Local Life - Wigan North - Dec 2012/Jan 2013 by Local Life 247 Ltd

Wigan North Edition

Dec 2012/Jan 2013

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uzanna’s Pub and Restaurant is a beautiful restaurant and pub (formerly known as Gallaghers) on a country lane in Blackrod between Wigan and Bolton. With open field views on all sides, it is nevertheless only five minutes drive from the A49 at Standish. After a full and sympathetic refurbishment, Suzanna’s opened for business in September 2011, and has already gained a regular clientele from both near and far. We open 365 days a year and food is served every day from 12 noon until 10pm (8pm Sundays). The pub closes at 11pm, later on Fridays and Saturdays. A single menu ranges from pub classics such as fish and chips, burgers and sandwiches to full three-course à la carte dining. Vegetarian options are a speciality, as is our Sunday afternoon Roast. Real ale beer and a range of lagers are available, as well as an extensive wine list. Happy Hour (heavily reduced drink prices) runs from 4pm-7pm every day (4pm-10pm Sunday!) Suzanna’s is also available for private functions and conferences, with a complete range of set menus and buffets and full audio-visual facilities. This Christmas we offer a festive menu for office parties, and if you book on any Friday in December, we have free live music and dancing. Regular diners don’t miss out as we have turkey, Christmas pudding and other seasonal dishes on our specials board throughout December. 38 Little Scotland Blackrod Bolton BL6 5LW 01942 832639

at Little

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reservations@suzannas.com www.suzannas.com suzrest @suzrest

So this is Christmas! Publisher: Local Life 247 Ltd Unit 8, Hewitt Business Park Winstanley Road Orrell Nr. Wigan WN5 7XB T 01695 627 999 @

info@locallife247.co.uk

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Sales & Editorial: Chris Pearce Nicola Gray sales@locallife247.co.uk Design & Production: Peter Bretherton design@locallife247.co.uk Accounts & Distribution: Sally Boon accounts@locallife247.co.uk The January issue of Local Life will be published on Thursday 3rd January. The copy deadline is Thursday 6th December. Local Life is published every month. The magazine is distributed into the following edition areas on an alternate monthly basis. The Wigan West edition is delivered to over 12,500 private homes and businesses in Orrell, Billinge, Winstanley, Up Holland, Highfield, Marus Bridge, Roby Mill and parts of Pemberton.

Much of this magazine is put together in advance; such is the nature of the business. So just before Bonfire Night, I sat down to write this section, waﬄed on about this and that like I always do and I then saved it into the editorial folder, ready to be placed into the magazine. But just a day before it went to press, the original piece was kicked out, to be replaced by this piece. Because Christmas is a special time for most of us and it deserves the spotlight. More than anything, it’s the time of year when the Christmas spirit kicks in and it becomes perfectly acceptable for total strangers to exchange civil greetings in the street. Actually, there are still plenty of us who do that all year round, but many more dip their heads in silence. Most people can take time oﬀ from work to catch up with neighbours, friends and family, and are actually nice to each other… for a while anyway! Wouldn’t it be great if you could bottle that Christmas spirit and use it throughout the year whenever the need arises, say down King Street on a Friday night! Wherever you are and whatever you’re doing this Christmas – do have a very Merry Christmas and an enjoyable New Year too. Finally, can I just say a big thank you to those people who make this magazine possible – Nicola, Peter and Sally, all of our distributors, who make sure that you receive your copy of Local Life and, last but not least, our growing band of loyal advertisers, without whom the magazine wouldn’t exist. Thank you. Have a great Christmas – see you in 2013!

The Wigan North edition is delivered to over 12,500 private homes and businesses in Standish, Shevington, Whitley, Appley Bridge, Standish Lower Ground, Parbold, Newburgh, Wrightington and Hilldale.

chrisp@locallife247.co.uk

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

In this issue

Local Life is also published in the West Lancashire and St Helens areas.

16 20 37 42 44 45 46 50 54 56 58 60 62 64 68 77 78

Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this publication is accurate, neither the publisher or its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or other cause. No part of this publication, including pictures, may be copied or reproduced without the prior written consent of Local Life 247 Ltd.

When you receive the new edition of Local Life - remember to recycle the old one.

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Win for Wilf’s Supporting Good Traders Puzzle Corner Money & Investments with Prosper IFA Christmas Gift Cake Recipe 25% Off Tax Return offer from CMA Saving Money with Martin Lewis Jack’s Tracks to Lydiate Santa’s coming down your way! Christmas Events Guide Love your Pets Win a Christmas Hamper! Angie’s Garden Diary Dacia Dusted – New Car Review Home Services Section Puzzle Corner answers Green and Clean’s Useful Numbers

A Good Walk Ruined? Some say that golf is the perfect way to ruin a good walk, but it was on a walk back in July when I first came across Wigan Golf Club. I had no idea that this delightful 18 hole course, set in glorious countryside just a few hefty drives away from Haigh Hall, even existed. Turns out that I’m not alone, its Wigan best kept golfing secret! Entry to Wigan Golf Club is via a low key country lane opposite what used to be the Crawford Arms in Haigh. If you use your Sat Nav and come from the Bolton direction, you’ll get lost down a farm track. Some might say that that’s a smart move designed to keep those pesky Boltonians out, but whatever the score is with that one, it’s only when you enter through the gates of Wigan Golf Club that you begin to realise what a gem of a place this really is. Originally constructed as a nine-hole course in 1898 and extended to eighteen holes in 2001 courtesy of member Dave Whelan’s generous donation of some adjoining land, Wigan Golf Club is a very pleasant parkland course which threads its way through magnificent mature trees and offers a good test of golf on fairly level terrain. The course provides a challenge that is mastered by few, and whilst it is not extremely long by modern standards, the 6,008 yards layout has stood the test of time. Next to the course sits the proud Arley Hall, which now acts as a unique clubhouse and is surrounded by a 12th Century moat. The Arley estate was first mentioned in

records dating back to 12th Century when is reported that King Henry I confiscated the estate, which was later handed back by King John. Arley Hall, which is a Grade 2 listed building, was built in the 18th Century. It was almost 115 years ago, in October 1898, when eight men gathered round a table at 50 Newmarket Street (now the home of Red Rose Dental Practice) and formed the Wigan Golf Club. At their first meeting, the group agreed to lease Arley Hall and surrounding land and transform it into a golf course with a clubhouse. The first president of the club was the then Wigan MP Sir Francis Sharp Powell, who was later immortalised in bronze in nearby Mesnes Park, and had the right foot of his statue rubbed for luck by generations of Wiganers. The club has everything a golfer could want; members have no need to book a tee time, instead they just turn up and play whenever they want to play, providing there is no official competition in progress. Whilst some other clubs utilise ‘pack them in’ philosophies, the relaxed and serene surroundings at Wigan Golf Club suit the discerning golfer down to the ground. Those with a competitive streak will be pleased to hear that the club runs regular competitions; which are usually held on Wednesdays and Saturdays for men and on Tuesday for lady members.

But the Club is not just about golf. Arley Hall is an excellent Members club. The tranquil setting acts as a wonderful surrounding where members, family, friends and guests can talk, laugh, drink and soothe away their daily worries.

There are now a limited number of 2013 memberships available at Wigan Golf Club. If you’re a golfer and you’d like to try the course with a view to becoming a member of Wigan’s most exclusive Golf Club, call the Office now on 01257 421360 between 9.30am-3.30pm Monday-Friday. You’ll be able to visit the club, (if you can find it!) play a round free of charge and enjoy the clubhouse facilities. But hurry – there are only a limited number of places available, so call today and book your free round. Juniors are most welcome too; in a bid to attract young talent, Wigan Golf Club offers a junior membership at a price that is probably the most competitive in the area – at just £50 per year! Please call the office now for more information. Wigan Golf Club Arley Hall Haigh WN1 2UH 01257 421360

www.locallife247.co.uk

Fairs Galore! Christ Church in Newburgh are holding their Christmas Fair this Saturday (24th November) in the school. Visitors

can expect to see lots of stalls and competitions for all the family, and there is also a children’s activity area. The Fair opens at noon, and a very special visitor is due at 12.30... that’s right, Father Christmas himself is paying a visit! Do pop down for lots of family fun! Also this Saturday (24th November) is the Christmas Fayre at All Saints School in Finch Lane, Appley Bridge. This fair runs from 11am until 2.30pm and Santa’s coming here too! Cakes, plants, cards and gifts will be on sale at the Fair and you can also try and win a prize in the raffle or on the Tombola.

Christmas Gifts If you’re shopping for parents or for those Wiganers who reside overseas, you can serve up a slice of Wigan life this Christmas by stopping by at the special Christmas shopping preview event at the Museum of Wigan Life. The event is held this Thursday (29th November) at the Museum shop on Library Street and you can browse through the new Christmas gift range and buy your Wigan Christmas cards. The event runs from 5.30pm-7pm and you can also enjoy a selection of festive refreshments too!

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Parbold Shopping Night Clear out your diary for this Thursday (29th November), because it’s Parbold’s late night Christmas shopping night! This popular annual event runs from 5pm-9pm and attracts shoppers from miles around to enjoy the ambience of this traditional Lancashire village. Most of the businesses are taking part including, Millan Interiors, Mill House Gallery, Parbold Fruit and Veg, Pure Couture, Radiant Living, Sunrise Veterinary Surgery, Tracks and Poles and Yours is the Earth Café. If you come along you’ll be able to pick up some thoughtful and imaginative gifts for all your family and friends, take advantage of discount vouchers and onenight-only special offers, as well as indulging in some festive fayre! Thursday is Father Christmas’ night off, so you may even see him around, so don’t miss the Parbold late night Christmas Shopping this Thursday (29th November) from 5-9pm!

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Tense Thriller It’s the dead of night in an isolated, crumbling mansion high on the moors where a storm is gathering. A highpitched scream echoes through the ancient corridors followed by the sound of fingernails scraping on glass. If you enjoy a tense thriller, then you’ll love this latest production of Wigan Little Theatre which starts this Wednesday (28th November) and runs through until Saturday 8th December. The Haunting is a brand new Hugh Janes ghost story which was inspired by five short stories of Charles Dickens’. In the tale, David Filde is tasked with sorting out the estate of the late Lord Gray and visits his mansion to prepare for the sale of Gray’s collection of rare books, only to experience a journey to the very edge of terror! For more details and to book tickets, visit the website www.wiganlittletheatre.co.uk or call 01942 242561.

Craft Workshops Cedar Farm Galleries will be holding a series of drop in workshops with a Christmas theme at the Farm this Saturday (24th November) and also on Saturday 8th December. The Venue’s very own artists and craftspeople will be hosting the workshops in the art@cedarfarm building between 11am and 4pm on those days; the cost per workshop will vary but the prices start from £3 and are suitable for a variety of age groups.

Get a mention! If you’re a member of a community group and you want to publicise your next event free in Local Life, then just email details along with a contact name and number to editorial@locallife247.co.uk

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The winner of our recent competition to win a Spa Day for two at Vitality Spa at Wrightington Country Club was Harry Platt from Mill Lane in Appley Bridge. Harry is taking along his girlfriend Georgina Wilding for the day out. Well done Harry! Turn to pages 60-61 to enter this month’s competition; there are three luxury Christmas Hampers up for grabs!

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Christmas Fair Bargain hunters in Wrightington and beyond are invited to the Christmas Fair being held this Saturday (24th November) at the Tunley United Reformed Church in Mossy Lea Road. There’s lots to see and do; youngsters can hand over their present requests to Santa in his Grotto, whilst you can guess the weight of the Christmas Cake or browse through the gifts or bric a brac on sale. Refreshments are plentiful and there will be home made cakes and pies for sale, and you’ll also be able to indulge in a light lunch; homemade soup, and sausage and bacon barms are on the menu! The fair runs from 11am-1pm.

Fayre Fun Roll up, roll up to the St Wilfrid’s Christmas Fayre which takes place this Sunday (25th November) at the Parish Hall next to the church in Standish. On sale at the event, which runs between 11.30am-2pm, are books, games, toys, jewellery, cards, cakes, sweets, DVD’s, chocolates, bric a brac and lots more! Refreshments will also be served in the form of light lunches too – and all proceeds from the Fayre go to St Wilfrid’s Church Funds.

Lancashire Night If you fancy celebrating Lancashire Day this Saturday (24th November), then Skelmersdale Cricket Club are holding a Lancashire Night Celebration at the club on Blaguegate Lane in Skelmersdale. The night features T’Others and a Lancashire Quiz. Tickets for the night, which starts at 8pm, are £12.50 which includes hot pot and apple pie. For tickets, call Irene on 01695 732859 or Paul on 01695 722076.

Parbold Drama Don’t forget to book your ticket for this week’s new production from the Douglas Drama Group! Wanted – One Body will be staged on 29th, 30th Nov and 1st Dec at Parbold WI. Written by Charles Dyer, Wanted – One Body is a classic old dark house mystery of disappearing bodies, sliding panels and howls in the night. It is a who-dunnit and a thriller, but with the accent on laughter. Tickets are priced at £6 and are available now from the DIY Centre and from Parbold Fruit & Veg, both on The Common in Parbold village Centre. Doors open on the evenings at 7p.m. and curtain up is at 7.30 p.m.

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Christmas Fair

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For a Christmas shopping day that’s guaranteed to satisfy your appetite for presents, come along to the Christmas Fair at Parbold Village Hall next Saturday (1st December)! The stalls will fill the main hall and you’ll be able to pick up some wonderful gifts such as jewellery, handbags, scarves, toys, decorations and craft items. Skip your breakfast and fill up on the fabulous bacon and sausage barms you can buy at the Fair or simpy take home the homemade cakes and mince pies!

St Anne’s Church in Shevington is the venue for a Christmas Concert on Friday 14th December, starting at 7.30pm. Two brass bands will be performing on the night; the Wigan Youth Brass Band and the Wigan Schools Intermediate Brass Band, in an event where the festive spirit will linger long into the night. Tickets are just £4, which includes light refreshments, and are available from the Parish Office on Church Lane, Shevington.

All proceeds from staging the Christmas Fair will go to The Hut on the Hill and the event is organised by the local Guides and Scouts. Please come along to the event, which is held between 11am-2pm at the Village Hall, have some lunch and do your shopping locally in the company of friends and neighbours.

The beginner classes run from 7.30-8.30pm on Mondays at St Agnes Church Hall in Eccleston and the 8.309.30pm class is for those clog dancers with experience. For more details about the classes, visit www.clogdance.co.uk.

Lanky Laughs Entertainer Rob Mason will have you rolling in the aisles with his special brand of Lancashire humour when he visits the Parish Hall at St Wilfrid’s in Standish to celebrate Lancashire Day. A Lancashire Night with Rob Mason is being held on Tuesday 4th December and tickets are now on sale at the Parish Office. The £7 ticket price includes a delicious hot pot supper!

Clogged Up And now for something completely different! If you think line dancing is out of line, that there’s no point to circle dancing and you no longer have a ball at ballroom dancing then, what about Clog Dancing? These classes are for absolute beginners and there is no need to go rooting round Granny’s attic, because clogs are provided.

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Standish Spectacular

The staff at Standish Library are busy preparing for their Christmas Spectacular, which takes place at the Library in Cross Street on Tuesday 18th December. The programme of events goes on all day from 9.30am-7pm and there’s something for everyone to enjoy; From 9.30am-12.30pm you can pick up a present or two at the library; there is a Christmas Pot and Winter Plant Sale being held and also a sale of art from the Standish Art Group too. Carols will be sung by the children from St Marie’s Primary School. This is followed from 2pm-3pm by a gift wrapping demonstration and by a very special Christmas Storytime for the Under 5’s. From 2pm to 4pm, there will be a card, bag and pottery stall set up in the library, and the children at St Marie’s

will return for their second performance. From 3.30pm to 5.30pm and from 5.45pm to 6pm, there will be a demonstration in making jewellery, so you can try your hand at making a few presents this Christmas. From 5.45pm-6.30pm there will be a Book at Bedtime session, and also an eagerly anticipated Flower Decoration demonstration and this will be followed by an appearance of those fine singers of the Standish Choral Society who will be singing carols between 6.30pm and 7pm. Do pop along and join in whichever activity takes your fancy, but please take note that charges apply for the Flower Demonstration (£6) and the Book at Bedtime (£1) and these two activities must be pre-booked. Please call the library on 01257 400496.

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Chorley Wheel Chorley’s skyline will light up this Christmas when a 100 ft tall Ferris Wheel comes to town to thrill Christmas shoppers! The structure will be operational from Friday 14th December at the Flat Iron car park in the centre of town, and will be in place until Sunday January 6th. Riders in the 24 gondolas will be treated to a bird’s eye view of nearby Lancashire; tickets cost £3 for adults and £2 for children and concessions, and will be available at the entrance to the ride. The wheel will be open every day except Christmas Day and New Years Day from 10am6pm (Mon-Thurs) and 9am-8pm (Fri & Sat). For more details about activities in Chorley at Christmas, visit the website www.chorley.gov.uk.

Get a mention! If you’re a member of a community group and you want to publicise your next event free in Local Life, then just email details along with a contact name and number to

w e n a t n a W r o f e g n e l l cha 2013? editorial@locallife247.co.uk

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Pupils from St. Wilfrid’s Church of England Primary School in Standish won the Hoddinott Shield for their prowess in public speaking. The annual Junior Speaks competition, which has been run by Wigan Rotary Club with the town’s primary schools since 2008, is always eagerly anticipated and fiercely contested and this year was no different! Due to the large number of entrants, it was necessary to hold three preliminary heats, and the final took place at Lamberhead Green Primary School in late October. Each team spoke on a subject of their choice and St Wilfrid’s won the battle with their topic, ‘Pollution’. Second place was awarded to the pupils from Woodfield Primary School and the third spot went to Aspull Church Primary School. St Wilf’s were awarded the Hoddinott Shield, which is presented in memory of former Rotarian Peter Hoddinott. The trophy, certificate and dictionaries were presented by Mrs. Doreen Hoddinott and Wigan Rotary President Venk Mani, to a very excited team, who also received an invitation to Rotary lunch at The Owls in Standish in order to repeat their winning performance for the members of the Club.

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Museum Magic If your child enjoys doing crafts, then do make a date in your diary for Saturday 8th December. The Museum of Wigan Life is hosting a very special festive day with festive crafts and the Museum will also be staging a pantomime too! The event runs from 11am-2.30pm at the Museum on Library Street; for more information please ring 01942 828128.

Old Hall On Sunday 16th December 2012, Old Hall Brass is hosting their annual Christmas Concert at St Teresa’s Social Club in College Road, Up Holland. It’s a 2pm start, and tickets are priced at £6 or £2 for under 16’s and are available from Debbie Sudworth on 01942 715684 or 07752 003834. For more information about Old Hall, visit the website www.oldhallbrass.co.uk.

Festive Songs An uplifting and joyous concert of seasonal music is promised at St Wilfrid’s Church in Standish when the East Lancashire based A Cappella Singers visit on Saturday 15th December. The evening concert, which starts at

7.30pm, is a ticket-only affair and the £7 tickets (children under 16 go free) are available from Andrew Holliday on 01257 421396. For more details about the singers, visit their website www.acappellasingers.co.uk.

MS Group When a local MS charity closed in 2003, members of the group decided to form their own charity and the Multiple Sclerosis Regional Therapy and Support Group was born. Now approaching its 10th anniversary, the group provides therapies for MS sufferers such as aromatherapy, reflexology, yoga, reiki, Indian head massage and Hopi ear candles. The Group gives practical help and advice to those who endure this deliberating illness and also offers a chance for sufferers to interact with other people in the same boat. The Multiple Sclerosis Regional Therapy and Support Group is based at the Marsh Green Community Centre on Kitt Green Road in Wigan, and operate on Wednesday and Thursday mornings each week from 9am until 1.00pm. For more details call 01942 217696 or visit the website www.msgm.org.

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Local Life has joined forces with the Trading Standards team at Wigan Council to help run those cowboy traders out of town! The Orrell based publishing company announced this week that, as from the January 2013 issue, the Home Services section of Local Life will only carry advertisements from those tradespeople who are members of the Good Trader Scheme or are members of similar Trading Standards schemes in St Helens and Lancashire.

“Get Town

The Good Trader Scheme was launched by Wigan Council in 2009 to promote honest and reliable tradespeople in the Wigan area. The scheme is a database of tradespeople that have undergone a series of checks by Trading Standards ofﬁcers. To promote the scheme, Wigan Council hosts a website which allows homeowners to grade the tradespeople on completion of the job on criteria such as ‘Quality of Work’ and Customer Service’. This information subsequently helps future users of the scheme to make an informed choice of which tradesperson to call. Julie Middlehurst, the Trading Standards Manager at Wigan Council explains “The Good Trader Scheme was launched as a result of the increasing number of calls we were receiving from residents complaining about being ripped off by rogue tradespeople. Once we have received an application by a tradesperson to join the Good Trader Scheme, we then run a number of background checks on that tradesperson to see if they are a suitable member of the Scheme”.

These Checks include: • • • •

Insurance Trade Associations Reference Checks Applicants must provide details of three most recent referees

The publisher of Local Life, Chris Pearce, tells how he ﬁrst got involved with the Good Trader Scheme. “When Local Life was ﬁrst published, we only approached local tradespeople who we knew personally to advertise in the magazine. As the magazine became more popular, we were approached by other tradespeople, who we didn’t know, who wanted to advertise with us.”

Julie Middlehurst, Trading Standards Manager of Wigan Council, with Chris Pearce, Local Life Publisher, outside the Local Life offices in Orrell. Chris goes on, “I’ve had first-hand experience of the damage, both financial and emotional, that a rogue builder had on a member of my family who didn’t bother to check out the credentials of that builder beforehand, and I certainly didn’t want Local Life readers to be put in a similar situation as a result of responding to advertising in the magazine. So I turned to Trading Standards to find out how I could protect our readers from rogue tradespeople and found out that the Good Traders scheme had just been launched. The Trading Standards team have really worked hard to build the membership of the scheme up and it is very popular, both with readers and with local tradespeople.”

Are you a Tradesperson? To join the scheme visit www.wigan.gov.uk/goodtrader and you can apply online. Or call 01942 827476 for a Good Trader Scheme pack.

t Outta r!” e n d r a P n, Julie adds “We have had tremendous support for the scheme from Local Life ever since the scheme started. The magazine has not only given valuable publicity to the scheme, but has acted as a recruiting agent, urging the tradespeople who advertise within the magazine to join the Good Trader Scheme, including our current Good Trader of the Year winner, Chris The Builder.” Julie welcomed the latest move by Local Life to restrict their Home Services section to members of the Good Trader Scheme. “It’s great news. Residents needing tradespeople who don’t have access to our website can just pick up a copy of Local Life, turn to the Home Services section and be assured that all the tradespeople in there have all been checked out by Trading Standards.” Chris adds “The great thing about the scheme is that it opens up tradespeople to scrutiny, because customers can give feedback about their tradesperson’s work on the Good Trader website. If all our readers use Local Life and/or the Good Trader Scheme website when looking for a reliable tradesperson then work for the local cowboys will simply dry up, so they will be forced to saddle up and move on!”

When you need a Tradesperson… Visit www.wigan.gov.uk/goodtrader and search for your required tradesperson OR

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Good Trader award winners Angie Barker of Angie Barker Garden Designs, Bob and Ben McWilliam of Manor House Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning and Chris Smith, of Chris the Builder.

Furry & Scary!

If your child is one of those disgusting creatures who would positively relish being on I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here, then do book them onto the Bug Box session at Shevington Library on Saturday 1st December. Furry, scary and slimy creatures will be on parade, just waiting for a cuddle from your offspring. The first Bug Box session runs from 10-11am and the second from 11.15am12.15pm. The cost is £1 per child and booking is advised – call the library on 01257 252618.

Victorian Fayre St Thomas the Martyr Church in Up Holland will host its annual Victorian Fayre this year on Saturday 1st December from 1pm – 4pm. This event is one of the highlights of the church’s year and is always a big attraction for local residents. The numerous stalls inside the church will sell the likes of cakes, toiletries, sweets, fancy goods, Christmas gifts, books and mystery parcels. There will be a raffle on the day and refreshments will be served too. Everyone is welcome to join in and celebrate the beginning of the festive season.

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Wigan Reindeer Run!

Janet Irvine, lead nurse of the new cancer unit together with Kris Radlinski and Roberto Martinez

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Elizabeth Titley, Fundraising Officer for the Charity said “the idea of the run is that anyone is welcome to enter whatever their level of fitness, there will be those that take it seriously and would love to win but there will be people entering who will just want to take part for the fun of it and to show their support for the Town’s new Cancer Unit, by raising sponsorship. The Ainscough Group has kindly agreed to sponsor the Run, which is fantastic!”

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Coffee Morning Enjoy friendship in the happy environment of the monthly coffee morning at the Parbold Evangelical Church on Chorley Road in Hilldale. The event is held on the First Tuesday of each month from 10.30am-12 noon. You can treat yourself to some scrumptious home baked goods and have a cup of fairtrade tea or coffee too. For more details, please contact 01257 464347 or 07720 062211.

DIR ER

T FROM

To enter the run go to www.wwl.nhs.uk/reindeerrun and download the entry form or pick up an entry form from the DW Stadium.

Meetings feature talks on a wide variety of subjects and, in addition, the group holds a number of excursions and social lunches throughout the year. For further information, please contact the Club Secretary on 01257 424994.

The DW Stadium are hosting the event and throwing their full support behind it, hoping that rugby and football fans will sign up! Roberto Martinez, Manager of Wigan Athletic, together with Kris Radlinski, General Manager of Wigan Warriors, met with Janet Irvine, Lead Nurse of the new Cancer Unit to officially launch the event. Roberto said “I am happy to support the Stadium and the Charity in launching this fantastic event, especially as it’s for the health of the people of Wigan” with Kris adding “the event will be a real spectacle, with all the runners donning antlers and noses, a lot of fun, just before Christmas!”

The members of Standish PROBUS Club are looking for potential new members to join them at their regular monthly meetings. Potential new members, who must be retired, are welcome at the meetings which are held on the second Tuesday of the month at The Crown on Platt Lane in Worthington.

AC U F TU N

The event will raise money for Three Wishes, which is Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh’s hospital charity, with proceeds from the run going to Wigan’s new Cancer Care Unit at Wigan Infirmary.

PROBUS Plea

E TH MA

The DW Stadium and Three Wishes have announced that the first ever Wigan Reindeer Run will be held on 16th December at DW Stadium. The fundraising event will be a 5k fun run/walk around the stadium and surrounding areas and has been designed so that both novice and experienced runners can take part.

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Carols at Christmas Inject a little festive cheer by joining in the annual Carols around the Christmas Tree event in Parbold, which is being held this year on Wednesday 5th December from 6.30pm. Hesketh Bank Silver Band will be in attendance to provide the musical entertainment, along with schools and other youth organisations. Christmas refreshments will be available too, but wrap up warm won’t you!

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Picture House Productions Fans of George Clooney won’t want to miss the production of The Descendants which is screening this Sunday (25th November) at the Village Hall in Parbold. The Descendants won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, as well as two Golden Globe Awards for Best Picture – Drama and Best Actor – Drama for Clooney. Screening at the Picture House on Sunday 9th and Sunday 16th of December is Jean de Florette and its sequel, Manon des Sources. This 1986 French historical drama, starring Gerard Depardieu, tells a tale of a good man’s labour of love and how, after his death, his daughter survives and thrives.

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All seats are priced at £3 and the curtain goes up at 7pm, though the doors to the Village Hall open at 6.30pm. For more information about the Picture House, call 01257 464533 or visit www.parbold.info.

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The Grange Community Centre in Marus Bridge is again staging a Family Fun Day on Saturday 15th December. The ice rink will be on site and, for a small charge, you’ll be able to show off your skills to the entire family! The Crafty Grangers will be on hand to help with all kinds of Christmas Crafts, such as making Christmas cards and wreaths. There’s a story time for the younger participants in the Hope Library, and there will also be a special visitor – can you guess who it might be?

Family Fun Day

Yes, it’s Father Christmas! Santa will be stationed in his grotto all day and handing presents out to all the good children. There is a small charge for visiting Santa, but you must book your child’s attendance in advance, so that Santa can get his elves to make the right number of presents for the children. To book your child’s slot, call 01942 777545 from December 1st. The day runs from 10am-4pm on Saturday 15th December – don’t miss it!

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Winter Market

Transform your home for Christmas!

A Winter Market is to be held in St John’s School, Church Street, Pemberton, Wigan on Saturday 1st December 2012 from 10 am to 2 pm. The Winter Market is a chance for the local community to meet up with friends old and new over a cuppa and a bite to eat, support local businesses and raise a bit of money for St John’s School and Church. The stalls will be a mixture of food, crafts and gifts with entertainment to be provided by the hugely talented pupils of St John’s Primary School. Admission is only £1.00 and Children are admitted free.

Large selection of carpets, laminates, vinyls & Karndean

Stalls are still available - the stall holder keeps any money taken on the day in return for a donation at the end of the event - contact Stephen Southern on 01257 423801 or 07766862756 for further details.

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Charity Walk

The South Lancs Long Distance Walkers are gearing up for their annual Christmas Charity Walk on Sunday 9th December. There are two circular routes; one is just 6 miles and the other is a hefty 14 miles and both walks start and finish at Wigan Rugby Union Club on Wingates Road, off Leyland Mill Lane. Advance entry fees for adults are £4 for adults and £1 for children, and the fee includes a certificate and refreshments during the walk and at the finish. All proceeds from the walk go to local charities including Derian House Children’s Hospice and Dr Naqvi’s Heart Scan Appeal. Entry forms for the walk are available from Cliff Roby on 01257 400638. Walkers can also turn up on the day and pay £5 for adults and £1 for children.

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Panto Fun Plan a little fun this Christmas by booking your panto tickets for the production of Dick Whittington in Preston. Performed by the Preston Musical Comedy Society at the Playhouse Theatre in Market Street West, this pantomime runs from Thursday 13th December to Sunday 16th December and also from Wednesday 19th December to Sunday 23rd December. Tickets are £7, £9 and family tickets will set you back £30. For more details on the panto, visit the website www. prestonmusicalcomedy.co.uk and for tickets, please call 01772 721835 or 07745 745952.

Douglas Music Douglas Music have two more concerts to see out the year; the first, A Tribute to Kathleen Ferrier will be staged this Saturday (24th November) and will star Karina Lucas (mezzo-soprano) and Simon Lane (piano). Then on Saturday 8th December, Alan Barnes (saxophone) and David Newton (piano) will play the Best of Jazz for the last 100 years. Concerts are both held at Parbold Village Hall, starting at 7.45pm. Admission is £12, with a £5 price for young persons/students.

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Lonely at Christmas If Christmas and the fear of spending it alone fills you with dread, then don’t worry – you’re not on your own. Many of us don’t have family living close by and sometimes it can be difficult to meet people and make new friends.

Christmas at Haigh A traditional family Christmas event takes place at Haigh Hall next Saturday (1st December). The Stables Courtyard will have Christmas stalls, musical entertainment and children will be able to celebrate National Tree Dressing Day, by learning how to dress their Christmas tree. Santa will be there in his grotto and the cost for a visit to him will be £5. The event runs between 11am-3pm. If you’re busy next Saturday, but you’d still like to give your child a chance to visit Santa, then he will be resident in the Stables Courtyard at Haigh Hall on Sunday 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd December between 12 noon and 3pm.

There’s a friendly group of Standish residents who would like to meet you; they meet every Thursday at 10.30am at Standish Methodist Church on the High Street. You can enjoy tea and toast or, if you prefer, coffee and crumpets, and the object of the group is to bring people together who would otherwise be isolated. Transport can be provided – please call Barbara on 01257 400830 for more information.

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The Bridgeman Centre offers physiotherapy, acupuncture, reflexology & specialist treatment of M.E. The Bridgeman Centre, 18 Bridgeman Terrace, Wigan. WN1 1TD T: 01942 321235 or visit www.bridgemanphysiotherapy.co.uk www.locallife247.co.uk

Your Health

Chick Flick

Preventing Dementia (& Diabetes too!)

A sizzling 1964 love comedy starring William Holden and Audrey Hepburn takes the pride of place as the St Wilfrid’s Film Club’s December movie. Paris When it Sizzles is the tale of two writers who are thrown together at the last minute to write a screenplay.

A healthy body weight reduces pressure on our joints and the helps prevent/limit osteoarthritis, and recent research is beginning to show that a good diet plays a massive role in reducing our chances of developing dementia.

Vintage Market

As you may know, dementia is an umbrella term for a number of brain degenerative conditions that include Alzheimer’s. These conditions, as anyone with an afflicted relative appreciates, have a number of unpleasant symptoms which progressively affect the ability to think, recall memories, use language and judgement, and do everyday tasks. These conditions are set to increase in our ever-growing ageing population. Indeed, there are now already some 820,000 sufferers in the UK. Recent research has shown that in overweight individuals, not only are they more likely to develop diabetes (which you’ll probably already know), but dementia also. A recent study of 8534 Swedish twins also indicated that if we are moderately overweight in middle age, we are 71% more likely to develop dementia. If we eat a diet that contains lots of sugars and refined carbohydrates - cakes, biscuits, sweets, chocolate, and especially breads, then we give our body gets much more sugar than it needs. Your body then faithfully converts this excess sugar into love-handles, pot bellies and wide-load bottoms. However, it’s the unseen damage to the interior of your body that leads to diabetes and an increased risk of dementia. Basically, excess sugar from these foods causes problems with our bodies’ ability to make and use insulin. Insulin’s chief role is to process sugar in the body. Too much sugar means that insulin cannot due its job properly, which in turn leads to diabetes. Insulin also plays many roles within the brain, and research is now showing that in people who are overweight and/or eating sugary/high carbohydrate diets, the activity of insulin changes within the brain and can cause some of the degenerative changes seen in dementia. It’s not all bad news, though. We can each take an active role in reducing our chances of developing diabetes and dementia simply by improving the quality of what we put in our mouths. The human metabolism was never really designed for eating sweets, cakes, breads, biscuits - they simply contain more sugar than the body needs at more or less any given time. By simply swapping these foods for unprocessed vegetables and some fruit is a great way to prevent diabetes (or improve it if you already have it) and ward off the risk of developing dementia. Thanks for reading, Dr Mike Paull, Chiropractor.

The film is screened at St Wilfrid’s Parish Hall on Wednesday 5th December at 1pm. You can also enjoy lunch at the Hall prior to the film if you wish, but if you do require lunch then you must book this at the Parish Office by Monday 5th December. Call 01257 422538 for details. Vibrant Vintage is hosting a Christmas Gift Market next Sunday (2nd December) to coincide with the Trencherfield Mill open day in Wigan . The event will have a variety of stalls such as jewellery, handmade cards, craft, vintage, handmade soaps, gifts for pets, cupcakes, jams, local produce, Christmas decorations, for unique Christmas presents. The event will take place on Sunday 2nd December 10am-4pm at Wigan Investment Centre. Admission if free and parking is also free. Nearby Trencherfield Mill will be operating with steam and traction engines and canal boat rides, so the event promises to have something for all the family!

suFFeRING WITH MusCLe, jOINT OR NeRve PAIN?

What sorts of problem can you help me with? We can relieve pain that is caused by a variety of muscle, joint and nerve problems. This includes both new and old pain resulting from your job, sports, poor posture, accidents and some types of arthritis or wear & tear. We specialise in treating neck and back pain as well as pulled muscles, stiff joints and trapped nerves.

How can you help me? We always start off with a 45 minute consultation and examination to find the underlying causes of your problem. We then use gentle, safe hands-on treatments to relieve your pain.

How soon can you help me? We are open six days a week and offer appointments the same or the next day. We are open Monday-Friday 8am-7pm, Saturdays 8am-4pm.

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Money & Investments Lloyds Banking Pension and Investment Customers!! Some of you may recall that I wrote a piece in the February edition of Local Life about the Retail Distribution Review which was initiated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and its likely impact in terms of adviser numbers. Unfortunately the predictions I made in that article are now playing out. The latest bank that has stated their intention to restrict advice is the Lloyds Banking Group. Their recent announcement that it is to stop offering investment advice in its high street branches to customers who hold less than £100,000 in savings and investments is a very sad development for both the banking industry and local community. Barclays made a similar move last year, announcing it would stop giving financial advice to individual customers in its bank branches. Having spent nearly ten years working for the TSB (in the late eighties/early nineties) which is now part of the Lloyds Banking Group I know a lot of the branch advisers and customers that have been affected by this decision. Indeed we have already had enquiries from a number of Lloyd’s customers holding Scottish Widows investments and pension products as the Lloyds decision has effectively left a lot of customers without a gateway to advice. This could not have come at a worse time for customers with the tough economic climate and challenging investment markets. Due to our independence those clients that have recently joined us are now benefiting from the fact that we can advise them not only on their Scottish Widows and Halifax plans but on all investment and pension contracts they hold within the entire market place. The Retail Distribution Review or ‘RDR’ for short, which comes into effect at the beginning of 2013

means that the banks’ costs are likely to rise at exactly the same time as they will have to be more explicit about how much their advice is costing customers. Whilst I have talked about this for some time now it would appear that the media are now waking up to this development. I have read articles in a number of Sunday papers during the last couple of weeks alerting readers to the changes and telling them to speak to their adviser about whether they intend to continue offering advice post 2012. The RDR is specifically designed to improve people’s understanding of, as well as increase their confidence in, financial advice. It aims to raise the level of professionalism among financial advisers so the minimum qualifications required are being increased and the way in which you pay for that advice is being altered to ensure complete transparency. In my opinion this is long overdue and will be a shot in the arm for the industry. As a business we changed the way we worked with our clients a number of years ago which now means that we are operating a model which the FSA is now prescribing. If you are affected by these developments or you are a Lloyds customer holding any of the following products please do not hesitate to get in touch. Scottish Widows Investment Bonds Pensions Unit Trusts or ISAs Halifax ISA Investor contracts Collective Investment Accounts Personal Investment Plans The cost of the initial consultation is met by ourselves and is without obligation. Please feel free to give one of our team a call on 01257 423800.

Brought to you by David Barton of Prosper Independent Financial Advisers who is a Chartered Financial Planner specialising in investment and pensions advice to the over 50s. Choosing a ﬁnancial partner maybe the most important decision you’ll ever make. • Financial Advice • Investment Solutions • Portfolio Management • Inheritance Tax planning • Regular Financial Reviews

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Call Prosper today on 01257 423800 to arrange your no obligation initial consultation. Prosper Independent Financial Advisers Ltd. Prosper House, 99a High Street, Standish, WN6 0HD Telephone: 01257 423 800 www.prosper-ifa.co.uk

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Christmas Gift Cake Traditionally Christmas cakes are made well in advance but if you haven’t had time try our last-minute version. Because it makes two you can also give one away as a gift, and solve two problems with one recipe! Makes 2 cakes, each serving 8 Preparation time: 30 minutes Cooking time: 1-1¾ hours depending on oven. Ingredients 600g good-quality mixed dried fruits 150ml whisky, warmed 150g stem ginger, drained, plus 8 tbsp ginger syrup from the jar 200g butter, softened, plus extra for greasing 300g plain flour 2 tsp baking powder 2 tsp mixed spice 200g soft light brown sugar 4 large free-range eggs 2 tbsp milk Finely grated zest of 2 small oranges and 2 lemons 50g ground almonds 150g whole glacé cherries

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Earn Extra Ca

Local Life magazine is looking for distributors in your neighbourhood. Successful applicants will typically work for 2-3 hours every eight weeks, delivering Local Life magazines and associated leaflets in their own neighbourhoods. Delivery bags and round maps provided. Applicants must be aged 13+ and be fit, enthusiastic and reliable.

Are you interested? Email your name, address, landline number and your date of birth to

sallyb@locallife247.co.uk

Method Put the dried fruits in a bowl and pour over the whisky. Set aside for 30 minutes to allow the fruit to plump up. Briefly blend the ginger and its syrup in a mini food processor until finely chopped. Preheat the oven to 160°C/fan140°C/gas 3. Grease and line a 20cm square cake tin. Sift the flour, baking powder and mixed spice into a large bowl and add the rest of the ingredients except the cherries. Beat with a hand-held electric whisk for 2 minutes until pale and fluffy. Fold in the soaked dried fruits and any whisky, the blitzed ginger and the cherries. Spoon into the baking tin and level off. Bake for 1-1¾ hours (this depends very much on your oven. My fan oven is super-quick whereas my mother’s aga is slower). If you’re unsure I recommend you check after an hour then every fifteen minutes after that, until the cake is firm and golden brown. To check, insert a skewer into the centre of the cake. If it comes out clean the cake is cooked. You can cover it loosely with foil after 1 hour if the centre needs more time. This prevents the surface darkening too much. Leave in the tin for 10 minutes, and then remove to a wire rack to cool. Remove a thin slice from all sides of the cake and discard. Cut the cake in half to make 2 rectangles. Top with marzipan and white fondant icing and decorate with a sprig of holly.

CMA Accountancy Guide to Self-Assessment

Returns

CMA is not your typical accountancy ﬁrm. We provide the usual services such as annual accounts, payroll services, help with your VAT return and of course the dreaded selfassessment tax returns. We like to get to know our clients and their businesses so that we can offer the best advice available. It’s at this time of year that attention turns to completing self-assessment returns. The deadline for submitting your 2012 return to HMRC is 31 January 2013. Any tax that is due for payment must also be made by this date. So who needs to complete a tax return? The following are the main reasons for completing a return: 1 Anyone who is self-employed; that is they are not employed and pay income tax via PAYE. 2 If you are lucky enough to have savings income above £10,000. 3 If you receive rental income from a property. 4 Company directors must complete a return. 5 You have Capital Gains Tax to pay as you have sold an asset. 6 You have received income from overseas such as pensions that are liable to UK tax. 7 If you’re employed and want to claim for expenses or professional subscriptions. Note - if you want to claim for expenses and subscriptions that are only small (below £2,500), you can write to HMRC and make a claim. You can also go back to the previous 7 years and make a retrospective claim. You must be able to provide full details for these claims.

SPEC

IAL O FFER

If you Decem contact CMA be b your ta r and ask u efore 31st s to co x retur mplete n you discou w charge nt of 25% of ill receive a . To cla our sta ndard mentio im this dis count n the a just r ti cle you co ntact u when s.

Tax Tips of the Month • Working from home – What Expenses Can I Claim - If you spend a significant part of your working week working from home then it is likely you can make a claim for this cost. • If you run a business then employing a spouse or partner can be tax-efficient If you would like to find out more about any of the issues discussed in this article CMA offers a free initial consultation, either at our office or yours, at a time to suit you. If you would like to see how we can help please get in touch. Contact Details Chris Alcock ACMA CMA Accountancy 39 Skull House Lane, Appley Bridge, Wigan, WN6 9DR Tel: 01257 255521 Email info@handsonaccounting.co.uk www.handsonaccounting.co.uk

If you would like some advice and help with completing your tax return then please contact us.

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Saving Money with Martin Lewis

The average cost of running a new car is up to a hefty £6,000 a year, according to the AA. So it’s hardly surprising the cost of motoring is one of the single biggest issues affecting people’s finances today.

earlier, and using road positioning so you brake less and the car can slow down gradually.

Here are 6 quick tips to drive down the cost of motoring.

5. Book holiday car hire EARLY to get it for £10 a day

1. Is your photocard valid? Even though your licence may be valid, you risk a £1,000 fine if the photo is out of date. These need renewing every 10 years and 1.8m are out of date. To find out if yours is one of them, take a look at section 4b on your licence to see the renewal date. If it’s expired renew it ASAP, though it will cost £20 to do.

2. Don’t use a comparison site, use two If you are looking to compare car insurance, make sure you use more than one comparison site. Each comparison site looks at different firms, so visit Gocompare and MoneySupermarket, and then visit Aviva and Direct Line, and Admiral if you’ve more than one car in the home.

3. Avoid hideous young driver insurance costs. The average price for a 17-22 year old male is £3,200, but you can cut £1,000s with the right approach. Try adding a second named responsible driver to lower the risk average. Then do full comparisons on the comparison sites (see point 2). Then check specialist young driver policies that use black boxes to monitor your driving. You can pay per mile with Coverbox, pay how you drive with Co-op and pay less for driving during the day with iKube.

You can also find the cheapest forecourt with www. petrolprices.com and use the top credit cards offering cashback to get 3% back on all fuel spending. Combine these techniques and many regular drivers could save £500+ a year.

Use www.carrentals.co.uk and www.kayak.co.uk comparisons to find the best deals - £10 a day’s sometimes possible. When you pick-up, hire firms will try to flog “excess insurance”, but it’s possible to do it for less than half the cost via www.moneymaxim.co.uk

6. DON’T assume 3rd party insurance is cheapest Bizarrely, the lowest level of cover isn’t always cheapest. Sometimes, comprehensive wins, as choosing it means you’re considered a lower risk and the discount for this sometimes outweighs the discount for getting lesser cover. So if you were going for 3rd party, also get a comprehensive quote as well.

Get Martin’s FREE tips and money-off vouchers emailed directly to you each week by signing up to www.moneysavingexpert.com/tips

Martin Lewis

4. Cut petrol costs by 30%

Martin Lewis, Money Saving Expert, is an awardwinning campaigning TV & radio presenter, newspaper columnist and a best-selling author. An ultra-specialised journalist, focusing on cutting bills without cutting back, he runs and founded the UK’s biggest money site, www.moneysavingexpert.com with 13 million monthly users.

The big trick to learn is how to drive as quickly, but with a technique that means you use less fuel. The key is accelerating less aggressively, moving into a higher gear

Each month, Martin will be writing a feature for Local Life - advising our readers how to save thousands of pounds every year! Don’t miss it!

www.locallife247.co.uk

Please allow room for the Local Life masthead at the top of the image, and ideally a focal point should be slightly off centre to allow room at one side for the text we use on the front cover. Sadly, the budget for these pictures is non-existent but we will obviously credit your efforts if they are successful and we’ll also present you with a framed copy of the magazine! Images should be sent as a separate attachment to editorial@locallife247.co.uk.

EDWARDS Funeral Directors We care for your family at your time of need Holmwood, Dicconson Terrace, Wigan.

Tel: 01942 821215

Images Required! Have you ever fancied showing off your photography skills to a wider audience? Local Life is looking for photographs to use on the front cover of our magazine in 2013. Images must be supplied as a high resolution (minimum size 154 mm x 216 mm @ 300 dpi) jpg file (maximum quality), of a portrait aspect, and must have a local theme.

The UK’s leading funeral director

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Tel: 01695 622099 “Over 125 years of local family tradition”

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Last Boxing Day we loaded up the dogs and set oﬀ on the short drive down the M58 to Lydiate, just north of Maghull, where there was a 4.8 mile walk waiting for us!

Lydiate Let’s face it; we all over-indulge at Christmas, so what about shaking oﬀ a bit of your festive inertia, lacing up your boots and taking part in a Jack’s Tracks walk.

Lydiate is the gateway to the flat Lancashire Plains, and is a place steeped in history, so the walk was both fairly easy and interesting too. The walk is tailored to take you round the more historical parts of the village, so if you’ve got time, explore the ruins of St Catherine’s Chapel and Lydiate Hall, and don’t forget your camera! If you’re running low on sustenance, then call in at the tea rooms/farm shop on the main Southport Road, which is approximately at the half way point of the walk. The New Running Horses at the start/ finish of the walk is quite an attractive pub too.

Lydiate Hall and St Catherine’s Chapel Lydiate Hall was built by as a home for the Ireland family, the Lords of Lydigate, around 1470. The eastern part of the Hall was destroyed in 1780, and only ruins exist today.

St Catherine’s Chapel

Nearby St Catherine’s Chapel, known locally as Lydiate Abbey, was built c.1500 as the Ireland family chapel, but was abandoned in 1550 when King Henry 8th prohibited the practice of Catholicism. The Chapel is now a Grade 2 listed building. Rumour has it that the two buildings are linked by a tunnel, where the local priest hid out when the Dissolution of the Monasteries Act was passed.

Lydiate Hall

Bell’s Lane to Trans Pennine Trail Park up on Bell’s Lane, near the New Running Horses pub. Head away from the canal and at the outside perimeter of the pub’s car park, turn left where it is signposted ‘1/3 mile Green Lane’. Follow the path round the outside perimeter of the field until you reach a bridge over Maghull Brook. Cross the bridge and go straight ahead, heading away from the brook. 350 yards further on, you’ll reach Green Lane. Turn right and follow this country lane for approximately 1/3 of a mile until the road bends sharply to the left. On the right, just before the sharp bend, is a track which is signposted the ‘Trans Pennine Trail’. Take the track, heading towards the 6-bar gate, and 250 yards later, you’ll reach the Trans Pennine Trail, which is often referred to as the Cheshire Lines and is part of the old Liverpool to Southport railway line. Take a right turn towards Southport.

Trans Pennine Trail to Southport Road The flatness of the Lancashire Plains is evident and you’ll be able to see for miles. Look out for the planes landing and taking off from Ince Blundell Airfield near Formby, and also the wind turbines off the coast at Crosby. After walking for approximately one mile you’ll come to the Station Road junction, which consists of a car park and a notice board with information about the Trans Pennine Trail. Carry on in the same direction for a further 550 yards, and turn off the trail at the very next junction. Turn right and head 200 yards towards Acres Lane, hopping over the stile by the gate on the way. Turn left onto Acres Lane, and turn right almost immediately afterwards at the signpost (Southport Rd ¾ mile). Follow the path for approximately 0.4 miles, heading for the wooded area, and then follow the path around the right hand perimeter of the wooded area, which is the grounds of Lydiate Hall, built in the 16th century by the Ireland family, who were Lords of Lydiate at that time. Leaving behind the wooden area, follow the pathway to the busy Southport Road (A5147). If you look to the right just before you reach the end of the path, you’ll clearly see St Catherine’s Chapel, a private chapel for the Ireland family and worth a small diversion if you have the time. (The chapel can be reached via Southport Road).

www.locallife247.co.uk

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Southport Road to Bell’s Lane On reaching Southport Road, turn left and then take the first right down Hall Lane. After 0.2 miles, you’ll see the public footpath to Lollies Bridge signposted clearly on the right. Follow the pathway 100 yards up a slight incline and you’ll come across the gallops of the local equestrian centre. If you’re walking a dog, it’s best to put them on a lead at this point. Hop across the stile and cross the gallops carefully, looking out for horses. Stay to the right hand perimeter as you walk across the field in the centre of the gallops. Cross the stile at the other side of the gallops, again looking out for horses and head towards the practice jumps. Take the clearly marked path on the right hand side of the jumps. After 200 yards you’ll reach a bridge over the canal. Descend the brick steps just before the bridge to the towpath beneath and turn right at the bottom of the steps. Walk approximately 0.9 of a mile and you’re at the finishing point of Bell’s Lane.

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Please ensure you wear appropriate clothing and footwear whilst walking. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the walk is accurate, neither the publisher or its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or other cause.

www.locallife247.co.uk

Santa’s coming down your way! Wigan Rotary Club has once again joined forces with the most famous celebrity in existence to raise money this Christmas! Santa Claus will be joining the group on their Christmas float on their travels throughout the town and also at local supermarkets. Wigan Rotary Club was formed in 1924 and has been the catalyst over the years for such important local projects as the formation of Wigan & Leigh Hospice, Age UK Wigan Borough, and the Life Education Unit. More recent projects include the planting of 1 million daffodil bulbs and several hundred trees, raising over £60,000 for men’s cancer research and hosting its annual Dragons Den event to help local community groups. Venk Mani, Wigan Rotary Club’s President said “We are increasing the number of house to house collections again this year to give more children the opportunity of seeing ‘Santa’ come down their street on his sleigh.’ He continued ‘We are always very grateful for the amount donated by the residents, and I can assure everyone that the money will be used wisely benefitting both local and international charities. ”

Wigan Rotary’s Christmas floats raised a record £10,000 last year, the vast majority of which has been donated throughout this year to local organisations. Local groups to benefit from the hand outs this year included; Standish Over 60’s Welfare Club, The Brick, St Anne’s Church, the Emma Hoolin Appeal, St Wilfrid’s Lads and Girls Brigade, Derian House, Shevington In Bloom and many more. Rotary also donates part of the funds overseas, to help underprivileged youngsters and to fund replacement limbs and cataracts operations. This is the leading fund raiser for the Rotary – please give them as much support as possible. Check the timetable on the right, wrap the kids up warm and go and give Santa a wave! If you are a member of a Wigan-based community group and you’re looking to secure funding for a project or event, then enter Wigan Rotary Club’s Dragon’s Den in 2013. You can get full details and an application form from www.wiganrotaryclub.org.uk or call 07813 471000.

Rotary Club of Wigan

Monday 3rd 6-8pm Poacher/Tan House Drive areas – Winstanley Tuesday 4th 6-8pm Farm Meadow/Naburn Drive areas – Orrell Wednesday 5th 6-8pm Springfield Road/Norfolk Street areas – Gidlow Friday 7th 6-8pm Sandstone Road/Pepperwood Drive areas - Winstanley Saturday 8th 3.30-5.30pm Cressell Park/Broadacre areas – Shevington Moor Saturday 8th 6-8pm Woodnook Road/Newgate Ave areas – Appley Bridge Sunday 9th 3.30-5.30pm Woodhurst Drive/Langham Road areas - Standish Sunday 9th 6-8pm Collingwood Street/Primrose Lane areas - Standish Tuesday 11th 6-8pm Danesway/Swinley Lane areas – Swinley Saturday 15th 3.30-5.30pm Churchfield/The Oval areas – Shevington Saturday 15th 6-8pm Boars Head Ave/Hartington Drive areas - Standish Sunday 16th 6-8pm Copeland Drive/St Wilfrids Road areas - Standish Monday 17th 6-8pm Hodges Street/ Barnsley Street areas - Gidlow Tuesday 18th 6-8pm Mersey Road/Coniston Ave areas - Orrell Friday 21st 6-8pm Elmfield/Longbrook areas – Shevington Sun 23rd 5-8pm Hazelwood/Brookland/Sittingbourne areas – Whitley

Saturday 1st 10am-8pm Sunday 2nd 10am-4pm Thursday 20th 10am-6pm

Monday 10th 10am-8pm Wednesday 12th 10am-8pm Sunday 16th 10am-1pm Monday 17th 10am-5pm Wednesday 19th 10am-8pm

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Christ�as Events Guide Saturday 17th Nov to Sunday 23rd Dec Manchester Christmas Markets

Don your Santa hat, dust off the mulled wine glass, and get into the festive spirit – it’s time to head down to Manchester’s world famous Christmas Markets. No Mancunian winter is complete without a wander through the chalet-lined streets of the markets. This year the market will be celebrating its 13th year and will take over eight different spaces around the city, each with its own distinct character and atmosphere. The array of over 200 stalls is mind-boggling, with mouth-watering delicacies from all over Europe. The choice is getting bigger and bigger and includes gifts, crafts, jewellery, clothes, toys and an array of food and drink. The markets run until Sunday 23rd December. Contact: www.manchestermarkets.com

Thursday 22nd Nov- Monday 24th Dec Chester Victorian Christmas Market

Chester’s Victorian Christmas Market offers a wide range of beautiful ceramics, jewellery, hats, gloves and scarves. Bestselling toys will feature and the festive food offer will include Christmas cakes and puddings, mince pies, cheeses, meats, sweets, ﬁne wines as well as the winter warming treats of mulled wine and hot chestnuts. Move inside to Chester Market for the best local Christmas produce and more excellent gift ideas. Stalls and attractions will remain open to 24th December. Time: 10am – 6pm (Thurs 10am-8pm) Cost: Free Contact: www.christmasmarkets.com

Thursday 29th November Parbold Christmas Shopping Night

This popular annual event runs from 5pm-9pm and attracts shoppers from miles around to enjoy the ambience of this traditional Lancashire village. Most of the businesses are taking part and you can pick up some thoughtful and imaginative gifts for all your family and friends, take advantage of discount vouchers and one-night-only special offers, as well as indulging in some festive fayre! Time 5pm-9pm

Saturday 1st, 8th & 15th December Grassington Dickensian Festival

See the Christmas lights, the village square and the cobbled streets transformed into a traditional Victorian market, as shopkeepers, villagers and even some visitors dress in Victorian costume. Enjoy the musicians, dancers, street entertainers and exhibitions of traditional country crafts. There is no car parking in Grassington, so use the Park and Ride at Swinden Quarry on the B6265 Skipton to Grassington road. Cost: Free, but £8 a car for the Park and Ride Contact: www.grassington.uk.com Sat Nav Ref: BD23 6BE

Saturday/Sunday 1st/2nd & Saturday/ Sunday 8th/9th December Victorian Christmas Weekends

Come to Speke Hall for a true Victorian Christmas experience. Admire the ground ﬂoor of the house decorated for Christmas with greenery and foliage from the Estate. Hear a selection of carols and festive music in the Great Hall, and then treat yourself to some delicious treats from the Restaurant. Event held on Saturday 1st, Sunday 2nd, Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th December. Time: 1pm - 4pm Contact: 0151 427 7231 or visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/spekehall Sat Nav Ref: L24 1XD

Saturday 1st - Wednesday 19th December Delamere Forest - Santa’s Grotto

Visit Santa this Christmas in his magical grotto at Delamere Forest! Take a train ride around the forest on our musical land train. Stay for lunch at our Victorian themed food and drink street, and go home with your amazing Christmas tree for your house. Site is free entry and free parking, though charges for trees and Santa apply. Tree sales are open every day 9am-5pm & late nights Friday 7th & 14th, Santa’s grotto is open weekdays 3-5pm, Fridays until 8pm & weekends 9am-5pm. Contact: www.forestry.gov.uk/delamere Sat Nav Ref: CW8 2JD

Saturday/Sunday 1st/2nd & 8th/9th & 15th/16th December plus 20th to 24th Dec Santa Steam Specials on the East Lancashire Railway

The East Lancashire Railway’s Santa Special is bigger and better with more trains to choose from and a longer steam train journey from Bury to Rawtenstall. Climb aboard and join us on a festive train ride surrounded by the most magniﬁcent winter scenery. Soak up the magical atmosphere as the railway comes alive with hundreds of Christmas trees, twinkling lights and festively decorated carriages. Get into the spirit and join in the carol singing and listen to the brass bands. Meet Santa and his helpers who will be making their way through the carriages to hand out a present to each child and a mince pie and sherry to the adults. Time: 9.30am - 4pm Cost: Child £10.50, 16+ £13.50 Contact: 0161 764 7790 or www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk Sat Nav Ref: BL9 0EY

Sunday 2nd & Sunday 9th December

Sunday 9th December

Step into a winter wonderland and see the Hall near Preston transformed into the magical Narnia. Make the perfect start to the festive season and come and see Father Christmas himself! Entrance to the hall is £3 adults / £1 children. To meet Father Christmas is £6 which includes child’s entrance to the Hall, craft and a gift. The hall is open from 11am to 4pm. Father Christmas is available between 12 and 2pm.

The traditional Lancashire village of Croston will hold their very successful annual Christmas Fair on Sunday 9th December from 1.00pm to 5.15pm. In addition to a Land Train to Santa’s Grotto there will be a street magician and a magic show, brass bands, singers, morris dancing, circus performers, a piper and much more. Children will love the donkeys and dogs while their parents can shop for last minute gifts at the many craft stalls. Food and drink will be provided by stallholders and local hostelries. The event will end with a torchlight procession. Parking available at Bishop Rawstorne School.

Father Christmas at Samlesbury Hall

Contact: 01254 812010 or visit www.samlesburyhall.co.uk Sat Nav Ref: PR5 0UP

Saturday/Sunday 8th/9th & 15th/16th Dec Blakemere Christmas Food & Craft Market

Pick up a festive bargain at the Christmas Market at Blakemere Craft Centre in Northwich. On offer is local food produce, handcrafted gifts and Christmas decorations. Santa’s Grotto will also be open on these days. Enjoy magical snowﬂakes from our snow machine and small carousel rides, hot chestnuts and candyﬂoss. Ride on the Santa Express – the festive land train which runs each Saturday and Sunday up to Christmas, at just £1 per passenger. Time: 10am - 5pm Cost: Free admission to the market. Grotto Tickets: £5.50 per child Contact: 01606 883261 or visit www.visitblakemere.co.uk Sat Nav Ref: CW8 2EB

Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th December Christmas Open Studio Weekend

Glass designer and manufacturer Morpheus Glass hosts a Christmas Open Studio weekend at their base on the Hewitt Industrial Estate in Orrell, near Wigan. Pick up some fantastic hand crafted presents, such as jewellery, sculptures, bowls and coasters. Stock on sale at up to 70% off normal retail prices. Refreshments available too. Time: 10am-4pm Cost: Free

Saturday/Sunday 8th/9th, 15th/16th and 22nd/23rd December Walton Winter Wonderland

A Victorian-style Christmas celebration set in a traditionally decorated cobbled courtyard at Walton Gardens near Warrington. Step back in time and enjoy Christmas as it used to be. There will be entertainers, live music, Christmas markets, Yule log making, festive fayre, nativity scene and of course, Santa in his enchanting grotto. If that wasn’t enough there’s a new queuing system that should half waiting times! Time: 10.30am - 4pm Cost: Free access - Grotto £5 per child with a gift from Santa Contact: 01925 601617 (option 2) or visit www.warrington.gov.uk/waltongardens Sat Nav Ref: WA4 6SN

Saturday/Sunday 8th/9th & 15th/16th Dec Southport Christmas Markets

Come and spend the day at Southport’s Christmas Markets picking up those last minute Christmas gifts from stalls on Chapel Street selling food, toys, jewellery to name but a few. Enjoy the Traditional Entertainment which will consist of choirs and bands. Time: 9am-5pm Saturday & 10am-4pm Sunday Cost: Free Access

www.locallife247.co.uk

Croston Village Christmas Fair

Cost: Free access Contact:www.crostonfestivities.co.uk Sat Nav: PR26 9HH

Monday 10th & Tuesday 11th December Garstang Victorian Christmas Festival

Step back in time with the ancient market town of Garstang’s popular Victorian Festival which is held on Monday and Tuesday evening. The main High Street is closed to trafﬁc and is ﬁlled with thousands of people roaming freely to grab last minute presents and enjoy the atmosphere of the true ‘spirit of Christmas’. The festivities start with children singing and meeting Father Christmas! There is so much going on; many street entertainers, dancers, Punch and Judy, Choirs, Morris Dancers and a Brass Band too! Time: 6pm onwards Contact: 01995 606682 or visit www.garstangchristmas.co.uk Sat Nav Ref: PR3 1FU

Wednesday 12th December Penwortham Christmas Market

Being held on the main street through Penwortham, there will be fairground rides, many Christmas stalls, Father Christmas, Brass Bands, Christmas Carols and lots and lots of community festive spirit. Time: 6pm - 9pm Contact: www.penworthamtowncouncil.gov.uk Sat Nav Ref: PR1 9EQ

Friday 14th December - Sunday 6th January Liverpool Christmas Family Festival

The Liverpool Christmas Family Festival is a magical Christmas festival taking place in The Waterfront Big Top at the Echo Arena. Enjoy a spectacular Christmas Pantomime of Sleeping Beauty and the Christmas experience. There will be a Santa’s Grotto, Christmas Market, a junior Fun House, Funfair Rides and much more. Please pre-book your place via the website or call the number below. Under 14’s must be accompanied by an adult over 18. Festival tickets are £5 and there is an additional charge for some attractions in the Family Festival. Contact: 0844 8000 400 or visit www.echoarena.com Sat Nav Ref: L3 4BB

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your pets Why timely spaying of bitches is very clever? Reproductive cycle of every species has its own characteristics, but female dogs possess a unique feature which unfortunately predisposes them to some genital diseases. Regardless of the fact that whether a bitch becomes pregnant or not following a season, her hormonal background changes to that of pregnancy. A bitch’s ovaries begin to produce the pregnancy hormone Progesterone even before the eggs are released. Thus, by the time this process is complete, a bitch is ‘hormonally’ pregnant even if not physically so. The persistent high levels of Progesterone for up to three weeks after the eggs are released, often leads to thickening of the lining of the womb, getting gradually worse with every new season, leaving the womb prone to bacterial infections. But, the real trouble starts when the Progesterone levels begin to fall. Somehow the natural infection control of the womb becomes weaker and any infection present takes hold pretty quickly and ﬁlls the womb with pus. The bitch starts to produce a dirty bloody discharge and within a few days becomes unwell, loses appetite and shows excessive thirst. The condition is called Pyometra and if left untreated will prove to be fatal. The diagnosis of Pyometra is made by ultrasonic or x-ray means. The patient often needs to be hospitalised for stabilisation. The only effective treatment is a major and delicate surgical procedure involving removing the uterus and ovaries, in principle the same procedure as the routine spay operation but only many times more expensive. In some bitches the trouble starts as the Progesterone levels drop very low, when the levels of the hormone Prolactin begin to rise. In normal pregnancy this hormone would kick in to initiate the process of milk production and enhancement of mothering instincts. It almost does the same in a non-pregnant bitch, with the only difference that no puppies are expected. The results are the well -know ‘false pregnancy’ symptoms: mammary enlargement, adopting of toys as puppies, nesting or even mock

birth and marked aggression is some cases. Severe cases need treatment to help them out the condition, and for mastitis that ensues in some cases.

Spaying can eliminate the possibility of a bitch developing the above described problems. Obviously, it will also eliminate the inconveniences caused by the spotting and urine spraying, undue attention from male dogs during the season and the threat of unwanted pregnancy. But spaying has yet another great advantage: it can prevent the development of mammary tumours, which unfortunately are not uncommon in bitches. As the most common mammary tumours in a bitch are Oestrogen dependent, the best time to spay a bitch is when the mammary glands have not been exposed to oestrogen that is before the ﬁrst season sets in. However, it is never too late to spay. I have carried out surgery on a 12 years old Labrador bitch for Pyometra! Although spaying is a major surgical operation, most vets are comfortable performing this procedure safely. At ‘Sunrise’ our modern anaesthetic systems and surgical protocols coupled with an advanced patient monitoring system makes this procedure pretty safe, but what impresses our clients most is the almost keyholelike surgery, absence of any external sutures and the incredible speed of recovery. If you have any questions or concerns regarding spaying of your pet, please do not hesitate to give us a ring on 01257 463 142.

Dr Shams Mir BVSc&AH,MVSc,DrMedVet,MRCVS Veterinary Surgeon Sunrise Veterinary Surgery 6 The Common Parbold WN8 7DA Tel: 01257 463 142 www.sunrisevets.co.uk

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Win a Christ�as Hamper!

Every Christmas for the past five years Local Life has run a Christmas Hamper competition. This year is no exception, we’re giving our readers the chance to win one of three luxury Christmas Hampers! Each Christmas Hamper will be filled to the brim with luxury produce and much of this produce is made in Lancashire. Our main supplier is our local farm shop, Windy Arbour Farm Shop in Billinge, which is located just down the road from our offices in Orrell. Windy Arbour Farm Shop carries a great range of tasty local and regional produce, particularly in the run up to Christmas, and the service there is second to none. For more details about their store, visit their website www.windy-arbour. co.uk. We would like to thank Windy Arbour for supplying these goods at cost price. The finished contents of the hamper was still being finalized as we went to press in mid November, but we can tell you that each hamper will include Christmas cake, chocolates, mince pies, cheese, shortbread, wine, real ale, nuts, sweets and lots more besides! The goods are packaged in an attractive and sturdy wicker basket and expertly wrapped in cellophane and ribbons. Even if you’re not a ‘foodie’, these hampers would make a wonderful present for someone special in your life. Each hamper is full of luxury items and will bring a little extra to their Christmas. To win one of these three Christmas hampers, simply complete the Christmas Carol Crossword on the right and return your entry to; Local Life 247 Ltd, Unit 8 - Hewitt Business Park, Winstanley Road, Orrell, Nr Wigan WN5 7XB. Or email the answers along with your name and contact number to crossword@locallife247. co.uk. Your entry must be with us by midnight on Thursday 6th December 2012, and the lucky competition winners will be presented with their prizes on the weekend of 8/9th December. Good luck - and a happy Christmas to all!

Picture for illustrative purposes only

ď&#x20AC;Ł Across

Down

5. O Little Town of _ 6. Silent _ 7. Ding _ Merrily on High 10. Once in Royal _ City

1. 2. 3. 4. 8. 9.

Name .............................................................................

Away in a _ Hark, The Herald _ Sing We Three Kings of _ Are Whilst _ Watched Their Flocks _ King Wenceslas The Holly and the _

Crossword Competition Rules 1. Only one entry per household

Address .........................................................................

2. Entrants must be over 16 years of age

........................................................................................

4. Local Life 247 Ltd cannot accept responsibility for entries that are delayed or damaged in the post.

............................... Post Code .....................................

5. Employees of Local Life 247 Ltd or their immediate relatives are not eligible to enter this competition.

Phone ............................................................................ Email .............................................................................

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3. The winners will be notiďŹ ed within 14 days of the closing date.

Local Life 247 Ltd is registered under the Data Protection Act and abides by the guidelines of the act. We will never sell or pass your data to any third party company. However, we would like to contact you occasionally by email with news of great local offers and also to check our magazine distribution in your area. If this is acceptable to you, please tick this box.

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.

Call her now for your free consultation! Award Winner

My Christmas wish list... To enjoy your garden at this time of year it pays off to have put a bit of thought into it during the year, for example: Planting – achieve the right balance of planting between summer and winter plants so that you still have plenty of structure and interest during December, foliage and flowers Good design – your garden should invite you outside – even when the temperature drops. A good design will make you want to go outside to explore it on sunny winter days Good structure - low evergreen hedging can add a crisp finish to a garden layout which really comes into its own during winter months. Try Buxus sempervirens (Box) or Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’ Lighting – it is crucial to get the lighting right. You want just enough light to guide you to your seating area and then some subtle up lighting of plants. And in December of course, some fairy lights! Heating – whilst I’m not a fan of patio heaters, a fire pit can really add warmth whilst enjoying your glass of mulled wine outside

Turning my thoughts now to Christmas, Hubby always says I am difficult to buy for and he never knows what to get - so I thought I would publish my wish list - Hubby take note: Perfume, any books on the subject of gardening or vegetable growing, earrings - in fact any jewellery would be gratefully received, champagne (I love fizz), a surprise trip to David Austin’s Rose nursery next summer - in fact a surprise trip anywhere would be lovely, a CD by Michael Buble, some new pjs for cosy winter evenings, a box of After Eight chocolates - in fact any chocolate would be nice. Shall I go on? Difficult to buy for - I don’t think so! On a final note, I would just like to wish all my clients, past and present, and all readers of Chris’s wonderful Local Life magazines, a lovely and joyous Christmas and a very happy New Year. Author: 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

Broken Mower? Treat your mower to a service! * We’ll sharpen & balance your mower blades * We’ll change your mower’s oil, air filter & spark plugs * We’ll check your mower’s motor & cables * We’ll even clean your mower too!

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DACIA DUSTED

The Dacia Duster looks to herald a new front in bargain motoring. Jonathan Crouch drives the 1.5 dCi diesel 4x4 version. The Dacia Duster does something extremely clever. It forces you to reassess what exactly is really necessary in modern cars and pares the frills back accordingly. Rummage down the back of the sofa for some money and join the queue. Romanian maker Dacia is no newbie to car building, having since 1966 been turning out cars which were usually versions of older Renault models. The Duster SUV is a little different and comes to market with Renault power but an identity all of its own and prices of at least 25% less than obvious rivals. Entry-level Duster model prices are based around the provision of a breathless 105bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine. Most UK buyers though, will give this variant little more than a cursory glance on their way to sign up for the inďŹ nitely preferable 110bhp 1.5-litre dCi diesel we tried. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all the difference in the world between petrol

and diesel options, since for dCi buyers, pulling power rises by fully 60% from 148 to 240Nm. As for handling, the general market consensus is that this Duster has the sort of ride/handling compromise that would shame rivals many thousands of pounds more expensive.

2WD is standard fare unless you pay an all-wheel drive premium for a variant like the one we tried. The extra cash gets you an impressive Nissan-engineered threemode system (2WD, Auto and Lock), Most customers will doubtless be drawn to the upper specification models, but I think the car looks its very best when finished in basic Alpine white and rocking a set of sixteen inch steel wheels. Yes, there’s a bit of inverted snob appeal at work, but it’s cool. There’s no escaping that fact. So let’s get down to the nuts and bolts of the value proposition and the almost unbelievable sticker price of around £9,000. This price actually applies to the stripped-out ‘Access’-trimmed petrol model that doesn’t even have a stereo. For diesel power in your Duster, you’ll need at least to stretch to mid-range ‘ambiance’ trim, for which you’ll need a budget of around £12,000. If you want the 4WD system we tested, you’ll need to find a further £2,000 on top of that. Most buyers choose to find the £1,500 premium to go from ‘Ambiance’ to topspec ‘Laureate’ trim, because the latter comes with air conditioning, as well as niceties like alloy wheel, bodycoloured mirrors and door handles and a trip computer. The Duster doesn’t cost a lot to buy and neither does it cost a whole hill of beans to run. The combined fuel economy figure for this 4x4 diesel variant is 53.3mpg, around 3mpg less than the 2WD version. The CO2 showing is 137g/km. By driving the prices far lower than the competition, Dacia also effectively pops a cap on depreciation. It’ll also help that there also seems to be quite the queue building for these cars, so demand looks as if it will maintain at a healthy level for decent used stock. The Dacia Duster is, on the face of it, a refreshing piece of no-nonsense product design that should be welcomed with open arms. It has changed the way new cars are marketed in the UK. That’s the headline position at any rate. Behind that attention-grabbing price though, you’ll find a little bit of sly up-selling. Dacia knows that almost every customer will want air conditioning, which instantly forces them into the range-topping car. Suddenly that car you thought was going to retail for chump change becomes a more serious financial commitment. Specify an extended warranty, stability control and metallic paint and you could be looking at well over £16,000. Mind you, that’s still £3,500 cheaper than an equivalent Skoda Yeti and a whopping £8,000 less than the (admittedly more powerful) Nissan Qashqai. So yes, the Duster is still a massive bargain, but just make sure you’ve done your homework as to what you want and what you need. Go in with your eyes open and you’ll never be disappointed.

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Motoring L L ANDERTON S�ho�� Mot��n� Xmas & Birthday gift vouchers now available Lessons from just £12.50 per hour Professional, friendly driving tuition “Call now, Drive tomorrow”

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Driving School • Friendly & Professional • DSA Approved Instructor • Lesson Diagrams on iPad • Based in Orrell

Call Fergal on: 01942 204036 or 07963 380298 www.fastpass-driving-school.co.uk

2 SHINE

PROFESSIONAL VALETING

£5 off - Mini Valet

Includes full wash, thorough interior vacuum, door shuts and interior plastic cleaned and dressed, windows cleaned inside and out, tyres dressed, wax rinsed for protection, rain repellent for exterior windows, air freshener. Usual price £20 – now £15 on production of this voucher

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we make it our business to help yours

Professional quality mobile paintwork repairs at a fraction of traditional body shop costs l Quick l Convenient

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• • • •

Re-upholstery Repair Large range of materials to choose from Domestic & Commercial work undertaken

Master Upholsterer with over 30 years experience Unit 7, Hewitt Business Park, Winstanley Road, Orrell, WN5 7XB

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L.J Telecom Services Ltd business and residential

• Business Telephone Systems • Voip & Structured Cabling • Residential Extns, • Faults & Gen Enq

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www.LJTelecomServices.com 68

r u o y l o o C ry! o t a v r e s con We supply high quality roof vents to fit every conservatory roof

We can fit your new roof vent for just £295

Fix my conservatory!

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Give us a call and reclaim your conservatory

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e-mail: conservatoryrepairs@googlemail.com

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All electrical work undertaken • Rewire specialists • Extra sockets & lights fitted • Mains board upgrades • Free quotations 11 Calton Close, Highfield

A.J.S.

BAILEYS ELECTRICAL

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telephone

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pride in the job

Stuart Calland • Plastering & Coving • Bathrooms & Tiling • Decorating & Plumbing • Insurance Work undertaken • Full House Refurbishments

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Why move, when you can improve? We offer you a complete solution to your building needs!

• • • • • • • •

Extensions Conservatories Garage conversions Full refurbishments Kitchen and Bathrooms Plans drawn and submitted Windows and doors Full plumbing and electrical services available

d & guaranteed All work fully insure References available ificates provided Gas & electrical cert

Wirral Drive, Winstanley Call - 01942 216735 or 07725 909 257 72

Bespoke Carpentry & Construction Services Loft Conversions Handcrafted Furniture Built in Storage Solutions French Polishing Plastering & Tiling Plumbing Kitchen Build & Design Fully Qualified Technicians For your free quotation please call:

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Oaks

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Lady Decorator

Professional Interior Decorating Service Reduced rates for Pensioners Clean, tidy and conscientious Tel: 01942 366996 or 07962 422856

Just Imagine

Decorating - Interior Design - Soft Furnishings

H AT E D E C O R AT I N G ? We don’t - we enjoy it so much that we make a living out of it! We are a husband and wife team, CRB cleared with references available. Awarded a Certificate of Excellence by Wigan Council Trading Standards

Need a new look for your home?

Skilled interior and exterior work undertaken at reasonable prices! Chris Smith - Painter and Decorator

01942 518126 or 07545 065119 Orrell based business

• City & Guilds Qualified • Plastering services available • Competitive Rates • Fully Insured

Call Alice or Neil on 01942 740232 or 07810 753062

Peter Pennington

Painter & Decorator 30 years experience City & Guilds qualified Call: 01942 226 408 or 07746 463 073

INSTALLATION, SERVICE & REPAIR

BOILERS, COOKERS & FIRES

Installations, Servicing and Repairs Combi Boiler Specialist Central Heating Upgrades Approved British Gas contractor 230775

263 Mossy Lea Road, Wrightington Tel: 01257 422992 or 07921 296693 www.heskinplumbingandheating.com

If you need a new heating system or replacement boiler, call the installation specialists now for a free quote!

C &D

Plumbing and Heating

Heating & Bathroom Specialist Chris Heaton M.I.P.H.E.R.P 07973714222 01695625171

Our friendly family company has been serving the Lancashire area for over 25 years. For more details on our services please visit www.fgwelch.co.uk Our other services include; i Annual servicing i Landlord Gas safety checks i Home efficiency upgrades i System power flushing i All general plumbing

WE REPAIR ALL MAKES OF BOILERS!

Awarded winner of the Good trader scheme, for consistently high standards of customer feedback 2011

Telephone:

01257 421 660 Registration No.

88604

TEL:

MOB:

01942 504 429 07931 766 684

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First Class Workmanship • All types of re-roofs • Strip & re-slate or re-tile • Built up felt/flat roofs, dormers etc. • Insurance work undertaken • Roofline uPVC fascias, soffits & guttering

Newman ROOFING & REPAIRS

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MOBILE: 07774 943 837 17 BEECH TREE AVENUE APPLEY BRIDGE

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�n��r�

The photograph in Puzzle Corner is of Station Road, Parbold

Jobs Domestic Cleaners Required – All Areas Growing company requires cleaning staff for immediate start. You must be honest and reliable, and all references supplied will be checked. The job offers flexible hours to suit your lifestyle and good rates of pay for the right candidate. For details call Stephen on 0800 043 0722 or 01942 203442. Sales Executive Required Local Life requires a Media Sales Executive to develop sales in the Wigan, St Helens and West Lancashire areas. The successful candidate will ideally have sales and marketing experience, an excellent command of the English language, be computer literate and be committed to building long term relationships with new and existing customers. We can offer the right person a position within a growing company, good rates of pay, unlimited commission and a mileage allowance. The position involves working from our offices in Orrell. If you’re interested, email your CV to chrisp@locallife247.co.uk by 8th December 2012. Distributors Required Local Life requires distributors (13+) for the Gathurst Lane area of Shevington and the Wigan Lower Rd/Giants Hall area of Standish Lower Ground. Distributors will typically work for 2/3 hours every 8 weeks, delivering the magazine and associated leaflets in their own neighbourhoods. You must be fit, enthusiastic and reliable, Please email your name, address, landline number and date of birth to sallyb@ locallife247.co.uk.

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Useful Numbers

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Councils and Councillors (Wigan) Wigan Council 01942 244991 Wigan Council (out of hours) 01942 404040 Cllr Collins (Shevington) 01942 487684 Cllr Crosby (Shevington) 01942 486860 Cllr Edwardson (Shevington) 01942 487674 Cllr Gareth Fairhurst (Standish) 01942 487671 Cllr George Fairhurst (Standish) 01257 407078 Cllr McGurrin (Standish) 01942 486861 Cllr Davies (Wigan Central) 01942 486864 Cllr Hunt (Wigan Central) 07766 478296 Cllr McLoughlin (Wigan Central) 01942 487686

Councils and Councillors (West Lancs) West Lancs Council 01695 577177 Cllr Pope (Newburgh) 01704 894540 Cllr Blake (Parbold) 01257 463636 Cllr Kean (Parbold) 01695 633396 Cllr Baybutt (Wrighâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ton & App. Bridge) 01257 255501 Cllr Evans (Wrighâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ton & App. Bridge) 01695 624683 Local Life Magazine Advertising & Editorial Accounts & Distribution

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For Roofing & Roofline we’ve got it covered! Roofing Emergency repairs General maintenance Full re-roofs Strip and re-slate Flat/pitched roof conversions Installation of Velux windows Roofline Fascias Soffits Cladding Gutters including Seamless Aluminium Gutters

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Protec Roofing is a long established roofing company that serves domestic and commercial customers throughout the North West. Whatever your roofing requirements are, from emergency roofing repairs to new roofs to roofline, Protec Roofing are there to help you. We promise our customers; • No emergency call out fees • Emergency repairs done asap • Free consultation & estimates • Day and evening appointments • Free advice from experienced roofers • A 10 year insurance-backed guarantee If you’re thinking of improving the appearance of your property by installing new roofline, please give us a call. We can supply and fit a huge range of quality products including our revolutionary new aluminium seamless gutters. Because when it comes to roofs, we’ve got it all covered!

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