LocalLife St Helens Edition
Scrum on Pages 22 - 24
February 2018
down
Village Hall Improvements Pages 6
Events2Go Pages 26-28
Cronton Walk Pages 30 - 33
Local News Motoring Jack’s Tracks Event2Go Health Home Services locallife247.co.uk
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4
Whole lotta
I
hygge
‘ve never knowingly been ahead of the curve in terms of latest trends and fashions. I usually pick up on great TV series about four years after they first aired, and I’m about three models behind the latest ‘must have’ mobile. Yet of late, I’ve discovered I have been about 25 years ahead of almost everyone I know when it comes to hygge. For the uninitiated, it’s a Danish word (pronounced ‘hooga’) which has no direct equivalent in English. The closest you can get is ‘cosiness’ or a general desire to appreciate the simple things in life. The word first drew my attention in the mid 1990s while visiting Scandanavia for the first time. As someone with a voracious appetite for learning languages, I picked up a Danish phrasebook and started memorising the odd word. The book came with a section on Danish traditions, way of life etc and that’s where hygge was mentioned. It seems the term has now made it over here as it’s been the subject of various highbrow newspapers we take of a weekend... it impresses the guests when we use it for Pass The Parcel. A hardback - entitled The Little Book of Hygge - has also been published. So how can you get the hygge lifestyle? It’s quite simple actually; put your phone down, switch off the TV and go for a walk. Spend time with friends and family. Cook meals from scratch. Build a campfire. Learn to play an instrument. Plan an adventure. You get the idea. In fact it’s the kind of things this very publication has espoused for years. Yes, you read all about hygge here first - and probably didn’t even realise it!
David Sudworth, Editor
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In this issue Cutting
sugar
16 Scrum on
down
Regulars 10 Class From The Past 26 Events2Go 12 Planning 30 Jack’s Tracks 20 Puzzle Corner 36 Test Drive
Sections 6 Local News 16 Health 34 Gardening
36 Motoring 38 Home Services
Next issue - March 2018
Advertising deadline - Tuesday, 20 February Published - Friday, 2 March
22 Jack’s Tracks visits
Cronton
30 Test Drive
Range Rover Sport 36 Angie Barker’s
Garden Diary 34 locallifemagazine247
LocalLife Local Life 247 Ltd, Unit 8, Hewitt Business Park, Winstanley Road, Orrell, WN5 7XB
Telephone: 01744 649 722 Publisher: Chris chrisp@locallife247.co.uk Sales: Clare sales@locallife247.co.uk Editorial: David, Niamh sthelensnews@locallife247.co.uk Design: Peter design@locallife247.co.uk Distribution: Sally sallyb@locallife247.co.uk Accounts: Sam accounts@locallife247.co.uk Local Life is published every month and distributed into the following areas on an alternate monthly basis. This issue is delivered to over 12,500 private homes and businesses in Rainhill, Eccleston, Prescot, Eccleston Park, Windle, Prescot Road and parts of Nutgrove and Sutton Heath. The next issue is delivered to over 12,000 private homes and businesses in Rainford, Billinge, Garswood, Moss Bank, Haresfinch, Carr Mill and selected areas of Haydock. 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. No part of this publication may be copied or reproduced without the prior written consent of Local Life 247 Ltd.
@locallifemedia
events2go
6
Village hall improvements Funding has been approved for repairs and refurbishment at Rainhill Village Hall. The £28,000, awarded by WREN’s FCC Community Action Fund, will be used to replace the boilers and upgrade the heating system. The appearance of the hall will also be much improved by replacing the soffits, fascias and gutters. Rainhill Village Hall Management Committee has welcomed the news - saying that having a reliable and efficient heating system will make a huge difference to the hall users. WREN is a not for profit business that awards grants for community, biodiversity and heritage projects from funds donated by FCC Environment through
Landfill Communities Fund. Richard Smith, WREN’s grant manager, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting Rainhill Village Hall and pleased our funding will make such a difference to so many groups of people across Rainhill. WREN is always happy to consider grant applications for projects that benefit local communities and we’re looking forward to this one having a positive impact very soon.” The
Management
Committee
hopes
the
improvements will be completed early this year. Rainhill Village Hall is a charity and is mainly run by volunteers. It is now in the process of redecorating all the rooms, but the hall requires some major refurbishment that cannot be carried out by volunteers.
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Over 55s flats Plans to build an over 55s facility will help address social housing needs in St Helens. That’s the claim from Torus Housing Group who want to erect a £6m facility near the town centre. If passed, it will be built at the site of former Lowe House School, Crab Street, and will house 61 apartments split across a three-storey building and four-storey building. Papers lodged with the application say there will be a choice of one and two bedroom apartments, as well as a communal lounge and 47 off-street car parking spaces for residents. They add: “All apartments will be for affordable rent, which is rent based on 80% of the local open market rent.
Tell Us Your Story! Local Life is always on the look out for news stories from the local communities we serve. Are you raising money for charity? Are you a member of a community group with something to shout about? Maybe you’ve got an unusual talent, or have a claim to fame? If so, let us know and you could be appearing in the next edition! Simply contact us on sthelensnews@locallife247. co.uk or call us on 01695 627999.
“The development will be built on vacant brownfield land which, over the last few years, has become a focus for increasing anti-social behaviour and has subsequently become a blight upon the area. “If planning approval is obtained, then it is envisaged that there will be a start on site in April with completion taking place in October 2019.”
Paul says goodbye A Rainhill choirmaster and organist has said his farewells after 17 years. Paul Jones arrived at St Ann’s Church, from St Margaret’s in Anfield. He’s now moving on again, this time to St Cuthbert’s in Southport. A farewell dinner was held for him at the Victoria Hotel on Warrington Road recently. A spokesman for St Ann’s said: “We will miss Paul and wish him success and every happiness in his new role.”
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Students rally for fundraiser Staff and students from the Creative Media department at St Helens College rallied together to raise funds for The Cystic Fibrosis Trust. The students, dressed in bright yellow, travelled across the College with a cake trolley in tow, to sell cakes and biscuits donated by the local Tesco superstore in St Helens and raffle tickets, to win a family ticket to the first game of the rugby season, gifted by Saints RLFC.
Second Year student, Paige Ollerhead, documented the day by taking over St Helens College’s Instagram page: “It was really interesting for me as it gave me the opportunity to experience how to promote such an important event through social media.”
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Festive joy Congratulations to Windle resident Kathryn Adamson (pictured left) who was one of the lucky winners of a Local Life festive hamper. Kathryn, of Regal Drive, received her basket of goodies just before Christmas after entering our competition. Other winners were Kaye Willian, of Crossgill, Astley, Wigan; Tracey Fletcher, of Spiredale Brow, Standish; Sharon Grayston, of Cricketers Green, Eccleston, Chorley and Sarah Williams, of Beechwood Drive, Ormskirk.
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Class from the past
This month’s Class from the Past is from Robins Lane School. It’s believed the photo was taken in the 1960s. Maybe you can recognise a familar face? Do
you have an old class photo you’d like to share? Why not send it to us here via email on sthelensnews@ locallife247.co.uk
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Town councillors reduced? The number of town councillors in Prescot and Whiston could be cut. A public consultation is set to start imminently over moves which would reduce the total numbers to 12 councillors in each authority. Currently, Prescot has 17 town councillors while Whiston has 14. The changes have been called for as part of Knowsley Council’s community governance review. Yvonne Ledgerton, assistant executive director at Knowsley Council, said in a report: “A second phase of public consultation will commence on February 2 via a formal notice in a newspaper circulating in the area.” Any changes would likely be implemented for the next set of elections in May 2019.
It’s crust the ticket! Room Forty bakers are hosting a three-hour bread baking school at Rainford Village Hall on Thursday, Feb 15, at 5.45pm. The class costs £45, which includes ingredients and samples of bread. To book call Jen on 01925 357940 or email hello@roomforty.co.uk
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Planning Matters Eccleston
4 storey building with associated car parking and
13 Church Lane: Replacement dwelling at 13 Church Lane, Eccleston (ref: P/2017/0960/FUL).
landscaping (ref: P/2018/0021/FUL).
Rainhill Rocklands House, View Road: Demolition of existing single storey chalets and proposed reduction of existing site levels and development of three residential dwellings comprising of one four bedroom and two, three bedroom detached dwellings with garage and driveway parking and associated landscaping (ref: P/2017/0959/FUL).
130 Napier Street: Change of use from a special needs inclusion centre to 13 Serviced Apartments, one 10 bedroom House in Multiple Occupation and separate office space. Construction of new side extensions within curtilage of existing building (ref: P/2018/0045/FUL). For more information on these plans, visit www.sthelens.gov.uk
St Helens Land site of Former Lowe House School, Crab Street: Erection of an over 55s facility incorporating 61 apartments split into a 3 storey building and a
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Health & Fitness
Cutting
S
o there might be a super-size helping of clean-eating backlash simmering at the moment (hurrah!), but that doesn’t mean all notions of healthy-eating need to go out the window. And this includes sugar. Luckily, when it comes to blatant sugar-fests (doughnuts, birthday cakes, family-sized Dairy Milks...), our nauseous stomachs make it clear when enough’s enough. Where it gets trickier though, is all this ‘hidden sugar’ malarkey (I mean, how does a few spoons of beans have more sugar than a biscuit?!). And then there’s fruit, and juice, and all the confusion around that.
sugar By Abi Jackson
So how can we have our cake and eat it - without totally screwing up our health goals? :: What’s wrong with sugar? “For many of us brought up from the Sixties to the Eighties, Saturdays meant a trip to the corner shop or your local Woolworths to spend pocket money on as many sweets as you could fit into a pick ‘n’ mix bag. It was also commonplace to have a well-stocked biscuit tin in the kitchen,” says Rob Hobson, author of The Detox Kitchen Bible and head of nutrition at Healthspan (www.healthspan. co.uk). “ We’re now reaping the legacy of this,
17 and of the food industry’s habit of slipping sugar into everything from soups to smoothies, in the epidemic of obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and dementia. Highly refined sugars are the worst and have a dramatic effect on blood glucose levels. In excess, these sugars are converted to blood fats called triglycerides, that may have a harmful effect on the liver and encourage the build-up of bad cholesterol, implicated in heart disease risk.” :: What’s being done about that? Official bodies are “all over the message to cut down on sugar”, Hobson notes. In March last year, the WHO (World Health Organisation) urged us to “reduce ‘free’ sugars added during food processing, preparation or cooking, and in honey, syrups and fruit juice”. A few months on, the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN), which advises the government on diet, recommended slashing added sugars to 5% of daily calories - “half the previous recommended intake,” Hobson adds. Experts now
Rob Hobson, head of nutrition for Healthspan
18 agree we should aim for around six teaspoons of added sugars a day, but research suggests most of us consume around 12. :: Why is it so confusing? “ Unfortunately, it’s not easy to tell how much you consume, as sugar masquerades under many different names. Fructose, for example, may appear on labels as itself or be concealed under the umbrella of sucrose, which is half fructose, half glucose,” explains Hobson. “Weirdly, I sometimes find myself in defence of sugar, as some people begin to focus too much on this single nutrient and become obsessed with anything that contains a single grain of the stuff,” he adds. “A little is fine - and yes, soft drinks are a definite no-no - but worrying about yoghurts and the odd glass of fruit juice seems a bit over the top. “It’s also funny that those worried about sugar turn to ‘natural’ alternatives that are essentially sugar, whether that’s in the form of agave, maple syrup,
Prescot Chiropody Clinic
coconut sugar, date syrup or any other trendy food product. There is also a certain comfort and sense of occasion with sweet foods that you just can’t get from any others. Can you imagine being served a slice of sugar-free birthday cake?” :: One lump of common sense, or two dear? “The key is to take a sensible approach to how you eat, and unfortunately that goes back to the adage of everything in moderation. Set a realistic goal for reducing sugar that you can stick with in the longterm, rather than go cold turkey,” says Hobson. Here are his seven top tips for reducing sugar the sensible way... 1. Check the label Always check labels. Ingredients are listed in order of amount, so the nearer the top, the higher the quantity. Look for foods with green and amber traffic light labels. 2. Seek out certain ingredients Sucrose, glucose, fructose, or anything that ends in -ose, as well as healthier sounding alternatives, such as raw sugar, barley malt, maple syrup, coconut nectar, palm sugar, agave nectar, date sugar and brown rice syrup are among sugar’s many guises. 3. Take your time If you’re a sugar addict, cut the amount you add to cereals, pancakes, tea or coffee by half. Once you’ve got used to the taste, halve the amount again.
19 4. Sweet food swaps Try sweetening foods with a little fresh or dried fruit or go for ‘sweet food options’ that are fruit based. A slice of malt loaf has a quarter of the sugar content and twice the fibre of a chocolate cookie. 5. Include proteins and fats A Mediterranean diet, with protein from fish, lean meat, cheese and yoghurt and healthy fats mainly from olive oil, nuts and seeds, will keep you more satisfied between meals, which in turn means you are less likely to reach for the biscuit tin. 6. Get spicy Flavour foods that you would normally sweeten with sugar, with spices. Try ginger, allspice, nutmeg and cinnamon.
7. Don’t be a softie Soft drinks are some of the biggest offenders in boosting sugar intake. But shop-bought smoothies, energy drinks, fruit juices, iced teas, coffees and flavoured waters can all be sugar-laden too.
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Puzzle Corner
SUDOKU
WORD SEARCH - ROMANCE Find the hidden words in the word search grid
NUMBER BLOCK
11
3 LOVE HEART PASSION CHARM FLIRT
FANCY DARLING KISS VALENTINE FUN
HAPPY CUPID BLUSH SNUGGLE DESIRE
WORD MIX UP - ROMANCE Unscramble the letters to make a word
3 3 10 6 7 17 1 12 3 8 17 14 11 13 18 20 The numbers in each row add up to totals to the right.
GAMERARI
The numbers in each column add up to the totals along the bottom. The diagonal lines also add up the
LEDDUC FEATOFNIC RAMGOUL
totals to the right.
WIGGLE WORDS CLUE: Getting along well
NOTEMOI REATHBORTH NEIW EDIN
Trace a path through all the letters to find the word or phrase that fits the clue.
E R I F
A H O N
E L U O
K I S E
All the puzzle solutions are on page 42 of this magazine
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Scrum on
down
They’re the world’s oldest rugby club. Now Liverpool St Helens’ history is being made into an exhibition. Niamh Ollerton reports...
Q
ueen Victoria’s reign was a time of social, economic and technological change. Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist was published; the LondonBirmingham railway line opened and married women were given the right to own property. And in 1857, the face of sport changed forever - right here in this area. Rugby union is more often than not described as a southerners’ game with strong roots in the public schools. But a group of local young men from Liverpool decided this should no longer be the case. They were bored with their usual pastimes, and looked back to their recent years at public school – Rugby School to be precise – to rectify this. Frank Albert Mather of Bootle Hall and a former Rugby School pupil, wrote to his old friend Richard Sykes, a Manchester lad who was captain of football at Rugby, inviting him to play a game of football. He also asked him to bring one of the balls which were made by Lindon, who at the time made the balls for games at Rugby. So on Saturday, December 19 1857, some 50 players arrived at Liverpool Cricket Club ground to play “Rugby versus the World.” Thought to be a trial game to explain Rugby’s version of football, the final score of the game is not known, but the players’ appetite for continuing on this tradition was history in the making, and Liverpool
23 Rugby Football club was formed on that day. It’s safe to say that the club had a colourful history from then on. The club actually provided three of the England squad that played Scotland in the first ever International in 1871 at Braeburn Place, Edinburgh.
When Liverpool St Helens, as we know it today, was still in its early years, the club had two seasons in National Division One separated by one in Division Two. But, this early triumph soon changed.
In 1914, the club had three International captains in the 1st XV, Ronnie Poulton (later Poulton-Palmer) with England, F.H. Turner for Scotland, and R.A. Lloyd of Ireland. Some recent Internationals who played for Liverpool include Fran Cotton, Maurice Colclough, Mike Slemen and Kevin Simms.
“Cowley still a powerful rugby institution” Meanwhile in St Helens, a new club was forming. When it was founded in 1919, St Helens RUFC was known as St Helens Old Boys, with many of the original members being old students of Cowley School, which even today holds the status of a powerful rugby institution. Internationals who played for the club include Alan Ashcroft, John Horton and the current club President Ray French who has the rare distinction of International honours in both league and union. In 1986, Liverpool and St Helens merged and still continue to play at Moss Lane, the former St Helens club’s ground, just off Windle Island.
The club sank to Division Four and spent almost all of the 1990s coming to terms with the new age of professionalism and the new order of the game. However, during its time in the upper strata, it furnished home international players in Dewi Morris (England) and Simon Mason (Ireland). Fast forward to today, Liverpool St Helens Football Club and its unique history is receiving recognition as the oldest open rugby club in the world with a £75,000 grant awarded to them from the Heritage Lottery Fund. As the years have passed, the club has built upon its illustrious story, and the Heritage Project has captured this, creating a comprehensive archive, in Liverpool Record Office, with documents and photographs from the past which are now publically accessible for the first time.
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The 18-month piece of work began in 2017 and involves students at Edge Hill University, St Helens College and Cowley School all helping to develop a website, a booklet and a touring exhibition across libraries in St Helens and in Liverpool Central Library. LSH president Ray French said “The club has a long and proud history. The development of both the Liverpool and St Helens clubs is reflected in the social history of the time and this work will enable us to share this with a wider audience”.
Exhibition Dates Parr Library: Monday, February 5 – Friday, February 23 Rainford Library: Monday, February 26 – Friday, March 16 Chester Lane Library: Monday, March 16-Friday, April 6 Newton-Le-Willows Library: Monday, April 9 – Friday, April 27; Eccleston Library: Monday, April 30-Friday, May 25; Liverpool Record Office (Liverpool Central Library): Friday, June 1 –Saturday, June 30.
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Upload your event for FREE at www.locallife247.co.uk/events Follow us on Facebook
events2go
Football Development
Library Lion
Every Friday until Friday, April 13, 5pm-8.30pm
Thursday, Feb 15, 11am-11.30am, & 2pm-2.30pm
The course teaches children correct football techniques by FA Qualified Coaches, in a ‘FUN through football’ course for reception through to Y6. The club has links to local junior teams in St Helens where players can play at the weekend. Call 0151 363 6503 or 07514 316 534 to book.
Don’t judge a book by its cover - and never judge a lion by its ROAR! Dudley Libraries, Untied Artists and Birmingham Rep brings the children’s book to life in celebration of an endangered species – the local library. For children aged 4-7 and their families. Tickets: £3 or £8 for a group of four www. eventbrite.co.uk
First Kick Football, 9B Hennel Lane, Walton-leDale, Preston, PR5 4LA. Tel: 07514 316534
Little Red & The Big Bad Wolf Sunday, February 11, 2.30pm-3.30pm ‘Do not leave the path, for you’d make a tasty treat! For the hungriest wolf of all, who is ready to eat!’ A theatrical re-telling of the classic tale packed with music, dance and song. Tickets are between £5 and £7 from www.citadel.org.uk The Citadel Arts Centre, Waterloo Street, St Helens WA10 1PX. Tel: 01744 735436
The Wizard of Oz Tuesday, February 13, to Sunday, February 18 Go on a magical adventure over the rainbow with Maddie Hope Coelho as Dorothy. Regal Entertainments’ version includes a hilarious script, dazzling costumes, and brilliant songs and choreography. For info and tickets visit www. sthelenstheatreroyal.com St Helens Theatre Royal, Corporation Street, St Helens, WA10 1LQ. Box Office: 01744 756 000
Chester Lane Library, 132 Chester Lane, Sutton Manor, St Helens, WA9 4DE. Tel: 01744 677081
The Final Twist Thursday, February 15, 7.30pm; Friday, February 16, 7.30pm; Saturday, February 17, 7.30pm Can a writer concoct a plot for the perfect murder? Can an actor carry it out successfully? Why not come along to the Village Hall and find out? Tickets available from Rainhill Village Hall & Rainhill Post Office. Ticket hotline 01744 813429. Rainhill Village Hall, Dane Ct, Rainhill, Prescot, L35 4LU. Tel: 0151 430 9338
Southport 60s Weekend Friday, Feb 16, 7pm to Sunday, Feb 18, 11.59pm Great music from the likes of, The Rag Dolls, The Berries, The Fourmost and The Undertakers plus much more all under one roof. Full weekend tickets are £199 (incl. three nights’ accommodation), call 01757 700042 for tickets and more info. Prince of Wales Hotel, Lord St, Southport, PR8 1JS. Tel: 01704 536688
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I LOVE ME Wellbeing Event
The Little Mix Experience
Sunday, February 18, 10am-5pm
Tuesday, February 20, 6pm-9pm
Come along to this uplifting event where you’ll have the opportunity to try a wide variety of holistic treatments and try out some new complimentary therapies. Browse the stalls and discover new products. Entrance fee is £2, but kids go free. Contact Lyndsay May for more info 07572 066365.
Four talented girls pay tribute to the UK’s top girl-band, Little Mix. With breathtaking dance moves, replica costumes and amazing vocals, this is a high-energy show from beginning to end. Tickets are £12.50 (+£1.50 booking fee) from sthelenstheatreroyal.ticketsolve.com
Rainford Village Hall, Church Road, Rainford, WA11 8HB. Tel: 01744 884709
St Helens Theatre Royal, Corporation Street, St Helens, WA10 1LQ. Tel: 01744 756000
Rainford Heritage Society
Psychic Night
Monday, February 19, 7.30pm
Tuesday, February 20, 6.30pm-late
The Society is hosting a talk on the manufacture and usage of manuscripts in Medieval England and France by Brian Farrimond. Everyone is welcome; entry is £2 per person.
Hosted by Dr. Love; introducing gifted psychics from television and radio. There’ll be Clairvoyance, palmistry, tarot, crystal balls, runestones, and angel cards. For all enquiries please call 07974 807774.
Function Room, Junction pub, Rainford, WA11 7JU. Tel: 01744 882868
Black Horse Inn, 70 Rainhill Road, Rainhill, Prescot, L35 4PF. Tel: 0151 426 4195
Hot Pot Lunch
Arts Award Discover
Monday, February 19, 1pm-4pm
Six weekly sessions from Tues, Feb 20, 3.45pm4.45pm, until Tues, March 27, 3.45pm-4.45pm
Come and join us for a lovely warm homemade hot pot, cake or scone and unlimited tea/coffee Byroney’s Cafe & Bistro. For those not rushing home, you can stay a while and have a sing song or join in with some fun games. Tickets are £12 and is hosted by St Helens & Warrington Oddfellows. For info, call 01744 453650. Byroney’s Cafe & Bistro, 2 George Street, St Helens, WA10 1BU. Tel: 01744 612122
St Helens Historical Society Monday, February 19, 7.30pm Learn a little more about ‘The History of Surgery’ with Khushroo Suraliwaka. For more information, contact Secretary Mary Presland on 01744 23141 or Treasurer Norma Cresswell on 01744 754962. Friends Meeting House, Church Street, St Helens, WA10 1AJ.
An introductory award inspiring children aged 7+ to enjoy the arts and develop their creativity. Please call Prescot Library if interested on 0151 443 5101. Prescot Library, 1 Park Road, Prescot, L34 3LN. Tel: 0151 443 5101
Family History Help Desk Tuesday, February 20, 10am-1pm; Tuesday, March 20, 10am-1pm; Tuesday, April 17, 10am-1pm If you’re hoping to delve into your family history a little more, but are in need of some assistance, pop down to the monthly help desk dates at Prescot Library. Prescot Library, 1 Park Road, Prescot, L34 3LN. Tel: 0151 443 5101
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Prescot Historic Society
RAOC Veterans Reunion
Thursday, February 22, 7.30pm
Saturday, March 3, 7pm-11.59pm
Learn all about the ‘History of Haydock Lodge’ with Pauline Hurst. Tea/coffee will be served after the meeting. Everyone welcome.
If you’re ex RAOC and in the local area you’re more than welcome to attend the veterans reunion, but you must book so that food numbers can be calculated. For more info visit their official website raoc.websitetoolbox.com/
Parish Church Hall, Church Street, Prescot, L34 3LA. Tel: 0151 426 6719
‘The Rape of Lucrece’ Friday, February 23, 7pm-8pm Gerard Logan (Olivier Award nominee and RSC actor) stars in the first solo adaptation of William Shakespeare’s poem about rape and its aftershock. Tickets are £6; £5 St Helens Library member; £3 concessions from www.eventbrite.co.uk Eccleston Community Library, Broadway, Eccleston, WA10 5PJ. Tel: 01744 677575
Coffee Morning Saturday, February 24, 10am-12pm Helen Marie Charity presents a charity morning with a cakes stall, tombola, raffle and much more. Admission is 50p and includes refreshments. All proceeds go towards helping sick and disabled children. Rainford Parish Hall, Church Rd, Rainford, WA11 8HB. Tel: 01744 884709
World Book Day 2018 Thursday, March 1, 10am-7pm Meet the artists, 1pm; pop-up book installation all day courtesy of Michelle Wren; read on from 5pm6pm with Ian Greenhall and Michaela Anders. All original works contribute to the merriment of World Book Day 2018. Eccleston Community Library, Broadway, Eccleston, WA10 5PJ. Tel: 01744 677575
Eagle & Child, 38 Main Street, Billinge, Wigan, WN5 7HD. Tel: 01744 892453
Some Guys Have All The Luck Sunday, March 4, 7.30pm-10.15pm Celebrating the career of one of rocks greatest icons, Rod Stewart – from street busker through to international superstar!. All tickets are £21.50(+£1.50 fee) from sthelenstheatreroyal.ticketsolve.com St Helens Theatre Royal, Corporation Street, WA10 1LQ. Tel: 01744 756000
Luke Daniels Friday, March 9, 7.30pm-11pm The BBC award-winning singer songwriter and composer hailed by critics as “a genius” for his work with 19th century polyphon machines. He creates masterful acoustic folk music encompassing humble woodnotes to syrupy synthesized twists. Tickets are £14 from www.citadel.org.uk The Citadel Arts Centre, Waterloo Street, St Helens, WA10 1PX. Tel: 01744 735436
A Day in The Life of a Bottlehand Thursday, March 15, 2.30pm-3.30pm Set against the backdrop of St Helens life in the late 19th Century, ‘A Day in The Life of a Bottlehand’ celebrates the lives, stories and histories (real and imagined) of the people who worked in the largest glass bottle-making factory in the world. Free event. Rainford Community Library, Church Road, WA11 8HA. Tel: 01744 677820
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30
Cronton
by Niamh Ollerton
O
gate and into the field; keeping to the left of it.
The starting point for our 4.5 mile walk was the car park next to the Leighton Observatory at Pex Hill. Once booted up, wrapped up warm, and ready for the challenge, my colleague Peter and I headed off on the very cold, but clear winter afternoon.
Continue on through the next field, which happened to be filled with potatoes as far as the eye could see, and follow the path around the old sewage works which has an almost eerie air around it. Carry on until you hit the track running along the side of the motorway.
Firstly head left out of the car park – where you’ll actually be walking between two covered reservoirs – and follow the road down the hill, through the
Turn left and carry on past the motorway footbridge and continue along the track. As you look up on your left you will just about see the shimmering
n this walk you’ll wander through the historical village of Cronton that appeared in the 1086 Domesday Book, walk above the now disused quarry that will have provided the foundation stones of homes close by, and see far into the distance from the top of Pex Hill. And with companions at the ready, this route has all the ingredients for an enjoyable outing.
As we headed down the side of the field, Peter and I were chatting about travel and the like to which he said do you know what the Dream is? To which I thought he meant a deep philosophical question, but as you look to your right, in the distance you’ll in fact see the Dream statue.
31 silver dome of the Observatory above the vast trees. You’ll leave the track as it turns towards Pex Hill, and continue down the footpath on the right of the corner, heading down past Cronton Hall. But before you reach Cronton Hall, on your right you will see a paddock protected by a metal fence which is home to the most beautiful black Shire horse which would give Black Beauty a run for its money. Once you reach Hall Lane (the main road), turn right and enjoy the quaint village of Cronton. You’ll pass the weathered remains of Cronton Cross which was once the resting place for bearers carrying to the cemetery, and continue straight on to Penny Lane. Just before you reach Tue Lane, take the public footpath on the left. Continue along the footpath which reminded me of the carriage tracks in films like Great Expectations, until you’ve crossed the field and hit a stone footbridge that takes you on towards Cronton Road. Cross the road and go right, then turn left into Lodge Lane. Once past the farm, ignore the first public footpath sign and continue on to the second one on your left. Take this one, keeping to the right of the ditch, through the field and into the next, until you reach the footbridge on your left. Go over the footbridge and follow the path until reaching the next footpath sign and turn right. This will then take you up along the edge of fields until you emerge onto Chapel Lane. Here you’ll cross the road and go right, following the road round the bend to the next public footpath on the left. Take this footpath and you’ll pass the farm building – but if there’s been heavy rainfall be wary of the deep tractor tracks – and go through two small gates, and continue to follow the path round and out onto Sandy Lane, where you go left.
You can take a closer look at the Dream statue on our Sutton walk. There are guides to all our walks at www.locallife247.co.uk
32 It shocked me to find out that thin and windy Sandy Lane was once a 60mph road, but is now closed to motor vehicles. With the ‘slow’ markings still on the tarmac road, it’s clear to see the vegetation has made itself at home and the road will eventually be completely covered in greenery. Sandy Lane will look lovely in the spring and summertime with the trees lining the road. At the end of Sandy Lane go left along Cronton Road a short distance, then cross over to go up Hall Lane on your right, passing a lovely red brick family church. And you’ll then turn right again into Mill Lane. When the road turns sharply to the left, instead you’ll head straight on through the gate, going up to footpath that was once the continuation of Mill Lane many moons ago. At the top, the path reaches the old sandstone quarry which if you’d like to venture down, a lot of free climbers are said to dare the heights. Continue around the fence above the quarry, following the path round to the footpath entrance to Pex Hill Nature Reserve, which is beautiful come any season. As we walked up the path we had a great view over to Liverpool; being able to pick out the two Cathedrals and the Radio City Tower. Then it was back to the car and off to find a hot cup of tea and a well-earned piece of cake.
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Hall A57
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Length of walk: 4.5 miles Difficulty: Easy
Accessibility: We did the walk after some prolonged rainfall and there was some very muddy sections.
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Please ensure you wear appropriate clothing and footwear while walking. While 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.
-J7
34
Gardening PLANT OF THE MONTH
Heather
JOBS FOR FEBRUARY • Erect a cold frame, polytunnel or greenhouse. • Sow your tomatoes indoors. • Plant soft fruit bushes. • Plant garlic in the ground before the end of the month.
T
here are hundreds of varieties of Heather, which is an easy to grow, low maintenance plant for your garden borders or pots. Adding colour to your garden, you can plant different species at different times A popular, basic species is a Mediterranean Shrub. With white, pink or purple flowers, this evergreen shrub blooms late winter and Spring to a height of around 6-12 inches. Heather is best planted in Spring and early Autumn, in acidic soil with good drainage. If your plants are autumn flowering, you’ll need to prune them in the spring by removing old woody stems. Try mixing up different types of heather in each pot for bright colour and variety to your garden.
TOP TIP If you don’t know what type of soil you have in your garden then invest in a soil testing kit to make sure you pick the right plants for your garden this year.
• Get your nesting box up and ready. There are great varieties now that come complete with a camera that links up to your TV so that you can check in to ‘nest cam’ and see what’s going on inside! • Try adding some edges to your lawn to prepare for the season ahead. • Sort out your seeds now by sowing date, month by month.
HAVE A GO!
k the n garlic? Brea grown your ow tedin po , Have you ever d plant them vidual cloves an soil. in d bulbs into indi re is just cove so that the tip end sticking up sunny cm apart in a space them 15 well er ef Make sure you pr ey Th e 30cm apart. ar at th s w ro to your spot with re you commit check this befo drained soil so position.
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Test Drive
Range Rover
N
ow, here’s a question that you might not know the answer to but will almost certainly have an opinion on. Is the Range Rover Sport one of the most influential cars of the modern era? A decade or so ago it seemed like all the celebrities were arriving to events in a Range Rover Sport, and since then the SUV market has exploded. Now nearly everybody wants one. Furthermore, almost every manufacturer is now making them. The Sport is not really a full-blown Range Rover. It’s cheaper for a start, and comes with five seats, but it does offer the option of seven. That said, the additional chairs are tiny and aren’t appropriate for fitting kids’ car seats. This is a lower, smaller ‘Rangie’, designed to appeal to a slightly less affluent, but still successful, crowd. And the focus has moved from out-and-out luxury to one that is more about power and pure on-road use.
Sport by Tim Barnes-Clay
Of course, it’s a Range Rover, so it is well equipped, and the interior is of a high quality. The Windsor leather seats are impeccable - but the Sport is quite different to the full ‘Range Rover’. There are three diesels, two petrols, and even a new hybrid powertrain to choose from - and all are tuned
37
Fast Facts • 0-62 mph: 7.2 secs • Combined mpg: 40.4 • Engine layout: 2993cc six-cylinder turbo diesel • Max. power (PS): 306 • CO2: 185 g/km • Price: £69,145
primarily for clout. Only the entry level TDV6 feels a little lacking, but equally I couldn’t recommend the powerful eight-cylinder petrol engine on offer - unless you own a small oil producing nation. This will really eat away at your cash reserves. Being designed for on-road action, rather than the full-blown Range Rover’s off-road capability, the Sport comes with optional air suspension. This keeps it comfortable and composed, even when cornering hard. The issue with driving it fast is more the size than the capability of the car. Britain’s most enjoyable roads are just a bit too small to be throwing a two-tonne SUV around, however good it might be.
The Range Rover Sport is a status symbol, a luxury cruiser, and an enjoyable car to drive hard. But it’s expensive to buy and run - especially with its more commanding engines. And it’s not certain that the new hybrid unit can deliver on the claimed figures. Nevertheless, those who want one won’t be put off by such trivial matters.
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