Local Life - Wigan - September 2020 by Local Life 247 Ltd

LocalLife Wigan Edition

September 2020

Mining Monument

Unveiled Pages 54-57

WIN nbow

Rai

Glass Art

Free Eggs Offer Page 19

Then & Now Ashton Page 20

Orrell Heritage Weekend Pages 22-23

Jackâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tracks - Winter Hill Pages 72-74

Camper Conversion Pages 76-77

Match to Remember - Latics 1979 Page 79

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etting through the whole COVID-19 health situation is turning into a bit of a marathon isn’t it? And as marathon runners know, there often comes a time, usually at the 18-20 mile mark, when a runner hits a “wall”. The early gung-ho spirit displayed a few months ago has been replaced by the weary realisation that there is still some way to normality. For those who wonder if they have enough in the tank to reach the finish line, here are three suggestions to help you do that: Remind yourself of the positives: Six months down the line, you know a lot more about the virus and how to reduce the risk of being exposed to it. Re-commit to your end goal. For a marathon runner, it is completing 26 miles & 385 yards. For you, it is being alive and healthy when this is all over. Don’t focus on the finish line. Just concentrate on getting through the day. That’s all we can do, remain positive and take one step at a time. September is a great month for getting out and about enjoying the last of the summer and, even if events are far and few between this year, there is still some glorious countryside nearby to enjoy. For some inspiration, visit www.locallife247.co.uk, where you can download over 70 free walks! Stay safe and see you at the finishing line,

Chris Pearce, Publisher chrisp@locallife247.co.uk

Keep in touch with the LocalLife Team!

LocalLife

Telephone: 01695 627 999 info@locallife247.co.uk

locallifemagazine247 @locallifemedia Local Life 247 Ltd, PO Box 779, Wigan WN1 9UB 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.

This monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s highlights 54. Mining Monument Unveiled

Contents 12. Beauty Boost your hair and skin!

29. Perfect Picnic Pack up your snacks and head out.

32. Back to School Tech ... for the new normal.

34. Home Interiors A new look for your windows.

18. WIN Glass Art

20. Then & Now - Ashton

48. Houghwood Heroes Local golfers raise money.

62. Puzzle Pages Try these brainteasers for size.

64. Health Migraine Awareness Week.

22. Orrell Heritage Weekend

72. Winter Hill Walk

79. Match to Remember

Next Issue - October 2020

Advertising deadline - 17th September Published - 1st October

81. Home & Garden Services Find the best local traders for you.

Want to promote your business in

LocalLife?

01695 627 999 www.locallife247.co.uk

Amazing Mazes After an enforced and prolonged summer break for many parents, here’s your chance for you to tell the kids to ‘get lost’. September sees the end of the maze ‘season’, but there are still a few days left to enjoy a trip out. Here are three options for your trip out: Closest to home is Kenyon Hall Farm in Croft, just off junction 22 of the M6. Here you can try out the themed Superheroes Maize Maze, paying tribute to all the superheroes who are helping us through the current health trauma. The maze is aimed at children aged 3 - 13 and most people take around 30 minutes to find their way out. Other activities at Kenyon Hall Farm include pick-yourown fruit and there is a café and farm shop. See www.kenyonhall.co.uk for more details. A Maize Maze is just one of the many attractions at Windmill Animal Farm near Burscough, an attraction ideal for pre-school and primary school children. In addition to the maze, attractions include close ups with rabbits and guinea pigs, there’s a reptile area with a large

collection of reptiles from around the world, outdoor play areas and a café. There is also an on-site train which runs round the site every hour, on the hour. See www.windmillanimalfarm.co.uk for more details. Brimstage Maze on the Wirral, just off junction 4 of the M53, is open at weekends throughout September and offers a great time for all the family. Though the indoor play is temporarily closed, the outdoor activities are all open. In addition to the huge maze, other attractions include crazy golf, pedal karts, zip lines, jumping pillows and laser battles. See www.brimstagemaze.co.uk for more details. You must pre-book at all these attractions via the relevant websites.

Shop Artisan An Artisan street market is to be held in Ormskirk town centre on the first Sundays of September and October, offering visitors an exciting range of foods, clothing, jewellery, homeware, crafts and gifts. The market moved from nearby Burscough Wharf recently to the wider spaces of Moor Street in Ormskirk town centre. The Artisan market will be an additional market offer for Ormskirk and the surrounding area and attract increased footfall on the Sundays when it is held, which are 6th September and 4th October, 11am to 4pm.

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West Lancashire Borough Councillor David Evans, whose Cabinet responsibilities include the market, said: “ I am really pleased this has been organised. This market was very popular when it was held in Burscough and we are working hard to support our local towns and high streets with these initiatives.”

Craft Fairs Five Craft & Gift fairs in aid of raising vital funds for Age UK Mid Mersey are scheduled to take place in September, October and November at the splendid location of Mansion House in Victoria Park, St Helens. The first of the fairs takes place on Sunday 27th September, running from 11am-4pm. Dates for the other Craft & Gift fairs at the same venue are 24th and 25th October and 7th and 29th November. For more details, or to book a stall, email marissa@ memorylanefairs.com

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KAYS DAIRY

Please register online

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New Station on Track? Lancashire County Council has put forward a pitch for government cash, identifying five key projects in the county which could be started over the next six to 18 months to help the economy following the Covid-19 pandemic. Crucially, one of the projects named is the long-awaited rail-link in Skelmersdale. Extra funding would mean, say the Council, that the detailed design work needed to progress the Skelmersdale rail link plan could be completed. The land provisionally earmarked as the site of the new railway station is the land occupied by the old Glenburn School. County Councillor Michael Green, Lancashire County Council cabinet member for economic development, environment and planning, said: “We know the government is keen to invest in transport infrastructure, particularly where there is evidence that projects can be delivered quickly and that every pound spent will have a good return and give confidence to businesses. “We’ve put forward a number of schemes as part of the Transport for the North Economic Recovery Plan which

are at an advanced stage, and where an injection of cash now could lead to work on the ground being able to start quickly.” The last passenger trains ran to Skelmersdale in November 1956 and goods trains ran until 1963. In 1964/5 the tracks were lifted from the line, which subsequently became Railway Road, and a few years later development started on Skelmersdale New Town.

Lights On One family event that is not expected to be affected by COVID-19 this autumn is the Blackpool Illuminations. Dubbed as the greatest light show on earth, Blackpool Illuminations enthral millions of visitors every year. Blackpool’s Illuminations season has been extended by two months and will now run from September 4 to January 3, 2021, for the first time in history. However, there will not be a live switch-on event this year. Instead the switch-on will be held in a closed set in the Tower Ballroom and streamed live free on MTV at 8.30pm on Friday 4th September.

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Performing at the event will be Spice Girl Melanie C, Fleur East, Becky Hill, Tom Grennan, Diversity and Blackpool’s very own Rae Morris. You can find out more about Blackpool Illuminations, including 2020 switch-on times and illuminated tram tours at the website www.visitblackpool.com

HOLIDAYS • SHOrt breAKS • DAY eXcUrSIONS

Great Value breaks London - 20th November - Only £159 4 days/3 nights B&B - The International London Christmas Shopping & Sightseeing Includes transfers from our Docklands hotel into the City

Dumfries – 6th November – Only £169 3 days/2 nights Dinner B&B – Cairndale Hotel Home of spectacular countryside and castles

WHY MeMOrY LANe? 3 Home pick-up for holidays 3 Executive coach travel 3 Quality hotels 3 Local well-established operator

New 2021 brochure out now! Call us now for your Free copy on 01942 728960

Holidays below still available for this year - 2020 Holiday Diary OctOber

Holiday Diary NOVeMber

4/10/20

Bournemouth

6/HB

£349

6/11/20

Dumfries

3/HB

£169

9/10/20

Blackpool & Illuminations

4/HB

£259

9/11/20

Llandudno

5/HB

£259

11/10/20

Jersey by Air

6/HB

£499

9/11/20

Bournemouth Turkey & Tinsel 5/HB

£355 £199

18/10/20

Tenby

6/HB

£369

13/11/20

Llandudno Turkey & Tinsel

4/HB

25/10/20

Killarney, Ireland

6/HB

£479

20/11/20

London

3/B&B

£159

26/10/20

Warner Nottinghamshire

5/HB

£449

23/11/20

Torquay Turkey & Tinsel

5/HB

£369

Check out our September - December day excursions on our website

Call for more details on 01942 728960 or visit www.memorylanetravel.co.uk

Memory Lane Holidays & Travel is a trading name of Ashcrofts Mini Travel Ltd. Company Number 06950361

Creations Open Orrell’s newest hair salon Creations, located on Moor Road, was officially opened recently by two celebrities. Warriors star Liam Marshall did the honours for the barbers, and social media personality Charlotte Dawson, daughter of the late comedian Les Dawson, opened the hairdressing side of the business.

also on how to choose, style and look after wigs. Call the Studio on 01942 218871 for details on this and to book other appointments.

The duo were joined on the day by eightyear-old Macy Murrell, who was raising funds for the Little Princess Trust by having a sponsored haircut. Macy donated 10” of her hair to the trust which takes donations of real hair to create wigs for young people battling cancer, and she has also raised over £700 for the Trust. In addition to the services provided by Creations, the studio will also host a monthly medical hair loss clinic, starting on Monday 7th September. Stylist Lorraine Rigby has many years’ experience in this field and will be advising on treatments for hair loss and

Charlotte Dawson with Macy Murrell

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Farm & Craft Market After a successful launch event in August, Applecast Farm are hosting another Farm & Craft Market over the weekend of 12th and 13th of September. The Market will have stalls selling homemade produce and handmade gifts, and there is a cafĂŠ and garden centre on site also. Children are welcome and can enjoy meeting the farm animals and watching the birds of prey. Applecast Farm is a registered charity and is based at Cobbs Brow Lane in Newburgh, near Parbold (WN8 7SF).

Festival Cancelled Ashton-in-Makerfield Festival, the annual cultural and musical extravaganza which has been running in the town successfully for 26th years since 1993 has been cancelled for 2020. The Festival was due to due to run from 12th-26th September. For up to date details about the 2021 Festival, visit the group Facebook page @ashtoninmakerfieldfestival.

Beauty Boosts It won’t be long until the weather starts cooling down, but in the meantime we’re still in for a few hot, sticky days. If you’re struggling with the heat, a face mist can help, but they’re often little more than water with a splash of artificial perfume. I tend to use an organic rosewater (£12, www.akamuti. co.uk) instead. If you decant it into an old spray bottle, you can use rosewater as a face mist, toner or cooling spritz. As well as helping to beat hot weather (or in my case hot flushes), rosewater is great for your skin – boosting moisture and leaving skin feeling calmer and softer. It also smells gorgeous. I’m planning to carry on using it throughout autumn and winter to

counteract the drying effects of central heating. Looking for a more wallet-friendly retinol? Dermaworks’ Retinol Night Serum (www.dermaworks.co.uk) is incredibly good value at just £14.95. It’s 2.5% retinol (most high-street retinol serums are only 1%) and it’s packed with other ingredients that your skin will love, including moisture-boosting hyaluronic acid. It’s also vegan, 100% natural and cruelty-free. Over time, it’ll help to repair cells and improve skin texture. For best results, you’ll want to use it for a few months, although you should still see some benefits pretty quickly. My skin feels noticeably softer the morning after using it. And, unlike a lot of other serums I’ve tried, this one doesn’t feel greasy or sticky. Hand sanitisers are certainly handy, but they can also be very drying – leading to sore, cracked skin. Green People’s new Deep Cleaning Hand Foam (£11.50, www. greenpeople.co.uk) is a good alternative. It’s free from alcohol and sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), so it won’t strip the skin of its natural oils.

It’s even gentle enough for sensitive skin. It’s over 90% organic, and the antibacterial and antimicrobial properties mainly come from essential oils, including tea tree. And, even better, it’s a dual-purpose foam. You can use it as a hand sanitiser when you’re out and about, and a foaming hand wash back at home. The benefits of retinol are widely known. It’s one of the best ingredients for tackling fine lines and sun damage, boosting collagen production and generally making skin look healthier and fresher. If you’re new to using retinol, Murad’s Retinol Youth Renewal products are a great place to start. As with everything from this brand, you know you’re getting skincare that’s the result of months (if not years) of research and has been scientifically proven to work. The eye cream has only been out for a few months but is already getting rave reviews. It feels lovely to apply and it’s safe to say that I agree with the 93% of testers who’ve seen a reduction in lines and wrinkles. It’s £70 at www.murad.co.uk.

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Upgrades for Three Sisters Two new bridges, over 3km of wheelchair accessible pathways and two specially designed trails for the borough’s youngest residents are some of the latest improvements to Three Sisters nature reserve park thanks to an injection of funding. A six-figure grant from the FCC Communities Foundation along with funding from Wigan Council has brought new life to one of Wigan’s hidden gems. The improvements at the reserve fall in line with an ongoing borough-wide project which has been supported by the Lancashire Wildlife Trust and the Friends of Three Sisters, aimed at making green spaces more accessible. Funding supplied by the foundation has ensured that 3.6km of wheelchair accessible paths could be constructed along with two new bridges to guide visitors around an enchanted sculpture tree trail and wildlife rubbings trail. Friends of Three Sisters member Joy Winstanley, said: “The site has been a breath of fresh air during the difficult lockdown months.

“The improved paths have made access to most areas of the site easier and the trails are already proving popular with children and their parents, encouraging them to discover more of the site. The appearance of the fairy doors and sculptures have added to their magic and mystery”.

Locals have already been enjoying the trails which feature fairy doors and a miniature pair of clogs appearing as if by magic. The enchanted trail even comes with a handy booklet created with the help of St Peters Primary School pupils in Bryn. For more updates about the Three Sisters, join the Facebook Group ‘Friends of Three Sisters’.

the auction centre The leading Auctioneers and Valuers

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4th Wednesday of Every Month St Thomas Church, Peter Street, WA10 2EB 9.30 – 12 noon Check website for Details Call 01744 881 477 for more information

2nd Tuesday Of Every Month Purposed Life Church, Greenhough Street, WN1 3SU 12 noon – 2.30pm Check website for Details Call 01942 299 057 for more information

9 Berkeley Court, Manor Park, Runcorn, WA7 1TQ Telephone: 01928 579796 Email: enquiries@theauctioncentre.co.uk

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60 Second Mortgage Review With rates still historically low, call us today to see if we can save £’s off your existing mortgage Call us on

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Cuppa for Macmillan? What’s not to like about an event dubbed the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning - drinking coffee, eating cake and raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support?

Fresh on the menu this year are socially distanced coffee mornings and virtual coffee mornings, and there are plenty of ideas on the Macmillan website to help.

Macmillan offers so much help to cancer sufferers each year. The event raised over £27 million pounds in 2019 as people all over the UK hosted their own coffee mornings.

Taking coffee mornings to your loved ones with doorstep cake deliveries, hosting garden coffee mornings and holding online quizzes are just some of the ideas for this year’s events.

Obviously with the restrictions in place, it’s going to be difficult to top that target this year so Macmillan are urging as many people as possible to sign up to host their own coffee mornings. Signing up is easy and you’ll even receive a free Coffee Morning Fundraising Kit to get you started.

The official date for the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning is Friday 25 September, though many are held after or before that date. You can sign up to host a coffee morning or search for a coffee morning near you at www. macmillan.org.uk

WIN

Rainbow

! t r a s glas

If there’s a prize for the image of the year, the rainbow would win hands down for 2020. What started off as an idea to providing children some observational points during those daily walks when schools were first locked down spread like wildfire as the image evolved into a symbol of hope, associated particularly with our beloved NHS. Local glass artist Stephanie O’Brien, the co-owner of Morpheus Glass who are based at the Love It Gallery on Winstanley Road in Billinge, has created a range of exquisite rainbow art to help people commemorate 2020 and we have got three pieces of this art to give away to three lucky readers. The first prize is a rainbow arch with a value of £55, the second prize is a large rainbow heart with a value of £20 and the third prize is a rainbow bee, with a value of £17.95. Other pieces in the Morpheus Glass Rainbow collection include bowls, candle stands, decorations and discs of various sizes. Prices for the collection start at just £6.50.

There is little doubt that 2020 will be referred to in years to come as a ‘before’ and ‘after’ time in history and it’s well worth visiting Love It Gallery and browsing through the rainbow collection which commemorates this important time. To win one of our fabulous prizes simply visit our website, www. locallife247.co.uk, click on ‘free stuff’ and then on ‘competitions’ and then answer the following question;

What is the name of the Gallery where you can see the Morpheus Glass Rainbow collection? The expiry date for the competition is midnight on Wednesday 30th September 2020 and the winners will be notified within five working days. Entrants must be over 16 years of age. Only one entry per household. Local Life 247 cannot accept responsibility for entries that do not reach us. Employees of Local Life 247 Ltd and their families are not eligible to enter this competition.

1st prize

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2nd prize

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3rd prize

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FREE Eggs! ½ dozen large local eggs with purchases over £5 One original voucher per customer Expiry date 30th September 2020

Ashton Rd | Wigan | WN5 7XX 01744 892208 www.windy-arbour.co.uk

Then & Now

Ashton

A steam lorry and trailer at the junction of Warrington Road and Flora Street, being held up by tree trunks placed across the road. It is thought that this incident is from the 1926 General Strike, and the men surrounding the vehicle are thought to be pickets.

A funeral procession for some of the miners killed in the Garswood Hall No.9 pit disaster on 12 November 1932. 25 miners perished when two explosions rocked the colliery, with two further deaths within a week of the disaster. The procession is going along Gerard Street.

Crowds at the opening of Ashton Library by Lord Frederick Gerard, circa 1906. This building was originally a lecture hall / library and was just one of approximately 2,500 libraries built with money donated by ScottishAmerican businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.

Wiganâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Culture and Heritage venues are now open and warmly welcome you withâ&#x20AC;Ś RADICALS, REBELS & REFORM: Fighting for Change (Museum of Wigan Life, Wigan, from 3rd September) & We Will Always Be Together (The Fire Within, The Galleries, Wigan, from 19th September).

Please check website and social media for facilities, opening days and times. www.wigan.gov.uk/museum | www.thefirewithin.org.uk

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Orrell

Heritage Weekend Local community group Brighter Better Orrell are celebrating the UK-wide Heritage Open Days by launching two Orrell Heritage Trails on the weekend of 19th and 20th September. These two trails are illustrated on the map opposite and as you can see from the key on the map, the location of many of the area’s notable and historic buildings are included. Displays at three of the area’s churches will carry old photographs, memorabilia, stories and other information. Churches will be open as follows: • Bispham Methodist Church in Crank Road will be open 10am to 2pm Sat and 12pm to 4pm Sun. • Living Faith Church in Church Street will be open 10am to 2pm Sat and 12pm to 4pm Sun. • St Luke’s Church in Lodge Road will be open 10am to 1pm Sat and 11am to 2pm Sun. Greenslate Farm on Tracks Lane will also be displaying some of their own history over the weekend, and visitors also have an opportunity to donate an item that the farm may use in the time capsule due to be buried there. Here is a small sample of the old photographs you can expect to see at Orrell Heritage Weekend. For further details about the event join the ‘Brighter Better Orrell’ group on Facebook.

Long Route

ORRELL

Short Route

13 14

Orrell Road

Church Street

Orrell Post

1. Living Faith Church

M58

DISPLAY SITE

2. Rose & Crown Public House 3. The Grapes Public House 4. Majestic Cinema

Ro a

5. Red Lion Public House

6. Orrell Urban District Council Offices

Sefton Road

8. Benedictine Nunnery

all Ro

es R am St. J

Far Moor

(& the Orrell Post)

11. Abbey Lakes Hotel

14. St Thomasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Church

Orrell Station

15. Tontine Methodist Church

16. Delph Tavern Public House

17. Sandbrook Arms Public House

18. Upholland Railway Station

W ins

nle

29 yR

19. Sandbrook Mill 20. Running Horses Public House

Orrell Water Park

21. St James RC School and Church 22. Bispham Methodist Church 24. Greenslate Community

College

DISPLAY SITE

25. Colliers Arms Public House 26. Robin Hood Public House 27. St Lukes Church

Crank

Road

Greenslate Farm

DISPLAY SITE

28. YMCA 29. Winstanley Tennis Club 30. Orrell Tile & Brickworks

31. The Railway Public House st

32. Orrell Rugby Union

hu r

33. Black Horse Public House 34. Orrell Methodist Church

22 23

DISPLAY SITE

23. Poor Law Infirmary Farm

Upholland Road

Higher End

13. Upholland Grammar School

10. The Stag Public House

12. Abbey Lakes

tre

34 33

1 urc Ch

9. Orrell Post Methodist

Edge H

7. The Mount Public House

4 4

oad

Tontine

Jake’s Makes Local blacksmith Jake Schorah has unveiled his latest work of art in nearby Shevington. A metal figure that depicts the old basket weaving industry of Shevington was commissioned by the village’s ‘In Bloom’ organisation. A crowdfunding attempt initiated by the volunteers was successful and the funds they raised with the crowdfunder were matched by Wigan Council. Billinge resident Jake, the owner of Upholland Blacksmiths, has previously made many planters and benches for Shevington in Bloom and his latest creation has now been installed on a heritage plot in the village centre along with pit tubs and field plough. In addition to gates, railings and balconies, Jake’s recent work includes installing ornate metalwork in the Upholland church of St Thomas the Martyr as well as replacing the railing around the church, and he’s also repaired a cast iron vintage barge-loading crane at Wigan Pier.

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Club Receives

Queens Award Garswood Hall Bowling Club, founded in 1893 and based on Nicol Road in Ashton, were amongst several local community groups who have been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK and equivalent to an MBE. The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service was created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local communities. The Club has reached out successfully to the wider community with, amongst other events, a hugely successful Bowl and Plate project where, up until lockdown, around 100 people packed into the club every Friday to enjoy a hot nutritious meal and to meet up with friends and neighbours.

Two volunteers from Garswood Hall will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May 2021, alongside other local recipients of this year’s award, which include Breastfeeding Together, True Colours CIC, Parbold Douglas Music, Parbold Picture House, Wrightington & Wigan Group of Friends for Cancer Research and Leigh Ornithological Society. Club Secretary Nick Shaw, a member of 25 years and secretary since 2015, said: “Our committee members are delighted and humbled to receive this award which is the highest award any voluntary group in the UK can receive. It is testament to all the hard work of the club’s volunteers, members, staff and supporters in the wider community over a period of several years. The support of the community is something we are hugely grateful for and means a great deal to us”.

A selection of club committee members taken before lockdown.

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READY

in 35 mins Serves 4

Peppered pork steaks with sautéed vegetables Pork steaks are great value and quick to cook. Try them with this tasty vegetable and apple topping for a filling meal.

Ingredients 4 thick-cut pork steaks 2 tsp coarsely ground black pepper 1 tsp dried thyme 1 tsp dried oregano 1 large parsnip, peeled and diced 2 small turnips, peeled and diced 1 tbsp olive oil 15g butter 1 onion, roughly chopped 1 large apple, peeled, cored and diced 100ml apple juice 1 tsp Dijon mustard TIP: You can use butternut squash or courgette instead of the parsnip and turnips – you won’t need to parboil them before sautéing.

Method 1 Place the pork steaks in a shallow dish. Mix together the pepper, thyme and oregano, and sprinkle half the mixture over the pork steaks, turning to coat. Set aside. 2 Parboil the diced vegetables in a pan of lightly salted boiling water for 2 minutes. Drain well. Heat the oil and butter in a heavy-based frying pan over a medium heat. Add the onion and vegetables and sauté for 6-8 minutes until almost tender, stirring frequently. 3 Meanwhile, heat a griddle pan over a high heat. Add the pork steaks and cook for 4-5 minutes on each side, or until seared and just cooked through. Remove from the pan, cover tightly with foil and rest for 10 minutes. 4 Add the diced apple to the sautéed veg and cook for a further 3-4 minutes until tender and golden, then stir in the remaining pepper and herb mix along with the apple juice and mustard, and bring to the boil. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until the liquid has reduced by half. Adjust seasoning to taste. Serve the pork steaks topped with the sautéed veg and any pan juices.

The

Perfect Picnic Pack up your snacks and head to the great outdoors.

PICNIC IN STYLE • Make sure your bag, rucksack or hamper is spacious enough to carry all your food, but not so big that it’s too heavy to carry comfortably. An insulated section is a good idea, as are padded handles, especially if you’re going to be walking miles to an isolated field or beach.

This natural willow basket with three compartments is ideal for cutlery and napkins for an outdoor lunch. Willow caddy, £9.50, The Contemporary Home.

Bring a touch of sophistication to your outdoor table setting.

• A lightweight blanket or two with a waterproof backing is essential. Traditional checked blankets are delightful, and some come with their own straps for ease of packing and transportation. • Avoid using disposable plates, glasses and cutlery – look after the environment by investing in a set of lightweight, non-breakable picnic accessories. • Little luxuries make all the difference. Perhaps a Bluetooth speaker, a battery or solar-powered lantern, a folding chair or stool, and mini packs of salt, pepper and condiments.

European tile-pattern bamboo plate, £6.50, Sous Chef.

This blanket is a picnic essential, with faux leather straps to make it easy to carry and a water-resistant backing. Bees knitted picnic blanket, £36, Sophie Allport.

• Don’t forget sunscreen and insect repellent, a warm jumper for when the sun goes down, a sharp knife, a rubbish bag and a bottle opener!

Evoke a flavour of times past by packing your picnic in an upmarket, two-tone wicker basket. This includes waterproofbacked picnic blanket, cutlery, plates, wine goblets, napkins and utensils.

These stackable tumblers are designed with Mediterranean-inspired rattan bases.

Four-person herringbone picnic hamper, £52.99, VonHaus.

Set of four Portmore tumblers in ink, £20, Garden Trading.

This stylish navy striped tote bag is ideal for a casual trip to the beach or the park. Bees canvas tote bag, £26, Sophie Allport.

Roll up an indoor/outdoor rug and take it to the park for a perfect picnic setting. Recycled plastic, mould-resistant Fab Hab Manila outdoor rug in navy, £54.95, Cuckooland.

Cod, Prawn & Parsley Pie

READY in 1hr 15mins Serves 6 Cod and prawns in a smooth herby white sauce topped with fluffy mash, â&#x20AC;&#x201C; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the ultimate fish pie!

Ingredients

Method

1.6kg floury potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks

1 Cook the potatoes in a large pan of boiling, lightly salted water for 1520 minutes until tender.

750g cod fillet

2 Meanwhile, place the cod in a large frying pan and pour over the milk. Add the bay leaf and peppercorns and bring to the boil. Simmer for 5 minutes then remove from the heat. Using a slotted spoon, remove the cod from the pan and set aside. Strain the milk into a large heatproof jug.

1L milk 1 bay leaf Few black peppercorns 75g butter 50g plain flour 3 tbsp freshly chopped parsley 175g frozen peas, thawed 225g large peeled prawns, thawed if frozen 15ml olive oil Sprig of fresh parsley, to garnish TIP: You can use any white fish fillet for this pie - haddock or coley will work just as well. Alternatively, replace half the cod with salmon fillet or smoked haddock, if liked.

3 Melt 50g of the butter in a medium saucepan. Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in 850ml of the milk. Bring to the boil, stirring all the time, then simmer for 3-4 minutes until you have a smooth, thick sauce. 4 Preheat the oven to 200C, fan 180C, Gas 6. Flake the fish, discarding any skin and bones, and stir into the sauce with the parsley, peas and prawns. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Transfer the mixture to a deep ovenproof dish. 5 Mash the potatoes with the rest of the butter and milk and season to taste. Spoon the mash over the fish mixture to cover. Drizzle over the olive oil and bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until golden and bubbling. Serve garnished with a sprig of parsley.

32 IPAD Apple’s world-beating tablet is portable, powerful and has all the apps you need, and with the latest software update it’s also a real alternative to many laptops.

Back to

School Tech for the new normal

It’s £379 from Apple.com. HUAWEI MOBILE WI-FI DONGLE

Technology has always been an important tool for schoolchildren and students, but it’s even more important now: during lockdown it became clear that children and teenagers with access to appropriate technology were better placed for remote learning. Lockdown may be over, but if infection rates rise again then we could go back to ‘blended learning’ where some or all of the school week has to take place at home – and older children are expected to use technology for homework even when things are normal.

If your child can’t get a fast, reliable internet connection for studying this dongle connects to the 4G mobile phone network and creates a Wi-Fi network you can connect multiple devices to. It’s £65 from Logitech.com. It costs from £22 per month at three.co.uk.

FJÄLLRÄVEN KÅNKEN LAPTOP BACKPACK A sturdy, padded backpack is important for carrying tablets or laptops around, and while the Fjällräven Kånken is one of the more expensive ones it’s beautifully made and very fashionable. Be careful, though: this brand is widely counterfeited so only buy from reputable retailers.

And of course, technology isn’t just for studying. It’s also for having fun: video chatting with friends, playing games, bingeing on TV box sets and taking advantage of apps. And that means buying tech can be a challenge: what should you buy if you want something that’s useful for school or college work as well as leisure time?

It costs from £71 at Amazon.co.uk.

We think these products should be in your tech shopping list. Apple’s iPad has no real rivals, so if a tablet is your preferred option that’s the one to go for: even the cheapest one is incredibly powerful and flexible; however, it’s also eminently breakable, so consider a protective case and gadget insurance too. Apple may seem like the go-to choice for laptops too, but its Mac laptops are much more expensive than equally powerful Windows PCs. There are lots of really great Windows laptops for very good prices, and Microsoft’s Surface range is stylish as well as powerful. We’ve also given some thought to getting online when there isn’t good broadband available, and to something that’s as important as any PC’s processor or tablet’s tech: the backpack it’s going to be carried around in.

LOGITECH CRAYON Logitech’s tablet stylus is as much fun as an Apple Pencil but it’s an awful lot cheaper. It’s great for drawing and note-taking, and it works on the current iPad and the iPad Pro. It’s £65 from Logitech.com.

MICROSOFT SURFACE GO 2 Many schools and colleges are based on Windows apps and require a Windows computer. Microsoft’s Surface Go runs the full version of Windows 10 and is desirable, portable and affordable – it’s £399 from Microsoft.com.

A new look windows

for your

Make a conservatory feel like a fully decorated room with the addition of patterned Roman blinds. Blinds in Frond Fennel fabric from the Observatory Collection, from £67 per metre, ILIV.

CURTAINS, BLINDS, SHUTTERS and more Not just for privacy, blocking light or keeping in the warmth, window treatments can complement a room’s architecture, disguise a poor view, link the inside to the outside and add texture, colour and pattern.

• Usually considered the luxurious choice, curtains can be made in a range of styles, from minimal to ornate. Its heading determines how a curtain hangs, usually in the form of a tape sewn onto the back of the curtain and pulled to form pleats, gathers, ‘goblets’ or other shapes. • For a less formal look, tap-tops, tie-tops, deep hems and eyelets simply slide onto a curtain pole. They are often found on ready-made curtains. • The clean-lined look of made-to-measure blinds is no longer the poor relation to curtains. And while they are usually cheaper (since they use less fabric) they can still be luxurious. Roller blinds are the most utilitarian, and very practical in bathrooms, kitchens, conservatories and perhaps even children’s rooms, while Roman blinds, featuring softly draped folds, suit many types of room.

Interesting borders, hems and trims all add to the effect. Venetian (or slatted) blinds are another option, available in natural wood or an array of eye-catching colours. • Good-looking but unfussy, shutters are great for privacy, blocking out sound and light, and also add an extra layer of security. Shaker-style shutters have a timber frame and solid centre panel, can be natural or painted, and are ideal for a Georgian or Victorian home. American shutters, with tilting louvres for letting in the light, look upmarket and work virtually anywhere. • Used on its own or as an addition to conventional window treatments, window film can be an inexpensive option. Where a room is overlooked, for example, the window can be covered (wholly or partially) in opaque or patterned film which still allows in a lot of light.

Why not have a roller blind printed in a unique design and made to your specifications? World map blind, £105, Artylicious Home & Gifts.

Venetian blinds offer the option of tilting the slats to filter light as well as raising or lowering. Made-to-measure 50mm textured wooden blinds, from £22.50, English Blinds.

Stained glass designs are printed onto frosted (for privacy) or clear film that is easily attached to any type of window for an interesting effect. Period stained glass effect design, made to your size, £65 per square metre, Purlfrost Window Film.

Solid-wood shutters keep out the light and noise while aiding your security and looking smart. Classic wood shutters in a custom colour, from £66 per square metre, California Shutters.

Curtain poles can be specially made to fit bay windows, and while fulllength curtains are not the cheapest option, they do eminently suit a period property.

Made to measure William Morris Compton Midnight curtains, with light filtering lining as standard, plus optional blackout and thermal upgrades, price according to size, Blinds 2go.

Add a pom-pom trim to the bottom of a pretty Roman blind and you have a lovely, decorative window treatment. Custom-made Hardwick Apple Green roman blinds, from £65.75, English Blinds.

Full-length curtains with a large eyelet heading are both elegant and modern. Curtains and Roman blind in Observatory Seaspray 05, from £25 per metre, ILIV.

A series of roller blinds is a sleek option when a minimal look works best with the décor. Made to measure roller blinds, from £35.94, English Blinds.

This neat blackout blind is motorised so can be controlled by remote, app or smart home – no dangling cords to fiddle with. Custom-made roller blind in Regal Natural, £136.13, 247 Blinds.

Young Achiever Wigan Soroptimists are now welcoming nominations for their Young Achiever Award for 2020. This award is made each year to a to a local young girl/ woman aged 14-21 who has set a good example to the local community. The winner will have her name engraved on a trophy and will receive an engraved miniature trophy together with a gift card valued at £100. The award is planned to be presented by the Mayor of Wigan in early December 2020. The group takes a broad view of achievement to encompass service to the community. Acts of bravery, overcoming life’s difficulties, being a young carer, having business skills, or outstanding academic, sporting or arts attainment. Previous winners include Caitlin Touhey, Beatrice Taylor, Olivia Barrow and Olivia Garcia. Anyone can make a nomination and the nomination forms can be obtained on request from yaaward@ymail. com or from any member of SI Wigan and it will be also available on the club’s website http://sigbi.org/wigan

Nominees must be between 14–21 years and they must come from anywhere in Wigan Borough, except for Leigh, Tyldesley and Atherton. When completed, forms should be returned by post to: Young Achiever Award, 10 Edinburgh Drive, Wigan, WN5 9ET or emailed to yaaward@ymail.com by 30th October 2020.

Oktoberfest It’s time to dust down your lederhosen because Oktoberfest is coming to Liverpool! This traditional Bavarian festival will be held in the State Ballroom on Dale Street, and will bring great beer and steins, Oompah bands and performers, along with German pretzels and bratwursts, all served on trestle tables, the Bavarian way. Tickets for the event are available at www.eventbrite. co.uk. Please note that, as with all the events featured in this magazine, this information was correct at the time we went to press but you are advisable to seek confirmation of the event closer to the date.

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The 3D Effect Earlier this month saw the UK record its highest temperature in 17 years and it’s not just the weather that’s been red-hot. The property market in Wigan is going through a blisteringly busy period. Unprecedented is a word used often recently to describe the lockdown experience we all went through. And it feels like an appropriate word to use right now when describing what’s happening in terms of people wanting to move.

have a larger deposit, making mortgages more available and in many cases increasingly affordable. This won’t last long though. The Stamp Duty Holiday ends on 31 March 2021 and with an average of up to 17 weeks between sale agreed and completion, it’s vital you have a sale agreed by the end of November or early December On their own, the 3Ds would not have caused such a surge in activity. But the three have come together in the same period to create the perfect storm for a red-hot property market.

But why is this happening? I think it’s down to three things.

Planning Reforms

Desire - One of the legacies of lockdown was that many people realised they wanted more from their current home. All that time spent indoors has led to families and individuals rethinking about where, and how, they live. Rather than wait a couple of years to move, many feel now is the right time to move.

Boris Johnson has announced a substantial change to the Town & Country Planning Act 1947. In effect this takes the decision of what gets built (and what doesn’t) away from Wigan Council and the decision-making process will effectively be made in Westminster.

Demand - When lockdown started, all property moves were on hold. This caused a ‘blockage’ in the property selling/buying pipe. The relaxation of lockdown has opened up this pipe and there has been a surge in demand. And where there is a demand for homes, it creates an increase in their value, which has led to homeowners realising now is the time to sell.

Land will be divided into three types of land zones, Growth, Protection and Renewal.

Duty - The Stamp Duty Tax holiday for properties under £500,000 means more people now

The anticipated reform will give reasonable building rights to any piece of land outside areas of outstanding natural beauty, green belt and national parks.

Anyone applying for planning permission to develop homes, offices and shops on land zoned for Growth, will automatically be granted planning permission. Similar applications to build on land zoned for Renewal planning permission will be granted in principle while Government officers perform checks. Local authorities have until 2024 to designate areas for the three type of land and once agreed, planning departments will have little or no say over individual applications that fit the rules. These changes have been introduced to make the planning process quicker, less expensive and less likely to be held up by ‘special interests’. With regard to what can be built and where, people will have a say upfront (i.e. between now and 2024 when the zoning rules are drawn up) but once the zoning has been established, then hopefully we can construct the homes we need for our children and generations of Wiganers to come.

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.

Alan Batt

For more of Alan’s tips, guidance and analysis on the Wigan property market, check out

www.wiganpropertynews.blogspot.co.uk

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Local Life require distributors for the following areas; Ashton Mucklow Est – Alexandra/Edward/ Greenfields etc areas 335 copies £24.29 basic & leaflet pay

Water Sports You and all of the family can make the most of the last of the light summer nights by trying out a range of water sports at Scotman’s Flash in Poolstock. Every Thursday night in September, Inspiring Healthy Living (IHL) will be hosting stand up paddle boarding sessions and kayaking. The stand-up paddle boarding (SUP) sessions run from 6.30pm to 8pm, and the cost per person is £15 with equipment hire which consists of a board, paddle and a buoyancy aid. If you have your own SUP, the cost is reduced is £10. The sessions are suitable for everyone aged 12 or over. These are instructor-led sessions so are suitable for all levels from absolute beginners to improvers.

Mucklow Est – Eskdale/ Coniston/ Fairholme etc areas 513 copies £37.20 basic & leaflet pay

If you have children under 12, then you’ll be interested to hear that there will also be a supervised kayaking session running alongside the SUP session for ages 8 and over.

Wotton Drive/Moxon Drive Est plus Dunsdale Dr 521 copies £35.17 basic & leaflet pay

The cost of this session will be £10 and a discounted rate of £7 is available for those who have booked onto the SUP session.

Woodedge Est, L’pool Rd, Old Hall Est, Satinwood/Houghwood 539 copies £39.08 basic & leaflet pay Tenbury Drive Est, Ellesmere Rd Est 471 copies £31.79 basic & leaflet pay

Bryn Dryden Ave Est, Soughers La, Kielder Est, Rose Hill area 340 copies £26.35 basic & leaflet pay

Interested? Please email your name, address, landline number and date of birth to sallyb@locallife247.co.uk

LocalLife

You must pre-book for these sessions and you can do so by visiting the website www. inspiringhealthylifestyles.org/wigan/, click on ‘Services’ and then on Scotman’s Flash. Other activities at Scotman’s Flash include rafted canoeing, funboat sailing and topper sailing. You can also organise group activities or one-onone sessions. For more detail outdooradventure@ ihlmail.org for further details.

Heritage Open Days England’s largest festival of history and culture, Heritage Open Days, will return in September and is heading outdoors to discover Hidden Nature.

programme will feature digital events, enabling nature lovers to take tours and explore the natural world from the comfort of their sofa.

Uncovering stories, sites, places and people that traditional history has missed or forgotten has always been at the heart of HODs. Although Heritage Open Days have been scaled back somewhat from previous years, it is hoped that the Hidden Nature events will encourage people to spend time outdoors and discover green spaces they were unaware of or had previously overlooked.

Heritage Open Days run from 11-20 September. To search for local venues taking part, visit the website www. heritageopendays.org.uk

Events aren’t limited to those accessible in person either. For the first time, the Heritage Open Days (HODs)

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Books of

Self Discovery

The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse

Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow

Charlie Mackesy

Jessica Townsend

These illustrations of conversations between a boy, a mole, a fox and a horse have been shared across the world. As the author says, the characters “are all different, like us, and each has their own weaknesses. I can see myself in all four of them, perhaps you can too.” Personally, I challenge anyone to read it and not feel at least a tiny bit lighter, more hopeful and more connected to those around us.

A Street Cat Named Bob James Bowen James had very little to give when he found an injured stray cat. A recovering drug-addict, James was living in sheltered accommodation and busking to earn enough money to eat. But it turned out that taking in the ginger cat, which he named Bob, would change James’ life. This true story is a few years old now, and you could just choose to watch the film adaptation. But if you want to curl up with a feel-good story full of hope, resilience and friendship, it won’t disappoint.

Morrigan Crow is cursed to die on her eleventh birthday. And it seems that for those around her, her death can’t come soon enough. But then Morrigan is whisked away by the mysterious Jupiter Crow. She has the chance of a new life as a member of the Wundrous Society, but only if she can pass a series of trials. A fantastic book for children and adults alike, Nevermoor is a great reminder that we can be so much more than society expects us to be.

The Secrets of Sunshine Phaedra Patrick After losing his wife a few years ago, Mitchell has withdrawn into his own small world – focusing on work and raising his daughter. But then an incident on a bridge leads Mitchell on a journey of self-discovery. Warm and light-hearted, without ever straying into saccharine-sweet territory, The Secrets of Sunshine is a cosy hug of a book.

Staying Alive: real poems for unreal times

Stories for Kids Who Dare to be Different

Neil Astley

Ben Brooks

The 500 poems in this anthology cover a wide range of subjects, from depression and death to joy, personal quests and self-discoveries. These are poems that are “ﬁred by belief in the human and the spiritual at a time when much in the world feels unreal, inhuman and hollow.” You’ll rediscover poems you’ve likely heard many times before, such as Robert Frost’s ‘The Road Not Taken’, and also have your eyes opened to a whole new legion of poets.

While this book is aimed at children, there are plenty of adults who will enjoy dipping into it. If you do, you’ll discover mini-bios of ordinary people who tend not to make it into the history books. And you might also learn a little bit more about well-known figures, including Dr Seuss, Andy Warhol, Whoopi Goldberg and John Boyega.

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Houghwood

Heroes

A group of local golfing fanatics swung for glory at Houghwood in June to raise an astonishing £15,205 for NHS Charities Together. The golfers met at the Billinge course just before sunrise at 3.45am on 23rd June, going on to play an exhausting 72 holes of golf until the final group completed the challenge by 8.30pm that evening. The challenge of walking over 26 miles of hilly terrain and taking an average of 350 shots each wasn’t a new one, for many of the group who had completed a similar challenge in 2017 and raising approximately £6,500 for the MS Society and Willowbrook Hospice. Organised by Spencer Anglesea, with the help of Neil Steen and Mark Berry, the event nearly didn’t happen due to lockdown restrictions. Spencer said: “We started planning this event before the country and golf was forced to shut down and it was only in late May that we were allowed to play golf in groups of four which meant all of a sudden we were ready”.

Spencer added: “We’d like to thank the directors at Houghwood Golf, who very kindly loaned us the course for the day and donated a free 12 month membership as a raffle prize, and we couldn’t have done the challenge without Neale and Sue Spence from Muffin Man, who provided food for us throughout the day because the clubhouse was still closed due to lockdown regulations”. Well done to all those golfers who participated in raising such an incredible amount of funding for NHS Charities Together: Spencer Anglesea, Neil Steen, Mark Berry, Ben Anglesea, Oliver Anglesea, Jonathon Whalley, Matthew Whalley, Paul Mottram, Andrew Mottram, Alan Scott, Andy Ashton, Paul Jones, Paul Miller, Steve Molloy, Steve Simmons, Tony Mather, Simon Cutler, Payton Berry, Joe Webster, Lewis Derbyshire, Tony Derbyshire, Jack O’Brien, Martin Johnson, Neil Bradshaw, Andy Hampson, Harry Elliot, Gareth Leyland and Steve Peet.

Film

Reviews by Bill Robinson

Black Lives Matter The current global, social and political upheaval has made ever clearer the injustice and unfairness that is shown to people of colour in all aspects of life. This injustice extends to the film industry where, depending where you do your research, black directors make up only 10-15% of all directors of the top grossing films. This is undeniably down to major production companies’ total lack of faith in films made by/about people of colour to be critically and commercially successful, and so I want to cover some of the best films that fall into the underappreciated category.

Hidden Figures (2016) “Hidden Figures” tells the true story of the unknown black, female mathematicians that were instrumental in the success of the NASA space programme in the early 60s, particularly the famous launch of astronaut John Glen into orbit. I still think “Hidden Figures” is one of the most clever and descriptive names ever given to a film, and the movie itself is just as clever. It manages to highlight institutionalised racism within STEM fields as a serious issue that is holding back some of the world’s greatest minds from showing or discovering their abilities, without creating a film that is totally depressing in its tone. The dialogue can be witty and light-hearted, whilst also being serious when it needs to be. The performances also find this balance, with the three main characters able to deliver humour and sincerity in equal, effective measure. This is totally worth a watch. Available on Blue Ray

Uppity: The Willy T. Ribbs Story (2020) The most recent film of these three is perhaps my favourite, and as a big F1 fan, it’s certainly the closest to my heart. “Uppity” is the story of Willy T. Ribbs, the first prominent black racing driver in the world. Decades before Lewis Hamilton made a name for himself as the only black F1 driver, Willy T. Ribbs’ story is one of insurmountable odds and an absolutely steadfast dedication of the craft of motor racing. The documentary charts Ribbs’ rise through the ranks of the sport, from lower Formula cars to top level NASCAR and even the fastest race on the planet, the Indianapolis 500. Shamefully, motor racing sorely lacks healthy numbers of black drivers even today, making Willy’s struggle four decades ago, even more of an incredible feat and a must watch documentary. Available on Netflix

Get Out (2017) I just absolutely love this film. Its brilliant in so many ways. On the surface, “Get Out” is about young African American Chris Washington being taken to visit is girlfriend’s parents for the first time. Nothing sounds particularly untoward at first, until Washington notices some strange things about the all-white, wealthy property he has been taken to. “Get Out” then descends into being one of the most effective and powerful psychological horror films of the 2010s. The film is a potent metaphor for the way echoes of the slavery era still linger in modern, western society, held up by iconic performances and writing that won director Jordan Peele the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. Focusing on suspense rather than outright terror, “Get Out” is another film that perfectly fuses the conventions of its genre, with its important and powerful meaning. It is amazing. Available on Blue Ray

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Choosing Your

Financial Adviser A good financial adviser is like gold dust. Like your most influential teacher at school, they should inspire as well as reassure you in order that you can enjoy a better financial future. A poor adviser will put their interests before yours and will sell you a product you don’t really need and have no interest in your future. It’s about them, their ego and their sale. Worryingly both advisers will be FCA registered, both have at least a Level 4 qualification (it is now the minimum standard to trade as a financial adviser), and both will sound plausible.

So how do you select the right adviser for you? The right qualifications You want an adviser who takes professional knowledge and development very seriously and is completely independent. Look for an adviser who is a Chartered Financial Planner or a Certified Financial Planner - or is actively working towards these qualifications. These are Level 6 qualifications - equivalent to a university degree and are the “Gold Standard” amongst financial advisers. Advisers who have achieved this level of technical competence have demonstrated that they are capable of dealing with clients that perhaps have more complicated financial planning requirements. A clear plan A good adviser will ask challenging questions and map out a plan to achieve your goals. They will spend considerable time listening to you and asking smart questions to help you define your short, medium, and long-term objectives, to determine your desired future lifestyle. Your adviser will create a financial plan to meet your objectives, ensuring that account is taken of tax-efficient planning such as pensions, and considering estate planning too, if that is a priority. A financial plan is a living plan. You can be pretty certain that events won’t turn out exactly as the

plan indicates and your adviser should review and update the plan on a regular basis. Relationships count Your relationship with your adviser is absolutely key. They will become an important professional person in your life so it is essential that you get on well. Ask yourself whether the adviser really cares about you, genuinely wants you to reach your goals, and is willing and able to challenge you along the way. And finally, fees Fees should be open, transparent, and fair. You should feel you are getting good value for money. Given that a good adviser could potentially make a difference of many thousands of pounds to your financial position over time, we suggest that you base your decision primarily on qualifications, approach and relationship as opposed to price alone.

Should you wish to have a chat with one of our qualified financial planners please feel free to give us a call on 01257 423800. We are on the high street in Standish and have client parking. The initial meeting is at our expense and of course is without any obligation.

David Barton APFS Cert CII (MP)

Chief Executive Officer

Remember all investments can fall as well as rise in value so investors could get back less than they invest.

Mining Monument

Unveiled

“It was so sad”, said Sheila Ramsdale, the Chairperson of WHAMM. “The unveiling of the monument was planned for the Friday (27th March) and on the Tuesday before the Friday, the UK went into full lockdown”, says Sheila. She adds, “I ended up watching one of our engineers Stuart Callaghan, unwrap the hessian sacking from the bronze figures on a deserted College Avenue on a wet Thursday afternoon, the day before the official unveiling should have taken place. Just me and him”. It was an underwhelming and undeserving end to a tough fundraising campaign that started back in 2013 when two local women, Anne Catterall and Sheila Ramsdale, founded the Wigan Local History Group. A shared aim of the two women was to commemorate the thousands of Wiganers that were affected by the town’s coal mining industry.

Over the past three hundred years, over 750 million of tons of coal were extracted via over 1,000 pits in the Wigan area. Whilst coal made a huge contribution to the town’s prosperity, this came at the cost of hundreds of human lives, and thousands of ex-miners were left with life-changing health conditions such as silicosis. It wasn’t just men either, the pit brow lassies worked picking stones from the coal that had been mined and children as young as 8 years old were employed in appalling conditions. Just before Anne died in April 2015, at the tender age of 57, she asked Sheila to ensure she carried on with the history group and also that she would organise the mining memorial they had talked about. Sheila agreed to do this and, along with a group of people from the local history group, set up WHAMM (Wigan Heritage and Mining Monument) in July 2016. I met up with WHAMM on a bench near the Plantation Gates on Wigan Lane with Sheila and three of her fellow trustees, Tom Walsh (Vice-Chair), Neil Cain (Treasurer) and Margaret Settle (Secretary). After Anne’s death, the group became a registered charity and quickly enlisted other trustees to help with the project; David Molyneux (Wigan Council Leader), Lisa Nandy (MP for Wigan), Chris Gibbon, Ray Hinds, Marianne Howell and Audrey Welsh. Helped by initial publicity in the Wigan Observer, the group struck lucky when an anonymous benefactor donated an amazing £30,000 towards their appeal to build a suitable memorial to commemorate those Wiganers affected by the coal mining industry. Once the group had raised an additional £25.000, the very same benefactor came back with a further £50,000

56 donation. Tom Walsh is in no doubt that without the generosity of that single benefactor, the statue never would have happened, “Without his/her donations, we’d never have made it”, says Tom. “Never in a million years”, chips in Sheila. The group are adamant that they still have no idea who the mystery benefactor was. The fundraising events came thick and fast, each requiring much organisation and pulling in of favours by trustees. Quiz nights, music concerts, church festivals were all held, and WHAMM merchandise such as badges,

pens and bags were produced and sold at the events, with all profits helping towards the total needed to erect the memorial. Many of the fundraising events were held at St Michael’s and All Angels in Swinley, and the WHAMM group all agreed that the Rev. Stan Higginson gave unstinting support throughout the campaign, for which they were all eternally grateful. During the fundraising process, the sculptor Steve Winterburn, who created the Billy Boston statue at the top of The Wiend, was approached by WHAMM to complete the work and the figures were completed at the beginning of the year. A time capsule was buried under the memorial (see pic). I asked Sheila whether there was a fundraising event that stood out and she recounted the Q&A session with actress Maxine Peake. “There was an ink sketch of a miner by artist Bill Mather that was being auctioned at the event and one of our benefactors, Margaret Kennedy, was really interested because the subject reminded her of her brother, who was a miner”. Sheila explained that Margaret had donated £100 earlier in the evening and that was on top of other donations she had made previously. “The auction turned into a difficult battle between Margaret and another bidder, with the price slowly inching up when Maxine Peake stepped in with a £180 offer which floored the other bidders and she then turns round and gives the sketch to Margaret”. “It was gesture”, Sheila.

beautiful concluded

WHAMM were adamant that the contribution of every man, woman and child working in the coal industry in Wigan

be marked by the statue, hence the three figures that make up the statue, which is sited on College Avenue between the Town Hall (formerly the Wigan and District Mining and Technical College) and the Life Centre. For a town that is so rich in mining history, very little is left of our mining heritage, particularly in the town centre and this new work of art is a welcome and attractive addition to the town centre landscape. “It was important that we made this happen because we remember people who working in the industry”, says Margaret. “It had to be done by this generation, if it had been left to subsequent generations it probably wouldn’t have been done”. So, what now for WHAMM? The group shared that they aren’t quite finished yet and they are in the midst of fundraising to ensure that, at some point in the future when these turbulent times

ease, the mining monument will get the welcome and acclaim it deserves with an official unveiling.

Going Electric:

Benefits and Drawbacks by Chris Alcock - CMA Accountancy In a world that is shifting towards new norms, a hot topic with those looking to reduce costs is the benefit of electric cars. Year-on-year sales of electric cars are breaking records, and with several brands committing new designs over the next 12 months, there is no time like the present to be thinking about going electric.

ELECTRIC COMPANY CAR TAX

Electric cars are subject to the lowest Benefit-inKind (BIK) rate of company car tax. From April 2020, the tax rate was cut to 0% of the car’s list price, compared with 16% the previous tax year. This will rise to just 1% in 2021-22 and 2% in 2022-23.

CAPITAL ALLOWANCES

Cars that have CO2 emissions less that 50g/km are eligible of 100% first year capital allowances. This means that you can deduct the full cost from your pre-tax profits, in the year you purchased the car. On a car costing around £40,000, this could amount to a tax relief of up to £7,600. If you are looking at part-exchanging your existing car for a new one, some manufacturers offer generous scrappage discounts when trading a petrol or diesel car in for an electric vehicle.

CHARGING

ROAD TAX SAVINGS

Cars that produce zero emissions, and cost less that £40,000 are exempt from paying road tax.

Despite the benefits, there are some drawbacks to electric cars in a social and environment sense: There is a government grant towards a home car charger, so providing you have the space available, keeping the car charged at home shouldn’t be a problem. Public facilities leave something to be desired at the moment but charging points in the UK are increasing.

ENVIRONMENTAL CREDENTIALS

PLUG-IN GRANT

Since 2018, there has been a grant available for £3,500 towards the cost of a brand-new electric car. If your electric car has CO2 emissions under 50g/km and an electric-only range of 70+ miles, you will be eligible for this.

SCRAPPAGE DISCOUNTS

The government have provided several incentives to steer people into the electric car lane:

Despite the obvious positives related to local air quality improvement, if the electricity used for the batteries is not from a renewable energy, it may not be as beneficial as it first looks.

As ever, if you have any questions regarding Xero, Making Tax Digital, and Apps, or switching to an online accounting system please do get in touch. We can meet in our office, obviously socially distancing, or over a Zoom call to discuss the information above, or more general accounting queries. Our initial consultation meetings are free of charge, and if you decide that we can help you there are a range of packages or you can design your own to meet your immediate needs.

Chris Alcock ACMA - CMA Accountancy 39 Skull House Lane, Appley Bridge, Wigan, WN6 9DR 01257 255521 info@handsonaccounting.co.uk www.handsonaccounting.co.uk

59 SA

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Theo’s Boost for Wigan Company

A Highfield-based internet firm received a business boost recently from Dragon’s Den entrepreneur Theo Paphitis. Small Business Sunday is an initiative set up by Theo to support small businesses in the UK. Every Sunday Theo sifts through messages sent to him by business owners and picks six companies to promote to his 500,000 Twitter followers the following day. They are also profiled on the #SBS website (www. theopaphitissbs.com) that is exclusive to all Small Business Sunday winners.

what people could do to celebrate a birthday or occasion and they’ve found PostCake.com to be the perfect way to mark someone’s special day. Loneliness is a terrible thing and if a PostCake brightens someone’s day, then I know I am doing a good job”.

One Sunday during lockdown, Pippa Hughes, owner of PostCake.com tweeted Theo about her business and was one of six weekly winners to gain a retweet by Theo. As a result, www.PostCake.com has hundreds more followers and extra orders for their edible greetings cards. Users of PostCake.com can either choose a design or upload their own images, select a flavour of cake and have it sent it anywhere in the UK.

Theo Paphitis added “We are thrilled to welcome new #SBS members every week and highlight just how important it is to support our small businesses here in the UK. The website will also give a valuable profile to the winners chosen and I wish PostCake.com every success.”

Pippa said: ”I moved to Highfield in 2015 after getting married to my husband who was born and bred in the area and set up PostCake.com in October 2017 after posting a few test cakes from my local post office at Winstanley precinct”.

If you’d like to send a personalised cake gift to friends and family, visit www.postcake.com to place your order. For further information about Postcake.com visit their Facebook, Twitter or Instagram pages.

“It’s been tough trying to raise the profile of Postcake.com whilst raising two young children and working full time in finance, and was fantastic when Theo recognised my hard work and helped spread the word about what I do to his following.” “I’ve been extremely fortunate that lockdown restricted

Anyone looking for a re‐tweet from Theo should tweet him about their business on Sunday between 5 PM and 7.30 PM and include the hashtag #SBS.

Launching a company? Celebrating a business milestone? Want to spread the word? Call Local Life on: 01695 627999 or email: info@locallife247.co.uk

Pear Tart Bourdaloue READY

in 1hr 30min plus chilling Serves 6-8

This classic French tart has a lovely rich almond frangipane filling. Choose pears that are firm, but not rock hard.

Ingredients 225g ready-made puff pastry 75g unsalted butter, softened 75g caster sugar 2 medium eggs, beaten 1 tsp almond extract 75g plain flour 100g ground almonds 3 firm pears, peeled, halved and cored 2 tbsp apricot glaze, warmed (see Tip)

TIP: Look out for small jars of apricot glaze in the baking sections of supermarkets, or make your own by pushing 3-4tbsp of warmed apricot jam through a fine-holed sieve.

Method 1 Roll out the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface and use to line a 23cm round fluted flan tin. Trim the edges and prick the pastry all over with a fork. Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes. 2 Beat the butter and sugar together in a bowl until pale and fluffy. Gradually beat in the eggs, then the almond extract. Sift over the flour and fold in with the ground almonds to make a smooth mixture. Preheat the oven to 200C/fan 180C/Gas 6. Place a heavy baking sheet in the oven to heat up. 3 Spread the mixture in an even layer in the chilled pastry case. Place one pear half, cut side down, on a board. Using a sharp knife, carefully slice widthways through the pear half about 10 times. Repeat with the other pear halves, keeping them in their shape. 4 Arrange the sliced pears on top of the almond mixture, fanning them out slightly. Place the flan tin on the hot baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 180C/fan 160C/ Gas 4 and bake for a further 20-25 minutes until golden. Cover the tart loosely with foil for the last 15-20 minutes of the cooking time to prevent the top from over-browning. 5 Leave the tart to cool for 10-15 minutes then glaze the top with the warmed apricot glaze. Serve warm or cold with crĂ¨me fraiche, if liked.

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Migraine Awareness Week It’s Not

‘Just’ a Headache

The World Health Organisation lists it as one of the most disabling lifetime conditions. It’s more common than epilepsy, diabetes and asthma combined. Yet migraine is often poorly understood and trivialised. Migraine Awareness Week, running from 4th–10th September, aims to educate the public about migraine and reduce its stigma.

What is Migraine - and who is at risk? Migraine isn’t ‘just a bad headache’. It’s a complex set of symptoms, often including headache, that’s triggered by physiological changes – and it affects over 8 million people in the UK. People with a family history of migraine are more at risk and women are three times as likely to suffer as men are. There’s no one known ‘cause’, but several triggers that can precipitate migraine, alone or in combination, have been identified.

Migraine Triggers • • • • • • • • • •

Stress, anxiety or excitement. Hunger or lack of food. Dehydration. Sleep. Alcohol. Caffeine. Prolonged screen time. Smells. Hormonal changes in women. Environmental factors – changes in temperature, humidity and altitude, loud noises, and flickering lights. • Jaw tension or coughing. • Unaccustomed exertion. • Illness

Types and Symptoms of Migraine Most migraines fall into these categories: Migraine with aura: Previously known as focal or classic migraine, this accounts for 10-30% of migraines. Migraines with aura present as neurological symptoms that usually last less than an hour and prior to a headache. The most common symptoms are visual disturbances, including tunnel vision, double vision, blind spots or temporary blindness. However, some people may also experience: • Weakness on one side of the body or partial paralysis. • Dizziness or vertigo. • Numbness or tingling. • Disturbance to speech, hearing and memory. • Feelings of fear or confusion. • Fainting. These more severe symptoms tend to occur most often with rare subtypes of migraine, such as migraine with brainstem aura and hemiplegic migraine.

65 Migraine without aura: The most common type of migraine, experienced by 70-90% of sufferers. Attacks usually last between 4 and 72 hours if they go untreated. The headache is usually a throbbing pain, often on one side, which often worsens with movement. It’s often accompanied by nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhoea. You may become sensitive to light or sound, too. Menstrual Migraine is usually without aura and affects fewer than 10% of women. It’s thought to be triggered by falling oestrogen levels and/or prostaglandin release, so it’s most likely to occur within the two days before, and the first three days during, a period. It often lasts longer than other types, recurring daily for a few days.

Preventing Migraine Avoiding triggers and sticking to a regular routine of exercise, sleep and healthy eating can help. If your migraines are severe and/or frequent, your GP may recommend preventative medications such as topiramate and propranolol.

Treating Migraine Take medications swiftly, as the stomach often stops working effectively during a migraine. Over-the-counter

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painkillers may help, but you may need something stronger. Pharmacies can supply medications containing pain relief and an anti-emetic. Your GP may prescribe triptan medications, which reverse the blood vessel dilation thought to cause migraine. Menstrual migraine sufferers may find relief from hormonal contraceptives, oestrogen supplements and mefenamic acid. Some people find that sleep or resting in a darkened room is the only way to ease their migraine.

When Should You Visit Your GP? If you’ve never had migraine before or if you suffer from migraine more than 5 days in a month.

Emergency Medical Advice If you experience any of the symptoms below, it’s important to be assessed quickly. • • • •

Paralysis or weakness in one or both arms or the face. Slurred/ garbled speech. A sudden agonising headache. Headache accompanied by a high temperature, stiff neck, confusion, seizures, double vision and rash.

The Importance of

Posture

Posture can be defined as the way we carry and position our body throughout our daily physical activities. Poor posture can lead to a variety of muscular-skeletal issues including chronic pain and joint degeneration. It is therefore important that you are aware of best posture and aim for it, particularly if you spend a lot of the day in one position, such as sitting at a desk for example. If you have had bad posture for a long time (and most of us do) it will feel very strange and alien at first when you try to correct it, as the body wants to keep doing what it is used to. However, if you persevere, coupling this with regular exercise to strengthen muscle tone, eventually muscle memory will kick in and you will find that your posture has improved without you having to constantly think about it. For a good seated posture your knees should be slightly lower than your hips, so you need to position your chair

height accordingly. If you work at a computer, ensure that the screen is at a comfortable eye level and you are not having to hunch forward or bend your neck. Sit with your feet flat on the floor facing forwards, a hip width apart, and straighten your back so that your tailbone ‘sticks out’ rather than your back being rounded. Your spine should form a gentle ‘S’ curve. Finally, make a conscious effort to lower your shoulders, slightly pushing your shoulder blades back and down at the same time. You may need to do this more than once as we all tend to naturally carry our shoulders in a raised, rounded position, which over time can lead to muscle tightness, tension headaches and back or neck pain. Are you a fan of stilettos? If so, you may want to limit their wear as high heels push the spine forward, over-arching the back. They also put pressure on your knees and the balls of your feet, which can cause joint problems later.

67 Save the shoes for special occasions rather than wearing them every day. Exercise and core stability are important when maintaining good posture. Over time, without regular movement and exercise, muscles weaken and muscle fibres shorten, leading to potential joint and ligament issues. Stretching exercises two or three times a week will help relieve tension, increase circulation and maintain muscle condition. Yoga and Pilates are two forms of exercise that are excellent for improving tone, flexibility and posture. There are classes available for all levels, and online tutorials. Ergonomic furniture and aids can also help with best posture, for example by using a lumbar support cushion in your office chair or in the car. Always ensure that your furniture supports you adequately. A squashy chair that is too low and difficult to get out of may not be ideal. Likewise, your mattress should also support your back properly when you sleep. To check this, notice if your spine is straight when you lie on your side. If not, it may be time to change your mattress. Your pillow should also cradle your neck so that it is in alignment with the spine.

Bad posture not only physically impacts on our body: it has also been proven to have a detrimental psychological effect, even leading to an increased risk of depression. Charles Darwin first scientifically proved the link between movement and emotion in his studies of humans and animals. Try this experiment. Stand in front of a full-length mirror and note how you are carrying yourself. If you are feeling stressed, tired, or sad, it is likely that this will be reflected in your posture: for example, your head may be drooping, your shoulders hunched, your weight unevenly distributed and your back rounded. Now close your eyes and evenly distribute your weight, straighten your legs (keeping knees soft) and then gently lengthen your spine and neck as much as you are able, vertebra by vertebra, tucking in the pelvis. Push your shoulders back and down then slightly lower your chin. Smile and then open your eyes. Not only will you be standing taller and straighter but you will almost certainly look and feel better too. If you have concerns about your posture and suffer from chronic pain, visit your GP who can refer you to the appropriate health professional, such as an osteopath, physiotherapist or chiropractor.

Paradise on Earth Clinging to the southern tip of Croatia, Dubrovnik is a lovely medieval jewel lapped by the blue waters of the Adriatic. Framed by hills fragrant with rosemary and thyme, the old town is enclosed by fortifications where red roofs, spires and domes mingle their reflections in a glistening harbour. Byron called it the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’ and graced by a sprinkling of emerald islands just offshore, it feels almost like a dream. Dubrovnik long prospered on maritime trade, ruled in turn by Byzantines and Venetians until it became the Republic of Ragusa in 1358, reaching its golden age in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Rebuilt after the 1667 earthquake, it lost its freedom under Napoleon then was taken over by the Austro-Hungarian Empire until 1918. Upheavals continued in the former Yugoslavia and in 1991-92, the city was besieged and heavily damaged during Croatia’s war of independence.But today, finely restored and listed by UNESCO, the old town fills you with delight. Steps and cobbled lanes climb up the slopes, sunflowers bloom in hidden courtyards and church bells ring all around. Main highlights are easy to find, from Gothic and Renaissance buildings to Italian fountains, monasteries and churches. The Franciscan monastery boasts one of the oldest pharmacies in Europe (1316) while the Baroque church

of St Blaise displays the patron saint holding a model of the city. The cathedral claims a rich treasury of relics and paintings and a connection with Richard the Lionheart. Caught in a storm on his way back from a crusade, he promised to build a cathedral where he reached land. And so he did, though what we see today was rebuilt after the earthquake. Other cultural sites include the Sponza Palace, housing 7,000 volumes of the city’s archives, and the Rector’s Palace, former home of the Republic’s figurehead and now the History Museum.Time to relax? Watch the world go by on a café terrace, stroll along the

69 Stradun (the main pedestrian street between the city gates), explore the morning market or head for the harbour and city walls. The walls are two kilometres around and up to six metres thick on the land side. Never breached, they bristle with fortresses, bastions and towers, such as the sturdy Minceta dating to 1464, when every visitor to town had to bring a stone. There are steep steps and spectacular views over harbour and town, while high above an orange cable car glides up to the panoramic hilltop. Beaches stretch along the coast or you can sail or kayak to the nearby islet of Lokrum, full of chirruping crickets. Draped in lush vegetation, it’s a peaceful nature reserve and the perfect escape for romantic couples. Look out for the salt water lake known as the Dead Sea, the exotic botanical garden and the Port Royal tower looking back to Dubrovnik and its old harbour.Tempted? Just follow George Bernard Shaw for “If you want to see paradise on earth,” he said, “you must come to Dubrovnik.”

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It takes a brave person

to book a holiday right now Parts of the travel industry haven’t had a ‘good’ virus. Many tour operators, starved of cashflow, have made valued customers wait months for refunds. Holding on to other peoples’ hardearned cash is bad enough, but it’s the sheer inconvenience and frustration of being kept on hold for hours, the unanswered emails and the uncertainty that is driving holidaymakers mad. Wouldn’t it be perfect if, when planning future trips, you could pick up the phone at anytime, anywhere in the world and speak to a travel expert directly about any aspect of your holiday. Well, now you can. As part of the largest travel operative in the UK - Hays Travel Group, Not Just Travel offers a more personalised travel experience – think of a travel concierge on call 24/7. They are fully ABTA and ATOL protected and 60% of their holidays are not even available to the general public on-line. Julie Moss is your local Not Just Travel representative and if you’re from Orrell then it’s likely that you know at least one member of the Moss family. Brother Mick is one of the local postmen, Mother Helen was the school cook at

Newfold Primary School for many years and Dad Mick senior laid many of the area’s block paved driveways and was a regular in the Rose and Crown. When growing up, Julie was the member of the Moss family with dreams and ambitions, initially for her big passion - Dance. After leaving Upholland High School, she migrated to London to study dance and performing arts. She then opened her own dance school in Kent but somewhere down this journey the travel bug ‘bit’ hard and to the horror of her mum, Julie set off to become a travel representative and quite literally, never looked back. 30 years later, she’s still working in the travel industry and has worked all over the world, most extensively in Greece, Cyprus, Spain and India, and has hundreds of contacts who she can call on to make your holiday perfect. Want to hire a yacht in Zante, Julie’s got just the man. Need a doctor in India, Julie knows a few. Booking holidays online has never been easier, but if you’re looking for a truly memorable holiday then you cannot replace the knowledge, value, expertise, and

71 personalisation that Julie can bring. Getting hold of those hot London West End show tickets, luxury beach villas, airport lounge tickets, VIP connections, or flight upgrades that make a holiday memorable is a hard ask, but Julie will use trusted contacts and suppliers to ensure you receive the perfect holidays of your dreams. Not Just Travel use an amazing choice of over 400 trusted suppliers - Jet2 and TUI included - and can book anything from a quick week in Spain to a luxury cruise around the world – think travel and they can help you. As one of the Personal Travel Experts at Not Just Travel, Julie is there to make planning your next holiday stress-free and easy. Whether you know exactly what you want or need some travel inspiration, she’ll use her knowledge and expertise to create a bespoke holiday you’ll love.

If you’re planning a holiday to remember after a year to forget then call Julie on 07786 311 282 or email julie.moss@notjusttravel.com

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Save time & stress Backed by ABTA and ATOL One-stop shop – door to door service Wedding & Honeymoon Specialist Group Holidays More for your money Tailor-made holidays Emergency help if needed Expert advice & inspiration Making holidays memorable

family fun

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Call your personal travel expert 01942 912334 / 07786 311 282 julie.moss@notjusttravel.com @NJTJulieM

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Winter Hill

& Rivington The vast majority of the Jack’s Tracks we have published over the last ten years have one thing in common; at some point during the walk, Winter Hill and its conspicuous masts are easily visible. We’ve never done a walk that includes Winter Hill though, and so we have put this right with a delightful easy-to-follow 6½ mile walk that encompasses Winter Hill and Rivington that offers wonderful 360-degree views of the County Palatine of Lancashire and beyond. Park in the public car park just the other side of Rivington & Blackrod High School (BL6 7RU), walk back past the school and take the left turn which runs by the tennis courts. After 425 yards you’ll arrive at a three-way

by Chris Pearce Distance: 6½ miles Difficulty: Moderate junction; take the middle path which is heavily cobbled and has the farm gate in the distance. Follow this path up a gentle incline for ¾ mile, passing the turn off to Rivington Terraced Gardens on the way. Once you arrive at the new-ish looking fingerpost, take a 45-degree right turn in the direction of Rivington Pike and follow a shale path uphill past the site of Stone House Lodge. Then make sure you take the path that branches off of the shale path on the u-bend. 200 yards later you’ll arrive at a wide stony track. Instead of carrying straight on up to the (very visible) Pike, turn left and follow this track for 1/3 of a mile to the Pigeon

Quarry (dis)

For those with the OS Maps

Moor Bottom Winter Hill Flats

app on your desktop, mobile or tablet, this walk is named: JT-Winter-Hill-Rivington

Belmont Road

Noon Hill Slack

Winter Hill

Noon Hill

Catter Nab

Rivington Hall Barn

TV Station

Tower

Rivington Pike

las

Rivington Terraced Gardens

Rot ary Wa y

Rivington Moor

River Doug

Rivington Country Park

Brown Hill

ane on L ngt Rivi

Rivington Lodge

P Jepsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bridge

Masts

Crooked Edge Hill

Higher Knoll

Wilderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Moor Rivington & Blackrod HS

Wilderswood

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.

74 Tower. Bear right at this point and the stony cobbled path follows the natural curvature around the hills. One mile further on, you’ll need to look out for some steps on the left leading to a wooden bridge. Cross the bridge and bear right shortly afterwards where the footpath sign is. After ten minutes of climbing steeply up the hill, you’ll arrive at a fork. Bear left at this point, hugging the lefthand lip of the hill and once you pass the first mast, the path bends rounds and changes to a tarmac path that cuts through the various ironmongery on the summit. Look out for the trig point which is situated in the lefthand side of the path and there are also plaques marking the 1958 plane crash and the demise of a 20-year-old Scotsman who was ‘barbarously murdered’ on Rivington Moor in 1838. The tarmacked path bends to the right, you’ll pass directly to the left-hand side of the TV mast and follow the path for ½ mile, turning off the path onto a grass track at a footpath sign on the right. Follow this grass path for a further ½ mile as it eventually falls steeply away and you

reach Pike Cottage. Tun right at the cottage onto Belmont Road and head once again for Rivington Pike. Follow Belmont Road for 1/3 of a mile until you reach a steel bar gate, which bars vehicular access. Just before the gate, there’s a stile on the left. Go through the stile and walk on the path downhill through grazing land for another 1/3 of a mile to the wooden gate. Carry on down a tarmacked road in the same direction for a further 400 yards until you reach the three-way junction referred to earlier in the walk. Turn left at this point and you will end up back at the school and your starting point shortly afterwards.

Avoiding

Lost Pet Anxiety Whether your pet is a serial absconder, or they’ve just had an ‘out of character’ trip away from home, preventing them leaving and making it easy to find them again if they do get lost could save you a lot of anxiety. • Your dog or cat will take great risks to satisfy the urge to procreate. With their eye – or nose – on the goal, they’ll cross busy roads and fight other animals. Spaying or neutering your pet could save their life!

environment and may run off. • Microchipping is also a very effective way to locate a lost furry friend. Whilst this can’t be seen by the general public in the way an ID tag can, should they become separated from their collar or tag, a shelter or vet will be able to identify your pet.

• If you move to a new house, now is not the time to give them free rein of the neighbourhood. Until you are sure they are familiar with their new environment, you need to impose a lockdown for their own safety. • The ID on your pet’s collar is everything. With a groomer, vet or at a kennels they are not in their usual

• Instead of the anxious wait for ‘the call’, it’s now possible to buy GPS tracking collars and tags so you can go out on the hunt yourself. This depends on the battery lasting and being in a place where the GPS signal is strong.

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The best van for a

Camper Conversion A SELF-BUILD OR COMMISSIONED CAMPER VAN CAN OFFER MORE FREEDOM AND BESPOKE DETAILS THAN A FACTORY UNIT. THESE ARE THE BEST VANS TO BASE YOUR DESIGN ON. Camper vans are big business in the UK, with a lot of people finding the idea of having a mobile version of their own home an appealing prospect.

FORD TRANSIT CUSTOM

And it’s easy to understand the appeal of these palaces on wheels. After all, once you’ve paid your initial investment, holidays become staggeringly cheap. Even staying on the most luxurious of campsites costs pennies compared with a night in a hotel room, while those equipped with on-board water tanks, bathroom facilities and leisure batteries can even handle a few nights of ‘wild’ camping or rallying – perfect for those who like being ‘off-the-grid’.

The Transporter might be the cool one, but the Ford Transit has plenty going for it in this class. For starters, it’s the best-driving panel van you’ll ever find – your kitchen sink will never have enjoyed such brilliant grip and handling. A range of efficient diesel engines provide your motive power, and few vans have such a car-like driving environment – there’s even a premium stereo and smartphone connectivity.

The UK is awash with independent firms who specialise in converting vans into campers. They range from the cheap and cheerful to the seriously luxurious. Some mainstream manufacturers have got in on the act, too – just look at Volkswagen’s California. However, it’s also possible to home-build your camper if you’ve got the time. Guides online are plentiful and easy to follow, and it can prove far cheaper than going for a third-party conversion. Plus, you’re able to specify the van to your liking. But before you start a conversion, you need a van – and these are our top five.

77 MERCEDES SPRINTER Want big, premium, and full of tech? You’ll need to look at the new Mercedes Sprinter. One of the safest vans on offer thanks to high-tech safety gear, this big brute comes in a wide variety of wheelbase and roof height variations so you can easily get the camper size you desire. It also has the most premium cabin on the market, with controls and displays lifted directly from Mercedes’ passenger car range. And, best of all for some people, there’s a three-pointed star on the bonnet. What could be better?

FIAT DUCATO The Ducato is a great choice for a motorhome conversion, and an incredibly popular one – around two-thirds of motorhomes in Europe, whether coach-built or van conversion, are based on the Ducato. It’s easy to see why, too – these vans are just the right size for most, offering enough headroom for an adult to stand without having too large a footprint. Best of all, if you’re ordering directly from the factory, Fiat offers a specific motorhome base, with specialised tyres, a wider rear track, lower chassis and space to install water tanks.

VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER The VW Camper is an icon – there’s no other way to put it. Ever since the rear-engined ‘splitties’ became an image of California surfer culture, these vans have been effortlessly cool, and though the modern T6 is a totally different beast it still has that vibe nailed. Volkswagen knows this, and if you want a stylish camper it’s possible to buy your Transporter van in cool two-tone colour schemes or with retro alloy wheels. VW also offers a petrol engine – a rarity in this class.

RENAULT TRAFIC When Renault updated the Trafic, it cannily made sure that the dimensions of the interior were identical to the old model. This means that if you’re kitting out a brand-new Trafic – or its sister vans, the Fiat Talento, Nissan NV300 or Vauxhall Vivaro – you’ll be able to draw on eighteen years of camper fittings, diagrams and designs with which to fit your van out. Renault’s range of 1.6-litre diesel engines is also great – superbly efficient, very smooth and decently powerful.

Call Chris on 01942 215 111 or 07969 357 751 www.cosmeticar.co.uk

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MATCH to Remember

WIGAN ATHLETIC 5 PORT VALE 3

MATCH FACTS

VENUE: Springfield Park DATE: Friday 13th April 1979 CROWD: 8,542 WIGAN TEAM: Brown, Hinnigan, Smart, Gore, Ward, Fretwell, Corrigan, Wright, Houghton, Moore, Purdie Sub: Brownbill SCORERS: Wigan - Houghton(3), Brownbill, Moore. Port Vale - Todd (2), Wright

BACK DROP Going into the game, Latics were in 5th place in Division 4, a single point away from the promotion places with 8 games left to play in their inaugural season. Making his debut for the Valiants that day (alongside his brother Neville) was 17-year-old Mark Chamberlain, now an ex-England international and father of Liverpool’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Down 3-0 with just 20 minutes left to play, Latics staged an amazing comeback and won 5-3 in front of a 8,542 crowd though, 41 years on, some fans will still be kicking themselves after storming out of Springfield Park long before the match ended. This match was described by respected football magazine When Saturday Comes as ‘The greatest comeback in the history of the game ever’ and rather inappropriately for a resurrection, it all happened on a Good Friday.

VIEW FROM THE PITCH – PETER HOUGHTON I had scored in the previous few games so went into the match quite confident. We were in the promotion chase; it was a Bank Holiday and there was a good atmosphere at Springfield Park. It all changed when they went 3-0 up and we heard the booing when we came off at half time so the mood in the changing room was a bit deflated. Ian McNeill changed tactics and brought on another forward, Derek Brownbill. My first goal was like a consolation, then when my second and third goal went in, everything changed. Every time we went forward it looked like we would score. Two further goals from Derek and Mickey Moore finished Port Vale off. On this particular day most of my family were in the crowd, and as it used to be quite difficult to get family into the players’ lounge after the match, they all waited for me in the supporters’ club. I’ll never forget being carried shoulder-high into the supporters’ club by some of the fans, though my wife was in the ladies at the time and missed it! Over the Easter period, we had 3 games in 4 days – Good Friday, Saturday and Monday. I took a knock on my ankle on the Saturday game but still tried to play on the Monday. it didn’t work out and I didn’t play again that season. Such is the highs and lows of playing football.

Is your Award Winner

glass

half full? by Angie Barker

I like to think I’m a glass half full kind of girl (unlike Hubby who is definitely glass half empty kind of bloke). As such I have been reflecting on the last few months and desperately trying to find some good things that have come out of the horrible times we’ve been through. I’ve actually found some and so I thought I’d share them with you. • Wildlife seems to have flourished. Whether this is due to less pollution from traffic and less noise from aeroplanes I don’t know but I have really noticed bird song when out walking and in my garden • I have had time to enjoy gardening at a slower pace, rather than having to fit mowing the lawn in between a busy work schedule. I have sown more seeds than I ever would normally and taken cuttings of favourite plants. The veg patch is full and thriving and my mental health has definitely benefited as a result • I have felt safer visiting smaller, local garden centres rather than buying from the superstores which means I am supporting local businesses and I intend to continue to do so • Our flower growers are doing really well. Flowers from the Farm is a network of independent British growers who supply cut flowers to florists and flower markets. In spite of lock down, demand for cut flowers continued as people sent bouquets to friends and family to cheer them up and let them know they were thinking of them.

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

In 2019, the Royal Horticultural Society advises that UK grown flowers accounted for only 14% of the £865million of cut flowers sold in the UK. As a nation of garden lovers that is a really sad statistic. The pandemic has halted imports from Europe, Africa and South America so let’s hope the support for British flowers continues. The vase life of the flowers is longer, not having had to travel for days, and its better for the environment – a win win. • And as for Hubby, he used to roll his eyes at the thought of baby sitting the grandchildren – after months of separation now he can’t wait to see them!

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

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WORDSEARCH

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ANSWER: Hamper

WIGGLE WORDS Sight For Sore Eyes

NUMBER BLOCK 18 6 2 8 1

3 4 7 2

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13 18 22 17

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0300 3030121

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506515

M.I.P.H.E.R.P

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rated by oFStED as oUtStANDINg FUNDED PLACES Available for 2/3/4 year olds

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Large outdoor PLAY ArEA

We cater for CHILDrEN 3 months - 4 years

NEWLY rEFUrBISHED in 2019

term time 8am till 5.30pm the for Open Mon-Fri: a booking system We operate saves you money holidays which entitlement 30 hours free We deliver day £29 for a full available Flexible sessions from 2 years old We take children beautiful woodland in a01744 Call gain Sarah on to more situated 886166 childfor Nursery is information or admin@cranknursery.net for your Little Acorns vibrant place s. a safe and l experiencewww.cranknursery.co.uk is It setting. educationa in the forest lots of wonderful being down outdoors & well-being on the great health and We are big for your child’s which is good

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call Mike for a free quote

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www.orrelljoinery.co.uk

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