Local Life - Wigan - March 2019 by Local Life 247 Ltd

LocalLife Wigan Edition

Win Tickets To Blue Planet II Page 72 - 73

Magnificent Mills Pages 43 - 46

Charnock Richard Walk Pages 75 - 77

Cover photo - Trencherfield Mill by Ian Roberts

March 2019

Boars Head, Standish

£425,000

Located on one of Wigan’s most sought after and prestigious lanes, this magnificent detached house has undergone extensive refurbishment over the last year and offers stunning internal presentation.

This substantial and hugely impressive 6 bed detached family home, with over 3600 sq ft of floor space is located on one of Standish’s most desirable estates.

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Bellingham Drive, Wigan

Gathurst Lane, Shevington

£300,000

This simply stunning 16thC four bedroom family home, on a generous plot, has been extensively refurbished to provide beautiful décor and is packed with period features.

This deceptively spacious three bedroom detached bungalow, with extensive off road parking, has two receptions, a large conservatory, workshop and a roomy rear garden.

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Coniston Park Drive, Standish £240,000

Arbour Lane, Standish

£190,000

A traditional three bed semi-detached home with two bay fronted reception, set in a desirable cul-de-sac near the village centre with stunning views of nearby countryside.

Overlooking lovely gardens and farmland, this three bedroom semi-detached house is brimming with character and has beautifully maintained and mature gardens to three sides.

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Hall Lane, Wrightington

£650,000

£300,000

a name you can trust

Station Mews, Garswood

Moor Road, Orrell

d s .

This Accrington brick built, two bed detached true bungalow has beautifully presented accommodation including a stylish conservatory, utility and a modern fitted kitchen.

Occupying a prime spot within a quiet cul-de-sac, this sleek, modern and deceptively spacious three bed mews house is situated close to Garswood railway station.

Holmes House Ave, Winstanley £160,000

Corporation Street, Poolstock £135,000

d o a

This three bed detached family home in popular Winstanley is available with no upward chain and has off road parking and a garage to the rear.

An immaculately presented two bedroom semidetached home, with a lovely UPVC conservatory overlooking well maintained gardens, and a private driveway with secure car port.

Wigan Road, Standish

Ingram Street, Springfield

e h e

This stylish two bedroom second floor apartment, with scenic views, allocated parking and secure entrance facilities, is an ideal buy for professionals or a downsizer.

£175,000

£130,000

£160,000

£120,000

This three bedroom semi-detached true bungalow, with a detached garage and low maintenance gardens, needs general modernisation but offers great potential.

www.alanbatt.co.uk

Gathurst Lane, Shevington

ÂŁ600,000

Occupying a fantastic canal-side location within Â˝ acre of splendid grounds, this beautiful four bed detached bungalow with mooring, offers immaculately presented accommodation including tiled underfloor heating, Smart Home installations, a large off road parking area and detached garage.

www.alanbatt.co.uk

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Local Life

Betwixt & Between This old English phrase, meaning neither one thing nor the other, sums up perfectly this time of year. The festive season disappeared in the rear view mirror a good while since and though the days are ever so slowly getting lighter; it’s not quite warm enough to crack on with your next home/garden project. Cast your mind back to this time last year, and you’ll remember that we were stuck in these times, the hinterlands of winter almost, until pretty much mid-April, and then after a very short spring, came a scorching hot summer. So, in proper positive thinking fashion, here are some tips to help you get in the right frame of mind for spring, regardless of whether it’s an early one or a late one; Declutter and get rid of anything you no longer need. If you haven’t worn it, or used it for two years, out it goes, but do make sure you donate clothing and household items that are in reasonably good condition to charity. Make some space on a sunny window sill and plant some seeds, such as begonia, geranium or petunia, and for every day’s growth you’ll feel a sense of renewal. And finally, plan well ahead and work out what improvements you’re going to make to your home and garden this year. You’ll find advertisers within the pages of Local Life who can help you achieve your home or garden ideal but do call soon to secure their services, as good tradespeople and home improvement companies are often booked weeks in advance. See you next time

Chris Pearce, Publisher chrisp@locallife247.co.uk

Local Life

In this issue

Regulars 48 Class From The Past 78 Test Drive 52 Puzzle page 81 Garden Diary

Return Of The Proms

Sections 14 Food & Drink 50 Property 54 Travel 58 Legal & Finance 62 Business View

22 Magnificent Mills

64 Health 70 Events2Go 78 Motoring 81 Gardening 86 Home Services

Next issue - April 2019

Advertising deadline - Thursday, 7 March Published - Thursday, 21 March

LocalLife

Win Tickets To Blue Planet II Live In Concert

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

Telephone: 01695 627 999 Publisher: Chris chrisp@locallife247.co.uk Sales: Nicola sales@locallife247.co.uk Editorial: Jess wigannews@locallife247.co.uk Design: Peter design@locallife247.co.uk Distribution: Sally sallyb@locallife247.co.uk Accounts: Christina accounts@locallife247.co.uk

72 Jackâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tracks: Charnock Richard

Local Life is published every month and distributed into the following areas on an alternate monthly basis. This issue is delivered to 13,299 private homes and businesses in Orrell, Billinge, Winstanley, Up Holland, Highfield, Marus Bridge, Roby Mill and Pemberton.

The next issue is delivered to 13,025 private homes and businesses in Standish, Shevington, Whitley, Appley Bridge, Standish Lower Ground, Aspull and Haigh.

Test Drive: Honda CR-V Hybrid

You can also pick up a free copy of Local Life at Sainsburys or Tesco Extra in Wigan. 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.

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News & Features

Get Hiking The Skelmersdale Churches Rambling Club’s March walk takes hikers to Llangollen in North Wales. The club offers rambles for all abilities, with a rating system from A-D – A being the most difficult, and D offering shorter walks on flatter terrain. Discover more in the countryside while taking in breathtaking natural scenery and plenty of history too! Walks take place on the second Saturday of the month. Up Holland Labour Club acts as a coach pick-up point at 9am on Saturday, March 9. Fares cost £12 for members or £14 for non-members. For further information about the club, visit www. skelmersdalechurchesramblingclub.com

Church Calendar St. Luke’s Church in Orrell offers opportunities for quiet reflection, to meet new people, and to worship in a welcoming atmosphere.

The church is open every Saturday from 10am12pm – you’re welcome to pop in for a quiet prayer or just to look around. Every third Sunday of the month, the church also hosts a family café at 10:30am to introduce a new way of worship. Messy Church for children of all ages takes place on the third Friday of the month at 4pm, hosting plenty of different activities for little ones to get involved in. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and a tasty tea is offered afterwards. March’s Messy Church takes place on Friday 15th. For further information about any of the church’s events, contact Jackie on 01695 632713.

Liverpool Comic Con Comic Con returns to Liverpool for a whopping 3 days this month. The convention brings together high-profile guests, full-size props, merch stalls and much more at the Exhibition Centre at Kings Dock in Liverpool. Sci-fi enthusiasts won’t want to miss Liverpool’s latest Comic Con with stars like Jeff East and Dean Cain appearing across the three days. Day tickets are available from £16.50, or get your hands on a weekend pass for around £43. The event runs from Friday, March 8 until Sunday, March 10.

Dementia Cafe This month’s Dementia Café takes place on Friday, March 8 in Parbold. The monthly cafe aims to bring people with dementia and their carers together in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. Meet other people in a similar situation, make new friends and access relevant information. The café runs from 10am-12pm at the WI building at The Common (WN8 7HA). A £1 donation is requested per person towards refreshments. For further information, call 01772 788700 or email centrallancashire@alzheimers.org. uk

Swing into Spring

the Foam Dart Thunder Stadium Games, which will be fun for all the family.

Winstanley Tennis Club will host an open day in April.

Entrance to the convention costs £3, and proceeds go to Wigan Youth Zone. Separate entry fees apply for the Stadium Games – visit www. foamdartthunder.com/tag/nerf-wigan/ for details.

On Sunday, April 28, head down to the club on Hall Lane, Orrell, for a fun family afternoon of free tennis activities, with racquets and balls provided. There’ll be free coaching on the day, including a cardio tennis session for anyone who fancies burning a few extra calories! Hear about new membership deals on the day and enjoy tasty refreshments. The event runs from 1pm-4pm and is free to enter.

Nerf Fest A huge Nerf convention heads to Wigan this March. Taking place at the DW Stadium on Saturday, March 9, Foam Fest 2019 brings the best of Nerf to a huge venue, with plenty of exhibitors’ stalls, competitions, target ranges and a huge raffle! Afterwards, grab your blasters and battle it out in

Football Film A new film about Nazi paratrooper and prisoner of war Bert Trautmann premieres in April. Trautmann was imprisoned in a POW camp in Ashton-in-Makerfield – now Byrchall High School – where he regularly played in football matches until an injury led to him taking the place of goalkeeper in 1948. When the camp closed, Trautmann elected to remain in England and later played for St. Helens Town, before beginning his career at Manchester City where he remained until 1964. ‘The Keeper’, starring David Kross as Trautmann, heads to cinemas on Friday, April 5.

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Looking for funds for your community group? Funding for community groups is now available from Wigan Rotary Club. Bids of up to £1,000 are welcomed from community groups based in the WN1, WN3, WN5 & WN6 areas Closing date: Weds 17th April 2019 For further details and an application form, visit www.wiganrotaryclub.org.uk or call Phil on 07813 471 000

Wigan

Rotary Club Donate Funds Wigan Rotary Club is again looking to donate funds to local community groups with their annual ‘Dragons Den’ style event. Following the success of the Dragons Den event over the past few years, local groups based in the Wigan postcode areas of WN1, WN3, WN5 and WN6 are invited to bid for funding from the group. Members of Wigan Rotary will consider all bids before inviting selected groups to put their case for funding in a three-minute long presentation. President of Wigan Rotary Club John Wright said “In these difficult times when we are all having to tighten our belts, I am sure that there are local groups in the Wigan area who could really use a donation of a few hundred pounds to help them with a project they wish to undertake or an event that they wish to stage”. Eight groups were successful in last year’s round of Dragons Den funding, and successful bids included a football team, a therapy group and drama and dance sessions. Bids from a few hundred pounds up to £1,000 will be considered by the Rotary Dragons team.

John adds, “We don’t expect the presentation to come from a person trained in public speaking, we want to hear group members themselves, and don’t worry, our Dragons are a lot less scary than the BBC Dragons like Peter Jones and Deborah Meaden”. You can find further details on the Wigan Rotary Dragons Den at www.wiganrotaryclub.org.uk , and you’ll also be able to download the application form from the site. If you’d like more details, call Phil Hirst on 07813 471000.

Foodie Friday Haigh Woodland Park’s monthly food-lovers event returns this month. Enjoy lashings of delicious street food, plus a DJ and live music on the last Friday of every month. If you’re looking to discover new street food vendors or revisit old favourites, Haigh is the place to be. Foodie Friday is child and dog friendly, with free admission. It runs from 6pm-10pm in the Kitchen Courtyard on Friday, March 29.

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Check Out Dash Cams Dash cams can be a driving safety measure worth investing in, but they might not be for everyone. If you’re struggling to decide whether you need one, read on. A dash cam is a special camera that is mounted on a car dashboard for the purpose of recording sounds and images while you’re driving. First-hand evidence in case of a car accident - This is the main reason why people invest in one. If you are involved in a collision you can prove that it was not your fault by submitting the camera footage as evidence. It’s a compelling reason for buying one.

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Reporting a dangerous driver - Sometimes you see a driver do something so reckless and irresponsible right in front of you that you fear for the safety of other road-users. Reporting that person becomes much easier with evidence. In the US there are special channels for reporting dangerous drivers,

with the aim of making roads safer for everyone. It is probable that the UK will follow suit. Extra insurance for parents - We worry when our teens first start to borrow the car that they may not stick to the rules of the road. Knowing that there is a dash cam monitoring their driving behaviour is an extra incentive for them to pay attention, or they might not be trusted to take the car out again! Prevention of insurance claim scams - Insurance fraud is a growing problem with vehicles. Some drivers purposely cause minor car accidents in order to put the blame on the other party, so they can extort money from the victim. A dash cam will at least allow you to prove that you were not at fault in such a case. It keeps an eye on your car while you are not in it! - Have you ever returned to your car in a car park to find it’s been scratched? Or are you sure the neighbour’s children are scraping their bikes along the side of your vehicle when they squeeze past on the drive? A well-installed dash camera can efficiently record such events because most can be set to record even when the car engine isn’t running. Some can even send all the data to your laptop or smart phone remotely, giving you peace of mind. Dash cams are set to become as necessary an addition to our driving life as sat-navs. If you don’t already have one, perhaps you should think about it. By Tom Hancock

Young Leaders The Canal & River Trust are looking for people aged 16-25 who are interested in making an impact on their local community. Young people are invited to help out with the launch of England’s first coast-to-coast canoe trail – the Desmond Family Canoe Trail - which travels from Liverpool to Goole. The project will help young people enjoy canoeing, paddle-boarding and kayaking, with a range of social action schemes. Those who get involved in the project will bring their own skills and ideas to the table, with the view of creating youth-led events to engage the wider Wigan community. Meetings take place on the first Tuesday of every month from 5:30pm-7pm at the Wigan Hub, Canal Cottages (WN3 4EH). If you’d like to attend, email Vicki.Birch@canalrivertrust.org.uk

Colliery Callout A new project from the University of Wolverhampton looks to gather oral history accounts as part of research into the British coal industry from 19471994. ‘On Behalf of the People’ is looking for submissions from people who used to work at one of eight selected mines across the country – including Bickershaw Colliery in Leigh. Whether you were a miner, a union activist, deputy or family member, or if you simply lived in a mining community, the research team are interested in hearing from you. You’ll be interviewed about your memories and experiences at the pits. The research will be made widely available to the public, including a travelling exhibition to mining communities and schools across the country. To get involved in the project, contact Professor Keith Gildart on 07709 664931 or email keith. gildart@wlv.ac.uk

Stadium Sleep Out The Brick are hosting a huge sleep-out at DW Stadium to raise money for its main premises. Experience how it feels to live out on the streets without a roof over your head for an entire night – it definitely won’t be as easy as you think, but your efforts go towards a worthy cause. The Brick assists people in crisis, who are able to take advantage of the training and employment services offered at The Brick Works. Individuals working with The Brick will be sharing their stories of homelessness and sleeping rough on the night, with music and a hot soup supper to keep your spirits up. Ged Bretherton, The Brick’s Business Director, said: ‘We are delighted to bring the Stadium Sleep back for a second year, and we are asking the people of Wigan and Leigh to join us on this special night.’ ‘Homelessness is often something we only think

about when it’s cold and wet, but it’s not a seasonal issue - it’s a year-round one.’ Participants are asked to raise a minimum of £100 for The Brick through fundraising and sponsorship. The event is open to anyone over the age of 13, but under-16s must be accompanied by an adult. Community groups, clubs, families and local businesses are very welcome! The sleep runs from 9:30pm-6am on Friday, April 5 at the DW Stadium on Loire Drive. Places on the sleep out are limited – to book your place, email ged@thebrick.org.uk or call 01942 417290.

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The Star Inn There’s nothing better when heading out to eat than the guarantee that you’re going to be receiving hearty, home-cooked food. There’s something innately comforting about true pub grub with soul behind it, and The Star Inn at Roby Mill has this in droves. Nowhere is the family ethos more evident than the charming family-run pub which has so much to offer no matter what you’re hankering for. Sally’s at The Star Inn was launched in 2007 in homage to landlord and chef Marti’s mother Sally, who passed away in 1996. A great cook herself, it was Sally’s lifelong dream to have a restaurant in her name, and Marti wanted to honour that promise when he took the reins. Alongside his partner Laura and their daughter Pippa-Bleu, Sally’s at The Star was born as a true family experience. When Local Life’s Nicola and Peter headed to The Star, it was with the expectation of great food and a lively atmosphere – and they weren’t disappointed. Although the pub proves incredibly popular with

people from near and far, the tables are well spaced enough for you to have an intimate meal in the cosy setting of the pub, which is cheerfully lit and dotted with homey fireplaces. Perusing the menu was a Herculean task, as everything sounded too delicious to choose from, but with some assistance from the attentive staff Peter eventually opted for Sally’s traditional prawn and avocado cocktail with bread and butter – a light, refreshing dish that perfectly blends surprising flavours together, topped off with fresh, plump prawns. It dawned on him that avocado was the missing ingredient to all his prawn dishes in the past, and Peter certainly won’t be having them with anything else in the future! Nicola also went for a fish-themed appetiser: Thaistyle roasted salmon fishcakes with honey and mustard dressed leaves. The salmon was fragrant, exquisitely encased in a thin coating of golden brown breadcrumbs and beaded with herbs and spices for a subtle Thai twist. The dish came accompanied by a pot of chive and garlic dip for a cooler flavour, which was the perfect companion to the fishcake. Choosing a main course was just as difficult. Peter, who’s a pescatarian, decided on the crisped vegetable and mixed mushroom stroganoff served with aromatic

rice, while Nicola couldn’t resist the chicken in black pepper sauce. Peter’s stroganoff came with a generous portion of fresh mushrooms and crispy stir-fry, but it was the sauce that stole the show. It lifted the mushrooms to make for a truly memorable meal, contrasting the tasty crunch of the vegetables just to Peter’s liking. Nicola’s course, meanwhile, was just what she hoped it would be – soft chicken with crispy, flavourful skin in a creamy peppercorn sauce. In the wrong hands this could be quite a risk to take, but The Star’s signature blend of brandy and peppercorn was warming instead of overpowering, and Nicola admits she could have eaten it by the truckload. Although they were stuffed, Nicola and Peter knew they could never resist dessert – especially with chocolate brownie on the menu! Peter’s dessert was moist with a molten centre encased in a crunchy outer shell. So often brownies promise a rich, smooth taste and don’t deliver, but Marti’s, which was finished off with a dollop of Chantilly cream left behind a plate which had practically been licked clean – a definite ten out of ten from Peter. Nicola’s Toblerone cheesecake was also a sight to behold. A crunchy ginger biscuit base was her first surprise. Gone was the dowdy digestive and in its place a buttery, slightly spicy bottom, which balanced perfectly with the creamy cheesecake

and crushed Toblerone. She admits that dessert was polished off rather speedily – but promises to start back at the gym next week. Good food isn’t all The Star Inn is renowned for. It’s a true home away from home, with a specialised gin bar menu and a comprehensive wine list. The staff are so polite and truly care about delivering top-quality service, while Marti’s own talents extend far beyond the kitchen! Along with head chef Marc Price, Marti has been putting in the hours to make sure the food and the wider menu is exactly the standard it should be for the customer, and it definitely shows. Make no mistake about it – Marti and his team are back and The Star will shine again, just as it should. The Star Inn 60 Bank Top, Roby Mill, Lancashire, WN8 0QQ 01257 253 355 www.thestarinnrobymill.co.uk

Spinach & Ricotta Lasagne A creamy vegetarian version of the supper classic.

Serves 6-8

Ingredients

Method

1 Pack lasagne sheets

Preparation time: 45 minutes

125g sliced mozzarella

Cooking time: 30 minutes

30g parmesan

Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/ gas 6. Heat the oil in a medium pan, then fry the onion for 6-8 minutes until soft. Add the garlic and fry for a further minute. Pour in the red wine; turn up the heat

Olive Oil 1 finely chopped onion 2 crushed garlic cloves 150ml red wine 2 x 400g chopped tomato tins 1 tsp sugar 2 tbsp Worcester sauce 2 tbsp tomato puree Bunch chopped fresh basil 375g spinach Knob of butter 500g ricotta 250g mascarpone 4 medium egg yolks Grated zest of 1 lemon Pinch freshly grated nutmeg 40g grated parmesan

and simmer for 3-4 minutes to reduce the liquid by half. Add the tomatoes, sugar, Worcester sauce and tomato purée. Reduce the heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes until thickened. Add the basil, and season well. Place the spinach in a large pan with a knob of butter. Cover and cook over a medium heat for 2-3 minutes until the spinach has wilted. It will seem to almost disappear! Drain the cooked spinach in a colander and press to squeeze out any excess water. Roughly chop, then mix with the rest of the creamy sauce ingredients. Taste and season well Spread a little of the spinach and ricotta sauce over the base of the baking dish, then cover with slightly overlapping lasagne sheets. Pour over a third of the remaining white sauce, sprinkle over a little of the grated cheese and top with half the tomato sauce. Cover with another layer of lasagne sheets, top with half the remaining white sauce, then all the remaining tomato sauce. Add the final layer of lasagne sheets, then spread with the rest of the white sauce. Scatter with the remaining grated cheese. Top with mozzarella slices and the grated Parmesan and bake for  30 minutes until golden and bubbling.

Wigan Beer Fest The CAMRA Wigan Beer Festival runs from Thursday,

The festival takes place at Robin Park Leisure Centre

February 28 until Saturday, March 2.

on Loire Drive, Wigan (WN5 0UH), with a free shuttle bus available from the town centre. For further information, visit www.beerfestival.wigancamra. org.uk

Sample over 70 real ales, draught foreign beers and ciders while enjoying live entertainment, games and a variety of food stalls. The festival opens from 5:30pm-11pm on the Thursday, 12pm-11pm on the Friday, and 11:30am9:30pm on the Saturday, and is free to enter for CAMRA members. Entry fees for non-members range up to ÂŁ3, date and time depending. Wigan CAMRA meet regularly to enjoy and discuss craft ales, ciders and all things beer. Membership costs around ÂŁ25 per year and helps to promote the love of real ale while bagging you great discounts into beer festivals around the country. Volunteering opportunities are also available for the festival on the set-up days, open sessions and during the take-down to complete a variety of tasks.

Read All About It A free miniature library has come to Wigan Lane. The Little Free Library is a worldwide scheme which allows locals to trade in their unwanted books for something a bit different. Wiganer Mandy Dunbar introduced the St. Clement’s Road Bookhouse to a tree stump outside her home to get the community more involved with reading. Local poet George Melling even added his own collection ‘I’m Having the Rhyme of My Life’ to the little library for someone else to get stuck into. For more information about the Little Free Libraries popping up across the world, visit www. littlefreelibrary.org

Vintage Fair A vintage and craft fair takes place this month in one of Bolton’s Grade-I listed buildings. The Wigan & Bolton Vintage & Artisan fair takes place on Sunday, March 17 from 11am-4pm at

Smithills Hall, a beautiful manor house set in picturesque gardens. The fair is free admission and the perfect opportunity to shop for gifts or just to treat yourself! For further information, email victoriaclaire@ vibrantvintage.co.uk

Sing Hallelujah The Orrell Musical and Dramatic Society is still on the lookout for singers to get involved in their next production of the smash hit musical Sister Act. The musical is set to be staged in July this year, and singers for the men’s chorus are particularly encouraged to raise their voices for the society. If you’re interested in raising the roof for the highenergy performance, email orrellmds@hotmail.com or call 01695 622713.

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LocalLife

Golborne Colliery Service A service will be held this month to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Golborne Colliery mining disaster. Ten men were killed after an underground explosion on March 18th, 1979. Only Brian Rawsthorne survived the blast. On Sunday, March 17, a procession will congregate at The Queen Anne on Bridge Street, Golborne, at 1:30pm to follow the Mayors of Wigan and St. Helens, along with the Golborne Brass Band through the streets to Golborne Parish Church. If you’d like to walk in the procession, please meet outside The Queen Anne at 1:30pm; alternatively, the church service begins at 2:30pm.

Scottish Songs Wigan’s Thistle Society is holding a song and dance night of Scottish songs and Highland dancing. The Silver Choir will perform an array of popular songs, before everyone has the opportunity to take part in some Ceilidh dancing, with tutorials of each dance given on the night. To top it all off, a raffle with some great prizes takes place during the interval, with refreshments available. The event takes place on Saturday, April 23 from 7:30pm-10pm at St. Luke’s Hall on Lodge Road, Orrell (WN5 7AT). All proceeds raised go to EDs Veterans. Tickets cost £5 for adults and £2 for children – for further information or to book, call Paula on 01942 680008 or Margaret on 01942 247403.

Return of the

Proms

Tickets are already on sale for Orrell Live. Returning for its fifth year, Orrell’s answer to the Proms hopes to be bigger and better than ever. And with the line-up already announced, what better time to get excited – especially when you hear that Alexander O’Neal and his 9-piece band are headlining. TV’s Junior Voice 2017 runner up and local lad Jake McKechnie will be opening the Proms before Reflectionz Duo entertain the crowds with their soul and motown performance. Rock sensation Haze are also back by popular demand, joining Little Mix tribute Black Magic and Oaces – the UK’s number one Oasis tribute. As usual, the night will conclude with a beautiful performance from the Golborne Brass Band, with all the pomp and pageantry of the Proms. Event organiser Spencer still remembers the days of the Orrell Carnival, which inspired Orrell Live. ‘The carnival was always a really good time, and I remember we usually got good weather in June! In

2007 I had the idea for the Proms, and I thought the cricket club would be a perfect venue. I’m so excited about this year’s event – Orrell Live has always been popular, but the anticipation for Alexander O’Neal is already high!’ ‘Orrell Live has always been about Orrell and the local community,’ Spencer continues. ‘But we are attracting people from further afield – we’ve even had interest from a coachload of people from Liverpool!’ As well as the fabulous live acts, Orrell Live will be festooned with food stalls, plus bottle and cocktail bars. You’re also welcome to bring your own drinks. This year a new digital ticketing system has been introduced to make the booking process safer and simpler – just download your e-ticket to your phone or tablet! Orrell Live takes place on Saturday, September 7. The gates open at 12pm, with live music from 1pm. For more information, call 07545 501447.

Homeless Help Wigan Council is funding a huge £53.7 million contract to aid local homeless people. The town plans to extend its current homeless support systems, with supported accommodation and bespoke services to help people towards employment and independent living. The project will help homeless people to improve their health and happiness, with potential links to drug and alcohol services, criminal justice, employment and wellbeing assistance.

The event takes place on Saturday, April 6 at Mill at the Pier, Trencherfield Mill on Heriage Way, with doors opening at 7pm. Seated tickets cost £12, or grab a standing ticket for just £5. To book, head to the TicketSource website.

The Snow Queen Willpower Youth Theatre present a musical version of The Snow Queen this month.

Songs from the Shows

From Wednesday, February 27 until Saturday, March 2, catch an entrancing performance of the Hans Christian Andersen’s classic coming-of-age adventure at St. Michael’s Hall on Shaw Street (WN1 2BQ). The show starts at 7:30pm.

Wigan Rotary Club have announced their April event: Songs from the Shows.

Tickets cost £7 for adults or £5 for concessions. Call the box office on 01942 745082 to book.

With entertainment from Victor Michael and the Three Sopranos, who specialise in fourpart harmonies and top quality vocals, you’ll be humming show tunes all night long while raising money for the Rotary Club Charities Account.

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between Thursday, March 7 and Thursday, April 18 in the parish hall and there’s no need to book in advance. For further information, call 07771 703004 or email janewilkinson70@outlook.com

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Soulful Songbird

Lent Lunches Every Thursday throughout Lent, enjoy delicious lunches at St. Luke’s Church in Orrell (WN5 7AT). The church offers delicious bowls of homemade soup, with bread and cheese from the Orrell Mother’s Union for just £3.50, which goes towards church funds. Lunch is served from 12pm-1:30pm on Thursdays

A fabulous night of wartime music heads to St. James Social Club in Orrell this month. The Goldnage Songbird, joined by guest performers from Susan Hayes Vocal Coaching, light up the evening with soulful songs. Tickets cost £6 online at www.skiddle.com/e/13458 775 or £7 on the door. The event takes place at 7pm on Friday, March 22 at the social club (WN5 7AA).

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Network Plea Marjorie Price, the Chair of the Orrell and Billinge Community Network, has issued a plea for new and younger residents to join the long established community group. Over the past decade, volunteer members of the Network, as it is known locally, have raised funds to establish the War Memorial in Orrell, have added colour to the local area by organising Orrell in Bloom, and have launched and run a monthly coffee morning in Orrell, which in turn, funded the popular Over 75’s annual Christmas party. But most members of the group are past retirement age and ideas for new projects are now far and few between, as Marjorie explains, “We’re looking for residents of Orrell and Billinge to get involved and

come forward with new ideas for the area and have the enthusiasm to follow these ideas through to fruition. In particular, adds Marjorie, we’d like younger residents of Orrell and Billinge to come forward with their vision on what sort of community they want to live in in the future”. The Network has funds available to help support new projects and has a glut of experience and contacts to help launch new projects for the local area. The group meets on the first Wednesday of every month from 7pm at St Luke’s Church hall in Lodge Road in Orrell. The next meeting is Wednesday 6th March at 7pm and all residents are welcome. For more details, email mgprice.16@hotmail.co.uk.

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Volunteers Needed A singing group for people with dementia is looking for volunteers. Singing for the Brain is an Alzheimer’s Society initiative, bringing people with dementia and their carers together to sing and enjoy music to stimulate the brain and build new relationships. Volunteers are needed to serve drinks, chat to people, encourage singing or meet and greet people, with the view of ideally running singing sessions on the second Monday of every month from 2pm-3:30pm at the church hall in Wrightington.

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Coding Meet-Up A coding meet-up for adults runs every other Saturday at Wigan Library. If you’ve always wanted to learn to code but never quite found the time, or if you have some experience with coding and want to improve, the free sessions might be for you. Just bring your own laptop and burning questions along to the library between 10:30am and 12:30pm on Saturday, March 9, Saturday March 23 and then Saturday, April 6. For further information, email wigan.library@ wigan.gov.uk

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Javier Perianes International pianist Javier Perianes heads to Parbold Village Hall this March. With a career spanning five continents and a performance record which includes some of the world’s most prestigious venues, Perianes’ is a concert like no other. The performance takes place on Saturday, March 9 at 7:45pm, and tickets cost £18.50 per adult or £5 for a young person, bookable on 01257 498452.

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Fundraisers Cash

Out

The final pay outs from Saturday Breakfast’s community fundraisers were handed over at a recent presentation at Greenslate Farm. Pictured with volunteers from Saturday Breakfast are the Friends of Orrell Station group who have made many improvements to Orrell Rail Station, and organisers of ‘Tots Together’ , a parent and toddler group recently launched at Bispham Methodist Church. Other donations made in this period included payments to Orrell Red Triangle CC to help pay for car park lighting, St James’ school to help pay for a cycle shelter and Living Faith church to help pay for the launch of Chill & Chat sessions. Payments were also made to Greenslate Farm and St Luke’s Church for their support of the Saturday Breakfast initiative. The Saturday Breakfast venture was launched in spring 2016 by local residents Chris Pearce, Mary

Forrester, Laura Ramsdale and Sally Boon, with the support of local Councillor Michael Winstanley, and with the help of funding from Wigan Council’s The Deal and from Local Life magazine. Initially based at St Luke’s church in Orrell, this popup community breakfast café was staffed entirely by tireless volunteers and the venture was supported by enthusiastic customers. In September 2017, Saturday Breakfast moved to Greenslate Farm to use the brand new kitchen facilities at the farm. Saturday Breakfast ran until June 2018, when an ongoing lack of kitchen volunteers brought about its demise. Over the lifetime of Saturday Breakfast, a total of £12,333 was donated to community groups and organisations in the Orrell and Billinge area.

Feng Shui Your Let’s be honest: a lot of people think feng shui is a load of baloney, adopted by homeowners with too much time on their hands. But the process really doesn’t need to be that complicated, and it can help declutter your space while promoting wellbeing. The ancient Chinese art of feng shui allegedly dates back to the Tang Dynasty in the seventh century. It argues that our surroundings – namely, our homes – reflect what’s going on with our inner selves, and aims to harmonise the energy (or chi) in the environment. This can sound pretty complicated, but don’t worry – here are some tips to get you started. Firstly, declutter. Get rid of any lurking rubbish and throw out last month’s newspapers (you’re probably not going to read them). Wash up any dirty dishes and organise any laundry that’s hanging around. Not only will this transform your home into a more welcoming space, but you’ll have a lot more room to work with. Reorganise the furniture. Spatial arrangement is the biggest part of feng shui – in the living room, for example, the sofa should be placed against a wall for protection, with the rest of the seating arranged to facilitate conversation. Bright colours like green and yellow in a kitchen can promote healthy eating, while soft, wide lighting includes everyone in dinnertime chatter. Softer angles for things like cabinets and tables can make the room more inviting. Get rid of distractions. If you want your lounge area to be a positive family space, it’s a good idea to cover things like electronics. Putting the TV in a closing cabinet can encourage conversation and family time, while loud paintings might detract from a relaxed atmosphere. Think décor. Getting rid of clutter doesn’t mean you can’t keep things that you love. Ornaments

Home

with heavy sentimental value or that make you feel calm can definitely improve the mood of a room. Direct the energy flow. Open windows can seep energy out of a room, while a direct path from the front to the back door can prevent it from comfortably circulating around the home. Try soft drapes or blinds if you want to avoid heavier curtains over windows, and try a colourful rug by the doors. Adding a mirror by the front door can improve lighting and prevent you feeling like you’re being ‘walled in’ when you enter the house.

Race Night Enjoy all the excitement of an evening at the races in aid of Wigan Youth Zone. With 8 races across the night costing just £2 each to enter, plus a raffle with fabulous prizes, get your glad rags on in support of Wigan’s young people on Friday, April 12 from 7pm-midnight. A cocktail will be served on arrival, with a disco and canapes available throughout the evening. Anne Hurcombe, Managing Director at Wigan Pier Promotions and event supporter, said: ‘Wigan Youth Zone need to raise over £1.65 million every year. It’s proven to cut crime and gives many of our Wigan kids opportunities they could only dream of – come and help me support our next generation!’ Anne is also looking for contributions towards raffle prizes – if you or your business would like to donate something, email her at anne@ wiganpierpromotions.co.uk

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Tickets for the event cost £40 per person, then £10 per raffle ticket. To book, call 01257 251908 or head to www.wiganpierpromotions.co.uk/wyz-racenight

Wedding Fayre St. Helens Hotel plays host to a wedding fayre in March. Experience the best in local wedding suppliers to get ready for your big day, plus enjoy live entertainment from a wedding singer at 1:30pm and a bridal catwalk show at 2pm. The fayre has everything you need to design your perfect wedding day, and you’ll certainly feel like the star of the show with a complimentary glass of bubbly and canapes on arrival. The event takes place on Sunday, March 17 from 12pm-3pm, and is free to enter. For further information, call the hotel on 01744 453444 or visit www.sainthelenshotel.com

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Run

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The Run Wigan Festival returns this March. The festival, which includes a half marathon, a ten miler, a 5K run and a family mile, brings runners from across the borough together in support of local charity Joining Jack. Each event helps to raise money for the fight against Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy – a progressive muscle wasting disease which is diagnosed in around 100 boys per year in the UK.

in runs or cycles, volunteering, sponsoring a participant or helping tell our story through social media. ‘This year I know we are going to be even bigger and better – and take us one step closer to changing lives,’ she added.

Wigan boy Jack was diagnosed with DMD in

The Run Wigan Festival is just one of the ways you can get involved in fundraising for Joining Jack this year. On Sunday, June 30 the Wigan Bike Ride takes place, featuring both a 50 mile main ride and

2011, and since then his family have dedicated themselves to raising money and awareness for the disease, which currently has no cure.

a 5 mile family ride. To date more than 1,200 riders have taken part in the event, which has so far raised £60,000 for the cause.

Run Wigan Festival is just one way to support the cause. Whether you’re an experienced athlete or a complete beginner, the festival has something for you! Each event is marshalled by Joining Jack volunteers, and promises to be an exciting opportunity to get active for a great cause. Better yet – in true Wigan fashion, every half-marathon and 5K finisher receives a free pie and a goodie bag.

Then, in September, the Wigan 10K returns in its seventh incarnation. 2019’s event will see the race’s 20,000th runner taking part on Sunday, September 1. The race takes place on closed roads.

Jack’s mum Alex Johnson is keen to continue fundraising to truly make a different for DMD sufferers. ‘From small acorns these events have grown to be bigger than we ever thought possible when Joining Jack was launched in 2012. Last year we raised an unbelievable £100,000 thanks to the support and generosity of everyone involved, whether taking part

Each of the events in the Run Wigan Festival has its own entry fee and route, details of which can be found at www.runwiganfestivals.co.uk. For more information about Joining Jack, head to www.joiningjack.org.

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Tree Tragedy

Community Fund

Conservation volunteers in Orrell are lamenting the loss of hundreds of trees at Greenslate Community Farm.

Does your community group have a great idea or project going to help the local area? You could be eligible to apply for Wigan Council funding of up to £2000.

The self-seeded trees were torn down by a housing developer, allegedly at the request of Wigan Council. Around two hundred of these trees had been a gift from the Woodland Trust. A wood chip path created by Greenslate volunteers has also been taken up and replaced by a concrete roadway. The bulldozed green space was leased to the housing developer by Wigan Council while they conducted drainage work for nearby homes. Greenslate Community Farm consists of 25 acres of farmland built ‘for the community, by the community’. Orrell Councillor Michael Winstanley dubbed the farm a ‘green oasis’ and hopes the damage will be put right ‘without any quibbling whatsoever’.

The Deal for Communities Investment Fund aims to provide grants for groups or individuals with ideas that can really make a positive difference to where you live. The deadline for applications to the Small Investment Fund is midnight on Sunday, March 10. To find out more and apply, head to www.wigan. gov.uk/Council/The-Deal/Deal-Communities/ Communities-Investment-Fund.aspx

Big Little Trains Chorley & District Model Railway Club are heading to Parbold Library for their Big & Little Train Show. Plenty of model trains and exciting layouts will be available to view on the day. The event takes place from 9:30am-12:45pm on Saturday, March 16.

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Local Life is always on the look out for news stories from the local communities we serve. Are you raising money for charity? Are you a member of a community group with something to shout about? Maybe you’ve got an unusual talent, or have a claim to fame? If so, let us know and you could be appearing in the next edition! Simply contact us on wigannews@ locallife247.co.uk or call us on 01695 627999.

Wigan Ale Trail Tickets have been released for April’s Hop & Grain Ale Trail. On Saturday, April 20, hop on one of the Trail buses and sample the ales at various Wigan venues, from Billinge’s Holts Arms to Wigan Central – with plenty more stops along the way! Simply purchase your wristband tickets online or from one of the trail pubs, jump on and enjoy a boozy day out. There are also two breaks throughout the day to give the drivers a rest and you the perfect chance to grab some food, enjoy lively pub entertainment and sample a wider range of ales. The buses run from 12pm-10:30pm, and you’re welcome to start at the venue of your choice.

Tickets for the event cost £13, and can be purchased at www.hopandgrainevents.co.uk/ale-trails/ wigan-ale-trail/ where you can also find a list of venues. For further information, email enquiries@ hopandgrainevents.co.uk

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Magnificent

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By Jess Phillips Although now often relegated to shopping outlets – like Ena Mill in Atherton - dusty museum displays, or urban living for aspiring young professionals, mills have always been integral to our local heritage. From the water-driven mills of the eighteenth century to the surge in mechanisation and the eventual decline of the industry, these great structures continue to have a place in the hearts of locals. The closure of Chorley’s Botany Bay (previously Canal Mill) in February pending its extensive redevelopment into a modern outlet village is a blow indeed to Lancashire’s milling heritage. Mills undeniably shaped the county’s industrial and economic landscape in the 1900s, when the Industrial Revolution settled its focus on textile manufacturing. Somewhere along the line, Lancashire became synonymous with cotton milling, from the invention of James Hargreaves’ spinning jenny in Oswaldtwistle back in 1770 to towns like Burnley making their names in cotton. In fact, the industry expanded enough that the government was forced to introduce a policy to

slow its growth down in 1959. The county suffered many ups and downs during its run as a textile giant. The Lancashire Cotton Famine of 1861-65 was caused by overproduction while international markets continued to shift. The demand for raw cotton slumped just as ports were overwhelmed with an influx of it, causing the price to collapse. Many workers became unemployed, forced to attend soup kitchens and appeal for meal and coal tickets. The detrimental effect milling had on its workforce is well-documented. Channel 4’s TV adaptation The Mill shed light on the conditions working-class people faced post-Industrial Revolution at Quarry Bank Mill in Cheshire. It’s easy to look back on the industry now with rose-tinted lenses, but with mechanisation came abhorrent working conditions, child labour and many accidents. Many workers reported ‘mill fever’ in their first few weeks of employment; the dust, chemicals and claustrophobic environment landing a hard knock to the immune system. A lot of mill girls communicated solely by lip reading due

Trencherfield Mill, provided to WiganWorld by Andrew Gagg

May Mill, provided to WiganWorld by Ron Hunt to the supremely high levels of noise from nearby machinery.

‘…a right pea souper’ That’s without mentioning that textile milling also contributed to the frequent smog during the latter part of the twentieth century, with air pollution from Wigan’s factories turning the streets into a ‘right pea souper’. The 1950s were especially notorious for this phenomenon – although chiefly arising from the frequent burning of coal, bleaching, sizing and bastfibre processing in cotton mills played their part too. Several WiganWorld members remark on smog masks which left blackened gauze from breathing in the pollution – ‘a small steel frame with a pad attached’ to keep the worst of the smog out of your lungs. It’s easy to forget the architectural prowess and innovation that went into the building of mills around Lancashire and what is now Greater Manchester, and to dismiss milling as a brutal

stopgap into modernisation. Faster processes revolutionised the industry and Britain for the better, and brought industry to Lancashire instead of relying on foreign imports. Despite the integral part milling played in local heritage, many of Wigan’s mills have fallen into disrepair – the derelict Rylands Mill was named one of the top ten most ‘at risk’ buildings in the UK by the Victorian Society in 2016. But many of these imposing buildings have a lot more to offer – and it’s high time they got the appreciation they deserve.

Trencherfield Mill Built in 1907, the Grade-II listed Trencherfield Mill is currently in its third incarnation. The first Trencherfield mill originated in 1820, but was rebuilt in 1851 and again in the early twentieth century. The mill, owned by William Woods & Sons Ltd., employed around 1000 people. The mill was built to best utilise the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, which was useful in transporting freight like cotton. William Woods was the first to introduce power

May & Enfield Mills Home to two mills which are often confused for one another, the Pemberton area has a fiery textile history. In Highfield, near St. Matthew’s, Church sat May Mill – originally Wilde’s Mill, constructed in 1850. The mill was destroyed by fire in June 1859 and replaced by Roper’s Mill, which also burned down in the late nineteenth century. The site’s turbulent start in life resulted in the final May Mill: a fireproof building built in 1889. Its engines, dubbed Louisa and Helen, were dedicated in 1890. Trencherfield Mill engines, provided to WiganWorld by Ron Hunt looms to Wigan’s cotton mills in 1818. Woods and his family participated in the official christening of the new mill engine in 1908, naming each side of the hulking beast after his daughters Helen and Rina. The steam engine had a horsepower of 2,500 and is still in working order today. In 1929, Trencherfield Mill was purchased by the Lancashire Cotton Corporation in a last-ditch attempt to save the textile milling industry. World War I saw a halt in production which never fully recovered, leading to the eventual closure of the majority of Britain’s cotton mills. Most survived into the 1960s, but the demand for British cotton was gone and replaced with overseas exports. The mill finally ceased operation in 1968, leaving the huge engine – with its 27 foot flywheel – to fall into disrepair. And so it remained for a further fifteen years, until a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant led to major restoration works that turned the mill into what it is today – a monument to Wigan’s industrial history. Trencherfield Mill is currently closed to the public but is set to reopen later in the year. Regular open days allow you to get up close and personal with the mill’s steam engine, and volunteering opportunities are available for anyone interested in preserving Wigan’s milling heritage – visit www.wigan.gov. uk/Resident/Museums-archives/Trencherfield-MillEngine.aspx for details.

May Mill was the longest surviving cotton mill in Wigan, still producing cotton until Friday, October 17, 1980. In the same area, Enfield Mill (situated behind the Enfield pub), was built in 1907 and opened a year later. The mill employed around 200 people, with 500 looms in operation by 1950. During the Second World War, the mill helped construct cloth for barrage balloons, amongst other things. Enfield Mill lasted until December 1975, when it finally closed its doors for good.

Leigh Spinners The Grade-II* listed Leigh Spinners Mill was first constructed in 1913, and began as a humble cotton mill. The mill knew it would have to adapt to survive after the post-war textile slump, however, and started manufacturing carpets and synthetic turf. In 1923 a larger mill was built on the same site to celebrate – and prolong – its milling successes. Leigh Spinners is estimated to be the only doublefronted mill still standing in the entirety of Europe still intact. The first mill’s engine was destroyed in an explosion, but the second still stands with its two cylinders christened Mayor and Mayoress. The engine could theoretically be brought back to life, and exists today as one of only four of its kind. In the early twentieth century, Leigh was home to ten mills, and approximately 15% of the town’s population was employed in the textile industry. Leigh Spinners employed around 800 people in its heyday, boasting staff playing fields, showers and

May Mill, provided to WiganWorld by Eddie a large canteen to bring its employees together inbetween shifts. Many factors contributed to the decline of Lancashire’s textile industry; the outbreak of WWII meant workers were redrafted into the war effort and away from their jobs, while the rise of foreign imports meant demand for English cotton fell. The Cotton Industry Act of 1959 looked set to rejuvenate Wigan and Leigh’s textile links, with the view of reorganising the cotton industry in Lancashire. The Act reduced the number of spindles in operation while making some workers redundant in order to reduce unneeded output. Leigh Spinners was mindful of the shifting industry, made evident by its willingness to expand into carpets and gradually reduce its number of employees. It ceased cotton spinning for good in 2005, but continues to produce synthetic turf for sports fields and landscaping. Although the building has largely fallen into

disrepair, the Leigh Building Preservation Trust is doing its best to restore the mill to its former glory. It has won various cash grants to go towards this effort, including a £75,000 prize awarded by Waste Recycling Environmental Ltd. to repair the steam engine and repair the engine house. The Preservation Trust currently aims to turn the mill into a community hub with a conference centre, indoor sports and various meeting places for local people. In 2018 the Trust signed a 99 year lease on Mill Two, and hopes to secure further funding to keep each floor of the mill preserved. The mill’s heritage centre opens every Saturday between 10am and 12pm, allowing visitors to get up close and personal with the steam engine and textile machinery. Regular paranormal events also take place at Leigh Spinners if you believe the rumours that the old building might be hosting a bit more than defunct engines!

Class from the Past This month’s Class from the Past is from St. Cuthbert’s school, Norley Hall from 1970, with pupils about to embark on a trip to Ambleteuse, France. This photo was sent in by Clifford Oakley. Do you have an old class photo you’d like to share? Email wigannews@ locallife247.co.uk

Competition Winners Pictured adjacent are John and Eileen Blake from Winstanley, who were the winners of our January competition for a pair of Wigan Warriors season tickets. We asked readers the question ‘Who do Wigan Warriors face in the first home Betfred Super League Fixture of 2019?’ The answer was, of course, Leeds Rhinos, and John’s name was randomly picked from hundreds of readers who came up with the correct answer. The couple were ecstatic when Local Life handed over the season tickets just a few days ahead of the first home game of the season. Thank you to everyone who entered, and don’t forget to send in your entries to our latest competition to win a pair of tickets to see Blue Planet II live in concert on page 72!

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50 Property

Strength in

Numbers

So you’ve had an unexpected cash windfall come your way. An inheritance maybe, proceeds from an old pension or you’ve won the lottery at last! Being financially prudent, you’re now looking to make that money work hard and as property is underrepresented in your diverse wealth portfolio, you want to explore the world of buy-to-let.

Another financial advantage of taking a mortgage is that landlords can set the mortgage interest against the rental income, although that will only be at the basic rate of tax by 2021 due the recent tax changes. The other great motivation is, of course, that the increase in house prices over the long term should boost the value of your properties.

Should you buy a single buy-to-let property, or should you use mortgage facilities to buy more than one property?

A lot will depend on what you hope to attain from your buy to let investment and how relaxed you would feel in making the mortgage payments in the time gap between tenants leaving your property and new tenants moving in. Direct Line calculated a few months ago that such voids cost UK landlords an average of £1, 000 per property per year.

Banks and Building Societies will characteristically want at least a 25% deposit on any single buy-to-let property, meaning that prospective landlords can only borrow up to 75%, and they will also assess the borrowing level based on the rental income covering the mortgage interest by a definite margin of 125%. Making use of mortgages will help a landlord maximise the rental income across more properties, rather than putting everything into a single property. This will enable the landlord to ensure that if there a void in any of the tenancies, there should still be rental income coming from the other properties. The flip side of the coin is that there is always a mortgage to pay for, whether or not the properties are let.

Alan Batt Alan Batt is a member of The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and has worked within the Wigan property market for over 30 years.

You also have to consider that the UK’s favourable interest rates could increase, which would eat into your profits, though that can be mitigated with fixing your mortgage interest rate. So, with everything that is happening in the world, does it make sense to buy rental properties? The bottom line is, as a country aren’t building enough property, so demand will always outstrip supply in the medium to long term, meaning property values will keep rising in the medium to long term. That’s not to say property values might fall back in the short term, like they did in 2009 Credit Crunch, the 1988 Dual MIRAS crash, the recession of the early 1980’s, the 1974 Oil Crisis, the early 1930’s Great Depression, but after every one of these crises, house prices have bounced back with vigour. It makes sense, therefore, to focus on getting the best properties that will have continuing appeal and strong tenant demand. Buy-to-let should be tackled as a medium to long term investment, because the

51 wisest landlords see buy-to-let investment in terms of decades, not years. In addition to helping many new and existing landlords target prospective properties, my company (Alan Batt Estate Agents) also helps landlords to work out their budgets, taking into account other

Buy to Let

costs such as agent’s fees, finance, maintenance and voids in tenancy. Contact us today to find out how we can help you get the best returns from your property investments. Email me on alan@alanbatt.co.uk or call on 01942 233999

Trends

In every national survey I’ve seen recently, landlords still intend to increase their property portfolio in the medium to long term. This tells me that even though landlords have been hit with higher taxes, they still have faith in the buy to let market. The youngsters of Wigan see renting as a choice, giving them flexibility and options that being tied to a home cannot give, so demand will continue to grow and landlords will be able to enjoy increased rents and capital growth from their buy to let investments, providing that they work smarter in the future. Since the 1990’s, making money from investing in buy to let property was as easy as falling off a log. Looking forward though, with all the changes in the tax regime and balance of power, making those similar levels of return in the future won’t be so easy. The question is how do you, as a Wigan buy to let landlord, ensure that your success continues? Over the last ten years, I have seen the role of the forward thinking landlord evolve from a person who just collected the rent to a more all-inclusive role. There are a handful of Wigan agents (including myself ) whom I would consider exemplary at this

landlord portfolio strategy where they can give landlords a balanced structured overview of your short, medium and long-term goals, in relation to your required return on investment, yield and capital growth requirements. If you would like such advice, speak with your current agent or feel free to drop me a line. Email me on alan@alanbatt.co.uk or call on 01942 233999

For more of Alan’s tips, guidance and analysis on the Wigan property market, check out www.wiganpropertynews.blogspot.co.uk

Puzzle Corner

SUDOKU

WORD SEARCH - Forests Find the hidden words in the word search grid L

CALEDONIAN MOSSY AMAZON BLACK SPINY

WAIPOUA TARKINE YAKUSHIMA CROOKED GOBLIN

SHERWOOD NEW ARAUCARIA DALBY KIELDER

WORD MIX UP - Forests Unscramble the letters to make a word

NUMBER BLOCK

7 5

15 5 6 19 5 1 16 8 7 27 23 18 20 16 11 The numbers in each row add up to totals to the right.

ROCK OKA

The numbers in each column add up to the totals along the bottom. The diagonal lines also add up the

GAROSAU STUCAC LEAZDRIEG RENEG NOUNMAIT

totals to the right.

WIGGLE WORDS CLUE: Water power

DATAPANAY DULOC KISMIK PENI THAMEYSREL WARNODHCO

Trace a path through all the letters to find the word or phrase that fits the clue.

Y T Y D

C I H R

I C E O

R T L E

All the puzzle solutions are on page 94 of this magazine

Travel

Twin Centre By Jess Phillips

A desert oasis like no other, Las Vegas is famed for its bright lights, drive-through weddings and numerous casinos, but that isn’t all the Nevada paradise has to offer. Try breath-taking sights, natural beauty hotspots and plenty of opportunities to try things you’ve never even dreamed of. Combining your trip to Vegas with a once-in-a-lifetime package to New York afterwards might sound like a brave expedition, but why not? The bucket list is calling. Emerging onto The Strip can be overwhelming, even for seasoned Vegas-goers, and it can be difficult to choose what to see first. Begin at the very beginning – the iconic Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign, designed by Betty Willis, immediately encapsulates the city’s penchant for a good bit of neon, and is a picture-perfect introduction of what’s to come. If you’re feeling inspired, the Neon Museum houses more of the same, and explores the history of Las Vegas through its signature signage. From there, you might want to head to the LINQ Promenade – a bustling hub of colour

and yet more neon overlooked by the High Roller: the world’s tallest observation wheel at 550 feet. Best experienced after sundown, take in the bright lights of the city for miles around from the top of the wheel while enclosed in an intimate pod. Las Vegas is home to a whopping 104 casinos, and you can’t visit without having a little flutter. If you’re feeling lucky, head over to ARIA, which boasts one of the biggest levels of slot machines and an exclusive high-limit room where you could find yourself splashing out $5000 on a single pull. Whether your game is blackjack, poker or roulette – or even if you’ve never gambled before! - helpful croupiers are on hand to assist you. Vegas’s shopping scene is second-to-none. Premium outlets offer designer labels at discount prices, so you can get the best in the US all in one place. Of course, all that retail therapy can be pretty exhausting, so have a bite to eat in one of Vegas’s famed restaurants. From steakhouses to seafood – plus a surprising selection of Asian delicacies from Chinatown, just two miles out from The Strip – you really are spoilt for choice.

55 World-famous Cirque du Soleil is the perfect after-dinner antidote to a full belly, and perfectly captures the true spirit of the city. You’ll find their shows throughout the city, combining circus magic and contemporary influences to create spectacular, reality-defying performances. Mystical, magical and all-round entertaining, what better way to celebrate the local culture? If the adrenaline from the biggest circus in town hasn’t quite drained, thrill seekers definitely won’t want to miss the Stratosphere Tower Tour. Las Vegas really does reinvent the humble fairground ride dangle 109 stories in the air, catapulting headfirst over the tower edge on the X-Scream, or bungee jump the entire way to the bottom – a dizzying 829 feet! – on SkyJump. The iconic New York, New York hotel has its very own rollercoaster weaving around the building itself; the Big Apple Coaster combines virtual reality and some adrenaline-pumping drops

to give you as authentic a New York experience as you can get outside of the city itself. It’s true, ‘Sin City’ can be intense, but there’s plenty of culture lurking just on the outskirts. Day trips offer the perfect chance to take a step back from it all and tour stunning landmarks like the Grand Canyon, which in 2007 introduced the Skywalk – a glass viewing platform hovering 4000 feet above the canyon itself. The view from so high up is spectacular, and the ideal spot to snap a few gravitydefying photographs. The state park is a natural wonder, and remains home to the Havasupai people

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56 as it has for over 800 years; explore an authentic Native American reservation at Eagle Point and learn the rich history of the tribes who occupied the canyon while surrounded by breath-taking red rock formations. For history buffs, Hoover Dam is just a forty minute drive away from Las Vegas. Built from 1931 to 1936, the dam is a manmade feat of engineering, impounding Lake Mead and supplying hydroelectric power from the Colorado River. The dam’s Observation Deck boasts views of the torrents of white water crashing beneath you and try to get your head around the fact that this very water generates around 4 billion kW-Hs of electricity per year – that’s enough for 1.3 million people. But the journey actually begins in New York, where you can immerse yourself in the buzzing metropolitan capital like you’ve never seen it before. Take a boat trip to see the Statue of Liberty up close or catch a Yankees game before lining up for some star-studded evening entertainment on Broadway. Just be prepared – even the most unlikely candidates will catch themselves humming show tunes afterwards!

Cost of Living - USA 3 course meal: $25 Beer (0.5l): $5 Coffee: $3.75 Bottle wine: $12 Water (1.5l): $1.66

Central Park is of course a must-see – buried in the heart of Manhattan, the park is more than just a green oasis in an otherwise concrete jungle. Free concerts take place regularly at the Naumburg Bandshell, while Belvedere Castle on Vista Rock boasts beautiful views across the park. You also have a good chance of spotting wildlife at the Hallett Nature Sanctuary, Turtle Pond and the place that inspired the movie Madagascar: Central Park Zoo. Las Vegas and New York certainly aren’t cities to be trifled with. With thousands of opportunities to tick things off your bucket list in two truly American destinations – go on, what’s stopping you?

An Invitation from

Orrell Post Methodist Church We welcome everyone of all ages from birth upwards to our 10.45am Sunday morning services. Join us to sing hymns & songs, old & new. Bring your prayers & concerns, your joys, hopes & questions and share them with others. During the service children can take part in Sunday school activities – returning at the end to share what they have been doing. After the service everyone enjoys a good natter and sometimes tea, coffee & biscuits.

Midweek Events:

• 1st Monday of the month – book exchange & coffee morning from 10.30am-12noon • 2nd Tuesday of the month – soup lunch with accompaniments from 11.30am -2pm (£2) • Wednesday fortnightly – Ladies fello wship at 2pm & Bible study at 7.15pm • Alternate Wednesdays – Sequence dancing from 7.30pm-10.pm (£1.50) • Every Thursday – parents and toddlers10.45am-11.45am. Booking is essential as number are limited for safet y We also have a ladies choir for those who like to sing the right notes (preferab ly in the right order)

Please, come and meet us you’ll find a warm welcome & some good news to lift your day. Bring yourself and your family. We have access for prams & wheelchairs.

For more information please contact Anne Parkinson on 01942 386 365

Legal & Finance

Inheritance Tax A Voluntary Tax?

It was the late Lord Jenkins that said, “Inheritance Tax is a voluntary tax paid by people who distrust their beneficiaries more than they dislike the Inland Revenue”. Inheritance tax can cost loved ones hundreds of thousands in the event of your death, yet it’s possible to legally avoid huge swathes of it, or possibly pay none at all. If you are single or divorced, UK legislation allows the first £325,000 (2018/19 tax year) of your estate to be free from Inheritance Tax, whilst if you are married, or in a civil partnership or widowed, this amount could rise to £650,000. In addition to this, the residents nil rate band will enable the nil rate band to be uplifted further if you are living in your own property and will be passing your estate on to direct descendants. The main exemptions are; • Most transfers between spouses and civil partners • The first £3,000 of lifetime transfers in any tax year plus any unused balance from previous year • Gifts of up to but not exceeding £250 p.a. to any number of persons • Gifts in consideration of marriage or civil partnership of: up to £5,000 by a parent, up to £2,500 by a grandparent or great grandparent, or up to £1,000 by any other person • Gifts to charities, whether made during lifetime or on death. Making Gifts In most cases, any direct gift amount is a Potentially Exempt Transfer (PET), which means that you (the donor) need to live a further 7 years for the gift to fall

outside your estate. If you don’t, the beneficiary may face a tax liability, which between year 3 and year 7 maybe reduced for each year you live. However, this relief only applies to the part of a gift which is in excess of the nil rate band (£325,000). Trusts This method allows for the placement of monies into a suitable investment which is then wrapped within a trust, of which you and other people of your choosing can be trustees. The monies remain in trust and all, or amounts of this, can be distributed when you choose. There are a wide variety of trust options available and therefore careful consideration needs to be given to ensure that the trust is suitable. Is it possible to get an immediate discount to IHT rather than wait for 7 years? Yes, there are trusts that enable the donor to have access to a regular, predetermined income for life. In addition to this - based on a number of factors - there are schemes which usually result in a saving in Inheritance Tax from the moment the monies are placed into the trust. Summary Inheritance Tax is quite a technical area and therefore before embarking on a course of action I would strongly recommend that you seek professional advice. We have advisers with advanced qualifications within the taxation and trusts arena who if need be will be more than happy to guide you. David Barton APFS Cert CII (MP) Managing Director & Chartered Financial Planner

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Monthly Income Lifetime Mortgages Have Arrived What is it?

Who is it for?

An Income Lifetime Mortgage allows you to release the money tied up in your property to provide you with a regular monthly income. It provides an alternative to lump sum and drawdown products for people who require the discipline of a regular income.

Income Lifetime Mortgages are designed for people who:

The product allows you to take an initial loan amount, followed by a monthly income over a fixed income term of 10, 15, 20 or 25 years.

• Have a need for a fixed monthly income. • Require the discipline of having this paid to them automatically each month. • Require the certainty of a regular monthly income in line with their lifelong routine. It is not suitable for people who:

The interest rate will be fixed and agreed at the outset for the life of the mortgage. This means it won’t change if rates go up or down during that period.

• Have savings or investments that can use instead.

If your circumstances change, you can choose to stop taking the income at any time, but once stopped, the regular monthly income cannot be restarted. Once the fixed income term comes to an end the monthly income will stop and interest will continue to roll up until the lifetime mortgage is repaid.

• Have enough long-term income.

• Require a guaranteed income for life. • Require a lump sum greater than 10% of the total facility available to them.

• Claim benefits that may be affected by taking a lifetime mortgage.

The minimum monthly income is £200 and minimum initial loan amount is £2,500. Your property must be worth over £100,000 or £150,000 for ex-local authority properties. Interest rates currently start at 4.24%.

Please contact David Griffin on 01942 597182 for further details.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Do you want more from your retirement years?â&#x20AC;? A lifetime mortgage allows you to release tax free cash from your home for... Home improvements

Paying for holidays

Repay debts/loans

Top up income

Help your family

Clear outstanding mortgages

If you are over 55 call David Griffin for a FREE initial consultation Without selling your home Remains your home for life Never leave a debt for family - guaranteed Possible to move home Can repay all or part of mortgages at anytime Equity released from your home will be secured against it.

01942 597 182 w: www.release-my-equity.co.uk

e: david@release-my-equity.co.uk

Business View

Just 5 weeks to go! by Chris Alcock - CMA Accountancy Is your business ready for Making Tax Digital? With effect from 01 April 2019 there will be significant changes to the way you prepare and submit your quarterly VAT returns. All VAT registered businesses with an annual turnover above £85,000 will be required to keep digital records and submit their VAT return to HMRC through MTD compatible software. If your business runs on spreadsheets and manual records, you will be able to continue (for now at least), but you will still have to make changes to those spreadsheets so that they can link to HMRC by using bridging software. Assuming that you don’t want to pay fines to HMRC, doing nothing is not an option, so your plans to deal with this should already be in place and it is generally accepted that the best way for a business to prepare for Making Tax Digital is to switch to a cloud accounting software package. The good news is that switching to accounting

CMA believes that you should use Making Tax Digital as an opportunity to move your business forward and stay ahead of your competition. We are online accounting experts, and are Xero and QuickBooks partners so we can put you in a good position to help you choose which software is best for your business. We offer a free consultation for anyone that would like to speak to us about these changes. Feel free to drop by the office on Skull House Lane in Appley Bridge and we can discuss these further over a coffee. Of course, there will be no charge for the initial meeting. In addition, and for a limited period only, CMA are able to offer all new clients Xero or Quickbooks software free of charge for six months if they sign up for our services. So if you have any questions regarding Making Tax Digital or switching to online accounting systems please do get in touch.

software packaging such as Xero and Quickbooks will bring immense benefits to your business. You can look forward to;

Chris Alcock ACMA - CMA Accountancy

Saving Time - by reducing the time spent on administration

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Improving Cashflow - by sending invoices electronically and being able to automate the credit control process. Better Decision Making – using Smart business tools resulting in accurate reports, real time data and higher tax savings

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5 weeks to go Making Tax Digital, a new way of reporting financial information to HMRC, starts on the 1st April 2019. Do you own a business thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s VAT registered and has an annual turnover of over ÂŁ85,000? If so, you need to take urgent action to ensure your business is Making Tax Digital compliant. Call CMA Accountancy today for a FREE consultation on how to prepare for Making Tax Digital.

Free software for 6 months when you use CMA Accountancy.

Call CMA Accountancy today www.cma-accountancy.com info@cma-accountancy.com Skull House Lane, Appley Bridge. 01257 255521

Health & Fitness

In a

Heartbeat

What are ectopic heartbeats? Ectopic heartbeats are extra heartbeats that occur just before a regular beat. Ectopic beats are normal and usually they are not a cause for concern. About 70% of medically normal adults without any symptoms at all have ectopic beats if monitored over 24 hours. They are far less common in children and are more likely to be a result of an underlying heart abnormality in those cases. There are two types of ectopic beat: PAC - Premature atrial contractions, which begin in the upper chambers of the heart. PVC - Premature ventricular contractions, which begin in the lower chambers of the heart. An ectopic beat might be felt as an extra awareness of the heart beating; a feeling of faintness; a sensation of the heart stopping for a second, or a fluttering sensation in the chest. The fact that some people become aware of their ectopic beats doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t automatically mean there is a problem. Most commonly people who become aware of their ectopic beats are also susceptible to anxiety. What tends to happen is that during an episode of anxiety their system is flooded with adrenalin and their heart begins to race. They become aware of their heart racing, and then suddenly they experience a (perfectly normal) ectopic beat, only it feels anything but normal to them because their heart is already racing. They can then become hyper-aware of any perceived differences in rhythm, and this can feed their anxiety.

Most GPs can diagnose ectopic heartbeats from symptoms and by listening with a stethoscope. Sometimes they will arrange a precautionary electrocardiogram (ECG). If someone is aware of their ectopic beat only when they are sitting quietly, this is less of a concern than if the ectopics become noticeable after exercise, such as running upstairs. Ectopics are also of more concern if there is a history of a previous heart attack, or a family of heart disease. A GP will want to rule out complications such as ventricular tachycardia and arrhythmia. If further investigation is required the GP might order an echocardiogram (heart ultrasound), or a coronary angiography, an MRI, a CT scan, or exercise testing. In most cases ectopic heartbeats do not require treatment; however, there are certain well-known triggers. It can be helpful to review all medications and their possible interactions, stop smoking, reduce alcohol and caffeine intake, and reduce stress and anxiety as much as possible. Remember, most ectopic heartbeats are not a cause for concern, but if they are persistent, or you are worried, then consult your GP. By Louise Addison

Tinnitus Treatment Around 1 in 5 British adults suffer from persistent buzzing, ringing or humming in their ears. Tinnitus is particularly prevalent in the elderly, affecting around 24%, but the condition can strike any age, whether temporarily or permanently.

lessening the stressors associated with tinnitus. Stress management is key to managing the condition – if the sound in your ears is making you stressed, try covering it with soft music, the sound of a fan whirring, or some white noise.

There’s no one unifying cause of tinnitus. Whether caused by loud music or long-term noise exposure, general hearing loss, or as a symptom of an underlying condition, getting a conclusive diagnosis can be difficult. But there are things you can do to improve quality of life with tinnitus.

White noise isn’t limited to a flat hum. White noise machines can simulate an immersive habitat, such as falling rain or ocean waves, and aims to drown out background sounds. A white noise machine might be a worthy investment if you suffer from tinnitus, as it can help drown out the inner-ear sounds.

Speak to your GP. Sometimes tinnitus is caused by something as innocuous as earwax – removing this can decrease the symptoms and lessen the noise. Underlying vascular conditions such as high blood pressure or an aneurysm can cause pulsatile tinnitus, which can be treated through medication or surgery.

Masking devices aim to replicate the sound of white noise via an in-ear device, similar to a hearing aid. They produce a continuous white noise to help suppress symptoms.

Avoiding loud noises, caffeine and nicotine means

If you suffer from constant tinnitus, support groups are out there to meet other people going through a similar experience.

Dementia Swimming The Wigan Life Centre hosts a dementia-friendly swimming group on Tuesdays. From 10am-11am, the pool offers a relaxing atmosphere to swimmers of all levels with dementia. The sessions cost ÂŁ2 per person, with carers going free, and complimentary tea and coffee are available at every session. For further information, call Matt on 01942 488481.

Dementia Friends A dementia friends group takes place in Up Holland on the second Friday of the month. Learn more about dementia and become a Dementia Friend in the community while meeting new people. Refreshments are provided. The group meets at Cardinal Heenan House on School Lane in Roby Mill (WN8 0QR) at 2:30pm.

Introducing ICare Meals on Wheels

Try a complimentary Hot Lunchtime meal and sweet delivered to your home.

Call 0845 6041125

or to place an order on line visit www.icarecuisine.co.uk All our staff are fully Police and DBS checked

Wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t family life be better without back pain and sciatica?

Dr Mike Paull & Avissa (Doctor of Chiropractic)

Chiropractors specialise in the care of your nervous system and spine so that you and your body are better able to heal.

Call 01942 498 480 for further details or visit us at www.ChiroHospital.com or on Facebook: wiganfamilychiro WIGAN FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC HOSPITAL, 27 BRIDGEMAN TERRACE, WIGAN, WN1 1TD

Health & Fitness

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WIGAN HEARING

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ALWAYS LISTENING

• Hearing Aids & Repairs • Hearing Tests • Micro-Suction Wax Removal info@wiganhearing.co.uk

215391

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LocalLife

www.locallife247.co.uk

Leisure

Upload your event for FREE at www.locallife247.co.uk/events Canvas Bag Workshop

Charity Variety Evening

Saturday, March 2, 11am-3pm

Saturday, March 9, 7pm

Come and decorate your own canvas bag to celebrate World Book Day using lino printing and drawing. Free drop-in.

Enjoy a night of variety including comedian Martin Gold, soprano Janette Monroe and live music from Marble Eyes to raise money for State of Mind Sport. Hotpot supper included along with standup bingo and a raffle. Tickets £25 – to book, email barbarauk2k@gmail.com or call 07753 183748.

Wigan STEAM, Marsden Street, Wigan, WN1 1QG

Abbey Lakes Walk Monday, March 4, 10am Enjoy a delightful 4.5 mile loop around Abbey Lakes and through Dean Wood. Explore the Orrell countryside in a friendly atmosphere at a relaxed pace. Suitable attire recommended. Abbey Lakes, Orrell, WN5 8RD

Coffee Morning Wednesday, March 6, 10:30am Enjoy a scrumptious coffee morning and bring & buy sale in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society. St. Luke’s Church, Lodge Road, Orrell, WN5 7AT

Family Games Night Friday, March 8, 7pm Win prizes playing Family Fortune and Play Your Cards Right – plus music, a hotpot supper and lots of fun! Adults £7, under-16s £3.50, proceeds go to St. Wilfrid’s Church Lads and Girls Brigade. For tickets, email thewilfs@mail.com or call 07716 753164 or 07956 359058. Standish Unity Club, Cross Street, Standish, WN6 0HQ

DW Stadium, 15 Loire Drive, Wigan, WN5 0UH

Fashion Show Monday, March 11, 7:30pm-9:30pm Enjoy a fabulous fashion show from Barbara’s of Standish. Tickets £7.50 including refreshments, all proceeds to Parkinsons UK. Call 01257 425480 for more info. Standish Community Centre, Moody Street, Standish, WN6 0JY

Women Who Said Yes Thursday, March 14, 12:30pm-1:30pm Dr. Ali Ronan presents an illustrated talk on ‘The Women Who Said Yes’. Hear about the 17 women who stood for Parliament in the 1918 General Election. Tickets £3 including hot drinks - places bookable on 01942 828128 or at wiganmuseum@ wigan.gov.uk Museum of Wigan Life, 59 Library Street, Wigan, WN1 1NU

Signs Of Spring

Zumbathon Fundraiser

Sunday, March 17, 10am-12pm

Sunday, March 24, 12pm-3pm

Search for the first signs of the changing season in a gentle stroll around the reserve hosted by Active Outdoors is just the ticket.

Expert local Zumba instructors will be dancing for 2.5 hours in support of Cancer Research UK and MIND. Raffle tickets and prizes available. Tickets £5 and donations welcome.

Pennington Flash, St. Helens Rd, Leigh, WN7 3PA

Brass Band Concert Sunday, March 17, 7:30pm-9:30pm Pemberton Old Wigan DW Brass Bands present Hammonds Brass Band in concert. Tickets available from R Banks & Son Funerals in Pemberton. Pemberton Old Wigan Brass Bands, Enfield Street, Pemberton, WN5 8DZ

Grand Charity Night Saturday, March 23, doors at 7pm

Highfield Cricket Club, Billinge Road, Wigan, WN3 6BL

Brass Band Performance Friday, March 29, 7:30pm Come and support the Wigan Youth & Intermediate Brass Bands and their dedicated tutors with a night of music. Tickets £5 for adults or free for under-18s, available from Arnold Stevens on 01942 223466 or on the door. St. Luke’s Church, Lodge Road, Orrell, WN5 7AT

Enjoy a great night of dancing and music, with entertainment from top DJs Harold & Christine and vocalist Leah Wallis. Tickets £6, available from 01695 623902, 01942 236953 or 01744 345073. Proceeds go to The Brick. St James Social Centre, St James Rd, Orrell, WN5 7AA

Don’t miss our Sample Prom Dress Sale! Dresses starting from just £150

Bridal designer Sample Sale Dresses starting from £250

• Stockists of designer prom gowns including Jora & Mascara • Bespoke styles available • Alteration services • School exclusivity lists • Late night appointments

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01257 424 624

www.julesbridalboutique.co.uk

Win tickets to Blue Planet II – Live in Concert The UK’s most watched TV show of the year is coming live to the Liverpool M&S Bank Arena on 26th March and we’ve got two pairs of tickets to give away in this super Local Life competition! Bringing the wonders and mysteries of the planet’s oceans and its inhabitants to the UK arena stage, Blue Planet II – Live In Concert will present a selection of incredible visuals from the BAFTA Award winning BBC One landmark series, highlighting the amazing natural wonders of our blue planet in breath-taking detail, projected on a giant state of the art 4K Ultra HD LED screen. Accompanied by the original immersive television music score by Bleeding Fingers Music, the concert will be performed live by the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, and conducted by Matthew Freeman. If that isn’t enough of a reason to catch this performance, which is part of a 13 date UK and Eire tour, then the announcement of top BBC presenter Anita Rani as host for this live show should ensure a packed out Arena. Rani said of narrating Blue Planet II – Live In Concert: “I am really honoured to have the role of host on the Blue Planet II Live In Concert arena tour. The TV series was such a fantastic and enlightening show and has really empowered society

Blue Planet II Live in Concert is a BBC Studios Natural History Unit Production and licensed by FKP Scorpio. The BBC is a trademark of the British Broadcasting Corporation and is used under license. BBC logo © 1996

to view our oceans and environment with a great deal more care. I can’t wait to stand on stage with an 80-piece orchestra and huge screen showing some of that incredible Blue Planet II footage, it should be an amazing experience!” During the four-year filming of Blue Planet II, the teams embarked on 125 expeditions and travelled to 39 countries. The concert will feature exciting visuals from the show including the now infamous Tusk fish, the Crab and Eel rock pool chase and the ‘folklore-turned-reality’ Sea Lion tuna hunt, to mention but a few. To enter the competition to win a pair of tickets to Blue Planet II – Live In Concert, simply visit our website, www.locallife247.co.uk, click on ‘free stuff’ and then on ‘competitions’ and then answer the following question; Who is the host of Blue Planet II – Live In Concert in Liverpool on 26th March 2019?

The expiry date for the competition is midnight on Sunday 17th March and the winners will be notified within five working days. Entrants must be over 16 years of age. Only one entry per household. Local Life 247 cannot accept responsibility for entries that do not reach us. Employees of Local Life 247 Ltd and their families are not eligible to enter this competition.

Tickets for Blue Planet II – Live in concert are available from www.AXS.com, www.eventim.co.uk, www.seetickets.com & www.blueplanet2live.co.uk

Indoor Car Boot Saturday, March 30, 10am-1pm Grab yourself a bargain at the indoor car boot sale! Free entry, plenty of refreshments available. Up Holland Methodist Church, Alma Hill, Up Holland, WN8 0NR

Children on Titanic Talk Thursday, April 4, 12:30pm-1:45pm A fascinating talk looks at what life was like for children onboard RMS Titanic, including why so many died in the cold water of the Atlantic. Places bookable on 01942 828128 or wiganmuseum@ wigan.gov.uk Museum of Wigan Life, Library Street, Wigan, WN1 1NU

LOOKING TO CELEBRATE A

Special Occasion? LARGE VENUE FOR HIRE RECENTLY RE FURBISHED ST JAMES SOCIAL CENTRE

Ladies Race Day Saturday, April 6, 2pm Enjoy race day events watching the Grand National in support of Whizz-Kids, plus gin tasting and a raffle. Dress to impress. Tickets £25, available from Sarah on 07540 811010 or sarah.cathie@hotmail. com Orrell Cricket Club, Winstanley Road, Orrell, WN5 7XE

Songs from the Shows Saturday, April 6, 7:30pm (doors at 7pm) Victor Michael & the Three Sopranos present a night of songs from popular theatre. Tickets £12 seated or £5 standing, all profit to Wigan Rotary Club Charities Account. Tickets available on TicketSource. Mill at the Pier, Trencherfield Mill, Heritage Way, Wigan, WN3 4EF

• Holds 50 To 180 People • Sprung Dance Floor • Ample Free Parking • Quality Cask Ales Available Ideal for Wedding Receptions, Christenings, Birthday Parties, Funerals, Baby Showers FOR MORE INFORMATION AND DETAILS

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Charnock Richard by Jess Phillips We arrived in Charnock Richard for our latest 5 ¼ mile walk on a cold, misty day, when the snow around us was just beginning to thaw and melt into sleet. These conditions made for an atmospheric endeavour indeed – especially with the ruins of the abandoned Camelot Theme Park rising above the treeline. Having parked up just off the A49 in Church Lane (Postcode PR7 5NA), we set off west, crossing the main road to head along Brook Lane. At the end of this lane you’ll come to a large set of gates leading to a farm – go through the small gate provided for public access and back onto the driveway. Note at this point that the public right of way has recently been changed. Head through the gate on the opposite side and go diagonally across the paddock, then down the narrow fenced-off pathway. The path bends into a sharp left culminating in a stile – cross this into a field. The snow made crossing the field a little tricky, but seeing tree branches emerge out of the fog made it feel like we were the only people left in the world – only the far-off traffic noise dictated otherwise! I was, however, very glad I’d brought my wellies.

Length of walk: 5.25 miles Difficulty: Medium Accessibility: Muddy in places with stiles to negotiate; some of which are a little wobbly. Some fields may contain livestock. One public footpath has been diverted.

Follow the path along the hedgerow and down to the right, where you climb over another stile. There’s a small footbridge afterwards, then a short climb. From here take a left through the woods – and plenty of mud – until you reach another stile into a field. Follow the edge of the field until you come to a footbridge which transports you across the M6 motorway. The bridge deposits you in the grounds of Park Hall, where you take an immediate left to follow the driveway out onto Park Hall Road. It’s here that

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Camelot Theme Park

Brook Lane

Charnock Richard Postcode PR7 5NA

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Stocks Lane

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.

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

Mud

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you’re promised a good view of Camelot – the now defunct amusement park first opened its gates in 1983, delighting families with medieval fun for decades before dwindling visitor numbers caused it to close for good in 2012. Some of the rides – including the 80ft Knightmare rollercoaster – still stand today, visible from the motorway and nearby fields. You can also get a great view of the front turrets –and any lurking security guards - from the car park. From here, go right, following the road until you reach Highgrove Avenue. Turn into it, and follow it to the end when you can continue through the gate into another field. Carry on along the path, which goes down and across a footbridge, then turn right and follow the path all the way to Red Lane. Once you emerge, turn right again until you reach an unnamed lane, then take another right. This lane leads you to the gates of a farm at the far end; head left over the stile and follow the path straight up to the M6, turning right to the bridge.

Once over the bridge, head left over another stile, then follow the path until you reach one more. Climb it, then keep to the right of the field until you reach the Old Hall Lane stile – watching out for any stray sheep coming out of the fog, of course! A left turn takes you back to the A49, and an ideal place to grab some refreshments if you’re feeling peckish. The Bowling Green pub offers a cosy, familyoriented environment which is perfect for warming up. At the main road, go left and cross into Delph Lane, which winds all the way around to Church Lane. Take one last right and continue back to your starting point – and make sure to turn the heaters up for the journey home!

Motoring

HONDA

CR-V HYBRID by Tim Barnes-Clay

Diesel seems to be dying, and that’s a shame for a lot of people. There are a lot of good diesel-driven cars out there, and the scrapyard is where government leaders would like to see them. Therefore, it seems odd that automakers are still churning them out. Indeed, many of the car launches I go on include oil-burners. However, that’s not the case with Honda. The Japanese firm has committed itself to an electrified future and claims that by 2025 two-thirds of its

European transactions could encompass electrified vehicles (EVs). The brand aims to usher in a full urban EV later next year, but its first step towards this new age is a hybrid version of the CR-V. The model is in its fifthgeneration, and the hybrid powertrain is already housed within the Accord saloon in the United States. That means it’s a proven unit, so its debut in the CR-V over this side of the pond looks like a safe bet.

79 The system is named Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD), and it facilitates a trio of drive settings. Allelectric can be selected in EV Drive, but only for limited amounts of time, due to the minuscule 1kWh battery bundle. Hybrid Drive utilises the clout of the 2.0-litre petrol engine, which runs at low revs to run one of the Honda’s electric motors. This then produces the muscle used by the other motor for momentum. Engine Drive shuts a clutch to allow the front axle to be propelled by the petrol motor, while the transmission is a single fixed ratio transmission. Both all-wheel drive and frontwheel drive versions are offered. So, in Hybrid Drive, the simplest way to understand how the Honda powertrain works is to imagine it being akin to a hydrogen fuel cell car – but, instead, it’s using petrol to produce a charge for the electric motor. The CR-V Hybrid favours EV Drive or Hybrid settings when it’s not on the motorway. This means the engine is either not running, or it’s just trickling power to the battery pack. But the best bit is that the Honda automatically sorts through its trio of modes depending on what your driving is like - and the changes are virtually flawless.

Fast Facts • 0-62 mph: 9.2 seconds • Combined mpg: 51.4 • Engine: 2.0L 4-cylinder petrol + 2 electric motors • Max. power (PS): 184 • CO2: 126 g/km Price: £37,255

If driven conservatively, the CR-V Hybrid is a hushed and comfy car. The cabin is refined, and the switchgear falls easily to hand. The paddles behind the tiller enable you to change the intensity of the energy recuperation system, as well. There’s also a Sport setting, which is meant to give a quicker throttle response – but its influence is minimal. The ‘green’ Honda rides pleasantly and absorbs potholes well, but the heavy car does suffer from body roll in corners. Generally, it feels like a decent set-of-wheels, though, and that’s where most of its allure lies. The CR-V Hybrid’s 51.4mpg fuel efficiency isn’t earth-shattering, but it’s comparable with most similarly-sized diesel-driven vehicles. It’ll be easier on the pocket than the standard petrol-propelled version, that’s for sure. Alas, practicality isn’t as good with the CR-V Hybrid. This is because the environmentally-friendly power system cuts into the Honda’s boot space, slashing it from 561 litres to 497 litres. There’s a lot of handy room in the cabin, though - and leg and headspace in the rear are better than ever. Keep an eye out for the new CR-V Hybrid – you can order it now, but it officially goes on sale in the UK in February 2019.

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Gardening

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by Angie Barker

Award Winner

I love this time of year. Perennial plants are pushing up through the borders, spring flowering shrubs are swelling with buds and the birds are singing again. Our interest in the garden, which lets face it has waned over the winter months, starts to re-ignite. And what better way to fuel your interest than a garden project. A garden does not need a complete makeover to breathe new life into it but something which just revives your enthusiasm. Here are some suggestions: • Change the shape of your lawn to create new borders – this is an instant transformation and you will feel like you have a new garden • Create a herb garden – be aware that some tender herbs like Basil won’t thrive outside until the summer months but you can buy a variety of hardy types at this time of year such as Thyme and Rosemary • Take out say a dozen of your existing plants (depending on the size of your garden) and buy new ones – with different colours and texture • Revive your seating area with new rattan furniture which you can leave out all year round. Add stylish pots and plant Phormiums and Bamboo for a contemporary, lush look

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

• Grow some early potatoes, they are so easy to grow in pots or bags and the first time you taste your home grown new potatoes is amazing. You need to buy seed potatoes - don’t try planting ones you get from a supermarket. Tried and tested varieties include ‘Charlotte’ and ‘Casablanca’ • Create a haven for wildlife. Log piles, nest boxes and bird tables are easy to place in the garden and children love being involved • Screen the ugly shed in the corner and the wheelie bins and erect some trellis with some pretty climbers to scramble over it • Create a focal point. Place a large urn or bird bath in gaps in planting or at the end of a path As for Hubby and me, yes we may have been together for a long time now but is our interest waning …. do we need a project ... do we heck as like!

Call Angie now for your free consultation! Angie Barker Dip GD (Inst GD) BA (Hons) Garden Design For All Seasons Tel: 01942 522 405 Mob: 07857 008 383 www.angiebarker.co.uk

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