St Helens West Edition
Jun/Jul 2014
Photo: Geoff Duke courtesy of Peter Duke Archive
Life In The Fast Lane Geoff Duke
Take a Peep at Rainhill’s Calendar Girls Prescot Festival -Full Details
! N I W Jack’s Tracks visits Burtonwood
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Planning Ahead The Duke Of Hazards Class from the Past Puzzle Corner What’s On Jack’s Tracks visits Burtonwood Test Drive - Mercedes-Benz A-Class Win Open Golf Tickets On Your Plot Home Services Useful Numbers Puzzle Solutions
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Bare Necessities! Life imitated art for these local ladies as they stripped off to raise money for good causes. Members of Rainhill Garrick staged the play Calendar Girls earlier this year… but then decided to go one better by creating their own calendar in a bid to raise cash for Cancer Research, which got £1,000, for the Marie Curie Hospice in Woolton, which received £250, and a further £250 which went to Macmillan Nurses. The calendar shot at Rainhill Village Hall by Derek Lister, the uncle of Miss July, Ceri
Christmas carols Calendar Girls-style with members of Rainhill Garrick Lovell, a health care assistant at Whiston Hospital. Ceri said: “It was good fun although the shoot took place just as I’d finished nights so I went to it straight from work!” Retired Lynn Aconley, from Rainhill, said: “We decided to do scenes from shows we’ve done as a group, such as Cabaret, 84 Charing Cross Road and Oh! What A Lovely War”
Jean Chesworth, Lynn Aconley and Ceri Lovell with their Calendar Girl poses
Others who took part included Ruth Proffitt, Lucy McEllin, Gill Bourke, Linda Saavedra, Rosetta Parker and Tracy Gough. Jean Chesworth, a civil servant from Prescot,
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has been a member of Rainhill Garrick for six years, appears in both March and October. She added: “It was the funniest day we had for a long time. We were all a bit nervous at first but after a while it was fine.” Ann Lunt, manager of the Cancer Research shop on Westfield Street in St Helens Town Centre, thanked Rainhill Garrick for their donation.
Flower Arranging Carol Middleton is holding a flower arranging course in Rainhill on Tuesday, June 17. The taster course will take place at St Ann’s Millennium Centre, View Road, from 7pm until 9pm. The cost of the course is £10 which includes all materials and refreshments. Those wanting to attend are however asked to provide their own scissors. To book, contact Carol on 07504 274988 or email carolmiddleton@ntlworld.com
Action Stations! A series of public meetings is being held over planned closures and mergers of fire stations. Merseyside Fire & Rescue Authority is looking at merging Huyton with Whiston and building a £2.8m new station on Manchester Road, Prescot. There’s also a plan to merge Eccleston with St Helens fire services at St Helens Town Centre. Fire bosses say they are now embarking on an extensive consultation programme before any final decisions are made. This will involve public meetings at venues including Rainhill High School, Warrington Road, at 7.30pm on Tuesday, June 10, and at St Edmund Arrowsmith, Cumber Lane, Whiston, at 6pm on Tuesday, June 17. All welcome to attend. To complete a survey about the plans, visit www. merseyfire.gov.uk/surveys/knowsleymerger.htm
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Arthritis Talk
Rib Tickling Line-Up
The next St Helens National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society Group meeting is on Tuesday, July 22. The speaker for the event, at Room Eight in St Helens Town Hall, is Dr Julie Dawson, a consultant rheumatologist, who will be explaining how the condition affects the body’s organs. The meeting is from 6.30pm-8.30pm and all are welcome.
Phoenix Nights star Archie Kelly – who played serial liar Kenny ‘Dalglish’ Senior in the hit Peter Kay comedy – is coming to Prescot. He’ll be on the bill at Prescot Cables FC’s comedy night on Saturday, June 7. Also appearing that evening will be Dave Wolfe, Wayne The Weird and Mike Maguire, who when working on radio tricked former England boss Sven Goran Eriksson into thinking he was talking to his predecessor Kevin Keegan.
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St James Methodist Church, on St James Road, Rainhill, is holding a summer fair on Saturday, July 5, from 11am until 1.30 pm. There will be various stalls and a cafe serving light refreshments. Admission for adults is 50p, while children go for free. For further information contact Jean Allcock on 0151 426 1915.
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Cycle Fundraiser Almost 40 energetic Rainhill folk cycled from Anglesey to home in a bid to raise money for charity. It’s the sixth year the group of friends have cycled over the May Bank Holiday weekend for good causes. The trek took three days, starting from Holyhead, through Conwy, Prestatyn, Chester and then back to Rainhill. The idea for a ride started a few years ago when Ronnie Hayes, from Rainhill Cricket Club, got together with Steve Burrows and Ton McKeown and decided to start undertaking an annual event. Ronnie told Local Life: “We have completed other rides including the east coast to west coast C2C and Trans Pennine routes over the years. We raise money for local charities, which include Willowbrook Hospice and the Lilac Centre at St Helens Hospital. It’s just a good excuse to get the community together. It cuts across
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age ranges, this year we had people from 17 to 60-plus - a total of 36 riders and two support drivers. They’re a great bunch of people.”
Hardy Talk The next meeting of the St Helens & District Group of Diabetes UK - and the last one until September - will be on Wednesday, June 4, at 7.30pm in St Helens Town Hall. The guest speaker will be Professor Kevin Hardy, who will be leading a session called Your Diabetes Questions Answered. Anyone with an interest in diabetes is welcome to attend, admission is free and refreshments are available after the meeting. Organisers say they would particularly like to welcome anyone who has been recently diagnosed with diabetes and has not been to a meeting before. For further details, contact C. Bowmaker on 0151 480 0821.
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Be a Moonlighter…
Family History
Be part of the biggest night time fundraising event in St Helens and Knowsley by signing up to the Moonlight Walk in aid of Willowbrook Hospice! The walk takes place on Saturday, July 5, and starts from Queens Park Health and Fitness, Boundary Road, St Helens. There are two route lengths available of either 10km or 6km. Entrance is £10 for adults and £5 for children. For more information, call the fundraising team on 01744 453798, email events@willowbrookhospice.org.uk or visit www. willowbrook.org.uk
St Helens Townships Family History Society meets regularly at St Helens Town Hall, Victoria Square at 6.45pm for a 7pm start. The next meeting is on Thursday, June 19, when there will be a discussion on the Pals Project Exhibition. On Thursday, July 17, Peter Park will give a talk on the origins of surnames.
Social Afternoon A social afternoon including bingo, a raffle, tea and biscuits, is held every Wednesday from 1.30pm-3.30pm at the Guild Hall, St Helens Road, Prescot. All are welcome to go along.
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Good Night Vienna St Helens Sinfonietta is staging a grand charity concert entitled A Night In Old Vienna to raise money for Willowbrook Hospice and future outreach projects. It will be held at the Town Hall on Victoria Square on Sunday, June 21, at 7.30pm. Tickets are £12. Please send cheques and a stamp addressed envelope to Lynn Wallace, 61 Clarkes Crescent, St Helens, WA10 5EA. Advance booking ends one week before the event.
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Planning Ahead Eccleston Catchdale Moss House, Catchdale Moss Lane: Change of use from agricultural shed to 8 stables (ref: P/2014/0393). The consultation deadline is June 4. Eccleston Mere Primary School, Salewood Avenue: Repositioning of an existing CCTV column and camera (ref: P/2014/0392). The consultation deadline is June 4. Eccleston Lane Ends Primary School, Albany Avenue: Erection of a canopy to side elevation along with the insertion of new doors in existing window openings beneath proposed canopy (ref: P/2014/0401). The consultation deadline is June 5.
5 Millfields: Demolition of existing dwelling and erection of a new two storey dwelling (ref: P/2014/0386). The consultation deadline is June 4.
Prescot 43 Sundale Avenue: Erection of single storey rear extension maximum depth from original rear wall: 3.6 metres, maximum height 3.7 metres, height of eaves 2.55 metres (ref: 14/00331/PDE). The consultation deadline is June 3.
Rainhill 111 Stoney Lane: Erection of three dwellings (ref: P/2014/0398). The consultation deadline is June 5. 32 Ellon Avenue: Single storey rear extension projecting 6m from the rear, 2.88m high overall, and 2.1m to the eaves (ref: P/2014/0405). The consultation deadline is June 4.
91 Millbrook Lane: Erection of a conservatory projecting 4m from the rear, 3.2m high overall and 2.2m to the eaves (ref: P/2014/0404). The consultation deadline is June 4. For more information about the Prescot application, visit www.knowsley.gov.uk. For the other applications, visit www.sthelens.gov.uk
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50 years of St Julie’s An Eccleston church is marking its 50th anniversary with a special jubilee celebration and gala in July. St Julie RC on Howards Lane was opened in 1964. The gala is being held on Sunday, July 6, starting at 1pm and a Jubilee Mass is being held on Sunday, July 13. In its 50 years, the church has only had four priests; the Rev. J. Higham (1961-83); the Rev. B. Walker (1983-92); the Rev. J. Robinson (1992-96) and the Rev Tom Neylon (1996-present). During those years a Parish Hall was built behind the church which houses the Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Toddler Group, Over 50s Club and more. This is also hired out for parties and other social events via the Parish Social Committee. All are welcome to the celebratory events.
Load of ‘Nunsense’! Rainhill Musical Theatre Company presents ‘Nunsense’ a musical comedy at Rainhill Village Hall, Dane Court, from Thursday, June 5, to Saturday, June 7, inclusive. Performances start at 7.30pm and tickets are £7 for adults or concessions are £6. Send a stamp addressed envelope and postal order to Mrs R. Sephton 32 Park Road, Prescot, L34 3LR (please enclose SAE with postal orders). Alternatively, call 0151 292 4458 or email sephtons@hotmail.co.uk
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Books on Prescription A revamped scheme to help St Helens people who suffer from depression and anxiety is being launched in June. Reading Well Books on Prescription enables doctors and other health professionals to recommend 30 self-help titles for people to borrow from their local library. It is a joint initiative from independent charity The Reading Agency and the Society of Chief Librarians, working with local library services. All local libraries will have the core list of 30 titles covering issues such as anxiety, depression, phobias, panic attacks, bulimia and sleep problems. These will be available to borrow free of charge from local library branches or can be reserved using the online library catalogue. The event is set to take place on Tuesday, June 24, from 10am–2pm at Central Library on Victoria Square, with the official launch at 12.30pm. Local mental health support services will be there offering information and
advice. There will be a number of speakers including local hero Corporal Andy Reid who will be talking about his time at war and how he has adjusted to life back home. Places for the official launch are free, but need to be booked in advance before Tuesday, June 17, via Kathryn Boothroyd on 01744 677486. For more information on the scheme visit www.sthelens.gov.uk/ booksonprescription
Prekky Fundraiser A special music event is being held in Rainford in memory of the late Saints star Steve Prescott. Music In The Woodland takes place on Saturday, June 7, at GreenAcres Woodland Burial, on Blindfoot Road, Rainford, from 1pm-3pm. Tickets are £10 each, and those under six years old go free. Advance booking is essential at 01744 649189.
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Where Are They Now? - by David Sudworth
TheofDuke Hazards With the TT Races looming, David Sudworth profiles the St Helens innovator whose feats on the Isle of Man and elsewhere made him the first post-war superstar
For one St Helens nonagenarian, the grainy, black and white footage of the crash is a reminder of how his and Campbell’s own lives could easily have changed that fateful day in January 1967.
By the 1960s, Geoff Duke’s place in the world’s sporting elite was assured. Easily recognisable by his Lancashire Rose riding helmet, his record-breaking motorcycle feats brought him with a string of World Championships, Grand Prix and TT titles. As multi-TT replica winner and friend Bill Smith puts it: “Never mind Barry Sheene, Geoff was the David Beckham of his day. Everybody, but everybody, had heard of him.” It was this fame which led to him being approached by Castrol, the sponsors of Bluebird. Geoff ’s son, Peter, takes up the story: “He was asked if he would be the driver. He had done a lot of record-breaking on bikes and cars for Castrol so they asked if he was interested in the water attempt. This was before they asked Donald Campbell and the aim was to take it over 300mph on Lake Coniston. When dad asked them what happens to it at over 300mph, the engineers replied: ‘Actually we don’t know.’
Geoff on a dustbin faired Gilera in 1957
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“Dad always wanted to fully understand what was going on with every machine he rode. If things weren’t right he would make sure they were sorted or walk away. So he instantly knew to walk away and sadly, not too long after, Donald Campbell became the very brave soul who found out what would happen to the Bluebird at 300-plus mph.”
All photos courtesy of Peter Duke Archive
In a quiet corner of a parish graveyard, a grey headstone marks the final resting place of Donald Campbell. His remains were recovered in 2001 from Lake Coniston. They were subsequently buried in the very same Lake District town where, 34 years earlier, Campbell had died while attempting his eighth world water speed record. Despite a last-ditch attempt at stopping, the jet-powered Bluebird K7’s nose lifted, throwing it into a somersault, and hit the water at over 180mph. An inquest later ruled that Campbell, 45, was killed on impact.
Pictured back, centre left aged 5 at Cowley Prep School. Also pictured are Tom Merrick, Bert Fairclough and Tom Pike Peter says his approach was similar to other facets of racing: “Throughout his career, he always tried to apply every bit of knowledge he could to help him perform at his best and leave as little as possible to chance. This included strict adherence to good diet, regular exercise and no smoking. Sports massage and specialist dietary advice are common features of life for even amateur sportsmen nowadays, but they weren’t in the 1950s.” Now aged 91 and living in the Isle of Man, Geoff has suffered from Parkinson’s Disease in recent years. However, ‘The Duke’ - as he is fondly known - is still regularly feted as the first true-post war superstar.
After being demobbed in 1947, Geoff joined BSA motorcycles and then Norton. As a junior at Norton, he was allowed to work on his own bike after hours and soon became well known to the staff in the race workshops. His first big win was the Clubman’s Senior TT in 1949 at record speed followed by his first of three world championships for Norton in 1950. From that moment on, ‘The Duke’ started to gain international recognition and in 1953, he was awarded an OBE in Queen Elizabeth II’s first ever New Year Honours List. That same year, he signed up with the prestigious Aston Martin brand.
Born on March 29, 1923, Geoff ’s parents had a bakery, which they lived above, in the aptly-named Duke Street near St Helens town centre. He attended Cowley Prep and then Cowley Grammar School. Three years into the war, Geoff joined the Royal Signals. His natural ability and passion for motorcycling soon saw him join a group of instructors at Catterick in Yorkshire who were tasked with producing significant numbers of despatch riders to assist the D-Day landings and other military communications. Geoff found himself in good company, as also stationed at Catterick were Hugh Viney, regarded as one of the finest trials riders of his day, five times TT winner Freddie Frith OBE and Harry Johnson who went on to become a British Sidecar Trials Champion. Peter said: “The skills of throttle control and balance that were so finely honed at Catterick probably saved him from nasty accidents, including during a TT practice when he hit a fresh cow pat. It took at least 100 yards to sort out by standing on the footrests and counterbalancing. After practice, a race marshal apologised, saying he hadn’t swept the gutter that morning as he didn’t think anybody would use so much of the track!”
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Geoff taking the laurels of the 1952 Swiss Grand Prix
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It’s fair to say that in post-war austerity Britain, Geoff Duke proved to be a breath of fresh air. However, like many sportsmen, his pursuit for perfection also led to innovation… and as a result the one-piece motor leathers idea was born in St Helens. “This came about due to dad learning about aerodynamics,” says Peter. “Instead of the baggy trousers and bulky flying jackets covered in buttons and belts being used for racing, he asked his tailor, Frank Barker,
left to prove and in May 1960, announced his retirement from motorcycle racing. By this time, Geoff had moved to the Isle of Man with his Manx-born wife, Patricia, who he married in the early 1950s, and their two sons. Such was Geoff ’s fame that Pathé News film crews descended on Douglas to cover the wedding. After retirement from the track, Geoff and Patricia ran The Aragon Hotel – reportedly the first on the island to have central heating and private facilities. They then went on to open up the island’s first self-service petrol station. The advent of the seven week-long seamen’s strike in 1966 had a devastating effect on tourism, and even forced the TT to be postponed, prompted Geoff to start the Manx Line shipping company. He retired in the mid 1980s but the Duke name remains as strong as ever. His eldest son Peter, now 60, runs Duke Video, a market leader in sport DVDs which supplies the likes of HMW and Virgin.
Geoff with Frank Barker who had a shop on the corner of Liverpool Road and Peter Street, to make a one-piece suit out of thin leather that would zip up and be skin-tight. It worked so well that, by the end of 1950, every racer worth his salt had one-piece leathers and they are now the uniform of motorcycling the world over. If only he had patented that idea!”
But probably nothing will ever top Geoff ’s brilliance on the track: “The statistics probably do as good as job as any opinion of putting dad’s remarkable career in context - 60 Grand Prix starts, 50 podiums, 33 wins, 29 fastest laps,” says Peter. “Of all the Championship events he rode in, he won 52% - a success ratio only exceeded by two others in the world of top level motorsport.” All photos courtesy of the Geoff Duke Archive
With household success came requests from Geoff to endorse certain products, and he became the first and second ever motorsports star to do a TV commercial. Peter recalls: “It’s quite amusing really, as they were for Brylcreem, which he never used, and Senior Service cigarettes even though he didn’t smoke! He refused to even pose as a smoker on the TV so they gave him a posh silver cigarette case and he would open the case, turn to an actor and say: ‘I don’t smoke myself, but I always give my friends Senior Service.’ We’re not likely to see that message again!” Having reached the top of his sport, scooping titles left, right and centre across Europe, Geoff felt he had nothing
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Geoff, aged 90, with sons Peter (left) and Michael
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Class from the Past - Rainhill CE School
Many thanks to Rainhill Library for supplying us with this photo of five year old pupils in 1927 at Rainhill CE School. Despite it being 87 years ago, we’re sure you’ll be able to spot a familiar face... maybe a parent or even great grandparent?
Remember, if you have an old class photo you’d be willing to share, please contact David Sudworth today by emailing editorial@locallife247.co.uk or by calling 01695 627999.
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Children’s Eye Care:
What parents should know
Up to 1 million children in the UK currently have an undetected vision problem. Azam Ali of i-care Opticians of Thatto Heath offers help and advice on your child’s eyecare. Our kids are spending increasing periods of time keeping up with the world of technology whether it is the Nintendo 3DS or watching 3D TV. For busy parents it can be a life saver but how much is too much? A survey by Child Wise of British children suggests that children watch more than two and a half hours of TV a day plus two hours online or playing computer games. This amounts to 2,000 hours per year – more than twice the number of hours they spend in school and considerably more than they spend with their family. There are an ever more dynamic viewing experiences being developed for us and our children to enjoy. 3DTV is now comonplace in the nation’s Living rooms and Nintendo 3DS is a popular console of choice for younger children. Nintendo have issued a health warning that advises against using the 3D effect for children under 6 years old.
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This concern is not exclusive to the Nintendo 3DS as watching 3D images at the cinema or on a 3D television could give rise to the same concerns. Children’s eyesight is developing rapidly from birth, reaching natural emmetropisation at around the age of six to seven, although children’s eye sight remains flexible beyond this. Azam Ali, consultant Optometrist at i-care Opticians recommends that children under the age of six avoid the use of 3D technology.
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Children need a clear, sharp image in each eye in order for their vision to develop properly. When something affects that balance whether natural or artificial, it could affect their visual development.
Children with undiagnosed eye conditions are more likely to have difficulties with learning at school Good eyesight is crucial for a child’s development at school and also socially. Many eye conditions do not display any symptoms so children are often unaware that their vision is not perfect.
How can parents help to reduce their child’s chances of developing eye conditions Azam Ali, Consultant Optometrist at i-care Opticians recommends that parents: • Get their children’s eyes checked. Azam Ali is happy to see patients from the age of 2 and recommends routine eye examinations for all children on an annual basis. An Eye Examination not only tests the ability to see straight ahead but also 3D vision, Colour vision assessment and most importantly the inner health of the eyes.
90% of children visit a dentist regularly yet only 50% of children have ever had an eye examination. Children’s eye examinations are funded by the NHS, and they are entitled to have their eyes tested by an Optometrist every 12 months. i-care Opticians are happy to examine children from the age of 2.
A FREE SIGHT TEST
can give every child the ability to see clearly, learn effectively and develop normally
• Encourage their children to play outdoors – Studies show a minimum of 1 hour of outdoor activity a day helps develop good vision. • Help their children eat healthy and stay hydrated.
i-care Opticians in Thatto Heath are providing FREE eye examinations for all. Children who need glasses are also offered upgrades to designer glasses for FREE and can choose frames from a range of childrens’ characters including Disney, Barbie, Kickers, Action Man and many more!
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• Ensure that computers supplement, not replace, educational activities such as books, outdoor activities and socializing. • Oversee their children’s use of computers. • Encourage their children to work with someone at the computer as this develops important social skills. • Do not allow their children to use computers or 3D technology to excess. They need to develop a huge range of skills hence they require an array of activities.
of es U S pair lass PLE 2nd Sung RE ion a F scipt Pre
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01744 811 890 email: infor@youreyecare.co.uk www.youreyecare.co.uk
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Prescot Festival Round-Up by David Sudworth
Foden’s at Festival One of the UK’s top-ranking brass bands will be a major attraction at the 10th anniversary of Prescot Festival. Foden’s Band, which ranks number four in the country, will appear in the town’s 17th-century Parish Church on Saturday, June 28. The band’s programme features tunes from the hit 1996 film Brassed Off, such as Jerusalem, Colonel Bogey’s March and William Tell Overture. Foden’s Band was established in 1900 when people in the Cheshire
village of Elworth in Sandbach wanted a brass band to celebrate the end of the siege of the South African town of Mafeking during the Boer War. Dr Robert Howard, a former pupil at Evelyn CP School and Prescot Comprehensive, founded the Prescot Festival in 2005. He said: “We’ve long wanted to commemorate our first decade with a visit from a truly world-class brass band. Foden’s proved its talent with an astounding double win in 2012, when they scooped both the National Championships and the British Open. We’ve no doubt the gala concert will be not only a highlight of this year’s programme, but a highlight of the festival’s history so far.”
Foden’s Band are heading to Prescot Parish Church on June 28
The Prescot Festival runs from Friday, June 20, across a host of different venues in the area. Further details can be found below.
Prescot Festival Programme Friday, June 20:
100 Years of Classic Light Music with Phoenix Concert Orchestra. Prescot Methodist Centre, Atherton Street, at 7.30pm. Entry is £6.
Saturday, June 21: Choral Spectacular. Prescot Parish Church, Church Street, at 7pm. Entry is £4, under-16s free. Sunday, June 22:
Prescot Carnival on Brown’s Field, Wood Lane. Parade from Eccleston Street at 11.30am via Market Place, Sewell Street, Manchester Road, South Avenue and Wood Lane. Carnival starts at noon until 4pm. Free entry.
Sunday, June 22:
Prof Dr Ian Tracey Organ Recital. Prescot Parish Church, Church Street, at 3pm. Entry is £5, under-16s free.
Monday, June 23:
Schools Verse Speaking Competition. St Mary & St Paul’s School, Bryer Road, at 6.30pm. Free entry.
Tuesday, June 24:
Poetry @ Poco. Poco Coffee Shop, Eccleston Street, at 7pm. Entry is £2.
Wednesday, June 25: Young Instrumentalist of Prescot. Evelyn CP School, Evelyn Avenue, at 6.30pm. Free entry. Thursday, June 26: Dinner with Dr Jazz. St Paul’s Church, Bryer Road, from 7pm. Entry is £8. Friday, June 27:
Songs from the Shows with Centenary Theatre Company. Prescot Methodist Centre, Atherton Street, at 7.30pm. Entry is £6.
Saturday, June 28: Prescot Cables Greats – interactive talk with Dr Glyn Williams. Prescot Methodist Centre, Atherton Street, at11am. Entry is £1. Saturday, June 28: Brass & Buffet. 10th Festival Gala Concert with Foden’s Band. Prescot Parish Church, Church Street, at 7pm. Tickets are £10. Sunday, June 29:
Festival Choral Evensong. Prescot Parish Church, Church Street, at 6pm. Free entry.
Sunday: June 29:
Festival Finale with Maghull Wind Orchestra. Prescot Parish Church, Church Street, at 7.30pm. Entry is £5, under-16s go free.
Advance tickets available from The Wool Shop, 32 Eccleston Street, via Ticketweb on 08444 771000 or online at www.prescotfestival.co.uk
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Events - 2014 Thursday 5th June 2pm
Thursday 21st August 2pm
Afternoon Recital United Reformed Church, King Street – £6
Afternoon Recital United Reformed Church, King Street – £6
Peter Hill (Clarinet) Valerie Warr (Clarinet) Sandra Downing (Bassoon)
Denise Burrows (Oboe) Jackie Haward (Oboe) Brenda Redmond (Piano)
Mozartiana
Two Pipers Piping
Saturday 21st June 7.30pm
Saturday 20th September 7.30pm
Concert St Helens Town Hall – £12 Grand Charity Concert
Concert St Helens Town Hall – £12
Piano Power
A Night in Old Vienna St Helens Sinfonietta
Conductor Alan Free Music by Mozart, Schubert, and Johann Strauss. No telephone bookings for this performance – send cheque to address below* BOOK EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT
Ron Abramski (Piano) St Helens Sinfonietta
Conductor Alan Free Music by Weber (Overture to oberon), Forshaw (Piano Concerto - first performance), Smetana (Symphonic Poem - Vltava), Mandelssohn (Piano Concerto No 1) and Bizet (Carmen - Suite No 1). No telephone bookings for this performance – send cheque to address below*
Thursday 24th July 2pm
BOOK EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT
Contrast in Brass
Thursday 23rd October 2pm
Afternoon Recital United Reformed Church, King Street – £6 Paul Thomas (Trumpet) Jayne Laird (Trumpet) Cliff Jones (Horn) John Davies (Trombone) Ian Williamson (Tuba)
Afternoon Recital United Reformed Church, King Street – £6
Elephant in the Room Andrew Monk (Double-bass) Kate mercer (Piano)
Tickets and Booking Arrangements
To reserve tickets telephone the Ticket Secretary Lyn Wallace on 01744 600 846 or *send a cheque (payable to: St Helens Sinfonietta) and S.A.E to 61 Clarkes Crescent, St Helens WA10 5EA Tickets also available on the door - subject to availability
www.sinfonietta.org.uk
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Wordsearch Sudoku
Puzzle Corner
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Guess where? Photo courtesy of Rainhill Library
C O R N W A L L Q W B D B H M I O O T Y I N M L V D J U Y E H S R I L A N K A R D U R E N C V S F A W E R O D N A L R O X M T T U R K E Y E Y J K R R
Find all the holiday destinations Tenerife Menorca Majorca Algarve Crete Corfu Orlando Cancun Zante
Lanzarote Sri Lanka St Tropez Cornwall Rhodes Malta Tunisia Turkey
Answers are on page 46 of this magazine
L A N Z A R O T E P O I G F C J L K Y U F D F E V R A G L A A T E T C X E M N G H F C D S C A R E D S T T R O P E Z Z W R P L O I U E T F D R E C E V O D T E N E R I F E E S X T B J K P U I Y C A N C U N F N W A A Q A I S I N U T W D F A Y M P R H O D E S G R T Y D Z M
We wanted to put Mum’s ashes somewhere special. We chose to bury them under a 30-foot oak. Even though we chose cremation for Mum, it was nice to find out that we can still have a beautiful final resting place for her ashes at GreenAcres Burial Park – Rainford. It is the most beautiful and peaceful place and somewhere we like to come back to and remember her. It’s open and staffed every day of the year so we know that her special place is being looked after, even when we are not there, by staff that really care. Mum would have appreciated that. You only get one chance to say goodbye so we made sure it was just right. A sense of place for a lifetime of memories Visit www.greenacreswoodlandburials.co.uk/rainford to download a brochure or book a visit on-line. Or contact us for more information at 01744 649189 or info.rainford@greenacreswb.co.uk
MUSIC IN THE WOODLAND FOR STEVE PRESCOTT
SATURDAY 7TH JUNE, 1-3 PM, £10 per ticket, Under 5’s Free Join us for a very special music event in honour of the late Steve Prescott. In partnership with Jamm Studios and supported by the Steve Prescott Foundation, we look forward to celebrating in style, a truly remarkable man. For more information and to book call 01744 649189 or visit www.greenacreswoodlandburials.co.uk/rainford Want to advertise in Local Life?
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What’s On in the North West Friday, May 30, - Sunday, June 1 Southport Food & Drink Festival Pop along to Victoria Park for three days of chef demonstrations cake decorating. You can also drop the children off at the ABC Family club marquee for some arts and crafts, face painting, football or ballet; while you shop around the local producers and continental markets. Victoria Park, Rotten Row, Southport, PR8 2BZ. 11am-6pm on all days. Free entry. Friday, May 30, - Sunday, June 1 Southport Country Fair The main attraction takes place on the Sunday with the Broke FMX Freestyle Motorcross display team’s high fly jumping, but there are plenty more things to see and do, including a Fun Dog Show, food hall, donkey rides, and more. Leisure Lakes, The Gravel, Mere Brow, PR4 6JX. Price is £4 per adult, children go free. Friday, June 6, to Sunday, June 8 Chorley Carnival The weekend’s events kick off with a ‘70s Cabaret night in the marquee with Eurovision winners Brotherhood of Man. Saturday will see the Big Parade through the streets making its way to Astley Park. On the park there will be a Fun Fair, Catering facilities, Trade Stands, craft fair and demonstrations. Saturday night is live band night featuring Red Moon Jo plus others. Sunday will feature the same show-ground attractions plus a mystery TV celebrity. Astley Park, Chorley. www.chorleycarnival.com
Until June 30 Roy Stuart Clarke: The Northern League The latest exhibition from the Homes of Football collection by Stuart Roy Clarke features the players and fans of the Northern League. Commissioned to celebrate the league’s 125th year, Clarke travelled between the league’s two divisions and 45 clubs. His photographs capture the spirit and dedication that survives in amateur football, at the 10th tier of the English game. A film about Stuart’s work will accompany the exhibition in the Hall of Fame, daily at 2pm. National Football Museum, Urbis Building, Cathedral Gardens, Manchester, M4 3BG. Call 0161 6058200. Free entry, open daily. Friday, July 4, to Sunday, July 6 The Northern Home Show Held at Manchester Central, it’s the perfect place to find the right products and services to create your dream home. If you’re keen to learn a new skill then the DIY Workshops should be your first port of call. The show’s workshops are ideal for anyone wanting to learn how to tackle DIY projects around the home as well as learning preventative maintenance skills. Manchester Central, Windmill Street, M2 3GX. Tickets are only £8 per person on the door and children under 16 go free. For more information and advance tickets, visit www.northernhomeshow.co.uk
Saturday, June 7, and Sunday, June 8 Open Studio Sale Weekend All work is hand made by glass designer Stephanie Bowen at the studio and pieces can be made to order to suit any space including splashbacks. There will be a wide range of pieces on show with many having up to 70% off. Orders placed on the weekend will receive 30% off the normal retail price. 10am–4pm on both days at Morpheus Glass, Unit 11, Hewitt Business Park, Winstanley Road, Orrell, Wigan, WN5 7XB. Monday, June 16 Formula Fun Family Cycle Event Dig your bike out of the shed and join in this event to celebrate National Cycling Week. Visit the bike doctor, undertake timed laps, tackle the climbing wall and there’s a kiddies bike agility course. From 3pm-8pm at Three Sisters Race Circuit, Three Sisters Road, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan, WN4 8DD. Call 01942 488481 for more information. Sunday, June 22 Lancashire Classic Car and Motorcycle Show Classic Shows are proud to present the 31st Classic Car and Motorcycle Show at Hoghton Tower. If you wish to bring a classic car or motorcycle and take part in the show, please contact Andrew Greenwood on 01484 667776. Starts 10am. Hoghton, near Preston, PR5 0SH. Admission: adults £7, children £2.
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Sunday, July 5 Symphony at the Tower with Katherine Jenkins International classical superstar Katherine Jenkins is set to appear at our Symphony at the Tower concert in aid of St Catherine’s Hospice. Starts 6pm. Hoghton, near Preston, PR5 0SH. Prices range from £36.50 (up to and including the day before the concert), £40.00 (on the day) and VIP tickets at £149.00, all plus booking fee. Tickets are available from www.seetickets.com
Saturday, July 5 Chris Packham’s Wild Night Out Chris goes wild across the country with an entertaining and informative look at some of nature’s most popular and interesting species. Illustrated with his superb photographs from around the world and from his beloved UK, he explains the fascinating ecologies and behaviours or a range of creatures from Leopards to Barn Owls, from Cheetahs to Pond Skaters, from Polar Bears to Peregrines. 8pm at The Albert Halls, Bolton. All tickets £16 through The Albert Halls’ Box Office 01204 334400.
Wednesday, July 16, to Saturday, July 19 Disney’s Little Mermaid Presented by Chorley Youth Theatre and based on the Hans Christian Andersen story. In a magical kingdom fathoms below, the beautiful young mermaid Ariel longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above. But first, she’ll have to defy her father King Triton, make a deal with the evil sea witch Ursula, and convince Prince Eric that she’s the girl with the enchanting voice. 7.30pm-9.30pm at Chorley Little Theatre, Dole Lane, PR7 2RL. 2.30pm performance on Saturday, July 19. Adults £8, children £5, family (two adults and two children) £22. Tickets on sale from Malcolm’s Musicland on 01257 264362. Wednesday, July 16, to Thursday, August 28 Cinderella Enjoy Cinderella by the seaside at it shows at Blackpool’s North Pier. Starring Britain’s Got Talent finalist Stephen Hall as The King. A fun filled day for all the family guaranteed! Tickets cost £11.25 via www.northpierblackpool. co.uk Friday, July 18 Toploader Formed in 1997, Toploader achieved over two million album sales. Their cover of King Harvest’s song ‘Dancing in the Moonlight’ became a global hit for the band. They’ve supported the likes of Coldplay, Paul Weller, Robbie Williams and Bon Jovi. The band line-up is four of the five original members; Joseph Washbourn, Dan Hipgrave, Rob Green and Matt Knight. St Helens Citadel, Waterloo Street, WA10 1PX. Doors open at 7.30pm. Tickets are £15 via the Box Office on 01744 735 436.
Thursday, July 10, to Sunday, July 13 Wigan International Jazz Festival Jools Holland & His Rhythm and Blues Orchestra are among the top names to feature at this year’s festival. A very limited number of returned tickets are being released on the Monday, June 16, and Friday, July 4, subject to availability. The tickets will be in the general seating (£36.50) and bench seating areas (£33). Call 01942 828271. For the full Jazz Festival programme, visit www. wlct.org/wigan/whats-on/jazz/
Thursday, July 24, to Saturday, July 26 The Gruffalo Don’t miss Tall Stories’ hit musical stage adaptation of the award winning picture book, The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. It is the perfect family treat with plenty of songs, laughs and scary fun for children aged 3-plus and their grown-ups. 10.30am & 1.30pm at the Charter Theatre, Preston Guildhall, Lancaster Road, PR1 1HT. Tickets £11, schools/groups £8.50 available via www.prestonguildhall.com
Sunday, July 13 Neil Young & Crazy Horse Young is acclaimed as one of the most important composers and performers of all time. His work ranges from the beautiful and moving folk sounds he has produced as a solo artist and with Crosby, Stills & Nash to the powerful & energetic rock as a result of his collaboration with Crazy Horse. Starts 7.30pm at Liverpool Echo Arena, Kings Dock, Liverpool waterfront, L3 4FP. Tickets from £35 to £55 by calling 0844 854 1355.
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Sunday, July 25 The Sooty Show Izzy Wizzy Lets get busy – It’s The Sooty Show! Direct from CITV, Sooty heads into town in a fabulous new show to delight the whole family. Joining the nation’s favourite bear will be Sweep, Soo and Sooty’s TV partner, Richard Cadell. 11am and 2.30pm at Parr Hall, Palmyra Square South, Warrington, WA1 1BL. Tickets £13.65 on 0844 847 2277.
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Jack’s Tracks
Burtonwood If you’re looking for a handson history lesson about the North West’s 20th Century industrial past, Jack and I would heavily recommend a trip out to Burtonwood.
Situated between St Helens and Warrington, its rich coal mining past is now largely hidden under landscaped parks and trails, but look closely enough and you’ll get a glimpse of what came before. More evident are the area’s Victorian-era structures such as the canals and viaduct. Put these together and you get not only a bracing walk, but an interesting step back in time to boot.
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We start just by the Chapel House pub on Chapel Lane, Burtonwood, and head west towards Clay Lane where we then almost immediately head over the playing fields onto Wheatacre community woodland. It was here that we felt able to let Jack wander of his own free will. The path curves round to a T-junction, where we took a right and headed north towards Bold Lane. No sooner is Jack back on the lead than he’s off it again as we head over Bold Lane and into the deep woodland of the old Bold Colliery site. It’s virtually unrecognisable from its mining heyday, however like I say, there are small reminders to be found underfoot. Every so often, we come across some old capped pit shafts which usefully have the individual names on them, such as ‘Lower Florida’. A glamorous-sounding name for a very unglamorous, dangerous job.
On coming out of the park, we make our way down to Penny Lane, which housed many of the mining families associated with Bold. Date stones are very much evident in this area, so it’s not hard to think about all the changes these properties have seen over the years.
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One example is a row of terraces which, when they were built, were named Railway View… not that there’s much of a view nowadays though as another row of homes was built directly opposite shortly afterwards, thus obstructing the view. At the top, turn left onto Penkford Lane, go under the railway bridge and then straight on. Our map sent us off Penkford Lane onto something of a dirt track leading to a couple of homes. To be honest, it was more hassle than it was worth, especially as some of the resident hounds didn’t appear to be over the moon at our Jack muscling onto their patch, so my advice is stick to the main road.
Eventually, we ended up at the A572 Pennington Lane for a short while before dropping down into Sankey Valley Park. Here, we see the somewhat half-hearted attempt made to fill in this part of the Sankey Canal. It’s quite a strange, disorientating feeling to be standing in the middle of a canal, looking towards water and a towpath either side. It gets even stranger further up when we were greeted with what resembled the world’s
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largest snooker table – a perfectly smooth green plain on top of the water formed from associated debris and vegetation.
we patiently spent about 10 minutes waiting for a train. Just as we were about to give up the ghost, we hit the jackpot when a choo-choo came trundling past.
The Sankey Viaduct was now in our sights, and what a fantastic spectacle it was as well. Built between 1828 and 1830 by celebrated civil engineer George Stephenson, it’s a Grade I listed structure and said to be one of the earliest major railway viaducts in the world. For us, this was the big photo opportunity and
Following the canal again, we take a right to jump across Sankey Brook and head through the flat fields of Bradley Lane and Hall Lane. At the junction of Fir Tree Lane, we crossed and made our way onto the public footpath which winds its way through the dense residential areas until we end up back at the start.
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Can a
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Penkford Lane
Sankey Brook
San
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San
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Can a
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Broo
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Bradlegh Old Hall
e
Br oa
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Hall La
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Brewery
Ha ll
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ne
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ane
Fir Tree Lane
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Alder Lane ne
Chapel La
St. Michael's
Start/Finish
Postcode: WA5 4PT
Gorsey Lane
Burtonwood Clay Lane
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Farm
ers L
ane
The interesting thing about this walk is that within a 5.5 mile radius, you get a diverse flavour of the area’s past from the 1700s right up until the 1980s. The trick is to do a bit of research beforehand to appreciate what’s in front of you. If you can invest 30 minutes doing that, you’ll get a real sense of the history of this area.
No Sinking the Sankey! For just over 150 years, the Sankey Canal was a key transportation link between St Helens and Widnes, where it connected to the Mersey. Following an Act of Parliament in 1755, the canal was constructed over two years and first used in 1757 to transport coal from the Lancashire mines to the chemical industries in Liverpool. In its later years, it transported vast quantities of raw sugar from Liverpool to the Sankey Sugar Works in Earlestown. This ended in 1959 and in 1963 the canal was closed altogether. For the past 30-plus years, the canal has been regenerated in parts. The Sankey Canal Restoration Society was formed in 1985 and works closely with local councils to continue proving this historic piece of heritage. For more information, visit www.scars.org.uk
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.
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Test Drive - by Tim Barnes-Clay
Mercedes-Benz
Quality cars are identifiable straight away. Even if a premium vehicle had its badges taped over, all you’d need to do is sit in it. Instantly you’d sense the difference between an ‘average’ and a top class motor. Take the latest Mercedes-Benz A-Class. Inside, it’s positively palatial.
The German brand is famous for its refinement, but the A-Class is almost the runt of the litter – and therefore you might expect a more undeveloped set up inside and out. But that’s not the case at all. It may well have been the argument when the old model first appeared on our roads. It was upright, careful and dull. It certainly wasn’t a car you’d list as captivating. Nonetheless, it did sell – and that’s because it was affordable – for
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a Merc – and practical for parents on the rug-rat run desperate to roll up outside the school gates in a Benz.
Then the A-Class was completely re-thought for 2013. It rolled off the production line a totally different car – not just one that had undergone plastic surgery – it was poles apart from the old version. The entry-level Mercedes is now truly enthralling and a machine you want because of its alluring aesthetics. In some ways it’s lost its no-nonsense practicality because the boot, although conveniently rectangular, is nothing to shout about space-wise. But brush that aside and take a test drive, because the new model will seduce you – especially if you go for the A 200 CDI AMG Sport. This is a real driver’s car and includes a dynamic handling package with sports suspension, perforated disc brakes and cruise control. As well as this, the Merc has athletic
A-Class body-styling, 18 inch alloy wheels and a silver grille. Additionally, in A 200 CDI guise, it comes with a gutsy turbo diesel powerhouse. It also has a flat-bottomed leather steering wheel, red stitching, sports seats, rain sensors, ambient lighting and a stereo system boyracers would be jealous of.
FAST FACTS • Max speed: 130mph • 0-62 mph: 9.3 secs • Combined mpg: 62.8 • Engine: 1796cc 4 cylinder 16 valve diesel • Max. power (bhp): 136 at 3600-4400 rpm • Max. torque (Ib/ft): 221 at 1600-3000 rpm • CO2: 121 g/km • Price: £25,110
On the move, the A 200’s oil burner gets you to a respectable speed quickly, if not sensationally. Road holding, however, is phenomenal. Steering is wellweighted and precise, and the six speed gearbox is slick, quick, and easy on your left hand. The A-Class has the vim and vigour that’s required to punch its weight in a highly competitive market. It’s an all-round performer and just the car that MercedesBenz dealers need to tempt new customers into their showrooms.
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Win
Open Golf Tickets! Get close to the heart of the action as the greatest players in the world descend on Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Wirral for The Open Championship. Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson and even the legendary three-time winner Sir Nick Faldo will be at Hoylake this year as The Open Championship returns to Royal Liverpool Golf Club. Broadcast to an audience of 500 million worldwide, The Open Championship, which is played this year from Sunday, July 13, until Sunday, July 20, is the most international of the Majors with qualifying taking place in nine countries. Last time The Open was at Hoylake in 2006, Tiger Woods won it in style in his first competition since the death of his father. The victory made him the first back-to-back Open Champion since Tom Watson in 1983. The Open Championship also offers the chance to see some emerging home-grown amateurs and young professionals competing alongside more established players such as defending champion Phil Mickelson and former winners Ernie Els and Darren Clarke. Spectators can even test their own skills at the HSBC Golf Zone or improve their swing with the help of PGA professionals at the R&A Swingzone.
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e 2011 Open Champion Darren Clark
The Open will also be the first fully connected Open Championship at Royal Liverpool. Spectators will have access to a free Wi-Fi mesh covering the grandstands, tented villages and other areas throughout the golf course. Users will be able to connect using their mobile devices and follow the location of their favourite players on the course, view live scores and tune in to TV and radio coverage of The Championship. Scoreboards will also be placed around the course to provide up-to-date results and a wide range of digital content. The Open has seen strong ticket sales this year, with fans pre-booking practice day tickets and contest day tickets early. Prices start at £10 and under 16s can see The Open Championship for free when accompanied by a paying adult. Purchase tickets before May 31 for early season prices. See www.TheOpen.com or call 01334 460010 to book tickets and for full terms and conditions.
Phil Mickelson at the Open Champion
ship 2013
Local Life has teamed up with The Open to give away two pairs of tickets for one of the practice days. It’ll be your chance to see some of the world’s top golfers in the flesh. To be in with a chance, simply answer the following question: When was the last time The Open came to Hoylake? Send your entries to: Open Golf Competition Local Life 247 Ltd Unit 8, Hewitt Business Park Winstanley Road Orrell Wigan WN5 7XB Or simply email your answers, along with your name, address, postcode and contact number, to crossword@locallife247.co.uk Your entry must be with us by 5pm on Monday, June 30. Pictures of the lucky winners will appear in a future edition of Local Life.
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41
On Your Plot
Expand Your Horizons Every year it amazes me how the plants respond so dramatically to the arrival of the warm weather. Anything sown or planted out in May seems to positively leap out of the ground and shoot skywards, in many cases quickly catching up with earlier sowings! Of course the lawn is no exception and if you don’t already have a composting system in place then why not set one up now and make use of some of those endless grass clippings? Ideally you want to have two (or even three) compost bins so that when one is ready to use for the garden you have another filling up and rotting down. You can buy allsorts of nifty looking, ready made, compost bins - some even have clever devices that make it easy to turn the whole bin to help the waste break down - but you don’t need anything fancy. You can just start a compost heap in an out of the way corner, enclosing it with old pallets, or wire mesh wrapped around four stakes if you want to keep it looking a little neater. So what should you compost? Well any dead organic matter will decompose naturally but you should aim for a good mix of ‘green’ and ‘brown’ ingredients. Lawn trimmings, veg leaves and peelings provide the green element and you should add a reasonable balance of brown items such as shredded paper, straw, eggshells and even the contents of your vacuum cleaner bag. Turning the heap occasionally will accelerate the breakdown and covering with an old carpet when it is full will also help. Leave for several months and you should have some great compost! June is also the time of year when it is easy to start to run out of space on your plot. Everything puts on amazing growth spurts and you are suddenly left
42
wondering where you are going to plant out those tomatoes that you’ve been nurturing in the greenhouse, or finding you’ve no room for the cabbages that you’d like to be eating later in the year. Time to expand your horizons and make full use of containers and of your borders. Look at the different varieties of lettuce and salad crops - many of these, along with cabbages, can add a splash of decorative, coloured foliage to your borders (and be eaten too!!!). Grow bags are wonderful for crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers. They’ll be happy in a sunny spot on your patio but do remember to water and feed regularly. Larger pots can house courgettes and pumpkins, with the exotic looking flowers adding a bright splash of colour. Even hanging baskets can get in on the grow your own act! Look for suitable strawberries or tomatoes and you could be treated to a bumper crop of luscious fruit tumbling down from above.
Jobs for June Take off the side shoots from tomato plants to avoid them becoming too bushy and overburdened with fruit. Water regularly. Garlic that was planted in the Autumn should be maturing now. Lift when the leaves start to shrive l and leave to dry in a warm spot. Keep planting - the moist soil, higher temperature s and long days are ideal growing conditions. French beans, courgettes and salad crops can all be sown now. Watch out for pests! Think about protecting brassi cas before caterpillars start to become a problem.
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