Local Life - St Helens - March 2015 by Local Life 247 Ltd

Cover photo: St Aidan’s Church, Billinge, by Mark Crossfield

St Helens Edition

March 2015

Super, smashing, great

Jim Bowen

Local News Food & Drink Jack’s Tracks Health & Fitness What’s On Garden Diary...

www.locallife247.co.uk

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ou know when you want to improve a room at home and you just pop out for some little pot paints? And, when you’ve used them and made your décor choice you suddenly realise that, really, those curtains need to go. And, well, that carpet is so 90s and that lava lamp has actually gone out of fashion three times since you bought it from Woolies in 1986. And before you know it, the skip has arrived on the driveway and your weekend has taken a very dark turn. “I think we need to give the magazine a bit of a design tweak”, I said to my colleagues in October. One thing led to another and here’s the end result - the new look Local Life.

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We hope that you’re pleased with the result. It’s still undeniably Local Life, but we’ve freshened it up and introduced some new sections which will make it easier for you, the reader, to navigate. The old favourites are still here - the most obvious being our popular Jack’s Tracks column, as well as our Class From The Past and What’s On sections. But we’ve also introduced revamped sections, including for garden services and health and fitness. Enjoy...

David Sudworth - Editor

13-15 White Street, Pemberton, WN5 8JW Open: 9.30-4.30 Monday-Saturday Free parking | Closed Wednesday

Call - 01942 212 520 www. a u bergi nel adi e s wear. c o. uk

Next issue - April 2015

Advertising deadline - Friday 20 March Published - Wednesday 1 April Local Life Media

@locallifemedia

In this issue Super, smashing,

Jack’s Tracks

great

Parbold

Tea and biscuits with Jim Bowen

A hilly 5 mile winter walk

Living on a

Test Drive

prayer

PHEV

Birchley Hall and the Catholic marytrs

Mitsubishi’s hybred Outlander

Lemongrass & ginger

Garden

pork

Diary

A great winter dish

Renewing an interest in your garden

Regulars 12 Puzzle Corner 36 Planning Matters 46 What’s On

Telephone: 01744 649 722 6 Class from the past 62 Useful Numbers

Property Local News Children & Education Food & Drink

Editorial: David Sudworth editorial@locallife247.co.uk Design: Peter Bretherton

design@locallife247.co.uk

Distribution: Sally Boon

sallyb@locallife247.co.uk

Accounts: Sam Garrahan accounts@locallife247.co.uk

Sections 3 6 22 40

Sales: Chris Pearce, Nicola Gray sales@locallife247.co.uk

46 54 56 58

Events & Leisure Motoring Gardening Home Services

Publisher: Local Life 247 Ltd, Unit 8, Hewitt Business Park, Winstanley Road, Orrell, WN5 7XB

Local Life is published every month and distributed into the following edition areas on an alternate monthly basis. This 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. Copies are also available to pick up free from Tesco Stores in Haydock and Peasley Cross. The next 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. Copies are also available to pick up free from Tesco Extra Stores in Peasley Cross and Prescot.

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.

MP hails new-look A local MP had a sneak preview of your new-look Local Life before it hit the presses. Yvonne Fovargue visited our offices on Hewitt Business Park, Winstanley Road, Orrell, to meet the

Local Life team as they were putting the finishing touches to this edition. Since launching in 2008, Local Life has become a real success story and we now regularly produce magazines across the St Helens, Wigan Chorley and West Lancashire areas. We’ve also taken on more staff, with Dylan Brookes, from Billinge, (pictured) being our latest recruit as an apprentice designer. Yvonne, who represents part of Billinge, said: “I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Local Life and meeting Dylan, who was telling me how much he is learning on the job. Apprenticeships are vitally important for young people as they offer a positive route into employment, and I’m delighted Local Life is giving people like Dylan the chance to learn new skills in a work-based environment. I wish all the Local Life team continued success for the future.”

Class from the

past

This month’s Class from the Past is from Main Street School, Billinge. It’s believed this photo was taken in the early 1980s. Maybe you can spot a familiar face?

Remember, if you have a photo you’d be willing to share, contact David Sudworth today by emailing editorial@locallife247.co.uk

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Sue Ryder home up for

sale

Families have spoken of their fears after it emerged a Billinge care home has been put up for sale. Sue Ryder’s Birchley Hall centre, on Birchley Road, is the national charity’s only provider of residential care services for the elderly. But now families have been told that the building and service has been put on the market, with staff possibly transferring to the new provider if a deal can be secured. One relative told Local Life: “It is a very worrying time and the care Sue Ryder gives is brilliant. The staff there are really dedicated and we are really worried that another company will come in and not have the same high standards because they will be motivated by profit.” Mike Smeeton, director of health and social care at Sue Ryder, told Local Life: “We can confirm that, after much deliberation, we have decided to put Birchley Hall on the market. We are hopeful we will be able to secure a buyer for the building and the service together

and will review this after a period of three months. “Birchley Hall is our only provider of residential care services for the elderly, and the care provided at Birchley Hall does not fit with our national health and social care strategy. We are committed to securing the right buyer, who will continue to deliver the same service provision and will offer residents access to the care and support that they need and deserve. “We will be working very closely to ensure there is minimal disruption to residents and staff during this time and remain committed to upholding the highest possible standards of care at Birchley Hall.” History of Birchley Hall - see page 34.

Plans unveiled to transform barn and stables In a further development, bosses at Birchley Hall have said they want to turn some disused outbuildings into residential accomodation. The barn and stables, which are thought to be over 150 years old, have been earmarked for development, and a planning application has now been submitted to St Helens Council. In papers submitted to the council, architects on

behalf of Sue Ryder state: “The barn and stable have been underused for a number of years, and latterly have been used for limited and poor quality storage space. Residential conversion is proposed as a means to provide them with a meaningful future.” The public has until Thursday, March 19, to comment on the plans. Visit www.sthelens.gov.uk - the reference is P/2015/0107

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Protecting

St Aidan’s

A scheme to protect stain glass windows from theft and deterioration at a Billinge church have been unveiled. St Aidan’s, on Newton Road, has applied to St Helens Council planners to replace the polycarbonate guards on 12 of its windows. They have also asked for permission to replace stonework on nine nave windows. It comes after the church was targeted by thieves last year, and leaders at the historic site are keen to ensure

the 18th Century building is kept as safe as possible. In papers lodged to the council, architects working on the project explained: “Sealed glass or polycarbonate over protection of leaded glass has been shown to be detrimental to the lead in that deterioration of the lead is significantly accelerated. The reasons for this are not fully understood but generally said to be as a result of excessive heat build-up between the two materials and a mechanism of condensation often referred to as ‘sweating’. “The church is prone to incidences of theft and

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vandalism. Last year lead flashings from the chancel roof were stolen and a few years ago, stone finials on the roof edge were broken off probably in readiness for theft but were discovered on the roof before they were removed. There have in addition been minor incidences of glass breakage in recent years. As the church lies on a busy road junction in the village centre, opposite two public houses and partly surrounded by trees the building is considered to be prone to vandalism and therefore the continued use of window protection is recommended.â&#x20AC;? The planning application is now out for public consultation. The deadline for comments is March 12. To view background documentation, visit www. sthelens.gov.uk - the reference is P/2015/0073.

Puzzle

corner

Guess where? Sudoku

Wordsearch Currency

Answers are on page 62 of this magazine

Dollar Yen Euro Franc Peso Krone

Ruble Lira Baht Sterling Rand Dime

Dirham Rupee Mark Schilling

Super, Smashing,

great... Bullseye legend Jim Bowen talks to David Sudworth about school, surviving the Working Men’s Clubs and the attractions of ‘80s teasmaids

“H

ere’s one for you David,” he says in his distinctive East Lancashire twang. “Spell ‘gauge’.” I hesitate, trying desperately to buy some time. “Gauge? Err... g-u-a...no, hang on... g-a-g-u...can I write it down?”

My host smiles, then ups the ante: “Now spell guard”. This is the stuff of nightmares. Here I am sat in front of a fella who, through my entire childhood, fired questions at folk on Sunday teatime telly for fun, and now he’s on my tail. Thankfully, we’re not in some draughty studio in Birmingham with the cameras capturing my every cerebral contortion. In fact, Jim Bowen and I are sitting in his conservatory overlooking the splendid Lune Valley. Jim’s Welsh-born wife of 55 years, Phyllis, is keeping us well stocked in tea and biscuits as he spends a good two hours recounting some uproarious behind-thescenes tales of Britain’s best-known darts gameshow, Bullseye. It soon becomes clear why Jim is interested in my spelling abilities: “We had a guy on who won the main prize by spelling gauge. But after the show an audience member said that actually, the contestant had spelt ‘guard’ instead of ‘gauge’. So we ran the tape back and, as the audience member said, he’d spelt an entirely different word. The problem was that everyone had gone home and each show cost about £23,000 to make, so there’s no way we could burn it. So we had to go back to the tape, physically cut each letter out from the footage and Sellotape it back together in the right order. It went out and I don’t think anyone noticed. “I don’t tell that story often, mainly when I’m in select company!” At 77, Jim may be slightly older than he was back in the 1980s, and a stroke three years ago has left him a bit wobbly on his pins. But his mind is as razor sharp as it was when he hosted the ITV game show. And even though it’s two decades since Jim and Bully worked together, thanks to re-runs on Challenge TV, a whole new generation are now learning how “you can’t beat a bit of Bully”.

His hilarious faux-pas, from giving a skiing holiday to a wheelchair-bound contestant to asking what one player did for a job (they’d been unemployed two years) and Jim replying: “Smashing!”, and his mascot, Bully, have both secured a place in the nation’s hearts. And yet the show very nearly didn’t get commissioned for a second series after the first two episodes were deemed so bad, they were never transmitted. “I didn’t have a clue what I was doing - we had five cameras on set and in those first two series I always ended up looking at the wrong one. I must have looked like a demented shepherd. In the end they had to burn the first two shows..”

“I sat eight GCEs but failed nine”

“I was part of a team which oversaw the loading of hundreds of tons of explosives to navy vessels. We were expected to know exactly what went on board, and to know the details of the ages and strengths of the different categories. As the shells aged, their potency lessened so checking was vital. It turns out that during one loading operation, someone noticed that the age of the shells in one consignment varied by as much as 15 years, so we had to unload it very quickly. Had that not happened, the shells being used in Suez would not have performed as calculated by the Royal Artillery gunners, who relied totally on our figures. Had this rogue batch got through, it would have landed on our troops. Everything was done to keep the news of this awful blunder from our commanding officer, but sadly I was found out and sent as far away from the explosives as possible namely a gymnasium in Aldershot!”

Born as Peter Williams in Heswall, Wirral, in 1937, to an unmarried mother, Jim was adopted at nine months old to Accrington couple Joe, a brickworker, and Annie, a mill weaver, he was renamed James and took their surname, Whittaker. Home was 303 Dill Hall Lane, Clayton-le-Moors: “Dad had always said to get a ‘dressed up’ job like teaching or banking, and not to be like him without any qualifications. “The problem was I sat eight GCE subjects and managed to fail nine of them - I was that bad. My only valid contribution to school life was getting on the cross country team. I got a job as a bin man but soon realised I couldn’t do that for the rest of my life so asked my old headmaster if I could re-take my exams. He agreed so I took nine GCEs and passed 10 - what a turnaround!” laughs Jim. His belated success meant he could start teacher training, but first he had to complete his National Service. Much like his experience on Bullseye - still some 30 years in the future at this point - his posting to Shrewsbury was not without the odd mishap. However, one particularly serious miscalculation on Jim’s part at the height of the Suez crisis could almost have ended up with a severe loss of British life.

Jim and Phyllis on their wedding day in 1959 Jim’s unexpected detour focused his mind on becoming a PE teacher and, in August 1957, he signed up for a training course at Chester College. He met Phyllis, a fellow trainee teacher from Oswestry., and they were married St Mary’s Parish Church in Oswestry in August 1959. During his first year as a newly qualified teacher at Hyndburn Park, Jim started getting the entertainment bug and duly formed the Accrington Young Teachers

Dramatic Society: “I suppose even in those early days there was an innate desire to perform in an arena away from the classroom. I then went to watch Ken Dodd perform at the Opera House in Blackpool and he was brilliant. I went so many times I could recite the first 10 minutes of his act word for word.”

“I must have been bloody awful” By the end of it, Jim was hooked on comedy: “I just thought it looked easy. I remember one Sunday lunchtime I went with a teaching mate to watch a comedian called Bernard Perkins. It was in this working men’s club in Blackburn - they had the meat auction and everything - proper working class. Bernard wasn’t doing too well so I turned to my mate and said I could do better than him. Unfortunately for me, the club manager was standing next to me and promptly went on stage at the interval to tell everyone what I’d said and challenged me to come up and do a spot. I must have been bloody awful and that taught me a lot.”

Going onto The Comedians, filmed at Granada’s Quay Street Studios in Manchester, was a career-changing moment for Jim: “It was the 1970s version of winning the X-Factor. Don’t forget, back then you only had a few channels and The Comedians had viewing figures of 18 million on a Friday night. There were people who became stars almost overnight, like Bernard Manning and Charlie Williams. I went on about halfway through the show which was great because the audience was still fairly fresh and only half of the other comedians had had a chance to steal your gags. By this time, Jim decided to pack in teaching and go into showbiz business full-time. He was soon offered the chance to present a newly-commissioned show: “It was pitched to me as a darts show with general knowledge. Now, I had no interest in darts before, and have to say have had no interest in it since, but I

Undeterred, Jim started on the road which would eventually land him a spot on TV’s prestigious 1970s show, The Comedians. However, before that he had to undergo the torture of the northern club circuit: “The working men’s clubs were unforgiving places, you’d know within five seconds whether you’d die on your backside or not. The stories are legendary. “ While doing a week’s stint at The Dolphin Bar in Cleveleys, Jim was spotted by Irish funnyman Frank Carson, who later approached Jim for his telephone number. The Comedians had just started on TV and Carson promised to pass his details on:. True to his word, he received a call a few weeks later by the show’s producer and was offered a spot. By this time, Jim changed his surname to Bowen - a hybrid of the initial from his middle name (Brown which in itself was his mother’s maiden name) and Owen, which was Phyllis’ maiden name: “I just thought Whittaker was too long for a surname. Besides, I thought it would be easier when signing autographs,”.

Jim hosted Bullseye for 15 years

gave it a go. I met Peter Harris, the producer who had previously worked on The Muppet Show, and it was the start of an enduring friendship. “The truth is that at the beginning we only had a very basic idea for the show, the meat was put on the bones over a Chinese meal in Birmingham with us all there.

“The first series was actually at 7pm on a Monday, sandwiched between Crossroads at 6.30pm and Coronation Street at 7.30pm, so the powers-that-be reasoned that no-one would be bothered to get out of their chairs and change channels, but we were wrong. I dreaded the first transmission. When it did go out I was sitting at home with Phyllis. Afterwards, no-one said a word, except Phyllis who simply got up from her chair and said: ‘I’ll go put the kettle on...’ “To my complete amazement though, the TV company bought another 26 episodes and moved us from Monday evenings to Sunday teatime, known in the business as The God Spot.” If Jim’s experiences at the beginning of Bullseye caused him to start praying, then the so-called God Spot provided some divine intervention as the show started to slowly grow.

“Teasmaids were sought after prizes” Nowadays, Bullseye is looked on fondly for its strange choice of prizes and the plethora of catchphrases. Ditties such as “let’s have a look what you would have won” and “keep out of the black and in the red, nothing for this game for two in a bed” are now part of the nation’s lexicon, but Jim says they never set out to create them: “The only one which was deliberate was the ‘two in a bed’ saying, and that’s only because I couldn’t remember the rules for that part of the game, so we said we’d make a little poem to remind me. “Showing the contestants what they would have won was purely a way of rounding off the show, because otherwise it would have come to an abrupt

Jim with Local Life editor David Sudworth end. I know the prizes were seen as naff but you have to remember that in the 1980s not everyone had loads of gadgets in their homes. So a teasmaid was quite sought after. Even the bigger prizes, like the people who lived in a flat and won a speed boat, they might seem useless but they could have sold the boat and got a few grand for it.” These days, Jim is retired and spends time at his home in Melling, East Lancashire. He still does the odd ‘Audience With...’ style performance, usually in local village halls. He’s also got his two grandchildren, Robert, 9, and Daniel, 7, from his daughter Susan, who now lives in Richmond, Surrey. His son, Pete, lives in Tenerife. As our interview draws to a close, Jim reflects on how his career has afforded him to do what he loves while delivering financial security: “I know full well that if I hadn’t been on Bullseye I wouldn’t be sat here talking to you now, here with this lovely view behind us.” Before I leave, Jim signs a copy of his autobiography, Right Place, Right Time, and presents me with a Bullseye pin badge. After the spelling ordeal earlier on, and now some ‘prizes’, I wonder whether this is what it felt to be a contestant on Bullseye. I might not be going home with a speedboat, or even a teasmaid, but it’s definitely been a real pleasure. Or, as my host himself might even say; “Super, smashing, great...”

Travel

Go Med for

Tunisia by David Sudworth

estling at the most northern tip of the African continent, Tunisia offers an exciting gateway into a world of endless sunshine, beautiful beaches, fascinating culture and all-round family fun.

Booking a trip there with Billinge-based Marken Travel, in conjunction with Tunisian holiday specialists Just Sunshine, means youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll get the best deals around. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll certainly get a lot of sun for your money - Tunisia has on average around 11 hoursâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; sunshine in summer, with temperatures regularly in the 20s and 30s. And there are plenty of wonderful beaches for you to relax on and enjoy as you banish the memories of the cold, miserable British winter. Having been a French colony for many years, this exotic country is both reassuringly European in outlook yet maintains its proud Arabic roots, making it a place which has something for everybody. However, unlike many familiar places on the Mediterranean coast, Tunisia is a relative newcomer to the tourist trail, and standards of accommodation vary. For family holidays therefore, best plan your stay around one of the purpose-built resorts.

One such place is Hammamet Yasmine, a chic, modern resort just 20 minutes from the bustling Hammamet with enough to keep the whole family entertained. The attractive centre comprises of an elegant marina and traditional souk-inspired medina, crammed with colourful shops, stalls and cafes. However, it’s the wide, sandy beach which is the real star of the show. You can enjoy soaking up the rays there or trying some water sports. For a little something different, you can enjoy a fun-filled afternoon aboard one of the pirate-themed boats in the marina or visit North Africa’s first Theme Park - Carthage Land. Keen golfers will also be delighted to know that there are two courses just a few miles away; Yasmine Golf with 27 holes and Citrus Golf which has 45 holes. Marken Travel and Just Sunshine holidays can offer you a wide selection of 3, 4 and 5 star hotels to choose from in Hammamet Yasmine, with prices starting as low as £339 per person, including breakfast.

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Among them is the 5 star El Mouradi Hammamet, which is situated on the seafront facing a beach of fine, golden sand and offers a stunning range of facilities. With no fewer than five outdoor pools, two indoors pools and a good choice of entertainment, there’s no chance of getting bored here.

Join representatives from Marken Travel and Just Sunshine for an informal and informative evening about holidaying in Tunisia

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Just Sunshine holidays to Tunisia are perfect for everyone. If you book before April 30, you only need a deposit of £50 per person and there are no hidden costs. The price given to you by Marken Travel is the price you pay. All holidays to Tunisia with Just Sunshine include 20kg baggage allowance (5kgs for hand luggage), transfers, in-flight refreshments on all Tunisair scheduled flights and services of a local representative in Tunisia. All this and don’t forget that booking through Marken Travel means peace of mind as the money you pay for your flights and package holiday will be fully protected under ABTA and ATOL rules.

Another option is the 4 star Hotel El Mouradi El Menzah; an attractive, modern hotel with a large swimming pool and a central beachfront location. It’s perfect for families and couples alike, allowing guests to make the most of the resort’s many attractions. Further down the coast is Port El Kantaoui. Its marina is a favourite hangout for the jet-set, and its whitewashed buildings form a stunning contrast to the clear, azure waters of the Mediterranean. Cobbled streets lead past chic boutiques to the lamp lit marina where you will find relaxed bars and swish restaurants. The family can enjoy the Aqua Palace water park, horse & camel riding, quad biking and a wealth of water sports. Again, there is a fabulous range of hotels, starting from £299 per person, and each with plenty to keep the children occupied. One of them, the three star El Mouradi Club Selima Hotel, enjoys an enviable position on the long stretch of sandy beach and is one of the best options around for a budget, all-inclusive holiday. Activities here range from kids’ clubs (5-12 years and 13-17 years), archery, tennis and water sports. Much like Hammanet Yasmine, Port El-Kantaoui is located within a short journey to a bustling hub, this one being the historic city of Sousse where you can grab a bargain in the lively souk. Don’t forget to haggle though – it’s part of the local tradition and ensures you get what you want for a great price!

So instead of going to the same old place this summer, why not broaden your horizons and try Tunisia with Marken Travel in conjunction with Just Sunshine? A whole new world of family fun, sun and great value awaits you! Marken Travel, 200 Main Street, Billinge, WN5 7PE. Call 01744 893291.

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Could you foster? A call has gone out for local people to step forward to foster children. St Helens Council says there is a particular need in the area for foster parents to look after teenagers and brothers/sisters who want to stay together. The authority offers allowances, training, help and advice. Should you take up the opportunity, the council says you will be helped at every step of the way by its support team. A spokesman said: “Fostering teenagers or helping to keep siblings together in one stable and loving home can be one of the most rewarding experiences you can have. “Applications are welcomed from those who are single, in a relationship, married or divorced, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. All are assessed on their own merits and the type of care you could offer a child is the most important thing.“ Contact the fostering team on 01744 671199 or you can email dutyfostering@sthelens.gov.uk

Alternatively you can log on to the website at www. sthelens.gov.uk/fostering

Signed shirt up for grabs A framed Saints shirt signed by Paul Wellens is up for grabs in support the National Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on Saturday, March 21. It also forms part of St Helens Council’s No Place for Hate Campaign, which aims to raise awareness of hate crime and spread the message that hate crime will not be tolerated in St Helens. There are two shirts up for grabs, and all you have to do is make a pledge in support of the No Place for Hate Campaign’ Simply visit www.safersthelens.org. uk and leave a comment on the Hate Crime pledge before Sunday, March 22, for your chance to win. You can also tweet @sthelenscouncil with the hashtag #NoPlace4H8 to be entered into the draw. Winners will be notified on Monday, March 23.

Do YOU want to teach ? Then come along to our Open Evening on Wednesday 11th March at Orrell St James Catholic Primary School St James’ Rd, Orrell, WN5 7AA from 5.30-7pm

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College among the

best

St Helens College has been named the best further education institution in Merseyside. The national report published by Department of Education also said it was among the top 10 general colleges in the North West for vocational studies. The 2014 School and College League Performance Tables revealed that during the last academic year, students gained the best average point score per entry in Merseyside for its vocational courses. Dr Jette Burford, principal of St Helens College said: “The league tables recognise the achievements of the college’s post 16 provision. The performance tables are a reflection of the hard work and dedication from students and colleagues. Our average vocational grade is a distinction, which is equivalent to a Grade

New home for

A at A Level. This reflects the standard of teaching, learning and assessment at the college. “This is the second year running that the college is at the top of the tables and is quickly becoming one of the best general further education colleges in the country for vocational performance.”

Douglas

Children at Garswood Primary School are celebrating after scooping first prize in a national competition. Held by Madeleine Lindley Ltd, a book provider which offers books for children and their teachers, the competition required schools across the UK to find the most words in the anagram Hugless Douglas, a title of a series of books by internationally acclaimed author and illustrator David Melling. The stories tell the tale of a lovable, young brown bear who wakes up one morning in search of the perfect hug. Garswood fought off stern competition to clinch first

prize to become the proud owner of a large Hugless Douglas soft toy which has pride of place in the school’s recently opened library.

30th Anniversary It’s 30 years since the faces on this picture left Rainford High – and many of them are due to get together for a celebratory reunion soon. Photographed around 1982, these children started high school in 1980 and left five years later. One of them, Ian Bonnell (pictured on the back row in the centre), still lives locally, on Conway Drive, Billinge, and will be going to the 30th Anniversary Prom.

Brownies’ plea A Billinge group fears it may have to fold unless a new leader is found. The 9th Wigan West Brownie Guide unit, located at Bispham Methodist Church on Crank Road, is on the look-out for help from adults. Previous experience in Guiding is desirable but not essential as

Prom Ian told Local Life: “Several of us decided after watching our own children go to their proms that, seeing as we never had one, we should hold our own. We suspect most of the relevant people still live in the Rainford, St Helens and Billinge areas, and we’re trying to contact as many people as possible. It would be great to see so many old faces.” The reunion is at St Helens’ ground, Langtree Park, on Saturday, July 4. To register your interest, email classof-85-reunion@craven.eclipse.co.uk

training is provided. Meetings take place on a Monday between 6pm and 7.30pm where they play games, learn crafts and explore the outdoors during the summer months. If you think you may be interested, please contact email annebutler@yahoo.co.uk or phone Helen Littlehales on 01695 627184.

Takeaway plan

first class?

Billinge’s Post Office building is set to be turned into a hot food takeaway - with the services it now provides moving literally round the corner. Post Office officials have confirmed to Local Life that although services at the current site on Rainford Road will be closing on Tuesday, March 24, they will move to Billinge News and Booze, on Main Street, and be ready for business again by 1pm on the Friday. It comes after plans were unveiled to turn the current Post Office building into a takeaway. This has already provoked formal objections from some locals worried about parking, an additional food outlet in the area and possible odour and litter issues. A decision on whether to give it an official stamp of approval is due to be made by St Helens Council planners soon.

Post Office services, including Special Delivery, Local Collect, home shopping returns, and make online banking cash deposits and withdrawals, withdrawals using a Post Office Card Account, sending funds abroad using Moneygram, pay bills, pre-order travel money, applying for travel insurance and topping up mobile phones.

The new Post Office service at Billinge News and Booze will be provided at two combination counters in the store, where the Post Office terminals will sit alongside the till. Services will be available during the store’s opening hours, 5:30am to 10pm Monday to Sunday. A Post Office spokesman said this means the opening hours which will increase by an extra 69 hours and 30 minutes a week, ensuring more choice and convenience. In addition, the company says customers will be able to access the wide range of

Adrian Wales, regional manager for the Post Office, said: “We are making it easier for customers to get their cash, send and collect their mail and do their banking because we know how important these services are to local residents. We are confident that this vibrant new-style Post Office at the heart of the community will meet customer needs. This modernisation is part of a major investment programme, the largest in the history of the Post Office and marks a commitment to no more branch closure programmes.”

Support Group help

Keeping fit in Rainford

Are you a carer? Do you look after someone? If so, you are invited to joing the Billinge and Garswood Carers Support Group.

Rainford Racqueteers Badminton Club meets every Thursday from 8pm-9pm at the Beacon Leisure and Fitness Centre, College Street, St Helens. All ages and abilities are welcome and the first session is free.

The group meets on the first Tuesday of every months from 1pm at the Stork Hotel, Main Street, Billinge. All are welcome and for further information, call Steve on 01744 675615,

If you want to find out more call Ashley on 07752 338848 or like the Facebook page facebook.com/ rainfordracqueteers

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Living On A

prayer… David Sudworth looks at Billinge and Haydock’s links with the fight against religious persecution

f all the industries to conceal, press publishing is probably the most difficult. It’s not just the clatter of printing machines which may arouse suspicion, but also the fact that the finished product, be it a newspaper or book, is usually widely circulated. Which makes the goings-on at Billinge’s Birchley Hall in the 17th Century even more fascinating. In the early 1600s, a secret Catholic printing press was installed at the hall by the Anderton family. But why was it all so cloak and dagger? Surely nobody would have objected? The answer lies in an Act of Parliament in 1593 which essentially outlawed Catholicism. Failure to renounce your Catholic faith was known as recusancy; and it was the start of a bloody period of persecution which was to last around 230 years. Its beginnings can be traced back to serial groom Henry VIII’s desire to divorce Catherine of Aragon. As England was a Catholic country at the time, Henry needed permission from the Pope which, historians say, wasn’t immediately forthcoming. This eventually led to the Reformation which severed ties with Rome and turned England into a Protestant country. Opposition to this was at its highest in the North West, particularly Lancashire, and a number of prominent families were Catholics. One of the most famous families are the Gerards of Ashton-in-Makerfield, who had previously owned Birchley Hall.

Henry VIII

By the late 1500s, the Birchley Road hall, which operates as a Sue Ryder home although is currently up for sale, had passed to the Anderton family and it was

Roger, who took over the hall from his brother James, who went about making it a hub for Catholicism. Billinge History Society literature on the subject described Roger as a courageous man, for almost everything he did was illegal. A fascinating paper from 2002 says: “Roger was well aware that the actions of one informer, who would have been paid £100 for information, could have lead imprisonment for all the Andertons. Nevertheless he set about organising his underground movement. For some time the family had stayed away from the parish church and Roger paid the fines for his absence. It was natural that Catholics would hear Mass in secret and in 1618 a chapel had been added to Birchley Hall, disguised as a granary. There are now steps on the outside of the wing leading up to the chapel door, but originally it was a blank wall and the only access to the chapel was from the upper floors of the main house.” However, it wasn’t just in Billinge where Catholicism was surreptitiously being practised. Haydock was also known for its recusant tendencies, and there is one man whose name is still well-known even to this day. Edmund Arrowsmith was originally from Haydock, and became one the 40 Marytrs of England and Wales. Arrowsmith was born in 1585, the eldest child of yeoman farmer Robert and Margery Gerard, of the aforementioned family.

St Edmund Arrowsmith

In 1605, Arrowsmith went to the English College in Douai, France, to train as a priest. In 1628, he was convicted for being a Roman Catholic priest and sentenced to death by means of being hung, drawn and quartered at Lancaster Castle. His final confession was heard by Samlesbury-born St John Southworth, who was also a prison inmate, and he was duly executed on August 28. His hand was preserved and kept as a relic by the Arrowsmith

Birchley Hall as it is today

family. It now rests at St Oswald’s Church in Ashtonin-Makerfield. His name also lives on in the name of the Catholic high school opposite Haydock Park Racecourse. Another name which is familiar to plenty in the area is John Rigby. Rigby, who of course also had another local educational institute named after him in Orrell, was born at Harrock Hall near Wrightington, around 1570. He’s believed to have been the sixth son of Nicholas Rigby and his wife Mary Breres. In Rigby’s case, he was caught almost by being too honest. In 1600, he was working for Sir Edmund Huddleston, one of Cambridgeshire’s landed gentry. Sir Edmund’s daughter was summoned to the Old Bailey for recusancy but couldn’t attend as she was ill. Rigby went in her place, and records show he was compelled to confess that he himself was also a recusant. He was promptly sent to Newgate Prison, which formed part of the wall around the City of London. The next day he signed a confession and, after twice refusing to become a Protestant, was hanged on June 21 that year. Both Rigby and Arrowsmith were made Saints by the Pope in 1970. The Catholic Relief Act of 1829 is seen as the end of such persecution by the state in the United Kingdom. It may have been much too late for the likes of Rigby, Arrowsmith and the many others who paid the ultimate price for their faith. And the sad fact is that although Britain went through a very dark period which only finished 185 years ago, there remains places in the world today, including small parts of Europe, where religious persecution is still alive. Just a few months ago, the Religious Freedom in the World Report revealed that of the 196 countries in the world, 41% of those are identified as places where religious freedom is either impaired or in decline, while a further 18% are giving cause for concern. Among those singled out are Egypt, the Maldives and China - all places which frequently welcome tourists from Britain.

Planning matters Garswood 4 Skitters Grove: Erection of 6.1m high fence to rear of property (ref: P/2015/0109). The consultation deadline is March 11. Haydock 6 Kennet Road: Demolition of conservatory and erection of single storey rear extension. Amended proposal to include four roof lights (ref: P/2015/0093). The consultation deadline is March 17. 306 Liverpool Road: Single storey rear extension (ref: P/2015/0096). A decision is due soon. Rainford 26 Ormskirk Road: Raising of ridge height on existing roof (ref: P/2015/0088). A decision is due soon. 184 St Helens Road: Single storey extension to side/ rear (ref: P/2015/0080). A decision is due soon. 41 St Helens Road: Proposed demolition of existing dwelling, and erection of new build property and detached garage (ref: P/2015/0095). The consultation deadline is March 9. 57 Scarisbrick Road: Erection of two storey side extension (ref: P/2015/0074). A decision is due soon. Junction of Rainford Bypass and Mill Lane: Erection of two stack signs (ref: P/2015/0084). A decision is due soon. 200 News Lane: Creation of vehicular access (ref: P/2015/0108). The consultation deadline is March 12. Land adjacent to 1 Berringtons Lane, Mill Lane: Outline application with some matters reserved for erection of one dwelling (ref: P/2015/0115). The consultation deadline is March 11. For more information on these applications, visit www.sthelens.gov.uk

First Responders call

New Co-op plans due

Villagers in Rainford are being urged to join its First Responders team. The group are volunteers who act in support of the North West Ambulance Service by providing a time critical response to patients. They are appropriately trained to nationally agreed standards for competency, and respond quickly through the 999 system, to certain life threatening medical emergencies.

Residents who believed they had successfully opposed a new Co-op store in Garswood may find their celebrations soon curtailed.

If you live in the Rainford area, are over 19, hold a full driving licence with a maximum of three penalty points, with access to a vehicle, are physically fit and would be able to pass an enhanced DBS check, contact the Rainford Parish Council clerk on 01744 884709.

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New River Retail recently withdrew plans to build on part of the Stag Hotel site on Station Road. It came after St Helens Council received a number of letters from locals opposing the scheme. Seneley Green Parish Council also made representations after 40 residents attended a recent meeting. However, New River Retail, which bought the Stag from Marston’s in December 2013, confirmed to Local Life it will be submitting a fresh application soon. A spokesman explained: “We withdrew the original application with the agreement of the council because we needed more time to deal with some technical matters. We expect to submit a new application in the near future. Our objective with the development of a new convenience store alongside the pub is to ensure that the Stag Hotel is retained long into the future. We are currently considering ways in which we can also invest in improvements to the pub.” The council received over 30 representations about the original plans from local residents. One said: “There are two Co-op store only five minutes away in Ashton and Bryn. Why would you want to build another? Garswood is a special village known for its homegrown business and independence.” Another resident told the council: “If permission was granted, it would have a devastating effect on the current, well-established businesses. They could, and probably would, cause the closure of some if not all of these businesses.” But not all were against the plans. One resident wrote: “I am in favour of a Co-op in Garswood, it will increase choice and competition. Garswood had a Co-op store for over 80 years, closing in 1974 and it was located at the junction of Victoria Road and Station Road - a sandwich bar occupies part of the old store.“ Another said: “Garswood has been held back from new ventures time and time again, and this is a positive step in the right direction.”

Food & Drink

Counting the

calories by Claire Spreadbury

e’re a few months in now, so how’s that dim and distant resolution of losing weight coming along? If the sweet treats have crept back into your daily routine, or Dry January has become awash with weekend wine, don’t

despair.

In 2012, there was a point when everyone seemed to be talking about the 5:2 diet. More of an eating plan than a diet, it simply involves two ‘fasting’ days a week, when your calorie intake needs to be a maximum of 500 for women or 600 for men, and five blissfully normal definitely-not-on-a-diet days. Three years on and the bookshelves are still groaning under the weight of new titles; Kate Harrison’s 5:2 Good Food Kitchen, for one. And that’s because it works. “From the first day I did it, I realised it was the easiest approach to controlling my weight I’d ever tried,” notes Harrison. “I lost 31lbs, gained energy, confidence and a complete loss of guilt about food. And it inspired me to write four books.” “On a weekly basis, you’re slashing at least 3,000 calories from what you’d normally eat, which is equal to a pound of real weight loss - not water loss,” says diet and fitness expert Laura Williams (www.laurawilliamsonline. co.uk). “It’s a simple question of sums and creating deficits.” I’m only on week two, but am happy to keep it up - and losing 2.5lbs in seven days has certainly spurred me on. I would recommend avoiding ‘virtually calorie-free’ (and also completely tasteless) noodles, and discovering low-calorie foods you don’t dislike. A massive salad hits all the right notes, Marks & Spencer’s mini hot cross buns are a perfect 100-calorie fix and there’s an array of low-cal ready meals on the market that are a lot more tasty than you think - and make it easy to keep fasting, even when you’re too busy to cook. Try it - you might like it. And if you do, and you find your scales are suddenly pointing at your goal weight, you can drop down to one fasting day a week to keep it all off.

5:2 Good Food Kitchen by Kate Harrison is published by Orion Books, priced £7.99 (available now)

Kate Harrison’s top 5:2 diet

tips

• Choose the right Fast Days - and mark them in your

• Distraction. Hunger tends to come in waves, so have a

diary! You want a day when you’re busy, but not under

brew or phone a friend and you’ll forget all about it.

too much pressure.

• Join the Facebook group (facebook.com/groups/

• Plan your meals and shop ahead.

the52diet) - there are members there around the clock,

• Focus on flavour and freshness. Aim for seasonal

ready to spur you on.

ingredients - salads and berries in summer, hearty soups

• Write down what you eat on a Fast Day - and how you

in winter. Making your own is quicker than you’d think

feel - to help you discover what works best for you.

and you can freeze portions to save time on a Fast Day.

• Weigh yourself no more than once a week, or less, at

• Spice things up with chillis, spices and strong flavours.

the same time of day. Our weight fluctuates so much

Chilli flakes, curry powder, garlic, fresh lemon juice and

that you don’t want to get disheartened by weighing

balsamic vinegar are always to hand on my Fast Days.

daily. Look for other positive signs too - like a pair of jeans

• Drink up. Often when we think we’re hungry, we’re

that are tight before you start, but may well show losses

actually thirsty. So drink lots of water, black coffee or tea -

sooner than the scales do.

if you add milk, count the calories.

For more tips, visit www.the5-2dietbook.com

Discover Something Different Each Day... Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

British Pie Night

Pizza Party

Goosnargh Chicken

Steak Night

£6.50

Buy 1 Get 1 half price!

Specials 20% off!

Friday

AWARD WINNING PIZZA

Fresh

Fish

Saturday

Chef’s

Specials

20% off!

Sunday

Traditional Carvery

£6.95

*Offers available until Sept. 30th 2015

01695 627692

190 Upholland Road, Billinge, WN5 7DJ

Mon-Thur Fri - Sun

12-2pm & 4-9.15pm Open all day

eggs Florentine Calories 189

Serves 1 Ingredients For the sauce: 1tsp Dijon mustard 2tbsp half-fat crème fraiche Fresh herb leaves, such as chives, parsley or dill, plus extra to garnish Salt and pepper Pinch of sugar (optional) For the layer: 50g fresh or defrosted frozen spinach Squeeze of lemon juice 1 very thin slice of sourdough bread weighing 15g 1 medium egg Splash of vinegar Salt and pepper As a variation, try Eggs Benedict. Substitute the spinach with 20g of ham. Calorie count is 193. Another variation is Eggs Royale. Substitute the spinach with 20g smoked salmon. Calorie count is 220, or 298 with a second poached egg.

Method Make the sauce by heating the crème fraiche and mustard gently in a small saucepan for two minutes. Use scissors to snip the herbs directly into the saucepan, reserving a few leaves for garnish. Season to taste. If it’s too sharp for you, add a pinch of sugar or sweetener. For the layer, microwave or pan cook the spinach with a little water and a squeeze of lemon juice until wilted. Season with pepper then drain through a sieve. When cool enough to handle, carefully squeeze out as much of the water as possible and set aside. Toast the sourdough bread lightly under the grill or in a toaster. For the egg, bring a medium saucepan of water to the boil with a splash of vinegar. Break your egg onto a small plate. Create a whirlpool in the water with a fork or whisk and, with your other hand, slip the egg into the middle of the saucepan as gently as possible. Turn off the heat and set a timer for three minutes. After that time, check that the egg white has set before removing from the saucepan using a slotted spoon. Place gently onto a plate lined with kitchen paper to absorb the excess cooking water. Set the toast on a warm plate, lay the spinach on top, then add the egg and finally the sauce. Season, and garnish with the reserved herb leaves and serve immediately.

Lemongrass and

ginger pork Calories 356

Method Serves 1

Put the pork escalope in a dish with the lemongrass, ginger and shallot. Toss the meat to coat. If you have time,

Ingredients

place the dish in the fridge to allow the pork to marinate

100g pork escalope

one-calorie cooking spray and place over a medium heat.

1/2 lemongrass stalk, finely chopped

Add the pork and fry it for three to four minutes on one

2cm-piece fresh root ginger, peeled and finely chopped 1/2 shallot, finely chopped 1-cal cooking spray

for up to an hour. Spray a cold, non-stick frying pan with

side. Turn over, adding more spray to the pan, if needed. Continue to cook the pork on the other side, until golden and cooked through in the middle. Set aside to rest. Bring a small pan of water to the boil. Add the noodles and cook for five minutes, or following the instruction on

25g rice noodles

the pack. Add the baby corn and sugar snap pea mixture,

50g mixture of baby corn and sugar snap peas

as well as the broccoli florets, then turn off the heat and

50g broccoli florets

allow to cook in the hot water for one to two minutes.

Zest and juice of half a lime

Drain the noodles and vegetables, toss well to mix, then

1/2tsp sesame oil

return them to the pan. Stir in the lime zest and juice, sesame oil, soy sauce and chilli, then spoon onto a plate.

1tsp soy sauce

Slice the pork and arrange on top, then drizzle round any

1/2 red chilli, sliced

of the rested juices.

Eating out

guide Lovels Bistro

The Boathouse

Rigby’s Coffee Shop

Tasty food, happy times and great value - you’ll not be disappointed with the quality, taste and service. We’re more than just a great wedding venue. Holland Hall, Lafford Lane, Up Holland, WN8 0QZ 01695 624 426 hollandhallhotel.co.uk

We offer an excellent seasonal menu, freshly prepared and sourced from local suppliers. Our team can cater for every occasion, from a relaxed evening meal to your next special event. 01257 252456 Mill Ln, Appley Bridge, WN6 9DA appleybridgeboathouse.com

Enjoy a trip out to Pimbo Garden Centre and tuck into a wide selection of delicious home cooked, locally sourced, food served seven days a week at Rigby’s Coffee Shop. 01695 622601 Pimbo Garden Centre, 32 Pimbo Lane, Up Holland, WN8 9QQ pimbogardencentre.co.uk

Advertise

here £48 + VAT

Call 01744 649722

Delph Tavern

The Colliers Arms

Award-winning CAMRA freehouse with a fast growing reputation for excellent quality food at reasonable prices. Traditional British classics served, plus some exotic surprises too. Food served Wed-Sun only. 01695 622239 Tontine, Orrell WN5 8UJ facebook.com/TheDelphTavern

Tucked away in the little hamlet of Kings Moss, the Colliers Arms is a popular family run pub with an excellent reputation for delicious fresh food at reasonable prices. 01744 892894 Kings Moss, Nr Rainford WA11 8RD colliersarms.org.uk

Larkins Renowned town centre restaurant serving breakfast, lunches and evening meals six days a week (closed Monday). There’ll always be something to whet your appetite. 01744 613731 110 Crab Street, St Helens WA10 2DJ larkinsrestaurant.co.uk

Griffin Inn

Winstons

The Griffin Inn in Eccleston is an excellent Restaurant which has gained a well-deserved reputation in the local area for the quality of its food, service and value for money. 01744 27907 Church Lane, Eccleston WA10 5AD griffininn.co.uk

Traditional British pies, tasty Goosnargh chicken, delicious steak, fresh fish, Chef’s Specials, Sunday carvery and so much more. Winston’s – Award Winning Pizza. 01695 627692 190 Upholland Road, Billinge WN5 7DJ winstonspizza.com

Quattro’s

The Eating Place

A family run Italian restaurant situated on the Rainford By-pass at Bickerstaffe. Being just off the slip road of the M58 makes this an ideal location for meeting friends and business lunches. 01695 720800 54 Rainford Road, Bickerstaffe, Ormskirk L39 0HF quattros.co.uk

Located on the top floor of Tyrers Department Store, open six days a week serving freshly prepared, beautifully presented meals in a friendly welcoming atmosphere. 01744 26551 14/16 Bridge Street, St Helens WA10 1NR tyrers.com

Lymewood Farm

Toast Coffee House & Cafe

The Star Inn

Conveniently located by the East Lancs Road at Haydock, Lymewood Farm has an reputation for serving very generous portions of good quality food, seven days a week. 01942 723494 2 Galway Crescent, Haydock WA11 0GR farmhouseinns.co.uk

Soak up the atmosphere in a vintage inspired interior or dine “al fresco” in the courtyard. Serves breakfasts, lunch or afternoon tea, along with coffee and tasty cakes. 01744 730999 149 Dentons Green Lane, St Helens WA10 6RG toast-cafe.co.uk

A handsome old pub in Rainford serving fresh home cooked food and a wide selection of cask ales in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Food served Wednesday to Sunday. 01744 882 639 11 Church Rd, Rainford WA11 8PX starinnrainford.co.uk

Inglenook Farm An attractive farmhouse cafe that serves breakfasts, lunches and afternoon teas. Good selection of home-made foods. Also on site is a farm shop and other businesses. 01744 886812 Moss Nook Lane, Rainford Bypass (A570) WA11 8AE inglenook-farm.co.uk

Advertise

here £30 + VAT

Call 01744 649722

Colours Restaurant A unique fine dining experience in the heart of St Helens, cooked by the College’s catering students, in an avant-garde restaurant. Limited opening hours – see website. 01744 623155 Water Street, St Helens WA10 1PX sthelens.ac.uk

What’s Nearly New Sale

Brass Proms with Parr Band

Saturday, March 7

Friday, March 13

Wigan & St Helens National Childbirth Trust’s next Nearly New Sale is on from 11.30am-1pm at St David’s Church, Eskdale Ave, Carr Mill. Entry is a £1 donation.

Takes place at Prescot Parish Church, Church Street, from 7pm. Tickets £6 on the door.

Food & Craft Fair Sunday, March 8 Held at Rainford Village Hall, Church Road, from 11am3pm. Refreshments available. For further details please contact: Rachel Greenwood-Haigh by emailing her at makinandmoore@outlook.com

Mother’s Day Crafts Monday, March 9 Show mum how much you care by making a lovely card at Rainford Library, Church Road, from 4pm-5pm.

Mother Funk Friday, March 13 ‘Mother Funk.’ charity night for Macmillian Cancer Support at Rainhill Ex-Services Club from 7pm. Tickets priced at £7. For more information, call 07912 066 109, or visit www.facebook.com/motherfunkrainhill

Quiz With A Difference Saturday, March 14 Held at Rainford Village Hall, Church Road, from 7.30pm in aid of Rainford Scouts and Rainford 1st Responders. Tickets £8 inc. hot pot. Call 01744 882558.

Morpheus Glass Open Day Saturday, March 14, & Sunday, March 15

Jesus Christ Superstar Tuesday, March 10, to Saturday, March 14 The rock opera whichtells the story of the last seven days in the life of Jesus. Takes place at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool. Performances at 7.30pm with 2.30pm performances on the Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. Tickets from £19.50 via 0844 856 1111.

A wide range of pieces on show and many items will have up to 70% off plus all orders placed on the weekend will receive 30% off the normal recommended retail price. All work is handmade by glass designer Stephanie Bowen at the studio and pieces can be made to order. From 10am-4pm both days at Unit 11, Hewitt Business Park Winstanley Road, Orrell, WN5 7XB. Call 01695 624182 or visit the website www.morpheusglass.co.uk

Pop Up Poetry Saturday, March 14 The Knives, Forks and Spoons Press bring back their unique blend of internationally renowned poets to St Helens Central Library, Victoria Square. It’s aimed at adults and kids aged over 10. Entry is free.

Aeroplane Workshops Monday, March 16, - Thursday, March 19 Held at Moss Bank Library, Bowness Avenue, from 4pm to celebrate British Science Week.

Quarry Bank Mill Talk Thursday, March 19

Disney On Ice Wednesday, March 18, to Sunday, March 22 Get ready to enter a world of enchantment featuring the most magical moments. You’ll be whisked away into the world of Frozen, Little Mermaid, Ariel, Rapunzel, Tangled and Beauty and the Beast. The venue for this spectacular is the Liverpool Echo Area, Albert Dock. Varying performance times of 11am, 3pm and 7pm. Under 14s must be accompanied by an adult. Under twos go free if sat on parent’s lap. Tickets start from £17.50. Visit www.echoarena.com

Sarah Burdett will be speaking about a project to restore the magnificent 1830s glasshouse at the annual meeting of the National Trust’s St Helens branch. Takes place in the Lecture Theatre, United Reformed Church, Church Street, St Helens, from 7.30pm. Free entry for NT St Helens Centre members and volunteers. Non-members will be asked for £1 donation to the National Trust

The Essence of Love Wednesday, March 18, to Saturday, March 21 Rainford Parish Church Amateur Dramatics presents this comedy by Philip Ayckbourn. Takes place at 7.45pm each day at Rainford Parish Church Hall, Church Road. Tickets £5 from Myra on 01744 883350.

ExclusiveWedding Fayre Prepare and be inspired for your big day!

Free admittance

Only local businesses exhibiting!

Fre

las s on of arr Buc iva ks l Fiz

Sunday 29th March 2015 Noon - 3pm Rainford Village Hall, Church Road, Rainford, WA11 8HB For further info call 01744 884709 or email: clerk@rainfordparishcouncil.com www.rainfordparishcouncil.com

Night At The Races

Spring Flower Arrangements

Friday, March 20

Thursday, March 26

Fundraiser in aid of Willowbrook Hospice at Prescot Town Hall. Starts at 7pm and tickets are £5 each. Call 01744 453798 or email events@willowbrookhospice. org.uk for more information.

Enjoy this popular adult craft session from 10.30amnoon at Billinge Library, Main Street. All welcome.

Shakespeare Workshop Friday, March 20 Celebrating Shakespeare Week at Moss Bank Library, Bowness Avenue, from 4pm-5pm. Join in and help make a life-sized replica of the Bard himself.

Craft & Vintage Fair Sunday, March 22 Held at Chalon Court Hotel, Linkway West, St Helens. Doors open at 10am with stalls selling a variety of handmade goods. A fashion show starts at 1pm. Email riajewelsevents@yahoo.co.uk

Cabaret Night Friday, March 27 Fundraiser in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society at St James’ Club, St James’ Road, Orrell, Doors open 7pm. Featuring comedian Trevor Wallace, vocalist Andie Dee, local duo Crawford & Brown, compere David Franks and hitpot supper. Tickets £10 from 01695 623902 or Frank Mernagh on 01744 309760.

Wedding Fair Sunday, March 29, Rainford Village Hall will be hosting the event from noon-3pm. Only local traders will be exhibiting. Free glass of Bucks Fizz on arrival. For further information or if you are interested in exhibiting please contact Sally or Vicky on 01744 884709 or email clerk@ rainfordparishcouncil.com

Monkey Nuts and Mayhem Monday, March 30 An evening of humourous poetry with local poet Sue Gerrard. Go along to Rainford Library, Church Road, and listen to Sue, and you can even read your own favourites if you wish. Light refreshments available. Free but booking is essential by calling 01744 677820.,

Blue At The Apollo Friday, April 3

Circus Of Horrors Sunday, March 22 The show that stormed into the finals of Britain’s Got Talent and the West End is back at Parr Hall, Palmyra Square South, Warrington. Starts at 7.30pm. Tickets from £14-£26 via 01925 442345.

All rise - Blue are back! The boyband-turnedmanband will be at the O2 Apollo on Stockport Road, Manchester, as part of a 16-date UK tour. Starts at 7pm and under 14s must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets from £28.95 via www. o2apollomanchester.co.uk

Anecdotes of a Registrar Thursday, April 16 Carol Codd returns to the National Trust St Helens branch to give more entertaining account of situations which she has dealt with over her time as a local registrar. Takes place at 7.30pm in the Lecture Theatre, United Reformed Church, Ormskirk Street, St Helens. Non-members will be asked for £1 donation to the National Trust

Tribute to Doug Darby Thursday, April 16 Paul Shackcloth leads this talk at the Newton-leWillows branch meeting of the Locomotive Club of Great Britain. Takes place from 7.30pm at The Pied Bill Hotel, High Street, Newton-le-Willows. Free admission. Visit www.lcgb.org.uk for more information.

Mrs Brown’s Boys Saturday, April 11 The award-winning Mrs Brown’s Boys returns to Manchester Arena, Victoria Station, with their brand new tour How Now Mrs Brown Cow, written by and starring Brendan O’Carroll. If you haven’t experienced Mrs Brown’s Boys live, this new tour is set to be one of the hottest tickets for 2015. Doors open at 6pm and there’s a matinee at 12.30pm. Tickets from £22.50 via www.manchester-arena.com

Tennis Weekend Friday, April 17 & Sunday, April 19 Taking place at Winstanley Tennis Club, off Hall Lane. Friday, 5pm-8pm, there’s a family night costing £5 where you can go down and have a go at playing. On the Sunday, from 1.30pm-4.30pm, there’s an open day with drinks and snacks available in the clubhouse.

The Hollies Saturday, April 18

Sunday, April 12

The Hollies perform their classicss including The Air That I Breathe and He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother. Takes place at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Hope Street, and starts at 7.30pm. Tickets from £23.50 via www.liverpoolphil.com

Held at Inglenook Farm on the Rainford Bypass from 10am. Over 50 stalls selling local and regional

Rainford Band AGM

Craft Fair & Farmers’ Market

produce. Free entry.

Motown Experience Thursday, April 16 Featuring The Formations, this ultimate celebration of the sweet sound of Motown is back in Preston. Tickets £20 and the performance at the Charter Theatre, on Lancaster Road, Preston, starts at 7.30pm. Telephone 01772 804444.

Monday, April 20 Starts at 7.30pm in the Band Room, Southerns Lane. Email bandrainford@gmail.com.

Night of Dirty Dancing Tuesday, April 21 Recast and re-scripted for 2015. Takes place at Bolton Octagon Theatre, Howell Croft South, from 7.30pm. Tickets cost £17 via 01204 520661.

St George’s Day Supper Saturday, April 25 Held at Rainford Village Hall, Church Road, from 7.30pm in aid of the parish council chairman’s fund for Rainford 1st Responders and Rainford Scouts. St George’s themed attire optional. Tickets £15 from 01744 884709/883400/882558.

Scoutaround Thursday, April 30, - Saturday, May 2

Chuckles Of Oz Saturday, April 25 Family favourites The Chuckle Brothers star in the brand new The Chuckles of Oz. Based on the classic Wizard of Oz, this show sees Paul and Barry charged with looking after Dorothy as she walks the yellow brick road in her quest to meet the The Wondeful Wizard of Oz. On at Southport Theatre, Promenade, from 2pm. Tickets are priced from £16.90 and available via www.atgtickets.com

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The St Helens Scout and Guide Gang Show is suitable for all ages with over 100 members of local groups aged six upwards taking part. Takes place at the Theatre Royal, St Helens, starting at 7.15.pm. Tickets are available from Jennifer Tickle on 07742 383176 at £8 each - reductions for parties of 10 or more

Rainford Church Shop Monday, May 11, to Friday, May 15 Sale of furniture, bric-a-brac, ceramics, toys, plants and much more at Rainford Parish Church Hall, Church Road. 10-4pm on each day apart from the Friday, when it’s on until 2pm.

Mark Knopfler Saturday, May 16 Grammy award winner Mark Knopfler returns to Manchester Arena to perform tracks from his ninth solo album Tracker live for the first time as well as all the favourites from his Dire Straits days. Tickets from £45 via www.manchester-arena.com

John Barrowman Tuesday, May 19

Reach an estimated 70,000 readers in St Helens Ad prices start from £30 + VAT Call 01744 649 722 for details

John’s new album, You Raise Me Up is released this summer and his appearance at the Liverpool Philharmonic is part of his first full UK tour in four years. It starts at 7.30pm and tickets range from £25 to £75 for VIP. Visit www.liverpoolphil.com

Jack’s Tracks

Parbold &

Hilldale by Chris Pearce

ith the limited winter daylight hours, it can be quite tricky to fit in an afternoon walk that ticks all the boxes. We wanted a short, testing walk in a mix of scenic topography. Fortunately for us, we’re just a few minutes away from the walking capital of West Lancashire, Parbold, which promptly served up a good offering for this Jack’s Tracks. We parked on the car park by the canal on Station Road in the village, across from one of Parbold’s most attractive landmarks – the old windmill. Resisting the temptation to pop into the local café for a coffee until later, we set off eastwards down the canal towpath in the direction of Wigan. After taking a few scenic pictures, we rounded a sharp bend and 175 yards later we exited the canal at Alder Road bridge (Bridge 38). Turn left heading upwards towards Parbold Hill for 500 yards until you reach Lancaster Lane. Turn left into Lancaster Lane, pass the church and the convent on the left, and once you’ve passed the school, there’s a footpath on the right opposite Tan House Lane. Take the footpath and bear left as the footpath takes you up and across the meadows until you climb over a stile to reach Stoney Lane. Turn right up Stoney Lane for 50 yards and look out for the public footpath sign on the left just before the first housing appears. Hop over the stile and follow the path, sticking to the right hand side of the field. Eventually, the path will take you downhill where you’ll cross a stile into the next field. Head in the same direction across the middle of the field. You’ll see a stone wall up ahead and you’ll soon be walking on the path parallel to the right hand side of the wall.

Chorley Road

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Hilldale Hunters Hill

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Mill House Gallery

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You’ll eventually exit the field onto the upper reaches of Hillside Avenue. Turn right and then bear left uphill for approximately 400 yards towards Hunters Hill Quarry. Once you’ve passed through the entrance to Hunter’s Hill by the big sign, look out for a public footpath sign on the left hand side after about 30 yards. Hop over the stile at this point and head downhill, staying on the left hand perimeter of the field. Just head in the same direction downwards, until you’ve passed through three fields. These fields are a bit muddy, so choose your steps carefully. You’ll exit onto Chorley Road and at this point, you’ll need to turn left, heading back towards Parbold. Once you’ve passed the white pillars of number 54 Chorley Road, cross the road and take the footpath opposite. Take the path for 250 yards and you’ll exit onto Grimshaw Green Lane. Turn left and follow this quiet lane to its conclusion with Robin Lane 475 yards later. Turn left at the junction and you’ll immediately spot a footpath across the road that runs down the back of a pair of semi-detached cottages. Cross the road at this point, well before the bend ahead and go down the path, cross the brook and through the metal gate. Follow the direction of the telegraph poles right the way through the middle of the field, crossing a metal stile on the way, and once you’ve reached the other side of the field, turn left and follow the track until again you appear on Chorley Road. Turn right and head down Chorley Road for approximately 800 yards towards Parbold until you reach the junction with Tan House Lane. Turn right down Tan House Lane, and then turn left and go past the shops on The Common. Cross the railway at the crossing and you’ll end up again in Station Road. The car park is on the right just before the canal bridge.

Summary At just 4 miles long, you should be able to complete the walk within 2½ hours at a leisurely pace. There are a couple of steep climbs to complete, and it’s very muddy in places. Nice views though, especially from Hunters Hill. A fairly dog friendly walk, though Jack struggled to get over a couple of stiles. There are lots of places in Parbold to eat and drink too. 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.

Test drive

Mitsubishi

he Mitsubishi PHEV may look like a normal Outlander, but hiding behind the mask is the most technologically advanced Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) on the car market. ‘PHEV’ stands for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle. It means the SUV can be fed by electricity from a domestic socket to power electric motors that are supported by a petrol engine. Two electric motors drive the front and rear axle separately while batteries allow electricity-only driving at up to 75mph. Beyond that pace, or should the battery pack drain to less than 30 per cent of its charge, a 2.0-litre petrol engine kicks in. It acts as a generator to help the PHEV accomplish a total driving range of approximately 500 miles on a full tank. The

Save £££s

PHEV

by Tim Barnes-Clay

Outlander PHEV is also the most fuel efficient fourwheel drive. That’s astounding for a family-size car that tips the scales at a bulky 1810kg, and seats five. As a global first, the Outlander PHEV also has no direct adversary. The closest is the Lexus RX450h, though it can’t be recharged via a powerpoint and cannot run on electricity alone. Befitting its first-class status in the Outlander range, the PHEV is very well stacked with kit. It has 18 inch alloy wheels, dusk-sensing auto headlamps, touch-screen with satellite navigation and reversing camera, climate control, parking sensors and seven airbags. The flagship GX4hs was driven for this review and the model comes with additional features such as adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning.

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Behind the wheel, body control is good for an SUV of this weight as the Outlander PHEV profits from Mitsubishi’s Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC). This is a system that ensures maximum stability when cornering. Indeed, for its green, yet powerful talents, Mitsubishi’s PHEV is an SUV that many British families will take to their hearts.

FAST FACTS 0-62 mph: 11 secs Combined mpg: 148.7 Engine: 2.0 litre petrol plus two electric motors Max. power (bhp): 119 at 4500 rpm Max. torque (Ib/ft): 140 at 4500 rpm CO2: 44 g/km Price: £40,054 on the road

The latter squeals at you if it detects you’ve drifted across the road’s white dividing lines. If you’re used to a standard car, it’s going to be a peculiar experience the first time you gently push the gearstick over to the right into ‘D’ and drive off in silence. Even sharp jabs of the throttle produce the same amount of hush, though that has its rewards – the audio unit has plenty of clarity in the quiet cabin.

When you need to recharge on the move, all you need to do is hit the ‘Charge’ switch behind the joystick, which fires up the four-cylinder engine to replenish the battery. A single charge via a powerpoint takes five hours. Inside, it’s pretty much standard Outlander layout apart from the joystick-style gearstick and electric charging buttons. The tachometer has also been replaced by a power meter, which shows when you’re charging-up the battery, using the battery, or running the engine.

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The Outlander PHEV isn’t rapid from a standing start, but tremendous pulling power makes up for it once you get going. Initial acceleration suffers simply because of the heavy jumble of battery and electric motors that the standard Outlander doesn’t possess.

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A change is as good Award Winner

as a rest by Angie Barker

ou know that feeling when you get so familiar with something that it starts to get boring? When you feel fed up with doing the same thing? No, I’m not talking about Hubby and me (he was getting worried then) I’m talking about the garden. It’s like when you decide to decorate your living room. A new sofa, a splash of paint can instantly revive a room and make it feel new and exciting – you want to show it off. Well its the same with gardens. The number of people I meet in my travels who tell me that their garden has looked like that for twenty years - and no wonder they’ve stopped using it and just mow the grass to keep it in check but find it a real chore. If you and your garden have reached this stage, then I’ve got the answer. You need a project! A garden does not need a complete makeover to breathe new life into it but something which just revives your interest in it. Here are some suggestions: • Change the shape of your lawn – this is an instant transformation • Create a herb garden

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.

• Take out say 15 of your existing plants (depending on the size of your garden) and buy new ones – with different colours and texture • Enhance your seating area with new paving, or buy rattan furniture which you can leave out all year round. Add stylish pots and plant Phormiums and Bamboo for a contemporary, lush look • Start a veggie plot – this can even be done in pots and grow bags • Create a haven for wildlife. Log piles and nest boxes and bird tables are so easy to place in the garden and children love being involved • Screen the ugly shed in the corner and the wheelie bins and erect some trellis with some pretty climbers to scramble over it • Create a focal point. Place a large urn or bird bath in gaps in planting or at the end of a path Find a project that interests you and suddenly your garden will have a new lease of life. As for Hubby and me, yes we’ve been together for a long time now but boring …. never!

Call Angie now for your free consultation! 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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