outside of work she loves to spend time with friends and family, travelling, hiking and working out. SO WHAT CAN THEY DO FOR YOU? HOW CAN THEY HELP? You will not get the hard sell at Stonebrook Mortgages, only a personable adviser who wants to make sure you understand the process fully and answer any questions you have. Paul and Laura’s aim is for what can be a daunting mortgage process to be as clear and stress free for their clients as possible. They want to ensure that their customer feels involved, secure and enlightened throughout the process. As Mortgage and Protection advisers, Laura says they will review the mortgages available to you based on your own personal circumstances and apply for one on your behalf. If you’ve ever thought about going to your bank, the benefit at Stonebrook Mortgages is to find the more cost-effective product available for you, as they have access to thousands of products, which could save you money in the long run. They can also save you time. Going directly to your bank or directly to another lender means that you’re only going to get advice about the products that bank offers. They may not even consider your circumstances if you’ve been affected by Covid, or if you have any adverse credit, even if you’ve banked with them for years. If you spoke to every lender that Stonebrook Mortgages have access to, it could take you weeks to get all of the advice and information you’d need to find the most cost effective product. In their initial consultation, they will take all of your information and assess your personal circumstances. Based on that, they will then search their panel of lenders and come up with a bespoke tailored recommendation of the right products available for you. Having access to thousands of products and often exclusive broker-only and network-only deals that you wouldn’t be able to get by going direct, they can save you time and potentially money. Paul says if 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that nothing is certain and that’s definitely been the case in the world of mortgages. Things are changing daily with lenders and what income they’ll accept from both the employed and self-employed. It’s a brokers job to know which lenders will accept what so that you don’t have to. They have extensive knowledge of the mortgage market and can recommend the right lender for your personal circumstances. Just because your own bank has said no, doesn’t mean that all of them will. So whether you’re a first time buyer, a home mover or buying an investment property for rental, at Stonebrook Mortgages, they know that this can be a daunting experience and they want to help you through the house www.lancmag.com

PAUL

LAURA

buying process every step of the way. Moving house is officially one of the three most stressful things you can go through in life, and at Stonebrook, their aim is to make moving home drop down that list by easing the process and dealing with the mortgage process on your behalf. With viewing properties, making offers, the dreaded chain, packing and moving day, the last thing you need to be stressing about is your mortgage.

Right to Buy and Help to Buy Government schemes and can explain the complexities of those, taking over the application process on your behalf. And what about Shared Ownership properties? They do that too. So no matter what scenario you find yourself in, if you need a mortgage, then Stonebrook Mortgages can help.

Laura says the most common thing they hear, particularly from First Time Buyers, is that they don’t know where to start. So start with a call to the team. They will be able to help you with how much you can borrow, explain the whole house buying process so you understand what happens at each stage, and even help you with estate agents, surveyors, and solicitors to give you the confidence to buy your first, or next, home. They can get you an Agreement in Principle in the early stages so that you’re in a position to make an offer when you see your dream home. They will also deal with all that paperwork, do the mortgage application for you and liaise with solicitors, estate agents, surveyors and any other professional that becomes involved. Covid-19 and the lockdowns have changed things a little, but depending on how you’ve been affected, Stonebrook are experts in finding the right lender for your circumstances. They also have extensive knowledge of both the 182

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At Stonebrook Mortgages they can explain the process and let you know whether you’re eligible for the scheme. It’s imperative to get expert advice to help you through the application stage. And they don’t just deal with purchases, they can sort out your remortgage too. If your current fixed rate is coming to an end or you are paying the lender’s variable rate, why spend all that time on the phone to the bank to only be given limited options, when they can do all the hard work for you? At Stonebrook Mortgages they can search through thousands of products to check the right deal for your circumstances, not just those that your current lender might offer. You may want to raise money for home improvements or a deposit for an investment property, or a whole host of other reasons, or you may simply want to seek out a more competitive rate to save money on your monthly payments. They can help by choosing the right lender for you. Reducing your mortgage term to save you potentially thousands in interest payments is their speciality. www.lancmag.com

We are Marsden Rawsthorn Solicitors. Marsden Rawthorn is an ambitious and forward thinking legal firm based in Fulwood Preston and Buckshaw Village - Chorley, who are dedicated to getting the right results for you, for the right fee.

Services: Litigation - Disputes and Debt Landlord/Tenant Commercial Property Family Law Company Law Employment Law Personal Injury Wills, Probate and Trusts Residential Property

Services For You, Services For Business

Free Initial Consultation

Providing exceptional service for you is the driving force for our energetic and experienced team. We place great emphasis on listening to you and take time to understand your needs. This allows us to provide you with innovative solutions for all your business and private legal issues.

Our free initial consultation lets you explore whether we can offer the right option for you without worrying about the cost of the consultation.

Monthly Payment Plans Available Our services and payment plans can be adapted according to the complexity of your matter and the level of advice needed.

Tel: 0800 294 4410 Email: info@marsdenrawsthorn.com www.marsdenrawsthorn.com

AMY

And it’s not only mortgages, Paul, Laura, Amy and Hannah are able to offer stand-alone Protection reviews or review your Protection needs for you at the same time as you sorting out your mortgage. You may not have any Protection in place, or your circumstances may have changed since you took out your policies, which means that they’re no longer suitable for your needs. Have you thought about how you would be able to cover your bills or mortgage payments if you were unable to work, or what would happen to those left behind if the worst happened and you were no longer around to support them? Stonebrook can provide bespoke, tailored protection recommendations based on what’s important to you. They can consider a wide range of policies, including life insurance, critical illness cover, income support and family income benefit.

HANNAH

TESTIMONIALS “Always available to answer questions and made the whole process so much easier. Would highly recommend, Thanks again!ˮ “Friendly, professional and dedicated! Would definitely recommend and use again in the future.ˮ “Excellent service. Shaved years off my mortgage and also reduced my monthly payments. Won’t go anywhere else in the future. Highly recommended!ˮ

They can also help you protect your home by offering policies for buildings and contents insurance, and landlord’s insurance, from 5* Defaqto rated insurers. Paul and Laura’s attitude to business, their passion, their professionalism and knowledge is second to none. The property market is booming at the moment, so now is the time to seek expert advice and start your new life in 2021. YOUR PROPERTY MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE. SOME BUY TO LET AND LET TO BUY MORTGAGES ARE NOT REGULATED BY THE FINANCIAL CONDUCT AUTHORITY. 184

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E info@stonebrookmortgages.co.uk N 01942 830458 www.lancmag.com

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

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

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

Baxter Homes Baxter Homes is a local family company, focused on quality and exceeding expectations. The aim when established over 25 years ago, was to be the best locally, and ensure we were competitive on price locally, whilst offering so much more. As other developers have continued to drive down

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costs and any form of personable experience, we have tried to create homes that are built around the customer and their budgets, needs and aspirations. We are both award winning and focused of customer service, with a team focused on making you feel a part of the family.

www.lancmag.com

MORE THAN JUST A GARDEN A garden in today’s world is more than just garden With busy lives, a garden’s priority is to become a place of relaxation and entertainment whilst also being low maintenance

LANDSCAPING SERVICES

OUTDOOR KITCHENS

GARDEN LANDSCAPING

Eden Paving and Driveways also build fire pits, barbecues and wood pizza ovens, creating a focal point in your garden as well as retaining walls with steps to tackle awkward garden levels and maximise your space.

Gain another space to spend time with family and entertain guests with an outdoor kitchen. Various options available from bespoke larch wooden gazebos to ultra-sleek contemporary aluminium structures with counter space, ovens and seating areas.

Eden Paving and Driveways can help create your perfect garden space. We can design and build a garden space for alfresco dining on beautiful porcelain paving complimented with an overhead veranda.

www.edenpavinganddriveways.co.uk info@edenpavinganddriveways.co.uk

N 07548 934281

“This is our dream home, the service has been exceptional” – The Ollis family

Below: Oak Hill Rise Final phase has now launched to include a luxury bungalow collection.

ur latest development, Oak Hill Rise, is situated within the grounds of Garstang Golf Club. It commands exclusive panoramic views across the fairways and greens. This is the opportunity to be part of something special, and we would of course love for you to visit Carol within the show home complex, to see what makes us stand out from the crowd. There are a mix of homes available, from those suited to first time buyers, retirement bungalows as well as large detached fivebedroom homes. Properties are currently selling at a record speed due to government incentives, as well as our enviable reputation. At the Baxter Group our main objective is to design and build beautiful & stylish homes in enviable locations where people aspire to live. For over 25 years, we have designed and built various projects across the North West and established an excellent reputation for quality, value for money and customer service. We continue to believe in helping to create and support our communities, as well as enabling our people to reach their full potential, through encouragement of a strong family ethos.

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The Baxter Group prides itself on building homes with character, with every member of our team playing a pivotal role in creating developments that we, our customers and end users can be proud of. We aspire to grow and continually improve as a group of companies, and have a very exciting future ahead of us. We hope you can join us on that journey and look forward to welcoming you to the Baxter family soon. www.lancmag.com

FEBLAND FURNITURE | LIGHTING | ART & GIFTS

Fa bul o us Bar Furn i t ure

M osa i c G l a ss L i g h t in g

V ib ra n t Wall A r t & D é c o r

Cu te A n ima l Themed S tools

Come to our Blackpool Showroom for all the latest in Modern Furniture, Lighting, Ar t & Gif tware

Febland Group Ltd Flag House, Ashworth Road Blackpool, Lancashire, FY4 4UN

SHOWROOM OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

Email: info@febland.co.uk

Tel: 01253 600 600

M O N - F R I 9 A M - 5 : 3 0 P M S AT 9 A M - 5 P M S U N 1 0 : 3 0 A M - 4 : 30 P M

Web: www.febland.co.uk

VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR OF OUR FURNITURE SHOWROOM

Being a family company with a strong family ethic our people are at the heart of what we do. We ensure our colleagues are always supported, enabling them to deliver quality, exceptional customer service which always exceeds their expectations. This has been the driver of our success and allowed us to create both a happy, loyal and proud workforce. The Baxter Group has a clear learning and development strategy for our people in order to ensure continuous improvement and create shared value which all our stakeholders can benefit from. We continue to listen to new ideas to ensure all our employees can reach their full potential. Our desire to do the best for our workforce is shown through our dedication to mental health, including signing the Mindful Employer Charter and creating the position of a trained Mental Health First Aider and Mental Health Champion. We remain committed to instilling quality in all that we do and ensuring that we walk away from a job proud of what we have achieved. This ethos will continue as we grow, both in size of our developments and the size of the overall company. We have demonstrated this commitment through our adherence to standards and accreditations such as ISO 9001, IS0 14001, IS0 27001 and OHSAS 18001. As a group we have also been recognised by the NHBC and LABC, as well as various community and construction awards. We continue to offer value to our customers, through our strong commitment to quality and customer service, whilst ensuring we remain competitive. The Baxter Group have a reputation for doing what we say we are going to do and exceeding expectations. Through this and our commitment to social responsibility in the communities we serve, we have built relationships through trust, and become a company with an enviable reputation within the construction industry.

The Baxter Family

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www.lancmag.com

BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED KITCHENS DESIGNED JUST FOR YOU

BEAUTIFUL BESPOKE KITCHENS & BEDROOMS Showroom:

6 Kingsway, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 1PJ www.wellsandhewitt.co.uk

0161 279 1670

Above: Windsor at The Pickerings Garstang Road, Catterall

indsor at The Pickerings, Garstang Road, Catterall, is situated in the mature grounds of the former Pickerings Hotel. The Pickerings is a stunning collection of spacious, four and five bedroom detached homes, designed to provide a wide range of choice with eight individual house types, set in two distinct courtyard groups. The site located just south of the bustling and popular market town of Garstang and enjoys good commuter connections to the nearby cities of Lancaster and Preston. The bright lights of Blackpool and the tranquillity and natural beauty of the Lake District are also within easy reach via the M55/M6 Broughton interchange.

Windsor Master Bed

Windsor Dressing Room

Windsor Master Bed

Windsor External View

Windsor Bed

Windsor Study

For more information, do not hesitate to contact us on: 01772 687677 / 07808 910704 callum@baxterltd.co.uk • baxterhomes.co.uk Show Home: 11am – 4pm, Thursday – Monday, PR3 1YE 192

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www.lancmag.com

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

www.vincentssolicitors.co.uk

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Our aim is to design and create furniture to fit perfectly in your beautiful homes. We offer a high range of designer fabrics which are only of the best quality.Our aim is to provide our customers with a tailor made, bespoke service that allows you to design and create the perfect furniture for your beautiful homes. We offer an extensive range of designer fabrics to ensure our customers receive the highest quality finishes for their bespoke furniture. With 10 years experience and City and Guilds Level 4 qualification in upholstery we can therefore offer free home consultations. In these consultations we can design and discuss all your ideas so we can make the furniture to fit all of your requirements. All of our jobs come with a 3 year guarantee so please get in touch with us to make your dream furniture a reality.

SB BESPOKE UPHOLSTERY, Millers of Longton, Unit G, Wendover, Gill Lane, Longton PR4 5SR Email: stephen@sbbespokeupholstery.co.uk Call: 07584 200 834 Visit: www.sbbespokeupholstery.co.uk F SBBespokeUpholstery I sbbespoke

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

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE

o doubt the current COVID situation has affected the world. Everyone is sick of hearing about it and want to just get on with life. Seeing loved ones and family, just to be able to hug them and being able to spend time with them is now such a valuable moment. To be able to jump on a plane and go away on holiday is such a novelty when it used to be so straight forward. Everyone has lost so many loved ones during these difficult times, and it has been incredibly challenging for everyone, including business owners and employees. Losing jobs and being in financial difficulty has been so common amongst individuals and has had a huge impact on families and children. Social behaviours have been affected and children and young people have missed out on cherished moments, such as making friends and mixing with new people. “Loneliness can kill”, which are no doubt true words. Living in isolation has been ever increasing during this lockdown period. It has sadly seen a lot of elderly people passing away. No one wants their parents to live in isolation or to be on their own. However, out of all this, it has been very apparent that it has opened everyone’s’ eyes and made them more conscious of planning for the future. “What has the above got anything to do my column, I hear you say?” Well, it has a lot to do with it, as I have had a

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lot of individuals get in touch wanting to plan for the eventuality where they would move their parents in to their homes. In effect living as an extended family. Not every family has the luxury to be able to buy a larger property or extend their house, therefore, they need to utilise the existing space to see what facilities they can provide for elderly parents who may be struggling to get up the stairs or dress and wash them self.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO CONSIDER IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW ARE IN THIS POSITION? Do your homework • Have a chat with friends and family who may have already got this in place. There is no harm in talking about it. Go and have a look at the facilities that they have got, which will give you an idea of what you will be able to achieve. • Review what rooms you use and what rooms are used as just a “dumping ground”. These can be very precious areas that become especially useful. • Have a look at what your parent’s house in more detail and attain what space they require. • Establish what requirement’s your parents currently have and what are they likely going to require in

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the future. They may be fit healthy now, but no one knows what the future holds, which is why you need to plan and be “savvy” in your thinking. They may not be fully mobile in the future, there may incontinence issues, they may become dependent on you or others to do things for them. • Sit down with the family and your parents and talk about it openly. Your parents may already be conscious of this, but may not feel comfortable talking about it, as they don’t want to be a burden on their children. This is a common thing and we all need to remember that everyone will get old, and any one of us could be in a similar situation. Establish a brief • Put pen to paper and write down what you want to achieve. • Identify a few spaces in the house that could be allocated for development of a facility for your parents. • Have a budget in mind, these things are not cheap! • Have a timescale in mind. When do you need this to be completed by? Remember plan and don’t try to do this work after the event. This will put a lot of financial pressure on you and unnecessary stress for your family. www.lancmag.com

Speak to the Professionals • Once you have all your ideas on paper, then arrange a meeting with a Building Surveyor/ contractor or Architect, depending on the scale of works required. • You need to be in control of what you want, but at the same time you must bear in mind, that you are not the expert, which is why you need to understand what you want to achieve is feasible. • If you have decided to convert an existing room to a downstairs toilet and shower facility, is there access to drainage? Is there sufficient power to the area. These are the sorts of things the professional can advise on • Depending on the age of the building, you need to consider asbestos. It may warrant a survey. • Will there be a need to install a ceiling hoist? If so, a structural engineer can advise on the structural integrity of the ceiling joist. Contact specialist companies who install this type of equipment. • Will there be a requirement of any specialist equipment, such wheelchairs or shower commodes? You may need to consult with your Social Services department at the local authority who can advise on the required equipment. • Some works may attract building regulation application, your professional can advise on this. Affordability • The project will not be cheap, and 198

it will be important to obtain an idea on costs before you commit to doing anything. • Once you have spoken to professionals, you may even establish not as much work is required, therefore, investing time and money in the initial feasibility can be far more cost effective. • Contact your local authority to see if there is the scope for any funding? There is funding available from local councils, and it is always worthwhile speaking to your social worker to see what is out there. If you don’t ask, you don’t get! Getting the work done • It is not an easy task, and it will take time, depending on the extent of the work. Be prepared for a lot of disruption and mess!

• There is no point in spending all this money and then finding your parents don’t move in for one reason or another. • It may be that your parents may require external support workers to help care for them, this will mean that they will always require access to the property. Usually, a key box installed for the support workers to access. • Peace of mind – once things are settled, no doubt you will have that peace of mind that your parents are with you under one roof, which can make life a lot easier. I hope this gives my readers an insight to what they should consider, If you have anything specific you want me to talk about or have any other queries, then get in touch and I will address them in my future columns.

• Make sure you obtain competitive quotes from contractors and ensure you go through the scope of works in detail. If you don’t feel comfortable discussing these matters, then invest in appointing a professional to undertake this on your behalf. • Monitor the progress and keep a record of the works, by taking regular pictures, this really helps to monitor progress. The finished Scheme • It will take some time to get used to a new way of living and it may not be easy at first, which is why it is essential you think these things through and have a mutual agreement with everyone.

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

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Presenting:

Edward James Furniture Ltd By Zara Harris

Discover the story behind Edward James Furniture in our interview with the founder, James as he gives us an insight into what the company is all about, why he set it up and his core values. Here’s what he had to say... TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR COMPANY. We are a furniture shop in the centre of Kendal, selling high quality furniture for an affordable price. I started the business Edward James Furniture Ltd in 2012. This was after coming back from Australia in 2008 and trying to buy some decently priced, good quality furniture to no avail. This led me to opening up my own business to fulfil such a need. The name was derived from the middle names of my two boys, Charlie Edward and Harry James. WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT EDWARD JAMES FURNITURE? It’s a family run business located in Kendal, specialising in high quality British made furniture. Our Lakeland range of sofas are crafted from the finest materials. The furniture is constructed for strength and durability, with all components extensively tested for the customers peace 200

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of mind and all of the money goes back into Britain. I am proud to be British and our furniture is hand-crafted and tailored here in the UK. The furniture has a free upgrade of Aquaclean fabrics on all sofas, as opposed to most selling this as a feature! Aquaclean® technology is a revolutionary fabric treatment that allows you to clean stains using water only. This provides you with simple fabric maintenance in the minimum amount of time. Aquaclean helps to remove the majority of household stains (wine, ink, sauce, fat, mud, chocolate, cream, etc) making life easier and giving you more time for the more important things. And it really does work. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE FURNITURE YOU SELL? (For example classic, neural etc..) We have a variety of collections in all types of designs, in 100’s of quality fabrics and are all very comfortable, and will stay comfy! No cheap materials used whatsoever. Even the cushions are made of quality materials with duck feather inners. The furniture combines traditional techniques with modern technology to ensure the highest quality construction and superior comfort. WHAT AREAS DO YOU COVER? We have nationwide delivery and free local delivery. People come from all over the UK as they can’t buy the quality www.lancmag.com

Thinking of a New Sofa for Christmas?

Edward James Furniture is a family run business located in Kendal, specialising in high quality British made furniture. Our Lakeland range of sofas are crafted from the finest materials, and constructed for strength and durability. With all components extensively tested for your peace of mind.

Due to current circumstances and demand, please consider ordering your sofa as soon as possible to guarantee Christmas delivery. Current lead time is 14 weeks from date of order.

Our full collection is available to view now at our Kendal showroom • Nationwide and FREE local delivery • FREE Aquaclean fabric upgrade available on all of our Lakeland Sofas • FREE set-up service - delivery to the room of your choice, with the removal of all packaging

www.edwardjamesfurniture.com

37 Highgate, Kendal LA9 4ED

01539 734439

near them. We do direct home delivery from the factory to the client and free local delivery is to: Kendal, Windermere, Ambleside, Kirby Lonsdale, Ingleton, Sedbergh, Kirby Stephen, Coniston, Hawkshead, Ulverston, Grange over Sand, Arnside, Carnforth and Milnthorpe. HOW DO YOU GO THE EXTRA MILE FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS? We don’t pressurise our customers, we are there for the customer’s needs. I take the pressure off of the customers by listening to their needs and making sure their purchase is the right choice. Old fashioned quality with old fashioned service. We offer a free set-up service with delivery to the room of your choice, and the removal of all packaging. WHAT PRICE ARE YOUR PRODUCTS? I am proud that the furniture isn’t necessarily the cheapest, but by paying that little more, you’ll get furniture that will last over 15 years! I don’t want to sell a person a cheap sofa that only lasts 4 years. I know that in buying the right sofa, the best quality will please customers enough that they will then recommend us to their friends and family, and that’s better than a repeat purchase. WHAT ARE YOUR BEST SELLING PRODUCTS/ SIGNATURE STYLE? We have seven best sellers, with a further five new models being introduced after Christmas, so stay tuned! WHAT TRENDS HAVE YOU NOTICED? Blues are very popular right now, with rusty orange and khaki following closely. HOW DID THE BUSINESS ADAPT DURING THE PANDEMIC? My business did OK during the pandemic as we already had orders to fulfil when the Kendal shop was closed. When it opened again, all those who had refunds from their holidays etc had money they wished to put into their homes, so business is doing well. WHAT IS NEW FOR THIS YEAR AND NEXT? We will be extending due to continued success with more choice, styles while still keeping the more traditional designs people know and love. WHAT IS THE CURRENT CHRISTMAS DELIVERY LEAD TIME? If you are thinking of a new sofa for Christmas, please consider ordering your sofa as soon as possible to guarantee Christmas delivery as due to the current circumstance and demand, the current lead time is 14 weeks from date of order.

Their full collection is available to view now at the Kendal showroom at: 37 Highgate, LA9 4ED N 01539 734439 F Edward James Furniture E enquiries@edwardjamesfurniture.com www.edwardjamesfurniture.com 202

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

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

Discover more about the new homes in Lancashire

Visit: redrow.co.uk/lancashire

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

THE FOOD CRITIC

The Lancashire Magazine Eats Out...

Beijing Cantonese Restaurant, Clow Bridge by Richard Sagar

his week takes me out of my usual comfort zone of gastro pubs and restaurants to the Beijing Cantonese Restaurant on the outskirts of Burnley – where I sampled a true selection of tastes from the orient with their renowned ‘all you can eat – cooked to order’ banquet. You won’t find any vats of noodles and sloppy sweet & sour under a heat lamp here – everything chosen is freshly cooked and brought to your table by the friendly waiting on staff. And at only £18.50 a head, it makes for a great value indulgence! As we arrived at the bustling restaurant, just off the main road and adjacent to the glorious Clowbridge Reservoir, we were shown to our table by a charming waitress – and I was pleased to see proper linen tablecloths and napkins! Admittedly only a small thing, but for me it makes such a difference to first impressions. Once we’d settled ourselves down 204

we placed our drinks order and started to peruse the extensive ‘all you can eat’ menu. I hasted to add, the Beijing does offer an a la carte menu too with some seriously tastylooking signature dishes, but for this mid-week treat we were going all in. I started with a bowl of hot and sour soup – not the most visually attractive dish I’ve ever seen, but the taste was outstanding! Plenty of hot chillies left a tang on the tongue which made the meaty soup lively and fresh; with a plate of prawn crackers on the side this was an ideal introduction to the Beijing’s offerings. Next on the menu – the impressive selection of starters of which, my fellow diners and I were determined to try as many as we could. Arriving freshly cooked on a sharing plate, this made for a very sociable way of dining – and an ideal opportunity to mask ones gluttony with the guise of sharing!

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Meet The Food Critic... Barrister-turned-food-writer Richard Sagar takes us through some of the finest culinary venues our historic county and surrounding areas have to offer. Keep an eye out for Richard’s reviews in our editions as he quite literally eats his way through the North West!

Beijing Cantonese Restaurant 2-6 Burnley Road Clow Bridge Burnley Lancashire BB11 5PB N 01282 832188 beijingcantonese.com www.lancmag.com

THE FOOD CRITIC

In our first ‘round’ of starters, we opted for crispy chicken pancakes, crispy duck pancakes, Cantonese spareribs, pork dumplings and crab claws. The pancakes were delicious – the chicken/duck being served separately and the pancakes themselves lightly steamed. The spareribs were melt in your mouth tender with all the piquancy one would expect from a well balanced Cantonese sauce. Chinese dumplings are a firm favourite of mine, and the pork dumplings (or Fan Gor) were no disappointment; well-seasoned minced pork with spring onions all wrapped in a lovely fried dumpling – delicious simply dipped into some light soy sauce. The crab claws were a thing of beauty – each akin to a crab lollypop, held together round a small crabs claw. The lollypop on this occasion was finely minced, soft and sweet white crab meat coated in breadcrumbs – a most delicious and surprisingly filling starter! The drinks at the Beijing were particularly reasonable for restaurant prices – and really went down well with the lively food served. We had tap water for the table and I decided to go for a bottle of the house red – Jean Paul Rouge. It is a wine I’m always happy to see in a restaurant as their house red – a lovely easy drinking number, and at less than £13 a bottle you really cannot complain. For our second round of starters, we had to order more of the delicious duck pancakes, simply because they were so very morish! Alongside, we went for the ubiquitous seaweed, some King Do spareribs, salt and pepper chicken wings, deep fried wan tun and a Cantonese spring roll. The seaweed was simply as one would www.lancmag.com

expect it to be – beautifully salty and crisp to the tongue. The spareribs were once again as tender as anything whilst the King Do sauce added the beautifully fruity flavour associated with this Worcestershire sauce heavy recipe. Chinese style salt and pepper must go down as one of the all-time favourite flavour combinations, and the chicken wings at the Beijing were beautifully done. The salt and pepper was neither too salty or too spicy – instead bringing out all the natural flavours of the chicken itself whilst providing a little kick along the way. For me, the wan tun were a little too pastry heavy which resulted in them being too much crunch at the expense of substance, but given the rest of what we had, this was no real hardship. Last but not least, the Cantonese spring roll was delicious – crammed full of beautifully tender meat and vegetables, it amazed me how it could retain such moisture inside with the outside so beautifully crisp.

Sadly at this stage I could hardly move, let alone order more food - so there I was, defeated by the all-you-can-eat banquet. But what a nice experience it was. Very low key and informal dining, but a perfect place to meet with friends, try foods you wouldn’t necessarily order from an a la carte menu, and really explore this fabulous cuisine. The surroundings are comfortable, the service punctual and the value, unbeatable. At £18.50 a head, I really would urge you to give the Beijing at Clow Bridge a try – I have every confidence you’ll enjoy it just as much as I did.

After this starter marathon, it would have been easy to completely forget about mains, but I had my eyes on the sliced chicken in satay sauce. Whilst I know it is completely unforgivably British, I ordered this to come with chips, despite egg fried or boiled rice being on the menu! It arrived on a sizzler plate, full of chunky pieces of chicken breast and adorned with a multitude of coloured peppers. The sauce itself was deep and flavoursome – in parts extra-reduced on the roasting hot iron serving dish. Despite being somewhat embarrassed at ordering it with chips, it was actually a perfect accompaniment and I would encourage you to try it! LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 205

MANISH’S ZODIAC PREDICTIONS

anish Kumar Arora is a renowned KP Astrologer, Numerologist, Tarot Reader & Vastu Consultant. He has been rendering professional advice to clients with a reasonable degree of success. He has been conferred with the title of ‘Jyotish Varahamihir’ and ‘Jyotish Aryabhatt.’ He has been writing monthly astrological columns for many international magazines.

ARIES: (21 Mar - 19 Apr) This month is good for bringing new, more creative energy to your daily life, or the work you do and services you provide. You may find that career dealings go smoother than usual. You get and give advice, you learn about lots of new things, you get lots of new information, and your mind is going fast. You also come across well publicly. You’re more affectionate with others, and you feel more romantic and flirtatious. You come across as fair, wanting to be compromising, a good mediator, and concerned with striking a balance in your life. Favourable Dates: Oct 3, 6, 12, 15, 21, 24 Favourable Colours: Blue & White TAURUS (20 Apr - 20 May) Exciting surprises may be in store that expand your mind and experience, but be aware that delays or troubles while travelling, or with new initiatives, could be part of the picture. If you have any creative projects to work on, you do them well. If you have to deal with your boss or a parent, you can win them over. If single, you could meet someone through your career. Depending on your current age, it may be a time when you feel your age, or it is a time when you see your body more clearly. Favourable Dates: Oct 5, 6, 14, 15, 23, 24 Favourable Colours: Blue & Green GEMINI (21 May - 20 Jun) This is also a good period for career advancement and connecting with people who help you to feel more confident about reaching your goals. You could also be reassessing your feelings and attachments, or current pursuits. While you could be wrestling with some decisions, you can in fact be a real dynamo with a little extra solitude and time to yourself. You also feel bogged down by your values. You want security, but you don’t feel as though it’s possible for you right now because of all of your responsibilities or issues that need to be addressed. Favourable Dates: Oct 5, 9, 14, 18, 23, 24 Favourable Colours: Yellow & Blue CANCER (21 Jun - 22 Jul) You keep your thoughts to yourself, don’t want to share your ideas, and are more focused on your imagination. You may see things unravel, secrets come out, old issues come back, and things that you thought were dead and gone suddenly alive and kicking your butt. People in your life can be draining your energy now, and you’ll need to work out a plan that helps you to better divide your attention between self-care and attention to others. You may derive enjoyment from getting in touch with your roots or family traditions. Favourable Dates: Oct 7, 8, 16, 17, 25, 26 Favourable Colours: Yellow & White

LEO (23 Jul - 22 Aug) You are encouraged to find your creative voice, to seek out activities that you truly enjoy, and to discover and share your unique talents. There are plenty of rewards for you here. You continue to look for ways to improve your life experiences and increase your knowledge and wisdom this month. You could also decide to devote yourself to a cause and do something good for people or the planet. You can confront deeply held issues with less anxiety and fear. This is also a good time for dealing with your joint finances, debts, loans, taxes, or inheritances. Favourable Dates: Oct 7, 8, 16, 17, 25, 26 Favourable Colours: Yellow & White

SAGITTARIUS (22 Nov - 21 Dec) You can be strongly motivated to take action that helps boost your feelings of security as well as your comfort as the month begins,. You have wonderful support from the cosmos for these efforts. It’s a great time for bringing creative flair to business endeavours, discovering new ways of earning more, and making your home life more enjoyable and comfortable. You’re more emotionally tied to your possessions, and you may shop for something just to make yourself feel better. You come across as more charming and beautiful, and people are attracted to you. Favourable Dates: Oct 1, 7, 10, 16, 19, 25 Favourable Colours: Red & White

VIRGO (23 Aug - 22 Sept) The month brings some hurdles to jump. It will be important to work on a solid plan for organizing your money. You can be working especially hard for your earnings these days, but you’re also finding ways to inject routine work or daily life with more excitement. You’ll also want to deal with some of the trickier elements of your relationships instead of letting problem areas grow. Desires that have been buried or left unacknowledged can emerge now. Combining your resources or talents with someone can be beneficial for reaching a goal. Favourable Dates: Oct 1, 5, 10, 14, 19, 23 Favourable Colours: White & Grey

CAPRICORN (22 Dec - 19 Jan) This can also be a time for discovering, developing, and putting to better use of your natural talents. You’ll be finding fabulous new ways for using the resources you already have to your advantage now. It’s a great time for getting the support you need, but perhaps more importantly, making things happen on your own. You feel like beginning something new, feeling more adventurous and pioneering, and you have the energy you need to embark on a new journey. You’re positive about your chances, and you forge ahead. Favourable Dates: Oct 3, 9, 12, 18, 21, 27 Favourable Colours: Red & Blue

LIBRA (23 Sept - 22 Oct) You’ll be less impulsive and impatient, and this can point to a more enjoyable experience of this creative, romantic, and sexy combination. You are attracting strong and intelligent people into your life, and you’re also taking more pride in your close relationships. This motivates you to put forward a solid effort when it comes to relating in positive, rewarding ways. You’re less competitive and want to do things on your own, feeling like you have better energy by yourself, and that other people drain you. Favourable Dates: Oct 1, 9, 10, 18, 19, 27 Favourable Colours: Green & Yellow SCORPIO (23 Oct - 21 Nov) You’re encouraged to play with new ideas for work, and you can find much to enjoy in the process. . If you’ve been working hard for something with your career, you could finally get there. Conversely, if you’ve been doing things wrong, you could have setbacks, delays, or other problems. You could find yourself in the public eye for some reason. You are called upon to strike a balance between your own needs for security and comfort and the same needs of other people, likely those of a significant other. Favourable Dates: Oct 1, 3, 10, 12, 19, 21 Favourable Colours: Red & Yellow

AQUARIUS (20 Jan - 18 Feb) This is a strong time for simplifying and structuring your life, and this can involve boosting your faith in a higher plan to your life You closely identify with your values, and you want other people to have the same values as you do. You prefer to spend time around people who come from the same background or have the same beliefs as yourself. You also feel like letting loose and having fun in a way and engaging in your hobbies and may feel more inspired, creative, and artistic, as well as flirty and romantic. Favourable Dates: Oct 2, 8, 11, 17, 20, 26 Favourable Colours: White & Blue PISCES (19 Feb - 20 Mar) It’s a great time to pay special attention to your income, how you spend your money, and your valuables. You’ll have great ideas for how to improve your bottom line, as well as how to better make use of the resources you have. Exciting surprises may be in store that expand your mind and experience. Pleasure-seeking activities, recreation, and amusement are increased. You are far less inhibited when it comes to expressing yourself creatively, and you are a lot more fun to be around. Favourable Dates: Oct 2, 9, 11, 18, 20, 27 Favourable Colours: Red & Yellow

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

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Cocktail Innovation

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

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

Don Alberto’s at The Loom THE BEST OF ITALY IN THE HEART OF LANCASHIRE

Don Alberto’s at The Loom in Leigh is continuing to delight diners with a masterclass in Italian fine dining. A far cry from your average Italian restaurant chain, Don Alberto’s award-winning chefs are proud to offer the best in traditional Italian food. The extensive menu ranges from morning coffee & cakes to languid Italian brunches featuring rolled omelettes and paninis bursting with spicy salamis. Lunches and dinners include quick bite precinema options, alongside a full three course menu perfect for date nights, family dinners and special occasions. Freshly sourced from the market every morning, Don Alberto’s food is as authentic as it comes. Meats and fish are hand selected at the market every morning, alongside fresh herbs and vegetables which are transformed into delicious pasta sauces, pesto and passata.

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Pizzas are hand-stretched from homemade dough and adorned with an array of toppings before being fired in the traditional Italian brick oven. Breads are baked fresh every morning and cakes are prepared overnight ready for morning coffees and desserts. At the fully stocked bar, guest can enjoy extensive Italian wine list shipped in direct from Sicily alongside the most in demand cocktails including mouth-watering passionfruit martinis. Children are warmly welcomed at Don Alberto’s with a wide-ranging menu designed to satisfy toddlers and teenagers alike. Open daily from 10am. Last food orders 10pm. A warm Italian welcome awaits you at Don Alberto’s. Book your table on 01942 673 858.

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“ The BEST seabass I have ever tasted ” “ We will definitely be visiting again and again ” “ Amazing Italian restaurant in Leigh ” “ Well worth a visit ” - TRIP ADVISOR REVIEWS JULY 2021

www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 209

ADVERTISER INDEX Advocacy Focus Bolton School Bolton White Hotel Calyx Drinks Chorley Pilates Cornerstone Resources Customer Love Davenport Original Delamere Health Ltd Don Alberto Eden Paving Edward James Furniture Essentialise Feblands Grand Theatre Hearts for Homes Hedges House Joseph & Co

89 73 79 167 97 80 68 210 141 207 187 201 139 189 11 194 149 147

Land Rover 211 Laurel Farm 212 Liz Pollard Coach 91 Lynn Meadowcraft - Life Coach 96 Lytham Gin 169 Marcia 143 Marsden Rawthorn 183 PAD 185 Redrow 203 Riverside Caravan Park 171 Rolex 2 Rossall School 151 & 155 Rossendale Interiors 29 & 197 Ruby & Daisy 145 SB Bespoke Upholstery 195 Sleepy Hollow 199 Smart PA 71

To advertise with us please call

01253 336580 or email: info@lancashiremagazine.co.uk 210

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83 5 179 99 90 94 70 88 9 81 78 69 193 191 95 181

Spice Paradise Stokers Stonebrook Mortgages Stonyhurst College Sundown Solutions Susan Darwin Photography Sushma Snacks Sweet Reminiscing The K’s Treenas Beauty Treats Tropic with Mia Unique Ladies Vincents Wells & Hewitt Woodchats Cafe Wren Kitchens www.lancmag.co

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The Coniston Hotel Country Estate & Spa | Coniston Cold, Skipton, North Yorkshire BD23 4EA Tel: (+44) 1756 748080 | Email: info@theconistonhotel.com | Web: theconistonhotel.com

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

The Lancashire & North West Magazine | September 2021

Articles inside

Presenting: Edward James Furniture Ltd

It’s Straightforward With Stonebrook

Honeymoons at Wenningdale Escapes

An interview with Raphael Ogunrinde

If Team LM Got Married

Amanda Owen - The Yorkshire Shepherdess Opens Rossall School’s State-of-the-art New Pre-Prep and Nursery Provision

Keep Hydrated

Students Celebrate Stunning Results at Rossall School

Gardening for Good Health

New treatment significantly improves mental health in heart disease patients, study finds

Shana’s Story

On Your Bike

Empath: a Gift or a Curse?

Think Your Half-Term Visit to the Zoo will Support Threatened Species? Think Again...

How to Mitigate Impostor Syndrome

5 Steps to a More Mindful You

Things We Can Do to Save Endangered pecies and Prevent a New Wave of Extinction

Collisions with Vessels - The Deadliest Threat for Whales

The Mystery of ‘Patchwork Grazing’ by Giraffes

How sustainable video is saving Greater Manchester’s peatlands

BOARDING AT STONYHURST: Where friendships are formed that last a lifetime

Chorley Pilates

Feeling Like Trash

Lynn Meadowcroft - Positivity Pioneer

A Little Gem in Chorley

Life Behind the Lens

Harness the Power of Technology with Sundown Solutions

Make a Bold Move Today

Advocacy Focus

Cornerstone Resources Ltd

The Body Shop at Home with Treena Hughes

Sweet Reminiscing by Sharonrose

Bolton Whites Hotel & Events - Out with the old and in with the new...

From Tech to Skincare... The journey to becoming true to myself

Alumni Share Their Perspectives on Engineering

Multi Award Winning Artisan Food Anybody?

Dame Floella Benjamin’s Virtual Visit

Q & A with Pam Molyneux, Smart PA

Gold and Silver Duke of Edinburgh Achievements

To Franchise, or Not to Franchise?

The Heart of Every Business

Life Could Be Shocking in the 1950’s

Hall Caine - A Forgotten Celebrity

New Race Track Opens at Westcliff Primary Academy in Bispham

Laura Evans Announces Headline Shows

Joanne Harris hails ‘writing as a force to be reckoned with’ as she introduces the Winners of the 2021 Society of Authors’ Awards

Call of the Sea Statue Celebrates Blackpool’s Award-Winning Coastline

Lancashire’s Lost Piers

Be Our Guest This Summer

Even The Smallest Coffee Morning Really Can Make the Biggest Difference...

Pre-Raphaelite Artist of Hope: Evelyn De Morgan

The K’s ...are on Fire

The Woman In Black

Blackpool’s BIGGEST Panto IS BACK

Andrew Lloyd Webber Symphonic Suites Live In Concert

Around The World in 80s Days

Feeling Grand

Forestry England and the Royal Society of Sculptors Announces the Winner of the Annual 2021 Grizedale Residency