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

St Helens Edition

August 2015

Great days

out!

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

www.locallife247.co.uk

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s I sit and write this, the sun is beaming brightly outside the office window. By the time you read this, we’ll probably have gone through all four seasons and it’ll now be settled on what weather presenters might term ‘a mixed day for northern parts’. The British summer is, as always, predictably unpredictable. My preferences as to what type of weather I am happiest with has changed down the years. Spending months on end in Australian summers, while visiting family, made me yearn for Arctic conditions. Having experienced said conditions, I hankered after the sun again. Now, as I walk the tightrope between youth and middle age, I’m perfectly happy for our weather to be a mixed bag. This can be put down to my love of gardening. A few months ago, I managed to secure - after much negotiation - a few square inches of bare soil in the back garden. These hitherto barren areas are now the happy home of some broad beans, planted in spring and now going great guns. The mix of sun and rain has helped no end and, by September, we’ll hopefully be enjoying broad bean stew as autumn sets in. So although the weather is a blasted nuisance at times, it does have some benefits for us budding Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstalls!

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David Sudworth - Editor Next issue - September 2015

Advertising deadline - Tuesday 18 August Published - Friday 28 August Local Life Media

@locallifemedia

In this issue Time to move

Recipe

Ratatouille

Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Mitsubishi

out!

Shogun

Different

On your

class

plot

Regulars 6 Class from the past 15 Puzzle Corner 22 Planning Matters

Publisher: Chris Pearce

42 Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s On 46 Useful numbers

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 6 Local News 12 Health & Fitness 30 Food & Drink 34 Leisure

chrisp@locallife247.co.uk

Sales: Clare Glover, Nicola Gray sales@locallife247.co.uk

Local Life is published every month and distributed into the following edition areas on an alternate monthly basis.

39 Motoring 42 Gardening 44 Home Services

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Telephone: 01744 649 722

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. Copies are also available to pick up free from Tesco Extra Stores in Peasley Cross and Prescot. 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. Copies are also available to pick up free from Tesco Stores in Haydock and Peasley Cross.

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.

£6m fund launch

Self-employed ‘burden’

Local business owners will get the chance to hear how they could get a slice of a £6m cash windfall.

St Helens South and Whiston MP Marie Rimmer has called for fewer burdens on the self-employed. In

St Helens Chamber has been awarded £6m from the government’s Regional Growth Fund to support firms and create jobs. Grants of up to £75,000 will be available to provide investment for growth when conventional finance is not available. A launch event is now set to take place from noon-2pm on Monday, July 20, at the chamber’s offices at Salisbury Street, off Chalon Way. To register, visit www.sthelenschamber.com. For more information on the fund, contact Geoff Bates (pictured) on 01744 742087 or geoff.bates@ sthelenschamber.com.

a Parliamentary exchange with Business Secretary Sajid Javid, she said: “They are often disadvantaged when applying for a mortgage or to set up a pension scheme for themselves. “

Class from the

Mr Javid responded: “We will review all of the challenges faced by self-employed people and that would include looking at access to mortgages.”

Note-worthy invite Rainhill HI Notes Community Choir is looking to add a few new members to its ranks. The group meets at Rainhill High School on Wednesdays from 6.45pm-8.30pm during term times only. For further information please phone Jeanette 0151 426 8281.

past

This month’s photo is from Prescot County Primary. It’s believed this photo was taken in the early 1960s. 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

Fire station to

close?

Proposals to close Eccleston Fire Station will go out for public consultation during August. The 12-week process starts on August 3, and centres on two options; the merger of Eccleston and St Helens station with a new station on Canal Street, or outright closure of Eccleston. Chief Fire Officer Dan Stephens (pictured) said: “The consultation will include a newsletter on www. merseyfire.gov.uk, as well as being distributed in the areas affected by the proposals, outlining why changes need to be made and details on the impact on fire cover across the St Helens district. The consultation will also involve public

meetings at locations near Parr, St Helens town centre and Eccleston, a stakeholders’ meeting in St Helens, three focus groups and a joint forum. Further information, including the newsletter and the precise meeting dates and locations, will be provided when the consultation launches on August 3. “The proposals are intended to minimise the impact of the ongoing cuts to the Authority budget and maintain as fast a response as possible to all parts. “

Howard’s on his

way...

A father who grew up in Eccleston has been appointed as the new curate at St Ann’s in Rainhill. Howard Leatherbarrow currently lives in Widnes where his wife, Laura, is also a curate. But ex-Rainford High pupil, who is also a season ticket holder at Saints, is looking forward to returning to familar turf for his work. A trained scientist with a PhD in bacterial genetics, he left his research career and in 2012 was allowed to train as a vicar. He became the first Church Growth Facilitator for the Deanery of Warrington, and it’s believed possibly the first in the Church of England’s history. “I came to Rainhill on the back of four and a half years of working in mission and church growth, subjects about which I am passionate. I am looking forward enormously to working with all the team.”

Age old story... Life expectancy figures in parts of Prescot and Whiston are higher than other areas of Knowsley, according to new data. Figures released by Knowsley Council shows that male life expectacy at birth for both men (at 80 years) and women (84.7 years) in Whiston South were outperforming borough-wide averages, while women in Whiston North are living longer at 83.8 years. In Prescot West, men are living on average until 80.4 years old while women usually outlast them by a year.

On the write lines

St Helens Writers’ Club is looking for new members. It meets on alternate Wednesdays from 7pm-9pm at St Helens Town Hall. The group says it offers new and experienced writers support, encouragement and guidance in a friendly atmosphere with a varied programme throughout the year including competitions. For further details please contact Marian Cleworth on 01744 734294.

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Cindy’s

reunion

If you were a clubber in the 1980s, it was the place to be in St Helens. And now, for one night only, you can relive the sights and sounds of Cindy’s! Steve Moore, of Galaxy Mobile Retro Disco, is holding the event on Saturday, August 15. The original building, called The Plaza, on the corner of Duke Street and Crab Street has undergone many transformations since those days and is now the home of Larkin’s Restaurant on the upper floor. Steve, a collector of ‘80s vintage nightclub lighting effects, said: “ We really hope to recreate the club atmosphere. We are fortunate to have the full support of Simon Larkin and his family and it’s really special to be able to use the original building. In its

heyday it w a s packed out with over 600 clubbers e v e r y Friday and Saturday night, people often queued outside for an hour or more to get in. It had an amazing atmosphere and a packed dancefloor. The club had a faithful following of people who also gathered in huge numbers at the Woodlands pub.” Tickets are available from Steve on 07886 384429 or from Larkin’s Restaurant, Caffe & Co ,Rainhill, and The Ladies Room Stylists in Hardshaw Street.

Care home

planned

A new care home could be opened in St Helens. Plans have been unveiled for an 18-bed site at 81A Park Road. The site was formerly home to a Baptist Church and is currently occupied by a children’s nursery. The outline proposals have been lodged with St Helens Council planners by London-based Dr Krishnan Satkunam, of Krinvest Ltd. In a statement to the council, the applicants state: “We propose to develop an 18 bed care home over three floors. Parking space for six cars and six cycles is proposed at the back of site, accessed from the parking lot on Roper Street. The proposal provides

a well-balanced, carefully conceived development that will importantly contribute to the regeneration of the area.” The deadline for public comments is July 21 - have your say at www.sthelens.gov.uk

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Health & Fitness

Time to move

By Lisa Salmon

hen a woman’s reproductive life comes to an end, she hits the menopause - or, to be more accurate, it hits her.

On average, UK women start the menopause at 51, though it can begin much earlier, and it can bring with it a range of symptoms, from irregular periods, hot flushes and mood swings, to the brittle bone disease osteoporosis. In the years following the menopause, a woman’s heart disease risk rises too. Some women are lucky, only knowing they’ve been through ‘the change’ because their periods have stopped. But around 80% experience symptoms to some degree, which typically continue for around four years after their last period, while for around 10%, symptoms can go on for up to 12 years. However, although the menopause can have a huge effect on a woman - and her family - its effects are often underestimated by both medical professionals, and women themselves. In a bid to address this, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued the first draft guidelines for health professionals who treat menopausal women. The guidelines include offering care that considers the woman’s symptoms and preferences, explaining menopause symptoms and stages, suggesting helpful lifestyle changes, discussing the benefits and risks of treatments, such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and possibly offering cognitive behavioural therapy to help relieve anxiety. Professor Mark Baker, Centre for Clinical Practice director at NICE, says: “Menopause affects millions of women, and its symptoms can severely upset day-to-day life. The effects of menopause are often misunderstood and underestimated. When women seek medical help for their symptoms, there is considerable variation in what is offered to them.” Signs & symptoms These can vary greatly, but include irregular periods, hot flushes and night sweats, mood swings, fatigue, anxiety and depression and sleeping problems. In addition to the better-known hot flushes and mood swings, the loss of oestrogen can lead to other health problems, including osteoporosis, as oestrogen, important for bone health, usually aids in protecting them against thinning.

“One woman may sail through the menopause with no problems,” Mr Edward Morris, a consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology and chairman of the British Menopause Society (BMS). “But another woman even from the same family may have severe problems. The severity isn’t predictable.” Medical menopause If a woman has a surgical menopause, where her ovaries are removed for medical reasons, she will often have a sudden menopause with severe symptoms. Angelina Jolie, who carries the faulty BRCA1 ‘cancer’ gene, made the decision to have her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed earlier this year, at the age of 39, to reduce her risk of cancer (she’d previously had a double mastectomy for the same reason). “I am now in menopause. I will not be able to have any more children and I expect some physical changes,” the Hollywood star said afterwards. “But I feel at ease with whatever will come, not because

I am strong but because this is a part of life. It is nothing to be feared.” To hrt or not to hrt? Over the last decade, there has been much debate about the possible risks and benefits of HRT, which helps relieve menopausal symptoms by replacing oestrogen. While it’s been suggested that HRT may be linked to an increased risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular disease, the NICE draft guidelines stress that menopausal women and healthcare professionals should understand that HRT doesn’t increase cardiovascular disease risk when started in women aged under 60, and doesn’t affect the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease either. In addition, the guidance states that HRT doesn’t affect the risk of dying from breast cancer, and that HRT with oestrogen alone is associated with little or no increase in the risk of breast cancer. HRT with oestrogen and progestogen can be associated with an increased risk. NICE also stresses that any

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increase in breast cancer risk is related to treatment duration, and reduces after stopping HRT. Morris says only around 10-15% of the women who could benefit from HRT actually take it, observing: “That’s a personal choice, and I can understand why a lot of women think that after the age of 50, they’re not designed to live with hormones, but we’re not necessarily designed to live as long as we do, either.” Any alternatives? Surveys suggest that around 70% of menopausal women try alternative remedies to help relieve their symptoms. Such remedies include phytoestrogens - plant substances that have effects similar to those of oestrogens - black cohosh, evening primrose oil and ginkgo biloba, as well as therapies like homeopathy, acupuncture and reflexology.

There’s little scientific evidence that complementary and alternative therapies can help menopausal symptoms or provide the same benefits as conventional therapies, but Morris suggests: “They can make a difference, although sometimes it’s just the reassurance that the woman’s in control..” Lifestyle plays a part Losing weight can reduce the severity of hot flushes, notes Morris. “Exercise and a healthy diet are good from an osteoporosis point of view, as exercise can reduce the incidence of fractures, and getting the right amount of vitamins is good for the cardiovascular system and the bones.” More information about the menopause can be found at: www.womens-health-concern.org

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Puzzle

corner

Guess where? Wordsearch Sudoku

Answers are on page 46 of this magazine

Ants Barbecue Beach Bees Boating Bugs Campfire Camping Caravan

Cycling Daytrip Drought Festivals Fetes Funfair Holiday Hosepipe ban Ice cream

Lawnmower Picnic Rain Salad Seaside Sprinkler Sunshine Swimming Tent

Staying in the home that you

he decision to buy a stairlift is often taken at a time of stress, often after a person has suffered a fall or received the news of a debilitating illness. In reality though, stairlifts should be embraced as a modern accessory to prevent falls and preserve the dignity of our loved ones, allowing them to stay and make use of their entire home and not be confined to living downstairs. Here’s a few pointers for you to consider when buying a stair lift: Shop Around Most mobility retailers (and charities) will simply pass on your stairlift enquiry to another company and in return they will receive hundreds of pounds in commission. This commission is naturally built into the final price that you pay.

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Aftersales Service & Costs You need to ensure that you have total piece of mind with a good warranty from trained engineers. Check that there are no high servicing costs linked back to the warranty and who do you phone if something goes wrong ? …. are they local ? Beware High Pressure Sales Many firms employ high pressure sales teams who are paid commission. Don’t invite them into your home unless you have somebody with you who can take notes and help you to encourage them to leave when you have heard enough! Better still, don’t invite a sales person to your home until you have had chance to examine their brochures. Also, keep your home telephone number private so they can’t pester you. Try before you buy You wouldn’t buy any other household item of equipment without testing it first. This is particularly important when it comes to the seat on the stairlift since, just like people, seats come in many shapes and sizes and you need to feel safe on your stairlift. Future Proof By this, I mean plan ahead and think about what level of mobility you will have in another 5/10 years. For example, if you suffer from arthritis of the hand/ wrist, you may struggle to turn the stairlift at the top of the stairs, so you may need to consider a motorised chair instead. Buy the stairlift now which is going to help you for the next ten years and not just the cheapest. Reece Pearson, Ableworld Stairlift Engineer.

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Schools

Out!

With all that time on their hands, just how are you going to keep your kids entertained this summer? We’ve come up with these suggestions to make those six weeks seem a bit more bearable!

Dinosaur World At the heart of Blackpool’s famous Golden Mile Promenade is the home of Blackpool’s newest and most exciting family attraction: A world of dinosaur discoveries through interactive consoles, audio video presentations and lifelike models. You can watch films and documentaries in its cinema for no extra charge. Opening times: 10am-6pm seven days a week Entry fees: Advanced tickets are £7 for adults, £5.60 for children and concessions. Family ticket costs £22.40 Address: Central Promenade, Blackpool, FY1 5AA Contact: 01253 753388 or dinosaurworldblackpool. com

Crocky Trail Get the whole family outdoors and enjoy a mile long adventure of pure adrenaline-drenched fun as you run along the famous Crocky Trail scrambling through trees, climbing over crooked bridges and swinging over the fast flowing Crocky stream Opening times: 10am-5pm seven days a week Entry fees: Children £13, adults £9, concesssions £7, under fives go free Address: Cotton Abbotts, Waverton, Chester. Sat navs use CH3 7PH. Contact: 01244 336084 or www.crockytrail.co.uk

Eureka! This is a fun, interactive children’s museum and educational charity where children play to learn and grown-ups learn to play. Hundreds of interactive, hands-on exhibits designed to inspire children aged 0 to 11. Opening times: 10am-5pm seven days a week during school holidays. Entry fees: Aged 0-11 free, aged 1-2 £4.25, aged 3-plus and adults £11.95. Address: Discovery Road, Halifax, HX1 2NE Contact: 01422 330069 or visit www.eureka.org.uk

Museum of Science & Industry Fantastic, free day out with plenty of interactive activities to keep the kids entertained. They can trace the history of communication, experience the deafening noise of working cotton machinery or even watch their own skeleton ride a bike! Opening times: 10am-5pm seven days a week Entry fees: Free Address: Liverpool Road, Castlefield, Manchester M3 4FP. Contact: 0161 832 2244 or visit www.mosi.org.uk

Acorn Farm An award-winning, family-friendly attraction. They have a wide range of animals at the farm, many of which you can feed and stroke. These include sheep, cows, goats, pigs and even meerkats! Twooutdoor play areas, a woodland walk, plant sales centre and farm shop selling home-produced free-range meat, eggs and goat’s milk ice cream as well as toys, souvenirs, sweets and drink Opening times: 10am-4pm seven days a week Entry fees: Aged one-16 years costs £1.50, adults £2.50, under 12 months free of charge Address: , Depot Road, Knowsley, L33 3AR Contact: 0151 548 1524 or visit www.acornfarm.co.uk

Free publicity for YOU! Are you in a local community group? Do you want to publicise a talk, school fair or charity fundraiser? If so, get in touch with us today! Local Life is distributed to over 100,000 homes across Wigan, St Helens, Chorley and West Lancashire. Each edition is crammed with stories for local events, and your group could be appearing in our next edition. The types of events we publicise are as follows: - Charity fundraising events - Local school, church or community fairs - Amateur concerts or performances by community groups - Talks which are open to the public - Pleas from community groups or associations for new members - We’re also on the look out for old school photographs, street scenes from yesterday and want to hear from you if your group is celebrating a special milestone. Simply contact our Editor David Sudworth with the details - what, where, when, why, who for, how much - and anything else you want to tell our readers. The earlier you can provide the information, the better the job we can do. So don’t delay – contact David today by emailing him directly at editorial@locallife247.co.uk

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School meals price The cost of school meals in St Helens is set to rise. Education chiefs say it is “reasonable” to increase the cost of meals at primary and special schools up by 5p each. They’ve also approved a 2.5% hike in the cost of meals at secondary schools. The changes take effect from September 1. St Helens Council provides more than 13,004 meals a day to primary, special and secondary schools across the borough. A report on the changes from St Helens Council said: “Primary and special school pupil meals prices are to increase from £2.15 to £2.20; - adult meal prices, when paid by the school, to increase from

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£2.25 to £2.30 and from £2.70 to £2.75 when paid by the individual. “Prices in secondary school cafeterias are on an individual item basis and it is proposed that price increases are applied to items at different rates with the aim of achieving an overall increase in income of 2.5%. Adult Christmas meal prices are to increase from £2.60 to £2.65 when paid by the school and from £3.15 to £3.20 when paid by the individual (including VAT). “Price increases have been kept to what is considered to be a reasonable level. Also, the school meals service works with schools to promote the service and encourage take-up.”

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Planning matters Rainhill

P/2015/0512). The consultation deadline is July 27.

2 Stephenson Grove: Single storey rear extension (ref: P/2015/0520). A decision is due soon.

107 St Helens Road: Hybrid application for the conversion of pump house into one dwelling and outline permission for development of seven dwellings (ref: P/2015/0517). The consultation deadline is July 27.

Eccleston Park St James CE Church, St Helens Road: Single storey side extension and formation of access ramp (ref: P/2015/0434). A decision is due soon. Loggerheads, East Close: Conversion of existing attached garage to form a habitable room. (ref:

Windle 50 Coronation Road: Two storey rear extension (ref: P/2015/0410). A decision is due soon.

For more information on these applications, visit www.sthelens.gov.uk

Different

class

David Sudworth meets one of Saints’ most intelligent former players - both on and off the pitch

y his own admission, Geoff Pimblett’s first impressions of rugby league for St Helens weren’t great.

“I’d just signed for Saints and my debut was at Whitehaven. Back then, they had a pavilion and you had to walk through the crowd onto the pitch. At half time, we couldn’t go back to the pavilion so we went under the stand and it was literally just dirt with a gutter round the sides to pee in. I remember thinking: ‘What the hell have I done?’ “My second match was at home and the kit was all laid out. Because I was new, they didn’t know what size I was so had these shorts on which were about 20 sizes too big. I spent the match more worried about my shorts falling down than the opposition.” Thankfully, the auspicious welcome back in 1971 melted away and Geoff spent the rest of the decade kicking goals for fun.

Now aged 71, I meet Geoff at his home on Bleak Hill Road, Eccleston, where he has been for the past 40 years. Surprisingly for a man who says he doesn’t do that much exercise these days, he looks in fine health.

virtually a permanent fixture in the first team. He became the first player to be awarded the Lance Todd Trophy and the Harry Sunderland Trophy man of the match awards in the same season, and was eventually made club captain.

Born on May 11, 1944, in Laffak to William, a shoe repairer, and Sarah, he attended Windle CE on Cooper Street before passing his scholarship and moving to Cowley.

He was frequently lauded by critics for his quickthinking which, when coupled with his nimble footwork, made him a hard man to outwit.

“When I was growing up, there were only 13 houses in Laffak. It was just a hamlet but I remember places like Moncrieff’s Farm. Going to Cowley completely changed my life. I played rugby union there and ended up with nine O-Levels and three A-levels.” After Cowley, Geoff headed to teacher training college in Leicester. Although at that time, many teachers were being lured abroad, Geoff had no intention of leaving the UK. He’d met his future wife, Merle, while playing with mates at Carr Mill Dam when they were 16. They got married at St Helens Parish Church in Ormskirk Street and, this year, they celebrated 50 years of wedded bliss. When Geoff came back home, he got a job as a history teacher at Grange Park; a place he would work at for more than 30 years. “From the age of 15 I wanted to be a teacher. At the time there was a temptation to go abroad for two years but it never interested me. My plan was always to come back up north and play rugby union. I played 199 games for Liverpool St Helens Rugby Union - it should have been 200 but it was called off on January 1 and six days later I signed for Saints. “Frankie Barrow was coming towards the end of his spell. I played stand off in union as Basil Lowe, a director at Saints, asked if I fancied signing.” Throughout the 1970s, Geoff was

Club records show that the end of his career coincided with a drop in Saints’ fortunes in general, even though in his final season he still pitched in with 99 goals; averaging about three per game. His final tally showed that in over 360 appearances, he amassed an impressive 1,388 points - earning a place in the St Helens club record books. He feels grateful to the club, so much so that he was

a founder member of the past players’ association and still plays an active role. Geoff and Merle’s two daughters still live locally. Helen is a teaching assistant and lives in Haydock while Janey is a bank manager with Lloyds and lives in Eccleston. Geoff also has five grandchildren and one great grandson to keep him busy! “Saints has been a big part of my life,” says Geoff. “I had some great times. It seems strange now but during the week you’d be a teacher and at the weekends you’d be a star, playing in front of TV cameras and being in the papers. I even got to open pubs. In fact, in my scrapbook there’s a picture of me opening the old Prop & Pony pub on Elton Head Road in Rainhill. They’re all great memories, and it was a fantastic time. When I finished playing there were other clubs, like Salford, who were interested but I just felt that I’d done my whack.

“Also, being a teacher affected your training because a lot of the other players were doing physical jobs, like working for the council on the roads, whereas I wasn’t. The game has changed a lot. Maybe it is more skillful now but if you put today’s players against people from my era, I think it would be a good game.”

Food & Drink

Class

act

By Keeley Bolger

rowing up, Michel Roux Jr enjoyed slap up dinners made by his decorated chef dad Albert Roux and uncle Michel. No wonder then, that his memories of school dinners pale in comparison to these veritable feasts. “Eugh, I don’t want to even go there,” he says, wincing at the thought. “I did go to English school, and I’m afraid to say, I know exactly what gristly mince and packet mashed potato tastes like,” adds the 55-yearold, who admits he’s had a “bit of a head-start in life”, growing up in a family where food was so important. While chewy meat and watery mash was common fodder back in his school days, the stodgy school dinner stalwarts were certainly off the menu in his recent TV cookery competition First Class Chefs. The first series for the Disney Channel, which started recently, saw teams of school children putting their kitchen skills to the test, in a bid to transform their relationship with food.

Like Jamie Oliver before him, Roux Jr. hopes the series encourages more children and their families to whip out the pans and start cooking. “It’s great to see these children taking such an interest in food, and that comes from their family,” he explains. “Food is not just fuel. Their families are not just buying ready-meals, whacking them in the microwave, and shoving them in front of the kids, in front of the telly. “No - their kids are taking part in choosing what they’re going to eat, and it’s great.” His own daughter Emily, who has also followed in his foodie footsteps, appeared as a special guest chef and help with the judging. “She’s 24 now, so she’s no longer really a trainee,” he says of his “exceptionally talented” daughter. “She’s earning a good wage and really enjoying herself cooking. We get on very well and she always wants to do her best.” Likewise, Roux Jr. says he’s trying to be on his best behaviour in the kitchen, too. “I mean, I’m a control freak,” he admits. “I hate not being in control and the thing is, if you do lose your temper, it’s because you’ve lost control and that’s something I don’t like. “I’m like everyone, occasionally I do lose my rag, but I don’t like myself when I do.” Fancy trying some of Roux Jr.’s recipes with your family? Here are three easy-to-follow dishes from his book, The French Kitchen, to get going with. It is published in hardback by Weidenfeld & Nicolson, priced £25. Available now.

Ratatouille

Serves 4 Ingredients

Method

1 aubergine

Dice the aubergine, courgettes, pepper, onion and

2 courgettes

tomatoes - large or small, as you prefer - keeping them

1 red pepper, peeled and deseeded 1 large onion, peeled

in separate piles. Heat about 1cm of olive oil in a pan over a high heat and colour each type of vegetable, except the tomatoes, individually, then drain them in

2 tomatoes, peeled and deseeded

a colander.

Olive oil

Preheat the oven to 200C/180C/Gas 6. Place all the

1 bulb of new season garlic, chopped

vegetables in an ovenproof dish or large pan and

1 sprig of thyme 2 bay leaves 2tbsp tomato paste

add the diced tomatoes, garlic, thyme, bay leaves and tomato paste. Season and cover with greaseproof paper. Place in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes or so

Salt

until all the vegetables are tender. If you prefer, you can

Black pepper

do this on the hob over a gentle heat.

Omelette with girolle

mushrooms Serves 2 Ingredients 4 free-range eggs (or 6 if greedy)

Method Crack the eggs into a bowl, beat them with a fork and season with salt and pepper. Trim and wipe the mushrooms, then fry them in a little oil and add the finely chopped garlic and parsley. Season and set aside.

100g girolle mushrooms (or any wild mushrooms, such as morels or ceps)

Heat a 20cm omelette pan until itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very hot, then add a

Vegetable oil

but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let it burn. Pour in the eggs and leave the pan

1/2 garlic clove, peeled and finely chopped

for 20 seconds or so before starting to mix them with

1tbsp finely chopped parsley 2tbsp unsalted butter

drop of oil and the butter. The butter should be golden

a fork or spatula. Once the omelette has formed and is holding but still a little underdone, add the mushrooms in the centre and carefully roll the omelette over them

Salt

to the edge of the pan.

Black pepper

Flip the omelette onto a warm plate and cut it in half to serve. It should have a little colour but be light and fluffy - brush with a little butter to give it a lovely shine and gloss.

Eating out

guide Advertise

here £48 + VAT

Call 01744 649722 Toast Coffee House & Cafe

Griffin Inn

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

The Griffin Inn in Eccleston is an

Advertise

here £30 + VAT

Call 01744 649722

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

Quattro’s 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

Larkins

Colours Restaurant

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

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

Events & Leisure

What’s

Ride 45 Sunday, July 19 Starting and finishing at Sutton Leisure Centre, Elton Head Road, the 45 mile bike ride in aid of Willowbrook Hospice goes through the St Helens and Knowsley area, taking in the scenery around Crank and Beacon Hill. Suitable for all cycling abilities from the semi-pros to the Sunday cyclists. Entry is £20. Call Mark on 01744 453798 or email markp@willowbrookhospice.org.uk

John Power Acoustic Show Thursday July 23 The former Cast and La’s singer comes to The Old Courts, Crawford Street, Wigan. Acoustic show consisting of John’s solo rootsy set followed by all the hits from Cast. Buy your ticket £8 in advance or £10 on the door. Visit www.theoldcourts.com

Musical Memories Friday, July 24 A St Helens singing group for people with dementia. Held from 2pm-4pm at the United Reformed Church, King Street. The session starts with a warm drink and chat in the coffee bar followed by 90 minutes of singing. Entry is £2.50 person. For more information, contact Denise on 07856 0798348 or email musicalmemoriessthelens@hotmail.co.uk

The Green Fayre Saturday, July 25, and Sunday, July 26 Held from 11am until 5pm each day at Beacon Country Park, Beacon Lane, Up Holland. This free event is a celebration of the countryside and is the biggest event of its kind in West Lancashire. Watch Viking battles, dog display teams and birds of prey

Jules Holland with guests Monday, July 27 Along with his 20-piece Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, Jules is back at Liverpool Philharmonic with special guests including Soft Cell’s Marc Almond and vocalists Ruby Turner, Louise Marshall and Mabel Ray. Tickets cost £37.50 and £43.50 via www. liverpoolphil.com

demonstrations in the shows arena. Learn more about agriculture and get hands on with a variety of farm yard animals in the shows petting zoo. For more information, visit www. facebook.com/wlbc.rangers

Magic Day Monday, July 27 Magic shows, workshops and arty crafts courtesy of

Business For Youth at Newton Sports Club, Crow Lane East. Free event - contact Terry Maguire on 07860 457576.

The Tiger Who Came To Tea Wednesday, July 29, to Friday, July 30 Following a smash-hit West End season, the teaguzzling tiger is back on the road in this delightful family show at Preston Guild. For audiences aged three and above. Performances are at 10.30am and 1.30pm on selected days. Tickets £11 via www. prestonguildhall.com

Hobbies Talk Tuesday, July 28 Talk hosted by Prescot Library’s Older Person’s Health and Wellbeing Club. Held from 2pm-3pm. Complimentary refreshments provided.

Summer Exhibition Saturday, August 1, to Saturday, August 8 Ashton Art Group artists show work in a variety of media and with a wide range of subject matter to suit every taste. Most of the work is for sale and there is no charge for admission. Held at St Thomas’ Church Hall, Warrington Road, Ashton. Opening

Promote your event

here! Reach an estimated 75,000 readers in St Helens Ad prices start from £30 + VAT Call 01744 649722 for details

Royal Lancashire Show Friday, August 7- Sunday, August 9 This historical, annual event at Salesbury Hall, Ribchester, is a fabulous celebration of our great British countryside and a brilliant family day out to boot. There’ll be magnificent livestock displays, wonderful food and drink, marvellous crafts, a huge country life area, and lots of traditional entertainment and avenues of trade stands offering a wealth of goods. For further information, visit www.royallancs.co.uk

times are 10am–6pm each day except Sunday (11am –2pm).

Greenslate Summer Festival Saturday, August 1 This event, held from 11am-11pm at the Tracks Lane site in Billinge, is billed as a celebration of local talent with several bands confirmed Big Foot, Red Eyed Jedi and Chonkinfeckle to name a few with lots more to follow, playing live at the farm and an open mic session for budding musicians. Local foods and regional ales will be on sale plus craft stalls and activities for all the family. Entry is a voluntary £1 donation. All enquiries please call Dawn on 07434 977 663.

Summer Exhibition Saturday, August 1, to Saturday, August 8 Ashton Art Group artists show work in a variety of media and with a wide range of subject matter to

suit every taste. Most of the work is for sale and there is no charge for admission. Held at St Thomas’ Church Hall, Warrington Road, Ashton. Opening times are 10am–6pm each day except Sunday (11am –2pm).

Newton Town Show Saturday, August 1, Held at Mesnes Park, Park Road North, from 11am. Organisers of the Newton and Earlestown Community Group say show will be packed with attractions for all ages, various stalls and the return of the arts and crafts competition. More details at www.newtontownshow.weebly.com

Bickerstock Sarturday, August 1, and Sunday, August 2 Free, two day music festival featuring over 30 acts at the Parish Field on Hall Lane, Bickerstaffe. Starts at noon on both days on the Garden Stage, from 4.30pm on the Saturday at the Bar Stage. Further information available from www.bickerstock.org

Twelfth Night - Outdoors Wednesday, August 26 Outdoor Theatre at Rufford Old Hall, Liverpool Road. Join the Lord Chamberlain’s Men t o see Shakespeare’s best-loved romantic comedy. A joyous tale of love, longing and laughter and mischief, mayhem and mistaken identity, set in fair Illyria. Starts at 7pm until 9pm. Tickets £14 on the night - £10 in advance. More information on 01704 821254, ruffordoldhall@nationaltrust.org.uk

Activities Day Monday, August 3 Sports, games, competitions and creepy-crawly show courtesy of Business For Youth at Newton Sports Club, Crow Lane East. Free event - contact Terry Maguire on 07860 457576.

Griffin Grind Sunday, August 9 The inaugural Isabella Rose Foundation event in

association with the Griffin Inn. The five mile road race begins at The Griffin, on Church Lane, Eccleston and immediately tackles the long and winding Burrows Lane before approaching the seemingly everlasting Prescot Road, eventually reaching Dunriding Lane before the long stretch of Knowsley Road. It’s £18 to enter and those who finish get a medal and goody bag. For more information, visit http://www.griffingrind.co.uk/

The Boggle & Shapeshifter Wednesday, August 12 Outdoor performance (weather permitting) at Rainhill Library, View Road, of this Lawrence Speck presentation aimed at those aged four and upwards. 11am sees the performance of The Boggle with 2pm seeing The Shapeshifter take to the stage. Tickets are £6 per show, £5 for St Helens Library card holders and £2.50 concessions. Book online at www.culturalhubs.eventbrite.co.uk or call into Rainhill Library.

Cindy’s Reunion Saturday, August 15 Relive the sounds of the famous old St Helens nightclub at Larkin’s Restaurant, Crab Street, St Helens, from 8pm-2am. Guest DJs Lee Turner, Steve Moore, Garry Beech and Dex Nelson playing a range of soul, funk, disco and jazzfunk. Tickets are £7 and available from Steve on 07886 384429 or from Larkin’s Restaurant, Caffe & Co Rainhill, and The Ladies room stylists in Hardshaw Street.

Southport Flower Show Thursday, August 20, to Sunday, August 23 The UK’s largest independent flower show at Victoria Park, Rotten Row, is back and promises to be a great day out. Attracting around 70,000 visitors, the event will feature stunning show gardens, the finest flower and vegetable displays, specialist foods and books, celebrity guests and much more. Tickets from £18-£22.50 via www. southportflowershow.co.uk

Beach Party Monday, August 17 Beach games, water, ice creams, Punch & Judy and much more courtesy of Business For Youth at Newton Sports Club, Crow Lane East. Free event contact Terry Maguire on 07860 457576.

Sentenced to Soul All-Nighter Saturday, August 29 Eight DJs and eight hours of rare, underplayed & in demand 1960s/70s northern soul, from 10pm-6am at The Old Courts, Crawford Street, Wigan. Guest DJ team is John Poole, Ginger Taylor, Rob Smith, Tony Clarke and up-and-coming soul DJ Owen Bolton . Tickets advanced purchase for £12 from http:// sentenced-to-soul-all-nighter.eventzilla.net/

Ormskirk MotorFest Sunday, August 30, From 11am-4pm. Put yourself in pole position to enjoy the North West’s premier free motoring spectacular and a fantastic day out for all the family.

Summer Jam Monday, August 31 Free event at Liverpool’s Sefton Park sees the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra team up with Echo & The Bunnymen. The first half of the concert features classical favourites performed by the award-winning Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra – music perfect for a summer’s evening under the stars! Echo & The Bunnymen with the join the Orchestra to perform a fantastic new interpretation of some of their greatest hits. For more information, visit www.liverpoolphil.com

A fabulous array of cars and motorcycles from all eras of motoring will be on display, and many of these will join in the parade laps around Ormskirk town centre. This free event takes place around Moor Street, Aughton Street, Coronation Park, and Ormskirk town centre.

Rainford Show Saturday, September 5 From 1.30pm to 4.30pm in the village hall, Church Road. Annual competition for handicrafts, photography, confectionary, preserves, floral art, vegetables, fruit and much more. Prizegiving takes place at 4pm. For more information and entry forms, visit www.rainfordshow.co.uk

Simon Weston: My Story Sunday, September 6 The Falklands War veteran tells his life story at Warrington’s Pyramid venue on Palmyra Square South. Tickets priced from £13-£14.50 and the event starts at 7.30pm. For more information, visit www.pyramidparrhall.com

Tubular Bells for Two Tuesday, September 8 One album, two men, too many instruments. The multi-award winning hit show returns to The Lowry in Salford. In a tense and thrilling ride, two crazy Aussies perform Mike Oldfield’s masterpiece, Tubular Bells, with a twist. They are run off their feet as they tackle over 20 instruments to accomplish a feat that usually requires an entire entourage of musicians. Starts at 8pm - tickiets £22 via www. thelowry.com

Promote your event

here! Reach an estimated 75,000 readers in St Helens Ad prices start from £30 + VAT Call 01744 649722 for details

Southport Airshow Saturday, September 19, & Sunday, September 20 Prepare yourself for a memorable, family day out on Southport’s golden sands. It’ll be eyes to the skies as some of the finest aviation stunts are performed above the town. There’ll also be opportunity to get up close to some of the aircraft and the micro lights as they park on the beach for the show. Held from 9am-5.30pm each day. Tickets are £8.36 for adults (advance) and £6.27 for fives-15s. Under 5s go free. Book via www.visitsouthport.com

Newton Flower & Vegetable Show Saturday, September 12 Held at Penkford School, Wharf Road, off Common Road, Newton-le-Willows. Competitive classes for flowers, pot plants, vegetables, fruit, art, photography, baking, jam, jelly, chutney, flower arranging and also classes for children to enter. There will also be stalls selling plants, a tombola and a raffle. The show will end at approximately 4.15pm, with the presentation to the winners and an auction of the produce. Contact the show secretary, Chantelle Seaborn, on 07415 942418 or chantelleseaborn@gmail.com

Test drive

Mitsubishi

Shogun by Tim Barnes-Clay

n 1982 Mitsubishi Motors Corporation launched a brand new breed of vehicle: a 4x4 which was tough enough to go where others feared to tread, yet enjoyed the sort of sophisticated specification more normally associated with top end saloons. More than thirty years later the Shogun is a living legend. The 2015 Mitsubishi Shogun has a bold new front end, distinguished by a deeper more integrated grille and chic LED daytime running lights. The design changes for this year represent a progressive evolution of the hard-hitting Japanese off-roader. Naturally, the Mitsubishi keeps its go-anywhere, self-assured and powerfully built presence. This is characterised by its short front overhang, upright windscreen, strong high flanks, flared wheel-arches and rear-mounted spare wheel. These are all key Shogun styling cues that underline its mud-plugging aptitude. Indeed, standing next to the Shogun makes you feel pretty small. The vehicle is enormous and looks rather intimidating to drive. But once you haul yourself into the cabin, turn the key, select â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Driveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; from the automatic gearbox and get rolling, any unease evaporates.

By no means is the brute always a delight to drive on the road though. Sure, it’s easy to point the Shogun down a motorway and stay there, but any cross winds do knock you about a bit. That’s no surprise as it’s a tall vehicle – and because of that you can also forget tearing around bends on country roads, unless you like lots of lean. Instead, the new Mitsubishi Shogun is about muscle and ruggedness. The top of the range Long Wheel Base (LWB) SG4 model, on test here, pulls like a train with its 3.2-litre, 194bhp,four-cylinder diesel engine. 0-62mph arrives in 11.1 seconds and top speed is 112mph. More importantly it has low-ratio gearing and a differential lock to make sure you’ve got the best chance of getting it out of even the most challenging of non-tarmac situations. The Mitsubishi Shogun is not only a giant of a 4x4, its cabin feels solidly screwed together and comes crammed with luxury features. As well as improved sound deadening, SG4 trim brings leather seats, Bluetooth, a tyre pressure monitoring system and a five-speed automatic gearbox. Staying inside the cabin of the Shogun, its multifunction display has reams of information available. This includes a barometer and an altitude gauge, indicating that this is a vehicle that has motoring ability stretching way beyond a farmer’s field.

Fast

The seats are comfortable and supportive, and the large glass area provides first rate views of the road or rugged ground around you. Rear seat space is colossal, and load capacity seems immeasurably big. A third row of seats can be popped up too, turning the Shogun into a seven-seater. This is convenient

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facts

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On Your Plot

Hoarding a

harvest If all has gone to plan then August should be a very satisfying month on your plot, with your hard work being repaid by ample harvests of a good range of fruit and veg.

harvesting fresh peas or raspberries again but that doesn’t mean that you can’t be enjoying your home grown produce throughout the winter - it just takes a little planning and now is the time to do it.

The reality tends to be that the excitement of seeing your crops grow and ripen is initially followed by

Onions (and garlic) that have been lifted and left to dry can be plaited and hung in a cool, dry place. Net bags, or tights, also work if you don’t fancy plaiting. Potatoes can be stored in boxes or paper sacks in a dark, dry building but you should check them regularly, removing any that show signs of rotting. A good size freezer is a real boon for making the most of your produce. Blanching and then freezing works for loads of vegetables. Key to success is to cool quickly after blanching so have a bowl of cold water at the ready.

Jobs for August

• Water regularly - try to water either in the evenin g or early mornings.

much enjoyment of the first fruits of your labour which can soon be replaced by a panic stricken ‘What the heck do I do with all these’! Sharing with friends and neighbours is great but very often they will have a glut of exactly the same thing at just the same time. What is called for are some simple ideas for storing and preserving your produce. It may be a long time before you are

• If you are growing ma in crop potatoes, watch out for signs of blight. Brown patches on the tops and edges of leaves are usu ally a first sign. • Pinch out the tops of runner bean stems that are outgrowing their suppor ts. • Keep harvesting those courgettes! • Sow turnips and orie ntal salad plants such as Pak Choi and Chinese Cabbag e • Strawberry runners tha t were potted up in Jun e to produce new plants can be planted out now .

Another option, and one that can work well for all those tomatoes, is to find a good recipe that you can cook, freeze and use later (how about a wonderful pasta sauce with your own tomatoes and home grown basil?). Even ‘difficult to freeze’ veg such as courgettes can either be incorporated into a sauce, or blanched, frozen and then added to a stew at a later date. Cooking and freezing can work well for fruit too apple or rhubarb are good stewed and frozen all ready for use in a crumble or pie. If you have a truly wonderful fruit crop then why not arm yourself with a good recipe book and get started on some jam making? It’ll be delicious on your toast in the morning, and what better gift than a pot of homemade raspberry jam?

fertilising & moss control turfing & landscaping tree surgery one off jobs or regular maintenance artificial lawns

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DIR ER

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garden maintenance weed control to lawn & driveways hedge cutting garden tidy ups jet washing

It’s amazing how many books there are that tell you how to grow your fruit and veg, but how little information there is on just how to store it all! One wonderful little book, that deals with just this question is ‘How to store your garden produce’ by Piers Warren. It’s packed with information about how to store just about anything and a great addition to any gardeners library.

E TH MA

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Useful numbers Eccleston Cllr M Haw Cllr G Pearl Cllr T Sims Eccleston Medical Centre Eccleston Library Eccleston Village Hall

01744 29 121 01744 678 927 0151 426 5118 01744 454 454 01744 677 575 01744 730 744

Prescot Cllr Allen Cllr Flanders Cllr L. O’Keeffe Cllr S. O’Keeffe Cllr Kearns Aston Healthcare Aston Healthcare Knowsley Park House Medical Care Prescot Medical Centre Prescot Library

0151 430 7835 0151 739 7017 07547405192 07704 013462 0151 481 0336 0151 426 6288 0151 546 3458 0151 426 5253 0151 426 5277 0151 426 6449

Rainhill Cllr De’Asha Cllr Glover Cllr Grunewald Rainhill Library Rainhill Village Hall Rainhill Village Surgery Longton Medical Centre West Park

Puzzle

01744 678 980 01744 678 947 07802 551 647 01744 677 822 0151 430 9338 0151 511 5672 0151 430 0333

Cllr Ayres Cllr Quinn Cllr Rimmer CBE

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Windle Cllr S Robinson Cllr D Baines Cllr L Glover Central Surgery, Cowley Hill Lowe House Medical Centre

01744 677 434 01744 676 109 01744 677 069 01744 627 660 01744 624 999

General Medical St Helens Hospital Whiston Hospital Minor Injuries Walk in Centre NHS Direct

01744 26 633 0151 426 1600 01744 627 400 0845 4647

General Police & Councils Merseyside Police St.Helens Council Knowsley Council

0151 709 6010 01744 676 789 0151 489 6000

Other Useful Numbers St Helens Central Library Mobile Library – Knowsley Gas Leak Water Leakline Floodline Citizens Advice Bureau

01744 676 989 0151 443 4363 0800 111 999 0800 330 033 08459 881 188 01744 737 866

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The photo on page 15 is of Warrington Road, Rainhill.