Light for Life
Courier The WIGAN
John’s letter of hope Switch on
December 1st See our advert on page 12
WHEN A YOUNG boy who had just started St. Maries Primary school was knocked down many years ago who would have thought he would have grown up to become one of the strongest and caring people you know. John Fowler, 33, from Standish was four and a half and had just had his first week at school when he was knocked down in the street and rushed to Manchester
Hospital were he spent 6 weeks on a life support machine.
The doctors and nurses battled to save John but his parents were warned that he
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may not make it, let alone walk or talk again. But this small courageous boy had other ideas and beat all the odds to become a 33 year old grown man who loves to volunteer and helps anyone he comes across. Once John had left hospital he began his schooling again at Mere Oakes on Wigan Lane and furthered his education at Portland College, Residential Nottingham were he studied life skills, maths and english. He also made a lot of good friends, joined the college club ‘The Rec’ and has keeps
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in touch with some of his former class mates via social media. When John was recovering he wrote a letter which he called ‘My Life’ about how he felt and that he was going to defy the doctors and get back up again. Along with his mum Linda, dad John and three sisters giving him the help he needed to rehabilitate he has become very good friends with Christine Williams and six years ago after meeting at a volunteering job they became walking buddies. Christine and John take off walking every Friday and walk miles and enjoy a good chat on the way. John said: “Sometimes we get lost” but he blames Christine and they have a good giggle about it. On their walking day they sometimes stop off at the Orchid Rooms Cafe on Wigan Lane next to the hospital where a lot of people who are visiting sick relatives and friends go for a coffee and a break, Johns letter now has pride of place on the counter as he wants people to be inspired by it and know that you can get stronger and better just don’t give up. The Orchid Room say that a lot of people read it and go out feeling a lot better and it is always being photographed. When John was five his left arm was permanently spastosis and he used to drag his right leg so his dad started to take him to Standish High School running track to get
more mobility in the the arm and right leg. The stronger John got after being told he may not walk or talk again his parents bought him some indoor bowling bowls and this again was to help his mobility in his arm. He found that he enjoyed bowling and when at Portland College, Nottingham he was watched by a bowling scout and asked if he was interested in joining England CP team as a junior. John then went onto bowl all over the Country with the team and represented England in a 32 Country competition at Nottingham and then went on to travel to Adelaide, Australia and then to South Africa. John now enjoys bowling at St. Marie’s Bowling Club and helping other disabled bowlers. John has volunteered in many places including Wigan and Leigh Hospice Shop in Standish, Living without Sight also in Standish and the Queens Hall in Wigan. Christine said: “John is my hero, he has come so far and has inspired so many people with his attitude to life now. The letter has brought tears to many peoples eyes but John is one of the most determined and strongest people I have had the pleasure to meet.” Johns dad said: “His recovery is down to John’s determination and belief and never giving up.” Our picture shows Christine and John with the letter he wrote.
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Courier
Councillors fund life-saving defibrillator for Woodfield
COUNCILLORS for Wigan Central ward have funded through their ‘Brighter Borough’ a life saving Defibrillator for Woodfield Primary School at Whitley.
said: “When my colleagues and I were invited to the school to be asked on the funding, straight away we said YES, having a Defibrillator in schools is top priority - it is an insurance for our pupils, staff and residents living nearby.” “I would also like to say thank you to the NHS through the ambulance service and the
council in providing the programme of CPR training in our schools and work places, the programme builds confidence for everyone.”. Colleague councillor Lawrence Hunt said: “We are delighted to fund this important Defibrillator for the school, and hopefully the programme can be put on the education
curriculum for all.” Julie Charnley, Head Teacher for the school said: “We would like to say a big thank you to our three ward councillors for this funding.” Our picture above shows staff and pupils from the school with their three ward councillors.
Bowlers warmed by Brighter Borough Councillor George Davies
WIGAN Bowling club members won’t be feeling the chill this winter after financial help for new central heating was given to them by Wigan Central councillors George Davies, Mike McLoughlin and Lawrence Hunt.
The councillors gave the club £1,500 from their Brighter Borough Funding to make the installation happen. Bowling Club Secretary Tommy Halsall said: “We really would like to thank our three ward councillors for “The Brighter Borough’ funding which has helped towards the cost of our new central heating system.” “We are still updating the club, and in the near future there will be new curtains, a new wooden floor and reupholstering in the lounge. We are hoping to bring in more younger bowlers in the future.” The lounge, overlooking the green, is available for hire
and is capable of catering for up to ninety people, making it suitable for a wide range of functions including family celebrations and club outings. The bar offers quality ales from the famous Marstons & Sam Smiths Brewery. An upstairs room is eminently suitable for small formal business meetings and there are disabled toilet facilities downstairs. The club also has large screen television used mainly to view sporting events , a full size snooker table, darts, dominoes and chess.
The club is in a great Wigan central location with free parking. To book the function room please call 01942 243823 or go to the club website for further information www.subbyclub.com Our picture shows (left to right) Councillor Michael McLoughlin, President Peter Benson, Councillor George Davies, Secretary Tom Halsall, Director Malcolm Preston and Councillor Lawrence Hunt.
Aspull Coffee Stop
FOR those who have dropped kids off at school, those ready to do their shopping or simply those just passing through the village, Aspull Community Coffee
Conveniently situated Stop is open every Monday morning, near the fingerpost on from 8.45 a.m. till Wigan Road, the Coffee Stop also collects items 11.00 a.m. There’s a welcome for anyone to come and enjoy a good chat, good company and free tea, coffee and toast.
for The Brick, such as food and toiletries. If you want more information, contact Denise on 01942 257732.
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Courier
Council support for Poppy Appeal
BIN WAGONS and council other vehicles in Wigan borough showed support for this year’s Poppy Appeal.
Wigan Council backed the Poppy Appeal by having stickers on its vehicles showing a poppy and the wording ‘Wigan Remembers’.
The sticker was placed on the council’s fleet of 48 bin wagons, its welfare buses, highways vehicles, road sweepers and building services vehicles. The public display of support was the idea of
the council’s fleet driving standards officer Gary Jones who is a military veteran. The stickers were designed and produced by Wigan Council’s Sign Shop. The move was backed by Wigan’s Royal British Legion branch. Councillor Paul Kenny, Wigan Council’s cabinet member for the armed forces, said: “Our vehicles are very visible to the public so it’s a great idea to use them to show our support for the Poppy Appeal. “As a council we are committed to honouring and supporting those who are serving or who have served for our country in the world wars and in
recent conflicts and duties. “The Poppy Appeal is a hugely important cause and we are sure that the public of the borough will once again get fully behind it.” Gillian Gibson, from the Wigan community Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal, said: “On behalf of the RBL we would like to congratulate Wigan Council on their commitment to the RBL Poppy Appeal supporting us by having poppies on fleet vehicles and placing collecting boxes across the council. “I’m sure the 2015 campaign, which ran from Saturday 24th October until Saturday 7th
November will be highly successful.” Staff across the council also used their volunteer days to support this year’s Poppy Appeal campaign. Wigan Council worked with partners in the public and private sector to strengthen the support for the armed forces in the community through the promotion of the armed forces covenant. The council also played a leading role in shaping services to match the needs of serving and former armed forces personnel through a new armed forces hub. Our picture above shows Council staff with the vehicles and poppy stickers.
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OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD 2015
We are collecting shoeboxes again this year to include: toys, educational supplies, hygiene items, sweets, gloves, scarfs, sunglasses, caps, bangles, necklaces etc - £3.00 per box Shoeboxes can be brought to Standish Methodist Church, High Street, Standish Thursday 5th November until Wednesday 2nd December 2015 The Church will be open Monday to Friday 10.00 p.m. - 5.00 p.m. For anymore information or leaflets please contact
JOAN SCHOFIELD on 01257 473548
Leaflets are available from Standish Library, Standish Community Centre, Rainbow on High Street, Charity Shop on Market Street and St. Wilfrid’s Church Hall.
St Wilfrid’s Standish
A STUNNING new altar frontal has been unveiled at St Wilfrid’s Parish Church in Standish. The frontal was commissioned and donated by long-standing church members Margaret and Gordon Bibby, pictured, to celebrate the couple’s Ruby Wedding Anniversary.
The frontal, which will be used at various Church Festivals throughout the year, was dedicated during the Harvest Service on September 26th. The designer, Juliet Hemingray, based her ideas and colour scheme around the images in the Grade 1 listed Church’s East window.
All Saints Appley Bridge
HARVEST Supper – A big thank you to all those who gave so generously to the All Saints Appley Bridge Harvest Appeal, which has raised a superb total of £1967.15 including Gift Aid for Mercy Rescue Mission in Kenya. EVERY Tuesday night during Advent on 1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd December, The Rev. John Mountain and Reader Diane Green will be leading night prayer (Compline) at All Saints’ Church, Appley Bridge, between 8pm and 8.30pm. Compline is a short and lovely liturgical style of prayer, with a focus on peace at the end of the day. These Advent prayers are part of our response to this year’s All Saints watchword “Pray all the time.” Please come and enjoy peaceful prayer at this busy time of year. Dates for the Diary: 29th
November – Connect Service with Guest Speaker Kat Witham 6th December – Christingle Service 4pm in School. 13th December CFK (Junior Church) doing Christmas Presentation and Party. 20th December – Carols by Candle Light6.30pm. Early Morning Prayer every Thursday 7 – 8 am at All Saints’ Church. All welcome. Contact John Mountain. GFS is for girls aged seven years and over. It is held every Friday 7 – 8.30 pm. Come and join whenever you can. Tel. 251411 or 255531 for more details. Church for Kids (CFK) (previously Junior Church) meets on 1st and 3rd Sundays each month. Contact is Cath Rainford on tel. 01257 251002. There is a children’s area at the back of church for your use in every service.
St Andrew’s Springfield
ST ANDREW’S will be hosting its CHRISTMAS FAYRE on Saturday November 14th from 10 am - 4 pm, in the church and the parish centre.
CHRISTMAS CHARITY
QUIZ NIGHT For Derian House and Hindley Church Lads and Girls Brigade Dan’s favourite charities
60, Only £110.00 per team: First prize £6 40.00, Third prize £2 25.00, Second prize £4 plus spot prizes and drinks. FREE food for all teams
Fun starts 9 p.m. THURSDAY 10TH DECEMBER, 2015
Stalls will include books, groceries, Gift Bag tombola, Santa’s Grotto, The Memory Tree, The Wheel of Fortune, Crafted Cards, Nail Art, Knitted novelties, Hand-made jewellery, Derian House promotional goods & cards,
Hand-crafted wooden pens & wooden ornaments/decorations, Kitchenalia, Raffles, Home-made Jams and Marmalades, Homemade cakes & biscuits, Toys & dolls, Baby knitwear. Visitors may also like to visit our train display starring Thomas the Tank Engine and you can refresh yourself in the cafe at the
Parish Centre, where there will be more stalls, selling cakes and sweets, hotdogs, crisps and sandwiches and a nice cup of tea or coffee and juice.
Baby changing, disabled and toilet facilities are available. If you have any craft items, unwanted gifts, bottles or groceries you would like to donate for us to sell, please contact one of the team or bring to church.
OUR OPENING meeting of the autumn was a lovely Eucharist service conducted by the Reverend David. Gwyneth Jones invited us to “Come inside Indonesia” and with her excellent talk and slide show we were transported there. Having spent almost fifty years doing missionary work in that country she had a wealth of knowledge and anecdotes, which she delivered in an interesting and captivating way. The fund raising soup and sandwich lunch was enjoyed by all who attended and was a wonderful time for fellowship. It was a little disappointing that it wasn’t better attended but we still managed to make £57, £27 of which will go into M.U. funds whilst the remainder will be sent to the M.U. ‘Wheels Appeal’. This is a fund that finances M.U. workers in areas of the world with the means of transport, thus enabling them to visit people in some larger areas of often remote countryside to administer their good works. Kath Drury has knitted, and Sharon’s mum, Lena Rothwell stitched, over 100 teddies for ‘Teddies for Tragedies’, a charity that supplies these toys to children who are touched by adversity worldwide. These toys give children comfort in their hour of need. Please see Marjorie Holt if you would like to buy one of these teddies, they cost £3 each and some
of the money will be used to buy more materials for more teddies to be made whilst the rest will be used to send abroad the ‘Christmas Shoe Boxes’ (run by this same charity). As a charity ourselves we cannot, by law, donate money to another charity, so this event is being run outside of our M.U. although by ladies who are M.U. members. We can however donate goods to other charities and so we are appealing to all members of this parish to save shoe boxes and if possible cover them with Christmas paper for our donation of the same to the above charity. We would also appreciate items to fill the boxes (or fill your own) with toys (but no toy guns, knives etc;) toiletries, hats, mittens/gloves, writing/colouring materials, non-violent games etc I thank you in advance for your kind generosity. Dates to look forward to: Saturday 14th November: Parish Craft and Gift Fayre from 10am to 3pm. If any of our members could bake cakes for this event they would be greatly appreciated and can be brought to the Parish Centre on the morning of the ‘Fayre.’ 18th November Mothers’ Union Speaker, Kath Bill will tell us about the ‘The Life and Times of a social Worker’. Kath is a lovely, humorous lady so I’m sure we will all enjoy and learn from her talk.
Marjorie Holt
St Anne’s Shevington
ST ANNE’S will host A Concert for Christmas with Wigan Youth Brass Band and Wigan Schools Intermediate Brass Band in the Church on Friday 11 December starting at 7.30pm. Tickets are £5.00.
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Community Services company to recruit in Wigan
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Courier
NORTH WEST Community Services was established in 1986 to provide high quality person centred services to enable disabled people to live in our Wigan community.
Over the years we have built our reputation on delivering personalised care and support which is safe, caring and responsive to the needs of the people we support. As a home care provider we are registered with the Care Quality Commission who regulate and inspect the services we provide.
We have been delivering our services across Wigan and Lancashire for more than 10 years, working in partnership with both Wigan Council and Lancashire County Council. We specialise in providing a wide range of care and support services to a diverse group of disabled people, including people with complex needs who require 24 hour support. As demand for services has continued to grow the company has recently opened a new office in Standish to support our expansion. And now the firm is looking to recruit support workers across Wigan and Lancashire to join the staff team. A spokesperson told the Courier: “We are keen to employ people who have a real commitment and passion to support disabled people to maximise their independence.
THE WIGAN COURIER - WIGAN’S ONLY FREE NEWSPAPER THAT COVERS LOCAL SPORT
“We recruit people from a verity of backgrounds, with different skills and interests and match them to the people they will be supporting. If you want real job satisfaction and would like to make a real difference to someone life this could be the career for you. “Experience of working with disabled people is desirable but not essential as we provide a full induction training programme for all employees, regular supervision and on-going training to support our employees’ continuous professional development. “We encourage career progression within the company giving staff developmental opportunities to gain skills and qualifications that will enable them to can apply for more senior roles within the company when vacancies arise. “At North West Community Services we recognise that our employees are our most valuable asset when it comes to delivering high quality services to the people we support. We are proud to have achieved our Investors in People Award, which is a mark of excellence for good practice in training and development. An enhanced DBS disclosure will be required for this position. For further information visit the website www.northwestcommunityservices.co. uk or call 01257 448618. Our picture shows Wayne HurstService Manager, Emma Davies, Service Co-Ordinator, Rob Barkley, Service Co-Ordinator and Emma Wilkinson, Senior Support Worker.
Moved house? Make sure you’re registered to vote
CHANGING bank, driving licence and utility bills are all obvious things to do when it comes to moving house. But it is easy to forget to change your details on the electoral register at the same time.
Homeowners are being urged to update their details as part of the annual canvass ahead of the electoral roll being published on 1st December. The warning also extends to those who have changed their name in the last 12 months. Those who have not yet returned their form or updated the property details are currently being visited by inspectors to remind them to return their details. The way voter registration works has changed so that everyone must register
their details individually. There are concerns that those who have moved house since they last registered may be registered at the wrong address – or no longer registered at all. Councillor Terry Halliwell, portfolio holder for customer transformation at Wigan Council, said: “In the hectic whirl which comes with moving house it is easy to forget about details like being registered to vote. “Our annual canvass is an important time for us to make sure as many residents as possible are signed up to vote and you can still return your details up to 30th November easily online.” More information is available online www.wigan.gov.uk/Council/Votinga n d - E l e c t i o n s / Vo t i n g - a n d Elections.aspx
St Andrews night celebrations
MEMBERS of The Thistle Society, Wigan are looking forward to a special event in their calendar – their annual St. Andrew’s Night Celebrations.
This will be held on Monday 30th November 2015 at St. Teresa’s Church Hall, College Road, Upholland, Wigan.
There will be Scottish Country Dancing, and easy ceilidh dancing with a caller. Frank Park will be entertaining us with his fiddle and Josie Bretherton with her singing. There will be haggis and neeps, oatcakes and punch for refreshments. There are bar facilities and a quiz for anyone wanting to have a go. Everyone is very welcome to this happy occasion. For more information just ring the secretary 01942.861539 or 01942.247403, or just come along and pay £2 at the door.
Methodist Christmas market
WN8 OPY at 7.30pm.
STANDISH Methodist Church’s Christmas Market takes place in the Chrush Hall on the High Street on Saturday 28th November, from 10am to 12-30pm.
An excellent selection of market stalls will include Chocolate, Gifts, Books, Homemade Goods, Homemade Cakes, a Tombola and a Raffle stall.
Market-goers will be able to sample a light lunch, the Prospect Brass Band will be playing Christmas Carols, and young children will be delighted to know that Santa will be present as well! We look forward to seeing you there.
New members wanted for Art Group
THE Art Group meet on a Wednesday evening at 700pm at the Standish Community Centre, Moody Street, Standish and are wanting to welcome new members. You can call the Community Centre on 01257 421048 for further details.
You can also get in touch with the Centre to see what else is going on. They have a full listing of clubs, events etc going on regularly and also have rooms to hire for events. The Centre has recently been awarded with a 5 for the Food Hygiene Rating.
Join a warm and friendly group near you today.....
NEW MORNING GROUP OPENING Tuesday 5th January 2016 at 9.30 a.m. Shevington Methodist Church, Gathurst Lane, Shevington also other groups here on Tuesdays at 3.30, 5.00 and 7.00 p.m.
STANDISH Standish High School, International Language Centre Groups on Wednesdays at 5.30 and 7.00 p.m. For further information or to book a place
morning group contact Barbara by phone or text on 01695 731343 or 07896086141
on the
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St Michael’s players set for some feline fun
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Barbaras of Standish Remembers
ASPULL AND Whelley volunteers have set up a new community group to look after the environment.
The newly-formed Aspull and Whelley In Bloom is made up of local volunteers, Aspull churches network, Friends of Whelley Loop Line, the women’s centre on Haigh Road, local councillors and is supported by Wigan Council.
Despite the foggy weather conditions the group took part in their first litter pick on Monday 2nd November from Aspull Methodist Church. The group have set short-term and long-terms goals to improve the area which include tackling an area of overgrown land on Haigh Road. They are hoping to also involve local primary schools in the team. The group were formed at a session in August, organised by Wigan Council, to raise awareness of The Deal which encourages more people to get involved in their community. The Deal has been visiting neighbourhoods for the last year showing people how they can help the council look after where they live. Gill Sharp, minister at Aspull Methodist Church, offered the venue to host the litter picks and is looking forward to people coming together to look after where they live. Gill said: “I was invited to a planning meeting with the council earlier this year when The Deal was coming to Aspull and I didn’t know
much about it. Aspull in Bloom came about because of that week and because we wanted to get involved with the community. We’ve had a walk around the area to look at various things which need clearing up and we are also going to start by putting some more planters around.” Councillor Chris Ready, cabinet member for communities, said: “It’s great to see these volunteers come together with the shared aim to make a difference in their neighbourhood. In Bloom fits in perfectly with the aims of The Deal to strengthen communities, improve the local area and help residents become more selfsufficient.” There are now over 30 In Bloom groups of green fingered volunteers who give up their own time to make Wigan Borough an attractive place to live. If you are interested in joining an In Bloom group please contact Nick Burdekin on 01942 489325 or email Also during The Deal week in Aspull in August residents had chance to have their say with the council and share any local concerns. The council has produced a ‘you said, we did’ booklet to update residents on progress and to show it is committed to working with communities to make the borough a better place. For more information visit www.wigan.gov.uk/TheDeal Our picture shows Aspull and Whelley In Bloom volunteers, including Gill Sharp, getting ready to litter pick.
Sing the movies
ORRELl Music & Dramatic Society is on the lookout for new members to the group for its next musical production, which is a concert based on songs from the movies.
Rehearsals are every Wednesday at Salem Church Hall, Church Street, Orrell starting 7.45 pm. More details from Carol on 01695 622713.
Thursday club
AS A tribute to all of our servicemen, women and animals who have served or are serving their Country, Barbaras's have gone to town in dressing their window in an array of fashions in red and black.
EVERY Thursday From 1.00 pm to 3.30 pm. St Marie’s Church Hall Standish; contact Bernie.
Denise and her team feel really strongly about supporting our heros and each year they like to show their respect by this small gesture, to recognise the for
EVERY Thursday between 2.00 pm & 4.00 pm, at St Luke’s Church, Orrell.
Our photographs show the beautiful window displays of outfits and shoes teamed with stunning sprays of poppies.
keeping us safe in the past, present and future. LEST WE FORGET
Sewing circle
Looking for new members age 60 and over for a chat, games of dominoes and bingo.
For anyone interested in sewing, knitting, crotchet, embroidery. More details from Sybil 01695 632202.
LOOKING for that great value family Panto? Matinees or Evenings? Then read on....
.... In our 69th season, St Michael's Amateur Dramatic Society are pleased to present another funfilled and original family pantomime, with a delightful mix of slapstick, silly jokes, songs and in our romance magical production of 'Dick Whittington and his Wonderful Cat' written by Ian D Field & directed by June Dowd.
We invite you to come and join us and pay a visit to that splendid topsyturvy world where men are women, women are men, where the present is embraced with the past, where people are hit but not hurt, where authority is constantly flouted,
where magic abounds and where dreams invariably come true! There will be a host of interesting and colourful characters to meet. If you've not been to a St Michael's Panto before then you're missing out. Ask our regulars!. They are great value for money - with a feel good factor to boot!! All seats are numbered, so book early for the best choice of seats. All performances are in January 2016: Evenings 7.30 pm on Fri 8th, Wed 13th, Thur 14th. Fri 15th, Sat 16th (5 available evenings in total). Matinees 2.00pm on Sat 9th, Sun 10th, Sat 16th, Sun 17th (4 available matinees in total). Adults £6.00, Concessions £5.00, Group booking discounts available buy 10 - and get the 11th free. Ring June on 01942 236260 / 07806787250 to book tickets.
Wigan Musical Theatre
MEET Monday evenings; new members always welcome, on stage or backstage, with scenery, lighting etc. For more details ring 01942 204461.
IT’S OUR BUSINESS TO CARE
T & M.E. Walsh 46/48 Preston Road, Standish 01257 421608
Memorial Christmas Tree www.dignityfunerals.co.uk
We would like to offer all families an opportunity to remember and pay tribute to relatives and friends who have passed away. Everyone is invited to include a personal tribute in memory of a loved one. Simply call in, complete a memorial tag, and hang it on the tree.
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Get your hair ready for Christmas
Have your say on Wigan plans
WIGAN’S are invited to attend drop-in sessions to have their say on a major plan which will shape the f u t u r e development of the borough.
Wigan Council’s ‘Allocations Plan’ will set out where new homes will be built and where new businesses will be established through to 2026.
Once agreed the plan will outline where Wigan Borough will be able to achieve the development and growth that will lead to greater economic prosperity in the coming years. A public consultation period on the plan is now on-going until Tuesday 15th December. Members of the public can discuss the contents of the draft plan with officers from Wigan Council’s planning department at the
drop-in following sessions: Thursday 12th November, 2pm - 7pm: The Rose Centre (Lowton Civic Hall), Hesketh Meadow Lane, Lowton, Tuesday 17th November, 2pm - 7pm: Hindley Community Association, Tudor House, 8 Liverpool Road, Hindley, Thursday 19th November, 2pm Platt Bridge 7pm: Community Zone, 81 Ribble Road, Platt Bridge, Monday 23rd November, 6.30pm: 1.30pm Captain’s Lane Community Centre, Captains Lane, Ashton-inMakerfield, Wednesday 25th November, 2pm – 7pm: Standish Library, Cross Street, Standish, and Thursday 26th November, 1.30pm - 6.30pm: Wigan Library, Wigan Life Centre, The Wiend, Wigan. On the Allocations Plan there are 64 new sites that are proposed for housing, almost all in the east-west, central core of the borough. As well as these smaller sites there are four new
sites of major development for housing and business use proposed in the Allocations Plan. These are South of Hindley, East of Atherton, South of Atherton and Pocket Nook, Lowton. These major sites will contribute significantly to the future demand for housing and employment land. The council aims to achieve 200 hectares of new employment land by 2026. Councillor David Molyneux, Wigan Council’s cabinet member for regeneration, said: “This is an important plan which will help form the development of the borough for many years to come. “It is therefore crucial that members of the public view and have their say on the proposals. “The demands on the council mean it is not a case of saying ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to housing and e m p l o y m e n t development. “The fact is that we have to permit the building of a
large number of houses over the next decade and we have to secure land for e m p l o y m e n t development. We have a statutory duty to provide this. “If the public don’t agree with what is proposed they have to help us by suggesting alternative places for development. “By creating this plan Wigan Council is taking a
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proactive approach so we can achieve the environmental, social and economic regeneration that is needed to continue to move the borough forward.” To read the plan, view an interactive map and have your say please visit our website at: www.wigan.gov.uk/alloc ationsplan
Wigan primary schools in North West top three
WIGAN IS the third best borough in the North West for primary school achievement according to the latest Ofsted figures.
The figures, compiled by Wigan Council, show that 93 per cent of the borough's schools are rated good or outstanding - compared with 89 per cent last year locally putting the borough's schools in third position across the North West and 14th nationally.
Councillor Joanne Platt, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People at Wigan Council, said: "I'm exceptionally proud of our schools,
our staff and our students. I'm delighted Ofsted continues to recognise the improvements we are making in education and the excellent record of results we have. "As part of The Deal for the Future, we want all children in Wigan Borough to have the best possible start in life so a lot of hard work goes into driving up standards and making sure no child is left behind. “It is imperative that we continue to work with our local partners to ensure that every child is best placed to take advantage of economic growth locally and at a Greater Manchester level."
Aspull and Haigh W.I.
The group meet on the 2nd Monday of each month at St Elizabeth’s Church Hall, Bolton Road, Aspull New members welcome - more details from 01942 831413.
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Digital skills for blind Wiganers
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WIGAN’S blind and partially sighted folk are invited to attend a free online basic skills session to help them get online and benefit from technology.
Greater Manchester Mayor meets Wigan Labour Party
THE NEW INTERIM Mayor of Greater Manchester met Wigan Labour Party members to hear their views on how he should use his new powers and finances under the d e v o l v e d arrangements. “I wouldn’t have started from here,” said the interim Mayor, Tony Lloyd, “But we lost the election, so must accept the Governance
arrangements we have. We need to make sure that we put these new powers and monies to the best use for the people of Wigan and Greater Manchester.”
He outlined the powers that were being devolved, over transport, health and social care, and training, emphasising that there cannot be a national ‘1 size fits all solution’ to these, but wresting control from Whitehall gave Gtr. M/c the opportunity to develop solutions which addressed our problems, not those inside the M25.
Standish community activist Debbie Parkinson expressed her concern that the extra cash would be sucked into Manchester City centre, and areas on the periphery, such as Wigan and Standish, would see little of it. Tony Lloyd said he was very aware of this, and would not let that happen. “A strong City region depends not only having a strong centre, but having equally vibrant towns around it. I recognise that, and so do the other Borough Leaders. They have a veto over decisions,
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and I do not intend to put forward proposals which will give any of them cause to exercise that veto. We will work together in the best interests of all our towns.” Members raised concerns about the recently devolved powers over Health and Social Care, questioning whether this would lead to differences in care provision. Mr Lloyd reminded them that we already have that, and he was determined to see standards everywhere raised to the best. “You have the best hospital in the country, and are the furthest down the line in providing seamless integrated care. Because of this, I have asked Peter Smith, Leader of Wigan Council, and his Chief Executive Donna Hall, to lead on this vital part of the role. “They will, I am sure, bring all hospitals up to the very best standard, and see that patient care throughout the system, from home to hospital, puts the patient at the heart of the system of care.” After the meeting, Debbie said, “It was excellent to be able to talk to Tony face to face, and be able to put to him the concerns that people in Standish have put to me. He was very straight, there will be huge difficulties in making this work, but the benefits for Standish in terms of better transport links, being able to train our young people for the jobs that are needed, health, construction, etc., are immense. “Add to that the improvements for those needing care that will come about from an integrated health and social care system and you realise this is an opportunity we cannot afford to turn miss.” Our picture shows Tony Lloyd with members of the Wigan Labour party.
and or hearing loss is welcome to attend. The session will include how to get the most from products such as tablets, smartphones and eReaders. There will also be the chance to be hands-on and try out these gadgets and ask questions. Internet use in the UK has The event is part of RNIB's significantly increased over recent Online Today scheme to get years with 76% of adults accessing 125,000 people with sensory the internet every day in 2014, compared to just 38% in 2006. loss online. Millions of us rely on the The workshop is being delivered internet for everyday tasks such as by partner organisation Action for shopping, banking and staying in Blind People at Wigan Council, at touch with friends and family. Wigan Life Centre, The Wiend on However, getting online and using Tuesday 1 December from 10am technology can present many to 12.30pm. Anyone with sight challenges for someone who is
blind, partially sighted or has hearing loss. Andrew Coleman, Assistive Technology Coordinator at Action for Blind People, said: "Being online can make a huge difference to someone's life. We hope people with sight or hearing loss in Wigan will come along and find out how technology can open up a whole new world of discovery and independence." To find out more and to book your place call Wigan Life Centre on 01942 827 621 or email k.mulligan@wigan.gov.uk You can also learn more about Online Today by visiting www.rnib.org.uk/onlinetoday
Taylor Wimpey helps promote walking to school
TAYLOR WIMPEY is helping the families of Wigan to shine a light on the importance of leaving the car at home and walking to school this autumn. To help celebrate Walk to School Month in October, the leading homebuilder donated 100 high-visibility wristbands to Millbrook Primary School, in Shevington, for use during the darker autumn/winter months.
Carly Royal, headteacher at Millbrook Primary School, explains: “We encourage the children to walk to school to promote a healthier lifestyle and to reduce traffic outside the school.” Walk to School Month, which takes place every October, is in aid of promoting healthier lifestyles as well as to reduce the number of vehicles on the roads. Chloe Dunn, sales and marketing director at Taylor Wimpey Manchester, says: “We are committed to
supporting the communities in which we build, which is why we are working in partnership with Millbrook Primary School as part of Walk to School Month. “We understand that family life can be busy, but walking to school is one of the easiest ways for children to increase their level of physical activity and get fit. We hope our contribution will help inspire families to swap the car for a safe walk to school instead.” Millbrook Primary School is based on Elmfield and just a short distance from Taylor Wimpey’s Oakwood Meadows development. The development currently features a range of fourbedroom homes which are on sale from just £274,995. Carly concludes: “We are very grateful to Taylor Wimpey for this generous donation which will help raise the profile of Walk to School Month amongst pupils and parents alike.” Our picture shows pupils from Millbrook with Taylor Wimpey sales executive, Emma Bodie.
Register before November 30th so you can vote
WIGAN residents are keen to have their say by voting with so many already confirming their details in the annual canvass.
But those who have yet to respond are being warned time is running out to sign up before the 30th November deadline. So far 72 per cent of households have returned their information which will help make up the electoral register, which will be published on 1st December. The General and local elections held this May were the first held under the individual electoral registration system. This replaced
a household registration system where one person could register everyone in the household to a system. Now everyone has personal responsibility to make sure they are registered. Not being registered to vote could affect your credit rating for things like mortgages or mobile phone contracts. Councillor Terry Halliwell said: “We would like to thank all those who have already returned their details for our annual canvass. Wigan Borough is leading the way across Greater Manchester for responses to this important democratic exercise. “As part of The Deal we ask you
to have your say and the most important way that you can do that is to make your voice heard at the ballot box. “If you’ve recently moved house make sure you check that you are registered to the correct address. “And for those who have not yet signed up it’s always important to remember that not being registered can affect your credit score.” If you have not yet registered to vote go to http://www.wigan.gov.uk/Council/ Voting-and-Elections/How-toregister-to-vote.aspx where you can still fill in the canvass details until 30th November.
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Shevington High School sleepover for the Brick
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SHEVINGTON HIGH School pupils have shown their support for those folk who may not have a decent bed to sleep in by taking part in the Street Sleep event.
On Friday 16th October, 40 pupils from Year 7 raised more than £200 for the Brick charity when they spent the night sleeping on a classroom floor.
becoming a school tradition which Year 7 pupils really look forward to. Students came back at school at 8pm on Friday evening, and prepared to spend the night sleeping on the floor. In order to help them to reflect on the reality of the situation for those who have no choice but to do this on a regular basis, all electronic devices were handed in and those taking part had to find other, more traditional ways to spend the evening! They ended up having a lot of fun; enjoying board games, table tennis, nail
painting and hair styling, a quiz, a light supper and a talent show before trying to settle down for the night. Unfortunately, the reality of trying to sleep in these conditions was not quite so easy, and students and staff were very bleary eyed on Saturday morning. A school spokesman said: “Many thanks to the local businesses who supported us including Tesco, Kenmore Coaches, Subway, Greenhalgh the Bakers, Slaters and the Shevington Co-op.”
Let’s keep Sunday special! This is the second time that Shevington pupils have taken part in this event, and it is
MP Yvonne supports USDAW Sunday campaign
MAKERFIELD MP Yvonne Fovargue MP supported an USDAW lobby of Parliament, to express opposition to the Government’s proposals to devolve Sunday trading regulations. USDAW members, who work in retail, met with MPs to explain how extended opening in large stores will lead to even more retail staff being pressured to work longer hours on Sundays, which is why more than 90% of shopworkers oppose any extension to Sunday trading hours. Yvonne said: “The Sunday Trading Act is a great British compromise, which has worked well for more than 20 years and gives everyone a little bit of what they want. Retailers can trade, customers can shop, staff can work; whilst
Sunday remains a special day, different to other days, and shopworkers can spend some time with their family. “I am convinced that shops are currently open long enough for people to do their shopping and that Sunday should remain a special day, different to any other. I oppose devolving Sunday trading because it will lead to longer opening hours. “Extending Sunday trading does not mean customers have more money to spend, it would not create jobs and is likely to lead to the closure of smaller stores. “So this is not a way to boost the local economy or help town centres. It would be detrimental to shopworkers and their families, as well as wider society, so I am pleased to be supporting Usdaw’s campaign.” USDAW General Secretary John Hannett said: “USDAW and our members are
delighted to have the support of Yvonne and many others who value the special nature of Sunday and want to protect it. “There is no great desire from shopworkers, customers, retailers or local authorities for these changes and many oppose them. We fear that devolution of Sunday trading is a solution looking for a problem. “It is not yet clear whether the Government will seek to introduce legislation, but if they do I hope that they will abide by their promise of a proper consultation and a full parliamentary process. “That would mean publication of the consultation responses and a considered reply from the Government, demonstrating that they have listened, before the introduction of any legislation to change Sunday trading.” Yvonne is pictured with John at the lobby.
Aspull Friendship Group is real Deal!
AS PART of Wigan Council’s Deal, Aspull Methodist Church has established a Friendship Group for people living with Dementia and their carers.
Situated near the fingerpost on Wigan Road, the Group will have a variety of activities so everyone who comes can be involved. They meet every second and fourth Thursday in the month from 10.00 a.m. until 12 Noon. Also on the first and third Thursday in the month again from 10.00 a.m. until 12 Noon 'Food for thought' provide baking classes for anyone who would like to come along. There is a small cover charge of £2 and anyone interested should contact Agnes on 01942 537335.
Wigan Ladies Guild
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throughout her very funny and entertaining talk, and we were all pleased to hear that there is a third episode in-store for us at a later date.
AT A recent Guild meeting Joanne Halliwell arrived ‘in character’ and in costume as Betsy the scullery maid, only to inform us that Betsy had gone up in the world since her last visit to the Guild and was now “ an ‘ouskeeper no less !” As Joanne’s tale unravelled it became clear that this promotion had occurred due to a series of misunderstandings on Betsy’s part, rather than due to her capabilities. Joanne stayed in character
Trevor Davenport, pictured, showed us pictures the fascinating ‘Treasures of the Sefton Coast’. To have this nature reserve, which provides recreation for over five million people, with its rare and fascinating flora and insect life, within easy reach of Wigan is a real bonus. The area has existed since the ice-age which also formed Liverpool Bay. There are several traces (including fosilised footprints) of people from the Neolithic and Mesolithic ages along the shoreline. More recently the Anthony Gormley statues were installed and can be seen, though they are now partly covered in an invasive mollusc. A fire caused by arsonists destroyed grass and shrubbery along two miles of the coastline yet, within two weeks, dandelions and rosebay willow herb had started to grow back. A protected colony of rare Natterjack toads are to be found there, and newts, but no snakes. There are also rare orchids and moths too numerous to mention, and a reserve for the red squirrel.
Standish Methodist Thursday event
Halfords donates bike
HOSPICE fundraiser Philip Tomlinson has been presented with a brand new Boardman bike, courtesy of Halfords in Wigan.
Philip (45), was set to cycle 63 miles from Manchester to Blackpool in July, in aid of Wigan and Leigh Hospice.
WHY not go along to the Standish Methodist Church, High Street, Standish for a chat and cup of tea, coffee, cake and crumpets. Its all free and a good way to get to meet other people from the But tragedy struck when Philip’s bike was stolen from community.
Manchester in the early hours of the morning, just minutes before he was due to set off on the cycling challenge. A keen cyclist, Philip has taken part in the annual bike ride event for many years and, for the last seven years, has raised thousands of pounds for Wigan and Leigh Hospice, in memory of his father-in-law Brian Yates. Philip said: “It was such a shame that I didn’t get to ride in this year’s event but I’m
absolutely thrilled that Halfords has kindly stepped in to replace my bike and I’m really looking forward to getting straight back in the saddle to train for next year’s event.” Mike Parr, Director of Corporate Services, said: “We are so grateful to our cyclists, who raise a significant amount of money for the Hospice every year through this event. “It was such a shame that Philip wasn’t able to take part
this year but I am delighted that Halfords has stepped in to help. So many local businesses support the bike ride by offering volunteers, support vehicles and refreshments, which makes a massive difference to our riders and enables us to raise as much money as possible to keep our services running.” Pictured (l-r): Gemma Doran from Halfords, Philip Tomlinson and David Cronin, Manager of Halfords in Wigan.
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‘WOW - My Hero’ - young Joseph Bond from Wigan meets Toy Story’s Buzz Lightyear at the new Legoland attraction in the Trafford Centre.
New Sea Life and Legoland attractions are winners!!
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WHEN I WAS invited to take my son to sample the delights at Legoland and Sea Life at the Trafford Centre we jumped at the chance. We invited Joseph's friend Harry and his mum Rachel and headed over on Saturday october 31st morning in eager anticipation! The four of us turned up at the Halloween themed day trip eager to get involved and we weren't disappointed. We headed into Sea Life and had our pictures taken by the friendly staff as we entered a magical underwater world. As it was Halloween, scary pumpkins and spider's webs adorned the tanks and the spooky theme was continued with some Halloween colouring activities as the fish swam by and a scary lucky dip filled with spiders and eyeballs! Joseph won a cuddly starfish and Harry got a little turtle. The boys particularly enjoyed crawling through the underground tunnels, and watching
By Wigan mum Sophie Bond
the Sharks swim overhead. The tank full of 'Nemo's' was the icing on the cake for Joseph. Although he was also delighted to be able to touch a starfish in the rock pool! After having a good half an hour of rough and tumble in the excellent soft play area we headed over to Lego Land, a short walk past the shops and we were in. Joseph's face was priceless when a life size Buzz Lightyear greeted him at the door. We were shown through into a magical world of amazing Lego models, from the Eiffel Tower to a moving railway the sights were fascinating for adults and children alike. Joseph and Harry also loved our moving ride through a world of Lego shooting the tar-
gets as we rode along. The best part of the Lego land experience for the mums was the big open area complete with a ride and multiple Lego based activities for children of all ages. Families can sit in the cafe area and relax with some lunch and a coffee as children build their own Lego cars and send them shooting down big ramps or climbing high into the maze of slides and climbing frames in the giant soft play area. Their is even a track that you can drive your own Lego police car around. Joseph and Harry weren't short of entertainment so Rachel and I could relax in the secure environment, have coffee and watch them enjoy themselves. A great time was had by all and I will certainly be going again soon! Something tells me Dad will enjoy it more than Joseph!
94 years young!
www.legolanddiscoverycentre.co.uk/manchester www.visitsealife.com/manchester/
Joseph Bond and Harry Buckley from Wigan get up close and personal with Starfish at the Sea Life Centre.....
PICTURED is Mrs Ann Grimes, celebrating her 94th birthday with Jane Davenport, from Cooperative Funeralcare in Standish at St. Marie’s Church Hall.
Ann has lived in Standish all her life, and leads a very hectic social life, attending Standish Community Centre twice a week and en-
joying various trips out with her friends. She has one son, 5 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. She was married to her husband from Ireland for 32 years until he passed away 37 years ago. She also enjoys the odd glass of wine! Jane surprised Ann with a cake and birthday balloons to make her day!
Christmas Hampers at The Brick TEAMS FROM Wigan Council will again be at The Brick in Wigan town Centre offering their time and help to pack hampers for needy people this Christmas between the 14th and 22nd December. The Hampers will be given out on December 23rd. Brick staff again are collecting items to fill hampers and the following will be very welcome. Adult general gifts (toiletry sets, gloves, scarves, manicure sets, after shave, perfume, etc.) New toys or books or games
New soft toys Toiletries adult and child Tinned ham or similar Christmas puddings Boxes of biscuits Stuffing mix Custard or sauce mix Chocolates Crackers Breadsticks Jam Small Christmas cakes
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My Life has lots to offer
MY LIFE is a small, notfor-profit organisation (soon to be charity) that meaningful provides opportunities for people of all ages, with and without disabilities.
It’s based at Thompson House Equestrian Centre, off Pepper Lane in Standish, a fantastic 84-acre site owned by the Ainscough family. My Life was founded in 2012 by mum of three, Caroline Tomlinson of Appley Bridge, whose son Joe, 26 has complex learning disabilities. The ethos of the organisation is to help combat isolation and loneliness in the community by creating opportunities for people to connect, make new friends and get to know other people in a great environment, doing something they enjoy. Over the past 12 months, Caroline has recruited a team of experts, supported by local
CHRISTMAS
Wigan Youth Zone believes every child deserves a Christmas – do you?
place based on the families they feel would benefit the most and the families of those who have gained the most from their time at the Youth Zone over the past year. Names will then be selected at random. For more information on the Wigan Youth Zone Christmas Party call 01942 612061 or email kate.rigby@wiganyouthzone.org
volunteers, to deliver a range of activity workshops on site, including arts and crafts, music, drama, singing, floristry, cake decorating, bushcraft, orienteering, jewellery making, cooking, horticulture and animal care, to name just a few. There really is something for everyone on site, including: • Activity clubs in the school holidays for children aged 8-14 (next one is 21-24 December). • Short breaks in a fullyaccessible apartment or chalet on site, which can be used as an alternative to respite. • A small animal farm. • Duke of Edinburgh Awards coaching for young people aged 13-25. • Further education courses (including ASDAN) for young people with special educational needs or d i s a b i l i t i e s . • Friday singalong, and a community choir on Saturdays.
• Allotment spaces and workbenches in the greenhouses, where people can grow their own produce. • Monday morning parent and toddler sessions. And launching on 28 November: • A farm shop, selling locally grown fruit and vegetables – open Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9am to 4pm. As well as giving people valuable work experience, all profits from this go to improving the lives of disabled people. Dog grooming and day care. So next time you’re passing, just call in and see what My Life has to offer. Or, for a appointment, phone 01257 472900 or email info@mylife.org.uk To keep up-to-date about what’s going on, check out the website at and the Facebook page at facebook.com/mylifecic
WIGAN Youth Zone want to spread festive cheer far and wide again this year – and need your help.
Sugar Shack stocked up for Christmas
On December 23rd, the Youth Zone will be inviting a selection of their member’s families in for Christmas dinner and a party.
The Youth Zone’s staff and volunteers are set to peel spuds, cook food, serve guests and even perform in a staff choir, but they can’t do it all alone. The charity need help with donations of crackers, decorations or gifts – anything that could contribute to the event. Youth Zone Manager John Harker said: “At Wigan Youth Zone, we believe every child deserves a Christmas. Our staff are pulling out all the stops to make this a Christmas party to remember for our members and their families. “Sadly, we just can’t afford everything so we’re asking the community and businesses to help out. Any deliveries of gifts, decorations or anything festive would be very much appreciated. If everyone just bought one extra Christmas present or selection box and dropped them into us, we can promise it will all go to good homes.” The Wigan Youth Zone Christmas party will benefit between 25 – 35 families from across the borough. Youth Zone staff will enter names into a ballot for a
THE Sugar Shack which is situated on the High Street in Standish is now fully stocked with all it’s Christmas goodies. The Sugar Shack stocks a large variety of Traditional Sweet Jars, Belgian Chocolate and Liquors, sugar craft accessories and gift packs. It has now got a stock of Christmas stocking fillers as well as Christmas sweet and chocolate goodies.
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Join Joe’s Jumper Day call
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CHRISTMAS
CHRISTMAS spirit is not in short supply in Wigan Borough.
And residents are being urged to don their winter woolies by Wigan Council’s cabinet to back the charity Joseph’s Goal with its Join Joe’s Jumper Day campaign.
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PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFT SPECIAL OFFERS: 6 Weeks Membership for only £25.00 3 Month Membership for only £50.00 Full Year Membership only £185.00 FOR NON MEMBERS Pool use per visit £3.00 Gym use per visit £3.00 Pool and Gym per visit £6.00 Monday-Friday 7am-8.30pm (last entry 8pm, GYM and POOL) Saturday 8am-5.30pm (last entry 5pm GYM and POOL) Sunday 8am-2pm (last entry GYM and POOL)
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Unwind at Spindles Health Club
For further information contact Martin Lowe on 01257 499988
WHEN it's time to unwind, do so in style at our Spindles Wigan Health Club & Gym. Spindles can reduce your stress, calm your mind and improve your health and fitness.
Take a dip in the indoor heated swimming pool. Relax in our whirlpool Spa, or simply take it easy in the sauna. If you enjoy a more strenuous workout, our fully equipped gymnasium offers a range of equipment to suit both aerobic and anaerobic exercise. With trained professionals on hand to guide you, Spindles offers you the chance to keep fit, relax and socialise. Spindles Wigan Health Club & Gym is well equipped with the latest facilities and equipment. Towels are available for hire at a cost of £1.00.
Children under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult and are not permitted in the gymnasium.
The charity wants residents to get behind its fundraising effort to get the people of Wigan Borough to pull on their finest Christmas jumpers and make a donation. The money raised from the day will go towards research into NKH. Joseph’s Goal has just celebrated its third anniversary after being set up to help raise funds for six-year-old Joseph Kendrick who was given just five days to live when he was born. The charity has already raised more than £200,000 since it was launched which has been supporting the research of Dr Johan Van Hove, the world’s leading expert in NKH, at the University of Colorado. It comes as further research is also being carried out by Dr Nick Greene in London and both doctors are confident of a new treatment for NKH being developed within three years. Emma Kendrick, Joseph’s mum, said: “Throughout our journey with Joe it’s been humbling to see the community coming together to help out another poorly little person. With all the children needing help it’s great to see how the community come together for them all. For our little boy it’s fantastic to see people getting together and it’s a fantastic way to celebrate Joseph and get ready for Christmas.” Councillor Chris Ready, portfolio holder for community at Wigan Council and patron of Joseph’s Goal, said: “Get your Christmas jumpers ready to dazzle all for a fantastic cause for Joseph. We are delighted to be able to back this fundraising effort which should hopefully bring some extra Christmas cheer too. If you haven’t signed up yet what are you waiting for?” To support the campaign go to www.justgiving.com/Joseph-Kendrick15 or text JCJD15 and the amount you would like to donate to 70070.
Salvation Army needs volunteers COULD you be a Sally Army Helper?
That’s the question from The Salvation Army’s Wigan charity shop as it launches an appeal for extra volunteers this Christmas. November and December are incredibly busy months for Salvation Army shops, increasing the need for lots of extra helpers to support with sales and donations. Ann Penny, Area Manager, said: “There’s no time like Christmas to help out at a Salvation Army shop. It’s one of the best times of year, but also one of the busiest. That’s why we’re appealing for a band of Sally Army Helpers who can donate as much time as they can to our Wigan shop during the festive period. Volunteers often don’t realise how valuable they are; a couple of hours or even a few days a week make a huge difference to us.” Salvation Army shops offer training in essential volunteer skills but there are a number of key traits
required of a Sally Army Helper; these include: Willingness to help sort through sacks of donations to spot great toys, pristine party-wear and cosy winter warmers that will fill our customers with glee, like of Christmas decorations and an ability to decorate a tree, The money raised through the Wigan shop contributes to The Salvation Army’s valuable work with people who are vulnerable and in need across the UK, including homelessness and addiction services, care for older people, help at emergency incidents, support for adult victims of human trafficking in England and Wales and a Family Tracing Service. Over the last five years alone the Salvation Army Trading Company’s shops and recycling initiatives have donated over £35 million to The Salvation Army. To find your nearest shop, v i s i t : www.salvationarmytrading .org/finder
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The Beauty Room Training Academy is holding a
Therapython
on Sunday November 29th
10.30 a.m. until 4.30 p.m. We are offering Reflexology, Reiki, Crystal Therapy, Head Massage and Hot Stone Back Massage
£10.00 per treatment All proceeds to the Sam Buxton Sunflower Healing Trust www.cancertherapies.org
192 Preston Road, Standish, Wigan, WN6 0NP TELEPHONE: 07798 583066 e: beautyroomuk@yahoo.co.uk
Standish Christmas Shopping Spectacular THE WIGAN COURIER - WIGAN’S ONLY FREE NEWSPAPER THAT COVERS LOCAL SPORT
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Time For Me
Purchase a Treatment Voucher. Ideal Christmas Gift
Love a Local Christmas!
Christmas Partywear Now in stock
THE VILLAGE of Standish is hosting a Christmas shopping day on Saturday November 28th.
10% OFF Decleor Gift Sets on
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28th November 2015
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Wishing all our customers old and new a very Merry Christmas
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There are many events planned throughout the day including a Choir who will be singing Christmas Carols, a Reindeer hunt and businesses will be having special offers, giveaways and discounts on the day. There will also be a grand raffle. The Standish Methodist Church are also holding their Christmas Market between 10.00 a.m. and 12.30 p.m. There will be various stalls including chocolate, gift, books, homemade cakes, jewellery and homemade goods, A tombola and raffle will take place and light lunches will be served. The Prospect band will be playing carols and Father Christmas will also be making an appearance. If you are thinking about starting your Christmas shopping or taking time out for a coffee support the local businesses of Standish in this spectacular event.
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Classified MOTORS
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Kia’s family friendly Optima
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It offers good levels of space and now better levels of quality and refinement. Some may rue the lack of engine choice but the single diesel engine offered will suit most buyers in this segment anyway. So long as driver involvement doesn’t rank as your top priority the Optima is certainly worth looking at. Kia continues to perform well in the small car and crossover segments of the market, but its Optima saloon has struggled to gain ground in the busy family saloon class. Now the Korean company has a brand new Optima, tailored with European tastes in mind, and has focused on upping overall quality and refinement in a bid to boost the appeal of its flagship saloon. Subtle changes to the
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exterior design do help to give the large Optima an appearance that has a more premium air to it, even if the style is more evolutionary than revolutionary. The ‘Tiger Nose’ front grille has been toned down and is now blended more into the headlights, with both topped by a chrome strip that is more than a little reminiscent of the current Volkswagen Passat. At the rear, you’ll now find slimmer and more angular lights, too. More noticeable and welcome are the changes to the interior that demonstrates a marked improvement over the outgoing model. An all-new dashboard noticeably enhances the cabin and should feature a seven-inch colour touchscreen as standard on entry and midlevel trims, growing to an eight-inch version on the top-level spec version. Taking a number of styling cues from the latest Kia Sorento, the centre console has been simplified and looks all the better for it. Close attention has been paid to boosting quality, and the switchgear and materials certainly feel better. It isn’t quite at the same level as the premium German brands, but Kia has definitely closed the gap. The 1.7-litre CRDi diesel engine remains the only option in the Optima line-up for now; in time there will be a plug-in hybrid and a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine – the latter for a hotter GT model. The diesel’s power has been increased from 134 to 139bhp, torque has also seen a modest increase from 325 to 340Nm, but Kia has lowered emissions by 14 per cent to 110g/km in the case of our six-speed manual test car. Gone is the inefficient sixspeed automatic transmission of old and in its place is a new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
gearbox that brings with it a 40g/km reduction in CO2 emissions. This will be good news to fleet buyers and business users in particular. On the road the cabin is now a lot quieter even when the car is equipped with the larger 18-inch alloy wheels. Increased levels of sounddeadening materials serve to further isolate the 1.7-litre diesel’s rumble. One area that still has room for improvement is the manual gearbox. The throw between gears doesn’t feel as slick or precise as in some rivals, but at lower speeds the spread of gear ratios provides a more relaxed drive and it will happily plod along in slow moving traffic in second gear. In town driving the Optima feels much more composed at speed. This can be attributed to a revised suspension setup that also uses thicker cross member bushes to improve the ride quality. In a bid to increase
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Kia Optima ʻ3ʼ 1.7 CDTi Price: c £27,000 Engine: 4cyl 1.7-litre turbodiesel Power/torque: 139bhp/340Nm Transmission: Six-speed manual, front-wheel-drive
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THE KIA Optima is a car that won’t overly excite, but neither will it leave buyers feeling disappointed.
efficiency the setup of the power steering has been changed to a rack-mounted electric motor system although this has done little to enhance the overall feedback through the steering wheel. At a variety of speeds it’s just that bit too light to the touch and lacks any real feeling of connection to the front axle. The Optima is certainly a better car than before for these changes but it stops short of delivering a really top-notch package that can seriously rival the bigger players in this highly competitive segment of the market.
10 Fiat 500 1.2 Pop red, with red/cream trim, 1 owner vehicle, covered 57,000 miles, with full dealer service history, rcl, power steering, e/windows etc ................................................ £4,695
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Sydney-bound Jordon in RL dream trip
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Orrell unveil new shirt sponsor
By Geoff Lightfoot ORRELL RUFC HAS announced a shirt sponsorship deal with Hindley based Brookhouse Construction Ltd.
Company boss Colin Ratcliffe was at Houghwood Golf Club to present the club with their new kit, the first major deal for the famous club since the plug was pulled on full time professional rugby at Orrell at the end of the 2003/04 season. Life has been tough but due to the dedication and efforts of a small number of enthusiasts the club refused to die and has once again risen from the ashes and is on its way back. “This is the beginning of a new era for us and a step
on the road to recovery ,” said club President Bill Lyon. “ The deal we have struck is for the long term and I am sure that in with partnership Brookhouse Construction, we can look forward to a brighter future.” Now a totally amateur operation, and dedicated to serving the local community, Orrell are also involved in the ‘Joining Jack’ charity, a charity started and led by Alex Johnson, the mother of Jack, who suffers from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, who is pictured receiving a cheque from the club President. The shirts, in addition to carrying the Brookhouse Construction logo, will also sport the ‘Joining Jack’ logo, the first rugby club in the country to do so.
WIGAN AND Leigh College sports student Jordon Gibbons from Aspull is pursuing his dream of playing professional rugby for St Helens Rugby League Club after being invited along with 24 other rugby hopefuls on a three week trip to Sydney, Australia. During their overseas visit, the group of rugby hopefuls compete against talented young players from across the world. The former Standish High School pupil said, “I left school unsure of the direction I was going in, but after visiting Wigan and Leigh College, I immediately decided the sport course was for me. “The tutors are really friendly and everyone on the course is great too. “Although I’m hoping to establish a successful career in rugby, I know it’s important to have a back-up plan. The College has provided me with that plan to pursue a career in physiotherapy after my rugby career.”
Jordon has developed his rugby abilities further through the College’s Rugby Development Programme, and is set to join the St Helens Academy Team in 2016.
Orrell’s changes ring true as Wigan falter Bowdon 16 Wigan 13 South Lancs & Cheshire div 1 7th November 2015 WIGAN'S FAILURE to come to terms with the referee's interpretation of the laws ultimately cost them dear as they succumbed to a late fight back by Bowdon in SLC1. Bowdon dominated the early stages but failed to build a lead by missing a series of kickable penalties. Andy Whittle put Wigan three up with his first shot before Bowdon hit the target to level the scores. Wigan then missed a chance as Jon Clayton was held in the 22 having failed to see Lloyd Hughes on his outside. However Whittle edged Wigan in front with a second penalty just before the break. The second period started promisingly, Tyler Spence touched down in the corner with Whittle converting from the touchline but after that all went downhill. Buoyed by a succession of penalties,
Bowdon fought back with a converted try in the corner before levelling matters with a long range drop goal. With just two minutes remaining Bowdon took the lead with yet another penalty. There was still time for more drama however as Whittle's late penalty narrowly missed, leaving Wigan with a losing bonus point and regrets about what might have been. Orrell 30 Thornton Cleveleys 14 North Lancs 7th November 2015 MUCH CHANGED Orrell took the honours and the bonus point at home to Thornton Cleveleys in a Lancashire (North) clash at St.John Rigby. Orrell opened with a penalty from Scott Robinson and added a try, Matt Stott and Jon Pegg combining to get Max Huxley over, Robinson slotting the conversion. Thornton Cleveleys kicked a penalty back but Orrell maintained their 10 point advantage with a second penalty from
Robinson. Thornton came back again with a penalty but a break by Robinson carried on by Louis Whitfield put Tom Halsall over in the corner. Unfortunately just before the interval a poor clearance gifted a try to the opposition for 18-11 at the break. A penalty by Thornton reduced the deficit but as Orrell began to raise their game Robinson got the supporting Richard Finney over close to the posts the centre also kicking the conversion. In the wet conditions Orrell forwards were playing well against what appeared to be heavier forwards and their efforts were rewarded as a break from Stott and good support play by Robinson got Sam Bibby in for the bonus score. ORRELL St.James went down 25-0 away to Aspull 2nds in Raging Bull div 5 North.. Aspull 1sts had no game.
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SJR student Joshua represents England CourierSPORT
ST JOHN RIGBY College student Joshua Hill, pictured left, has been selected to compete for Team England at the World Thai Boxing Championships in Spain.
The event is a world away from the Y12 student’s studies towards his BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in ICT, with Joshua swapping the
computer lab in Wigan for the sunny shores of Benidorm last week. It may be low season for holiday makers, but it’s an incredibly exciting time for all involved in the representative teams from more than 120 countries. Joshua’s father, Michael Hill, expressed his admiration for his son, “He is totally committed to his sport and has worked extremely hard in
Bateman signs for three years W I G A N WARRIORS’ John Bateman has agreed a contract extension for at least three seasons at Wigan until the end of November 2018.
The new Contract allows John the option to play in the NRL from the 2019 season with corresponding transfer fee and return provisions to Wigan if he so chooses.
One of the rising young stars of English Rugby League, Bateman has enjoyed a meteoric rise to the top of Super League and capped a fine season by winning both the Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year awards at the Wigan Warriors Awards Dinner and by being selected for the England Squad against New Zealand in the Autumn International Series. SO NEAR YET SO FAR. Why does this always seem to be the story of international Rugby League in these islands? So often our representative teams have come painfully close to clinching famous and meaningful victories over their fierce rivals from the Southern Hemisphere, and yet somehow or other, in the final minutes, it has all trickled away again. Forgive the doom-laden tone. I’ve actually no reason to sound pessimistic. There is still one Test match remaining in the current England v New Zealand series, and at one victory apiece, the decider, which will occur at the DW Stadium in Wigan this coming weekend, will be a do-or-die, all-ornothing battle. But how typical this Test series is so far. The first match saw England not exactly romp to a 26-12 victory, but beat down their opponents in the middle and cross the whitewash four times. In that first game, the Kiwis seemed a little shellshocked, almost as if they’d turned up not expecting to have to do very much. They scored two tries too of course but England looked the fitter and more aggressive, and by the end were still running at full power whereas New Zealand seemed to be on empty. England’s last try, when skipper Sean O’Loughlin brutally brushed off a wild buffalo-like charge from Adam Blair appeared to say it all. It was a real “out of the
The former Dudley Hill amateur made his professional debut in 2011 for Bradford Bulls aged just 17 before signing for the Wigan Club as a bright young prospect in 2014. He made 29 appearances in his first year with Wigan and 31
Paul Finch is
appearances in 2015 including his second consecutive Grand Final for Wigan appearance against Leeds in front of a 73,000 sell-out Old Trafford crowd. Head Coach Shaun Wane said: “John has been fantastic since day
The Insider Wigan Warriors from the Inside Out...
PAUL FINCH looks forward to the decider at the DW Stadium...
way, sonny, I’ve got business at the try-line” moment. Of course, it didn’t last. The Kiwis are proud men. They’d just seen their RU counterparts lift the World Cup and were likely in no mood to be humiliated. Head coach Steve Kearney made a few adjustments to his line-up for the Second Test, Kodi Nikorima coming into the halfbacks and Alex Glenn and Lewis Brown joining the bench, and suddenly it was all very different. What followed was an absolute war of attrition, a mid-field slugfest which ended 9-2 to the Kiwis, though even they only crossed the line once. England themselves got over through James Graham, but the video ref disallowed it. Some people thought this controversial. Not me, I have to say. I don’t think Graham even got close to grounding the ball correctly. So yes, for once we’ve had an important fixture where in the man in the video room didn’t treat us to his own special comedy moment. But the Second Test’s main feature was its grinding defence. The sides were like machines as they tried to wear each other down. Sadly, it didn’t make for an exciting show,
though I can’t join in the chorus of disapproval from people who plainly don’t know Rugby League at all if they think strong defence isn’t worthy of praise. England in particular withstood a number of hairraising sieges on their own line. In any case, the series now rests on an absolute humdinger of a decider at Wigan this Saturday. This is going to be an epic struggle, and there are all kinds of questions to be answered. One of which, somewhat inevitably, is what role – if any – will the newly returned Sam Burgess play? Well, hopefully none … at this stage. I doubt the multiple online calls to fast-track Sam back into the England team will be taken seriously by anyone who matters, mainly because it’s too early. Sam Burgess has been out of professional Rugby League for a year. Not a torturously long absence for a guy who at the time was regarded as the best player in the world, but far too long when you consider what he’d be up against next Saturday and what would be at stake. Sam is bound to be rusty and wouldn’t be party to any of the moves or tactics that
one and he actually made his debut for Wigan in the World Club against Sydney Challenge Roosters. We were confident in putting him in that day and firmly believe that he belongs at the very highest level. “We are delighted to have completed this contract extension. We're well on with building a team at Wigan that can compete at the very top for many years and players like John fit the mould perfectly.” John added: “I’m really happy to have signed a new deal committing my future to Wigan. It was a big decision for me to come here when I did a couple of years ago, but I have loved every second of it. Playing alongside established international forwards like Liam Farrell, Joel Tomkins and Sean O’Loughlin has helped develop my game. “I was delighted to be named Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year and look forward to working even harder now to move on to that next level.”
Steve Macnamara and his players will have evolved in the England camp. On top of that, if Sam was included, someone in the current squad would have to miss out, which I feel would be pretty harsh. On the subject of Sam Burgess, how do we feel about his dramatic return? Well obviously I’m not sorry, and I’m certainly not surprised. I’m not party to any inside info on this, but I never thought for one minute that he was right for Rugby Union. So few big name RL defectors have been raging successes in RU. Jason Robinson is one, while Chris Ashton, Shontayne Hape and Les Vainikolo did okay of course, but I think it’s fair to say there was only Robinson who really set the Rugby Union world alight. The common denominator in these cases is that they were all outside backs. There are marked differences between the two games even then, but having played in the outside backs myself in both codes, I didn’t find the differences as enormous as I would have had I been in the halves or the forwards. Apparently, Sam’s future at Bath, had he stayed, may well have been as a wingforward, though even under the tuition of Mike Ford I imagine it would have taken him quite some time to bed into that position. And whether he’d have had the patience, having gone from being the world’s number one to being a novice again, is anyone’s guess – especially once the Rugby Union World Cup was over. I reiterate that these are
just my own thoughts, but as everyone else between here and the West Country has felt free to air theirs, what the hell. From a Wigan perspective, are we disappointed that we aren’t going to see Sam Burgess in Cherry and White? I think the answer is yes, though it’s highly unlikely that any of us thought there was a realistic chance we would. All the rumours seemed to be linking him with Leeds (rumours that mainly appeared to emanate from Leeds itself) though in truth I never thought there was much chance of that either. I can imagine a player giving up his new future in international Rugby Union to go back to the glamour, glitz and glory of the NRL, where he could bask in the Australian sunshine as well as be a hero. But the grim northern towns and rainwet pitches of the Super League were likely to be less enticing. Not that we can’t put a show on when we want to, and not that the fans can’t flock in when there’s a bit of excitement in the air. I’m pleased to report that the DW Stadium has sold out for next Saturday’s decider. Wigan will literally be bouncing, and if the two teams competing can even come close to replicating some of the exhilarating clashes that we saw towards the end of Super League 2015, it’s going to be a very special occasion. See you there.
preparation for this competition. “To his great credit he has also maintained his commitment to his studies and St John Rigby College have recognised and are meeting his needs as both a student and an elite
sportsperson.” A college spokesperson said: “We are very proud of Joshua and wish him all the best in his career in Thai Boxing, and of course in his studies as well.”
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