Local Life - Wigan - November 2018 by Local Life 247 Ltd

LocalLife Wigan Edition

November 2018

Schools Plan Station Art Pages 28 - 30

Education Section Page 52

In Flanders Fields

Pages 41 - 44

Nicky Nook Walk Pages 88 - 91

The Gatehouse, Ashfield Park, Standish - ÂŁ500,000

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This spectacular four bed detached family home, situated on a popular Orrell development, has been skilfully extended and offers 2513 sq ft of beautifully planned living accommodation.

This stunning and spacious four bedroom detached house with period feature enjoys rural views, a SW facing rear garden and generous provision for off road parking.

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Hall Lane, Aspull

Naburn Drive, Orrell

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This superbly presented five bed family home offers an abundance of well-appointed living space set out over three floors and occupies a generous plot of beautifully maintained gardens.

This handsome three bedroomed detached home, in need of modernisation, enjoys rural view to the rear and is a short walk from the train station.

Crowther Drive, Winstanley

Alberton Close, Aspull

£280,000

This stylish four bedroom executive family home, finished to a high standard throughout, occupies a good sized plot with beautifully maintained gardens to the front and rear.

£270,000

This spacious four bedroomed family home, located on a popular development near the village centre, has a fabulous open-plan kitchen diner, gardens and a detached garage.

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Sheraton Close, Orrell

£220,000

Wigan Road, A-in-M

£220,000

This beautiful four bed detached family home with a conservatory is situated in a quiet cul-de-sac with wellkept gardens and offers neat and tidy presentation throughout.

This impressive period home, with three double bedrooms is full of character, has recently been extended to include a huge kitchen finished to a very high spec.

Manse Avenue, Wrightington £200,000

Arbour Lane, Standish

This two bedroom chalet bungalow, though needing modernisation, is located in a pretty cul-de-sac in semirural Wrightington, and has mature gardens to the front and rear.

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

£190,000

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Orrell Road, Orrell

This two bed quasi semi-detached home boasts an extra loft room, a very generous master bedroom and neat gardens to the front and rear plus off road parking.

This three bedroom end terraced home offers charming and beautifully presented accommodation, including a large open plan kitchen diner, a utility room and a converted loft.

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Local Life

Lest we forget I’m lucky enough to be part of a generation of people that hasn’t lived through a global war. So when I see the news dominated by Trump’s latest tweet, who’s copping off with who on Strictly and why students think it’s important to use ‘jazz hands’ instead of clapping, I truly despair. 100 years ago, those news headlines would have reported on the battles such as the Somme and Passchendaele where devastation on a scale never seen before was happening. Compared to those souls who lived (and died) through World Wars 1&2, we are incredibly lucky to be alive and living in the UK in 2018. There are times in life to take stock, have a look around at what actually is important, appreciate what we have and remember those who made it all possible. Sunday November 11th is one such day. How grateful we are to those people, of all nationalities, who made the ultimate sacrifice. Without their efforts, the world around us would undoubtedly be a totally different place. And whilst older generations worry that the sacrifices made by their peers will fade into the forgetfulness of time, our amazing creative people are forever coming up with new ways of stopping us in our tracks. Danny Boyle’s Pages of the Sea tribute on Formby beach, and the Tower of London poppies (now displaying at the Imperial War Museum in Salford) are just two examples of where you can go on Armistice Day day to remember those who gave their lives for their country.

Chris Pearce, Publisher chrisp@locallife247.co.uk

Local Life

In this issue

Regulars

Votes for Women

30 Class From The Past 102 Garden Diary 38 Puzzle Corner 99 Test Drive

Sections 46 Food 73 Travel 75 Health 82 Legal & Finance 84 Property 86 Business View

24 In Flanders Fields

91 Pets 92 Events2Go 99 Motoring 102 Gardening 108 Home Services

Next issue - Decmber 2018

Advertising deadline - Thursday, 8 November Published - Wednesday, 21 November

LocalLife

Mindful Motivation

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

75 Jackâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tracks: Nicky Nook

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

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News & Features

Wigan Women

Embroiderers’ Guild

The Wigan Women’s Friendship Club’s events programme continues into the autumn and winter months.

Interested in embroidery and textiles? The Parbold Embroiderers’ Guild welcomes new members.

The group host weekly meetings with talks and workshops on a huge variety of subjects. Established in 1981, they always welcome new members to their meetings on every Thursday except the first of the month, held in Penson Street Community Centre off Wigan Lane at 1:30pm. November’s schedule is chock full of talks, including one on ‘Lancashire Women’ given by Nancy Rose on November 8th. The Friendship Club is also hosting its Christmas meal at the Oak Hotel this year. Other workshops include a singing performance by the Upholland U3A and flower demonstrations. A half-yearly subscription costs £4, with weekly subs of £3 per person. For more information, contact Margaret Rowe on 01942 247403.

The Guild enables local people to meet new, likeminded friends while learning new embroidery techniques and skills, as well as putting on regular exhibitions of their work. Meetings also include talks and demonstrations from some of the leading experts in the textile world. Sessions get hands-on, with workshops run by top names in the field of embroidery, and use different mediums to showcase the best in textiles. The group meets every second Saturday of the month at 2pm in Parbold Village Hall. For more information, contact Nicky on 07713119790 or email Sue at suechisnall@ btinternet.com.

Thistle Society

Game of Fame

An exciting events schedule is in store for members of the Thistle Club Wigan for the rest of the year.

A Wigan sporting icon is set to be honoured with a town-centre star.

Members can enjoy a St. Andrew’s Night soiree at the end of November, with plenty of dancing, speeches and Scottish nibbles, including haggis and tatties. Monday, December 17 will see a Jacob’s Join party, where each guest brings their own plate of food along. Early next year, the society is holding

Wigan Warriors head coach Shaun Wane, who has 35 years of service to the club under his belt, will be presented with a Wigan Star on Believe Square.

a Burns Night supper on Friday, January 25, with a three-course meal and plenty of dancing. The Thistle Society meets every Monday evening at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church Hall in Up Holland. Tuition for less experienced dancers is given from 7pm-8pm, followed by a group dance session from 8pm-10:15pm. Everyone is welcome to come and have a go! An annual membership fee and weekly subs of £2 apply, and shoes with soft flexible soles are needed in lieu of trainers. For more information, call Margarete Rowe on 01942 247403 or come along to one of the sessions!

Born and bred in Wigan, Wane played 149 times for the club during his days as a rugby league player before making it onto a hugely successful reign as head coach. The news comes after Wigan Warriors beat Warrington Wolves in the Super League Grand Final, claiming the title for the fifth time. Wigan Stars are reserved for people who have provided an outstanding service to Wigan in any field. Shaun Wane will add his name to the much coveted spot on Believe Square alongside Olympic athlete Jenny Meadows and iconic actor Sir Ian McKellen.

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Get Crafty Why wait until the New Year to pick up a new hobby? Following the success of Wigan Arts in October, there’s loads of crafting going on in Wigan, so come and get hands on: October might be nearing its end, but there’s still time to head over to the Old Courts for Wigan Arts if you haven’t already. October 28 sees a full day of workshops - make a light-up sculpture in the Great Vault in time for Halloween, or have a go at making a horror film in a day! Wigan STEAM offer a full events calendar throughout the year. Some of their best seasonal offerings are happening this month - their lino cut

Christmas card workshop on November 28 is perfect for making festive stamps to give your greetings cards a personal touch. Or, if you’re hosting Christmas Dinner this year, try your hand at crafting a table centrepiece to impress family and friends on November 30. St. Paul’s Centre run a craft workshop every second Tuesday of the month to support hospital patients in Wigan and Africa. Learn to crochet, knit and patchwork from 2pm-4pm. Various charges and restrictions apply for these events - see our Events2Go guide on pages 94-97 for more details and inspiration.

Friendship Cafe Olive Tree Café offers a safe place to meet new friends and get involved in your community. The café, which takes place every Tuesday from 9am12pm in Up Holland Methodist Church, Alma Hill, is a joint venture between three Up Holland churches where people can have a laugh in a safe, supportive environment. This is a free event with complimentary tea/coffee.

Dancing Queens A Wigan-based Morris dancing troupe is looking for new members. Vogue Morris Dancers compete every Sunday at different venues across the North West, and welcome new and experienced dancers. The troupe meets every Wednesday at 6:30pm at Whelley Labour Club, Northumberland Street, Wigan.

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Motorway Link Plans for a new motorway link road in Pemberton have been given another green light. Announced in May this year, the link road construction plans are old news to most residents, but Wigan Council have recently announced the compulsory purchase of land surrounding the area, which will spread

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LocalLife

from the Orrell M6/M58 roundabout to Billinge Road. It then goes around the back of Pemberton and into Leopold Street before emerging again on Billinge Road by the railway station, where it eventually connects with Smithy Brook Road. The plans also include building new bridges over the flashes and Poolstock, as well as widening parts of the existing road to fit more traffic. This green-belt development has been met with outrage from local residents after the release of a compulsory purchase map, who say the plans will not only lead to the destruction of the natural landscape but cut the Meadow Brook estate off from Pemberton completely. However, Wigan Council proposes that the new road will reduce traffic and help boost Wiganâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy by bringing in new visitors. The work could begin as early as 2020. For more details, see the Roads section of the Wigan Council website.

The Poppy’s

Appeal The Armistice Centenary will see huge poppy appeals across the UK this November to remember more than nine million soldiers who were killed during the four-year conflict. Flanders, in the western part of Belgium saw much of the worst fighting - the whole area was completely devastated, with homes, farms, roads and trees all completely destroyed. The land became a bleak, muddy graveyard for thousands of soldiers. One plant, however, thrived in the disturbed soil. Year after year, as the warm weather arrived, the poppies bloomed and turned the bare ground into a sea of red. Nowadays, we are all familiar with the poppy as a symbol of remembrance and a way to raise funds to support veterans. But how did the iconic flower make the journey from the fields to our lapels? It all began with Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, a Canadian physician who fought in Flanders. In

May 1915, his friend, a fellow soldier, was killed in action. Looking at the poppies growing alongside his grave moved McCrae to write the poem ‘In Flanders Fields’, which was later published in Punch magazine. Using the poppy as a symbol of remembrance came from American professor and YWCA worker, Moina Michael, 100 years ago. Her poem ‘We Shall Keep the Faith’ was written in response to McCrae’s, and she started to sell silk poppies alongside it. The idea was adopted by the American Legion in 1920 and she became known as ‘The Poppy Lady’. The first poppy appeal was held on Armistice Day 1921. It was hugely popular and, despite a recommended selling price of threepence per poppy, single petals sold for £5. In all, the appeal raised £106,000 – that’s nearly £30 million today. Purple and white poppies are also available - the first to represent the animal lives lost in the war, and the second as a symbol of pacifism.

Orrell Armistice St. Luke’s Church in Orrell have organised a Remembrance Service to take place on Friday, November 9 at 10:45am to commemorate the centenary of the Armistice. The ceremony will take place at the War Memorial in Moor Road, with local schools taking part in remembering the sacrifices made one hundred years ago. On Remembrance Sunday, the church will host its regular service at 10:30am, followed by a second service at 12:30pm at the War Memorial.

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Bus Station Opens Wiganâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new bus station is set to open early on October 28. The ÂŁ15.7 million construction project has been ongoing since July last year, with temporary bus stops set up around the town centre in lieu of a terminal. The new and improved station is designed to be accessible for everyone, with wheelchair accessibility and better pedestrian links, as well as tactile paving and stand identifiers for blind and partially sighted people. In place of the old bus station, the new development provides an airier environment in the form of

a staffed concourse with easy-access transport information for passengers. It also hosts solar panels and more eco-friendly building materials, along with covered cycle parking. The temporary stops on New Market Street, Richmond Street, Dorning Street and K ing Street West will be removed as soon as the bus station opens, while the Parsons Walk (F) and King Street West (E) stops will remain in use. For more information on the development, visit the Transport for Greater Manchester website.

Happy

Smiles

A Wigan-based charity wants to raise money and awareness by participating in the Dunham Massey Duathlon. Alex Winstanley, a PE teacher and part-time carer, set up Happy Smiles last year. The charity aims to highlight what people with disabilities CAN do instead of what they can’t, as well as raising awareness of conditions such as cerebral palsy. ‘Happy Smiles began when one of the men I care for was hospitalised last year. Haydn has cerebral palsy, which causes his muscles to tighten, which can be eased with medication fed through a pump into his spinal fluid. Complications arose after an operation to replace it in March last year, meaning he was in and out of hospital,’ Alex said. ‘The name actually came from this experience. I set up a Facebook page asking people to send photos in of their happy smiles to cheer Haydn up, and we had a massive response. So far we’ve reached over 70,000 people!’ Alex’s ultimate goal is to do charity work full-time, leading disability awareness campaigns in schools. Fundraising is the next step – which is why Alex and Haydn are training for the Dunham Massey Duathlon.

‘We’ve done some awareness campaigning already – Haydn and I did a full week of assemblies in the school I work at, and the kids now have projects to complete on their own definitions of disability. But we want to take it further and reach even more people. I set up a crowdfunding page with a target of £1000 and a video of Haydn and I training for the event, and we’ve already smashed it!’ The race, which takes place on Sunday, November 25, consists of a 5km run and a 14km bike ride. Alex estimates it will take him around an hour while pushing Haydn – the team have already completed the Wigan 10K twice. For more information about Happy Smiles, head to their Facebook page.

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“Tis the season

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A trip to Warbreck is like stepping into a magical winter wonderland. You are guided through a mesmerising array of themed displays. Around every corner is another surprise.

“Warbreck Garden Centre spectacularly changes into one of the most inspiring and exciting shopping destinations in the region”

their customers. It’s such a refreshing experience and great to escape the hustle and bustle of the high street!” Once you’ve wandered around the beautiful displays and soaked up the festive atmosphere, the newly expanded Plantation Restaurant is the perfect place to relax and take some time out. With delicious homemade meals, snacks and cakes available to enjoy in homely surroundings this is an exceptional food venue from breakfast through to afternoon tea.

With a tasteful and sophisticated blend of Christmas decorations, interior furnishings and gorgeous gifts, everything you might need for this festive season is under one roof.

Festive lunches are available from £13.95 for 2 or 3 courses throughout December. Bookings are now being taken. Contact the Restaurant or visit their website for menu options.

“Warbreck has a great feel about it. Calm and welcoming yet clearly driven by a great passion for high standards. All the staff seem to ooze enthusiasm and thrive on going the extra mile for

Don’t forget to look out for Warbreck’s amazing children’s Christmas party events and creative workshops. More information can be found in the garden centre or if you contact them directly.

Warbreck Garden Centre, Lyelake Lane, Lathom, Ormskirk, Lancashire, L40 6JW

Tel: 01695 722 960

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On Thursday 25th October the garden centre will be hosting an Exclusive Late Night Shopping Event. This is a great chance to get into the spirit of Christmas

The garden centre have an exclusive loyalty card scheme which offers its customer’s great offers every visit together with regular gardening tips and priority booking for many of its events.

“Christmas at Warbreck is a family day out not be to missed!”

Its Grapevine privilege customers receive 5% off their everyday shopping including the Plantation Restaurant and a buy one get one free on hot drinks every visit.

with 10% off on the night, live entertainment and mulled wine reception from 6pm. Food and wine tastings as well as FREE pamper tasters. The Plantation restaurant will continue serving hot meals and drinks until 8pm.

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Women

Votes for

This November celebrates the centenary of the Qualification of Women Act. In November 1918, the majority of women over 30 were granted suffrage, including graduates and householders. Although the Representation of the People Act which gave all women over 21 the right to vote was not passed until 1928, the 1918 legislature was integral to the progress of equality in Britain – and to our national and local heritage. We take a look at the area’s most influential Suffragettes and their impact. Thorley Smith was a male supporter of the Suffrage campaign, who backed parliamentary candidate Hubert Sweeny for Wigan in the 1904 election. Sweeny, however, was a schoolmaster who risked losing his position if he continued to run, and withdrew suddenly from the campaign, leaving Smith to take up his place as candidate-elect of the Women’s Suffrage party for Wigan. He ultimately secured nearly 29% of the votes and came in second to the Conservative party – a great feat considering the campaign was carried out on a strict budget. Smith primarily appealed to the working classes, presenting his speeches outside factory gates, gasworks and in public spaces.

Leader of the Lowton and Leigh Women’s Labour League, Mrs. G Mottram was instrumental in labouring for equal pay for women. The League, a Labour party pressure group founded in 1906, had branches set up nationwide, with around 60 members in the Leigh area. During the First World War, Mottram also campaigned for Municipal Lodging Houses for female munitions workers, who had stepped up to assist in the war effort while the men went off to fight. In addition to her Suffrage campaign, she also worked to devise systems of aid for Leigh’s disabled soldiers and sailors of the Great War. Most famously, though, Manchester-born Emmeline Pankhurst visited Wigan multiple times across her own campaign for women’s rights, giving speeches to Wigan residents and rallying for their support. A statue of her is due to be unveiled this December in her hometown of Manchester, designed as part of the Womenchester Statue campaign. The Museum of Wigan Life is hosting a Rebel Women event with a full itinerary of speakers, including Helen Pankhurst, the granddaughter of Sylvia Pankhurst, on Thursday, November 22. The day runs from 10am-5:30pm, and tickets for Wigan residents cost £12 and £15 for anyone outside the borough. See our Events2Go guide on page 92 for more info. A dramatic interpretation of social classes and women’s suffrage in Leigh also takes place on Saturday, November 24 at 3pm at the Turnpike Gallery. Tickets for ‘How to be WomanLEIGH’ are £6.

All I want for Christmas gorgeous unique gifts (and great food too!) Love It Gallery, Winstanley Road, Billinge WN5 7XG Open: 9.30am-5pm, Tuesday-Saturday; 10am-4pm, Sunday

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Lancashire Day Lancashire Day, first held in 1996, commemorates the day the first Lancashire representatives were sent to Parliament in 1295. King Edward I’s Model Parliament meant Lancashire residents in the thirteenth-century got to have their say in countrywide politics for the first time, and the day has now become a celebration of Lancashire heritage. Each year on November 27, town criers throughout the county recite the Lancashire Day proclamation, which ends with ‘God bless Lancashire, and God save the Queen, Duke of Lancaster’. The day is also celebrated with – of course – a whole host of red roses around the county to commemorate Lancaster’s victory against

York during the War of the Roses. The rose symbol was thought to be worn by the House of Lancaster during the battle; however, it might have merely been a retort to the House of York’s white rose emblem from its first usage. Parbold Library is hosting a Lancashire Night on Thursday, November 22, featuring Tacklers’ Tales. With plenty of music, quizzing and, of course, Lancashire hotpot, the night is sure to be a good one. Tickets are available from the library and cost £10 each. For more information about Lancashire Day and related events across the county, head over to the Friends of Real Lancashire website at www.forl. co.uk.

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Schools Plan Station

Art

A joint enterprise between three Orrell primary schools and volunteers will see a mural placed at Orrell Railway Station. Orrell St. James RC Primary School, Newfold Community Primary School, and Orrell Holgate Academy, along with the Friends of Orrell Railway Station, are coming together with Northern Rail to make the artwork a fixture for local people. The mural, which is expected to be completed in summer 2019, will be placed at the newly renovated garden at the top of the station steps. Spanning the

length of the stone wall, the metal mosaic aims to reflect Orrell’s rich history. ‘Orrell has a very interesting past,’ said Phil Edge, head teacher at Newfold Community Primary School. ‘There’s a huge industrial heritage here – the colliery, cotton mills and, of course, nail-making. We want to showcase that in the artwork, which will be somewhere at the heart of the community for the children to come to when they’re older and say: I was a part of that.’ The schools are working with Wigan-based artist

30 Mark Mennell, who specialises in decorative screening panels and metalwork, to create the sitespecific piece. ‘We wanted something hardwearing,’ Phil continued. ‘It’s going to be outdoors, so the mural has to be able to withstand all types of weather’. The pupils involved have enjoyed workshopping with Mark, drawing out ideas for the piece and thinking about how it will be arranged. Once funding is secured, they aim to host a full-day workshop where the design will be finalised. One of the Newfold Primary pupils involved said: ‘It’s fascinating to see all our work showcased here for future generations’. The school artwork project is part of a wider series of station renovations, headed by the Friends of Orrell Railway Station and the group’s organiser Bernard Lundy. Along with a new gravel garden placed by the station entrance, a group of around 18 regular volunteers meet every Sunday from 12pm-2pm to weed, plant flowers, and tidy up the station. Anyone

who wants to get involved and help out with the renovation efforts is welcome to head down and lend a hand. Ruth Tickle, one such volunteer, said: ‘The station is already looking a lot better. We’ve even placed a set of access steps down the grass verge so that people can get to the flowers more easily, as it used to be quite dangerous heading down there!’ The Friends recently received a donation of £500 from the Orrell Proms, hosted by Orrell Cricket Club, which will go towards the renovation efforts. Once completed, the installation will not only showcase a selection of Orrell’s history, but become part of it. Future generations will be able to see their ideas put back into the community and share it with their own children in years to come – a fitting future tribute to Orrell’s past. For more information about Friends of Orrell Railway Station, check out their Facebook page or go along on a Sunday to get involved.

Class From The Past

Thanks to David Halliwell, who sent in this photo of Miss Twist's Class at King Street School, Wigan, 1961.

Maybe you can spot a familiar face? Remember, if you have a photo you’d be willing to share, email wigannews@locallife247.co.uk

Tourist Triumph

Wigan Walkers

A Wrightington business has been announced as a finalist in the Lancashire Tourism Awards.

The Wigan Rambling and Climbing Club welcomes new members.

JAK Hanson, an outlet department store based in Derby House, is celebrating its place in the Retail Experience Award category. The company offers a huge range of fashion, shoes and homeware at bargain prices, featuring big-name brands like Regatta, Weird Fish and Julian Charles. Launched in September 2013, JAK Hanson recently celebrated its fifth birthday at Derby House, which is also home to the Paddock restaurant, a food hall and butchers.

The club holds regular coach rambles, walks and activities to suit everyone. If you want to explore Wigan and the wider North West including the Lake District, this could be the society for you. In summer the club also organises Tuesday night pub walks, which are replaced with weekly social meetings at

103 finalists across 22 categories will compete in the 2018 Lancashire Tourism Awards. The winners are due to be announced in November with a black-tie dinner and ceremony.

the Wigan Sports Club in the winter months. Rambling is great for your overall health and fitness, and offers great opportunities to make new friends in a society of likeminded people. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking to beat the winter blues, why not give it a go? For more information, head to www.wiganwalkers. com or visit their Facebook page.

Resilience Rescuers

On Your Bike

Wigan & Leigh Pensioners Link is always looking for volunteers to help with various projects.

Wigan Council and Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles encourage people to get on their bikes this winter with a series of free sessions.

Winter poses a higher risk for elderly people for countless reasons, whether the cold weather keeps people isolated indoors or just increases the risk of catching flu. The Pensioners Link Winter Resilience project aims to keep people safe this season, and volunteers offer companionship and support for people who have recently been discharged from hospital to their home. Volunteers will distribute a Welcome Home bag and provide information and advice to keep patients comfortable and safe during the winter months. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re friendly, easy-going and committed, the Wigan & Leigh Pensioners Link would love to hear from you. Call 01942 261753 for more information.

To increase visibility on the roads and keep cyclists safe, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re providing free bike lights and other goodies for cyclists who brave the cold weather across multiple sessions until November 11. Their Get Winter Ready Roadshows will get you set up with your new bike light as well as offering guided rides in Wigan and Leigh town centres, on Saturday November 3rd and Saturday November 10th respectively. Also on offer is a Gearing Up Bike workshop, open Monday to Friday from 9am-5pm, and weekly rides from Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles to beat the winter blues and get the endorphins rushing. More information, including dates, and locations, can be found at inspiringhealthylifestyles.org/cycling

times www.

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Local Paper Group for Sale The publishing company that owns the Wigan

of £1.6 billion in 2005. The level of debt proved

Observer and the Wigan Evening Post is up for sale.

unsustainable though and, just ahead of last week’s announcement, that market value had slumped to £3.4 million.

Johnston Press, based in Scotland and the owner of more than 200 local and regional papers, announced last week that it inviting offers for the company after failing to restructure the repayment of £220m worth of debt which is due in June 2019. The company was formed in 1767 and for most of its life the company published a limited number of weekly newspapers in Scotland. A series of acquisitions in the 80’s and 90’s transformed the company into one of the biggest regional media companies in the UK, with a market value

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Puzzle Corner

SUDOKU 9

WORD SEARCH - Bonfire Night

6 8

Find the hidden words in the word search grid B

GUNPOWDER BONFIRE FOUNTAIN BURN NOVEMBER

PENNY TREASON CODE ROCKET DISPLAY

WORD MIX UP - Bonfire Night Unscramble the letters to make a word

1 2

FIREWORK BANGER TAPER GUY PLOT

2 8

1 4

NUMBER BLOCK

5 9

8 7 19 2 2 13 9 4 26 1 5 22 14 15 27 24 14 The numbers in each row add up to totals to the right.

SEAKWF

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

REARSLB IMAPEARLNT SYBEATC

totals to the right.

WIGGLE WORDS CLUE: Mr Kipling Said

RADUG NORMA DEALCN PLODEEX FEALM

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

Y L L B

O U N E

Y S O A

M N A M

All the puzzle solutions are on page 106 of this magazine

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In Flanders

Fields By Jess Phillips

A cascade of poppies sweeps out from the stark architecture of the Imperial War Museum North. Scarlet ceramic poppy heads suspended on metal stalks appear to flow out of the building itself, and, if caught unawares you’d be forgiven for thinking they were bobbing in the breeze. Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red was originally installed outside the Tower of London in 2014 to commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War. Consisting of nearly 888,246 poppies – each one planted by a volunteer - the site-specific project has now split into two: Wave and Weeping Window, touring the country as two individual works as we remember the sacrifices made one hundred years ago.

The Armistice, which declared a victory for the Allies, was signed on November 11, and came into force at 11am, Paris time. Remembrance Day and its two minute silence evolved out of the Armistice Day celebration, taking place at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month in order to honour the sacrifices made during the First World War.

Picture supplied by Tameside Archives

Looking at the poppies now, it’s impossible not to dwell on the massive losses the North West suffered during the war. This November sees the centenary of the 1918 Armistice, which marked the end of the fighting in World War I and a truce between the Allies and Germany. People across the country are coming together to commemorate the Allies’ victory in a conflict that is estimated to have killed around 37 million people, including soldiers and civilians.

Alfred Robert Wilkinson

Many of the soldiers had already signed up to the Lancashire Territorial Force Association before war broke out in 1914. The 42nd East Lancashire Division was part of this, raised as a Territorial Force in 1908 as part of Lord Haldane’s 1908-10 army reforms, introducing a Pals ethos long before the Pals Battalions of Kitchener’s New Armies were brought into existence. Many Wigan men were drafted into the 5th Manchester Battalion, a line infantry regiment known as the Wigan Territorials.

42 Territorial Tragedy

out in 1914.

The 42nd East Lancashire Division, which formed part of the Yeomanry, was formed when war first broke out, and trained at large tented camps in the Manchester area. Many soldiers volunteered for overseas duty, the first of these tours heading

The Wigan Territorials had an intrinsic part to play in World War I. In September 1914 they set sail for Egypt, where they underwent vigorous training and served on the Suez Canal against Turkish attacks, then on to Gallipoli in Thrace. Back in Egypt, against broiling heat and with insufficient water rations, the troops

43 suffered heavy losses â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 800 men from the 127th Brigade, 42nd Division died across a 2-day march. The Division moved to France in 1917, participating in the Third Battle of Ypres and the Battle of the Somme along with the 55th West Lancashire Division. Then just a Private, Leigh-born Alfred Robert Wilkinson served with the 5th Manchesters, volunteering for a message delivery which had seen four men before him killed in Marou and braving machine-gun fire for 600 yards. The incident left him to be immediately recommended for a Victoria Cross, which he was awarded

in 1919 along with a promotion to Lance Corporal. Wilkinson returned home from war and married, signing up for a commission at the outbreak of WW2 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; in 1940 he received notification that he had been awarded the commission in the Pioneer Corps, and went to work as usual at the Bickershaw Colliery. On the very same day, Wilkinson died of carbon monoxide poisoning from two Bunsen burners and a firebrick oven which had been left to burn in the vicinity. He is buried at Leigh Cemetery, and a memorial plaque to his memory has been placed at Wigan Town Hall. Ancestor Account The 1/5 Battalion was commanded by Corporal Sir Henry Clayton Darlington,

44 restoration efforts. A replica of the standard will be carried in the Remembrance Parade this year.

who took his men out to Egypt and survived five months in Gallipoli before his evacuation due to ill health. His grandson Hugh Darlington has done extensive research into his grandfather’s time in the military: ‘I’ve researched my grandfather’s

Picture supplied by Robert Little

Dave Myers’ ancestor William served as a Private with the Wigan Territorials, setting sail for Egypt with the battalion in September 1914. Originally a coal drawer at Wigan Coal & Iron Co. Ltd., William was keen to enlist to escape the monotony of the pit, and travel overseas for a new adventure.

Soldiers from 1/5 Manchester Battalion involvement with the Wigan Volunteers and can account for every day he served, both in the South African war from 1900-1902 and the Great War – I’m fortunate that he took a camera with him to both theatres of conflict.’ Darlington re-joined his battalion after his recovery and took part in the Battle of Romani in Egypt, before moving with them to France in March 1917. He finally brought the battalion back to Wigan in February 1919, around three months after the Armistice was declared. Save the Colours On April 7, 1919, the Colours were returned to Wigan, carried by an escort party from the 1/5 Battalion. The men were met with fanfare and were entertained by the Mayor in celebration of their safe return home, and the Colours paraded around the streets of Wigan through to the Municipal Buildings to the delight of the gathered crowds. A ‘Save the Colours’ campaign has already been launched to restore the rapidly deteriorating regimental standard of the Wigan Territorials. Exservicemen Dave Myers and Billy Baldwin want the colours, which are currently being held in Wigan Parish Church, to be on permanent display behind protective glass, and for the fabric to undergo

William was killed in action during the Third Battle of Krithia, when the 42nd and 29th Divisions attacked the main line of Turkish trenches. Although the initial attack was successful and the troops managed to hold the front line, close quarter fighting meant they suffered heavy casualties, and William was killed with a bayonet on July 5, 1915. Like so many other brave soldiers, his body was never recovered. Centenary Memorials The losses to Lancashire and indeed to Britain during the First World War are still felt today, and Armistice Day is a time for reflection and remembrance. This year is no different, and will see Wigan and the surrounding boroughs rallying together to commemorate the centenary. The annual Remembrance Day event this year will celebrate the centenary of the Armistice with a parade starting at 10am at The Moon Under Water. All are welcome to join in celebration of the veterans and all of those who gave their lives in the First World War. A brass and choral concert will take place at Haigh Woodland Park on November 11 from 1pm-3:30pm, featuring the local region’s best in brass and a choir performance. Wigan Council has set up a useful website for tracing WW1 ancestors and discovering more about Wigan’s involvement in the war. It can be found here - https://www.wigan.gov.uk/Resident/ Museums-archives/Wigan-Archives/Collections/ World-Wars.aspx. For more information on local Remembrance services, see our Events2Go guide.

Food & Drink

Granny’s Xmas Pudding The stout in this recipe will add the moisture to the pudding and the cocoa powder makes the pudding look lovely and dark.

Ingredients

Method

1oz mixed peel

Place all the dry ingredients in a large bowl and mix together.

1oz ground almonds

Add the eggs and the brandy and mix then pour in the stout gradually and keep stirring until your mixture is the consistency of a loose cake mix.

2 medium sized eggs ¼ teaspoon almond essence 2 teaspoons brandy 1 can of stout 2 teaspoons cocoa powder ¼ teaspoon nutmeg ¼ teaspoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon mixed spice

Grease your pudding bowl with a little butter and pour in the pudding mix. Cover with foil and then a tea towel or pudding cloth and tie it to the top of the bowl, this is to prevent any water getting in. Place in a large boiling pan and fill with water ¾ of the way up the side of the bowl.

4oz plain flour

Boil on a moderate heat for 6 hours keep topping up the water with boiled kettle water if the level starts to drop.

4oz breadcrumbs

When the pudding is ready turn it out and leave to cool.

4oz beef suet

These puddings can be stored wrapped in foil from now until Christmas, to reheat just place the pudding back in the bowl and boil for another 2 hours on Christmas day.

4oz brown sugar 4oz raisins 4oz sultanas 4oz glace cherries 1 grated lemon rind

Can be served with a sprinkling of icing sugar on the top or pour on ¼ brandy and light for a flaming Christmas pudding.

Stir Up Sunday Stir Up Sunday is on Sunday 25th November. The tradition dates back to Victorian times, when the family would gather together to stir the Christmas pudding the Sunday before Advent began. The opening words of the Book of Common Prayer, read on this Sunday before Advent, are ‘Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord’, which is probably where the name came from. Originally Christmas pudding contained 13 ingredients, said to represent Jesus and his disciples. It is stirred by each member of the family from East to West, to remember the Wise Men that visited Jesus in the Nativity Story. Traditionally, it’s also customary to make a wish at this point. Charms were often added to the pud and said to bring luck if you found them in your portion on Christmas Day. Historically, these were a silver coin for wealth, a wishbone for luck, a thimble for thrift,

a ring for marriage, and an anchor for safe harbour. Later, coins began to be used instead. As needing expensive emergency dental treatment is definitely NOT considered lucky, it might be wise to forgo that particular tradition nowadays - or at least give your serving a thorough inspection before you tuck in. The traditional sprig holly on top of the pud was said to represent the crown of thorns worn by Jesus on the cross. Holly and its berries are extremely toxic, so stick to artificial greenery! As to why we set fire to the pudding, no-one seems to know. One theory is that the flames represent the power of Christ; another is that Christian traditions mingled with the midwinter festivals of light, and the pudding, with its high alcohol content was simply a good candidate for being ignited! So grab your friends and family and get stirring early this Christmas. By Tom Hancock

CHRISTMAS

AT THE FOX

A place for friends & family Now taking Christmas bookings – look at our festive menus online at www.thefoxrobymill.co.uk Come and join us for: • Burger night every Tuesday • Steak night every Thursday

Call to book on:

01695 628 178

24 Roby Mill, Up Holland, WN8 0QF

Boxing Day Soup It’s that time of year again when the scrapings from your Christmas dinner can be put to good use! Serves 4 ~ Preparation time: 10 minutes ~ Cooking time: 30-40 mins

Ingredients

Method

1 tbsp sunflower or olive oil

Heat the oil in a large saucepan and fry the onion for 5 minutes until golden. Stir in the celery and fry for 5 minutes, then add the potatoes and fry for a further 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently.

1 medium onion, chopped 2 celery sticks, chopped 2 medium potatoes, about 350g/12oz total weight, peeled and cut into small chunks 1 tbsp curry paste (optional) or stuffing (optional) 1.2 litres / 2 pints vegetable stock 550g / 1lb 4 oz leftover roasted or boiled vegetables, such as Brussels sprouts, carrots, parsnips and squash, roughly chopped. Add any leftover meat such as turkey, beef, ham, sausages etc, or this can be left as a vegetarian soup Salt and pepper for seasoning Natural yogurt or crème fraîche - to serve

Add the curry paste or stuffing if using. Cook for a further minute or two, then pour in the stock. Bring to the boil and stir well. Lower the heat, cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes until the potatoes are tender. Add the leftover veg and meat (if using) into the pan and warm through. Pour the soup into a food processor or blender and either blitz to a smooth purée, or leave a few chunks for texture. Return the soup to the pan. You may need to thin the soup to the consistency you like with hot water or stock, then taste for seasoning. Reheat thoroughly, and pour into bowls with spoonfuls of yogurt or crème fraîche swirled on top, then serve with crusty bread.

Make Merry at the

Robin Hood!

Celebrate Christmas with friends and family at the Robin Hood, and choose from our indulgent and imaginative festive menu which is available Weds to Sun from the 5th to 23rd of December (Excluding 10th/11th) Starters Homemade Soup – Parsnip soup finished with curried parsnip crisp and a mini bread roll

Chorizo Mushroom Tart – in a rich peppercorn sauce, served with dressed rocket

Duck & Orange Pate – A delicious homemade pate finished with red onion chutney and toasted ciabatta

Welsh Rarebit – Finished with roasted cherry tomatoes, balsamic glaze, served on toasted ciabatta

Smoked Salmon & Poached Egg – Hot smoked salmon served on a pea puree and a poached hen egg

Mains Traditional Turkey - Traditional turkey dinner with sage and onion stuffing and all the trimmings

Roasted Duck Breast – Served with fondant potato, buttered cabbage and blackberry jus

Cod Loin – Roasted Cod Loin on a bed of sautéed potatoes, samphire and cherry tomatoes

Braised Steak – Slowly braised steak on creamy mashed potatoes, finished with green beans

Lamb Rump – Tender lamb rump on diced roast potatoes, root vegetables and spinach, finished with a red wine jus

Goats Cheese Risotto – Sundried Tomato risotto topped with grilled goats cheese, finished with pea shoots

Best party in Orrell! New Year’s Eve FREE Hot Pot at 10pm Free entry

Desserts Christmas Pudding

Cherry Trifle

Black Cherry & Apple Crumble

Poached Pear

Honeycomb & Vanilla Cheesecake

Cheese Board (£2 supplement)

2 courses £17.95

3 courses £19.95

Having a Works Do? Call 01942 511859 for details. We can seat up to 30 people.

Robin Hood

117 Sandy Lane Orrell WN5 7AZ 01942 511 859 www.robinhoodorrell.co.uk

The Star Inn, 60 Bank Top, Roby Mill, Skelmersdale, Lancashire, WN8 0QQ

www.thestarinnrobymill.co.uk

Tel:

01257 253 355

Education

Degrees of

learning 16 page education special

Sleepy Students It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that sleep deprivation is detrimental to pupils’ learning. A study from The Sleep Council showed that more than half of teachers involved agreed that the brightest children in the classroom were also the most awake.

can make kids irritable and hungry for snacks later, which won’t get properly digested before bedtime. Eating too late presents this same problem. It’s a good idea to eat an evening meal at around 6pm6:30pm depending on where that fits into your schedule. Getting rid of night-time distractions is one of the best ways to get them off to dreamland early. Allow an hour or so of TV before starting the nightly routine, then leave half an hour for winding down time, perhaps with a book or story before lights out. This can help ease them into bed without forcing them to go to sleep before they’re ready.

The ‘Better Brains with More Sleep’ campaign aims to teach children about the importance of a good night’s sleep, and the impact it can have on their education. This comes after 9 out of 10 primary school teachers complained that their students were too tired to learn much of anything. There are many reasons for this – 88% of teachers questioned put lack of sleep down to bedtime distractions such as video games or television, while 38% blamed it on poor diet. Some also said that bedtimes should be more strictly enforced to ensure that pupils get at least eight hours of rest so they’re fresh for the day ahead. So how can we improve our kids’ sleeping habits? First, it’s important to establish a bedtime routine and stick to it. Ensure that the same bedtime is kept to every school night, with a little more leeway on weekends. It’s important not to give in if they ask for ‘just five more minutes’ or ‘just one more episode!’ Regular mealtimes can also be important for a good bedtime routine. Eating too early in the afternoon

Are you looking for a school or pre-school place for September 2019? Roby Mill is a small, village school where each and every child is valued and can develop to reach their full potential. We have small class sizes and a high adult to child ratio enabling personalized learning in a caring and supportive environment. With a wide catchment area, our children travel from near and far to attend our school and with places available for Reception 2019 and other year groups, come and visit to secure your place. We offer both breakfast club and a wide variety of after school clubs. We now also offer pre-school places.

Call Now for an appointment. Our school is always open.

Roby Mill C.E. Primary School School Lane, Roby Mill, Up Holland, WN8 0QR

Telephone: 01695 622536 www.roby-mill.lancsngfl.ac.uk

The small school with the BIG heart

Meet the Teacher A secondary school guide to parents’ evening Parents’ evenings - love them or loathe them, they crop up with alarming regularity. They can cause a good deal of stress whether you’re the parent, child or teacher! As a parent this is your chance to speak to the teachers that spend all day with your children and to whom you are entrusting their education. The first thing to remember – and this might sound quite harsh – is that your child’s teacher has a lot of parents to see that night, in a relatively short space of time. The bottom line is, don’t be offended if they end the discussion, or if they suggest making an appointment for another time to come and discuss an issue. It is important to remember that you and the teacher both want your child to do their best and achieve. If there are problems then the teacher will most likely be looking for reassurance that you will support the school in whatever behaviour or homework policy they have. They know that students don’t always tell their parents what goes on at school and so parents evening may be their chance to make it clear if they are not meeting expectations. If you have existing concerns, don’t launch in with complaints. Let the teacher explain how they feel

your child is doing and respond to that. Don’t ask in Year 7 what the teacher thinks they will get in their GCSE, let your child enjoy school without pressure in those early years. Instead of asking how they are doing compared to other students, ask if they are where the teacher wants them to be. Above all remember that the teacher wants what is best for your child. Put your concerns to them but please listen to what they have to say too. By Willow Coby

Part-Time Professors Around eight out of ten students work part-time in order to help fund their studies. Having a part-time job in college or university can assist with living costs and is said to build character – but could it be taking away vital studying time?

Students will learn to be financially responsible. Which means relying less on the bank of mum and dad! Budgeting is an essential life skill, and parttime jobs can help alleviate the stresses of a student overdraft.

Part-time employment looks good on a CV. In today’s competitive job market, school-leavers and graduates need their CVs to stand out more than ever. Though this can be boosted with volunteering opportunities and work experience, working parttime shows they know how to prioritise and manage their time effectively.

Non-flexible shifts might mean skipping classes. Employers demanding compulsory overtime or arranging different shifts each week might lead to students missing out on contact hours, including classes and lectures.

There’s less time for studying. Revising for A-Levels or a degree can be stressful, with many universities saying their courses require as much dedication as a full-time job. Working part-time leaves less time for cramming in the library or attending lecturers’ office hours.

One solution is freelance work, which can be useful for gaining work experience in any chosen field and for making a bit of extra cash; although the frequency and amount of work can decrease during quiet spells. Tutoring is another way to get some pocket money going while reinforcing good study habits – just make sure to seek permission from the college or university before advertising your services!

Could you be one of tomorrow’s outstanding teachers? Join us at our open evenings at; St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School, Hardybutts, WIGAN, WN1 3RZ

Individuals who have the potential to be outstanding teachers

Tuesday 13th November 2018, 4-6:00pm

Individuals who are passionate about working with young children.

Tuesday 11th December 2018, 4-6:00pm Tuesday 15th January 2019, 4-6:00pm Tuesday 12th February 2019, 4-6:00pm

Accredited Study days will be at Liverpool Hope University leading to a PGCE and QTS in primary teaching.

For more information and updates visit

www.wcpsd.uk

Provider code 2A4 - Course code 2XT7

Study Programme to Apprenticeship Callum started his Plumbing Study Programme at ProCo after a recommendation from a friend. He had previously attended another training provider but found the bigger classroom environment wasn’t for him, as Callum said: ‘ProCo stood out because of the small class sizes – you get that personal one-to-one support from your tutor.’ It was his ambition to do a Construction Apprenticeship once he completed his Study Programme, and that is exactly what he has done! As part of his Programme, Callum did work experience with SMJ Joinery & Home Improvements. He showed that he was keen to learn and impressed the company so much that they employed him as an Apprentice. Having started with Level 1

Plumbing, Callum is now doing a multi-trade Level 2 General Construction Apprenticeship. Well done Callum! ‘A great thing about ProCo is how hard they work to find learners an apprenticeship… All of the staff are really friendly and supportive. I have made lots of new friends and I enjoy the course… I don’t think you would get the same opportunities at another college or training provider as you do here.’ Callum Buxton ProCo was established in 2003, and works with local businesses to deliver a range of training and qualifications to young people and adults. For more information about studying with ProCo, visit www.proconw.co.uk,

Helping Out Schools are generally very keen to foster a good relationship with parents and their wider community. Often people are well-intentioned and would like to help out, but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know how. Here are some ideas which might appeal. You could become a member of the Parent Teachers Association. Traditionally these were developed to foster better relationships between parents and schools, but they are now generally associated with fundraising.

Why not become a parent governor? Governors get involved with the strategic decision making of schools. They attend full governor body meetings and usually sit on committees dealing with various aspects of the school, such as staffing finance and curriculum. Parent governors are voted for by the parents of pupils at the school. Maybe you would like to be a classroom helper. Classroom helpers volunteer to assist teachers on a regular basis, usually in primary schools. They may be in school for half an hour a week, or perhaps up to half a day Senior schools often have events where parents and local business people come into school to talk about their careers, or to discuss anecdotes about taking part in a notable event or visiting an unusual place. Many school volunteers not only benefit from a sense of pride and fulfilment at having assisted, but also find that they improve their skills and enhance their CVs. By Susan BrookesMorris

Museum

Musings

Most of us have wandered aimlessly around the polished floors of a gallery at some point. Whether I was balking at giant whale skeletons protruding from the ceiling or getting hands-on with an interactive exhibit, as a kid I was happiest in a museum. But they can also be great educational tools outside of the classroom – here’s how. First, museums act as a great companion to book learning. While a school syllabus is often limited to the bare essentials necessary for passing exams, museums can provide more scope to a subject - perfect for adding a bit of flair to an essay and making a once boring topic more interesting. There is something special about being allowed to roam the hallways and galleries of a museum. Kids can explore at their own pace rather than being guided to a specific area or exhibit, and will steer themselves towards topics or displays they find most appealing. This could lead to them discovering something new that they’d like to learn more about, and unearth a new sense of wonder about the world around them. There are often events going on at your local museum, including talks, temporary exhibitions and days geared towards different topics. Along with interactive exhibits, these can help make learning more personal, and benefit different types of learners. If your child is more of an auditory or kinaesthetic learner, don’t worry – there are usually

chances to listen to historical accounts, or try their hand at crafts and science displays. Museums also provide a great opportunity to garner an interest in a particular subject. There’s a huge range of specialisms, and plenty to discover in your local area! Try these for size: The Museum of Wigan Life invites you to discover local stories and characters, with a main gallery and special exhibition spaces. Learn the tale of Mab’s Cross and discover why Wigan is famous for its pies! If you’d like to know more about Wigan’s industrial heritage, the Lancashire Mining Museum might be for you. It occupies the site of the Astley Green Colliery, where you can see the iconic pit headgear. A bit further afield, the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester has loads of interactive science exhibits, including locomotives, computers and flight simulators – you can even see space in virtual reality.

Cyber

Bullying Although playground bullying is not new, its nature has changed with the advent of smart phones and social media. Now we see more cyber bullying, or rather we don’t see it as it tends to be hidden and carried out in secret. Almost half of all young people say they have been bullied online and more than 70% say they’ve seen it happening.

number it came from, as evidence to show teachers or police.

As parents it can be difficult to know what to do if your child is being bullied, or conversely is a bully. Here are some tips: Discuss bullying with your child from an early age. Discuss netiquette. Adults sometimes behave more aggressively when they are behind the safety of a computer screen, and it’s the same for children, who are still learning to navigate the online world. Make it clear that being a target is not their fault. Make it clear that whether it’s in real life or online bullying is never acceptable. Advise your child to protect their phone number by only giving it out to trusted members or family members. Tell them to keep track of who they have given it to. If your child has received a bullying message, tell them to screenshot it and send it to you. Make a note of the time and date it was sent and the

Do not respond to the message. The phone number or email will probably identify the source. If the bully gets no response then they tend to stop doing it. Don’t panic if your child is the bully. It doesn’t mean they will grow into a terrible human being. But bullying behaviour can often be a cry for help. Perhaps they are finding the teen years more stressful than they are letting on. Maybe they are struggling to negotiate friendships and schoolwork. Make time to talk with them, not only about their own issues but about the impact they might be having on someone else’s life. By Sarah Davey

Business

Diary dates

2018

November: Location

Event Date

St John Rigby College

Open Evening

Winstanley College

Open Evening

Thursday 1st November (6-8pm)

Open Day

Monday 5th November (1-3.15pm)

St David Haigh & Aspull CE Primary School St David Haigh & Aspull CE Primary School Wigan & Leigh Colleges Wigan Centres

Thursday 1st November (5.30-8pm)

Open Night

Monday 12th November (4.30-7pm)

Open Evening

Monday 12th November (4:30-7:30pm)

WCPSD (Held at St Patrickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s School, WN1 3RZ)

Open Evening

Tuesday 13th November (4-6pm)

Wigan UTC

Open Evening

Tuesday 13th November (5-7:30pm)

St Helens College

Open Evening Wednesday 14th November (From 5.30pm)

St John Rigby College

Open Evening

Thursday 15th November (5.30-8pm)

Leigh College

Open Evening

Monday 19th November (4:30-7:30pm)

Open Event

Wednesday 21st November (5-7pm)

Open Evening

Thursday 22nd November (6-8pm)

University Centre St Helens Winstanley College

December: Location Wigan UTC ProCo

Event Date Open Evening

Wednesday 12th December (5-7pm)

Open Day

Wednesday 17th December (3-7pm)

January: Location Wigan UTC

Event Date Open Evening

Thursday 24th January (5-6:30pm)

Tell Us Your Story! Local Life is always on the look out for news stories from the local communities we serve. Are you

6 Reasons to Shop Local

raising money for charity? Are you a member of a community group with something to shout about? Maybe you’ve got an unusual talent, or have a claim to fame? If so, let us know and you could be appearing in the next edition!

You boost the local economy - For every £1 spent with a small or medium-sized business, 63p stayed in the local economy compared to 40p with a larger business.

Simply contact us on wigannews@locallife247. co.uk or call us on 01695 627999.

You support local entrepreneurs - Head for your local artisan market. These help foster the talents of the next generation of British designers

You increase the value of your home - High streets populated with thriving independent businesses boost the prices of nearby homes. Discount stores and charity shops decrease home values in the area. It is more ethical - When you shop at local butchers, bakers, and farm shops, it’s likely that a decent percentage of the produce has had a short field-tofork journey. As a bonus it means the food is likely to contain more nutrients and have less packaging

69 and retailers. There is a constant turnover of new products, and sellers listen to customers’ demands. From food to fledgling clothing designers there will be something for everyone.

just might find a hidden gem. By Tom Hancock

You help to build your local community Bookshops, cafes and craft shops often drum up custom by hosting events, from reading groups to knitting clubs and children’s events. If local businesses are not supported, these fun local groups tend to disappear too. You might get a better deal or some good advice - Local independent businesses can use their discretion to reward regular custom. Butchers will give advice on cooking times, and how large a joint you might need to feed a family get-together, with some leftovers. Get to know your local traders - you

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Winter Warm-Up A winter coat is one of life’s bigger clothing investments, so it makes sense to be fully informed and have a plan before hitting the shops. Your perfect coat relies on meeting the demands of your lifestyle. Bear in mind when you’ll be wearing it – on the commute to work, or just for walking at weekends? This might affect the hardiness of the jacket you choose. One thing is certain in the UK – it will rain! A waterproof outer shell is a must-have for any winter coat worth its salt. Look for ‘water resistant’ on the label, but don’t rule out a wool coat because they’re surprisingly waterproof! Beware though: many coats which purport to be ‘wool’ are a wool blend with only about 20% wool fibres. These will be less resistant to a downpour; more likely to make you sweat and smell a bit fusty after a while. Look at how well insulated the coat is. Down

coats are a great natural insulator, and incredibly lightweight, but won’t be as good as wool in the wet weather. Synthetic insulation holds up better against moisture but won’t retain its insulating properties for as long as down. Check all zips and cuffs are made from high quality material that will last. Cuffs should be cosy around the wrists so that no draughts can get in. Make sure all the seams are secure and there are no holes where insulation is escaping. It’s not a good idea to sacrifice comfort to style – you’ll regret it on the coldest days. For example, check that you can wear layers, or a thick jumper under the coat. I’ve found many ‘fashion’ coats have arms which are too skinny to allow for a jumper and thus restrict your movement and /or blood-flow! Stay warm this winter. By Tracey Anderson

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Step up in style

Beachfront Farewell Celebrated director Danny Boyle is heading to Formby Beach for an art installation commemorating the centenary of the First World War Armistice. ‘Pages of the Sea’ will feature 160ft portraits of World War One heroes on several UK beaches, which will then be washed away by the tide to bid farewell to the brave soldiers who left our shores more than one hundred years ago. Danny Boyle said he’s aiming to help artists stencil portraits of famous soldiers or anyone with a strong local connection. People are also encouraged to share who they are saying goodbye to on social media by uploading an image. The filmmaker recently quit directing the latest

James Bond film in order to concentrate on the First World War campaign. Other beaches involved in the project are located in Blackpool, Colwyn Bay and Norfolk, as well as Sunny Sands in Kent where Danny plans to spend Remembrance Day. National Trust Formby said: ‘we are very excited to be able to mark the centenary at Formby, and are looking forward to working with volunteers and partners to offer the beach as a space for personal and informal reflection - a chance to remember those who died and honour their sacrifice’. For more information, visit www.pagesofthesea.org. uk.

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Travel

Cypriot

Sun

By Jess Phillips

The term ‘winter sun’ tends to conjure images of Asia, the Caribbean or even the Canary Islands. North Cyprus might not be the first destination to spring to mind – but it could be the perfect getaway for beating those winter blues. Grab your sunglasses and jet off to the city of Kyrenia or the eastern city of Famagusta for a holiday filled with glittering beaches and a rich Cypriot heritage. With an extremely favourable exchange rate currently running at 8 Turkish Lira to a single pound, you’d be hard pressed to get better value for money too.

vines, Kyrenia Harbour is nestled deep within the city’s Old Town, and a beautiful spot to see the sun glinting off turquoise waters, framed by the high masts of local fishing boats.

If you opt for a stay in Kyrenia, a city at the heart of North Cyprus, famed for its picturesque views and stunning architecture, you’ll probably stumble across the Harbour at some point. Surrounded by historic stone buildings with trailing flowers and

But Kyrenia isn’t all this fabulous region has to offer. With highs of up to 40° in the summer months, North Cyprus’ coastline is dotted with gorgeous beaches to help you make the most of the weather, including Golden Beach north of Famagusta and Acapulco

Its castle juts out from the harbour, providing stunning views from the top of the battlements of the uninterrupted ocean beyond - definitely worth the slightly taxing walk to reach them. Deeper into the city, meanwhile, sits Bellapais Abbey, a mostlyintact thirteenth-century ruin dedicated to ‘Our Lady of the White Garments’, Ayia Asprophorusa.

73 Beach by Kyrenia. Located along Cyprus’ guitar neck, Golden Beach is a protected site, and a nesting site for loggerhead and green turtles. If you’re looking for an escape from the hustle and bustle of the Cypriot metropolis, this is the place for you – it’s untouched by industry and perfect for snorkelling. You might even be lucky enough to spot one of these turtles – which can reach up to 48 inches in length – in their natural habitat. Acapulco Beach, meanwhile, might have a more touristy feel, but don’t let that put you off. Glistening sands and smooth aqua waters await you while you doze beneath the fronds of a palm tree – this beach is an ideal spot for swimming or sunbathing with a

good book. Famagusta itself is a great base to start your North Cyprus journey. Known for its ghost town, the city offers a range of tours, boat trips and spectacular sights. Following a Turkish invasion in 1974, the residents of Famagusta fled from their homes, which remained off-limits for 25 years. Although around 20% of it is still sealed off to the public,

Kyrenia, North Cyprus

Winter Sun Specials

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74 regular ghost town tours operate in the area for an insider’s perspective, with emotional accounts from tour guides who had to leave their homes at the time of the invasion. The Roman ruins in Salamis are just north of modern Famagusta, and include still-standing columns and the stone seats of an amphitheatre. Archaeological digs have dated some of these structures back to the eleventh century – beholding them a thousand years later is truly breath-taking. However, if the history’s all too much to take in at once, there are plenty of places to head for a bit of retail therapy around the resorts of North Cyprus. Whether you’re looking to stock up on souvenirs or find some authentic, bespoke Cypriot crafts or pottery, you’re sure to find something you love in Kyrenia. The Round Tower is a rescued Roman building which now hosts a range of artwork for sale, from paintings to handmade textiles. The markets of Famagusta, Nicosia and Kyrenia are also not to be missed. Perfect for some outdoor perusal, they offer a great selection of markets run by local traders, and plenty of opportunities to sample local delicacies. For those who travel to engage in culinary pursuits, the Turkish cuisine is worthy of exploration and is actually hailed one of the three best world cuisines. We’re probably all familiar with kofte and baklava, but do try out manti or kuzu tandir for something unique in texture and taste, or if street food takes your fancy, try

lahmacun or pide, a boat-shaped flatbread served with a variety of toppings, just like pizza. Regular excursions are available to the Karpaz Peninsula, traversing beautiful landscapes to see the famous wild donkeys and historic churches, while night tours offer the best in Cypriot cuisine and live entertainment. You can also take a trip across the island over to Paphos if you’re craving something different. North Cyprus definitely has a lot to offer, whether you just want some winter sun, to try Turkish food or you fancy immersing yourself in the rich history of the place. If you’re looking for your next escape to the sun, check out the special offers for North Cyprus on the previous page.

Health & Fitness

Eat to boost your

Mood

Eating right can also help alleviate Seasonal Affective Disorder and help you beat those winter blues. A good, balanced diet is key to giving both your immune system and your mental health a much needed boost. Go Mediterranean: Scientists have found that those who followed a classic Mediterranean diet were 30 per cent less likely to develop depression. It is thought that the combination of omega 3 fatty acids together with natural unsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants from olive oil and nuts, flavonoids and other phytochemicals from fruit and other plant foods and large amounts of natural folates and other B vitamins in the overall Mediterranean dietary pattern may help to protect against depression. Eat selenium: Studies have linked low mood with low levels of the mineral selenium. Eating nuts is the best way to increase your intake. Brazil nuts are the most concentrated selenium source. Just three nuts contain the recommended daily intake of selenium for a woman. Watch your blood sugar: The glycaemic index (GI) is a numerical system that indicates how quickly carbohydrates will make your blood sugar levels rise. Fluctuations in blood sugar lead to swings in mood and energy. Choose foods that are slow to digest, and which offer a gradual, sustained energy release. Boost your serotonin: Tryptophan is an essential amino acid which is converted in our bodies into the neurotransmitter serotonin. Low serotonin levels are often associated with depression. Proteins

such as lean chicken, tuna, salmon and beans are tryptophan-rich and have been proven to boost the mood. Get plenty of fish: Research suggests that omega 3, the essential fatty acids found in fish oils, can improve your mood. Regular consumption of oily fish (salmon, tuna and mackeral) has been associated with better moods and a higher self-reported mental health, even after adjustment for factors such as income, age and other eating patterns. Remember that depression is not low mood. It is a serious mental health condition. If you think you are suffering from depression please consult your GP. By Louise Addison

Mindful

Motivation

Mindfulness refers to the psychological technique of focusing on the present moment. It perhaps finds its roots in the Buddhist tradition, especially in terms of meditation, but in recent years has come to be recognised by modern psychology. It’s now commonly used as a tool to combat anxiety and stress, and with October 10 being World Mental Health Day, could be effective this month in changing your psychological outlook. Here are some tips to start you off: Meditation Matters – If you’ve never meditated before, don’t worry. You don’t need to find the nearest rocky outcrop and start saying ‘ohm’ just yet. Meditation can take place anywhere you feel comfortable – your bedroom floor, the sofa, or even in the back yard.

It’s important to start with a full body scan: sitting or lying, stay very still and concentrate on breathing. Take note of how each individual part of your body feels, from the toes to the face. This heightens the awareness not only of your body but of your external environment, taking you away from everyday stresses. Look Natural – Observation is key to establishing focus. Choose something natural, like a flower or a cloud, to watch for a while. Don’t worry about anything except relaxing into it while keeping your concentration, and allow yourself to become more connected with the natural world as a result of this object. Immerse Yourself – Mindfulness is about increasing concentration in your daily life. When you’re completing a daily task – such as doing the dishes or laundry – make sure to notice every aspect of what you’re doing. Concentrate on each motion and which part of your body is moving during the task. The idea is to relieve the monotony of a task and get creative with it instead, maybe even developing more efficient methods of completing it. Relax – This can be tricky, especially if you’re new to mindfulness. But the aim is to alleviate stress, not cause more! If you’re feeling self-conscious about going through these exercises, try doing them when you’re alone and unlikely to be disturbed. Listening to an ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response) or guided meditation video can also be useful, and some can guide you through techniques you’re unfamiliar with. The key is to have fun with it, and discover more about yourself in the process.

SAD Times As many as 1 in 6 people suffer with a low mood in Winter and a small number of these will suffer with the more serious Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD sufferers are less able to control their serotonin levels in the absence of sunlight and if serotonin levels drop too low, so will your mood. Here are five ways to raise your serotonin levels even in the coldest, darkest months.

Lighten up - As lack of sunlight is the problem, more light could be a solution. Light boxes are available that provide levels of brightness which can elevate your brain’s serotonin levels. Exercise - There’s evidence that aerobic exercise not only boosts your brain’s levels of serotonin but also keeps those levels elevated for hours after your workout. Laugh - A study in Norway found that laughing with friends, watching a funny movie or doing something that briefly improves your mood may stoke your brain’s levels of serotonin. Step outside - Spending at least 30 minutes a day outdoors, especially with other people, may offset the seasonal drops in serotonin in the winter months. Physical contact - Massage has been proven to increase your brain and body’s levels of serotonin. The soothing experience significantly reduces the blues. By Louise Addison

Is your spine/back/neck getting on your nerves? If you’re in too much pain to read on, just ring us, nine times out of ten we can help you. If you come to us and we can’t help you, we won’t charge you a penny. Does this sound like you? You’ve had pain in your neck or back, on and off for months or many years, it often goes away, but keeps coming back? Perhaps this time its stayed around a lot longer than usual, got worse, and not going away? Perhaps it goes down the front or back of your arm or leg, and you could have pain, pins and needles and numbness there too? It might be in your shoulder or bottom/hips too? Can you feel that something is trapped? Are you struggling to do important things because of the pain? It might be that the pain is making you avoid things – like normal life, movement, your job or being with your family. And we know what’s it’s like when you can’t sleep. Often, the pain can make us worried, grumpy or even anxious/depressed (and make it hard to get on with people around us). Have you already tried everything, and you are still struggling with pain? Some people come to us as a last resort, after years of pain, suffering and very little quality of life being lived. Some come straight to us. People join us because they want a natural, effective approach to getting out of pain and back to a better life. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been told to ‘learn to live with it, or it’s your age’ (both are false ideas), Chiropractic care can still usually help you. Yes, you’ll need to do some work too, but it’s always possible to get better!

Wondering how Chiropractic care can help you? We take care to find out what the problem causing your pain and symptoms is first. Then, we can then design the right care to help you do get out of pain and heal the underlying problem effectively and safely. Almost always, it’s a misaligned or lockedup spine (joints, discs, nerves and muscle). Within a consultation and digital X-ray examination (if required) we can say if we can help you. We then work on the problem by hand, without drugs or surgery. It is especially gentle and comfortable.

Is Chiropractic just for bad backs, sciatica, neck pain, headaches, things like that? The reason Chiropractic care often works so well for these is because it improves how your spine works, and most of these problems start there. This also helps the nerves (spinal cord) living inside your spine to work better. Because these nerves connect your brain to your body, this helps your brain and body communicate much better. Better communication helps you better heal, repair and manage naturally. This helps all of your mind and body; it’s not just for your spine. There is no real limit to your potential to heal. When our patients get better, we always tell them that/Chiropractic didn’t treat or cure them at all - it simply helped them use their own ability to heal. Chiropractors specialise in the care of your nervous system & spine so that you are better able to use your own ability to heal.

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The Power of Play Recently, on a cold February day, we met up with some friends and their children on a beach. We ran amok, played tag, built a huge communal sandcastle and returned home cold, damp, sandy and happier than we’d been for quite a while. We’d given in to play and we felt much better for it. Our society tends to dismiss play for adults. At worst it’s seen as an unproductive, guilty pleasure. Adults are supposed to be serious and let’s face it, between work and ferrying children around to various activities there’s little time for play. When we do play, it often tends to be competitive (tennis, squash, golf ), and this is particularly true for men. But research suggests that playing is just as important for adults as for children. It makes us happy, helps with problem-solving, improves our creativity and strengthens our relationships. So what is play? How do we define it? Author and psychiatrist Stuart Brown calls play a “state of being,” “purposeless, fun and pleasurable.” For the most part, the focus is on the actual experience, not on accomplishing a goal.

Play means different things to different people. My friend Rita knits and crochets for pleasure, I write, walk my dog and take photographs, my husband water-skis, and our neighbour restores old mopeds. You can benefit from play even if you don’t have much spare time. The research suggests we only need a little bit of daily play to boost our productivity and happiness. If you don’t think you know how to play, write your own ‘play history’ down on paper. What did you do as a child that excited you? Did you engage in those activities alone or with others? Did you play with trains? Did you draw? Did you build dens? How might you recreate that today? Surround yourself with playful people. Children are best at this! Spend time with them and experience the magic of play through their eyes. Finally, any time you think play is a waste of time; remind yourself that it offers some serious benefits for both you and those around you. By Louise Addison

Grab the Jab The NHS is encouraging people at risk of flu to get vaccinated before the coming winter. The flu jab is offered free on the NHS for anyone over 65, and children up to Year 5. This also applies to pregnant women, anyone with certain medical conditions, carers for the elderly or care-home residents. A nasal spray is offered in place of an injection for children aged between 2 and 17. Public Health England recently announced a more effective vaccine for people aged 65 and over. Available for the first time in the UK, the new adjuvanted vaccine boosts the body’s response, which is essential in older adults because the immune system naturally weakens over time.

Flu can be the cause of severe health conditions and even death among vulnerable groups, causing serious complications such as bronchitis and pneumonia – so it’s vital that you get vaccinated ahead of flu season. The NHS say that although there is no 100% guarantee that the jab will ensure you stay flu-free, the virus is likely to be milder and more short-lived than it would have been otherwise. There is also evidence to suggest the vaccine can reduce your risk of having a stroke. For more information, head over to the NHS website or ask your GP about getting the flu jab.

Health & Fitness

Lipreading Help The Standish Lipreading Society offers free qualified assistance for anyone who uses a hearing aid and could do with improving their lipreading skills. The friendly society also runs lipreading classes for anyone who would like to get involved, recently pioneering a ten-week programme. Standish Lipreading Society aims to prevent loneliness of Hard of Hearing people in the district and improve general wellbeing. The vibrant group aim to have fun with it, and enjoy the benefit of a qualified teacher each week. They meet every Monday from 1pm-3pm at Standish Community Centre. For more information, call 01942 223092 or 01257 424249.

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Legal & Finance

Prosper Wealth expands

again After a short time away from Standish whilst the build and fit out of their renovated office was being concluded, David Barton and the Prosper Wealth Management team are now back on the High Street in stunning new premises, with new staff and industry leading technology.

Since launching Prosper fifteen years ago back in 2003, David has seen the business grow at a very impressive rate. The company is managing over £150 million worth of pensions and investments, mainly for Wigan clients, and they are attracting new funds at a rate of £2million per month. It’s no wonder that significant investment into new premises and highly qualified staff was an absolute must. With a current team of ten professionals, and with further new talent in the wings, this is a very exciting time for the Prosper Wealth Management team. Most of the team have left large impersonal organisations to join Prosper Wealth Management to do what they love, which is to personally help clients.

The advisory and research team have amassed over 150 years’ experience between them operating within the wealth management sector and during this time they have helped many hundreds of clients enjoy a prosperous, worryfree retirement. The team at Prosper Wealth Management hold very high level financial planning qualifications and were proud to be awarded the coveted ‘Chartered Status’ in 2012 - the gold standard within the Financial Services industry. They were the first Wigan firm to achieve this industry accolade back in in 2012 and, as of October 2018, remain the only Wigan firm to do so.

83 The company employ Fellows as well as Chartered members of the Personal Finance Society and believe that the education and development of their people is essential if they are to retain their Chartered status. With a new website about to be launched with the latest industry news and comment they are keen to promote their professional services and welcome new clients into the business. David comments ‘new clients are delighted to engage with highly qualified wealth management professionals locally rather than having to travel into Manchester or Liverpool which was always historically the case ‘. So what does a typical customer of Prosper Wealth Management look like? “What typifies our clients are that they have had a successful working life and see retirement as the beginning of a new and rewarding venture into travel, hobbies and quality time with family”, says David. David continues “Ordinarily, they will have accumulated investable assets (cash, pensions or investments) of at least £200,000 - £250,000 which

they would like to invest and they appreciate that the financial decisions they are taking now are absolutely critical to sustaining their desired lifestyle throughout retirement”.

Helped many hundreds of clients enjoy a prosperous, worry-free retirement “Over the last 15 years we have been providing life time financial planning for clients and we’ve discovered during this time that we relish working with individuals like this because our shared values have formed the bedrock of a trusting, successful and, most of all, enjoyable long term relationships” says David. “We can really make a positive difference to our customers’ lives”. Should you wish to have a meeting with one of David’s team just give them a call on 01257 423800 or, better still, pop in to their new offices in Standish.

Property

All about the

Numbers by Alan Batt

After a close look at figures, I predict that the number of residential property transactions in Wigan will rise 0.7% year on year compared to 2017. So why are actual transaction numbers so important? Many economists and property market commentators believe transaction numbers give a more precise indicator of the health of the property market than just house values. In the six years before the credit crunch in 2007/8, the average number of completed property transactions in Wigan stood at 6,516 per year, yet in the three years afterwards, this dropped to an average of 2,857 per year. Roll the clock forward and in 2017 a total of 5,051 homes changed hands in the area. In the past, a reduction in the number of properties selling has often been believed to be the first signal of a down turn in the housing market as a whole.

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

The graph illustrates that house prices were rising in the six/seven years before the credit crunch (2000 to 2006), and then numbers dropped off a cliff during the start of the credit crunch. Against the backdrop of transactions rising in recent years, there is an underlying trend in the reduction of properties coming onto the market for sale in Wigan. In general Wigan people arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t moving as much as they were 30 years ago However, in certain sectors of the Wigan property market there is a glut of properties on the market at the moment and so prices and values are dropping on those types of properties as sellers compete for the limited amount of buyers. Yet in other sectors of the Wigan property market the exact reverse is true; there is an absolute dearth of properties available and you have buyers fighting tooth and nail with

85 silly offers to try and secure the sale. There are some bargains to be had, especially for you buy to let landlords. If you look hard enough, you could spot the same trends I have seen in Wigan and find the individual property micro markets where there is a glut of properties available.

So, if you want the inside track on the Wigan property market, whether you’re a landlord or a private buyer, I am more than happy to guide you in the right direction if you drop me an email. Email me on alan@alanbatt.co.uk or call on 01942 233999.

Great

Expectations Some Estate Agents will deliberately over-value a property to secure the instruction for sale, over their competitors. You might ask, what is harm in that? Well, you only get one chance of hitting the market as a new property. Nowadays, everyone has access to the internet, Rightmove and Zoopla etc, and your potential buyers will probably be very aware of the state of the market. Therefore if you have a 3 bed semi-detached that is on the market for the price of a 3 bed detached house price, the likelihood is that prospective buyers will ignore your property. The property appears again and again on Right Move, and potential buyers get bored of seeing it, and start to think there is something wrong with it. You now have to grab back the attention of buyers by reducing the asking price so much, to make it appear a bargain. According to our own research, the average house buyer only physically goes out and views between 4 and 5 properties before buying a house, so all the while your house is overpriced, those buyers are looking at other houses.

Which Magazine (January 2018) reported that it is estimated that Estate Agents who over value properties to gain instructions are costing UK sellers approximately £4.3 billion in lost revenue. But how widespread is overvaluing in Wigan? There are always between 1300 and 1600 properties in the Wigan Property Market that have been on the market longer than 12 weeks and remain unsold. Approximately between 50 and 100 Wigan sellers reduce their price every week. 43.4% of properties in Wigan, currently on the market, have reduced their asking price by an average reduction of 5.6% (which equates to £7,800 each). All in all, taking a realistic view of the value of your house, rather than being flattered by inexperienced Estate Agents, is the best way to achieve a better price and a quicker sale, enabling you to move on to the next chapter of your life. Email me on alan@alanbatt.co.uk or call on 01942 233999.

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

Business View

Only Six Months To Go by Chris Alcock - CMA Accountancy

Is your business ready for MTD? There are over 2.1 million VAT registered business in the UK and a recent survey indicated that 44% of these were unware of the Making Tax Digital changes coming next April. With just six months to go, it is vital that those businesses affected start to make plans to ensure that their bookkeeping systems can cope with these changes. What do we know so far? From April 2019, businesses that are registered for VAT and have a turnover above the VAT registration threshold of ÂŁ85,000 will be required to keep digital records and submit their VAT return to HMRC through MTD compatible software. Software developers such as Xero, Quickbooks and Sage are working to ensure that the changes are in place for April 2019. What about spreadsheets and manual records?

compatible with MTD. CMA are online accounting experts, and are Xero and QuickBooks partners, so we can put you in a good position to help you choose which software is best for your business. Many of our clients have already made the switch to online accounting and are enjoying the benefits that it brings. These include more efficient systems, reduced administration time and cost, more accurate reports, higher tax savings and better security. The amount of changes being implemented means that it is difficult to stay abreast of all these and therefore speaking to a professional will help and may not cost as much as you think.

Special Offer! For a limited period we are offering all new clients Xero or Quickbooks software free of charge for 6 MONTHS if they sign up for our services.

As part of the MTD consultations, HMRC have been persuaded that those businesses that do keep their VAT records on a spreadsheet, will be able to continue to do so for now. However, these businesses will still have to make changes to their current spreadsheets so that they can link to HMRC via bridging software. This is likely to be a temporary situation though and over the next five years the new MTD regime will affect the reporting of the other business taxes.

We offer a FREE consultation for anyone that would like to speak to us about these changes. Just drop by our office on Skull House Lane in Appley Bridge or give us a call.

What do I need to do?

Email info@cma-accountancy.com

The best way for a business to prepare for this is to implement a cloud accounting solution that will be

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Chris Alcock ACMA - CMA Accountancy 39 Skull House Lane, Appley Bridge, Wigan, WN6 9DR Tel: 01257 255521

Making Tax Digital Do you have a business thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s VAT-registered and has a turnover of ÂŁ85,000+? Are you aware of the Making Tax Digital changes due to start next April? Would you like your business to enjoy the benefits of online accounting? Plan NOW for the 2019 changeover and call us today for a free consultation.

Free software for 6 months when you use CMA Accountancy.

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

Leisure

Nicky Nook

by Chris Pearce

For this month’s Jack’s Tracks we visit Scorton, near Garstang, the gateway to the Bowland Fells, for an excellent and varied six mile walk with great views. The walk takes you gently downwards through the scenic Grizedale Valley and some rather pretty hamlets, before you’re then faced with the sharp shock of climbing Nicky Nook. It’s only when you reach the peak that you realise it’s a mere foothill amongst the other fells to the east, but nevertheless, the views over the Lancashire coastline were still pretty impressive. The starting point of Grizedale Bridge is a bit remote, but the GPS Waypoint is SD 535 490. If that doesn’t mean anything to you then take the road to Lancaster going out of Oakenclough. Once you go

over the first cattle grid and, shortly afterwards, a small bridge, park up in a small carpark-cum-layby on the left. Take the slate path leading away from the car park towards the woods. Once you have gone through two wooden gates in succession, take the path on the left and cross the wooden footbridge over the stream and go into Holme Wood. I’ve never been a big fan walking through woods; it’s often boggy, the poor lighting limits photo opportunities, and accurate mapping can be difficult. However, there are exceptions and Holme Wood, up near Scorton in Lancaster is certainly one. The well-defined path follows the stream all

89 the way through the woods with creative studded boardwalks over the boggy parts, and you’ll soon arrive at Grizedale Dock reservoir. The path bends to the right shortly afterwards, following the direction of an inlet and you come to a fingerpost by a gate. You need to take a left here towards Nicky Nook/Scorton and follow the inlet back in the direction of the reservoir. Ignore the uphill path on the right shortly afterwards (signposted Nicky Nook/Scorton) and carry on in the same direction – you’re going towards Higher Lane on a bridleway. The path continues on a meandering downward trend parallel to the stream for another ¾ mile until you reach a steel bar gate and fingerpost just before a wooden footbridge. Take a 90 degree right turn and follow the footpath (not the bridleway) to Higher Lane. Once you’ve crossed a short piece of open farmland, you’ll enter Peddars Wood and walk uphill until you reach a gate and a single track road. Turn right up the road for around 250 yards and take the footpath on the left after the farm. Walk on the left hand perimeter of the field for 75 yards or so,

and then cut across the field diagonally on the welldefined path. Go through a gate and head across the second field towards the steel circular gate in the distance. Once you’re through, turn left and

Scorton

Snowhill Lan

Tithe Barn

Lane

Higher Lane

JT-Nicky-Nook

For those with the OS Maps app on your desktop, mobile or tablet, this walk is named:

e Da Griz

Nicky Nook

Oakenclough

Grizedale Bridge

accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or other cause.

Please ensure you wear appropriate clothing and footwear whilst walking. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the walk is accurate, neither the publisher or its editorial contributors can

Wyresdale Park

91 walk through this pretty hamlet. Approximately 200 yards before you’re due to go under the M6, there’s a footpath on the right. Take the footpath, then go through another stile and plunge into Ghyll Wood. You’ll cross a wooden footbridge and then clamber up the bank on the other side, walking along the top of the bank until you come to a gate. Take the path through the field and you’ll eventually come out on Snowshill Lane. Turn right and follow this road until you reach the entrance to Wrysdale Park. If you fancy a detour at the firstrate Applestore Café (open 9-4pm Weds-Sun) or a look at Wrysdale Lake then carry straight on. Otherwise, follow the road round to the right, across the bridge and uphill to Higher Lane. Turn left and then immediate right for the uphill trek up Nicky Nook. After a steep initial climb, the path will level off somewhat. After you pass the reservoir on the left, there is an option to fork off and follow the path to the cairn, but for the purposes of the walk we’re following the path right up to the white trig pillar at the peak After a breather, follow the path in the same direction down the hill. As the path bends downwards to the right, you’ll see a gate set in a dry stone wall straight ahead. Go through the gate and head for the brick structure directly ahead, and when you’ve arrived here, head downhill towards the green box at the bottom of the hill. Follow the path round the green box and once you get to the track turn right and head into the woods once again. After a couple of gates, you’ll arrive at the fingerpost sign by a gate you encountered earlier on in the walk. Turn left here towards Grizedale Bridge and follow the pathway back through Holme Wood until you reach your starting point.

When can we go back to Dukes Barn Farm?

Boarding kennels and cattery. Heated accommodation. Recommended by vets & clients for over 38 years. Local authority licensed & approved. Open 9am – 6pm Monday – Saturday Closed to customer visits on Sunday

DUKES BARN FARM Animal care at its best

Brook Lane, Pemberton, WN5 8JQ

Call - 01942 217752

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events2go

Choir in a Day

Wigan Ukuleles

Sunday, October 28, doors at 9:45am

Friday, November 2, 7:30pm

Come and learn to sing in a choir! Even if you’ve never sung before, experienced vocalists Lauren and Tom Sturgess will teach you how to harmonise and perform some great pop songs from the 50s, 60s and 70s. At the end of the day, bring friends and family to watch the choir perform. Tickets £16, 14+ only, bookable on Eventbrite.

Wigan Heritage & Mining Monument present a night of ukulele music and a raffle. Tickets £8 including pie and peas. Call 01942 244309 or 01942 820443 to book.

The Court Room, The Old Courts, Crawford Street, Wigan, WN1 1NA

Serial Killer Cruise Wednesday, October 31, 7pm-10pm Renowned FBI criminal profiler and author Paul Harrison explores the murderous mind on a 3-hour cruise. Each guest receives a Murder Mocktail or Killer Cocktail. Fancy dress welcomed with prizes! Q&A with Paul and a serial killer quiz will finish the night. 18+ only. Tickets £26. Kittywake Canal Cruises, Wallgate, Wigan, WN3 4EU

Ladies Night Friday, November 2, 8pm-11pm The Poacher presents Ladies Night! Prosecco on arrival, and some great stalls including Ann Summers, Avon and nails/beauty. DJ entertainment and games! Tickets £10 per person. The Poacher, Winstanley, Wigan, WN3 6JA

The Swinley, Coppull Lane, Wigan, WN1 2LQ

Orchestral Armistice Saturday, November 3, 7:30pm The Wigan Choral Society presents a tribute to the Armistice centenary, featuring Haydn’s ‘Mass in Time of War’ and Kodaly’s ‘Missa Brevis’. Tickets £10, from Symphony Music on Market St or on the door. St. Michael’s Church, Swinley, Wigan, WN1 2LD

Armistice Party Sunday, November 4, 1pm-4pm An afternoon of entertainment with hotpot, dancing and an old fashioned singsong. Prize for the best period costume. Tickets £7, available from England’s Butchers and St. John’s Church. Trinity Methodist Church, Fleet Street, Wigan, WN5 0DS

Somewhere in France Fri, Nov 9 & Sat, Nov 10, 7:30pm; Sun, Nov 11, 2:30pm A play for the centenary of the Armistice, providing a moving tribute to the people of Wigan, by Willpower Youth Theatre. Adults £7, concessions £5. St. Michael’s Hall, Shaw Street, Wigan, WN1 2BQ. Tel: 01942 745082.

Indian Tapas Night

WW1 Remembrance

Saturday, November 10, 5pm-10pm

Friday, November 16, 7:30pm

Wellbeing Wigan CIC invite you to try a 3 course tapas menu of samosas, curry and sorbet. Vegan options available. Tickets £15 per person, advance booking essential at www.wellbeingwigan.co.uk.

The Royal British Legion Wigan Branch is hosting a thank you event to commemorate the centenary of the Armistice. The 1940s themed night will feature a hotpot supper, live music and a raffle. Tickets are £5 and can be booked by visiting the Royal British Legion Wigan Branch’s Facebook page.

Wellbeing Wigan CIC, Gidlow Ln, Wigan, WN6 7EA

Winter Fair Saturday, November 10, 10:30am-1:30pm

Whelley Ex-Servicemen’s Club, 180 Vauxhall Road, Wigan, WN1 3LU

A fun winter fair for all the family, with craft and gift stalls, a tombola and a raffle. All proceeds go to church funds. Free entry.

Christmas Fair

Vale Methodist Church, Skull House Lane, Appley Bridge, WN6 9DJ

Wigan & Leigh Hospice present their annual Christmas Fair. With raffles, tombolas and a huge array of stalls, come and grab a great Christmas gift or visit Santa in his grotto. Refreshments available.

Brass & Choral Concert

Saturday, November 17, 12pm-4pm

Sunday, November 11, 1pm-3:30pm

Hindley Leisure Centre, Hindley, WN2 4LG

A showcase of the local region’s best in brass to commemorate the centenary of the Armistice. There will also be a Remembrance Sunday carvery with accompanying piano. Free admission.

Appley Bridge Xmas Market

Haigh Woodland Park, Wigan, WN2 1PE

Christmas Fundraiser Friday, November 16, 7pm

Mornington

Road,

Sunday, November 18, 11am-4pm Come and browse a great range of Christmas gifts, join in with some crafts and win great prizes in the tombola and raffle. Stalls include Usborne books, the Body Shop, Christmas wreaths, baby boutique and homemade soaps/bath bombs.

Attractions include flower arranging by June from Hartleys Garden Centre, a live performance by local vocalist Leah Wallis, Christmas stalls including cake, veg and fancy goods to raise money for St. Thomas the Martyr Church. Tickets are £5 – call Kath McGuire on 01695 721038 to book.

Appley Bridge Community Centre, Wigan, WN6 9AE

St. James Social Club, Orrell, WN5 7AA

Commemorate the centenary of women over 30 getting the vote. A full itinerary of speakers including Helen Pankhurst, granddaughter of Sylvia Pankhurst. Tickets £12 for Wigan borough residents or £15 for anyone else. Lunch included. Contact the Museum of Wigan Life to book.

Rebel Women Thursday, November 22, 10am-5:30pm

Museum of Wigan Life, 59 Library Street, Wigan, WN1 1NU

Fabulous

Fireworks Photography Firework photography can be a tricky thing for even the most dedicated amateur photographer. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a short guide to help you out. Location: Arrive early to the firework display to beat the crowds, and choose a spot which avoids obstacles like trees, buildings, cars and bright signs.

Wind: Stand upwind of the fireworks so smoke doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t block your shots! Settings: Turn the flash off first. Turn noise reduction on, set ISO 100 and Aperture to F11. Focus should be on landscape (slightly less than infinity), and the shutter speed can be anything from 1-15 seconds.

95 The tripod and shutter release cable should help avoid blurry photographs. Experiment: Fiddle around with the settings, using different shutter speeds and focal lengths. Remember – enjoy the process and don’t forget to share your photos with us on our Facebook page! There are some great firework displays happening in the Wigan area this November! Standish Cricket Club host their firework display on Friday, November 2 from 6:30pm, with plenty of children’s rides and refreshments. The fireworks display starts at 7:45pm, and entrance costs £3 for adults and £2 for children.

an LED puppet show, taking place on Sunday, November 4 from 4pm. Tickets range from £7 to £32, and booking is recommended. Orrell Cricket Club has its bonfire celebration on Sunday, November 4 with fun attractions and refreshments. Admission is £4 per adult and £1 for children accompanied by an adult. Aspull Rugby Club invites you to celebrate Bonfire Night with a bonfire and fireworks display on Monday, November 5 from 6:30pm. The fireworks start at 7:30pm and adult entry costs £4, children £2. By Tom Hancock

Haigh Woodland Park are also hosting a family friendly firework spectacular, with live music and

YMCA ORRELL CRICKET CLUB ‘Proud to be part of Local Life’

Community Family

Bonfire & Firework Spectacular

Sunday 4th November Gates Open: 5:00pm Bonfire Lit: 6:00pm Fireworks: 7:00pm Burger Van, Treacle Toffee, Children’s Fun House, Bar and Hot & Cold Drinks Entrance £4.00 Adults Children £1 when with parents Supported by your Local Councillors and Brighter Borough Located off Winstanley Road, opposite Hewitt’s Business Park

Ladies Lunch

Indoor Car Boot

Thursday, November 22, 12pm

Saturday, November 24, 10am-1pm

Barbara’s of Standish host a fashion show and ladies’ lunch to raise money for State of Mind. Includes vocalist and MC Josh Adams and special guest soprano Jan Monroe. Tickets £36 including 3-course meal and wine on arrival.

Free admission, lots for sale including bric-a-brac, toiletries, toys, clothes and cakes. Café onsite. £10 to book a table – contact Dennis on 07587148579 (hiltond841@aol.com) or Linda on 07956816837 (linda.w@talktalk.net).

Macdonald Kilhey Court Hotel, Standish, WN1 2XN

Up Holland Methodist Church, Alma Hill, Skelmersdale, WN8 0NR

Christmas Market

Christmas Sparkle Fayre

Friday, November 23, 3:30pm-6:30pm

Sunday, November 25, 12pm-3pm

Come along for some great stalls including jewellery, homemade cakes, cards and crafts. There will also be children’s activities, the chance to meet Father Christmas, a raffle and a tombola. Light refreshments available.

Come along to Wellbeing Wigan CIC’s craft, arts and design fayre for bespoke gifts from local artists. Plenty of beautiful pieces to browse and buy.

Bispham Methodist Church, Crank Road, Billinge, WN5 7DT

Tunley’s Christmas Fair Saturday, November 24, 11am-1pm Loads of stalls including gifts, toys, crafts, homemade cakes, plants, bric-a-brac and jewellery. There will also be a tombola and a raffle. Win a Christmas cake and guess the name of Tunley’s Christmas teddy, then visit Santa in his grotto. Light lunches available, everyone welcome. Tunley United Reformed Church, Wrightington, WN6 9RN

Christmas Fair Saturday, November 24, 12:30pm-3pm No need to travel far for a Christmas market this year! St. Teresa’s School have it all on offer, including Christmas punch, mulled wine and sausages, along with traditional and festive stalls. There will also be a silent auction and a raffle, with a guest appearance from Santa. St. Teresa’s Catholic Primary School, College Road, Up Holland, WN8 0PY

Wellbeing Wigan CIC, Gidlow Lane, Wigan, WN6 7EA

Pemberton Fun Day Sunday, November 25, 12pm-7pm The Christmas market and fun day returns with a selection of real ales, stalls, funfair rides and a Santa’s sleigh, along with performances from the Orrell Musical and Amateur Dramatic Society Choir. Pemberton Masonic Hall, Chapel Street, Wigan, WN5 8JP

Wigan on Film Tuesday, November 27, doors at 7:30pm The North West Film Archive delves into the history of Wigan with 90 minutes of hand-picked material. From local documentaries to promotional films and cinema newsreels, immerse yourself in the history of the town. Tickets £7 on the door, ages 14+ accompanied by an adult. The Theatre, The Old Courts, Crawford Street, Wigan, WN1 1NA

Wait Until Dark Wednesday, November 28 – Sunday, December 8, various times This play follows the story of a blind woman who becomes embroiled in an elaborate scam. With her phone line cut dead and the house plunged into darkness, can she pit her wits against the callers who may not be who they say they are? Tickets via box office or online.

S ’ R A E Y NEW

Y T R A P E EV

Wigan Little Theatre, WN1 3SL, Tel: 01942 242561

Lino Cut Card Workshop Wednesday, November 28, 7pm-9pm Wigan STEAM presents a workshop showing you how to carve your own Christmas stamp and make unique greetings cards! Enjoy a glass of fizz and a mince pie while you get crafty. 18+ only, £15 per person. Wigan STEAM, Library Street, Wigan, WN1 1NU

Centrepiece Workshop Friday, November 30, 7pm-9pm Wigan STEAM teaches you how to make your own flowery centrepiece with advent candles for a unique touch to any Christmas spread. Glass of fizz and mince pie included, tickets £15 online, 18+ only. Wigan STEAM, Library Street, Wigan, WN1 1NU

Charity 70s & 80s Night Friday, November 30, 7pm Come and fundraise for Queens Court Hospice and Twinkle House with some 70s and 80s fun! Tickets are £7.50 and include a buffet. Buy on the door or in advance from the venue. Up Holland Labour Club, Ormskirk Road, WN8 9AR

with Mart Coops Superb Voc alist

Bingo & Raffle Bring your own food!

LATE L I T N E P O BAR

Tickets £10 Must be purchased in advance

Call Joe – 07877 480 572 St James Social Centre St James Road, Orrell, WN5 7AA 01695 623902 StJamesSocialCentreOrrell

Standish Xmas Market

UnderGround Craft Fair

Saturday, December 1, 11am-8pm

Sunday, December 2, 11:30am-4:30pm

A free-to-attend family day of Christmas festivity in the centre of Standish, the Christmas Market includes two indoor craft markets with the best local traders, streets lined with outdoor stalls, a beer tent, and live music through the day. Santa’s Grotto is held in the village library, with a Christmas Trail offering the kids a chance to win great prizes.

A wealth of handcrafted gifts from jewellery to fudge! A special visit from Santa and his favourite elf, hot food and a bar, and the chance to meet Santa’s donkeys while the reindeer rest. Free entry.

Market Place, Standish, WN6 0HN

St. Mary’s Club, Trent Road, Billinge, WA5 7QT

Festive Afternoon Tea Friday, December 14, 4pm-8pm

Mulled Cider & Bratwursts Saturday, December 1, 5pm-10pm Wellbeing Wigan CIC invites you to make a start to the festive season with mulled cider and bratwurst! Included in the ticket price is a glass of mulled cider, a bratwurst baguette and a slice of parkin or mince pie. Tickets £20 for two people, advance booking essential at www.wellbeingwigan.co.uk.

This afternoon tea for two includes a glass of mulled wine or a liqueur coffee, plus parsnip soup; turkey, cranberry and brie baguettes; mini quiches; mince pies and Christmas cake. £25 for two people, advance booking essential at www. wellbeingwigan.co.uk. Wellbeing Wigan CIC, Gidlow Lane, Wigan, WN6 7EA

Wellbeing Wigan CIC, Gidlow Ln, Wigan, WN6 7EA

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Motoring

SsangYong

Musso by Tim Barnes-Clay

You can try putting lipstick on a pig, but it still won’t make it beautiful – unless you’re into pigs. And that’s the point here. Unless you like pick-up trucks, you won’t be into the Ssangyong Musso. Now this name might be familiar to you. It’s a moniker that was used way back in the early 90s on a pug ugly SUV. This vehicle though is a strict pick-up with 4x4 capability. I happen to think it’s handsome too – and I’m not even into swine. There’s a reason for its good looks - the Musso has the identical bodyon-chassis construction as the Ssangyong Rexton SUV. Indeed, it even has the same dashboard, which makes it feel quite upmarket. There are pliable materials covering the dash, the steering wheel is fully adjustable, and the switchgear doesn’t feel like it’s out of a Tonka toy. The South Korean made pick-up is also furnished with kit such as an infotainment system, which is decent by any standards. The 9.2-inch display in some models is large, luminous and easy to operate. It also boasts Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. In addition, the Musso houses a remarkably hi-resolution reversing camera which even enables you to observe the tow bar. This is handy if you are liningup up a trailer to lug. Towing is something that the new Ssangyong Musso is brilliant

100 at. It’s the only pick-up in its segment that can haul a 3.5-tonne trailer while carrying up to a tonne in the load bed. The Mercedes-Benz obtained 2.2-litre oil-burner it uses is also enjoyed in the Rexton. However, the Musso is fitted with a six-speed automatic transmission rather than the seven-speed auto employed by the Rexton. It has lots of grunt and is smooth compared with, say, Ford’s Ranger. There’s plenty of space up front, and when it comes to rear passenger room, the Musso beats its rivals, with only Nissan’s Navara coming close. And behind the wheel, whether towing or not, the pick-up feels okay-ish – in a straight line at least. The only fly in the ointment for the Musso is its rear springs. They bounce pugnaciously over ruts, while the somewhat soft damping battles to keep the pick-up’s frame in check. Things do recover, however, when the South Korean’s cab is full. And with a tonne of cargo in the rear load bed, it irons itself out considerably. Mind you, Ssangyong says it’s thinking about changing the rear springs to make things a little more manageable for UK driving. It still won’t make it a pick-up to hurl around bends though – but let’s face it, not many are suited to that. It feels substantial, and always will. That means it rolls a lot and will never match the Rexton or any other SUV for handling. The price-tag of the Ssangyong Musso makes you forgive its so-so handling. It’s cheaper than 0-62 mph: 12.2 secs Mitsubishi’s L200 for starters. There are four trim Combined mpg: 32.8 levels to select, too. While the entry level EX is Engine layout: 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel the most workhorse-like, it sits on alloy wheels Max. power (PS): 182 and contains lots of factory-fitted equipment, including air conditioning, Bluetooth, and DAB CO2: 226 g/km radio. Over that, the Rebel boasts heated and Price (Saracen Automatic): £31,433 (inc. VAT) cooled faux leather seats, and an eight-inch touchscreen. It also wears distinct external graphics. The flagship Saracen and Rhino Mussos add real leather, that earlier mentioned 9.2-inch screen, and a heated steering wheel. What’s more, the Rhino rolls off the production line with ready-to-go all-terrain tyres, and black 20-inch alloys. Also standard on the Musso is a segment-leading seven-year, 150,000-mile warranty. That, more than anything, demonstrates how much faith Ssangyong has in its new model. Certainly, this pick-up is no pig in a wig – and you can forget the lipstick, too.

Fast Facts

• • • • • •

101

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102 Gardening

Looking forward to

Award Winner

Christmas? by Angie Barker

Noel Fielding is accredited with saying “all you need in life is health, love and something to look forward to”. How true. Health and love aside, we all look forward to things – a holiday, a birthday, family occasions and of course Christmas – well for me that’s how it works with some plants. Some flowers are so special and spectacular that they don’t last long, having spent all their energy creating a fabulous display. Hubby always asks me why I bother with Poppies, Irises and Peonies and the like, when their blooms are so fleeting. I explain that for me, half the pleasure of growing them is the anticipation and the looking forward to seeing them in all their glory and this is part of their attraction. When plants have long seasons of interest, Conifers for example, yes they give a garden year round structure but are they a tad boring? Do we hardly notice them because they simply fade into the background? And what about hardy Geraniums. Brilliant garden plants for long seasons of colour and in all sorts of situations, sun or shade. And yet their flowers don’t fall under the spectacular flower umbrella and I can’t say that I spend 11 months of the year looking forward to seeing them. Colourful,

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

hardy and reliable as they are (just like Hubby really) noted for spectacular blooms they ain’t. And take flowering Cherry trees – fabulous displays of pink blooms in spring but an ill timed storm and their blossom is scattered and you think why did I bother. Bearded Irises are another case in point. Much used by garden designers at the Chelsea Flower Shows over the years and one of the joys of spring and early summer in a garden. But unfortunately they only flower for two weeks and an individual flower for only two or three days. Yet I still grow them in the garden because when they are in bloom they are completely fabulous. So when the stunning flowers of my Magnolia are fading fast, yes the heart sinks for a moment but then it’s like Boxing Day – you start to look forward to Christmas all over again!

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

Award Winner

103

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104

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108Motoring Home Services