The Lancashire & North West Magazine | September 2022

September 2022

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BENSON ACCOUNTANTS Helping You Meet Your Business and Personal Goals

Whins Green Kitchen Great food in beautiful surroundings

Checkedsafe

Complete Compliance Solutions

RON COLÓN Bridging the Worlds of Taste, History and Culture Celebrate Weddings and All Those Other Special Occasions at

The Clifton Arms Hotel

£2.45

NATURALLY EMPOWERED HEALTH Transformational Coaching With Margaret

Stoic Homes

Changing the Construction Industry for the Better

GAINSBOROUGH FLOORING Helping Transform Your Home

New products for 2022 now in store!

Ce l e b r a t i n g 1 5 ye a r s o f b e a u t i f u l l i v i n g PAD showroom exhibits the best in good quality, beautiful designed, well-crafted European furniture.

Showcasing pieces from Connibia-Calligaris, German bedroom manufacturer Nolte, Italian leather sofa’s from Nicoletti and fantastic bed ranges with a wide range of mattresses and more, shipped from some of the finest manufactures on the continent.

The clean lines and smooth edges make up a collection of pure design classics which are all hand picked by owner and interior stylist, Paula Baxter.

PAD offer a free design service from rooms to a full house including bed design, lighting and fitted wardrobes.

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172

Euxton

Whalley

CONTENTS...

Features

22 76

138

112

68

10

www.lancmag.com

98

8

BEAUTIFUL WEST END MUSICALS AT THE GRAND

10

We all love a Top TV Drama! But it’s better on the Grand stage…

12

Here Comes the Bride: Timeless Dresses for Every Style of Wedding

20

Inspirational Choir Seeks New Choral Leader

22

129 A Warning for Festival Goers

Celebrate Weddings and all those other Special Occasions at The Clifton Arms Hotel, Lytham

130 THE ULTIMATE NONSURGICAL FACELIFT

Benson Accountants

102 Blackpool Grand is Bringing On Back The Good Times this Summer!

112 RON COLÓN Bridging the Worlds of Taste, History and Culture 116 Manchester Rum Festival

132 INTRODUCING DR LAUREN, CLINICAL INJECTOR & MR SAMI, PLASTIC SURGEON

26

Get Married Your Way

34

Dr Yusra’s Guide to the Ultimate Wedding Glow

38

4 BOLD NEW TRENDS LEADING MEN’S WEDDING FASHION

40

Taking a World View at Lancaster Priory

48

Daisy Clough Nurseries

49

142 Redrow Launches Second Development in Halewood

DON’T LOOK BACK, You’ll Miss What’s in Front of You

50

144 Gainsborough Flooring Helping Transform Your Home

MINI MINDS Matter

52

Totally Locally Chorley

146 STONYHURST COLLEGE ACHIEVES QUALITY STANDARD FOR CAREERS WORK

56

ebb & flo bookshop

57

Sweet Memories of Ralph

58

BARRICA IN THE PARK

60

CHOCOBELLA

61

Unique Shopping Experience in the Heart of Lancashire

62

Riley’s Taproom and Wine Bar

63

The Wizard’s Pot Tea Room WHERE HOMEMADE FOOD MEETS MAGIC!

64

Woodchats Coffee Shop, Shepherds Hall Ale House and Victoria Rooms

66

EVOLUTION HAIR A Personal Experience in the Heart of Chorley

134 GOD SAVE OUR MANNERS 136 Redrow Eager to Attract More Women Into Engineering Roles 138 How to Create a Truly Comfortable Living Space

148 STONYHURST ACCOMPLISH A REMARKABLE SPORTING SEASON 150 STONYHURST CELEBRATES 100 YEARS OF RUGBY 152 Comedy Genius Spike Milligan Is Back At The Grand 156 Health Lounge 162 Manchester’s Wildest Festival 178 21 Years of Equine Rescue and Rehoming Celebrated at World Horse Welfare Penny Farm 186 Pendleside Hospice Witch Festival 190 SHIP AHOY! Titanic the Musical sails into The Grand…

66

Bringing People together...

68

NATURALLY EMPOWERED HEALTH

74

The Rake - A Review

76

CheckedSafe Complete Compliance Solutions

202 A Brand New Production of Masquerade Comes to the Epstein Theatre This Autumn

80

BATHING WATER SEASON BEGINS IN THE NORTH WEST

208 Could You Foster Brothers and Sisters Needing a Home Together in Lancashire?

82

Seaside Family Fun is Grand in Blackpool

88

Stoic Homes are ready to change the construction industry for the better

192 Hair Loss in Women 194 Bugs Destroy Co-op Store

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

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...CONTENTS

Regulars 160

Aiming Higher

204

Balance Counsellor

118

Books - Emma Kay

122

Books - Kathleen Johnstone

108

Books - Rachel Helen

42

Colour Me Beautiful

188

Deborah Hatswell

182

Denise Mullen

168

Diary of Harold Elletson

154

Fleetwood RNLI

32

HayMax

46

Life of Di

120

Lytham Gin Lady

72

Margaret Bell

170

Miranda Christopher

184

Positive Change Coach

164

Totally Local Lancaster

124

UFO by Jason Gleaves

180

Zodiac Predictions by Manish

September 2022 • Volume 45 Number 9

42

120

164

108

154

170 160

September 2022

www.lancmag.com

BENSON ACCOUNTANTS Helping You Meet Your Business and Personal Goals

Whins Green Kitchen Great food in beautiful surroundings

Checkedsafe

Complete Compliance Solutions

RON COLÓN Bridging the Worlds of Taste, History and Culture Celebrate Weddings and All Those Other Special Occasions at

The Clifton Arms Hotel

NATURALLY EMPOWERED HEALTH Transformational Coaching With Margaret

Stoic Homes

Changing the Construction Industry for the Better

GAINSBOROUGH FLOORING Helping Transform Your Home

COVER: Whins Green Kitchen

4

£2.45

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

Writers: • Charles Tyrwhitt • Deborah Hatswell Editorial: • Denise Mullen 01253 336580 • Diane Wade editorial@lancashiremagazine.co.uk • Gainsborough Flooring Design Manager: • Harold Cunliffe Stephen Mellows-Facer • Harold Elletson Sales Enquiries: 07918 685673 • Janet Broughton Accounts: 01253 336588 • Jason Gleaves • Julie Riley General Enquiries/Subscriptions: Sharon Henry • 01253 336588 • Kate Gostick accounts@lancashiremagazine.co.uk • Kath Taylor The Lancashire & North West • Ken Harcombe Magazine Ltd, Seasiders Way • Manish Kumar Arora Blackpool, Lancashire FY1 6NZ • Marcia Trotter

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

• Marcy Gordon • Margaret Bell • Margaret Brecknell • Martin Preston • Max Wiseberg • Mia Nicoll • Michael Riley • Miranda Christopher • Patient Claim Line • Paul Cusimano • Sara Dewhurst • Sarah Harris • Sarah Ridgway • Sharon Henry • Victoria Garside

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

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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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For a wide selection of plant based dishes in beautiful surroundings, visit us at Whins Green Kitchen, Wheelton, Chorley, Lancashire.

Tel 01254 958311 for reservations or book online at

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IN THIS ISSUE...

W

e start this month with our wedding edit and a fabulous feature from Sarah Ridgway about getting married your way after the pandemic which saw countless weddings across the country cancelled or postponed, we celebrate weddings and all those other special occasions at Lytham’s Clifton Arms Hotel while ConfettiRain showcase timeless dresses for every style of wedding, Charles Tyrwhitt shares bold new trends leading men’s wedding fashion; and Dr Yusra gives us the guide to the ultimate wedding glow.

Margaret Bell shows us the key to a better realationship with food with coaching, training, food plans and cooking sessions.

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We discover the philosophy behind Totally Locally Chorley, part of a multiaward-winning worldwide movement where groups of volunteers in towns and areas use the Town Kit, follow guidelines, and use templates and a full event strategy to make their town a stronger, more vibrant & resilient place.

Blackpool Grand Theatre has a whole host of thrilling treats for drama lovers this season that will challenge, delight and dazzle the senses.

We talk to Ron Colón, the modern masters of mixology, who are on a mission for authenticity in spirits to produce an array of products that bridge the worlds of taste, history, and culture.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

Our featured towns this month are Euxton, which sits in the borough of Chorley to the west of the town and is considered one of the safest small towns in Lancashire; and the picturesque village of Whalley which sits on the banks of the river Calder and is in the heart of the beautiful Ribble Valley. The stunning Forest of Bowland which is designated as an area of outstanding beauty, surrounds the village.

Harold Cunliffe tells us about the time bugs destroyed a local Co-op store in Manchester.

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

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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.

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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.

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BEAUTIFUL WEST END MUSICALS AT THE GRAND! Grand full-scale West End musicals will light up Blackpool right through to 2023

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abulous West End musicals are packing up and taking a trip to the seaside this season to fill Blackpool Grand Theatre’s famous stage with music, laughter and good times!

Cue the music!

Don’t leave it Too Late Baby to book your seats for the powerful production of Beautiful – The Carole King Musical from Tuesday 18 to Saturday 22 October. Sing along to countless King classics from (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, Take Good Care of My Baby and You’ve Got a Friend, to It Might as Well Rain Until September and Up on the Roof, and enjoy the unforgettable spectacle of 1960s recording star Little Eva performing The Locomotion on roller skates! The magnificent MollyGrace Cutler (The Worst Witch, Girls Don’t Play Guitars) is chart-topping legend Carole King, whose remarkable rise from schoolgirl singer/songwriter to music legend is brought beautifully to life in this smash-hit show, through the soundtrack of a generation. This show really is Some Kind of Wonderful! Book your tickets now!

Three more marvellous West End musicals will dazzle and delight the whole family this season with stunning sets, gorgeous costumes and powerhouse performances. Britain’s best-loved picture book The Tiger Who Came to Tea roars into the Grand with a grrreat musical play from Friday 7 to Sunday 9 October that’s a perfect introduction for little ones with oodles of magic, sing-a-long songs and clumsy chaos; Richard O’Brien’s raucous Rocky Horror Show will be bursting at the seams ready to thrill you once again from Monday 13 to Saturday 18 February 2023 with its frothy, fun and much-loved

Opera Company with the Royal Shakespeare Company’s amazing stage adaptation of The Wizard of Oz from Wednesday 31 May to Saturday 3 June, featuring all the most beloved songs and moments from the 1939 classic film.

Are you mad about West End musicals and love to sing along to all your favourite songs from the shows? Go Beyond the Barricade on Sunday 12 March for a brand-new production featuring past principal performers from the glorious musical Les Misérables singing the very bestloved songs from Broadway and the West End, with a stunning finale from Les Mis.

TITANIC – THE MUSICAL

BEAUTIFUL – THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL

ROCKY HORROR SHOW

naughty numbers, including, of course, the pelvic-thrusting Time Warp, and the five-star theatrical masterpiece Titanic The Musical will dock at Blackpool Grand from Tuesday 21 to Saturday 25 March. Don’t miss this acclaimed production which has enraptured theatregoers to return time and time again to experience this truly rousing and uplifting tribute to the passengers of the famously ill-fated vessel.

Renowned local theatre groups have also got the West End musicals bug with a dynamic duo of sensational shows that are just the ticket for the whole family! Get ready for a real monster of a family show with Shrek the Musical from Blackpool Operatic Players from Wednesday 5 to Saturday 8 April, bringing back all the beloved characters from the hit movie and proving there’s more to the story than meets the ears, and there’s no place like The Grand to be swept away by Blackpool & Fylde Light

Book your seats now for wonderful West End musicals right here at Blackpool Grand Theatre!

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

ORE ODUBA

Rocky Horror Show

MARTIN DODD for UK PRODUCTIONS in association with BLACKPOOL GRAND THEATRE proudly presents

Blackpool’s No.1 Panto!

BLACKPOOL’S FAVOURITE! BRITAIN’S GOT TALENT FINALIST

from EMMERDALE and CORONATION STREET

Hayley Steve Tamaddon Philip Meeks Royle as SILLY BILLY

as THE GOOD FAIRY

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2 December ’22 to 1 January ’23 01253 290190 | blackpoolgrand.co.uk

DON’T BE CAUGHT NAPPING, BOOK NOW!

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We all love a Top TV Drama! But it’s better on the Grand stage…

Beautiful – The Carole King Musical

Spectacular live drama shows all presented by Blackpool Grand Theatre

S

ettling in for a gripping drama can whisk you away from the everyday and into a world of excitement and intrigue. We all need to escape at times, and a top TV drama can take us miles from our comfort zone, offer us the chance to experience events we could only imagine and make us question our preconceptions.

November for a mystery adventure crammed with brilliant deductions; tune in as comedy genius Spike Milligan is back with the Goons in the absurdly funny new play SPIKE by Ian Hislop from Tuesday 15 to Saturday 19 November, and can you solve Agatha Christie’s magnificent murder mystery The Mousetrap on its sensational 70th anniversary tour from Monday 19 to Saturday 24 June 2023?

But imagine if all that exhilarating action was taking place right in front of your eyes, where you can hear every breath, witness every single emotion and feel the incredible shared experience of live theatre…

Blackpool Grand Theatre has a whole host of thrilling treats for drama lovers this season that will challenge, delight and dazzle the senses. From the heart-rending emotion of Helen Forrester’s Twopence to Cross the Mersey to the inspiring and deeply personal Riot Act and the breathtaking biopic Beautiful – the Carole King Musical, there are powerful and provocative plays for everyone to enjoy.

TWOPENCE TO CROSS THE MERSEY

Book now for the spine-chilling ghost story When Darkness Falls from Thursday 15 to Saturday 17 September, inspired by terrifying true events; introduce your little ones to the wonderful world of Shakespeare with The RSC’s fun-packed 90 minute production of Twelfth Night from Thursday 29 September to Saturday 1 October; take an unforgettable journey with Helen Forrester’s stunning period drama Twopence to Cross the Mersey with a gifted nine-strong celebrity cast from Tuesday 4 to Thursday 6 October; the Game’s afoot! Join Sherlock Holmes: The Valley of Fear from Tuesday 1 to Saturday 5

Two acclaimed comedy drama productions take place in our relaunched STUDIO space that are not to be missed. Make a date with the hilarious and political Riot Act in a one-man celebration of queer activism starring Alexis Gregory on Sunday 16 July and get ready for the biting contemporary social commentary The MP, Aunty Mandy and Me which explores consent, coercion and grooming within the gay male community on Wednesday 28 and Thursday 29 September.

Sing out quick for tickets to our marvellous musical dramas this season. Feel the Earth Move with the incredible Beautiful – The Carole King Musical from Tuesday 18 to Saturday 22 October as countless Carole King chart-toppers are cleverly weaved through her remarkable story to stardom, and you simply must catch the five-star theatrical masterpiece Titanic The Musical when it docks in Blackpool for one week only from Tuesday 21 to Saturday 25 March. This truly rousing and uplifting tribute to the passengers of the famously ill-fated vessel has enraptured theatregoers to return time and time again.

Blackpool Grand Theatre – bringing unmissable drama live in stage all through 2022 and 2023.

Please call the Box Office on 01253 290190 or visit www.BlackpoolGrand.co.uk for full listings, bookings and further information on all our live drama events.

blackpoolgrand.co.uk

BLACKPOOL GRAND THEATRE

THU 15 - SAT 17 SEP 2022

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

TUE 01 - SAT 05 NOV 2022

Here Comes the Bride

TIMELESS DRESSES for Every Style of Wedding By www.confettirainbridal.co.uk

M 62 Red Bank Road, Bispham, Blackpool FY2 9NW | N 01253 357083

D www.confettirainbridal.co.uk | F @confettirainbridal | I @confettirainbridal

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D www.confettirainbridal.co.uk | F @confettirainbridal | I @confettirainbridal

M 62 Red Bank Road, Bispham, Blackpool FY2 9NW | N 01253 357083

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Inspirational Choir Seeks New Choral Leader The North West is fortunate to have one of the country’s few dedicated Choirs for people living with or beyond cancer.

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ounded in June 2012 Bolton Cancer Voices is proud to have been a trailblazer in harnessing the therapeutic benefits of singing for health.

A decade on they are looking to recruit a new Musical Director to inspire, guide and challenge them going forward. The ideal candidate will have experience of conducting amateur Choirs, a broad and diverse knowledge of choral repertoire and a commitment to the delivery of musical excellence in a fun and inclusive way.

Karen Elliott – Founder & Chair of the Choir said:‘This is a wonderful opportunity to be part of something very special! It’s important that potential applicants understand and support the Choir’s ethos; appreciate the health challenges our members may face and have the capacity to deliver fun, uplifting, inspirational rehearsals.

After more than two years apart due to Covid, the Choir is more than ready to reunite and get back to doing what we love: with a growing waiting list for new members the pressure is on to find that exceptional individual who has the professional skills and experience together with the necessary personal attributes to bring us back together and ensure we are the best we can be!

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LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

Above: Karen Elliott – Founder & Chair of the Choir

We’re tremendously proud of all we’ve achieved to date and look forward to scaling new heights under the baton of our next maestro’.

The Choir is also accepting enquiries about membership, which is open to anyone over 18 years old who has received a cancer diagnosis of any type at any time. There are no geographical restrictions, as long as you can travel to Bolton for rehearsals: membership is free, there are no auditions to worry about and you don’t need to be able to read music. Whether you are a seasoned performer or looking to try something new, they would welcome hearing from you.

Enquiries pertaining to the position of Musical Director or membership are through Karen on: N 01204 595562 / 07773 164235 www.lancmag.com

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

CLIFTON ARMS HOTEL | WEST BEACH | LYTHAM | FY8 5QJ F 01253 739898 | E Functions@cliftonarmslytham.com | D www.cliftonarmslytham.com 8098-LDE-NewbyBridge-Advert-184x133.qxp_Layout 1 14/07/2022 13:43 Page 1

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part of

Celebrate Weddings and all those other Special Occasions at The Clifton Arms Hotel, Lytham

By Margaret Brecknell Dedicated wedding co-ordinators are on hand to help with organising the perfect wedding day at the Clifton Arms. I chatted with the hotel’s Sales & Marketing Manager, Heather Wignall, recently and she advised me that key dates for 2023 and 2024 in the most popular months of July and August are still available.

For a wedding day to remember, the Clifton Arms Hotel has it All Wrapped Up with its recently relaunched All Wrapped Up package, which was personally designed by Heather.

She has been involved in running weddings for around twelve years now and is well versed in what it takes to plan the perfect day.

The four-star Clifton Arms Hotel has a long tradition of providing luxurious hospitality and occupies an enviable location in the heart of Lytham with spectacular views across the seafront.

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ed by the hotel’s General Manager, Adam Draper, the whole team at the Clifton Arms is committed to giving guests the best possible experience at the only accredited four-star hotel on the Fylde coast. This makes it the perfect place to celebrate all those special occasions in life.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

For an all-inclusive cost of £6,500, the package includes all the ingredients required for the perfect wedding for up to 50 day guests and 80 evening guests, but with none of the stress that often comes with planning for the big day. Extra guests may be added upon payment of a supplement.

Complimentary use of all the hotel’s function suites is included in the All Wrapped Up package.

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Overlooking Lytham Green and the beautiful Fylde coast, the hotel’s Clifton Suite offers the perfect setting for a civil ceremony and provides the ideal backdrop for those all-important wedding photos. The Clifton Arms is licensed to hold civil ceremonies for up to 95 guests but you can party away with guests up to 150!

Whether it’s before the ceremony or wedding reception, or after the meal is finished, the Talbot Suite comes with its own bar and is the perfect place for guests to gather.

Both the Clifton and Talbot Suites are set to be refurbished early next year, from which weddings booked for 2023 onwards will fully benefit.

The hotel’s light and airy Ballroom offers true versatility, working equally well for an intimate wedding breakfast or a lively evening celebration.

The use of the hotel and gardens for photo opportunities comes with the All Wrapped Up package, allowing couples to take full advantage of this amazing setting. Alternatively, take advantage of all that Lytham has to offer photographers with stunning locations like the famous windmill on Lytham Green or the nearby Lowther Gardens.

When it comes to the wedding reception, the Clifton Arms really has thought of everything in its All Wrapped Up package.

one main course and one sweet followed by freshly ground coffee, speciality teas and chocolates. As well as a selection of around ten different starters and sweets from which to choose, the hotel offers a wide range of meat and fish main course options and plenty of delicious vegetarian and vegan alternatives. Children may have smaller portions of the same menu, or special child-friendly choices are available.

For a supplement of £5 per person, it is also possible for couples to offer their guests a choice of menu from which to select ahead of the big day consisting of three starters, three main courses and three sweets.

On arrival, guests are offered a choice of prosecco, bottled beers and soft drinks.

Each guest is offered a half bottle of red, white or rosé house wine to accompany their meal. A glass of prosecco is provided for the Toast. A member of the Clifton Arms team is on hand throughout the day to act as a Toastmaster.

The package includes a three-course set menu consisting of one starter,

Often it’s the little details that make a wedding extra-special, but can also

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cause plenty of headaches ahead of the big day. Here again, the Clifton Arms has it All Wrapped Up and takes care of all the finishing touches.

The tables are elegantly presented with white table linen, tea light candles, mirror bases and a choice of table centres from which to choose.

A garland for the top table is included in the package, as are swags for the

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 23

up on the first day of your honeymoon and being able to step out on the balcony to enjoy spectacular views of the Fylde coast. A full Lancashire breakfast in the restaurant is included in the price.

Accommodation at discounted rates is also available for any guests who attend the wedding and wish to stay at the hotel overnight.

In addition to its All Wrapped Up package, the Clifton Arms welcomes couples who are looking for a more intimate wedding. With space for up to 16 people, the Library is the perfect location for those who wish to opt for a more intimate occasion and, again, comes with those unrivalled views across the estuary.

When I chatted to Heather, she was keen to emphasise that the hotel also welcomes couples who are, perhaps, looking for something a little different and wish to put together their own fully bespoke wedding packages. She and her experienced team are on hand to offer full support and advice.

The Clifton Arms is not just for weddings. It also provides the perfect setting for any of life’s special events.

The hotel occupies a Grade-II listed building with a long history, but it is also continually looking to move with the times and keep up-to-date with modern trends, meaning that anyone planning an event there is offered the best of both worlds.

top table and cake table. Chair covers come with a choice of colour coordinating sashes. Bespoke table plan and menu cards are provided, along with place cards.

The wedding cake is given pride of place on its own beautifully decorated table, which comes with cake stand and knife.

The evening reception is also included in the All Wrapped Up 24

package, so enjoy a night to remember at the Clifton Arms Hotel. A DJ is on hand until midnight to provide entertainment and a supper buffet is provided of carved roast honey and mustard gammon rolls with bowls of salads and fine cut chips.

The bride and groom are offered the use of a complimentary bridal suite on the night of the wedding, which overlooks the seafront. Imagine waking

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

Whether you are celebrating a big birthday party, hosting a charity event or planning a more intimate gathering, the Clifton Arms can supply the setting and the service to make it a spectacular success. The Clifton Arms has a wide range of packages available, both for party nights and more intimate occasions. Why not enjoy an intimate dining experience in the recently refurbished restaurant, or drinks on the hotel’s recently added terrace looking out to sea. Alternatively, party the night away in the ballroom.

It’s never too early to start thinking about Christmas celebrations and the Clifton Arms is once again on hand to take away the stress of planning for the festive season.

The magic begins with the hotel’s Christmas lights switch-on event on

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25th November. Come along for free and indulge in a warming hot chocolate or mulled wine, plus there is plenty of entertainment on offer to keep the children amused.

The Clifton Arms is again hosting its very popular Winter Wonderland Party Nights this year, which offer the perfect opportunity to celebrate the festive season with family, friends or work colleagues. The hotel is now taking bookings for the four available dates of 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd December.

For something a little different, why not try the Very Festive Afternoon Tea on 10th December or the Festive Live Jazz Lunch on 18th December?

Alternatively, include the children and come along to Brunch with Santa on either 4th or 11th December. This special event gives the little ones a chance to meet the big man himself.

For the ultimate festive treat, book in at the Clifton Arms for Christmas Day Lunch, Boxing Day Lunch, the New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner or New Year’s Day Lunch.

Pre-booking is essential for all of the hotel’s special Christmas events.

Heather Wignall is happy to make an appointment with anyone who is interested in holding a wedding or other special function at the Clifton Arms and show them around the hotel.

Full contact details are given below.

Alternatively, come along to one of the regular Wedding Fayres which the Clifton Arms hosts throughout the year. Follow the hotel’s social media accounts (details below) to receive news regarding the dates of future events.

Whatever the event, the hotel promises that “memories are made and details managed” at the Clifton Arms. The following reviews, left by just a few of the hotel’s many satisfied customers, suggest that this promise is being kept: “Our wedding day was made complete by the most perfect venue…

The professionalism and combined experience of their team shone through from day one. We are thrilled to have the Clifton Arms as a part of our memories of an absolutely wonderful wedding day.”

“Had my wedding celebrations www.lancmag.com

there and cannot recommend enough.

The attention to detail, listening to your needs and fantastic service cannot be beaten.”

“We had the most perfect wedding day and the team were fantastic! Can’t thank you all enough.”

M CLIFTON ARMS HOTEL West Beach Lytham FY8 5QJ

N 01253 739898 E functions@cliftonarmslytham.com D www.cliftonarmslytham.com F @CliftonArmsHotelLytham T @CliftonArms I cliftonarmshotel_lytham Ê @cliftonarmslytham

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 25

By Sarah Ridgway

The UK has been in the grip of a pandemic for the past two years, which saw countless weddings across the country cancelled or postponed.

Thankfully, most restrictions have been lifted and weddings are back on!

D

ue to the backlog, 2022 is expected to have a huge wedding boom, and a quarter of people have invitations for up to three weddings this year. 40% of people have said they are invited to more weddings this year than ever.

More and more couples are choosing to step away from the big conventional church wedding and are deciding to marry on their terms. Venues have also moved with the times and adapted to the change, and many offer couples’ packages to suit them.

Couples are also incorporating their ethics into their big day, and there is a significant focus on sustainable weddings, and many are opting for meat-free food, biodegradable confetti, and some brides are choosing to rent their dresses.

However, people want to celebrate their special day their choices are endless, and we have rounded up some popular options and highlighted the wedding trends of 2022.

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THE MICRO WEDDING Due to restrictions on wedding attendees during the pandemic, people got around this by opting for micro-weddings.

This involved inviting a handful of family and friends that met government requirements.

Micro-weddings’ popularity has not wavered, and couples are still choosing to get married in smaller venues with less than 20 guests.

The average wedding in the UK has an average of 82 guests and 103 guests for the evening.

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This trend looks to continue and the advantages of less travel, fewer materials and less waste are an attractive incentive for environmentally conscious individuals. Couples can select a small, licenced venue of their choosing, but many venues have created packages to accommodate this popular choice.

There are many pros to having a micro-wedding, and the cost is probably the most attractive. The average wedding in the UK stands at around £30,355, which in the current climate is a big investment, especially when many are prioritising getting on the property ladder.

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Fewer guests also mean a less stressful planning process, and the day can be more relaxed with the most important people in your life there for your special day. It’s also easier for the couple to spend quality time with their guests.

Many who choose this option want to forgo the traditional elements of the wedding such as cutting the cake and throwing the bouquet. There is still a ceremony and reception, but the sitdown meal is being replaced with more casual options such as a BBQ or getting a local restaurant to provide catering.

Couples can rewrite the rules and prioritise what is important to them, whether it’s the band, the food, or the photographer.

Choosing the right venue is very important to create the perfect atmosphere. A larger venue can accommodate a micro-wedding, but this doesn’t necessarily mean it will be a good fit.

A guest list of twenty people or less could feel lost in a huge stately home, so find somewhere just right for you, which could be a cottage, a farm, or even a garden, the choice is up to you.

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THE SMALL WEDDING A micro-wedding is not for everyone, and neither is a huge wedding. Many couples choose to meet in the middle with a small wedding of usually around 30-50 guests. The benefits of a smaller guest list include creating a more personal atmosphere and can be more focused on the guest’s experience. A smaller wedding is not always chosen to cut costs, and many couples still want all the traditional factors of the wedding day just on a smaller scale.

But fewer guests mean there is more money to splurge on important things such as the dress, entertainment, and videography. Pubs are a great option for smaller weddings, and up to 2 million people are expected to say “I do” at a pub wedding this year, as couples choose to celebrate their big day in a more informal way.

Fewer guests also mean less stress, so any dietary requirements or special requests will be easier to manage.

Another advantage of a smaller wedding is flexibility, larger numbers often require set menus and packages, whereas smaller venues will be able to cater to smaller numbers better, without being tied into a fixed set-up.

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THE MID-WEEK WEDDING Couples have traditionally chosen to hold their wedding on a Saturday in the summer months to guarantee good weather. The wedding boom means many couples across the UK will not have secured their preferred date and venue due to the backlog of cancellations and postponements.

Having a mid-week wedding is something couples should consider as it comes with a variety of advantages. Firstly, you are more likely to get your preferred venue at a cheaper price. Getting married midweek during the summer months could save thousands.

Popular wedding venues can be booked up for around two years in advance, so a mid-week wedding ensures you get your first choice. This also applies to wedding suppliers such as the

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wedding band and photographer, as they will have more availability mid-week. The money saved can be allocated elsewhere such as a more

luxurious honeymoon. Again, a mid-week departure is cheaper than at the weekend, so it is a win-win situation.

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OUTDOOR WEDDINGS During the pandemic, the rules were temporarily relaxed to allow outdoor weddings to be legal. Before, the law meant civil ceremonies needed indoors or outdoors but within a permanent structure. The good news is that from April this year all outdoor weddings in England and Wales are now permanently legalised meaning couples will have more flexibility to choose where they say their vows.

Getting married outside under the sky is a dream for many couples, but British weather can be unpredictable, so a backup plan such as a marquee or some gazebos is advised.

Garden weddings have increased in popularity, and Google searches 30

for ‘garden weddings’ in 2022 saw a 284% increase. For those lucky enough to have a friend or family member with a suitable space, then this is an ideal option. Otherwise, there are many beautiful gardens across the country to choose from.

Things to consider when using someone’s garden are facilities; for example, one toilet for 60 guests is not going to work so investigate hiring portaloos.

A rustic barn wedding is still a popular choice for couples, and many venues can accommodate both the ceremony and the reception minimising travel for guests. British couples continue to choose a barn wedding, and there are many attractive reasons why.

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The first reason is personality, with high ceilings and a rustic feature they offer an intimate feel and space.

Barns usually offer access to outside space, which could be wild farmland, meadows, or a lawn, making the perfect backdrop for photographs and for guests to relax and mingle.

A barn is a blank canvas meaning it can be personalised however the couple wants. Hay bales, fairy lights and candy floss stalls are popular choices.

The most attractive feature of a barn wedding is the ceremony and reception can all happen under one roof. This creates a good atmosphere as the couple can easily get around their guests with more time to mingle. www.lancmag.com

The relaxing of the rules means more outdoor venues have become an option. Couples now don’t need to limit themselves to the traditional venues and can find a place with sentimental value. Be mindful that outdoor weddings still need to be conducted in a licensed venue.

2022 WEDDING TRENDS Bridgerton Inspired Fashion Bridgerton has been one of the most-watched series on Netflix, with many swooning over the elegance of Regency period fashion. As a result, eBay has seen a 205% increase in searches for ‘puff-sleeved wedding dresses’. So, if you are attending a wedding this year expect to see a Bridgerton empire waist gown or two. www.lancmag.com

Rental and Pre-Loved Wedding Dresses

Sustainability

There has been a reported 80% increase in searches for pre-loved wedding gowns. Princess Beatrix got married in a vintage dress borrowed from her grandmother, the Queen, which she had adapted.

Renting a tuxedo has been common practice for the groom, but now brides are getting in on the action too. Carrie Symonds chose to rent her wedding dress when she married Boris Johnson. Symonds wore a dress worth £2,870, which on My Wardrobe HQ is available to rent for £45 a day.

Loaning a dress can start from as little as £20 and many can be rented for as long as needed, so suits someone who wants to get married abroad.

There is a huge focus on couples wanting a sustainable wedding, and biodegradable confetti is a feature at many weddings, with leaves and birdseed used as a more environmentally friendly option.

Wedding favours are changing and potted plants in reusable jars are being gifted, or donations to charity are made on the guests’ behalf.

Dried flowers are popular as they provide longevity and can be taken home and gifted to wedding guests.

Guests can also expect more vegan and vegetarian menus as people are more conscious of their carbon footprint.

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Choose Organic for Indoor Allergies This Organic September

By Airborne Allergens Expert, Max Wiseberg

www.haymax.biz Everyone can tolerate a certain amount of allergen without reaction, but once this is exceeded – known as your ‘trigger level’ – an allergic reaction occurs. HayMax works by keeping you below your trigger level for longer.

HayMax has solid science behind it. Independent university studies have shown that HayMax traps over a third of pollen before it enters the body, in addition to dust mite allergens and pet dander[1].

In an independent survey by Allergy UK, the leading national charity providing support, advice and information for those living with allergic disease, 80% of people say HayMax works[2]. And 94% of people find HayMax quick to be effective; 44% said that it worked immediately and a further 35% said that it worked within an hour or two[2].

Organic September is a Soil Association initiative to raise awareness of the benefits of organic and the efforts organic brands, farms and business make to support nature and wildlife and protect the planet. I am proud to be part of the trust and integrity demonstrated by the Soil Association organic symbol and my invention, HayMax, has been certified by the Soil Association for 15 years. So I am encouraging more people with airborne allergies to go organic this month.

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he Soil Association organic symbol is the most widely recognised in the UK. Giving people reassurance and trust, the symbol demonstrates a commitment to working with nature, not against it, for the benefit of wildlife, people and planet.

All HayMax™ organic drug-free allergen barrier balms for hay fever and dust and pet allergy sufferers are certified organic by the Soil Association, the main certification body for organic produce in the UK. I decided to include organic ingredients in HayMax very early on. It’s not just that using the best ingredients produces the best product (just like when cooking a meal), but I knew that organic was good for the planet, too.

The best chef will always ensure that the ingredients are the best quality they can find: if the ingredients are substandard the final outcome won’t be as good. I believe it’s just the same with an allergy product.

So I use oils and powders from nature and by using organic ingredients I ensure they are gentle and comfortable on the skin, as well as trapping the maximum amount of allergens. I’m pleased to say that our very first of over 50 awards was for the Best Non Food Organic Product at the Natural Trade Show. And a few years later we were the proud winner of a prestigious 2014 Soil Association Organic Award.

HayMax organic drug-free allergen barrier balms rrp is £8.49 per pot and they are available from independent chemists, pharmacists and health stores, Holland & Barrett, Booths, Ocado, selected Superdrug and Boots, on 01525 406600 and from www.haymax.biz

HayMax is an organic drug-free allergen barrier balm that is applied around the rim of the nostrils and the bones of the eyes to trap pet dander, dust particles and pollen before they get in the body, reducing your allergenic load.

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

[2] ‘The Impact of Hay Fever – a survey by Allergy UK’, Allergy UK, supported and funded by HayMax™, April 2016.

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FIVE WELLNESS SUITES INCLUDING: • Sculpt Suite - utilising the latest beauty technology, including CoolSculpting and ULTRAcel, to deliver results • Aesthetics Suite - home to aesthetic treatments including botox fillers, non-surgical rhinoplasty and bioremodelling • Skin Suite - where Dr Yusra delivers her signature glow and anti-ageing treatments

Redefining the art of aesthetics, the Dr Yusra Clinic is home to empowered transformations.

A medically-led practitioner, Dr Yusra takes a holistic approach to the art of aesthetics, utilising the latest and most effective evidence-based techniques. Her clinic specialises in anti-aging, fat freezing, acne and skin pigmentation, weight loss, skincare, injectables, non-surgical rhinoplasty and hair restoration treatments.

F @dryusraclinic D dryusra.com

I @dryusraclinic N 03332244666

E info@dryusra.com (Mon-Fri 9:30am-5:30pm)

Dr Yusra’s Guide to the Ultimate Wedding Glow

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ith over 4.7million weddings due to take place in the years 2022 & 2023, brides and grooms up and down the country are busy planning their special day. For many brides and grooms, aesthetic treatments and skincare regimes become one of many things on a long list of wedding to do’s and busy schedules.

We want to help you find natural enhancing treatments leaving you feeling glowing, refreshed, and radiant Multi award-winning expert Dr Yusra Al-Mukhtar is on hand to guide brides and grooms through treatment journeys from skin and dermal filler, to sculpting and weight loss programmes, all of which take place in Dr Yusra’s flagship clinic in Blundellsands and Crosby. Dr Yusra also has satellite clinics in London Harley Street and Harrow on the Hill where Dr Yusra’s team of experts are on hand to guide and support our patients on their treatment journey. Dr Yusra and her team have put together a guide on key tips and tricks as well as when to have your allimportant aesthetic treatments ahead of your special day.

9 - 12 MONTHS BEFORE: Skin There is no better time than in the lead up to your wedding to incorporate a good skin care routine. With so many different brands, products, and advice on the market it can be difficult to know where to start. A consultation is key in starting this journey. At Dr Yusra clinic, her team of experts don’t just ask what you are using currently, they look at your medical history, discuss nutrition and assess the health of your skin, thereby advising you on a holistic plan from makeup to treatments. Dr Yusra recommends starting your skin transformation 9-12 months before the big day to allow time for your skin to acclimatise to new products and to maximise your skin health and glow.

changing transformations.

Dr Yusra says “Pre-wedding skincare plans often start 9-12 months before the wedding, where we have plenty of time to really maximise our patients glow. We offer scientifically backed prescription skincare that is clinically proven to improve collagen density and radiance, and we offer prescription treatments for those who suffer with their skin health and appearance of acne, scarring, rosacea, pigmentation, or fine lines and wrinkles through sun damage or ageing. One of the best pore busting treatments is Secret Pro by Cutera, a combination treatment that uses microneedling radiofrequency and CO2 laser to create a smooth and beautiful canvas whilst also tightening the skin, improve pores, resurface the skin to reduce lines around the face, eyes and mouth and for improved collagen density as well as an FDA approved treatment for scarring.

This treatment sends heat energy to the collagen forming fibroblasts through tiny microchannels in the skin created from the microneedles. The result is new collagen, reduced lines, and a smoother brighter tighter complexion. It can be used around the eyes, face and neck and is hugely popular with our patients. It can also be used on stretch marks on the body to diminish their appearance.”

Skincare and skin health is a bespoke treatment and, as with dermal filler, there certainly is not a one size fits all.

Each individual will have different concerns that they want to focus on. From acne to hyperpigmentation and scarring these are all concerns that can be treated using prescription grade skin care, and in some cases alongside in clinic skin treatments such as Microneedling or laser. Dr Yusra’s go to prescription products come from brands such as Obagi, SkinCeuticals, Alumier and Teoxane to help deliver life 34

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Face Facial treatment’s will depend on your concerns, and desired outcome, and are best planned months in advance.

One of the most widely sought after treatments are dermal filler and anti wrinkle treatments.

There is no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to dermal filler, and a consultation is always best placed as a first step to discuss and plan your journey well in advance and create a bespoke plan to suit your life style, budget and desired outcome. Dr Yusra recommends finding a practitioner you trust, who shares the same goals, who can work with you to address your concerns and help you to feel your best on your special day.

ENDOlift is a revolutionary treatment used for immediate and effective skin tightening and fat reduction, leaving no scarring. Endolift remodels the entire face: correcting mild sagging of the skin and fat accumulations on the lower third of the face (double chin, cheeks, mouth, jaw line) and neck and can also be used in the upper face to correct the skin laxity of the lower eyelid. The results are not only immediately visible but continue to improve for several months following the procedure, as additional collagen builds in the deep layers of the skin. The best moment to appreciate the results achieved is after 6 months.

Dermal fillers and anti-wrinkle injections can be used in subtle enhancing ways to provide brides and grooms with confidence ahead of their special day. Dr Yusra says “we see many brides and grooms alike visit us ahead of their wedding for pre-wedding tweaks or rejuvenation along with many visiting for life-changing treatments such as the nonsurgical rhinoplasty after realising they have been bothered by a feature and feel anxious about wedding photos as a result. As these treatments are medical procedures, and there is always a small risk of bruising or complications, I always advise planning such treatments well in advance of your special day to ensure you like the end result and have plenty of time to either change your mind or plan top ups before the big day if you want”.

It is recommended that you begin your dermal filler journey around 9 months before your wedding. This allows time for a full treatment plan to be curated, and treatments planned effectively in the run up to your wedding which means your treatments are performed and often built upon to achieve beautifully natural results. Following the 9-12-month rule also allows you to trial treatments to make sure it is the right treatment for you, and to make any tweaks necessary. In the unlikely event you don’t like the results, there is also plenty of time to reverse the treatment and tweak if need be.

Ultracel is a non-invasive treatment that works by tightening and lifting the lax muscle layer. It can be used to treat the face, neck or eyes. The technology used combines radio frequency and focused ultrasound to which works on the deeper layers of the skin, and muscle. This provides the ultimate lift with no needles or down time. For the best results it is recommended that 3 treatments take place around 3 months apart. This treatment can be done in conjunction with dermal filler and medical grace skin care.

Body With outfits to fit into, hundreds of photographs being taken and being the centre of attention, many brides feel anxious about their bodies and how they look in the run-up to the big day. It is important to first remember that you are beautiful and your physical and mental health should be the priority. For brides and grooms who are wanting to get rid of any stubborn areas of fat or lose weight ahead of their big day, Dr Yusra and her team are here to help. Dr Yusra recommends starting your body journey around 9 months www.lancmag.com

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before the wedding. This will allow her team of experts to help you on your journey and optimise your results.

We have a number of body contouring and fat reducing treatments that are FDA approved to improve your health and your silhouette.

CoolSculpting is an FDA-approved medical treatment and is perfect for treating and permanently reducing stubborn pockets of fat, without any needles or surgery.

In just one session you can permanently destroy up to 27% of fat cells using a process called cryo lipolysis, this is where fat cells are frozen to -11 degrees which results in them being permanently destroyed and therefore leave the body through the normal lymphatics. Patients can often be recommended 2, and on some occasions 3 sessions of CoolSculpting which take place 3 months apart. Results can be appreciated in as little as 6 weeks, though you will see your optimum results 3 months after the treatment. It is a non-invasive treatment with no downtime meaning it is the perfect treatment to fit into a busy wedding planning schedule. We treat the double chin area, bingo wings, back fat, abdominal fat, muffin top and inner and outer thighs.

Dr Yusra Clinic is also home to the National Weight Loss programme which is led by our superintendent pharmacist on our ‘Journey back to health’ programme. The national weight loss programme uses medication to aid with weight loss only where necessary and medically appropriate. This is a prescription medication which when used alongside healthy eating and exercise can result in significant weight loss. This treatment is suitable for people with a BMI over 27. On average patients find that they can lose up to 2 pounds a week. Dr Yusra recommends booking in for a consultation with our clinical lead prescriber who will not only provide information on the medication but also support with nutritional plans, exercise plans and a healthy lifestyle with monthly check-ins.

3 - 6 MONTHS BEFORE: Face Anti-wrinkle injections last on average 3-6 months however Dr Yusra recommends trying these injections at least 6 months before your wedding. Anti-wrinkle injections are different to dermal filler and cannot be reversed should they not be for you, therefore trying these injections prior to the wedding will allow time for this to wear off before the big day.

Skinbooster injections like Profhilo, skinbooster Restylane Vital or Beltoero revive are an injectable treatment that is designed to deliver deep skin hydration, promoting a natural glow and radiance. Unlike a dermal filler, these treatments are not designed to create volume or change the shape of your face – the effect is more subtle and is suitable for all. Injectable skin boosters are perfect for those wanting a natural glow on their special day along with helping to reduce fine lines and creepy skin. Skin boosters can also be used on the neck or chest area. 2-3 sessions are recommended 4 weeks apart in order to get the optimum results.

Skin For the ultimate wedding glow, Dr Yusra recommends having the Dr Yusra Signature Glow facial that combines hydration, extraction, medical grade skin peel and LED light therapy. It is recommended that you have one facial a month in the 6 months leading up to the wedding. Dr Yusra always recommends speaking with your practitioner to find the best facial that combines treatments to help with any concerns along with giving you glowing, healthy skin. It is important not to introduce anything new into your skincare regime a month before the big day to avoid any reactions or purges in the skin.

Hydrafacials are bespoke 6 step medical grade facial that can be tailored to your skin type and desired outcome.

HydraFacial will give you instant and visible results that you can see and feel after each treatment. This patented technology follows a six-step treatment process – Detox, Cleanse and Exfoliation, Brightening, Extraction, Hydration and finally Rejuvenation. Dead skin cells and impurities 36

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are removed and the skin is hydrated with antioxidants and peptides. Dr Yusra recommends having one HydraFacial a month in the lead-up for the big day.

Body ULTRAcel Q+ is a non-invasive treatment that nonsurgically remodels and contours areas of the face and body using HIFU (High Intensity Focused Ultrasound) which penetrates deep into the skin and fat. ULTRAcel Q+ can be used to achieve a more youthful and toned appearance, for all skin tones and types with no recovery time and skin that will feel smoother and tighter immediately after treatment. As new collagen is produced over the 6 months after treatment you will then feel the full result.

As the 6 month count down begins it is important to keep up with your healthy life style including exercise, healthy nutrition and positive mindset to help continue and maintain your weight loss results. Our superintendent pharmacist is on hand to support you on this journey, helping you to achieve your goals.

1 - 2 MONTHS BEFORE: HydraFacial’s and continuing with your medical grade skin care are vital in the 1-2 months before your wedding.

Don’t introduce any new products into your regime unless advised to by your practitioner.

THE WEEK BEFORE: Relax, enjoy your moment and don’t be tempted to book any last minute tweakments or facials or change your skincare regime. Stick to your routine, hydrate yourself and smile!

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

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

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4 As a groom, it might be daunting to know where to start when it comes to choosing your wedding suit.

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here are some classic choices you can go for. For years, grey, blue, or black suits have been the favourite for grooms across the nation, matched with timeless brown or black shoes. There are options to personalise this suit too, with bold ties or even socks giving you an opportunity to express your personal flair in a subtle way.

But your wedding style shouldn’t be restricted by tradition. Here, we’re going to look into the trends of men’s wedding fashion and give you some tips on bringing these trends to your own wedding.

The Roaring ‘20s and the 2020s Formal suits have been around for decades. However, fashionable suits from a century ago were worn very differently from the suits that have seen popularity in recent years.

Having said that, with the global success of Peaky Blinders, ‘20s fashion is back in style. If you happen to be a fan of the series, why not take inspiration for your wedding suit? The cast is dressed to the nines throughout, and there are some easy ways to replicate their iconic look.

First off, choose tweed suit in Herringbone or Donegal for a more rustic style. To complete the ‘20s

BOLD NEW TRENDS LEADING MEN’S WEDDING FASHION Charles Tyrwhitt - www.charlestyrwhitt.com/uk/home look, you’re going to need to make use of accessories. Naturally, the Peaky Blinders were defined by their much-mythologised peaked cap, so adorning yourself in one of these will give you that instantly recognisable silhouette that you’re looking for.

Top this all off with a statement gold pocket watch to complete the look of a well-dressed working gent.

Be Creative with Colour While some of us will want to appeal to tradition, others will prefer to break away from those styles that came before. For these intrepid pioneers of fashion, experimenting with colour is a fantastic way to express their style know-how.

It can be tempting to play it safe with blues and greys, but your wedding day is the best time to make a statement.

Now, you can opt for colours that will turn heads without sacrificing any of the class appropriate for the special occasion. In this sense, a deep red suit, in burgundy or wine, is a unique option that oozes sophisticated style.

It’s a choice that will serve you well throughout the wedding day, being the perfect choice for both the ceremony and the late-night dancing.

Depending on when your wedding takes place, matching your suit colour with the season can be a great way to tie your whole day together.

Unsurprisingly, an ONS survey from 2018 showed that summer was the most popular season for weddings. To pair with this season, you should go bright with light and natural colours. www.lancmag.com

If you’re having a winter wedding, dark colours are the most fitting, so try a pine green or earthy brown.

Marriage in Microprint Colour and material are overarching points to consider when choosing your wedding suit. You’ll likely already have an idea of what you’re looking for in these places. However, the smaller aspects of men’s suits are just as important as the main pieces.

When you’re looking to add detail to your suit, many people will turn to accessories first. Pocket squares, ties, socks, and jewellery can be great additions, but a microprint suit can really serve to bind your look together.

While forsaking the standard blockcolour look, microprint items ensure that, no matter how close they get, people will always see more detail in your outfit.

There is plenty of variety in the patterns that you can choose too, so you can be specific about going for a pattern that really suits you.

If you’re looking for ways to diversify your outfits too, you could use a microprint jacket with matching coloured trousers and waistcoat. You could even go for a microprint shirt to give a more subtle splash of variety to your look.

A Statement Waistcoat There are many bold trends hitting men’s fashion that can make it overwhelming to settle on one style. Being restricted by tradition can be difficult, but being faced with too much choice can be just as challenging. Sometimes, a middle ground provides the best solution.

If you’re fond of a traditional suit but would like to embrace a modern twist, picking a statement waistcoat for your look could be the perfect answer. You can incorporate this as a complementary colour or pattern to match the rest of your look, but you can be as daring as you choose.

Pairing a tartan-patterned waistcoat in blue and green could be an understated flair of colour to really elevate your outfit. On the other hand, a striking mustard waistcoat against a dark blue suit will make sure that you’re the centre of attention throughout the day. Better yet, once it’s time to doff the jacket and hit the dancefloor, you’ll be impossible not to notice.

These are a few ways that you can stay on-trend with the latest wedding looks and make sure that you’re dressed in style for the big day.

Weddings are a momentous occasion, whether you’re the lucky groom or an honoured guest, so it’s important that you look your best.

Sources www.statista.com/statistics/933431/most-popular-wedding-months-in-uk/ www.charlestyrwhitt.com/uk/mens-suits/ www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-tweed#8-different-types-of-tweed LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 39

Taking a World View at Lancaster Priory

Above: The Vicar of Lancaster, the Rev Leah Vasey-Saunders welcomes Gaia to the Priory

Life on earth was celebrated at Lancaster Priory this summer with the arrival of a spectacular global artwork.

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aia, which was displayed at COP26 in Glasgow last year, revolved from the Priory rafters for three weeks, attracting thousands of visitors.

Measuring seven metres in diameter, Gaia – the personification of the earth, according to Greek mythology - features the detailed NASA imagery of the earth’s surface.

The artwork, created by Luke Jerram, is 1.8 million times smaller than the real earth with each centimetre of the internally lit sculpture describing 18km of the earth’s surface. By standing 211m away from Gaia, 40

visitors could see the earth as it appears from the moon.

The Vicar of Lancaster, the Rev Leah Vasey-Saunders said: “Gaia gives us a fresh perspective on our planet and on its people. I hope that every visit to Lancaster Priory during the festival month inspired a sense of awe.”

It took three days to prepare the Priory for Gaia. As in 2019, a historic 18th Century candelabra was removed and this year, for the first time since they were installed around 1860, ten pews were also moved to allow a temporary floor to be installed.

To celebrate Gaia’s time in Lancaster, an extensive events programme reflected on the weekly themes of community, nature, sustainability and home.

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Musical performances, lectures, yoga, tai chi and Qigong sessions were just some of the other events which took place under the Earth sculpture during its stay and among the highlights were the Blue Moon Band, a Night at the Opera and the King’s Men choral scholars from King’s College, Cambridge.

These events were supported by Lancaster BID, Oglethorpe, Sturton and Gillibrand, Mazuma, ICT Reverse and the Duchy of Lancaster Benevolent Fund.

To complement Gaia, in St Nicholas Chapel, there was the premiere of Four Rivers, an audio and film experience, reflecting the sounds of Morecambe Bay produced by Syrian artist and Lancaster University student, Aous Hamoud. www.lancmag.com

The Best Jeans In The World

Tramarossa Not Just For Men

Colour and Style

www.sarahharrisstyle.co.uk

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

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eptember is one of my favourite months as there’s the hope of an Indian Summer when we can enjoy a little more sunshine!

The season’s new colours are enticing us into the shops and although we are still in our summer wardrobe there’s a buzz of excitement as to what the new season will bring!! Our skin has had the chance to breathe, and our bodies have recuperated ready for the colourful and changeable months ahead!

There are Greens like lush landscapes and tropical rainforests alongside fiery Reds, Tangerines and Light Golds, and Vibrant Fuchsia alongside a contrasting Light Pink, Cool Aqua and Sky Blue paired with neutrals Medium Grey and Chocolate! Lavender to keep the calm in the chaos of the contradictions. This Season is awash with a sense of vigour and excitement side by side with comfort and stability. The colours this season establish a feeling of diversity in a comforting and reassuring way!

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.

RED HOT THIS SEASON

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

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

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

E sarah@sarahharrisstyle.co.uk D www.sarahharrisstyle.co.uk 42

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

 Image courtesy of Hamlyn for Colour Me Beautiful

www.lancmag.com

THE MEANINGS BEHIND THE COLOURS AND THE TRENDS FOR THIS SEASON! RED – Red is an energetic colour and a good one if you want to make a statement and be seen! This season’s reds will have warmer orange tones. Red can have a great impact when worn on its own, however, add a neutral for a great contrast!

Your Style Personality will be key to how you wear it.

PINK – brings out the femininity in every woman and suggests gentleness and empathy. Wearing it tone on tone (one shade lighter and one darker) is very flattering or in contrast wearing a Blush Pink or Rose Pink under a neutral suit will soften the look.

Trends A/W 22/23 – Fuchsia, Pink Orchid, Light Pink.  Hot Pink Cotton Rib Shirt by www.kettlewellcolours.co.uk

Trends A/W 22/23 – Tomato, True Red, Orange Red.

ORANGE/YELLOW – Orange and Yellow are joyful colour’s which radiate warmth, happiness, and energy. Orange can be worn head to toe or in contrast with a more earth tone like Olive, Taupe or Chocolate.

BLUE – conveys trust, order, and peace. It is the most popular colour and the darker navies are often associated with authority, law and order. Medium shades of blue can really brighten up your wardrobe. Wear either in contrast to add interest to a neutral, or tone on tone for a very chic look.

Trends A/W 22/23 - Dark Navy, Charcoal Blue, Duck Egg, Aqua, Powder Blue, Sky Blue.

Trends A/W 22/23 – Tangerine, Peach, Light Gold, Daffodil.

www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 43

GREEN – the colour of nature conveys a sense of reassurance and calm. It is also known to improves productivity. Wearing green from Olive to Lime and anything in between shows creativity and imagination. However, if your undertone is Cool you’re better in a blue based green like a Spruce or Sea Green whereas if your undertone is Warm a yellow based green like a Moss or Apple Green will better for you.

GREY – is a better neutral than Black as it suits more colouring types and although associated with authority it can be very stylish and gentler on the complexion than Black! Charcoal and Pewter are Universal colours so a great addition to everyone’s wardrobe.

Trends A/W 22/23 – Medium Grey.

Trends A/W 22/23 - Fern, Olive, Verbena, Greyed Green, Pine and Spruce.

BROWN – this is an earth colour and is associated with being relaxed and down to earth! It comes in many different hues from Chocolate, Coffee, Golden brown to Mahogany. Brown is sometimes considered boring when worn alone but mixing it with other colours can bring it to life. Wear the correct brown for your colouring type, it’s a great staple for your wardrobe!

Trends A/W 22/23 – Chocolate, Golden Brown, Taupe.

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LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

PURPLE – is a very regal colour (Purple fabric used to be very expensive as the dye originally used was rare, therefore only those with great wealth could afford it hence the regal connection) and a spiritual colour showing creativity, calmness, and sensitivity. The deeper shades are a great alternative to Black whereas the lighter shades promote a sense of relaxation.

Trends A/W 22/23 - Lavender.

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WHITE – denotes purity, lightness and freshness. Pure White is hard to wear and only suits those with a Clear cooler colouring but there is a shade to suit everyone from Soft White to Ivory and all the shades in between! It’s a great neutral and can look very chic on its own or combined with a pop of colour! This season’s Soft White is perfect as it’s a universal colour!

ALL COLOUR ME BEAUTIFUL SKINCARE RANGES ARE: . Organic . Vegan . Cruelty-free Trends A/W 22/23 - Soft White, Shell.

Silky Crew Neck by www.kettlewellcolours.co.uk 

SHOW YOUR SKIN SOME TLC

. Packed with essential oils They are very reasonably priced and made locally!

Please let me know if you would like any samples sent out: sarah@sarahharrisstyle.co.uk Colour Trends Images courtesy of Hamlyn for Colour Me Beautiful and Kettlewell Colours.

With the changing season we often forget our skincare and September is a good time to re-look at our skincare routine to prepare it for the colder weather. I suggest making it a weekly routine at the end of a busy week: -

1 2

Cleans your face and apply a face mask, relax for 20 minutes, and wash off.

Moisturise with a really good nourishing product like CMB’s Age -Defying Facial Oil the natural blended ingredients will deeply nourish and hydrate your skin. The Lavender oil has anti-inflammatory properties and is soothing on your skin and the Frankincense (liquid gold) helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles and skin imperfections such as discolouration and stimulates the growth of new cells!

3

Leave this on overnight and your skin will feel supple and refreshed in the morning.

Enjoy the new seasons Colours and Styles and take some time out for a well-deserved, relaxing skincare routine! And if you would like any skincare samples, please let me know!

Look after yourselves and each other!

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

Style

The life of Di

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

HEAVEN, NOT HELL WAS OTHER PEOPLE than you as to why it’s doing what it’s doing, or not doing what it’s not doing.

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read a while back that heaven, not hell was other people. And OK so this was in a magazine far inferior to this one. Also, most of us’d likely forgotten what other people looked like at the time: Everywhere was shut, sports stadia were empty – and you couldn’t hug your granny without endangering her health, and/or incurring someone’s wrath.

All the same, who could forget the countless pre-pandemic instances of being trapped in queues, waitingrooms, on trains, buses, or planes, with other people’s bawling brats, or unmissable phone conversations rich in details you REALLY didn’t want to know? And that’s just the mild stuff. I’ll admit I’m a tad biased on the subject at the moment having already endured months of sleepless nights, stress and anxiety owing to an example of it, with no end in sight. However, I’d venture to suggest no other creature could compete with humans in mean-spiritedness and perversity when they put their mind to it. OK so you might have your neighbours’ cats trample your tulips, dig up your delphiniums, or piddle on your pansies overnight - which is blooming annoying, especially when you’ve spent all day toiling like a demon, emulating Alan Titchmarsh - and know full well the

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dratted moggies’d never perpetrate such atrocities on their own patch. On the other hand, I’d be surprised if the feline fiends exited the crime scene chortling madly, intent only on the next well-kept garden to trash to kingdom come. I’ve also never heard of any cat nicking a handbag, wrecking bus shelters just for the heck of it, or phoning pretending to be anyone’s bank, Amazon, or some other recognized service in the hope they’ll cough up their card or account details.

I’ll wager they’ve also never tied anyone up in red tape, or insisted on a course which not only had nothing to do with such tiresome matters as fairness, consideration, or equality, but made not a jot of sense from their own point of view - but which it was somewhere writ must be the case, so that was that.

On the contrary, it seems to me there are three key sources of irritation in life.

The first is fate, or whatever it is has your computer packing up, or your hearing-aid conking out at the absolutely worst possible time. The second is technology, which seems at times to exist to gobble up time and patience as though for fun, with no “expert” seeming to have any more idea

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

And the third is other people. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not tarring all other people with the same brush - planning to move to a remote Scottish island populated only by seabirds or anything.

I’m not talking about ALL other people here. I’m personally surrounded by extraordinary people, whose support, especially at times such as recently, is off the chart. It’s also the case that when things are going badly for you, you not only discover who your friends are, as the saying goes, but can derive cheer from if not the unlikeliest sources, then certainly wonderfully random ones: The cheery woman who made you smile as, over the phone you ordered a bunch of flowers for your dad’s birthday; the gripping books of Peter Robinson, and Scott Mariani; that magnificent US Open win for Matt Fitzpatrick, and most recently, Neal Skupski’s fantastic second Wimbledon mixed doubles title with his American partner Desirae Krawczyk.

All these things kind of involved other people, so I’m definitely not anti-the lot of them. It’s just occurred to me a few times recently, most notably while walking near Skippool Creek, and at Nott-End that, as on these occasions, the birds might be singing, the sun shining, and the flowers blooming for all they were worth, and even in the most ordinary times, chances were we’d be far more aware of the pending need to variously chase up, query, challenge, or correct the actions of a whole bunch of operatives, re whom we could only wonder what the hell they thought they were playing at. Which seemed regrettable, and a waste.

I’ve also concluded that SOME other people at least are as heavenly as sitting on a pile of nettles - and that by and large, you get much less hassle from dogs.

www.lancmag.com

Mia Malthouse EXECUTIVE LEADER

TEAROOM | NURSERY | GARDEN SHOP | DELI CLOTHING | GLORIOUS GIFTS | INTERIORS & LIFESTYLE

Our founder started the Tropic Skincare social selling business to enable us to sell products with a REAL connection to our customers. If you would like to either try out our powerful, purposeful skincare or find out more about joining the tropic family then please drop me a message.

I fifty_and_fabulous_with_mia F Mia VIP Club Tropic E mia.nicoll@icloud.com

M Station Lane, Scorton, Lancashire PR3 1AN N 01524 587067 | E info@daisyclough.com

www.daisyclough.com

Our magazine has been writing about Lancashire for over 50 years.

We cover everything from people to places, Lancashire’s history to Lancashire’s future.

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Daisy Clough Nurseries

Daisy Clough Nurseries was established in 2013 by Joanne and Peter Tate, at the site of the former Beech Grove Nurseries on Station Lane in Scorton, Lancashire.

Conveniently situated just 3 miles north of the market town of Garstang just off the A6 and 3 miles south of junction 33 on the M6.

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t was acquired with the vision of setting up a small, specialised garden centre with a shop and tearoom in a particularly beautiful area next to the River Wyre. It was also envisioned that it would grow most of its own plants and concentrate on hardy perennials and grasses.

The nursery/garden centre has become very well established in the last few years with customers travelling from all over the North West and beyond. A lot of the original customers have enjoyed watching it grow from very limited beginnings, through the building of a modern shop and lovely tearoom to the current expansion of outdoor areas and parking facilities.

Joanne, Peter, and their team currently grow a wide range of plants, not only a huge range of hardy perennials, grasses, bedding plants and vegetable seedlings but also stock shrubs, alpines, fruit trees, fruit bushes, seeds, and house plants.

The tearoom has seating for approx.

120 indoors and 120 outdoors. There

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is also an orchard where customers can sit at picnic tables or walk their dogs.

Owners Jo and Pete, originally from farming backgrounds, bought the site on a wing and a prayer, seeing its potential. Jo had a garden design business and had been growing plants on a small scale to fulfil planting schemes in gardens all over Lancashire. Jo enjoyed the growing side of the business and decided to look for somewhere bigger to grow more plants. The site had two acres of glass houses, some of which were in a bad state and had to be demolished.

The old boiler houses which provided heat for growing tomatoes commercially and summer bedding were out of date so were removed.

This opened up the site to make way for the shop and a few years later the tearoom.

There has been a nursery on the site for around a hundred years now, originally the area was an orchard for Wyresdale Hall, some heritage apple trees are still growing in the orchard today.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

The last 9 years have gone so quickly at Daisy Clough, Jo and Pete are proud to say they have stuck to their original vision for the place and continue to grow most of what is sold on-site and offer gardeners a huge amount of choice and advice where it is needed.

Shopping at Daisy Clough includes seeds, tools and garden equipment, homemade cakes, wine and local gins.

Homewares, houseplants and a lovely range of clothing from Whitestuff, Mistral, and Nomads along with cards and gifts are also stocked.

The next project is planting up some new garden areas outside the tearoom with a view to giving gardeners a few planting ideas and to see plants reaching their potential and give tearoom diners a lovely view.

M Station Lane, Scorton, Lancashire PR3 1AN N 01524 587067 E info@daisyclough.com D www.daisyclough.com www.lancmag.com

DON’T LOOK BACK,

You’ll Miss What’s in Front of You

the time and missed valuable time with my children. I also yearned for greater flexibility, and to escape the money equals time trap so many of us find ourselves in.

I’m delighted to introduce my new business: fifty_and_fabulous_with_mia

Turning 50 this year I knew that I wanted to find a more balanced life.

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life that allowed me to fulfil my values around helping others, and giving back, whilst most importantly spending more quality time at home with my children and husband.

I’ve been guilty like many working mums of being stuck in the “rat race” surviving day to day. I have spent over 30 years commuting to London working for several large telecommunications network providers. During this time, I have been married, divorced, and married again. Struggled with 5 years of gruelling IVF, cared for my mother who became very ill with cancer, moved house over ten times and life does take its toll on your health and wellbeing.

I have always loved my job and earned a six-figure yearly income, enjoying the trappings and challenges this brings but I was tired most of www.lancmag.com

My business offers all women support in 3 key areas: Firstly I candidly share my life experience tips on all things including divorce, marriage, kids, health, and mental wellbeing. My aim is to pass on all the valuable knowledge I have learnt over the years and help others navigate life’s challenges.

Secondly, I provide personalised clean healthy skincare and makeup advice and products for all women – however, I specialise in the over 50s.

During this period our skin needs careful attention and adjustment to ensure we nurture a naturallooking glowing radiance. I have used Tropic Skincare for over 4 years since my beloved mother developed breast cancer at the age of 72. Her oncologist told me to check exactly what was in my skin and body care products as he believed there is a direct link between cancer and what’s in some of the shelf-stocked beauty products. I totally believe in clean, organic powerful plant-based formulations that Tropic offer and my own skin has never looked better, I have reduced my reliance on Botox,

fillers, and more abrasive chemicalladen formulas.

My third and greatest service to other women is the gift of starting their own skincare business.

After doing many years of research on various social selling businesses I knew that I wanted to do something that interests me, allows me to have fun, generates a substantial income and allows me to manage my own time. I joined the Tropic Skincare business as an ambassador 2.5 years ago and quickly elevated myself to Executive Leader. The business model is a low-risk fun way of starting your own business. There are no targets, no hidden agendas, just the ability to talk and share a love of skincare with others.

I adore coaching and mentoring other women helping them become more confident and believe in themselves. Through my own journey with Tropic, I have learnt how to supercharge your own business and in just 30 months I have a business that has turned over a whopping £0.5m in sales and I support over 150 women all on their own skincare business journey.

If you would like to chat to me about having a plan b to lead a more relaxed life, build a lucrative second income or just join a happy supportive gang of women then please get in touch on my Instagram page: I fifty_and_fabulous_with_mia

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 49

In January 2021 two Bolton Ladies, Mandy Worsley and Julie Robinson had the passion and drive to support children after working in health and education respectively for the past 25 years.

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hildren in their care were greatly affected during the Pandemic. Julie, the owner of two Bolton nurseries, had come up with a concept with five other local nurseries using a dinosaur called Wellasaurus, which had been used to encourage children to return to the nursery during the pandemic and afterwards. A fun way to help them feel safe singing the Wellasaurus song.

Julie approached Mandy, whom she has worked with before to deliver health and well-being support and asked her to form a partnership looking at how to incorporate mindfulness into the daily lives of little children. This led to Julie and Mandy setting up the business Mini Minds Matter UK in 2021 during COVID 19, after identifying an increased need to support pre-school-aged children, parents, and carers during this challenging time. They began to write their first book and Wellasaurus gained 12 more friends, such as Happyasaurus, Kindasaurus, Uniqueasaurus and Strongasaurus to name a few.

Julie is a qualified teacher and nursery owner with over 25 years of experience in the education sector Julie looks at the curriculum for the early years and takes a holistic approach to care with a focus on well-being, with Mandy’s 30 years of knowledge and skills as a Qualified Paediatric nurse, in health and social care, this enabled them to then formulate the Mini Mind Approach.

In a year, four books have been written to support the approach and the programme rolled out to over 30 50

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partners including nurseries, schools, after-school clubs, farm schools, special needs schools and women’s refuges locally and internationally in Florida USA. They have received awards, reached best-seller status for their books, and kept the cost affordable. They also secured sponsorship from a local business to part-fund the annual fee making it accessible to charities, childminders, and foster carers.

They would love to build more links with small businesses that feel they may like to support their local school nursery or carer to have access to this award-winning approach.

The Mini Minds approach has been incorporated daily, for 12 months now within Eagley School House Nursery, and has been identified by OFSTED in the recent inspection as ‘life changing’ as it enables children to embed skills to support emotional intelligence to cope in Modern Britain’.

To have the Mini Minds approach validated in this way is completely rewarding.

If you would like to connect with Mandy and Julie and consider sponsoring your local school, nursery or early years provider they would really love to have a chat with you: E Mandy@minimindsmatter.org.uk E Julie@minimindsmatter.org.uk Follow them on social media and LinkedIn to see the wonderful work in action changing children’s lives in Lancashire, further away in the UK and even in America.

They have big plans for the next 12 months and hope you will follow their journey.

F @minimindsmatteruk I minimindsmatteruk www.minimindsmatter.org.uk www.lancmag.com

Febland Group Ltd Furniture, Lighting, Art & Gifts Ashworth Road, Blackpool Lancashire, FY4 4UN T: 01253 600 600 www.fabulousfurniture.co.uk

Totally Locally is something special. It’s more than a shop local campaign, it’s a philosophy.

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t started out as a small idea in the North of England and has grown into a multi-award-winning worldwide movement. Groups of volunteers in towns and areas use the Town Kit, follow guidelines, and use templates and a full event strategy to make their town a stronger, more vibrant & resilient place.

There is now a network of Totally Locally Towns across the world, sharing ideas, working together, and making a difference to their independent businesses.

Chorley became a Totally Locally Town in October 2016 when a small group of independent businesses decided to work together to promote the town and all the independent businesses within Chorley Town Centre. Chorley Council along with Sir Lindsey Hoyle MP, Cllr Alistair Bradley and Cllr Danny Gee supported 50 independents to start Totally Locally Chorley with some funding towards printing the Totally Locally Chorley Map of Hidden Gems, a Chorley Elf mascot and marketing materials for various events throughout the year.

By working together organising events like the Fairy Trail, Jurassic Chorley, Easter Egg Hunts, Halloween Spooktacular, The Totally Locally Chorley Christmas Market, The Platinum Jubilee Family Fun Day, and The Elf Trail; locals and visitors to Chorley have found hidden gems which they hadn’t noticed or seen before.

Over 150 independent businesses have now joined Totally Locally Chorley to help promote each other and the town. If you are an independent business in Chorley, you are welcome to join their Facebook group Totally Locally Chorley Businesses.

Totally Locally Chorley regularly posts news, offers, and events on Facebook and Instagram so why not give them a like and keep in the loop of what’s happening in Chorley. It is not just about shopping, eating and drinking it is about growing our local community, and local economy and creating jobs for local people.

Over 40 Totally Locally Chorley independent businesses are currently taking part in the National Totally Locally Fiver Fest. Offering amazing £5 deals to shoppers in Chorley. The Fiver Fest increased footfall into the town centre not only helping the independents taking part but other town centre businesses too.

Sarah who owns For The Love of Plants had been suffering from low footfall and poor trade but on the

D www.totallylocallychorley.co.uk E info@totallylocallychorley.co.uk

first day of Fiver Fest, she said ‘Amazing Day! Sold 21 of the deal so 105 Cacti/Succulents in total. Never had a Saturday like it, feel on top of the world!’

Wysteria Beauty received 80 bookings for their Fiver Fest offer of a 30-minute massage for £5.

The message behind Fiver Fest is simple it encourages people to switch £5 from their weekly supermarket or online shopping to a local independent business.

If every adult in the Chorley Borough made just one switch of £5 per week it would help grow our local economy by £29 million a year.

Chorley is a friendly historical Market Town with a wide variety of unique small independent businesses including Browns the Butchers and their award-winning Lancashire Haggis, The Buttonhole for all your knitting and sewing needs, Krishans Jewellers for sparkle, Outdoor Land for walking and camping, Wilcock & Sons for hardware, Allens Butchers, Bunny’s Moggy’s and Doggy’s Pet Supplies, Reed Refillery, Tyrers Fruit and Vegetables, Chocobella, Hutchtree Bespoke Furniture, Reeds Refillery, Pats Cheese, Bills Tattoos, Ebb and Flo Bookshop, Massa’s Dessert and Café Bar, Fredericks Ice Cream, Chic Happens, Stonebridge Skates to name a few.

There is no shortage of eating establishments for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea or dinner all with their own unique ambience and menu there is something to suit all tastes and budgets. Why not try Woodchats Coffee Shop especially if you are looking for a Vegan-friendly menu, for Harry Potter Fans we have The Wizards Pot Tea Room, Encore is Chorley’s award-winning restaurant, Toni’s Pitta Pan is perfect if you are looking for an authentic Greek experience, The Ottoman Grill for a true taste of Turkey, No 61 Pizza and The Italian Cottage for Italian flavour and if you are looking for a gourmet burger you won’t go wrong with Burger Capitol or Smokies. These are just a few of Chorley’s amazing eateries so why not visit, have a stroll and eat local.

Chorley also has amazing microbars including The Shepherd Hall Ale House & Victoria Rooms, The Ale Station, Artisan Ale House, Nelipots Bar, Riley’s Taproom and Bar and lots more. Pop into one and ask for a trail map of Chorley’s microbars.

All these independents and so many more compliment the Tuesday outdoor market day, the Indoor Market, Market Walk along with Booths, Marks and Spencer’s Food, Luciano’s Chorley, Calico Lounge and Reel Cinema.

F @totallylocallychorley T @locallychorley I @totallylocallychorley

For entertainment Chorley Theatre, Escape Entertainment Venue, Astley Park and Astley Hall are all worth a visit.

Watch out for lots of forthcoming events including the Totally Locally Chorley Flower Festival, The Chorley Flower Show, Totally Locally Chorley Family Summer Fun Days, The Tale of the Tenner, The Totally Locally Chorley Halloween Spooktacular and The Totally Locally Chorley Christmas Market in conjunction with the Chorley Light Switch on.

ebb & flo bookshop is a cosy and welcoming independent bookshop tucked away in the quirky Southern Quarter of Chorley, right opposite Fleet Street car park.

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pened in 2013, the shop recently celebrated its ninth birthday and owner Diane along with her team of friendly booksellers has firmly established it as a much-loved part of the community.

Like all bricks and mortar bookshops, ebb & flo is a place to browse – there’s nothing quite like wandering in to be greeted by the smell of new books and beautiful book covers. This small shop is full of treasures waiting to be discovered.

Every book is hand-picked by Diane and the team, offering a selection of favourites and more unusual gems.

Offering a speedy ordering and postal service, all stock is listed on their website shop and anything not in stock can usually be there within a couple of days. There’s a selection of lovely art cards and bookish gifts for adults, Djeco crafts, Puppet Company finger puppets and Orchard Toys for children.

The bookshop works with local schools, sending out beautifully gift-wrapped books as part of their Excellent Books Subscription service and taking authors into schools. Book signings and author events are another important part of the business. Most recently The Happy Newspaper’s Emily Coxhead met fans and signed books while past visitors include Bob Mortimer, Prue Leith, Johnny Vegas, Robin Ince and Julia Donaldson.

The ebb & flo team love being part of Chorley’s thriving independent business community!

M 12 Gillibrand Street, Chorley PR7 2EJ N 01257 262773 D ebbandflobookshop.co.uk F ebbandflobookshop T ebbandflobooks I ebbandflobookshop

Sweet Memories of Ralph

Old Soul Bakery was established in 2020 and named after our beloved dog and ‘Old Soul’ Ralph. We take pride in baking truly indulgent and unique bakes, with a twist on traditional flavours – but these bakes are definitely not for dogs!

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ld Soul Bakery is fortunate to have a great reputation in the local area, showcasing delicious products which include the 56

scrumptious variety of millionaire shortbread slabs, at artisan markets and food festivals across the North West, usually resulting in a sell out by lunchtime! In recent weeks, Old Soul Bakery won two baking awards in the professional categories in ‘The Great Chorley Bake Off’ as part of the local food festival ‘A Taste of Chorley’.

All the packaging used at Old Soul Bakery is recycled and compostable, ensuring we do our bit for the planet and promote sustainability. We are thrilled to also offer vegan and gluten free bakes as no one should miss out on delicious sweet treats!

Old Soul Bakery offer an indulgent range of services: dessert tables for your wedding or celebratory event, bespoke wedding/celebration cakes, and welcomes wholesale and custom orders. As a fondant cake specialist, Gayle thoroughly enjoys designing and creating bespoke cakes for any occasion; bass guitars, hedgehogs

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

and formula one cars, they’ve all been handmade from fondant!

Gayle has always had a passion for baking and loves to experiment and create quirky flavours in her brownies and blondies – a recent best seller is the ‘Egg Custard’ blondie!!

For more information email Gayle:

E oldsoulbakery@yahoo.com

www.lancmag.com

Call into the bookshop to feed your soul and browse our range of books & gifts for inspiration Classic, homely and indulgent bakes that are full of nostalgia and make you feel at home wherever you might be treating yourself. I love being creative with celebration cakes; can often be found at local events in the North West of England, and also sends treat boxes all over the UK by post!

M 12 Gillibrand Street, Chorley PR7 2EJ N 01257 262773 | FTI www.ebbandflobookshop.co.uk

Luxury Belgian Chocolates, Gourmet Confectionery, Hampers, Gifts and Traditional Toys.

E oldsoulbakery@yahoo.com F @oldsoul07 | I @old_soulbakery www.oldsoulbakery.com

Barrica IN

THE

K PAR

As well as featuring hundreds of great quality wines, beers and spirits – Barrica in the Park also showcases a wonderful array of other local businesses too with a great selection of drink, food and creative talent just waiting for you.

M 37 Chapel Street, Chorley, Lancashire, PR7 1BU N 01257 460124 E victoria@chocobella.co.uk F @chocobella I @chocobellashop

www.chocobella.co.uk

Astley Hall Farm House, Hallgate, Chorley, PR7 1XA N 07469 220583 E wines@barricawines.co.uk F Barrica wines T barricawines I barricawines

www.barricawines.co.uk

BARRICA IN THE PARK

Jane Cuthbertson started home brewing in the early 80’s as a hobby. One day she went into the store where she bought her supplies and they offered her a job advising customers and making samples from the wine and beer kits.

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he was bitten by the wine bug and enrolled on a Wine Appreciation Course at Runshaw College, then on to study a vocational course at Blackpool Catering College and attended Liverpool University where she studied the Diploma course for the Wines and Spirits Education Trust.

Jane wanted to gain more experience, so she wrote to family owned Booths Supermarkets and asked for a job. She found herself running the Wines and Spirits dept in Clitheroe and Fulwood, but in 2006 she had a health scare and decided to occupy her time giving talks on Wine Tasting, and keeping some of her private customers who had kept in touch.

In 2008, Jane opened Barrica Wines and within 18 months, in 2010, she won the high accolade of UK Independent Wine Retailer from the Drinks Retailing Awards.

The category was sponsored by Wines of Argentina and, as part of the award, Jane was invited to spend a week visiting vineyards and attending the Argentina Wine Awards.

Customer trips to Spain, Portugal, France and Italy soon followed.

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Barrica Wines became established Barrica Wines at Botany Bay before it’s closure, then moved to Beer Brothers Brewery and Bar. In 2019 Chorley Council invited her to look at an old farmhouse with character at Astley Hall and offered her the premises. She opened 6 weeks before the first Lockdown.

Before opening, it was apparent this was far too big a home for Barrica Wines to occupy alone and as an advocate of shop local, Jane wanted to showcase Chorley and the surrounding area, and so Barrica in the Park was conceived.

Not just wines, beers and spirits, but also a showcase of small, local producers and artisans.

When it comes to food, you’ll find that they have collaborated with lots of fabulous, local food and drink producers! There are freshly baked goods including bread, cakes, pastries, Cheeses, Jams and Chutneys, Desserts and Patisserie, Sauces, ’Free From’ foods, Ice Cream, Chocolates, Cordials, Speciality Teas and Coffee.

Jane hopes you will be able to visit her and the team soon. Have a browse through the website and see what a great selection of drink, food and creative talent they have waiting for you!

Barrica IN

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K PAR

You will also find Jewellery made from recycled silver clay, Vegan Candles and Diffusers, Local Photography, Blankets and throws, Cards from a local designer, Murano Glass and even Glass engraving using a Dentists’ drill!!!

CONTACT DETAILS

There is a lovely chilled garden where you can enjoy wines by the glass, G&T’s and local draught beers, or even a delicious Wallings Ice cream.

F Barrica wines

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M Astley Hall Farm House, Hallgate, Chorley, PR7 1XA N 07469 220583 E wines@barricawines.co.uk D www.barricawines.co.uk T barricawines I barricawines

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

e Bar

R LEY’S TAPROOM & WINE BAR

A great day out

with over 50 unique shops Featuring Crafts, Gifts, Clothing, Jewellery, Food, Quality Farm Butchers, Furniture & Bathroom Showroom, Waterbeds, a Stove Shop, Music Shop, Pottery Cafe, Two Birds Tea Room and Occasion Cakes & Cake Decorating Supplies plus much more including the nationally acclaimed Hepplestone Fine Art Gallery

OPENING TIMES: Monday Closed | Tuesday to Saturday 10am - 5pm Sunday 10.30am - 4.30pm | Bank Holidays 11am - 4pm

Wood Lane | Heskin | Chorley | PR7 5PA T: 01257 451464 E: info@heskinhallshoppingvillage.co.uk M 2 Cleveland Street, Chorley PR7 1BH F @RileysTapandWine N 07889 496720 E rileystaproom@gmail.com

CHOCOBELLA

Chocobella, is a luxury Belgian chocolate, gift and toy shop on Chapel Street in the heart of Chorley.

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ictoria and Lyn Garside, fondly known as Granny Chocolate by younger customers, originally opened in May 2014 at 57 Chapel Street moving to 37 Chapel Street in 2015.

Selling luxury Belgian chocolates, from artisan chocolatiers like Pralineur Van Coillie, founded in 1976 by Germain Van Coillie and his wife. They won The World’s Best Chocolatier 4 times.

Renowned in Belgium for being the best there is, fillings are made completely on site in Roselaare, Ostend from all-natural ingredients by Mr Van Coillie’s grandson, Alexandre.

Best sellers include Strawberry Cream, White Raspberry, Mint Fondant Pyramid, Sticky Toffee Pyramid and Spiced Cranberry Bombe.

Pralibel is another popular chocolatier from Vichte, Belgium, major in the French chocolate market and producer for two of the world’s premier Belgian chocolate brands (who shall remain nameless). Pralibel uses only cocoa butter and the finest ingredients available. Being Chocobella’s largest suppliers for 8 years, their best-sellers are Salted Caramel, Lemon Cheesecake, Crème Brulee, Mango Cup, Pistachio & Blackberry, Raspberry Caramel, Coffee Cup and Hot Chocolate Cup to name but a few.

10% DISCOUNT

Chocobella stock up to 100 flavours with daily deliveries in the run-up to Christmas of fresh Belgian chocolates.

Gift wrapped in beautiful boxes and hand-tied with luxurious satin ribbon, Chocobella also offer wedding favours to match your perfect day. They work with a number of Corporate Clients and can match packaging for corporate colours and tastes to suit all budgets for clients or events.

As well as luxury Belgian chocolate Chocobella also stock Niederegger Marzipan, Quaranta Italian Gourmet Nougat, Cachet, Seed and Bean, Belvas, Droste, Holly’s Lollies, Le Preziose Italian fruit jellies, Joris Dutch liquorice and have new, exciting confectionery arriving soon.

The family-run independent business has evolved with an online shop, click-and-collect service, free local deliveries within a 3-mile radius and a postal service anywhere in the UK. Chocobella customers have also sent Belgian chocolates around the world including South Korea, USA and Dubai.

Now stocking a wonderful range of gifts and homeware from Hill Interiors, Gisela Graham, Captivate, Chickidee, White Leaf, Sarah Tempest, Hot Tomato and Mosney Mill to name but a few. New suppliers coming soon.

Extended ranges for Babies and Children can be found in their Toy

Corner, filled with Peter Rabbit, Winnie the Pooh and Paddington including traditional wooden toys and pocket money toys from Orange Tree, and House of Marbles. They stock PlayPress, Rachel Ellen stationery and colouring books.

Young customers can play at the crepe and donut shop, whilst parents and grandparents browse at their leisure. Granny Chocolate also has a magic box of treats for all well behaved little ones.

Chocobella has become a one stop gift destination, with beautiful gift wrapping and hamper services, collaborating with many small independents in Chorley to offer unique and bespoke services.

Exciting collaborations and events for the future, keep an eye on our socials for more information or join our e-newsletter on our website: www.chocobella.co.uk

M 37 Chapel Street, Chorley, Lancashire, PR7 1BU N 01257 460124 E victoria@chocobella.co.uk F @chocobella I @chocobellashop

For all Lancashire & North West Magazine readers - can be used online and in store. Quote: LancsAugust10 Valid until the end of August 2022.

Unique Shopping Experience in the Heart of Lancashire

In May 2008 Sarah & Angela Ruttle decided to take on the lease of a farm building to let shop units to create a new visitors centre comprising of a full time farmers market with fresh local produce.

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etween them they had a good mix of varied work experiences & education which would help them in taking up the challenge of setting up their own business. They opened the doors in April 2010 and the centre has gone from strength to strength. After expanding twice into further interlinked barns, creating much more space for further shops and businesses to open, Sarah & Angela decided it was time to rebrand the centre. In September 2018 the centre became a name that was much more apt… Heskin Hall Shopping Village!

‘’Our Butchers Shop is your quintessential British butchers shop. Our beef and lamb comes from our own Farms, where the Herd is Free Range & 100% Grass Fed, which we believe produces the most natural highest quality meats with the best flavour. All of our other meats are also free range and carefully sourced from farms & producers we can trust and where quality comes first. Our beef is 24 month reared and then 28 day dry matured to develop beautiful flavour, colour and tenderness for melt in the mouth enjoyment We’re located 2 minutes from Park Hall, Camelot near Chorley and just minutes from J27 of the M6 with easy access from most Lancashire towns and cities including Preston, Bolton, Southport, Liverpool and Manchester. With free parking and free entry, we’re a perfect destination if you are looking for a shopping day out in Lancashire.’’

‘’We believe we’ve created the perfect shopping day out in Lancashire. Set in the heart of the rural Lancashire, surrounded by rolling hills, Heskin Hall Shopping Village offers visitors a wide range of unique retail shops all under one roof. Unlike the high street, no two outlets are the same, offering an incredible range of products and services.’’

Featuring over 40 unique shops & businesses including amazing gifts for all the family, a leading art gallery, high class butchers, local fruit and veg, deli, ladies clothing, handbags & jewellery, hair & beauty, homewares, bathroom showroom, wood burning stoves, personalised gifts, Fredericks ice cream, cake decorating supplies & so much more!

The Two Birds Tea Room makes an excellent stop for lunch or a snack. Homemade soup, sandwiches, toasties, wraps, salads, daily specials, afternoon teas, cake, coffee, wine & beer & much more. All produce used from food shops within the centre where possible. www.lancmag.com

M Heskin Hall Shopping Village, Wood Lane, Heskin, Chorley, Lancashire PR7 5PA N For Special Afternoon Tea Bookings call: 01257 452390 N For General Enquiries call: 01257 451464 F @heskinhallshoppingvillage I @heskin_hall_shopping_village D www.heskinhallshoppingvillage.co.uk LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 61

Riley’s Taproom and Wine Bar

We are Michael and Jules and we made a mad decision to open a bar!

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oth of us dreamed of opening our own business, we had different ideas of what that would be but agreed we would focus on great beer and wine.

Michael was an accountant for almost 20 years, and I still work in HR during the week, but plan to reduce hours in the day job to concentrate more on the bar in the next couple of months.

Following a health scare last summer Michael decided that life is short, and it was now or never and in August 2021 we walked into a concrete, mouldy, smelly unit on Cleveland Street in Chorley and somehow saw the vision! We can’t quite believe that we managed to open the doors on 23rd December and last week celebrated our first 6 months in business. It’s been a rollercoaster ride of emotions given that neither of us had run our own business before but with the support of family, friends and our wonderful customers we’ve survived and enjoyed the experience.

Both Michael and I are born and bred Chorleyians and we love our town, we can see the growth every day with new, fresh and vibrant businesses opening all the time Riley's Taproom and Wine Bar bringing people into Chorley from neighbouring towns and villages.

As well as good wine, our passion is good food, and we provide a range of cold plates, including the best cheese the region has to offer and amazing charcuterie, we try

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to source local wherever we can and also have fabulous Chorley foodies TimeforMezze supplying homemade Mediterranean inspired dips and salads and Bees Country Kitchen supply a tasty Chicken Liver Pate which is often paired with the Charcuterie. We also host pop up kitchen nights, our Sushi night being very popular and has become a monthly occurrence.

The vibe in the bar is friendly, chilled and comfortable, customers can relax with a bottle of wine, with a choice of 22, 19 of which available by the glass. Or try one of the 12 draft beers, there’s always something weird and wonderful available, with beer suppliers including Rivington, Vault City, Se7en Brothers and many, many more!

The food offer is always fresh and available so if you just fancy a bit of cheese or Hummus Dip and pitta chips we got it covered.

The plan is to extend the food offer in the next few months, so watch this space!

Both Michael and I are big dog lovers so your pooch, of any size, shape or persuasion is very welcome in Rileys!

The bar is open every day except Monday and Wednesday.

Opening hours are Tuesday noon - 6pm, Thursdays and Fridays 2pm - 11pm, Saturdays 1pm - midnight and Sundays 1pm - 8pm.

R LEY’S TAPROOM & WINE BAR

M 2 Cleveland Street, Chorley PR7 1BH N 07889 496720 E rileystaproom@gmail.com F @RileysTapandWine

www.lancmag.com

WHERE HOMEMADE FOOD MEETS MAGIC!

Eloise Stack was inspired by the desire to share homemade food and cakes in a magical themed café in the heart of Chorley, Lancashire.

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ere she offers a place for witches, wizards, and nonmagical folk alike to hang their broom or hat and relax.

Eloise says: “We wanted to create a unique space that everyone can enjoy, whether you’re a fan of the wizarding world or not, but for those who are we’re sure you’ll take extra pleasure from our magical environment!’’

All their food is homemade, and all their cakes and treats are made and beautifully decorated in-house. They endeavour to cater to everyone and offer gluten-free and vegan options daily. The atmosphere in the Tea Room is amazing and the décor is cute with unusual artefacts displayed on the walls.

www.lancmag.com

So whether you are looking for a cup of Homemade Soup, Hand Cut Triple Cooked Chips or a Chocolate Frog Cupcake, a Fizzing Whizz Bee, Jelly Slugs, a Liquorice Wand or you want to indulge in a Homemade Scone with Clotted Cream and Jam call in and visit Eloise and her team in her mystical Tea Room.

The Tea Room have some great summer holiday activities planned to keep the kids entertained! Booking is definitely recommended as it gets very busy here in the Tea Room. Join them for some great food and fun!

WHY NOT INDULGE YOUR INNER WIZARD AND TREAT YOURSELF TO A MAGICAL AFTERNOON TEA! Our Wizard’s Afternoon Tea includes: A selection of four finger sandwiches – home roasted ham, tuna mayonnaise, cheese and egg mayonnaise

Hand cut triple cooked chips A cup of homemade soup Butterbeer cupcake Chocolate frog cupcake House biscuit of your choosing Wizarding inspired biscuit Anything off the trolley dears?

- a packet of assorted sweets from the sweet trolley – Belgian chocolate frog, fizzing whizz bee, jelly slugs, liquorice wand, and every flavour beans Homemade scone with clotted cream and jam (Adults Only) THE WIZARD’S POT TEA ROOM M 9 Farrington Street, Chorley PR7 1DY N 01257 269 918 E thewizardspottearoom@ gmail.com

A homemade sausage roll

D thewizardspottearoom.co.uk

Side salad and coleslaw

F thewizardspottearoom

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Woodchats Coffee Shop, Shepherds Hall Ale House and Victoria Rooms

Chorley is full of fabulous independent businesses.

Neighbours Woodchats Coffee Shop, on Chapel Street, and Shepherds Hall Ale House & Victoria Rooms are now collaborating to provide their customers with a fantastic venue, fabulous food and drink and friendly hospitality.

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hepherds Hall Ale House has won multiple CAMRA awards and has been serving sessions to stouts and everything in between since 2014. Greg and his team expanded at the end of 2021 to create the linked Victoria Rooms. The space is filled with eclectic design, artistic wall coverings, and mid-century furniture expertly upholstered by Ruth (Greg’s wife and fellow local business owner of Hutchtree Bespoke Furniture). Greg’s philosophy is to provide a quality range of wines, spirits and beers at affordable prices so that customers are able to sample and enjoy premium products.

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Entertainment is varied and ranges from live bands, chilled Sunday sessions, a Wednesday quiz night and games evenings. With seating for up to 70, the friendly staff provide table service during the evening and at weekends.

selections from Dewlays - creamy Lancashire, Smoked Lancashire, Garstang White, Nicky Nook, and Chilli Lancashire, served with deluxe crackers and Woodchat’s signature Spiced Plum Chutney. At £6.50 it’s very good value!

The Victoria Rooms are available for private hire for birthday parties, christenings, baby showers, reunions etc. Greg is a great supporter of local business and he approached Woodchats Coffee Shop Ruth (not to be confused with his wife, Ruth!) to cater for his private hire clients.

Woodchats can supply afternoon teas, buffets etc to meet with the client’s request. The latest to be delivered is an afternoon tea of British classics to 70 Unique Ladies for a charity event.

Woodchats not only offers catering at Shepherds Hall Ale House & Victoria Rooms, they can provide catering at your house, for business meetings, for picnics etc. If you have an event, a meeting, or a gathering and you need space and or catering get in touch with Greg or Ruth.

Woodchats’ menu is also available to order in Shepherds Hall Tuesday Saturday lunchtimes. And if anyone at Woodchats would like to order wine or beer with their lunch it can be supplied by Sheps as they have off license sales.

To celebrate their 10th birthday Woodchats has just launched their new menu. It’s been updated and now has a separate vegan menu, a savoury ‘cream’ tea, and a fabulous cheese board. The cheese board features 5

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Woodchats Coffee Shop E ruth@woodchats.co.uk F @woodchats Shepherds Hall Ale House & Victoria Rooms E ccpabm@outlook.com F @shepshallalehouse www.lancmag.com

N 07535 734198 • Tree Felling & Removal • Tree Pruning & Shaping • Tree Planting

E info@totaltreemanagement.co.uk • Fully Qualified & Insured • Competitive Quotes

• Hedge Trimming & Maintenance • Stump Grinding • Site Clearance • General Ground Maintenance

DOMESTIC & COMMERCIAL WORK UNDERTAKEN www.totaltreemanagement.co.uk

EVOLUTION HAIR A Personal Experience in the Heart of Chorley

Julie Menheniott has been hairdressing for over 22 years and after working at larger salons in Chorley and Preston, Lancashire, opened her own business, Evolution Hair.

more about manicures, gel polishing and acrylic nails.

nfortunately after having surgery on her back in 2017, she was unable to work for 13 weeks and this is when she had time to reflect on life and having quality time with the family.

The salon is conveniently situated just a stone’s throw away from Chorley Train Station and with free parking, a visit to Evolution Hair is stress free.

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After returning to work, she had an opportunity to start her own business and started thinking about a name for it. Being a very spiritual person, she thought about butterflies and how they evolve from caterpillars and then into the beautiful creatures they become, hence Evolution Hair was born.

At the moment it is a solo establishment but Julie plans for the future to grow a larger hairdressing business and beauty team, with more locations in the area.

Julie wanted to create a relaxed and tranquil atmosphere and a completely personal experience to each client.

To achieve this, Evolution Hair partner with the best products from Schwarzkopf, Wella and Neal and Wolf.

She also has a nail bar, because of her beauty training pre-lockdown, she decided during the pandemic to learn

M 136 Lyons Lane, Chorley PR6 0PJ N 01257 277986 F Evolution Hair D www.evolutionhairsalon.co.uk E bookings@ evolutionhairsalon.co.uk

Bringing People together...

If you venture down Market Street, you will find a tastefully decorated Coffee Shop, in the centre of Chorley, Lancashire.

three weeks later found themselves in lockdown due to the Pandemic.

license for you to accompany your beautiful meal with a refreshing drink.

The Majestic re-opened on May 17th 2022.

ajestic Coffee Lounge is a family run business, where people and food are the heart and soul of what they do.

Giannis says ’’We offer a relaxed atmosphere making it the ideal place to meet for a coffee and indulge in a slice of homemade cake, enjoy breakfast after the school run, meet for lunch with a friend or even treat the family to dinner – nothing brings people together like good food!’’

What the Majestic wants to create is fantastic food and deliver sensational customer service and just keep improving.

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Giannis Tsalakos is 26 years old and from Athens, Greece. He was a professional footballer but in January 2020 decided to move to the UK with family and start up a business.

They opened the Majestic Coffee Lounge on October 12th 2020 but 66

Call in for an Americano or Layered Gingerbread Latte, Blueberry Pancakes or a Majestic Beefburger.

The Majestic also has an alcohol

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M Majestic Coffee Lounge 92 Market Street, Chorley PR7 2SF N 01257 268766 OPENING TIMES Monday, Tuesday & Thursday: 9am to 6pm Wednesday: Closed Friday - Saturday: 9am to 11pm Sunday: 10am to 3pm www.lancmag.com

BUY YOUR COPY OF TRUE TASTE NOW

https://www.naturallyempoweredhealth. com/true-taste-book

Easy to follow recipes, giving food its true taste, to leave you energised and fuller longer

NATURALLY EMPOWERED HEALTH

Transformational Coaching

August 1999 my Dad, my rock, passed away I was destroyed. I couldn’t cope and very quickly turned to food and alcohol, binging on both to numb the pain of losing the one man I could forever trust. That hole couldn’t be filled, I felt terrible at retreating from the family.

A year or so later I moved down to Liverpool to be with my new partner, I can see now that I was running away from my family and the grief I was feeling, I just couldn’t cope being around them at that time. I had never lost such an important person in my life and I didn’t know how to get around it, to be honest, I am not sure if I ever did, I cope with his loss but still feel like a hole is there.

Up to the age of 41, my experience with food has been a torrid relationship. As a teen I was bullied at school and named ‘Thunder Thighs’ by girls who I grew up with and thought were my friends.

Nothing could have been further from the truth as I was often taunted, shouted at, spat at as well as being psychologically bullied.

and the immune system. Back then it was trips to the library as this was before the internet and there wasn’t that much known about Lupus and autoimmune diseases in 1990.

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My life stabilised at this point I got my head into the books and went onto A-levels and college years to study Business and Information Technology. I started going to the gym and I guess you could say I got a little obsessed, I was doing 3-4 hours per day and watched my food. like a hawk, I wanted to be in optimum health so there was no chance of me developing my mum’s condition which could be passed down from mother to daughter.

I was brought out of this ‘slumber’ by a sudden shock, at 15 ½ my mum was diagnosed with Lupus, an autoimmune disease, and here started my life-long studying of gut health

August 1999 – I’ll never forget it My Dad had taken early retirement after 25 years of working at British Gas a few years prior, he had a part-time job so he wasn’t getting too much under my Mum’s feet! Early August of 1999 he went to the doctors complaining of stomach pain, from here he was requested to go to A&E, within hours our whole world had changed, My Dad was told he had cancer and that is was spreading, we were all floored, but were hopeful in the fact he was told he had a number years to live and the cancer could be managed. 21st

t 14, when the bullying was in full flow, I took drastic action where for a year I only ate bread and drank water, it worked! I lost weight that I didn’t need to lose as I plummeted to 7 stone. I am 5ft 7 now and wasn’t much shorter than so I was painfully thin and anorexic. Over 30 years ago this wasn’t picked up on my GP so I had to deal with it myself. But I fitted with the in-crowd, I was thin, had long hair, not bad looking and was easy to manipulate as I was constantly tired.

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www.lancmag.com

My new partner worked long hours so I was left in the evening, alone, in a strange city with no close friends at the time, dealing with a huge loss and far away from home, binge drinking stopped but my binge eating got worse and worse, food was my new friend. It comforted me, gave me escape and made me feel everything would be OK – temporally. I was no longer going to the gym so my weight went up and up, I put on over 5 stone very quickly and HATED what I saw in the mirror. To me I was a failure, my family would be disgusted by how I looked, well that’s what I thought anyway, I had let myself and them down.

I tried both Weight Watchers and Slimming World and didn’t like either.

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I felt that it was a competition of who can lose the most weight. If you lost, great but if your weight stayed the same or increased, you were named and shamed, here I was being bullied again and no one was helping with the root cause of why I was binge eating.

I decided to take action into my own hands, I started to see a nutritionist who got me to understand what foods would be best for me at certain times of the day to keep me fuller longer and energised, so I wasn’t reaching as often for my comfort foods – something I still include in my client coaching today. I also took up running, the best thing ever for me as it got me to process my thoughts and if I was ever in a bad mood, sprinting

like hell on the last 500 metres of a run really did the trick!

Life was good, I was seeing my family regularly, I was still with my partner - I had moved to Liverpool for and we were engaged. I had moved up in my career ladder, working at large events and festivals and dealing with the access of customers, staff, performers, press, VIP’s etc. I loved it, even if it was hellish long hours!

My 40th was looming and things were not going so well between me and my husband (after 12 years we got married and thought this was our forever). Later that year. we went on a make-or-break holiday to see if our relationship was salvageable, and we came back talking of splitting for

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good. I moved out of our home and into my friend’s flat where I had to fit my life into one room. I couldn’t concentrate, I had a constant whirring mind that plummeted into depression, I lost my director’s job and quickly spiralled down and down where my relationship with food took on a different guise as I believed I didn’t deserve to eat. Days could go by and all I wanted to do was sleep, food was not my friend as it was there to nourish and I didn’t want to be nourished, I wanted to pass away quietly.

Two of my very closest friends saw what was happening to me a suggested that I went to see a councillor, I don’t know about you but it is not often you may listen to friends, but after about the fifth time of suggesting I’m glad I did as I honestly don’t think I would be here today telling my story. Bit by bit, step by step I could see myself coming back, my eating got better and so did my depression. A few months later in a session my councillor gave me a decision, t go back to a highpowered director’s role, full of stress

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and long hours or choose a new road and follow my passion.

I am glad to say I followed my passion, food had always been a challenge to me and I wanted to be finally at peace with it and be able to support other people on that journey too. I trained to be an Anti Diet Empowerment coach where I marry this with over 30 years of gut health knowledge.

It took me a few years to understand that my body image also needed work as my first attempt at my business didn’t go so well, I did have clients but I didn’t feel that I was in the right head-space to be able to coach them to never need diet again.

So my story took one more dramatic turn, which I am sure won’t be the last. In May 2020 my wonderful Mum passed away after a battle with mixed dementia. She was my inspiration to rebrand and relaunch my company as Naturally Empowered Health where I coach men, women and

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teens to create new food habits when it comes to using food to relieve stress, comfort, or distract us from what is the root cause. I build in my gut health knowledge so when a client has successfully reached food freedom, their gut health is restored and optimum health is theirs to own.

No more diets or discomfort, just peace with food and life.

I offer one-to-one coaching where we focus on getting to the root cause, understanding and dealing with triggers, giving you the tools to intuitively understand when it is best for you to eat and what to eat at that time to gain fullness and natural energy so you’re snacking is no longer an issue. We work together on your body image and body respect so you feel empowered and strong. Coaching where diets can be ditched forever.

I offer wellness masterclasses to corporate clients where we focus on reducing stress and employee sickness, improving energy, focus and productivity through changing the

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way we see stress and food at work.

My love for cooking has expanded into cooking at luxury retreats for all guests to enjoy organic meals that are cooked from scratch and are either uplifting through the day or grounding for the evening and all with gut health in mind and on October 22nd 2022 I will be co-hosting my first retreat based on Menopause gut health which is taking place in Market Drayton.

I released my book True Taste in January 2021 which is full of recipes that my clients love and a section on beginning your own journey on intuitive eating, this is available on my website www. and Amazon.

So what does the future hold? I wish to expand my corporate support for businesses who wish to raise their employee awareness to understand how food can affect our focus, stress levels, emotions, moods and hormones and with a few changes employees can each improve energy and productivity so stress is lowered and staff retention is increased.

I am also calling on higher education establishments to offer workshops where we discuss the impact of food and body image so that students are better equipped to recognise triggers and how to work past them and feel secure and happy in their own skin.

It is my aim to support adults and teens to be able to move away from experiencing similar anxieties and stress with food as I do, so with me they can truly experience a life where food is no longer in control of them but they are in charge of food, and their lives.

Connect with Margaret; D www.nehhub.com E margaret@nehhub.com F Facebook group www.facebook.com/groups/ emotionaleatingsupportuk L www.linkedin.com/in/ emotionaleatingcoach/

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LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 71

Stress Eating M

any of us struggle with stress eating as proven in the numbers.

Between 1.25 and 3.4 million people in the UK alone are affected by a pattern of disordered eating that often starts off with stress eating. Stress eating can also be referred to as emotional eating and is used by many people to help them deal with stressful situations, events, or changes that may be happening. People of all ages can experience stress eating and it can be caused by physical triggers, psychological triggers, or sometimes even a combination of both.

Do you overeat?

If you’re looking to book a FREE 30-minute consultation call with me to delve further into stress-eating and direct coping strategies, I would love to hear from you.

What causes stress eating? • Change - As human beings, we naturally love the comfort of certainly but unfortunately, many things in life are uncertain with situations in our lives changing all the time.

Some people can deal with change much better than others but those who tend to avoid inevitable change are likely to be the ones who encounter stress-eating, as a result. • Bereavement - The loss of a loved one is a horrible time for any person and it can affect us in different ways. The natural emotions of bereavement include sadness, anger, and guilt. These are all strong emotions that can emotionally trigger people to over-eat.

Stress eating is used as a coping mechanism for shortterm relief of psychological or physical symptoms but can often result in further stress. For example, a person that is going through a difficult life change such as a relationship break-up may stress-eat to make themselves feel better temporarily. However, when this becomes a habit, the person may then over-indulge which can lead to weight gain and therefore feelings of guilt, low mood, and low energy. The vicious cycle of over-eating then may continue to repeat itself.

• Stress & Anxiety - If you are experiencing anxiety, you are much more likely to stresseat as is is a way to relieve those thoughts and feelings.

It’s a possibility that you may be stress-eating without even realizing it, for instance it’s often a habit we continue at work. The first clear sign of stress-eating is if you are over-indulging subconsciously. By this, we mean going for food without thinking consciously of what you are doing.

Another key symptom that may indicate you are overeating as a by-product of stress is if you feel out of control where food is involved. This may be particularly prevalent for you if you feel you have a real lack of willpower daily over your food choices, and you find yourself eating frequently at your desk.

The effects

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• Relationships - Just like life, the dynamics of relationships can change. Romantic, personal, and family relationships can be stressful.

Moreover, you may be reciprocating similar overeating habits to those closest to you.

Many harmful effects come from stress eating. Before we go into the solutions for stress-eating and how you can help yourself, it’s a good idea to explore a few effects of what this type of eating can do to our bodies. Stress eating may promote excess body fat from the simple fact that you may be consuming more calories than you are burning. Moreover, stress-eating may also increase the risk of disease and poorer long-term health. This is because overeating and binge eating can lead to obesity and that can result in being more at risk of heart disease and strokes.

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CONNECT WITH MARGARET: D www.nehhub.com I @naturallyempoweredhealth L www.linkedin.com/in/ emotionaleatingcoach E margaret@nehhub.com The solutions If you are experiencing stress-eating, it’s not all bad. There are direct solutions and techniques to use that allow you to become much more conscious of your eating choices and habits.

Solution 1 - Check-In With Feelings One of the best ways to significantly reduce or eliminate stress-eating habits is to become more conscious of your eating choices. You can do this by simply asking the question ‘’am I stressed’’ before you go to the fridge or cupboard. By getting in the habit of asking yourself this simple question, you will then be in much better control of your next eating decision.

Solution 2 - Mindfulness Eating Coaching Here at Naturally Empowered Health, Margaret offers mindfulness eating coaching that starts with a 30-minute discovery call. This is a call to find out if 1-to-1 coaching is right for you, as well as find out more about your emotional triggers so that we can become more mindful about eating habits.

Solution 3 - Implement Healthy Stress Coping Strategies There is a whole host of other stress coping strategies out there and it’s all about finding the right ones that are right for you. Eating is one of the easiest stress-coping mechanisms but it’s one of the most detrimental to our bodies. Instead of stress-eating, you may want to try yoga, running, having a relaxing bath, or talking to a friend.

Arrange A FREE Consultation Call https://www. naturallyempoweredhealth.com/discovery-call Here at Naturally Empowered Health, we are passionate about healing your challenges with food. If you are ready to learn proven coping strategies to truly be at peace and have full control of food, please get in touch today and book a consultation call by calling 07413 012 474.

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LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 73

What an unusual and atmospheric restaurant the Rake is, set in a beautiful area with a little stream running outside and local artwork on the walls you must pay this place a visit for it’s originality alone.

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his charming inn and hotel dates back 400 years, with the history, the candles and the diligent and friendly team making for a truly enjoyable experience.

Something that is not so old is the menu, with a large choice of gorgeous sounding tasty tapas you can’t go wrong.

It is safe to say we ordered a bit of everything, potatoes, prawns, scallops, bread, ham, cheese and more as it is you will find it to be an extensive menu therefore very difficult to eliminate dishes. We really went for it and wow the portions were extremely generous so next time I think we would order less if only so we can fit in our clothes the next day.

The generosity of spirit at The Rake stems right through the whole venue.

Although many dishes had garlic and similar ingredients, each dish did maintain its own impressive flavour.

We enjoyed everything very much and it all came out very quickly, which was a nice surprise with it being freshly cooked to order. There was a mixed clientele of all ages and tastes and a bustling yet relaxed lunch time feel.

Next door is a brilliant fish and chip shop that is part of the same group so if you were staying in the hotel you would have to visit this.

Being a Spanish theme chips were not on the menu but one of the team kindly went next door to their chippy and got us a portion of proper chip shop chips which was wonderful.

The dessert menu was lovely but unfortunately, like children in sweet shops, we looked and could not touch as having had chippy and tapas we still had to figure out a way to get back to the car, even though we were parked right outside, actually next to one of the most interesting houses in the area, I’ll leave that one for you to enquire about when you go if we have anyone with an Interest in Cromwell please ask at The Rake about the tales of this fascinating property. Being Nosey and needing to walk off our feast we then had a look around one of the bedrooms which was lovely. Perfect for families, business or singles you would not be disappointed, especially when you see the prices. This is a really good value for money establishment with enthusiastic owners who are passionate about improving and working together in the community, it deserves supporting and you will have a good time but please book as unsurprisingly tables go very quickly especially at weekends. We hope you enjoy and please don’t miss out like us and save room for pudding.

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

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The vehicle compliance system for all fleets Paperless defect reporting and fleet maintenance, all for £1 per vehicle, per week

Driver’s app Fleet portal GPS tags DVSA compliant

Try free for 30 days at checkedsafe.com or call us on 01282 908 429

Complete Compliance Solutions

From a light bulb moment and a pencil and paper map of a structure – CheckedSafe was created – a vision by Gary Hawthorne and Darran Harris on how the future of compliance within the transport industry should be.

B

orn out of many years of both working in Transport Darran as a litigation Solicitor and Gary as a Transport professional for over 30 years.

Since 2014, CheckedSafe has provided a simple and inexpensive compliance solutions that can be tailored to each client with bespoke templates to check ANYTHING. 76

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Established by Gary Hawthorne and Darran Harris, CheckedSafe is a SaaS platform compliance provider providing mobile apps on IOS and Android along a webbased management reporting system that is multi-functional and secure utilising AWS servers as the cloud provider.

The CheckedSafe system offers organisations a complete solution, enabling them to manage and protect their workforce and comply with legal compliance requirements whilst reducing cost and liability. “We can provide you will a fully integrated solution - you can be completely paperless - by using our system properly you will have a legally defensible product. We bespoke templates on the app to suit individual requirements” said Gary. www.lancmag.com

Gary and Darran are both North West lads Gary from Horwich near Bolton and Darran located in Burnley, where they have set up the head office in the centre of Burnley. That said the system is global and can be accessed from anywhere as long as you have an internet connection, the app itself works off line and on-line so there is no restriction on using the app.

Both Darran and Gary’s individual expertise has resulted in CheckedSafe being a nationally recognised company.

Gary started life as a young Farmer, moving into Hotels before settling his career in Transport at 27 for Stagecoach, before moving to Transport for Greater Manchester (formerly GMPTE) where he spend 13 years “learning” from a government side about Transport – working within Passenger Transport Information – Traveline UK – Government White Paper 1999 with the Deputy Prime Ministers office – Gary finished his career as a Civil Servant connecting travel data across Europe to provide Smart Travel Plans in real time for travellers across Europe. 2006 Gary too the opportunity to leave TfGM and try his hand at operating his own bus company – by 2010 he had 40 buses 100 staff had won local business of the year in Bolton – in 2013 Gary decided to exit the business by selling the company and moving into compliance as he felt that was the future for him.

going to be the next James Bond (he couldn’t reach the pedals of the Aston) – took to becoming a Solicitor – the next 7 years he spent obtaining his qualification at Salford and Manchester Met – qualifying as Legal Executive in 1996 and finally as a Solicitor in 1998 – the next 20 year Darran worked on litigation cases across many areas one of which was for TNT undertaking ground breaking litigation In the credit hire and credit repair field.

A CPC holder for both PCV and HGV, a Fellow of Chartered Institute of Transport, Fellow of both Society of Engineers and Institute of Road Traffic Engineers and hold a BSc in Transport Management – Gary has probably forgot more than most know in transport.

Whilst setting up CheckedSafe – Gary undertook to get qualified as a DVSA Examiner and Quality Auditor as he felt this was a great addition to his portfolio of skills and can offer a client a complete solution. It also meant that when CheckedSafe was taking off client has the knowledge that CheckedSafe guys were professionals in their business world and can relate directly with operators needs and issues.

Darran who is 7 years younger than Gary (but not near as good looking) started life working for the foreign office but quickly realised he was not

Darran had several high profile cases reported including cases in the court of appeal and supreme court – one of Darran’s legacies is he instigated what we all now know as a Bump Card with TNT. Darran met Gary through his brother in-law who was Gary’s bank manager when Gary was looking to sell the bus company – they hit is off and realised they had very similar work ethic and values and both had transport background.

CheckedSafe was created! They worked tirelessly with in-house development team and marketing team to launch the initial product in 2015 – they went on the road selling to everyone over the next 3 years. It was madness they would spend 2-3 days a week away covering as many leads as possible then late nights in hotel writing up the deals. Behind all this the developers were busy rolling new features each month to improve the solution.

Features such as:

1

Unlimited daily checks with all of the various controls that we have.

We can also update the checks to give you Covid-19 checks for such things as sanitising vehicles etc.

Bespoke templates for any piece of kit including plant equipment.

Full maintenance solution. This allows scheduling your PMI’s. Brake Roller Tests, LOLER check etc. The system provides the ability to either do the check digitally or if you prefer use manual PMI sheets and upload them to our system and we will digitise them so you can be totally paperless.

Unlimited document storage either for vehicles/assets or users.

Unlimited users.

2 3 4 5 6

Both Darran and Gary made sure staff and developers got paid they took almost nothing feeding the business with their enthusiasm and vision –

by April 2018 they has 1,000,000 checks in the system – they had a party ……… and then started to take a wage at last.

The next 4 years April 2018 – April 2022 saw the company grown exponentially from 1,000,000 to 12,000,000 checks so 11,000,000 checks in 4 years and over 500,000,000 data points in the system across over 5000 depots.

CheckedSafe has a range of services from vehicle compliance solutions, compliance and regulations, risk assessment and incident reporting tools via the App that enables them to offer the client a complete solution.

Gary explained, “We constantly develop our product from user feedback. We release new features at least every quarter and a new app probably every four months depending on what features we have developed. Customer feedback is critical to us, we know a lot about transport, but the end users have great ideas that we take on board and use to develop free of charge and push out to the CheckedSafe community.”

Full message service (back office to App users- useful for things like briefings and toolbox talks etc). This has proved very popular during the lock-down period as it allows you to communicate with all of your staff.

Documents-to-App service whereby the customer can push documents to the user via the App. Useful for certifications, dig-tickets, access documents. Covid-19 briefings etc.

Reminder service for things like servicing, maintenance, MOT’s Insurance etc. This will provide a weekly-to-do list to allow you to keep on top of the whole compliance provisions for the business.

Trend Report to show things like:

7 8 9

9.1 Most common defect 9.2 Drivers not reporting defects 9.3 Drivers with repeat defects for the same issues 9.4 Time taken from defect being reported to repair/rectification etc Full cloud based solution so you can operate the system from anywhere as long as you have an internet connection.

We are a full accredited and validated DVSA IT ER Systems Provider.

We are endorsed by the Fork Lift Truck Association and Border Force Agency.

All our software belongs to us and we do not need to licence parts of it from others. I know a lot of our competitors bolt on other people’s software to their own which introduces a vulnerability.

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PERFECT FOR PE HGV walkaround checks HG Van daily checks V Veh Vehicle pre-use checks FOR FORS checks Plan Plant & equipment checks Fork Forklift checks PCV checks MO MOT/Tax/Loler reminders

CheckedSafe’s web-based reporting system is accredited by DVSA and the FLTA and utilised across all fleet types of HGV, PCV, VAN, plant or utilities. If it needs a checklist, CheckedSafe can digitise and catalogue it, providing you with a cost-effective compliance solution.

With much of the industry yet to explore, over five million commercial vehicles in the UK and over 20 million pieces of plant, there is a huge market for CheckedSafe to expand into.

“Our plan is to furrow into the fleet industry and develop new features, and if from this market we get new ideas then we will look to develop them further. We have recently developed our API to link with Dynamic 365 for a large crane operator which will come into development later this year/early 2022,” stated Gary.

We have lots of developments in our pipeline – some very exciting that will be real game changers. www.lancmag.com

• Job Cards

Eight years ago, CheckedSafe was an idea, that today, has flourished into a fully successful business. Gary and Darran are passionate about what they do and provide a skill set that boasts professionalism and expertise.

• Driver License Checked • Domestic Hours Recording • And many more Despite COVID-19, CheckedSafe has managed to outsource all marketing resulting in an increase in in-bound enquiries. Utilising platforms such as Zoom and Teams, less time has been spent travelling and more focus has been on growing the business from home. This has resulted in growing 3x in size over the last two years.

They have also recruited additional staff all from industry so boosting the knowledge and expertise so whoever calls they should be confident in the knowledge that whoever they call from the CheckedSafe team they will have an understanding of transport and compliance

“We know our industry and our clients have an immediate infinity with us and put faith in us,” said Gary.

If you would like to find out any further information, please see the details below: N 01282 908429 E info@checkedsafe.com D www.checkedsafe.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 79

BATHING WATER SEASON • The Environment Agency is monitoring 29 bathing water sites across the North West until 30 September 2022

risk on its Swimfo website. Signs are also put up by local councils at these swimming locations to inform bathers about any possible dips in quality as a result of factors like rainfall, wind and high tides.

• Designated bathing sites will be tested regularly to check water quality

In the autumn Defra will publish its classifications – Sufficient, Good, Excellent or Poor – for each designated bathing water site.

• Water users can check the water quality forecast on the Swimfo: Find a Bathing Water website

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he bathing water season started on Sunday 15 May with the Environment Agency carrying out regular testing of water quality at designated bathing sites until the end of September.

High standards of water quality at swimming locations are important for people’s enjoyment of beaches and other beauty spots. In the North West, 27 of North West beaches and inland waters were awarded an ‘Excellent’ or ‘Good’ rating, with two achieving the minimum ‘Sufficient’ rating.

Throughout the bathing season the Environment Agency will issue warnings of any forecasted pollution

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Since the 1990s, the Environment Agency has driven £2.5 billion of investment and facilitated partnerships to bring about the change needed to make our bathing waters a success story. But while progress has been made, there is still much more to be done to ensure cleaner and healthier waters for people to enjoy.

Environment Agency Chair Emma Howard Boyd said: “Before the pandemic, coastal tourism in England generated £13.7 billion, supported 10,000 tourism related jobs with 15 to 20 percent of employment in coastal locations linked to tourism, in some places over 50 percent. Public confidence in bathing water quality is key to the tourism industry as well as people’s health and wellbeing. We monitor sites and provide pollution risk forecasting at over 170 sites throughout the bathing water season so people understand the local situation.

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BEGINS IN THE NORTH WEST “Targeted regulation and investment over several decades on the coast have driven significant improvements to bathing waters, but there is work to do inland. Water companies, industry and farmers need to meet regulatory requirements or face legal action, and there are small steps we can all take to help. For example by never flushing away wet wipes or plastic products like nappies so they don’t end up in the water.”

Designation does not guarantee clean water for swimming. Bringing rivers up to bathing water standards will be a challenge and places greater responsibility on farmers, water companies and communities to remove pollution that is harmful to swimmers. The EA is calling on them to play their part and be part of the solution.

Individual actions count: small steps such as not pouring fats and oils down the sink or flushing wet wipes and other plastic products down the loo can help to protect water quality.

Keith Ashcroft, Area Director for Cumbria and Lancashire at the Environment Agency said: “It’s great to see the majority of bathing waters in the North West have excellent water quality, which is fantastic

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for the tourism industry as communities get back on their feet after the pandemic.

“Recent improvements in the region’s water quality have been driven by effective joint working with United Utilities, local authorities, communities, wildlife trusts, landowners and farmers.

“We will continue to work closely with the Turning Tides Partnership, the Love my Beach campaign and our committed community groups to ensure homeowners are aware that individual actions count – flushing wet wipes, cotton buds and sanitary products down the loo can result in blockages and overflow, which have a damaging impact on water quality.”

Knowing more about bathing water quality and the range and location of designated sites can help people get the most out of their visit.

The EA’s Swimfo: Find a Bathing Water website provides immediate access to information on over 400 designated bathing waters and notifies bathers when Pollution Risk Warnings have been issued, visit: https://environment.data.gov.uk/bwq/profiles/

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 81

Seaside Family Fun is Grand in Blackpool Fun-packed family shows are top of the bill at Blackpool Grand Theatre for 2022/2023

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kip those long airport queues and fly to Blackpool Grand Theatre for some show-packed seaside family fun that’s guaranteed to give you that summer holiday feeling all year long. And you don’t need to worry about renewing your passport!

Snap up your tickets now for our top show picks for everyone from grandparents to children and let all your loved ones experience the joy of live theatre…

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Live on Tuesday 8 and Wednesday 9 November, the glorious Grand Christmas Concert bring fabulous festive cheer on Monday 12 December, and don’t forget our fabulous family pantomime Sleeping Beauty starring the superbly silly Steve Royle and Dancing on Ice champion Hayley Tamaddon from Friday 2 December to Sunday 1 January.

It’s never too soon to book for Christmas 2022. Oh no it isn’t!

We know it’s good to be prepared as a parent, so here are just some of our fantastic family shows for 2023 to book into your diary now!

More to be announced…

Don’t miss the breathtaking performers in the powerfully potent cocktail of dance, Looking for seaside family fun

Tuesday 2 to Saturday 6 August

acrobatics, music, hip hop and

this Summer? Join the legendary

and let your young ones enjoy

comedy that is Tap Factory on

Johnny Ball for his magical tour

all the wonderful wit, charm and

Tuesday 7 February; partner up

of everything mathematical in

unforgettable songs from the

with Strictly champ Giovanni

Wonders Beyond Numbers on

golden era of rock ’n’ roll.

Pernice as he packs up his

Saturday 2 July in an excitingly

glitterball trophy and invites you

educational show filled with

The family fun continues right

Johnny’s infectious energy and

through 2022 with The Royal

inspiration; get ready for a road-

Shakespeare Company’s fantastic

trip full of fun adventures with

introduction to the Bard’s popular

the irrepressible Peppa Pig in

romantic comedy Twelfth

the brand-new live stage show

Night in a new 90-minute show

Peppa Pig’s Best Day Ever on

from Thursday 29 September

Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 July;

to Saturday 1 October; Britain’s

bring your little pop star to a

best-loved picture book The Tiger

children’s concert with a big

Who Came to Tea roars into the

difference on Sunday 31 July

Grand for a delightful family show

and Sunday 28 August as four

packed with oodles of magic, sing-

fairytale Pop Princesses sing a

a-long songs and clumsy chaos

soundtrack of top pop hits, plus

from Friday 7 to Sunday 9 October;

songs from all your favourite films

delight the whole family with a

and musicals and jive right now

captivating new production of

to the Grand box office for the

Beauty and the Beast from the

Book your seats now for one of

rocking return of Dreamboats

critically acclaimed Ballet Theatre

our sensational shows and enjoy

& Petticoats - Bringing On Back

UK on Friday 14 October; Jurassic

spectacular seaside family fun this

The Good Times (with special

Park roars to life on stage with the

Summer and beyond…

guest star Mark Wynter) from

delightfully interactive Dinosaur

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to join him and an outstanding ensemble of dancers and singers on Friday 10 March; get ready for a real monster of a family show with Shrek the Musical from Blackpool Operatic Players from Wednesday 5 to Saturday 8 April, bringing back all the beloved characters to the stage and dive deep into the wonderful world of science in the explosive Ministry of Science on Sunday 18 June. Expect 20ft liquid nitrogen clouds, fire tornados, ignited methane and even a selfbuilt Hovercraft!

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TEN TOP TIPS FOR BRINGING CHILDREN TO THE THEATRE: At Blackpool Grand we love it when children and families join us for shows, workshops or activities!

But we know it can sometimes be a lot to think about! Here’s a handy guide to bringing your little terrors to Blackpool Grand: 1. Don’t worry about the inevitable toilet trips! We offer baby changing facilities in the Stalls (ground floor) and an accessible toilet allowing more room (especially if you have a couple of children with you).

2. We have booster seats available so that your little ones won’t miss a minute! Simply ask a Front of House team member on arrival.

3. Blackpool Grand has partnered with a wide selection of great places to Eat and Drink in our Take a sEAT promotion. Many offer great value and discounts on the day of your visit when showing your theatre tickets.

Some even offer FREE child meals! Check out our website.

4. We offer Visual Stories and PECS cards for any children that struggle in busy spaces or that are better prepared knowing what the trip will involve. Visit our Accessibility website page.

9. Free Babes in Arms tickets for children aged under 2 are available for suitable shows and will be listed on the show’s page.

5. Children are welcome in all our bars with soft drinks readily available, but we ask that parents/guardians keep a close watch on busy occasions.

10. And if you are coming to Blackpool on a trip, why not make a day or weekend out of it! Take a look at what else Blackpool has to offer to add to your experience at www. visitblackpool.com

6. Show merchandise is often available to buy in the foyer for children’s and family shows.

Who doesn’t want a light up wand?

We have lots more useful info for family theatre visits on our website: www.blackpoolgrand. co.uk/general-information/ children-and-families

7. Lost Children – All our Front of House team are connected via headsets, if you experience any concerns, or need urgent assistance, they are immediately on hand.

Bring the family together at The Grand and make magical memories to last a lifetime.

8. Pushchairs and prams can be stored on the ground floor on the Stalls (unfortunately, you cannot take your pushchair to where you are sitting for safety reasons). Please speak with the Front of House team for any assistance.

Book your seats now at Blackpool Grand Theatre for sensational seaside family fun!

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

GRAND THEATRE 33 Church Street, Blackpool FY1 1HT N Box Office: 01253 290 190 D blackpoolgrand.co.uk F @blackpoolgrand T @Grand_Theatre I grandtheatrebpl

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All POSTCODES are essential - please ensure all are provided.

REDUCTION OF

Extend your Living Space

Eco friendly Garden Rooms Completed garden rooms start from £17,280 (inc VAT)

G3 > Our largest garden room is build for ultimate flexibility without compromise, allowing for up to three separate uses all in one space.

Size 30m2: Features Living Roof - Sliding Doors - Folded Seam Zinc Cladding - 6x2 Timber Frame - 150mm Hemp Insulation

If you have a project in mind or just want to chat to us about our homes, garden rooms or anything else, we’d love to hear from you.

Email: enquires@stoichomes.com ↗ or visit www.stoichomes.com ↗

Stoic Homes are ready to change the construction industry for the better

A practical application of better living

Stoic believes that everyone deserves to live well, and achieves this by creating healthier, happier homes.

Passivhaus® Passivhaus is an internationally recognised German building standard developed for comfort, low energy consumption and a healthy living environment – and it’s scientifically proven. Stoic designs, tests and certifies all of their homes to the Passivhaus standard.

Long-term friends Nathan and Charles met in high school. With a thirst for knowledge and after working for over 10 years in the construction industry, the two decided to combine their skills and form Stoic Homes – creating an innovative concept for sustainable homes that serve communities without breaking the bank.

Low embodied carbon Stoic takes great care in sourcing materials and utilising construction methods that carry low embodied carbon or sequester carbon. These materials, such as wood, either hold low amounts of carbon or capture and store carbon, helping the environment.

After building a prototype micro-home, engaging with different communities and immersing themselves in facts and figures – Stoic has developed a concept for a range of homes that can fit a variety of purposes and requirements for single family living while using environmentally friendly materials. Throw out your perception of copy-andpaste new builds because their ambitious designs offer a glimpse into an exciting future for housing in Lancashire, the UK and abroad.

Building community Stoic listens to people – going beyond traditional focus groups and surveys and integrating within the communities they hope to build for, paying attention to individual challenges people face when looking for a home. Each of their developments is built to encourage community and connection.

Homes as prices continue to rise by around 11.2% year on year (https://www.forbes.com/uk/advisor/personalthe market becomes increasingly competitive. Due to this competition, many buyers are forced to make that aren’t adept for our current climate: drafty, built with cheap materials and doing little to negate rising energy costs. It can feel like there’s little choice when you’re looking to make a move on the property ladder and for most, the prospect of a self-build

Buildings are currently responsible for 35% of global energy consumption (https://www.passivhaustrust. org.uk), so Stoic builds homes at Passivhaus standards, reducing energy use and ensuring for a healthier living environment. All materials sourced are either low-carbon or sequester carbon and trusted suppliers.

compromise functionality. The area transforms into

alternative solution.

It can feel like there’s little choice when you’re looking to make a move on the property ladder and for most, the idea of self-build is daunting. Work with Stoic every step of the way, from land acquisition, design and planning, through to interior design and landscaping.

range of elements that can requirements – from base modules to roof types, garden rooms and home accessories.”

Imagine a life-size Lego set that can allow you to build your dream home. With years of construction expertise, Stoic has developed a system of modules that can help you choose the home without breaking the bank.

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the perfect family home with just a couple of extra your house have to begin with a list of compromises Like choosing those perfect Lego bricks, working with Stoic gives you as much control over your house as possible. Working together, the team helps from base modules to roof types, garden rooms and home accessories.

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Garden Rooms

Spending additional time at home over the pandemic has changed the way we view the spaces we inhabit – with investment in our homes increasing by 36% from 2020-21 (https://www.propertyreporter.co.uk/ at-home/pandemic-pushes-home-renovationspending-up-by-36.html). Now, 85% of employees working from home are hoping to adopt hybrid working (both in the office and at home) for the long-term (https://thehomeofficelife.com/blog/ work-from-home-statistics). The function of houses has changed – and it can be hard to adapt a space to meet adjusted requirements with restrictions on planning and many solutions only serving propertyowners in the short term.

“Stoic has developed a line of garden rooms, allowing you to extend your living space – all within UK Permitted Development Rights and with no planning permission required*” *This is generally the case, however in some circumstances you may require planning permission of some sort, for example if the Garden Room is over 30m2. Stoic will advise accordingly.”

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With consideration for creating a better standard of living, Stoic has developed a line of garden rooms, allowing you to extend your living space – all within UK Permitted Development Rights and with no planning permission required*.

Stoic’s garden rooms are perfect for pursuing hobbies or working in comfort. Imagine stepping into your garden instead of commuting to the office; creating a gym with all the equipment you need and none of the queues; a workshop where you can paint long into the evening. From office space to a sauna or music studio, the garden room is an adaptable space that can meet your needs. Like Stoic’s houses, their garden rooms are built to near Passivhaus standard – meaning that they’re eco-friendly, high-quality and attractive addition to any backyard.

Contact Us

If you have a project in mind or just want to chat to us about our homes, garden rooms or anything else, we’d love to hear from you.

Email: enquires@stoichomes.com ↗ or visit www.stoichomes.com ↗

to find our more about our homes and ethos.

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Euxton

By Sarah Ridgway

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The village of Euxton sits in the borough of Chorley to the west of the town and is considered one of the safest small towns in Lancashire.

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uxton is separated by a brook that runs east to west to the Yarrow, and the river forms the southern boundary. Euxton means

“Farmstead of a man called Aefic ‘’, and the area was historically forests, hills, and rivers. The parish of Euxton also includes a large part of Buckshaw Village. The new development built on a 400-acre site prioritises sustainable living by incorporating green spaces, parks, and cycle lanes into its design.

Euxton has a population of just under 10,000, and Buckshaw Village has a population of around 4,000.

During World War Two the area was home to the Ministry of Defence munitions factory and played an integral role in the war effort. At its peak of production up to 35,000 people were employed at the factory.

Buckshaw Village now occupies the MOD factory’s land after being acquired by developers and opened in 2006. Worden Old Hall and Buckshaw Hall found in Upper Buckshaw were preserved during its development, as they were listed buildings of historical importance.

Euxton village has a host of public houses, and ghost hunters may be especially interested in paying a visit to the Euxton Mills pub. The historic pub built in the 1760s was named one of “the most haunted pubs in the UK” by TV medium Derek Acorah.

The pub landlord reported things being switched off in the cellar, and a grey lady is said to appear with a lamp, while a woman is believed to reside in the ladies’ toilets. A team of ghostbusters from America visited the pub in 1999 for a documentary, and their devices found evidence of paranormal activity including the Grey lady.

HISTORY The original settlement of Euxton in Pinnock was located near the ford over the river Yarrow. The settlement lay alongside the old Roman road which is now the A49 road. A market charter granted in 1301 by Edward I put Euxton on the map, which was then known as Euxton-burgh which probably suggests AngloSaxon origin. The area had a thriving industrial scene at one time which utilised the waterpower of the nearby river Yarrow.

Many prominent families lived in succession in Euxton, including the barons of Penwortham, the Lacys, Ffaringtons and the Molyneux and Anderton families, the latter two being Lancashire’s oldest Catholic families.

The Lord of the Manor was based at Euxton Hall and was first owned by the Molyneux family and later the Anderton family.

Around 1360 Sir William Molyneux became the lord of Euxton Hall after gaining the land through marriage. The Molyneux family later sold the manor www.lancmag.com

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to John Longworth of Liverpool, who later sold it to William Ince Anderton.

King Charles II stayed overnight at Euxton Hall in 1651 while on a trip to Worcester. In 1752 the Andertons and the Molyneux family were joined by marriage by the union of William Anderton to Mary who was the daughter of Richard Fifth Viscount Molyneux. The two families merged their Coat of Arms which can still be seen today. The upper floor of the hall was demolished in 1929 due to a fire, and in 1983 the historic property became Euxton Hall Independent Hospital on the remaining lower ground floor.

Buckshaw Hall is another notable building in the area and is one of 94

the best-preserved Tudor Halls in Lancashire. The grade II listed building is an H-plan two-storey timber framed property, thought to date back to the mid-1600s. In the nineteenth century, a detached barn was added and was completely renovated in 1885. The Anderton family were the original owners of the Hall which was later sold to different owners throughout the years. In 1936 the owner Richard Stock sold the estate and surrounding land to the government who built the ROF Chorley on it. During the war the house was used as an office, but by 2002 the hall lay dilapidated, and the Chorley Civic Society started a campaign to get developers to restore it. The building was marked for demolition but was bought at auction

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in 2018 and is now a residential home.

THE THRIVING INDUSTRY OF YARROW VALLEY The area of Pinnock was once a hub of an important industry with a vibrant milling scene powered by the river Yarrow. A large amount of early industry utilised the waterpower from the river, and the mills produced bobbin, corn, and paper. The paper factory operated in 1610 along the banks of the Yarrow, just downstream from Riverside Cottage.

Pinnock Spinning Mill opened in 1792 and operated for one hundred years before closing in 1892. The area www.lancmag.com

wife’s brother John Dean Manning a textile merchant from Manchester took over the mill. In 1870 Peter’s son also named Peter took ownership of the business at just twenty-one years of age. The evolution of new weaving looms, and competition caused the business to close in 1892. In 1896 the mill re-opened as a weaving mill, and new looms were put in and the mill underwent a modern renovation, but in 1954 the mill closed for the final time; it was demolished in 1983 and took with it the last traces of the thriving mills of Yarrow valley.

EUXTON PARISH CHURCH

is believed to have gotten its name from Thurston Pinnock who leased it from Sir Richard Molyneux. In 1836 a fire started in the mill which at that time was under the ownership of John Harrison & Co of Glead Hill.

After the fire, the owner used it as an opportunity to refurbish and build additional buildings. In 1852 Peter Priestly who was a cotton spinner from Manchester took over the running of the mill. The Priestly family quickly grew the mill into a successful business, holding the tenure of the mill for the longest period and gaining the most success in the mill’s history. The family lived in a country house in Glead Hill, sadly Peter died around 1861 and his www.lancmag.com

Euxton Parish Church dates to the 14th century and is a designated Grade II building. The small parish falls under the Diocese of Blackburn and can seat 191 people. The chapel was initially built for service at Euxton Hall where the Molyneux family lived from the 14th century and began as a small room up some back steps in the Northwest of the building.

Around 1513 the church was rebuilt by the local Molyneux family and was originally known as the Burgh Chapel. The church functioned as a Roman Catholic chapel until the late 17th century before transitioning to the Church of England.

ST MARY’S CATHOLIC CHURCH A new chapel was built in 1817 by William Ince Anderton and was partly

funded by public subscription. Around 100 individuals donated funding for the new chapel contributing £345.

The total cost of the church was £535 leaving a shortage of £200 which remains unclear as to how or who it was covered by. The Anderton family were believed to have covered the cost as they had provided the main support to the Catholic community for generations. During the Catholic persecution times, the family provided the first place at their home in Euxton Hall for worshippers.

The Catholic congregation soon began to outgrow this chapel and the new Diocese wanted to build its own building. Local landowner George Garstang gifted the land for St Marys, and he and Sir William Ince Anderton’s names are honoured on the church foundation stone. Sir William Ince Anderton contributed £1000 towards the construction of the church, which was built in 1864/65. The family continued to be benefactors to Parish right up until the death of their last surviving family member Sir Francis Anderton in 1950.

EUXTON’S IMPRESSIVE WAR CONTRIBUTION In the mid-1930s the government bought an area of nearly 1,000 acres to build a Royal Ordnance Factory, which became known as ROF Chorley.

The construction of the factory began in 1936 and the factory was opened in 1939 by King George VI.

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The location is said to have been selected due to cloud cover making it difficult for enemy aircraft to spot.

The factory’s purpose was to transfer munition production from the south of the county to the north.

At its peak it employed 35,000 people; many of whom were women aged between 20 and 30. These women were called up to help the war effort by the National Service Act of December 1941.

The Royal Ordnance Factory even had a private railway station called ROF Halt, but the station ceased operation on 27 September 1965. The factory was privatised in the 1980s, and later became part of BAE Systems Global Combat Systems Munitions before closing permanently in 2007.

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LANCASHIRE’S YOUNGEST VILLAGE: BUCKSHAW VILLAGE Buckshaw Village is a modern housing development surrounded by green spaces with an estimated population of 4,000 residents. The attractive housing village was built on the land of the former Royal Ordnance Factory and features a mix of attractive detached and terraced houses and flats. The area has low crime rates and fantastic amenities such as parks, community centres and supermarkets; the average property price in 2021 according to Rightmove was £205,657.

The regeneration scheme transformed the space into a sustainable and thriving modern village.

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One of the developers Redrow who built the modern village described it as “one of the largest brownfield schemes of its kind throughout Europe.” Over 3,000 homes have been built creating 10,000 jobs. The village includes five primary schools, sports pitches, office and retail space, and a medical centre. The Hub offers state-of-the-art facilities including a cafe, a Splash centre providing swimming lessons for babies and children, a cafe, and an Ofsted-rated “Outstanding” nursery.

The developers aimed to create a sustainable environment and Buckshaw Village incorporates green spaces, cycle paths, walkways, and open spaces. The extensive cycle lanes included in its master plan were awarded the Sustrans National Cycle Network awards for Excellence in 2005. All landscaping undertaken ensured no earth was transported off-site, and any stripped topsoil can be seen in mounds around the village. A sustainable transport strategy was implemented into the village’s design. This included access to public transport with a newly built train station, Buckshaw Park which opened in 2011. The train line provides regular routes to Manchester and Preston making it convenient for commuters. There have been further plans approved this year for the final part of development, with an 80home estate approved to be built.

www.lancmag.com

BENSON ACCOUNTANTS

By Margaret Brecknell

Paul Benson of Benson Accountants has a deceptively simple, but engaging, way of describing his business. “We’re good people, doing a good job for good clients”, he says.

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aul was born in Cumbria and brought up on the family farm, before studying engineering at Durham University. After graduating in 2004, he decided to train as an accountant and joined a local

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practice, qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 2008. In 2014, he set up his own accountancy practice in the Cumbrian town of Wigton and has since focused on building a team who can bring experience and expertise to a wide range of businesses and private clients.

The team at Benson Accountants has been recently strengthened by the arrival of experienced Senior Tax Consultant, Sue Blair, who joined the practice on 1st June 2022. Like Paul,

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Sue’s roots are firmly based in the local area. After obtaining a degree in accountancy, she started her working life at a large firm in Liverpool but moved back to Cumbria in the early 2000s. Sue specialises in inheritance tax planning and the use of trusts for families wishing to provide asset protection for the next generation.

She has known Paul professionally for years and welcomes the opportunity to join forces with him, believing that they share the same www.lancmag.com

In total, the Benson Accountants team has now grown to over twenty members, all of whom share the same passion for providing an exceptional service. Paul Benson is proud of the practice’s strong connection with the local agricultural community, but he and his colleagues work with businesses in many sectors and the firm’s client base stretches across the whole country. “The business has grown through word of mouth”, explains Paul, before adding that he believes there is still plenty of potential for further expansion.

Clients range from individuals seeking tax advice through to very large companies with multi-millionpound turnovers. Paul stresses that no client is too big or too small, describing the perfect client as “one where we can establish a rapport and truly listen to one another”.

For anyone about to start on their business journey, the dedicated StartUp Support Team can assist them in making the best use of the tax reliefs available to new companies and setting realistic budgets and forecasts.

The team is on hand to assist with all the official paperwork, ensuring that the new business is set up correctly with HM Revenue & Customs and, where appropriate, Companies House.

client-driven approach to business.

“I love the way in which Paul talks about building a rapport with clients and providing an excellent service”, Sue explains.

The team also includes Elizabeth Bainbridge, who joined the practice in 2015 and, like Sue, is a Senior Tax Consultant with over 20 years’ experience in tax planning, Clare Sowerby previously had her own practice, before joining forces with Benson Accountants earlier this year. She has a strong connection with the local agricultural community and specialises in providing accountancy, tax and business advice to the farming industry. Sarah Bell, who joined the practice in late 2020 as a business and tax adviser, also specialises in advising farming and rural businesses. www.lancmag.com

Once the new business is up and running, Benson Accountants’ bookkeeping and payroll teams are on hand to look after the company’s day-to-day accounting needs, thus allowing owners to focus on what they are trying to achieve rather than becoming bogged down in official paperwork.

In these days of constantly changing legislation and costly software updates, it makes a lot of sense for businesses to use a payroll outsourcing service.

Benson Accountants pride themselves on providing a professional but personal service to all their payroll clients, large or small.

Their experienced team offers a wide range of payroll services, tailored to meet the needs of each individual business.

Benson Accountants work closely with a BACs partner and so are able to handle the payment of monthly salaries direct from the company’s bank account to its employees. They can also deal with the payment

of PAYE and National Insurance liabilities direct to HM Revenue & Customs.

The complexity of employing someone is ever increasing, particularly with the recent introduction of the workplace pension scheme. The payroll team at Benson Accountants will ensure that clients are complying with the Pension Regulator’s requirements, as well as having direct access to the top workplace pension providers to ensure that the contributions of both employers and employees are calculated and paid correctly.

Another way in which business owners can free up valuable time is by outsourcing their VAT compliance work. Benson Accountants have a dedicated team who deal with the preparation of monthly or quarterly VAT returns for businesses. The VAT team is also on hand to offer companies invaluable advice on matters like the VAT treatment of future income streams, a factor which can significantly change future cash flows and returns.

When it comes to the preparation of annual accounts, the Benson Accountants team has years of experience at its disposal. The accountancy practice prepares annual accounts for a wide range of business clients including sole traders, partnerships and limited companies. When advising clients, Paul Benson and his team of experts are on hand to focus not just on the figures themselves, but also to consider the insight they provide into how a business is performing and the successes or challenges it may face in the future.

Cloud-based accounting software (ie accounting software accessed through the internet) has become increasingly popular with business clients in recent years. It enables up-to-date information to be shared between the business and its tax and business advisers, thus allowing tax and business planning to take place in real time at any point through the financial year.

At Benson Accountants, the cloud accounting team has extensive experience of cloud accounting packages including staff members who are certified users of Xero and QuickBooks. Different packages suit

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different businesses. When it comes to choice, the team is on hand to offer invaluable advice. As an alternative, desktop-based software solutions are also available.

For business clients who do decide to move to cloud accounting, Benson Accountants are able to provide software training packages for both owners and employees.

When it comes to effective tax planning, the firm’s tax experts have detailed knowledge of specific tax rules and regulations and can provide businesses with invaluable guidance in many key areas. They aim to maximise the tax savings available to a business by reviewing its activities and claiming valuable reliefs.

With corporation tax set to increase for the first time in decades, this is particularly important at present.

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There are many valuable reliefs available to companies including annual investment and capital allowance claims, research and development relief and the seed enterprise investment scheme. The corporation tax experts at Benson Accountants keep updated with all the latest developments in tax law and are able to assess their impact on businesses.

Benson Accountants also offer a full range of private client services, catering for everyone from the individual who needs to report the income from a single rental property to high net worth individuals with complex personal tax affairs.

As well completing personal tax returns and taking the worry out of HM Revenue & Customs tax compliance, members of the specialist team at Paul Benson can advise on tax reliefs

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from simple expense deductions to more complex schemes such as the Enterprise Investment Scheme. They can also look to minimise a client’s personal tax liability by undertaking a review of their dividend and pension positions prior to the tax year end.

Paul Benson and his team recognise the importance of succession planning, both in an individual’s business and personal life. Planning in advance of strategic business events such as the admission or retirement of directors or shareholders can save both business and personal tax.

US statesman, Benjamin Franklin, once wrote that “in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes”, so planning to minimise the amount of tax which will be paid by beneficiaries after your death is an issue with which many people are faced at some point in their lives. www.lancmag.com

The dedicated team of tax advisers at Benson Accountants specialise in offering advice on how to protect wealth for future generations through inheritance tax and capital gains tax planning. If this involves setting up a trust, the firm’s trust and estate practitioners are on hand to guide clients through the process and advise on the tax consequences.

The team can assist with any ongoing compliance requirements including the preparation of trust accounts, tax returns and registration with the Trust Registration Service. They are also there to guide clients through the difficult time of bereavement, when they can help with the process of making a personal application for probate and assist with the completion of inheritance tax returns.

Sometimes, as part of succession planning, business or personal assets www.lancmag.com

are passed from one generation to another during an individual’s lifetime. As the tax implications of selling or gifting assets can be complex and costly if it results in an unexpected tax charge, it is well worth seeking specialist advice. The highly experienced team at Benson Accountants can advise on the best way of minimising the tax payable when the disposal is made through claiming all available reliefs. They are also able to assist with any reporting requirements on the sale of property, particularly important now as the reporting deadline for residential property is now just 60 days after completion.

With their focus on providing excellent customer service and the recent additions that have been made to the team, Paul and his colleagues at Benson Accountants seem well set to fulfil that objective for years to come.

Paul Benson and his team are passionate about helping their clients to grow, protect and pass on their businesses and personal assets through highly effective tax planning.

E info@paul-benson.co.uk

M The Mill, Station Road, Wigton CA7 9BA N 01697 508925

D www.paul-benson.co.uk F @paulbensonaccountants

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Blackpool Grand is Bringing On Back The Good Times this Summer!

Blackpool Grand Theatre announces an exciting new season of fabulous new feelgood shows for 2022/2023

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lackpool Grand Theatre is Bringing On Back The Good Times with a spectacular new season of shows guaranteed to bring sunshine and smiles this Summer, whatever the weather!

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Marvellous full-scale musicals are dancing in from the West End to dazzle and delight with stunning sets, gorgeous costumes and powerhouse performances.

Pick up your tickets quick for the rocking return of Dreamboats & Petticoats - Bringing On Back The Good Times (with special guest star Mark Wynter) packed with all the wonderful wit, charm and unforgettable songs from the golden era of rock ’n’ roll; the 70s sensation Boogie Nights from Blackpool & Fylde Operatic Players with a great big glitterball of a night out packed with disco classics; the breathtaking biopic Beautiful – The Carole King Musical starring the magnificent Molly-Grace Cutler (The Worst Witch, Girls Don’t Play Guitars) as the legendary Carole King featuring countless King chart toppers; Richard O’Brien’s raucous Rocky Horror Show bursting at the seams with much-loved naughty numbers, including, of course, the pelvic-thrusting Time Warp and the five-star theatrical masterpiece Titanic The Musical which has enraptured theatregoers to return time and time again to experience this truly rousing and uplifting tribute to the passengers of the famously ill-fated vessel.

band Dominic Halpin and the Hurricanes; go Radio Ga Ga for A Spectacular Night of Queen as this high-energy concert perfectly captures the pomp and brilliance of Freddie Mercury and his iconic British band; bring your little pop star to a fun-packed children’s concert with a big difference as four fairytale Pop Princesses sing top pop hits live on stage, plus songs from your favourite films and musicals and the Boys are Back in Town for Rock For Heroes featuring over twenty classic rock songs from a seven-piece live band with amazing lighting and sound!

Summer has never sounded so good…

Bring the family together at The Grand and make magical memories to last a lifetime. The legendary Johnny Ball takes you on a magical tour of everything mathematical in his fun-packed family show Wonders Beyond Numbers; splash in muddy puddles with the irrepressible Peppa Pig, Britain’s best-loved picture book The Tiger Who Came to Tea is a grrreat live show packed with oodles of magic, singa-long songs and clumsy chaos; don’t miss the captivating Beauty and the Beast from the critically acclaimed Ballet Theatre UK with exciting new choreography and specially created sets and

The Grand’s superb new Summer of Sound hits just the right note for fun by the seaside with live music shows for everyone.

Dig out your crepes and drapes for rock and roll favourites Showaddywaddy in a dynamic and uplifting live show featuring all their biggest hits; take a wellearned trip to A Country Night in Nashville for an incredible night celebrating the joy of country music with the amazing live www.lancmag.com

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Above: Tap Factory Photo Credit: TEC Entertainment Margot De Heide

costumes; Jurassic Park roars to life on stage with the delightfully interactive Dinosaur Live; The Royal Shakespeare Company’s First Encounters bring a fantastic introduction to the Bard’s popular romantic comedy Twelfth Night in a fun-packed 90 minute show, and don’t forget our fabulous family pantomime Sleeping Beauty starring the superbly silly Steve Royle and Dancing on Ice champion Hayley Tamaddon.

It’s never too soon to book for Christmas 2022. Oh no it isn’t!

Do you live for Drama? Don’t miss out on the award-winning The Rise and Fall of Little Voice starring Shobna Gulati (Coronation St), Ian Kelsey (Emmerdale) and ‘girl of a thousand voices’ Christina Bianco packed with humour, heart and countless powerhouse ballads from Judy Garland, Billie Holliday and many more; The Game’s 104

afoot with Sherlock Holmes: The Valley of Fear crammed full of adventure, mystery and, of course, brilliant deductions; comedy genius Spike Milligan is back with the Goons in the absurdly funny new play SPIKE by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman; Helen Forrester’s stunning period drama Twopence to Cross the Mersey makes a stop in Blackpool with a gifted nine-strong celebrity cast and celebrate 70 sensational years of Agatha Christie with a slice of the gripping crime thriller The Mousetrap. Have YOUDUNNIT yet? Don’t just see it. Solve it!

Looking for something a little different? The Grand has got you covered with a wonderfully wideranging mix of shows on offer this season. Light up your lives with a gloriously dark mash-up of head-banging hits and classical instruments with The Rock

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Orchestra by Candlelight: Festival of the Dead; roll up for the Sexy Circus as the talented cast of live male vocalists and worldrenowned circus performers from Britain’s Got Talent’s Forbidden Nights spin across the stage in this high-octane show (adults only); dare to join one of the UK’s most notable Psychological Therapists Emma Kenny (Lady Killers, The Killer in my Family) as she opens up a fascinating new casebook in the Serial Killer Next Door; Ah! go on and join seasoned stand-up comic Joe Rooney for A Celebration of Father Ted as he reminisces about starring in the classic comedy before a showing of his hilarious episode; let the children of the revolution take you on a thrilling journey into the glamorous Parisian underworld with the ultimate Moulin Rouge and more tribute Come What May and don’t miss the www.lancmag.com

breathtaking tap dancing of eight incredible male performers for the powerfully potent cocktail of dance, acrobatics, music, hip hop and comedy that is Tap Factory on their 10th Anniversary Tour.

Blackpool Grand Theatre Chief Executive, Adam Knight, said: “Welcome to my first season at the helm of Blackpool’s beautiful Grand Theatre! This new Summer brochure is an addition to our regular output as we just couldn’t wait to tell you about some of the incredible touring productions we have coming, not only over the Summer months, but through the Autumn and into 2023!

We’re set for a great new season here in Blackpool offering an excitingly eclectic selection of productions and returning favourites from high-quality drama and comedy to outstanding dance and former West End sellout shows. This packed programme firmly puts Blackpool’s Grand Theatre ahead of the crowd and on track for an incredible season. We have taken inspiration from one of the biggest triple-bill shows touring - Dreamboats and Petticoats - Bringing On Back The Good Times! I think we can all relate to getting back to our local theatre and supporting some of the amazing productions back on the road.

the relaunch of The Studio with two acclaimed and provocative productions to mark the 50th anniversary of Pride - Riot Act and The MP, Aunty Mandy & Me, which are very much part of The Grand’s mission to offer the opportunity for all members of our diverse community to enjoy, participate and learn through theatre.

“I hope you will all take the time to enjoy many of the wonderful productions featured in this new season brochure and I look forward to welcoming everyone to The Grand this Summer.”

Visit blackpoolgrand.co.uk for full show listings and bookings or call the box office on 01253 290 190 for bookings and further information.

GRAND THEATRE 33 Church Street, Blackpool FY1 1HT N Box Office: 01253 290 190 D blackpoolgrand.co.uk F @blackpoolgrand T @Grand_Theatre I grandtheatrebpl

Add some real sunshine to your Summer with show tickets to Blackpool Grand Theatre and bring the good times back again!

From five-star smash-hit musicals to our spectacular live music Summer of Sound and our fantastic family shows, there is something to bring the sunshine back to all our lives. We are also thrilled to be opening the national tour of the chilling new ghost story When Darkness Falls and I am absolutely delighted to announce www.lancmag.com

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

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The Highwayman of Hurst Green

By Rachel Helen ABOUT THE BOOK The Highwayman of Hurst Green’ is the first book in the ‘Words of the Dead’ series, which is inspired by Lancashire folklore and ghost stories.

I

n this book, lonely home-schooled teenager, Iris Emmott, who has just arrived in the Lancashire village of Hurst Green, discovers she is able to communicate with the afterlife. The plot weaves together Iris’ narrative with the story of Ned King, a seventeenth-century highwayman who was hanged in the village three hundred years previously.

As she comes to terms with the news of her ‘gift’, Iris and her neighbour Toby, become embroiled in King’s mission to have his voice heard and his soul freed.

The book was inspired by local tales of highwayman Ned King, whose spirit reputedly rides on horseback along the roads of the village and had supposedly haunted the nowdemolished Punchbowl Inn. This book brings both folklore and facts together in a chilling piece of paranormal fiction. It is suitable for ages 10+ and will be available from 5th July.

THE ‘BLURB’ “Do you believe in ghosts?

Then I suggest you listen harder.”

Imagine discovering you could speak with the afterlife.

Imagine learning you could help the restless dead find peace. Would you use it or would you pretend you didn’t know?

Iris, a lonely home-schooled teenager, is excited to stumble across her neighbour Toby and his mysterious Granny Bet, but learning of the ‘gift’ she has both terrifies and intrigues her.

For eighteenth century highwayman, Ned King, whose tormented soul has haunted the village in which he died

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LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

for almost three hundred years, finding someone amongst the living who can help him speak his truth, is exactly what he’s been waiting for.

There are many downsides to being dead… Can Ned and Iris discover a way for past and present to work together to allow the words of the dead to be heard?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rachel Helen is the pen-name of Rachel Lopiccolo.

Rachel is an author, primary school teacher and mum of two, with a BA honours in History and a PGCE in primary education.

In 2017, she had several articles about teaching published in the TES and was subsequently commissioned

by Schofield and Sims to write two educational books.

However, her dream since childhood was always to write a novel.

Over the years, she filled notebooks with ideas, and started - then abandoned - several potential books. She found excuse after excuse as to why she shouldn’t write: there’s not enough time, it won’t be good enough, people might not like it...

But finally she realised that unless she actually wrote something and finished it, she was never going to be anywhere near realising her dreams. So in 2019, she returned to an idea she had started about three years previously when her eldest daughter had said to her that there was ‘nothing good left to read’. From that, The Curse of the Pendle Witch was born. The other two books in her Pendle Witch trilogy, The Betrayal of the Pendle Witch and The Revenge of the Pendle Witch followed in 2020 and 2021.

Rachel has also produced free classroom resources to accompany her Pendle Witch books which are suitable for Years Five and Six and are available to download from her website.

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The Highwayman Of Hurst Green

by Rachel Helen, ISBN: 978-1-7399938-3-2 Release date: 5th July 2022 in paperback from www.rachelhelenauthor.co.uk RRP £7.99 and on Amazon Kindle RRP £2.99

QA & WITH RACHEL HELEN

Q

Why did you become a writer?

I’ve always wanted to be a writer for as long as I can remember.

As a child, I used to love going to the library, and I used to imagine what it would be like to see books I had written on the shelves and to know other people were choosing to read them. Over the years, I’ve filled notebooks with ideas, and started, then abandoned many things. Then, when my eldest daughter was about nine, she told me that she had “run out of good things to read.” So I started a book about two sisters who found a cursed box. By the time I had written the first few chapters, she had discovered the ‘Warrior Cats’ series, and so as my book became less of a priority, life and work got in the way of me finishing it.

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However, it was at about that time that I submitted an article about teaching to TES (the Times Educational Supplement) which was published online, and that resulted in them asking me to write a few more articles which appeared in their magazine.

Subsequently, I was approached

by Schofield and Sims to write two educational resource books for them.

Then in 2019, I met someone who had written a book in their spare time, and they said to me that if I really wanted to write one, there was nothing to stop me other than myself. It really inspired me to get something written, so I went back through all my notes and my partially started pieces and came back to the one I had started for my daughter a couple of years before.

And from that my Pendle Witch Trilogy was born.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 109

Q

How do you choose what to write about?

I’m really interested in history, particularly local history (to Lancashire), as well as the history of those who didn’t necessarily have a voice at the time but whose actions changed society – for example the Pendle Witches and working-class suffragists. I love exploring the myths and legends that have grown up around certain people and events, and then combining the facts and the folklore with ideas from my imagination

Q

How would you describe you new book, The Highwayman of Hurst Green?

‘The Highwayman of Hurst Green’ is the first book in my new series, Words of the Dead. The series is inspired by ghost stories, and I wanted to combine historical facts (so far as there are any) with the legends that have grown up around the people involved. The series centres around fictional teenager, Iris Emmott, who has recently moved to Lancashire and who soon discovers that she has a ‘gift’ to communicate with the dead.

‘The Highwayman of Hurst Green’ is about Ned King who reputedly haunts the village near Clitheroe where it is believed he lived for a few years in the eighteenth century, and where he died. The book combines the narrative of King talking about his life (and death) with that of Iris as she comes to terms with knowing she can speak with the afterlife.

In the process of writing the book, I researched who Ned King might have been and the possible links he had with the notorious Dick Turpin. I then used the folklore and my research to write the novel.

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I would say the book is paranormal historical fiction. It explores themes of friendship, right and wrong, and misunderstandings. It isn’t intended to be gruesome or overly scary, however I hope it builds up enough suspense to grip readers’ imaginations.

I have always lived within ten miles of Pendle Hill, and, unless I ever decide to retire to somewhere sunny, I can’t imagine living anywhere else.

There is something very special about the people, the landscapes and the history that I really love.

The book is suitable for ages ten and over.

Q

Q

When and where do you write?

I don’t get a lot of time to write regularly because I’m a full-time primary school teacher, and a Mum of two teenage daughters who I love spending time making new adventures with. However, I do try to commit enough time to write at least one book each year, and I’m lucky to have the support of my family and loved ones who keep me motivated and set me deadlines to work to. I tend to make notes about ideas I have as they come to me and let them develop in my head over a few months until the easter or summer holidays when I have more time to write each day.

I write either in notebooks or type onto my laptop. I often sit in my conservatory early in the morning to write, or will visit places I love with a notebook and pen and handwrite things which I later type up. My particular favourite spots are St Patrick’s chapel at Heysham and the hill above Whitewell near Clitheroe.

I find the landscapes in both places to be both peaceful and dramatic, and I find that very inspiring.

What ideas do you have for future books?

I have several ideas for more books in the Words of the Dead series, all based around Lancashire ghost stories, including a book about Peg O’Nell, a servant girl from Waddington who allegedly died in a well in the grounds of the hall at which she worked, one about the wife of the squire of Wycoller Hall who died in strange circumstances (if you believe the folklore), and one about the woman in white from Salmesbury Hall.

I would also really like to write something about working class suffragists from East Lancashire, and something set at St Patrick’s Chapel in Heysham. I have so many ideas, and write something in my notebook at least weekly. I just wish I had more time to write. My dream is to become a full-time writer.

Q

All of your books are set around Pendle Hill – have you always lived near there?

Yes I have and I love where I live. I grew up in Blacko, moving to the Ribble Valley side of the hill in 2012.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

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Bridging the Worlds of Taste, History and Culture.

By Marcy Gordon

Ron, Rhum, Rum, no matter the name, the story is essentially the same. Sugarcane begat molasses, which begat rum, which kicked off a global obsession for the spirit that has ebbed and

By Marcy Gordon flowed for over 400 years. Today the modern masters of mixology look for authenticity in spirits

and Ron Colón is on a mission to produce an array of products that bridge the worlds of taste, history, and culture.

Ron, Rhum, Rum, no matter the name, the story is essentially the same. Sugarcane begat molasses, which begat rum, which kicked off a global obsession for the spirit In pursuit of that mission, Ron Colón debuted Ron Colón Salvadoreño, a 111 proof Dark Aged that has ebbed and flowed for over 400 years.

Rum. Next, they produced Ron Colón Coffee Infused Dark Aged Rum made with a coffee infusion bourbon varietal coffeeofbeans farmed look and harvested in El Salvador.

Now Ron Today of the modern masters mixology for authenticity in spirits and Colón Ron introduces a new addition their spirit portfolio—Ron Colón a 50/50 splitofbetween Colón is on a mission toto produce an array of products thatRumRye bridge the worlds taste, history, and culture. rum and rye whiskey, showcasing both spirits side by side and creating a new category.

18 BIN 2021

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LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

www.lancmag.com

I

n pursuit of thatblend mission, Colón Licorera Cihuatán distillery with to two 50/50 we found that we could The RumRye is 50% Ron Colón distilled rums, overall flavor offers highlight the famous characteristics The RumRye is Ron 50% Ron Colón distilled distilled rums, the overall flavor offers to highlight the famous characteristics The RumRye blend blend is 50% Ron Colón rums, thetheoverall flavor offers to highlight the famous characteristics inin in debuted Ron Colón Salvadoreño, a aged and unaged pot-distilled rums bring out the best in both, RumRye Salvadoreño Dark Aged Rum 50% contrasting characteristics thatthat interact both, therich richspice spice andthe thefresh fresh Salvadoreño Dark Aged Rum and 50% contrasting contrasting characteristics interact both, both, the rich spice ofand rye and the fresh Salvadoreño Dark Aged Rum andand 50% characteristics that interact the ofofryerye 111 proof Dark Aged Rum. Next, from Worthy Parkquite Estate, Monymusk fruit starts with the incredible tropical nose 2017 American Straight 100% Rye to create something unique. and buttery element in the rum.

By 2017 American Straight 100% Rye to create something quite unique. fruit and buttery element in the rum.

2017 American Straight 100% Rye to create something quite unique. fruit and buttery element in the rum. By By they Whiskey, produced Ron Colón Coffee and Hampden distilleries in of Ron Colón Salvadoreño Dark Aged bottled at 50% ABV, Proof. blending the two 50/50 found thatthat we we Whiskey, bottled atABV, 50% ABV, 100 Proof. blending the two 50/50 we found Whiskey, bottled at 50% 100100 Proof. the two 50/50 wewefound that Infused Dark Aged Rum made with Jamaica. By combining column- blending Rum and finishes with thewewarming could bring out the best in both, RumRye could outbest the best in both, RumRye bringbring outrye. the RumRye a coffee infusion ofupon bourbon varietalof distilled and pot-distilled rums, the could spice of ” in both, RumRye builds the heritage starts with the incredible tropical nose of of RumRye builds upon the heritage of starts with the incredible tropical nose RumRye builds upon and the heritage of coffee beans farmed harvested overall “Our flavourvision offersis to contrasting starts with the incredible tropical nose of early American distilling.

Rum, the Ron Colón Salvadoreño Dark Aged Rum “Our vision is to early American distilling.

Rum, the Ron Colón Salvadoreño Dark Aged “Our vision is to to create Ron Colón American distilling.

Rum,Colón the Aged RumRum The Salvadoreño use of ryeDark is deliberate choice in early El Salvador.

Now Ron characteristics that interact “noble spirit”, is considered to be one of and finishes with the warming spice of of “noble spirit”, is considered to be one of and finishes with the warming spice showcase different “noble spirit”, is considered to betoone of showcase different and finishes with the warming spice of for reasons both historic and delicious, introduces a new addition their something quite unique. showcase different thethe firstfirst spirits to to be be embraced as truly rye.” spirits embraced as truly rye.” the portfolio first spirits be embraced as truly spirit - toRon Colón RumRye flavors, industries and flavors, industries and rye.”explains Gransden. flavors, industries and All-American as as it gained a foothold All-American it gained a foothold All-American as it gained foothold The whiskey in RumRye is a a 50/50 split between ruma and rye processes; blending two processes; blending two in in Colonial North America.

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“The work We of spice and noticeable fresh mint. whiskey produced from 100% rye to Washington himself was a famous early new experiences, both in in explains Gransden. “The rye we work new experiences, both new experiences, both inspice distiller of rye whiskey. with is 4-years-old, it'swork young, andand punchy distiller of rye whiskey. with is 4-years-old, it's young, punchy also chose to with 100% rye The RumRye blend is 50% Ron showcase the warm and rich of distiller of rye whiskey. is 4-years-old, it's young, and punchy drink andinininlife.” life.” aIt’s drink life.” new with with plenty of ofspice andand noticeable a adrink and grain, to celebrate this historic whiskey with plenty spice noticeable Colón Salvadoreño Dark Aged Rum the grain. agedand aincharred with plenty of spice and noticeable - Pepijn Janssens There waswas a time when rumrum wasStraight thethe most fresh mint.and WeWe also chose to work with grain allchose the characteristics it - Pepijn Janssens andThere 50% American with #4 Char barrel a fresh There time when was fresh also chose to work - Pepijn Janssens was 2017 a timeawhen rum was the most most oak container, mint.mint.

We also to work with with could bring RumRye. ”this popular spirit in America.

However, when 100% ryerye grain, totocelebrate this historic 100% Rye Whiskey, bottled at 50% char level on the staves and #2 Char popular spirit in America.

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OurOur hope is to see Our hope ishope to see others with aged and unaged pot-distilled rums Director Director of Flavor Innovation of this category. is to see decline inaged the rum industry.

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INNOVATING TASTES rum and rye whiskey together,” says 2021 BIN 19 Rye was the grain of choice and rye Felicity Gransden, Director of Flavour AND FLAVOURS whiskey rapidly grew in popularity.

Innovation for Ron Colón.

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LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 113

where Ron Colón sources the rum is part with notes a candied fruit, orange sweetness in the rum. The finish is dry, local sugarcane is run through 10 innovate with notes of citruswith andsticky softbanana, mint. pineapple, fresh old sugar cane mill industries collaboration of flavours and and spirits, conver mint and warm honey and a hint of but also collaboration of imagination molasses.

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It can refer to Co respectively, a teamash,was that host inthat lava, assembled and alluvium which as currency, and it often tells a rich HERITAGE AND HISTORY including of course coffee and fine sugar encoura an array of agricultural products story is about culture of andcurrency. country. and thea unit Wh consists of Felicity Gransden, Flavor ingredie including of course coffee and fine Ron Colón RumRye is a continuation REFLECTED IN PACKAGING cane.

Famous for magnificent volcanoes, And what d “The Savior”) Jesus Christ. In of1892, but also collaboration of sugar cane. after Famous for magnificent they enj that story connecting countries, founders decided to make a rum Innovation, Chris Rehberger spearheading ountry in volcanoes, and surf spots, ru Design is an integral facet of the surf spots,the El government Salvador is ofworld-class cultures and currency as brand well. premium Theasdark an President Carlos Ezeta sionand by world-class an experienced El Salvador is also growing as an eco bottle incorporates the old historically “Colónes” they noticed that rug Graphic Design, Tobias Jegenstram in Honduras Gransden, complex honors the heritage and tourism destination. well.

Today, Ron modernColón also growing as an eco tourism destination. banknotes and currency in the labels decidedEl Salvador that leaves the behind Salvadoran peso be ople who bring a wealth category dow ascoin currency, and often Social Media, Ian Matthews in chargea war of torn often and theused unique that is placed in itvariety ic Ocean. history of El Salvador in their branding Today, modern El Salvador leaves behind past and works to maintain a strong the cap of each bottle. called “Colón” in homage to Christopher se to the brand. Under down. “It’s td to democracy.

And so, rich story about a culture and within count Global Distribution,commitment Max Abbott in Brand mountain and packaging.

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notes of roasted almonds.

00-yearrted to nted for nd then mn still, barrels. balance hte prior releases, Ron Colón places with

of classic rum cocktails with Modern Preiss of Preiss Imports. us squarely on what is in the bottle.

Tiki, which gives many opportunities for these well known drinks to be reinvented Modern consumers are sophisticated with premium rums. If we look back at and discerning, looking for authenticity ING FORWARD, BRIDGING historical cocktails, there are recipes that and tradition—a far cry from the DS combine rum and rye whiskey, this cliché of scallywags and the Pirates of “The Savior”) after Jesus Christ.

In both 1892, used for Ron Colón RumRye, as well within the production and process of history, we couldn’t be happier to orphilosophy releases, AsRon with Colón prior places releases, Ron Colón places of classic rum cocktails of classic with rum Modern cocktails withofModern Preiss RumRye’s Imports.

Preiss of Preiss of other bridging worlds was ais source ofproduced inspiration for ustheand an ” thePreiss 50/50 split Impo as the spirits in the portfolio, rums around world. be Caribbean. getting Ron Colon RumRye, ” says the government of President Carlos Ezeta uarely on what the focus is in squarely the approach bottle. isarea in which the Tiki, gives Tiki, opportunities which givesfor manyofopportunities recyclable andon canwhat be recycled Henry offor Preiss Imports. passes a 100% postmodern thatbottle. we are many excited to illuminate both Preiss rum and straight rye whiskey, “Inbe recent times, we’ve also seen endlessly without loss in quality or decided that the Salvadoran peso spirit industry. Our goal is to with well RumRye.” these known drinks these to well be reinvented known drinkshighlights to be reinvented and balances the and Modern consumers Modern arearomas sophisticated consume the return of classic rum cocktails Modern consumers are purity. the mainstream conventions of to and illuminates with premium rums. with IfTiki, wepremium look back rums. at Ifcharacteristics we look backin atboth, and discerning, looking and for discerning, authenticity loo with Modern which gives many sophisticated and discerning, looking called “Colón” in homage Christopher As with prior releases, Ron Colón opportunities for these well known for authenticity and tradition—a far ation and characterization, and to Innovation within the rum category, the past for the contemporary palate.

FORWARD, LOOKING BRIDGING FORWARD,historical BRIDGING cocktails, there historical are recipes cocktails, that there and are recipes that tradition—a far and crytradition—a from the Columbus. places the focus squarely on what is drinks to be reinvented with premium cry from the cliché of scallywags and audience'sWORLDS suspension of disbelief. creating new natural flavor experiences combine both and combine rye back whiskey, both rum this and rye thisCaribbean. cliché of ofscallywags cliché andRumRye’s the of Pirates scallywag o in the bottle. rums.rum If we look at historical thewhiskey, Pirates the ke to break down the divide for bartenders and consumers is a Katy Wallace, Brand Director in the USA, cocktails, there recipes 50/50 split of an both RumRye’s rumthe and Caribbean. straight losophy of “Our bridging philosophy worlds of bridging worlds was a source of inspiration was a are source for us and of inspiration anthat the forCaribbean. us and 50/50 split R combine both rum and rye whiskey, rye whiskey, highlights and balances LOOKING FORWARD, nThe rum and whiskey with the goal cornerstone of the brand.

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It can to Columbus tional expression.

Postmodernism bringing together different styles and like Pacific Edge in California, we felt illuminate with RumRye. ” contemporary palate.

“Our philosophy of bridging worlds mainstream subvert conventions the mainstream of conventions of characteristics in both, characteristics and illuminates in b a of postmodern approach and is encompasses the currency.

When Innovation theOur goal nterested in unit contradiction, characteristics. is to not just immediate excitement when we showed within the rum category,the the Katy Wallace, Director thethe con n characterization, classification and characterization, toOur goal and to Innovation within Innovation the rum category, within rum category, past forRumRye theBrand contemporary the pastinfor palate. in the spirit industry. n and 1892, ntation, and instability and is often beisatorum creating brand, but new to be a natural spirit brand them the line extension. flavour USA, cites early enthusiasm for the founders decided to make a rum brand subvert mainstream conventions ience's suspension test thethe audience's of disbelief. suspension ofpushes disbelief. creating new natural creating flavor experiences newnotes natural flavor experiences experiences for bartenders and release. on the destruction of hierarchies that the boundaries of rum,” Especially in today’s environment it os Ezetaof classification and characterization, consumers is a cornerstone of the they noticed that historically rum was o break We down like the to divide break down the divide for bartenders and for consumers bartenders is and a consumers is a Katy Wallace, Brand Director Katy Wallace, in the Brand test the audience’s suspension undaries,” and says to Janssens.

Gransden. becomes more import to offer new,USA “After speaking to some of our brand. of disbelief.

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Ron us to experiment; bringing together excitement when we showed them that does not abide by traditional m rum category?

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Especially expression.

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The bottle incorporates Ron Colón moves forward along a consumers. ” to drink Janssens. less but better, this has is the chameleon of spirits and master styles together to create new experiences, ries,” says and Janssens. boundaries,” says Janssens.

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“It’s a postmodern treatment of rum with their portfolio of artisan quality flavours, industries and processes; in the labels and the unique coin that is for the premium rum category? does the And futurewhat hold does for the the future for moves the Ronhold Colón forward Ron Colón along moves a pathforward along two a path capture the hearts capture and tominds the ofheart the with blending together joy.

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“With the history of with Rye the seeped both spirits and connects flavours ethos ‘to bridge worlds’ comes to life.” try.

Ron encouraged interest in quality, origin towards sustainability and the choice was drink lessof looking butingredients better, to drink this less but isbetter, this has of isdays spirits the and masterand of spirits masterto create stylesand together styles newtogether experiences to cr and traditions for both bartenders ed around the world.” inthe thechameleon early colonial ofchameleon American andhas stories behind of that consumers looking for authenticity the rums clear they enjoy.

Bartenders areorigin history, we couldn’t happier to be interestto in encouraged quality, origin interest in quality, of a versatile of reinvention, ofbe reinvention, spirit and a versatile spirit andand inboth both in a drink life,”insays a drink Janssens and made steer of of fancy molded bottle and tradition. looking to the dark and aged rum nt times, we've also seen therums return getting Ron Colon RumRye,” sayspart Henry res and and stories ingredients behind the and stories behind the rums important part of any important beverage program. of any beverage “It’s a program. postmodern “It’s treatment a postmodern of rum for out their the complexity of designscategories and seek most affordable

“With history ofthe Rye seeped embraces in flavour.

There Bartenders istoa the wonderful variety Bartenders they are enjoy. looking areRon looking the theembraces ColóntoRumRye Ron Colón RumRye essence thevarieties essence and origins where where varieties are merged an rporates the early colonial days of American glass solution industry.

The wine within the in rumthe category even just ged rum categories dark and aged for their rum categories theirand connects of bothforspirits of both spirits the flavors and connects the flavors categories fade, hybrids categories appear fade, and our hy 2021 urrency bottle used forflavor.

RonThere Colón RumRye, of flavor. glass There complexity is a wonderful of is atraditions wonderful and for both and bartenders traditions for and both bartenders andethos unique unique brand ‘to bridge brand worlds etho www.lancmag.com LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 115 that is in rum variety category eventhe justrum category evenlooking just for consumers authenticity looking and for authenticity and comes to life.” comes to life.” asthe well as the within other spirits inconsumers the portfolio,

Manchester Rum Festival

MANCHESTER’S SECRET TIKI HEAVEN Every year a tiki heaven send from rum gods around the world descends upon Manchester. This year, we went to check it out, and here’s what we found.

IT’S NOT SOLELY RUM

LOCAL RUM LOVE

Stratford Sodas was on hand for anyone wanting a little dash away from the hard stuff, while street eats and rum cakes were up for grabs from British Virgin Island pop-up Nyammin.

As well as stellar international rums, local brands smash it. The Salford Rum Company was on show with their Original, Dark Spice and Honey Salford Rum which has a cult following across the region. Manchester’s inimitable female-led Diablesse showcased a brand new expression called Diablesse Coconut and Hibiscus Rum along with other local favourites including the Spirit of Manchester Distillery and Tameside Distillery.

THERE’S LOADS You get to taste rums from over 60 producers, sample incredible cocktail creations by local bars, and dance to music and entertainment by a very cool DJ and festival stalwart, DJ Dom.

COMMUNITY The festival is an real life tiki oasis, bringing together rum producers, bartenders, enthusiasts and rum fans from all over the region, the country and even the world. What’s extra special is that some rum brands on show have never been tasted in the UK before.

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OUR ADVICE? Keep your eyes peeled on the Manchester Rum Festival Insta for when tickets go on sale later this year and snap them up – they sell fast. And, in the meantime, explore Manchester’s official Rum Map and sample some of the best cocktails in the city. Created ty the founders of Salford Rum, this is guide voted for by consumers and the industry – profits form which go to Salford Lads Club. Delicious! www.lancmag.com

A HISTORY OF HERBALISM

By Emma Kay A HISTORY OF HERBALISM by Emma Kay ISBN: 9781399008952 is available NOW in hardback from www.pen-and-sword.co.uk RRP £20 A History of Herbalism: Cook, Cure and Conjure is the fascinating history of an ancient practise. Known to some as witchcraft, to others as botany, food historian Emma Kay reveals the history of herbalism and the medicinal, magical and culinary uses of herbs. Discover the superstitions and spells surrounding the herbs in our kitchens and gardens, and the stories of key individuals who discovered them, in this immersive and intriguing new book.

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ood historian Emma Kay tells the story of our centuries-old relationship with herbs. From herbalists of old to contemporary cooking, this book reveals the magical and medicinal properties of your favourite plants in colourful, compelling detail.

At one time, every village in Britain had a herbalist. A History of Herbalism investigates the lives of women and men who used herbs to administer treatment and knew the benefit of each. Meet Dr Richard Shephard of Preston, who cultivated angelica on his estate in the eighteenth century for the sick and injured; or Nicholas Culpeper, a botanist who catalogued the pharmaceutical benefits of herbs for early literary society.

But herbs were not only medicinal.

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Countless cultures and beliefs as far back as prehistoric times incorporated herbs into their practices: paganism, witchcraft, religion and even astrology. Take a walk through a medieval ‘physick’ garden, or Early Britain, and learn the ancient rituals to fend off evil powers, protect or bewitch or even attract a lover.

The wake of modern medicine saw a shift away from herbal treatments, with rituals and spells shrouded with superstition as the years wore on. The author reveals how herbs became more culinary rather than medicinal including accounts of recent trends for herbal remedies as lockdown and the pandemic leads us to focus more on our health and wellbeing.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Emma is a post-graduate historian and former senior museum worker.

Now a food historian, author, and prolific collector of Kitchenalia, she is a member of The Guild of Food Writers. Her articles have appeared in publications including BBC History Magazine, The Daily Express, Daily Mail, Times Literary Supplement and The Victorian Review. She has featured on numerous national and international radio programmes and podcasts and contributed historic food research for several TV production companies.

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During 2021 Emma cooked and presented a selection of historic dishes from the Regency era to accompany a new CTVC series for Channel 4 and was interviewed and filmed demonstrating Medieval cooking techniques for a documentary series on KBS-TV in South Korea.

In 2020 Emma created a Roman banquet and presented the origins and influences of Roman cooking for Channel 5 series Walking Britain’s Roman Roads.

At the end of 2019 Emma appeared as an expert contributor across several episodes of Channel 5 series, Britain’s Lost Battlefields.

In 2018 she appeared in a ten-part series for the BBC and Hungry Gap Productions, The Best Christmas Food Ever and on BBC Countryfile, copresenting a feature exploring the heritage of the black pear with Anita Rani.

www.lancmag.com

Raise a Glass to Lytham tham St Annes as the Town Celebrates its Centenary Year. 100 Years of Unity.

From Sandgrown Spirits, Distillers of Lytham Gin.

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

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

Gin & Tonic Drizzle Cake This sophisticated take on the popular lemon drizzle cake is a treat for the grown-ups!

• Cooking Time: 45 mins • 10-12 Slices

Ingredients: THE CAKE: • 110g unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing • 175g caster sugar • 175g self-raising flour • 4 tbsp whole milk • Zest of 2 lemons, finely grated • 2 large eggs GIN SYRUP: • Juice of 2 lemons • 75ml gin • 150g caster sugar ICING: (Optional) • 250g icing sugar • 1 tbs lemon juice • 2 tbs water

Method: 1) Lightly grease a 900g loaf tin with butter, then line the sides with greaseproof paper and butter again. Preheat the oven to 180C/ gas 4.

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his month I’m focusing on how gin can be used with food. A G&T might be the perfect drink for a sunny evening but gin is much more versatile.

There are plenty of recommendations of which food to pair with wine or even beer, but very little on what to eat with gin. Since gin is quite strongly flavoured, it is best to pair it with strongly flavoured food. At Lytham Gin HQ, we love drinking gin and tonic with Indian food.

Traditional Indian cuisine contains spices such as coriander, cardamom, cumin, cinnamon and peppercorns. You’ll find many traditional gins also

2) Place the cake ingredients and a pinch of salt in a bowl or a mixer and beat for 3 minutes or so, till well blended. Spoon the mix into the tin and bake for 45 minutes, or until a skewer inserted comes out clean. Remove from the oven. Leave in the tin to cool a little while you make the syrup.

3) Add the lemon juice, gin and 150g caster sugar to a pan. Heat on a low hob, stirring, only until the sugar has melted. Take of the heat.

contain some of these ingredients as botanicals so they are a perfect match. An ice cold gin and tonic makes a wonderful accompaniment to your curry in place of larger. Try it next time you order a takeaway or visit your local Indian restaurant for a refreshing change.

Gin can also be used in recipes to sneak in a bit of juniperiness to a variety of dishes. Try adding a splash to homemade chicken liver pate. Delicious! Other ways to use gin include curing smoked salmon or adding a dash to your tomato based pasta sauce. Or treat yourself by making this month’s recipe for Gin & Lemon Drizzle cake.

4) Poke holes into the cake with a skewer.

The more, the merrier! Pour the syrup over its surface, tilting the tin to get an even coverage and allowing the syrup to soak in.

5) Allow to cool. Either sprinkle with icing sugar or cover with icing. Make the icing by mixing together the icing sugar, lemon juice and water.

Gin-a-Colada Lytham Gin’s take on a classic cocktail, this is a gin based version of the Pina Colada. We like to make this with our Watermelon Gin and our White Chocolate and Coconut Rum, but it is just as nice made with alternatives.

Simply fill a shaker with ice, add the ingredients and shake for 15-20 seconds. Serve garnished with a cherry and a slice of lime.

Ingredients: • 30ml Gin

• 60ml coconut milk (tinned)

• 30ml White Rum

• Maraschino Cherry

• 180ml Pineapple juice

• Slice of lime

www.lancmag.com

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Kathleen Johnstone, A Nurse’s War: A diary of hope and heartache on the home front

By Patricia & Robert Malcolmson Kathleen Johnstone, A Nurse’s War: A diary of hope and heartache on the home front

By Patricia & Robert Malcolmson Published by HarperNorth on 21st July Non-Fiction | History | Paperback | £8.99

In June 1943 Kathleen Johnstone (born in 1913) was a nurse-in-training at the Blackburn Royal Infirmary

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t was then that she chose, for reasons she did not disclose, to keep a diary for the social research organization Mass Observation (MO).

MO had for almost four years been encouraging “ordinary” Britons to write journals about their everyday wartime feelings and experiences.

These diaries were likened to cameras that would capture the often brief and passing moments of life that were otherwise at risk of not being recorded.

Diaries were expected to document immediate experiences, outlooks, and observations, and around 480 people sent in their contributions at some point between 1939 and 1945 (though many didn’t last long).

Kathleen Johnstone turned out to be an exceptional diarist. She had an eye for the details of daily life and often wrote colourfully about them. Some people she praised, others (though almost never named) she mentioned because of their quirks or irritating characteristics. She saw the comedy in numerous incidents she observed; 122

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and she treated herself with a degree of irony.

Often her writing is fairly objective, in the spirit of reportage. She was sometimes happy, sometimes sad. She recorded moments of gloom and anxiety (over her upcoming nursing exams in 1944, for example), and moments of hope, especially as the war was drawing to a close.

Aside from a holiday in London and a visit to her sister’s family in Wiltshire, Kathleen spent all of the two years from mid-1943 to mid-1945 in Lancashire. She wrote in all sorts of ways about its places and residents and activities: conversations on buses; the liking of people in Blackburn for tripe; the sounds of clogs in the streets in the early morning; the many broken bones caused by the blackout, especially in icy conditions; an Emergency Hospital at Poultonle-Fylde; electioneering in June 1945; and people’s involvement in “Holidays-at-Home” in the summer of 1943, which were designed to discourage travel by train when the tracks were needed for military transport. But these special wartime diversions did not prevent thousands of holiday-makers from observing the usual Wakes Weeks, normally at Blackpool. While Kathleen www.lancmag.com

Above: Bob and Patricia Malcolmson

went there several times herself, her more regular pleasures were enjoyed at Blackburn’s cinemas and cafes and shopping for goods that were almost always hard to find. She also described walks in the beautiful countryside just outside Blackburn, whose sooty grimness she noted from time to time, and the sudden appearance in 1944 of American troops (with money to burn, though they didn’t like the weather).

Hospital nursing meant that Kathleen routinely encountered Lancastrians in need of care. She did a stint in the VD clinic; she was involved in ensuring the welfare of new babies and their mothers. Grizzly accidents demanded immediate attention, and some victims did not survive. On 14 February 1944 a little boy was admitted “terrible” burns, and soon died. “The trouble is”, Kathleen thought, “that so many mothers are doing warwork and making no adequate provision for their children. Wages are high up here now and after so many lean years of poverty and unemployment everyone is seizing the opportunity to make money whether they are obliged to do war-work or not.” The working class was central to the life of this industrial city. Blackburn’s Infirmary was a voluntary hospital, dependent on charitable donations, and in fact about half of its funding came from the labouring people in the district.

Kathleen’s experiences were not confined to Blackburn, for on her days off work she usually visited and stayed a night or two with her parents, who lived in the lovely village of Downham, near Clitheroe. There her father was butler at Downham Hall, and Kathleen was at least an observer of and sometime participant in rural life. She wrote of the Italian POWs employed on the estate, meetings of the Women’s Institute, www.lancmag.com

Above: Kathleen Johnstone

Above: Kathleen Johnstone and Family

church services, farm families, the village shop, gardening, tied cottages, and striking features of the local landscape, such as Pendle Hill.

Excursions to Clitheroe were common. Kathleen was unusual in having a foot in both city and country on a regular basis.

While East Lancashire suffered little in the way of bombing raids, almost everyone had some personal connection with wartimes events, inconveniences, and insecurities. Katheen’s main worry was for her fiancé, Bill, a POW in Germany whom she hadn’t seen since October 1939. The messages between them since his capture in June 1940 were, inevitably, few and far between; and while she had attracted interest from other men, on the home front, she had remained loyal to him. As victory was approaching in the early months of 1945, she was more and more anxious about Bill’s welfare, and wondering whether he would survive the turmoil of Germany’s collapse and return home safely to marry her.

On the day she left Blackburn’s Infirmary (30 May 1945) as a State Registered Nurse, Kathleen expressed her affection for those she was leaving.

“I think Lancashire people are very generous and hospitable. I have never found such friendliness and pressing hospitality as I have found in Lancashire and I have lived in various places from the North of Scotland to the South Coast.” Almost all of her subsequent career in nursing would be based in Lancashire, where she had spent little if any time in before later 1939.

Here, then, is a diary rich in social detail and rooted in wartime society in Lancashire, written by an appealing and thoughtful person who had a gift with the words needed for the literary tasks she set herself.

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A 1922 CLOSE ENCOUNTER

By Jason Gleaves, International author of ‘UFO PHOTO’- ‘The Ufology Umbrella’ and ‘UFO Encounters up Close & Personal’ published by Flying Disk Press available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats.

(All illustrations by Jason Gleaves).

An unnamed gentleman contacted me via email I’ll simply call Stephen.

Stephen provided some brief details of his wife’s grandfather who, a few years before he passed away, had self-published his own memoirs. These memoirs came in two parts. The first part was about his working life as a mining engineer and the second about his life in general.

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he man who wrote these memoirs is Richard Hathaway and he was born just before the First World War. Stephen supplied me with the details about his wife’s grandfather Mr Richard Hathaway and his close encounter in 1922 and I was permitted to read them. Here, with Stephen’s permission is the close encounter of 1922.

RICHARD HATHAWAY Richard Hathaway, born 2nd August 1913 at Irlams o’th’ Heights (Salford, Greater Manchester), was aged nine in 1922 at the time he and good friend Leo had this unknown encounter.

Five years later Richard would be leaving school and not wanting to work in the mine or mills and being highly selfmotivated began knocking on doors looking for work in engineering of some sort. His search took him to the doors of the impressive Metropolitan Vickers concern at Trafford Park. Here he became skilled as a draughtsman before getting more involved with the massive electrical engineering projects that were involved in power generation, railways, mining and many other fields. As a result, he also got a good grounding in mechanical engineering.

Through his own perseverance he succeeded in becoming a Fellow in the Institute of Electrical Engineers.

During World War two, he was involved in the development of mine sweepers at sea using systems involving high currents to produce surges of magnetism to detonate mines. At the age of forty he made the move to the NCB (National Coal Board) as Chief Electrical Engineer for the Wakefield and surrounding areas where he was involved with improving the mines electrical systems and designing and overseeing installation of mineshaft winching systems and pit head gear.

He also was involved in the sad tasks of investigating mining explosions at Walton and Normanton collieries.

At the age of forty-nine he moved to Qualter Hall, carrying out similar work but this time on a more global scale. Here he became Technical Director culminating in becoming Executive Director when British Steel Constructions took over the company.

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Richard always was a proper gentleman, very precise, articulate and not one to make stories up. Reading his memoirs, it seems he never spoke much about this event but he must have thought about it a great deal. As time passed and he was getting older, he had the conviction to include this story in those pages so that it would not be lost should the worst happen. Richard passed away in his very late eighties.

Looking at Google maps, the area where this encounter took place somewhere between the end of Bank Lane towards the River Irwell was described as fairly rural and near the Agecroft Colliery. Now, it is the site of a large industrial estate as far as the river. Heaton Park and Drinkwater Park are still in existence and very much as they were.

THE ENCOUNTER The following is taken verbatim from Richard Hathaway’s memoirs, and it is the first time it has been published anywhere.

“The story you are about to read is true, even though some small discrepancies may have occurred over the time which has elapsed since the encounter took place. At this time, I lived with my parents and brothers in a small terraced house at the bottom of Prestwich Street in the village of Irlams o’th’ Height which overlooked the Irwell valley. The A6 road bisected the village. Bank Lane ran down from the A6 to Irlams o’th’ Height railway station down in the valley.

The road ended under the railway bridge. On the other side of the bridge were a couple of pastures, probably a quarter mile in length and very narrow, known locally as the “long fields”. One could traverse these fields on the way across the valley to Prestwich, in which district there was located Heaton Park. Heaton Park boasted a magnificent lake in which were five islands. This place was a magnet in summer for many schoolchildren and although about four miles from home, a goodly number of children from our side of the valley visited the park during holiday times. www.lancmag.com

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 I had a particular school friend by the name of Leo Parkes at this time. We were both nine years old when the encounter took place. Leo and I had planned to visit Heaton Park on my birthday, Wednesday the 2nd of August 1922, weather permitting, and spend a day there, intending also to have a couple of hours on the lake and explore the islands. We intended to set out at about 9.30 am and mother prepared sandwiches for us for the day and bottles of lemon drink prepared from crystals.

Came the day, we duly set off down Bank Lane seeing that there was a mist in the valley. It seemed to be thicker over the “long fields”, but we attached no importance to this. When we were well in the fields, we were amazed to see in the mist a very large cylindrical shaped object, rather like a long pipe with cone shaped ends very much like the nose of the Concorde plane. Its total length must have been all of 150 feet and was probably 20 feet in diameter. We thought at the time that it was probably something to do with the nearby Agecroft pit (colliery), a regular haunt of hours, so we decided to investigate.

As we got closer, we saw it appeared to be resting in mid-air, about 3 or 4 feet from the ground. As we came round the end, we saw that there were lots of holes, about 12 inches in diameter in the end cone and several tundish shaped objects beneath the main body. We also saw that a suffused light came from this side. We felt no fear and decided to approach closer. When about 20 feet from the structure, we saw a large door slide open and people moving inside. They were about five feet six inches tall and dressed more or less identically in two-piece suits with tunic collars, except that the clothes were in many soft colours.

A few wore a head-dress resembling a small turban. It was easy to observe that there were two sexes: one looked more gentle and I thought of these as ladies. The “men” looked sterner but still gentle and kindly in appearance.

They were all slim in build and some of both “sexes” had distinctive white rings round their sleeves, which both Leo and I took to be some kind of rank. Their faces and hands looked delicate, their faces being oval in shape, with large eyes and ivory skin, very pleasant and slightly oriental in appearance. Two people, one of each “sex” came to the large opening and beckoned us to come closer. I personally felt no fear and later, Leo said that he also felt no fear. As we approached, we felt we were walking up a ramp, although we saw nothing.

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As we stepped inside, we were astounded to be addressed by the lady in English: “Welcome Richard and Leopold to our ship.” They shook us by the hand and showed us round this large room in the centre of the craft. There were a number of control panels which would be called consoles today, people reading instruments and others lounging around on the couches and tables. They told us this room was a common room and that each person on the vessel had a small private lounge-come-bedroom. Our two guides took us into a small room, sat us down in front of a screen and appeared to be projecting images of our insides onto the screen. They did not assault us in any way. They then took us on a tour of the other rooms, including their own private quarters. Each of the private quarters comprised a lounge with table, a couple of chairs, working desk, bookcase and various other bits and pieces. There was also a large screen on which country scenes were being projected.

We recognised some of our own immediate surroundings.

A curtained off alcove contained control gear which we were informed were for driving, navigating and steering the ship. Other rooms were for controlling their armaments.

Most of the control gear was way over our heads and, as I recognise now, consisted of push buttons, indicator lamps, digital and analogue instruments, mimic diagrams and screens showing the actual operation of the particular plant being controlled. They told us that the prime movers for the electrical generators were “nuclear fusion” devices as opposed to “nuclear fission” devices which the authorities on this earth would probably use for providing their energy sources in about the next 50 or 60 years. All this has come true. They said their system was intrinsically safe, whereas the system which would be used on earth would be flawed.

As far as the actual armaments were concerned, I got the impression that a length of a beam of destructive light was fired out of the openings in the cone ends towards the object they were attacking, this beam (consider it like a shell fired from a big gun) being controlled from one of the small rooms. The lethal beam could be controlled in speed, direction and manoeuvrability.

We asked what the ship was made from. They said it was a special ductile, incorrodable substance mined on their planet, and when finished it was many times the strength of steel. We asked how they knew our names when they asked us in. They said they knew by a system of thought transference they had perfected between themselves and found out our names by intercepting our thoughts after we

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entered the ship. They pointed out that not many persons were actually speaking to each other but were in fact communicating with each other by thought transference.

We asked if it was their intention to make war on us. The reply was “Definitely not.” They said their planet was dying; the total number of people on their planet was now only three million and they were looking for a planet similar to ours but as yet unpopulated by humans. They thought our planet was overcrowded already and the people in general were very aggressive to each other as compared with themselves. They said they came from another galaxy, but in the universe the number of Galaxies was without end and many other planets in other galaxies were inhabited by many strange creatures, living in unbelievable environments.

Creatures from planets from other galaxies, of unimaginable appearance had been spying on each other (except for us) from time immemorial. They said that our earth would start spying within 100 years. They said they had visited this planet over a hundred years ago.

Their planet, they told us, was light years away but they had perfected a system of place and distance transference which accounts for millions of light years in hours. They could not enlighten us any further as the human brain was not sufficiently developed.

Being just a couple of kids, we were overawed by what we had seen; we did not ask anything further. We could have asked many more questions, but remember, we were only a pair of children left in a state of wonder. They gave us some fruit and a shoulder hug and then set us down to the outside. As soon as we left the ship the great door closed, and the ship rose rapidly in the sky.

We walked back to where the ship had been but there was not a trace of it ever having been there, only a few cows and ourselves looking in wonder.

Our day at Heaton Park was now off, so we decided to spend the rest of the day on the riverbank in Drinkwater Park, Prestwich Clough.

We decided to keep the encounter to ourselves for fear of being laughed at. I have not heard from Leo for the past 50 years, so I have decided to set the matter down in writing for the first time, as I am now 83 years old.

I think the ship we entered that day in August 1922 would on reflection be called a UFO/UAP (Unidentified Flying Object/ Unidentified Ariel Phenomena) today, but at that time we had never heard of such things, and they were beyond our comprehension. I could not really analyse my feelings at the time, and for many years searched my mind for a reason for the encounter. Much later in life I accepted the fact that the great object was indeed not of earthly origin.

This account is set down as it happened and is a true story. The reference to nuclear power words, fusion and fission, earlier in this article is my interpretation of what they told us. They did not use these actual words.”

Before I say anything, I would like to thank Stephen for allowing me access to his wife’s grandfathers close encounter report. Stephen has showed me both parts of Richard Hathaway’s memoirs and the section marked at ‘THE ENCOUNTER’ is far longer than any other of the items he covers. It was obviously of great importance to him. These after all were his own self-published memoirs and the one I have seen was personally signed by him to his granddaughter. This goes to show that only a handful of people will have ever seen this account in writing before.

Of course, Mr. Hathaway knew the date of the encounter as it was his birthday and like many such witnesses who have followed in his footsteps he didn’t want to tell anyone about it for fear of ridicule. There are some differences in this account which does not surprise me at all. The description of the creatures is very unique and very different from those reported today. The interior of the craft is also very different, especially the furniture. The importance of this event to Mr. Hathaway is obvious for all to see. He was after all including it in his own self-published memoirs and it takes up far more space than anything else he covers.

Accounts like this have long been of interest to me and of course ufologists in our community. Now I know Richard Hathaway was 83 when he wrote it but there are no signs of problems with his memory when writing his memoirs. For example, he even uses a word that I personally have never heard of before, that being ‘tundish’. Look it up and see for yourself what it means. We must remember that this story takes us back to a very different era. For example, children at his age (nine) did indeed trek a few miles on their own to play in the park. Mr. Hathaway would not of course have been exposed to science fiction stories on TV or the movies and therefore could not have been influenced by them.

There is of course no way that we can identify what exactly happened to Richard Hathaway and his friend Leo back in August of 1922. All I can say is that this encounter was important enough for him to make sure that it was preserved for posterity in his own memoirs. We should thank him for that and wonder how many more such accounts have been left untold or are stored, long forgotten, in old cupboards and drawers. My guess is far more than we suspect. n

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A Warning for Festival Goers

By Addiction Specialist Martin Preston, Founder and CEO at Private Rehab Clinic Delamere - delamere.com/addiction-treatment/drugs

With festival season in full swing, drug use is unfortunately very prevalent.

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hat’s why Addiction Specialist Martin Preston, has issued a warning for festival goers “to be extra vigilant and be able to identify the signs early on, before a hazard takes hold.”

Martin, Founder and Chief Executive at Private Rehab Clinic Delamere has shared some tips on how to recognise the signs of drug use at a festival in order to ensure safety before it’s too late. Early invention is essential to ensure the most robust chances of successful recovery.

MARIJUANA If someone has used marijuana, they could seem in a euphoric state, but they might also seem uncoordinated and forgetful. Since cannabis increases appetite, the person may eat more than usual. Reactions may be slower, and the user may also become paranoid and suspicious. Those who have smoked marijuana often appear with bloodshot eyes, droopy eyelids, and an overall relaxed or mellow demeanour.

STIMULANTS If someone has taken stimulants such as cocaine, they may exhibit frequent behaviour changes, aggression, or rapid or rambling speech. They may display dilated pupils, increased energy, and a fast breathing rate. In some cases, users may become paranoid or hostile. If users snort the drug, nasal congestion is a common sign of use. Taking drugs like cocaine can damage the mucous membrane inside the nose.

HALLUCINOGENS The signs of hallucinogen use vary depending on the specific drug in question. LSD (“acid”) might cause a person to act impulsively and experience hallucinations.

Someone who has used psilocybin (“magic mushrooms”), may experience hallucinations, nausea, muscle twitching, and difficulty differentiating between hallucinations and reality. People on hallucinogens may appear drowsy, paranoid, or at peace, depending on the type of “trip” they are having.

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CLUB DRUGS Ecstasy, ketamine, and GHB are common types of club drugs. Signs and symptoms of use include increased body temperature, poor coordination, dizziness, excessive sweating, clenched teeth, and slurred speech. These can be extremely dangerous and can lead to dehydration or even overhydration, both can be fatal.

OPIOIDS Opioids include both prescription painkillers, and the illicit drug heroin. Signs of opioid abuse include overall sedation, memory issues, inability to concentrate,slowed reaction times, lethargy, and mood swings. Since opioids can slow the digestive system, users often experience constipation and other intestinal issues. When without the drug, users may experience withdrawal symptoms such as serious anxiety.

BARBITURATES AND BENZODIAZEPINES These CNS depressants are often prescribed to treat anxiety and sleep disorders. Benzodiazepines include common medications, such as Valium and Xanax. A person who abuses these drugs may appear uninhibited, dizzy, or depressed. They may experience blurry vision, balance issues, and overall confusion. They may also present involuntary eye movements, known as nystagmus.

Martin Preston, founder and CEO of Delamere, has warned of the importance of spotting drug use early: “If you suspect someone has taken drugs, early intervention is crucial to ensure they have the best chance at a successful recovery. At a festival, you should take them to the medical tent to ensure their condition can be monitored by professionals.

“Friends and family members may choose to stage an intervention once signs of drug use are apparent; if so, a professional interventionist can guide the planning process and the execution of the event for best results.

Loved ones should also research comprehensive addiction treatment programs. Treatment should include both medical detox and therapy to address the underlying issues related to substance abuse.” www.lancmag.com

People come to stay with us when an aspect of their life is overwhelming all else.

Whether it be their relationship with alcohol, substances or behaviour, we help guests heal and take back control. Delamere Health Ltd is the UK’s only purpose-built behavioural health clinic. Set discreetly amidst six acres of grounds beside Delamere Forest in Cheshire, we offer exemplary care in a dignified setting.

To find out more, visit Delamere.com or contact our admissions team on 0330 111 2015

THE ULTIMATE NONSURGICAL FACELIFT

T Dr Yusra and her team at Dr Yusra Clinic are renowned for their non-surgical transformations using the latest technologies and safest techniques. From the use of dermal filler to transform the shape of the nose to skincare that can reverse pigmentation and cool sculpting to enhance your silhouette they have now introduced ‘The Ultimate NonSurgical Facelift’ the perfect addition to their long list of medical and cosmetic treatments.

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he Ultimate Non-Surgical Facelift combines a trio of science-driven treatments and is not just great for tightening the skin, giving a more youthful glow but it is also great to help with scar reduction, from acne scars to surgical/accidental scars.

The three modalities that make this treatment are Ultracel; which is used for skin tightening, Microneedling Rf; for collagen stimulation and Co2 Laser for resurfacing of sun damage, fine lines, and wrinkles. The three modalities combined provide the ultimate non-surgical facelift with minimal downtime, no scars, and glowing skin.

The first modality is ULTRAcel. The technology combines focused ultrasound and greatly differs from HIFU found in beauty salons – think Miele or Dyson hoover compared to a cheap £10 hoover: the output is potent, effective, quick, and painless and creates real change. Ultracel is different in that in the same treatment session you have 2 treatments: the Ultrasound and the radiofrequency in www.lancmag.com

one, meaning ultimate lifting, tightening, and collagen formation. The first stage of the ULTRAcel treatment is Grid Fractional Radio Frequency. The radiofrequency delivers heat, which affects the collagen in the deeper layers of the skin. This causes deep structures of the skin to tighten, and over time, new and remodelled collagen is produced.

The secondary stage of the ULTRAcel treatment is HighIntensity Focused Ultrasound otherwise known as HIFU. Ultrasound waves are beamed to a controlled targeted depth of the skin where thermal heat energy tightens and contracts underlying tissue, right down to the muscle layer.

You start to see an immediate lift, to the jowls, jawline, and an eyebrow lift to refresh saggy dropped eyebrows.

We recommend 3 sessions of ULTRAcel each taking place 3 months apart to provide the ultimate lift.

The second modality is Microneedling Radio Frequency.

Micro-needling RF is an innovative, proven technology producing reliable results, reducing the signs of ageing, eliminating wrinkles and correcting scarring with little or no downtime, allowing you to resume your daily life quickly.

Microneedling treatments can improve the texture of your skin. It will minimise signs of ageing including sagging, fine lines, and deep wrinkles. Also proven effective in treating acne, acne scars, scars, large pores and stretch marks.

Microneedling Radio Frequency delivers thermal heat to the deep layers of the skin affecting the collagen, as a result of this new collagen is produced, and deep layers of the skin begin to tighten.

At Dr Yusra Clinic, we can offer this science with one of our 2 two technologies, INTRAcel and Secret Pro. The technology chosen will be specific to cater to your concerns and results and will be chosen after a consultation with one of Dr Yusra’s clinical experts.

The third and final modality of The Ultimate NonSurgical Facelift is Co2 laser. Co2 laser resurfacing is by far the most powerful skin rejuvenation technique on the market to date. This treatment obliterates the upper layers of the skin reducing signs of ageing improving wrinkles, texture, sun damage and pore size. We can also treat scars and skin tags. The greatest benefit of this procedure is that the results are permanent.

Laser light penetrates into the tissue causing small columns of thermal damage which in turn stimulates significant collagen renewal. Once the healing is complete you are left with new skin. The combination of our 3 technologies works together to ensure that patients are getting the optimum results.

The Non-Surgical facelift treatment is performed at Dr Yusra’s flagship clinic in Blundellsands where her team of experts will work together with the machines to ensure results that leave you feeling more youthful, rejuvenated, and glowing.

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

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

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INTRODUCING DR LAUREN, CLINICAL INJECTOR & MR SAMI, PLASTIC SURGEON

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r Lauren Mullan is a qualified dentist and medical aesthetics injector. She gained her Bachelor of Dental Surgery at Queens University Belfast.

After in-depth study of the anatomy in the face, head and neck in her bachelor’s degree, this sparked her interest and pursuit into non-surgical facial aesthetics.

Dr Lauren has completed several medical aesthetics courses with the award-winning number one UK training academy, Acquisition Aesthetics. She has an ardent attitude towards safety in aesthetics and upholds the highest standards of care for her patients, in line with the Dr Yusra Clinic ethos of honest, ethical holistic facial assessments and advice. Dr Lauren has undertaken a Master Level 7 Post graduate Diploma in Aesthetic Medicine and has also undergone Dr Yusra’s advanced mentorship scheme with one to one training on Dr Yusra’s facial aesthetic techniques.

Dr Lauren delivers treatments for full facial harmonisation including cheek and chin augmentation through dermal filler, antiwrinkle injections, medical grade skincare, as well as laser treatments for skin tightening and resurfacing.

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Here at Dr Yusra’s Health and Wellness Clinic, Dr Lauren wants to get to know you, and is committed to learn your concerns, understand your specific needs and create a bespoke care plan for you. She strives to create natural results that enhance your own beauty, to help you feel confident, refreshed, leaving you feeling and looking good, but never done.

Dr Lauren has been seeing our patients for several months with brilliant feedback. Her diary is now open online for bookings. www.lancmag.com

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r Sami Ramadan BSc MBBS MRCS FRCS (Plast) qualified from University College London Medical School.

Dr Sami will be leading our *Endolift laser face lift treatment* for lower face laxity and jawline tightening, and *CO2 laser resurfacing* treatments at our flagship clinic in Blundellsands on Fridays using internationally recognised Secret Pro by Cutera. Endolift is a fantastic treatment and alternative to surgery for those who want to avoid surgery and achieve a lift and tightening to their jawline.

Co2 laser is fantastic for skin resurfacing and scar reduction.

Mr Sami is a full-time plastic surgery registrar in the NHS completing his fellowship having trained in many plastic surgery units across the country. He has undertaken higher surgical training in the Mersey Region and based at Whiston Hospital, the largest plastic surgery centre in the Northwest of England.

Mr Sami has a passion for safety and artistry in facial rejuvenation and believes in the integration of surgical and non-surgical modalities for a holistic approach to facial rejuvenation. He is passionate about education, has been an anatomy demonstrator for medical students and is on the faculty of several plastic surgery courses.

We are delighted to welcome and introduce Mr Sami

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

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

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GOD SAVE OUR MANNERS

Queue-Jumping is Named as the Rudest Social Habit in the North West, New Research Has Revealed

By Patient Claim Line North West residents consider queue-jumping to be the rudest social offence, new data has discovered.

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survey of 2,000 Brits commissioned by Patient Claim Line quizzed participants to find out more about the seemingly minor social habits that get under our skin. www.lancmag.com

1.

Queue-jumping

list, suggesting we’re in an age where speaking up about terrible service is considered one of the ultimate nogos.

2. Staring at your phone instead of listening to the person talking

Millennials are the least likely to make a fuss, with the highest proportion of this age group above any other, citing complaining to be rude.

3. Chewing with your mouth open 4. Not holding the door open for the following person 5. Staring at someone 6. Not offering to buy a round of drinks at the pub 7.

Taking the last of anything (food, drink etc)

9. Gossiping about others

The leading law firm knows firsthand that polite British culture often gets in the way of patients speaking out if they’re unhappy, supported by the findings that complaining about a terrible service is ranked in the top 15 rudest social traits.

10. Sitting next to someone on public transport when there are other seats available

Commenting on the research a spokesperson from Patient Claim Line, said:

11. Outstaying your welcome at someone’s house

“It appears that British stereotypes are standing up in this research, particularly with regards to classic queue-loving Brits! It is also interesting to see that many cited complaining about a terrible service to be within the top rudest traits, something that is often inferred through the experience of our clients.”

8. Ordering something in a shop whilst you’re on the phone

12. Not letting another car merge into a lane on the motorway 13. Calling someone unannounced 14. Not offering to take your shoes off in someone’s house

“It can feel incredibly daunting to speak up and raise an issue if you’re unhappy with a service or treatment you’ve received. This is especially true when it comes to healthcare, with many Brits not wanting to cause a fuss or take up any more of the NHS’s precious time.”

15. Complaining about a terrible service 16. Refusing a cup of tea In typical British fashion, it turns out us Northerns can’t stand queuejumping, with this act ranked by locals as the rudest habit.

A QUARTER of the North West finds not offering to buy a round of drinks at the pub to be one of the most unacceptable traits.

Other top offences to get you in a locals’ bad books include chewing with your mouth open, not holding the door open behind you and (how very dare you) refusing a cup of tea!

The top 16 habits that North West residents consider to be impolite, ranked in order of annoyance, are: www.lancmag.com

Patient Claim Line conducted the research following the findings that 60% of Brits don’t feel confident enough to make a complaint about poor medical treatment.

Interestingly, in the nationally representative data, Gen-Z were the only generation to name people looking at their phone during a conversation as the rudest social trait, with someone sitting next to them on public transport ranking in second place.

A third of participants over the age of 65 consider not buying a round at the pub to be one of the most impolite acts. In fact, boomers felt more strongly about this than any other demographic.

Complaining about bad service made number 13 on the North West’s

“However, it’s important to remember that making a complaint about substandard healthcare is not rude, and it could end up improving your health. Doctors and nurses only want what’s best for you, so if there’s something that can be fixed, they want to help. Speaking up could save your life.”

If you have experienced substandard medical treatment which has led to avoidable pain or suffering, then Patient Claim Line can help. Speak to a member of our friendly legal team for free legal advice by visiting our website www.patientclaimline.com

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Redrow Eager to Attract More Women Into Engineering Roles TO MARK Women in Engineering Day (June 23) Redrow is celebrating the careers of two of its female site engineers in Lancashire.

Above: Redrow site engineers (l-r) Em Lamb and Chloe Harrison Em Lamb was attracted to a role in engineering thanks to her love of ‘Grand Designs’ and believes perseverance and an ability to multitask are key qualities for those working as site engineers.

to train as a civil engineer with Halton Borough Council. After completing her NVQ in Civil Engineering, she went on to work for a small housebuilder in Liverpool for just under three years.

Taking the university route, Em, from Liverpool, completed a degree and masters in Civil Engineering at the University of Birmingham, including a year of study in Canada.

She joined Redrow last year and now works across eight live sites as well as setting up new sites and handling several legacy developments.

“There was no career advice at school,” she said. “We were left to decide for ourselves. I didn’t even realise civil engineering was a career choice until I was scanning the jobs that would help me to qualify for an Australian visa.”

Chloe said: “Engineering is a great career for anyone, whatever your walk of life. Of course, you have to be technically minded but the main quality required is being a people person.

Whilst at university, Em undertook six months work experience with a piling subcontractor, before joining Kier’s infrastructure division upon graduation. She played a key role managing all utility works for the Mersey Gateway project before moving on to the M6 motorway and eventually making the switch to housebuilding.

She said: “I was made redundant from a previous job while on maternity leave and decided to see it as an opportunity to do what I really wanted to do. I decided to move away from working in heavy civils and transfer into housebuilding.”

Em, who now has two young children, says the flexible working arrangements offered by Redrow’s Chorley-based Lancashire division were “integral” in her decision to work for them. She added: “The management team is excellent. It’s rare for a director to understand the need for flexibility so well. In previous jobs, I was often the sole person to request flexible working but here it is more the norm.”

Her colleague Chloe Harrison, 27, from Runcorn, is also a site engineer. Chloe says she “jumped around” several different roles after leaving school before deciding to focus on starting a career where she could see a long-term future.

Browsing local job opportunities, she was drawn by an advert

“It’s been great to learn on the job and I’m so pleased I responded to that first job advert, which kick started my career. My dad had previously worked in highways but he always encouraged me to follow my own path. It just so happened that path was in civil engineering.”

Technical director for Redrow Lancashire Mark Dawson said: “Engineering and construction careers are extremely rewarding.

They provide high levels of job satisfaction; seeing developments through to fruition and watching new communities thrive, built on the infrastructure installed by our site engineers.

“It’s great to have Em and Chloe as part of our team but the fact is that civil engineering remains a male-dominated career.

To ensure a highly skilled workforce for the future we need to attract as many individuals into the industry as possible and that includes many more women than at present. We really hope more people see the success and passion Em and Chloe have for their careers and follow in their footsteps.”

For more information on starting a career with Redrow visit www.redrowcareers.co.uk To find out more about Redrow’s Lancashire developments see www.redrow.co.uk/lancashire

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By Sharon Henry

If you venture into the heart of Preston, Lancashire, you will find award winning Showrooms of exceptional luxury bathrooms, kitchens and tiles.

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SP Bathrooms, currently have a Flagship showroom on the Queens Retail Park and also an impressive showroom at the Thorn Buildings on Kent Street in Preston.

But…They have exciting news, they are currently developing a new 7500 square foot showroom adjacent to the Kent Street premises, a brand new Tile Showroom.

Restoration has started on the building which they are led to believe could have been an old chapel. They 138

have set about exposing some of the original brick and restoring the ceilings to their original state. Also trying to keep the original wood beams to give the building its’ own authenticity.

When you walk into the showroom they want to give you that WOW factor with feature walls on chimney breasts and showing the different concepts available with lots of different colours and many choices of tiles to help you create that special and bespoke look in your Living Area,

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Media Area, Kitchen, Bathroom, in fact anywhere in your home.

Here their objective is to create a Concept, where the customer can be introduced to the trends in tiles and installation. They want to give inspiration to Architects and Designers

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by including a ‘Creative Area’ which will be open to the public as well as Trade customers. There will be room sets to stimulate and energize you and help you create your best lifestyle.

The showroom will be able to display large format porcelain slabs, which are impressive and practical and create an almost seamless surface covering, ideal for kitchen and bathroom walls.

They will also be stocking Outdoor Porcelain Tiles to create features in your garden, whether you are soaking up the sun or cooking up some delicious food on the BBQ, or enjoying al fresco life and unlocking your gardens true potential.

Sourcing only the best tiles from Italian and Spanish factories, they will be supplying designer brands such as the Roberto Cavalli Collection, reflecting the brand of the ‘’Wild Spirit’’ clothing, which combines elegance and functionality that every space in your home needs. This is a sophisticated and harmonious range to enhance elegant finishes of tiles for walls and floors. This is the direction the market is going, trending unusual combinations and precious surfaces offering a feeling of contemporary luxury for richly personalized spaces.

or kitchen but now they are creating focal spaces in your living areas.

They are creating working spaces such as working Whirlpool Bathtubs designed to unwind and soothe your tired body, working Spa Steam rooms where you can relax sore muscles and look after your health and well - being, working Kitchens where you can bake Cinnamon Twists and including Villeroy & Boch Tableware . You can also see working Horizontal Showers and Raindance Showers offering a more expansive shower experience, a cocoon of water that completely surrounds you.

Work has just started on the new premises and they hope to launch their new Inspirational Concept late September, early October 2022 ESP Bathrooms have over 30 years’ experience with the most knowledgeable, talented, and highly trained bathroom and kitchen designers in the industry. They supply

products from only the highest quality manufacturers and product designers to give your home the most stylish bathroom and kitchen solutions.

“Our Mission is to create a truly comfortable living space personalised around you and your needs. Striving to push boundaries of design, technology in a friendly environment.”

Planning a room can be overwhelming but with ESP, it doesn’t have to be. Their experienced designers will present your plans together with 3D concepts. This allows you the customer the opportunity to review and decide. Alterations will be made to suit you as each room begins to come to life.

Their aim is they want you to feel for the products they offer, together with soaking up the atmosphere of the Showroom. You will begin to envision your dream living space and they are there to help you create your perfect room.

They will also be stocking ranges from Diesel Living, creating new floor and wall tiling solutions inspired by the industrial and metropolitan world, for truly eye-catching contemporary spaces. Different, opposing patterns such as cement surfaces or visually delicate surfaces which move together.

Look out for ranges from Iris FMG, Italgraniti and the Spanish company Grespania, the world leader in sustainable design and manufacture of ceramic and porcelain tiles.

This is the direction the market is going as customers are looking for tiles to create a vital finishing touch to improve their homes, carefully curating a combined luxury, contemporary style which is both affordable and durable for busy households. Giving the flexibility of indoor or outdoor space, originally tiles were designed to provide a waterproof surface in the bathroom www.lancmag.com

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Before Installation begins, they will provide you or your installer with any and all technical information.

Alternatively, they can speak to your installer directly to ensure this process is as smooth as can be. If you are unable to find an installer, they can recommend an installer to you. Their Customer Relation team will arrange your delivery, all that is left is for you to sit back and watch your living space come to life.

ESP Bathrooms is a Family run business. Ahmed Ibrahim Bhayat, founder of ESP, chose to create showrooms in the heart of Lancashire, Preston in 1987. His career began working for a plumbers merchant 140

where he identified a need in the market. He wanted to create a space where customers could come and visualise what their bathrooms could look like.

“His vision to provide the highest level of customer service with the best value for money…”

Ahmed spent time sourcing the most reliable products from around the globe and was determined on finding the highest quality materials and products, he soon came across British and German Brands. His vision soon came to life and still stands after all these years. Their lead Designer, Junaid A. Bhayat, continues

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this success story with his highly talented team of knowledgeable and experienced Bathroom and Kitchen Designers.

If you visit any of their Showrooms, which are beautifully designed by Junaid A. Bhayat, you will experience how they can help turn your space into a luxurious living area. They genuinely care about what they do and have a keen eye for detail which is shown in their designs.

In the 35 years they have been trading they have focused on exceeding their customers’ needs, the demands of the last few years and on being ahead of the Trends. www.lancmag.com

This has brought with it great accolade, showing that they can compliment their product offering in an impressive showroom with an interactive and innovative approach, giving the highest levels of customer service and have been honoured by winning and being in the final of several award ceremonies throughout the UK and ROI. To their credit so far they have been: Kbbreview Retail and Design awards - Bathroom Showroom of the Year 2021 KBB Finalist – Bathroom Retailer of the Year 2022 The Tile Association Finalist – Excellence in Retail 2022 Bathroom and Kitchen Update Finalist – Bathroom Showroom of the Year 2022 What the Judges said “ESP really is an amazing bathroom showroom in so many ways. The frontage and position are excellent and are key to their marketing.

The layout and scale of the displays are fantastic and the number of working displays is unparalleled. The Showroom is impeccably finished to incredible detail and the staff were extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic.

Their understanding of their customers’ needs is excellent at every stage of the journey and their empathy for budgets is both clear and subtle. A truly worthy winner in every sense and a genuine flagship for our Industry.“

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Showrooms at: Thorn Buildings, Kent Street Preston Lancashire, PR1 1PE Queen Street Preston Lancashire, PR1 4HZ N 01772 200400 E info@espbathrooms.co.uk D www.espbathrooms.co.uk

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Redrow Launches Second Development in Halewood NEW homes are now on sale at a second Redrow development in Halewood, as part of the home builder’s Hilton Grange venture.

left: Representative image of homes similar to those being built at Grace Fields Buyers are now able to reserve properties at Grace Fields at Hilton Grange, located off Lower Road in the south-west of Halewood.

“Coupled with our award-winning Heritage Collection homes, I would urge anyone looking for a new build home in the area to act fast!”

The second outlet offers a mix of three, four and five bedroom properties from Redrow’s Arts and Crafts inspired Heritage Collection.

Properties currently available at Grace Fields include The Oxford Lifestyle, a three-bedroom property with open plan kitchen/dining, a separate utility, cloakroom and lounge.

Grace Fields at Hilton Grange, follows on from its extremely popular neighbour The Finches at Hilton Grange, a development offering one and two-bedroom apartments, along with three and four-bedroom terraced, semi-detached and detached homes.

The first floor boasts three double bedrooms, each with its own en-suite, as well as a dressing room in the main bedroom.

Prices start from £413,995.

Both outlets form part of the significant East Halewood Sustainable Extension, a masterplan to build high-quality new homes for the area.

“The Finches has proved to be a very popular development, and it’s not hard to see why. It’s in a prime location and offers something for everyone, so we know that Grace Fields will be just as sought after,” said Sian Pitt, sales director for Redrow Lancashire.

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Grace Fields at Hilton Grange is just a 30-minute drive from Liverpool city centre with its shops, restaurants, bars and cultural facilities, and close to the M62 for road journeys to Manchester, Leeds and beyond, while local railway stations offer services to Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham and London.

For further information on Grace Fields contact the sales team on 0151 3918161, or visit www.redrow.co.uk/developments/ grace-fields-at-hilton-grange-halewood-112749 www.lancmag.com

Gainsborough Flooring

Carpet

Amtico

Karndean

Gainsborough Flooring - 26 Heatley St

Commercial

Preston - PR1 2XB

01772 250682 www.gainsboroughflooring.co.uk

Gainsborough Flooring Helping Transform Your Home www.gainsboroughflooring.co.uk After initially considering engineered tongue and groove boarding and being let down by a specialist joiner, Sam visited the impressive Gainsborough showroom in the heart of Preston and commented, “Whilst I was in the showroom I spotted a pattern from the Amtico Spacia Collection wood effect flooring range which was a combination of three different types of oak board, which I was extremely taken with.”

Sam continued, “Just to make things more complicated, I decided to add a fourth board to the collection!

Eddy Brown, Contracts Manager at Gainsborough Flooring talked through all the pros and cons of doing this and I was extremely grateful for his advice, and incredibly pleased at how spectacular the flooring actually turned out. Not only that, it saved a considerable amount of money compared to engineered board.”

The installation ran extremely smoothly much to Sam’s delight, “Rick, the fitter spent a considerable amount of time asking me how I wanted the flooring to look, where I would like the patterns, etc. He was very keen for the flooring to be perfect for me which was very refreshing compared to some of the tradesmen that had worked in my house.”

Upfront and honest was a comment from a recent client who had the majority of their flooring installed by Gainsborough Flooring.

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am Ames who owns and manages a couple of local businesses in Lancashire had undertaken a major refurbishment project to his new home with a large two-storey and side extension.

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Many family and friends have been stunned at the beauty of the flooring and just how tremendous it looks, though many have thought it was real wood until Sam has told them otherwise!

One of the major benefits of Amtico compared to engineered board, which Sam learnt from the Gainsborough team is that if a board is scratched, it can simply be lifted out and a new one glued into its place. www.lancmag.com

There is no sanding and resealing required as there is with wood, therefore causing minimal disruption.

Sam has been delighted with the Gainsborough team’s knowledge, skill and most importantly their honesty. Having now lived in his new home for around seven months Sam is overjoyed with his choice of Amtico flooring, especially as it is much more dog friendly than wood. The cost of the flooring worked out at around £100 per square metre including VAT & fitting, which included the stairs which are generally more expensive to fit due to the intricacy involved.

If you’d like to see how Gainsborough Flooring can help transform your home visit the stunning showroom in the heart of Preston Gainsborough Flooring 26 Heatley Street, Preston PR1 2XB N 01772 250682 E vicky@gainsboroughflooring.co.uk www.gainsboroughflooring.co.uk

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STONYHURST COLLEGE ACHIEVES QUALITY STANDARD FOR CAREERS WORK

importance they place on careers and how they support students to make decisions about their life after school.

Stonyhurst College holds an excellent ISI rating and continually works to improve the chances and opportunities of all the pupils.

Recognising the importance of preparing pupils for their future careers the school began working towards the national Quality in Careers Standard.

Stonyhurst College in the Ribble Valley, has been recognised for its outstanding careers work.

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he College has been awarded the national Quality in Careers Standard awarded under licence

by Ixion (Part of the Shaw Trust Group).

The Quality in Careers Standard is awarded to schools and education providers who can demonstrate the

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Achieving the national Quality in Careers Standard shows the Head, Governors and Senior Leadership team at Stonyhurst College embrace, promote and endorse quality careers education and recognise the part it plays in the overall success of the school and its pupils. The school offers a range of activities to introduce pupils to the work of work and help them make decisions about life after Stonyhurst and beyond.

John Browne, Head of Stonyhurst, said: “We are thrilled to have achieved the national Quality in Careers Standard. At Stonyhurst College we

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recognise the important role school plays in helping young people develop their knowledge, skills and experience so they can go on to set the world on fire. This standard has provided a flexible framework that enabled us to audit our work on careers and ensure our pupils are receiving the best advice, practical support and experience to enable them to be the best they can be.”

To find out more contact Emily Nolan, Head of Careers: E.NOLAN@stonyhurst.ac.uk.

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

SC H A OL RA AR N SH G E I PS O F D AV IS AIL CI PL ABL IN E ES IN .

All

that they can be.

A SPRINGBOARD TO A LIFE OF PURPOSE The leading Catholic co-educational boarding and day school in the Ribble Valley, Lancashire.

For pupils aged 3-18 years, with full and weekly boarding options available.

2022 | Open events

Sixth Form Open Evening | 22nd September Pre-Prep & Prep School Open Day | 8th October College Open Day | 15th October In order to attend one of our open events, prior registration is essential

DISCOVER MORE AT: WWW.STONYHURST.AC.UK

Register here

STON Y HUR ST ACCOMPLISH A

Stonyhurst boys and girls at the LTA Championships

Stonyhurst 1st VII team winning the Stonyhurst Sevens Tournament

Stonyhurst College and Stonyhurst St Mary’s Hall, have achieved remarkable sporting success over the past few weeks. Teams and individuals have excelled in rugby, tennis, cricket, swimming, hockey, and netball - both regionally and nationally.

Champions following three consecutive tournament successes; winning a clean sweep of all the tournaments they have entered this season.

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s the Rugby Sevens season ends, Stonyhurst reflects on a highly successful period. During the Stonyhurst Sevens tournament the U11s, U13s, and Seniors won their respective age groups with the U16s making it to the semi-finals. The Stonyhurst U15s won 21 matches out of 22, winning the tournaments at Bolton, Audenshaw, and AKS Lytham, and achieved runners-up in the final at the King’s School Macclesfield Sevens. The U14s team were winners at the Bolton Tournament in their age category. The 1st VII squad played in the Rosslyn Park National Sevens where they became group winners on day one, progressing onto the final day of the competition. The senior rugby squad now turns their attention to the South Africa tour departing in July.

Further sporting success was on display at the incredibly competitive Lancashire Swimming Championships with a number of talented individuals from across the country taking part. Ethan, in Year 8, did Stonyhurst proud and as he registered third in butterfly, fourth in backstroke, and is within the top ten as a freestyler in the national rankings.

Alongside these elite national performance times he achieved nine personal bests overall and came away with a total of five silver and four bronze medals. He will now go on to swim in the Regional Swimming Championships at the end of April.

Following these tremendous achievements was the North West Hockey Tournament, held on the 22nd March.

Stonyhurst U11 girls were crowned North West Hockey 148

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Cricket at Stonyhurst has levelled up with the U14/15 girls becoming Lancashire Indoor Cricket Champions.

The team will go on to represent Lancashire at the North of England finals in April to decide who will play in the National final at Lord’s in the summer. A number of Stonyhurst girls have been selected to play for professional cricket teams including Liberty who has been training with the Lancashire Thunder squad; culminating in her selection to be the first-ever Lancashire womens’ season tour in Dubai.

Tennis at Stonyhurst has also been thriving with the A Teams playing in the LTA (Lawn Tennis Association) North Regional Tennis Finals on 10th March. Stonyhurst boys played a number of exceptional matches, winning 5-1 overall and becoming the LTA North Regional Champions.

The team triumphed over Altrincham Grammar School, who had previously defeated Stonyhurst, demonstrating the team’s progress through hard work and determination over the past year. At the end of March, the Stonyhurst Girls Team won the LTA Aberdare National Tournament against Wilmslow High School who play at a very competitive level.

Netball at Stonyhurst has excelled with both the U15 and 1st VII teams reaching the national quarter-finals of the ‘Sisters n Sport’ competition in March. The U14 and 1st VII also won the Stonyhurst Invitation Tournament with a number of top performing sports schools attending including Rossall and Lancaster Royal Grammar School.

Many Stonyhurst netballers now play for professional teams including Manchester Thunder and Leeds Rhinos.

Finally, Year 7 pupil, George, became National Champion at the Pony Club Winter Triathlon finals last week. A huge achievement against some talented individuals from across www.lancmag.com

REMARKABLE SPORTING SEASON

Stonyhurst U14 and 1st VII teams winning the Stonyhurst Invitation Tournament

the UK. The event included running, swimming, and shooting. George was placed first, winning the award for ‘Best Swim’. He now aspires to compete in the Olympic Games in the near future.

Stonyhurst is committed to developing and supporting talented young people to an elite level and look forward to seeing what the future holds for them.

Simon Charles, Director of Sport at Stonyhurst College, says: ‘Our young people are dedicated and determined individuals which has resulted in the outstanding results they have achieved over the past few weeks. Our links with Sale Sharks Rugby, Lancashire Tennis, Lancashire Cricket, and Northwest Thunder provide our young people with the opportunity to perform at a higher level. Our Sports Scholarship programme offers an enhanced pathway for pupils who are talented in sport and are serious in taking that next step onto a professional career’.

Stonyhurst’s sportsmen and women of all abilities are fully supported in developing their passions and becoming the best they can be. Pupils are able to attend additional coaching sessions and use the vast onsite facilities available.

U11 girls winning the North West Hockey Tournament

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Ethan competing in the Lancashire Swimming Championships

www.stonyhurst.ac.uk Admissions: 01254 827073

George becoming National Champion and the Pony Club Winter Triathlon

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STON Y HUR ST CELEBR ATE S

Stonyhurst Old Boys team talk for 100 Years Of Rugby Tournament

honed during their school years.

Teams ranged from former pupils who left Stonyhurst in 2001, to those leaving more recently in 2020.

Stonyhurst 1st XV pitch - Smithfield.

Photo Credit: Phil Isherwood Turf Care

John Browne, Headmaster said:

Stonyhurst hosted its biggest event in thirty years to celebrate its Centenary of Rugby.

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ld Stonyhurst boys and former international rugby players, Barry O’Driscoll, John O’Driscoll, Kevin Barrett and Joe Ansbro were among the attendees of the once-in-a-lifetime event.

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In 1921, the school moved away from football towards rugby as the primary field sport. To mark the centenary, Stonyhurst hosted a two-day celebration, sponsored by Gallagher Insurance, with rugby at its heart. Events kicked off with a Decades Tournament showcasing a wealth of Stonyhurst rugby talent on Friday 3rd June. Ten former Stonyhurst teams graced the rugby pitches once more, representing their year group and showcasing the rugby skills

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‘To celebrate any centenary in a school’s history is rare and to have the opportunity to do so with so many members of the Stonyhurst Family was wonderful.

This tournament undoubtedly showed the Jesuit 3Cs – namely courtesy, compassion, and a keen sense of competition as our historic 1st XVs once more took to our rugby pitches. The friendships formed on the rugby pitches of Stonyhurst, that have lasted a lifetime, were on display once more.’

Following the tournament, a dinner was hosted with over 470 guests in attendance, where a panel made up of former Stonyhurst pupils and rugby internationals, Barry O’Driscoll, John O’Driscoll, Kevin Barrett, and Joe Ansbro, spoke about their memories of life and rugby at the College.

During the Rugby Centenary year, www.lancmag.com

100 Y E AR S OF RUGBY Old boys battling it out in the final of the rugby centenary tournament. Photo Credit: Vanessa Fry

Old boys competing in rugby centenary tournament featuring Head of St Mary’s Hall Boarding and alumnus, Mr Kirk Stokes. Photo Credit: Vanessa Fry

the school has redeveloped its rugby facilities, focusing on the 1st XV pitch, Smithfield, where a distinctive new players’ and supporters’ pavilion has been built, with cornerstone funding from Stonyhurst’s Gibraltar community, and supported by the ‘Captains’ Campaign’ led by the historic 1st XV Captains. In recognition of the generosity from Stonyhurst’s Gibraltar alumni together with the Huobi Charity Ltd., the new pavilion has been named ‘The Gibraltar Pavilion’.

Joe Ansbro, former Scottish International, and Stonyhurst Old Boy said:

to watch a special game.’

‘I first played on Smithfield as an 11-year-old, in the final of the St Mary’s Hall 7s tournament, against Kirkham Grammar. The size of the pitch was daunting, but the electric atmosphere supercharged us, the home team. Fast forward seven years and that pitch and that home support inspired me to pursue rugby to the highest level I could reach. Whether I was in the crowd, or on the field, Smithfield was always a special place

Whilst reflecting on its past, Stonyhurst’s plans for rugby are firmly in the future. With developing links to Sale Sharks, Stonyhurst provides its young boys and girls with the opportunity to perform at an elite level. The school’s Sports Scholarship programme offers an enhanced pathway for pupils who are talented in rugby and other major sports and who are serious about taking the next step towards a professional career..

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www.stonyhurst.ac.uk Admissions: 01254 827073

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Comedy Genius Spike Milligan Is Back At The Grand The critically acclaimed Watermill Theatre production of SPIKE by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman is at Blackpool Grand Theatre this November.

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omedy genius Spike Milligan is back! It’s good to be alive! Tune in to the famous Eccles, Count Jim Moriarty and Bluebottle once more as radio sensations The Goons are back in the absurdly funny new play SPIKE at Blackpool Grand Theatre from Tuesday 15 to Saturday 19 November!

Delve into the inner workings of one of our most unique and brilliantly irreverent comedy minds with the latest exciting project from talented co-writers Ian Hislop (BBC’s Have I Got News For You team captain and editor of Private Eye) and Nick Newman (writer and satirical cartoonist), about the life and career of the inimitable comedy genius Spike Milligan.

It’s the booming fifties, and Britain is in the clutches of Goon mania as men, women and children across the country scramble to get their ear to a wireless for another hilarious and madcap instalment of The Goon Show. While Harry Secombe and Peter Sellers get down to the serious business of becoming overnight celebrities, fellow Goon and chief writer Spike Milligan finds himself pushing the boundaries of comedy and testing the patience of the BBC. Will Spike’s dogged obsession with finding the funny elevate The Goons to soaring new heights, or will the whole thing come crashing down with the stroke of a potato peeler?

SPIKE follows the recent successes of Ian Hislop and Nick Newman’s smash-hit plays A Bunch of Amateurs, The Wipers Times and Trial by Laughter. www.lancmag.com

Extracts from The Goons used with the kind permission of Spike Milligan Productions.

8

“I’m not acting crazy. I’m the genuine article” – Spike Milligan

Although known basically for his comic work, he also wrote serious literature. He published seven volumes of war memoirs over a period of 21 years (19711992), describing his war time experiences from 1939 to 1950.

His gravestone in Winchelsea bears the epitaph, “I told you I was ill” written in Gaelic.

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And there’s more where that came from…

Comedy Genius Spike Milligan: Top 10 facts about the creator of The Goon Show

1

His real name was Terence Alan Milligan. He started calling himself “Spike” after hearing the US band Spike Jones And His City Slickers.

2

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Known as the Comedy Genius, Spike Milligan was made an honorary Commander of the British Empire in 1992 and was given an honorary knighthood in 2000.

SPIKE is at Blackpool Grand Theatre from Tuesday 15 to Saturday 19 November.

Milligan was born in British India to an Irish father and English mother. His father Leo Alphonso Milligan served in the British Indian Army.

3

He launched The Goon Show in 1951 with Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe and Michael Bentine.

4

In its first season the show was called “The Junior Crazy Gang featuring those Crazy People, the Goons!” or “Crazy People” for short.

Tickets starting from £17.50, concessions and member discounts available Contains strong language, references to suicide, loud bangs, strobe lighting and the use of prop cigarettes and guns on stage.

Recommended 10yrs+

5

Book now by visiting blackpoolgrand.co.uk or call the box office on 01253 290 190.

6

LISTINGS:

In 1968 he appeared on TV as Beachcomber of the Daily Express in The World of Beachcomber.

Milligan and Peter Sellers, along with others made a television comedy show based on ‘The Goon Show’. This show was called ‘The Idiot Weekly, Price 2d’ and debuted in 1956. It was followed by ‘A Show Called Fred’ and ‘Son of Fred’ later the same year.

7

He was badly wounded in the Battle of Monte Cassino and was hospitalised for a long period.

After being demobilised from the army, he became a fulltime entertainer.

SPIKE • Tue 15 to Sat 19 Nov 2022 at 7.30pm • Wed, Thu & Sat matinees at 2pm GRAND THEATRE 33 Church Street, Blackpool FY1 1HT N Box Office: 01253 290 190 D blackpoolgrand.co.uk F @blackpoolgrand T @Grand_Theatre I grandtheatrebpl

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BY KEN HARCOMBE -Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, Fleetwood RNLI

WE ARE THE RNLI THE CHARITY THAT SAVES LIVES AT SEA When a request to launch from HM Coastguard was received in June this year, the RNLI volunteers in Fleetwood had little idea at the time, at how big an operation they were to become involved in.

A lone sailor had fallen overboard her 31 ft long yacht and time was of the essence. Drowning and hypothermia were real concerns.

towards the rigs in the Irish Sea. The Coastguard rescue helicopter from Caernarfon was scrambled to assist in the search and the volunteers at RNLI Lytham St Annes, quickly launched their Shannon class all-weather lifeboat, Barbara Anne and headed towards the unmanned yacht, now located by the helicopter.

RNLI Lytham St Anne’s – Barbara Anne with SLARS - Photo Credit: Greg Wolstenholme

RNLI Fleetwood – Kenneth James Pierpoint into a storm

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he pagers sounded at 2am and Fleetwood’s lifeboat and shore crew assembled, ready to launch their Shannon class allweather lifeboat, Kenneth James Pierpoint. ‘Man overboard’ is one of the most serious requests to launch the RNLI will receive.

But the sailor was well prepared and equipped and she triggered her personal locator beacon, informing HM Coastguard of not only her location, but the fact she was in real peril.

On reaching the yacht, the Shannon pulled alongside the casualty vessel and two volunteer crew jumped on board. Having taken control, they now had the problem of where to take it, as tides were unfavourable on the Fylde. So, it was decided to head for Liverpool Marina.

Shortly after 6am, it was decided to launch Hoylake’s Shannon class lifeboat, Edmund Hawthorn Micklewood, to rendezvous with Barbara Anne and continue the tow towards Liverpool.

The New Brighton B class Atlantic lifeboat, Charles Dibdin, completed the yacht’s journey into the Liverpool Marina.

The incident serves to highlight the importance of the RNLI’s Shannon class lifeboat to its fleet and how Lancashire and the North West are fortunate to have three in the area.

This September, the latest Shannon class all-weather lifeboat, number 46 in the fleet, is expected at its new base at Wells-nextthe-Sea, in Norfolk. She will be named Duke of Edinburgh. She is also the third Shannon class lifeboat to be part funded by the RNLI’s Launch a Memory campaign. For a relatively small donation, your loved one’s name will be placed within the fleet number decal on the side of the lifeboat. A great idea, especially if your loved one had an affinity with the sea or was a supporter of the RNLI charity. Their name not only helps fund the charity’s lifesaving work, but will attend with the volunteers on every job.

Kenneth James Pierpoint dwarfed by the windfarm turbines

Nearby, a rig support vessel from the Irish Sea wind farm was contacted and they hurried to the beacon’s location and were first on the scene. After being in the sea for an hour, the sailor was lifted on board the support boat. RNLI Fleetwood’s Shannon arrived shortly after and transferred the sailor to the lifeboat for the seven-mile journey back to port, where she was handed over to the waiting ambulance crew.

The yacht was in auto-pilot and continued on its journey, at seven knots, a virtual ghost boat with nobody on board, heading

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The Shannon was one of the first RNLI lifeboat to be designed ‘in-house’ and lead designer, RNLI Naval Architect, Peter Eyre, was the driving force.

Originally, in 2005, RNLI had been investigating the use of the Camarc Pilot boat design, under Project FCB2 (fast carriage boat 2). Peter had been working on a new hull shape and was encouraged to develop it further by RNLI. In 2008, FCB2 was undergoing sea trials, but excessive ‘slamming’ in rough seas meant a complete redesign of the hull. Peter’s team of up to 11 designers, did extensive research and trials of new designs, until they were satisfied that the ‘slamming’ issue had been resolved

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

Edmund Hawthorn Micklewood ready for launch - Photo Credit: David Edwards

RNLI Hoylake - Edmund Hawthorn Micklewood - Photo Credit: David Edwards

and, more importantly, they were able to quantify the benefit of their new hull design. Their over-riding brief was both the safety of the crew and the lifeboat’s ability to deliver the crew to a callout, ready for action. By 2012, the new all-weather lifeboat was ready for service. The lifeboat was planned to be launched by the specially designed Shannon Launch and Recovery System (SLARS). This ingenious and large piece of equipment, involves a tractor and trailer, which transports the Shannon into the sea and launches it directly into the water. It is then able to recover the lifeboat from the beach, bow first and spun 180 degrees ready for launch on its next call-out. However, some Shannon’s are kept afloat, at moorings or a pontoon berth, as we have at Fleetwood. They can also be launched via a slipway.

can be debilitating, no fun at all. With the Shannon and its new launching trailer, we can all be inside on launch, dry and warm, making the mission we are launching to, a lot easier to contend with. It’s also, obviously, a lot safer.’

Peter is proud of his involvement in the Shannon and whilst no longer working at RNLI, he knows he’ll gain a great deal of satisfaction from seeing his hull design on Shannon’s for many years.

So, how is the Shannon different to the Mersey and Tyne class lifeboats it is replacing?

The biggest difference is the propulsion. The older lifeboats had traditional propellers, whereas the Shannon has water jets. This makes the Shannon more manoeuvrable and faster.

With two 650hp engines, (the equivalent of 10 Ford Fiesta’s, as newspapers helpfully point out in these circumstances) the Shannon can travel at 25 knots, ensuring the RNLI’s entire fleet is now capable of this speed.

13 metres in length and weighing 18 tonnes, the Shannon is also self-righting, returning to an upright position in the event of a capsize. It is also the first lifeboat to be named after an Irish river.

The other main difference is how the Shannon is launched off the Shannon Launch and Recovery System (SLARS) that most of these newer lifeboats use. Let Howard Owen, Coxswain at Hoylake explain: ‘The Mersey class lifeboat we had before at Hoylake, was excellent. Regardless of the weather, she saw us all home safely’, said Howard. ‘But launching her involved part of the crew being outside and invariably getting soaked, before the rescue mission had even started. Being cold and wet for several hours

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Former Coxswain at Fleetwood RNLI, Tony Cowell, who has spent most of his working life at sea, agreed and added ‘The Shannon is one of the finest boats I’ve ever been on. Whilst I loved our Tyne class lifeboat, William Street, I could never go back to it. Not now we have the Shannon.’

Launch a Memory is a RNLI fundraising campaign which allows more supporters to not only donate to a new search and rescue vessel, but to honour loved ones by including their names on the world-class Shannon all-weather lifeboat. RNLI Anstruther in Fife is the next and fourth Shannon to be part funded by this campaign. Having a loved one’s name on an active memorial, is a marvellous way of ensuring their name continues into the future for many years. You can find out more details from the RNLI website.

Growing up in Liverpool during the ‘60’s, my parents were keen to show our family that there was life beyond the Mersey.

Our frequent camping trips to North Wales often seemed to result in a visit to the local RNLI station and it became clear, my dad was in awe of the volunteers who’d drop everything when required and risk their lives to help save others. I spent a lot of time ‘launching’ the little lifeboats in collection boxes with pennies!

It seemed fitting that the memory of my late parents should be part of the new Wells-next-the Sea lifeboat. Raymond and Alice Harcombe will be amongst many names on the RNLI Wells Shannon lifeboat when it arrives in Norfolk this September. My sisters and I will visit Wells and I’ve no doubt, tears will be shed.

But as fundraising campaigns go, Launch a Memory is quite poignant and enduring. I know my parents’ names will be around a lot longer than I am and I can’t think of a better cause. There really couldn’t be a finer tribute to them. n

For further information about Launch a Memory, visit; rnli.org/support-us/give-money/donate-in-memory/ launch-a-memory

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 155

By Margaret Brecknell

Based in Blackpool, the Health Lounge has been run by Sam Haines for the past two years.

Only a few months after having a kidney transplant, the inspirational 30-year-old decided to take on the business during the spring of 2020.

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he Health Lounge’s menu offers a tempting range of dishes and snacks, which are designed to be nutritious without ever compromising on taste. “Eating well doesn’t mean you have to restrict yourself”, Sam explains. “Food is a huge part of our lives and should be enjoyable. At the Health Lounge we’re all about maintaining a good balance, meaning that our meals are packed with good nutrition but are also tasty.”

The dishes are freshly made on site so that Sam and his team know exactly what has gone into them, meaning there are no unhealthy additives or unwelcome hidden ingredients.

Prior to taking on the Health Lounge, Sam was very much a novice in the kitchen, but in the early days of the business had to learn the ropes quickly after being thrown in at the deep end because of staff shortages.

Health Lounge | 129a Bloomfield Road | Blackpool | FY1 6JN

He now employs a full-time chef at the Health Lounge, but still likes to help when he can and enjoys pottering about in his own kitchen at home.

Sam has a longstanding interest in the health and fitness industry, having previously been involved in the management of a popular gym based at Poulton before being compelled to take an enforced break from work because of ill health. After battling with kidney failure for two years, he underwent a life-saving kidney transplant in January 2020. A friend offered him the chance to become involved with the Health Lounge a few months later and, despite opening at the height of the Covid-19 epidemic, the enterprising Sam has made a success of the business.

The Health Lounge is open daily from Monday to Saturday at 129a Bloomfield Road, Blackpool, offering either an eat in or takeaway service.

Alternatively, try the Health Lounge’s delivery service, which covers a fourmile radius from the restaurant to include Poulton and St Annes as well as the Blackpool area. It is quick and easy to order online, with plenty of options available.

Whether eating in or taking out, the menu offers something for everyone.

For a breakfast or brunch treat, the Health Lounge Full English offers customers the chance to enjoy one of the nation’s favourite dishes, but in a way which steers clear of the traditional greasy fry-up. Its contents are sufficient to fulfil even the heartiest of appetites, consisting of two sausages, two lean bacon rashers, “clean” baked beans, mushrooms, tomatoes, scrambled or poached egg and toasted bloomer.

As an alternative, try Eggs Benedict, an English muffin topped with lean crispy bacon, poached egg and homemade hollandaise sauce with cherry tomatoes, or the Health Lounge version of a Sausage and Egg Muffin, consisting of a sausage patty topped with egg, cheese and a touch of light mayonnaise.

The Health Lounge’s range of burrito dishes is perfect for anyone seeking a tasty, but nutritious, lunch. For those who like a bit of spice in their lives,

the Pulled Beef Burrito consists of slow cooked pulled beef with chunky diced onions and peppers, garlic and spices, served along with Mexican rice, sour cream, cheese, kidney beans, salsa and jalapeños. In the case of the Cali-style Chicken Burrito, a skinless chicken thigh is served with Mexican rice, sour cream, fresh avocado, diced onion, tomato, coriander and cheese.

The Meaty Mushroom Burrito offers a delicious meat-free alternative and

The Vegetarian alternative features two vegetarian sausages, two grilled halloumi, avocado, “clean” baked beans, mushrooms, tomatoes and toasted bloomer For lighter eaters, smaller versions of both these breakfasts are also available.

Other brunch options include homemade American Pancakes, topped with lean crispy bacon and lashings of maple or skinny syrup.

IF @Healthloungeblackpool | D myhealthlounge.co.uk | N 01253 835057

is packed with goodness. The star ingredient is teamed with kidney beans, Mexican rice, guacamole, sauteed peppers and onions, sour cream, spinach and red cabbage.

For burger fans, options include the Calypso Chicken Burger (a jerkseasoned chicken thigh in a toasted brioche bun with shredded lettuce, mango, and BBQ jerk sauce), or the Smash Burger (two smashed beef patties, layered with cheese, pickles and topped with special sauce in a toasted brioche bun).

The Health Lounge also offers an interesting selection of daily specials from which to choose. These include Jerk Chicken, a delicious combination

of succulent boneless chicken thighs in homemade jerk seasoning, together with jerk sauce and served with either traditional rice and peas, or the Health Lounge’s own salt and chilli wedges.

Peri Peri Chicken, a boneless chicken leg marinated in a Peri Peri sauce and served with Portuguese rice, root vegetables and Peri Peri mayonnaise, is another customer favourite.

The Italian or Mediterranean Salads provide a tasty and colourful accompaniment to any meal. As Sam remarks on one of his social media posts, “A colourful dish is a good indication that you’re getting everything you need to power up!”

For the perfect balanced meal, add

one of the Health Lounge’s proteinrich dishes to an Italian Salad of crisp lettuce, baby tomatoes, cucumber, red onion and pesto pasta, drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar and topped with olives, feta cheese and coleslaw. Alternatively, opt for the Mediterranean Salad, which is sure to provoke happy memories of a long hot summer even on the greyest of Lancashire days. Its tantalising combination of ingredients include crisp lettuce, cucumber, avocado, sundried tomatoes and red grapes, served with a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar and topped with couscous, egg and feta.

The Health Lounge’s “Build A Box” option is a big hit with customers. It is easy to do and gives customers the opportunity to customise their own menu from the range of dishes on offer.

Start with a dish rich in protein, such as chicken or fish, add a carbohydrate like potatoes or rice for a good source of energy and then choose one or more of the Health Lounge’s tempting

Health Lounge | 129a Bloomfield Road | Blackpool | FY1 6JN

selection of vegetables and salads to contribute towards that all-important “five a day”.

For those looking for an indulgent, but healthy, sweet treat, the Health Lounge’s dark chocolate orange flapjacks fit the bill perfectly. They are freshly made on site, using only about half a dozen ingredients, and are reassuringly free of hidden unwanted additives.

The Health Lounge is constantly looking to add new and exciting products to its menu. Sam is about to launch a new range of cold-pressed juices, made entirely from fruit and vegetables with no additives. The exciting selection of flavours will include celery and lemon juice.

celery juice when he was undergoing treatment for his kidney condition.

“Celery juice helped ease the effects on my digestive system when going through chemotherapy and having large amounts of antibiotics”, he recalls. “It helped me bounce back and I continue to drink a glass on an empty stomach every morning to this day”.

Sam is clearly not a man to rest on his laurels and is already considering ways of building on the Health Lounge’s success. If he can use even half the amount of grit and determination which he has shown in overcoming his own personal health problems, the Health Lounge will surely continue to thrive in the future.

M The Health Lounge 129a Bloomfield Road Blackpool FY1 6YN N 01253 835057 Check website or social media for current opening times: D myhealthlounge.co.uk F @healthloungeblackpool I @healthloungeblackpool

He was particularly keen to include celery juice in the range, as he himself has benefited from this product.

Believed to promote good gut health and aid the function of the digestive system, Sam was first recommended

IF @Healthloungeblackpool | D myhealthlounge.co.uk | N 01253 835057

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

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

Please ring us on 01253 206447/8 for further information.

Aiming Higher Chair of Trustees Steps Down Aiming Higher for Disabled Children & their Families is the Blackpool based charity that supports hundreds of local children and their families.

The charity has been bringing the families of children with disabilities together for 10 years.

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s with any charity, the board of trustees are a vital element to their success and John Child has been on the board at Aiming Higher since 2014, stepping down as chair earlier this year. Charity Manager, Latoya Sykes says “John has had a huge impact on Aiming Higher, bringing his business experience and contacts, but, more importantly, his desire to improve the lives of those who are vulnerable and his belief that everyone deserves the best from life.

We would not be where we are today without his support and commitment throughout the many years that he has been a part of the charity.”

Working alongside many local charities and community groups, including here

at Aiming Higher, John has contributed so much to improve access for disabled people across the whole of Blackpool and The Fylde Coast.

Starting out with the Blackpool Tiggers sessions, he then worked closely with the government funded initiative, Aiming High for Disabled Children, hosting exclusive sessions for Blackpool Families, particularly talking with families caring for disabled loved ones, to ensure that The Sandcastle was accessible for all, including those with a hidden disability. His emphasis has always been on guest service and he brought parents of disabled children in to play an integral role in staff training, giving an in-depth understanding of the problems facing these ones by presenting disability awareness training. When the Aiming High funding came to an end, John became involved with the formation of Aiming Higher, the charity the families involved went on to create.

John has also facilitated after hours Water Therapy sessions for children with disabilities and accessible nights for Blackpool families. These have

now expanded into monthly, national accessible nights, at a greatly reduced rate, and families travel from all over the United Kingdom for the opportunity to experience these events. We have watched while John talks to all the families individually, whilst they are waiting to enter the Waterpark and he is always a visible presence on these nights. Many of these families have now got to know who he is and recognize that nothing is too much trouble.

The Sandcastle now boasts a state of the art Changing Places “Wet Room” Facility, a “Quiet Room”, for those with Autism, to escape the busy environment, alongside the many other considerations that are in place, and a staff team that are second to none in their kindness, understanding and acknowledgment of guests’ needs.

This can all be attributed to John’s determination and desire to create the best experience for all disabled visitors and their carers. This has been recognised by the numerous awards the Sandcastle has won including the Lancashire Tourism Accessibility Award, Visit England Access for All and many others.

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

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Latoya Sykes (Aiming Higher Charity Manager), Mark Wilkins (Marketing & Events Manager at Sandcastle Waterpark) Acer & Hilary Ainge (Trustee at Aiming Higher) and John Child at his recent farewell reception at the Sandcastle

However, John’s commitment to accessibility goes beyond the Sandcastle. Locally, he gives so much of his personal time and energy to supporting local charities and organisations that assist disabled people. Raising awareness with local businesses of the support needed, John has, not only provided charities like ours with much needed support and services from these businesses, but has also shown, by example, the difference that can be made, by those who are in the fortunate position to be able to do so.

John has played an active role in Access Fylde Coast, promoting disability access amongst businesses also promoting accessibility, whilst attending many local business and community events and forums.

Going beyond the local area, John works with national organisations involved with improving accessibility, from all over the United Kingdom. In addition to this he takes his message globally, to many different conferences and events all over the world.

A quote from John whilst delivering an international presentation on Accessible Tourism in Sweden: “Listening to real life stories and the barriers that have to be overcome, (many needless ones), has certainly enriched our business and inspired us to do more and to spread the word.”

Fellow Aiming Higher trustee Hilary Ainge states “From a more personal point of view, throughout the years we have known and worked alongside John, we have been privileged to witness the passion and determination that John displays with respect to improving accessibility for people, no matter what their age or disability. The personal attention he gives to individuals, listening to their experiences and their variety of needs is evident and his reputation with disabled people, families and carers speaks for itself.

The endless time he devotes, outside his working hours, has a massive positive impact on the disabled community and their access needs. Anyone that

has worked alongside him, whether it be in a business capacity or on a voluntary level, would bear witness to his commitment, passion and genuine desire to make a difference.”

There was an article in The Blackpool Gazette a while ago about John’s role at The Sandcastle headed, “King of the Castle”. One of the definitions of the word King from The Collins English Dictionary is: If you describe a man as “the king of” something, you mean that he is the most important person doing that thing or he is best at doing it.

Yes, he is certainly best at doing what he does, but the most important? He plays an important role, definitely, but he certainly would not agree that he is “most important” Despite all he achieves, despite the admiration and reputation he holds, despite this, John is one of the most humble, unassuming people you could meet. His achievements speak for themselves.

Chair of Trustees, John Child addresses the attendees at the Aiming Higher Fundraising ball 

John joins in with the festivities at December’s Christmas party

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Manchester’s Wildest Festival After waiting for three years, the Manchester Festival of Nature finally returned to Heaton Park. Alan Wright celebrates the day.

creatures that live here and to show them how to get involved with the many conservation organisations that operate within the region. It also explains how their own actions, like recycling, gardening and feeding the birds make a difference.

So the day came and as we were setting up for a noon start, we realised that families were already getting involved. One of the rules of MFoN is that every one of the 20 stalls needs to offer an activity, and they were already busy at 11am!

In 2019, 7,000 people turned up for the first Manchester Festival of Nature at Heaton Park.

We had such high hopes of building MFoN into one of biggest nature festivals in the UK, then all of our worlds came crashing to a halt with the pandemic.

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hile there have been two virtual festivals, MFoN 2022 was our target for in-person engagement again or, in layman’s terms, telling everyone what an amazing place Manchester is for wildlife.

MFoN is an opportunity to introduce people to the diverse plants and

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Thousands of people poured into the festival garden to the soundtrack of the amazing Solar DJ and the Flat Cap 3 band, and took part into more than 30 different activities, to introduce them to the wonderful nature of Manchester.

Right at the centre of MFoN was the super talented mural artist Venessa Scott (above right), creating a beautiful pathway through the park garden with the help of many budding young artists.

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There was willow weaving, mandala creation, pond dipping, sphagnum moss squeezing and face painting.

The festival is made up of the top organisations around conservation, nature and recycling in Manchester.

It involved the Wildlife Trusts, The Conservation Volunteers, Manchester Museum, Action for Conservation, Wilder Being, Groundwork, RSPB, City of Trees, Canal and River Trust, Mersey Rivers Trust, Woodland Trust, Perfect Peatlands, Moor for the Future, South Pennines Park, Manchester Metropolitan Museum, the Blue Cross, My Wild City, MyPlace and Wythenshawe Waste Warriors.

The Manchester Nature Consortium’s Youth Panel had a busy stall and met and interviewed a number of people around MFoN. And a wonderful group of volunteers made sure the whole thing ran smoothly.

St John’s Ambulance not only provided first aid cover, they also trained around 100 people in basic first aid.

Corporate stalls from Toyota and Northstone, became a part of the festival with their brilliant activities and Parklife paid for the new flags, while flowers appeared from the Manchester Day Parade courtesy of Manchester City Council and Walk the Plank.

This is a huge opportunity for organisations and businesses to show off their environmental credentials and the more they get involved the more they actually want to expand their green agenda. It’s a great opportunity for staff to interact with the public and to gauge how they feel about environmental issues.

We want to introduce our visitors to Manchester’s nature and the people who are doing so much to conserve it.

Our visitors were still around after the official closing time at 4pm, on group posing with the large flowers that we created for Manchester Day.

It was a relief to finally hold Manchester Festival of Nature number two, and it was wonderful to see so many smiling faces – some of which were painted with bees and butterflies.

Heaton Park is a wonderful venue for this event that will grow and grow in the coming years. Our sponsors and supporters have proved they believe in MFoN, now we can see if more people want to join in our wild ride in 2023.

All Photography by: Paul Heyes

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 30,500 members, and over 1,500 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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By Paul Cusimano, Joseph Clothing, Lancaster

One of my fondest childhood memories was watching a cartoon series called ‘Mr Benn’. The bowler hatted everyman lived an ordinary suburban life at 52 Festive Road but his life would be contrasted whilst visiting a local costume shop The shop keeper always appeared as if by magic.

Mr Benn would choose a costume to try on and he would be transported to a different world on a new adventure connected to the outfit he had tried on. He always found his way back to the changing room, safe and sound, where he would change back into his own clothes and return to his own life on leaving the shop.

A

lthough I have never been a red knight, a wizard, a spaceman or a diver, just some of the thirteen different adventures Mr Benn experienced, I did love to play a cowboy and on the odd occasion, a soldier, as a young child. But just

as each of his outfits took him on a different adventure, I have often wondered what each day would hold in store for me.

Albeit my days are considerably less adventurous than Mr Benn’s, they are generally determined by whomever may decide to pay a visit to my little shop on any given day.

From the famous to the infamous, actors to sports people, the retired to Chief Executives and everyone between,

But there’s one incredible business owner that has transcended all the usual challenges and obstacles that are associated with running a business, Anna Sullivan.

It is this variety that is one of the most enjoyable aspects of my job, along with my love of clothing. I am so privileged that in getting to spend time with the visitors I get an insight into their story. Similarly, I love to learn the story behind the other independent businesses, as they are far more than their frontage and the products or services they offer.

Leaving Lancaster to obtain a degree at Sheffield University, Anna then spent a good number of years in London working as the UK Retail Coordinator for Pepe Jeans, opening stores in Carnaby Street, Neal Street, Portobello, King Street and Oxford Street, before managing their Concessions in Selfridges in the north of England, which entailed being relocation to Manchester.

One Of Three Break-Ins

A Rather Crude Battering Ram

Seventeenth Of January 2022

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Commitment, passion, multitasking and long hours are the story behind every independent business, as well as the normal financial risks businesses take, and that’s without considering the implications of a global pandemic.

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Something Will Always Catch Your Eye

Anna decided to take her foot off the accelerator after starting a family, and moved back to Lancaster. After a couple of years she returned to retailing where she put to good use her wealth of experience. Four years ago she took over the business, ‘The Exchange’ Lancaster.

‘The Exchange’ is located on King Street and is a pre-loved designer clothing agency that also specialises in designer bags/luggage, footwear and accessories. Pre-pandemic, I was aware of the business but I had never visited it. It was during the summer of twenty-twenty, that I popped in to meet Anna having had a number of phone conversations during the first Lockdown.

Of course, my eyes immediately began to wonder. The selection was fantastic and given that there, for the most part, is only one of any given item, merchandising the shop one would expect, would be very difficult. No. Rather cleverly, they

Restoration In Progress - The Final Push Before Photo

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Open & Proud

block garments together by ‘colour’.

Easy on the eye, regardless of garment type and fabrics used. It invites you to look, explore the rails and shelves.

Not cluttered or fussy. Chic.

The greatest surprises were yet to come.

One, the brands: Armani, Chanel, Fendi, Ganni, Louis Vuitton, Mulberry, Prada, Valentino and Westwood adorn the shelves and

Restoration In Progress - The Final Push After Photo

rails. Two, the condition; you really are hard pushed to tell that they have ever been used. Some are brand new and still have the labels attached. Even the footwear presented little sign of use.

These products simply redefine the term “pre-loved”, with the emphasis firmly on the ‘loved’ whilst having been really cared for.

Taking Shape

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But it is not by chance that the products just happen to be like this. They have been selected because of their condition and authenticity.

out earlier. Anna, along with her lovely team, Jess and Alison, has had to demonstrate determination in abundance...

This brings me nicely to Three, product knowledge. It is easy for me to ensure all my products are authentic because I buy direct from the brands, or their appointed UK Agents. A lot of counterfeits are good now, but Anna will guarantee all their products are ‘authentic’, giving her customers complete confidence.

Following being shut for a total of thirty weeks in less than a thirteen month period, retailers were hoping that was the end of the Lockdowns. But further challenges lay ahead to test Anna.

Determination is another attribute required when running your own business and one I deliberately left

Late summer of twenty-twenty one, The Exchange was broken into. Extra security measures were installed.

A second break-in was to follow. Before additional measures could be installed a third break-in, in as many months. It is fair to say that it was not only the business community in the District that was shocked and horrified but the wider community also. The feelings of revulsion were palpable.

Again, The Exchange was unable to trade for varying periods of time because of the damages incurred and the delays in getting additional security measures delivered and installed. To recap, one pandemic and three breakins during the first three years of ownership. Isn’t that enough to break anyone’s resolve ? But we are not talking about just anyone here.

Happily, ‘The Exchange’ became fortified. Anna was so looking forward to twenty-twenty two. Haven’t we all looked forward to the New Year - New Year, new start, and all that.

In the early hours of the seventeenth of January this year, Anna was awoken by an alarm call from her shop.

On logging into the shops CCTV system all she could see was water. She arrived at the shop shortly after to discover the fire brigade in attendance.

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A PAT tested dehumidifier had set on fire. The Exchange was destroyed. Fire damage, smoke damage, water damage, damage caused by the fire fighters having to force access. A total mess. Sometimes things look better in the light of the day. Not this challenge. This was almost biblical.

Anna recalls, “There was just smoke, plastic smoke. It set like plastic cobwebs, everywhere. My stock was in ruins. The shop was one almighty mess but this wasn’t going to be the end of ‘The Exchange’, but it was difficult to know where to even begin“.

“Everything is going really well. My customers have been so so supportive, they’re amazing, I really can’t begin to tell you. We’ve got loads of lovely stock. I remember, despite feeling like I was drowning with everything, I was bugging customers for stuff so we would have stock for when we re-opened.”

Running your own business is a labour of love, often just to make a humble living. We don’t have off shore accounts and fancy Accountants saving us millions in taxes. We are part of our community and we support our community.

Anna Sullivan is an truly inspirational business owner.

One who will not give in; one who loves her City and one who loves her business. Every day is different in retail and Lancaster is so fortunate to have ‘The Exchange’.

“I was having to deal with two separate insurance companies, one for the Buildings and one for the Business. Trying to find tradesmen who were available to start immediately was a total nightmare. The fire brigade had to smash through all my doors, and in doing so, even the door frames were damaged and had to be replaced.”

Anna had the sympathy of a City, and her customers were amazing. Patient, understand and supportive. “At one point I wasn’t sure if I could do it. This was the fourth thing in six months. I had this thing in my head that people would look at me with pitying eyes and I thought, no, I can do it. After all, what other choice did I have ? All I know how to do is make things and people look nice”, Anna added.

Multitasking and working like never before. Cleaning, sorting, insurance companies, tradesmen, customers, stock. ‘The Exchange’ has been back open for four months now, bigger, better and more secure than ever.

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Harold Elletson's Diary S

ummer is here at last and we’ve been enjoying the long, sunlit days I remember from childhood. Summer never seems quite the same when you’re older but childhood memories are always filled with sunshine. Then we seemed to be outside all day long, playing in the fields and woods, or on the seashore. We built dens, poked sticks into wasps’ nests and then ran like heck, and even went swimming on the beach at Knott End or in the ‘Big Hole,’ a collapsed salt mine at the back of Preesall.

I grew up on the coast, half a mile from the sea, in the same house I live in now, which is one of the oldest in Lancashire. It has a large garden and every day was filled with endless games of cricket in it. My brother and I were joined by our friends, mostly the sons of neighbouring farmers, and the games went on from dawn till dusk. Most often we used a tennis ball but sometimes, when we were a bit older, we got padded up and used a proper cricket ball. Whichever ball it was, we slogged it all over the place, breaking a few windows and often spending hours searching the woods after someone’s brilliant cover drive had overshot the boundary and disappeared. There were arguments about whether someone was “LB” or whether he’d got an edge and been caught behind by “Farouk Engineer” or “Alan Knott.” There were bad calls and desperate dashes to avoid being run out. And there were sixes that disappeared over the wall into the pen where the geese hissed

Knott End

fiercely at any child who dared to trespass on their terrain.

Once a match was arranged against a team from Croston, south of Preston. My parents were friends of the vicar and his wife, and their eldest son brought a team over. We were deadly serious but we still got hammered. They were older than us and they looked bigger. What really did for us though, much to my shame, was the condition of the pitch. The match was held on the old gala field between our house and the ancient burial mound on Lancaster Road. I suppose, in my childish imagination, I had thought that somehow miraculously, on the big day, the pitch would be like Old Trafford or Headingley. Instead, the cows had only recently left the lush pasture where they had been ruminating among the long grass.

Beyond the narrow strip that had been mown that morning for the wicket was a jungle punctuated by a minefield of cow pats. We were never going to win but the tea my mum prepared was sumptious and, after the victorious Crostonians had left, we were out in the garden again, pretending to be our heroes from the test match or the county championship.

My heroes were the Lancashire team. In the summer of 1971 they became the “one-day kings.”

I had seen them play in Stanley Park, in one of their seasonal visits to Blackpool, and, after much pestering, I had even been accorded the great honour

Endless games

of cricket

Stanley Park,

Blackpool

by the wicketkeeper, Farouk Engineer, an Indian international player, of carrying his pads back to his car for him.

On one or two memorable occasions, I managed to get down to Manchester for a big game. A Mancunian couple, who had retired to Preesall, used to take me along with them on the train. I saw Peter Lever, the fast bowler from Todmorden, whose style I imagined I could imitate, score 80 at number 10 in the test match against India.

The greatest game of all, though - the greatest sporting event I have ever witnessed - was the famous Gillette Cup semi-final at Old Trafford when Lancashire beat Gloucestershire at almost nine o’clock at night.

Darkness was descending alarmingly quickly but the umpires decided to let play continue. Lancashire were a long way behind and Gloucestershire were trying to stifle the flow of runs. There was still a glimmer of hope, though. When David Hughes stepped out of the pavilion to replace Jack Simmonds, excited kids by the boundary ropes were willing him on to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. It was as though an extraordinary, supernatural tension, had seized every spectator.

d, Cricket Groun d r o f f a r T ld O Manchester Fred brought his two sons with him. The eldest of them was only helping out as a holiday job. His name was Emlyn and his real job was as a professional footballer. He had left Blackpool a few years earlier and now he was playing for Liverpool, which he was soon to captain. He was to go on to captain England too.

Here he was on our back lawn. Whenever he and his brother stopped for their ‘baggins,’ my brother and I would be out there pestering him.

“Emlyn, why don’t you leave Liverpool? Why don’t you come back here? You could play for Blackpool again. Or Preston. Then we could come and see you all the time!”

“Emlyn, will you play football with us?”

“Emlyn, will you show us keepy-uppy again?”

The two lads chuckled and Emlyn smiled his broad, good-natured smile. Then we had a kickabout with our own football legend.

The gravel is still there and so are the weeds.

Hughes scored 24 runs in one over to win the game for Lancashire and secure a place in the final at Lords. When the final shot was played, the crowds of exultant kids didn’t even wait for the ball to reach the boundary before rushing onto the pitch. For a long time, the chorus of “Oh, Lancashire is wonderful” rang out through the magical night air as we left Old Trafford and made our way home.

Our garden was the setting for another magical sporting experience of a different kind. My father engaged a man called Fred Hughes, who had played rugby league for Wales, to lay some gravel on the paths. I think his sales pitch was that the gravel would prevent weeds from ever growing again, a notion which amused my father greatly.

Cricket The Greatest One Day Gam e

MIRANDA CHRISTOPHER rules are really unhelpful as grownups.

In my book MINERVA Manifesto (for Women who want to Do Business, Make Money and Enjoy Life), I speak about the hidden rulebook, and I help women to become aware of their own particular rules. And, more importantly, how to make conscious changes to get what they really desire in life.

My own rulebook was heavily influenced by the environment I grew up in and that included the enormity of the media marketing machine provided by commercial television and magazines for girls/women. And now added to that is social media.

These platforms instruct us on what to eat, what to drink, what to wear and what to believe so that we can fit in. It’s so subtle, you’d be forgiven for consciously not seeing the messages.

The impact on our society of these external influences has been massive.

Research shows significant increases in obesity, poverty, depression, anxiety and suicides in the last 40 years.

“Whose rules are you following in life?”

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nce we become aware of our “hidden rulebook”, developed in our formative years, it’s really interesting to see it at play. Not only have I been witness to the rules of my own life playing out, I see it so clearly in others Those rules mean that we have the same type of dysfunctional relationships over and over; it may mean that we are constantly yo-yo dieting; we keep moving forward and backward with our businesses or some other situation that we repeat over and over.

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For the longest time, I was stuck in the insidious trap of yo-yo dieting.

I had spent over 40 years “at war” with my body simply because of the rules that I implemented as a child to keep me safe. This is the same body that contains within it the blueprint for creating new life, that just knows how to breathe and how to heal itself.

I looked outside of myself for the perfect body, when I already had all the wisdom I needed.

Those rules were implemented to keep us safe. They created our identity, who we believe we are. They keep us limited and often stuck in situations that we don’t want to be in.

What we don’t realise is how those

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When it came to creating the Thrive & Grow community for female entrepreneurs and business owners, I was adamant that its usage would be purposeful. Every woman visiting would be doing so for a purpose.

Whether that is to connect with other members and to share information on their businesses; to gain knowledge and access to business mentors enabling them to take action in their business; or to become a MINERVA Success Pod member giving them accountability and support as they implement their own MINERVA Manifesto™ and unique blueprint for success.

My Thrive & Grow (www. thriveandgrow.club) business partner, Judith Wright and myself spent a year refining our business operating model using the research that contributed to the MINERVA Manifesto™ book and over 60 years of business experience between us. Our purpose is to help women create a life and business that they absolutely love.

My own significant shift came when www.lancmag.com

My Obvious Next Step...

I started to build my businesses based on my true nature; that is, doing what energises me most and is matched to doing what I love to do.

When we start our businesses, the traditional way tells us that we have to do everything and when we make enough money, we can bring in other people to help us. The irony is that attempting to do everything is what stops us blossoming and creating that income we desire! It turns us into plate-spinners and can rapidly have us heading for burnout.

When you choose the traditional way of doing business it will feel like hard work. In MINERVA terms, you have created a negative vision.

It often goes hand in hand with “when I then I’ll…” for example, “When I have done my marketing, sales, finances, business admin, social media posting then I’ll get to do what I love.” For most people this can become overwhelming, sucking precious energy from them.

What we do with our MINERVA Success Pods is to help women identify what they truly excel at and then put in place strategies to ensure that they are doing it as quickly as possible.

Our approach is radically different.

We don’t teach you the “how to” that is commonplace with other providers, think 6 and 7 figure programmes.

What we teach as an absolute fundamental is how to define success for yourself, rewriting the rulebook of your life to have your unique version of success with ease, grace and flow.

I have to sit with the question. The answer always comes.

The key secret I will share with you is to “be it to see it” now. You become the identity of the you who has already achieved your success and you do that by encoding those feelings into your psyche. It takes a very simple daily practice that we teach to our advanced members once they have developed their awareness of their rulebook.

When women commit to doing business, making money and enjoying life - all on their own terms - the results they achieve are life-transforming.

Over the last three months I have observed Laura becoming much more confident, working less hours and focusing on doing what she loves.

The result is an increase in revenue of 50%. She visibly looks less stressed, spends more time with friends and has a renewed enthusiasm for her business.

In my own daily practice, once I have connected to my version of success, I ask myself “what is my obvious next step with this”, sometimes the answer is available immediately, other times

In starting my own new venture, Goddess Style and Design, I can honestly say that it has been the easiest start-up that I have been through.

I’m learning new skills, exploring a

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completely new market and having so much fun with it. None of this would have happened had I not created my own MINERVA Manifesto™ and my unique success blueprint.

For me, this month, my obvious next step is to share information about the MINERVA Manifesto™ and invite women who resonate with wanting to Do Business, Make Money and Enjoy Life, on their own terms, to book a Strategy Call with me. Check out our website www.thriveandgrow.club for more details.

www.mirandachristopher.com

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WHALLEY

By Sarah Ridgway

The picturesque village of Whalley sits on the banks of the river Calder and is in the heart of the beautiful Ribble Valley.

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he stunning Forest of Bowland which is designated as an area of outstanding beauty surrounds it. The charming village is awash with historic buildings, and stunning architecture, and boasts a vibrant

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hub of independent shops, cafes, and restaurants. There is a strong sense of community with many volunteerled groups, and nearly all retailers are independently owned by local people. It is not surprising that in 2016 the desirable location made it onto the Sunday Times Best 50 Places to Live in Britain and was the only Lancashire Village to do so.

Whalley’s impressive array of quirky independent businesses attracts visitors from all over including

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celebrities. Hollywood actor Sam Neill who is famous for his role in the Jurassic Park franchise has a connection to this Lancashire village.

After paying a visit to The Whalley Wine Shop the actor asked if they would stock his wine range in the shop. The Whalley Wine Shop was opened in 2010 by local Tom Jones agreed to the actor’s request. Neill paid another surprise visit in 2015 in between filming for Peaky Blinders in Manchester to check how his wines were selling. www.lancmag.com

Whalley is known to have existed since 1066, and many buildings in the area date back to the 13th Century including the Parish Church of Saint Mary and All Saints. There are twentythree more listed buildings in the village, and King Street showcases many fine examples of Tudor and Georgian architecture.

Portfield Hill, known as Planes Wood Camp, is an ancient hillfort believed to date from the Late Bronze or Iron Age. The prehistoric site is an important archaeological site and one of over 140 scheduled monuments in Lancashire.

Bronze-Age artefacts were found in 1966 by workmen who were laying new pipes. The hoard included two axes, a knife, and a gold bracelet believed to be of Irish craftsmanship and dating from the mid to late Bronze age. More items were uncovered in the early 1970s, and replicas of these items can be seen in the Blackburn Museum and Ribchester Roman Museum.

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COMMUNITY SPIRIT A strong sense of community spirit runs through the village, with many volunteer-led groups, that help run events throughout the year and keep Whalley looking ship-shaped.

Whalley in Bloom is a community group that uses its green fingers to keep its spaces and plants blooming.

The group work hard to fill the village with colour making it a wonderful place to live and visit. The Whalley in Bloom volunteers known locally as the Lavender Ladies also play a role in raising funds for projects with local events and activities. Whalley in Bloom was founded in 2011 and has won awards at the prestigious RHS in Bloom competition, and in 2019 won Gold at the National Britain in Bloom Awards.

repaired and was up and running by 31st December. A local volunteer group the Whalley Lions were praised for working relentlessly to organize aid for the affected residents. After the incident, a six-year plan was organised, with an investment of £120 million in Lancashire flood defences National Flood Resilience A review was also ordered to improve safeguarding the country from future flooding.

In February 2020 Storm Ciara said to be “the biggest storm this century” paid an unwelcome visit to Whalley.

The storm caused further destruction to the area, with over 70 properties flooded. People were again told to evacuate their homes, and many residents needed to be rescued by boat. Due to the torrential downpour the electricity was shut off, and people sought refuge by staying with family and friends elsewhere until it was deemed safe to return.

The Whalley Pickwick festival began in 1988 and is a much-loved event held every December. The festival is run by volunteers with the profit reinvested into the local community.

The Dickensian-themed event named after The Pickwick Papers is full of activities and entertainment, including pipe and brass bands, Morris dancing, and a visit from Father Christmas. The village has over 30 indoor and outdoor stalls selling a variety of festive fayre, hot food, and a tombola.

THE TEMPERAMENTAL RIVER CALDER On Boxing Day 2015 while most people were settling down after Christmas; many residents of Whalley were being evacuated from their homes after the Met Office issued a red weather warning. Due to the ferocious force of Storm Eva, the River Calder burst its banks and rose 2.5 metres above its normal level. Homes and businesses began barricading their properties with sandbags, and the police, army and fire brigade were called in. Boats were required to rescue residents from their homes.

Up to 196 properties were flooded, and King Street was submerged in water, with businesses and local farms suffering severe damage. The Whalley Community Hydro, a small water hydro station that produces £550 electricity a day was also damaged.

The building was submerged by flood water, but thankfully, it was quickly 174

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THE WHALLEY VIADUCT The Whalley Viaduct is a listed structure and is a stunning example of Victorian railway engineering. The viaduct known locally as the Whalley Arches is a Grade II listed structure.

The impressive construction was built between 1846 and 1850 in red and blue bricks. The viaduct has 48 grand arches, two of which incorporate a

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unique decorative brick infill. The viaduct’s design at that time was considered ground-breaking and was built by the Blackburn and Bolton railway company. Terrence Wolfe Flanagan was the chief engineer, and the line opened on Saturday 22 June 1850, and it transports the Blackburn to Clitheroe railway line 550 metres across the Ribble Valley.

The viaduct is 600 yards long and sits 70 feet above the valley, with its

construction requiring over six million bricks and over 12,000 cubic yards of stone. During the build, two of the arches collapsed and caused three fatalities, with heavy rain to blame for causing dampness to the brickwork.

In 2016 a renovation project costing £1.6m was implemented to strengthen the arches. 2,800 steel brackets were installed, alongside a new drainage system on the ground floor as a flood prevention method.

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THE MONKS OF WHALLEY ABBEY The ancient ruins of Whalley Abbey sit on the banks of the river Calder at the edge of the village. The unique attraction is visited by thousands of tourists throughout the year. In 1296 the Cistercian monks of Stanlow Abbey, which sat on the banks of the river Mersey needed to relocate. The monks of Stanlow had suffered storms and flooding, and they asked the pope to move them to a better location. In 1296 the Pope agreed to the request, and the monks moved to Whalley.

There was already an existing chapel on the site, which was built by the rector of Whalley, and the monks incorporated the building into the 176

new monastery. In June 1296, Henry de Lacy, the 10th Baron of Halton laid the first foundation stone of the new abbey. The stone for the buildings were sourced from two local quarries, Read and Simonstone, and the monks obtained a royal licence in 1339 to build a crenelated wall around the site.

The gatehouse was constructed between 1296 and 1310 and still stands. The gatehouse set the boundaries between the monastery and employed a gatekeeper who prevented unauthorised visitors from gaining access. The gatekeeper would also keep watch for any unusual activity and provided basic defence during military times and political unrest. It was very common for beggars and poor travellers to turn

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up at the monastery seeking food or assistance. Therefore, the gatekeeper would be responsible for allocating food and drink for them.

The church was completed in 1380, but the process was slow, and the rest of the abbey was not completed until the 1440s. The abbey closed in 1537 as a part of the dissolution of monasteries which was a legal process between 1536 and 1541. The act by King Henry VIII closed monasteries, priories, friaries and convents in England, Wales, and Ireland. The king subsequently confiscated their income to initially increasing revenue to the Crown. Most of the seized assets instead funded Henry’s military crusades in the 1540s. By the end of the 16th century, monasticism had almost been eradicated in the www.lancmag.com

European states with a Protestant faith, Ireland remained the only exception.

John Paslew, the remaining abbot, disputed this act and was ultimately executed at Lancaster for treason.

In 1553 the land and the manor of Whalley were sold. John Braddyll of Brockhall and Richard Assheton of Lever, near Bolton bought them for around £2,151. The pair divided the land, with Assheton taking the monastic site and buildings. The infirmary’s buildings and abbot’s house were torn down, and the stone was used to construct a new manor house. In the 17th century, most of the remaining church and monastic buildings were demolished. The manor house went through a succession of owners, and around 1900 the house and its land were bought by Sir John www.lancmag.com

Travis Cragg. In 1923 the Church of England bought the manor house, which is now owned by The Anglican Diocese of Blackburn.

The abbey continues to attract tourists who can wander through the ruins and savour the tranquil location.

Visitors can even book a guided tour led by resident monks. At the southern end of the south transept, the remains of the monks’ night stairs can be found, along with three medieval gravestones, one a prior named Thomas Wood and another a monk named John Walton. The north transept is a larger area with three chapels on its east side.

There are fragments of more medieval gravestones, and the foundations of two large piers that supported the

crossing tower. The west range is the best-preserved part of the abbey, and in the north ambulatory visitors can find a gravestone bearing the arms of the De Lacy Family, the original founders of the abbey. A skeleton was found under the gravestone when the area was excavated in the 1930s and is believed to be one of the founder’s family.

Today the house is a retreat centre offering a place of welcome and prayer, where guests can stay at the 4-star bed and breakfast, with 17 en-suite bedrooms. Visitors can book retreats ranging from yoga, and mindfulness, supper clubs with guest speakers, and prayer retreats.

There is also a visitors’ centre, exhibition centre, cafe, and bookshop.

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21 Years of Equine Rescue and Rehoming Celebrated

On Sunday 19th June, World Horse Welfare Penny Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre celebrated 21 years on the Fylde coast with a fabulous fun day.

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ver 750 visitors came along to enjoy the fun children’s activities and of course meet the horses and ponies undergoing rehabilitation at the centre.

“The theme of the day was ‘Superheroes’ which sums up every part of what we do – the team who rescue and rehabilitate the ponies, the volunteers, the rehomers, and also our supporters, without whom none of what we do would be possible,” explained Zoe Clifford, Centre Promotions Officer. “The event raised over £1,400 which will go directly to 178

help look after the horses in our care.

We rely totally on fundraising, so we are truly grateful to everyone who came along and supported the day.”

No party would be complete without birthday cake and this event demanded a double helping.

“The coffee shop is famous for our homemade cakes, so a special event demanded something new. Phyllis, our cook, made two special cakes for our visitors: strawberry gateau and a chocolate cake complete with the World Horse Welfare logo,” said Zoe. “The ponies were also treated to a special cake made from sugar beet and oats and decorated with carrots and apples – farm mascot Yasmin wasted no time in tucking in.”

Penny Farm currently has over sixty horses and ponies undergoing rehabilitation, with the grooms each

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responsible for up to eight horses and ponies, who all have their own individual needs. A group of unhandled Welsh Ponies arrived at the farm earlier this year after their owner had sadly passed away. The remaining family members weren’t able to manage such a large number of ponies and, very sensibly, asked for help before the situation deteriorated.

All of the group were unhandled and terrified of people, so it took hours of careful attention from our team to get them to a stage where they were confident with human contact.

This is the very first stage of the rehabilitation process and the team is now in the process of assessing their future potential before finding them loving new homes via our rehoming scheme.

As is all too often the case, it soon became apparent that several of the mares in the group were in foal and www.lancmag.com

at World Horse Welfare Penny Farm by spring we had four new arrivals.

Foals are always very popular on the yard; however, there are lots of costs associated with them, including provision of passport, microchip and initial vaccinations. Mares who arrive in foal will also take longer to be rehomed, as their foals will need to be weaned before their rehabilitation can be completed. Rehoming is the final stage of the process and is vital to allow us to free up space in the centre to rescue more horses in need. If you could offer a rescue horse a loving home, find out more at worldhorsewelfare.org/rehome The team at Penny Farm are now gearing up for a busy summer – the Visitor Centre will be open Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, with special activity days every Wednesday in the summer holidays.

FIND OUT MORE AT: worldhorsewelfare.org/visit-us.

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MANISH’S ZODIAC PREDICTIONS

Manish Kumar Arora is a renowned KP Astrologer, Numerologist, Tarot Reader & Vastu Consultant. He has been rendering professional advice to clients with a reasonable degree of success. He has been conferred with the title of ‘Jyotish Varahamihir’ and ‘Jyotish Aryabhatt.’

He has been writing monthly astrological columns for many international magazines.

LEO 23 Jul - 22 Aug

ARIES 21 Mar - 19 Apr There can be nice energy for work efforts, support from superiors, reputation matters, and any project that benefits from you taking the lead. You are speaking with more authority these days, and this is a trend that will be developing over the course of a couple of weeks. You can be more romantic and playful, and if single, you can take advantage of social opportunities to meet new people, and if in a relationship, you can make it fun. You can be more compromising and fair, wanting to have more peace and balance in your life.

You can focus on getting the little things done, being more on top of the smaller projects, and being more productive. You can be overly practical and realistic, too stuck in the mundane world and lacking any imagination, and you can stress yourself out way too much. If in a relationship, you can use the energy to make your relationship more exciting and you can be more affectionate. You may come across as warmer, friendlier, or prouder. People are drawn to you for your wisdom, experience, knowledge, and point of view.

Favourable Dates: Sep 2, 7, 11, 16, 20, 25 Favourable Colours: Red & Yellow

Favourable Dates: Sep 1, 3, 10, 12, 19, 21 Favourable Colours: White & Blue VIRGO 23 Aug - 22 Sept

TAURUS 20 Apr - 20 May

SAGITTARIUS 22 Nov - 21 Dec You can feel good when you have peace and harmony, and can be more charming and compromising. You can bring creative energy into your work, and the more you feel inspired by your work, the more work you want to do. You can infuse creativity into your daily life as well, and you can find it easier to deal with health issues or to work on improving your daily lifestyle. In love, you can give the people you care about more attention and be more affectionate.

Favourable Dates: Sep 2, 5, 11, 14, 20, 23 Favourable Colours: Blue & White

CAPRICORN 22 Dec - 19 Jan

This can be a good period for dealing with a business or financial partner, or dealing with other people’s money (taxes, debts, inheritances, loans, joint finances). You may want to work independently, but you have quite a bit of motivation, particularly related to creative projects and endeavours. You can have issues with your daily life, not being able to stick to a routine, misplacing things, forgetting things, or issues with your health, not sticking to a healthy lifestyle, avoiding healthy eating or exercise, or old health issues flare back up.

There can be a new sense of optimism about the future and a greater love for making plans, as a feeling of direction and purpose is very welcome in your life right now. You are feeling freer, lighter, and more forwardlooking, and you are especially charismatic as a result.

You can feel much more creative and romantic. Your emotions are felt more powerfully, but you also have all the tools available to direct them appropriately. You are especially valued for your contributions and insight, as well as your work ethic.

You may desire more freedom and independence in your life to do whatever you want without someone holding you back. You can be open to the other ways in which people live, fascinated by other cultures, and attracted to foreign lifestyles. A new perspective on your health and well-being may come from your research efforts. This period can be excellent for romance and having fun with love. If single, you can use the energy to put yourself out there and meet new people, but you may feel like playing the field and not taking anything too seriously right now.

Favourable Dates: Sep 1, 2, 10, 11, 19, 20 Favourable Colours: Yellow & White

Favourable Dates: Sep 1, 7, 10, 16, 19, 25 Favourable Colours: White & Yellow

Favourable Dates: Sep 3, 10, 12, 17, 21, 26 Favourable Colours: Blue & Yellow

LIBRA 23 Sept - 22 Oct

GEMINI 21 May - 20 Jun This is an important time for reflection, new awareness or insight into old problems, and relaxation if possible,. You may be more willing than usual to work on the technical details of your plans or artistic pursuits.

Relationships are steady and reliable right now. You may pay special attention to your dreams, both of the night and day variety, and the subtle areas of your lives.

Focusing on creativity, philanthropy, spirituality, and artistry can be beneficial. Build your intuition, slow down and rest.

You can be feeling especially confident about creative work, and you can be especially industrious and resourceful now.

You may be frequently looking to past actions, relationships, and connections these days, and ideally, you’re learning from these memories as you look at the past in a new way. Setting some limits, rules, structures, and goals can help strengthen your life and now is an excellent time to do so. You are finding freedom and joy in self-discipline and structure right now, and you can be wonderfully productive as a result.

Favourable Dates: Sep 3, 6, 12, 15, 21, 24 Favourable Colours: Blue & White

Favourable Dates: Sep 4, 5, 13, 14, 22, 23 Favourable Colours: Blue & Yellow SCORPIO 23 Oct - 21 Nov

CANCER 21 Jun - 22 Jul You’ll need to have extra patience with yourself, and the people you work with and for, and try to avoid major work decisions if you can. You may lack inspiration or creativity, feeling blocked in some way. You can act immature or dramatic when you get emotional. You may not have as much time for what you enjoy in life, which can make you restless and agitated. You can be a bit obsessive at times, so make sure you’re not getting too caught up in dramas you don’t need.

Favourable Dates: Sep 2, 6, 11, 15, 20, 24 Favourable Colours: Purple & Green

You may be putting in work towards important causes or group efforts now, and contributing unique and exciting elements to these things. There is also good energy for new projects, idea creation, and goal setting, which have more chances of success than usual. Learning from others’ experiences and wisdom may be necessary. Focus on eliminating redundancies in your life, particularly on practical levels. Your overall mood can be more positive and uplifted. You can also feel more connected to your beliefs. It’s a good time to really think about what you value and to prioritize accordingly.

Favourable Dates: Sep 2, 3, 11, 12, 20, 21 Favourable Colours: Blue & Red

AQUARIUS 20 Jan - 18 Feb This is a strong time for tending to important details, creating budgets or plans, and thinking about priorities. You are especially industrious and come up with inventive ideas and practical solutions. It’s also a good time for personal magnetism. Simplifying and organizing efforts can be very effective now and purifying as well. You can present original and unique ideas in an attractive package right now, and you might want to take advantage of this energy. It’s a good time for tightening up your routines, as well as considering ways to clear up unfinished emotional business.

Favourable Dates: Sep 1, 3, 10, 15, 23, 28 Favourable Colours: Red & White PISCES 19 Feb - 20 Mar You are better able to see good advice and benefit from others’ experience and wisdom. You can be more upbeat emotionally, and you may start working on something from the ground up that culminates in about two weeks from now. If single, you may want to keep to yourself, and if in a relationship, you may need to listen more to your partner instead of being bossy. You need to give yourself more time to get things done, have an outlet for stress, and go easy on yourself if things don’t work out the way you intended.

Favourable Dates: Sep 3, 7, 12, 18, 22, 26 Favourable Colours: White & Yellow

Manish Kumar Arora, 91-9871062000 | K.P. Astrologer, Numerologist, Tarot Card Reader & Vastu Consultant F www.facebook.com/manishastroconsultant | E manish@manishastrologer.com 180

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WHO WE ARE Kilty & Co. is your neighborhood Catering Company, cooking all of your favorites with a hip new spin on traditional cuisine. Using fresh ingredients with a side of rock ‘n roll, we make real food for real people.

Whether you are interested in breakfast, lunch, dinner or anything in between, we’ve got you covered.

For your next event, choose Kilty & Co. and enjoy a home-cooked meal without the home-cooked fuss.

Kilty & Co. are trusted and tested and deliver on quality and value. Eddie’s team of highly trained and gifted chefs, kitchen staff and front of house professionals, can cater for every situation and manage every request with flair.

Kilty & Co. | Booker Avenue | Liverpool E eat@kiltyandco.co.uk | N +44 (0)7788 711 177 | F @kiltyandco | I kiltyandco www.kiltyandco.co.uk

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

DIARIES OF A COUNTRY CRONE

By Denise Mullen

I was now getting a stitch and was also clutching the flapping robe around my legs too, sort of shimmying up like an apologetic, hunch-backed fairy-tale crone.

My potential hero looked me up and down. Borat had made the track gate and was roaring off at an impressive 15 miles per hour along the public highway.

WARNING: there was quite a lot of swearing. I won’t catalogue it here.

Would take too long.

“You’ve got my husband’s number in your mobile haven’t you?”

“They let you out then?”

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t was an early start for the husband this morning. He hauled himself into the scruffy (ok, Classic, apparently) lightweight military Land Rover ‘Borat’ and was preparing to set off with a trailer of logs, it was around 6am.

I had a meeting at 10am where I would have to present myself, hair and makeup and armed with the report that was sitting on my desk in the office. Oh, and should probably have some clothes on, be waring shoes and have some means of getting there.

“Seriously have you got his number in your mobile?”

I had noticed a problem with one of the horses in a nearby field. It was stepping short. I needed to nip out and investigate.

Right.

“Great, so can you call him for me please and inform him that he’s (insert appropriate swearing here) locked me out and I (more of that swearing) have to be at a meeting in Manchester at 10.”

I’d spotted this from the bathroom window, immediately post-shower, so I hauled on a ratty dressing gown and the husband’s slippers – I know, inappropriate footwear, but a steady animal and speed was of the essence – and shuffled out.

As I trudged to the field he emerged from the house, yelled, ‘I’m going’, gave a little wave and set off in a cloud of blue exhaust.

I discovered a stone lodged in the mare’s hoof, prized it out with the hoof pick in the dressing gown pocket (as you do) and set off back to the house.

On turning the front door handle I learned that it was locked. On nipping around the back to try the conservatory door, I discovered that was too.

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Thing is, we don’t really have any neighbours. There isn’t a ‘next door’.

I could still see Borat and the trailer trundling down the track. I broke into a trot, trying to retain the slippers on my feet and my unsupported chest within the confines of the dressing gown. All of this whilst yelling at the top of my voice and waving with my free hand.

The Land Rover is noisy. Coupled with a trailer full of logs, it’s deafening.

As I trotted along, my face getting redder and redder, I noticed a tractor, off to the right, in the neighbouring field. A nearby farm’s manager was at the wheel. He had spotted me and he was…well I can only describe it as ‘smirking’.

Now he and the husband help each other out with bits now and then, hedge cutting, ditch dredging, that kind of thing.

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“Yep. You know I had to rescue another one like you in the village two days ago. She had Alzheimer’s and just a nightie.”

“She said she was looking for her dad.

She must have been about 80.”

“Will you call him now and tell him not to hang up because he’s driving but to turn round right (sweary, sweary bits) now.”

Smirking. “Yep.” Good job I was wearing ‘man slippers’ I thought as I marched back up the dirt track. I could feel the eyes of the tractor lord and sweeper upper of stray demented damsels on my retreating back.

With my special ‘Spidey Sense’ I could even detect the ever-widening smirk.

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

“Stop telling me what to do.”

“Why do I have to make all the decisions?”

Do you have relationships like this? Be it family, friends, work, romantic partners, or children.

The relationships are described as Ego States and the study of these interactions is Transactional Analysis (TA) as defined by Dr Eric Berne in his book The Games People Play – an ego state is :a consistent pattern of feeling and experience directly related to a corresponding consistent pattern of behaviour.

A Transaction is what goes between two people – conversation and behaviour.

There are 3 states – Parent, Adult and Child.

The person saying, “Stop telling me what to do”, is the Child.

The person asking “Why do I have to make all the decisions” is the Parent.

When in Adult, both parties are in equal roles.

In a healthy relationship, we slip in and out of these roles as appropriate. So, if I am having a bad day and a friend supports me, they are Parent and I am Child, and if the next day my friend is having a bad day and I support them then they are in Child and I am in Parent.

When we are discussing an event or something that needs a decision, and we are factual and not investing emotion into it then we are both in adult.

It becomes a problem when we are stuck in the same roles, so one person is always Parent and the other always the Child.

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PARENT • The Parent is the part of ourselves that contains our opinions, attitudes, and beliefs.

It sets limits to what we will and will not accept in the way of behaviour.

• It is also the part we use when we are caring or looking after others.

• Just as a real parent needs to set limits as well as care for the child, so too does the Parent part of the personality have both elements.

• Nurturing Parent and Critical Parent.

ADULT • The Adult is the part of ourselves we use when we are solving problems logically and thoughtfully.

• It is the part of ourselves that processes information analytically.

CHILD • The Child is the spontaneous, fun-loving part of an individual’s personality.

• It enjoys life but it can also get hurt.

• It is vulnerable to others but can be very attractive and appealing.

• The Child may be curbed by strong Parent messages to ‘not do’ certain things and ‘to do’ certain others.

• Adapted Child, Little Professor and Free/Natural Child.

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• Fear of the unknown – what happens next?

• I don’t know how to change • As it stands, I know what comes next – even though I don’t like it!

SOME SUGGESTIONS:

As a child we are very expressive we don’t feel restricted in any way, as we grow up we learn to act appropriately, so it’s great to dance around the kitchen to my favourite record, but not a great idea if I am in a business meeting!

Different situations require different parts of us, at work we are mostly in Adult. In our private lives we can choose to be more Child and Parent, if however, we continue in Adult when out of the office we will fail to engage with our emotions and come across as cold and dispassionate.

Some Managers act as a Parent and then continue when they return home making the rest of the household feel as if they are being bossed about. Those in caring professions are very much Nurturing Parent which if continued into their life outside work can mean they are taking care of everyone around them, but no one is taking care of them The key is Balance.

The more we understand our own behaviour and that of others then we start to recognise patterns. If it works for you then that is fine, but if you have feelings of resentment, frustration, feel trapped, feel like nobody is listening, being undermined, or overwhelmed, then it is time to do something about it, as in all likelihood the other person is feeling the same.

If you find yourself in Parent and having to make all the decisions the next time the other person wants you to make the decision then say, “You choose”, asking them what they want may well get a “Don’t know” answer putting the pressure back on you. Or you say, “I don’t know”. Initially give them 2 or 3 options, and resist the temptation to jump in, it requires patience, as they will use delaying tactics to goad you into your decision-maker role.

If you are in Child, the next time the other person is deciding for you then say what you want or don’t want and stand your ground rather than giving in at the first suggestion that the other person disagrees with you. You can offer 2 or 3 options, so you have a discussion rather than one person dictating.

I know it is not easy to make these changes and you may need outside help. This is where coaching and the use of techniques such as Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT/ Tapping), Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) that I have introduced you to in previous columns, give you the confidence and support to make these changes.

Decide if you want to stay stuck or make Positive Change, then take your first step forward and book a Discovery Session.

Head to my website for more information D thepositivechangecoach.com

This requires taking responsibility for your own actions, blaming the other person is not going to change anything, you have fallen into these roles, so wanting the other person to change starts with yourself. If you change your behaviour, then eventually the other person changes their behaviour.

For a complimentary 30 min., 1-1 Positive Change Discovery Session contact me E janetbroughton@ thepositivechangecoach.com

If you are wanting to dig your heels in and think “Why should I change?” Then the question to ask yourself is do you want this impasse to continue?

DRU Yoga classes available live online or via YouTube Y Janet Teaches DRU Yoga

Think about why you allow this unhappy relationship to continue in this way and why you are reluctant to change it.

Do you think: • Don’t rock the boat • If I change, they may not like me anymore

Claim your FREE Positive Change Personality Quiz to discover your Change personality, how it affects your life and how we can empower you to live your Best Life.

• It’s scary www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 185

Pendleside Hospice Witch Festival Samantha Giles, centre, and Pendleside staff and volunteers, get into the Witch Festival spirit 

Emmerdale star Samantha Giles who plays Bernice Blackstock in the ITV soap drama

Pendleside Hospice aims to break a world record on September 17 by organising the largest gathering of people dressed as witches – hopefully 2022 to coincide with the year.

E

Samantha Giles, centre, and Pendleside staff and volunteers, get into the Witch Festival spirit

Witches’ tour guide Simon Entwistle with Pendle Hill standing proud in the background 

mmerdale star and children’s book author Samantha Giles is helping to spearhead the campaign along with Pendle Witches expert and tour guide Simon Entwistle.

It is hoped the the event will raise around £100,000 towards maintaining the services Pendleside offers to people with life-limiting illnesses in the Burnley and Pendle area.

Emmerdale star Samantha Giles was so fascinated by the Pendle Witches story that it inspired her to write her first children’s book ‘Rosemary And The Pendle Witches’ – and now she is backing Pendleside Hospice’s bid to break a world record.

The Pendle Witches were a group of 10 people who were hanged in 1612 after being accused of murder and witchcraft.

Mother-of-two Samantha, 50, who plays Bernice Blackstock in the ITV soap, believes the Pendle Witches were wrongly accused.

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www.lancmag.com

She said: “They were people who used herbal and natural remedies but were accused of casting nasty spells on individuals. They were blamed for everything that went wrong in the area – from landowners’ crops failing to farm animals going lame and even people dying in unusual circumstances.”

The Pendleside Witch Festival takes place in Barrowford Park, on Saturday, September 17, and incorporates a sponsored circular Witch Walk from the park to Barley and Roughlee. This will be followed by the attempt to break the Guinness World Record and entertainment.

It is hoped that people from across our communities will support the event. To attend costs adults £15, children £5 or a family ticket for four £35. To buy tickets and register please visit https://www.pendleside.org.uk/ pendleside-witch-festival During the day-long festival there will be a live music stage with bands and a DJ and stalls selling witchrelated goodies, face painting and food and drink.

Samantha, a believer in Wicca culture since an early age, explained how she is hoping to work her own magic to help make it a success.

She said: “Pendleside Hospice is situated at the heart of the Pendle Witches’ country and when I heard about the Witch Festival campaign I wanted to get involved. I intend to be there on the day and be part of that record-breaking gathering.”

Samantha, who has been promoting the Witch Festival during visits to local junior schools, now spends a lot of her time writing – her third book is about to be published.

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The launch of the Pendleside Witch Festival at the Pendle Inn, Barley

Following a tour of the hospice Samantha said: “Pendleside offers so much beyond what you would expect. It’s not just about end-of-life care but also about respite and offering people with lifelimiting illnesses the support they need.”

Tour guide Simon Entwistle was born in the shadow of Pendle Hill, works with the Witch Festival and hosts regular tours said: “It has a hypnotic seductive feel. If Steven Spielberg had to make a film about the Pendle Witches it would be a blockbuster.”

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DEBORAH LILITH HATSWELL is a phenomenonist, writer, podcaster, Investigator and the founding member of the Being Believed Research and Investigations group. Deborah is the UK’s leading expert on the British Bigfoot and Dogman phenomenon and she has taken or researched over 3,000 personal witness reports from all across the globe. Deborah is based in Lancashire and has formed a team of volunteer investigators researching the many witness reports that are reported each week to BBR. Deborah is a witness herself to an impossible creature that she saw in 1982:

“It took 30 years for me to find an official body that would take myself and my experience seriously. During those years, I found thousands of people in a similar position. Their experiences were with Reptilian or Cryptid Creatures, Alien Beings and Shadow People, Invisible Entities and all manner of Dimensional Entities. Many of the witnesses are abductees who have had a lifetime of interaction. Some families have had to deal with phenomena for generations. There are cattle mutilations and missing people all across the UK.”

I am often asked where I find the strange stories and paranormal tales that I share with you each month.

I receive reports through my social media channels, podcasts, email and videos. It would seem that as each person shares their impossible event. It enables another person to step forward and share their own truth.

The report I am sharing with you today is a very good example. I was contacted through email by the witness after she saw an article in a newspaper as I had been interviewed a few weeks earlier.

A WITCH OUTSIDE ON THE PATH - Witness Report: ““Hi Deborah. I’ve just read your newspaper article on the BigFoot creatures that are reported here in the UK and the work you do on paranormal cases. I found it very interesting and I wanted to share one of my experiences with you in return. Reading the article made me realise I had a strange experience when I was a child. I had not thought about it in years.

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I live in a place called the Forest of Dean so I am surrounded by woods. The forest is an old ancient place and cattle still roam freely there.

It is a much slower pace of life. One that most people long for. My family have lived here for a long time.

I am 40 now and when I was a child growing up in the 1980s, myself and my Mum lived in an upstairs flat that was literally next door to an entrance that led into the Forest.

One day when I was about 5 years old I saw something through the window that I can not explain. When I think back I remembered how cold I was and that it was winter as it was Christmas time. I was in my bedroom looking out of the window, the window that looked out onto the row of houses opposite my house.

There was a path that ran along the back of my garden, which then led directly into the woods I remember that it was December and really cold. I liked to look out of my window to see the decorations in neighbouring houses. One night I looked out and I saw a witch? She seemed to just appear from nowhere and I have no doubt she came from the forest. It sounds like www.lancmag.com

Deborah set up BBR to help those people find somewhere they could report their experiences to and encourages them to investigate the cases and theories for themselves.

Now it is time to bring all of the so-called ‘alternative subjects’ under the same roof and let’s share our knowledge bases in the hopes of answering some of the still unanswered questions...

a complete cliche as she had a pointy black hat on, complete with a broom and she stood right on that path. She just stayed there completely still and stared up at me.

I couldn’t really make out her exact features, but she watched me and I watched her. For around what I assume to have been at least a couple of minutes, neither of us moved. I shouted to my Mum to come see what I was seeing and she must have heard me shout for Mum as she casually turned towards the forest and disappeared.

I often stood by that window at night just to see if I could see her again and I never did. Two years later we moved from that house nearer to the town.

I have repeated this story a few too many times growing up but I soon realised that nobody actually believes it when I explain what happened, so I have not told a soul in possibly 20 years, until today.

Thank you for letting me share this with you Deb.” I have no doubt our witness will remember this experience for the rest of her life.

...Until next time, Deborah

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

SHIP AHOY! Titanic the Musical sails into The Grand…

Titanic The Musical at Blackpool Grand Theatre for ONE WEEK ONLY in March 2023!

T

he five-star theatrical masterpiece Titanic The Musical will dock at Blackpool Grand Theatre for just ONE WEEK ONLY from Tuesday 21 to Saturday 25 March 2023. This critically acclaimed production is a rousing and uplifting tribute to the passengers of the famously ill-fated vessel, with theatregoers returning time and time again to experience the powerhouse performances.

Based on real people who were aboard the most

In the final hours of April 14, 1912, the RMS Titanic,

whilst the millionaire Barons of the First Class cabins

collided with an iceberg on her maiden voyage from

anticipated legacies lasting forever. All were innocently

Southampton to New York and ‘the unsinkable ship’

unaware of the unimaginable fate awaiting them…

slowly sank to the depths of the ocean. It was one of the most tragic disasters of the 20th Century as 1,517 men, women and children lost their lives.

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legendary ship in the world, Titanic The Musical is a truly breathtaking and powerful production focusing on the hopes, dreams and aspirations of her passengers, each of whom boarded with fascinating stories and personal ambitions of their own.

The Third Class immigrants dreamed of a better life in America, the Second Class passengers imagined they too could join the lifestyles of the rich and famous,

The original Broadway production of Titanic The Musical, with music and lyrics by Maury Yeston www.lancmag.com

and book by Peter Stone, scooped five Tony Awards

Book now by visiting blackpoolgrand.co.uk

including Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book.

or call the box office on 01253 290 190.

This spectacular production celebrates the 10th

LISTINGS:

anniversary of the London premiere, which also opened

TITANIC THE MUSICAL

to rave reviews, and brings a truly amazing evening of

• Tuesday 21 to Saturday 25 March 2023 at 7.30pm

live theatre to The Grand.

• Wednesday & Saturday Matinees at 2.30pm

For a thrilling teaser trailer, visit:

GRAND THEATRE

www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7TWhJWd3GU Don’t miss the boat! Book your seats now!

Titanic the Musical at Blackpool Grand Theatre from Tuesday 21 to Saturday 25 March 2023 for ONE WEEK ONLY! Matinee and evening performances.

Tickets from £18.50, member discounts available. www.lancmag.com

33 Church Street, Blackpool FY1 1HT N Box Office: 01253 290 190 D blackpoolgrand.co.uk F @blackpoolgrand T @Grand_Theatre I grandtheatrebpl LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 191

Hair Loss in Women

By Marcia Trotter noticeable bald spots. The thinning can occur on the front, sides, or top of the head.

Everyone experiences hair shedding, and it happens to each of us every day.

Most people lose 50 to 100 hairs per day as part of this natural cycle, more on days you wash your hair. Styling, bleaching and heat treatments can increase the natural shedding.

Less than half of women get through life with a full head of hair.

H

ereditary hair loss usually starts after the age of 40.

Approximately 40% of women have experienced hair loss by the age of 50. More than 80 percent of men experience significant hair loss during their lifetime. For many, the thinning starts well before middle age.

Hair loss tends to be subtler in women than it is in men. Often an overall hair thinning rather than

We have hundreds of thousands of hair follicles on our heads and everyone is at a different growth stage, they last 2-5 years.

Hair grows and dies in phases, and nutrition, stress, hygiene, and daily styling all play a role in how much hair you lose daily.

The growing phase is called the “anagen” phase. The majority of hairs are in the growing phase. Hair grows about 1 centimetre per month during the anagen phase. When something stops your hair from growing, it’s called anagen effluvium.

Anagen effluvium is what you would typically think of when you think of “hair loss.”

The next phase is catagen, a very small number of hairs at any one time are in this phase. In this phase the hair stops growing and lasts 2 – 3 weeks.

The last phase of hair growth is the telogen phase. During this phase, a hair strand will be at rest as it prepares to detach from your scalp. Less than 10% of hair is in this phase at any given time.

Telogen effluvium describes having more than 10 percent of your hair in the telogen phase. Telogen effluvium is temporary, but more hair will fall out while you have it. Stress, surgery, or even having a fever for a few days can bring on telogen effluvium, but your hair will probably be back to normal within six months.

Possible causes of hair loss include stress, poor diet, underlying medical conditions and a change in hormones – pregnancy and menopause.

Menopause is a natural biological process that can happen to women at different ages. During this time, the body goes through numerous physical changes as it adjusts to fluctuating hormone levels.

SCALP NORTH | E info@scalpnorth | N 07773 229 229 | D www.scalpnorth.co.uk

Weight moves from the hips to the central tummy area, aging, drier skin and decreased muscle tone.

More unpleasant symptoms during menopause, including hot flashes, mood swings, stress, insomnia and hair loss.

Hair loss may make you feel selfconscious about your physical appearance.

Hair an integral component of one’s style, when it happens to a woman it can trigger a modicum of panic! Most women simply are not prepared for it, unless they have seen it occur to other women in their families.

Thankfully, SMP is perhaps the most deal solution for women. For example, it is quite common for women to notice their hairlines recede at about middle age. However, other reasons behind more widespread loss of hair may be due to stress, lifestyle, and the many hormonal fluctuations women in experience in their lives - childbirth and menopause chief among them.

For women, hair loss is quite often temporary, though the duration of time hair stops growing is unknown.

Research suggests that hair loss during menopause is the result of a hormonal imbalance. Specifically, it’s related to a lowered production of oestrogen and progesterone. These hormones help hair grow faster and stay on the head for longer periods of time. When the levels of oestrogen and progesterone drop, hair grows more slowly and becomes much thinner. A decrease in these hormones also triggers an increase in the production of androgens, or a group of male hormones. Androgens shrink hair follicles, resulting in hair loss on the head.

Telogen effluvium describes having more than 10 percent of your hair in the telogen phase.

Telogen effluvium is temporary, but more hair will fall out while you have it. Stress, surgery, or even having a fever for a few days can bring on telogen effluvium, but your hair will probably be back to normal within six months.

Worrying about hair loss? Scalp North is here to help! We offer an 100% effective hair loss treatment, Scalp Micropigmentation. This innovative hair loss remedy has become incredibly popular owing to the fact that it is comparatively affordable, has the ability to disguise previous transplant attempts and scars, makes the scalp skin less visible in cases of partial hair loss, and eliminates the appearance of shine for full baldness. Moreover, it is long lasting, requires little maintenance and, perhaps best of all, is non-invasive and nonsurgical.

At Scalp North we assist women by working on and around the area of hair loss only, building density of colour using varying hues of allnatural pigment to blend with the existing hair. We commonly build a greater amount of density than is done for men so that the client can continue to style her hair as she likes without worry that the scalp skin is visible. A remarkable possible bonus of SMP for women is that the very act of tattooing the scalp skin itself can stimulate the hair into regrowth. While this cannot be guaranteed, as it depends on the type and extent of baldness, it is a possibility.

Scalp Micropigmentation - This extraordinary treatment involves the replication of hair follicles on the scalp, whether confined to a localized area or over the entire scalp. It is suitable for both men and women of all ages and all hair colour.

Creating the soft, realistic appearance by implanting micro-flecks of colour within the dermal layer of the scalp skin to appear exactly like an actual hair follicle.

Every lady we treat receives a bespoke procedure plan that may involve a gradual building of density over a few sessions, depending on the expanse of area to be treated. SMP is non-invasive and completely safe. We are always deeply gratified to be able to help a lady through the stressful ordeal of hair loss. The art of illusion to restore confidence and eliminate worry is what SMP is all about.

If you’re considering SMP to remedy your hair loss, expect nothing less than the very best treatment experience and cosmetic result.

Located within Marcia – Cosmetic Tattoo Clinic, 10a Shaftesbury Avenue, Timperley, Altrincham WA15 7LY

Bugs Destroy Co-op Store

By Harold Cunliffe

O

ur first image captures a group of people from the village of Rhodes, located near Heaton Park, Manchester, inspecting the destruction caused to their local West End Co-operative store by an explosion in 1909.

Luckily there was no loss of life due to the store being closed so work could be carried out in an attempt to eradicate a pest. We discover the store had been infested with a type of weevil for a few months prior to the destructive explosion. This would have been of a more serious nature should the premises had been open for business. A report stated that the Co-operative store had been closed for three months due to an infestation of wheat weevils which it is thought were imported with the wheat which had been stored. A number of attempts had been made to eradicate the pests, but the only treatment recommended by the Board of Agriculture was bi194

Above: Destruction at the West End Co-op

sulphide of carbon. This treatment had reduced the numbers significantly and the committee decided to give the premises one final treatment before they opened the store for business. All the doors and windows were sealed and half a hundredweight of bisulphide of carbon was placed inside the shop. Hopefully the treatment would work and the store could, once again open for business. No concerns were made regarding this treatment following no incidents occurring with the previous three treatments. It was a few hours later, 7.30 pm that the sleepy village was woken by a huge explosion, which was so powerful it lifted the roof of the store, which then landed on the brick structure destroying the supporting walls.

Debris was thrown in all directions, some striking the front of the houses opposite. Members of the public who were making their way to the town of Middleton turned around and headed back to the village of Rhodes

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upon witnessing the horse drawn fire engine travelling at speed towards the incident. One of the injured persons was Mr Pearson who was a carter for the nearby Schwabe’s Printing works. He was passing at the time of the explosion and suffered cuts to his face, hands and cuts were made to his clothing from the flying glass.

His horse also became a victim by being injured by the glass; a piece had stuck the shoulder of the animal which made a wound. Opposite the destroyed premises a woman was in conversation at her front door with a male caller, then following the explosion he was blown against the woman with great force which saw both of them lying in the lobby of the house, both covered with fragments of glass which also littered the lobby and stairs. Whenever there is an incident, there are those people who have to put a touch of humour to the situation, it was related, “The Co-op should be congratulated on www.lancmag.com

WORRYING ABOUT HAIR LOSS? SCALP NORTH IS HERE TO HELP!

We offer an 100% effective hair loss treatment, Scalp Micropigmentation. This innovative hair loss remedy has become incredibly popular owing to the fact that it is comparatively affordable, eliminates the appearance of a bald head, has the ability to disguise previous transplant attempts and scars, makes the scalp skin less visible in cases of partial hair loss.

Moreover, it is long lasting, requires little maintenance and, perhaps best of all, is non-invasive and nonsurgical.

An extensively trained and experienced SMP artist layers varying complementary shades of all-natural pigments into the dermal layer of the scalp to create the soft, realistic appearance of a freshly shaven scalp. Or can be applied amongst the hair growth to create thicker denser looking hair. To that end, the final look is so amazingly realistic that someone standing inches away will not know unless you tell them!

If you’re considering SMP to remedy your hair loss, expect nothing less than the very best treatment experience and cosmetic result. If you want the best, choose Scalp North.

Contact us for a free consultation today.

Established in the Micropigmentation industry 2007 and specialising in new Scalp Techniques since 2016.

Scalp Micropigmentation is the replication of hair follicles on the scalp, whether confined to a localized area or over the entire scalp. It is suitable for both men and women of all ages and all hair colours.

N 07773 229 229 E Email: info@scalpnorth.co.uk www.scalpnorth.co.uk www.lancmag.com

Scalp North Cosmetic Tattoo Clinic, 10a Shaftesbury Avenue Timperley,& NORTH Altrincham WA15 7LY LANCASHIRE WEST MAGAZINE 195

having at length found an effective method of finally getting rid of the pest.” An investigation followed but no cause could be found, but it was stated that weevils when at work give off a certain gas, which could have caused the explosion. Consuming all that wheat I bet they did! In another feature we related how the huge chimney at the Rhodes Print Works became a tourist attraction, even bringing famous people to the village to inspect the tallest factory chimney most people had ever seen.

As the news spread relating to the explosion and destruction of the Coop store, many visitors arrived from neighbouring towns, but many were disappointed, the spectacle was not to be witnessed for any period of time, the committee quickly had the site cleared in preparation for the construction of a new building.

Elected Representatives Many front line Local Government officers come into contact with councillors and mayors during the running of their departments. I for one knew many of the towns elected representatives. Normally their time of being employed by the local authority would see the candidate being elected as a councillor, then maybe being selected to serve as mayor; many councillors upon being asked were not keen and refused. Once a willing candidate was put forward the process of electing a mayor would see an illuminated scroll being made and placed outside the council chamber, then as the aldermen and councillors were to enter the chamber they could sign the bottom section of the document if they supported the candidate in becoming a Mayor of the Borough, if they did not agree then they abstained from adding their signature. I own some of these scrolls, which are works of art, thus saving them from being destroyed, each one is of a different design. A retired nurse and competent genealogists, Mrs Doreen El-Ahwany, who was a family friend and daughter to a former Alderman (the late Alderman Frank & Mrs Sansom) documented the mayors of this town. Since the death of Doreen El-Ahwany I have continued to archive mayoral information. I find that many of the elected mayors in days gone by were struggling financially during their time in office. This was possibly 196

Above: A Mayors Illuminated address

before councillors were awarded expenses for their services. At a place known as Middleton Junction one councillor was financially challenged when he had to have a telephone installed mainly for council business, which the neighbours would use. I was informed by the former mayor’s daughter that they could not afford cups. Nearby was the Co-op Preserve Works where jam was sold in pottery jars made by the Denby factory in Derby, which the family used to drink out of. In Rhodes Councillor Thomas Johnson Hilton became Mayor of Middleton, 1936-37. While I had little information on this mayor, we did have a few images in our archive, which additional information was gained via the newspapers and ephemera of that period. It was during my time

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contributing a nostalgia column for the local newspaper that a reader who lived at Todmorden made contact. It transpired that he was about to move to Derby, and in clearing out his loft had found a box of items which once belonged to T.J.Hilton. Having read what I produce he thought that they would be of interest, plus not want to discard these items, wondered if I would be interested in taking them off his hands. Covering the courier charges the box arrived a few days later. After making an examination of the contents I was delighted that this box of ephemera and photographs were not lost. Collating the material I managed to produce a feature in the local newspaper, which went out online. A few days following its release an email arrived from a vicar, www.lancmag.com

who had a parish in Cornwall, he knew the Hilton family and had items which once belonged to the former mayor. So even more items arrived by post.

Retail Therapy Councillor Hilton was invited to London to attend the Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, after which he started to make scrap books of newspaper cuttings recording the Royal Family. The books however were not commercially bought albums, he had used magazines which were given away free of charge. One magazine was issued by the Rhodes Co-operative store. This magazine from 1937 I was interested to read, but frustratingly only little snapshots could be seen from around the newspaper clippings. But, not to be out done, a number of hours were spent soaking off the newspaper clippings with water and cotton buds.

It looked like flour and water had been used to stick the newsprint in to the magazine. With all the cuttings removed an interesting magazine from the period shows what CWS goods, the style and prices were available to read which were once available at this store.

Own Brand I could be wrong in making this comment, but I have a feeling that the Co-operative movement was one of the first to produce their ‘own brand’ goods. With the current financial situation it is stated that more and more shoppers are now choosing the shops own brand goods.

Above: Corn Mill invoice listing the types of flour

The Co-operative Society built their own factories to produce the goods sold in their shops, Radcliffe made the furniture, and Middleton was home to Jam, Marmalade, Christmas puddings, Pickles and sweets. A Corn Mill existed at Marshall Street, Leeds.

Listed on a 1909 invoice are twenty six varieties of flour. Hungarian, Rough Meal, Indian corn and Hen wheat are to name a few. Next to the bottom of the list is a product listed as “Dust,” one wonders where this product originated.

Reminiscences of a Parks Foreman Being in charge of the day to day running of the Grounds Maintenance section of a Lancashire town was for me, enjoyable. There was never a day when I did not enjoy going

to work. The position was that of Parks and Recreation foreman. This covered anything to do with the ground on a horticultural basis, and also recreational events such as the annual Christmas festivities. Also including the provision of a thirty five foot illuminated Christmas tree for the centre of town. One year however upon inspecting the tree I noticed that the main trunk had developed a split, which could make the tree fail in high winds, so a replacement, was ordered.

Within an hour the old tree had had its lighting removed and chain saws were at work cutting up the faulty tree.

I did not foresee what would happen next. A member of the public had informed the local newspaper who sent a reporter, who wanted to know why we had “Cancelled Christmas by chopping the tree down.” This reporter started his interview on the wrong foot so I informed him that I was busy and would comment later, “but it would not be a Happy Christmas if this tree was to fall on a member of the public.”

It was when the Guardian newspaper was published that more interest was shown regarding our tree chopping exercise, the BBC in Manchester was the first to want an interview. This I was happy to do because by the time they attended a new Christmas tree had been delivered from Carlisle and was standing quite magnificent, complete with its lighting. It was amusing in a way how the shop keepers in the centre of town took an interest. When the vehicle drove through the pedestrian controlled area, each shopkeeper cheered as they saw the tree cruise by their window in itshorizontal position. 

Below: Pages from the 1937 CWS magazine

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His What?

Being in charge of thirty odd gardeners and greenkeepers entailed spending hours out of the office. But for anyone wanting to make contact a Parks and Cemeteries secretary at the Town Hall would take messages, even though she was mainly engaged on the cemeteries side of the department would provide contact details. There were times when these messages would cause some amusement.

My section was responsible for the maintenance of the vast overspill area known as the Langley Estate, no doubt named after Cardinal Langley. When the estate was built each garden was divided by rows of privets. Naturally in a damp Lancashire climate they would put on growth during summertime. A message was left in my tray one day in late summer which read, “Harold, an elderly gentleman called in the office this morning, he lives at 148, *******, and would like his ‘private’s’ cutting because when he goes through his garden gate he gets wet.” I replied that he should see his doctor. A gardener soon sorted the privet problem. Another dear old lady lived in a bungalow, one of a row specifically designed for people of a certain age. In her message she wrote, “Dear Mr Parks Foreman. My bungalow is very cold in winter and I was wondering if you could plant some trees around it which would protect it from the cold wind. It’s awfully cold here, the gas fire is not working and the cat is not well either.” Maybe we should plant some Fir trees. No doubt that the secretary was busy at the time she wrote the messages which contained slight errors. I suppose it is a responsible position to hold in recording the deaths accurately in the register in which a traditional ink pen had to be used. Normally I would open the office at 8.30 am each morning with the secretary arriving around 9.00 am. Then from an early hour the telephone would spring into action with undertakers wanting to book times for burials and cremations. Then one day while having a break, enjoying a cup of tea I glanced through the list of deaths in the register. It was interesting to me that I had known some of the deceased people from my days as an insurance agent. Next I looked at the date of birth and date of death to work out their age at death, and found that 198

in the register, at this period, many had died within a month of their birthday, either, before or after. Now I am always at ease once February is out. It was early May when a message arrived on my desk which stated that a man in the village of Rhodes had a water problem and was out of his mind with worry and wondered if I would call and have a look. Upon arriving at the house which was constructed along with others on a hillside that I immediately observed water running from under his garage door? Next the owner of the house arrived and commented that this was the problem. He and his family had moved into the house the year previous and all was well, then out of the blue water began to pour out of his garage foundations, emanating from a gap where the concrete joins the brickwork. The house owner was out of his mind with worry and did not know what to do to correct this problem. He had contacted everyone he could think of, but no solution was found. The last resort was calling the Parks Dept. hoping that we could do something to rectify this mystery stream of water which it was thought to be an underground spring. The water authority had been involved but stated that they had consulted their maps and no mains water was to be found in that area prior to this avenue being constructed. Hundreds of gallons of water had poured out of house owners garage causing problems. In winter the water would freeze which would make the roads a hazard, resulting with residents being unable to park their vehicles outside their homes. I did feel sorry for the chap, especially since his house was being anti-social and the neighbours had now stopped speaking to him.

Next I informed him that I was going into the next street and would be back in five minutes. As I arrived back at his home I was met with a man with a huge smile, “What on earth did you do?” I replied, “I turned the water off.” “What!” he said. “After all these months of worry and loss of sleep you stopped it by turning a valve?”

Yes that was what happened. It was a coincidence that around ten years prior, then operating a type of JCB, I had excavated a trench down that hillside, where his house now stood, to provide the nearby allotments with mains water. I remember it well because once I started excavating

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with the digger; I had to carry on excavating down the hillside. It was very steep and the machine would not reverse, so I had to carry on excavating until the job was completed, in which I missed my lunch. It was obvious that the old water main was never listed upon any map, and became damaged during the house building.

It was gratifying to know that this man along with his family have a solution to their problem. He said that he was informed the water could be a natural spring which had taken a different route, and that he may have to have half his house demolished if the water problem continued, but the problem was, who would cover the cost? Demolition was the only action available to investigate and enable a field drain to be laid to take away the spring water.

300 Letters by Return Each day before opening the office I would call at the mail room and collect the day’s mail. One day however we had more than our fair share of mail. It was April and the annual rent demands were sent out to those who stored their caravans on the council’s caravan storage facility, our local office administered this storage. The invoices were sent out along with a stamped self-addressed envelope, this way we found that many payments arrived by return of post. But on this day it looked like everyone had paid up overnight. Then inspecting the envelopes I recognised the sender by the way they were typed who had typed them, it transpired that an error had been made in our office.

The invoices had been posted in the return envelope. We did not have computers at this point so a couple of hours was spent typing out a few hundred replacement envelopes.

The Big Problem Recently we covered the chimney which was associated with the extensive Rhodes factory, the Schwabe works, which was taken over by the Calico Printers Association. The headquarters of this company was at Oxford Street, Manchester. This is where the deals were made with their customers. It was when a regular customers visited their office that the staff would do their very best to make them comfortable. When Mr Yussef El Gammal Pesha visited the C.P.A.  www.lancmag.com

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Above: Mr Pesha. A valued customer.

in the 1900’s he would place orders with the company for thousands of pounds. Naturally Mr Pasha was treated like a VIP. But the problem the management encountered was that their client was of rather large proportions. We discover that upon his visit to this area the firms that Mr Pasha visited had a chair custom made to accommodate his stature.

In the past they sustained a number of breakages, it was noted that many chairs would not survive his weight, which was estimated to be 35 stone.

Our image shows one of the chairs which once belonged to the Calico Printers Association in Manchester.

No doubt the cost of providing this bespoke chair was insignificant compared with the orders he placed with the company which kept the factory workers busy for months at a time. A news item describes an accident which took place outside Below: Custom made chair.

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the Oxford Street offices. Having exited the building Mr Pasha hailed a cab, but in those days it was a cab constructed of wood and drawn by a horse. As he entered the cab the floor did not support his weight and both his legs went through the wooden floor and rested on the road below.

The sound of the crumbling timber caused the horse to trot off along the busy street, being congested was what saved Mr Pasha from injury, because he had to run along the road inside the cab until a policeman came to the rescue and brought the cab to a standstill. The vision of a cartoon character comes to mind, that of Fred Flintstone in his vehicle.

passed on to the 64 year old Cleansing operative, who related that they must mean bins, “Twenty-seven red bins.”

When the recording was played back the original message was nothing like the original. The student of advancing years had restricted hearing, and was a real character. He sat opposite and we communicated using signs. But what was amusing was that at the start of each lecture he would increase the reception on both hearing aids to a reasonable level, and then if he did not find the subject of interest he would turn them off. I think during the Local Government finance lectures he sat for a few days in silence, looking quite content in his own world.

Communication

It was February 2014 when a letter was published in the Middleton Guardian from Mr Les Lord who lived in Doncaster. “Harold keeps me up to date.” Mr Lord wrote that as an old Middletonian now living in Doncaster his son in law had bought him a computer which he used each week to read the Bygone days column.

Sadly I had to pull the plug on my column being put out online due to those who copy the images to upload to Facebook, I think they do it mainly because of the ‘likes’ and appreciative comments the members post. Many of the old photographs used in my column were loaned by readers of the newspaper and it caused them distress upon spotting their personal images being shared around members on Facebook. Les wrote, “The Guardian, which does not now include Harold’s contribution, but he never fails, every week, to email me a copy of his Bygone Days, which, together with his fantastic collection of photographs provide me with many hours of enjoyment.” He concluded by commenting that during Heritage weekend he visited Middleton with his family, and, “We had the great pleasure of meeting Harold.” So did I, Les presented me a copy of his book. He and I soon became good friends. It was always a pleasure each week when he telephoned. Les was a man in his 90’s and had a fantastic memory. Over the decade prior to his death he made a number of donations to my archive, and related so many memories of days gone by too. Apart from his war service Les was employed in the cotton industry, and then during one of his telephone conversations he related how the mill he was working

For those people who contribute columns in a newspaper or magazine, you will find an element of the readership who gain great pleasure of finding an error. We are all human and this can happen from time to time. As we age our memory can play tricks. Whenever possible I use a primary source of information, which is the most accurate. When messages become passed from person to person the message content can change.

A well-known example originated from the war and was once used in training courses. A message was sent from the front line by word of mouth, it started with, “Send reinforcements we are going to advance,” but by the time it was received at H.Q. it related, “Send three shillings and four pence, we are going to a dance!” During the late 1970’s I was attending a course to gain qualifications to enhance my understanding on the practice of Local Government. Around twelve employees attended the course from different government departments, an Inspector with Greater Manchester Transport and a foreman involved in refuse collection were two of the course members. One day as we arrived we were met with a tutor who verbally passed on a message, which had to be related to the next course member who arrived, and so on. Part of the content of the message which was related contained this comment, “Twenty seven red rolled beds which had to be sent to Mr Nevins section.”

The employee from the transport section said that they never sent rolled beds so it must be red buses, send 27 buses. Next the message was

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Above: Destruction caused to the Marland Mill. Les Lord.

in suffered a disaster. “Friday the 30th of March was quite a memorable day at Marland Mill. In addition to being the Company year end and the day the secretary of accounts was leaving, opening up a permanent position for myself, plus the retirement of the works manager. Then at 4-30 pm, an hour before the mill closed for the weekend, there was such a bang and a thud, our first thoughts was that a boiler had exploded. Within a couple of minutes the telephone rang, it was the local press asking if I knew the telephone number of the Mars Mill, which was next door. I knew this number off by heart, so gave it to them and for the next couple of minutes thought it was something which had happened there, until our Engineer came running into the office to say the flywheel had gone through the wall of the rope-race. The wheel was about 20 ft. in diameter and carried twenty two inch diameter ropes which drove the pulleys on the five story building.”

The cause was that the governor had stuck in the open position causing the engine to speed up considerably until the flywheel revolved at such a speed it “took off” and went through 202

the wall. The following day the police telephoned to investigate the loss of their huge wheel. The question for the record was, “At what time exactly did the flywheel leave the factory.”

Mr Lord had a fall at home and was rushed into hospital, where he passed away a few days later, but it was when the ambulance crew were

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about to place him in the vehicle, he commented, “Can you let Harold know.” At Christmastime we place a wreath on his grave which saves his family travelling the long distance from Yorkshire. I notice that this year it will be the centenary of his birth. 

Below: Mr Lord visits town with his book

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CHARLIE AND MIA ARE MEANT TO BE TOGETHER We need more foster carers in Lancashire who could foster siblings to keep them together.

If you could offer a loving home to brothers and sisters then get in touch today.

lancashire.gov.uk/fostering Comms: 8090

0300 123 6723

A Brand New Production of Masquerade Comes to the

A brand new production of Masquerade – a play telling a powerful and emotional tale set in an iconic Liverpool gay club in the 1980s – is coming to the city’s Epstein Theatre this Autumn.

M

asquerade is a poignant tale of love and loss among Liverpool’s LGBT+ community.

Following a successful run at the Royal Court Studio in 2019, the acclaimed play written by Laura Lees is back in a new electrifying and reimagined staging, with Liverpool’s queer history at its heart. The creative team has been announced, the full cast will be revealed shortly.

Masquerade will run at the Epstein Theatre in Liverpool from Tuesday 22 November to Saturday 26 November 2022 for just eight performances.

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Tickets are priced from £20 and are on sale now.

Masquerade is produced by Bill Elms (Something About George/ Simon, Swan Song, The Ruby Slippers), and directed by James Baker (Cherry Jezebel, Yank, Parade).

Most recently, Bill and James worked together on productions Jerry Springer The Opera and 2Gorgeous4U. The new production includes additional material by dramaturg Tom Lloyd; the production is designed by Ellie Light, with sound design byDaniel Mawson. Casting by Pearson Casting.

The play tells a fictional story based around the now demolished iconic Cases Street venue, affectionately known as The Mazzie, which was frequented at the time by famous faces including Holly Johnson, Paul O’Grady, Paul Rutherford, and Margi Clarke.

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Masquerade – where inside was the place to be out. Mike loves Tony (but not like that). He’s his best mate. To be confident, outgoing, and open is a big deal in a city like Liverpool in 1986 especially during the Aids crisis.

When they discover The Masquerade Club with trepidation, Mike gets a taste of the life he could and should be living. He is welcomed with open arms, soon becoming the resident DJ in a club that becomes the centre of his universe. But their paths go in separate directions. Outside of the club walls he needs to find the courage to tell his parents that he is not the son they want him to be. Will he find the strength to stand up for himself especially when tragedy strikes?

Writer Laura Lees commented: “I was aware that my uncle Mark had been a DJ in the club when he was younger so I asked him about it, at which point www.lancmag.com

Epstein Theatre This Autumn he opened up and gave me an insight into The Masquerade. I instantly fell in love with its story and wanted to know everything there was to know about it.

While doing the research, I found that most people were happy to reminisce because it was such a wonderful time in their lives. However, it was equally bittersweet as it was also a time of pain when Aids was hitting the gay community.

“I want to take audiences on a journey through an important period for the LGBT community – an uplifting story that would resonate with anyone who has ever experienced the excitement and terror of a first love.

What it was like to be young and gay in a hostile society. Also, to honour the victims that paid the price for being alive, and to give hope to anyone who is afraid to be whomever they want to be. Everyone has a right to love and happiness, and you only get one chance to be true.

“Working with Tom Lloyd has been priceless. It feels like I am looking at the script for the first time as he has given me a fresh perspective and new ideas. I am excited to see the vision that James Baker has and what the end result will be. I am delighted to be a sharing this new version of this play with true friendship, love, family and pain being at the heart of it.”

Director James Baker added: “I’m really excited to be directing a new incarnation of this play, which has its DNA firmly rooted in the queer history of Liverpool and the iconic Masquerade. The play will be a feast for the heart and celebrate the very nature of what it means to be free from oppression and live your own truth. Get ready to experience a night out like no other!”

Producer Bill Elms of Bill Elms Productions Ltd and Artistic Director of Epstein Theatre continues: “I am excited to be presenting this new work along with a dynamic and talented creative team. Together, we will build on the much-loved Royal Court Studio piece to create a full stage production of this brilliant piece of writing for the www.lancmag.com

Above: Frank and Pete at The Masquerade Club, Liverpool Credit: Francesco Mellina Above: James Baker

newly reopened Epstein Theatre, with an aim and focus to give the show a future life.

“Even though the play was originally staged before television series It’s A Sin, anyone who loved the programme will love Masquerade – and I cannot wait to see the audience reactions and what they think of the new version of the show. I know they are in for a treat.”

“A touching, uplifting story of love and friendship” – Liverpool Echo The show is one of several new productions coming to the newly launched Epstein Theatre.

The Epstein Theatre is Grade II Listed and located in the heart of Liverpool city centre, it was named after the legendary gay Beatles’ manager and ‘Fifth Beatle’ Brian Epstein.

In October 2021, a new team took the helm at the historic venue. Epstein Entertainments Ltd is a joint venture between Liverpool producers Bill Elms, Artistic and Communications Director; Chantelle Nolan, Artistic and Operations Director; and Regal Entertainments Ltd Company Director Jane Joseph.

FOLLOW THE EPSTEIN THEATRE ON SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS: F @EpsteinTheatre T @EpsteinTheatre I @EpsteinTheatre MASQUERADE SHOW LISTING: 22 - 26 November 2022 Tickets from £20 PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE: Tuesday 22 November – 7.30pm Wednesday 23 November – 7.30pm Thursday 24 November – 2.30pm Thursday 24 November – 7.30pm Friday 25 November – 5pm Friday 25 November – 8.30pm Saturday 26 November – 2.30pm Saturday 26 November – 7.30pm HOW TO BOOK: Book online: D www.epsteintheatre.co.uk N Telephone bookings: 0844 888 9991 (calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge) M In person: The Epstein Theatre Box Office is open Monday to Saturday between 12pm and 6pm, or two hours prior to the performance time on Sundays or Bank Holidays.

Please note there is a £1 per ticket transaction fee when booking in person at the box office.

VENUE DETAILS:

Above: Bill Elms Credit: Wesley Storey

M The Epstein Theatre 85 Hanover Street Liverpool L1 3DZ

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Balance Counselling and Coaching Ltd

PUT YOUR LIFE IN BALANCE

By Kathryn Taylor

DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR VALUES ARE?

D

o you really know what your values are? Are you drifting through life not really sure doing things because you always have or that someone has told you that you should but feeling like something's not quite right?

Recognising the things that you have achieved in your career, personal life etc but feeling something is missing and the things that you have just don't give you the sense of satisfaction that you crave? Not understanding why we feel this way despite the people and things in our life.

One of the things we often don't do is take time to truly assess the things in life that are important to us we drift through life doing things because we feel we should or others tell us we should.

Sometimes that's because we don't really acknowledge what's important to us or as we grow older the things that are important to us change, but we drift along doing the same things and not feeling the same satisfaction.

Taking the time out to evaluate what's important to us and what we truly value in different areas of our life gives us the clarity to recognise what's truly meaningful to us.

Identifying what those things are and using them to help us assess and make changes in our life’s can help us gain a better understanding of ourselves and what's important to us. Allowing us to create a happier more balanced life for ourselves.

WHAT IS A VALUE? Our values are based on our own judgement and beliefs of what is important to us in life. They affect our behaviours and reactions to everyday life and they help form our character.

Some examples of values that may be important to us are honesty, courage, belonging, compassion, excitement, growth and generosity.

There are many others and identifying what's important to us helps us understand ourselves.

Below is an exercise that we can all do to help us gain that clarity and understanding.

THE CIRCLE OF LIFE Look at the wheel and choose the area you want to look at first. If the heading doesn’t resonate with you then feel free to change it to something that is more meaningful for you.

We all have a set of values that are at our true core. But the values can differ in various areas of our lives.

That could be in terms of what's important to us in relationships, our career, our environment, health and fitness amongst others.

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Abundance

Empathy

Loyalty

Risk

Acceptance

Encouragement

Mindful

Safety

Accountability

Enthusiasm

Motivated

Security

Achievement

Ethics

Open Minded

Spiritualism

Adventure

Excellence

Original

Stable

Ambition

Fairness

Passionate

Simplicity

Appreciation

Family

Peace

Stability

Autonomy

Flexibility

Perfection

Success

Balance

Freedom

Playful

Teamwork

Boldness

Fun

Power

Thankfulness

Brilliance

Growth

Preparation

Time keeping

Calm

Happiness

Proactive

Thoughtful

Caring

Health

Recognition

Traditional

Challenge

Honesty

Risk

Trust

Charity

Inclusiveness

Reward

Understanding

Commitment

Independence

Safety

Unique

Compassion

Innovation

Security

Useful

Co-operation

Inspiration

Spiritualism

Versatile

Collaboration

Intuition

Stable

Vision

Consistency

Integrity

Recognition

Warmth

Creativity

Joy

Relationships

Wealth

Dependability

Kindness

Reliability

Well-being

Development

Leadership

Resiliance

Wisdom

Diversity

Love

Responsibility

VALUES IDENTIFICATION Then with that area in mind, look at the above list of words, add in any that resonate for you but aren’t included, then remove all the words that don’t mean anything to you.

• What do I need to do more off to incorporate those values into my life?

• What do I need to stop doing that doesn’t fit with my values.

• What do I need to change to give myself more fulfilment

Keep going through the list until you are down to less than 10 words - Ideally 5 – 6 values.

Once you are down to your final words prioritise in the order of importance to you when thinking about the chosen area of your life.

Once you have completed each area of the chart or just the key ones for yourself ask yourself the following questions thinking about that specific area of your life.

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

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 207

Could You Foster Brothers and Sisters

Lancashire County Council are appealing to anyone who feels they could give a loving home to brothers and sisters.

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www.lancmag.com

Needing a Home Together in Lancashire?

We know how devastating it can be for any child to be separated from not only their parents but from their siblings. Their relationship is usually strong, but those who come from a challenging background can have an even deeper bond.

Why it is important to keep brothers and sisters together?

To be separated at one of the most frightening times in their lives can heighten feelings of anxiety, upset and confusion. Growing up in adverse circumstances siblings are often extremely close and reliant on each other, and often if there are older siblings, they can sometimes assume a care taking role for younger ones.

I

n Lancashire, there are around 50 children each month in need of a foster home and about a third of these children are brothers and sisters, many of whom sadly face being separated.

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Fostering brothers and sisters can be so rewarding and there are many benefits of keeping them together: • It provides children with familiarity and makes settling into their new home less traumatic, and often helps them to settle quicker.

• It also causes less emotional trauma making them happier in their foster home.

• Being more settled at home often helps them achieve more at school.

• It promotes their identity and sense of belonging by maintaining their family connections.

• We know that the relationships between brothers and sisters can be the most lasting relationships during our lifetimes.

We asked some of our foster carers why keeping brothers and sisters together is important to them: • It’s so important that siblings stay together, watching them together is just so rewarding and such a joy.

• Love, disagreements, competition and forever friends is a definition of a sibling group.

• They are their own little support system and know what each other are going through.

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 209

• Caring for siblings does come with its own set of challenges but knowing that you are keeping them together helps you overcome these.

Enquire today

Council Foster Carers are eligible to apply to the Blue Light Card scheme.

If you feel that you are able to help and support children across Lancashire remain together and provide a stable, nurturing environment that they can thrive in you can register your interest on our website: www.lancashire.gov.uk/fostering or call us on 0300 123 6723

When a sibling group of three or more children are matched and placed at the same time, foster carers will receive an additional incentive one off payment of £1,000, after the children have been successfully fostered for two months.

• Fostering siblings enables them to share together, laugh together and most importantly, just be together!

What are the benefits of fostering with Lancashire County Council?

We are a not for profit organisation, we know our children well, we work with and within the local community and you can be sure our foster carers have excellent support.

As a foster carer for Lancashire County Council, you will have access to 24-hour support, a supervising Social Worker, a mentor, fostering academy, Fostering Communities, regular support groups and 1 to 1 support available and on-going training to support your learning and development.

We also have a wellbeing programme, long service awards, support for sons and daughters of foster carers and also Lancashire County

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