Local Life - Burscough & Villages - Nov/Dec 2012 by Local Life 247 Ltd

Burscough & Villages Edition

Local Bonﬁre

Free!

Nov/Dec 2012

Guide

Christmas in Croston

Taste Test Photo: Mawdesley and beyond from Harrock Hill by Chris Pearce

in Mere Brow

FREE Loaf in Burscough

Win! A meal for t�o

in our Lancashire Day competition www.locallife247.co.uk

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Bread of Life! You’d think that with the clocks going back last weekend that the UK would shut down for the dark winter months, leaving us here at Local Life very little to write about. Well, in fact, the very opposite is true because we’ve had so many emails telling us what you’re all up to in the run up to Christmas, we’ve struggled to fit everything in! It’s double competition time this month; test your knowledge of the Lancashire dialect and you can win one of three meals for two at the Ruﬀord Arms in our Lancashire Day competition, or you can win one of three Christmas Hampers, packed with local produce! And if you’re one of life’s unlucky ones when it comes to competitions then don’t despair, simply clip out the coupon on page 11 and you can get a free loaf of bread at the Lancashire Bread House at Burscough Wharf! By now, you may have worked out that we have two diﬀerent editions in West Lancs; one edition going out to Ormskirk & Aughton one month and the other goes out to Burscough and the neighbouring villages on the following month. You’ll obviously get the Burscough & Villages edition through the door every 2 months, but if you want to pick up the Ormskirk & Aughton edition in the intervening month, then you can do so from selected Farm Shops in the local area – see the advertisement on page 50 for exact details. We’ll be back after Christmas – have a good one!

In this issue 20 21 22 23 30 34 36 40 44 46 50 51 52 55

Local Bonﬁre Guide Free Loaf at Burscough Wharf 20% off at the Rufford Arms Lancashire Day Competition Money and Investment Taste Test – The Crab and Lobster Puzzle Corner Win a Christmas Hamper! Christmas Shopping Guide Jack’s Tracks visits Newton-le-Willows Hearty Lentil Soup Recipe Angie Barker’s Garden Diary Home Services Useful Numbers/Puzzle Solutions

Publisher: Local Life 247 Ltd, Unit 8, Hewitt Business Park, Winstanley Road, Orrell, Wigan WN5 7XB T 01695 627 999 @

info@loccallife247.co.uk

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Sales & Editorial: Chris Pearce, Nicola Gray Design & Production: Peter Bretherton Accounts & Distribution: Sally Boon

sales@locallife247.co.uk design@locallife247.co.uk

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The December issue of Local Life will be published on Thursday 29th November. The copy deadline is Thursday 15th November. Local Life is published every month. The magazine will be distributed into the following edition areas on an alternate monthly basis. The Ormskirk & Aughton edition is delivered to 9,750 homes and businesses in Ormskirk, Aughton, Westhead, Halsall, Haskayne and Bickerstaffe. The Burscough & Villages edition is delivered to 8,000 homes and businesses in Burscough, Parbold, Croston, Rufford, Mawdesley, Scarisbrick, Bescar, Newburgh, Bretherton, Mere Brow and Holmeswood. You can also pick up a free copy of Local Life, on or around the second weekend of the month at Morrisons in Ormskirk, Tesco’s in Burscough or at farm shops in the West Lancs area. Alternatively, you can check out our online publication at www.locallife247.co.uk. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this publication is accurate, neither the publisher or its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or other cause.

Chrisp@locallife247.co.uk

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No part of this publication may be copied or reproduced without the prior written consent of Local Life 247 Ltd.

When you receive the new edition of Local Life - remember to recycle the old one.

Pick of the Pops A group of determined children, along with adult volunteers, gave up their Saturday recently; their mission? To rid Burscough of litter! The litter pick was instigated by PUSH, a group of 16-18 year olds who attend St John the Baptist in Burscough, who want to help others and make a difference to the lives of those living in the local community. The group have already linked up with Oaks Church in Skelmersdale, and have recently done a couple of litter picks in Skelmersdale, planted lots of flower bulbs and have also been actively supporting their food bank which helps those in need, but the group wanted to also do something in their home village of Burscough.

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So they joined forces with the JC’s (a group of younger children aged 11-14 who are members of the JC group at St John the Baptist) and a few local scouts who were anxious to complete a community challenge award, and, after a nice cooked breakfast, set off round the village to collect litter. And just look at the amount they collected didn’t they do well! For more details about the St John the Baptist Church in Burscough, please visit their website www.st-johnsburscough.org

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Remembrance Sunday Churches all over the area will be holding special services next Sunday (11th November) honouring the brave servicemen and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for the country. The Mayor of West Lancs will attend the Burscough parade which starts from the Legion Headquarters in Lord Street at 2pm and marches to the war memorial in Junction Lane where a wreath will be laid. The Parade will then march to St.John’s Parish Church for a service. Croston Parish Council is holding a Service of Remembrance at St Michael’s and All Angels Parish Church on the 11th. The parade will depart from Croston Old School at 1pm for a short service at the War Memorial. Following this, the parade will proceed to the church, where the main service begins at 1.30pm. The remembrance parade in Ormskirk will start at St.Anne’s R.C. Church at 9.30am. The parade will then march on to the re-located war memorial at Coronation

Park. Here there will be a short service, silence and laying of wreaths, before the parade continues to Ormskirk Parish Church for the main service starting at 10.30am. This will be the first Remembrance Sunday for Ormskirk’s newly renovated war memorial, which has been moved to its new home in Coronation Park due to the closure of the Comrades Club. New paving has been put in place around the memorial and further works to provide two carved stone plaques with the names of local people who have lost their lives serving their country, and new bench seating, in front of the War Memorial are planned for next year.

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Theatre Company On Friday 9th November the Ormskirk Theatre Company are performing a new, updated version of their moving production of ‘Remember’ to commemorate Remembrance Day. This production combines song, drama, visual media and local history to mark almost 100 years of conflict from the First World War to Afghanistan, and also marks the 30th anniversary of the Falklands Conflict. ‘Remember’ shows at the Ormskirk Civic Hall at 7.30pm on 9th November and tickets are available from www.ormskirktheatrecompany.co.uk or from Brighouse Wolff in Aughton Street.

Wanted - One Body

Wanted – One Body is the title of the Douglas Drama Group’s next production, which is to be staged on three consecutive nights on 29, 30 November and 1st December at Parbold WI. Written by Charles Dyer, Wanted – One Body is a classic old dark house mystery of disappearing bodies, sliding panels and howls in the night. It is a who-dunnit and a thriller, but with the accent on laughter. Tickets are priced at £6 and are available now from the DIY Centre and from Parbold Fruit & Veg, both on The Common in Parbold village Centre. Doors open on the evenings at 7p.m. and curtain up is at 7.30 p.m. New members are always welcome at Douglas Drama Group; if you are interested, search Facebook for the Douglas Drama Group page.

The annual pantomime from the Ormskirk Theatre Company follows shortly afterwards. This year’s production is ‘Cat in Shoes’ and the performances take place at Ormskirk Civic Hall between Thursday 22nd November and Sunday 25th November. Tickets are priced at £8 for adults, £6 for concessions, with family tickets available for £24. Tickets are available at www. ormskirktheatrecompany.co.uk.

Drama Queens Does your home have a resident drama queen or two, or perhaps a budding Kenneth Branagh? To give them an outlet for their thespian qualities, you can steer them in the direction of Rose Youth Theatre at Edge Hill, where they can blossom with the benefit of expert advice and use the state of the art theatre facilities. Sessions are £5 each, but your little darling can try the first session absolutely free! Sessions for 8-11 year olds take place from Saturday 12.30-2.30pm, for the 12-14 year olds they take place on Saturday from 2.45pm-4.45pm, and for the 15-25 year olds, the sessions run from 7.00-9.00pm on Wednesday nights. For more information, please call 01695 584480.

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Vintique Fair If you like your clothes as old as your cheese and your wine, then put a date in your diary for the Chic Vintique Fair, which is taking place at Burscough Wharf on Saturday 24th November. The fair, which runs from 10am4pm will feature vintage and retro clothing, arts, quality gifts, collectables, antiques, and gorgeous gifts, just in time for Christmas! Admission to the fair is £1.50. For more information, or to book a stall for your business, visit www.brevents.co.uk or call 07779 342782.

Holmeswood Tai Chi If you’d like to learn more about Tai Chi, the gentle exercise that has its roots in ancient Chinese martial arts, then you can find out at the ‘Tai Chi for Beginners’ classes that are being held in Holmeswood Primary School. The class run from 7pm-8pm every Monday night, and costs £4 a session. Tai Chi has been shown to have a positive effect on muscle strength, flexibility, balance and also as a way of successfully reducing stress levels. Just turn up on the night wearing loose clothing and socks, and bring some water too - everyone is welcome.

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Shopping Evening

If you’d like to get in the festive mood then pop along to the Cedar Farm Galleries for a Christmas Preview and Shopping Evening on Wednesday 14th of November from 5pm to 9pm. You can try some mulled wine, gobble up your first mince pies of the season, gasp in awe at the decorations in the Gallery and collect a free giveaway - a pack of three hand printed Cedar Farm Christmas cards, designed by in-house artist Richard Dickinson. Father Christmas will be doing a spot of overtime, making an early appearance at his Grotto in the Cedar Farm Courtyard, and the Cafe will be open from 7pm for supper; serving super soups and perfect puddings to take the chill off the cold night. For more details about the Christmas Preview and Shopping Evening, visit the Cedar Farm website, www.cedarfarm.net.

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Competition Winners

The lucky winners of our competition to win family tickets to Martin Mere were as follows; Amanda Morton of Thornton Close in Rufford (pictured with husband Ian and daughters Keira & Amelie), Christine Fairclough of Weaver Avenue in Burscough (pictured with grandchildren Olivia & Harry), Marcus Harrison of County Road in Ormskirk, Mrs Bullock of Noel Gate in Aughton, Mrs Bowestead of Grimshaw Lane in Ormskirk, Rebecca Forde of Fairlie in Skelmersdale, Elaine Huyton of Brandreth Drive in Parbold, Mr Fryer of Harridge Lane in Scarisbrick, Colin Clarkson of Rosecroft Close in Ormskirk and Carl Munnelly of Rivington Drive in Burscough. Well done to all the winners! Look out for the two competitions in this month’s issue of Local Life – we are giving away three meals for two at the Rufford Arms in a Lancashire Day competition (see page 23) and we’re also giving away three Christmas hampers stuffed with regional foodstuffs; turn to page 40/41 for details.

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Mawdesley Millennium Green If you’ve ever been down to the Millennium Green in Mawdesley Village you’ll know what a tranquil and wellkept area it is. But as with most things in life it doesn’t look after itself – the maintenance is left in the safe hands of a rather enthusiastic bunch of helpers. Mawdesley 2000 is a group of local residents who formed to look after the area and help to raise funds to keep the Green in tip-top condition. The small team of volunteers get together every 2nd Saturday in the month, to carry out light repairs and improvements on the Green. They also have a rota which involves regularly checking specific areas each week, to make sure the Green is a safe and pleasant place to visit.

meadowland, woodland and access paths so the group is always on the lookout for new helpers, ideas for events and ways to show the local community what the Green has to offer. As well as hosting local community events like the annual bonfire and family fun day the Green is home to a skate board area, children’s play area, wild gardens, picnic tables and under cover seating. You don’t have to be Alan Titchmarsh to enjoy the Millennium Green in Mawdesley, any assistance would be welcome and as an added incentive volunteers are rewarded with a cup of tea and bacon butties!

The Green covers an area of 4 acres, including 3 acres of

If you would like to lend a hand or share some of your ideas please contact Phil Talbot on 07763 236165 or Angela Burnett on 07768 847247.

Autumn Fayre

Craft Workshops

Tarleton Methodist Church is throwing a Grand Autumn Fayre next Saturday (10th November) at the church on Church Road in the village. A gift stall will give you the chance to tick your Auntie Ethel’s present off your list, and a cake stall will stave away those hunger pangs. Light lunches will also be served, fresh vegetables will be on sale and you can also have a go at the tombola. The Fayre runs from 11am to 2pm.

Cedar Farm Galleries will be holding a series of drop in workshops with a Christmas theme at the Farm on Saturday 24th November and Saturday 8th December. The Venue’s very own artists and craftspeople will be hosting the workshops in the art@cedarfarm building between 11am and 4pm on those days; the cost per workshop will vary but the prices start from £3 and are suitable for a variety of age groups.

History Days Were your ancestors in the military? Would you like to find out more about your family history? If so, you can find out more about your familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s military history in a special event at Burscough Library - a Military/Family History Day - which runs from 9.30am to 12.30pm on Saturday 10th November. The day has been organised by the Lathom & Burscough Military Heritage Society. The group is also running a workshop at Ormskirk Library later on the same day, from 1pm to 4pm, and at Up Holland Library on 17th November from 10am to 12.15 pm and finally at Burscough British Legion Club in Lord Street on Wednesday 20th November from 7pm -9.30pm. For more details visit www.lbhms.co.uk.

Get a mention If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a member of a community group and you want to publicise your next event free in Local Life, then just email details along with a contact name and number to editorial@locallife247.co.uk

Bradshaws at Homestead Buzz Hawkins, the creator and voice behind Audrey, Alf and Billy Bradshaw - also known as The Bradshaws comes to the Homestead Farm in Holmeswood just in time to celebrate Lancashire Day. The hilarious family from the fictional suburb of Barnoldswick in Manchester will be the main attraction at an Evening of Laughter and Fun at Homestead on Saturday 24th November. The evening will also consist of a special 2 course Lancashire Dinner and the doors will open at 7.30pm. To book your tickets, or to ask for further information, call Homestead Farm on 01704 821358.

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All Stars

Numbers at the All Stars Badminton Club are increasing and the coaches at the club are hosting another session to cater for the demand. The club meets at Burscough Sports Centre on Tuesdays from 5-6pm and another session from 6-7pm. There is also a games session at Burscough Sports Centre on a Sunday afternoons between 4.30-6pm. All Stars badminton Club have players of all ages from 5 years old to 79 years old at the club and all their coaches are CRB checked and registered with Badminton England. New players are welcomed, and the first session is free! For more details, please visit the website www.allstarsbadminton.co.uk or call Debbie Rigby on 07732 823620.

Halsall Call If you’ve not hit a shuttlecock in earnest since high school and you’d quite like to reacquiant yourself with the sport then, we’ve got news for you! The Halsall Baminton Club are looking for players to join their sessions. The group aren’t in a league, they just play for pleasure and exercise at St Cuthbert’s School Hall from 7.30pm every Thursday. They welcome beginners, improvers, returners and experienced players to their sessions; but you must be over 16 years of age. For more details, please contact Margaret on 01704 840305 or Jim on 01704 840908.

Autumn Ramble The Parbold Ramblers are staging their monthly walk this Sunday (4th November) from the Rigbye Arms pub on Whittle Lane. This is a six mile walk. The group has been around since 1998 and are always happy to welcome new members. They walk on the 1st Sunday of each month, usually meeting up at Parbold shops to share cars. Further information can be obtained from the Secretary, Liz Foulds on 01257 462121 or email Liz at parboldramblers@talktalk.net.

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Charity Ball

The Legacy Rainbow House charity are organising their 12th annual charity ball which takes place on Saturday 24th November at Park Hall Hotel in Charnock Richard. With this year’s theme being ‘Hollywood’, guests can expect to see the red carpet rolled out, a champagne reception and a grandly decorated room. Tickets are priced at £55 each or £500 for a table of 10, and the cost includes a champagne reception, 3 course dinner, coffee and tea, an auction and a charity raffle. Entertainment includes a live band (Forbidden Opportunities), and a DJ and disco will carry on the fun until late. Last year’s ‘Glitter Ball’ was attended by over 250 guests and raised over £12,000. If you’d like to book your tickets for the ball, contact the Fundraising Team now on 01704 823276. All the proceeds from our annual ball are invested into the services provided by The Legacy Rainbow House. The Legacy Rainbow House offers a service known as Conductive Education along with physiotherapy. The

Legacy’s aim is to teach children with brain injury and disabilities how to gain independent life skills, enabling them to live more active and independent lives through specialist teachings. The children suffer from various degrees of disabilities and we teach them physical, social, emotional, cognitive and self-care skills. Rainbow House have an on-site nursery for mainstream children and also specialise in looking after children with life limiting conditions and disabilities.

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Panto Fun Christmas is just 8 weeks or so away, and an essential part of the season of goodwill is the traditional pantomime! Ormskirk will be hosting Aladdin at the Civic Hall on Wednesday 13th and Thursday 14th December and tickets are sure to in hot demand, so book yours now! The pantomime stars Laura Handley (aka Candy from Hollyoaks) and Grace Adams-Short, an ex-Big Brother contestant, and also features the Skelmersdale School of Dance. There’s a 7pm performance only on Wednesday, and Thursday sees performances at 10am, 1pm and 7pm. Tickets are priced at £6 (£7 for evening performances) and are available from www.trio-entertainment.co.uk.

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Douglas Music

Heskin Murder Mystery

Concerts are both held at Parbold Village Hall, starting at 7.45pm. Admission is £12, with a £5 price for young persons/students. For more details, please visit the sociey’s website at www.parbolddouglasmusic.org.

The event takes place at the 16th century Hall, which is said to be haunted by the White Lady, the ghost of a woman who was hung from a beam by her priest, who was desperate to please a group of marauding Roundheads. Tickets for the show are priced at £16 for adults and £12 for children; these are available from 01257 452044.

Douglas Music have two more concerts to see out the year; the first, A Tribute to Kathleen Ferrier will be staged on Saturday 24th November and will star Karina Lucas (mezzosoprano) and Simon Lane (piano). Then on Saturday 8th December, Alan Barnes (saxophone) and David Newton (piano) will play the Best of Jazz for the last 100 years.

Autumn Fair Heskin Methodist Church are holding their Autumn Fair this Saturday (November 3rd) from 10.30am-12.30pm at Heskin Village Hall. Everyone is welcome, and there will be homemade cakes for sale as well as fresh fruit and vegetables. Other attractions include a tombola and a raffle and admission is just 20p.

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The King of the land is dead. He was struck down in the courtyard of his castle, but before he died, he hid his crown. Whoever holds the crown will rule the kingdom, and your job is to find it before the King’s murderer does. This murder mystery takes place at Heskin Hall on Friday 23rd November, just one of a series of murder mystery events run by the After Dark Murder team.

Bonfires to remember! Saturday 3rd November

Sunday 4th November

Mawdesley Bonﬁre & Firework Spectacular

Fireworks Spectacular Skelmersdale Cricket Club

Bonfire and Firework Spectacular on Mawdesley’s Millennium Green. Tickets can be purchased from Mawdesley Post Office or the Londis Store. Refreshments will be available, the gates are open at 5.30pm, the bonfire will be lit at 6.30pm and the fireworks will commence at 7.00pm (times are approximate).

Cost: £6 Adults/£4 Children (available on the ‘door’)

Charity Bonﬁre & Fireworks

Event held at Washington Hall in Euxton, PR7 6DH. Gates open from 6pm, Bonfire lit at approximately 7pm and the firework show begins at approximately 7.30pm. There’s food and refreshments available. Last year this annual event raised £3,000 for Legacy Rainbow House and the Fire Fighters Charity. Admission - £3 adult, £2 Child or £10 for a car/family of 5.

Ormskirk CC Bonﬁre Party

Held at the cricket ground on Alty’s Lane in Ormskirk. Gates open 5.30pm, firework display starts 7.30pm. BBQ If organising your own bonfire or firework display do make sure you know the laws about bonfires and fireworks. Keep Children and pets safe and sound during the celebrations, and wear appropriate clothing. Learn the Fireworks Code ...all so you can have the best Bonﬁre Night possible - and the safest!

Gates open at 5pm and the firework display begins at 7:30pm. There’s a bar, food stalls and a fun fair for all the family! Skelmersdale Cricket Club is on Blaguegate Lane, Skelmersdale, WN8 8TY. Admission - £3 on the gate

Fireworks – The Crown in Croston

Display starts 5pm. Hog roast and Barbeque too! Admission - Free

Monday 5th November

Fireworks, BBQ & Bonﬁre

Event held at the Eagle and Child, Bispham Green L40 3SG – Starts at 7.30pm, followed by quiz night at 8.30pm Admission – Free

Halsall Bonﬁre & Fireworks

Annual event held at St Cuthbert’s Primary School on New Street in Halsall and organised by the school’s PTFA. Barbeque with hot food, sweets and candy floss, tea and coffee, live music, a DJ and a firework display. Gates open 5.30pm. Free parking (just follow signposted directions) Admission - Adult £5.00, Children £1.00

Bonﬁre Night

Event held at the Farmers Arms in Heskin, starting at 6pm. Bonfire, fabulous firework display, fairground carousel, toffee stalls and an outside bar. Admission £5, under 16’s £3, under 5’s free

Rising to the challenge Located at the beautiful Burscough Wharf in the heart of Burscough Village, The Lancashire Bread House is a family run business with a real passion for producing delicious, freshly baked bread. Since opening earlier this year the Lancashire Bread House has gained quite a loyal following throughout Burscough and beyond, people have been known to travel from as far as Edinburgh. So what makes their bread so different you may ask? Master Baker Jon Mercer told Local Life, “Our bread is real bread, made with the highest grade flour we use a traditional, close-kept, family recipe prepared by hand – no machinery and not a preservative in sight. “We believe in making bread of the highest quality using only the finest, local ingredients and traditional time tested recipes with a modern angle. We are proud of our bread- we think it is something to celebrate. We put all our energy into creating our loaves and making sure people enjoy them. Nourishing and nurturing, a good loaf is a really heart-warming experience.” Whilst most of us are tucked up in our beds, Jon and his small but perfectly formed team - wife Rebecca and sous Boulanger Michael - are up mixing, kneading, proofing and baking. Because they are not limited by mechanical processes or the restrictions of chemical additives, they can provide many different types of bread.

The team are now working on seasonal ranges for Christmas as well as launching their workshop programme. As a member of the Real Bread Campaign, The Lancashire Bread House is deﬁnitely worth a visit, we defy anyone to leave empty handed.

FREE LOAF FOR EVERY READER We’re offering Local Life readers a small white, wholemeal or soda loaf FREE on production of this voucher. Offer Valid from 31st October to 30th November 2012



Jon invests a lot of time experimenting and creating new recipes, he added, “I love coming up with new recipes. One of the great things about bread is it’s so versatile, you can have so much fun with it, the possibilities are endless. “We also regularly receive special requests, let’s just say we rise to the challenge of delighting our customers, from catering for speciﬁc dietary requirements through to personal taste, you name it, we can create it.”

The Lancashire Bread House, Burscough Wharf, Burscough, L40 5RZ Tel:01704 895845 www.thelancashirebreadhouse.co.uk LancashireBreadHouse @lancsbreadhouse

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Long Live Lanky

Lancastrians up and down the county are preparing to celebrate Lancashire Day on Tuesday November 27th. Every year this celebration unites young and old in an event that sees thousands of people swear their allegiance to The Queen, as the Duke of Lancaster. This landmark event commemorates the day in 1295 when Lancashire sent its first representatives to Parliament by King Edward I of England to attend what later became known as The Model Parliament. For many years the Lancashire Day proclamation has been read out by town criers throughout the county and many pubs, clubs, schools and organisations will be holding Lancashire Day events. So have a scout around your neighbourhood and see how you can add to the celebrations. Lancastrians across the county will be wearing their red roses and donning their flat caps with pride this Lancashire Day, make sure you’re one of them by getting back to your roots. Long live Lanky! For more details about how you can celebrate Lancashire Day – visit the website at www.forl.co.uk

Here at Local Life we get to know about some of the best places to eat in Lancashire and we thought it was high time we shared them with our readers! And what better way to celebrate Lancashire Day then with some fantastic and not to mention free local food! We have teamed up with The Rufford Arms in Rufford to give readers the chance to win a meal for two. We have three meals to give away and all you have to do is match our Lanky phrases with their standard English translation and send your entry to; Local Life 247 Ltd, Unit 8, Hewitt Business Park, Winstanley Road, Orrell, WN5 7XB by the closing date of 30th November 2012, or e-mail your entry, plus your name, address and contact number to competition@locallife247.co.uk Name .............................................................................



Ah’m afeart

Eaw’t diggl’in?

Swant a brew?

Geritt ett’n

............................... Post Code .....................................

Binmonbin?

Phone ............................................................................

Woss up wi thi? How are you doing? Would you care for a cup of tea?

a I’m afraid

Address ......................................................................... ........................................................................................

Email ............................................................................. Crossword Competition Rules 1. Only one entry per household 2. Entrants must be over 16 years of age 3. The winners will be notified within 14 days of the closing date. 4. Local Life 247 Ltd cannot accept responsibility for entries that are delayed or damaged in the post.

What is wrong with you?

5. Employees of Local Life 247 Ltd or their immediate relatives are not eligible to enter this competition.

Has the Bin Man been?

Local Life 247 Ltd is registered under the Data Protection Act and abides by the guidelines of the act. We will never sell or pass your data to any third party company. However, we would like to contact you occasionally by email with news of great local offers and also to check our magazine distribution in your area.

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Croston at Christmas Let’s face it; Croston has had a lousy year. Those floods back in June turned this picturesque Lancashire village into an island, and the closure of one of the main roads from the village for five whole months has impacted on both traders and residents of the village. Fingers crossed though; all of Croston’s problems are fast disappearing into the distance as residents and visitors come together to celebrate the Croston Christmas Fair! The Croston Christmas Fair is a beautiful traditional village Christmas celebration organised by local people. This traditional fair recommenced in 2008 following the decision by a number of villagers to put together the Croston Village Festivities Group to plan, organise and run the day; and what a day they have planned for you!

stalls have booked to date and these stalls will be sited at four different venues in the village; Trinity & St. Michael’s Primary School, Croston Old School, St.Michael’s Church Vestry and Croston Community Centre. Entertainment includes a fun fair, a street magician, brass bands, singers, morris dancers and a piper. Tricks will abound at the Fair with circus performers showing off their repertoire and there will also be a fantastic magic show! A Land Train will take children of all ages to see Santa in his special Grotto, there will be a treasure trail for children and there will be performing dogs and donkey rides too. You’ll be literally salivating at the choice of food on offer at the Fair. In addition to the usual popcorn and hot dogs, there will be a hog roast to try, venison burgers for sale and a Moroccan food stall and an Indian food stall for those who like it spicy! Local pubs – and there are plenty of those in Croston – will be open selling hearty food and good ale too! The event will end with a torchlight procession at 5.15pm. So you don’t have to go far to fill up on Christmas spirit this year, just pop down to Croston on the Sunday 9th December and join in the fun; it’s going to be a great day out for all the family!

The Christmas Fair is held on Sunday 9th December, starting at 1pm. There will be a wealth of craft stalls to visit and to stock up on your Christmas shopping. Over 40

If you can help out on the day, even for an hour or two, the Croston Village Festivities Group would like to hear from you. The group is comprised entirely of volunteers dedicated to making the Croston Christmas Fair a success. Please call Brenda Hopper on 01772 601363 or use the contact details on the website – www.crostonfestivities.co.uk.

Chamber Choir Parbold’s Chamber Choir will be staging a concert next Saturday (10th November) at Parbold Village Hall, starting at 7.30pm. Mozart’s Requiem and Stanford’s Stabat Mater will be directed by Jim Cooke, with a piano duet accompaniment by Peter Kwater and Svetlana Westall. Tickets are £8 and are available by calling 01257 450063 or 01772 491121.

Brief Encounter

Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concerto, which provided the background music for the romantic 1945 film ‘Brief Encounter’, will be featured in the Autumn Concert of Ormskirk Music Society on Saturday 17th November. The soloist is the well-known young Liverpool-based pianist – Tom Kimmance, who has thrilled Ormskirk audiences with his past performances of well-known piano concertos. He will be accompanied by the Society Orchestra under their conductor – Jim Cooke. The programme will also focus on performances of sacred choral music, from Bach to Lauridsen, by the Society’s Choir, under its new conductor – Ian Shirley. The concert will be held at the Ormskirk School, Wigan Road, Ormskirk, and will commence at 7.30pm. Admission is £9 for adults and £4 for children. For tickets contact Clare on 01925-221301, or buy them at the door. Both the choir and the orchestra would welcome new members. If you are interested in singing in the choir, please contact Diane on 01695-624253 or Jan on 01257464388; or if you are interested in playing in the orchestra please contact Jenny on 01695-573787 or Janet on 01257-464437.

Quality care and companionship in the comfort of your own home

Would you like to join Parbold Chamber Choir? The Choir is a friendly local group of about 30 singers under the musical directorship of Jim Cooke. Their programmes are varied and interesting and they meet on Wednesday evenings from 8-10pm at Our Lady and All Saints RC Primary School in Parbold. The choir performs three concerts a year, goes carol singing and is available for weddings and other events. New members are always welcome, especially tenors (female and male!). For further information please see our website www.parboldchamberchoir.co.uk or telephone 01704 821303.

Panto Fun Plan a little fun this Christmas by booking your panto tickets for the production of Dick Whittington in Preston. Performed by the Preston Musical Comedy Society at the Playhouse Theatre in Market Street West, this pantomime runs from Thursday 13th December to Sunday 16th December and also from Wednesday 19th December to Sunday 23rd December. Tickets are £7, £9 and family tickets will set you back £30. For more details on the panto, visit the website www. prestonmusicalcomedy.co.uk and for tickets, please call 01772 721835 or 07745 745952.

Right at Home is one of the UK’s most trusted care companies. Our local team of friendly, reliable carers specialise in assisting people who may need a helping hand with day-to-day tasks in their own home. Our services include: • Companionship • Transportation and errands • Meal preparation • Light housekeeping • Help with washing, dressing and personal care • Medication reminders • Post-operative support • Holiday and respite cover • Specialist dementia care And much more... To find out how we can help care for you or your family, call

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Festive Delights

Parbold and District Flower Club are holding a Christmas Gala Evening on Tuesday 20th November at Parbold Village Hall on The Green in Parbold at 7pm with the fantastic Tony Brown titled ‘Festive Delights’. Tickets are just £8 including a glass of wine or a soft drink. Everyone is welcome but tickets usually sell quickly so do bag yours quickly. So if you’d like to book your ticket please call Sheila Mitchell on 01257 464783.

Going West

Ladies Night

Food, wine, shopping and a good night out are on every woman’s wish list; if they are on yours then we have the perfect night for you! The Auberge Brasserie in Seabank Road in Southport is hosting a Ladies Night Christmas Special in December in aid of the Legacy Rainbow House. You can enjoy a spot of late night shopping on Lord Street and then the fun starts at the Brasserie at 7.30pm, where you will be greeted with mulled wine to warm your Christmas cockles! Your £20 ticket will buy you a three course meal, with coffee and live entertainment to follow. There will also be a charity raffle on the night to raise funds for the Mawdesley-based charity. To secure your tickets for the night not to be missed, call the fundraising team on 01704 823276.

O’ Este Restaurant in Chapel Street in Ormskirk is the place to be on Monday November 19th when the English Speaking Union (Liverpool and Merseyside Branch) is offering a 2 course lunch with tea and coffee for £13.50 The event is in aid of the RATTLE Scholarship Fund which gives young people the opportunity to experience and take part in activities that will develop their career goals. The Fund was set up in memory of Simon Rattle’s parents Dennis and Pauline Rattle who were long standing members of the ESU. There will be a presentation by well-known and highly respected Brenda Riley entitled ‘From Ragtime to Rock and Roll’. The ESU is a worldwide organisation which uses the English language to develop international understanding and trust. Details about the ESU are available from Sue Davies on 0151 342 6157, and if you want to buy tickets for the lunch, call Patrick Waite on 01695 573350.

Clogged Up And now for something completely different! If you think line dancing is out of line, that there’s no point to circle dancing and you no longer have a ball at ballroom dancing then, what about Clog Dancing? These classes are for absolute beginners and there is no need to go rooting round Granny’s attic, because clogs are provided. The beginner classes run from 7.30-8.30pm on Mondays at St Agnes Church Hall in Eccleston and the 8.30-9.30pm class is for those clog dancers with experience. For more details about the classes, visit www.clogdance.co.uk.

Accidents at Work According to the latest ﬁgures published by the Health and Safety Executive, over 1.2 million working people are suffering with a work related illness. The statistics also reveal that 200,000 people suffered an accident at work last year. However, this is just the number of accidents reported to HSE, the actual number of injuries is much higher, as many people choose to carry on working in pain and do not take any time off. Accidents at work can happen for a number of reasons, such as defective work equipment or inadequate training; it may be as simple as something being left on the ﬂoor, or not being given enough help when lifting things. In some cases there may not be an ‘accident’ at all and employees instead develop aches and pains or suffer other health problems over time, due to prolonged activity or exposure. Sadly, many employees are afraid to make a claim and some even blame themselves, but it could be that their employers have been negligent or broken the law and they may be entitled to compensation. By law, we have a right to claim from anyone who has caused us harm and so, if you have been injured at work, you should not worry about upsetting your employer by making a claim against them. Ultimately, it will be your employer’s insurance company who deals with the claim and pays any compensation.

If you have been injured at work, the first thing to do is make sure the accident has been properly and accurately recorded in the accident book. However, while helpful, this is not essential and it may be that you have had an accident within the last 3 years that was not properly documented, but this should not prevent a claim. Secondly, you should get some confidential, professional advice to help you through what can be a very difficult time. We at Dickinson Parker Hill have advised generations of local people on their right to claim and can provide you with the expert guidance you need following an injury. Our team of dedicated personal injury solicitors offer a completely free claim service on a no win, no fee basis, which guarantees you receive 100% of the compensation that you are awarded. Call us now on 01695 574201 for a free consultation to discuss the possibility of making a claim.

David Lunn LL.B. Partner Dhlunn@dphlaw.co.uk

TEL: 01695 574201

Some people worry that only employees involved in heavy industry or construction are eligible to bring claims, but this is simply not the case. Accidents can happen anywhere, whether it’s in an ofﬁce, on a building site or on the shop ﬂoor.

Dickinson Parker Hill Solicitors 22, Derby Street, Ormskirk, L39 2BZ Telephone: 01695 574201 www.dphlaw.co.uk

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Christmas Shoppi at Heskin Hall Estate “thoughtful gifts for my family & friends” “friendly atmosphere” “just a great day out!” “relaxing and enjoyable”

ing at its Finest… Over 40 unique and individual shops selling: Gifts & Crafts Jewellery Handmade Cards Children’s Clothing & Toys Women’s Clothing & Accessories Art Gallery Florist & Plant Centre Speciality foods Local farmed meats Fresh Local Fruit & Veg Hair & Beauty Furniture & Beds Men’s Clothing And lots more…!

Santa will be living in his Grotto throughout December!

Check out www.heskinfarmersmarket.co.uk for Grotto opening times and other seasonal events

Open 6 days (Hepplestone Fine Arts open 7 days) Tuesday - Saturday 10am-5pm Sunday 10.30am-5.30pm

Wood Lane, Heskin, Nr. Chorley PR7 5PA Telephone: 07599 831907 www.heskinfarmersmarket.co.uk

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Money & Investments Lloyds Banking Pension and Investment Customers!! Some of you may recall that I wrote a piece in the February edition of Local Life about the Retail Distribution Review which was initiated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and its likely impact in terms of adviser numbers. Unfortunately the predictions I made in that article are now playing out. The latest bank that has stated their intention to restrict advice is the Lloyds Banking Group. Their recent announcement that it is to stop offering investment advice in its high street branches to customers who hold less than £100,000 in savings and investments is a very sad development for both the banking industry and local community. Barclays made a similar move last year, announcing it would stop giving financial advice to individual customers in its bank branches. Having spent nearly ten years working for the TSB (in the late eighties/early nineties) which is now part of the Lloyds Banking Group I know a lot of the branch advisers and customers that have been affected by this decision. Indeed we have already had enquiries from a number of Lloyd’s customers holding Scottish Widows investments and pension products as the Lloyds decision has effectively left a lot of customers without a gateway to advice. This could not have come at a worse time for customers with the tough economic climate and challenging investment markets. Due to our independence those clients that have recently joined us are now benefiting from the fact that we can advise them not only on their Scottish Widows and Halifax plans but on all investment and pension contracts they hold within the entire market place. The Retail Distribution Review or ‘RDR’ for short, which comes into effect at the beginning of 2013

means that the banks’ costs are likely to rise at exactly the same time as they will have to be more explicit about how much their advice is costing customers. Whilst I have talked about this for some time now it would appear that the media are now waking up to this development. I have read articles in a number of Sunday papers during the last couple of weeks alerting readers to the changes and telling them to speak to their adviser about whether they intend to continue offering advice post 2012. The RDR is specifically designed to improve people’s understanding of, as well as increase their confidence in, financial advice. It aims to raise the level of professionalism among financial advisers so the minimum qualifications required are being increased and the way in which you pay for that advice is being altered to ensure complete transparency. In my opinion this is long overdue and will be a shot in the arm for the industry. As a business we changed the way we worked with our clients a number of years ago which now means that we are operating a model which the FSA is now prescribing. If you are affected by these developments or you are a Lloyds customer holding any of the following products please do not hesitate to get in touch. Scottish Widows Investment Bonds Pensions Unit Trusts or ISAs Halifax ISA Investor contracts Collective Investment Accounts Personal Investment Plans The cost of the initial consultation is met by ourselves and is without obligation. Please feel free to give one of our team a call on 01257 423800.

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Spirit of Christmas The Spirit of Christmas comes to Ormskirk later this month with the Christmas Festival at Emmanuel Methodist United Reformed Church. The church, which is situated across the road from Ormskirk Railway Station, will have market stalls and will be serving refreshments on Friday 30th November, Saturday 1st December and Sunday 2nd December. Decorated and illuminated Christmas Trees will fill the Church, together with Nativities scenes from all over the world.

Home visits also available in: Southport, West Lancs & surrounding areas

A Christmas Concert will be staged on the Friday at 7pm and additional attractions on the Saturday include Father Christmas, a group from the Ormskirk Family History Group and a demonstration entitled Living History, which will illuminate crafts, cooking, and weaponry of medieval times. Admission is ÂŁ2 and children go free. Proceeds for the event go to Church Funds to pay for the refurbishment of the church. For more details please call Lilian or Bob Graham on 01695 423119.

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Reel Fresh Fish!

The Crab & Lobster is an impressive addition to the Lancashire dining scene - get to know the name well, because you will be hearing it more frequently. After closing its doors in 1995 the restaurant was taken on and refurbished in 2010 by husband and wife duo Gerald and Pat Consett. Tucked away at the side of the Legh Arms, the setting is stylish, with rich red seating, polished wooden floors, and tasteful decoration too. Now Ben loves all things seafood – he’s a bit of a fish connoisseur so when we got the call to review the Crab & Lobster it was as if the mother ship was calling him home. To say he enjoyed this meal is a gross understatement – to start he went for the Seafood Platter. His plate arrived and it was packed with garlic king prawns, salt and pepper squid and mussels Provencal. Ben was very vocal about this dish – the king prawns were meaty and the added garlic and dash of chilli really gave it a lift, the batter on the squid was crispy and the squid was lovely and tender. The full flavoured tomato based sauce was a perfect accompaniment for the mussels – a real twist on the usual wine recipes. I went for the cauliflower and three cheese soup. There’s something about home-made soup that finds me gravitating towards this dish any time I see it on a menu – I think of it a litmus test, soup can so often be bland but any restaurant worth its salt won’t disappoint and neither did The Crab and Lobster. The soup was simply exquisite and offered a great mix of flavours – it was rich and creamy and had the perfect balance of cauliflower without the cheese being too over-powering. The added sprinkling of fresh chives over the top gave it another highlight and rounded the soup off perfectly. Ben continued with his exploration of some of the best fish dishes around

That’s what The Crab & Lobster at Mere Brow is all about - and not just fish come to think of it! An array of mouth-watering dishes greeted us one Sunday afternoon and it’s not hard to see how this restaurant blows the local competition out of the water. Never have I seen a restaurant so devoted to fine dining – with a la carte menus bursting with steak, chicken and seafood dishes, the world really is your oyster!

After taking a look at the dessert menu we decided to share a Crème Brulee! This dish was beautifully presented with shortbread biscuits and berry compote. The Crème Brulee was a heady mix of creamy custard and the caramelised top gave way with a satisfying snap as we both dug in – the filling was heavenly; smooth and silky just like it should be! Experienced Head Chef Mike Heap lets his menus do the talking - specialising in fish and seafood there are alternatives such as steak, chicken and vegetarian meals on offer. Between the cuisine, the setting and the restaurant’s growing popularity, it is clear that The Crab & Lobster is much more than just another fish in a sea of restaurants – we left with happy tummies and a real desire to shout about just how affordable and sophisticated fine dining can be!

(his words, not mine) opting for the Oven Roasted Cod Loin. Cod can sometimes be dry when oven roasted but this dish had been expertly prepared as the thick succulent flesh of the cod was moist and flaky and very moreish. The mild flavour of the fish was set off, but not overpowered by, the creamy leeks and tomato chutney – this was also served with some tasty chunky sautéed potatoes. Now I have to admit that I wouldn’t normally pick fish from a menu, but I wanted to see what this restaurant really had to offer and I plumped for the pan seared curried monkfish. The monkfish portion was also very generous – it came with a crispy skin that captured the delicate flavour of the curry spice beautifully and I liked the fact that the monkfish wasn’t hidden in dense sauce but sat atop of a deliciously fragrant crab and spring onion cream reduction.

The restaurant is open Tuesday to Saturday 6:00 pm to 9:15 (last food order) and all the details can be found on the website. The Crab & Lobster The Gravel, Mere Brow, Tarleton, PR4 6JX 01772 813333 www.crab-n-lobster.com

20% OFF Offer valid until 30th November 2012

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Local Life magazine

Strict Terms and Conditions This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Entitlement to this offer is when two persons purchase a main meal each from the a la carte menu along with a starter and a dessert each (three courses) only then they are entitled to choose either 20% discount off the food OR a free bottle of House White or Red or Rosé wine

The Gravel, Mere Brow, Tarleton, PR4 6JX Telephone: 01772 813333

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Totally per fect bathroom s

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we make it our business to help yours 36

Tis the season to enjoy some turkey, eggnog, mistletoe and also plenty of guests in your home. While many homeowners like to take pride in their homes and deck the halls with festive decorations, what do you do with a bathroom that is simply past its best?

If the thought of unveiling your grubby grout to party guests leaves you with palpitations, then fear not because we know a company that can help. Total Bathroom Restorations are experts in restoring baths and shower cubicles to their former glory and all at a price that will keep your bank account happy. Owner Ian Read believes that your bathroom doesn’t have to be the enemy – and that any bathroom can be saved from the clutches of unsightly mould and mildew that occur naturally over time. So whether its mouldy silicone, cloudy shower screens or grout failures that make you shudder, Total Bathrooms can put the gleam back into your bathroom. Ian and his team have bathroom restoration down to a ﬁne art; cloudy shower screens are returned to crystal clear, tiles are polished to perfection and there will be no more scrubbing at mouldy silicone. All this can be yours in time for Christmas causing you no added disruption in the run up to the busiest time of the year. Don’t let a dull and lacklustre bathroom ruin your Christmas cheer, give it the wow factor with a Total Bathroom mini-makeover. Think ice-white silicone & grout, perfect tiles and a bathroom to be proud of. Book now to guarantee Christmas completion by calling the team on 01695 228 021 or 0800 803 0990 or for more details visit the website at www.TotalBathroomRestoration.co.uk

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Bretherton Proms

Art Show

Residents of Bretherton and beyond will see out one of the most successful years in recent British history with a good old flag waving jolly at a concert taking place in the village next week. The Last Night of the Proms concert will take place next Friday (9th November) at Bretherton Congregational Church on South Road in Bretherton, starting at 7.30pm.

Members of the Wrightington Art Group are gearing up for their annual Art Exhibition which is being held at St James Church Hall on Church Lane in Wrightington. The exhibition will take place at the hall over the weekend of Saturday and Sunday 10/11th November, between 10am4pm. Admission to the event is free and refreshments will be on sale.

Performing on the night are Eccleston Brass Band, and all proceeds from the night go to Cancer Help (Vine House) in Preston. Tickets are priced at £5 for adults and £2.50 for Under 16’s and are available from Graham on 01772 614148, Joan on 01772 600920 or from Vine House on 01772 793344.

Parbold History

Zumba Fun The Christmas party season is just round the corner, so if you’re wanting to get toned up to fit into that LBD and improve your dance moves too, then pop up to Holmeswood Primary School every Tuesday night where there is a Zumba Fitness class. The class runs from 8.15-9.15pm and the cost per class is £4. Holmeswood Primary School is based in Chapel Lane in the village.

You learn something every day or so the saying goes, and on Wednesday 14th November villagers from Parbold will have a chance to learn lots of things about the village’s history. Lancashire County Council are offering a free taster course at Parbold Village Hall between 7pm and 9pm on 14th November. You must book your attendance before the night – please call 0845 600 1331 for more details.

Art Nuts The Burscough Art Nuts are holding an Art Exhibition next Sunday (11th November) at the Old People’s Club in Lord Street Burscough. The exhibition runs from 10am-4pm and features original paintings by local artists. Admission is free, everyone is welcome and selected artwork will be available for sale on the day.

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Earn Extra Ca

Local Life magazine is looking for distributors in your neighbourhood. Successful applicants will typically work for 2-3 hours every eight weeks, delivering Local Life magazines and associated leaflets in their own neighbourhoods. Delivery bags and round maps provided. Applicants must be aged 13+ and be fit, enthusiastic and reliable.

Are you interested? Email your name, address, landline number and your date of birth to

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Saving money is the clear beneﬁt! Solar Thermal & Solar PV Wind Turbines Heat Pumps LED Lighting ...and general Energy Savings

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Win a Christ�as Hamper!

Every Christmas for the past five years Local Life has run a Christmas Hamper competition which has proved hugely popular with our readers in our Wigan and St Helens titles. Thanks to the recent launch of Local Life in your area, we’re giving the readers in West Lancs the chance to win one of three luxury Christmas Hampers! Each Christmas Hamper will be filled to the brim with luxury produce and much of this produce is made in Lancashire. Our main supplier is our local farm shop, Windy Arbour Farm Shop in Billinge, which is located just down the road from our offices in Orrell. Windy Arbour Farm Shop carries a great range of tasty local and regional produce, particularly in the run up to Christmas, and the service there is second to none. For more details about their store, visit their website www.windy-arbour. co.uk. We would like to thank Windy Arbour for supplying these goods at cost price. The finished contents of the hamper was still being finalized as we went to press in late October, but we can tell you that each hamper will include Christmas cake, chocolates, mince pies, cheese, shortbread, wine, real ale, nuts, sweets and lots more besides! The goods are packaged in an attractive and sturdy wicker basket and expertly wrapped in cellophane and ribbons. Even if you’re not a ‘foodie’, these hampers would make a wonderful present for someone special in your life. Each hamper is full of luxury items and will bring a little extra to their Christmas. To win one of these three Christmas hampers, simply complete the Christmas Carol Crossword on the right and return your entry to; Local Life 247 Ltd, Unit 8 - Hewitt Business Park, Winstanley Road, Orrell, Nr Wigan WN5 7XB. Or email the answers along with your name and contact number to crossword@locallife247. co.uk. Your entry must be with us by midnight on Thursday 13th December 2012, and the lucky competition winners will be presented with their prizes on the weekend of 15/16th December. Good luck - and a happy Christmas to all!

Picture for illustrative purposes only

ď&#x20AC;Ł Across

Down

5. O Little Town of _ 6. Silent _ 7. Ding _ Merrily on High 10. Once in Royal _ City

1. 2. 3. 4. 8. 9.

Name .............................................................................

Away in a _ Hark, The Herald _ Sing We Three Kings of _ Are Whilst _ Watched Their Flocks _ King Wenceslas The Holly and the _

Crossword Competition Rules 1. Only one entry per household

Address .........................................................................

2. Entrants must be over 16 years of age

........................................................................................

4. Local Life 247 Ltd cannot accept responsibility for entries that are delayed or damaged in the post.

............................... Post Code .....................................

5. Employees of Local Life 247 Ltd or their immediate relatives are not eligible to enter this competition.

Phone ............................................................................ Email .............................................................................

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3. The winners will be notiďŹ ed within 14 days of the closing date.

Saving Money with Martin Lewis

The average cost of running a new car is up to a hefty £6,000 a year, according to the AA. So it’s hardly surprising the cost of motoring is one of the single biggest issues affecting people’s finances today.

earlier, and using road positioning so you brake less and the car can slow down gradually.

Here are 6 quick tips to drive down the cost of motoring.

5. Book holiday car hire EARLY to get it for £10 a day

1. Is your photocard valid? Even though your licence may be valid, you risk a £1,000 fine if the photo is out of date. These need renewing every 10 years and 1.8m are out of date. To find out if yours is one of them, take a look at section 4b on your licence to see the renewal date. If it’s expired renew it ASAP, though it will cost £20 to do.

2. Don’t use a comparison site, use two If you are looking to compare car insurance, make sure you use more than one comparison site. Each comparison site looks at different firms, so visit Gocompare and MoneySupermarket, and then visit Aviva and Direct Line, and Admiral if you’ve more than one car in the home.

3. Avoid hideous young driver insurance costs. The average price for a 17-22 year old male is £3,200, but you can cut £1,000s with the right approach. Try adding a second named responsible driver to lower the risk average. Then do full comparisons on the comparison sites (see point 2). Then check specialist young driver policies that use black boxes to monitor your driving. You can pay per mile with Coverbox, pay how you drive with Co-op and pay less for driving during the day with iKube.

You can also find the cheapest forecourt with www. petrolprices.com and use the top credit cards offering cashback to get 3% back on all fuel spending. Combine these techniques and many regular drivers could save £500+ a year.

Use www.carrentals.co.uk and www.kayak.co.uk comparisons to find the best deals - £10 a day’s sometimes possible. When you pick-up, hire firms will try to flog “excess insurance”, but it’s possible to do it for less than half the cost via www.moneymaxim.co.uk

6. DON’T assume 3rd party insurance is cheapest Bizarrely, the lowest level of cover isn’t always cheapest. Sometimes, comprehensive wins, as choosing it means you’re considered a lower risk and the discount for this sometimes outweighs the discount for getting lesser cover. So if you were going for 3rd party, also get a comprehensive quote as well.

Get Martin’s FREE tips and money-off vouchers emailed directly to you each week by signing up to www.moneysavingexpert.com/tips

Martin Lewis

4. Cut petrol costs by 30%

Martin Lewis, Money Saving Expert, is an awardwinning campaigning TV & radio presenter, newspaper columnist and a best-selling author. An ultra-specialised journalist, focusing on cutting bills without cutting back, he runs and founded the UK’s biggest money site, www.moneysavingexpert.com with 13 million monthly users.

The big trick to learn is how to drive as quickly, but with a technique that means you use less fuel. The key is accelerating less aggressively, moving into a higher gear

Each month, Martin will be writing a feature for Local Life - advising our readers how to save thousands of pounds every year! Don’t miss it!

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Christ�as Events Thursday 8th - Sunday 11th November Crafts for Christmas

Thousands of top quality products under one roof at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate. Indulge yourself, your family and your friends with stunning fashions and accessories, leather bags and belts, dazzling jewelry from sparkly fashion to graceful diamonds, lustrous velvets and satins in scarves, and luxurious soaps and skincare. Decorate your home and table with elegant candles, platters and bowls and tasty treats. Visit the Specialist Food area, which is brimming with scrumptious cakes, wines, cheeses and meats. Time: 9am – 4pm Cost: £6 - £9 Contact: 01428 682292 or visit www.ruralcraftsassociation.co.uk Sat Nav Ref: HG2 8QZ

Saturday 10th - Sunday 11th November Christmas Shopping Fair at Tatton Park

It’s an early chance to look for those special Christmas gifts for all the family and ideas for presents not usually found in High Street shops. Time: 10.30am to 5pm Cost: Free entry to the Fair. Normal parkland entry charge applies Contact: 01530 834056 or visit www.countrywide-events.co.uk or www.tattonpark.org.uk Sat Nav Ref: WA16 6QN

Monday 12th - Tuesday 13th November Arley Hall Christmas Shopping Spectacular

Browse and shop with some gorgeous individual producers and stall holders from Cheshire and beyond. We have over 50 stalls offering a feast of fabulous things for Christmas set within the beautiful house and grounds of Arley Hall near Northwich. There will be stands selling a handpicked selection of food and gifts providing ideas and inspiration for all your Christmas presents. Time: Mon - 6pm-9.30pm (Champagne reception), Tues - 10-3pm Cost: £5 - £12 Contact: 0161 928 0925 or visit www.arleyhallshoppingspectacular.co.uk Sat Nav Ref: CW9 6NA

Saturday 17th Nov to Sunday 23rd Dec Manchester Christmas Markets

Don your Santa hat, dust off the mulled wine glass, and get into the festive spirit – it’s time to head down to Manchester’s world famous Christmas Markets. No Mancunian winter is complete without a wander through the chalet-lined streets of the markets. This year the market will be celebrating its 13th year and will take over eight

different spaces around the city, each with its own distinct character and atmosphere. The array of over 200 stalls is mind-boggling, with mouth-watering delicacies from all over Europe. The choice is getting bigger and bigger and includes gifts, crafts, jewellery, clothes, toys and an array of food and drink. The markets run until Sunday 23rd December. Contact: www.manchestermarkets.com

Sunday 18th November

A Christmas Vintage and Retro Craft Fair A vintage and retro craft fair will take place at the impressive Haigh Hall in Wigan. There will be live music, a pop up hair and make-up salon and mulled wine, along with a selection of lovely stalls. The venue is perfect to put you in the Christmas mood with open ﬁres and decorations. Cost: £1 Time: 10am - 4pm Contact: 07787 316234 E-mail victoriaclaire@vibrantvintage.co.uk or visit www.vibrantvintage.co.uk Sat Nav Ref: WN2 1PE

Thursday 22nd Nov- Monday 24th Dec Chester Victorian Christmas Market

Chester’s Victorian Christmas Market offers a wide range of beautiful ceramics, jewellery, hats, gloves and scarves. Bestselling toys will feature and the festive food offer will include Christmas cakes and puddings, mince pies, cheeses, meats, sweets, ﬁne wines as well as the winter warming treats of mulled wine and hot chestnuts. Move inside to Chester Market for the best local Christmas produce and more excellent gift ideas. Stalls and attractions will remain open to 24th December. Time: 10am – 6pm (Thurs 10am-8pm) Cost: Free Contact: www.christmasmarkets.com

Saturday 24th November The Great Liverpool Xmas Art Fair

The Royal Liver building hosts the Great Liverpool Xmas Art Fair. Come and view the work of some of the UK’s top contemporary craft and design artists. Some artists will be giving demonstrations and talks throughout the day - programme available on our website address. We will also have a local choir singing carols too. Time: 10am - 7pm Cost: £2 Adults (Children free with an adult) Contact: 07917 522706 or visit www.thegreatliverpoolartfair.co.uk Sat Nav Ref: L3 1HT

Guide Sunday 25th November Samlesbury Hall Christmas Fair

The annual Christmas fair is back again to kick start the festivities, with lots of ideas for Christmas gifts and sumptuous food for the festive season, and of course there will be mulled wine and mince pies! Time: 11am - 4pm Cost: £3 Adult, £1 Child Contact: www.samlesburyhall.co.uk Sat Nav Ref: PR5 0UP

Saturday 1st, 8th & 15th December Grassington Dickensian Festival

See the Christmas lights, the village square and the cobbled streets transformed into a traditional Victorian market, as shopkeepers, villagers and even some visitors dress in Victorian costume. Enjoy the musicians, dancers, street entertainers and exhibitions of traditional country crafts. There is no car parking in Grassington, so use the Park and Ride at Swinden Quarry on the B6265 Skipton to Grassington road. Cost: Free, but £8 a car for the Park and Ride Contact: www.grassington.uk.com Sat Nav Ref: BD23 6BE

Saturday 1st - Wednesday 19th December Delamere Forest - Santa’s Grotto

Visit Santa this Christmas in his magical grotto at Delamere Forest! Take a train ride around the forest on our musical land train. Stay for lunch at our Victorian themed food and drink street, and go home with your amazing Christmas tree for your house. Site is free entry and free parking, though charges for trees and Santa apply. Tree sales are open every day 9am-5pm & late nights Friday 7th & 14th, Santa’s grotto is open weekdays 3-5pm, Fridays until 8pm & weekends 9am5pm. Contact: www.forestry.gov.uk/delamere Sat Nav Ref: CW8 2JD

Saturday/Sunday 1st/2nd & Saturday/ Sunday 8th/9th December Victorian Christmas Weekends

Come to Speke Hall for a true Victorian Christmas experience. Admire the ground ﬂoor of the house decorated for Christmas with greenery and foliage from the Estate. Hear a selection of carols and festive music in the Great Hall, and then treat yourself to some delicious treats from the Restaurant. Event held on Saturday 1st, Sunday 2nd, Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th December.

Saturday/Sunday 8th/9th, 15th/16th and 22nd/23rd December Walton Winter Wonderland

A Victorian-style Christmas celebration set in a traditionally decorated cobbled courtyard at Walton Gardens near Warrington. Step back in time and enjoy Christmas as it used to be. There will be entertainers, live music, Christmas markets, Yule log making, festive fayre, nativity scene and of course, Santa in his enchanting grotto. If that wasn’t enough there’s a new queuing system that should half waiting times! Time: 10.30am - 4pm Cost: Free access - Grotto £5 per child with a gift from Santa Contact: 01925 601617 (option 2) or visit www.warrington.gov.uk/waltongardens Sat Nav Ref: WA4 6SN

Saturday/Sunday 8th/9th & 15th/16th Dec Southport Christmas Markets

Come and spend the day at Southport’s Christmas Markets picking up those last minute Christmas gifts from stalls on Chapel Street selling food, toys, jewellery to name but a few. Enjoy the Traditional Entertainment which will consist of choirs and bands. Time: 9am-5pm Saturday & 10am-4pm Sunday Cost: Free Access

Sunday 9th December Croston Village Christmas Fair

The traditional Lancashire village of Croston will hold their very successful annual Christmas Fair on Sunday 9th December from 1.00pm to 5.15pm. In addition to a Land Train to Santa’s Grotto there will be a street magician and a magic show, brass bands, singers, morris dancing, circus performers, a piper and much more. Children will love the donkeys and dogs while their parents can shop for last minute gifts at the many craft stalls. Food and drink will be provided by stallholders and local hostelries. The event will end with a torchlight procession. Parking available at Bishop Rawstorne School. Cost: Free access Contact:www.crostonfestivities.co.uk Sat Nav: PR26 9HH

Friday 14th December - Sunday 6th January Liverpool Christmas Family Festival

The Liverpool Christmas Family Festival is a magical Christmas festival taking place in The Waterfront Big Top at the Echo Arena. Enjoy a spectacular Christmas Pantomime of Sleeping Beauty and the Christmas experience. There will be a Santa’s Grotto, Christmas Market, a junior Fun House, Funfair Rides and much more. Please pre-book your place via the website or call the number below. Under 14’s must be accompanied by an adult over 18. Festival tickets are £5 and there is an additional charge for some attractions in the Family Festival. Contact: 0844 8000 400 or visit www.echoarena.com Sat Nav Ref: L3 4BB

Time: 1pm - 4pm Contact: 0151 427 7231 or visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/spekehall Sat Nav Ref: L24 1XD

...mer�� Christ�as!

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Legh Arms – The Hermit

Newton Park

Park up near the Legh Arms just off Mill Lane in Newton le Willows and turn left down the A49 (South). Pass under the arches of the railway bridge, and go past the Millstone Pub on your left. Just after you have passed Whiteﬁeld Avenue on the left, you’ll come to a crash barrier taking the A49 over the London to Scotland mainline. After walking ten yards past the start of the barrier, look for a weathered stone slab by the bridge wall on your left - this may be partially obscured by the overgrown hedges. This is the Bloody Stone, formerly known as the Hawkstone.

The Bloody Stone Two different tales abound over the history of the Bloody Stone, but both involve Sir William de Bradshaigh. In the first tale, Sir William returns to Wigan in 1323 after many years at the Crusades to find his wife, Mabel, married and living with a Welsh knight. Not surprisingly he takes grave offence and set off to confront the man and catches up with him in Newton and slays him on the Bloody Stone. Mabel, who is mortified by her betrayal, walks barefoot once a week from her home in Haigh to Mabs Cross in Wigan as a penance for her bigamous actions.

There’s certainly much to see in this 4.8 mile walk in Newton-le-Willows. Newton was mentioned in the Doomsday Book, and remained an agricultural village before the advent of the railways in 1830 (more about the railways later). Located right at the heart of the Lancashire Coalfield, Newton was the home of Parkside Colliery, the last deep shaft mine in Lancashire to close in 1993. In addition to being the home of Parkside Colliery, the fields between Newton and Winwick were the site of one of the last battles of the Second Civil War (1648-1649), and it’s around this battle site that our walk takes place. Keep your eyes peeled, because in addition to the historic sites, there is also an abundance of wildlife to see on the walk, particularly birds of prey.

The second tale has it that Sir William de Bradshaigh himself died on the Stone back in August 1333, slayed by another man. The list of suspects was a long one – the courts at the time named 44 men, his wife Mabel named 33 suspects. de Radcliffe was a surname that that was shared by many men on both lists; and the favourite was John de Radcliffe of Ordsall, but it was William Mose of Westleigh who was tried and hanged in June 1334 for Sir William’s murder.

Battle of Winwick Pass According to the English Battleﬁeld Trust, one of the last battles of the second Civil War took place in the vicinity of the border between Newton and Winwick in August 1648. Somewhere in the region of 4,000 of the Duke of Hamilton’s Royalist troops, mainly Highlanders, used the stream in the wooded valley north of Hermitage Green Lane to front their position and form a defensive line to halt the advancing troops of Oliver Cromwell (pictured). Nearby Parliamentarian sympathisers assisted Cromwell’s efforts to drive out the Royalists from their strong position, probably using a track through Hermitage Green to outﬂank them. Open warfare and running battles ensued, and the Royalists last stand was said to have taken place on a green just north of Winwick Church. According to Cromwell, 1,000 Royalists were killed in the battle and were buried in a mass grave in the area, and up to 2,000 were captured. A few days later, the remaining stragglers, along with the Duke of Hamilton, surrounded at Uttoxeter and the war was over.

Once you go over the bridge, you will pass the entrance to the old Parkside Colliery on your left and Red Bank Farm Shop on your right. Opposite the sign that denotes the boundary between St Helens and Warrington there’s a path on the left. Have a wander down there – and look at the river bank - you are on the site of the Battle of Winwick Pass. Don’t follow the path any further down as you will end up getting lost (like we did!). Instead come back out onto the main road, and carry on down the A49 in the same direction for a further twenty yards and then turn left into Hermitage Green Lane. This quiet country lane takes you away from the hububb of the A49. The ﬁrst stretch of the lane is dark and overgrown, but the lane soon opens up into some glorious countryside. After walking for just over ½ a mile, you’ll reach a T junction which is opposite the now-closed Hermit Pub. Folklore suggests that the pub was named after the elﬁn hermit who guarded St Oswald’s Well, which we are just about to pass. The Green next to The Hermit has the occasional Romany visitor as our picture shows.

The Hermit – Barrow Lane Turn left at the junction onto Golborne Road and carry on through the S bend. Golborne Road changes into Parkside Road at this point. Get on your tip toes when you reach the gate on the left and you can just about see a random area overlooking the pond which is marked by wooden fence posts. This marks St Oswald’s Well, a holy well that is dedicated to St Oswald and whose walls are lined with medieval stonework. According to some, the well marks the site of the slaying of the ﬁrst Christian English king in 642, but isn’t the only well in the UK that has this claim.

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St Oswald’s Well

The building in the distance just beyond the well is Woodhead Farm, the childhood home of Sarah Eleanor Pennington, who married Edward John Smith in January 1887. Mr Smith subsequently became the captain of the Titanic and went down with the ill-fated liner on its maiden voyage in 1912. Almost immediately you’ll spot a partially hidden public footpath symbol on the right hand side. Cross the road, clamber up the rise, and hop across the rather rickety stile. Stay up high on the left hand perimeter of the field and head towards the bottom left hand corner of the field. Hop across another wooden stile at the corner of the field and you will then head straight across the field in the same direction towards one of several gaps in the hedge. Once you have reached that gap, head over a second field in the same direction until you reach the wooden fence that borders the motorway. Turn right when you reach the fence and head along the wooden fence perimeter towards the corner of the field. Before you reach the corner of the field you’ll pass two separate

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Hermitage Green

Junction 22

sets of stone steps; take the second set to climb up towards the M6 slip road. Cross over the slip road; walk across the M6 motorway bridge, then across the exit slip road, turning 1st left onto the A579 towards Leigh. Cross over after Kenyons Farm after the footpath on the left ends, and shortly afterwards the footpath on the right ends too, so do take extreme care at this point. You’re heading towards Barrow Lane which is denoted by a public footpath symbol opposite Oven Brick Farm.

Barrow Lane – Legh Arms Turn left at the sign and carry on down this concrete track for ½ a mile, taking in the marvellous views of the Horwich Moors, until its conclusion. Turn right along Parkside Road for a further 350 yards and then turn right again at a public footpath sign and head down the dirt track towards Highfield Farm for a further 350 yards. The path forks at this point; bear left and follow the path that is clearly marked through a field towards the wooden area and the railway line. At the end of this path you can either cross the railway line, turn right to explore Highfield Moss or turn left. For the purposes of this walk we’re going to turn left and head alongside the fence next to the railway line.

Huskinsson Memorial The Liverpool MP William Huskisson was run over by the Rocket locomotive at the opening of the Liverpool-Manchester railway line on 15th September 1830 and this Neo-Greco structure was erected in his honour in 1831 and renovated in 2001. He had the dubious honour of being the ﬁrst man killed in a railway accident. The memorial stands close to what was Parkside station; this location was chosen for a station because it was equal distance between Liverpool and Manchester, and it was used for watering facilities for the steam trains of the time.

For the record though, Highfield Moss is an area of special scientific interest and attracts rare plants and nature. The Moss is bisected by the railway, and the site on this side of the railway is comparatively small. Apparently though, the peat land vegetation is the best remaining example of the raised mires which once covered large areas of south Lancashire. The other thing you should know about Highfield Moss is that it’s a twitcher’s paradise, so if you’re into birdwatching then take those binoculars with you. Anyhow, we’re not in Highfield Moss, we are heading along the path next to the railway line at this point and we’ve got 500 yards to go before we once again meet up with Parkside Road. Just 50 yards short of this road you’ll pass within yards of the Huskisson Memorial (see below), but the memorial is better viewed from the other side of the railway line. Once you reach Parkside Road turn right. Walk 350 yards and you’ll arrive at a T-Junction. Turn left onto Southworth Road, walk past Trebaron Garden Centre (or call in if you want to visit the café!), go under the M6 bridge and 750 yards later, you’ll pass Willow Park on the right and once again end up at the Legh Arms. Please ensure you wear appropriate clothing and footwear whilst walking. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the walk is accurate, neither the publisher or its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or other cause.

At the opening ceremony of the line, William Huskisson, who was travelling as a guest of the Duke of Wellington in his personal carriage, became involved in a heated political discussion with the Duke and Mr Huskisson decided to leave the carriage. He stepped down from the carriage and was hit by a train hauled by ‘The Rocket’, which was steaming along at 24mph. Mr Huskisson was taken to the parsonage at Eccles aboard another locomotive, driven by George Stephenson himself, but he died from his injuries shortly afterwards.

Local Life would like to thank Peter Astles of The Parchments in Newton-le-Willows for his invaluable help in supplying the concept, and some of the pictures for this Jack’s Tracks. For more information about Newton Park visit the Newton Park Forum on Facebook.

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Soup

Hearty Lentil and Preserved Lemon Soup Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 80 minutes Serves 6

Method Heat the oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat. Add the onion then cover and cook, stirring occasionally until the onion is soft. Add the garlic, ginger and spices and cook for a couple of minutes. Then pop in the remaining ingredients except the yoghurt and coriander and bring to a simmer. Cook gently uncovered for about an hour, stirring occasionally and adding more water if it starts to look too dry and thick. It’s done when the carrot and potato are tender and the lentils have broken down. Taste and season but remember that there will be a lot of salt from the preserved lemon. If you prefer a smoother soup you could puree it a little with a stick blender but I think it’s better rustic-style. Serve hot with a dollop of yoghurt and a few sprigs of coriander.

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A truly warm and tasty soup to serve at your bonfire night celebrations Ingredients • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

3tbsp olive oil 3 onions 5 cloves garlic, 2tbsp grated ginger 1tbsp cumin seeds, ground 1tbsp fennel seeds 3 cloves 1 cinnamon stick 1tsp chilli flakes, or to taste 2 carrots, finely diced 3 sticks celery, finely diced 1 Desiree potato, scrubbed & finely diced 3 x 400g cans tomatoes 750ml water 300g red lentils 4 quarters preserved lemon, rind only, finely chopped

Natural yoghurt, to serve Coriander leaves, to serve

Angie is a qualified award-winning garden designer who will plan your garden to your needs from start to finish, supplying reputable contractors and the ideal plants.

Call her now for your free consultation! Award Winner

Still time to plant for spring colour I would like to address a misconception in this month’s diary, which is that come November there is nothing more that can be done in the garden until the following March. The truth is you can construct a beautiful garden during the winter months, get your plants in (just be careful not to plant when the ground is very wet or frosty) and be ready to enjoy your new garden in the spring. Come March, any reputable contractors will already be booked up for months ahead so now is the perfect time to start planning your garden transformation. And if you just need some new plants to enliven your winter borders, there are some wonderful shrubs that produce scented flowers in the colder months and here are three of my favourites. Sarcococca confusa (Christmas Box) is a small evergreen shrub, which produces sweetly scented white flowers during the winter months and grows well in shade. Mahonia x media ‘Charity’ is also evergreen, producing yellow scented flower spikes and can get to around 4 metres so you need room for this one. Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ has strongly scented pink flowers on leafless twigs all through the winter months. This shrub reaches 2 metres. Shrubs like these are invaluable in the garden at this time of year for wildlife too as well as helping to lift the human spirit.

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November is also the time for planting Tulips. They come in a stupendous range of colours, sizes and shapes, ﬂowering from spring through to early summer. One of my favourites is ‘Queen of Night’ which is a single late tulip with deep purple petals and looks fabulous teamed with white tulips. Pure sophistication and elegance. (Oh, that’s nice - Hubby says just like me… hmmm he‘s after something). So as well as starting to think about your Christmas shopping list, please do give some thought to your garden at this time of year - next spring you’ll be so glad you did.

Author: Angie Barker Dip GD (Inst GD) BA (Hons) Garden Design For All Seasons Tel: 01942 522 405 Mob: 07857 008 383

www.angiebarker.co.uk

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Tel: 01704 89 40 89

www.sk-installationsltd.co.uk 01695 577754 0779 597 3267

www.ovenclean.com

We use non-caustic + non-corrosive material which are safe and fume-free. Call us today for a free quote!

Will remove grease, fat and burnt-on carbon deposits!

telephone

01695 322318 mobile

07811 470577

pride in the job

Stuart Calland • Plastering & Coving • Bathrooms & Tiling • Decorating & Plumbing • Insurance Work undertaken • Full House Refurbishments

If you need a new heating system or replacement boiler, call the installation specialists now for a free quote!

Our friendly family company has been serving the Lancashire area for over 25 years. For more details on our services please visit www.fgwelch.co.uk Our other services include; i Annual servicing i Landlord Gas safety checks i Home efficiency upgrades i System power flushing i All general plumbing

WE REPAIR ALL MAKES OF BOILERS!

Awarded winner of the Good trader scheme, for consistently high standards of customer feedback 2011

Telephone:

01257MOBILE: 421 660

Registration No.

88604

07931 766 684

www.fgwelch.co.uk

General Building & Maintenance Work • General Joinery • Fascias, Gutters, Roofing • Plastering & Texture Rendering • Double Glazing • Flagging Driveways & Patios Check out my 5 Star reviews at www.traderregister.org.uk Call Paul for a free quotation on

01695 578495 or 07944 550628 www.precisionbuildingservices.org.uk

• • • •

Re-upholstery Repair Large range of materials to choose from Domestic & Commercial work undertaken

Master Upholsterer with over 30 years experience Unit 7, Hewitt Business Park, Winstanley Road, Orrell, WN5 7XB

01695 682029 / 07787 900353 email: ken@oldfieldupholstery.co.uk

Advertise for just £28 (+VAT) a month! For more information please phone

01695 627 999

we make it our business to help yours

www.locallife247.co.uk

Too busy to go the hairdressers? Let the salon come to you!

Qualified for all aspects of hairdressing – at a price you can afford!

Your hair – In your home

Call Nikki now on:

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07528 523374

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Advertise for just £28 (+VAT) a month! For more information please phone

01695 627 999

we make it our business to help yours

Jobs Distributors Required Local Life magazine requires distributors in the Ridley Lane/Bradshaw Lane area of Mawdesley, The Chapel Lane/Square Lane area of Burscough and in Bretherton. Distributors will typically work 2-3 hours every eight weeks delivering Local Life and associated leaflets to households in their neighbourhoods. You’ll need to be aged 13+, fit, enthusiastic and reliable. We offer good rates of pay and you’ll be supplied with delivery equipment and distribution maps. Please email your details to sallyb@locallife247.co.uk. We would like to thank all those potential distributors who responded to our leaflet drop with the last issue of Local Life. Please be assured that we will keep your details on our waiting list until a delivery round becomes available in your area.

design & print Flyers, postcards, brochures and distribution service

Prices start from only £45 per 5000 For more information please phone

01942 387329

we make it our business to help yours

The photograph in Puzzle Corner is of Liverpool Road North/School Lane junction in Burscough

Useful Numbers Medical Ormskirk & District Hospital Chorley & South Ribble Hospital Southport & Formby General Hospital Skelmersdale Walk In Centre Burscough Health Centre Lathom House Surgery Croston Village Surgery Croston Medical Centre Parbold Surgery NHS Direct

01695 577111 01257 261222 01704 547471 01695 588640 01704 894997 01704 895566 01772 600722 01772 600081 0844 811 0909 0845 623334

Police Burscough Area Croston, Mawdesley & Bretherton Parbold, Newburgh & Skelmersdale

01695 566444 01257 246103 01695 566501

Libraries Burscough Eccleston Parbold Tarleton

01704 892334 01257 451825 01257 463769 01772 815179

Councils West Lancs Borough Council Chorley Borough Council Lancashire County Council

01695 577177 01257 515151 01772 221600

Primary Schools Bretherton Endowed C o E Burscough Bridge Meth. Burscough Lordsgate C of E Burscough Village Primary Burscough St Johns C of E Burscough St John Cath. Croston Trinty & St Michael’s Dalton St Michael’s Holmeswood Meth Lathom Park Mawdesley St Peters C o E Mawdesley St Peter & Paul Cath. Newburgh C of E Parbold Douglas Parbold Our Lady & All Saints Parbold Richard Durnings Pinfold Primary Rufford C of E School Scarisbrick St Mark’s C of E Scarisbrick St Mary’s Cath. Tarleton Mere Brow C o E

01772 600431 01704 892307 01704 892374 01704 895403 01704 893323 01704 893523 01772 600379 01257 462082 01704 821360 01704 892375 01704 822657 01704 822216 01257 462916 01257 462007 01257 462466 01257 462968 01704 840338 01704 821300 01704 880636 01704 880626 01772 812689

n i t u O e v Li ? s k c i t S the Pick up your Local Life every month from our stands at; Burscough Wharf

Liverpool Road Nth, Burscough www.burscough-wharf.co.uk

Diglake Farm Shop Southport Road, Scarisbrick www.diglakefarmshop.co.uk

Heskin Hall Farmers Market Wood Lane, Heskin www.heskinfarmersmarket.co.uk

Homestead Farm’s Shop Wiggins Lane, Holmeswood www.homesteadfarmsshop.co.uk

Nelsons Farm Shop Moss Lane, Burscough www.nelsonsfarmshop.co.uk

Taylors Farm Shop Hall Lane, Lathom www.taylorsfarmshop.co.uk

Toogood Farm Shop Toogood Lane, Wrightington www.toogoodfarm.co.uk

The Farm

71 Martin Lane, Burscough www.thefarmburscough.co.uk

The Home Farm Shop

The Eagle & Child, Bispham Green www.ainscoughs.co.uk Or read your copy at www.locallife247.co.uk

Secondary Schools Bishop Rawstorne Burscough Priory Ormskirk School St Bedes Tarleton High School

www.locallife247.co.uk

01772 600349 01704 893259 01695 583040 01695 570353 01772 812644

West Lancashire College

01695 52300 www.westlancs.ac.uk

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