LocalLife Wigan Edition
July 2019
Win Tickets To Southport Flower Show Page 72 - 73
Remembering Wakes Weeks Pages 24 - 26
Highfield CC Turns 95 Pages 53 - 54
Salt Trail Walk Pages 66 - 68
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Local Life
Christmas Spirit Summer’s not really kicked into gear as I write this and yet here I am, asking for help with what has become almost a Christmas tradition in Wigan. Wigan Rotary Club have a long and active history and, as the founding fathers of Wigan Hospice, are seen by all as a force for good. Today’s Rotarians consist of mainly retired people all doing their bit to help society locally, nationally and internationally. Nowadays, they are probably best known for accompanying Santa when he rides around various local housing estates in his Float. The Santa Floats run throughout December and thanks to generous donations by Wiganers, they generate a substantial sum of money, which is ploughed back into the local community (see page 20) and used to support other Rotary projects through the year. The problem the Rotary has though is that most members are north of 65 years old and the organisation struggles to attract enough volunteers to man the Santa Floats. So, the group are looking for companies or organisations who can help. The Local Life team have helped for the past few years and it is great fun! There is half a dozen of us who will don our Christmas hats and spend a couple of hours walking round estates singing along to the Christmas songs and shaking collecting tins for Rotary. The younger kids love seeing Santa, many have pictures taken with him, and it brings a bit of Christmas spirit to the streets of Wigan. If there are any companies, public sector organisations or community groups out there who can help for just one evening this December, then please email me at the address below or email organiser Phil Hirst thehirsts@blueyonder.co.uk Thanks for reading, have a great summer
Chris Pearce, Publisher chrisp@locallife247.co.uk
Local Life
In this issue
Regulars 69 Puzzle page
Dragons Splash Out
79 Garden Diary
Sections 28 Food & Drink 32 Property 46 Travel 56 Legal & Finance 60 Business View
20 Sally’s Specials
62 Health 70 Events2Go 76 Motoring 79 Gardening 85 Home Services
Next issue - August 2019
Advertising deadline - Thursday, 27 June Published - Thursday, 11 July
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LocalLife
Green Is The New Black
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
40 I’d Miss My Home Comforts
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.
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The next issue is delivered to 13,025 private homes and businesses in Standish, Shevington, Whitley, Appley Bridge, Standish Lower Ground, Aspull and Haigh.
A Day In The Life
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.
98 locallifemagazine247
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News & Features
Countryside Celebration
involved in a range of activities, including bushcraft, axe throwing, archery and shooting.
West Lancashire’s biggest free countryside festival returns on the 20th and 21st of July.
Keep the little ones entertained on the funfair and bouncy castles, or on a donkey ride; or head over to the live music marquee for some great entertainment. And, as usual, there are over 50 great stalls to browse and plenty of delicious refreshments available.
The Green Fayre celebrates countryside living and is firmly rooted in the working woodlands. With displays throughout showcasing a wide range of woodworking crafts, deftly demonstrated by local craftspeople, along with ‘living history’ performances, there’s something to delight the entire family at this year’s Green Fayre. Regia Anglorum will be heading to this year’s fayre, highlighting Skelmersdale’s Viking heritage and delving into how the local landscape was shaped by the skills of its people. There’ll be Viking battle re-enactments in the arena, while Horus Birds of Prey and the West Lancs Dog Display team provide brilliant aerial and agility displays to wow the crowds. Children can also get up close with the mobile farm animals. The Green Fayre also offers the opportunity to get
Entrance to the event, which takes place at Beacon Country Park on Beacon Lane, is free. The Green Fayre runs from 11am-5pm each day. For more information, call 01695 622794 or visit www.westlancs.gov.uk/greenfayre
Choral Concert Wigan Choral Society will perform traditional English songs dating back to the 16th century for their Songs of Summer programme, led by new musical director Rory Wainwright Johnston. It takes place at St. Michael’s Church in Swinley on Saturday, June 29, and begins at 7:30pm.
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Robyn Smashes Target
Billinge schoolgirl, Robyn Unsworth has completed a 500-metre swim, raising a staggering £1,300 for charity in the process. Robyn, aged 12 and a pupil of Up Holland High School, completed the John West Great North swim on Saturday 8th June at Brockhole on Lake Windermere with her uncle, Peter Rigby. The pair have been training for their open water swim at Pennington Flash for more than 6 months. They were planning to swim half a mile, but the bad weather saw event organisers shorten all distances, so they completed 500m in an amazing 14 minutes. After initially asking friends and family to help with donations, the target was set at £250. The support from the local community has been
so overwhelming, that Robyn has managed to raise more than £1,300 for State of Mind Sport, in memory of her father Paul Unsworth, who passed away in 2016. Mum Wendy Unsworth, told Local Life, “I couldn't be more proud of Robyn for the commitment she has shown in completing such a challenging swim at only 12 years old. “She chose the charity herself and wrote her own Just Giving message in memory of her Dad. The encouragement she received from family and friends, including Danny Sculthorpe from State of Mind Sport, has been tremendous and we would both like to thank everyone for their support." www.justgiving.com/fundraising/robyn-unsworth
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Help Your Hospitals Wigan and Leigh Rotary Clubs are encouraging people to return their surplus hospital equipment to the NHS to help local hospitals save money. If you have medical mattresses, bed levers, kitchen trolleys, shower stools, zimmer frames, crutches, wheelchairs or commodes that you no longer need, a return day has been arranged on Sunday, June 30. Simply drop your unneeded (and preferably clean!) equipment off at Sunshine House on Wellington Street between 9:30am and 2:30pm, or at Leigh Tesco between 11am and 4pm. Please note that medicines, tablets and bandages cannot be accepted. President of Wigan Rotary John Wright said: ‘What a great opportunity to declutter your home and have some good come out of it. NHS budgets are under so much strain, we wanted to do our bit to help our
Relax & feel comfortable while indulging in a little self-care.
local Hospital Trust, but we need YOUR help to make the day worthwhile.’
Soul Night A Northern Soul night in aid of The Christie is taking place at St Aidan’s social centre in Winstanley on Saturday 6th July. It’s the latest of a range of fundraisers organised by Standish woman Sheila Vose, mum of Danielle Vose who suffered a devastating ovarian cancer diagnosis in 2016. The night will feature a Northern Soul DJ as well as several live acts, it starts at 7.30pm and the ticket price of £8 includes a buffet. You can reserve your tickets in advance by calling Sheila on 07403 866584, or leftover tickets will be available on the door. All proceeds from the night goes to The Christie.
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Apprentice Reunion Ex-apprentices of the Pemberton Triangle Valve Apprentice School intake of 1969 are invited to attend a 50th anniversary reunion event. The event will take place on Saturday, July 20 at the Fishergate Pub on Orrell Road in Pemberton at 8pm. Expect fine beers and a bit of karaoke – for more information, contact John Javis on 01942 225571 or Ronnie Oldham on 01942 205431.
Tennis Open Day Winstanley Tennis Club are hosting an open day this July. Bring all the family along for an afternoon of free tennis, and take part in free coaching or a ‘cardio tennis’ session for anyone who’d like to burn a few more calories. Racquets and balls are provided, and refreshments will be available throughout. The event takes place on Sunday, July 21 from 1pm4pm at the club off Winstanley Road.
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Problem When luggage space is at a premium, multi-tasking products are a godsend, particularly when they don’t count towards your paltry hand luggage liquid allowance. I’m a big fan of PÜR’s 4 in 1 Pressed Mineral Makeup Foundation (£29). As well as giving great, lightweight coverage and a shine-free finish, it helps to nourish skin with ingredients such as lactic acid and shea butter. It also has an SPF of 15. While that’s not enough for warmer weather, it’s handy for cooler days. Choose from 11 shades at www. purcosmetics.co.uk.
Solvers
unpronounceable chemicals, these products are packed with natural ingredients such as aloe vera, seabuckthorn extract, hazelnut extract, ylang-ylang and, of course, roses grown on Alteya’s farm. See www.lovelula.com.
According to The Sleep Council, 74 percent of people in the UK don’t get enough sleep. If you’re struggling to drop off at night, try Tisserand’s new Sleep Better Bath Salts (£13.95), Bath Oil (£12.95) or Bath & Shower Wash (£11.95).
Hair looking a bit ‘meh’? Try treating it to Alteya Organics’ Rose Otto Invigorating Shampoo and Conditioner (£14.20 each). They’re formulated to help strengthen hair, reduce frizz and increase shine. Forget ingredients lists of
They’re fragranced with jasmine, sandalwood and lavender essential oils to help promote a feeling of relaxation. While subtle, the scent is lovely and calming. Available from Boots and www.tisserand. com. If you’re always reapplying hand lotion because your hands feel dry, it may be time to swap to a gentler, more natural handwash. Personally, I have to avoid any with sodium lauryl sulphate, as it makes my hands so dry and cracked they end up bleeding. I tend to use bars of soap instead, but also like vegetable oil-based liquid soaps, such as those by The Castilian Soap Company. They’re available in a range of fragrances, including peppermint, lavender and rose geranium. If your hands are supersensitive, try the fragrance-free option. From £8 at www.lovelula. com. By Kate Duggan
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All That
z z a J
It’s often said that jazz is a feeling, not a genre – a feeling of not knowing where you’ll end up next. And that couldn’t be more true than at the Wigan International Jazz Festival, which is celebrating exciting new beginnings in its 34th year. The festival celebrates a change of venue in 2019, heading to the Village on the Green in Aspull. Featuring headliners like The Jazz Planets
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performed by Echoes of Ellington Jazz Orchestra – voted by The Times as one of 2018’s top albums – jazz vocalist Salena Jones & Her Quintet, the Louis Dowdeswell Big Band and Alan Barnes + 11. The Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra will also be performing in the four-day music extravaganza, which boasts both intimate local and international jazz in the heart of Wigan. Along with fresh jazz picks, the bar will be open with food served, and free parking at the venue. The festival spans from Thursday, July 11 until Sunday, July 14 – events are individually priced, with tickets covering every event available for £125. A Big Band workshop also takes place on Saturday, July 13 at 1pm over at Whelley Ex-Servicemen’s Club for anyone interested in making their own music. Festival director Ian Darrington said: ‘We’re really pleased with how things are going. It’s great to see people visiting Wigan from all parts of the UK – they know that in addition to a wonderful festival, they’ll get a very warm welcome in the town’. For more information about the festival, visit www. wiganjazzfest.co.uk
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Sister Act Orrell Music & Dramatic Society present the feelgood comedy musical Sister Act this month. Follow Dolores Van Cartier as she goes into hiding at a convent after witnessing a murder, along with fabulous songs and a hilarious storyline. Performances run at 7:30pm each night between Wednesday, July 24 and Saturday, July 27 at St. Peter’s Catholic High School on Howards Lane. Tickets cost £9 – call 01695 622713 to book.
Church Events Orrell’s Living Faith Church is hosting two familyfriendly events this summer. On Saturday, July 13, go along to the Connect Centre behind the church for a fun summer fayre – there’ll be plenty of fun and games, plus refreshments and snacks available. Free entry. Kids can also join in with the Coverdale Puppet Summer Club every day between Monday, August
12 and Friday, August 16 from 10am-12:15pm. Hear stories, sing songs, do crafts, and play with puppets! The club costs £2 per day – please pre-register your interest by contacting Mikah on 07507 501075 or visit www.livingfaithchurch.co.uk/events
City to Seaside Wigan & Leigh Hospice’s most popular event takes place this month. The Manchester to Blackpool bike ride takes eager cyclists along a 62-mile route from the city to the coast to raise money for the hospice, which provides care to people in the area with lifelimiting conditions. All riders receive a T-shirt and transportation from Wigan to Manchester and back from Blackpool. The ride takes place on Sunday, July 7. Entry costs £25, with cyclists asked to raise at least £100 from sponsorship. For more information or to register, call 01942 525566 or visit www.wlh.org.uk/join-anevent/manchester-to-blackpool-bike-ride/
the auction centre The leading Auctioneers and Valuers
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Stay Healthy,
Save Cash
A TV appearance has prompted the launch of a brand new Slimmers’ Menu at Holland Hall in Up Holland. After appearing on the Channel 4 hit show ‘Four in a Bed’ last July, reality hit for Cathy and Genice at the hotel. ‘It wasn’t the laying-out of steak knives instead of butter knives at breakfast that caused Richter-scale shudders,’ says Cathy, ‘but the fact that the cameras had added sixty pounds!’ Receptionist Cathy Hudson was inspired to sign up to Wigan Council’s Lose Weight Feel Great scheme – a twelve-week programme of Slimming World sessions and a weekly workout. She also began cooking delicious, healthy meals at home – and recruited Hotel Manager Genice Hall as chief taste tester. ‘I realised that socialising when trying to stick to an eating plan was nigh-on impossible,’ Cathy says. ‘That’s when I had a lightbulb moment – how wonderful would it be to introduce a Slimmers’ Menu Holland Hall?’
at
The new menu officially launched on Friday, May 31 at Holland Hall’s new hotel bar, Thee Robert de Holland Inn. Better yet, visitors to Holland Hall can also earn discounts on food by completing the brand new Holland Hall Trail. Holland Hall’s ‘WalkMiles’ scheme was coined by the team at the hotel to help customers stick to their fitness goals while enjoying delicious food. By following any of the new Holland Hall Trail routes around the estate, customers collect WalkMiles which can be converted into a percentage discount from their overall bill. All you need to take part is a mobile phone with a
camera and any type of FitBit or activity tracking app to record your steps. Embark on any of the trails along the route map provided and snap a selfie with one of the landmarks so your WalkMiles can be logged. Accumulated WalkMiles can be used against main meals from the new Slimmers’ Menu and the Robert de Holland menu. Discounts will also be offered to Slimming World members who achieve a milestone that week – celebrate your Club 10, stone and half-stone awards for 10% off your food bill! Just bring a certificate dated within 7 days of your visit along, and up to three friends to make the most of the reduction. For more information about Holland Hall’s WalkMiles, visit www.hollandhall.co.uk or call 01695 624426.
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Ben Flies High A 17-year-old student from Winstanley College has won a scholarship with the National Flight Academy in Penacola, Florida. Flying enthusiast Ben Molyneux scooped up this incredible opportunity as reward for winning a Virgin Atlantic/Delta Airlines competition which required participants to submit a 500-word essay or video about a problem which will face the planet in 20 years’ time. Ben chose Carbon Recapture as the topic - an initiative Sir Richard Branson himself has invested a lot into in recent years. As well as taking part in the scholarship over the summer, Ben has also been invited to Virgin Atlantic Headquarters at Gatwick Airport to view the aircraft hangar and find out more about careers within the aerospace industry. Ben is no stranger to aviation, having recently taken
his first solo flight from Blackpool Airport aged just 17. He aims to have his private licence by the end of 2019. An ecstatic Ben said: ‘Winning the scholarship and visit to Gatwick is the perfect prize for me, I’m hoping to join the RAF after college and eventually become an airline pilot.’
Let your light shine BILLINGE ST AIDAN’S NURSERY Funded places available for September 19 Help to get your child ready for school by enrolling them in our Nursery which has full access to school facilities. Our Nursery children are taught by a qualified teacher and staffing ratios are high. A well established and knowledgeable team. Winner of Educate Awards 2018 Award for ‘Most Inspirational Primary School’ Full Wrap Around Care with an onsite Breakfast and After School Club with Breakfast Club starting from 7.30am. We also run a Holiday Club. “We were impressed with the school’s academic performance but even more with its warmth, care and welcoming atmosphere and their determination to cater for all children.” Current Parent May 19 Visits are more than welcome, please ring school on
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Behaviour Support A new support group for parents and carers experiencing issues from their children associated with autism, ADHD and other conditions has launched in Wigan. The Behaviour Support Circle offers a chance to meet others going through similar experiences, and hopefully learning some new strategies and approaches to dealing with behaviour. Guest speakers will offer insight into various topics, including Understanding ADHD and ADHD Strategies. Meetings take place on the third Wednesday of the month from 6pm-8pm, at Wigan Youth Zone on Parsons Walk. For more information,
call 01942 233323 or email embracewiganandleigh.org.uk
a.sampson@
Mill Future in Doubt The future of the listed Eckersley Mill site hangs in the balance after experiencing damage to one of its walls. The southern wall was deemed to be in danger of immediate collapse, while the western wall was also damaged. The affected walls have been removed, along with much of the Weaving Sheds. Historic England have been informed and it is hoped they will offer support to ensure the mill doesn’t deteriorate further.
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Boxers Wanted
wildlife, and get to know a bit more about what the hospice does in the local community.
Boxers are needed to sign up for a charity boxing match in aid of Joseph’s Goal in September.
The gardens are open on Sunday, July 14 from 10am-4pm, with an entry fee of £3. Refreshments will be available to purchase on the day.
Anyone interested in fighting will receive eight weeks’ free training ahead of the event at Goliath Boxing Gym while helping to raise money for the fight against NKH. If you’re interested, send your name, age, weight, previous experience and mobile number to knockoutpromotions2019@gmail.com The fight will take place on Saturday, September 21 at Pure Nightclub.
Open Gardens Wigan and Leigh Hospice in Hindley is opening its gardens to the public in July. Featuring vibrant flowerbeds, three beautiful ponds and a Chinese bridge which was donated by the Whitworth Art Gallery, the gardens offer a tranquil spot to relax and take a breather. Visit the Dedicate a Daisy memorial garden to reflect and enjoy the
Summer of Space Wigan STEAM, based in The Galleries, launches their Summer of Space programme this July. The project combines a passion for technology and crafting. On Saturday, July 20 go along to Wigan STEAM for their drop-in event from 11am-3pm to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. Make paper rockets and visit the space-themed photo booth on the day, with a recommended donation of £3. Then, on Tuesday, July 23, create some space-age artwork using hidden LED circuits and learn about simple electronic circuits. You’ll get to keep your creations, and all materials are provided. Tickets cost £8 on Eventbrite, and the event runs from 10am-12pm.
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Live Life Fest A huge, inclusive music festival comes to Standish this July. Focused around a Retro Carnival theme, the festival encourages visitors to don their blue suede shoes and sequinned hot pants for a fabulous day of music and entertainment. There’s plenty to keep the whole family entertained on the day – from a ‘trashion show’ showcasing recycled garments to a comedy tent and cabaret performances, you definitely won’t be bored. This year’s event also features physical theatre performances, live music on two stages, circus acts, vintage vehicles and festival hair & make-up stalls. Better yet, all proceeds from the event go to local charities My Life and My Life My Way, helping to
support vulnerable people in the community and alleviate loneliness. CEO of My Life Caroline Tomlinson said: ‘We believe that everyone benefits from being part of a community, and what better way to get together than enjoying fabulous entertainment in the summer sun? The Live Life Festival is going to be a fantastic day out and everyone is welcome!’ The fully accessible event takes place on Saturday, July 6 from 11am-8pm at the Thompson House Equestrian Centre on Pepper Lane, Standish. Tickets cost just £5 and are available online at www. my-life.org.uk or by calling 01257 472900.
Woodland Theatre Haigh’s Walled Garden plays host to a variety of outdoor theatre shows this summer. The programme kicks off in July with showings of Alice Through the Looking Glass and Cinderella, before performances of The Little Mermaid, Goldilocks & the Three Bears, The Wizard of Oz and more hit the stage in August. Plays run every Tuesday beginning on July 23 and ending on August 27, with two performances taking place per day. Tickets cost £8, with family discounts available. To book, visit www.haightickets.co.uk
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Parbulele Returns Parbold’s one and only ukulele festival returns for August 2019, bringing the village alive with upbeat acoustics once again. Spanning three days the Parbulele is a familyoriented festival offering something for everyone. Enjoy two evening concerts at Parbold Village Hall on the Friday and Saturday evenings, along with an inaugural Battle of the Bands on Friday, August 2nd. Headliners include Ukulele Tuesday, The Secret Ukulele Band and Manitoba Hal, with music workshops taking place for those keen to get involved themselves across the weekend. Parbulele programmes are £2 each, including a raffle ticket to win a ukulele worth over £150.
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Dragons Splash Out Local community groups benefitted to the tune of over £5,000 when they met with the ‘Dragons’ of Wigan Rotary Club to bid for grants for their groups. Successful groups included conservation group Friends of Greenslate Water Meadows, a residents group from Hawkley Hall, Shevington in Bloom, a Standish youth group, two mother and toddler groups, Bispham Church and a local lipreading group. There were bids from 29 community groups, asking for a total of over £22,000 in total. These were whittled down to the final eight by the Rotary’s ‘Dragons’ and these groups were invited along to present their bids at St Cuthbert’s Sports Club on Montrose Avenue. In announcing that all groups on the night had been wholly or partially successful in their bids, President John Wright commented that “The one
common factor amongst all the applicants was the sheer unbridled enthusiasm shown by those who pitched for their share of the money. However, this event would not be possible without the generous donations of the Wigan residents mainly last December when we accompanied Santa and his sleigh around the area. We hope this event shows Wigan Rotary is using their donations wisely and for the benefit of the local community.” The Dragons this year were Rotarians Mervyn Reeves, John Wright and Aukje Clegg OBE, along with guest Dragons Jane Dennis from Fairhursts Accountants and Chris Pearce from Local Life. A full list of the donations together with more information about the work of Wigan Rotary Club can be found on their website www.wiganrotaryclub.org.uk. If you’re interested in finding out more about Wigan Rotary Club, just call 07813 471000 or email wiganrotary1924@virginmedia. com
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Townswomens’ Triumph The Orrell & District Townswomen’s Guild invite new members to enjoy regular social events and good company. The guild, which celebrates its 90th anniversary this year, allows women to get together in a positive environment to have fun, make friends and help out various charities. Members recently got involved in raising money for Bloodwise, a funding body in support of blood cancer research, managing to raise a whopping £2,800 over the last two years. If you’d like to join, meetings take place on the first
Monday of the month – except bank holidays –at St. Luke’s Parish Hall on Lodge Road at 7:30pm. For more information, call Margaret on 01942 701716.
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Competition Winners
Congratulations to the winners of our May competition to win a pair of tickets to see Nile Rodgers live at Haydock Park! The competition winners were Donna Lancaster from Wigan (whose husband Mark is pictured above) and Rob Budden from Billinge (pictured below). We hope you have an amazing night at the gig! Don’t forget to see pages 72-73 for your chance to win tickets to Southport Flower Show. Did you know we also run social media competitions exclusively for fans of our Facebook page, Local Life Magazines? Make sure to give it a like to stay up to date!
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Oh I Do Like To Be Beside
The Seaside By Jess Phillips
For fourteen days - the first two full weeks of July - shops and factories across town closed for business, and the masses trooped to the seaside for a fortnight away from work: Wakes Weeks. The tradition in Wigan began as a single week before being upped to two in the early 1970s, and though it’s since petered out, the shores of Blackpool, Southport and Rhyl will always conjure up good memories for Wigan’s baby boomers. Coaches would congregate on Market Square to pick up their passengers, with neighbours often travelling together to enjoy standard seaside fare. From traditional donkey rides on the sand to penny slots and bingo games, the seaside holiday was a chance to relax and unwind from the everyday stresses of mill and factory work. Many Wiganers will remember the quintessentially British ‘Jugs of Tea for the Sands’ sign – a surer reminder than the Tower that you’d arrived in Blackpool! And it meant what it said: you never had to be afraid of running out of hot tea; you just had to fill your flasks to take onto the beach with you.
If you were lucky, you might be heading off to stay in one of the popular holiday camps at your resort of choice. The ever-popular Pontins – whose Blackpool site closed its doors for good in 2009 and Butlins - with sites in Skegness and Pwllheli in Wales – attracted keen holidaymakers throughout the last century, hosting the classically bizarre ‘knobbly knees’ and ‘bonny babies’ contests. Some resorts even set up cardboard cut-outs of the slim, much-coveted Marilyn Monroe figure to see if women were slim enough to fit inside – more than a bit risqué today.
25 The chalets of Pontins and Butlins would be packed to bursting, with Bluecoats and Redcoats doing their best to stay on top of jam-packed entertainment schedules. Usually centred around an iconic boating lake, chalets were arranged in a Panopticon-like structure (make of that what you will) where ‘a rainy day simply produces more striking evidence of how well a summer holiday programme can function indoors!’. Or so declares the Southport Pontins brochure in 1972, anyway. And if that programme proved disappointing, not to worry. There was always plenty to do outside of the camps too. Blackpool was prolific for hosting comedy performances from the likes of Ken Dodd and Jimmy Clitheroe (A.K.A. The Clitheroe Kid) as well as musical guests like Cilla Black and The Beatles. Couples could head to the Winter Gardens or Tower Ballroom for an intimate waltz, while any superstitious folk could get their fortunes read along the Golden Mile. That’s without mentioning the iconic Blackpool Tower Circus and menagerie! Southport had its own fair share of memories, of course. Peter Pan’s Pool & Playground opened to the public in 1930, on the site where Ocean Plaza stands today. Boasting tall slides, flying aeroplanes, a Helter Skelter and a model railway, the playground was a great base for families wanting to keep the kids entertained – children from the Platt Bridge Legion would clamber aboard Wigan double
decker buses to make the trip, and enjoy boiled ham and chips before heading home in the evening. The playground also afforded the opportunity to visit the nearby boating lake for a trip on the steamer or rowboats, and was ideal for a trip to Southport’s very own lido - perhaps a tad colder than the popular paddling pool over at Rhyl! Peter Pan’s Playground eventually changed its name to Happiland in the early 1970s ahead of its closure and demolition in 1989. Of course, if you were hankering for something a bit more thrilling, the larger amusement parks offered a bit more bang for your buck. Both Blackpool Pleasure Beach and Southport Pleasureland were operated by the same company, and in their heyday both offered a mix of classic British rides. A fan favourite, the humble funhouse probably wouldn’t win any health and safety awards nowadays, but many an hour could be whiled away on the Social Mixer –
26 dubbed the ‘wheel of death’ - which would fling riders out to the sides as they struggled to remain centred! Blackpool’s funhouse burned down in 1991 and was replaced by white-knuckle water ride Valhalla. In the late 1970’s holidaymakers tastes moved on to package holidays in sunnier and warmer climes just a short few hours away by plane. Wakes Weeks have today faded into almost complete obscurity, although some areas of Wigan managing to cling onto the tradition until the early 2000s.
No matter where we spend our jollies this year, we’ll always have the memories of spending Wakes Weeks at Lancashire’s seasise resorts in their heyday.
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28
Food & Drink
Sally’s Specials by Marti of The Star Inn
The Star Inn
Rosemary Crusted Fillet of Lamb with Fondant Potato, Glazed Baby Vegetables and Shallot Cream
Serves 1
Method
Ingredients
Crust: Mix together the breadcrumbs, finely chopped rosemary, 25g of melted butter, some grated lemon rind, a sprinkle of cracked black pepper until moist and brought together. Then leave aside.
1x large jacket potato 1x 8oz canon of lamb fillet 50g butter ½ cup natural breadcrumbs 6x baby carrots 4x baby fennel 1x pint chicken stock 1x pint whipping or double cream
Fondant: Peel a large jacket potato, trim the potato with a large shape cutter to cut out your fondant. In a hot oiled pan, lightly brown and place in an oven proof dish. Add the chicken stock to your oven proof dish only covering up to half of the potato and top with a slice of butter and bake at 170 degrees for 20-25 minutes. The potato should be beautifully boiled at the bottom and crisply roasted on top, with a fluffy texture in the middle. Lamb: In a pan, heat a little olive oil until very hot, add in your lamb fillet, seal off until browned on all sides and season. Add a knob of butter and put in the oven for around 3-4 minutes on 180 degrees. Lift out the lamb and place the moist crust along the fillet, bake for another 3-4- minutes and lift out, rest, then carve. For well done lamb, cook for 6-7 minutes before adding the crumb.
Seasoning
Vegetables: In a pan of hot seasoned boiling water cook the vegetables until al dente, lift out and drain any excess water. Heat a little oil in a pan until very hot, add the vegetables, a knob of butter and drop of honey. Toss around with a little seasoning and serve with chopped herbs.
Grated lemon rind
Sauce: In a hot oiled pan, add finely chopped shallots and thyme, cook until the
4x banana shallots 2 sprigs of rosemary
Horseradish sauce Touch of honey
shallots are soft. Add a splash of white wine and reduce by half. Add ½ pint of whipping or double cream, a good splash of chicken stock and season. Reduce again by half and add ½ teaspoon of horseradish sauce, season again to taste. Add a small knob of butter and serve.
29 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 of The Star Inn at Roby Mill.
Salmon, Chilli & Coriander Fishcakes
This is a simple and very tasty dish to make. Traditionally fishcakes have quite a bland taste, but the spicy flavours here give the dish a hell of a kick, which contrasts exceptionally well with the crème fraiche and the tomato concasse. Try and use Scottish salmon though, only the best for a dish like this!
Ingredients
Serves 1 - 2
1x 6oz Scottish Salmon fillet
Method
3x large peeled potatoes 2x red chillies Handful of chopped coriander 1x clove of garlic ½ finely chopped onion Seasoning Pane Gear (seasoned flour, egg wash, fine breadcrumbs) ½ lemon Sprig of thyme
Poach the Salmon in salted water with lemon and thyme. Meanwhile chop and boil the potatoes until soft. Very finely chop the onion, garlic, chillies and coriander and place into a mixing bowl. Strain the potatoes and add them to the mixing bowl. Carefully lift out the salmon, discard the lemon and thyme and add the Salmon to the bowl. Season with salt and cracked black pepper, then mix until completely combined. Portion into thick circles and pane (we pane twice for extra crispness). Shallow fry until golden brown. Enjoy with some dressed leaves, a simple chive crème fraiche or a chunky tomato concasse.
30
Seventies
Chic
Get your groove on – it’s back to the Seventies! But this time around orange pine and avocado bathrooms are banned, in favour of good-looking furnishings, bold patterns and cool accessories. Seventies style is all about attitude. Bright and bold, it’s easy to introduce, often quite affordable and, because the furnishings are so striking, less is definitely more – a handful of well-chosen pieces can be carefully integrated into a modern scheme, adding an on-trend edge without becoming overpowering. Start with the distinctive Seventies colour palette – in general colours were quite earthy and muddy, from mustard and ochre to camel, olive and chocolate. Like the patterns of the time – geometrics such as circles within squares, paisleys and simple florals – these strong shades are best employed in small doses, mitigated by pale or neutral backgrounds. Think small touches such as a cushion or two, a drum lampshade, some glassware and ceramics and a framed poster on your wall, for example. Typical of this decade is an element of comforting homespun, home-made style, hence the prevalence of handicrafts such as patchwork, weaving and macramé. Why not take a course, or teach yourself from books or online videos, and make your own, personalised pieces? Failing that, Etsy, Folksy and other online marketplaces have beautiful (and affordable) craft pieces. Include some wooden and, especially, rattan furnishings in the form of blocky furniture made of pine or covered in velvet or corduroy, and cane elements such as headboards, mirror frames and baskets. Try car boot sales, auctions or charity shops, though choose better quality items to create the right impression. A cream-coloured shagpile rug is another option and can be subtly updated with a Berber-style criss-cross pattern.
Houseplants are important, and the bigger the better – no Seventies home was complete without a Swiss cheese plant and a spider plant in a handmade hanger. Complete the mix with some rustic kitchenware, a touch of vintage Laura Ashley, and perhaps even a beanbag or Moroccan pouffe.
Lava lamps Edward Craven-Walker (1918-2000) was a great British inventor, entrepreneur and eccentric. The story goes that he was in a pub one night when he noticed a peculiar egg timer, made from a cocktail shaker, old tins and wax, and filled with liquid. Fascinated, he bought the contraption and decided to try to improve on its design. It took 15 years, but in 1963 the Astro Lamp was launched and became an instant hit, appearing in TV programmes including The Prisoner, Doctor Who and The Avengers. Lava lamps came in a range of designs, and were ubiquitous until the late Seventies and Eighties; they were revived in the Nineties and have since become popular again – a retro classic that’s perfectly suited to a 21st century lifestyle.
31
32 on your capital over those 10 years (plus an average of 3.79% a year in dividends), making an overall increase of 74% over the ten years.
Risk vs
Reward Working out where to invest your hard-earned savings has always been a problem for people through the ages. You’ll find that building societies, the stock market, gold or property are all viable options, but it all depends your attitude towards risk vs reward. Normally, the lower the risk, the lower the reward and whilst a higher risk is normally associated with the possibility of higher returns, nothing is guaranteed.
Investing in an average semi-detached house in Wigan over the last 10 years has seen the capital increase by 33% and, coupled with the rental income (based on maximum occupancy) would have provided a return of 93.32% over the ten years. Even though landlords have had to deal with a 3% stamp duty level, a decrease in high rate taxrelief for landlords and an increase in rate of CGT on residential property profits, the facts remain that ‘bricks and mortar’ is still a very attractive investment option.
So where should you invest? Here’s an illustration on how different investments have performed over the last decade. Using the price of the average Wigan semi-detached house in 2009 (£112,300), I looked at what would have happened had I invested the same amount of money in a building society, into gold and finally into the FTSE 100. Investing your money in the building society, the money hasn’t increased in value, but the investment would have earned you interest of 24.46% over the ten years. Gold doesn’t earn interest, but your investment would have increased in value by 26.9% over the same 10 years. Putting your money into the stock market (FTSE100) would have brought a return of 30.2%
With the lack of new homes being built and a need for decent rental housing, it is highly probable that this option will remain attractive for the foreseeable future. If you are looking for an agent that is well established, professional and communicative, then contact us to find out how we can get the best out of your investment property. Email me on alan@ alanbatt.co.uk or call on 01942 233999.
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.
For more of Alan’s tips, guidance and analysis on the Wigan property market, check out
Alan Batt
www.wiganpropertynews.blogspot.co.uk
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34
Good
Traders
The annual awards for Wigan Council’s Good Trader Scheme were held a few weeks ago at the town hall on Library Street, and Local Life was there to capture the highlights.
to Case & Young Ltd, DA Electrical won the Best Newcomer for Wigan award and the Overall Winner for Wigan went to Advanced Fencing & Gates (all pictured).
The scheme is run by the council’s Trading Standards team and offers residents a platform of over 500 trusted tradespeople located within Wigan Borough. Tradespeople must prove they have enough experience, public liability insurance and are vetted by the team before being allowed onto the scheme. Residents can access the scheme via www.goodtraderscheme.com to search for a Good Trader and also leave feedback on the site of any work they have had done by a member of the scheme.
There were also thirty six Certificates of Excellence awarded to members of the scheme in recognition of consistently high customer feedback in 2018, and many of these went to Local Life advertisers including our garden columnist Angie Barker, CL Bathrooms, Plumbing & Tiling, Direct Blinds & Shutters, Expert Computers, FG Welch Central Heating & Gas Services Ltd, GHE Electrical Fire & Security Ltd, Jon Wright Electrical Ltd, Manor House Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning, Marc Mulligan Brickwork & Property Maintenance and Wigan Aerials.
Trading Standards officers evaluated the feedback from 2018 and declared the awards as follows; The Highly Commended - Leigh award went to A&J Kitchen Fitters, Vitreous Windows won the Best Newcomer for Leigh award and the Overall Winner for Leigh went to Gary Sanderson Flooring.
Congratulations to all those tradespeople who were recognised by the Good Trader Scheme. If you’re a tradesperson and you’d like an information pack on how to join the Wigan Council’s Good Trader Scheme then please email ts@wigan.gov.uk
The Highly Commended – Wigan award went
From left to right: Advanced Fencing & Gates Ltd., DA Electrical Services and Case & Young Ltd.
35
New Kits for Orrell School Big-hearted business owner Chris Ryder, of local minibus travel firm Get Chris, recently forked out for sports kit for Orrell Holgate Academy. The kits donated by Chris will be worn by Holgate’s teams when participating in football, rugby, netball and cross country events.
Chris Ryder, who donated the kits, commented: ‘I used to play a lot of sport when I was a kid mainly hockey - and I know how important it is. The opportunity to give something back to the community while helping to keep kids interested in sport was one I couldn’t pass up, and the kids themselves have been really grateful. ‘It’s important to keep things local where you can, and this was a great opportunity to thank the people of Orrell for their support,’ he added.
DIR ER
AC U F TU N
R
T FROM
No stranger to sporting success, Orrell Holgate Academy recently earned the Gold Level School Games Mark, which sets it apart as a school delivering a sustained high level of delivery in physical education and sports.
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‘The multi-use kit Chris has provided for us is very popular with the children that wear it to represent the school, and will also be used for rugby and cross country events later on in the year,’ Chris added.
E TH MA
U-10s and U-11s Coach Chris van Geffen said: ‘Both teams are doing well in their respective leagues – the U-11s have won it for the past two years and the U-10s have a cup final to look forward to in July. The netball team are currently undefeated in their league and flying high at the top of the table.
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36
Eye-Catching Art A Wigan-based solicitors has run a student art competition with the nearby St John Rigby College for a new piece of art to adorn the office wall.
received an extremely high calibre of entries. From a shortlist of five pieces, one really stood out – a painting by Year 13 student Ailsa Hodge.
Rachel Taylor at RJT Solicitors in Standish came up with the idea for the competition when she realised her wall was looking a little empty, and thought what better way to liven it up than with the work of a local young artist? The competition, which was open to art students at the college,
Ailsa had opted to paint a close-up of her mum’s eye, which RJT’s Rachel and Donna dubbed incredibly EYE-catching and unique. Ailsa received a £100 cash prize and her artwork is now displayed in the RJT office in High Street, Standish, tastefully framed by a bespoke framer based in Pemberton.
Ailsa Hodge’s artwork at RJT Solicitors, Standish
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Flower Power Chorley Flower Show opens its gates on the weekend of 27th and 28th July. Held in the grounds of historic Astley Hall, the award-winning tourist attraction sees more than 15,000 people visit over the two days. Dubbed as Lancashire’s biggest amateur gardening competition, visitors of all ages can enjoy live music, family entertainment and stunning show gardens. This year BBC Floral Expert Jonathan Moseley will be touring the show and there will be a shopping
village, with independent stalls offering everything from gourmet food to unique items for the home and garden. Weekend tickets are on sale and you can save 20 per cent by booking now, with advance tickets £10 for adults and £1.50 for children. Brand new this year is a special preview event, which includes hospitality and entertainment, which is held the night before the show officially opens. For tickets and further information, visit www.chorleyflowershow.com
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40
Green is the
New Black
‘Neo mint’ is set to take over the worlds of fashion and interiors in 2020, say trend forecasters, aligning the world of nature and technology at the dawn of a new decade. Check out our must-have products below.
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How to decorate with neo-mint • Pale shades of green work beautifully with soft pink or dove grey - a great combination for a restful bedroom, for example. If, on the other hand, you prefer more drama, add a jolt of colour in the form of fuchsia, orange or acidic yellow. • Keep things calm and fresh by using mint as a A durable, luxurious and silky fibre, alpaca wool is known for its warmth and hypoallergenic qualities. Pure alpaca throw in soft mint green, £149.95, Annabel James
backdrop on walls or floors, whether painted or papered. On wooden floors, why not add a feelgood, fresh green rug or two? • Include some natural textures for a delightful contrast. Pale wood goes beautifully, as do stone, marble and rattan. • This green works particularly nicely on glossy wall tiles. Bear it in mind when renovating a bathroom or kitchen.
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42
Made In Dagenham The last production of the season scheduled to open at Wigan Little Theatre is Richard Bean’s musical which is based on the 2010 film, Made in Dagenham. This musical is centred round the truelife events of the Ford sewing machinists strike of 1961. Rita O'Grady acts as the spokesperson for the female workers at Ford’s Dagenham plant, who go on strike to fight the inequality that becomes apparent when women workers were to be paid less as they were classed as unskilled.
of the struggle for equal pay.
Their stand against injustice led to the Equal Pay Act in 1970 and the women are acknowledged as having played a very significant part in the history
Director Tracey Dawson says, ‘I’m very excited about this production, it’s full of great songs and has a great script and although very funny, it tells us a lot
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43 about human nature and comradeship. We’ve had a super season and I’m proud that this cast draws it to a block-busting close. The production runs between 17th-27th July and tickets are available at the Box Office in person or by telephone on (01942) 242561 between 7pm – 9pm on the Friday, Monday and Tuesday before and each night during productions or anytime online at www.wiganlittletheatre.co.uk
Summer Shindig Age UK Wigan Borough are hosting a summer shindig this month for anyone living in Wigan aged over 50. The Houghton Weavers will be performing at the event, which will also feature stalls to browse and tours of DW Stadium. Tickets for the event are free and are available on 01942 615895, and it takes place on Thursday, July 4 from 12pm-4pm at the stadium.
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Island Hopping
Adventure By Jess Phillips
Offering a distinctive culture, natural wonders and a vast number of stunning geological phenomena, the Shetland and Orkney Islands are rather unique. More Scandinavian than British, these islands located off Scotland’s north coast are wonderfully secluded, surrounded by crystal-clear waters. From wildlife watching and outdoor adventures like diving and cliff walking, to visiting historic sights and far-flung islands, Shetland and the Orkney Islands have plenty on offer for people of all ages and interests. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the much coveted and undoubtedly awe-inspiring Northern Lights.
Did you know that in the summer months, these islands can enjoy almost 19 hours of sunshine a day? As they’re so far north, they have a ‘simmer dim’, when the sun only dips below the northern horizon for a few hours.
Shetland At any time of year you’ll be enchanted by ruggedly handsome Shetland. In fact, it was the only place in the UK to make Lonely Planet’s Top 10 Summer Destinations in Europe list! The archipelago has more than 100 islands with just 15 inhabited, making it the ideal destination to escape the
47 stresses of everyday life. On the southern tip of Mainland, Sumburgh Head boasts 4,000-yearold treasures such as Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse settlements. Shetland offers some of the finest walking in Europe, combining spectacular coastal scenery on both the North and Atlanticfacing cliffs, quiet inland lochs and gentle hills. It has many quiet, relatively flat roads that are ideal for cycling – hire a bike in the capital Lerwick or Unst and embark on your own selfguided tour.
Lerwick, on Mainland, boasts extensive leisure and entertainment activities, as well as the outstanding Shetland Museum and Archives, which sits on the restored historic Hay’s Dock.
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Orkney Islands The Orkney Islands offer a time-worn, almost mystical charm where visitors will be greeted by storm-battered cliffs, ancient stone circles and delightful scenery.
experience Shetland and the Orkney Islands is with an independent tour incorporating stays in both Lerwick and Kirkwall. Flying to the islands is incredibly straightforward, with options to fly direct from Scottish airports
Mainland, the largest of the Orkney Islands, is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and is packed with prehistoric treasures: start off with the Ring of Brodgar – a stone circle built around 2,500 BC, which predates both Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids! Nearby Skara Brae is Europe’s bestpreserved Stone Age settlement; you can even make out walls and furnishings that were laid out by ancient humans! On Mainland you’ll find Kirkwall, the vibrant capital of the Orkneys. The skyline is dominated by the 12th century Norse cathedral of St Magnus. Other fascinating sights include the Bishop’s and Earl’s palaces and Orkney Museum. It boasts a wide choice of restaurants and cafes where you can enjoy Orkney’s excellent food and drink including its famed local beef, lamb, salmon and shellfish, as well as a multitude of other locally produced delights.
Getting there
Can’t decide which islands to visit? Why not book a holiday with a stay on both? The best way to
including Inverness, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow. You can also choose to fly from other major UK airports including direct flights from Manchester to Kirkwall (Orkney) and Manchester via Inverness to Sumburgh (Shetland) Many of the neighbouring islands can be visited by boat as day trips for the ultimate island hopping holiday! Both Lerwick and Kirkwall offer a range of hotels which offer a warm welcome, such as the Kirkwall Hotel - perfectly situated on the picturesque harbour and offering stunning views to the north. The Lerwick Hotel, meanwhile, has unrivalled views of Brewick Bay and the island of Bressay.
49
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Buying A House In Joint Names There are several reasons why people buy houses in joint names but whatever your reason for buying with someone else, the chances are that splitting the costs of a mortgage and the living costs of running a house makes sharing the ownership really beneficial. You can usually generate a larger deposit and get a larger mortgage, whilst having smaller repayments because these are shared too but please remember each of you is liable for the full amount owed on the mortgage, regardless of what share of the property you have. Depending on how much you’re putting into a property (in terms of a deposit), and what your relationship is with the person you’re buying it with, there are different ways of owning the property in joint names. The type of ownership affects what you can do with the property if your relationship with a joint owner breaks down, or if one owner dies and your choice needs to be decided when you first purchase the property, so that it can be correctly registered with HM Land Registry. There are two ways in which you can hold property. These are as either ‘joint tenants’ or ‘tenants in common’. Joint tenants As joint tenants (sometimes called ‘beneficial joint tenants’): • you have equal rights to the whole property • your share in the property automatically goes to the other owner if you die • you cannot pass on your ownership of the property in your will • should you separate in the future you would each receive 50% of the equity in the property irrespective of who provided what contributions to the purchase price. (This is not always the case on divorce as there are other considerations which a court is obliged to take into account) Most married couples and those in civil partnerships and long-term relationships are likely to be joint tenants, but this is not always the most straightforward or indeed financially advantageous
co-ownership for some people. You can later convert a joint tenancy into tenants in common. Tenants in Common As tenants in common: • you can own different shares in the property. This can still be an equal share but can be unequal to reflect the differing contributions which the owners have made both to the purchase price and if applicable future mortgage payments • your share in the property does not automatically go to the other owner if you die • you can pass on your share of the property in your will or if there is no will this will pass to your next of kin under the rules of intestacy • if you separate you will take the share of the equity in the property you have agreed at the time of the purchase Becoming tenants in common is practical where either co-owner has a child or children from a previous relationship; the co-owners are an unmarried couple or are not in a civil partnership; unequal contributions are made by each co-owner to the mortgage, deposit, purchase price and maintenance; one co-owner does not want their share to pass automatically to the surviving coowner; business partners are buying together; or co-owners want to reduce potential inheritance tax on an estate. When buying as tenants in common, you should have a precise agreement drawn up that details each party’s share. This is usually in the form of a Declaration of Trust or Cohabitation Agreement. The document can be updated whenever there is any change in the co-owners’ circumstances. If you would like to know more about this complicated area of law please call to speak to our conveyancing solicitors, Kathryn Leach, Liam Prescott or Rachel McMillan on 01942 246241. Alternatively please email them on: Kathryn Leach: kaleach@abhlaw.co.uk Liam Prescott: lprescott@abhlaw.co.uk Rachel McMillan: rmcmillan@abhlaw.co.uk
51
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Highfield turns 95 An institute in the hamlet of Highfield since 1924, Highfield Cricket Club celebrates its 95th anniversary this year. The club’s extensive history was officially chronicled by current Chairman Gary Speakman back in 1999 for the club’s 75th anniversary, and he hopes to bring that illustrious heritage to the forefront once again five years ahead of the centenary. Interestingly, the club actually predates its own birthday. ‘There was a Highfield Cricket Club around earlier than 1924,’ Gary explains as we sit overlooking the beautiful, tree lined and tranquil cricket ground, ‘playing close by off Enfield Street but not on this ground. This incarnation of the club was created from scratch by colliery workers who were laid off work at the time.’ The land used for the club was bequeathed by Major Blundell, proprietor of the Pemberton Colliery Company Ltd. and owner of much of the land in Highfield in the early twentieth century. The club was established as a recreational area to encourage a better work-life balance for miners, who for the nominal fee of two pennies a week deducted from their wage packet, could enjoy a subscription to the club. A keen cricketer himself, Gary’s interest in researching the club’s history may well stem from a coincidental connection: ‘When we were conducting the initial “who’s who” at the beginning, I found something rather astonishing,’ he tells me. ‘The very first chairman I could find was a WH Speakman
– completely unrelated to me as far as I know! I’ve been involved with the club for 43 years now, but to have another Speakman who chaired the club at the outset is crazy.’ Gary has now been Chairman of the club for fifteen years, and hopes to continue as the club reaches its centenary in 2024. ‘It would be a real honour to be Chairman for the hundredth anniversary but there is a democratic vote on all committee roles every year so we will wait and see. I’ve never fully retired as a player, so I do fill in now and then – well, I turn up!’ ‘I’ve always been interested in local history, and the strange thing about Highfield is there is no natural centre to it – however the hub of Highfield is St Mathews church, St Mathews Primary school and the cricket club,’ Gary continues. ‘A lot of the research process was social history – how the club managed to survive through the post-World War I era in the 20s, the Great Depression in the 30s and then through another World War. The fact that clubs with grounds
54 weekend, a huge community day is planned, where members of the public can find out a bit more about what the cricket club has to offer while enjoying a party atmosphere.
this size were able to be sustained is incredible and a testament to some key individuals, too many to name all, but certainly previous Chairman like David Ascroft and Harold Gaskell were driving forces.’ Highfield Cricket Club has also seen some famous faces pass through its doors – although not all of them were famous for their cricketing skills. ‘We have had a very strong link with Wigan rugby league club over the years, and Billy Boston proved to be a very quick opening bowler and consistent performer for Highfield even when still playing rugby professionally.’ Boston, who spent fifteen years playing for Wigan, took around 160 wickets for Highfield’s first team between 1956 and 1961. Jim Sullivan, boasting a career that spanned 25 years at Wigan rugby league, was also fond of amateur cricket and played for Highfield. Such a long and lustrous heritage deserves an appropriate celebration for its 95th anniversary – and a celebration it will have. The club have already hosted a dinner for around 130 guests, including its honorary life members, invited along for an evening of reminisces and entertainment. The evening included a tribute to club stalwart Eileen Gaskell, who passed away in January of this year, from her successor as President Brian Lancaster and her family led by son Martin Gaskell. For the August bank holiday
‘Cricket does face its challenges,’ Gary continues. ‘Celebrating 95 years is one thing, but we want to keep reinvigorating the club – attracting new adult and junior players, and volunteers to help maintain the ground and wider facilities. Our youngest age groups through to the age of 11 now has over 70 members but we have capacity for more and we would also love to see youngsters picking up the game at 12 years onwards. Community, friendship and fun are just as important to the club as the game of cricket. Working together with the church as we have for 95 years, members can enjoy fully licensed premises which are open every evening along with parish hall and function room hire for parties and businesses.” To develop that theme further, Highfield Cricket Club host Fun Fridays each week, offering juniors a chance to get a feel for the sport. In late July the club will also be hosting a summer sports school, offering a mix of cricketing and wider sports-based fun. For more information about Highfield Cricket Club and its events, visit: highfieldcricketclub.co.uk
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56
Legal & Finance
Is past performance a guarantee to
future returns? At the time of writing this article (7th June) the big news in the financial press is that ‘Star fund manager’, Neil Woodford, stopped investors withdrawing money out of his Woodford Equity Income Fund on 4th June, after the sum total of investment withdrawn from the fund reached a staggering £560m in less than four weeks. Kent County Council wanted to withdraw a further £263m but were unable to do so before trading halted. It was reported yesterday in FT.com that two of the UKs largest wealth managers, Hargreaves Lansdown and St James Place were exposed to these developments. According to the FT, Mr Woodford was managing £3.5 billion of funds on behalf of St James Place and that Hargreaves Lansdown had directed £3 billion worth of their clients into his funds. As a result of the fall out, St James Place have now parted ways with Woodford, removing his investment mandate and Hargreaves Lansdown have now removed the fund from their Wealth 50 selection.
Woodford could do no wrong and Prosper Wealth Management were big advocates; we held circa £10m on behalf of our clients in his flagship UK Income and High-Income funds and both delivered outstanding returns for our clients.
So why has it all gone wrong?
Mr Woodford then left Invesco Perpetual to set up his own company, Woodford Investment Management Ltd and many investors followed him, believing that past performance would be a guide to future returns. At the time of launch our investment committee considered Woodford’s new business but decided NOT to jump on board, instead preferring to adopt a let’s wait and see strategy. A decision was later taken not to expose any of our model portfolio clients to his funds.
Investment analysts have attributed this action to the significant poor performance of the fund over recent months. During his time at Invesco Perpetual,
The fallout from all this has very sadly hit a lot of investors. His recent public apology probably hasn’t gone far enough in the minds of many investors
57 individual investment manager. We want to understand the governance process and framework of each individual fund, and how each fund intends to deliver its stated objectives. Fund managers can be flavour of the month; it’s the fundamentals of the fund itself that provide better insight. Safe Pair of Hands
who are now unable to withdraw their funds and are nursing significant losses. There are several issues at play here which we, as advisers, seek to address when managing client portfolios. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket Investing is about managing risk and diversification is a key part of this. Committing all your money to one investment manager is never a great idea. By selecting a range of funds, we spread the risk within portfolios. Good governance is essential
Managing money on behalf of clients is about avoiding ‘losers’ as much as it is about picking ‘winners’. This is very much at the heart of our philosophy as a ‘safe pair of hands’. Should you be considering options around investing or looking to review your existing portfolio please do not hesitate to get in touch. The initial consultation is without obligation and is at our expense. The value of investments can go down as well as up. Past performance is no guarantee to future returns. Investing in shares should be regarded as a long term investment and should fit in with your overall attitude to risk and financial circumstances.
A robust governance process is important when managing client portfolios. When selecting funds as part of a portfolio, our established investment governance process ensures that these are regularly reviewed and action is taken where and when appropriate. This framework ensures that we act early on managing any potential risks that may impact portfolio performance. Asset allocation is a key driver to performance It is not just about selecting the right funds. When constructing client portfolios, we take into account the importance of asset allocation. This is the split between different types of investments such as UK and overseas equities, fixed interest and cash. Asset allocation is as important as fund selection.
01257 423 800 www.prosper-ifa.co.uk
Follow the fund, not the manager Fund managers are human; they don’t get it right all the time. The most sensible approach is to consider the fundamentals governing the fund itself, not the
David Barton APFS Cert CII (MP) Managing Director & Chartered Financial Planner
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Holiday
reads
Books to while away the summer evenings with. The Library of Lost and Found – Phaedra Patrick :: Librarian Martha Storm finds a book containing a dedication from her grandmother. But the dedication is dated several years after her grandmother supposedly died. The book sets Martha out on a quest that will rock her safe, predictable life and remind her of who she really is. A hugely enjoyable, warm hug of a book.
Stone Mothers – Erin Kelly :: Marianne is back in her home village, and desperate to keep a secret hidden that could destroy the life she’s built over the last 30 years. A secret that ties her to her childhood sweetheart, Jesse, as well as the MP responsible for shutting down the local asylum. This chilling psychological tale is a slow-burner but well worth sticking with.
Internment – Samira Ahmed :: Set ‘15 minutes into the future’, Internment tells the story of 17-year-old Layla, who is sent to a Muslim-American internment camp in the middle of the Californian desert. Similar to the real JapaneseAmerican internment camps of World War II, this camp is a dangerous place to stand out. Layla’s parents want her to keep her head down and not attract the attention of the vicious camp director. But Layla is prepared to risk her life for her freedom. A powerful page-turner about the price of turning a blind eye to bigotry.
The Dollmaker – Nina Allan :: Andrew and Bramber start writing to each other because of their shared interest in dolls. As their friendship grows, Andrew decides to visit Bramber at the institution she calls home. Andrew and Bramber’s story is interspersed with tales written by another doll-lover, Ewa Chaplin, which Andrew reads on his journey. A beautiful, strange, multi-layered book you’ll want to keep reading long after the sun has gone down.
A Boy and his Dog at the End of the World – C. A. Fletcher :: Griz is growing up in a postapocalyptic world where mass-infertility has decimated the human population. His community is tiny and life is difficult. When a stranger steals the family’s dog, Griz sets out to get her back, on a journey that will take him from his tiny island on the Outer Hebrides across Scotland and Northern England. Perfect for fans of The Road and Station’s Eleven.
Outlander – Diana Gabaldon :: If your idea of the perfect holiday is spending several days on a sun lounger with a good book, then the Outlander series could be just what you’re looking for. On a trip to the Scottish Highlands, Claire Randall steps through a circle of stones and finds herself transported from 1946 to 1743, where she’s taken prisoner by Scottish outlaws. The hit TV show is now into its fourth season and the books are even better.
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60
Business View
MTD is now LIVE
Are You? by Chris Alcock - CMA Accountancy
If you own a business that is VAT-registered then you should already be aware of the significant reporting changes needed by the new Making Tax Digital regime which started in April. This will affect the majority of businesses and the return you submit in July needs to be fully MTD compliant. There is still time to make these changes before that return is submitted, but you need to act now to ensure you don’t get fined. To summarise, all businesses that are registered for VAT and have a turnover above the VAT registration threshold of £85,000 will be required to keep digital records and submit their VAT return to HMRC through MTD compatible software. All the accountancy software providers such as Xero, Quickbooks and Sage offer solutions to ensure that you comply with the new rules, but what if you depend on spreadsheets and manual records? HMRC have declared that those businesses that do keep their VAT records manually or on a spreadsheet, will be able to continue to do so for now. However, the final solution for these businesses will still involve making changes to their current spreadsheets so that they can link to HMRC by bridging software. Therefore all VAT registered business with a turnover of more than £85,000 will need to take action of some kind immediately, if you haven’t already done so. That fact that HMRC are looking to bring more changes to business record keeping in the next few years means that it’s important to try
and make your plans as future-proof as possible. In our view the best way to do that is to switching to a cloud accounting solution will help prepare for these and for future changes. CMA are partners with Xero and Quickbooks, so we are in a good position to help you choose which is best for your business.
Special Offer! We are offering all new clients Xero or Quickbooks software free of charge for 6 MONTHS if they sign up for our services before the end of July 2019. As with any enforced change of this kind, the affect on business owners is demanding but there are some very positive aspects that result from changing to MTD. Many of our clients have already made the switch to online accounting and are enjoying the benefits that it brings. These include saving time, improving cashflow, being able to make better and faster decisions, and improving security too. If you have any questions regarding Making Tax Digital or switching to online accounting systems please do get in touch. Chris Alcock ACMA - CMA Accountancy 39 Skull House Lane, Appley Bridge, Wigan, WN6 9DR Tel: 01257 255521 Email info@cma-accountancy.com web www.cma-accountancy.com
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Making Tax Digital Do you have a business that’s VAT-registered and has a turnover of £85,000+? Are you aware that the Making Tax Digital changes are now LIVE? Would you like your business to enjoy the benefits of online accounting? Call us today for a free consultation.
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
62
Health & Fitness
Pollution
Problems In the UK, 40,000 deaths a year are attributed to outdoor air pollution, and the illnesses it causes costs around £20 billion every year. There are also more deaths and costs attributed to indoor pollutants like badlyventilated open fires and stoves, radon and second-hand cigarette smoke. In adults, air pollution causes coughs and increased phlegm, increasing your risk of getting lung cancer - it’s estimated that pollution contributes to around 1 in 13 cases. It also reduces lung function, which in turn increases risk for COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Researchers found that people living in areas experiencing levels of nitrogen dioxide pollution in the top 20% were 40% more likely to have been diagnosed with dementia than those in areas with levels in the lowest 20%. They seem to be at increased risk of ‘silent stroke’ – small areas of damage caused by lack of oxygen to the brain tissue, but not severe enough to cause obvious symptoms. These silent strokes may be a sign of blood vessel disease, linked to increased risk of vascular dementia. Pollution increases the risk of bladder cancer and Type 2 diabetes. For children, the effects are more serious because their organs and immune system are still developing. This, and their smaller mass, makes them particularly vulnerable. Air pollution can damage your baby in the womb, affecting their lung function and development.
High air pollution is linked to low birth weight and premature births. Exposure to air pollution can cause more coughs and bronchitis, and also increases your child’s risk of getting bacterial pneumonia. Pollution may play a part in causing asthma in some children and evidence shows it can worsen asthma symptoms. Long-term effects, severity and mortality rates increase with the length of exposure and higher pollution levels. Using quieter back-streets and footpaths as much as you can while out and about is a good way to reduce your daily exposure to air pollution. Remember to turn your car engine off when stationary - e.g. while waiting at a rail crossing - and turn on the air conditioning while stuck in traffic to reduce pollution exposure. Use it sparingly though, as the resulting carbon dioxide build-up can cause drowsiness. Keep car tyres inflated and have your vehicle serviced regularly to reduce harmful emissions, or choose a hybrid or electric car to help others avoid pollution. By Alison Runham
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Free Breast Screening Wigan women aged 50-70 are invited to attend a free NHS breast screening. It’s recommended that screenings take place every three years – the earlier breast cancer is caught, the better the chances of beating it. Mammograms are a simple procedure during which an X-ray is taken of each breast by a female health practitioner. Screenings take place in the mobile unit on the Thomas Linacre Centre carpark, and can be booked on 01942 774713.
Anxiety Support A new group has launched in Wigan to help people with anxiety. The Wigan Anxiety Support Group is the brainchild of Luke, who has lived with anxiety since he was a child. ‘I’m 37 now – over the past year or two I’ve made a lot of progress and it’s always been a dream of mine to run a group when I felt ready to do so,’ he explained. The best way to increase the group’s reach was to team up with mental health charity Rethink Mental Illness, which directly supports around 60,000 people in England with mental health issues, and encouraged Luke to launch a Wigan group. Meetings take place every other Wednesday at 7pm, at St. Wilfrid’s Parish Hall in Standish. Along with providing a safe space for members to discuss their mental health, the group also hosts monthly speakers, and hope to organise various Walk n’ Talk events in warm weather. Attendees are free to say as much or as little as they’d like at meetings – there’s no pressure to share your story, and you’re very welcome to just sit and listen. For more information about the group, email WiganAnxietyGroup@Rethink.org or call 07784 886343.
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Fun in the Sun The last thing you want when you’re enjoying a
- Water can make you feel artificially cool, and the
week or two of relaxation or adventure is to suffer bad sunburn or heatstroke. Here are tips for a safe, healthy holiday in the sun!
BAD warns that water and sand can increase the sun’s radiation. Apply sunscreen straight after you leave the water, even if it’s ‘water-resistant’. It can be compromised by sweating or towel drying.
Beware sunburn and prolonged sun exposure By now, we should all be aware of their link to skin cancer, even years later. If children are repeatedly exposed, they could develop skin cancer in later life. - Choose sunscreen with a UVA rating of at least 4 stars and a UVB rating (indicated by the SPF or Sun Protection Factor) of at least 30 (50+ for children). - Apply sunscreen liberally and frequently. Apply at least two teaspoons of sunscreen to cover your head, arms and neck and two tablespoons to cover your entire body while wearing a swimming costume, 30 minutes before going out and just before going out. ”More is better,” says the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD).
- Take extra care if you have pale skin, freckles, red or fair hair, many moles (look out for new moles, growths or lumps, and size, shape or colour changes to existing moles, freckles or skin patches), skin problems relating to a medical condition or a tendency to burn rather than tan. Sunburnt? Apply plenty of cold water as soon as possible, then a soothing product like aftersun or calamine lotion. An antiseptic cream that contains local anaesthetic, plus painkillers such as ibuprofen, can help. if you feel unwell or your skin swells badly or blisters, seek medical help. Avoid the sun until all redness has gone. By Alison Runham
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Health & Fitness
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66
Leisure
Salt Trail by Chris Pearce
This month’s Jack’s Tracks visits Northwich, a place that today fits nicely into the pigeon-hole of genteel and leafy Cheshire, but it wasn’t always this way. Back in 1670, the Smith-Barry family of Marbury Hall were searching their land for evidence of coal which they could extract for commercial gain, but instead discovered huge resources of rock salt, a remnant from the Triassic period when seawater moved inland, creating shallow salt marshes. By the 1830’s, the salt mining industry in Northwich had ceased and the industry moved to nearby Winsford, leaving behind a mass of industrial wasteland and collapsed pits. This easy four-mile walk demonstrates the amazing ability of Mother Nature to renew even the most scarred of landscapes. Follow the brown signs to the Anderton Boat Lift (CW9 6FW) and park up in the pay and display car park. Take the path leading off from the centre of the car park, directly across from the pay machine. Go through the pretty butterfly barriers and then bear immediate left. At the next fork bear right and, just after the stone artwork a little further on, bear right once more and go past the wooden gate, heading downhill through a wooden area.
At the next fork, bear left towards Hyden Pool, and once you get past the next information board, you can take either fork to end up at a wooden bridge. Cross the bridge and carry on in the same direction until you arrive at another bridge by reed beds, cross here and, once again, go in the same direction.
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Ri ve r ve ea W r
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Marston
Museum
Please ensure you wear appropriate clothing and footwear whilst walking. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the walk is accurate, neither the publisher or its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or other cause.
Anderton Boat Lift
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67
68 Once you go through the steel gate at the end of the path, take the path on the left. Follow this path for approximately 200 yards, take the foot bridge on the right and you’ll eventually end up on the road, where you’ll arrive, 300 yards later, at the Salt Lion Works. You can walk through the Salt Lion Works to get to the Trent and Mersey Canal and then turn left down the towpath. Follow the towpath for almost two miles, past tranquil Cheshire countryside and an attractive marina, passing the coffee boat and the fudge boat en-route, until you reach the Anderton Boat Lift and its car park from where you started the walk. https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/places-to-visit/ anderton-boat-lift-visitor-centre http://lionsaltworks.westcheshiremuseums.co.uk/
After 750 yards on this path, which runs parallel to Witton Brook, you’ll arrive at the eastern entrance to Anderton Nature Park; turn right towards Marbury Park and a few yards later when you arrive on a single track road (Marbury Road), turn right and follow the road for almost 700 yards until you arrive at a collection of steel and wooden gates on your left. Aim for the path that represents a 90 degree left turn from the road, so go through the gates and pick up this path. Follow this path for a further 700 yards, but whilst you’re on this path do take the chance to check out the bird hide.
For those with the OS Maps app on your desktop, mobile or tablet, this walk is named: JT-Salt-Trail
69
Puzzle Corner WORD SEARCH
All the puzzle solutions can be found on page 97 of this magazine.
SUDOKU
American States Find the hidden words in the word search grid
ALABAMA
IDAHO
OHIO
ALASKA
ILLINOIS
OREGON
ARKANSAS
IOWA
TENNESSEE
COLORADO
KENTUCKY
TEXAS
DELAWARE
MAINE
UTAH
FLORIDA
MARYLAND
WYOMING
GEORGIA
MISSOURI
HAWAII
NEBRASKA
WIGGLE WORDS CLUE: It has everything.
Trace a path through all the letters to find the word or phrase that fits the clue.
S E L T
L E I S
L B H W
S A N D
NUMBER BLOCK
25
7
5 21 7 9 33 3 3 18 8 4 23 20 28 22 25 17 The numbers in each row add up to totals to the right. The numbers in each column add up to the totals along the bottom. The diagonal lines also add up the totals to the right.
70
Upload your event for FREE at www.locallife247.co.uk/events Dementia Voices
Family Fun Day
Thursday, June 27, 6:30pm-9:30pm
Saturday, June 29, 11am-3pm
A brand new theatre piece examining the experience of young onset dementia. Engaging with dementia support groups across Greater Manchester, the play explores the journeys of four people, with a musicmaking activity and discussion afterwards. Tickets £3 on 01942 834747.
Fun for all at the church family fun day – there’s games, welly throwing, classic cars, a barbecue, a bouncy castle, dog competitions and much more.
The Old Courts, Crawford Street, Wigan WN1 1NA
All Saints Summer Fair
Stonewall Vigil
Saturday, June 29, 12pm-3pm
Friday, June 28, 6:30pm A remembrance vigil to mark the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, followed by an afterparty fundraiser for Wigan Pride.
Church Hall Field, Church Lane, Wrightington, WN6 9SN
Fun for all the family, with a gin & prosecco tent, barbecue food, a super summer raffle, face painting, a Nerf gun challenge and much more! Entry fee 50p for adults, children go free. All Saints C of E Primary School, Finch Lane,
Believe Square, The Wiend, Wigan, WN1 1PF
Appley Bridge, WN6 9DT
Fundraising Quiz
Sportsman’s Dinner
Friday, June 28, 7:30pm
Saturday, June 29, 6:30pm
Revise your trivia knowledge for a night of quizzing, games and raffles in aid of the Bulldogs U9s and Pups team! Tickets £2 in advance or £3 on the door, over-18s only.
Wigan Junior Latics FC present an evening with Neil “Razor” Ruddock, former footballer and TV personality. Enjoy a 2-course meal, a charity raffle and auction, and special guest comedian Jed Stone. Tickets £40, available from Stephen on 07415 701532 or steydavies@hotmail.co.uk
Douglas Bank Pub, Woodhouse Ln, Wigan, WN6 7NF
Armed Forces Day Saturday, June 29, 10:30am-4pm Celebrate Armed Forces Day with a WWI simulation dome, field hospital display, military vehicle exhibition and climbing wall, plus a military parade from Crompton Street to Wigan Parish Church. Wigan Town Centre
DW Stadium, Loire Drive, Wigan, WN5 0UH
71
Psychic Night
Haigh Day
Saturday, June 29, 7pm-11pm
Saturday, July 6, 12pm-5pm
Fundraise for the Norley Hall TRA with a fun psychic night – Chris Shearer presents a night of mediumship. 18+ only. Tickets £10 via PayPal on norleytra@gmail.com
A family fun day featuring live music, outdoor theatre, circus skills, children’s character shows and more! Catch The Wind in the Willows and Alice in Wonderland in the Walled Garden, plus a superhero vs. princess show in the Courtyard. Free entry, £3 all day parking.
Norley Hall Cricket Club, City Rd., Wigan, WN5 0BA
Wine, Cheese & Jazz Friday, July 5, 7:30pm-11:30pm
Haigh Woodland Park, Copperas Lane, Wigan, WN2 1PE
Enjoy 5 glasses of a variety of wines, a cheese platter, and loads of funky jazz from the Dean Masser Jazz Duo! Tickets £30, available on 01942 834747.
Afternoon Tea Party
The Old Courts, Crawford Street, Wigan, WN1 1NA
Enjoy delicious refreshments in aid of Wigan and Leigh Hospice, and have a good chat over a piece of cake!
Medieval Fayre Saturday, July 6, 12pm-3pm
Saturday, July 6, 1pm-4pm
Spring View Cricket & Bowling Club, Warrington Road, Platt Bridge, WN2 3TQ
Strolling minstrels are here to enchant you at this year’s medieval fayre – enjoy fresh farm produce and plant sales while the kids get involved with archery, hook-a-duck and more! Up Holland Parish Church, Church Street, Up Holland, WN8 0ND
Find your dream designer wedding dress at a fraction of the price! The UK’s only nationwide bridal sale starts 22nd June 2019 at Jules Bridal Boutique. New Mother of the Bride styles now arriving. Appointments not always required. To book your consultation contact Julie on:
01257 424 624
www.julesbridalboutique.co.uk
72
Win tickets to Southport Flower Show
Southport Flower Show celebrates its 90th anniversary this summer with one of Britain’s biggest garden parties - and Local Life readers have a chance to join in the fun free of charge. We have THREE pairs of tickets to give away for the 2019 show in our exclusive reader competition. The lucky winners will enjoy an event that’s now a permanent fixture in the north west’s social calendar.
open the show on Thursday 15th August, launching a packed programme of entertainment. Kids go free to the show and children’s TV star Justin Fletcher is bringing his stage act to amuse the show’s younger visitors. And Gardener’s Question Time star Christine Walkden is among the experts from TV and radio who are on hand to share advice with visitors.
every year to the prize blooms in the Grand Floral Marquee and star turns by top celebrity gardeners.
Meanwhile, some of the nation’s top growers will compete for the prestigious prizes while leading designers demonstrate their creative talents with their stunning show gardens.
Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli will
Organisers aim to turn the show into a giant garden
Southport attracts tens of thousands of visitors
73
party spread across the 34-acres of Victoria Park close to the centre of Southport. Southport Flower Show general manager Ray Roukin said: “We look forward to welcoming Local Life readers to celebrate our anniversary year with us this summer. “The show has something for everyone and is a perfect family day out”. The competition winners will be given a pair of standard tickets granting admission to Southport Flower Show for one day. The show runs from Thursday, August 15th to Sunday, August 18th. To enter our competition to win a pair of tickets
to the Southport Flower Show simply visit our website, www.locallife247.co.uk, click on ‘free stuff’ and on ‘competitions’ and then just complete the following statement: The ‘Strictly’ judge opening the Southport Flower Show this year is _ Tonioli. The expiry date for the competition is midnight on 31st July 2019 and the winners will be notified within five working days of this date. Entrants must be over 16 years of age. One entry permitted per household. Employees of Local Life 247 Ltd and their families are not eligible to enter this competition.
For more information about the Southport Flower Show, visit www.southportflowershow.co.uk
74
Crank Gala
Made in Dagenham
Saturday, July 6, 2pm-4:30pm
Wednesday, July 17 – Saturday, July 27, 7:30pm
See the Mucky Mountain Morris Dancers, the Limbo Man, a U3A ukulele performance and plenty more entertainment on family gala day! There’ll be plenty of games, a classic vehicle display, raffles, stalls and refreshments. Free entry.
An am-dram production of the big-hearted musical, which is based on real events of the Ford sewing machinists’ strike in 1968. Tickets £12, available from www.wiganlittletheatre.co.uk
Crank Village Field, Crank Hill, Crank, WA11 7SD
Wigan Little Theatre, Crompton Street, Wigan, WN1 3SL
Strawberry Evening
Ballads & Songs of Peterloo
Saturday, July 6, 7pm
Thursday, July 18, 12:30pm-1:30pm
Enjoy entertainment from Betsy the Housekeeper and delicious strawberries and cream with shortbread! Tickets £6 from 01257 463407/425330/426252.
Dr. Alison Morgan presents a talk based on her collection of poems and ballads of the Peterloo Masacre in 1819. Free entry, places bookable on 01942 828128.
Tunley UR Church, Mossy Lea Road, Wrightington, WN6 9RN
Museum of Wigan Life, Library St, Wigan, WN1 1NU
Picnic Brass Sunday, July 7, 1pm A fantastic afternoon of open air brass band performances – don’t forget to bring a picnic! Picnic Field, Haigh Woodland Park, School Lane, Haigh, WN2 1PE
Art Exhibition Thursday, July 11 & Friday, July 12, 10am-12:30pm The Alma Hill Art group exhibit their best work. Free entry, refreshments available. Up Holland Methodist Church, Alma Hill, Up Holland, WN8 0NR
Rag Rug Workshop Wednesday, July 17, 6:30pm Get together and craft a gorgeous rag rug from old t-shirts and fabric scraps, plus make pom-poms for an added extra! Materials provided. Tickets £8 on Eventbrite. 18+ only. Wigan STEAM, The Galleries, Wigan, WN1 1QF
Strawberries & Prosecco Friday, July 19, 7:30pm Dance the night away to a live jazz band and enjoy delicious strawberries and prosecco! Tickets £8. Holy Trinity Church, Church Road, Bickerstaffe, L39 0EH
Green Fayre Saturday, July 20 & Sunday, July 21, 11am-5pm An annual celebration of the countryside, discover traditional woodcraft techniques through the Working Woodland, experience children’s rides and activities, and browse a variety of traders and exhibitors. There’ll also be folk music in the marquee! Beacon Country Park, Beacon Lane, Up Holland, WN8 7RU
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Burscough Wharf by Bike
Hospice Garden Party
Sunday, July 21, 9:30am-1pm
Saturday, August 3, 12pm-4pm
Enjoy an organised cycle ride from Robin Park along the beautiful Leeds and Liverpool Canal to Burscough Wharf and back. Free to attend.
Join Wigan & Leigh Hospice at their annual garden party – browse stalls including crafts, plants and cakes, enjoy barbecue food and relax in the sunshine!
Robin Park Arena, Loire Drive, Wigan, WN5 0UL
Wigan & Leigh Hospice, Kildare Street, Wigan, WN2 3HZ
Sister Act Wednesday, July 24 – Saturday, July 27, 7:30pm Orrell Musical & Dramatic Society present their latest comedy musical: Sister Act! Follow Dolores Van Cartier as she goes into hiding at a convent and breathes new musical life into the church. Tickets £9 on 01695 622713. St. Peter’s Catholic High School, Howards Lane, Orrell, WN5 8NU
Community Gala Saturday, July 27, 12pm-8pm A whole day of live music, delicious food and drink, stalls to browse, a barbecue and children’s crafts! Hindley Library & Community Centre, First Avenue, Hindley, WN2 3EB
Parbulele Friday, August 2, 6pm-11pm, Saturday, August 3 & Sunday, August 4, 11am onwards Keep the ukulele alive with performances from The Secret Ukulele Band, Ukulele Tuesday and Manitoba Hal, plus workshops to get involved in. There’ll be plenty of music throughout the weekend, plus stalls and refreshments. Parbold Village
Bickerstock Festival Saturday, August 3 & Sunday, August 4, 12pm onwards Enjoy a weekend of glorious live music across 2 stages from local bands and artists. Enjoy delicious food, great stalls and creative workshops if you feel like getting crafty! Proceeds to charity. Bickerstaffe Parish Field, Hall Lane, Bickerstaffe, L39 0EH
Gruffalo Hunt Wednesday, August 14, 1pm-2:30pm Come and listen to the story of the Gruffalo as you make your way to his secret lair in the woods! Make a clay Gruffalo to take home and finish with a marshmallow around the fire. Tickets £6 per child on Eventbrite. Lady Mabel’s Wood, Wigan, WN1 2SE
Gangsters & Gun Molls Saturday, August 17, 7pm-midnight A Prohibition-themed night with entertainment from Goldenage Songbird! There’ll be a Dutch auction, finger buffet and a raffle, along with a Prohibition-themed quiz. Tickets £15 on 07745 388737 or 07858 604590. Pemberton Masonic Pemberton, WN5 8JP
Hall,
Chapel
Street,
76
Motoring
I’d Miss My Home Comforts Summer’s here, meaning more caravans and camper vans are on our roads. To give the manufacturers their due, I have noticed that each season’s new models get more luxurious, some probably better appointed than their owner’s home. Air conditioning is common, entertainment systems rival the best in home-cinema, Wi-Fi and all mod-con kitchens are included. Given an arm twist I could, possibly, ‘rough it’ in a modern caravan. Well, for a night at most. But the VW T2 Combi-van sub-culture leaves me baffled. This love of a minimalist vintage motor’home’, last made in Europe in 1979, with its push-
up roof, twee curtains and no loo, just leaves me completely cold (probably literally if I had the misfortune to spend a night in one). It’s the vehicular equivalent of a 1960s seaside B & B. You know the type? Run by a dragon of a landlady. “Boiler goes off at eight. The bathroom’s down the corridor. The front door is locked at ten and no overnight guests either.” Admittedly, they do have certain cool, hipster charm. Some are beautifully restored, I grant you, and to a higher standard and specification than when it came off the production line. But surely that appeal has to evaporate when you are caught short and trudging to the campsite facilities on a rainy British summer’s night? I guess the cool-hipster campers will say I am missing something. I know, I am: air conditioning, Wi-Fi, a modcon kitchen, a loo… By Iain Betson
77
Services Repairs Diagnostics for all makes & models
MOT Testing Centre for Class 4 Dingle Garage, Dingle Road, Upholland, WN8 0EN
ExperienceReliabilityExpertise
Telephone: 01695 624 261 www.jwgaskellgarageservices.co.uk
Open: Monday-Friday, 8.30am-5pm & Saturday 8.30am-12.30pm
Car Paintwork Repairs PCP or lease coming to an end?
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SCuffS/SCratCheS mended minor dentS repaired alloy wheel repairS
no Vat Charged we’ll beat any quote! Call Chris on 01942 215 111 or 07969 357 751
www.cosmeticar.co.uk
78
Fine & Points Five Motoring Misdeeds
As a motorist, it can be easy to pick up a few bad habits over the years, but you’d be forgiven for not having a good look at the Highway Code on a regular basis. However, there are some driving misdeeds that can take an unwitting toll on your wallet – here are five of them…
result in a fixed penalty posted through your door. Driving too slowly Being a cautious road user is – in most cases – quite a good thing. However, it’s possible to drive too slowly in the eyes of fellow road users – and, more importantly, the law.
drivers aware of your vehicle’s presence. However, regardless of the circumstances, using your horn between 11.30pm and 7am in a built-up area can leave you liable to be fined up to £1,000. Driving with an overly dirty number plate Keeping a car clean is always a
Eating at the wheel It’s a situation many will be familiar with. You’re halfway through a long journey and when you stop at the services for some food you’re asked if you want to eat in or take away. You’re in a hurry, so you take it with you and start eating it as you pull back on to the motorway. While this will save you a few minutes, it also means you’re driving without due care and attention – and that can land you with up to nine points as well as severe financial penalties. Splashing pedestrians by driving through a puddle Section 3 of the 1988 Road Traffic Act states that driving “without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road” is an offence. The act rightly considers pedestrians to be road users, and driving through a puddle without looking to see if there’s anyone on foot and in the firing line can
If you’re driving slowly enough to be a potential hazard to motorists, you can receive an unlimited fine and up to nine points on your licence.
good thing to do, but there are in fact legal ramifications that should convince you to wield a water-filled bucket and some car shampoo.
Beeping your horn
Your number plate needs to be clean, or at the very least legible. Even if sections of it are obscured you’ll be liable for a £1,000 fine – and your car could even fail its MOT if it has an illegible number plate.
Road rage is something that should be kept in check for various reasons, and that includes the Highway Code. In general, you are only supposed to use your horn to make other
79
Love your
lawn
by Angie Barker Award Winner
If you are looking to revamp your garden but don’t want to spend a fortune – a simple trick is to reshape your lawn. Your sward does not have to resemble a football pitch either to instantly look better with a new shape and the edges defined. It is amazing what a difference it can make to your garden space. First of all consider what shape would best suit your plot. A circular lawn makes a real statement and adds movement, drawing the eye. They are great for small gardens because they make the space feel larger. Curves are good for creating a calming feel in the garden and for dealing with slopes. Don’t be tempted though to make the curves too tight as they can make the garden look fussy – go for sweeping curves which will also be easier to mow. Straight lines can form bold geometric patterns which are more suited to a contemporary style but can look equally as good. Square stepping stones laid through turf can be a practical and eye catching way of navigating from one part of the garden to another and children love them! If you have a wide but short plot, try shaping the lawn so that the grass gets narrower as it gets further away from the house. It creates the illusion that the garden is
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.
actually longer than it is – nifty! Consider installing a brick mowing edge to give further definition and to stop plants which outgrow their border space from spilling out over the lawn and killing off the grass. So give it a try – and if you have a spare corner in the garden somewhere, perhaps at the back of a border, you can stack the turf you’ve removed and after a few months it will rot down and can be returned to the garden. As for my lawn – I’m a curvy kind of girl (Hubby chuckles to himself ) and have circles and curves which create a meandering feel to my little haven and give me more border space for planting. Yes, I have to admit it - I love my lawn.
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
Award Winner
80
Gardening
Garden Services
JTH Landscaping All aspects of Landscaping & Tree work undertaken Quality work & reliability at competitive prices • Landscape design & implementation • Tree felling, tree pruning • Japanese knotweed control • One off garden tidy • 24 hour emergency tree call out
Call Thomas today for a free quote: 07923 035300 or 01744 895570 email: jthlandscaping@icloud.com Ashfield Farm, 43, Garswood Road, Billinge
Award-winning, local family run business offers:
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Regular or one off visits
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Call now for a friendly, no obligation quote
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GARDEN GATES
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81
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85
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86
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87
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88 Arley Cabinet Company Ltd • Kitchens & Bedrooms since 1952 •
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89
AGBathrooms.net
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Elite Bathrooms Installation & Tiling • Bathrooms • Wall Tiling • Floor Tiling
Full Bathrooms & En-Suites Showers, Trays & Cubicles Relocation of Bathroom Suites 25 years bathroom experience Call Chris now for a free quotation
C L Bathrooms
Design & Print Flyers, postcards, brochures and distribution service.
l Geails N £15
Upvc Windows & Doors I Conservatories, Soffits & Fascias I Composite Doors I Bi-Fold DoorsSaving
For more information call
LocalLife
£20
Wind Turbines Heat Pumps
w
no
cares and takes pride in what we do. We don’t employ pushy salesmen, but pride ourselves on working with and listening to our customers to give them exactly what they want. We will treat you with respect every step of the way and on that you have my word! Stuart Goulding
LED Lighting
...and general Don’t forget, we also offer all of these services daily...
Energy Glass Cut to size, Sealed Double Glazed Units Manufactured on site, Savings Same Day Service, Safety Glass, Toughened Glass, Mirrors, Greenhouse Glass, Glazing Service, Misted Units Replaced
es Lash Tan y Spra ils eds Sunb & Gel Na ic Acryl
Book your FREE home survey VICING SER Telephone: 01257 000 and we’ll VAN provide 427 toowith you a cycles CAR & detailed motorreport showing the Unit 16, Ainscough Business Park, Mossy Lea Road, Wrightington, WN6 9RS
Dennis Goulding Mossy Lea Road
01695 627 999
money is the clear benefit!
Solar Thermal & Solar PV
Established in 1984 as an emergency glazing service, today Dennis Goulding has grown and moved forward to offer all you need to maintain, enhance and expand your home. We continually invest in and embraced the latest changes in energy efficiency regulations, and still remain a local family business that
ally
rm
no
A49
www.clbathrooms.co.uk
07703 448890 01942 208926
B5250
01942 749085 or 07801 295483
FREE Estimates
(Drive onto ‘Ainscough Building Supplies’)
Slash your electricity and water heating bill Protect your household from future energy price rises
ReduceE your household’s ...andreturns available impact on the environment from your www.dglwindows.co.uk own solar panels X (10% typical return) Call H us now A k ChecVisit our showroom at T Car84 Health U or Unit 4a, rton dio Cricket Street Business Park Brethe Y n and S @ Stu Miry Lane, Crosto of off 7PG Wigan. e WN5 R for all residents WN6 Email: info@docsolarelectrical.co.uk need me! T 7TP , Billing you 400 6PM Website: www.docsolarelectrical.co.uk Road 4 619 ford ESaturday 10AMKeep me until : 0781 Check S hone : 84 Rain Health - 7PM, Open Telep 10AM yS FREE Car on , Fridayay & Sunda now Book your A5209
s
Natalie
Open Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 5:00pm; Saturday: 9:00am - 12:00 noon
J27
Shevington
Standish
FREE
Call
esday Thursd ay, Wedn Closed
ay, Tuesd
Mond
TwinLakesMotorE
ngineers
0843 224 9555 07595 420237
01772
REPAIR
603923
DING & WEL
90
• Bathroom Installation, Full Bathrooms & En-Suites • Plumbing Services • Wall & Floor Tiling • Ceiling Panelling
01942 397173 / 07803 057940 Douglas Drive, Orrell, Wigan www.ljplumbingandbathrooms.co.uk
Convert your bath to a
Walk-In Shower Typical price
£1800 Fully guaranteed One day installation No mess - no fuss Easy to clean & maintain
FINA
NCE Brand New Bathrooms OPTIONS AVAILABLE Boiler + Central Heating Installs, Servicing + Repairs Extended warranties available 24 Hour Call-out Domestic + Commercial
Freephone 0300 3030121 Dave 07769 942218 / Matt 07969 183809 21 Naburn Drive, Orrell, WN5 8SB
Email: info@orrellheating.co.uk
www.orrellheating.co.uk
506515
Call Anthony on
AJC WALK IN SHOWERS
07919 876 825 Workshop address: Bulldog Tools Ind. Est. Darlington Street East Wigan WN1 3BT
We also fit full bathrooms!
Installation ~ Repairs ~ Service Central Heating Systems Boilers & Gas Appliances General plumbing Gas Safety Certificates
597379
Call Andy for a free quote on
01942 564 226 07397 391 935 acampbellheatingandgas
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Plumbing & Heating Specialist Complete Bathroom & Tiling service
John Bailey - 01942 495785
or 07721 040620 & 07710 153238 Based in Kenyon Road, Wigan
C &D
A Genuine Family Run Business With Friendly & Courteous Staff SPECIALISTS IN CENTRAL HEATING INSTALLATION, BOILER REPLACEMENTS AND UPGRADES
Accredited Installer & Ser vice Partner
Plumbing and Heating
Heating & Bathroom Specialist Chris Heaton M.I.P.H.E.R.P 07973714222 01695625171
• Annual Boiler Servicing • Landlord & Home Owner Gas Safety Checks • Mechanical Power Flushing • Thermostatic Valves/Radiators Fitted • Home Efficiency Control Upgrades
12 YEARS
EXTENDED WARRANTY ON SELECTED BOILER INSTALLATIONS
WE REPAIR ALL MAKES OF BOILERS!
Telephone:
01942 504 429 Registration No.
88604
No call out fee
• Central Heating Installations • Boiler Installations • Maintenance & Servicing • Power Flushing
www.fgwelch.co.uk
All plumbing services
434 Ormskirk Rd, Wigan, WN5 9DF
including services & repairs
01942 221221
info@premiergas.com / www.premiergas.com
Design & Print Flyers, postcards, brochures and distribution service.
l Geails N £15
Upvc Windows & Doors I Conservatories, Soffits & Fascias I Composite Doors I Bi-Fold DoorsSaving
For more information call
money is the clear benefit!
Solar Thermal & Solar PV
£20
Wind Turbines
Established in 1984 as an emergency glazing service, today Dennis Goulding has grown and moved forward to offer all you need to maintain, enhance and expand your home. We continually invest in and embraced the latest changes in energy efficiency regulations, and still remain a local family business that
ally
rm
no
Heat Pumps
w
no
cares and takes pride in what we do. We don’t employ pushy salesmen, but pride ourselves on working with and listening to our customers to give them exactly what they want. We will treat you with respect every step of the way and on that you have my word! Stuart Goulding
LED Lighting
...and general Don’t forget, we also offer all of these services daily...
Energy Glass Cut to size, Sealed Double Glazed Units Manufactured on site, Savings Same Day Service, Safety Glass, Toughened Glass, Mirrors, Greenhouse Glass, Glazing Service, Misted Units Replaced
es Lash Tan y Spra ils eds Sunb & Gel Na ic Acryl
Book your FREE home survey VICING SER Telephone: 01257 000 and we’ll VAN provide 427 toowith you a cycles CAR & detailed motorreport showing the Unit 16, Ainscough Business Park, Mossy Lea Road, Wrightington, WN6 9RS
B5250
Dennis Goulding A49
Mossy Lea Road
LocalLife
01257 421 660 07515 505 501
186237
Your one stop shop for central heating
01695 627 999
TEL: MOB:
(Drive onto ‘Ainscough Building Supplies’)
Slash your electricity and water heating bill Protect your household from future energy price rises
ReduceE your household’s ...andreturns available impact on the environment from your www.dglwindows.co.uk own solar panels X (10% typical return) Call H us now A k ChecVisit our showroom at T Car84 Health U or Unit 4a, rton dio Cricket Street Business Park Brethe Y n and S @ Stu Miry Lane, Crosto of off 7PG Wigan. e WN5 R for all residents WN6 Email: info@docsolarelectrical.co.uk need me! T 7TP , Billing you 400 6PM Website: www.docsolarelectrical.co.uk Road 4 619 ford ESaturday 10AMKeep me until : 0781 Check S hone : 84 Rain Health - 7PM, Open Telep 10AM yS FREE Car on , Fridayay & Sunda now Book your A5209
s Natalie
Open Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 5:00pm; Saturday: 9:00am - 12:00 noon
J27
Shevington
Standish
FREE
Call
esday Thursd ay, Wedn Closed
ay, Tuesd
Mond
TwinLakesMotorE
01772
0843 224 9555 07595 420237
603923
DING & WEL REPAIR
ngineers
• Bathrooms/Wet Rooms designed and fitted • Specialists in Disability Installations & Conversions • Emergency Call outs welcome
No Obligation Quotes – Call Mark on
07515 894 281 14 Lyefield Avenue, Whelley, Wigan, WN1 3UL
www.gphwigan.co.uk
COMBI BOILERS FROM
£999 527090
92
Whatever your electrical needs,
GHE have the answer! Complete re-wires
CCTV systems
New/moving sockets
Security Light installations
All lighting needs
PAT testing & inspections
Burglar Alarm systems
No Job too Small
Domestic and commercial work welcomed
Call us today for friendly advice and a free quote.
01942 836 937
Suite 1A, Kirkless Industrial Estate Cale Lane, Wigan, WN2 1HF
All electrical work undertaken
• Friendly reliable service • Mains board upgrades • Extra sockets to full rewires
Free quotations
W.Hurst & Son Ltd
A.J.S.
BAILEYS
ELECTRIC CONTRACTOR
ELECTRICAL
01942 215 769 07739 709 005
www.ghewigan.co.uk www.whurstandson.co.uk
• • • •
All types of electrical work 35+ years experience No job too small Friendly and reliable
For a free quote & advice call Jeff
01695 622 191 07850 622 191
Services Ltd J.Dillon Electrical
Call: 01257 424918 or 07821 139826 www.jdillonelectrical.co.uk
• All types of electrical work • 20+ years experience • Friendly, fast and reliable • 24 hour call out service
Jon Wright Electrical Ltd
All types of Domestic & Commercial work undertaken • Inspection & Tests • Repairs
• Solar PV • Alarms
Call now on: 07983 387448
Email: jonwrightelec@live.co.uk Certificate of excellence winner 2017 & 2018
TV Aerials Installed TV Wall Mounting Telephone Lines Setup Service Ring Paul on
01942 514532 07709 490095
in matching styles
93
Is your CALL PAUL garage door LOCKSMITHS ESTABLISHED 2000 broken ? Call us today for a free estimate to Repair or Replace it
• UPVC & WOODEN DOOR SPECIALIST • Emergency Door Opening • UPVC Door Lock Repairs • UPVC Door Lock Changes
CJM Garage Doors Ltd, Unit 10, Hewitt Business Park Winstanley Road, Orrell, Wigan WN5 7XB t: 01942 738347 w: www.cjmgaragedoors.co.uk
• UPVC Door Lock Upgrades
DF
• All Work Guaranteed
ALARMS
Installations, Upgrades & Repairs New systems 10 years experience from £350
For a friendly & reliable service call Dean on
• Wood Door Lock Changes
A Registered Insured NCFE Certified Company
Call Paul for a Fast, Reliable, Professional Service
07506 518 646 DF Alarms
58 Chapel St, Pemberton, Wigan
Having computer problems? • We come to you! • Computer repairs and upgrades • Internet and wireless problems fixed • Quality new systems built to specification • Virus removal from £35 • Domestic and commercial work welcomed Call us now for FREE computer advice.
Call - 01942 863448
www.expertcomputers.co.uk ‘Excellence in Customer Service’ – Winner
No Fix? No Fee!
TELEPHONE
01942MOBILE 901103 07932 718 362 WWW.CALLPAULLOCKSMITH.CO.UK
GARAGE DOOR
REPAIRS
All GARAGE DOORS REPAIRED : Springs, Cables, Locks, Rollers etc. Doors of all ages repaired
01744 894939 07891 330214 NO FIX, NO CHARGE! www.garagedoorandlock.co.uk Strawberry Cottage, Pimbo Road, Upholland WN8 9QL
94
28 Years Experience
Extensions & Refurbishments Kitchens & Bathrooms Conservatories & Orangeries Windows & Doors Roofs & Fascia Boards Decking & Balustrading
• All aspects of home improvements • One stop for all the trades you require • Joinery, Building, Kitchens & Bathrooms WE DESIGN AND MANAGE YOUR PROJECT FROM START TO FINISH
Call Jonathan for a free quotation TEL: 01257 401 243 / MOB: 0777 602 4045
SpeakmanpropertyServiceS.com
GDR Driveways Flagging • Block paving Concreting • Fencing Call Gareth for a FREE quotation
01942 217 113 | 07715 177 754
All aspects of building works - No job too small
Call Peter for a free quotation
Day: 07961 516 677 Eve: 01942 745 428 Cambridge Road, Orrell
Home Improvements • • • •
Fitted Kitchens & Bedrooms Garage & Loft Conversions Floors, Doors & Windows Garden Gates
For all your home improvement needs call David on...
01942 203 804 DS Joinery 07851 225 876
JJ Driveways
Imprinted Concrete Specialists Huge range of colours & patterns
• Resin Driveways • Block Paving • Indian Stone • Flagging We can also revive your old drive! Ask about our sealing service
• Home improvements • Loft conversions • Garage conversions & Extensions • Staircases • Windows & Doors
Call Joe for a free quotation on
01942 621 959 / 07867 697 972 www.jjdriveways.co.uk
01257 422317 or 07852 202867 www.mtjoiner y.co.uk
95
House Extensions New Kitchens & Bathrooms Garage Conversions Full Refurbishments All our work is fully insured & guaranteed References available on request Call now for a free quotation
• WILSON BROS • Est. 1985
Roofing & Roofline Specialists • All aspects of maintenance & repair • Fascia & soffit installation • Guttering and felting services Call us now for a free estimate
01695 633173 Colin: 07958 302 166 Brian: 07760 160 988 www.wilson-bros.co.uk
01942 561 848 | 07725 909 257 www.freshbuildconstruction.co.uk
B.A. Berry
K Stone
Building & Roofing Specialists
All types of building work undertaken
•All building work undertaken. • From a broken tile to a full re roof. • Flat roofs renewed and repaired. • Extensions, Alterations, Structural repairs including Lintels. Your local fully qualified tradesman with
30 years experience
Building Services
25 years experience
• Brickwork • Pointing • Garden Walls • Patios • Roof Repairs • Flagging • Alterations • Driveways
01942 495412 / 07974 496676
REDWOOD ROOFING & BUILDING SERVICES
Call us now for a free, no obligation quote
01695 622 704 / 07968 652 320 www.baberry.co.uk
28 Years Experience
T: 01942 248 537 M: 07749 806 566
• Brickwork, Extensions, Re-pointing • Garden Walls, Decorative Walls • Platform Steps, Paths & patios
SERVING CHORLEY, W EST LANCASHIRE & WIGAN
OAP
DISCOUNTS
Your local roofing company from repairs to re-roofs, fascia’s, soffits & gutters. • Flat roof specialists • Damp proof specialists • Quality workmanship & affordable pricing • Quick response to all repairs FULLY INSURED
Tel: 01942 410 724 / 07887 901656
96
M H Roofing
Established over 15 years Friendly advice and competitive rates No job too small
• High Performance Felt Flat Roof Systems • Storm Damage and Insurance Work • Slating and Tiling full roofs • Poiniting and Guttering • Fascia Boards
Call 07702 693225 www.mhroofingltd.co.uk
Fully Insured & Insurance Backed Guarantees
3 Maggots Nook Road, Rainford
First Class Workmanship • All types of re-roofs • Strip & re-slate or re-tile • Built up felt/flat roofs, dormers etc. • Insurance work undertaken • Roofline uPVC fascias, soffits & guttering
All aspects of roofing & roofline
NEW ROOFS REPAIRS FASCIAS, SOFFITS & GUTTERS
W.Newman
Dormers and Garages Rubber Cover Roofing Specialist Guaranteed 50 years
Call for free quote
T: 01942 864 624 M: 07868 713 520 M: 07894 687 384
ROOFING & REPAIRS
01695 627 212 MOBILE: 07774 943 706
52 HALLBRIDGE GARDENS, UP HOLLAND Established Over 30 Years
Facias, soffits, cladding, dry verge and gutters - call us now for all your roofline requirements! We specialise in seamless aluminium gutters. Clean, stylish and guaranteed for 25 years!
01942 735 515 / 07917 352 182 / 07917 352 183 www.orrellroofline.co.uk
97
Looking for a local, reliable roofing company who you can trust and rely on? Lords Roofing Contractors are a well established father and son business with over 40 years experience. Re-Roofing Tiles Re-Roofing Slates Flat Roofs
UPVC Fascia & Soffits Bespoke Conservatory Warm Roofing Systems
Lead Work Dry Verge & Dry Ridge Systems Full Garage Roof Refurbishments
Galvanised Steel Powder Coated Roofing Sheets (Various Colours)
Installer of UPVC Roof lanterns Roof Repairs Guttering
ALL ROOFING WORK UNDERTAKEN • ALL WORK GUARANTEED
01942 446 085
lordsroofing.co.uk ix
yM
Easy Mix
Eas
Ready Mixed Concrete
• Delivered or Collected • Perfect for builders & DIY
01942 224571 for advice Lamberhead Ind. Est., Pemberton
Puzzle Solutions WIGGLE WORDS: Bells and Whistles
25 2 7 3 8
7 9 4 8
7 8 3 4
5 9 8 3
21 33 18 23
20 28 22 25 17
98
A Day in the Life of
Shirley Southworth Shirley’s relationship with food and flavour inspired her to start her own enterprise, Fur Clemt, a café based on Montrose Avenue in Pemberton (WN5 9XL) that repurposes food that would otherwise head straight to landfill, transforming leftover ingredients close to their sell-by dates into delicious meals. 7:50am Shirley’s up and raring to go. The morning begins with checking the Fur Clemt social media inbox and emails. 8:30am Shirley turns up at Fur Clemt to be greeted by a possible murder scene, but no; a freshly made batch of beetroot wine has burst all over the floor. It’s on the mop for Shirley. 9:00am
It’s time to write up the day’s menu. The first order up is prepping 35 lunches for homeless people over at The Brick.
11:00am The doors open at Fur Clemt and the operation goes into overdrive for Shirley – directing the volunteer team, serving customers and handling phone calls. 2:00pm
Lunch rush over, it’s time to sort through the latest food stockpile. Random food donations arrive from as far as Preston and Warrington, including 16 sacks of red cabbage. Er, red cabbage salad anyone?
4:00pm Time to prep the evening meal for the folks over at The Brick, and if it’s a Friday, to prep the entire weekend’s meals for The Brick.
4:30pm
Shirley heads home, unless Fur Clemt are hosting one of their 3-course gourmet dinners.
9:30pm
Finally it’s time for Shirley to put her feet up and enjoy a bit of TV. Sick of the sight of food, she’s swerved the kitchen and the takeaway is on the way. Lovely!
The work that Shirley and the 30 strong group of volunteers do at Fur Clemt has been recognised with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services. Fur Clemt has inspired various spin-offs at different locations throughout the borough. For more information, visit www.realjunkfoodprojectwigan.org.uk or call in today.
99
Come and visit the largest showroom in the North West
® Quality installations of windows, doors, fascias, soffits and gutters First for quality • First for service • First for reliability No contractors • No salesmen Just a smile and a honest price from a family run business
Rockdoor Approved Installer Reg No 02767596
SISTER COMPANY OF FOXWELLS BUILDERS Established 16 years
Call us for a Free Quote Office Number: 01942 871 777 Victoria Industrial Estate, Victoria Street, Leigh, WN7 5SE warmlightwindowsltd.co.uk • info@warmlightwindowsltd.co.uk
Tomorrow’s Home Improvements Today!
Quality ~ Choice ~ Value Windows
Bi-Fold Doors
Thermally-efficient conservatory roofs expertly fitted by accredited installers
Orangeries
©
Don’t just lock it, Rock it!
Conservatories
Manufacturers and installers since 2004
Contact us on 01744 891717 for a no obligation quote
28544
Visit our showroom/factory at; Crows Nest, Ashton Road, Billinge, WN5 7XX (near Windy Arbour crossroads)
www.orrellwindows.co.uk